For over eight continuous decades, 2SLGBTQ+ people in Toronto have used Hanlan’s Point Beach and the surrounding area as a community hub and place of gathering. It is Canada’s and Toronto’s oldest surviving queer space, as well as one of the ten oldest surviving queer spaces around the globe.
In November 2022, as part of the Toronto Island Master Plan process, we heard from many community members about their concerns about a festival space on this critical community site.
Since then, Councillor Ausma Malik has collaborated with City staff and community advocacy group Friends of Hanlan’s to recognize the importance of this vital space, honour the ways it has been shaped by 2SLGBTQ+ people, and commit to preserving and enhancing it for future generations. Actions taken to date include:
- Joining a community workshop with Toronto Island Master Plan staff and Councillor Chris Moise in February 2022. At the meeting, it was confirmed that no permanent concert space would be included in the plan and community members provided feedback on other aspects of the plan.
- Introducing and passing a motion at the May 2022 City Council meeting to recognize Hanlan's Point Beach as a Historically Queer Space and ensure the City engages Toronto's queer community in Toronto Island Park planning.
- Advancing several key priorities and improvements to Hanlan’s Point Beach that are important to the queer community, for this year and the future, which was approved by Council unanimously in June 2022.
The Toronto Island Park Master Plan process is ongoing and we expect to have more updates before the end of the year.
Here are some actions you can take now:
- Sign up to Councillor Malik’s newsletter to get all the latest community updates
- Learn about the Toronto Island Park Master Plan process so far
