North Toronto Post September 2022

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FALL-ING MARKET? OUR ALL-STAR PANEL WEIGHS IN ON WHERE HOME PRICES ARE HEADED NOW

BEST OF TORONTO 2022

SEPTEMBER 2022 · VOLUME 29 · ISSUE 2

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MAGAZINES

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CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2022

PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE INSIDE Our 33rd annual primer to the city’s top private schools and programs

FINDING LOVE OVER OLD MOVIES The Social’s Jess Allen on how she met her best friend & partner Simon Gadke

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SEPTEMBER 2022

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THE NEW FALL UNIFORM Jeanne Beker on the trendy autumnal pairing — oversized blazers & high tops

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YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME! Chef Craig Wong on the best mooncakes for giving and eating in T.O.

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@andrewsco.com

BEST OF TORONTO 2022 Our guide to the best things to eat, shop and do in T.O.

MINIMAL DESIGN, MAXIMUM LUXURY Three Toronto homes offering all the modernity with very little gaudiness

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YOUR DREAM TEAM

1. What famous author once worked for the Toronto Star in the 1920s?

A. Margaret Atwood C. F. Scott Fitzgerald B. Ernest Hemingway D. Robertson Davies

2. What popular brand of soda was invented in Toronto?

A. Canada Dry B. Hires

C. Crush D. Pepsi

3. What Toronto private club can claim not one but two Grey Cup trophies?

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C. Balmy Beach Club D. Donalda Club

4. What neighbourhood was founded as an artist colony in the 19th century?

A. Queen’s Park B. Ward’s Island

C. Wychwood Park D. Playter Estates

ANSWERS: 1. B 2. A 3. C 4. C

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A. Granite Club B. Good Life

CITYSCAPE

THE POST INTERVIEW

20 questions for Adrienne Arsenault

NEWS

BY THE NUMBERS

Toronto’s Adrienne Arsenault takes over as CBC’s chief correspondent this month for the public broadcaster’s news program ‘The National.’ We ask Arsenault about her new gig, her greatest fear and what she thinks of Lisa Laflamme’s departure. by Ron Johnson

6 The NBA jersey number being retired to honour the late Bill Russell. The latest Raptor to wear the number was Toronto-born Corey Joseph.

14 The ranking of Toronto’s Ossington Avenue in a new list of the coolest streets on the planet.

My first job was being on set with my dad who was a director.

I was really young, and he kept ordering me to spend the time rolling and properly coiling cables, again and again. It is possible he was trying to get me out of his hair, and I am not sure the rest of the crew were thrilled, but I took that seriously. I still do!

What is your daily ritual?

What are you most excited about?

Everything. The responsibility of it scares me and that is exciting too.

It is more than the opportunity to continue to report from around the world. I am really keen to be the wing woman for the journalists we have around Canada and across the world.

As a female journalist, were you surprised to hear about the treatment of Lisa Laflamme?

I really was. What a blow. But not just because I am a female journalist in her 50s aging under bright lights.

I think all reporters winced with worry and frustration at that news.

I have known Lisa for a long time.

We’ve always worked at different networks but have been in the field together many times. I have enormous respect for her work.

I want to say the gym. I really do.

And some days I really mean that. If I can lift somewhat heavy things in the morning a few days a week, I figure I can handle the rest.

sink in for people, what has gone into carving that patch of wildscape out of cityscape.

What’s your prized possession?

My dusty brown boots. I bought them in the first few years I was a reporter, and I have taken them to every intense shoot I have ever done.

What talent would you most like to have?

Anything musical.

What’s hanging above your couch?

Who in Toronto would you most like to hang out with?

My pals. No better humans on earth than dear friends.

What is your greatest fear?

How much time do you have?

Snakes. Roller coasters. Bad luck.

What’s your idea of perfect happiness?

I am lucky to feel happy a lot, even in stressful situations: so great teammates working together to chase a story that matters and everyone is in sync. That is bliss.

Um. My living room window.

What’s the worst career advice you’ve received?

Where was your first Toronto apartment?

“Manage your expectations.”

Riverdale Park. Convince me I’m wrong!

A super small spot near Bay and Dundas. I wanted to live in the middle of everything.

What would change about your field?

Is there one thing you have multiple versions of?

What do you always have next to your computer?

I have ancient flip-flops I bought in the Middle East in the early 2000s, and bought lots of them.

Everything. TV remote control, notepad, pens in various stages of chaos and drawings from the little humans I am grateful to have in my life (not so little any more).

Where do you think is the best view in the city?

Where’s the first place in town you send visitors?

Leslie Street Spit. It totally fascinates me, and I love watching it

Where do you go to get away from it all?

If there is water, I will go there.

+900 The betting odds of the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the Stanley Cup this season — second to defending champs Colorado Avalanche.

$500 The drop in price, in thousands, when Doug Ford’s Etobicoke home sold in August.

The tyranny of time, the rancour, the aggression and threats that keep smart and dedicated people away from what is an extraordinarily important field.

Where in the city do you go to be alone?

It is amazing how you can be alone almost anywhere in this city. A good park, a busy street, a march in the ravines.

30 The number of Drake’s top five singles on the Billboard Top 100, breaking the record of 29 by a U.K. band called the Beatles.

SEPTEMBER 2022

I wish my dad were still here so I could tell him all about this. He was a TV director and a wildly enthusiastic man. He would fall off his chair and then pepper me with a million questions. I am fiercely protective of the importance of public broadcasting and a robust CBC and the joys and necessities of good journalism.

What’s the first job you had in Toronto?

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What does being chief correspondent of The National mean to you?

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The arts are back in full swing this season

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They suffered mightily during the pandemic, now it’s time for us to give back

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music, opera and so much more.

Already marked on my calendar are a couple of performances by one of my personal favourite Canadian artists: Tomson Highway.

More than 20 years ago, Highway was the first artist I interviewed when I began my career. He had just published his first novel, Kiss of the Fur Queen, and we had a wonderful conversation about his childhood and his beloved late brother, which formed the foundation for the novel. He was and remains fascinating.

The Cree artist published a memoir earlier this year and delivers the CBC Massey Lecture this month at Koerner Hall on Sept. 23. It’s not much in the headline department, but it’s an example of the depth of cultural offerings. And not only that, a week later Highway returns to perform with his Cree country band as part of a celebration to commemorate truth and reconciliation.

There is something for everyone, from an art crawl on Geary Avenue, to a Word on the Street pop-up at the Evergreen Brick Works and even the grand return of Carly Rae Jepson.

Come on!

Let’s send our artists some love; we’ll see you at the show.

IVE

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This month marks the first time in a long time that Toronto’s arts and cultural community is moving ahead at full speed. And we need to show them a lot of love.

At its best, Toronto is a vibrant cultural hub that rivals any city on the planet. But, on every level, the industry and the community of brilliant people that make it tick have suffered so much throughout the pandemic.

Now it’s time to give back.

It’s not just that they need us, it’s that we need them. We need them to transport us from the daily grind of the city to a better place. We need them to help us make sense of the world and our place in it. And we need them as experiences that we share together.

I’d almost forgotten what a vibrant city this is, until I started to look around and see what was happening in the city just this month alone.

And, it’s not just the big name events: the Elton John and Ringo Starr concerts, the film festival and parade of Hollywood stars or Just For Laughs. It’s everything. There is so much.

The fall theatre season gets underway this month, and many of our cherished spaces have been dark for far too long. Get out and support as many as you can: Tarragon, Factory, Soulpepper, Crow’s, Coal Mine, to name just a few. Not to mention our incredible dance community, fine arts, classical

Leanna Hosier Kaitlin Narciso

SENIOR SOCIAL EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR

NR DO

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Tomson Highway appears at Koerner Hall twice this month

BLOOR

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NEWS

With near-drought conditions most of the summer that has dropped the water of Lake Ontario to levels not seen in years, flash floods following a torrent of storms last month and an ongoing climate crisis that is making both of these happen more often, many people are very concerned about the future of Lake Ontario. After the torrential downpours in August, the environmental group

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper reported finding trash in the lake, including sanitary wipes, tampons and condoms from a sewer pipe that poured its contents directly into the lake — contents that could include pesticides and other harmful substances. These storms will happen more frequently, and unless this problem is addressed directly, it will only get worse, and our lake could be destroyed.

| POST |

Lake Ontario not immune to summer of drought around the world

SEPTEMBER 2022

SECTION

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NEWS

STINTZ ON MIDTOWN

Why the city’s councillors are all quitting their jobs The dynamics of larger wards and decreased power make challenging position even less desirable

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There are many reasons that politicians choose not to seek reelection, although, in my opinion, wanting to spend more time with family is never one of them.

In the upcoming municipal election, one-quarter of the city councillor seats will be vacant because the incumbents have either taken a new job or simply decided not to run again.

At the federal and provincial level, the most common reason that politicians don’t run for reelection is because they don’t think they will be successfully reelected. At the municipal level, this doesn’t apply: since name recognition seems to be everything, city councillors are virtually guaranteed to be reelected. However, the dynamics of the larger wards and the strong mayor system have made a difficult job even less rewarding and some city councillors realize that their work at the city was done.

The municipal system also doesn’t really provide many

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Outgoing deputy mayor and city councillor Ana Bailão

opportunities for ambitious individuals to keep developing skills. At the provincial and federal level, there are different ministries and various opportunities. At the city of Toronto there are the coveted positions of TTC chair, budget chief and deputy mayor, but there are many more councillors than positions, and even these

positions are limited.

Councillors with ambition generally don’t stay beyond one or two terms. Such is the case with respect to Kristyn Wong-Tam and Michael Ford. Both are ambitious and decided to leave municipal politics for provincial politics. The same could probably be said for Joe Cressy. After two terms, Joe Cressy took a job at

George Brown College.

The surprise announcements were from Denzil MinnanWong, Ana Bailão and Mike Layton. These individuals provided strong voices on council and different perspectives. Denzil Minnan-Wong was often viewed as the reliable conservative voice of an increasingly left-leaning council. Ana Bailão was a strong advocate for affordable housing and viewed as sage and reasonable. Mike Layton was fiercely progressive and advanced a number of causes, from climate change to social justice. None of them have indicated that they have another job lined up.

My guess is that each of these individuals had designs to run for mayor and those plans were squashed when John Tory announced he was running for a third term — despite his previous pledge to be a two-term mayor.

None had a desire to sit around for another term, especially in a council in which the mayor has even more power.

Mike Layton seems like the obvious choice to run for leadership of the NDP, and Ana Bailão would be a strong candidate for the Liberals or Conservatives. As for Denzil Minnan-Wong, at 59 years old and after 28 years in municipal politics, he likely decided that, if he was going to do something else, he needed to do it sooner than later.

Although it is always good to get new ideas and a fresh perspective at city council, the loss of these three individuals in particular will be felt. My guess is that, although their work at the city might be done, their days in politics are not over yet.

KAREN STINTZ

Karen Stintz is a former city councillor, elected in 2003, and was a chair of the TTC. She lives in Ward 8.

SEWELL ON CITY HALL

NEWS

Mayor John Tory and Premier Doug Ford might be working very closely together in the years to come

Mayor to serve premier not residents? provincial cabinet meeting in secret. This means the mayor is subservient to the province, not to city council or the people of Toronto.

It is an unprecedented realignment of decision making, assigning all this power to one person who is subservient to the province and stripping these powers from the elected representatives of the city.

Mayor John Tory has said that in principle he supports this realignment.

“This means the mayor is subservient to the province, not to city council.”

The bill disempowers democratically elected city councillors and centralizes all meaningful decision making. It is a deliberate effort to take away from local residents their ability to have a say over the decisions that affect their lives. It is profoundly undemocratic.

It builds on the forced amalgamation of Toronto in 1997 and the arbitrary decision by the Ford government four years ago to cut the number of wards in half.

The net result, if Bill 3 passes, will have the effect of cutting residents out of meaningful

decision making.

The key question to mayoral candidates is: Do you agree that you will only exercise these powers if they have been endorsed by a majority vote of city council? Agreement of mayoral candidates on this issue will ensure that power is not in the hands of just one person, but instead, in the hands of the city’s elected representatives as it has been for the last 188 years.

The question for the candidates for city council in the upcoming election is how they will respond to this legislation.

If the mayor refuses to seek the majority of council for decisions, will the candidate agree to refuse to attend council so that there is no quorum for a council meeting?

I keep wondering about the mode of municipal government that Premier Ford has in mind with this realignment of power in Bill 3. I think he likes the new model that Premier Xi has imposed on Hong Kong: get rid of local democracy to make sure it does not interfere with what you want to do.

Scary. These are very troubling times in Toronto.

JOHN SEWELL

John Sewell is a former mayor of Toronto. His most recent books are How We Changed Toronto and Crisis in Canada’s Policing.

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The questions that should be put to the mayoralty candidates in election meetings leading to Oct. 24 are pretty straightforward.

They all revolve around the exercise of powers the new mayor will have under Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Housing Act. Bill 3 assigns the mayor the power to do virtually everything of importance normally done by city council. The mayor can determine the organizational structure of council, including the number of wards; the way that community councils function; and so forth. The mayor can appoint committee chairs and deputy chairs — something normally done by the committees themselves — as well as for agencies, boards (such as hockey rinks) and commissions.

The mayor can hire and fire city staff, except for a few positions, something normally done by council as a whole by majority vote. Now the mayor can direct council to do what they want, something that has always been prevented under the current system. The mayor will prepare and approve the city budgets. All these powers can be challenged only by a two-thirds vote of council, something very unlikely because the mayor will entice at least a third of council with chair positions and other perks.

The mayor can veto decisions thought to “potentially intervene with provincial priorities.”

What those priorities are is not yet clear: they will be set out in a regulation approved by the

SEPTEMBER 2022

With new bill locals may have zero say in how the city is run

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NEWS

FOCUS

Street racing on the DVP has long annoyed residents

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Noise from street racing is out of control Local residents ongoing complaints may have spurred the city to take action

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Many residents of central Toronto who live within a few kilometres of the Don Valley Parkway, Highway 404 and other roadways are all too familiar with the sound. The peace of a quiet evening at the park or at home in bed with the window open is broken by the high decibels emitted by modified cars and motorcycles racing on the Don Valley Parkway. And people have had enough.

Residents around the Don Valley Parkway continue to suffer from the noise caused by modified vehicles racing along the highway.

The cars aren’t just modified for racing. They are modified to emit loud, abrasive, and some might say gawd awful, sounds.

In a statement to Streets of Toronto, councillor Jaye Robinson said the issue has persisted in recent years.

More specifically, Robinson outlined it as a common issue on the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) and the Bayview Extension.

She mentioned that noise pollution of this kind causes several problems, both mentally and physically.

“The impacts of noise pollution on mental and physical well-being are well-documented, ranging from hearing loss to sleep disturbance and cognitive health effects,” she said.

But the city hasn’t given up on reducing the noise caused on the DVP. “In July 2022, Toronto City Council also requested the Ontario government to strengthen the enforcement of vehicular noise under the Provincial Highway Traffic Act, including by introducing demerit points for modified exhaust and excessive noise,” Coun. Robinson said.

In this effort to enforce higher fines and rules on vehicles that use noisy modifications, the City of Toronto is appealing to the provincial government.

In a news release last month, Mayor John Tory outlined that the city is seeking the following: • Increase fines and assign demerit points for modified exhaust and unnecessary vehicle noise offences under the Highway Traffic Act. • Develop stricter and more

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NEWS

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to sleep and continues until after we go to bed. It makes it hard to go to sleep all summer.”

And according to other residents, some say current bylaws aren’t always being imposed.

“They’re neglecting to enforce their own bylaws,” said Ingrid Buday, who lives by the Gardiner Expressway.

Buday is an active member of the DVP Noise Action Group and has been interested in noise reduction for a bit over a year.

She does sound measurements from people’s balconies to understand the way noise travels and how it’s affecting day-to-day life.

“What we’re learning is that a highway — the DVP for example — generally puts out about 70 decibels, give or take. Maybe it drops down to 60 at night … and that is like a white noise,” she said.

“What we’ve learned over the last couple of years, people have noticed the spikes of the noise.”

Buday said this is mostly due to motorcycles racing at night.

She recalled that Ontario’s Drive Clean program that checked emissions and exhausts on a regular basis was a great starting point to reduce the sound from modified vehicles on the DVP. But the campaign discontinued back in 2019, a move that she said now allows people to “do whatever they want.”

“There’s no blitzes. With the

R.I.D.E. campaigns that happen for drunk driving, everyone gets pulled over and everyone gets assessed. Here, the police and the city could do that, but they don’t,” she said.

For other residents, the noise made by the DVP is so distressing that they’re considering moving out of the city.

Jodi Goldfinger, who resides in the area, said the noise doesn’t allow her to sleep with the window open. Like Buday, she feels the city is not doing enough to combat the problem.

But when Goldfinger spoke to a Toronto Police Service community relations officer, he told her officers can’t chase people on motorcycles.

“The motorcyclists know that,” she said. “And he was saying a lot of them will pull up to police officers and pull wheelies.”

She’s heard friends mention that the DVP should be put down to one lane at night. She doesn’t think that would be a fair decision to make for the whole of the community.

For Buday, the question of fairness is a good one to ask.

“It’s unfair that one person in one vehicle … can wake up hundreds of thousands of people,” she said.

“If you think about someone doing a loop between the DVP, Gardiner, 427, 401 — how many people are they waking up at 100 decibels?” she said.

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specific regulations on vehicle modifications, including provisions to allow for periodic inspections of vehicle exhausts and potential modifications.

• Make regulatory changes to enable the city to initiate an automated noise enforcement pilot project.

In the same news release, the city said it would do the following when reviewing its noise bylaw next year: • Explore options for setting decibel limits for such devices as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, grass trimmers and chainsaws.

• Report back on technological developments on noise-activated cameras and automated noise enforcement.

• Examine the health impacts of noise with the help of Toronto Public Health.

• Report on noise from city vehicles and fleets, including garbage trucks.

Merlin Hargreaves, who lives in Leaside, describes the noise from modified vehicles as a loud disturbance.

And as the warm weather hits, so does the commotion.

“As soon as the nice weather hits in the spring and early summer, we start hearing loud revving noises coming from the direction of the Millwood Bridge,” said Hargreaves.

“This usually starts right around the time we are putting our kiddo

For more information, please contact Dr. Randy Katz:

| POST |

The R.I.D.E. program is an example of a system of checks that could be used on modified cars producing loud noise

13

NEWS

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cell 416.357.7741 416.494.7653 Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto

Arrest made after incident at consulate Plus, city’s 42nd homicide of 2022

| POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

Police have made an arrest as part of a firearm investigation following an incident at the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto. On Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m., police responded to a call of a person with a gun at the consulate, located in the area of St. George Street and Bernard Avenue. It is alleged that a male suspect parked his vehicle across the street from the consulate and pointed an assaultstyle rifle at the front gate security officer. On Wednesday, Aug. 10, a search warrant was executed at an address in Thornhill, and several pellet guns and tactical body armour were seized. A 27-year-old male suspect, of Thornhill, has been charged with pointing a firearm and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

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A 22-year-old male suspect, of Toronto, is facing numerous charges following a sexual assault in the area of Don Mills Road and Sheppard Avenue East. It is alleged that the suspect answered an ad posted online by a 25-yearold female victim, and they then met at a residence on Sunday, Aug. 21. Once inside the residence, the suspect produced a gun, demanded money and personal items, then assaulted and sexually assaulted the victim. He then fled with some valuable items. The suspect was arrested later the same day and is facing charges, including robbery with a firearm, sexual assault with a weapon and forcible confinement.

A 34-year-old male suspect has been arrested as part of a sexual assault investigation.

On Wednesday, July 6, a female victim was in the area of Cecil Street when it is alleged that an unknown male suspect approached her and sexually assaulted her. On Monday, Aug. 15, the suspect, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with sexual assault and failure to comply with a release order.

Toronto police are undertaking a

homicide investigation after a 23year-old female victim, of Toronto, was found dead in the area of Jane Street and Wilson Avenue. On Thursday, Aug. 18, at 1:05 p.m., police responded to a medical call at 2265 Jane St. Police arrived and located a victim, the city’s 42nd this year, with gunshot wounds in the underground garage. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 25-year-old male suspect, of no

fixed address, has been arrested and charged as part of a sexual assault investigation. On Friday, Aug. 12, it is alleged that a male suspect sexually assaulted two female victims in the Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood. He was arrested on Aug. 16 and faces numerous charges, including two counts of pointing a firearm, two counts of sexual assault with a weapon or imitation weapon, possessing a weapon for committing a criminal offence and occupying a motor vehicle with a firearm.

Investigators believe there may be other victims.

CRIME

NEWS

CITYWIDE BREAK-INS AUGUST 2022 WHEN

TIME OF DAY TIME OF DAY

DUNFOREST AVE. AND ESTELLE AVE.

AUG. 1

1 P.M.

YORKVILLE AVE. AND BAY ST.

AUG. 1

3 P.M.

RIDLEY BLVD. AND ELM RD.

AUG. 1

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ROCKFORD CT. AND WINDING LN.

AUG. 1

5:33 P.M.

ROYAL ORCHARD BLVD. AND WILD CHERRY LN.

AUG. 1

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GLEN CAMERON RD. AND LILLIAN AVE.

AUG. 2

10:15 P.M.

SNOWDON AVE. AND RIVERVIEW DR.

AUG. 2

12 A.M.

MT. PLEASANT RD. AND ELM AVE.

AUG. 2

8 P.M.

GLEN ELM AVE. AND ALVIN AVE.

AUG. 4

5 A.M.

HEATH ST. W. AND AVENUE RD.

AUG. 4

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DUNVEGAN RD. AND HILLHOLM RD.

AUG. 4

10 A.M.

DUPLEX AVE. AND ST. CLEMENTS AVE.

AUG. 5

10 P.M.

GLENVIEW AVE. AND ROSEWELL AVE.

AUG. 6

10 A.M.

GORDON RD. AND FENN AVE.

AUG. 6

1 A.M.

HURON ST. AND MACPHERSON AVE.

