Are there any slums in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada?

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Violet c

Toronto does not have slums. Yes, there are areas which are socially and economicly below the level of other more affluent "neighbourhoords" but if you were to drive through them you would not be able to determine the social class of the people living there. There isn't garbage strewn around, houses with broken windows and doors falling off, abandoned hollowed out cars sitting in yards and streets, animals running wild through the area and people begging for food or money and almost naked because they are too poor to buy clothing. I think that some of the answers, especially the silly answer by gordc238 above are given by people who have never seen an actual slum in their life except on t.v. A socially poor "neighbourhood" does not constitute a slum. We have strict laws for landlords which are implemented although of course some may slip through the cracks, it isn't noticable to the viewer. We also have regular garbage pickup and street cleaning. Therefore we don't have slums.

Canadian Ken

Toronto does not have "slums" per say. Back in the 1960-70's the government of Toronto built low rental housing and it was decided that rather than have it all in one area they would spread it throughout neighbourhoods to down play the stigma that comes with affordable housing. They also felt this would help avoid the creation of slums that other large cities have.

http://www.torontohousing.ca/about_us/

Razorchilde

I guess that depends on your definition of "slum". A slum in Canada on its worst day doesn't equal a slum in a major American city. And on its worst day, a slum in a major American city doesn't equal a slum in an Asiatic nation. So on a world-wide scale, no, Canada doesn't have any *real* slums. But our version of slum is disturbing to us.

I haven't lived in Toronto for a while, but Vancouver has scummy places. Ignoring what the guy with the rant said when he whined about the government structure (what that has to do with slums is beyond me), East Vancouver is the worst place in Canada for homelessness, drug abuse, prostituition and crime. (Even then, it's still better than places in American cities.) Like any city, there are places you really shouldn't go after dark. But there are clubs near Hastings St. (the worst st.) that generally you can travel to with caution; just don't be a moron about where you're going or who's around you. Surrey is a dangerous place, and not even locals like travelling there after dark. If you want one word that describes the bad people here, think "uncontrollable". Crazy people do what they want, and do things they have no right doing (like smoking crack in bus shelters) but act like they do. Downtown are what the locals passive-aggressively refer to as "aggressive panhandlers". Where I come from, they're called stalkers. Becaus epeople here can be so passive, panhandlers take advantage of that to be pushy, aggressive and dangerous.

So yes, there are places where the scum accumulates, where CHUDs walk around, where drugs are seen. We still find it unacceptable. But if you're comparing, this place is vanilla compared to places in the US and especially in Asia.

Carl

No, there aren't slums. There are low income areas but they aren't slums

Gent Of Style

I wouldn't say slums but there are some pretty run down and dangerous areas. I wouldn't recommend a stroll through the Jane and FInch area of Toronto on a dark night, heck I wouldn't recommend a stroll through the Jane and Finch area in broad daylight!

Explorer

yes, every large city will have one

Saphire4

There are no slums in Toronto like Mumbai or Dhaka. There are lot of homeless people in Toronto. There are homeless shelters also.

rftdwg

In any major metropolitan city, you will find areas where the poor live. There are homeless people in just about every city over the population of 30,000. You could add Calgary, Edmonton. Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec, to your list.

HeatherFeather

Not that you would notice

gordc238

Yes. And oOOOHHH are the locals going to give this answer a low rating. The local Torontonians call them by a friendly euphemism. Instead of slums they call them "Neighborhoods". Of course every "Neighborhood" is rated differently. And people classify you if you mention the "Neighborhood" of your residence.

It also depends on your definition of slum areas. Outwardly both Toronto and Vancouver physically very nice everywhere, Yet, under the surface some neighborhoods are drug - ridden, as violent, racially segregated, and class bigotry imprisons the poorest housing, rat infested, bed bug ridden rentals and complete ******* for landlords. They are by any other city standards... slums.

Some significant areas (not all) in Toronto which would be called slums by any other city are: (and in no particular order) Malvern, Orton Park, St. Jamestown, Jane & Finch, Kensington Market, Regent Park, Sherbourne& Dundas, Gerrard East and Parkdale. And I may have forgotten a couple of "Neighborhoods"

Torontonians will scream and howl but people from these zones are treated as second class low lifes by every other "neighborhood."

[If I don't get five negative rating points I may not be doing my job.]

Vancouver has poor areas primarily in East Vancouver. But the trick to Vancouver is that unlike Toronto which has a unified city government. Vancouver has cities in the area and the whole area is governmentally structured like a Balkan nightmare with cities like Richmond, North Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Surrey and Port Coquitlam. It is a legislative mess with bad, incompetent, self serving petty politicians from both sides of ideology. The last two cities are treated like slums and class distinction exists. So here the slums are entire cities.

Vancouver proper only has East Vancouver as its burden of shame. And it is one tough place. It is the CasBah of the west coast. Compared to Toronto, Vancouver remains a criminal haven with a crime rate far higher than Toronto especially regarding petty crime.

This isn't to say that these "Neighborhoods" are all that bad compared to the slums else where. The major difference is that all the other world wide slums largely grew over a long course of time. St Jamestown is only 30 years old. And Toronto as a real city the majority of its buildings are less than 120 years old. So outwardly Toronto appears like a modern bright city but under the surface the same bias based on economic status and race simmers like every other slum.

felix

Nope not in Toronto

Surabhi S

i dont think so......the govt there gives unemployment funds to thoe who r unemployed.......and others earn for a living so....no slums!!!!!!!!!!
c'mon....u r comparing toronto and vancuopver to amchi mumbai!!!!!!!!!!

colorstripes

In terms of SLUM, its not like the slums where you would find in India... but are there "scary places" or places where you would not want to be alone at night? yes. In Toronto there are. I can't speak for Vancouver. There are some areas of Toronto which are notorious for crime and drugs. If you are looking for a place to live, do some research, visit the city, read the news. Visit and take a drive by the suburbs. Downtown Toronto is highclass, but very expensive. Some surrounding downtown may be a little slumish. The GTA(Greater Toronto Area) is very diverse. Missisaugha has its pros and cons. As does Scarborough and Markham. All are diverse. Nonetheless, if you are STREETSMART, keep safe, you are pretty well off. The homeless people are just downtown, and they don't hassle you like the ones in India. Many of the homeless people of Toronto have stories behind them, and have at one time had a home and left it for some reason. Many keep to themselves and understand when a simple request for change is denied. Be aware of your surroundings. Scarborough is very diverse in culture. you can find all sorts of people. Many parts of that "town" is well off. Ofcourse, you may find a drug bust in the most unexpected location in Toronto, but most of the time, its nothing. Scarborough is where many immigrants settle, but again, there is cultural diversity everywhere. If you are moving to Toronto, you must come with an open mind, leaving all stereotypes and negative thoughts of other cultures behind you. The people of Toronto are nice, although many keep to themselves. There are nice people out here who will help you out if in need. Toronto has its old and run down parts of the neighbourhoods, but its suburbs provide you with a diverse and thriving power. Hardly any newcomer to canada lives downtown Toronto, unless you have the cash. Most of the population of Toronto live inthe surrounding towns such as Brampton,Scarborough,Markham etc. They drive in and out of toronto. (15-45mins)

Neil

I'm sure there are just like any highly populated area in America

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