Bayview Post April 2025

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Earth Day in a world of tyrants and crooks

This month marks the 55th Earth Day, but things are different this time around. Now, our planet seems to have taken a back seat to everything.

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What happened? Well, a misguided reality TV star–cum-politician has decided nothing matters beyond the pursuit of the all-mighty dollar.

So what do we do about it?

Decades ago, when I was protesting for environmental protection, one of the arguments was that we shouldn’t destroy these natural resources that took hundreds of years or longer to grow just to ship overseas or south of the border to turn into cheap products. We should invest in value-added manufacturing and make things here.

We were anti-globalism because free trade agreements had a way of circumventing environmental regulations and other

protections in our country, including good union jobs. The theory was that it would erode sovereignty and make us more economically reliant on America and other countries.

We read books like Small is Beautiful that said unchecked economic growth at the expense of everything else would lead to our ruin.

A smart person once said to think globally but act locally. I think that is truer now than ever before. We can’t take our eyes off of what is happening, but we can concentrate on the decisions we make every day: transportation, food, recreation, our clothes and from which faraway land they are shipped.

Finally, we need to understand that infinite growth is not possible in a finite world. Something has to give.

—Ron Johnson

Toronto’s King of Creep back with ‘The Shrouds’

David Cronenberg on his new film, childhood cinema and the importance of a good laugh

Toronto filmmaker David Cronenberg is back this month with his latest film, The Shrouds. It’s a film, out April 25, that combines cutting-edge technology, burials, grief, conspiracy theories and, yes, love. Here’s our interview:

Am I crazy or does the lead actor (Vincent Cassell) bear a striking resemblance to you?

Well, I have to stress that I did not cast Vincent Cassell because of his hair. It does look a little like mine, but really, when you look at Vincent carefully, you'll see that he looks nothing like me. But there is, it's true, a sort of a weird resemblance.

What inspired the film originally, and how personal a story is it for you?

Well, certainly, I wouldn't have made this if my wife of 43 years hadn't died in 2017. So definitely it was my response to that, and my dealing with that was the genesis of the project. But then once you establish that, it becomes something else. As soon as you start writing it, it becomes fiction.

OK, so it wasn’t too hard to handle for you once you turn the cameras on?

POST INTERVIEW CITY HACKS

lived in Toronto, so it was very exciting for me to be able to shoot the film here and have it be a Toronto-based movie with various restaurants and things. There's even a scene at a restaurant, and across the road you can see out the window is the Royal Cinema, which was, under the name the Pylon, my childhood cinema, and I would go there every Saturday and watch movies.

Does the film reflect any of your own beliefs in terms of religion and atheism?

My lead character is basically, yes, he’s an atheist, he's an existentialist, and he makes that very clear and that his interest in burial in religions is basically because he is introducing a new kind of burial, and that is always inevitably connected with various cultures and various religions.

“FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THE MOVIE IS FUNNY. I THINK ALL OF MY MOVIES ARE FUNNY.”

Despite the fact that there are some very potent emotional scenes in the movie, for me, it's not suddenly like I should be curled up in a ball in the corner. It's technical. You know, you're worried about the lighting, the sound, the framing, what lens are you using. And so there's distance. However passionate you are about the project, you need distance to create the art.

Tell us about some of the personal elements incorporated into the film. The people that I might have cannibalized for the characters, I will say nothing. But, yes, it's a very Toronto movie. I've always

What are you hoping people take from the film?

First of all, I think the movie's funny. I think all of my movies are funny. If Torontonians don't get the humour, then I don't know who will. So there's that. It's my approach to life. Without humour, I don't know how we would possibly exist in this world.

I caught your daughter Caitlin’s first feature last year. How does it feel to have three filmmakers in the family? Fantastic. Well, yeah, even my oldest daughter, Cassandra, has actually made a movie as well (so, four). So it feels just very comfortable and inevitable. I knew that Cate would do that. I mean, she was always a photographer right from a very young age. She has a great eye, and she has a great sense of drama, so I wasn't surprised to see that she could handle it.

—Ron Johnson

Here’s what savvy locals need to know about finding a public toilet in the city.

Spring is here, the grass has riz, but do you know where a public washroom is? Here are a few tips:

GoHere

This washroom locator app was developed by Crohn’s and Colitis Canada to show available public toilets.

GottaGoTO Toronto Public Space Committee, which has done incredible work on the washroom advocacy front, also offers a searchable Google Maps–based washroom locator. The group is also initiating a public toilet design competition underway right now, dubbed TOtheLoo.

Hotel lobbies

Fresh from a downtown commute at Union Station and nature’s call has turned to a shriek, a little birdie told us the lobby bathroom at the Royal York is one of the finest in town. Shh.

L-R: Filmmaker David Cronenberg, Vincent Cassell in ‘The Shrouds’

ROBOT HEADS

William Nylander is set to suit up for the Maple Leafs for another Stanley Cup run. Meanwhile, sports icon Serena Williams announced a move into the local sports world taking a stake in new WNBA team the Toronto Tempo. Which Will wins?

William Nylander Canada

Hockey Player

Willy Styles

Nylander signed an eight-year, $92 million extension, making him the team’s highest-paid player in history.

Nylander has played with the Leafs since 2016 but has never made it past the second round of the playoffs.

The Leafs will return to the NHL playoffs this month, and the first games are scheduled for April 19.

The coolest in art exhibitions to hit the city in April, from Warhol to Art Battles.

Greatest Tennis Player Ever

Pop Art: Andy Warhol: Factory Made is set to arrive at Taglialatella Galleries Toronto on April 10, offering a rare glimpse into the life and work of the iconic pop art pioneer. The exhibition showcases a dazzling collection of Warhol's most famous pieces, including Campbell's Soup Cans (1968), Flowers (1970) and Marilyn Monroe (1967), as well as many other works.

Infinity and Beyond!: After a wildly successful show a few years ago, the Art Gallery of Ontario will open acclaimed is new permanent work by pop art provocateur Yayoi Kusama. The immersive installation Infinity Mirrored Room – Let’s Survive Forever will debut on April 5.

Art Battle: Experience the frenetic energy of Art Battle Toronto on April 22, at the Great Hall! Watch as talented artists compete in a high-speed showdown, creating stunning works of art in just minutes.

Williams was the world's highest paid woman athlete in 2016, earning almost $29

Willams has won the Canadian Open in Toronto three times, in 2001, 2011, 2013, and loves the city.

Williams joined the Toronto Tempo ownership group last month. The team will join the WNBA in 2026.

