Free Recreational Programs
YCP Toronto
55 Eglinton Ave East, Suite 502
Toronto, Ontario M4P 1G8
Yonge & Eglinton
Tel: 416-364-1666
https://www.ycptoronto.com/
Offers a variety of FREE programs, workshops and special events throughout Toronto to children who are in a caregiving role for family members with disabilities or illnesses. YCP provides social, recreational, educational, and skill development opportunities for Young Carers by connecting them with peers, building resilience and self-esteem, and giving them time to have fun.
SKETCH Toronto
180 Shaw St
Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
Queen & Shaw
Tel: 416-516-1559
https://sketch.ca/
SKETCH is a community arts enterprise engaging diverse young people, ages 16-29, from across Canada, who live homeless or on the margins and navigate poverty to:
- experience the transformative power of the arts
- build leadership and self-sufficiency in the arts
- cultivate social and environmental change through the arts
Mural Routes
1859 Kingston Road,
Toronto, ON M1N 1T3
Kingston Rd & Birchmount Rd
Tel: 416-698-7995
https://muralroutes.ca/category/education/
Mural Routes holds a “Big Picture” mural making workshops. Youth age 14 and over can attend the 8-week workshop which “provides basis, context and information needed to improve communities through mural arts. Participants of this free program will gain the opportunity to develop and pursue their interest in art, explore the basis of art techniques and build upon abilities, portfolios and careers in the realm of public art”. Workshops focus on drawing and painting techniques, colour theory, composition and Creating Depths and Stencils.
PACT Urban Peace Program
312 Brooke Ave
Toronto, ON M5M 2L3
Tel: 416-656-8824
Bathurst St & the 401 Hwy
http://pactprogram.ca/
PACT has a number of programs for youth including Pact Fashion (puts on a fashion show), PACT Film (instruction in many facets of film production) and PACT Haunted Theatre Project (in support of the Powerhouse of Terror – a professional haunt attraction in Toronto and includes three separate program areas: Set/Prop Design and Build Special FX, Make-up and Costume Design Acting, Character Development and On-site Support).
The YMCA of Greater Toronto
Tel: 416-928-9622
https://ymcagta.org/youth-programs/teen-nights
A charity offering opportunities for personal growth, community involvement and leadership. They offer numerous free programs for youth such as help with finding employment, various training’s camps, help with substance abuse issues and educational workshops. There are various YMCA locations around Toronto, please call all to find a location nearest you.
The Remix Project
130 Queens Quay E, Unit 517
Toronto, ON M5A 0P9
Tel: 416-583-2120
Queens Quay E & Jarvis
Serves youth who are trying to enter into the creative industries or further their formal education; The REMIX Project provides top-notch alternative, creative, educational programs, facilitators and facilities.
The Arcade Drop In
260 Augusta Avenue
Toronto, ON M5T 2L6
Tel: 416-964-8747
College St & Spadina Ave
https://www.sschto.ca/Youth/The-Arcade-Drop-In
Drop-in is a comfortable rec room/Arcade environment with a pool table, lounge area, foose ball table, computer lab, and kitchen for youth aged 12-21. It’s always happening at the Youth Arcade Drop-in. Relax after school in the comfy lounge, play pool or foosball, hop on a computer, munch some tasty snacks, join a workshop and chat with friends.
NIA Centre for the Arts
524 Oakwood Avenue
Toronto, ON M6E 2X1
Oakwood & Eglinton
Tel: 416-535-2727
Nia Centre for the Arts is a Toronto-based not-for-profit organization that supports, showcases and promotes an appreciation of arts from across the African Diaspora. Nia Centre creates opportunities for young people to develop healthy identities and for communities to enhance their creative capacities.
For Youth Initiative
1652 Keele Street
Toronto ON M6M 3W3
Keele & Rogers
Tel: 416-653-3311
https://www.foryouth.ca
Youth spaces are open for youth to drop in and access on-site resources Monday through Friday.
Resources in our space include:
- a computer lab
- a quiet space for homework
- free on-site tutoring
- an arts and crafts room equipped with art supplies and sewing machines
- a recording studio
Youth are also always welcome to unwind and interact with staff in the FYI Lounge where nutritious meals are prepared and shared together daily.
Toronto Youth Spaces Through the City
https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/youth-recreation/
There are two types of youth spaces available across the city: regular and enhanced.
Regular Youth Spaces have youth-centric programming during the week at different times. They might not be available every day of the week, so make sure to check ahead.
Enhanced Youth Spaces (EYS) are supervised spaces that are open to youth five to six (5-6) days a week. These spaces have stuff like WIFI, TV, gaming consoles, foosball tables, pool tables, computers, recording studios, photography labs, and study spaces. Free programs include photography, barbering and hairstyling, yoga, nail art, DJing and music recording.
Yonge Street Mission
365 Spadina Ave
Toronto, ON M5T 2G3
College & Spadina
Tel: 416-929-9614
https://www.ysm.ca/who-we-serve/evergreen/
YSM Evergreen is an inclusive, comprehensive centre for street-involved youth in our city. Our wide range of services and programs are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of youth aged 16 to 24.
Cabbagetown Youth Centre
2 Lancaster Ave
Toronto ON M4X 1C1
Parliament & Wellesley
Tel: 416-960-1032
https://www.bgctk.org/cabbagetownyouthcentre/
The Cabbagetown Youth Centre (CYC) and Boxing Club was founded in 1972 at 2 Lancaster Avenue. The CYC was converted into a community centre to provide youth with positive alternatives through sport and recreation while encouraging ongoing education. CYC expanded over the years to provide a similar range of recreational, social, and skill development programs.
Strides Toronto
1200 Markham Rd
Scarborough ON M1H 3C3
Markham & Ellesmere
https://stridestoronto.ca/program-service/the-zone-youth-space/
The Zone Youth Space offers free programming 6 days a week, that includes after-school youth drop in, employment and leadership workshops, homework help, multimedia programming, and more. The space is equipped with video games, board games, a pool table, foosball, computers, and free WiFi.
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