Veteran musician Jay Douglas is thrilled that the Nia Centre for the Arts has major plans for 524 Oakwood Avenue, an address that has been its home since 2015 but also one that used to be Isabella’s Ballroom, an uptown venue for many reggae shows in the late 1960s and most of the 1970s.
On October 16, the Toronto-based charitable organization unveiled plans for its $7.5-million capital project which will transform its14, 000 square foot facility into Canada’s first multi-disciplinary professional arts space dedicated to showcasing art from the Afro-diaspora.
Located just south of Eglinton Avenue West, the Nia Centre will feature a range of multimedia learning spaces, a performance area, artist studio, co-working space, and a safe, culturally affirming place for Black youth to explore their creative talents.
“This was where on any given Saturday night or Friday night you can go there for dancing to a sound system dance – Duke Reid’s Upsetters and another sound even before Soul to Soul,” says Douglas.
He performed there with The Cougars, the R&B group he fronted; and Isabella’s Ballroom also had a roster of musicians such as Horace Andy, Ken Boothe, Pluggy Satchmo and Beryl, Delroy Wilson, The Skatalites, and many sound systems.
At the time, this was “the new hot place” for shows featuring Jamaican artists and Douglas notes that Eglinton Avenue was “just coming into its own too.” Isabella’s Ballroom was a venue for stage shows and according to Douglas the only other venue in the city was Massey Hall, located downtown.
This Oakwood Avenue address opened in the early 1920s and has also served as a bowling alley, nightclub and Toronto Public Health office.
The transformation of the building in this historic neighbourhood will position Nia Centre as a key destination for Toronto’s Black communities to gather and for Black artists to showcase the full range of their creative expression
to audiences year-round.
“Today we start building a legacy for our community. A consistent space to support Black artists and youth — nurturing their talents and sharing their work with new audiences,” said Alica Hall, executive director of Nia Centre at the unveiling event which she hosted.
“The Centre ensures that Black art and culture is available year-round. Through exhibitions and public programming rooted in modern and traditional Black expression, we will expand our collective understanding of the Black Canadian experience.”
Meanwhile, Michael Brathwaite, co-chair of Nia Centre, described the development as “monumentous.”
“Not only is it just a first but it also carves out a notch in history for us as Black people and for Back artists that are represented here in Canada. There isn’t a physical space for us but there also isn’t much space for us in the art world and we’ve fought for the past few decades in Canada to really cement that space. And having this physical manifestation of that really does put us into the realm of where we always saw ourselves with our art, with our representation, with our stories, and with our voices.”
Brathwaite says this is “a recognition of the efforts of everyone from the past within Canada, within Toronto; all those Black artists who’ve been fighting for years and generations to get ourselves recognized not only to the Toronto Arts Council and the Canadian Arts Council but within a mass audience.”
“This is a pivotal moment in that fight and in that journey to build a legacy for ourselves moving forward,” says the marketing professional who was motivated to give back to the community after the election of Donald Trump in the United States.
When he became involved in 2016, he said Nia Centre was looking at moving from a youth hub to a professional arts centre and there were communications, structural, and infrastructural challenges which he was able to help with to communicate that change.
Photo contributed Jay Douglas, Canadian musician and producer
Karen Carter, co-founder and director of Black Artists’ Network and Dialogue (BAND), an organization dedicated to the promotion of Black artists in Canada and abroad, welcomes the renovation and is hopeful for what that will mean for greater opportunities for professional development and professional practice for Black artists and creatives.
“This is a big city and we should have more arts and culture and heritage spaces that talk about the diversity of Black communities and the layers by which we should all -- not only in the community -- but the way from the community level we express our ideas and cultural identity to the broader community.
“I’m happy Nia exists because for me it’s an opportunity for us to just have more layers to the range of the way we choose to express ourselves artistically and creatively. And I don’t think there’s enough stuff within the arts and culture and heritage lane for Black identity and for better education for the broader community about our present and past history in this country, and the contributions from our creatives as well as helping to better give understanding for what we would imagine our future to be.”
At the unveiling, Hall was joined by supporters and major funders such as Adam Vaughan, MP of Spadina—Fort York, who noted that he grew up nearby and attended Oakwood Collegiate; John Tory, mayor of the City of Toronto; and Nation Cheong, vice president, Community Opportunities & Mobilization, United Way Toronto and York Region, as well as community members who tuned in through a livestream.
“The building of the Nia Centre for the Arts – Canada’s first Black arts centre – is not only momentous for this city and country, but it is a support system that is much needed. I am pleased that the city is able to support the Nia Centre in bringing this new building to fruition,” said Mayor Tory.
“Through its expansion, the Nia Centre, with the support of the City, will further the work and reach of Black artists and ensure that the sector is not only thriving but that opportunities are provided to Black Torontonians. I want to thank Alica and the Nia Centre for the Arts for their persistence and commitment to bringing this project to life and for seeing it through.”
