March 2023
International Women's Day 2023: Women, Life, Freedom
February 2023
Re: Sentencing of Colin Harnack in murder of Julie Berman
December 2022
In Solidarity with Ontario's Drag Performers
November 2022
In Solidarity; A Community Vigil Honouring Colorado Victims and Survivors
Public Statement on Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR) 2022
September 2022
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The 519 Board of Management Candidates 2022/23
August 2022
Notice of The 519 Annual General Meeting 2022-23
June 2022
Call for Nominations – The 519 Annual General Meeting 2022-23
World Refugee Day: Support LGBTQ+ Refugees Every Day
Green Space Festival 2022: Neighbourhood Information
Green Space Festival announces 2022 lineup: a Pride-weekend party in support of 2SLGBTQ+ communities
Pride 2022 at The 519: Upcoming Programs and Events
April 2022
Lifting the Blood Ban: A Step in the Right Direction
March 2022
Trans Day of Visibility: Affirmations and Calls to Action
International Women's Day: Our History, Our Reality, Out Future
February 2022
The 519 Black Collective – Black History Month 2022: ‘Black Health & Wellness’
November 2021
Public Statement on Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR) 2021
October 2021
It is with deep sadness that The 519 announces the passing of one of the most dedicated and longest-serving members of our team – Helen Rykens.
Helen retired from The 519 in 2013 following over 30 years with our organization. An integral part of the community and The 519 from almost the very beginning, Helen joined The 519 as a member years before she was hired on as staff.
She was integral in supporting the creation and administration of the AIDS Memorial, provided support and leadership to the AIDS Vigil Committee and was the central liaison to the community-led programs and user groups that call The 519 home. Helen was the tireless project manager for our 2001-2010 capital expansion project and guided our organization through unprecedented growth – developing often overlooked but absolutely essential new privacy, space use, governance and community access policies and systems. When Helen first joined the team, 20 groups met at in our community centre and when she retired, that community had grown to over 650 community groups, NGOs and governmental organizations accessing our space and our available space grew 45%.
In the years since Helen’s retirement her absence has been real and tangibly felt by our staff, volunteers, members and broader community. A life-long ally and supporter of lesbian, gay, bi and trans human rights, Helen’s commitment to ensuring safe and welcoming spaces in our city where people could truly be themselves was a hallmark of her work with The 519 and the communities we serve.
It seems fitting that she stayed with us long enough for one more AIDS Vigil and one more Starry Night – two events she cared deeply about. At the AIDS Vigil, we “honour, remember and celebrate” those we have lost. Today we do the same for Helen and for her partner Dan.
In partnership with Dan and Helen’s family, The 519 will host a memorial later this summer, further details will follow.