AUG. 7

11 A.M.

YONGE ST. AND GLENFOREST RD.

AUG. 8

4 A.M.

BRYCE AVE. AND HEATH ST. W.

AUG. 8

2 P.M.

FALCON ST. AND SOUDAN AVE.

AUG. 10

6 P.M.

YONGE ST. AND GOLFDALE RD.

AUG. 11

6 A.M.

YONGE ST. AND COLLIER ST.

AUG. 11

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ROSEWELL AVE. AND ST. CLEMENTS. AVE.

AUG. 11

10 P.M.

OVERLEA BLVD. AND WILLIAM MORGAN DR.

AUG. 12

12 A.M

DOUGLAS DR. AND ST. ANDREWS GDNS.

AUG. 12

3 A.M.

BEECROFT RD. AND ELMHURST AVE.

AUG. 13

6 A.M.

The Realtor You Choose Makes The Difference.

BROOKVIEW DR. AND COVINGTON RD.

AUG. 13

11 A.M.

DONLEA DR. AND EGLINTON AVE. E.

AUG. 15

10 P.M.

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CAMPBELL AVE. AND TINTI PL.

AUG. 15

8 A.M.

YONGE ST. AND EGLINTON AVE.

AUG. 18

2 P.M.

BROADWAY AVE. AND MT. PLEASANT RD.

AUG. 18

10 P.M.

YONGE ST. AND ROXBOROUGH ST. W.

AUG. 19

5 A.M.

DONWOODS DR. AND ST. MARGARETS DR.

AUG. 19

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LAIRD DR. AND WICKSTEED AVE.

AUG. 20

1 A.M.

AVENUE RD. AND PEARS AVE.

AUG. 20

11 P.M.

HEDON AVE. AND SAUNDERS ST.

AUG. 21

2 P.M

HAZELTON AVE. AND YORKVILLE AVE.

AUG. 23

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BERRYMAN ST. AND DAVENPORT RD.

AUG. 23

6 P.M.

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| POST |

WHERE

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Rendering of condo development set to dominate the Yonge and St. Clair skyline

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Massive midtown condo deal includes new park space and a new library

by Eric Stober A new four-tower development at the northeast corner of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue is set to transform the area once it is complete.

Toronto City Council approved the project at 1485 Yonge St. that will be developed by Wittington Properties Limited and designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects.

The complex includes towers 44, 39, 27 and 13 storeys in height.

The negotiations for the buildings resulted in a number of public space improvements as well, and these include a new public courtyard, the widening of the sidewalks to allow trees rooted into the ground rather than the current planters, as well as a new park at the northeast corner of the site. The intersection at Yonge and Heath Street will also be straightened as part of the deal to address safety concerns that Streets of Toronto/Post City has previously reported.

A new pedestrian network with large passageways through the development will include an entrance to the subway and a winter garden space in an enclosed glass area. In addition, the Deer Park library will be relocated to the site. There will be 18 affordable rental units within the project.

“Working together with the community, we were able to

deliver a park, affordable housing and space for a new library,” local councillor Josh Matlow said in a statement.

Deer Park Residents Group president Cathie Macdonald said that the community initially did not want the development to move forward as residents were distressed by the amount of development happening in the area. However, since the province has mandated the creation of more housing, especially around transit stations, Macdonald admitted that it couldn’t be stopped.

Instead, the community fought for changes to the application, such as moving an entrance from Heath Street to Alvin Avenue, which Macdonald said is a safer location. She said that it made the most sense to accept the deal that was created rather than have the project be appealed at the Ontario Land Tribunal, which has historically been friendly to developers and could “take away lots of the good things that we got,” Macdonald said. She said, though, that the project will really change the area, whose tallest buildings are around 20 storeys currently.

“In the end, the board of the Deer Park Residents Group agreed to support the project,” she said.

“The results were as good as we were going to get.”

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Rendering of condo proposed for site of Agricola Finnish Lutheran Church in Hogg’s Hollow

Hogg’s Hollow church goes condo supportive housing. “It is worthy to note that this application is initiated by the Finnish community, which seeks to consolidate its place of worship and community-based facilities into this single facility,” reads a report submitted with the development application.

The hope is that the new hub provides an improved venue for everything from Finnish language lessons and concerts to weddings and funerals. Agricola already hosts many activities and events for the Finnish, Estonian and Swedish communities as

“A lot of places are sitting on pretty plots of land.” well as other groups, including the Yes I Can Nursery School and the Toronto Welsh Male Choir. But it’s struggling to make room for everyone, especially with the return of in-person gatherings.

“Right now we do not have enough space to really comfortably do everything that we want to do,” said Roininen, whose congregation numbers about 100 active members. “The expectation is that the improved facilities would appeal to even more groups outside of the Finnish Community,” Roininen added in a follow-up email to Post City.

As the church’s existing surface parking lot would be lost, the proposal includes two levels of underground parking for a combined 82 spots, 50 of which are for residents with the rest going to other uses.

Agricola was partly inspired to look into real estate development opportunities after seeing other parishes come up with similar schemes. “There are various churches in the Toronto area — several Lutheran churches as well as others — who have done just this in order to finance their own operations. They have built condos,” Roininen said. “A lot of places are sitting on pretty plots of land that were out in the boonies, when they were built originally, and now are at the centre of town.”

The proposed building’s design, the work of architecture firm IBI Group, is a nod to the current church and Finnish community as well. Roininen noted the proposal’s Scandinavian-style design, including a “steeply sloped roof ” and use of wood: “Anything that gets us looking like we’re closer to nature is part of the Finnish design.”

A stone’s throw from York Mills subway station, the church’s location makes its property an ideal candidate for housing redevelopment and continued worship, Roininen said.

“We’re off the highway, we’re off the subway, we’re beside a park. It’s been a beautiful place to go to church, I must say.”

COR

SEPTEMBER 2022

A North York church wants to establish a new cultural hub for Toronto’s Finnish community but lacks the necessary financial resources — so it’s planning its own condo development to cover the costs.

“If they’re condo units and we sell them, we get all the money we need to pay for the project,” said Pirjo Roininen, chair of the Agricola Finnish Lutheran Church, which is proposing a 12storey, mixed-use tower at 25 Old York Mills Rd., where the church has stood since the mid’60s.

The city received rezoning and site-plan approval applications for the proposal from the Agricola Finnish Lutheran Church in July, although the congregation has been working on plans since 2019.

Agricola’s proposal calls for demolishing the old church to make way for its tower, which would encompass 98 residential units as well as a new place of worship, ground-floor retail and community amenities, including a daycare. “We were hoping to be able to provide classroom space, meeting room space — whatever the community needs,” Roininen told Post City. “This would be for the Finnish community but also for the community at large.”

To make the numbers work, the majority of the tower’s units likely need to be condos, but — depending on how the development application process goes with the city — Roininen said the church may set aside a portion as rentals for seniors or

by Josh Sherman

| POST |

Residential development key to future

17

NEWS

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L-R: a look at the online reporting tool, Coun. Jaye Robinson

Enough with the dangerous shortcuts Local residents raising concerns as part of neighbourhood transportation plan

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Leaside residents have been given the opportunity to voice their traffic concerns. Locals can add their concerns and suggestions via a new online tool, where their comments and those made by others can be seen publicly and pinpointed to the location of the issue.

The move is the next step of the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan (LNTP), a holistic, network-wide look at the area and a plan for how traffic and safety issues can be addressed.

The plan is up and rolling again after a pandemic-related suspension. The City of Toronto will gather information, such as local traffic patterns and behaviour, to inform changes that could be made in the neighbourhood. The first community meeting concerning the plan was held in 2022 and saw about 100 attendees, said city councillor Jaye Robinson.

“You’ve been hearing about traffic issues in Leaside for well over a decade,” Robinson said.

“People are very frustrated.”

Robinson said issues include speeding and rolling through stop signs, and the area unfortunately has been a magnet for drivers trying to find a quicker route off main arterial roads such as Eglinton Avenue East.

She said her office has been focusing on small wins to address traffic issues, such as setting a 30kilometre-an-hour speed limit on

all Leaside streets, as well as narrowing some intersections and having automated photo radar police enforcement.

The online tool is another way for officials to figure out what the problems are and how they could be solved. It is the first time the city has used such mapping for this use, Robinson said.

Red pinpoints signifying traffic issues can be seen scattered throughout the area’s map.

At Sutherland Drive and Parkhurst Boulevard, one comment reads, “There have been numerous times when drivers do not stop at this intersection,” and, “I have witnessed at least three incidents in the past year where a child has almost been struck by a car at this intersection.”

“Cars do not adhere to the 30km/hr limit,” another comment reads. Along Millwood Road, comments also flag speeding despite the slower speed limit: “The Millwood stretch from Sutherland to Bayview is extremely dangerous.”

Robinson said she is trying to send more police to problematic areas to boost enforcement.

“There's been a lot of near misses, and there's been a lot of concern about what people are witnessing and observing on a daily basis,” she said.

The Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan will become available in early 2023.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

NEWS

600 living spaces for refugees are coming to Hotel Novotel

North York hotel to house refugees have legitimate questions — for example, do local schools have enough space for the children who’ll be arriving? — that I am still in the process of getting clear answers to.”

Filion held two virtual meetings on the Hotel Novotel plan on July 18 and July 27.

Ahead of the Toronto City Council meeting when the Hotel Novotel plan was approved by a vote of 14 to 9, a number of local groups, including the Willowdale BIA, expressed reservations regarding the new centre but also that there was very little

“I am proud of our tradition of extending a hand to people from around the world.” consultation or opportunity for input leading up to the city council meeting on Aug. 15.

“We only learned of this proposed agreement through a newsletter distributed by Councillor John Filion three weeks ago and have not received any communication from city staff. Before Council makes a final decision, the Willowdale BIA would like to schedule further consultation and communication between staff, community stakeholders, and the business community, to ensure this plan will foster successful

long-term outcomes for all involved,” a letter read, in part.

Other local community groups, such as the Willowdale Interfaith Council, voiced support for the initiative.

Filion added that the centre could open on Sept. 1, with residents arriving through September and October, in addition to reiterating his support for what could end up being quite an innovative program.

“As a Councillor and a Canadian proud of our tradition of extending a hand to people from around the world who come here seeking a better life — especially those fleeing war, violence, and other dangers — I am more than willing to devote my remaining time as Councillor to make this program an innovative and successful model for others,” he stated.

According to the city, the Hotel Novotel plan would not only create more space for refugees in Toronto, but it would also free up space in the city’s shelter system by allowing refugees currently in nonrefugee-specific shelters to move to the new site.

In addition to living space, the new centre would provide other supports for refugees. The city stated that such supports could include legal services, assistance with finding permanent housing, employment and education support and referrals to health care and mental health supports and other community services.

PROJECTS IN PROGRESS: • 369 Lake Promenade • 11 Berkindale • 710 Hillsdale • 22 Astor • 67 Sutherland • 29 Ava

• 32 Ardmore • 76 Brunswick • 83 Southvale • 561 Briar Hill • 30 Bayfield Cres

RECENTLY COMPLETED: • 15 McGillivray • 26 St. Hildas • 137 Chiltern Hill • 662 Hillsdale • 131 Alberta

• 402 St. Clements • 7 Holland Park • 45 Rumsey • 47 Astor

COMING SOON: • 59 Lake Promenade • 8 May Tree

• 195 Sutherland • 147 Bombay

SEPTEMBER 2022

The City of Toronto is taking over hundreds of rooms in a North York hotel to use as emergency shelter spaces for refugees and refugee claimants.

The Hotel Novotel, located at 3 Park Home Ave. near the corner of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue, will be home to 600 refugee living spaces.

The move is the response to a steadily increasing stream of new refugees to Toronto, according to the press release, which also stated that the increase is “driven largely by the border reopening and easing of international travel restrictions.

“In the first half of 2022, an average of 55 new refugee arrivals per week accessed Toronto’s shelter system,” the city stated.

“There are currently more than 1,800 refugee clients in shelters.

Despite adding 750 new spaces for refugees and refugee claimants in the spring of 2022, demand continues to grow.”

The total cost for the city is approximately $80 million over five years.

City councillor John Filion, in whose Willowdale ward the facility is located, posted on his website that the Hotel Novotel plan was new to him.

“This proposal caught me by surprise, when I first learned about it less than three weeks ago, a few hours before the staff report recommending it was released,” he wrote. “I am frustrated that City staff made my job more difficult by not giving me the opportunity to provide early information. People

by Ron Johnson

| POST |

600 living spaces will be created in city program

19

163 CORTLEIGH BLVD.

36 HAZELTON AVE. #6A

$7,249,000. 50’ X 134’ LOT, 4+1 BEDS AND 6 BATHS, APPROX. 4,307 SQ. FT. + BSMT.

$6,999,000. 2 BEDS AND 3 BATHS, APPROX. 3,150 SQ. FT. + 420 SQ. FT. TERRACE.

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609 AVENUE RD. #1702

16 HEDGEWOOD RD.

55 SAMANTHA CIRCLE

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RECEIVED 15 OFFERS AND SOLD FOR 116% OF ASKING IN ONLY 6 DAYS!

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180 UNIVERSITY AVE. #1805

1 OAKLEY PLACE

26 DENLOW BLVD.

ASKING PRICE $1,295,000.

REPRESENTED THE BUYER.

R E A L

| POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

$3,995,000. 30’ X 105’ LOT, 4+1 BEDS AND 5 BATHS, APPROX. 2,708 SQ. FT. + BSMT.

FOR SALE

$2,849,000. 2+1 BEDS AND 3 BATHS, APPROX. 1,780 SQ. FT. PLUS 2 TERRACES, 2 PARKING AND 1 LOCKER.

20

388 ELM RD.

E S T A T E

ASKING PRICE $6,295,000.

SOLD IN ONLY 19 DAYS!

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REAL ESTATE

NEWS

ANNEX ARTFUL FLOW

The three-bedroom, four-bathroom home at 74 Garnet Ave. is all about simple luxury. The family room, kitchen and dining room all flow seamlessly into the ultra-manicured backyard via bi-fold doors — plus you’ll find a full home theatre on the lower level coupled with an award-worthy display case. Check out the laneway garage that could easily turn into a laneway home addition! It’s listed for $3.249 million with Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd.

MINIMAL DESIGN, MAXIMUM LUXURY Understated interiors have been all the rage since before Marie Kondo shot to fame, and these Toronto homes offer all the modernity without any of the gaudiness. From a Scandinavian-style Forest Hill residence to a contemporary abode, these properties will definitely spark joy!

MODERN GALLERY STYLE

This Scandinavian design–inspired corner house at 1 Shorncliffe Ave. features four bedrooms and four bathrooms with a beautifully landscaped yard. It’s listed for $4.175 million with Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd.

With four bedrooms, seven bathrooms and gold finishes, the home at 152 Newton Dr. is spacious and stunning. It comes with a massive swimming pool and private elevator. It’s listed for $3.988 million with Forest Hill Real Estate Inc.

| POST |

GOLDEN ABODE

SEPTEMBER 2022

STEELES & YONGE

FOREST HILL SOUTH

21

Bianca Model Suites Now Open Bianca has recently released its model suites, allowing you to experience, in person, the luxurious mid-town lifestyle available here. Explore the gorgeous designs and interact with the high-end features and finishes available throughout our selection of move-in ready residences.

| POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

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Project names and logos are Trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Building and view not to scale. Illustrations are artist’s concept only.

Specifications subject to change without notice. E. &O.E. August 2022.

tridel.com

REAL ESTATE

NEWS

KING WEST MADE FOR TV

There’s penthouses, and then there’s full-floor penthouses — and then there’s full-floor penthouses that Megan Markle dined in while starring in Suits. PH901 at 20 Stewart St. includes two bedrooms, three bathrooms, 360-degree views and almost 3,000 square feet of living space. It’s just as luxurious as you would imagine! It’s listed for $4.999 million with Richard McNutt and David Fleming at Bosley Toronto Realty Group Inc.

CONDO FROM ‘SUITS’ HITS THE MARKET These Toronto lofts come with the added perk of making you feel like you’re lounging in the heart of New York City.

From a sprawling penthouse that was featured as the fictional home of Harvey Specter, of ‘Suits’, to a stylish Yorkville condo and a Soho-style boutique unit, get the best of both cities with these stellar finds.

LOFTY LIVING

This New York–style loft at 1502-80 Cumberland St. covers 1,140 square feet, including two bedrooms, three bathrooms and an 18-foot balcony. It’s listed for $1.428 million with Bay Street Anjia Realty.

The home at 201-113 Dupont St. has two bedrooms, three bathrooms, exposed brick walls and re-done white oak flooring to make the most of this boutique seven-unit building. It’s listed for $3.495 million with Forest Hill Real Estate Inc.

| POST |

SLEEP IN STYLE

SEPTEMBER 2022

CASA LOMA

ANNEX

23

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46 Teddington Park Ave. Lawrence Park $12,995,000 5 + 2 Bedrooms | 9 Baths Built upon the architecture of luxury, this isn't just a home, it's an expression of perfection in its purest form. Crafted from the finest materials from around the world, where even the most minute details were obsessed over.

| POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

416-960-9995

24

385 Brunswick Ave TH13 Annex | $4,595,000 3 + 1 Bedroom | 2.5 Baths 3 Car Parking Upscale and unique condotownhome with an elevator that services all floors.

Featuring private gardens, gated entrance, oversized chef's kitchen & stunning rift cut oak panelling.

Truly an urban oasis.

5 True Davidson Dr. Governor's Bridge Estates $3,698,000 4 +1 Bedrooms 6 Baths | 4 Car Parking Incredible opportunity in coveted Bennington Heights School District. Walk to Nesbitt Park, Evergreen Brickworks & Summerhill Market. An opulent lifestyle awaits.

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29 Mann Ave Davisville Village $2,698,000 | 4 Bedroom 3.5 Baths | 3 Car Parking Spacious family home, steps to all the amenities on Bayview Ave as well as the new, nearly completed, crosstown subway. This is the perfect home & location for a family on the go who loves to walk to shops & restaurants.

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379 Elm Road Lawrence Park $2,139,000 3 Bedrooms | 3 Baths 2 Car Parking

Located in the John Wanless School District. This terrific detached & spacious home is ideal for first-time home buyers & growing families, with over 3,000 total sq. ft.

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270 Hidden Trail Westminster | $1,745,000 3 Bedrooms 4 Baths 4 Car Parking Extremely well maintained family home backing onto greenspace. Very soughtafter, private enclave.

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Sotheby's International Realty Canada, Brokerage | 416-960-9995 | 1867 Yonge St., Suite 100, Toronto ON

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. Independently owned and operated. Not intended to solicit Buyers or Sellers already under contract.

FALL REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE OUR ALL-STAR PANEL WEIGHS IN ON THE MOST PRESSING REAL ESTATE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW

THE REAL ESTATE MARKET TAKING A DOWNTURN AFTER SO MANY YEARS CAME AS A SHOCK AND LEFT MANY WONDERING WHAT TO DO.

SERIOUS QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER WHERE THE MARKET IS HEADING INTO THE FALL. TO HELP, WE ASSEMBLED OUR CRACK PANEL OF EXPERTS FROM OUR ANNUAL POST CITY REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE TO HELP US MAKE SENSE OF WHAT’S GOING ON AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

ODEEN ECCLESTON Co-founder, Wiltshire Eccleston Developments BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN Principal, Gluckstein Design; Author JENNIFER KEESMAAT CEO, The Keesmaat Group BRAD LAMB Developer, Lamb Development Corp.

MICHELE ROMANOW Dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den; Co-founder & President, Clearco BENJAMIN TAL Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC Capital Markets

POST CITY: What do you predict for the fall market both in the 416 and in the suburban 905 region, and how far can home prices drop?

BRAD LAMB: Currently, the number of homes for sale is quite low, and I believe that will continue. Most vendors cur-

BENJAMIN TAL: I think the fall

season will be OK. It will be a more relaxed market relative to the past few months.

MICHELE ROMANOW: Fall will be interesting for the area as I definitely think we'll see an uptick in volume from the notoriously slow summer. The 416 and suburban regions will continue to be popular with younger buyers who want to be in or close to downtown as most

companies have returned to a hybrid working model. We're definitely past the peak of the market, which is a net benefit finally swinging in favour of buyers. We'll continue to see calculated drops in prices, but so much depends on how high mortgage rates will go and how those rate hikes push more buyers into renters.

ting on the sidelines to see what’s happening with interest rates, what’s happening with prices and maybe pausing their purchase.

receiving, even in the middle of August. I expect to see the decline in prices to level off in the 416 because of tighter market conditions overall and an increase in transacBARRY COHEN: The 416 and the tions. Demand clearly still exists, 905 are very different markets at but concerns over interest rates and this juncture. While both are ex- recession are having an impact. As pected to see an increase in the for how much further prices could number of homes listed for sale, come down, RBC recently droppesupply is more constricted in the dreleased a report that forecast a 23 ODEEN ECCLESTON: 416. At the time of writing this re- per cent decline in average price in In addition to the im- sponse, there were only 570 de- 2022. That’s already happened — pact of interest hikes, tached houses listed for sale in all with the average price down 23 per we must remember of central Toronto, which is very cent from the peak in February. that June, July and August are typ- low from a historical standpoint. Once we start seeing a more norically slower months for real estate. True, the summer months are typ- mal amount of transactions, prices Further, this summer has been the ically a slow time for sellers to will level out, but I don’t think it first time Torontonians have been come to the market, as many travel will drop much further. The 905 able to enjoy a "normal summer" in and go to the cottage, but the region has seen a greater decline in two years. As such, many people dearth of listings has been further average price, but that may just be have been focusing on leisure time exacerbated by sellers holding off an overreaction to rising rates and by visiting family and friends, on their decision to sell because of buyers moving back into the 416. heading to cottages and travelling rising mortgage rates. Once the out of province or out of the coun- kids settle back into school, we POST CITY: Should homebuyers try. As fall settles in, I think we may should see more households make consider waiting to buy until see increased consumer interest decisions on whether to upsize, 2023 when the market is preand activity in both the 416 and downsize or stay put. Most sellers dicted to bottom out? the 905. today are either waiting for a more realistic price or waiting for the ECCLESTON: I think homebuyers BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: I think market to improve overall. Buyers should buy precisely when they are there is going to be much more and sellers that traded in the last ready and able to comfortably afcaution and less of a frenzy than few months did so out of necessity ford the home that they believe we’ve seen. If there’s a particular (either bought or sold before the they desire. The purpose of purproperty that someone really rates rose, relocating, family chasing property is not solely for wants, they will buy it, but other- changes, etc.), but I am encouraged investment purposes. It is also to wise, I think people might be sit- by the amount of showings we are improve one's quality of life. I don't 25 SEPTEMBER 2022

BARRY COHEN Luxury Homes Specialist; Principal, Barry Cohen Homes Inc.

rently for sale are trapped in a situation where they bought a property and need or want to sell their current property. We are seeing many vendors rent instead of continuing to sell. I doubt prices will fall much at all except for isolated individual sellers, which will appear like falling prices. I do believe that we are in a recession and it will last through the year, with interest rates aggressively being cut in the new year. My advice to anyone during these 6- to 12-month corrections is not to panic, do not sell. They represent buying opportunities. It is possible to find a motivated vendor that might save you 20 per cent over what it might have cost you six months ago. These corrections never last very long and before you know it prices are back above the correction.

