Understanding Racial Migration and Urban Experiences in Canada

1619: Forced migration of Africans to the Americas for enslavement. Primarily affected Quebec and the Maritimes.
1793: Upper Canada (now Ontario) passed the Act to Limit Slavery, marking the first British territory to phase out slavery.
1834: Britain abolished slavery throughout its empire, including Canada, turning it into a destination for freedom seekers via the Underground Railroad.
1850-1870: Reconstruction Era in the U.S. where African Americans began to gain rights, leading many formerly enslaved people to flee to Canada to escape oppressive U.S. laws like the Fugitive Slave Act.

1890-1910: Rise of Jim Crow laws in the U.S. enforced segregation, with Black Canadians experiencing discrimination, particularly in schools, housing, and employment.
1910-1930: First wave of the Great Migration where many moved from the Southern U.S. to Northern and Western cities. Canada imposed immigration restrictions against Black Americans.
1940-1970: Second wave of the Great Migration, millions relocated for economic opportunities, with significant concentrations in urban areas.

U.S. policies (e.g. 1949 & 1954 Housing Acts) led to entrenched segregation and ghettos.
Canada shows different patterns of racial segregation influenced by distinct political and institutional factors.
Urban demographics have changed, but historical contexts of discrimination must still be considered.

Labour Market Discrimination: Racial bias in hiring practices leads to lower wages for racialized groups and a lack of job stability.
Housing Affordability: Visible minorities earn less, limiting the ability to afford housing, confining them to lower-cost areas.
Discriminatory Housing Practices: Biased decisions by realtors and financial institutions restrict access to desirable housing.

Context: Toronto’s population is significantly comprised of foreign-born residents, making it a key site for studying newcomer youth experiences.
Events and Gentrification: The PanAm Games (2015) led to urban redevelopment that displaced low-income lifestyles and raised concerns about the focus on luxury at the expense of community needs.

Youth perspectives on changes: Many newcomer youth expressed disappointment about the lack of affordable, mixed-income housing and criticized new developments focusing on luxury condos rather than community benefits.
Barriers to Recreation: Youth frequently face high costs associated with new recreational facilities and express a need for localized resources.
Disparities in Access: While sports were seen as a potential connector, most reported feeling excluded from participation in leisure due to financial constraints.

Urban renewal initiatives often prioritize revenue over genuine community needs, with significant benefits skewed towards wealthier neighborhoods.
There is a noticeable disconnect between the marketed multicultural image of cities and the lived realities of racialized youth, reinforcing existing inequalities.
Displacement leads to "root shock", where communities experience trauma from losing their homes and social networks, resulting in diminished trust in democratic practices.

Emphasizes the lack of understanding from planners regarding the emotional and social costs of displacement, hinting at a need for more humane approaches in urban planning.