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Celebrate Black wellness
We invite Black community members to join us Feb. 12 for a panel discussion, storytelling, activities, prizes, and a tasty Caribbean meal.

For more info, contact Youth@AccessAlliance.ca
Register now!
Because learning should be shared
Our new website is full of resources for anyone looking to learn more about arts-based interventions for newcomer mental health.
Tell more more!
French settlement services
Pour des services d’établissement en français et/ou la formation linguistique en français, veuillez contacter : rexdalechc.com/fr | centrefranco.org

If you wish to access French language training and/or French settlement services, please contact: rexdalechc.com/fr | centrefranco.org
Join our team!
Access Alliance is currently hiring. Visit our Career Centre, or click the button below for up-to-date info.
Current opportunities

Welcome to Access Alliance
Multicultural Health and Community Services

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Are you a researcher or social justice advocate?

Are you looking for interpretation or translation services?

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Highlights and Initiatives

Check out our programs and services!

We offer free programs and services for immigrants and refugees of all ages living in the City of Toronto.

COVID-19

Information about COVID-19 supports and resources at Access Alliance and in the City of Toronto.

Volunteer Opportunities

We welcome those who wish to help make a difference to our community. There are many ways you can get involved!

Our Stories

Read stories from community members, staff, volunteers and others who have helped make Access Alliance what it is today.

Upcoming events

Seniors' Line Dancing (Age 55+)

February 3 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Read more

Seniors Cardio and Resistance Exercise (Age 55+)

February 3 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Read more

Seniors Gentle Fitness Exercises (Age 55+)

February 3 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Read more

Seniors' Tai Chi, Mindfulness, Meditation and Stretch (Age 55+) (Virtual/Online)

February 3 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Read more

Feel Good Foods: Eating For Easy Digestion - Nutrition Education Series (Online)

February 3 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Read more

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accessalliance.ca

A community health centre serving vulnerable immigrant & refugee communities across Toronto for 30+ years. Account not monitored 24/7.

Current gaps in Toronto's cycling network mean ped

Current gaps in Toronto's cycling network mean pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users are less safe on Scarborough's roads.Access Alliance Health Promoter and Bike Hub Coordinator Marvin Macaraig spoke recently with the Toronto Observer about the need for infrastructure improvements to make biking safer and more accessible for local residents.Read about his push for transit equity in Toronto's eastern suburbs via the link in bio.#AccessAlliance #safecycling #scarboroughcycles

Join us February 12 at AccessPoint on Danforth for

Join us February 12 at AccessPoint on Danforth for storytelling, learning, and activities that highlight Black voices and experience. We'll have an engaging panel discussion with experts in the field of Black health and wellness, as well as games, prizes, and refreshments!👉🏿 Please register via link in bio.For more info, contact For more information, please contact Brian at: blwanga@accessalliance.ca or 416-760-2815 ext. 5225#accessalliance #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHealthMatters

Those working with youth in Toronto’s east end:

Those working with youth in Toronto’s east end: we see you.We understand resources are limited and needs are not. We know pinpointing how to best address gaps in programs and services can feel out of reach. We get that the thought of organizing focus groups and gathering data to inform your work can feel like an overwhelming task.With this in mind, we’d like to share the findings from our recent Youth Service Needs Assessment. This report can help guide you to more effectively support the health and well-being of your young clients.Based on consultations with east-end youth and service providers, the report captures the youth’s experiences, concerns, and needs. It also looks at the strengths and limitations of existing youth programs and services, and recommends how we can best address critical gaps. Our hope is that the report's findings will help improve existing programs—and develop new ones—that meet the real health and well-being needs of local youth.Learn more and download our report by visiting the link in our bio.#AccessAlliance #scarboroughyouth #torontoyouth

✨ Have a piece of clothing that needs fixing? ✨Nesting Grounds invites you to get creative with us this January and February for mending and upcycling. Give your clothes new life and make something uniquely yours!We’ll explore hand sewing, embroidery, sashiko, machine sewing, and more, giving new life to well-loved textiles while nurturing our wellbeing. Together, we will stitch, share, and connect, using the arts as a gentle way to support our minds and hearts. No experience needed—just bring your curiosity. Join us as we mend, make, and care for ourselves and one another, one stitch at a time.🍏Join us next week! Why participate?:> Learn a new art activity for mental wellness> Receive art materials to make your own creation> Connect with others & share stories> Make new friends & feel a sense of belonging> Access support services & resources> Learn from dietitians, settlement workers, and more!🖼️Drop by—bring along your family and friends!Tuesdays, 12:30 - 2:30 pm, AccessPoint on Danforth, 3079 Danforth Ave. andThursdays, 1:30 - 3:30 pm, AccessPoint on Jane, 761 Jane St.#AccessAllianceART #NestingGrounds #AccessAlliance

