The 519 Church St. Community Centre
Encyclopedia
The 519 Church Street Community Centre, colloquially The 519, is a Canadian charitable, non-profit community centre
in the Church and Wellesley
neighbourhood of Toronto
, Ontario
. Located at 519 Church Street the centre serves both its local neighbourhood and the broader lesbian
, gay
, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT
) communities in the Toronto area.
According to The Centre's mission statement
they are "a meeting place and focal point for the creative enhancement of a vibrant healthy downtown community." The Centre aims to "respond creatively and passionately to the needs of the local neighbourhood and the broader LGBT communities by providing resources and opportunities to foster self-determination, civic engagement, and community enrichment through social recreation, volunteerism, arts and culture, and community participation."
The 519's catchment area spans from Bloor Street to the north to Gerrard Street to the south, and from Bay Street in the west to Parliament Street in the east.
People come to The 519 not only to receive and but also to provide social services. In 2005, over 34,000 volunteer hours kept The 519 running, including 22,743 hours by Programme Volunteers and 11,248 hours by Community Volunteers. Volunteers are central to the existence of programs at The 519.
People choose to come to The 519 for a multitude of reasons, such as a particular social service need, recreational interest, or desire to give back to the community. The 519 fulfills a public function by providing space to community groups that may not otherwise have access to appropriate space.
To fulfill its mission, The 519 directly runs and co-sponsors a variety of social service programs, including:
The 519 has also inspired similar organisations in other communities such as the GLBTTQ Community Centre of Ottawa
.
and the Toronto Public Library
.
The AOCC model is a hybrid between a City agency and an independent, not-for-profit, community-based organization. The core administration activities are funded by the City and treated like a City agency (building maintenance and upkeep, utilities, etc.). Community programming is funded through fund-raising (corporate and individual donations, grants, etc.) and is led by the community-based Board of Management. The 519 is a member agency of the United Way
of Greater Toronto and has received funding from various governments, corporations and foundations including the Community One Foundation and Government of Ontario
.
Details of the relationship between the City of Toronto and AOCCs are outlined in a relationship framework approved by City Council in 2006.
(ex-officio) and 11 citizens. Citizen members of the Board are elected by members of The 519 who are residents of the catchment area. The Board of Management is subsequently appointed by City Council.
The Board operates from a modified Policy Governance
model which ensures delegation of day-to-day leadership of the organization to the Executive Director
Maura Lawless. The Board is currently led by Natasha Garda, a teacher by profession and a previous co-chair of Pride Toronto.
By 1999 a sex workers outreach component had also begun under the direction of Ms Ross and the Meal Trans Programme.
2001 saw the creation of Trans Youth Toronto by activist Christina Strang, then Trans Programming Supervisor at The 519. Trans Youth Toronto is a social drop-in for trans youth under 27 years old, and is the longest-running trans youth group in Canada.
s and lesbian
s living in The 519's coverage area have been among the most active and visible members and users of the community centre. Most groups are run by volunteers, and the group members appreciate the safe environment, accessibility, and The 519's role within the community.
12-step programs, other mutual support groups, and recreational programs such as card and board game
s have thrived in The 519's environment of accessible space, diversity, helpful and knowledgeable staff, and a strong volunteer contingent.
In the 1970s, many other programs were developed. Seniors formed one of the first social clubs at The 519. Developmentally challenged adults also have had a dance on Friday nights since the late 1970s.
Healthy Kids Summer Day Camp offers families with school-aged children with quality and low-cost activities during students' summer vacation
s.
In more recent years, the centre's program development has focused on issues such as poverty, violence, and advocacy. The Thursday Legal Advice Clinic has been joined by a Wills Clinic for people who are HIV positive. An Income Tax Clinic assists low income people every year. The Anti-Violence Program supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
persons who are victims of anti-gay violence or domestic violence
. Many LGBT support groups have made The 519 their home. Short-term community counselling is available to anyone, in response to the pronounced need in the neighbourhood. Most recently the centre developed the Trans Programmes, services unique in Canada, which focus on support, advocacy and drop-in programmes for transgender and transsexual communities, particularly those who are street active and living in poverty.
In June 2006, the still-unfinished new wing of The 519 was officially opened. Over the next year it was used for meeting and events space but in August 2007 was closed for final renovations. In November 2007, the new wing was finished and housed the staff and services of the centre while the original building was renovated.
