WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP yerson University
Mar 27, 2015
WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY
Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICPRyerson University
What is a welcoming neighbourhood?
Ability for a community to include and integrate immigrants, refugees and minorities.
Housing, employment opportunities, schooling and social services.
Measure the physical, social, economic, cultural and political dimensions.
Thorncliffe Park – a case study The neighbourhood has continued to be
attractive to new immigrants. It forms the backdrop of Giller Prize winner
M.G. Vassanji’s novel No New Land. The place is well known outside of Canada
among prospective immigrants. 1/5th of the population is recent
immigrants (2001-06). Ethnic make-up of the neighbourhood has
been constantly changing.
Thorncliffe …Location
Some statistics
Total census population: about 18,000 Visible minority: 75%: South Asian,
Filipino and Arab Immigrants: 68%; Recent Immigrants:
31% Top home languages spoken: Urdu,
Gujarati, Farsi, Filipino and Greek Top Ethnic Groups: East Indian,
Pakistani, Filipino, Afghan. By region: South Asian, European.
Some more statistics
91% renter 95% are apartment buildings, five or more storeys 73% of the buildings are regularly maintained Majority constructed between 1960 and 1980. Avg. family size: 3.28; 4 or more person family: 38.4% Multiple family households: 3% Lone female parent families:13.3% Household income: average: $48,011 (Toronto Avg:
$80,343; median: $39,580 (Toronto median: $52,833) Incidence of household low income: very high (46.7%)
Thorncliffe Park
School
East York Town Centre
Iqbal Foods
Greek Church
Greek/Macedonian Church
Darus Salam Masjid
Greek Church
Industrial/Institutional Area
To Flemingdon Park
Physical layout
Was a racetrack, hence the U-shaped main street and the names of the side streets.
The school, the library and the park are physically located in the middle of neighbourhood.
Everything is in walking distance; pedestrian-friendly
Presence of ethnic shopping, places of worship, banks, social and settlement services.
Neighbourhood is well served by transit Public space is conducive for social interaction
Social dimension
Perceived as a safe and welcoming place Well-known for its large apartments and
affordable rents. High social capital Pockets of isolated people: not necessarily
socially isolated, but because of religious idealogy and in some instances, special needs.
School as the centre of the community Changing demographics..and friction
between new and old immigrants.
Economic dimension
Leaside industrial/institutional area abuts the neighbourhood.
Many residents find employment in the nearby industries like the Coca Cola headquarter.
Over 50% of families earn less than $40K. Over 1/4th are employed in low paying the
sales and service sector; 21% are employed in the business and finance sector.
Political dimension
Highest voter turn out in the city. High-profile political race – John Tory vs.
Kathleen Wynne Helped advance civic engagement,
urban citizenship and social inclusion. Led to major improvements in the
neighbourhood (millions to the School; new library)
Is Thorncliffe Park a welcoming neighbourhood? The neighbourhood seems to be a welcoming
place for immigrants. The neighbourhood is institutionally
complete. Physical layout is conducive for social
interaction. Several positives: availability of appropriate
housing, school, social and settlements services, public spaces, civic participation
A few negatives: limited employment opportunities, few segments of the population are isolated.
But positives outweigh negatives.