City of Vaughan, Canada Soccer pitch national training centre at North Maple Regional Park

Facility would provide high-performance training space for Canada Soccer's national teams, local community sports programs

Yorkregion.com
May 13, 2022
Heidi Riedner

The City of Vaughan's sprawling 900-acre North Maple Regional Park site could be the future home of a national training centre for Canada Soccer.

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua made the announcement the two parties have partnered to explore the feasibility of such a project during his keynote address at the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Mayor's Luncheon May 12.

Preliminary concepts include an outdoor field and stadium, as well as an indoor training facility, administrative offices and support amenities.

Following his address, Bevilacqua and Canada Soccer President Dr. Nick Bontis signed a memorandum of understanding "to advance the creation of a high-performance facility that combines iconic architecture with functional excellence, which can serve as a national centre for soccer".

The agreement represents an "important milestone" in the partnership between the city and Canada Soccer, Bontis said.

"I look forward to the next steps in studying the possibilities that will support our success on and off the pitch," he added.

The city is currently undertaking grading, servicing and environmental restoration at the NMRP site in preparation for future facilities.

The soccer centre project would incorporate key natural heritage system components, sustainability considerations, accessibility and design principles aligned with the NMRP vision.

The new training centre would provide a high-performance training space for Canada Soccer's national teams and local community sports programs.

Upon conclusion of the feasibility study, the two parties would jointly develop a funding strategy and detailed partnership agreement for approval by Vaughan City Council and Canada Soccer’s board of directors prior to initiating detailed design and construction of the project.

The city would also retain ownership of all lands.