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BLUE JAYS & RED HOTS MARK MCEWAN SAMPLES T.O.’S MOST DECADENT DOGS FOR OPENING DAY
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ROUNDTABLE OUR EXPERTS ON RAPIDLY RISING HOUSE PRICES & THE REMOTE WORK REVOLUTION
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APRIL 2021 · VOLUME 4 · ISSUE 4
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CONTENTS APRIL 2021
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T.O.’S COUNTRY SWEETHEARTS Shannon Ella and Steven Lee Olsen met at the Canadian Country Music Awards
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BLUE JAYS AND RED HOTS Chef Mark McEwan samples T.O.’s most decadent dogs for opening day
33
SUSTAINABLE SPRING ESSENTIALS Jeanne Beker picks 10 stunning and eco-conscious wardrobe staples
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APRIL 2021
REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE Our experts on rapidly rising house prices and the remote work revolution
APRIL BREAK GLAM GETAWAYS Three nearby escapes to enjoy with COVID safety precautions in place
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CITYSCAPE
NEWS
BY THE NUMBERS
THE POST INTERVIEW
The Canadian closer Ace pitcher Jordan Romano on the coming season, the team’s high-profile signings and missing Mom’s home cooking by Ron Johnson
You know, I’m not sure. They haven’t talked about defined roles yet. But I’m just hoping to be used in some high-leverage spots, wherever they may be. You guys are one of the teams to beat in the East going into the season. What are the expectations around the clubhouse?
Definitely some big names have been added, you know. All the guys here were super excited when we saw these guys that we signed, and, yeah, with that I think the expectations are a little bit higher. You know, we made the playoffs last year. And I think this year, a goal would be to get a lot deeper in the playoffs with the new guys we have. Who do you think will have the biggest impact this year?
We got a lot of great players, but one that sticks out is George Springer who has been, over the past five, six years or so, one of the best players in the league. So I’m just really happy he’s on our side now. How does it feel playing for the hometown team, but being stuck in Florida to start the season?
Growing up in Markham, I was obviously a big fan of the Blue Jays. It is a little different not playing in front of the Toronto fans, definitely gonna miss that. But it’s the situation we’re in. So we’re gonna make do and try to make the best of it. Tell me about your first major league appearance.
It was a pretty exciting moment. That was like my fifth or sixth season, just trying to work up to that goal to finally get the call up. The first thing that stands out was how nice hotels were compared to the minor leagues. And it honestly felt like a movie almost. When I got out there, it didn’t feel like it was real. I was super nervous, super anxious but really excited and I felt pretty prepared. But yeah, I almost blacked out. That’s kind of how it felt. And who is the toughest batter you’ve faced?
You know, I would have to say Mike Trout. He's a pretty great player that I had to face when the Angels came to town. I got him that day. But I’d say Mike Trout is probably the toughest hitter I've ever met. So you grew up in Markham. Tell me about your introduction to baseball and what it was about the sport that clicked for you.
Growing up in Markham, or Canada in general, hockey is, you know, the big
34 The number of new neighbourhoods officially added to the City of Toronto list for a grand total of 158.
Who were some of your favourite players growing up?
Roy Halladay was a big one for sure. Ricky Romero. Even guys like Brett Lawrie and J.P. Arencibia. They were getting big when I was in college. So that was pretty exciting. Vernon Wells was another big one. We all liked Vernon when he was out in centrefield. Was it pretty special to play your first home game at the Rogers Centre?
Yeah, just going to the Rogers Centre and I’m getting ready to play a big league game, instead of going to be a fan in the stands. Just walking through the tunnel and then on the field and kind of looking around the stadium at field level. It was so cool. Did you have some family there?
Oh, yeah, pretty much all my home games I’d have my mom, dad, sisters and cousins out there. And uncles. They’re all really big fans as well. So they would come to pretty much every home game I played.
79 The percentage of townhomes, semis and detached homes that sold over listing price in February.
2011 The year Kim’s Convenience premiered at the Toronto Fringe Festival before going on to TV acclaim. The show was recently cancelled after five seasons on CBC-TV.
What do you miss most being away so much?
I think first and foremost just seeing my parents and family. When I was playing in Toronto, I was living at home and got Mom’s home cooking. That’s one thing that I miss and especially even my parents. This is the first spring training that they’ve missed. How’s it been under the pandemic and having your parents up here?
67 The age of Toronto-born guitarist Jim “Kimo” West, who picked up a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in March.
It’s tough, right. But it’s tough on everyone. Hopefully things clear up and they can come to games or when we play up there. What does it mean for you to be the only Canadian on the team?
It makes me take a little more pride in the situation I’m in. I’m Canadian playing for the Canadian team, and I have to try to represent myself in a good way.
1956 The year Longo’s opened a fruit stand in midtown Toronto. A share of the grocery store chain was just purchased for $357 million.
APRIL 2021
Do you know your role yet this season? I know the closer role is a question mark.
sport. So I was playing hockey and baseball. And you know what, with baseball, I always wanted to go to practice. I always wanted to stay late. I always wanted to play baseball with my friends instead of hockey. Growing up, you always dream about playing for the Blue Jays. But there is such a small possibility. So I’m pretty fortunate to get this far.
| POST |
How’s spring training going for you so far?
It’s been going great so far, you know. I have a couple outings under my belt and it’s going well. I have to just get timing and everything down. But my body feels good.
5
NEWS
NEIGHBOURHOOD
5 km linear Annex park starts to take shape Macpherson will act as gateway and will include neighbourhood amphitheatre
The Green Line would link numerous parks and green spaces in midtown
Plans are being finalized for the first park within the Green Line, a new five-kilometre linear park being built in midtown Toronto and stretching from Davenport Road and Lansdowne Avenue through to the Annex neighbourhood. Macpherson Avenue Park will act as the eastern gateway to the Green Line, which will run west to the West Rail Path at Caledonia Road and Davenport. The Green Line will consist of 45 parcels of land, connected to create a “contiguous” path that runs along an existing hydro corridor, according to local councillor Josh Matlow. The area already contains 11 existing parks, but the project will fill in the gaps and connect the spaces, with plans to create 10 new parks. The Green Line vision has existed since 2012 and has come about “organically,” given the area’s need for green space and the already existing corridor where power lines run, Matlow said. “It has been mostly a derelict, wasted space,” he said. “It is not being used to its best potential.” Now, the city is taking inspiration from New York City’s High Line and the Beltline near Eglinton Avenue West to beautify the area. So far, only Macpherson Avenue Park and a park at Geary Avenue and Bartlett Avenue are in the works because they are the “lowest hanging fruit,” Matlow said. This means they are the easiest land to begin work on, given complex land rights and uses split between the city and province-led Hydro One along the corridor.
by Eric Stober
Plans for Macpherson Avenue Park include picnic tables, fitness equipment and a small amphitheatre, along with new plants and signage that explains the area’s history. Matlow said the area used to be an Indigenous portage route and that there is an “important story to be told.” “[It] is a recognition that they were the first people to walk those lands,” he added. The Green Line is being done in close consultation with the community, which local resident and copresident of the Rathnelly Area Residents Association
“I think [the Green Line] is a signal of an investment in beautifying the midtown living experience.” (RARA) Pym Buitenhuis said has been an enjoyable process. She said she is especially looking forward to the planned amphitheatre in Macpherson Avenue Park, which she said could hold community meetings or plays from nearby Tarragon Theatre. “[The consultation] was just a really fascinating conversation about the use of public space,” she said. “I think [the Green Line] is a signal of an investment in beautifying the midtown living experience.”
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NEIGHBOURHOOD
NEWS
IS YOUR BASEMENT WET? BASEMENT WATERPROOFING & BASEMENT LOWERING
More than a century ago, the Hogg's Hollow home was the stables of the Boultbee family (inset) who had an estate nearby
City tries to save century-old stables November of 2019. A heritage property nomination had been submitted to Heritage Planning in March 2013 on behalf of previous owners, but the Toronto Preservation Board did not recommend the property be included on the Heritage Register until its meeting on Feb. 17, 2021. The initial hearing on the minor variance had initially been scheduled for Feb. 25, 2021, but was deferred to allow heritage staff time to assess the heritage value of the property.
The process was unfair as it came very late without fair notification or dealing with the owners. In a letter to councillor Robinson dated Feb. 26, 2021, Frank Gardner, of Gardner Law Firm, who represents Kassirian and Taheri, said that heritage staff came to the conclusion the property should be included on the register without attending the site to view the property or undertaking an inspection. Gardner stated that the process was unfair as it came very late without fair notification or dealing with the owners, and thus the minor variance should be considered on its merit.
Tamara Anson-Cartwright, program manager of Toronto Heritage Planning said the long delay between the property’s nomination and eventual inclusion on the register is due to a backlog created by nominations outpacing available resources. “As a result, Heritage Planning adopted a strategic approach to the nominations, prioritizing research and evaluation for properties subject to a planning application and or ones that were at risk of demolition or irreversible change to provide advice to council,” said AnsonCartwright. Anson-Cartwright added that the pandemic had made visiting the property unfeasible. “In these extraordinary times of the pandemic ‘stay at home orders’ and or generally when the visibility of a structure or building on a property is limited from the public right-of-way, additional sources of documentation about the site including photographs may be considered,” said AnsonCartwright. “Should the property be evaluated further for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, staff would seek permission from the property owner to access the property in order to document the building and site.” The owners of the property have now deferred the minor variance application to discuss the situation with heritage staff, and the file is on hold.
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APRIL 2021
An early 20th-century Hogg’s Hollow home may be saved from the wrecking ball after Toronto City Council adopted a motion from the Toronto Preservation Board to include the building on the city’s Heritage Register. The home, located at 19 Plymbridge Cres., is a twostorey stucco-clad structure built in 1912 as stables for the Boultbee family and designed in the Tudor Revival style. It is believed to have been designed by architect Samuel Hamilton Townsend (1856–1940), a prolific architectural designer in Toronto who specialized in the design of large residences and estates for wealthy Torontonians, particularly in the Rosedale, Chestnut Park and Annex neighbourhoods. The home is currently owned by Mohammad Kassirian and Marzieh Beigum Taheri. In November of 2020, a minor variance application was submitted to the city to demolish the existing building to construct a new two-storey home on the property. The variance was opposed by several neighbourhood residents as well as city councillor Jaye Robinson, who, in a letter to the manager of the City of Toronto Committee of Adjustment North York District, noted the length of the proposed building was 36.6 metres, more than double the 16.8 metres permitted in the zoning bylaw. Kassirian and Taheri purchased the property in
by David Olsen
| POST |
Hogg’s Hollow home was purchased in 2019
Since 1985
7
NEWS
NEIGHBOURHOOD
Forest Hill condo has residents concerned Developer claims it is an appropriate size for the area but councillor says not so fast by Eric Stober
| POST | A P R I L 2 0 2 1
Councillor Josh Matlow has questioned the height and impact of proposed development
8
A new residential development is being proposed for St. Clair Avenue West and Avenue Road that exceeds the city’s planning guidelines and is being called “disrespectful” by a neighbour. The proposal from Plaza Partners, in partnership with Main and Main and Woodbourne Canada, calls for a 13- to 15-storey building on 175 to 195 St. Clair Ave. W. The development would replace a number of buildings, including the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto Church. However, local councillor Josh Matlow said he cannot support the project in its current design given that its proposed height is almost double the city’s limit of nine storeys for the area. “We have concerns that the development industry is continuing to try to set new height precedents above and beyond what is supported by our own professional planning staff,” Matlow said. The councillor explained that the height restriction was set by city planners who have taken into consideration how the area can grow sustainably. He said that the height proposed causes some concerns, such as the possibility of shadows on Glenn Gould Park across the street, as well as overlook neighbours to the south and greater traffic in the area. “There’s work to be done on [the proposal],” he said.
Toronto: T oronto: Castlefield Design District *HZ[SLMPLSK (]L *HZ[SLMPLSK (]L
John Curtis, who owns property directly to the south of the development site, on Lynwood Avenue, said the proposal is “downright greedy” and “disrespectful.” “It will be as if a big Caribbean cruise ship pulls up and docks right on our fence,” he said. “All of their million balconies will be looking over the neighbourhood.”
“It will be as if a big Caribbean cruise ship pulls up and docks right on our fence.” Plaza Partners chief development officer Ornella Richichi said that the developers feel that the plan features an “appropriate height and transition” given the context of the tall neighbouring buildings. She said that the development’s application took into consideration the area’s growth plans and the developer still feels the height is appropriate. The proposal is awaiting a preliminary city staff report that was scheduled to go before Toronto City Council in March.
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NEWS
© U of T
SEWELL ON CITY HALL
U of T professor Ran Hirschl's new book is ‘City, State: Constitutionalism and the Megacity’
Is a city vote worth only half a rural one? to do, as Texas is trying to do to Austin. Even the big cities like New York, Chicago and San Francisco have little control over important urban issues. “Structural anti-urbanism is an enduring feature of American federalism,” writes Hirschl. And then there is Canada. “Few countries in the world have witnessed Canada’s level of resistance by senior levels of
“Few countries in the world have witnessed Canada’s level of resistance by senior levels of government.” government to loosening restraints and regulation of cities. With the exception of London (UK), Toronto stands out as the world city most limited in its taxation powers,” he writes. In Europe, Berlin and Hamburg are considered city states, but the designation is mostly administrative and does not entail enhanced revenue-generation powers. London and Paris have very limited powers. Of European cities, Hirschl
notes, “None enjoy extended constitutional status or selfgovernment authority.” Cities in Asia and Africa are exploding with population but are limited in powers and cannot address the issues they face. The handful of cities that have real independent power and status are all progressive. Tokyo is treated as a prefecture: 82 per cent of its revenue is generated from its own sources, with its annual budget exceeding that of Sweden. It funds an extraordinary transit system and, unlike Japan’s national government, has recognized samesex marriage. Seoul has legal and fiscal autonomy and has invested heavily in transit and affordable housing. It has 270,000 public housing units, with another 60,000 to be finished by 2022. (New York City hopes to have 200,000 units by 2024.) Singapore has all the powers it needs. Buenos Aires has constitutional status and has pursued a very strong environmental agenda. Enhanced status allows cities to pursue progressive agendas that their residents support. Cities need independence from provincial and state governments, gaining powers to control local political decisions. Will Toronto City Council be willing to press hard for this change?
JOHN SEWELL Post City Magazines’ columnist John Sewell is a former mayor of Toronto and the author of a number of urban planning books, including The Shape of the Suburbs.
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APRIL 2021
You may have caught the news clip about the State of Texas going to court to stop the City of Austin from requiring that masks be worn while the pandemic continues. If you think American legislators are weird in their ideas about interfering in local decisions, you would be wrong: it is the way of the world. Senior governments everywhere are determined to hobble city governments. When Premier Ford legislated in the middle of the 2018 municipal election that Toronto should have 25 wards, not 47, he was following in the footsteps of other senior politicians. U of T professor Ran Hirschl declares in his new book City, State: Constitutionalism and the Megacity that in many countries urban residents are now a clear majority of the population. But constitutions remain within their 18th or 19th century rural framework, and those constitutions hobble megacities. In the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, cities are under the thumb of state/provincial governments. Voting systems are consistently prejudiced against city voters (on average a city vote is worth half a rural vote and overall state or provincial voters are much less progressive than voters in cities, as we know here in Ontario. The senior governments that are elected won’t permit cities to be as progressive as cities would like. American state governments often pass legislation prohibiting cities from doing things they want
| POST |
Provincial government hobbling T.O.’s ability to be progressive
9
NEWS
NEIGHBOURHOOD BUSINESS
A midtown pizzeria finds a new home Plus a local glam grocer opens a new location in Forest Hill, and Wychwood gets a boutique cannabis shop Conspiracy Pizza will be reopening in Leaside. After
a short closure, the pizzeria will relocate to 856 Eglinton Ave. E. The popular pizza is made with sixday fermented dough and uses smoked meat and high-quality ingredients. A favourite is the Cowspiracy, which is loaded with 12-hour smoked brisket and topped with homemade tangy barbecue sauce. The pizzeria will also be selling pints of ice cream by Churnt Up, just in time for the warmer months ahead. Summerhill Market has opened a new location in
Forest Hill at 484 Eglinton Ave. W. The boutique grocery store took over the former home of Edo restaurant and has gone through a top-to-bottom makeover. Spanning two storeys, Summerhill Market features a full selection of house-made prepared foods and grocery essentials, as well as a meat counter for prime cuts.
| POST | A P R I L 2 0 2 1
The Golden Goose flagship store will feature exclusive items only available at Yorkdale
10
A new virtual market is featuring a curated selection of local bakers, restaurants, farmers and other unique vendors. Toronto Market Co. (torontomarketco.com) has more than 100 food vendors to choose from, making it a one-stop shop for all your culinary needs. The virtual store highlights new and upcoming spots with unique offerings such as Isabella’s mochi doughnuts, Heirloom’s cookie pies and Better than
Yia Yia’s dips alongside local staples like Schmaltz Appetizing, Fidel Gastro’s, Sanagan’s Meat Locker, Pukka Restaurant, Momofuku and Pizzeria Libretto. Delivery is available in Toronto and parts of the GTA, and pickup is at 369 Dupont St. Golden Goose will open its first Canadian flagship
store at Yorkdale mall. The new boutique will feature Golden Goose’s most iconic sneakers as well as introducing local exclusives. The store will carry full women’s, men’s and kids’ collections as well as new product categories, such as accessories and small leather goods, which are entirely unique to Yorkdale. A new cannabis boutique retail store is coming to Wychwood-Cedarvale. Edition is opening at 764 St. Clair Ave. W. This is the brand’s second Toronto outpost. The first is in the Annex. It will feature a curated selection of cannabis, cannabis products and accessories. Spinco is opening a studio in Thornhill at 31 Disera
Dr. on April 3. The studio will be offering its traditional 50-minute structured, full-body classes designed to strengthen the body, energize the mind and feed the soul. On Fridays, a Spin-It-Forward class will be offered, where a portion of proceeds goes to various charitable and philanthropic organizations.
CRIME
NEWS
AREA BREAK-INS MARCH 2021 - TORONTO WHERE
WHEN
TIME OFOF DAY TIME DAY
YONGE ST. AND ROEHAMPTON AVE.
MAR. 1
6 P.M.
LAWTON BLVD. AND WALMSLEY BLVD.
MAR. 1
6 P.M.
MOUNT PLEASANT RD. AND ROEHAMPTON AVE.
MAR. 3
3 A.M.
BEDFORD RD. AND PEARS AVE.
MAR. 4
5 A.M.
ASQUITH AVE. AND PARK RD.
MAR. 5
12 A.M.
CHARLTON BLVD. AND GRANTBROOK ST.
MAR. 5
8 A.M.
BETTY ANN DR. AND STAFFORD RD.
MAR. 5
2 P.M.
DREWRY AVE. AND RODEO CRT.
MAR. 5
4 P.M.
MOUNT PLEASANT RD. AND KEEWATIN AVE.
MAR. 7
12 A.M.
SPADINA RD. AND THELMA AVE.
MAR. 8
11 P.M.
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Auto theft continues to rise in central Toronto Instances of auto theft continue to increase in the city of Toronto according to 2020 statistics kept by Toronto Police Service (TPS). According to TPS statistics, the police divisions with the greatest number of auto thefts are 23 division (768), 31 division (683) and 32 division (643). These three divisions are located adjacent to each other and together stretch through the middle of Toronto up to Steeles Avenue in the north and Eglinton Avenue as the southernmost point. “While we recognize there has been a six per cent increase in comparison to 2019, that increase has been getting smaller since 2018. While the numbers do fluctuate and can change across divisions, service-wide we work hard to tackle auto theft,” said Jenifferjit Sidhu of Toronto Police Service. “Our deployment and operations are based on
intelligence-led data to identify areas of focus for our divisions and units — targeting specific concerns and issues. This will include auto thefts. Residents can also raise direct concerns with our community resource officers who can offer crime advice, security tips and also provide a physical presence in the area,” she said. Sidhu said police are combatting auto theft with initiatives that include increased visibility in high-risk locations at targeted times and reinforcing auto theft preventative measures through online community meetings and news releases. TPS offers several tips to reduce the risk of auto theft, such as parking in a well-lit area, locking all of your valuables in your trunk and backing into your driveway if you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle or front end first in a front-wheel drive car, both of which would make the vehicle harder to tow. — David Olsen
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CRIME BRIEFS
suspect of Toronto has been arrested in connection with a retail store robbery
A 32-year-old male
doctor has been arrested and is facing numer-
A 54-year-old male
in the area of Dupont Street and Spadina Road. It is alleged that on Feb. 26 a male suspect entered the store, approached the checkout counter, indicated he had a gun and demanded lottery tickets and cash. The suspect picked up the debit card reader and threatened to throw it at the store employee before reaching over the counter and taking a quantity of lottery tickets. He fled the scene on foot. The suspect was arrested on March 2 and faces charges of robbery, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime and two counts of failure to comply with probation.
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APRIL 2021
ous charges as part of a sexual assault investigation. Police officers began their investigation on March 4. It is alleged that a 16year-old female victim and a 26-year-old female victim attended a medical clinic in the area of Marlee Avenue and Glencairn Avenue for appointments between June 2016 and December 2020, during which both were sexually assaulted. The male suspect faces nine counts of sexual assault and four counts of sexual exploitation.
| POST |
Toronto Police Service officers are asking for assistance in identifying a suspect involved in a criminal harassment investigation after an incident in the area of Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West. On March 10, at approximately 5:45 p.m., three young female victims were playing in a park. A male suspect followed the three victims around the park and chased them. The victims were able to run away from the suspect. TPS has released a security camera image of the suspect.
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Bike lanes and patios are taking to the streets as the Annex and Yorkville get active Road closures and new people-centred pilot projects get underway as the city moves outdoors for pandemic relief by Harriette Halepis A City of Toronto ActiveTO report proposing the return of weekend road closures and a new pilot project along Yonge Street as part of the city's Complete Streets proposal was set to be reviewed by the Toronto City Council Infrastructure and Environment Committee on Tuesday, March 23. A year or more ago, the thought of sacrificing automobile lanes for separated bike lanes would have been a monumental struggle. Doing so on the city’s main thoroughfare of Yonge Street? Utter madness. Not so fast. Now, the world has changed. And the success of the Destination Danforth pilot project has shown that complete street projects that include separated bike lanes are a boon for neighbourhoods. The new pilot project on Yonge Street at Bloor Street to Davisville Avenue would include bike paths, CaféTO sidewalk and street patios, parking spaces that would allow for loading and deliveries and various road adjustments. The proposed project is modelled after Destination
Danforth that launched in 2020. Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto’s former chief city planner and an avid cyclist who lives in midtown, has long advocated for bike lanes on Yonge and is supportive of the new project. “One of the challenges with creating a cycling city is that gaps in the network mean only part of your trip is safe on a bike, and that is a significant disincentive to new riders, women, children and other vulnerable riders that should have access to safe cycling in the city,” she said. “Filling the gap in the network on Yonge from Bloor to Davisville will make it possible to ride from midtown to downtown safely on a bike.” Destination Danforth was largely successful last year and allowed both cyclists and motorists to coexist while also providing restaurants and shop owners with expanded outdoor access. Cycle Toronto heavily supported the Danforth project and pushed to make the new bike lanes permanent. “Adding bike lanes on Yonge from Bloor to Davisville is about
mobility, but it is also a grand place-making gesture. Walking down the street, dining on the street, shopping locally — all of this will be transformed.” According to Cycle Toronto, the Destination Danforth pilot project and all other ActiveTO bike lane projects are temporary. The group is also in support of the new Yonge Street project and explained that it has about a year
manager for Cycle Toronto. “Adding CaféTO patios will be a lifeline for struggling local businesses, and the ActiveTO protected cycling lanes will keep local residents safe as they look to maintain their physical and mental health by cycling, or conduct essential trips by bike without straining our transit or road network. When combined with new planters and greenery, on-
“Yonge has always held the potential to become a great street — designed for people, rather than cars.” to convince the city to make it permanent. "Following strong local support from businesses, community leaders, residents associations and community groups, Cycle Toronto is looking forward to the Complete Streets proposal along midtown Yonge Street, which was inspired by the transformation of Danforth Avenue last summer,” said Kevin Rupasinghe, campaigns
street parking and street artwork, this stretch of Yonge will transform,” he said. Councillor Mike Layton has been a strong proponent of ActiveTO and is also in favour of the Yonge Street project and additional ActiveTO road closures. “ActiveTO showed us that Toronto can build safe and fun streets that better serve all road
users and local businesses. This year we will bring those lessons to Yonge Street between Bloor and Davisville,” he writes in a recent newsletter. “It is anticipated that a virtual public meeting will be hosted on April 27.” The ActiveTO program was created to allow city residents space to walk and be physically distant while also expanding Toronto’s bike paths to allow cyclists more significant movement throughout the city. Unlike revamped streets, ActiveTO road closures are a problem for some residents. The closure of main streets last year caused traffic jams and frustration. Still, many shop owners are optimistic that more accessible streets may mean increased business and a chance at financial recovery. “We welcome the initiative. It will increase foot traffic, which will mean greater visibility for our business (so long as we are able to stay open) and hopefully increase sales," said Lyndsay Borschke of the Tuck Shop Trading Co. in Summerhill. "I look at this as a lifting one another up scenario. Close the streets so that restaurants can provide the service they excel at, and ultimately, it will benefit the other businesses that surround them. We all need a little hope right now, we all need a little pickme-up. I think this could do the trick," she said. In a city poll, residents that used the ActiveTO street closures to walk or bike were in favour of additional closures. Ninety-two percent of people polled wanted closures to continue, and seventyfive percent noted that they were more active because of ActiveTO measures. When the city breaks ground on the new project or which roads will close and when remains to be determined and will largely depend on city construction dates along with council and residents approval. Keesmaat, for one, thinks Yonge is ready for the move. “Adding bike lanes on Yonge from Bloor to Davisville is about mobility, but it is also a grand place-making gesture. Walking down the street, dining on the street, shopping locally — all of this will be transformed,” she said. “Yonge has always held the potential to become a great street — designed for people, rather than cars. This cycling infrastructure begins to deliver on that possibility. It is good 21st-century city building.” 13 APRIL 2021
Clockwise from left: Separated bike lanes and increased patios should enliven Yonge Street this summer, local stores such as Tuck Shop Trading Co. should benefit from foot traffic and Jennifer Keesmaat looks forward to cycling on Yonge
NEWS
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FEATURE
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REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE SPONSORS
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REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE Our 14th annual Real Estate Roundtable was a lively event. Our panel discussed remote work and rapidly rising house prices with more than 1,400 people in virtual attendance.
Moderated by Nikki Gill & Ron Johnson | Special thanks to our incredible sponsors The RE/MAX Collections and Great Gulf Homes
ODEEN ECCLESTON Co-founder (Wiltshire Homes Canada) & Broker of Record (WE Realty Inc.) JOSH FLAGG Realtor and Original Cast Member, Million Dollar Listings LA BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN Principal, Gluckstein Design; Author TIM HUDAK CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Assoc. MICHAEL KALLES President, Harvey Kalles JENNIFER KEESMAAT CEO, The Keesmaat Group BRAD LAMB Developer, Lamb Development Corp. SANGITA PATEL HGTV Canada Host and ET Canada Entertainment Reporter MICHELE ROMANOW Dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den; Co-founder & President, Clearbanc WILLIAM STRANGE SmartCentres Professor of Real Estate and Director - Centre for Real Estate and Urban Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto BENJAMIN TAL Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC World Markets Inc.
POST: We will kick things off with the state of the market update from Benjamin Tal. BENJAMIN TAL: Thank you very much. I’m trying to remember what we discussed last year, and the only thing I remember saying is that we have no clue what’s happening. This was just before COVID started, so we had no clue what we were talking about. If you had asked me a year ago, given COVID and all this craziness, the housing market will be on more than a V-shaped recovery? I would say I’m not so sure, and that’s exactly what happened. So the question is why? Why the housing market is so strong. And the first answer is interest rates are so low. Yes, but interest rates were also low in other situations, like in 2008. From a qualification perspective, interest rates today are actually higher than they were in 2008 because now we have the B20 mortgage stress test. So there's something more than that.
And this something is the abnormality of this recession. This is the most asymmetrical recession in Canadian history. All jobs lost, all, not some, all jobs lost were in lowpaying occupations. In fact, highpaying occupations have seen their number rising by 350,000 during this crisis. This is the most abnormal recession ever in this sense. Two implications: Most of the people that lost their jobs are young in rentals. They are not homebuyers. So the impact on the housing market was secondary. It was visibly the rental market. Second, and even more important, a huge segment of households were not touched by this crisis financially. Their job was there; their income was there, in fact, it was rising; and interest rates are in the basement. That’s the opportunity that they were looking for. And then you have the shift toward the need for space. You need your office. So I believe that about 30 per cent to 35 per cent of home price inflation in Toronto was just due to the compositional factor, namely more activity happening in the more expensive segment of the market, namely detached. POST: Professor Strange, do you agree with Benjamin’s assessment?
WILLIAM STRANGE: I agree. And he has stolen most of my notes for pointing out that this is an incredibly heterogeneous economic shock. The only small qualification that I would offer is that the people who have not been hit so far, which is probably most of the people on the panel, we’re going to be paying some pretty big taxes in future years to cover all of the stuff that the government has been doing. So there may come a point where we feel like we have been touched. I personally don’t think that’s grossly unfair, but that is something that would affect a lot of economic decisions. BENJAMIN: So let’s discuss it for a second because I think it’s important. There are two things happening here. One is the government is spending like there’s no tomorrow. And without even noticing, without even paying attention, we are putting together the infrastructure for tomorrow's social assistance program. We’re talking about a universal daycare system. That will cost money. We’re talking about some elements of basic income. That will cost money. We’re talking about making the EI system permanent. That would cost money. So all of
us [here] will be paying more taxes. It will start with capital gains taxes and probably even higher HST. That will not happen today, not even tomorrow, not even two years from now. But eventually, it will happen when we are removed from the crisis. Second, the Bank of Canada is printing money in order to allow the government to spend. Now, if you’re under 30 years old, you’re probably not familiar with this word, but there is a word in the English language. It’s called inflation. It’s in the dictionary. I checked. It was missing in action over the past few decades. And all of a sudden, we are re-learning how to spell “inflation.” That’s very, very important because inflation will be the number one factor impacting the housing market. And the big discussion now in the market is to what extent inflation will rise with the Bank of Canada printing money. POST: We’ll go to Michael Kalles next.
