Kitchener Masjid receives $197,000 in federal funds

The Kitchener Masjid has received federal funding under the community infrastructure program celebrating Canada's 150th birthday.

The $197,585 was announced Sunday by Kitchener Centre MP Raj Saini.

The funding will go towards renovationof the mosque, which is currently in a warehouse-like building on Victoria Street. This will help make it more recognizable and functional as a place for prayer.

It will also help create a new youth centre in the space.

The first step will be upgrades to the gym which has served for the past six months as a donation holding area for arriving Syrian refugees. Construction will replace the gym's roof, floors and the heating, ventilation andair conditioningsystem (HVAC) and will begin later this week.

Officials at the Masjid said they still need to raise $560,000 to complete phase one of their renovations to the space.