PACT+Analysis

=Pact Analysis=



//The following Pact Analysis describes and analyses the people who live in Kensington Market, the activities that occur there, the technologies that are used there and the physical characteristics of the venue. This analysis is a key component of our research, derived from our group's experiences and observations of Kensington Market.//

**People**
Physical Differences: There are many diverse cultures at Kensington Market hence it will support a lot of different types of people with different body shape and sizes. The body shape and sizes range from small children to skin and tall adult or obese and old adults and this is because of the many diverse cultures that gather here as one community in a open market. There weren't to many disable people because being a disabled person in Kensington Market would be a doubtfully complicated to get around to places.

Psychological: The Market itself is pretty crowded during the weekends which creates a pleasant but yet stressful atmosphere at the same time, however during the weekdays the market is rather calm and very "Ghost City" like. People here speak many different languages due to the fact that there are so many cultures that are thriving within this community. Events held at Kensington are not spectacular but they won't be forgotten due to the festive like atmosphere where as everyone almost feels as if they know each other.

Usage Differences: Obviously what I found was that the locals here at Kensington Market can make very good use of what the market has to offer, however for those that aren't locals they have a very hard time trying to get around the crowds looking for he place they want to get to. The locals and store owners here are experts at locating places at the market and they also know whats the best spot for a visitor to go. All though the usage of Kensington market has always been to sell products, I feel that it has changed to more of a family like festival because I hear a lot of the conversations that went on down here and they all seem to know each other very well, but as for me I would just not fit in right away because i am the "visitor".

**Activities**
Activities play a large role in forming the identity of a space. The activities that occur within the city block that we identify as Kensington Market are vast and diverse. Upon visiting and analyzing the vicinity, I found that the activities that occur within Kensington Market can be broken down into 5 sub categories, and described as the following:

Socializing: Kensington Market is a very social and community based area of Toronto. The vicinity is home to many social activists and anti capitalists, making it a very social place that encourages expression, free thought and speech. While wandering through Kensington market, I observed people socializing in many different settings, as well as in different forms. Locals socialized on sidewalks, in front of stores and local businesses, Some socialized as they were walking, some as they were eating, and others sitting on the curb of the road. Kensington market epitomized an area that encouraged social interaction. No citizens were concerned or agitated by others stopped in the streets or sidewalks chatting, and nothing prevented, or discouraged individuals from sitting on curbs or fixtures to chat.

Moving: A lot of movement can be observed throughout the Kensington market area. Motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, among other vehicles are forced to share roads and sidewalks in this area. These shared travel spaces seem to be the tensest areas in Kensington Market. While the neighborhood exudes a relaxed aura, there was obvious tension in its streets. In comparison to road rage seen in most areas in downtown Toronto, Kensington's streets could be seen as subdued- Yet when pedestrians, bikes and other vehicles are forced to share limited space, conflict seems to be inevitable. I observed a small amount of traveler tension on the sidewalks in Kensington, yet generally pedestrians, stores, and bicyclists coexisted peacefully in the area. However this is not always the case- as bicyclist and pedestrian conflicts have been witnessed and documented before in the market area. Conclusively, although Kensington market is seen as an area where locals live and play peacefully, the area is not free of all problems attached to city living.

Selling: Kensington Market boasts a vast variety of businesses and stores including clothing boutiques, grocery stores, fruit and cheese markets, novelty vendors, thrift stores, restaurants, coffee shops, dry cleaner’s and surplus stores among others. Because of the prevalence of stores and businesses in Kensington market, selling is a pretty popular activity in the area. The variety of businesses located in Kensington market provides locals with goods to meet all of their basic needs, allowing them to do all, or most of their shopping locally if they please. This reflects the ideals of many Kensington residents, as it promotes and feeds small business, and does not support big box stores and chains. The only store that I came across in the area that was part of a chain was a grocery store- and it was a part of a smaller chain of supermarkets, nothing big like Superstore, Wal-Mart or No Frills.

Consuming: Consuming classified the actions of the people in Kensington market who were eating, drinking, or shopping. Consuming could be further broken down into these three categories. Food and drink consumers in Kensington can look forward to a vast variety of delicacies from several different cultures. Dining choices that I came across included Chinese, Thai, Jamaican, Portuguese, Italian, and Hungarian to mention only a few. Meat, Fish, Produce and Cheese markets can also be found throughout Kensington market, providing locals with a variety of fresh, authentic foods in comparison with conventional grocery store. As for the other consumer- the shopper, I found it rather ironic that although Kensington portrays itself as an anti capitalist community, it is full of shops and boutiques. However in Kensington's defense, its shopping venues are definitely unique, and include several thrift and second hand stores, which refute capitalist ideals. Various shops provide browsers with a taste of goods and fashions from several different cultures, similar to the selection of dining in the area. Most, but not all people that I observed, "consuming" in Kensington market were also "socializing".

