The survey also revealed significant differences among respondents in terms of their knowledge of local amenities and services. Residents born outside of Canada and racialized respondents in particular tended to list fewer total amenities or services in their neighbourhoods compared to Canadian-born and white residents, even when they lived nearby each other. Residents who felt that their neighbours “kept to themselves” also tended to list fewer local amenities and services compared to those who described their neighbourhood as one where neighbours “look out for each other.” This trend may suggest that residents who live in neighbourhoods with fewer interactions with their neighbours are less likely to be informed of and utilise neighbourhood amenities. Interviews also showed the challenges newcomers face in learning about available services. Many remarked that they did not know how to get information or had difficulties accessing services such as classes and recreational opportunities. Sometimes, internet and computer access were the primary issues. Other barriers included language as well knowledge about where to look for resources: “I’m very unaware of some of these services, I don’t know where to go.” These results point to the importance of amenities and services in sustaining community trust, as well as the challenges in informing newcomers about available local services.

Additionally, it is worth noting that services such as healthcare and places of worship were not principal determinants of neighbourhood attractiveness according to the conjoint experiment. This does not necessarily mean these services are unimportant to residents, far from it. Rather, it indicates that when imagining their ideal neighbourhood, the presence of those amenities is outweighed by factors such as safety and commute time. Residents may also value access to health care or places of worship, but in some cases not consider them important for them to be located close to their residence.