An Afro-Caribbean Cultural District: Little Jamaica

Anyika Mark, Romain Baker

This a loaded answer, so please bare with me as I explain why I'm passionate about Little Jamaica and the great work I'm leading in the neighbourhood:

One of Toronto's unique qualities is the place-making of cultural and ethnic enclaves by immigrant communities. Whether it be Little Italy, Greek town to Chinatown- our city is full of mainstreets with vibrancy, community and most importantly: belonging.

The makings of Eglinton West's Little Jamaica began in the early 1950's when Canada introduced the West Indian Domestic Scheme. This policy welcomed single women between the ages of 18 to 30 into Canada so they could be domestic workers. My grandmother was one of those people, coming from Grenada to work for a white family in Forest Hill. While this policy increased the amount of Black people in the country, Canada and especially Toronto, still remained segregated and hostile to Black people. From racist behaviours, to absence of culturally relevant services/products, Black folks had to crave out their own spaces to exist. Bathurst and Bloor, specifically Honest Ed's, was the most popular place to congregate- Black folks then moved upwards to Jane/Finch, and Eglinton West.

By the 1970's, Toronto had one of the largest Jamaican expatriate communities in the world, rivalling major cities like New York and London, UK. Majority of Jamaican and other Caribbean people settled on Eglinton West- creating one of the cities most robust and vibrant Black business corridors. It was also home to some of the first Canadian reggae artists and was a place Jamaican artists like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and more would visit when performing in Toronto. Little Jamaica is a place like no other.

However, with the introduction of the Eglinton LRT in 2011, Little Jamaica was under threat of gentrification. Construction in the neighbourhood was disruptive, visceral and heartbreaking. Storefronts were completely boarded up, pipes and construction materials littered the streets, there was no parking on the streets, no transit stops and limited sidewalk access. Metrolinx, the transit company making the LRT, was dismissive of any and all concerns Black community members had and there has still been no acknowledgement of the harm done to the community.

In 2018, I began organizing with Dane Williams and Romain Baker who founded Black Urbanism TO- a nonprofit that was dedicated to changing the trajectory of the neighbourhood and making sure community voices were at the table. We have written 5 reports, held numerous consultations, have consulted on motions that have passed at City Council and now, we are incubating the Little Jamaica Community Land Trust. The LJCLT will take properties off the speculative market and keep them affordable, community controlled and IN PLACE. This model is critical to stopping the rapid displacement of Black and marginalized people & the culture we've built for decades in the city.

As a young Black woman in the city, cultural enclaves like Little Jamaica have been essential to understanding myself, traditions & norms of countries I have ancestry to and belonging in a city that can still be anti-Black in many ways. Eglinton West was a part of my childhood, it's the neighbourhood my grandmother raised her two children, my aunt & father. And through vision of LJCLT, we can ensure that it is a neighbourhood my 2year old son will be embraced by. I am passionate about keeping Black Canadian history, heritage and presence alive in our city and I hope I can lead this Walking Tour to share this joy & passion with others!