We will be meeting online only until our new home at 473 Oakwood Ave is ready.
We will be meeting online on Sunday mornings at 10:30, before and after our move.
Check out our upcoming services.
Renovation Updates
See the full list of posts about our renovation
See the architect’s floor plans & renderings
- People and Stuff at 473 – July 2025 with real photos! (9 July 2025)These are photos of 473 Oakwood taken on July 2 and 9, 2025, before the official opening.
- DELAYED – FirstU Service at 473 Oakwood (4 June 2025)😕 Despite the best efforts by the pro team, 473 Oakwood has not yet been approved for us to meet in person. Two pieces of ...
- People and Stuff at 473 – April 2025 (10 April 2025)Every day, new things happen at 473 Oakwood! Here are some photos of the fixtures ready to be installed.
- People and Stuff at 473 – March 2025 (6 March 2025)This week, our staff team visited 473 to see the progress and begin making plans for how to use specific spaces. Check out the photos ...
Our New Home at 473 Oakwood Ave
On September 19, 2021, a historic and joyous decision was made! 138 members of the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto participated in the vote, which passed unanimously, to purchase 473 Oakwood Ave. We signed the deal a day later and it closed on October 20, making 473 Oakwood Avenue our new congregational home!
It had taken two years to find a suitable property as our new home. The vote to accept the offer from Plaza Corp to purchase 175 was passed on June 11 2017. That was preceded by an equally important vote on September 25, 2016 to not pursue renovating 175 and to put the building on the market for sale.
Our new congregational home will be a place where we can meet to Seek, Connect and Serve in support of our mission to build a better world. It is a building we can own, renovate and reside in, while also inviting other community members to make use of the space.
473 Oakwood Avenue is a former postal sorting station, built in the 1960s and renovated in the 2000s to become a rental property. It consists of two floors above ground and a below-ground basement. There are welcoming entrance areas on both Oakwood Avenue and Robina Avenue.
We expect to complete our move in June 2025 after it is renovated to suit our needs. <!-- Removed 2024.06.18 by Stan We will hold in-person services during the school year at our temporary location (Oakwood Collegiate Institute, 991 St Clair Ave W) until our new home is ready.--> We will continue to hold online services on Zoom and Youtube after the move.
473 Oakwood is about 15 minutes by bus from St. Clair West and Ossington stations, and a 2-minute walk from the stops for the Oakwood, Rogers and Vaughan buses.
- Detailed travel instructions
- Large map<!-- Removed 2025.06.10 by Stan
- Slide show of the empty building — from Metropolitan Commercial Realty, 2015 -->
Following the unanimous decision in September 2021, we are on track with the renovation plans to prepare 473 Oakwood for our arrival in 2024.
On September 18, 2022, the Real Estate team led a congregational conversation (after the service) to learn about and discuss the latest cost estimates, options for funding the project, and choices to be considered. This meeting was in hybrid format (onsite and online). The following materials were provided in advance:
On September 11, 2022 after the Sunday service Karen Dunk-Green led a group of Toronto First members on a tour of the not yet renovated building.
On August 24, 2022, we passed an important milestone when we received approval from the city’s Committee of Adjustments to proceed with our plans to renovate 473 Oakwood.
On March 27, 2022, the Real Estate Steering Committee (RSC) held a congregational conversation to provide an update on the renovation project with the following reading materials provided in advance of the conversation:
Since our founding, First Unitarian has managed its real estate strategy to manage both our financial and our congregational sustainability:
July 1845: Founding of First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto
113 George Street, 400-seat gabled white frame building
rented first, then purchased; then sold
1852 – 1854
purchased land to build a church at Jarvis & Dundas
held services in Ontario Hall, a local courtroom, in the meantime
November 1854
moved to newly constructed 300-seat Gothic sanctuary on Jarvis St.
survived two fires; added basement in 1876; other renovations in 1878
1947
sold Jarvis St. building as part of a Simpson’s development
purchased land on St. Clair Ave. W; renovated
from 1949 to 1951, met in the International Cinema on Yonge St
1951
moved to new modernist building at 175 St. Clair Ave. W
1990 – 1992
renovated 175 St. Clair W; services at Deer Park United
In 2007 the congregation voted to plan to move. Four committees have played a role in getting us here, with committee members collaborating with external consultants and with assistance and input from the congregation to work through a process of steps.
- Property Options Task Force, 2006-07
Chair: Richard Kirsh
Environmental scan of decision factors; recommendation to keep studying - Vision & Property Task Force, 2007-08
Chair: Nancy Lee
Vision Statement as context for future real estate decisions - Building for the Future, 2012-14
Chairs: Nancy Lee, then Karen Dunk-Green
Property valued at $5-7 million. Developer proposals for a condo above us were deemed not financially viable or desirable. Need renovation study. - Real Estate Task Force, 2016 onward
Chair: Karen Dunk-Green
2016: Renovation Assessment and Decision
Renovation costs and outcomes (including elevator improvements, more accessible washrooms, and more) deemed unaffordable and unsatisfying. In September 2016, the congregation voted to sell 175 St. Clair Ave. W.
2017 – 2019: Marketing and Selling
Sale finalized November 2018. Closing date (+extensions) December 2019
Leaseback arrangement (extended) until June 2022
2019 – 2021: The Search for a New Home
Many dozens of sites considered; 11 offers made, 6 rejected by owner, 5 withdrawn by us after due diligence.