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The 519

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Coordinates: 43°39′58″N 79°22′52″W / 43.666°N 79.381°W / 43.666; -79.381
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The 519 Church Street Community Centre
FoundedEstablished 1975 (Opened 1976)
TypeCommunity Centre
11931-0761-RR0001
Location
Members
2,500
Volunteers
1,000
WebsiteThe519.org

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 (GLBT) 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."[1]

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.

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 Place and the Toronto Public Library [2].

Association of Community Centres

The 519 is a member of the Association of Community Centres (AOCCs), comprised of 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 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. [3]

Board of Management

The 519's Board of Management includes the Ward 27 City Councillor Kyle Rae (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.

Programs and Community Services

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[4]
  • Anti-Poverty & Homelessness Programmes[5]
  • Children's Programmes[6]
  • Community Living[7]
  • Counselling[8]
  • Courses[9]
  • Legal Services[10]
  • LGBT Newcomers Programme[11]
  • Older Adults Programmes[12]
  • Queer Parenting Programmes[13]
  • Trans Programmes[14]

The 519 has also inspired similar organisations in other communities such as the GLBTTQ Community Centre of Ottawa.

Programs sponsored or supported by The 519

AIDS Memorial

The AIDS Memorial, located in Cawthra Square Park is a public memorial to those who have died from AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses throughout Toronto. The 519 is the trustee of the Memorial and oversees upkeep and the annual addition of names.[15]

AIDS Candlelight Vigil

The 519 provides administrative and management support to the Annual AIDS Candlelight Vigil held during Pride Toronto every year. Over 1,000 people attend this event which remembers, celebrates and honours those who have been lost to the disease.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). The 519's Capital Campaign, chaired by Salah Bachir, successfully raised money from the local community to fund the New Wing.[16]

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.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ The 519's Website
  2. ^ City of Toronto Website for Agencies, Boards and Commissions
  3. ^ Relationship Framework between the City of Toronto and the AOCCs, Approved September 2006
  4. ^ 519 Programmes: Anti-Violence Programme
  5. ^ 519 Programmes: Homeless Services Index
  6. ^ 519 Programmes: Children's Programmes
  7. ^ 519 Programmes: Community Living
  8. ^ 519 Programmes: Community Counselling
  9. ^ 519 Programmes: Courses
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ Among Friends Project
  12. ^ 519 Programmes: Older Adults
  13. ^ 519 Programmes: Queer Parenting Programme
  14. ^ 519 Programmes:
  15. ^ The AIDS Memorial
  16. ^ Template:PDFlink
  17. ^ 519 Expansion and Renovation Project

43°39′58″N 79°22′52″W / 43.666°N 79.381°W / 43.666; -79.381

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