Fefe Dobson

I was born at Scarborough General Hospital on February 28, 1985, at 3:33 PM, and I even had my tonsils taken out there when I was young. My roots in Scarborough run deep, from the neighbourhood of Morningside to the community centre at Willcox Creek.

Growing up, my mom was a single mother, raising us through places like Galloway and Kingston Road. Music was everywhere in our house. My mom played vinyl records of Lionel Richie, Phil Collins, and Bob Marley, while my sister would play Guns N’ Roses and Nirvana. That mix of soul, reggae, and rock made me love music in all its forms. Seeing Axl Rose and Slash perform with so much style and energy inspired me to find my own voice and path in life.  

Growing up in Scarborough taught me the importance of community and support. Mental health has always been close to my heart because of my family. My mom sometimes felt afraid to go to the hospital, worried she wouldn’t be understood or supported. If we had stronger healthcare funding and resources, things might have been different. It’s amazing to see campaigns like Love, Scarborough supporting projects like the new SHN Community Mental Health Centre that just opened up.

I recently starred in the film Morningside, which was set in Scarborough and felt incredibly personal. Ron Dias, the director and a dear friend who also grew up in Scarborough, asked me to be part of it. The story is honest and raw, celebrating the beauty and the challenges of growing up here. For me, the film became a love letter to Scarborough — to its families, its grit, and the moments that shape us. It reminded me that every snowflake is unique, just like every person from this community, and that our stories deserve to be told.

When I go home now, with my dogs and my cat, I sit back and reflect on my journey. Scarborough is always with me, it’s in my music, my memories, and my sense of who I am. My advice to anyone in Scarborough trying to find their voice would be yourself, be authentic, and find a community that supports you. Scarborough gave me that foundation.

Love, Scarborough means family to me. It means my brothers and sister, my mom. It means the block parties, the neighbours, the shared experiences. I still smile remembering dancing the Macarena in Willcox Creek at a community centre block party. Those small moments stay with you.