Community Mapping is a cartographic (map-making) practice rooted in the assumption that those who live in particular places have special knowledge of those places that outsiders do not share. Community mapping encourages ordinary people who don’t have easy access to political processes to come together to investigate and record significant aspects of their neighbourhood and their relationship to it. As a practice, community mapping explicitly acknowledges and honours each person’s experience of their home-place through the act of drawing a map and through attending to the personal stories and meaning-making processes associated with it.

Over a number of months in 2007, 18 St. James Town residents participated in the mapping process. Each participant created a hand-drawn map. These were then used to create an aggregate map of community resources, and formed the basis for individual interviews with each participant. These maps and stories are an inventory of the community resources that are available to support their health and well-being, and of needs in the community.

The Aggregate Map combines the knowledge of all 18 participants about St. James Town resources and needs using a satellite image of SJT. The 18 individual hand-drawn maps identify important places to each individual in terms of his or her health. Excerpts from the personal interviews provide a snapshot of the lives of St. James Town residents and give voice to some of the less visible ways that place affects health and well-being.

Aggregate Map

Map 1 - Happy to be in Canada

I have been in Canada one year. Because of the war in Somalia, I didn’t finish school. I had to come out of the country. I am not thinking about getting a job. I need to go to school… read more

Map 2 - We lost a lot

My mom’s dad had the fishing boats. We lost a lot in the Tsunami. We lost a lot of family. Somehow being here doesn’t feel right… read more

Map 3 - Someone who understands

It is different then how we grew up. We had a community where we would come together and talk and argue and… read more

Map 4 - Hard to find work

I apply for work here at lots of places, but they don’t look for skills. They look for the physical… read more

Maps 5a - Don’t want to have to move

They broke down all the housing in Regent Park to build other houses and condos, so all the people who lived there were scattered around… read more

Maps 5b - St. James Town is home

I have lived here 17 yrs. My children like it here. … read more

Map 6 - Didn’t plan to stay

I came here in 1969 and some people I know bought houses here, and I said, “No, I’m not staying here”… read more

Map 7 - Worried about violence

I chose to live in Canada. Then I got my apartment and I called for my family… read more

Map 8 - Unmet expectations

When we first came here, we had very high expectations because we were coming to Toronto… read more

Map 9 - Places to pray

We pray five times a day. My husband goes to the mosque… read more

Map 10 - Friendly people

I go to Alan Park. I like it there. I like the fresh air. In Canada, most of the people are very kind and very friendly to me…. read more

Map 11 - Health concerns

I hope I am giving them everything they need. I try to give them good food. But I am not satisfied… read more

Map 12 - Getting through winter

In the wintertime, it does not feel good. I am thinking about my country. First I talked to my friends and they told me where I can go… read more

Map 13 - Loneliness

If a person has friends, relations, that they can meet, talk together, have conversation with, maybe they will feel like they are someone… read more

Map 14 - Bad role models

Younger kids look up to older kids and respond to peer pressure. That’s why younger teens are getting into trouble with the law and stuff like that… read more

Map 15 - Underemployment

I completed my Masters in biology and got an MBA degree. I worked for 15 years. I work in a restaurant, in a kitchen job standing for 16 hours. I had to accept the job to support my wife and my family… read more

Map 16 - Finding support

We are not financially poor, or mentally poor. We are poor because we don’t know how to use the system… read more

Map 17 - This year has been ok

I don’t need any help. I can do it on my own… read more