jane&finch by

street views

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-05 15:13:03 UTC

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marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-05 15:13:32 UTC

2020-11-05 15:15:21 UTC

2020-11-10 05:34:30 UTC

On the scene:
Hours after young 12 yr. old boy is shot and critically injured.

Notable Artists from Jane & Finch

2020-11-10 05:42:16 UTC

Juno Award winner, singer-songwriter Jully Black , known as Canada's Queen of R&B is named one of Canada's 25 Greatest Singers Ever and is a proud to say she grew up in Jane and Finch.

Dream Warriors

2020-11-10 05:42:52 UTC

Juno and MuchMusic award winning Hip hop duo Dream Warriors stem from Jane and Finch. The duo were major contributors to the jazz-rap movement in the early 90's.

The New Cool Kid on the Block

2020-11-10 05:44:45 UTC

LB Spiffy is an 19 yr old rapper from Jane and Finch. With just three years in the rap game, he's blowing up at breakneck speeds.

Canada's 1st Female Rapper

2020-11-10 05:45:14 UTC

Jamaican born Michie Mee was Canada's first notable female rapper and is considered a national hip hop pioneer. She released her hit song, "Jamaican Funk" in 1991.

Community walk with Ward 8 Councilor, Anthony Perruzza

lisaedwards3 — 2020-11-11 18:51:47 UTC

Just days after a neighbourhood shooting, Councilman Ward meets with Community Leaders, MPP, and Officers from 31 Division to discuss public safety

Jane and Finch Centre: Beginnings

amanisalah17 — 2020-11-11 21:15:14 UTC

The Jane and Finch Centre, created in the late 1970s, is a non-profit organization that helps support residents of the community. They joined United Way Toronto in 1980, which jump started their services to newcomers into the community. They started to have workshops that promoted leadership as well as supporting and advocating the community. The 90s saw them develop and expand their mandate to include youth. They added many things such as anti-racism programs, community speak-outs, and alcohol and drug prevention programs (as said on their website) and with these new expansions they were able to provide more jobs to residents. The centre became the first community-based organization in the area to initiate an extended benefits plan, including RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan). They have done so well that they were able to expand their main office by two extra units. This encouraged many other organizations to follow foot and reap the rewards of gaining the trust of their own communities.

📹Fifth Estate Documentary

2020-11-11 21:26:46 UTC

JANE AND FINCH GOT TALENT

lisaedwards3 — 2020-11-11 21:39:21 UTC

Jane and Finch may be infamous for violence and crime, but the talent that has come out of this neighbourhood speaks volumes, showing another side to the community. Here is a list of notable Jane and Finch Alumni:

Chuckie Akenz, hip hop musician and feature in the Fifth Estate’s 2006 documentary: Lost in the Struggle (full video under Media)
Anthony Bennett, top overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Jully Black, R&B musician
Denham Brown, professional basketball player
Junior Cadougan, professional basketball player
Dream Warriors, hip hop group
Dwight Drummond, CityTv and CBC news broadcaster
Olu Famutimi, professional basketball player
Louis Ferreira, actor
Melanie Fiona, R&B musician
Winston LaRose, community activist profiled in the 2019 documentary film Mr. Jane and Finch
Glenn Lewis, R&B musician
Michie Mee, hip hop musician
Carlos Newton, former UFC Welterweight Champion
Pressa, rap musician
Paul Nguyen, community activist
Jessie Reyez, R&B/pop musician
Cabral "Cabbie" Richards, TV personality
Mark Simms, community activist
Blacus Ninja, community activist and hip hop artist:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGMz5W8CcmM
LB Spiffy, up and coming new hip hop artist:: https://youtu.be/g6MFNiKvpCo
Lyriq Bent, an actor starring in Book of Negroes mini-series: https://www.toronto.com/news-story/5212416-actor-with-jane-finch-roots-finds-success-in-los-angeles/
Jason Blackwood, Toronto fashion designer, urban lifestyle brand Grandslammer$

lisaedwards3 — 2020-11-11 22:03:48 UTC

Schools are opened but school playgrounds are not

lisaedwards3 — 2020-11-11 22:05:11 UTC

Inside dining is currently not allowed causing many restaurants to close or create pop-up patios

2020-11-11 22:09:05 UTC

Playgrounds and parks are closed due to Covid-19 leaving hundreds of kids with nothing to do

Breaking News:

2020-11-11 22:48:18 UTC

Sun Nov 8, 2020

Welcome to Jane & Finch!

