Topic > Toronto's Cultural Landscape and Ethnic Economies: Chinatown Revitalization

A “Chinatown” is an ethnic enclave of Chinese who have established their population in an urban setting, often seen in a prosperous city like Toronto. Being a multicultural city, immigrants who have migrated slowly over time have come to see that the acceptance of their culture has been controversial, but they have still managed to establish themselves over the years as a cultural community and captivating tourist destination. Change is a constant factor for residents and business owners of Toronto's Chinatown West, as older businesses have continued to come and go and the environment around them faces constant growth and transformation. New franchises and modernized retail stores have begun to merge led by young entrepreneurs seeking to enhance the experience created for visitors and residents of Chinatown. A rapid advancement of new establishments for residential and commercial purposes has populated the area around their community which, in its comfort, faces very little physical change. However, the future heritage of Toronto's Chinatown West has the opportunity to be as vibrant and dynamic as other thriving Chinatowns around the world if an interest in refreshing the look and feel is brought forward. Gentrification has been seen as a process of refining a neighborhood, while simultaneously stripping an urban neighborhood of its sacred character, becoming a blander version of what it used to be. The goal is to preserve the current culture and preserved legacy while attempting to improve the economic well-being and vitality of the area. The revitalization of Toronto's Chinatown West will enhance social vibrancy, economic vitality and public status so that locals, visitors and businesses can enjoy an inviting and thriving community. Revitalization without gentrification taking over will ensure that the community involvement, sustainability, transportation and overall well-being of the area has a different and distinct healthy identity. In order to adequately revitalize the current state of Chinatown without allowing the qualities of renewal to destroy the image it has created; the City of Toronto must evaluate the human and physical geography of society and discover what can make Chinatown's future heritage promising. Human geography is a study that examines the analysis of people and their communities, cultures, and interactions with the environment, such as Toronto's Chinatowns. For the revitalization of Toronto's Chinatown to be effective, some changes can be made in relation to how the nature of the existing community with the presence of second generation residents reacts to the renovation of their home. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Foreign-born people make up nearly half of Toronto's population (Toronto Population). The original story of the first Chinese immigrant to settle in Toronto was Sam Ching, whose presence represents a cultural milestone for Chinatown as he was the first recorded Chinese resident. The first Chinese business was established in the late 1870s on Adelaide St. E, where people gradually gravitated to the area to form the original Chinatown on Elizabeth St. Chinese settlers opened laundromats, an occupation that remained dominant for some decades. Racism and discrimination against Chinese migrants played a role in how the formation of a Chinatown was created and why it was so important. Early 20th century Torontonians considered the small community and theChinese population as nothing short of “minor”, ​​with many residents of that group facing difficult times in finding a comfortable place (Bradburn, 2016). Efforts to reduce their existence in our modern society would be considered unacceptable given that Toronto currently has a multicultural act in place on behalf of living in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, ethnic Chinese make up 3% of Canada's population and are the fastest growing ethnic group in the country in line with accelerating immigration. The people who make up the population of Chinatown are not only Chinese, but East Asians, Chinese, Thais and Vietnamese, where the majority of the population are Cantonese speakers. Some may find that due to the culture that exists in Chinatown, it may not be as easy to adapt to the environment if one were to choose to move there or open a new business. An article referencing the evolution of Chinatown includes a statement from Craig Wong who states, "As an outsider, you would see other people and their activities and not know them," he says, continuing with "I think I feel the real warmth of Chinatown being here and doing business' (Cheung, 2018). Being a traveler coming to explore Chinatown is seen as a hot destination, while residents and business owners see it as their home after years of creating an enclave among many other ethnic suburbs of Toronto, the people of Chinatown find comfort in what is a safe and culturally significant place to call home When walking around the city, the atmosphere among the public is paramount when present among people as gentle nods and shy greetings speak to what the natural atmosphere is like In reference to an interview with an established business owner and community member, Tonny Louie states: “The old guard are getting older and their