North York Post April 2024

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WET SET T.O.’s TV WEATHER STARS TAKE JEANNE BEKER’S FAVE RAIN GEAR FOR A SPIN

VOL. 25· ISSUE 8

APRIL 2024

THE DESIGNER BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN

THE DEVELOPER JENNIFER KEESMAAT

REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE An unscripted & unrehearsed discussion with nine housing experts on the city’s favourite spring topic

THE HGTV STAR SEBASTIAN CLOVIS

THE CONDO KING BRAD LAMB

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New Build ds|Renovations|Additions More and moree Toronto homeowners are a choosing Andon UN NDER CONSTRUCTION

Lawrence Park - 44 Dinnick Cres. - Major Reno/ T Tw wo Additions Ly t ton Park - 271 Ly t ton Blvd. - Renovation//A Addition Ly t ton Park - 132 Glencairn Ave. - New Build JUST COMPLETED Ly t ton Park - 48 Edgecombe Ave. - New Build JUST COMPLETED Ly t ton Park - 16 Heather St. - Major Renovation JUST COMPLETED Ly t ton Park - 181 Glenview Ave. - New Build Forest Hill - 35 Ridge Hill Dr. - New Build Y Yo onge/Lawrence - 72 Fairlawn Ave. - New Build Yo onge/Lawrence - 172 Brookdale Av Ave. - New Build JUST COMPLETED Y JUST COMPLETED Y Yo onge/Lawrence - 87 Glenforest Rd. - New Build Yo Yonge/Lawrence - 267 Greer Rd. - Renovation//A Addition JUST COMPLETED Armour Heights - 87 Bideford Ave. - New Build Yo onge/Sheppard - 145 Avondale Ave. - New Build JUST COMPLETED Y Y Yo onge/Sheppard - 107 Santa Barbara Rd. - New Build Avenue Rd./Lawrence - 328 Deloraine Ave. - New Build Rosedale Golf Club - 249 Golfdale Ave. - Major Reno JUST COMPLETED Ave. - New Build Bathurst /Lawrence - 60 Dell Park Av JUST COMPLETED Leslie/Lawrence - 8 Ta Tadcaster Pl. - Renovation Eglinton/Bathurst - 40 Park Hill Rd. - New Build Cox well/Gerrard - 16 Beaton Ave. - Renovation//A Addition

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CONTENTS Welcome to the April edition of the Post. Sit back & enjoy!

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35

Find out what every investor and homeowner needs to know to navigate the GTA’s spring real estate market

19 Toronto's top meteorologists (and Storm the weather dog!) take Jeanne Beker's favourite spring rain gear for a spin

31 Canada’s first lady of musical theatre, Louise Pitre on finding her leading man and their onstage meet-cute

35 French-born chef Nadège Nourian and Michelin-recognized Anthony Rose search for the city’s most authentic salad niçoise

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CITY

BY THE NUMBERS

106

© Wade Hudson

The percentage rate of increase in the number of carjackings in Toronto over the past year alone.

Exclusive Q & A with Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau releases her new book, ‘Closer Together’, on April 23. It’s about her life, her journey of self-discovery and how to live authentically in an increasingly stressed out world.

Did writing this book give you a fresh start or new perspective?

right? We need human connection to thrive.

The process of writing is cathartic. It is a process that, if you allow it to be, it deepens your self-knowledge. I also had the opportunity to interview such an incredible array of experts — neuroscientists, couples therapists, children’s therapists, couples specialists. So it was a learning curve for me as well. And I kept thinking, “Oh my God, everything that I’m learning right now I want to share with other people.” And I’m kind of like that in my personality, because I’m an only child. So if I have something, I’m like, “OK, who wants to play?”

It’s hard for people to go deep inside their own selves though.

You know, I believe that we sit with very ingrained concepts of what relationships are, especially when it comes to love in our society. You know, successes, marriage failures, divorce — I think that we are immature, relationally and emotionally. And unfortunately, the children bear the brunt of this.

We [ Justin and I] can be an example of restructuring a relationship without having to kill the relationship, we can be an example of still loving each other, respecting each other, helping each other, being there for each other, even if paths become more parallel What did you find most challenging about the process? than one on top of the other.

Sitting my bum on a chair for hours. I'm very Do you see relationships as being interested in sports, I love to move. But I also inherently difficult for everyone? learned how to sit in meditation through the The only difficult thing with relationships is years, which is kind of a little bit counter to that it's two things. The reason why we have my personality, but it is true to our nature. so much conflict is that we object to the dif- The most potent version of ourselves is calm ference, we don't like difference. We think and rested. We tend to forget about that people see the world the same way we do, but when we grow up in a society of competition that's not the case. And then, you know, and comparison. when we feel insecure in ourselves, we object even in a greater manner to difference, be- If people take one lesson from cause difference threatens us. And if you look this book, what would that be? at the state of the world right now, that Your truth will set you free. It's Michael J. would be its greatest reflection. If we do the Fox who says that we're only as sick as our work of being secure in ourselves and accept- secrets: when we hide from our own selves, ing ourselves for who we are, that’s the great- when we wear the mask because we hurt — and we all are co-dependent in some ways, est work we'll ever do in a lifetime.

If you're able to have the courage to open up inside of yourself and dive deep and befriend your silence and befriend your pain, your life, your brain, your relationships will shift in a way you won't even believe. We have to break open in order for the light to get in. As Leonard Cohen said, ‘There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in,” which is deeply philosophical.

8 The date in April of the upcoming solar eclipse, with Toronto sitting right on the path of totality for prime viewing.

How important is it for people to embrace a mental health or wellness practice in this society?

The art of mindfulness — whether it's sitting in silence, whether it's yoga, whether it's Tai Chi, Qigong, going for walks in nature or just lying down on the floor and putting your hands over your heart — whatever you choose, it doesn't matter, as long as you can — I can't swear — but, slow the F down.

168 The followers, in hundreds of thousands, for Toronto’s doggie influencer Bao, the chihuahua.

So what’s next for you?

You know what? There's one thing that we have to live with and also embrace and that’s uncertainty. I have a lot of ideas. But I'm OK now with living with uncertainty. It makes me emotional, just to say that because we all do [live with uncertainty], right? And I think of all the people who have no certainty in their lives, right? And I want to help out.

1 The city of Toronto’s ranking for the worst bed bug infestation in the country for the second year running.

| APRIL 2024

You had a big change in your own life in August. How are you now, and how did the lessons you are writing about help you?

$35 The value, in millions, of a new exhibit of works by street artist Banksy set to open in Toronto this spring.

5

FEATURE

NEWS SECTION Development proposals at sites such as (L-R) Fairview Mall, Dufferin Mall and Yorkdale Mall could add thousands of new homes

Latest shopping mall find could be a new home?

Across the city, from Dufferin Mall to Eglinton Square to Yorkdale, mall sites are planning massive developments parking. That the big parking lots are the dinosaurs and the comet is on the way,” he said. Here is a look.

Centerpoint Wonderland

Centerpoint Mall, located at 6464 Yonge St. in North York, is the site of an ambitious proposal by Revenue Properties Company, which has outlined a phased redevelopment plan spanning several years. This extensive undertaking involves the construction of 22 new buildings, comprising a mix of 18 highrises and four mid-rises, ultimately delivering 8,325 new residential units. Central to the vision for Centerpoint Mall is the creation of an interconnected community, including the establishment of a sprawling 20,000square-foot public park, designed to cater to diverse recreational needs, as well as a 9,200-squarefoot retail component fronting on Steeles Avenue.

This comprehensive redevelopment initiative aims to breathe new life into the surrounding landscape. The initial phase includes the construction of four new towers, offering a total of 6,278 residential units alongside retail and recreational amenities.

At the heart of the Sherway Gardens revitalization is the emphasis on community-centric design principles. The proposal prioritizes the creation of public spaces with 14,000 square metres of new non-residential uses, such as public parks and open spaces, as well as public and private roads and a pedestrian plaza.

Bayview by the River

The proposed redevelopment of Bayview Village Shopping Centre epitomizes urban modernization and revitalization, with plans for six towers, including two south towers of 30 and 29 storeys and a north tower of 20 storeys. A feature of the Bayview Village projSherway Meadows ect is its focus on enhancing Cadillac Fairview's ambitious re- public amenities and green spaces vitalization plans for Sherway with pedestrian-friendly design Gardens span multiple phases. elements. The ground-level retail

area faces a retail promenade, designed as a pedestrian-centric space that re-establishes the contemporary mall's connection to its origins as an open-air mall.

Eglinton LRTville

the redevelopment of Fairview Mall with an application to transform the vast surface parking lots into vibrant urban communities.

With plans for three highrise towers and more than 1,400 units, this project aims to reimagine the mall's parking areas, enhancing both functionality and esthetics.

The proposal includes a village green, outdoor amenity spaces and a retail pavilion.

The proposed regeneration of Eglinton Square includes plans for seven towers ranging from six to 50 storeys. This project aims to redefine the urban landscape, offering a mix of residential, commercial and recreational amenities Yorkdale Mews at the Mall in addition to adding more than The redevelopment plans of Ox1,600 units to the housing mix. ford Properties for Yorkdale ShopCentre herald a Spanning an area of 7.7 hectares, ping the redevelopment presents an transformative shift in Toronto's opportunity to create vibrant urban landscape. With proposals urban hubs that cater to diverse for 19 highrise towers comprising lifestyles and preferences. The more than 5,000 residential units, Eglinton Square site is just part of this project aims to create a vibrant a massive redevelopment of the new city within the city. Central to entire Golden Mile along Eglin- the Yorkdale mall redevelopment ton Avenue East between Vic- is the challenge of balancing toria Park Avenue and growth with sustainability and Birchmount Road that will bring community well-being. The proposal includes plans for public a total of almost 38,000 units. parks, green spaces and pedestrianFairview by the Sea friendly infrastructure, fostering a Cadillac Fairview, in partnership sense of connectivity and inclusivwith Shape Properties, has begun ity.

— Ron Johnson 7 | APRIL 2024

In recent years, Toronto has witnessed a surge in proposals for the redevelopment of its shopping malls, aiming to reshape urban spaces into vibrant mixed-use communities. These ambitious projects promise to blend residential, commercial and recreational elements, revitalizing aging infrastructure and enriching the city's landscape.

With all the talk of a housing crisis and the need to ramp up development, shopping malls and the vast surface parking lots that are associated with them are ideal housing sites. According to a city spokesperson, shopping mall activity could result in“an increase to the City’s housing supply, with approximately 68,000 residential units being proposed across 19 mall sites as of 2023.”

City councillor Gord Perks, chair of the city’s housing and planning committee, said surface parking lots make no sense in a growing city such as Toronto.

“I think Toronto's reaching the point of maturity where there are so many things we can do with land that have higher value than

NEWS OPINION

LEARN DEVELOP GROW powersoccer.ca

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Our most efficient municipal a fine that is equivalent to a service — issuing parking tickets week’s worth of groceries. Park— is becoming more expensive. ing on a residential street without On Aug. 1, parking fines are a permit is at the bottom of the scheduled to increase by 150 per list of offences, and a $75 fine is cent throughout the city and in- excessive. clude fines of $75 for not paying Many streets have permits, at a meter or parking on a street and parking between midnight without a valid permit. Parking and 10 a.m. is not permitted. in a bike lane could cost $200 — Usually these are on streets in more than parking too close to a which the houses don’t have fire hydrant. driveways, so permits help proThe city administration sug- tect spots for those who live on gests this policy move is not a the street. Although it is annoymoney grab, but a way to manage ing when spots aren’t available for congestion. The new fines are ex- those who do live on the street, it pected to bring in an additional is not clear it equates to a nui$40 million per year. sance charge of $75.

If it’s not a money grab, and For the many streets that don’t the city really wanted to manage have permits, the city bylaw congestion, there wouldn’t be states that there is a three-hour parking on major arterial roads at parking maximum. I believe that, all. It is the most inefficient use on occasion, the police issue of road space. Given there is no parking tickets to an entire street political will to do that, parking just because they can, not because fines are the substitute. it has any impact on congestion.

In the hierarchy of parking inHopefully the police realize fractions, one of the worst is that the impact of issuing these parking on a major arterial road tickets is not worth the revenue. when it is not permitted and, in In neighbourhoods where the process, obstructing the flow auto thefts are skyrocketing, the of traffic for thousands of com- police would be well advised not muters. In those instances, the to spend their time issuing parkfine should be high. ing tickets. There are better ways Parking in a bike lane is lower to address congestion. on the hierarchy of parking infractions. Although it is certainly KAREN STINTZ is a city councillor frustrating and should be dis- former and was a chair of the TTC. couraged, it should not result in

NEWS OPINION

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Parking via laneway. Close to Yonge St. shops & Summerhill subway station.

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Province ready to bulldoze heritage The latest provincial attack on Toronto restricts the city’s ability to protect heritage buildings and places. It is part of Bill 23, giving a much freer hand to the development industry to do what it wants. This restriction comes into force on Jan. 1, 2025.

Ironically, there’s nothing conservative about any of it.

The protection of historic structures and places comes about through the Ontario Heritage Act, passed in 1970. It permits a municipality to designate structures to protect them from demolition, and in 1972 a committee was established at city hall to look at what buildings should be designated. As a first term alderman I was a member of that committee, and we relied on Douglas Richardson, a professor at University of Toronto with a focus on historical buildings, to come up with the first list of what should be designated.

He suggested about 400 buildings that needed protection. Few of them were under immediate threat of demolition, but of course one always had to be vigilant. The process of designation was complicated, time-consuming and expensive, and we realized that city council would never agree to proceed with all 400. I suggested a work-around.

Suppose we simply presented the list to city council for approval, without proceeding to

designation, and then gave the list cess, and the weak ones can get to the building department? If a pushed aside during negotiations, permit was applied for to demol- but there are clearly many on the ish or alter a structure on the list, list of real value. How could the the building department would city ever designate 1,000 or more immediately notify city council, buildings by the end of the year? and the appropriate person could Last year the city designated less begin negotiations with the de- than 75 structures, and, if it veloper to save the building. If ne- worked really hard, it could desgotiations were not successful, ignate 100 this year. That still then council could proceed with leaves a lot of valuable history designation. without protection.

Council adopted that proceMaybe another work-around is dure in 1973 and it has been very possible. Council could forgo listsuccessful. Negotiations have ing and instead ask heritage staff usually resulted in buildings or to informally let the building detheir important aspects being re- partment know what structures tained. Generally the devel- are important so it can keep an opment industry has not been eye on building permits. But one unhappy with the process, which can see Premier Ford weighing in has become known as “listing.” on anything that tries to protect Most municipalities in Ontario heritage buildings. have adopted the listing process It used to be that one could rely and used it for the last 50 years. on conservative politicians to conBill 23 requires that by Jan. 1, serve the past, whether structures 2025, every municipality must get or institutions or processes. But rid of the listing process. Toronto this Conservative Party buys none is not permitted to have a list of of this and has no problem heritage buildings to be protected. changing the way judges are apThe city can use the expensive pointed or allowing medical opand time-consuming process to erations to be performed by designate buildings, but it cannot private companies or slashing the use this informal process to ensure ability of conservation authorities that early negotiations with a de- to protect the natural environveloper take place. ment or putting universities and City staff are trying to figure colleges under financial strain — out what to do. There are now or protect our built heritage. about 4,000 buildings on the city list. Yes, that may include some JOHN SEWELL is a that have a dubious heritage former mayor of Toronto. status, but it is an informal pro-

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Greater efforts should be made to preserve the city’s historic buildings

9

NEWS

End is near for this Park Lane Circle home

$15 million Bridle Path home to be demolished

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Someone paying $15 million for a Bridle Path house isn’t that unusual for the city of Toronto’s priciest enclave, but what pricked up the city’s collective ears was the news following the sale that the house would simply be demolished.

The 19,000-square-foot mansion at Park Lane Circle will be torn down, according to a recent permit that was issued by the city. The Bridle Path mansion was placed on the market in September of 2020 at $18 million. It reportedly sold in February 2021 for $15.48 million. According to the city, the permit was issued in late March to demolish the existing two-and-a-half-storey dwelling and construct a new single-family dwelling, with an associated indoor basketball court, indoor pool and basement walkout.

The current mansion that is slated to be demolished has a plush interior, featuring eight bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, three kitchens and a guest suite with a private entrance, as well as a grand ballroom with chandeliers dripping in crystals and a living room with a wet bar. The wood-burning marble fireplaces, hand-painted ceilings, arched entryways and french doors emit elegance.

The outdoors is nothing to scoff at, boasting two acres of peaceful gardens and a private tennis court located on a twoacre ravine lot.

The news has generated major discussions across social media, with some surprised that such a beautiful, large house is being demolished.

“Such a shame, actually a very nice house with character,” one person commented on the online forum Reddit. “This could easily have been updated.

Will probably be replaced with some sort of soulless monstrosity.”

Another Redditor noted that the “Bridle Path has maybe 20~ houses/lots that are empty or essentially abandoned that are roughly the same size as this lot. I don't think condos will ever be built in this area anytime soon!”

