Remarks at the 37th Mayors’ Dinner by Ayman Eldesouky and Cassandra Polyzou
Published June 2026
For over 20 years The Working Centre has been hosting Community Enterprise projects like Queen Street Commons Café, Recycle Cycles, Worth a Second Look Housewares and Furniture, and Computer Recycling to name a few.
Community Enterprise projects are practical and productive examples of enterprise. They are active and working businesses that also focus on building community and inclusion.
Why do we put such effort into these enterprise projects? Its all about building our individual and collective ability to break down isolation, to create spaces where we can live into hope for our world, where we can get to know each other better.
Krista Tippett states: “I think belonging is our true nature. The civil rights elders used to talk about remembering with a hyphen, re-membering,[…] Embodying this thing that has always been true and we have to make it physically true again. It’s hard for us to feel our belonging even in our circles of kindred worlds, and it’s almost impossible right now to imagine our belonging to people across the spectrum of our society.”
Being a part of shared spaces often means we have to slow down and be present in this place, to listen to others. We participate in shared spaces because it strengthens each of us as community members, because it helps us to imagine a different future together. People thrive when they feel like they belong.
- A refugee learning to speak English, after just coming through the trauma of war and settling in a new country, regularly coming to volunteer, building a community of connection around themselves;
- A young woman, once an unsheltered youth who hung out with other youth at the back of the Queen St Common Cafe, worked hard to separate from the world of drugs to keep her children safe as they grew. She has returned to sign her children up to volunteer as they pursue their university educations.
- A young man joined us as part of the ACE program, a non-credit school board program leading to a certificate of accomplishment and after 5 years at Worth a Second Look, building confidence and skills, he is now being offered a full-time job at a grocery store as he graduates from high school.
- A man who has become isolated in his apartment with high agoraphobia through COVID, is repeatedly coming to Queen Street Commons Café, spending time around people, often having difficulties moderating his intensity, and gradually being supported to remember what it is to be around others.
- A single mother brings her 2 children to Recycle Cycles each year as they grow out of their bikes, allowing her children to ride and play with other children.
- A refugee from Sudan came to Worth a Second Look to outfit his apartment. He had no money, so we set him up with a bed and kitchen supplies for free. He came back later when he could to pay for the items and started to volunteer to build language skills. After schooling he found work and got married. As the new couple were moving to their new home, they came to find their furniture at WASL. His family of friends at WASL paid for his household items as a wedding gift. He and his wife continue to volunteer in the store.
The community that builds around these projects means people belong and are known. People participate in the work of the project, with each person giving according to their ability. The work can involve collecting e-waste or learning the skills of cleaning hard drives. Our furniture pick up service means learning how to gently carry couches and bulky furniture out of people’s houses. With 700 bikes donated to Recycle Cycles, it takes focus and constant movement to refurbish them for selling. Skill and knowledge and presence, generously shared. Confidence grows in an environment of trust.
Shared spaces are made viable when people from all walks of life participate. When many people get involved in public spaces we are all strengthened. These ways include donating goods to Worth a Second Look or Recycle Cycles, joining the work of sorting goods, coming for lunch at the Queen Street Commons Cafe, teaching basketball at Adventure4Change, participating in Hockey Helps the Homeless, or spending time at our local library. The possibilities are endless as we prioritize these choices in our lives.
Recently we asked some people why the Queen Street Commons Café is important to them:
“Queen Street Commons will be held as a treasured place in many of our collective memories for housing our growth as parents, families, and for all the weaving into a culture of care. It was a powerful model of inclusivity for us all and for our kids as the next generation of community. And – who could forget the best brownies ever?!!”
“I love that Queen Street Commons welcomes people from all walks of life, who came there for a variety of reasons – a business meeting, meetup with friends, time to read or reflect alone at a table, attend an all-candidates meeting for the upcoming elections; all of us there together.”
The simple act of being present in intentional public spaces that bring diverse people together, enriches our lives, and weaves us into a diverse community where all can participate.
