Introductory Notes:

2. This document was prepared for POINT (People and Organizations in North Toronto) in October 2000. POINT is a community agency whose focus is to provide social and healthcare planning and leadership, and to deliver community information to those who live, work and study in North Toronto.Establishing a picture of who we are and where we come from is a fundamental step in understanding our community and its needs. Data on demographics, lifestyle and social issues provide a benchmark from which to plan for short and longer term needs, measure the future growth of our community and provide a resource to help us make decisions that move our community's businesses, health and social organizations forward in an informed way.Statistics are shown for the community of North Toronto, the City of Toronto, Ontario and Canada in order to highlight some of the ways in which North Toronto differs from the larger community. These differences contribute to the distinct personality of our community. Statistics are drawn from the 1996 Census and other sources as noted.North Toronto is defined as the area bounded by Highway 401, Bayview Avenue, St. Clair Avenue and Bathurst Street. Toronto refers to the amalgamated city of Toronto unless stated otherwise.

HOW MANY ARE WE?

Total population of North Toronto (1996)	134,605
Total population of Toronto (1996)	2,655,690
North Toronto population as a percentage of Toronto population	5.6%
North Toronto average annual percentage population growth (1991-96)	0.67%
Toronto average annual percentage population growth (1991-96)	0.95%
(These figures indicate that North Toronto is growing at a rate almost 30% slower than Toronto's growth rate.)
Projected 2000 population of North Toronto based on growth rate of 0.67%	138,249

WHO ARE WE?
§ Where do we come from?

In North Toronto, 28% (or 37,930) of the 1996 total population indicated a country of birth other than Canada.

In Toronto, 47% of the total population indicated a country of birth other than Canada. Therefore North Toronto receives immigrants at roughly 60% of the rate of Toronto.

An analysis of the constituents of the POINT catchment area indicates that 53% of residents list Canada as their country of birth. The balance 37,930(47%) list their country of birth as:

North Toronto Residents Born Outside of Canada
United Kingdom	18%
United States	8%
Philippines	7%
Poland	4%
Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong, Iran, China & Yugoslavia	3%

Source : Statistics Canada 1996 Census

Other countries indicated by Statistics Canada consist of less than 3% of the population reporting birth countries other than Canada. The rate at which immigrants chose North Toronto as home over the period 1991-1996 is at about 60% of the rate of the rest of Toronto.

§ Where do recent immigrants to North Toronto come from?
Between 1991 and 1996, about 6% of the total 1996 population of North Toronto moved here from another country. By comparison, 13% of the total 1996 population of Toronto came from another country over the same period. Therefore North Toronto is chosen by fewer immigrants, at 46% of the rate of Toronto. North Toronto Recent Immigrants

North Toronto recent immigrants (1991-1996)	8,235
As above - as percentage of Toronto recent immigrants	2.6%
North Toronto comprised 5.6% of the population of Toronto; it received a smaller share (2.6%) of all immigrants settling in Toronto.

Source: Statistics Canada 1996 Census

For the period 1991-1996, immigrants settling in North Toronto came from: Recent Immigration: Countries of Origin

Country of Origin	Percentage of Recent Immigrants
Philippines	23%
Iran	8%
Yugoslavia, U.K., U.S.	6% each
Romania, Sri Lanka, China, Hong Kong	3% each
Poland, Russia, South Africa	2% each

Source: Statistics Canada 1996Census
§ Who are our visible minorities?
North Toronto's total visible minority population is 16,715 or 12.5% of the community's total population. This is below the overall Toronto figure of 37.3% of total population. The breakdown of prevalent visible minority populations in North Toronto expressed in actual numbers and in terms of the total visible minority population of North Toronto is:

North Toronto Visible Minority Groups
Visible Minority Group	Percentage of North Toronto Population (Total 134,605)	Number	Percentage Of North Toronto Visible Minority Population (Total 16,715)
Arab/W. Asian	1.5	2005	12
Black	1.6	2173	13
Filipino	2.4	3176	19
S. Asian	1.2	1672	10