Actor Matthew Gray Gubler (‘Criminal Minds’) was spotted outside the University of Toronto’s Victoria College campus while filming a scene for the upcoming series

sPotted: UNiversity oF toroNto camPUs, march 18:

Andy Warhol exhibition

Bye Americano, Buy Canadian-Oh

The city is going local to combat the economic threat posed by the United States and, in particular, its bombastic leader. Torontonians, as well as political leaders, are finding new and creative ways to express their anti-American sentiments by doing everything from rebranding Americano coffees as Canadianos to removing American bourbon from LCBO shelves, to booing the

American anthem at sporting events. Anything Canadian is being adorned with a maple leaf for easy recognition, and it is only the beginning. Looking for a silver economic lining? It could actually be a boon for our beloved indie businesses who had found it tough to compete with American franchises and online mammoths, from fast food to fast fashion.

Clockwise from top left: Wayne Gretzky isn’t immune from anti-American sentiment, Canadianos are the new thing, and made-in-Canada products are all the rage

The law is clear: Police are not allowed to endorse politicians

Here’s some city news to take your mind off the chaos and confusion Donald Trump is causing Canadians and the rest of the world. But this city news is not comforting.

On Feb. 18, in the midst of the provincial election, and just a day after after the leaders' debate, the Toronto Police Association, as well as the Police Association of Ontario and the Ontario Provincial Police Association, publicly endorsed Doug Ford on social media.

The law is very clear that police are prohibited from endorsing candidates in an election: in a democracy police cannot be partisan. Regulation 402/23 under the Community Safety and Policing Act states the prohibition clearly.

Section 6 of the regulation reads: “If authorized to do so by the chief of police … a police officer may, on behalf of a police service, express views on any issue, as long as the police officer does not, during an election campaign, express views supporting or opposing a candidate in the election or a political party.”

Fifteen years ago, after the police association had been engaged in a flurry of election endorsements, the

Toronto Police Service Board “adopted the proposition that Members of the Toronto Police Association and/or its Executive are subject to the Police Services Act and its Regulations and are, therefore, like every municipal police officer, prohibited from endorsing or opposing candidates in an election.”

Toronto Police Service Board maintains that although members of the Toronto Police Association’s executive are on leave from the force, they remain bound by the Police Services Act’s Code of Conduct and the authority of the chief of police.

The board emphasizes that police officers, including association members, are prohibited from endorsing or opposing political candidates, and the chief is responsible for reinforcing this policy at the start of each election campaign. Any violations will result in disciplinary action.

When asked what the Toronto Police Service Board has done about this endorsement, the chair of the board, city councillor Shelley Carroll, washed her hands of the issue.

“The Board is aware of the endorsement made by the Toronto Po-

New report exposes dangerous lead levels in Toronto schools

We've known for decades that lead is toxic and particularly dangerous for children, so why is it still showing up in drinking water tests at Ontario schools?

There is no safe level of exposure to lead. Even at very low levels of exposure, lead can impact children’s developing brains, causing decreased IQ, decreased attention span, motor skill weaknesses and behavioural problems.

The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) used publicly available data to rank the 15 public school boards and schools with the highest number of water tests that exceeded the provincial limit on lead.

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) ranks third in the province. Other Toronto-area school boards made the list, including the York Catholic and York Region District School Boards, which ranked seventh and 12th.

lice Association. The Board does not have the authority to discipline police officers. The Board’s policy on political activity was created under the Police Services Act. In light of the enactment of the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, the Board is currently reviewing the policy.”

Regulations adopted by the police board in the past continue to apply to the Toronto Police Services Board under the 2019 legislation. You would think the board would ask the chief of police, Myron Demkiw, whether he had begun disciplinary action as required by the Board policy, but who knows whether that has happened. Chief Demkiw has not responded to a request to indicate what if anything he is doing.

Living in a city with a politicized police force favouring one political party is hardly reassuring. The Police Service Board and Chief Demkiw need to show some leadership on this basic principle of democracy.

The average TDSB school is approximately 60 years old, meaning they were built before lead plumbing components were phased out. For nearly 20 years, Ontario’s regulation aimed at preventing lead exposure in schools and child care facilities has allowed for old lead infrastructure to be left in place after it is found. Instead of prioritizing effective solutions, such as removing lead or installing a filter, the regulation allows for the use of outdated band-aid measures, such as flushing water through a problem tap or fountain once daily. School boards are following the rules laid out by the province, but the status quo isn’t good enough.

Lead is not a problem that is going to get better with time. Aging infrastructure, rising temperatures and changes to drinking water chemistry are all factors that cause the lead components to release more lead into the water than they did before.

School boards deserve to have access to the resources they need to keep their schools in good condition and their community safe. The provincial government has a clear responsibility to make sure public schools are safe and healthy learning environments.

Despite lacking adequate support from the province, there are steps that we can take now to protect school children and advocate for change.

Community members and school board officials can help by clearly stating their support for getting lead out of schools and making it clear to the province that they want dedicated funding to make this happen. School boards can voluntarily take steps to improve transparency by posting all lead test results online and, where feasible, adopt the most recent best practices for preventing exposure when lead is found.

Premier Doug Ford was endorsed by multiple police associations including in Toronto

JULIE MUTIS is a Community Outreach Worker with Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA).

JOHN SEWELL is a former mayor of Toronto.

The Crosstown LRT might actually open

Although TTC chair Jamaal Myers previously hinted that June 1 would be the “earliest possible date” for the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, it looks like Torontonians will have to wait a few months longer.

More than a decade after construction began on the beleaguered line, anonymous sources have confirmed with local media that the longawaited transit project will likely welcome transit riders this September 2025 — barring any further delays.

One media report suggested that these sources would be shocked “if there’s an eleventhhour problem,” given the recent history of how construction and testing have progressed. The 25station 19-kilometre transit line was supposed to open in 2020, but technical problems and cost overruns have delayed its opening.

In September 2024, Metrolinx announced that it had been holding detailed Operational Readiness Control Room meetings to ensure the LRT’s proper alignment across all business units and with the TTC. In these meetings, teams collaborated to identify opportunities to condense time scales for the project and address emerging

challenges.

Metrolinx has also been hosting readiness testing through “Day-In-The-Life tabletop exercises,” which involve team members simulating a day-inthe-life of operating the LRT. As Post previously reported, it appears that the agency wants to iron out all the kinks to avoid a premature opening, perhaps to prevent it from turning into a disaster like the Ottawa LRT system.

