Comment 269 – comments and feedback

Katherine McGreechan

Scarborough is who I am.

I was born at Scarborough General Hospital, a descendant of Andrew Thomson, brother to David Thomson (co-founder of Scarborough) and himself an early settler of the area.

I was raised in the Wishing Well area of Scarborough and attended school at Vradenburg Junior Public School, J. B. Tyrrell Senior Public School, and Sir John A. MacDonald Collegiate Institute.

I was employed by Scarborough Public Library and have worked in Scarborough libraries (now part of Toronto Public Library) for 30 years, spending most of my career at the Agincourt and Bridlewood branches.

I have played, learned, worshipped, shopped, dined, lived, and voted in Scarborough my entire life.

Scarborough is who I am.

So you can imagine my reaction when I first heard of the proposed Federal Electoral Districts Redistribution 2022 plan to rethink the borders that currently define what is considered Scarborough by the federal government and, in a very real way, by Canada itself.

Should this proposal come to fruition and the proposed changes be made, it would mean that my home, my work, and so many of the places I have known as loved as part of Scarborough would be removed from the area. You would be taking Scarborough away from me and from thousands of others who consider it their own.

But Scarborough, all of Scarborough, is strong. And Scarborough is not only a community. Scarborough is a family.

We are Scarborough. Scarborough is who we are.

Many others, individuals, associations, and community groups, have already spoken out against this proposal. They have articulated with knowledge, experience, and passion about how your decision would affect our Scarborough. They have identified both the economic and cultural impact that this proposed redefinition would have on our community. They have outlined the need for fair and proper representation for one of the country's most diverse and multicultural areas and explained what taking away our "seat at the table" would mean for our people. They have let you know who we are.

We are Scarborough. Scarborough is who we are.

They have spoken and now, I am thankful that this forum has given me the opportunity to add my voice to theirs, to speak out against this redistribution and to ask that you reconsider this proposal. And although this may read just as one individual's personal plea and lack an outline of convincing facts and figures, it comes from a place of passion and from the heart. It is the voice of someone who identifies with Scarborough, as it is, and how it should remain because...

Scarborough is who I am.

Respectfully,

Katherine McGreechan