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Gentrification Cartoon Highlighting Impacts On The Community - The Guardian

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Gentrification: Personal Meaning

According to Merriam-Webster, gentrification is a process in which a previously impoverished area (such as a city) experiences an influx of middle-class or wealthy individuals who renovate and rebuild homes and businesses, often resulting in increased property values and the displacement of earlier, typically poorer residents.

Gentrification is unethical. It utilizes various terms, such as “revitalization,” to conceal a fundamental issue: the systematic displacement of families, communities, and the erasure of culture. Gentrification may be beneficial for financial compensation and economic development in urban areas. However, we should continually reflect: do we truly find meaning in rising home appraisals and materialistic possessions? In my own life, I value local communities, businesses, art galleries and shops that reflect the true culture and identity.

Canada is a multicultural and diverse country, home to individuals from a wide range of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. In 2021, there were approximately 8.3 million immigrants in Canada, representing around 23% of the country's total population. These individuals and communities have established our country's identity. Unfortunately, these local communities are commonly the first to be affected by gentrification.

Toronto’s Little Jamaica: Case Study Reflection

After reviewing the case study on “Little Jamaica” from TVO Today, this area is centred around Eglinton Avenue West. It has transformed into a culturally diverse hub for Toronto’s Caribbean and Jamaican communities since the late 1950s. The neighbourhood experienced demographic growth during the 1970s as Black Torontonians of Caribbean descent immigrated and sought refuge there.

Toronto’s Caribbean community has been forced to experience gentrification in various sectors. This area is far more than a geographical location. It symbolizes Caribbean identity, history, music, food, business, and community. As gentrification continues to arise, cultural identity can be erased.

Urban growth, specifically infrastructure development, is viewed as progress in a city. However, Little Jamaica emphasizes that this growth must incorporate the views of the community. Infrastructure initiatives (Eglinton Crosstown LRT) have created various unintended consequences. Due to the prolonged noise, construction, road closures and reduced foot traffic, over 140 businesses in the area have closed.

Despite these adversities, several proactive steps are being initiated. Currently, there are multiple community-driven organizations aimed at preserving the cultural identity and businesses on the Eglinton West strip. One initiative is B.A.I.D.S. (Business Advisory, Implementation and Development Services), a program launched by the BBPA (Black Business Professionals Association), which offers complimentary business planning, marketing, and tax services. In addition, local business organizations, along with Toronto’s Caribbean community, have made notable strides in advocating for municipal support. These initiatives mark a significant step forward; however, immense work is required to be done for the preservation of Toronto’s Little Jamaica.

Gentrification: Siesta Key, Florida

I observed the effects of gentrification during my recent vacation to Florida. We stayed near the Siesta Key Beach area, where the impact of urban growth, specifically infrastructure development, was clearly visible. Many local businesses (surf shops, fishing bait stores, and family-owned restaurants) are being forced to close. These closures are a result of the construction of multi-million-dollar housing/apartment complexes. This area is defined not by its luxury property values, but by its unique local identity, businesses, and community.

Learning Your Local History: My Hometown

After watching “Learning Your Local History” by Headspace, I began to view my hometown (Hamilton) extremely differently. The video underscored that no matter where we are, we are not the first to be there. We are part of a larger continuum of people and activities that all take place in the area before you get there. One idea that resonated with me is the idea that to think of yourself in relation to the people that have inhabited the land you're on before you got there and all the people who will inhabit it after.

This made me reflect about our own HSC community. Even during chapel, we read a “land acknowledgment” which recognizes that our school is situated on the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas. This is the practice of connecting to local history, which ensures that we understand the land and can positively contribute to its preservation.

In conclusion, “Learning Your Local History” instilled the message that belonging to a place is not just about living in it; it is about understanding its history, connecting with the people around it, and caring for its future. At HSC, our land acknowledgment and College Commitment embody these values.

Works Cited

1. “GENTRIFICATION.” Merriam-Webster.com, 31 Dec. 2017, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentrification.

2. Statistics Canada. “Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity Statistics.” Www.statcan.gc.ca, 16 Dec. 2019, www.statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects-start/immigration_and_ethnocultural_diversity.

3. Alice, Melissa. “Toronto’s Little Jamaica Shouldn’t Have to Save Itself, but It May Need To.” TVO.org, 22 Dec. 2020, www.tvo.org/article/torontos-little-jamaica-shouldnt-have-to-save-itself-but-it-may-need-to.

4. Headspace. “Learning Your Local History.” YouTube, 8 Feb. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxNZffBuQVY. Accessed 15 Apr. 2021.

5. My HSC (Chapel Page)

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What gentrification means to me is a process where many neighborhoods are developed with wealthier people moving in. It's not just about the building getting improved or new business opening but is about who is included and what benefits. From the case study of Little Jamaica, we learned how a culturally rich Black community can be disrupted by long-term construction and rising property values, even though the changes are meant to improve the area. This shows us that without intentional policies and community-led efforts like the Little Jamaica, development can lead to displacement and cultural loss. We can see this happening in Toronto where diverse communities are being replaced by condos and shops with higher rents. Watching the Local History video helped me think about my own hometown and the stories within it. It displays how local history isn't just facts but memoires of people of their joys, struggles and identities.

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Gentrification, for me, embodies the paradox of urban “revival” that simultaneously invigorates and erodes the social fabric of long‐standing communities. In its idealized form, gentrification is touted as economic renewal, yet the lived reality too often entails displacement, cultural erasure, and fractured social networks. The Little Jamaica case study crystallizes this tension: since Crosstown LRT construction began in 2011, more than 140 Black‐ and Caribbean‐owned businesses along Eglinton Avenue West have closed, victims of chronic noise, blocked entrances, and utility disruptions that repelled customers and drove revenues down by up to 60 percent during key construction phases (“Toronto’s Little Jamaica” ). The pandemic compounded these stresses, only 47 of 186 York-Eglinton BIA storefronts remained open through the initial lockdown, forcing proprietors into untenable debt and, in some cases, bankruptcy. Importantly, Little Jamaica’s advocacy victories, the official designation as the Little Jamaica Heritage and Innovation Hub and demands for Metrolinx compensation, demonstrate how grassroots mobilization can coax municipal recognition, yet they also reveal the limits of symbolic motions without concrete policy tools.

