Annex Post August 2021

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CONTENTS AUGUST 2021

Welcome to this month’s Post.

Sit back & enjoy.

KITSCHY CONDOS MAKE A COMEBACK Three unique residences with plenty of personality

26

A MONTREAL-TO-T.O. LOVE STORY How a Global News journalist met her husband while working at a restaurant

23

WEEKEND AT JEANNE’S Our fashionista gets packing with the GTA’s most stylish travel bags

17

YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME? Mark McEwan takes a bite out of six of the city's finest pies

31

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AUGUST 2021

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TORONTO’S RESTAURANT REVIVAL No meal kits, no delivery, just the best new places to dine in T.O.

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CITYSCAPE

THE POST INTERVIEW

Black Lives Matter's exciting new plans

NEWS

BY THE NUMBERS

Sandy Hudson, one of BLM Toronto’s founders, on buying a new home for the group, creating art and dance spaces and inspiring action across the country

by Mackenzie Patterson

730 The number of out-of-date Dundas street signs after Toronto City Council voted to change the name.

2022 © Melissa Renwick

The year animator Domee Shi’s new Pixar film, Turning Red, set in Toronto, is to be released.

Sandy Hudson expects chapters of BLM across the country will make use of new facility

What will you be doing in the future at the new space?

Hopefully, so much. First of all, we want to make sure the community is activating the space as much as possible, so opening it up for use. In terms of what kind of use, we are working with the Black Architects & Interior Designers Association of Canada to get some proposals as to how we can update it. It’s a fairly turnkey building, but [now the question is] how can we update the existing space to include some of the spaces we want?

What are you looking to do?

For example, there’s a huge space in there that looks like it could be fairly easily turned into a dance floor, which is great because we’d want a functional dance space for rehearsals.

We want to put in a sound booth for people

we had accumulated over years of being activists in other sectors, and if we didn’t have that, I think we would have been really discouraged early on and might not have been able to be as impactful as we have been. And we want to make things easier for other folks who might be struggling to figure out how to overcome some of those challenges. We want to provide a good foundation for other groups that want to be organizing under similar principles of Black liberation.

Is this the end of the beginning?

What’s next on the organization’s list?

I think it is a milestone moment. In creating Black Lives Matter Canada as an organization, the goal with the organization is to try to make organizing as easy as possible for everyone across Canada who is organizing on Black issues and particularly organizing under the Black Lives Matter banner. And the building is just one of those ways we are supporting that organizing across the country.

All of those chapters now have space if they want to do a retreat. They don’t have to look for space that they have to pay for.

We’ve been working on a few things over the pandemic. One is this artist fellowship where we have been supporting 13 artists, and you can read about those artists at wildseedcentre.com. And it looks like we might be emerging into an in-real-life situation soon.

We want to have a way for the artists to showcase their work publicly, and we’re hoping to be able to make that happen.

So this is as much for chapters across the country?

There are a number of other ways we are providing support for those chapters across the country and this is just one of them. Alongside this building launch, there have been a number of other things we’ve provided for those chapters, and we’re excited to make organizing easier. It’s been an uphill battle for us. Many of us had organizing experience that

6 The number of Toronto artists shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, including the Weather Station.

213 The number of legal cannabis dispensaries in the city, compared to 50 LCBOs.

Anything else?

One of the other things that we’ve been working on that I’m the most nerdily excited about is that we have a research team now, which is fantastic. The type of work that they’ve been able to do is featured on defundpolice.org.… Just taking a look at the actual hard numbers and what decisions are being made and how that’s negatively impacting people. That’s been really great, and we’re hoping that the research arm can also be used as a resource for chapters and other groups across the country.

19 Toronto’s place in a global ranking of the most honest cities.

AUGUST 2021

One of the things that was pretty clear very early on in 2014 was that it was really hard in Toronto to find space to do the organizing work we were doing, and often, when we did find space, it cost a lot of money. It took us years to be able to get to a point where we could find a spot to lease, and when we started leasing, it was really expensive. It felt like throwing away community dollars. And we thought, if there’s ever a chance for us to get a permanent space for us in Toronto where we can solve this problem, not just for ourselves but for all sorts of Black organizations, we will jump right in.

who want to try their hand at podcasting or a radio show or recording of any kind. Most of all, we want the space to be multi-purpose and functional for different purposes, and a lot of the space is already functioning in that way. We also have a lot of lounge space, event space and office space. Also there’s a lot of outdoor space with this building, which is fantastic because we want to be able to engage in some food justice projects, including gardening projects.

| POST |

How did the move to the new building first get set into motion?

5

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Rehearsal Factory claims deal is not final as city addresses issue

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Despite C3 Toronto’s claims that they had, “purchased that very building and the one next to it,” the future of the Geary Rehearsal Factory is less cut and dried than it may seem.

In a statement to Post City, Chris Skinner, the president of the Rehearsal Factory, wrote that, “No, the building has not been sold.”

Still, the potential sale of the beloved Rehearsal Factory to a controversial church caused a shockwave in Toronto’s musical community, with many mourning the loss of an important community space, and others claiming that C3 Toronto was not the right fit for the neighbourhood.

Gil Masuda, a Rehearsal Factory tenant and member of the local music community, spoke to Post City on the potential sale of the building.

Masuda said, “The building is instrumental to many musicians and bands in the local and international music scene.… The loss of this would be devastating to the music and arts community. So many bands depend on the Rehearsal Factory to rehearse, perform [and] record since it’s really the only affordable place to do so in the city.”

The issue of the future of the Geary Rehearsal Factory was discussed during a Toronto City Council Planning and Housing Committee Hearing on June 11,

which is available in full on YouTube. On the agenda was the Geary Works Planning Study and City of Toronto’s Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment.

Several community members and city planning officials discussed their hopes for the future of Geary Avenue. Ultimately, the Geary Works Planning Study is aimed not to rezone the area for residential usage, but to encourage and facilitate creative usage of the area, such as performing arts studios.

In conversation with the committee chair, Ana Bailão, community planner Thomas Rees said that a place of worship was not part of the rezoning plan and in his professional opinion, “It’s general city policy at this point not to have new places of worship in employment areas.”

Still, the city can’t stop the private sale of a building, which is cause for concern among some community members.

Even if the Rehearsal Factory on Geary Avenue is not sold to C3 Toronto, there is still the threat that the rehearsal space will be lost.

As Gil Masuda said, “Without some form of government intervention or a new owner that likes the current business model, we are pretty doomed."

Post City reached out to C3 Toronto, but they were unavailable for comment.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

NEWS

The Oxford Properties plan calls for five tall towers of 60 to 65 storeys

The new centre of midtown the city’s development process.

The developer already submitted a proposal for the 9.2-acre site last December that calls for 2,700 new residential units and 60,000 square metres of commercial space over five tall buildings ranging from 60 to 65 storeys.

Matlow said the application is “underwhelming” and “basically a bunch of tall towers” with a “tiny space” for community services.

“There was really a tokenism of community assets,” he said. “[Oxford] over promised and under delivered.”

Now Matlow hopes to set

“We now have a historic opportunity to do it.” things right with a clear vision for the development and feels the city has leverage to make it happen.

The city owns the land, which Oxford is leasing. Matlow also pushed for a stipulation in 2018 that states Oxford can’t appeal city council’s decision to the province-run Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

In many ways, though, the city is late to the game in terms of dictating what it wants Oxford to include in its proposal. The city already has a lease agreement from 2018 with the developer that secured funding for a new bus terminal at Canada Square.

Matlow said that city staff is

concerned that the bus terminal may not happen if a resolution is not found with Oxford.

Nevertheless, he said it is important that a framework for the site is set before the city starts reviewing the developer’s application.

“Oxford’s application needs to fit into that vision rather than us react to it,” Matlow said. “[Otherwise] it puts the cart before the horse.”

Andy Gort, president of South Eglinton Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, said he isn’t impressed with the details of the lease agreement the city made with Oxford. For example, usually the city requires 15 per cent of developments’ space to be dedicated to parkland, but Oxford’s application dedicated less than five per cent to green space.

Gort said the application also doesn’t replace around 50 per cent of existing employment space that is there but instead plugs in more residential units.

“We’re not that happy about the fact that whatever benefits the city secured is really for transportation infrastructure,” he said.

Now the city has the chance to set things straight.

“We really want the town centre here,” Gort said. “It might be the difference between basically a really ho-hum bedroom community or a community that has some kind of a soul and a heart.”

The vote on Matlow’s motion did not occur before press time.

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AUGUST 2021

Toronto has a historic opportunity to create a new town centre and transportation hub at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue — a Union Station for midtown — but will the city make it happen?

A new vision for Canada Square was before Toronto City Council last month, which would make it “somewhere to go to and not just somewhere to pass through,” laid out in a report published in June.

A working group consisting of resident groups, tenant associations and community centre members created the report called Imagining a New Town Centre for Midtown Toronto.

In the report, the working group recommends that Canada Square contain a “vibrant mix of uses,” including a public square, a park, affordable housing consisting at least 25 per cent of its units, a new kindergarten to Grade 8 Toronto District School Board school, offices, performing arts spaces and potentially a university campus.

City councillor Josh Matlow, whose jurisdiction includes Canada Square, put forward the motion to create the working group and study to ensure the site will “serve the quality of life” of existing and future residents.

“We need to work on a plan that actually addresses the many needs [of the area],” Matlow said.

“We now have a historic opportunity to do it.”

However, developer Oxford Properties has continued through

by Eric Stober

| POST |

Community puts forward its vision for Canada Square

7

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Work on Art Shoppe park begins this fall But don’t expect playground equipment for kids or adults

| POST | A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

by David Olsen

8

Noise, accessibility and lighting were amongst concerns expressed by local residents at a community consultation meeting for a new park in the Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue area on July 7.

The site is located just east of Yonge, between Soudan Avenue and Hillsdale Avenue East. A portion of the space designated for the new park is the former site of the Hillsdale Avenue Parkette.

“It was best known as a place to take your dog and that was about it,” said councillor Josh Matlow of the site’s former incarnation.

“It wasn’t one of the great parks of our city.”

The site is located behind the former Art Shoppe Furniture store, which has been redeveloped into the current Art Shoppe Lofts and Condos. As part of the development process, the City of Toronto obtained a section of land just north of the former parkette, which, when combined with the former site, creates a continuous space running from Hillsdale to Soudan.

A working group of residents decided that in order to minimize noise for residents of nearby condo buildings, the park would forgo amenities such as adult exercise equipment that would create a busy park in favour of creating more of a pathway through the neighbourhood.

“This is not the kind of park

design that is complex with playground equipment and all those kinds of things. This is more of a beautiful and passive vision,” said Matlow.

At the community consultation meeting, held virtually due to COVID-19, Jeremy Craig, of landscape architects Victor Ford and Associates, presented three concepts for the park. All options featured a main walkway running from Soudan to Hillsdale, with benches distributed throughout the park, with no single big gathering area. All existing trees in the area are to be preserved.

Residents asked if barriers or speed bumps would be installed to prevent bikes from using the path as a high-speed shortcut through the neighbourhood.

“We don’t want to provide barriers to accessibility in an effort to slow down vehicles,” said Craig.

Residents proposed the addition of tables in the park so nearby office workers can use the space as a place to eat lunch, with one proposing the use of a wheelchair accessible picnic table currently used in parks in Belgium, which city staff said they will take into consideration.

Community consultation is ongoing via a survey on the city’s website. Construction on the park is expected to begin in the fall of 2021.

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CRIME BRIEFS

a homicide investigation after an incident in the area of Vendome Place and Grenoble Drive. On Friday, July 2, at approximately 12:44 a.m., officers responded to multiple calls for a shooting in the area. It was reported that three male suspects approached the entrance of an apartment building and began shooting into the lobby. A 32-year-old Toronto male victim inside the building’s lobby suffered gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another male victim inside the lobby suffered injuries related to the broken glass and was treated by medics at the scene.

The three suspects then ran across the apartment complex firing more shots, injuring a female victim, who was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg, and a male victim who was grazed by a bullet and treated by medics on site. The suspects fled the scene in a dark SUV.

Police are conducting

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accused of Toronto is facing numerous charges after an assault with a weapon investigation following an incident in the area of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue East. On Sunday, July 4, at approximately 10:30 a.m., police responded to a call for a person with a knife. It was reported that a 37-year-old female victim was walking on Doris Avenue when she passed a male suspect who removed a knife from his pants. The suspect began to chase the victim, who was able to flag down a passing motorist for assistance. With assistance from the public, police arrested a male suspect on Monday, July 5. He faces numerous charges, including carrying a concealed weapon, assault with a weapon and two counts of failure to comply with probation.

