Communities Served

North Toronto Sports Foundation funds inclusive sports programs based in the North Toronto area that attract children and youth of all abilities from the local community and across Toronto.

All-Abilities Sports Program

The All-Abilities Sports Program attracts children and youth from all across Toronto, with about 10% of the participants coming from elsewhere in the GTA.

Refugee and Recent Immigrant Program

Refugees and new immigrants who participate in Foundation-supported programs come from all areas of Toronto.  The number of immigrants who first settle in the North Toronto area is double the average for Canada as a whole.

Low Income Family Inclusion Program

About half of the children and youth participating in the Low Income Family Inclusion program live in the North Toronto area (see below) and half live elsewhere in Toronto and the GTA.

School Sports Support Program

The priority schools supported in this program are located in the North Toronto area as well as other neighbourhoods where coaching support is needed.

North Toronto Community Profile 

The North Toronto area (see map below) - located in the centre of the City of Toronto - is home to 337,000 people = 12% of Toronto, living in a densely populated, rapidly growing and economically diverse area.  The area contains relatively affluent neighbourhoods alongside Toronto Community Housing neighbourhoods and numerous immigrant and family shelters.

Low Income and Poverty

  • Over 10% of North Toronto families with children exist at the poverty level
  • 10.5% of households are in the bottom income decile = 35,000 residents
  • 10.1% of children ages 0-17 (-6,000 residents) live in households in the bottom income level based on the LIM-AT low income measure
  • 10.% of residents with taxable income have after-tax income below $10,000; and additional 4% have no taxable income
  • North Toronto is home to 276 Toronto Community Housing buildings in complexes of 5+ units. The larges t concentration - in Lawrence Heights - is tripling in size.
  • There are a growing number of temporary immigration shelter units and family shelters
  • Numerous low-income families  often with a single parent - live in the general community.

Recent Immigrants - direct external

  • As a % of total population:
      Canada Toronto census area North Toronto
    Past 1 year 0.82% 1.33% 1.62%
    Past 5 years 4.70% 7.70% 9.32%

Population Growth

  • The population of the North Toronto area grew more quickly (+8.4%) than the City of Toronto as a whole (+6.9%) during the 10-year period from 2011 to 2021 as a result of the intensification of residential housing.
  • The population of children and youth ages 5 to 19 grew in North Toronto (+6.2%) from 2011 to 2021, even as it declined in the City as a whole (-3-6%). This is consistent with a 25-year trend. 

Map of North Toronto area