The Thornhill Community Centre and Library is set to receive a $6 million facelift.
“It’s something we’re really excited about,” said Coun. Erin Shapero, regarding the funding. “[The centre] serves the entire population of Thornhill, and it definitely needed further expansion.”
The initiative is part of a partnership between the Town of Markham and the provincial and federal governments that will pump roughly $12 million into area recreation infrastructure upgrades.
Shapero said that the majority of the $6 million allocated for the centre would be used to renovate a portion of the library and to create a lower- level area in the community centre. Upgrades in the library include a computer room expansion and addition of a second floor to the auditorium space. A dedicated youth centre space and additional space for the seniors’ centre are planned for the lower level. The project is expected to create 90 construction jobs.
“It’s going to create more multi-purpose space that will serve the entire spectrum of our users,” said Glen Taylor, active director of recreation services for the Town of Markham. “It’s fantastic news.”
Taylor added that the facility was “paramount” as “the hub of recreation for Thornhill.”
Catherine Biss, chief executive officer for Markham public libraries, said the upgrades will help the library where circulation of items is up 14 per cent over last year.
“It’s heavily used,” she said. “We have almost 400,000 visitors a year.”
Shapero said the upgrades will coincide with the changing face of the community. “Our population demographic is shifting, and we need to shift with that as well and make sure we provide the programming that residents need,” she said.
Final design concepts for the projects are currently being prepared, Shapero said. An open house for public input will follow.
