Geo 802 Assignment 2

1 - 2 people per topic

Length: Max 10 pages counting all pages

12 font double spaced

Due date Start Class Mar 27

Toronto has been acclaimed by some as the world’s most multicultural city. Local government has been tempted to use this concept to attract tourists. The idea that one can visit many different places while coming to one city would seem to appeal to a large sub-market within the overall tourist market. However, the appeal of this is only as strong as the theming within these areas (Little Italy, Greek on the Danforth, Chinatown – for only a few examples).

This assignment will focus on the delineation and exploration of tourist areas linked to ethnicity in the city. Not the traditional – where do people live – approach but an attempt to look at an area (retail) that might be interesting to tourists.

This involves decisions about what might attract tourists. More and more, tourism attractions are themed around a central idea. The sense of colour, architectural image, consistency, language – the sense of immersion – is key to the provision of a satisfactory recreational experience. An area must present an image of distinctiveness throughout the district or at least enough of a theme to satisfy a wanderer.

The official Toronto websites that discuss the ethnic tourist areas use only a main intersection to locate the areas. This is not a very effective approach for a tourist that wants to explore more than a street corner – which way do they walk, how long does it take, etc. Therefore it would be useful to establish boundaries for these areas. Once boundaries are created then the listing by location of various elements – churches, stores, restaurants, architectural differences, etc. (all themed to your central definition) – becomes important. The movement through an area with the inclusion of access and egress points is elemental in the reduction of stress and the enhancement of enjoyment to the stranger wandering the streets.

Some guidebooks do give boundaries to the areas but they are dated and probably incorrect as the elements of these areas change over time.

( Toronto’s Many Faces Tony Ruprecht)

Therefore this assignment is the start point for the above concerns.

1.  Select a ‘significant’ ‘ethnic group’ within the city area.

a.  Pick one of the following:

i.  Either of 2 Chinese areas, Korea Town, Corso Italia, Little India, Greek, Polish, Pakistani, Portugal Villages, Kensington.

2.  Research the identifying characteristics of the ethnic group (this may involve looking at stereotypes and deciding if they have merit and can be reflected in the physical elements of an area.

3.  Develop a list of the individual parts of the area you have selected. These should include the main elements that produce the ‘feeling’ of the area and the parts that detract from the theme of the area. Explain your inclusions (churches, restaurants, statues, and so on).

4.  Produce a map of the area considering the following:

a.  What are the boundaries (remember to think of depth if the area is linear)

b.  What defines the boundaries (what are the elements that make up the image of the area (this is the main body of the essay)

c.  Select entrance and exit points (explain your choices and how tourists should move through the area)

5.  Are your boundaries different from the ones mentioned in Ruprecht’s book? Why?