As The Village continues to grow in Toronto, some 2SLGBTQ+ residents who live or frequent the area are concerned about the impacts of gentrification in the neighbourhood.
It’s been an entire year since Now Toronto published the first edition of Queer & Now, where we dove into the historic relevance of Toronto’s Church and Wellesley neighbourhood, and how residents are fighting to keep The Village alive.
Now, we headed back to The Village to discuss with people what they would like to change in the area, why the neighbourhood is so important to those who call it home, and any concerns they have about the growing area.
People who were out and about on Saturday night shared that they value the haven that the area provides for members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
“There is a lot of historic value here and there has been a lot of movements and social energy down here,” Amanda Coventry told Queer & Now.
“It’s one of the last parts of Toronto that you can kind of recognize outside all of the corporate condos that have been going up. It’s something I’ve been around my whole life, I went to university nearby,” she continued. “It just feels very much like an open and safe space to walk on the streets here, to be yourself here.”
Juliette Berg has lived in The Village for four years. She explained that it’s not only a safe space, but it has a different vibe than a lot of Toronto’s other nightlife hotspots.
“People feel free to be themselves, to do whatever it is they want to do. Going out on a Saturday night it’s definitely a different crowd then you’d see elsewhere in the city, but it’s a very fun and accepting crowd for sure,” Berg shared.
“Even in today’s day and age lots of people don’t have a home, lots of people don’t have a place where they can be accepted for who they are. So, I think this blossoming Village gives people a place to feel themselves, feel comfortable,” Andras Grozo shared.
“I find that when you go to other places, like when I go out with my straight friends, it doesn’t feel the same. I feel more stressed, looking around, making sure I’m safe. Where in The Village I feel very safe, I feel very me,” Village resident Diego Blanco told Queer & Now.
While his friend Joaquin Espinosa explained that The Village is a place where he can live his truth.
“It’s a place where we feel safe. Most queer people we put on a persona or dim our light a little bit when we’re in other settings. So, I like The Village because I can be truly myself and that is important to me,” Espinosa shared.
WHAT DOES THE VILLAGE NEED?
If you’ve ventured out into The Village, be it to enjoy the nightlife, the greenspace, or grab a bite to eat, you’ve probably heard rumblings about the need for changes and updates to the neighbourhood. Online, there have been many conversations about how The Village is dying over the years.
But those who live, work and play there have a different take. It’s not dying, it’s just changing. So, with proposed condos and other developments popping up around the neighbourhood, what do the people who frequent the area think The Village needs? First of all, more nightlife.
“It would be nice to see more queer clubs and bars, I find that there is just a small section so it’s very repetitive when you go out, compared to other big cities,” Blanco shared.
While other people would like to see a wider variety of attractions.
“I think I would like to see more queer spaces that don’t involve alcohol, Maybe more libraries or places to hang out that don’t necessarily mean you have to drink,” Espinosa shared. “I think queer people deserve spaces outside of nightlife.”
“I think more of the same. Communities that we still have here [need] safe spaces. The safety aspect has definitely gone down in a few years since the pandemic and I think that is unfortunate. But I think less condos, less gentrification of the area,” Coventry shared.
“We have a lot of bars and clubs around here that are safe spaces. We have our pride flags up and stuff, I think everybody here feels really safe to express themselves in terms of their gender expression and the ability to hold hands with a partner,” she continued.
And Coventry is not the only one concerned about gentrification in the neighbourhood.
“Condos are invading, we need some architectural protection, unfortunately, if they don’t do that it [The Village] will be gone,” Robert Smith told Queer & Now, adding that he would rather see more retail and restaurant spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ people to enjoy.
Other people would like to see more crisis support for those who need them.
“There are definitely a lot of people who are in crisis a lot of the time, and I think it would be great to see more resources for people,” Berg shared.
“I think more social services, especially as it’s Toronto, there are a lot of unhoused people and there are lots of people suffering. I know there are programs out there, but I think if the government and our community could get a bigger grasp on that it would help,” Grozo told Queer & Now.
Meanwhile, a representative from the neighbourhood community centre, The 519, shared what it would like to see in this historic neighbourhood.
“It is central to our history as a community and essential to our present as a space where we come together, build community, and find support,” Dean Lobo, communications coordinator at The 519, told Queer & Now. “With rapidly rising rent and redevelopment squeezing long-time residents and businesses, making sure that The Village continues to be a safe, welcoming, and accepting neighbourhood for and by 2SLGBTQ+ people is vital to our future as a community.”