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BARRY COHEN Luxury Homes Specialist; Principal, Barry Cohen Homes Inc.
As it has been for the past 14 years, what follows is an unscripted and unrehearsed discussion involving 12 leading real estate experts on the Toronto real estate market.
MICHAEL KALLES: One thing I’d like to say just before we start is something that I wish it was my thought, but it came to me from a friend, and they said that people 15 | POST |
2021 PANELLISTS
COVER STORY
2021 REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE
keep talking about how we’re all in the same boat. Actually, we’re all in the same storm in different boats. And fortunately for all of us on the panel, our industry continues unabated when so many others are absolutely getting decimated. So I think what’s important about the real estate market is that it’s right across the country. You know, I just looked. It’s the smallest amount of active listings across Canada in the history of statistics being kept, 21 years, less than 100,000. There’s two-months supply across Canada, and in Toronto, we have 33 days worth of supplies. So that means that, if nothing new comes on the market, there will be nothing for sale in 33 days. One thing that’s important is to know that we’re 50,000 people fewer today than we were 12 months ago [according to a Statistics Canada report on urban dwellers who left the city]. So the situation is real. People are moving out of the city. But I’d like to say that condo sales in January were up 85 per cent. So don’t count the city of Toronto condos out.
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POST: We know detached and semi-detached homes are flying off the shelves with bidding wars and bully offers. Barry, you have boots on the ground. What are you seeing?
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BARRY COHEN: So it’s not just semis and detached. It’s pretty much anything under $2.5 million is in multiple offers, and sometimes as much as 15 offers, but commonly three offers. It’s really an accelerated market, a spring market brought on by COVID. If you remember last year, before the lockdown, we were in a pretty hot market then, and then we came to a dead stop. And then there was an adjustment period because supply was constrained, and real estate just went off the rails. So this year, the spring market is off to a strong start. It’s two to three times greater than last year, same time. It’s up about 20 per cent greater than the peak of 2017. In fact, real estate prices are up 15 per cent over the same time last year. Condo sales lagged through 2020 as people were adjusting to COVID in tight spaces, but they roared back in January. And prices were only — after all that correction last year — down five per cent. Luxury is on fire. I’m looking at the activity, you know, two
to get out of the city and get more space. So at the moment, we have basically a couple of buildings that are sitting empty. POST: Brad, what’s happening in the downtown Toronto market? BRAD LAMB: Last year, we did see
This Lawrence Park home sold for $3.58 million, almost $100,000 over asking. Barry Cohen says activity for homes over $3 million is two times greater than last year. times greater over $3 million, 2.5 times greater over $5 million price range. Over $10 million, it’s 400 per cent greater. POST: All right. Tim? TIM HUDAK: At the Ontario Real
Estate Association, we did polling of consumer attitudes. And we have seen a palpable shift in people in three directions. Number one is they are looking for more space. Whether that’s to move Grandma in, there’s a big shift across the board, but particularly younger people, for more space. Number two, they’re looking for an ability to have an office in their homes. And third, an increased interest in areas outside of the major cities, although that's really at the margins. One of my main messages will be that the death of Toronto real estate has been greatly exaggerated. Those who say we emptied out, that's not the case, but it’s accelerated some trends. And this has been enabled by low mortgage rates, as Benjamin said, for the COVID-haves as he indicated. They have a bit more spending power because there are savings to make do. POST: Odeen, you have experience in areas that are outside of Toronto. What are you seeing?
ODEEN ECCLESTON:
The increase of people wanting multi-generational homes is through the roof. I think it’s been a trend that’s always been somewhat popular. But throughout the pandemic, people have been evaluating who is in their bubble. So we’re seeing Mom and Dad, and even grown teenagers, all put their resources together and get larger homes with more land and more space in the suburbs and even beyond the suburbs. Our firm has seen a huge increase as far away as Bowmanville and Kingston. And
leading luxury realtor, what are you seeing in the condo-heavy downtown L.A. market? JOSH FLAGG: So when we’re referring to condominiums, we’re referring mostly to those in West Hollywood, what we call the Wilshire Corridor, or some in Beverly Hills. For years, Los Angeles was not a condo city. It was always just houses. I believe the reason being is that, when you buy a property, you’re buying the dirt. You’re not actually buying the structure. The structure is a di-
“People that were living in condos
panicked and sold and bought houses in the 905.”
then, of course, Oshawa has seen record numbers: as the 50,000 people moved out of the downtown core, a lot of them did go to places like Durham Region. POST: The downtown Toronto condo market has been one of the hardest hit since the pandemic. We wanted some international perspective for this year’s event, so Josh Flagg, thank you for joining us from California. As L.A.'s
minishing asset. The actual structure goes down in value. The value of land is what appreciates. So L.A. has never really been a condo city like New York because it is just a different animal. But then we had a run of developers building up these magnificent condo projects built by famous architects. And then we have COVID, which strikes, and people are not really getting excited about buying in buildings with elevators. In fact, people are trying
about a 10 per cent drop in the 416 in the value of condos, largely from people who were landlords who panicked and sold, Airbnb hosts that panicked and sold. And I think, to some extent, people that were living in condos panicked and sold and bought houses in the 905. All those people are out of the market now. They pretty well were gone by November. We saw the number of condos for sale peak in October. Almost 4,000 condos on MLS last year in October. That’s really like an alltime high for October. It’s now come down to around 1,200. It’s actually gone down every month, every week from Jan. 4, which is not typically what happens. Usually from Jan. 4, which is the lowest inventory day of the year, we see an increase of 100 to 200 units a week, and we’ve seen a decrease of about 50 units a week. So we’re now at a point where all of the 10 per cent has been recuperated, and we’re now actually sitting at prices higher than last February. And our condominium market is hot as I’ve ever seen. It’s insane. And I can tell you that I expect condominiums to rise between 15 per cent and 25 per cent this year over last year. POST: You’re suggesting a 15 to 25 per cent increase in condo prices for 2021? Is there any kind of geographic dispersion, like right in the downtown core or on King West? BRAD: No, it’s everywhere. For instance, we put a condominium on the market in the east end, and we had eight offers, and it sold for $1,250 a square foot. The buyer of it bought it five years ago for $540 a square foot. And we’re launching a project, a 220-unit building that I’m going to start construction on in September. We’re at an average of $1,370 a square foot on King East at Sherbourne, and I can tell you that they’re all going to get taken up. We’ve got thousands and thousands of real estate agents registered for units. So the marketplace is as hot as I’ve seen in 35 years. POST: OK, Brian and then Barry.
2021 REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE
BARRY: The underlying problem that everybody has to recognize is still the same message we’ve talked about year after year. There’s just no available land for freehold condos, the government has got to free up the land and make the process easier. I think that’s the only way we’re going to see prices stabilize if that can happen. This is all exacerbated by immigration, wealth transference. A plumber that paid $300,000 for his home 20 years ago can afford what’s worth $2.5 million now and can afford to give his daughter or son a $300,000 down payment. So this trend is going to continue until there’s more supply. POST: Ms. Keesmaat. JENNIFER KEESMAAT:
Well, that was almost like a perfect lead-in. I will say this is a very strange conversation because Benjamin gave a really good overview of how we’ve had this accelerated divide. People who’ve lost jobs have primarily been low-income earners. And on the flip side, people who have done really well, for lack of a better way of putting it, during the pandemic are people who already have a lot of money. So far, we’ve been talking about the people with a lot of money. We’ve been talking about the luxury market, and there’s an enormous portion of the population in GTA that, you know, their heads
would be spinning to listen to this conversation because it’s so flipping irrelevant to the housing situation that they find themselves in. Including, I think the aspiration, as Tim said, for more space and thinking about home in a different way. I think that’s something that is across every single socio-economic category. And if you think about it, it’s the people who need more space, the family with two kids living in a condo on Davisville, that have the least amount of access to getting more space. And I think that’s something that we have to talk about when we talk about housing. We also have to talk about the
current challenge of urban life. Every reason you would live in an urban place went out the window, and it’s been gone for a full year now: going to restaurants, going to Raptors games, being able to walk to work. All the reasons for wanting to live in an urban place are out the window, they’re gone. So I don’t think we should be surprised that people have left. I have a nephew in this category. He’s 30 years old. He got rid of his condo in which he was renting, and he moved in with his mom and dad because he’s working remotely, and he can’t see his friends, and he can’t go out. So he’s going to wait out the pandemic at home. Does he
want to stay living with his parents in the suburbs? No, he does not. So once the pandemic is over, you’re going to see a really big shift take place. The good news is we can look to cities like Sydney, Australia, that have already opened up where there is that rush, like the Roaring Twenties, of people moving back into the city, people wanting to go to parties and events and to meet and see each other, street festivals. It’s like urbanism on steroids. I think there’s going to be a tremendous amount of demand as we start to see the light at the end of the tunnel for urban living. And there’s just one little piece
Q&A
Michael Kalles says Toronto has more cranes than New York, Chicago, Boston and L.A. combined
QUESTION FROM ROTMAN MBA STUDENT BAISEN LI: With the recent price surges in suburban markets, do you see the prices of suburban homes going down after everyone is called back to the office? And also, would you say the condo prices now are experiencing an adjustment period? MICHAEL: Well, if you look at some of the high-tech companies, they're making a commitment to work at home more of a permanent thing. I think there’s going to be a lot of elements of what we’re living with. One thing that will come back is our desire to be social beings. It has not changed. The office will come back. People want to be together. People want to see one another. And condominiums received a bad rap during the height of COVID in March at the very outset. Just a quick statistic — there are, I think, 124 cranes in Toronto. That's more than New York, Chicago, Boston and L.A. combined. So we’re leading the world in condominiums, and it's like what Toronto has always said: We have to grow up, not out. That’s our only option. JENNIFER: Michael hit the nail on the head when he said we’re social beings. I have full confidence that we’re going to return to our very urban ways. If I had to make a prediction, I think that you’re going to see the suburban market deflate as the economy opens up again as we all get our vaccines and we go back to living the way we want to live, which is in communities where we can interact with people. And I also agree on the employment side. I think there’s going to be a mix moving forward in the future. We’ve been through a digital transformation. It’s not like we go back to not having been through a digital transformation. That has happened. But in keeping with the comments about being a social people, I think we'll want a combination. That will mean some people will have the option of now living in the suburbs without a long commute because they can work on a screen. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I think it’s a good thing, but it won’t upend our urbanism.
that I’ll add in. We really have to talk about climate change and sustainability issues. When we talk about opening up the Greenbelt, remember why we created the Greenbelt: Walkerton, water, clean water. This whole dream disappears if we don’t have access to clean water. It all goes down the toilet in one quick flush. So the whole reason for protecting the Greenbelt was to protect the water supply for the urban areas and to protect agricultural land in close proximity to the city. POST: Michele, as someone in the tech industry, how widespread do you think working from home is going to be moving forward and how will that impact housing decisions? MICHELE ROMANOW:
Let me start off with my own personal bias: I was an enormous fan of the office. We had an office where people were in there all the time. They were brainstorming all night. There was an energy about being in our office at all times, and I couldn’t imagine a world without that. We didn’t hire anyone that was working remotely. This was as big a shock to me as anyone else that, even for a tech company, we would go fully remote. And so here’s the reason that I think this will not return to normal levels and everyone’s footprint will be a bit smaller. I’m with many of our other panellists, what Jennifer said, in terms of we need community. But here’s what changed over a year of COVID. For all of these tech companies, what we started saying is, “I can go get talent from anywhere.” And that was game changing for us. We’ve hired 100 new people since the start of COVID. We used to force everyone to move to Toronto. Now those people are in Seattle and Virginia and San Francisco and New York City. We just hired a German engineer. It’s all over now. I think they’re going to look very different. I think they’re probably going to look closer to the hotelling model where you can drop in. I think we’re looking at a model where we do six retreats a year where we all get together to meet each other. But it’s really a remote-first environment. This will make a huge difference on both condo prices and commercial prices because tech companies were what was driving this insane commercial real estate market. There was a two per cent
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GLUCKSTEIN: So we launched two new luxury projects this past year, and they’re selling around $3,000 a foot. And what we’re finding is that purchasers are combining units. So there has been a pent-up demand for what I call real luxury. Real luxury projects with the services and the ceiling heights and the fancy ovens and things like that. But what’s happening is those same purchasers are also buying huge lake houses that we’re doing in Muskoka. The Muskoka market has gone completely crazy. We’ve never seen anything like it with the prices. It’s quite unbelievable up there, and there’s a shortage of that property also. People are thinking: I don’t know how long this is going to go on, but if I’m going to be in a condo, I need a backyard somewhere. I need some outdoor space. And there’s just nothing out there. They’re literally knocking on doors to buy properties. They’re going by boat around the lakes just to buy these properties.
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BRIAN
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BRAD: So there isn’t really a mar-
vacancy before COVID, and it was what’s driving all of these employees that wanted to live downtown in condos. And so if we actually see that now there’s just smaller footprints from these tech companies and now more of our workers aren’t being forced to relocate, that is going to make a really big difference in the numbers. BRAD: First of all, Michele, I think the difference is that you’re willing to hire someone from Germany to work for you in your Toronto office and maybe in other countries and maybe in other cities. But I think the point that’s being made here is they’re not going to want to work for you that way. If you think about who your friends are, where your contacts are, where your entertainment comes from and your mental health comes from, it often is from work because that’s where you spend most of your time. If you don’t get to mix with the people you work with socially, it’s going to lead to very high levels of depression. So I have to strongly disagree with you. I think it works well for you. I think as an employer, it’s great. Your real estate imprint goes down, you could probably pay them less because they’re not coming to the office, they’re not driving a car. But for the worker, it’s going to be way worse. And I think workers will not put up with that. MICHELE: And I think the only
rebuttal to that would be in the technology industry I would say we disproportionately hire introverts. Software developers in offices often don’t want to be interrupted. I’ve worked with hundreds of them in my career. I would totally agree that I get a deep amount of satisfaction from having a social environment at work. But I think there are a bunch of folks that are actually very happy being remote. I didn’t think the world would shake out this way. I would have never made this prediction 12 months ago. POST: OK, Sangita.
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SANGITA
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PATEL:
I disagree with Brad. I think a lot of people are finding ways to have different coping mechanisms. In my industry, I don’t think I'll be travelling as much. I used to travel every week to do interviews and go to the locations of these sets. Now I’m doing interviews with Dwayne “the Rock”
Brian Gluckstein noted that many condos in midtown have signs alerting buyers that new students cannot be accommodated in local schools. Johnson at midnight, and we’re capable of doing that. For us as well, it looks like we will go into studios slowly. We’re not going back until the end of the year because we’re able to do this from home and make television. The one thing we are learning is, like Michele mentioned, you get together once in a few months and chat with each other and catch up. We’re learning different ways to communicate. I do not see people going back to the office. My husband, he’s a doctor and he’s doing a lot of remote work from home now. And just the safety of it, this is not going to go away this year. It’s going to be a while before that happens. So, I don’t see people trying to make that move and say, “Hey, I want to give you a hug. I want to see my friends.” I don't see that happening for a while. It’s going to be a very slow process. I agree with Michele. I think the changes that are happening are going to stay around for a while. POST: We’re going to go to Brian and William. BRIAN: Toronto is slowly getting to the point, different from European cities or cities in Asia, where we see families living in condos. Typically, the condos that we’re building, most of them are small and for single people, roommates, couples. The concept of having a
family in a condo, we’re just not building big enough units to accommodate families and working from the house at the same time. You’ve got two people working, and they’re on their computers having Zoom meetings, and then they’ve got two kids. We’ve got to create affordable apartments, condos, where they can actually live in them.
WILLIAM: There is a consistent relationship between the distance you are from the centre of a market and the price of a house. There’s some recent research that’s looked at how that relationship has changed postCOVID, and it’s changed in a pretty robust way for both rental and home prices. It’s become flat-
“So, if you want to have a family and
you want to stay in the city, where are those apartments?”
Also one of the issues is I drove by a condo site, and it had a notice on it that said don’t expect there to be schools in the neighborhood to accommodate families. Everybody says, “I want a house, I want a house, I want a house.” Well, that’s really going to be very challenging going forward, to live in Toronto and have a house. So if you want to have a family and you want to stay in the city, where are those apartments? They’re not 500square-foot, 700-square-foot, even 1,000-square-foot apartments to raise a family in and possibly work out of. The buildings have to be designed to have amenities for children also.
ter. So the premium you pay for being in the centre is smaller. It is not zero. So all the people who say we want to come back to the office, I couldn’t agree more. But if you’re coming back to the office three days a week, which is common for people in my industry, and staying home and getting stuff done the other two days a week, you can tolerate longer commutes. POST: With the exodus from the city, housing prices have skyrocketed in small towns and suburbs, while within the city prices are stagnant by comparison. Brad, will this impact where developers decide to build?
ketplace that I’m seeing now that’s stagnant. We’re active in Cambridge and Hamilton and the core around Mississauga. We’ve also been active in Ottawa, in Calgary, and we’re looking in areas like Niagara Falls. I’ve got to tell you that I don’t see any area that’s stagnant for new development right now. There’s two markets in Toronto. We have the new condominium development market, and we have the resale market. The resale market is driven by people who want to live in a home. They go and they open the door and they sit on the couch, and they see if they like it and they make a decision based on that. Then there’s a market that exists to build new buildings, which is entirely driven — 100 per cent driven by investors. Investors are rabid for places to put their money right now, and there's no stagnant place. POST: Mr. Hudak. TIM: Let me give you some quick data here. Teranet, our land registry system, tracks every move in the province. The number of GTA transactions or people leaving the GTA — that’s Toronto, Peel, Durham and York — their data has gone up 27 per cent from the previous year. It’s a big number, right. And that’s why the move to Sarnia or Fort Erie, it causes a big fuss. A small number of people can really drive a smaller market. But here’s the important point. It’s only six per cent of GTA transactions. The rest move somewhere else in the GTA. In the city of Toronto, 55 per cent stayed in Toronto. It’s down a little bit but pretty constant. Twenty-two per cent went to the GTA. So while you see a big impact in small towns because a few people can make a big difference, the reality is the vast majority of people, when they’re moving, continue to stay in the big cities. It’s a shift at the margins and acceleration of choices, but it is not a revolution. POST: Josh, do you see a similar trend in your area where people are looking to buy outside the core? JOSH: Everybody’s buying outside
of the city because they want air and they want to breathe. So what’s going to happen when the pandemic ends or when people return to civilization? Are they just going to love their life so much,
2021 REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE
f which is outside of the cities, and they’re going to continue living like this? Or are they going to go, “Oh, OK, well, I guess we can go back to town now. It was a nice little vacation while it lasted?” I don’t see people retreating out of these areas to go back to town, and then the prices sink. I think that those areas are now an attractive area for people to live that weren’t before. And now people have choices, city or country.
the pandemic has worsened this, not made it better. POST: Benjamin.
ODEEN: Toronto has always been a robust real estate market, and it'll continue to be. And with the 905, buyers now have the options of being elsewhere. I think a lot of people have now experienced the 905 and are realizing it’s not so bad. So whereas a couple of people mentioned that we’re going to be seeing a reversal, I think the fact is, with supply and demand, and with population increase worldwide, some people won’t be able to afford going back to Toronto. So I think that Toronto will continue to be robust because of immigration. But I’m happy that these tertiary markets are markets that people are considering. POST: Jennifer, you’ve long been an advocate for affordable housing. Now we have a situation where rental prices are down, and condo prices are more affordable. Should we try to keep it like this? JENNIFER: I don’t think prices
have dropped in the condo market over the long-term. I think, if you
A rendering of the lobby of Fitzrovia's new purpose-built rental called the Waverley set to open this spring near Spadina and College. look at the trend line, they’re going to continue to accelerate as long as we get our city building. Meaning we’re building the schools and building the parks and building everything else that is needed to make urban living really appealing. Because you can kill a city very quickly in just one generation. Just go look at San Francisco. You have to have all of those amenities as part of the mix in building your housing. This is a temporary situation that has been brought on by a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. So I’m rejecting the premise that condo prices are going to continue to be down. But I do think we’re already seeing the correction in the condo market. We started seeing it at the end of December. We started seeing bidding wars again on condos after everyone was saying everyone’s left the city. So I think the prognosis is a little bit different than you’ve portrayed. As the pandemic lifts and people embrace, once again, the amenities of urban living, I think that you will see more demand. I’m partial to Michele’s analysis that there’s a portion of the population that is lost and isn’t coming back. I think there are people who’ve discovered a different way of living and maybe they were thinking about leaving the city. Benjamin said it himself that the trends that existed before the pan-
demic have been accelerated through the pandemic. People that were thinking of downsizing and leaving the city or upsizing, leaving a small place in the city and moving to a Muskoka property or somewhere else, that decision may have been accelerated by the pandemic. But will that result in a wholesale significant loss of housing demand that will somehow recalibrate the shortage of supply that we have overall in the city of Toronto? Not even close. And I think there’s another
and the cost of housing. That problem did not go away as a result of the pandemic. But then there’s a whole other layer, that is people who were poorly housed, under-housed, who could not access housing, people who are working poor. And I actually think that we do need to be spending more time actually talking about this divide that has accelerated through the pandemic and the significant amount of job loss that has taken place, and overwhelmingly in racialized commu-
“To what extent COVID-19 is an event or a condition? I think it’s an event.” layer to this, which we have to be talking about, which is affordable for who. So there’s affordable for middle-income earners who are people who are earning between $50,000 and $110,000 a year, people in entry-level positions who are educated, typically, they have a little bit of student debt. They’re not even remotely yet thinking about possibly owning, if ever. And that is a segment of the population that is going to continue to be squeezed and is the segment of the population that was squeezed prior to the pandemic. So that’s like people who are working, but there’s a mismatch between wage
nities and Black communities. We have to be talking about that. Because there’s an element of the population that doesn’t actually see any light on the horizon with respect to being able to access housing where they can raise their families. And, you know, forget suburban and urban, that’s not even a question. It’s a stable home, that’s the problem. And on the affordability side, it didn’t actually get better because of the pandemic. It got worse. Because now, many of those people do not even have jobs to pay the rent. So we have to talk about affordability on a few different scales. But I think
BRAD: I hate to be the bearer of bad news: there is no solution to affordable housing. It’s always going to be a massive problem. We’re never going to fix it. We can do a little bit with it. It is not going to come from the private sector, sorry. The cost of building a highrise building in the city of Toronto now is $350 to $400 a square foot for gross construction area. And land prices for zoned land are close to $300 a square
APRIL 2021
MICHELE: I actually think it’s less
BENJAMIN: Yes, I think that going back to the question: to what extent things will last or not, I think that the key question that we should ask ourselves, from a housing perspective and any other economic perspective, is to what extent COVID-19 is an event or a condition? I think it’s an event. And you know why? Because I look at pictures from P Toronto, from New York, from London taken in 1919, a year removed from the Spanish Flu of 1918: life was back to normal. No masks, everybody together, partying. That’s Toronto a year from now, two years from now. And therefore, exactly as Jennifer said, all the housing problems that we were discussing in previous years did not disappear. They are there. The supply issue is there, the affordability issue is there. So that’s one aspect that we have to take into account. Now given that, it means that the affordability aspect is definitely an issue that will continue to be. And I suggest that, although the rental market is soft now, it will not be soft a year from now or two years from now. The number of new immigrants will come back. Non-permanent residents, especially students, will come back. In fact, it will rise. The demand will come back. The Airbnb factor will not be the same in terms of supply. You will not have enough supply, rent will rise again. The solution must be, in my opinion, a rental solution. And this rental solution must be purpose-built. So we need to provide the ability, the motivation for builders to do so. We are starting to see some joint ventures in this direction. That’s a direction we should go. It should be purpose-built design to enhance affordability in this city. Otherwise, it will be totally unaffordable.
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POST: We’ll go to Michele and then Odeen.
about what Tim was saying: “Are you a city person or another person?” I think people, for the first time, could be, like, “I could be both of those people. And now I have the chance to buy these things because I am not using discretionary income on a huge portion.” We’ve seen this happen with a lot of different segments where people are looking for different things to invest in because largely spending has gone down for this specific segment. That does not address lowincome earners. But I think it is an interesting point because it’s actually going to lead to some very irrational behavior that economists haven’t seen before because typically, spending among these earners looks the same on discretionary items.
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foot. You need to be able to rent apartments for $5 a square foot across the board: studios, ones, twos, threes. Never going to happen. POST: Jennifer, did you want to jump in there? JENNIFER: Oh, I don’t know
where to begin. So I’ve created a company that is building purposebuilt affordable rental that is designed for middle-income earners. And we have over 2,000 units under development right now in the city of Toronto. And the good news is that we know the minute those units are available, they will be occupied because there are so many people in that category who simply do not have access to housing that they can afford. So it’s kind of a low-risk proposition, actually building affordable rental because there’s such incredible demand. Our approach involves collaborating with existing landowners who have an interest in building affordable rental housing, for whatever reason that interest might be. Think of churches, think of universities. Universities have an incredible interest in affordable housing because they have trouble attracting faculty in this market. So there’s a viable business model. Interestingly, more and more developers in the city of Toronto are actually getting into this space because there is such unrelenting demand. BRAD: Everything you
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said is absolutely true. I’m by no means saying it’s not something that we want to try to reach for. I’m saying it’s not going to be possible in Toronto, and you just proved that because you’re talking about people that are subsidizing the cost of land through a social reason, right. So yes, if there is government activity that is allowing subsidies for cost to come down, and if landowners feel the social urge to give their land away, like they give to our churches, absolutely, that can happen. But I’m saying, free market, housing for rent is dead.
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JENNIFER: There’s a vast amount
of land in the city that is owned by not-for-profits and other entities that have an interest other than W trading land. And the good news is many of these entities have held this land for a very long period of time. So the equation that you just gave, the math actually doesn’t
matter because the land cost is not relevant to that equation. In addition, there’s incentives that have been put in place by the federal government around the forgiveness of fees for affordable housing that do make it a viable proposition. Sixty years ago when we were building affordable housing, it was created through policy incentives and a series of partnerships. It’s the same way it will be done in the future. The one part I will agree on is it won’t be done by a free-market approach. But I would argue there’s not much of a free-market approach in any of our housing market. Because there’s so many
different government mechanisms, low-interest rates, that determine the viability of being able to build. POST: Where would you say is the best place to invest in real estate now? BRAD: I think Hamilton has some tremendous value in that it’s kind of the most cosmopolitan city closest to Toronto. Toronto is my favourite city in the world, and I think that we have a really great future here. I think that, if you were looking in Toronto, I’d look east into Scarborough for tremendous value still. But I also think
downtown is a good value. At $1,300 or $1,400 a square foot for a small apartment, it might seem like a high price, but we’re still able to find tenants for those properties, pre-COVID rents, and show a positive return for people with 30 per cent down in year one. And that’s hard to do in any other city as dynamic as Toronto, so I like all of it. I’m very positive on London, Ontario, and cities like Kingston, Niagara Falls. It’s all amazing. You can’t go wrong in southern Ontario. BARRY: I’d be a little bit of a stat-
istician and look at the areas that came down the most as a result of
Q&A
COVID. I know York Mills was very much affected by it, any neighborhood that was really in the eye of foreign investors. The 905, north of the 416 area, that was good too. So I think if you are a little statistician, ask for the results from your real estate agent. You’ll find out that those areas will probably be the first ones to recover. I do agree with Brad about the condo market. I think it’s just going to flare up, if you can afford it and if it’s your lifestyle to live in that size. POST: We always end with a crystal ball question on what’s coming in the year ahead. Last year, the pandemic was just arriving, and nobody knew what we were in for. What does everyone think the coming year will bring? JOSH: Well, here’s the
confusing part. The market was softening a year ago in Los Angeles. People forget this because maybe they weren’t really paying attention to it, but it was starting to soften. And then we had a pandemic, and all of a sudden people started buying a bunch of real estate. So did we just skip a step and the market is now going to continue to go up like this or is this going to just fade away and then the market will go back to slowing?
© Angus Fergusson
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Brian Gluckstein says the best way to increase value is to create a space that wows buyers
QUESTION FROM ROTMAN’S BIBIAN AGUIRRE: For those who live in the city and want to remain in the city, what kind of recommendations would you give them in terms of renovations or improvements to their properties in order to gain value? Especially with the need perhaps for more space because people are working remotely. If someone has a semi in midtown Toronto and they want to gain value, what would you recommend they do? ODEEN: During COVID, renovations skyrocketed. The top trend of course was adding offices. We were jamming workspaces in corridors and just really anywhere we could for parents and the kids. We were also converting garages. That's going to have a long-term effect on value. But we were doing it in a way that it can be converted back when the time comes to sell. People need more space, so a lot of the times garages were that space where we can create a dance studio for somebody or a fitness area or a gym. And then we were finishing quite a few basements because people were getting tired of staring at their home, being essentially trapped at home. So for value adds — offices, finished basements and converting garages. BRIAN: I would not renovate a house to add value based on what we’ve been through for the last year. I think if you want to increase value, purchasers want to see something that wows them. So it really is about the esthetics of the house. It is the kitchen, it is the bathrooms, it is the flooring, it is staging the house. That’s how you add value to these houses.We’ve done projects where the buildings have been selling OK, and then you do a model suite that’s aspirational and looks fantastic, and everybody wants it because there’s an emotional connection. That’s how you add value. Add value in creating a space that seems beyond what they can afford. They walk in, and it seems so beautiful and so complete in its design that they will pay a premium for it. And I think that’s really how to sell your house at a profit..
WILLIAM: If the vaccinations happen under the planned schedule, then I think everybody is predicting economic recovery, in part because public policy tried to keep businesses semi-alive so that they could come back when the economy came back. I agree with everybody’s general sense on the fundamentals of Toronto. So I think it’s a good year. SANGITA: I think we’re underesti-
mating how long this is going to be around for. I’m not hearing any positive views, even though the numbers have gone down. There’s all these fluctuations and new variants that are being exposed now. So I think it’s going to be a while until we recover. TIM: I think we’re going to see
more focus on bidding wars, on affordability issues. It will put pressure on the province and the city. I hope that all those in government resist interfering in the market with new taxes or trying to slow it down. They should focus instead on stimulating supply,
2021 REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE
more inventory in the getting f marketplace. BRIAN: I think once we get everyone vaccinated and we get everything back, which may be not six months, but maybe a year from now, people have a very short-term memory of pain. I think they will be back to their life and they’ll be excited and accelerated to get on with life. So I think it may be a little rocky in 2021. By 2022, I think people will be so excited to get back to life. And it’s full steam ahead. BARRY: I think every segment of
ket that’s already begun. And unfortunately, I think we’re going to be seeing a larger gap between the rich and the poor. So it’s quite unfortunate, but I do think that the wealth gap is going to continue to grow in 2021 and likely beyond.
a strange year. I think that this year is going to look the same way that GameStop looked in the financial markets: things that we’d never thought would happen. I think all of us a year ago would not have anticipated rental prices where they were or high-end prices where they were. And I think there is this point on offices: I think they will certainly come back but maybe not at the capacity they were before. And so I think we’re going to see behaviour largely in these markets that we have never seen before that we don't have models and explanations for.
MICHAEL: I’m very bullish on Toronto and Canada. Toronto had the third best [real estate] year in history and prices are at an all-time high. If you look at January of 2020, when we were discussing those stats last year, people were concerned because it started at a screaming pace. January of 2021 is 37 per cent higher in unit sales than last January. So I think we’re going to be setting new records for this year in price and unit sales.
ODEEN: Yeah, I agree largely with
BRAD: I think that we are — from
Michele. I think it’s going to be another unprecedented year in terms of growth in the real estate market. I think we’re going to continue to see a frenetic spring mar-
a real estate standpoint — going to have a very strong year. We will see price increases, we’re going to see shortages. The fundamentals of Toronto real estate are that we
can build 20,000 highrise homes in the GTA, and we have a demand for 35,000. There’ll be a shortage as far as I can see. And I think it’s possible that businesses will change some of their models largely to suit them rather than their workers. But all in all, I feel quite optimistic about 2021 and beyond. JENNIFER: So I’m really bullish on Toronto over the long haul as well. And I’m hopeful that, by the end of 2021, we’re all vaccinated, the kids are back in summer camp this summer. And inevitably, I suspect that there’ll be many people who have not been moving around during this period because they were concerned about safety. People that are sitting tight are going to get on with their plans because they have the vaccine. But I think there’s another real opportunity here. I don’t think it would be a bad thing if the city had to work a little harder to build the urban narrative and to focus on some of the gaps in infrastruc-
ture. We’ve just been building a lot of condos downtown. We need schools, we need parks, we need walkable streets, we need pedestrian streets, we need a cycling network that is consistent with a city of our scale. We don’t have that. Montreal is way ahead of us. I’m hoping that in the competition to attract people back into urban living that we’ll deliver on some of those great urban assets that make urban living worthwhile. On the flip side, I think there’s a phenomenal opportunity for mid-size cities: London was mentioned, Hamilton. For those cities to actually attract some of those remote workers and to also see some growth and to offer some additional supply given the incredible supply crunch that we’ve had. So I’m very optimistic that the next 18 months are going to look rosy, but there’s going to be some uncertainty to get to the rosy part. I’m sure of that. BENJAMIN: Yes, I think that the
year will be relatively strong, but it
We are mindful that the pandemic has severely impacted many people across our city. With that in mind, a donation has been made to each of our sponsors' charities of choice. The RE/MAX Collection asked that we support the Children's Miracle Network and Great Gulf selected CAMH, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Post City Magazines and the Rotman School of Management have also donated a further amount raised from ticket sales to The Centre for Women and Trans People at the University of Toronto on behalf of our panellists and you, our incredible readers.
Download the entire Roundtable podcast on iTunes and TRNTO.com.
APRIL 2021
MICHELE: I think it’s going to be
Panellists say properties in Hamilton have tremendous value as the closest cosmopolitan city to Toronto.
depends where you start the year in terms of activity because we are now in a double-dip recession: the economy is shrinking as we talk, that’s a given, that’s the winter. The spring would be a transition period, if we are lucky, then we’ll have the second half of the year without the summer. We have seen last year that activity was very strong during the summer without a vaccine. Now we are going to have some sort of a vaccine. So the summer will be relatively strong. So to put some numbers, now it’s about negative two per cent. The spring, maybe plus one per cent, P per cent, and then the second two half of the year, we are talking about five, six, seven per cent GDP growth. That’s what we’re talking about. Why? Three reasons. One, the damage of COVID is very deep but also very narrow. Namely, if you feel the pain, you feel it very strongly. But it’s very narrow in terms of the number of industries that are impacted relative to any other recession, which means that, when we get to the other side of this madness, it won’t take much to see a rebound. Second, all the damage is in the service sector, and that’s the bad news. The good news is that a service business can recover very quickly. It’s much easier to start a new restaurant than to establish a new manufacturing facility. So it will be very speedy, the recovery. And the number three factor, the most important one, is cash. We are sitting on $100 billion of excess cash, looking for direction. The finance minister is asking us, “How can we convince those people to spend that cash?” And I said, “Provide the vaccine and get out of the way.” They don’t need any motivation. They are dying to go to a restaurant, but they are not willing to die doing so. So they are waiting. That money will be unleashed into the economy. We are going to have a relatively strong second half or maybe fourth quarter, depending on the vaccination. And I believe that the housing market will be part of this trajectory, with the condo market actually rebounding fastest, given some resistance price level in the low-rise segment of the market.
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real estate is going to appreciate. I think luxury is going to go through the roof. But look, money is cheap. There’s a lot of money in savings. People have saved so much money by being at home, and they’re going to spend. And as we become vaccinated, I think there’s going to be that mind shift that existed two years ago where the baby boomers were selling off their mansions. I’m now seeing the shift starting again that we do want that downtown lifestyle. And as Brian says, people will quickly forget. You may not shake hands for a couple years, but everything else is going to come back.
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FASHION
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10 SUSTAINABLE SPRING ESSENTIALS With Earth Day on April 22, what better time to highlight the local companies embracing slow fashion with ethical sourcing, sustainable materials and local labour. So we asked Jeanne Beker to pick the perfect items for your spring wardrobe that are also eco-conscious.
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CHIC ANORAK
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CURRENTS
DAILY PLANET
A new species could be discovered any day When scientists focus on a fragment of nature, they gain powerful insights into how a bit of the world works I was once at the cutting edge of genetics research. The textbook I co-authored was the most widely used in the world. But we ended up writing numerous editions to keep up with evolving knowledge. Newer versions had to account for information that had become irrelevant or ideas that were later disproven. That’s not to denigrate our research or any other. It’s how science progresses. Like much of everything, science can be influenced by money and profit. So there’s often a rush to patent every new insight to get something to market even if its application might turn out to be ineffective or harmful. When scientists focus on a fragment of nature, they gain powerful insights into a bit of how the world works. We discover all kinds of things because we often start from a place of relative ignorance. The late Cornell University professor Thomas Eisner, a leading insect expert, told me he could discover a new insect
Cornell University professor Thomas Eisner suggests there are many undiscovered insect species in Central Park
species in New York City’s Central Park any day — in one of the biggest cities in the world. Think of how little we know about life in the Amazon rainforest, the Great Bear Rainforest or the oceans. Science is great at description. But every discovery needs to be put in a perspective that acknowledges our ignorance. Not
long ago, marine biologists assumed the base of the marine food chain was microscopic phytoplankton. In the mid-1980s, they found cells 10 times smaller than phytoplankton called “picoplankton” that went through the mesh in their nets. Picoplankton are so abundant, they may produce as much oxygen as all phytoplankton. Yet until
recently, we didn’t know they existed. As useful a tool as science is, it often fails to consider the big picture. Paul Mueller won a Nobel Prize in 1948 for developing the insecticide DDT. As its use ramped up, Swiss company Geigy made a lot of money, and DDT knocked the hell out of insects. But over time, birdwatchers began to notice bird populations were declining. Biologists tracked it to DDT accumulation in shell glands, making eggshells thinner and prone to breaking. They had discovered biomagnification, a phenomenon that scientists didn’t know about until DDT was used. Science is often considered to be objective, but that means it can be used for good, bad or indifferent purposes.
In many ways, Indigenous knowledge is more encompassing and profound than science. It embraces gratitude, love, respect and a deep sense of responsibility. Indigenous knowledge is critical for a peoples’ survival and has been tested by their presence over thousands of years. It’s also deeply subjective and meaningful, considering the web of relationships with all other animal and plant species and air, water, soil and sunlight. The element of reciprocity, of responsibility, is missing in contemporary science and society in general. We need both science and Indigenous knowledge for a fuller understanding of our place in the world.
DAVID SUZUKI David Suzuki is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things and author of more than 30 books on ecology.
2021 SALES SO FAR... ROSEDALE 15 GREGORY AVE
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height ceiling. 5 bdrms with third
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EILEEN FARROW, SALES REPRESENTATIVE eileenfarrow@chestnutpark.com | 416.925.9191 | www.chestnutpark.com CHESTNUT PARK REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BROKERAGE | 1300 YONGE STREET, SUITE 100 TORONTO, ON M4T 1X3 THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO SOLICIT BUYERS OR SELLERS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACTWITH A BROKERAGE.
bright & charming. Steps to St.Clair/Yonge shops, restaurants & TTC.
Three glam getaways for April break All within a 90-minute drive from Toronto First, March break travel in 2020 was a bust. Then we all hoped 2021 would bring an opportunity to jet-set somewhere, but again we had to rethink our spring break plans. On the bright side, we have been thrown a first-time opportunity — April break. Though most of us are still waiting to fly south, in the meantime we should be thankful we live in a province ripe with luxurious getaways, stunning scenery and some of the most sensational food and drink spots. With COVID restrictions and precautions in mind, here are three ideas for where you can celebrate the one and hopefully only April break. Alabaster Acres Glamping
A short drive from Toronto is the ultra-glamorous, ultra-relaxing glamping site, Alabaster Acres. Here you will find a gorgeous canvas tent with a luxurious kingsized bed opening to a covered porch with a hammock and an open-air bathing room just waiting to be enjoyed. Whether you spend the night stargazing with a glass of wine around your private firepit or cuddled in the hammock with a local craft beer, this destination is the epitome of tranquility. The farm is also home to cows, rabbits, ducks, pigs, chickens, horses and, most famously, goats, who love to participate in Alabaster Acre’s seasonal Goat
Yoga. Enjoy a 50-minute yoga class while the pygmy and Nigerian dwarf goats play, jump, cuddle and climb beside and sometimes on top of you and your mat. Once you’re fully relaxed, ramp things up with a geocaching adventure — a scavenger hunt that uses GPS coordinates as your guide. Each coordinate leads you to a cache, and each cache contains a clue, which continues your hunt. Adventures can be tailored to accommodate everyone from young kids right up to experienced geocachers. It’s the perfect family activity. Nestleton Waters Inn
This property is right out of Gilmore Girls, a quaint and charming B & B in Nestleton, Ont., just east of Toronto. This beautiful country home sits on 96 scenic acres and partners with local vendors, farmers and musicians to create a unique, warm and inviting experience for guests. Nestleton Waters Inn has won awards for its picturesque weddings, hospitality and chef Moss’s delicious locally sourced dishes. Days can be spent forest bathing, birdwatching or perusing
the B & B shop. While here, take the opportunity to discover the enchanting town surrounding the inn: Stroll through beautiful Port Perry, explore upscale Victorian boutiques, discover new favourites in the local chocolatiers or indulge in locally made gelato in the marina. A getaway to Nestleton Waters Inn would not be complete without a visit to Old Flame Brewing Company, a Port Perry landmark. This award-winning brewery has six signature beers, all lagers, with seasonal stouts available year-round. When restrictions allow, Old Flame Brewery offers tours that share the history of the beer, the building, the people and the process. Finish your tour in the tasting room to find your favourite Old Flame lager, fill your growler and then take it home to enjoy another day. Millcroft Inn & Spa
Take in the country air at the elegant Millcroft Inn & Spa in nearby Caledon. This property consists of three separate buildings, originally built as a knitting mill in 1881. Here you can indulge in homemade maple syrup and fresh honey from the on-site forest and hives, unwind in the lavish spa or spend the day wandering through the acres of woodland. Definitely enjoy a meal at Headwaters Restaurant, a culinary exploration of locally sourced produce, guided by the fruits of the season with executive chef James Buder at the helm. When you finally tear yourself from your cosy room and your views of Shaw’s Creek Falls and Mill Pond, wander over to the Alton Mill, a national, awardwinning heritage building that hosts artist studios, unique galleries, a heritage museum and shops. Here you will find handcrafted jewelry and one-of-akind fine art pieces. You’ll also find small batch, handmade artisanal wares at the Noodle Gallery. Finish your day at Heartwood Farm & Cidery, a regenerative farm that focuses on biodiversity with a commitment to the natural process that takes place from farm to table. At Heartwood, they raise grass-fed livestock, make maple syrup and press craft cider from their forest garden and orchard.
NATALIE PREDDIE Natalie Preddie is a travel and lifestyle writer, speaker and guest expert on Cityline, Your Morning and Global’s The Morning Show.
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APRIL 2021
The luxurious canvas glamping tent at Alabaster Acres
CURRENTS
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GREAT ESCAPES
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CURRENTS
LOCAL GRADUATES
Launching a music career amid the pandemic Maya Zita on creating hit songs with award-winning producers REPORT CARD STUDENT:
Maya Tisdale GRADUATED:
Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts BEST SUBJECT:
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© Brian Hamilton
Maya Tisdale is a Toronto artist who goes by the name of Maya Zita. She launched her music career during the pandemic with her first single and music video dropping back in January. She says she was one of those people who always knew she would pursue music. It clicked when she was just seven years old singing “Alegría” by Cirque du Soleil at a talent show, a song with lyrics in English, Italian and Spanish. “Singing in different languages and seeing my teachers’ reactions to it — they were so shocked that I was like, ‘I have to do this,’ ” she says. “And that face of shock, that’s what really inspired me to just keep going and be the best I can be.” Zita says that was when she realized that she could potentially pursue music as a career. Since that moment, Zita has
by Julia Mastroianni
Math CURRENT JOB:
Singer-songwriter
Zita’s next track will be released this spring
been devoted to her craft, taking vocal lessons and learning all she can about creating and recording music. At Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts, Zita involved herself in as many singing opportunities as she could, and by age 16, she started recording music and
learning all the behind-thescenes components of producing a song. “I didn’t realize how long the process of actually getting a song finished would take,” she says. “The business side really gives you a different perspective on your music. The thought of
actually selling this product, wanting to make sure that everything is perfect and marketable just kind of lingers in the back of your mind.” Zita started working on her debut single, “Ouija Board,” back in September 2019 and connected with producers Harrison Fine and Ben Pelchat in January. However, once COVID-19 hit, they had to put everything on pause. She was grateful that, later on in 2020, she was able to reconnect with not only her producers but an entire team to finish the song and create a music video to accompany it. “It was so fun. It was probably one of the best days of the year for me,” Zita says of the day they shot the music video. The alternative pop song also incorporates jazzy elements, and Zita’s voice shines throughout the track.
Zita has been managing the launch of her career while also studying at Metalworks Institute in Mississauga. She says it has been almost “impossible” to manage the two at the same time. “But honestly, just with the way things have changed now, I don’t think I could stop. If I’m idle for too long I would freak out,” she says. Although Zita doesn’t know for sure what life will look like in five years, she says she’ll be happy as long as she’s doing music in some way. “If it's meant to be, it will be, you know. It's destiny,” she says. Zita is looking forward to releasing a song with producer Harrison Fine around April or May and has another in the works with EDM artist Zoë Starra for around the start of the summer.
