Multicultural Toronto and the Building of an Ethnic Landscape: Chronic Urban Trauma
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis is a well-structured, well documented paper. The important theme of contrasting first generation migrants versus their descendants is of particular interest for ethnic and migration studies - this paper outlines the key themes of cultural change, integration versus assimilation, and diversity intergenerational diversity of attitudes towards cultural maintenance. The recognition of the importance, indeed demographic and economic necessity, for migration is a theme that needs airing urgently in north America (especially in the part south of Toronto).
Is it possible to add a bit more about the demographic and geographic structure of the Portuguese and Azorean population in Toronto - this would add context. I am not sure whether the data is adequate to distinguish the Portuguese from the Azorean communities but that would be interesting given that there does seem to be distinctions made within the Lusophone communities. The section on language retention has very good use of statistics but would benefit from a broader context which these numbers would provide. You also mention new arrivals (line 192) - to what extent are the numbers large enough to maintain heritage and how does the cultural background of the new arrivals integrate with the cultural heritage of the older generations of earlier arrivals?
The comment that language retention is declining (line 292) is especially important since language retention is central to so much else - and also a feature of many locally born communities - partly this relates to the educational environment where pre-schools are culturally diverse and the focus on culture is high, but the wheels fall off as adolescence approaches as peer relationships dominate, often to the chagrin of the parents and grandparents.
Perhaps look again at the comment that first flows date back to 15th century. This should at best be late 15th/16th centuries since the most scholars would suggest that the earliest date for this area would be around 1497 or later and there appears to remain some debate around the early end of this period.
On the subject of 'scholars', the reference in line 123 is interesting. These would be predominantly US scholars brought up in 'patriotic' fervour who often see Nth America as a utopian destination rather than a place to eschew .. while this may be true still of Canada it is rapidly less so of the US. This section has some very important points about the diversification of flows in terms of sources, destinations, and settlement and raises questions about the validity of treating communities and flows monolithically - but you point correctly to a fundamental problem in the area of prejudice, racism and intolerance towards new arrivals. The reasons for migration, the relationship between arrivals and returnees, and the familial connections that may exist between the early arrivals and the current arrivals would all interact with efficacy of settlement. A question which arises here is about the relationship/attitudes of the older settler communities towards the new arrivals (this is prompted by a study of Chinese flows where people settled for multi-generations have little connection with the new flows, though in this case the latter tend to outnumber the former and the tow are from quite different linguistic and cultural parts of China)
A minor question, not actually a suggestion for this paper: as noted migration is highly associated with gateway locations, with secondary flows into other urban centres, but is there any mileage in considering urban-rural distinctions?
The paper could do with a light edit to tidy up sentence structures and some slips in punctuation, etc, (e.g. in line 353, why is "Future Hold" capitalised?)
Another example: line 82 "such as those mentioned above" do not appear to have been mentioned above.
A further check on citations would be useful. Unfortunately, I did not have time within the review window to check all but did notice that Rivera 2023 is cited but not cited in the text - this jumped out because I was expecting a discussion on return migration in the text.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageWritten with passion and enthusiasm, and it is important to retain this, but sentence structures sometimes intrude on readability.
Author Response
Reviewer #1:
This is a well-structured, well documented paper. The important theme of contrasting first generation migrants versus their descendants is of particular interest for ethnic and migration studies - this paper outlines the key themes of cultural change, integration versus assimilation, and diversity intergenerational diversity of attitudes towards cultural maintenance. The recognition of the importance, indeed demographic and economic necessity, for migration is a theme that needs airing urgently in north America (especially in the part south of Toronto).
Answer: Many thanks for this appreciation, indeed.
Is it possible to add a bit more about the demographic and geographic structure of the Portuguese and Azorean population in Toronto - this would add context. I am not sure whether the data is adequate to distinguish the Portuguese from the Azorean communities but that would be interesting given that there does seem to be distinctions made within the Lusophone communities.
Answer: Many thanks for pointing this out. Stats Canada does not provide data by region of origin – Immigrants from Mainland Portugal vs. Azores, vs. Madeira, etc. In sum, I can’t provide more demographic information from Stats Canada/Canadian Census.
The section on language retention has very good use of statistics but would benefit from a broader context which these numbers would provide. You also mention new arrivals (line 192) - to what extent are the numbers large enough to maintain heritage and how does the cultural background of the new arrivals integrate with the cultural heritage of the older generations of earlier arrivals?The comment that language retention is declining (line 292) is especially important since language retention is central to so much else - and also a feature of many locally born communities - partly this relates to the educational environment where pre-schools are culturally diverse and the focus on culture is high, but the wheels fall off as adolescence approaches as peer relationships dominate, often to the chagrin of the parents and grandparents.Perhaps look again at the comment that first flows date back to 15th century. This should at best be late 15th/16th centuries since the most scholars would suggest that the earliest date for this area would be around 1497 or later and there appears to remain some debate around the early end of this period.
