Located at the top of the Scarborough bluffs stands Scarborough which is a former city in Canada and a current administrative district. Some other notable features and landmarks that surround the administrative district include, the city of Pickering, the Rouge River and the Steeles Avenue among others. The Europeans were the first immigrants into Scarborough and hence they established small villages that grew to form the city. Scarborough developed as a suburb of Toronto up to 1983 where it was declared a city. It was in 1998 that Scarborough became amalgamated as a part of Toronto and hence it became an administrative district. Due to immigration, Scarborough has experienced an influx of immigrants over the years and hence has a cocktail of cultures, languages as well as religious diversity. Scarborough is a convenient city for new immigrants due to three reasons which are, affordable living, an efficient transportation system and the presence of multicultural communities.
A 2006 census found that over 57% of Scarborough's population is made up of new immigrants (Hernandez 2017). For most immigrants, Scarborough contains the right combination of conditions and ingredients for those who want to write a new chapter of their lives in Canada. Hernandez (2017) states that the conducive environment that Scarborough offers has given rise to a diverse population with the English forming the majority at 26.3% (Hernandez 2017). The Irish closely rival the English and have a population of 25.8% (Hernandez 2017). Friedland (2013) states that the Italians are the third most common ethnic group with a population of 15.8%. The Germans and the French form 8% and 8.7% respectively (Friedland 2013). Although these are the dominant ethnic groups, there are also some other increasing ethnic groups that are increasing in number at a rapid rate. It is the aspect of the shared culture and a common ancestry that has further prompted other diverse cultural identities and ethnic communities to settle in Scarborough as compared to most of the other cities in the Greater Toronto Area.
One of the most advantageous conditions that attract immigrants into Scarborough is the affordability of the living conditions. Since most of the immigrants are struggling financially and often looking for a stepping stone, Scarborough offers affordable housing which is spread across the city. The ordinary apartments in Scarborough range from $700-800 per month as compared to the $1,000 per month in the other high-end neighborhoods surrounding it (Friedland 2013). Scarborough's economy is also booming as it offers opportunities and income to the newcomers who can easily find employment. Companies such as the Toyota Canada Inc., Bell Media, Royal Doulton, SKF and the Alfa Laval have their headquarters in Canada and hence provide employment which boosts the labor force and economy of the Greater Toronto Area. Most of the new and even old immigrants in Scarborough state that it is much easier to raise children or have a family in Scarborough as compared to the other cities in Canada. However, due to the busy lifestyle that Scarborough offers, most people choose to move to other quitter areas as they age.
Located on the eastern terminus of Line 2 Bloor-Danforth of the Toronto Subway System, Scarborough has 3 subway systems which are Kennedy, Warden, and Victoria Park. Additionally, Scarborough has well laid out roads that run from north to south and east to west with the exception of the Danforth and the Kingston roads which run diagonally (Appadurai 2009). The public transit and the well-structured roads are advantageous to the new immigrants as they make movement much easier for them. The well-structured and planned transport system that Scarborough offers makes movement easier and much more comfortable for immigrants that do not have cars. Additionally, the subway system is also interconnected to other important amenities such as schools, hospitals and shopping centers which form an integral part of the daily lives of the immigrants. Other than the efficiency of the transportation system, Scarborough has also well laid out sewerage and water systems (Appadurai 2009). The Horgan and the Harris Filtration plants are efficient in supplying the city with water throughout the years as there are no water shortages.
Scarborough just like most of the Canadian cities is dotted with immigrants who have established their ethnic communities and settlements across the city. It is the communal arrangements that make most immigrants desire to live in Scarborough as it offers a sense of comfort and ethnic identification (Appadurai 2009). Since the largest ethnic groups in Canada are mainly from Asian countries namely China, Philippines, India, and Sri-Lanka new immigrants continue settling in this region so as to connect with their loved ones. Due to the cultural diversity that prevails in Scarborough, there are several cultural events, museums, and activities which continually strive to promote equity and cultural awareness as well as to embrace cultural diversity and differences (Appadurai 2009). The multicultural aspect of Scarborough continually highlights and emphasize the aspect of cultural diversity and need which further pull different cultures together.
