A Complete Community Supporting Olympic Excellence

PUBLISHED: JULY 29, 2024

In This Blog:

• This July, Waterfront Toronto spoke with Olympic athlete, Micha Powell who currently lives in the Wigwamen building, located in the West Don Lands’ Canary District. 

• The West Don Lands is an inclusive, complete community built around parks. This community offers a range of housing options, connections by transit, the cycling network and the Don Valley trails.  

• Micha shared an inside scoop on the key ingredients of this community that have allowed her to focus on her athletic career. 

• Micha also shared her hopes for more communities in Toronto to include similar elements of fun and discovery – more places for Torontonians and visitors to live, work, and play!

During the West Don Lands Committee Celebration in June, Micha Powell, Olympic athlete is joined by Sean Gadon to her left, Action Advisor on housing, community and urban affairs, and Joe Lobko to her right, principal at Joe Lobko Architect Inc.

This past month, Waterfront Toronto had the pleasure of speaking with Olympic athlete, Micha Powell. Micha is a current resident of Wigwamen in the West Don Lands’ Canary District. Micha specializes in 400-meter track and field and says “running is deep in my family” with both parents being former Olympic athletes. Micha attended her undergrad at the University of Maryland from 2013-2017, where she holds the current indoor and outdoor 400-meter record. During her time at Maryland, she attracted attention, leading her to the world stage in 2015 and making the 2016 Olympic team in Rio.   

With the 2024 Olympics underway, we wanted to capture the experience of an athlete living in Waterfront Toronto’s first master planned community. We talked with Micha about her experience living in the West Don Lands, exploring what makes this community uniquely dynamic and inclusive. In this conversation, Micha shared how the community has allowed her to focus on her athletic career and enjoy a thoughtfully designed neighbourhood that prioritizes affordability, accessibility, and green space. 

Affordable Living at Wigwamen 

The Wigwamen building, located in the West Don Lands’ Canary District.

It is no secret that athletes must maintain an extensive training schedule, navigate seasonal income, and stay focused on strong mental health. So, how do athletes do this? For Olympic athlete Micha Powell the answer lies in the importance of affordable, accessible, and green communities that prioritize comfortable living to help athletes, like her, pursue their goals.  

In 2019, Micha landed a spot in Wigwamen’s athlete housing through Game Plan [LINK]. Organized by the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Sport Canada, and Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network, Game Plan is a program that helps athletes, like Micha excel in life outside their sport. Micha emphasized how, "The subsidized rent in Wigwamen was crucial, enabling me to train without the financial pressures of high living costs in Toronto."  

Wigwamen is a residential building in the West Don Lands’ Canary District. The Wigwamen building, owned, and operated by Wigwamen Incorporated [LINK], an Indigenous housing provider, offers affordable, accessible, and sustainable rental units, just steps from the green oasis, Corktown Common. Wigwamen incorporates Indigenous values and principles of design, respect and community. The building is home to many Indigenous and non-Indigenous families, singles, and athletes of all abilities.  

The building’s diverse residential community is unique. Micha added that the “diverse environment is fostered on mutual respect and understanding among residents." Within the building’s athlete community there are approximately 12 other athletes that are living in Wigwamen, this includes both Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The shared experience of athletes creates a bond, as all athletes are “striving for excellence,” Micha shared. 

The 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes’ Village - The Canary District.

Did you know?

The West Don Lands was one of the first communities planned by Waterfront Toronto. Development of this area was accelerated because Toronto was selected to host the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games. Unlike many athletes’ village projects which are purpose built to house competitors during major athletic events and then converted to other uses following the games, Toronto's Athletes’ Village project leveraged work already underway.

Using a section of the West Don Lands for the Athletes’ Village accelerated the transformation of the former industrial lands into a beautiful, sustainable, mixed-use neighbourhood. And, to meet the needs of Para athletes, accessibility was a key design requirement. Micha is one of several athletes and para-athletes that still live in Wigwamen today! 

Green Training Grounds

Since Micha moved to Wigwamen, she won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 4x400m in 2022. Leading up to this success, Micha had to work hard to train and prepare for the games. During her training, COVID-19 disrupted schedules and shut down training facilities. Micha put the West Don Lands to the test.  

Micha revealed, “I also used the staircases in my building for workouts and found the proximity to these outdoor areas beneficial for both training and mental health." These outdoor spaces include Corktown Common, and the Don Valley trails for extensive training. The West Don Lands provided “a natural and peaceful environment” during training. 

Upon community spaces re-opening, Micha has also used places like the Cooper Koo Family YMCA with a pool and sun deck. There is also a private gym in the neighbourhood that has its garage door open, adding to the sense of community.  