Answer: I added “…the late” 15th century
On the subject of 'scholars', the reference in line 123 is interesting. These would be predominantly US scholars brought up in 'patriotic' fervour who often see Nth America as a utopian destination rather than a place to eschew .. while this may be true still of Canada it is rapidly less so of the US.
Answer: I agree with the reviewer…I added “U.S.” scholars
This section has some very important points about the diversification of flows in terms of sources, destinations, and settlement and raises questions about the validity of treating communities and flows monolithically - but you point correctly to a fundamental problem in the area of prejudice, racism and intolerance towards new arrivals. The reasons for migration, the relationship between arrivals and returnees, and the familial connections that may exist between the early arrivals and the current arrivals would all interact with efficacy of settlement. A question which arises here is about the relationship/attitudes of the older settler communities towards the new arrivals (this is prompted by a study of Chinese flows where people settled for multi-generations have little connection with the new flows, though in this case the latter tend to outnumber the former and the tow are from quite different linguistic and cultural parts of China).
Answer: Many thanks for this evaluation.
A minor question, not actually a suggestion for this paper: as noted migration is highly associated with gateway locations, with secondary flows into other urban centres, but is there any mileage in considering urban-rural distinctions? The paper could do with a light edit to tidy up sentence structures and some slips in punctuation, etc, (e.g. in line 353, why is "Future Hold" capitalised?)
Answer: Done… “future hold”; and some explanation added in page 4 for the question raised. Many thanks.
Another example: line 82 "such as those mentioned above" do not appear to have been mentioned above.
Answer: I deleted -"such as those mentioned above"
A further check on citations would be useful. Unfortunately, I did not have time within the review window to check all but did notice that Rivera 2023 is cited but not cited in the text - this jumped out because I was expecting a discussion on return migration in the text.
Answer: The author Rivera is mentioned in the text.
Comments on the Quality of English Language - Written with passion and enthusiasm, and it is important to retain this, but sentence structures sometimes intrude on readability.
Answer: Author understands this type of article allowing the style of language in its present form.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis is a valuable, well-grounded article that is suited for publication, which I recommend with no hesitation. I miss two things -- although engagement with them is not required, i leave them as suggestions to the author: (1) it might be interesting to engage with literary expressions that emerged among Toronto's Portuguese (eg. Anthony de Sá and Irene Marques among others); (2) it might also be interesting to outline come comparison with the situation of the Portuguese Azoreans in New England. Onesimo Almeida wrote extensively on the "tenth island"; Rose Rodrigues wrote on the strategies for home-ownership in New Bedford; Kingston Heath on the Boston triple deckers; Graça Cordeiro on the Cambridge Portuguese enclave; Joe Comforti, Paula Roux and myself (Bastos) on Fall River; there is the volume by Andrea Klimt and Kim Holton on the "eastern board" and the recent "migration and mill work" (Bastos, Feldman-Bianco and Moniz) compiling new and older easays on the Portuguese in New England. Although the article in question is on Toronto,Canada, there are in my view interesting similarities and connections emerging from New England -- of course, up to the author to address them or not.
Author Response
Reviewer #2:
This is a valuable, well-grounded article that is suited for publication, which I recommend with no hesitation. I miss two things – although engagement with them is not required, I leave them as suggestions to the author: (1) it might be interesting to engage with literary expressions that emerged among Toronto’s Portuguese (e.g., Anthony de Sa and Irene marques among others); (2) It might be interesting to outline come comparison with the situation of the Portuguese Azoreans in New England. Onesimo Almeida wrote extensively on the "tenth island"; Rose Rodrigues wrote on the strategies for home-ownership in New Bedford; Kingston Heath on the Boston triple deckers; Graça Cordeiro on the Cambridge Portuguese enclave; Joe Comforti, Paula Roux and myself (Bastos) on Fall River; there is the volume by Andrea Klimt and Kim Holton on the "eastern board" and the recent "migration and mill work" (Bastos, Feldman-Bianco and Moniz) compiling new and older easays on the Portuguese in New England. Although the article in question is on Toronto,Canada, there are in my view interesting similarities and connections emerging from New England -- of course, up to the author to address them or not.
Answer: Many thanks, indeed. Good suggestions for further research…but behind the scope of this paper, I hope this would be ok.
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe abstract is well written and accurately reflects the content of the paper. However, it is dense and reads more like a condensed introduction.
The introduction provides a strong contextual grounding in post-war immigration, multiculturalism, and urban transformation in North America. The positioning of Toronto as a “city of nations” is effective, and the linkage to immigrant youth experiences is appropriate for the journal.
