Thornhill Post February 2026

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CANNOLI-LYMPICS ANTHONY ROSE & ROSA MARINUZZI SEARCH FOR THE CITY’S GOLD MEDAL WINNER C

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DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DATE.

WELL, BACHELORETTE... THINK STADIUM NACHOS, TOASTING WITH GATORADE & THE POST’S ANNUAL TRIVIA EDITION!

T.O.’S ULTIMATE CITY GUIDE FEBRUARY 2026 • VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 7

T H O R N H I L L

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CHU AND NGAN KO’S LEGACY LIVES ON “My parents’ stor y is part of this cit y’s histor yy.

And Sinai Health will alwaayys be a part of ours.”

When Chu Ko and his wiffee, Ngan, arrived in Toronto in 1967, they built a liffee defined by resilience, hard work and care. Their beloved baker y, Y Yu ung Sing Pastr y Shop, became a Baldwin Street landmark, introducing countless people to authentic Hong Kong cuisine.

Mount Sinai Hospital holds a special place in the family’s hearts because of the exceptional care they fa received when Ngan experienced a heart attack.

“My parents didn’t speak English, but at Mount Sinai that didn’t matter. Ever yone is treated with dignit y and respect. That’s why it’s a hospital we trust as a familyy,,” saayys their daughter, Lynda. fa Beffo ore his passing, Mr. Ko honoured that compassionate care with a generous Legacy gift to Sinai Health’s Geriatrics Program — his quiet waayy of saayying thank you.

Yo Y ou too can create a legacy of supporting Sinai Health.

Learn more by visiting SupportSinai.ca/Legacy

3

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33

Contents

26

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

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23 Re(a)dy for romance Bright cherry red is trending, so Jeanne Beker sourced a wardrobe fit for a Valentine's Day date or for Olympic cheering Yannick Bisson is celebrating 19 years of Murdoch Mysteries and 35 years of marriage to his wife, Shantelle

26 Do you love T.O.?

Our annual trivia extravaganza now with millennial and boomer editions

33 There cannoli be one gold-medal winner We’re hosting our own Olympic showdown — doling out gold, silver and bronze to the cannoli that truly stick the landing

| FEBRUARY 2026

25 Stole his heart: The secret to Murdoch Mysteries star’s 35-year romance

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CITY

Let’s see how much you love Toronto I have more than enough weird and wonderful bits of trivia rattling around in my head from many years of writing about this city, but it somehow never gets boring. There’s something about Toronto — and its place in the Canadian lexicon — that makes these stories, these oddball inventions and surprising slices of history, endlessly compelling. They continue to keep me interested in, and impressed by, the city, no matter what kind of wild nonsense might be unfolding at city hall or elsewhere at any given moment.

There is no other city on earth where one of the great pieces of local trivia involves a full-on brawl between clowns and firefighters.

Only in Toronto.Think the NBA’s presence in Toronto began with the Raptors? Think again. Or how about this: who even knew the world’s worst-tasting cough syrup was invented right here?And let’s not even get started on all those incredible Torontonians around the world like Keanu Reeves. Who knew one of the world’s biggest stars went to Jesse Ketchum in Yorkville and dreamed of becoming an NHL goalie? Well, we did.

This month, we want to see just how much you love Toronto by inviting you to take our trivia challenge. And this year, we’ve included entirely new questions covering what happened in 2025, adding another fresh layer to the city’s ever-growing lore.

Hopefully, you’ll learn something new along the way, and maybe we’ll even inspire a few of you to dig a little deeper into the incredible stories that make up the city we all know and love.

And, if you like trivia in our magazine, remember that Wednesday is trivia day on our Streets of Toronto social media channels.

So settle in with a friend or your family, test your Toronto knowledge and enjoy this month’s issue.

RON JOHNSON is the editorial director of Post City Magazines.

T.O.’S ULTIMATE CITY GUIDES

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| FEBRUARY 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 7 VILLAGE POST VOL. 35 • ISSUE 7 BAYVIEW POST VOL. 37 • ISSUE 7 NORTH YORK POST VOL. 27 • ISSUE 6

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1256 YONGE ST., TORONTO, ON M4T 1W5 TEL 416.250.7979 WEB POSTCITY.COM

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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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FAST FACTS NAME:

Simu Liu BORN:

April 19, 1989 in Harbin, China COLLEGE:

University of Western Ontario BIG BREAK:

Series regular in ‘Blood and Water’ on Omni TV DID YOU KNOW:

Started his career working as an extra and stuntman L-R: Simu Liu, a scene from ‘The Copenhagen Test’

Iconic Toronto actor takes on Jason Bourne Simu Liu on identity theft, being back home and his favourite Thai restaurant Toronto actor Simu Liu was back in town to shoot his latest, a spy thriller dubbed The Copenhagen Test (airing on Showcase and StackTV). The tense series, which premiered last month, explores trust and identity — a rather nefarious look at technology through a hacked intelligence analyst.

What do you hope audiences take away from ‘The Copenhagen Test’?

an action hero you’ve never really seen before. It feels like a fresh take. Alexander is Chinese-American, and when we meet him, he’s really desperate to prove himself — almost willing to do anything to prove his worth and what he’s capable of and also to be accepted.

So how does the character develop?

Over the course of the show, what emerges is this more self-assured moral compass. He decides, “I’m not going to do what other people want me to do. I’m going to do what I want to do,” because he trusts what he believes is right and wrong. Just watching that compelling story wrapped in a really cool sci-fi premise is amazing. And I haven’t even mentioned Melissa Barrera, but that’s another huge part of what makes the show special.

“HERE, YOU’RE GOING

Maybe put your phones down. Don’t give Facebook all your information. Be careful. Be careful with everything you see. In this day and age, even things you read or videos you watch — anything can be altered and manipulated. So yeah — just be careful.

Your character’s friend or mentor on the show is a chef. Could you name-drop a few of your favourite Toronto restaurants?

Yeah, of course. Pai is definitely up there — I love Pai. I love Akin. My God, so many. Aburi Hana in Yorkville — amazing, incredible sushi, on the Michelin list, too, which is so awesome.

I feel like Toronto is evolving really rapidly from a food standpoint and becoming this really vibrant and exciting food city.

TO SEE AN ACTION HERO YOU’VE NEVER REALLY SEEN BEFORE.”

What was the biggest challenge for you as an actor?

You know, the fight scenes, the action, whatever. I feel like that’s almost bread and butter, second nature to me at this point. But knowing that this character was going to have to walk this impossible tightrope, where he’s constantly performing for this kind of unseen enemy through his eyes and through his ears, it was a very unique acting assignment.

What do you think makes this series different from other spy thrillers, like the Jason Bourne films?

I think, growing up, not really seeing people who look like me portrayed on screen in a heroic way — here, you’re going to see

And it was shot here?

Yes, I’m really proud that we shot the show in Toronto and shared a lot of crew members from a show I did back in the day. It was just a really cool full-circle moment for me to go back home.

CITY HACKS I just got a real film camera, how do I get into the photography scene?

Community and café

Graination (204 Spadina Ave.) is a hub combining developing and scanning with fine art printing as well as a café and community space.

Exhibitionists

The Gallery 44 (401 Richmond St. W.) space offers exhibitions, workshops and darkroom facilities celebrating photography as art.

Historic club

The Toronto Camera Club (587 Mt. Pleasant Rd.) offers meetings, lectures, competitions, workshops and a dedicated darkroom and public gallery.

Shocking development

Memento (216 Ossington Ave.) is a beloved shop with a friendly staff blending developing and scanning with community.

Tell me about your chemistry with Melissa Barrera.

What I love most about her is that she’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves and get into it. A lot of actors carry different reputations around them. Some do not want to touch a stunt. Some are very clear about what they will and won’t do physically. Michelle is a very physical role, and it would have been really challenging if we’d had an actress who didn’t want to participate in the fights. Melissa just threw herself into the training process, became such a good fighter, had that competitive energy. She came to set every day wanting to do it better. I can’t say enough good things about her as an artist, performer and human.

—Ron Johnson

| FEBRUARY 2026

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STREETS OF TORONTO SECTION

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OPINION

The Regent Revival Theatre on Mount Pleasant, approved by heritage boards and the Ontario Land Tribunal, remains stalled after long delays, opposition and rising costs.

Step 1: The Regent Theatre has been a local cultural gem since 1927. By 2017, it was on the market, and many feared a condo was next. It was designated a heritage building in 2022.

Step 2: When Terra Bruce Productions purchased the property in 2020, the vision was clear: A new live theatre and community space that preserved and restored the heritage glory. No condo. Residents associations supported it. Heritage boards approved it. A small group of angry neighbours lost it.

Step 3: The Committee of Adjustment denied the project’s application for minor variances for, well, minor reasons, thanks in part to complaints from a few loud locals.

Step 4: Developers had to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Of course they won, but legal battles and time took a toll.

Step 5: Despite the legal green light, the project has been paused. The theatre is closed, its historic facade preserved but the cultural potential lost for now.

Maybe permanently. Is a condo next? Instant karma?

—Ron Johnson

NEWS

Now playing: The anatomy of a city fail

SECTION

Toronto like other cities should rethink the growth at all costs mantra

The suicidal insanity of non-stop growth DAVID SUZUKI with files from senior editor Ian Hanington.

Our current economic system is obsessed with constant growth, except when it comes to the natural systems on which our health and survival depend. Those are shrinking, destroyed by our obsession.

The human population has been multiplying rapidly, especially since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Air, water and land are polluted and degraded as the climate heats to catastrophic levels, yet we continue to burn fossil fuels and devastate carbon sinks.

It’s malignant. It’s suicidal. And it’s unfair. The obscenely wealthy hoard money

and resources, amassing billions of dollars while others starve and struggle to survive.

