Ok, this is from last year but I couldn’t resist posting this interview with Toronto Transit Commission chair Adam Giambrone (who, though respectable, looks 19, there I said it) talking about all things TTC. Stay tuned to the end for some really interesting stats and the suggestion by the TTC as a green organization is none too different from the Incredible Hulk.  Awesome.

An interview with Pap Ndiaye on France 24 discussing the situation of blacks and other minorities in France. Not addressing immigration directly, but rather the condition of being French and non-white, Pap Ndiaye articulates so clearly and constructively the experience of being a minority in France.

Immigration and multiculturalism are two issues I paid very close attention to while living in France, and I quickly found that French approach contrasts starkly with the Canadian model of multiculturalism. In France the idea is that, in principle, all citizens are equal and shall not be discriminated against or singled out because of their race or religion. This idea is taken quite literally and in that context it becomes easier to understand, for example, the move to ban headscarves in French schools, an effort that seems to contradict most ideas of pluralism, at least from a North American point of view. In fact the French see the wearing of a headscarf as a sort of marker that identifies a person as part of a group and therefore unfairly singling them out and leaving them open to discrimination. In addition, showing one’s culture or religion so openly is often seen as an imposition on others. Being French is apparently the best defense against an unjust society.

The danger in this type of glossing over of differences is that cultures that are not French risk losing legitimacy and value within French society while putting undue pressures on those in minority groups trying to be accepted as full members of the larger society. The reason being that these minorities do look different, they often do have non-French names, and they often do have cultural identities that are more than simply French. This poses an obstacle for the individual who must consider themselves carefully to be sure to present themselves and their identities appropriately to the rest of society, and it doesn’t adequately prepare the society to incorporate these individuals and their new characteristics.

I was lucky enough to have many opportunities to discuss the French model of multiculturalism with my students in Paris and they were always keenly interested in how we do things in Canada. Most students where surprised and even shocked that our government actively encourages the celebration of cultural differences and fosters them even among second and third generation Canadians.

It wouldn’t be fair though to attribute Canada’s relative success in matters of multiculturalism and France’s difficulties to generalizations about differing approaches to diversity as there are obviously many more factors at work, but as a visible minority I can definitely attest to the fact that I “feel” much better in Canada, and not simply because I grew up here. On the whole, I prefer Europe and as a French speaking European citizen, I was able to take part in society to a greater degree than an American exchange student might, but the lack of any visible diversity in advertising and media, the lack of non-white politicians, the general lack of celebration of the amazing cultural diversity of an international centre like Paris left me feeling, well, secondary. Comfortable, middle-class, included on a day-to-day basis, but secondary.

The chair of the Toronto Transit Commission offered to proofread future editions of subway maps after embarrassing typos as well as omissions where found in recently issued versions. The TTC chair explained that there is no one to check the maps before they go out and that this time, he will do the checking personally.

The chair of the Transit Commission has to personally spell check maps? How big is this organization?

Links: National Post, Toronto Star

The logos incorporate typographic elements from the Japanese written language as well as the Roman alphabet (usually form the municipality’s name) to represent the identities of the towns.

Pink Tentacle

So why would I even try to draw parallels between these two cities that seem to have nothing in common? Why not something more obvious like Paris VS Montreal? (Well, maybe one day) I moved to Paris in 2007 without ever having visited the storied French capital, and then moved to Toronto directly from Paris the next year with even less knowledge of my destination. Granted, I’m Canadian so I knew in general terms what Toronto was, but unlike Paris Toronto is a city unsung. I didn’t really know what to expect.

Obvious differences aside, these cities have some very key characteristics in common. First, they are the largest cities in their respective countries. Canada does not have quite the same master and servant relationship between it’s largest metropolis and it’s other population centers that is more common in Europe, but Toronto is without a doubt the closest thing Canada has to world city. As a result, much like Paris, Toronto attracts the best and brightest from around the country as most big industries are centered here in one form or another. (this differs from a country like Germany which is more decentralized) Because of this, both cities are under constant pressure to keep up with population growth and ever increasing demands on infrastructure.

The other main similarity is that multiculturalism is so integral to the characters of both cities, though they seem to approach them very differently. In Paris, roughly 20% of the population is foreign-born, a high proportion by European standards. 49% of Toronto’s population is foreign-born and visible minorities are expected to make up more than 50% of the whole within the next decade.

Paris

Living in Paris is entirely different from visiting. As a visitor I imagine it must come across as something close to the postcard Paris we all grew up with. Making a life there, however, is a another sweatier, costlier, dirtier, and more crowded story. (but also a much more rewarding one)

So let’s start with what I love about Paris.

