Celebrate five decades of history-making at The 519’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition—a vibrant, immersive journey through the ephemera, archives, stories, and art that shaped one of Canada’s most influential 2SLGBTQ+ organizations. Discover rarely seen photographs, powerful personal narratives, iconic posters and publications, and communitymade art that brings our shared history to life.

This exhibition isn’t just a look back—it’s a celebration of resilience, joy, protest, and possibility. Experience the people, moments, and movements that transformed The 519 into a beacon of inclusion and solidarity.

Join us to walk through our past, imagine our future and celebrate our present!

We’re opening the vault to share unforgettable moments from the people and communities who’ve shaped The 519 since 1976. From cherished memories to archival gems, we’re showcasing the vibrant, diverse voices that have defined The 519 and helped power the 2SLGBTQ+ movement in Canada.

The story of The 519 is best told in the voices of our community. These stories uplift lived experience as the heart of our history, honouring activists, artists, neighbours, and leaders who helped build the 2SLGBTQ+ movement in Canada. We invite everyone to see themselves reflected in this legacy of pride and possibility.

This anniversary is all about joy, belonging, and celebrating the brilliance of our communities—past, present, and future. Come laugh, remember, and revel with us as we honour 50 years of lives boldly lived.

For five decades, The 519 has been a beacon for 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Toronto and beyond: a place of refuge, art, advocacy, and collective care. This anniversary invites us to ask: How can The 519 illuminate 2SLGBTQ life, art, and community in public space?

To explore these questions, The 519 is commissioning a contemporary public art project that will be a creative landmark in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood. Using light — both medium and metaphor — the piece will explore light, memory, place, and possibility and create a luminous marker of the future.

From January 26 – February 16, 2026 we are seeking proposals from artists, designers, collectives, and cross-disciplinary creatives for an original public artwork. Click here to review the RFP.

A dynamic multiday gathering bringing together 2SLGBTQ+ leaders, advocates, thinkers, and changemakers from across Canada. Our 50th anniversary offers a unique and powerful opportunity for community voices to come together, share insights, and shape the future of 2SLGBTQ+ life in Canada.

Through a blend of inspiring keynotes, highimpact panels, and solutionsfocused discussions, the Forum will tackle the most pressing challenges facing our communities today. Participants will connect across sectors, spark new partnerships, and help build a united vision for a more just, equitable, and celebratory future.

Bold ideas. National leadership. Real change.

The 519 Forum is where the next chapter begins. Be part of it.

As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we’re inviting our communities to take part in Postcards to the Future— a community art and storytelling project that captures our shared hopes, dreams, and imaginings for the future of The 519. Through illustration, writing, or any creative expression that inspires you, these postcards will be digitized to become a living archive of what our community envisions for a connected and fierce future.

Whether you dream of new programs, expanded spaces, advocacy, or simply a world where everyone feels at home, your postcard helps shape the story of who we are—and who we are becoming. Join us in celebrating this milestone by contributing your voice and creativity to a legacy for future generations of queer kin.

If there’s one thing we really know how to do, it’s how to party for a cause. This year, we’re turning it all the way up.

Think a Green Space Festival that’s bigger, brighter, and bolder than ever. A 50th anniversary bash you won’t want to miss. Plus a few surprises along the way (okay, more than a few).

When community comes together, good things happen. So all year long, we’ll be celebrating where we’ve been, who we are, and what’s next.

So lock the doors, lower the blinds, fire up the smoke machine, and put on your heels. You’re all coming over!

Expect year-round pop-up activations, in-program celebrations, and plenty of moments for joy, reflection, and connection along the way. Whether you’re an older adult program participant, stopping by The 519 for a meeting, or part of one of our EarlyON families, there will be opportunities to join in all year long

No matter how you connect with us, we’re making space to celebrate together.