Ottawa’s $2.1 billion Confederation Line has been plagued with problems, like premature wear and tear of the LRT’s wheel assemblies, problems running during ice storms, persistent water leaking, delays, etc. At one point, the city ran without LRT service for nearly two months in the fall of 2021.

Once operational, the Crosstown LRT will link to TTC Line 1 at both Yonge station and further west at Cedarvale station and also connect with three GO stations and 54 bus routes. It will include 25 stops between Kennedy station in the east and Mount Dennis station in the west, spanning 19 kilometres (with more than 10 kilometres running underground). It will also run up to 60 per cent faster than current travel times.

—Nisean Lorde

The long-awaited rapid transit line could open by September

Redevelopment coming for one of Canada’s oldest retail plazas

Toronto’s Lawrence Plaza — considered one of Canada's original retail plazas — could get a massive makeover in the coming years. The plaza has been a cornerstone of the Lawrence Avenue East and Bathurst Street neighbourhood for more than 70 years, and now the site is about to undergo a redevelopment.

Developer RioCan released preliminary plans at an open house on March 18, marking the beginning of a “phased development” designed to energize the area, catering to both returning and new retailers and transforming the site into a “vibrant, mixed-use community.”

The redevelopment vision includes a mix of residential housing, retail spaces and significant public realms, such as a new public park and a pedestrianfriendly streetscape that “connects with the surrounding community and amenities.”

Although the project is still in its early stages, its phased approach will ensure that the retail plaza remains operational and “supports the success of its businesses throughout the process.”

One of the longest-running and most popular tenants of the plaza is Camp Connection, a one-stop shop for everything camp related.

Bryan Gerber, owner of Camp Connection, explained that the threat of redevelopment has loomed large at the very busy plaza for years.

“The plaza was going to be redeveloped 30 or 35 years ago under Murray Frum, and that's when they did some redevelopment on the plaza lands that were on the north, the south and to the west,” he said. “So it's been a cloud hanging over my head for the last 30-odd years.”

“It’s been a cloud hanging over my head for the last 30-odd years.”

When plaza owner Milestone Group sold a portion to RioCan to handle the redevelopment project there, Gerber knew a redevelopment plan was coming, but he figures it will be at least five years before anyone puts a shovel in the ground.

The property, nestled at 534 Lawrence Ave. W., spans 10 acres at the northwest corner of Lawrence and Bathurst and has serviced the Lawrence Manor neighbourhood since 1953, making it Toronto’s first suburban shopping centre.

The plaza currently has retail stores on the first floor with offices on the second floor (except for a two-level building on the corner, originally occupied by Morgan's). The site is home to more than 50 stores and services, such as Winners, Metro, TD Canada Trust, Scotiabank, CIBC, LCBO, the Shoe Company and Shoppers Drug Mart. Notably, since 1986, it’s been home to United Bakers Dairy Restaurant — Toronto's oldest family restaurant and a Toronto tradition since 1912 (leading some to request that it receives heritage protection).

As for Gerber, he would never say no outright to returning, but given the business is already 25 per cent online and a lengthy construction period, returning to Lawrence Plaza is unlikely. Though, Gerber stressed, the store will remain open now and for the foreseeable future.

“We were an establishment here at Lawrence Plaza, and we will just have to learn to be an establishment somewhere else, right?” he said.

As for next steps — RioCan will submit a planning application to the City of Toronto by this spring.

—Nisean Lorde

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Change is on the way for Lawrence Plaza, the city’s oldest shopping centre

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A new theatre just opened near Yorkville

Toronto’s artistic community has a new home with today’s grand opening of the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre. The new venue, developed through a collaboration between Tapestry Opera, Nightwood Theatre, and St. Clare’s Housing Society, aims to provide accessible and affordable space for artists amidst the city’s growing challenges of high living costs and scarce rehearsal and performance areas.

Located at 877 Yonge St., in the lower level of a St. Clare’s Housing building, the Centre is positioned within walking distance of five diverse neighbourhoods and two major TTC subway stations.

The roots of the project can trace back to 2002, when Nightwood Theatre and Tapestry Opera first established themselves as residents of Artscape Distillery District.

In 2022, the closure of their space forced more than 70 artists and organizations to relocate, stripping the performing arts community of valuable office and studio spaces.

In response, the two organizations joined forces with St. Clare’s Housing to repurpose a social housing space into a vibrant new artistic venue.

“Finding a home and a sense

of belonging is vital in these challenging times, not only for Nightwood Theatre and Tapestry Opera, but for the many artists and audiences that will walk through the doors at the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre,” says Andrea Donaldson, artistic director of Nightwood Theatre.

“We need spaces in Toronto that intentionally reach out for people to gather, that allow for creative dreaming, bold action, and courageous expression.”

The venue will serve as a home for resident companies Tapestry Opera and Nightwood Theatre, featuring a range of performances in many disciplines as well as artist residencies, and community workshops. A special focus will be placed on equity-deserving artists, ensuring a broad and inclusive artistic representation.

Programming will include theatre, opera, dance, and other boundary-pushing works.

The Centre’s inaugural season kicks off with the Launch Concert with Tapestry and Friends on March 22, followed by Where the Spirits Sit, a Nightwood Theatre workshop production from April 3–5, featuring multi-disciplinary artist Tamara Podemski.

Ron Johnson

The team behind the new Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre

Photo: Dahlia Katz

Summerhill glow up: Massive gym and Olympic pool on the way

A new recreation centre is coming to Toronto’s Rosedale community.

The Ramsden Park Community Recreation Centre will be nestled at 1020 Yonge St., immediately to the west of Rosedale subway station and conveniently accessible near Yonge Street and Belmont Avenue (by the site of the now defunct Green P parking facility, Car Park 269).

Visitors can expect an aquatics centre with a six-lane, 25-metre pool and leisure pool; a gymnasium equipped with a running track; and multi-use activity spaces. The centre will also offer Wi-Fi access throughout and is being designed to meet accessibility and net zero emissions targets.

For the new Ramsden Park Community Recreation Centre, the project kickoff event was scheduled for late March.

“The objective of the launch is to educate the public about the project, the design process for the community recreation centre and the proposed community engagement plan,” said Alexandra Dinsmore, a City of Toronto spokesperson. “The event will help set the stage and build excitement for these initiatives and foster the spirit of collaboration.”

The event was to feature remarks from the project team and city councillor, presentations on the design process and a report on emerging themes.

“The launch will ideally drive engagement participation, which is key to the success of this initiative,” Dinsmore added.

