VILLA CHARITIES
Campus Highlights
Villa Charities made significant progress during
2019 on a multi-year project to enhance and
renovate our facilities.
The most visible improvements
included building new studios
for our dance, music and art
programs, and enhancing our
Athletic Club facilities. We also
installed a new exterior digital
sign on Lawrence Ave. to better
promote the activities offered on
our campus.
Villa Charities initiated the
project in 2018 to repair and
replace aging facilities and
infrastructure. An external
consultant was engaged last year
to assess the condition of all
VCI properties and identify
deficiencies and replacements
required over the next decade.
The consultants found that
$20 million in spending will
be required to address
much-needed building repairs
and maintenance.
In 2019, VCI and its affiliates
spent approximately $2.6 million
to improve parking facilities,
replace multiple heating,
ventilation and air conditioning
units, upgrade information
technology systems, repair
roofing and our electrical
infrastructure, and upgrade
other equipment. At the
Columbus Centre, we launched a
major initiative to optimize the
use and enhance the quality of
our facilities. The improvements
reflect Villa Charities’
commitment to ensuring a
sustainable and vibrant future,
and to enriching the experiences
for all involved.
In parallel with these changes,
Villa Charities is thrilled to
welcome three organizations as
new tenants in our newly
upgraded facilities. All of
them have a history with the
Italian-Canadian community and
offer programs and services that
complement our offerings and
add value to our campus.
Two organizations relocated to
the campus last fall: TLN Media
Group’s corporate and
multicultural media production
headquarters; and the studios
and faculty of the Academy of
Realist Art, a private institution
that teaches drawing and
painting in the old master
tradition. In 2020, we will
welcome Leonardo Da Vinci
Academy, a prestigious
independent Montessori-centred
school.
“ The improvements reflect
Villa Charities’ commitment to
ensuring a sustainable and
vibrant future.”
20 | Consolidated Annual Report 2019