Hamilton’s Ubuntu Athletic Centre Gets Boost from Ontario’s New $200M Infrastructure Fund
Empowerment Squared’s facility is first recipient in province wide investment drive for healthier, more inclusive communities
Hamilton, ON — The Babb Ubuntu Athletic Centre in Hamilton is set for a significant expansion, thanks to a new provincial investment of more than $287,000 — the first official funding announcement under Ontario’s new $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF).
The centre, operated by Empowerment Squared, will undergo upgrades that include new accessible doors, additional exits, and larger restrooms — changes that will allow it to serve more than five times its current user base. Once complete, the improved facility will accommodate over 5,000 participants annually, up from just 1,000 today.
The funding marks the beginning of the province’s latest initiative to upgrade local sport and recreation facilities across Ontario, especially in communities that need it most. The Ubuntu Centre is not only the program’s first recipient but also a symbolic launchpad for the government’s broader vision of infrastructure that supports inclusion, health, and economic growth.
We’re investing over $287,000 to upgrade the Ubuntu Athletic Centre at @EmpowermentSqd in Hamilton!
This is the first project to be announced as part of our government’s $200M Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund to revitalize local facilities, create jobs, and… pic.twitter.com/nkhjYFoWoD
— Neil Lumsden (@NeilLumsdenMPP) June 9, 2025
“This funding represents more than bricks and mortar — it’s about creating space where identity, opportunity, and community converge,” said Leo Nupolu Johnson, Chief Empowerment Officer at Empowerment Squared.
With global economic pressures like trade tariffs raising costs for families, the province says its new infrastructure strategy is about both economic resilience and community well-being.
“Investing in places like Ubuntu means protecting Ontario’s future, one community at a time,” said Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden. “We’re creating opportunities, supporting youth, and laying the foundation for a healthier Ontario.”
CSRIF is expected to support up to 100 projects over the next few years. Alongside this launch, the province continues to deliver annual funding for grassroots programs, amateur sport, and after-school initiatives — part of a broader $200 billion infrastructure plan stretching across health, education, and transit.
Empowerment Squared, which opened the Ubuntu Athletic Centre two years ago, focuses on building leadership, mentorship, and learning opportunities for historically marginalized communities.
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