Doors Open 2024 – Stories of the Church & Wellesley Village

Toronto’s Church and Wellesley Village has long been a central gathering place for the city’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community—with nightclubs, bars, community spaces and stores created for and by members of the queer community. But how did this unique neighbourhood come to be and what exactly does it mean for a space to be queer?

Join the Toronto Society of Architects on a walk as we explore the evolution of queer spaces in the city through the buildings, landscapes and art of the Church and Wellesley Village. We’ll share some of the many stories behind the Village’s built environment and the forces that shaped it, while also speaking to the history and increased visibility of queer spaces in the city. Along the way we will talk about the relationship between built vs. intangible heritage, the role existing buildings played in housing new communities, and the challenges of commemorating an often untold history. Our tour will end with a stop at two purpose-built queer spaces that highlight the role new developments can play in telling these hidden stories and providing spaces for community building.