Mental Health and Stress among South Asian Immigrants in Toronto, Canada

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Mental Health and Stress among South Asian Immigrants in Toronto, Canada

Ashna Modi URD 2013 December 08, 2023
Urban interventions in North St James Town helping mental health problems faced by South Asian immigrants in the city of Toronto
Content 01 02 04 Research Question Urban Design Concept Urban Design Development Stakeholder Analysis Block Design Development Site Interventions Site Vision Bibliography Urban Design Principles 2 Research Problem Site Summary Site Analysis and SWOT Analysis 03 05 06 07 07 08 08 09 10 11 Key Factors and Barries

Research Problem

Over 17% of the foreign-born population were recent immigrants from 2016 till the present. Since the 1990s Canada has been accepting over 200,000 immigrants from around the world. In the past few decades, these immigrants have typically migrated from countries in Asia and Africa.

A majority of immigrants to Canada are “economic immigrants” from South Asia, and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the mental health care system and have been known to underutilize mental health services. Variables related to the underutilization of mental health services in immigrant populations are age, place of origin, educational level, marital status, English skill, transportation problems, long waiting lists to get medical care, and preferences of one’s cultural services among others.

World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”

Immigration + Mental Health

Under the Canada Health Act, Canadians have come to expect “reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers”. However, research demonstrates that the economic hardships faced by immigrants in Canada affect not only their mental health but also their service utilization.

Site selection - According to the survey, South Asia and Africa account for the largest proportion of recent immigrants in Canada. Like many other immigrant communities, South Asian communities frequently deal with a range of mental health issues in urban environments. These difficulties include, among many other things, social isolation, discrimination, cultural barriers, and limited access to resources.

The primary goal behind choosing a location with South Asian immigrant populations is to address the mental health problems that many recent and older immigrants experience as a result of their relocation. My goal is to concentrate on South Asian immigrants from densely populated areas and investigate how Urban Design may be a vital component of a more supportive and hospitable surrounding environment that can improve mental health for people from all backgrounds. This not only emphasizes how crucial cultural sensitivity is to urban design but also makes communities healthier and more equitable.

To better understand a person’s health, including their surroundings, infrastructure, and culture, I have chosen North of St James Town for my research with unique problems.

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St. James Town is the largest high-rise community in Canada and is the most densely populated neighbourhood in Canada.It is bound by Sherbourne Street to the west, Bloor Street East to the north, Parliament Street to the east and Wellesley Street East to the south.

St. James Town is a high turnover community, where newcomers to Canada make up a large portion of the population. St. James Town is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic neighbourhood. It has been identified as one of 13 economically deprived neighborhoods within the city.

For children’s better education

Location’s overall attractiveness to immigrants

Social networks of families and friends attract immigrants

Pre-existing immigrant communities

Proximity to Transit Hub

Presence of amenities and opportunities

Affordable housing

Low income area

Why the South Asian immigrants choose these neighbourhoods for settlement?

Summary 4

Key Factors and Barriers affecting Mental Health

Face poverty, social isolation, and social inequities in their host countries

Poverty

Inadequate job benefits

Instability Discrimination

Underemployed compared to native born Canadians

High rise Living

Poor Housing Quality

Poor Maintenance

Lack of prior Canadian work experience Lack of recognition of their international qualifications and skills.

Over Crowding

Absence of recreational spaces

Lack of awareness of mental health resources

Since they are new to the country, they don’t know or trust people in Canada, so they turn away from reaching out for help

Earn less on the job compared to native born persons

Shameful to admit

Lack of Community Involvement

Poor Infrastructure

Lack of Green Space General lack of services to serve diverse population

Insufficient and Inaccessible community spaces

Language related barriers including discrimination on account of speaking English with a foreign accent

Not aware of the facilities and services
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Existing Resources