Source : Statistics Canada 1996 Census
§ How old are we?
In North Toronto, the largest portion of our population is in the 25 - 44 age group (38.2%) followed by those over 45 years (37.4%) and finally, those under 25 years (24.4%).
For social and healthcare planning purposes, it is significant to note that, per capita, we have fewer children and more senior citizens than Toronto. North Toronto has a 20% smaller proportion of its population below the age of 25 than Toronto (North Toronto - 24%, Toronto - 30%). At the other end of the scale, North Toronto has a 59% greater proportion of its population in the 85+ age group than Toronto (2.1% vs. 1.3%).
The proportion of North Toronto's population up to age 14 is 60% lower than that of Toronto (15% vs. 18%). The proportion of population 15 - 24 is 24% lower than that of Toronto (9% vs. 12%). The proportion of North Toronto's population at 65+ years is 13% higher than that of Toronto (15% vs. 13%).
In Ontario, 35% of the population is 45+ years old. In Toronto, the percentage is 49.2 while in North Toronto the percentage is 54.7.
For those 65+, the percentages are: Toronto 19.9 North Toronto 24.7 Ontario 12.5 Canada 12.4
The following table shows further details: Population By Age

Age in Years	North Toronto	Percentage	Toronto	Percentage
0 - 4	7275	5.40	156,285	6.55
5 - 14	12,895	9.58	269,190	11.28
15 - 24	12,700	9.44	296,575	12.43
25 - 44	51,415	38.20	835,785	35.04
45 - 64	30,060	22.33	507,730	21.28
65 - 74	10,365	7.70	190,410	7.98
65+	20,375	15.14	319,850	13.14
75+	10,010	7.44	129,440	5.43
85+	2820	2.10	31,425	1.32

Source: Statistics Canada 1996 Census
In examining only the age groups 45+ and 65+, North Toronto's demographic characteristics become clear:

Geographic Area	Age 45+	Age 65+
Toronto	49.2	19.9
North Toronto	54.7	24.7
Ontario	35.0	12.5
Canada	-	12.4

The age group 45-64 represents 21.3% of the Toronto population, 22.3% of the North Toronto population and 22.75% of the Canadian population.
(Source: Statistics Canada, www.statcan.ca)
Clearly it is in the 65+ group that North Toronto profile significantly exceeds the municipal, provincial and national averages. Notwithstanding other factors, North Toronto's current critical needs for protection and support of this large proportion of the population will increase dramatically in the near future.
In 1998 in Ontario, those over age 65 made up 1.5 million of the province's population. That will double to 3 million by 2021. Concurrently, life expectancy is projected to increase by five years from 1996 to 2021.
(Source: C.D. Howe Institute, May-June 1998 www.cdhowe.org)
It is important to note that elders are not a homogeneous group. Those who are 65-74 more closely resemble the age group under 65. Those from 75-84 may be characterized as in transition although they are 70% more likely to be hospitalized than those in the under 65 age group. Those who are 85+ are more likely to be characterized by conditions of old age.
What is our gender distribution?
In North Toronto 45% of the population is male and 55% is female.
Males below the age of 14 outnumber females in that age group by 9%, while after the age of 15 females consistently outnumber males. In the 15 - 44 age group, there are 16% fewer males, in the 45 - 64 age group there are 18% fewer males and in the 65+ age group there are 42% fewer males than females. Again, these statistics are important to consider for business, healthcare and social planning.
North Toronto Population By Gender

Age	Male	Percentage Of Total Population	Female	Percentage Of Total Population
0-14	10,520	7.82	9,650	7.17
15-44	29,350	21.80	34,765	25.83
45-64	13,560	10.07	16,500	12.26
65+	7,495	5.57	12,800	9.57
Total	60,925		73,795

