Planning Exclusion: The Filipino Community and the Lawrence Heights Social Development Plan

The Lawrence Heights neighbourhood in Toronto has faced significant challenges throughout its history. This history is intertwined with elements of migration, urban development, socio-spatial inequalities, revitalization and grassroots activism. Over the past 10 years, a number of key reference documents outlining the revitalization and redevelopment of Lawrence Heights have been published, which include the Lawrence Allen Secondary Plan, the Lawrence Heights District Public Art Plan, and the Lawrence Heights Social Development Plan (LHSDP)- the key focus of this Major Paper. Although much has been documented on youth violence, crime, and the economic marginalization of Lawrence Heights residents, there is virtually no existing scholarship or literature that speaks to the plight or experiences of the Filipino community, which in 2011 was listed as the largest immigrant community in Lawrence Heights by both foreign country of birth and language outside of English (City of Toronto, 2011). For this reason, this paper aims analyze the LHSDP to determine how and if the Filipino community was included throughout the development of the LHSDP. The research questions in this paper are: What are the ways in which the LHSDP could have been exclusionary to Filipino newcomer communities? And how can we improve Filipino newcomer inclusion in neighbourhood revitalization efforts and in the development of future social development plans? This research question will guide the paper through several stages of analysis from an examination of the key reference document itself, to unpacking and identifying barriers that the Filipino community experience through research on the Filipino diaspora and participant interviews. This research shall contribute both to the spheres of urban planning and Filipino Canadian studies, and aims to help shape the direction of how immigrant communities can be engaged in revitalization and other city building processes.