Comment 44 – comments and feedback

Daisy McCabe-Lokos

I live in Parkdale. Parkdale is not High Park.

If anyone on the Commission knew anything about these completely different neighbourhoods, they'd not propose to erase Parkdale out of our riding name.

Parkdale is a diverse neighbourhood, that is home to many new Canadians, marginalized groups, low income housing, as well as non new Canadians, high income earners, and establishment populations.

The diversity of this neighbourhood is unique. Parkdale people are politically active and progressive. We are activists.

I wholeheartedly echo our NDP Rep's comments:

The electoral district of Parkdale was created in 1914, and merged with a neighbouring district into Parkdale—High Park in 1979. It has been recognized by name in an electoral district for more than 100 years.

Parkdale is a proud, spirited community with a strong identity and sense of place. This is reflected in the many non-profit, neighbourhood, small business, and community associations with Parkdale in the name and serving the area.

It is a community that has actively resisted gentrification in an increasingly inequitable city. The buildings along Jameson Ave — one of the neighbourhood's major thoroughfares — are known colloquially as “the landing strip” as it has been the first home to many newcomers.

Parkdale has been home to many diasporic communities —Polish, Afro-Caribbean, Filipino, Vietnamese, Roma, and currently is home to a large Tibetan-Canadian population. Parkdale's nickname is "Little Tibet."

Keeping Parkdale in the name would also be a better balance of the geography of the district, with Taiaiako'n to the west, High Park at the centre, and Parkdale to the east.

Thanks,

Daisy McCabe-Lokos