Access Alliance

Multicultural

Community Matters Toronto (CMT) St. James Town Safety Committee South Asians Women’s Centre SJT Action Group TRIEC (Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council) Health and Community Services
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St James Town Community Corner | The Corner
Residential Park Employment Institutional Religious Common Open Space Underutilized Temporary Underground Parking Entries Transit Site Pedestrian Walkways Built Park Roads Site Secondary Roads Built Park Site Built Park
ground
Site Analysis Mixeduse
Figure
Road Network Land use 7 Sherbourne Subway Station
Transit + Walkways
North St James Town - Site Strengths 02 02 03 03 03 03 04 04 05 05 06 06 Existing Kid’s Play Area Outdoor Market Community Centre St James Cemetery Green Space Public Space 01 01 8
North St James Town - Site Challenges 02 02 02 03 03 04 04 04 05 06 06 Trashed Green Space Un-used Green Space Large Surface Parking Lots Gated Entry - St J. Cemetery Gated Community Abandoned Swimming Pools 01 01 01 01 05 9

Tall buildings near Sherbourne Neighbourhood

W• NO Community Public Park present on site

•Most of the open and unused spaces are taken by private properties

• There are no used green spaces present

• Given its proximity to the TTC station, tall buildings densification will increase.

• People don’t seek for help and/ or are not aware of mental health resources

• Located near Rosedale ravine lands (closer to natural environment) and St James Cemetery

• It is in the proximity of Sherbourne Subway Station South-Asian and African Community

• Open spaces available

• Land use is extremely diverse and provides a wide range of Services and Facilities.

• Dense Population of South Asian Community

SWOT Analysis
STRENGTH S
WEAKNESS
OPPORTUNITY O
THREAT
T
Sherbourne Subway Station St James Cemetery Wellesley Community Centre Rosedale Valley Park

Restricted

Site Barriers
Safety
Connectivity
No
No
and Gated Communities
of Green Spaces
of Community Engagement Limited Accessibility High Poverty
Permeability
Usability 11
Lack
Lack
No
Less

Research Question

What contribution does increased community engagement and collaborative design have on developing public spaces for the mental well-being of South Asian immigrants living in North St James ?

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Urban Design Principles

Employment Opportunity and Awareness Spaces, Increased Resources, Educative Spaces, Spaces for Workshops

Design Principle:

Increase in number of Employment Facilities

Engaging and Interactive community spaces

Growth in the economy and a rise in smallbusiness initiatives

Employment services, awareness programs, training classes, employment workshops, job fairs within the proximity

Micro Retail Space

Multipurpose Areas for Employment Opportunities, Job fairs, classes for job guidance, goverment services, education and training, agency supports.

Temporary workshop spaces, free access to computers, wifi.

Food banks, CED funds, encourage food bussiness. Provision of Kitchen, Catering Spaces and Drive thru food services

Improved Internal and External physical connections, Public Interactive spaces

Design Principle:

New indoor and outdoor facilities

Easy connectivity to all the open spaces, facilities as well as Rosedale Valley Park and other neighbourhoods

Easy access to exisiting and new resources

Community shared spaces

Increased community Enagement

Improved Pathways and Road Networks

Dispersed Community Programs

Interconnected site programs

Community shared working spaces

Paths connecting to the Rosedale Valley Park

Improving acces to the existing on-site facilities and services. Providing facilities and services at multiple locations in the neighbourhood

Community Gathering Spaces, Green spaces

Design Principle:

Multiple program initiative for all

Biophilic Design

Increased Green spaces with public parks and avenues

Green Roofs

Installations

Addition of infrastructure

Green Spaces, Avenues, Parks

Multipurpose Rooms

Open spaces for Festivals, Gardens, community events, summer camps, mental health awareness programs, exhibitions

Community Kitchen, Bar, restaurants, local markets

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Parking Scale - 1:2500 430 m 600 m 490m 420 m 14 Existing Parking

Design Development Zoning

Kid’s Play Area

Business

Food

Shared Community Spaces

Educative Training Spaces

Mental Health Stress Relief Park

Employment Services

Scale - 1:2500
15
Diagram
- 1:2500 16 Flexible Spaces
Spaces Flexible Spaces and Permanent Spaces
Scale
Permanent

