Our Work

Advocacy

The Central Etobicoke Community Hub Initiative (CECHi) advocates for the creation of new community spaces and the expansion of community services in Central Etobicoke.

The CECHi is working toward establishing a “hub” so that health, social, cultural and recreational services can be provided to residents in an accessible, safe and positive environment.

Through our partnerships with service agencies throughout Etobicoke, the CECHi participates in a wide array of activities to help make our community a better place for residents. Throughout the year, the CECHi hosts or co-hosts a variety of events to bring residents together and to advocate for improvements to the quality of life in Etobicoke.

How far have we come?

In November 2023, after many years of advocacy, Toronto City Council adopted two resolutions:
1) To explore opportunities to create new community agency spaces as part of new development projects in Etobicoke.
2) To consider the conversion of the Etobicoke Civic Centre into a Community Hub!

You can read the full City Council decision and supporting documentation here.

Our work is not done! Until Toronto City Council endorses a complete and final plan to build a Hub, we need to keep working hard to make sure the Hub Initiative remains a priority. That’s why we need your help.

If you like the work we are doing, please go to the Get Involved page and join us!

You can also help support us by attending our events. Please see our events list below.

Upcoming Events

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

Friday June 12

Guest Speakers from 5:00PM. Movie begins at 8:30PM.

Applewood – The Shaver House

450 The West Mall, Etobicoke

Come and enjoy a free movie night at Applewood – The Shaver House. Hosted by our wonderful partners Mentoring Through Artistic Cultural Education (MACE) and the Toronto Police 22 Division Community Police Liaison Committee. Guest speakers and presentations from 5:00PM. Movie starts at 8:30PM. ALL WELCOME!

Community Space Finder Project

Because the establishment of a permanent Community Hub in Central Etobicoke may take several years, the CECHi Board determined that an interim solution was necessary to address the increasing need for programs and services in our community.

The CECHi has compiled a list of currently available spaces in Central Etobicoke that agencies and community groups can rent to deliver much needed programs in our area. Agencies and community groups can easily locate the type of space they require by using the Community Space Finder tool!

The CECHi is committed to expanding the list of rentable community spaces. Our goal is to make it easier for service agencies and community groups to find suitable, available spaces to run programs and provide services for residents of Etobicoke.

If you have a space you can rent to not-for-profit groups, please Contact Us

Read Our Community Needs Assessment

Read our latest report on community services and the needs of local neighbourhoods. Our 2023 Needs Assessment analyzes the needs of current residents as well as demographic trends and future development in Central Etobicoke. Our Needs Assessment shows you why now, more than ever, Central Etobicoke needs a Community Hub! Click here to View the PDF.

Read Our Feasibility Study

In 2017, the CECHI conducted a Feasibility Study for the creation of a Community Hub in Central Etobicoke. The Feasibility Study was funded by the City of Toronto and conducted by Social Planning Toronto. The study is based on resident survey responses, focus groups, key stakeholder interviews, and service agency submission, as well as a comprehensive analysis of Etobicoke neighbourhood demographics. The Feasibility Study clearly shows why a hub is both needed and desired in Central Etobicoke.

You can read the study here

Population with Low Income

Seniors at risk of Social Isolation

Toronto Seniors Services Webinar

In March 2022, the CECHi and the City of Toronto co-hosted a townhall on support services for seniors in Etobicoke. Participants included representatives from the Seniors Services and Long-term Care Division of the City of Toronto, our Ward 2 City Councillor Stephen Holyday, and speakers from the Alzheimer Society, Arts Etobicoke, Etobicoke Services for Seniors Support Services, and LAMP Community Health Centre.

You can watch the full presentation here:

South and Central Etobicoke Vaccine Engagement Team

From March 2021 to September 2022, the CECHI joined forces with other community agencies throughout South and Central Etobicoke to improve local COVID-19 vaccine access and promote vaccination efforts. Funded by the City of Toronto and working in partnership with Toronto Public Health, the Vaccine Engagement Team helped to organize more than 70 local clinics at schools, churches, large residential complexes and community centres, providing more than 4,000 vaccine doses.

Some of the partner agencies we worked with include LAMP Community Health Centre, Stonegate Community Health Centre, the Dorothy Ley Hospice, Etobicoke Services for Seniors Support Services, Storefront Humber, the Arab Community Centre of Toronto, and more.

On our one-year anniversary, we produced this video: