Bayview Post September 2026

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HEAD OF THE CLASS THE CITY’S LARGEST PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE INSIDE

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T.O.’S ULTIMATE CITY GUIDE SEPTEMBER 2026 • VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 2

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Kids Post pull-out Check out Toronto's largest private schools and extracurricular programs guide, pages 29–56

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Contents

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Welcome to the September 2026 issue of the Post. Sit back and enjoy!

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57 A novel approach to dressing Jeanne Beker pulled together outfits inspired by the city’s most literary to create your new fall uniform

New Heated Rivalry cast member Sabrina Jalees had her own rom-com moment meeting her wife, Shauna McCann

65 This September, it’s hi p to be square We tapped chef Anthony Rose and Pizzeria Libretto’s Rocco Agostino in our search for the city’s top Detroit-style pizzas

69 Toronto's Best of 2026: The people, places and things that make our city shine Our annual guide to T.O.’s finest, plus we polled our 890,000 Instagram followers for their faves

| SEPTEMBER 2026

59 T.O. comedian on how her love life got heated

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FAST FACTS NAME:

Stephan James BORN:

Toronto, Ont. BIG BREAK:

Starred in ‘Degrassi’ for two years COMMUNITY:

Founded with his brother Shamier Anderson non-profit B.L.A.C.K. Canada (Building a Legacy in Acting, Cinema + Knowledge)

© Tayo Kuku Jr.

POST INTERVIEW

STREETS OF TORONTO

Actor Stephan James

Up close and personal with the Toronto actor co-starring in TIFF’s hottest film ‘I Play Rocky’ Carl Weathers (Rocky’s Apollo Creed) is such an iconic figure. What did you discover about him that surprised you while preparing for this role?

I think there were a few things. Obviously, just brushing up on my knowledge of his background as an athlete and how he became an actor. I think the film lends itself to some of the other revelations that a lot of people may not know about Carl, and so I won't spoil that. But yeah, there was a world of information I could grab from and a little bit of creative liberty that I was able to take in sort of creating who this guy was behind the scenes.

What was the biggest challenge for you in playing a real person who is no longer here to learn from?

I mean, I can't hear from him, so I'm having to rely on material, whether it be footage of him, the research that I've done, what I know of him and speaking to people that were in and around during that era. So I think that's the toughest part, playing somebody who obviously is such a gigantic figure, not only in the lore of Rocky, but just as a leading Black man himself in cinema. So I just felt there's a lot of responsibility there to do justice.

What was it like for an actor from Toronto playing a legendary American actor in a movie about one of the most famous American movies of all time?

I played Jesse Owens. I played John Lewis. So it's not that new to me. I think more so than anything, you just welcome the opportunity, understand the responsibility that comes with it, and thankfully, I've had experience beforehand to know what it means to take on a figure like this.

What was the dynamic like between you and Anthony Ippolito?

“ANYTHING SCARBOROUGH IS LOVE.”

It was great. I love Anthony. We ate a lot together. We were training at Gleason's, the worldfamous boxing gym in Brooklyn, and so we were down there almost every day for a couple of months, just working out, really getting to know each other, practising our sequences. I was blown away by him and just his transformation and what he was able to bring to it. And I think he's really special. I'm excited for people to see what he does in this film.

CITY HACKS Barbershop collabs are all the rage in T.O. Style and sip

At Studio CPB on the Danforth, getting your hair done comes with an unexpected bonus: a sommelier-curated natural wine bar and bottle shop, because apparently a great balayage is even better with a glass of biodynamic vino in hand.

Garage couture

Forget the boring barber chair. At Grease Monkey Barber Shop, your haircut comes with a full-on 1950s garage fantasy, complete with red leather seats, retro decor, TVs, tunes and even a Red Bull fridge.

Cuts and coffee

Good Company TO takes the humble haircut and turns it into a full-blown Queen West hangout, combining a barbershop, café and bar under one roof. Come for the fresh fade, stay for a coffee or cocktail.

How much does Toronto still feel like home to you?

It’s the best city in the world. I've been to a lot of places, and, you know, I think, truth be told — and I may sound biased when I say it — but I don't think a lot compare. It’s just a world-class I think that it's about art; it's about soul. It really shows you that it city for art or culture, for fashion, for life and livelihood — and doesn't matter where you come from, that the sky is the limit if yeah, a place I happen to be born and raised in, so a special place you are determined enough. I mean, I know it's kind of meta to in my heart. have to be making a movie about the making of a movie, but I really do feel like the first time I read this script, it really brought Do you still have favourite Toronto neighbourhoods me back to all the feelings I felt watching Rocky for the first time or restaurants or places you can go when you're — just feeling inspired, feeling hopeful, feeling motivated, deter- back in town?

Scarborough and the Scarborough fam. Anything Scarborough mined to push through by any means. is love.

—Ron Johnson

| SEPTEMBER 2026

What do you think makes that story still resonate almost 50 years later?

Studio CPB 5

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Toronto is a great city, not a drive-through I’ve interviewed a lot of people, many of whom are from Toronto and have gone on to do great things here and globally. Without fail, after people leave and are asked about the city, they swoon. They talk about it in the context of the great cities of the world and how Toronto ranks near the top.

It bothers me when we hear some right-wing pundits or certain mayoral candidates describing our city as a crime-riddled dystopia with cars piled up for miles around run by misguided pinkos who don’t know what’s good for them.

This Toronto love-in happened again ahead of this issue when I was interviewing Stephan James. He’s one of the stars of I Played Rocky, showing at TIFF this month. And he’s a very proud Torontonian. It happens whenever I ride my bicycle through the ravines, stop at the farmers market at the Brick Works or St. Lawrence Market, maybe have a coffee on a patio along the way or brunch at Bonjour Brioche. I notice things, people, their smiles, the community.

It’s like there are two different cities. One, seen by people who drive through it on the way to work. The other, seen by people who live here. The problem is that, sadly, the people who drive through seem to be making more and more decisions for those of us who live here.

For the past 37 years — yes, happy anniversary to us — we have been talking about our great communities, our neighbourhoods, our people. We’ve been celebrating this city because we agree with Stephan James. It is great.

Is it perfect? Of course not. But the only way to make it better is to do so together through community building, civic engagement and, really, just living and enjoying what we have.

September is my favourite month in the city. Toronto is alive and well, so don’t just drive through. Embrace it. Fight for it.

SP

RON JOHNSON is the editorial director of Post City Magazines.

T.O.’S ULTIMATE CITY GUIDES

+

| SEPTEMBER 2026

PUBLISHER Lorne London ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER-IT Jarrod Daley GENERAL MANAGER Laurie McGillivray CONTROLLER Tina Trevellin OFFICE/CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER Lance Garvey DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Lynne London MEDIA ADVISORS Jo-Anne Craine Lauren Shipton Clara Strebel SENIOR SALES LEAD Carly Roebuck ACCOUNT CO-ORDINATOR George Redak

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NORTH TORONTO POST VOL. 34 • ISSUE 1 VILLAGE POST VOL. 36 • ISSUE 1 BAYVIEW POST VOL. 38 • ISSUE 2 ANNEX POST VOL. 9 • ISSUE 7

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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Ron Johnson MANAGING EDITOR Julia Mastroianni FOOD EDITOR Jennifer Schembri ART DIRECTOR Dorothy Chudzinski MANAGING ART DIRECTOR Lindsay Low SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Erin Neilly GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jennifer Lopez CONTENT CREATOR Kaitlin Narciso PROOFREADER Sarah Ives EDITOR EMERITUS Paula Torneck THORNHILL POST VOL. 32 • ISSUE 5 NORTH YORK POST VOL. 28 • ISSUE 1 YORKVILLE POST VOL. 7 • ISSUE 8 QUEEN WEST POST VOL. 3 • ISSUE 4 1256 YONGE ST., TORONTO, ON M4T 1W5 TEL 416.250.7979 WEB POSTCITY.COM

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Kawhi Leonard (the Klaw) is back. So here are the best (actual) claw machines in T.O. Vava

Tucked into Koreatown North, Vava has more than 25 claw machines packed with plushies, anime figures and other prizes in a cosy setting.

KENSINGTON MARKET, AUG. 4: Legendary Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash (left) visited Kensington Market restaurant the Cottage Cheese to get his curry in a hurry prior to his band playing their show in Toronto in August.

Check out one of last month’s most popular videos @STREETSOFTORONTO

ROBOT HEADS

Octo Zone

Located on Yonge Street downtown, Octo Zone offers a large selection of claw machines that make it an easy stop for a quick game or a longer claw machine session.

Claw & Kitty

In Markham, Claw & Kitty combines an arcade packed with claw machines with allyou-can-play tournaments for more competitive players.

Jays player Brett Bateman is taking the city by storm and has the Blue Jays back in the playoff hunt. Artist Robert Bateman knows a thing or two about blue jays and nature as one of the country’s best painters. But who rules the nest? You decide:

Ohyo Fun

Brett Bateman

NAME

Robert Bateman

Saint Paul, Minn.

BORN

Toronto, Ont.

Toronto Blue Jays player

GIG

Painter and naturalist

Played for the University of Minnesota

SCHOOL

Studied geography at the University of Toronto

Won the Paul Molitor Batting Champion award in 2023, named after the former Blue Jays star

AWARDS

Was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 1984

Played at Minnesota with the son of Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who traded him to the Blue Jays

OK BLUE JAYS

Has painted numerous blue jays of the ornithological variety, including “Farm Lane and Blue Jays’ (1987)

Since arriving in August, the Blue Jays playoff hopes have been renewed, but every game is crucial

NEXT BIG THING

Has new documentary, ‘Art of Adventure,’ chronicling his travels across Africa on a 14-month journey

Ohyo Fun in Empress Walk brings a more high-tech twist to claw machines, including app integration, virtual competition and its popular scissor-cutting machines.

| SEPTEMBER 2026

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Claw & Kitty 7

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Dogs, raccoons and pigs, oh my!

The Toronto area is having a moment when it comes to parks and public spaces and, in a word, we are going full whimsical.

More than a decade ago, Douglas Coupland turned the parks scene on its ear with his playful designs like Tom Thomson’s Canoe and the giant army men at Lakeshore and Bathurst. Then came the unforgettable Berczy Park dog fountain. The city changed. Now, places like Biidaasige Park in Toronto’s Port Lands District are hitting it out of the park with its mammoth interactive play areas featuring a giant owl and raccoon alongside picnic areas, a public art trail and more. There is also a park near Yonge and Soudan with a playful ode to the raccoon. And opening soon in Vaughan, a new park space will feature an unbelievable giant pig play structure. As we grow, these spaces are essential. The more fun the better.

Clockwise from left: Rendering of a giant pig play structure headed for a park in Vaughan, a raccoon central to a playground at Yonge and Soudan in midtown, and the beloved dog fountain at Berczy Park in downtown Toronto

© PavlaPavla / Tripadvisor

SECTION

| SEPTEMBER 2026

News

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OPINION

TRENDING T.O. What is making news and who is making us snooze in the headlines this month

Last resort

© O’Leary Ventures

Ontario’s governing party was in the news for allegedly spying on former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie at a resort in Jamaica. You can’t make this stuff up, folks.

Muskoka mania

Taking a strip off of Yonge Street?

A fire broke out at iconic downtown adult entertainment club Zanzibar last month. This after the recent closure of strip club Filmores has left many a T.O. tassel displaced.

Pro hooper has had it with Rogers Wi-Fi

Marina Mabrey, welcome to the city. The star of the Toronto Tempo went off on Rogers and its poor Wi-Fi service, like it is somehow a new thing. She is one of us.

We’re number 17!

The Toronto Maple Leafs are tied for first in the NHL, at least until the season opener on Sept. 29. And, they have the 17th best odds to win the Stanley Cup! Go Leafs!

L-R: Kevin O’Leary, massive data centres come with massive environmental footprints

Stopping Kevin O’Leary and the AI juggernaut DAVID SUZUKI with contributions from Ian Hanington

We’ve been lulled into believing that all technological advancement is good — or at least inevitable.

Many of us remember pre-internet times.

It was supposed to speed things up, to make life easier for everyone. But most people are working the same number of hours as before and spending more of those hours glued to screens.

Now we’re being told to accept the inevitability of artificial intelligence, or AI — computer technology that performs tasks once requiring human intelligence. Like the

internet, it will ostensibly make life easier, speeding up access to information and reducing the routine work required to create “content” and accomplish other tasks.

Will that lead to reduced work hours or better quality of life for a majority of people?

If the rapid development of the internet is anything to go by, probably not.

As for environmental issues, the massive data centres being built to facilitate it require enormous amounts of energy and water. In a world already reeling from the consequences of fossil-fuelled overheating, that should give us pause.

A proposed $70 billion, nine-gigawatt facility covering 65 square kilometres in

drought-stricken Alberta faces opposition from First Nations and locals.

Utah State University physicist Robert Davies warns it would be “one of the largest single-site heat sources on the planet.” He wrote that the project, led by celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary, would layer “an enormous new thermal, acoustic, air-emissions, and water demand on top of an environment already fragmented by resource extraction — across territory in which the Cree Nation exercises Treaty and harvesting rights.”

There may be no stopping the AI juggernaut, but we must at least demand regulations and oversight to reduce its environmental and social impacts.

Don’t just sit there and complain: vote From the minute you get out of bed in the morning, you use city services: the lights, brushing your teeth, using a sidewalk, road or public transit. During the day, you might walk through a park or take out a library book. At night, you might watch TV after making dinner. The city is responsible for making sure all these things can happen. When a city is working well, we hardly notice, but when a city is not working, it can impact our quality of life.

If the snow is not cleared, the parks are not maintained, it is a sign that city hall is not making these things a priority. The adage that “you can’t fight city hall” starts to creep into our collective consciousness. When things aren’t working, we shrug and move on because we have busy lives. It is also a very uncertain world right now, which can lead to complacency because things seem out of our control.

While some things may be out of our control, the one thing that we can all do is vote in the next municipal election, but only 38.5 per cent of eligible voters bothered in 2023 and less than 30 per cent

in 2022. The next election is on Oct. 26. It’s a chance for people to vote for the city that they want. Typically, incumbents are elected because voters recognize their name. When the city is working well, incumbents can get elected repeatedly without much effort. Some city councillors have been on council for over three decades.

However, if you want something different or think that the city can work better, then you have a chance to vote for change. This next election should be exciting because it is shaping up to be a choice between two mayoral candidates, although there will be 45 names on the ballot: Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford. Without a crowded field, people can better engage in the candidate’s respective platforms and consider the future of the city.

KAREN STINTZ is a former Toronto city councillor and the author of the new book Beyond Good Enough: Toronto and the Crisis of Urban Complacency.

| SEPTEMBER 2026

Elle Rubin and her Sterling Point co-stars are making Muskoka the hottest destination on earth. Gird yourselves cottagers, it is about to get really crowded.

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L-R: Mike Layton and Dianne Saxe

Layton runs, Saxe moves to new riding Former Toronto city councillor Mike Layton is returning to municipal politics, announcing his candidacy for the University–Rosedale Toronto City Council seat in the 2026 municipal election.

Layton, who is the son of Mayor Olivia Chow, represented the ward from 2010 to 2022 before stepping away from city politics to spend more time with his family.

He is now seeking to return to city hall with a focus on issues that include affordable housing, public transit, environmental sustainability and road safety.

“Toronto has a huge opportunity before us,” said Layton, via a social media post announcing his candidacy.

“The upcoming election is a chance to elect a progressive city council that can effect meaningful change. I want to help lead this movement. I will be running in the upcoming municipal election in University–Rosedale.”

During his previous 12 years on council, Layton was a prominent advocate for environmental initiatives and cycling and road safety improvements, including the Bloor Street bike lanes. The bike lane issue is already setting up to be one of the

big wedge issues in the mayoral race.

His return adds another familiar name to a competitive Ward 11 race, and it’s already shaken up the race in a big way.

Incumbent councillor Dianne Saxe, who won the seat after Layton’s departure, was set to compete against Layton saying: “Mike and I share many objectives, but I get stuff done, e.g. saving Sneaky Dee’s, turning Kensington parking into supportive housing for the homeless and the Ramsden Park Community Recreation Centre. All three had been stuck for years when Mike left.”

But, with the surprising departure of long-time TorontoDanforth councillor Paula Fletcher, Saxe decided to run in the Toronto-Danforth riding instead of facing Layton at the polls.

Layton’s campaign is also part of a broader conversation about the future of Toronto’s neighbourhoods, including housing affordability, transportation choices and how the city can become more sustainable.

To get back to city council he will have to defeat nine other candidates.

The election is scheduled for Oct. 26.

—Ron Johnson

13

NEWS

Midtown intersection has been a safety risk for vulnerable road users

The Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue intersection has been a mess for years. Now, with the Crosstown LRT operational and the corner heading back to normal, a city councillor wants to put pedestrian safety first.

And, after a recent vote, city council agrees.

Toronto City Council has approved a new pedestrian scramble crossing at Yonge and Eglinton, bringing a long-requested safety improvement to one of the city’s busiest pedestrian intersections.

The motion, introduced by city councillor Josh Matlow, will see a pedestrian priority phase installed at the intersection in 2027.

The proposal initially also included a scramble crossing at Yonge Street and Roehampton Avenue/Orchard View Boulevard, but council has asked staff to further evaluate that location before moving ahead.

A scramble crossing temporarily stops all traffic in every direction, allowing pedestrians to cross the intersection in any direction, including diagonally.

The goal is to reduce dangerous conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians.

This is particularly important at Yonge and Eglinton,

where large numbers of pedestrians cross in multiple directions while vehicles are also turning through the intersection.

“More than 4,500 people cross Yonge and Eglinton every hour, making it one of the busiest intersections in the entire city,” said Matlow, in a message regarding the scramble.

“More than

4,500 people cross Yonge and Eglinton every hour.”

“That’s why I’m bringing a motion to city council to bring a scramble crossing to the heart of Midtown Toronto so we can have a safer crossing. If you’ve used one at Yonge-Dundas or Yonge and Bloor, you already know it works.”

Toronto has introduced pedestrian scrambles at other busy locations as well where traditional crossings can create conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles due to the sheer volume of both.

The Yonge and Eglinton

area has and continues to experience significant growth, with thousands of new residents and businesses, and the arrival of the Crosstown LRT adds to pedestrian demand.

There is more development ahead at the Canada Square site with multiple new highrise buildings proposed and elsewhere. In addition, construction, transit infrastructure, retail, restaurants and offices have made the intersection an increasingly busy area that’s tough to navigate on foot.

As part of the approved motion, city council directed City of Toronto Transportation Services to optimize signal timing along Yonge Street between Soudan Avenue/Berwick Avenue and Montgomery Avenue/Broadway Avenue to reduce impacts on traffic flow.

City staff will monitor the new crossing once it is installed and report back on its effectiveness in 2028.

The city will also continue reviewing whether Broadway Avenue and Roehampton Avenue can eventually return to two-way traffic once all the construction activity in the area has eased.

—Ron Johnson

| SEPTEMBER 2026

Yonge and Eglinton so busy it’s getting a pedestrian scramble

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NEWS

Rendering of proposed development

| SEPTEMBER 2026

Multi-storey condo for Bayview at York Mills?

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The Bayview and York Mills area does not have a lot of midrise buildings alongside its leafy, green low-rise residential neighbourhood, but that’s changing. Bayview Avenue south of York Mills is becoming a hotbed of development applications.

Recently, a new condominium project has been proposed at Bayview and Wilket Road that rises seven storeys. If approved, it would replace two houses and a former church with a 56-unit residential development. The location is across Wilket Road from the York Mills Arena and community park.

The project is by Equiton Developments and designed by Richard Wengle Architect Inc., and it would consolidate 1 Wilket Rd. with 2535 and 2537 Bayview Ave. Of the 56 condo units: five are one-bedrooms, 27 two-bedrooms and 24 three-bedrooms.

The building's seventh floor would be partially occupied by mechanical equipment, along with about 150 square metres of indoor amenity space, as well as a rooftop terrace.

The main entrance would face Bayview Avenue, with a second entrance on the east side leading to a covered drop-off

area. Two underground parking levels would provide 125 spaces, including 116 resident spaces and nine for visitors. The plan also includes 43 bicycle parking spaces.

The proposal is part of a broader wave of redevelopment along Bayview Avenue, with several three- and six-storey projects already proposed or approved nearby, gradually introducing more mid-rise housing to an area traditionally dominated by detached homes and other low-rise uses.

Most recently, a similarly sized proposal at the corner of Bayview and The Bridle Path made its way through Toronto City Council last fall.

During that process, city staff were of the opinion that “the proposed six-storey residential apartment building is an acceptable form of modest intensification in a location that is appropriate for mid-rise development, and aligns with the enacted Council policy direction for major streets.”

The application has been submitted to the City of Toronto for official plan and zoning bylaw amendments and remains subject to the municipal review process.

—Ron Johnson

15

NEWS

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New Forest Hill village condo to replace 10 low-rise homes A growing trend in residential condominium development is to resubmit applications for a smaller number of units with larger sizes. Case in point, a proposed seven-storey condo building on a quiet Forest Hill village street, which is back before the City of Toronto with a revised plan that significantly reduces the number of homes in the project.

The development at 1–19 Thelma Ave., just east of Spadina Road and south of St. Clair Avenue West, has been resubmitted as a 16-unit apartment building, down from 24 units proposed in the original application.

The plan is to replace 10 vacant detached and semi-detached houses on the south side of Thelma Avenue. The roughly 1,486-square-metre property would be replaced by a sevenstorey building designed by Richard Wengle Architect Inc. According to the most recent submission to the City of Toronto, all 16 units would be twoor three-bedroom homes, a mix that the applicant says could provide an opportunity for residents to remain in the neighbourhood while downsizing from larger houses, including opportunities for people to age in place.

Former Toronto chief city planner Jennifer Keesmaat has noticed the trend and questions if it has legs.

“I'm curious about how much appetite there is for these very high-end buildings,” she said, “in part because the condo fees, the monthly fees, are going to be astronomical. You need a lot of very deep-pocketed people to be able to maintain that market. But I don't know: are we there?”

“I’m curious

about how much appetite there is.”

The Thelma Avenue proposal, situated smack dab in the middle of one of the city’s most upscale neighbourhoods, includes two levels of underground parking with 49 vehicle spaces, including 43 for residents and six visitor spaces. Ten bicycle parking spaces are also proposed, with eight long-term spaces underground and two short-term spaces near the front entrance.

Three of the bicycle spaces would include electric vehicle charging.

The building would have its main entrance and driveway access directly onto Thelma Avenue. Indoor and outdoor amenity spaces are planned for the second level, and two ground-floor units would have private walkout terraces. At the rear, the plans call for nine new trees. A green roof is also proposed on the mechanical penthouse, which would include additional residential space and a private terrace.

Architecturally, the building is planned with a light masonry exterior, punched windows and a variety of balconies. Curved setbacks at the eastern and western ends of the building are intended to soften its appearance from the street and reduce its perceived width.

The property is designated as Neighbourhoods under the Toronto Official Plan and is zoned for residential use.

The site is also within the St. Clair West Protected Major Transit Station Area, placing it within an area where increased residential density is encouraged because of its proximity to rapid transit.

The application will now proceed through the city's site plan review process.

—Ron Johnson

| SEPTEMBER 2026

or ?

Forest Hill village getting new luxury condo

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OPENINGS

JUST SOLD 344 Spring Garden Ave

JUST SOLD 214 Divadale Dr

JUST SOLD 7 Broadway Ave #506

Contact me today for your free, no obligation market analysis at 416.494.7653 or jamie@jamiedempster.ca!

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* Acted as Co-op Agent

Justin Friedlich, executive chef and co-owner of Shay Ristorante

Modern Italian, a chic mercantile and more Shay Ristorante will bring a

| SEPTEMBER 2026

taste of modern Italy to Rosedale! The new restaurant from former Buca Yorkville chef Justin Friedlich is scheduled to open this fall at 1055 Yonge St. and will feature house-made pasta, seasonal ingredients and Italian and French wines, with dishes like handcrafted tajarin al pomodoro on the menu.

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Yonge St. and offers private and semi-private Pilates sessions, with workouts tailored to each client’s body and goals and a focus on strength, alignment and greater awareness.

Second Story is taking cocktails to another level in midtown.

Tucked upstairs at 1954 Yonge St., the reservation-only bar pairs moody, upscale vibes with signaJaybird Studio is expanding its ture cocktails, like Dionysus Toronto footprint with a new Haze and Solaris Tide, as well as midtown location. The popular elevated bites like smoked beef movement studio is opening at cubes and citrus-cured salmon.

2574 Yonge St. in the former Gap Kids space, bringing its sig- Wild Beast Café is putting a nature infrared-heated mat and playful spin on brunch in reformer classes to the neigh- Thornhill! The former Glass bourhood. Expect dark, mirror- Kitchen space at 505 Hwy. 7 E. less studios and non-traditional has been rebranded as an all-day café, serving craveable eats such workouts by candlelight. as ube pancakes, Korean milk Gather Mercantile has moved bread French toast, lobster into 1579 Bayview Ave., in the Benedict and black sesame former Modella Ladieswear chicken and waffles, alongside space, stocking a curated mix of coffee and creative drinks.

Canadian home goods, gourmet goodies, seasonal finds and gift Bánh Mì Nana is helping fuel baskets. Drop by for the good Toronto’s bánh mì boom with a vibes and pick up a one-of-a- new North York shop at 5425 kind gift for a friend or a little Yonge St. It serves its signature bánh mì loaded with savoury treat for yourself. fillings and fresh veggies, alongMOA Pilates Studio by Adel is side Vietnamese iced coffee and a new Rosedale destination for passion fruit drinks for some—Nisean Lorde personalized movement. The in- thing sweet. timate studio is located at 1055

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BREAK-INS BY NEIGHBOURHOOD Last month the highest percentage of break-ins occurred between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. (57%). The majority of incidents occurred on weekdays (68%). The day of the week with the most incidents was Tuesday (25%).

­

9 P.M. 9 P.M.

GLENGROVE AVE. W. AND GLEN CASTLE ST.

3 P.M.

AUG. 11

TEDDINGTON PARK AVE. AND MOUNT PLEASANT RD.

4 A.M.

AUG. 13

JOICEY BLVD. AND AVENUE RD.

1 A.M.

AUG. 1

WENTWORTH AVE. AND MYLESVIEW PL.

12 A.M.

AUG. 1

IVOR RD. AND COLE MILLWAY

8 P.M.

AUG. 1

DUDLEY AVE. AND PRINCESS AVE.

11 P.M.

AUG. 2

ADDINGTON AVE. AND ADDINGTON PL.

5 P.M.

AUG. 3

WILFRED AVE. AND BYNG AVE.

6 A.M.

AUG. 6

LAWRENCE AVE. W. AND GLEN RUSH BLVD.

2 A.M.

NORTH YORK & BAYVIEW

AUG. 8

YONGE ST. AND LORD SEATON RD.

3 A.M.

AUG. 8

BYNG AVE. AND DUDLEY AVE.

3 A.M.

AUG. 8

BAYVIEW AVE. AND THE BRIDLE PATH

10 P.M.

AUG. 10

SHEPPARD AVE. W. AND GODDARD ST.

12 A.M.

AUG. 12

NEWTON DR. AND CASWELL DR.

12 P.M.

AUG. 13

FISHERVILLE RD. AND CARPENTER RD.

10 P.M.

AUG. 14

ALONZO RD. AND PARK HOME RD.

1 P.M.

SUNNYDENE CRES. AND BAYVIEW AVE.

AUG. 2 AUG. 10

PRICEFIELD RD. AND THORNWOOD RD.

PROPHETESS

NORTH TORONTO AUG. 2

HO KA KEI (JEFF HO) MIKE PAYETTE KAREN ROBINSON SEPT 29 - OCT 25, 2026

CRIME

MIDTOWN & YORKVILLE AUG. 2

YORKVILLE AVE. AND BAY ST.

5 A.M.

AUG. 3

SCOLLARD ST. AND HAZELTON AVE.

9 P.M.

AUG. 6

EASTBOURNE AVE. AND TRANMER AVE.

3 P.M.

AUG. 7

SPADINA RD. AND ORMSBY CRES.

9 P.M.

AUG. 12

TRANBY AVE. AND AVENUE RD.

12 A.M.

AUG. 12

YONGE ST. AND FRICHOT AVE.

6 P.M.

AUG. 1

SPADINA AVE. AND SUSSEX AVE.

12 A.M.

AUG. 1

VANKOUGHNET ST. AND LIPPINCOTT ST.

3 A.M.

AUG. 7

BLOOR ST. W. AND CLINTON ST.

4 A.M.

AUG. 9

BORDEN ST. AND HARBORD ST.

10 P.M.

AUG. 11

HARBORD ST. AND BRUNSWICK AVE.

12 A.M.

AUG. 11

BATHURST ST. AND FOLLIS AVE.

2 A.M.

AUG. 11

BLOOR ST. W. AND BORDEN ST.

5 A.M.

AUG. 11

SAINT GEORGE ST. AND ADMIRAL RD.

5 A.M.

AUG. 14

LOWTHER AVE. AND BEDFORD RD.

4 A.M.

| SEPTEMBER 2026

ANNEX

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BRAD LAMB

President, Brad J. Lamb Realty and Lamb Development Corp.

BENJAMIN TAL

Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC World Markets Inc.

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN Principal, Gluckstein Design; Author

BARRY COHEN

ODEEN ECCLESTON WILTSHIRE

#1 REMAX luxury agent worldwide

SEBASTIAN CLOVIS

Founder and Head of Construction, Hohm Studio Inc.

JENNIFER KEESMAAT President and CEO, Collecdev Markee

MICHAEL KALLES

President, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Brokerage

Co-founder, Wiltshire Eccleston Developments

FALL REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE

Our all-star panel weighs in on what they see for the final months of 2026 in our mid-year discussion by Ron Johnson

| SEPTEMBER 2026

POST: Give me an elevator pitch on why anyone would want to buy a condo in Toronto right now.

JENNIFER KEESMAAT: It’s a twosided argument. People who have wanted to buy a condo for a long time and who are confident about the type of condo they want and where they want to buy it should absolutely consider buying now because the market is at a significant dip. On the other hand, anyone who is uncertain or is buying for a short-term hold probably shouldn’t buy. We still don’t know how far prices could fall, whether they’re going to start going up, what the market will look like or the extent to which condos will continue to hold their value. It’s possible we’re not at the bottom. So it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a home you’re going to live in for a very long time, that mitigates the risk. But if it’s an investment or a short-term hold, I would argue there’s significant risk.

SEBASTIAN CLOVIS: Toronto is dealing with an unusual scenario: a short-term abundance of condos and a potential long-term 18

shortage of new ones. If you’re looking to buy a condo as a home, I think this is one of the more interesting buying opportunities we’ve seen in a while. Current buyers have a healthy selection of units to choose from, leverage to negotiate with and time to make a good decision. My advice would be to scrutinize the building as much as the unit. The condo fees and issues with the building can turn an affordable unit into a very expensive one quite quickly.

BRAD LAMB: The real estate market is likely at, or close to, the bottom. The best time to buy real estate is at or near the bottom. I think the fact that there’s a bunch of vulture funds looking for bargains more or less proves this out.

ODEEN ECCLESTON WILTSHIRE: For the first time in years, Toronto condo buyers have real choice, negotiating power and time to make a thoughtful decision. Prices have adjusted, inventory is elevated, and buyers can now compare properties, negotiate conditions and focus on longterm value rather than rushing into bidding wars. Not every condo is a good investment, but well-managed buildings in strong locations can offer excellent

value. For first-time buyers, downsizers and families seeking a more attainable way to remain in the city, this could be one of the best purchasing windows we have seen in years.

MICHAEL KALLES: Buyers have an advantage now in a way they haven’t in years.

They can push on price, they can push on terms. And if you’re buying built inventory from a developer, the HST rebate is meaningful. It’s open to everyone, not just first-time buyers, and you get a full Tarion warranty. And some of these newer buildings have tremendous amenities, elevated service, and many are located right on major arteries with all that Toronto has to offer at their doorsteps. If you’re buying a home to live in, it’s hard to imagine a better time to be looking.

POST: For condo owners today who are holding onto a unit, what would you recommend?

BENJAMIN TAL: I think that’s a very difficult question because it really depends on the person.

But let me describe the way I see the market at this point. I want to say that

cated 2023 peop of [tw and Orig that.

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cated 2023 peop of [t and Orig that.

Th palit that sour creas incre belie main long Th plan com So muc plan mark gove must tion Som that

KEESM KEES tion tion the market is in a price-searching mode, enou mode, enou basically trying to find the price that will proje t will proje clear the market. We are not there yet. theef yet. the f Now, I believe that if you are in a two-, of ho wo-, of h three- or four-bedroom condo, we are there e are there basically there, but we are not there at sidere at side the micro level. Those prices will con- Th con- T tinue to go down, and everything has a what has a wha price, and there will be a price that will andt twill and clear the market. But for the micro unit, wasunit, was explo expl we are not there. mark mark POST: What lessons should business and COV s and COV governments take from the condo crisis? anyos? anyo that that BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: Build units impa units impa that people want to live in for An n for A the long term, not just for inves- buye nves- buye tors. The government needs to work aroun work arou with developers to look at the soft costs capit costs capi (fees, taxes) to lower the cost of building, eignding, eign but the developers also need to pass sectopass secto those savings along to the purchasers. a bigrs. a big there ther TAL: I think I’ve been saying for a long really long reall time that, in many ways, the housing cri- andg w cri- and sis that we are in is really a planning cri- open g cri- open sis, and I think that the number one Thone T factor impacting the market is obviously beyo ously beyo demographic — I mean, demand. And TheAnd The we had a situation in which, as I indi- twinndi- twin

19

REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE cated in a previous conversation, in 2023–2024, we got basically 1.5 million people into this country over the course of [two years]. This was way too rapid and not part of the original planning.

Original planning did not account for that. That was a change in policy.

Therefore, you cannot blame municipalities for not planning for something that was not in the plan, and that’s the source of the issue that led to a huge increase in rent and therefore led to a huge increase in the appetite for investors that believed that they would be able to maintain and sustain this rent for [the long term].

That was a big mistake in terms of planning population growth. It was not communicated.

So the lesson is that there must be much better co-ordination between the plan and policy. You cannot surprise the market at this scale, and I think that the government is not getting it. But there must be basically very clear communication between policymakers and planners.

Something that was not in our case, and that was the origin of this issue.

KEESM KEESMAAT: It’s such a complicated question tion because I don’t think we talk mode, enou mode, enough about the fact that planners can will proje t will project and forecast until they’re blue in yet. theef yet. the face. They can try to align the types wo-, of ho wo-, of homes being built with demand, but e are there e are there are factors that are completely outre at sidere at side their control. con- Th con- There were really three key drivers of has a what has a what happened in our housing market will andt twill and the high costs we’re seeing. The first unit, wasunit, was international student immigration explo exploding. The second was a bunch of mark market oddities that arose because of and COV s and COVID. Again, that wasn’t something s? anyos? anyone had planned for or knew how that that type of catastrophe would actually units impa units impact the housing market. n for An n for And the third was the ban on foreign nves- buye nves- buyers. Our government is now running work aroun work around the country trying to get foreign costs capit costs capital into every industry. We want fording, eignding, eign capital in steel, mining and other pass sectopass sectors. Foreign capital has always been rs. a bigrs. a big part of the Canadian economy, but there there’s a widespread belief now that it long really long really screwed up our housing market, g cri- andg w cri- and we haven’t quite figured out how to cri- open g cri- open up those taps again. one Thone Those are three variables that go way ously beyo ously beyond real estate. They’re geopolitical.

And TheAnd The housing market is completely interndi- twinndi- twined with larger geopolitical factors,

which makes it challenging to plan.

LAMB: There are really no lessons for businesses to learn from this current situation. This is entirely caused by government stupidity. The COVID crisis created a situation where the government wrongly shut down all the businesses and industries. They sent people home and forced distance. Then when they reopened the economy, it overheated. Inflation rose to untenable levels as a result, and interest rates rose dramatically to cool inflation. Rising interest rates will always crush a real estate market. There’s no foresight into this.

There’s no ability to predict the future with this. The overreaction the government created caused all of this. This is a lesson for the government to learn from.

POST: Is there an opportunity for contractors when it comes to rehabilitating these shoebox condos?

CLOVIS: I think there’s an opportunity as

ECCLESTON WILTSHIRE: I expect the fall condo market to be active but highly selective. Buyers have considerable inventory to choose from and will not rush into overpriced or poorly designed units. The properties that sell will be properly priced, professionally presented and easy to understand from a value perspective.

Functional layouts, parking, outdoor space, good views, reasonable maintenance fees and strong building management will continue to matter greatly.