We build roads and parking infrastructure so people can transport themselves in large, inefficient machines, powered by polluting, climate-altering fuels or massive, resource-heavy batteries. We spend colossal amounts of money to mine minerals and produce sophisticated weapons used to destroy.

Where does it end?

Many think this system is inevitable, unchangeable. But it’s relatively new, and humans have always adapted to changing conditions and advancing knowledge. As recently as the early 20th century, when the human population was much smaller, it seemed the planet offered limitless

bounty, that there was plenty of land, timber, minerals and fossil fuels to create prosperity and profits. In North America especially, industrialists saw that selling gas-guzzling cars and building infrastructure for them could generate enormous profits for the newly booming oil and auto industries. People were convinced that travelling in their own massive, inefficient vehicles was the key to freedom.

But has our never-satisfied gluttonous appetite really brought “spiritual satisfaction” or happiness?

The planet offers everything we need to survive and thrive, but not if we continue to wastefully exploit it.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ promising offseason has taken a sudden downturn after missing out on two major offensive targets. Star outfielder Kyle Tucker signed a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and attention quickly shifted to Bo Bichette, who had remained a free agent and was widely expected to stay in Toronto.

That changed when Bichette signed a three-year contract with the New York Mets. Reports suggest concerns about playing conditions at Rogers Centre played a role.

According to MLB.com, Bichette privately cited the physical toll of playing half his games on the stadium’s artificial turf. Harder than natural grass, the surface can stress joints and muscles, especially during long sprints, sudden stops or dives — all routine for

outfielders. Bichette’s history of knee, calf and quad injuries may have made the risk feel too high.

Rogers Centre’s turf has long been a concern for players. Past Blue Jays, including José Bautista and Edwin Encarnación, noted increased soreness and fatigue late in the season. Injury patterns in Toronto also suggest slightly higher wear-related issues compared with teams that play fully on grass, making Bichette’s caution understandable.

With Bichette gone and few impact hitters left on the freeagent market, the Blue Jays now face pressure to find another bat before the 2026 season, potentially relying on trades or other creative solutions to support Vladimir Guerrero Jr. —Nisean Lorde

| FEBRUARY 2026

Hey Bo, is the grass really greener in New York?

Bo Bichette 9

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NEWS

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The Ossington strip could be in line for a makeover, and the City of Toronto is seeking local input before any improvements move forward.

On Jan. 27, the city hosted an in-person public drop-in event for the Ossington Avenue Safety and Streetscape Improvements project, covering Ossington from Dundas Street West to Queen Street West. The proposal bundles road safety, parking changes and public realm upgrades with the goal of making the corridor feel safer and more comfortable for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and drivers alike.

The plan focuses on the streetscape, like corner curb extensions, widened sidewalks in sections and new parkette-style spaces with planting and seating (as well as more bike parking and a proposed Bike Share station).

And at the core of the plan, the city is proposing removing peak-hour parking restrictions to allow full-time parking in the curb lanes. The street would still keep one vehicle travel lane in each direction but add dedicated turn lanes at Dundas and Queen.

Although some suggested losing local parking spaces would hurt business, others think it is just what the neigh-

bourhood needs.

“This is what this strip of Ossington needs,” said local resident Richard Santiago, community, vibrancy, greenery and pedestrianization. We need to stop prioritizing cars and make more spots like this in Toronto — one where people can enjoy being in rather than just drive through.

Most major cities in the world prioritize these spaces and still make deliveries and traffic work.”

The city says travel lanes will be widened to meet standards and reduce issues like improper passing and sideswiping, while also giving people cycling and larger vehicles (like buses and emergency vehicles) more breathing room.

If you’re bracing for a parking bloodbath, the city is framing it differently: The proposal includes 14 new Green P on-street spaces on Ossington, bringing the total to 100 spaces (up from 86) when CaféTO isn’t operating.

The existing commercial loading zone would remain, and curb lanes would still be expected to accommodate CaféTO patios, although some patios may need tweaks to meet operating standards.

Following public consultation, detailed design work is expected to begin this year.

—Nisean Lorde

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NEWS

A sign protesting against an iceberg home in Hogg’s Hollow

Iceberg home issue could finally get attention from the city Years ago, many Hogg’s Hollow rules on how deep below-grade residents raised strong objections residential buildings should be to the development of a so- allowed to extend in low-rise called “iceberg home” in their neighbourhoods. neighbourhood — a home that In a 2025 staff report, to the appears relatively modest above city’s planning and housing ground but conceals massive un- committee, staff proposed derground compounds. changes to the zoning bylaw After the project received ap- aimed at protecting the tree canproval, the late city councillor opy and storm water systems, Jaye Robinson brought forward while addressing the impacts of a motion to assess the broader iceberg homes. Among the recimpacts of this style of construc- ommendations is the introduction. Now, more than a decade tion of minimum below-ground later, the city may finally be moving to crack down.

“This is not the The most high-profile example remains the planned redevel- sign of a city with opment on Knightswood Rd., a healthy housing where a 200-year-old heritage home was replaced with a policy.” sprawling 14,000-square-foot residence featuring a two-storey building setbacks for low-rise underground bunker. The proj- houses and multiplexes, preventect sparked serious concerns, ing sprawling basements from ranging from potential structural extending to property lines.

“Potential impacts of iceberg impacts on neighbouring properties to environmental risks and homes include those related to inadequate public notice — injuries to mature trees, limitahighlighting a gap in city regu- tions on new planting opportunities, soil permeability, drainage, lations.

Critics have pointed out that groundwater and storm water iceberg homes have been linked management and embodied carto shifting ground levels, col- bon,” the report notes, emphasizlapsed foundations in neigh- ing that these concerns are bouring houses and excessive directly tied to the city’s climate noise and vibration during exca- resilience goals.

Although the number of offivation. In response, city planners are now recommending tighter cially proposed iceberg homes

remains relatively small — a City of Toronto spokesperson told the Toronto Star that 12 applications have been submitted since spring 2024 — the issue has drawn significant attention from neighbourhood groups and environmental advocates. They point to the 2021 Hogg’s Hollow project as a cautionary tale, where construction of an iceberg home led to the removal of a 250-year-old sugar maple and other mature trees in a sensitive ravine area.

That controversy prompted Toronto City Council to launch a review of how these types of builds affect local communities.

The volunteer-run advocacy group More Neighbours Toronto recently wrote to council, noting that iceberg home proposals reflect how difficult it has become to expand housing above ground in residential zones.

“This is not the sign of a city with a healthy housing policy, and as noted by City Planning, these buildings are not good for the tree canopy,” the letter states.

“We encourage City Planning to consider increasing height limits in residential zones so that iceberg homes stop being necessary.”

The city was expected to revisit the issue in January.

—Nisean Lorde

| FEBRUARY 2026

eople

11

11

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NEWS

LEARN DEVELOP GROW powersoccer.ca

416-425-6062 Ice fees at local rinks questioned by GTHL

| FEBRUARY 2026

Hockey clubs sued over inflated ice fees

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Minor league hockey in the Greater Toronto Area is already expensive, what with equipment, travel and (above all) ice time.

Now, one of the region’s biggest youth sports organizations is alleging some of that money was quietly being padded for years.

The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), a non-profit that registers more than 40,000 participants across Toronto, Markham, Vaughan and Mississauga has launched a lawsuit against four of its member clubs, accusing them of inflating the cost of game ice and collecting undisclosed premiums. It’s money the league says was never authorized or properly disclosed.

The GTHL filed the action in Ontario Superior Court in mid-January, naming the City of Vaughan Hockey Association (operating as the Vaughan Rangers), the Vaughan Panthers Minor Hockey Association and two Markham-based organizations (operating as the Markham Majors and Markham Islanders).

The league alleges these clubs procured arena ice from municipalities, then invoiced the GTHL at a higher rate, keeping the difference as a premium.

The lawsuit seeks at least $700,000 in damages and interest, with the claim including al-

legations of breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and fraud-related causes of action.

The lawsuit alleges that it paid $566,920 in undisclosed premiums over the past two decades. The suit also breaks down the amounts it said it’s seeking: $300,000 from the Rangers, $150,000 from the Panthers and $250,000 from the Markham Majors/Islanders combined.

“The court claim issued by the GTHL has not been formally served on the member hockey clubs named in the claim,” said Toronto lawyer Michael Mazzuca, who represents the organizations accused of fraud. “The claim has just recently come to their attention.The allegations made against the member hockey clubs by the GTHL are entirely frivolous, vexatious and without merit. These claims are denied and will be vigorously defended by the member hockey clubs.”

A statement posted by the Vaughan Panthers similarly said the clubs deny the allegations and welcome a court process.

These are allegations (not findings), and they haven't been proven in court, so at Post we’ll keep an eye out for updates.

—Nisean Lorde

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NEWS

We welcome you to book a private tour.

Kindly call the school.

Ramsden Park project scheduled to open in 2032

The project the entire com- gymnasium with an indoor runmunity is talking about, named ning track and flexible multithe new Ramsden Park Com- purpose activity spaces, along munity Recreation Centre, took with Wi-Fi throughout the facilanother step recently as the first ity. phase wraps up this winter.

“The project team is currently An international design com- evaluating supplier qualifications petition for a new centre is mov- submitted to the RFSQ in fall ing into a key next phase, 2025,” said a City of Toronto marking a major milestone in spokesperson in a recent update. what the City of Toronto deThe shortlisted teams will adscribes as a significant new in- vance to the second stage of the vestment in recreation for competition, where they will deresidents of Yorkville, Rosedale velop and present conceptual deand surrounding neighbourhoods.

“Planned amenities City staff are currently evaluating submissions from design include a six-lane, teams that responded to a request 25-metre swimfor supplier qualifications (RFSQ) issued in fall 2025, with ming pool.” a short list of up to five teams expected to be announced late Feb- signs for the new centre. Design proposals will be reviewed by a ruary or early March.

