Donde Vivimos: Investigating Latin American newcomers’ experiences with the built environment and neighbourhood characteristics in Toronto

Abstract

Publicly available data from the 2016 and 2021 censuses were analyzed to understand where Latin American immigrants live in Toronto and their access to neighbourhood resources that promote health. Findings show that Latin American immigrants, both overall and those who arrived in Canada in the past 5 years, live in neighbourhoods across Toronto, with large communities based in the northwest and northeast corners of the city as well as a growing community near downtown and Lake Ontario. Areas with higher numbers of Latin American immigrants had lower levels of household and neighbourhood stability, higher levels of poverty and material deprivation, and fewer nearby jobs. There was substantial variation in the availability of healthy food retailers across areas with high numbers of Latin American immigrants. Latin American immigrants living closer to downtown and near major transit lines had access to better active living environments that enable walking and cycling compared to those living in the northwest and northeast corners of the city. Past research has clearly established that neighbourhood-level factors and the built environment can have considerable impacts on health and wellbeing. This analysis demonstrates that large numbers of Latin American immigrants live in areas with insufficient amenities known to influence health.