Multi-Culturalism

 media type="file" key="Multi-Culturalism.mp3" Ethnic Enclaves in Toronto  Prized in Toronto are its multiculturalism and its range of ethnic neighbourhoods. One can hopscotch around town on foot and by cab to sample the wonderful mosaic of distinctive enclaves. To many visitors, Toronto is not as British as they might expect, but is rather a genuine multicultural mosaic of which the residents are quite proud. Because of the country’s easy immigration policies, Toronto has become a Mecca for ambitious people from all over the world.  A walk in a northerly direction from the harbour area along Spadina Avenue brings you past several blocks lined with furriers, through the entertainment section and to the expansive Chinatown, which is larger than the one in New York City and home to Chinese from Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the mainland. At King’s Noodles, you can look through the window to see noodles being made. In the produce shops, jackfruit, mangosteen, and durian, as well as other exotic fruits and vegetables that are staples of Asian cuisine, are sold.  Greektown, known as "The Danforth" because of the name of the major road that crosses the neighbourhood, not only features Greek cuisine, but is also the site of a lively mix of specialty shops, clubs, and cafes. In 1907, only twenty Greek names appeared in the telephone directory. Today, the number has risen to more than 130,000.  On summer weekends the sidewalks of Little Italy (now inhabited by Portuguese, too) are crowded with tourists. The neighbourhood’s oldest Italian restaurant and outdoor patio, Cafe Diplomatico ("The Dip" to locals) attracts a nightly crowd of people watchers.  Other major ethnic enclaves include Little Poland, Portugal Village, Little India, and Koreatown, each with traditional restaurants, foods stores, and shops specializing in goods imported from the merchants’ native countries.  Toronto’s Ethnic Enclaves  • Greektown on the Danforth (Danforth Ave. between Chester and Pape Aves.)  • Little Italy (College St. between Grace St. and Palmerston Ave.)  • Corso Italia (St. Clair Ave. West between Oakwood and Lansdowne Aves.)  • Bloor West Village: Toronto's Ukrainian, Polish, and Eastern European enclave (Bloor  Ave. West between Runnymede Ave. and Jane St.)  • Jewish Toronto (Bathurst St. between Eglinton and Steeles Aves.)  • Schnitzel Row: Toronto's Hungarian enclave (Bloor St. West between Spadina Ave. and <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> Bathurst St.) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> • Chinatown (Spadina Ave. at Dundas St. West; also Gerrard St. East at Broadview Ave.) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> • Little India (Gerrard St. East between Greenwood and Coxwell Aves.) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> • Koreatown (Bloor St. West between Bathurst and Christie Sts.) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> • Hispania (overlapping with Little Italy on College St. and Korea-town on Bloor St. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> West) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> • Little Jamaica (Eglinton Ave. West between Oakwood Ave. and Vaughan Rd.)

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Activity
<span style="background-color: #dfdddd; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Choose ONE of the ethnic enclaves above. Your job is to research that enclave and prepare a one paragraph description on it. What should you write about? Food, festivals, people, when it was settled and anything else you can think of! Have fun and choose things that are interesting to you!

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">