Kitchen Garden

Retail

Market

Shared Community Spaces

Kid’s Play Area

Green Roofs

Entertainment Spaces

Festive/Event Spaces

Community Parks

Public Plazas

Educative Training Spaces

Employment Training

Workshop/Popup tents

Employment Services and Facilities

Employment Guidance Space

Workshop Spaces

Multipurpose use buildings

Employment Services

Mental Health Stress Relief

Stress Relief Park

Pet Parks

17 Kitchen Garden St James Cemetery Rosedale Valley Park Entertainment Spaces Festive/Event Spaces Community Parks Public Plazas Mental Health Stress Relief Stress Relief Park Pet Parks Educative Training Spaces Employment Training Pop-up tents Business Small Business Retail Shops Market Place Food Charity Drive Through
Bank
North St James Town - Concept
Food
Kitchen
Business
Business
Small
Shops
Place

Design Development

Scale - 1:2500
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Charity Dhrive Through Food Bank Community Kitchen Kitchen Garden

Design Development

Scale - 1:2500
Market Place Small Business Retail 19

Design Development

Kid’s Play Area

Entertainment Spaces

Festive/Event Spaces

Community Parks

Public Plazas

Scale - 1:2500
20

Design Development

Scale - 1:2500
21
Green Roofs

Design Development

Scale - 1:2500
22
Employment Training Pop-up tents

Design Development

Employment Guidance Space

Workshop Spaces

Multipurpose use buildings

Employment Services

Scale - 1:2500
23

Design Development

Scale - 1:2500
24
Mental Health Stress Relief Park Pet Therapy Park

Block Design Development

Available Space for Opportunity-

This block has three residential buildings, large open spaces with surface parkings and underutilized green lawn with temporary parking structures.

Intervention -

Concept -

Due to the numerous unused spaces on this block, it can be used for a variety of community-serving activities. For example, the enclosed area between the L-shaped apartments can be changed into a shared green space with benches for people to use. A pop-up location for innovative employment services may be a different location. Additionally, lawn-filled green areas can be converted into gardens where locals may grow and sell food.

Scale - 1:2500

Precedent :

Therapy Pets Park

Source - penntoday.upenn.edu

Shared Community Green Space

Source - google.com

Drive Through Food

Source - plazapops.com

Outdoor Event Space

Source - mtairycdc.org

Block Design Development

Available Space for Opportunity-

This block consists of an existing Kids Play Area, three residential buildings and two temporary parking lot structures along with surface parking space.

Intervention -

Concept -

Given that there is a children’s play area already in place, this makes it an excellent location for educational training sessions. Parents and children can utilize the space simultaneously, and it can also be utilized during employment training sessions.

A street tree avenue that is modelled after Bloor Street East and Sherbourne Street could potentially grow in this region.

Precedent :

Educative Training Space

Source - mtairycdc.org

Employment Services Pop-ups

Source - berytech.org

Shared Community Space

Source - plazapops.com

Kitchen Garden

Source - aroundealing.com

1:2500
Scale -

Block Design Development

Available Space for Opportunity-

This block consists of just one residential; building and a huge chunk of unused green area and surface parking.

Intervention -

Concept -

This block is an excellent site for job surfaces and employment awareness pop-ups because it is directly next to Howard Street. The area is large enough to accommodate both community career exploration space and new infrastructure to support the employment facilities.

Scale - 1:2500

Precedent :

Green spaces around the buildings

Source - https://www.christiesrealestate.com/

Employment Services

Source -berytech.org

Employment Services Events

Source - berytech.org

Block Design Development

Available Space for Opportunity-

This block consists of an existing gated community. It includes three residential buildings sharing a common area between them.

Intervention -

Concept -

Given the shared open between the bulding, this block has a potential of developing a mental health stress relief garden space which will help people to escape from their daily life and relax for a while.

