PAIDEIA STUDY CENTER
A Building Prospectus
What We Envision
The Cántaro Institute envisions the creation of the Paideia Study Center in the heart of the Niagara region—a hub for advancing the Christian worldview for the reformation and renewal of the church and culture through rigorous Christian teaching, worldview formation, and mentorship. Rooted in the legacy of Reformed thinkers like Abraham Kuyper, Herman Dooyeweerd, H. Evan Runner, and Cornelius Van Til, the Paideia Study Center would be a place where believers—from laymen to pastors—are intentionally equipped to bring every area of life under the lordship of Christ. Through structured study, hands-on training, and the cultivation of biblical wisdom, the Center would prepare Christians to think faithfully, live boldly, and serve effectively in their respective vocations and communities.
Purpose
The Study Center would:
- Advance a comprehensive Christian worldview grounded in Christian philosophy and biblical theology.
- Provide a resource-rich environment for students, pastors, scholars, and laypeople to engage Scripture, philosophy, culture, and vocation from a Christian worldview.
- Serve the broader Niagara region (and beyond) through lectures, seminars, mentoring, summer camps, study retreats, and discipleship initiatives.
- Advance a comprehensive Christian worldview grounded in Christian philosophy and biblical theology.
Strategic Location
Situated in the heart of the Niagara region, the Paideia Study Center would serve as the headquarters of the Cántaro Institute—a hub for faithful Christian teaching, training, and publishing. Benefiting from proximity to major institutions such as Redeemer University, the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary, Brock University, Niagara College, and the new University of Niagara Falls, the Center will be ideally located to engage students, pastors, and Christian leaders. The region’s beauty and accessibility make it an ideal setting for hosting events, conferences, and intensive study programs, firmly establishing the Paideia Study Center as a center of intellectual and spiritual formation rooted in Scriptural truth.
Core Components
- Administrative Offices: To support the operations, events, publishing, and programming of the Institute.
- Resource Library: Featuring foundational works in Reformational philosophy, Reformed theology, Christian cultural thought, and related disciplines, anchored by the Paideia Press and Cántaro Publications catalogue.
- Chapel/Lecture Hall: A flexible space for lectures, conferences, and community gatherings, fostering both biblical devotion and intellectual engagement.
- Administrative Offices: To support the operations, events, publishing, and programming of the Institute.
Distinctives
- A commitment to the Biblical vision that Christ is Lord over every square inch of life.
- A focus on worldview development shaped by the legacy of Dooyeweerd, Kuyper, Runner, and others.
- A model of Christian study and community that integrates philosophy, theology, and practical life.
- A commitment to the Biblical vision that Christ is Lord over every square inch of life.
Phase I
The first step in realizing the vision of the Paideia Study Center is to raise sufficient funds to purchase and renovate an existing facility that aligns with the Institute’s mission and operational needs. This facility will serve as the headquarters of the Cántaro Institute, housing administrative offices, a specialized library, and flexible teaching and meeting spaces. Careful selection and renovation will ensure the space is well-suited to support the Institute’s work in teaching, mentoring, publishing, and equipping Christians for faithful cultural engagement for years to come, while also providing adequate space to house our extensive book inventory for the store.
Partner With Us
The Cántaro Institute invites partners and supporters to join us in laying the foundation for a Study Center that will serve generations to come—cultivating minds, nurturing faith, and advancing the Kingdom of Christ in Canada and beyond.
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