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:03:17 UTC

Jane and Finch is a neighbourhood located in the northwest end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in the district of North York.

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:11:54 UTC

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Traditional Territory

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:16:57 UTC

The Jane and Finch community that we all come to know is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas Anishinaabe, Huron Wendat, Ojibwe and the Haudenosaunee . For generations, the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island lived, trapped, fish and hunted among the grandfather oak, maple and pine trees and lived off the land.

The Huron Wendat, Mississaugas Anishinaabe, Ojibwe and the Haudenosaunee Peoples made homes along the waterways and used the land for growing and harvesting foods, fruits and vital medicine.

The Toronto Purchase— In 1805, it was said that the Crown purchased the area from The Credit River First Nations and it became known as Treaty land No. 13. A said copy of the agreement called “The Toronto Purchase Agreement still exists today. Many dispute the legitimacy of this Purchase, which displaced many Indigenous Peoples and ecosystems.

While the Crown offered British citizen prized land in exchange for cultivating the new territory of Upper York. British peasants like farmers, low-status citizens were among the first Pioneers to settle in Black Creek.

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:21:11 UTC

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:25:38 UTC

The Huron Wendat

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:27:44 UTC

The Huron Wendat peoples have a strong presence in the area of Jane and Finch.

June 15 Huron-Wendat Day.
Toronto- Take a historical bike ride through the Parsons site. The trails will lead you through a former Huron Wendat village. In the mid-17th century, Before settlers, 10 longhouses (residential dwelling) stood in this area.

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:30:21 UTC

The Township of Elia

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:31:36 UTC

The 19th-century - This particular area became known as the Township of Elia. Residents in the Township of Elia started local businesses, such as shops, sawmills and maple sugar houses. The township was thriving, and residents formed a Council that

The 1990s

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:39:52 UTC

In the 1990s, Jane and Finch had one of the highest poverty rates in all of Toronto. In 1999, 15890, which is almost a third of the resident population, were low-income. There were many instances of people from the community feeling stigmatized by outsiders for living in an area that is known for being in high-need. The most important thing that happened in this decade was the sheer amount of new immigrants and newcomers. Research shows that over 70 different ethno-cultural groups found a home in Jane and Finch, although settling into the city’s poorest neighbourhoods came with many difficulties for these newcomers. Employment was a tricky find for many, especially for those who already had prior training. Street crime was also a major problem in the 90s, this included, gang activities such as violence and drug trade-- youth involved.

The 1980s

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:42:48 UTC

The 80s were a tense time between the Toronto police and local residents of the community. In the documentary: Home Feeling: Struggle For a Community, filmed by

Jennifer Hodge de Silva, it explained that the Toronto Police thought that there should be a “qualified” group of officers that patrol the neighbourhood at all times, in the idea that it would be safe for the residents living there. This included roaming playgrounds, inside the corridors of Ontario housing apartment complexes, and sometimes even inside the apartments themselves, without warrants and by obtaining keys from the housing authorities. The Black Action Defence Committee is an organization that was formed by Dudley Laws, Charles Roach, Sherona Hall and Lennox Farrell in the wake of the police murdering of Lester Donaldson in 1988. The BADC had an open agenda against the Toronto Metropolitan Police and the many police shootings happening during that time and accused them of targeted racialized violence. Laws also worked as an immigration consultant in the late 80s and 90s.