The Bridle Path neighbourhood in Toronto is one of the city’s priciest slices of real estate. The area near Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East counts rapper Drake as a resident. The area was also home to late, great musician Prince, and Elton John has been known to throw a party or two in the area.

— Nisean Lorde

NEWS

Mayor to end religious site protests When hundreds of demon- or other vulnerable social infrasstrators rallied and counter-rallied tructure. This Resolution would outside a synagogue in Thornhill also direct staff to draft the bylaw last month with York Regional so that any person who violates Police (YRP) making several ar- this condition be fined the maxirests, it was clearly a dangerous mum amount permissible, not to situation. And, as a result Vaug- exceed $100,000,” said Del Duca, han mayor Steven Del Duca is in a statement. looking to enact a new bylaw to “The right to peaceful protest prevent a recurrence. is a fundamental freedom afThe Beth Avraham Yoseph of forded to all Canadians. However, Toronto synagogue was hosting a this right is not without limits, he real estate event promoting prop- added. “Everyone, regardless of erties in the occupied West Bank. their faith or background, has a Real estate agents and firms involved in the "Great Israeli Real “ Estate Event" gathered as part of It incites violence a series of comprehensive tours at a place of being held across five cities in worship.”

North America.

Del Duca is looking to the Vaughan City Council to approve right to feel safe, especially in vula resolution that would protect nerable areas of our community, Vaughan’s places of worship, where kids go to learn, where schools, child care facilities and its people go to access vital health hospital from demonstrations care, where families go for child and protests that incite hatred, in- care services and where our restolerance and violence and seek to idents go to worship.” intimidate residents.

Following the protests and “Today, I am announcing that counter-protests at the synI will be bringing forward a agogue, YRP arrested three indiMember’s Resolution to Vaughan viduals.

City Council, which, if passed, “In one incident, a man was would direct City staff to prepare observed, by Emergency Rea bylaw that prohibits demonstra- sponse Unit officers in the crowd, tions of a nature that are intended carrying a knife. He was immedito intimidate; incite hatred, vio- ately arrested and was charged,” lence or discrimination within YRP said in a press release.

100 metres of a religious instituThe other arrests include a tion, schools, child care centre, protester allegedly assaulting a fehospital, congregate care settings male victim, leading to the arrest,

and in another incident, a verbal altercation between a man and a woman escalated, with the woman threatening to use coyote repellent spray similar to pepper spray.

The protests and arrests raised concerns throughout the community, especially as it involved a religious site.

According to YRP, the York Regional Police Hate Crime Prevention Unit has been engaged and will investigate.

“Let me be clear: there is no tolerance for hate in Vaughan,” said Del Duca.

“Acts of intimidation, such as the antisemitic vandalism at Chabad House of Maple and the bomb threat at the Jaffari Community Centre and Mosque, as well as the large-scale protests that occurred in Thornhill near synagogues, schools and child care facilities are all examples of behaviour that is deeply disturbing to our residents. Each represents a wake-up call for leaders and requires a call-to-action.”

Thornhill MP Melissa Lantsman also spoke out against protestors at the religious site.

“When you protest in front of a synagogue, beside a school in a residential neighbourhood, it’s illegal,” said Thornhill MP Melissa Lantsman.

“It incites violence at a place of worship.”

— Ron Johnson

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CF FAIRVIEW MALL 1800 Sheppard Ave E, Lower Level (416) 225-7770

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| APRIL 2024

Vaughan mayor Steven Del Duca

11

NEWS

Annex frats continue to frustrate neighbourhood residents

Delta Kappa Epsilon in the Annex neighbourhood

Former governor general Adri- ing of metallic objects.…This is enne Clarkson is one of many simply unacceptable behaviour Annex residents who is un- in a residential area. We don’t happy with the noise that comes understand why we cannot regfrom fraternities in her neigh- ulate these types of houses. This bourhood, and she is wondering has been going on much too why the city won’t regulate these long, and residents have been types of houses. extremely patient. Please let’s do “The frat houses in our something about it right away!” neighbourhood, particularly the Clarkson’s letter was subDelta Kappa Epsilon at the corner of Lowther and St. George, are filthy and a noise nuisance,” “This is simply Clarkson and her husband, John unacceptable Ralston Saul, wrote in a letter that was submitted to a meeting behaviour for a of Toronto City Council’s plan- residential area.” ning and housing committee in January.

The letter states that their mitted in support of councillor house on Admiral Road backs Dianne Saxe’s request that fraonto the Delta Kappa Epsilon ternities and sororities be regusite, and their guest room faces lated under Toronto’s west to it. multi-tenant bylaw — a motion “A house guest, who recently that Saxe proposed in January stayed with us on a Saturday after she received multiple comnight, confessed that he had not plaints from her constituents slept because of the noise: about noise from fraternities. shouting, loud music and clang“Almost all of Toronto’s fra-

ternity and sorority residences are located in Ward 11,” said Saxe, in a Jan. 15 letter, adding that residents advised that the fraternities and sororities in their ward continue to have a pattern of conflict with their neighbours and limited compliance with city bylaws.

Saxe said that the requirements of the multi-tenant house licensing by-law are modest and reasonable and that those who live in dwelling rooms in fraternities or sororities deserve the same legal protections as those who live in other dwelling rooms.

Her motion “To protect students and their neighbours” by regulating fraternity and sorority residences under the multitenant house licensing by-law, at a planning and housing committee meeting earlier this year, was unsuccessful. Council did allocate $750,000 for more bylaw officers.

— Nisean Lorde

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Ballroom Bowl on John Street opening new location at Bloor and Yonge

Yorkille undergoing massive changes marked a watershed moment in Yorkville's history.

Eric Sherman, the head of national operations at First Capital REIT, recently shared the long-awaited news, signalling the completion of leasing endeavours encompassing more than 80,000 square feet across three levels.

“We are proud of the spectacular roster of tenants we will be welcoming to this iconic corner, which includes a curated mix of F&B [food and beverage service] and entertainment, health and wellness, flagship fashion and a financial institution, all of whom are of the best in their respective categories,” Sherman stated.

The podium features three levels of flagship retail space at the base of a mixed-use 76-storey condominium tower.

Moreover, the $1.5 billion revitalization of the Bloor-Yonge subway station is ongoing and will improve accessibility and connectivity in Yorkville.

With massive renovations underway, the station is poised to emerge as a modern transportation hub, linking Yorkville to Toronto’s downtown.

As these initiatives unfurl, Yorkville stands poised to captivate the collective imagination of Toronto residents and visitors alike.

— Ron Johnson

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In the urban fabric of Toronto, storefront, and across the street few neighbourhoods command Lululemon is opening a massive the prestige and allure of York- flagship store. ville. Once hailed as the veritaThe revitalization of the area ble epicentre of the city's social also includes massive condo deand cultural life, this historic velopment highlighted by The neighborhood is on the cusp of One condo, the tallest in Caa monumental resurgence nada, as well as a new W Hotel spurred on by the massive at 90 Bloor St. E. beside the old changes coming to the corner of Hudson’s Bay. Yonge Street and Bloor Street.

"We were first in there, and Yes, the centre of the city is I'm just incredibly proud of that. about to regain its swagger.

With tenants like Nike, Shake Paul Donato, for one, is ex- Shack and Scotiabank coming cited to see it happen. He’s the founder of the Ballroom, a be- “ loved 14-year-old casual bowl- I really do feel like ing and entertainment facility at a kid on Christmas Richmond Street West and morning.”

John Street that is opening an exciting new facility at One Bloor East in the former loca- in, it's a testament to the neightion of a McEwan food store. bourhood's revitalization."

The Ballroom will replace The Yorkville Ballroom is McEwan food store, and the scheduled to open by the end of former Nordstrom Rack space March, and it will be unlike will be split by its floors. Avant anything the city has seen . will open on the 30,000-square“You kind of go see it to befoot upper level of the former lieve it. I know it sounds like a Nordstrom store. sales pitch, but you just got to The 8,000-square-foot main go see it,” said Donato. “I really floor of the former Nordstrom do feel like a kid on Christmas at the southeast corner of Yonge morning. I think it's just so offand Bloor streets will become the-charts different from anythe flagship branch for Scotia- thing out there, just like in the bank, and the Nike flagship Entertainment District. I think store will take up approximately everybody's going to love it.”

17,000 square feet of space over News of the Ballroom opentwo levels. ing is buoyed by the announceIn addition, Spanish retailer ment of the full leasing of retail Mango is opening its first retail space at One Bloor East, which

13

MAIN STREET NEWS

Uptown gets an Eataly, Leaside’s gourmet doughnut shop & more Eataly has staked out nearly 9,800 square feet at CF Shops at Don Mills, and the Italian hot spot will be opening soon! More details about the new location at 1090 Don Mills Rd. haven’t been shared yet, but the brand is planning for a spring 2024 opening.

Isabella’s Mochi Donuts is opening on Bayview this month, giving Leaside residents a chance to taste these unique doughnuts that have been a favourite since husband-and-wife team David and Cecilia Noon first opened the shop in 2016. Flavours include miso brown butter–chocolate chip, tiramisù, Earl Grey crème brulée and more that will be unveiled every week at 1699 Bayview Ave.

Isabella’s Mochi Donuts is coming to Leaside

Plato’s Closet just opened a new location at 39 Orfus Rd., in North York, moving into an area that has become a destination for second-hand shopping. The

name brand-focused thrift store also encourages customers to visit the store to sell their gently used clothing.

Piggy’s Island has reopened in Thornhill at 5 Glen Cameron Rd. after a devastating fire shut down the place almost three years ago. The family-run spot is back to offering an authentic Korean barbecue experience for patrons, including a 12-ingredient beef marinade, an ox bone soup slow cooked for 72 hours and pork and kimchi stew.

Old School Barber just opened on Eglinton and visitors in the neighbourhood have been loving it so far! With a modern and minimalist interior, customers have been served espressos alongside fresh cuts for the ultimate luxury barbershop experience.

The new shop at 558 Eglinton Ave. W. is open every day other than Monday.

Upper Canada Choristers is celebrating its 30th anniversary on May 10 at Grace Church onthe-Hill! The concert will feature four new compositions, including one by a Grade 5 student and a guest boys choir of Maurice Cody School. The performance is happening at 300 Lonsdale Rd. Nick Vitantonio, a fixture in the Forest Hill community and the third-generation owner of Forest Hill Barbershop at 408 Spadina Rd., recently passed away. Nick considered customers his friends and family and raised almost $2 million for SickKids and Diabetes Canada with the barbershop’s annual golf tournaments.

He was known for his jokes at the shop, his own wine tasting during holidays and his dedication to the community — so much so that a lane was named after him in Forest Hill. He will be greatly missed and celebrated in the village.

Contact my office for help with provincial issues.

111 Sheppard Avenue W. Tor oronto, ON M2N 1M7 416-733-7878 stan.cho@ @pc.ola.org | stanchompp.ca

STA S AN CHO MPP - Willowdale M

CRIME NEWS

TORONTO BREAK-INS WHEN

WHERE

MAR. 1

GRANDVIEW AVE. AND ELSPETH PL.

3 A.M.

ROSEDALE RD. AND CLUNY DR.

12 P.M.

BEECHWOOD AVE. AND UPPER HIGHLAND CRES.

8 P.M.

Stormwater and Water Service Charges Consultation

BATHURST ST. AND YORK DOWNS DR.

10 P.M.

Vir tual Public Meetings

YORKVILLE AVE. AND HAZELTON AVE.

7 P.M.

BROWNRIDGE DR. AND WESTMINSTER DR.

8 P.M.

TOWNSGATE DR. AND PALM GATE BLVD.

3 P.M.

YONGE ST. AND ELGIN ST.

7 P.M.

CARMICHAEL AVE. AND CLYDE AVE.

4 A.M.

KNOLLWOOD ST. AND FIFESHIRE RD.

4 A.M.

STEELES AVE. E. AND DUDLEY AVE.

4 P.M.

BLOOR ST. W. AND AVENUE RD.

5 P.M.

MCGILLIVRAY AVE. AND CLYDE AVE.

3 A.M.

STAFFORD RD. AND CLOEBURY CRT.

5 A.M.

BOMBAY AVE. AND KIRKTON RD.

7 P.M.

MAR. 6

UPPER CANADA DR. AND NORMANDALE CRES.

3 A.M.

MAR. 7

MONA DR. AND CORTLEIGH BLVD.

6 A.M.

RODEO DR. AND CAMPBELL AVE.

8 A.M.

DORIS AVE. AND SHEPPARD AVE. E.

12 P.M.

GREEN BUSH RD. AND HILDA AVE.

3 P.M.

ROSE PARK DR. AND HUDSON DR.

3 A.M.

BATHURST ST. AND LYONSGATE DR.

3 A.M.

LORRAINE DR. AND BLAKELEY RD.

3 A.M.

ESTELLE AVE. AND HOLLYWOOD AVE.

4 A.M.

WILLOWDALE AVE. AND GREENFIELD AVE.

9 A.M.

BATHURST ST. AND COCKSFIELD AVE.

10 A.M.

AVENUE RD. AND PEARS AVE.

3 P.M.

BATHURST ST. AND DEWLANE DR.

7 A.M.

ST. CLAIR AVE. E. AND ALVIN AVE.

11 P.M.

GLENVIEW AVE. AND ANSLEY ST.

4 A.M.

We welcome you to book a private tour.

FISHERVILLE RD. AND RUSSFAX DR.

12 P.M.

Kindly call the school.

CHELTENHAM AVE. AND ST. IVES CRES.

3 A.M.

WILLOWDALE AVE. AND HOLMES AVE.

3 A.M.

CASTLEFIELD AVE. AND YONGE ST.

4 A.M.

RADINE RD. AND GWENDOLEN AVE.

12 P.M.

YONGE BLVD. AND DUNSTER AVE.

3 P.M.

BATHURST ST. AND CRANBROOKE AVE.

4 P.M.

EGLINTON AVE. E. AND DON AVON DR.

6 A.M.

MAR. 15

WEEPING WILLOW LN. AND ROYAL ORCHARD BLVD.

4 A.M.

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CRESCENT RD. AND YONGE ST.

10 P.M.

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The City of Toronto holds public consultations as one way to engage residents in the life of their city. We invite you to get involved.

The City is hosting virtual public information events where you can learn more about the charges, ask questions and share your comments.

Join us: Monday, April 8 - 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 11 - 6 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, April 16 - 6 to 8 p.m.

Background Stormwater management supports the City’s resiliency and combats climate change. The water rate you currently pay includes the cost for stormwater management. The City is reviewing options for a stormwater charge based on property size and type. Stormwater management costs would be removed from the water rate and shown as a separate charge on your utility bill. The City is also considering a wa ater t service i charge h to t recover fixed fi d costs t ffor administration d i i t ti and d maintenance of water and wastewater services, which are currently included in the water rate. The City is assessing the impact of these possible charges on your water rate, and what you pay.

Visit toronto.ca/stormwatercharge for more information, to register for a meeting and complete the survey. To be added to the mailing list or if you require accessibility accommodations, contact: Aadila Valiallah Public Consultation Unit stormwatercharge@toronto.ca 416-338-2985

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Dash cameras and motor vehicle accidents: What you need to know Tips from Jeremy Diamond and Sandra Zisckind of Diamond & Diamond Lawyers JEREMY DIAMOND Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation.

While the rate of motor vehicle accidents on Canada’s roads has declined in recent years due to pandemic safety measures, traffic volumes are increasing once again and collisions continue to cause an alarming amount of injuries every year. Given how commonplace such accidents are for drivers across Canada, many people are investing in dash cameras as a simple piece of tech that can protect your interests in case of a collision.

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cams and why they’re relevant to personal injury law: 1. What Are Dash Cameras?

Dash cameras are small video recording devices mounted on a vehicle’s dashboard that capture real-time footage of your driving experiences. These devices start at around $50 at your local electronics store (costs vary depending on features) and can provide critical evidence in case of an accident, which can have a significant impact on your liability as a party to the collision. “Dash cameras have evolved into essential tools for drivers,” says Jeremy Diamond. “They can be a real game-changer in establishing fault and protecting you from liability should an accident occur.”

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Absolutely! Dash cameras can

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In partnership with the Rotman School of Management. Special thanks to our incredible sponsor The RE/MAX Collection.

Our 17th annual unscripted & unrehearsed discussion with nine housing experts on the city’s favourite spring topic

THE HGTV STAR SEBASTIAN CLOVIS Co-Host, HGTV Canada; Principal, Clovis Contracting

POST: As we do each year, we will kick things off with an update on the economy and interest rates from the country's top real estate economist, Benjamin Tal. BENJAMIN TAL: If the real and ul-

timate measure of intelligence is what you do when you don't know what to do, then the next few weeks, months and quarters will test the economic IQ of the Bank of Canada because they are the first to admit that they have no clue what's happening. We are all making it up as we go. So I know that by now, many of you are very disappointed because, after all, everybody promised you a recession, and we didn't get a recession. So where is that recession?

Let me tell you. We are in a recession.

