It Took a Village: Kensington Market vs. Walmart

Toronto’s much-loved Kensington Market neighbourhood is at the core of a short film presented in December at a research symposium in the Graduate Media Production program at Ryerson. I, and my colleagues Robin Della Corte, Karim Marier and Hanmin Yang produced the film under the academic guidance of Dr. Marusya Bociurkiw. The film delves into the rich past and present cultures of Kensington, arguably the most bohemian neighbourhood in Toronto and Canada.

We used various research techniques, to examine the shared values passed on by successive waves of immigrants and gleaned a deep understanding of what the market has become today. We also wanted to share a modern version of the classic David and Goliath story, the tale of a group of engaged citizens and two city councilors who deftly deployed various media to prevent a large Walmart store from being built on their doorstep.

The film takes us from the neighbourhood’s start as a military man’s estate, through 150 years of immigration and evolution, to what the Market has become today, we also introduce to you to some of the key activists behind the fight.

Will the Market survive another 100 years? Watch the film and decide!