Queen West Post January 2026

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BRUNCH CITY CHEFS NUIT REGULAR & ANTHONY ROSE ON TORONTO’S MOST FANTASTIQUE FRENCH TOASTS

T.O.’S ULTIMATE CITY GUIDE JANUARY 2026 • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 8

Sammarco Chef Rob Rossi’s ode to the Italian steak house

chef vibe price cuisine libations best new restaurants

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PROJECTS IN PROGRESS: LARGE RENOVATIONS: • 100 Yorkville • 7 Ridge Hill • 54 Evanston • 1 Bedford Pk Penthouse • 60 Montclair Penthouse LARGE ADDITIONS: • 38 Lascelles • 36 Valewood • 156 McCrae • 18 Evita Crt • 95 Allingham • 14 Southgate • 233 Bessborough • 45 Cherrywood • 8 Newbury Lane • 2727 Yonge St • 155 St Clair NEW CONSTRUCTION: • 450 Glengrove • 9A Relmar • 77 Bishop • 9B Relmar • 29 Donwoods • 36 Ava Rd • 160 Castlefield

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AME ERICA CA AARON COPLAND Fanfare for the Common Man GEORGE GERSHHWIN Piano Concertto

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CO N TA C T U S capitalassetlending.com

MARIYA ORLENKOO, PIANO

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35 Lytton Boulevard, Toronto

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This material is fo for informatio on purposes p only and is not an off ffe ff er to sell a securittyy. Securities of Mortgage Company of Canada a Inc. (the ( “Corporation”)) are availab ble onllyy to accredited investorrss in Canada purchasing through a rregistered dealer purrssuant to an app plicable exemption. Commissions, trra ailing commissions, management ffe ees and expenses all may be e associated with an investment in the Corporra ation. Please read the Confidential Off ffe ering Memorra a andum of the Corporation beffo ore o return is the historical annual co ompounded total return including investing. The indicated rate of changes in value of the securities and reinvestment of all distrributions and does not take into account income taxes paya yable e by any securittyy holder that would ha havve reduced returns. Securities of the Corporation are not guarra anteed, their value may change frequ uentllyy and past perffo ormance may not be repeated.

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Kids Post

Check out our private schools and extracurricular programs guide – 41-49

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Contents

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

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25 Ice fishing couture Whether you're fishing for walleye or curling up by the fire, Jeanne Beker sourced the best Nordic knits in the city

27 Cross-continent love a decade in the making 33 Parlez-vous French toast?

Chefs Nuit Regular and Anthony Rose on the city’s most fantastique French toasts

34 Toronto’s best new restaurants From a seafood spot with a serious pedigree to Italian-Asian fusion, these are the best new places to eat in Toronto

| JANUARY 2026

Virgin Radio host Shannon Burns gives us the scoop on meeting her wife eight years before their first date

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CITY

We need to put people first in 2026 It’s a new year and it’s time to make some resolutions for the city of Toronto.

For a long time now, our elected officials seem more interested in prioritizing private interests rather than people. I think if you make sure our most vulnerable residents are taken care of — our unhoused, our seniors, our children — it will go a long way to creating a livable city for all.

How does that work?

First, think about the generations to come.It’s a well-worn adage, rooted in Indigenous philosophy, that considering how seven generations down the line would be impacted by major decisions is a great planning tool.

Think about environmental decisions: how we generate electricity still without knowing how to safely store nuclear waste, how we prioritize polluting single-occupancy vehicles over other transportation methods, how we abandon our environmental programs to cut emissions just to make building more stuff easier for private companies.

Seven generations down the line, people might look back at these decisions and wonder why we gave up — why we prioritized economic growth over everything else and why we didn’t prioritize clean air and clean water and growing food.

It’s a simple concept. Planning past the next electoral cycle is something of which politicians seem incapable. But they should give it a try. And I think, as voters, we need to look beyond our immediate needs also and think about how our children’s children will be impacted by the decisions we make today.

Happy New Year!

RON JOHNSON is the editorial director of Post City Magazines.

T.O.’S ULTIMATE CITY GUIDES

+

| JANUARY 2026

PUBLISHER Lorne London EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Ron Johnson ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER-IT Jarrod Daley MANAGING EDITOR Julia Mastroianni GENERAL MANAGER Laurie McGillivray FOOD EDITOR Jennifer Schembri CONTROLLER Tina Trevellin ART DIRECTOR Dorothy Chudzinski OFFICE/CLASSIFIEDS Lance Garvey MANAGING ART Lindsay Low MANAGER DIRECTOR VP OF SALES Lisa London SENIOR GRAPHIC Erin Neilly DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Lynne London DESIGNER MEDIA ADVISORS Jo-Anne Craine GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kristine Hughes Clara Strebel SENIOR SOCIAL EDITOR Lucy Hagerup-Labrosse CONTENT CREATOR Kaitlin Narciso Emily Matesic SENIOR SALES LEAD Carly Roebuck PROOFREADER Sarah Ives ACCOUNT CO-ORDINATOR George Redak

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NORTH TORONTO POST VOL. 32 • ISSUE 6 VILLAGE POST VOL. 35 • ISSUE 6 BAYVIEW POST VOL. 37 • ISSUE 6 NORTH YORK POST VOL. 27 • ISSUE 5

THORNHILL POST VOL. 31 • ISSUE 6 YORKVILLE POST VOL. 7 • ISSUE 12 ANNEX POST VOL. 8 • ISSUE 11 QUEEN WEST POST VOL. 2 • ISSUE 8

1256 YONGE ST., TORONTO, ON M4T 1W5 TEL 416.250.7979 WEB POSTCITY.COM The Fine Print: The contents of Post City Magazines Inc. are copyright 2026, all rights reserved, and may not be reproduced in part or in whole without the written permission of the Publisher. The contents of all ads are subject to the discretion of the Publisher.

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POST INTERVIEW

STREETS OF TORONTO SECTION

FAST FACTS NAME:

Maggie Kang BORN:

Seoul, South Korea, moved to T.O. at age five Studied animation at Sheridan College BIG BREAK:

Went to work for DreamWorks animation GRAMMY AWARDS: ‘KPop

Demonhunters’ received five Grammy nominations this year

Maggie Kang named her daughter after the lead character in ‘KPop Demon Hunters’

Visionary behind most successful Netflix film ever Toronto’s Maggie Kang on ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ and what’s next How did Toronto inspire or inform your work?

Toronto is such a melting pot, and everyone is given the freedom and space to embrace their culture. We’re so used to celebrating differences there, and that helped me stay connected to my Korean roots — of course, my parents played a huge part too. Growing up, there was a little Koreatown in North York, where I’d get all my K-pop stuff, eat Korean food and go sing karaoke. That really helped me stay grounded and connected.

about how wonderful it would be to see Korean culture represented through the lens of animation, and that’s why I landed on the idea of Korean demons to start. It means a whole lot to me, and it means a lot for people to know that, when they click the play button on Netflix, they’re transported to Seoul.

What message did you want to send to young audiences, especially fans of K-pop?

I think they’re doing such a great job already of embracing this genre of music, showing support for their idols and spreading the love. For me, the biggest message I’d like to leave — espeI had a few ideas about the types of movies and characters I cially for young girls — is that, for so many years, we’ve seen wanted to see. Some of them were Korean devery pristine female characters. I’d love them to mons. Other ones were really weird, funny, silly realize there’s real power in being silly and fun women who are both really strong and vulnerfunny, especially around each other, and that “THERE’S A LOT WE and able, and those things just came together to create it’s important to encourage that in our friends. It a demon-hunter idea.

COULD DO WITH THEM takes a lot of confidence to do that, and I hope to see some weird, funny girls coming up in AND A LOT WE CAN DO the future.

What was the spark behind this concept?

The character of Rumi was designed for an earIN THIS WORLD.” Is Rumi named after your daughter? lier project — something that my partner, my My daughter is actually named after her. My hushusband, had been working on. He wanted to band and I created the character when I was create this Korean character, and the two of us worked on it. That’s when we came up with her iconic braid, pregnant. We didn’t know what we were going to have. Once and her silhouette and design really haven’t changed since then. we found out it was a girl — my husband’s family does “R” I liked the character so much I plucked her out and used her for names — Rumi felt like the perfect fit for hitting the Korean the movie. Even the story didn’t change too much. The idea of name but also the R name. That’s why we went with it. a demon boy band came up pretty quickly after we came up with the concept, and everything stayed pretty similar, even the What’s next for you — and for these demon hunters?

Geno love story. Most of the figuring out of the movie was really Only time will tell. There’s a lot we could do with them and a done in the second act — pulling levers and trying to balance lot we can do in this world. I’m excited to tell new stories, whether it’s in this franchise or creating a new one. After the our storylines. success of my directorial debut, it’s a lot of pressure, but I’m How important was it for you to showcase feeling more confident than ever in what I can do. I’d love to Korean identity and culture in this way? show more.

It was what sparked everything at the beginning. I was thinking —Ron Johnson What was the first idea that started this incredible journey?

CITY HACKS Where to awaken your inner Pinball Wizard this winter Zed 80

This cosy, nostalgia-packed arcade bar where five bucks gets you unlimited retro gaming, great drinks and laid-back ’80s and ’90s vibes — all wrapped up in a smaller but super charming space that feels like a hidden gem for vintage game lovers.

Antisocial Pinball Lounge

Antisocial flips the usual arcade-bar script, offering 76 awesome, well-kept pinball machines; a curated rotation of canned craft drinks; and pizza for serious players — perfect for adults chasing the ultimate pinball high without distractions.

Tilt Arcade Bar

This west end gem is a throwback haven where five bucks unlocks unlimited classics, like Pac-Man and pinball, making it a perfect, adults-only hangout for spontaneous fun, good drinks, tasty bites and an easy night out — just don’t expect it to be kid-friendly or customerservice perfect every time.

| JANUARY 2026

COLLEGE:

Antisocial Pinball Lounge 7

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9

News

SE C TIO N

This year could bring a lot of change to the streets of Toronto, not the least of which is the possibility of self-driving taxis.

Waymo’s (owned by Google parent company Alphabet) self-driving cars are already operating in several major U.S. cities.

And, apparently, lobbyists for companies such as Waymo are registering with the City of Toronto, indicating early discussions underway around potentially developing bylaws and regulations for autonomous vehicle operations, including ride hailing, deliveries and commercial use. Earlier this year, Magna International Inc. was scheduled to test self-driving vehicles in Toronto as part of a pilot project. If approved, Toronto would mark Waymo’s first expansion into Canada. Canada’s harsh winters could be an obstacle for Waymo and other self-driving companies such as Tesla and the Amazon-backed Zoox.

Clockwise from left: A Waymo autonomous vehicle on the road, Waymo CEO Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo taxis could be coming to Toronto

| JANUARY 2026

Are self-driving taxis coming to Toronto in 2026?

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10

POST CITY X INTEGRA HEALTH

Putting Patients First: CEO Dr. Sapna Sriram on Healthcare That Works Q: What does comprehensive wellness mean to Integra Health?

A: It means looking beyond symptoms and considering the full picture - physical, mental, and social health. We support patients through proactive care, whether that’s physiotherapy, nutrition, mental health, or medical treatment. When these elements are integrated, patients see more sustainable improvements and a better quality of life. Wellness isn’t a single visit - it’s an ongoing partnership.

Integra Health is a multidisciplinary healthcare and wellness centre built on one simple idea: care should be accessible, connected, and truly centered on the patient.

From medical services and mental health support to nutrition, massage therapy, chiropractic, physiotherapy, and cosmetic treatments, Integra Health brings a full spectrum of care under one roof. The goal is high-quality, coordinated healthcare - delivered the way healthcare should be.

Q: What inspired you to open Integra Health?

A: I saw how challenging it could be for patients to navigate their care when their providers worked independently. People were often managing several appointments across different clinics, trying to keep track of next steps on their own. I wanted to build a place where that experience felt simpler - where care could be coordinated in one environment and patients could feel supported every step of the way. Over the past decade, Integra Health has grown into that vision, offering an integrated model that brings clarity, connection, and ease to the patient experience.

We also wanted to offer more accessible medical support for people who don’t have a family doctor. By providing OHIP-covered appointments with same-day or next-day availability, patients have a reliable place to come for timely concerns that don’t require an emergency visit. It’s about making care easier to access, supporting continuity, and giving people the reassurance of having somewhere dependable to turn when they need it.

CEO Dr. Sapna Sriram; Integra Health Q: How is Integra Health different from other clinics?

A: Collaboration is at the core of everything we do. Our physicians, physiotherapists, dietitians, mental health therapists, and allied health clinicians communicate closely to create coordinated care plans tailored to each patient. This isn’t just about convenience - it’s about better outcomes.

By working together across disciplines, we treat the whole person rather than isolated symptoms. A patient with chronic migraines, for example, may benefit from chiropractic care, nutritional support, and medical oversight. When those providers collaborate, we can address the root contributors to their condition in a more meaningful, sustainable way.

Q: Any final thoughts on why patients should consider Integra Health?

A: We’re building more than a clinic - we’re building a modern healthcare model. By prioritizing access, collaboration, and patient-centered care, we help people recover, optimize their health, and feel supported along the way.

Whether someone needs medical care without a family doctor, manual therapy, or long-term wellness guidance, we provide an integrated approach that truly works.

At Integra Health, care is designed for patients—not the system. When healthcare is connected, outcomes improve, and patients feel empowered every step of the way.

130 KING STREET WEST • 199 BAY STREET 416-777-9355 • INTEGRAHEALTH.CA

11

NEWS OPINION

Public health care under attack?

City Hall

Will Toronto’s next mayoral election finally be about affordability?

JOHN SEWELL is a former mayor of Toronto.

There is a big municipal election ahead for Torontonians in 2026. Are we in for an against-the-odds candidate to sweep to power like in New York City?

