The 519

The 519 Founded in 1976. The Centre offers internationally renowned Programs and Services as well as offering meeting space to our diverse downtown communities.
(212)

A City of Toronto agency, registered charity, and community centre, The 519 is committed to the health, happiness and full participation of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Toronto and beyond - through service, space, and leadership. Every year, The 519 houses over 75 volunteer-run programs (in areas of community services, education, recreation, and self-help), and welcomes over 150 user groups (in areas o

f community fundraising, off-site recreation, professional associations and unions, social activists, social service organizations and tenants’ organizations). Every year over 50,000 individuals visit the centre over 200,000 times. Privacy Notice:

The personal information you provide to The 519 through Facebook is collected in compliance with the City of Toronto Act 2006. Personal information will be used by The 519 for the purpose of receiving your RSVP for an event or replying to your inquiries about The 519. The 519 will not trade personal information with other organizations. Questions about this collection can be directed to the Office Manager of The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St., Toronto, ON. M4Y 2C9 or by phone at 416-355-6772.

For over three years, our Youth Arts programs have collaborated with the on series’ of clay workshops for 14-18 year ol...
05/31/2026

For over three years, our Youth Arts programs have collaborated with the on series’ of clay workshops for 14-18 year old 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

Participants get an amazing free opportunity to take clay sculpting lessons in this gorgeous museum, making their own personal projects with a theme, such as, common ground, guiding their work.

We caught up with some of the participants last month to see what they were up to!

Pride month at The 519 is back, baby! We have a fun roster of drop-in celebrations, parties for the little ones, youth,...
05/30/2026

Pride month at The 519 is back, baby!

We have a fun roster of drop-in celebrations, parties for the little ones, youth, and older adults, fun workshops, community vigils, and the party of parties for a cause, Green Space Festival!

All our events are free unless otherwise noted. Some might be for specific community members.

Check out the entire line-up at https://www.the519.org/news/the519pridecalendar26/ or at our Link in bio.

05/28/2026

The 519 Pride Speaker Series has become a much-loved and looked-forward-to learning opportunity among organizations across the city and country during Pride. In 2025, over 500 learners joined us over 40 sessions to learn about fostering 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive workplace, showing up as active allies, and highlighting q***r joy as media professionals.

Join us this Pride for our series! We're offering four virtual Talks for Change. Each, delivered by 2SLGBTQ+ leading voices, will offer practical tips for you and your team.

All proceeds from these talks go to support The 519's year-round work serving 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Sign your workplace team up for a talk today. Visit The519.org/PrideTalks

[Image descriptions: 1 - A quote from a learner: "Our ERG loves the Pride Speaker Series and would love to join in every year. It really is a chance to learn about topics that go beyond allyship 101.” 2 - A quote from a learner: "“Extremely well thought out and well delivered content. I've never heard some of these ideas explained so well.” 3 - The 519's 50th anniversary logo with text that reads "The 519 Pride Speaker Series 2026. Talks for Change. Learn from leaders whose expertise is rooted in 50 years of community." 4 - Graphic listings all the talks on offer: Talk 1 - Welcome to the Cottage: Q***r Joy and Intersectional Allyship from Heated Rivalry, talk 2 - Taking Action to Create Trans Inclusive Workspaces, talk 3 - Building 2SLGBTQ+ Allyship Into Workplace Culture, talk 4 - Celebrating 2SLGBTQ+ Joy in Media and Advertising.]

If you’re looking for a fun start to Pride Month, come connect with other community members at our second annual Pride S...
05/27/2026

If you’re looking for a fun start to Pride Month, come connect with other community members at our second annual Pride Sober Mixology Class with Gail Lynch of Zero Cocktail Bar!

As more and more people experiment with sober partying and mocktails, it’s great to find new and exciting ways to make gatherings special. In this class we’ll learn to make two tasty mocktails.

Last year this event was full of laughter, over the smell of fresh mint and basil leaves, proving that the most important ingredient we need at Pride is each other.

