“Picture Jane and Finch”, I say. This is a neighbourhood in northwest Toronto, a place of resilience and diversity. The intersection of Jane Street and Finch Avenue West marks its heart. We are roughly bounded by Highway 400, Black Creek, Sheppard Avenue, and Steeles Avenue.
Jane and Finch began as the rural community of Elia. Imagine vast farmland replaced by a model suburb in the 1960s. Toronto was growing fast. The planners aimed for a diverse community with public housing. They however did not consider the social needs to support the community’s development.
North York wanted to create an urban look. High-rise buildings shot up quickly. The population boomed from 1,300 to 33,000 between 1961 and 1971. This was over 40% of North York’s growth. Planners, politicians, and residents agree mistakes were made. The rapid growth led to negative consequences.
By 1967, public housing was 22.5% of the dwellings here. In comparison, North York was just 3%. The modern architectural style marked the buildings of the 1960s. However, this high concentration of public housing created a high-poverty area.
Dedicated residents worked to address community problems starting in 1973. They wanted to improve the negative image and build community pride. Over 30 grassroots groups formed. These included social and health services based on helping each other. Jane-Finch residents built the infrastructure their community needed. They brought people together to meet economic, social, and recreational needs. But overcrowded schools, disconnected social services and youth crime remained.
Jennifer Hodge de Silva captured the tensions between police and residents in her 1983 film, Home Feeling: Struggle for a Community.
Poverty intensified between 1981 and 2001. The Jane-Finch area saw four poor neighbourhoods turn into areas of very high poverty. An area with low poverty became classified as having high levels of poverty. Immigrant families were 62.4% of the population by 2001.
By 2002, Jane and Finch had a high proportion of youth, sole-supported families, refugees, immigrants, low-income earners, and public housing tenants. Only 70% of people in the neighbourhood had proper indoor plumbing. Brownouts were common. Over half the residents lived below the poverty line.
Youth crime remains a challenge. However, programs like Positive Alternatives to Youth Gangs work to help. The Strong Neighbourhoods Task Force identified the Black Creek Neighbourhood as a priority. Jane-Finch addressed community safety through the Prevention and Intervention Toronto program. It focuses on youth already in gangs or at risk.
In 2008, banners appeared calling the area University Heights. This was part of a rebranding effort. The area is near York University.
Finch West station opened in 2017. Major police raids targeting gangs occurred in 2007, 2011, and 2017.
Today, Jane and Finch is known for its diverse population. It includes people from over 80 ethno-cultural groups.
In the 1700s, German pioneers from Pennsylvania settled here. English and Scottish pioneers followed in the 1800s. You can experience the city’s rural past at Black Creek Pioneer Village.
There are many things to do around Jane and Finch. The York Woods Library Theatre hosts community events. The Jane Finch Mall, Yorkgate Mall, and Norfinch Shopping Centre offer shopping options. Various restaurants offer diverse cuisines.
Several parks provide green spaces. The Benjamin Boake Greenbelt offers a 4.7-kilometre trail. Community centres like Driftwood, Northwood, and Yorkwood offer programs for all ages.
Buses connect to the subway lines.
Jane and Finch is a community of perseverance and determination. Despite its challenges, it offers a vibrant multicultural experience. It is a testament to the strength and resilience of its residents.