We see parallel dynamics in Montréal’s Plateau‐Mont‐Royal, where purpose‐built condominium supply surged 250 percent between 2015 and 2022, driving average two‐bedroom rents to CA$1,750, 71 percent above 2019 levels, and displacing over 3,000 low‐income households into outer boroughs (CMHC, “Mid‐Year Rental Market Report” ; CBC News, “Montreal Rental Prices Soar” Jan. 2025 ). East Vancouver’s historically working‐class Strathcona neighbourhood offers another cautionary tale: median home prices there climbed from $500,000 in 2005 to $1.3 million in 2023, over five times local median incomes, forcing local artists and seniors into increasingly precarious living situations (“East Vancouver’s Housing Crisis” The Globe and Mail, 5 Mar. 2024 ). Even ostensibly “suburban” locales like Oakville, where population rose by 13 percent between 2016 and 2021, outpacing the provincial average (Statistics Canada, “Census Profile” 2021 ), are not immune: average home prices escalated to CA$1.46 million by mid‐2025 (CREA ), and Lakeshore Road’s small‐scale commercial nodes are increasingly supplanted by glass‐fronted bistros and high‐end realty offices.

Watching “Learning Your Local History” sharpened my sense that gentrification is not merely a product of market forces but a matter of collective memory and civic stewardship. In Oakville, the loss of local heritage, stories of the Underground Railroad, downtown main‐street family businesses, risks being overwritten by sanitized placemaking that prioritizes tourist‐friendly façades over community resilience. We learn from Little Jamaica and these other examples that sustainable urban renewal requires enforceable policy mechanisms, commercial rent stabilization, heritage‐designation zoning, and community land trusts, to anchor cultural preservation in law rather than leaving it to the whims of market cycles. Moreover, inclusive public‐space programming and “buy‐local” campaigns provide essential demand‐side support that reinforces the viability of legacy businesses during periods of transition. Ultimately, truly equitable revitalization honors the intangible networks of kinship, solidarity, and creativity that imbue neighbourhoods with their distinctive character, ensuring that the promise of gentrification uplifts rather than erases the communities on which our cities depend.

Works Cited:

Alice, Melissa. “Toronto’s Little Jamaica Shouldn’t Have to Save Itself, but It May Need To.” Toronto Star, 22 Dec. 2020, https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/12/22/torontos-little-jamaica-shouldnt-have-to-save-itself-but-it-may-need-to.html.

“East Vancouver’s Housing Crisis: Strathcona’s Price Surge.” The Globe and Mail, 5 Mar. 2024, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-east-vancouver-housing-crisis.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Mid-Year Rental Market Report: Major Centres, 2025. CMHC, July 2025, https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/housing-markets-data-and-research/market-reports/rental-market-reports-major-centres.

CBC News. “Montreal Rental Prices Soar Amid Gentrification Concerns.” CBC, Jan. 2025, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/rental-prices-soar-gentrification.

Canadian Real Estate Association. “MLS® Home Price Index: Oakville, June 2025.” CREA, July 2025, https://www.crea.ca/housing-market-statistics/mls-hpi-home-price-index-oakville.

Statistics Canada. “Census Profile, 2021 Census: Oakville, Ontario.” Statistics Canada, 2021, https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E.

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Gentrification means change that isn’t fair. It’s when a neighborhood starts to get new buildings, wealthier people, different culture. On one hand, it meant that there will be "new blood" in the neighbourhood, which brings investment and improvement. On the other hand, it changes the culture and the community that was placed first. And as the “new blood” comes into the neighbourhood, original residents and small businesses often get pushed out.From Little Jamaica, we can learn that urban development, and this will be even worse when fewer people support it. And throughout this case, we see that gentrification is harmful. The construction of Eglinton Crosstown LRT was meant to improve transit, but it has harmed local businesses by cutting off some one the simple traffic. And this situation is happening across Canada and beyond. In old cities, housing with culture and diversity is all being replaced with boring condos or townhouses. This has been pushing out long-time residents, which is erasing the culture that had been existing in that community. Watching Learning Your Local History made me think about how much Shanghai has changed over time. I remember older neighborhoods with small shops, food stalls, and historic houses. Most of them have been taken down and replaced by high-rise apartments and shopping malls. Eventhough it has pushed the economy of Shanghai, Shanghai has lost its true identity.

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Gentrification, to me, is a very textbook process of conquering and claiming, which has happened since the English landed on North America. I believe that gentrification occurs because someone with enough money and power believes in the old saying of "the grass is always greener on the other side." For instance, what's happened forever, an old demographic is pushed out, due to economics, race, or other features, and a new demographic comes in, destroying the original history of the land. Furthermore, the case study of Little Jamaica is a perfect example of gentrification. Due to someone believing that it would be good to put an LRT right through the main centre of Eglinton, it has caused many people have been pushed out of their homes. But, with the case study we can learn that gentrification doesn't appear bad, until you see it from the opponent's view. For instance, LRTs are very useful to the economy and environment, as they can force riders to pay more money, allow more of the city to interact with each other through train systems, and influence more people to carpool or take public transport, lessening emissions. However, when we look at Little Jamaica, the pros of an LRT seem to be lacking compared to the cons. For example, the construction of an LRT limits foot traffic, increases noise pollution, and causes roadblocks and sidewalk disruptions. This is all near local businesses, causing a loss in regular and potential customers, due to a loss of wanting to walk near construction. In comparison, we can see this happening in the past. With English settlers coming in and pushing out the natives and indigenous people. It's the same pattern, both people have their view of the situation and oppose each other, because one believes it will do good, and the other, it will do bad. For instance, the indigenous disliked "claiming" and "owning" the land, and saw what the settlers were trying to do, and very much disliked their ideas. However, the settlers thought it would be good to claim land, as it could give it monetary value, along with construction rights and agricultural rights. Lastly, watching "Learning your Local History" has caused me to think a lot about how I probably caused a bit of gentrification, and how I can see gentrification popping up. Watching that video has me thinking about many buildings in my area. For instance, the old Casablanca hotel, that is being shut down and torn down to allow for condos. Or my old dance studio, which has been torn down and has opened up space for a giant condo building, in the middle of downtown. Especially, where every building is at most 2 stories, and the new condo building is closer to 7.