The metro. The Paris is metro is wonderfully cheap and fast and is possibly the densest system on Earth. No matter where you are in central Paris, there are likely to be one or two, if not more, metro stations within walking distance. Add to that the storied history of the Paris Metro along with some wonderful station designs and you have something that is as much a cultural experience as it is a means of transportation.

The food. This goes for most of France, but the quality of food really is delightful. There may not be the variety of food that exists elsewhere, but it seems almost anything you might chose to eat is made of better ingredients than you’re used to. And the little glass jars of homestyle chocolate pudding available in every supermarket…mmm…

The people. My favourite part of in Paris is by far the people. This goes against common wisdom that Parisians are rude and arrogant, but it’s true. Parisians have to be rude and arrogant (ok, maybe not arrogant) because they live in such an intensely crowded and competitive city. Putting aside the shining example of Tokyo, that many people in so little space usually forces people to take shelter behind a gruff and calloused facade. Get to know Parisians off the streets though and you’ll suddenly find that you are surrounded by millions of the most thoughtful, opinionated, and expressive people the western world has to offer.

The infrastructure and architecture. I lump these two together because the architecture in Paris is largely of 19th century origin and exquisite while it seems most of the 20th century was spent building marvelous infrastructure in the form of metros, rail, outstanding roads, separated bike lanes, generous sidewalks, wonderful parks, and almost every conceivable thoughtful detail that could accompany them. They are all done in a distinctly French style which means some sometimes odd compromises in functionality but overall give the impression that all of Paris is woven from the same fabric. It is the definition of city, and something very much lacking in Toronto.

Toronto

Toronto is awesome. Toronto is an upstart. See below for all the things I hate about Toronto but there is no denying that it is a unique place. Now this also goes against common wisdom. Toronto is said to be bland and generic. It could be anywhere which is why it’s such a popular location for Hollywood productions. All true, but it’s this generic blank slate sort of quality that is the foundation for Toronto’s best attribute; it’s diversity. Not quite being anything at all allows the city to more comfortably absorb the staggering number of newcomers that arrive in Toronto every day and go about carving themselves their own little niche of city. At the same time, the city is often charmless, shamefully ugly, and strangely oblivious to the rest of the world. But it’s a half-built city and, in stark contrast to Paris, it’s hard to imagine just what the city will be even fifteen years from now.

I’ll say again, Toronto’s diversity is like nothing else you’ve seen. New York and London are both extremely multicultural, offering every type of food or activity you can imagine from just about anywhere on the globe. Toronto rivals these two in the breadth of it’s culture but has them both beat on one key point; In Toronto the whole world is not only here, it’s affordable. On a reasonable budget there’s little that is off limits. This makes Toronto a playground for anyone interested in expanding their palette. No Paris-style microwaved crap Chinese food from a hot tray here. Instead you’ve got some of the best Dim Sum outside Hong Kong. Simply put, the city is delicious.

Space. Toronto is huge, but forgetting the endless painful suburbs, the city is extremely spacious despite being so busy while still remaining dense and vital. Off of the busier main streets, the city is lush and leafy and a short ferry ride into Lake Ontario from the bottom of Bay Street downtown are the gorgeous Toronto Islands. A car-free sanctuary draped with beaches, beautiful parkland, and offering spectacular views of the city.

Freedom. Coming from Paris, I was immediately struck by how much freer people seem in Toronto. Communities are free to make their neighbourhoods in their own image. Social mobility is a given, and I mean that in the concrete Canadian way, not the conceptual American one. Municipal police officers and officers of the federal armed forces march in the gay pride parade behind floats sponsored by national banks. There is little pressure to dress or behave in any particular way at all so long as one is civil in public. This is partly where the sense of there being no real local culture in Toronto comes from. People are free to be however they like, whether those behaviours originate in their home country or simply from their own peculiar preferences. It makes for a lukewarm first impression but positive lasting one.

What I hate about Paris

The metro. I know I said I love the metro but I really do hate it too. The metro for me is a metaphor for Paris life. Yes, it’s well built. Yes, it’s affordable and provides all residents access to the city. But, some of the lines running through poorer areas of the city, such as the line 11, are in surprisingly unpleasant condition, while others passing through more affluent areas seem to see a lot more maintenance. The metro is often hot, crowded, and smelly. Many lines offer rides so bumpy and jarring, that coupled with the misleading, confidence destroying signage in the stations, would find me arriving at my destination worn and, I’ll just say it,  humiliated. It’s an old and, all things considered, very functional system so I know I shouldn’t complain but, well, here we are.