Units with high fees, weak layouts or building concerns will require more aggressive pricing. I remain optimistic about Toronto real estate, but the market is returning to fundamentals: location, quality, functionality, affordability and long-term value.

TAL: I think we see more of the same. I think that the low-rise angle of the market will do fine. Larger units in the condo space will do fine. I think that the speed at which micro unit prices will be

“WHEN THE SHORTAGE IS OBVIOUS, PRICES WILL SPIKE 50 PER CENT.” constraints can often spawn interesting design solutions. In a shoebox condo every square inch matters, so instead of buying four pieces of furniture, a skilled contractor or millworker can design one integrated piece that performs several jobs. I can imagine a build company developing repeatable small-space retrofit packages for 400- to 700- square-foot units so that they don’t have to approach each unit with a bespoke solution.

On the other hand, if the condo regulations allowed for it, perhaps purchasers could buy adjoining units, whether side-by-side or above/below, and add doors or staircases to open them up. This would allow for the creation of some very unique spaces that would instantly become more intriguing to a large swath of people.

POST: What happens next this fall and winter?

falling is going to slow down, but they will still continue to fall. I think that the speed at which prices have been falling may reach a peak, but the direction is still negative.

We are starting to see more and more interest coming from institutional investors buying the bulk of the condos, believing that they will be able to rent them for a while, and they are right because, again, we are building deep now.

We are building nothing, which means that two or three years from now, we will have a situation in which prices will have to start going up because we simply don’t have new supply, and the demand will be utilized by then.

So I think that, again, over the next year, if you ask, I would say that the lowrise segments will do fine, larger units will do fine, and the rate at which prices at the micro level will be going down will slow down. And I’m not saying the prices will rise, but the rate at which they’re falling will slow down.

BARRY COHEN: We are seeing the condo market starting to show increased activity. As mentioned, the sizable units are generating a lot of interest, sales and are increasing in value.

I expect that to continue. My clients are expressing a growing need for security and not wanting to have the concerns that go along with having an empty house while travelling. I have someone ask me every week to find them a bungalow. They don’t exist! And if they do, they will be torn down to build a monster house. Condos are the answer for those buyers. I believe we have a strong market ahead.

KALLES: I think we will see more of the same. Buyers will keep exploring their options and getting more comfortable with the HST rebate, with builders and resellers adjusting their asking price until they’re on the same page as the buyers. One thing that I think is worth watching: the HST rebate expires at the end of March 2027, and that deadline could accelerate activity throughout the winter.

KEESMAAT: I don’t know. I feel like it’s impossible to know. The bond market went crazy this morning because of Iran making waves. So how can we know? I just don’t know how we can know. There are too many variables that impact consumer confidence.

LAMB: What happens in the future is never easy to predict. We have gone through four years of interest rates rising and grinding. The real estate correction — so there are no new starts in the condominium business with very few in the single-family business. There are some purpose-built apartments being built, but it is a drop in the bucket. The problem really is a future shortage, which is hard to see now. For four years very little condominium housing was started.

When the shortage is obvious, pricing will spike 50 per cent over a short period.

The market was altered by a bad government policy to COVID, which created inflation and then high interest rates.

We are now recovering from a high-interest-rate environment. It will take some time to get back to a seller’s market. Today, the inventory of condos for rent and for sale has fallen 20 per cent year-over-year. This will continue until a shortage appears.

19

| SEPTEMBER 2026

cated 2023 peop of [tw and Orig that.

Th paliti that sourc creas incre belie main long Th plann comm So much plan mark gover must tion b Som that w

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Currents

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© Pete Davidson/ ticketmaster.com

© Ilana Glazer/ bam.org

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SECTION

While everyone is going celeb-spotting at TIFF in September, there’s another star-studded event taking over the city: Just for Laughs Toronto. An entire roster of comedy legends will be performing at the Toronto edition of this iconic festival, beginning on Sept. 24 and running until Oct. 3. Top headliners this year include former Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson, Monty Python star John Cleese and standup comedian and actor Tiffany Haddish. But that’s not all; Toronto is going to basically turn into a month-long comedy festival. There’s Broad City’s Ilana Glazer, taking the stage on Sept. 1; Kevin Fredricks’ (a.k.a. KevOnStage) new show, Grief Sucks, on Sept. 4; and Parks and Recreation’s Ben Schwartz will bring his hilarious improv show to the city on Sept. 18. Toronto, summer may be over, but the fun is just getting started!

Clockwise from left: Just for Laughs headliner Pete Davidson, ‘Broad City’ star Ilana Glazer, online creator KevOnStage

| SEPTEMBER 2026

Back to school means everyone needs a laugh this September

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27

STREETS OF TORONTO CULTURE

ARTS Q&A T.O. star on sharing the screen with Nicole Kidman Toronto’s own Laysla De Oliveira is back on our TV screens for another season of breakout spy thriller series Lioness.

Written by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, De Oliveira says of the show that we can expect a totally different new season, calling it, “raw, explosive, intense and personal.” We asked the on-screen CIA operative about what to expect and her Canadian upbringing.

FAST FACTS NAME:

Laysla De Oliveira GRADUATED:

© @joshuajohnston/ Instagram

Rosedale Heights School of the Arts

You’ve now been working with Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña for three seasons. Has the star power worn off?

FAVE SPOTS IN THE CITY:

Terroni (“The Toronto one is just better!”), 416 Snack Bar, Osteria Giulia WHAT MADE HER WANT TO ACT:

We’re definitely moving more as a maWatching telenovelas with chine now; we all know each other and her mom, and Julia Roberts in ‘Erin Brockovich’ there’s that comfort. But at the same time, it’s them. So they’re always going to have that aura. At the premiere, when Laysla De Oliveira plays Cruz in Paramount’s ‘Lioness’ Nicole was holding my hand, it was surtrust that they're going to make you look that and just try to dive in as deep as posreal. So you’ll always have that! cool. Those days are hard, especially sible. when me and Zoe were in the trenches Your character deals with both intense physical challenges and mental [in the show]. But I feel like my character Have you noticed any overlap beones. Do you tackle them differently? Cruz’s relationship with Joe [Saldaña] is tween you and Cruz over time?

They're both challenging in different the crux of her whole arc. So the emo- It is really challenging to play someone ways, and you explore endurance in dif- tional stuff, for me, that is the stuff that who is that depressed every single day. I ferent ways. You know, the physical, you I love. So I always tackle it with a full think when you're done working, you just do the work, you show up, and you heart and gratitude that that I get to do take some of that with you, and that was

How did growing up in Canada influence your career as an actor?

We get a lot of exposure to Hollywood, being in Canada, so I feel so lucky to have grown up here. But what excites me the most now is seeing local talent, fresh young faces on shows shooting here in Toronto, like The Testaments and Wayward. Everyone’s so great on those shows, and I’m recognizing some girlies who haven’t even made the move to America. And they don’t have to, because there are so many opportunities now. Canada has a pretty good rep of having great artists like Rachel McAdams. I just love being a part of that legacy.

—Julia Mastroianni

A reel escape to the real-life Sterling Point

A marina fit for late-night confessions

A marina owned by love interest Ellis’ family was the backdrop to many a dramatic Sterling Point scene —

A cottage community built for scenic backdrops Much of Sterling Point was filmed in Port Carling,

located between Lake Muskoka and Rosseau. This

A lake made for the small screen Sparrow Lake Camp is an actual, working summer

camp used as a filming location for a few scenes in

| SEPTEMBER 2026

© @sparrowlakecamp/ Instagram

The comfort show of summer was set and filmed in Muskoka; three must-sees

© Courtesy Amazon Prime

daytrpr

quite challenging for me because it was also my first experience with that. So what I've had to navigate is learning a lot about endurance, physical and emotional endurance, and learning things that I have to do on set to protect myself. This season, it’s been easier for me to take the Cruz jacket off and be Laysla. The thing I’ve kept with me from Cruz is the haircut! That’s not going anywhere.

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EVENTS

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HELL’S KITCHEN HITS T.O. & SO MUCH MORE Plus, the biggest and best events this month, from Charli XCX and Lyle Lovett to Melissa Auf der Maur, Word on the Street and BuskerFest! by Ron Johnson

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| SEPTEMBER 2026

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CHARLI XCX

LYLE LOVETT

BUSKERFEST

FELTFACE

HELL’S KITCHEN

WORD ON THE STREET

The British pop star brings her Music, Fashion, Film Tour to Toronto on Sept. 21 at Scotiabank Arena. Charli XCX, known for her boundary-pushing electro-pop sound and hits including “Boom Clap” and “360” will make her only scheduled Canadian stop on the tour.

Lyle Lovett and his Small Large Band bring a blend of country, folk, jazz and blues to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Sept. 30. A four-time Grammy Award winner, music icon Lovett has built a reputation on his distinctive voice and incredible songwriting.

One of North America’s largest gatherings of street performers, the Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy returns to Woodbine Park from Sept. 4 to 7 with four days of fun circus artistry, daredevil stunts, comedy, music and incredible street performances to the Beaches.

Viral comedy sensation Randy Feltface brings his new show Gimmick to Toronto at the historic Winter Garden Theatre on Sept. 26, for an evening of sharp standup, absurdist humour and his signature manic energy.

The Alicia Keys hit musical Hell’s Kitchen makes its Canadian premiere at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre from Sept.

23 to Oct. 25. Inspired by her life, music and New York community, the coming-ofage story of 17-year-old Ali is backed by Keys’ greatest hits and new songs.

Toronto’s fave book fest returns to David Pecaut Square Sept. 26–27. Word On The Street offers a free literary festival with authors, readers, publishers and booksellers together in the heart of downtown Toronto with readings, workshops, performances and more.

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A FINE BALANCE

MELISSA AUF DER MAUR

KATHLEEN EDWARDS

RHEOSTATICS

PROPHETESS

Rohinton Mistry’s acclaimed novel A Fine Balance makes its world theatre premiere at Crow’s Theatre’s Guloien Theatre from Aug. 25 to Oct. 11. Adapted by Anosh Irani and directed by Chris Abraham, the drama is set during India’s 1975 Emergency.

Melissa Auf der Maur’s My ’90s Rock Photographs opens at the AGO on Sept. 2.

This intimate look at the decade she spent touring with Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins features more than 200 photographs, videos, ephemera and new music.

Canadian alt-country singersongwriter Kathleen Edwards returns to Massey Hall on Sept. 18 with special guest Ken Yates. Edwards is touring behind her acclaimed sixth album, Billionaire, produced

by Jason Isbell and Gena Johnson.

One of Toronto’s most beloved bands, Rheostatics, brings its acclaimed double album The Great Lakes Suite to the Paradise Theatre on Sept. 12. The one-of-a-kind concert will feature the band’s music alongside stunning Great Lakes visuals.

Prophetess runs Sept. 29 to

CABBAGETOWN FESTIVAL

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Cabbagetown’s biggestever street festival takes over Parliament and Carlton streets Sept. 12–13 with more than 250 vendors, live music, DJs, food, family activities, a new Rainbow Market and more.

Oct. 25 at Tarragon Theatre.

Written by Ho Ka Kei (Jeff Ho) and directed by Mike Payette, this world premiere follows an English professor whose nightmare about spiders spills into a surreal battle of words.

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THE CITY’S LARGEST PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE

THE KIDS

SPECIAL PULLOUT

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OUR NEW STEM AND ARTS ACCELERATOR IS HERE. Women make up less than 25% of those in STEM careers. But change is here, thanks to the opening of the Karen L. Jurjevich Innovation Centre & Studio Theatre (iCAST). This 34,500 square-foot idea accelerator is a first for a JK-12 school in Canada. It’s how we’ll ensure girls build practical skills for the digital future. And bulldoze the STEM gender gap along the way.

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FAST FACTS NAME:

Ryan O’Reilly (a.k.a. Mac) RECORD BREAKER:

Holds Team Canada record for most World Championship games PLAYOFF POWER:

Joined the Leafs in 2023 and led them to a historic first-round playoff win T.O. HISTORY:

Played for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the OJHL

L–R: NHL player Ryan O’Reilly launched a kids’ band project, Mac N Cheeze, with former teammate Kelly James

NHL star goes from centre ice to centre stage Former Leaf and current Nashville Predator Ryan O’Reilly talks starting a kids’ band During the NHL season, Ontario hockey player Ryan O’Reilly is busy putting up numbers on the ice. But in the off-season, you might find him in a recording studio in Nashville, creating a kids’ album under his alter ego, Mac, alongside Cheeze, his former teammate and friend Kelly James. The pair released their first album, Pizza Party, in April — and they’ve been hard at work writing another one!

Where did the idea for Mac N Cheeze come from?

Are your kids your focus group for new song ideas?

For sure. Even just messing around the house and singing a crazy lyric, and then you’ll hear them singing it later in the day, it’s like, “Oh, we’ve got something good there.” Sometimes we even ask them for ideas. One of the songs on the album is “Bok Like a Chicken,” and that’s because I asked my then-four-year-old Jameson what he wanted to hear a song about, and he said, “Well, I want to hear a chicken bawking.”

I was always making silly little songs for my kids, and since I How have your teammates reacted to this new project? signed in Nashville, my wife originally had the idea of me When the album dropped, it was still during the season, and when recording the songs just to play in the car, so they I got off the ice one night, I could hear a bunch [my family] could listen to my voice. I called up of guys in the shower singing one of the songs: my buddy [Kelly] because we always had this “Coconut.” It’s hilarious that we got it stuck in funny idea for a kids’ duo called Mac N Cheeze. their heads! They’ve really been my biggest fans.

Last year, “Pizza Party” was our win song.

I heard a certain Toronto musician influenced your music.

Yes, I went to a Raffi [the famous children’s singer behind “Baby Beluga”] concert, and my kid was just so entertained. Raffi is someone I really idolize, especially now just dipping our toes into this children’s music space.

“WHEN THE ALBUM DROPPED, I COULD HEAR THE GUYS SINGING IT IN THE SHOWER AFTER A GAME.”

Were you always interested in music?

I got a guitar for my 16th birthday, and that was right around when YouTube was coming out, so I taught myself through those free lessons online. In hockey, you have a lot of down time, so I kind of got into playing that way. I remember being really into City and Colour, and the first time I was able to play one of his songs and make it kind of sound like Dallas Green, I thought it was the coolest thing. And obviously the Hip was a huge influence growing up; all you want is to be onstage and buzzing around like Gord Downie.

TRADE-IN SECRETS Kids grow fast — grow with them by trading in uniforms and gear at these T.O. spots.

Play It Again Sports With multiple locations across the GTA, this retailer specializes in buying, selling and trading used sports and fitness gear.

Bring in those too-tight cleats and outgrown helmets and get a discount when you trade for new in-store items.

Newson’s Bike and Skate Exchange This Dundas West spot specializes in cycling and hockey gear.

Through their trade-in program, upgrade your hockey or figure skates by bringing in your child’s old ones for a credit toward your next purchase of new or used skates.

NorthLine Sports Leaside’s top sports shop hosts regular gear swaps on top of offering trade-in programs for skis, snowboards, bikes and watersports, depending on the time of year.

What advice do you have for kids who have multiple interests, like a sport and an art?

I’m a hockey player and I feel like I have the greatest job in the world — but I also love playing music and being creative. I think kids should get into anything you want, find what excites you about it and give it everything you have. Sometimes we get stuck in these avenues where we feel we have to do it this one way, but you don’t. If you love something, do it and be OK if you’re not good at it. My buddy and I, we’ve never done anything like this, and we’re around all these musicians, and we catch ourselves being shy. But eventually it’s like, “Hey, let’s just enjoy this!”

What do you miss about Canada when you’re gone?

My wife is from Toronto, so we love going back to the Beaches.

And there’s something about people in Canada; they’re so good and people just take care of each other.

—Julia Mastroianni

| THE KIDS POST 2026

KIDS INTERVIEW

THE KIDS POST

Cleats at Play It Again Sports 3

E X T RAC U R R I C U L A R S

THE KIDS POST

BY THE NUMBERS

166,000 The number of students in Ontario who attended an independent school, as of 2021

315 The number of acres Lakefield College is situated on, making it the largest physical private school campus in Ontario

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occer practice, tutoring and test prep, early morning band rehearsal — the dizzying schedule of the modern child (or, let’s face it, the modern parent) is about to return with a vengeance. That’s all well and good, but what happened to fun?

It’s the best part of being a kid, after all. It’s our 37th annual Kids Post, the city’s leading private education and independent schools guide, Kids Post editor Julia Mastroianni and I’ve been the editor behind it for six years now (in school terms, I’m just graduating out of Grade 1!). This year, I’ve been reflecting on my time in private school. While I remember the entrance exams, nerve-wracking interviews and convoluted uniform requirements, those memories have faded.

I can tell you with certainty that what will stick with your kids the most are the colourful school spirit days, the teachers who helped them find their passion and the lunch hour clubs with friends. Inside our guide, you’ll find the usual expert advice and insider tips for navigating back-to-school and finding the private institution that’s the right fit for your child — but we’ve imbued it all with a little bit of fun, too.

Take our feature interview with local NHLer Ryan O’Reilly (page three). He may be a professional hockey player, but he has let his love of music guide him so much that he ended up producing a whole, silly kids’ album in the off-season! We also

got a little playful with our guide to choosing a school (page six), helping parents crack the code to private education by doing some detective work on their own.

When it comes to extracurriculars, it turns out that even Toronto’s top athletes — many of whom have topped the Olympic podium (like Andre De Grasse) — think the key to success in sports is having fun. Let’s all keep that in mind the next time we’re tempted to battle it out with the ref! Also within this guide is some unconventional and funky after-school and P.A. day programs, including a few for the kid who is destined to be a leader or entrepreneur (page 10).

Because there’s certainly nothing enjoyable about fearing for your child’s eventual career in the age of AI, we consulted the province’s top generative technology and employment experts to give you some peace of mind and tips on how to AI-proof their futures (page eight). Toronto’s top kidfluencers and social media creators, including an eight-year-old cake decorator who started honing her craft at age three, also weighed in on screen time and building an online platform (page nine).

Speaking of cake: we’re making birthday party planning seamless this year by rounding up local bakeries offering up totally allergen-free creations (page 12).

Making the big-picture choices, such as where to send your child for school and what programs will set them up for success, will always come with a bit of stress. The admissions process starts this fall for next September. We hope our guide will aid in demystifying and destressing it all, should you choose the private education path for your child — and maybe, after the school tours are done and applications are submitted, help carve out a little bit of room for fun.

