Cory Stewart —
Weeks after the reported sale (rumoured to Canadian musicians Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida) of Toronto’s celebrated and award-winning residence Integral House (194 Roxborough Drive, Rosedale), the Community One Foundation – an organization with grant and award programs dedicated to the development of LGBTTIQQ2S communities in the GTA – is excited to announce “Community One Presents an Evening at Integral House”. The event, happening on Saturday, November 19, 2016, will be the last publicly available event before the sale of the famous property.
LGBT-focused charity Community One Foundation opens Integral House to the public for one last time before its sale in an exclusive evening hosted by Canadian comedian Carla Collins.
“We’re so honoured to present such an exclusive and momentous event in one of Toronto’s most celebrated architectural wonders,” says Community One Foundation co-chair Kevin Ormsby. “James Stewart was a pillar of activism in our community, and we are eternally grateful for his contribution to both the LGBT community and the Community One Foundation.”
Community One is one of many charitable organizations receiving proceeds from the sale of Integral House, per the wishes of its owner and creator James Stewart, the late mathematician and textbook magnate. A longtime LGBT activist, Stewart planted roots in the community by invoking “gay rights activist George Hislop to speak at McMaster in the early 1970s, when the LGBT liberation movement was in its infancy, and was involved in protests and demonstrations until mathematics began to dominate his life.” (Daily Xtra, 2014).
A night not to be missed, the event will also be attended by many notable Canadians, including Hilary Farr of Love It Or List It, musician Simone Denny, designer David Dixon and many more.
The one-of-a-kind evening celebrates 36 years of important work the Foundation has achieved – including funding the beginnings of LGBT institutions like The 519 and Buddies In Bad Times Theatre – and will be hosted by 2015 California Comedian of the Year Carla Collins. Feature performances include Opera Atelier, Community One Foundation Rainbow Grant recipient Tessa Godden, and popular Toronto drag acts Sofonda Cox and Donnarama. In addition, the Foundation will announce the winner of their annual Steinert & Ferreiro Award, Canada’s largest single cash award in recognition of leadership in the LGBTTIQQ2S community.
A private VIP reception and home tour – conducted by one of the home’s architects, Bridget Shim of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects – will be held for donors and supporters at 6:00 p.m., followed by public access to the event at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $125 at http://bit.ly/c1integral. Proceeds from tickets will go towards the many grants awarded by the Community One Foundation.
About Community One: Established in 1980, the Community One Foundation provides grants to LGBTTIQQ2S community projects in the Greater Toronto Area, including Durham, Halton,Peel and York Regions, focusing on the areas of arts and culture, health and social services, and research and education. The Foundation also promotes community philanthropy through strategic partnerships such as the Bill 7 Award and the LGBT Giving Network.