Welcoming%20neighbourhood:%20A%20Case%20Study

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Welcoming neighbourhood A Case Study

• Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP

Ryerson University
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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.

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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.
  Vassanjis 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.

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Thorncliffe Location
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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.

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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 families13.3
• 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)

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Thorncliffe Park
Greek/Macedonian Church
To Flemingdon Park
Industrial/Institutional Area
Darus Salam Masjid
East York Town Centre
Greek Church
Iqbal Foods
School
Greek Church
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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

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.