Celebrating The 519's renovated space
TORONTO / Church Street community centre marks 34 years
Brent Creelman / Toronto / Friday, May 21, 2010
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The 519 Church Street Community Centre showed off its gorgeous, renovated space on May 19, as part of the centre's 34th anniversary celebrations.

The day was filled with open-house tours, drag shows, a cocktail reception and speeches from  Mayor David Miller, city councillor Kyle Rae and honorary patron Salah Bachir.

Watch our video for highlights from the event:




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Reader Comments


 
the 519, a blight on the community?
Something seriously needs to be done about the overwhelming number of junkies, thugs, hustlers, and panhandlers who cavort around outside the 519 like they own it. As a resident who has to pass by there daily, I'm always disgusted by what I see, hear, and smell. If a homeless person needs to take refuge outside the steps of the 519 to sleep, that's fine, I can live with that. But the people who go there to deal drugs, use drugs, and have meetings about how to get drugs, need to be swept away. I actually once stepped on a needle walking by, and frequently see crackpipes laying around. Not cool. There are also two parks by the 519 (Cawthra Sq and a children's play area) that are not safe places for kids or anyone because of the dangerous characters who inhabit the premises. After living near this facility I will no longer recommend that anybody go there to seek services. It is dirty and unsafe, and nothing seems to be done about it. When I see the 519, I don't see a gay community centre at all. I see a place where straight young thugs can take advantage of our otherwise safe neighbourhood, a place that I have to cross the street to avoid sometimes. I have a feeling none of these issues were addressed at this opening gala for the renovated space. Residents of Church/Wellesley area ought to take back our streets or this problem will only get worse.
Ryan, Toronto ON
05/23/10 1:47 AM EST
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Come Together....
I have not yet seen the changes to 519 but I am sure they are wonderful. I am very pleased to see a centre where people of all backgrounds can have a meeting place and share with others. I am concerned with "Ryan's the 519, a blight on the community? " comments. If what he says is true, then we need to address these issuses right now. I would like to do my part in bringing more people together. I am a musician and I offer my talents and my bass players talents and we will perform a free concert for the 519 if requested. All I ask is that enough notice is given to draw in people from all communities in advance. I want people outside of the GLBT to see all of US as just more people. I think music is another way of reaching people. Mysti Rae Meadows You can explore what I do here. www.mystimusic.com
Mysti Rae Meadows, toronto ont
05/23/10 2:32 AM EST
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Sweater Fag
@Ryan You are about to lose your King Sweater Fag Kyle Rae. If you don't like marginalized people move out of the hood. The 519 is a community centre take a look around we are not living in a walled gay community. If that is what you want move. Sweater fags who complain about homeless youth and people with addictions should shut the fuck up. If you want fewer homeless people and drug addicts vote for politican who give a fuck about adequate social assistance and housing.
Enough, Toronto ON
05/23/10 12:38 PM EST
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@ the guy who called me a 'sweater fag'
For the sake of community safetly, our so called 'community centre' should be a SAFE SPACE. Chronic drug use, aggressive panhandling, people throwing sh*t fits, and thuggish kids huffed out of their minds presents a very clear threat to community safety. Excuse me for giving a damn about seniors being mugged and kids stepping on needles. If hippies like yourself want to invite the dredges of society into your front yard then go right ahead. Social responsibility does not mean keeping the door wide open for trouble.
Ryan, Toronto ON
05/23/10 5:44 PM EST
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Sadly, Ryan is Totally Correct
Now that we have a beautifully renovated space for our community to enjoy fellowship, meetings for community groups, programs & special functions at a reasonable cost.... lets find a way to correct this issue of drug dealers and thugs who hang around the centre day & night. This is not a safe area for seniors or children. The park that includes a memorial to many friends who have been lost should be accessible to all, including our families. These thugs keep the rest of us away. I am not a 'sweater fag' and definitely believe that we, who have been marginalized in the past & often to this day should be the last to reject those less fortunate, whowever, that does not include tolerance of violence, theft, vandalism or harrassment associated with the drug trade!
Rob, Toronto Ontario
05/24/10 1:57 PM EST
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George MacIntyre's Art Unveiling
A preview to the festivities, in the evening, featured a piper led parade from the Alexander Wood statue to the 519 & the unveiling of several paintings immortalizing several landmarks in our community. These paintings include, The 519, The Barn, Gladaman's Den, George's Play, The 501, The Aids Memorial, Casey House, St. Charles Tavern & Honest Ed's, an affordable place to shop for Torontonians in general as well as members of our community. I'm surprised that this historic feature to a community centre's re-openning was not covered in your article.
Rob, Toronto Ontario
05/24/10 2:35 PM EST
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A Hub of Community
The 519 is a hub of community life for a diverse community of people. The strength of community centres is that they bring together people from a range of experiences and backgrounds. The Centre creates opportunities for everyone to come together, regardless of wealth, race, colour, profession, ability, sexual orientation etc. If members of the community observe illegal behaviour in or around The 519 they should be reporting that behaviour to the police or to The 519's front desk staff. The Centre continues to work closely with the Toronto Police Services to manage behaviour which creates an unsafe space for members of the community. We have a beautiful, renovated, welcoming space in which we can all feel a sense of pride. I invite anyone who wants to get involved in improving our communities and building a strong, engaged community in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood to join The 519 and to volunteer in one of its programs. The 519 isn’t the cause of the challenges our community faces, but it can certainly be part of the solution.
Matthew Cutler, Toronto Ontario
05/24/10 8:04 PM EST
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Wake Up Everyone !
The area directly around the 519 Centre and most of Church Street is a total dump. Drug dealers, street people, dirt, posters on every box & pole, ugly / old buildings, etc. Who the hell is running the BIA in the Village ? They are doing a pathetic job.
The Truth, T.O Ontario
05/24/10 10:50 PM EST
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