$6.1 The amount of money, in millions, donated to Bishop Strachan School in 2024 from five-time Grey Cup champion Stu Lang

25 The number of countries represented by the student body at Upper Canada College, thanks to 88 boarders

2025 The year Toronto French School grad and War Child Canada founder Samantha Nutt was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame

| THE KIDS POST 2026

My sixth year as the editor of Toronto’s largest private education guide

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THE KIDS POST

has the highest attrition rate can be enlightening.

Where Kids Develop a Lifelong Love for Music

What are the volunteer opportunities for parents?

BABY & ME PIANO TIME (0-24 MONTHS)

GROUP PIANO LESSONS (AGES 2-8) PERSONALIZED ATTENTION

Ask open-ended questions to get to the truth from private schools

Small class sizes and caring instructors who truly connect.

Undercover parents: crack the private code

PLAY BASED LEARNING Engaging, creative and developmentally focused.

START YOUR MEMBERSHIP WITH A

Considering a private school for your child? Play detective and get to the bottom of what prospective schools are actually all about by asking these unexpected questions.

Free Trial Class!

How would you describe the school’s community?

Broad enough that you’ll get a solid answer but specific enough that you won’t just get the school motto in response, ask this question of administration, staff and current parents to suss out how they really feel about the environment. Words like “warm,” “welcoming” and “collaborative” are all green flags. “Competitive,” “exclusive” and “experimental” might all lean into red flag territory.

HOUSE LEAGUE BASKETBALL

GIRLS & BOYS BORN 2009-2018

How is technology incorporated into the classroom?

MINI HUSKIES BASKETBALL

| THE KIDS POST 2026

GIRLS & BOYS BORN 2019-2020

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Your personal expectations for how and when technology is used or encouraged in the classroom may vary — and administration personnel know this.

Ask this open-ended question so they can’t tailor their response to how they assume you feel about things like phone policies, AI usage and technology as a tool.

What is the homework policy?

Recent changes to Ontario’s edu-

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Parental involvement is often the part parents are most surprised by when their child starts attending a private school. What sounds like fun community engagement can sometimes translate into high expectations around time commitment and even mandatory volunteer hours.

A neutral-leaning-positive question like this one could get you a bit closer to the truth of how much parents are expected to pitch in, rather than what staff thinks you want to hear.

What is the counsellorto-student ratio?

In Canada, 70 per cent of people diagnosed with a mental illness experience symptoms before age 18. Elementary and high school are crucial times for your child’s development, and you want to make sure there is enough support in place at the school they attend. Although ratio isn’t everything, it does give you an indication of whether the school prioritizes mental health support or not.

cational evaluation policy have greatly de-emphasized homework, going so far as to mandate that homework not be included in overall academic grade evaluations. Homework has been phased out in many schools, and no doubt the dawn of AI has played a role: teachers have had to get creative with homework assignments that they can ensure won’t be completed by What are the fundraising ChatGPT. Ask how the school expectations for parents approaches homework currently: and students? is it a supplemental learning op- One underemphasized fact about portunity for students struggling private school education is that, with the course material? Op- unfortunately, it’s a business: tional enrichment? And how do many Toronto independent teachers incorporate technology schools operate as not-for-profit, charitable organizations, while a into homework expectations? few others operate as for-profit businesses. Either way, they surHow many students vive and thrive off of funding and transfer out and when?

Although some schools may say endowments (on top of your tuthey don’t track exact student at- ition fees, of course). What that trition numbers, and others may means is that parents and stujust be unwilling to tell you, ask- dents are roped into fundraising ing this question is a good indi- efforts throughout the school cation of what administration year, all the way up until your thinks the school’s biggest weak- child graduates. A “legacy fund” nesses are. If they avoid a straight donation is often encouraged, answer, listen closely to what and graduating families will be they say instead, whether that’s expected to pool together money explaining that some students as a class gift to fund facilities can’t handle the academic rigour upgrades or a scholarship. Ask or that others struggled making now, so you’re not surprised later.

—Julia Mastroianni friends. If you do get a straight answer, finding out which grade

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THE KIDS POST STUDENT: CHELSEA JIANG

STUDENT: COOPER BENAIAH

Havergal College

Crescent School

LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE

YOUR SOCIAL LIFE MATTERS

“Don’t just focus on the school’s reputation or one program. Look at the whole school community and think about whether you can see yourself being happy and involved there.

I chose my school because it values both academic learning and personal growth.”

Chelsea is a 10-year-old author and a wildlife conservation advocate.

“Go where your friends go. You’ll make new friends when you get there, but it’s so much better when you know someone when you arrive. And at my school, there’s something for everyone. If they don’t have it, you can start it.” Cooper plays guitar, writes songs and recently won Canadian high school songwriter of the year.

DEAR FUTURE CLASSMATES

STUDENTS: DAISY MARGEL & BECKETT GANS

STUDENT: MAELEYS NGAINDJO

The York School

Bishop Strachan School

SEEK COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT

GET THE SCOOP FROM STUDENTS

Beckett: “Choose the school with the most supportive, welcoming community.”

Daisy: “Find the school where you can be the best version of yourself. Choose a place that supports your interests with educators who nurture your learning style.”

Daisy and Beckett created and produced the school’s spring show, Musical Revue.

“Think about what you’re hoping to get out of your school experience. Visit the school if you can, ask questions and talk to current students. Choose a school where you’ll feel comfortable but also challenged. And consider more than just academics!”

Maeleys plays volleyball and is interested in both engineering and medicine.

| THE KIDS POST 2026

We asked current private school students to weigh in on the big question on every parent’s and student’s mind: how do I choose the right school? They gave us their insider advice, top tips and the real-life notes they consulted before making their choice.

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THE KIDS POST

Jobs AI can’t quite compute Three experts on how to AI-proof your child’s future and which careers might just survive & thrive in this new era

| THE KIDS POST 2026

Clockwise from left: U of T’s Ebrahim Bagheri, AI researcher Maura Grossman, TMU’s Jake Hirsch-Allen

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Across classrooms and at dinner tables alike, children are often asked: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

But in 2026, there’s a bigger conversation lurking thanks to the growth of AI — one that parents never really had to contend with in the past: “What job will exist by the time they grow up?”

Ebrahim Bagheri, an interdisciplinary researcher at the University of Toronto’s faculty of information whose work focuses on artificial intelligence, responsible AI and information retrieval, says AI technology has been a topic of conversation in academia since the 1960s. About a decade ago, radiologists were cited as an occupation that could soon be replaced by AI. Software development, however, appeared to be among the safest and most promising career choices.

Today, Bagheri notes, the picture looks very different.

“Radiologists are not even at risk of being displaced at this point,” he says, whereas some junior programming work is now under pressure thanks to rapidly improving AI coding tools.

loo, a lawyer, and a clinical psychologist whose work focuses on the trustworthy and responsible use of AI, began researching machine learning long before ChatGPT became the hot topic of conversation.

Her advice to students is simple: “Young people have to learn about what these tools can do and what they can’t do.”

Although these tools can provide obvious benefits, she cautions students against outsourcing their thinking, writing and reasoning to AI. She compares it to physical exercise: stop using a muscle and eventually it atrophies.

“You’re going to graduate from college, and you won’t know how to think,” she says.

For parents choosing schools, extracurriculars and eventually post-secondary paths, that may mean resisting the temptation to view every traditional skill as obsolete simply because a machine can now produce a version of it.

Take the unconventional path

Jake Hirsch-Allen, director of partnerships and advocacy at public policy and leadership think Don’t outsource your thinking tank the Dais at Toronto MetroMaura Grossman, a research pro- politan University, spent almost a fessor at the University of Water- decade at LinkedIn working ac-

ross higher education, learning, recruiting and labour market initiatives. He recommends students concentrate on human skills.

“Focus on how they work with other people,” he says, pointing to communication, critical thinking and clear reasoning.

He cautions against steering children toward prestigious professions simply because they seem financially safe today.

“THE WAY TO CREATE AN AI-PROOF JOB IS BY FOCUSING ON THINGS THAT ARE THE MOST HUMAN.” “You don’t need to be a doctor or a lawyer to do well,” he says.

Instead, parents can give children room to explore unconventional careers, from the arts to skilled trades, and support them while they discover what holds their attention.

That may sound counterintuitive at a moment when AI can generate a painting, compose a song or draft a short story. Yet Hirsch-Allen believes creativity remains one of the distinctly

human abilities worth developing. AI can produce something that appears creative, he argues, but that does not necessarily make its creativity human.

“There is a way to create an AI-proof job,” he says. “And the way to do that is to focus on the things that are most human.”

Hands-on skills are key

For the moment, another obvious AI-proof answer is work involving the physical world. Bagheri points to one reassuring factor: tasks humans consider taxing can be relatively easy for computers, while skills humans perform almost without thinking can be extraordinarily difficult for machines.

Although AI can write an essay in seconds, it has a much harder time fixing a leaking pipe, giving skilled trades and other hands-on professions an advantage. Electricians, plumbers and some medical professionals, for example, perform physical work in an environment that cannot be replicated by software.

“Do you think you would like a robot to cut your hair?” Grossman asks. For now, probably not.

Bagheri also points to jobs requiring human accountability, positions where a person or insti-

tution must ultimately be responsible for a consequential decision, as well as jobs built around connection. Therapy, hospice care and coaching are examples.

Even when an AI system produces accurate information, he says, research has shown that people often still prefer interacting with another person in areas where trust and emotional connection matter.

Hirsch-Allen echoed much of the same in his value of the “care economy.”

If he could redesign where society directed its resources, he says, he would put them toward “people taking care of people.”

Those jobs may not always be the highest-paid today, but he argues that they are among the most socially valuable and the hardest to pass off to a machine.

That is why Bagheri is much more interested in what he calls “meta skills” than any individual occupation.

Among those skills are persuasion, communication, emotional intelligence, teamwork and the ability to learn continuously.

“The next few years will be a few years where you have to rapidly evolve and learn new skills to remain in demand,” he says.

—Lauren DiBenedetto

Allen

THE KIDS POST thecakinggirl

© Omid Bazhrang © Fefe Flores Photography

ELLIS IS A CAKE DECORATOR AND ARTIST

MAX IS A PIANO PLAYER, YORKVILLE MUSICIAN AND CREATOR

“TheCakingGirl used to be my mom’s profile, and then I went viral when I baked a cake by myself, so I took over her Instagram. But when it comes to balancing online time, I think it’s good to go outside and do activities. When you’re having fun, you don’t miss being online.”

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“Keep doing real-life stuff like hanging out with friends, or going outside. The online part is only one piece. I also don’t reply to every single comment or message, especially the weird ones. And I don’t post every single thing that happens in my day. Some stuff is just for me and my family.”

SCROLL MODELS Kids today grow up online, but with the debate around Bill C-34, that may change. We asked Toronto’s top kidfluencers and social media creators for their advice on taking control of screen time and logging off.

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KYLE GODFREY IS A YOUTUBE STAR AND FILMMAKER

“I make a conscious effort to step away from my phone, spend time with family and friends, and experience life outside the screen. Those moments are usually what spark the best ideas. Creating is easier when you're drawing from real experiences instead of constantly refreshing your feed.”

TAY & LIV, KIDS TO CAT & NAT, ARE SECOND-GEN INFLUENCERS

“Some of our best memories are the ones that never get posted, and we’ve realized it’s important to be present instead of always thinking about creating content. And we’ve always felt like we can talk to our parents about social media; having that open relationship is so important.”

| THE KIDS POST 2026

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THE KIDS POST

AN OFFLINE GUIDE TO HANDS-ON ART It’s more important than ever for kids to unplug, and physical art is one of the best ways to do it. There’s a T.O. program for every kind of kid!

For the kid who can’t stop moving

Vision Youth runs an Interpersonal Skills Development Program for kids

Out of the classroom, into the community Sports, arts and other tangible skills are all great — but what about the life skills kids need to be confident, empathetic leaders in their community? These local after-school programs will have your child feeling ready to change the world.

Community building for life

The City of Toronto offers countless program options, but did you know they run an after-school program specifically focused on leadership? CLASP, the Community Leadership After-School Program, is available for ages 10 to 15. Although it also encompasses physical education and healthy food choices, the program is mainly dedicated to teaching leadership and community building, developing their ability to discuss issues that are important to them and to work collaboratively on solving conflicts. Multiple locations in the city of Toronto

Leading with empathy

If you’re raising a child who is the self-appointed leader of the kids at family gatherings, direct that energy through Vision Youth’s Interpersonal Skills Development Program. Running from September to December on Saturdays, through the program they’ll learn about the human side of leadership, focusing on community engagement, emotional intelligence and confidence through interactive workshops, personal growth sessions and community projects.

Multiple locations in Markham and Richmond Hill Little minds with big ideas

If we want to raise a generation of community-minded leaders, it has to extend to entrepreneurship, too, and Ignite Academy’s Future Founders Club does just that. De-

signed for kids ages eight to 12 with bold ideas, this eight-week journey will help young innovators develop entrepreneurial skills through teamwork, creativity and hands-on projects. Your future founder just might leave the program with a brand new idea to make the world a better place! Based out of Bloor West Village Live leadership through play

For young kids especially, the best way to learn is through doing. At the Kids 4 Kids After-School Program, children between ages six and 13 will develop leadership skills through cooperative games, team-building activities and even original music and stories.

Skip the lectures and trust that hands-on activities will keep your child engaged and interested. Each session runs for five weeks at partnered schools. Based out of schools across the GTA and Toronto —Julia Mastroianni

Is your child destined for the stage? Trust Generations Performing Arts Centre for getting out of the online world and into the physical world: musical theatre programming starts as young as senior kindergarten, as do dance classes that encompass everything from acro to ballet.

There’s even parkour classes!

For the kid who likes to get their hands dirty

Get seriously hands-on with pottery and hand-building classes at Create Art Studio.

For students ages seven to 10, classes encompass pinch pots, slab assembly, creating textures and glazing. Classes for tweens introduce artists to the pottery wheel.

For the kid who’s all about precision

At Freehand School of Art, kids as young as five will learn the fundamentals of art. Expect essential skills like shading, one-point perspective and proportion through drawing, watercolour, acrylic, printmaking and mixed media.

| THE KIDS POST 2026

P.A. day programs with real personality MakerKids

Mischief Makers

The Toronto STEM centre offers programming in coding, robotics, Minecraft and 3D printing, with Mini Makers programming for Grades 1 and 2 and Idea Incubator camps for Grades 3 to 8. P.A. day camps cost $125 per day and run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with before-care starting at 8 a.m. and after-care running until 5 p.m.

Specializing in creative programming for kids eight and up, P.A. days at Mischief Makers are filled with group challenges, crafts, board games and team building (past activities include knitting, crochet, cartoons, shrink-plastic and bead crafts). Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with late pickup from 4 to 6 p.m.; 2026–2027 prices TBD!

Toronto Nature School

Toronto Circus Centre

This camp takes kids into forest and beach environments for seasonal exploration, creative activities and hands-on learning.

Campers are divided into Woodland Wanderers, ages four to six, and Nature Trailblazers, ages seven to 10. Camp days run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and cost $90 per day.

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Be an acrobat for a day! Kids five to 13 can try their hand at trapeze, aerial hoop, silks, rope, juggling, partner acrobatics and clowning! Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and costs $100 plus HST per day. No circus experience is required.

— Nisean Lorde

Pottery at Create Art Studio

THE KIDS POST

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SEVEN-TIME OLYMPIC MEDALLIST

AFC TORONTO PLAYER

PRACTICE MAKES PRO-FECT Pursuing a sport is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. Whether your child likes to switch sports yearly or is dreaming of heading to the Olympics, trust T.O.’s top athletes to steer them right.

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“If you love it that much, don’t let anything or anyone stand in your way. There will be tough times — times when you think you're not good enough, times when you want to give up.

But in those moments you just need to remember the game or sport you fell in love with and how much happiness it brings you.”

LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN FROM OTHERS

Image: Toronto Sceptres

HAVE FUN AND DREAM BIG

OONER

SP NATALIE

TORONTO SCEPTRES PLAYER

“My best advice is to work hard, be a great teammate and, most importantly, have FUN! If you truly love your sport and enjoy the journey, you never know where it might take you. So dream big!”

Natalie is a four-time Olympic medallist and most recently won silver in 2026.

DASHAUN

AMOS TORONTO ARGOS PLAYER

“Be a sponge and be coachable! Soak up as much knowledge, tips, techniques and advice that people with experience and success are willing to share. These things will eventually give you advantages that start to separate you from the competition.

Enjoy the process and never lose sight of why you started.”

| THE KIDS POST 2026

with ng dio. o 10, ch ing ses ts to

Andre is tied for the most decorated Canadian Olympian of all time.

Image: Sean Pollock

“Believe in yourself, work hard and enjoy the journey. There will be setbacks but use them as lessons to get better. Most importantly, have fun, stay patient and, once again, never stop believing in yourself.”

Image: Toronto Argos

the Peretrld rld: ming kine veryt. ses!

REMEMBER THE SPORT YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH

APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGES

11

THE KIDS POST

BATTER SAFE THAN SORRY Birthday party planning is hard enough: swap stress for sprinkles by opting for an allergen-free cake this year.

Whether it’s gluten-, dairy- or nut-free, there’s a slice out there for everyone.

TOTALLY DOUGH-LIGHTFUL

HUG IN A MUG

This adorable cake is affectionately named Cocoa Buddy, and Markham’s the Place offers it in multiple varieties: classic, with Japanese chiffon cake and fresh whipped cream; zero sugar added, with monk fruit, black sesame paste and black tea leaf; and keto, with a cream cheese, egg and whipped cream base.

Unit 10, 505 Hood Rd., Markham, $78.95

Calling all cookie lovers: La Rocca’s sevenlayer take on a cookie dough cake includes a chocolate chip cookie base, cookie dough frosting, vanilla cake, vanilla mousse and chocolate fudge. It’s also completely kosher and halal! 2638 Yonge St., $38

TAKE A BOW

Perfect for a tea party, Almond Butterfly’s bow-adorned birthday Funfetti Cake is as beautiful as it is delicious. This simple vanilla cake features a ton of rainbow confetti sprinkles, and it’s dairy-free and gluten-free, too. 100 Harbord St., $70

SPRINKLE SURPRISE

Aptly named The Birthday Experience Cake, Short & Sweet Bakeshop’s colourful, nut-free creation is for the kid who’s all about surprises. Pink vanilla buttercream and rainbow vanilla layers disguise a piñata sprinkle centre!