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To me, gentrification means when a neighbourhood changes in a way that brings in new, often wealthier people, but pushes out the people who have lived there for a long time. From the case study of Little Jamaica, we learn that gentrification can take away a community’s culture and hurt small businesses. It shows that development isn’t always fair. We can see this happening in other Toronto areas like Kensington Market or Parkdale, and even in cities around the world, like New York or Vancouver. Watching Learning Your Local History made me realize that every place has a story, and it’s important to protect the people and cultures that make our neighbourhoods special. It made me want to learn more about my own community’s history before it changes or is forgotten.

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Gentrification, for me, means the transformation when neighbourhoods that have been ignored or are full of culture start to change because of new buildings, more money, and people with higher incomes moving in. This can bring better roads, shops, and services, but it also causes problems. Long time residents and small business owners often can’t afford the higher rent and are pushed out. Over time, the culture and history that made the area unique can disappear.

The case study of Little Jamaica teaches us a lot about how gentrification can play out in real time. Once a thriving hub for the Jamaican and wider Caribbean community, Eglinton West became a cultural landmark after waves of immigration in the 1950s and 1970s. However, over the past decade, that cultural identity has been threatened. The long-term construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT disrupted foot traffic, hurt local businesses, and opened the door to gentrification, especially as property values rise and new, more expensive developments move in. On top of this, COVID 19 delivered another massive blow, forcing businesses to shut down for extended periods. Despite these challenges, the story of Little Jamaica is not just one of struggle but also one of resilience and activism. Local organizations, business owners, and community members have come together to push for government recognition, compensation, and long term support.

Also, watching "Learning your Local History", it made me realize that all places have a rich history, and it is important to protect that history and educate yourself. Watching this video made me realize that I want to get involved and learn more about my own communities history before it is too late.

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Gentrification means to me a way of bullying lower-income families out of their homes for the selfish gain of the homeowner or corporations. This can come in the form of increasing rent, cutting off utilities/neglecting the property, or threatening tenants. This also causes the people who made the foundation of the region to not be able to reap the benefits of the growing economy in their area, and be forced into a likely lower-income area where they will have to strive once again for basic help and not neglect. The lessons we can learn from Little Jamaica are that if the government doesn't aid a community to preserve its culture, it will lose the majority of its cultural identity. What made little Jamaica, little Jamaica, was likely its deep connection to the predominantly black community; thus, when they experience gentrification, they lose that cultural significance of that land to those people.  However,  we can learn that if a region strives to preserve its community, it can raise awareness, like how little Jamaica is doing right now with trying to make its issue known (Clearly it's well done, seeing as we, as HSC students, are examining the situation). I see this issue happen in a common theme of neighbourhoods,  they are likely previously low-income areas that are being repopulated with new citizens, as new citizens/corporations realize their value or are trying to find a place more affordable. When watching “ learning your local history,”  it made me think of the foundational people of the land to which I’ve lived and my neighbours. For example,  the man Dundas was named after (Henry Dundas)  never personally visited Dundas, which I find interesting because it was named after him! Additionally, I have recently been installing a golf Green in my backyard, and when doing so, I dug up some memories of what must have been the previous homeowners (i.e. marbles, action figures, etc). Finally, also when I was building this golf green, I built camaraderie with my neighbour because he was so gracious enough to lend me his tools and help me in the process of building it.

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Gentrification to me is a way of replacing culturally dense areas with the same unaffordable neighborhoods for the benefit of corporations. Beloved local businesses are bought out and replaced by food chains, and low income families are pushed out of their homes due to increasing rent, negligence, discrimination, and construction zones. Many of these evicted people move to worse and often unsafe locations where they have to fight for basic services and rebuild their community. On the surface level, gentrification may seem positive, as areas are rebuilt and improved, but in reality gentrification is breaking apart communities and destroying cultural hotspots.

Little Jamaica is a clear example of what happens to culturally rich communities that face gentrification. Since the construction of Crosstown LRT and the erasure of unique neighborhood cultures which followed the new infrastructure, more than 140 local businesses have closed and many citizens have been softly evicted. But, residents have decided to take action, and have gotten a stretch of Eglinton named the Little Jamaica Heritage and Innovation Hub. A lesson we can learn from Little Jamaica is that if we continue to raise awareness and push to preserve the culture of these neighborhoods, we can maintain the cultural diversity that makes these neighborhoods unique.

Gentrification, like what happened in Little Jamaica, is happening all around us, in cities such as Burlington, Hamilton, and Toronto. Lower income neighborhoods are being bought out to be developed, forcing out the original residents.

Watching "Learning Your Local History" reminded me of the history and culture that can be found in the simplest things in a town. For example, my neighborhood, 'Brant Hills', is named after First Nations Chief Joseph Brant who was one of the most famous people to ever live on the land.

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Gentrification, to me, is the process of renovating a neighbourhood with the goal of attracting new people to move in (generally wealthier individuals). This often occurs when more expensive businesses and establishments are introduced into the area. This is accompanied by increasing property values and rent prices. This process often involves cleaning the streets and increasing safety. Although with these benefits, it often means that the current residents cannot afford to live in the area due to significantly higher cost of living. This means loss of culture and homes just for the benefit for big corporations. This is seen in Toronto's Little Jamaica, where the businesses are losing revenue due to the development of other establishments. This not only reduces income for the residents of the neighbourhood but also increases the cost of living due to the implementation of what is likely a more expensive store. Inevitably, this causes residents to move out. However, the people are fighting back and preserving their culture. This is happening across Canada in neighbourhoods in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and other large cities looking to expand.

The 'Learning Local History' video made me think more about what the land looked like before the settlers. The video also made me think about how there is little recognition of the indigenous peoples in the names of the areas, as well as their care for the land. If it wasn't for them, and instead, people with more greed lived here previously, then Canada would likely have much less resources.

