Birchcliff Bluffs United Church
Dorothy's & Toby's Place
News & Events
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A Message from Rainbow Community Places
Rainbow Community Places (RCP) is now in its second year as an official charity partner of the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon 2026. We invite you to support us in this campaign!
Our RCP Team includes 9 people who will walk or run the 5K. Rev. Katie Vardy and Beth Moore are on the team. The 5K Race Day is Saturday, October 17 in Toronto. We have set an ambitious team goal of $10,000.
All the funds we raise will support our weekly Toby’s Place dinner program for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and the Dorothy’s Place lunch program for 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors. Generous donations are what make it possible for these innovative programs to continue to offer safe(r) places of welcome, belonging and community in our accessible southwest Scarborough location at Birchcliff Bluffs United Church.
Those of us involved with RCP have had the privilege of hearing many participants speak about the life-changing impacts of our programs. In their words:
Dorothy’s Place: “Seldom in today’s society do seniors experience such a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, and congeniality, as one finds upon entering this wonderfully safe space.” “Friends become family at Dorothy’s Place.”
Toby’s Place: “I’ve felt so seen and supported here, and the people here have gotten me through my highest highs and my lowest lows.” “Everyone here is so amazing, and I’ve made some of my best friends here.” “Toby’s Place is the highlight of my week.”
Every donation brings us closer to our $10,000+ goal. All donations are welcome.
To donate please click on:
Support Team Rainbow Community Places
You can support Katie or Beth by clicking on Donate to a Team Member and selecting their name from the dropdown menu, or support the whole RCP Team. All support is welcome!
Dorothy's Place
Monday Lunch!
We are hosting a lunch each week from 11:30am-2:00pm at BBUC.
For more information about Dorothy's Place call 647-915-2475
or e-mail programs@rainbowcommunityplaces.org
Toby's Place is open on Mondays from 3:30pm to 8:30pm.
Toby's Place is a drop-in after-school program and safe(r) space, open to 2SLGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-20, questioning youth ages 13-20, and their allied friends ages 13-20, living in Scarborough and the Greater Toronto Area.
Dinner and snacks are provided, with vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Other dietary restrictions will be accommodated upon request. If you are able, please wear a mask in the space when you are not eating. We ask that participants who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or have tested positive for COVID-19, not attend Toby’s Place.
We are located on the basement level of 33 East Rd (near the corner of Warden Ave and Kingston Rd). The basement door is at the bottom of the ramp next to the main church entrance. The basement space is wheelchair accessible.
Questions? Go to rainbowcommunityplaces.org/tobys-place for more info,
or contact us over Instagram (@tobys.place33), or by text at 647-915-2475.
www.rainbowcommunityplaces.org/tobys-place
Events at Toby's Place
"2SLGBTQ+ Youth Voices of Scarborough" Film
The film launched on Monday, February 24, and shows the diversity of a 2SLGBTQ+ community which, until the space came along, had nowhere to meet and talk.
The film captures youth at Toby’s Place, a drop-in centre in the basement of the Birchcliff Bluffs United Church. They speak about gender identity, sexuality, and other subjects. Scarborough’s queer youth “aren’t a monolith” but “a lot of smaller things” and very diverse, says Paisley Sears, who edited the film and shot most of the video footage.
Please visit the following page for the full story:
Film event organizers (front row) Dee Stoicescu, left, and Ai Yamamoto sit with film participants, in back row, Paisley Sears, left, Christina Dewar, Atlas Rockburn and James Stewart at Toby's Place in Birchcliff Bluffs United Church. The films, made by youths, are about the 2SLGBTQ+ experience in Scarborough.
--- Dan Pearce/Torstar
Dorothy's Place Article
Check out this article featuring Dorothy's Place in the Bluffs Monitor, page 4:
https://www.bluffsmonitor.com/wp-cont…/…/July-19-Final_E.pdf
Inside a Church Basement Article
Birchcliff Bluffs United Church is home to one of the only safe spaces identified for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in all of Scarborough. Click here to read the article.