The manuscript is presented as a theoretical and interpretive study, which is acceptable for the journal. However, the methodological approach is not clearly articulated.
The conclusion effectively summarizes the historical and social trajectory of the Portuguese-Azorean community and reiterates the importance of ethnic landscapes.
The reference list is comprehensive, current, and appropriate for the journal. The interdisciplinary nature of the sources strengthens the manuscript’s credibility. No major issues were identified with citation practices.
But there few minor suggestions which improve the quality of the paper.
- Streamline the introduction by consolidating overlapping discussions of immigration patterns. Introduce the concept of chronic urban trauma earlier and more prominently as the central analytical lens. Clearly state the research purpose or guiding questions toward the end of the introduction to orient the reader.
- Add a short subsection in theoretical discussion, explicitly defining chronic urban trauma and distinguishing it from related concepts such as intergenerational trauma, cultural stress, and acculturative stress. Clarify how urban processes (housing markets, schooling, language loss) operate as structural mechanisms of trauma.
- It is unclear whether the paper is based on secondary data synthesis, prior empirical studies by the author, ethnographic observation, or conceptual analysis. Readers would benefit from a short methodological clarification explaining the nature of evidence used and the analytical strategy.
- Link empirical observations (housing displacement, language erosion, educational pressures) back to the trauma framework. Use clearer transitional sentences to remind the reader how each section advances the central argument.
- Clearly restating the conceptual contribution of chronic urban trauma. Offering more concrete implications for urban policy, education systems, and trauma-informed community interventions. Reducing repetition of descriptive content already discussed earlier.
Author Response
Reviewer #3:
The abstract is well written and accurately reflects the content of the paper. However, it is dense and reads more like a condensed introduction.
Answer: Many thanks, In my opinion the Abstract is short and reads well. The Introduction was revised accordingly.
The introduction provides a strong contextual grounding in post-war immigration, multiculturalism, and urban transformation in North America. The positioning of Toronto as a “city of nations” is effective, and the linkage to immigrant youth experiences is appropriate for the journal. The manuscript is presented as a theoretical and interpretive study, which is acceptable for the journal. However, the methodological approach is not clearly articulated.
Answer: Many thanks, I agree. I added a new sentence explaining which sources (secondary data synthesis/prior empirical studies + fieldwork) I used in this study (all changes appears in red color).
The conclusion effectively summarizes the historical and social trajectory of the Portuguese-Azorean community and reiterates the importance of ethnic landscapes.
The reference list is comprehensive, current, and appropriate for the journal. The interdisciplinary nature of the sources strengthens the manuscript’s credibility. No major issues were identified with citation practices.
Answer: So many thanks for this evaluation.
But there few minor suggestions which improve the quality of the paper.
- Streamline the introduction by consolidating overlapping discussions of immigration patterns. Introduce the concept of chronic urban trauma earlier and more prominently as the central analytical lens. Clearly state the research purpose or guiding questions toward the end of the introduction to orient the reader.
Answer: Many thanks, I agree. The Introduction is now revised to avoid repetitions (observed), for examples rewritten pages 1-2. The concept of chronic urban trauma is now introduced earlier, also in pages 1-2, with coherence. In sum: The introduction was streamlined by reducing overlapping descriptions of immigration patterns and by repositioning the concept of chronic urban trauma earlier in the text as the primary analytical lens guiding the study.
- Add a short subsection in theoretical discussion, explicitly defining chronic urban trauma and distinguishing it from related concepts such as intergenerational trauma, cultural stress, and acculturative stress. Clarify how urban processes (housing markets, schooling, language loss) operate as structural mechanisms of trauma.
Answer: Many thanks, a new subsection was inserted coherently in page 5. With literature supporting.
- It is unclear whether the paper is based on secondary data synthesis, prior empirical studies by the author, ethnographic observation, or conceptual analysis. Readers would benefit from a short methodological clarification explaining the nature of evidence used and the analytical strategy.
Answer: I added a new sentence explaining which sources (secondary data synthesis/prior empirical studies + fieldwork) I used in this study.
- Link empirical observations (housing displacement, language erosion, educational pressures) back to the trauma framework. Use clearer transitional sentences to remind the reader how each section advances the central argument
Answer: Completed with the previous change/new section in page 5.
- Clearly restating the conceptual contribution of chronic urban trauma. Offering more concrete implications for urban policy, education systems, and trauma-informed community interventions. Reducing repetition of descriptive content already discussed earlier
Answer: In pages 5-6 clarification was assured within the new subsection about chronic urban trauma. Many thanks for this improvement. I also added an ACKNOWLEDGMENT section at the end of the paper.