Expressing: In the highly creative Kensington venue, it is not uncommon to find citizens expressing themselves in various forms spaces. During my recent visit to Kensington I witnessed two musicians playing guitar on a sidewalk. In past visits to the area, I have seen artists painting and/or drawing in the streets, musicians playing various instruments, sidewalk chalk artists, and even creative, public speakers. Judging from my own experience, I believe that a lot of expression occurs during non working hours in the Kensington area, yet at any time remnants of artistic and cultural expression can be seen throughout the jurisdiction- particularly Graffiti art, which is very prominent in the area.

Other: Although I find that most people in Kensington market were either socializing, moving, selling, consuming, or expressing, I did observe a few other activities which could fall into other, more difficult to describe categories. These "other" activities that I observed included sleeping- someone who did not appear homeless was sleeping against a building, monitoring- a police officer administering a parking ticket, not uncommon in Toronto, and arguing- a man and woman arguing back and forth, standing in the street. These "other" activities show that the activities that occur in Kensington market consist of more then just socializing, moving, consuming, selling, or expressing, however theses 5 activities demonstrate a trend in activities in the area.

Contexts
Physical environment: There is a lot of noise concerning music, which collides with cultures. In terms of maps there is one map on Augusta Ave. though it is not very specific on what venues there are that take up the traffic areas and areas. Therefore, this makes it difficult for the locals to discover or know exactly what venues are where. In terms of environment the market has taken “Green” into consideration. They have celebrated earth by painting and crafting images that represent the earth as well as selling the usual fruits and vegetables. They have also incorporated plants actually planted on and in an old car. They implement recycling even with a car.

Social context: With the use of a map system locals of the market would be able to converse with customers and tourists in presenting them the exact locations and information of the area or building by finding it on the map or an interactive map on their Kensington website or separate interactive map which may be in every venue. The locals would be able to direct individuals to the accurate places instead of just assuming. A interactive map system would also bring the community together, everyone would know where to find what and know exactly where things are to try out or go back to. This would bring upon greater conversations for cultures one the map presents what venue cultures there are. With music, it is open to the public since the market is not that of a private space. There are many varieties of music since the space is open to culture.

Organizational context: With the use of Technology a system could be produced such as that of an interactive wayfinding system map. What I found most was that the locals did know certain roadways and certain shops or venues, however they did not know where everything exactly was. This is why a map system should be implemented. The map would be interactive where the locals would be able to click on an area and it would present the buildings and walkways of that area with information. For example if one was to click on Dundas he or she would be able to view the buildings and location, as well as, the information on working environments, history, and what is being sold of the area he or she is interested in. If the map system is online they could do this at any time and place (wherever there is a computer in their market). This would defiantly bring the community together they would know about each others shops and specialization in goods within any contexts on any area of the Kensington Market.


 * Technologies:**

Input: A lot of people where using cellphones, Ipods, digital cameras, ect ect. at Kensington Market as they went walking down the streets. What I noticed when I was walking down the street that people with Ipods, cells, and cameras seemed very distant from the people that didn't have those things. I think this is because technologies like ipods is a distraction from the actual events that are happening at Kensington market, I mean your ears are basically plugged up with those head sets, people on cells are to busy talking away on it, and people with cameras are always looking for that perfect picture. No mater where I turned, I always saw people carrying their cellphones, digital cameras, ipods ect ect. Kensington market almost has literally no computer like system set up which of course takes it back the old market roots. The market itself seems to reject technological innovation as people prefer to do things their own way such as spray a sign on a board and use it. It kind of ruins he who Kensington Market experience for that person but for those who do not carry such technologies around can truly enjoy what Kensington Market is all about.

Output: The only output I could see and hear were from television sets, people performing on the microphone, and music coming from the radio/speakers. There might have been computers in the houses which I did not go into, however the output devices that I was able to see/hear did its job for Kensington Market. The people such as me that were walking down the street were getting bombarded by information coming from the speakers, radios, and the television screens in front of stores. However these output devices have proven to be a huge problem that contributes to noise pollution as many of the locals here have complained about during our interviews. With advanced technologies such as LCD screens, Kensington Market place is heavily reliant on old fashioned non computerized signs. Not to say this is not a bad thing because having the traditional signs on stores gives of a very festive like atmosphere where as you would feel like you were in a mall if the signs where all digitalized.

Communication: Cellphones are on at least 90% of the people that come to Kensington Market. The people use cell phones to find other people at the market or to call others to find out what they need to buy which makes these little gadgets a daily necessity for human living in Toronto. I also saw people talking on walkie talkies just for short distance communication within the market which helps saves on the cell phone bills. The people who are on the streets of Kensington communicate fine without cell phones or walkie talkies especially the locals here they all seem to get along very well.

Content: There is a lot of random bits and pieces of data that can be collected at Kensington Market such as event flyer's stuck on walls/poles, newspaper clippings, stands with information on them ect ect. In order to organize all this information to make it easier and more accessible for visitors and locals we must first collect and analyze the data. This is where our website will come in and work for us to organize the information we have gathered in order to have some sense of direction when you are at Kensington Market.

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