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In my opinion, gentrification is the process by which a neighbourhood starts to change in a way that values wealthy people who are moving in rather than those who built the community around it. This leads to rising rents and businesses that no longer serve the community they built. This is usually looked at as progress from different views that consist of the government or the city as a healthy step, but the cost that comes with this is the original residents getting pushed out and detached, along with erasing the culture that the place made special.

Little Jamaica was a striking example due to the fact that it displayed how communities could become at risk when they don't get the support they need. Many years, even reaching decades, Caribbean history and businesses have been continually threatened by years of LRT construction, COVID, and gentrification. But what stands out from the rest of the problems is when the government fails to act when these communities need it, and how these communities need to fight back for themselves to protect their future. We can see gentrification happening in many cities like Harlem, New York, which has gone through a lot of changes, where the local people and culture have become detached in favour of new development. Areas in Canada are also facing this problem, like Kensington Market. This area is being held within a pricing crisis, which is pushing the residents who built the community in this area to be pushed out. This proves that gentrification is common in areas not only in Canada but around the world, and if we don't take the necessary steps to fix it, it will continue to grow. The documentary Learning Your Local History made me realize that I do not pay much attention to my community. I had never thought much about who people lived here before me or even about the origin of the name of my street. Having finished watching the video, I wanted to begin to learn more about the place I used to live in in the past and attempt to be a respectful, aware member of my community now. The knowledge of the local history has given me a new feeling about connection, which I did not think of before.

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My definition of gentrification is, to put it simply, a change in pace. Looking into the case study about little Jamacia, we can see several issues that come from gentrification. As an example, the Eglington crosstown LRT construction project basically collapsed around 140 businesses in the surrounding area due to noise pollution, blockades, and shutting off utilities and leading to less foot traffic. This is a problem. Due to the built up history with these shops and the surrounding local area, the community has now pretty much lost all of it because of the construction. The case study however, also mentions that many shops in little Jamacia were struggling to stay afloat due to the covid 19 lockdowns and almost or more than 10 months of closure. This is where gentrification can be seen as somewhat helpful instead of destructive as it mentions local politicians, watchdog organizations and the general community pitching in to support these suffering shops. Now, there are initiatives taking place, helping to restore the area and the history that comes with it, and in the process helping these shops prosper again from complimentary services that the community had provided them with. There is however a risk that comes with this, as there could be a sudden change in their agendas that would want to take advantage of these local shops, leading to their turmoil. In conclusion, gentrification isn't always a bad thing, and can be used to create a more prosperous environment for local areas.

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Gentrification means big businesses and governments investing in new areas. This might cause rent to rise, due to the higher quality of location. We learnt from little Jamaica that this can cause local businesses to go out of buissnes. We can see this happening in Toronto. I disagree with "Learning your Local History". I don't know any of my neighbours, nor do I want to. I don't feel "lonely", I am perfectly fine this way. I'm not going to go out of my way to research the history of where I live, for it doesn't affect me today. Why should I care about any of this when I find community with my friends, history with my family, and safety in my home?

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To me, gentrification means the transformation of neighbourhoods in ways that often exclude the people who built them. It is often a lower-income community starts to attract development and investment. Although growth and development are great, they cause rising rent, loss of affordable housing and cultural displacement. While the neighbourhood may look better, the people who have lived there the longest may no longer feel welcome and can feel uninterested in staying. Little Jamaica teaches us that urban development without community protection leads to cultural loss. The neighbourhood of Little Jamaica was important to Toronto's Black and Caribbean diversity, but due to long-term neglect, many businesses have closed. The largest takeaway from this article is that cultural development means investing in people, not just buildings. Watching Learning Your Local History reminded me that every neighbourhood has significance or a purpose. It made me think of my hometown of Hamilton. It made me wonder who had lived here before? It also made me realize that I am partially responsible for the protection of my community, especially when development threatens to erase what makes my community unique

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What does gentrification mean to you?

Gentrification, to me, means altering a neighbourhood in ways that raise prices and displace long-time residents, often replacing their culture with wealthier influences.

What can we learn from the case study of Little Jamaica?

From the case study of Little Jamaica, we learn that development without community input can harm cultural identity, displace locals, and create unfair challenges for small businesses.

Where else can we see this happening?

This is happening in cities like Toronto, New York, and Vancouver, where rising costs are displacing low-income communities and altering the character of neighbourhoods.

How did watching "Learning your Local History" make you think about your hometown?

It made me realize how important it is to know and protect the stories and people that shaped my hometown before they’re forgotten or replaced.

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For my purposes, gentrification is defined as a “contested process of neighbourhood change marked by an influx of capital and relatively wealthy residents to formerly working-class neighbourhoods that results in the displacement of existing residents and businesses… as well as a complete transformation or destruction of the neighbourhood’s social and cultural identity”. Renovation of a different kind, though not exclusively physical, is also a socio-economic change and is often used market forces and policy neglect as a weapon against those with less privilege. It manifests in things like rent inflation (resulting in the eviction of residents and small businesses), the transformation of commercial districts from local, cultural places to chain stores and higher-end shops, and demographic shifts in the social fabric and sense of belonging for longtime residents.

The Little Jamaica case study ultimately provides important and applicable lessons for all:

Infrastructure as Catalyst/Weapon: Large-scale public works projects, while potentially beneficial city-wide, can act as potent accelerants for displacement if not coupled with robust, community-centred anti-displacement measures.

The Fragility of Cultural Capital: Economies built on cultural specificity and serving a close-knit community are incredibly vulnerable to external market shocks and rent hikes, even if financially viable within their context.

The Limits of Community Resistance: While vital, grassroots efforts like "save our neighbourhood" campaigns are often reactive and insufficient without proactive, enforceable policy frameworks (e.g., commercial rent control, cultural heritage district designation with teeth, significant affordable housing mandates in new developments, direct financial support for legacy businesses during disruption).

Systemic Complicity: The displacement is rarely accidental; it often reflects policy choices (or lack thereof) that prioritize development speed, increased tax revenue, and attracting wealthier residents over protecting existing communities and heritage. The burden of proof and action shouldn't lie with those being displaced.

