Community Place Hub is Run by the Community, for the Community

What used to be an indoor pool situated between two apartment buildings in Toronto’s Weston Mount-Dennis Neighborhood is now “Community Place Hub,” a thriving community centre offering much needed programs and services.

When Progress Place acquired the space at 1765 Weston Rd, York in 2015, the space had been abandoned for 10 years. At the time, the building’s landlord was partnering with different mental health providers and renting housing to people in need. As awareness grew, people started to hang out in the courtyard out front. Realizing the need to have a space for the community, the landlord established Community Place Hub connecting with Progress Place to offer programming. One of the challenges was building trust with a community that had seen organizations come and go.

To show their commitment to being a trusted and long-term partner, Progress Place conducted a needs assessment with the Local Health Integration Network, the predecessor to the West Toronto Ontario Health Team, to secure funding and identify the types of services community members needed. After engaging with residents, they quickly realized the need to go beyond offering mental health services. The assessment identified the need for newcomer support, youth services, social recreation among other health and general services. 

Following the success of their first pilot program, a summer camp for kids that had a turnout of 75 people – more than they had hoped for, Community Place Hub officially opened in April 2015 as a second location of Progress Place.  

Today, the community hub is run by its members and staff together in partnership, something Progress Place believes is crucial to the hub’s success. Anybody can walk in the door and ask to become a member.

What does Community Place Hub offer?

Community Place Hub offers a sense of community a place people of all ages can come and meet neighbours, learn skills, get support with finding needed resources such as health care. The Hub offers free daily services such as printing, copying, faxing, scanning, phone, and internet. Community members are also invited to create a lunch menu for each month where lunch is served at $2 a day. Every day, community members are invited to learn how to cook and help make the meals.

On Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. a peer-to-peer program is offered, providing a space for people to connect in private with other people who share the same experiences.

One of the most popular programs offered is free sewing classes for all age groups. Other offerings include clothing donations, morning art programs, yoga, karaoke, and dance to name a few.

Throughout the year, Community Place Hub also hosts ‘Wellness Fairs,’ providing an opportunity for members to connect with the health and social care supports and providers in the area. The fairs additionally offer food, provide entertainment for children, opportunities to get health check-ups and vaccinations and more.

Walk into the hub and there are a lot more programs and services to choose from! Head over to https://www.progressplace.org/approach.html#community for more information on programming and getting involved.