I'm delighted @CBCNews drew attention to St. James Town in excellent feature on lack of greenspace in many neighbourhoods in Toronto (especially in lower income & racialized communities). My mom sent me a few snaps of me growing up in St. James Town in 70s #environmentaljustice

My parents fled to Canada as political dissidents from South Africa in 1969 where they were involved in the anti-Apartheid resistance. They tell me how the neighbourhood was a hub of post-colonial resistance w residents from across Africa, S.America, S.E. Asia, and beyond.

@CBCNews analysis has found that the North St. James Town neighbourhood has the least amount of park space per capita of any neighbourhood in Toronto with < 1 m2 per person. Research shows that lack of easy access to green space impacts our physical health and mental wellbeing.

@nadhassen is quoted in @CBCNews article on consequences for mental health and COVID19, but my immigrant dad told me that other issues,such as loneliness, poverty, struggles w integration and even PTSD related to political persecution and violence back home impact local residents

My immigrant dad tells me that he used to spend long hours sitting in the St. James cemetery with me playing among the graves just to find some mental peace and comfort among the trees for the trauma he was dealing with. Stories like this just break my heart. #NatureHeals

I've heard similar stories from many other refugees as well. Spending time in nature is a balm for the soul and why I believe that we need to think of green space as a strategy of public health, particularly when it comes to supporting the most vulnerable members of our community

@nadhassen @RobinMazumder are you aware of any research specially on access to green space and refugee integration or with other populations dealing with trauma? I have had some insightful conversations with Indigenous elders on this and curious #NatureHeals