Source: Statistics Canada 1996 Census
The significantly higher female population of North Toronto, particularly as it ages, has unique issues. According to studies by Status of Women (Canada) www.swc_gc.ca/, unattached female elders experience a high rate of poverty - 43% of the Canadian population deemed in poverty in Canada in 1995. From 1995 to 2000, the use of food banks in Ontario by elders (primarily female) doubled.(Toronto Star, 29 April 2000) The OAS/GIS pension system contributes significantly to the problem because it is a system that was designed in an era when most of the workforce was male. While it can lift married elders out of poverty, it does not do so for lone female seniors, many of who were not in the paid workforce long enough to be eligible for benefits.
Of great concern for many community organizations is and will continue to be the increasing impact of "intersectionality" when the age of a population intersects with other aspects of identity. These include disability, elder females, longevity, income and single isolation. Intersectionality exacerbates the depth of social, economic and healthcare problems and intensifies the need for broader community planning and support.
WHAT IS OUR LIFESTYLE?
§ What is our income?
North Toronto is relatively affluent, with a significantly higher income level on average than Toronto.
The average 1995 household income was ,569. This is 53% higher than the average Toronto household income of ,869.
One person household average incomes in North Toronto in 1995 were 32% higher than one person households in Toronto, while two+ person households in North Toronto had an average income 85.5% higher than two+ person households in Toronto.
§ What is our marital status?
Single people represent 38% of the population (35% in Toronto) while 45% are legally married and not separated (48% in Toronto), 8% are divorced (6% in Toronto), and 6.5% are widowed (6.8% in Toronto).
§ What is our unemployment rate?
North Toronto's 1996 unemployment rate for those over 15 and in the labour force was 5.43% - almost half that of Toronto's rate of 10.73%. The highest unemployment rates were in the 15 - 24 age group, where males in the labour force experienced an unemployment rate of 19.79% (20.3% in Toronto). The female rate was 15.32% (18.92% in Toronto).
§ What do our families look like?
Of all 64,325 private households in North Toronto:
43% are 1-person households (28% in Toronto)
30% are 2 person households (29% in Toronto)
27% are 3+ person households (43% in Toronto)
There are a total of 32,115 census families in North Toronto of which 51% are 2 person families and 49% are 3+ person families. The number of lone-parent families is 3,845 (12%), (19% in Toronto). The number of lone-parent families with no one in the labour force is 475 (1.4%), (4.5% in Toronto). The number of couple families with no one in the labour force is 3,605 (11%), (14.6% in Toronto). The total number of families in North Toronto with no one in the labour force is 4,080 (13%), (19% in Toronto).
§ What are our homes like?

Type of dwelling	North Toronto	Toronto
Apartment building	56%	50%
Single, detached house	34%	32%
Other - row house, semi-detached etc.	10%	18%

§ Are our homes affordable?
We have fewer homeowners and more renters in North Toronto compared to Toronto. Of occupied private dwellings, 42% are occupied by owners and 58% are occupied by renters. In Toronto, 47.5% are owners and 52.5% are renters.
The average value of a private dwelling in North Toronto is 0,274, which is 28% higher than the average value of 2,737 in Toronto. While we pay more for our homes (rent and house payments) in North Toronto, we spend less on average of our household income for accommodation relative to Toronto.
The average gross rent in North Toronto was 3, 15% higher than the average gross rent in Toronto of 3. The average owner's major payment is 05, which is 35% higher than the average owner's major payment in Toronto.
In North Toronto, 35% or renters pay more than 30% of their incomes on gross rent. For privately owned dwellings, 16% of owners pay more then 30% of their incomes on the major home payment.
§ Do our families have access to public housing? *
North Toronto represents 5.6% of the total population of Toronto. North Toronto has 11 public housing sites with family units. This is about 3.5% of all public family housing sites in Toronto.
§ ' Do our families have access to subsidized childcare? *
Ward 22 (North Toronto) has an equity share of about 1% of Toronto's childcare subsidies. We receive less than this amount. About 200 children receive subsidized care while there is a wait list of another 200+. In order to meet demand, childcare spaces would have to be more than doubled. Wait lists for care are as follows:
Infant: Of all Toronto wards, North Toronto has the third longest wait list time of 8 months. The city average is 7.1 months.
Toddler: Ward 22 has a 12-month wait list. The city average is 11.3 months.
Preschool: Ward 22 meets the city average of 14.7 months for preschool subsidized care.
School Age:With a wait of almost 22 months, Ward 22 exceeds the city average wait of 17.6 months by more than 4 months.
§ ' Do we have access to recreation centers? *
Toronto is served by 5 municipal recreation centers. While North Toronto comprises 5.6% of the overall Toronto population, the 5 centers represent less than 4% of the city's municipal community centers.
§ ' Are our children safe? *
Police in North Toronto report there were 53 offences against children up to 12 years of age by non-family members and 30 offences by family members. The term offence includes physical and sexual abuse, abandonment, abduction, murder and manslaughter. Numbers are based on the 1996 - 1998 averages.

Appendix A