Ethnic Neighborhoods in Toronto PDF

ETHNIC NEIGHBORHOODS: 158 neighborhoods in Toronto -​ Arbitrary neighborhood (define by territory only) -​ physical neighborhood (territories with precisely defined boundaries the geographic boundary of the neighborhood) -​ Homogeneous (with similar os uniform socioeconomic characteristic...

ETHNIC NEIGHBORHOODS: 158 neighborhoods in Toronto -​ Arbitrary neighborhood (define by territory only) -​ physical neighborhood (territories with precisely defined boundaries the geographic boundary of the neighborhood) -​ Homogeneous (with similar os uniform socioeconomic characteristics or demographic conditions) -​ Functional (areas where people interact with other people, businesses and institutions) -​ Social apprentice (interaction among neighbors and they have similar housing structures or different events together) WHAT CONSTITUTE A STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD: Distress neighborhood: absence of landlords, bad health implications TYPES OF NEIGHBORHOODS: Warren and Warren 1977, they used three elements to define neighborhoods, identity (degree to which people within a neighborhood feel connected or attachment to that particular neighborhood, feeling of nostalgia), linkages (degree to which neighborhood is linked to a larger community, where it is situated or reside) interaction (resident or neighborhood interact with one another and with services and businesses).with more high rise people are clustered and there is little interaction, less time for chat. 1.​ Integral Neighborhoods: strong identity, strong interaction and strong linkages. Strong cosmopolitan feel and local flavor, they are well connected with other neighborhoods and local events for other people to visit the neighborhood. (Gay village, Bloor West Village, Beach). 2.​ Parochial Neighborhoods: Strong identity, strong interaction but weak linkages, usually have homogeneous characteristics or similar socioeconomic conditions, middle class people and family of 1 or 2 children, often with potential to screen out individuals that don’t belong to the neighborhood or who don’t conform to their own norms (Young professionals neighborhoods) (Yuppie). 3.​ Diffuse Neighborhoods: Strong identity, Interaction is weak and linkages are weak. Have homogenous setting but not always positive (Regent Park there is weak interaction and linkages) (Parkdale) 4.​ Stepping-stone neighborhoods: weak identity, strong interaction and strong linkages. Defined in terms of names and boundaries but can have strong internal interactions and extra local connections (Yonge and Lawrence Ave). Raise children and visitors from other locations coming in regularly. 5.​ Transitionary Neighborhoods: weak identity, weak interaction, strong linkages. Rapid turnover in housing stock were people can try a property ownership experience, those scared of venturing out into other neighborhoods so they stay there cheaper and temporarily and gain experience on how to own a home and they launch to other locations (Little Portugal) 6.​ Anomic Neighborhoods: non-neighborhoods, weak interaction, weak identity and weak linkages. They make social interactions difficult. Nothing unique about them, often defined as placelessness, everything looks the same. TORONTO’S STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD STRATEGY (TSNS): you have to prioritize so meeting one group's needs often there is another one neglected: opportunity cost. ​ Toronto´s Strong Neighborhood Strategy was launched in 2005 with the United Way in Toronto. Real cost of meeting a particular need is a productive venture which is forfeited or foregone. Established by council in 2005 to identify neighborhood in real need ​ Through Neighbourhood Action, new communities were built. Brought together 1,700 stakeholders and 21 city division agencies and coordinated service planning and delivery for 31 neighborhood improvement areas. Business areas: Private organizations that run business in the neighborhood. Pay taxes to the government but it is reinvested in the neighborhood as infrastructure development. 15 neighborhood planning units and each unit has a community development officer who acts as a bridge between local residents and decision makers and tries to connect locals to governments with investment opportunities and financial resources for various projects, resident length approach provide input into policy and programs and make them more responsive to the need of people in neighborhood ​ Over 1,200 initiatives were implemented during the lifetime of the program. ​ Action for Neighborhood Change (ANC) initiatives were launched and implemented in Canadian cities between 2005 and 2007. KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE TSNS ➔​ Activating People: ensures that local people participate in the planning and decision making process. Recognition and respect to local people. ◆​ Program based on the principle that local residents should be at the core of decisions that impact their lives and communities because they live there and have daily interactions with people and businesses and know about challenges that the neighborhood faces. They can articulate needs and expectations to policy makers. ➔​ Activating resources: city council allocated funds for development of various social amenities in neighborhoods. ◆​ In 2014 as part of the capital process, city