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PANELLISTS

COVER STORY

FALL REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE

believe buyers should play the waiting game. I think they should buy when the time feels right for them and their families.

TAL: Timing the market is impos-

sible. I think that the coming few months will provide a reasonable entry point from a long-term perspective..

ROMANOW: If homeJennifer Keesmaat thinks the federal government's priorities aren't in line to tackle the housing shortage

ON SUPPLY The supply shortage is acute. It is not make-believe. The Smart Prosperity Institute has been verifying the need for new housing and affirms that, as touted by politicians, we need 1.5 million new homes over the next decade in Ontario alone. This is about two things: the pre-existing housing shortage that existed before the pandemic and the projected growth rate. The backlog and the future need, in other words, create a pretty dire situation for a province that wants to continue to attract talent and grow its economy. This is the heart of the problem — no one has figured out how, with the available land, labour and trades, to build that much housing in such a short time frame. It is possible that we will unlock this in the next few years. But as it stands right now, relatively straightforward developments are still on the back burner, due to convoluted processes and frivolous appeals, languishing. Until that changes, the housing shortage will continue to get worse over the long term.

ON RENTAL

When the overall supply of housing is tight, and people start to get spooked about high prices and high interest rates, they hold off entering into the market. The lag of people staying in the rental market longer than they might normally, while at the same time adding international students and new immigrants to the rental pool, is creating a supply shortage on the rental side.

Adding students and people from elsewhere is a policy established by government, and this has been poorly coordinated with the work of the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation in driving forward new housing supply. It’s a left hand/right hand problem that the government needs to fix. There are three parts to this: Some rental housing is governed by rent control and not impacted. Some housing is not governed by rental control, and we’ve seen crazy increases. The third part is working people who get completely bumped out of housing. They loose access to housing -—the rent is just too damn high. This is when access to housing becomes a moral issue and an ethical one, and it makes political dilly dallying particularly sobering.

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ON ACCESS TO LAND

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There have long been claims that we are out of land in the GTA. Shouts to dismantle the Greenbelt have abounded. But in a great ironic twist, we now know that the vast majority of land in places like Toronto is loosing population density. Yes, we are cramming a lot of density on our avenues and in our centres, but the next evolution of our city really demands that we find under utilized sites and use them to accommodate more housing. The problem is not access to land, the problem is the way in which we are using land. When we get the density right, we transform places that are single use (housing) with one form of mobility (driving) to become walkable, mixed use places where many people can thrive, with a lower carbon footprint. That is the gift of density, if we put it in the right places.

buyers can wait, it seems like supply will increase and prices will level out, tilting the scales in favour of buyers. The big difference between 2008 and now continues to be supply. There is no influx of housing that leads to dramatic price crashes. Just like the markets, we're in a bit of a correction period, and most people can agree prices over the past two years have been inflated, so instead of a bottom out, we'll see smaller, incremental price decreases, especially if the Fed continues to raise rates.

LAMB: No, now is a great time to

buy. Prices will likely bottom out in the fall. Of course, this is my opinion, and timing the worst and best time to buy or sell is a tricky business.

GLUCKSTEIN: In the long run,

housing prices have increased over time, so if it’s something that someone’s going to buy and stay in for a very long time, even if it goes a little lower in the next year, it will always come back up. If it’s something they’re going to be in temporarily or if they’re purchasing the property as an investment, maybe they should just wait and watch the market.

COHEN: I wouldn’t wait. You can never time the market perfectly.

Who would have predicted that housing values would surge during a pandemic? The market is underpinned by solid economic fundamentals. We have a government policy aimed at increasing levels of immigration. Unemployment is at its lowest level in 50 years. Interest rates are STILL at historic lows.

There is a lack of developable land and homes available. The last census identified an increase in singleperson households. Real estate has historically proven to be a longterm investment. And yes, in the long run, prices will continue to rise. I don’t believe a buyer who plans to live in their purchase for five years is going to look back when they sell and say to themselves “I wish I’d bought in May 2023, not October 2022.” If the property makes sense for the buyer, it's in a good location and not a

short-term buy, they will do well in the not-too-distant future. The Bank of Canada’s aggressive approach to curb inflation seems to be working. The cost of goods appears to be heading in the right direction. If the BOC [Bank of Canada] slows or stops hiking rates, we could run back into the same old problem of not enough supply and pent-up demand sooner than you think.

POST CITY: How much higher can interest rates go?

TAL: The five-year rate

has probably peaked.

We see the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate rising to 3.25 per cent and staying there for the duration of or most of 2023. The risk is that inflation will be more sticky. In this case the Bank of Canada will be more aggressive — a situation that will hurt the housing market.

ROMANOW: I fully expect the Bank of Canada to raise rates at least one more time this year, but we should be sure to make the distinction between interest rates rising and mortgage rates, which while higher than the record lows of 2020 are still in line with the historic lows of the 2010s and significantly lower than any other time over the last 30 years. Mortgage rates were pushing 20 per cent in the early ’80s, so in context, these rates are just slightly inflated.

LAMB: I do not think they will go more than one per cent higher. I believe that we are already in a recession, and I think consumers are now shellshocked. Most items are starting to fall or are stabilizing.

Prices do not have to fall year over year to have low inflation, they just can’t go up. Many prices are here to stay. We need to stop future price hikes, which I believe are in process. I believe the Bank of Canada will start reducing rates in the early winter. Governments always overkill the economy when raising rates to fight inflation.

ECCLESTON: According to the Bank of Canada, their goal in raising rates is to get inflation back to its two per cent target from its record high of eight per cent earlier this year. I suppose as long as inflation is a significant issue, BOC will continue to try to combat it by raising interest rates.

GLUCKSTEIN: We’re going to see a number of increases in interest rates within the year, so they will go up, but we just don’t know by how much and for how long. If in-

flation starts to slow down or decrease, there might be a pause in interest rate increases, but there definitely will be increases.

COHEN: I think analysts are predicting an overnight rate of three to 3.5 per cent.

POST CITY: Is there a chance the market defies the rate increase and actually rises this year?

ROMANOW: I just don't expect

significant price increases this year given what the market can bear and has been through over the last two plus years. The GTA continues to be an incredibly desirable place to live and work, and with the influx of global companies opening offices in the region, the market has shown an increased stability. I'm not expecting any drastic increases or decreases in price and value over the next year or so.

LAMB: No chance of that.

Medium- to long-term, the real estate economy in Toronto is in a crisis. Too many people chasing too few properties, and it is almost impossible to develop real estate in Toronto. Prices are going to rise forever, sprinkled with short-lived economic corrections, which are just buying opportunities. Toronto will be one of the most, if not the most, expensive cities for real estate in the world.

TAL: The market will adjust to higher rates but we have not fully adjusted. The market will continue to show some softening in the near term. Ongoing project cancellations suggest that a year or two from now there will be shortage of new products alongside growing demand leading to some upward pressure on prices.

ECCLESTON: I think in niche

markets such as luxury custom homes (both in the 416 and the 905), it is possible that we’ll continue to see small rises in value as they remain rare products with strong demand.

GLUCKSTEIN: No, I do not think so. I would be surprised if the market defies the rate increases. I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think it’s more challenging for many first-time buyers to get into the market, both because of higher interest rates and the stress test making it more difficult for them since they may not qualify for the price point that they qualified for a year ago.

FALL REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE

ROMANOW: Supply for homes and condos still continues to be lower than we need. We need smart and controlled increases in housing stock to be able to truly understand who holds the upper hand, buyers or sellers, and in order for this market to be operating at its peak, it can't dramatically favour one or the other. Currently, while home prices may have dropped year over year, with inflation and rising mortgage rates, many individuals and families are actually paying more monthly in housing costs and not having as much equity in their homes. So while cost may look lower at first glance, all-in prices have actually risen and first homes are still unaffordable for many.

LAMB: Nothing has changed, Toronto is doomed to be one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, and nothing is going to change that. In the midst of this spiral upwards there will be buying opportunities, such as today.

ECCLESTON: I believe the trajec-

tory of the market was unsustainable over the past two years. I welcome this current, more balanced market and believe the outlandish competitive environments we'd been experiencing went on for longer than it should have. I've been a realtor for 14 years, so this current, slower market is reminiscent of markets I've experienced in the past.

GLUCKSTEIN: Well, I don’t think

there’s a downside necessarily for people that are in it for the longterm. It’s like the stock market: if stocks go up and down, you’re not selling them every day. You’re in it for the long-term and hopefully for your retirement. They’ll go back up similarly for the housing market, but right now the decrease in housing prices is not making it more affordable because your interest rates are significantly higher than they were a year ago. It’s almost balancing itself out. I don’t think this is going to make it more affordable unless we see a significant drop in prices, and I don’t see that in major metropolitan areas.

Maybe in the suburbs you’ll see a larger decrease in home prices, but in the cities, like Toronto or Vancouver or Calgary, I think strong markets are going to continue to be strong markets.

COHEN: The decline has no doubt

made housing more affordable for the younger generation, but higher carrying costs in terms of interest rate hikes have negated any upside realized from lower prices. However, if the trend continues, it does make sense for buyers to jump in the market now.

POST CITY: Will we see more people choosing to sit on the sidelines and upgrade their own homes in the year ahead? What will be the home reno trends to watch for?

look at their options, they’re just finding the prices too high to move, and I think that’s going to continue.

ROMANOW: The HGTV generation is definitely here to stay and permeating across all budgets, from DIY projects to high-end home renovations. In 2020 and 2021, we read a lot about bettering one's self, and 2022 feels like the natural progression of that with bettering one's living and working space, to optimize space and to create more value for resale. A few things I continue to keep my eye on are upgrading of outdoor spaces to be livable year round as well as smart home devices, whether that means lighting, appliances or even larger items like whole home generators, tankless water heaters and boilers. These have higher upfront costs but almost always pay off in the long run.

Additionally, I do expect to see more people opting to rent, which will drive the rental market downtown even higher.

COHEN: Yes, that’s entirely likely.

The decision to renovate will add value to those homes and should serve to further protect prices from coming down while everyone adjusts to the change in the market and financing. Some of the trends we saw during the pandemic will continue, including home theatres, gyms, pools, offices and heated/covered porches. I think these renovations will continue out of fear of being locked down again.

POST CITY: Toronto is lagging behind other cities when it comes to workers returning downtown. When, if ever, will this change and what are the real estate market impacts especially on the condo market?

LAMB: If buyers sitting on the sidelines are smart, they will jump in now. This opportunity won’t last long. People will likely continue to renovate their homes because selling costs are very high.

ROMANOW: I am a huge proponent of in-office culture and love the energy sitting around whiteboarding and solving hard problems with our team. I just don't think that level of collaboration can be recreated over Zoom. That coupled with flexibility means we're seeing more demand to return to downtown living. As we move into the fall, I expect more employees to return to the office multiple days a week without their employers needing to mandate it.

We've already seen that shift, which just helps the entire downtown economy, from lunch spots to happy hours and everything in between.

ECCLESTON: As interest rates increase, I think we will see more people selling. Those who decide to hold on to their homes may wish to renovate. I think many will opt for new bathrooms, kitchens and swimming pools.

GLUCKSTEIN: The prices of homes have become so high, so the gap between what people live in and what they have to spend to upgrade to the next level has become so large that many people have decided not to sell, but instead renovate their homes. I think that’s been happening for a while. When people

LAMB: Employers with back-

bones would help [bring more employees downtown]. Government with vision and a dose of reality would also be nice. Some

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good things came out of the recession. Zoom is a useful tool. Life is not really worth living if it is always spent alone at home. I believe humans know this. Likely that this just happens naturally over the next one to two years.

ECCLESTON: The issue is that

people have grown accustomed to primarily working from home, so much so, they are resigning from positions that require in-office work days. The reports of continually high COVID infection rates and other contagious viruses being spread, such as monkeypox, don't help the employers in this regard either. It will be a challenge for employers for the next few years, and I believe commercial real estate values will be impacted the most as a result.

COHEN: I think that most large major centres are facing the same challenges with workers returning to the downtown core. However, there seems to be a more concerted effort to get workers back into the office in Toronto, and in some instances, workers have been mandated back. The financial district does appear to be coming back to life, with lineups now reported outside food franchises in the Path. Foot traffic is also up.

The condominium market has certainly bounced back from those dark days in 2020. We saw a real comeback in 2021, with strong sales for both condominium apartments and townhomes, and demand has been relatively steady in 2022 as people return to the core. We’ve also seen a shift in the downtown condo market, with many sellers now choosing to rent as opposed to sell, as they capitalize on the hot rental market.

GLUCKSTEIN: I think we’re still on that recovery from COVID. It’s like the hangover from COVID where no one is sort of really back to themselves. I think people need to work together, to have that interaction, and I do think people will come back to work in the city. And regardless, when it comes to major cities like Toronto, people still want to live in the city, so I don’t think that’s really going to impact the condo market. Whether people work from home or in office towers downtown, I think many people still want to be in the city. I don’t think the condo buyer is going to want a condo in the suburbs. If they want a condo and they’re living in a small space, the whole point is living in the city and taking advantage of it.

SEPTEMBER 2022

POST CITY: Isn’t the slow down a good thing now that my kids' generation will be able to afford a home? What’s the downside?

TAL: After rising by close to 50 per cent in two years this is a very welcome adjustment. Remember that we were borrowing activity from the future during COVID and the future has arrived. It’s simply allocation of activity over time. Note, however, that even after that adjustment the GTA will be far from affordable.

| POST |

COHEN: Although there may be a chance, I wouldn’t be so bold to bet on it, given the downward pressure on average price in the last quarter. The average price statistic currently reported is based on a fewer number of transactions because there are fewer sellers in the market, and even less that are willing to sell at a price buyers feel is the new market norm. Once we see an increase in the sales volume that comes with a traditional fall market, we’ll have a better idea of where the market is headed. Right now, I am seeing some really strong sales and a few ugly ones. But when I see the overall statistics reported, it’s shocking to me because my feeling is that the market is a lot stronger than what is being bandied about.

So yes, it wouldn’t shock me if we saw an increase in prices from where we are today.

COVER STORY

27

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CURRENTS

Comedy is having a moment in the city, so Just For Laughs Toronto returning this year, running from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1, could not have come at a better time!

Get ready for some of the biggest names in comedy. Headliners range from Trevor Noah, John Mulaney and Iliza Shlesinger (middle right) to Ben Schwartz (bottom right) and Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova (L-R, left). You

can also catch Issa Rae (top right) as the headliner at ComedyCon, the festival’s three-day fan-centred event, featuring everything from panels to podcasts. Tickets for the festival range on a scale from “low-key obsessed” (one headliner ticket and two credits for other events) to “ultimate comedy fan” (one headliner ticket and 12 credits), so choose your laughs wisely!

| POST |

This month, Toronto goes from being the big smoke to the big joke

SEPTEMBER 2022

SECTION

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FASHION

CURRENTS

With the seasons changing, retire the sundresses and bring out the trendy new autumnal pairing — oversized blazers and high tops.

Jeanne Beker has selected the best blazers that Toronto has to offer, along with a few stylish shoes to dress down the look.

MAKE A STATEMENT

DENIM HEAVEN

Andrew's, 2901 Bayview Ave., $795 “This purple is so rich, and the styling with the longer length is so classic. It's a piece you'll keep in your wardrobe forever.”

Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., $3,195 "I love the extra wide lapels, and denim is a huge story of the season. It’s recycled denim and hemp, too, so sustainable."

ALL LEATHER, ALL THE TIME

PRETTY IN PINK PLAID

GO NEUTRAL

Thursdays, 1130 Yonge St., $105 "Leather is everywhere, and this one is totally classic. I love that it's vegan leather and waterproof and quite reasonably priced."

Hilary MacMillan, hilarymacmillan.com, $265 "Plaid is all the rage again this season, and this is a new spin on pastel plaid. I love this nice and wide double-breasted styling."

Club Monaco, 1 Promenade Cir., Thornhill, $239 "This shade always looks chic, especially with total black underneath. This jacket is voluminous, very modern and clean."

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Gravity Pope, $795 1010 Queen St. W.

Sporting Life, $83.94 2665 Yonge St.

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Freda's, 45 Elm St., $139 "I love this tweed kind of fabric. The mismatched pockets are fun; it's an irreverent take on the classic jacket."

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THE NEW FALL UNIFORM

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FASHION NEWS

CURRENTS

Where to shop the best vintage Levi’s and denim in town Denim never goes out of style, and the best part about vintage jeans is getting that coveted worn-in look without paying a fortune! Here are the top secondhand stores in Toronto with massive denim collections.

Exile Vintage

For over 40 years, Exile Vintage has been a commanding force in the search for vintage denim. The shop specifically searches for well-worn and perfectly faded Levi’s jeans. 60 Kensington Ave. People’s Champ Vintage L-R: Relevé’s catsuit, Peace Collective’s bomber jacket, Birds of North America’s plaid skirt

Fall’s 5 biggest trends and where to find them From bombers to catsuits, the ’90s and 2000s are back! by Raquel Farrington Thanks to the fall 2022 runway shows introducing all the hot new looks, the end of summer doesn’t have to incite panic. This year we’re borrowing from trends from the ’90s and early aughts. Think: preppy-chic, leather and even some aviation-inspired looks. Plus we’ve sourced some local Toronto spots where you can cop the looks for yourself.

Leather, leather and more leather

It’s everyone’s favourite material back in a big way. Drip head to toe in a moto-inspired look with leather jackets, pants, boots and bags — the more, the better. Midtown’s Thursdays has a ton of vegan leather that will help you get the look. Whether you like a looser, wide leg fit pant, a tailored blazer or a cowboy boot, Thursdays has got you covered.

Motorcycle not included. 1130 Yonge St.

Preppy

The prep school uniform–inspired trend is back and better than ever. You might remember it from the mid-2000s when Lacoste polo T-shirts, plaid miniskirts and crisp white blouses layered under cardigans used to run the hallways. Opt for an oversized knit sweater worn as a mini dress or style a plaid miniskirt with a loose, varsity crewneck. Local, sustainable brand Birds of North America has a plaid A-line skirt that will fit the preppy-chic bill perfectly. 1114 Queen St. W.

spring and summer look books. The cooler season will be no different with floor sweeping hemlines popular in the mid-to-late ’90s.

Think slinky, straight lines and solid colours.

Queen West’s Coal Miner’s Daughter has several transitional dresses that can be layered on cooler days. Try the witchy-meets-bohocottagecore Auraline midi dress for a linen look. 87 Roncesvalles Ave. Jumpsuits and catsuits

Bomber jackets

Switch things up this year with the aviationinspired bomber jacket — the outerwear option is back and ready for takeoff. Blend the preppy style with this trend and rep your city by snagging the Peace Collective Home is Toronto Baseball Bomber in a unique green/cream colourway for a pop of colour.

65 Front St. W. Floor-length hemlines

Maxi and midi dresses and skirts dominated

The jumpsuit look inspired by dance class unitards also took over the summer — and for good reason: they’re easy, comfortable and versatile. Fall-ify your fave warmer weather look by purchasing a full length pant version of your favourite jumpsuit (also commonly called catsuits). Visit Leaside’s Relevé to try out the spacedye uplevel midi jumpsuit with a scoop neck. Layer your new go-to staple with a denim jacket, knit sweater or leather blazer for a look that melds fashion and function. 1727 Bayview Ave.

T.O. designer’s new, exclusive Barbie pop-up

Located on Queen Street West, People’s Champ has Levi’s pieces from the ’70s to the 2010s with a vast assortment of jackets, jeans and button ups, as well as Lee and Wrangler pieces. 1696 Queen St. W. House of Vintage

Toronto’s House of Vintage is a mustsee attraction for those searching for the perfect pair of Levi’s. The Levi’s come in around the $30–$40 range, which is close to two times cheaper than market value. 1239 Queen St. W. Expo Vintage

Expo Vintage customers have the option of digging for diamonds at the outlet store or enjoying a curated experience at the flagship. Customers will find an array of Levi’s and other denim, with the majority of them from the ’60s to ’80s. 1450 Dundas St. W. Nevada Rose

Nevada Rose, located on Dundas Street West, is filled with loads of denim staples — some of which appear to have been taken directly from your Pinterest board. The “Cool Girl Denim” section is full of pieces from brands such as Levi’s, Calvin Klein and Lee. 1315 Dundas St. W. —Marcus Mitropoulos

in offering optimistic and dopamine dressing,” MacMillan says in a statement.

The pop-up has caught the eye of Barbie fans everywhere, with shoppers visiting the store in person for the full Barbie experience.

Bestsellers include the Hilary MacMillan trench coat, Barbieified in a bright fuchsia shade and complete with one wrap-style belt and one buckle-style belt.

