Grandravine

Grandravine is a subsidized townhouse complex in Toronto, Canada located along Jane Street just south of Finch Ave. West in the Jane and Finch corridor. Built in the late 60's to early 70's this townhouse complex was intended as a place to house thousands of new low-income and high-need immigrant families. The availability of social and affordable housing attracted tens of thousands of people. The neighbourhood's population exploded more than 2000% in a decade. Racial tensions grew as the face of the neighbourhood changed, from mostly European to a mosaic of people from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. It is believed that this animosity, along with years of Government neglect and the explosion of crack cocaine during the 80's, are among some of the factors which helped spawn a new generation of youths who turned to drugs and neighborhood gangs as a coping mechanism to poverty and discrimination. By the late 80's, Grandravine had become a catch-all phrase used by the media and police that suggested poverty, gangs and racial division. With a long history of violence, mistrust of the police and poverty this neighborhood had to take ownership from the grassroots level which included Yorkwoods Grandravine Renewal Project and a Boys & Girls Club. However, gang presence within this community is very prevalent as the area is claimed as 'territory' by a local Bloods set, who are closely aligned with other gang members from the near by Yellowstone and Grassways housing complexes; also aligned with the Bloods. Today, Grandravine is commonly referred to as The Lanes by its inhabitants because of it's structural design. Despite its many challenges, however, it is also a community with a tremendous amount of pride, where the majority of people are simply working to raise families and find their way in a new country.

News

By-Stander Struck By Bullet in Grandravine Housing Complex

Boy Shot in Drive-By Shooting on Grandravine Drive

Police Seek SUV in Homicide

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