Re: Integrated or segregated?
Jim Hinsch said:
So is your neighborhood the norm? Is it typical in Canada to have the rich and poor live in the same communities, and access the same resources, in terms of schools, recreation, transportation, housing, or is it like the USA, where that would be the exception rather than the rule. Which is it, generally segregated or generally integrated?
no "class conscious" Canadians? tell that to Toronto city councillors who are in the midst of a battle over the opening of a homeless shelter on 'the danforth'. the residents and business people feel it is not the appropriate neighbourhood for "that kind of people". go to any planning meeting at any city hall across the country and you will find NIMBY alive and well.
jim, anyone who would claim that the rich in Canada are generally integrated need only do a Revenue Canada search relating postal codes to income levels to find out how wrong they are. the problem is that most people have a hard time determining the difference between rich and upper-middle class. in addition, gated communities are almost non-existent in Canada. Toronto's bridle path, rosedale, and forest hill are all "open" even though they are "the" rich neighbourhoods in the city. but you won't find any kids from those neighbourhoods in the public school system, you just need to check the income level of families who attend st. jamestown or regent park's (the equivalent of your "projects") public schools.
i live in a town of 40,000 north of Toronto. 2 gated neighbourhoods (unheard of 15 years ago), and 2 "estate" enclaves have been built since i moved here. town council made no provision for schools or for busing when these developments were built. they knew the kids would be in private school--there are 3 of them within a 15 drive.
transportation? they wouldn't be caught dead on a town bus, they drive everywhere. recreation centres? they belong to the local golf clubs with their pools, fitness clubs, and tennis courts. the local hockey teams, baseball and soccer teams are generally populated by middle class citizens.
mob