MONTREAL — A former synagogue that closed its doors because too few people were coming in will be turned into a bustling, indoor model city with thousands passing through each year, according to a local charitable group’s plans.

Little Justin Diotte enjoys playing doctor in a mock medical office with Friendship Circle volunteers Chaya Serraf, left, and Amanda Shitrit.

Ground was broken at the former Congregation Chevra Shaas on Bourret Street recently for the Friendship Circle’s $8-million centre for children with special needs. The centrepiece of the project is the scale-model Life Village, described as unique in Canada, where kids with intellectual and/or physical challenges can learn everyday skills needed in the real world.

They will walk down a “street” with working traffic signals and stop in at a bank, doctor’s office, beauty salon or movie theatre, for example, to gain practical experience in a way that is secure, non-threatening and even fun.

The former synagogue was bought two years ago by the Friendship Circle, an international non-profit organization with roots in the Lubavitch community. The Montreal chapter encourages teens to volunteer to spend time with children who have special needs, and a professional staff runs social and recreational activities for the youngsters and their parents.

The new centre will occupy 26,000 square feet on two levels, providing space for therapeutic and recreational programs as well as the model city. When completed (the target date is September 2009), the centre is expected to reach about 3,000 children and their families annually, on a non-sectarian basis, with the help of 800 volunteers, teens and adults and at least triple the staff it has today.

Schools and other programs for students with special needs will be invited to use the Life Village.

The new centre is modelled on the Friendship Circle’s flagship facility in Detroit, known as Life Town. Rabbi Levi and Bassie Shemtov, founders of the Circle in Detroit in 1994, came from Michigan for the ceremony.

The former shul was bought two years ago for the Circle by an anonymous donor at a cost of over $1.2 million. Friendship Circle’s Montreal chapter founder Sima Paris said about $4.5 million must still be raised for the construction.

The architects are Shulim Rubin and Rhona Goldenberg, whose recent projects include the Hope and Cope Wellness Centre for cancer patients, which opened last year.

“With the Friendship Circle’s incredible success and the dramatic expansion of services over the past few years, the Friendship Centre and Life Village are an absolute necessity for the growth and continuation of the organization in Montreal and will serve as an important resource for the community at large,” said Paris who, with her husband Rabbi Yosef Paris, started the Montreal chapter in 2001.

Today, approximately 240 students, Jewish and non-Jewish, from 40 high schools and colleges are friends to some 170 children with special needs. They make regular visits to the children’s homes to play with them or take them on outings. At the new centre, the young people will play a key role in guiding the children through the mock village.

“This facility will help children with special needs achieve their highest potential,” said Douglas Avrith, honorary president of the Circle, president of the footwear chain Yellow Group Inc. “It also gives teenage volunteers an exceptional first-hand experience with community service, helping to instil the commitment to giving back to the community.”

The groundbreaking ceremony was held in memory of his late father Ernest Avrith.

Currently, Circle activities are held at Pomerantz House on Van Horne Avenue, the headquarters of Free Hebrew for Juniors, an extracurricular Jewish studies program offered in 29 public schools that was founded 35 years ago and is still led by the Paris couple. The space is woefully inadequate, and they will be looking for rental space in the intervening year before the new centre is ready.

Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, a correspondent for the television entertainment program eTalk, was guest speaker at the ceremony, and the MC was radio personality Suzanne Desautels.

The goals of the Circle are to provide children who have disabilities with companionship and stimulation, give their parents  a little respite and make the families feel less isolated, as well as teach young people to be caring and responsible, and appreciative of what they have.

Paris, a mother of nine and youthful-looking grandmother of 12 with seemingly unflagging energy, said she is motivated by her faith, but admits she is a little daunted by the magnitude of this project.

“Ultimately, this is all about spreading lovingkindness in the world. We believe these are God’s children. They have the purest of hearts. They were brought into this world to bring out the best in us, and it is a privilege to take care of them,” she said.

“We know He will make this happen, but God is not going to do the work. That is our responsibility, and it’s a really big one. My husband said just go ahead and do it, and things will fall into place.”

For more information, call 735-2255 or visit www.buildingfriendship.ca.