An Initiative of TORONTO’S VITALSIGNS SOCIAL CAPITAL TORONTO STUDY 2018 An Initiative of TORONTO’S TORONTO SOCIAL VITALSIGNS CAPITAL STUDY 3 Foreword – Letter from Sharon Avery 5 Introduction 10 Executive summary RESULTS INSIDE SOCIAL SOCIAL CIVIC 16 TRUST 28 NETWORKS 40 CONNECTION 51 NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT 56 Conclusions and next steps 59 Appendices 60 Survey methodology 64 Neighbourhood map WHAT’S WHAT’S FOREWORD The turn of phrase “take stock” comes to mind when I reflect on why we, Toronto’s community foundation, set out to launch this benchmarking research study on social capital in Toronto. It is the idea that one should step back and review any given situation before making a decision. The value of this process is in its potential to be a fact finding mission, of sorts. The kind of action one might take when creating a map of where to go next. Our community knowledge has been Toronto Foundation wants to better our map, our guide star, since we began understand how we can support our work almost 40 years ago. For neighbourhood resilience in the face more than 15 years, our Toronto’s Vital of increasing stresses. We believe Signs Report has been at the heart of philanthropy can play an important role our model of philanthropy. Each year in not only mitigating damaging effects it gives us a unique understanding but, strategic investment choices can of the challenges and opportunities be made to create a healthier, more in our city, and it guides our family prosperous city for all. of philanthropists to the community organizations that are individually and This makes it essential to have the collectively supporting solutions to necessary metrics in place to assess the challenges. the current state of social capital, guide community investments, and to chart A major impetus for this study on social improvements over time. capital came from significant trends highlighted in previous Toronto’s Vital The potential for social capital goes Signs Reports, including increasing beyond connecting neighbour to inequities, persistent child poverty, neighbour. What if social networks youth unemployment levels, a fast- are expanded to bring unusual actors growing and aging population, public together in a shared purpose? What health challenges, and the rate of will happen if relationships are formed change in some neighbourhoods that extend beyond the limitations of resulting in social isolation. With geography, experience, or income? complex societal concerns such as these, we know that the solutions will As you will read in the pages that not come from some of us, but must follow, the conditions for healthy come from all of us. And, we believe levels of social capital as a whole that social capital is at the core of already exist in Toronto. For instance, making collaborative solutions possible. residents in our city’s Neighbourhood Toronto Social Capital Study > Foreword 3 Improvement Areas rely on their sense The data presented within also benefited of agency and connections with their substantially from the contributions of neighbours to surmount the difficult several partners who provided invaluable challenges they face, more so than insights and nuance to the data, as many other residents in the city. well as funding. This project would not have been possible had this group not This study, which is co-led with come together and worked through a Environics Institute for Survey Research, variety of perspectives and interests. Our also comes at an interesting time in our collaboration has truly been social capital city and country. From the impacts of in action. This ground-breaking report changes at the municipal and provincial is just a first step in bringing this new levels of government, to young data to life. We expect that our partners people trying to make their way in an and others will add richness, depth, increasingly costly city, and the wave of and breadth to this relatively recent newcomers making Toronto their home area of study. – social capital is an important measure of how well residents are doing, and For our part, this work supports our aim how well they are able to recover from to become a new kind of community setbacks and crises, both individually foundation and a new kind of funder, one and as a community. that recognizes that power is not just about money – it is about connections, We especially thank Michael Adams belonging, creating a sense of trust that and Keith Neuman of the Environics we can move forward, all of us together. Institute for their vision, guidance, We must recognize that social capital is and implementation of the study. A an asset we can cultivate. But we must unique feature of this study will also also be mindful that focusing on averages be the linking of the survey results to risks overlooking the very real differences more than 100 existing demographic in our experiences of social capital. I and other secondary data sources via hope you will read this report with an postal code to support further analysis eye to seeing where we can and must do that links social capital to other key better so that no one is left isolated. indicators at the neighbourhood level. This capability is being provided by Environics Analytics through its leading- edge ENVISION geodemographics software platform. We hope this study inspires further research into social capital, an area which is increasingly becoming more important as we Sharon Avery, navigate a disruptive world together. President & CEO, Toronto Foundation THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS: ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: • Community Foundations of Canada/ Canadian Heritage • CanadaHelps • MLSE Foundation • City of Toronto • Ontario Trillium Foundation • Environics Analytics • TAS Design Build • National Institute on Ageing • United Way Greater Toronto • Toronto Public Health • Wellesley Institute Toronto Social Capital Study > Foreword 4 INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND This report presents the results of Through its Toronto’s Vital Signs a major research study about social Reports, Toronto Foundation confirms capital in the city of Toronto. Social our city to be among the most liveable capital is the term used to describe in the world.1 At the same time, these the vibrancy of social networks and reports also identify numerous trends the extent to which there is trust and that are significantly challenging reciprocity within a community and Toronto to remain liveable and among individuals. It is the essential vibrant, including a fast-growing and “lubricant” that makes it possible for aging population, and an increasing societies to function, and for people to division into high and low income get along peacefully even when they neighbourhoods. Given these trends, have little in common. There is ample social capital becomes even more empirical evidence showing that high important to our collective wellbeing, levels of such reciprocity, trust and and to developing the connections connection are not simply “feel good” and resilience needed to provide for a notions, but key ingredients to making decent quality of life for all residents. communities productive, healthy and safe. The concept of social capital There are good measures for tracking gained widespread attention in the Toronto’s economic performance, past few decades through the work public health, and infrastructure, of noted American political scientist but limited evidence about its social Robert Putnam and his seminal work, capital. While there has been a growing Bowling Alone. appreciation of the importance of social connections and community Toronto is among the most ethnically engagement to positive outcomes in diverse cities on the planet, and widely such areas as public health and our recognized as having been uniquely political institutions, this has yet to successful in attracting high numbers be given systematic focus through of newcomers from many lands while empirical research. largely avoiding the tensions and civic strife experienced in some other cities. Toronto’s civic leaders have good reason to feel proud about the city’s ethnic diversity, especially given that trust, social connections and civic engagement are typically more evident in small homogeneous communities where individuals share historical, ethnic and cultural ties. 1 https://torontofoundation.ca/vitalsigns/ Toronto Social Capital Study > Introduction 5 TORONTO SOCIAL • Establishing a benchmark against CAPITAL STUDY which progress can be measured over time. Partners and other The Toronto Social Capital Study organizations can build upon this was conducted to address this gap study through follow-up surveys through comprehensive research on that may focus on specific target social capital in Toronto, to document populations and/or areas of the city. how the city is doing today, how it This research may also serve as the may be changing, and to identify basis for similar studies in other areas of success and challenges. This cities across Ontario and Canada. research addresses such questions as: To what extent do Torontonians feel The research not only provides much connected to, and actively engage needed social indicators to inform and with, their neighbours and community measure progress, it also sheds light on organizations? How well do they trust the community’s ability to collaborate others in their communities – those and create change. It is intended to who are like themselves and those who be widely shared to support new are different? These questions matter policies and programs, and to support because social trust and engagement investment in creating stronger are critical to a good quality of life, a networks and connections to tackle healthy population, safe streets, and the most pressing issues on a economic prosperity. collaborative basis. This study is the first of its kind in The Toronto Social Capital Study Canada, and will make an important is a partnership of leading civic contribution to the future of Toronto organizations across the city.