This past November, the City of Toronto announced the Little Jamaica Master Plan as part of a broader Cultural Districts Program. This announcement follows a years-long public outcry over the closure of Black-owned businesses and concerns about the erasure of Black and Jamaican culture that may result from the construction of a transit line and new development. The city reports that the program “will honour the Indigeneity of the planning area; centre the contributions of the Jamaican community, while embracing a pan-Africanism lens that will recognize Black placemaking contributions more broadly; and create space for all Little Jamaica residents, businesses and organizations to participate in the process.”

Recognizing that the Little Jamaica Master Plan is a response to the ideas and concerns of community members, the University of Toronto Daniels Faculty is pleased to welcome three panelists who have amplified their voices through a set of influential reports and design visions. Politicians have cited these reports as foundational to political action that was first brought forward in 2020 and many of our guests continue to do work in Little Jamaica, furthering the interests of business owners and leading initiatives around issues such as business preservation, public space, and affordable housing. This event will explore potential futures for Little Jamaica by asking panelists to share their contributions to these reports and to reflect on current work.