A 24-year-old male

to make the public aware of a suspicious incident in the area of Bloor Street West and St. Clarens Avenue. In the early hours of Friday, July 9, between 12:35 a.m. and 1:35 a.m., a female victim was in the area of Bloor Street West and St. Clarens Avenue, Emerson Avenue and Wallace Avenue and Miller Street and Linder Street and observed an older red van that appeared to be following her.

Police are reminding the public to remain vigilant of suspicious vehicles in their neighbourhoods and to report any instances of suspicious activity.

Police would like

| POST |

is seeking public assistance identifying a male suspect involved in a stabbing at a bar in the city’s Corso Italia neighbourhood. On Wednesday, July 7, at approximately 1 a.m., Toronto police responded to a radio call for the report of a stabbing at a bar in the area of St. Clair Avenue West and Dufferin Street. It is reported that a male suspect stabbed a 38-year-old male victim multiple times. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was last seen walking away eastbound on St. Clair Avenue West. Police have released security camera images of the suspect.

Toronto Police Service

9

NEWS

STINTZ ON MIDTOWN

Maybe 4,000 restaurants aren’t wrong

| POST | A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

After months of being closed, restaurants are finally being permitted to reopen for patio and indoor dining. Toronto had the longest lockdown in North America, so it is fair to say that small retailers and restaurant owners made a significant sacrifice to stop the spread of COVID-19.

It was a relief to see the patios reopen and regain a sense of normalcy, and I enjoyed returning to my favourite local restaurant.

However, I was quite distraught when this same restaurant got a call from an inspector to say that the patio was being reviewed.

The inspector arrived and declared that the patio is a foot too long into the sidewalk.

Although the guidelines state that the patio has to be 2.1 metres from the sidewalk curb, it is not that simple. There are actually many types of patios: curb lane patio, sidewalk patio, small frontage patio and flankage patio.

Also, the measurement is actually not based on the curb but

10

@twitter.com/johntory

These businesses are the lifeblood of our neighbourhoods and have sacrificed more than enough

John Tory at Eastbound Brewing Co.’s curbside patio

dependent on the width of the sidewalk. If the sidewalk is five metres, then the guideline is adjusted to 2.5 metres. This nugget of information is referenced on page 27 of the 54page guideline document. He advised the restaurant that they had to move their patio installation back by one foot. It’s ridiculous.

The inspector argued it was crystal clear, while at the same

time admitting that he had 4,000 other patios to inspect because of concerns about measurements.

When one person gets it wrong, they are probably wrong. When 4,000 restaurant owners get it wrong, maybe there is a problem.

If your job is to review bylaws, it might all make sense. However, if your job is to run a restaurant, manage inventory, hire staff and restart a business within three days of notice, then maybe the city

could give a little leeway on requiring restaurant owners to read a 54-page document on patio construction.

How can the city be so nimble closing streets for cyclists and pedestrians and then so bureaucratic when it comes to patios? If it was simple to move the patio, it wouldn't be a problem, but the city insists that the patio be securely fastened to the sidewalk, which means a platform or significant drilling.

The restaurant in question moved the patio back and paid a significant sum to do so. The worst part of all of it is that people in the neighbourhood are complaining. After closing restaurants for 18 months, people are complaining because there are patios on the sidewalk.

There is plenty of sidewalk for walkers, strollers, those with mobility aids and general traffic.

These restaurants are the lifeblood of our neighbourhood, and instead of calling for a

reservation, people call 311?

Thankfully there are other people in the neighbourhood that have made a commitment to visit a local restaurant once a week to show their support.

It goes without saying that everyone has had a difficult year.

Many restaurants did not survive, and it is likely that some may not make it through the recovery.

The city did its part to recognize that restaurants needed a creative solution to help them through the recovery effort, but I surely hope that a return to normal does not include a return to inane bureaucracy for the sake of it. That would be an epic failure of leadership.

KAREN STINTZ

Karen Stintz is a former city councillor, elected in 2003, and was a chair of the TTC. She lives in Ward 8.

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Homeless encampments have popped up in many local parks during the pandemic

Sleeping rough in Toronto current estimates at almost 8,000 people who have no home.

Toronto City Council has done quite a bit in the last seven or eight months to deal with the problem, buying or renting hotels to augment the overworked shelter system. But not everyone who is homeless likes these options. Shelters are cramped congregate settings with many rules, and hotel rooms, too, have a bevy of rules. People sleep rough because they find these kinds of accommodation so unsatisfactory and because they fear close contact with others will subject them to illness from the pandemic.

What the homeless want is permanent independent housing like the rest of us. The federal and provincial governments cut funding for affordable housing in the early 1990s, and the price of market housing has since increased inexorably. Units that very low-income households used to be able to afford — rooming houses, houses divided into small flats with shared facilities — have disappeared.

The city government has been unable to respond reasonably to this crisis: it simply does not have the tools or the funds to do so, particularly since more than 90 per cent of all the taxes collected in the city flow to the senior governments. The city can barely meet its ordinary expenditures on the funds available to it, and programs are constantly being cut back. As well, not all city politicians support the idea of

building affordable housing in their own communities.

In the last year or two, the federal government has offered new affordable housing programs, but the province has been reluctant to join in. The city has struggled to build a few hundred new affordable housing units a year, only some of which are available to the homeless who need support services.

So it is Whac-A-Mole for the homeless, pushed from Trinity Bellwoods Park to somewhere else courtesy of a decision by the mayor. Sure it is unsafe (and unpleasant) to live in parks, but some think it is even more unsafe to live in a shelter. Obviously, the police action has not solved or even addressed the problem of people sleeping rough in Toronto: it has simply moved it somewhere else.

Treating homelessness as a crime and using police resources to deal with it is surely not something that should be endorsed in Toronto. It would be helpful if the province and the federal government responded to this situation as the emergency which it is.

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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416-960-9995 Sotheby's International Realty Canada, Brokerage 1867 Yonge St., Suite 100, Toronto, Ontario

AUGUST 2021

Whac-A-Mole is a frustrating game. You knock one down here and another one jumps up over there.

Mayor John Tory has enticed the Toronto Police Service to play Whac-A-Mole with the homeless. In mid-June, police attended Trinity Bellwoods Park to evict those living there in tents.

It was a very unequal encounter.

Twenty-three people were living in tents, but two dozen officers appeared on horses along with another 100 or 200 officers — estimates vary widely — many in riot gear. They brought moveable fencing to surround the homeless and to prevent protesters from interfering.

By the end of the day, the 23 people had been removed from the park. The fencing remains so that this section of the park can’t be used, with city officials saying it is necessary “so that clean up can take place and the grass can grow,” but more probably to stop homeless people from moving back.

Before the police encounter, city staff tried to convince them to move to a shelter or to a hotel room, but few had agreed, although on the fateful day four or five individuals took up the offer.

The rest refused, and threatened by the police, they simply moved on — probably to a tent in a ravine or somewhere else not nearly as safe as a park surrounded by a strong community — ready for the next eviction.

Homelessness is a significant growing problem in Toronto, with

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Using riot police to evict encampment residents accomplishes nothing

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excellent results

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DEBATE

NEWS

BY THE NUMBERS

9 The total length, in kilometres, of the Beltline Trail that passes through Rosedale, Moore Park, Forest Hill, Chaplin Estates and Fairbank.

1975 The year the Toronto City Cycling Committee was established to promote cycling and safety initiatives.

At Yonge and MacPherson, cyclists, patios and cars exist side by side

SHOULD YONGE KEEP BIKE LANES & PATIOS?

$99 The annual Bike Share Toronto membership fee for multiple daily 30-minute rides from station to station.

A city councillor and a former chief planner debate the pros and cons of making the new additions to the midtown strip permanent

20 I voted against this midtown project because it goes back to the fundamental concerns I have regarding the ability to access the downtown core for purposes of work, entertainment, commerce, shopping, or whatever it may be for individuals that don’t live in downtown Toronto. As a member of the city council that represents the community in the west end of the city, we enjoy our access into the city, and I want to see that continue. So the Yonge Street proposal in midtown is among a number of proposals that have either been implemented or are being looked at to reduce motor vehicle access into the city. And this particular proposal involves the closure of active lanes of traffic on Yonge. And to me, that is a very high bar to change.

I would also say that part of the context is the post-pandemic return to work. The Board of Trade just announced their We’re Ready, Toronto campaign for returning downtown employers. And you have to wonder if a lot of people have become really comfortable working at home and would be thinking about these simple things like what the commute to work is going to be like, coming out of COVID-19. And [with] additional changes to the roads that have occurred over the last few years — such as closing down King Street to through traffic, the reduction of Bloor Street, and now the reduction of lanes on Yonge Street — I'm worried about the future vitality of the downtown core. Even with projects such as Bloor Street and the Danforth there were metrics, public consultation, and the number of cyclists already using that corridor was 10 times the number on Yonge, at least, where there are literally thousands of vehicles coming into the city. There is no data here; there is no public consultation.

This move was political in nature. Public transit can't be the solution for everybody, as much of a goal as that is for practical reasons. And so having road access in and out of the city is vital to our continued success and to our economic recovery.

Yonge Street is an iconic street in the city of Toronto. For quite some time, we've treated it in many parts as a bit like a highway. What's so powerful about both bike lanes and CaféTO is that it is about turning Yonge Street back into a destination. There are parts of Yonge where it's a very wide street, so there is extra right of way and extra asphalt, which can be better used to serve the needs of local neighborhoods.

I think the biggest driver behind making both CaféTO and the bike lanes permanent is about creating better places for the increasingly higher density neighbourhoods that are very pedestrian-oriented.

We are also going to be going through a period over the next several years where we're going to have to aggressively encourage transit use.

On some corridors you can make the argument that you need to maintain the transportation capacity of the corridor. But you can't really make that argument on Yonge because Yonge has this phenomenal state of the art infrastructure running below it. The subway is by far the best way to get downtown. I might add that all of the data that we've seen has made it very clear that the number one reason people don’t ride their bicycles often in the city is safety.

People don't feel safe. Over the course of the past 12 months, we went through this exercise with ActiveTO of putting pilots in place and making our streets much more safe for cyclists. And every time we do that, we see an explosion of Torontonians taking us up on that offer of cycling around the city. So we've got great data. The best way to make cycling safe and see an exponential increase in cycling is to put that infrastructure in place. And of course the midtown bike lanes should be made permanent. It's a little bit of a cruel trick to make it safe to cycle for a short period of time and then to take it away. It's almost like putting a swing in the park and all the kids love the swing and then you take the swing away, but with graver consequences.

VS.

15 The length, in kilometers, of bike lanes that were installed on Bloor-Danforth last year, (almost) connecting Scarborough to Etobicoke.

3 The approximate number, in millions, of trips made per week by Toronto cyclists during peak summer months.

20 The number of self-service bicycle repair stops the TTC recently installed at subway stations across the city.

AUGUST 2021

JENNIFER KEESMAAT

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STEPHEN HOLYDAY

The approximate percentage of Torontonians who are utilitarian cyclists, riding to work, school, going shopping, running errands or visiting friends.

13

NEWS

REAL ESTATE

R

Odeen Eccleston thinks as soon as immigration kicks in again, the market will take off

HGTV star sees gains in 2022 Developer and realtor Odeen Eccleston talks fall markets & more Has the market shifted, or is what we are seeing more seasonal?

It's seasonal. And also it’s comparative to a market that at T the beginning of 2021 was just, like, ridiculous. That's the word that comes to mind to be honest.

Ridiculous. It's a sign of the times.

The people that were selling in January, in February, I knew that they were getting top of the market pricing. People are still getting more money than last year and even, you know, any other time in history. But really, that first quarter of 2021 was unique. So I'm happy to see it evening out just

yes. But again, it's definitely not as scorching as it was in the first quarter of 2021. First quarter of 2021, anybody who was liquidating their assets at that time, they really kind of lucked out, because things were selling quickly and for unprecedented amounts.

Will the return of in-person open houses make an impact?

Honestly, the past 18 months where we haven't been permitted to do open houses have been unprecedented. So I think that speaks to the fact that open

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“I would say, if buyers were waiting out the pandemic, now is the time to jump in.”

14

a little bit. It's still not significantly improved or anything like that.

But at least that scorching market has cooled. We still have multiple offers, but it's not like 12 to 20 people clamouring for the same house, it's two to four, maybe five people per listing, which is a lot more balanced. People are resuming summer activities and making up for lost time, right.

And they're enjoying their lives.