council approved 12 million dollars in funding for infrastructure improvement on business areas. ◆​ 3.1 million dollars: playground upgrades, recreation and community space development, community gardens, outdoor splash parks and waterplay areas for children. ◆​ Non-profit organization involved: The Fondest who support initiatives in Jane and Finch neighborhood action youth employment committee received 75 thousand dollars from Ontario Trillium Foundation, 25,000 from Canada Post Foundation and invested money in capacity building and training 300 youth looking for job, first aid, food handling certification and customer service (PASSPORT TO EDUCATION PROGRAM) ◆​ Flemington and Thundling Park in Victoria: 75,000 dollars from Collective Impact for toronto youth, to deal with issues with school, high school graduation rate  among racialized youth. Individuals who drop out early and didn’t complete education, with tutoring to support those individuals. ➔​ Activating neighborhood friendly policies: ensures that services are responsive to the changing needs of diverse neighborhoods. ◆​ Services responsive to changing needs of diverse neighborhoods by removing barriers to access the services, make them easily available to people. ◆​ Toronto Board of Health, support for schools, especially the ones known to have issues with child nutrition. To provide nutritious meals for youth and regular visual screening so they can be able to detect early vision problems because it affects cognitive abilities. Research shows that children that are well fed don't worry about being hungry so they can focus and enhance mental abilities. ◆​ Balanced diet: 6 groups of food balanced and proportioned ◆​ Student Nutrition Program: supplement diet of students. ◆​ Toronto Library Board visits schools and displays books. FACTORS THAT MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS STRONG: strong neighborhood came into mind because they found in order to determine SES of neighborhood you need certain indicators and the criteria was designed by a survey which was carried out by the City of Toronto (United Way, Center of Research for Inner City Health and Toronto Local Central Health Integration Network) assembled researchers from private, public sector together ad members of academia to identify key elements of neighborhood profile whether it is doing well or not. There are interplay of factors that make 7 neighborhoods strong. These are; Principal Component ANalysis used to scale down the volume of information into simplified form is a statistical tool (dimensionality reducing tool). -​ Physical surroundings: 7 points: natural and built environment of the neighborhood, like one of the factors to move to a neighborhood is the transportation availability if they are well connected. Transportation network, presence of parks and open spaces and public meeting places (town halls, recreational spaces for events) -​ Economic opportunities: 30 points: assets to job and having good income related to low rates of crime, more job opportunities a lot of people will be able to afford without breaking into other properties and stealing. Income generating activities that bring job to people to minimize the income gap between rich and poor, equity in terms of salary and wages, no discrimination. -​ Healthy lives: 30 points: fiscal and mental health and access to disability support. -​ Social development programs: 28 points: opportunities and connections that help residents to realize their full potential. It fixes the lack of networking, creates workshops, career fairs and recruitment agencies. 22% of these 158 neighborhoods have lower scores which are below the equity score benchmark. Inequality in economic opportunities, social development, decision making involving and healthy surroundings and 66% of residents in neighborhoods below the equity benchmark are visible minorities. -​ Participation in civic decision making: 5 points: you participate in meetings and relate in the decisions that are being made, it makes you involved. INVESTING IN NEIGHBORHOODS for year 2020, investment towards neighborhoods through regular programming and special funding mechanisms -​ Partnerships opportunities fund: 4 year 12 million capita fund provided by city to enhance community infrastructure development (public transit, bike lane, safety features in intersections). -​ City of Toronto Participatory Budget: locals will organize themselves, identify priority projects and submit proposals to the city and they have an item of cost or financial out league for the cost and the city will review the proposal, if it is credible and viable they approve it. Voting on infrastructure projects to improve. -​ Toronto’s funders network: forum for private and public community funding organizations, bring them together and align priorities and funding. They come together because there are different needs, hierarchy of needs. NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN ​ The action plan reflects neighborhood priority issues identified by residents and other stakeholders. ​ In 2014, the Rexdale Neighbourhood Action Partnership recognized independent input from the community in their work. A Framework of Community conservation was developed which brought together resident leaders (etobicoke council and community members) to create a poverty reduction program for that