The pop-up store is a pink-all-over dream, and it’s made for all ages — the collection offers some items in kids’ sizes, including a mini Barbie trench coat, plaid skirt and cardigan for parents looking to match with their child.

The collection launched on Aug. 11 and will be available until Sept. 30.

—RF

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© Lindsay Rosset

Coming off the heels of World of Barbie, the immersive experience where you can explore the life of Barbie, a Toronto-based crueltyfree and vegan brand is taking things one step further. The new Barbie X Hilary MacMillan collab is making your dream closet a reality inspired by everyone’s favourite (plastic) fashion icon.

Run, don’t walk to get your hands on the Canadian designer’s Shades of Pink Collection, which re-imagines 15 of its ready-towear looks with a fun and funky twist reminiscent of the Mattel toy’s iconic closet. Think bold colours, eye-catching patterns and ultra-feminine silhouettes that will turn heads, all available at the new pop-up at 131 Bloor St. W. in Yorkville.

“This capsule re-imagines our brand’s staples to channel the nostalgia of Barbie through generations past and cementing our vision

SEPTEMBER 2022

Hilary MacMillan goes pink and plastic

Vintage Levi’s from People’s Champ

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SPORTS PROFILE

Toronto’s fastest man T.O.’s Nicholas Latifi is one of 20 professional Formula 1 drivers on the planet

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by Marcus Mitropoulos

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Toronto’s Nicholas Latifi overcame incredible odds to earn his spot on the Formula 1 race circuit.

To become a professional hockey player, you’re competing against thousands for around 700 spots in the National Hockey League. Not even remotely easy.

But to become a professional Formula 1 driver? You’re competing against thousands for 20 spots — no more, no less.

Since 2020 one of those coveted spots has belongs to Latifi.

He and racer Lance Stroll from Montreal get the honour of being the only Canadian drivers to enter F1 in over 20 years.

So how did Latifi, a former Crescent School student and a kid who grew up in Toronto, become one of only 20 Formula 1 drivers in the world?

For most professional race car drivers, their career started a decade before they could legally drive. But Latifi, now a household name among Formula 1 fans, was already 13 by the time he took a liking to the sport.

“The reason why I got into karting [a road racing variant] is because I enjoyed it. I found it really, really fun. I got into it without the intention of ever pursuing it as a career,” says the 27-year-old over a Zoom call.

He would go on to kart all around Ontario, slowly developing a love for the sport.

However, at that time, it was nothing more than a fun hobby to him.

It wasn’t until he began tasting success that Latifi quickly shot up the ranks from Formula 3, then Formula Renault 3.5, and finally Formula 2 in Europe and beyond.

By this time, Latifi was still continuing his grade school studies at Crescent School in Toronto. However, he would spend his last year and a half online as he travelled and won races.

In high school, he had to decide what meant more to him — growing up with a “normal” childhood or his career?

“It’s a very important question that I’ve asked myself a lot.

Naturally, with pursuing something at a high level, there are sacrifices,” he says. “My life and my social circle slowly shifted away from the friends I had at school and moved toward people in the racing world. In my teenage years, I definitely missed out on a lot. You know, social gatherings, parties every now and then, I would be at none of these.”

While attending Crescent School, Latifi says, “The nine years I spent here were a real privilege.” His former headmaster, Michael Fellin, says that Latifi was the “pioneer of remote learning” as he attempted to balance his fast-paced racing career with his studies.

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In the years leading up to Latifi’s time at Williams, he would serve as a test driver for Renault and Force India in Formula 1. His flair and ability to adapt allowed teams to gather data quickly and proved to both teams and himself that he deserved a seat on an F1 team.

In 2019, Williams signed Latifi as a reserve driver. However, Latifi would spend the majority of his time racing in Formula 2 for DAMS, which would turn out to be his final campaign.

After claiming four wins, eight podiums and the Vice Champion of F2 title, Latifi was given the nod to replace Robert Kubica, one of Williams’ drivers at the time.

Since then, Latifi has maintained his seat on the grid through multiple seasons.

Latifi chose the number 6 at the start of his rookie season, a reference to the city he calls home. “It’s where I’m from, where I was raised, and the city I’m proud to be representing,” he wrote on his website.

But Latifi has only spent a total of eight days back home since he began driving F1, a fleeting break for the driver who predominantly spends his time in London, England. But feeling homesick is part and parcel of being a young racer with an international dream.

Since achieving his dream, Latifi has been focused on helping others achieve their own.

“The biggest thing is the sport is not very accessible,” Latifi says.

“We need to bring the costs down at the grassroots level. It’s not like playing soccer or tennis or basketball, where you need a ball, a pair of shoes and that’s about it.… With karting, you need to potentially drive hours from where you live, have the kart, the tires, the fuel and the time.”

Latifi was one of the luckier ones —his father, Michael Latifi, is the CEO of Sofina Foods Inc., and his mother, Marilena, was born into the Saputo family, of dairy company Saputo Inc. fame.

Sofina Foods has remained a major sponsor for Latifi since his career took off.

Down the line, Latifi hopes the sport continues to grow, allowing kids to begin karting under much more affordable circumstances.

Toronto is home to select go-kart tracks, and local drivers can race under TRAK, a registered and non-profit corporation that is tied directly to the FIA (Formula racing’s governing body).

As Latifi’s contract expires at the end of 2022, he is hoping to score his first points of the year at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sept. 4.

His FW22 chassis just got a new set of upgrades that Latifi utilized in a rapid performance, which landed him the final qualifying round for the first time in his career. Need for speed, indeed.

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SEPTEMBER 2022

Latifi is more than just a pioneer in the online education space. He represents a small category of Canadian athletes who were able to make it out of the country, compete at the highest level and make a global name for themselves. Latifi has noticed the sport growing across North America in the past few years as education and awareness have gone up drastically.

Formula 1 has shot up in popularity, potentially topping 1 billion fans worldwide this year.

Although Netflix’s Drive to Survive series deserves credit, the allure of rivalry and competition is the reason why fans are flocking to the sport.

Prior to 2020, Torontonians, who had no real skin in the game, sat back and cheered on the sports contributors. However, after stints with two different teams, Williams Racing gave a homegrown talent the chance to take a seat on its team. And on the opening day of the 2020 season, Nicholas Latifi heard the infamous words of British sportscaster David Croft.

“Lights out, and away we go.”

Before Latifi got his big break, he says he had his best experiences driving cars in Formula 2. “My years in Formula 2, particularly 2017 and 2019, were really enjoyable. They were more competitive years, always fighting for podiums, so that was cool.”

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From top: Nicholas Latifi; Williams Racing offered Latifi a seat on its team

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Beavers help ecosystem health by forming new habitats

Leave it to the beavers These tiny animal engineers can improve Ontario wildlife as they build Beavers have long been considered nuisances. They knock down trees and block waterways, often flooding areas where humans live and gather. But recent moves to leave the beavers alone show they can enhance and restore natural environments.

Like other animals that create, modify and maintain their environments, beavers are referred to as “ecosystem engineers.” In one study, scientists determined busy beavers improve ecosystem health, “increasing species richness at the landscape scale.” They found that in New York’s central Adirondacks, “ecosystem engineering by beaver leads to the formation of extensive wetland habitat capable of supporting herbaceous plant species not found elsewhere in the riparian zone.”

In Europe, many towns and municipalities are reintroducing beavers where they were previously wiped out. In Scotland, beavers were released into a 44-squarekilometre area in 2009 after a 400year absence. The five-year trial’s success convinced the government to allow beavers to remain.

According to Wildlife Trusts, an organization instrumental in European rewilding efforts, beavers and the landscapes they generate benefit people and wildlife by helping to reduce downstream flooding — “the channels, dams and wetland habitats that beavers create hold back water and release it more

slowly after heavy rain.” They also reduce siltation, and the wetlands sequester carbon, an essential process for fighting the climate crisis.

In Vancouver, where I live, beavers in Stanley Park have created new wetland habitat and reduced invasive species like water lilies. (Some human intervention has been necessary, such as protecting a number of trees with wire mesh and taking measures to ensure water levels are maintained.)

Beavers aren’t the only animals that engineer the worlds around them, often making them more viable for other creatures. Many do, which has led to efforts worldwide to reintroduce species to fulfill the roles they’ve historically played in maintaining healthy ecosystems. In fact, one could argue that all animals play an active role in shaping the places in which they live, to varying degrees. Some, such as invasive zebra mussels, can negatively reshape ecosystems. The human animal, of course, has engineered some of the worst impacts!

According to Janet Marinelli in Yale Environment 360, “In the past two or three decades, research has underscored the importance of large mammals like bison as ecosystem engineers, shaping and maintaining natural processes and sequestering large amounts of carbon.” She notes that bison wallowing sculpts “depressions in

the ground where water can accumulate and sustain healthy stands of grass.”

Marinelli also writes, “coral-reef habitats, created by the ecosystem engineer coral species, hold some of the highest abundances of aquatic species in the world,” and, “Prairie dogs are another terrestrial form of allogenic ecosystem engineers due to the fact that the species has the ability to perform substantial modifications by burrowing and turning soil.” Their activity influences “soils and vegetation of the landscape while providing underground corridors for arthropods, avians, other small mammals, and reptiles.”

Engineering can take many different forms. The most obvious is structural engineering, in which creatures create or modify elements of their habitat. But, as Berke notes, engineers also modify chemical environments and even the levels of light entering a land or seascape. “In modifying light, plankton and filter feeders are analogous to those terrestrial organisms that cast shade, most if not all of which are structural engineers. In terrestrial systems, then, light engineering entirely overlaps with structural engineering, while in marine systems light is largely controlled by organisms that do not create structure.”

Ultimately, when we lose wildlife populations, we don’t only lose the animals themselves; we also lose the version of the world that was shaped, in part, by their agency. The result, like so many of our impacts, is less healthy, more monoculture ecosystems that reflect back only human enterprise.

BEAVERS IN ONTARIO The beaver was almost near extinction in Ontario before rewilding efforts eventually brought them back to southwestern Ontario. When beavers build dams, they convert rivers into wetlands or ponds that support the growth of new species — from turtles to crustaceans.

DAVID SUZUKI

David Suzuki is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things and author of more than 30 books on ecology (with files from boreal project manager Rachel Plotkin).

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5 fall festivals worthy of an Ontario road trip From a weekend dedicated to all things cranberry to an agricultural fair with an extreme rodeo

Port Perry Agricultural Society and Fair

This annual fair is small town Ontario at its best! From Sept. 3 to 5, prepare for some of the wildest competitions you’ve ever seen. Start off strong with the lawn tractor pull, then watch the demolition derby (essentially real-life bumper cars where participants do as much damage to older cars as they can).

Then enjoy the heavy horse show, the extreme rodeo and the horse pulling competition — and don’t forget the homecraft division where exhibitors compete in categories from the heaviest potato to the most oddly shaped vegetable. Tickets for entry cost

The Paris Fair features everything from theatre shows to pet shows

$15 for adults and $8 for kids aged 5 to 13, and those four and under get in free.

Cranberry Festival in Bala

From the small town of Bala comes the not-so-small Cranberry Festival. For over 35 years, the Cranberry Festival has been a family-friendly event that art and cranberry enthusiasts alike will not

want to miss. Get ready to shop handmade, artisan products; grab some fresh cranberries (or try the dipped-in-candy variety for a treat); and stroll through the Cranberry Farmers’ Market — although you might want to do that after you’ve gotten your fill of the whirling carnival rides. Then take a trip to Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh and Muskoka Lakes

Since 1858, the Paris Fair has been around to showcase the best in agriculture and beyond. The fiveday fair opens by partnering with the ambassador competition for mentoring future leaders and closes with the classic horse show. In between, visitors can show off their pooches at the children’s pet show and the extreme dogs show. Other top events include the kids pedal tractor pull and demolition derby.

Throughout the weekend, all the classic carnival rides will be open and everything from blooming onions to mini doughnuts will be available. The fair runs from Sept.

1 to 5 with general admission of up to $15 for adults and free for children under 5.

September and October is the golden season (pun intended) for apples, so celebrate them in classic Ontario fashion — at a local Applefest! Brighton, located near Belleville, is bringing back its free Applefest this year from Sept. 22 to 25. Get ready for a themed parade, the Applefest Lighthouse Bike Ride, helicopter rides in King Edward Park, pancake breakfasts and, of course, the annual street festival hosting over 100 local vendors showcasing all things apple (and more!). Then you can do it all again on Oct. 15 at the annual Applefest in Bowmanville — the one-day, free festival offers every apple creation you can think of! Try fresh-pressed apple cider, homemade apple pies and crisps, cider doughnuts, candy apples and just plain apples too! Insider tip: get to the fresh apple fritter tent early, as they’re a crowd favourite and sure to have a lineup.

— Julia Mastroianni

SEPTEMBER 2022

Paris Fair in Paris

Applefests from Brighton to Bowmanville

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Winery, where you can book a cranberry plunge (go knee-deep in a sea of cranberries), a wagon tour or a wine and cheese patio tasting.

The festival will run from Oct. 14 to 16, and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

Fall is the season of sweater weather and apple picking, but there’s one more perk that will make the cooler weather even better — fall fairs! Ontario is home to over 30 harvest festivals this season, and here are four of the best that you can turn into a road trip or a day trip.

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LOCAL GRADUATES

Singing, dancing and acting her way to success Tamara Podemski on seeing Indigenous representation in Reservation Dogs

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REPORT CARD STUDENT:

Tamara Podemski GRADUATED:

Claude Watson School of the Arts BEST SUBJECT:

Dance WORST SUBJECT:

Math CURRENT JOB:

Actor

© Jeff Vespa

In her most formative years, Tamara Podemski lived for dance rehearsals. The Toronto-based actor and musician compares her school experience to the television show Fame.

“We were in dance clothes all the time. Yeah, it was that dramatic,” she says. “I can't say the same about the academics. The academics just kind of fell to the side.”

From age eight until she graduated at 18, she attended the Claude Watson School for the Arts in North York, where she was surrounded by aspiring actors, musicians and visual artists. It was there that she performed a traditional Fancy Dance at an assembly in front of her peers — an experience she regards as “claiming her space” as an Indigenous performer for the first time. It’s also where she would meet her first talent agent, who would help her to secure a breakout role as Little Margaret in the Canadian drama film Dance Me Outside. But if you

Tamara Podemski stars alongside her sister Sarah in ‘Reservation Dogs’

ask Podemski where her love for performing was first sparked, she’ll tell you it was at home.

“I had a family — and a grandmother in particular — who exposed me at a very early age to the performing arts,” she says.

“That early influence blew my world open for me to know that

this way of expressing myself in the world could bring a lot of joy and connection.”

Podemski is one of three sisters, and all attended the Claude Watson School for the Arts and went on to act professionally.

Podemski describes her older sister Jennifer as a mentor and fierce

by Zakiya Kassam

protector. She strived to be the same for her younger sister, Sarah.

“I think, because the entertainment business is so isolating, it makes such a difference when you have people that you can trust,” she says. “Within Toronto there was also a very strong Indigenous arts community, and I grew up under their mentorship.”

Podemski’s artistic career has spanned three decades and includes a Broadway stint as Maureen Johnson in the Mirvish Production of RENT and a celebrated music career that led her to launch her own label and release three albums.

Podemski is known for her role of Deputy Sheriff Joy in Outer Range. And this past month, she appeared in season two of Reservation Dogs, which follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma.

Podemski plays an onscreen sister to her actual sister Sarah Podemski.

“I got to join the cast for two

episodes in this incredible role of Teenie, who is coming back to the rez and grew up with all the parents of the main kids,” she says. “It was nice to be woven into the existing world already.”

Reservation Dogs boasts an allIndigenous writers room, crew and regular cast. It is a celebration of legacy talent.

“To be on set and you look around the room, and you’re seeing Gary Farmer, you’re seeing Kimberly Guerrero, Sarah Podemski, Danis Goulet — it’s a wild picture.”

Podemski says Reservation Dogs does a good job of emulating what it’s like to grow up on a reservation.

That in itself is a victory.

“To get authentic Indigenous representation on the screen, that for sure is a fight, but [there’s] also the beautiful journey of it and how integral it is to self-identify and express ourselves,” says Podemski.

“It is exercising such a freedom.

And it's pretty unmatched.”

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Harpo, and Groucho (Zeppo never came up). The tension was there when I was ready to head home to my little apartment. So, I very slowly put on my boots. My bulky, unwilling parka. My hat.

My gloves. My scarf. Then I asked him if he thought it was absurd that I really liked him. He said no, and then he kissed me.

Realizing he’s “the one”

I can’t think of a specific moment, maybe because it often feels like our entire relationship has been a series of moments confirming that he’s it for me. Every time he makes me laugh, every time he and my mom talk about their shared love of Shelley teacups and old plate patterns and even the time I had a tank top on and he compared me to Linda Hamilton from Terminator 2…if Linda Hamilton had a sister who’d, you know, “lived a little.”

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Shared hobbies and interests

The Social’s Jess Allen on how she met her best friend and partner Simon Gadke When Jess Allen joined The Social in its first year as a correspondent, she quickly garnered her own fanbase.

Viewers were excited when they turned on the TV to see her join the other hosts with her quick wit and commentary. Now, ahead of the premiere of the 10th season of The Social on Sept. 6, we asked Allen to share the details of how she met her longtime partner Simon Gadke.

How they met

I was working at Terroni on Queen, about to turn 30, and in the midst of a huge crush on a dishwasher who was eight years my junior and who was not Simon. I was feeling a little lost.

OK, more than a little lost. Then one day this dishwasher’s friend showed up on the patio. He seemed mature.

“That’s nice,” I thought, “Here’s a guy who is older, also friends with the dishwasher but doesn’t seem that lost.” I was wrong about two things: Simon was eight years my junior and he was also a little lost.

The first date

We went for dinner at the old Swan restaurant on Queen Street.

He ordered swordfish. I ordered beef short ribs. After, we ended up at the Vespa diner for a slice of cherry pie and coffee. Then I drove him home to his parent’s place.

Why? Because he still lived with his parents.

“I asked if he thought it was absurd I really liked him. He said no, then he kissed me.”

The courtship

Our courtship took place over many months. We took tap dancing lessons, we played pool, we watched Marx Brothers movies and ’30s screwball comedies. Late one night, during a snowstorm, I drove over to his parents’ house, probably because he’d just picked up a copy of Horsefeathers from the library. Afterwards, we talked through the finer points of Chico,

Secret to success

We’re both good at being ridiculous and seeing our ridiculousness, so dinner talk is never dull. We also both share the same taste for extremely dry, crisp and minerally white wines. In short, it’s humour and white wine.

In a little bit longer, it’s being comfortable with not necessarily having the answers to all the questions this life presents to us.

For the distinguished doggo...

The future together

We joke that we will end up like two old Victorian ladies surrounded by their kitschy treasures, sitting in their overgrown garden wearing their moth-eaten-but-still-fabulous robes. But my true dream is that one day we can live part-time on the island of Crete in a traditional stone house, close to the sapphire blue water for spontaneous swims, sipping on crisp cold white wine, writing at our desks, hosting our friends who make the journey to stay with us and still being just a little lost. And still very much in love.

SEPTEMBER 2022

Finding love over old movies and short ribs

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Jess Allen and her partner Simon Gadke

There’s an old saying: the couple that Merchant-Ivorys together, stays together, and we’ve found this to be true. It’s also true of Real Housewiving, Below Decking and Drag Racing together. Our shared interests really run the gamut of high-low: from Coors Light to Barolo, from public pools to sailing on the Mediterranean, which, OK, we’ve only done once, but we hope one day it becomes a hobby.

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cultural festivities along Geary Avenue between Ossington and Dufferin. The festival is set to run Sept. 24 to 25 when the neighbourhood comes alive with music, visual art installations, pop-ups, food and more in a creative emergence from the pandemic that celebrates the arts while putting local businesses at the forefront.

8. Roncesvalles Polish Festival

After a hiatus during the pandemic, the much-loved Roncesvalles Polish Festival returns for its 15th edition. This celebration of local food, art, music and, yes, polka, shines a light on one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Scarf down some delicious perogies while perusing the works of local artists, listening to music, checking out the Indigenous programming, shopping and dancing the day away.

L-R BuskerFest is back after a two-year hiatus this month, and Grammy Award-winner Olivia Rodrigo is in town to honour Alanis Morissette

9. RUTAS International Performing Arts Festival

1. Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala

You oughta know that a lot of energy and excitement is building for the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala scheduled for Sept. 24 at Massey Hall. And that’s thanks to newly minted Grammy Award–winning sensation Olivia Rodrigo who will be in attendance to present one of her musical inspirations, Alanis Morissette, with her induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. In addition, our own Alessia Cara will perform in honour of the generational trailblazer who knocked down the door for unabashed female singersongwriters. Others to be honoured this year include Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance, David Foster and Daniel Lavoie.

2. Fall for Dance North

The eighth annual Fall for Dance North festival is set to run from Sept. 17 to Oct. 8. The city’s top autumnal dance festival will include more than 15 world premieres at six venues across Toronto, created and performed by more than 200 acclaimed

dancers, choreographers, directors and musicians from across North America.

Highlights of the festival include an Indigenous focus, with a full-length program from Phoenix-based Indigenous Enterprise, a work by Indigenous choreographer Jera Wolfe, a dance film by legendary actor and director Michael Greyeyes and traditional hula from Hawaii’s Ka Leo O Laka | Ka Hikina O Ka La. In addition, Fall for Dance North will feature an outdoor performance, with juggling, contemporary circus and live music and a new dance film series in addition to its signature program featuring tap, hula, ballet and film, with live music.

reality TV show LOL: Last One Laughing Canada. He performs on Sept. 16 and 17.

4. International Festival of Authors

Book lovers rejoice: Canada’s largest and longest-running literary shindig is returning to the Harbourfront Centre. The Toronto International Festival of Authors will run Sept. 22 to Oct. 2 and feature more than 200 events, including artists from more than 30 countries.

Highlights on tap for fiction and non-fiction fans alike include appearances by Margaret Atwood, Tomson Highway, Ian McEwan, Rollie Pemberton, Sarah Polley, Irvine Welsh and more.