Real estate has just fallen on the priority list right now.

And what about the downtown condo market?

The comeback from last year —

houses, though they can be a great tool, are not makers or breakers of sales for the most part. In all honesty, it's a lot more of a marketing tool for agents than it is for listings a lot of the time.

Are people still looking to leave the city?

I do notice that the city feels more alive. That's without a shadow of a doubt. It's like the energy is coming back into the city. But I don't see, so far, anybody regretting their relocation decision last year. So I think that the pandemic just sort of birthed, you know, people realizing that they

are more suburban people. And then for some people, it just solidified the fact that they are city dwellers. And that's fine.

Do you think a lot of the virtual tools that have been developed as a result of the pandemic may continue?

Absolutely. Because they've proven that they are efficient and effective. I just think they're here to stay.

What advice would you offer buyers and sellers for the fall?

I think if buyers have been waiting on the fence, I think the fall will be a good time. I think the summer is even a good time because I think in 2022, once the immigration gates are open again, I think we are going to see increased competition for buyers. So I would say, if buyers were waiting out the pandemic, now is the time to jump in.

Should sellers wait for the chance of higher returns in 2022?

I would tell my sellers, a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush, right? Those are predictions and projections, but we're still in a hot real estate market, one of the hottest real estate markets here in GTA history. So if you are not a risk taker and you're not a gambler, then right now you're getting fantastic money for your home.

—Ron Johnson

REAL ESTATE

NEWS

YONGE & ST. CLAIR PATTERNED PENTHOUSE

From its funky floor tiling to the colourful wallpaper, penthouse 1908 at 61 St. Clair Ave. W. in Deer Park has no shortage of character. Its vibrant interior is met with loads of full-height windows that provide unobstructed skyline views.

Steps away from the hustle and bustle at Yonge and St. Clair Avenue West, the suite’s 3,750 square feet of living space includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It is listed for $5.58 million with Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd.

KITSCHY CONDOS MAKE A COMEBACK These three residences each come with their own personality. From a wallpapered luxury suite to a sprawling apartment of sophisticated splendour to a sleek and modern unit, each with impressive square footage, it’s clear that character is for more than just your clothes!

ROSEDALE

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Unit 304 at 30 Scrivener Sq. sprawls over 1,360 square feet of living space with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and even an outdoor balcony. It’s listed for $2.295 million with Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited.

This brightly lit suite at 34B Coulson Ave. includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Spanning 2,963 square feet of living space, the unit includes a sauna, backyard and patio. It’s listed for $2.8 million with Elise Stern with HK Real Estate Ltd.

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MULTI-LEVEL MINIMALISM

AUGUST 2021

FOREST HILL SOUTH

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AUGUST SHOPPING GUIDE

Cynthia Findlay

Est. 1978

Fine Jewellery & Antiques Toronto, Canada

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Thoughtful Gifting,

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wonderkind.ca

FASHION

CURRENTS

WEEKEND AT JEANNE’S Preparing for a vacation at the cottage or visiting family as COVID-19 restrictions ease?

Jeanne Beker shares the best weekender bags to fit everything you need for a splashy summer getaway.

“It’s a unisex type of weekend bag, and it’s great if you just need a big bag to carry off to the gym because it’s got a duffle style to it.”

JEANNE’S PICK

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BHemmings.com, $1,390

Everlane.com, $124

PixieMood.ca, $138

“This is a very chic bag.

The detailing is exquisite, and the quality is going to be great as well.”

“It’s the kind of bag that would become more beautiful the more worn it gets. It’s a real investment bag.”

“It looks like a soft bag that you could pack in a big suitcase, and there’s a great compartment in the back and two different handles, too.”

“This one has a cool, summery vibe to it. The black and white combo is always so chic.”

Etsy.com/ca/shop/ CastlefieldDesign, $149.58

“That print is gorgeous.

It’s the kind of florals you can carry all year round.”

AUGUST 2021

BLACK-AND-WHITE Matchesfashion.com, $2,770

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Jeanne Beker | One of Canada’s most trusted authorities on fashion, Jeanne has covered the industry for more than 30 years. Now watch her on TSC’s Style Matters with Jeanne Beker or tune into her new podcast Beyond Style Matters.

@elahandbags.com

ElaHandbags.com, $168

@matchesfashion.com

Ela Handbags: “It’s such a beautiful bag, really classic styling, and it's vegan as well. Ela is a Toronto-based company and a husband-and-wife team, and I think the prices, for the quality and the attention to detailing and styling, are exceptional. This one’s got such a beautiful colour.”

@etsy.com/ca/shop/CastlefieldDesign

“I love the fact that it has that nice big strap,” says Jeanne. “It’s so easy to carry and great for a little train trip. I totally see myself using that bag.”

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CURRENTS

FASHION NEWS

Unique patterns from decades past can add something new to your summer basics

Freshen up your summer staples Turn old into new with vintage picks from Odd Finds General by Mackenzie Patterson

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.

PACKING SERVICES SALE & DISTRIBUTION OF FURNITURE

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ESTATE CLEARING

18

DOWNSIZING & NEW HOME SETUP

416-937-0499

L U X U RY M O V E M A N A GE M E N T. C O M

Odd Finds General first began as a project between Danielle Collrin and her sister Stacey in 2013. The space originally housed a café and tea shop, but the sisters discontinued that element around the same time Stacey branched off to open her own shop, Siberia Vintage.

Odd Finds, which quickly took off, evolving organically over nearly a decade of being in business. Danielle Collrin has worked with dozens of vendors, consignors and artists over the years, each contributing to the shop in their own unique way.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot along the way,” she says. “I appreciate the recycling aspect of the vintage world. The idea of being part of something sustainable and eco-friendly really piqued my interest.”

Collrin describes the style of Odd Finds as feminine, bright and vibrant with a slight penchant for florals. She carries everything from casual, everyday wear to evening gowns, but the underlying thread uniting it all is the abundance of rich colours, eclectic prints and retro patterns reflected in each piece.

Now that retail is once again open for business in Toronto, Collrin says she couldn’t be more excited to welcome customers back and feel the city coming alive for the summer. Here are

four looks from Odd Finds to inspire your summer wardrobe: 1. ’70s tangerine velvet tank and ’60s handmade skirt

This jaunty and subtly retro duo should get you in the mood for a spring fling. Both pieces could easily transition into fall, and mixing decades (and fabrics!) will be sure to make a statement at your next gathering.

2. ’90s aqua satin robe

Channel your inner minx with a romantic aqua satin robe. With its soft material, it’s perfect for lounging around the house and will add an extra flair to your goto summer basics.

3. ’80s pure silk long sleeve blouse and ’90s high-waisted denim shorts with fringe

High-waisted jorts go with everything, but they look especially sweet with this floral blouse and pair of dramatic statement earrings (pictured above). Finish off the look with a pair of leather booties and you’ll be ready for patio season.

4. ’80s denim vest

Top off any summer look with an on-trend denim vest from the decade of shoulder pads and punk rock.

Odd Finds General is located at 1178 Bloor St. W.

FASHION NEWS

CURRENTS

From pop-up shop to Dundas icon Chosen Vintage’s Melissa Ball on making a career out of finding hidden treasures

Market as a buyer, which helped her refine her personal style and learn the tricks of the trade and giving her the foundation for what would become Chosen.

“Eventually, I kind of saw what I liked and didn’t like, and I started fine tuning and growing my collection,” she says.

Later, Ball opened her first

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pop-up shop in a gallery at Shaw and Queen near OddFellows, the restaurant chef Matty Matheson helped to open early on in his career. Amidst the local art, music and food scene, the area was ripe with creative activity, contributing to a sense of community for Ball and the shop.

move, and she’s glad to see vintage fashion becoming more of a staple in people’s wardrobes, especially among younger generations.

Ball had been posting a curated selection of items to Chosen’s instagram page since before the pandemic, but “Instagram shopping” has become even more popular since then. Followers can even shop Instagram stories posted by Chosen. If you scroll the shop’s website, you’ll find a section titled “Instagram picks” with a few hot-button items, including a sheer maxi t-shirt dress and an 80s-style little black dress.

“People are starting to see the value and the quality of vintage fashion as well as its environmental impact, so that’s been an amazing change in the past few years,” Ball says. “It’s been a positive reinforcement, especially during COVID, just realizing that what I’m doing is relevant and appreciated.”

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AUGUST 2021

Ball's vintage picks include dreamy fabrics, timeless classics and bright statement pieces

“It was like a little hub. There were bands playing and art galleries opening all the time,” she says. “That’s what started me on my journey. I thought, ‘I could do this on my own, and I have an idea of what I’d want for a vintage store.’”

Through her work at the gallery, Ball met other vintage shop owners who encouraged her to continue expanding her business. A series of baby steps eventually led her to open her own store on Queen Street West, where she stayed for years until the area began to gentrify and she was ultimately forced to find a new location.

“When Queen West was declared one of the hippest areas in the world, I knew that was the kiss of death,” Ball says.

Since 2016, Chosen has been located on Dundas West between Brock Avenue and Sheridan Avenue, just south of the Annex. Ball says she’s amped up her online presence since the

| POST |

For the owner of Dundas West boutique Chosen Vintage, Melissa Ball, scouring the racks for the best vintage pieces was a passion long before it was considered “cool.” Growing up in Vancouver, she and her friends made a hobby of digging up unique vintage finds, and her interest in the pastime hasn’t waned since.

“Vintage clothing was something my friends and I embraced,” Ball says. “We were into dressing grunge and wearing things like Power Rangers T-shirts with my dad’s golf pants. Our money went a long way, so that sparked my interest, and then I eventually started working at a vintage store in Vancouver.”

During her twenties, Ball worked other jobs in restaurants and offices, but the vintage fashion world was always in the back of her mind. After moving to Toronto, she landed a job at online marketplace the Black

by Mackenzie Patterson

19

CURRENTS

DAILY PLANET

Reducing wildlife trade will help to lessen our vulnerability to zoonotic diseases

The key to a pandemic-free future

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We must repair our relationship with nature to prevent more disease spread

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With COVID-19 vaccines more widely available, we can breathe a small sigh of relief — through our masks! But we can’t get complacent. This pandemic isn’t over. And if we’re not careful, others could be on the horizon.

A coalition of health and conservation organizations named Preventing Pandemics at the Source is trying to prevent that. It points to evidence that “increasing rates of deforestation and land-use change due to population growth and urbanization — coupled with growing globalization and excess production driven by consumerism” — are increasing our vulnerability to “zoonotic” diseases, which spread from other animals to people.

This information isn’t new. Most novel pathogens to which we haven’t developed immunity are zoonotic, including Ebola, Zika, West Nile virus, SARS, HIV and others.

We must learn from the current crisis to prevent worse emergencies and prepare for new diseases. As the coalition points out, outbreaks are increasing and spreading faster in our interconnected world.

To prevent pandemics, we must recognize our interconnectedness with nature and protect natural systems that make the planet habitable for humans. Doing so will also help with the climate emergency.

“Because of our broken relationship with nature, these

events are already happening more frequently: more than 335 emerging infectious disease outbreaks were reported worldwide from 1940 to 2004 — over 50 per decade,” the coalition reports.

The task force — to be convened by coalition members of the Harvard Global Health Institute and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment — proposes a global action fund to help co-ordinate knowledge, dialogue and action.

It also proposes public awareness campaigns to prioritize prevention and preparedness.

Reducing wildlife trade and reforming livestock practices are also crucial. All require recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide and incorporating knowledge they’ve gained.

Our major crises — pandemics, climate disruption and biodiversity loss — all have roots in our lack of recognition of our place in nature.

We can and must do better.

DAVID SUZUKI

David Suzuki is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things and author of more than 30 books on ecology (with files from Ian Hanington).

GREAT ESCAPES

CURRENTS

Find your inner peace at one of these five Ontario retreats Unplug, unwind and discover the power of yoga in the great outdoors

Located just over an hour away from the city in Grafton, Whispering Springs Wilderness Retreat offers two unique yoga

Northern Edge Algonquin

Enjoy yoga on the beautiful grounds of Strathmere in North Gower

retreat experiences. Their glamping yoga retreat is complete with daily yoga classes, live music, wine tasting and guided workshops. The Health + Harvest package offers plant-based farm-to-table meals along with its signature yoga classes, and you’ll still get a little taste of the glamping experience through the accommodations available with this package. If you’re looking to reconnect with

T I M E L E S S .

nature without embarking on the full camping experience just yet, Whispering Springs is your best bet.

Learn more at whisperingsprings.ca.