community. ​ In Winter 2016, the Downsview community welcomed over 800 Syrian refugees. Housed at Toronto Plaza Hotel they screened them and provided food and beverages to refugees and toys for the children. ○​ Halal meat (muslim specific way to kill meat) ○​ Toronto Board of health dental clinic and counselling to the refugees. ​ Community Hub 1652 Keele Street ○​ Since 2005, the community Hub, known as the Keele St Community Alliance has been a central point providing space and support to the community. ○​ The City depends on these spaces and partnerships to implement services and achieve its strategic goals. Offering education, social services, along with cultural and recreational activities. ○​ In 2008, youth received 1.8 million dollars from youth challenge for investment in programs and service provisions. ETHNO-CULTURAL MARKERS: -​ There are cultural factors that are often closely linked with but analytically separate from elements like ethnicity and race can define individuals to the point that people will perceive them with outward symbols and features in individuals. Sometimes can make someone compiscous, whether dominant groups of people within a city, cultural symbols and traits can distinguish one group from the other, visible difference. -​ Religion, language affiliation and immigration status constitute significant ethno-cultural markers. Subtle ways that individuals use as relating to other groups. -​ Social distance denotes the degree that majority ethno-racial people place boundaries between themselves and others. If not part of the groups there is a way to screen you out and not feel comfortable to live in those neighborhoods. They prefer closer social interactions to people that are culturally similar to them, as a result there are ghettos, with a sense of belonging or attachment. -​ If it is used inappropriately it can cause terror between groups, especially the dominant french and english population and first nations. Dealt with negotiation and compromise between french speakers and english speakers in Toronto. -​ Official languages to protect groups, Charter of Rights of Freedom. SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS THAT ACCOUNT FOR TRUST ​ Canadian research shows that minorities, including indigenous peoples, visible minorities and French people typically earn lower incomes than British and other more privileged groups. There is also gender bias in income. ​ This is due to the existence of several problems. ​ Disadvantaged minority groups may feel that the government should do more to enhance opportunities. SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT FACTORS 1.​ Voluntary organizations a.​ People who participate in voluntary organizations are more likely to develop a sense of trust in the political institutions. The more individuals become part of an association or group representing them, they are able to connect to decision makers, city counselors. Advocate who speaks on their behalf. Learn more about city programs and procedures, when people don’t know what is going on in government are critical and apprehensive, but if they get close you’ll learn more of how things are done. 2.​ Voluntary activity a.​ Minority and non-minority groups differ in their voluntary association involvement. 3.​ Social network: help to develop trust ETHNIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP -​ Ethnic businesses are the most visible markers of immigrant settlement and multiculturalism.  -​ BIA: private organizations business improvement areas and they have a board (entrepreneurs, leaders of the community, business owners) form policies or programs that reflect interest of the community (business, activities, cultural events, recreational) they also pay taxes but the city reinvest money in the neighborhood. -​ Ethnic entrepreneurial outcomes are shaped by various institutions and actors. -​ How do entrepreneurs shape retail and interact with each other? -​ What are the spatial and physical outcomes of ethnic entrepreneurship in urban and suburban settings? CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP Place making is a product of good design, a complex and dynamic process (not static, constantly evolving with new groups coming in and leaving which will bring traditions and values). The process is influenced by several factors. PLACE MAKING PRACTICES IN CHINATOWN AND GERRARD INDIA BAZAAR ​ Downtown Chinatown, East Chinatown and Gerrard India Bazaar were established in the 1960s and the 1970s. Chinatown was located on Bay Street where the old city hall is. ​ After the relocation of Chinatown to the eastern part of the inner city, Chinese merchants and stakeholders worked to develop East Chinatown. ​ The Gerrard India Bazaar is located 1.5 km from East Chinatown. Established because of an entrepreneur who bought a property and show Hindi films, Bollywood came to place and restaurants started opening, purely a cinema at the beginning. ​ The entrepreneurs readapted retail strips that were once occupied by Europeans. CONTRIBUTION OF ETHNIC ENTREPRENEURS -​ Effective place making requires active public participation. -​ Entrepreneurs have no control over the design, layout. -​ Elaborate Chinese archway in Mississauga Chinese Centre, get a tourist designation from the people of Toronto. -​ Some merchants complained that developers and managers have too much control.