The first phase of community jury made up of design and arengagement is also wrapping up, chitecture professionals, city repand the next Indigenous Advi- resentatives and members of the sory Circle meeting was sched- project’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC). uled for Jan. 29.

The designs will also be shared The project, located across the street from the Rosedale subway publicly online and through an station, will introduce a fully ac- exhibition, allowing residents to cessible, net-zero-emissions provide feedback before a final community recreation centre decision is made. The winning fronting Ramsden Park to the design team is expected to be annorth and Budd Sugarman Park nounced in fall 2026.

Community engagement has to the east. Planned amenities include a six-lane, 25-metre swim- been a central part of the project ming pool, a leisure pool, a since it launched in 2025.

The CAC includes residents and representatives from local organizations such as neighbourhood and ratepayer associations across Yorkville, Rosedale, the Annex and Summerhill, as well as the Rosedale Mainstreet Business Improvement Area and nearby residential communities.

The next CAC meeting will be scheduled for later in February or early March.

An Indigenous Advisory Circle, made up of community members who identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit, is also advising the project team to ensure Indigenous perspectives are reflected in both the design and engagement processes.

Detailed design work and the hiring of a construction team are planned for next year, with construction currently scheduled to begin in spring 2028. The new Ramsden Park Community Recreation Centre is expected to open to the public in summer 2032, subject to change.

The project was identified, through the city’s Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan Implementation Strategy, as a priority investment to support yearround recreation, health and community programming for a rapidly growing area of central Toronto.

—Ron Johnson

Celebrating 45 years

Is honoured to be included in the 2026 Top Dentists List

L to R: Dr. Elias Fahed, Dr. Shaunna Hamat, Dr. Jessica Kudlats (owner), Dr. Jennifer Zelunka, Dr. Erica Borchiver

We are a full-service dental office providing family, restorative, implant, and cosmetic dentistry.

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Massive Ramsden pool and community centre project takes step

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MAIN STREET NEWS

Japanese coffee in Yorkville, Tom Ford opens in T.O. & more The Coffee has been a part of the homestyle Korean comfort food. move. The former location at 444

Yorkville neighbourhood for a few months now, and this sleek, Japanese-style café at 150 Bloor St. W. has been turning heads. Coffee is brewed to perfection here. Opt for a seasonal beverage (currently a peanut caramel latte), an ichigo matcha (with strawberry) or even a gelato frappé.

Tom Ford just opened its first Canadian stand-alone storefront, joining the stretch of luxury fashion boutiques in Yorkdale at 3401 Dufferin St. The 3,000-squarefoot shop, with sleek, marbled flooring and chrome and glass accents, features both men’s and women’s collections in the same place for the first time in Canada.

Tom Ford’s first stand-alone Canadian store is now open at Yorkdale

Nabe Hana is one of the Ossington strip’s latest additions. Reborn by the same mother-daughter team behind Tè, the restaurant that previously occupied 70 Ossington Ave., Nabe Hana focuses on

Expect homemade kimchi, bulgogi, bi bim bap and their signature “one pot” dish with kombu stock, sliced beef and fishcakes.

Three Strands Studio is new to

Bloor St. W. closed late last year to make room for a newly opened shop at 527 Bloor St. W. Expect the same curated, colour-coded selection at amazing prices.

Bone & Biscuit has opened its doors in Little Italy, offering a new pet supply option for animal lovers in the area. The pet store is known for its natural and raw pet food offerings, as well as natural treats, homeopathic supplements and unique artisan baked goods.

Shoppers can also browse apparel, Royal de Versailles just opened a toys, grooming goods and more at boutique for luxury brand Tudor 899 College St. in Yorkville, marking the first in Canada for the Swiss watchmaker. Toys Collection just launched in The immersive new space at 101 North York, a colourful new storeBloor St. W. allows clients to ex- front for collectors of plushies, plore the brand’s full collections. charms and more adorable finds.

The shop at 5318 Yonge St. is the Common Sort has been a latest place to find blind boxes — buy/sell/trade staple in the Annex the new shopping obsession of neighbourhood — and now, the sealed packages that contain a sesecond-hand shop is making a cret collectible toy or figurine.

the Thornhill neighbourhood, and it’s already getting rave reviews.

Operating at 8700 Bathurst St., the salon focuses on styling and colouring as well as other beauty services such as laser hair removal, a brow bar, facials and skin rejuvenation.

Discover the best Valentine’s Day gifts at Disera Drive!

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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. (38%); the day of the week with the most break-ins was Friday (30%); and the majority of incidents occurred on weekdays (70%).

ANNEX & QUEEN WEST

JAN. 2

DUNDAS ST. W. AND SIMCOE ST.

4 P.M.

JAN. 3

COLLEGE ST. AND MARKHAM ST.

12 A.M.

JAN. 5

BEDFORD RD. AND ELGIN AVE.

1 A.M.

JAN. 5

DUNDAS ST. W. AND MANNING AVE.

4 A.M.

JAN. 6

BEVERLEY ST. AND D’ARCY ST.

10 P.M.

JAN. 8

SPADINA AVE. AND D’ARCY ST.

5 A.M.

JAN. 8

DUNDAS ST. W. AND KENSINGTON AVE.

6 P.M.

JAN. 10

SPADINA AVE. AND SULLIVAN ST.

2 P.M.

JAN. 13

HARBORD ST. AND LIPPINCOTT ST.

5 A.M.

JAN. 14

SPADINA AVE. AND BULWER ST.

1 A.M.

JAN. 14

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REAL ESTATE NEWS

Toronto’s former chief planner on where housing is headed Last year, Toronto saw its lowest level of home sales since 2000 and a near-total condo market crash. Uncertainty is in the air — where do we go from here? Jennifer Keesmaat, president and CEO of Collecdev Markee and former chief city planner, helped us map out the city’s next couple of years.

developers do start building again, what will they build?

Give us the scoop on 2026.

What can we expect?

Uncertainty is terrible for change, so when you see job losses, when you see immigration rates drastically and unexpectedly go down, which means prices might soften further, it makes it very difficult for people to make these big kinds of decisions. We're probably going to see more of the same in 2026. It’s ironic because back in 2023, when things started to become very challenging in the housing market, there was a little saying in the industry amongst developers, which was “Try and survive until 2025.” And now we’ve passed 2025, and what we’ve seen is that a lot of home builders have not survived. And now

L–R: Jennifer Keesmaat is now CEO of Collecdev Markee; home sales have reached record lows

quite a few are figuring out whether they're going to be able to weather 2026 and 2027.

Will detached home buyers remain in the driver’s seat?

The market will continue to favour buyers this year. Inventory is going to continue to go up, and there’s so much of it already.

Sellers are going to have to really compete on pricing to attract buyers.

Everyone’s talking condo crash; where is that market going?

It’s volatile. There are a significant number of rental projects that are potentially going to be converted to condos, which is sometimes possible. There’s going to be a significant number of buyers who probably don’t close on their preconstruction sale units. We might see more dramatic moves, like Tridel cancelling all of their pre-

sale contracts [at One Bloor West, formerly The One]. One of the things that we do know is that, when we get to that three or four year period out from today, there will be no new condos. So the long-term prospect for condos is very strong, because there’s going to be a shortage.

Last year, we learned that tiny, cookie cutter condos aren’t the answer. When

I would be flabbergasted if we ever went back to that. I don’t think there are many developers who would be prepared to take the risk moving forward of building that type of product, because it’s risky building something that the minute the market turns nobody wants it. That’s a good thing — hopefully it rids our market of unlivable units once and for all.

People want great amenities, they want windows that open, they want closets in their bedrooms, they want to be able to put a desk in their condo.

What do you predict will be the next ‘trending’ T.O. neighbourhood?

I’m biased, but Davisville. There’s great transit, a new school and community centre being built, and it’s a very walkable neighbourhood.

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STREETS OF TORONTO

SPORTS Q&A

When Team Canada arrives in Milan this month, there’s one sport everyone is going to be watching: curling. Ranked number one in the world, the Canadian women’s team is also the first to win consecutive world championship gold medals in over 30 years. All eyes will be on Toronto’s own Sarah Wilkes: playing lead, she’ll be throwing the first stones in her first ever Olympic Games. We caught up with the two-time world champion ahead of Milan.

Was there a moment when it clicked for you that this is something you could do professionally?

You’re top-ranked heading into the Games.

What is it about this team that’s so special?

Has your psychotherapy background influenced you as an athlete?

Leading into the last Olympic trials, I decided to take a leap from my day job and put as much attention as I could on curling. That was six years ago, and it was definitely a turning point. I still work as a psychotherapist, just not full-time, and it has helped me be able to be as prepared as I can.

when did this all start?

Curling is obviously an iconic Canadian sport. How does it feel representing the country on the biggest stage?

I think it's an incredible privilege. I think back to myself as a little kid watching curling and saying, “I want to be able to do that someday.” So I hope to be able to bring that joy and inspiration, especially to young girls watching. It’s really cool that there are going to be so many eyes on it.

I’ve been curling since I was six, and I remember when I was around 12, a team at the club I was curling at, Tam Heather, actually went to the Olympics, so that was inspiring.

And I played on the curling team at Wilfrid University, and we ended up going to the World University Games, which was kind of like the closest thing to an Olympic Games you could get without being at the Olympics.

It's definitely helped me look inwards, be a little more reflective. I’m always checking in with myself before every game to see where I’m at emotionally and remind myself of my values. What am I doing this for? What’s the bigger picture?

Which other sport are you most excited to watch in Milan?

Figure skating.

If you had to swap sports for one Olympics, what would you pick?

I’m actually not very naturally athletic! But maybe hockey.

