My low-income community doesn't deserve stigma. It's an amazing place to raise my family

This First Person article is the experience of Manorama Patki who lives in Calgary. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.

My daughter looked angry. 

Her team had just won their latest round at the inter-high school debate competition. But when I found her in the cafeteria, all she and her schoolmates were talking about was the reaction of the other students. 

When she said they came from Lester B. Pearson High School, their competitors had given a scornful laugh. 

"Oh. That school."

I felt bad, but was I surprised at the comment? No. I wasn't. 

My daughter's high school is in the northeast quadrant of our vibrant city. But anything east of Deerfoot Trail is looked down upon by the wealthier residents living in other quadrants of the city. Sure, our quadrant has more industry and its cultural diversity can mean more relative newcomers still struggling to get established. Why do people see only the negative and overlook the vibrancy and the notable people coming from these communities?

We settled in the neighbourhood of Rundle when we moved to Calgary from India via Kenya 17 years ago. That was on the advice of a local acquaintance, who said rent and house prices were affordable for new immigrants across the northeast quadrant. We found that to be true. 

Even without a car, the place where we lived was close to amenities like transit and shopping. Plus, the people were friendly. Random strangers in places like the public library were quick to offer helpful advice. The diversity of culture and ethnicities of the people living around us gave a feeling of belonging. And our daughter liked her new school and friends.

So after two years, we decided it was a good fit and bought a condo.

Sometimes, we have thought of moving away from this community due to a few unpleasant incidents. I was shocked to hear a colleague's house was the target of a break-in and entry a few years ago. His laptop, a wrist watch and a ring were stolen. 

In recent months, people have been entering our condo complex to sleep in the yard overnight. There are people who fill the bus shelters with their belongings, leaving them littered with garbage.

Some of my friends have told me that they hesitate to put their northeast residential address on resumes while applying for jobs for fear of being rejected and not even getting an interview call. I have no evidence if one's home address can impact employment, but what it shows is the stigma — and the resulting fear of stigma — is real. 

But when I think about leaving, I remember about what I love here in the northeast.