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Toronto Downtown Chinatown, Spadina & Dundas.
Toronto Downtown Chinatown, Spadina & Dundas.

The Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada, has at least seven Chinatowns (Chinese: 多倫多唐人街/duo lun duo tang ren jie') — four are located within the city's boundaries, while the other three are located in adjacent suburbs. The Greater Toronto Area (locally abbreviated as the GTA) is the most populous Metropolitan area in Canada. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page A Chinatown is a section of an urban area with a large number of Chinese outside the majority-Chinese countries of Greater China.

Toronto has the largest Chinese community in Canada, and it ranks among the largest in North America. It has expanded significantly, parallelling Toronto's economic growth, and also because language laws in Quebec persuaded many Chinese to move from Montreal to Toronto. The Official Language Act of 1974 ( French Loi sur la langue officielle) also known as Bill 22, is an act of the National Assembly of Quebec Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario

Contents

Old Chinatown

Typical Chinatown restaurant window along Spadina at night.
Typical Chinatown restaurant window along Spadina at night.

This is one of the largest Chinatowns in North America. It is centred around the intersection of Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue, and extends outward from this point along both streets. Dundas Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, also known interchangeably as Highway 5 west of Toronto is a major arterial street which forms Spadina Avenue is one of the most prominent streets in Toronto Ontario, Canada. It has grown significantly over the years and has come to reflect a diverse set of Asian cultures through its shops and restaurants, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai. Chinese cuisine ( Traditional Chinese: 中國菜 Simplified Chinese: 中国菜 originated from the various regions of China and has become widespread in

Prior to this, Chinatown was located on Dundas Street West and Bay Street. Bay Street is a street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the centre of Toronto's financial district and is often used by When the City began construction on the current City Hall in the 1960s, Chinese-oriented stores and homes formerly in the old district were required to close down and move shop, so that the area could be cleared for the new building. The City Hall of Toronto, Ontario, Canada is one of the most distinctive landmarks of the city Consequently, the Chinese community migrated westward to Chinatown's current location. A handful of Chinese businesses still remain around Bay and Dundas.

Since the late 1990s, Toronto's oldest (surviving) Chinatown is struggling to redefine itself in the face of an aging Chinese population, recent declines in tourism, and the lure of the suburban Chinatowns that continue to draw money and professional immigrants away from downtown. Unlike the newer Chinatowns in the suburbs, Dundas and Spadina relies heavily on tourism and Chinese seniors. Younger, higher-income immigrants from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have moved out, so those left in the district are typically from older generations who depend on downtown's dense concentration of services and accessibility to public transportation. Ethnic Chinese from Vietnam are now the faces of old Chinatown Toronto and turning some parts into Little Saigon. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially

While the aging population shrinks however, so too do the revenues of businesses in the district. While the majority of the grocery stores and shops still survive, most of the once-famed restaurants on Dundas, especially the BBQ shops located below grade, have closed since the turn of the century. The area has also seen a surge in Latin American immigrants, who are changing the face of old Chinatown.

An influx of University of Toronto and Ryerson University students seeking affordable housing, coupled with the location of the Ontario College of Art and Design adjacent to Chinatown, has accelerated gentrification of the district, bringing in young professionals to the area. This article is about the University of Toronto's St George Campus Ryerson University, commonly referred to simply as Ryerson, is a public University in Toronto, Canada. The Ontario College of Art & Design (commonly referred to by its acronym OCAD) is Canada's largest and oldest University for art and design Gentrification, or urban gentrification, is the change in an Urban area associated with the movement of more affluent individuals into a lower-class The changing landscape of the district's population would bring a more multicultural flavour to the district, but could potentially eliminate its identity as a "Chinatown".

Chinese malls in the area:

East Chinatown

Looking south from Broadview Avenue onto East Chinatown
Looking south from Broadview Avenue onto East Chinatown