3. Tom Green

5. BuskerFest

One of Canada’s best-loved offbeat comedy masterminds, Tom Green will be performing at the downtown Toronto Yuk Yuk’s over two nights while working out new material for an upcoming TV special. This is a rare opportunity to catch a performer who was most recently seen in a hilarious turn on the

Artists and performers are taking it to the streets this month, or at least to the leafy confines of Woodbine Park. Following a two-year hiatus, Sept. 2 marks the return of the beloved Toronto International BuskerFest. At this fun, free and family-friendly event more than 100 street performers from around the

world will be showcasing their talents on one of the eight performance stages at Woodbine Park over Labour Day weekend from Sept. 2 to 5. Some of the performers set to amaze include South Africa’s Magic Man, an international magician known for his versatility in the illusion field.

Or Alakazam, from Australia, will amaze with his daredevil tennis stunts and electrifying contortion and juggling tricks. Be sure to reward the performers, as that’s how they get paid!

6. Elton John

The legendary Elton John hits town for two nights at the Rogers Centre as part of his farewell tour. This could be the last time to check out the acclaimed crocodile rocker on stage, or it could be the start of another farewell tour. The fun is in the mystery of it all. But what we do know is that audiences can expect all the classic songs, a fantastic stage show and a stunning wardrobe.

7. Geary Art Crawl

The Geary Art Crawl features two days of non-stop arts and

10. New Order & Pet Shop Boys

In a month of stunning concert after stunning concert, many have this night pegged as the one that cannot be missed. New Order is one of the most influential bands of the ’80s, although they also continue to turn out new original music, including 2015’s Music Complete. The Pet Shop Boys complete this ode to synthesizers scheduled for Sept. 17 at Budweiser Stage.

SEPTEMBER 2022

From buskers and offbeat comics to a fond farewell to the crocodile rocker by Ron Johnson

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The best concerts, live comedy and street festivals to check out this month

The 2022 edition of RUTAS showcases an exciting lineup of interdisciplinary talent from across the Americas, including performances, installations, cabaret and more. It all happens Sept. 22 to Oct. 9. This year, the festival is partnering with Theatre Passe Muraille, Factory Theatre, York University, Hemispheric Encounters and Nuit Blanche to offer an exciting lineup, including work by Toronto artists Lara Arabian and Carla Melo as well as Claren Grosz, and in addition, Santiago Guzmán (Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador); Victoria Mata Soledad (Venezuela/Canada); José TorresTama (United States); Teatro Línea de Sombra (Mexico); and Nina Vogel (Brazil).

The festival kicks off when Victoria Mata performs the piece “Cacao” outside at Mel Lastman Square, running Sept. 22 to 25.

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down at their four children and kvelling.”

4. “I Like Movies is based on my

experiences working at a Blockbuster Video in Burlington, Ontario, in the early 2000s,” says Toronto writer/director Chandler Levack. It’s the story of how movie obsessive Lawrence Kweller (Isaiah Lehtinen) allows his love of film, dream of attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and anxiety to alienate the most important people in his life.

The Toronto-based Levack, who studied cinema at the University of Toronto and screenwriting at the Canadian Film Centre, is thrilled to be part of TIFF this year. “It is no exaggeration when I say premiering my first feature at TIFF 22 is the single greatest achievement of my life.”

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Ext. 233

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905-731-8037

1136 Centre Street, Thornhill Please visit us at www.centrestreetdeli.com

Closing Sun., Sept. 25 at 3:00 pm, Reopening Wed., Sept. 28 at 7:00 am Closing Tues., Oct. 4 at 3:00 pm, Reopening Thurs., Oct. 6 at 7:00 am.

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CENTRE STREET DELI

5. Moonage Daydream promises

Director Steven Spielberg brings his latest ‘The Fabelmans’ to Toronto

Spielberg set for splashy TIFF debut The top 7 films to check out at this year’s film festival by Richard Crouse

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With a full slate of in-person screenings, red carpets and more, the Toronto International Film Festival is celebrating the return of real, or should we say reel, life from Sept. 8 to 18.

Here’s a look at 10 real deal movies at this year’s fest.

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1. The larger-than-life Spanish artist Salvador Dalí gets the big screen treatment in Dalíland, the closing night film of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Set in 1973, the film sees Ben Kingsley play the mercurial artist as his marriage to his muse Gala (Barbara Sukowa) begins to show its wear and tear. Director Mary Harron, whose husband John Walsh wrote the script, says the film is bittersweet but adds, “There’s a lot of comedy in it.”

2. The National Film Board of Canada says of Ever Deadly that it

is a documentary look at Polaris Prize–winning musician Tanya Tagaq’s “transformation of sound with an eye to colonial fallout, natural freedom and Canadian history.” To bring that to life, Tagaq

who co-directed the documentary with filmmaker Chelsea McMullan, employs a mix of concert footage, excerpts from her novel Split Tooth, interviews that explore stories of pain and jubilation and illustrations and animation by Inuk artist Shuvinai Ashoona. “Ever Deadly is meant to be an experience, to flood over you and take you on a journey guided by a live performance for the ages,” says McMullan.

3. Steven Spielberg has made

personal films before but none are as intimate as The Fabelmans. In the film, the teenage Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) finds the power of movies and storytelling helps him deal with a family crisis. Spielberg’s youngest sister, Nancy, says the film is loosely based on their childhood but thinks the messaging is universal. “There is so much authenticity woven throughout,” she told the Jerusalem Post, “that it had me yearning for our parents and yearning for our childhood with big fat hot tears rolling down my cheeks. My parents are looking

a look into legendary artist David Bowie’s sound and vision like no other. It is an immersive look at the life and career of the legendary artist, which features previously unreleased footage from Bowie's personal archives and is the first film to be officially authorized by the musician’s estate. A career as long and complex as Bowie's can't possibly be contained in a traditional doc, so Brent Morgen's sensory approach is ideal to capture Bowie's enigmatic magic.

6. At age 15, Cea Sunrise Person was working as a high-fashion model in Manhattan and Paris.

North of Normal, the new film from director Carly Stone, tells the story of Person’s unconventional childhood with hippie mother Michelle, played by Sarah Gadon, and her journey from the wilderness of Alberta and British Columbia to the runways of the fashion world. “Cea’s memoir was gripping,” Gadon told Deadline, “and I knew Carly Stone was the perfect director to bring her story to the screen.”

7. Set against a background of wartorn Syria, The Swimmers,

directed by Sally El Hosaini, tells the incredible and true story of Yusra and Sara Mardini, sisters who fled Damascus to find a new life and a chance at competing in the Olympics. The harrowing story of survival, that includes a dangerous voyage in a small boat packed with refugees across the Mediterranean Sea, was described

by Cameron Bailey as “an exciting, epic journey and the arrival of an important filmmaker."

FILM

CURRENTS

Toronto director explores hockey’s hidden history players, including Wayne Simmons, Sarah Nurse and P. K. Subban. It’s those high-voltage names that Davis says helps documentary films such as Black Ice find a wider audience.

“Documentaries are not like these feature films at TIFF that have the Hollywood stars in them. And those are the people that help sell the film,” says the Toronto filmmaker, who is originally from Vancouver.

“So for documentaries, I think it's really important when you get names like LeBron and Drake on, because I think they give it the reach that it needs. I think it's so integral that you have people like that to help get awareness — that's always the hardest thing for docs.”

Davis has been making a serious name for himself as a documentarian for years now, including becoming the first Black Canadian nominated for an Academy Award for the documentary short Hardwood.

His most recent film before Black Ice was Giants of Africa — about

Toronto Raptors’ president of basketball operations, Masai Ujiri, and the Basketball Without Borders program — and also premiered at TIFF back in 2016.

One of the most surprising and important things that struck Davis, when confronted with the history of the Coloured Hockey League when he started working on the project, was just how far back in the country’s history it went.

“There is always a feeling of trying to find your place a bit and belonging and meaning and maybe not even realizing the extent of the Black contribution to Canada,” Davis says.

“So that's really where it kind of felt personal for me. Like, there is a story there that goes back to the beginning, the roots of obviously hockey, but also just this country, that, to be honest, I didn't really know that much about. So it was a bit of uncovering of those stories and wanting to share that.”

Black Ice shows at TIFF on Sept.

10, 11 and 14.

SEPTEMBER 2022

Director Hubert Davis

Hockey is often dubbed Canada’s sport. Some consider it a cherished part of the country’s history, but many don’t know the whole story, and when filmmaker Hubert Davis read about the Coloured Hockey League, he knew he had to make a documentary about it. The result, Black Ice, is set for a world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this month.

“Black Ice is a documentary about, kind of, retracing the steps of the untold story of the Coloured Hockey League in the Maritimes,” says Davis, who first found out about the league from the George and Darril Fosty book of the same name.

“And at the same time, it's also covering, really, the black experience in hockey and so some of the systemic issues of racism that have existed in hockey and kind of continue to this day.”

The movie has the backing of Drake and LeBron James as executive producers and stars a number of well-known hockey

by Ron Johnson

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TIFF premieres Black Ice, a documentary backed by Drake and Lebron James

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SEPTEMBER 2022

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WELCOME TO THE

2022

BEST OF TORONTO!

BEST DOUGHNUT SHOP

Doughnuts from The Rolling Pin

ROLLING PIN

North York’s favourite neighbourhood doughnut shop has perfected the art of holed desserts, from your classic yeasty confectionary to extremely Instagrammable innovations like biscoff cheesecake and fluffernutter flavours.

1970 Avenue Rd.

GLORY HOLE

VS.

Originally a Kensington wholesale business, this doughnut shop has turned into one of Toronto’s most in-demand brands. Try the ferrero rocher doughnut for decadent goodness or the cherry cream supreme for a twist on a classic.

1505 Gerrard St. E.

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BEST BAGUETTES Carb lovers can savour THOBORS’s fresh baguettes, like-in-Paris croissants and veg-studded fougasse. Sweeter bites include macarons in flavours like apricot-rosemary.

50 627 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

BEST CUPCAKES BOBBETTE & BELLE has earned its popularity.

Try the carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting or ultimate chocolate one to see what all the fuss is about.

3347 Yonge St.

BEST SHAWARMA Hidden in the back of a Hasty Market, FLAMING STOVE is a must for any shawarma fan. Trad saj bread is handmade and filled with falafel or chicken.

21 Davisville Ave.

BEST SALAD Since COVID claimed Planta spinoff Palm Lane, we’ve been making our own salads. Well, no more!

MANDY’S came from Montreal and brought along its made-toorder salads, with a selection of more than 50 ingredients, to two T.O. locations.

52 Ossington Ave.

BEST GREEK PHILOXENIA does salt baked fish tableside, zucchini chips and an incredible moussaka. The vision of Hanif Harji has helped create what is quite possibly the 905’s best restaurant.

8199 Yonge St., Thornhill

BEST NORTHERN ITALIAN We swear it’s not just ’cause Drake loves it, but SOTTO SOTTO sure knows its pasta. All the faves are here — cacio e pepe, linguine alla puttanesca, rigatoni ai quattro formaggi — dished out with a side of romance.

120 Avenue Rd.

BEST TACOS Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo, of former Quetzal fame, opened FONDA BALAM last year backed by celeb chef Matty Matheson, and they’ve been serving up perfect, crispy tacos ever since. Try their signature taco de birria when you visit. 802 Dundas St. W.

BEST BRUNCH SMITH is only open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekend.

But when you can squeeze in a reso, try the huevos rancheros or croque madame and watch the hangover melt away. They also do epic bloody caesars.

553 Church St.

BEST DINER Around for a cool 78 years (since 1944), AVENUE DINER is a beacon of comfort.

Get endless coffee poured by Louis Klasios and his team while filling up on the massive all-day breakfast, or try the banquet burgers.

222 Davenport Rd.

BEST FISH & CHIPS Come for the $16 fish and chips with a storied British past, stay for the cosy atmosphere and friendly faces.

OLDE YORK FISH AND CHIPS serves up all kinds of fried fish battered in the owner’s own family recipe.

96 Laird Dr.

BEST FILIPINO WILSON’S HOUSE OF LECHON in the burgeoning barbecue intersection of Bathurst and Wilson is our go-to. The chicken and pork skewers grilled over open charcoal are perhaps the city’s best.

365 Wilson Ave.

BEST INDIAN This spot is known for its authentic Indian dishes cooked on a coal tandoor. The pre-set thali at COPPER CHIMNEY is a popular lunch option, and the jumbo prawns or chicken marinated in tandoori spices are local faves.

2050 Avenue Rd.

BEST INDONESIAN STREET FOOD There isn’t much Indonesian food in T.O., but fortunately LITTLE SISTER does an incredible job. Nibble on satay lilet skewers with Balinese spiced chicken and flavourpacked nasi goreng.

2031 Yonge St.

BEST GELATO You’ll find gelato close to what you had in Italy at HOTEL GELATO. Try the pistachio or hazelnut, and you’ll know exactly what we mean.

532 Eglinton Ave. W.

BEST RAMEN Mention ramen, and there’s bound to be a debate raging.

For us, TOUHENBOKU takes the, well, noodles. Go white ramen in a creamy broth or the red spicy version.

2459 Yonge St.

BEST OF TORONTO!

BEST CHINESE DELIVERY When the mood for takeout strikes, dial up C’EST BON. It’s got egg fried rice with chicken, pork and shrimp. It’s got spicy Sichuan noodles with veg. It’s got chow mein.

And more!

2685 Yonge St.

SUSHI MASAKI SAITO

VS.

BEST CROISSANTS Its delightfully flaky exterior cocoons a melt-in-yourmouth centre. RAHIER’s croissant has yet to be beat.

1586 Bayview Ave.

BEST BURGERS Burger snobs can’t go wrong at HOLY CHUCK. The inventive menu jumps from its signature burg to one with Ontario lamb and crispy chicken on top.

1450 Yonge St.

BEST FOR CELEBRATIONS Helmed by Patrick Kriss, the classically prepared, contemporary French cuisine and ambience at ALO makes it the home of one of the coveted seats in town. Snag a reso here and be the hero of the night.

163 Spadina Ave.

BEST INDIE COFFEE Head to this micro roaster and café for perfect espressos pulled from seasonal beans.

DE MELLO PALHETA is also known for its freshly baked goods including the popular daily quiche.

2489 Yonge St.

BEST FRIED CHICKEN We haven’t had it yet, but we’re going to guess Brandon Olsen, who became famous making it as the staff meal at Bar Isabel and then later at Le Banane, is crushing it at the new GRATEFUL CHICKEN inside Chef ’s Hall on Richmond.

111 Richmond St. W.

BEST SMOKED SALMON Since 1953, family-ownedand-operated joint KRISTAPSONS has been providing Toronto with the best smoked salmon out there. They smoke their salmon cold, allowing for the fish to retain its omega-3 oils (and super-tender taste).

3248 Yonge St.

BEST POSSIBLE MICHELIN STAR The intimate and deceptively humble 20 VICTORIA has been wowing Torontonians since it opened last year. The menu focuses on seasonal ingredients and simple yet nuanced flavours.

20 Victoria St.

BEST MACARONS With NADÈGE, chef Nadège Nourian made her name with pastel-hued macarons in indulgent flavours like hazelnut praline, cotton candy and blueberry vanilla.

1099 Yonge St.

BEST JERK CHICKEN Albert Wiggan opened ALBERT’S REAL JAMAICAN FOODS 35 years ago to serve items like jerk chicken loaded into a super-soft coco bun along with fresh veg.

542 St. Clair Ave. W. 51

SHOUSHIN

This polished uptown restaurant helmed by chef Jackie Lin takes a cue from Tokyo’s high-end sushi restaurants.

Diners have a choice of two omakase menus, the priciest of which includes wagyu and caviar dishes.

3328 Yonge St.

This race was too close to call!

BEST APPETIZERS Bagel and a schmear? Anthony Rose’s SCHMALTZ APPETIZING does that and more. We like ours with whitefish, gravlax, dill cukes and horseradish cream cheese.

414 Dupont St.

BEST MODERN DINER Sam and Robert have created a true north T.O. landmark with UNCLE BETTY’S DINER. Tuck into comforting eats like the meat loaf sammie, fancy hot dogs and grown-up mac and cheese with pancetta and truffle oil.

2590 Yonge St.

BEST NEW CHINESE Although SUNNY’S CHI NESE just opened last month, this restaurant from the team behind MIMI Chinese already has a cult following, thanks to its exclusive pop-up days. This new spot offers ingredient-driven dishes from all across China. 60 Kensington Ave.

SEPTEMBER 2022

Michelin-starred chef Masaki Saito

BEST WINGS This spot is related to the space that boasts the second oldest wings in Buffalo. Twin T.O. brothers brought Buffalo’s best to Hogtown with DUFF’S FAMOUS WINGS. 1604 Bayview Ave.

BEST UP-AND-COMER SURESH DOSS has become the go-to guy for the CBC, the Star and Smorgasburg Food Festival. Read him, watch him — he knows the suburbs better than anyone, from Scarborough to Mississauga to Brampton. If you’re a foodie, he’s one to watch.

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BEST SUSHI MASTER

Chef Masaki Saito moved here from New York, where he had earned two Michelin stars, and set up in Yorkville with only one thing on the menu — a $680 omakase dinner. People wait months to try his lavish creations.

88 Avenue Rd.

EAT

EAT

BEST OF TORONTO!

BEST DELI SANDWICH

A sandwich from Pancer’s Deli

PANCER’S ORIGINAL DELI

This deli has been around for 65 years.

Grab a huge pastrami (this is Pancer’s Original’s best meat), and if you want authentic, order kishka (potato-stuffed derma with gravy) or a knish (pastramifilled Jewish meat patty).

3856 Bathurst St.

LA SALUMERIA

VS.

This old school Italian delicatessen is also home to a hidden sandwich bar at the back and the nicest staff on the planet. You have to try the prosciutto sandwich with fig jam, buffalo mozzarella, spicy salami and balsamic.

2021 Yonge St.

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BEST FRENCH BAKERY GÔUTER serves Parisianquality kouign-amann (butter cake), the king of French desserts — forget chocolate, think butter and a subtle sweetness.

52 300 Eglinton Ave. W.

BEST WATERING HOLE Coffee shop by day, cocktail bar by night, BOXCAR SOCIAL is known for its crafty cocktails and wine and beer list. They may have Summerhill’s best secluded patio.

1208 Yonge St.

BEST PIES The bakers here know their way around a pie. Award-winning creations at PHIPPS BAKERY include lattice-style fruit pies and a super-rich caramel and pecan number.

420 Eglinton Ave. W.

BEST STEAK HOUSE A tiny French butcher shop by day, Parisian steak house by night, CÔTE DE BOEUF is run to perfection and priced fairly. They serve grass-fed, beautifully aged steak, impeccable oysters and the rich namesake main.

130 Ossington Ave.

BEST DIM SUM KWAN dishes out delights every day but Tuesday: steamed ’shroom and truffle dumplings, chicken siu mai, pork pot stickers. Save space for steamed egg custard buns (or the classic BBQ pork version).

808 York Mills Rd.

BEST SOUTHERN ITALIAN Authentic Italian fare at 7 NUMBERS includes squash blossom fritters that come out every fall — but the lasagna is a showstopper. Catch chef Mama Rosa in the kitchen, doling out her special ingredient: love.

516 Eglinton Ave. W.

BEST COMEBACK YITZ’S DELi has been gone for five years — but is it ? At Summerhill Market, they revived the brand with recipes from the original Yitz. Close your eyes and imagine your hand on the giant hot dog door handles that used to grace Yitz’s.

446 Summerhill Ave.

BEST PUB Whatever your heart desires, THE ABBOT has it all. Get the club sammie (maple-ginger glazed chicken with bacon on brioche) or the shepherd’s pie (rosemary gravy–laced beef and veg with mashed potatoes). 508 Eglinton Ave. W.

BEST UDON MENAMI offers an unbelievable noodle experience, from nagasaki to curry udon. The owner studied for several years with an udon master in Japan — believe it! Next time your ramen buddies come calling, take them here instead.

5469 Yonge St.

BEST FRESH PASTA Stop by EATALY for the fresh pasta bar — take it and make it at home and you won’t believe the quality. Try the caccio e pepe round ravioli or our fave, ricotta and spinach -filled square raviolis. Don’t forget to grab pistachios for garnish.

55 Bloor St. W.

BEST FRENCH BISTRO DREYFUS is the brainchild of Joe Beef alum Zach Kolomeir. Beyond tiny, this could be Toronto’s smallest high-end eatery. Not since Susur Lee opened on Niagara Street has such a wee place produced such big flavours.

96 Harbord St.

BEST BUTCHER SHOP Owned by Vito Rizzuto of Five Doors North fame, this artisanal butcher shop has meat pies, quiche and some of the best steaks in town. Plus no question is too trivial for the people behind the counter at THE BUTCHER’S SON. 2055 Yonge St.

BEST FALAFEL PARALLEL wins this one.

But here’s the catch. They don’t make a falafel sandwich — you order a plate of the delicate (read: non-greasy) falafel balls, a side of pita and either a Parallel or tabouli salad and you make your own sandwich.

217 Geary Ave.

BEST BAGELS BAGEL WORLD is hands down Toronto’s best bagel — but not just any bagel. You must order the twister; think nutty, salty goodness.

336 Wilson Ave.

BEST JUICE BAR We love GREENHOUSE JUICE for its organic coldpressed liquids that are pumped full of superfood ingredients. The Gatsby with kale and apple is a must.

5 Macpherson Ave.

2022

BEST OF TORONTO! BEST BOUTIQUE BELLA is part of the fabric of the Eglinton nabe. Scan the boutique’s Instagram to spot owner Melissa Guido donning daily inspo. Staples like ruffly frocks, playful jumpsuits and wrap sweaters abound.

498 Eglinton Ave. W.

MAMA LOVES YOU

The mother-daughter team at MAMA LOVES YOU offers a wide selection of vintage garments for both men and women, stretching far into the past right up to the ’90s. We love the cool Queen West vibe at this shop.