Sadly, this is not an exception. But we see it elsewhere through other processes of gentrification and change in historically black neighbourhoods like Harlem in NYC or Anacostia in DC, Latino neighbourhoods such as Boyle Heights in L.A. or Pilsen in Chicago, working-class artist enclaves such as Williamsburg in Brooklyn, or immigrant districts around the world in places like Brixton, London or Neukölln in Berlin. While the particulars are different, the underlying logic of a cost and demographic-driven displacement is the same.

‘Learning Your Local History’ changed the way I viewed my hometown. It shifted me not just from one perception to another, but from the present state to a critical unearthing of its history. The video raised important questions: What diverse, unique communities were lost to now-uniformity? Whose story of immigrant arrivals, labour, culture, and community was hidden behind this idea of continuous ‘progress’ and ‘renewal’? It highlighted how the built environment is a palimpsest; existing landscapes can overwrite and actively erase previous chapters. What are now luxury apartments or hipster cafes may have been right where affordable housing, necessary ethnic businesses, or valuable space for community gathering for marginalized groups used to exist. This sense of historical layering gave the video a feeling that this is not just an academic question, but something very important to understand as current tensions over development and displacement play out. It raises a critical question about what we think of as ‘improvements’ today: who wins? What is it that we are losing culturally and socially in the name of progress? It inspires a greater understanding of the invisible histories that haunt even familiar streets and a reminder that it is the past residents, and their stories, who are the real reason for the character of a place, not the current, and usually wealthier, ones. I can only imagine what future histories will reflect about the transformations that are currently taking place.

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Gentrification for me means when a neighbourhood changes in a way that makes it more expensive, which usually pushes out the people who have lived there for a long time. It often brings in new businesses and buildings, but it can also take away the culture and history of the community. From the case study of Little Jamaica, we can learn how gentrification, along with construction and COVID-19, can hurt small businesses and local culture. It shows how important it is to support communities that are being affected and to make sure they have a say in the changes happening around them. We can see gentrification in other places too, like parts of downtown Toronto where condos are being built and rents are going up. It’s happening in many cities across Canada and around the world. Watching "Learning Your Local History" made me think more about my own hometown. It reminded me that every place has a story, and we should try to learn about it and protect the history and culture of our communities before it gets forgotten.

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To me, gentrification means when a neighborhood changes because of new buildings, higher prices, and new people moving in, but the people who already live there sometimes get pushed out. From the case study of Little Jamaica, I learned that gentrification can hurt a community’s culture and make life harder for the people who built it. It shows us how important it is to protect local businesses and give support to neighborhoods when big changes happen. We can also see gentrification in other places like Downtown Toronto, Vancouver, or even in New York City, where people are losing their homes or stores because they can’t afford to stay. After watching the video, I started thinking more about my own area. I realized that we don’t always know the full story of the people who lived here before us. It made me want to learn more about my city’s past and how we can keep it fair and welcoming for everyone.

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When I think about gentrification, I see it as what happens when a neighborhood changes so dramatically that the original residents can't really afford to stay anymore. Sure, it often brings new buildings, fancy shops, and better transit options, but there's another side to it as well. It tends to force out the people and small businesses that gave the area a lot of its character. Looking at what happened in Little Jamaica, it shows how crucial it might be to protect a community's culture and its people when these big changes start rolling in. And it's not just happening there, similar things are happening all over, from Toronto's neighborhoods to maybe some in Hamilton. The documentary, Learning Your Local History, got me thinking differently about it as well. It shows how important it is to understand the story behind where we live. Because you can't just erase history while trying to build something new, it doesn't really work that way.

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To me, gentrification means a neighborhood changes due to new money and development, but the people who lived there before are often pushed out. It’s not just about new buildings or stores, it’s about who gets to stay and who gets left behind. From Little Jamaica, we learn that communities with strong culture and history can be threatened by gentrification. Even though improvements like the LRT are meant to help, they can hurt small businesses and longtime residents if support isn't given. The case demonstrates that development must incorporate the voices and needs of the people already residing there. Gentrification is happening in a lot of cities—like in parts of Vancouver, and even in Toronto neighborhoods. In each case, the same pattern shows up: prices go up, and original residents and businesses are at risk of disappearing. The video made me realize how important it is to know the stories of the neighborhoods around me. Every place has a history, and sometimes we forget about the people and cultures that built it. It made me want to learn more about my city and think about who might be affected when changes happen.

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To me, gentrification is when a city experiences an influx of wealthier people that alter a neighborhood in a way that results in the displacement of long-time residents and businesses. It causes rising rent costs and makes the neighborhood unaffordable for the citizens who have built the community. Gentrification may seem beneficial for some people as areas of a community are improved, but what people often overlook is how, due to gentrification, low-income families struggle to afford their residences and frequently end up moving to unsafe locations with limited access to necessities. After reviewing the TVO Today case study on Little Jamaica, I can conclude that gentrification is harmful to many family-owned businesses. Noisy construction and blocked entrances have deterred customers, despite the changes made to improve the area. Reading this made me think of my hometown, and how it has changed since I moved here. I look back on road construction going on near me, and I think about what it is doing to those local businesses. I notice that in my hometown, newer, more expensive buildings are being constructed, as older buildings are slowly being teared down.

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To me Gentrification is the cruel act of when there are different projects, construction, or different types of investments that occur, but on the other hand, the effects of gentrification towards the community in the certain regions get effected in ways such as rising property tax, prices, and harassment or any types of verbal abuse just to get you to move out of the place because of your negative impact and effect on the investments going on. This whole term is initially something where governments are not looking for any sort of distraction when going through with there projects/investments, meaning that therefore, people of low income and with a cultural background added together are what is targeted the most within communities like these. Now talking about the Little Jamaica article that is situated in the streets of Toronto. What has been happening to the Black Torontonians of Caribbean Descent is tremendously terrible, and as of this, we can learn several things from this case study. First thing is, anything can happen but always raise awareness when something bad is happening and stand up for it. This is what the community has been doing every since 2011 Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction 140 businesses have been shut down but people have not stood quiet. Initially, because of this, the public awareness of this issue has made the community bring politicians, watchdog organizations, and all together taking thorough action. In places such as downtown Hamilton, unfortunately, gentrification is happening but at a very severe rate where a lot of locals and residents are being displaced as you can see when going through downtown Hamilton to HSC through bus. Secondly, as of going to HSC for many years I have realized different investments and projects have occured through the municipal government and new buildings all across the city have been made, however, tiny businesses and houses have been abandoned, demolished, or residents evicted because of the increased prices of rent. Watching the "Learning Your Local History" video made me feel and think so much deeper on what my hometown can be to me emotionally. I feel that if I am more observant on what is going on around my neighbourhood and start listening rather then talking as much just to gain knowledge from the elders. Also by volunteering with the different shelters, food banks, and community centres and looking up your city or whatever region you live in the world to gain a wider aspect on the background of where you live and who lived in the place you live before you.

