Former Toronto ‘SVP Sports’ transformed into live music space for artists of marginalized communities
Posted March 15, 2022 6:33 pm.
Last Updated March 15, 2022 7:45 pm.
The former location of SVP Sports on Toronto’s ever-growing Queen Street is being transformed into a live music venue for emerging artists in racialized and marginalized communities.
City councillor and chair on Toronto’s board of health, Joe Cressy, made the announcement on Tuesday.
“Exciting news. We’re turning a City-owned building on Queen West into a live music venue and rehearsal space for new and emerging artists,” Cressy said.
“Queen West is at the heart of Toronto’s live music scene, which is essential to our city’s vibrancy, culture, and economy. But after [two] difficult years, live music venues and artists are still dealing with [the] impacts of the pandemic. We must continue to do all we can to support them.”
Mayor John Tory supports the initiative, which Cressy says is also being backed by councillor Brad Bradford (Ward 19, Beaches-East York), and councillor Paul Ainslie.
“This new DIY live music hub is one more way the City government is working to support young emerging artists and live music in our city,” said Mayor Tory. “Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this proposal forward.”
Proud to support plans to transform a Queen Street West City-owned building into a D.I.Y. live music venue that will focus on artists from racialized and marginalized communities.
This is another way we're working to support young emerging artists and live music. pic.twitter.com/tUdRoRUPnr
— John Tory (@JohnTory) March 15, 2022
SVP Sports is a former retail store that the city acquired for “future public parkland.” It closed to the public in December 2021 after the owner decided against renewing the lease.
Its website states that a new Toronto location will be coming in the near future.
“We must continue to do everything we can to support live music — not just during this pandemic, but long after as well. This proposal does exactly that,” Bradford said in a statement.
Queen Street has been home to at least one historic music venue, the Horseshoe Tavern, since 1947. The tavern’s owners have continuously supported new Canadian artists over the years, widely viewed as a springboard for notable acts, including The Tragically Hip.