✨ It's live! Today we’re excited to invite you

✨ It's live! Today we’re excited to invite you to a walkthrough webinar of the new Access Alliance Arts for Family Health website. We'll provide a guided tour of the platform, highlighting key features, resources, and stories designed to support arts-based practice across healthcare and settlement settings. ✨Learn more about the vision behind the site, the co-creation process, and how expressive arts can strengthen mental health, family well-being, and community connection.🎨 We’ll walk through the site's Resource Hub, Stories & Articles, and other features, sharing how these tools can be used by service providers, practitioners, researchers, and community partners working with newcomer communities.Whether you’re new to arts-based approaches or looking to deepen your practice, we welcome you to join us. Join us at 1 pm this afternoon for a walk-through webinar! Register now via link in bio.#ArtsForHealth #ExpressiveArts #NewcomerWellbeing #CommunityCare #Webinar #AccessAlliance

✨ Sneak peek: What you’ll find on the Arts for

✨ Sneak peek: What you’ll find on the Arts for Family Health website ✨We’re excited to offer a glimpse into some of the key features our new Access Alliance Arts for Family Health website designed to support professionals working in the arts, settlement, and healthcare fields, creating learning, practice, and connection across sectors:🎨 Resource Hub: Whether you are a manager, researcher, or frontline practitioner working with newcomers, this hub is designed for you.It offers practical, accessible, and evidence-informed tools tailored to different roles and needs.🎨 Stories & Articles: Featuring participant testimonials, arts in health articles, and recent and related news. Participant voices are central, sharing lived experiences and cultural knowledge that shape the Hub, while short articles offer learning moments that highlight creative and healing work in our communities.More to come! Stay tuned as we continue sharing what this space has to offer. Join us next week for a walk-through webinar— register now via link in bio!#ArtsForHealth #ResourceHub #CommunityStories #ExpressiveArts #NewcomerWellbeing #CommunityCare

Thank you to our generous community of Holiday Ham

Thank you to our generous community of Holiday Hamper 2025 sponsors and donors! With your support, staff and volunteers organized and delivered a total of 101 hampers full of food, warm clothing, toiletries and gifts for kids. These hampers brought holiday cheer to 178 adults and 218 children in our community.In addition to our many supportive individual sponsors, we’d specifically like to thank Carolyn Griffis & her RE/MAX team, Agnostic, Parkview BMW, Nationwide Appraisal Services, Waugh Family Foundation, Hyatt Foundation, Quality Move Management Inc., Rotary Club of East York Charitable Trust, The Royal Canadian Legion, Refine Group Ltd, Pomp & Circumstance PR, and Cascades Canada ULC for their generous donations.With your help, the holidays were made brighter for so many families. We are grateful for your commitment to community, and wish you all the happiest of new years!#accessalliance #holidayhampers #thankyouforyoursupport

Do you love food, but experience pain or discomfor

Do you love food, but experience pain or discomfort after eating? Learn how digestion works and get tips on managing common digestive issues with a dietitian in this free, virtual series!Join us on Tuesdays from Jan. 20 to Feb. 24, 1 - 3 pm. Register today via the link in our bio!#accessalliance #feelgoodfoods

✨ Behind the scenes: Co-creating arts for family

✨ Behind the scenes: Co-creating arts for family health ✨As we get closer to the launch of our new Access Alliance Arts for Family Health website, we want to honour the process that made it possible. This platform was built through deep collaboration and co-creation every step of the way.✨The site was shaped with and by practitioners, peer researchers, community members, graphic designers, web developers, community artists, arts-based practitioners, photographers, videographers, volunteers, and placement students. Everyone brought us their unique skills, lived experience, and creativity.🎨 By working across roles and disciplines, we created and curated resources that are practical, accessible, and grounded in real community needs. Co-creation helps ensure that tools are not only usable, but also reflective of the cultures, stories, and strengths of newcomer communities.This process reminds us that meaningful community resources are strongest when they are built together with care, shared ownership, and respect for lived experience.We’re deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their time, thoughtfulness, and wisdom to this work. Stay tuned for the webinar on January 21, 2026 from 1 – 1:30 pm, following an official launch.#CoCreation #CommunityCollaboration #ArtsForHealth #NewcomerCommunities #ExpressiveArts #CommunityCare

