TORONTO – Toronto Centre: the presence of so many churches (both Protestant and Catholic) as well as Cathedrals – St. Michael’s, St. James, St. Paul – in Old Toronto led to the once-held reputation of “Toronto the Good”. It was, of course anything but. Nestled between the University, the Insurance Companies, the eastern territories of the federated colleges that comprised the University of Toronto and the hospitals and scientific research centers, was the old “Annex” – slum-like environment for new arrivals to Canada.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s pre and post World War I, Italians, along with other expatriates from Germany, the Russian, Hapsburg Empires (Jewish, Polish, Ukrainians, South -Eastern European Slavs…) and Chinese made that area of the city their first home. The “modest” homes are gone… but not entirely. Some of the descendants of those pioneers have moved on. The area “gentryfied”, but not for everyone. Many of societies marginalized call the constituency home despite the examples of wealth everywhere.
The pie chart and list above attest to the diversity of ethnicities that populate the constituency.
However, while elsewhere, the political provincial campaign may include the three political parties, in Toronto Center, the matchup seems to be focus on whether the NDP (represented by the incumbent Krysten Wong-Tam) can hold off the challenge by the OLP, whose standard bearer is Holly Rasky.
the PC have chosen Ruth Farkas to lead their aspirations. Mayor Chow’s latest tax increase is a hot issue.
Italians (4,990 in number – 4% of residents) of continue to have a potentially significant role.
Article, researches and graphics by Priscilla Pajdo, funded by Heritage Canada’s Intership Program (photo and map: Elections Ontario)
