‘A place of belonging’: Africa Centre closer to cultural hub dream after $1 land purchase from City of Edmonton

The Africa Centre has the land it needs to build a new community hub. CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson has more on the next steps for the non-profit.

The Africa Centre is one step closer to a new multicultural facility its leaders said has been 20 years in the making.

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The Edmonton non-profit has grown to be the largest pan-African organization of its kind in western Canada and now it has the land it needs to build a new community hub.

“This is an aspirational space for the community to call home,” said Sam Juru, executive director of the Africa Centre.

“It’s a place of belonging. It’s a place where our kids can actively participate that’s built to look and feel like our dynamic cultural identities,” he added.

The Africa Centre started in 2007, leasing space from the city in the now-demolished Wellington Junior High School.

It offers resources like childcare, senior and youth programming at three spaces in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg, as well as distributes federal funding to other emerging Black non-profits across Canada.

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“African Center is like a parent to young organizations, many young organizations of African vision. They welcome you, they support you,” said Ronnie Gwebawaya, founder of the local non-profit Life Changers.

Juru said the new hub would allow the organization to provide more services, including seniors housing, as well as hold festivals and other cultural events.

“It will serve as a visibility and marketplace for Black-owned businesses, where we can host events like trade shows, networking events,” said Ibukun Orefuja, founder of Black Business Edmonton.

“Edmonton is ready, and we are here not to ask for permission, but to affirm that we have something to offer,” added artist Eric Awuah. “A great deal in fact.”

Council chambers were filled with members of the community on Wednesday, a turnout organizers said reflects the great support the project has among the diaspora.

It was a democratic display that struck a chord with Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

“I’m so pleased to have so many people from the Black, African and Caribbean communities participate … and really show a strong commitment to building a facility that will be home to various diverse Black communities,” Sohi said.

City council voted to sell the non-profit the northeast corner of the lot where the school and former Africa Centre used to stand for $1, with the caveat that the city can take the land back if construction on the new multi-million dollar facility hasn’t begun in five years.

Juru said the centre has already received interest from multiple funders, including private and government sources, and he believes raising the money will be easier now the land has been secured.

“They said to us, ‘You know, we need the deed of title to be able to start a genuine conversation.’ So it’s kind of this fun catch 22 situation,” Juru added.