We are in a per capita recession. Per capita GDP is down by 2.5 per cent, per capita consumption is down by 3 per cent. So the only reason why the economy is above zero is because of the fact that we got 1.2 million people into this country in a very short period of time. This is not a way to grow an economy. India also has a lot of people. What we need is GDP per capita growing, not just getting more and more people into the country without being able to grow the economy. So that's more or less where we are, and we have to improve on that.

At the end of the day, although everybody is talking about inflation, this is not about inflation. This is about the cost of

THE SALES PRO BARRY COHEN President, RE/MAX Realtron Barry Cohen Homes Inc.

THE INFLUENCER ANYA ETTINGER Realtor, Bosley Real Estate Ltd.

THE DESIGNER BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN Principal, Gluckstein Design; Author

THE BROKER MICHAEL KALLES President, Harvey Kalles

THE DEVELOPER JENNIFER KEESMAAT President and CEO, Collecdev-Markee

THE CONDO KING BRAD LAMB President, Brad J. Lamb Realty & Lamb Development Corp.

THE ARCHITECT BRIGITTE SHIM Co-Founder, Shim-Sutcliffe Architects

THE BANKER BENJAMIN TAL Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC World Markets Inc.

bringing inflation down to 2 per cent, which is the target. The Bank of Canada, the ECB in Europe, the Fed in the U.S., they have all established their reputation as inflation fighters. They will do whatever it takes to bring it back to 2 per cent. And we can argue until we are blue in the face to what extent 2 per cent is the right number. I don't think it's the right number. I think it's higher. But they are not going to change it.

So the Bank of Canada — and this is extremely important if you care about mortgage rates — the Bank of Canada is a biased bank. You wake them up in the middle of the night and you ask, “Recession or inflation?” They will take a recession any day. So they overshoot by design.

If the Bank of Canada was an AI machine, they would have stopped raising interest rates 50 basis points ago.

You can overshoot in two ways. You can raise interest rates way too high, and you can keep them high for too long, and they are going to do both. Now, we must discuss inflation, but before that, we have to realize that the GDP in Canada is now approaching zero. So we are very close to a technical recession or a very, very, very soft landing. And that's exactly what the Bank of Canada would like to see. I had a lunch meeting with some clients the other day, and they asked me on the way there, "Are you going to give us good news?"

And I said, "Depends what they are serving for lunch."

What is good news? If tomorrow I tell you that GDP growth is 5 per cent, the labour market is generating 100,000 new

jobs, very strong, is it good news or bad news? Well, for the Bank of Canada it is a nightmare because they want to see the economy slowing down. Bad news is good news because it means that the Bank of Canada will not be raising more if you have bad news. So bad news is good news.

And if bad news is good news, I have plenty of good news for you today.

I believe that all those major inflationary forces that were unfolding are now turning into disinflationary forces. Supply chain is back to normal. This means that prices of goods are starting to go down.

And then there’s interest payments on mortgages. The Bank of Canada is raising interest rates to fight inflation. Higher interest rates are adding to inflation through mortgage interest payments that are rising by 30 per cent a year. It's madness. Nobody will be able to convince me that higher mortgage interest payments are disinflationary.

If you remove mortgage interest payments — and by the way, the Bank of Canada is one of the only banks in the universe that uses mortgage interest payments in the CPI [Canadian Consumer Price Index] — from the calculations, inflation becomes 1.5 per cent — already below target. And that's why the Bank of Canada is overshooting. Still, they announced on March 6 that they're not going to raise interest rates but not giving us hints when they're going to cut. So I'll tell you when they're going to cut: June.

June will be the first cut. I think they're ready for that, and they will start hinting in April that they're ready to do so. Now,

by how much?

We started this saga at 1.75 per cent overnight rate. We are at 5 per cent now.

Staying there until June. It will go down to what? I say 2.75 per cent. Why 2.75 per cent? Because economically speaking, COVID was a condition that accelerated so many forces and trends. We all know the story. One of them is deglobalization that is now actually inflationary, replacing globalization that was disinflationary. We used to have just-in-time inventories that were actually disinflationary, now we have just-in-case inventories, inflationary.

The labour market used to be giving, forgiving. Now it's tight, inflationary, and all those green initiatives, they're inflationary. For inflationary forces, the target is 2 per cent. Clearly by definition, interest rates have to be higher than they were before. And let me remind you that the real estate market in Canada can do extremely well. The real estate market in Toronto can do extremely well at a 3 per cent overnight rate if we know the direction. And if we are in equilibrium: interest rates were too low. Three per cent will be the right number, and things will do fine when interest rates are 3 per cent.

POST: Now, we'll ask Barry Cohen, the country's top carriage trade agent, for an update on the current state of the condo, home and investment property markets.

BARRY COHEN: Well, to under-

| APRIL 2024

THE MODERATORS LIZA FROMER & JULIA MASTROIANNI

stand what's in store for 2024, I think we have to first understand what happened in 2023: 2023 19

2024 REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

BRAD LAMB: Generally speaking, prices

have dropped about 10 to 15 per cent from the early spring of 2022. So if Ben is right, and they start reducing rates in June, and we get a 2 per cent decrease in rates over the next year or so, this time next year, we will have recovered all of that, and we'll probably be about 4 per cent or 5 per cent over what the prices were back then.

Going forward, I just don't really see what can change the inevitable. I think Toronto and Canada are a very desirable city and country to live in. We are expensive. We are not the most expensive in the world. We may someday be the most expensive in the world because we are probably one of the best cities and countries in the world to live in. I think there's going to have to be solutions about how to solve those problems. But price-wise and looking in the crystal ball, prices will rise as soon as interest rates start to fall.

| APRIL 2024

BARRY COHEN: I think that it's inevitable

20

prices will continue to rise. It just won't stop. When I was in my 20s, I think, 11 per cent was our normal. And now we're looking at 5 and 6 per cent. And I think it's really about an adjustment. If rates don't come down, I hope Benjamin is right — and I do believe he is — but if they don't come down, there will be an adjustment because you have other forces like the baby boomers, wealth inheritances, money being passed down to the children. That's a force. Immigrants are a force. Interest rates at 6 per cent are so bad, but once you get down to 2.75 per cent, watch out. So I think that Toronto Real Estate Board will probably have about 80,000 in sales.

They're predicting 77,000. And I think prices will go up somewhere between 8 and 10 per cent this year.

was full of uncertainty, a lot of stops and goes.

At the end of the year, the stats were very simple. Condos and freehold pretty much were the same. They each dropped about 5 per cent to 5.5 per cent in value, and activity was down 12 per cent in both categories. Sellers were holding back. So we were inventory challenged, and it's a good part of the reason why we had fewer sales.

And it was a very challenging year because interest rates were climbing until about the summer. And then they leveled off. And it’s interesting: when they leveled off, you saw that the market became vibrant, and the higher-end was moving.

And then our new mayor came up with the new land transfer tax, and things just stopped. We're moderately busy in every category, and then, lo and behold, I started noticing that the wealthy around October were buying real estate to avoid the new tax rates, which in some cases was an increase of 1 per cent to 5 per cent. And they're buying, buying as long as they can close by December.

And I thought that that was unexpected because I thought that the rich might stand on the sidelines and say, "Hey, you know, if rates are not going to change or go up, prices are going to fall, and I'll wait until next year.” Or “I'll avoid the tax, and I'll wait until next year and maybe get it for 90 cents on the dollar."

But they were buying. And that was great.

And then all of a sudden, Benjamin Tal came out — I think it was about the end of November — with his prediction that rates would fall somewhere between 1 per cent and 1.5 per cent. And what happened was, I felt in December — Michael might share that opinion — that it continued to be busy irrespective of the closing date. There was this optimism. And that's the way we started the year of 2024: optimism.

So far, it's go, go, go, so you have this optimism. The Toronto Real Estate Board reported at the end of January sales are up 37 per cent and sales are up in February. That just came up. The two averaged out to be over 18 per cent of the same time last year. I mean, that's very good, but what it doesn't talk to is the different categories. You have to understand that, when the Toronto Real Estate Board reports, 98 per cent of their data is for homes under $2.5 million. If I should sell an $8 million, a $10 million or a $20 million house tonight, it won't change the

statistics. When you look more specifically, the low end under $3 million is roaring. The up to $3 to $5 million is moving.

Over $5 million is sluggish. When you go over $7.5 million, it's just completely at a stop. That will change. And if Benjamin is right and interest rates will go down, then I think that the balance between lower interest rates and paying the higher land taxes will serve the high-end buyers and sellers well.

POST: Everybody is very concerned about the first-time homebuyer, whether you're the prime minister or a parent. Jennifer and Anya, how have things changed for the first-time buyer in 2024 in Toronto?

JENNIFER KEESMAAT: Well, this is

a great question because the foundation of the Canadian dream for so many years was access to home ownership and becoming a first-time homebuyer. And of course, over the course of the past several years, that is something that has fundamentally shifted and access to home ownership has increasingly become out of reach. So if we look in the Toronto context, in 1970, the average price of the average home was about two times the average salary. Today, it's 10 times the average salary. In Vancouver, it's 12 times the average salary.

So accessing home ownership is something that has increasingly been a dream that many people cannot attain, and that is something that has only been accentuated and become more extreme in the context of increasing interest rates. Ironically, I had a colleague who was looking at a condo and wanted to buy a condo.

She looked at it a few years ago. It was way out of her price range. About three months ago, it looked like the price had dropped significantly. She thought, "Fantastic, now's my time to get into the market."

And so I said, "Well, just go play around with that mortgage calculator for a minute." And she did. And of course, given interest rates, the carrying costs of the condo were actually higher at a significantly lower purchase price than it was back when interest rates were much lower.

So this idea that the average worker in the city of Toronto and that the average household can access home ownership is something that has increasingly been moving beyond reach.

Is there reason to despair? I would say no. I think there's only reason to despair if we can't figure out a way to consistently continue building homes. That's actually the bigger risk that we face. Most people in our city and most people particularly coming into this city as newcomers, their first aspiration is actually stable housing.

And stable housing can be high-quality rental housing if we are building highquality rental housing that is stable.

For a very long time, we used the condo market to offset a lack of new purposebuilt rental. We have some pretty powerful incentives coming forward right now from the federal government, including the forgiveness of GST, on purpose-built rentals. But there's still a lot of other factors that are making it incredibly difficult just to bring any type of housing supply to the market right now. So all of that wonderful immigration — which is not the right way to grow the economy, I heard from Benjamin — also had the unintended impact of really further tightening our housing supply and access to housing for newcomers and for young people, resulting in a whole series of incredibly wonky outcomes in terms of our labour market, for example.

Many young people working in the city of Toronto today have the unenviable situation of an hour or an hour and a half commute because people are moving further and further outside of the urban core.

So the upshot of all of that is that we deceive ourselves if we focus on first-time homebuyers as being the fundamental challenge that we face as a society that wants a growing economy and that needs immigration. We have to be thinking more broadly about access to housing and in particular affordable housing that is in close proximity to transit and other urban amenities that present the opportunity of living without a car, the opportunity of living a little bit smaller in exchange for living in a fantastic urban environment.

But if we don't deliver on the urban environment, and if we simply don't deliver on the housing, all of that part of the dream will fall apart and crumble as well.

ANYA ETTINGER: We've really

gotten into quite a lose-lose situation in Toronto. Home ownership is a huge goal that a lot of my peers have, but it is so unattainable, it is so out of reach that a lot of people in their 20s, even their early 30s, are wondering if it's ever going to be a possibility.

2024 REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE housing, building more livable housing.

Condos are getting smaller and smaller.

People are needing to make more and more sacrifices to get really just their foot into the door.

So there needs to be a shift in both the buyer's mindset or the renter's mindset, and there are certain things I'm going to need to sacrifice to be able to get my foot into the door. I'm not going to get my dream home on my first try. Maybe I get a studio, maybe I buy a duplex with a friend, maybe I buy a triplex with a couple of friends. You need to look at your alternatives and be willing to sacrifice. Maybe I'm not going to get a parking spot.

Maybe I'm going to have to get a Murphy bed. You're not going to get your dream home, and that's OK. As long as you get your foot in the door, that's where you start. So I think that's a really big thing that we need to focus on.

POST: For a lot of first-time buyers, that foot in the door can be a condo, as you said, and the condo market is finally seeing some life with a year-over-year increase in sales. So, Brad and Brian, where does the market go from here?

BRAD LAMB: So I have good news.

And the good news is today is the best time going forward forever to buy a home. Today is the best time. Tomorrow is worse than today, but today is the best time.

And the reason for that is we've gone through a correction in the real estate market that's been based largely on interest rate policy. In fact, I'd say pretty well entirely on that. And as Ben has said, that is likely to change going forward for the better for people. And right now, the way most consumers are feeling, according to our sense of things, is that the fact that rates have stayed stable for five or six months makes people feel comfortable that they can make a decision and not fear the future.

Every day going forward will be a more positive day for real estate, which is the good news. The bad news is it means prices will continue to rise. Right now, you can buy an existing condominium in Toronto in a pretty good building for $1,200 a square foot. To sell it to you brand new, I need $1,600 a foot. That spread of $400 a foot, about $150 to $200 of it is what happened to the market over the last two years. Take advantage of that because it's

going away. I can't build anything until the price goes from $1,200 to $1,400 because we need to sell for $1,600, but a consumer will pay $1,400 for something that's delivered in four or five years.

The problem now is that builders aren't building anymore. We put our last building in the ground in the summer, and those units were previously sold in February 2022. We have four towers we're building right now. We haven't sold anything in our new projects for two years and a month, meaning we're two years and a month behind building our next building.

Every single developer in the city is in exactly the same place. Last year, 13,000 new condominiums sold in the city. Typically, in the GTA, we want to see around 25,000 to 30,000 new condos sold. Now, you might think, "Well, that's not so bad.

Those 13,000 condos will get built." But they won't get built because all the developers have sold 30 per cent or 40 per cent of their projects and they can't get started.

You can't get started unless you've sold 70 per cent of your building, and every developer is in the same situation. There are some very well-heeled developers that will risk $300 million or $400 million of their cash to get started and then worry about financing it later, but there's a handful of those. Pretty well every other developer in the city needs to sell first.

What we do is we sell 70 per cent, which allows us to borrow 75 per cent of the cost of the building. So, what you're going to see is that the last crane went in the ground sometime around September, October. It's different for purpose-built rentals.

So we have a shortage coming up in about three years. We already have a shortage now. We're going to have a worse shortage in about three years because of this interest rate policy. And what do shortages do? They make prices go higher.

The other problem we have in our development industry is that inflation has been about 20 per cent overall in the last three years, which has also inflated the cost of building. It affects everything. So concrete prices are higher. Trades got a 6 per cent increase in one year alone.

Now, our problem is that if we want to bring a building to market, we have that issue with higher prices, but construction prices will fall because no one will be going into the ground in the next two or three years as no one's sold enough to do that. And then trades will start to lay people off because they don't have enough

JENNIFER KEESMAAT: I think you're

going to see more developers trying to figure out how to get into the purposebuilt rental space, precisely because it's a way to mitigate the short-term risk of not being able to bring condo product to market. I'm very much hoping that we will see more incentives from the federal government to help get purpose-built rental built. I think we're going to see some very, very big announcements in the next four to six weeks from the provincial government around changes to the planning approvals process in order to expedite getting land entitled so that the barrier to getting housing built isn't going to be the approvals process.

Right now in my inbox, I probably have between five to 10 zoned sites a day that are coming across my desk: people who have a site that's zoned that they're trying to offload because they don't want to build it and they don't want to hold onto it and carry it. Hopefully, that will slow down, but that's a lot of property right now that's sitting on the market that is already zoned.

The federal government also in the next four to six weeks is going to be making some massive announcements mostly with respect to figuring out a way to unlock federally owned land, provincially owned lands through incentives and municipally owned lands. And that could move the needle and shift some of the thinking in the industry around the type of product that people are willing to build. And I think that anyone who has highrise condo products is going to continue to wait. It's way too risky to launch anything right now in light of so many projects having launched over the course of the past 12 months that didn’t sell past 30 per cent, so they couldn’t move forward.

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Now, that's a combination of high borrowing costs and it being extremely difficult to qualify for a mortgage, especially as a single person, but on top of that, being able to save enough for a down payment. So if you don't have help from parents or from family or have come into a large sum of money, it is virtually impossible for the average Canadian, the average Torontonian, to get into the housing market on their own.

Now, the other side of that lose-lose is a lot of people are being forced out of rentals because rental prices are going up.

So to afford to buy a starter condo you need to be making at least $100,000 to be able to qualify for a mortgage. But to be able to afford an average-priced one-bedroom rental as a single person, if you follow the 30 per cent rule, you need to be making $80,000. So it's not all that much cheaper to be renting either. So we've really gotten into a tough spot because it's too expensive to rent, it's too expensive to buy, and now a lot of people, especially young people, are being forced to decide: "Well, where am I going to put my money? Am I going to have to sacrifice certain things and locations to be able to simply have my own place, or am I going to have to live with roommates until I'm 30 or 40?"

That's a big struggle on top of that now we have a new first home savings account with a very low yearly limit. So it's going to take 10 years to have enough to put down 20 per cent if you're exclusively using that account. There are so many barriers for people that want to get into the market as a first-time homebuyer that I'm seeing a lot of people, a lot of prospective clients, and even just consumers I'm speaking to, that are really struggling to find a way, a path. They don't know where to go, they don't know where to look.

