Google pens ode to Scarborough

“Scarborough is more than just a Google Search result,” the tech company tweeted

Despite what you might think, Google says it actually loves Scarborough.

A week ago, the tech giant sparked outrage among Torontonians when users discovered that a cursory search of the word “Scarborough” in Google led to a sad photo of a semi-collapsed house.

The company promptly removed the photo and, on Wednesday, Google Canada posted a series of tweets expressing its affection for the natural beauty and local institutions that it may have initially overlooked.

“How much do we (love) you Scarborough? Let us count the ways,” the first tweet, posted Wednesday morning, read.

The company gave shout-outs to attractions such as the Scarborough Bluffs, Rouge National Urban Park, the Toronto Zoo and the Markham Station, as well as famous YouTuber and talk show host Lilly Singh, who is from Scarborough.

“Plan a visit with Google Maps and make sure to check out all 11 parks with amazing views. We’re not bluffin,’ ” read one of the tweets.

City councillors and Mayor John Tory publicly expressed their disappointment with Google when social media users found the photo of the decrepit building, noting how it stood in stark contrast to the shiny condos and leafy residential streets depicting other city neighbourhoods.

Coun. Michael Thompson, who represents the ward of Scarborough Centre, said he was “very disappointed” and “quite upset” about its portrayal.

Aaron Brindle, a spokesperson for the company, said that images associated with towns or cities in search panels are “automatically generated” and the company “worked to resolve this issue as soon as it was brought to our attention.”

“Scarborough is a beautiful part of this city and we would encourage people to explore further in Google Maps and Street View,” Brindle wrote in an email.

The tech company may have other reasons for wanting Torontonians to like it right now.

A long-term project conducted by Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, seeks to develop the Quayside neighbourhood and Port Lands area into a “smart city” that would function as a test bed for urban technology.

“Scarborough is more than just a Google Search result and we know that we’ve only scratched the surface on why it’s a wonderful place to visit and live,” the company wrote on Twitter.