Esplanade home to new activist group

By Adam Peterson –

Any one who has complained about the political apathy of Toronto’s youth has not heard of the Esplanade Community Group (ECG), or one of its founders, U of T student Farshad Azadian.

The organization started in 2009 with a focus on a wide range of political and socio-economic issues affecting residents and workers in Toronto.

“In a broad sense, we focus on youth initiatives as well as organizing the working class in the city,” said Azadian, who is also the youth director of the Toronto-Centre NDP riding association. “There has been a huge decline in the standard of living in Toronto over the past 20 to 30 years. In a broad sense, we address issues ranging from problems with rent and housing, addiction, education and child care as well as increased unemployment and low wages in the community.”

The ECG’s grass roots, democratic approach to community building has garnered support from a growing number of people. The focus of the group’s work is outlined in its “six point program” which encompasses all of the issues emphasized by Azadian.

The program is based on the results taken from a community-wide survey carried out by the ECG that was used to determine the most pressing issues in the minds of residents. The points include a call for an immediate end to police brutality, an end to cuts to community services, well maintained housing, an end to unfair rent increases, and better jobs, while battling against the removal of public housing projects.

The ECG holds monthly meetings held at various locations in and around The Esplanade area. Any one can attend, and as Azadian points out, the ECG has attracted a diverse group of residents.

“Any one interested in the program can attend. We have many likeminded members, from youths to elders to progressive minded lawyers to union members and working people in the area.”

The group takes an innovative approach to tackling such a broad and complex range of issues. In addition to providing an outlet for residents to voice their opinions and debate community issues, ECG events also provide a platform for local artists as well as movie screenings.
Azadian explains, “We like to keep things informal. We show movies on social movements and provide refreshments.”

The next ECG meeting will take place July 30 at the Windmill Line Co-Op at 125 Scadding Ave. in the neighbourhood of St Lawrence Market. The focus of the meeting will be the events surrounding the G20, and specifically the contentious arrests of protesters outside of the Novotel at Esplanade and Church.

For more information, visit www.espcg.blogspot.com.