Dudley Lewis with Linda Morowei

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:50:12 UTC

Black Peoples from Africa and the Caribbean islands noticed an increase in differential treatment, opportunities and lifestyle which inspired them to create organizations to address the injustice/inequities and to advocate for improvements within the Black community. Jane-Finch Concerned Citizens Organization, a black-led organization was initiated by concerenced community members to address the police violence and safety concerns. Community member Linda Morowei (African community worker)

Corridor

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:52:54 UTC

By the late 1960’s as a response to the employment, poverty and housing issues, the Ontario Housing Corporation (OHC) started constructing a public housing complex on the northside of Jane; residents spoke out about the complex and its segregation from the rest of the community. Community activists believe this complex and its location was a willful act to separate class and ethnicity, as most of the people who lived in the complex were poor people of colour.

Mr. Jane and Finch

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 00:54:54 UTC

Winston LaRose is a community activist concerned about the people in Jane and Finch. He is an 80 years old man whose life inspires many people.

Jane-Finch during Covid-19: 2020 Pandemic

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 01:03:07 UTC

STATEMENT-COVID-19 IN OUR COMMUNITY

August 5, 2020

Jane Finch Centre-Covid-19 in our Community

This statement is an acknowledgement of the disproportionate rates of Covid-19 in our communities and our commitment to continue to support our participants and community members through the Covid-19 Pandemic.

On May 20, 2020 Toronto Public Health (TPH) started collecting data on Indigenous identity, racial group, income, and household size. The results have shown that there is an over-representation of racialized individuals in reported Covid-19 Cases. Further, on May 27, 2020- TPH released neighborhoods maps of Covid-19 cases, showing that neighborhoods in our community have been hardest hit by this pandemic.

This information highlights the larger systemic inequalities our community faces in employment, transportation, and housing to name a few. We saw during this pandemic that the work of members in our community are deemed essential, although we still continue to fight for equal pay, and higher rates. When transit ridership slowed down in other parts of our city, our community members still faced overcrowded buses. We know that Jane and finch is home to the highest concentration of high rise buildings with larger households making social distancing increasingly difficult for residents in our community.

As an organization, we acknowledge the role we play in providing pertinent information and resources to support members of our community in navigating information they need to support their personal, social and economic development.

We are committed to continue to support our community through our service delivery, programming and social justice initiatives.

Photos by David Nguyen(Jane-Finch.com)

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 01:05:38 UTC

Masks are mandatory in public places to help stop the spread of the virus

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 01:09:14 UTC

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 01:09:53 UTC

CURRENT NEWS

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 01:22:58 UTC

MEDIA

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 01:27:33 UTC

Interview with CBC's Dwight Drummond

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 01:31:10 UTC

A candid discussion with Jane and Finch raised, Dwight Drummond

Jane Street and Finch Avenue West, January 1965. . City of Toronto Archives

2020-11-12 02:27:21 UTC

By the 1960’s, low property cost brought an inflow of Chinese, Latin and Black middle-class peoples to the Jane and Finch area. The Ethnic shift prompted European settlers to move. However, businesses were booming and as more immigrants arrived on Turtle Island many trickled into this unique community. Jane Finch became one of the first multiethnic populations in Toronto, and soon commercial plaza, schools and clubs added to the urban landscape.

NEIGHBOURHOOD VIEWS

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 02:32:37 UTC

2020-11-12 02:43:30 UTC

The Huron Wendat peoples have a strong presence in the area of Jane and Finch.

Black Creek Pioneer Village

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 03:02:19 UTC

Previously Dalziel Pioneer Park Black Creek Pioneer Village is an open air heritage museum in the Jane-Finch area. It overlooks Black Creek, a tributary of the Humber River. It was opened in 1960 and operated by the Toronto and Region Conversation Authority. The village is a regular destination for for field trips by schoolchildren from the Toronto area. The village is a recreation of life in 19th century Ontario and gives an idea of how Ontario might have looked in the early to mid 19th century.

The Huron Wendat Trail

marleeevelynmaxwell — 2020-11-12 03:06:03 UTC

<~ HISTORY MEETS CURRENT~>

2020-11-12 03:25:30 UTC

Nsetemi — 2020-11-12 03:43:03 UTC

The Community Hub is back on

Nsetemi — 2020-11-12 03:44:23 UTC

The Jane-Finch community hub is back on due to people in the community voicing their disgust after Metrolinx attempted to back-out on its promise to provide the land for the community hub. The community hub construction will begin after the Finch West LRT is open in 2023.