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Little Jamaica emerged in the late 1950s as one of the largest Afro‑Caribbean enclaves in the world. Over decades, the community built a vibrant cultural identity, with Caribbean-owned businesses, reggae music, and community hubs like Reggae Lane. However, the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT combined with COVID-19, triggered a cascade of closures, around 40–45% of the storefronts in parts of the Strip which eroded the neighbourhood’s economic and cultural core. With that rising property values and development pressure have invited condos and chain stores, risking displacement and replacement of Black residents and because of transit‑led gentrification. Similar situations are taking place all over the world. An example of this in Canada is The Ward in old Toronto. The Ward is a 19th‑century Black and immigrant neighbourhood that got erased in the 1950s to build City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. Learning your local history made me reflect on my hometown. Its forgotten or Indigenous districts, the history erased when streets were reshaped for development. I now understand that local history gives context to current inequalities and opens my eyes to the people that lived on these lands and made them flourish to where they are now. To me gentrification is ethically negative but it also has the possitive of upgrading and improving regions. Upgraded infrastructure and transit can bring benefits, but without safeguards, they displace the people who crafted the neighbourhood’s identity and position. Gentrification is removing culture, heritage, and belonging in favour of profit.

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Gentrification to me is when an area transforms due to wealthier individuals or businesses moving in, typically displacing long-time locals and harming the original culture of the area. In the case study of Little Jamaica, we see just how much gentrification, construction, and COVID-19 have affected a formerly vibrant Caribbean neighborhood in Toronto, leading to a lot of businesses closing and threatening their culture. We can observe gentrification occurring in numerous other cities as well, such as Vancouver, Brooklyn, and even Hamilton, where increasing prices push individuals out of their homes and businesses. Watching Learning Your Local History made me reflect more on my hometown and the significance of understanding the stories and cultures that built it. It taught me that learning local history allows us to sort of protect our communities from being erased and forgotten.

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What Gentrification Means to Me

Gentrification to me, means when a neighborhood changes so much that the people who lived there before can no longer afford to stay. This often happens because of new buildings, rising rent, and big businesses moving in. It usually pushes out low-income families and replaces small stores with expensive shops or condos.

Lessons from Little Jamaica

From the Little Jamaica case study, I learned how gentrification can harm local culture and small businesses that have been there for decades. Over 140 businesses have already closed, and the area’s Caribbean identity is at risk. This made me realize how important it is to support local businesses and protect cultural neighborhoods from being removed.

Where Else Is This Happening?

I see gentrification happening in many other places, like Hamilton, Burlington, and downtown Toronto. In all of these areas, people are being pushed kicked out to make room for wealthier residents, and neighborhoods lose part of what made them special and a community in the first place.

How the Video Changed My View of My Hometown

After watching Learning Your Local History, I started to think more about the meaning behind a lot of the places in my own town. It reminded me that we should learn and respect the history of where we live, especially when it comes to the communities who were here first. Even small things like street names or old buildings can have important stories behind them.

Works Cited:

Alice, Melissa. “Toronto's Little Jamaica Shouldn't Have to Save Itself, but It May Need To.” TVO Today, 22 Dec. 2020, https://www.tvo.org/article/torontos-little-jamaica-shouldnt-have-to-save-itself-but-it-may-need-to.

TVO Docs. Learning Your Local History. YouTube, 21 Jan. 2020, https://youtu.be/XxNZffBuQVY5.

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Gentrification is when a neighbourhood changes because wealthier people start moving in, and it pushes out the people who have lived there for a long time or even their whole life. Gentrification can be both good and bad at the same time. It can bring improvements like new transit and buildings, but if it’s not done right, it can erase local culture and force people to leave. People may lose their homes/businesses because they can’t afford to stay in their original homes/communities. Gentrification affects people and families of lower income and even colour. On the other hand, gentrification can make neighbourhoods look nicer, but it forces the people who built it to leave it. I don't think this is right to the people who originally lived there, taking away their history and culture.

The Little Jamaica case study teaches us a lot about how gentrification affects minority groups in Ontario. This neighbourhood is in Toronto, Canada, and its culture is rooted in the Caribbean. However, lately things have been changing. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction and rising rent prices forced many Black owned businesses to close. This article shows how people in Little Jamaica feel like they are being forgotten. While new developments may help the city overall, they are hurting the people who made Little Jamaica what it is. The lesson we can learn is that when cities make changes, they have to think about who it affects most and not just only about what they want to create. This article shows us that we have to protect our culture, history, and small businesses in case gentrification has the same effect on them. We can also find gentrification in Hamilton. It is starting to happen in some of the downtown neighbourhoods. As the downtown starts to get more run-down, they are beginning to modernize it. While the city may look nicer, it is now harder for previous residents to afford to stay in that location.

After watching “Learning Your Local History”, it made me think about how much I don’t know about a city's past. It conveys that every neighbourhood has a historic story. It also made me wonder who lived in my area before me. This also made me realize that we often learn about history in school based on broader topics and events, but not much about the local history right around us. It reminded me that things like gentrification can erase those stories if we do not plan properly and consider those affected. Just like in Little Jamaica, there are probably people and places in Hamilton that deserve more recognition and support. The video inspired me to explore my city’s past and develop a deeper appreciation for the people who built the communities I live in. I think we should all take the time to learn local history because it helps us appreciate where we live and gives us pride in our roots. It also teaches us how to protect our communities when change starts to happen.