The newly elected mayor in New York City was not supported by any of the big decision makers, who said his policies were too radical, that he offended the city’s big developers and landlords. But he had an agenda based on affordability and a host of young people working for him, and he easily swept the election in November, taking office in early January.

His agenda includes free public transit, a rent freeze for the two million New Yorkers living in rent-controlled apartments, government-owned grocery stores to sell nutritious food at reasonable prices, a much improved public education system and affordable day care.

Can a candidate with a new message for mayor of Toronto emerge for the election this coming November?

An agenda for Toronto will not be similar to Mamdani’s, but it can be the same in addressing problems in a

forthright and honest manner. The city is challenged with the homeless, and their numbers and presence is all too obvious and disconcerting — on transit, on the streets, in parks, in hospital emergency rooms, in courts.

The homeless consume too much energy and money from the police, from the justice system, from the health-care system. What’s needed is not more policing or shelters, but permanent housing.

Securing that housing will require money and political will. Since the provincial government shows no interest in addressing this problem, significant city funds will be needed to buy or rent many of the newly built and empty condos to provide housing quickly.

Building new housing will take a few years.

About $200 million will be needed to pay the mortgage or rent, plus support costs, for almost 5,000 units.

That would provide permanent housing for a good chunk of the more than 15,000 considered homeless in the city. To spend that money would be a key promise of such a mayoralty candidate.

Public transit needs significant improvement, particularly better bus and streetcar service. Lower fares

would be nice, although achieving free fares seems at the moment like a pipe dream. Premier Ford has a love affair with cars and is not liable to jump on board for improving bus and streetcar service.

Since the province seems incapable of expanding the affordable child care program of the federal government, the city should step in to expand this program, which is so important to young families. It requires new child care centres, then staffing them up.

All of these initiatives have costs.

Money can be found by delaying expenditures on new parks, building renovations, road improvements and new police stations.

More funds can come from a property tax increase. If $500 million is needed, that can be accommodated in the city’s budget approaching $20 billion in 2027.

This would be a good set of policies for a candidate for mayor in Toronto: housing for the homeless, better transit service, more affordable child care.

I suspect a candidate espousing these policies could generate much support in the city. Is Toronto up for this kind of choice in 2026?

The Ontario government has announced a plan to use private clinics to accelerate hip and knee replacement surgery. Is this the end for our public health care system? Hardly.

The first thing to get straight on is what is private health care. Surprising to some, most of health care in Ontario is already privately delivered.

Physicians are independent (private) contractors whose bills are paid for from the public health insurance system, for care that the doctors assess as being medically necessary (under the Canada Health Act). Physicians’ salaries are basically their billing revenues less the costs for operating their offices or clinics.

Hospitals are private non-profit organizations overseen by independent boards.

Pharmacies are private enterprises and a large proportion of medication expenses are paid for by (mostly employment-based) private health insurance. Long Term Care and Home Care are a real mix of for-profit, notfor-profit and public-owned and have many publicly financed and privately financed options.

In Ontario then, nearly all health care is privately delivered with a mix of some private and mostly public payment.

The announcement of public funding for 20,000 new hip and knee surgeries in both forprofit and non-profit private clinics is entirely in-line with how we already provide care. Except in the case of hip and knee surgeries, these have historically only been done in hospitalbased settings.

But technology has advanced and we are now able to undertake a large proportion of hip and knee surgeries with minimally invasive and same day surgery techniques. A money saver.

It only works if there are transparent prices (private providers paid the same as existing hospitals) and transparent quality monitoring.

New private providers need to collect and report in the same systems as those used by hospitals. That’s the only way we know that we are generating value without compromising patient and human safety and these non-hospital providers aren’t messing up and sending patients for repairs in hospital.

We should take advantage of the most efficient ways possible to meet the health care needs of the population, including with private clinics providing hip and knee surgical care.

| JANUARY 2026

WALTER P. WODCHIS is a PhD, Professor, Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto.

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12

NEWS

Happy New Year!

If you are imagining a new chapter in 2026, call us to make it a reality!

WE ARE YOUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS & TRUSTED REAL ESTATE ADVISORS Katie & Julie Rennie SALES REPRESENTATIVES

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YOUR DREAM TEAM Chestnut Park's #1 Team* for over 16 years

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City councillor James Pasternak

| JANUARY 2026

Another hate crime, as incidents on the rise

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The Toronto Police Service Hate Crime Unit is investigating after Jewish prayer scrolls were torn from door frames at a North York seniors’ housing complex in what city leaders are calling an act of antisemitism.

Toronto Police Service has reported about 20 mezuzahs, small parchment scrolls with Jewish prayers, were removed from the doors of units inside a Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation building near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue West on the weekend of Dec. 13-14.

All of the reports came in on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 14, and police are treating the case as a suspected hate-motivated theft.

“If it is alleged a criminal offence was committed [such as assault or mischief ] and it is believed to have been motivated by bias, prejudice or hate, the officer-in-charge may consult with the Crown,” the release stated, adding that if a person is charged and convicted of the offence, the judge will take into consideration hate as an aggravating factor when imposing a sentence.

“Wilful promotion of hatred and advocating genocide are hate propaganda [hate speech] offences, which require the Attorney General’s consent to lay

charges. These charges are often laid at a later time.”

The thefts were discovered after residents noticed the mezuzahs had been ripped off, leaving visible damage on some door frames.

Councillor James Pasternak, who represents the area, said that a rabbi from the building contacted him to say that the mezuzahs were taken overnight on Saturday, Dec. 13.

“Everybody’s really shocked,” Pasternak said, adding that the building is run by the City of Toronto.

The mezuzah thefts also follow another recent hate-motivated crime investigation in the region. In November, York Regional Police and the York Region District School Board launched a probe after antiBlack racist language and antisemitic symbols were found in the field and change rooms at Westmount Collegiate Institute in Vaughan.

Both cases come amid a documented surge in hate incidents targeting Jews in Toronto. According to a Toronto Police Service Hate Crime Unit report summarized by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), there were 443 reported hate crimes in the city in 2024.

— Nisean Lorde

13

NEWS

Shroomyz on Bloor Street West

Why can’t Toronto police shut down Shroomyz and keep it shut?

Shroomyz was the target of three violent incidents in a six-week period this past fall, a pattern she said has left residents and nearby businesses feeling unsafe and ignored.

The first incident occurred in August when police confirmed that Shroomyz’s Yonge Street location had been the victim of an arson attack. On another date, a truck was deliberately driven into the Bloor Street West storefront, causing significant damage.

“As soon as the

shops are closed, they often reopen shortly after.”

And in October, emergency services were called shortly after 5 a.m. after reports that an object had been thrown at the store, igniting a fire.

Toronto Fire Services reported that the blaze had already been extinguished by a bystander using a fire extinguisher, and no flames were found inside the closed business.

No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.

Saulnier emphasized that the incidents have left residents feeling abandoned.

“These repeated acts of violence have left residents and local businesses feeling anxious and abandoned by the very systems meant to protect us,” she wrote, in a letter addressed to local city councillor Dianne Saxe and others.

The petition calls for immediate enforcement action by the Toronto Police Service and relevant federal authorities to investigate and shut down Shroomyz.

It also urges a co-ordinated response between Toronto police, City of Toronto bylaw and licensing enforcement, Toronto Fire Services and Health Canada to prevent further incidents.

Additionally, Saulnier is demanding a public safety plan for the surrounding area.

“While our enforcement efforts primarily target the trafficking of illegal drugs driving overdose deaths, we will continue to investigate the operation of illegal dispensaries and hold those responsible accountable,” Ramadan said.

Saulnier’s petition, and the public response it has generated, underscores a growing tension between community safety and the challenges of regulating substances that remain illegal under federal law.

—Ron Johnson

In a world that feels uncertain, Jewish day schools are your place of

BELON NGING.

Find the right Jewish da ay school for your familly y!

www.jewishd dayschools.ca

| JANUARY 2026

Toronto residents are calling for immediate action after a series of violent incidents targeting Shroomyz, a psilocybin mushroom dispensary at 497 Bloor St. W. that operates illegally.

Some Annex community members said the repeated attacks and the continued operation of the store are creating an unsafe environment, prompting a petition on Change.org by resident Kat Saulnier that has already gathered more than 350 signatures.

The petition demands co-ordinated enforcement from municipal, provincial and federal authorities. But a spokesperson from Toronto Police Service said they are doing what they can.

“Our officers are responding to community complaints about psilocybin dispensaries, and when a report is made, it is investigated. Any decision to proceed with charges is based on the findings of that investigation,” said Nadine Ramadan. “We also work with the City, as these brick-and-mortar shops may be subject to bylaw, permit and zoning infractions in addition to criminal enforcement. Unfortunately, however, as soon as these shops are closed, they often reopen shortly after under the same or different names.”

According to Saulnier,

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14

NEWS

LEARN DEVELOP GROW powersoccer.ca

416-425-6062 The Webster has announced the closure of its Toronto store

Yorkville department store closes up shop

&

TORONTO’S BEST

DENTISTS

| JANUARY 2026

2025

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CENTRAL.DENTAL.GROUP.DR.JORDAN.SOLL

When a new luxury retailer from the U.S. decided to open its first store outside the country in Toronto in 2021, no one was surprised that Yorkville was the location of choice.

The Webster, a multi-brand luxury shop that found success in multiple high-traffic cities south of the border (including New York City’s SoHo and Beverly Center in Los Angeles), unveiled its signature pink facade in the fall of 2021 on Scollard Street. But it turns out the retailer was no match for Toronto’s fashion scene. The Webster announced on Dec. 11 that the Yorkville location — and its only Canadian outpost — is closing.

“The Sun Sets in Toronto,” reads the dramatic title on the Webster’s Instagram post. “The Webster Toronto will be closing its doors after many wonderful years in Toronto.”

The post noted that after Dec. 27 the store would be closed for good.

This marks yet another U.S. department store concept that has failed in the Canadian market. Earlier this year, all Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Off 5th stores closed in Canada as part of Hudson’s Bay Company’s liquidation. Nordstrom closed down in Canada, shuttering all

13 stores, in early 2023.

A Canadian department store, Simons, has since taken its place, taking over some of the former Nordstrom storefronts when it launched in Toronto this year.

Although the Webster isn’t a traditional department store — it operates as more of a multibrand boutique — it marks another successful U.S. brand finding challenges translating its concept to a Canadian audience.

It’s unclear why the Webster couldn’t find success in a Canadian market.

Some might expect that the location, in a historic brick building, played a role. Scollard Street is one of the least-travelled streets in the Yorkville neighbourhood.

Conversations with members of the in-store Toronto team suggest that the Webster didn’t put enough into marketing, relying too strongly on organic reach through Instagram.

The Webster Toronto’s closure will leave a hole in Yorkville’s retail scene, especially as one of the only multi-brand luxury shops in the city. Maybe a Canadian concept will take its place!

—Julia Mastroianni

15

NEWS

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City council approves heritage demolition on Queen West A proposed 27-storey, mixedThe heritage approval is also use tower on Queen Street tied to zoning permissions. A West is one step closer to reality zoning bylaw amendment alafter Toronto City Council ap- lowing a 24-storey tower with a proved the site’s heritage dem- five-storey podium was preolition and new construction. viously approved in June 2024.

As of publication, a two-sto- The revised application (inrey commercial building sits at creasing the height to 27 storeys 1266 Queen St. W. in a heritage with a four-storey podium) is conservation district. On Dec. still being considered by city 16, 2025, Toronto City Council planning staff. City documents adopted an item approving the note that the item approved in demolition of the existing building and its replacement “Getting this deal with a 27-storey, mixed-use across the finish tower.

The decision passed without line is something amendments and without debate, after Heritage Planning our entire team staff determined the building is proud of.” doesn't contribute to the district’s heritage value (and after December by city council rethe Toronto and East York lates only to heritage requireCommunity Council adopted ments under the Ontario Heritage Act, not final zoning. the item on Nov. 27, 2025).

Plans submitted by architec- Still, it means a key hurdle was ture firm BDP Quadrangle in cleared.

City council included conAugust show that the new tower will have a four-storey ditions aimed at preventing the podium, with 362 rental units, site from sitting vacant. If con429 bike parking spaces and 31 struction of the replacement building doesn’t begin within vehicle parking spaces.

Toronto City Council’s deci- one year of the issuance of a sion requires the replacement demolition permit, the owner building to be constructed sub- must provide an Interim Landstantially in accordance with scape Plan for the site, implethese submitted plans, which ment it within three months of are on file with the city’s senior approval and maintain it until manager at Heritage Planning. construction begins.

In a recent report for action, Heritage Planning staff concluded that the proposal complies with the policies and objectives of the Parkdale Heritage Conservation District Plan. The Toronto Preservation Board reviewed the application and forwarded its recommendations to Toronto City Council ahead of the final decision.

Because the item was adopted on consent, it moved through both community council and city council without public debate at the council table.

The team behind the project, Republic Developments, finalized the purchase of the site over the summer.

“In what continues to be a challenging and highly selective market for development sites, getting this deal across the finish line is something our entire team is proud of. It speaks to the value of the asset, the resilience of good real estate, and the strength of relationships that make these transactions happen,” they wrote, in a statement.

The outcome signals continued momentum for redevelopment along Queen Street West.

—Nisean Lorde

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| JANUARY 2026

A rendering of proposed Queen West development

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MAIN STREET NEWS

A pasta bar, luxury Parisian boutique, Italian café and more Pastalia, new to 1180 Queen St. W., is taking satisfying those pasta cravings to a new level. This new fresh pasta concept allows you to customize your dish, from sauce (alfredo, rosé, arrabbiata, pesto and more) to meat options to veggie toppings (like a truffle mushroom purée or sun-dried tomatoes). For the full Italian experience, you can also pair your pasta with tiramisù.

