Evolution of Ethnic Enclaves in the Toronto Metropolitan Area, 2001-2006

Int. Migration & Integration (2010) 11:315339

DOI 10.1007/s12134-010-0142-8

Mohammad Qadeer & Sandeep K. Agrawal &

Alexander Lovell

Published online: 27 June 2010# Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

Abstract How do ethnic enclaves grow and change over time? This question is addressed by a longitudinal analysis of the geography of ethnic enclaves in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area over the period 20012006. The analysis shows that the enclaves in the Toronto area are continually realigning, their centres of gravity shifting and their contours changing. Usually, in an enclave, an axis or band of high-ethnic-density territories is formed, surrounded by zones of lower ethnic concentrations. Enclaves of groups with high levels of immigration from South Asia and China have been expanding, whilst those of earlier waves of immigrantsJews, Portuguese and Italiansshow tendencies towards consolidation and contraction. The emergence of ethnic institutions and services keeps enclaves thriving. Today, enclaves are largely in suburban areas where homeownership rates are high and new housing has been built. In the Toronto area enclaves, particular ethnic groups are demographically dominant without being a majority. Other ethnic groups have a sizable presence in these enclaves.

Rsum Comment est-ce que les enclaves ethniques sagrandissent et voluent au fil des annes ? Nous cherchons la rponse cette question dans lanalyse de la gographie denclaves ethniques dans la rgion mtropolitaine de recensement de Toronto de 2001 2006. Lanalyse indique que les enclaves dans la rgion de Toronto sont en volution constante, leur centre de gravit et leurs contours se

M. Qadeer (*)

School of Urban and Regional Planning, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada e-mail: [email protected]

S. K. Agrawal

School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 2K3e-mail: [email protected]

A. Lovell

Department of Geography, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada e-mail: [email protected]

Evolution of Ethnic Enclaves in the Toronto Metropolitan Area, 20012006

316 M. Qadeer et al.

modifiant sans cesse. Dhabitude, dans une enclave, il se forme un axe ou une bande de territoires forte densit ethnique qui est entour de zones densit ethnique moins leve. Des enclaves de groupes forte concentration dimmigrants dAsie mridionale et de Chine se dveloppent alors que celles composes de vagues antrieures dimmigrantsJuifs, Portugais et Italienstendent vers la consolidation et la contraction. Lmergence dinstitutions et de...