Dixon City
“The saddest part of the human race is we're obsessed with this idea of 'us and them,' which is really a no-win situation, whether it's racial, cultural, religious or political.”
—Dave Matthews

In the late 1980's  political strife in Somalia lead to a flight of refugees, so that Somalia was the source of the second-largest number of refugee claimants in Canada in the early 1990's. By 1991 there were 9,000 Somali's living in Canada with the majority in Toronto and by the end of 1993, 13,872 Somalis were permanent residents in Canada.

Little Mogadishu
It is well known that Toronto's Somali population clustered in the Dixon Road and Islington Avenue area of Etobicoke which was referred to as “Little Somalia.” What is not well known is that the six condominium buildings on Dixon Road were targeted by the City of Etobicoke.

City officials need housing for the large influx of Somali refugees so they contacted all the condo owners who were renting their units for approximately $900 a month and promised them $1200 a month if they would rent to the Somalis refugees. An added sweetener was that the owners would receive their rent money directly from the city so the monthly rent payments were guaranteed.

The owners dumped their existing tenants as quickly as they could to make room for the refugees. A large number of Somalians moving into these three condominium buildings. This immediate area, named Dixon City, provided a sense of community for the Somali immigrants.

They did not mix well with the established owner-residents who resented their presence.

Social tensions
The low-income Somalis shared their apartments with extended families and other immigrants so that an estimated 4,500 Somalis were living in a third of YCC #42s almost 900 apartments.

The three buildings which were designed to hold 5000 grew to 9000 residents. The children played in the hallways and the Somali community would gather in the open courtyard in the late evenings to socialize.

There were complaints of noise, vandalism, petty crime and overcrowded elevators. Owner-residents complained that the Somalis were urinating, defecting and smoking khat in the staircases.

In return, the Somalis complained of harassment, based on racism, which they felt was intended to drive them out of the area.

A Place Called Dixon
The social and economic tensions within YCC #42 were recorded in a CBC documentary, "A Place Called Dixon" that was aired on television in 1993.

While it is true that there was a deep divide between the original white, European owner-residents and the brown skinned, Muslim newcomers, the documentary was criticized for showing extremists on both sides and unfairly portraying the owner-residents as racists.

Economic costs
The overcrowding led to complaints from building managers and property owners. The common element fees soared as the condo corporation had to pay for huge increases in utility bills, garbage pickups, maintenance costs, vandalism and repairs and replacements to the common areas.

Security was increased and the guards had two police dogs, which they claimed were needed for their safety but were seen as an affront by the Somali residents.

The unexpected economic burden created by the over-crowded units had to be shared by all of the unit owners. Property values plunged.

I contend that the real problem at YCC #42 was not racial, cultural or religious but economic. The condo was overwhelmed by a low-income population who needed inexpensive housing. The absentee landlords, who rented their units, accommodated them. The owner-residents who had their life savings tied up in their units and could not afford to cut their losses and sell, would never be happy with how their dream homes turned out.


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