Strathmere

Offering a selection of spa treatments, including massages, facials and body wraps, as well as activities like yoga and hiking, Strathmere in North Gower is

E L E G A N T .

Eleven Altamont is an enclave of 26 exquisite townhomes in a prestigious North Toronto neighbourhood just steps to Yonge and Finch. Customize your floorplan to suit your lifestyle. Put your primary retreat, home office, family room or bedrooms on the level you prefer. It’s your choice! And you can have up to four bedrooms with our flex designs!

Experience carefree living at Eleven Altamont Presentation Centre Virtual Tour. Scan using camera on your device.

At Northern Edge’s Centre for Transformational Retreats, visitors can choose from an array of wellness-themed retreats.

Northern Edge’s yoga-focused offerings include yoga daily as well as trying out other activities, like standup paddle boarding, all packaged up in its self-described “eco-retreat” on Kawawaymog Lake. With plenty of dates to choose from this summer and fall, you’re sure to find a retreat that fits your goals and schedule.

Learn more at northernedgealgonquin.ca.

Northumberland Heights Wellness Retreat and Spa

Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the city, Northumberland Heights Wellness Retreat and Spa will help you channel your inner peace through Ayurvedic practices, nature trails, yoga and even an anti-aging treatment with pure caviar. If you’re looking for a lot of luxury mixed into your yoga practice, Northumberland’s retreat packages will not disappoint. Learn more at northumberlandheights.com.

Bliss Haven Retreat Centre

Nestled on an expansive 82.5acre plot of land with three majestic buildings, including the mansion, the guest house and the hall, Bliss Haven Retreat Centre truly lives up to its namesake. The centre offers plenty of wellness retreats incorporating yoga, meditation, vegan cooking and more, using a spiritual and physical approach. Learn more at blisshavenantiques.com.

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AUGUST 2021

Whispering Springs Wilderness Retreat

ideal for year-round relaxation.

After 38 years as a venue for weddings, vacations and other events, Strathmere added a retreat as part of its transition into a “wellness community.”

Enjoy the full package of yoga workshops, field-to-plate dinners and gardening classes at this immersive nature resort. Learn more at strathmere.com.

| POST |

After a dispiriting past 17 months (who’s counting?), there’s never been a better time to pack your overnight bag and set off on a voyage of epic self-care. Whether you’re looking to practise mindfulness, limber up or simply cultivate more introspection in your life, Ontario is home to hundreds of ultra-relaxing yoga retreats, perfect for a wellnessfuelled weekend getaway.

Unplugging from the everyday demands of modern life can do wonders for your soul, especially with a serene location as a backdrop. From yoga and meditation retreats to soulquenching spa treatments, here are five health-focused hot spots in Ontario to visit for your next mini vacation:

21

CURRENTS

LOCAL GRADUATES

Capturing the perfect shot (7:45am - 5:30pm)

Cindy Conlin’s Canadian Geographic–worthy wildlife portraits by Megan Gallant

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Professional photographer

Conlin has woken up at 2:30 a.m. in pursuit of rare animal sightings

Cindy Conlin’s photography has been featured in Canadian Geographic, the Canadian Wildlife Federation and County & Quinte, but when Conlin was saving up her money in the late 1970s, the camera she wanted to buy looked a bit different than the ones she uses today. She had developed a love for photography at the time, recalling a school trip to Washington, D.C., where she captured everything from the Washington Monument to her Leaside High classmates.

The semi-automatic camera she bought while in high school

“I just became

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really, truly obsessed with it.”

22

cost $400, and she took the camera on her travels through Europe, Canada and the United States.

But Conlin didn’t pursue photography too seriously until she quit her job in sales. As a “cat person,” she already harboured a deep love for animals and began experimenting with animal photography by bringing her camera to the Toronto Zoo. Conlin credits a shot of a barred owl in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, where she currently resides, as being her “first challenging wildlife photo.”

She located the wild bird in a tree, set up her tripod and waited for it to take flight. Over half an

hour later, she snapped a picture.

It ended up being her first sale.

Her first “really good” digital camera was a Nikon with interchangeable lenses. For her, the benefit of modern digital cameras is seeing her pictures instantly and being able to control the settings herself.

“I like to go manual. I like to do everything myself because I can achieve the best lighting opportunities,” she says.

After the anticipation of waiting for the owl to take flight, wildlife photography captured Conlin’s heart.

“It started this sort of obsession and passion for wildlife photography. I just became really, truly obsessed with it. That’s all I could think about all the time.”

Over the years, Conlin started waking up at three or four in the morning to drive all over Ontario to snap rare wildlife sightings.

For Conlin, the freedom of wildlife photography is what draws her to it. It’s not the same pressure as photographing a wedding or taking portraits.

“I like being on my own and just walking. There’s always new things to see,” Conlin says, sharing that she recently discovered a barred owl nest and spent three weeks “watching, sitting and waiting” for the babies to peek out and leave the nest.

Unlike other wildlife photographers, Conlin doesn’t bait the animals, so getting the perfect shot might take some time – and a lot of patience!

Conlin sells her work at local shows and shops and has a gallery in her home in Presqu’ile Provincial Park.

CURRENTS

The wedding

Caryn Lieberman and Brian Lafleche on their wedding day in 2009

A Montreal-to-T.O. love story Caryn Lieberman on being wooed by her husband and pandemic work-life balance

We were married in our home city of Montreal at Bice Restaurant, which is now called Ristorante Beatrice on Sherbrooke Street West. It was the most beautiful, intimate wedding on June 28, 2009. We were married by a justice of the peace under a “chuppah” and our ceremony incorporated Jewish prayers and customs as I am Jewish and Brian is Catholic. We went on our honeymoon a few months later to Greece, where we spent time in Athens, Mykonos and Santorini.

The kids

Caryn Lieberman is one of Ontario’s most recognizable faces reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic as a broadcast journalist at Global News. You might have seen her out in the field on your TV, covering everything from breaking news to crime stories. We chatted with Lieberman about how she met her husband, Brian Lafleche, as a news intern in Montreal, and their eventual move to Toronto.

How they met

I was a server at a Montreal hot spot for several years while also interning at Global News. Brian’s friends were “regulars,” and one time, he joined them for dinner.

Then he also became a regular patron at the supper club.

dinner there. We chatted and got to know each other, but it was otherwise quite uneventful!

The courtship

We would both agree and we still laugh about the fact that Brian had to chase me down and really put me on the spot. After a few dates, he finally asked me point blank whether I would like to

“I remember thinking, ‘I really hope there isn’t an engagement ring in his bag.’”

The first date

Brian came to ask me out one night and loitered for quite some time. He finally worked up the courage, if you will, to come and ask for my number. We made plans to go out soon after for sushi. There was a small restaurant close to where I worked, and we had a lovely

We are blessed to have two amazing children. Our daughter, Jada, is almost 8 years old, and our son, Ashton, just turned 5.

continue to see him and pursue a relationship or not. I was actually very impressed with how upfront and honest he was, so I decided: “I’m in!”

The proposal

We were living in Toronto by that point, having moved

Balancing career and marriage

The pandemic has certainly challenged us in many ways.

Brian used to travel a lot, but has not in a long time. It helps having him home, however he is often on conference calls, and I face daily deadlines and have to go out into the field for TV shoots, so it is definitely difficult.

We talk most mornings about what our plans are for the day, who can supervise remote learning, who can make lunch, etc. Most days, like other families, I wonder how we managed it all! In terms of our careers, though, we always support each other. Brian knows how much I love what I do and respects me for it.

Secret of success

Respect, love and laughter. Brian makes me laugh every day. We are best friends. I could not imagine my life without him.

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AUGUST 2021

together from Montreal and Quebec City. Brian made up a story about how his father had won a weekend in Mont Tremblant at the beautiful Quintessence Hotel. We arrived at Pearson International Airport and the flight was delayed. He seemed a bit concerned so I had a feeling something was up. The whole time, Brian was very nonchalant about our carry-on suitcases. I remember thinking, “I really hope there isn’t an engagement ring in his bag, because he’s not watching it very closely.” We arrived at our destination, and on the porch with a picture perfect view, he proposed.

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HOW THEY MET

23

AUGUST HOME DESIGN

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24

THE BIG TICKETS

CURRENTS

OUTDOOR THEATRE IS BACK WITH DREAM IN HIGH PARK

Six hot summer events in Toronto From whale skeletons and medieval trails to illusions and Warhol

by Megan Gallant

1. AGO gets its Warhol

3. Scott Helman at the drive-in

5. The ROM is back

After eight long months of being closed, the Art Gallery of Ontario has finally reopened with a massive new Andy Warhol exhibit.

Celebrating one of the world’s most famous 20th century artists who led the pop art movement, the summer exhibit features more than 250 pieces spanning a fourdecade career. Artworks include paintings, photographs and films, alongside an experimental multimedia installation combining film projections, disco balls and the sounds of music group the Velvet Underground. Iconic portraits include Dolly Parton, Elvis and Wayne Gretzky. Also open is AGO’s on-site store and bistro, including a brand new patio.

On Saturday, August 7, Scott Helman will be taking centre stage at CityView Drive-In. The singer-songwriter was born and raised in Toronto before releasing his first EP in 2014 and touring with Walk Off the Earth and Vance Joy. Now he’ll be performing his latest release, “Old Friends,” on the large outdoor stage featuring his hometown’s skyline in the background. At CityView, ticket holders watch the performance from their own socially distanced vehicles and can have snacks and beverages ordered straight to their cars. Also performing at CityView this month are Mini Pop Kids and the Drive ‘N Queens summer series.

With the much-anticipated reopening of the Royal Ontario Museum comes three major exhibitions and plenty to explore. Great Whales: Up Close and Personal is a ROM original designed to get audiences immersed in the ocean with some of the largest creatures to have ever existed on Earth. The exhibit includes multi-sensory interactives and immersive experiences along with three skeletons of different whale species, including ROM’s beloved blue whale, Blue. Other exhibits include a limited-time feature of artworks by acclaimed Ethiopian artist Elias Sime and ROM’s world-renowned collection of Indian chintz.

4. Toronto Outdoor Picture Show

6. Illusionarium

Throughout the month of August, the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show presents TOPS and Friends, a five-week program of film screenings held at Fort York National History Site. With a theme of community celebration, TOPS is launching with a threenight opening weekend beginning July 31 and will finish with a five-night closing featuring live performances by local indie artists, curated by Wavelength Music Series.

In between will be host screenings from Toronto’s best film festivals and arts organizations, including Inside Out, Vector Festival, Regent Park Film Festival and Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival. TOPS and Friends is free to the public with tickets reserved in advance.

On July 29, from the producers of the North American hit Immersive Van Gogh, comes a groundbreaking experiential exhibit featuring live magic. From British high-tech magician Jamie Allen, Illusionarium takes guests on a journey through the evolution of magic as the world’s greatest illusionists share their secrets.

This one-of-a-kind experience uses life-sized holograms, 3D projections, live magicians and vanguard sound effects to take viewers through four magical rooms representing a different era, beginning with holographic Harry Houdini in the 17th century. Magic and entertainment duo Penn & Teller have been added to the lineup.

Illusionarium is running out of the third gallery space alongside Immersive Van Gogh and Gogh by Car at 1 Yonge St.

2. Into the Light Forest with Imagine Dragons

Casa Loma has been turned into a medieval fairy tale with the Imagine Dragons Light Forest. This self-guided walk along a twokilometre trail will transport guests back in time and through an experience better than their own imagination. The walk will feature dazzling lighting and laser shows throughout the garden, tunnels and stables of the historic castle. Also along the trail will be interactive and immersive theatrical medieval displays by costumed characters. The Imagine Dragons Light Forest is appropriate for the whole family and will run Wednesday through Sunday until the end of August.

Admission tickets are date and time specific.

Is My Microphone On? In the new play from awardwinning Jordan Tannahill, a group of young people speak directly to the adults in the audience in the form of a protest song. Is My Microphone On? highlights the future consequences of climate change as a chorus of 12- to 17year-olds. It runs Sept. 2 to 19.

Nowhen York University Theatre and Canadian Stage MFA Candidate Alison Wong invite guests to participate in a two-part, auditory experience. Nowhen converges seven stories and seven paths in one place based in nature. Nowhen is running from Aug. 5 to 15.

AUGUST 2021

L-R: Scott Helman hits the stage at CityView Drive-In this month and Imagine Dragons turns Casa Loma into a fairy tale

StoryTent Gather inside the StoryTent and experience the connection formed through the popular story circle program from Storytelling Toronto.