Scale - 1:2500

Precedent :

Mental Health Stress Relief Park

Source - azuremagazine.com

(Sound and Visual installations for stress relief)

Therapy Pets Park

Source - penntoday.upenn.edu

Block Design Development

Available Space for Opportunity-

This block has an existing junior high school and childcare centre with a large chunk of unused space.

Intervention -

Concept -

Since this block accommodates both a daycare institution and a school, it has significant land use. This offers a chance to propose a green space and a basketball/cricket court for children and the neighbourhood to make use of.

Scale - 1:2500

Precedent :

Basekball

Source - courtsoftheworld.com

Green

Source -Image captured by me

Court Space

Block Design Development

Available Space for Opportunity-

This is a large block consiting of residential buildings, small bussiness shops and abandoned facilities.

Intervention -

Concept -

Given the site’s condition, this block presents a significant chance to develop a multipurpose building infrastructure, food truck areas, public plazas, community parks, repair workshops, and much more!

Precedent :

Community Park

Source - arquine.com

Public Plazas

Source - Google.com

Festival Spaces

Source - immigrantmusemagazine.ca

Shared Community Space

Source - plazapops.com

Scale - 1:2500

Block Design Development

Available Space for Opportunity-

This is a large block consiting of residential buildings, small bussiness shops and abandoned facilities.

Intervention -

Concept -

Given the site’s condition, this block presents a significant chance to develop a multipurpose building infrastructure, food truck areas, public plazas, community parks, repair workshops, and much more!

Precedent :

Repair Cafes - Multipurpose Building

Source - https://repaircafetoronto.ca/

Catering Service

Source - https://www.stjamestown.org/

Entertainment Space

Source - plazapops.com

Community Park

Source - Google.com

Scale - 1:2500

Development

There are grocery shops and a small public market on this block because it is close to Wellesley Street. There is also a kid’s playground and an abandoned swimming pool on the block. There is also a neglected grassy area with a gazebo in it.

Due to the marketplace and retail establishments, the site gets busy during the majority of the day, making it an ideal place to establish a well-defined marketplace that may serve as a public plaza, a celebration space, or an entertainment area depending on the situation. The abandoned swimming pool presents an ideal chance to transform it into a multipurpose structure featuring a communal kitchen, a kitchen garden, and a green area for community gatherings.

Precedent :

Small Business

Source - mtairycdc.org

Community Kitchen at the Corner

Source - https://www.stjamestown.org/

Scale - 1:2500

Kitchen Garden

Source - Google.com

Community gather space outside retail

Source - www.pps.org

Concept - Available Space for Opportunity- Intervention - Block Design

Block Design Development

Available Space for Opportunity-

There are grocery shops and a small public market on this block because it is close to Wellesley Street. There is also a kid’s playground and an abandoned swimming pool on the block. There is also a neglected grassy area with a gazebo in it.

Intervention -

Concept -

Due to the marketplace and retail establishments, the site gets busy during the majority of the day, making it an ideal place to establish a well-defined marketplace that may serve as a public plaza, a celebration space, or an entertainment area depending on the situation. The abandoned swimming pool presents an ideal chance to transform it into a multipurpose structure featuring a communal kitchen, a kitchen garden, and a green area for community gatherings.

Precedent :

Market Place

Source - google.com

Public Plaza

Source - google.com

Scale - 1:2500

Block Design Development

Available Space for OpportunityIntervention -

This block consists of an existing Community centre and green space with community corner helping St james town people to survive.

Concept -

This effort is a small addition to the current state of community services and facilities; which will include pop-ups and some furniture to draw attention to charitable causes and donations.

Scale - 1:2500

Precedent :

Charity Space

Source - www.groundwork.org.uk

Food Banks

Source - reverbpress.com

Drive Through Food

Source - plazapops.com

Block Design Development

Available Space for Opportunity-

The Roofs of the buildings are available spaces for community design intervention.

Concept -

Since this block accommodates both a daycare institution and a school, it has significant land use. This offers a chance to propose a green space and a basketball/cricket court for children and the neighbourhood to make use of.

