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
Here Are the Don Valley West By-Election Candidates
The only place to find fact-checked biographies and election platform summaries for all the candidates in Ward 15—Don Valley West's by-election for city councillor on November 4, 2024.
The Creeping Threat to Trans Rights in Toronto
Toronto is seen by many as a progressive bastion, but as anti-trans sentiment grips right-wing politics abroad and in Canada—including here in Ontario’s biggest city—local advocates are bracing themselves.
When Environmentalism is Weaponized Against the Unhoused
From a proposed pollinator garden at St. Stephen-in-the-Fields to tree trimmings and ‘grass remediation’—how the city uses green rhetoric to displace the homeless.
Making Space for Queer Community, Between Banquet Tables and Dim Sum Carts
For many queer, racialized Torontonians, Church and Wellesley doesn’t feel welcoming. As they push for inclusion, they’re also building their own spaces far from the Village.
Excluded: The Legal Loophole Barring Hundreds of Ontario Students From School
A little-known provision gives school principals blanket authority to exclude “detrimental” students from class. Advocates say it’s being abused, and the province isn't paying enough attention.
Meet the 2024 Local Fellows
We’re excited to announce this year’s Local Journalism Fellows: Alice Boyle, Sam Rosati Martin, Matthew Molinaro, and Mzwandile Poncana.
The Local Wins at the Digital Publishing Awards and National Magazine Awards
Our coverage of the mayoral election and the Finch West LRT construction were recognized at a pair of awards ceremonies on Friday evening.
The Local Wins Two Canadian Association of Journalists Awards
Daysha Loppie received the Student Award of Excellence and Simon Lewsen won the prize in the Community Written category.
Don’t Save Local Journalism, Reinvent It
We launched The Local on this day in 2019. After five years, one global pandemic, multiple elections, and a constant drumbeat of bad news for the media, here’s why I’m more optimistic than ever about local, non-profit journalism.
Five National Magazine Award Nominations for The Local
It is the highest number of NMA nominations received by The Local in a single year, and includes one for Editorial Package.