The project will involve three main phases of community engagement spanning, from spring of this year to summer

“It’s a big picture statement that should inspire everyone.”

2026. Right now, the city is searching for a design team, but the next step involves working with the community and project advisory groups to guide the development of the project. For locals looking for more info about the project, the city is inviting residents to attend a project kickoff event.

“The vision [for the facility] is co-created with the community to describe the ideal future community recreation

centre,” the project’s mandate states. “It is a big-picture statement that should inspire everyone toward a common understanding of the project’s overall goals and objectives.”

In addition to committee meetings, the city will gather public input through Indigenous sharing circles, online surveys, in-person pop-up events and open houses.

Construction on the centre is expected to start in spring 2027, with the opening targeted for summer 2030 (of course, this timeline is flexible based on community feedback and design development).

Other construction projects in the area that are near completion include accessibility improvements to Rosedale subway station and replacing the Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge (across the Rosedale Valley Ravine) and pedestrian tunnel under Bloor Street East.

These projects are expected to be complete by this spring to mid 2025. In addition, Avenue Road improvements already underway are scheduled to include a new pedestrian entryway to Ramsden park.

—Nisean Lorde

A parking lot beside Ramsden Park will be transformed into a community centre

SPRIN O NG INT CAKE!

A midtown beauty spot, pickleball courts & more

WellÜ Inc has launched in Summerhill, becoming the neighbourhood’s latest destination for wellness and personal care. Offering an extensive selection of services that include medical grade facials, microneedling, naturopathy, botox and brow and lash treatments, the new space at 396 Summerhill Ave. is beautifully designed to be the ultimate relaxing sanctuary.

Fara Beauty Lounge has recently opened its doors at 1618 Bayview Ave. The new hair salon is bringing a new beauty experience to the Leaside neighbourhood. Visitors to the grand opening in March applauded the friendly and warm staff and impressive decor.

Isabella’s Mochi Donuts, Uncle Tetsu, Jerk King and Bourbon St. Grill are all opening at Yonge Eglinton Centre soon. Isabella’s Mochi Donuts have taken Toronto by storm with its inventive flavours. Known for its freshbaked, airy cheesecakes, Uncle Testu will also be joining the mall, along with Caribbean grill chain Jerk King and popular Cajun- and Creole-inspired chain Bourbon St. Grill.

Granny Fish Soup recently opened in the North York

neighbourhood, and the restaurant is said to be “Toronto’s firstever Mao La Guo sour soup hotpot!” Specializing in fish soup and chicken soup featuring authentic ingredients, patrons can customize their soup experience with toppings ranging from quail eggs to crispy bean curd rolls. You can visit the restaurant at 5315 Yonge St.

Xihe YaYuan Peking Duck is new to North York. The restaurant specializes in Peking duck, roasted using the hanging oven technique and resulting in crispy skin, tender meat and a delicious aroma. Already being praised by some as the best in the GTA, the spot at 7 Byng Ave. mainly does takeout and delivery.

HiSports has opened a new location in Vaughan. Featuring professional indoor pickleball courts, clinics, lessons, leagues and tournaments, the Vaughan facilities boast 11 dedicated courts, high ceilings, and some of the top players and coaches in Canada. Pickleball fans can sign up for a membership and visit the new space at 8301 Keele St.

L–R: Jessica Quimbayo and Samantha Hernandez, founders of WellÜ

BREAK-INS BY NEIGHBOURHOOD

This month 29% of break-ins were from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., 51% from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 20% from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.

MAR. 5 7 P.M. IVOR RD. AND COLE MILLWAY

MAR. 7 10 A.M. LONGMORE ST. AND NORTON AVE.

MAR. 7 8 P.M. WILFRED AVE. AND HILLCREST AVE.

MAR. 8 2 P.M. YONGE ST. AND HARLANDALE AVE.

MAR. 2 6 P.M. PATRICIA AVE. AND CHELMSFORD AVE.

MAR. 4 1 A.M. YONGE ST. AND ANNDALE AVE.

MAR. 7 10 A.M. BLAKE AVE. AND ALTAMONT RD.

MAR. 7 1 P.M. KENTON DR. AND CHARLTON BLVD.

MAR. 10 5 P.M. HILDA AVE. AND PLEASANT AVE.

MAR. 12 4 P.M. YEOMAN’S RD. AND MCALLISTER RD.

MAR. 1 2 A.M. CASTLEWOOD RD. AND ROSELAWN AVE.

MAR. 1 3 A.M. EGLINTON AVE. W. AND ORIOLE PKWY.

MAR. 1 3 A.M. BATHURST ST. AND ROSELAWN AVE.

MAR. 3 7 A.M. ST. CLAIR AVE. W. AND DEER PARK CRES.

MAR. 5 5 P.M. AVENUE RD. AND LYTTON BLVD.

MAR. 5 10 P.M. RUSSELL HILL RD. AND FRYBROOK RD.

MAR. 6 12 A.M. ST. CLAIR AVE. W. AND FOREST HILL RD.

MAR. 6 7 A.M. CHAPLIN CRES. AND WARREN RD.

MAR. 7 7 P.M. DALE AVE. AND GLEN RD.

MAR. 10 7 P.M. YONGE ST. AND GIBSON AVE.

MAR. 12 1 A.M. YONGE ST. AND ROXBOROUGH ST. W.

MAR. 14 9 P.M. EDMUND AVE. AND EDMUND GATE

MAR. 15 1 P.M. CHICORA AVE. AND AVENUE RD.

MAR. 1 7 A.M. BROADWAY AVE. AND BRENTCLIFFE RD.

MAR. 2 4 P.M. YONGE ST. AND ALCORN AVE.

MAR. 3 1 P.M. BAYVIEW AVE. AND GLAZEBROOK AVE.

MAR. 3 3 P.M. DUDLEY AVE. AND ELMWOOD AVE.

MAR. 4 10 A.M. ROEHAMPTON AVE. AND BANFF RD.

MAR. 7 7 A.M. EGLINTON AVE. E. AND SUTHERLAND DR.

MAR. 8 1 A.M. YONGE ST. AND HELENDALE AVE.

MAR. 8 12 P.M. YONGE ST. AND KEEWATIN AVE.

MAR. 9 6 P.M. GLEN ELM AVE. AND ALVIN AVE.

MAR. 10 10 P.M. MOUNT PLEASANT RD. AND BALLIOL ST.

MAR. 12 5 P.M. MOUNT PLEASANT RD. AND MERTON ST.

MAR. 15 8 P.M. AYLMER AVE. AND SEVERN ST.