The aspect of cultural diversity in Scarborough further helps to attract immigrants from other areas of Canada and even from outside the country. Scarborough's planning, politics, and economy are all culturally stimulated as every culture that is present plays a major role in improving the city with their different ideas and creativity (Norton " Green 2006). The Scarborough Community Multicultural event among other events has played a crucial role in creating a form of cultural sensitization and acceptance since 2015 and hence even people from the minority cultures feel a part of the larger multicultural community. Scarborough shares the aspect of multiculturalism with Montreal as evidences by “…a conversation shifts between two or even three languages with ease and playfulness at the local coffee shop (Norton " Green 2006).” Most of the industrial workers and the students from the local institutions are immigrants who have since boosted the development of Scarborough and made it a preferred location for settlement as compared to most cities in the Greater Toronto Area.
In 1998 several cities such as Toronto, York, North York, East York, Scarborough, and Etobicoke Joined forced to form the Greater Toronto Area (Norton " Green 2006). Although at the time of the amalgamation Scarborough and other suburbs of Toronto were among the poorest cities in the (GTA), gears have since shifted over the years. Scarborough, for instance, has a larger population with a more diverse population as compared to Etobicoke which has predominantly white people at the southern part. Currently, Scarborough is much more densely populated as it is experiencing a rise in the number of blue collar jobs which have also increase the settlement areas. Scarborough has also developed a better transportation system as compared to most of the other cities in the (GTA) because of the workers who commute for long distances in search of employment. The nature of the settlement areas in Scarborough has made it much more green as compared to the (GTA) due to the style of housing. Scarborough exhibits cultural diversity in terms of movies, sports, music and languages all which contribute to its growth. Students can argue the merits of the latest Denys Arcand film in one of the many cafes along st. Denis (Norton " Green 2006).
Additionally, the efficient transportation system in Scarborough has made it easier and much more efficient to access several amenities as compared to the (GTA) (Norton " Green 2006). Scarborough equally boasts of a culturally diverse population which further boosts the labor force and strengthens its economy as compared to the other cities like York, South York, and East York. The diversity of culture in Scarborough continues to make it much preferable for new immigrants as compared to the other cities of the (GTA). Scarborough has the right combination of cheap living conditions, a good transport system and a mixture of cultures which attract immigrants.
Although most of the former cities of the GTA have an influx of immigrants yearly, Scarborough has emerged as one of the most preferred destinations for immigrants. The living conditions such as housing are cheap and affordable in Scarborough thereby attracting more people to live in the area. Additionally, the city has a well-structured transport system that is interconnected to other facilities such as schools, hospitals, and shopping centers. The multicultural demographic that prevails in Scarborough equally plays a crucial role in attracting more people in the city. Scarborough stands out from the other cities of the (GTA) such as York, South York, East York and Etobicoke. Most immigrants are attracted to Scarborough by the mixture of cultures which allows them to have a sense of belonging and establish themselves in the foreign country. Scarborough still stands out as the most desired destination for new immigrants as it offers a protection hub that cushions the new immigrants while improves their lives and builds the economy at the same time.
References
Appadurai, S. (2009). Canada: The meat of the world sandwich. Bloomington, IN: Author House.
Friedland, M. L. (2013). The University of Toronto: A history: with a new introduction. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Hernandez, C. (2017). Scarborough. Vancouver, British Columbia: Arsenal Pulp Press.
Norton, S., " Green, B. (2006). Essay essentials with readings. Scarborough, Ont: Thomson Nelson.
Qadeer, M. A. (2016). Multicultural cities - Toronto, new york, and Los Angeles. University of Toronto Press.