—Julia Mastroianni

Little towns with a lot of heart Let your love story hit the road with Ontario’s best small hamlets perfect for a romantic getaway for two

A sweet escape

Stratford is a love letter to long lunches, slow

walks and dramatic flair. The Avon River winds past tree-lined paths dotted with benches perfect for two. And when the weather warms up, cue the white swans (really!). Add in independent shops, candlelit restaurants and an actual Chocolate Trail, Stratford is for those who swoon over Shakespeare and sweets.

A trip back in time If you and your date love storybook scenery, head to Elora. This village’s cobblestone streets and cliffside hotel (Elora Mill, complete with a spa for couples looking to relax) sit above the dramatic Elora Gorge.

Intimate cafés like Lost and Found, eclectic shops like Mermaid in Elora and scenic trails balance a cosy atmosphere with vintage charm.

SECTION

daytrpr KAITLIN NARCISO is Streets of Toronto’s social media director and Great Escapes guide.

A romantic revival Historic inns, preserved heritage, clock towers and a rolling landscape of vineyards give Niagara-onthe-Lake plenty of charm. Whether you spend the day wandering between wineries, relaxing at one of the spa hotels or perusing the quaint boutiques that dot main street, this town is for couples looking to rekindle their romance with a bit of adventure.

19 | FEBRUARY 2026

We all have our own roles and are fully committed to those. We all bring such different Wilkes plays lead on the women’s curling team things to our team, and I think that we all complement each other really well in that sense. And Thinking back to little kid you, no one's trying to do someone else's job.

CURRENTS

T.O. world champ is sweeping into her first Olympics

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STEAMY ROMANCE, RENT & GARAGE ROCK The biggest and best concerts, events and shows this month, from Brandi Carlile and Margo Price to music, laughs and the return of Shaun Cassidy. By Ron Johnson

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COWBOY JUNKIES

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COPPERBELT

Brandi Carlile brings her Human Tour to Scotiabank Arena on Feb. 18, for a powerhouse night of folk-rock and soul infused with her Grammy-winning vocals, raw and emotional storytelling and anthems that have earned her critical acclaim.

Experience the warm, soulful power of Gregory Porter at Massey Hall on Feb. 15, as he brings his Grammy-winning artistry — from Liquid Spirit to his latest Blue Note release, All Rise — to life with jazz, gospel and soul classics alongside his own acclaimed originals.

Toronto’s alt-country icons Cowboy Junkies led by Margo Timmins ride back into Koerner Hall, Feb. 7, for a career-spanning night of soulful folk, roots and rock, from the legendary Trinity Session to their latest album, Such Ferocious Beauty.

Don’t miss Margo Price at the Phoenix Concert Theatre on Feb. 25, for her Wild at Heart Tour, as the acclaimed singersongwriter — known for genre-blending country sound, and albums like Midwest Farmer’s Daughter — delivers a night of grit and soul.

Soulpepper presents Copperbelt, running Feb. 7 to March 4, Natasha Mumba’s debut play that follows Eden’s journey from Toronto back to her Zambian roots, unraveling family secrets, power struggles and the cost of chasing independence.

Catch Shaun Cassidy live at the Winter Garden Theatre on Feb. 20, as the multi-platinum singer, Grammy-nominated hit maker and acclaimed TV writer takes audiences on The Road to Us, a captivating evening of music, storytelling and Da Doo Ron Ron-ing.

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SUMMER AND SMOKE

HAMLET

LUCAS ZELNICK

KINGDOM OF BIRDS

THE NEIGHBOURS

Experience Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the CAA Theatre, Feb. 25–28, in a bold, boundary-pushing production where Eddie Izzard takes on every role, bringing wit, intensity and startling versatility to Denmark’s tragic tale of revenge and power.

Get ready to laugh with Lucas Zelnick at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Feb. 26 and 27, as the New York–born, Comedy Central–featured comedian delivers sharp-witted standup drawn from his cushy upbringing, viral social media fame and his Stanford MBA.

Catch hot Toronto band Kingdom of Birds and their energetic garage rock and hypnotic post-punk as they celebrate the release of their new album Vermin, joined

by Last Waltzon and Rosie Wyse on Feb. 9 at St. Anne’s Hall.

Tarragon Theatre presents the North American premiere of The Neighbours, by Governor General’s Award winner Nicolas Billon, running Feb. 24 to March 15, a tense and gripping drama where a seemingly quiet suburban couple discovers a dark secret next door.

Tennessee Williams’s Summer and Smoke, running at Crow’s Theatre from Feb. 3 to March 1, is a blazing classic where two lovers navigate desire, duty and the dangerous collision of passion and convention in a small-town summer.

SHAUN CASSIDY

RENT IN CONCERT

Celebrate 30 years of Jonathan Larson’s musical Rent in concert at Roy Thomson Hall on Feb 23, as a powerhouse ensemble brings the full Tony-winning score to life in a symphonic tribute to love, friendship and the spirit of New York’s East Village. 21 | FEBRUARY 2026

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Based in Toronto and operating within a fully licensed, physician-led clinical environment, Sovereign Male offers a comprehensive suite of men’s health services designed to address concerns that are common, yet often discussed too rarely.

Every aspect of care is grounded in evidencebased medicine, ethical practice, and individualized assessment.

Services include physician-supervised testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), advanced solutions for erectile dysfunction, and non-surgical treatments for male enhancement—each approached with clinical rigor and realistic expectations.

Sovereign Male also addresses quality-of-life concerns such as excessive sweating and snoring, recognizing that

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What sets Sovereign Male apart is not only the breadth of services offered, but the manner in which care is delivered. The experience is intentionally understated—designed for men who value professionalism over promotion, and outcomes over spectacle. Privacy is respected at every step, from consultation through treatment and follow-up.

Clients of Sovereign Male are often leaders and professionals who view health as an investment—one that should be managed intelligently and without compromise. They understand that addressing personal health concerns is not about indulgence, but about maintaining vitality, confidence, and longevity.

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RE(A)DY FOR ROMANCE

A. FAUX LEATHER TRENCH, Hilary MacMillan, $325, hilarymacmillan.com “This has got a lot of classic trench detailing on it. I love the flaps and the big, wide belt.”

B. SHEER CREW SOCKS, Frock, $40, 97 Roncesvalles Ave. C. SQUARE TOE ANKLE BOOTS, L'intervalle, SALE $105, 220 Yonge St. “These boots are fantastic. I really love that block heel and square toe. They'll add a bit of flash to your wardrobe.”

D. OVAL SUNGLASSES, Good Neighbour, $145, 1212 Yonge St. E. WAVY HOOPS, Par Ici, $179, paricijewellery.com F. ZIP-UP CABLE KNIT, Kotn, SALE $158, 148 Ossington Ave. “I love the cable knit and the great big mock neck. There's something very retro about this sweater.”

G. BASEBALL CAP, Province of Canada, $56, 104 Ossington Ave. H. CROCHET SWEATER, Desigual, $209, desigual.com “This is just charming; it appeals to those of us who love anything artisanal. And it's got great little hearts for Valentine's Day!”

I. MEN'S VINTAGE VEST, Exile Vintage, $59.99, 60 Kensington Ave. “We love our vests, and this one has a nice, casual feel to it with a great pop of colour.”

J. TRIANGLE CASHMERE SCARF, Lemonwood, $220, 1224A Yonge St. K. FLORAL BERET, Frock, $89, 97 Roncesvalles Ave. “At this time of year, when things get a bit gloomy, this adorable hat would put a little spring in your step.”

L. HEART BAG, Loversland, $245, 215 Ossington Ave. “This bag looks like a little pillow!”

M. WIDE LEG CORDUROYS, TNT, SALE $225, 87 Avenue Rd. N. VARSITY JACKET, Sports Club Atelier, $399, sportsclubatelier.ca O. LEATHER GLOVES, Gravitypope, $150, 1010 Queen St. W. P. BALACLAVA, Tusk, $70, 888 Queen St. W. Q. MEN'S POLO, Lost & Found, $380, 12 Ossington Ave. “This is very sporty and graphically arresting; it's got such a cool vibe. Great for someone who wants to bring out their inner jock!”

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.

| FEBRUARY 2026

Bright cherry red is trending this season — but this month, we're calling it Olympic red. Jeanne Beker has helped us source all things crimson for a wardrobe that's fit for the perfect Valentine's Day date or cheering on Team Canada when they head to the 2026 Milan Games this month.

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My wife met my work wife: She has questions Dear Sangita: My wife met my “work wife” for the first time. Now, she has a lot of questions. They met at an office party, and my work wife had maybe too many nice things to say about me. I hadn't ever really mentioned her name to my wife before, but the way she spoke about me, I'm sure my wife picked up on the fact that we're pretty close at work. I thought I was pro- SANGITA PATEL is our advice tecting my wife by not telling columnist and was previously a her too much about her, but host on ET Canada. now I feel like it's making me look suspicious. What do I Valentine's Day. I feel like I have to warn her. She really do? — Wife crossover loves him, but I can tell she's Dear Crossover: There’s some- not exactly there yet, and thing called emotional affairs, they're still pretty young. I and I feel this is what's happen- tried to allude to that to her ing here, even if you may not boyfriend, but he's just too realize you’re there. I get the eager and excited to notice. Is sense that you’re getting some it my sisterly duty to give her emotional needs taken care of a heads up? — Proposal patrol with this woman at work, and I think that’s why you’ve kept your wife Proposal Patrol: in the dark. Women are smart there’s a reason he asked you, — I’m sure your wife picked up and it wasn’t for advice. He on some things in that conver- needed some kind of confirmasation with your colleague. And tion that he’s doing the right I doubt it’s jealousy on your thing. I’m sure he is excited, but wife’s part; it’s more the fact a part of him might get the that you didn’t have the nerve sense that this is not the right to tell her. If you had told your thing to do or the right time. wife about this work relation- He might have been seeking ship from the beginning when approval from you, and you it started, she would have been didn’t say anything. At this fine. Now, you’re right: it looks point, you should go to your like you had something to hide. sister and have a heart-to-heart So you have to acknowledge ev- conversation about how serious erything that’s happening here the relationship is and figure and come clean about exactly out if she really does love him what the dynamic is like with and wants to make those kinds the woman at work. If your wife of plans with him. I know you feels uncomfortable with it, you already think she doesn’t want should pull away from your col- this, but it’s worth having this league. Your relationship is only check-in. You don’t need to tell going to get worse, unless you her what’s about to happen, but start doing the things you were by talking with her, she may doing with your “work wife” end up figuring it out on her (whether that’s leaning on her own. for emotional support or confiding in her) with your actual Have a relationship or life wife. question for Sangita?