Scale - 1:2500

Precedent :

Green Roof Source - www.rooflitesoil.com Green Roof Source - asla.org, livingarchitecturemonitor.com Green Roof Source - asla.org, livingarchitecturemonitor.com

Block Design Development

Though some more may be added, St. James town already has several installations, such as dog excrement and recycled clothing. Drinking water, publicly accessible art, a free library, a tool exchange, and much more may be added at various points around the site.

Precedent : Art

Precedent :

Installations

Source - city of Toronto

Installations

Source - Google.com Open

1:2500
Scale -
to all Art Wall Installations
Source - https://www.ocregister.com/ Installations
Installations
Source - plazapops.com Installations
Installations
Source - St Jmaes Town Charity
Source - St Jmaes Town
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Stake Holders

United Way Greater Toronto

United Way is a worldwide not-for-profit movement.

In Canada,they operate in more than 100 communities. Each United Way raises support locally, directly responding to local needs. United Way is committed to fighting local poverty, and growing the GTA’s social safety net.

Ontario Trillium Foundation

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario. OTF was originally formed to provide grants to social service organizations in Ontario communities. It has invested in the vital work of Ontario’s non-profit sector to improve the well-being of Ontarians.

The City of Toronto

The City of Toronto is your local government, also known as the municipal level of government. In Canada, we also have a federal government and provincial government. Each of these levels has different responsibilities but they often work together. The City of Toronto provides services that have a direct impact on our daily lives.

Government of Ontario

The Government of Ontario includes ministries, agencies and Crown corporations.

TCHC, was established in Toronto to provide lowincome individuals and families with safe and reasonably priced homes. TCHC houses tenants in 106 of Toronto’s 158 neighbourhoods, providing homes to over 43,000 low and moderate-income households.

Facilitates the arrival of immigrants to Canada, provides protection to refugees, and offers programming to help newcomers settle in Canada

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Toronto Community Housing Corporation (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
IRCC

Partners - The Corner

In May 2011, the St. James Town Community Corner at 200 Wellesley opened its doors. The Corner is a fully accessible set of offices, meeting spaces, program rooms and community kitchen dedicated to local initiatives and services to benefit the neighbourhood. This collaboration between residents, public and private funders and service providers is a unique St. James Town community success story.

Operating out of the Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) building, at 200 Wellesley St. E., the facility was formed by a local steering committee after consulting with the community, and it is the result of more than five years of effort by local resident volunteers in partnership with a number of service providers. All are committed to improve access for St. James Town residents to services, supports and opportunities to meet, plan and build a strong, healthy neighbourhood.

“Racism is a public health crisis” - Martin Luther King Jr.

St. James Town Community Corner (The Corner) and the St. James Town Service Providers’ Network (SJTSPN) stand in solidarity with the black communities and their leaders and are committed to critical engagement for the advancement of equitable public health at frontline, community and systemic levels.

St. James Town is a vibrant and growing community, and on the 9th of August, the neighbourhood launched the City’s first Share and Reuse Hub, the 240 Hub ( known as The Corner @ 240). Located at 240 Wellesley, the Hub aims to support a culture of reusing, sharing, repairing, and repurposing items to prolong their life.

Funded by The City of Toronto, the 240 Hub and its initiatives build sustainable communities by:

• educating residents about the importance of waste reduction and reuse

• providing opportunities for sharing and repairing

• offering skills training and creating job and economic opportunities

• creating a space for community members to gather.

t The Corner @ 240, they have established collaborations with various sustainability organizations and experts to offer a diverse range of services and programs. These include Counseling, Housing, and settling-in support, Senior programs, Employment assistance, Public phone, and computer services, a Library of Things, Repair services, Sewing and Mending services, a Bike clinic, a Waste Diversion, a Green cafe, Green market, Jewelry making, Crafting workshop, and Gardening workshop, among many others. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and inclusive range of programs and services to our community.

