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Annual Report 2011-2012 Our Neighbourhood 34,291 residences In 1972, our neighbourhood came families and make connections. For within The 519 catchment area together to demand public space many members of our communities in our fast-growing community. As however, the hard–fought human a result of citizen leadership, a plot rights and political gains of the past of land consisting of a parking lot, a 30 years have not always resulted in 32% of households heritage building and a grocery store an increased standard of living. Our was purchased by the City of Toronto newcomers, youth, seniors, poor in our community have an income and turned into a community centre and marginalized members struggle of $30,000 or less surrounded by a park. Within four to build connections and find the years The 519 opened and began resources necessary for health and providing community space, services wellness. Across social classes, across and resources for local residents. identities and from every ward and 32,947 residences neighbourhood in Toronto, people are Our neighbourhood has changed reaching out to The 519, engaging in are mid– or high–rise apartments and grown over the past 40 years, community life, and taking an active or condominiums yet so much is still the same. As we role in building the kind of Toronto we look around our community we see all want to live in. new development everywhere. New neighbours move in every day and the When the City of Toronto established 55% of households isolation of downtown living continues The 519 they instituted a new and to be a concern for many of the innovative model of local citizen have only one occupant, living alone 40,000+ residents in our catchment leadership. Over the past 36 years area. Often, the people who live next our community has been setting the door are strangers, many of us eat course for our centre. As our needs alone and the most familiar face on and realities change, we ensure our 23% of households the street is the barista who makes our programs and services adapt to meet morning coffee. In the midst of this those emerging needs. move to a new dwelling every year urban isolation lies The 519, a place where we can meet, participate and In the midst of constant change, The celebrate together. 519 is the hub of our communities, a place where we can meet our Across the city, lesbian, gay, bi, neighbours, respond to the needs and trans and queer (LGBTQ) people challenges we face and celebrate our ‘BUILDING’ symbol, Benoit Champy, ‘MONEY symbol, Nick Levesque, ‘CHAIR’ symbol, Liza Keller are finding it easier to settle, build diversity together. from The Noun Project Our Centre 2,154 members As our communities have changed, The 519 is a stronger, more connected joined or renewed their membership so too has The 519. Walking into and effective organization now than it The Centre today, with its beautiful, was five years ago. As we look forward welcoming lobby, award–winning to the next five years, to World Pride, restaurant, and walls coloured by the 2015 Pan/Para Pan Am Games 195,801 visits stunning art, it is hard to imagine that and beyond, we have set new goals this is the same building that housed for our organization: we will define made to The Centre community dances in the 80’s and our impact and measure our success; rallies throughout the decades. Gone expand our work to areas such as is the Lesbian, Gay, Bi Youth Program; food access, art, culture, sport and in its place the new youth–led MOSAIC recreation programming; reinforce 6,300 hours group gathers LGBTQ youth seeking a the role of community leadership; place to belong. The Food Co-op at The grow our resource base; build on our of service contributed by volunteers Centre is a distant memory, but dozens organizational effectiveness and ensure of families visit The 519 every week to the continued stewardship of our pick up their Good Food Box, filled with building. fresh produce. 26% of activities We are redefining the role community Under the leadership of our centres play in creating strong are community–led groups and members and their elected Board neighbourhoods and strong organizations of Management, The Centre has communities. Together, we are developed into a vital community changing the way we understand hub–a place everyone in our community, public space and public- neighbourhood and throughout the private partnership. With your support, 21,468 referrals LGBTQ community can proudly call leadership and involvement, we’re ‘our centre’. While The 519 is still the changing Toronto. or information requests completed by first place vulnerable and marginalized staff at our Front Desk community members turn to for support, individuals who have never before set foot in The Centre are increasingly turning to The 519 for community and connections. Maura Lawless Executive Director Making Connections 747 individuals Melanie first came to The 519 two “There’s a huge difference. It was a real participated in newcomer programs years ago. After leaving her home in eye–opener.” the Caribbean, she arrived in Canada, searching for a place where she could Melanie’s story is strikingly typical. be open about her sexuality. In a very For many members, especially 6,614 meals short time, Melanie became a regular those coming to Toronto from other presence around The 519, participating communities, The 519 becomes more prepared by participants for newcomer in a variety of groups and programs, than just a single program or activity. programs volunteering throughout The Centre and giving others as much support and “The 519 has been a god-send for me, mentorship as she receives in return. there is so much I can access here if I need it…so many things that people 7,688 visits “The 519 is a beacon, my home away take for granted. But for newcomers, it from home” she explains. “Being able means the world.” to all of our newcomer programs last year to just be yourself is not something that I’ve ever been used to. I’ve met so many For Melanie, The 519 is “volunteering, new friends.” membership, involvement, sensitivity, a place where you can be yourself.” 85% of participants Today, Melanie is most active in the Emerge Project, an initiative of The in newcomer programs are refugee 519’s settlement programs. Emerge, Next Steps claimants like many of The Centre’s programs and groups, utilizes a peer–based model. Newcomer services are the fastest Mentors in the project share their growing programs at The 519. In 2010 knowledge and lived experience with we secured funding from Citizenship 28 languages newcomers on issues as wide–ranging and Immigration Canada to expand as cooking, banking, employment and our services and we will continue to are spoken as the first language of socializing. seek additional financial support to newcomers at The 519 meet the growing need this community “Recently we had a group discussion faces. Increased capacity to measure about dating, a ‘Dating 101’. The outcomes and to articulate our impact expectations, the social norms, so many will also be a priority in this and all of things are different here.” our programs. Reaching Out 169 individuals Cheyenne, Gord and Christine joined “I’ve become more confident and participated in Older LGBT Programs the Older LGBT Program as phone I’m really enjoying the experience,” calling volunteers in the peak of a Christine explains. “One of the summer heat wave. Concerned about members on the list, he was shy at the older members of our community who beginning too. Now we can talk for 849 sessions may be suffering in the heat without hours.” air conditioning, these three volunteers of counselling were provided began calling each person on the For Cheyenne, Gord and Christine, The program’s contact list. 519 is “an open, caring, all-inclusive space that welcomes anybody who “We started calling to make sure people comes with a good heart.” 808 families had air conditioning, or that they knew where they could go to cool down,” attended family resource programs explains Gord. “But very quickly the conversations turned more casual. We would talk about their health, our experiences at the drop–in program. It 73% of participants became quite social.” in Older LGBT Programs are under 65 “I’m talking to friends I’ve known for years,” Christine elaborates. “I’ve been Next Steps in Toronto for 43 years and with a few weekly phone calls, I’m getting to know Community engagement 111,442 visits people better.” benchmarking will allow programs to identify new and emerging to The 519 were for Centre–led programs Before starting the program, Cheyenne, opportunities for engaging members and services Gord and Christine all had simple as volunteers. expectations—a quick call, a check– in, perhaps some details about the Reconfigured drop–in programs will upcoming movie night or drop–in meal, allow more flexibility in delivering but the experience changed each of focused, community–specific programs their perspectives of our community for older women, two–spirited people and of themselves. and LGBTQ youth. ‘TREE’ symbol, Hernan D. Schlosman, from The Noun Project Around The Table 20,885 meals Tysa and Sawyer came to The 519 as “Food is such an important part of our were served across all programs placement students in 2011, working lives.” Sawyer adds. “Sharing a meal in our meal drop–in programs and with each other makes it possible for us the LGBTQ youth tobacco prevention to build relationships.” initiative. They were drawn to The 14,702 snacks Centre because of the opportunities for For Sawyer and Tysa, The 519 is learning and the unique nature of our “community, a home away from home, were served across all programs programs and services.

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