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In Toronto, we trust: Groundbreaking study shows city’s social capital is remarkably high

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How many close friends or relatives could you call in an emergency?

If you lost your wallet, would you trust someone in your neighbourhood to give it back?

Samantha Luc and her partner Lars Boggild outside the condo building which will soon be home. The two came from Halifax and found it a bit difficult to make friends and social connections. They have since joined clubs and are feeling more settled.
Samantha Luc and her partner Lars Boggild outside the condo building which will soon be home. The two came from Halifax and found it a bit difficult to make friends and social connections. They have since joined clubs and are feeling more settled.  (Rick Madonik / Toronto Star)

The answers to these questions are part of what researchers call “social capital,” a key ingredient to a good quality of life, a healthy population, safe streets and economic prosperity.

Toronto — a city of more than 2.8 million people where 51 per cent of residents are visible minorities — exhibits remarkably high levels of social capital, according to a groundbreaking report being released Tuesday.

And surprisingly, the research shows robust social capital among some groups where it was not expected, including first-generation Canadians and seniors living alone and in highrise buildings, says the report by the non-profit Toronto Foundation and Environics Institute for Survey Research.

“In contrast to some of the research evidence for U.S. cities, this study found no evidence in Toronto that increasing ethnic diversity is linked to lower levels of social capital,” says the report, the first comprehensive look at the issue in a Canadian city.

Social capital is the “lubricant” that drives social networks, determines trust and makes it possible for people who may have little in common to live peacefully with each other, says the report. This kind of mutual support, trust and connection are not simply “feel good” notions, but as important as economic capital, it says.

“Social capital is absolutely critical to our lives, to our happiness, to our well-being, to progressing in society,” said Sharon Avery, president and CEO of the foundation. “And while there is clearly something to celebrate (in the Toronto results), I don’t want us to celebrate and walk away.”

For example, the research shows just 6 per cent of Torontonians don’t have a close friend or relative. But that still represents 100,000 residents, Avery noted. “That’s the population of Pickering and not something we can ignore.”

To lead the way, the foundation is using the research to make grants of up to $25,000 each to nine resident-led projects aimed at strengthening social capital and urban resilience in neighbourhoods across the city.

The foundation hopes the research, which will be freely available through Environics, will help academics, planners, activists and philanthropists guide investment in communities and help those who are most vulnerable.

Avery also hopes other cities across Canada do their own studies.

“Until another big city does this, we won’t be sure we are as good as we should be,” she said.

The report, which cost about $275,000 and another $100,000 in in-kind support, examined four dimensions of social capital — social trust, social networks, civic connection and neighbourhood support.

It found people in Toronto generally trust others, including those who are different from themselves, feel a sense of belonging to their community, have family and friends they can rely on, give back to the community and are interested in politics.

However, the research found a significant number of residents with low levels of social capital, including those who are isolated from their neighbours, living on low incomes, residents in their late 20s struggling to get established, and in some cases, racialized minorities.

At a time when Toronto faces a rapidly-aging population, high rates of child poverty and a growing polarization of high- and low-income neighbourhoods, “social capital becomes even more important to our collective well-being,” the report says.

It is also “an important measure of how well residents are doing and how well they are able to recover from setbacks and crises, both individually and as a community,” it adds.

Environics surveyed a demographically representative sample of 3,207 residents over age 18 earlier this year and asked participants a series of 60 questions.

In addition to questions about personal connections and trust, the Environics survey asked about civic connections, such as participation in groups, community associations and interest in politics. It found civic connection is highest among those who know their neighbours, have relatively high incomes, are religiously active and live in the central part of the city. Among ethnic groups, those who identify as Black were most active, while those who identify as Chinese were least active, according to the study.

Despite concern about low voter turnout, the survey shows higher rates of political engagement since Statistics Canada’s 2013 General Social Survey, a national survey that included a small sample from Toronto.

In terms of neighbourhood support, the Environics survey found a large majority of city residents believe “people working together as a group can make a big difference” with the highest scores among those who identify as Black or South Asian and among residents of “neighbourhood improvement areas” targeted for extra municipal support due to high socio-economic needs.

“Listening to those populations and asking them what they think the solutions are … is a key bridge we’d like to build between neighbourhoods,” Avery said. “Assets aren’t just about money, they are also about the relationships we share.”

Kwame McKenzie, CEO of the Wellesley Institute, one of several community partners that helped fund the project, said most people understand the value of having friends and relatives to count on — in fact, 54 per cent of Torontonians said they had up to five close friends.

“But what many people may not realize is that a society where (groups from different cultures) are better linked is actually more important for your health and … a vital component of well-being,” he said. “We need to ensure that we build better links between groups in the city if we want good health for everyone.”

Michelynn Laflèche, vice-president of research and policy for United Way Greater Toronto, another community partner, said social capital is linked to opportunity.

“In a region with growing inequality, it’s important to have a picture of what social capital looks like: Who has how much, and what they can do with it,” she said.

And when it comes to cold hard cash — and getting your wallet back, the survey shows 75 per cent of Torontonians trust someone in their neighbourhood to return it.


