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Thorncliffe Park perseveres
Date published : February 23, 2010 - Toronto, Ontario
Desmond and his co-workers track the recession’s trajectory in one of Canada’s most multicultural and densely populated neighbourhoods.
Thorncliffe Park
Thorncliffe Park occupies about two square kilometres in north-east Toronto, and is one of Canada’s most multicultural and densely populated neighbourhoods.
Here are facts & figures from the 2006 Census – before the current economic crisis began.
An immigrant neighbourhood: In any given year, over a quarter of all Thorncliffe Park residents have arrived in the country within the last 12 months. In 2006 31% of people had arrived within the last year. The current population is mainly South Asian - Pakistani and growing numbers of Afghanis - with a wide range of people from other backgrounds mixed in.
Income and Employment: Although men living in Thorncliffe possess higher than average educations, the average family income is 48% lower than the city-wide standard. In 2006 47% of Thorncliffe families were considered to living on low incomes– more than triple the Toronto average.
Overcrowded housing & high rents: The neighbourhood was designed to accommodate 6,000 residents – but current population estimates now range between 20,000 and 30,000. Over 90% live in rented accommodation, and over 50% of households spend over 30% of income on housing. Between 2001 and 2006 rents increased at a greater than average rate, and the average number of people per apartment is double the city-wide norm.
High proportion of children: 10% of all Thorncliffe residents are under 4, and 25% are under 15. The Thorncliffe Park Public School is one of the biggest schools in North America.
For more information: http://www.thorncliffe.org
Sources
Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office; The Toronto Star, Jan 10, 2010
Thorncliffe Park occupies about two square kilometres in north-east Toronto, and is one of Canada’s most multicultural and densely populated neighbourhoods.
Here are facts & figures from the 2006 Census – before the current economic crisis began.
An immigrant neighbourhood: In any given year, over a quarter of all Thorncliffe Park residents have arrived in the country within the last 12 months. In 2006 31% of people had arrived within the last year. The current population is mainly South Asian - Pakistani and growing numbers of Afghanis - with a wide range of people from other backgrounds mixed in.
Income and Employment: Although men living in Thorncliffe possess higher than average educations, the average family income is 48% lower than the city-wide standard. In 2006 47% of Thorncliffe families were considered to living on low incomes– more than triple the Toronto average.
Overcrowded housing & high rents: The neighbourhood was designed to accommodate 6,000 residents – but current population estimates now range between 20,000 and 30,000. Over 90% live in rented accommodation, and over 50% of households spend over 30% of income on housing. Between 2001 and 2006 rents increased at a greater than average rate, and the average number of people per apartment is double the city-wide norm.
High proportion of children: 10% of all Thorncliffe residents are under 4, and 25% are under 15. The Thorncliffe Park Public School is one of the biggest schools in North America.
For more information: http://www.thorncliffe.org
Sources
Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office; The Toronto Star, Jan 10, 2010
Reporting and photographs
Goh Iromoto
Editor
Miguel Raymond
Director-coordinator
Hélène Choquette
© 2009 NFB – All rights reserved
Goh Iromoto
Editor
Miguel Raymond
Director-coordinator
Hélène Choquette
© 2009 NFB – All rights reserved
- The 34 high-rise towers that constitute Thorncliffe Park
- were designed to accomodate 6,000 people - but
- now house well over 20,000.
- Source: Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office