1945 Avenue Rd., $88

DOUGHNUT MIND IF I DO

| THE KIDS POST 2026

At Tori’s Bakeshop, they take doughnut obsession to the next level, serving up a massive, eight-inch doughnut cake. With a double chocolate or gluten-free double vanilla option, each cake is topped with bright pink frosting and a ton of festive sprinkles. And it’s totally dairyand egg-free! torisbakeshop.ca, $65

12

OUT OF THIS SWIRL

Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy lovers will be obsessed with this galactic cake from Bunner ’s! Featuring a vanilla black cocoa marble cake and otherworldly frosting, it also happens to be entirely gluten-free, vegan and nut-free.

244 Augusta Ave., $78.95

Everyone loves our annual parenting guide (even Carlton, Raptor & Ace)

This year’s school guide features everything from class size to tuition cost. We hope it provides parents and kids with everything they need for the first steps in choosing a school. We think we’ve probably included everything except for an apple for the teacher.

If you’re looking for advice on that: we suggest organic!

| THE KIDS POST 2026

Private Schools

SE C TION

13

EDUCATION GUIDE POST X SCHOOLS

Our 37th annual guide features top private schools and extracurricular programs, including student-teacher ratios and real tuition costs.

TanenbaumCHAT

TanenbaumCHAT is the GTHA’s only Jewish community high school, and the largest in North America. We provide enriched academic offerings delivered by expert educators in a warm and supportive learning environment. The TanenbaumCHAT experience also features an extensive array of extracurriculars, renowned ruach (spirit), and friendships that last a lifetime. An emphasis on Jewish values and community service informs our programming & strengthens our students’ Jewish identities. Whether you have years of Jewish day school experience, or are new to Jewish learning, TanenbaumCHAT has a curriculum for you. Our successful New Stream program welcomes students from all educational backgrounds, making up one quarter of our Gr. 9 cohort.

Find Yourself at TanenbaumCHAT! tanenbaumchat.org/admissions

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1961 GRADES: 9-12 ENROLMENT: 1,493 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Call for Details TUITION: $25,600

Crescent School

Crescent School has been a leader in boys' education since 1913. Our mission, Men of Character from Boys of Promise, enables each boy to reach the full potential of his unique abilities. Character development is at the core of everything we teach in our Lower (Gr. 1–6), Middle (Gr.7–8) and Upper (Gr. 9–12) Schools. We instill values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and compassion while helping boys discover who they are, how they can lead, and the legacy they can leave behind. Our dedicated faculty focus on active, experiential, and relational learning—proven ways that boys learn best. We nurture well-being while cultivating excellence in academics, arts, athletics, business, outreach, and robotics. Our campus features high-tech learning spaces, modern libraries, a professionally-equipped theatre, and superb athletic facilities.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ACCEPTANCE RATE: 1 in 6 GRADES: 1-12 ENROLMENT: 825 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 9:1 TUITION: $46,270

E

ular

PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE POST X SCHOOLS

Northmount School

Northmount School is Toronto’s only independent, JK to Grade 8 Catholic boys’ elementary school. Catholic principles provide the foundation and purpose to our school’s everyday life that lead us to a conscious belief that we have a responsibility to prepare our students to build a better world. Thus, our students learn and grow in a community that places great value on the God-given dignity of each person,

individuality, self-discovery and kindness, while immersed in a strong academic program. Philosophically, we understand that education alone is not enough. It is education with values that matter. Our creative and stimulating curriculum goes well beyond the standard requirements. Our small class sizes and specialist teachers mean particular strengths are identified and nurtured.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 150 YEAR FOUNDED: 1990 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 GRADES: JK-8 TUITION: $23,900 - $28,700

Bannockburn Independent School

The warm spirit of our school community is reflected every day at Bannockburn. Cultivating Curiosity, Nurturing Potential, and Empowering Independence represents the core of our Toddler to Grade 6 program, an integrated curriculum that builds in intentional academic, social, and developmental growth. Cultivating curiosity begins by creating a caring and supportive environment with the encour-

agement to ask questions and make connections. Nurturing potential happens through our enriched curriculum that exceeds provincial standards and promotes a love of learning. Finally, empowering independence occurs with the growth of a sense of purpose in ourselves, our classrooms, and our world.

Our program leads to independent, selfconfident, critical thinkers in our Grade 6 Grads and proud Bannockburn alumni.

SCHOOL TYPE: Montessori YEAR FOUNDED: 1993 GRADES: Toddler to Gr. 6

ENROLMENT: 200 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Varies TUITION: $19,075 - $30,700

Branksome Hall

Branksome Hall is Toronto’s only premier all-years International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls, welcoming over 930 students to our historic 13-acre downtown campus. Our unique IB Advantage sparks curiosity, balancing rigorous academic inquiry with a deep commitment to well-being, creativity and global-mindedness.

Branksome girls are prepared to tear down the status quo, especially with the

opening of our brand-new Innovation Centre & Studio Theatre (iCAST). This 34,500-square-foot STEM and arts accelerator equips students with the practical digital skills required to bulldoze the STEM gender gap. Offering a vibrant boarding program, a study abroad with our sister school in South Korea and over $1.6 million in annual financial assistance.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 930 YEAR FOUNDED: 1903 AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 16-22:1 GRADES: JK to Grade 12 TUITION: $45,140 - $49,210

“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.”— Stevie Wonder

NORTHMOUNT T SCHOOL of

ow

INSPIRE EXPLORE ACHIEVE

www.northmount.com

A school you attend A place you belong

different school of thought A

A different school of thought

PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE POST X SCHOOLS

Greenwood College School

Greenwood is built on a different school of thought. Our unique perspective on education impacts everything at the school, from our student-centred approach to learning to the way the school day is structured. We’re a co-ed school focused on community, intentional connections and character, where teachers create a high challenge, high support environment that helps students reach their own definition of success.

With an Adviser Program built into the curriculum and countless opportunities to engage with each other, the community, and the outdoor world, there’s no place like Greenwood. And that’s why there’s nothing like a Greenwood student.

Discover more about our school at greenwoodcollege.org

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 510 YEAR FOUNDED: 2002 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 7:1 GRADES: 7-12 TUITION: $49,530

TFS - Canada’s International School

TFS students are at the centre of a world-class, bilingual, co-educational experience where international perspectives shape them into confident, future leaders and global citizens. Grounded in the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, the school fosters curiosity, critical thinking and a lifelong love of learning, starting as early as 20 months.

Our Introductory French program guarantees that every student achieves

full bilingualism by graduation. No prior knowledge of French required.

The school has embarked on its largest ever expansion, with 50,000 sq. ft. of new spaces designed to empower creativity and interdisciplinary learning opportunities that prepare students to thrive today and tomorrow.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 1500+ YEAR FOUNDED: 1962 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Varies GRADES: 20 months to Grade 12 TUITION: $26,460 - $45,140

CGS (Children’s Garden School)

A balanced education is the foundation of our Preschool - Grade 4 program.

Since 1986, CGS has provided a challenging academic curriculum complemented by our exceptional arts, public speaking, French language, music, and physical education specialties. Children thrive in our nurturing environment as we promote a thoughtful awareness of socialemotional development. Our early

phonics and pre-reading programs lead to high levels of literacy, while our emphasis on character and diversity awareness promotes a balanced, valuesbased focus. Although most of our children continue their educational journey at the larger private schools in Toronto, it's our goal to set them up for success regardless of their individual path. Thrive at CGS!

SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1986 GRADES: Preschool to Grade 4

ENROLMENT: 110 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 6:1 to 12:1 TUITION: $13,900 - $28,500

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.”

– Sydney J. Harris

Why we choose to teach French from day one: Because a multilingual brain learns to handle complexity, and is better prepared ffo or whatever comes next.

Visit us at tfs.ca

CO-EDUCAT ATIONAL 20 MONTHS - GRADE 12 TORONTO & MISSISSAUGA

EDUCATION GUIDE POST X SCHOOLS

St. Clement’s School

250 Davisville Avenue, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M4S 1H2 To Ph ww

Today's world is interconnected, fast-paced, and complicated. To thrive within it, an education is needed that goes beyond the requisite skills - at a school that recognizes students for who they are, teaches them how to solve problems, and encourages them to grow. St. Clement’s School, an independent girls’ day school in midtown Toronto, accomplishes this by fostering a collaborative environment that helps girls feel safe to take risks, try new things, and challenge their learning. At SCS, educational journeys will be marked by academic rigour and a curriculum that continually challenges and assesses the act of learning in an inclusive and safe environment. Complementing these strong academics is a robust selection of co-curriculars and leadership opportunities.

Toronto Prep School

A combined 60 years of teaching experience has prompted Steve and Fouli Tsimikalis to create an environment that promotes learning, develops leadership and awakens social consciousness through the employment of energetic and handpicked experienced faculty and staff.

Toronto Prep offers a rigorous academic curriculum with the opportunity for students to participate in a variety of school clubs and athletics.

Each student will receive a MacBook Pro with an extended warranty. Steve and Fouli have determined that it truly takes a village to raise a child. “A faculty working closely with parents/ guardians, smaller classes, supervised extra help before and after school and on Saturdays help students reach their personal potential for success,” notes Fouli. Their passion for teaching is evident.

The Toronto Pre ep School is an independe ent,, co-educational, university preparatory schoo ol for discerning stu udents and parents.

Open Houses: Saturday October e 17, 17 202 26 2 6, Saturday Nov vem mber 14th, h 2026, 2026 + Saturday y February y 6th,, 2027 - 10 0am to 12pm.

Visit our website www.torontoprepschool.com for more e information and be sure to click on the links to our FaceBook and Instagram pages.

Contact: Fouli Tsimikalis, Director of A Admissions at ftsimikalis@torontoprepschool.com

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1901 GRADES: 1-12 ENROLMENT: 480 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $41,900

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 2009 GRADES: 7-12 ENROLMENT: 440 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: $38,250 - $39,750

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”

— B.B. King

Crestwood School

Crestwood School practises the traditional art of teaching by challenging young minds to learn and by structuring experiences that make learning possible.

The school’s philosophy is based on triedand-true methods of teaching the basics, thus providing students with a solid foundation in the three Rs. Homework and development of students’ organizational skills and good work/study habits are an integral part of the program. At the same

We welcome you to book a private tour.

Kindly call the school.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 450 YEAR FOUNDED: 1980 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 15:1 GRADES: JK-Gr.6 TUITION: $25,000-$35,200

The Bishop Strachan School

ol

The Bishop Strachan School is a leading independent JK - Grade 12 Day and Boarding school for girls. Through our inquiry-based program, students master core academic concepts by applying them to relevant, real-world issues. Our students investigate, experiment, research and reflect. This approach builds deep curiosity and resilience, giving BSS students the confidence to find their voice and lead

others. They graduate with a strong academic foundation and as compassionate changemakers ready to make a difference. Our 7.5-acre campus includes STEAM-focused learning spaces, arts, design and athletics facilities, including a turf field.

For more than 150 years, BSS has inspired students to be fearless and educated them to be leaders.

Celebrating 44 years

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 970 YEAR FOUNDED: 1867 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 GRADES: JK - Grade 12 TUITION: Day School - $43,800

LEARN MORE.

ool

”

time, Crestwood School is concerned with the “whole child” — striving to maintain the balance of a child’s physical, social and emotional development. Each teacher is the key. With a well-planned program, a positive rapport with each and every student and a sense of commitment and dedication, Crestwood School’s goals are met! Crestwood is located in the beautiful wooded valley at Bayview Avenue and Lawrence Avenue.

ABOUT EVERYTHING.

it A LEADING INDEPENDENT

BSS.ON.CA

SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

At The York School, Leonard Nickel learned to dream without limits.

Today, he soars across the skies as a commercial airline pilot.

The York School • Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences • Pilot

PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE POST X SCHOOLS

The York School

A co-ed JK - Grade 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) school located in the heart of the city with subway access, we offer exceptional learning experiences while prioritizing wellbeing, belonging and community. As a forward-thinking urban school with a global outlook, we integrate the richness of the IB curriculum with hands-on experiential learning to empower our students to embrace curiosity and challenge themselves.

This foundation makes The York School’s IB program the ultimate passport for globally-minded students, who go on to pursue higher education with confidence and make a lasting impact in the world. Backed by such a supportive environment, an education here fosters relationships and connections that last a lifetime.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 765 YEAR FOUNDED: 1965 AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 16-22 GRADES: JK-12 TUITION: $45,065

Power of Words Academy

Every parent wants their child to stand out, think critically, and speak with absolute confidence. At Power of Words Academy, we turn top students into exceptional leaders.

Our specialized school-year enrichment program goes far beyond standard school curriculums, mastering advanced reading comprehension, essay writing, public speaking, and formal debate.

With small class sizes and expert

instruction, your child receives the personalized attention they need to gain a true competitive edge.

We are now enrolling students in grades 1 to 9 for the 2026-27 school year. Join us online or at any of our GTA locations, including our brand-new Forest Hill and North York campuses. Visit powerofwordsacademy.ca to secure your child's spot today.

SCHOOL TYPE: Extracurricular YEAR FOUNDED: 2018 AGE RANGE: 6-15

ENROLMENT: 450 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 6-12/1 TUITION: $240 - $2100

The Country Day School

Situated on a 100-acre campus north of Toronto among the rolling hills of King Township, The Country Day School is a leading JK-12 co-ed, non-denominational independent school. Since 1972, the dynamic and friendly CDS community has been nurturing student talent and fulfilling promise. Our innovative approach to learning integrates leading-edge technology, sophisticated facilities and exceptional

teaching. Emphasizing education with balance, CDS provides diverse opportunities in academics, athletics, and visual and performing arts. Plus, students of all ages also love to explore our sprawling campus for outdoor education activities. This is a place of possibilities where students unearth their passions and everyone feels known, supported and inspired. Learn more at www.cds.on.ca

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 830 YEAR FOUNDED: 1972 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 GRADES: JK-12 TUITION: $37,150

“Develop a passion for learning.

If you do, you will never cease to grow.”

– Anthony J. D’Angelo

Grades 1-9 TURNING TODAY’S LEARNERS INTO TOMORROW’S LEADERS Give your child a distinct competitive edge.

Our premier enrichment programs for grades 1–9 helps students master advanced reading comprehension, essay writing, public speaking, and debate.

Forest Hill | Markham | Mississauga | North York | Virtual powerofwordsacademy.ca | 647 285 4499

PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE

Collaborative

d e d n i Open M

l u f e t G ra CONTACT OUR ENROLMENT TEAM TODAY

PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE

We develop students for success!

POST X SCHOOLS

Lauremont School

Founded in 1961, Lauremont School is committed to fostering the academic, social and emotional growth of its students through personalized education and an emphasis on development. The school combines the frameworks of the Montessori and International Baccalaureate pedagogies to provide students with the foundation to be future ready and lifelong learners. We are committed to creating an inclusive and engaging learning envi-

ronment where every student is empowered to grow as a compassionate, curious and connected citizen in a complex and changing world. Through a culture of innovation, service and creative inquiry, we inspire each learner to explore their potential and make meaningful contributions to their communities, one student at a time. Our school spans two beautiful campuses in Richmond Hill. For more information, visit us at lauremontschool.ca.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent YEAR FOUNDED: 1961 GRADES: Preschool - Gr.12

ENROLMENT: 880 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 15:1 TUITION: $23,800 - $41,180

Reingold Tutoring

Reingold Tutoring is an established private tutoring company offering comprehensive tutoring for all subjects and age groups, specializing in math and science. We proudly serve students across Ontario, providing personalized one-one-one tutoring. Our team consists of highly motivated, responsible, and skilled tutors who are dedicated to helping your child achieve their educational goals. Our tutors foster

motivation and confidence, ensuring that your child eagerly anticipates each session. We have a proven track record of success, including students who have learning disabilities. We pride ourselves in being available to students when they need us most. Contact us at 416-919-0221 to discuss your child’s upcoming education needs or visit www.reingoldtutoring.com for more information.

SCHOOL TYPE: Tutoring YEAR FOUNDED: 2000 GRADES: 1-12

ENROLMENT: Varies AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 1 TUITION: Per hour

Private tutoring services • Quality tutoring for every subject • One-on-one virtual tutoring (some in person) • Customized lessons • Highly skilled and experienced tutors • Motivation, study skills, and test prep • Strong results with learning disabled students 50% Discount on first lesson | Flexible Hours & Scheduling Grades 1-12 + University

www.reingoldtutoring.com

SUNDAY MORNINGS SK - GRADE 6

Tikkun Olam, social justice, Torah, Israel, prayers, history, and inspiring Jewish stories. Learning comes to life through creative, age-appropriate activities led by exceptional teachers, with music, drama, arts, and hands-on projects. As a progressive, egalitarian school, we are dedicated to fostering inclusion, Students learn Hebrew through reading, belonging, and a meaningful Jewish writing, and conversation while explor- identity. ing Jewish values, holidays, rituals, SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 60 YEAR FOUNDED: 1955 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 12:1 GRADES: SK - Grade 6 TUITION: $1,025 - $1,150

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”— Nelson Mandela

Learn.

Learn.Connect.

Connect.Belong.

Belong.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Engaging Hebrew learning, Jewish studies, Israeli culture, and hands-on experiences that build lasting friendships and identity.

Questions?

Email Guy Mannheim, the Director of Education, at habonimschool@gmail.com Visit our website: congregationhabonim.org/habonim-jewish-heritage-school.html

The Habonim Jewish Heritage School

We believe Jewish learning should be engaging, meaningful, and fun. Our Sunday morning program, held from 9:30am to 12:00pm, helps children build friendships, explore Jewish identity, and develop a lasting connection to Jewish life in a warm, welcoming community.

REGISTER NOW FOR 2026/27 SCHOOL YEAR

RESPECT KINDNESS AND MANNER

PRESTIGE SCHOOL Independent Private School • Grades PS to 12 Prestige School Richmond Hill offers strong academic programs for PS to Grade 12.

We are on the path of becoming an International Baccalaureate® (IB)World School and will start offering IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Grades Kindergarten to 6 in September

Richmond Hill Campus 11 Headdon Gate (Bathurst & Major Mackenzie) Toronto Campus 21 Eddfield Avenue (Yonge & Sheppard) 416-250-0648

www.prestigeprivateschool.ca prestige@prestigeschool.com

Prestige School

Prestige School offers students an accelerated curriculum, close homeschool contact and small class sizes.

Younger students benefit from advanced math & science programs, French lessons from JK, and extensive before and after school care. Additionally, students can look forward to intricate arts and crafts lessons, music and dance classes, and computer studies sessions. Older students experience individualized

learning and 100% university placement.

