Toronto Society of Architects' Queer Space Trivia Night hosted in the CecilVenues auditorium, the original birthplace of Pride Toronto.
Inclusive Local Economies
CecilVenues: A Grand Space Rooted in Community
2025

Nestled in the heart of Kensington-Chinatown, Cecil Community Centre has been a hub of connection and care for over 40 years, offering a broad range of recreational, educational, and cultural programs to the neighbourhood. In 2022 — recognizing the potential of the space that had long brought community together — it launched CecilVenues to provide space and economic opportunities to local residents, while generating additional income to support Cecil’s programs and services.

With support from the Metcalf Foundation, CecilVenues has evolved from a pilot to an ongoing social enterprise at Cecil, offering paid work, training, and mentorship to event crew members — many of whom face barriers to employment due to immigration status, disability, housing insecurity, or limited Canadian work experience. This neighbourhood asset is also strengthening the local economy, increasing business for local suppliers, restaurants, and caterers.

Since its inception, CecilVenues has more than doubled the number of events it hosts annually — growing from 47 events in 2022 to over 100 in 2024. It has become an increasingly sought-after space for small businesses, arts and culture groups, environmental organizations, and a wide range of personal celebrations, including weddings, birthdays, and memorials. A growing number of clients are drawn to the venue not just for its vintage charm and affordable rates, but because of its social purpose.

 
A beautiful wedding held in the auditorium.
A garden space available for rent directly connected to the auditorium.
The auditorium transformed for an Oscar-themed party.
A “Jurassic Park”-themed birthday brought to life in the auditorium.

The local event crew members are at the heart of CecilVenues’ success and its social impact. Crew members receive hands-on training in hospitality, AV tech, and customer service, as well as access to certifications in food safety, WHMIS, and CPR. Several have transitioned into careers in event planning, hospitality, and other trades, while others have taken on new leadership roles within Cecil.

Now poised for its next stage of growth, CecilVenues is creating more leadership opportunities for crew members, digitizing its systems, deepening institutional partnerships, and exploring new pilots — including a ghost kitchen and a community marketplace. Demonstrating that it is much more than an event space, CecilVenues is leveraging community assets to create meaningful work opportunities, build local resilience, and shift how economic opportunity is shared.