The Key Ingredients to a Complete & Inclusive Community 

Wigwamen was designed to accommodate residents of all abilities. Micha noted some accessible features, which include spacious bathrooms, and ramps to ensure ease of access. The homes in Wigwamen are not the only inclusive aspect of this neighbourhood. Through thoughtful planning, the West Don Lands has key ingredients that make a complete and inclusive community, like:  

• Green space. 
• Accessible paths of travel in the parks and public realm. 
• A streetcar steps from Wigwamen.
• Bike lanes that lead straight to the downtown core. 
• Community events with low barriers for participation.  
• Healthcare access. 
• And third spaces. 

Green Space  

Parks and green spaces are known for contributing to strong mental health. Living in the dense downtown means that most residents don’t have access to private outdoor space, so public access to nature is essential. In the West Don Lands, places like Corktown Common and Underpass Park provide residents with access to the outdoors and foster a sense of community. 

Micha emphasized “I'm for the people who live in apartments. We need to make sure there are parks; we need to make sure that there are things that get residents engaged outside their building." Green space in dense downtown areas should not be a luxury but a necessity for all Toronto communities. Getting outdoors and sharing community space is important for mental health, promoting relaxation, active lifestyles, and boosting moods overall.  

Accessible Paths of Travel 

The wide sidewalks in the Canary District are attractive and inviting. This design feature benefits everyone, including residents who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, providing ample room for movement and enough space for community members to stop and chat. According to Micha: “My favourite thing about the Canary District is the wide sidewalks. It doesn’t feel like you’re taking a step outside your door and then you’re directly into oncoming traffic.” 

Transit & Biking  

All complete communities strive to connect neighbourhoods. In the Canary District, there is a streetcar stop right at Front St. and Cherry St., “a one-minute walk from my building.” The streetcar is an option for transit goers; however, Micha prefers to use Bike Share Toronto. There are bike lanes that take you right to the downtown core, making biking very accessible, convenient, and overall beneficial for her active lifestyle as an athlete. 

Community Events with Low Barriers for Participation 

In addition to linking the Canary District to other communities, there are many events and activities in the neighbourhood at a low cost. Community events enhance residents’ mental and social well-being. Micha added how "community events, such as movie nights at Corktown Common, contribute to the sense of belonging and community spirit in the neighbourhood." 

Health and Wellness 

From its conception, the community has maintained a focus on health and wellness. In addition to the area’s parks and cycling network and the Cooper Koo Family YMCA, this includes access to healthcare in the community. The Anishnawbe Toronto Health facility will soon be opening, offering inclusive access to both Indigenous and Western medical practices. Micha also mentioned that during COVID-19, Wigwamen hosted vaccination clinics, to ensure easy access and convivence for residents to receive vaccinations. 

Third Spaces  

Lastly, third spaces are a key ingredient to maintaining community cohesion. “Third spaces are places where you can meet up but you’re not necessarily trying to meet up,” stated Micha. Micha explained that grocery stores have become third spaces in the Canary District. These spaces can strengthen community bonds through small-scale interactions that create a sense of belonging.

The West Don Lands community enjoying a movie night in Corktown Common (Image credit: Nicola Betts)   

Shaping Tomorrow  

Micha loves her community and would love to see even more features in the coming years. Could the future of Wigwamen and other Canary District buildings have a floor dedicated to athletes, mimicking the athlete's village in 2015? Micha sure hopes so.  

The West Don Lands is leading by example. To follow in its footsteps, Micha thinks that more Toronto communities should incorporate these ingredients, while incorporating more fun! Micha wishes “there were more fun elements in Toronto instead of just go, go, go, work... It's nice to have fountains and public art. I love that we have in them the Canary District.” Fun destinations and public art make spaces more inviting, encourage interaction among neighbours, and make communities more attractive. 

In her personal experience, the affordable, accessible, and green elements of this community have allowed Micha to focus on her athletic career and goals. From living amongst diverse residents, to utilizing the accessible features of her community, and to training in her green backyard, Micha has found a sense of community in her neighbourhood.  

The Wigwamen building in the West Don Lands’ Canary District is a place Micha calls home, a place to live, a place to work, a place to train, and a place to play. Despite recent injuries, Micha is determined to recover and aims to join the Canadian team for the 2025 World Championship in Tokyo. Micha concluded by sharing, “I remain committed to my training and optimistic about my future in athletics."   

Waterfront Toronto wishes Micha the very best training for the 2025 World Championship in Tokyo. Good Luck, Micha! 

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