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 Year in Pictures
The Local’s editors pick our favourite images of 2025
The Local’s Most-Read Stories of 2025
From features about health care and higher ed, to stories about tracking bunnies, scammers, and worms, these are our most popular stories of the year.
The Local’s 2025 Year in Review
At this reflective time of year, we gather around the flickering warmth of The Local Slack channel to discuss the year that was.
Can the Finch West LRT Keep Up With Its Promises?
After years of delay, Line 6 is now running across a historically isolated part of the city. At its launch, politicians posed, transit enthusiasts assembled, and some locals wondered if it was worth the wait.
On the TTC, With Nowhere to Go
With rising homelessness, decreased mental health support, and fewer public spaces than ever, the TTC and its workers are being asked to fill gaps in a dissolving social safety net.
The Fallout From Our AI Freelancer Investigation
A conversation about the future of journalism in a world of “Victoria Goldiees.”
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
Early-Career Journalism Fellowship
A joint undertaking of The Local and The Philanthropist Journal, the fellowship provides one Black and/or Indigenous journalist an opportunity to write about issues that matter to their community and civil society.
Neethan Shan Wins Scarborough–Rouge Park By-Election
In a crowded field, the longtime local politician was elected back to city council on a call to put Scarborough first.
Live Results From the Scarborough–Rouge Park By-Election
Real-time results from election night, starting at around 9 p.m. on September 29, 2025.