Community centre
Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
in the Church and Wellesley
Church and Wellesley
Church and Wellesley is an LGBT-oriented community located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is roughly bounded by Gerrard Street to the south, Yonge Street to the west, Charles Street to the north, and Jarvis Street to the east, with the core commercial strip located along Church Street from...
neighbourhood of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Located at 519 Church Street the centre serves both its local neighbourhood and the broader lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, bisexual and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
(LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
) communities in the Toronto area.
According to The Centre's mission statement
Mission statement
A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making...
they are "a meeting place and focal point for the creative enhancement of a vibrant healthy downtown community." The Centre aims to "respond creatively and passionately to the needs of the local neighbourhood and the broader LGBT communities by providing resources and opportunities to foster self-determination, civic engagement, and community enrichment through social recreation, volunteerism, arts and culture, and community participation."
The 519's catchment area spans from Bloor Street to the north to Gerrard Street to the south, and from Bay Street in the west to Parliament Street in the east.
Programs run by The 519
In 2005, The 519 provided services to 25,734 individuals and hosted 4291 meetings, conferences, groups, and special events.People come to The 519 not only to receive and but also to provide social services. In 2005, over 34,000 volunteer hours kept The 519 running, including 22,743 hours by Programme Volunteers and 11,248 hours by Community Volunteers. Volunteers are central to the existence of programs at The 519.
People choose to come to The 519 for a multitude of reasons, such as a particular social service need, recreational interest, or desire to give back to the community. The 519 fulfills a public function by providing space to community groups that may not otherwise have access to appropriate space.
To fulfill its mission, The 519 directly runs and co-sponsors a variety of social service programs, including:
- Anti-Violence Programme
- Anti-Poverty & Homelessness Programmes
- Children's Programmes
- Community Living
- Counselling
- Courses
- Legal Services
- LGBT Newcomers Programme
- Older Adults Programmes
- Queer Parenting Programmes
- Rainbow Book
- Trans Programmes
The 519 has also inspired similar organisations in other communities such as the GLBTTQ Community Centre of Ottawa
GLBTTQ Community Centre of Ottawa
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans, Two-Spirit, and Queer Community Centre of Ottawa is an incorporated non-profit organization which works towards providing a community centre for the LGBT community in Ottawa, the capital of Canada.-History:...
.
Space use and community-run programs
The 519 provides free meeting space for community member volunteers to develop their own programs. In 2003, The 519 housed 75 volunteer-run programs (in areas of community services, education, recreation, and self-help), and welcomed 140 user groups (in areas of community fundraising, off-site recreation, professional associations and unions, social activists, social service organizations and tenants’ organizations). The 519 estimates in its 2003 annual report that approximately 26,000 individuals visited the centre over 160,000 times.Governance Model
The 519 is a Board of Management of the City of Toronto, falling under the category of "Agencies, Boards and Commissions" alongside organizations like Build Toronto, Exhibition PlaceExhibition Place
Exhibition Place is a mixed-use district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, by the shoreline of Lake Ontario, just west of downtown. The 197–acre area includes expo, trade, and banquet centres, theatre and music buildings, monuments, parkland, sports facilities, and a number of civic, provincial,...
and the Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library is a public library system based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest public library system in Canada and in 2008, had averaged a higher...
.
Association of Community Centres
The 519 is a member of the Association of Community Centres (AOCCs), which comprises 10 volunteer board-run multi-purpose facilities providing a broad range of community, recreation and social service programs to residents in the local community.The AOCC model is a hybrid between a City agency and an independent, not-for-profit, community-based organization. The core administration activities are funded by the City and treated like a City agency (building maintenance and upkeep, utilities, etc.). Community programming is funded through fund-raising (corporate and individual donations, grants, etc.) and is led by the community-based Board of Management. The 519 is a member agency of the United Way
United Way of Canada
United Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...
of Greater Toronto and has received funding from various governments, corporations and foundations including the Community One Foundation and Government of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
.
Details of the relationship between the City of Toronto and AOCCs are outlined in a relationship framework approved by City Council in 2006.
Board of Management
The 519's Board of Management includes the Ward 27 City Councillor Kyle RaeKyle Rae
Kyle Rae is a former Canadian politician. He was a city councillor for Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale in Toronto, Ontario from 1991 to 2010. Rae is now a self-described consultant.-Politics:...
(ex-officio) and 11 citizens. Citizen members of the Board are elected by members of The 519 who are residents of the catchment area. The Board of Management is subsequently appointed by City Council.