There's so much misinformation, there's so much distrust between the consumer and the real estate industry as a whole that I'm finding people are just really lost and they don't know where to go. They're looking to people for guidance, and they're looking to resources, but with all the conflicting information and a very uncertain environment and climate we've seen over the last few years, they're really just not sure what to do.

And I think that we need to change our legislation so that there is more trust between the consumer and the real estate industry so they don't feel as though they're being lied to, or they're being screwed over. But also putting in building more

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BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: Real estate is always an incredible investment. And in Toronto, it is never going to go down. I mean, if it blips down, it's going to go way up. We have to ask ourselves what's the lifestyle we want to have. And I look at friends that live in New York and London and Paris, and they live in modest little rentals in the city. And they bought beautiful houses in the country. There’s a pair of doctors that are friends of mine that live in New York. The apartment they raised their son in was so small, and finally they said, “Enough. This apartment is a fortune. What are we doing?”

And they sold the apartment. They rent a small apartment. They work close to the hospitals. And every Friday, they go to the country with their son, and he rides his bike, and he plays basketball, and they have fun. So the real question is, what is the life you want to have?

But when it comes also to affordability and the prices of Toronto, I don't know if I said it last year, but my parents went through the same thing. And they told me that, when they were sitting around a table when they were young and they all had houses, their first houses or their second houses, one couple bought a house. And they all said — the couple wasn't there — they [the absent couple] will never get their money back. They're crazy. Who spends that on a house and it's an old house? The house was $90,000. It just sold for $9 million. But my parents said, “We would laugh, we said they're never going to get their money back.” So whenever we think we’ve reached the peak, we're going to be saying that $2 million Leslieville house is now $5 million and $7 million. We're going to look back and say, we should have bought 10 of them. Like we say to our parents! It’s still the best investment.

business to keep all the people.

Then what will happen is this year and next year, we'll start selling lots of condos again, and we'll go back to the trades and say, "Now we've got a record year of sales.

We need you to build these." They’ll say, "Well, we shrunk the business. We don't have enough people anymore." So it'll be competition for materials and trades, which will cause prices to rise. So the problem with all of this interest rate stuff is it's just going to punish the consumer badly.

So, I think that right now, my number is $1,600 a foot. That's what I need today.

In two years, I'm going to need $1,800 a foot. So, I'm like every other developer in the city. We all work on the same numbers. We all buy land for roughly the same price. We all put in the same appliances and use a certain number of architects. Our prices aren't that much different in terms of our cost and selling prices. So what we're in for is, I think, some pain, and I don't really know what can be done to protect the consumer from this. I don't think there's enough money in the treasury. I don't think there's enough money in Canada to solve the problem. All the condos we need to build, at the rate we have to build them, we're just not going to be able to do it. And I'm the bearer of bad news again, but I just think what it means for all of you is higher prices. So if you're looking to buy, today is the best day ever.

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: I was listening to the radio this morning and they said we need three million more homes in Canada by 2030. It will probably take us 60 years to build three million new homes. It's not possible.possible.

"Well, we're going to build more because we're going to make it more affordable," it's not possible. The land is too expensive.

The cost to build is too expensive. They're building houses so far out of the city that are still $1,400 a foot and $1,500 a foot.

It's not that much cheaper to move out of the city, and you can't dumb the buildings down anymore. You can't strip any of the finishes. The finishes aren't that great in the first place. You look at what's being built. All the money goes into a common area, and the suite has nothing in it.

So when you're looking at 500 square feet at $800,000 or $900,000, and it's not going to get any cheaper, how is that going to be affordable for someone making $70,000 or $80,000 a year when the city is raising the real estate taxes and the mortgage rates are going up? I don't see how it's ever going to happen. And you can build as much as you want, and someone says, "Well, you'll build a lot and prices will come down." Five million houses you have to build for the prices to come down. It's not going to happen. So, I don't know what the solution is. But when we talk about rentals and everybody mentions condos and rentals, which we'll get into, that is not stable housing.

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: Five million.

So that's a hundred years. And they want it in six years, and as Brad knows, it takes six years to get your project approved. So I don't know where this is coming from, but real estate is always a fantastic investment.

We've all bought property over the years.

It's always gone up. We've always said, "I can't believe it, it can't go any higher," and it keeps going higher. So it is always a great investment, but affordability is not possible.

If I hear someone say one more time,

POST: The market for detached homes has been moving in fits and starts with many potential buyers waiting on the sidelines for interest rates to drop. Michael and Sebastian, when will demand return and what will that mean for the market?

MICHAEL KALLES: To bring context

ANYA ETTINGER: I have a question

for Brad. One thing I've really struggled with with pre-construction is how to justify the …

I think you said $400 gap that you need — what you need to sell it for versus what the current resale price is trading at. So how is it that you, with your target demographic or your target buyers, how are you able to justify that and where are you kind of seeing people being able to forgo buying something cheaper today than buying something more expensive that they'll get in six years?

BENJAMIN TAL: Actually, the number is up-

dated now. It's five million.

means that, by the time you close on your brand new condo, it's worth what you paid for it or a little bit more. But more importantly, what's great about buying a new condo is that, if you don't have the ability to put up $100,000 right away, what we do in the development industry is give you time to put your deposits down, right? So if you buy a condominium for $700,000 and you need a $100,000 deposit, we'll give you two or three years to put the money down in 15 or so tranches so you can get there. So it's kind of a forced savings program that gets you into the business or into home ownership in five years as opposed to instantaneously in today's market. But you can't justify $400 a foot [gap], and that's why there's no new cranes going up.

BRAD LAMB: Well, it's unjustifiable. We

can't justify it, and that's why they're not selling. That's why, as I said, 13,000 condos sold last year spread over hundreds of projects, and nobody achieved even close to the numbers to start building. So they're all offering discounts on parking, you know, rent guarantees, Rolls Royces in buildings to drive you around to your appointments. It's not justifiable.

What is justifiable — and we've seen this for the last eight or nine years — it used to be a smaller gap when prices were lower. What is justifiable is about a $200 gap. Over five years, you can expect prices to rise 5 per cent to 6 per cent, and that

to it, a single-family detached home in the core of Toronto right now averages at $2.5 million. And further context, there were 147 sales all of last month, which makes up 2.6 per cent of the entire market. So I've got some bad news and then I've got some temporary good news.

The bad news is, if you think pricing in Toronto is high now, watch out. In the next two to three years, pricing is going to be through the roof on single-family detached homes. So one thing to think about when we're talking about the timing of an interest rate drop: if it happens in June — so right now we're in March — if you think about it for a moment, the first drop, they're not going to drop it by 150 basis points. They'll probably drop it by a quarter point. That's going to force people to flood the market. The confidence is going to come back, the exuberance is going to come back, and that's going to drive pricing up.

And when I talk about the 147 sales, the reason why there's so few is because there's no product, there's no availability, there's no selection. So I think it's important to keep that in mind. The most important point is the opportunity. Brad said it very well: the opportunity is right now.

2024 REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE

SEBASTIAN CLOVIS: I don't know if

there's a lot of demand for detached homes right now, but I do know that there's a lot of desire.

There's a lot of people in this city who really do want to live in an area that has more space and a proper home to raise their family in. From what I read today, you know, in Toronto, which is an extremely densely populated city, for every square kilometre, there's 4,000 occupants.

That's like 1,000 metres squared, 4,000 occupants. That is a staggering number to me. I live right in the downtown core. So I feel it every single day when I walk my dog. And I would imagine that, like myself, many people in Toronto do have a strong desire for detached homes. It just doesn't correlate with the cost of living and the cost of those homes.

And so we have an opportunity to change desire into demand if we are creating the right kind of homes in the right kind of places. It was a common thought years ago that you would become a homebuyer or a homeowner. If you lived in Toronto and you rented in Toronto at a reasonable rate, you could save up money and then you probably wouldn't be able to buy inside Toronto because it's very expensive. So you move to the outskirts somewhere, Vaughan, Markham, East Gwillimbury, any of these kinds of places, and get a cheaper house with a little bit of space, a backyard for your dog and your kids. But the prices of the homes that we're building out in those neighbourhoods are staggering as well. There's no significant decrease in the price if you move outside of the city as to whether you stay inside the city. It makes more sense to stay inside the city because this is where all of the amenities are. So we have a high demand for living spaces or high desire for living spaces, but we have a low demand on the actual properties that are there because they're just not affordable. I don't think that that means that we should give up on the dream of being homeowners or

detached homeowners. I just think that maybe it means that we need to change up the dream a little bit. As a designer and a builder, that means that it's time to ideate and think about how we go about reimagining the cities that we're living in and perhaps building in a different way. Maybe we need to be thinking about how we're building outside of the city of Toronto and make those spaces more comfortable so that people can go out there and don't need to commute into the city so much.

We are building houses, but those houses outside the city, they're still very expensive. So who are we building those houses for if people can't afford them? Are we just building them for these investment people that put their money together and buy these houses? Are we just buying them for companies so that they can purchase these homes and then rent them back to people forever? I don't think that's how I want to live. I don't think it's how a lot of people want to live. And so I think there's a reimagining that's necessary.

JENNIFER KEESMAAT: A key part of

where we build is a focus on recognizing that, over the course of the past 10 years, 75 per cent of all new homes have been built in new communities, in greenfields, in places where we don't have water, we don't have roads, we don't have schools, we don't have transit. So we have to build out all of that infrastructure, which, believe it or not, makes building the home very, very expensive. There's no road, there's no water, there's no electricity. We need to dream a better dream, and it's a little bit different from what you've articulated, which is we need to get better at infill development and building up where we already have infrastructure, and here's where you and I diverge. We don't diverge often, Sebastian, but here's where we diverge. Toronto is not a dense city. The vast majority of Toronto has been losing density in 80 per cent of the land area. Families are becoming smaller in our suburban areas, homes are becoming bigger, that's losing density. It's why we have many schools in the city right now that are not even at 50 per cent capacity in the city.

So a really big part of where we build and building better and building in a sustainable way is building in areas where we already have infrastructure. And it does mean a different dream in terms of thinking about housing in a fundamentally different way, thinking about housing options, thinking about fourplexes, think-

ing about six-storey buildings, thinking about a diversity of housing types, which you find in most great cities of the world.

Our challenge right now — that you experience when you're walking your dog, Sebastian — is that we've gone into part of the dream. We're building density, but we haven't been investing in the infrastructure that makes dense urban living really high quality and really wonderful.

Those kinds of urban places that you like to visit on vacation, like Paris and London and Barcelona, all those places that Torontonians and Canadians go to and say, "Oh, it's so wonderful." And then we come back home and we're like, “Man, density sucks.”

We don't have that density here. We are not as dense as Paris. We're not as dense even remotely as Barcelona or London, which by the way, are mid-rise cities. Our problem is very much our public infrastructure investments. And I will just say having a kid who grew up in a singlefamily home at Yonge and Eglinton, my kid has no illusion about owning a singlefamily home. And she's a young professional. She just wants to live in a great neighbourhood where she can walk everywhere, where she can get on transit to see her friends, where she can raise a family and not have to worry about getting kicked out because the rent went up. But I think the illusion for millennials isn't about home ownership. It's actually about wanting to be able to figure out a way to stay in the city. And the way to do it is to think about housing in a very different way.

BRIGITTE SHIM: I've been an advo-

cate of laneway housing for the last 25 years. I live in a house in a back alley. It used to be a bunch of derelict cars, but we had to go up against the Ontario Municipal Board at the time to build a 1,350-square-foot house. And it was a real David and Goliath story. But in 2018, with a lot of work from a lot of people, laneway housing is now as-of-right condition. You can go for a building permit if you meet certain requirements. And what I've seen over the last few years is a really interesting phenomena because all of the development that everyone else is talking about is really top down, requiring banks and developers and assembling large parcels of land.

What's so interesting for me about

BENJAMIN TAL: I think that the spring

will be decent. I think the fall will be strong. I think that with interest rates going down, the market will wake up.

I think the pioneer of the recovery will be low-rise. I think highrise will have to wait to clear the inventories, and I totally agree that two years from now, highrise will be on fire because we simply won't have supply. So that's the way I see the situation unfolding.

BRIGITTE SHIM: So, my family moved

from Kingston, Jamaica, to Toronto in 1965. And we've seen this kind of amazing transformation of the city through immigrants. And they have actually built the city that we have. All kinds of ethnic groups across the board and many of their children are some of the biggest developers in the city. How we address the trades, how we train the workers that will build this housing need.

It's kind of a key crisis.

We've been talking about interest rates and a whole lot of things, but the people that will build our city are not the kind of immigrants that came before.

They need to know how to work with their hands, but they also need to be able to run sophisticated equipment like a five-axis computerized manufacturing machine really well. And they need both those skills at the same time. So we really need apprenticeship programs to train the workers of the next generation that will build our housing.

We can't even consider a prefab unless we have these specialized skills that can actually do this work. And that really needs to be where the effort for provincial, federal, local governments are, because it's so critical to construction, and construction is so critical to housing.

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People are thinking to themselves, "OK, well, I'll wait till June, and we'll get a quarter point reduction in the overnight rates and that will equate to a slightly lower mortgage rate." But if you think about what's going to happen to demand and price appreciation, it's better to buy today, if you could afford it, than waiting because, by the time you wait, the slight decrease in your mortgage rate is not going to make up for the incredibly improved pricing of those same homes.

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SEBASTIAN CLOVIS: I think that the

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housing situation is going to get a little bit worse. I think we may see people pulling their income properties off the market. I think this cash-for-keys situation that we're seeing in the city is very scary for mom-and-pop investors. It's going to be harder for these small landlords to maintain. I think that's a real issue. I think that the housing starts and home building starts and completions are going to slow down over the next couple of years.

Building costs are just way too high.

Materials are too high. Supply chain is too high. We just don't have the builders. So we can want to build all we want, but if we don't have those things in place, then we really can't get it done. I think that with that slowdown comes an opportunity though. And it may be a small one, but we have to see a silver lining in it. And if we're slowing down on the building, then perhaps that can give us an opportunity to think about the type of communities that we want to be building so that — as we're building these communities, these houses — [we’re] making sure that they have access to transit and all the amenities that they need and making sure that we're building the right kind of places that people want to live in and are sustainable.

If we can figure those things out — well, it’s like we're trying to build a plane while it's flying or build a bridge while it's on fire; everyone's heart is beating — but if we could take a breath and really city plan forward, it will make sure that these next steps that we do take are the best ones.

laneway housing is that they're actually average people who want choices. They want a place for an elder parent or a workspace in their backyard as a studio or for a teenage kid to live or any number of scenarios that allows you to have flexibility in your single-family house over time. And I feel like what we need as citizens is choice.

And we have very few choices. You can buy the two-and-a-half-million-dollar house in a single-family residential neighbourhood or a condo that Brad will sell you really easily, but there's very little in between. Over your time period on this earth, your needs change. You need spaces for your kids, your parents get older, and you have so many changing needs over time. So laneway housing, garden suites are not the answer when they're presented as affordable. They're not quite affordable.

But what I'm seeing, which is so interesting, is that it is a bottom-up movement. It actually is regular people having a level of empowerment over a degree of flexibility that's happening through all residential neighbourhoods in the city.

And for someone like Jane Jacobs, what you want to do is live in a village within a metropolis. You want to support all the infrastructure that Jennifer's talking about: the schools, the transit, the services, and you want to support those services and strengthen them as opposed to eating up, you know, greenfield lands on the outskirts and having to drive an hour and a half. I teach at the University of Toronto, and I polled my students, and 80 per cent of them spend an hour and a half on transit.

They have to live in a suburban area because they can't afford to be in the downtown. They have to get on two or three modes of transit to get to class. So I guess I'm an advocate for choice. And for the choice being of the average citizen having a little bit of control to be able to at least make a difference in their lives and create equity at the same time. And I feel like we're at the beginning of that. So all things like laneway housing, garden suites are in their infancy stage, but the fact that they even exist I think is a very positive step forward. I think, like Jennifer was saying, we have to redefine what density is. And we are nowhere near dense. When we think about Toronto relative to global cities, we are so not dense and so low-rise, except in these designated transit nodes where you can build a 90-storey tower at the foot of Yonge and the Lakeshore. So there you're allowed to be super high. And then there are residential neighbourhoods

where there's no change that's happened for decades. So we have to redefine and recalibrate where density goes and part of it is wanting to make great cities as opposed to just adding houses. So the issues of the quality of public spaces, parks and schools and cultural facilities are about making a better city and housing as an integral part of that vision.

POST: Brian and Sebastian, how does the question of density translate to home renovations?

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: We're seeing

many more buyers or potential buyers getting out of the market and saying, we will change the house we live in. They were, at one point, looking to move up or even move down.

And now they're saying, the gap is so big.

Even if you're downsizing, the gap is big for many people. So it's more expensive to leave your house and buy a condo.