MAR. 4 7 P.M. THORNBANK RD. AND OAKBANK RD.

MAR. 7 7 P.M. LANGTRY PL. AND FLAMINGO RD.  MAR. 8 9 P.M. RAYMOND DR. AND THORNRIDGE DR.

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SEBASTIAN CLOVIS

THE HOME NETWORK HOST

Co-Host, Home Network Canada;

Principal, Clovis Contracting

BRAD LAMB THE CONDO KING

President, Brad J. Lamb Realty and Lamb Development Corp.

BARRY COHEN

THE SALES PRO

President, RE/MAX Realtron Barry Cohen Homes Inc.

SALIMA RAWJI THE CITY BUILDER

President and CEO, York University Development Corporation

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN THE DESIGNER

Principal, Gluckstein Design; Author

ADRIAN ROCCA THE MODERN LANDLORD Founder and CEO, Fitzrovia

MICHAEL KALLES THE BROKER

President, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Brokerage

BENJAMIN TAL THE BANKER

Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC World Markets Inc.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROTMAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

AMANDA LANG THE JOURNALIST Host, Taking Stock, CTV

KORTNEY WILSON THE MASTER OF FLIP Realtor; Co-host, Making It Home

REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE

Our 18th annual unscripted & unrehearsed discussion with 10 housing experts on the city’s favourite spring topic.

Special thanks to our incredible sponsors Fitzrovia and The RE/MAX Collection.

SECTION ONE: MARKET UPDATE

POST: As we do each year, we will kick things off with an update on the economy and interest rates from the country's top real estate economist, Benjamin Tal.

BENJAMIN TAL: Let me start by noting that the fact that Trump is Trump does not mean that he's wrong on everything. He's not wrong on the border. Every country needs a secure border, and the border with Mexico is not secure. He's not wrong on defense spending. The U.S. has been subsidizing NATO, including Canada, on defense spending. We have to change it. And he's not wrong on China. China hasn't been playing fair. So now, let's establish what's going on.

To understand Trump is really to try to understand what's in his head. Everything that we need to know about Trump is in the name. His name — T is for tariffs and taxes, R is for regulations. Now, I had a problem with the U, but then U and M — undocumented migrants. And the P is protectionism. It's all in the name. So now, how can we read Trump? And how can we interpret what he's doing?

At the end of the day, I'm not sure that they know exactly why they are using tariffs as a tool, but they can do it. By the way, it's very important to understand that, according to the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the power to impose tariffs, not the president. The president has the power only in cases of national emer-

gency. And now, all of a sudden, everything under the sun is a national emergency. Not enough toilet paper: national emergency.

For the next few months, for sure, it will be chaotic. The market will go down. The stock market will go down. The bond market will react. There will be a lot of volatility. But what's reasonable? We have to remember one thing: Trump appears to be unstoppable. But Trump has his kryptonite. What I mean by that is he has vulnerabilities.

21 million barrels of oil per day. They produce 13 million per day. They buy eight million per day. Most of it is coming from us. If there is a tariff on our energy, their gasoline prices will go up significantly. The consumer will feel it. His base will feel it immediately. So that's another vulnerability.

Another vulnerability is inflation. He was criticizing Biden-Harris about the cost of living. Tariffs are inflationary. If you impose a 25 per cent tariff, inflation will go up significantly. And then you

“I SEE THE BANK OF CANADA CUTTING INTEREST RATES TO ABOUT 2.25 PER CENT, MAYBE TWO PER CENT, HELPING THE HOUSING MARKET THAT WILL BE STRUGGLING OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS DURING THIS PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY.” — BENJAMIN TAL

POST: What vulnerabilities?

BENJAMIN TAL: Vulnerability number one is the stock market. Trump cannot have a situation in which, under his watch, the stock market is falling. He's always using the stock market as a barometer of success. If he's going to impose all those tariffs, the stock market will go down. It's not a coincidence that a month ago he extended the deadline by one month when the stock market was down by 2.5 per cent. So the stock market is a barometer, and the stock market is a vulnerability: one thing.

Gasoline prices. He cannot have a situation in which, under his watch, gasoline prices go up. Now, the U.S. consumes

don't have time because, if there is a longterm gain, it takes a while to be felt. But the short-term pain is immediate. The inflation story is immediate. And he doesn't have time because the midterm election is in two years from now. And then you have inflation, and the Fed will have to raise interest rates. Trump wants to see lower interest rates, which means that you will have a conflict between Trump and the Fed, which is the last thing the stock market would like to see; back to vulnerability number one.

So what I'm saying here, he appears to be very confident that he can do whatever he wants, but he cannot. This is just a tactic. This is just a negotiation tool. I think that the ultimate goal is to renegotiate the

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). It's supposed to reopen in 2026. He wants to open it in 2025, and he will do whatever it takes to tell us what he wants.

So the next few months will be chaotic. The market will go crazy. But I believe that the fog will clear six months from now. By the end of the year, we will know where we are. We are going to renegotiate the USMCA. The Bank of Canada will help us. I see the Bank of Canada cutting interest rates to about 2.25 per cent, maybe two per cent, helping the housing market that will be struggling over the next few weeks and months during the period of uncertainty. At the end of the day, the sky is not falling. It's looking very bad now, and I admit it is scary. But remember, he is not a superhero. He has vulnerabilities, and those vulnerabilities will be very, very evident in the near future. That's the worst of the situation. So you can smile.

POST: Amanda, we know buying a home is based on confidence, and you interview a lot of CEOs. So, what's the general feel on confidence in the business world right now? Are they pulling back?

AMANDA LANG: Something I've been thinking about a lot lately in the context of Trump and his impact on us is that we need to keep our circle of worry inside our circle of control. It's not a new saying, but it's been important to me because worrying about things that are existential and well

PANELLISTS SPILL THE TEA

Worst place you’ve ever lived?

BARRY: My grandparents’ basement when we first moved to Toronto.

SEBASTIAN: I had a large family growing up, my bedroom was off the kitchen. It smelled like curry at all times.

KORTNEY: I lived in a place with no heat when I first moved to Nashville to save a little money.

Worst real estate mistake you’ve made?

BARRY: Didn’t buy enough of it.

SEBASTIAN: Buying a condo in Surrey, B.C. when I lived in Toronto.

KORTNEY: Buying high right before the recession.

BRAD: Buying any development sites between 2020 and 2022.

BRIAN: Not buying buildings I hesitated on.

ADRIAN: Removing all of the bathtubs at my first rental building, The Selby.

AMANDA: I’ve never made a real estate mistake.

