Jessica+S+Interview+Answers

=Kensington Market=

Interview Questions
By Jessica S.

//a)- Long time merchant in the Market, resident of Kensington. (FishShack: a Portuguese fish store) b)- A resident and business owner in the Market area. (Fiesta Farm: a Latin American Grocery and Food shop) c) - A resident of Kensington, and continued member of the Working Group. (Pho Hung: an Asian merchandise shop)//


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

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

b) A: The market incorporates a cultural outlook where such areas as Latin America, China Town and Caribbean are combined in the market though in different sections. It is a cultural are and a hippi market in terms of its colour, murals and crafts.

c) A: The market is different in a way that it focuses on that of an environmental outlook. I know that there is a car close to the China Town area and it contains plants (planted inside). This is a statement on the environment and it’s importance.


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

a) A: 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.

b) A: I usually bike ride Kara Café. They make the best coffee on Augusta AVE. I then go to Kensington’s where they sell stuff for really good prices. These are my two favourite places.

c) A: Here the shopper can find everything from bulk beans, whole fish, fresh cheese, fruit and vegetables, to vintage clothes and fine tailored men’s suits.


 * 3.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?**

a) A: 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.

b) A: In the fall and winter, now, the market is not as busy as in the summer though the population of people is not a problem. I’m used to it. I think it’s great to see the many varieties of people and the same old ones. The traffic should not be limited. The more people coming in or through the market the better.

c) A: It would be nice if there was less traffic. One thing that I can’t stand are cyclists on our walkways. You try to walk to get to a food mart and one of them comes zooming past your way. They should be limited. They should walk like every one else instead of taking up the walkway for their own use. With cyclists everyone has to move out of the way. On crowded days this becomes a hazard, people crowding each other to let the cyclist through.


 * 4.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?**

a) A: 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.

b) A: The festivals always cause traffic of everything though it is a justifiable cause. It is what brings the community of Kensington together. And it can get hectic however, it is something to look forward to. And most of us residences enjoy these occasions. We get to see our neighbours and their talents in both visual arts and crafting. We’ve had some pretty impressive muralists.

c) A: The traffic flow is mainly acceptable for us residences, we need our venders on the walkways to present what our stores have. People see these things and are curious to try a flavour out or see a ripe fruit and have the desire to buy it. All this because the fruit and clothing venders are outside on the walkways present for all to see instead of hidden away like a commercial grocery store. So to answer your question, yes our venders and festivals are justifiable to us because of those reasons.


 * 5.What do you like most about the Kensington Market area?**

a) A: 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.

b) A: I really like the distinction between formal and substantive citizenship which was originally conceived with class differences in mind. It’s good to see the different cultures that we have here.

c) A: Kensington is an original immigrant reception area or "port of entry" in Toronto. It is a cluster of services and programs in many different cultures. And that is what I like. I enjoy the fact that there is a little China Town to go to. I mean being an immigrant can be difficult in living in a new country due to the language barrier and ways of living though I got through. However, I am glad that there is part of my culture (China Town) that I can go to and feel somewhat at home. It is a comfort to know that there are other China descendants here.


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

a) A: 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.

b) A: A clear map system for all to know about would be good for the locals. This could bring us even closer together. We not only would know our shops but we would know exactly what cultures are around us and know what’s new or in China town and the Greek, Mexican, Caribbean, or African areas of the market. A map system would be good idea for those suffering from alsimers (loss of memory) If they look at a map they might know where to go or where their at (Laugh). The map would also be good if it were on the internet. My shop can get busy and sometimes tourists are looking for particular places that I can’t exactly remember where they are or if certain places still exist or ever exist, I could just look it up easily on the internet at my shop. There are just a couple specific places I go to. To be truthful, I’m spoiled for grocery store choices in my neighbourhood – the mighty Fiesta Farms and also the Vince Gasparro Meats on Bloor. What the west end is lacking though is a good fishmonger.

c) A: A good map system would be a good idea and a good organizational tool. It could help me to locate other places that I never really thought about. Another thing that could be improved on is security, especially at night. It would be good for those of us who close up shop late at night.


 * 7.Do you feel connected to your community, or isolated?**

a) A: 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.

b) A: As a community I feel connected, especially in my area of shop. I know all my neighbours here and we give each other ideas and assistance. We are like a family.

c) A: Yes I feel that I am connected to my community. I never feel isolated because our community interacts with each other, we don’t seclude ourselves. However, there are some exclusions concerning culture. We tend to separate each other in terms of culture such as placing China town in one area and another culture in other areas of the market.


 * 8.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?**

a) A: 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.

b) A: I don’t really feel isolated even though I may not be Asian I still venture into China town. So even though the cultures are split up they are always closely put together and overlapping. I know that there are places that collide in cultures like the Hungry Thai, which is a combination of both Thai and Hungary cuisine.

c) A: Yes, I feel isolated in terms of culture. I don’t go often to other cultures because I’m not familiar, I usually just venture to China town, the area I know and am familiar with.


 * 9.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?**

a) A: 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.

b) A: The thing that limits me from going around is my shops and my comfort zone. I only go to the places that I know best and am used to because I know what to expect. I don’t know much about Greek or African marts and usually go to the mart that supplies my cultural food. (Latin American).

c) A: What I know limits me from getting the most out of Kensington market community is that there is no single culture. Some of us cannot relate to other cultures. There is also no organization in terms of a map system. A map system might help residences and tourists find there way within the market or take streets that they might not of though of because they never thought anything useful or interesting might happen in a certain area. I live here so I know that the entire market is interesting in culture and artistic qualities though, I would like to see a map system to organize and find other venues besides that of what I know, China Town and my home.


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

a) A: 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.

b) A: I know the venues that are in the market though I don’t think I know them very well. I chech them out, though I am usually working and I don’t go into every shop I see. But I would like to see organization of the market even if it means creating navigation maps on either side of the market. At least this could assist locals and tourists in locating areas of the market. It would be nice to also see the signs played upon the markets craft or culture. I think that could add to the crafts that we already see and have at the market.

c) A: I know Bathurst, Wales Ave. Bellevue St. and park Augusta AVE., Baldwin St. Nassau St., College St., Spadina Ave., Kensington Ave. and Dundas St. (especially) though I don’t know all the venue names or remember exactly how every store looks so a navigational object would be nice for that.


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

a) A: 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.

b) A: Regarding Noise, I really like the music that comes here, its full of culture. However when it comes to security we could use more security around the clock to monitor the market. Me and my family would feel a lot more safer.

c) A: Security has always been a major issue and since the market has grown in culture and in population since the 1950’s it would be good to increase better security. I do know from when I came to Kensington the environment has changed drastically. I remember in the 1950’s it was crowded with Euro and pure Canadian communities, however now there is a greater mixture of Ethnic groups like China, Latin America and the Caribbean that do need attention and have needs. As of that more shops have opened up in the past years, so yes security needs to be upgraded.