The family-friendly program is led by hosts to keep the stories flowing and help visitors come up with their best rhymes, songs and stories. StoryTent will run the weekend of Aug. 21 to 22.

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© Alberto Rabal/Flickr Commons

Blackout Originally set to premiere as part of the 2020/21 season, the Musical Stage Company’s Blackout tells the story of the largest blackout in Canada’s history in August 2003. With a book by Steven Gallagher and music and lyrics by Anton Lipovetsky, the production depicts three stories of connections that unfold while Toronto is in darkness. Blackout runs from July 23 to Aug. 15.

High Park amphitheatre

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TORONTO’S

RESTAURANT REVIVAL COVER STORY

No meal kits, no delivery, just the best new places to dine in T.O. by Christine Hogg & Jessica Huras

Restaurant 20 Victoria marks the much-anticipated return of Chris White and Jonathan Nicolaou, who closed their critically acclaimed restaurant Brothers Food & Wine just over a year ago during the pandemic. “It feels really great to be back,” says White. Like their erstwhile Yorkville bistro set above Bay Street station, Restaurant 20 Victoria is intimate and deceptively humble. With 20 seats inside and an outdoor patio that can fit an additional 14 diners, 20 Victoria is down from the original 30-seat count at Brothers with much of the new space taken up by an open kitchen. The menu is a joint effort by White, Nicolaou and new addition Julie Hyde. “It’s a total collaboration.

We aren’t even using the chef term,” White says. As a result, dishes change spontaneously — sometimes daily, sometimes weekly.

Expect the menu to build upon the style of cooking that Brothers was known for, which means a focus on seasonal ingredients and simple yet nuanced flavours (plus plenty of top-notch wine).

Diners are encouraged to linger at their tables as long as they feel inclined to stay, and the small-scale, spontaneous nature of the experience makes Restaurant 20 Victoria feel more like being hosted at a dinner party than dining at a restaurant. Much like Brothers, widespread praise and a small seating capacity mean reservations for 20 Victoria get snapped up quickly. You’ll need to call to book a table, and it’s best to plan a few weeks — or even a month — ahead of when you’re hoping to dine. 20 Victoria St.

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Image: Chris Nuttal Smith

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RESTAURANT 20 VICTORIA

From top: The Restaurant 20 Victoria team; the curbside patio

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From top: Stock Bar’s lobster and shrimp roll; the rooftop patio

STOCK BAR

Find the finest cuts of meat, juicy burgers, lobster rolls, an international wine list and Terroni’s iconic pizza and pasta at Stock Bar. At the corner of Yonge and Montgomery, Cosimo Mamolitti (Terroni) and Stephen Alexander (Cumbrae’s) have created a European-style street-level patio and an outdoor rooftop dining area offering sweeping views of the city. Stock Bar pairs their personalities and backgrounds with the desires of Toronto diners in one bustling community space that is divided into three levels. One of Stock Bar’s most flattering spaces is the Montgomery Room. An ode to their historic building, this space will function as a private dining room that can also be used during regular service. The whimsical lighting, statement bar, wicker and soft blue hues make this a homey yet chic space that carries through the vacation vibe of the entire upper level. Mamolitti and Alexander's collaborative effort is very present in the dishes they serve at Stock Bar. The menu features a variety of innovative appetizers and steak house–style sides, including many Terroni classics and even the house-made pepperoncini mayo. “We wanted to do a mix of Terroni [and Cumbrae’s] but not a complete Terroni menu. Steak frites, the lobster roll, we want to have a little of everything to make everybody happy,” says Mamolitti. Stock’s Sunday brunch menu is being released soon, so keep an eye out! 2388 Yonge St.

CROSLEY’S

Run by internationally renowned chef and sommelier J. P. Adamo (co-owner of Bar Piquette), Crosley’s restaurant officially opened in January 2021.

The menu at Crosley’s features shareable small plates made from local, sustainable ingredients, making it the perfect spot for larger groups. Chef Joachim ( Joe) Hayward previously worked as the head chef at the now-closed Brothers Food & Wine in Yorkville, where he met fellow Crosley’s chef Myles Harrison. Their partnering with J.P. and Laura Adamo has the end result of a personalized approach to fine dining. The menu is rife with distinctly Canadian, nationally sourced items with an international twist, courtesy of tasting trips to London, Italy and Paris.

“It’s definitely not something that is supposed to be over the top,” Adamo notes. “It’s just really simple food and great products.” Recent vegetarian-focused dishes include a refreshing and colourful zucchini, pumpkin seed and basil salad drizzled with honey, and fried wild elderflower with honey and lemon. Other menu highlights include tanjo pork with white turnip and tamarind. “The menu is really just a nod to the working class of the area,” Harrison says. Adamo designed the space with the intention of making the establishment appear as though it had been there forever: a lived-in, local space flush with antique details, high ceilings and wooden furniture. 214 Ossington Ave.

Crosley’s menu features local, sustainably sourced items

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A few months into its run, Atai Bistro is already wooing diners with its combination of cosy, French café vibes and flavourful Moroccan fare. The restaurant aims to bring a contemporary approach to Moroccan cuisine, with chef de cuisine Meaghan Foster putting her own spin on traditional regional recipes using French cooking techniques. “While we were looking to create this concept during COVID, we experienced a lot of challenges that other restaurants and businesses in this city felt—delays on product, staffing, restrictions,” says Atai Bistro general manager, Haley Johnson.

“We had to lean into a mindset of we will do what we can.”

The menu at the inviting Junction area restaurant emphasizes sharing-style meals, including beautiful mezze platters; savoury flatbreads such as the Bresaola topped with fennel, harissa, ricotta, za’atar and pomegranate; and dips like hummus with urfa chili oil. The basteeya exemplifies Atai’s dual French-Moroccan culinary ethos, featuring braised chicken pie and almond and brown butter hollandaise in a phyllo pastry. Cocktails also draw inspiration from the North African nation with the Aube Marocaine, for example, made with a blend of light bourbon, mint, spice syrup, Moroccan tea and peychaud bitters. There’s also a brief list of French wines, local and international beers and, true to Morocco’s dining culture, plenty of loose leaf tea options. In addition to its dine-in menu, Atai Bistro also offers an extensive selection of house-made pantry items like a za’atar spice blend, chili oil and smoked almonds. “The overwhelming response from communities backing us up and showing support is really a testament that there is a greener pasture ahead for us,” Johnson concludes.

3047 Dundas St. W

6

AZHAR

Azhar, the latest addition to Janet Zuccarini’s ever-expanding restaurant empire, is turning heads on the Ossington strip.

The brainchild of partner and executive chef Stuart Cameron, Azhar marries Middle Eastern influences with local ingredients, all prepared in a state-of-the-art wood-fired oven, with sustainability and authenticity at the helm of each dish. The west end’s new mecca for Middle Eastern treats, Azhar has also partnered with Middle Eastern artisans and local brands to sell a bounty of meats, cheeses, wines and handcrafted artisanal products alongside its in-house menu. The textural interior of Azhar is warm and alluring. The details in the walls, floors and bar are all accentuated by a bright open kitchen at the back of the space. When partnering up with Janet Zuccarini’s Gusto 54 Group, Cameron already had a vision of the colossal, exposed brick oven being the centrepiece of his new kitchen.

“Everything is based around the wood-fired oven,” says Cameron. “For us, the highlights are the ingredients.” With beautiful imported products like fig leaves from Israel and red walnuts from California, Cameron is creating simple yet robustly flavourful dishes. The Muhammara, a red walnut and fire-roasted red pepper dip infused with house-made sourdough croutons, cherry molasses and confit garlic, is a perfect example of Cameron’s dedication and artisanship.

Experimenting with the wood-fired oven, baker Hunter Glaude is working with overnight fermentations of sourdoughs and potato breads (try the fermented potato and yogurt buns) to create rustic baked goods with better digestibility and unmatched flavour. 96 Ossington Ave.

CHEF KAREEMA CARIBBEAN FUSION

Combining her love for Caribbean flavours and a passion for cooking, chef Kareema Beckles opened Chef Kareema Caribbean Fusion in December 2020 on Dundas Street East. Chef Kareema’s is a Caribbean-fusion restaurant that puts a spin on classic dishes with a menu that rotates on a weekly basis. Although the dishes change frequently, certain flavours unique to the Caribbean always remain and make their way into the dishes. Recently, Chef Kareema began offering a series of walk-in specials, including Roti Tuesdays and Wings & Festivals Wednesdays, with additional dishes being released throughout the summer. Menu highlights include the Caribbean gourmet spring rolls made with ackee and saltfish, curry goat, callaloo and pumpkin, pepper shrimp and more, as well as Chef Kareema’s famously delicious jerk chicken lasagna and barbecued ribs served with a heap of garlic mashed potatoes and buttery cornbread. “The inspiration comes from my love of Caribbean and West Indian culture,” Beckles says. “I am first generation Canadian to Trinidadian parents and my maternal grandmother is from Barbados. I grew up around people from other parts of the Caribbean, as well as foods of different countries and cultures. I infuse them with other foods that I love, and magic happens.” Having opened right before the onset of the pandemic, Beckles notes that her first year of business was not without its share of hardships. “These past few months have been challenging with a lot of ups and downs, but gratefully more ups,” Beckles says. “It hasn’t stopped us from continuing to push through.”

203 Dundas St. E.

From top: The dining room at Azhar; crudo with jalapeno and yuzu kosho

From top: Chef Kareema; a dish from the Caribbean-fusion menu

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

AUGUST 2021

Atai’s classic mezze platter

ATAI BISTRO

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T.O.’S RESTAURANT REVIVAL

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T.O.’S RESTAURANT REVIVAL

COVER STORY

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From top: The dining room at Bar Esquina; Al Carbon tacos

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BAR ESQUINA

Much to the delight of Toronto’s taco fans, Mas Playas, the Mexican restaurant mini empire that includes Playa Cabana in the Annex, Cantina in the Junction and Hacienda on Dupont, continued its expansion during the pandemic with the opening of Bar Esquina late last year. Located in the Yonge and Eglinton area, Bar Esquina delivers the quality Mexican fare and cool cocktails the restaurant group has become known for. The food menu features snackable starters like fresh snapper ceviche, hearty burritos with Oaxacan cheese and soft or crispy tacos with fillings like juicy slow-roasted pork or ancho-braised beef short rib. It’s worth saving room for a slice of spongy vanilla tres leches or churros sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon for dessert. “We worked with a great local design firm on this project, Ancerl Studio, who sat with Dave Sidhu [Playa Cabana’s owner] and really took his vision to life,” says Sandra Axelsson, of sales, catering and events for Mas Playas. “The space is a very open concept layout, full of light and loaded with natural materials,” she says. With dining rooms closed when Bar Esquina first opened its doors, Axelsson says it felt like they were running a commissary kitchen in the early days of the restaurant’s launch. “It has been an eye-opening experience for most of us,” Axelsson says. “We are blessed that the Yonge and Eglinton community has welcomed us so warmly and allowed us to feed the many taco lovers that live and work in the area. 8 Eglinton Ave. E.

TORONTO BEACH CLUB

Toronto Beach Club is an alluring restaurant from Scale Hospitality, the group behind venues such as Shook, Lapinou and Byblos. Set on Woodbine Beach with sweeping views of Lake Ontario, the restaurant aims to evoke the vibe of a European coastal getaway with its airy decor and Mediterranean-influenced menu. “The inspiration was to take people and transport them somewhere else. Give them great food, exceptional service and entertain them for the evening,” says Scale Hospitality owner Hanif Harji. Scale tapped the Drake’s former corporate executive chef Ted Corrado to create a menu that blends local, seasonal ingredients with coastal European culinary influences spanning from France to Turkey.

“We wanted to be true to that European simple food sensibility and honour the beautiful ingredients we're bringing in,” says Corrado. “We're really priding ourselves in what we’re sourcing and paying homage to it and just keeping it really simple.” The menu is fresh and citrus-forward, with many shareable dishes cooked over a charcoal grill. There’s an extensive selection of mezze and seafood, along with salads, a raw bar and grilled meats. A daily catch is also a staple under the selection of main dishes. A wide range of champagne available by the glass and bottle is among the highlights of Toronto Beach Club’s drinks menu. The wider wine menu offers a mix of Old and New World bottles, and the cocktail menu features refreshing spritzes, riffs on the classic martini and many vermouth-based drinks. In the fall, Toronto Beach Club will also launch a takeout Marketplace Café, plus a fresh fish counter, as well as a selection of European wine and beer. Harji says there are also plans in the works to extend patio season by creating a cosy, cool-weather setup with firepits. 1681 Lake Shore Blvd. E.

