Patricia Wisniewski

Gentrification

There is a behaviour within some species of birds called brood parasitism, in which a bird will lay her eggs in another species' nest and allow them to raise her young. This results in the bird hatching, kicking the other birds from the nest, and benefitting from the extra resources. When a community is being gentrified, the first signs are often the opening of high-end grocery stores, trendy coffee shops, and new skyscrapers. These developments cause rent and cost of living to increase, which drives out small businesses and with it, the culture of the area.

“I really enjoyed making this piece. I live in a part of Etobicoke that is rapidly developing with a lot of local businesses nearby that are a huge part of the community. Sometimes I wonder if any of them will be bought out and replaced with a Farm Boy or a Whole Foods or a new condo, things wouldn't be the same.”