$5 million donation will fund new sports centre

State-of-the-art facility will include gym, pools and indoor track

The Prosserman Jewish Community Centre is set to receive a $5 million addition thanks to a donation by the families of David Cynamon and Howard Sokoloski.

“I was thrilled,” said Bryan Keshen, executive director of Prosserman JCC, regarding the announcement. “For us, it means we’re that much closer to construction.”

The initiative is part of a joint venture by the families of Toronto Argonauts owners Cynamon and Sokolowski to fund a new state-of-the-art sports complex. Named the Cynamon/Sokolowski Sports Complex, the 71,000-square-foot facility will include indoor and outdoor pools, an indoor running track, a multi-sport gymnasium and a fitness centre. It will be part of the second phase of the Sherman Campus, located on 27.5 acres on Bathurst Street north of Sheppard Avenue, which opened its first phase in the fall.

“Sports have a way of bringing people from all backgrounds and experience together,” said David Cynamon. “My family and I are thrilled to be part of the growth of the [centre].” Howard Sokolowski agreed. “I can think of no better way to give back to a community than helping to give all Torontonians the opportunity to experience the love of sport,” he said.

Keshen said the centre would use sports and recreation to “strengthen and build community, within and outside of the Jewish community.

“This is the easy way to connect with people,” Keshen said. “A lot of what we do is about building strong social health networks because those social networks then support healthy communities.”

He added that the new facility and provided programs will address community desires. “These are the things that the community is just looking for, asking for, wanting and needing,” he said. Keshen said that the demolition of the old facility would happen “almost immediately.” A date for the centre’s completion has not been set.

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