The 519 Community Centre Heritage in Toronto – GayOut Guide
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The 519 Community Centre

Historic Venue 1975 Still active

Canada's largest LGBTQ+ community centre — municipally-funded since 1975, one of the earliest such institutions in the world.

Google (1336) 4.6
92
/ 100
GayOut Score
G4.6
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Address
519 Church Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 2C9, Canada
🌐
Website
www.the519.org

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About this place The 519 Community Centre

The 519 opened in October 1975 as a City of Toronto-funded community centre at 519 Church Street, a converted 1900 Victorian mansion in what was then the emerging Church-Wellesley Village. Its purpose from opening was to serve the neighbourhood's LGBTQ+ population — one of the first municipally-funded LGBTQ+ community centres anywhere in the world. It has operated continuously for 50 years. The 519 is now Canada's largest LGBTQ+ community centre and one of the largest municipally-funded queer institutions anywhere. Its 20,000-square-foot facility hosts drop-in programmes for youth, seniors, refugees, and trans people; an on-site legal clinic; a mental-health team; a full commercial kitchen that runs a free daily community meal; and the Green Space Festival grounds outside. Annual users exceed 60,000. The building carries specific queer heritage. In 1981 the 519 was the meeting-organising hub for the mass protests following Toronto's February bathhouse raids (see the separate entry) — the 519's upstairs meeting room hosted the founding meeting of the Right to Privacy Committee that led those protests. In 1985 the same building hosted the founding meetings of Toronto AIDS Committee and the Names Project quilt panels project. Every subsequent major moment of Toronto queer civic life has flowed through this building. Open daily, most hours 09:00-22:00 (varies by programme). Free to visit; specific programmes require registration. Wellesley subway is a two-minute walk. On the standard Church-Wellesley heritage day this is the natural mid-day stop between the Alexander Wood statue and the AIDS Memorial next door.

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4.6
1,336 reviews

Based on 1,336 Google reviews.

Keira “Keirasang” Sang
Keira “Keirasang” Sang Jul 2026

Kind and caring staff, always a calm time, when I'm there.

Frank Desmond Amoah
Frank Desmond Amoah Jul 2026

Good

Robba Dubbabubida
Robba Dubbabubida May 2026

Attitude first place and a two timing junkie, couldn't believe the audacity of the initial interference and the fact that they're currently the best place to escape from negativity. I sincerely hope you do no hire that KIND OF PERSON AGAIN. I found the standards are beautifully net with community members snd structure created by thd older people, who appreciate the opportunity and time together. Not impressed however receiving their attitude as if we have to navigate through individuals who have no respect or boundaries, but always so willing to JUDGE EVERYONE ELSE.

Hope Valletta
Hope Valletta May 2026

Home for many free and worthy LGBTQ causes, staff is always friendly and working hard. Non profits can book space for activities benefitting the community for free or at a low cost.

ABDIAZIZ MOHMAMUD KAHIN
ABDIAZIZ MOHMAMUD KAHIN May 2026
Euan Muldoon
Euan Muldoon May 2026
gord mitchell
gord mitchell May 2026

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Last updated on 22 August 2026

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