A summery spread at Toronto Beach Club

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THE RABBIT HOLE

Hospitality heavyweight Oliver & Bonacini continues its domination of Financial District dining with the opening of upscale British gastropub the Rabbit Hole. The restaurant is a longtime dream for O&B district executive chef John Horne who spent several years working in London, England, early in his career. “It was always something I wanted to bring back and do in Toronto,” he says of the country’s elevated gastropub cuisine. The menu banishes stereotypes about bland British fare with its locally sourced ingredients, big flavours and playful spins on traditional pub cuisine. The tikka masala (a British dish by way of India), for example, features marinated half cornish hen and Earl Grey steeped currants. The menu also features light, flavourful dishes, such as a cucumber and pea salad with radish, bibb lettuce and dill buttermilk dressing. “I remember staying at people’s houses and their parents making fantastic salads that came straight from the garden. The cucumber pea salad is very much something that was inspired from that,” says Horne of his time in England. Cocktails like the London Tiger with Dillon’s Selby gin (a gin made by Dillon’s distillery for the Rabbit Hole’s sister restaurant Maison Selby), green chartreuse, honey, ginger, turmeric, curry leaf and lime, and the Queen of Hearts with Dejado tequila, Pimm’s, mezcal, strawberry and lemon also put fresh twists on familiar British flavours. Originally slated to open in 2020, the Rabbit Hole has now been a long time coming.

“Honestly, the pandemic, I think, gave us a little more time to think about the concept and dive into it,” says Horne. “It really helped us design this menu and to come out of the gate firing on all cylinders.” 21 Adelaide St. W.

From top: Cucumber and radish salad; Rabbit Hole’s spacious patio

From top: Chef Marcus Sutton-Herbert (left) and chef Elias Salazar; the pollo a la brasa

11 From top: Colourful lanterns inside Dzo Viet; pho poutine

NEW DIGS FOR STAR-POWERED CHEFS

DOMAINE MAMO

DZO VIET

With its eclectic menu of contemporary Vietnamese fare, Dzo Viet Eatery aims to show Toronto that there’s more to Vietnamese cuisine than the familiar bowl of pho.

Many items draw on recipes passed down from co-owner David Tong’s late mother, and others introduce a modern, fusion element to the menu.

These riffs on classic dishes are balanced by street food– style skewers and more traditional entrees like clay pot slow-braised pork belly with hard-boiled egg, pickled cabbage, fresh herbs and steamed rice. Cocktails put a Vietnamese-influenced twist on bar standards. “My partner and I have previous experience in marketing, sales and the hospitality industry but [we’ve] never opened a restaurant from scratch, let alone during the pandemic,” says co-owner Jackson Mou. “The most difficult aspect of launching during the pandemic was introducing the new concept of fusion Vietnamese food to guests through takeout,” he adds, noting how much Dzo Viet Eatery’s decor, service and plating were designed to enhance the dining experience.

“We saw amazing support during the two months we had dine in in 2020, which encouraged us to keep going,” says Mou. 308 Dundas St. W.

Domaine Mamo, a French-Italian fusion restaurant, opened mid-July at 581 Mount Pleasant Rd. This collaboration between Toronto restaurateur Robert Prete and chef Didier Leroy specializes in Mediterranean coastline cuisine.

Menu highlights include soups, salads, pastas, pizzas and the montage.

BAR APERITIVO

Chef David Rocco’s latest project, Bar Aperitivo, will feature a front streetside patio and include a tapas-inspired menu, gelato, extensive wine list and a bottle shop. Despite his renown as a chef and operating his own wine label, Bar Aperitivo will be Rocco’s first-ever restaurant venture.

Uncle Mikey’s chef/owner Mikey Kim taps into his French culinary training for Milou, Dundas West’s new Parisian-inspired café-bistro. By day, it’s a charming spot to pick up French-influenced sandwiches, such as the classic Ham & Cheese Sando with French ham, shaved butter, cornichons and grainy Dijon. Sandwiches are served on bread from foodie favourite Blackbird Baking Co., and the restaurant also offers high-quality coffee to pair with a morning snack or midday munchie. The menu delves deeper into quintessential bistro fare with mains like the steak tartare, which is chopped to order and served topped with pistachio. A slice of the basque cheesecake is an essential finale to any meal at Milou. On Sundays, Milou offers a rotating array of grilled cheese sandwiches with fillings like Gruyère and smoked mozzarella or Asiago and Swiss cheese. Like any bistro worth its stripes, Milou offers a well-curated selection of wines as well as some interesting sake. The restaurant’s interior continues the inviting bistro theme with exposed brick, rich accent colours and plenty of natural materials, plus a lovely patio wrapping around the Dundas Street side. As with many restaurants that opened during the pandemic, Milou also has a pantry and retail component stocked with everything from restaurant-branded totes to a fridge full of excellent cheeses. 1375 Dundas St. W.

Grilled cheese Sundays at Milou

ALOETTE LIBERTY VILLAGE

Aloette is now operating out of a brand new location in Liberty Village, which began taking reservations for indoor dining on July 22. Located inside the Market Building the new space has also been optimized for takeout. All of the favourites, like the famous Aloette burger, are still available.

AUGUST 2021

@hectorvasquez

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MILOU

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Waska Peruvian Chicken, led by chef Elias Salazar, is a contemporary Peruvian establishment offering an array of seasonal dishes that spotlight regional specialties, all created using farm-fresh ingredients and imported Peruvian products. Born and raised in Callao, Peru, chef Salazar takes inspiration from his culinary roots, namely his grandmother’s teachings, to bring Waska’s flavour-packed dishes to life. “Peruvian cuisine has many different cultures involved in it, and it represents 500 years of culinary evolution,” Salazar says. “Every place in Peru has its own cuisine or version of a dish.” Many of the dishes on the menu also incorporate old family recipes. “My great grandmother, grandmother and mother have all made me the chef I am today,” Salazar says. “I strive to celebrate them through Waska.” Having worked in kitchens in Lima, Toronto and Montreal, Salazar now knows how to make more than 100 types of Peruvian ceviche, classifying it and any type of seafood as his signature dish. The remainder of the menu offers a host of delicious, traditional Peruvian fare, including tamales, empanadas and quinoa-based dishes, among others. Waska’s name is an ode to a Quechua word that is commonly used in Peru to tell people that they are tipsy and happy, enjoying themselves amongst friends and family. Salazar is opening another elevated Peruvian cuisine concept later this summer. 805 Dovercourt Rd.

@cestlavicky

10

WASKA PERUVIAN CHICKEN

T.O.’S RESTAURANT REVIVAL

29

F E AT U R E D L I S T I N G

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Outdoor Education is the and way to learn.

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TASTE TEST

FOOD

YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME? Chef Mark McEwan takes a bite out of six of the city's finest pies

“Our pie filling is made in small batches and left to rest before filling our pie shells. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and the dough is left overnight to rest and then rolled and hand cut to create the lattice,” says Hatton.

WINNER Sweetie Pie owner Tina Hatton says the secret to baking the Taste Test–winning blueberry pie starts with the berries. In Ontario, blueberry season starts in July, but lately, growers are experiencing a longer season. If wild blueberries can’t be sourced locally, Sweetie Pie sources the fruit from California.

“The filling, although seemingly thick, has a sound ratio.

A delightful pie, not overly sweet,” says Mark.

Mark McEwan is the veteran chef behind Bymark, Fabbrica and McEwan Fine Foods. He’s also the author of bestselling cookbooks and serves as head judge on Food Network’s hit series Top Chef.

FLAKY TART

PHIPPS

MABEL’S

GRODZINSKI

THE ROLLING PIN

flakytart.com, $17

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mabelsbakery.ca, $5.99/$18.99

grodzinskibakery.com, $16.95

therollingpin.ca, $25

“A tart and tangy filling encased in a very attractive hand-crimped crust that’s thick but wonderfully flaky.”

“Too often peaches are overdone and peach pies tend to have a baby food consistency. These have bite.”

“Gorgeous filling that is bursting with cherries. Light and flaky crust made this pie dangerously easy to enjoy.”

“An impressively thick layer of filling covered with a lattice topped with rock sugar.”

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mysweetiepie.ca, $8.99/$26.99

AUGUST 2021

images@instagram.com/mysweetiepie.ca/

Sweetie Pie only uses wild blueberries for their blueberry pies, which are smaller and produce a flavour that’s both sweet and tart and makes for a more robust pie filling.

“Each bite is wonderfully different: sour, sweet, rich, buttery — and they all dance together gracefully.” 31

AUGUST RESTAURANT GUIDE

www.Holychuck.com

www.cestbonrestaurant.com

www.karbouzi.com

www.kathmandurestaurant.ca

1450 YONGE STREET • 416 962 4825

2685 YONGE STREET • 416 932 2811

2048 AVENUE ROAD • 416 483 3846

12 CUMBERLAND ST. • 647 345 4214 + 416 924 5787

PATIO NOW OPEN

PATIO NOW OPEN

OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY

OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY

Pictured: Pork Souvlaki

NEW SPECIALTY BURGERS

MENU HIGHLIGHTS

All our burgers/fries & desserts are 100% gluten free. All our meats are 100% certified halal.

All burgers served on a warm potato bun

House Pan Fried Dumplings

The Holy Chuck (Our signature): Aged beef, maple smoked bacon, cheese, caramelized onions

Crispy Ginger Beef

BBQ Pork Spare Ribs

Spicy Peanut Chicken

The Big Yianni NEW Aged beef, maple smoked bacon, cheese, panko crusted onion rings, chipotle mayo

General Tsao's Chicken

The Holy Cluck NEW House-breaded crispy chicken thigh, lettuce, tomato, pickle, mayo

House Mix Vegetable

The Holy Vegan NEW Ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, vegan cheese, served on a gluten free vegan/keto bun

Special Fried Rice

The Wagyu Weiner NEW 7” of gluten free wagyu beef, warm bun, your choice of toppings

Basil Chicken

House Chili Prawn

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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.

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!

FRIES & POUTINES Waffle Fries NEW Traditional Poutine & Hand-Cut Fries

TRADITIONAL GREEK DELICACIES

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

Pictured: Tandoori Tikka

FEATURING THE EVEREST FEAST FOR TWO $46.99 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 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 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

FEATURE

FOOD

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ARE COTTAGE BOXES THIS SUMMER’S HOTTEST TREND? The city’s best gourmet shops and restaurants want to feed Muskoka and the County one box at a time

by Megan Gallant

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BLUEBLOOD STEAKHOUSE

PUSATERI’S

STOCK-IN-TRADE

AGORA

Looking for an easy but romantic meal to serve for a summer date night? BlueBlood Steakhouse offers Tomahawk Grill Kits, rib eye or tenderloin, with everything you’ll need to craft an intimate dinner for two. Each kit comes uncooked with sides, sauces, and salts ready for you to amaze your partner without having to do any planning. On the side are uniquely matched potato dishes, including Yukon gold, scalloped and P.E.I fingerling potatoes. A wine pairing and two BlueBlood engraved steak knives are included in each box, making for an unforgettable date night. bluebloodsteakhouse.com

Pusateri’s offers a variety of boxes, with more than 30 available, ranging in price from $60 to $199.99. Packed full of seasonal fruits and vegetables, aged cheeses, spreads and jams, antipasto and meats that are perfect for grilling, popular cottage box favourites include the Full Breakfast Box, the Truffle Box and the Cheese and Charcuterie Box. Pusateri’s is also offering free delivery on Thursdays on all orders over $250 to cottage dwellers in Innisfil, Gravenhurst, Bala, Port Carling and Bracebridge. pusateris.com

Aptly named for summer, the Cottage Grill Box from Stock-inTrade feeds up to four people for three meals. This packed box comes with a whole ready-to-cook brined chicken seasoned with a BBQ rub that’s made in-house.

Also included are four beef patties and four house-made sausages. All meats are pasture-raised, hormone-free and grass-fed from local farms in Ontario. At a cost of only $47.50, the box is an affordable price to feed the family all weekend long and is discounted compared to purchasing the meats individually. stockintradeto.com

Mamaka’s authentic Greek market offers four different BBQ packages available for pickup, including Paidakia (lamb chops), Kalamaki, Chicken and Lamb Bifteki. Each Agora package feeds four people and comes with a choice of two dips, like the Greek carp roe dip, and a selection of two traditional salads. Also added to each box are six pitas, Florina peppers and a seasonal dessert. If that’s not enough to fill everyone at your cottage party, Agora offers protein add-ons including a whole cooked, marinated and vacuumsealed octopus. mamakas.ca

AUGUST 2021

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Canadian Bicycle Recycling

FOOD

NEWS

Donate Your Used Bicycles We’ll pick them up for free! canadianbicyclerecycling.com Souvla’s authentic Greek skewers are made on a charcoal grill

Mamakas Taverna’s popup is Aegean inspired Souvla brings Greek street food to Ossington

E

ERY on all o LIV rde DE r s

NOW DELIVERING TO

$250 er ov

Enjoy FR E

by Megan Gallant

Innisfil, Gravenhurst, Bala, Port Carling & Bracebridge.