541 Queen St. W.

CHOSEN

VS.

CHOSEN offers a terrific selection of well-worn vintage pieces, paired with a sprinkle of designer goods, and even vintage accessories, books and housewares. Owner Melissa Ball is a gem and has a fantastic eye.

1599 Dundas St. W.

This race was too close to call!

BEST FOR BIKES BATEMAN’S BICYCLE COMPANY is a fantastic local shop with an awesome selection, a friendly service department and even community events and rides.

960 Bathurst St.

BEST KIDS’ BOOKS Instill a love of reading in your youngster at MABEL’S FABLES. From baby to teen and everything in between, this magical bookstore has the whole family covered.

662 Mount Pleasant Rd.

BEST PET SHOP Whether you need a raincoat or a grooming session for your furry friend, DOGFATHER & CO is the place. They also offer teeth cleaning for the pups that want an all-natural treatment.

1007 Yonge St.

BEST SHOE STORE The ever-dapper Derrick Adams of STUDIO D sure knows his soles. His gorgeous picks hail from the likes of Rayne London, Sebastian Milano and MSGM. Your feet will thank you.

55 Bloor St. W., Suite 55

BEST MENSWEAR THE COOP is a longstanding, bi-level menswear boutique offering the best designer labels and shoes amid a rusticchic vibe. Everything you could need to look your best, with the vibe of a small boutique.

156 Duncan Mill Rd, #19

BEST COMIC BOOK STORE SILVER SNAIL made the move from Yonge and Dundas to Queen West last year, so now you get the fun of snagging your favourite comic book (trust us, they have them all) without trekking up all those stairs. 809 Queen St. W.

BEST COTTAGE CHIC Timeless casual classic apparel at the trendy midtown shop LEMONWOOD will have you looking your best whether at the launch in Muskoka or at that fall backyard soirée.

1224 Yonge St.

BEST FOR DRESSES LOVERSLAND has the perfect wedding dress for the big day, as well as an incredible selection of cocktail dresses for that fall gala. The shop is wrapped in a boho vibe with amazing service.

215 Ossington Ave.

BEST WOMEN’S DEPARTMENT STORE ANDREWS offers the best in luxury fashion for women.

Here, you’ll find the most coveted brands, everyday essentials and a knowledgeable team that comes with a long-standing family business.

2901 Bayview Ave.

BEST FOR STREETWEAR HAVEN has asserted itself out of T.O.’s top streetwear spots.

The store is always stocked to the brim with brands, ranging from designer houses to technical, functional.

190 Richmond St. E.

BEST KIDS’ CLOTHES ZERO20 KIDS offers stylish outfits to kids everywhere. The large 8,000-square-foot boutique has grown to become such a size due to the company's overwhelming popularity.

7700 Pine Valley Dr. 53

SEPTEMBER 2022

A 1960s Irving Nadler set from Mama Loves You

BEST DENIM Since 1975, OVER THE RAINBOW has been the place to go in Toronto for the best denim on the planet, including all the latest styles from Citizens of Humanity to Nudie Jeans.

55 Bloor St. W., Suite 123

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BEST VINTAGE BOUTIQUES

BEST CASHMERE SHOP BLACK GOAT is doing its darndest to drape us in ultrasoft cashmere. It’s got hats, shawls, turtlenecks, leg warmers and, yes, socks — all crafted from luxe long strands of cashmere from Mongolian goats.

131 Bloor St. W.

BEST OF TORONTO!

SHOP

BEST SKIN CARE CONSONANT SKINCARE is constantly impressing us with their research-backed products that do exactly as they promise.

Try the hydrextreme serum for a formula that outperforms current trendy hero ingredient hyaluronic acid.

819 Queen St. W.

BEST TATTOO PARLOURS

BEST HAIRSTYLIST Looking for an extraordinary experience at a hair salon? JIE PRIVÉ SALON is the place.

Jie Matar has a personality that is larger than life and prices that match the quality.

180 Davenport Rd.

A work of art from Chronic Ink

CHRONIC INK

With a downtown, midtown and Vaughan location, CHRONIC INK is an ideal place to go for those getting their first tattoo, as staff are warm, friendly and willing to take you through the process step by step.

252 Eglinton Ave. E.

PEARL HARBOR GIFT SHOP

VS.

This Kensington Market mainstay has quickly established a name for itself as one of the premier tattoo destinations in the city, thanks to the creative artists who exude passion for their craft.

24 Kensington Ave.

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BEST SHOE REPAIR KANER’S in Yorkville is a trusted secret gem capable of not only giving new life to your lovely loafers and flats but also that designer handbag you can’t seem to get rid of.

54 110 Bloor St. W., Lower Level

BEST APPLIANCE REPAIR Think that trusty toaster is, um, toast? Chances are, the folks at FIX IT AGAIN SAM think otherwise. The team here can revive your beloved household items like no other.

911 Millwood Rd.

BEST LIGHTING STORE ROYAL LIGHTING has a wide selection of unique European fixtures, and they stock some very hard to find bulbs.

Staff will be happy to help you find the parts you need.

1549 Avenue Rd.

BEST MAKEUP Rosedale’s GEE BEAUTY is beloved by stylish peeps like the Coveteur’s Stephanie Mark and more. With Gee’s help, put your very best brows, skin and face forward.

2 Roxborough St. W. BEST FLORIST Vegetation beckons from every corner of APRICOT FLOW ERS. Nature’s quirks are embraced in cacti, succulents and bright blooms, all carefully curated by delightful owner Cathy Kim. 621A Mt. Pleasant Rd.

BEST LASH & BROW FIX There’s so much more to brows and lashes these days than plucking and mascara. Fret not, FLIRTY FLUTTERS covers it all, from micro-blading brows to mega volume lash extensions, which are surprisingly light.

691 Mt. Pleasant Rd. BEST MANI-PEDI In addition to offering the classic fingers and toes beautifying mani-pedi, LTS NAILS has an organic version with Arbonne products for the naturalista in the nabe. You can get your wax on at the same time.

540 Eglinton Ave. W. BEST MEN’S GROOMING Looking for an authentic barbershop experience with an ambience and style that makes you feel welcome and well taken care of, then be sure to visit LATHER & STEEL for the best men’s grooming in the city.

1009 Yonge St. BEST FOR APPLIANCES For over 75 years, CAPLAN APPLIANCES have been selling Torontonians premium appliance brands. There popularity and quality make them special.

1111 Weston Rd.

BEST ANTIQUES An antique shop that’s home to everything from vintage diamond rings to props from Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley, CYNTHIA FINDLAY FINE JEWELLERY & AN TIQUES is real a treasure trove – and staff are as knowledgeable as they are friendly!

284 King St. W.

BEST CONSIGNMENT Midtown consignment shop REWIND COUTURE is hard to beat when it comes to highly curated designer finds for less. You’ll find a few Hermes scarves for almost half the price in their new arrivals section.

577 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

BEST DRY CLEANER That delectable dinner that crept its way onto a beloved dress will be long forgotten after a trip here. You can trust ASHFORD CLEANERS with your finest frippery — Ashford will even do couture!

535 Eglinton Ave. W.

BEST HARDWARE STORE WIENER’S HOME HARDWARE is the oldest and we think the best in the city for all your household needs, from tools to grills to glue guns.

432 Bloor St. W.

BEST LIVE THEATRE

© Dahlia Katz

Pipeline, a recent production at Soulpepper

CROW’S

This east end theatre has established itself as a cherished cultural hub in the neighbourhood, thanks to its thoughtfully curated lineup and its multipurpose space. Watch out for an adaptation of the novel Fifteen Dogs this season.

345 Carlaw Ave.

TARRAGON

VS.

One of the city's longest-running and best theatres under the artistic direction of Mike Payette. Check out Hannah Moscovitch’s PostDemocracy opening on Nov. 8.

30 Bridgman Ave.

SOULPEPPER

VS.

Soulpepper, under new(ish) artistic director Weyni Mengesha continues to explore fantastic and significant works as well as cherished classics. We are so excited about this season’s revival of Da Kink in My Hair!

50 Tank House Lane

This race was too close to call!

BEST COMMUNITY SPIRIT The City of Toronto moved forward with a plan to name the area in front of the Russian Consulate as FREE UKRAINE SQUARE to support our friends.

60 St. Clair Ave. E.

BEST NEW FOOD FEST SMORGASBURG has taken the city by storm since launching this summer. Imported from Brooklyn, this festival curates an incredible array of the city’s best food every Saturday until Sept. 10.

7 Queens Quay E.

BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN Outgoing city councillor JOE CRESSY was a fine leader during the pandemic, heading up the vaccination team whose passion for the people of Toronto and his loud voice on council will be missed.

BEST NEW FUN Hip pickleball aficionados have a fun new midtown facility to partake in the social sport.

FAIRGROUNDS just opened last month with four colourful courts, as well as food, beverages and a feel-good vibe, but no membership fees.

2400 Yonge St.

BEST IMMERSIVE FUN Toronto has become immersive experience central over the last few years. Although we love them all, it’s hard to top the FRIENDS EXPERIENCE. A pop culture touchstone, this event allows participants to put themselves inside the show.

3401 Dufferin St.

BEST FOR LIVE MUSIC There are some new venues that have opened up, but we love the AXIS CLUB (formerly Mod Club). Housed in a historic building right in Little Italy, it’s the perfect balance of intimate and large enough to showcase amazing talent. Don’t miss Jeremie Albino Sept. 20.

722 College St.

BEST ESCAPE ROOM CASA LOMA continues to create spectacular events for the city, including some awesome escape room adventures such as the Murdoch Mysteries series running right now. It’s the perfect complement to the city’s famed castle.

1 Austin Terr.

BEST FOR LAUGHS Although the city seems to be overrun with comedy clubs lately, there is still nothing better than a night out at YUK YUK’S, the birthplace of some of the best even like Jim Carrey and Howie Mandel.

224 Richmond St. W.

BEST SMALL GALLERY Since 1995, Chad Wolfond has worked to establish the charming LONSDALE GALLERY in Forest Hill village as one of the city’s go-to contemporary spaces. Check out the Changing Tides exhibition beginning Sept. 10.

410 Spadina Rd.

BEST FOR FLICKS We love a good movie theatre that combines history with modern amenities: the best example is the PARADISE THEATRE, which has a range of live performances along with thoughtful film selections and great amenities.

1006 Bloor St. W.

BEST CONCERT VENUE KOERNER HALL is an acoustic marvel and an amazing use of a historic space at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

It’s always a pleasure to head to this venue for a show. Wonderful size, proportions and ambience make it special.

273 Bloor St. W.

BEST FOR SPINS The vinyl album trend seems to have plateaued but has left a number of fine music shops in the city ideal for shuffling the stacks. But the best is SONIC BOOM, where you can even get an album from the PhonoMat vending machine.

215 Spadina Ave.

BEST FOR A GOOD READ What makes a good book shop is more than just a lot of books.

It’s well-read workers that can guide the experience. It’s an atmosphere, a vibe if you will.

And the venerable BEN MCNALLY BOOKS continues to set a very high bar.

317 Adelaide St. E.

BEST CITY INITIATIVE Although it’s happening slowly, the city is taking opportunities where it can to create a complete and safe separated cycling network, including new lanes on Yonge and University and those planned for Eglinton.

BEST SHOUT-OUT Yes, Toronto has had a huge year in pop culture, but we think Domee Shi’s love letter to her hometown in the Pixar animated movie Turning Red is about as good as it gets.

SEPTEMBER 2022

BEST OF TORONTO!

| POST |

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FOOD

It’s a milestone 10th season for Top Chef Canada, set to premiere on Sept. 26. We’ve heard that contestants will be facing a slew of fiery new challenges, from a vegan feast to a foodie trip to the Caribbean. And this season, we have four chefs from Toronto to root for to win the $100,000 prize. Martine Bauer (top right), chef and co-owner of Little Italy’s Pompette, starts the group off strong. Trevane Sanderson

(top middle), the current chef de partie at Vela and formerly of Baro and Hotel X, joins her. There’s also Joachim Hayward (bottom left), head chef at Leslieville seafood and pasta spot Wynona. And Monica Wahba (top left), chef and owner of brunch spot Maha’s, is also up for the top prize — and if she wins, she’ll be the first chef of Egyptian heritage to win the competition. May the best chef win!

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Toronto cooks feature prominently in $100,000 top chef competition

SEPTEMBER 2022

SECTION

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POST CITY X CAPLAN'S APPLIANCES

A Late Summer Grilling Recipe from Chefs Rob Rossi & Craig Harding

L-R Open Fire hosts Chefs Rob Rossi and Craig Harding, Steak with Wild Mushrooms

It’s the perfect time to fire up the grill and enjoy the warmer weather with family and friends. A family-run business for over 75 years that is renowned as the destination for delivering dream kitchens – both indoor and outdoors – Caplan’s has sponsored a new cooking series that focuses on cooking simple and delicious recipes outdoors. Hosted by acclaimed chefs Rob Rossi and Craig Harding, Open Fire creates delicious, innovative dishes, and one of their favourite recipes is shared with you here.

As summer winds down, our thoughts turn to rustic, hearty meals to enjoy with family and friends, and we know they will love this showstopper dish. The tomahawk steak served with a side of wild mushrooms is easy to cook, a ton of fun and super delicious.

The sautéed wild mushrooms are a perfect complement to the steak and bring the whole meal together. Your guests will love the aromas from the BBQ, and they will get everyone excited for what is to come. Slicing the tomahawk steak tableside adds a rustic wow factor that will be sure to impress.

Steak & Wild Mushrooms Ingredients: - Large tomahawk steak, bone-in (2-inch steak) - Kosher salt - Pepper - Olive Oil - Pint of chanterelle mushrooms

• Take out tomahawk steak 30 minutes before cooking to rest. Season with kosher salt and pepper gener ously. Add a drizzle of olive oil.

• Over a medium-high heat on your grill, place the steak and cook for around 10 minutes each side. A meat thermometer should read an internal tempera ture of 130 degrees.

• Once cooked, take the steak off and place on a cutting board to rest.

• Give the mushrooms a rough chop. No need to wash the mushrooms.

• Place a cast iron pan on your grill over high heat.

Pour a drizzle of olive oil in the pan. Add the mush rooms and give a light stir. Add two cracked bulbs of garlic to the pan.

• Strip a few pieces of rosemary and thyme into the pan. Add some cracked pepper and two pinches of salt after the mushrooms have cooked for a few min utes. Next up, add two tablespoons of unsalted butter and cook for 2 more minutes then place in a serving bowl.

• Slice the steak against the grain and serve with the wild mushrooms. Enjoy!

Be sure to tune in to Open Fire, airing weekly on TLN, for more recipes.

- Pint of pine mushrooms - Fresh Thyme - 2 bulbs of garlic - Fresh Rosemary - Unsalted butter

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FOOD

YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME! Eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncakes are presented as a gift to friends and family. Chef Craig Wong gives us the scoop on the best of these traditionally red bean– or lotus-paste-filled Chinese delicacies in Toronto.

MIXED NUTS & CURED HAM YU SEAFOOD “It has that pork flavour to it. It’s interesting.

Maybe I have some more growing up to do so that I can appreciate this one a little more. I would definitely buy this for the older people in my life.”

270 West Beaver Creek Rd., Richmond Hill, $78 for 6

PATCHMON’S “They use the interior of the red bean, so it’s really pasty and smooth. It makes the flavour very mellow. It smells like a roast pork bun but has the look of a cake. Not my favourite. I don’t love the lard aftertaste.”

283 Dundas St. W., $7 for 5

SAINT GERMAIN BAKERY “The smell is a clean, uplifting scent. It has a double yolk, which is a classic move. It’s a quintessential mooncake, and the yolk is oily, which I like. I would buy this set for myself.”

1800 Sheppard Ave. E., $42 for 4

“They’re using salted egg yolk as a basis for a custard. It’s not traditional, but it’s cool. I would buy this set for my younger cousins. This has a modern approach, but it doesn’t fulfill my soul.”

4910 Yonge St., $62 for 6

Stel lar cr

BAKE CODE

u

BLACK BEAN PASTE

LOTUS PASTE

KIN-KIN BAKERY “It’s pasty, it’s heavy. As a kid, this is everything that I didn’t like in a mooncake because I would bite into them, hoping for lotus, but I’d get this. I appreciate it a lot more now.”

300 John St. #141, Thornhill, $33 for 6

TUNG HING BAKERY “Very gingery, porky, there’s actually some candied winter melon.

There are pieces that have so much sugar on them that they crystalize and become crunchy.”

353 Broadview Ave., $20.60 for 4

alate re p

MIXED NUTS & WINTER MELON

For t he ma tu

our

ts + light f lav

RUNNER-UP

LOTUS WITH EGG YOLK

MASHION BAKERY “Wow, this is delicious.

This one tastes like a very nice, clean white bean. The crust is nice, and so is the scent. I expected it to be way more dense in flavour and texture, but it’s actually very pleasant.”

345 Spadina Ave., $7.50 per piece

LIGHT WINTER MELON PATISSERIE GATEAU “It’s really cool, not something you see quite often. Foodies would definitely get this set from me as a gift. The winter melon is a lot lighter than the lotus or the beans.”

6464 Yonge St. #122, $37 for 4

SEPTEMBER 2022

l b u o t he yo l k, d

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SALTED EGG YOLK & LOTUS

MUNG BEAN

e th e taste

ouble

D

WINNER

CRAIG WONG The chef helms Patois, Bar Mignonette and Ting Irie, the first Jamaican restaurant in Dubai.

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FOOD

Why the world is looking to T.O. Daniel Boulud says the energy of this city in September is unlike anywhere else

by Ben Kaplan

Boulud’s d|bar and Café Boulud will both be doing something special for TIFF

anoints the Toronto culinary scene as being on par with any place in the world.

“Toronto for a long time had to look south and look east — meaning they had to look to Europe, America and Asia for concepts, but it’s a testament to the young chefs who’ve worked so hard here for so long because now Toronto is where Americans and Europeans are looking to see what’s next,” he says.

In Toronto, Patrick Kriss — the owner of the highly praised Alo — got his start as a sous chef at New York’s Daniel restaurant, and Le

“Now Toronto is where Americans and Europeans are looking to see what’s next.”

Talking about the Michelin guide that is officially coming to Toronto, Boulud says, “I think the Michelin star is a huge step for Toronto and a sign the city is moving in the right direction.”

Boulud is sheepish about whether or not his own Toronto restaurant might be first up to win the prestigious award that he’s famous for. But he says the energy generated from the award’s arrival will inspire all of the local cooks. “I absolutely hope that one day we might earn the Michelin for Café Boulud—we might not be there yet, but every great food town has to have ambitions,” he says, then

Select (the buzziest new restaurant in town after it reopened this year following its closure in 2020) has Zachary Barnes in the kitchen, another local star who learned how to cook from Boulud.

“I’ve had so much great talent from Canada in my kitchens in New York, and I think of Carl Heinrich from Richmond Station and, of course, Patrick. I’m very proud of what he’s accomplished at Alo and think he’s tremendous,” says Boulud.

He adds that he remains excited by the cooking — and personality — of his friend Susur Lee. “For 25 years Susur was the

ambassador of Toronto and he still is,” Boulud says. “I love his energy and creativity and the videos are incredible that he makes with his son.”

The thought of chef Daniel Boulud watching Susur deconstruct Taco Bell on TikTok is startling, but Boulud says it’s important for restaurants to remain current, and he also wants to debunk the snooty fine dining air.

Bouloud says he learned an important lesson during the pandemic, and that was to not take himself so seriously. There are financial goals at all of his restaurants, and supply chain issues and interest rates are impacting the bottom line of his business. Boulud is having trouble finding people to staff his global restaurants and says he’s feeling a burden unlike anything he’s felt before. But Boulud, reached at his farm outside Lyon, with a smile, says he feels gratitude. Cooking once did, and still does, stir his soul.

“I love what I do and think, if anything, that I learned to take a pause during COVID and reflect on how we operate as a business with compassion,” he says.

“Compassion for our suppliers, our customers, our winemakers and foragers and for each other. We must do better for each other because there is no reward financially like the gift of serving something with love.”

THE BOULUD EFFECT

Alo’s Patrick Kriss

PATRICK KRISS The chef behind Alo was named Canada’s Most Outstanding Chef by Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants in 2017, 2018 and 2019. He worked under Boulud as a sous chef at his eponymous New York restaurant Daniel.

ZACHARY BARNES Now helming the recently reopened Le Sélect Bistro, Barnes honed his culinary craft in the kitchen of Boulud’s restaurant Daniel, as well as Alo and Gordon Ramsay London.

CARL HEINRICH The chef and owner of Richmond Station and 2012 winner of Top Chef Canada developed his skills in New York at several of Boulud’s restaurants, including db Bistro Moderne.

SEPTEMBER 2022

energetic room where patrons were devouring plates of lobster tagliatelle, rotisserie duck and warm madeleines. The restaurant, which is long and winding and warm, sits above the d|bar, and Boulud says both restaurants will be doing something special this month for the Toronto International Film Festival.

“The energy of Toronto in September is unlike any place in the world,” he says, adding that unique local offerings to expect from him this month include oysters with caviar and crab stuffed with Canadian salmon.

| POST |

Chatting from his kitchen outside Lyon, France, chef Daniel Boulud, one of the most lauded chefs in the history of his profession, has a smile on his face when asked who does the cooking when his large family gathers around his table for a meal.

“I love the act of sharing with the ones you love,” he says serenely, as the sun shines through his big bay window where, in the background, there are rolling, golden fields.

“There’s nothing quite like everyone sitting down together over a plate of something wonderful, so I generally get the task. I also don’t think anyone in the family wants to compete with me, that’s for sure.”

Daniel Boulud isn’t bragging, and he isn’t poking fun at his wife or the nearly 45 mouths he’ll feed later today from his firepit, where he loves grilling meat and fish and making vegetables on his woodburning outdoor oven, beside his bocce pit. It’s more that the 67year-old is semi-retired and enjoying the fruits of his longtime excellence in his profession, which includes not only the two-time Michelin-starred Daniel restaurant in New York, but eponymous outposts everywhere from Palm Beach to Dubai, from Singapore to Washington D.C. On a recent Thursday night in Toronto, his Café Boulud in Yorkville, inside Yorkville Avenue’s Four Seasons Hotel, was an

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FOOD

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by Aashim Aggarwal

Montreal, bagels. Halifax, donair.

