From left, Abhay Dev Shastri leads Mayank and Nikita Thakkar, their grandmother Krishna Luthra, and mother and father Rimple and Satish Thakkar through the Diwali ceremony of prayers and offerings at the Thakkar home in Brampton, Ont.Tim Fraser/The Globe and Mail
You may have never heard of Brampton, Ont., the city located 45 kilometres west of Toronto that happens to be Canada's 9th largest.
But you're about to learn a whole lot about it from Globe reporter Dakshana Bascaramurty, who this month packed up her things and moved there.
Why Brampton?
As Globe T.O. editor Sarah Lilleyman explains: "Brampton is one of Canada's fastest-growing communities and home to one of the largest populations of ethnic and religious minorities – it's at the core of many of the demographic trends we're seeing across the country. This project digs deep into what shapes the development of a city like Brampton. What draws new Canadians there? What challenges and opportunities are posed by its rapid growth?
"In another decade or two, other parts of the country could look just like it. Taking a closer look at Brampton offers a window on Canada's future."
Bascaramurty's stories on the city's unique language courses in elementary schools, the hospital's director of diversity services, the vast number of multigenerational households and more will be featured in The Globe and Mail and on globeandmail.com. But you can also discover Brampton along with her on Facebook, where her Brampton Diaries page contains photos of her finds at local restaurants and dispatches about the places she visits and the people she meets along the way.
Be sure to "like" this page and share your comments and questions. And if you live in Brampton, Bascaramurty would love to hear your tips on the city's best bets.