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
Online dating can be overwhelming and scary! Remember to have a good time while trusting your instincts.
If you feel uncomfortable, or something feels off, always remember, you can leave a date, place, or situation, or cut off communication with whoever is making you feel unsafe.
If you did send money or share financial information, report it to the financial institution used e.g. your bank, Western Union, MoneyGram. You may also want to check and or freeze your credit rating via Equifax and TransUnion.
Gather all information about the situation, including the scammer’s profile name, how you made contact, social media screenshots, emails, etc. If you have been scammed or defrauded and feel comfortable, contact your local police service. The 519 can provide support contacting Toronto’s Police Service, reach out to us at AVI@The519.org.
Notify the dating website or social media site where you met the scammer. Scammers usually have more than one account.
Be proactive; tell family, friends, coworkers, and neighbours about your experience to warn them about romance scams.
You’ve gotten over the nerves of online dating and have finally decided to meet with your date in person. Remember to have a good time while trusting your instincts, and if something feels off, you can leave.
When Meeting in Person
If you have experienced harassment, assault, or violence of any kind while on your in-person date, help is available. Get in touch with The 519’s Anti-Violence Initiatives (AVI) at AVI@The519.org.
Notify the dating website or social media site where you met the individual. Such people usually have more than one account.
Be proactive; tell family, friends, coworkers, and neighbours about your experience to warn them about such potential situations.
The Signal for Help (or the Violence at Home Signal for Help) is a single-handed gesture. It was launched by the Canadian Women’s Foundation.
It can be used by an individual to alert others that they feel threatened and need help over a video call, or in-person.
The signal has been recognized by over 40 organizations across Canada and the US as a tool to help combat domestic violence.
If you see the Signal:
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services (police, fire, ambulance).
Definitions:
Catfishing/catfished: the process of luring someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona.
Drink spiking: it means adding alcohol or drugs into someone’s drink without their knowledge or consent. Flavourless, colourless and odourless, date rape drugs are undetectable and can easily be mixed into drinks. Low doses of the drugs can cause muscle relaxation, drowsiness, disorientation, comas and loss of feeling. In higher doses, the drugs can lead to convulsions, hallucinations and death.
Read more: Drink spiking and how to help.
The 519 – Safe Dating 101 by The519