By Fall 2021, Nia Centre will expand their in-house programs, which range from artist residencies, film screenings, camps, youth engagement, and much more. These programs will take place inside a facility designed for learning, collaboration, and showcasing Black art.
Photo contributed Michael Brathwaite, Co-Chair of the Nia Centre for the Arts
Once renovated, Nia Centre will have expanded capacity to present music, dance, photography, film and theatre.
It will include a multi-purpose performance space with capacity for over 100 seated guests, multimedia, collaborative artistic spaces including a digital media lab, a recording studio, as well as a collaborative artist studio space. There will also be a youth hub, and private, rentable event space with outdoor recreational use, a board room and co-working spaces, and hallway galleries on two levels.
This re-development is made possible through a $6M capital funding from the City of Toronto, Canadian Heritage, United Way Toronto and York Region, and Trillium Foundation.
The Centre has also launched their capital campaign to raise $1.5M, which will go towards completing the renovation and purchasing equipment.
“On behalf of the Youth Challenge Fund Partnership Committee, we are elated at this ground-breaking. It has been a labour of love and dedication for young Black leaders to reach this milestone. This space would not be possible without United Way's partnership with the City of Toronto and dedicated community leaders,” said Cheong.
“We look forward to experiencing the renovated facility filled with young Black artists learning, creating, and strengthening community.”
Nation said it had been a labour of love and dedication to reach this milestone and he looks forward to the vibrant space where young Black artists can learn, create, build connections, build careers and strengthen their communities.
He thanked the local artists who conceived of Nia going back to 2007 and noted that the founding visionaries include Ian Kamau, Mark Campbell, Weyni Mengesha, D’bi.young, Nabil Shash and Felicia Mings. Nation thanked them for sharing their collective vision, hard work, and perseverance to make Nia a reality.
He noted that the Youth Challenge Fund was built on the pillars of youth leadership and collaboration with adult allies.
“This space was conceived of and developed by visionary young Black leaders in Toronto. However, it would not be possible without standing on the strong community leaders’ shoulders, elders who were vital to making Nia a reality. He singled out Michael Clemons, Zanana Akande and Denise Campbell for “clearing the way for Black youtb across the GTA.”
Nia Centre is located in the heart of the Oakwood-Vaughan Village, steps from the Eglinton West area, which has officially been designated as “Little Jamaica”. With a rich artistic history, this Caribbean neighbourhood is in the midst of its own dramatic transformation based on the installation of the Eglinton Crosstown, and overall community development.
Nia Centre’s milestone construction intersects with important and timely investments which will benefit the local Black community in a generational way, promoting positive development for youth, and offering a safe, welcome space for Black artists.
Nia Centre’s renovation plans come at a time when there are also other initiatives to create space for Black Canadians nationally.
Other Initiatives to Create a National Institute for Black Canadians, and a Cultural Centre for Black Canadians
Last year, the federal government supported the creation of a national institute for Black Canadians, an idea proposed by a pan-Canadian group of Black organizations.
In its presentation of the 2019 budget, the government noted that in recognition of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent it would provide $25 million over five years starting in 2019-20, for projects and capital assistance to celebrate, share knowledge and build capacity in Canada’s vibrant Black Canadian communities.
Adam Vaughan, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced that the government’s support would help stakeholders to create the first national institute for Black Canadians.
The Canadian Institute for Persons of African Descent (CIPAD) will work to advance initiatives that impact Black Canadians at a systemic level.
Floydeen Charles-Fridal, executive director of the Caribbean African Canadian Social Services (CAFCAN) in Toronto, collaborated with the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute in Halifax, Nova Scotia and others to submit a proposal for CIPAD.
Meanwhile in August of this year, the new BlackNorth Initiative received a donation of $1,000,000 from The Schulich Foundation – the philanthropic vehicle for Seymour Schulich, a leading Canadian businessman and philanthropist.
Wes Hall, founder and chairman of the BlackNorth Initiative, said this pledge also supports “the building of a cultural centre for Black Canadians to ensure Black history is accurately recorded and disseminated.”
“The cultural centre is an important component of our vision to dismantle the anti-Black systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black Canadians.”
The BlackNorth Initiative will support the development of programs and initiatives focussing on the challenges facing Black people when it comes to health care, education, the justice system, community safety, at-risk youth, economic empowerment, and other areas.
The cultural centre will raise awareness about the challenges Black Canadians face, preserve and spotlight Black history in Canada, promote Black arts and culture, and be a gathering place for people of all backgrounds working together to combat anti-Black systemic racism, notes a statement on its website.
The BlackNorth Initiative was created by the Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism to combat anti-Black systemic racism in Corporate Canada. The initiative challenges senior Canadian business leaders to commit their companies to specific actions and targets designed to end anti-Black systemic racism and create opportunities for all of those in the underrepresented BIPOC community.
