Plans for new community hub moving forward in Mississauga

Mississauga boasts a ton of community hubs and centres, but there’s always room for one more–especially when that hub is taking shape in a neighbourhood that could benefit from it. 

Some time ago, the City of Mississauga began mulling over the possibility of converting the decommissioned Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School pool in Malton into a community hub. During an April 5, 2019, Regional Council meeting, Ward 5 City Councillor Carolyn Parrish asked her colleagues to approve a study to provide funding for a community services hub in the neighbourhood.

Now, it appears the project is moving forward.

On Dec. 11, the city announced that it has selected Services and Housing in the Province (SHIP) as the lead agency to manage the proposed Malton Community Hub. 

The pool building that the project will take shape in is adjacent to Lincoln Alexander Secondary School (3545 Morning Star Drive) in Malton.

“This new hub will open up opportunities to provide new and needed services and programs for Malton residents,” said Parrish. “Having this type of space is so important to building a strong community and to better support our youth.”

According to the city, the project has the support of the Peel District School Board (PDSB) and the Region of Peel. 

The city says the Region of Peel will provide a capital grant to the project “and inform the hub development through integrated service development standards.” A recent Region of Peel report indicates that $6 million for the project was included in the regional budget, while $3 million has been included in Mississauga’s capital budget.

The PDSB will also be involved in the development, construction planning, and programming to ensure the hub meets the needs of its students.

The facility is currently 12,000 square feet with the capacity to expand to up to approximately 21,000 square feet. 

What will the hub include? 

The city says the facility could potentially include meeting rooms, offices, as well as program, event and multi-functional open space for social gatherings. 

The design of the Hub is expected to begin in 2020, followed by the construction and opening of the facility in 2021.

SHIP was selected as the lead agency for the project and will work with the city and community groups to manage and operate the hub. 

SHIP is a registered non-profit charitable organization and is one of the largest supportive housing and service providers in Canada.

“We are looking forward to working with SHIP as the lead agency for the future Malton Community Hub,” said Shari Lichterman, Director, Recreation. “As a next step, we will work collaboratively with the community and SHIP to identify additional agencies and services for the hub.”

To learn more about the project, click here. 

Pool photo courtesy of Carolyn Parrish