PANDEMIC 2020: COVID-19

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 04:19:24 UTC

The 2000's

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 05:57:49 UTC

By 2001, a major shift had taken place in the Jane and Finch community, with the immigration family population now accounting for 62.4% of the total family population in the area.
The Toronto City Summit Alliance’s Strong Neighborhoods Task Force identified the Black Creek neighbourhood as one of the13 Priority Neighbourhood across the city, where there are not enough social services to address the growing needs of the community.
Between 2004 and 2019, there were 803 shooting/gun incidents in the 31 Division area with 88 deaths.
According to the Jane-Finch Street Involved Youth Issues Coalition in 2002, the Jane and Finch neighborhood has “one of the highest proportions of youth, sole-supported families, refugees and immigrants, low-income earners and public housing tenants of any community in Toronto.
High profile shootings plagued the 2000's. In May 2007, 15 yr old Jordan Manners was shot inside his high school, CW Jeffreys Collegiate in the Jane-Finch area, and died in hospital. Jordan's death was the first time a student had been shot inside a Toronto school. Several months later, on July 27, 2007, 11 yr old Ephraim Brown lost his life after being caught in crossfire when two gangs had a shoot out at a backyard BBQ in the Jane and Finch area.

Jordan Manners

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 07:21:28 UTC

His death was the first shooting in a Toronto school

Ephraim Brown

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 07:23:47 UTC

11 yr old loses life to a stray bullet at a family BBQ

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 07:59:38 UTC

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 08:00:14 UTC

Finch LRT

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 08:01:03 UTC

Construction site

Jane and Finch Hood map

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 08:04:19 UTC

Over the years the Jane and Finch neighbourhood has become divided by territories. This map shows the Bloods and Crips zones.

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 08:06:31 UTC

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 08:07:00 UTC

Driftwood Community Centre

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 08:18:42 UTC

The priority centre is 75, 000 square feet.

The centre has six multipurpose rooms, two computer labs, a full-size gymnasium, change rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, outdoor basketball pad and playground.

A variety of recreational programming is offered such as fitness, arts programs, sports, camps and more.

Driftwood Community Centre is at 4401 Jane St.

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 08:19:55 UTC

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mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 08:21:09 UTC

Wall mural done by The Girls Club, Driftwood Community Centre

mahala2000ca — 2020-11-12 08:21:13 UTC

90 seconds with Black Canada

2020-11-12 12:43:57 UTC

In 1997, Winston LaRose and Linda Morowei travel to Ghana, taking a group of students from Toronto and Jamaica.

Toronto Caribbean Carnival Parade 2009

lisaedwards3 — 2020-11-12 14:21:41 UTC

Canadian Hispanic Day Parade 2006

lisaedwards3 — 2020-11-12 14:26:33 UTC

Aug 26-27, annual parade to promote the cultural heritage of Latin American people of Canada

lisaedwards3 — 2020-11-12 14:45:38 UTC

lisaedwards3 — 2020-11-12 14:46:27 UTC

Mr Jane and Finch

lisaedwards3 — 2020-11-12 14:47:33 UTC

Boys and Girls Club

lisaedwards3 — 2020-11-12 14:55:30 UTC

We're Jane and Finch, not University Heights

2020-11-12 14:55:51 UTC

As time passed into the 1970’s in the Jane and Finch community, the Black and Brown prejudice created tension in the community. Young people of Colour became increasingly targeted, harassed and killed by the police. In 1973 the residence held an emergency meeting with politicians and community workers to improve and address ongoing concerns with the neighbourhood.

2020-11-12 16:05:27 UTC

Albin Lopez: A personal reflection of life in 1970’s Jane and Finch.

2020-11-12 20:44:34 UTC

Albin was a teenager, when he and his family moved from Ecuador to Jane and Finch in the 70’s. — Watch his interview for more.