The Garden District that sits next to Ryerson is one of the most violent neighbourhoods in Toronto, according to a new joint study by St. Michael’s Hospital, the University of Toronto and Ryerson. 

Based on data from 2002 and 2004 ambulance calls and patient visits to emergency rooms, the area bordered by Jarvis Street to the west, Sherbourne Street to the east, Carlton Street to the north and Queen Street E. to the south had the most assault-related injuries during the day and the evening hours.  

The study did not identify age brackets most often involved in the assaults.  

Const. Tony Vella of the Toronto police said if they don’t buy drugs or drink to excess Ryerson students shouldn’t encounter trouble. 

“They’re all very capable neighbourhoods,” he said. “When it comes to assault, it’s always about the two people involved.” 

Claus Rinner, a geography professor at Ryerson involved with the study, said that from what he has seen, assaults are usually directly related to a person’s behaviour and, so, the risk to Ryerson students is not much higher just by simply being close to a certain neighbourhood. 

He said assaults in the Garden District are more likely to be tied to socio-economic factors and social deprivation. 

Rinner also said he thinks the location of Ryerson is an opportunity for students to be connected to the city around them. 

“Many students will be working in some field eventually where they will actually contribute to improving this kind of situation,” he said. “You know, in social work, nursing. . . the City of Toronto. . . on developing policies for social service delivery or creation of green space and so on.” 

Chad Nuttall, manager of student housing at Ryerson, said that although the results of the study don’t surprise him, violent assaults are rare on campus. 

“Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any cases where a residence student has been involved, or even a student in general has been involved, in an altercation with a non-community member,” said Nuttall. 

While Nuttall believes the neighbourhood has a host of issues, he said the Garden District does not negatively impact student experience.  

He’s more concerned about the Entertainment District, where many students go on weekends. 

The study also found that between midnight and 4 a.m., the high number of ambulance responses to assault injuries shifted from the Garden District to the Entertainment District, with Spadina Avenue and University Avenue on the west and east, and King and Queen Streets on the south and north. 

“We probably don’t do enough education about the club district,” Nuttall said. “That neighbourhood is a disaster.” 

For students planning to party, Nuttall said he feels a safer vibe from the Church Street club district, and cites gentrification of the area with high-price condos being added to an area that was once lowcost. 

“There is an aggression in the air in club land that you don’t feel on Church Street. And I would personally feel a lot safer if students hung out on Church Street,” said Nuttall.