Interview+5+jess


 * Interview #5**

What do you think differentiates Kensington Market from other areas of Toronto?

//I feel that the market provides ethnicity and diversity. It represents colour and craft that not many areas in Toronto has.//

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

//Grocery Shopping Gatto Fuligtto & Co. at local store (usually ethnical shop i.e. Portuguese food mart) for those of that culture or who enjoy that culture. That is the only food mart they may venture to if comfortable and accustom to it. And, certain other shops of interest. And Tam Tam coffee shop to do work.//

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 other?

//It can get pretty congested during weekends, which is the reason why I usually walk or bike my way into the market. Though we need a good flow of people to gain profit from. So I feel good about the flow. In terms of cars there are already one way streets that assist in car traffic. This lessens the flow of cars by only having them go into one lane only.//

Do you 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? Are they justifiable?

//There are some traffic flow conflicts on the weekends of summer due to the amount of shoppers and individuals driving in or through. Though usually there are more pedestrians than there are vehicles on the street during the summer. In the winter there tends to be more vehicles coming through and parked on the street way which does at certain times cause traffic. Festivals do cause a lot of traffic but I believe that the festivals are justifiable. We need these festivals to bring community and tourists to the market in order to popularize it and bring in revenue.//

What do you like most about the Kensington Market area?

//I really like the way the area is closely nit together yet so very diverse. I mean there is China Town in which I venture in the odd time because I need to run my shop and I usually just end up going to the shops and food marts closer to my home and shop. I don’t see any reason to venture further out.//

What could be improved upon within the market area? How’s your mapping? Does it assist in knowing what’s around the market?

//I would have to say that the security would have to be improved. Just last year a cyclist was attacked just because he was in the way of a motorist and it took at least half an hour to resolve and the authorities to arrive. In terms of mapping I think that needs to be resolved. We have a map though it does not specify the new places or places of interest or the places further then where I usually would go. If there was a map system that could give me information on the entire Market who knows, I might check out certain places that seem interesting or I simply forgot about.//

Do you feel connected to your community, or isolated?

//I feel connected to the community especially on festival occasions where we all gather to present ourselves to the public in our talents and culture.//

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?

//In terms of culture, yes I do feel a little isolated. The reason being is that each of the cultures are separated from each other into certain streets and area’s of the market.//

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?

//The things that do limit me is certain language barriers and mainly cultural differences. I also feel, referring to the map question, that I am limited to what I know do to not having a map system that shows me what the entire market incorporates. I know my area of work on (Augusta Ave.) though, I don’t know exactly what things shops might be selling Oxford St. or on Bellevue St.//

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

//I know the Kensington are pretty well (mainly the side streets and pathways). I know a lot more bike paths in the market than certain others know about. So I know the market pretty well. I usually take detours from my home, laneway to my food mart. It is always much faster to go by.//

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

//I feel that our Environment is picking up in its need for cleanliness, especially regarding the environment. I know that we recently had a festival (Kensington Pedestrian Sundays) where we celebrated our earth and it’s resources. There is also crafts created by artists that speak about our environment, in paintings and crafts with the use of planting plants. There is a car near the Dundas area which is covered in plants.//