1. West Broadway
2. Wolseley
3. The West End

West Broadway has a little bit of something for everyone.

Jocelyne Nicolas, executive director of West Broadway Biz, says the neighbourhood’s ethos seems to be defined by inclusivity and acts of community care.

“I always say that West Broadway is a small area with a big heart,” she says.

“I think that the community is evolving, which is important. I think that’s sort of the starting point (of a thriving community): a place where everyone feels safe and welcome and (where) everyone feels that they have the ability to participate and be a part of a community.”

Nicolas says there have been many changes to the neighbourhood in the last five years. These include the addition of protected bike lanes that connect the neighbourhood to downtown and Wolseley.

In addition to blossoming infrastructure and a variety of restaurant and retail offerings, the neighbourhood contains a high concentration of non-profit organizations and healthcare facilities.

“We are really lucky, because there has been a history here, a tradition, really, of grassroots organizing to create the kind of change the neighbourhood wants to see,” Greg MacPherson, executive director of the West Broadway Community Organization, says.

“And certainly West Broadway residents, businesses and organizations have been very vocal about wanting proper housing for people to live in and wanting to support people to stay where they live.”

West Broadway is historically known for its diverse residents, according to MacPherson.

“This richness of perspective, of background and urgency lends the neighbourhood a mystique and an atmosphere that alternates between charming and alarming,” he says.

“We are a community that cares about one another, and people want to try to make sure that others have a place to live.”

Published in Volume 76, Number 12 of The Uniter (December 2, 2021)