Item - 2026.EX33.17

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend Schedule 1 - 519 Church Street Community Centre of the Relationship Framework for the City of Toronto and Association of Community Centres Boards of Management, to authorize the Board of Management for The 519 Church Street Community Centre to establish limited legal services to eligible members of the public in accordance with:

a. all requirements of the Relationship Framework and Former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 25, Community and Recreation Centres; and

b. the risk mitigation and accountability conditions set out in Attachment 1 to the report (July 7, 2026) from the City Manager.

This report responds to Executive Committee's request to explore the establishment of legal services, including measures addressing risk, liability and accountability for the 2SLGBTQ+ community at The 519 Church Street Community Centre, in consultation with the City Solicitor and the Executive Director of The 519 (Item EX32.16).

This report recommends that City Council authorize The 519 Church Street Community Centre Board of Management to establish limited and direct legal advice to clients of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, subject to several risk mitigation and accountability conditions, including eligibility criteria, outlined in Attachment 1 to this report. City Council's authorization would result in an amendment to the scope of programs and services offered by The 519 Church Street Community Centre under the Council-approved Relationship Framework.

Establishing limited legal services within The 519 Church Street Community Centre reflects a community-led, rights-based approach that prioritizes accessibility, trust, and culturally responsive service delivery. The proposed model would allow The 519 Church Street Community Centre staff lawyers and a paralegal to provide limited and direct legal advice and brief services to clients who fall outside the reach of existing legal aid programs, pro bono services, and community legal clinics. This report identifies the benefits of providing specialized legal services for eligible members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community as well as the potential risks of the program identified by City staff, including accountability measures, potential conflicts of interest, and others. The 519 Church Street Community Centre staff lawyers and paralegal, while City employees, are not part of the City's Legal Services Division.

The risk mitigation and accountability conditions in Attachment 1 will form the required amendments to Schedule 1 of The 519 Church Street Community Centre Church Street Community Centre of the AOCC Relationship Framework, should City Council authorize the establishment of limited legal services at The 519.