Kensington+Market+Interviews-+Jennifer

**Interview #1**
What do you think differentiates Kensington Market from other areas of Toronto?

//I think that Kensington is a really unique community. It is pretty tight knit, and sociable. The community definitely appeals to the “hippie” type personality.//

What kind of activities do you engage yourself in within this area?

//Well when I’m not at work, I like to bike in the city. I also like trying different restaurants, and just hanging out with friends in my neighborhood and other areas of the city.//

How do you feel about different forms of traffic in the Kensington Market area? Do you think that traffic within this area should be limited specifically to vehicles, pedestrians, bikes, or another form of transportation?

//Well I don’t think that traffic should be limited to only one form of traffic, even though I am a biker. I do get frustrated with vehicles in this area though, because there are some really crazy drivers in the city who don’t really pay attention to bikers or people in the streets. I think that a lot of drivers have given vehicles a pretty bad reputation in that sense. Kensington’s not actually that bad of an area for traffic though. A lot of people who live around here just walk or take TTC, so in comparison with other areas of Toronto there is less traffic here.//

Do find that there are conflicts in traffic flow, or traffic flow disruptions such as festivals, groupings of people or commercial vendors taking up street space? Do you think that these traffic flow disruptions are justifiable?

//Well there is a lot going on in this area- lots of festivals and gatherings in the streets, and vendors on sidewalks and what not. I guess sometimes things that go on here can be frustrating, say when trying to ride a bike throughout the busier parts of the market, but I think that that is just a part of living here- kind of a small sacrifice that you make for the mood that you surround yourself with.//

What do you like most about the Kensington market area, and why?

//Umm, I like a lot of things about this area. I would have to say that what I like most would probably be the different cultures in the area. Living here you really get to see a lot of different cultures and ways of life…. And the food never gets boring!//

What could be improved upon within the Kensington market area?

//Overall I think that this area is one of the best areas to live in the city- for me at least. I wouldn’t want to live in a high rise building in a busy commercialized area of the city. I think that most of the downfalls of the Kensington area make it what it is. I could say that the cleanliness of the area could be improved- but again it adds that sort of character to the market area.//

Do you feel connected to your community, or isolated?

//Definitely connected. I’m a pretty laid back person, and I enjoy socializing with other people in my community. I have also felt welcomed by people in my community.//

There are many different prominent cultures in the Kensington area. Do you feel isolated, or limited to a specific culture, or do you integrate yourself into many different cultures?

//I really like the fact that I can experience different cultures here. I don’t think that I have ever felt limited to my own culture. Most of the cultures here are pretty integrated I think. One thing that has made me feel isolated from other cultures would be a language barrier. Since I only speak English, sometimes when I am around people of other cultures and I can’t understand them, I guess I feel a bit removed from what’s going on. Generally though I think that I get to experience a lot of different cultures and I really enjoy that.//

Do you feel that you are active in your community? Do you find that anything limits you from getting the most out of the Kensington market community?

//I think that I am pretty active in my community. I mean I work full time, and I’m not always here hanging out in the streets, but I definitely enjoy spending time here. I’m just not one of those regulars who are always out in the streets- The ones that you see everyday on your way to work kind of thing.//

How familiar are you with the Kensington market venue? Do you feel that your community is organized, and easily navigable?

//Well I definitely know how to get to the places that I need to get to. I have lived here for about a year now and I find that I keep running into new things, or discovering places that I hadn’t known about before. I remember when I first moved here though that it was a little harder to get around. Because there’s so much going on in the Kensington area it can be hard to get from one place to another. It’s not really a grid structure like some areas of the city. It’s really random.//

How do you feel about the physical environment factors in Kensington market? Ex. Noise, Pollution, Cleanliness, Security, Etc.

//Well I don’t think that there are any security problems here. I have never felt unsafe in this area. Pollution and noise are sometimes a problem though. The noise program goes back to the whole give and take sacrifice thing though- since there’s so much going on here, you have to put up with other people’s noise, because when you live here, there are a lot of times when you are the one making the noise.//