6ix Iron Indoor Golf is about to

make practising your swing even easier in Yorkville! The 24/7 indoor golf simulator features high-definition visuals and realistic physics to make each swing feel authentic, and you can also connect with top golf coaches. Try it out for yourself at 146 Dupont St.

Kits, a Vancouver-based eyewear

Ami Paris recently opened its first Canadian store in Yorkdale

brand, is opening its first location in Toronto early in 2026. Offering prescription glasses and contact lenses, the new location on Queen Street West will span over 2,500

square feet and will include a café Yorkdale mall. The Parisian brand, space and on-site optometrist on known for its Ami de Coeur logo, began by focusing on menswear but top of retail. has since expanded into womensHello Nori is launching soon in wear. The boutique at 3401 DuffeYorkville. The Vancouver-based rin St. will join other global luxury hand roll bar will be taking over the brands that have entered Canada former Paramount Fine Foods through the high-end mall. space at 1250 Bay St. Known for its made-to-order, temaki-style sushi, Peaceful Restaurant, an almost the menu features everything from 30-year-old Vancouver staple that truffle lobster to spicy bluefin tuna even got a Guy Fieri shout-out, reand aburi oshi (flame-seared and cently opened in the Annex. Located underneath Presse pressed) options.

Internationale at 515 Bloor St. W., Scoops & Brew House has the legendary northern Chinese launched in Vaughan, offering all restaurant serves classics like danthe good stuff: premium coffee, gel- dan noodles and xiao-long bao. ato, Italian sandwiches and plenty of desserts. This cosy café features Ratelier is a new coffee shop, plenty of specialty drinks, including workshop space and gallery near tiramisù lattes, Toblerone mochas Trinity Bellwoods. Focused on the and Oreo frappés. You can visit the senses, workshops include pernew coffee shop at 4585 Hwy 7, fume-making experiences. The café is a “sensory bar,” and the gallery Unit 2B. invites visitors to engage with art Ami Paris is now in Canada, open- beyond the visual. Stop by at 9 ing its first store in the country at Trinity Park Ln.

Discover Winter savings at Disera Drive!

Shop. Dine. Discover.

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Disera Drive - SmartCentres Thornhill 700 Centre Street diseradrive.ca

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BREAK-INS BY NEIGHBOURHOOD

CRIME NEWS

Last month the highest percentage of break-ins were from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (44%); the day of the week with the most break-ins was Friday (22%); and the majority of incidents occurred on weekdays 81%).

WINTERLICIOUS

OM

ANNEX & QUEEN WEST

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7 A.M.

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QUEEN ST. W. AND CLAREMONT ST.

7 P.M.

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GALBRAITH RD. AND ST. GEORGE ST.

11 P.M.

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QUEEN ST. W. AND EUCLID AVE.

7 P.M.

THORNHILL DEC. 2

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5 A.M.

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JESSICA GDNS. AND HEATHERTON WAY

1 P.M.

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BEVERLEY GLEN BLVD. AND REDONDO DR.

11 A.M.

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ELGIN ST. AND ORSI CRT.

7 P.M.

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PROCTOR AVE. AND BAYVIEW FOREST LN.

2 P.M.

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DOWNING BLVD. AND WINDHAVEN TERR.

1 P.M.

From Jan 30 to Feb 12 Reservations begin Jan 15 toronto.ca/winterlicious

OM Official Mark trademarked by the City of Toronto

Heal th

MIDTOWN & YORKVILLE PARKWOOD AVE. AND SHORNCLIFFE AVE.

6 A.M.

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IMPERIAL ST. AND COLIN AVE.

11 A.M.

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YONGE ST. AND GIBSON AVE.

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AVENUE RD. AND HEATH ST. W.

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HAZELTON AVE. AND BERRYMAN ST.

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medical negligence

DEC. 8

MELROSE AVE. AND AVENUE RD.

3 A.M.

public health law

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2 P.M.

advocacy fo for patients and health care providers

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OUR F OC US

msllp.ca

416.862.1070

| JANUARY 2026

DEC. 1

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18

JANUARY HOME DESIGN

THE HOME — Interiors & Lifestyle European Craft. Toronto Style.

At THE HOME, we believe that a beautifully designed home tells the story of the people who live in it.

Conveniently located on Upper Avenue Rd, our Toronto showroom brings together an inspiring collection of curated European furniture and décor—pieces that blend contemporary style with enduring craftsmanship. From elegant sofas and statement tables to unique accents and artisanal finds, every piece in our showroom is handpicked for beauty, quality, and character. With long-standing partnerships across Europe, we source directly from renowned makers, ensuring exceptional design at prices you’ll love. Featured: Lumen Candles & Diffusers This season, we are proud to introduce Lumen Candles and Diffusers, direct from Italy. Crafted with 100% organic, all-natural ingredients, Lumen’s fragrances are sophisticated yet inviting, designed for those who appreciate a truly refined home experience. Meet the Owners: Behind THE HOME are Fereydoun and Parinaz, a husband-and-wife team with over 20 years of expertise and close

Fereydoun and Parinaz Owners of The Home

relationships with Europe’s leading furniture manufacturers. Their passion for interiors goes beyond selling furniture; they personally guide every client, helping transform houses into homes that reflect each individual’s lifestyle and vision. What’s New: We’re excited to showcase collaborations with Toronto’s local artists, offering limitededition décor pieces that celebrate creativity and community. In addition, our holiday gift baskets thoughtfully curated with luxury accents and artisanal treasures - make perfect gifts or elegant additions to your own space.

Visit us at 1801 Avenue Rd., Toronto thehome.ca | IG: @thehomecanada

Refined living, every day.

Elevate your space.

Experience THE HOME.

Our Story

The Wallpapery is a wallpaper boutique in midtown Toronto with a curated collection of high-quality wallcoverings and an interior design office, where clients can book design consultations for guidance on wallpaper, as well as general interior design. The Wallpapery is able to order any brand of wallpaper, and carries a broad display from many manufacturers that are typically sold only To The Trade, providing public access to a trove of premium products.

Design Consultations

Design consultations provide dedicated time to speak 1-on-1 with an experienced design professional about your project, show you wallpapers that suit your needs, and answer any interior design questions that you may have, including help selecting paint colours, fabrics & furniture. Book your consultation today!

Wall to wall beauty.

2585 Yonge Street, Toronto www.thewallpapery.com

Book a design consultation

Full steam ahead: Toronto’s sauna scene just levelled up

Ready, set, glow — as the weather is getting even cooler, Toronto is getting warmer. Three sizzling new saunas have launched in the city. A floating sauna and plunge pool just opened on the city’s waterfront; inspired by Nordic tradition Löyly Floating Sauna offers deep heat and cold water, all in one. New to Geary Avenue is Sana, a thermal refuge with three different saunas, cold plunge, lounge and, best of all, an eastern European–inspired bar serving up perogies, cabbage rolls, schnitzel and cocktails that you can sip on a private heated patio. And in the heart of downtown Toronto is Aire Ancient Baths, a Spanish wellness retreat in a restored 1912 heritage building, featuring nine thermal baths (including an infused wine bath), a dry sauna, vaporium, 12 massage rooms and two warm marble beds. Turn up the heat on your New Year’s resolution!

Clockwise from left: Löyly Floating Sauna, Aire Ancient Baths, a plunge pool at Sana

| JANUARY 2026

Currents

SE C TION

© Anthony Tuccitto

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POST CITY X THE TORONTO HAIR TRANSPLANT CLINIC

The Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic — Toronto’s Premier Destination for Hair Restoration In the heart of Yorkville’s elite medical district, The Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic (THTC) has become one of North America’s busiest and most trusted hair transplant centres, chosen by thousands of patients seeking refined, natural restoration.

Known for exceptional standards, world-class surgeons, and a uniquely personalized approach, THTC continues to redefine what is possible in modern hair transplantation.

Led by internationally recognized head and neck surgeon Dr. Cory Torgerson, the clinic is celebrated for achieving seamless, undetectable results through cuttingedge Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) techniques that prioritize graft integrity, density, and natural growth patterns. Every treatment plan is designed with precision, artistry, and a deep understanding of natural balance— ensuring outcomes that look not only fuller, but authentically yours.

Patients choose The Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic be-

cause it offers far more than a procedure; it delivers a concierge-level experience from start to finish. Your journey begins with a comprehensive consultation and continues

through meticulous surgical care and attentive follow-up, all overseen by a highly specialized team. The clinic operates in a private surgical centre, complete with operating rooms, a recovery lounge, and an environment built for comfort, safety, and discretion.

As a leader in preventative and regenerative therapies,

THTC also offers a full suite of non-surgical options—including PRP, exosome-based treatments, LED scalp therapy, and tailored medical optimization protocols. These evidence-based solutions help patients enhance transplant growth, preserve existing hair, and maintain longterm scalp health.

Discretion and privacy remain paramount. Executives, public figures, and individuals seeking a confidential experience trust THTC for private VIP access, personalized scheduling, and a boutique atmosphere where every detail is thoughtfully managed.

For those ready to take the next step toward renewed confidence, The Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic stands as the gold standard in Canadian and North American hair restoration. With unparalleled expertise and a commitment to natural, enduring results, your transformation begins the moment you walk through our doors.

Book your confidential consultation today and discover the art and science of world-class hair restoration. www.torontohairtransplantclinic.com

The Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic 647-351-0061 | 59 Hayden St, Suite 702, Toronto, ON, M4Y 0E7

21

STREETS OF TORONTO CULTURE

ARTS Q&A Toronto star makes move from horror to Star Trek NAME:

Tatiana Maslany HISTORIC WIN: Was the

first Canadian to win an Emmy in a major category for a Canadian production

daytrpr

Also premiering soon is another horror project you worked on.

What excites you about the genre?

FAVE SPOTS IN THE CITY:

Issho Bakery and Mama Loves You Vintage SUPERHERO ROOTS:

Joined the Marvel universe as She-Hulk in 2022

Keeper was your second Perkins film in the same year. What was that like?

We actually shot Keeper before we shot The Monkey, and both films were tonally very different. There are different kinds of horror and elements of dark comedy in both of them but very much expressed differently. The ethos on Oz's [Perkins] sets is always the same, with playfulness, experimentation and curiosity. Everybody in the crew and cast brings their ideas, and he is very open and adaptive about how people are seeing their characters or the scenes.

and I think that’s what I love about Oz. He does not settle into anything comfortable for himself. His most comfortable place is just working. Other than that, he changes it up visually, comedically and thematically. He’s always working around the idea of death, but does it through all these different angles.

FAST FACTS

Tatiana Maslany recently starred in ‘Keeper’

freedom. That was a really good reminder for me because I have done a lot I think what was so striking to me was of big budget stuff that feels like a mathe reminder of what you can do with chine, and money is the only thing very little. You can still take time and find anyone is thinking about. and create things in the moment. I think people get stuck on bigger and bigger And you’ll be back with Perkins again budgets because they think it gives them for The Young People, out this year. freedom, but I felt like we had a lot of Yes, and again, it’s a totally different film, How did this experience compare to bigger budget shows you’ve done?

Three true north thrills There’s snow place like Ontario to try out a classic Canadiana experience, from ice fishing to skating through a forest

Skate through a frozen forest, Muskoka style

Few things feel more storybook than skating through a snow-covered forest. Muskoka’s skating trails turn winter into a moving postcard with snowkissed towering pines and iced over winding paths.

Less than three hours from Toronto, places like Arrowhead Provincial Park offer a serene skating escape. 451 Arrowhead Park Rd., Huntsville

A chilly, thrilling ice fishing escapade

Just a short drive from Toronto, frozen lakes become temporary villages dotted with heated huts, drilled ice holes and steaming mugs of coffee.

Wrapped in layers, an ice fishing trip right on Lake Simcoe lets you slow down, learn to listen to the ice and embrace our winter landscape. northboundtours.com

Next in Line is a really exciting queer horror film I was part of, directed by Danny Dolan, who is one of the most amazing choreographers and performers I’ve ever seen. I was so excited to get to work with him and got to incorporate dance into that piece.

For me, horror is a great way to express the biggest feelings and go to the extremes. You get to play with the reallife fear that we feel all the time in the world and all the uncertainty and horror and exorcise and explore it instead of letting it suffocate you.

—Julia Mastroianni

KAITLIN NARCISO, our Great Escapes Guide, hasn’t been everywhere, but it’s on her list.

Trek through the north in snowshoes

Used for centuries by Indigenous people to travel by foot across Canada during the winter, snowshoes will have you feeling like you’re floating across the snow. Don a pair and join a guided experience throughout northern Ontario, where you’ll travel to scenic locations, learn from an Indigenous guide and fall in love with winter. thrivetours.ca 21 | JANUARY 2026

Tatiana Maslany rose to fame playing 17 characters at once on Orphan Black — so it’s no surprise that her career has been equally as versatile. The trend continues for 2026: a recurring guest star role in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, an Apple TV dark comedy, a crime thriller with Steve Buscemi, premiering at Sundance this winter, and more horror. We chatted with the actor, who starred alongside fellow Canadian Rossif Sutherland in the horror film Keeper, about her love of the genre, filming small and all things Osgood Perkins.

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POST CITY X CAREGIVER SERVICES

Caregiver, Parent, Everything: Are you a part of the Sandwich Generation?

Are you responsible to help care for your parents AND your own children? Whether it’s emotional, financial, or hands-on care, how can any of us manage everyone who needs our support? First you drop off your kid at school, then off to a doctor’s appointment with your dad, then back to your house to organize and prep for the end of the school day, then you follow up on calls to specialists to book more appointments for your dad. Your kids come home and now it’s time for dinner and homework and perhaps some laundry. Then, just as you sit on the couch to turn off, a call comes in from your parent - they can’t seem to get into their computer - what do they do?

