As of 2016, around 70% of Regent Park residents are visible minorities, surpassing the city-wide average of 51% (Statistics Canada, 2016). The rich diversity in culture, languages, and lifestyles has greatly influenced the recreational and commercial landscape of Regent Park, shaping its distinctive neighborhood identity. Food not only represents a basic need for the residents but also carries significant cultural weight in a multicultural enclave like Regent Park. For marginalized communities or newcomers, establishing a sense of belonging and inclusion on this foreign land poses a considerable challenge. Ethnic grocery stores and food services serve a pivotal function in bridging this gap, serving as a link to residents' cultural roots and providing employment opportunities for those facing challenges in securing jobs. Through this project, our aim is to delve into the narratives surrounding Regent Park's small ethnic grocery stores and food services, examining their past histories, current circumstances, and future plans for adapting to the evolving dynamics of the neighborhood due to the social-mix redevelopment.
The Team
Off the Shelf consists of two UofT students and two Regent Park residents. Our name stems from our collective goal to uncover the stories behind the small ethnic grocery stores and food services in Regent Park and to understand the broader impact new developments have on the neighborhood’s identity and daily lives.
Tyrone is a multimedia specialist at the Focus Media Arts Centre that supports Focus’ media programs and assists with the technical aspects of all productions, programs, and workshops. Tyrone was born and raised in Regent Park since 1984 and has moved around quite a bit within the neighborhood. From the revitalization and redevelopment of Regent Park since its original conversations, through to demolition and construction of new housing units, commercial spaces and public spaces, Tyrone has witnessed many changes in Regent Park over the decades. As a media specialist, Tyrone has been very much involved in the documentation of these changes by utilizing the media tools of the Focus Media Arts Centre. By capturing and documenting the stories of those that have lived in the neighborhood helps to understand how people first arrived at Regent Park and how the revitalization may affect their lives. Tyrone has decided to join this course to exchange his expertise as both a long time resident and as a staff of the Focus Media Arts Centre. He is very excited to see what this collaboration between the UofT students and the residents of Regent Park will create.
Wilma is involved in community services and community engagement work. Although she does not reside within the boundaries of Regent Park, her connection to the neighborhood is fostered through her active participation in community events and her dedication to the social development of the area. Through this course, Wilma hopes to gain insight into the needs of Regent Park residents and collaborate with both residents and service providers to foster a healthy environment within the community. Additionally, she looks forward to the opportunity to interact with local ethnic businesses as part of this project.
Chanel is a 4th year architecture student at the University of Toronto. Her background in design and passion for community engagement has inspired her to find innovative ways to address local needs, thus leading to her enrolment in this course. Participating in this project offers her an unique opportunity to collaborate directly with residents and organizations in Regent Park, gaining insights into how the neighborhood is enduring through the evolving physical and social dynamics over time. Through course materials and discussions with locals, the team members recognized food as a central aspect of cultural identity and expression in Regent Park. By the end of this course, Chanel hopes to capture the neighborhood's rich food culture through the use of media and shed light on some of the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses amidst the redevelopment.
Annette is a Urban Studies student at the University of Toronto. Her objective is to explore the intricacies of civic engagement within a community like Regent Park which has diverse demographics and complex history through events like demolition and revitalization. Through this course, Annette aims to not only broaden her understanding by engaging directly with the residents of Regent Park but also to see the practical application of theoretical concepts she has studied, within the real-world context of this neighborhood. Additionally, she is looking forward to making this project an enjoyable and enriching experience. By delving into how Regent Park navigates cultural identity and expression, particularly through its small ethnic retail grocery stores, restaurants, Annette seeks to uncover the challenges and opportunities these aspects present as the preservation of local businesses and cultures. Her goal is to effectively present and analyze these findings using media and the knowledge acquired through her studies.
This week’s media: Mapping
As an exploration activity for the project, we mapped out the ethnic grocery stores and food services near Regent Park (those marked in yellow) with help from the local residents. We also identified the bigger franchise stores and restaurants in the neighborhood (those marked in blue) as a comparison. Interestingly, most of the small, local ethnic businesses were located on the periphery of the neighborhood, whereas the franchises are distributed more evenly throughout. This mapping exercise serves as a starting point in visually delineating the geographical organization of our study area.
The Off the Shelf team members are Tyrone, Wilma, Chanel, and Annette