Ahmed and his wife came to Canada from Bangladesh in 2006 under the Foreign-born professionals program. Both were doctors back home — young, successful and surrounded by family. But like many people who come to Canada seeking a better education for their kids, they now face a harsh reality of long hours and low paid work, high rise living, and the stress of trying to keep it together while struggling with poverty and social isolation.
Two neighbourhoods on Toronto’s East side bear the unfortunate ranking of highest rates of mental health visits in the city: Oakridge & Taylor-Massey. This video portrait is the first in an ongoing series investigating the issue of mental health from the perspective of the communities who live there.
More from this issue
The Local Receives Three National Journalism Award Nominations
Our community stories from 2023 are finalists for the Canadian Association of Journalists awards
The Transit Boss Torontonians Love to Hate
When Phil Verster was announced as Metrolinx’s CEO in 2017, there was universal praise. But with an $856,000 salary and a tenure defined by cost overruns and years of delays to projects like the Eglinton LRT, critics want him out. How did it go so wrong?
Tenants See Evictions; Their Landlord Sees a Revolutionary New Business Model
As CEO of Harrington Housing, Jonas Emre says he’s “transforming” the rental sector with a new model of flexible co-living. Tenants say he’s evicting them, subdividing their apartments, and attempting to sidestep the protections of the RTA.
Results from The Local’s Annual Diversity Survey
Every year The Local conducts a diversity survey among staff and contributors. See how we did in 2023.
The Local Journalism Fellowship 2024
Now in its fifth year, the program provides training and mentorship to aspiring and emerging journalists from communities underrepresented in Canadian media.
The Local’s 2023 Year in Review
Favourite stories, best reporting trip meals, worst Big Tech dustups—a Local end-of-year staff roundtable.
Parthi Kandavel Wins Scarborough Southwest By-Election
The former TDSB trustee beat out a field of 23 to become Ward 20's newest city councillor.
Live Results from Scarborough Southwest By-Election
Real-time results from election night, starting at 8 p.m. on November 30, 2023.
Here Are the Scarborough Southwest By-Election Candidates
The only place to find fact-checked biographies and election platform summaries for every candidate running for Ward 20—Scarborough Southwest in the November 30, 2023 by-election.
Minor Tweaks to Road Safety Policy Won’t Get Us to Zero
City council just approved a series of changes to Toronto’s Vision Zero program—but the improvements fail to address a key weakness in the way the program is run.