Introduction
Toronto is a mirror which reflects a world of many faces. Since its beginning, the city has been shaped by the cultural diversity of its people—from the Native people who first named the site Taronto to the newest arrivals who have travelled across oceans to call the city home. Whether they came seeking new opportunities or fleeing persecution in their homeland, the people of Toronto brought to the city their skills and enthusiasm for work. Yonge Street, built in the 18th century, the subway system, constructed in the 1950s, and the engineering feats of modern-day landmarks such as SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre) stand as testimonies of how, together, cultural communities have contributed to building Toronto. People from across the globe have infused the city with a cosmopolitan character, creating neighbourhoods to explore, and introducing new cultures and cuisines to discover. In 1989, Toronto was named the world’s most multicultural city by the United Nations. Today, its citizens include more than 168 different cultural groups, speaking over 100 different languages.
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Many Faces pays tribute to the contributions of old and new Torontonians. It is a guide for tourists, a source book for newcomers, a directory for businesses and organizations, and for Torontonians it is a passport to the many cultures that exist at their doorstep.
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The book provides a brief synopsis of the settlement and development of more than 70 of Toronto’s communities, including neighbourhoods, commercial districts, landmarks, and significant and colourful events in their history.
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The section entitled “Places to Go” is a handy guide for taking you inside the communities to explore cultural centres, museums, art galleries, and monuments. A brief introduction to the traditions of each group will assist you in sampling foods from the many restaurants, specialty shops, and bakeries that add adventure to shopping and dining.
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The spirit of Toronto’s cultural communities can be found in the religious centres listed in the book, while a calendar of local celebrations and festivals highlights how each community expresses its cultural heritage. Other helpful information includes the names, addresses, and contact information for institutions, media, major organizations, and cultural groups.
Finally, each section includes a list of prominent Torontonians who have excelled in the fields of business, politics, arts and sciences, or sports.
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Almost every day, I receive requests for information on cultural communities from various individuals, organizations, media, and other politicians. Many Faces, now in its fifth edition, is an attempt to group together in one book information on the history, businesses, institutions, and organizations of Toronto cultural communities. An effort was made to include as many communities as possible, although some were so small or of such recent origin that they were difficult to locate and could not be included.
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The problem with any directory is that it runs the risk of being outdated the day it goes to press. I have striven to provide updated information and have included phone numbers that can be used to verify places and organizations of interest.
The criteria for highlighting particular businesses was very often based on the authenticity of the foods and products sold, the establishment’s popularity, and its place in the history of the community. I was guided by recommendations from members of the communities, and in many cases I made my selections arbitrarily, the way the reader may discover a new place by exploring a neighbourhood. To assist this process of discovery, we have provided rough maps of some neighbourhoods, though we advise the reader unfamiliar with Toronto to pick up a detailed street map at a tourist bureau or local store.
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The lists of prominent Torontonians are only a sampling of names that came to mind and are in no way meant to reflect all those who have contributed to their community and the city. In general up to 10 people from each community were listed, while up to 20 names were included for the larger communities.
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As new groups emerge, future editions of Many Faces will provide information on Toronto’s constantly changing make-up. It may be that there are communities in the city that I have not discovered. I welcome your comments and suggestions. If you have updated information on any of the communities in this book, please write to:
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Tony Ruprecht
71 Springhurst Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M6K 1B5
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I hope this book will foster an appreciation for the diversity of cultural expression that characterizes this city. I invite you to take Many Faces in hand and discover the world of Toronto.