Our after school program strives to support the needs of children through academic, recreational, and social opportunities that enhance school day learning and build upon individual strengths and interests. Our Richmond Hill campus is in the process of becoming an International Baccalaureate® (IB) World School for IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for grades K-6.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 280 YEAR FOUNDED: 2003 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 or 18:1 GRADES: PS - 12 TUITION: $16,000 - $20,000

Waldorf Academy

Waldorf Academy has been engaging young hearts and minds from Childcare to Grade 8 in the beautiful Casa Loma neighbourhood for decades. Waldorf education balances academic learning with social and emotional growth, fostering intellectual, practical, and artistic excellence. By limiting early use of technology, and promoting a close-knit community grounded in values of respect, cooperation, and

empathy, Waldorf Academy creates a supportive environment where students thrive. Rooted in a nature-centered philosophy, the curriculum prioritizes outdoor experiences and environmental stewardship. With a focus on personalized attention and fostering independence, Waldorf equips students with the confidence and adaptability they need to succeed in all aspects of life into highschool and beyond.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 180 YEAR FOUNDED: 1987 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 12:1 GRADES: Childcare-Gr. 8 TUITION: $23,000-$25,000

Wel e come to Wal a dor f Academy:

Open House Kindergarte en to Grad Grade d 8 Thursday Oct. 15, 1:00pm - 3:30 0pm Waldo a rf Academy is located in the heart of Toronto by Casa C Loma and cultivates an inclusive environment of hands-on learn e ing, outdoor d education d and d creative academics. d M Most impo ortant, our students love coming g to school ever y day!

CHIILDCARE TO GRADE 8

Thhe Schoool by the Castle s

Register for our Open House!

250 Madison A Av ve Call:: 416.962.6447 x 231 Cal E ail Ema il: admissions@waldorfacadeemy.org

The school with the most votes will win a visit from the Raptor!

MASCOT R I VALRY

Vote for your favourite mascot at StreetsofToronto.com, Post City’s online home.

Voting begins this fall, check the website for official start dates.

| THE KIDS POST 2026

BRING ON THE HEAT!

25

VALEDICTORIANS & TOP STUDENTS

Charlotte Baldwin

Lucas Flood

Coco Aylward

Graduating Grade 12 Favourite Subject: Economics Favourite Club: Debate and Public Speaking In 10 years I’ll be: Living in London

Graduating Grade 12 Favourite Subject: AP Economics FavouriteTeacher: Mr. Stephens Favourite Club: Crescent School BusinessTeam

Graduating Grade 12 Favourite Subject: Biology Describe your school in 3 words: Friendly, Personal, Enriching

I've been so lucky to have been provided with countless incredible opportunities during my time at York. I've travelled to so many amazing places and made such meaningful friendships that I know will last a lifetime. In addition, York has such an incredible support system of teachers and faculty that truly make such an impact on our learning and wellbeing. As well, our grade had such a strong sense of community and closeness which was incredibly special to experience. During my time at York, I have learned that balance is key to being successful. Take care of yourself, invest in your friendships, and try your best in all of your endeavors.

What I’ll remember most from my time at Crescent isn’t the facilities, time spent in the classroom, or certain lessons, but rather the sense of brotherhood that defines this place. Over the past ten years, I have been surrounded by people who genuinely cared about my success, challenged me along the way, and stood beside me through every setback. Crescent is the type of place where there is something for everyone, and whatever that passion may be, it is celebrated. As I graduate, I know I’ll carry this brotherhood with me for the rest of my life. For that, I am incredibly grateful because I know not every student has the opportunity to experience a community like Crescent.

Greenwood has prepared me for success by challenging me. In Grade 10, my science teacher pulled me out of class and asked what I planned to take the next year, questioning why I wasn't taking physics, considering how much I had enjoyed science. I gave my honest truth: I had limited interest and had heard rumours of its difficulty. He confirmed that the course was indeed challenging, but then reminded me of my capability and explained that not being able to do things was important. It encouraged people to work harder, change their approach and manage unmet expectations. Now, expecting greater challenges in university, I'm glad I took physics. It taught me that l'm capable of struggling and ultimately succeeding.

We asked top grads and valedictorians from local private schools to share their wisdom

Simone Murray

Gabriel Di Serio

Athena Gao

Current Grade 10 Favourite Subject: Science Favourite Club: Choir In 10 years I’ll be: A Biochemistry Researcher

Graduating Grade 8 Favourite Subject: Social Studies FavouriteTeacher: Mr. Yeow Favourite Club: Sports Club-Volleyball

Current Grade 12 Favourite Subject: HL English Literature FavouriteTeacher: Ms. Tsonis Describe your school in 3 words: Electric, open-minded, community

Something that’s truly special to me about BSS is how the school strives to foster a wide variety of interests in everyone. It’s not uncommon to be part of DECA, the school plays, and Chapel council all at once. There are so many opportunities to foster community built right into our daily schedule, and BSS is such a deeply community-based school. Year after year, I’ve watched new students settle in after just a few days of joining, because of how welcoming and genuine the teachers and peers are. Beyond this supportive community, BSS prepares us for success through an academic program centered on choosing your own level of challenge.Teachers constantly encourage us to push our boundaries and dive into harder material where we want to shine.

I have attended Northmount School for four years. Some of the most incredible memories that I will never forget are the camping trips and sitting around the fire with my friends.The memories made during the March Break trips will last a lifetime. I have had many different unique opportunities, like going on overnight trips, being a member of student council, learning an instrument, being in the drum line, performing in Spring Plays, and being on multiple sports teams! The connections I made with other Northmount Knights will stay with me forever. I am most grateful for the teachers that encouraged me to always push forward and try my best! I have learned valuable life lessons at Northmount that will stay with me for a long time.

On Branksome's Speech and Debate team, if one Branksome debater advanced in a competition, everyone stayed to cheer them on. I didn't understand this tradition until my first quarterfinals at Hart House. As I delivered my speech, my eyes landed on my teammates. A new wave of confidence washed over me as I realized they believed in me regardless of the outcome. That same culture of "showing up" is foundational to the Branksome community. Since Grade 7, the unwavering support I've received from teachers and peers has given me the confidence to debate at the international level, perform in school plays, dance with my grade during Spirit Week, run my first 5K, and even enter a French playwriting competition.

BSS.ON.CA

LEARN MORE. ABOUT EVERYTHING.

A LEADING INDEPENDENT

SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

57

FASHION

A NOVEL APPROACH TO FALL

Back to school, back to work and back to business — but who says workwear has to be boring? Jeanne Beker pulled together outfits inspired by the city’s most literary for a fall style uniform fit for the classroom and the office.

A. Globe and Mailer

B. Reference library chic

C. Indie bookseller uniform

D. U of T professor perfection

A. VEST, Simons, $49, 260 Yonge St. PANTS, Erietta Boutique, $195, 320 Danforth Ave. BAG, Roots, $448, 80 Bloor St. W. LOAFERS, Get Outside, $289.99, 437 Queen St. W. B. TOP, Homebody Studio, $218, 1575 Bayview Ave. SKIRT, Freda’s, $169, 45 Elm St. BOOTS, Heel Boy, $748, 773 Queen St. W. GLASSES, Warby Parker, $150, 3401 Dufferin St. C. TIE SHIRT Hilary MacMillan, SALE $120, hilarymacmillan.com JEANS, Over the Rain-

bow, $365, 55 Bloor St. W. FLATS, Gravity Pope, SALE $299.99, 1010 Queen St. W. TOTE, Type Books, $30, 427 Spadina Rd. D. V-NECK Andrews, $415, 2901 Bayview Ave. PANTS, Freda’s, $310, 45 Elm St. BOOK CHARM, Marmalade, $32, 9 Davies Ave. BROGUES, La Canadienne, $475, 138 Cumberland St. E. CARDIGAN Gravity Pope, $535, 1010 Queen ST. W. SKIRT, Maje, $445, 3401 Dufferin St. HEELS, Maguire, SALE $215, 750 Queen St. W.

F. BLAZER, $895, and TOP, $350, Smythe, 1116 Yonge St. SKIRT, Holt Renfrew, $598, 50 Bloor St. W., SHOES, Maguire, $265, 750 Queen St. W.,

E. The Margaret Atwood

F. Midtown poetry throwdown

Jeanne Beker | One of Canada’s most trusted authorities on fashion, now watch her on TSC or tune in to her podcast Beyond Style Matters.

| SEPTEMBER 2026

PINS Hopeless Romantic Books, $25,1080 Queen St. W.

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My kid wants to ‘parent trap’ her teacher & me Dear Sangita: My kid is trying to "parent trap" me with her new teacher whom she loves.

She found out who her teacher is for school this year and he’s coached her before at school.

She’s insistent that the two of us are meant to be! She’s been bringing him up a lot and seems to be planning ways to get us together. I’ve been single a long time, and I know she’s just doing it out of love, but I SANGITA PATEL is our advice also don’t want to get her hopes columnist and was previously a up — even if I do think he’s host on ET Canada. kind of cute!

I work full time and almost — Not for teacher never contribute to fundraising Dear NFT: Straight up: no. efforts. Now they’ve started to Knowing that he's going to be talk. A parent was sending me her teacher for the year, it’s prob- details for her kid’s birthday ably not a good idea to get in- party a few weeks ago and I saw volved with him. If he's just a text come in on her phone that another teacher in the school, was clearly about me. Do I conmaybe that's a different conver- front her? sation. But in this case, it’s not — Parental peer pressure the right thing for your kid, even though she is excited about it. Dear PPP: When we talk about The only way this will work is if balance in life, nothing is ever acthe relationship happens to tually balanced. In your case, foevolve naturally outside of cusing on your career means you school: let’s say you run into each can’t also be doing school volother while on a run or some- unteering right now. At the end thing like that. But the idea of of the day, you’re helping your meeting each other through kids by earning money and school — I just don’t think that’s showing them how to work hard. the right thing. Your daughter You should never feel guilty for comes first; hold back for now. that; you’re trying to do as much As for your daughter, I think as you can. You don’t ever have to she’s noticed that you’ve been be involved in school activities, single for a long time and just and being pressured by other wants to help. I don’t think parents is completely wrong. As there’s anything special about long as you’re there for your kids this guy. But I think you just have and your kids are happy, there’s to say, “He's your teacher, and nothing anyone can say about it. there's a boundary, and I have to I would call up that mom and make sure that boundary is met ask if she wants to chat and go because this is your education for a coffee, rather than putting and you have to be taken care of.” it all in a text where people can If anything gets messy or dirty, read into things. You can tell her you don’t want it to affect her candidly that you saw that text and you’ve been hearing what learning experience at all. people have been saying and you Dear Sangita: I'm getting low- just want to understand where key bullied for being a working they’re coming from. mom who doesn't have time for school fundraisers. My kids are Have a relationship or life at a school where parents are question for Sangita? overly involved, all the time. Send it to advice@postcity.com.

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LOVE STORIES The wedding

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L–R: Sabrina Jalees, Wolfie and Shauna McCann on vacation; the trio The kids and pets

We have a 13-year-old Frenchie named Cowboy who always looks grumpy unless he's dehydrated, then he looks thrilled. Our son Wolfie is eight and an incredible DJ and brother to our youngest equally floored by. She bought me boy Rowan, who's two. We met a drink. I spilled it on her, sat on our donor when I took a one hour her lap and kissed her all night surf lesson in Mexico; he was my until I had to head to the airport instructor. He's now married with for my 6 a.m. flight. two kids so our guys have a half sister and brother in Mexico. We're The proposal one big modern, international We were in Corfu at my dear pal family, and all our kids know this Mae Martin's family's home and origin story and are really proud of I had hid the ring up in the vines, it. planning to propose in the morn-

T.O. comic on how her love life got heated Toronto’s Sabrina Jalees has been making Canada laugh as a standup comedian, actor and writer for decades. Now, she’ll be bringing that energy to the new season of Heated Rivalry — as one of the latest additions to the cast — and to new Netflix dark comedy Toxic Moms. Even her meet-cute with her wife, Shauna McCann, can’t help but be a little funny!

How they met

We met at a dive bar in San Francisco at a lesbian party called Brownies For My Bitches. Allegedly they were serving brownies before I got there. I looked around and told my friend I was never going to be attracted to anyone.

Ever. Again. I took a sip of my magic gin and tonic, and like a genie delivered her — there was Shauna. Dancing by herself. You have to know two things: she's an incredible dancer and she's also super hot. My cartoon jaw dropped to the floor, and I spent the rest of the night trying to talk to her.

The first date

The next day we texted, and I immediately called her my wife. She met me after work that night at a bar called Kat Club, and she showed up looking like a whole different other hot lady that I was

“I drank my magic

gin and tonic, and like a genie delivered her — there was Shauna.” ing. But a strawberry daiquiri sent Shauna into terrible food poisoning. I put the proposal off for a day while she puked, and then the following morning, when she was able to gingerly walk and stomach a small bite of toast, I brought her out to under the grape vines, lowered the ring, which sat on a bundle of grapes, now hovering in mid-air magically, and said “Tada!” She said, "What is happening?" I said, "Will you marry me?" She said, "Are you serious?"

As in: I am still actively between pukes. She said yes and will never not tease me about my timing.

The secret to success

We're both aware that we're works in progress, ourselves and our relationship. We're proud of what we've accomplished and excited to continue getting better, more empathetic, more loving. We laugh a lot. We have a couples therapist that we both really like and see our bi-monthly check-ins as romantic maintenance sessions. We keep trying new things together and genuinely get excited about surprising each other.

The future together

In the morning, I'm playing pickleball, and Shauna's doing yoga and playing with flowers and clothes, and then we're either exploring a new city or town together or slowly lurking behind one of our sons, stalking them, getting away with following their every move while playing it off like we're the cool parents with our own lives.

| SEPTEMBER 2026

most sing d to g me hday saw that con-

© @sabrinajalees / Instagram

e ya

We got married 14 years ago in Warren, Vermont, at the Airbnb of an incredible man named David Sellers. We wrote a bunch of Airbnbs asking if we could hold our wedding at their rental and shockingly only one person was open to it: David. He said he wanted to meet us before he decided though. So we drove nine hours to Warren from Williamsburg, Ontario, and had an incredible evening with him. He ended up speaking at our wedding! It was really incredible, just a perfect evening in the woods.

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© Aburi Hana/ opentable.ca

Food

© @alobarrestaurants / Instagram

© @seahorsetoronto/Instagram

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Sept. 22 is almost here, and the famous Red Book is back for its fourth Toronto edition. Over the years, Michelin has delivered jaw-dropping star removals and dramatic demotions. Chefs love to claim stars don't matter, but let's be real: everyone is sweating. First up, we’re manifesting a comeback for Alobar Yorkville. After Michelin stripped the spot of its star, we’re betting Patrick Kriss and his team remind inspectors just why they deserve it back. Over in Summerhill, all eyes are on Seahorse to snag the city’s easiest new star. But with chef Federico Garcia recently jumping ship, we’ll see if inspectors visited before the game of musical chairs began. Finally, a sushi legend is set for drama. Aburi Hana is likely to lose its coveted star after shuttering to completely reconceptualize following executive chef Ryusuke Nakagawa’s return to Japan.

Counterclockwise from left: Alo Bar’s bacon surf + turf, Aburi Hana’s intimate chef’s counter, the endive salad from Seahorse

| SEPTEMBER 2026

How the Michelin stars could align this September

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FA L L S H O P P I N G G U I D E

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EATS OF TORONTO

Bite-Sized Q&A

Inside the Leo with celeb chef Alvin Leung as it prepares to open Quirky, candid and famously filter-free, Demon Chef Alvin Leung has spent years winning over TV screens and tastebuds alike with spots such as R&D and aKin. As he launches his new Markham restaurant, the Leo, we caught up with him to talk faking it on television, overrated “super wines” and why Toronto’s food scene is impossible to put in a box.

real life. Things are exaggerated, things are changed to create entertainment.

What’s the philosophy behind keeping the menu and wine list focused at the Leo?

I think a lot of times it's better to concentrate on your dishes, trying to make them as best you can as best as possible rather than commit to a lot of dishes. I'm also hand-selecting the Canadian wines, the variations. Those pretentious super wines, I don't drink them, and I'm not selling them.

What’s your Golden Rule for ambitious young chefs chasing the spotlight?

Why emphasize family-style dining at the new spot?

What is the raw reality of working in television?

The best part is the fun. You get paid to have fun. At times it can be very boring, very long hours and very tiring. And you may have to sell your soul because in order to create a TV show nothing is as it is in

How to spend $2,177 before your drinks arrive

The tasting menu ($780) Even after being demoted to one Michelin star, chef Masaki Saito’s Yorkville Sushi Masaki Saito counter commands Canada's highest per-person entry fee. Guests sit at a 200-year-old Hinoki wood bar for Edomae-style omakase featuring fish flown in directly from Tokyo's Toyosu Market. It is pure, unadulterated sushi theatre. 88 Avenue Rd.

© @jacobssteakhouse / Instagram

© Cheryl Chow / Google Reviews

The bill hits four figures before you can even say haute cuisine at these three T.O. hot spots

When you share food, you actually get to know each other. I think, in this world, people need to know each other better.

In Chinese cuisine, we don't call it sharing food. We call it family style. We sit together. We want you to come to our restaurant and share some moments.

Once it's on the table, it's yours.

—Erica Commisso

FORKCAST

© @noyaatoronto / Instagram

Chef Alvin Leung at the Leo in Markham

The steak ($792) À la carte showpiece ($605) A $300 cut suddenly looks like a bargain. At Jacobs This high-energy Mediterranean-Japanese dining & Co., the 22-ounce rib-eye is one of the priciest destination Noyaa serves the ultimate seafood slabs of beef in Toronto. The spot is known for its showpiece. The towering Novaa No Hana centredry-aged program, but this is where things really get piece features a chef's selection of 14 to 24 pieces serious: the steak is A5 Miyazaki wagyu from Miya- of high-end raw luxury — including otoro, yellowtail, zaki Prefecture in Japan, prized for its intense marspot prawn, uni, wagyu, lobster and a full 30-gram bling and buttery texture. 81 Bay St., 4th floor. tin of house caviar. 437 Wellington St. W.

| SEPTEMBER 2026

Don't go for celebrity status without going through the normal. It's hard work. It's backbreaking. But know who you are, know what you're good at, because if you don't, you're going to fail. If you don't know what your talent is, you're not milking it. You're not efficient.