The pressure from being sandwiched between both ends of your family can drive the best of us crazy.

There is no question that you need to do some organizing, but there are a number of things you can do to reduce the pressure.

First, “put your life jacket on before helping others”. If you don’t ensure that you feel

prepared and supported, it will be much harder for you to help others.

Talk to your kids and spouse: • Share how you feel so they appreciate how challenging the situation is. Ask for help. This is one of those “never waste a crisis” times as each member is asked to do more for themselves and you, and by doing so, contribute to the entire family.

• Be prepared to accept that as others take on these tasks, they may be done differently and you need to get used to that. When there is too much to do, the key is to move forward. Empower others, while you prioritize what is important to you.

Talk to your siblings and parents: • If you’re lucky enough to have siblings who help care for your parents, sit with them and organize. Not everyone will be equally capable or available, and that will feel unfair. Match people with the tasks they are best suited for.

• Look for ways to structure the support your parents’ need.

Organize key areas (caregiver visits, groceries, bill paying, social visits with others). Once items like these become more scheduled, it will free up time and space in your head.

• Separate “support time” from “being their child time”. This is really important: make time to be with them and love them, and not problem solve. It is this quality time that refills your emotional reservoirs.

• Ensure your parents have POAs for Care and Property, as well as Living Wills. When a crisis happens, it is much easier for family members to execute what mom or dad wanted, than argue over what you each think they wanted.

• Create a centralized, shared information system. Use a shared online platform (calendar and documents) to track all appointments, events, and visits, and to store critical medical records, contact information, and digitized copies of key documents (e.g., Health Cards, POAs, medication lists) for easy access by all caregivers.

• Move the medications to

blister packs - this really simplifies a critical concern.

• If affordable, get professional caregiver support and shift the tasks for hands on care to them.

Caregivers can shop, help with personal care, meal prep, laundry, medication reminding, and provide a sense of peace Talk to yourself: • Before you visit your parents, decide if this is a problem solving or quality time visit. Get your head in the right space before you visit.

• Get your own therapist. Talking to someone you aren’t related to can be very helpful and give you some distance and perspective that is otherwise very hard to get.

DaviD Bernstein

Owner/Operator of Caregiver Services Ltd.

Lastly, remember that you need to accept that you cannot do everything, everything won’t be done the way you would do it, and there will be more surprises than you can anticipate.

All we can do is our best, one day at a time.

caregiverservices.ca 416-994-6096

Congratulations to Dr. George Sas of York Hill Endodontics on being recognized as one of Toronto’s Top Dentists for 2026.

Dr. Sas attended the Forsyth Institute (affiliated with Harvard School of Dental Medicine) in Boston where he completed a general residency program.

In 1981, he completed his post graduate training in endodontology under Dr. Samuel Seltzer at Temple University in Philadelphia. Dr. Sas has lectured in both South and North America and is fluent in Spanish. For more than ten years he was a clinical instructor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry and has practiced for over 30 years.

We offer root canal therapy and microsurgery in a modern, comfortable, urban setting.

Have a root canal emergency? Contact us today!

416-781-5251

www.yorkhillendodontics.com/reception@yorkhillendo.com

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CURRENTS 2

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© Heather Pollock

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Like this? Find more eVents At

streetsoFtoronto.Com

DRAMA, DIVAS & THE RETURN OF HILARY DUFF The biggest and best concerts, events and shows this month, from Halsey and Blue Rodeo to an explosive drama and the return of a millennial icon. By Ron Johnson

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4 PU SONGLING: STRANGE TALES

HALSEY

BLUE RODEO

HILARY DUFF

Grammy-nominated artist Halsey brings her Back to Badlands Tour to History on Jan. 9, celebrating the 10th anniversary of her debut album Badlands, which sold three million units, with an unforgettable night of pop hits and fan-favourite classics.

Toronto band Blue Rodeo, with such hits as “Try” and “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet,” marks 40 years of music with two electrifying shows at Massey Hall on Jan. 23 and 24, as part of their Lost Together 40th Anniversary Tour, celebrating one of the band’s most iconic recordings.

Hilary Duff makes her live performance comeback with an intimate, all-ages concert at History on Jan. 24, as part of her Small Rooms, Big Nerves mini-tour, celebrating her first new music in a decade and revisiting the hits that made her a teen idol of the early 2000s.

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CATE LE BON

RAPHAEL WEINROTH-BROWNE

A DOLL’S HOUSE

Toronto’s brilliant actor Hailey Gillis stars in Amy Herzog’s six-time Tony-nominated adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s explosive and emotionally charged drama A Doll’s House, directed by Brendan Healy.

It runs from Jan. 17 to Feb. 1 at the Bluma Appel Theatre.

Innovative folk artist Cate Le Bon brings her unique and bold sound to the Concert Hall on Jan. 20, where she will be performing songs from her acclaimed albums — including her latest, Michelangelo Dying — for an intimate and memorable evening.

Cellist and creative artist Raphael Weinroth-Browne celebrates the release of his new album, Lifeblood, with a live performance on Jan. 16 at St. Anne’s Lower Hall, joined by the electrifying Medusa Quartet.

5 DRUM TAO

6 WITCH

Pu Songling: Strange Tales brings the legendary Chinese writer’s supernatural classics to life in a bold world premiere adaptation from Theatre Smith-Gilmour, presented with Crow’s Theatre from Jan. 13 to Feb.1.

Experience the electrifying energy of Japan’s drumming ensemble Drum Tao, at Roy Thomson Hall on Jan. 16, as they showcase a new show, The Best, blending traditional taiko drumming with modern theatrical flair and breathtaking synchronized performances.

Experience the Toronto premiere of Jen Silverman’s acclaimed play Witch, a darkly funny and subversive tale of power and survival, presented

by Soulpepper Theatre, at Yonge Centre for the Performing Arts, running from Jan. 29 to March 1.

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MELANIE DOANE

Juno Award–winning singersongwriter Melanie Doane returns to Hugh’s Room on Jan. 10 for her annual benefit concert in support of the Doane Music School, performing fan favourites with her band while celebrating music education advocacy.

NICO CARNEY

Brooklyn-based comic Nico Carney, fresh off his 2024 Late Night with Seth Meyers debut appearance and recent film roles, brings his incisive and endearing standup comedy to Comedy Bar Danforth for two nights only on Jan. 2 and 3.

MISCHIEF

Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of Mischief, running Jan. 15 to Feb. 8, a witty new play by acclaimed Mi’kmaw writer Lisa Nasson that follows Brooke, a young woman on the Rez whose life unravels when a visitor comes to town.

| JANUARY 2026

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JANUARY SHOPPING GUIDE

Norm's Antiques We Buy and Sell Antiques, Memorabilia and Estates

Specializing in:

Rolex • Patek • Cartier • Omega • Breitling • Audemars Piguet • IWC

Since 1985 90 Eglinton Avenue East

416-440-0123

Visit us online: www.vanrijk.com

Estate Jewellery and Watches

Tues. Wed. Fri. 10:30am–5:30pm Thurs. 10:30am–6:30pm Sat. 11am–5pm Sun. Mon. Closed

Immediate Cash!

Contact Norm with your photos!

- Antique Oak, Pine, & Teak Furniture (1900s) - Advertising & Memorabilia - English Fine Bone China & Fancy Teacups - Old Collectible Toys - Sterling Silver & Jewellery

Normsantiques@gmail.com

905 703 1107

Jewel Salon

RETIREMENT SALE ON NOW • Closing January 24th, 2026 162 Cumberland Street | 416.967.7500 secrettjewellers@gmail.com | www.secrett.ca

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Jeanne Beker with Eartha Kitt in 1985, rocking the Nordic sweater

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ICE FISHING COUTURE

A. LONG CABLE KNIT, Hilary MacMillan, $125, hilarymacmillan.com. “This is definitely the colour of the season, and it's a real rich-looking sweater and so beautifully styled.”

B. TRAPPER HAT, Good Neighbour, $145, 1212 Yonge St. C. VINTAGE WOOL KNIT CARDIGAN, Proper Vintage, $97.75, propervintagecanada.com D. MOHAIR CREWNECK, TNT, SALE $525, 394 Eglinton Ave. W. “This looks like a fireball, it's the statement Nordic sweater of the century. This is a totally forever piece.”

E. FAUX FUR-LINED MITTENS, Pajar, $89, ca.pajar.com F. FOLDOVER TOQUE, Easy Tiger, $110, 1447 Dundas St. W. G. NORDIC SLEEVELESS TURTLENECK, Smythe, $575, 1116 Yonge St. H. CROPPED HANDKNIT SWEATER, Smythe, $695, 1116 Yonge St. “I love this little crop sweater. What a beautiful colour combo, and you could pair this with high-rise slacks or jeans.”

I. FAUX FUR HEADBAND, Good Neighbour, $99, 1212 Yonge St.

J. CABLE KNIT NECKWARMER, Frock, $59, 97 Roncesvalles Ave. K. NORWEGIAN KNIT, Lemonwood, $445, 1224A Yonge St. “What a subtle, gorgeous print.

This is a really classy, timeless sweater, and the colouration is stunning.”

L. SHEARLING-LINED CAP, Mackage, $390, 220 Yonge St. M. CABLE KNIT HYBRID JACKET, TNT, $628, 394 Eglinton Ave. W. N. FAIR ISLE CARDIGAN, Want, $199.95, 1788 Avenue Rd. “This is a really classic pattern, and for those who want an alternative to the pullover, this makes for a fun statement sweater.”

O. FAIR ISLE SOCKS, Gravitypope, $50, 1010 Queen St. W. P. FAUX FUR BALACLAVA, Rudsak, SALE $79.99, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr. Q. FAIR ISLE HALF-ZIP, Relevé, $320, 1727 Bayview Ave. “Alpine sweaters usually have a real retro vibe to them, but this one looks a little more modern and understated.

I love that it's a half-zip!”

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

| JANUARY 2026

January is the perfect time to embrace hygge, the Norwegian concept that's all about being cosy. Whether you're fishing for walleye or curling up by the fire, Jeanne Beker has helped us source the best Nordic, cable and Fair Isle knits across the city for you — plus some fur-licious accessories for a few extra Scandi-style points.

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CURRENTS ADVICE

I’m making a New Year’s resolution, but it’s not for me Dear Sangita: I want to make a New Year’s resolution — but for my boyfriend. I need him to stop sports betting. He's always been obsessed with watching sports, but he's taken that to a new level with all this sports betting. Now, when he hangs out with his friends, that's all they do. I don't even care so much about the money. I just think he's getting obsessed, and it's taking up way too much of his time. How do I make 2026 the year of no sports betting? — Betting blues Dear Betting: This is becoming an addiction for him, and how do you deal with people who have addictions? It comes down to them figuring out for themselves that they do have one. You can help him through this, but it will be on him to realize that this is a problem. He probably hasn’t won a lot, and the feeling right now is that he’s trying to catch up — or he has won a lot, and he’s on a

Sangita also advises on a remote work conundrum

high that he keeps chasing. You can help by doing some research into programs or supports available for addiction, specifically gambling addiction. Unfortunately, it’s likely he’s going to be upset with you when you do acknowledge it, but that’s on him, and at least it will be out in the open between the two of you. It may eventually be a wake-up call for him that if this is how you feel

mandated back into the office, and now he treats me like his stayat-home wife. The thing is, I'm working full time from home.

When he worked from home, he was always too busy to get any laundry or dishes or cleaning done. Now that he's out of the office, he comes home and makes snarky comments about how the dishes are still in the sink or the laundry is still in the hamper.

How do I get him to stop being so annoying? — Remote, not unemployed

riates me to hear of partners like this. Relationships and marriage are a team effort. It’s 2025, so clean up your act! I think he really needs to step up. He needs to be that husband, he needs to be that partner, and I can’t believe he hasn’t seen it yet. It comes down to having that conversation with him, saying, “Listen, I work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., just like you do.

Maybe on Tuesdays, you cook, and then on Wednesday, I cook, or you do laundry this week, and I do it the next.” Have something like that in place, so you can work as a team — and to make it clear to him that you are both unavailable to do household chores during working hours, no matter where you’re working from.

Dear Remote: He’s an a**hole! It sounds like he didn't even help out around the house much when you guys were both working from home, so he never learned his lesson. He might have been used to you taking care of him when you Have a relationship or were both at home, because one of life question for Sangita? the things that women often do is Send it to advice@postcity.com. say, “You know what, I’ll just get it SANGITA PATEL is our advice done. He’s not going to do it.” But columnist and was previously Dear Sangita: My husband was you can’t keep doing that. It infu- a host on ET Canada. about it, maybe it’s getting out of control. At the end of the day, you’re both going to get hurt by this: of course, there will be a loss of finances, but if this keeps escalating it could be the loss of a relationship. And it’s great that you’re noticing this now — you want to catch it early, before it gets worse for him.

POST CITY X DIAMOND & DIAMOND

Bad Weather is Not an Excuse Tips from Jeremy Diamond and Sandra Zisckind of Diamond & Diamond Lawyers SANDRA ZISCKIND Sandra Zisckind is a lawyer who was called to the Bar in 2003 and practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation in Toronto

lation states that the degree of fault is determined "without reference to the circumstances in which the incident occurs, including weather conditions, road conditions, visibility or the actions of pedestrians."

This means your insurance adjuster is legally required to ignore the fact that it was snowing. ● Scenario A: You are driving on a sunny, dry day and rear-end a car at a stop light. You are 100% at fault. ● Scenario B: You are driving in a blizzard, slide on black ice, and rearend a car at a stop light. You are still 100% at fault.