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S AT E I S . C O M R

Mamakas recently fired up the available at the cigar shop across charcoal grill for a new street the street. food pop-up. Named Souvla for “We built a really great the authentic Greek skewers relationship with the being served, this summer patio neighbours,” he says. “We had is open every weekend to add to asked if we could use it and Mamaka’s lineup of Aegean- rented it from them to activate a inspired restaurants. traditional, Greek street food Souvla runs out of the House pop-up.” of Harvath parking lot across the Unfortunately, Tripi was street from Mamakas Taverna on unable to move forward with the Ossington Avenue. The popplan due to regulations up features a 60-seat around licensing, but, patio and was created earlier this spring, the to serve the most barbecue was ON THE MENU popular item at brought out to the Feta fries, grilled Agora, the Greek street corner chicken and lamb Market from between Mamakas skewers, calamari, ice Mamakas. and Bar Koukla. cream and more.

Currently, the The menu at Souvla pop-up is open from features authentic Friday to Sunday from Greek dishes, like 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., and is chicken and pork souvlaki walk-in only. Souvla is prepared wraps with feta fries and Greek with meat cooked by spit over a salad on the side. Other street charcoal grill similar to souvlaki eats, like grilled octopus, calamari but with larger cuts of meat that and lamb, will change weekly. are slow cooked, mimicking the Recent and popular eats include way it’s traditionally cooked in chicken souvlaki with fireGreece. roasted red and yellow peppers The pop-up’s concept began and a generous dollop of creamy last summer while under tzatziki. For refreshingly sweet provincial lockdowns. With desserts, customers can order Agora shut and Mamaka’s third doughnut balls, called location, Bar Koukla, operating loukoumades. served with ice only as a bottle shop, owner cream. Beverages include Fix Thanos Tripi wanted to do Greek beer and Thalia wine from something more with the space the Greek island of Crete.

NEWS

FOOD

L-R: Don Alfonso’s stunning new location; chef Ernesto Iaccarino

easy, online classes.

Fun,Beginner to Advanced

Renowned resto heads to Casa Loma Many happy students!

Don Alfonso 1890 is returning to Forest Hill by Ron Johnson Nelly Aguilera restaurants were mostly French cuisine, you know, with heavy butter and so on. This was a whole new movement in his mind, which now is exactly what people are doing.”

Don Alfonso 1890 is now an internationally recognized awardwinning concept with locations in Sant’Agata, Amalfi Coast, Italy; Levello, Basilicata, Italy; Helena Bay, New Zealand; Macau, China; and Toronto.

When Di Donato looked into the restaurant, he found that Alfonso’s son Ernesto had followed in his father’s footsteps. And thus began the working relationship that brought Don Alfonso 1890 to Toronto.

“Ernesto is our chef, and he works with us and creates these menus and trains people in Don Alfonso in Italy. And then they come here,” Di Donato explains.

“So our chef is from Italy. Daniele Corona, who is our chef here, is a true Michelin chef and has worked in only Michelin restaurants.”

Since opening in 2018, the restaurant has been ranked as the “2nd Best Italian Restaurant in the World” by 50 Top Italy, and “Best Italian Restaurant in Canada” and “Top Ten of All Restaurants in Canada 2020” by La Liste, amongst many other honours.

The pop-up restaurant at Casa Loma is likely to offer both a tasting menu and à la carte service.

For more information or to book a table, go to DonAlfonsoToronto.com.

SPANISH TEACHER

www.holanelly.com | Info@holanelly.com | 647-522-5003

Classic at any age.

The Kids’ 574 UPPER OAKVILLE SHOPPING CENTRE 1011 Upper Middle Rd E (905) 337-9393

CF SHOPS AT DON MILLS 39 Karl Fraser Rd (416) 390-9998

BLOOR WEST VILLAGE 2252 Bloor St W (416) 766-8882

BAYVIEW VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTRE 2901 Bayview Ave (416) 225-7770

EXCHANGE TOWER 130 King St W, Concourse Level, Unit C34 (416) 306-9992

THE DANFORTH 613 Danforth Ave (416) 466-4444

SUMMERHILL 1234 Yonge St (416) 962-8662

CF RIDEAU CENTRE 50 Rideau St Ottawa ON (343) 925-0166

AUGUST 2021

the restaurant is set at 60.

The conservatory, constructed in 1914, with its stunning McCausland stained-glass dome ceiling and arched windows, is one of the most iconic in Casa Loma and has served as the perfect backdrop to many illustrious weddings. Since large events were not possible at this time, according to Di Donato, the opportunity presented itself to keep the Don Alfonso 1890 brand alive.

“We are committed to the Don Alfonso brand. It is one of the best restaurants in the world,” he says.

“We were extremely successful at what we were doing in a very short time.”

Don Alfonso landed in the city following Di Donato’s global travels and his intention to find that perfect chef to create a Michelinstarred quality experience in his hometown of Toronto, what he calls his “Michelin mission.”

That mission took him across South America and Europe before finding what he was looking for in Italy.

“I landed in St. Agatha on the Amalfi Coast. And what impressed me most was this restaurant called Don Alfonso 1890, which got its name because the property was owned by the family since 1890,” he says. “In the late 1980s, Alfonso [Iaccarino] was the first three-star Michelin chef in southern Italy.

And, you know, what he had done at the time, which was very novel, was farm- to table. This was unique at the time. The Michelin-style

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Don Alfonso 1890, one of Toronto’s most acclaimed fine dining restaurants, is preparing for a glamorous return to the city this month featuring the Michelin cuisine of Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino.

The restaurant wowed the city when it opened downtown on Toronto Street bringing with it a revered Michelin-starred chef from Italy and a world-class tasting menu.

The Toronto Street space was permanently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Nick Di Donato, of Liberty Entertainment Group, knows he has something special and unique to the city in Don Alfonso 1890 and is bringing it back as a pop-up at Casa Loma until a new permanent location can be found.

Liberty Entertainment Group manages Casa Loma, which is also home to the high-end steakhouse BlueBlood.

“Casa Loma is one of the iconic venues in Toronto,” Di Donato says. “And since we’re looking for a temporary location till we have a permanent spot for Don Alfonso, we felt that the Casa Loma conservatory, which is one of the most spectacular rooms in all of the castle, would be so appropriate to be able to host the Alfonso dinners.”

Currently, reservations opened on July 21, and the plan is to run the pop-up Don Alfonso dinners until November. With current health regulations, the capacity of

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FOOD

NEWS

L-R: Birria tacos; Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo

Matty Matheson to open new eatery Fonda Balam launches this September on Dundas Street West Canadian star chef Matty Matheson’s latest pop-up on Spadina Avenue, featuring the classic meat stew of Mexico’s Jalisco region, has found a permanent home. Matheson, alongside former Quetzal chefs and couple Julio Guajardo and Kate Chomyshyn — who, together, spearheaded Birria Balam. The team will be transforming the concept into a full-fledged restaurant called Fonda Balam, which will be located at 802 Dundas St. W. at Palmerston.

The space will feature much of the same menu — meaning those mouth-watering birria tacos— and much more. It will also be stylized as a sophisticated diner, though the laid-back atmosphere will remain.

The vibrant branding known to Birria Balam will also remain the same, with bright colours and an

eye-catching jaguar on full display once the restaurant opens in September. Fonda Balam will also feature a side patio.

Although Birria Balam’s success played a part in the launch of Fonda Balam, it’s a concept that Matheson, Guajardo and Chomyshyn have been working on for a long time, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“The pandemic kind of slowed things down, so we decided to start with a pop-up, and now our original space is ready and we’re just about to move,” says Guajardo.

“We’re going to have indoor dining and a patio, and we’re also going to continue with takeout.

It’ll be a lot like Mexican bistros and tortillerias, with the same vibe as Birria Balam and a lot of classics from Mexico thrown in.”

Matheson, Guajardo and Chomyshyn worked together

previously on an early incarnation of Birria Balam, as vendors at 2019’s MattyFest, Matheson’s own food festival. They dubbed themselves simply “Balam” and developed a tacos-only menu.

As for the budding — and delicious — working relationship between Matheson, Guajardo and Chomyshyn?

“It’s been amazing,” says Guajardo. “You know, it all started two years ago out of conversations about food on Instagram. Then we went out to eat a couple of times, and we really hit it off talking about Mexican food. Matty visits L.A. and Chicago, where they have a lot of great Mexican food, so he’s always been a fan. From there came the idea of opening the popup and now Fonda Balam, and it’s been just so great. I think we make a pretty nice team.”

—Sadaf Ahsan

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Yorkville's latest addition is a British gastropub

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Named after the British term for the bridge of a song, Middle8 is the newest restaurant and soon-to-be live music venue to hit Yorkville. Chef Andrew Carter quietly opened the restaurant in the former Amber nightclub on Yorkville Avenue on June 16 after patiently waiting over a year for pandemic restrictions to ease.

Middle8 is owned by Carter, a British native and the current owner of gastropub the Oxley and Italianinspired Salvo. Carter has assembled a dream team for Middle8, including chef Chris Wilkinson of Sofia and the Broadview Hotel, Aleks Russell at the bar and sommelier Julie Garton, wine director at the Four Seasons Toronto. Featuring a selection of small plates, the menu includes highlights like a black mushroom dish with portobello mushroom braised for four hours then sliced like carpaccio and paired with pecorino

cheese. The wines can be paired with each dish or sipped on their own, and the liquor-forward sipping cocktails bring a Prohibition era feel to the bar.

“It’s almost like a grazing menu. There are only a few dishes, which you can combine together,” Carter says. “I said from the beginning, every dish has to taste really well and have a punch to it because with the small plates you only have a moment to impress people, so everything has to be really well executed but flavourful.”

The chef and restaurateur says he had been eyeing the space for years, and when the lease finally became available, he jumped at the chance to start something new there.

The restaurant will have a similar feel to the Oxley, only slightly edgier and with elements of a speakeasy.

—Mackenzie Patterson

KIDS

13: The Musical is going local! Look out for these young actors along the streets of Toronto all of August, where they’ll be filming a Netflix adaptation of the hit musical that follows protagonist Evan Goldman’s move from New York to Indiana and preparations for his Bar Mitzvah. Keep an eye out for Kayleigh Cerezo (bottom row, second from the left), Liam Wignall (bottom row, second

from the right) and Khiyla Aynne (bottom right), three of the breakout stars of the film who will be representing Toronto on the big screen as the only Canadians among the 14 major roles. Netflix hasn’t announced a release date yet, but set a reminder to watch these teens sing, dance and act all the way down Yonge Street – and see if you might catch a glimpse of the CN Tower peeking over their heads.

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The Netflix adaptation of 13: The Musical is set to film in Toronto

AUGUST 2021

© Netflix

SECTION

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St. Clement’s Early Learning School

COLLABORATE EDUCATE GRADUATE St. Clement’s Early Learning School

70 St. Clements Avenue, Toronto M4R 1H2

416-489-0822 or www.scels.ca

250 Dav Davisville visville Avenue, A Suite 200 Toronto, T oronto, Ontario O M4S 1H2

Phone: P hone: 416 416.545.1020 6.545.1020 www.torontop www.torontoprepschool.com prepschool.com m

The Toronto Prep School is an independent, co-educational, university preparatory school for discerning students and parents.

Visit our website www.torontoprepschool.com for more information and be sure to click on the links to our FaceBook and Instagram pages.

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

As the leading benchmark for Early Childhood Education since 1955, SCELS has stuck to its promise. Our promise is to provide an exceptional, individualized program that works best for your child. With an intimate staff of twenty, and small class sizes in one of Toronto’s historic landmark churches, we’ve developed a reputable program that encompasses a balanced academic and social/emotional curriculum.