children don't want to continue. the family business. It offers new opportunities to others from outside the community. Chinatown changes every day. Change is the only constant.” Revitalizing Chinatown from its current state means recognizing the aura that has been created and allowing the values ​​of the culture to remain true. Addressing community issues and building on existing strengths will brighten the lives of people who come to the community and those who live within it. New businesses and commercial spaces should seek to find a connection within the atmosphere that strives to represent what Chinatown means to them, rather than simply choosing a destination for financial gain. Chinatown is still full of life, and even though the cost of living is increasing, residents have confidence that life in the area will continue to grow and prosper (Cheung, 2018). A blend of old heritage and new growth is the essential balance for creating a successful society of people. For Toronto, the history of the city is viewed through the physical changes that have existed to illustrate the progression of growth and transformation of the urban city. Analyzing the path that brought Chinatown West to its current location, the path derives from the multiple Chinatowns that exist and still exist in Toronto today. Toronto's original Chinatown, or "First Chinatown", founded along Elizabeth Street, is now home to the Toronto Civic Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. The current Chinatown West which was distinguished from Chinatown East is located between Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue. As Dundas became established as a major Chinese community, the population grew with the addition of many Chinese language signs placed in storefronts. Those in the area who were of Jewish origin emigrated out of the area and into the1979 Chinatown's special identity was established to protect them from redevelopment. In today's society, gentrification is an expected outcome that can be expected in many large cities. Numerous residential and commercial developments are currently underway in and around the Chinatown West community and the rapid changes are not going unnoticed by the residents and business owners who call that part of Toronto home. Those who feel comfortable with the environment they grew up in see the changes made as impacting their culture. “This gentrification isn't just affecting the businesses and restaurants you see around here, it's also impacting the people and the community,” says Mike Carter, a Toronto tour guide who has lived in the Spadina and Dundas area for almost a year. decade. . Changing the character of a neighborhood through the arrival of new residents and urban development is what must be avoided if you consider Toronto's cultural landscape sacred. Certain elements of Toronto's Chinatown are what make the landscape unique to nearby communities. The colors, symbols and significant landmarks are what create the atmosphere of a true Chinatown. The elimination of diagonal parking, which was a street feature that distinguished the area from others, has been replaced with tram lanes making a remembered element of the city lost to those who can remember and invisible to those who would never know (Flack, 2017). A once-beloved food market located at 310 Spadina Ave. was recently replaced with a high-end designer clothing store that hopes to attract new customers to the area. It becomes difficult to see the once beloved structures that represent a community of people and hard work being replaced with luxury designer clothes simply to meet the needs of the general public. The image of a modern shop window cannot be compared to the vibrancy and life that accompanies a family-run food market, bringing people together and socializing with each other. The Spadina Gate is considered an entrance to the heart of the city of Toronto, Chinatown West, and a clear identifier of the ethnic enclave. When the transformation of commercial and retail areas also appeared in the gentrification literature, scholars opted for a broad definition of gentrification that includes “renewal and redevelopment on both residential and non-residential sites” (Shaw, 2008). Homes should be modified while maintaining the original image of how they were created. The revitalization of Chinatown is expected to become a healthy city environment where elements such as the dragon gates are still recognized as an important part of Chinese culture with the addition of new elements introduced by newcomers. Transportation and mobility along the edges of Chinatown should be improved, maintained and used as a way to bring people and allow them to immerse themselves in the community of people. Spaces around the area, such as the popular Dragon City shopping center establishment, can be organized for greater social engagement that aims to link heritage and retail together. Storefronts can incorporate a meaningful element that makes them one-of-a-kind while acknowledging the area in which they are placed. With a push for physical change, an exciting path will lead people towards a cultural phenomenon made to last for generations to come. Toronto is known as one of the most multicultural cities with a strong focus on culinary and cultural diversity. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay/