TT Consumer 2019

COMPLIMENTARY / DISCOVER LIVE MUSIC, THE FOOD SCENE, PRO SPORTS & MORE
2019 | #SEETORONTONOW
TURN IT UP!
FIND YOUR GROOVE IN
CANADA’S DOWNTOWN
MEET THE LOCALS & EXPLORE THE NEIGHBOURHOODS

PLUS: ARTS & CULTURE / FASHION & DESIGN / SHOWS, EVENTS & FESTIVALS
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What’s
online
Welcome
Explore SeeTorontoNow.com
to Canada’s
Downtown
for more info, resources and
news you can use to make the
most of your visit.
Plus!
v From the best Canadian Planning a trip to Toronto? We’re thrilled to share our region’s finest
fashion to the brightest home attractions with you! We want to help you make the most of your time in the
decor and gifts, check out our city, so we’ve packed several vacations’ worth of information and inspiration
Style & Design guide online.
Visit SeeTorontoNow.com/
into this issue of Toronto magazine.
StyleandDesign. Toronto is a vibrant, exciting city with unique events and activities
happening around every corner, year-round. We’ve got you covered with
plenty to eat, see and discover, whether you’re here for a business trip, family
vacation, friends’ trip or couple’s getaway. We’ve also provided the scoop on
transportation and getting around the city with ease, to help make your travel
experience a smooth one.
The 2019 edition of Toronto is brimming with ideas so you can curate your
own adventure at your own speed. So turn the page and plan your visit down
to the hour... or simply pick a neighbourhood and start wandering! Either way,
you’ll find both classic and contemporary Canadian experiences in all their
social and cultural diversity. Explore it all by walking, cycling, taking public
transit—or even by paddling, if you’re up for it.
Toronto is not only “Canada’s Downtown,” it is also the gateway to a vast
v Planning a visit with the kids? region that includes world-famous Niagara Falls, the pristine lakes and forests
Research our Yo-Toronto.com of Muskoka and the Kawarthas and the nation’s capital region. It is an ideal
site with the whole family. base for a day trip or overnight stay. Right next door you’ll find the cities of
v Search our calendar for hot
Mississauga and Brampton, each with its own compelling heritage and urban
events and cool happenings amenities like shopping, arts and dining.
across the city during your visit. Over 329,000 dedicated individuals work in tourism and hospitality, and
we’re all here to make your visit one you’ll never forget. WELCOME!
v Devour the best Toronto
has to offer. Check out our
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at SeeTorontoNow.com/
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@SeeTorontoNow @SeeTorontoNow 2019 TORONTO 3

Contents
DEPARTMENTS
03 WELCOME
08 CONTRIBUTORS
12 NEW IN 2019
Things to get excited about in 2019.
92 GETTING AROUND
Here’s the lowdown on
navigating the city.
94 LAST WORD
Meet the marine biologist with
one of the city’s coolest jobs.
UPFRONT
56
11 FOOD, ARTS, CULTURE & MORE
Fresh finds to eat, explore and
experience on your visit.
CITY CONFIDENTIAL
28 SOUNDS FROM THE 6IX 40 SOUNDS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT 52 MAXIMUM VOLUME
Four of Toronto’s music pioneers Get in the game with our guide to Join us for a sound check at the
share their takes on the music the rah-rah-rowdy soundscape of mammoth venues where the world’s
scene, then and now. Toronto’s major-league sports scene. biggest music stars come out to play.
32 PERIOD PERFECT 44 LUXURY LOOKBOOK 54 FAM JAM

Tour four unique neighbourhoods Get inspired by the luxury labels Make the most of your family vacay
steeped in architectural charm and designer brands of Yorkdale with fun, all-ages ideas for every
and urban history. Shopping Centre. traveller type, from sports nuts to
culture vultures.
38 CITY HUES 49 TECH APPEAL
Check out a super-cool winter Toronto’s unbeatable energy and bold 56 PLAY IT COOL
mural by one of the city’s most startup culture have transformed it Carve figure eights at these unique
prolific street artists. into North America’s hottest tech HQ. outdoor skating rinks and trails.
ON THE COVER
The T.Dot Bangerz were shot on location in front of the Gooderham “Flatiron” Building, in Old Town.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEX LUKEY; HAIR AND MAKEUP BY JENNIFER TOPP
4 TORONTO 2019 www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Contents
64
84
FOOD & DRINK COMPASS

72
RICHARD JANSEN (64); HARBOURFRONT CENTRE (56); TREETOP TREKKING BRAMPTON (84)
60 VEGAN REVOLUTION 72 LOCAL CHARACTER
Plant-based menus are all the rage Get ready to explore Toronto, one
as Torontonians embrace the city’s incredible neighbourhood at a time.
greenest culinary trend.
84 BRAMPTON
64 OPEN KITCHENS The Flower City’s natural
Discerning diners are embracing attractions and multicultural
the culinary traditions of two local mosaic are just a short drive away.
cultures, old and new.
86 MISSISSAUGA
67 BATTLE OF THE WINE REGIONS Old-world charm and big-city
In a battle between Ontario wine energy come together in Toronto’s
regions, which comes out on top? neighbour to the west.
68 MIX MASTERS 88 WANDERLUST

Say cheers to exotic cocktails Get behind the wheel and take a
#lit with just the right amount road trip to Ontario’s most exciting
of spectacle. (and photogenic!) getaways.

J O U R N E Y T O
THE NEW HOME OF TURKISH AIRLINES
THE AIRLINE THAT FLIES TO MORE COUNTRIES THAN ANY OTHER
AWAITS YOU IN THE WORLD’S NEW AVIATION CENTER
I S TA N B U L A I R P O R T
turkishairlines.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Aya McMillan TOURISM TORONTO Contributing Designer

Charlotte Werlick
Chair of the Board
WRITER: “PRINCESS DIARIES,” PAGE 18 Robert Housez Operations
McMillan is an award-winning fashion writer, editor Executive Vice President
Production Director
Alain Briard
and social media strategist. Her work has appeared & Chief Marketing
in Elle Canada, Vogue Japan, The Globe and Mail, Officer Senior Project Manager
Jon Mamela Jennifer Fagan
Canadian Business and The Kit.
Executive Vice Project Manager
FAVE SPOT FOR LIVE MUSIC: “Roy Thomson Hall. My mother President, Destination Marc Tavas
took me as kid, so there’s a bit of nostalgia—and it’s the Development
Ad Production Manager
Andrew Weir
kind of place that you want to dress up for.” Mary Shaw
Editorial Director:
Ad Production
Director, Brand Content
Coordinator
Paula Port
Joanna Forbes
Managing Editor:
Alex Lukey Content Manager
Sales
National Sales Director
Cathy Riches
PHOTOGRAPHER: COVER; “CITY SWAG,” PAGE 25; Tracy Miller
Director, Partnerships
“MIX MASTERS,” PAGE 68 Senior Account
Sarah Jarvis
Lukey is a commercial and editorial photographer who Manager
BOOKMARK CONTENT Marjorie Callaghan
specializes in interiors and lifestyle. His work appears in AND COMMUNICATIONS
Account Management
House & Home, Hotelier and The Globe and Mail. Editorial Account Manager
FAVE SPOT FOR LIVE MUSIC: “Echo Beach. The large outdoor Editor-in-Chief Zoë Rice
Yuki Hayashi
stage has a great energy. And big crowds always make Executive Vice
for an exciting show.” Managing Editor President, Luxury
Helen Racanelli & Lifestyle Group
Kristin Izumi
Copy & Research
Martha Beach CEO, Americas
Amanda Kwan Raymond Girard
Zeina Esmail Jennifer Krissilas
Editorial Director
STYLIST: “LUXURY LOOKBOOK,” PAGE 44 Art Elio Iannacci
Art Director
Esmail is an award-winning fashion director and stylist. Joseph Montemurro
Her work has been featured in Vanity Fair and Glamour.
She’s dressed Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid and Anna Kendrick.
FAVE SPOT FOR LIVE MUSIC: Everywhere. “At a random
bar in East York they had amazing live music, and near
St. Lawrence Market there was a father-daughter duo
and they were incredible.”
Meghan Yuri Young

WRITER: “CITY HUES,” PAGE 38
Young edits her own lifestyle site and has written for
Flare and The Kit. Besides brand consulting, Young is Partnership enquiries: 416-203-2600;
a mental health advocate. partnership@torcvb.com
Ad sales (Spafax Canada): 416-350-2425
FAVE SPOT FOR LIVE MUSIC: “Budweiser Stage because Circulation: 200,000
I love listening to live music in the summer. There’s Published by Tourism Toronto
something so special about being outdoors, set to an Queen’s Quay Terminal, Suite 405,
207 Queens Quay W., Toronto, ON, Canada, M5J 1A7
amazing soundtrack.” Tel: 416-203-2600 Fax: 416-203-6753
Printed in Canada
Toronto Magazine © 2019. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
Richard Jansen All information is current as of press time.
The publisher cannot and does not guarantee
the accuracy of all information and will not be
PHOTOGRAPHER: “GOOD TO GO,” PAGE 23; “PERIOD PERFECT,” PAGE 32; responsible for errors, changes or omissions.
“VEGAN REVOLUTION,” PAGE 60; “OPEN KITCHENS,” PAGE 64
Jansen is an artist who works in acrylic, ink and This publication
is printed on FSC®
watercolour. He’s also a barber, “which allows me to meet certified stock and
amazing people and be inspired every day,” he says. is 100% recyclable.
FAVE SPOT FOR LIVE MUSIC: “Grossman’s Tavern. Live jazz

on Sundays transports you back in time—the big band,
audience dancing, cheap drinks and dive bar feel.”

7:13PM
The moment you created a stir.
Raise a glass to a whole new chapter.
Our new Fairmont Gold is unlike anything
Toronto has ever seen before. With expansive
suites, a brilliant 18th floor private lounge,
and thoughtfully designed spaces, this is a
unique expression of downtown Toronto
– a personalized luxury experience, at the
heart of the city’s most essential landmark.
fairmont.com/royal-york-toronto
IT’S THE OPPOSITE
OF A COOKBOOK.
Find 100s of delicious places to dine out

in Canada’s Downtown at
SeeTorontoNow.com/FoodandDrink
UPFRONT
DON’T MISS
PRIDE TORONTO’S
ANNUAL
CELEBRATIONS
AND PARADE
DISCOVER ONTARIO

UPFRONT
NEWS WHAT’S NEW AND

EXCITING AROUND
TOWN IN 2019 COLLISION
COURSE
Toronto’s tech boom gets the
international stamp of approval as
influential annual tech conference
Collision (May 20 to 23, 2019)
kicks off a three-year stint in
the city. Some stats that swayed
the technocrati to Toronto:
+28,900
new tech jobs created in 2017,
more than Seattle, New York,
Washington, D.C., and the San
Francisco Bay Area combined
CN Tower
CN TOWER MAKEOVER
Thanks to a recent mega reno, the 43-year-old CN Tower boasts three new Observation
#4
North American rank for
ability to attract tech talent (2018)
Level window walls, providing nearly seamless floor-to-ceiling sightlines and improving
15%
the view for kids and people with mobility challenges. There’s also a new glass floor on
the upper LookOut level, 346 m (1,136 ft) above the street, plus three new bistros serving
up casual bites like panini, salads and poutine.
FLAVOUR UNION of jobs in

Toronto are in tech
Bring your appetite to Union Station, home to a tasty new 10-vendor food court.
Options to please all taste buds include local faves Loaded Pierogi (dumplings),
132,000
Paramount (Middle Eastern) and Bangkok Buri (Thai street food).
square feet
CN TOWER (CN TOWER); SHUTTERSTOCK (R2-D2/STAR WARS); SIDEWALK LABS (VISION)

size of Microsoft’s
HIGH NOTES
state-of-the-art HQ opening
downtown in 2020
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has a duo

of intriguing features this year, so get those
opera glasses ready to go. First up: the Star
Wars Film Concert Series completes
its run with two episodes airing
on the big screen (October 2019
and May 2020) accompanied by
scores played live by the TSO. Or grab
a ticket to Modern Broadway ( June
2019), which stars soprano Betsy
Wolfe and tenor Jeremy Jordan,
$ 1 billion
expected investment in
led by Steven Reineke, as they creating Sidewalk Toronto,
perform songs from Broadway a 12-acre mixed-use
hits (think Book of Mormon, The innovation district on
Baker’s Wife and Miss Saigon). the eastern waterfront

Museum
of Illusions
MORE THRILLS &

CHILLS AT CANADA’S
WONDERLAND
Canada’s Wonderland’s new Yukon Striker

is a record-smashing thrill ride. Be one of the
first to ride the world’s fastest (130 km/h or
80 mph), tallest (75 m or 245 ft) and longest
MUSEUM & GALLERY SCENE

(1,105 m or 3,625 ft) dive coaster. Plus, for
@CREATIVEMA AZK (MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS); CANADA’S WONDERLAND (YUKON STRIKER); WASHED ASHORE PROJECT (WASHED ASHORE ); JOAN MARCUS/MIRVISH (HAMILTON)
the first time ever, the theme park extends

its season. WinterFest launches in November
v At the recently reopened scientists and introduced 2019 with 40,000+ sparkling ornaments, delish
Museum of Contemporary to the world in Zuul: Life of holiday treats and live entertainment.
Art, you’ll find exhibits from an Armoured Dinosaur (now
Chantal Akerman (February through May 2019). Second,
to April 2019), and The Age of movie buffs will want to get
You: Douglas Coupland, Shumon their elbows out to snag a
Washed Ashore
Basar, Hans Ulrich Obrist good look at Metallica guitarist
(September 2019 to January Kirk Hammett’s classic horror
2020). Over at the Museum of and sci-fi poster, props and
Illusions, expect eye-fooling, costume collection at It’s Alive!
Instagram-teasing visual ( July 2019 to January 2020).
adventures. Then, at Gardiner v At the Art Gallery of
Museum, iconic ceramic works Ontario, Yayoi Kusama’s
from human rights activist Instagram eye candy is back.
Ai Weiwei will be featured in Infinity Mirrored Room – Let’s
Unbroken (now to June 2019). Survive Forever joins the AGO’s
v The Royal Ontario Museum permanent collection this
OCEAN ACTIVISM AT
recently unveiled its new look: spring. Catch Brian Jungen’s
an alfresco gathering space off sculptures made of repurposed
THE TORONTO ZOO

leafy Philosopher’s Walk and a materials ( June through
refreshing facelift to its historic August 2019). In September
Queen’s Park entrance. Past its 2019, the inaugural Toronto
storied doors, two buzzworthy Biennial of Art launches on The Toronto Zoo hosts Washed Ashore (May to
exhibitions are making waves. the waterfront. This 90-day November 2019), an exhibit of giant sea life sculptures
First, its dinosaur family has visual arts experience makes fashioned from marine debris. Scientifically based
grown with the ankylosaur, art accessible to locals and signage educates viewers about ocean stewardship
a 76-million-year-old dino visitors alike while reflecting and responsible consumer habits—after all, when it
specimen named by ROM the city’s diversity. comes to saving our seas, every action counts.
Hamilton
HAMILTON’S IN THE HOUSE!

Believe the hype and snap up tickets now to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s
Hamilton, the Broadway phenomenon, which makes its long-awaited
Toronto run with Mirvish Productions shows starting in February 2020.

UPFRONT
Toronto International
Film Festival
Hot Tickets
3 LUMINATO FESTIVAL
THE BUZZ: Edgy visual art, music, dance
and theatre shine during Luminato’s
hotly anticipated annual event (June
2019), held at venues across the city.
Here are 10 epic festivals, concerts, celebrations and TICKETS: LUMINATOFESTIVAL.COM
happenings worth planning a vacation around. BY HELEN RACANELLI
4 IHEARTRADIO MUCHMUSIC
1 DEAR EVAN HANSEN 2 STADIUM ROCK AT VIDEO AWARDS
THE BUZZ: The multiple Tony Award- SCOTIABANK ARENA THE BUZZ: Idols like Shawn Mendes and
winning musical makes its international THE BUZZ: Rock out at a once-in-a-lifetime Halsey perform at the MMVAs (Summer
debut at Mirvish Productions (now play- Scotiabank Arena stadium show. Three 2019). Tickets to this hyped, huge annual
ing). A Broadway hit, Dear Evan Hansen standouts: Cher’s Here We Go Again tour open-air gala outside MuchMusic’s
has racked up accolades for its GRAMMY (April 2019), P!nk’s Beautiful Trauma tour studios on Queen Street West are free.
Award-winning soundtrack and sensitive (May 2019), and Elton John’s Farewell TICKETS: FOLLOW @MUCH ON TWITTER
portrayal of youth mental health issues. Yellow Brick Road tour (October 2019). AND @MUCHMUSIC ON INSTAGRAM
TICKETS: MIRVISH.COM TICKETS: TICKETMASTER.CA FOR INFO
2019 EVENTS
JANUARY MARCH MAY v Field Trip
v DesignTO Festival v Canada Blooms: v Canadian Music Week v Luminato Festival
v Interior Design Show The Flower and v Carassauga: v Mississauga Waterfront
v Toronto International Garden Festival Mississauga’s Festival Festival
Boat Show v National Home Show of Cultures v North by Northeast
v Toronto Light Festival v One of a Kind v Doors Open Toronto v Ontario Craft Beer Week
JANUARY – MARCH Spring Show v GoodLife Fitness Toronto v Pepsi North America Cup
v 21C Music Festival & Sale Marathon v Pride Toronto
v W interlicious v St. Patrick’s v Inside Out Toronto v Queen’s Plate
JANUARY – FEBRUARY Day Parade LGBT Film Festival v Redpath Waterfront Festival
v Toronto Comicon MAY – JUNE v The Streetsville Founders’
FEBRUARY v Toronto Sportsmen’s v Mississauga Marathon Bread and Honey Festival
KEVIN MAZUR/GETT Y IMAGES (TIFF)
v The Artist Project Show v Scotiabank CONTACT v The Taste of Little Italy
Contemporary Art Fair Photography Festival v Tastemaker Toronto
v Bloor-Yorkville Icefest APRIL v Toronto Jewish v TD Toronto Jazz Festival
v Canadian International v Creativ Festival Film Festival
AutoShow v Hot Docs Canadian v Woofstock JULY
v Toronto Black Film Festival International v Beaches International
v W interfolk Blues and Documentary Festival JUNE Jazz Festival
Roots Music Festival APRIL – MAY v CeleBRAMPTON v Bud Light Dreams Festival

5 ROGERS CUP 2019). Featured, famed labels have included
THE BUZZ: Catch the Greatest Of All Rudsak, Pink Tartan and David Dixon.
Time, Serena Williams, on centre court TICKETS: TW-FW.COM
as the women’s event returns to York
University’s campus for the Rogers Cup 9 HOCKEY HALL OF FAME
(August 2019). Locals will cheer for INDUCTION SHOWCASE 2019
Canada’s top female player, Eugenie THE BUZZ: See hockey’s greatest heroes up
Bouchard, at this week-long tournament. close (yes, there will be selfies!) as the sport’s
TICKETS: ROGERSCUP.COM highest honours are bestowed on icons,
including shoo-in Hayley Wickenheiser.
6 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL Weekend events include Q&As, autograph
FILM FESTIVAL (TIFF) sessions, a Legends Classic game and the
THE BUZZ: For 11 thrilling days, TIFF Induction Ceremony (November 2019).
(September 2019) reigns with a lineup TICKETS: HHOF.COM
that covers foreign and indie films to
world premieres of Hollywood blockbust- 10 CANADA’S WALK OF FAME
ers. Stars like Natalie Portman and Armie AWARDS SHOW
Hammer grace the red carpet at this THE BUZZ: Cheer on Canada’s brightest
selfie- and autograph-friendly festival. luminaries at this star-studded celebration of
TICKETS: TIFF.NET Canada’s best and brightest (December 2019).
Past inductees include Ryan Reynolds, Seth
Toronto Women’s
7 JFL42 Rogen and Margaret Atwood.
Fashion Week
THE BUZZ: Get the giggles going at this TICKETS: CANADASWALKOFFAME.COM
festival that spotlights top stand-up com-
ics at venues across Toronto (September Rogers Cup
2019). Headliners in 2018 included come-
dy royals Ken Jeong and Wanda Sykes.
TICKETS: JFL42.COM
8 TORONTO WOMEN’S
FASHION WEEK
THE BUZZ: Local fashion hounds, media
and celebs flock to TWFW for top local
designers and the most soigné Canadian
women’s labels. The event includes run-
way shows, films and talks (September
v Canada Day Brampton AUGUST v Toronto International NOVEMBER

Chinguacousy Park v Canadian National Exhibition Film Festival v Cavalcade of Lights
FILIP MROZ (ROGERS CUP); DOUG BROWN (TORONTO WOMEN’S FASHION WEEK)
v Canada Day Mississauga AUGUST – SEPTEMBER v The Word On v Hockey Hall of Fame
Celebration Square v Fan Expo Canada The Street Toronto Induction Weekend
v Canada Day Nathan v Greektown Taste of the v One of a Kind
Phillips Square Danforth OCTOBER Show & Sale
v Carabram: Brampton’s v Rogers Cup v A rt Toronto: Toronto NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
Multicultural Festival v TD Mosaic 2019: South Asian International Art Fair v The Royal Agricultural
v Honda Indy Toronto Festival of Mississauga v Creativ Festival Winter Fair
v RBC Canadian Open v V ELD Music Festival v Halloween on Church v The Santa Claus Parade
v Summerlicious v Nuit Blanche Toronto
v TD Salsa in SEPTEMBER v Planet in Focus DECEMBER
Toronto Festival v B uffer Festival Environmental v New Year’s Eve at Nathan
v Toronto Caribbean Carnival v JFL42 Film Festival Phillips Square
JULY – AUGUST v Tim Hortons Southside v Scotiabank Toronto v The Nutcracker
v The Toronto Shuffle Blues & Jazz Festival Waterfront Marathon v Toronto Christmas Market
Fringe Festival v Toronto Beer Week v Toronto International NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
v Toronto Outdoor v Toronto International Festival of Authors
Art Exhibition BuskerFest for Epilepsy OCTOBER – NOVEMBER
v Toronto’s Festival of Beer AUGUST – SEPTEMBER

UPFRONT
History Month provides the backdrop

for screenings and events at the Toronto
Black Film Festival (Febr ua r y), a nd
audiences can savour movies for—and
programmed by—teens at the TIFF Next
Wave Film Festival (February).
MORE MOVIE MAGIC

A roundup of Toronto’s coolest
independent and art-house venues.
v FOX THEATRE
THE BEACHES
Don’t miss: A mix of contemporary
blockbusters to cult favourites...
and craft beer.
v HOT DOCS TED ROGERS CINEMA

ANNEX
Don’t miss: First-run Canadian
Toronto International Film Festival and international documentaries,
year-round.
365 days of movies

v KINGSWAY THEATRE
BLOOR WEST VILLAGE
Don’t miss: Foreign films, docs
and occasional blockbusters, plus
Toronto has a film festival to satisfy every cinematic craving, horror films on Friday nights.
no matter the season. BY VICKIE REICHARDT v REGENT THEATRE
MOUNT PLEASANT
SPRING FALL Don’t miss: Independent and foreign
films plus modern hits, set in a movie
The Toronto Short Film Festival (March) Flashbulbs and frenzied fans abound theatre from the Roaring ‘20s.
offers more than 100 international short when the Toronto International Film
f ilms and music videos. Documentary Festival (September) unspools star- v REVUE CINEMA
RONCESVALLES VILLAGE
lovers can dive headlong into more than studded premieres and awards-season Don’t miss: Specially curated film
20 0 titles at the Hot Docs Canadian contenders. T he imagineNATI V E series, multicultural film festivals,
International Documentary Festival Film + Media Arts Festival (October) Q&As, panel discussions and
conversations with experts.
(April – May). The Toronto Jewish Film i s t he world’s l a r ge s t fe s t iv a l of
Festival (May) recognizes the diversity of Indigenous screen content. French-film v THE ROYAL CINEMA
Jewish culture around the world, while aficionados can enjoy the Cinéfranco LITTLE ITALY
Don’t miss: The Drunk Feminist
the work of lesbian, gay, bisexual and Francophone International Film Films signature series screenings
transgender filmmakers is featured at the Festival (October); fans of horror, with cocktails, chats and
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival science-fiction, action and cult films occasional costumes.
(May – June). can attend the Toronto After Dark v SAIL-IN CINEMA
Film Festival (October); and the eco- WATERFRONT &
SUMMER minded can take in features and shorts TORONTO ISLANDS
Don’t miss: Films screened on a
Celebrate women directors at the Female at the Planet in Focus Environmental barge. Bring a blanket and watch
Eye Film Festival (June), or grab a n Film Festival (October). from Sugar Beach or sail up in a
espresso and say ciao! at the Italian boat and drop anchor for free.
Contemporary Film Festival (June). The WINTER v TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
Toronto Japanese Film Festival (June) The Reel Asian International Film ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
delivers dramas, comedies and anime, Festival (November) presents films Don’t miss: Restored film classics,
contemporary world cinema
and the Toronto Korean Film Festival from such countries as China, India, and activities for kids in a
(July) showcases the work of both Korean Thailand and the Philippines, while modernist venue.
and Korean-Canadian filmmakers. Want the European Union Film Festival
v ONTARIO PLACE CINESPHERE
to enjoy a movie under the stars? Grab a (November) screens one film from each WATERFRONT & TORONTO ISLANDS
seat at the Open Roof Festival (Wednesday of the EU’s 28 member countries. The Don’t miss: Concert flicks and
nights, June – August), which pairs a best Canadian films of the preceding
JESSE MILNS
special screenings on a jumbo-

sized laser IMAX screen.
film screening with a performance by year are celebrated at Canada’s Top
a local musical act. Ten Film Festival (January), Black

Record win
Load up on discs in one of the
world capitals of vinyl.
BY LARA CERONI
Like records? Bring an extra carry-on

bag when visiting Toronto. According
to industry estimates, Toronto has one
of the world’s highest concentrations
of record shops. You’ll f ind about 50
brick-and-mortar v inyl dealers here
offering everything from new releases to
collector’s discs and hard-to-find rarities.
Here are some of the city’s best.
SONIC BOOM
CHINATOWN
Canada’s largest independent record shop
lives up to the hype. Housed in a two-level,
12,000-square-foot factory building, it
Sonic Boom Antikka – The Vinyl Café
holds an inordinate selection of vinyl,
including rare hip-hop, indie and spoken
word gems.
KOPS RECORDS TINY RECORD SHOP
PLAY DE RECORD MULTIPLE LOCATIONS LESLIEVILLE
CHINATOWN There’s a reason why Kops Records has Tucked inside the gift shop Token, this
This unassuming nook is a formidable been a ma i nst ay si nce t he m id-’70s: mini vinyl mart stocks back-catalogue
resource for Toronto DJs chasing down new releases, exclusive pre-orders and and rare country, soul, reggae, classic and
hot techno, house and Afrobeat. Music rare “kollectibles.” Shop three locations indie rock. Owned by an indie-label exec,
production lessons are offered on-site and (32,000+ vinyl titles!) and take advantage its deftly curated selection has attracted
up-and-comers can mix around on CDJs of their staff’s encyclopedic knowledge. big-name browsers like Wilco and Brendan
(specialized digital players) between gigs. Canning from Broken Social Scene.
DEAD DOG RECORDS
ANTIKKA – THE VINYL CAFÉ BLOORDALE VILLAGE GRASSHOPPER RECORDS
QUEEN STREET WEST With current and classic albums, audio OSSINGTON VILLAGE
Need an espresso with your B side? This equipment and music merch, this full- O p e n u n t i l m i d n i g h t e v e r y d a y,
rock ’n’ roll music den/coffee shop holds service shop is a go-to for old vinyl, CDs and Grasshopper caters to late-night crate
over 1,200 new and used records. Browse concert DVDs. diggers looking for the freshest psychedelic
its barn-wood shelves for classic rock, tunes. Take pause at their bin aptly named
JACKMAN CHIU (SONIC BOOM); RICHARD JANSEN (ANTIKK A); ALAMY (THE WEEKND)
blues and jazz. “Weirdo sh*t.” You won’t be disappointed.
The Weeknd
WHAT IS THE Weeknd. Beats crawl like molasses Toronto—that Caribbean influence,
TORONTO SOUND? (often contrasted against a light melody),

hinting at influences as disparate as
that African influence. They’re infusing
that into hip-hop to create their own
Moody and ambient, the local hip-hop Caribbean dancehall and 1990s British version of hip-hop,” said Clifton Reddick,
sound has had an outsized influence industrial and electronica. “If I had to author of the book Toronto Sound
beyond city borders, thanks to the chart- describe Toronto’s hip-hop sound, I’d call Volume 1, in a CBC Radio interview. Dark,
topping, downtempo R&B melodies of it a melting pot of cultural expression, melancholic and emotional, the Toronto
artist/producers like Drake and The many different cultures all merging in Sound carries far and wide.

UPFRONT
At Catalyst Health, book a sweat sesh

with Craig McNamee, who trained Meghan
during her Rachel Zane Suits years. To
refuel, pop down the street to Revitasize
Natural Juice Kitchen, which serves her
fave Instagram-worthy acai bowls. Then
head over to see Luis Pacheco, the Duchess’
hair colourist at Medulla & Co., and Donna
Princess
Dolphy Hair, where your mane can also be Miraj Hammam Spa
blown to glossy perfection.
MIRAJ HAMMAM SPA
diaries BY CAUDALIE PARIS
Your cares will melt away at this luxe
Duchess-approved spa that features French
Before she became the skincare line Caudalie Paris and offers
Duchess of Sussex, influencer traditional Middle Eastern hammam and
extraordinaire Meghan gommage treatments.
Markle was a Toronto-based
actress on the hit TV drama BAR ISABEL
Inventive dishes like deep-fried whole
Suits. When the fashion-loving sea bream ceviche shine in this charming
foodie wasn’t filming (or Spanish-influenced eatery that Meghan
visiting her then-boyfriend frequented regularly.
Prince Harry), the future Fika Café
princess was hitting the city’s SENTALER
best hotspots. Give yourself KENSINGTON MARKET Up your royal style factor with Sentaler’s
Artsy, low-key Kensington Market was luxurious Meghan coat. Local designer
the royal treatment by Bojana Sentaler’s outerwear is still in the
a much-loved foodie destination for the
checking out her fave shops, actress. Duck into the likes of Hooked Duchess’ royal outfit rotation.
labels, neighbourhoods, for fresh seafood; Sanagan’s Meat Locker,
restaurants and spas. an old fashioned butcher; Blackbird BIRKS
Baking Company for its organic red-fife At a late-2018 event, the Royal sported
BY AYA MCMILLAN
and sourdough loaves; and Fika Café, dazzling Snowstorm diamond
a picturesque Swedish-style spot that serves earrings from iconic Canadian
breakfast, lunch, pastries, coffees and teas. jeweler Birks.
YORKVILLE
Browse the racks at Holt Renfrew’s
flagship on Bloor Street West. The luxury HOT YOGA
department store at the heart of this Get in your hot yoga and vinyasa practice
tony neighbourhood offers an array of just like Meghan did. Såana Yoga and
Meghan’s go-to labels, including Mother Modo Yoga have studios across town.
jeans, Aquazzura heels and a cool mix
of Canadian-designed wares by Greta
GETT Y IMAGES (MEGHAN MARKLE); RICHARD JANSEN (FIK A CAFÉ);
Constantine, Mackage and Smythe.

JOHN LAUENER (YOGA); CAUDALIE PARIS (MIRAJ HAMMAM SPA);
Holt Renfrew
MAISON BIRKS (EARRINGS)
Såana Yoga The Duchess wearing Birks jewelry

AWARD-WINNING L ANDM ARK TO URI ST DE STIN ATION
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also by liberty Group

Toronto Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex | Rosewater Room
Spice | Brassaii | Arcane
Miami Cibo Wine Bar Coral Gables | Cibo Wine Bar South Beach
Coral Gables Country Club | Coral Gables Athletic Club Libertygroup.com
UPFRONT
5
16
1 5
YOLO TO
You only live once (YOLO), so go for broke in
Canada’s Downtown. Here are 10 over-the-top,
only-in-Toronto experiences for every taste
and budget. BY TARA NOLAN
1 LIVE ON THE EDGE

Crank your adrenaline level
116 storeys above the city with
4 GEEK OUT TO
RARE BOOKS
Bibliophile? Goosebumps await
just a safety harness securing at the University of Toronto’s
you to the roof of the CN Tower’s Thomas Fisher Rare Book
observation deck. EdgeWalk Library. Request your once-in-
is hands-free, so you can fist- a-lifetime op to read Charles
pump for the souvenir snaps— Dickens’ letters or browse the lake, sunset and sparkling karaoke, movies, late-night
and show them off on the early editions from the Charles city lights (it comes with some snacks and breakfast.
‘gram—if you dare! Darwin collection, among awesome swag, too!).
2 GO FOR THE GOLD

750,000 other rare volumes.
7 DROP ANCHOR IN 9 DINE LIKE A KING

Feast like a royal (or
Splurge on The Spa at
Four Seasons’ Rose Gold 5 DIVE INTO
ADVENTURE!
TORONTO HARBOUR
Live the luxe life on a Gone
a robber baron) in historic
Casa Loma’s BlueBlood
PATRICK TOMASSO (HELI TOUR); RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM OF CANADA (AQUARIUM)

Facial, a gilt-y pleasure complete Pull on a wetsuit and slip Sailing Adventures private Steakhouse. Splurge on a
with rose-infused colloidal gold into the depths with sand chartered yacht: pop the big-money cut like dry-aged
mask, nano-gold royal jelly and tiger sharks and roughtail bubbly and toast the sunset porterhouse from Alberta,
anti-aging gold serum. Add the stingrays. Besides a spine- together. Prime Minister Justin or on a sampler of Japanese,
Yorkville Pedicure for a gold- tingling experience with awe- Trudeau and family indulged American and Australian
flecked scrub served up with inspiring marine predators, in a Toronto Island tour on Wagyu filet.
a glass of champagne. each Discovery Dive at Ripley’s the WhiRLygirl yacht—you
3 DRIVE YOUR DREAM CAR

Aquarium of Canada supports
shark conservation efforts.
should too!
10 UPGRADE FROM
GA TO VIP
Climb into a Lambo and
roar around the speedway
at Toronto Motorsports Park. 6 BOOK A PRIVATE
HELI TOUR
8 BEST. SLEEPOVER. EVER.
Don your best PJs and
stake out a spot for your
Catch that summer-festival
vibe, minus the crowd
overload and lines. Veld Music
Ultimate Exotics’ track day Dazzle bae with the city’s most sleeping bag beneath an Festival’s VIP tix get you
experience lets you choose exclusive skyline views in a enormous dinosaur skeleton. through the gate sooner into
from among the world’s most Heli-Tour chopper. Or step The Royal Ontario Museum’s a dedicated area with killer
coveted speed machines up the drama with a private ROMKids Sleepover is a night sightlines and an exclusive
like the Ferrari F430 or twilight tour, guaranteed to at the museum like no other, bar offering table reservations
Lamborghini Gallardo. mesmerize with epic views of with exploration and crafts, and bottle service.

TORONTO IS WAITING.
WE’LL TAKE YOU THERE.
Air Canada offers the most non-stop flights to Toronto. Experience our award-winning
service and Canadian hospitality from over 200 destinations around the globe.
Book at aircanada.com or contact your travel agent.

UPFRONT
But first, coffee

Give your followers a jolt with shots of the city’s most
Instagram-worthy cafés. BY SAM TABBERT
LIGHT CAFE FIKA CAFÉ MAMAN

A short stroll from the Art Gallery of This Scandi coffee shop in Kensington This French café-bakery’s très chic black-
Ontario, the sole Canadian outpost of this Market is ideal for cozying up in winter or and-white to-go cups, madeleine-filled
small Taiwanese chain offers beautifully chilling out in summer (the back patio has cake stands and graphic tile surfaces are
composed sips, snacks and sandwiches. a hammock!) with ginger snaps and tea. a Financial District ’grammer magnet.
Follow: @lightcafecanada Follow: @fikakensington Follow: @_mamantoronto_

Order up: Black sesame waffles Order up: Kanelbullar—from-scratch Order up: The aptly named almond
and ice cream Swedish cinnamon buns and berries financier
Mandatory snap for the ‘gram: You, Mandatory snap for the ‘gram: Mandatory snap for the ‘gram: Tabletop
enjoying your #bestlife by the #livingwall The famous book wall ceramic bunnies and tempting pastries
V.MORRIS/MAMAN (MAMAN); @FIK AKENSINGTON (FIK A); @HAILEDCOFFEE (HAILED COFFEE); @ BALZACSCOFFEE (BALZAC’S)
@LIGHTCAFECANADA (LIGHT CAFE); REUNION ISLAND COFFEE BAR (REUNION ISLAND COFFEE BAR);
REUNION ISLAND COFFEE BAR HAILED COFFEE BALZAC’S COFFEE ROASTERS

This bright and freelancer-friendly This Riverdale café puts an eastern Minimalism may be a big coffee-bar
Roncesvalles Village café lures laptop- spin on its coffee: cardamom, or hail, is decor trend, but The Distillery Historic
toting javaphiles with brews crafted steeped into the brew in the Arab style. District location of this regional chain
from house-roasted single-estate beans. A date bar offers seasonal selections to is a local hangout due to its stunning,
Take a bag home with you! pair with your joe. two-storey Grand Parisien design.
Follow: @ricoffeeco Follow: @hailedcoffee Follow: @balzacscoffee

Order up: A griddled breakfast sammy Order up: A brunch-winning halloumi Order up: Citro Booster, a bracing
from Gold Standard’s takeout window za’atar croissant concoction of fresh-squeezed lemon and
to the side of the café Mandatory snap for the ‘gram: Latte art ginger juices, maple syrup and turmeric.
Mandatory snap for the ‘gram: with any (or all) of the following: a notebook, Mandatory snap for the ‘gram:
Their coffee + your shoes + that tile floor a potted succulent, blond wood and tile floor Old Toronto architectural backdrop

Good to go
Feeling snacky? Here are six global foods
that won’t break your budget or your
appetite for lunch or dinner. BY KAREN KWAN
Doubles Around Town Tacos on St. Clair West Taiyaki in Koreatown

Double down on snack-time. Doubles Every day is Taco Tuesday at Itacate, Snatch the catch of the day in
Food Trike serves up doubles, West a taqueria set inside Macelleria Koreatown: taiyaki, a warm Japanese
Indies-style fried flatbreads topped with S. Gabriele Butcher & Grill in Corso waffle pastry in the shape of a
veggie curries and made-from-scratch Italia. Try the delish tacos al pastor or sea bream. Get it made to order
sauces and chutneys. (Pinpoint the trike get adventurous with the flavourful at Kevin’s Taiyaki inside
on Instagram: @manipurafoodco.) lengua (cow tongue) taco. PAT Supermarket.
Choripán in Kensington Market Mithai in Little India Lumpia near Chinatown

Chow down on choripán, a Central American Get a sugar rush at BJ Supermarket in Little Pig out on the pork lumpia Shanghai at
option at Segovia Meat Market in Kensington India. Mithai are traditional sweets, Kanto, a shipping container stall at Market
RICHARD JANSEN
Market. The name of the Argentine snack—a frequently milk based and spiced with 707 (Chinatown). Commonly served at
beef- or pork-sausage-filled roll—is a ingredients like cardamom and nutmeg. The Filipino gatherings and special occasions,
portmanteau of chorizo and pan, the photogenic treats are often decorated with these deep-fried spring rolls are served
Spanish word for “bread.” almonds, pistachios and gold or silver leaf. with a delectable sweet chili sauce.

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UPFRONT
2
1
City swag
Jam-pack your bags with homegrown finds from
4
your new favourite city in the world.
BY JAMIE NOGUCHI PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX LUKEY
1 I Kinda Like It Here’s birch-plywood coasters are laser

cut locally. $40 per set of four, Spacing Store. 2 Take Drake
home via Sad Truth Supply Co.’s Toronto-designed
lapel pin. $10, Sonic Boom. 3 Sweetbark’s small-
9 batch single-origin maple syrups are sourced
from the forests of nearby Caledon. $22
(8 oz), $40 (16 oz), Forno Cultura. 4 Sate
your sweet tooth on the city’s most
flamboyant chocolate bonbons. $24
per nine-piece box, CBXO. 5 Arborist’s
Toronto Blue Jays tee pairs Canada’s
8 baseball team with Japanese text. $48,
Drake General Store. 6 There’s a Spacing button
for each of the Toronto Transit Commission’s 79
subway stations. $2 each, Spacing Store. 7 Bellwoods
Brewery taps local studio Doublenaut to design its
artful beer labels. From $5 each, Bellwoods Brewery. 8 Relive
sightseeing highlights with a Tuck Trading Co. toque. $38,
Sporting Life. 9 Smitten Kitten’s neighbourhood-reppin’
keychains are designed locally. $9, I Have A Crush On You.

See clay
differently
Fascinating galleries, exciting exhibitions,
clay classes, family activities, dining,
shopping, and more!
Plan your visit at gardinermuseum.com
 QUEEN’S PARK, TORONTO • MUSEUM SUBWAY STOP (Across from the ROM)
The Gardiner Museum is an accessible

space. Please contact us for more details.
Image: Jean-Pierre Larocque (Canadian,

b.1953), Head #1 (detail), c.2005-
2006, Purchased with the Financial
Support of the Canada Council for the Arts
CITY
CONFIDENTIAL
DON’T MISS
GREAT BANDS AND
DJ SETS AT BUD LIGHT
DREAMS FESTIVAL
A ARON PAUL

SOUNDS
FROM From baroque to hip-hop, modern Indigenous
THE 6IX
to disruptive brass, the local music scene has
pushed boundaries and gained international
renown. Four of the city’s most distinctive
voices sound off on Toronto’s musical roots.
BY DONNA PARIS
THE BUILDER
“
W
JEANNE LAMON, TAFELMUSIK’S
MUSIC DIRECTOR EMERITA hen I started at Tafelmusik, some people thought baroque music on
period instruments was a fad that would go the way of bell-bottom
pants. But Tafelmusik is celebrating their 40th anniversary this
From niche ensemble to one of
year. When I came to Tafelmusik, there was a core of very talented,
the world’s most lauded baroque
orchestras, Tafelmusik’s rise was four passionate musicians—we were 11 total and five are still there
decades in the making. At its helm? now. The whole founding group was a very creative force.
Jeanne Lamon, who joined the nascent People tell me that they turn on the radio in England or Australia or wherever they
orchestra as music director in 1981.
For her 33 years of work developing are, and they hear the recording and they immediately know that it’s Tafelmusik. That
Tafelmusik’s unique sound and vision— is something that we have built together, that is actually not that usual.
each of its 17 members is a historic- Toronto is a rich city for classical music, and it offers everything from big symphonic
music specialist and plays period
instruments—Lamon was honoured
concerts to solo recitals by local and international stars. Toronto is especially rich in
with the Order of Canada, Honour of chamber music and period performance concerts.”
Ontario and three honorary doctorates.

CITY CONFIDENTIAL
I
“ ndigenous music is being pushed been a big part of changing the musical Red] is curating a festival at the Music
way out beyond any kind of old- landscape, putting Indigenous voices Gallery, and the Art Gallery of Ontario is
school expectations about what it is at the forefront. Everyone I work with programming [Indigenous] artists during
supposed to sound like. There isn’t a recognizes that in a lot of cases, younger music nights. In the span of a few short
sound and what’s been so fascinating for artists haven’t had a chance to play a years, cultural institutions in the city
me is that people are doing every kind of show in a place like Toronto. We wanted have taken up the charge, prioritizing
genre imaginable. We’ve had significant to provide an opportunity in the biggest having these voices. I like to think we’ve
success with artists like Tanya Tagaq city in the country. had a small part in that.”
and A Tribe Called Red. They’ve opened When we first started doing The RPM
the door and held it open for a wave of Live Shows [in 2016], there wasn’t any
younger artists to step in. other Indigenous music programming
The work I’ve been doing with RPM happening in a focused way. Fast-forward,
and RPM Live shows in Toronto has and Bear Witness [of A Tribe Called
The goal for me has
always been to normalize
ShoShona Kish of Digging Roots at Lulaworld festival our presence so it’s not an
exceptional thing to have a
crew of Indigenous artists: it’s
something that’s integrated
into the culture of what it
means to live in Toronto.
Jarrett Martineau
SIAN RICHARD (TAFELMUSIK); ANNA ENCHEVA (SHOSHONA KISH); CBC ( JARRETT MARTINEAU)
THE ADVOCATE
JARRETT MARTINEAU, CBC RADIO
HOST, COFOUNDER OF RPM MUSIC
PLATFORM, RECORD LABEL AND
ARTIST COLLECTIVE
Indigenous music is surging as a wider

audience embraces a new generation
of artists charting fresh territory in
hip-hop, R&B, electric powwow and
traditional music. Martineau has
been at the forefront of this wave,
celebrating Indigenous voices via his
weekly CBC radio program, Reclaimed,
and as a music producer and promoter.

CITY CONFIDENTIAL
I still get goosebumps thinking of [the

battles] and special events because there’s
no way you could pay artists to battle
now. It was just a groundbreaking time,
a pioneering time, except we didn’t know
it. It was a very special, innocent kind of a
spiritually uplifting series of years where
you could see the birth of a new kind of
music that still exists to this day and seems
not to be slowing down at all.”
Toronto is running the

world in terms of urban music.
We’ve got Drake, the #1 hip-
hop artist in the world; Justin
Bieber, the #1 pop artist; The
Weeknd, the #1 R&B artist–I
could go on. It’s never been
this good for Canada.
Ron Nelson
Kardinal Offishall
“
T
he first day I went to Ryerson promoter and started knocking on doors
Polytechnical Institute [now of agents and agencies in the U.S.
Ryerson University], I walked It was a struggle at first because they
over to the radio station and got didn’t respect us up here. I had to work THE PIONEER
RON NELSON,
a job. They let me go after a while because really hard to impress them—and send
DJ, BROADCASTER, CONCERT
BOBBY SINGH/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO (K ARDINAL OFFISHALL)
I was playing too much rap. But I kept money in advance. But I had a hidden
PROMOTER AND EDUCATOR
knocking on the door and two months a gend a. In or der for ou r Ca n ad ia n
later they gave me a show and said, ‘Now artists to get recognized, we had to have
you can play the music that you want.’ them open for the A merican artists
Ron Nelson put Toronto on the hip-hop
That was the beginning of the Fantastic that I brought to town. Then have the map, starting in the 1980s with Fantastic
Voyage program. It started out as Black A merican ar tists battle against the Voyage, his influential college radio
urban, R&B, funk and rap. Eventually, as Ca nad ia n a r tists. I had a couple of show. The Toronto scene’s earliest
and most ardent advocate, Nelson
rap got more popular, it became hip-hop events, like ‘Battle of the DJs’ and ‘Battle helped launch the careers of Rumble
and I got credit for that being Canada’s of t he Hu ma n Beat Box ,’ a nd t hose and Strong, Michie Mee and Maestro
first hip-hop show. events proved to be historic: America Fresh Wes. He also booked U.S. stars
Run DMC, Queen Latifah and Public
People listening to the show said, ‘We was recognizing us because of those Enemy, grooming Toronto audiences
want to see these artists in concert.’ battles, and for Monster Jams, which gave for future homegrown talent like Drake,
There wasn’t anyone bringing these smaller Canadian artists the chance to Kardinal Offishall and The Weeknd.
shows to town, so I became a concert qualify to battle.

“
T
oronto is known for hip-hop, Toronto hip-hop culture in a new way.
but we saw a gap in live hip- We take classics from the ’90s all the way to
hop. The Toronto sound that’s now, and we have four incredibly talented
known internationally is The horn players, and the rappers freestyle, so
Weeknd and Drake sound, that sort of they create new music off the old hits as
sleepy, self-reflective pop-hip-hop sound. well. It’s a bit of something familiar and a
What people who hear this on the radio lot of something new and fresh.
don’t get to hear is that Toronto is a city At Ba n ger z HQ, we’r e work i n g on
bursting with a colourful, multicultural h ip -hop w ork s hop s for w omen a nd
street music scene with sounds from trans people, workshops in the parks
all over the world and a booming live for kids, and collaborations with dance
hip-hop scene. companies. We’re also excited for the
The best way to describe us: we’re a festiva ls that br ing rea l d iversity to
hip-hop band and we use unconventional the city: Lulaworld and Manifesto are
instrumentation. Our mission is to represent two of the best.”
THE DISRUPTOR T.Dot Bangerz

CHRIS WEATHERSTONE, ALTO SAX
FOR T.DOT BANGERZ BRASS
For up-and-coming performers T.Dot

Bangerz, the whole city is a stage. The
12-piece hip-hop brass band can be
found sharing its big sound at a variety
of locales, from jazz fests to farmers’
markets to political rallies.
JAMIE KRONICK (CHRIS WEATHERSTONE); ALEX LUKEY (T.DOT BANGERZ)

PERIOD
PERFECT
You don’t need to be an architecture buff
to appreciate these beautifully preserved
unique-to-Toronto neighbourhoods.
BY JAMIE BRADBURN
J
Explore beyond the gleam- ust west of Chinatown, includ ing students f rom British Isles throughout the
ing towers of dow ntow n Kensington Market nearby University of Toronto. 19th century. After 1910, Jewish
Tor ont o a nd you’ l l b e is a charmingly Photographers are drawn to immigrants started moving
rewarded with architecture chaot ic neig hbou rhood of quiet streets filled with the into the neighbourhood, which
that’s as diverse as the city’s i nt er n at ion a l fo o d shops , wares of the greengrocers, dry provided affordable housing
population. Architectural eclectic restaurants, trendy goods dealers, cheese shops, adjacent to the grow ing
appeal, social history, prox- boutiques and cafés—plus a butchers and f ishmongers garment trade along Spadina
imity to other attractions: few vestiges of its circa-’90s who have catered to successive Avenue (now Chinatown).
time for a self-guided tour, punk and indie scene. Vintage waves of immigrants. Ongoing subdivision created
wouldn’t you say? clothing shops rub shoulders Or igina l ly bui lt dur ing the market’s narrow streets,
with music venues and bars, all the 1880s and 1890s, the as well as hidden laneways of
adding to the quirky vibe of the area’s Victorian houses were row houses such as Fitzroy
market, which is frequented occupied by labourers who Terrace and Kensington Place.
by food lovers on a budget, arrived mainly from the A s t he Jew ish com mu n ity

CITY CONFIDENTIAL
KENSINGTON MARKET Fitzroy Terrace
THE AGO
IS A SHORT
STROLL AWAY!
Kensington Avenue Bellevue Square Park
started moving to the suburbs to meet the changing needs to impose architectural order GETTING THERE
RICHARD JANSEN (FITZROY TERRACE, BELLEVUE SQUARE PARK)
from the 1940s through to the of residents. Picture th is: failed, allowing it to develop
Take the College/Carlton 506
1970s, incoming immigrant a business star ts as a car t the patchwork character it streetcar or the Dundas 505
c om mu n it ie s adde d t hei r peddling food or goods in front i s now k now n (a nd love d) streetcar to Spadina Avenue.
own customs. The Portuguese of a home. It grows into a stall for. D iver sit y a nd ch a n ge Or take the Spadina 510 streetcar
immigrants who began that requires an extension— are woven into Kensington to College or Dundas streets.
a r r iv i n g i n t he 1950 s , for built out of whatever materials Market’s DNA; today, its mix
e x a m p l e , i nt r o d u c e d t h e are cheaply and readily includes a sizable number
tradition of painting homes available —to bridge the of grocers specializing
with bright, warm colours. space from sidewalk to porch. i n Ca r ibbea n a nd Lat i n-
K e n s i n g t o n M a r k e t ’s Eventually it f ills the f irst American foods and hipster
centur y-old housing stock floor of the home. While some eateries offering the latest
r e m a i n s , b ut it h a s b e e n of these additions violated food trends.
modif ied over the decades bylaws, attempts by the city

Toronto Necropolis
cul-de-sac resembles a period revitalization plan. Dilapidated

village, with tiny, symmetrical apartment buildings have come
Georgian-style cottages and down, replaced with mixed-
wh ite picket fences. The i n c o m e t o w n h o m e s , n e w-
cottage style also inf luenced build towers and community
architect Eden Smith’s design recreational facilities. At its
for Spruce Court Co-op, one northern border, Cabbagetown
of Canada’s first government- meets the working class
sponsored projects. St. James Town community.
The southern end of Cabbagetown and its
Cabbagetown borders Regent surrounding area has always
Pa rk , a p os t-World Wa r I I been diverse, both ethnically
social housing development. and economically. Its power of
Prev iously overlooked as reinvention and neighbourhood
waves of gentrification swept pride is legendary. Keep an eye
through the neighbourhood, open for the green-and-white
CABBAGETOWN
Regent Park is midway through f lags f lying throughout the
an ambitious 15- to 20-year neighbourhood: its icon is the
Metcalfe Street
humble cabbage, elevated from
epithet to point of pride.
C
abbagetown, just east de c or at ive G ot h ic R e v iv a l
of the downtown core, motifs. Less visible parts of
ga ined its na me f rom each structure were finished STROLL THE
a n i n s u lt d i r e c t e d at 19t h- in inexpensive materials like GREENHOUSE AT
ALLAN GARDENS
centur y Ir ish i m m igra nts stucco, boosting affordability CONSERVATORY
and the vegetables they grew for the original buyers.
ALAMY (TORONTO NECROPOLIS)

i n k it chen ga rden s. Once a Bay-n-Gable houses run the
slum concentrated in the area gamut from stately two-and-a-
between Gerrard and Queen half- and three-storey detached
GETTING THERE
streets, it now includes some of and semi-detached houses to
Take the College/Carlton 506
Toronto’s choicest real estate. shorter, modestly sized row streetcar to Parliament Street.
It’s also home to North America’s houses. You can see examples of Or take the Parliament 65 bus
largest collection of Victorian these red-brick semi-detached to Gerrard Street.
homes. Stroll the community’s and row houses built in the late
narrow, tree-lined streets and 1800s on streets like Laurier Wellesley Street East
laneways to feast your eyes on Avenue, Metcalfe Street and
lovingly restored, tastefully Wellesley Avenue. Originally
appointed heritage homes in a low-cost worker housing, the
variety of styles of the era. long-gentrified homes share a
If Cabbagetown has a striking, cohesive appearance,
trademark architectural style, extending into elements like
it’s the Bay-n-Gable. Prized wrought iron fencing.
for grace and af fordability, Cabba get ow n h a s h idden
homes in this style showcase pockets within its quiet streets.
brick-and-wood facades with T h e We l l e s l e y C o t t a g e s

CITY CONFIDENTIAL
Dacotah Avenue summer cottage community,

amusement park and bustling
entertainment facilities. The
other islands were populated
with summer tent colonies.
In 1931, the city allowed year-
round cottages, f uelling
r e s id e nt i a l d e ve lopm e nt .
Another big wave of growth
Algonquin Island
ca me dur ing a post-World
War II housing shortage. Yet,
in the decades to come, civic GETTING THERE
off icials did an about face, Take the subway to Union Station
or 510 streetcar to Queen’s Quay
trying to expel residents in
underground TTC terminal, then
order to create more public walk south to the Jack Layton Ferry
parkland. While the island Terminal (aka the ferry docks).
population has waned (home Take the ferry to Ward’s Island.
sales are strictly controlled by
a land trust), both sides came
to an eventual agreement and
the community continues on
for everyone to enjoy.
TORONTO ISLANDS
F
Y HALL) STREET, WELLESLEY STREET EAST, DACOTAH AVENUE, ALGONQUIN ISLAND, ISLAND CAFÉ)
r iend ly hellos greet homes from the post-World

visitors exploring War II building boom, and,
the narrow streets of in cases of f looding over the
Canada’s largest year-round past decade, temporary box
car-free neighbourhood. Over structures that have replaced
600 residents live on the much- decayed structures. Ward’s
Toronto Islands
coveted, nearly-impossible-to- Island boasts a quaint wooden
lease-into Toronto Islands, c i r c a-1918 ad m i n i s t r at ion
mostly on Ward’s Island or clubhouse, as well as a large Island Café
Algonquin Island, two leafy clubhouse f inished in 1938,
enclaves worlds apart from now a h ig h-dem a nd venue
nearby Centre Island, known for pa r t ie s a nd we dd i n g s.
for its amusement park and Algonquin Island is accessed
beach. Many island residents via a high wooden bridge from
are artists or seniors with long the Ward’s Island ferry dock;
family ties to the community. loca l custom has residents
Accessible only by boat, the leav ing books, clothes a nd
Toronto Islands are connected household items in a drop box
to one another by a network of there for others to use.
paths and bridges. While the residential areas
Wa n d e r i n g A l g o n q u i n of the Toronto Islands have
(METCALFE
and Ward’s islands reveals a a s l e e p y, b e e n - t h i s - w a y -

charming mix of home styles. forever vibe, it wasn’t always
JANSEN(CIT
T h e y i n c l u d e c i r c a -1 9 3 0 s this way. In its residentia l

CANADA /ALAMY
cottages built from kits sold heyday at the end of the 19th
RICHARD
by the now-defunct Simpson’s century, Hanlan’s Point, for

depa r tment store, la rger example, had a considerable

CITY CONFIDENTIAL
MIDLAND PARK 1960 Housing Design Council Award Winner, “The Elwood”
RICHARD JANSEN (THE ELWOOD); MIDLAND PARK TORONTO (VINTAGE AD)

half centur y af ter its execs at the time. (Though large
first homes were built, for the time, the properties are
this Scarborough coz y by today ’s McMa nsion
neighbourhood in Toronto’s sta nda rds. Based on a 1960
east end stands as an sales brochure, homes ranged
extraordinary, largely intact from 1,123 to 1,627 square feet
example of modernist design depending on the model.)
geared at the ambitious young Original buyers chose
families of the 1950s and ’60s. from 12 designs of bungalows
A wander along Birkdale Road of fering sloping triangular
is like stepping back into the r o of s , c a r p or t s , a nd pl a i n
optimistic Space Age vision of f ronts w ithout porches.
the suburbs, with modestly Potential homeowners were
s i z e d b a c k- s pl it a nd s id e - won over by large living rooms,
spl it bu nga lows set a mong separate dining rooms, bright
old-growth trees. The woody kitchens, extra bathrooms, and
station wagons of the past are large windows or sliding doors Vintage 1961 Midland Park real estate ad
gone, but this leafy nabe—now looking onto backyard patios.

nominated for heritage district Homes were integrated into
st atu s by it s com mu n it y— the surrounding environment THE
is still home to middle-class and old-growth trees were left SCARBOROUGH
BLUFFS ARE
families and retirees. standing, providing plenty of NEARBY
Tucked to the southeast of shade, and sidewalks—a rarity
Ellesmere Road and Midland in many suburbs—abound.
Avenue , M id l a nd Pa rk w a s Outside of this subdivision,
conceived by architect Edward Scarborough is known for a
R oss a nd developer Cur ra n wealth of top-notch mom-and-
Hall and built between 1959 pop i nter nat iona l eater ies
and 1962. “Socially, to build a located in the neighbourhood’s
stronger society, we must have strip malls.
a better home environment. To
be better, it must be larger and
GETTING THERE
Take the Line 3 Scarborough RT
also interesting and satisfying to
to Ellesmere or Midland stations.
each member of the family,” said Take the 57 bus from Midland
one of the planned community’s Station to Dorcot Avenue.

HOTMAG 1-2 Hor.indd 1 1/16/19 10:51 AM
A UNIQUE VIEW ON
CANADIAN DINING
Join Executive Chef John Morris and Restaurateur Cameron Dryburgh at 360 The
Restaurant at the CN Tower. Savour inspired Canadian cuisine featuring locally-sourced
seasonal ingredients while feasting on spectacular 360-degree views of Toronto.
With a wide selection of wines from Ontario, Canada and the World to complement
your meal, your fine dining experience at 360 is sure to find you saying, “Oh Canada.”
Menu / Wine List / Reservations

cntower.ca/360
CITY CONFIDENTIAL

CITY
HUES
Uber5000 animates the city with
his vivid urban visions.
BY MEGHAN YURI YOUNG
T
oronto graffiti artist Uber5000’s mural
Longer Nights, Brighter Lights celebrates
winter in the city. “I wanted to focus on the
people in Toronto, so I painted my version of the
Nathan Phillips Square skating rink. It’s a great
metaphor for Toronto: people from all over the
city gather, glide around and enjoy the winter.
It’s an activity that brings people together purely
for fun,” says the artist, aka Allan Ryan. One of
the city’s more prolific street artists, Uber5000
has three large works on display in downtown’s
Graffiti Alley (ground zero for Toronto’s street-
art scene), while his signature yellow bird,
Lucky, pops up on surfaces all over town. A love
of Saturday morning cartoons and their invented
worlds has long influenced his work. Originally
from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Ryan was lured
by Toronto’s larger canvas over a decade ago. He
has since turned his passion for murals into a full-
time gig. “It requires a lot of work and consumes
almost all of my time, but I love it,” he says.
CHECK OUT
LONGER NIGHTS,
BRIGHTER LIGHTS
FOR YOURSELF AT
489 QUEEN ST. W.
Poker Fish

CITY CONFIDENTIAL
SOUNDS LIKE
TEAM SP RIT
Get in the game with our guide to the rah-rah-rowdy
soundscape of Toronto’s major-league sports events.
BY SINEAD MULHERN
A MILESTONE GOAL
Things get a bit loud 24 minutes into any TFC
home game, as loyal fans take up a chant that
commemorates TFC legend Danny Dichio. The
English player joined Canada’s first Major League
Soccer team in its inaugural year, scoring the
organization’s very first goal nearly 24 minutes
into its May 12, 2007, match against the Chicago
Fire. Then, fans threw seat covers onto the field
in celebration. Now they relive the moment with
a cheer: “Oooooooh Danny Dichio, Danny Dichio,
Danny Dichio, Danny Dichio!”
BMO Field

WHAT’S WITH
THE ORGAN?
At a Toronto Maple Leafs home game, your
ears will hear skates carving ice, a puck
hitting the boards and lively organ music.
That last one’s steeped in local history. In
1922, the Wurlitzer pipe organ came to
Toronto from New York, finding a home in
Shea’s Hippodrome Theatre on Bay Street.
After the venue shut down in 1956, it was
purchased for the Leafs’ 1931-1999 venue,
Maple Leaf Gardens. Originally intended as
between-period entertainment, the organ
became part of the home game soundscape.
In 1963, when the Gardens was remodelled,
the organ was retired (it now lives in Casa
Loma). These days the Leafs’ home ice is
Scotiabank Arena, where a Roland keyboard
subs for t he Wu rl itzer, perhaps most
dramatically when providing the rousing
musical crescendo that accompanies the
Scotiabank Arena
crowd-riling “Go, Leafs go!” chant.
CHEER LIKE A LOCAL Toronto fans, make some noise!

Here’s what to do, when.
MAPLE LEAFS TFC

Goal songs come A European import, the Viking
and go, but one thing is Clap is the thunderous calling card
constant: shouting of TFC fans. When you hear the
“GO, LEAFS
drum beat twice, respond with a
single clap while shouting “Hey!”
Stay focused as each repetition
GO!” BLUE JAYS

JACK LANDAU (MAPLE LEAFS); DOUG BROWN (TFC FAN); KHRISTEL STECHER ( JAYS FANS)
gets faster and louder.
whenever the mood to

motivate strikes. The seventh inning of a home game always
Raptors fans chant

ARGOS features the nearly 40-year-old ditty
“OK, BLUE JAYS.”

On game day, expect
“LET’S GO, to hear the chant Chime in at the participatory
“ARRRRR- “OK, BLUE JAYS,

RAPTORS!” GOOOOOS” LET’S PLAY BALL” chorus.
often following it up with
“WE THE
resounding through
the streets around
NORTH!”
BMO Field.
THE ROCK
Rock games feature a constant
WOLFPACK
Raise a cheer with superfan musical soundtrack, keeping the mood
Nav Bhatia, who sits courtside. Originally written by the players upbeat. Join any eruptions of
Bhatia hasn’t missed a Raptors themselves, the fight song “Wolfpack’s on Fire!” “Go, Rock go!” whenever it’s time
home game in 23 years. has been adopted by the rugby team’s fervent fans. to give the athletes a boost.

CITY CONFIDENTIAL
“Jurassic Park,” Scotiabank Arena
MEET THE
HOME TEAMS
MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS
Toronto Blue Jays Toronto FC

HOME VENUE HOME VENUE
ROGERS CENTRE BMO FIELD
LEAGUE LEAGUE
MAJOR LEAGUE MAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALL (MLB) SOCCER (MLS)
REGULAR SEASON REGULAR SEASON
MAR TO SEPT MAR TO OCT
SURROUND SOUND
Toronto athletes say local fans are a Nick Rose, Toronto Rock goalie,
wonderfully noisy bunch. “There’s remembers a 2017 home game when a
no better feeling than the sound of defensive player’s solo effort resulted Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Raptors
fans cheering for you,” says TFC’s in a goal. “I specifically remember the HOME VENUE HOME VENUE
Jonathan Osorio, a born-and-raised fans watching the replay and going SCOTIABANK ARENA SCOTIABANK ARENA
LEAGUE LEAGUE
Torontonian. “I’ve never won a champi- crazy. That gave us a lot of momentum,”
NATIONAL HOCKEY NATIONAL BASKETBALL
onship anywhere else, but I imagine it he says. LEAGUE (NHL) ASSOCIATION (NBA)
wouldn’t be as great as it is in Toronto.” Toronto Rock lacrosse games are REGULAR SEASON REGULAR SEASON
(The TFC won the 2017 MLS Cup and unique for featuring a constant music SEPT TO APR OCT TO APR
COURTESY OF ATLANTIC RECORDS (“HUSTLE & MOTIVATE”/NIPSEY HUSSLE); UNIVERSAL RECORDS (“HERE COMES THE BOOM”/NELLY);
the 2018 Canadian Championships on soundtrack. Rose says Canadian tunes
DREAMVILLE/ROC NATION INTERSCOPE (“ATM”/J.COLE); VALORY/ BIG MACHINE RECORDS (“THE WEEKEND”/BRANTLEY GILBERT)
their home pitch, BMO Field.) stoke the team: “Any thing by The
Toronto LEAGUE
Torontonians are savvy too—as is Tragically Hip— that gets me pumped RUGBY FOOTBALL
Wolfpack
obvious from crowd noise levels, says up. And if Drake comes on… obviously HOME VENUE
LEAGUE (RFL)
Connor Brown, Toronto Maple Leafs he’s a big ambassador of Toronto. The LAMPORT
REGULAR SEASON
APR TO SEPT
right winger. Fans react loudly to boys like him a lot!” STADIUM
on-ice action—and goals: “We score

and they’re always very loud,” he says.
MINOR LEAGUE SPORTS
WALK THIS WAY Match the Toronto Blue Jay

to his walk-up song.
Mississauga Steelheads
HOME VENUE
Marlies
HOME VENUE
PARAMOUNT FINE COCA-COLA
FOODS CENTRE COLISEUM
LEAGUE LEAGUE
ONTARIO HOCKEY AMERICAN HOCKEY
LEAGUE (OHL) LEAGUE (AHL)
REGULAR SEASON REGULAR SEASON
SEPT TO MAR OCT TO APR
RANDAL GRICHUK AARON SANCHEZ JUSTIN SMOAK MARCUS STROMAN
Brampton Beast Raptors 905

HOME VENUE HOME VENUE
POWERADE CENTRE PARAMOUNT FINE
LEAGUE FOODS CENTRE
“HUSTLE & MOTIVATE” “HERE COMES THE “ATM” BY “THE WEEKEND” BY
BY NIPSEY HUSSLE BOOM” BY NELLY J. COLE BRANTLEY GILBERT EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
LEAGUE (ECHL) NBA G LEAGUE
Marcus Stroman “ATM” by J. Cole; Justin Smoak “The Weekend” by Brantley Gilbert. REGULAR SEASON REGULAR SEASON
OCT TO APR NOV TO MAR
Randal Grichuk “Here Comes The Boom” by Nelly; Aaron Sanchez “Hustle & Motivate” by Nipsey Hussle;

A UNIQUE
VIEW ON
CANADIAN
DINING
Join Executive Chef John Morris and Restaurateur Cameron

Dryburgh at 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower. Savour inspired
Canadian cuisine featuring locally-sourced seasonal ingredients
while feasting on spectacular 360-degree views of Toronto. With
a wide selection of wines from Ontario, Canada and the World
to complement your meal, your fine dining experience at 360 is
sure to find you saying, “Oh Canada.”
Menu / Wine List /

Reservations
cntower.ca/360
44
SEASON
FESTIVAL
labels and A-list
Shopping Centre.
Trip festival-ready
with the indie-luxe
brands of Yorkdale
Embrace your inner
bohemian with Field
#OOTDs. Get inspired
TORONTO 2019
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GABOR JURINA
that hit every fashion high note.
LUXURY
Yorkdale Shopping Centre presents luxe looks
Shot on location at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music,
LOOKBOOK
LEFT: FRAME DENIM SHORTS, HOLT RENFREW. CHLOÉ BLOUSE, HOLT RENFREW. SMYTHE BLAZER (AROUND WAIST), HOLT RENFREW. BIKER JACKET, ALLSAINTS. THIGH-HIGH BOOTS,
JIMMY CHOO. CENTRE: TANK, ALLSAINTS. JEANS, ZADIG & VOLTAIRE. CHRISTOPHER BATES JACKET, EXCLUSIVELY AT NORDSTROM. BOOTS, ZADIG & VOLTAIRE. BELT, ZADIG & VOLTAIRE.
RIGHT: ULLA JOHNSON DRESS, HOLT RENFREW. BOOTS, ZADIG & VOLTAIRE. BAG, ALLSAINTS.
ST YLING BY ZEINA ESMAIL (P1M). HAIR AND MAKEUP BY GREG WENCEL AND NEIL SILVERMAN (BOTH P1M). MODELS: ELOHO (B&M MODELS), JAC (SUTHERLAND MODELS), NATASHA (B&M MODELS).
LEFT: BOSS TUX, HARRY ROSEN. RIGHT: GRETA CONSTANTINE DRESS, EXCLUSIVELY AT NORDSTROM. SHOES, JIMMY CHOO. JENNY BIRD JEWELRY, NORDSTROM.
GALA
GLAMOUR
Sophisticated,
modern and
classic: find your
black-tie look here.
From updos to
Jimmy Choos,
count on the shops
and services of
Yorkdale Shopping
Centre when
prepping for your
next big event.
46
WORK IT
wear that means

business. Whether
Shopping Centre is
or creative, Yorkdale
Own the boardroom
your office-style HQ.

you work in corporate
or the studio in career
TORONTO 2019
LEFT: BOSS PANTS, SHIRT, SWEATER, HUGO BOSS. JACKET, ALLSAINTS. BOSS SHOES, HARRY ROSEN. CENTRE: CALVIN KLEIN SWEATER AND BLAZER, NORDSTROM. SKIRT, PINK TARTAN.
GIVENCHY BAG, HOLT RENFREW. JENNY BIRD BANGLES, NORDSTROM. SHOES, JIMMY CHOO. RIGHT: DRESS, TORY BURCH. JENNY BIRD NECKLACE, NORDSTROM. SHOES, JIMMY CHOO.
BAG, MULBERRY.
LEFT: KENZO SHORTS AND RED TOP, HOLT RENFREW. BLAZER, PINK TARTAN. SNEAKERS, TORY BURCH. RIGHT: JACKET AND SKIRT, PINK TARTAN. ALEXANDER WANG HOODIE,
HOLT RENFREW. ALEXANDER MCQUEEN SNEAKERS, NORDSTROM. JENNY BIRD RINGS, NORDSTROM.
AT YOUR
Hit the city in
from Yorkdale
Set the pace in
upscale-casual
go the distance.
sporty looks that
Shopping Centre.
labels and brands
(ATH)LEISURE
Yorkdale Shopping Centre is Canada’s most With a lineup of tempting eateries and chic
prestigious shopping centre. Its 250+ stores cafés; special tourist privileges and services like
hold the country’s largest collection of fashion valet parking and personal styling; plus payment
labels and luxury brands. Seeing the sights here options that include UnionPay, WeChat Pay and
means Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Jimmy AliPay, everything is designed to make shopping
Choo, Nordstrom, Moncler, Burberry and beyond. even more enjoyable.
More than the best-loved designer names, you’ll
YOU CAN SEE WHY YORKDALE IS CALLED THE
discover the best of all possibilities in fashion,
CENTRE OF STYLE—IT’S TORONTO’S MOST
decor and tech, from Nike to Drake’s OVO, RH
FASHIONABLE DESTINATION.
Gallery to Apple, and Tiffany to Tesla.
Discover Yorkdale.com
CITY CONFIDENTIAL
TECH APPEAL
A bold startup culture and unbeatable urban energy have
transformed Toronto into a leading tech hotspot.
BY CAMILLA CORNELL
Not long ago, CEO Mike Silagadze HQ T.O. MaRS Discovery District
uprooted his 15-employee business and With its startup-friendly culture, deep
moved it to Toronto, 100 kilometres down talent pool, diversity and exceptional
the highway from its original location. standard of living, Toronto has grown into
S i l a g a d z e h a d c o f o u n d e d To p H at , a global tech hub. “A lot of international
a cloud-based teaching platform for higher talent is relocating to Toronto because
education, in a small university city known it’s such a welcoming place,” says Chris
for its quality tech programs. While there R ickett , ma nager, entrepreneursh ip
was no shortage of tech grads to snap services for the City of Toronto.
up, as Top Hat grew (it was named 2017 The Greater Toronto Area created nearly
Canadian Startup of the Year by online 30,000 tech jobs—more than the Bay Area,
tech-industry news hub Techvibes), it Seattle and Washington, D.C., combined in
needed to fill engineering, sales, finance 2017 (the most recent data at press time).
and marketing positions. In a world where borders seem at once
Location became a stumbling block: more permeable yet more fractious than
“It was challenging for us to hire talent ever, Canada is recognized internationally
f r om a ny ot he r dom a i n a s ide f r om for its safety, stability and welcoming
technology,” says Silagadze. “Most people business environment, topping global
are interested in living in a big city with quality-of-life rankings year after year.
lots of opportunity.” Toronto beckoned Toronto, as the country’s most populous
with “a ton of different things to offer, from a nd d iverse city, is its f ina ncia l a nd
great restaurants to sporting activities and cultural heart. As Mayor John Tory puts it,
other outdoor activities within driving “There is no other region in North America
distance of the city,” says Silagadze. that can boast the same talent, the same
Another selling point: the Greater Toronto quality of life, the same vibrancy and
Area’s relative affordability compared with economic strength.” From film festivals
American tech hotspots like San Francisco to NBA games to chilling by the lake with
and New York. This quality-of-life issue is a matcha latte in hand, this dynamic city
central when recruiting from the U.S., says of 2.9 million is where the action is. And
Silagadze. Today, Top Hat’s employee count that’s something the tech world is eager
is more than 320—and growing. to invest in, from giants like Google and the downtown power corridor of hospitals,
Amazon to small startups like Top Hat. busi nesses a nd u n iver sity l abs t hat
surround it as well as across Canada. The
READY TO START creative sector, meanwhile, boosts its fresh
Startups have become as ubiquitous as talent via entities like the Toronto Fashion
food trucks, thanks to the city’s numerous Incubator (which supports up-and-coming
incubators, accelerators and hubs. These designers), Ryerson University’s DMZ (a
suppor t ser v ices focus on nur tur ing world-leading accelerator that has helped
f ledgling enterprises in a wide range over 350 startups and raised $477.2 million
of fields, including medicine, financial in funding among them since its launch in
services, food processing, the creative 2010), and the Canadian Music Theatre
TOP HAT (MIKE SILAGADZE)
sector and even social enterprises. Project (whose workshopping services

Notable projects include the MaRS helped hone the musical Come From Away
Discover y Distr ict—at 1.5 m i l l ion into an eventual Broadway smash).
square feet, it’s the world’s largest urban Toronto’s st a r tup dy na m ism ca n’t
innovation hub. Its goal: to commercialize help but rub off on others, including
Top Hat CEO Mike Silagadze moved the company to Toronto the cutting-edge research taking place in industry giants eager to join in the city’s

encourage investment. Among them:
Toronto’s Imagination, Manufacturing,
I n nov at ion a nd Te c h nolo g y ( IM I T )
business incentive, which offers property
tax breaks for targeted sectors such
as high tech and manufacturing. Also
available are federal and prov incial
incentives and tax credit programs aimed
at increasing R&D efforts, encouraging
startups and fostering investment in
specific industries.
On the immigration front, Canada’s
op en-for -bu s i ne s s appr o ac h s pu r s
innovation and job creation. The Start-
up Visa Program, for example, offers
permanent residence status to foreign-
born entrepreneurs so long as a Canadian
venture capital fund or angel investor
g roup com m it s f i na ncia l ly to t hei r
Microsoft’s soon-to-open
Canadian headquarters at CIBC Square business or they have the support of an
incubator. For companies hiring, the
feds’ Global Skills Strategy visa program
enables high-growth firms to hire the
DBOX (CIBC SQUARE); SIDEWALK LABS (QUAYSIDE)

bullish optimism. Tech titan Microsoft is Skelly, its director of external affairs. international talent they need within
opening a 132,000-square-foot Canadian “Toronto is an incredibly inclusive place two weeks.
headqua r ters i n dow ntow n Toronto and one of the world’s most diverse cities,” “It certainly helps that Canada is more
in 2020. In 2018, Samsung launched a Skelly points out. “It welcomes people of all open than the U.S.,” when it comes to
new artificial intelligence centre here, backgrounds, lifestyles and abilities with immigration, says Top Hat CEO Silagadze.
Pinterest unveiled its Canadian HQ, Uber great warmth. We want to build a place Beyond policy, Silagadze credits Toronto’s
and Etsy announced new research centres, that incorporates those same values.” multicultural diversity and dynamic
and GM opened a new Canadian Technical urban life with sealing the deal when he
Centre (CTC) in nearby Markham. POLICY INITIATIVES relocated Top Hat, ensuring access to a
A d d it i o n a l l y, a n a r r a y o f f e d e r a l , wider array of talent.
NEIGHBOURHOOD TO WATCH prov incia l and municipa l progra ms
A nnounced w ith fa n fa re, the h ig h ly
anticipated Quayside development is set to
start unfolding along Toronto’s revitalized Quayside, a joint Alphabet’s Sidewalk
eastern harbourfront. Spearheaded by Labs and Waterfront Toronto
Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs (Alphabet is community development.
Google’s parent company) and Waterfront
Toronto, the multiyear project will create
a 12-acre, mixed-use, sustainable and
affordable neighbourhood along the shores
of Lake Ontario.
Imagine a community where driverless
cars and cyclists share the roads; low-
cost modular buildings adapt to human
and business needs; and neighbourhood-
enhancing adaptive streets transform into
public squares post-rush hour. Pedestrian-
f r iend ly tech perks include modula r
paving stones that, prompted by weather
sensors, automatically melt ice and snow,
and building awnings that extend and
retract with the weather.
Sidewalk Labs looked at sites across
North America, Europe and Australia for
this groundbreaking community, settling
on Toronto for its impressive talent pool
and its “rich urban legacy,” says Lauren

DIVERSITY @ WORK operates in 23 countries, bringing digital The Greater Toronto region, including
For companies with global aspirations, learning resources to places with spotty or Halton, York, Peel, Durham and Hamilton,
diversity’s appeal runs deeper than the nonexistent internet access. boasts some 620,000 STEM graduates. And
ubiquity of great Indian food or sushi. With “ We h ave employe e s f r om t he U K , our excellent postsecondary institutions—
a foreign-born population of 47 percent, the U.S., Iran, China, Afghanistan and including Ryerson University and University
Toronto is home to the largest number Lebanon,” she says, crediting their diverse of Toronto, known for its groundbreaking
of recent immigrants among Canadian cu ltu ra l per spec t ives a nd l i n g u i st ic research in AI, machine learning and deep
cities. Of those, 69 percent were born in abilities with helping to create a product learning—continue to produce a steady
Asian countries, with sizable amounts of suitable for use far beyond North America. stream of ambitious techies.
newcomers hailing from Europe, Africa and When Rumie led a focus group recently on Me a nw h i le , t he c it y ’s d y n a m i s m
the Americas. a new learning initiative for Afghanistan, is a selling point for companies, says
This wealth of languages, networking it didn’t have to send a team overseas to get Lennox: “The majority of [international]
and global experience of fers tangible feedback. “Instead, we found local Afghan companies we’re dealing with have a few
benefits, according to Christy Moorhead, organizations with newcomers from the key employees, but they want to hire
COO of nonprofit tech company The Rumie country. They gave us feedback on our app. locally. They want to know their employees
Initiative. She says the diverse backgrounds And our staff members were able to help out will be happy in the community, because
of the Rumie team have been an asset, as it during that session and collect really good happy employees stay longer. And Toronto
information,” she says. is such an exciting and dynamic place to
live and work.” With its internationally
THE NEXT WAVE recognized restaurant scene, pro sports
Besides the stream of talent passing through action, endless array of festivals, arts
the Arrivals gate at Pearson International and entertainment and primo shopping,
Airport, another reason for Toronto’s Toronto has more than enough to keep its
draw is its wealth of highly educated local residents humming in the hours outside
talent. With 11 universities and colleges of nine-to-five.
within the Greater Toronto Area, “We are
DASOLLEE KIM (CHRIST Y MOORHEAD)
overall a highly educated jurisdiction—

both immigrants and non-immigrants,”
says Toby Lennox, CEO of Toronto Global,
a government-funded organization tasked
TORONTO’S
with attracting international investment.
“And you don’t have to march off to the
BLOCK
bank to remortgage your house to pay for it.
Christy Moorhead, COO of nonprofit The Rumie Initiative Higher education is accessible,” he explains.
(CHAIN)
PARTY
Toronto has become a global leader in
blockchain technology. Most famously
utilised in cryptocurrency, blockchain
is a decentralized digital ledger that
records transactions (blocks) in order
(a chain), preventing transactions
from being retroactively altered.
Blockchain’s potential applications
include maintaining the integrity
of health care records and ensuring
stable retail supply chains. Between
the Toronto Stock Exchange (which
lists more blockchain companies than
any other global stock exchange) and
the local invention of the Ethereum
cryptocurrency platform by Vitalik
Buterin (the second-largest digital
currency after Bitcoin), Toronto leads
the way adopting this technology.

CITY CONFIDENTIAL
MAXIMUM
VOLUME
Check out these venues where the world’s
biggest stars come to play. BY SARAH LISS
Elton John, Scotiabank Arena
Intimate venues have their stadium. The project was spear- was floored: larger mixed-use According to Kinack,
place, but when it comes to headed by the Toronto Raptors venues can be a mixed bag in Scotiabank Arena’s acoustics
experiencing a blowout con- organization and the arena’s terms of quality of set-up, but make it the natural choice
cert, bigger is better. From inaugural event was a Toronto Scot iaba n k A rena boa st ed for a s t ad iu m r o ck s how.
ma m moth stad iums to a Maple Leafs home game. But state-of-the-art everything, Rock occupies a sonic mid-
sprawling lakefront amphithe- t w o d a y s l at e r, l e g e n d a r y from band load-in and access dle ground—not too bassy,
atre, here’s the story behind Canadian band The Tragically (which signif icantly affects not too mel low— superbly
t h r e e of Tor ont o’s bi g gest Hip helped christen the venue’s efficiency) to rigging (the hoists, suited to the venue, ma x i-
music venues. shiny new sound system, and lifts and booms involved in the mizing fidelity and punchi-
the results defied expectations. production of a show). ness. Although venues of this
SCOTIABANK
Marty Kinack, a longtime For a FOH engineer whose size (Scotiabank Arena spans
s ou nd t e ch n ic i a n who h a s responsibility is perfecting over 60,000 square metres
ARENA
collaborated with local musical the auditory experience for the with a maximum capacity of
heroes Sarah Harmer, Hayden audience, being able to spread 19,800) can be a challenge in
Theoretically, there’s no reason and Broken Socia l Scene, out is a boon—and Kinack says terms of consistent sound,
the Scotiabank Arena should was the f irst front of house the amount of space he had to Kinack says speaker upgrades
sound as good as it does. The (FOH) engineer to work in the work with was outstanding. over the past decade have
cavernous space, which opened space. K inack m i xed aud io Not only that, he says, but “the addressed that issue, result-
in February 1999 (as the Air for the Toronto indie band By designers and architects paid ing in enhanced clarity from
Canada Centre) was envisioned, Divine Right, who opened for special attention to the sound of the floor all the way to the top-
first and foremost, as a sports the Hip that evening. Kinack the venue, and it shows.” row budget seats.
HEAR HERE CLASSICAL & OPERA

v F our Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
INDIE ROCK, ROOTS & ALT-COUNTRY
v Horseshoe Tavern
@KTEENS (SCOTIABANK ARENA)
v Koerner Hall v Danforth Music Hall

Prefer a more intimate show? Check
v Roy Thomson Hall v Dakota Tavern
out these cozier live-music venues.
JAZZ & BLUES LATIN
v Sony Centre For The Performing Arts v Lula Lounge
(to be renamed Meridian Hall in September 2019) v Mambo Lounge
v The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar v El Rancho
v Jazz Bistro

Serena Ryder, Tragically Hip over its two- Rogers Centre
Budweiser Stage and-a-half-decade run.
From band shell to
a mph itheatre, the venue
doubled its capacity without
s ac r i f ic i n g s ou nd qu a l it y.
I n f ac t , one c ou ld s ay t he
site acoustics are bound up
i n aud ience pa r t icipat ion.
“W henever I soundcheck
there, it’s boomy and scary.
We never like the sound. But
that’s because it’s an echoey
amphitheatre and it needs a lot
BUDWEISER of bodies in the seats to make

it sound awesome,” explains
STAGE Ryder, who s e mo s t r e c ent

album, Christmas Kisses, is a
Perched on the edge of Lake tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah
Ontario, the Budweiser Stage Vaughan and other jazz greats.
opened in 1995 w ith Br yan By the time a musician plays
Ada ms’ crowd-pumping their first chord, says Ryder,
Canadiana. Dubbed at that everything falls into place:
time the Molson Amphitheatre, “It sounds magical, balanced.
the outdoor venue f launted T he r e ’s s ome t h i n g ab out
well-calibrated acoustics and being outdoors, w ith your
cleverly tweaked sightlines. voice and the instruments conventional stadiums with some are willing to splurge on
Then as now, massive stage- being so close to the sky, that partial roofs, when the dome the access of front-row centre;
side screens and additional makes me feel the infinity.” is completely retracted, more others indulge their live-music
video monitors at the back of than 80 percent of the seats h a b it m o r e f r e q u e nt l y b y
ROGERS
the assigned-seating section are open to the sky. This means opting for budget seats. If you’re
ensure folks sitting on the lawn Clark and his associates had to not fully committed to either
CENTRE
can see fancy fretwork, too. be strategic, masterminding approach, Rogers Centre is a
The Budweiser Stage has a “d i s t r i b u t e d d e s i g n” o f venue where audiophiles may
featured ever yone f rom With its trademark retractable smaller, higher-end speakers want to stick to the middle of
Drake to Kelly Clarkson to domed roof, the home stadium and a Tetris-like configuration the road. “As with many sports
Bob Dylan—the latter of whom o f t h e To r o n t o B l u e J a y s of a mplif iers and w ires, to buildings, the best sound is
was performing the first time became a def ining element cut the travel time between in the mid-priced seats,” says
Juno Award-winning singer- of the Toronto skyline when loudspeakers and ears. Clark, who says this tip can
song w r iter Serena Ryder, it opened in June 1989. That Otherwise, fans would notice b e a pp l ie d t o c o mp a r a b l y
then 17, attended a show there. roof, which inspired the sound delays while watching sized stadiums.
“What I loved about it was the venue’s original name—the the Jumbotron.
IGOR VIDYASHEV (SERENA RYDER/BUDWEISER STAGE); ALAMY (ROGERS CENTRE)
different levels, and that the SkyDome—quickly transforms This calculated approach
grassy area was communal stadium events from breezy helped facilitate acoustically
and felt like a folk festival you and alfresco to cozy and self- rich performances from
could wander around,” says contained, depending on the megastars like Taylor Swift,
Ryder, whose most recent weather. It a lso mea ns the Beyoncé (w ith and w ithout
performance there was with Rogers Centre’s house sound Jay-Z), Guns N’ Roses, Bruce
Blue Rodeo in summer 2018. system has to be agile enough Springsteen, Bon Jovi and The
The Budweiser Stage has a to adapt to d ra matica l ly Rolling Stones. Performers’
capacity of 16,000 and a rock different acoustics. sound crews enhance the
’n’ roll pedigree that runs even According to Dave Clark, who Rogers Centre’s assets with
deeper than its foundations. was the lead project designer setups tailored to their sound,
T he venue was constr uct- for Engineering Harmonics, whether that’s bluesy guitar
ed between 1994 a nd 1995 the Toronto-based audiovisual riffs, the soaring sustained
on the site of the old Ontario consulting firm that developed notes of a triumphant pop vocal
Place Forum, a much-loved the venue’s sound system, the chorus or the rumbling bass
band shell whose rotating Rogers Centre is “cavernous, end of a tight hip-hop break.
Taylor Swift,
stage hosted iconic acts from w ith 60,000 seats w rapped Ma ny concer tgoer s have
Rogers Centre
Blondie to James Brown to The around 360 degrees.” Unlike specific seating preferences:

CITY CONFIDENTIAL
FAM JAM Found at last! Cool family vacay ideas

that will wow kids and grown-ups.
BY ERNIE OURIQUE
ILLUSTRATIONS BY STEVE MANALE
N
o matter how much you love your Argonauts hold the record for the a historic building
offspring, there’s only so many most championship Grey Cup wins. not far from
animatronic critters a parent can (Arrive early to join their new Scotiabank
bear. Plan your next escape around activ- in-stadium tailgate section.) The Arena’s
ities everyone will love. Here are itinerar- Toronto Football Club (TFC) home ice,
ies for every interest. boasts many Canadian cham- the HHOF
pionships. Or catch the Rock honours
FOR SPORTS FANATICS (National Lacrosse League) or Canada’s
Toronto is home to Canada’s Wolfpack (British Rugby official
only NBA and MLB teams, Football League) for national
the Raptors and the Blue their fan friendliness. winter sport.
Jays. So catch a game… Make a pilgrimage Take a selfie with
or several! The Canadian to the Hockey Hall of the Stanley Cup. Try
Football League’s Fame (HHOF). Housed in scoring against Carey Price or shut out

Sidney Crosby.* Complete Ballet of Canada’s The CN Tower boasts eye-popping
your visit with a 3-D The Nutcracker views, thanks to newly
hockey flick and a tour sells out, so book renovated window
of planet Earth’s biggest well in advance. walls and a big-
collection of hockey Each perfor- ger glass floor.
memorabilia. mance is preceded Daredevils can
Stay active with pick- with the much- stroll outside
up basketball at Dufferin loved Nutcracker the observa-
Grove Park or drop-in swim at Story Time. tion deck with
a public swimming pool. Planning EdgeWalk.
a race-cation? The Scotiabank Toronto FOR FOOD FIENDS Ripley’s
Waterfront Marathon includes a Bring your appetite and feast like it’s Aquarium of
stroller-friendly 5K. *OK, OK: life-size, simulated going out of style (don’t worry: it’s not). Canada ratchets up
versions of Carey Price and Sidney Crosby. Hit St. Lawrence Market to nosh on the excitement for those
Canadiana like peameal bacon sandwich- not content to observe tiger sharks, moray
FOR CULTURE es, smoked salmon on Montreal-style eels and sawfish; how about snorkelling
VULTURES bagels, and gooey butter tarts. with stingrays or scuba diving with
From the coun- Stroll funky Kensington sharks instead? Over at the
try’s leading Market for delish global Toronto Zoo, young natural-
galleries fare: Salvadoran pupu- ists will be enthralled by
and muse- sas, Caribbean roti, polar bears, Siberian tigers
ums (we’re Venezuelan arepas, and and one-horned rhinos.
looking at sooooo much more. Wanna kick it up a notch?
you, Royal Save room for dim Try the Gorilla Climb
Ontario sum: Chinatown is Ropes Course or TundraAir
Museum and Art just around the corner! zip line. And if the secret pas-
Gallery of Ontario!) Visiting in summer? The sages and underground tunnels
to unique events and annual Canadian National of Casa Loma aren’t enough, visitors
festivals, Toronto’s the place to get your Exhibition (aka The Ex) is a must. Besides can partake in immersive escape room
arts ’n’ culture fix. a ride- and game-filled midway, The Ex is experiences within the castle.
The Museum of Contemporary Art- known for OTT carnival fare like butter- Want even more action? Canada’s
Toronto (MOCA) offers thought-provoking milk fried chicken on a cinnamon bun, or Wonderland’s new
work in the up-and-coming cheese-stuffed deep-fried Doritos. Toast roller coaster,
Junction neighbourhood. the city at family-friendly brew- the Yukon
Another draw in a pubs Indie Alehouse (colour- Striker, is
unique environment ing books), Mill Street the world’s
is Field Trip. The Beer Hall (kids’ menu, fastest,
annual Canadian- crayons) and Left Field tallest and
music and arts Brewery (Wrigley, the longest
fest at Fort brewery dog!). Or hit dive coast-
York National The Distillery Historic er, hitting
Historic Site District to sightsee, top speeds
and Garrison shop for artisanal sake of 130 km/h (80
Common, a or vodka and watch SOMA mph), with a 90-degree
preserved military Chocolatemaker chocolat- 75 m (245 ft) drop and over 1,105 m
base and 1813 battle iers create decadent treats. (3,625 ft) of track. Treetop Trekking offers
site. In between sets by the ropes courses for all skill levels. Avid
likes of Feist, Metric and Broken FOR ADRENALINE CHASERS fliers can try uFly Simulator’s
Social Scene, small fry can go nuts in the Get your heart racing with cockpit experience.
kids’ zone, complete with bouncy castles, experiences for every thrill Or float on air at iFLY
crafts and intimate performances by seeker. Many attractions Indoor Skydiving.
festival performers. let you adjust the adren- Finally, Go-Karts at
Hit Young People’s Theatre for its dra- aline to suit each family Polson Pier promis-
mas, musicals and adaptations of stage member (age restric- es timeless, wind-in-
classics. Visiting in winter? The National tions may apply). your-hair fun.

CITY CONFIDENTIAL
PLAY IT
COOL
From DJ skate nights to unique rinks
and trails, lace up for hot urban skating
experiences at the coolest public rinks.
BY DANIELA PAYNE
Nathan Phillips Square/City Hall
ANDREY VASILIEV (SK ATES), ADRIEN COQUET (SHELTER), BOMSYMBOLS (DRINK AND BURGER),
ATIF ARSHAD (ICE SK ATE) – ALL FROM NOUN PROJECT; DENISE MILITZER (THE BENTWAY)
Gage Park The Bentway Skate Trail
HARBOURFRONT CENTRE NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE/ THE BENTWAY SKATE TRAIL

NATREL RINK CITY HALL WATERFRONT & TORONTO ISLANDS
WATERFRONT & TORONTO ISLANDS CITY CENTRE Skate at one of the city’s newest public
This rink boasts one of the best This local fave is ultra-festive during the spaces, a recreation and arts space located
backdrops in the city: Lake Ontario on holiday season, aglow with sparkling lights underneath the Gardiner Expressway,
one side and the iconic CN Tower on the and backdropped by the city’s official one of Toronto’s major highways. Glide
other. Naturally, it’s a winter social hub Christmas tree. Don’t forget to take an along the 220-metre figure eight trail
and always abuzz. Get your boogie on Instagram-worthy pic in front of the lit-up situated on revitalized land a stone’s
at DJ Skate Night (every Saturday). TORONTO sign. Warm up after with a short throw from historic military site Fort
walk to the CF Toronto Eaton Centre mall. York National Historic Site.

Harbourfront Centre Natrel Rink
EVERGREEN BRICK WORKS DEVONIAN SQUARE GREENWOOD PARK RINK

DON VALLEY RYERSON RINK EASTSIDE
This unique public park features a CITY CENTRE Try out Toronto’s first covered outdoor
skating rink in the winter months. In its Known locally as “Lake Devo,” this rink is artificial skating rink in the family-
former life it was the Don Valley Brick located on Ryerson University’s campus in friendly Leslieville neighbourhood.
Works, a quarry that supplied the bricks the heart of downtown—but you wouldn’t If you prefer to skate under the open
for many of Toronto’s original landmarks. know it. The streets adjacent to the park sky, you can glide along the adjacent
Cruising beneath the exposed beams are closed to traffic, and the small rink is outdoor (and uncovered) skating path.
of the repurposed factory structure is flanked by trees and cobblestones. Spot it
a unique delight. by its trademark Precambrian boulders
that are two billion years old.
CELEBRATION SQUARE
MISSISSAUGA
GAGE PARK OUTDOOR
Glide through downtown Mississauga’s
SKATING TRAIL THE SKATING OVAL AT award-winning town square. Psst: it’s
BRAMPTON SHOPS AT DON MILLS right across the street from Square One
This downtown Brampton ice-skating DON VALLEY Shopping Centre, one of the Greater
trail wends its way through the trees Lace up for a few laps, and then hit the Toronto Area’s premier malls.
HARBOURFRONT CENTRE (NATREL RINK)
in a wonderland complete with a DJ, stores and restaurants at this open-air

roaring firepit, and a food trailer that shopping centre. Drop in for Friday Night
operates Thursday to Sunday. DJ Skate if you’re after party vibes. CHECK OUT
C anada
Wonderl ’s
and ’s
new -for-
W interF es 2019
skating, cat for ice
rides and rolling ,
more!
LEGEND SKATE RENTALS AVAILABLE CHANGE AREA/SHELTER FOOD + DRINK NEARBY

WH Y N OT
TONIGHT?
You don’t need a special occasion to make you and the people
you’re with feel special. From classic steak dinners to appetizers
you can share with friends, you’ll always feel celebrated at The Keg.
Visit kegsteakhouse.com
to find a location near you
FOOD & DRINK
DON’T MISS
PRE-DINNER
COCKTAILS IN
ALEX A FERNANDO/BAR RAVAL
THE WEST SIDE

FOOD & DRINK
VEGAN
REVOLUTION
Plant-based menus are in full bloom as Torontonians embrace
the city’s freshest culinary trend.
BY LIORA IPSUM PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD JANSEN
Awai’s sunchoke-amaretto
tortellini with pea-basil foam

Rosalinda’s squash with
pepsin verde (centre)
BRANCHING OUT
and chorizo verde bowl While hipster Parkdale may be a logical
HQ for the city’s vegan scene, plant-based
menus have sprouted all over town. A
local success stor y, the smoothies-to-
bowls staple Grasshopper Restaurant,
for instance, originally launched with one
location on trendy College Street. It now has
outposts in the up-and-coming west-end
Junction neighbourhood and in the laid-
back, well-established east-end Beaches
neighbourhood. From location to location,
Grasshopper’s menu and vibe varies, but
diners can look forward to hearty comfort
foods like beet-patty burgers, quinoa
mac ’n’ cheese, Japanese curry bowls and
kimchi-topped french fries.
Rosalinda partners Jamie Cook, chef Grant van Gameren

and Max Rimaldi
In a city once known as Hogtown, vegan

eating may seem like a hard sell. In reality,
Toronto diners have gone whole hog for
plant-based menus as the city feasts on a
bumper crop of vegan restaurants.
LAYING ROOTS
Nowhere is the city’s embrace of the plant-
based lifestyle more obvious than in the
west-end community of Parkdale, where a Rosalinda, Rosalinda’s Punta Rosa cocktail
cluster of vegan restaurants have adopted
the nickname Vegandale. OMNIVOROUS ALLIES
The herbivore hub is concentrated within As vegan dining catches on, acclaimed chefs have begun trading cream for cashew milk
a few city blocks and includes a namesake and steaks for celeriac. Celebrated Toronto chef Grant van Gameren, for instance, built
brewery, in addition to outlets slinging his reputation with meaty charcuterie spreads and seafood conservas at his hotspots
plant-based pizza (Prohibition Pie), com- Bar Isabel and Bar Raval, but the menu at his latest restaurant, Rosalinda, is entirely
fort foods (Mythology Diner), Danish baked absent of animal products.
goods (Copenhagen), ice cream (Not Your Situated in the Financial District, the vegan Mexican cantina helmed by chefs Kate
Mother, or just NYM for short) and junk Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo may even convert carnivores with its mouthwatering
AJ FERNANDO (ROSALINDA)
food like meatless “Big Macs” (Doomie’s). assortment of jackfruit pibil tacos and roasted cauliflower tostadas.
Vegandale’s masterminds also organize an “A substitute for meat has always been bold flavours. So it was a perfect match when we
eponymous annual food festival held on the chose to do vegan food inspired by Mexican cuisine,” says self-professed carnivore van
grounds of Fort York National Historic Site. Gameren. “What surprised me was that, yes, we can serve an entire vegan meal to a meat
The festival attracts vendors—and eaters— eater without them feeling like they’re missing anything.”
from across Canada and the U.S.

FOOD & DRINK
Planta’s charcuterie board
Planta’s avocado lime tartare
Planta
Planta’s Beauty & The Beet cocktail
Meanwhile at Planta, in midtown’s ritzy

Yorkville neighbourhood, veganism gets
an elegant upgrade courtesy of co-owner
and executive chef David Lee. Here, the
playful plant-based menu boasts “crab”
cakes crafted from hearts of palm, young
coconut cev iche a nd “ch icken”-f r ied
mushrooms, paired with smart cocktails
“PLANTA IS and fine wines. With its upscale setting
ALL ABOUT and refined service, vegan eating takes on
LIFESTYLE AND a sense of occasion without compromising
SUSTAINABILITY.” on ethics. one way. By truly celebrating the ‘‘veg’’
“Planta is all about lifestyle and sustain- in vegan, they’re ushering in a new type
ability,” says chef Lee. “There’s more to of plant-based dining. Faux meats, as in
responsible plant-based dining than just textured proteins intended to imitate
taking animals off the plate. For me, it is animal products, have fallen out of favour
important to work with ethical suppliers w ith chefs, including Nathan Isberg,
to source high-quality ingredients and ulti- who celebrates the natural—and highly
mately to pioneer change in food sourcing. seasonal—splendour of roots, legumes and
I want to show those new to plant-based greens on the ever-changing tasting menu
dining that great food doesn’t need to rely at his plant-based playground, Awai.
on animal agriculture.” Cauliflower ravioli topped with chanterelles
The concept has proven so popular that and freshly shaved truff les might delight
Chef David Lee of Planta it’s spawned a fast-food spin-off called diners one night, but are soon replaced on
Planta Burger, and a new Planta outpost the menu by manti dumplings plump with
in Miami Beach, Florida. almond pâté and served alongside farm-fresh
asparagus. Located in the west-end’s Bloor
VEGGING OUT West Village neighbourhood, Awai lets
W h i le sha red eth ics may be a d raw, vegetables tell it like it is, in a way that’s just
Toronto’s new wave of vegan restaurants undeniably drool-worthy, whether you’re a
are pushing the envelope in more than vegan devotee or not.

VEGAN TO GO
Graze on takeout from
delicious eateries where
meat, dairy, eggs and honey
are never on the ingredients list.
v APIECALYPSE NOW! v KUPFERT & KIM

BLOORCOURT FINANCIAL DISTRICT,
AND PAPE VILLAGE SOUTHCORE AND
Flavour faves: FASHION DISTRICT
Pizza, prepared Flavour faves:
foods and fresh- All-day breakfast,
baked goods. smoothies and
hot lunch bowls.
v GREEN EARTH
VEGAN CUISINE v LIVE ORGANIC
GREEKTOWN FOOD BAR
Flavour faves: ANNEX, LIBERTY
Fried rice à la VILLAGE
curry, kimchi or Flavour faves:
Hawaiian-style. Eclectic menu
offers many raw
v ITAL VITAL
food options, plus
KENSINGTON
burgers, burritos
MARKET AND
and bibimbap.
SCARBOROUGH
Flavour faves: v PARKA FOOD CO.
Rastafarian fare, FASHION DISTRICT
including curries Flavour faves:
Awai’s globe artichoke petals and callaloo Sandwiches, mac-
with pistachio watercress pesto served up with and-“cheese” bowls,
fresh veggies soups and other
and sprouts. comfort classics.
Awai’s sous vide beluga lentils
Chefs Dualco, Ariane, Roger (owner) and Fernando at Awai,

Tennessee Breeze cocktail
BEAN AROUND THE WORLD

Vegandale isn’t the only multi-business success story. Owners of the local quick-serve
chain Kupfert & Kim (see sidebar) have a second vegan brand on the go, Hello 123.
Located on trendy Queen Street West, it serves up filling options like the island-inspired
channa chaat, a hearty dish rich with chickpeas, brown rice and roasted cauliflower,
tempered by cooling coconut raita and fresh vegetable garnishes.
Meanwhile, Virtuous Pie, which opened its first Toronto outlet in Little Italy in late 2018,
serves up delectable pizzas dressed with toppings like wild mushrooms, herbed potatoes
cream and truffled cashew ricotta, leaving no flavours for want. The plant-based pizzeria
also has locations in Vancouver and Portland.
Whether you’ve given up meat for an eternity—or just a single meal—Toronto’s vegan
revolution ensures you won’t have to compromise when it comes to your eating pleasure.
Hogtown or not, this is one food trend everyone can get behind.

FOOD & DRINK
OPEN INDIGENOUS +
FIRST NATIONS
KITCHENS
Toronto diners are embracing the culinary
The First Nations are the largest group of
Indigenous people, the original inhabitants
of the land now known as Canada. There are
approximately 634 First Nations communities
across Canada, speaking over 50 distinct
traditions of two local cultures, old and new. languages. Canada’s other Indigenous groups
BY DEBORAH REID PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD JANSEN are the Inuit (who reside in Northern Canada)
and the Métis (who have mixed Indigenous
and European ancestry).
Pow Wow Cafe’s

duck and wild rice
Pow Wow Cafe’s Pow Wow Cafe’s

beef tacos peanut butter
and banana
French
toast
INDIGENOUS FLAVOURS
“We have a strong group of First Nations des Mille Lacs First Nation near Northern
chefs who are putting Indigenous food on Ontario’s city of Thunder Bay. As a young
the map in Toronto,” says Shawn Adler, boy, he went to powwows with his mother,
chef-owner of Kensington Market’s Pow and that’s where he first had “Indian tacos.”
Wow Cafe. With a new wave of Indigenous- Made with golden crisp fry bread, spicy beef
helmed restaurants drawing diners to chili and all the fixings, they became the
different ends of the city, the cuisine is inspiration for his restaurant. Toppings like
finally getting its due, thanks in no small pickerel and venison stew speak to his roots,
part to its tantalizing combination of locally as does his sourcing: “Our whitefish comes
sourced, seasonal ingredients (often from from Nipissing First Nation, and the wild
Indigenous purveyors), traditional dishes rice comes from Curve Lake First Nation.
and a nod here and there to Toronto’s I use Indigenous-sourced ingredients as
eclectic multicultural flavours. This runs much as possible,” he says. But chef Adler
parallel to Canadians’ growing interest also embraces flavours born of Toronto’s
in the history and cultural traditions of cultural diversity, such as jerk chicken and
the Indigenous communities that have smoked pulled pork. His presentations are
inhabited the region for millennia. beautiful—each dish is finished with tender
Chef Adler is Anishinaabe, from the Lac greens and colourful edible flower petals. Chef Shawn Adler of Pow Wow Cafe

Ku-Kum Kitchen’s foraged wild leek,
cattail heart and milkweed plate pods
Chef Joseph Shawana of Ku-Kum Kitchen
Ku-Kum Kitchen’s braised elk

with foraged mushrooms
Ku-Kum Kitchen’s pan-seared halibut
A n ot h e r A n i s h i n a a b e c h e f , Joh l Midtown’s Ku-Kum Kitchen is helmed

Whiteduck Ringuette owns NishDish in by chef-owner Joseph Shawana, who built
bustling Koreatown. Its lovely birch tree his skills working in some of Toronto’s
painted exterior is hard to miss. Inside f inest kitchens, including the dining
are communal tables to sit and enjoy room of the Windsor Arms Hotel. Chef
food like Three Sister’s soup made with Shawana is from the Wiikwemkoong
ingredients—corn, squash and green Unceded Reserve on Northern Ontario’s
beans—that are the cornerstone of North sprawling and rugged Manitoulin Island,
American Indigenous cooking. There’s the largest freshwater island in the world.
rich and meaty venison stew, seared Ku-Kum Kitchen draws on the food and
arctic char and the scone-like bannock. ingredients of Shawana’s childhood,
And for more of the traditional tender including appetizers like pemmican
bread, there’s Tea-N-Bannock, in the (dried game meat pounded with fat and
east end of the city. The sampler platter w ild berries) and mains like seared
is made for sharing and includes bison bison loin or a creamy whipped-potato-
sliders, grill-smoked fish and wild rice topped fish pie made with Georgian Bay
salad, and there are homey specials like whitefish. Save room for the sweetgrass- Ku-Kum Kitchen’s Sedna’s Breath cocktail
bison stir-fry. infused crème brûlée.

FOOD & DRINK
Soufi’s cashew cheese knafeh

and Turkish coffee
Soufi’s za’atar
with veggies
man’ousheh
Soufi’s
than at Crown Pastries. Rasoul and Ismail tomato and meat sauce. Crisp and delicious,
Salha came to the city as refugees in 2009, they’re folded in half and enjoyed with ayran,
leaving behind a sweets store in Aleppo that a drink of salted yogurt. For the sweet tooth,
had been in their family for generations. there’s the classic pastry, knafeh, made from
The two brothers spent six years working finely shredded dough that sandwiches a
EWCOMER
N and saving their money, and in 2015 opened
the shop in the heart of the Middle Eastern
layer of akawi, a fresh cheese. It’s baked until
golden and crisp and saturated with fragrant
CUISINE
community on a stretch of Lawrence Avenue orange blossom syrup.
East in Sca rborough. Inside a golden, Al-Souhi is plugged into the tastes of
glistening display of sweets like baklava her generation and offers the increasingly
and assabeh, crispy almond and phyllo de rigueur vegan options: “Our location
In 2015, Canada opened its arms to refugees rolls are meticulously arranged on trays. means we have diverse customers who
fleeing war in Syria. Many would settle in There are coconut macaroons as light as a have never tried Syrian food and they’re
Toronto, bringing with them a rich culture. cloud (and almost as big), and cheese-filled interested in the food and culture,” she
Buoyed by the success of suppers hosted sweets soaked in rosewater syrup. Crown says. “It’s been so positive and welcoming.”
by newcomers at churches that sponsored Pastries offers expats a nostalgia trip for
them, Syrians began opening restaurants eyes and palate: “We built it to look exactly
like Beroea. It operates out of a repurposed like bakeries back home, and it’s such a good
shipping container at Market 707 on the feeling to see the response,” says Rasoul.
outskirts of Chinatown, where you’ll find And then there are the young upstarts,
traditional dishes like yabrak, grape leaves like Jala Al-Souhi, who, with the backing of
filled with beef and rice. Depanneur is a her family, opened up Soufi’s in the heart
funky restaurant that plays host to chef-led of hip Queen Street West. The 24-year-old,
dinners and events and became famous for its who grew up spending summers in Homs,
Newcomer Kitchen. On Wednesdays, Syrian Syria, keeps things simple, selling two classic
women cook communal meals that the public Syrian street food snacks, manaeesh and
can order and pick up to take home. knafeh. The former is a pizza-like flatbread
But it’s the sweets that have really seduced served with a variety of toppings like za’atar
Torontonians, and nowhere are they better (a thyme and sesame seed spice blend) or a Chef Jala Al-Souhi of Soufi’s

BATTLE OF
THE WINE REGIONS
In a showdown between Ontario terroirs, which comes out on top?
BY LIORA IPSUM
NIAGARA PENINSULA PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

(aka Niagara or NOTL) (aka The County or PEC)
THE VIBE THE VIBE
TWO SISTERS WINERY (WINE); IL GELATO DI CARLOTTA (ICE CREAM); COUNT Y YUM CLUB (POUTINE); PEARL MORISSETTE (PEARL MORISSETTE); RAJESHTA JULATUM (FLAME + SMITH)
Spirited wine tours, tasting rooms and music festivals PEC is a culinary hotspot on the rise. The bounty of
shoot new energy into this historic region. Antiques, The County has inspired an influx of craft brewers,
spas and the annual Shaw Festival are strong draws. cheesemakers, restaurants and boutique B&Bs.
# OF VQA* WINERIES # OF VQA* WINERIES

Approximately 100 Approximately 40
NOTABLE GRAPE VARIETALS NOTABLE GRAPE VARIETALS

Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir,
Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris
PIT STOP PIT STOP

Peach, pine nut, cherry and more: Stop in at Prince Edward County‘s
sample from three dozen flavours of County Yum Club, known for comfort
handcrafted gelato at Niagara-on-the- dishes like poutine piled with spit-
Lake’s Il Gelato di Carlotta. roasted shawarma.
TOP PHOTO OP TOP PHOTO OP

Snap a shot with La Grande Over 100 painted quilts decorate
Hermine, a replica the area’s rustic barns and
shipwreck on the shores heritage buildings as part of
of Jordan Harbour. the Barn Quilt Trail.
WINE & DINE WINE & DINE

Fortify yourself with the latest Stoke your appetite at Bloomfield’s
cuvées over tasting plates at Flame + Smith, which supports local
The Restaurant at Pearl Morissette, producers, spinning seasonal
housed in a handsome black ingredients into scrumptiously
barn in Jordan Station. crafted dishes.
*TIP Vintners Quality Alliance Ontario (VQA) monitors the province’s appellation of origin system, ensuring high standards for Ontario wines.

FOOD & DRINK
MIX
MASTERS
Stirred, shaken, smoked and sparked, these cocktails
are #lit with just the right amount of spectacle.
BY SIMONE OLIVERO PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX LUKEY
ONCE UPON A TIME MAI TAI BEFUDDLEMENT DRAUGHT

Old Fashioned lovers will be taken with Cock t ail snobs know that orgeat (or Harr y Pot ter fans will recognize this
this iteration featuring Bulleit bour- a l m o n d s y r u p) i s t h e s e c r e t t o a n boozy concoction of gin, peach vodka,
bon, Crown Royal Nor thern Har vest authentic Polynesian-style mai tai. This cherr y brandy, triple sec, Bacardi 151
r ye, Calvados apple brandy, brown Parkdale tiki bar makes theirs in-house and ginger ale, f it tingly ser ved in a
butter and salted caramel stirred and and it goes into a cocktail of Appleton glass cauldron with two stacked shots
smoked bar-side in a bell jar. BlueBlood signature-blend rum and orange of flaming blue curaҫao. The Lockhart,
Steakhouse, Midtown liqueur topped w i th a f laming lime. Little Portugal
The Shameful Tiki Room, Parkdale
68 TORONTO 2019
FOOD ST YLING BY ASHLEY DENTON, PROP ST YLING BY MATTHEW MADEIROS, BOTH JUDY INC.
OUR THAI ZOMBIE PISCO PASIÓN

Cheers to secret menus. Served in a goblet for A cut-cr ystal highball luxes up this Flash -frozen passion fruit sorbet
two or more enthusiasts, this mai tai variation classic tiki-bar monster, a blend of is the fog g y star of this t wist on
features a mix of Jamaican, Demerara and white, gold and dark overproof rum, t he clas sic Per u v ian co ck t ail. W i t h
Barbados rum, Cointreau, orgeat and fresh and apr icot , pineapple and lime Macchu pisco, p as sion f r ui t puré e,
lime, finished with paper umbrellas, tropical juice topped with a blazing lemon. simple syrup, fresh lime juice and egg
f r ui t and, of cour s e, fe s t i ve sp ar k ler s . Rush Lane & Co., Queen Street West whites, this sipper is ic y per fec tion.
Miss Thing’s, Parkdale Ritz-Carlton Bar, Entertainment District
2019 TORONTO 69
COMPASS
DON’T MISS
HIKING ROUGE
NATIONAL
URBAN PARK’S
MONARCH TRAIL
ISHKHAN GHAZARIAN

12
THERE’S MORE
TO BRAMPTON
13
11
MISSISSAUGA HAS
MORE TO OFFER
LOCAL
CHARACTER
Toronto is a city of dynamic neighbourhoods, each with its own
unique character. Some communities predate the modern city,
while others are so new the cement sidewalks have barely set.
What they all share are friendly faces, welcoming vibes and unique
discoveries. So hop on the streetcar, hail a cab, rent a bike or lace
up your walking shoes—we’ve got a lot to show you!
TORONTO IS TALLER MORE
THAN YOU THINK SCARBOROUGH
THIS WAY
10
7
2
1
6
3
5 9 UPTOWN
Explore Toronto’s heritage
and green space, with cultural
attractions and food.
10 SCARBOROUGH
The east is filled with
surprises, from the sprawling
zoo to the best ethnic food.
1 CITY CENTRE 6 EASTSIDE
The central business district Ethnic enclaves, delicious 11 ETOBICOKE
heats up the urban core with food and a hip up-and-coming This quiet, park-filled area
its busy, buzzy vibe. vibe can be found in shines with natural attractions
4 WESTSIDE Toronto’s east end. and restaurants.
2 MIDTOWN Trendy, dynamic and open
Leafy streets and cultural late, here’s where locals 7 DON VALLEY 12 BRAMPTON
attractions beckon in the head to have a good time. Head north to uncover Discover and savour this
area surrounding the Toronto’s hidden natural exciting and growing
University of Toronto. 5 WATERFRONT attractions and cultural gems. multicultural city.
& TORONTO ISLANDS
3 OLD TOWN Arts, culture and million- 8 HIGH PARK 13 MISSISSAUGA
The roots of modern dollar views combine Go west for family-friendly This vibrant city offers
Toronto start here, in the along the beautiful Lake restaurants, shopping trendy shopping and
city’s historic heart. Ontario waterfront. and parks galore. delicious dining.

COMPASS
City Centre
Energetic. Occasionally frenetic.
The pace of City Centre appeals to people
on the go who want to make the most of their
urban getaway.
Located in the heart of the action, City Centre includes some

of Toronto’s most dynamic areas. Broker some deals or sit
down for a power lunch in the downtown Financial District.
Catch a Broadway-style show, then hit the dance floor in an
Entertainment District nightclub or lounge. The Yonge Street
corridor offers prime shopping, as well as Yonge-Dundas Square’s
cultural events. Church-Wellesley Village is the unofficial
headquarters of Toronto’s LGBTQ community—not to mention
a great place for people of all stripes to enjoy a mean martini.
Roy Thomson Hall
CN Tower and
Rogers Centre
Yonge-Dundas Square
DON’T MISS
v T he Toronto Symphony v The Raptors at Scotiabank
Orchestra performing Arena (formerly Air Canada
at Roy Thomson Hall Centre) or the Blue Jays
v Shopping at CF Toronto at Rogers Centre
Eaton Centre v Film fever during the
v Strolling among the stars Toronto International Film
on Canada’s Walk of Fame Festival and year-round
v A Broadway-style musical at a at the TIFF Bell Lightbox
Mirvish Productions theatre v A spectacular production by
v The CN Tower, Ripley’s the Canadian Opera Company
Aquarium of Canada and at the Four Seasons Centre
the revitalized Union Station for the Performing Arts
GAYBOURHOOD
is the Church-Wellesley Statlers, Boutique Bar) and bar-bookstore-café that’s
neighbourhood, aka The gay-friendly pubs (O’Grady’s especially popular with
WATCH
Village. It’s Canada’s largest and The Churchmouse) are students and the trans
LGBTQ gaybourhood and has on Church Street, and open community. There’s also
been the hub of Toronto’s to all. For queer theatre the defacto LGBTQ
While Toronto is a diverse city
queer culture since the 1970s. and literary entertainment, community centre, The 519.
where LGBTQ visitors are welcome
Our most popular LGBTQ there’s Buddies in Bad
everywhere, the starting point
bars (Woody’s, Black Eagle, Times Theatre and Other gaybourhoods have
for many/most LGBTQ visitors
Crews & Tango, Pegasus, Glad Day Bookshop, a sprouted up outside the

Royal Ontario Museum
and Bloor-Yorkville
@GAGE.FLETCHER (ROGERS CENTRE); @CALVIN_CHOUU (YONGE-DUNDAS SQUARE); DOUG BROWN (ROY THOMSON HALL); GARDINER MUSEUM (GARDINER MUSEUM)
Gardiner Museum
DON’T MISS
v Dinosaurs, a bat cave
and unsurpassed collections
of Asian art, architecture
and artifacts at the Royal
Midtown Casa Loma Ontario Museum

v Cool ceramic art at the
Gardiner Museum
Arts, culture, shopping and v A musical performance
fine dining—exploring doesn’t get at Koerner Hall, known for
much better than this! Best part? This its impeccable acoustics
walkable neighbourhood has something v Philosopher’s Walk or
for every budget, from micro to mega. strolling through a tree-lined
street on the U of T campus
v A saunter along the
Midtown contains a certifiably eclectic array of Bloor Street Culture
districts. There’s tony Bloor-Yorkville with its luxury Corridor, with close to 20
boutiques, high-end spas and exclusive restaurants. arts and cultural landmarks
Then there’s the youthful boho vibe of the University and attractions packed
of Toronto (U of T) and Annex community, home on Bloor Street between
to many of the city’s students, profs and cultural Bathurst and Bay
cognoscenti. Avid foodies and in-the-know shoppers v Casa Loma, an authentic
head to Koreatown for its barbecue restaurants castle, complete with
and K-beauty boutiques. Midtown is also where turrets, secret passages and
you’ll find the Ontario Legislature at Queen’s Park. escape room mystery games
downtown core, namely in vibe at the hipster-friendly “Lesbianville”), where waves In summer months, droves
Queen Street West, where Gladstone and Drake hotels, of LGBTQ folks have of LGBTQ folks board the
many shops and restaurants and at cafés and restos renovated starter homes. Toronto Island ferry to
proudly sport rainbow- throughout Liberty Village. But rest assured east-enders Hanlan’s Point, where a
coloured “Queer St. West” like to party, especially at clothing-optional beach for
street signs. In addition to There’s a more laid-back WAYLA Bar (great karaoke!) naturists of all types is situ-
LGBTQ establishments like vibe on Queen Street East in and the gay-friendly Irish ated along a stretch of sunny
The Beaver bar and café, Leslieville (known to some by pub Roy Bar. shore. Bring sunscreen!
there’s a queer-positive, artsy the tongue-in-cheek moniker – Doug O’Neill

COMPASS
Old Town The birthplace of Toronto, this central locale includes the
original 10 blocks that comprised the Town of York. The historic
St. Lawrence Market zone brims with beautiful architecture and
Historic Old Town is a unique an eponymous food market, considered one of the best in the world.
celebration of Toronto’s past, while A short walk from here is The Distillery Historic District, an
forward-thinking design shops and an innovative artsy enclave of galleries and cafés housed within Canada’s largest
skate park add a contemporary feel. complex of Victorian-era industrial architecture. Corktown, also
part of this community, is home to unique indie shops and cafés.
St. Lawrence Market DON’T MISS

v Shopping the exclusive v Instagramming
boutiques of the King East the iconic Gooderham
Design District “Flatiron” Building
v Eating a peameal bacon v Don’t miss Underpass
sandwich from St. Lawrence Park: the innovative
Market or browsing space—for skateboard-
collectibles at its Sunday ers, b-ballers and street-
Antique Market art enthusiasts—is located
v Watching a stellar under the Eastern Avenue,
performance at the Sony Richmond and Adelaide
Centre For The Performing overpasses and is a great
Arts (to be renamed Meridian place to wander with your
Hall in September 2019) or St. takeout latte
Lawrence Centre for the Arts
Gooderham “Flatiron” Building
At times The Distillery Historic

District feels like a village due to the
lack of traffic. Other times it’s lively
with festivals. It’s a beautiful place to
walk around at night. There’s Arvo for
coffee and the Mill Street Brew Pub
for pints. And St. Lawrence Market is
close by for farm-fresh food.
Maria Musikka

Art Gallery of Ontario
Westside
Hipsters, artists and young profes- Eclectic Kensington Market, where I’ve
sionals form the main demographic of Westside. lived for 13 years, is predictably unpredictable,
especially in terms of the food I can buy here:
Trendy eateries, cafés and live-music venues are dried sumac from Northern Ontario, callaloo
plentiful—big-box stores are not. from Jamaica, shishito peppers from Asia.
My favourite grocery shop? It’s a three-way
tie between Sanagan’s Meat Locker, Blackbird
This trendy part of town is DON’T MISS Baking Co., and House of Spice.
where you’ll find some of the v T he western section of the
city’s hottest haunts, including waterfront’s Martin Agatha Podgorski
Queen Street West, with its Goodman Trail: perfect for
clubs, cafés, restaurants, bar a run or bike ride
scene and street-art hotspot v T he chic dining and nightlife
Graffiti Alley. Popular scene of King Street West
Ossington Village beckons v T he hip College Street vibe
with its hipster craft-cocktail around Little Italy, where
bars, as does the patio-heavy Chinatown
@BRYANLIMY (FLATIRON); JOSEPH MONTEMURRO (AGO); @NADREAM70 (CHINATOWN)
20-somethings and families

Liberty Village. Little alike enjoy late-night meals
Portugal combines a classic and bustling street life
ethnic enclave with millennial v T he Art Gallery of Ontario,
revitalization, resulting in an for its unrivalled Canadian
eclectic and exciting mix of gift Collection, featuring First
shops, salons, cafés, bars and Nations and Inuit artists,
restaurants. Westside is also the Group of Seven and
the location of the arty, icono- their contemporaries,
clastic West Queen West, and an emphasis on the
deemed by Vogue magazine to art of Toronto and Ontario
be the second-coolest district in v T he chance to nosh on
the world, thanks to its galler- empanadas, pupusas and
ies, coffee shops, dynamic food other international foods
choices and indie retail scene. or shop for vintage clothing
Finally, Toronto is known for in Kensington Market
having five Chinatowns, and v A music or food festival
Westside is where you’ll find the at Fort York National
best-known, most central and Historic Site, a War
most Instagram-friendly one. of 1812-era armament

COMPASS
Waterfront &
Toronto Islands
The Waterfront boasts a laid-back, up-and-
coming ambience with more to explore, thanks
to years of successful urban revitalization
efforts. Ditto for the Toronto Islands’ beaches
and car-free roads.
The redesigned Queens Quay strip makes the Lake Ontario

waterfront a stroller’s paradise. The Waterfront offers a
dynamic mix of parks, arts and culture, shops and restaurants
all connected by the Water’s Edge Promenade. Hop a ferry
over to the nearby Toronto Islands, where beaches, a family
amusement park and car-free paved trails await.
Sherbourne Common
Harbourfront
DON’T MISS v V isiting the water sculptures

v Sitting under an umbrella at Sherbourne Common
and chilling amid the urban v Looking at cutting-edge
vibe of Sugar Beach international contemporary
v Checking out the arts and art at The Power Plant
culture festivals that light up v Snapping photos at HTO
Harbourfront Centre Park and the Simcoe,
year-round Rees and Spadina
v Renting a bike and cycling WaveDecks on Queens
from one end of the Toronto Quay West
Islands to the other
Simcoe WaveDeck Centreville
ALAMY STOCK (CENTREVILLE)

Little India
Eastside
It won’t take long for multicultural
Eastside to charm you with foods and tradi-
tions from Greece, India, Ireland and others.
Riverdale Park
A hip, emerging community that encompasses a dazzling array

of neighbourhoods, Eastside is best explored over a couple
of days. After all, you’ll want to make room for the culinary
adventures awaiting in Little India, also known as Gerrard
India Bazaar, and bustling Greektown. The Beaches area is DON’T MISS
another draw, with its laid-back boutiques, casual restaurants, v Trying saganaki in Greektown:
Irish pubs, patios and Blue Flag-certified swimming beaches. the cheese dish comes to
For prime retail and brunch therapy, don’t miss Leslieville, your table in flames
known for its indie boutiques, cafés and restaurants. v Biking, running or strolling
along The Beaches boardwalk,
especially at dusk or dawn
v Taking photos of the
famous De Grassi Street
sign in Riverside
v Loading up on gorgeous saris
As a young Greek boy, I’d march and jewelry in
in the annual Independence Day Parade Gerrard India Bazaar
v Checking out a local
@THEREALLEECHU (RIVERDALE PARK); DOUG BROWN (BOARDWALK)
along The Danforth, wearing my

traditional white-pleated fustanella. farmers’ market or food
Afterwards we’d eat souvlaki at Astoria festival in Riverside Drive Park
or spanakopita at Pantheon. We still
go to Greektown for live music and
authentic Greek food. It’s a little bit
of Greece right in Toronto.
Stavros Lebesis
Leslieville The Beaches boardwalk

COMPASS
Don Valley
Based around the Don River,
this relaxed and outdoorsy region is
home to brunch-y neighbourhoods, beautiful
public gardens and family-friendly cultural
attractions galore.
Evergreen Brick Works
Ontario Science Centre
Aga Khan Museum
@ALEX ANDRAMACK22 (AGA KHAN MUSEUM); ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTRE (SCIENCE CENTRE)
East and north of City Centre, DON’T MISS Evergreen Brick Works is a really
the Don Valley region is verdant v Quaint Riverdale Farm, pleasant place to spend an afternoon,
and peaceful. It’s host to with its heritage-breed hens, especially on a sunny day. You can buy a
historic Cabbagetown, where pigs, goats and cows good coffee and pastry and stroll around.
mom-and-pop shops share the v T he locavore food, It’s a much-appreciated respite from the
streetscape with multicultural farmers’ market and winter busy city. In the winter there is ice skating
restaurants and cafés. skating rink at Evergreen and in the summer, farmers’ markets
Bring a book and hunker down Brick Works and artisan markets are a fun draw.
in a cozy tea shop or find a v Islamic artifacts and fine arts There’s something for everyone.
tranquil spot in a leafy park. at the expansive Aga Khan
Niall McGee
Museum, with its beautifully
photogenic grounds
v Hands-on scientific discovery
for the kids at the Ontario
Science Centre
v Seasonal blooms at Edwards
Gardens and the Toronto
Botanical Gardens

High Park
Some High Park neighbourhoods
are in the midst of heady rejuvenation as
others retain their time-honoured identities—
the perfect hybrid of trendy and traditional.
Once a pleasantly sleepy com- with small galleries, vintage

The Junction
munity of European immi- shops and coffee bars. The
grants, the High Park area has heart of the neighbourhood is
evolved over the past couple of the sprawling, leafy High Park,
decades into an enclave for home to a small zoo, an exten-
educated, affluent Gen Xers sive trail network, adventure
and millennials to raise their playgrounds, an off-leash dog
families in befittingly organic park and a scenic pond.
style. For visitors, that means
Roncesvalles Village’s trove of DON’T MISS
foodie-approved casual restau- v T he European bakeries
rants, health food stores and and dessert cafés of Bloor
gourmet shops. Roncy is also West Village
known for its indie gift shops, v T he sunrise at Humber Bay
fashion boutiques and yoga v Instagramming the beautifully
studios. Farther north, restored Jazz Age bathing
The Junction is another pavilion at Sunnyside Beach
hit with smart, young v T he cherry trees of High
Torontonians but with an Park, a top city attraction
High Park
edgier, artier vibe and replete during peak bloom
Uptown
PAIGE LINDSAY (THE JUNCTION); ALAMY (HIGH PARK); TORONTO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS (TORONTO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS)
Urban professionals and families

populate the leafy side streets and newly
minted condo towers throughout Uptown.
After-work cocktail bars, family-friendly
restaurants and fine shopping will appeal
to locals and visitors alike.
Spread your sightseeing wings boutiques, sushi and burger

in this sprawling region of joints along the Yonge-
North Toronto, which includes Eglinton strip (known
everything from premium colloquially as “Young and
shopping and fine dining Eligible” for its young
along the Yonge-Eglinton professional demographic)
strip to historic Black Creek v Live theatre at North York’s
Pioneer Village and the Toronto Centre for the Arts
grassy mid-century mod v Peaceful Mount Pleasant
campus of York University. Cemetery, the perfect spot
for a mindful walk
DON’T MISS v Digging for interior design
v Top chains and Canada’s inspiration in the Castlefield
luxury department store, Design District
Holt Renfrew, at Yorkdale v Period Christmas programming
Shopping Centre and special events at Black
Toronto Centre for the Arts
v T he espresso bars and cool Creek Pioneer Village

COMPASS
Scarborough
From breathtaking natural
attractions to appetite-whetting food
options, this east-end enclave is worth
the drive or public transit commute.
Multicultural, up and coming the polar bears, whose

and full of natural beauty, five-acre habitat includes
Scarborough is an east-end an underwater viewing area.
community that boasts some
of the Greater Toronto Area’s DON’T MISS Toronto Zoo
best ethnic food, dished out in v S ampling the world-class
unassuming little strip mall ethnic food scene, with
restos. It’s also home to wildly standout Filipino, Sri Guild Park and Gardens
scenic locales like the lakeside Lankan, Lebanese, Persian,
Scarborough Bluffs (great for Hakka Chinese and Chinese
year-round exploring and Muslim Uighur cuisine
summer swimming) and v Brushing up on your
Rouge National Urban local history at the
Park, Canada’s only national Scarborough Museum
urban park, complete with v Posing for photos at the
camping, hiking trails, Guild Park and Gardens
beaches, farms and 10,000 sculpture park
years of human history. v Chowing down—or getting
Scarborough’s most beloved down—at The Taste of
residents are probably Lawrence International
the 5,000 animals (from Food, Music and
460+ species) that live at Cultural Festival
the Toronto Zoo. Don’t miss
CLIFTON LI (ZOO); CIT Y OF TORONTO (GUILD PARK AND GARDENS); KHRISTEL STECHER (WOODBINE RACETRACK)
Etobicoke
Ethnically rich areas (with authentic
restaurants) and family-friendly entertainment
complexes woo visitors eager for retail therapy
and the chance to explore new neighbourhoods.
A west-end community known DON’T MISS

for its quiet charm, Etobicoke v Horse racing or slots at
(the k is silent) packs a lot Woodbine Racetrack
of punch into its neighbour- v Trade shows and
hoods. Albion Islington conferences at the
Square is a unique shopping Toronto Congress Centre
district that is home to v Walking, biking or
Toronto’s highest concentra- paddling along the
tion of jewelers who specialize Humber River
in 22- and 24-karat gold and v Afternoon tea at the
diamond designer jewelry. luxurious Old Mill Toronto
You’ll also find a variety of v Top North American
shops, salons and multi retailers at CF Sherway
cultural restaurants, including Gardens shopping mall
ones that offer South Asian
Woodbine Racetrack
and Caribbean delicacies.

HOW EXCITING IS THE NEW CN TOWER?
COULD BE A WHILE BEFORE YOU COME DOWN TO EARTH.
Our NEW LookOut Level
Have you seen the most spectacular views in Toronto from our brand new LookOut Level?
Have you delighted in our award-winning cuisine at 360 Restaurant, boldly walked on our
Glass Floor, or experienced EdgeWalk, the world’s highest hands-free outdoor walk 116
stories up? If you haven’t, then your most awesome Toronto day ever is coming up.
SOLD HERE Purchase Tickets / Plan Your Visit / Reservations / cntower.ca
16
2019
2
ALL EVENTS FREE WITH ADMISSION* TORONTO

CANADA
*Does not include Rides or Sky Ride
Your journey starts here.

Travel from downtown to Pearson Airport
in 45 minutes with your TTC fare.*
Pla
n yo
ttc. ur trip at
ca
* The 900 Airport Express leaves from Kipling Station. Approximate travel
time is based on a 30-minute subway ride from Bloor-Yonge to Kipling
and a 15-minute bus ride to the airport.
COMPASS
BRAMPTON
From adventures in outdoor
sports to immersion in arts
and culture, Flower City is
the place to enjoy it all.
BY SARAH B. HOOD
This booming city to the northwest of

Toronto, famed (and nicknamed) for its
lovely gardens, has come into its own
as a hotbed of arts, culture and outdoor
activities. Brampton is also unique for its
multiculturalism, thanks to the people
from 200+ ethnic backgrounds who call it
home. Eat, see and explore—it’s all a short
drive from the city.
ARTS AND CULTURE

Rose Theatre Brampton programs a full
year-round season of live music, comedy
and theatre in its 870-seat, horseshoe-
shaped mainstage and 100- to 150-seat
secondary hall. Next to it, Garden Square
has become a busy and vibrant area of
downtown, with movies on the big screen,
music, events, markets and more.
Also at the square is the Brampton
Rose Theatre Brampton
Arts Walk of Fame, which celebrates
homegrown stars like actor/comedians

Russell Peters and Scott Thompson,
CHRISTINA DE MELO (ROSE THEATRE); TORONTO AND REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORIT Y (HEART LAKE)
n o v e l i s t R o h i nt o n M i s t r y, s i n g e r -
songwriter Keshia Chanté, actors Michael
Cera and Scott Lale, and watercolour
artist Jack Reid.
Nearby, Peel Art Gallery, Museum and
Archives—better known as PAMA—is a
vital and multifaceted space housed in
historic buildings that once served as a
courthouse, registry office and jail. PAMA
presents contemporary art exhibitions,
hosts museum ex h ibits on topics as
wide ranging as sports and fashion, and
showcases local history and culture in all
its forms.
Brampton’s diverse cultural makeup and
its robust South Asian population bring a
wealth of international programming,
particularly in the area of cinema. The
city hosts components of the exhilarating
BMO International Film Festival of
South Asia (IFFSA) (May 2019). The nearly
two-week-long celebration, which has
quickly grown into the largest South Asian
Heart Lake Conservation Area
film festival in North America, includes

Gage Park
MUST-TRY
BRAMPTON
ATTRACTIONS
1
international feature film screenings, as well Area draws bird-watchers and horseback
as documentaries and short films, plus a full riders, while Eldorado Park is a family
lineup of parties, concerts, workshops and favourite for its outdoor swimming pool Treetop climbs and zip lines
beckon adrenaline lovers at
seminars across the Greater Toronto Area. and picnic areas. Or fish, paddle or hike the Treetop Trekking Brampton
trails at Heart Lake Conservation Area. in the pretty Heart Lake
OUTDOOR FUN Dona ld M . G ordon Chinguacousy Conservation Area.
The splendour of nature isn’t hard to find Park, at Central Park Drive and Queen
in Flower City: just head to a local park.
Brampton’s winter wonderland is Gage
Street East, offers an astonishing array of
facilities for active fun: year-round tennis,
2
Enjoy shopping galore at
Park, located at the southwest corner of beach volleyball, mini-putt golf, formal Bramalea City Centre.
It’s one of Canada’s
Main Street South and Wellington Street gardens, paddleboats, a petting zoo, a largest malls with more
West. Visitors and residents make the BMX/skateboard park and a snow hill for than 300 shops and
most of the chilly season by gliding on the skiing, snowboarding and inner tubing— services, anchored by
Hudson’s Bay. The mall has
picturesque ice trail alongside the trees, just to name a few. Professor’s Lake, a
CIT Y OF BRAMPTON (GAGE PARK); IFFSA (IFFSA); TREETOP TREKKING BRAMPTON (TREETOP TREKKING)
a free electric vehicle

delighting in a holiday light show and former quarry, is now a spring-fed lake charging station.
enjoying a free New Year’s Eve celebration. where you can rent canoes, kayaks and
The park is also the home of annual events
such as the Rotary Rib ’n’ Roll (May 2019),
other watercraft. It’s a popular haunt for
triathletes in training.
3
For three days, the city’s
a weekend of sizzling barbecue and family diverse communities
entertainment. Claireville Conservation go all out to impress
“passport”-holding
visitors at pavilions
representing international
food, culture, music
and dance at Carabram
( July 2019).
4
Historic Bovaird House
is a 19th-century
farmhouse preserved as a
fascinating museum—with
a haunted nursery!
Tempting handmade
craftworks are on offer at
the gift shop, and locals
adore the Mother’s Day tea
and Victorian Christmas
open house and gift sale.
IFFSA

COMPASS
MISSISSAUGA
browse charming boutiques. Wander
Streetsville Village Square on Main
Street for a pretty promenade and a
canopied space for public celebrations.
For more than 40 years, the Streetsville
Old-world charm blends with big-city vibes Founders’ Bread and Honey Festival
in Canada’s sixth-largest city. (first weekend in June 2019), named in
honour of the local mills and apiaries, has
been the community’s benchmark family
C olos s a l s t r e et pa r t ie s , t r ad it ion a l Here, the beautifully revitalized 6.6-acre outing, loved for its petting zoo, musical
fe s t i v a l s g a lo r e a nd e pic s hoppi n g Mississauga Celebration Square is home performances, carnival rides and popular
awa it you i n Mississauga, Toronto’s to more than 150 free festivals, public Bread and Honey Parade.
bustling neighbour. Home to Toronto performances and activities annually. This
Pe a r s on I nt er n at ion a l A i r p or t a nd state-of-the art multimedia destination BUSTLING PORT CREDIT
about 4 0 m i nutes west of Un ion includes an amphitheatre and an inter- Fo r a r e l a x i n g r e t r e a t w i t h i n t h e
S t at i o n b y t r a i n , t h e c it y at t r a c t s active water fountain that becomes the city, discover the lakefront village of
v isitors look ing for la kef ront v iews, city’s largest free outdoor skating rink Port Credit. This pedestrian-friendly
decadent dining and leisurely strolls. each winter. enclave has restaurants, boutiques and a
T he A r t G a l ler y of M i s si s sau ga scenic boardwalk.
THE CITY CENTRE is a free public gallery located inside At Port Credit Memorial Park, the annual
Early settlement hugged the lakeshore, Mississauga Civic Centre. Exhibitions Mississauga Waterfront Festival (June
but today Mississauga is centred at range from historical to contemporary 2019) draws more than 70,000 people to
Burnhamthorpe Road West between art, photography, design and crafts. The Port Credit during the three-day event.
Hurontario Street and Confederation Living Arts Centre features performance Live performances by Canadian stars
Parkway, with a cluster of key destina- venues, studio spaces and exhibit display have included Sam Roberts, Jann Arden
tions: the postmodern Mississauga Civic areas. It’s a hub for all things creative. and Jim Cuddy.
Centre, a performing arts centre, a pub- In September, the park hosts the Tim
lic square, an art gallery and the massive SCENIC STREETSVILLE Hortons Southside Shuffle Blues & Jazz
Square One Shopping Centre, all within Stroll through historic Streetsville for Festival (September 2019), Port Credit’s
sight of Absolute World, the eye-catching an old-fashioned Ontario main-street weekend blues and jazz festival, which has
condos nicknamed the Marilyn Monroe experience. Known as The Village in featured the likes of Dr. Hook, Elvin Bishop
Towers for their curvy forms. the City, you can relax in a tearoom and and Mavis Staples on multiple stages. Don’t
Celebration Square

Lakefront Promenade Park
Carassauga
Raptors 905
miss the food trucks, beer gardens or

Mississauga’s biggest street party.
Mississauga’s lakefront and parkland
retreats offer numerous possibilities for
cyclists, bird-watchers and other out-
NAEEM JAFFER (CELEBRATION SQUARE); ADAM PULICICCHIO PHOTOGRAPHY, OWNED BY CIT Y OF MISSISSAUGA (RAPTORS 905)
door aficionados to explore. Lakefront

Promenade Park blends protected nat-
ural areas and spaces for outdoor recre-
ation, including boating at the Mississauga
Sailing Club, the Port Credit Yacht Club
and the Lakefront Promenade Marina. luxury department store, and celeb chef Cultures (May 2019), Canada’s largest
Mississauga also offers outstanding Jamie Oliver’s Jamie’s Italian restaurant. multicultural festival. Explore a glob-
urban angling. The Credit River is known Opening in Spring 2019, check out the Rec al range of eats and offerings from 70
for its excellent catch-and-release ops, for Room, Canada’s premier “eats & enter- different cultures, showcasing their
chinook, salmon and steelhead as well as tainment” hotspot with Canadian-inspired food and traditions at 31 pavilions across
some coho and Atlantic salmon. Popular cuisine, virtual reality, video and redemp- Mississauga.
fishing spots include Erindale Park for tion games, live entertainment and more. See what’s on at Mississauga’s pre-
salmon and trout, and J.C. Saddington Of note to international visitors: Square mier sports and entertainment arena,
Park for carp, salmon and trout. The One accepts WeChat Pay and China Union the Paramount Fine Foods Centre. As a
stretch of river between Streetsville and Pay at its Guest Experience Booths for the concert venue, it has hosted artists like
Norval is legendary for nonstop steelie purchase of gift cards. The Tragically Hip, Green Day and the
strikes during the month of May. Check Hea r tland Tow n Centre i s one of White Stripes. The venue is also home to
craa.on.ca for current fishing regulations. Canada’s largest Power Centres. With two hot-ticket sports teams:
over 180 stores and services, this outdoor v The Mississauga Steelheads are a
TOP-NOTCH SHOPPING complex is one-stop shopping for junior hockey team in the Ontario Hockey
More than 330 retail, dining and enter- everything from housewares to electron- League (OHL). Come watch Canada’s
tainment options await you at Square ics, fashion and more. You’ll find big-box sport and enjoy one of the best game
One Shopping Centre. With choice retail- stores from Canadian Tire to Walmart, and experiences in the league.
ers like Rudsak, Apple, Tory Burch, Ben factory outlets for brands like Nordstrom v The Raptors 905 are the future stars
Sherman and Hudson’s Bay, it’s Ontario’s Rack, Harry Rosen, Gap and more. of ba sketba l l, play ing in the NBA G
biggest mall at 2.2 million square feet. It League (the NBA’s official minor league).
is also home to a lavish two-storey loca- CAN’T-MISS EVENTS The regular season schedule runs from
tion of Quebec’s La Maison Simons chain, Travel the world without leaving the November to April. The road to The 6ix
a 120,0 0 0 -squa re-foot Holt R en f rew city during the Carassauga Festival of starts here!

COMPASS
WANDER
LUST
Hit the road and
discover Ontario’s
greatest escapes.
BY ALIYAH SHAMSHER, WITH
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
BY SARAH B. HOOD
PHOTO: TKTKTKTKTKTKTKTTKTK
Tobermory

Niagara Falls LOCAL FLAVOUR Catch 22 Fresh Market
Grill is a TripAdvisor fave. Locally farmed
ingredients pepper a menu heavy on
populist hits: steak, seafood, pasta and a
different lunch burger featured each day.
4. STRATFORD
THE ROAD TRIP 149 km (93 miles);
approximately two hours from Toronto.
WHAT WE LOVE The town’s architecture
reflects its Victorian past, but many come
for the Justin Bieber hometown tour.
The Stratford Festival enjoys
international acclaim, particularly
for its Shakespearean productions.
LOCAL FLAVOUR At Revival House, chef
Loreena Miller uses local and seasonal
ingredients for her popular take on
modern French-inflected cuisine. Located
in an opulent repurposed church, the sun-
drenched patio is also a top spot for locals.
The Savour Stratford Chocolate Trail—25
shops offering everything chocolate, from
shortbread to chocolate mint tea—provides
the ultimate sweet finish.
1. NIAGARA FALLS seasonal menus, leads Zagat winner 5. BLUE MOUNTAIN

THE ROAD TRIP 128 km (80 miles); Peller Estates Winery Restaurant. THE ROAD TRIP 163 km (101 miles);
approximately two hours from Toronto. approximately two hours from Toronto.
WHAT WE LOVE Hornblower Niagara Cruises’ 3. WASAGA BEACH WHAT WE LOVE Nestled between the Niagara
Canadian Falls tours—light dining on board THE ROAD TRIP 144 km (89 miles); Escarpment and Georgian Bay, Blue
is now an option. Tour at the whirlpool, approximately two hours from Toronto. Mountain is a ski and snowboard mega-
ride the jet boat or stroll through Niagara WHAT WE LOVE With its 14 km (8.7 miles) resort destination. But it also has plenty
Parks Botanical Gardens. of white sand, Wasaga Beach has of green-season sports to keep
LOCAL FLAVOUR Casually upscale, drawn summer visitors to the shores of fitness freaks happy, including a
Weinkeller is Niagara Falls’ first winery- Nottawasaga Bay for more than a century. mountain-bike park, mountain tours
restaurant. Sip your way through the Nearby golf courses, hiking trails, bike and an adventure park with a Timber
DESTINATION ONTARIO (TOBERMORY); NORM LI (NIAGARA FALLS); ELDON GAMMON (REVIVAL HOUSE)
offerings and enjoy a glass with fresh paths and cross-country skiing and Challenge High Ropes course.
oysters. For the best value, it’s tough to snowmobile routes keep people busy LOCAL FLAVOUR Blue Mountain Village’s
beat the $25 Grand Buffet at Fallsview all year round. Kaytoo offers representative dishes
Casino Resort.
Revival House,
2. NIAGARA WINE REGION Stratford
approximately two hours from Toronto.
WHAT WE LOVE Encompassing the quaint
villages and scenic vineyards of Niagara-
on-the-Lake, the Niagara Peninsula and
Twenty Valley, the Niagara wine region
offers dozens of wineries to tour and taste
at. Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to the
Shaw Festival, a world-renowned annual
theatre festival showcasing works by
George Bernard Shaw and other
playwrights. Drive the quiet country
roads or, better yet, park the car, rent a
bike and explore them at your leisure.
LOCAL FLAVOUR Executive chef Jason
Parsons, who works with winemaker
Katie Dickieson to showcase wines in his

COMPASS
9. POINT PELEE
approximately three and a half hours
from Toronto.
WHAT WE LOVE Mainland Canada’s
southernmost tip, Point Pelee National
Park is a world-renowned bird sanctuary
and has captivated visitors who marvel at
the migration of birds and butterflies.
LOCAL FLAVOUR First sip, then dine at
nearby Pelee Island Winery, known for its
Pinot Noir, where an in-depth look at the
winemaking process is followed by a tasting.
10. OTTAWA
approximately four and a half hours
from Toronto.
WHAT WE LOVE As Canada’s capital, this
dynamic city with more than 1.3 million
Blue Mountain Village
residents is always buzzing. Visit
Parliament Hill or one of several national
museums, as well as galleries and theatre
from across Canada, like Alberta beef, 8. TOBERMORY companies, or take in the Rideau Canal,
saskatoon berry pie, Montreal smoked THE ROAD TRIP 295 km (185 miles); a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
meat and East Coast lobster. Canadian approximately four hours from Toronto. EAT LOCAL Canadian ingredients marry with
campfire-cooked s’mores end winter WHAT WE LOVE Calling all hikers, divers, the finest French culinary techniques at Le
meals on a sweet note. kayakers, golfers and art lovers: hike the Cordon Bleu’s Signatures Restaurant, located
majestic cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment at the North American HQ of the famous
6. PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY or scuba dive in Fathom Five National cooking academy. Head to the historical
THE ROAD TRIP 203 km (126 miles); Marine Park. ByWard Market district for restaurants,
approximately two and a half hours LOCAL FLAVOUR Follow the locals to cafés and specialty food shops featuring local
from Toronto. The Fish & Chip Place. Grab a prime ingredients, or explore the Ottawa region’s
WHAT WE LOVE The newest wine region spot on the front patio and enjoy crispy impressive craft beer scene at a brewpub.
in Ontario makes for a great excursion, battered Georgian Bay whitefish
with award-winning wineries and while overlooking Little Tub Harbour. –Additional research by Sarah B. Hood
Chowhound-pleasing eateries and artisan
food producers. The Globe and Mail
newspaper has named the area the
“gastronomic capital” of Ontario.
LOCAL FLAVOUR A top choice among Toronto
chefs, East & Main Bistro had the smart 8 10
7
idea to combine luxury comfort food with
ONTARIO
fresh, local ingredients, paired with an
outstanding selection of County wines. 5 3
7. MUSKOKA 6
approximately two and a half hours TORONTO
from Toronto.
ANDREA HAMLIN (BLUE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE)
4
WHAT WE LOVE National Geographic 2
Traveler editors chose Muskoka as the 1
U.S.A.
No. 1 summer destination in the world
for its 1,600 lakes, artistically gnarled U.S.A.
pine trees and granite cliffs carved out
of the Canadian Shield. 9
LOCAL FLAVOUR Rub shoulders with such
high-profile guests as Goldie Hawn and
Kate Hudson at The Rosseau Grill at For more great Ontario getaways, visit ontariotravel.net
Windermere House.

EXPLORE. LIVE. SHARE neillwycikhotel
NEILL - WYCIK neillwycikhotel_
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• OPEN FROM MAY - AUGUST

• PHONE NUMBER: 416-977-2320
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• BOOK NOW torontobackpackershotel.com
• EMAIL reservations@neill-wycik.com
Where
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Laughs
GROUP & EVENT PACKAGES AVAILABLE
SECONDCITY.COM • 416-343-0011 • 51 MERCER ST
COMPASS
GETTING AROUND
What you need to know for wherever you want to go.
TRAVELLING BY BUS
v Toronto Coach Terminal
is the main intercity bus
depot, located downtown at
610 Bay St. It serves such bus
companies as Greyhound,
Coach Canada/Trentway-
Wagar/Megabus and Ontario
Northland.
v Union Station Bus

Terminal is located at 141 Bay
St. (south of Front Street and
just east of Union Station). It is
the hub for GO Transit buses
servicing inter-region travel
in and around the Greater
Toronto Area. For more
information, call 1-888-GET-
ON-GO or 416-869-3200 or
visit gotransit.com.
TRAVELLING BY TRAIN
v All trains arrive and depart
Toronto Pearson
International Airport from Union Station (65 Front
St. W.). VIA Rail handles
most of Canada’s intercity
AIRPORT 411 2. TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT: Ride the 5. RENT A CAR: You’ll find routes and connects to the
v Toronto Pearson Toronto Transit Commission’s major car-rental chains U.S. via Amtrak. The Amtrak/
International Airport (TTC) 192 Airport Rocket bus to at both Terminal 1 and VIA Maple Leaf route runs
(code YYZ) is the main point Kipling subway station or take Terminal 3. Most are open between New York City and
of landing for most domestic the 52A Lawrence West bus to daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Toronto daily and takes about
and international flights. Lawrence West subway station. Find directions to the city 12 and a half hours, depending
Toronto Pearson is 27 km Both TTC stations are on subway at torontopearson.com. on the border wait. For more
(17 miles) northwest of lines serving the downtown core. information: 1-888-VIA-RAIL
downtown (about a half-hour Visit ttc.ca for fare information. v Billy Bishop Toronto and viarail.ca; 1-800-USA-
drive). To get from the airport City Airport (code YTZ), RAIL and amtrak.com.
to downtown, you can: 3. HIRE A RIDE: Look for the lineup located on the Toronto
signs for taxis. The average cost Islands, serves domestic, v GO Transit services inter-
1. TAKE THE UP (UNION PEARSON) into the city is about $60. For chartered and select U.S. region travel in and around
EXPRESS: The dedicated ride-share services Uber and flights. Passengers can walk the Greater Toronto Area.
express air-rail service, Lyft, visit uber.com and lyft.com to or from Billy Bishop via GO’s green-and-white trains
which departs every 15 to download the apps to your a pedestrian tunnel or take also operate from Union
minutes, travels between smartphone and book a ride. a short ferry ride to Toronto’s Station. For more information,
Union Station and Toronto Harbourfront district, call 1-888-GET-ON-GO or
ANETE LUSINA (TORONTO PEARSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT)
Pearson in 25 minutes 4. CATCH A SHUTTLE BUS: Many with taxi and public transit 416-869-3200 or visit
and costs as little as hotels offer airport shuttles, connections from there. gotransit.com.
$12.35 one way. so check whether yours does.
IMPORTANT FYIs
v Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): All visa-exempt foreign fly- (available online) with two pieces of government-issued ID and
in visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). American the applicable fee (in Toronto it’s $140), the licence can generally
citizens and travellers with valid visas are exempt, as are visitors be processed within a day, after which it’s valid for 90 days.
who arrive by land or sea. Same-sex marriage has been legal here since 2003. Find more
info (including the application form) at settlement.org.
v The legal drinking age is 19. Licensed establishments serve
alcohol between 11 a.m. and 2 a.m. v General retail hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with some malls
offering extended hours and some smaller boutiques closing
v To get married in Ontario, consenting partners age 18 and older
earlier. Most shops and malls close earlier on Sundays.
must first obtain a marriage licence. If you submit the application

EXPLORING THE CITY
v BY TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION (TTC): Toronto’s subway system is easy
to navigate. Maps are displayed on all subway cars and are available at
station ticket booths. Subway stops connect to streetcar or bus routes
across the city and the Greater Toronto Area. Single fare is $3.25 (adults),
$2.10 (seniors/students) and free for children 12 or under. TTC drivers
don’t provide change. Hold on to your paper transfer for free connections
and as proof of payment (POP); failing to provide POP may result in a fine.
Save money by buying a daily or weekly pass. Another option is the
PRESTO card, which is valid on the TTC, GO Transit, UP Express and any
of the 11 participating transit agencies in Ontario. Passengers use credit
or debit cards to load the cards for multiple trips or month-long access.
Visit ttc.ca or call 416-393-INFO for info.
TTC streetcar
v BY REGIONAL TRANSIT: and are non-negotiable. For a Explore PATH’s underground GET INSIDER
Visiting Mississauga? Go to the
“Schedules and Trip Planner”
pre-approved flat rate, please
ask the driver for a rate sheet.
walkways and shopping
arcades that run beneath the
ADVICE
The Toronto Greeters
section on mississauga.ca, type downtown core. The 30 km program will send a
in your origin and destina- v BY UBER OR LYFT: Uber and (19 mile) PATH connects six volunteer to welcome
tion, and the website will map Lyft both operate in Toronto. subway stations, major hotels visitors. By pairing
guests and greeters
out your best route. For route Visit uber.com and lyft.com and several attractions, with similar interests,
information in Brampton, to download the apps to your including Union Station, Roy the program offers
visit Brampton Transit at smartphone and learn how the Thomson Hall, Scotiabank newcomers a chance to
connect with Toronto—
brampton.ca. ride-hailing services work. Arena, CN Tower, CF Toronto
and Torontonians—on
Eaton Centre, Queens Quay a personal level and to
v BY GO TRANSIT: For routes v BY BIKE: Renting a bike is easy. and City Hall. Maps are tap into the pulse of the
from Toronto to the suburbs Keep your eyes peeled for auto- available at toronto.ca or city. Call 416-33TAPTO
(338-2786) or email
and neighbouring regions, mated bike stands throughout posted throughout PATH. tapto@toronto.ca for
check GO Transit bus and train the city. Bike rentals are ideal more info.
schedules at gotransit.com. for shorter rides and are a great v BY WATER: Visit the city’s
alternative to taxi jaunts. Grab largest parkland, the Toronto
v BY TAXI: Toronto has a bike at one stand and return it Islands, just minutes from the
numerous cab companies, to another. Visit toronto.ca for downtown core. Depending
and all charge the same base an online Toronto cycling map, on which island you visit, a MORE
rate of $3.25 plus $1.75 per
kilometre ($1.09 per mile) or
or pick up a free paper copy at
a civic or community centre,
ferry trip takes anywhere
from 10 to 15 minutes. There
QUESTIONS?
Call 311 Toronto at
52 cents a minute. The easiest library or bicycle shop. are regular sailings from the 416-392-CITY (2489),
cab number to remember is Jack Layton Ferry Terminal or dial 311 within city
416-TAXICAB, which connects v BY FOOT: Toronto is a safe (located between Bay Street limits, 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
you to all taxi and airport taxi and walkable city. Look for and Yonge Street on Queens
or limo companies. Fares from trails throughout the parks, Quay). Buy your tickets in
Toronto Pearson International gardens and beaches; routes person or book online at
Airport are regulated by zone are outlined at toronto.ca. toronto.ca/ferry.
TOURIST
UP Express INFO +
SERVICES
Visit the Ontario Travel
Information Centre at
the west end of Union
Station (65 Front St. W.)
in the Main Hall, near
the Skywalk. Specialists
at the Toronto desk can
provide information to
help you get the most out
of your visit to Toronto.

LAST WORD
F
irst things f irst: it’s octopuses or
octopodes, not octopi. “Basically, octopi
has a Latin ending on a Greek root,
so grammatically, it’s not correct,” says
Kat MacFadden, senior aquarist at Ripley’s
Aquarium of Canada. “But no one is going to
correct you, except a cephalopod biologist.”
MacFadden’s expertise landed her in the
octopus tank at the aquarium five years ago.
Now she’s swimming with sharks in Dangerous
Lagoon. No two days are alike for MacFadden,
but a typical one starts at 7 a.m., observing the
behaviour of the animals in her care. Then
she throws on scuba gear to scrub the tanks.
Next, she may feed the sharks, stingrays and
sawfish, or move on to enrichment-training
the animals with stimuli and activities.
“We give the octopuses stimuli that bring
out their hunting behaviours. They use touch,
taste and smell to explore the world. We engage
those senses. A lot of the stimuli, like a Mr.
Potato Head, look cute to us, but the animal
is getting a sense of the smell and taste of the
food that’s inside. It gives them something to
rip apart and manipulate,” she says.
When on dry land, MacFadden chats with
visitors. “Quite often you’ll see me in front
of my tank or walking in the shark tunnel,”
she says. “I love when people ask questions!”
The top question she gets asked: Why don’t
sharks eat all their tankmates? Answer:
they’re not the “bloodthirsty serial killers”
you see in movies, MacFadden says. Like any
predator, when they’re full, they stop eating.
As for octopuses, ever since news of Inky the
Octopus’s great escape from New Zealand’s
National Aquarium went v iral in 2016,
MacFadden gets asked if she’s ever caught any
escapees. Nope, but she has taught giant
Pacific octopuses Petunia and Violet
to crawl into buckets to be weighed
and moved from tank to tank. She’s
also introduced the octopuses to
paint and LEGO.
Her advice for aspiring aquarists
is to be fascinated by everything.
“It’s easy to be discouraged because a
lot of my marine biology degree was learning
how everything is disappearing, how much
trouble the world is in, and how separated
people are from the natural environment,”
she says. That’s why working at the aquarium
WATERWORLD
and seeing glints of discovery in the eyes of
visitors is so rewarding, she says: “I genuinely
feel that we are closing that gap of separation.”
Want to test the waters? Ripley’s Aquarium
of Canada’s Aquarist for a Day program offers
Dive deep into a day in the life of Kat MacFadden, a behind-the-scenes look at this unique career,
senior aquarist at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. including meal prep, exhibit cleaning, water-
BY KATIE SEHL ILLUSTRATION BY STEVE MANALE quality checks and more.

MINUTES AWAY,
WORLDS APART.
Just a 30-minute drive from Toronto’s
downtown and within easy reach
for day trips to Niagara Falls.
discovermississauga.ca
1,200 RESTAURANTS / 2,800 RETAIL SHOPS / 11 VILLAGES / 500 PARKS
Port Credit Village in Mississauga

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COMPLIMENTARY / DISCOVER LIVE MUSIC, THE FOOD SCENE, PRO SPORTS & MORE

MEET THE LOCALS & EXPLORE THE NEIGHBOURHOODS

chelseatoronto.com / 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732)

Funding provided by:

@SeeTorontoNow @SeeTorontoNow 2019 TORONTO 3

32 PERIOD PERFECT 44 LUXURY LOOKBOOK 54 FAM JAM

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special screenings on a jumbo-

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18 TORONTO 2019 www.SeeTorontoNow.com

TOP MUSEUM/ART GALLERY/HISTORIC SITE

BLUEBLOOD STEAKHOUSE DON ALFONSO 1890

PRE MIER DINING ESTABLISHMENT S

CIBO WINE BAR YONGE KING W Y ORKVILLE

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

also by liberty Group

1 LIVE ON THE EDGE

2 GO FOR THE GOLD

7 DROP ANCHOR IN 9 DINE LIKE A KING

PATRICK TOMASSO (HELI TOUR); RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM OF CANADA (AQUARIUM)

3 DRIVE YOUR DREAM CAR

20 TORONTO 2019 www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Book at aircanada.com or contact your travel agent.

But first, coffee

LIGHT CAFE FIKA CAFÉ MAMAN

Follow: @lightcafecanada Follow: @fikakensington Follow: @_mamantoronto_

REUNION ISLAND COFFEE BAR HAILED COFFEE BALZAC’S COFFEE ROASTERS

Follow: @ricoffeeco Follow: @hailedcoffee Follow: @balzacscoffee

22 TORONTO 2019 www.SeeTorontoNow.com

v Canada Day Brampton AUGUST v Toronto International NOVEMBER