The logic is simple: drivers are expected to maintain control of their vehicle regardless of the environThe "Circumstances" Clause In Ontario, fault is assigned accord- ment. If you slide, the law presumes ing to Regulation 668: Fault Deter- you were driving too fast for the mination Rules. As we discussed in conditions. our previous column, these rules are rigid. They use diagrams to assign The Speed Limit Myth blame (0%, 50%, 100%) based on Many drivers believe that as long as the position and movement of the they are driving at or below the posted speed limit, they are driving vehicles.

Crucially, Section 3 of the Regu- safely. This is a dangerous As winter settles over Toronto, our streets are transforming into obstacle courses of slush, snow, and the dreaded black ice. It is the season of fender benders and the inevitable roadside arguments that follow. A common refrain we hear from drivers after a winter collision is, "It wasn't my fault—I hit a patch of ice," or "I couldn't stop because the road wasn't plowed."

While these may feel like valid reasons to you, in the eyes of Ontario law, they are irrelevant. When it comes to determining fault for an accident, the weather is never a valid excuse.

misconception.

The speed limit on the Don Valley Parkway might be 90 km/h, but that limit applies to ideal conditions. If visibility is poor or the road is slick, driving at 90 km/h can be considered negligent.

Under the Highway Traffic Act, you can be charged with Careless Driving even if you are doing the speed limit, provided an officer determines that your speed was "greater than is reasonable or proper" given the road conditions.

account for the reduced friction of icy roads.

2. Clear Your Snow—All of It Leaving a "snow hawk" on your roof or failing to scrape your windows isn't just lazy; it's a liability. If snow flies off your roof and blinds the driver behind you, causing a crash, you could be held liable for the damages. Visibility is key to avoiding 50/50 fault scenarios in parking lots and intersections.

3. Get Winter Tires While not strictly mandatory for all passenger vehicles in Ontario, winter tires are 3 Ways to Protect a critical factor in civil court. If you Yourself (and Your Wallet) are involved in a serious accident Since you cannot blame the and you are sued for damages, a weather, your only defense is pre- court may look at your lack of winter vention. Here is what you need to tires as evidence of negligence. do to avoid liability this winter: 1. Respect the "Following Distance" In summer, the "two-second rule" is standard. In winter, this should increase to at least five or six seconds. If you rear-end someone, you are automatically at fault. Leaving extra space is the only way to

27

who flew in from California to celebrate with us. After I popped the question and Morgan said yes, she told me that she also brought a ring and asked if she could propose back. I said, “Yes, of course!”

The wedding

We got married in June of 2025 in LaFayette, New York. Neither of us had any connection to the location, but since we're both from such different places, we wanted to make memories in a new place that didn't belong to either of us.

We wanted to host the wedding on a big property so we could have our close friends at the house for L–R: Morgan Wynn & Shannon Burns chose New York for their wedding the whole weekend. The house is on an apple orchard, which was very peaceful and quiet. After delaying the wedding for a year, Morgan's dad was able to walk us both down the aisle together. However, we both have family that As the host of Toronto’s Virgin talking about her, but they didn’t made the choice not to support Radio, Shannon Burns has made meet her for the longest time. We our relationship. Since I didn't a career out of asking your favou- spent so much time talking and have any biological family in atrite celebrities questions they’ve watching movies on Facetime tendance, the theme of our wednever been asked before — from that we really got to know each ding weekend became honouring Shania Twain to Niall Horan and other and even started planning our chosen family. Having such an Timothée Chalamet. Here, she our future together. Morgan intentional guest list of people tells us about a cross-continent moving to Canada in 2022 was who support us made it such a fun love story a decade in the making the biggest moment for us both. and emotional weekend. with her wife, Morgan Wynn.

Cross-continent love a decade in the making

How they met

Morgan and I met originally online in 2012. At the time, Tumblr was a place where queer people found friends when a lot of us were still in the closet or didn't have a queer community to turn to. Morgan and I realized we were both planning to attend N.Y.C. Pride in 2013, so we exchanged numbers and met up. We chatted for a few minutes, took a photo together and went our separate ways. The next year, we ended up going on a vacation to Mexico with mutual friends, and that’s where we really got to know each other. After that, we were friends until we started dating in 2020.

The relationship

Being in a long distance relationship during a global pandemic, while living in two different countries was definitely memorable! My friends in Toronto would joke that Morgan was imaginary, because I was always

“After I popped

the question and Morgan said yes, she asked if she could propose back!”

The proposal

Morgan’s dad Mike was in a serious motorcycle accident in November 2022 that resulted in him being in the hospital for over a year. There were a lot of unknowns at that time. When Mike was finally able to speak again, I took a moment when Morgan left the room to get his blessing before proposing. I ended up getting my manager to send me a fake brand partnership opportunity — in order to fool Morgan — that would allow us to stay in a cottage a few hours from home for the weekend. My plan was to get her there, propose and then surprise her with her best friends

The secret to success

I personally knew the relationship was destined to be long when it didn’t take a lot of work. We are both just as excited to see one another after each day of work and have found a great routine that works for us both. We are the kind of couple that doesn’t need to do everything together, which works great for us. We tell each other everything which means we know the good and the bad. Transparency and communication are what we try to prioritize.

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The future together

In the future, we hope to have travelled more and be wiser! We hope to have a home where we both feel safe and supported. We hope that we're still laughing and experiencing new things together.

The fun part is that we don't really know where that home will be located or what we'll be doing when we aren't there! We just hope to continue living our lives together in a fun and healthy way.

| JANUARY 2026

© @eunicebeck

CURRENTS HOW THEY MET

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T.O.’S LEADING PROFESSIONALS

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

PERIMENOPAUSE & MENOPAUSE: TRUSTING YOUR MEDICAL & WELLNESS TEAM

The Team at Femme Women’s Wellness

BIO Femme is Toronto's first holistic healthcare clinic catering to women. With an all-female team, our goal is for patients to feel empowered and beautiful. Femme’s female-focused Executive Medical Healthcare program integrates with all disciplines in the clinic including Cosmetic Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine, Chiropractic Care, Physiotherapy & more.

A woman’s health journey is optimized through coordinated and personalized medical and wellness care. Each phase of a woman’s life, whether it be managing heavy menstruation, painful intercourse, fertility concerns, or Perimenopause and Menopause, all present differently and with its own unique challenges.

There are a variety of evidence-based treatments to address concerns that women face during each of these phases. For this reason, discussing and understanding each phase with a medical and wellness team that specializes in women’s care and that you trust is vital.

Menopause and the Perimenopause transition years affect each woman differently. Most commonly, symptoms begin at age 41, but can begin earlier or later depending on various personal factors. Symptoms can begin up to 10 years prior to the onset of Menopause (which is 1 year after your final period).

Symptoms can include mood changes, sleep disturbances, frequent UTIs, metabolic concerns such as weight gain, hot flashes and night

CONTACT

sweats, vaginal dryness and sexual health concerns. A personalized combination of treatments should be used depending on your experience: Medical Hormone Replacement Therapy, non-hormonal medications, vaginal lubricants and moisturizers, vaginal and clitoral topical and hormone agents.

Treating symptoms of Perimenopause and Menopause is purely based on the management of your individual symptoms. Given the personal experience women face in each phase of life, it is imperative to have an integrative medical and wellness team that you feel comfortable to communicate with so that symptoms can be properly addressed and your quality of life optimized. Ensure you have a team that you trust, makes you feel heard, understands your specific needs and works to empower you.

Femme Women’s Wellness, Medical and Cosmetics 371 Fairlawn Avenue • 416-785-0858 info@ExperienceFemme.com www.ExperienceFemme.com

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Food

SE C TION

The city’s restaurant scene is about to get seriously exciting. First up, Summerhill is welcoming a fresh concept from the team behind Michelin Bib Gourmand favourite Wynona. Think small, intimate, effortlessly cool. Chef Jeffrey Bovis promises it won’t be another Wynona — totally new vibes, plenty of surprises, and we hope pasta is on the radar. Meanwhile, in Rosedale, chef Justin Friedlich is stepping out on his own after nearly a decade at Buca Yorkville. Shay, named after his daughter, is shaping up to be an Italian-inspired restaurant and wine bar that’s approachable and refined. Toronto favourites are also expanding. Mamakas is bringing its Greek charm to Summerhill, Badiali is opening a new spot in Mirvish Village and Brasserie Côte is landing at Bloor and Brunswick. Teo Paul and Eamon O’Dea are transplanting their Côte de Boeuf magic to a modern French brasserie that promises the same unpretentious yet impeccable experience. Finally, Stock T.C, a luxe hybrid of artisanal grocer and fine dining, is taking over the former Pusateri’s at Bay and Yorkville. Toronto, you’re officially spoiled.

Clockwise from left: Badiali’s storefront, chef Justin Friedlich and shrimp saganaki from Mamakas

| JANUARY 2026

New year, new tables: T.O.’s most anticipated restaurant openings

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Congratulations to our very own

Dr. Brian Laski & Dr. Stacey Kirshenblatt Voted Top Orthodontists again this year

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2025

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STREETS OF TORONTO FOOD

Bite-Sized Q&A

Still got the sauce: Massimo Capra on Italian food’s next act Chef Massimo Capra has been shaping Toronto’s Italian scene for decades, and this year feels like a full-circle moment.

From his early days at Prego della Piazza to airport trattorias and fine-dining experiments abroad, he’s seen Italian cuisine evolve — and keeps pushing it forward. For Capra, Italian food isn’t nostalgia but a living style that adapts with the times.

Why is Italian food dominating our new restaurants list this year?

The world is getting smaller, people travel more, and Italians are well integrated here. The next generation feels very Italian, opens beautiful places, explores regional cuisine and brings back new ideas and techniques from Italy.

FAST FACTS NAME:

Massimo Capra

eating pizza with your hands is fine on the street, in restaurants in Italy you don’t touch your food — it’s just not done.

TRAVEL JUNKIE:

If you were opening a restaurant for the next generation, what would you skip on the menu?

GUILTY PLEASURE:

There are so many things I’d skip. I’m tired of anything foamy, and caesar salad has no place in an Italian restaurant. At Mistura, I never put it on the menu — and for good reason.

ALTERNATE PATH:

Today, some chefs open Italian restaurants without training in Italy.

Does that matter?

Insists chefs travel, meet producers and learn where food comes from Secretly loves caesar salad, even if it’s not “authentic” Italian

A train engineer, pilot or soldier

Back in the ’80s and ’90s, big Italian chefs wanted only Italians in the kitchen. We Chef Massimo Capra takes a bite out of tradition said, “This is Canada, anyone can work here.” I’ve always had great luck with difredients, amazing taste. Another Italy You went viral for your garlic Italian cuisine is moving ferent people, and I don’t mind if somemixes that with Michelin-star ambitions. and pizza comments. Were you toward fusion. Good or bad? one didn’t train in Italy — as long as they stirring the pot?

Then there’s the Italy that thinks MicheThere’s a tale of the three Italys in terms lin-star restaurants fail because they don’t That’s the absolute truth. In Italy, garlic have passion and understand the product.

—Jennifer Schembri of food. One Italy strictly believes in tra- respect tradition. I like fusion. I always isn’t used as much as it is here, partly beditional fare — kilometre zero, local ing- try to incorporate it in my food. cause the quality is different. And while

The hottest table in town isn’t even a table Forget booths. The bar is Toronto’s plum seat — close to the action and perfect for people-watching.

Poseidon’s Perch

At Milos, the 65-foot marble bar is the real MVP. Pull up a stool and watch chefs shuck East Coast oysters, slice bigeye tuna or lavraki or whip up ceviche and tartare. Blue-tiled waves and doubleheight ceilings make it feel like the Mediterranean crashed into Bay and Adelaide. And yes, that marble is imported all the way from Greece. 330 Bay St.

London Calling Compton Ave.‘s bar comes with its own artwork.

Pull up a stool beneath Portrait of a Lady in Black, an original 1855 painting that looms over the back bar like a watchful guest. Cocktails are shaken beneath chandeliers, bartenders in waistcoats work their magic, and suddenly Dundas West feels like a London house party. 1282 Dundas St. W.

Island Vibe

The bar at Lulu is where you want to be. The breeze block–lined main floor bar channels coastal cool, and upstairs, a dramatic terracotta tile feature bar steals the show under oversized seagrass chandeliers. Grab a seat, order something tropical, and let the two-storey buzz of the Well melt into an easy, Pacific coast hang. 427 Wellington St. W.

| JANUARY 2026

FORKCAST

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ur Keep you New Ye Yearr’’ss resolutio ons!

See a health specialist, exercise, visit a gym and im mprove your diet.

Everything for you ur family ’s health is just an invigoratting walk away!

This all a br cu tiny An favo ah Nu tu “Th the

Fre

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FOOD TASTE TEST

PARLEZ-VOUS FRENCH TOAST?

WINNER

RUNNER-UP

LAYER SLAYER This French toast trifle is all about contrast — soft brioche, bright citrus curd, fresh berries and tiny pavlovas for crunch.

Anthony declared it his favourite. “I love this. I’m a huge lemon curd fan.”

Nuit loved how the textures played together.

“The custard is soft and the pavlovas are crunchy — just perfect.”

OEB, 125 E. Liberty St., French Toast Trifle, $21

BERRY BLISSFUL Anthony loved the comforting flavours of this berry French toast from Cafe Landwer. “It’s classic in a really good way.” Nuit was all about the thick pieces of baked challah toast, which made this dish stand out: “I love how it feels really substantial when you bite into it, not just thin bread.”

Cafe Landwer, 1912 Avenue Rd., Berry Bliss French Toast, $16.95

BRINGING HOME BACON Sweet meets savoury with this combination of bacon and apple.

Anthony was hesitant at first, but after a few bites, it definitely won him over: “This is a nice crossover, which I appreciate.” Nuit loved the unexpected mix, calling it “fun and balanced.”

