Kensington Market Winter Solstice Parade is a unique hand-made, non-profit, commercial-free event that takes place on Saturday December 21, 2019. It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season.
The Pimicikamak Cree First Nation in Cross Lake, Manitoba declared a state of emergency in March 2016 because of the suicide of six young people within three months, and the 150 students they had on suicide watch. This story is about some Toronto teachers who responded with action, and what came of it. Continue reading
Along with a long list of accomplishments as a Toronto City Councillor, Joe Mihevc also introduced the backyard chicken bylaw where residents could keep up to four chickens in their yard. Here’s how it’s working at his home, especially breakfast-wise. Continue reading
“Let’s shut down the street,” was John Montesano’s rallying cry, 15 years ago, about St. Clair West – and a great Toronto street festival was born. Continue reading
We first encountered and wrote about this tiny strip of public space three years ago and we’ve been following its transformation ever since. It is a casual and informal spot conceived and initiated by Suzanne Long, a tenant whose apartment overlooks the laneway. It is now well on its way to becoming a true community garden. Continue reading
A city often divided between the urban centre and the GTA feels cohesive. People in the gym. And outside the gym. The diversity of Toronto reflected in the arena, in the bars, in Jurassic Park. The Raptors bringing Toronto together. Continue reading
The Midtown in Focus plan, unanimously passed by Toronto City Council in 2018, has been languishing, ignored, on Minister Steve Clark’s desk for six months. The Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood is bursting at the seams and if the plan is not approved by June 6 the community will be beyond a breaking point. Continue reading
The instant ice and snow recede, the wheels and chalk come out and sidewalks in every neighbourhood bloom with the first pastel colours of spring. Continue reading
When we first met Emma Nishimura she was a young upcoming artist whose work we described as “wonderfully detailed and meticulously executed.” She told us that she planned “an artistic future full of art-making, exhibiting and teaching.” We are delighted to report that this future has come to pass. Continue reading
The Joseph D. Carrier Gallery at the Columbus Centre is currently hosting a unique opportunity to view “Food in Federico Fellini’s Drawings”. The exhibit provides a true feast for film, food and Fellini fanciers. Continue reading
It seemed in the end as if the tree itself declined our efforts to save it. During the windstorm on June 13, 2018 the one remaining large top limb of the old Norway maple in front of our house fell. Continue reading
When you hear that knock at the door or dig out that piece of political literature from your mailbox, think of the effort the volunteer canvasser makes to engage you in the greatest expression of a democratic state – the vote. Continue reading
Windstorm-damaged tree gets a reprieve! We are still happily shaded with a view of tree branches from our bed. Continue reading
Sometimes, watching the wind whip the limbs around our century-old Norway maple, the thought did occur to me that someday this tree is going to kill me as I lay in bed. That didn’t happen, but the latest windstorm did take down half of the tree. Continue reading
In search of the iconic malt drink that shaped my childhood taste buds in Wisconsin, I was surprised where my quest led me in Toronto’s multicultural abundance. Continue reading
Kensington Market’s annual Winter Solstice Festival features a Befana chorus. La Befana, as described by Mary Li is hopelessly in love with the sun and sings time-honoured love songs to it, with the confidence of a lover that knows the sun loves her, and only her. Continue reading
The renovated building on St. Clair West is bringing new life to a tired corner. A co-working space, a café and the offices of an award-winning architecture firm will create a fresh community hub. Continue reading
Toronto’s Columbus Centre, considered to be the heart and soul of the Italian community in the city, is besieged by its own board. Forced by the city to hold a public meeting, Villa Charities Inc., finally revealed its highly unpopular plans for the centre.
EDIT is a design and technology exposition with big aspirations to change the world. Installed recently for a week in a huge derelict soap factory the intention was to inspire, connect, demonstrate, and share solutions to global problems. Continue reading
Yolande Auger danced with the National Ballet of Canada when it rose to international acclaim in the 70s and 80s. Although she retired from the profession years ago, she’s still dancing. Continue reading
Ontario grapes are in season now and once again, as every year, I make my grandma’s jelly with local grapes. It’s a simple recipe. Continue reading
Our ravines and parks provide wonderful recreation places for city-dwellers while at the same time cleaning our atmosphere and combatting global warming. A historical, geographical and a literary appreciation. Continue reading
Belmore is an award-winning Canadian artist and member of the Lac Seul First Nation who has a new installation at Pukaskwa National Park in northern Ontario. Here, she invites visitors to ‘listen to the land’. Continue reading
Of food photos, bok choy kimchi, the Japanese filmmaker Ozu, Count Basie and, oh yeah, a couple of recipes. Continue reading
What to do when you’re enjoying a perfect beach day but hunger pangs threaten to end the idyll? There’s an app for that! Continue reading
Galvanized by the image of a lifeless toddler washed ashore on a Turkish beach, a group organized themselves and sponsored a refugee family of seven. Their story is all about successful community building. Continue reading
From its origins as a suburban, brutalist response to the need for more universities in Toronto and Canada, York University has transformed into a vibrant, lively campus of beautiful new buildings and world class academic programs. Continue reading
A first-hand account by a 12-year-old of his initial foray into turkey hunting with a bow and arrow. Then he helps clean the bird, cooks it and enjoys the meal. Not squeamish, he’s a thoughtful pragmatist who doesn’t shy away from the truth about carnivore food sources. Continue reading
Record rainfalls and high water levels have transformed our shoreline. We went beach prospecting to see conditions for ourselves. Will Toronto still be a lake swimmers’ city? Continue reading
What do you do when a tree on your property has to come down? Use the wood to create a resting and chatting place for passers-by. Continue reading
On May 15, 1953, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Charles Mingus and Bud Powell played together at Massey Hall in Toronto in a recorded concert that became “Jazz at Massey Hall: The Quintet”. To Ambrose Roche and jazz lovers everywhere, the sounds were revolutionary. Continue reading