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Gentrification, at first glance, may appear to be a positive process, one that renovates neighborhoods and attracts corporations and affluent residents. However, in truth, gentrification is a process that essentially erases the community and culture which has been built around the neighbourhood. I believe it is key to understand that although these projects quote-on-quote revive the economic power instilled within the community in question, this process irreparably destroys the indescribable heart which makes these communities what they are. At its core, gentrification is something that aims to strengthen urban communities through increased economic development. Yet, intrinsically, this destroys what makes these communities, communities, in that it replaces the local businesses and cultural hubs in favor of soulless corporations and richer residents. This leads to a steady erosion of not just community, but the people who define these neighbourhoods, as they're forcibly displaced through a myriad of problems, intentional and accidental. This is strongly exemplified in the situation in Toronto's Little Jamaica, which has been facing gentrification on several fronts, most of which has been intensified by effects from the pandemic. Since before 2020, the construction of Toronto's LRT has sparked gentrification throughout the Little Jamaica strip in the city, shutting down local businesses at a mass scale while killing the community by destroying the very heart that ties it together. These effects were only worsened with the outbreak of Covid-19, which shut down nearly a hundred of the strip's local businesses, many of which didn't survive lockdown. In other words, these various incidents and projects are killing Little Jamaica. I believe there is quite a bit that can be learned from looking at little Jamaica, primarily in that these small communities are precious to our cities, and action needs to be taken to keep them safe. These neighbourhoods are cultural hubs that define each city's culture, and with that in mind, preserving them is something that is genuinely important. Areas like San Francisco, and just about anywhere in the United States, are becoming increasingly vulnerable to Gentrification, specifically as Covid-19 has severely weakened communities and businesses nationwide. This has led to developers and cities being able to much more easily come into communities with plans of gentrification. The Learning Your Local History video made me reflect on how little I truly known and understand about my city and its history. To me, Burlington doesn't feel as though it has much of a history, at least not an exciting one, but this video has made me think, what if behind a veil of familiarity is truly interesting history?

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To me, gentrification means that progress is not so simple, and can require sacrifice for the sake of improvement. I think this because gentrification describes a process where sacrificing culture, community, and low prices leads improvements in infrastructure, safety, business activity, and tourism. Many see this as making these sacrifices foe "the greater good," however Little Jamaica remains an example of the opposite. The story of Little Jamaica resonates with resilience and community, showing that these different communities can become sites for strong infrastructure, safety, business activity, and tourism without any gentrification. The case study also teaches us the greater impacts of gentrification, being the destruction of a community and culture and the long term higher prices. Furthermore, cities like this are not against improvements and growth, they just want justice for their community. Toronto is experiencing many signs and effects of gentrification and so far has become a warning against this process. Watching "Learning Your Local History" made me think of Hamilton through the mention of the previous owners and stories of the land. Since my house is a little over a hundred years old it made me think of what stories might lie in its history, as well as the many other old buildings and houses in Hamilton.

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To me, gentrification is the transformation of a neighbourhood in a way that often benefits the rich newcomers but impacts the original residents. It is a process where rising property values and new growth slowly push out community members who have been there for a long time. Especially those who are from excluded or low-income backgrounds. This usually leads to the loss of cultural identity and community connections. From the case study of Little Jamaica in Toronto, I have learned that gentrification is not just about buildings and businesses; it's also about the history and the people. Little Jamaica has been a place where people can go to learn more about black culture and build businesses. However, newer transit growth and development, as well as the rent increase, are threatening the people who made the neighbourhood more diverse. It is a clear example of how urban planning can unintentionally erase cultural history if the people in the community are not allowed to voice their thoughts and opinions. We can most definitely see similar patterns in multiple cities like New York, Vancouver, and even parts of our very own city, Hamilton. Watching the video made me think about the stories and voices in my community that could be forgotten. It reminded me of how important it is to learn about and protect the history of our local communities before it gets changed or erased forever.

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Gentrification, to me means when a neighborhood changes because people with more money move in. As a result, things like rent, house prices, and store costs go up. This can make it hard for the people who already live there, especially those with less money to stay there. They might have to move away because they can't afford it anymore. While Gentrification can bring nicer buildings and new businesses, it can also push out the original residents and change the culture of the area. I think Gentrification is unfair because it often hurts the people who have lived in the neighborhood before. These people have built the community, started the local businesses, and created its culture. When people with more money move in, prices go up, and the original residents cant afford to stay. It's like their home is being taken away from them, even though they didn't do anything wrong.

After watching the case study of Little Jamaica we can learn that Little Jamaica is an important neighborhood in Toronto with a lot of Black culture, history, and small businesses. It's in danger because of things like long construction, higher prices and people being pushed out. The article shows how sometimes the city doesn't help enough , so the people living there have to work together to save their community. It teaches us how important it is to protect neighborhoods and make sure everyone can afford to stay in the places they call home.

We can see this happening in many other places, especially Toronto. We see that people with more money are moving into areas where lower income or immigrant communities have lived for a long time.

Watching "Learning Your Local History" , made me realize how much my hometown (Mississauga)is changing from Gentrification. I notice new buildings, stores and expensive homes being built, while older places are slowly disappearing. It made me think about how important it is to protect the people and cultures that were already part of the community before all the changes started.

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From my own understanding, gentrification is the process of trying to displace those with a rich cultural heritage or who are apart of a marginalized community. Often, this displacement comes from raising the price of a home or trying to make unfair “deals” with the residents so that they move out. From my own standpoint, gentrification is both a sign of urban change and a warning about the little disregard for some communities who are economically disadvantaged. This is reflected in Little Jamaica, “a Jamaican cultural hub for Black Torontonians of Caribbean descent.” In Little Jamaica it has become normal for community displacement as they face economic pressures from the leaders of incoming projects and construction. This situation teaches us a valuable lesson, that gentrification can deepen pre-existing social and economic divides. Yet, it also shows us the importance of community, as to help the people of Little Jamaica, it would require active engagement from other Torontonians to advocate for affordable housing measures. However, gentrification is not only happening in Little Jamaica, it also occurring in Brooklyn, San Francisco, and even Vancouver where different marginalized communities are seeing displacement.