The Board operates from a modified Policy Governance
Policy Governance
Policy Governance is a trademarked governance model designed for Boards of Directors that provides a clear differentiation between governance and management responsibilities in organizations. The model was developed by John Carver....
model which ensures delegation of day-to-day leadership of the organization to the Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
Maura Lawless. The Board is currently led by Natasha Garda, a teacher by profession and a previous co-chair of Pride Toronto.
Program History
Many programs were developed based on expressed needs of people in the community.Anti-Poverty and Homeless Programming
Homeless persons began dropping in on Sunday afternoons, a day when many other programs were closed. Coffee, cards and checkers were the first activities in a program that has become an essential service for homeless people. Over the years, as poverty increased, the Sunday Drop-in developed into a meal and clothing program with referrals, a book cart, movies and other activities. Since 1996, the centre has opened for longer hours on Sundays in the winter months in order to offer two meals. It is also open on statutory holidays in winter.Family Resource Centre
Another program, the Family Resource Centre, began when a group of neighbourhood mothers formed a play group in the 1970s. The program now offers support, referrals and workshops to families with children up to six-years-old, and the drop-in program has been augmented since 1994 by the community centre's involvement in Growing Up Healthy Downtown.Trans Programs
In 1997, Mirha-Soleil Ross started the MEAL-TRANS programme, beginning The 519's Trans Programmes. MEAL-TRANS served healthy, vegetarian food to lower-income and street active ts/tg people. The Meal Trans Programme also became a hub for people in the ts/tg community to get peer support, attend workshops and even get clothing which matched their core self.By 1999 a sex workers outreach component had also begun under the direction of Ms Ross and the Meal Trans Programme.
2001 saw the creation of Trans Youth Toronto by activist Christina Strang, then Trans Programming Supervisor at The 519. Trans Youth Toronto is a social drop-in for trans youth under 27 years old, and is the longest-running trans youth group in Canada.
LGBT Programming
GayGay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
s and lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
s living in The 519's coverage area have been among the most active and visible members and users of the community centre. Most groups are run by volunteers, and the group members appreciate the safe environment, accessibility, and The 519's role within the community.
12-step programs, other mutual support groups, and recreational programs such as card and board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
s have thrived in The 519's environment of accessible space, diversity, helpful and knowledgeable staff, and a strong volunteer contingent.
In the 1970s, many other programs were developed. Seniors formed one of the first social clubs at The 519. Developmentally challenged adults also have had a dance on Friday nights since the late 1970s.
Healthy Kids Summer Day Camp offers families with school-aged children with quality and low-cost activities during students' summer vacation
Summer vacation
Summer vacation is a vacation in the summertime between school years in which students and instructors are off school typically between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the country and district.-Students:In some countries, students participate in programs such as organized sports, summer camps, and...
s.
In more recent years, the centre's program development has focused on issues such as poverty, violence, and advocacy. The Thursday Legal Advice Clinic has been joined by a Wills Clinic for people who are HIV positive. An Income Tax Clinic assists low income people every year. The Anti-Violence Program supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
persons who are victims of anti-gay violence or domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
. Many LGBT support groups have made The 519 their home. Short-term community counselling is available to anyone, in response to the pronounced need in the neighbourhood. Most recently the centre developed the Trans Programmes, services unique in Canada, which focus on support, advocacy and drop-in programmes for transgender and transsexual communities, particularly those who are street active and living in poverty.
Capital Renovations
In 2001, as use of the building reached capacity, The 519 undertook a process to raise money for a 3-story addition to be built onto the existing structure. The 519's Capital Campaign, chaired by Salah Bachir, successfully raised money from the local community to fund the New Wing.In June 2006, the still-unfinished new wing of The 519 was officially opened. Over the next year it was used for meeting and events space but in August 2007 was closed for final renovations. In November 2007, the new wing was finished and housed the staff and services of the centre while the original building was renovated.
See also
- List of LGBT community centers
- Church and WellesleyChurch and WellesleyChurch and Wellesley is an LGBT-oriented community located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is roughly bounded by Gerrard Street to the south, Yonge Street to the west, Charles Street to the north, and Jarvis Street to the east, with the core commercial strip located along Church Street from...
Neighbourhood
External links
- The 519 Church Street Community Centre — Official website
- City of Toronto Website - Association of Community Centres