. James Town Community Co-operative

The St. James Town Community Cooperative was created by residents of the neighbourhood to address the growing need for food security, capacity building, and emergency preparation.

The St. James Town Service Provider’s Network (SJTSPN) is a network of agencies formed to bring a collaborative partnerships, community engagement and integrated service coordination approach to the community of St. James Town. SPN promotes inclusive and equitable social and economic development initiatives which delivers employment and career opportunities, social enterprise, informal economic opportunities and population specific services.

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St. James Town Service Provider’s Network St

Partners - The Corner

The Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto Services for Indigenous Women

A community-based organization dedicated to provide resources and support to urban Indigenous women and their families. NWRCT delivers culturally relevant programs and services that empower and build the collective capacity and self-sufficiency of Indigenous women. The NWRCT is founded in 1985 and it is a registered charity funded by government programs as well as public and private donations.

Sherbourne Health

Lead and Co-chair of the Health Access Leadership table

A non-profit community organization founded in 2002, providing accessible and effective primary health care to the people who may have been under-served by conventional health in southeast Toronto such as homeless/ under-housed, LGBTQ and newcomers. They offer counseling, health promotion, outreach, advocacy, education, research and development, peer support groups and artsbased programming.

Progress Place

Mental Health & Wellness

Progress Place is a mental health and wellness organization. Since 1983, by launching a supported housing program, as well as a transitional employment program it has been providing part-time supported employment to people with severe and persistent mental illness such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Depression and Anxiety

St. Michael’s Sumac Creek Health Centre

Family health teams are primary health care organizations, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, that include a team of family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, dietitians, and other professionals who work together to provide primary health care for their community. They ensure that people receive the care they need, as each team is set-up based on local health and community needs.

SickKids

Pediatrics & Health Care

The SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health (SickKids CCMH), is a community of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine (Department of Psychiatry) and FactorInwentash Faculty of Social Work. It helps 6,000 children and families each year through a combination of prevention, treatment, research and education activities.

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Partners - The Corner

Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services

Employment, housing and Senior Services.

Dixon Hall Neighborhood Services began as a soup kitchen in 1929, and since then has been steadily increasing and strengthening a diverse range of integrated services for residents of east downtown Toronto. Their main goal is to create lasting solutions to end poverty, social injustices and social isolation in Toronto.

Chai Lifeline Canada

Hospice Toronto

Palliative Care

By providing and advancing compassionate care and leadership in the volunteer-based, home hospice community, Hospice Toronto has become a recognized leader in providing high-quality, hospice care and support for people through all phases of their lifethreatening illness, and their loved ones, at no charge.

Fred Victor

Housing, Health Care

Fred Victor is a social service charitable organization established in 1894 that fosters long-lasting and effective changes in the lives of homeless and low-income people living across Toronto. Their programs and services are mainly focused on providing housing and shelters for people who live in extreme poverty, health care services and various training programs for those seeking sustainable jobs.

“We know that the illness impacts not just the person who is sick, but their entire family.” Chai Lifeline Canada services include support for siblings, parents and children, and more:

• Families of children with life threatening or chronic illness

• Children of parents with life threatening illness

• Families from all across Canada

Renascent

Toronto Addiction Rehab

Renascent is a leading addiction treatment centre offering drug, alcohol, and food addiction rehab programs and services in Toronto and the GTA. Seeking drug or alcohol treatment for yourself or a loved one can be one of the most difficult and important decisions of your life. In Canada, there are no regulations or overseeing governing bodies ensuring treatment centres are operating appropriately.

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Potential Stake Holders

Repair Café

Repair Café Toronto is a grassroots, volunteer group that organizes events where neighbours help neighbours learn how to repair. Their events are hosted by local community centres, branches of the Toronto Public Library and other community-based organizations

Engage and Change

“We inspire people and businesses to engage in a hands-on experience with a tangible outcome that will change the lives of those in need.”

Engage and Change gives people and companies the opportunities to do hands on group volunteer projects that assemble and build kits to assist in the alleviation of poverty. These kits are then distributed to the local communities through frontline social service agencies and homeless shelters directly to those in need.