So we're seeing a lot more people that are saying, “We are going to change the house.” And then you're looking at people that are making multi-family homes within their family. So they're moving their parents into the house, or they're moving their children into the house. And they may be moving into the garden suite and giving the house to their children. So we're seeing some interesting changes happening to the way people are looking at the existing house they have and saying, “We're not looking at what's happening in the market.” And if they have the two families living in there, that helps subsidize the renovations.

SEBASTIAN CLOVIS: I think that's a

definite trend that we're seeing.

When I started on this panel five years ago, I think the first thing I said, probably to my chagrin, because everyone stared at me, was about flipping. I wasn’t in agreement with flipping houses and just buying up the stock and then flipping it for a return on investment and not caring about who's coming in after. I think that is a part of why we're in the situation that we're in right now. Of course, not the whole thing. That trend died off when the housing stock got so expensive.

And then the renovation scene really kind of changed to people building income properties. And that became a big thing for a couple of years. That's become more of a gamble now because we have a renter class that's so upset with being overcharged that we're seeing issues with income properties. From what I'm seeing,

we've had an ability to build laneway houses, garage suites, put fourplexes on residential lots for years now. And we're not seeing a huge uptake in that because it's a major risk. First of all, it's a major investment. Second of all, who wants to risk renting one of those places out when the market is as it is and renters are upset and know that they can withhold their rent?

The tribunal to handle the discourse between renters and the homeowners takes nine months, a year, a year and a half even. If that's a situation where you're renting out an income suite in the bottom of your house and someone is not paying the rent, we're going to see people losing their homes over these things. We're talking about small investors, not big-time property developers. But definitely what we are seeing is the move to multi-generational housing. So now, we're still trying to build converting garages, third stories, under pending building basement suites to protect our extended family from a situation of where the cost of living is so difficult.

And lastly, what I'll just quickly say about the renovation industry as a whole is that we have 700,000 builders retiring in the next five to 10 years. A huge swath of our builders are retiring. And we don't have enough people replacing them coming in. And so where we need innovation within the renovation industry is with getting new people into the trades. We need to embrace different types of programs to get people trained up in remote areas so that we can do the type of building that we need. If we are bringing in so many immigrants, maybe 100,000 of those should be carpenters. And that might help us out a little bit with some of our problems.

BARRY COHEN: It's true, that's one of the

biggest problems we have. I don't know who's more important here, your plumber or your doctor. Because people are begging to get trades, and the costs have become so over the top. We see these prices come across our desks every day, and every year we're in shock at how much it costs to renovate. But you can't get the trades.

That's the problem.

BENJAMIN TAL: Back to the idea of the missing middle — a few months ago, I had an opportunity to present to the cabinet [of the provincial government] on housing affordability. And my first sentence was, "Listen, if we don't deal with it urgently, we are going to have pockets of

2024 REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE

BRAD LAMB: I have a very quick

solution, too, to be able to deliver practical, affordable, high-rise housing. I told you all that the cost of delivering a building in Toronto is $1,200 [per foot] plus taxes. So, if we can get that number from $1,200 to $800, then we can build lots of highrise housing.

Eight hundred dollars a foot is the number because we get about $400 or $450 a foot for rent. And so, not to bamboozle you with math, but basically, real estate investors want a 5 per cent cap rate [meaning it would take around 20 years to recover what they invested in the property]. You take the rent, divide by the price of the property, and that's what someone will pay for it.

So how do we get down to that number? So in my world, 25 to 30 per cent of my costs are government taxes. So we're

doing a building in Mississauga. It's a $320 million building. Every year the taxes go up with the cities, so over a quarter of that, $88 million, $90 million — imagine that — is going to taxes, HST and levies.

In Mississauga, a studio pays close to $70,000. For the privilege of building a studio in a place where there's already lots of electricity and transit and sewer and water, you have to pay as a consumer, because you pay us and we pay the city, $70,000. Then on top of that is community benefit charges, there's parks levies.

We need to get rid of all of those taxes because, at the end of the day, through your rent, you're paying property taxes.

The developer or the owner of the building is going to collect the taxes and pay them to the city. So what we need to do is have this stuff go away for 10 years. I think this is the single biggest issue for voting right now. I think people are very concerned about affordable housing and really nothing is being done. The federal government is talking about it, but nothing's happening, I promise you, nothing's going to change, nothing's happening unless serious things happen like this.

JENNIFER KEESMAAT: I think this

would be surprising to most people, but in the city of Toronto, when you buy a new home, there's a development charge that has been charged by the city that was charged to the developer that gets passed on to the purchaser for a whole variety of things. So for example, we have subsidized daycare spaces in the city of Toronto. When you buy a new home, you get charged a little bit of money that goes into the pot for subsidized daycare spaces. You get charged a little bit of money for libraries and the TTC. So it's like we're putting a little surcharge on new homeowners coming into the city. It's a surcharge that is increasing the cost of that housing. And it raises an interesting question: should newcomers be the ones bearing a little bit of extra cost, which, when you add it all together, becomes a lot of extra cost, between 23 and 26 per cent of the cost of building a new home are government charges. So, if you think about something that can be done

very quickly to moderate the high cost of building new housing, that's something that's completely within the government's control, right? The government can, through the stroke of a pen, say, "You know what? We're going to stop putting the burden of infrastructure on new people coming into the housing market.

Instead, we're going to create an infrastructure fund," right?

POST: Around 45 per cent of Canadian mortgage-holders are renewing their mortgages in 2024 and 2025. What advice would you give them?

BENJAMIN TAL: Given where we

are in the cycle right now, it’s reasonable to suggest that rates will be lower two years from now.

ANYA ETTINGER: I’m seeing a lot more bor-

rowers opting for variable rate mortgages with the hopes that rates will come down enough in the next year or two to cover the spread between fixed and variable. I’d say, if you are a more conservative borrower and relatively risk averse, a threeyear fixed is likely your best bet. If you are comfortable with the risk and can stomach a higher mortgage payment for at least 12 months, variable would be a good option.

BRAD LAMB: Since it is likely rates will fall during 2024 and 2025, just renew for one year until rates drop approximately 2 per cent to a Bank of Canada rate of 3 per cent.

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: I would opt for a mort-

gage that you can prepay at any time without penalty. If interest rates go down, you can either negotiate with the bank or go to another bank to get a competitive interest rate for a new mortgage and pay off the old mortgage. I would probably go variable — because I don’t think the interest rates are going to go up that much — they will probably only go down, so you want to take advantage of that. Why lock in at the highest we’ve seen in a number of years?

There are many people in our city who don’t have basic shelter and a roof over their heads; with that in mind, Post City, Streets of Toronto and the Rotman School have made donations on behalf of our panellists, our readers and our sponsor, The RE/MAX Collection, to Sistering, an organization supporting unhoused women and trans people in Toronto, and to Red Door Shelter, which provides sanctuary for families.

ANYA ETTINGER: We talked about detached homes but we didn't really talk about your average starter home, your Leslieville semi, your 25-foot house in midtown. Those are already seeing a massive surge in demand. There are houses that are getting 20 to 30 offers. We're seeing some of the same trends that we saw in late 2021, early 2022 — people are disregarding recent sales and they are doing anything and everything that they can to get the house. The speculation of rates dropping and whether that will be in June, before or after, is already there. People want to beat the rush. So unless there is a massive shift in what's going on over the next few months — a huge dump of supply for instance — I can't imagine that momentum will slow down.

MICHAEL KALLES: My predictions are a

little bit longer than short-term. They're medium- and long-term predictions, and I'm incredibly bullish on the market. I think, if we look into the crystal ball, we all see what the story is. The rates are going to come down. All these people have been sitting on the sidelines.

These buyers are going to rush back into the market. There's very little supply on the resale and, as Brad said, on the new home sales side. It's going to drive the prices up, and the prices are going to go up exorbitantly, and people are going to be telling the same story that we told two and three years ago.

There's nothing available to buy. And I believe, and Brad may disagree, that all of this supply, all of the condo supply that we're talking about now that's sitting stagnant, that's all going to be eaten up within the next probably year to year and a half, maybe two years.

| APRIL 2024

civil unrest. We are going to have anti-immigrant sentiment. We are going to have rental strikes." It's written. I can see the trajectory. We have to wake up. So we have two options, this is a crisis: do nothing, and, looking at the faces of especially young people here, this is not an option.

We cannot give up. It's not going to be easy, but we can do things. This is a crisis that requires attention immediately. And I believe we can do that in many, many ways.

The missing middle clearly is a factor.

We have to provide different ways of looking at the thing. I totally agree with what other people mentioned here. Now, factory-made houses — I think that's something that we have to think about because other people in other countries are doing it. We cannot build the way we built 50 years ago. So, we have many ways of doing it. We cannot simply give up. We have to continue providing solutions to young people here, and the rental solution will be a big part of it. Purpose-built rentals will be a big part of the solution, and I believe that more incentives to developers to build purpose-built is the right thing to do. I think we can do it. It will not be perfect. Toronto will not be affordable anytime soon, but it can be easier, because at this point, we are basically running faster to stay in the same place.

25

T.O.’S LEADING PROFESSIONALS PLATELET ENRICHED PLASMA (PRP) THERAPY: A GAME-CHANGER IN PAIN MANAGEMENT

Interventional Pain & Spine Specialists of Canada

BIO This state-of-the-art clinic is staffed by a team of board-certified Anesthesiologists & Physiatrists with training from prestigious US hospitals. With expertise as leaders in the field of Pain Management in Canada, they deliver outstanding evidence-based care. Treatments include realtime x-ray or ultrasound-guided injections, and intravenous Ketamine infusion therapy.

Living with chronic neck, back, or joint pain is a reality for many, with traditional treatments offering only temporary relief. In search of alternatives, Platelet Enriched Plasma (PRP) therapy emerges as a promising solution, transforming pain management.

PRP injections utilize the body's innate healing mechanisms to target pain at its source.

By concentrating platelets from a small blood sample, rich in growth factors for tissue repair, PRP is injected precisely into affected areas, kickstarting the body's healing process.

Precision is a hallmark of PRP therapy, with many facilities offering fluoroscopy-guided injections. This ensures accurate delivery, enhancing effectiveness and reducing risks, providing patients with reliable relief.

Beyond precision, PRP therapy addresses the root cause of pain, promoting long-term relief and improved function. Minimally invasive and often performed on an outpatient basis, PRP allows for a swift return to daily life, appealing to those with busy schedules or limited

recovery time.

Safety is paramount in PRP therapy, as it utilizes the patient's own blood components, minimizing risks of rejection or allergic reactions. This instills confidence in patients as they pursue pain relief.

Most compellingly, PRP therapy has shown significant efficacy in reducing pain levels and enhancing overall quality of life. From athletes aiming to return to peak performance to everyday individuals seeking relief from persistent discomfort, PRP offers a beacon of hope.

Platelet Enriched Plasma (PRP) therapy represents a paradigm shift in pain management, offering a safe, sustainable solution for those grappling with chronic pain.

CONTACT Interventional Pain & Spine Specialists of Canada 62-1262 Don Mills Rd. North York, ON

416-335-7474 www.ipssc.ca • info@ipssc.ca

DENTAL IMPLANTS ONE VISIT PORCELAIN CROWNS

Dr. Edwin Lewandowski, Dr. Elvira (Ella) Mostyn, Dr. Haley Frydrych

BIO Dr. Lewandowski is a graduate of New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry. He has worked as an instructor at the NYU Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry as well as in a hospital based dental clinic. Dr. Mostyn obtained her dental degree from The Faculty of Dentistry at James Cook University, Australia. Dr. Haley Frydrych received her dental degree from U of T.

• Do you wear dentures? Many people over the age of 65 use some form of removable denture.

While the majority of dentures fit well, some always move, lift and cause discomfort. This may lead to difficulty chewing and lack of confidence in social interactions. There is a strong link between overall good health and proper oral care.

• Dental implants can help. Implants can restore comfort and confidence, helping people love their dentures again. A dental implant has two parts: a metal root that is secured to the jaw bone and an abutment which securely anchors your denture in place, preventing movement. Versatile implants can replace a single tooth or a bridge, eliminate the need for a removable partial denture or even secure complete full-mouth dentures. Implants have a proven track record for long-term success. When using implants to replace a single tooth, neighbouring teeth do not need to be used as anchors, making it a conservative choice in many cases. Dental implants do not require any special care. Age is not a factor in the success of dental implants. Most people

in good health are excellent candidates.

• Do you have broken or missing teeth? One Visit Porcelain Crowns may be right for you. A full or partial crown is used to replace or strengthen a broken tooth. When a tooth is filled multiple times throughout a patient's life, the critical tooth structure may be lost. Many of these teeth break and require restoring. Options usually include very large fillings or crowns.

Fillings fit inside the tooth and require original tooth structure to hold it all together. If part or all of the original tooth has been lost, then a full coverage crown may be a better option. With digital technology, we can make a direct 3D image of the broken tooth from the patient, design the new tooth (crown) on the computer chairside and have the new tooth made in the office. These crowns are beautiful, strong and functional and permanent. Often done in one visit. Amazing technology!

CONTACT Dr. Edwin Lewandowski and Associates 1200 Centre St., Suite 101 Thornhill, ON

905-762-0122 www.thornhilldental.com

THE BIG TICKETS

CURRENTS SECTION L-R: Asad Mecci and Colin Mochrie in ‘Hyprov’, Opera Atelier’s production ‘All is Love’

April’s top shows from Colin Mochrie to Waxahatchee Don’t miss a hilarious night of Hyprov: Improv Under Hypnosis, at CAA Theatre, running April 9 to 21. Direct from Las Vegas, this unique show features Toronto comedy legend Colin Mochrie along with Asad Mecci, who combine hypnosis and improv for an unforgettable comedy experience. Volunteers from the audience are hypnotized, then they join Mochrie onstage to create spontaneous scenes, resulting in an entirely original and hilarious performance every night. With showtimes throughout the week, including matinees on select days, there’s ample opportunity to catch this mind-bending comedy sensation.

MUSIC 2. See Noah Kahan

It is a rare occasion when a humble singer-songwriter sells out the biggest area in town. Doing it three times in one stop is legendary. And that’s what Noah Kahan just did. Kahan brings his signature sound to Scotiabank Arena on April 6, 14 and 16 for his We'll All Be Here Forever Tour. Known for his break-

through single, “Hurt Somebody,” Kahan’s music resonates with audiences worldwide. And $1 from each ticket sold will be donated to The Busyhead Project, supporting mental health treatment and access to care.

OPERA 3. See All Is Love Opera Atelier presents All Is Love at Koerner Hall, April 11–14. Immerse yourself in a world of enchantment as Opera Atelier conjures a mesmerizing production, featuring music by renowned composers such as Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Claude Debussy, George Fredric Handel, Henry Purcell, Jean-Phillipe Rameau and more. Led by a stellar cast, including tenor Colin Ainsworth, soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee and baritone Jesse Blumberg, accompanied by artists from Atelier Ballet and members of Tafelmusik under the baton of David Fallis.

With Marshall Pynkoski as stage director and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg as choreographer, this fully staged performance promises an evening of pure magic.

MUSIC 4. Go to Waxahatchee

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Waxahatchee hits the Massey Hall stage on April 23. Katie Crutchfield, known as Waxahatchee, shares her musical journey rooted in Alabama's Waxahatchee Creek. With six acclaimed albums, Crutchfield’s evolution from lo-fi folk to alt-tinged country showcases her honest, poetic voice. Join her for an intimate evening of storytelling through song, where her southern lilting vocals resonate.

THEATRE 5. See A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney The always-creative Outside the March theatre company is teaming up with Soulpepper to present Lucas Hnath’s A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney. And no, it isn’t really a reading, it’s a play. Directed by Mitchell Cushman and starring the incomparable Diego Matamoros, the play, which runs April 13 to May 5, at the Yonge Centre for the Performing Arts, offers a captivating

exploration of Disney’s legacy. Described as a “blackly comic inversion of the public Disney persona” by the New York Times, the production challenges conventional notions of immortality and wealth. With an intimate audience of fewer than one hundred people, the innovative staging and award-winning design promise a thought-provoking experience that pushes the boundaries of theatrical innovation.

THEATRE 6. Go to El Terremoto

Tarragon Theatre is unveiling the world premiere of El Terremoto, penned by Dora Award–winning playwright Christine Quintana, running from April 2 to 21. Set against the backdrop of a seismic event, this comedic drama delves into the lives of the Jurado sisters, offering a poignant exploration of immigrant identity and the complex interplay between success, determination and suppressed desires and vibrant characters. The production is directed by Guillermo Verdecchia.

| APRIL 2024

COMEDY 1. Go to Hyprov

29

T.O.’S LEADING PROFESSIONALS EYE STRAIN AND HEADACHES: NEW TREATMENT OPTION

Dr. David Black

BIO Dr. David Black graduated from the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry in 2004. For almost 19 years, Dr. Black has been providing eye care to his North York community. He is passionate about providing outstanding patient centered care and is constantly looking for new ways to improve the quality of life of his patients.

For separating couples, the division of property, including homes, can be challenging and contentious.

