Prominent architect takes on Canary District health facility design

Robin Careless –

The West Don Lands Committee (WDLC) met on June 23 to discuss a variety of upcoming and ongoing developments that will affect the future inhabitants of the area.

The major topic of discussion was the purchase and future of a block of land in the Canary District, or “Block 10.” The land was purchased outright from the province by Anishnawbe Health Toronto. And it is there that they plan on building the future of their organization.

Anishnawbe Health Toronto, much as the name implies, is a health and wellness organization that focuses on both physical health as well as mental, emotional, and spiritual health. They do this by combining modern medical practices, such as physicians and dentists, with traditional healers, medicine people and elders. They also employ other “alternative medicines” such as chiropractic and naturopathy, allowing them a well rounded selection of medical and spiritual health opportunities.

When asked about what they were excited about with the opportunities of the new space, Anishnawbe Health Toronto’s executive director Joe Hester said, “Bringing all of our services to one location from the four locations we currently have which will effectively increase accessibility for our clients, particularly those related to their transportation costs.”

He followed up by saying, “[It will allow us to] increase our capacity to effectively and efficiently achieve greater levels of integration of our services and programs.”

Architect Douglas Cardinal has already agreed to design the new face of the block. Cardinal has won numerous awards, including the Order of Canada in 1990 and the Governer General’s award in 2001. He received them for his distinct, flowing design, such as on the iconic Canadian Museum of Civilization, which was unveiled in 1989 and is a landmark to this day.

“[Douglas Cardinal] is engaged in a process allowing for design meetings and consultations with staff, clients and other organizations at which feedback regarding designs will be sought,” reports Hester. “He brings his architectural expertise regarding our culture, including our operational requirements as a community health centre.”

Construction will commence after the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.