On May 15, work began on the new Northern Dancer Pavilion at the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) at 2489 Bayview Ave. The new addition will host a 4,000-square-foot, single-storey actors conservatory.
“It’s a seven-month construction window,” said the film centre’s CFO Jaqueline Mackey. She and COO Sheena Macdonald expect construction to be completed in December.
“It’s going to [also] be used for integrating all our programs because we’re a film, TV, digital media, acting and also now music centre,” said Macdonald. “And it’s also [open] for our private events as needed and public events as needed.”
The construction will take place in Windfields Park, which Mackey says was leased to the film centre from the City of Toronto. “It was the former site of the pool and cabana,” she explained.
Macdonald says that construction shouldn’t be controversial because the CFC has not taken over any new area. “It’s the exact same square footage as in the past. It’s not a new area. This is an old area we’re building on.”
On top of a $500,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant toward the expansion, the CFC has been seeking funds from the private sector to help pay for the $3 million expansion. “We’re at 85 per cent of what we require to build,” said Mackey.
Macdonald hopes that some will donate as a tribute to the pavilion’s namesake. “We’re especially looking for anybody who has a soft spot for Northern Dancer and thoroughbred racing because that’s a great piece of history that’s connected to Windfields.”
Though residents of homes adjacent to the Windfields property have previously been opposed to some of the CFC’s expansion plans, a representative of Coun. Jaye Robinson said that he has not heard of any opposition from residents to the new expansion.
