Corso Italia: People and History

Multi-cultural Studies Series: #1

Illustration of the Corso Italia neighbourhood (Source: #1)

Toronto is a diverse city with many ethnic enclaves and multicultural areas; Corso Italia is one of these vibrant centres. As the name indicates, this area is known as one of the Italian areas of Toronto, along with Little Italy which is South and East from it. Located in Toronto’s Ward 9 in the Corso Italia-Davenport neighbourhood, it is clear to see, feel and hear the culture along St. Clair West, starting just West of Lansdowne and continuing a little East of Dufferin.

A British Past

St. Clair and Dufferin Intersection, September 1911 (City of Toronto Archives)

Before the 1960’s, this area was predominantly occupied by British settlers. There is quite a lot of visible heritage in the streetscape shown through plaques and public art. One heritage Toronto plaque commemorates the 2,500 residents of the greater area named Earlscourt who were of mostly British working-class. Their service in the military during WWI represented ‘more per capita than from any other district in Canada’.

Cultivating Italian Culture

As Italians began immigrating to the area in the 60’s, businesses started popping up catering to this community (read more about these businesses in the second article in this series). “Corso Italia’s Business Improvement Area (BIA) was designated in 1984” (Zhuang, 2015). The streetscape is visually well maintained by the city and the BIA. They have clearly designated the neighbourhood with custom street signs and garbage can labels, lamp posts with column decals and banners, hanging plants in the growing months and even a soundtrack playing (see video below) from speakers along the main strip. There are sections of the street which were revitalized in partnership with local businesses, organizations and the city such as this corner with the sturdy black granite seating. I personally have not seen anyone sitting in these seats but it certainly does make a visual statement!

The Corso Italia logo is stamped throughout the area on street signs, garbage cans, plaques etc.

The main strip has it’s own soundtrack often playing jazz radio.

A New Demographic

Even though Corso Italia is looking and feeling more and more Italian on the streetscape, there has been a shift in demographics. The area is populated predominantly by Portuguese in recent years (Toronto, 2016). According to the 2016 census, new immigrants to the area are 22% are Portuguese and 14% are Italian with the remaining portion comprising of various Asian ethnicities. The same census report from the City of Toronto shows an increase in 2016 of younger adults living in the area where retirement age and end of career aged adults previously were, which indicates the area is in the midst of gentrification.

Immigration to Corso Italia-Davenport (City of Toronto 2016 Neighbourhood Census Profile 92)

There is quite a large population of visible minorities who are visitors, patrons, residents and business owners. 43% immigrants, 31% 2nd generation, , 17% immigrated before 1981, 54% born in Canada. 47% are 1st generation(Toronto, 2016). The area truly is an integrated multicultural neighbourhood.

Sources:

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20030604011936/http://www.torontocorsoitalia.com/page/page/348967.htm
2. https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/9181-City_Planning_2018_25WardMaps_Ward09.pdf
3. Zhuang, Z. C. (2013). Rethinking multicultural planning: An empirical study of ethnic retailing. Canadian Journal of Urban Research, 22(2), 90–116. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/docview/1675910697?accountid=13631
4. https://www.toronto.ca/ext/sdfa/Neighbourhood%20Profiles/pdf/2016/pdf1/cpa92.pdf