How pride for Scarborough grew stronger in 2021, and looking ahead to 2022 and beyond

Talk to many in Scarborough and pride for the community isn’t new, but successes in 2021 further helped burnish the community and the appreciation for it and its people.

“We have seen a tremendous shift with respect to people’s attitude about Scarborough,” Deputy Mayor and Coun. Michael Thompson recently told CityNews.

“It’s important that we understand Scarborough has contributed so much not just to Toronto, but essentially to the entire world.”

Looking at the realm of entertainment, Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, made headlines across the world for his half-time performance at the Super Bowl. The 31-year-old became the first Torontonian to headline at the annual event, sparking waves of posts on social media in celebration.

“A Canadian-Ethiopian Scarborough guy is playing the half-time at the Super Bowl. Let that sink in. Congrats @theweeknd #SuperBowlLV,” Tiffany Ford tweeted.

“Omg the @theweeknd killed that. From the choreography to the sets and performing hit after hit like yasss. From Scarborough to the Super Bowl amazing #SBLV #blindinglights #TheWeeknd,” Twitter user Jillian wrote.

Eric Bauza, a voice actor who grew up in Scarborough and lives in Los Angeles, landed the role of Bugs Bunny (along with other characters) in Space Jam: A New Legacy, the highly anticipated sequel of Space Jam, which was released in July.

Closer to home, accounts on social media and independent businesses paying tribute to Scarborough seemingly grew as well.

For instance, Scarborough Spots, an Instagram account with memes and celebratory community-related posts, held Black Friday and Boxing Day sales this year on merchandise related to all things in the east end. A search on the online marketplace Etsy yields people selling things like posters, maps, mugs and other items related to Scarborough.

Sid Naidu, a creator and the co-founder of Scarborough Made — an initiative that documents “stories of humanity” through various visual mediums, met his business partner Alex Narvaez at Ryerson University. While they both travelled the world for their work, Naidu said they held onto strong Scarborough roots.

Speaking with his Scarborough home, Naidu said the pride for the community has always been there but more recently it has become “definitely louder.”

“Seeing the Weeknd, for example, having him literally say he grew up in Scarborough, you’re seeing that throughout the world in the different aspects of the entertainment industry,” he said.

“When we haven’t been heard, we just started getting louder. And that part is now you see through different accounts, people having different merch to highlight their pride for Scarborough, I feel like it’s become connected.”

RELATED: New doc to offer behind-the-scenes look at The Weeknd’s Super Bowl halftime show

Naidu said he and Narvaez started Scarborough Made as a means to fill a void of stories and experiences from residents not being represented more broadly, adding they are trying to empower youth to take on through mentorship as well as through public art activations through programs like the City of Toronto’s Cultural Hotspots program.

“We never felt Scarborough was best represented in the media and when you’re seeing stories that don’t always highlight every aspect of the community, the stories we grew up with, we felt that narrative was really missing, and we wanted to play a part in kind of taking on a role in highlighting the stories or highlight the people we knew,” he told CityNews.

“[Scarborough has] a lot to give that’s not often covered.”

It’s a sentiment Thompson echoed. Looking back several years, he reiterated issues with some disinformation surrounding Scarborough — namely disproportionate coverage of the area when it comes to crime and how it can be interpreted as the entire community versus specific areas.

“Scarborough has always been a fantastic place … I termed it the jewel of Toronto,” he said, pointing to natural amenities like the Rouge National Urban Park, the Bluffs and the Toronto Zoo as well as the community’s flourishing food scene.

“We are Scarborough proud and whether it’s not the Warden Station patty, or the Scarborough Town Centre, or any of the fantastic restaurants and places people have grown up knowing and wanting other people to now come and taste – whether or not it’s Harry’s or any of the fantastic places where you can get a wonderful burger.”

With 2022 coming up, one of the biggest developments for the community will come in the form of the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line — something Naidu said he’s hopeful will have a positive impact on the east end. The rapid transit line, which has been in the works for more than a decade, will connect Kennedy subway station with Mount Dennis in Toronto’s west end. Construction on the Scarborough subway extension is also set to ramp up, but it’s still years away from opening.

RELATED: Scarborough tries to clear its ‘crime’ rep

Naidu said he’s also looking to see what will come of the Scarborough RT with its decommissioning set for 2023, calling for at least part of it to be converted to a space like The High Line in New York City.

Despite the arrival of transit connections along with new housing developments to keep pace with demand, Naidu said he’s concerned the positives might come at the expense of Scarborough’s many plazas — home to many independent businesses and restaurants frequented by locals.

“What I hope to kind of see in some ways is to ensure the mom-and-pop shops, the plazas that have been around for many years, decades, they continue to play a role in that development of Scarborough,” he said.

“I think that would be a real big part of Scarborough that we’re starting to see. You know we’re kind of losing a bit here and there as things come up … I’d love to see more ways that we can integrate the businesses over here into the bigger plans with the transit.”

Thompson said the loss of plazas is something he’s sensitive to since storefronts have proven to be important for new entrepreneurs as they’re looking to launch new businesses. He also noted the diversity in food establishments that are based out of those commercial properties.

“Scarborough is where the world is, and if you want to be where the world is at you’ve got to be in Scarborough,” he said.

Naidu also called on all levels of government to ensure investments continue to be made in Scarborough, especially in community spaces and in opportunities for creatives.

“For the future, I do hope that more people can come back who are from Scarborough, who grew up here, and they can have their narrative continue over here because it’s always going to be home,” he said.

“Something that we’re trying to do is find out ways that we can continue to have that growth and create Scarborough as a hub for artists and creators.”

A Canadian-Ethiopian Scarborough guy is playing the half-time at the Super Bowl. Let that sink in. Congrats @theweeknd #SuperBowlLV

— Tiffany Ford, MBA (@TiffanyFordTO) February 8, 2021

Omg the @theweeknd killed that. From the choreography to the sets and performing hit after hit like yasss. From Scarborough to the Super Bowl amazing #SBLV #blindinglights #TheWeeknd

— Jillian (@Saltsi) February 8, 2021

From Scarborough ????????…all the way to the #Superbowl.

Representing #ScarbTO greatness to the world stage! Congratulations @theweeknd on his Super Bowl halftime show performance!

He has donated $500,000 to Scarborough Hospitals @SHNcares in support of COVID-19 relief efforts. pic.twitter.com/Tb0iiIhS03

— Vijay Thanigasalam (@TheThanigasalam) February 8, 2021

Toronto born, Scarborough raised musician, Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, will be performing under the name, “The Weeknd”, at the Super Bowl today. Born in 1990 to newly arrived Ethiopian parents, the singer has risen to global fame this past few years. pic.twitter.com/CTwgnBFhK9

— Morgan Cameron Ross (@Morgan_C_Ross) February 7, 2021

The Weeknd didn’t need any help, he was ???? all on his own. His craft is on a different level he doesn’t need shiny things to pull your focus. Still sitting here in awe. Proud to see Scarborough at the Super Bowl. So huge ???????????????? #ProudOfYou #TheWeeknd #SuperBowl

— Stephanie Henry (@henrylstephanie) February 8, 2021