Send it to advice@postcity.com.

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CURRENTS HOW THEY MET

Stole his heart: ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ star’s 35-year marriage Yannick Bisson knows when he has a good thing going — 19 seasons later, he remains the star of Canada’s most-watched scripted series, Murdoch Mysteries. And this year, he also celebrates 35 years of marriage with his wife, Shantelle. Here, they give us the details of their whirlwind romance.

I was, like: “Pump the brakes, we barely know each other!” We thought about it, and ultimately decided to keep what is now our eldest of three daughters. We got very lucky that we were aligned in how we wanted to raise kids.

Yannick: This all leads up to a not so great story: we were on the 401 on one of those snowy, terrible days, and I said [holding the ring], “You know what, babe, fine, here it is.” That was my proposal.

How they met

Yannick: I visited my good friend Bruce Gaunt’s high school in Scarborough, and Shantelle was performing at some of the school shows there. I immediately took notice. Years later, I ended up at a Pepsi audition and in waltzes Shantelle. Turns out we were at the same agency, and we were slotted to go in and read together. And the icing on the cake was that we were supposed to play boyfriend and girlfriend and kiss. So we kissed and we did this audition together! Moral of the story is I didn't get the commercial, but I got the girl.

L–R: Yannick and Shantelle on their wedding, the couple at a concert The wedding

Yannick: We knew we wanted alcohol even though we were the party to be the big thing, but we didn’t have money, so we had Two days later I asked her out. I underage. a Legion Hall–type wedding. almost blew it though. The day And our daughter, when we got of the date, I waited too long to The proposal call her and confirm the place. Shantelle: We moved in together married, was 14 months, so she Shantelle: He called me a half really fast, and for my 19th birth- was our mini flower girl. We had hour after we were supposed to day, he bought me a one carat a prime rib dinner and a DJ and diamond ring, but just as a gift. all our close people and family, be on our date!

Yannick: I told her to head And a few months later, I said, “I and it was just a great party. We down to Yorkville to Remys, and missed my period, we should went to a Caribbean island for we had a beautiful dinner there. probably get a pregnancy test.” It our honeymoon, and it was just My two roommates there made was positive. And Yannick goes, not great. I didn’t know how to it a special night. They served us “OK, well, I want to marry you.” book these things. Our room was The first date

awful. Shantelle cried; she called her mom! Needless to say, we have had some outstanding vacations to make up for it.

The secret to success

Yannick: Chances are you're always wrong, and she’s always right, and even if that's not true, life will go a lot better if it is. And always buy more flowers than you think you should.

Shantelle: We’re not alike, but we’re still able to compromise and bend. It’s interesting to me that so often people will compromise in their work relationships, but somehow they feel like they have to win at home. If you’re out to win, you’ll always lose.

The future together

Shantelle: Lots of travel. We have so many places we want to check off the list. We also have a big dream about having a chateau in the south of France, a mountain house for skiing. And we’re hopeful for more grandbabies.

ST TA AN N CH HO MPP - Will MPP Wi Wilillllowda d le HERE TO HELP YOU! stanchompp.ca | 416-733-7878 111 Sheppard A Avvenue West, T To oronto, ON M2N 1M7

26

millenniaL GEN Z edition

TEST YOUR CITY IQ IN OUR ANNUAL TRIVIA EXTRAVAGANZA! 2. Where was the OG Burger’s Priest joint in Toronto located?

4. Which TV show shot in T.O. is based on the Game Changers series by Rachel Reid?

5. Which creature did Drake voice in ‘Ice Age: Continental Drift’?

A. COLDPLAY

A. QUEEN WEST

A. THE BOYS

A: TIGER

B. STRAY KIDS

B. YORKVILLE

B. BRILLIANT MINDS

B: WOOLY MAMMOTH

C. FLASHPOINT

C: LLAMA

D. HEATED RIVALRY

D: SLOTH

C. BLACKPINK

C. THE BEACH

D. OASIS

D. LIBERTY VILLAGE

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: Capybaras

ANSWER: D

6. What sports icon became a part-owner of the Toronto Tempo team?

7. When Summer McIntosh first hit the Olympics, how old was she?

8. Which Toronto native starred in ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Schitt’s Creek?’

9. The name Toronto originated from what Mohawk word?

A. VINCE CARTER

A. 15

A. DAN LEVY

A. OHÉNHSA

B. SERENA WILLIAMS

B. 16

B. KRISTEN WIIG

C. AWÈ:RI

C. MILOS RAONIC

C. 18

C. CATHERINE O’HARA

B. KARÁHKWA

D. KIA NURSE

D. 14

D. ANDREA MARTIN

D. TKARONTO

ANSWER: B

12. Name the two Toronto Raptors who appeared in T.O.’s ‘Nutcracker’ ballet in 2025.

13. Which iconic banger was Davis Schneider’s walk-up song for the Jays?

14. Who was the ‘Vampire Diaries’ star who grew up in Toronto?

15. Which Toronto native was the first local to suit up for the Raptors?

A. SCOTTIE BARNES

A. SHAKE IT OFF

A: NINA DOBREV

A. RJ BARRETT

B. GRADEY DICK

B. HOTLINE BLING

B: ROBERT PATTINSON

B. JAMAAL MAGLOIRE

C. JAMAL SHEAD

C. PINK PONY CLUB

C: BILLY VAN

C. COREY JOSEPH

D. RJ BARRETT

D. DON’T STOP ME NOW

D: JAKE EPSTEIN

D. A.J. LAWSON

ANSWER: Bianca Andreescu

ANSWER: A & C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: B

16. What Blue Jays motto was adopted during their 2025 World Series run?

17. The iconic sign at Yonge & Dundas is a throwback to which T.O. record store?

18. SCAN FOR VIDEO QUESTION!

19. Which sport that blew up in the 2000s was invented in Little Italy?

20. Name the only Canadian regular cast member of ‘Stranger Things.’

A. H&M

A. CORNHOLE

A. MILLIE BOBBY BROWN

B. BELIEVE IN MAGIC

B. SAM THE RECORD MAN

B. ULTIMATE FRISBEE

B. NOAH SCHNAPP

C. BRING IT

C. TOWER RECORDS

C. AXE THROWING

C. FINN WOLFHARD

D. GAME ON

D. A&A

D. SPEED CLIMBING

D. SADIE SINK

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: B

A. BORN READY

ANSWER: Bay

JAYS WIN IN EXTRA INNINGS, MOVE AHEAD A SPACE

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: A | FEBRUARY 2026

10. What movie, directed

by T.O.’s Maggie Kang, set a Netflix streaming record?

ANSWER: KPop Demon Hunters

11. She was the first Canadian tennis star to win a Grand Slam back in 2019.

26

3. Which rodents pulled a ‘Bonny and Clyde’ escape at High Park Zoo in 2016?

ANSWER: B

s t a r t

1. Which music act was the first to play at T.O.’s new Rogers Stadium?

DRAKE CANCELS CONCERT, MISS A TURN

27

SINGLE-player GAME HOW HIGH IS YOUR CITY IQ?

For every correct answer move forward one space.

If answer is incorrect, the next player can steal.

First to the finish line wins!

0-12 CORRECT: LOCAL YOKEL 13-25 CORRECT: RIGHTEOUS RESIDENT You’ve got a lot to learn about You might not know everything about T.O. but you’re trying. what makes this city great.

26-40 CORRECT: T.O. KNOW-IT-ALL! You live and breathe Toronto, go forth and share your joy!

