About Toronto
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
York University recognizes that many Indigenous Nations have longstanding relationships with the territories upon which York University campuses are located that precede the establishment of York University. York University acknowledges its presence on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations. The area known as Tkaronto has been care taken by the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat. It is now home to many First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities. We acknowledge the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is subject of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the Great Lakes region.
Toronto is Canada's most populated and multiracial city. As such, it is full of diverse restaurants, numerous cafes, a great brewery scene, and a fair number of parks, local libraries, youth centres, and much else! It might take some looking around, but no matter your interests, eventually you will find places or people who will be like-minded like you. Of course, everybody's experience is different -- some find Toronto too stuffy and some find it too relaxed; it all depends on your previous experiences and current preferences!
HOUSING
One thing to watch out for, however, is Toronto's rental market, which is wildly expensive, and getting more so each passing year. If you're arriving from out of the city for your MA or PhD, this will take some adjusting to. Here are some resources you can access while house hunting (for the first or fifteenth time!):
Facebooks groups such as Homes For Queers Toronto, GTA Prospective Renters, or Toronto Home Zone are great places to look for sublets or renting options.
Websites such as Craigslist, ViewIt, Zumper, and Kijiji are great spaces to find rentals as well.
Toronto also has housing help centres such as Albion Neighbourhood Services Housing Services Hub, COSTI North York Housing Services Hub, Unison Health and Community Services Housing Services Hub, and TNO - The Neighbourhood Organization Housing Services Hub which are located at various locations near, or around, York University campuses.
You can also sign up for the Affordable Housing List where housing workers compile lists of affordable housing and email them out on a weekly basis.
Of course, you could simply hit the streets and scope out the 'For Rent' signs if you're already in the city! It never hurts to write a short message about your renting needs (budget, specifications, etc.) to the department GPA and ask them to circulate it around just in case someone has a lead!
Most reputable landlords require that you provide a credit check, identification, proof of income, and 2 references when applying for a unit. It is best to have all these documents ready when applying to make the process go smoothly, and it is also ideal to have the funds to cover your first and last month’s rent ready, to secure your new place with the landlord.
TRANSPORTATION
Toronto has a unique subway and transport system, which includes the streetcars, buses, and trains operated by the TTC and the buses and trains operated by GoTransit. Both systems work together, especially for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) like Mississauga, Brampton, Scarborough, Etobicoke, and other areas. You will need a Presto Card or Go Transit Passes to access the TTC and GoTransit. We now have the option to pay directly with tapping a debit or credit card on the TTC as well.
Access a map of Toronto city here: https://map.toronto.ca/maps/map.jsp?app=TorontoMaps_v2 (interactive).
Access a TTC subway, streetcar and system map here: https://www.ttc.ca/routes-and-schedules
AROUND TOWN
There are a few ways in which you could find out about film screenings, concerts, book readings, and other events happening in and around Toronto. There's NOW Magazine, blogTO, and The Star.
If you want to be involved with issues of race and racism in Toronto, here's a link to the Toronto chapter of Black Lives Matter. If you wish to support black owned businesses in Toronto, you can find more info on this Instagram page, these blogTO articles or an app called Black Toronto Business Directory.
For used books, we frequent Atticus Books, BMV Books, Seekers Books, Glad Day Bookshop, and for new books we like Another Story Book Shop, and Ben McNally Books. You could also check out A Different Booklist, which is a great spot for critical reading! York University also houses a feminist press called, Innana, which is located at 210 Founders College.
BOOKS ON CAMPUS & ONLINE
On campus, for books with a feminist focus, we have the Nellie Langford Rowell library. Our main library is the Scott Library. We also have rare books and primary sources in the Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections and we also have audio/visual stuff at the Sound and Moving Image Library.
Online, we have York's Online Catalogue (a starting place for your library searches), and Kanopy (the 'Netflix' of university database subscriptions).