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HOW THEY MET
CURRENTS
I would actually time it perfectly and make a surprise 14-hour drive from Nashville and show up unannounced at her door right after the delivery. The proposal
Steven: We were going to a Dan + Shay show in Nashville, and I thought about asking her onstage, but I knew that wasn’t her style. So, the next morning, Shannon was just finishing brushing her teeth, and I hugged her and just started telling her how much I loved her, and she turned around, and I had the ring in my hand and was on one knee. We just cried and hugged for hours and then called all our family and friends. Oh yeah, and she said, yes!
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How Toronto’s country sweethearts found love Steven Lee Olsen and Shannon Ella on their COVID wedding and new baby boy Toronto’s own country sweethearts Steven Lee Olsen and Shannon Ella started their love story in the city before heading to Nashville. Olsen is a Grammynominated songwriter and country artist, and Ella hosts a radio show on Bell Media’s Pure Country station. Here’s how country music brought them together. How they met
Shannon: We met at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Hamilton. I was interviewing artists on Radio Row [the press area] and had just done 30 interviews. Steven’s representative came up and asked if I had time to squeeze him in. I agreed, but didn’t know anything about Steven, so I had to research some quick facts before the interview. We started the interview, and the entire time we were both staring at each other, not looking at the camera once and clearly smitten. The cool thing about it is that one day we will be able to show our kids the moment Mom and Dad met.
The first date
Shannon: Our first official date was sometime in September. We went to Urban House in Leslieville for lunch and then just walked around for hours. We ended up sitting on a rock together by Hideaway Park and talked about everything and anything. All of our dates at the beginning were us strolling around
“One day we will be able to show our kids the moment Mom and Dad met.” Toronto, thrift shopping, exploring different coffee shops, going to parks. That’s where our love story started. The courtship
Steven: The element of surprise was definitely my friend while doing long distance. Sometimes I got creative and even had food delivered to her from wherever I was in the world. And sometimes
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Steven: We just welcomed our first child on Dec. 11, 2020. His name is Lincoln Paul Olsen. Balancing careers and marriage
Shannon: We have careers and passions that we set time aside in our days for, but especially now since we had our son, we are way more precious with our free time. We always try to have our mornings together no matter what, waking up, drinking our coffee and catching up, and we always make time for date nights. The home
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Shannon: We currently live in Nashville, but once the borders open up, we plan to split our time between Nashville and Toronto! Life after retirement
Shannon: We would love to have a home base, a cottage or farm in Canada and then a beach house somewhere and take two big trips each year. I definitely want to have a farm with some horses to ride around on, and Steven will most likely always be writing songs.
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APRIL 2021
Steven Lee Olsen and Shannon Ella got married in their backyard in Nashville
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The wedding
Shannon: After getting engaged on March 8, 2020, we decided to get married in Hawaii in April. Of course, due to COVID-19 we had to cancel our plans. Neither of us wanted a big wedding, so once May rolled around we couldn’t wait any longer. On May 7 in Nashville, we had an officiant come to our home, and we got married in our backyard. We took videos and put together a little something for our families since they weren’t able to be there, but it was absolutely perfect. Once it’s safe, we will plan another trip to Hawaii and to renew our vows.
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BOOKS
CURRENTS
The moving story of one amazing mom Olympian Perdita Felicien’s debut book is an ode to her mother who sacrificed much to give her child a better life by Ron Johnson
Newly minted author Perdita Felicien and the subject of the book, her mother Catherine
what the immigration status was here and what is the culture like in St. Lucia, what are the rules around abortion, all this stuff. So there was a lot of that research that I had to do.” To truly give the story justice, she also had to not only touch upon but delve into some painful memories. And that was tough, she says, “because the story deals with poverty, it deals with homelessness, it deals with identity, it deals with a lot of domestic abuse,” she says. “There’s so many parts that I put
“She knew that her only hope and her only chance was to make it in Canada.” Perdita, she makes the decision to uproot and move to Canada to become a nanny. Felicien considers her mother a hero and feels that without her mother she wouldn’t be where she is today. The former Olympian, Canadian icon and journalist is also set to attend another Olympic Games this summer with the CBC broadcast team. She is honouring her mother’s sacrifice in telling her story. But it took a lot of work both here and in St. Lucia. “A lot of this book is oral history. And of course, there's historical fact as well,” Felicien says. “I had to go back and figure out
off writing because I didn't want to face them early. I would say having to put on the page witnessing my mother live through an abusive relationship, witnessing that and having to tell that story on the page was very hard. I was my mother's defender in many ways. But I’m six, seven years old. I don’t have the tools to defend her. And so it was hard revisiting that because I had to relive that for myself but also to ask that of her again. That was hard.” The Felicien family settled in Oshawa and then Pickering. And it was in Durham Region during a nationwide school fitness program that a gym teacher first saw her
potential as an athlete. It’s not like her family didn’t want that for her, more like they just didn’t have any frame of reference for that possibility. “Nobody in my family knew that I had anything special because they weren’t athletes themselves,” Felicien says. “We didn't aspire for me to go to the Olympics or to get a scholarship. That was not on our radar.” But it worked out quite well, and for years Felicien was the top sprinter in the world, attending three Olympic Games and winning the World Championship twice. Following her running career, Felicien studied journalism and is part of the CBC’s Olympic broadcast team. Felicien credits her mother for getting her where she is and setting her own child up for success as well. Her strength and her outlook on life are what she hopes to pass on to her daughter Nova. “No matter where you start, you have the opportunity to steer yourself towards your dreams and towards your goal,” she says. “I want Nova to know that she is standing on my shoulders but that I'm standing on my mother's shoulders, and my mother's standing on the shoulders of my grandmother, who took care of her kids as a teen mom, so she could go to Canada and see what she could make of that experience.”
SWEET SPRING READS A TOWN CALLED SOLACE New York Times bestselling author and Toronto native Mary Lawson is back with a new novel, A Town Called Solace. A suspenseful and moving book about a family in crisis by one of our best storytellers. YEARBOOK Seth Rogen is having a year, from Twitter battles with American senators to founding his own cannabis company. Now, Rogen is set to release his debut book. Yearbook is a collection of funny essays sure to provide some much-needed laughs. THE RELATIVES Author Camilla Gibb has penned many moving and honest novels in her long career as one of the country’s top novelists. The writer of Sweetness in the Belly and others returns with The Relatives, a stirring tale of one woman’s long journey to motherhood. FARM, FIRE & FEAST One of Canada’s top celebrity chefs, MIchael Smith always turns out brilliant and beautiful cookbooks. His latest, Farm, Fire & Feast, is packed with recipes to cook over a fire. The perfect collection for our outdoorfocused lives.
APRIL 2021
mother’s story. “I think the assumption is that this book is about my athletic journey. And that is a thread throughout,” she explains. “But I always felt like my mother's story was incredible. The person I learned and grew to know as I got older.” Felicien’s family roots are found on the island of St. Lucia where her mother, Catherine, began working on the beach when she was just 12 years old. Later, pregnant with her second child, who would come to be named
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Toronto’s Perdita Felicien is best known as a hurdler, a former World Champion and Olympic athlete of the highest calibre. Despite her incredible ups and downs as a world-class athlete, the story of how her family came to Canada and how she survived and thrived thanks to the sacrifices of her mother is about as epic as they come. Her mother’s story is the subject of Felicien’s first book, an emotionally charged memoir entitled My Mother’s Daughter: A Memoir of Struggle and Triumph. Felicien says she was inspired to write the book, scheduled for release on March 30, following a year in pandemic limbo, when she had her own child. “When I had my own child in my hand, in my bosom, I understood why my mother fought so hard for us,” she says, “and why she endured, you know, the name calling and the people taking advantage of her, because she knew that her only hope and her only chance was to make it in Canada.” One might think, based on the author, that this is a book about the making of an athlete, and yes that is included. But it is only one part of a much more expansive narrative that is really a microcosm of the Canadian success story. Felicien acknowledges that assumption but is hopeful that people will take a lot from her
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CAMPS & PROGRAMS Prestige School Prestige School’s Summer Camp Program is just the fun, activity-filled, yet educational summer that your children are looking for! Our camp, that offers a wide variety of exciting activities that keep all kids engaged, educated, and entertained, starts on July 5th and ends on August 27th, 2021. Our sports program includes Outdoor Games, Basketball, Volleyball, and Soccer. We also offer educational programs such as English and French studies, English as a Second Language, and Logic Boosters. We also provide activities such as Fun Science, Computer Design, Computer Animation and 3D Modelling, Drawing, Painting, Sculpting, and Chess. Campers attend exciting weekly Field Trips throughout the summer and visits to the Swimming Pool twice a week. The camp runs from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Hot lunch is provided daily. Door-to-door transportation is available. Summer School Credit Courses for grades 9-12 now offered.
St. Michael's College School St. Michael's College School Summer Camps offer youth ages 10 and up exceptional academic, athletics, and arts programmes. Led by certified teachers who are experts in their field of instruction, your child will be supported and challenged based on their skill-level and experience. Whether your child wants to explore something new or is looking to improve an existing skill set, SMCS Summer Camps are the perfect opportunity for boys and girls to have fun, create memorable experiences, and receive the high-quality instruction that they deserve. Our programmes are virtual this summer, with most running for 60 minutes per day (our Athlete Performance, Math, Literacy, and General Learning Skills camps may run longer). Our 2021 offerings include: Theatre, Public Speaking, Creative Writing, Digital Photography, Chess, Backyard Habitat, Makers, Math and Advanced Math, Literacy, General Learning Skills, and Athlete Performance.
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PRESTIGE SCHOOL’S SUMMER CAMP
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2 Convenient Locations Toronto Campus: 21 Eddfield Avenue (Sheppard & Yonge) Richmond Hill Campus: 11 Headdon Gate (Bathurst & Major Mackenzie)
416-250-0648
CAMP TYPE: Day Camp AGE RANGE: 3-19 years TOTAL ENROLMENT: 50-70 CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: Varies SESSION LENGTH: July & August SESSION COST: $350 per wk
CAMP DIRECTOR: Olga Margold
CONTACT: 416-250-0648
prestigeprivateschool.ca
CAMP TYPE: Virtual AGE RANGE: 10+ years TOTAL ENROLMENT: 10 participants per ses-
sion. Math, Literacy & Gen. Learning may incl. 10+
SESSION LENGTH: One week SESSION COST: $100+
SMCS CAMPS DIRECTOR:
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CONTACT: 416-653-3180 ext. 210 SMCSCAMPS.COM
KIDS
CURRENTS
Local dad creates inclusive swimwear for trans girls
Marital stress the unexpected COVID side effect A pandemic-fuelled increase in separations is not inevitable What does all this mean for parenting? It means that COVID has made an already challenging job about 10 times harder. There is so much more for parents to disagree about. Let’s take remote schooling. We know this is way too challenging for a great many kids, that they’re having trouble doing their schoolwork, struggling to concentrate and focus in online classes, and that many kids are falling behind in school. This is the perfect parenting minefield because it’s almost impossible for any two people to agree on the strategy for dealing with a kid who is struggling that way. The situation sets the stage for a perfect storm, for parenting World War 3. Stated baldly, the two extremes are the laissez-faire relaxed parent who wants to let it go. This sounds like: “All the kids are in the same boat, let’s not worry about it. You’re stressing too much and making the kids even more uptight.” Versus the other parent who says: “These are academic losses that matter to their future. It’s fine for you to say it doesn’t matter — you’re not the one who thinks about that stuff. I’m the one who helps with homework.” Notice the judgment and hostility
thrown in on both sides. This is the stuff of which true marital discord is made. Add to this the marital conflict over how much screen time COVID kids should be allowed, how much to try to control their (potentially contagious) contact with their friends and then throw in a dash of anger over who’s doing the parental heavy lifting. Here too we’ve got statistics. Apparently COVID has exaggerated the already unequal time that men and women put into parenting, with women doing even more than they were preCOVID. All of which is resulting in increased stress on marriages and thus a pandemicfuelled increase in marital separation and divorce. How could it not? And what is to be done? Is there a fix? This depends on how much credit remains in each person’s “emotional bank.” If there’s no gas in the tank and spouses have given up on each other and have decided that their partner is not worth fighting for, it’s game over. If there’s emotional credit in the great ATM of marriage, then there’s hope. The Zoom marriage counsellors are open for business. Get one.
JOANNE KATES
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The most wonderful thing in the world is to look at your children, your partner by your side, and bask in loving them together. Knowing that the two of you adore these beings with all your heart, and you’re in it together. Until you’re not. It turns out that one of the unexpected side effects of COVID is marital stress and a resulting rising divorce rate. Pre-COVID statistics told us that the relationship between spouses suffers when they have kids, and yet the likelihood of them divorcing declines! They stay together for the kids. That was pre-COVID. Add new stresses to the marital mix, and it can turn sour. Imagine if I had told you a year ago that both parents would be working from home, schools would be mostly closed and your kids would be doing remote learning, and summer camps and extracurriculars would be mostly closed so your kids would really be stuck at home. Oh, and they can’t hang out with their friends. Or mark major life events in any meaningful way. And your child care arrangements go to hell in a handbasket. And the grandparents can’t get near them to help take care of them. And nobody can go away on vacation. It’s no wonder that kids are depressed, lonely and anxious.
APRIL 2021
The pandemic has created a parenting minefield when it's impossible to agree on a coping strategy
Bathing suit shopping can be anxiety inducing at the best of times, for those of all shapes and sizes. The experience can be even more stressful for parents in search of swimwear for young girls that offers both comfort and adequate coverage. Yet another layer of apprehension gets piled onto the process, however, when it comes to swimwear for trans girls, something Jamie Alexander learned first-hand — and what inspired him to start Rubies, an inclusive Canadian brand specializing in creating form-fitting clothing for trans girls. The idea stemmed from his daughter, Ruby, a trans girl who just wanted to fit in with and be as comfortable as her friends. Alexander had anxiety around how Ruby could safely wear form-fitting clothing, so for a while he and Ruby opted for board shorts for swimming and sweatpants for gymnastics. A trip to Panama spurred him on further to find the right fit for her that wouldn’t compromise style. “We were planning a trip to Panama and were concerned about what Ruby would be able to wear at the beach. Instead of wearing a bikini that she wanted, we had her wear board shorts,” he explains. “When I returned, I started searching for options and found them very lacking. Once I realized there were limited options, I went for it.” And so, Rubies was born in the spring of 2020. He describes the feedback received so far as amazing. “It feels really good to be able to make a real difference in people’s lives, especially those in the trans community and parents of trans girls,” he says. “They are so excited that someone is designing products for their children. They see both the work I am doing as a role model for other dads and that Ruby has been able to inspire their children.” Alexander now has plans to further expand internationally as well as work on new products like underwear and bikini tops. Rubies also runs the campaign Every Girl Deserves to Shine, dedicated to providing free swimwear to families in need. In addition, with every purchase, Rubies includes handwritten postcards by trans and nonbinary children and their allies with positive messages for the receiver. Rubies products can be ordered online via rubyshines.com. — Jessica Padykula
Parenting columnist Joanne Kates is an expert educator in the areas of conflict mediation, self-esteem and anti-bullying, and she is the director of Camp Arowhon in Algonquin Park. Ruby and her dad Jamie Alexander
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2021
T.O.’S TOP PROFESSIONALS
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRY
NEW OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE RECENTLY AMENDED DIVORCE ACT
Cheryl Goldhart – Expert Family Law Lawyer, Mediator and Arbitrator
BIO Cheryl Goldhart is a certified specialist in Family Law with over 30 years of experience practicing exclusively in the field. She specializes in complex, high conflict and high net worth cases. She is an accomplished lawyer, OAFM accredited family law mediator and a certified family law arbitrator by the ADR Institute of Ontario.