21. Which Toronto tennis phenom won the National Bank Open final in 2025?

22. When did the Maple Leafs play their last game at Maple Leafs Gardens ?

24. Theme music from which sitcom is used in ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’?

25. Fay De Fazio Ebert was Canada’s youngest at Paris 2024 in what sport?

A. LEYLAH FERNANDEZ

A. 2020

A. FRIENDS

A. SKATEBOARDING

B. VICTORIA MBOKO

B. 1999

B. SEINFELD

B. SNOWBOARDING

C. GABRIEL DIALLO

C. 1976

C. MODERN FAMILY

C. SWIMMING

D. LIAM DRAXL

D. 2019

D. THE OFFICE

D. RUGBY

23. What R&B star played a surprise show in Trinity Bellwoods last summer?

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: Daniel Caesar

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: A

26. Red Bull Racing’s F1 team announced a collab with which Toronto brand?

27. The TTC subway crash of 1995 was named for which Toronto roadway?

28. Which Toronto author wrote ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’?

29. Which MLS player led the league in goals and assists in the same season?

30. SCAN FOR VIDEO QUESTION!

A. ROOTS

A. WYCHWOOD

A. ROBERSTON DAVIES

A. JOZY ALTIDORE

B. PEACE COLLECTIVE

B. ROSEHILL

B. MARGARET ATWOOD

B. MICHAEL BRADLEY

C. OVO

C. SUMMERHILL

C. TIMOTHY FINDLAY

C. SEBASTIAN GIOVINCO

D. CANADA GOOSE

D. RUSSELL HILL

D. RAWI HAGE

D. OMAR GONZALEZ

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: Sphynx

31. Which NBA superstar launched a collab with T.O. brand Canada Goose?

33. Who was mayor when Toronto declared a COVID19 state of emergency?

34. How many Eras Tour concerts did Taylor Swift play in Toronto?

35. What is T.O. tennis star Denis Shapovalov’s creative side hustle?

A. SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER

A. OLIVIA CHOW

A. 5

A. KNITTING

B. DOUG FORD

B. 6

B. MOTOCROSS

C. JOHN TORY

C. 4

C. RAP

D. DAVID MILLER

D. 2

D. SCUBA

ANSWER: B

C. STEPH CURRY D. KAWHI LEONARD

32. What Toronto neighbourhood is low-key famous for the ‘garden car’?

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: Kensington

ANSWER: C

37. What’s the name of Drake’s crib up in Toronto’s Bridle Path?

38. In which year did the 6ix finally get its first legal cannabis store?

40. The other Maple Leafs play what sport at Christie Pits every summer?

A. SIX POINTS

A: THE VIEWS

A. 2019

A. HACKEY SACK

B. 2020

C: THE EMBASSY

C. 1969

D. BIIDAASIGE

D: THE VILLA

D. 2017

39. Name the Toronto-shot legal drama in which Meghan Markle appears.

ANSWER: Suits

B: ADONIS’S HOUSE

CROSSTOWN LRT OPENS, MOVE AHEAD A SPACE

B. BASEBALL C. RUGBY D. SOCCER ANSWER: B

B. DUNKIP

RACCOONS IN YOUR TRASH, MISS A TURN

36. Name the 40-hectare park that opened in the city’s Port Lands in 2025.

C. HEART PARK

ANSWER: C

B. SCOTTIE BARNES

f i n i s h

| FEBRUARY 2026

MULTI-PLAYER GAME HOW TO PLAY

27

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: D

28

BOOMER GEN X edition

TEST YOUR CITY IQ IN OUR ANNUAL TRIVIA EXTRAVAGANZA! 3. In 2025 a plane from what airline flipped upside down after crash landing in T.O.?

4. Who was the first Swedish player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?

5. Which famous historic diner was beloved by pianist Glenn Gould?

A. BO BICHETTE

A. AIR CANADA

A. MATS SUNDIN

A. STEVE’S

B. DELTA

B. BÖRJE SALMING

B. FRAN’S

C. UNITED

C. PETER FORSBERG

C. SENATOR

D. FLAIR

D. NIKLAS LIDSTROM

D. MARS

B. ERNIE CLEMENT C. ISIAH KINER-FALEFA D. LEO JIMENEZ ANSWER: C

ANSWER: Frankenstein

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: B

6. Which famous rock musician was busted for heroin at the Toronto Hilton in 1977?

7. The first NBA game ever took place here between Toronto and what team?

8. Which famous brand of cough medication was invented in Toronto?

9. At which high school did the founding members of Blue Rodeo meet?

A. KEITH RICHARDS

A. 76ERS

A. VICKS

A. LEASIDE

B. STEVIE NICKS

B. CELTICS

B. HALLS

B. NORTH TORONTO

C. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

C. KNICKS

C. BUCKLEY’S

C. ST. MICHAEL’S

D. IGGY POP

D. LAKERS

D. BENYLIN

D. HARBORD

ANSWER: A

12. Which Toronto chef launched a new cooking show on Netflix in 2025?

13. What was T.O. filmmaker Ivan Reitman’s first directorial effort?

14. Which city councillor has already said he’s running for mayor in the 2026 election?

15. What Toronto band included members Neil Young and Rick James?

A. SUSUR LEE

A. MEATBALLS

A. JOHN TORY

A. THE HAWKS

B. CLAUDIO APRILE

B. GHOSTBUSTERS

B. BRAD BRADFORD

B. STEPPENWOLF

C. MATTY MATHESON

C. STRIPES

C. CHRIS MOISE

C. THE SPARROWS

D. MICHAEL BONACINI

D. TWINS

D. JOSH MATLOW

D. MYNAH BIRDS

ANSWER: Ben Johnson

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: D

16. Ryan Reynolds brought a film about which Toronto comic to TIFF in 2025?

17. Which east end social club won the Grey Cup on two occasions?

18. At which unique Toronto concert venue did James Brown perform in 1965?

19. Who wore the last number retired by the Maple Leafs #93 in 2016?

20. SCAN FOR VIDEO QUESTION!

A. EUGENE LEVY

A. ARGONAUTS

A. MASSEY HALL

A. WENDEL CLARK

B. JIM CARREY

B. BALMY BEACH

B. ROCKPILE

B. DARRYL SITTLER

C. RICHARD PRYOR

C. GREEK CANADIANS

C. CNE

C. DOUG GILMOUR

D. JOHN CANDY

D. SCARBOROUGH

D. MIMACOMBO RINK

D. RICK VAIVE

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: C

DVP CLOSED FOR THE WEEKEND, MISS A TURN

ANSWER: Ice Cube

LEAFS WIN THE CUP, MOVE AHEAD A SPACE

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: D | FEBRUARY 2026

10. This Torontonian became Canada’s first supermodel in the ’80s.

ANSWER: Monika Schnarre

11. Name the Canadian sprinter stripped of his gold medal in 1988.

28

2. What gothic horror film directed by Guillermo Del Toro was filmed in T.O.?

ANSWER: B

s t a r t

1. Which Blue Jays player came within inches of a World Series winning run?

29

SINGLE-player GAME HOW HIGH IS YOUR CITY IQ?

For every correct answer move forward one space.

If answer is incorrect, the next player can steal.

First to the finish line wins!

0-12 CORRECT: LOCAL YOKEL 13-25 CORRECT: RIGHTEOUS RESIDENT You’ve got a lot to learn about You might not know everything about T.O. but you’re trying. what makes this city great.

26-40 CORRECT: T.O. KNOW-IT-ALL! You live and breathe Toronto, go forth and share your joy!

21. Speakers Corner is set to make a comeback at which historic venue?

22. Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in which T.O. baseball park?

24. Which iconic landmark is featured in the movie ‘X-Men’ as the school?

25. From which sport did the Toronto Argos derive its name?

A. HORSESHOE TAVERN

A. LAMPORT STADIUM

A. CASA LOMA

A. RUGBY

B. EL MOCAMBO

C. CHRISTIE PITS

B. BRICK WORKS

B. HOCKEY

C. RIVOLI

B. EXHIBITION STADIUM

C. WYCHWOOD BARNS

C. LACROSSE

D. CAMERON HOUSE

D. HANLAN’S POINT

D. OSGOODE HALL

D. ROWING

23. What horror movie was shot at a shopping mall in Thornhill?

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: Dawn of the Dead

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: D

26. Which iconic Toronto prog rock band announced a comeback in 2025?

27. Which ancient glacial lake was responsible for T.O.’s escarpments?

28. Which T.O. nabe declared its independence from Canada in 1967?

29. Rosedale Golf Club used what to cut the grass during the World War II?

30. SCAN FOR VIDEO QUESTION!

A. TRIUMPH

A. RAVINA

A. ROSEDALE

A. GOATS

B. RUSH

C. MISSISSAUGA

C. PARKDALE

C. COWS

C. DREAM WARRIORS

B. IROQUOIS

B. ARMOUR HEIGHTS

B. SHEEP

D. BLIND MELON

D. HURON

D. RATHNELLY

D. LLAMAS

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: Hanlan’s

31. Which rocker was the lead in T.O.’s ‘Phantom of the Opera’ in the 1990s?

33. Name the finance guru starring in ‘Marty Supreme’ with Timothée Chalamet.

34. Which comedian appeared on SNL wearing a Canada Is Not For Sale T-shirt?

35. Which music icon bought a penthouse on King West ?

A. PAUL STANLEY

A. MARK CUBAN

A. MARK CARNEY

A. DRAKE

B. MICHELE ROMANOW

B. MIKE MYERS

B. BILLY JOEL

C. KEVIN O’LEARY

C. MARTIN SHORT

C. ANDY KIM

D. WES HALL

D. STEVE MARTIN

D. ELTON JOHN

ANSWER: B

B. STEVEN PAGE C. BON JOVI D. BRET MICHAELS

32. Name the planetarium famous for the Laser Floyd shows in the ’80s.

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: McLaughlin Planetarium

ANSWER: C

36. In 1909, Toronto's Tommy Ryan invented what leisure activity?

37. Which fancy hotel is built on the city of Toronto’s former gallows?

38. Where did the Toronto Raptors play their first home game?

40. Which Toronto nabe is North America’s largest car-free urban hood?

A. FIVE-PIN BOWLING

A. KING EDWARD

A. AIR CANADA CENTRE

A. HIGH PARK

C. SCOTIABANK ARENA

D. CROQUET

D. FOUR SEASONS

D. MAPLE LEAF GARDEN

39. In which sport did Keanu Reeves excel while growing up in Toronto?

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: Hockey

DATE NIGHT AT A MICHELIN RESTO, MOVE AHEAD A SPACE

B. KENSINGTON C. TRINITY BELLWOODS D. WARD’S ISLAND ANSWER: D

B. SKYDOME

C. RITZ CARLTON

ANSWER: D

B. ROYAL YORK

C. LAWN DARTS

RAPTORS LOSE IN OT, MISS A TURN

B. TABLE TENNIS

f i n i s h

| FEBRUARY 2026

MULTI-PLAYER GAME HOW TO PLAY

29

ANSWER: A

30

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StreetsofToronto.com

31

STREETS OF TORONTO

Bite-Sized Q&A

How Ryan Baddeley built Badiali into T.O.’s premier pizza corner Toronto’s pizza scene has changed a lot in the last few years, and Ryan Baddeley has had a front-row seat. The co-owner of Badiali has spent the past decade turning simple slices into something of a citywide obsession, from collabs with Miss Vickie’s to his new flagship in Mirvish Village. We caught up with Baddeley to talk trends, his go-to spots around the city and what he reaches for when he’s not eating pizza.