HOW TO DEAL WITH CHANGING HOME PRICES WHEN SEPARATING

by Kenneth Fishman

With the tumultuous real estate market across the country, spouses contemplating a separation may struggle with handling upswings and downswings in home values. Determining how to handle these scenarios and their impact on finances can cause significant stress for parties going through a separation. When parties separate, factors that can impact the handling of fluctuating home prices include which spouse is on title to a home and whether or not the parties have a domestic cotract

that deals with how a home is divided in the event of separation.

In cases where both spouses’ names are title to a home (whether the parties are married or not), there is a general presumption that the increase in value will be shared between the parties. In practical terms, this benefit crystallizes when the home is sold on the open market or when one spouse buys out the other spouse’s interest at fair market value.

If they are married and only one spouse is on title

Eyestrain and headaches have long been an issue for many people and have worsened by our increasing use of screens. Having an up to date glasses prescription can help but often that alone doesn't resolve the problem. And what about people who don't have a prescription?

We now have a new option that can potentially reduce or eliminate eyestrain altogether, it’s called Neurolens.

It is well documented that eye alignment or "teaming" issues can cause a bevy of symptoms including eyestrain, tired eyes, headaches, neck pain, nausea, light sensitivity, and dry eye-like symptoms. Even small misalignments can cause painful symptoms. Previously it was very difficult to accurately measure these misalignments and they can vary depending on your viewing distance. This made it difficult to prescribe prism (an optical component of glasses that helps eye alignment) in patients’ glasses because the amount of prism would remain constant throughout the lens.

With the advent of new eye alignment

measuring technology and the optical industry’s first contoured prism lenses, Neurolens, we can not only measure with precision these eye misalignments but we have a lens that can correct for them! The amount of prism in the glasses is tailored specifically to your eye measurements. And with the contoured prism design, more prism is provided where it is needed most, when viewing objects at close distances like computers, phones and tablets.

A local patient commented on his recent experience with these glasses, "The glasses are actually amazing. I can tell the difference. I didn't even realize before that I would bring my head/neck closer to the screen or page I was reading and now my neck is more relaxed. My eyes are definitely less sensitive to light than before... and no more migraines/major headaches since!!!"

To discover if you are a candidate contact your Optometrist.

CONTACT Eyes on Sheppard 90 Sheppard Ave. East, Suite 100A, Toronto

Tel: 416-733-4444 www.eyesonsheppard.com

to the property, the spouse who is not on title will typically share in the value of the home as of the date of separation through the equalization process, which is the statutory formula for the division of matrimonial property in Ontario.

If there is an increase in the value of the home post-separation, the spouse who is not on title is not automatically entitled to share in the increase in the home’s value post-separation. However, this does not mean that they have no recourse for claiming part of this increased value. Depending on the circumstances, a non-titled spouse can advance claims, including trust claims concerning a home, to benefit from the value of a home and any post-separation increase in value. The trust claim will often be utilized by unmarried spouses who are not on title and cannot benefit from equalization, especially if that spouse contributed to the home in some manner (e.g. by making mortgage payments or providing money or labour for maintenance and repairs).

Although trust claims are often beneficial for married spouses who are not on title to a home but wish to benefit from post-separation increases in value, those claims may currently be of limited benefit given the downward trend in home prices over the last year. Most people will not want to share in the decrease in a home’s value. Moreover, as it relates to married spouses, to the extent that there is an increase in value post-separation to share in and a trust claim is advanced by an untitled spouse, doing so will be an uphill battle, as the ex-

press purpose of the equalization regime under the Family Law Act is to address unjust enrichment that would otherwise arise when marriages break down.

Rather than advance a trust claim, a married spouse could ask for an unequal division of family property under S. 5(6) of the Family Law Act, essentially resulting in that spouse getting a greater share of the family property under appropriate circumstances.

Division of property, including homes, can often be challenging to navigate and contentious for separating spouses or common-law partners. Legal and equitable remedies meant to level the playing field are often complicated and nuanced. If you are separating, it is vital to seek proper legal advice and know your rights so that you can exit the relationship in a fair and financially secure way.

Kenneth Fishman, Partner

Kenneth Fishman has exclusively practiced family law since 2009 and advises clients on all related issues, including parenting, property, and separation. He has been recognized multiple times by Best Lawyers.

Boulby Weinberg LLP 661 Yonge St. Suite 500 647-494-0113 boulbyweinberg.com

SHOWER POWER

@TSC

FASHION CURRENTS

Anthony Farnell & Storm Chief meteorologist, Global News

Natasha Ramsahai Chief meteorologist, CityNews

Kelsey McEwen Chief meteorologist, CTV’s Your Morning

Bill Coulter Meteorologist, CP24

COAT, Holt Renfrew, $3,290, 50 Bloor St. W., "This is a coat that will last you forever. It's absolutely elegant, and nobody makes trench coats better than the Brits!" BOOTS, Annie Aime, $158, 42 Ossington Ave., "These are cool. It's not a thick sole, but these are super waterproof. They definitely make a fashion statement!" UMBRELLA, Good Neighbour, $75, 935 Queen St. E., "That's a very nice plaid that goes great with a classic trench coat, and I like that wooden handle." STORM’S COAT, Dogfather & Co., $42, 1007 Yonge St.

COAT, Freda's, $450, 45 Elm St., "This is so vibrant and joyful and has an oversized feel to it — I love the sleeves you can really roll up, the gigantic lapels and the fun button detailing." BOOTS, Getoutside, $104.99, 437 Queen St. W., "These Chelsea boots are really sharp-looking and great to wear rain or shine.

And there's a lot of edge to the lines of this boot." UMBRELLA, Juxtapose, $56, 430 Bloor St. W., "This is a really pretty floral print that really speaks of spring and optimism and femininity — what a happy umbrella!"

COAT, Hilary MacMillan, $295, hilarymacmillan.com, "This is a really unusual and uplifting colouration, and this is a great plaid for spring. What a fun take on a trench."

BOOTS, Corso Shoes, $99.95, 446 Danforth Ave., "This looks like a great boot to wear all through the summer, and it's nice to have a rain boot with so much colour." UMBRELLA, Good Neighbour, $60, 935 Queen St. E., "This bright yellow colour is so stunning, and I love the little wooden duck at the handle!"

COAT, RW&CO, $143.96, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr., "This is a great colour and a great length to this coat. It looks very comfortable to get around in and has plenty of classic detailing."

BOOTS, Gravitypope, $168, 1010 Queen St. W., "This is a great boot that will last you forever. This would look good for any kind of pants, jeans or even a dressier look."

UMBRELLA, Grapefruit, $28, 528 Church St., "I love any black and white fashion story, and this umbrella has an almost '60s campy feel. The graphic look is very cool."

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

| APRIL 2024

Toronto's top meteorologists (and Storm the weather dog!) take Jeanne Beker's favourite spring rain gear for a spin.

31

CENTRE STREET DELI

CURRENTS ENVIRONMENT

OPEN FOR PASSOVER! Wed -Mon 8am-3pm

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1136 CENTRE STREET, THORNHILL 995 BAY STREET, TORONTO PLEASE VISIT US AT www.centrestreetdeli.com Let Centre Street Deli cater your family Seder this year so that you can finally enjoy being together!

David Suzuki hosted a CBC show for 44 years

| APRIL 2024

The world needs more journalists, not fewer

32

As someone who has enjoyed a BCE had net earnings of $3 billong media career, including 44 lion last year, executives claimed years hosting CBC The Nature of the move was economically necThings, I understand how im- essary. portant robust media is to a British Columbia Premier thriving democracy. An in- David Eby argued that monopformed public makes better deci- olistic media companies’ “encrasions about everything from pification” of local news is partly health care to voting. responsible for audience loss.

Internet growth has proWith so much information foundly affected news and infor- now available online, it’s often mation media, for better and difficult to separate fact from ficworse. In a world of online tion, truth from disinformation. media outlets and streaming But traditional outlets that adservices, as well as social media here to journalistic standards and platforms, the traditional model provide credible coverage on a of selling ad space around articles wide range of topics still exist. is no longer viable. Advertising The growth in new media still supports TV and radio outlets, often with a focus on broadcasting. But companies critical environmental issues, also must come up with creative ways gives hope. In Canada, sources to survive in a capitalist system such as The Tyee, National Oband engage readers, viewers and server, The Narwhal, Rabble, Ablisteners. original Peoples Television Many newspaper and broad- Network and others offer a wide casting companies have been range of investigative reporting, bought up by hedge fund com- news stories and opinion. There panies and other corporate en- are also many good online comtities that strip the assets, take munity news outlets. the money and close outlets.

We can all do our part to help Community newspapers — in- journalism thrive by supporting credibly important to areas not public broadcasting and donatcovered by big-city media — ing or subscribing to the many have been especially hard hit. new, credible outlets and deRecently, Bell Media decided pendable traditional outlets. to sell many of its radio stations, lay off thousands of workers and DAVID SUZUKI with files from senior editor end much of its news program- Ian Hanington. ming. Although parent company

CURRENTS ADVICE

Dear Sangita: I’ve waited forever for my boyfriend to propose Dear Sangita: I've been dropping hints for the past year for my boyfriend to propose, but he's just not getting it. Is he missing my cues or does he actually just not want to marry me? I'm worried I'm wasting my time. How do I confront him?

—Ringing for a ring Dear Ringing: You have to ask yourself, why are you in this relationship? Are you in this relationship because you want to get married? Or are you in it because you’re in love with this guy?

You absolutely can have a conversation with your boyfriend about your future together — you really should before getting engaged! I was with my husband for six years before we got married. I invested in that relationship because I knew there was something special and that we were going to spend our lives together. When it was just the right time to get married, we

both kind of weighed and decided it was the time.

If you feel like you could be wasting your time, there might be something else going on — that feeling is not a good sign of a healthy relationship. Fixating on getting married and the wedding won’t be good for your relationship in the long run. Have that conversation with your boyfriend, and it may give you both some peace of mind.

Dear Sangita: I babysat my

friends’ two kids once and now they keep expecting me to help out as if I’m their own personal babysitter.

We’re very close, so they basically always know when I’m busy or not.

How do I say something without hurting their feelings?

—Reluctant babysitter

say, “Hey, listen, I can do it once in a while, but not all the time.” It’s a hard conversation. I can see why your friends keep asking you — it’s clear they trust you, and it’s hard to find someone you trust with your kids.

It might be helpful to set a time limit for future babysitting asks; that’s something you can set with your friends. You can ask that they’re home at a certain time so that if you have plans you’ll still be able to get to them. You can also say no. I know it’s difficult to do, but you’re allowed to say, “I just need to chill today, even if I’m just at home.” If your friend truly is a friend, she’ll respect that.

and not becoming that person?

—Attached at the hip Dear Attached: I think that you have to ask your friends before you bring your partner with you.

And be reasonable — don’t bring them to every single night out.

That bond with friends is really important. I truly believe a healthy relationship involves having independence — it’s important to be able to spend a few hours away from your partner without wanting to have them there all the time. You mention that you’ve been annoyed with friends who bring their partners everywhere in the past, so don’t do the same thing to your friends!

Dear Sangita: I’m in a serious reHave a relationship or life queslationship, and I f ind myself wanting to spend a lot of time with tion for Sangita? Send it to adthis person. The issue is that I have vice@postcity.com. always been of the “don’t bring your Dear Reluctant: Because you’re partner to the girls’ night” mindset. SANGITA PATEL is our advice friends, I think you need to be How do I strike the balance be- columnist and was previously open about how you’re feeling and tween having my partner around a host on ET Canada.

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CURRENTS GROWING UP T.O.

From sci-fi to a sitcom backed by comedy legends Before Jennifer Spence became a regular on multiple popular sci-fi series and now the lead of a new comedy series from the team behind Trailer Park Boys, she was just a kid testing the waters in a community theatre play in Toronto.

“We did The Crucible, and I met a bunch of other great young women as well — it was a nice group of people to have my first experience with,” she says. “I remember thinking, ‘OK, this is what I want to do. I want to be an actor. I don’t care if it means I’ll be broke; I just love it.’”

The community theatre play was her first attempt to get herself ready for “the professional world of acting.” After that, Spence went full speed ahead on her acting career, despite plenty of moments of discouragement, she says.

As an Asian actor (her mother is Japanese and her father is British), Spence says there weren’t many role models for her to look

FAST FACTS NAME:

Jennifer Spence HIGH SCHOOL:

North Toronto Collegiate FAVE T.O. MEMORY:

Playing in the streets of her Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood FAVE (FORMER) RESTAURANT:

Country Style Hungarian Restaurant FAVE LOCAL ACTOR:

Sandra Oh Jennifer Spence is starring in Crave series ‘The Trades’

to growing up. “Watching TV, I didn’t see a whole lot of people who looked like me,” she says. “I don’t remember being too fazed by it, but when I started auditioning, I realized it was more difficult to land roles. They’d say it was open ethnicity — but there was no way they’d actually cast an ethnic person for the role.”

Spence started out landing bit parts on movies and TV shows alongside stars such as Jennifer Garner, but soon her career took on an interesting shape — sci-fi star. Her first ever multi-episode arc was on the American science fiction show The 4400, and soon after, she landed her breakout role: Dr. Lisa Park on SGU Star-

gate Universe. One of a few series in the Stargate military science fiction universe, her popularity on the show led her to a lead role on Canadian sci-fi series Continuum, a recurring role alongside Eric McCormack on Netflix scifi series Travelers and eventually a starring role on British crime drama Traces.

So how does the darling of the science fiction genre make the pivot to comedy with The Trades, a new series from the team behind the award-winning Trailer Park Boys?

Spence says the cast made the switch easy for her. “It just felt right. I was blown away by the calibre of talent I was working with. They were all personally funny, not just funny on set!”

The Trades, which premiered on Crave at the end of March, follows a blue-collar community working on a refinery when Spence’s character, Chelsea, steps in as the new site manager from head office. Spence says the

comedy is her kind of humour — raunchy and edgy.

“I just loved the script from the beginning. I said, ‘Thank God for material that makes me laugh out loud,’” she says. “It felt very authentic; it was a world that I wanted to know more about.”

This being the first “corporate” role Spence has played, she says she translated her own excited and nervous energy into her character’s as the new boss on the block. “It was a fun challenge to play.”

In a career that is often feast or famine, as Spence says, The Trades sticks out as a positive experience filled with genuine camraderie among the cast and crew.

“It can get easy to secondguess yourself,” she says. “But my husband put it nicely — actors are compelled to act. We have this pathological need to tell stories and be a part of something.”

— Julia Mastroianni

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CURRENTS HOW THEY MET The wedding

Louise Pitre and Joe Matheson met onstage rehearsing for a show The secret to success

I would say that what has worked for us as a couple for these last 25 years is simply this: we talk about everything. It makes us stay up later at night having more drinks than we should, but we never seem to run out of things to talk about.

Louise Pitre has a career so long The first date and illustrious that it’s difficult to Our first date was at his place to We just don’t want the night to pick just one standout role — but watch a movie while we were still end. And in this business we have perhaps her most iconic moment rehearsing Capone. I don’t re- found a way to support each other. is that of originating the role of member the movie, but I know I That is key. We take turns taking Donna Sheridan in Mamma stayed much much longer than I care of the other. If one of us gets a job, the other one tries to do the Mia!, which also happened to be had planned. stuff that needs to be done: walkher Broadway debut. Dubbed ing the dog, grocery shopping, Canada’s first lady of musical The relationship theatre, the vocal powerhouse has We not only fell in love, but be- cooking, cleaning. When I landed been in everything from Les Mis- came really, really good friends. the role of Donna in Mamma érables to Company, and now she’s One of the most memorable Mia! in New York, Joe put his life bringing her talents back to To- things during that time was see- on hold to come with me and our ronto for the Tony Award–win- ing how Joe was with his father dog and take care of everything ning play The Inheritance, when he came to visit from Sas- while I worked my butt off. I will never forget that. I could not have running until April 14. But she done it without him. has one love even bigger than “ theatre — her husband of 25 We had a few Balancing careers years, fellow theatre actor and scenes together, and a relationship playwright, Joe Matheson. Here, and the director I think Joe and I are pretty clear she shares the story of their onabout what truly matters. We alstage meet-cute and the secret to told us sparks ways quote from City Slickers: relationship success. were flying!”

“You are my one thing.” In other words, no job is more important How they met We met doing a workshop of a katoon. Joe told me all about the than our marriage. No contest. new musical at the long since difficult time he and his dad had closed Limelight Dinner Theatre. had some years back and how The future together We rehearsed for three weeks and they overcame it. To see how they I know Joe would agree with me put on a few presentations for po- had not only repaired, but deep- on our perfect future: a few trips tential investors. The show never ened their relationship was one of here and there, jobs that we really got done. It was called Capone. I the most beautiful things to see. want to do, continuing to write and compose — we wrote a chilplayed Capone’s main “moll,” and dren’s musical during the panmy now husband played Bugs The proposal Malone. We had a couple of The proposal was more of a mu- demic with our friend Diane scenes together, and I remember tual realization! We had been Leah. The cherry on top would be the director telling us that sparks talking, and I said: “I’d marry you.” to see this musical getting done were flying — we had not gone He then got on his knees and and sitting in an audience to see it and say: ‘’We wrote that!” asked the question. I said yes. out yet at that point!