Get the most out of what you have be- diverse. It was voted the most diverse city in the world. So I can't really put such a cause that's all you have. variety, such diversity together and say just one thing. Toronto's special. It's imIf you had to pick a single signature possible to look at this city and associate dish to sum up Toronto, what would it with just one element, one dish. it be?

It's very difficult because Toronto is very

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TASTE TEST

IT’S HIP TO BE SQUARE

WINNER

RUNNER-UP

PIE SOCIETY Renaissance Pizza, 809 Dundas St. W., $22 Anthony loved the crushed tomato and Parmesan, while Rocco was sold on the dough, calling it “really light and crispy.” The sauce had plenty of flavour without taking over, and the crust had exactly the crispness they were looking for.

MOTOR MOUTH 8Mile Detroit Style Pizza, 9 Charles St. W., Detroit Red Top, $22 Both judges were impressed with the nicely browned bottom and those “nice little pockets” in the crust.

The only sticking point was the dried oregano, which Anthony found a touch heavy-handed.

DETROIT BRICK ROCKS HOUSE Descendant Detroit Detroit Pizzeria, 1093 Style Pizza, Bathurst St., $19 1168 Queen St. E., $22 Rocco liked the chew, This pie made a strong but both judges impression with its golden, thought the sauce was beautifully baked bottom playing it a little too and slightly taller crust. safe. “The sauce is really Rocco also liked the flat,” Antony said, height, noting that a wishing for more garlic longer proof (extended and flavour. Still, there rising time) may was something have helped give it undeniably satisfying some lightness. about its heft.

DOUGH RE MI Afro’s Pizza, 107 Mutual St., $18 The pepperoni on this pizza was a bright spot here, with both judges enjoying its flavour. The toppings worked well, but the dough had a distinctive, slightly yeasty quality that stole some of the spotlight.

CHEESE LOUISE McMan Pizza, 2116 Danforth Ave., $19 The thick layer of mozzarella and brick cheese initially had Anthony wondering if the crust was underbaked, before realizing just how much cheese was packed into the slice.

Neither judge found enough balance to push it into the top place.

| SEPTEMBER 2026

With the new Gordie Howe Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit, we used the occasion as an excuse to test Toronto’s take on Motown’s finest export. We tapped chef Anthony Rose and Pizzeria Libretto’s Rocco Agostino to blind taste the city’s top Detroit-style (rectangular pan with a thick, chewy crust) pies and separate the real contenders from the pretenders.

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© @billcoulterto / Instagram

© @hungry.corey/ Instagram

FOOD

L-R: Creator Fred Bkayleh, a mouth-watering dessert from Linny’s

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T.O.’s top TikTok foodie ranks Ossington’s best Ossington may be Toronto’s hottest food strip, but staying power is another story. We asked food creator Fred Bkayleh to rank his tried-and-true favourites — the spots he keeps coming back to, no matter what’s new.

3. Cocktails after dark

Prequel is Frankie Solarik’s follow-up to BarChef, the bar that helped kick off Toronto’s cocktail scene in 2008. The room feels like a turn-of-the-century apothecary, with drinks made in front of you using pestles and mortars. It’s not a restaurant, but 5. Date night it’s exactly how I’d end a night La Banane is where I go when on Ossington. 1036 Queen St. W. the night actually matters. The room runs on deep colours and 2. Under the radar loud music, while the menu Hanmoto is tucked into an old goes all in on wagyu, truffle outbuilding just off Ossington, and foie gras. Everyone talks with mismatched furniture and about the raw bar, fairly, but the plants hanging from the rafters. roasted maitake is what I order It comes from Leemo Han, every time. Rich, meaty and who’s also behind Odd Seoul. completely unlike what you ex- The katsu bun is my order every pect from a mushroom. 227 time, though the stuffed chicken Ossington Ave. wings are what everyone talks about first. Go late. It’s that kind 4. Best bite of place. 2 Lakeview Ave. Linny's comes from David Schwartz, the same person be- 1. Wine and Dine hind Mimi Chinese and Sun- Côte de Bœuf is a butcher shop nys Chinese, and it's named and wine bar sharing one small after his mother. The room is room. Meat hangs drying in mid-century and golden-lit, the front window, so you know with banquettes and white exactly what you’re in for betablecloths. Steak may be the fore you’re through the door. main event, but I’m here for the Beef is broken down by handchicken liver toast — smooth saw at the back. Grab a seat at mousse on dark rye with the zinc bar or a barrel table chopped egg and fried onion. and order the tartare au cou176 Ossington Ave. teau. 130 Ossington Ave.

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© Xaman Mexican Cuisine / Facebook

FOOD NEWS

L-R: Mushroom barbacoa tetelas, grilled fish and an array of sides

Forest Hill says hola to Mexico Xaman Mexican Kitchen is the latest addition to the city’s restaurant scene, offering an elevated take on traditional Mexican cuisine.

“At Xaman, we invite you to slow down, share a table, taste the simple flavours of Mexico, and celebrate the beauty of being together,” reads a post on the restaurant’s Instagram page. “Every meal is a journey through the history, hands, and heart of Mexico.”

Focusing on traditional flavours and techniques, the menu at the Forest Hill spot highlights simple, seasonal ingredients that let the dishes shine.

The house guacamole gets a

crunchy kick and a smoky finish with the addition of pepitas, cilantro oil and tortilla ash. Other light bites include the charred aguachile (which is done with blanched shrimp), charred green tomatillo, serrano pepper, avocado cream and tortilla ash, served on corn tostadas.

Tortillas are handmade in house from nixtamalized corn, an ancient Mesoamerican tradition that removes the hard outer skin from the kernel, resulting in a final product that’s extra fluffy.

The only tacos you’ll find on the menu are carne asada done with grilled rib-eye, then topped with a delicate avocado mousse,

frijoles de la olla, salsa martajada and blistered shishito peppers.

Locally sourced fish, fire-grilled Zarandeado-style and served with grilled lime and pico de gallo, mushroom barbacoa tetelas and a roasted red pepper stuffed with a generous helping of esquites and huitlacoche round out the main dishes.

As for its cocktail program, Xaman has created a lineup of drinks that lean into citrus, herbs and spices. Mezcal and tequila feature prominently, with options like the Origen Paloma.

Xaman is located at 1010 Eglinton Ave. W. — Christine Roberti

Chef Peter Catarino from Y NOT ITALIAN, who’s cooked for many celebs at his Spuntini and Evoo restaurants in Yorkville is now available for home or office catering. Delivered to you or prepared onsite in your kitchen Peter takes care of everything so you can entertain and enjoy the evening alongside all your guests. Want a private dining experience?

No group is too small. Menus are thoughtfully curated and customized to fit your budget and food preferences. Let Peter bring a memorable dining experience to you.

“You host. I cook. Everyone enjoys.”

For inquiries or to book your next event, call: 416-357-8984 or email: ynotitalian@rogers.com

After more than 25 years of perfecting traditional pastries, gelato and panettone in Alba, Italy, and at their original King East pasticceria, the Dacasto family has expanded their Toronto footprint uptown.

Recently, they opened La Baciata at 2393 Yonge St., a dedicated sandwich spot bringing authentic northern Italian quality to the Yonge and Eglinton lunch crowd.

The heart of the menu is the signature baciata bread — meaning "kissed" in Italian, referring to how the sourdough is folded together as it bakes.

Fermented for over 56 hours using a traditional starter, the dough is hand kneaded and baked fresh daily in-store, yielding a crust that is shatteringly crisp on the outside and airy inside. For diners with specific dietary needs, the staff notes that all chicken, veal and turkey options are 100 per cent halal.

The menu features generous, high-end Italian fillings assembled directly in front of you. An early favourite is the Parma 30, layered with 30-month-aged Prosciutto di Parma, torn burrata, wild arugula and fragrant basil pesto. For something brighter, the Mortazza pairs imported Mortadella Bologna IGP with creamy stracciatella, crushed pistachios and a touch of Sicilian lemon zest. If you prefer a warmer, richer sandwich, the Piemonte combines tender roast beef, sauteed mushrooms, silky stracciatella and a decadent truffle cream, and hot classics, like the house-made chicken parm featuring crispy cutlets smothered in rich tomato sauce and melted fior di latte.

Grab a seat or take your sandwich to go, but be sure to save room for a container of their scratchmade tiramisù on the way out. — Jennifer Schembri

| SEPTEMBER 2026

An Italian ‘kiss’ lands in midtown

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FOOD

© Sotto Sotto

© @sottosotto / Instagram

New Annex hot spot from Maven team

L-R: Sotto Sotto’s upscale interior, lamb chops

Yorkville’s Sotto Sotto is moving to… Yorkville?

Yorkville’s dining scene is getting a major high-society shakeup, and if you love a good celebrity spot accompanied by incredible Roman pasta, you will definitely want to get this news on your radar.

Blu Ristorante, a Yorkville favourite for 17 years, recently packed up its iconic grand chandelier and made the leap down to King Street West. While Blu is settling into its sleek, contemporary new space in the bustling Financial District, its exit left behind a prime piece of Yorkville real estate — and another Toronto heavyweight is set to take over the address.

Ristorante Sotto Sotto, the ultimate star-studded clubhouse of Toronto, is officially slated to move into the former Blu space. However, you do not need to worry about changing your weekend reservation strategy just yet. A chat with a Sotto Sotto

employee revealed that although the move is definitely happening, they are not packing up their wine cellar tomorrow — the big relocation is expected "in about two years."

That two year wait gives you plenty of opportunity to enjoy the current spot at 120 Avenue Rd., which has been its home since a devastating fire destroyed the original venue on Christmas Day back in 2014. If you have ever dined at Sotto Sotto, you know the vibe is pure old school glamour mixed with irresistible Italian comfort food. It is universally legendary for its iconic "Wall of Fame," which is packed with candid photos of elite regular guests, ranging from Hollywood legends like Brad Pitt, Elton John and Oprah to music royalty.

Then, of course, there is Drake. The

hometown hero practically treats Sotto Sotto as his personal living room, calling it his "second home" and famously shouting it out on tracks such as “5AM in Toronto” and “Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2”. He even had the restaurant opened up late night just to host DJ Khaled, proving it truly is the absolute epicentre of Toronto’s VIP dining scene.

So while Blu transitions to a busier, high-energy crowd downtown, Sotto Sotto is taking a measured approach before making its own grand entrance into Blu’s former neighbourhood home. Until then, you can keep sipping fine wine, indulging in wood-grilled dishes and spotting famous faces at 120 Avenue Rd., knowing the iconic Roman spot is staying right where it is for the foreseeable future.

— Jennifer Schembri

The past decade of food culture has been defined by virality and exclusivity, but Toronto’s newest openings reflect a shift toward slower, more intentional ways of eating.

Toronto’s newest opening, Rose’s Pantry, reflects this change.

The spot, at 141 Robert St., comes from chef Shauna Godfrey, whose Harbord village restaurant Maven is a homage to her family’s Jewish and eastern European food traditions.

Named after both of Godfrey’s bubbies, Rose’s Pantry was inspired by memories of one Bubby Rose proudly showing her a basement pantry stocked to feed an entire family. The space channels that warmth with oak shelving, vintage glassware, ceramics, stained glass and pantry staples.

The menu follows suit, with prepared meals, fresh breads, nostalgic sweets, high-end tinned goods, soft serve and grab-and-go sandwiches. Highlights include a herby egg salad sandwich on Maven’s challah Pullman loaf, smoked sprouts and albacore tuna salad, pesto farfalle and blueberry buns.

“I think people are craving comfort, nourishment and routine after a long day,” Godfrey says. “We’re kind of going back to this handmade, personal touch kind of thing. People want that kind of connection.”

— Lauren DiBenedetto

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OUR PLUS FOLL

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Toronto’s Greek restaurant scene has always had plenty of old school tavernas, but the newer crop of restaurants has been moving in a different direction. Alongside the neighbourhood staples, you’ll now find polished meze bars where natural wine flows and a dinner for two can hit three figures before you’ve even ordered a skewer.

Enter Esquire Restaurant. Newly opened at 566 Queen St. W., it goes in a completely different direction. This isn’t a new downtown concept dreamed up for the moment. Leo Mgrdichian and his three siblings are carrying on a family business that dates back to 1981. For more than 40 years, their family has built a loyal following from their Victoria Park Avenue location in Scarborough.

The Greek restaurant keeps things simple: souvlaki, gyros, 68 grilled meats and all the familiar sides, served quickly and without

pretense and at an affordable price. It’s also open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday — unusually late for Toronto.

The menu is focused on Greek staples, with the kitchen turning out hand-wrapped pitas loaded with tomatoes, onions, tzatziki and a generous hit of lemon sauce. Chicken, pork and shaved gyros all come wrapped in pita, and souvlaki skewers and garlic bread are available for those who want to skip the extra bread.

The late-night crowd gets plenty to work with, including the house Greek fries, piled high with feta, tzatziki, lemon sauce and meat. For a sit-down meal, there are falafel plates and pork platters served with roasted potatoes and rice, followed by baklava for dessert.

— JS

© @rosespantryto / Instagram

40-year-old Greek icon hits Queen West

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FOOD BEST OF 26 ’

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@STREETSOFTORONTO POLL

BEST BÁNH MÌ Located in Chinatown, BÁNH MÌ HUY-KY turns out paper-thin, airy baguettes baked in-house daily. Orders get stuffed with hot charred pork, fresh jalapeños and pâté. You get a traditional, well-balanced Vietnamese sandwich for a fraction of what most downtown lunch spots charge.

BEST BAGELS

BEST SOFT SERVE

The line at BAGEL WORLD moves fast. Both the North York and Thornhill spots stick to the old school routine — hand-rolling and deck-baking bagels until they're dense, and coated in seeds. Beyond the classics, people flock here for massive braided twisters and thick-cut smoked whitefish salad.

TOM’S DAIRY FREEZE has been run out of its Queensway drive-in since 1969. The kitchen pumps high-butterfat soft serve into classic dip cones and sundaes, drawing massive lines that spill across the parking lot until midnight every single night all summer long.

BEST WINGS

BEST BUBBLE TEA CHICHA SAN CHEN brews single-origin Taiwanese teas to order using patented Lion espresso machines that extract leaf flavours under high pressure. Customers customize milk bases and toppings like fresh taro or chewy tapioca pearls cooked in small batches throughout the day.

DUFF’S FAMOUS WINGS 37% CROWN & DRAGON 23% THE ELMWOOD 22% BISTRO ON AVENUE 19%

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BEST BAGUETTE

The secret at THORBORS is its Parisian pedigree, which gives the baguettes a slight sourdough tang and airy, open crumb. The crust crackles the second you slice into it, making a simple ham-and-butter sandwich taste like something you bought along the Canal Saint-Martin.

Clockwise from left: Duff’s Famous wings, the Elmwood, Bistro on Avenue

INSTAGRAM POLL WINNER Twin brothers Hy and Rob Erlich brought the authentic Buffalo recipe north to DUFF’S, serving up crispy wings tossed in that classic vinegar-cayenne sauce.

BEST CROISSANTS

BEST SMOKED MEAT SANDWICH

BEST DIM SUM

TASSO draws weekend crowds that line up around the block long before the doors even open. This tiny operation bakes hyper-limited batches of flaky, multi-layered croissants and savoury pastries, selling out of its golden, buttery creations within a few hours every single morning.

CENTRE STREET DELI sets the gold standard for GTA smoked meat from its classic Thornhill strip mall location. Master cutters carve steam-tender brisket directly in front of the line, piling spice-rubbed, handsliced beef high on seedless rye with a smear of yellow mustard.

Yorkville's go-to spot for elegant dim sum, PEARL Yorkville turns weekday lunches and weekend brunches into a sleek dining event. Fashionable locals crowd the Bellair Street dining room for baskets of steaming har gow and golden pan-fried dumplings served piping hot.

BEST DOUGHNUTS

BEST CAKES

BETTER DAYS bakes old school yeast and cake doughnuts from its retro counter on Dundas Street West. The menu drops heavy toppings for traditional recipes, frying up golden-edged apple fritters, honeyglazed crullers and delicious cherry cake sticks alongside fresh coffee.

West end favourite BAKERBOTS BAKING has been turning out speciality cakes with a ton of flavour. Treat yourself to a slice of their signature carrot cake or chocolate mayonnaise cake (it’s called double moist for a reason). And the chiffon cakes come out ultra-soft and bouncy every time.

BEST OLD SCHOOL CHINESE HOUSE OF GOURMET has anchored Spadina Avenue since 2005, serving a massive menu of traditional Cantonese dishes until late into the night. Hanging roasted ducks line the front window, drawing steady crowds for steaming noodle soups, congee and family-style rice plates.

BEST BUTTER TARTS CIRCLES & SQUARES earned top honours at the Ontario Butter Tart Festival in Midland for its signature recipe. The bakery uses real butter to yield flaky, golden crusts packed with a thick, caramelized brown sugar centre, supplying fresh batches to cafés across the city every morning.

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BEST ICE CREAM ED’S REAL SCOOP 34% DUTCH DREAMS 31% SUMMER’S ICE CREAM 22% RU RU BAKED 12%

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Best of 2026

FOOD BEST CONTEMPORARY FILIPINO RESTAURANT MINERAL shakes up Filipino food on Yonge Street with a nine-course tasting menu built around grilled Ibérico pork collar and fresh seafood loaded with citrusy hits of calamansi. Every dish remixes classic island flavours into clever, high-end plates paired with natural wines.

T.O.’S PIE SPECTACULAR

BEST FISH AND CHIPS OLDE YORKE nails the ultimate fish and chips in Leaside, serving up wild-caught halibut that’s impossibly flaky on the inside. The kitchen wraps every piece in a light, crispy batter with a crispy crunch that never goes soggy, alongside thick-cut chips and plenty of malt vinegar.

BEST KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT Housed inside downtown's historic 1929 John Street Roundhouse, Cineplex’s sprawling 40,000-square-foot REC ROOM pairs nearly 100 redemption arcade games and virtual reality with an elevated pub menu, serving prosciutto and pear pizzas, giant pretzels and steak frites.

BEST GELATO

BEST FRIED CHICKEN

MIZZICA puts real-deal Sicilian technique front and centre across its Toronto locations. Founders Paolo Di Lallo and Denise Pisani build their award-winning gelato around premiere Italian imports, spinning batches with Bronte pistachios and Piemonte hazelnuts.

Named after founders Matt and Carolyn Pelechaty’s late yellow lab, CHICA’S CHICKEN brings serious heat to the Junction. The shop dry brines its halal poultry for two full days and even earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its crunch-heavy Nashville hot chicken.