Chicago, deep dish pizza.

Toronto…?? For the first three cities, I don’t need to state the question. You instinctively understand that I am pairing each city with its signature dish.

When it comes to Toronto, there is no immediate correct answer — but there is one that is obviously wrong: the peameal bacon sandwich.

It’s the response we might half-heartedly throw out because Mayor John Tory once made that claim or something. You know, that cornmeal-crusted bacon sandwich on a kaiser roll that you essentially only get at St. Lawrence Market. If more than half the city has never tried a dish, let alone consume it on a regular basis, that is grounds for automatic disqualification.

Nobody says Hogtown any more, and clearly the non-proliferation of the sandwich signals its lack of mass appeal. Leave this one for the tourists.

However, that does not mean there are no contenders. There seems to be this notion that we are “too diverse to have a signature food,” which comes from an implicit belief that the dish must be immutable and that its purveyors must obey strict

rules to be deemed local institutions. Instead, why can’t Toronto’s signature dish be like a page in a colouring book, line art that communities and individuals fill in in their own way? I believe that there are already three worthy contenders.

Fusion poutine

Poutine is distinctly Québécois, where fresh-cut fries, squeaky cheese curds and a deep brown gravy are mandatory. Conversely, Toronto treats poutine with irreverence, often substituting shredded cheese for the cheese curds and any number of sauces for the gravy. Without a doubt, there is no other city with as much fusion poutine, and perhaps no one has gone to the same lengths of delicious debauchery as Chris Jerk. Owner Chris Taylor once cooked at Middle Eastern joint Me Va Me, before later opening this strip plaza corner spot, previously a shawarma store. The sign outside proclaims “Original Jerk Chicken Shawarma,” and upon entering, a glorious vertical spit is on full display. Smoky jerk-spiced shawarma and shredded cheese top fries, russet or sweet potato and doused with house gravy and optional hot sauce. Chris Jerk is

FEATURE

FOOD

Clockwise from left: stuffed roti from Roti Mahal, Nami’s sushi pizza and Chris Jerk’s fushion poutine

Due to the British colonial empire’s need for indentured labour, Indians were forcibly sent to the Caribbean. Over time this diaspora invented wrapped roti, where Indo-Caribbean curries would be nestled in thin rotis and eaten on the go. What happens when Indian immigrants in Toronto try this for the first time? They realize the ingenuity of stuffed roti and instead fill it with the dishes they love — butter chicken, palak paneer and more. That is the story of the now closed icon Gandhi Roti, but I’ll let you in on a secret. Two former chefs at Gandhi, Prodip and Gigi, bought the same space and now operate Roti Mahal, with the same original recipes so many Torontonians love. This dish has yet to be widely adopted by other communities in the city, but I hope to see that change over the next few years. Just imagine roti stuffed with Mexican mole or Ethiopian shiro wat.

Many restaurants’ famous dishes start with humble origins, as staff meals are made from leftovers and designed to be eaten quickly during breaks. This is the story of sushi pizza, a dish claimed to have been invented by downtown Japanese restaurant Nami in the 1980s. A base of crispy, fried sushi rice is topped with marinated salmon sashimi, spicy sauce, tobiko, scallions and white onion. The circular creation is then cut into slices, like a mini pizza, and eaten with chopsticks.

Sushi pizza is a dish you now see on menus at sushi joints across the city, often more indulgent than Nami with creamy sauces and a choice of toppings. I would love to see crispy rice topped with the ingredients of Peruvian ceviche or perhaps a pickled herring preparation found across Europe.

Fusion poutine, stuffed roti, sushi pizza — it doesn’t feel right to pick between the three at the moment, and perhaps in 2022, that’s not what’s most important.

Let’s start with a sense of collective pride about having signature dishes that, unlike other cities, evolve alongside its people.

ICONIC CANADIAN FOOD IN TORONTO

Nu Bügel

OTTAWA’S SHAWARMA Try Flaming Stove for a taste of Ottawa’s unofficial signature dish — it comes marinated overnight and extra juicy. 21 Davisville Ave. HALIFAX’S DONAIR That city’s official food can be found in Toronto at East Coast Donair & Grill, in a traditional sweet sauce.

664 Bloor St. W. MONTREAL’S BAGELS Visit Nu Bügel in Toronto for a taste of this international treasure. There’s bound to be a lineup, but that’s how you know it’s good!

240 Augusta Ave.

SEPTEMBER 2022

Stuffed roti

Sushi pizza

| POST |

just one of many, with options ranging from national variations (Vietnamese-style poutine, mutton curry poutine and more) to a dizzying number of breakfast/brunch poutines.

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FOOD

FEATURE

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With T.O. tipping rates running as high as 30 per cent on everything from dining to coffee, people are starting to push back

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by Raquel Farrington

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Summer isn’t complete without the annual culinary event Summerlicious, which kicked off on Aug. 12 and runs until Aug. 28. Patrons have the chance to experience a three-course meal at some of the best spots across the city, selecting from prix fixe menus at six extremely reasonable price points ($20–$75) for lunch or dinner.

Although the event makes a ton of pricey restaurants a little more accessible for the average Toronto foodie, some people are a little upset at the tipping details in the fine print on the Summerlicious website that advises patrons that gratuity is not included and recommends an 18 to 20 per cent tip, calling it “a standard expression in Toronto.” Not everyone seems to agree.

This statement, posted on Reddit, prompted one user to write, “Tipping is this weird strange North American thing where it’s okay to pay workers almost nothing and expect them to sell their butts off to pay their rent.”

A recent Restaurants Canada survey found Canadians tip 17.6 per cent on average, compared to 15 per cent before the pandemic.

There’s no doubt that the service industry has suffered immensely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing closures threatened the livelihood of tons of service workers; supply chain issues have made must-have

ingredients and restaurant supplies pricier than ever before; and rising inflation rates mean consumers generally have less disposable income to spend on eating out. That said, when people do venture out for a nice meal, is 18 to 20 per cent really the new norm in an era where the cost of living is higher than ever before?

We asked a couple of local Toronto residents what they thought about Summerlicious’s claim and what their standard operating procedures are when opting to skip the dishes and head out for dinner.

“I tip 18 per cent if it’s good and 20 per cent if it’s great,” says Emma, who works in corporate law in the city. She says those rates are in line with her current understanding of the Toronto average. That said, she feels the tipping culture is getting out of hand. “At some establishments, I’ve seen the lowest pre-set tipping option set at 20 per cent, meaning the higher end was 25 per cent or 30 per cent.” She recalls a time at the beginning of the summer when she visited a local wine bar in the city and had two glasses while out with a friend. This spot does bar service exclusively, and when she was checking out, she grabbed a couple of bottles from the bottle shop to take home. When the tip option came up there was no way for her to put in a customized amount.

FEATURE

FOOD

An 18 per cent tip is now the new baseline for some Toronto restaurants

NO-TIPPING WONDERS

Richmond Station

RICHMOND STATION This eatery took to Instagram in 2020 to announce the end of tipping, opting to increase wages instead, and built an average 18 per cent price increase across the menu.

MARBEN The restaurant announced a no-tip model to eliminate the descrimination built into tip culture, raising wages and menu prices to compensate.

BARQUE This smokehouse joined the movement in June, announcing a new starting and “livable” wage of $22.25 for all staff that they then factored into all menu prices.

SEPTEMBER 2022

local restaurants across the city.

Although he is a staunch 18 per cent tipper (20 per cent if the service goes above and beyond), when he’s having lunch or dinner out, he’s on the fence when it comes to fast-casual spots and coffee shops.

“I only really tip at local places that have amazing and reasonably priced food. I don’t mind rounding up a bit to make my $12 sandwich a $14 sandwich if it helps. But for the most part, I’m not tipping on that iPad terminal.”

That said, there are some locals who have accepted this new normal. “I always tip, even if it’s just 10 per cent for takeout. Tons of people had a role in getting your order into your hands,” says Vanessa, a sales executive in the live music industry. She adds, “Frankly, people suck, and surely aren’t the nicest to wait staff. A little something for me could be something big for them, like an extra dollar on my already $4 latte.”

It should be noted that some Toronto restaurants are experimenting with a no-tipping policy, such as Barque in the city’s west end. In addition, although the restaurant minimum wage in Ontario has been rising, it’s still not nearly enough to be considered a living wage in the city, so an end to tipping would require restaurant owners to make up the difference in some way.

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“I wasn’t going to tip 18 per cent on almost $100 worth of take-home wine, and I just sort of panicked and skipped the tip since it was bar service anyway.”

When she handed the terminal back and her receipt printed, the bartender asked matter-of-factly, “No tip?” She was mortified but felt like the establishment had kind of put her in a corner.

She’s not the only one who feels like rules around when you should tip and how much is getting harder and harder to navigate. In fact, this Summerlicious Reddit post comes on the heels of another viral Reddit post that made the rounds a couple of weeks ago when a Redditor posted “the most offensive tipping options I’ve ever come across” after having a couple of cocktails at an unnamed local bar. When the user went to pay his bill, the machine’s options read: • 18% (Needs improvement) • 20% (Kay) • 25% (Good enough) • 30% (Great job) • Other In his post, he said, “The idea that I’m tipping 18 per cent and it’s written out that I’m insulting the bartender somehow and they need improvement is awful. I’ve never felt so manipulated into tipping 25 per cent.”

But it’s more than just bars and restaurants. Scott is a selfproclaimed foodie who does freelance work for a variety of

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This Victorian home in Little Italy is actually a restaurant The Hamptons arrived on the scene last month with seasonal menus guided by fresh ingredients by Christine Hogg

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The menu at The Hamptons revolves around fish, vegetables and meat

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Nestled in an old brick Victorian house and tucked among the other residential houses of Clinton Street, the Hamptons is the latest upscale restaurant to come to Toronto’s Little Italy.

With its original exposed brick walls and a beautiful secret back terrace with a seating area, walking into the Hamptons feels more like heading over to a good friend’s house for dinner, and that’s exactly how chef and co-owner Rachel Chartrand wanted it to be.

“This has been something that I’ve dreamed of my entire life,” Chartrand says.”I’ve been in the industry for a very long time, and everything I’ve done in my career has always led me to this point.”

The intriguing allure of the Hamptons has already attracted a crowd of regulars in Toronto, from couples craving a night out away from the kids to those eager to take advantage of the puppy-friendly patio out front.

Inside, wallpaper and teak furniture accents lend what Chartrand calls “a very Scandinavian” feel to the restaurant, and downstairs, a wine cellar will soon offer private tastings and additional eating space.

“It has everything that you would expect to find in an old home, and we didn’t change any of it, we just gave it a big facelift,” Chartrand says.

The open concept layout, which also features a sunroom, allows guests to go from room to room, while sipping their complimentary glass of Prosecco that’s offered upon entry.

The Hamptons’s seasonal menu revolves around vegetables, fish and meat. A move Chartrand says blends in well with the Italian restaurants in the area.

“The similarities between our food and theirs is that we are focused on really great ingredients,” Chartrand says.

A thinly sliced raw yellow and green zucchini salad with freshly shucked Ontario peas that is tossed in a Dijon and apple cider vinaigrette, finished with fior di latte, olive oil and freshly cracked peppercorns is among the menu’s bestsellers so far. Another is the “tomatillo three ways,” which features baby bay scallops simmered in tomatillo juice and topped with a thinly sliced tomatillo and a cucumber and shallot mignonette that’s finished with olive oil and cracked pepper. The third star of the menu is a venison tartare from New Zealand, which features a tenderloin cut that’s tenderized and tossed with duck yolk, capers and Dijon mustard. The Hamptons’s take on the tartare is served with a baby butter lettuce cup instead of bread for a beautiful finish.

As the season cools, the Hamptons will also add a wood-fired pizza oven that can cook whole fish and roast meats and vegetables.

The Hamptons is located at 53 Clinton St. in Toronto and is currently open for dinner from Monday to Saturday from 6 to 9:45 p.m.

FOOD © Gabriel Li

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Sunny’s brings fun and flavour to Kensington Market by Christine Hogg After much success as a pop-up, Chinese officially Sunny’s opened in Kensington Market on Aug. 18.

Originally announcing the grand opening of a storefront location last fall, Sunny’s Chinese was meant to open this spring.

Accessible through the Kensington Mall entrance at 60 Kensington Ave., Sunny’s will be open for dinner service from Thursday to Monday. Since its inception in November 2020, the restaurant’s menu was only offered to newsletter subscribers.

If you’re curious about how in demand this new, permanent location is, know that the restaurant’s previous pop-up concept would sell out immediately when subscribers

were notified of new events.

Previous pop-ups offered up nine-course set menus that would feed two to three people and featured tasty and exclusive dishes, from maple tofu to beef dumplings.

The team behind Sunny’s stopped doing pop-ups in September of 2021, just weeks before opening up the more upscale MIMI Chinese. They brought Sunny’s back for a limited edition pop-up in January, the perfect teaser for the opening of their Kensington restaurant.

Known as the funky downtown cousin to MIMI Chinese, Sunny’s is inspired by high energy dining cultures found throughout China. From

shaokao spots in Chengdu and Xi’An to Dai Pai Dongs in Hong Kong, the menu at Sunny’s draws from regional traditions to create an experience that’s casual and playful. Diners can expect an extensive natural wine list and ingredient-driven dishes off the charcoal grill or fresh out of the wok.

There is also a wide selection of baijiu (a popular liquor that’s hard to find in Canada), distilled from fermented sorghum.

Tables can be booked directly through the restaurant’s website.

Sunny’s holds space for some walk-ins, but due to its popularity, reservations are recommended.

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Safe stolen from Massimo Capra’s T.O. restaurant Just after 1 a.m. on Aug. 9, two individuals broke into Capra’s Kitchen, located at 1834 Lakeshore Rd. W., taking the restaurant’s safe in its entirety.

Capra’s kitchen, along with many local supporters, reposted the surveillance cameras from inside the office, as well as the parking lot. The alleged robbers appeared to have taken off in an early 2000s Honda CR-V. The licence plate was not caught by the restaurant’s security cameras.

Chef Massimo Capra had this to say in his Instagram post: “Please watch video … share video and please, if anyone has any information regarding this terrible crime, please let us or the Peel Regional Police know. Chef Massimo is offering a cash reward for any info that helps us catch the people who did this, as some very personal items belonging

to their Deceased Son Andrew Capra was in the safe that was stolen…. To the thief … please … if you are reading this … send back Andrew’s belongings.”

Capra’s Kitchen is a casual, urban restaurant that serves a number of Italian dishes, including antipasto, pasta and pizza.

“We consider ourselves to be a very fresh approachable restaurant with a wonderful team of staff. Our food is sourced locally whenever possible and we also use high-quality ingredients from Italy and Canada,” a statement on the restaurant’s website reads.

Capra is offering a cash reward to anyone who has information regarding the robbery.

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Toronto has been showing off its her dating life than her career acting chops on Netflix this week path. As Asha seemingly decides ever since Wedding Season arrived to give up on finding a partner, on the streaming service. The her parents make an online movie, which is currently one of dating profile acting as her.

Canada’s top 10 most popular Enter Ravi (Suraj Sharma), a movies on Netflix, was filmed in man whose parents are doing the the city and a few other places in exact same thing. The pair meet Ontario – but it was Avenue up for a date, and it’s an absolute Diner that got the starring bust. However, they decide to role. concoct a fake The film crew relationship just to reportedly set up get through the camp at the diner wedding season.

DOUBLE FEATURE at 222 You can guess the Rumour has it the Davenport Rd. rest! diner will be starring and did the Ravi and in the latest season of majority of the Asha’s slow burn acclaimed series The editing and toward love is Boys this fall. filming there in captured across a the early days of the few prominent areas movie. of Ontario-turned–New Although Netflix’s Wedding Jersey, including the film’s allSeason takes place in New Jersey, important wedding sequence that it was Ontario that played the was shot at Cambium Farms in role — the cast and crew had Caledon, which features a filming locations all around the wedding venue located inside a GTA. Toronto, York, Peel and barn.

Durham all had moments in the Keep an eye out for the Great spotlight, although Avenue Hall, Bitondo’s Pizzeria and Diner was the most frequent more Toronto landmarks the next location. This retro diner has time you press Play! been serving up classics since Wedding Season is out now and 1944, making it one of the oldest can be streamed on Netflix – and diners in Toronto. keep an eye out for Toronto’s own Wedding Season follows Asha Rizwan Manji, who you might (Pallavi Sharda), whose parents recognize for his role as Ray are a bit more concerned about Butani in Schitt’s Creek.

NEWS

FOOD

L-R: A Wingstop spread and pancakes at IHOP

U.S. eateries are invading Toronto From a world record-holding pizza to a rap legend’s favourite wing joint, here are four to look out for

The world’s largest barbecue concept, family-owned since 1941, is finally coming to Toronto.

“Toronto has an amazing dining scene, but it lacks a true, authentic barbecue experience, which we can’t wait to provide,” Laura Rea Dickey said in a statement last April. “It’s always exciting to debut our Legit. Texas.

Barbecue. in a new community, but it’s particularly exciting when our brand crosses borders. We look forward to introducing our tastes of Texas to Toronto and more Canadians across the country.”

Dickey’s serves up eight slowsmoked meat options and 12 wholesome sides. Meats include brisket, marinated chicken, Polish kielbasa and a half rack of ribs, and sides include creamy spinach, jalapeno beans and onion tanglers.

As of now, no details regarding

Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria

Have you ever wondered what a 54-inch pizza looks like? A Southern California pizza chain is here to help you eat more pizza than you have ever imagined possible.

Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria is bringing their famous Giant Sicilian pizza, claimed to be the largest deliverable pizza in the world, to Toronto this year.

The restaurant is frequented by Hollywood stars and foodies alike. It shot to fame when, at the 2014 Oscars, host Ellen DeGeneres handed out the eatery’s slices to Harrison Ford, Angelina Jolie and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Giant Sicilian is 54 by 54 inches, making it officially big enough to enter Guinness World Records.

Wingstop

What began as a small Buffalostyle chicken wing restaurant in Garland, Texas, Wingstop has continuously grown in popularity across the states.

Now, Torontonians have the chance to feast at a restaurant that prides itself on not only offering you a meal, but a flavourful experience.

Wingstop first set up shop in 1994 and expanded into multiple franchises after a successful three years. American rapper Rick Ross is a high-profile franchisee, who reportedly has over 25 franchises and recently gave his son a franchise for his 16 birthday.

The menu consists of flavours that vary from Asian, citrus, garlic, sweet and “blow your socks off ” levels of heat. Although the original hot is their most popular flavour, their lemon pepper recipe made waves across the U.S. The Toronto location is now open at 2218 Bloor St. W. IHOP

IHOP joined the ranks of U.S. restaurant eateries setting up shop in Toronto’s backyard this past June. The franchise’s newest haunt is at 50 Biscayne Cres. in Brampton in the Orion Gate Retail Centre.

The location is the first of many IHOPs in the works for the GTA. In 2019, IHOP’s parent company, Dine Brands International, announced plans to open 15 restaurants across the GTA over seven years Torontonians can have their fair share of pancake stacks among crowd favourites like omelettes and breakfast meats. For those looking to pop in for a quick bite around lunchtime, IHOP offers burgers and melts paired with fries, onion rings and soups.

SEPTEMBER 2022

Dickey’s BBQ

an exact opening date or a location have been provided, but barbecue lovers can keep an eye on Dickey’s BBQ’s Instagram for more details.

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If you’ve ever had the chance to try food in the states, odds are you’ve been blown away by portion sizes and just how many options exist. But now, U.S. eateries are invading Toronto and are giving you a chance to try American staples north of the border. Here are four that are set to leave their mark on the way Torontonians spend their lunch hour.

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Matty Matheson brings his wildly popular pizza to Thornhill The celebrity chef’s pizza empire has massively expanded over the last two years Celebrity chef Matty Matheson and Shlomo Butcher will be unveiling a new Maker Pizza location in Thornhill this month.

It marks the pair’s fifth location around the city, slowly dominating Toronto’s pizza scene.

Maker Pizza opened its first location in 2015 on Cameron Street, tucked away near Queen and Spadina. It would be an understatement to say that the spot blew up, with fans flocking to the original location for a taste of Matheson’s new venture.

Following the restaurant's success, Matheson and Butcher opened their second location on Avenue Road near Lawrence West in 2018.

Leading into the pandemic, the chefs offered an extensive menu, including pizzas made of three day–aged dough, organic California tomato sauce and fresh cheeses.

Once COVID-19 hit, the pair opted to offer customers a more minimalist menu which saw the

L-R: A rendering of the new Thornhill location; Matty Matheson

double pepperoni scattered atop grass-fed mozzarella, toasted fennel powder and their organic tomato sauce beneath. For those wanting something a bit more filling, Napoli Dynamite features a healthy handful of house-made Italian sausage amongst green olives, candied jalapenos, roasted red peppers and mozzarella with sea salt on top to finish it off.

For those looking to try something more unique, Frank’s Best begins with a smooth white base with their grass-fed mozzarella above.

Then, caramelized onions and goat cheese are amplified with rosemary, sea salt and organic honey — all sitting atop a sesame crust bed.

If pizza isn’t really your jam, then don’t worry. Maker offers a prime list of Buffalo or lemon pepper wings, letting you get down and dirty right beside your pizza-loving friends. Alongside the wings is the bodega sandwich, which has mortadella, ham,

smoked turkey and genoa salami all on a freshly baked sesame roll: not to mention the provolone tomato, white onion, iceberg lettuce, roasted red pepper, pickled jalapeno and pepperoncini that lies underneath.

The rest of the menu consists of some garlic finger appetizers, chopped salads, cookies and a healthy assortment of dips to go alongside your pizzas.

