‘An opportunity for London to lead with vision’: Doorways to Dreams capital campaign is launched

More housing is coming to the Old East Village. As CTV London’s Gerry Dewan reports, affordable and accessible units will be included.

The Doorways to Dreams capital campaign will help build a six-storey low-rise building and a 24-storey high-rise tower on Dundas Street, in London’s Old East Village.

Valy Marochko, executive director of the Cross-Cultural Learner Centre (CCLC), said it all started with a brainstorming session by CCLC staff five years ago, “It was a Dragon’s Den type of exercise with our staff doing an engagement activity. They came up with the idea that we should build housing. They worked so hard to find housing for the newcomers and they said, ‘Why don’t we build the housing ourselves?’”

At the campaign kick-off at the Aeolian Hall on Wednesday morning, Canada Life Senior Vice-President and Chief Compliance Officer Amy Metzger announced a $250,000 contribution to the $2 million campaign goal.

“This development is a symbol of a collective promise to create a welcoming place that respects all Canadians, fosters prosperity in London, and enriches the cultural fabric of our community,” said Metzger.

The housing crisis, rising inflation, and increased demands on social programs resulted in the federal government scaling back immigration targets earlier this year.

But most economists say immigration will continue to be critical to growing the economy. Supporters say the Doorways to Dreams campaign is designed help newcomers acclimate and contribute to the economy quickly.

“This is really an opportunity for London to lead with vision, to be put on the map as an innovator in how we can support our newcomer communities,” said Helene Berman, CCLC board vice-chair and the campaign fundraising chair.

Marochko said the key is to help lower barriers to success, “Even if they have skills and they have employment [opportunities], they don’t have the credit history, they don’t have the local connections. They don’t know exactly where to find that stable housing that they need. This project will contribute to uplifting the whole community.”

Buildings that were previously at 773 and 763 Dundas St. have already been knocked down, and the grounds have been prepared for building. The hope is to get the work underway in the fall.

The fundraising effort will help leverage upper-level government funding for the estimated $115 million project.

It will create two buildings with one, two, and three-bedroom units, with 30 per cent being affordable units and 22 per cent being accessible.

Old East Village Business Improvement Area General Manager Kevin Morrison said new Canadians are already significant contributors to the neighbourhood, “I take a look at some of the businesses that we’ve recently had open, where we have an international flavor of foods. I mean, we’re going in a whole different direction in the Old East Village, and there’s positive changes to come.”