Broadway star finds her leading man

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We got married in Saskatoon! Joe has a rather large family, and mine is small, so it made sense to do it there. We did an outdoor ceremony and dinner and dance at the Faculty Club at the University of Saskatchewan. It was the last time every single member of Joe’s family was all together (brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, nephews, nieces). My family was there too along with a few friends. Our honeymoon was a month in England, Scotland, Ireland! We drove around mostly in the countryside — it was magical.

35

A LOOK TOWARDS SUMMER 2024 Prestige School

PRESTIGE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP

Prestige School’s Summer Camp Program is just the fun, activity-filled, yet educational summer that your children are looking for! Our camp, which offers a wide variety of exciting activities that keep all kids engaged, educated, and entertained, starts on July 2nd and ends on August 23rd, 2024. Our sports program includes Outdoor Games, Basketball, Volleyball, and Soccer. We also offer educational programs such as English, French studies, Spanish, English as a Second Language, and Logic Boosters. We also provide activities such as Fun Science, Computer Design, Computer Animation and 3D Modelling, Drawing, Painting, Sculpting, Chess, Baking and Nutrition. Campers attend exciting weekly Field Trips throughout the summer and visits to the Swimming Pool/Splash pad. The camp runs from Monday - Friday from 8am - 6pm. Hot lunch is provided daily. Door-to-door transportation is available. Summer School Credit Courses for gr.

9-12 now offered.

CAMP TYPE: Day Camp AGE RANGE: 3-19 years TOTAL ENROLMENT: 50-70 CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: Varies SESSION LENGTH: July & August SESSION COST: $430 per week

2 Convenient Locations Toronto Campus: 21 Eddfield Avenue (Sheppard & Yonge) Richmond Hill Campus: 11 Headdon Gate (Bathurst & Major Mackenzie)

CAMP DIRECTOR:

Olga Margold

416-250-0648

CONTACT: 416-250-0648 prestigeprivateschool.ca

Prestige School Summer Camp “The staff are extremely adaptable and are dedicated to providing a safe and healthy environment for the kids.”

Camp Wabikon “Be yourself.

Camp is a place to find yourself, to try new things, and to make new friends.”

Luminara Academy “I’m looking forward to more participants, fun and fulfillment!”

Emma Ryan

Alex Tholen

Michelle Machado

Counsellor 2018-Present

Counsellor 2015- 2023

Head of School, 2023 to Present

What advice would you give new campers to get the most out of their time?

Make an effort to try new activities that you don’t normally get to try at home or school. This is how you find new hobbies and interests. Also, it allows you to make new friends and spend time with friends you’ve already made.

What is your best memory from your camp?

As a counsellor, I signed up my entire cabin to participate in the camp production of “High School Musical. “ Though some of them were apprehensive at first, they performed fantastically and seeing them rise to the occasion made me feel so proud of them.

What do you like the most about working with kids?

You get to uncover their hidden talents and what makes them who they are! Each participant is so unique and sometimes they don’t realize their strengths until someone external points it out!

How does your camp support the mental health and wellbeing of campers and staff?

Our camp counsellors are educated about the importance of mental, emotional and social health and have been properly trained on managing issues that may arise, so our campers have a safe and rewarding camp experience.

What is your favourite camp activity, and why? I really enjoy the field trips. Bringing the campers to the zoo, aquarium, the farm, etc., is one of the best tools that we can use to provide campers with first-hand experience and stimulate their interest and motivation.

What are your favourite camp activities, and why?

Like many other camps, Wabikon has a camp-wide 'Big Day', where the entire camp is split into two teams and participates in various games and cheer offs. Being able to get hype and participate in a massive day long competition is so much fun. I've lost my voice every single year and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

What are you looking forward to doing this summer?

I'm looking forward to seeing all of my camp friends again and being able to make the summer fantastic for my C.I.T.’s.

What was the weirdest or wackiest thing you did at camp?

Dyed my hair pink on a whim.

What do parents need to know about before enrolling their kids this summer? We’re not a sports camp or art or science camp. But we combine those elements into the skills we teach through the activities we create for students.

How do you balance fun activities with skill-building activities? We use learner centered approaches to delivery. This ensures that the topics we teach are complemented by the interactive sessions that allow them to reflect and build upon the skills.

What advice would you give new students?

You don’t know what you don’t know, so come with an open mind to experience and learn new things. Our programs are about creating opportunities to add valuable skills to your toolkit!

A LOOK TOWARDS SUMMER 2024 Luminara Academy

At Luminara Academy, we're more than just educators; we're architects of the future, sculpting young leaders one at a time. Our holistic approach to education fosters critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and essential life skills, lighting the path to success in today's dynamic world. Stay connected for inspiring stories and updates on the transformative experiences unfolding at Luminara. Central to our mission is nurturing emotional health, equipping children with the tools to navigate life's challenges with confidence. We take pride in our LGBTQ+ friendly community and provide inclusive environments. Plus, with meals included, students can focus on learning. Through our Skills Programs, such as the Essential Life Skills Program, we provide a comprehensive foundation beyond traditional academics, preparing children for a fulfilling and ever-changing future. Let's illuminate possibilities together at Luminara Academy, where where we believe in shaping not just futures, but destinies.

Camp Wabikon

For over 75 years Camp Wabikon has provided youth from around the world with an exceptional overnight summer camp experience. Located on an island in beautiful Temagami, Ontario our site adds to the magic of your child's stay. Our qualified, dynamic Staff team leads a safe, fun and educational program. Campers love the freedom of being able to choose their activities each day using our personal choice sign-up system. Each camper is encouraged to try all of the activities offered at camp, including a cabin group canoe trip. We also offer an outstanding 6-week Counsellor In Training (CIT) program for 16 & 17 year olds. We are a family owned and operated business that takes great pride in the work we do. By limiting camper enrolment to 150 everyone at Wabikon feels like part of the family. Join us for a summer you’ll never forget!

LIFE SKILLS: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, MINDSET, RESILIENCE, LEADERSHIP, FINANCIAL LITERACY, TIME MANAGEMENT AND MORE...

Our Programs Include:

Learn more about our summer programs!

Centennial College Event Centre, ON

CAMP TYPE: Day Camp AGE RANGE: 10-15 TOTAL ENROLMENT: N/A CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: N/A SESSION LENGTH: 1 or 2 Week Sessions SESSION COST: from $625 to 925/week

CAMP DIRECTOR:

Michelle Machado

CONTACT: 437-992-8485

www.luminaraacademy.com

CAMP TYPE: OVERNIGHT CAMP AGE RANGE: 6-17 TOTAL ENROLMENT: 150 CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: 3:1 SESSION LENGTH: 3 weeks SESSION COST: $3,835

CAMP DIRECTOR:

Matthew Bernardo

CONTACT: 416-483-3172 www.wabikon.com

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FEATURE

FOOD SECTION Clockwise from left: Dim sum from Rol San, Swatow and a sandwich from Banh Mi Nguyen Huong

Saving Chinatown one meal at a time Toronto’s top Chinese chefs share their most delicious Spadina Avenue finds By Jennifer Schembri

| APRIL 2024

Chinatowns across the country are facing and coconut milk.” value offered at this iconic Chinatown es- fried taro puffs and baked milk tart, it threats to their vibrancy and cultural imtablishment, which has been serving up offers a standout dining experience with portance. One crucial way to protect Craig Wong’s pick: Swatow hundreds of sandwiches daily since the fresh dim sum made and steamed right them is by keeping the local businesses Swatow offers a bustling dining experi- '80s, priced between four and six dollars. to your table. thriving. To highlight the best eateries in ence with quick service and generous In addition to sandwiches, the restaurant Insider Tip: Chef Li says, “It’s all about Toronto's Chinatown, we asked top chefs, portions. Open late, it's ideal for a post- also offers fresh rice paper rolls and a se- the dim sum, from turnip cakes and har like Susur Lee and Shu Zhang, to share drinks meal, serving classic Chinese lection of Vietnamese sweets. In 2011, gow to yeung chow fried rice and shrimp dishes, like lemon chicken and sweet and the owners three sons opened the in- rice rolls — each dish more delicious than their recommendations. sour pork. "Make sure to grab a bit of the credibly popular restaurant Banh Mi the last.”

Katy Chan’s pick: chili oil available on the table,” says chef Boys, pioneering the fusion of traditional House of Gourmet Susur Lee’s pick: Taste of China Craig Wong of Patois. Despite its hum- and contemporary Banh Mi styles.

House of Gourmet stands out as a go-to ble accommodations, it's beloved by locals Insider Tip:“I always get the assorted Chef Susur Lee's go-to spot in Chinaspot for a wide selection of Chinese cui- who appreciate its consistent quality and cold cut sandwich with extra pickle,” says town, Taste of China, continues to be a sine, catering to all tastes and cravings. friendly service. Cantonese speakers can Zhang. “They also have takeout-ready beloved haunt for late-night diners, Boasting an extensive menu of more than enjoy secret menu items, and the Vietnamese hams and cold dishes.” drawing them in with its delicious Can800 items, from traditional Cantonese kitchen's specialties include seafood tonese flavours and focus on fresh seaColin Li’s pick: Rol San dishes to Sichuan specialties, this bustling dishes and sizzling platters. food. Dishes featuring fresh seafood, like eatery has something for everyone. Its Insider Tip: “A favourite dish is the beef Chef Colin Li from Hong Shing hailed deep-fried squid with garlic pepper, roots trace back to the Chen family, who and vegetable chow mein,” says Wong, it as "one of the best dim sum spots in alongside classics such as braised duck have been helming the restaurant since and another of his go-tos is the off-menu Chinatown." With such praise, it's no with Peking sauce, never fail to impress.

2005. “My cousin introduced me to this shui gow (water dumplings). “It stands surprise that Rol San has been a staple With its roots in Guangdong province, Hong Kong–style diner,” says Katy Chan out from their pan-fried dumplings and since 1994, satisfying diners with deli- China, Taste of China owner Ping Cham cious Chinese cuisine. Rol San’s famous brings a taste of home to Toronto. co-owner and chef at Bar Neon. “It's shrimp wontons,” he says. all-day dim sum menu is served until the Insider Tip: “Make sure to ask if any specomfort food for me.”

Insider Tip: “Order the young pea leaves Shu Zhang’s pick: early hours, ensuring a delicious meal cial seafood arrived that day that is not on with garlic sauce, congee with chicken Banh Mi Nguyen Huong whenever the craving hits. Rol San proves the menu,” says Nick Liu of DaiLo. “I and black mushrooms and the fried rice “In my opinion, this is the best banh mi that you don't have to be flashy. It's al- have had live drunken prawns, xo, razor noodles with beef and black bean sauce in the city,” says chef Shu Zhang of Bar ways packed, especially on weekends, so clams and raw geoduck.”

— I like the wide-format noodles,” says Koukla. “Also amazing bang for your expect a wait. With made-to-order Chan. And to wash it down? “Red bean buck.” You'll find it tough to match the dishes, including favourites like deep39

POST CITY X THE VILLAGE PHARMACY

A Roadmap to Better Health: The Village Pharmacy Launches One-on-One Diabetes Coaching Clinic Recognizing the unique challenges faced by sure we’re available to all our clients on the people living with Diabetes, and rapidly phone, by email, text, and in-person,’” says evolving research, The Village Pharmacy is inMonica. troducing a one-on-one Diabetes Coaching Ethical practice: Honest communication is Clinic, right here in Midtown. vital. The Village Pharmacy’s approach to “It’s about much more than dropping a few MedsChecks is rooted in genuine concern for pounds. Small medication and lifestyle tweaks their clients’ health, and conforms to profescan have a big impact, and allow people living sional standards of practice. “While some of with Diabetes to avoid complications, feel the big pharmacy chains focus on quotas and empowered, and take control of their health,’ targets, we prioritize integrity, and quality says Zahid Somani, owner of The Village Pharover quantity in every aspect of our macy. “But misinformation about Diabetes is community pharmacy practice,” says Zahid. rampant in today’s social media world, espeShortages resolved: Ozempic was in Monica Nguyen, Pharmacy Manager and Certified Diabetes Educator and Zahid Somani, Owner, The Village Pharmacy cially since the introduction of novel treatments short supply last year, though it is now widely like Ozempic and Mounjaro,” he adds. “It’s become over- Zahid. “By being proactive, this program helps people available. Health Canada has issued an update confirming achieve lower HbA1C levels and have more energy, no an ample supply of Ozempic, so people can feel confident whelming for many of our clients.”

How the program works: Led by Pharmacists who are matter which medications they are taking,” he emphasizes. they'll be able to fill their Ozempic prescriptions regularly.

The program also gives space for goal-setting and regular also Certified Diabetes Educators, the Diabetes coaching Take the First Step Toward a Healthier Future: The clinic at The Village Pharmacy is a 3-month program that check-ins. “We're not just here to provide information; we Diabetes Coaching Clinic is free with an Ontario Health helps people deal with the complexities of Diabetes. listen to our clients’ questions and concerns, offer encour- Card. You can visit our website, call Monica at 416-487Clients work one-on-one with the Pharmacist, starting with agement and support, help clients track their progress, and 9128, or visit in person. The Village Pharmacy is located at a Diabetes MedsCheck and baseline HbA1C testing. The fine-tune strategies that work with their lifestyle," says 2518 Yonge Street, north of Castlefield. program helps clients resolve medication side effects, Monica Nguyen, Pharmacy Manager and Certified optimize blood sugar monitoring, and get guidance on Diabetes Educator at the Yonge-Castlefield location. "Our exercise, navigating social triggers, and food choices. The clients know they can count on us to be there for them every step of the way," she adds. program is free with an Ontario Health Card.

Access is important: Being accessible to their clients is “Many people on Ozempic, for example, don’t realize that side-effects like muscle loss and digestion issues can central to how The Village Pharmacy operates. “For many 2518 YONGE STREET, TORONTO be mitigated by exercise and nutrition planning,” says of our clients, picking up the phone is easier. So, we make www.thevillagepharmacy.ca

FOOD TASTE TEST

VOULEZ VOUS COUCHER AVEC MOI NIÇOISE? Inspired by the beauty of spring and thoughts of Paris, we’re on the hunt for Toronto’s best salad niçoise.

Join us as French-born chef Nadège Nourian and Michelin-recognized Anthony Rose unveil the standout salad.

DOMAINE MAMO

LE SELECT BISTRO

NN: “The presentation is top notch and the ingredients are excellent. You would never see branzino in a niçoise, but it really works here!”

AR: “Everything is good here from the ingredients to the seasoning.”

581 Mount Pleasant Rd., $40

NN: “This is the type of tuna (ahi) I like in my niçoise. The two types of potatoes are wonderful.”

AR: “Very pretty! The egg is really nicely cooked, and this salad packs a lot of flavour — it’s seasoned really well.”

432 Wellington St. W., $33

LE GOURMAND NN: “The capers are really nice! The dressing is a little bit sweet, and I don’t really like the greens, but this is a really well-made salad.”

AR: “I love the anchovies!”

152 Spadina Ave., $17.99

FRENCH MADE NN: “Visually, it’s not my favourite, but the ingredients are fresh, and it’s delicious.”

AR: “It’s good, and the tuna is quite nice here.”

80 Blue Jays Way, $16.50

UNITED BAKERS DAIRY RESTAURANT NN: “This doesn’t look very French — more like a caesar salad. Overall, it’s got all of the things you want to see in this type of salad.”

AR: “This is a very tasty salad. Flavour-wise it’s very good.”

506 Lawrence Ave W., North York, $17.99

HOTEL GELATO

NN: “The dressing is too acidic for my taste, but the green bean is crunchy, I wish that there was more than one; it would add more flavour to the plate.”

AR: “The frisée doesn't seem very fresh, but I enjoy the richness of the salad with the aïoli.”

892 Queen St. W., $18

Anthony Rose | The Michelin-recognized visionary behind Fat Pasha, Schmaltz and Fet Zun. Nadège Nourian | Owner of Nadège Patisserie, has been delighting Torontonians with modern dessert creations since 2009.

41 | APRIL 2024

LE SWAN

NN: “This is a very nice French cafeteria type of salad and something I would make at home.”

AR: “This is a textbook niçoise salad.

The ingredients are very fresh.”

532 Eglinton Ave. W., $20

FOOD

Chef Master Lee opens Bao House

L-R: The menu at Café Renée was crafted by DaiLo’s Nick Liu; the steak tartare with gaufrettes

Celeb chef Nick Liu opens a French gem Tucked away on Portland Street, Café Renée is the latest hot spot to capture the attention of King Street's worldly and adventurous crowd.

Inside the transformed townhouse awaits an oasis of Instagram-worthy moments — from the French-Italian menu, helmed by chef Nick Liu of DaiLo, to a dining space in a stunning glass atrium. Or discover the hidden gem upstairs: Charlemagne, the second secret cocktail bar.

According to general manager and operating partner Bianca Rossi, the glistening white tiles, tabletops reflecting light and the panelling of windows at the back of the space are meant to inspire a “lived-in French bistro,” with focus on a lively, bustling atmosphere — not unlike that of the neighbourhood Café Renée now calls home.