Matheson began to garner his celebrity chef image after he became executive chef of Parts & Labour on Queen Street. From there, Vice Media latched onto the star, allowing him to produce a series called Munchies on Vice’s YouTube channel.

An opening date for the Thornhill location hasn’t been announced, yet, but it should be any day now. An exact location hasn’t been shared, but the team says the shop will be at the intersection of Bathurst Street and New Westminster Drive.

USE ME former menu reduced to eight items. However, they continued pumping out the classics, which the people loved, leading them out of the pandemic on the right foot.

Now in 2022, Maker Pizza boasts four restaurants, each with its own unique flair — and they’ll

DANIEL PUSTIL Sales Representative

by Marcus Mitropoulos

be adding Thornhill into the mix.

Their menu is broken down into red and white pizza (In reference to the sauce), wings, sandos and appetizers, along with dessert and drinks.

At the top of the most popular list is Dr. Pepperoni, a pizza lover’s dream, which includes

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at fixing the city’s growing housing problem through Toronto’s own superhero Simu Liu (left). The actor will be collaborating on the design and development of a mixed-use tower at 8 Elm St. The 69-storey complex (middle) will feature units from studios to three bedrooms. What’s next? Perhaps Leafs player Mitch Marner will design a condo building on the waterfront next year.

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Why renovating is the new travel CityLine design expert Brenda Danso on investing in home upgrades instead of a vacation this year Imagine a warm sunny escape with friends or family, where you enjoy relaxing and delicious dinners every night followed by games or dancing under a beautiful private trellis…. That sounds like a luxury vacation somewhere hot and exotic, doesn’t it. But I’m describing a new backyard oasis in Ontario. Many people are opting to invest in improving their homes, indoor and outdoor, instead of travelling, perhaps because of the overcrowding we’ve seen in airports and at the borders these days.

One of my clients says, “The travel chaos seen during spring and summer was enough to sway me toward renovating versus travelling. One big pro for doing a backyard renovation was the immediate enjoyment of the new space,” he says. “Within one week, we had an outdoor extension of our home that will continue to be enjoyed by myself and my family for years to come. It also increased the value of our property, which

Brenda Danso helped her client add a three-season extension to his backyard

meant that the money spent will come back in the future, which is always a bonus!”

So instead of a vacation, why not invest the money in a home transformation that you can call your own year after year? With design and contractor support, you can create a new space to enjoy nearly year-round.

Like my client and his family, try replacing an out-of-date deck with a multi-zoned deck that is built for different purposes that suit their lifestyle. For my client, we created an area for the barbecue, a lounging area with a pergola (think open space meets privacy) and a dining space, all of which come together as a true

extension of the home. The key is to make sure you’re using good material for a long-lasting oasis, such as pressure-treated wood.

Not only is it cost effective and rot resistant, it brings a warm feeling to your backyard with its attractive brown tone.

Once you’ve got your deck built and zoned to match your lifestyle, it’s time to elevate your new space even further. The key? Personal touches that complement the wood, like neutral-coloured patio chairs and a mix of fixed and patio seating with a coffee table, which can easily be exchanged for a firepit when the seasons change.

Also, add some greenery and vibrant decor to add a pop of colour.

Adding a mirror in your backyard can be an intentional design decision. You don’t often see mirrors outside, so it’s unexpected but also helps to enhance the space. All in all, between neutral furniture and pops of colour, greenery and unique decor, you’ll create a

personalized look and feel that will make your backyard stand out.

Now my client and his family are spending more time outside and look forward to staying at home with friends and family.

“We now have a space that is not only more functional and enjoyable, but also one that is more esthetically pleasing. It’s the perfect spot to both entertain and relax,” he says.

Not only that, but this outdoor living space is also one that pays dividends.

“You’re making your home a place that you and your friends and family want to go and enjoy themselves for more than just a few days or a week per year,” he says. “A backyard renovation means your home is a travel destination. I like the thought of that.”

BRENDA DANSO Brenda landed a spot as a Design Expert on CityLine in 2020. She graced the cover of Living Luxe magazine and was listed as one of Toronto’s influential designers.

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• NADCA Certified Air Systems Cleaning Specialists on staff • Indoor Air Quality Testing by Professional Engineer • Certified Mold Remediators and Ventilation Inspectors • State of the art Air Filtration Systems

FREE ESTIMATES

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Basement, Kitchen & Bathroom Renovations, Masonry, Tiling, Painting & Radiant Floor Heating, Carpentry Including Deck Building & Repairs, Window Replacement, Drywall Designs & Installation, Baseboard, Trims and much more.

Toronto's most respected cleaning service!

& 647-726-0030

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• CARPETS • DRAPERY • AREA RUGS • FURNITURE

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RELIABLE KITCHEN & BATH

Junk Removal and disposal, big or small!

We get rid of all your junk and unwanted clutter!

• • • • •

Total Renovations, Granite, Marble, Limestone, Ceramics Professional designer available for free estimate We bring quality craftmanship to your home or office.

Interior & Exterior Work

Household items.

Yard waste.

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Office furniture removal.

Electronic waste, etc.

Free estimates (647) - 482 - 7444 residential/commercial contact@junkmagic.ca

416-564-4920

TOWNLEY MASONRY | POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

78

PAVING ASPHALT • INTERLOCK • CONCRETE

Restoration LTD.

DUNCAN TOWNLEY

416-882-6673 RESIDENTAL / / COMMERCIAL BLOCK WORK / / BRICK WORK TUCK POINTING / / PARGING CHIMNEYS / / STONE WORK BASEMENT MASONRY

Specialist in Hazar Hazardous dous TTree ree Removal Removal and Ornamental Ornamental P Pruning runing

F R E E E S T I M AT E S Service

Upgrades

Troubleshooting Ceiling

Fans Lights Lighting Designs Pot

LED

Retrofits Thermostats Pools / Hot Tubs Generators Nest

FULL SERVICE ELECTRICIAN

Insured & Bonded • 15 years’ experience

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info@epicpaving.ca www. epi cpavi ng. ca

learning

MUSIC LESSONS

SUMMER TUTORING/ READY FOR SCHOOL

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30 YEARS TUTORING

TUTORING INDIVIDUAL MATH TUTORING Grades 6 -12 Experienced Math Teacher North Toronto Location Reasonable Rates Call 647-233-5975

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Specialities: Dyslexia, Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities & More Cert. Orton-Gillingham Practitioner Remedial/Enrichment Instruction Teaching All Subjects, K-Grade 9

Call

RENOVATIONS • 35 years’ experience • Bathroom/Kitchen Renovations • Tiling/Flooring/Carpentry • Wall Repair/Painting • Free Written Estimates Geoffrey 647-342-6804 E-Mail: scgfacl@gmail.com

Peter Topp @

416-460-2250 Serving South of Steeles

Arlene T., B.Sc., M. Ed., O.C.T.

arteach@rogers.com (416)-487-5095 Zoom Tutoring Available

FINLAY TOPP CONTRACTING

High quality home renovations & improvements

4 1 6- 2 74 - 69 4 2 www.buildbrigade.ca

IS IT LOOSE, WOBBLY, STICKING, CROOKED, LEAKING, CRACKED OR BROKEN? DOES IT NEED REPAIR?

CALL DAVE! @ 416s222s7583

YORKMILLSTUTORING.COM

For Minor Household Repairs

OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN

s (OME 2EPAIRS s 0AINTING s $RYWALL s 3HELVING s /DD *OBS s %LECTRICAL &IXTURES

Heating, Air Conditioning, Fireplaces, Hot Water Tanks and Boilers.

Rental Programs also available.

s NO JOB TOO SMALL s AFFORDABLE s FAST s RELIABLE & PROMPT s SENIORS’ DISCOUNT s YOUR SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED

CALL: 416 930 5371

SKYLIGHT PROFESSIONALS

You deserve a great tutor who: t *T RVBMJmFE EFEJDBUFE t "TTFTTFT JNQMFNFOUT B QMBO GPS TVDDFTT t 1SPNPUFT DSJUJDBM UIJOLJOH TUVEZ TLJMMT t 1SPWJEFT FODPVSBHFNFOU HVJEBODF

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Join our lively and congenial daytime conversational French classes for adults.

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All levels. Qualified Experienced Teacher

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TUTORSHIP Educational Services

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Ready to fall over?

Garages rebuilt at substantial savings over replacement (single/double)

home

HELP!

GARAGE LEANING?

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Shower Restoration of Toronto U ` ,i Û> U À ÕÌ ,i«> À U Ã viVÌÉ ii« i> U ,i« >Vi >Õ } U >ÀL i * Ã } H Àii ÃÌ >ÌiÃH

Please Call David

416-787-8084

showerrestorationtoronto.com info@showerrestorationtoronto.com

Repairs to Leaky Skylights New Installations High Quality Workmanship & Excellence Free Estimates • Licensed Seniors’ Discount

416-820-3852

• No Permit Required • No Tax Reassessment • No Set Back Issues Just a nice garage at a fraction of the cost of replacement

Of course we also do General Home Renovations

Call Peter:

416-554-3517

Quality Workmanship Guaranteed

5” Seamless Eavestrough Soffit / Fascia & Siding Free Estimates Seniors’ Discount Licensed

AYLEN ART ROOFING INC. 416-820-3852

Bathtub Caulking

IRA’S HANDYMAN SERVICES • Picture Hanging • Fixture Installations • Plumbing & Electrical • Deck & Fence Repair • Painting

Shower & Bath Clean & Grout Tile Repairs Sealing & Caulking Bathroom Remodeling

Free Estimate All Work Guaranteed

Licensed & WSIB Insured

30 Years’ Experience

Call Fred

416-826-0574 647-522-2030

• Furniture Assembly • Interlock Repair • Shingle & Flat Roof Repair

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416-274-6942

SEPTEMBER 2022

WE CAN

Eavestroughing & Siding Experts

| POST |

Frustrated Student?

79

Handy man

With Dump Truck

• Renovation • Repair

• Carpentry • Drywall

Replacement and repairs to shingle and flat roofs Aluminum eavestrough, fascia and soffit

• Demolition • Painting Yonge / Eglinton

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416-483-6326

416-819-8888

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| POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

ROOF REPAIRS • Roof Repairs • Roof Maintenance • Missing Shingles • Major/Minor Leaks • Eaves and Downspout Repair • Raccoon Problems • Squirrel and Bird Problems

PLUMBER PLUMBING

3INCE

ALL MASONRY

Burst pipes

Faucet install

s "RICK 2EPLACEMENT

Drain snaking

s 0ARGING 2EFERRALS !VAILABLE #ALL "RIAN

Plugged toilets

Bath/Kitchen Reno

Blocked kitchen sink

647-767-0164 BRIANJPARKER

Camera Inspections

ROGERS COM

WWW PARKERRESTORATIONS COM &ULLY )NSURED ,IC 4

Waterproofing

SAVE $50 JOBS OVER $500

RACCOON PROBLEMS SQUIRREL & BIRD PROBLEMS

Flat rate up front pricing

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FREE ESTIMATES NO JOB TOO SMALL SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT LICENSED

416 820 3852 HomeStars best of

Repair & Replacement Faucet Sink Toilet Shower Laundry Main Valve Leaking Pipe Backup Drain

2018-2021 Reader’s Choice 2020

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$ ECKS $ECKS &ENCES &ENCES "ASEMENTS "ASEMENTS 'AZEBOS 'AZEBOS 0ERGOLAS 0ERGOLAS -ETAL 7OOD -ETAL 7OOD &&RAMING RAMING

FULLY LICENSED & INSURED 24HR. SERVICE MET. LIC. # PH23521

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WILDLIFE EXPERTS

416-876-6679 JOHN BELL PAINTING

Tom Day

“Thank you for what most painters promise but few deliver.” R.L.

Plumbing & Drains

Squirrels Raccoons Birds sProfessionally Repaired sRoof Repairs

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0AINTING 0APERING $RYWALL 3TUCCO &AUX

Clean & efficient work done on time.

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Toronto’s Trusted Plumbers Since 1979 2000+ Reviews 9.7/10

WaterWorks

Plumbing and Drains Waterproofing Drains Fixtures -Waterproofing -Drains -Plumbing 40+ years experience Upfront Pricing Seniors Discount Michael Yuffa Master Plumber

FULL PLUMBING SERVICES

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EAVES & DOWNSPOUT REPAIR

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CALL ANTHONY

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416-830-6492

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CONSTRUCTION INC.

Call John: 416-827-8397 bwmconstr@hotmail.com

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Multifaceted Tradesman 25 Years of Experience Complete Building Envelope Residential & Commercial Innovative, Quality Work Competitive Prices Customer Satisfaction is Paramount!

Gregory: 416-409-4503

• Electrical

• Gardening • Disposal

LICENSED ELECTRICIANS

ESTABLISHED 1968. INCORPORATED 1974

BWM

80

METRO LICENSE 813. MEMBER OF HOMESTARS

Flagstone & Stone Work Brick Restoration & Masonry Retaining Walls Concrete Work & Steps Rebuild Walk Out Basement Excavating & Addition

• Plumbing

Renovations & Repairs

ELECTRICAL

APPLIANCE REPAIRS Professional repairs of all brands of refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers, dryers, washers, heating and air conditioning. Warranty. Credit cards accepted.

Seniors’ discount. Please call Fred 416266-6122.

Faucets, toilets, sinks, etc. installed. Blocked toilets, backed up drains, basement back ups.

External & internal drain excavating. Complete washroom renovations.

416-489-9633 WaterWorksCanada.com

LANDSCAPING

Hendrik Tree Service TREE REMOVAL Tree Trimming DEEP ROOT FERTILIZING Rejuvenate Your Trees SPRAY FOR GYPSY MOTH CONTOL

Root Ball Removal

647-238-2661 A Woman's Touch Landscape Design Overgrown out of control garden?

It may be more cost effective to redesign your garden space.

Please fill out our online contact form.

Call: 416-427-3367 or Visit: awtl.ca

Customizing in Small Landscape Projects: Perennial Gardens Fences & Decks Lawn Care & Garden Rejuventation

!" # $

24 hr. service

Featured On:

Servicing North Toronto for 20 Years

Design & Installation Planting & Pruning

Blueprint Design Decorative Planters Landscape Lighting Seasonal Clean-Ups Garden Makeovers & Maintenance

416-522-7288

647-274-2048

shastagardens@hotmail.com

Vision. Design. Build.

grandmasgarden.ca

Garden Maintenance Complete Garden Makeovers

Free Consultations

CITY TROPICALS INC.

MARCANTONIO

FURNITURE

Restoration & Repair

Tropical Tropical Plant Maintenance/Sales Consultation, Design & Installation Pruning & Synthetic Plants

FREE ESTIMATES ESTIMA ATES T Bus: 416-422-4707 Fax: 416-422-4701 cti@citytropicals.com 593 Mortimer Ave. Ave. Toronto Toronto M4C 2J6

FOR AN ESTIMATE CALL HENRY CUESTA

416-882-2942

416-462-0007

www.kellytree.com

WANTED SENIOR SERVICES

Restoration of antique & modern furniture.

In-home touch-ups of dining room sets, bedroom sets & kitchen cupboards.

Gluing & general repairs.

35 years’ experience

416-654-0518

COMPUTER SERVICES

Set-up, Tutoring, virus removal, troubleshooting, networks.

House calls or remote support. Patient, references available.

Your questions? My answers!

David Block: t: 416-830-6160 e: dblock@sympatico.ca.

services

APPLIANCE REPAIRS Professional repairs of all brands of refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers, dryers, washers, heating & air conditioning. Warranty.

Credit cards accepted. Seniors’ discount. Call Fred 416-266-6122.

CLEANING CLEANING LADY AVAILABLE Experienced, insured, honest and hard-working. Attention to detail. maidforyoutorontoltd.com.

Call Tanya at 416-897-6782.

SHINY CLEAN HOUSE An Experienced European cleaning lady will keep your house clean. Our company is fully Insured & Bonded. Call Inna or Inga, 416-929-5777. www.shinycleanhouse.ca.

THOROUGH, METICULOUS

HOUSEKEEPER

Sunny Disposition Quickly Learns Your Preferences Anticipates & Solves Problems

Impeccable References from

10-YEAR CLIENTS

PLEASE PHONE

GILLIAN 416 234-5500

health care

- Pruning - Removals - Planting - Arborist Reports -

Call: 519-853-2157 1-800-947-0393

Area Rugs C l e a n e d i n Yo u r Home/Condo R e p a i r s Av a i l a b l e

APPLIANCES

We are a full service tree care company that promotes tree preservation with an ethical approach to caring for trees.

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COMPUTER & IT SUPPORT

PERSONAL TRAINING

COLLECTOR LOOKING FOR Old Tube Hi Fi Components and Speakers. 40 Years or Older.

GREEN, CLEAN & DRY

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INTERIORS & UPHOLSTERY

Living Plants for Public and Private Spaces

HEALTH PROGRAMS

DRY EXTRACTION CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING SINCE 1997

Select Your Your o Caregiver Careegiiver Up to 24 hour care care Meal Preparation Preparation Errands/Shopping Hygiene Assistance Light Housekeeping Respite Care Care for Families Palliative & Chronic Chronic Care Care Joyful Companionship Alzheimer/Dementia/Parkinson/Diabetes and Cancer Care Care Provider Provider for Veteran Veteran Independent Program Program Weekends/Holidays Weekends/Holidays TTemporary/Long-term eemporary/Long-term Live-in,, Live-out Care Day/Night, Live-in Care FREE in-Home Consultation

416-398-4663 www.seniorhomecarebyangels.com/toronto1 www.seniorhomecarebyangels.com/toronto1

Care At At Home

Registered Nurses Personal Support Workers Caregivers 9 SService ervice in in over over 70 languages languages 9 24 hours hours a day, day, 7 d days ays a w week eek 9 Accredited Accredited by

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marketplace

Grandma’s Garden

GARDEN DESIGN

DRY TECHNOLOGY

FOR SALE/WANTED

A Collector Trying To Recreate An Old Time General Store is looking for items found in a General Store before 1960. Eng. Tea tins, tobacco tins, post cards, bottles, magazines, old paper items, comic books, signs, toys, advertising, old store stock, etc.

CASH PAID 416-745-4981 or 416-953-6219

WANTED! FINE ART &

TOP CASH

PAID

*ROG 6LOYHU &RLQV 3RUFHODLQ )LJXULQHV 3DLQWLQJV %URQ]H :DWFKHV -HZHOOHU\ &KLQD ,QVWUXPHQWV Tibor: 647-866-5040

Bespoke Selling Service Fine Art ࠮ Antiques ࠮ Silver ࠮ Asian ࠮ MCM ࠮ Jewelry …and all things fine.

Complimentary Consultation

ANTIQUES

Chinese Japanese Asian Porcelain Jade Bronze etc.

Canadian art & fine paintings Inuit sculpture Sterling & jewellery China & porcelain Moorcroft Doulton Art glass

ART & DESIGN

call Andrew Plum

416-669-1716

English Gentleman Buyer

plumsfineart.com

WANTED

Quality antiques Sterling, Silver Plate Chinese, Japanese,

& Asian wares

Bronze Paintings Old jewellery, watches,

coins & medals

Military items Teak Furniture Fancy cups & saucers Professional & Courteous 30 Years Experience Call David

416-231-9948

POST CITY MAGAZINES NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE

September 20 416-250-7979 x270 classifieds@postcity.com

SEPTEMBER 2022

SHASTA

What does your garden need this year?

| POST |

Welcome Autumn!

81

LOOKING BACK Before you go ... take a gander at some of the city’s most iconic movie theatres of days gone by!

Follow along on Post City’s Instagram @streetsoftoronto this month for more.

| POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

SEPTEMBER 2022 EDITION

82

The Downtown Theatre, located at 285 Yonge St., opened in 1948. Along with the Biltmore Theatre, it was one of the first to offer a double feature. The first movie screened was ‘Let’s Live a Little,’ starring Robert Cummings and Hedy Lamarr.

The Biltmore Theatre, with its impressive sign and marquee, was located on Yonge Street just south of Gerrard. Opened by the Biltmore theatres chain on April 15, 1948, you could take in double and triple features for $1 until it closed in 1986.

After its renovation in 1969, the Uptown Theatre became one of the world’s first multiplex cinemas. The Balmuto Street entrance of the theatre, shown here, gave access to two mini theatres with 200 seats after it was converted.

Opened on April 25, 1949, the Towne Cinema was one of Toronto’s major art theatres and one of the early sites for the Toronto International Film Festival, known as the Festival of Festivals, as shown here in 1976.

The Willow Theatre was a modern theatre best known for its large block-glass entrance. Located on the east side of Yonge Street at Ellerslie Avenue, it was one of the last Toronto-area theatres to run a double feature until it closed in 1987.

The Imperial Theatre, now the Ed Mirvish Theatre, is located at 263 Yonge St. Built in 1920, the theatre originally opened as the Pantages. In 1972, it underwent a renovation to create six auditoriums and was renamed the Imperial Six Theatre.

NT-SEPT-2022-IBC_IBC 2022-08-19 2:44 PM Page 1

NT-SEPT-2022-OBC_OBC 2022-08-19 2:45 PM Page 1

ROYAL LEPAGE Real Estate Services Heaps Estrin Team, Brokerage 1391 Bayview Avenue, Toronto 416-424-4910

www.NorthTorontoLiving.ca Buying Selling Renting Investing Featured Listing Renovated 4 br farmhouse on just under 2 acres, minutes to Tobermory!

Run as a Bed & Breakfast or live in the country with glorious sunsets & a picturesque private backyard. Contact Jennifer for more details.

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416-457-4407 45 Killdeer Cres SOLD OVER ASKING

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ROYAL LEPAGE Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage 4025 Yonge Street, Suite 103 Toronto 416-487-4311

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97 Bocastle Ave | LEASED

BelindaLelliTeam.ca info@BelindaLelliTeam.ca , ON GT TLE N I S AR A CL EWC N

68 Brookhouse Dr | SOLD

Sylvia Wolff

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Suzanne Stephens

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101 Old Orchard Grv | Just Listed