As you walk into our school, you feel instantly welcomed by our devoted team and outstanding students all flourishing together in a structured, academic, and play-based environment. At SCELS, each child has their own Individual Program Plan that we put in place to support positive growth every term – from Nursery through to Grade 2. Year after year, we exceed expectations and receive stellar praises from both the Ministry as well as the families at our school. Come and see for yourself! Contact us at admissions@scels.ca to book a tour or visit www.scels.ca to learn more about us.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1955 GRADES: N to 2 ENROLMENT: 150 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Low TUITION: $10,000-$21,000

Toronto Prep School A combined 50 years of teaching experience has prompted Steve and Fouli Tsimikalis to create an environment that promotes learning, develops leadership and awakens social consciousness through the employment of energetic and hand-picked experienced faculty and staff. Toronto Prep offers a rigorous academic curriculum with the opportunity for students to participate in a variety of school clubs and athletics. Each student will receive a MacBook Pro and a full membership to GoodLife Fitness, to promote and sustain effectuality in mind and body. Steve and Fouli have determined that it truly takes a village to raise a child. “A faculty working closely with parents/ guardians, smaller classes, supervised extra help before and after school and on Saturdays help students reach their personal potential for success,” notes Fouli.

Their passion for teaching is evident: “The opportunity to contribute to the development of young men and women is a privilege,” says Steve.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 2009 GRADES: 7-12 ENROLMENT: 430 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: $29,450.00

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Academy for Gifted Children - P.A.C.E.

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Programming for Academic and Creative Excellence Grades SK – 12 P.A.C.E. is based on the premise that gifted children are in need of high-powered learning experiences to challenge their minds and ensure intellectual growth and achievement.

12 Bond Crescent, Richmond Hill, ON 905-773-0997 www.pace.ca

The Academy for Gifted Children - P.A.C.E. is devoted entirely to meeting the needs of identified intellectually gifted students in SK through grade 12. Through a differentiated curriculum built on greater depth and breadth of instruction, our mission is to enhance the abilities of our students, while simultaneously addressing their social and emotional needs. P.A.C.E. is based on the premise that gifted children need high-powered learning experiences to challenge their minds and ensure intellectual growth and achievement. In addition to the academic disciplines, P.A.C.E. students excel through their experiences with dynamic field studies, a competitive fine arts program, a comprehensive athletic program and a plethora of national and international competitions.

P.A.C.E. has ranked nationally in math, science, and Robotics, and in both creative and expository writing competitions. These wonderful opportunities serve as catalysts to the pursuit and achievement of our students’ future goals and successes.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1993 GRADES: SK-12 ENROLMENT: 340 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 15:1 TUITION: $15,500

ducation co : eeducation Bo Boys ys and girls gain insight fr from om each other. other.

And thr through ough our ccollaborative, ollaborative, rreal-worldeal-worldffocussed ocussed pr programme, ogramme, our entir entire e ccommunity ommunity earns and gr grows ows ttogether. ogether. llearns

2021 PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE SPECIAL FEATURE

Post City Magazines’ 32nd annual Private Education Guide features the area’s top private schools & extracurricular programs, including an easy-reference information bar containing vital details such as class size, student–teacher ratios & real tuition costs.

Bayview Glen Bayview Glen is an academically invigorating, co-educational independent school for students from age 2 to Grade 12. Situated on two closely connected campuses in North York, our vibrantly diverse community is inspired by expert teachers and fuelled by a forward thinking curriculum. Bayview Glen welcomes all students into a nurturing community that allows inquisitive minds to flourish. Our broad offering of curricular and co-curricular activities ranges from Drama to Design Thinking, Robotics to Round Square,

Music to Model United Nations, Athletics to Advanced Placement. We value collaboration, problem solving and academic risktaking to foster the entrepreneurial mindset and respect for diverse viewpoints that are essential for success in the 21st century.

Bayview Glen students graduate as compassionate cosmopolitans, fully prepared for top ranked universities at home and abroad.

Equally important, they step forth with the skills and attitudes needed to embrace and influence a world of accelerating change.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1962 GRADES: Age 2 - Grade 12

ENROLMENT: 1,000+ STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Call for details TUITION: $19,050 - $28,300

WillowWood School A co-ed independent school for diverse learners, WillowWood was founded in 1980 based on the core value that all students have a right to learn with dignity, that a warm and nurturing school can serve as a foundation for remarkable lives and that it is the whole person who matters. We have a long tradition of delivering targeted, personal education that considers each student's needs, inclinations and strengths. This individualized approach ensures that students are able to discover and embrace their strengths, address their weak-

nesses, and maintain their dignity. Classes are small, the atmosphere is warm, and the pedagogical approach is holistic. Our effective teaching strategies, enthusiastic staff members and innovative programs bring out the best in students, build self-confidence and inspire a love of learning. If your family is seeking a new style of school with a strong history of inspiring students, we’d love to meet you. Visit www.WillowWoodSchool.ca for more information and to set up your in-person or online interview and tour.

SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1980 GRADES: Foundation 1-2, 3-12

ENROLMENT: 250 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: Approx. $23,000

Age Age 2 Grade Grade 12 in Toronto T Tor oronto bayviewglen.ca bayviewglen.ca

W We’ve e’ve been bus busy y while y you ou w were ere away away!!

Greenwood College School

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 2002 GRADES: 7-12

ENROLMENT: 500 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 7:1 TUITION: $38,800

o sa ying L Looking ooking fforward orward tto saying

Welcome W eelcome back!

in Sept ember September

R Registration egistration s still till open, limit limited ed spots a available vailable

W WillowWoodSchool.ca illowWoodSchool.ca • 416 416 444-7644 444-7644

AUGUST 2021

support from the Student Success Centre.

Outside of the classroom, Greenwood offers an array of high-calibre athletics, arts and extracurricular programs. Experiential learning opportunities, including outdoor education and service learning, encourage students to find new depths of perseverance and to build connections with the broader Toronto community. When our alumni leave Greenwood, they’re ready to thrive in highly selective postsecondary programs, and to explore what excites them.

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At Greenwood, we believe every student can venture further. Our small, co-ed community allows students to feel positive and engaged each day, while our trailblazing approach to personalized education helps every student to realize their full potential. Greenwood’s teachers get to know their students not only as learners, but as people. With this foundation in place, our progressive approach to learning challenges students based on what they need to stretch themselves, whether that’s a personalized extension project or

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Metropolitan Preparatory Academy Metro Prep Academy is a semestered, co-ed, university prep school for students in Grade 7 to 12. The academics are structured and challenging yet the environment is supportive and nurturing. Faculty and administration doors are open, encouraging strong relationships with students and their families. No uniform means young men and women can express their individuality. In this setting, Metro Prep’s students are taught to trust their instincts, think both critically and creatively, ask questions and seek the help they need to succeed. Extensive athletic and extracurricular opportunities foster the physical and social potential of each child. For over 35 years, Metro Prep has been preparing children for the academic demands of university as well as teaching them the skills needed for lifelong success. In 2018, Metro Prep introduced a new specialized arts initiative, SMITH, which offers students the opportunity to explore their creative talents.

For more information, visit www.metroprep.com.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1982 GRADES: 7-12 ENROLMENT: 250 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: $23,960 - $31,500

The Sterling Hall School

WHERE BOYS BELONG

At SHS, we understand that each young boy will experience tremendous growth and change from JK to Grade 8. As elementary school specialists, we support boys in developing their interests, character strengths and leadership skills during these formative years.

We celebrate boy energy! Your son will enjoy active and foundational learning, inspired to develop his compassionate heart and capable mind through our health & community program and character education. We ensure that boys are engaged in learning, grounded in a strong foundation of literacy and numeracy, taught by dynamic teachers using proven learning strategies designed specifically for boys. Our oncampus and online learning program along with our safety first measures provide you the confidence that your son is welcomed, challenged and cared for. The Sterling Hall School is where boys belong.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1987 GRADES: JK-8 ENROLMENT: 320 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 7:1 TUITION: $31,200

The Sterling Hall School is a small-by-design school for boys where individuality and character building are celebrated and supported.

Our teachers provide innovative foundational learning geared specifically for boys. We offer a warm and inclusive community where parents are welcomed and encouraged to actively participate. And, we continue to prioritize the well-being of our community with our health and safety protocols.

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Learn how your son will be welcomed, challenged and recognized in a caring community.

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CONTACT US TODAY TO LEARN WHY YOUR SON BELONGS AT STERLING HALL.

99 Cartwright Avenue, Toronto, ON M6A 1V4 Canada | 416-785-3410 | sterlinghall.com

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

— Dorothy Parker

The Giles School Why Giles? The Giles School has over 30,000 square feet for 120 students. Our school is a deliberately small, French Immersion school that fosters an inclusive, innovative and international education. We are primed to open with plenty of space to implement rigorous safeguards at the same time as offering a strong academic program.

At Giles, your child has access to a force of talented and dedicated teachers; small classes (10-15 students maximum in each

class); a solid bilingual education in French and English; deep exposure to Mandarin and an introduction to Spanish, Arabic and Russian languages. Coding, robotics, chess, music, Model UN, all part of the curriculum.

Our students gain a global understanding of languages and culture, becoming “World Ready”.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1989 GRADES: Pre-K to Gr. 8

ENROLMENT: 110-120 students STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 6:1 TUITION: $19,900 - $23,705

Imagine a Child…

Learning to be WORLD READY: International, Innovative, & Inclusive

• Immersed in French beginning at age 2 (become bilingual in French and English) • Deep exposure to Mandarin beginning at age 6; exposure to Spanish, Arabic & Russian • Loving learning in a small class with 30,000 square feet of space

Now imagine this is your child

Join us at the Giles School for your private tour.

Call us at 416-446-0825 • www.gilesschool.ca 80 Scarsdale Rd. (near York Mills & Leslie)

Kalev Estienne Rhythmic Gymnastics Centres Rhythmic gymnastics is a beautiful Olympic sport combining elements of ballet, gymnastics, acrobatics, balance, flexibility, and apparatus. With individuals and groups competing and performing utilizing grace, skill, strength, agility, and fluidity, Rhythmic Gymnastics is the epitome of poetry in motion. There are four main apparatus that are used: the ball, hoop, ribbon and clubs.

Each movement involves a high degree of athletic skill so rhythmic gymnasts enjoy a high level of physical fitness. Gymnasts SCHOOL TYPE: Extracurricular YEAR FOUNDED: 70 years ago AGE RANGE: 4 years to adult

may compete individually at the Provincial, National, World and Olympic levels as well as AGG group competitions. This sport encourages healthy recreational development with long-term opportunities to tour the world. Beginners are welcome. We train levels from recreational up to and including Olympians. We have a special program for little kids, from 4 to 7 years old, called Butterflies. This program is focused in the development of early - age girls in rhythmic gymnastics.

ENROLMENT: Varies STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Varies TUITION: Email for details or consult website

www.kalevestienne.com

SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1980 GRADES: Foundation 1-2, 3-12

ENROLMENT: 250 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: Approx. $23,000

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”

– Anthony J. D’Angelo

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nesses, and maintain their dignity. Classes are small, the atmosphere is warm, and the pedagogical approach is holistic. Our effective teaching strategies, enthusiastic staff members and innovative programs bring out the best in students, build self-confidence and inspire a love of learning. If your family is seeking a new style of school with a strong history of inspiring students, we’d love to meet you. Visit www.WillowWoodSchool.ca for more information and to set up your in-person or online interview and tour.

AUGUST 2021

WillowWood School A co-ed independent school for diverse learners, WillowWood was founded in 1980 based on the core value that all students have a right to learn with dignity, that a warm and nurturing school can serve as a foundation for remarkable lives and that it is the whole person who matters. We have a long tradition of delivering targeted, personal education that considers each student's needs, inclinations and strengths. This individualized approach ensures that students are able to discover and embrace their strengths, address their weak-

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LOOKING BACK Before you go...take a gander at these five historic events from Augusts of years past AUGUST 2021 EDITION

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Toronto’s first ever airplane crash occurred in August of 1911 during an aviation meet at Donlands Farm. The plane was a biplane with 7-cylinder Gnome rotary engine, flown by J. A. D. McCurdy.

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Toronto’s first Caribana festival (now Toronto Caribbean Carnival), which is still TBD this year, was held on Aug. 5, 1967, and has been a cherished part of the city ever since.

Wellesley Hospital Homewood Place was opened by the Duke of Connaught, governor general of Canada, on Aug. 27, 1912. Sir Wilfrid Laurier can be seen in the centre of the group, Dr. Herbert Bruce, the hospital's founder, is on the far left.

On Aug. 15, 1974, the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo opened its gates for the first time, becoming one of the largest public zoos in the world.

Canada’s Vicki Keith arrives on shore after swimming across Lake Ontario, the last of all five Great Lakes that she swam, setting a record on Aug. 30, 1988.

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