Ethnic Neighbourhoods in the GTA

TLecture 

1. Types of Neighbourhoods

• Integral Neighbourhoods: Unified and cohesive communities.

• Parochial Neighbourhoods: Localized with strong internal ties but limited external interactions.

• Diffuse Neighbourhoods: Weak internal cohesion and external connections.

• Stepping-Stone Neighbourhoods: Transitional spaces for newcomers.

• Transitionary Neighbourhoods: Undergoing social and demographic change.

• Anomic Neighbourhoods: Disconnected, lacking identity or stability.

2. Toronto’s Strong Neighbourhood Strategy (TSNS)

• Launch Year: 2005, in collaboration with United Way Toronto.

• Goals:

  1. Develop strong communities through the "Neighbourhood Action" initiative.

  2. Implement 1,200+ initiatives (2005-2007) across Canadian cities.

• Key Objectives:

  1. Activating People: Encourage local participation in planning and decision-making.

  2. Activating Resources: Allocate city council funds for community development.

  3. Activating Policies: Adapt services to meet evolving needs of diverse neighbourhoods.

• Key Success Factors: Physical surroundings, economic opportunities, healthy lives, social development, and civic participation.

3. Investment in Neighbourhoods

• Funds & Initiatives:

  • Partnerships Opportunities Fund

  • Participatory Budgeting

  • Toronto Funders Network

• Examples:

  • Rexdale Neighbourhood Action Partnership (2014).

  • Community Hub at Keele Street (2005–present).

4. Ethno-Cultural Markers and Social Factors

• Markers:

  • Religion, language affiliation, immigration status.

  • Social distance signifies boundaries set by minority groups.

• Socioeconomic Disparities:

  • Lower income levels for minorities (Indigenous, visible minorities, and French populations).

  • Advocacy for improved governmental support.

• Social Engagement:

  • Participation in voluntary organizations fosters trust in political institutions.

  • Minority groups have lower voluntary association involvement compared to non-minorities.

  • Social networks are crucial for building trust.

5. Ethnic Entrepreneurship

• Significance: Ethnic businesses symbolize multiculturalism and immigrant settlement.

• Impact:

  • Shape retail spaces and contribute to urban revitalization.

  • Example Locations:

    • Amsterdam (studies on ethnic business dynamics).

    • New York (ethnic businesses' contribution to local economies).

• Challenges:

  • Lack of policy and institutional support.

  • Rigid zoning bylaws limit ethnic retail development.

  • Developers' control over layout/design limits entrepreneurs' influence.

6. Place-Making in Ethnic Neighbourhoods

• Definition: A dynamic process influenced by design, participation, and entrepreneurship.

• Case Studies:

  • Chinatown:

    • Downtown Chinatown and East Chinatown evolved from relocation efforts in the 1960s-70s.

    • Entrepreneurs adapted retail strips post-European occupancy.

  • Gerrard India Bazaar:

    • Located 1.5 km from East Chinatown.

    • Revitalized through immigrant entrepreneur activities.

• Challenges:

  • Limited control over public participation and policy alignment.

  • Tensions with urban developers and managers.

7. Measuring Neighbourhood Equity

• Neighbourhood Equity Score Breakdown:

  • Physical Surroundings: 7 points

  • Healthy Lives: 30 points

  • Social Development: 28 points

  • Civic Participation: 5 points

• Demographic Comparisons:

  • Visible minority populations higher in targeted neighbourhoods (66%) vs. overall Toronto (49%).

  • Higher unemployment (13%) and social assistance rates (18%) in targeted areas.

Lab 

TORONTO'S STRONG NEIGHBOURHOODS STRATEGY

1. What are the key components of Toronto's Strong Neighbourhood Strategy (TSNS)?

• Strengthening social infrastructure: Enhancing community spaces, programs, and services.

• Improving economic opportunities: Increasing access to jobs, training, and resources for residents.

• Community engagement: Ensuring residents have a voice in decisions affecting their neighbourhoods.

• Collaboration: Working with various stakeholders, including local businesses, non-profits, and residents.

REASONS FOR LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES IN SOME TORONTO'S NEIGHBOURHOODS

2. What do you think are the reasons for the lack of opportunities in some Toronto neighbourhoods?

• Economic disparities: High unemployment rates and limited job availability.

• Inadequate social infrastructure: Lack of community centers, libraries, or support services.

• Systemic barriers: Issues like discrimination and historical marginalization.

• Insufficient investment: Fewer public and private resources allocated to these areas.

HEART BEAT OF NEIGHBOURHOODS

3. What are the key elements of the neighbourhood equity score and how do they help us to understand the heart beat of a neighbourhood?

• Key elements:

  • Economic opportunities

  • Social development

  • Health

  • Physical environment

  • Participation in decision-making

• Understanding the heartbeat: The equity score highlights disparities, showing which neighbourhoods need more support to thrive and be equitable.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF NEIGHBOURHOODS

4. With reference to specific Toronto neighbourhoods, describe their key achievements.

• Regent Park: Successful revitalization with mixed-income housing and community spaces.