BEST PECAN CRANBERRY PHIPPS BAKERY

BEST CLASSIC APPLE SWEETIE PIE

BEST LEMON MERINGUE THE ROLLING PIN

BEST SPICED PUMPKIN CHARMAINE SWEETS

@STREETSOFTORONTO POLL

BEST SMASH BURGER ROSIE’S 37% JABS 28% MATTY’S PATTY’S 24% FRESH BURGER 11%

BEST FRENCH BAKERY | SEPTEMBER 2026

GOÛTER brings authentic French baking straight to Toronto under the direction of pastry chef Rodney Alléguède. The bakeshop showcases a full display of handmade goods, turning out classic sourdough loaves and buttery kouign-amann baked fresh daily.

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BEST ITALIAN SANDWICH

BEST SOUR CHERRY WANDA’S PIE IN THE SKY

LA SALUMERIA keeps things classic, with owner Carlo Celebre slicing imported meats to order behind the counter. Sandwich lovers flock here for the signature build — a massive crusty loaf loaded with savoury prosciutto, salami, fresh mozzarella and a sweet splash of fig jam.

BEST YOU HAVEN’T TRIED YET

BEST FISHMONGER

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

BEST FRESH PASTA

LAKE INEZ brings a distinctly eclectic vibe to the city, illuminated by soft candlelight and a glowing Kate Bush stained glass feature. The high-energy kitchen turns out imaginative, flavour-packed small plates designed for sharing, perfectly matched with hard-to-find natural wines.

PISCES has been a neighbourhood staple on the Summerhill-Rosedale border for more than two decades. Operating out of the iconic Scrivener Square retail block, they source wild-caught catches from trusted Canadian suppliers and process every fish in-house for peak freshness.

DIL SE holds down a Michelin-recommended spot under chef-owner Mani Panwar. The menu takes classic northern Indian flavours in a modern direction, highlighting rich paneer lababdar simmered in cashew gravy alongside fragrant lamb seekh kebabs hot off the tandoor.

OCCHIOLINO brings a dual-concept setup to Bathurst Street, anchoring its dining bar with a fully stocked fresh pasta shop next door. The kitchen rolls pappardelle by hand and extrudes saffron lumache daily, pairing each shape with house-made sauces for eating in or cooking at home.

Best of 2026

FOOD BEST STEAK FRITES

BEST PAD THAI

Toronto diners frequently name CÔTE DE BOEUF as the undisputed king of local steak frites. The Ossington favourite builds the dish around 30-day dry-aged Ontario beef, searing every cut to order and paired with duck fat frites. Now you can try it at their spacious new Annex location.

Chef Nuit Regular brings northern Thai street food to downtown’s Duncan Street and to uptown’s Yonge with PAI. The kitchen stays busy wok frying chewy rice noodles in a tart palm sugar tamarind glaze, creating an iconic Toronto dish that regularly draws visiting celebrities.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Geary Avenue lost an absolute heavyweight when Famiglia Baldassarre closed its doors in August. The iconic lunch counter built its massive reputation around rapid-fire midday service, turning out unmatched bowls of handmade pasta to lucky daytime diners.

BEST PASTRAMI

BEST LOBSTER ROLL

Operating on Bathurst Street for four generations, PANCER’S ORIGINAL DELI cures its meat using decades-old family techniques.

The classic Jewish deli piles its signature house-spiced pastrami high, serving every sandwich alongside crisp half-sour pickles and fresh house fries.

Strolling through St. Lawrence Market calls for a visit to BUSTERS SEA COVE for its seriously impressive lobster roll. Piled high on a toasted bun drenched in warm butter, this market staple is rich, messy and gloriously buttery, with every bite dripping down your hands in the best way.

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BEST GO-TO SUSHI J SAN SUSHI BAR 30% YUZUKI JAPANESE 27% OROSHI FISH CO. 24% SUSHI KAJI 19%

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BEST TACOS TAQUERIA EL PASTORCITO 34% PLAYA CABANA 32% CAMPECHANO 20% ITACATE 14%

BEST GOURMET COOKIE

Clockwise from top: J San Sushi, Oroshi Fish Co., Yuzuki Japanese

Queen and Spadina staple LE GOURMAND has spent over two decades perfecting Toronto’s definitive chocolate chip cookie.

Baked fresh throughout the day, these giant treats land on the counter soft-baked and overflowing with thick pools of rich molten chocolate.

INSTAGRAM POLL WINNER J SAN SUSHI BAR is a budget game changer, serving ultra-fresh sashimi, torched aburi nigiri and generous bento boxes without breaking the bank.

BEST KOREAN BBQ

BEST TABLESIDE CAESAR SALAD

BEST REGIONAL ITALIAN

BEST PIZZA DELIVERY

BEST CHINESE DELIVERY

DALDONGNAE recreates 1970s Seoul right in the heart of Koreatown, setting the standard for traditional table barbecue. Premium cuts of pork belly sizzle directly on built-in tabletop grills, encircled by moats of bubbling egg and corn cheese.

THE OCTAGON delivers pure retro dining theatre with a tableside caesar salad that has set the local standard for over five decades. The classic steak house skips premade dressings entirely, whipping raw egg, garlic and anchovies into a rich emulsion right in front of your eyes.

Rob Rossi’s Michelin-starred OSTERIA GIULIA delivers pristine northern Italian seafood and delicate pastas. Across town, 7 NUMBERS brings southern Italian warmth through family-style recipes, and ENOTECA SOCIALE focuses its energy on Roman pasta traditions like carbonara and cacio e pepe.

Founded in 2012 by Josh Spatz and Alex Potter, NORTH OF BROOKLYN sets the benchmark for high-end delivery pizza.

The chain crafts light, sheet-thin crusts dipped in sesame seeds, finishing each pie with clever toppings like pickled red onions, and sweet honey drizzle.

Midtown local favourite C’EST BON has perfected the logistics of Chinese delivery. The Chen family’s kitchen balances fiery Sichuan flavours with Cantonese staples, packaging each order carefully so everything arrives piping hot without losing its texture.

| SEPTEMBER 2026

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Best of 2026

SHOP BEST FLORIST

BEST TOY STORE

Every bouquet at APRICOT FLOWERS is a true work of art — and that’s no surprise, considering owner Cathy Kim’s fine arts background. Event flowers and floral displays are done to perfection here. Don’t forget the greenery; adorable succulents and terrariums fill the space.

Bringing childhood joy to the neighbourhood for over seven decades, the funky TOYTOWN storefront beckons from afar.

Bring the kids to the shop and let them be entertained by walls of fun while you browse for the perfect gift.

BEST DENIM Family-owned boutique OVER THE RAINBOW boasts brands like Rag & Bone, Les Deux and Patrick Assaraf, but it’s the massive wall of denim, featuring every wash and style imaginable, that makes it a 51years-strong standout.

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BEST PET SHOP BEST WOMEN’S DEPARTMENT STORE Loyal customers return to long-standing family business ANDREWS year after year for a reason. Shop top brands like Staud, Roberto Cavalli and Dôen in a setting reminiscent of a classic New York department store.

BEST MENSWEAR

DOGFATHER & CO. 33%

Looking for something specific? LOST & FOUND has got it. No idea what you want and just want to browse a staggering collection of incredible and unique pieces?

They’ve got that too. Quality is the game here; trust that a piece you find here will stay in your wardrobe for years to come.

WOOFTOWN 28% THE DOG BOWL 28% PET MAMA 11%

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BEST BOOK STORE BMV 46% QUEEN BOOKS 22% FLYING BOOKS 21%

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BEN MCNALLY BOOKS 11%

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BEST ANTIQUES OF THINGS PAST is a treasure trove worth travelling for. Unique to this shop is an auction-style pricing system, where the cost keeps dropping as time passes. Every antique purchase ends up feeling discounted — as long as you snag your coveted piece before someone else does!

Clockwise from top: Dogfather & Co., Wooftown, the Dog Bowl

INSTAGRAM POLL WINNER The broad selection at DOGFATHER & CO. is what your furry friend’s dreams are made of. And being greeted by a rotating cast of dogs at the door is always fun!

BEST SHOE REPAIR

BEST OLD SCHOOL BARBER

BEST LASH AND BROW FIX

BEST NAIL SALON

BEST HAIR COLOURING

Fans of KANER’S will say the work this Yorkville shop does is magic: sole replacements, emergency repairs and even total shoe restorations are easy work for the team here. Once you’re impressed by your fresh footwear, hand over your most battered handbag — they’ll fix that, too.

Classically trained in Scotland, owner Farid Alavi of BENCH BARBERSHOP is kind, friendly and knows everything there is to know about hair. Located kitty-corner to Four Seasons Hotel, this is a one-man barbershop with style.

With an impeccably clean and elevated studio, HBFACE is an eyebrow bar with style. Efficient, professional and extremely talented, the team here turn grooming into an art. Prepare to have your brows complimented all day long!

ANNA’S HEAVENLY NAILS makes sure getting a mani-pedi is as much a relaxing experience as a trip to the spa. The spot counts Jeanne Beker and our own publisher amongst her clients — they have even been known to visit together!

Trusting a salon to get your exact hair colour right can be tricky, but the talented father-son duo at COLOUR LAB are the unmatched experts. They’ll match your current shade or craft the new one of your dreams.

Best of 2026

SHOP BEST GIFT SHOP

BEST CONSIGNMENT

PUTTI FINE FURNISHINGS is a ton of fun, filled wall to wall with trinkets and home decor. The shop is also kind enough to offer seniors a chance to visit on their own after-hours, opening up the space so you can browse without the crowds.

Whether you’re buying or selling, you’ll still find yourself browsing for hours at VSP CONSIGNMENT. Shoes organized by size are a nice touch, and with regular flash sales, you’ll get discounts on top of designer discounts — 70 per cent off Prada, anyone?

BEST KIDS’ BOOKS A new location, all the same fun: MABEL’S FABLES is the kind of shop every kid dreams of visiting. Full of colour, books galore, puzzles, fidget toys and even a namesake pet cat, Mabel herself, it’s one of the most magical little corners of the city.

BEST KIDS’ CLOTHES

BEST EYEWEAR

Knowledgeable staff will help lead the way to the most adorable little outfits for your niece, nephew or child at ZERO 20 KIDS — especially for special occasions. Countless flower girls and ring boys have been dressed by this boutique over the four decades since it opened!

The frame selection at SQUINT EYEWEAR is top notch, as is the customer service: frame repairs, adjustments and eye exams are done efficiently and professionally.

Staff takes the time to walk even the most indecisive shopper through their options until they’ve landed on the perfect pair.

@STREETSOFTORONTO POLL

BEST TATTOO PARLOUR OKEY DOKE TATTOO SHOP 30% BLACK WIDOW TATTOO 26% SPEAKEASY TATTOO 23% PEARL HARBOUR GIFT SHOP 22%

@STREETSOFTORONTO POLL

BEST VINTAGE COURAGE MY LOVE 33% MAMA LOVES YOU 30% RAGDOLL VINTAGE 21% SIBERIA VINTAGE 16%

BEST VINTAGE WATCHES

Clockwise from top: Okey Doke Tattoo Shop, Speakeasy Tattoo, Black Widow Tattoo

VAN RIJK has possibly the largest selection of vintage Rolexes and watches not just in Toronto or Canada, but in North America.

Honest, fair and total experts in the jewelry game, the team here will make buying or selling your dream watch or ring easy.

INSTAGRAM POLL WINNER The team at OKEY DOKE are patient and communicative, turn the vaguest idea into a masterpiece. Try the “get what you get” vending machine for a tattoo surprise!

BEST DRY CLEANER

BEST TAILOR

BEST PET GROOMING

BEST APPLIANCE REPAIR

BEST LIGHTING STORE

The best dry cleaners are pretty much miracle workers, and that’s exactly what ASHFORD CLEANERS does. Nasty stains and mystery spills are no match for the team here. Got a couture dress you’re too nervous to wash? They’ve got you covered.

LAST MINUTE ALTERATIONS travelled from Yorkville to bring some tailoring expertise to Thornhill. The team here will take on seemingly impossible alterations and rush jobs with ease, and the attention to detail and precision is remarkable.

Trust your most nervous and overexcited dogs to WOOFTOWN for all your grooming needs. The team is careful and gentle and, best of all, clearly loves pets. Our office dog won’t settle for anyone other than expert groomer Ryoko!

Family-run business YORK APPLIANCE will take the vacuum or lamp you thought no one could fix and have it like new in no time. And they’ll go above and beyond when it comes to warranties and replacements!

Longtime midtown shop ROYAL LIGHTING is all about customer service. Experts in their craft, staff can guide you to your dream fixtures, and they’re known for price matching and ordering in styles if they’re not available in-store too.

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Best of 2026

DO BEST TRIVIA NIGHT

BEST INDIE MOVIEHOUSE

If you’re looking for one of Toronto’s best trivia nights, Hemingway’s in Yorkville is a standout, with a packed lineup of themed events covering everything from movies, to music and pop culture. And, maybe one of the Jonas brothers will stop by again.

FOX CINEMA, the oldest operating movie theatre in the city, is holding it down with an incredible slate of films, a fantastic vibe, craft beers, good wines and tasty popcorn.

Not to mention so mcuh leg room and comfortable seating.

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE THE CONCERT HALL at 888 Yonge St., is back and better than ever. Once the legendary Rock Pile, where Led Zeppelin played its first Canadian gig, has been updated and looks amazing but is still steeped in Toronto music history. What a comeback!

@STREETSOFTORONTO POLL

BEST PICKLEBALL PICKLEPLEX 39%

BEST NEW TRAIL

BEST ARCADE BAR

The EAST DON TRAIL has been a long time coming, but is worth the wait. It is a stunning place for a ride or walk, gorgeous forests, riverside views and more. The four-level switchback ramp connecting to the ravine floor is a thing of beauty.

TILT, in Queen West, is the spot for classic arcade games. A cover charge unlocks unlimited play on a rotating roster of arcade classics as well as a solid selection of pinball machines, Skee-Ball and good food and drink options.

FAIRGROUNDS 30% THE PICKLR 16% THE JAR 14%

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BEST RECORD STORE SONIC BOOM 47% ROTATE THIS 20% PLAY DE RECORD 18%

| SEPTEMBER 2026

KOPS RECORDS 14%

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BEST COLD PLUNGE Head to Yorkville where cold plunging and all the spa-esque things get a serious glow-up at OTHERSHIP with a nod to its communal and unique experiences. The diversity of classes is what sets this unique facility apart from the crowd.

Clockwise from top: Pickleplex, the Jar, Fairgrounds

INSTAGRAM POLL WINNER PICKLEPLEX takes the crown for its unique and diverse offerings, including a tidy little club tucked beside the York Mills subway station and a large affordable Downsview facility that keeps the city’s pickleball fanatics busy.

BEST PARK

BEST PUBLIC ART

BEST SUNSET VIEW

BEST PLACE TO BUST A MOVE

BIIDAASIGE PARK was already a massive hit. This year, 10 more acres were added along with an incredible lakeside promenade offering stunning skyline views. The new expansion also features plenty of picnic space, play and beach areas and more.

GLOBAL CONVENIENCE, created by artists Trevor Wheatley and Cosmo Dean, wowed the city with its eerily realistic corner store floating in the harbour near the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, creating a surreal, viral sensation.

RIVERDALE PARK EAST has turned sunset into a Toronto social occasion, with crowds gathering nightly on the hill to watch the skyline glow in spectacular colours. Get their early and bring some beverages and a blanket to enjoy the show.

The city’s coolest dance floor might just be hiding inside GROUND CONTROL, a Bowieinspired music bar on Queen West with an eclectic mix of specialty nights and a great vibe. Check out Serious Moonlight on Thursdays with DJ Lazarus. It’s free!

Want more?

Read the full Best Of list online at STREETSOFTORONTO.COM

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© Costco Wholesale Canada/ Facebook

@hudsonwilliamsofficial / Instagram

© @xavtrudeau_/ Instagram

Homes

SECTION

Big box stores get a visit from Canada’s biggest stars

When September rolls around, many of us get inspired by the urge to renovate and redecorate. A few Canadian stars have been spotted out and about in big box stores, perhaps embracing that DIY life. Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry went viral (again) when they filmed themselves jamming out to his son Xav’s new song at a Home Hardware in Montreal. Trudeau was wielding a plunger and some other home essentials. Brian Gluckstein recently visited a Costco warehouse to see his new Gluckstein Home sheet sets in store, then famous Costco hot dog. And of course, we can’t forget Hudson Williams’ visit to Canadian Tire in Toronto! He left with some essentials in a plastic plaid tote — and the bag sold out everywhere, of course. The brand has since donated 100 per cent of net proceeds from every bag sold since Aug. 1 to charity.

Clockwise from left: Justin Trudeau dancing in Home Hardware, designer Brian Gluckstein at Costco, Hudson Williams and the nowviral Canadian Tire plaid tote he was spotted carrying

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Before you go... check out our blow by blow history of Toronto's top pugilists

© Toronto Public Library

© Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

© Heritage Toronto

SEPTEMBER 2026 EDITION

Clockwise from top: (L–R:) George Chuvalo (left) and Muhammad Ali, Larry Gains (boxer on right) and Len Harvey, Shawn O’Sullivan (right) and Cortez Treadwell

| SEPTEMBER 2026

A history of T.O.'s hardest hitting heavyweights that would make Rocky proud

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Toronto has always known how to roll with the punches. One of the city’s earliest heavyweight stars was Black Canadian boxer Larry Gains, born in Cabbagetown in 1900. The “Toronto Terror” captured Canadian, British Empire and World Coloured Heavyweight titles in the 1920s and '30s, but racial barriers prevented him from ever challenging for the World Heavyweight crown.

As Gains made a name internationally, Maple Leaf Gardens was emerging as one of Toronto’s biggest stages for boxing. But no night looms larger than March 29, 1966, when hometown hero George Chuvalo faced Muhammad Ali! Chuvalo

accepted on 17 days’ notice and went all 15 rounds, losing by unanimous decision and never hitting the canvas. Ali called him “the toughest guy I ever fought.”

By the 1980s, Toronto-born Shawn O’Sullivan had become another hometown hero after winning silver at the 1984 Olympics.

Decades later, the legacy of these fighters lives on in Toronto’s grassroots boxing culture, from neighbourhood gyms to community programs, where young fighters continue to find their footing, build confidence and carry the city’s storied boxing tradition into a new generation. — Nisean Lorde

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1/2 ACRE R AVINE LOT

FOR SALE

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1/2 ACRE R AVINE LOT

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