As World Cup fever sweeps across Canada, Dream, Kilmer and Tricon (DKT) announced they have partnered with Canada Soccer to launch a new housing initiative designed to bolster the country’s high‑performance sport ecosystem. The program will provide access to designated affordable homes at Cherry House, an 855‑unit purpose‑built rental community in Toronto’s Canary Landing neighbourhood. Of the total homes, 257 — roughly 30 per cent — are designated as affordable, including units reserved specifically to support Canada’s sport sector.
Through DKT’s housing referral partner, the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO), these homes will be allocated to eligible individuals at Canada Soccer, AFC Toronto — a professional women’s team — and the North Toronto Nitros community club. The initiative is structured to support athletes at multiple stages of development, as well as youth coaches and staff who play essential roles in sustaining the sport’s long‑term growth.
“For many developing athletes and coaches, the dream of competing at the highest level is shaped by the practical reality of training and competing in a high cost-of-living city,” said Kevin Blue, CEO and General Secretary of Canada Soccer. “This partnership provides foundational support for our high-performance pathway, helping to ensure that talent and potential, not financial pressure, determine who can succeed in the sport.”
According to the partners, the need for strong, accessible development pathways has never been more urgent. Many of Canada’s top training and competition venues are clustered in Toronto, a city where high housing costs often determine who can realistically pursue elite sport. Cherry House’s strategic location in the Canary Landing neighbourhood places athletes close to major training sites, transit, and recovery facilities — reducing commute times and easing daily pressures. Combined with affordable homes and on‑site amenities such as Club Apex, a full‑size commercial‑grade gym, the community gives athletes the stability, proximity, and resources they need to perform at their best.
“Sport has the power to lift and unite Canadians, reinforce national pride, and serve as an important development tool for youth in our communities,” said Andrew Joyner, Senior Managing Director and Head of Multi-Family at Tricon. “Supporting Canada Soccer, from grass roots all the way to national team levels, allows our country’s sporting culture to grow. It is a natural extension of what we do: building complete communities where people can thrive. Cherry House reflects that approach, integrating affordable homes for the players, coaches, and staff who make soccer possible in Canada.”
Cherry House is located within the Canary District, originally developed as athlete housing for the 2015 Pan Am Games. The new partnership extends that legacy, keeping high‑performance sport embedded in the neighbourhood’s identity.
“Major sporting moments are defined by the legacy they leave behind,” said Debbie Low, President and CEO of the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario. “This partnership was designed to deliver on the City of Toronto’s legacy soccer initiatives, providing lasting support for Canada’s players, coaches, and staff long after the last tournament match is played this summer.”
“Toronto is strongest when people have the opportunity to build a future in our city,” added Mayor Olivia Chow. “This innovative partnership is creating affordable homes for young people and community leaders who contribute so much to our neighbourhoods and to the next generation.”