Tiarré’s Brunch and Bistro, 1614 Bayview Ave., Candied Bacon and Apple Stuffed French Toast, $23

PETAL PARTY With its floral notes and creamy ricotta-mascarpone filling, this French toast brings some much-needed springbrunch energy. Anthony found the bread a bit heavy but said the flavours still pulled him in.

Nuit loved the almond crunch and raspberry compote, which she said made all the difference.

Almond Butterfly, 792 Dundas St. W., Lavender Love, $23.50

GOING BANANAS Crispy edges and bananas make this one instantly tempting.

Anthony loved the crunch. “I like the crispiness of it and the walnuts. Nuit noticed the effort, saying, “They really got it crispy. That’s an extra step actually, a lot of extra steps.”

Yolks, 2245 Bloor St. W., Banana-Walnut Crispy French Toast, $21

CIAO COCOA Coffee-soaked bread, mascarpone and just the right amount of cocoa make this French toast pure indulgence.

Anthony enjoyed the custardy texture, and Nuit was a big fan of the layering. And the originality of the shot of espresso on the side impressed both chefs.

Café Atelier, 1450 Clark Ave. W., Thornhill, Tiramisù French Toast, $22.95

| JANUARY 2026

Toronto loves to call itself a brunch city, especially on weekends, when the meal has become the city’s collective reset. Once a practical way to use up stale bread, French toast is now a brunch staple done countless ways.

Our resident tasting chefs, Nuit Regular and Anthony Rose, braved the snow to find the city’s best.

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Images: @nicoleandbagol

the city’s best new restaurants

L-R: Hamachi crudo, artwork by Toronto-based Victoria Sequeira

No. 12 eloise Graham and Dan Hnatiw, the brothers behind the Old Spaghetti Factory, trade kitsch for burl walnut at this polished new opening on the Esplanade, Eloise. Rewriting their family legacy, the pair has launched a sophisticated dining room that proves they can do much more than sling red sauce.

THE VIBE: The room is a study in softness, defined by curves, silk accents and cosy nooks. It’s elegant and airy, and through a hidden door at the back is Bar Cart, a moody, railcar-inspired speakeasy that’s perfect for a postFUN FACT Bar Cart, a hidden speakeasy, crafts dinner nightcap. cocktails using a $20,000 rotary evaporator.

EAT THIS: The menu balances light starters with high-ticket mains. The hamachi crudo is precise, dressed with a shiso emulsion and watermelon radish, and the ravioli — filled with honeynut squash and topped with chestnut and comté — offers seasonal comfort. The Dover sole is the star, served luxuriously in a chicken velouté with spinach. Finish with the citrus parfait, featuring layers of grapefruit, meringue and Earl Grey.

THE VERDICT: The Hnatiw brothers have successfully stepped out of their own shadow to create something timeless. 42 The Esplanade

No. 11 sal’s pasta & chops

| JANUARY 2026

For owners Michael Sangregorio and Fabio Bondi, Sal’s is a homecoming to the strip where their families first settled. Named after their fathers (both named Sal), the restaurant focuses on unpretentious classics that originally put Little Italy on the map.

THE VIBE: The room feels lived-in, with pressed-metal ceilings, olive-green banquettes and walls lined with black-and-white family portraits. It hits a sweet spot between a Sunday family dinner and a Friday night out.

EAT THIS: Nostalgia drives the menu, so the tagliatelle alla parm wheel — tossed tableside in a flaming cheese rind — is FUN FACT Penny the wild boar, a longtime good the necessary spectacle. If you skip the theatrics, go for the bone-in veal luck charm, is mounted near the front window. chop parm, massive and perfectly fried, or the whole butterflied branzino topped with a bright, herbaceous salsa verde.

Wash it down with a citrusy negroni sour, but save room for the coconut cream pie, a towering, cloud-like finish.

THE VERDICT: Sal’s isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel — they’re just serving pasta out of it.

614 College St.

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L-R: Michael Sangregorio and Fabio Bondi

L-R: Chef Emiliano Del Frate, a playful take on the apple pie

No. 10 radici project Taking over the former La Bartola space, husband-and-wife team Emiliano Del Frate and Kayo Ito blend their Italian and Japanese heritages into Itameshi — an inventive, deeply personal culinary dialogue rooted in Canadian soil.

THE VIBE: The room is split into two distinct moods. The front operates as a casual natural wine bar for walk-ins, and the back houses an intimate chef’s table. The design mirrors the menu: earthy, unpretentious and welcoming, like a dinner party in the couple's own home.

FUN FACT Emiliano Del Frate trained at Noma, EAT THIS: The menu bridges the gap one of the world’s most celebrated restaurants. between Italy and Japan using local ingredients. The cappellacci is filled with Genovese ragu and served in a house-made dashi. The karaage is equally clever, swapping the standard thigh for a chicken wing filled with roasted potatoes, and the veal gets a hit of sweetness from charcoal-charred parsnips.

THE VERDICT: Radici Project proves that "fusion" doesn't have to mean confusion. It creates a space where high-concept technique meets genuine, neighbourhood warmth. 588 College St.

from Pakistani street snacks to the perfect veal chop, here’s where to eat right now! by Jennifer Schembri No. 8 bar eugenie

uch

ac-

post-

u ers ha h ea-

ng

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Jamil’s serves bold Desi street food and chaat

No. 9 jamil’s chaat house Let’s get this out of the way immediately: you will not find butter chicken here. Founders Jalil Bokhari and Emma Tanaka have no interest in playing the hits. Instead, they’ve tapped chef Eric McDonald (formerly of Bar Sakai) to create a menu focusing on the snacks and street foods that usually play second fiddle in Toronto’s Desi restaurants.

THE VIBE: The space is a cosy, low-lit hideaway that feels personal rather than produced.

Walnut banquettes are wrapped in a crushed red velvet that feels delightfully retro — like a 1970s living room transplant – and vintage FUN FACT Plays timeless Bollywood Bollywood records and family photos line tracks from the golden era. the walls.

EAT THIS: The menu is built on chaat, so the dahi puri — crispy shells flooded with tamarind and yogurt — are mandatory. Follow that with the lamb nihari, a rich shoulder stew finished with house-made chili crisp, or the karahi chicken bun, a messy Pakistani Sloppy Joe on a potato roll. End with the cardamomspiked gulab jamun.

THE VERDICT: Jamil’s is modern without being gimmicky. It fills a massive gap in the city’s dining landscape, serving food that is spicy, complex and deeply communal.

1086 Queen St. W.

L-R : Rum cocktail, bone marrow + sourdough

No. 7 taberna LX

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Images: @daniel_neuhaus

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Taking over a legendary space (the former Harbord Room) is a risky move, but if anyone has the chops to pull it off, it’s this team. Ronnie Fishman, Lee Bonds and chef Rebekah Bruce all cut their teeth within the Alo empire, and their new venture, Bar Eugenie, feels like a graduation.

THE VIBE: The room strikes a balance between practical and polished, dressed in a palette of chef’s whites and leather, anchored by a whitewashed stone bar. But the real asset is out back: a 35-seat patio that offers rare privacy in the downtown core.

EAT THIS: Chef Bruce’s menu is FUN FACT Named for Eugénie Brazier, the rooted in local ingredients but is defirst chef in history to earn six Michelin stars. fined by her Filipina heritage. The green peppercorn squid is a sharp, acidic tangle of garlic and soy, and the lamb tartare uses briny olives and flatbread to ground the dish. The shrimp risotto delivers garlic-chili heat that sticks to your ribs, but the smart money is on the bone marrow followed immediately by the chocolate cake — especially if you order the hojicha soft serve as a sidecar.

THE VERDICT: Small, focused and technically sound, it honours the address’s history while carving out a distinct, delicious identity. 89 Harbord St.

L-R: A scene from the second-floor bar, octopus salad

The Paris Paris team joins forces with industry veteran Kelly Amaral to bring a modern, design-forward slice of Lisbon to Dundas West. Taberna LX, located in the neighbourhood where Amaral's parents settled in the 1950s, is a personal project 15 years in the making.

THE VIBE: Designed by Lisbon-based architect Joana Astolfi, the space features hand-painted tiles from the legendary Viúva Lamego factory and mosaics that evoke the streets of Lisbon. The real draw is the rooftop — the largest in the west end — anchored by a 26-foot mural of the Douro River.

EAT THIS: Chef JonaFUN FACT Co-owner Kelly Amaral has Nelly Furtado in her inner circle. than Poon honours tradition while injecting his own heritage into the menu. The seafood rice is the standout, overflowing with shrimp and cuttlefish but spiked with XO sauce — a nod to Poon’s Hong Kong roots. Start with the salt cod fritters or the tempura (a technique the Portuguese introduced to Japan), which are light, crisp and perfect for sharing. The piri piri skewers deliver the requisite heat, and the sea bass offers a simple, expertly cooked alternative.

THE VERDICT: Taberna LX manages to be both a neighbourhood anchor and a destination, treating Portuguese cuisine with the nuance it deserves. 1161 Dundas St. W.

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T.O.’S BEST NEW RESTAURANTS No. 6 ariete e toro If you’ve seen a line snaking down Keewatin Avenue recently, this is why. Ariete E Toro isn't just another deli; it’s a shrine to schiacciata, the thinner, crispier, chewier cousin of focaccia. Inspired by a summer trip to Tuscany, the shop has quickly reached cult status, with daily sellouts becoming the standard operating procedure.

THE VIBE: The space is functional and frantic in the best way. It’s a grab-and-go operation that smells of fresh yeast and imported cured meats. The shop feels efficient but warm, bustling with the kind of midday urgency you usually only find in ItalFUN FACT Ariete E Toro is named after the owners’ astrological signs — Aries and Taurus. ian piazzas or midtown office towers.

EAT THIS: The bread is the foundation, but the Enzo is the masterpiece. It layers mortadella di Bologna with rich pistachio pesto and creamy stracciatella, finished with chopped pistachios and a lemonbasil oil that cuts through the fat. For a savoury-sweet alternative, try the prosciutto di Montagna, which pairs 16-month aged ham with Gorgonzola and fresh pear crudo.

THE VERDICT: Ariete E Toro proves that you don't need a complex menu to win over the neighbourhood. You just need really, really good bread. 12 Keewatin Ave.

The winning combo: fluffy schiacciata and authentic Italian meats

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Images: @daniel_neuhaus

Zachary Kolomeir and Carmelina Imola (of Dreyfus, Bernhardt’s) have opened a buzzy Italian-Jewish spot in Little Italy behind a bright red, nameless storefront.

N.L. Ginzburg is a cultural fusion more than a culinary one, and it feels like dinner at a family home.

THE VIBE: From the street, textured glass blurs the scene into warm lights and fuzzy shapes. Inside, it’s cinematic but cosy, with walls decked out in 1970s Milanese crime movie posters and a bustling energy that feels lived-in.

EAT THIS: Dishes land on scallopedFUN FACT Guests sit on original 1980s edge plates you might find at your Italian Simonetti chairs in the dining room. nonna’s or bubbe’s. The zucchini fritti are essential, served as onion ring– style rounds with a fluffy, buttery dip of taleggio and piave. The beef cheek ragu, good enough to transport you to Italy, is done up in a Sangiovese wine sauce. The bar serves a Figroni — a negroni with a sweet twist of fig syrup in a frosty glass — while the Jerusalem artichoke gelato flies out of the kitchen all night.

THE VERDICT: A seamless blend of backgrounds serving Italian staples elevated by quality ingredients that might surprise you. 548 College St.

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L-R: Italian classics with a twist, staff prepping for a busy evening

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Rob Rossi and David Minicucci reimagine the Italian steak house.

No. 4 sammarco Rob Rossi and David Minicucci have spent years dominating the west end. With Sammarco, they have finally planted a flag downtown. The duo has taken the tired tropes of the genre (the “old boys' club energy’) and filtered them through a distinctively Italian lens.

THE VIBE: The 90-seat room is designed to impress without feeling like a museum. It’s a mix of gold accents, marble and heavy linens — luxurious, yes, but with personality, catering to both the Bay Street crowd and FUN FACT The walls are home to one of the pre-theatre set.

Canada’s largest restaurant art collections.

EAT THIS: Although the headline is the exclusive Cumbrae’s prime beef — dryaged in-house for sixty days and best experienced via the massive Fiorentina — this isn’t just a chop house. Chef Rob Rossi demands you pay attention to the pasta, specifically the fettuccine alla scrofa, a rich, tableside spectacle of 100-egg dough and 24month Parmigiano. Start with the sausage-stuffed olive all’ascolane and absolutely end with the torta di cioccolato.

THE VERDICT: Sammarco is sophisticated, expensive and incredibly polished. It respects the tradition of the Italian steak house while modernizing the script. 4 Front St. E.

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T.O.’S BEST NEW RESTAURANTS No. 2 the lunch lady

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Summerhill is waking up. Behind Seahorse is a team with a serious pedigree: Simon Bauer (formerly of Union), Eamon Clark (son of oyster legend Rodney Clark) and a kitchen led by Federico Garcia, the former second-in-command at Quetzal.

THE VIBE: The room is loud in the best possible way. A massive white stone bar anchors the space, evoking a pocket-sized Grand Central Oyster Bar, and the crowd skews younger than the usual Summerhill demographic. With Bauer working the floor and a playful Hats & Caps cubby by FUN FACT Eleven-time oyster-shucking champ the door, it feels like the energy of OsEamon Clark knows his way around a shell. sington has finally crept north of Bloor.

EAT THIS: The kitchen sources through Oroshi Market, so the raw bar is solid, but the menu has range. The real surprise is the runner beans — charred to hell and finished with balsamic, they somehow steal the show from the fancier plates. For groups, the Ice Boxes (seafood towers served on metal baking trays) are the obvious move, but if you're splitting a main, go for the bouillabaisse loaded with crab, prawns and mussels.