Decorating trend that needs to die?

BARRY: White. The white’s gotta go.

SEBASTIAN: Builder beige.

KORTNEY: Shiplap needs to die.

BRAD: No more bronze. No more brass.

BRIAN: Doing an entire apartment floor in shiny, white porcelain tile.

AMANDA: Throw pillows, too many throw pillows!

Next hot neighbourhood?

BARRY: Anywhere there is infill housing.

SEBASTIAN: Wherever I am.

KORTNEY: Can Canada be my neighbourhood?

BRAD: In T.O. every neighbourhood is hot.

BRIAN: I love the Annex.

ADRIAN: King East.

AMANDA: The urban core, so GTA.

beyond our control isn't helpful. You can look at the numbers, the GTA numbers for the Toronto real estate data for February, to see that's not working very well for a lot of Canadians. There is a loss of confidence. There is worry out there. People are on the sidelines. They don't know what to do. In the first Trump administration, we saw businesses sitting on cash and not investing.

But the difference this time is our government is in a different frame of mind. Governments, every provincial government and the federal government, whoever is in charge after the next election, doesn't matter. The frame of mind is different. We're a little more focused. We're working together better. And I would say, what's in their circle of control? Well, a whole bunch of things that have nothing to do with tariffs. The biggest part of our economy is service industries. By the way, our housing shortage is still with us, and it's, you know, yes, deeply affected in some parts by tariffs. A lumber war would not be a good thing. But we can be going full steam ahead on infrastructure, on construction, on new building, on cutting red tape, on cutting regulations, on speeding up development. All of those things are in our control.

SECTION TWO: DETACHED HOMES

POST: With detached home inventory increasing, are sellers being forced to lower prices, or are they holding firm in hopes of a market rebound?

BARRY COHEN: Well, we see it every day. People are dropping prices, but it's generally in the lower price range. They're a little more susceptible to the market conditions and the fears and the chatter about tariffs and elections and everything else. And I can tell you the bad weather hasn't helped us at all. And you see that in February. But when you move into the upper range, you know, the $3 million to $5 million, I think people are taking a wait-and-see approach. And then, when you work your way up the real estate food chain, it's very obvious. The uber-rich are sitting on the side. If the home is compelling, they’re buying; otherwise, they want to have an oppor-

tunity to buy it at 90 cents on the dollar next year. But that hasn't happened, right?

POST: Kortney, over to you. With tariffs and Trump heavy on everyone’s mind, it’s great to have you on this panel. What are you seeing in the detached market right now?

KORTNEY WILSON: Well, first of all, you all are so smart, and I just feel so grateful to be on this panel with all of you. So thank you. I live in Nashville, Tennessee. So a lot of the expertise that I have is contained to that market, and we are somewhat isolated being sort of the NashVegas of the south. But I actually agree. I think it's relative. It's affecting my lower listings more than anything. However, home prices are up by a long shot in this first quarter already, where we are. And I think it's because people have been sitting. They locked in really low, historically low. What I'm seeing currently is

“WE NEED TO KEEP OUR CIRCLE OF WORRY INSIDE OUR CIRCLE OF CONTROL. THAT’S NOT TARIFFS; IT’S CONSTRUCTION, CUTTING RED TAPE, SPEEDING UP DEVELOPMENT.”

—AMANDA LANG

that people are ready to take the plunge, even if that means breaking even. I'm not seeing people in Nashville take a huge hit because, again, they've locked in at historically low prices or interest rates of three per cent. And now, we're at six and a half. What I am seeing, however, is I've had three people in the last week in Nashville call me about selling everything in Nashville and moving their real estate ventures to another country, one being Canada. If I had a nickel for every time in the last month somebody has asked me about immigration or immigration into Canada! I'm a dual citizen, born in Canada. So that's been interesting for me there.

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: When Barry was talking about the buyers — you know, we deal with an affluent buyer base — and they are feeling there are some deals out there, which are not significant, but the big thing we're seeing right now is the clients are asking, what is the cost

going to be to renovate these houses based on the tariffs? So that's giving them a pause. They're not not doing it, but they're now asking us, how much will the appliances cost? How much will the plumbing fixtures cost? How much will the materials cost that are made in the United States? How significant is that going to be in a difference to the renovation that was done a year ago? So they're not stopping the process, but they're slowing the process down because of this caution and uncertainty. We're trying to tell them there are certain products that we'll buy not from the United States. So we'll buy appliances from Germany. We'll buy stone and tiles from Spain and Italy. We're looking at plumbing fixtures from Europe. We're asking our vendors, does the product now come through the United States? A lot of it came to the United States, to the distribution centres, and then came up to Canada. We don't want to do that anymore. So we're telling our vendors, we want a direct ship from Europe. And we're working on that now, and the vendors are coming to us with that information. And it's the best way to do it anyway because we're paying duty into the United States and then duty into Canada. So in the long run, I think this is going to be a long-term effect in the way we renovate these houses and buy the product.

POST: Barry, can we follow up a bit on the luxury market? You were saying the luxury market here in Toronto has remained basically the most stable or the most resilient. Is that just because those buyers have money that they can count on?

BARRY COHEN: It is resilient in the higher end because they can afford to wait, right? — if there's an opportunity. But when we actually look at last year, and it was a very quiet year, the year started off with one sale over $7.5 million for the first two months compared to this year where there's already been six. And then we went through all of last year with virtually no uber high-end sales, right? And when you got to about the last quarter of the year, I think everybody got comfortable with the new land transfer tax. That was the theme last year, the land transfer tax. So, by the last quarter, we were selling real estate. As a matter of fact, we were laughing on the first week of January. I wrote a

memo to my team saying, “Hey, it's 2025, everybody's gonna forget about 2024, rates are going down, and Trudeau just announced his eventual resignation. Get on the street and start working.” And then Trump appeared! So everything has changed in the last five weeks.

POST: I see Amanda wants to jump in.

AMANDA LANG: I just wanted to say, because we can always tie the macro to the micro, and one of the things that has been happening for decades, but will be writ large with Donald Trump in America, is the bifurcation of our society. And the people with money will have more money. You know, we've seen this described over time, but the capital is now circulating among the people who have assets, and it's not trickling down to the people who have incomes. And so, the real estate market will see a similar bifurcation between those two, and it'll be-

come more pronounced, I think, as we go forward, not less. Unless we do something, human beings could change this with policies, but if we don't change the policies, we're going to keep living in this world.