RSVP at The519.org/Mixology or at our link in bio. Tickets are $25.

The AIDS Memorial Storytelling Project has collected stories from the loved ones of people on the AIDS Memorial in Barba...
05/26/2026

The AIDS Memorial Storytelling Project has collected stories from the loved ones of people on the AIDS Memorial in Barbara Hall Park. You can add names to the AIDS Memorial for free at any time at TOAIDSMemorial.com

The period to add names in time to be engraved for this year’s vigil has passed, so names collected now will be engraved next year. Join us at The AIDS Vigil on Tuesday, June 23 at 9:00 pm in Barbara Hall Park.

Bruce Glawson contributed this story about their friend Steve Sohan:

"What I remember most about Steve is his mischievous nature, his handsome face with that dazzling smile, and his gutsy resilience.

Steve made a profound impact when he entered my life in August of 1989. With quiet confidence and a broad grin, he introduced himself while I was sunbathing on Woodbine Beach beside Lake Ontario. He thought I looked lonely.

Steve had arrived in Canada as a Trinidadian refugee under an assumed identity. His life in Toronto grew increasingly complex due to his undocumented status, the challenges of being a person of colour, and eventually, living with HIV. I witnessed the myriad obstacles he faced–economic hardships, limited rights, and no privileges.

Yet Steve was a tenacious survivor who skillfully navigated through the adversities that continually crossed his path.

Despite his efforts, Steve couldn’t fight his deportation back to Trinidad in August of 1999, shortly after receiving his HIV diagnosis.

I was fortunate to visit Steve twice after he returned to Trinidad. Life there continued to be daunting, as he had to conceal both his gay identity and HIV status. Most alarming was the limited access to life-saving treatments in his country at that time.

During my final visit to Trinidad in April 2004, Steve cheerfully gave me a tour of the offices and facilities of a local AIDS organization where he had become an active volunteer.

In February of 2005, I received a long-distance call from Steve’s mother with the news that he had passed away at just 41 years of age.

I remain forever grateful to his mother for reaching out to me, and of course to Steve himself for the immeasurable gifts his friendship brought into my life."

On April 17, we gathered for Mino M’shki-ki: Good Medicine Walk and Messages to the Future. Through teachings on sacred ...
05/25/2026

On April 17, we gathered for Mino M’shki-ki: Good Medicine Walk and Messages to the Future. Through teachings on sacred medicines and the Medicine Wheel, along with shared experiences of the Sacred Fire, smudging, and song, Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers Kurt Wolfear, Waabshkaa Mkwa, and the Circle of Cedar Singers guided us in a meaningful circle of learning and reflection. We also shared a warm meal of Three Sisters soup, berries, and bannock.

We hope you can join us at our upcoming Mino M’shki-ki event on Wednesday, May 27, from 3 to 7pm.

[Images description:
Groups of people gather outdoors in Allan Gardens park for a community event, sitting and standing in circles while listening to the speaker who is in front of a Medicine Circle and sharing about To***co, Cedar, Sage, and Sweetgrass, as well as sharing other teachings. Participants walk together along sidewalks, pause for discussion, and take part in activities. Folding chairs marked “519” and a cloth with teaching items appear in some scenes. A shared meal is served at an outdoor table with soup, berries, and cups, while a larger view shows the full gathering at Barbara Hall Park near benches, with The 519 in the background.]

Let’s make connections with the land and each other through care for our city!Join us for a community clean-up of Barbar...
05/23/2026

Let’s make connections with the land and each other through care for our city!

Join us for a community clean-up of Barbara Hall Park on Wednesday, May 27, 3 to 7 p.m. Meet us at the AIDS Memorial (east side of park). Gloves and bags will be provided.

Look forward to:
- Traditional knowledge keeper Mwka, alongside Firekeeper Kurt Wolfear and Samuel Lopez, will share medicine teachings while the clean-up takes place as part of a Sacred Fire.
- Taking part in The 519's 50th anniversary Postcards to the Future activity, and
- Free snacks post clean-up.

