St. James Town -- 'Weathering the Storm' Research Report

By Nea Maaty
(Nea Maaty is a journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre ~ a partnership with the St. James Town Corner)

In this episode of St. James Town TV, we feature the Weathering the Storm Research Report. The report was prepared for the St. James Town Service Providers Network by Lisa Kowalchuck, a professor of sociology and anthropology at the University of Guelph.  Lisa Kowalchuck's team of researchers included community residents Priyal Goenka, Tanvir Kaukab, and Lovlyn Dsouza.
 
The aim of the study was to determine how the covid-19 pandemic played out in the highly diverse and densely populated community of St. James Town. The study focused on three demographics, youth, newcomers and seniors.
 
According to Lisa and her team, in the area of children and youth the study found that parents with infants and pre-teen children reported lockdown impacts that affected child development such as the lack of social interactions and gaining of learning experiences because of the disruption of day-care and the closure of recreational family outing options. Parents of special needs children found that online interactions were sorely inadequate substitutes for programs and classes, and were witnessing distressing emotional fallout in their children. The adolescents and young adults in the sample experienced lay-offs from newly attained jobs, self-development projects stalled or lost, and being cut off from socialization outlets.

In the area of newcomers and immigrants, according to the findings of the study, income loss was one of the most disturbing impacts on emotional wellbeing as newcomers have relatively thin local social networks to turn to for support. Another impact on newcomer and immigrant wellbeing was the suspension of long-planned, long-awaited travel to countries of origin. The pandemic also imposed considerable job- and income-related pressures on the immigrants in terms of employment instability.

Yet alongside these income strains, local face to face networks which are sources of potential support of all kinds, are relatively less dense for immigrants and newcomers than for people born in Canada. Limitations of language especially with the lack of interaction to gain new linguistic skills was one of the impacts on newcomers.
 
Another demographic that was severely affected was seniors. The most prominent and troubling of which was increased isolation and loneliness due to the loss of programs and activities for socializing, intensified food insecurity, and other effects of the loss of in-person supports such as Personal Support Workers (PSWs).

One of the bright conclusions of the study is the positive accomplishments of the agencies' related to Covid testing clinics and vaccination. The agencies did a great job with data collection despite limitations of outreach since they couldn't have face to face communication. Other challenges the clinics and community centres overcame was operating under a tight budget and the lack of English proficiency for some community members.

Despite the difficulties many people experienced as a result of the pandemic including food insecurity, loneliness, financial and economic challenges, results indicated that the neighborhood recorded a noticeable degree of bonding and support. Individuals and groups in the area came together to ensure those in need had support, opportunities for connections, food banks and programming.