Building Resilient Communities: A Case Study of East York Don Valley and North Etobicoke
Doreen Kajumba, Injila Rajab Khan, Jihad Hakime, Samantha Leon, Sara Kidane Fessahazion
Abstract
This Capstone Project examines community resilience within two equity-deserving geographic clusters in Toronto - North Etobicoke and East York Don Valley - through a mixed-methods evaluation led in collaboration with the City of Toronto’s Community Development Unit. Resilience, in this context, refers to the capacity of communities to absorb, adapt to, and recover from acute shocks (e.g., pandemics, extreme weather) and chronic stressors (e.g., housing insecurity, economic inequality).
Using a combination of semi-structured interviews with senior staff from local NGOs and community surveys, the study identifies existing strengths, challenges, and opportunities within these neighbourhoods' resilience strategies. Thematic analysis revealed critical factors contributing to resilience: community engagement, inter-agency collaboration, culturally relevant programming, and grassroots leadership. However, significant barriers persist, including limited funding, communication gaps, and a lack of inclusive, proactive emergency preparedness frameworks. The research is grounded in equity-focused frameworks drawn from contemporary literature on urban resilience, including models like SWOT-PEN3 and emBRACE. Findings underscore the importance of tailoring interventions to cultural and community-specific needs, amplifying resident voices in planning processes, and strengthening collaborative networks.
Ultimately, this project offers a set of actionable, community-informed recommendations aimed at enhancing the City's capacity to build sustainable resilience among its most underserved populations. By centering local knowledge and inclusive engagement, it contributes to a broader vision of a resilient, equitable Toronto prepared for future crises.
Introduction
This project is significant for the City of Toronto’s Community Development Unit and the equity-deserving communities located within the East York Don Valley and North Etobicoke geographic clusters (“Geographic clusters” is a notable concentration of related businesses, resources or organization within a specific geographic area). By focusing on community resilience, the project addresses the pressing challenges posed by chronic stressors and acute shocks, including climate–related events and public health crises such as COVID-19.
The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the resilience of these two clusters by identifying their strengths and gaps. This evaluation provides insight into how these factors influence emergency preparedness and community adaptation. Through a comprehensive analysis of both strengths and weaknesses, the project aims to enhance existing resiliency efforts, ultimately improving response and preparedness strategies for the communities involved.
Research for this project was conducted through active engagement with residents and non-governmental partners within the two geographic clusters of East York Don Valley and North Etobicoke. The findings will be particularly valuable for the City of Toronto’s Community Development unit and these equity-deserving communities, as the project seeks to deliver actionable recommendations that will bolster their capacity to withstand and adapt to future shocks and stressors. This research will be significant to the city because it allows the opportunity for fostering a more resilient and equitable future for these communities.
Research Methods
This Capstone project employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to develop a holistic understanding of community resilience among equity-deserving populations in North Etobicoke and East York Don Valley clusters. This design was strategically selected to capture both the measurable patterns of community needs and strengths (through surveys) and the in-depth perspectives and lived experiences of key stakeholders (through interviews). The triangulation of methods ensured enhanced validity, rigour, and relevance of the findings, supporting actionable and community-informed recommendations for the City of Toronto’s Community Development Unit.
Results
RESIDENT SURVEY
- Community Connection: Residents reported mixed feelings of connection and trust in local institutions during crises; nearly half felt only partially supported.
- Resource Access: Over a third lacked essentials like food, water, and healthcare, especially in high-rise and low-income areas.
- Community Strengths: Residents highlighted strong support networks, service proximity, and past unity as key assets.
- Barriers: Language barriers, overcrowded housing, and fragmented communities hindered response efforts. Residents called for translated materials and better municipal outreach.
- Preparedness & Capacity: While few knew of disaster training, many felt confident navigating crises through faith-based supports, lived experience, and community support.
AGENCY STAFF INTERVIEWS
- Community Engagement & Collaboration: Organizations actively engaged communities through events, surveys, focus groups, and advisory committees. Collaboration was strong, though some saw room for improvement.
- Emergency Preparedness: Most took a reactive stance, addressing crises as they arose. Only one described proactive, culturally tailored programming.
- Capacity Building: Trust and community capacity were built through paid roles, honorariums, and advisory positions that empowered local voices.
- Accessible Service Delivery: Inclusive approaches like pop-up clinics and door-to-door outreach helped improve preparedness, especially in underserved areas.
- Barriers & Challenges: Reactive funding, limited resources, staff burnout, and difficulty reaching vulnerable groups, such as at-risk youth and the homeless, were major challenges.
Discussions and Conclusions
SURVEY FINDINGS REVEALED
- Community Engagement & Empowerment: Informal networks—family, friends, and faith groups—are vital for crisis support. Residents demonstrate strong resilience and unity. However, low trust in institutions and limited service awareness hinder engagement, especially among seniors, newcomers, and non-English speakers who feel excluded from decision-making.
- Collaboration & Communication Gaps: Inconsistent communication and limited collaboration reduce service access. Language barriers, minimal outreach, and lack of inclusive planning leave many—particularly those facing socio-economic challenges— disconnected from vital resources.
- Community Strengths & Needs: While the community shows strong adaptability, better information access, inclusive emergency planning, and sustained outreach are essential for equitable support.
INTERVIEW FINDINGS REVEALED
- Community Engagement & Empowerment: Engagement is driven by resident-led models—advisory groups, planning tables, and co-design. BBQs, surveys, and social media aid outreach. Empowerment comes through training, honorariums, and leadership roles, especially for youth and newcomers.
- Collaboration & Communication: Strong partnerships supported efforts like the COVID-19 rollout. Digital tools (e.g., WhatsApp, alerts) enhance real-time communication, especially with newcomers.
- Emergency Preparedness: Initiatives include resiliency kits, pop-up clinics, and culturally specific programs. Most responses are reactive, with few organizations maintaining proactive, ongoing plans.
- Barriers: Challenges include reactive funding, staff burnout, and limited outreach to vulnerable groups.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the City of Toronto’s Community Development Unit, especially Rolfe Santos, Wayne Robinson, Rebecca Wallace, John Smith, Sherry Phillips, and Edna Ali, for their guidance and collaboration throughout this project. Special thanks to our professors, Christine McKenzie and Linda Hill, for their unwavering support, feedback, and encouragement. We also extend our sincere appreciation to all interview and survey participants whose time and insights were invaluable to this project.