Portraits of social capital:

Marilyn Cancellara, 73, is typical of seniors who have among the highest levels of social capital, according to a new report by the Toronto Community Foundation. Despite being widowed six years ago and living alone in a highrise near Earl Bales Park, Cancellara is an active volunteer with North York Community House, helping newcomers with conversational English.

Marilyn Cancellara, 73, is widowed and lives alone, but as an active volunteer has a wide social circle.
Marilyn Cancellara, 73, is widowed and lives alone, but as an active volunteer has a wide social circle.  (Rick Madonik / Toronto Star)

Many of the newcomers she helps have become close friends, an important form of social capital researchers call “bridging capital” or the ability to form connections with those who are not like themselves.

“I’ve worked with people from almost every country,” Cancellara said. “And I find most people are the same. We think the same. We’re not that different at all.”

“They come to my home and they have coffee. I get Egyptians and Iranians, people from Iraq, Afghanistan . . . everyone gets along with everyone.”


Nancy Li, 53, who came to Toronto from China with her husband and 11-year old son in 2005, knows what it is like to be a newcomer who doesn’t speak the language and is struggling to convert foreign skills into employment in a new country.

Nancy Li, who came to Canada in 2005, knows what it is like to be a newcomer who doesn't speak the language and is struggling to convert foreign skills into employment in a new country. "It was very lonely," she says.
Nancy Li, who came to Canada in 2005, knows what it is like to be a newcomer who doesn’t speak the language and is struggling to convert foreign skills into employment in a new country. « It was very lonely, » she says.  (Rick Madonik / Toronto Star)

“It was very lonely,” she said. But Li, a teacher in China, learned English, went back to school and found a job as a community worker at the Agincourt Community Services Association, where she sees other members of her community suffering from the same sense of disconnection.

Chinese immigrants have the lowest level of social capital, according to the report. Although researchers are not sure why this ethnic group ranks lower than others, Li speculates the intense pressure to provide for their families may be a factor. Chinese seniors are especially vulnerable as they are often isolated in their homes helping their new immigrant children and grandchildren get established. It is why Li’s agency supports the Happy Healthy Friendship Association. “The group helps seniors form friendships and make connections outside their immediate community, says Li, who co-ordinates the group. “Everybody needs a friend to talk to.”


Ana Barbakadze, 27, is one of roughly 6 per cent of Toronto residents — or about 100,000 people — who have no friends or family to call in an emergency. And yet the refugee from Georgia, in Eastern Europe, who came to Toronto two years ago, alone and pregnant, believes in miracles.

Ana Barbakadze, a 27-year-old refugee from Georgia, is one of roughly 6 per cent of Toronto residents who have no close friends or family to call in an emergency. She is holding son, Daniel, 15 months.
Ana Barbakadze, a 27-year-old refugee from Georgia, is one of roughly 6 per cent of Toronto residents who have no close friends or family to call in an emergency. She is holding son, Daniel, 15 months.  (Rene Johnston / Toronto Star)

Barbakadze had nowhere to turn when she was illegally evicted from a rooming house shortly after she arrived. She faced homelessness again last summer when the couple running her new rooming house announced they were moving.

“I just broke down crying, sobbing in the stairwell with my baby. What kind of mother takes her baby to a homeless shelter?” Barbakadze said. But “miraculously,” a passerby — who turned out to be another immigrant from Georgia — offered the mother and son a room in her home. “It is a miracle that I could come here,” said Barbakadze, who worked as an emergency services telephone operator, but fled her homeland due to racial persecution. “When I get on my feet, I want to work with people to help them. Because I know what it feels like to have no one.”

Vivien Green director of settlement services for North York Community House, says Barbakadze’s story is not unique and underscores the important role settlement workers play for refugees.

“For many refugees, their settlement worker is their only contact,” she said. “They deal with everything.”


Samantha Luc isn’t surprised a new report shows young people between the ages of 24 and 29 are among those with the lowest social capital in the city. “Many people in my age group are just out of university, new to the city and trying to get established,” said Luc, 25, who moved to Toronto from Halifax with her spouse Lars Boggild, 27, four years ago.

Samantha Luc and her partner Lars Boggild outside the condo building which will soon be home. The two came from Halifax and found it a bit difficult to make friends and social connections. They have since joined clubs and are feeling more settled.
Samantha Luc and her partner Lars Boggild outside the condo building which will soon be home. The two came from Halifax and found it a bit difficult to make friends and social connections. They have since joined clubs and are feeling more settled.  (Rick Madonik / Toronto Star)

“It took us some time to find our feet when we first got here,” said Luc, who works as an events co-ordinator for a specialty chocolate maker. “We had no family here and didn’t really know anyone, so my partner and I were feeling a bit isolated.” But 4-1/2-years later, as more university friends moved to the city and they became more secure in their jobs, the couple have formed a wide social circle and have joined local clubs and community groups.

“I have joined a figure skating club and Lars has joined a tennis club,” Luc said. The couple has also joined Vision 2020, a group of young philanthropists working with the Toronto Community Foundation to give back to their community.

Laurie Monsebraaten is a Toronto-based reporter covering social justice. Follow her on Twitter: @lmonseb

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Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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