Toronto in the best city in the country for artists, and Parkdale the best neighborhood according to the results of a recent study. As reported by The
National Post the study, conducted by Hill Strategies Research group, in cooperation with the City of Toronto, found that Toronto's percentage of "cultural workers" surpassed that of every other over large city in the country.
"Toronto is Canada's top destination for artists, easily besting Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal, according to a new study. And in Toronto, Parkdale is top neighbourhood."
"About 22,300 artists lived in Toronto in 2006, according to a study released this week by the Hill Strategies Research group, in cooperation with the City of Toronto. Montreal was home to 13,400 artists; 8,200 in Vancouver; 5,100 in Calgary and 4,600 in Ottawa.
Toronto's most popular neighbourhood for both artists, 6%, and cultural workers, 16.3%, is Parkdale, moving up from sixth place in 2001.
Phil Henderson, a photographer and gallery director at Gallery 1313, said Parkdale has always had an artistic community.
"There's a very strong sense of community and it's almost like a small village on its own," Mr. Henderson said.
Toronto has long been trying to draw people to the city based on cultural and artistic projects, said Terry Nicholson, the city's manager of cultural affairs.
"This is not a new phenomenon. The city of Toronto, as well as the federal and provincial governments, have been investing in cultural activities for 25 years and this is the end result."
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