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Essay / Cultural Landscape and Ethnic Economies of Toronto: Revitalization of Chinatown
A “Chinatown” is an ethnic enclave of Chinese people who have established their population in an urban environment, often seen in a prosperous city like Toronto. Being a multicultural city, immigrants who migrated slowly over time realized that the acceptance of their culture was controversial, but nevertheless managed to establish itself over the years as a cultural community and an attractive tourist destination. Change is a constant factor for residents and business owners in 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 looking to elevate the experience created for visitors and residents of Chinatown. Accelerated development of new settlements for residential and commercial purposes has populated the area around their community which, in comfort, faces very little physical change. However, the future heritage of Toronto's Chinatown West has the potential to be as vibrant and dynamic as that of other thriving Chinatowns around the world if its appearance is proposed to be refreshed. Gentrification has been seen as a process of refining a neighborhood while stripping an urban neighborhood of its sanctity to make it a blander version of what it was. The goal is to preserve current culture and heritage while attempting to improve the economic well-being and vitality of the region. The revitalization of Toronto's Chinatown West will improve social vibrancy, economic vitality and public health so residents, visitors and businesses can enjoy a welcoming and thriving community. Revitalization without gentrification taking over will ensure that the area's community participation, sustainability, transportation and overall well-being have a healthy, diverse and distinct identity. In order to properly revitalize the current state of Chinatown without allowing the qualities of the revival to destroy the image it has created; the city of Toronto must assess the human and physical geographies of society and discover what can make the future heritage of Chinatown 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 adjustments can be made to how the nature of the existing community, with the presence of second-generation residents, responds to the refreshing of their homes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Foreign-born people make up almost 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 started in the late 1870s on Adelaide St. E, where people gradually settled in the area to form the original Chinatown on Elizabeth St. Chinese settlers opened laundromats, an activity which remained dominant for several decades. Racism and discrimination against Chinese migrants played a role in the creation of a neighborhoodChinese and why it was so important. Torontonians in the early 20th century viewed the small Chinese community and population as "lesser" to say the least, with many residents of this group facing difficulties finding comfortable housing (Bradburn, 2016). Efforts to reduce their existence in our modern society would be considered unacceptable given that Toronto currently has a multicultural law in place in the name of living in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, ethnic Chinese make up 3 percent of the Canadian population and are the fastest growing ethnic group in the country, in line with accelerated immigration. The people who make up Chinatown's population are not only Chinese, but also East Asians, Chinese, Thais, and Vietnamese, with the majority of the population speaking Cantonese. Some might find that due to the existing culture in Chinatown, it may not be as easy to adapt to the environment if one chooses to move there or open a new business. An article referencing the evolution of Chinatown includes a statement from Craig Wong who says: "As an outsider, you would kind of see other people and their businesses and you wouldn't 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 considered a popular destination, while residents and business owners consider it their home. After years of establishing an enclave among Toronto's many other ethnic suburbs, Chinatown residents are finding solace in what is a safe and culturally significant place to live. Walking around the city, the public atmosphere is calm. Observance is essential when present among people, as slight nods and shy greetings demonstrate the natural atmosphere. Referring to an interview with an established business owner and community member, Tonny Louie says, “The old guards are getting older and their kids don't want to continue the family business. This gives new opportunities to others outside the community. Chinatown changes every day. Change is the only constant.” Revitalizing Chinatown while respecting its current state means recognizing the aura that has been established and allowing the values of the culture to remain true. Addressing community issues and building on the strengths that already exist will brighten the lives of those who come to the community and those who live there. New businesses and retail spaces should try to find a connection in an atmosphere that strives to represent what Chinatown means to them, rather than simply choosing a destination for financial advantage. Chinatown is still teeming with life, and even as the cost of living increases, residents are confident that life in the neighborhood will continue to grow and flourish (Cheung, 2018). A blend of old heritage and new growth is the essential balance for creating a prosperous society. 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 trail that brought Chinatown West to its current location, the path stems from the multiple Chinatowns that have existed and still exist today in Toronto. Toronto's original Chinatown, or "First Chinatown", established along Elizabeth Street, is home totoday the Toronto Civic Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. Today's Chinatown West, which has been distinguished from Chinatown East, is located between Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue. Upon settling into Dundas as a major Chinese community, the population grew with the addition of numerous Chinese language signage placed on their storefronts. Area residents who were of Jewish descent migrated out of the area, and in 1979, Chinatown's particular identity was established to protect them from redevelopment. In today's society, gentrification is a predictable outcome that is expected to occur 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 this part of Toronto home. Those who are comfortable with the environment they grew up in see the changes made as an impact on their culture. “This gentrification not only affects the businesses and restaurants you see here, but it also impacts the people and the community,” says Mike Carter, a Toronto tour guide who has lived in the Spadina and Dundas area for almost a decade. . Changing the character of a neighborhood through the arrival of new residents and new developments is what must be avoided if Toronto's cultural landscape is considered sacred. Certain elements of Toronto's Chinatown make the landscape unique from neighboring communities. The colors, symbols and important monuments create the atmosphere of a real Chinatown. The removal of diagonal parking, which was a street signature distinguishing the neighborhood from others, was replaced by tram tracks, making a memorial element of the city lost to those who remember and invisible to those who do not. would never know (Flack, 2017). A once-favorite food market located at 310 Spadina Avenue. was recently replaced by a high-end designer clothing store in hopes of attracting new clientele to the area. It is becoming difficult to see once beloved establishments that represent a community of people and hard work being replaced by luxury designer clothing simply to cater to the needs of the general public. The visual of a modern storefront cannot compare to the vibrancy and life that comes with a family food market, attracting people to gather and socialize with each other. The Spadina Gateway is considered an entrance into the heart of the city of Toronto, Chinatown West, and a clear identifier for the ethnic enclave. When the transformation of commercial and retail areas has also appeared in the gentrification literature, researchers opt for a broad definition of gentrification that includes “the renovation and redevelopment of residential and non-residential sites” (Shaw, 2008 ). Houses must be modified while maintaining an original image of how they were created. The revitalization of Chinatown is expected to become a healthy downtown environment where features such as the Dragon Gates are still recognized as an important part of Chinese culture, with the addition of new elements brought by newcomers. Transportation and mobility across Chinatown boundaries should be improved, maintained, and used as a means to bring people in and allow them to immerse themselves in the community. Spaces around the area, such as the popular Dragon City Mall, can be arranged for more/