RSVP is optional but preferred: https://the519.jotform.com/260545426035251

[Image description: Two people cleaning up by the AIDS memorial at a past community clean-up event. A pink filter of the image. Another image of the Indigenous medicine wheel is superimposed over it. Text in the bottom reads: “Mino M’shki-ki: Clean Toronto Together Community Clean-Up. Wednesday, May 27, 3 to 7 p.m. at Barbara Hall Park.]

Here’s a newspaper ad from before The 519 had opened, asking volunteers to come together for the good of the neighbourho...
05/22/2026

Here’s a newspaper ad from before The 519 had opened, asking volunteers to come together for the good of the neighbourhood.

When The City of Toronto purchased the building to create The 519 Church Street Community Centre in 1975, it became the first centre where programming was controlled by community through a volunteer board of directors. While this is a common program model today, The 519 was ahead of its time then!

Join us this weekend on May 23 and 24 from 12 to 5 p.m. for Doors Open Toronto. Explore our community centre and enjoy the old wing’s Edwardian architecture, and the modernist Salah J. Bachir extension. Check out the newly renovated lobby and meet our New to Canada, Access to Justice, and Philanthropy teams!

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we’re also offering building and Barbara Hall Park tours, a Q***r Market, and engaging activities to bring our space to life. We can't wait to welcome you!

[Image descriptions: 1 - An older newspaper ad with a sketch of The 519 building and text that reads: “Opening Soon! 519 Church St Community Centre. Run by and for the people of this area. Wanted Volunteers and Suggestions.” 2 - A stylized graphic of The 519 building. Text below reads: “The 519 Doors Open Toronto. May 23 and 24, 12 to 5 p.m. at The 519. Free, no RSVP.”]

Get ready to shake, stir, and sip your way through an evening of mixology magic at The 519.We had so much fun last year ...
05/21/2026

Get ready to shake, stir, and sip your way through an evening of mixology magic at The 519.

We had so much fun last year at our Pride Sober Mixology Class with Gail Lynch of Zero Cocktail Bar, that we’re doing it again!

Tuesday, June 2 from 6 to 9 pm, our expert mixologist will guide you in the art of crafting delicious and Instagram-worthy drinks, all alcohol free.

This class is $25 per person, and is a great way for the sober or sober-curious to start Pride month with a bang. Get tickets at The519.org/Mixology

Questions? Contact Aeryn at [email protected]

[image description: A photo of Gail Lynch in front of a stylized image of cocktails and fruit.]

Toronto’s AIDS Candlelight Vigil will take place on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 9 p.m. at Barbara Hall Park [519 Church St.]...
05/20/2026

Toronto’s AIDS Candlelight Vigil will take place on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 9 p.m. at Barbara Hall Park [519 Church St.]. This year's theme is “42 Years of Building Community: Legacy, Love, and Resistance."

Join us as we celebrate the legacy of every person impacted by HIV/AIDS, those whose names are engraved on the memorial, those whose names are yet to reach us, and those whose stories live on in our hearts and our communities.

The vigil committee is also seeking performers, spoken word artists, and musicians to audition to perform at this year’s vigil.

Applicants are invited to reflect on the theme through their work. Auditions will take place online this year. Apply online via the link in bio. Please note that the application form is Pride Toronto branded, but that artist applications for the Pride Toronto festival are closed, and this form is just for AIDS Vigil performers.

Please submit your auditions before 11:59 pm on May 30th here: https://ow.ly/Ei2t50Z2sOK

If you have any questions or barrier to participation, please message us or email Vanessa at [email protected].

Address

519 Church Street
Toronto, ON
M4Y2C9

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 9pm
Saturday 9am - 5:30pm
Sunday 9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+14163926874

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The 519 posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to The 519:

Shortcuts

Share

Category