The 519

Throwing Green Space Festival, Toronto’s hottest party for a cause, takes months of planning and would not be possible without the support of our sponsors! We’d like to extend a special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, TD for their long-time support of the Festival and the work of The 519.

“Pride is about connection, visibility, and belonging. Community-led events like Green Space Festival play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening community,” said Alicia Rose, AVP, Global Social Impact, Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. “As The 519 marks 50 years of impact, we’re proud to support the essential work they do every day to create welcoming spaces where people feel at home and able to be themselves – not just during Pride, but all year long.”

We are deeply grateful to TD for their ongoing support of our community. Join us June 24 to 28 under the stars and the foliage in Barbara Hall Park for a true celebration of 2SLGBTQ+ community and joy!

[Image descriptions: 1 - A drag queen performing for the crowd at Green Space Festival. Text reads: :Thank you to our presenting sponsor: followed by the logo of TD. 2 - Quote from a representative of TD.]

Ahead of World Refugee Day (June 20), we're also reflecting on the obstacles facing q***r and trans refugees seeking safety in Canada.

Thousands of LGBTQ+ people are seeking refuge in Canada because their sexuality, gender, or sexual characteristics are criminalized in their home countries. 60+ countries still criminalize LGBTQ+ people’s existence.

The federal government's passing of Bill C-12, cuts to refugee healthcare, housing instability, delayed work permits, and rising anti-refugee rhetoric are not just abstract policy issues. They are pushing the most vulnerable members of our communities deeper into crisis and leaving frontline services and community organizations to respond to preventable harm.

Defend Refugees, a coalition of LGBTQ+ refugees, advocates, frontline organizations, and community partners convened by The 519 and Rainbow Railroad, has written an open letter to Prime Minister Carney asking for 3 specific and immediate actions.

Like, share, sign the open letter, and raise your voice. Let's show up for LGBTQ+ refugees.
Read more and sign the open letter. Visit DefendRefugees.org

The AIDS Memorial Storytelling Project has collected stories from the loved ones of people on the AIDS Memorial in Barbara Hall Park. These stories can be found at TOAIDSMemorial.com. 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."

Community member Jakob English’s partner Jack Pearce told us about him:

“On January 10th, 2025, Jakob Howard English of the city of Toronto, passed away at 65 years of age.�
Jake was born and lived his entire life in Toronto. In his early teens, his residence was a boy’s group home off Broadview Avenue. He enrolled in college food preparation and safety courses and then had a long-time career with VIA Rail Canada under his birth name, Robert Holliday.

Jake was a proud supporter of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and, for many years, was a dedicated part of Toronto’s Leather community, holding the title of Mr. Spearhead Bootblack 2010. He then went on to win the city title of Bootblack Toronto 2011 among the largest field of contestants in the contest’s history. Jake’s chosen charity for the year was the 519 Church Street Community Centre, and he and his fellow titleholder family raised an impressive total of just over six thousand dollars.

Jake also placed first runner-up at the International Mr. Bootblack contest in Chicago. He was the recipient of the BBT Fellowship and the IMBB Brotherhood Award. He was also honoured with the Pantheon of Leather Canadian Award, the Heart of the Flag Federation Volunteer of the Year Award, and the Spearhead Appreciation Award.

During Jake’s title years and throughout his life, Jake worked to ensure equal rights for those of different sexual genders and identities. Over several decades, he volunteered with several not-for-profit organizations, such as the Toronto PWA Foundation, Heart of the Flag Federation Inc., and the 519 Community Centre.

Jake was greatly loved and will be deeply missed by his many chosen family members, both from his childhood and from the United States. Jake was also an avid animal lover and had several cats and dogs, including his beloved binky, Paddington(s), Rock, Jessie, and Tess. Jake will be remembered for his kindness, humility, loyalty, generosity, love, and open heart.

Jake is predeceased by his two partners, Jack Finlayson and David Bzdel, and survived by former partners Peter Lomax and Jack Pearce and the rest of his loving family of choice.

“Love will abide; keep it in stride” – Linda Ronstadt
Rest in peace with all our gratitude and love.
Memorial donations may be made to Jake’s chosen community agencies: the 519 Community Centre, Toronto PWA, and Casey House.

The 519's EarlyON Child and Family Centre is hiring for the position of Program Facilitator, Child and Family Programs.

Reporting to the Manager of Intergenerational Programs and Services, this position is responsible for supporting the delivery of The 519’s Child and Family Programs for children 0 to 6 years, families, caregivers, and prospective families of diverse identities and configurations.

Apply no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, June 29. Learn more at The519.org/careers.

[Image description: A child posing with a unicorn puppet, smiling. Text below reads: "The 519 - We are hiring - Program Facilitator, Child and Family Programs (Casual/Relief). Apply by Monday, June 29, 4 p.m."]