- FirstU Service at 473 Oakwood Ave – Sunday June 8 (1 May 2025)
After three years of not being able to occupy the building, we invite you to a 10:30 am “soft launch” at 473, complete with stories, celebration rituals, and singing! Be sure to bring a flower (if you have some readily available) to celebrate our annual Flower Communion service.
- 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 showing work on the east windows, bathroom tiles, sanding the sanctuary floor, and getting ready to close in the ceiling.
- People and Stuff at 473 – February 2025 (13 February 2025)
On Tuesday, February 11, there were 37 tradespeople on-site at 473! They were making things happen with drywall, wiring, concrete, welding, glass, insulation and more.
- People and Stuff at 473 – January 2025 (9 January 2025)
The excitement starts now! I’m back from a visit to 473 Oakwood and a lot has progressed since just before Christmas.
- FirstU’s Financial Situation (10 November 2024)
Statement from Tanya Cothran and Chris Lee, Co-Presidents of the Board of Directors at FirstU;Presented at the Congregation’s Annual Fall Meeting on 27 October, 2024
Presentation of First U’s financial situation
In a few minutes we will be asked to vote on a budget for the remainder of this fiscal year. Before that I’d like to share a few updates on FirstU’s current financial situation and what it means going forward.
First, Where are we now?
We’ve heard some positive news: We’ve run a clean audit again. This speaks to the incredible work of our volunteer financial team, and about the combination of systems ...
- Stuff at 473 – Video – October 2024 (24 October 2024)
I’m at our site at 473 Oakwood. I’m standing in the long hallway that heads from the east side of the building, behind me, to the west on Oakwood Avenue. But what’s exciting is that now, I can walk out this back door, and start to see our new east hall taking shape.
- September 2024 Reno Update (27 September 2024)
Two big holes at 473 Oakwood show the progress of heavy construction this month: all of the west second floor windows facing Oakwood Ave. have been removed, making room to install our floor-to-ceiling windows and our stained glass panels; plus we now have a hole where our new lobby stairwell will take shape.
- Stuff at 473 – Video – August 2024 – Buzzing From Top To Bottom (22 August 2024)
473 is buzzing from top to bottom this month, with a new roof covering going on, and new foundations being prepared, plus a staircase taking shape between floors.
- July 2024 Reno Update – Opening Up at 473 (10 July 2024)
Two big holes at 473 Oakwood show the progress of heavy construction this month: all of the west second floor windows facing Oakwood Ave. have been removed, making room to install our floor-to-ceiling windows and our stained glass panels; plus we now have a hole where our new lobby stairwell will take shape.
- May 2024 Reno Update (26 May 2024)
Presentation from Karen Dunk-Green at our Annual Spring Meeting, covering Timeline Milestones, Schedule Risks, Construction Risk, Financial Status, and Next Steps.
- Stuff at 473 – Video – May 2024 – Framing (7 May 2024)
Read other posts about our renovation
A note from Karen Dunk-Green, Chair of the Renovation Task Force, recorded May 7, 2024 Watch the video.
Karen shows the progress on the second floor and the ground floor. The spaces are being defined by the framing and soon they’ll be covered in drywall to create all of the new rooms.
We’ve moved from pouring over hard-to-imagine floor plans to standing in actual defined spaces – hooray! Come the fall, we’ll be able to invite more people into the building for tours, wearing our handy slip-on foot protectors and hard hats. Stay tuned.
- Stuff at 473 – Video – Episode 1 – People at 473 (1 April 2024)
Recorded April 1, 2024 (but seriously, not a joke!) Karen introduces some of the important professionals who are working to make our vision a reality, including architects (from LG Architects), and the site superintendent, project coordinator, and project manager (from Flat Iron Building Group).
Watch the video.
- March 2024 Reno Update 2 – We Have the Work Permit (27 March 2024)
This report includes discussion of the scope of the project, its finances and architects renderings of the main spaces. Construction documents for tendering are now complete and the four-week tendering process has begun. We are waiting for some permits from the city.
- March 2024 Reno Update 1 – Moving Ahead at 473 Oakwood (18 March 2024)
This report includes discussion of the scope of the project, its finances and architects renderings of the main spaces. Construction documents for tendering are now complete and the four-week tendering process has begun. We are waiting for some permits from the city.
- February 2024 Reno Update – Onwards (29 February 2024)
This report includes discussion of the scope of the project, its finances and architects renderings of the main spaces. Construction documents for tendering are now complete and the four-week tendering process has begun. We are waiting for some permits from the city.
- Architect’s Floor Plans & Renderings (1 January 2024)
Architect’s preliminary renderings of our new home
- December 2023 Reno Update – Starting on the elevator (19 December 2023)
This report includes discussion of the scope of the project, its finances and architects renderings of the main spaces. Construction documents for tendering are now complete and the four-week tendering process has begun. We are waiting for some permits from the city.
- November 2023 Reno Update – Report to the Congregation (11 November 2023)
This report includes discussion of the scope of the project, its finances and architects renderings of the main spaces. Construction documents for tendering are now complete and the four-week tendering process has begun. We are waiting for some permits from the city.
- October 2023 Reno Update – Demolition continues (19 October 2023)
After many months of planning, estimating and revising, the renovation of 473 Oakwood is actually underway! We still have final estimates to obtain and financial hurdles to address. Nonetheless, we are taking the first physical steps toward having our new home ready in early 2025.
- August 2023 Reno Update – Construction has started at our new home (29 August 2023)
After many months of planning, estimating and revising, the renovation of 473 Oakwood is actually underway! We still have final estimates to obtain and financial hurdles to address. Nonetheless, we are taking the first physical steps toward having our new home ready in early 2025.
- A New Home in a New Community (31 October 2022)
Read other posts about our renovation
We invite you to participate in Project 473, First’s Capital Campaign.
Your contribution will help First build a modern, accessible, and environmentally sustainable new home and a much-needed community space at 473 Oakwood Avenue.
Learn more about our journey to 473 Oakwood and Project 473.
- Video Tour of 473 Oakwood Ave (11 September 2022)
- Saying goodbye to our home on St Clair in June 2022 (28 April 2022)
Our last in-person service at 175 St Clair West was held on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Our stained glass tower was dismantled and put into storage soon after. We moved out of this building at the end of June. We will move into our new home at 473 Oakwood Ave in early 2024. In the meantime, we will hold online services for the summer and move to hybrid services (in-person and online) starting in September at Oakwood Collegiate Institute.