MICHAEL KALLES: We did a quick study. Let's look at the last few major issues in the economy. When the dot-com bubble burst, the S&P 500 went down 50 per cent, the HPI, the housing price index, in Toronto went up 15 per cent. The financial crisis, the last financial meltdown — S&P down 58 per cent, HPI up 18 per cent. COVID 19 — S&P down 20 per cent, housing market up initially five per cent, and then eventually 42 per cent. So I think a lot of people are going to be looking to something that's very stable, and I for one am very bullish on the Toronto real estate market. I think there's certain segments, like the condominium

DETACHED HOME SHOWDOWN

Living in a detached home has increasingly become a pipe dream in Toronto, with the average price skyrocketing high above the $1 million mark. See how some of the biggest cities in the world match up! These are the average prices for a detached home, based on most recent data and converted to Canadian dollars.

market, that are going to take some years to get through the current inventory. I think we'll be thinking about things in a different way in 2028.

POST: Let's go to Sebastian. How is the hesitancy around buying right now impacting the home improvement market?

SEBASTIAN CLOVIS: I think it's impacting it in several different ways. Typically, major renovations happen in the first three years of somebody purchasing a home. They buy a home, and they want to make it their dream home. And so they'll get a mortgage that can accommodate their renovation budget. As sales start to go down, there's less of these people that are in that one-to-three-year kind of period, and therefore the home improvement industry starts to go down because there’s not as many people buying homes. So that's the first thing.

The second thing is I think that parties who are involved in flipping properties — which requires that they sell the home immediately after they finish the renovation project — if they can't guarantee that they're going to be able to sell the home, then they're not going to take on the renovation project. And so I think there's less flipping going on. The business model doesn't work in the current industry. And so again, the home renovation industry starts to take a hit from that.

And then I think many homeowners are kind of asking themselves the question fearfully for the first time, is my house still worth what it was when I bought it? I think, for the first time ever, people are actually starting to question that, which means that when they go up for their mortgage renewal, there's a chance that their house is not worth the same thing that it was worth when they purchased it. That means that they're not going to be able to borrow against the perceived value of the future sale of that house in order to renovate.

We may have been having a conversation in the past about the haves and the have-nots. It seems like this might be the beginning of the era. The fact that there is still resilience in the luxury real estate industry and not on common ground says that we might be moving into an era where it's a conversation of the have-nots and have-yachts. And I would say that either way, you better have a life jacket.

As someone with a referral network as a realtor in Nashville, I think we're going to see a large population of people in the red states, especially LGBTQ-friendly people going to friendly states, or friendly countries, rather. And I think Canada is going to be one of them.

I think rents are going to be flat for 12 to 18 months. I think we will get into nearly double-digit rent increases in 2027, 2028, 2029. So I think, if you are brave in this market, you will be rewarded if you actually put a shovel in the ground. I also see a lot of foreign capital coming to the Canadian market to play the currency depreciation right now. We're getting a lot of interest from the Middle East and Asia, and you'll see some bigger headlines coming into the market. THE MODERN LANDLORD

THE MASTER OF FLIP KORTNEY WILSON:

2025 PREDICTIONS

THE TV HOST SEBASTIAN CLOVIS:

We're still in a housing crisis. We still need the millions of houses that we needed last year at this time, when we had this panel, that haven’t been addressed yet. In 1945, soldiers were coming home from the Second World War, and there weren’t enough houses. So the federal government decided to rubberstamp three or four designs that you could just build. They were being built in 36 hours, 700 to 1,100 square feet with a backyard. But my point is that we need a more diverse housing stock that can accommodate more people. We've built millions of houses before. The federal government has helped with it, and we can do it again. I’m telling you as a builder, we can get the houses built.

THE DESIGNER BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN:

I think the market is going to continue to be stagnant, and there's so much uncertainty. But one of the things I wanted to mention, not for 2025, but we're going to see a tsunami of money coming in through inheritance. So if we think prices are high now, wait until we have a generation that inherits all this money sitting in GICs and their parents' houses, then we're going to really see prices go up. So it's going to be interesting to see when that happens. Benjamin can say when that will happen, but it's going to be soon.

SECTION THREE: THE CONDO MARKET

POST: New condo sales have dropped 64 per cent in 2024. It's been generally just an incredibly slow year for the condo market in Toronto. How long could this downturn last before demand returns?

BRAD LAMB: There will be no new condos breaking ground over the next two or three years. There haven't been any new condos breaking ground over the last year and a half. So we have a situation where, according to Amanda, and I believe her, we have a housing shortage. I don't think it feels like that to people right now. I think it feels like there's a housing surplus because interest rates went very, very high. It scared people, made things difficult, and people stopped buying. They just turtled and stopped buying. Even if they need a house or they're forming a family, they're just not buying homes. They're not buying condos, they're not buying houses, and they're certainly not buying new condos.

So we have a real crisis forming here because, if you count the cranes — I don't know if people do that for a hobby, I do — there were 170 cranes two and a half years ago in Toronto, more than the 11 largest cities in the United States. That's how many homes we were building. It was pretty amazing. If you count now, there's less than 50. In another six months, there'll be less than 35, and in about a year and a half, there will be close to zero. I think Fitzrovia will have all the cranes. They'll have maybe 10 cranes and that'll be it.

So we're in a very, very bad situation. It's worse than I think the early ’90s when we had a similar situation because we have stopped on a dime building new housing in Toronto. And there is a shortage of several tens and tens of thousands, probably 150,000 to 200,000, multi units. There's probably a shortage of that or higher in Toronto. We're now contributing zero to that.

So what does that mean? It means we're going to have mass unemployment in construction. It means those people who came to this country for jobs are going away because they're unemployed. They're not going to come back when we need them. So our construction industry is shrinking. Now, when we do get a mar-

ket back, it'll come back raging where there's not enough product and there'll be competition for product. You can't see it now, but I promise you it'll come. Maybe it's two years, maybe it's three years, maybe it's five years. But when that happens, we don't have enough trades to build these homes. We don't have enough expert people to build the homes. So what happens is that those prices go higher, housing becomes more scarce, less gets built, housing prices get more expensive.

KORTNEY WILSON: I'm just curious: are interest rates the only thing standing in the way of buyers who are sitting right now?

