Queer Arrival: Uncovering the Spatial Narratives of QTPOC Newcomers in Toronto

Abstract

Toronto’s urban landscape is continuously shaped by immigrants, queer, and marginalized communities. Historically, immigrants have established ethnic “Arrival Cities” to foster mutual support, and queer communities have carved out queer spaces like the Church-Wellesley Village to cultivate safety, belonging, and visibility. Positioned at the intersectionality of marginalized identities, Queer and Trans People of Colour (QTPOC) newcomers are also actively contributing to the evolution of the urban landscape, giving rise to a new spatial typology – the “Queer Arrival City”.

Existing research on Arrival Cities and queer enclaves remains constrained within narrow conceptual boundaries, overlooking the broader spectrum of urban arrival. Arrival Cities are typically examined through an ethnic minority lens, focusing on neighbourhood dynamics, while queer enclaves are studied predominantly from a white, middle-class gay male perspective. These approaches neglect the intersectionality of race, gender, sexuality, and class in the production of diasporic spaces, leaving QTPOC newcomers underrepresented in both academic and public spheres.

This thesis addresses these gaps by uncovering the spatial narratives of Toronto’s QTPOC newcomers in constructing their “Queer Arrival City”. It specifically examines how QTPOC newcomers navigate Toronto’s built environment and the role of the Church-Wellesley Village in their migration. Furthermore, it explores the design of a public space that materializes QTPOC newcomers’ spatial narratives as a place of belonging and visibility.

This research employs a Queer of Colour Methodology (QOCM) integrated with Participatory Action Research (PAR) to foreground intersectionality and actively engage QTPOC newcomers in both the research and design process. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data from three phases of community engagement - surveys, interviews, and focus groups, this thesis introduces the novel “Queer Arrival” framework, encompassing both infrastructural and individualized spatial typologies, while articulating a collective “Queer Diaspora Spatial Consciousness” in inhabiting public space. The research culminates in a design proposal shaped by the active contribution and lived experiences of QTPOC newcomers.

Ultimately, by positioning QTPOC newcomers as the primary holders of knowledge production, this thesis fosters an inclusive, community-driven research environment and design process, while prioritizing QTPOC newcomers’ empowerment and agency in shaping their future built environment.