Before 1960 this building at 83 Christie St. had a different purpose. It housed the Toronto branch of the UJPO. This was the United Jewish Peoples’ Order. Now let’s explore its later identity as the former Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Toronto.
The Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Toronto was more than just a building. It was the heart of Toronto’s Ukrainian community. Many simply called it “Christie”. It stood at 83-85 Christie St.
Imagine Ukrainian events filling its halls. People gathered sharing culture and ideas. The Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Toronto kept ancestral heritage alive. For decades it served this vital role. Newcomers to Canada could learn English here.
The Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Toronto offered diverse spaces. There was a large banquet hall and a smaller one. A concert stage hosted performers. It had a full kitchen and rehearsal rooms. Classrooms and a library served the community. People enjoyed the cafeteria and “Trembita” nightclub. Offices and a gymnasium completed the picture.
The Centre housed important organizations. HOMIN UKRAINY had its offices here. This was a weekly Ukrainian language newspaper. The Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada was also based here. Both were founded in 1948 by Ukrainian immigrants.
From the 1970s to the 1990s the Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Toronto hosted the Metro Toronto International Caravan Festival Ukrainian Pavilion. It started as “Kyiv” honoring Ukraine’s capital. Later it became “Lviv”.
In 2013 the building was sold. The Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Toronto relocated. It found a new home at the Old Mill Hotel and Banquet complex.
Today the building is owned by Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide. Though the Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Toronto is gone from this location its legacy remains. It was a true community hub that fostered Ukrainian culture in Toronto.