A Home. A Job. A Friend. A Neighbourhood. | | |
Join us for a night of film, community, and action for PARC Supportive Housing
PARC is hosting a special fundraiser at the Revue Cinema to raise funds for our Supportive Housing, which provides 109 deeply affordable units with on-site or closely connected supports for people living with mental health and substance use challenges.
The evening will start with a panel discussion led by PARC’s Executive Director, Victor Willis, with three panelists who are doing vital work in housing advocacy and support in Toronto:
Panelists:
• Diane Walter, Executive Director, Margaret’s Housing and Community Support Services
• Robin Masterson, Director of Housing, Fred Victor
• Maggie Helwig, Rector, St Stephen-in-the-Fields and author of Encampment: Resistance, Grace, and an Unhoused Community
We’ll screen StreetCity (1998), a powerful documentary by Bay Weyman that tells the story of an extraordinary housing experiment in downtown Toronto. Created by Homes First, it offered an alternative to shelters—housing that prioritized privacy, autonomy, and dignity. Designed as a self-contained village complete with streets, housing units, a variety store, and an internally-run ‘bank’, StreetCity’s model was ahead of its time, and its lessons remain urgent today.
After the film, stay for a Q&A with filmmaker Bay Weyman, connect with others who care about housing, and take part in a raffle featuring prizes from these local businesses (and more to come!)
Get your tickets today: Housing Now!
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Our 2024/25 Impact Report is here!
PARC supported thousands of people in Parkdale with food, housing, financial services, employment, and mental health supports. Just as essential, we also created space for connection, care, and community.
We served over 85,000 meals, supported 1,078 people in shelters, helped 45 new people get housed, and extended our drop-in hours through the winter to better serve our unhoused community. We also hosted hundreds of social and recreational activities, because well-being means more than just meeting basic needs.
Thank you to everyone who supported PARC – our volunteers, donors, community partners and local businesses who showed up for our community in a big way!
Your support means the world to PARC and our members.
Read the full report here: 2024-25 Impact Report
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PARC Stories: Waylon
With 45 years of history, PARC has been shaped by the countless stories of those who have walked through our doors.
These stories—of resilience, community, and transformation—are all part of what makes PARC special. We are proud to be a place where people can share their experiences in their own words in so many different ways.
Which is why we’re excited to continue sharing our PARC Stories series, highlighting what PARC means to our members. This month, we’re featuring Waylon’s story. Here’s a sneak peek, but be sure to read his Read the full Story here.
How has being a part of PARC impacted your life?
Keeps me active and doing stuff during the day. It also keeps me wanting to do more of my art, I like wood carving, painting working with many mediums. Coming here makes me just want to do more, I like coming for the live music too.
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45 for 45: Become a PARC monthly donor!
As you may already know, this year, PARC turns 45! Since 1980, we’ve been a place of connection, support, and community for people facing mental health challenges, poverty and housing insecurity in Parkdale.
As we mark this milestone, we’re hoping you can be part of what comes next. We’re launching 45 for 45, a campaign to welcome 45 new monthly donors who want to invest in a more just and compassionate community.
Your monthly gift helps us serve hundreds of meals, run arts, social and peer-led programs, maintain supportive housing, and provide harm reduction and mental health supports every single day.
Monthly giving is simple, powerful, and comes with real impact. Plus if you give $20/month or more, you’ll receive a limited-edition 45th Anniversary T-shirt and a PARC hat as a thank-you! Just make sure to enter your email address and we will follow up with you directly to get you your special gift!
If you are not able to give at this time, you can still support and spread the word by:
- Forwarding our e-newsletter
- Reposting PARC’s social media
- Mentioning the campaign in your networks
Join the 45 for 45 campaign today and help build a Parkdale where everyone belongs: 45 for 45 Campaign Page
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PARC is Hiring
- Case Manager
- HART Hub Money Matters Financial Trustee
- HART Hub Drop-In Worker
- Case Manager - 1 year
- Financial Trustee - Full Time
- Case Manager - Collaborative Care
We encourage applicants with lived experiences to apply, recognizing that equitable access to employment is an agent in social change.
Complete details for each role available on our Charity Village page.
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National Indigenous History Month
June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to reflect on the cultures, histories, and ongoing contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
It's also a time to recognize the enduring presence and resilience of Indigenous communities who have lived on this land since time immemorial and still live with the effects of colonization.
At PARC, we continue to learn how to meaningfully embed reconciliation into our daily work. We’re guided by Indigenous leadership in our partnerships, including with housing providers creating culturally safe and appropriate homes, services, and supports.
PARCdale Artist Waylon will be hosting Dream Catcher teachings and workshop on National Indigenous Day in the Drop-in.
Discover the history and meaning of dream catchers while enjoying a sweet piece of pie and crafting your own dream catcher.
When: Saturday June 21
Time: 1:30-3:00 PM Drop-in
Where: 1499 Queen St.W Drop-in
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Pride Month
Happy Pride!
Pride at PARC is about celebrating our members, friends, and neighbours in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. We honour the strength it takes to live openly and the power of creating spaces where everyone feels seen, safe, and welcome.
We are celebrating Pride this month with our Pride & Pampering event on June 26th and will be joining members at the parade on the 29th of June. We are excited to share all the fun in our next issue of PARC e-news!
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Summer Essentials Urgently Needed
- Rain coats and gear Men’s/Women's (L/XL)
- Shoes Men’s (sizes 9-11)
- Shoes Women's
- New adult underwear Men's/Women's
- Long-sleeved shirts & hoodies Men's/Women's
- T-shirts (L/XL) Men's/Women's
- Pants & shorts Men’s/Women's
- Sleeping bags
- Knapsacks/duffle bags
- Tents & Tarps
- Towels
Learn about all the ways you can give.
If you have any questions, Please reach out to us through email so we can help you, help us.
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