What are your favourite pizza spots in the city?

When you’re not eating pizza, what are you craving?

Probably Asian food. I think it’s the Toronto in me. And it’s the food I miss the most when I’m away. Probably a bowl of pho or some Chinatown dumplings.

I think that we’ve influenced a few great new shops to open and serve great slices. It was definitely something that was lacking in the city previously, and I think it has definitely become more accessible in a lot of neighbourhoods.

Is there one milestone that stands out as your proudest so far?

It’s pretty tough to choose, especially with our beautiful upcoming new space, but probably our recent collab with Miss Vickie’s on the vodka pizza flavour. Beyond serving some great pizza, this was just never something I ever could have dreamed of.

Are you pro or con pineapple on pizza?

Badiali co-owner Ryan Baddeley

What can you tell us about the new location?

It’s designed by Future Studios and takes inspiration from old European cafés and restaurants, with lots of beautiful tiling and wood accents. It will be the same slice shop concept as our Dovercourt location but will also have more indoor and outdoor seating.

Definitely pro because sometimes it’s just what you want, and that’s OK. It doesn’t have to be more than that.

What’s the best soda with pizza?

Hands down, Brio. Beyond being an iconic Toronto soda, it’s just really delicious and pairs so well with pizza.

—Erica Commisso

Martinis & fries are the new adult Happy Meal Three places serving Toronto’s grown-up combo

The Midday Pour Why wait for happy hour when you can have a martini for lunch? The Joneses is making the Tinis & Taters life a daily reality with a $20 all-day special that’s hard to beat. You pick your fighter from five classic styles — whether you’re a dirty olive fan or a Gibson onion purist — and it’ll come served up icecold alongside a pile of hot truffle fries. 33 Yonge St.

SECTION

The Ossington Beat Monday night at Ossington favourite Azhar is basically a salt-rimmed middle finger to the work week. The bar keeps that fire-driven energy going with $10 martinis and $8 crispy za’atar fries with garlic aïoli while DJ Mar spins. It’s exactly where you want to be when you aren’t ready for the weekend to end. 96 Ossington Ave.

FORKCAST

The Yorkville Glow Yorkville’s favourite Victorian house just got a massive glow up with Bar Reyna’s Golden Hour deals. Snag a $14 martini and pair it with Bar Reyna’s $10 fries, with Spanish, Greek or Arabic flavours.

Head to the year-round back patio for a Mediterranean escape that feels way more expensive than it actually is. 158 Cumberland St. 31 | FEBRUARY 2026

How has the city’s pizza scene changed since Badiali opened?

FOOD

I’m a huge fan of a lot of Toronto pizza spots.

I love Bar Sugo and think Terroni still makes a great pizza. For a slice, I recently tried Nice Slice, which was great.

32

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33

FOOD TASTE TEST

THERE CANNOLI BE ONE GOLD-MEDAL WINNER

GOLD RICOTTA ROCKET: “This filling tastes like proper ricotta, with curds adding a subtle hint of lemon,” Anthony said, impressed by the balance. “This one’s the best — perfectly crisp shell and just sweet enough,” Rosa added. Cataldi, 140 Woodbridge Ave., Vaughan, $2.75/each

SHELL SPIN: Anthony found Tre Mari’s cannoli “cute,” though he thought the shell was slightly overcooked. Rosa enjoyed it overall. “The shell snaps nicely. It’s delicate and looks very pretty on the plate,” she said. Tre Mari, 1311 St. Clair Ave. W., $10.50/three

CITRUS SLALOM: Anthony thought the cannoli was very fresh, with a crisp shell and balanced, subtle ricotta notes Rosa agreed.

“This one is nice — good texture, not too sweet and very elegant,” she said.

North Pole Bakery, 1210 Danforth Ave., $18/four

CUSTARD CURL: Anthony found the custard filling a touch dense.

“Almost floury, a bit too much cream,” he said.

Rosa was a fan.“It’s rich, but I like the texture, and that little hit of orange really lifts it,” she said. Eataly, 55 Bloor St. W., $32.90/four

BRONZE

Chef Anthony Rose runs Fat Pasha; Rosa Marinuzzi crafts soulful Southern Italian dishes at 7 Numbers.

SILVER DOLCE DASH: “The shell is solid, maybe just a touch overcooked,” said Anthony. Rosa was impressed with the filling and garnish. “The chocolate is rich and flavourful, and it looks really nice on the plate,” she said. Mizzica, 2375 Yonge St., $11/two

SPICE SPRINT: Anthony found the cinnamon and nutmeg in the filling a bit strong, almost overpowering, but appreciated the shell’s crunch. Rosa nodded. “A little much on the spice, but the cinnamon is warm and cosy,” she said. San Remo, 374 Royal York Rd., $3.75/each

| FEBRUARY 2026

As the 2026 Winter Olympics descend on Milan and Cortina, Italy becomes the centre of the sporting universe. Naturally, we’re hosting our own event — a cannoli showdown. From shells that snap like a perfect triple axel to fillings that land somewhere between decadent and disciplined, we’re doling out gold, silver and bronze to the cannoli that truly stick the landing.

33

34

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35

©anees.food.blog/Instagram

FOOD

©RRP/Google

Roe play: The new rules of caviar Four amazing Toronto spots putting luxury on the menu

By Jennifer Schembri

Clockwise from left: Jade, BarChef, Maxime’s

On King West at Maxime’s

You can’t go to a restaurant in this city right now without seeing burrata on the menu.

It’s the default order for the table, mostly because it’s hard to mess up a ball of creamfilled cheese. Because it’s everywhere, though, it’s starting to feel predictable.

At Maxime’s, they change the context. The room is dark, the music is loud and the crowd skews late. There’s a traditional caviar service if you want to go all out, but the

more interesting move is the burrata topped with Ossetra caviar for $39.

Burrata is rich, but it can be flat on its own. The Ossetra cuts through with salt and texture. Unlike cheaper roe, the pearls are firm and slightly nutty, so they don’t disappear into the cream — you actually notice them. It’s the experience of ordering caviar but eating it with a fork and sharing over drinks. 77 Portland St. Bar bites on Queen West

If you want to see how far the city is willing to push this idea, go to BarChef. This is the Queen West bar known for being deliberately experimental, so chicken nuggets topped with caviar feel on-brand.

The dish pairs fried nuggets with royal sturgeon caviar, sour cream and an apricot sweetand-sour sauce. The caviar matters here. Royal sturgeon is smooth and buttery, which works with a salty, fried snack instead of competing with it.

You’re sitting in one of the best cocktail bars in Toronto, sipping something complex from Frankie Solarik’s program and eating a childhood

staple topped with high-end roe. It takes the stiffness out of the caviar and makes a basic nugget feel like the best thing you've eaten all week. 472 Queen St. W. Over in the Financial District

The Chase is about as classic as the Financial District gets.

It’s on the fifth floor of the historic Dineen Building, with white tablecloths and a terrace overlooking the city. Normally, this is exactly where caviar feels formal. Instead of a tin on ice, the Chase is serving a $37 caviar and oyster shooter. You get two oysters topped with potato emulsion, crème fraîche and a scoop of caviar.

Most shooters in this city are just oysters floating in spicy tomato juice. This one is much different. The potato emulsion and cream give the caviar something to sit on, so you can actually taste it. The oyster is clean and briny, the caviar deeper and nuttier.

You’re ordering two of the most expensive things on the menu and finishing them in a few seconds, which feels completely unexpected in a room like this. 10 Temperance St.

Corndogs + Caviar in Yorkville

Yorkville is the last place you’d expect to find a fairground staple, but Jade on Avenue Road is serving a Corndog & Caviar offering. This spot is known for its French-Asian fusion and a monochromatic green interior full of marble and velvet, but the menu doesn't take itself too seriously, mixing playful, elevated flavours with unexpected combinations. The $38 mash-up uses a smoked farmer sausage and mozzarella instead of a standard hot dog, topped with white sturgeon caviar, honey mustard and spicy mayo.

The white sturgeon caviar is mild and clean, which keeps it from getting drowned out by the smoky sausage or the heat from the mayo. This isn't a dish you eat with a pearl spoon.

You’re essentially eating a messy, fried snack with your hands in a room that looks like a jewelry box. It’s a contrast that works because the kitchen focuses on the execution of the flavours rather than trying to make the dish more formal than it needs to be. 137 Avenue Rd.

CAVIAR SPECIALISTS POWDER ROOM Michelin-recognized chef Davide Ciavattella serves couture-style junk food, from classic beluga to wagyu “pups.” Unapologetically extra — you might even order a caviar bump off a gold spoon while glancing at a $35K Banksy in the bathroom.

129 Yorkville Ave. THE ONE CAVIAR BAR This spot gave Yorkville a caviar-and-champagne bunker, from $40 10 gram tins of Imperial Crystal to dishes like caviar-topped cheesecake. A $100 membership gets you 30 per cent off — basically a “frequent flyer” program for sturgeon fans.

1 Yorkville Ave.

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If you still think caviar requires a quiet room and a dress code, you haven’t been eating in Toronto lately. It’s showing up on bar menus, snack plates and late-night orders, treated less like a luxury item and more like an ingredient. Chefs are putting it on comfort food and shared plates — places where the salt, texture and fat actually do something useful.

The shift is straightforward.

Smaller portions mean you can order caviar for the price of a regular appetizer, without the ceremony. It’s still indulgent, but it’s easier to approach and easier to enjoy.

Cavair-topped cheesecake

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T.O.'s top foodie shares his Super Bowl picks Toronto food influencer Rick Silver (@dicksworld) is calling the plays that matter. He’s rounding up the best eats for Super Bowl Sunday on Feb.8 — perfect for anyone who cares more about the food than the final score. When Rick talks, the city listens.

