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The Gentrification of Toronto's "Little India" Neighbourhood
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This episode is about the gentrification of what used to be Little India, or Gerrard India Bazaar in Toronto.
I share my experiences growing up in Toronto in the 1990s and 2000s, and how Gerrard India Bazaar was a central meeting space. The area was a dynamic, bustling enclave of shops that catered to South Asian immigrants living in Toronto, including the very first Bollywood theatre in all of North America – the Naaz Theatre. This neighbourhood was a central meeting space for South Asian immigrants who were craving a piece of home in a foreign environment. It was a place where friendships, love, and community was created.
The episode explores how the area has changed over the years due to gentrification and other factors, and shows the perspective of a local shopkeeper (owner of “Desi Burgers” store) who has run her family business in Little India for 24 years. We conclude with discussion about the increase in rent in Toronto, the impact it’s having on mom and pop shops like hers, and how Little India is slowly disappearing and disaggregating, along with the vibrant community it hosted for so many decades.
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