It’s bland. Some call it harmony. I call it monotony. The general quality of architecture in Paris deserves its reputation for beauty and elegance, the fact is that it’s dull as hell. Street after street after street of beige-ish gray five-storey buildings tapering off into the distance in every direction. Every now and then you find yourself stopping to take in some fine stonework or wrought iron balcony while you wait for a late dinner date, but most of the time it all rushes by in a drab blur. And this is where the city lives you. There is no sense that the city belongs to its citizens, to shape and mold and recreate. Instead it seems like the city is simply renting out its space to the humans that inhabit it and while they are allowed pets, they are not to make any cosmetic changes. Though undeniably harmonious, I found that museum-like quality of the urban space stifling and stale.

Everybody’s hustling. The population density of central Paris is about 24,000 people per square kilometer. That’s in the range of Hong Kong or Tokyo. And Paris is not London, but it sure is expensive. Coupled with the high population density, the atmosphere is often tense and competitive, but unlike London, Tokyo, or Hong Kong, there isn’t the same chance of hitting it big. Salaries are modest, jobs are scarce. Metro, boulot, dodo. People are struggling in the middle class in Paris. On the plus side, most of them will never manage to slip into true poverty, but this leaves an awful lot of people paddling very hard to stay exactly where they are.

What I hate about Toronto

Oh, so many many things. A few big, most small.

Questionable taste.  Ok, Torontonians really chafe when I say this, but there is a lack of taste in this city. The simple fact that there is a lot of money means a lot of nice things do get built, nice clothes get worn, but my goodness I often find my self wondering what people are thinking in this city. Part of the problem is that Toronto’s golden years where arguably in the 70s and 80s. That “heyday” left behind some really awful architecture, poor colour schemes, and painful fonts that have formed the aesthetic baseline by which many locals judge anything new. I’ll be kind and not go into any more detail here.

Small minds and shitty infrastructure. Infrastructure in Toronto is something to be ashamed of. The subway system is 30 years out of date in scale and technology. The city is cut off from it’s waterfront by a shambles of an elevated highway. The wonderful, extensive streetcar system is crippled by being forced to share congested road space with cars rather than have dedicated lanes. The streets are littered with countless rusty poles holding up everything from signage to messy cabling, standing at different angles, cluttering the streetscape alongside the huge transformer boxes and unburried electrical cables perched on old wooden poles, right in the centre of the city. And virtually no bike lanes.  The worst part? Locals will often defend these things as not being that bad. Locals will fight tooth and nail against initiatives to add bike lanes, improve transit, or beautify the city. It’s surreal. The upshot is that abundance of backward loudmouths have inspired a vital community of activists pushing for civic change to come out of the woodwork and try to drag the city into the 21st century.

Toronto is not New York. This is an easy one. In part because Toronto is such a young and unsung city, and because it is so inclusive, it’s hard for people arriving in Toronto to get an easy sense of what Toronto is. Those who don’t stay long enough often come away thinking it’s just a nice big bland city.  But locals suffer from this too. Being the largest city in one of the richest and most industrialized countries in the world should come with a measure if cachet. But if that country happens to be the quiet middle child stuck beside its loud and endlessly self-involved big brother, and if your world view is primarily based on what your big brother has to say (which doesn’t usually involve you), suddenly there is ample fodder for an identity crisis. Knowing that doesn’t make it any less tiring to hear the city constantly being defined by locals in term of being like New York in one way or another. Yonge-Dundas Square, for example, is described by Torontonians as Toronto’s answer to Times Square. What was the question? Toronto is the New York of Canada. Can’t it be the Toronto of Canada? Funnily enough, Montreal has far more in common with New York in its design and its than Toronto does, but Montreal couldn’t care less. Toronto has character all its own, and thankfully people are finally becoming comfortable with that. Not fast enough for me though.

Winner?

Toronto. Not because I happen to live here for the moment. Toronto is simply a much more livable city that strikes a better balance between quality of life, economic opportunity, and buzz. It loses on transit but kills Paris on variety of food and multiculturalism.

Watching videos of Tapei’s new Neihu MRT Line, I’m again fascinated by the way other cities manage to build functional (in the case of Taipei, outstanding) transit systems in a relative blink of an eye while here in Canada we continue to debate extensions to our subway lines for decades at a time.

Taipei’s new Neihu line is the seventh(!) line to be inaugurated since the system’s opening in 1996. This collection of news clips on the event is worth watching to appreciate the scale and quality of the system’s addition, but also to sample the garish graphic-yness of Taiwanese new and arch an eyebrow quizzically at the steak and beer contest that seems such a natural fit at the event.

In contrast, here in Toronto the last addition to the subway system was in 2002 when the ambitious five-station Sheppard subway was completed out at the edges of the system. And that after nearly two decades since the last expansion in a city of relentless growth and grinding traffic. Montreal’s story is similar if less extreme.

There are lots of arguments for why this is. Sadly none of them actually stand up to much scrutiny.