On March 1, 2021, the Divorce Act was amended for the first time since 1985. The amendments include new duties for both parties and lawyers. Although children’s best interest have been the focal point of any parenting decision for separated parents, they are now legally required to place the best interests of their child(ren) at the forefront of all of their decision-making and parenting time. Parents are also required to try and resolve the issues arising from the breakdown of their marriage through a family dispute resolution process such as negotiation, mediation or collaborative law, to the extent that is appropriate to do so. Lawyers are similarly required to encourage their clients to resolve their matters through a family dispute resolution process, unless it would clearly not be appropriate to do so (for example: mediation or arbitration may not be appropriate in a case where there has been family violence). Lawyers are also required to advise clients of family justice services, which are defined as public or private services intended to help persons deal with issues arising from separation or divorce. Family justice services include supervised
access centers, parent education programs and family law information centers. The use of a family dispute resolution process to resolve some or all issues offers families the opportunity to craft their own settlements, create detailed plans about how to raise their children, and can save time and money. An out of court process is often less adversarial; it allows parties to resolve their issues without the need to “win” or “lose” and supports their ability to communicate in the future, which is particularly important in cases with children. The amendments recognize the value of these alternative dispute resolution processes and strongly encourage parties to take advantage of these family friendly options to the greatest extent possible.
CONTACT Goldhart & Associates 20 Eglinton Ave. W. Suite 1305
416-967-6111 www.goldhartlaw.com
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HAVING TROUBLE NEGOTIATING YOUR LEASE?
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Kevin Roher
BIO Kevin Roher has made his mark as a leader in the retail industry for over 30 years. He ran two successful stores - Higher Ground and HG Girls - before retiring and pivoting to create his retail consulting firm. As a former retailer, it has given him the insight and skill set to work collaboratively with each client. He is currently focused on securing rent reduction and renewal for retail & professional offices.
area can improve your success rate, decrease your stress and allow you to focus on your business. What kind of services can you expect from a Leasing Consultant? • Representation of the business owner with their landlord in all leasing and lease renewal negotiations • Work with the business owner and the landlord to come up with viable strategies to manage these unprecedented times • Help the business owner get the best possible lease terms on their most important business expense In this climate, tenants would be wise to seek out an experienced and knowledgeable third party to help come up with a game plan to approach landlords seeking rent concessions and/or the most favourable long-term leases. This approach and strategy would cut costs significantly for many businesses who are struggling to stay alive.
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For many businesses, negotiating a new lease or a renewal can be a daunting task particularly during these challenging economic times. A key area of concern these days for many retailers and professional offices, has been leasing, paying rent, and their relationship with their landlords. The pandemic has put a tremendous amount of additional stress on most business owners, so much so that some are simply struggling to survive. As a business owner it can be intimidating to negotiate with a landlord for concessions, renewing a lease or even establishing a new lease. An experienced consulting firm in leasing can be a business owner’s best solution, serving as an effective and knowledgeable mediator to help a tenant navigate seamlessly through what can be a complicated and confusing process. A mediator will formulate a strategy with the tenant, setting out to achieve temporary rent relief to get businesses through the next 8 to 12 months - or simply securing the best possible long-term lease. So, who needs Leasing Consultant Services? Anyone who is struggling with lease issues due to COVID-19, has been dealing with difficult lease negotiations, or is looking to secure a better deal at renewal time. Having an experienced negotiator working on your behalf in this complicated business
Let’s Succeed Together
CONTACT HG Consulting hgretailconsulting.com
Email: kevin@hgretailconsulting.com 416-618-2488
TASTE TEST
FOOD
TOP DOG Chris van der Ahe is said to have sold the first hot dog at a St. Louis Browns game in 1893.
MCEWAN TESTS OPENING DAY DOGS As the Toronto Blue Jays kick off an unconventional season this month, Taste Test judge Mark McEwan tries some of the city’s most out-of-the-ordinary takes on the ballpark classic.
FANCY FRANKS FRANKIE GOES TO BUFFALO “So much crunch, which is a texture that hot dogs usually lack,” said McEwan, noting that the chopped celery and carrots topping helped to take the crunch factor up an additional notch. He described the hot dog as “quite tasty” overall. 1507 Avenue Rd., $8.89
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CHUNGCHUN RICE DOG
NOORDEN SNACK BAR
CENTRE STREET DELI
FRENCH DOG “This was my first experience with brie and blueberries on a hot dog — it worked and made a very haute couture street snack,” said McEwan. He noted the croissant was crispy enough to hold the layered hot dog together. 1084 Yonge St., $9.74
GAMSUNG POTATO “There is something inviting about snacks on a stick. This was particularly fun to eat,” said McEwan. He said the batter was pleasantly “sweet and chewy” and the crispy potatoes coated on the outside added a nice crunch. 11 Byng Ave., $4.99
THE DUTCH DOG McEwan appreciated the high hot dog to bun ratio in this snack from Little Sister’s ghost kitchen. He noted that the hot dog was topped with a “generous helping of spring and white onions” and delivered big on onion flavour. 2031 Yonge St., $6.95
CLASSIC HOT DOG “This one was reminiscent of a Chicago-style hot dog, dressed like a hamburger at a backyard BBQ with tomatoes, pickles and lettuce on a sesame seed bun,” said McEwan. He found the nostalgic flavour palate “easy to enjoy.” 1136 Centre St., $5.75
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UNCLE BETTY’S THE ULTIMATE HOT DOG “This one was almost intimidating to eat at first glance. I wasn’t sure how to attack it, but I'm glad that I did,” said McEwan. He described the dog as “beautifully grilled,” and he complimented the “tender, lightly seasoned” pulled pork topping. 2590 Yonge St., $16
APRIL 2021
RUNNER-UP
WINNER
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Rendering is artist’s interpretation only. Architectural features and materials are representational only and subject to change.
FEATURE
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HOT CHOCOLATES From bean-to-bar treats to artistic eggs, these Toronto chocolate purveyors have your Easter chocolate needs covered with their locally-made goodies. Send a sweet surprise to a loved one to celebrate the holiday or treat yourself to an elevated afternoon snack.
INTERNATIONAL ICON
Run by husband-and-wife team David Castellan and Cynthia Leung, Soma Chocolatemaker has scooped up numerous international awards for its exquisite bean-to-bar chocolate. They’re widely recognized as some of the best chocolatiers not just in Canada, but in the world. Their spring holiday selection includes stunning Easter pods, which are designed to look like wild cacao pods. They feature egg-shaped pods in blueberries & cream or sour cherry flavours, set onto a twisting hand-sculpted nest of hazelnut. somachocolate.com
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TRADITIONAL TREATS
A sixth generation konditor (confectioner), chef Daniel Stubbe grew up learning the art of chocolate making in his family’s pastry shop in Germany. With Stubbe Chocolates, the chef aims to bring a modern approach to European chocolate-making traditions. The shop’s newest Easter treat is a Smash Egg, a chocolate shell painted with coloured cocoa butter, which can be cracked open to reveal a filling of berry clusters, milk almond clusters, nonpareils, tropfin and florentines. Stubbe also does classics like Easter bunnies and chicks. stubbechocolates.com
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SMALL-BATCH SNACKS Katie Wilson was inspired to get into the bean-to-bar chocolate business after touring chocolatemakers in Australia and New Zealand. She now makes smallbatch chocolate from scratch at her Toronto café, Soul Chocolate, which she co-owns with her husband Kyle. Easter offerings include a higher-quality take on a classic chocolate bunny, made with 60 per cent Madagascar dark milk chocolate, and milk chocolate eggs filled with salted caramel “yolk” and creamy “egg white” fondant or marshmallow swirled with raspberry. soulroasters.com
APRIL 2021
ARTISTIC APPROACH
Local pastry chef and chocolatier David H. Chow is known for making colourful, intricately decorated bonbons, bars and other chocolate creations. It perhaps comes as no surprise that Chow was an engineer by trade before becoming a pastry chef, with the geometric patterns of his chocolates reflecting an almost scientific level of detail. For Easter, expect chocolate shell eggs topped with yellow passion fruit couverture and white chocolate to resemble a “sunny side up” egg, as well as eggs decorated with graffiti-like splatter patterns. davidhchow.com
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NEWS
Clockwise from left: Glazed doughnuts, Harry and Heels owner Shant Mardirosian, filled doughnuts
Popular pizza shop is now making doughnuts The Fourth Man in the Fire launches Harry and Heels by Christine Hogg
WHO WE ARE We are the GTA’s most trusted move managers. We’ll coordinate and oversee all your move related logistics...so you don’t have to! Our all-female team of packers is discreet, dependable and will pack your home so you remain organized during this big transition.
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A new doughnut shop has glazed doughnuts, buttermilk opened in the Dundas West crullers and apple fritters are our best sellers,” says Mardirosian. neighbourhood. Depending on the day of the Operating out of the Fourth Man in the Fire Pizzeria’s dining week, specialty doughnuts, such room, which is temporarily as varieties flavoured after closed, due to the current breakfast cereals like Cinnamon restrictions on indoor dining, Toast Crunch or the Glazed Fruit Harry and Heels Donuts is now Loops, might be on the menu. selling a wide variety of Doughnuts range between doughnuts as singles, by the half- $2.99 and $3.29 for a single, or dozen or by the dozen. $18 for a half-dozen, and $36 for Described as “California” a dozen, with no tax. doughnuts, the Harry and The Fourth Man in the Heels take on the Fire is a cashless sweet snack is based establishment, which ON THE MENU on a style of means orders must Flavours include doughnut Shant be purchased using glazed toasted Mardirosian, owner credit or debit only. coconut dip and of Harry and Heels All of the doughnuts chocolate sprinkle Donuts and the are made fresh inFourth Man in the Fire house and are available Pizzeria, came across in while quantities last each Los Angeles. day. All of the doughnuts are yeastCustomers can pre-order based and are extremely soft and doughnuts from Harry and Heels flavourful. They’re oversized and for pickup, which gives the option feature a wonderfully light and to choose their own flavours in a fluffy texture. half-dozen or dozen pack. The pop-up features 18 tasty You can also order an assorted flavour profiles, including classics box of flavours via the Fourth like rainbow-sprinkled and Man in the Fire’s Uber Eats, chocolate-dipped. Some of the DoorDash and SkiptheDishes more unique choices include the pages (giving you the option to chocolate Hawaiian, chocolate pick up a pizza at the same time) cream filled and glazed cinnamon from Wednesday through Sunday sugar. from 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. or until “Right now, our cream-filled they’re sold out.
NEWS
FOOD
L-R: Dishes from Chica’s Chicken and Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken
T.O’s best spots for fried chicken From breakfast waffles to piled-high sandwiches
Japanese-style street food meets Louisiana’s classic fried chicken sandwich at Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken. The restaurant serves sandwiches that are unlike anything else available in the city, such as the Nashville “ice” fried chicken sandwich — Nashville hot chicken on a soft, brioche bun with sweet slaw, dill pickle and buttermilk scallion ranch, complete with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. tokyohotfriedchicken.com The Stockyards Smokehouse and Larder
Better known for its woodsmoked BBQ briskets, the Stockyards Smokehouse and Larder in the St. Clair West neighbourhood has a competitive edge because it also serves fried chicken. Just two dishes are on the menu — fried chicken and Belgian waffles, drizzled with chili honey glaze, and the Stockyards fried chicken dinner, which comes as four pieces of
Cluck Clucks
One section of the Cluck Clucks menu is dedicated to unconventional chicken and waffles combos, with six bone-in or boneless options, including the Cluck Yeah, which features chicken breast, a jalapeno and cheddar waffle, coleslaw, chipotle aïoli and dill mayo. Other fried chicken specialties, including sandwiches, wings, strips and even fried chicken bites in a waffle cone, are also available. cluckclucks.ca Chica’s Nashville Hot Chicken
Run by husband-and-wife duo Matt and Carolyn, who wanted to replicate the fried chicken they enjoyed in Nashville, Chica’s uses fresh ingredients that are made in-house. The restaurant offers a variety of fried chicken eats, including crispy chicken sandwich combos, boneless chicken bites with a choice of sauces, wings and half-chicken meal deals. chicaschicken.net London Fried Chicken
Anyone who has been to London, England, knows there’s something magical about their fish and chips batter that can’t be replicated in Canada. The same is true for the fried chicken, but that’s something that London
Fried Chicken is hoping to change. The restaurant aims to bring a taste of the U.K. to the GTA, with a variety of fried chicken offerings, including twoto 16-piece meals as well as hot wing combos. londonfriedchicken.ca Cabano’s Comfort Food
Owner/chef Kevin Boyd trained in Michelin-starred restaurants, like Chicago’s Sepia, before opening Cabano’s. The menu is informed by Boyd’s background in high-quality cooking, bringing an elevated approach to casual cuisine. Opt for the fried chicken supreme, which sees golden fried chicken topped with cheese, lettuce, mayo, pickles and a choice of house sauces, which come in flavours like burnt chile and a mustard-based hot sauce. cabanos.ca Dave’s Hot Chicken
California import Dave’s Hot Chicken recently opened its first Canadian location in Parkdale, and a second outpost is coming to Davisville later this year. The brand is known for its spicy Nashville-style chicken, which comes in heat levels ranging from mild “no spice” to the tonguetingling “reaper.” The lean menu features a choice between chicken tenders or sliders, which comes with sides like crinkle fries and mac and cheese. daveshotchicken.ca
APRIL 2021
Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken
buttermilk-marinated chicken. thestockyards.com
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Whether you prefer it smothered in maple syrup on a bed of buttermilk waffles, served up extra crispy with a side of fries or tucked away in a brioche bun and topped with a pickle, fried chicken is the ultimate comfort food. The next time a craving for crispy comfort food hits, check out one of these fried chicken spots.
by Christine Hogg
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New Mexican restaurant arrives at Yonge and Eglinton
L-R: Sanjeev Masala Co.’s first masala kit and Sanjeev Sethi
The Host honours its late founder Popular 905 restaurant launches new spice line Ashish Sethi’s new venture, Sanjeev Masala Co., is a tribute to his late father. After emigrating to Canada in the 1980s from India, Sanjeev Sethi opened his first restaurant, the Host Fine Indian Cuisine, with his brother in 1996. The pair went on to launch five restaurants, including a much-loved outpost in Richmond Hill, and founded the Host Hospitality Group, of which Ashish is now director of food and beverage. When Sanjeev passed away from cancer in February 2019, Ashish wanted to find a way to honour his father’s culinary talent and generosity. “He had a lot of knowledge and his recipes are quite authentic,” says Ashish. “The processes he took to make his masalas — sourcing each individual spice and roasting them at different times — it was something very special.” Ashish says that Sanjeev considered selling his masala blends in the past, but the
by Jessica Huras
project was never fully realized. “It’s finishing one of the things he never got to finish,” says Ashish. “It’s one of the first ways we wanted to commemorate him.” Sanjeev Masala Co. will soon launch its first masala kit, a collection of five masala spice blends developed from the recipes Sanjeev used at the Host’s restaurants. “That's one of the secrets that really separates our food from everyone else’s: the spices,” says Ashish. “There’s a chai masala that’s really good for tea and desserts; a biryani masala that’s good for curries and spiced rice; and dhaniya jeera is a more authentic masala that we use every day,” he explains, adding that the kit also includes a basic garam masala and a tandoori masala. “It’s what you need to start Indian cooking,” he says. The Sanjeev Masala Co. site includes cooking tips and recipes to help guide those who are new to working with masalas.
