10th Anniversary of the Daniels Spectrum Centre

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By Dawar Naeem

Dawar Naeem, a community journalist with Focus Media Arts Centre, interviews many people at the big celebration to honour the 10th anniversary of the Daniel Spectrum Centre, including people who have initiated and facilitated some of the many programs there, those involved with its building and development, and many people who have participated in many of its programs. 

Daniels Spectrum is a community hub in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood. Its is located at 585 Dundas street east. It opened to the public in September 2012. Daniels Spectrum is home to many outstanding arts-based and community-focused organizations that make Daniels Spectrum a special place to work, play, study and get creative.

Daniels Spectrum is named in recognition of a bighearted gift from The Daniels Corporation and The John and Myrna Daniels Charitable Foundation. It is a joint venture between Artscape, Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation and the Regent Park community.

Daniels Spectrum is open to the community, and it is made for a variety of cultural uses. Within these walls you’ll find dancing, art-making, singing, music playing, learning, socializing, community building, mentoring, collaborating etc. The Daniels Spectrum is animated with the spirit and creativity of the community every day.

Regent Park TV (RPTV), the community YouTube channel runs out of the 3rd floor of the Daniels Spectrum. RPTV is part of the Focus Media Arts Centre which also operates a radio station from the spectrum for the Regent Park community, called Radio Regent and provides Media and Journalism training to the community youth and adults.

Daniels Spectrum is part of the larger redevelopment and revitalization of Regent Park that began in the mid-2000s. Through community consultation and discussions, the Regent Park community identified the aspiration and the need for a dedicated cultural space in the neighbourhood. After a major effort on the part of multiple community and corporate partners, this dream became a reality.

Artscape and Daniels Corporation held a community meetup during this event. It was followed by the play called "The Journey", a musical that presents the story of the Regent Park revitalization in an artistic way.

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