THE VERDICT: It’s not a cheap night out, but for the sourcing and the scene, it’s the most exciting opening the neighbourhood has seen in years. 1226 Yonge St.

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L-R: Aglio e olio, team member alongside chef Marvin Palomo

When Vela was forced to close after a devastating fire, chef Marvin Palomo didn’t scatter.

Instead, he took his "close and dedicated" crew to Queen West and opened Liliana. The result is a 30-seat, low-lit stunner that feels like a dinner party thrown by industry vets.

THE VIBE: On a recent Thursday, the place was packed. The esthetic is "vintage warehouse chic" — think exposed brick and low lights — but the real draw is the service. The team (many ex-Vela) treats you like royalty. Ask for Nick, who navigates the menu with breezy expertise.

EAT THIS: Palomo describes the food as Italian with Asian “creative touches,” but that undersells it. The beef carpaccio is a standout, finished with furikake and pearl onion for a crunchforward take that outshines standard versions.

FUN FACT Chef-owner Marvin Palomo greets The stuffed chicken wings are non-negotiable: every table and often runs the food himself. deboned and packed with truffle risotto, they sit squarely in high-low comfort food territory.

For mains, the octopus with tamari and shishito is clean and precise. Save room for the panna cotta: spiked with yuja cha and calamansi, its tangy acidity cuts straight through the cream.

THE VERDICT: An intimate local restaurant with ambition — and execution — to match.

1198 Queen St. W.

the 905’s best new openings SAM’S RISTORANTE Sam’s Ristorante owner George leads this elegant spot serving authentic Italian comfort. Expect massive steaks, whole grilled spigola and rich pastas like lobster gnocchi. With a deep wine list and polished service, it’s the perfect setting for a celebration. 200 Marycroft Rd., Vaughan

CANTINA AMICI Menswear mogul Antonio Caputo brings high style to Vaughan with this vibrant Italian spot. The room features trees sprouting from tables, while the kitchen turns out 90-hour fermented woodfired pizzas, fresh pastas and grilled octopus.

1345 Millway Ave., Vaughan

Sam’s serves upscale Italian fare in an elegant setting

| JANUARY 2026

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There is always a risk when a restaurant icon moves into a massive space that the soul gets lost in the renovation. That didn't happen here. The Lunch Lady brings the famous recipes to Toronto but tweaks the format to fit the neighbourhood.

THE VIBE: The footprint is huge — spanning a main dining room, bar, patio and the private Rickshaw Lounge upstairs — but it’s designed to feel intimate, like a stylized Saigon alley with hand-painted signs, textured floors and hanging greenery.

EAT THIS: Your strategy depends on the time of day. Lunch is for the purists: it’s soupforward, featuring the rotating heavy hitters like tamarind fish, chicken phở or the crabloaded bánh canh cua. Dinner is where the FUN FACT Anthony Bourdain put kitchen gets to play with Toronto-exclusive this tiny Saigon stall on the global map. dishes, like wagyu phở or the unexpected short rib rigatoni with a slow-poached egg.

On the drink side, skip the standard lager for a pandan-infused cocktail or the rich peanut butter coffee.

THE VERDICT: Precise, energetic and generous. You leave full, satisfied and impressed by the deliberate thought evident in every dish and every corner of the room.

93 Ossington Ave.

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One of Giragi’s stuffed pitas

What one of T.O.’s top foodies is eating now Toronto’s dining scene is always moving, and food influencer Rick Silver (@dicksworld) keeps pace. In this roundup, he breaks down four restaurants’ menus — what works, what falls flat and what’s worth a return. When Rick talks, the city listens.

1. The Frederick

One look at the menu of this new place from the team behind the Chase and I called an Uber. The entrées are excellent, but don’t skip the apps like the zucchini fritti, spinach and artichoke dip or the buttermilk fried chicken. These were some of the best bites I had all year. 10 Temperance St. The Rating: 8.7/10 Last Bite: I’ve already been four times.

| JANUARY 2026

2. Giragi

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Well, what can I say? I love the food market at The Well. It puts pretty much all of the city’s other food courts to shame. And it keeps getting better, with additions like Giragi, serving some of the best stuffed pitas I’ve ever had. It’s no wonder, since this place comes to us from the Michelin-recognised Taline, one of the best Armenian restaurants in town. 486 Front St.W. The Rating: 8.8/10 Last Bite: Try the hummus too!

3. Golden Horseshoe BBQ

Once you’ve enjoyed Texas BBQ the way it’s meant to be enjoyed — in Texas, that is — nothing north of the 49th will ever come close. But I will say that this spot is as close as it gets.

And now that they’ve moved from pop-ups to one of the most iconic intersections in town, at Christie and Dupont, we can all finally try some of the best brisket, ribs, pork, chicken and sausages coming out of a local smoker. 657 Dupont St. The Rating: 9/10 Last Bite: Don’t eat for three days beforehand.

4. Prime Seafood Palace

When chef Coulson Armstrong won Canada’s Top Chef award it validated my belief that Prime Seafood Palace served the best meal I had all year. It’s nothing like your traditional steak-and-seafood spot, and Matty Matheson — whose farm provides some of the restaurant’s produce — has given Toronto an absolute gem.

944 Queen St. W. The Rating: 10/10 Last Bite: Well worth the splurge.

RICK SILVER is a Toronto food influencer.

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2048 Avenue Road • www.karbouzi.com

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Find 20 amazing courses in midtown If the growing demand for omakase in Toronto says anything, it’s that Toronto diners are always seeking an experience. The latest to open, the Onda, is offering just that, with a 20-course omakase dinner.

If you haven’t heard by now, omakase can be loosely translated to “I leave it up to you,” and is a Japanese dining style where diners let the chef have full range in deciding what to dine on. At the Onda that happens in an intimate 14-seat dining room with a minimalist design accentuated by whitewashed wood finishes.

The team behind The Onda has nearly 50 years of combined

experience from chef Yoon Taiki Choi and his brother-in-law chef Sun Woo. Where Woo has expertise in both traditional Korean and Japanese cuisine, Choi has extensive experience in omakase, specifically at Yasu and the Michelin-recommended Okeya Kyujiro. Both bring tradition and artistry to the table.”

With a name that means receiving and giving many blessings in Japanese, the Onda serves a $250 seasonal dinner, featuring 20 elevated courses, and a $135 14-course lunch on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

“More than 90 per cent of our fish and ingredients come

directly from Japan. Depending on the menu, we age or prepare it differently, allowing us to transform the same ingredients into entirely new dishes,” says co-owner Kelly Kim. “This way, first-time guests experience familiar yet elevated flavours, while returning guests never feel it’s repetitive. We want each visit to be fresh, thoughtful and memorable.

The Onda have just begun offering a sake pairing and a tea pairing, featuring organic Japanese tea.

The Onda is open at 750 St. Clair Ave. W. — Megan Gallant

Catering and Group Reservations

For Special Events and Holiday Parties!

For reservations call Jim at 416.483.3846

Ultra-private dining lands in the 905 Where Frankie Tomatto’s once drew crowds in Markham, Luna Private Banquet has quietly opened something that’s almost the opposite: a restaurant made almost entirely of walls.

There’s no main dining room or bustling common area. Instead, the floor is a maze of 26 private rooms and high-walled booths, echoing the private banquet culture of Shanghai and Guangzhou, where meals are staged for both discretion and ceremony — spaces for family celebrations, business deals or social networking — as much about privacy and presentation as the food itself.

Arrive for dim sum, and you’re seated in a semiprivate booth that feels more like a wood-panelled executive office than a busy eatery. The esthetic is “neo-Chinese”: hostesses in Tang-style silk and endless plates on delicate bone china.

The menu follows suit. Familiar dishes are

present, but the kitchen enjoys subtle flights of fancy — sweet and sour pork wrapped in bacon or steamed beef stuffed with cheese and morels.

Luna is a restaurant built for groups. Dinner comes with minimum spends that start in the high hundreds and climb past two thousand for the VIP suites, which include private bathrooms and sofas. Solo diners are rare here. You’ll find plenty of quiet, but tucked behind a door or partition, you may wait longer than expected for the cheque to arrive.

It’s an ambitious, elegant space, swapping the energy of a crowded dining room for total seclusion. Ideal for discreet meetings, perhaps less so for a solo lunch.

Luna Private Banquet is located at 7225 Woodbine Ave., Markham.

—Jennifer Schembri

Nursery ry y Sch chool Spots available avaailable for September 2026/2027 School Year e Please contact Lisa Cohen lisa@dunloechildrenscentre.com or 416.483.6559

| JANUARY 2026

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Casual Greek Dining • Second Floor Bar

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Adventure Paws Dog Walking

Serving the Midtown, Leaside & Central areas of Toronto Over 7 years of experience

@adventure.paws.walking | 647-242-9757

Chef and founder Rajeev Ganesan at work in the kitchen

Tacos get a Bollywood twist in Little Italy

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| JANUARY 2026

66 Wellington St.W., 36th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5K 1A2 Tel: 416-982-2126 | zoe.kiousis@td.com | zoejoycekiousis.com

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The Q-ssis Wealth Management Group is a part of TD Wealth Private Investment Advice, a division of TD Waterhouse

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Love Indian spices? Obsessed tuck butter chicken into a taco with Mexican flavours? To- — and you've got one delironto’s newest spot, the Bolly- ciously tasty meal. wood Tacos, brings both to the The menu revolves around same plate — and it’s worth three-piece tacos ($18) topped with pico, purple cabbage, the hype.

The College Street spot is pickled onion, mint chutney the city debut of the Oshawa and the house Bollywood born brand, which first opened sauce. Proteins include curry in 2019, and it’s bringing the chicken, curry lamb, butter same delicious and completely chicken, shrimp tikka, paneer customizable menu that made tikka and chana masala, covering vegetarian and vegan opthe original a big hit. tions. If tacos aren’t your Founder Rajeev Ganesan, thing, you can also get a Scarborough native a burrito, bowl, naoriginally from Sri chos or even pouLanka, built the FUSION FEAST tine with the concept around Curry lamb poutine same fillings. one simple idea: and butter chicken Ever ything why choose betacos are just some starts mild, lettween Indian of the inventive ting you control and Mexican bites. the heat with hot food when you can sauce or pickled Thai merge the best of chilies. Sides include naan, both? After experimenting with swapping tortillas for saffron rice, guac and extra naan and layering Indian pro- sauce, and desserts include teins like butter chicken and gulab jamun for Indian tradipaneer into familiar Mexican tionalists and churros with carformats, the formula stuck — amel for the Mexican-inspired and people kept coming back. end of the spectrum.

It’s mostly a grab-and-go The fusion works — maybe even better than you'd expect. spot with a few tables, includIndian and Mexican cuisines ing a seating area under a sign both thrive on heat, spice, that reads, “Feed me tacos and smoky sauces and carbs that do tell me I’m pretty.”

The Bollywood Tacos is lothe heavy lifting. Swap a tortilla for naan, drizzle mint chut- cated at 422 College St. ney where you’d expect salsa, — Jennifer Schembri

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SE C TION

January is packed with movie magic in Toronto, and you won’t want to miss a minute! First up, Mrs. Doubtfire ( Jan. 6–18, at the Princess of Wales Theatre) turns the beloved Robin Williams classic into a musical. Robin Williams improvised so much in the 1993 movie that some scenes were nearly cut for being “too wild.” Families can watch an actor go full nanny mode live, with a wig that earned its own standing ovation. Next, grab your elves and hobbits — The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – In Concert hits Meridian Hall, Jan. 23–24. Watch the film in HD while 250 musicians, along with the Toronto Children’s Chorus, perform Howard Shore’s epic score live. Shore composed hours of music for the entire trilogy, so even this first installment delivers a mega concert of Middle-earth’s greatest hits. For a surprising finale, Orchestra Toronto presents Darth Vader Meets The Godfather on Jan. 24. Watch lightsabers clash to Wagner-style music, as the haunting Sicilian themes of the Corleones show how film scores bring movies to life.

Clockwise from left: ‘Lord of the Rings’ in concert, ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ live and Darth Vader Meets The Godfather

| JANUARY 2026

Movie musicals hit Toronto: From Doubtfire to Darth Vader

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Cat and Nat’s hilariously unreal New Year’s resolutions New Year’s is like the start of a brand new year for moms. So when January rolls around, we can’t help but think about how this year is going to be different, and we come up with a million and one completely unrealistic goals that will never stick.

Here are just a few of our New Year’s resolutions as moms: 1. I am going to be more organ-

ized, more involved, more patient, and I am definitely going to know what’s happening in my children’s lives this year.

2. I’m going to start researching ways to make my life easier and more organized so that I don’t end up being the mom who’s frantically running some kind of fast food to my kids because I forgot to pack lunches.

3. Better yet, I’m going to make snack bins in the fridge that I will promptly refill on Sunday nights so the kids can just grab what they

we will actually know what we’ve 10. I’m also going to have bins for contributed to that disturbing each of the kids near the front door so that, when they come mound of misplaced crap. home, their shoes, hats, mitts, 7. I’m also going to implement a and gloves all go into the one bin. quiet time for reading so my chil- And I’m only buying one pair of dren will have some time to relax, mitts per kid this year, so the unwind, and grow their mind house doesn’t look like a bomb and imagination every single day. hit it before 9 a.m.

8. I’m going to make day-specific

hangers labelled Monday through Sunday. My kids will pick their outfits for the week, L-R: Cat and Nat on why doing less is the real New Year’s resolution and that’s the outfit they’re going to wear on that specific day. want. That’s right — a bento box. 5. Every day, I’m going to intro- Every Sunday we’ll add another I’m not going to have 400,000 duce a new fruit or vegetable into outfit to each hanger, so there are Tupperware containers lying my children’s lives. Like a per- never any arguments or negotiaaround. I’m just going to have a simmon, for example. No idea tions in the morning. few good sets. That’s it, that’s all. what it is, but it sounds good, so it’s being added into the mix be- 9. I’m going to create a mail or4. I’m going to meal plan. I’m cause we really need to branch ganizer at the front door for the kids to put all their forms in. going to organize all my meals for out this year.