As property values increased in downtown Chinatown, many Chinese Canadians migrated to Toronto's east end in Riverdale. Broadview Avenue is a street in east end Toronto, Canada that travels along the east side of the Don River. Riverdale Park is a large park spanning the Lower Don River, Toronto, Ontario, Canada between Cabbagetown to the west and Broadview A second, somewhat smaller, Chinese community was formed, centred on Gerrard Street East between Broadview Avenue and Carlaw Avenue. Chinese-Vietnamese and mainland Chinese immigrants dominate this district. Hoa refers to a minority in Vietnam consisting of persons considered East Chinatown, though, is somewhat smaller than Toronto's main Chinatown, but is growing. The main part of East Chinatown is located between Broadview Avenue, and Carlaw Avenue, on Gerrard Street. Broadview Avenue is a street in east end Toronto, Canada that travels along the east side of the Don River. Gerrard Street is a street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It consists of two separate parts one running east from University Avenue for 6 km At the north-most corner of East Chinatown (NW corner, Broadview & Gerrard Street), there is the Riverdale branch of the Toronto Public Library. Gerrard Street is a street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It consists of two separate parts one running east from University Avenue for 6 km The Toronto Public Library is the largest Public library system in Canada and the second busiest (by number of visits in the world after the Hong Kong Public This branch is quite bilingual in Chinese and English. East Chinatown can be accessed by taking the 504 King, the 505 Dundas, or the 506 Carlton Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) streetcars. The 504 King and 508 Lake Shore are streetcar routes operated by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Ontario, Canada The 505 Dundas is a streetcar line run by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Ontario. The 506 Carlton is a streetcar line run by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto Transit Commission ( TTC) is a Public transport authority that operates Buses streetcars, subways and Rapid transit A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a Train

Scarborough-Agincourt

Agincourt (affectionately called "Asiancourt" by many) a Scarborough neighbourhood, saw an influx of Hong Kong Chinese and Taiwanese during the 1980s, especially around Sheppard Avenue and Midland Avenue. Agincourt is a very diverse community in Scarborough, the eastern portion of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Scarborough (ˈskɑrˌbəroʊ ( 2001 Census 593297 is the area that forms the eastern part of the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Since the development of Agincourt's Dragon Centre Mall in the 1980s, it has become a booming "Chinatown" and was the vanguard for the proliferation of "Chinese malls", large malls with restaurants and stores catering specifically to the Chinese community, across the GTA.

Since 2000, the Agincourt Chinese population is spread thinly and many are leaving for communities north of Toronto. Pockets of Chinese areas are likely to remain, but they will be less vibrant when compared to the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Chinese malls in the Agincourt area:

North York

The former city is home to large pockets of Chinese immigrants, but there are only a few malls serving it and mostly located in the east end. Splendid China Tower (Traditional Chinese 錦繡中華 Simplified Chinese 锦绣中华 is a Chinese -themed ethnic Shopping centre located at the Southeast corner The Landmark is a new retail commercial condominium project underway in northeast Toronto. North York forms the central part of the northern half of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The smaller plazas containing restaurants and supermarkets have proliferated in the 1980s at the Finch Avenue/Leslie Street intersection, Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue, and around Victoria Park and McNicoll Avenues. Finch Avenue is a major east-west principal arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Keele Street is a north-south road in Toronto and York Region ( York Regional Road 6) in Ontario, Canada, running from Bloor Sheppard Avenue is an east-west principal Arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Victoria Park Avenue is a major north-south route in eastern Toronto, Ontario, Canada. These often compete with and complement the Agincourt Chinatown. The Finch-Leslie plaza is still thriving, because of the relative wealth of North York, though its patronage has now diversified. However, the gradual departure of the northern Scarborough Chinese clientèle has led to the decline of Victoria Park-McNicoll.

Mississauga

Mississauga's growing Chinese population is spread out across the vast suburb, but the commercial community has been traditionally centred around the Chinese Centre, located at 888 Dundas Street East, just east of Cawthra Road. Mississauga (ˌmɪsɪˈsɑgə) incorporated in 1974 is a City located in the Regional Municipality of Peel This large complex, built during 1978, was constructed to reflect China's cultural heritage; an elaborate gate greets visitors on Dundas Street, with a Nine Dragon mural just inside, while red towers with pagoda-styled roofs abound. Paifang ( Cantonese Transliteration: paaifong) also called pailou (Cantonese transliteration paailau) is a traditional Chinese A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea Growth of this Chinatown is limited, but Mississauga's Chinatown remains an active community. A Chinatown is a section of an urban area with a large number of Chinese outside the majority-Chinese countries of Greater China.

The second newer stretch includes markets and restaurants in strip mall plazas close to the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Rd. A strip mall (also called a shopping plaza or mini-mall) is an open area Shopping center where the stores are arranged in a row with a Sidewalk West at Central Parkway (near the Erindale GO Station) which remains in the growth phase catering mostly to the needs of the growing Chinese population in the city who live nearby. Erindale GO Station is a GO Transit railway station on the Milton line in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada.