As part of the project, a new foundation, the Sanjeev Sethi Foundation, has also been established in Sanjeev’s name. A portion of sales from the masala kits are being donated toward various charitable organizations that the Host has worked with in the past, including Trillium Health Partners and the William Osler Foundation. Ashish says they’ve already raised more than $2,000 for the foundation from pre-sales of the kits. “We wanted to find a way to give back to the community in his way but also preserve his recipes and his way of life,” he said, noting that his father had always quietly made charitable donations over the years. Sanjeev developed almost 30 different masala blends, which Sanjeev Masala Co. plans to gradually release in the coming months. “We want to make everything that was available in his kitchen available to everyone else,” says Ashish.
Mas Playas, the Mexican chain of eateries known for high-end tacos and cocktails, is opening another Toronto location. Playa Cabana Bar Esquina will join the Mas Playas roster that includes the original Playa Cabana in the Annex as well as Cantina in the Junction, Barrio Coreano in Koreatown and Hacienda on Dupont. Bar Esquina, which showcases the same trendy and fashionable vibe as the other locations, set up shop at midtown’s busiest intersection. The decor includes brightly coloured tables and chairs, high ceilings, cement walls with multicoloured murals and stained glass windows. The restaurant frontage invites passersby with oversized floor-to-ceiling windows. “We chose the location because it’s a young, trendy and up-and-coming area, and there aren’t a lot of Mexican restaurants nearby,” says Karon Johnson, manager at Bar Esquina. “It’s an area we really believe in.” Of course, with the city of Toronto currently in lockdown, diners have not been allowed to take in the atmosphere of Esquina, but the outpost is getting established thanks to takeout and delivery options. The dinner menu, similar to all of the Mas Playas locations, includes favourites, such as burritos, ceviche and guacamole, but also offers up house specialties: enchiladas Suizas, tres tacos suaves (three soft tacos), tres tacos chorreados (three crispy tacos with cheese) and postres. “We try to be as authentically Mexican as we can be,” Johnson says. Playa Cabana Bar Esquina is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. — Erica Commisso
St. Clair West gets a new café Mello Coffee X Chocolat de Kat opening at 824 St. Clair Ave. W., just a few doors away from the now-closed shop. “The formula of chocolate and coffee shop works really well for me and for our customers,” says Ambrus. “The neighbourhood loves it.” Known for ethically sourced blends and single-origin coffees, De Mello also has a café at Yonge and Eglinton. Chocolat de Kat’s chocolates are designed to be pieces of edible art, crafted by hand in small batches. The shop offers a variety of chocolate bars and bonbons, which are thin chocolate shells with a melty, truffle-like filling. Ambrus says that the new storefront is primarily a retail operation, but there will be a few benches where customers can sip and snack once indoor dining restrictions are lifted. —JH
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De Mello Coffee is teaming up with Chocolat de Kat for a new shop set to open near St. Clair Avenue West and Atlas Avenue. Although this is the first co-branded storefront for the pair, Chocolat de Kat owner Kata Ambrus says the two have had a long-running partnership. Ambrus spent part of her early culinary career working as a barista and baker at De Mello Coffee, while also starting to develop her own chocolate brand out of their kitchen with De Mello’s blessing. She went on to partner with another former De Mello barista to open Lion Coffee X Chocolat de Kat, which recently shuttered its doors. “When it was time to partner with a new coffee brand, they [De Mello] were my first choice,” says Ambrus. The new joint venture is therefore good news for those who mourned the loss of Lion, with De
APRIL 2021
Midtown’s best coffee and chocolate are coming together
A taco platter at Playa Cabana Bar Esquina
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SPRING RESTAURANT DELIVERY GUIDE
www.Holychuck.com
www.kathmandurestaurant.ca
www.cestbonrestaurant.com
www.karbouzi.com
1450 YONGE STREET • 416 962 4825
12 CUMBERLAND ST. • 647 345 4214 + 416 924 5787
2685 YONGE STREET • 416 932 2811
2048 AVENUE ROAD • 416 483 3846
OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY
OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY
OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY
New location opening very soon at College and Spadina
OPEN FOR PICK-UP, TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY
The Big Yianni
NEW SPECIALTY BURGERS All our burgers/fries & desserts are 100% gluten free. All our meats are 100% certified halal. All burgers served on a warm potato bun The Holy Chuck (Our signature): Aged beef, maple smoked bacon, cheese, caramelized onions The Big Yianni NEW Aged beef, maple smoked bacon, cheese, panko crusted onion rings, chipotle mayo The Holy Cluck NEW House-breaded crispy chicken thigh, lettuce, tomato, pickle, mayo The Holy Vegan NEW Ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, vegan cheese, served on a gluten free vegan/keto bun The Wagyu Weiner NEW 7” of gluten free wagyu beef, warm bun, your choice of toppings
FRIES & POUTINES
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Waffle Fries NEW Traditional Poutine & Hand-Cut Fries
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Our location at 1450 Yonge St. is open for Pick-Up, Take-Out & Online Delivery. Additional safety measures are still in effect to ensure the ongoing safety of our customers & employees. Thanks to all of our loyal customers for their support. Rated best burgers & milkshakes in Toronto year after year.
Visit our website to see our full menu at holychuck.com Call us directly for pick up and take-out.
Pictured: Tandoori Tikka
Pictured: Black Bean Basil Chinese Eggplant
FEATURING THE EVEREST FEAST FOR TWO $46.99
MENU HIGHLIGHTS
A royal banquet spread includes: Soup of the day, tandoori chicken, seekh kebob, chicken tikka, king tandoori prawns, choice of meat curry, choice of vegetable curry Rice, Naan and Dessert
House Pan Fried Dumplings
OTHER SAMPLE MENU ITEMS INCLUDE: Starters: Chicken/Vegetable Momos - Nepali style chicken/veg dumplings Shrimp Butterfly - Large king prawns are deliciously spiced and deep-fried
Spicy Peanut Chicken
Lamb & Goat: Lamb/Goat/Nilgiri - Authentic lamb dish from the mountains of Nilgiri Lamb/Goat/Kadai - Cooked with ginger, green pepper, tomatoes and hot spice in a deep iron wok Seafood: Shrimp Vindaloo - Cooked in a fiery red-hot curry sauce. A specialty of Goa, south of Bombay Seafood Vindaloo - A famous fiery red-hot assorted seafood curry sauce
Located in the heart of Yorkville our restaurant brings you our signature dishes that we’ve perfected over the last 20 years! From our famous Everest Feast that features mouthwatering Tandoori dishes to our popular Curry options, our staff is committed to providing the best that Nepalese and Indian cuisine has to offer. We have aspired to assemble a menu to reflects its unique Nepalese culture and culinary specialties. Enjoy a 10% discount for all pick-up orders so that you can bring the flavours of the Himalayas to your home! Order online at: www.kathmandurestaurant.ca
BBQ Pork Spare Ribs Crispy Ginger Beef
General Tsao's Chicken Basil Chicken House Mix Vegetable House Chili Prawn Special Fried Rice
Pictured: Pork Souvlaki
TRADITIONAL GREEK DELICACIES Appetizers: Pork, Chicken, Lamb or Beef Souvlaki Stick Spanokopita, Shrimp, Pita Bread Fried Calamari, Dolmades, Greek Salad Tzatziki, Hummus, Taramosalata Entrees: Pork, Chicken, Lamb or Beef Souvlaki Dinnerserved with rice, roast potatoes and tzatziki Moussaka - potato, eggplant, zucchini, ground beef topped with béchamel sauce and served with rice and vegetables
Seafood Cantonese Chow Mein
Gyros on a Pita topped with marinated tomatoes, onions and tzatziki
Also Wide Selection of Vegetarian and Tofu Dishes
Check out our full menu on-line!
C’est Bon would like to thank all of our customers for their continued support during this period. All our staff are taking additional safety measures to ensure the safety of both staff and all of our customers.
Order Direct Online
www.cestbonrestaurant.com or call 416-932-2811
There is no need to travel to Greece for the authentic cuisine, simply go online to www.karbouzi.com. A Toronto restaurant tradition for over 50 years, Karbouzi Greek Taverna has become a staple on Avenue Road known for the warm atmosphere, the friendly service, and of course, the delicious home cooking! Karbouzi boasts a menu filled with traditional Greek delicacies from Souvlaki to Moussaka to flaming Saganaki. And don’t forget to try our much loved Tzaziki! Call direct or order online at www.karbouzi.com
NEWS
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Le Sélect Bistro gets a second life under different ownership
L-R: Cocktail from the Cloak Bar and head bartender Farzam Fallah
The Cloak Bar launches cocktail hotline Customers place on-demand drink orders via Instagram We don’t know how long it will be before we’ll find ourselves back in a bar, asking for a recommendation from the bartender for our next drink order — but one Toronto bar is aiming to recreate the experience in takeout form. The Cloak Bar, a hidden cocktail bar located under Marben Restaurant in the King West neighbourhood, has launched a new Cocktail Hotline that allows customers to place on-the-spot, custom cocktail orders via direct message to the bar’s Instagram account. On Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 10 p.m., you can message @TheCloakBar to place a drink order. Ask for your favourite cocktail customized to your liking or leave it up to the Cloak Bar’s head bartender, Farzam Fallah, to recommend a drink for you based on your preferences. Whatever you choose, Fallah will bottle it up immediately, and it will be ready for
pickup within about 15 to 30 minutes, complete with garnishes to add at home. Restaurants are required to serve food with alcohol orders, which means your to-go cocktail also comes with a small snack. “I want people to treat this like their regular cocktail bars and me as their neighbourhood bartender,” says Fallah. Although plenty of Toronto bars have launched cool batched cocktail programs amid the pandemic, the Cloak Bar wanted to offer customers more choice. Batched programs typically give customers a limited selection of cocktail options plus don’t allow guests to tweak how sweet (or dry) they want their drink to be. The Cloak Bar’s new program allows customers to order exactly the kind of drink they want and on demand. It also opens up the option to order the kind of freshly shaken drinks that don’t have the shelf life needed for standard bottled cocktail programs.
by Jessica Huras
“I was finding myself getting a little bit tired and uninspired,” says Fallah. “When you’re working with bottled cocktails, you’re making 20 or 30 of the same thing. It’s been fun getting back behind the bar and starting to use those muscles again, both in my brain and in my hand.” He says that Paper Planes and margaritas have been the most popular orders so far, but customers also have plenty of opportunities to try something more adventurous. The Summer Romance, for example, is a refreshing riff on a manhattan made using fresh lime leaf, a blend of scotch and bourbon, a French herbaceous liquor and fortified wine. “It’s not just getting a drink — it’s the whole experience of having that [Instagram] conversation and coming to the shop and knowing that the drink was made specifically for you,” adds Fallah. “It’s something different. It’s almost like being open again.”
Le Sélect Bistro is saying au revoir, but not goodbye. After 40 years, the beloved restaurant at 432 Wellington St. W. will be under new ownership by Allied Properties and will reopen with a new management team. Le Sélect’s former team outlines the reasons for keeping its door closed in a colourful and heartwarming press release. Amongst the apparent reason, COVID-19, the group notes that they have had property bills, problems with the city and the ongoing issue of significant construction projects on all sides. “In short: Le Sélect had been through an earthquake and a tornado, and then Godzilla stomped down Wellington Street. Such was COVID19,” the release says. Allied Properties’ takeover is one that the Le Sélect team welcomes, noting that the real estate group is one aligned with their values. “Allied is a company with a vision we admire. They build pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods. They believe in preserving heritage buildings, making beautiful designs by leading architects, and meeting Platinum LEED standards to leave the smallest footprint. They are exactly the people we want to do business with,” the release says. Le Sélect Bistro’s future menu is unknown, but the restaurant will live in its current location. Whether or not the restaurant will open during the pandemic remains unclear, but it will open again, at least. “We don’t know yet what will happen in the sunny future after COVID-19. It may be the Le Sélect that you remember. It may change a little or a lot,” the release says, “but we think our legacy is in good hands.” — Harriette Halepis
Midtown is getting a new Thai restaurant riander and crushed peanuts, is another fan favourite, as are the cold spring rolls, which see lettuce, egg, cucumbers, coriander, avocado, carrots, mango, mint and tofu nestled in fresh rice paper rolls and served with dipping sauce. Peran says the seven Thai Room restaurants have fared relatively well amid the dining room closures over the past year. “Thai food travels well for takeout,” he says, adding that takeout already comprised about 60 per cent of the business prior to the pandemic. “With takeout, we can break even,” he adds. “When dining rooms reopen, it’ll be a bonus.” Peran says that the new midtown location will have a capacity of 60 seats when indoor dining is permitted to reopen. A third Thai Room Grand location is also slated to open in Mississauga this summer. -JH
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Midtown will soon have a new destination for flavourful Thai and Malaysian cuisine with the upcoming opening of Thai Room Grand at 288 Eglinton Ave. W. this spring. The new restaurant will be the second outpost of Thai Room Grand, which originally opened in York Mills in 2018, and sister restaurant to Thai Room, which has six locations around the GTA. As its name implies, Thai Room Grand is designed to offer Thai Room’s crowd-pleasing menu in a more upscale and grand setting. Fresh, high-quality ingredients are key to the success of the Thai Room restaurants, according to owner Kugan Peran. The restaurant’s most popular dishes are Thai cuisine staples like pad Thai and khao soi. Peran says the green mango salad, which features shredded green mango mixed with red peppers, red onions, co-
APRIL 2021
Thai Room Grand opens outpost at Eglinton and Avenue
Popular dishes from Thai Room Grand
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APRIL’S FOOLS LOOKING FOR A MUCH-NEEDED LAUGH THIS MONTH? WHY NOT REVISIT THE CITY’S TOP COMEDY ICONS
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Kids in the Hall began their meteoric rise in 1985 when Scott Thompson (right) was added to the Toronto sketch comedy troupe’s lineup of L–R: Mark McKinney, Bruce McCulloch, Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald.
Catherine O’Hara, has done it all. She cemented her legacy as a comedy legend with her Emmy Award–winning turn as Moira Rose in acclaimed TV series ‘Schitt’s Creek.’
Standup comic Russell Peters began performing in 1989. He now fills arenas and has become one of the highest-paid acts on the planet.
Scarborough’s Mike Myers has created some of comedy’s most memorable characters such as Wayne from ‘Wayne’s World’ and ‘Austin Powers.’
© Mike Myers, IMDB
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APRIL 2021 EDITION
‘SCTV’ and Second City turned out their generation’s best comedians including (L-R) Eugene Levy, Dan Ackroyd and Gilda Radner.
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