A Different Booklist Cultural Centre’s New Name
Watering the Seeds for the Future of Bathurst St Community
IT was a press conference and update about A Different Booklist Cultural Centre (ADBCC)and its masterplan to get bigger, louder and wear a new name. At a Friday presser held at the bookstore at Bathurst and Bloor in downtown Toronto, organizer and store owner Itah Sadu threatened to shout down the city with her good words of emancipation and neighbourhood
The Cultural Centre is a non-profit community group committed to studying and promoting the history of African and Caribbean Canadian ancestry. It will build a large multi-purpose permanent headquarters in the large construction site known as the Mirvish Village project recently demolished Honest Ed’s department story. The construction sight is right across the street from the existing bookstore and cultural meeting hall.
At the noon-hour presser was Anthony Joseph, the publisher of th Caribbean Camera along with other members of the press, politicians, the public and members of the ADBCC.
Part press conference and part a community update, three important news bulletins were told to the packed Bathurst store front meeting hall. The news? The ADBCC has changed its name and will be soon launching a $6,7 million fund raising campaign. The final announcement concerns a property lease and partnership agreement.
“The lease not only acknowledges our place in the historic Mirvish Village as we prepare to move across the street into our new home at 756 Bathurst Street,” said Managing Director, Itah Sadu. “It underscores the permanence of our place in the city as we continue to elevate: our accomplishments, stories and work of our people using arts and culture as a tool/mechanism/conduit to teach, educate, enhance skills and celebrate our rich African and Caribbean heritage within the fabric of our community.”
The press learned that the ADBCC has already raised $3,3 million to cover the costs of the new building’s construction, a further $6.7 will be raised in a fund raising campaign beginning this summer, They have raised over $3.3M of the total $10M needed for the building on the site of the new Mirvish village. Construction is expected to begin this summer.
As part of the fund raising push, the ADBCC changed its name to the “Blackhurst Cultural Center” - The People’s Residence.
The new name reflects the centre’s cornerstone program “Welcome to Blackhurst” which will provide an immersive experience with walking tours celebrating the rich heritage of black people from the African and Caribbean diaspora within the Bathurst & Bloor neighbourhood.
Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton supports the nee name. “I love the name, Blackhurst. The land is home to diverse people from around the world. Some families didn’t come by choice, they came by force. This isn’t a centre you can put just anywhere in Toronto… It grounds it and puts it in the earth.”
Cutline – after announcing the new Blackhurst Board members Loris Thomas and Ivor Picou watered a plant as a symbol of land, and tradition.
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