• Jane and Finch: Strong grassroots organizations advocating for youth and community programs.

• Parkdale: Cultural preservation and community activism to combat gentrification.

ARE THERE DREAM NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO

5. Which Toronto neighbourhoods are your dream neighbourhoods and why?

• Examples:

  • The Annex: Vibrant, close to downtown, and rich in culture.

  • High Park: Green spaces, family-friendly, and peaceful.

  • Distillery District: Unique architecture, art, and cultural events.

TRUST IN TORONTO'S GOVERNANCE AND POLITICIANS

6. Do you trust politicians to solve all of the problems in your neighbourhoods? Why or why not?

• Reasons for trust: Access to funding, resources, and policies to create change.

• Reasons for doubt: Bureaucratic delays, lack of representation, and inconsistent follow-through.

CHARACTER OF ETHNIC NEIGHBOURHOODS

7. With reference to the video, what is unique about ethnic neighbourhoods that makes people attached to the place?

• Cultural authenticity: Food, festivals, and businesses reflect the culture.

• Strong sense of community: Ethnic enclaves foster belonging and identity.

• Economic opportunities: Spaces for ethnic entrepreneurs to thrive.

CHINATOWN AND GERRARD INDIA BAZAAR

8. Compare and contrast the character and conditions of East Chinatown and Gerrard India Bazaar.

• East Chinatown:

  • Primarily Chinese businesses and culture.

  • Focus on affordability and daily needs.

  • Struggles with modernization and competition from larger chains.

• Gerrard India Bazaar:

  • South Asian culture, with vibrant displays of music, clothing, and food.

  • Faces challenges like gentrification and maintaining cultural authenticity.

TORONTO'S ENTREPRENEURS

9. How do entrepreneurs shape retail spaces and interact with each other in the City of Toronto?

• They transform retail spaces into cultural hubs and meeting points.

• Collaboration fosters community events and collective marketing efforts.

• Entrepreneurs adapt to consumer demands, creating diverse and dynamic spaces.

RESULT OF ETHNIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP

10. What are the spatial and physical outcomes of ethnic entrepreneurship in urban and suburban settings?

• Urban settings: Concentrated ethnic enclaves, vibrant street life, and cultural landmarks.

• Suburban settings: Strip malls and plazas with unique ethnic shops and restaurants.

• Both settings enhance Toronto’s multicultural identity and provide spaces for cultural expression.

Reading 1 

Place-Making by Italian Communities:

• Explores how Italian immigrants created cultural and social spaces in Toronto’s neighborhoods.

• Italian communities developed distinct neighborhoods, such as Little Italy, through shared practices and cultural preservation.

Geographic Dynamics:

• Place-making involved transforming urban spaces to reflect Italian identity, such as through festivals, businesses, and architecture.

• Concentration in specific areas, like College Street and St. Clair West, shows the geographic imprint of immigrant settlement patterns.

Cultural and Social Impacts:

• Italian neighborhoods became hubs for cultural expression, fostering a sense of belonging for immigrants.

• These spaces also served as a bridge between Italian traditions and the broader Canadian urban context.

Urban Development and Challenges:

• The expansion and evolution of Italian neighborhoods often clashed with broader urban development agendas.

• Gentrification and urban renewal initiatives impacted the preservation of Italian identity in these spaces.

Broader Implications:

• Highlights the role of ethnic neighborhoods in shaping Toronto’s multicultural geography.

• Shows the tensions between immigrant place-making and urban planning policies.

Reading 2

Focus on Ethnic Retail Stores:

• Examines the role of small ethnic grocery stores in revitalizing urban spaces, particularly within social housing projects in Toronto.

• Ethnic stores cater to immigrant populations, providing culturally specific goods and services that strengthen community ties.

Urban Renewal Impacts:

• Ethnic grocery stores play a pivotal role in improving the vitality of social housing areas, creating economic opportunities and fostering social cohesion.

• Retail activities contribute to reducing stigmatization of marginalized neighborhoods by attracting diverse groups to the area.

Geographic Context:

• Toronto’s diverse immigrant population drives the demand for ethnic-specific goods, leading to the establishment of stores in immigrant-dense areas.

• Concentrations of these stores reflect the geography of immigrant settlement, often in low-income neighborhoods or social housing areas.

Social and Economic Benefits:

• Ethnic stores provide more than just goods; they serve as informal social spaces, strengthening community networks.

• They support small-scale entrepreneurship among immigrants, helping them integrate economically into Canadian society.

Policy and Urban Planning Implications:

• Urban renewal projects should consider the role of ethnic businesses in fostering community well-being.

• Policies that support small businesses in immigrant neighborhoods can contribute to urban development while preserving cultural identity.

Challenges Identified:

• These stores face challenges such as gentrification, competition with large retailers, and limited resources for business expansion.

• Urban planning must balance renewal initiatives with efforts to protect and support immigrant entrepreneurs.