Home in Canada? The Settlement Experiences of Tibetans in Parkdale, Toronto

Abstract

This study concerns the settlement experiences of Tibetan refugees in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto including their success in obtaining adequate, suitable, and affordable housing and their achievement of a sense of ‘home’. Toronto’s Tibetans are one of the largest Tibetan communities in North America and one of the most spatially concentrated immigrant groups in the city. Most Tibetans have lived in Toronto for less than a decade. The research is based primarily on evidence from a questionnaire survey and qualitative evidence from a photovoice analysis. Evidence from the questionnaire survey indicates that despite the relatively bad reputation of many high-rise buildings in Parkdale, Tibetans are at least somewhat satisfied with the quality and amount of space offered by their apartments. Affordability, however, is a major problem. Four main themes were identified from the photovoice analysis: creating a comfortable house, finding space in nature, celebrating culture and spirituality, and community integration. We argue that evaluations of housing satisfaction should encompass these aspects of feeling at ‘home’ as well as more tangible aspects of the physical dwelling and local neighbourhood.