Chinese malls in Mississauga:

Richmond Hill

During the 1990s, wealthy Chinese immigrants, primarily from Hong Kong, moved directly to suburban Richmond Hill, where they set up businesses and shops catering to that community. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Richmond Hill ( 2006 population 162704 2007 Estimate 177587 The act expanded Richmond Hill's borders annexing parts of Whitchurch Township, Markham

Many shops and restaurants were established in suburban-style shopping malls and plazas (such as Times Square, Commerce Gate) along a stretch of Highway 7 between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street. A shopping mall or shopping centre is a building or set of buildings that contain Retail units with interconnecting Walkways enabling visitors Highway 7 is a provincially maintained highway in the province of Ontario, Canada. Bayview Avenue is a major north-south route in Toronto, Ontario, Canada The most intense development is concentrated around the Commerce Valley Drive/Beaver Creek Road loop. Some of the well-known higher end Chinese banquet restaurants are in this area.

There are similarly thriving Chinese plazas in Markham several kilometres east on Highway 7, and many families often visit both communities on the same day.

Chinese malls and plazas in the Richmond Hill area:

Markham

Markham's experience as a suburban Chinatown is similar to that of neighbouring Richmond Hill and emerged in the 1990s, though the developments are less intensively developed and more spread out through the municipality. Markham ( pronounced /ˈmɑrkəm/ 2006 population 261573 is a town located in the Regional Municipality of

On Highway 7, between Woodbine and Warden Avenues, is First Markham Place, containing numerous shops and restaurants. Further east along Highway 7 is an older plaza is at the southwest quadrant with the intersection with Kennedy Road. Kennedy Road is a north-south street in Toronto and York Region, Ontario, Canada.

The most well-known Chinese mall in Markham is the Pacific Mall, at Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue East, which, combined with neighbouring Market Village Mall and Splendid China Tower, forms the largest Chinese shopping complex in North America, with over 700 stores between the three malls. Pacific Mall is an Asian Shopping centre located in Markham Ontario, Canada. Market Village is a Chinese themed mall in Markham Ontario at the corner of Steeles Avenue and Kennedy Road and is one of the largest Splendid China Tower (Traditional Chinese 錦繡中華 Simplified Chinese 锦绣中华 is a Chinese -themed ethnic Shopping centre located at the Southeast corner In close proximity, at Steeles East and Warden Avenue, there is the New Century Plaza] mall and a half-block away there is a plaza of Chinese shops anchored by a T & T Supermarket. T & T Supermarket (Traditional Chinese 大統華超級市場 Simplified Chinese 大统华超级市场 is a Canadian supermarket chain headquartered in

Markham itself has the largest proportion of Chinese among all the GTA municipalities. In the 1980s and early 1990s, then-Mayor Tony Roman was leading trade delegations to Asia in which he promoted Markham as a great place to live and invest. Anthony Roman (born January 17, 1936 in Velky Ruskov Czechoslovakia; died October 30, 1992 in Markham Ontario) was a While influx new immigrants brought many jobs and much wealth to the areas they settle, their presence and "Chineseness" became a target of racial intolerance from some. In 1995, Deputy Mayor of Markham Carole Bell argued that the concentration of ethnic groups were a cause of social conflict, saying "the weakness of it comes when there is a concentration, when you are getting only one group of people". She went on to say "everything’s going Chinese" in Markham, stating that they were driving away the "back bone of Markham away. . . the people who run festivals, coach our kids, organize our business communities, Brownies, Guides, Scouts. " In response, the twelve mayors of the Greater Toronto Area signed a letter dissociating themselves from Bell’s comment. [1]

Chinese malls and plazas in the Markham area:

In literature and the media

The 1999 Chow Yun-Fat film The Corruptor was set in the New York City Chinatown, with scenes filmed in the Chinatowns of New York and Toronto. Pacific Mall is an Asian Shopping centre located in Markham Ontario, Canada. Market Village is a Chinese themed mall in Markham Ontario at the corner of Steeles Avenue and Kennedy Road and is one of the largest Chow Yun-Fat SBS ( born May 18, 1955) is a Chinese Actor. He is one of the most famous actors in Asia and a The Corruptor is a 1999 American action - crime drama Film directed by James Foley, and starring Chow ||-||-||-||}The Chinatown neighborhood of Manhattan &mdash (紐約華埠 a borough of New York City &mdash is an Ethnic enclave with a large

The television series Kung Fu: The Legend Continues was filmed in Chinatown at Spadina and Dundas for many episodes of its 1993-1997 run. Kung Fu The Legend Continues was a spin off to the 1972-1975 television series Kung Fu. Filmed in Toronto, it portrays the Chinatown of an unidentified major U. S. city.

Toronto's Chinatown is featured prominently in the 2008 collection of short storiesThe Chinese Knot and Other Storiesby Lien Chao.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.ccnc.ca/toronto/history/info/info.htm

External links

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