There will be a slot for forms the week. I’ll take one chicken and cook it seven different ways (and 6. I’m going to label all of my coming in and another for forms I’ll know how to do that because kids’ stuff, so that when I go to going out so the teachers aren’t alI will have found a ton of healthy the lost-and-found (because ways calling me about the form things go MIA on a daily basis), from a week and a half ago. and delicious recipes online).

Here’s the truth, moms — we make all these plans, buy all the gear, and swear this year will be different, yet nothing changes.

So here’s real advice: cut yourself some slack and let your kids take responsibility. It’s not your job to get them dressed or on time.

Whatever you’re doing (or not), you’re doing a good job. That’s your real New Year’s resolution: relax, let go and remember you’re enough.

CAT AND NAT tackle motherhood with wit and wisdom. Find them at catandnat.ca and @catandnat on social media.

2026 SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE GUIDE Bannockburn Independent School Visit bannockburn.ca for info on our in-person open houses: Sunday January 25, 2026 at 10am to 2pm Sunday April 26, 2026 at 10am to 2pm 416-789-7855 Bayview Glen School | 416-443-1030 Learn more about the Bayview Glen difference at bayviewglen.ca or contact admissions@bayviewglen.ca The Country Day School Visit cds.on.ca to find out more about our school, and call to book a tour.

905-833-1972

Prestige School Visit prestigeprivateschool.ca to find out more about our school.

416-250-0648 The Rosedale Day School Please call to book a personal tour.

416-923-4726 St. Clement’s School Visit scs.on.ca to find out more about our school.

416-483-4414

Crestwood School Please call to book a personal tour. 416-444-5858

Toronto Prep School Visit torontoprepschool.com for info on our in-person open house: Saturday February 7, 2026 at 10am to 12pm 416-545-1020

Greenwood College School Visit greenwoodcollege.org/visitus to find out more about our school.

416-545-5127

Waldorf Academy Visit waldorfacademy.org to find out more about our school.

416-962-6447

The Mabin School Please call to book a personal tour. 416-964-9594

WillowWood School Visit willowwoodschool.ca/open-houses-and-interviews for info on our open house: Saturday January 17, 2026 at 10am Saturday March 25, 2026 at 10am 416-444-7644

Northmount School | 416-449-8823 x 1003 Visit northmount.com/admissions/open-house-and-tours for info on our open house: Wednesday February 25, 2026 at 10:30am

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2026 PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE

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

Bannockburn Independent School

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

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

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

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

ENROLMENT: 200 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Varies TUITION: $18,700 - $31,500

Northmount School

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

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

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 150 YEAR FOUNDED: 1990 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 GRADES: JK-8 TUITION: $25,900 - $27,050

The Mabin School

The Mabin School fosters original thinkers, adaptive leaders and caring citizens. A leader in progressive elementary education since 1980, it’s Canada’s first independent Ashoka Changemaker School, promoting leadership, teamwork, problem-solving and empathy. Mabin’s sustaining principles of inquiry, integration and reflection are integral to the academic and social program. Students are empowered to

think deeply about those around them in order to make change in their own community and beyond.

Discover the Mabin Magic in person by booking an individual school tour at admissions@mabin.com or by calling 416-964-9594 x247.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 150 YEAR FOUNDED: 1980 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: N/A GRADES: JK-Gr. 6 TUITION: $35,272

Imagine what you can do from here…

Original Thinkers Adaptive Leaders Caring Citizens JK-6

The Mabin School

mabin.com

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2026 PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE POST CITY X SCHOOLS

The Country Day School

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

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

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 830 YEAR FOUNDED: 1972 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 GRADES: JK-12 TUITION: $35,450

Greenwood College School

Greenwood empowers students to develop the knowledge, skills and character they need to be future-ready and reach their full potential. We combine personalized learning and an innovative Adviser Program to provide each student with the right combination of challenge and support as they grow academically and as people. Our welcoming co-ed / gender-inclusive community fosters open-mindedness and engagement,

and we offer an array of high-calibre athletics, arts and co-curricular programs. Transformative experiential learning, including outdoor education and real world-connected opportunities both in and out of the classroom, encourages students to find new depths of perseverance and to build connections with the broader community. Our alumni leave Greenwood ready to thrive in postsecondary pursuits.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 500 YEAR FOUNDED: 2002 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 7:1 GRADES: 7-12 TUITION: $47,170 (2025)

School

limitless learning in KK-12

and digital media arts studios. Our location on “School Street”(Scarsdale Road) gives us access to incredible amenities and services that allow us to incorporate swimming, dance, and robotics into our curriculum. Classes are small, the atmosphere is warm, and technology is at the forefront of our teaching methodology.

SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1980 GRADES: SK-12

ENROLMENT: 270 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $21,700 - $27,400

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

WillowWood School

Founded in 1980, WillowWood has a long tradition of delivering targeted, personal education that considers each student’s needs and strengths. Our staff employ a team-based approach to teaching and conduct regular education strategy meetings to discuss how best to deliver the curriculum to each of our students. We are a full facility featuring a fitness room, gymnasium, music room, art room, science lab, and film

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250 Davisville D A Avvenue, Suite 2000 Torontto, Ontario M4S 1H2 To Phone:: 4

2026 EDUCATION GUIDE POST CITY X SCHOOLS

Toronto Prep School

The Toronto Prep Schoo ol is an independent, co-educatio onal, u uniiversity preparatory scho oo ol for discerning students and parentts.

Open House: Sa aturday, February 7, 2026 - 10:0 00am to 12:00 noon.

Visit our website ew www.torontoprepschool.com for o more informat i f i ion and be sure to clicck k on the links to our FaceBook aand Instagram pages.

Contact: Fouli Tsimikalis, Director of Admissions at ftsimik kalis@torontoprepschool.com

A combined 60 years of teaching experience has prompted Steve and Fouli Tsimikalis to create an environment that promotes learning, develops leadership and awakens social consciousness through the employment of energetic and hand-picked experienced faculty and staff. Toronto Prep offers a rigorous academic curriculum with the opportunity for students to participate in a variety of school clubs and athletics. Each student will receive a MacBook Pro with an extended warranty. Steve and Fouli have determined that it truly takes a village to raise a child. “A faculty working closely with parents/ guardians, smaller classes, supervised extra help before and after school and on Saturdays help students reach their personal potential for success,” notes Fouli. Their passion for teaching is evident.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 2009 GRADES: 7-12 ENROLMENT: 440 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: $36,250 - $38,250

The Rosedale Day School

Meaningful Learning for Life.

Discover a vibrant learning community in Downtown Toronto that prepares students to adapt confidently and engage responsibly in a changing world. From JK to Grade 8, the heart of RDS’s programming is our unwavering commitment to developing and inspiring the authentic character and potential of each child. A powerful sense of belonging forms the backbone of learning and development, encouraging each child to take risks, get involved, and pursue their unique potential.

Located at 131 Bloor Street West, RDS students enjoy a Downtown Advantage with access to institutions such as the ROM, AGO, and U of T to enrich their classroom learning.

Apply now or book a tour at www.rds-on.com/apply

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent YEAR FOUNDED: 1995 GRADES: JK - Grade 8 ENROLMENT: 170 AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 16-22 TUITION: $30,795

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

— B.B. King

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Prestige School

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

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

individualized learning and 100% university placement. Our after school program strives to support the needs of children through academic, recreational, & social opportunities that enhance school day learning and build upon individual strengths and interests. Our Richmond Hill campus is in the process of becoming an International Baccalaureate® (IB) World School for IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for grades K-6.

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

Waldorf Academy

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

Waldorf Academy creates a supportive environment where students thrive.

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

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

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

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

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

www.prestigeprivateschool.ca prestige@prestigeschool.com

WA L D O R F A C A D E M Y  2 5 0 M A D I S O N A V E

The School o by the Castle s

Kindergarrten to Grade 8

BOOK A TOUR!

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

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2026 EDUCATION GUIDE POST CITY X SCHOOLS

Stay in her lane?

Unlikely.

St. Clement’s School

St. Clement’s School is an independent girls’ day school in midtown Toronto. At SCS, we are evolving and redefining what it means to really learn and thrive in a world where the only certainty is change. We don't just want our students to thrive, we want them to boldly thrive - to see disruption as opportunity and possibility, to seize change with agility and imagination, to tackle the complex world of tomorrow with confidence and character. At SCS, educational journeys will be marked by academic rigour and a renewed curriculum that continually challenges and assesses the act of learning in an inclusive and safe environment.

Students will value learning as an outcome in itself, understanding it's about the success of the journey, not just the destination.

At St. Clement’s School, we don’t believe that education is always a straight path, or that one size fits all. Through the St. Clement’s School learning experience, we encourage each student to explore and define her own unique education journey.

Help start her journey today. www.scs.on.ca

Through individualized special education instruction, we enable each student with a learning disability to succeed.

Because at Dunblaine, we understand.

21 Deloraine Avenue Toronto Ontario Telephone 416 483 9215 www.dunblaineschool.com

Call 416-483-9215 to make an appointment.

We develop students for success!

Private tutoring services

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

www.reingoldtutoring.com

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1901 GRADES: 1-12 ENROLMENT: 470 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $39,900

The Dunblaine School

The Dunblaine School is a not for profit school in midtown Toronto dedicated to providing supportive, individualized education for students with a variety of learning disabilities. While following the Ministry of Education guidelines, the goal of the school is to foster a positive work ethic, increase confidence, and to challenge all students to realize their greatest potential. Through assessments, progress monitoring, and intervention programs, the school addresses the academic, social, and emotional needs of children with varied ability levels and learning styles.

Additional professional services include occupational therapy and speech language therapy. If your child is struggling in large classrooms, requires individualized attention and/or special education resources and remedial support, contact us at 416-483-9215 or mbraida@dunblaineschool.com for info.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1969 GRADES: 1-9 ENROLMENT: 10-12 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 5:1 TUITION: $27,300

“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”

— Dorothy Parker

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Crestwood School

Crestwood School practises the traditional art of teaching by challenging young minds to learn and by structuring experiences that make learning possible. The school’s philosophy is based on tried-andtrue methods of teaching the basics, thus providing students with a solid foundation in the three Rs. Homework and development of students’ organizational skills and good work/study habits are an integral part of the program. At the same

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

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

Bayview Glen

Bayview Glen is a co-educational independent school in North York for students age 2 to Grade 12. In our diverse and nurturing community, students are known, inspired, and empowered to achieve their full potential.

Guided by our mission Whole Child.

Purposeful Life. Better World., we create learning experiences that spark curiosity and build confident, compassionate leaders. Our forward-thinking

curriculum and passionate educators open doors to opportunities in Drama, Robotics, Design Thinking, Round Square, Model UN, Music, Athletics, and AP. We champion academic excellence and wellbeing while encouraging creativity, collaboration, and meaningful risk-taking. Discover the Bayview Glen difference at bayviewglen.ca.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School ENROLMENT: 1,100+ YEAR FOUNDED: 1962 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Call for details GRADES: Age 2 - Grade 12 TUITION: $29,500 - $36,000

We welcome you to book a private tour.

Kindly call the school.

Celebrating 44 years

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LOOKING AHEAD

2026 is upon us, so instead of looking back, we’re looking forward — and who better to ask to do that than the city’s top psychics. From the Jays to the mayoral election, find out what these soothsayers have to say about the future of Toronto.

On Drake and Kendrick: Drake and Kendrick Lamar will never make up. From an energetic perspective, it’s highly unlikely.

On the Trump tariffs: I think Trump will stop playing games with Carney early in the year.

By early February, he will back down some.

On Matty Matheson: I foresee more filmmaking opportunities and screen appearances for Matty into 2027. He will also have a glow up.

On the Jays: The Toronto Blue Jays won’t be getting Bo Bichette back this year.

On the mayoral election: I don’t think Olivia Chow will be re-elected.

I think there’s a younger, stronger forerunner surfacing there.

On T.O. food trends: Some fusion cuisines from the global south will make their way onto our plates.

If you are a fan of spice, 2026 will be nice.

On Matty Matheson: An appearance in a film may secure him a new position. And he’ll expand into more restaurants. This will be a big year for him.

On sports: The Jays have a chance of coming back for a win.

The Leafs — no way. The Raptors will warm up over these next two years.

On transit The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will finally be hard launched — just in time for the FIFA World Cup.

On the mayoral election: Olivia Chow will absolutely not be winning the election again.

On the FIFA World Cup: Canada will do well.

They won’t be out in the first round.

On the mayoral election Olivia Chow will not be re-elected, because Saturn will be placing limitations on her 10th house of careers.

On the condo market: It’s unlikely the condo market will recover this year; in fact, the world economy may fall.

On 2026 vibes: 2026 is going to be a great and energetic year!

So get ready for the year ahead and all the active energy that comes with it.

On Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry: I think they’ll be together for quite a while. It’s a very good match — but there won’t be any quick marriages or anything.

On the FIFA World Cup I see Canada not winning, but going far. Expect some “divers” [who fake injuries] trying to cause trouble on the playing field for Team Canada.

On Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry: They have a past life connection. Uranus, the planet of unusual sudden change, will affect that by late April. It won’t last.

raisingenergy.com

askmiki.ca

yulikadrabarni.com

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On Meghan and Harry: Meghan and Harry will not reconcile with the royals, but in time there may be peace between them once William takes the throne.

| JANUARY 2026

On small businesses: We will see many new and innovative products and services, especially in the health and fitness areas, appear on the Toronto scene.

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