Focus Group at The 519’s Sunday Drop-In Program

“Make it look so nice for people to keep it nice,” read one resident-crafted sign from our focus group last Sunday, May 29. We had an inclusive conversation that brought together multiple perspectives from 8 residents in the Moss Park vicinity.

We discussed the importance of creating-and sustaining-a safe space for multiple groups: First Nations communities, sex workers, LGBTQ youth and drug users. At the end of our session, all participants wrote their priority items on a paper and shared them in a photo.

Many of the priority items ranged from appearance (“more flowers. Lots of flowers”, “make it more presentable” and “coloured building”) to the importance of inclusion (“a space for LGBTQ2S youth in the area”, “a welcoming space” and “hire a friendly face”). Other residents had specific requests, including a baseball diamond and a pet-friendly area.

Despite our participants’ differing priority items, all members shared the same motivation: respect for the space. “If this project is successful, you have to invite a grandmother to do a ceremony for the land and the trees before you break ground,” said one participant. “It’s important we show respect to the land.”