Toronto’s Chinatown is one of the largest in North America, despite the surprising fact that it is relatively new. Toronto’s original Chinatown was located at Bay and Dundas, but was forced to relocate to make way for Toronto’s new city hall and Nathan Phillips Square. For those living outside the ethnic enclave, it is treated as a tourist attraction within the city, which comes as no surprise. It is a vibrant community with something for everyone. However, for those that live in the area surrounding Spadina and Dundas W, this is home. In an effort to highlight the importance of the Chinatown community, the Long Time No See Collective is trying to raise awareness of the area’s gentrification. Inspired by this idea, each image presented in this photo essay is titled after the Chinatown business at which it was taken. The hope is to shine a light on what day-to-day life looks like in these places, and depict it as a neighbourhood instead of a tourist destination.
