Neighbourhood Inequality, Diversity & Change: A Symposium on Research Challenges. June 2011

A one-day invitational symposium with the SSHRC Partnership Grant proposal team, June 23, 2011, Neighbourhood Change Research Group, University of Toronto. Much has occurred in the broader socio-economic context that requires new ways of thinking about how and why urban neighbourhoods change, and how we should study neighbourhood change. Little consideration has been given to how traditional ideas about neighborhood change affect analyses of urban areas. We need to move forward to new ways of thinking, researching, and offering policy advice about the often dramatic changes that are taking place in urban socio-spatial patterns.

The presentations of six of the speakers are posted here.

1.  How should we study neighbourhood change today?

2.  Socio-spatial Inequality: What to Focus Research on and Why?

3.  Population Groups: Defining Priorities for Cross-Disciplinary Thematic Neighbourhood Research

4.  From the Field: Emerging Issues & Research Needs

Local Government

  • Mike Buda, Director, Policy & Research, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
  • Harvey Low, Social Policy Analysis & Research, City of Toronto

Low-income Neighbourhoods

  • Social Planning Toronto, Community development planners who work in Toronto’s “City #3”

Fact Sheet #1: Resources for Older Adults: Information and Resources to Improve Your Housing and Support Your Independence

Mapping Aging in Place in a Changing Neighbourhood in West-Central Toronto

This project engaged a working group of older adults to “map” how well Toronto’s West-central housing, neighbourhoods and health and social service agencies are equipped to support aging in place, and identified what barriers exist, as well as strategies to enhance the “livability” of these communities for older adults. The purpose of the “map” is to assist the community in recognizing, expanding and mobilizing individual and neighbourhood social capital to secure appropriate and accessible support to older adults and their caregivers. Overall, the working group identified three thematic clusters where greater accessibility is critical: in their housing, neighbourhoods and local health and social service agencies, to sustaining aging in place. Despite the rapid gentrification occurring in the neighbourhoods, surprisingly, the impact remains largely invisible to older adults and their service providers.