✨ We’re excited to share what we’ve been wor

✨ We’re excited to share what we’ve been working on! ✨Interested in how we’re advancing arts integration in healthcare and settlement? This past year, Access Alliance has been curating a new Access Alliance Arts for Family Health website, and we’re thrilled to reveal in 2026! The site provides useful information for practitioners, managers, researchers, and academics who want to integrate or explore creative methods in their work.✨This new knowledge platform, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, grew out of the Hubs of Expressive Arts for Life (HEAL) project. HEAL explored how expressive arts practices can support the mental health and well-being of newcomer individuals, families, and communities.For the past two decades, Access Alliance has witnessed the transformative power of the arts in supporting better health outcomes and meaningful settlement experiences for newcomers. Through arts-based approaches, we are reimagining how families access care, centering culture, creativity, healing, and belonging.🎨 The website brings together resources, stories, and practical tools that highlight how expressive arts can strengthen mental health, family well-being, and community connection across healthcare and settlement settings.Join us in learning how to shape more inclusive, creative systems of support for newcomer communities through the arts! Stay tuned for the webinar on January 21, 2025 from 1 – 1:30 pm, following an official launch.#ArtsForHealth #NewcomerWellbeing #ExpressiveArts #FamilyHealth #CommunityCare

⭐️🎉Happy 2026 to our Access Alliance commun

⭐️🎉Happy 2026 to our Access Alliance community!As we reflect on 2025, we’re grateful for all we accomplished together— a diverse range of programs, healthcare services, and lively community events. We’re eagerly anticipating a bright and busy year ahead.In 2026 we’ll actively explore new programming, expand our spaces and service offerings, and build partnerships and knowledge. We’ll continue to lean into equity, access, engagement and attachment as we work to improve health outcomes, bridge system gaps, and advance health equity.Thank you for your continued trust and collaboration. We look forward to navigating the year ahead with you at our side, as we move towards a healthier, more inclusive future.#AccessAlliance #HappyNewYear

🔔 We have holiday hours! 🔔 ⭐ All our offi

🔔 We have holiday hours! 🔔⭐ All our offices and clinics will be closed Dec. 25 & Jan. 1. ⭐ Our Danforth location will be closed Dec. 27 & Jan. 3.⭐ We're open Dec. 24 & 31 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, and Dec. 26 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.We'll resume regular hours on Jan. 5. Have a safe and happy holiday!

🌟 We love celebrating with you! 🌟 ❄️ Ea

🌟 We love celebrating with you! 🌟❄️ Earlier this month, Access Alliance community members, volunteers, and staff gathered in our east and west locations to celebrate the holiday season, together. On Dec. 4 at AccessPoint on Jane, a total of 194 attendees feasted on delicious chicken and vegan meals. Activities included lantern-making, expressive arts activities and our ever-popular family photo booth.⛄️ On Dec. 9 our AccessPoint on Danforth holiday dinner was a cheerful event, with songs, holiday-themed activities, and a visit from a larger-than-life gingerbread man. Volunteers from BMO stepped in to support with check-ins, raffle tickets, and food service for over 320 attendees.⭐️ Our hard-working community volunteers supported both events with their usual kindness and creativity, setting up, preparing food, and decorating our spaces beautifully.❤️ A huge thank you to everyone who helped to make these two events so warm and welcoming. We’re grateful for our many supporters, partners, and sponsors, including EYET, Coach, 8 80 Cities, and Daily Bread Food Bank, and for our community members who are so much fun to celebrate with. Happy holidays to you all!#accessalliance #happyholidays

🎨 The journey continues. We’ve reached the e

🧡 As we honour #16DaysOfActivism, we're reminde

🧡 As we honour #16DaysOfActivism, we're reminded of how sustainable art programs benefit individuals and communities impacted by gender-based violence (GBV).In sharing insights into what's needed to grow and maintain expressive arts programs, Roxanna Vahed points out that:✨ Creative spaces spark healing.When personal experiences are held in safe, supported, creative environments, they can become catalysts for healing. For survivors of GBV, creative expression can transform pain into insight and voice.✨ Being seen matters.The arts can help survivors of GBV share parts of themselves that are often ignored or misunderstood. Being witnessed in this way restores dignity, agency, and self-worth. This is a vital steps towards healing after violence.✨ Support ripples outward.When we offer art-focused support for trauma healing, people go home with fuller hearts and communities grow stronger. For those impacted by GBV, these shifts are life-changing. Creative support strengthens entire family systems and helps build safer, more connected communities.Follow us this week for more on how we're taking action with art to support newcomer survivors of gender-based violence.#16Days #ArtsInHealth #AccessAlliance

