Toronto's Dufferin-Dovercourt Village Is Canada's Fastest-Growing Neighbourhood for Musicians

SOCAN data reveals the centres of musical growth across the country

Photo via Dufferin Mall's Facebook

BY Alex HudsonPublished Apr 20, 2022

According to SOCAN, Toronto's Dufferin-Dovercourt Village is the fastest-growing neighbourhood for musicians in Canada.
 
This is according to 2021 data collected by SOCAN. The statistics showed that, per neighbourhood, Dufferin-Dovercourt Village had the highest concentration of new SOCAN members (including songwriters, composers and music publishers). The neighbourhoods are designated by postal code; Dufferin-Dovercourt Village is M6H.
 
Two other Toronto neighbourhoods appeared in the list (downtown and Parkdale), along with three Brampton neighbourhoods. The Top 10 was rounded out by four Montreal neighbourhoods. 
 
Here are the fastest-growing neighbourhoods for musicians in Canada:
 
1. Dufferin-Dovercourt Village, Toronto (M6H)
2. Brampton North, Ontario (L6P)
3. Downtown Toronto CN Tower/King & Spadina/Harbourfront West/Bathurst Quay (M5V)
4. Brampton West, Ontario (L7A)
5. Outremont, Montréal (H2V)
6. Brampton Northwest, Ontario (L6R)
7. Brockton-Parkdale Village/Exhibition Place, Toronto (M6K)
8. Hochelaga, Montréal (H1W)
9. (tie) Centre-Sud North, Montréal (H2K)
9. (tie) Petite-Patrie Southwest, Montréal (H2S)
 
Interestingly, Dufferin-Dovercourt Village wasn't the top neighbourhood in terms of total songs created. SOCAN found that Mississauga's West Applewood/West Dixie/NW Lakeview neighbourhood registered the most new songs and compositions.
 
Here are the neighbourhoods that created the most new songs:
 
1. West Applewood/West Dixie/NW Lakeview, Mississauga, Ontario (L4Y)
2. Dufferin-Dovercourt Village, Toronto (M6H)
3. Kamloops Northwest, British Columbia (V2B)
4. Petite-Patrie Southwest, Montréal (H2S)
5. CN Tower/King and Spadina/Harbourfront West/Bathurst Quay, Toronto (M5V)
6. Regent Park/Port of Toronto (M5A)
7. India Bazaar/The Beaches West, Toronto (M4L)
8. Brockton-Parkdale Village/Exhibition Place, Toronto (M6K)
9. Woodbine Heights, Toronto (M4C)
10. Rua Aþores/Trinity, Toronto (M6J)
 
Lastly, here are the top-growing music neighbourhood in each province:
 
1. West Applewood/West Dixie/NW Lakeview, Mississauga, Ontario (L4Y)
2. Dufferin-Dovercourt Village, Toronto (M6H)
3. Kamloops Northwest, British Columbia (V2B)
4. Petite-Patrie Southwest, Montréal (H2S)
5. CN Tower/King and Spadina/Harbourfront West/Bathurst Quay, Toronto (M5V)
6. Regent Park/Port of Toronto (M5A)
7. India Bazaar/The Beaches West, Toronto (M4L)
8. Brockton-Parkdale Village/Exhibition Place, Toronto (M6K)
9. Woodbine Heights, Toronto (M4C)
10. Rua Aþores/Trinity, Toronto (M6J)
 
Ironically, Dufferin-Dovercourt Village recently became a little less hospitable for musicians: it's home to the former Rehearsal Factory location that was purchased by Australian megachurch C3. We recently spoke with PUP, who were evicted from their space in that facility, about the city's rehearsal space shortage.

The neighbourhood is still home to several musical landmarks, including Bloor Street West's Paradise Theatre, Burdock Brewery and Long and McQuade, as well as popular music video-shooting location and once-music venue Bloordale Beach. Toronto music and arts festival Long Winter has also been known to host its festivities at venues in the area. 

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