A venue for arts, culture and heritage on Toronto's waterfront.

Canada Ireland Foundation (CIF) has signed a lease with the City of Toronto to transform an under-utilized and derelict heritage building on Toronto's waterfront into a vibrant new venue for arts, cultural and heritage programming.
The property, now known as The Corleck Building, was originally The Administrative Building for the Canadian Malting Company, whose enormous silos remain next door, overlooking Ireland Park and Billy Bishop Airport.

When The Corleck Building opens in 2023, it will become a vibrant new venue for arts, culture and heritage on Toronto’s waterfront.  The Corleck Building will present new opportunities for the Irish-Canadian community to explore its deep roots, and to engage with the many diverse cultures that enrich the city today.  

- Robert G. Kearns, Founder & Chair of the Canada Ireland Foundation

As of November 2022 the building has gone trough two of its three phases of renovation. Our construction managers have just completed the concrete pour for the rooftop of our East Wing Main Performance Space, after removing the old steel structure, creating a double-height space. With this new ceiling, we can now imagine a performance or exhibit taking place inside, while an event is happening on the sun-drenched patio above.

With most of the inside structure work complete, the cleaning of the outside brick walls has started, bringing back the original color of this Heritage Building.

Click here for the Corleck Brochure

The Beginning

On November 2, 2021, a special groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the official start of construction work on The Corleck, as well as the launch of the second phase of rehabilitation work by The City of Toronto on the Canadian Malting Company silos and the surrounding public realm on Eireann Quay.

The Foundation was honoured to be joined at this event by Mayor John Tory, Councillor Joe Cressy as well as Dr. Eamonn McKee, Ireland's Ambassador to Canada.  Many additional dignitaries, partners and supports were on hand, including The Honourable Seamus O'Regan (Federal Minister of Trade), Mr. James Maloney (MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore and Chair of the Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group), and Mr. Chris Glover (MPP for Fort York-Spadina).

The adaptive reuse and transformation of The Corleck Building is being designed by Kearns Mancini Architects, with construction managed by Boszko & Verity.
Financial support for The Corleck Building has been provided by The City of Toronto, The Government of Ireland, as well as generous private donors.

 Canada Ireland Foundation and Chair Robert G. Kearns wish to thank the following for their landmark philanthropic contributions:

Stephen Smith and Diane Blake
CN Rail
The Duffy Family Foundation
Aidan and Pat Flatley
Dylan MacNamara
 Tyler and Claire MacNamara
The Pollock Family Foundation
Aaron W. Regent
Jonathan See
Brady Welch

To lend your support to this ambitious project, make a donation online or email us at admin@canadaireland.com

Renderings by Kearns Mancini Architects

 

 

 

 

 

Photos from the groundbreaking ceremony held November 2, 2021.