Though it already has the King Street crowd sipping its martinis, Café Renée doesn’t need to make a name for itself as it inadvertently pays homage to a Canadian legend — Celine Dion, who was born in the Quebec city of Charlemagne and whose late husband’s name was René.

“She’s a living legend so it’s a great homage,” Rossi says, noting that the partners chose the name without realizing the connection. “It was meant to be.

Beverage director Angus Edmundson, previously from BarChef, brings his expertise to Café Renée, crafting cocktails that put a flavourful spin on classics. The Naya, reminiscent of a Margherita, features grapefruit liqueur and mushroom tincture, while the Binotto blends rye with Fernet Branca, strawberry syrup, and lemon juice.

Adding an Italian flair to Café Renée, the menu showcases freshly made pastas crafted by chef du cuisine Josh Ling, formerly from a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong. Indulge in carbonara, escargot ravioli and ricotta and spinach gnudi with green goddess butter sauce, combining the best of Italy with Liu's signature touch.

For a taste of Europe, venture upstairs to Charlemagne. Here, you'll find a dark and intimate setting complemented by the nostalgic sounds of the ’40s, featuring Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. The lighter cocktail menu, distinct from the offerings downstairs, is a well-kept secret waiting to be discovered.

Café Renée and Charlamagne are open at 100 Portland St. —Megan Gallant

Bao House brings the creative vision of a seasoned chef to life.

Owned and operated by Master Lee, renowned for his passion for crafting affordable yet delicious dishes, the restaurant, located in North York, is swiftly gaining recognition in the neighbourhood.

Master Lee's story is as fascinating as the dishes he serves.

Born in Taiwan in the 1950s, he experienced poverty and became involved in criminal activities during his youth. However, a soup dumpling shop owner provided him solace and guidance, igniting his passion for cooking and leading him on a journey of redemption and self-discovery.

Inspired by his personal journey, his Taiwanaise roots and a desire to offer accessible dining options to the community, Master Lee decided to open Bao House.

“Chef Lee firmly believes that the true essence of food lies in its ability to bring people together and create shared experiences. By making our dishes affordable, we can spread the joy of flavourful cuisine to as many people as possible,” says a restaurant representative.

Bao House specializes in xiao long bao, offering traditional pork-filled XLB alongside innovative variations, like Indian curry, Sichuan hotpot, Korean kimchi and Thai sweet and sour XLB. Bao House is located at 5336 Yonge St. —Jennifer Schembri

Retro doughnut shop is a sweet surprise

| APRIL 2024

Better days are upon Toronto with the arrival of a new in-demand doughnut shop that pays homage to the '80s.

With its retro-reminiscent colour scheme of vibrant orange, swanky blue and chocolate brown, paired with cushioned bar stools and a welcoming neon sign, Better Days Coffee and Donuts was crafted by Alisha Sturino of Studio Otty. The space epitomizes nostalgia, inspired by owner Dave Fish’s childhood in small-town Ontario, where doughnut shops were ubiquitous.

“It was often a treat for me and my brother and sister going to the doughnut shop,” says Fish, who has worked nearly two decades front of house in Toronto, including at Barque, Mamakas and Manita, among others. “I thought: why not revive that idea and bring it into the 21st century and make it a little more fun 42 and a little more contemporary.”

Offering both cake doughnuts and lighter yeast doughnuts crafted fresh in-house daily, Fish has already observed lively debates among customers regarding their preferred style, with allegiances being readily declared.

Regardless of your preference, Better Days offers familiar flavours such as sour cream glazed, cherry stick and sprinkles. This return to classics, coupled with the vibe of a laid-back diner, often leads to Better Days selling out before closing time.

“A lot of people are excited about being able to get doughnuts that are a little more stripped down, a little more classic than what most doughnuts have become in the last 15 to 20 years,” says Fish.

The shop is located at 963 Dovercourt Rd. —MG

Bao House’s mini soup dumpling

FOOD

Buzzy new eatery debuts in Greektown

L-R: Manita’s menu features Mediterranean fare alongside diner classics; the Ossington location’s welcoming interior

Ossington hot spot to make Rosedale debut Manita, the super popular grocery and bar on Ossington, is expanding into the Rosedale neighbourhood, bringing its unique charm and delicious eats to what once was The Rosedale Diner. Set to open midsummer, co-owner Ian McGrenaghan says that although there are features of the building they're intending to retain, it will definitely have the Manita stamp. "[Owners] Esti and Dubi were very supportive of us redoing the space," he says.

"The Rosedale Diner was an amazing neighbourhood restaurant, and we feel the best way to pay homage to its legacy is embracing that and recreate the feeling of an amazing neighbourhood restaurant that people can enjoy today."

In late 2023, Toronto bid farewell to the Rosedale Diner, a beloved community fix-

ture for over four decades. Established in 1981 by Dubi and Esti Filar, the familyowned eatery was known for its great food and sense of community. Celebrities such as Rush lead vocalist Geddy Lee were patrons.

While many of the details will be consistent with Manita's Ossington location, McGrenaghan says it won't be identical.

"It's not going to feel like a complete replica. We want it to feel like part of the Rosedale neighbourhood and fit well in the old historic building it’s in. It's still going to feel very, very Manita-like," he says.

Capturing the essence of its Spanish namesake, Manita was founded in 2020 by Colin Tooke and Ian McGrenaghan of Grand Electric fame and Sam Lipson.

Known for its eclectic menu, ranging from Mediterranean-inspired dishes to Canadian

classics, it’s a place to grab a coffee in the morning, a mid-day meal, some groceries after work or dinner and a drink at night.

One can anticipate the continuation of the same delicious menu options popularized at their Ossington spot. Get ready for exquisite French staples like mussels and steak frites, alongside indulgent pasta dishes, mouthwatering desserts and some of the city's finest burgers.

Although the restaurant on Yonge Street, north of Davenport, won't be open for a while, its secluded patio boasts a tranquil city garden vibe. It will undoubtedly serve as the perfect backdrop for enjoying the outdoors as patio season approaches.

Manita Rosedale, slated to open in summer 2024, is situated at 1164 Yonge St. —Jennifer Schembri

Located in Toronto's Greektown neighbourhood, Azura offers a unique dining experience that blends innovation with the rich flavours of the Mediterranean.

Under the leadership of executive chef and partner Adam Ryan, Azura introduces a distinctive chef's choice, blind tasting menu, inviting diners to embark on a multi-sensory exploration of Mediterranean cuisine.

“In creating Azura, we saw an opportunity to bring something a bit different to Toronto. We’re proud to utilize locally sourced products in combination with traditional ingredients and techniques to build these complex Mediterranean flavours.”

The menu features an eight- to 10-course classic tasting option or a more compact 4-to 6-course selection, priced at $128 (classic) and $72 (petite) per person.

Signature dishes include the shawarma spiced halibut and the Ibérico Secreto, a marinated Spanish pork cut served with pink radicchio.

The restaurant features plush velvet banquettes and Grecian pottery, adding elegance to its intimate setting. In warmer months, its large wooden doors open onto the Danforth, offering an inviting indoor-outdoor dining experience.

Azura is located at 162 Danforth Ave. —JS

Muay Thai Restaurant and Bar has entered the ring! Combining Thai cuisine and boxing vibes, it's making a splash right in the heart of Queen West. Founded by the same folks behind Thai Hai Cuisine and Thay Thai Bar, this spot promises to pack a punch in the city's dining scene.

Inspired by the vital connection between Thai food and Thai fighters, chef and co-owner Inchai Tabun's culinary journey began in Chiang Mai, where he mastered his skills at a top-rated restaurant before bringing his authentic Thai flavours to Toronto in 2002.

"Food is a universal language. We look forward to showcasing popular local dishes from different parts of Thailand that connect Muay Thai fighters on a daily basis," says Tabun.

"Our menu will incorporate sharing platters which are popular among fighters from Esarn with my own hometown recipes and popular Thai street food."

The menu features a blend of traditional Thai dishes and innovative creations. From crispy miang kham to Vancouver crab fried rice, each dish reflects the rich culinary heritage of Thailand while offering a unique twist.

The experience doesn't end with the food. Guests will find a bevy of fun, aptly named signature cocktails, including Knock Out Punch, Beautiful Boxer and Thai Tea Martini, and there is also an extensive selection of Thai beers and mocktails.

Along with food to fuel and hard-hitting libations, stepping inside the restaurant is like entering the world of Thai culture and martial arts. The interior is decked out in traditional Thai colours, murals by Thai artists and even punching bags and a boxing ring– style rope along the perimeter.

You can find Muay Thai Restaurant and Bar at 325 Queen St. W. —JS

| APRIL 2024

New Queen West eatery packs a punch

A spread at Muay Thai Restaurant 43

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FOOD

Unique all-day café opens in T.O.

L-R: Frilu co-owners John-Vincent and Sandra Troiano with chef So Sakata; a platter from Holy Smoke

Thornhill’s five best restaurants right now From chic and contemporary to familyfriendly, here are the best restaurants in Thornhill to keep on your radar.

1. The Michelin star

Led by executive chef and owner JohnVincent Troiano and chef So Sakata, Frilu’s tasting menu, a rare find in the area, features smoked elements, game meats and meticulously crafted sauces. They utilize high-quality ingredients sourced from their own Willowolf Farm, coupled with a Japanese influence. 7713 Yonge St. 2. The sushi king

At chef Daeu Kim’s Yorokobi Japanese Restaurant, freshness is key. Serving some of the best sushi in the city, the menu boasts a variety of unique specialty rolls

and cooked dishes. Beyond the cuisine, the modern, woody interior creates a welcoming atmosphere, complemented by beautiful Japanese artwork adorning the walls. 7771 Yonge St. 3. The premium steak house

The Octagon has been a local favourite for over 40 years. A lavish renovation adorned the space with opulent features including a 24-carat gold-gilded doorway from New York’s St. Regis Hotel and 18th-century stained-glass panels. Known for its quality cuisine, the Octagon serves USDA Prime beef aged for at least 30 days, ensuring excellent flavour. 7529 Yonge St. 4. The eclectic eatery

In 1995, three young entrepreneurs

opened Terra restaurant north of the core.

Now, after 30 years, Terra has become a renowned name in fine dining. With white-glove service, elegant decor and a curated menu by executive chef Stephen Perrin, Terra offers a memorable dining experience. 8199 Yonge St. 5. The BBQ joint

Holy Smoke offers a heavenly experience reminiscent of a religious gathering. Its kitschy-cool decor features images of Moses holding up a brisket and other religious motifs. True to its central Texas roots, Holy Smoke’s menu focuses on the “Texas trinity” of brisket, turkey and pork ribs, along with jalapeno sausage and pulled pork and classic sides. 8123 Yonge St. —Jennifer Schembri

The Company We Keep is not just your average café — it's a multifaceted establishment born from the vision of industry mavens Jenn Hornak and Nika Mistruzzi. Drawing on their expertise in sommelier work and baking, they’ve created a space that effortlessly shifts from pantry and café to wine bar and restaurant, all while serving as a vibrant venue for pop-up events.

Hornak and Mistruzzi wanted a place where guests could relax, connect and enjoy homemade food, and they’ve done just that.

From Mistruzzi’s delicious pies made with seasonal fruits to Hornak’s thoughtfully chosen wines, everything reflects a commitment to quality.

But it’s not just about the food — it's about the experience. The café at 634 St. Clair Ave. hosts everything from culinary pop-ups to live music nights.

“We both wanted to open a café that fostered a sense of creativity and community,” say the owners.

The evening program enhances the experience with wine flights, cider, beer and cocktails, charcuterie plates and savoury snacks.

With plans to expand their patio space, enhance their menu offerings and host a variety of events, this café’s journey is just beginning.

—JS

Paris is coming to Toronto courtesy of Bomou, an artisanal bakery set to tantalize Rosedale residents' taste buds with its exquisite pastries, chocolates and bread.

In 2020, during the pandemic, the modern Parisian café opened its first location at Bayview and Eglinton. Founded by sisters and co-owners Azar and Negar Sabzevari, the bakery thrived,despite a challenging start and temporary closure due to COVID-19 quarantine measures in Toronto, Negar Sabzevari studied in France with a dream of opening her own boulangerie-pâtisserie to rival those she experienced abroad.

Today, Bomou's signature products, including the pistachio croissant and selection of freshly baked baguettes, are considered some of the best in the city.

Located at 1075 Yonge St., Bomou's new outpost is getting ready to welcome Rosedale residents with French baking artistry.

With traditional techniques and premium ingredients, Bomou's expansion is poised to make a significant impact in Rosedale. Notably, the area has been lacking in bakery options, making Bomou's arrival all the more exciting for local residents craving authentic and delicious baked goods.

Although the shop is in its final stages of renovations, the anticipated opening date is set for the end of April. If the design is anything like the Leaside location, expect a stylish and minimalist space that draws the eye directly to prominent displays of breads and sweets.

“Every day, we flourish in our savoir-faire [know-how] and take pride in our food quality,” says Azar. “We are [continuing to] share our passion for traditional French bread, viennoiseries, pastries and chocolates with the people of Toronto.”

—JS

| APRIL 2024

Summerhill gets a new pâtisserie

Co-owner Negar Sabzevari 45

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| APRIL 2024

LOOKING BACK 40 years ago, MuchMusic was born, and it changed everything

Photo: @muchmusicarchives Instagram Photo: @muchmusicarchives Instagram

Photo: @muchmusicarchives Instagram

Photo: @muchmusicarchives Instagram

APRIL 2024 EDITION

Clockwise from top left: Iconic truck bursting through the wall at 299 Queen St. W.; MuchMusic's former headquarters; VJ Erica Ehm (middle) with Greg Keelor (left) and Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo; and Janet Jackson

| APRIL 2024

That time MuchMusic defined Queen West cool

50

Some 40 years ago this year, before the Internet, before Instagram and TikTok, cool in Canada was defined by Toronto’s MuchMusic. Situated on Queen West, the TV station not only rivalled but bested America’s MTV. Established in the early 1980s, it quickly became synonymous with the vibrant Queen West scene.

Its iconic building, with a truck burst through its wall, became emblematic of its rebellious spirit. Inside, MuchMusic fostered a unique environment for music enthusiasts, featuring innovative programming from Speaker's Corner where

Barenaked Ladies first appeared to Electric Circus and The Wedge, where individuals could voice their opinions in front of a camera, dance their hearts out and discover the best new music from the likes of U2, No Doubt and Red Hot Chilli Peppers to name a few. The station was propelled by a cadre of charismatic VJs, including Erica Ehm, J. D. Roberts, Sook Yin Lee, Master T, and Terry David Mulligan who shaped the channel's identity. That MuchMusic magic might be gone, but the memories remain of a time when Queen West cool ruled.

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FOR SALE 23 MISTY CRES.

$12,288,000. 86’ X 145’ LOT, 5+1 BEDS & 8 BATHS, APPROX. 7,522 SQ. FT.

2 SANDFIELD RD.

22 FOREST RIDGE DR.

$5,695,000. 116’ X 163’ LOT, APPROVED TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT SITE.

$5,495,000. 50’ X 121’ LOT, 4 BEDS & 7 BATHS, APPROX. 4,524 SQ. FT.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

87A BEDFORD PARK AVE.

424 ROEHAMPTON AVE.

3600 YONGE ST. #933

$3,385,000. 20’ X 118’ LOT, 4+1 BEDS & 6 BATHS, APPROX. 3,106 SQ. FT.

$2,849,000. 31’ X 105’ LOT, 4+1 BEDS & 5 BATHS, APPROX. 2,764 SQ. FT.

$2,680,000. 2+1 BEDS & 4 BATHS, APPROX. 3,167 SQ. FT. + TERRACE.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

2600 BATHURST ST. #801

530 RICHMOND ST. W.

1 YORKVILLE AVE. #309

$2,449,000. 3 BEDS & 2 BATHS, APPROX. 2,475 SQ. FT. + 4 TERRACES.

$1,799,000. 18.9’ X 63’ LOT, LEGAL DUPLEX, 4 BEDS & 3 BATHS.

$1,590,000. 2 BEDS & 3 BATHS, APPROX. 1,585 SQ. FT. & 2-STOREY.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

1 YORKVILLE AVE. #PH2

101 CHARLES ST. E. #3801

101 CHARLES ST. E. #4910

$1,439,000. 2 BEDS & 2 BATHS, APPROX. 905 SQ. FT. + TERRACE.

$995,000. 2 BEDS & 2 BATHS, APPROX. 908 SQ. FT. + TERRACE.

$879,000. 2 BEDS & 2 BATHS, APPROX. 803 SQ. FT. + TERRACE.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

125 REDPATH AVE. #1508

1 YORKVILLE AVE. #4903

1 YORKVILLE AVE. #612

$829,000. 2 BEDS & 2 BATHS, APPROX. 812 SQ. FT. + TERRACE.

$749,000. 1+1 BEDS & 1 BATH, APPROX. 577 SQ. FT. + TERRACE.

$675,000. 1+1 BEDS & 2 BATHS, APPROX. 577 SQ. FT. + TERRACE.

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