🌶️ What do garden stewards do when faced with

🌶️ What do garden stewards do when faced with 10 lbs of hot peppers? They make hot pepper relish! 🌶️Our amazing volunteer garden stewards spent their Saturday picking peppers on our rooftop garden, then canning a simple and delicious relish. The peppers were cultivated by the stewards and shared with our community over the summer, but even as the weather cools, they keep on giving!The hot pepper relish will be shared with our community dining program to be eaten over the winter months, and each garden steward got a jar to take home.Thank you to our hardworking garden stewards! Even as the snow starts to fall, these peppers will continue to grow and give warmth to community meals.Learn more about our Green Access program and our rooftop garden here: https://accessalliance.ca/programs-services/green-access-program/#AccessAlliance #urbangardening #hotpeppers

🧡 As we honour #16DaysOfActivism, we're reminde

🧡 As we honour #16DaysOfActivism, we're reminded of how expressive arts can spark transformation from the individual level all the way to policy and systems change.Andrea Charise shares her thoughts on the need to build and maintain sustainable arts practices:✨ Sustainability builds legacy.Sustainability in arts-based healing isn’t only about program continuation, it’s about legacy. It means ensuring that expressive arts, storytelling, and community-led creative practices remain visible, accessible, and valued throughout the year.✨ Digital tools extend impact.Sustainability also includes exploring opportunities for digital archiving, so the work can be preserved, shared, and learned from across communities and generations.✨ Artists are essential.As expressive arts continue to integrate into health care and community support systems, one principle must be upheld: artists are vital members of these teams, contributing expertise, creativity, and healing to survivor-centered practices.Follow us for more expert ideas on how and why expressive arts programming can support better health care for newcomer survivors of gender-based violence.#16Days #ArtsInHealth #AccessAlliance

“I want to say thanks once again for selecting u

“I want to say thanks once again for selecting us for [a] holiday hamper, it was so nice of Access Alliance, and those who did so much for us.”—Holiday Hamper recipientToday is #GivingTuesday. If you can, please donate to our Holiday Hamper program. Your gift will help create a memorable holiday for our low-income and newcomer neighbours.❄💙🎁Holiday Hamper is a remarkable community effort, made possible thanks to the dedicated support of volunteers, staff, local sponsors, and donors just like you. Hampers are filled with tasty treats, gifts for kids, clothing and household necessities, gifts which make the season brighter for the program's many recipients.Your donation—big or small—will make a huge difference. To donate, please visit accessalliance.ca and click on the "Donate" button, or click on the link in our bio.💙#AccessAlliance #HolidayHamper

🧡 As we observe #16DaysOfActivism, we’re remi

🧡 As we observe #16DaysOfActivism, we’re reminded of how art transcends boundaries and connects us all.Arshia Ali encourages us to consider the power of art to bring us closer, sharing:✨ Art connects us.Art is so powerful. It transcends boundaries and serves as a bridge for human connection, beyond language and the silos that divide us. For newcomer families impacted by gender-based violence, creative expression opens pathways to understanding, empathy, and shared healing.✨ Expression builds bridges.Through movement, visual art, music, and storytelling, survivors and communities can communicate experiences that words alone cannot capture. These shared moments foster trust, belonging, and connection across cultural and generational divides.✨ Creativity transforms communities.When we support arts-based initiatives, we strengthen not just individuals, but entire families and communities. Creative practices help rebuild resilience, restore dignity, and create spaces where everyone can be seen, heard, and valued.🧡 Follow us for more on how arts-based actions can help newcomer survivors of gender-based violence connect, rebuild, and heal.#AccessAlliance #16Days #ArtsInHealth

🧡 As we mark #16DaysofActivism, we reminded of

🧡 As we mark #16DaysofActivism, we reminded of how powerful expressive arts can be in supporting newcomers and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).Maggie To shares the following about art's healing properties:✨Trauma lives in the body, not just the mind. For many survivors of gender-based violence, especially newcomers navigating resettlement stress, language barriers, and cultural stigma, speaking about their experiences can feel overwhelming. Healing arts offer another pathway: movement, visual creation, rhythm, and sound. A safe space to feel, release, and process at one’s own pace.✨ Everyone is creative. Creativity brings joy, self-expression, imagination, and community connection, all essential elements of healing after experiences of violence and displacement. For newcomer families, creative engagement can restore a sense of belonging and rebuild trust in themselves and in others.✨ In arts-based spaces, participants aren’t “patients” or “clients” they become creators, storytellers, and meaning-makers of their own journeys. For survivors of GBV, this shift matters: art doesn’t just heal — it empowers. It reconnects. It humanizes. It helps individuals reclaim voice, agency, and possibility.Follow us for more on the power of art in supporting survivors of GBV.#accessalliance #ArtsInHealth #16Days

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