‘Scarborough is Toronto’s future,’ This district has a bad reputation, but city councillors are trying to change that

What comes to mind when you hear Scarborough? For many, the bustling east-end district is often reduced to tired stereotypes involving crime, long commutes, or simply being “too far.” 

A recent Reddit thread on Toronto neighbourhoods with bad reputations summed up these thoughts in one comment: “Scarborough is written off by so many people.”

For the people who live in Scarborough, and for those who lead it, that reputation is both outdated and unfair. City Councillors Jamaal Myers and Parthi Kandavel are working to flip the script, arguing that Scarborough isn’t a struggling suburb on the city’s edge, but an essential core of the city’s future.

“Scarborough is often painted as just another suburb,” Councillor Myers, who represents Scarborough North, told Now Toronto. “It’s actually one of the Greater Toronto Area’s most dynamic areas.”

Myers points to the area’s strengths; a cluster of long-standing factories, food processors, and modern logistics firms that generate thousands of good-paying jobs as proof that Scarborough is not just an afterthought, but a critical force in the economy. 

But it’s the people who make Scarborough extraordinary, he emphasizes.

“Scarborough is one of the most incredibly diverse and deeply integrated places on Earth,” Myers said. “All of us have friends, neighbours, and coworkers of different backgrounds. The vibe here is open-minded — we like trying new foods, watching foreign films, celebrating each other’s cultures.”

MORE THAN A STEREOTYPE

Both councillors agree that much of Toronto still views Scarborough through a narrow lens. Too often, it’s seen as a single neighbourhood, which leads to the entire district being perceived as one homogenous place. 

“Scarborough isn’t a neighbourhood,” Kandavel, who represents Scarborough Southwest, said to Now Toronto on Monday. “We don’t realize Scarborough is so vast geographically, from the lake to Steeles, Victoria Park to the Pickering border… but when the media covers crime, they’ll say, ‘Scarborough shooting.’ In my opinion, they should be using the specific neighbourhood.” 

Kandavel says that while statistics show that Scarborough has lower crime per capita than many other parts of Toronto, the stigma remains, driven by decades-old perceptions and misleading media framing.

“The 90’s was a hot time in Scarborough… I think a lot of the rep comes from the 80s and the 90s, whereas since then, it’s not as like what we have traditionally associated with. But that stigma still sticks to it,” Kandavel said. 

Many also aren’t appreciative of Scarborough’s global cultural contributions, Kandavel says. From comedians like Mike Myers, Jim Carrey and Lilly Singh to chart-topping artists like The Weeknd and film director Domee Shi (Turning Red), the area has long showcased its extraordinary stardom potential. 

“Maybe it’s the water, but we do produce, by far, a lot of the talent that goes worldwide,” Kandavel said.

And now, the councillor wants to take that natural creativity and build infrastructure around it. Currently, Kandavel says he’s spearheading a planning process around the Golden Mile to not only build housing and public spaces, but attract creative industries like film studios, graphic designers, recording spaces to provide pathways for young talent to stay, create, and thrive in Scarborough.

“We’ve got the talent here. Let’s now connect the opportunities,” he said. 

His office also recently helped facilitate a generous donation from The Weeknd to fund a new recording studio and basketball courts at the West Scarborough Boys and Girls Club. The artist, who grew up in the area, is also giving back to his former high school, Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute.

BUILDING SCARBOROUGH FOR THE FUTURE

While confronting the stigma is important, both councillors are more focused on the next steps to further improve the district. Myers is at the forefront of several initiatives that show Scarborough is not just ready for the future, but shaping it.

A plan to transform the decommissioned Line 3 corridor into a linear park linking communities from Kennedy Station to Scarborough Town Centre is already underway, he said, turning what could have been an eyesore into a green space, walking paths, and bike lanes.

He’s also pushing for revitalization of the Scarborough Civic Centre, originally opened in 1973 and designed by famed architect Raymond Moriyama.

“It was the hub for community life in Scarborough,” Myers said. “The building is currently underutilized and not living up to its potential… I kickstarted an initiative to rejuvenate and revitalize the centre as a space for arts and culture, community uses and social and business enterprises.”

Other projects also include a new long-term care facility at Finch Avenue and Brimley Road with specializations in culturally appropriate care for Black, Caribbean and African seniors, as well as affordable housing projects like six-plex homes. 

THE CITY NEEDS TO INVEST IN SCARBOROUGH

Despite all this progress, both councillors agree that Scarborough still suffers from decades of underinvestment. Since amalgamation in 1998, many feel the area hasn’t received its fair share of funding for transit, community centres, or youth programs.

“We haven’t seen the investments in our part of the city as much as we should have,” Kandavel said. “Look at how much goes into downtown, and that’s great. But we have to, as a city, think about all the suburbs, whether it’s Jane and Finch, Rexdale, Malvern, you know, Scarborough as a whole, we need to be cognizant and think and recognize this is where our talent, our Toronto identity, is coming from. They need to be supported.”

Kandavel says that while statistics show that Scarborough has lower crime per capita than many other parts of Toronto, the stigma remains, driven by decades-old perceptions and misleading media framing.

“The 90’s was a hot time in Scarborough… I think a lot of the rep comes from the 80s and the 90s, whereas since then, it’s not as like what we have traditionally associated with. But that stigma still sticks to it,” Kandavel said. 

For all the challenges ahead, Myers and Kandavel remain hopeful and proud. They see Scarborough as a place full of stories, drive, and possibility. But they’re also aware that progress depends on recognition, respect, and real investment.

“Scarborough comprises one-third of Toronto’s land area,” Myers said. “We play a vital role in the economy. We’re incredibly diverse and entrepreneurial. When Scarborough thrives — with improved housing, transit, public spaces, and youth infrastructure — Toronto thrives too.”

“Scarborough isn’t just part of Toronto’s future,” he added. “Scarborough is Toronto’s future.”