One thing that really stuck with me after watching “Learning your Local History” was when the presenter said, “some of our neighborhoods that are now under-resourced used to be affluent, and some of our more affluent neighborhoods used to be under-resourced.” This thought made me realize how cities and neighborhoods are not static, and a new expensive house now could be in an under-resourced neighborhood in the future. Additionally, the video made me reflect on how Hamilton used to be different as it is often referred to as “steel town” because it was a city that mainly revolved around industrialization and production. Even though Hamilton still serves some of it’s previous purpose, it has become much more popular now and its a place that so many call home, including myself.

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Gentrification means changing a cultural neighbourhood in a way that brings in and benefits wealthy people and businesses. This often causes rent and property prices to rise, making it too expensive for long-time, low income residents and small business owners to stay. As a result, several residents in the community are forced to move out, and the area starts to lose its culture. The Little Jamaica case study proved the real life impact of this issue. I learned how unfair gentrification is, especially when it’s faced alongside other challenges like construction and covid. Many small businesses had to shut down, and the government didn’t offer enough support. The community had to work hard on its own in order to protect the neighbourhood. Gentrification occurs in many major cities, including Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The video, "learning your local history," helped me understand how important it is to learn about cities pasts. It made me think more about how much the city I live in has changed over time, and how I don't know much about Oakville's history and gentrification's impact on it.

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In my opinion, gentrification describes the displacement of marginalized groups in an underfunded area due to the migration of wealthier individuals into the area. Usually, areas where historically oppressed racial groups reside aren't provided with the highest quality of life, and are forced to build their cities from the ground up. After creating a successful community, those who earn higher incomes may decide to move to these areas because lower housing prices attract them. This increases housing demand and prices, forcing out long-time residents. After reading the Little Jamaica case study, I learned that gentrification leads to the bankruptcy of local businesses, due to construction noise pushing away customers. This highlights the prejudice and poverty that racialized groups are facing. Climate gentrification is also occurring in Miami, where diverse groups are being forced out due to rising housing prices, and have to live in places where climate issues are rampant. After watching "Learning Your Local History," I thought about how I could research the roots and origins of my town, and how marginalized groups have helped to build the community.

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Gentrification is more than just urban improvement—it often comes with the erasure of culture, history, and people who made a place what it is. After learning about Little Jamaica in Toronto, I realized how development can unintentionally harm long-standing communities. Rising rents push out small businesses, and cultural traditions are replaced by mainstream trends. It is not just a shift in the physical space, but a deeper change in social fabric and community identity.

We can find similar patterns happening in cities across the globe, from New York to London. In my hometown in China, I have also noticed signs of gentrification. Streets that used to be filled with family-run shops, traditional snack stalls, and familiar neighbors are now lined with chain stores and new developments. While the city looks cleaner and more modern, something feels missing, those small moments of connection, the sense of belonging, and the rich layers of memory. It feels like development is happening to us, rather than with us.

This learning made me think that sustainable urban change should not just focus on buildings or profit, it should respect people, stories, and place. Communities deserve to grow without being erased.

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Gentrification is a negative process taking place in many old cities. This process is when old towns are replaced with newer buildings and systems. These systems benefit corporations, who often make prices too expensive for the people who used to inhabit the city to afford. This system is unfair and often puts families/communities at risk of homelessness. These negative changes lead to families of colour who used to live in these cities to downgrade into cities that are worse off and do not meet all their needs. Climate gentrification is when moving out of your city due to gentrification means you have to move to an area that is more prone to harsh climate, such as tsunamis, wildfires, etc. These processes often put small businesses at risk and cause depression in the elderly inhabitants. The case study of Little Jamaica explains the gentrification situation happening in Toronto. A certain street in Toronto is home to many African-Jamaican people, and these people have inhabited the area since the 1970s. The whole area is run by small businesses that have built their clientele over the years. In recent years, construction has been taking place, which is affecting these small businesses. The relocation and confusion are annoying customers, causing them to move away. Furthermore, in 2021, when businesses were shut down for COVID-19, many businesses were forced to go out of business. If this keeps going on, lawsuits will likely be soon to follow. Sadly, this is not the only area experiencing these hardships. Many other less developed areas of Toronto are experiencing the same hardships, leading to tragic outcomes for these people. Watching the video "Learning your Local History" made me feel excited to learn more about my ancestors and how I can contribute to preserving the land for future generations. I live in a very new neighbourhood, so keeping the culture of the ancestors who lived here before me is crucial and will give my area more personality. I look forward to diving deeper into this topic so that I can make a change soon.

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To me, gentrification means a rapid change or development in a neighborhood, usually as wealthier people move in, and the original people are displaced due to high taxes. This typically involves those from lower-income or culturally rich communities. From the case study of Little Jamaica, we discovered how a variety of different negative factors can impact a community and slowly cause gentrification in a region. Combined with factors such as construction and the COVID-19 pandemic, gentrification can have a profoundly negative impact on a culturally rich community, such as Little Jamaica. Little Jamaica, with its Caribbean roots, needs to protect its identity as the city grows and changes around it. We can see this same pattern happening in the towns around the world, such as New York or parts of Vancouver. Displacement as a result of gentrification typically occurs due to high living costs and housing developments that force long-time residents to leave. Watching Learning Your Local History made me realize how important it is to understand the story behind where you live, your cultural background, and the cultural background of your neighborhood. It reminds me to pay attention.

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Gentrification, to me, means the rapid transformation of a neighbourhood in a way that often pushes out long-time, lower-income residents. While the area may become cleaner or more modern, it usually comes at the cost of losing local culture and affordable housing. From the case study of Little Jamaica, we learn that even well-intentioned development, like new transit lines, can harm communities if they’re not planned with local voices in mind. The community’s culture, small businesses, and identity are at risk without proper support. Similar patterns can be seen in places like Kensington Market in Toronto or cities like Vancouver, New York, and San Francisco. Watching Learning Your Local History made me think more deeply about my own hometown and how much history, especially from marginalized communities, often gets overlooked. It reminded me to pay attention to who benefits from change, and who might be left behind.