L-R: Maker Pizza’s a la Norma, Limon’s salati and pita chips

3. Crown & Dragon

When it comes to wings, there’s an undisputed champion that’s been around for decades. I don’t know how they do it, but their wings and flavour selection are second to none. Skip the fryer — they’ll bake them for a healthier, just-as-delicious option. There’s only one location, so for game day, 1. Allwyn's Jerk order well in advance. 890 Yonge St. Just because I don’t post about it every week, The Rating: 9.3/10 doesn’t mean I’m not eating it. Allwyn's is on that Last Bite: Don’t wait for rotation. The jerk chicken sandwich is a must — the two minute warning. amp it up and get it “stuffed” with a Jamaican patty.

Grab some platters, dreamy coco buns and a pack 4. Limon of patties. With six GTA locations, there’s one Your guests are probably expecting the usual pizza and wings. Surprise them with a Middle Eastern near you.

The Rating: 7.8/10 feast from Limon. Plenty of sharable dishes — Last Bite: Don’t miss the oxtail. shish kebabs, beef, lamb, chicken, falafel and some of the best dips in town. The Freekeh Mujadara?

2. Maker Pizza Freaking awesome. Locations in midtown (3265 Game day and pizza go hand in hand. Sure, there Yonge St.) and the Beaches (1968 Queen St. E.). are a million places to order, but I keep coming The Rating: 9/10 back to Maker. I love the new tavern-style cut, and Last Bite: Don’t skip the seeded crust is the only way I eat crust. Forget the home fries.

New York style — this is Toronto style, and I’m all in.

The Rating: 8.8/10 Last Bite: Skip Uber and order on their app for a RICK SILVER is a Toronto food influencer. bigger selection.

POST CITY X DIAMOND & DIAMOND

Ontario Regulation 668 - Do You Know What This Is? Tips from Jeremy Diamond and Sandra Zisckind of Diamond & Diamond Lawyers JEREMY DIAMOND Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation.

"No-fault insurance" is perhaps the most misunderstood term in Ontario. Many drivers believe it means that if they get into an accident, it doesn’t matter who caused it—everyone just fixes their own car and moves on. This is false.

"No-fault" simply means you deal with your own insurance company for your claim, regardless of who caused the crash. But make no mistake: someone is always to blame. That blame is assigned using a strict, standardized playbook known as Ontario Regulation 668: The Fault Determination Rules.

The "Playbook" Insurers Use Regulation 668 contains diagrams and descriptions of more than 40 common accident scenarios. When you report a collision, your adjuster doesn't necessarily care about your story or how slippery the road was.

They look at the position of the cars, compare it to the diagrams in the Regulation, and assign fault:

0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%.

Crucially, these rules ignore weather and road conditions. If you slide on black ice and rear-end someone, you are 100% at fault.

The Regulation assumes you should have been driving according to the conditions.

The Financial Sting: Who Pays the Deductible?

The biggest immediate impact of Regulation 668 is on your wallet. ● If you are 0% at fault: Your claim is covered under the Direct Compensation Property Damage (DCPD) section of your policy. In Ontario, this typically means you do not pay a deductible. Your insurer covers the repairs fully. ● If you are At Fault (50% - 100%): You must claim under your optional Collision coverage. You will be required to pay your deductible (often $500 or $1,000) before repairs begin. Furthermore, your premiums will likely increase upon renewal.

The "50/50" Parking Lot Myth A common belief is that all accidents in parking lots are automatically split 50/50. Regulation 668 actually has very specific rules for parking lots (Section 16). ● The Thoroughfare Rule: If you are driving in a main "thoroughfare" (a lane that exits the lot or connects directly to a road) and someone hits you while pulling out of a "feeder lane" (the aisles between parking spots), they are 100% at fault. ● Leaving a Spot: If you are backing out of a parking spot and hit a passing car, you are 100% at fault.

The 50/50 split usually only applies when two drivers are both backing out of spots simultaneously or both vying for the same lane and collide.

Why This Matters Understanding Regulation 668 is vital because it removes the emotion from the equation. Insurers effectively use a flowchart to decide your financial liability.

"Many clients come to us shocked that they were found at fault because the roads were icy or the other driver 'came out of nowhere.' The harsh reality is that the Fault Determination Rules are rigid.

They don't care about the weather; they care about who had the right of way. Knowing these rules before you get behind the wheel is the best defense." Jeremy Diamond, Senior Partner at Diamond & Diamond Lawyers If you are involved in an accident, document the scene thoroughly.

The difference between being 0% at fault (no deductible) and 50% at fault (paying your deductible + rate hike) often comes down to proving exactly which diagram in Regulation 668 applies to your crash.

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2048 Avenue Road • www.karbouzi.com

Now Open from 4 pm - 9 pm Monday - Saturday The Paoletti brothers opened Dante’s Italian Restaurant in Thornhill in 1976

Casual Greek Dining • Second Floor Bar

Dante’s extends its run in Vaughan Good news for Vaughan’s pizza lovers: there’s still time to sink your teeth into a legendary Dante’s slice — but only for one more year.

After announcing in April 2025 that it would be its final year in business, the family-run pizzeria ended the year with a surprise reversal. In a Facebook post citing “overwhelming feedback,” the restaurant confirmed it will stay open for another year, with 2026 marking its 50th anniversary.

Dante’s is named for founder Dante Paoletti, who opened Dante’s Italian Restaurant on Baythorn Drive in Thornhill in 1976 alongside his four brothers.

The family brought a deep understanding of authentic pizza with them, having emigrated from Abruzzo, Italy, in 1959.

“Our Mother’s dinner table is what always united our family during the trials and tribulations of a first generation immigrant family’s survival in a new country,” the website reads. “Her cooking provided us with the strength and health to evolve and assimilate into our adoptive country, Canada.”

Despite its long legacy, the business hasn’t always been smooth sailing. In 2014, founder Dante Paoletti was ousted by CDDC Hospitality Group,

which had bought the restaurant in 2006 and moved it to Dufferin Street in 2009. He quickly opened Paoletti’s Pizzeria across the street, sparking a brief pizza war. When the original closed, Paoletti’s was renamed Dante’s Pizzeria.

With over 400 comments — and even a customer showing off a tattoo of Dante’s chef logo — it’s clear locals are thrilled that the pizzeria, at 8700 Dufferin St., Vaughan, is sticking around for a little longer.

When it finally closes, Vaughan will be left with a Dante’ssized hole in its heart.

— Megan Gallant

Catering and Group Reservations

For Special Events and Holiday Parties!

For reservations call Jim at 416.483.3846

Vinoteca Pompette embraced a “new year, new me” reset, kicking off 2026 by transforming the ItalianFrench eatery into an aperitivo bar with a new space, a new menu and a new name.

Head sommelier Jonathan Bauer says Little Italy’s Bar Allegro is closer to the original vision he, chef Martine Bauer and head bartender Maxime Hoerth had when they opened what was then called Pompette in 2020. Originally conceived as a simple cocktail and wine bar with snacks, the concept was reshaped into a French restaurant by the pandemic.

The team is no stranger to rebrands. Just a year and a half ago, Pompette became Vinoteca Pompette, marked by its now-iconic green exterior. The shift aimed to soften the French fine-dining feel with a more accessible approach and stronger Italian flavours on the menu.

“Because we’re a corner unit, we get a lot of walkins, so we wanted something more approachable that could better suit spontaneous visits,” says Bauer.

The name pays homage to its roots, as “allegro” is often used in Italian to mean feeling “tipsy” after a drink — just as “pompette” means the same in French.

Although Bauer remains tight-lipped about the details of the menu, he says it will be elevated, drawing from Italian influences alongside a range of other flavour profiles. Expect bar favourites — savoury, cheesy and fried — designed for easy, shared snacking.

“What we’re most excited about is building a place where people want to come a few times a week and really make it their own.”

Bar Allegro is located at 597 College St. — Megan Gallant

| FEBRUARY 2026

Little Italy gem reinvents itself

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T.O. RETRO ROMANCE 42

Before you go... take a look back at a time when Valentine’s plans were made IRL (in real life).

Julie’s Mansion Restaurant

Like this? Find more t.o. history at

streetsoFtoronto.Com Le Coq d'Or Tavern

A hot spot in the ‘60s and ‘70s and known as the rowdy soul of Yonge Street, it was the kind of place where you’d grab a drink, catch a show and end up flirting with a stranger over the sound of a live band.

The Gasworks

The spot for a crowd that preferred leather to lace, this Yonge Street haunt was loud, drenched in heavy metal energy and the place to be if you wanted a date that was anything but boring.

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©Julie Levene courtesy of Barry Harris

| FEBRUARY 2026

©City of Toronto Archives

Before it became the city’s most famous Keg, the Jarvis Street estate was known as Julie’s in the early ’60s, where you’d dine downstairs before heading up for drinks at the Bombay Bicycle Club.

©York University Archives Collection/Toronto Telegram fonds (F0433)

©David Gustner/Old Photographs Group/Facebook

Before 'U up?' killed the vibe, a Toronto Valentine’s actually required some legwork. It was an era of stiff martinis, sky-high heels and enough heavy flirting to fill a Jarvis Street estate. From leather-clad dives to the glitter-soaked temples of Yorkville, these are the legendary spots where the nights ran long and the stories ran wild.

La Pentola Restaurant

A classic Italian escape where you could actually dine inside a vintage TTC streetcar. It featured a cocktail bar where the driver used to sit, making for a cosy, unconventional mid-century romance.

Ed's Warehouse

This legendary spot was known for its velvet decor and strict dress code, complete with sports coats handed out at the door. A gorgeous, kitschy maze of antiques, it was the ultimate backdrop for a fancy night out.

The Copa

Toronto’s answer to Studio 54, this Yorkville spot had glass-walled lounges overlooking a stadium-sized dance floor, where the city’s most stylish crowd danced until 3 a.m.

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