South Asian Community Health Services

“As a non-profit charity organization, the South Asian Community Health Services looks at promoting all communities to achieve and maintain physical, mental and social health and well being. This organization offers programs and services dedicated to addressing mental health, addiction, violence, domestic violence and anger management as well as many others.”

Food Share

FoodShare is a food justice organization, advocating for the right to food, and working to challenge the systemic barriers that keep people from accessing the food they need to thrive. We support community-led food initiatives and work alongside communities most affected by poverty and food insecurity: folks living on a low income. Whether it is supporting urban farms, subsidizing local produce markets or coordinating community kitchens, all of their work is about folks accessing food on their own terms.

South Asian Professional Networking

Association

SAPNA Toronto is an organization that focuses on increasing the professional presence of South Asians within Toronto and the GTA. The organization connects community members through their interactive network mixers, knowledge based workshops and spotlights from professionals who are living their dreams. SAPNA Toronto is pretty credible; having had many young, successful South Asians at their workshops.

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42 Event/Festival Spaces and Shared Community Gardens/ Multipurpose Building
Pet Park/Shared Community Spaces/Parking Lots/Charity Food Building Meditation Space/Pet Park
Market and Retail Spaces/ Kid’s Play Area/Outdoor Restaurant Spaces
School Gardens/Kid’s Play Area
Charity spaces/ Kitchen Gardens/ Roof Gardens on existing Community Centre
Employment Workshop Spaces/Educative Training Spaces/Kid’s Play Area Employment Services and Facilities/ Employment workshop spaces
Site Interventions

Vision

Market Place

Typical Day

There is less activity on a typical day in the St. James Town neighbourhood close to Wellesley Street. With community shopping for household necessities, it seems to be just another day in the town.

Weekends

In contrast, it seems like there is more activity on weekends in the St. James Town neighbourhood. People may use the open communal area most actively for the weekend small business market. Though it appears to be simply another day in the town, this area might be used flexibly for outdoor eating businesses along with tasks like grocery shopping. As word of mouth is crucial in this situation, it promotes the community to profit from small businesses.

Educative Training Space

Typical Day

An educational space can double as an outdoor workshop on a typical day for those who wish to learn how to use tools, sew clothes, and perform smallscale house repair tasks on their own. When the community wants to know fundamental daily information, the stakeholders may approach them during a regular day.

Weekends

On weekends, adults, kids, and senior citizens could all get educational programming in the same location. The community could potentially use this area as a creative activity space. The area behind these stair-step seating could be utilized for festivals or events. The entire area has the potential to provide a flexible program depending on the situation.

Winter Days

The area might be used for parking for the nearby restaurants and retail stores since winter is the most difficult time for several people and they dislike being outside.

Winter Days

This area near Parliament Street and Wellesley Street may be completely covered in ice, which makes it the ideal place for ice skating lovers. In addition, the outdoor workshop area may be relocated to the multipurpose building next to it, allowing people to continue using it for everyday purposes.

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References

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https://big.dk/projects/qianhai-prisma-towers-14924

https://greenresilience.ca/community-summary-report-st-james-town/

https://www.stjamestown.org/the-corner/

https://www.vibe105to.com/full-disclosure/top-5-south-asian-assistance-organizations-in-toronto

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Image Credits

Cover Page Mental Health Icon - https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/August-2021/Serious-Mental-Illness-Recovery-The-Basics

Cover Page Map - https://www.google.com/

Page 3 Maps - https://schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/

Site Images - Ashna Modi

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Notice:

Studio Work by Ashna Modi, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto. 2023

Permission to use, copy, modify, or distribute this work in whole or in part is not granted without prior written consent. For permissions, please contact modiashna@gmail.com.

When using or referencing this work, please provide proper attribution to Ashna Modi with a link back to the original source.

Unauthorized use, reproduction, or plagiarism of this work without permission is strictly prohibited.

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