How did the Bathurst-Finch Community Hub get started?

The United Way has the goal of creating Community Hubs in eight of Toronto's 13 designated 'priority neighbourhoods.' The Hub in Bathurst-Finch is currently in the planning process. New Heights Community Health Centres is responsible for the Hub in Bathurst-Finch.

What is a Community Hub?

In Toronto's inner suburbs, services are often far apart and hard to access by public transportation. In some cases, key services aren't available at all. Hubs will bring together a number of service providers under one roof, providing a 'one-stop-shop' for community members.

Services offered at Community Hubs can span many sectors including settlement, employment, language training, youth programming, seniors programming, food security, mental health supports, cultural activities, recreation, life skills and much more. The Bathurst-Finch Community Hub will also have a Satellite Community Health Centre with clinical staff including a doctor, a nurse practitioner and a dietitian.

The Hub will offer services. It will also provide space for the community to meet, to organize and to express itself. A key component of the Hub development process is community participation-the Hub is your space, and you have a voice in how it takes shape. Keep reading to find out more about how you can participate in the Hub development process.

What stage are you at with the Community Hub?

Many service providers and groups have already signed on to deliver services at the Hub. Some of these organizations are working together right now to plan how they will coordinate service delivery at the Hub. These initiatives have also led people to consider how they should be coordinating service delivery across the Bathurst-Finch neighbourhood.

New Heights is currently looking for a permanent site for the Hub. We are planning to create our own building from the ground up, ideally near or at the intersection of Bathurst and Finch. We estimate that this process will take between two to five years.

In the interim, we are trying to lease a storefront where we can set up a Temporary Hub. We would like to begin delivering services as soon as possible. The Temporary Hub will also help us test-drive the processes and programming we plan to implement at the permanent site.

For the moment, we are separating the Satellite Community Health Centre out from the Hub, and will be offering clinical services to the Bathurst-Finch community through our Lawrence Heights site (12 Flemington Road).

How can residents get involved in the Hub?

There are many ways for residents to get involved in the Hub. You can join our Community Advisory Panel and take an ongoing role in advising New Heights CHCs about Hub development. You can also watch this space to find out about upcoming community consultations, or get in touch to share your ideas about programs, services and the kind of space you'd like to see in the neighbourhood. Contact us at anc@newheightshealth.org.