Sorry, this table is reserved for "World-Class" Cities

Gelek Badheytsang.

Alright, I’m in.

After living nine years in this city, first as a refugee and now as a citizen (just a month ago), it’s about time that I dive into the heady mix of calling for change, asking questions and offering ideas. I’m not going to delude myself by thinking that my points are any more original or my own, for that matter, from the cacophony of opinions that surge inside every resident who lives here or from the comments that spill out on the Star’s articles.

But this is my opportunity, damn it, and this is my city.

Kudos to the team behind this project, and for their great work in recruiting and mobilizing what looks like a rambunctious and diverse group of people who are proud to call this great, troubled, beautiful and complex Toronto their home.

Already, we’re off to a great, bold start. We’ve got discussions about youth mobilization, healthy communities, about having an open mind and an engaged spirit during this round of municipal elections, and er, ski hill privatization.

One thing that I'd like to see in Toronto is a city that truly belongs to its people. Where the pulse of progress resonates from a place that cares most for the people that live here. It’s one of the reasons I roll my eyes and click my tongue when I hear the label “world-class.” It’s always thrown into a conversation with a feeble nudge, as if we are somehow to feel both self-conscious and indignant about not being on par with other “world-class” cities like NYC, Paris, Tokyo, etc. We worry about whether we're being overlooked from outside the glass display. And inevitably, the conversation diverges into two points:

1) Oh gosh, I know. Imagine if we had the grand architectural landmarks of [insert European capital] or the technological whiz-bang of Tokyo. We’re so totally out of the loop, guys.

2) Who cares about what the other cities are doing. Let’s just concentrate on fixing the TTC first. And hey, did you hear about that [insert councillor’s name]? What a piece of work.

Alright, maybe I’m being a bit simplistic and a little facetious. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be measuring our progress against those of our contemporaries, nor am I denying that we have a lot of crap to clean up in our backyard (just to start).

What I’m getting at is that we all have a desire and right to create a space that keeps us safe, happy, healthy and engaged. If we all build that need on a foundation of community, awareness, accountability and action, we can all do our part to make Toronto a living, breathing and glowing example of what a city should be. It just happens naturally, without forcing out the label “world-class” and hoping it sticks (or doesn’t).

That means having a genuinely open space for people to feel like they can contribute their voice and know that there’s someone on the other side willing to acknowledge them; whether you’re a Bay St. banker or a homeless youth, an accountant or an artist, a newcomer or an Aboriginal person, a homeowner in Etobicoke or a renter in Jamestown, queer, cyclist, black, city staff, so on. We need that capacity and willingness to learn from all the perspectives of this city of 2.5 million inhabitants.

Toronto Star’s “Your City, My City” has the right idea. Now it’s your turn and my turn to let the city and the world know what Toronto is truly capable of.

So let's hear it!

About Gelek Badheytsang

Comments

[tariqata]

In a word, YES.

I was born in Toronto and this is my home; it doesn't need to be a "world-class" city in the eyes of others, but it needs to be a great place to live in the eyes of its citizens. We can and should take lessons from what other cities are doing, but it feels forced and unnatural to be so conscious of how we're seen by outsiders.

[Jingle]

"It’s one of the reasons I roll my eyes and click my tongue when I hear the label “world-class.” It’s always thrown into a conversation with a feeble nudge, as if we are somehow to feel both self-conscious and indignant about not being on par with other “world-class” cities like NYC, Paris, Tokyo, etc."

Do people in Toronto really care about the "world class" label? I've read this term in the media for years but it never comes up when speaking to neighbours or co-workers? I just want a liveable city.

[Nimalan B.Veerasingham]

Hi,
At this point even though we are looking at the city as a whole, it is obvious that certain areas get more attention - rather I would say more input and involvement by the citizens, as opposed to certain other areas where the citizenry consists late comers or most with ‘big government – small people’ mindset and the others with arm chair punditry.
A person living in Scarborough for the last 25 years, I see the area’s evolvement with creativeness in regards to public spaces is meager compared to the central areas of the city. I would not blame the area councilors for the fact they take things for granted, because they are in my opinion are not experts on anything – they are simply willing to represent the area for whatever reason they may have. It is the lack of participation by the citizenry that need to be blamed.
But anyhow coming back to the point I always felt that the ‘Rogue Park’, touted as the largest urban park in North America hardly has any meaning in the life of East enders. When I suggested some time back that certain portion of the park to be landscaped and managed in the likes of ‘Central Park’ of NY or ‘Boston Common’ or ‘Montreal Mount Royal’, there was a quip that there is already a ‘High Park’ in the West end. This is the entire point that I want to make- we need to become creative rather than living with CN Tower and China town as attraction and marketing tools for our entire lives.
A landscaped access to the public would certainly become a star attraction for the immigrant families who desperately look for an outing on a Sunday evening, besides the now depleted and tired ‘Rouge Beach Park’ with its discolored sands of dull and dirt. I cannot emphasize the importance of steeply routed family outings for the immigrants and the lack of public space to accommodate in Scarborough. To make things interesting and educational the University of Toronto which is bordering the park could open an exhibition/educational centre depicting the wild life with the history of the region.
If properly managed with ponds/open spaces/children-literary characters/flower gardens/botanical garden make up, and that is coupled with the link to the Zoo and beach park – Not to mention the current proposal of Shepperd LRT link to the Zoo, this whole concept could become the centre of opening the image of Toronto to higher levels, especially to the outside visitors and tourists.
The city certainly has to engage actively with the Federal Government on the proposal and possibly for funding for the betterment of the citizens from the area and to show Toronto in a different light of greenery, environment, family outing, tourism and most of all stretching the attractiveness and length of the city through creativeness and openness.

[GTAcitizen]

World class cities. Does this matter? Well maybe. As our world continues to shrink both geographically and culturally more people will visit/live in many cities. When we visit our friends in their homes we expect to find washrooms, places to dine, cook, and have conversation. It could be a small place or a large house but the point is that these amenities are expected.
When we look at Toronto it does have all the amenities of a large city yes, but age has set in. We pride ourselves in being culturally diverse, but guess what, a lot of other cities have caught up. Visit Sydney Australia, Hong Kong,Singapore,as examples. This is excluding places such as London and New York which were culturally diverse many years before Toronto.
Therefore, relying on diversity to be world class will not get us invited to the table. My view having worked in many cities internationally, is that we need to improve our transportation period. It starts with this basic need. One fare that can work from Newmarket to Toronto or Georgetown to Downtown. No multi fares jumping from train to bus or bus to train. We need to consolidate all of these diverse transit systems. We have the technology to issue fares based on distance and point of origin let's use it. I know most of the barrier are political. Better use of the waterfront for entrainment and recreation will provide us with an even better image of a city that works. Blending work and play and using our lake front space more creatively can help here.

Suffice to say being world class really means providing a livable city for its citizens where moving around becomes naturally easy. Places to go are affordable and accessible, the city scape creates a buzz and excitement, and attracts other to it. If we can do this, then World class will take care of itself.

[Sonny Yeung]

When people ask me where I am from? I say "Toronto eh." They know I am from Toronto, Canada NOT Toronto, Kansas. It IS a World Class city and I feel people realize they are Canadian when they are out of the country.

Does Toronto compare to Tokyo a city of 12.8 million?
The city is what it is... and is not trying to be Hollywood North, Silicon Valley or Manhatten with the towers. Though there is recent talk of the city being a financial service hub, it will never reach the level of NYC.