One million dollars has been donated to the $20 million The Village project.

It’s a unique health and wellness centre at Canadore College.
David Ding and Sapna Thakur  from Toronto donated the money to the centre, which is currently under development at Canadore’s College Drive location.

Canadore College president George Burton says the money will be used to pay for infrastructure and technological services the facility will have.

He says the money will go towards their $5 million community fundraising campaign.

“Currently we’re at $2.3 million raised of our 5. Canadore has been a major investor in this ourselves. We’ll be taking on $4 million in debt to create that $20 million envelope. So we’re well on our way.”

Burton says the Village’s model of care focuses on the integration of several types of medical care.

“Western Medicine, Eastern Medicine or Indigenous Medicine does not have a monopoly on that. In bringing 3 disciplines together there will be a better view of health and wellness and a better approach to training individuals who are exposed to these 3 disciplines.”

He says The Village’s model of care, which focuses on the integration of Indigenous, Eastern and Western healing and wellness practices automatically appealed to Ding and Thakur seeing as it aligned so closely with their own beliefs.

Specifically, the ways in which traditional Chinese medicine can complement conventional medicine.

He says the gift to the capital campaign will be recognized by the College through the creation of a healing garden, grounds development and landscaping, that promote whole self-healing.