Meanwhile in Cherrybrook, Nova Scotia, the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, which was set up in 1983, is a museum and a library resource centre that focuses on the history and culture of African Nova Scotians.
‘Little Jamaica’ Heritage and Innovation Hub, and Other Plans
Local politicians, business owners and residents are concerned about community erasure caused by gentrification and the economic challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic being faced by businesses in Little Jamaica.
Recently, Toronto City Council unanimously passed a motion by Councillor Mike Colle (Ward 8, Eglinton-Lawrence) seconded by Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão (Ward 9, Davenport), establishing a "Little Jamaica" Heritage and Innovation Hub in the Eglinton West area, from Marlee Ave. West to Keele Street.
The motion also calls for the provincial Metrolinx agency to immediately compensate small businesses that have been devastated by the 8 years of the Eglinton Crosstown construction that has seen over 124 small stores closed.
It also calls for the immediate completion of the western portion of the Eglinton LRT from Black Creek to Yonge Street and for the elimination of the commercial property tax that assess small businesses like potential condominiums.
The "Little Jamaica" will also honour and recognize local Black civil rights community leaders like Jimmy Wisdom, Charles Roach, Dudley Laws and others at the new Eglinton Crosstown Stations of Oakwood, Dufferin and Eglinton West with Heritage plaques and murals, notes the motion.
One week later, North York Community Council unanimously passed a motion by Councillor Colle to rename Locksley Avenue, from Eglinton Avenue West to Hopewell Avenue, to "Jimmy Wisdom Way."
This is the first of many steps in the creation of the Eglinton West 'Little Jamaica' Heritage Hub.
Known by his thousands of friends and admirers as "Wisdom", Jimmy was a uniquely talented musician and an active community leader and pioneer who constantly gave back to his community and helped many newcomers to Canada and the City of Toronto from his barber's chair on Eglinton Avenue West for over 35 years.
This stretch of Locksley Avenue is located right by Wisdom's barbershop and will honour this great trailblazer in Toronto's Jamaican Community.
"The Wisdom family is honoured and overjoyed by this decision. We are grateful to Councillor Colle for his recognition and leadership to honour our father, affectionately known as Jimmy Wisdom," said Ninfa Wisdom.
"The creation of an Eglinton West "Little Jamaica" Heritage Hub celebrates the outstanding cultural and economic contributions made by the Black community in Toronto and affords hope and opportunity for this legacy to be expanded upon,” said Councillor Colle.
"COVID has impacted all our small businesses, but "Little Jamaica" has also been facing challenges from Crosstown construction for almost a decade. That's why I am supporting Councillor Colle's motion for immediate relief, extending a lifeline to these businesses," said Councillor Bailão.
The Heritage Toronto plaque that was installed on Eglinton Avenue, near Reggae Lane in 2015.
Councillor Josh Colle was instrumental in making this a reality.
There was also a motion by Josh Matlow, city councillor for Toronto-St. Paul’s, Ward 12, which includes Little Jamaica, seconded by Michael Thompson, deputy mayor that was unanimously approved by Toronto City Council.
It seeks “to provide short-term supports and a substantive long-term vision to ensure the retention and growth of Black-owned and operated businesses, while celebrating the identity, and showcasing the resiliency, of the Caribbean community.”
Among its recommendations, the motion calls for City Council to direct the Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuild to engage with the Mayor’s Roundtable on Black Business to develop a tailored and phased approach to help support Black-owned and operated businesses, specifically along Eglinton Avenue West, on their stabilization reopening, recovery and rebuild strategy and report to Executive Committee by end of the fourth quarter of 2020.
It also wants City Council to direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture “to explore measures to provide financial relief, including property taxes, license renewal, late tax payment, deferred tax payment with the deferred amount gradually remitted to the city post-construction, or upon the sale of the property, and other measures as appropriate to stabilize Black-owned and operated businesses along Eglinton Avenue West before the end of the first quarter of 2021.”
It also calls for the general manager to collaborate with the Mayor’s Roundtable on Black Business, BlackUrbanismTO, Reclaim, Rebuild Eglinton Avenue West, Black Futures on Eglinton, York-Eglinton BIA, Fairbank Village BIA, Eglinton Hill BIA and community members to investigate opportunities, including holding a community consultation process, to rebrand the area of Eglinton Avenue West from Marlee Avenue to Keele Street that reflects the Jamaican-Caribbean history before the end of 2021.
The motion recommends developing a plan with the Mayor’s Roundtable on Black Business, BlackUrbanismTO, Reclaim, Rebuild Eglinton Avenue West, Black Futures on Eglinton, York-Eglinton BIA, Fairbank Village BIA, Eglinton Hill BIA and community members that focuses on bringing back previous, and develop new, culturally-focused events and initiatives that will celebrate the Jamaican and Afro-Caribbean cultural heritage of Eglinton Avenue West before the end of 2021.
