The 519 to Host International Summit on Inclusion in Recreational Sport During Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 25, 2015) - The 519 will host the first-ever international Sport Inclusion Summit focused on recreational sport from July 13-15. The Summit will bring together experts, athletes and advocates to advance LGBT inclusion in recreational sport during the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games.

As the trustee of PrideHouse Toronto, the LGBT pavilion for the Games, The 519 recognizes that all elite and professional athletes begin their experience with sport at the recreational and local level - and this Summit will aim to produce concrete recommendations about how to make these spaces accessible and welcoming to people of all identities, ages and ability levels.

Highlights include:

• Keynote address by Trevor Loke (@TrevorLoke), the 26-year-old former commissioner of Vancouver's Park Board who led a variety of ground-breaking initiatives to improve LGBT inclusion in his city.
• Inclusion Playbook: The Summit will conclude with the release of an Inclusion Playbook, outlining recommendations for more inclusive practices in five areas of recreational sport: Municipal Parks & Recreation Departments; Provincial and National sport organizations; LGBT sport organizations; Pride House stakeholders; and the education sector.
• HUDDLE 2015: This ticketed evening event features Fallon Fox, the first openly transgendered MMA fighter. Presented in partnership with You Can Play, HUDDLE will feature inspiring talks by LGBT athletes and advocates about inclusion in recreational sport, hosted by TSN's Gareth Wheeler and supported by sponsors, Tangerine, Delta, CIBC and Intercontinental Toronto.

The 519's Sport Inclusion Summit
Date:		Monday, July 13 to Wednesday, July 15
Time:		Full day program, timing varies daily
Location:		The 519, 519 Church Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 2C9
Cost:		$325 for three days including two meals daily, evening events and a VIP Pass to PrideHouseTO ($350 after June 30th), corporate registration available
Registration:		www.Summit.The519.org

HUDDLE 2015
Date:	Tuesday, July 14
Time:	7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Location:	Isabel Bader Theatre, University of Toronto, 93 Charles St W, Toronto, ON M5S 2C7
Cost:	General Admission: $25, VIP Reception (beginning at 6 p.m.) with Meet & Greet: $100
Registration:	www.Huddle.The519.org

About The 519's Contributions to Sport Inclusion:

The 519 is a City of Toronto agency that contributes to the advancement of LGBTQ equality and inclusion in Toronto and beyond. For 40 years, our innovative model of Service, Space and Leadership has made a real difference in people's lives, while working to promote broader inclusion, understanding and respect.

We provide direct service to members of the LGBTQ community; provide free, accommodating and non-judgemental space to individuals, organizations and non-profit groups; and advocate for progress by sharing the knowledge and insight we gather on the ground through consulting and workshop services, research and public engagement campaigns.

• The 519 Recreation Centre: Since 2012, The 519 has been working with a private philanthropic donor and the City of Toronto to build the world's first sport and recreation centre focused on sport inclusion at Moss Park in Toronto. When completed, the proposed 200,000 sq. ft., $100 million dollar facility will be an inviting setting that brings people together, fosters acceptance and healthy living, showcases the city as a world-class leader in diversity and sport inclusion and acts as the home to Toronto's 40+ LGBT leagues, representing over 6,000 members.
  
  
• The PrideHouseTO (The 519 is the project's Trustee): is a significant, community-engagement project that has brought together 15 organizations from the business, government, labour, education and community services sectors with the City of Toronto and Pan Am Games partners to make TORONTO 2015 the most LGBT-inclusive multi-sport games in history.