BRAD LAMB No, so this is what’s happened with real estate prices. We need $1,600 a foot to build the new highrise condo in Toronto. We can sell them right now for $1,100 a foot. Our cost is about $1,320 a foot. So we can't build anything. Everyone is sitting on their land, every-

“THERE WILL BE NO NEW CONDOS BREAKING GROUND OVER THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS. SO WE HAVE A REAL CRISIS FORMING HERE; WE HAVE A HOUSING SHORTAGE.” —BRAD LAMB

one's paying their debt, everyone's trying to look to the future. We need real estate prices to rise 25 per cent. So that $1,100per-square-foot condo was $1,350 or $1,400, now it's down to $1,100, and it needs to go back up to $1,400 and then pop up to $1,600 a foot for me or anyone else like me to build new houses.

Now, the chance of that happening in a couple of years is not possible, right? So the solution here is we're going to need to have the HST removed on housing entirely, like gone, because the HST represents, for me, $200 a square foot of cost. And we absolutely must remove all levies on any construction in the city of Toronto, all levies. So right now I pay $75,000 a door [a unit], pay about $200 a foot. So if you take that $400 a foot and you take it off my cost, I can now deliver a home at $1,200 a foot and we can build housing again.

And back in 1991, I don't know if anyone remembers 1991 to 1996, in that period, no one was building houses.

From 1990 to 2001, the city of Toronto eliminated all levies on housing, and the market started again. That has to happen. That is the only thing that's gonna save this city from a spiral, because we need to build housing. We need to build housing to fulfill the need for housing, and we can't wait three or four years to get back doing it.

BENJAMIN TAL: If I may, can I put something in perspective here? I think it's extremely important to understand because this is a very crucial time. So we started with Trump, and the Trump situation will resolve itself one way or another. There will be tariffs, there will be something. Next year when we meet, we won't be discussing Trump as much as we are doing it now. We'll be discussing affordability.

I totally agree, we are in a situation in which we are building nothing in the condo market. Absolutely zip, nothing. The demand is going to grow. In fact, population growth is not zero, it's not negative, it's actually positive. It's rising. It's rising faster than perceived, and we have more people than we think in this country because we are undercounting non-permanent residents.

Another thing which is extremely important when it comes to housing — every other OECD country is getting older. Canada is getting younger. Last year we got 1.2 million people into this country, over the course of breakfast. And it's a short-term pain, because you have to find housing and all this business, but it's a long-term gain. If you look at the age structure of this Canadian population, it changed dramatically over four years. We are getting younger. The last time it happened was 1957, the baby boom. Back then they needed diapers. Here they need help, they need housing. So in the short term, it's very painful for the economy and the housing market. But in the long term, we are getting younger. We have this huge dividend that no other country has, and that will be positive for demand for housing. We need the supply, totally there with you. We need to cut all those taxes and levies because it's insane.

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: Well, one of the things we have to do is, from a development standpoint, the city has been very spoiled, and developers have been spoiled because buildings that we would design would

sell in a weekend. People would buy 20 units at a time from overseas. And we have to reimagine: who are we building for? So we have been building so many buildings for investors, not owners and not families. And the problem is we have apartments that are 300 square feet, 475square-foot two-bedrooms, where a bedroom is eight feet by eight feet. You can't fit a twin bed in, and you have to climb out to open the closet. So this is not what families want to have. We have to reimagine. We cannot build buildings for investors. We have to build buildings for families and couples that wanna grow within there.

If you're going to buy an apartment and it's gonna take you 30 years to pay for it, you want to grow within that space, and you're not growing in a 475-squarefoot two-bedroom. So we have to reimagine two years down the road because we're not going to be building anything. We have to reimagine spaces and figure

out how we're going to build larger apartments where people can have a queen-sized bed in their bedroom.

SEBASTIAN CLOVIS: I love that. I love that. Round of applause. Because I think that was right on. And I 100 per cent agree. I think that when sometimes we talk about the missing middle, we're talking about the segment of housing that we need for real families to live in. I think what we need to consider is that the middle is not just one type of house. Like a three-storey, three-bedroom detached home is much different than a small bungalow. And so there needs to be a bridge. There needs to be different types of housing for different parts of your life.

We need a bridge that takes people from living in their parents' basement to renting with something that makes sense to getting into a small home and then eventually being able to afford a larger family home.

CONDO MARKET SNAPSHOT

It’s been an interesting year for Toronto’s condo market — with demand down and supply continuing to rise, both new and resale units have felt the impact. From condo starts to active listings, see how the market has played out in Toronto over the past year.

$688,055

Average condo selling price

Year-over-year change in active listings, 2023 to 2024

BRAD LAMB: So maybe I'm a realist, I don't know. I just said my cost of building a highrise condo, and this is like a 50storey building. So it's not like we're wasting land, right? My cost for 1,000 square feet is $1.3 million. My cost for 700 square feet is $1.1 million. My cost for 478 square feet is $700,000. So I don't know. Can the average consumer afford a $700,000 condo? I don't think so. So we can all dream and talk about what would be lovely, but that's not gonna solve the problem.

BENJAMIN TAL: What are the development charges now?

BRAD LAMB: Development charges are generally around $70,000 a door [a unit].

BENJAMIN TAL: So let me ask you a question. $70,000 times zero is zero. And zero is what we are building. So when the government or when the municipalities are cutting development charges, they are not losing any money because they are not making any money because they are building zip. So why don't you cut it? It doesn't make any sense.

Year-over-year change in resale Toronto condo sales as of Feb. 2025

Year-over-year change in new condo sales in the GTHA, 2023 to 2024

24,277

Unsold new condo units in development in 2024

64 Number of months it would take to clear current unsold inventory -59%

Year-over-year change in condo starts, 2023 to 2024

Predicted year-over-year change in condo prices for 2025

*Sources: trreb.ca, urbanation.ca, Bullpen Consulting

SALIMA RAWJI: We're talking about supply shortage. It's real. Why do we have it? Because we have immigration. Why do we have immigration? Because we have a GDP problem. This is not going to go away in the short term. So we are going to continue to need people to come to the city. And if people need to continue to come to the city, they have to say, “I have economic opportunity,” hence the opening part of the conversation. And they need to say, “I have livability.” And what does livability mean? That's what you're talking about. But there are a lot of other ways to get to livability other than living in a unit with enough square footage for a wife and kids. Being able to access amenities in your building is important, a.k.a. what makes your unit more livable. We should hear from Adrian because he is doing a phenomenal job at livability. And I'm sure he will want to talk about it.

I mean, I don't disagree with anything Brad has said. We are not building. Like he is talking about truth. I have spent the last 20 years of my life working in institutions that have land trying to put product into the market. There are zero transactions going on. What is going on is people not being able to hold onto

2025 PREDICTIONS

THE JOURNALIST AMANDA LANG:

The only prediction I have is that we're headed into a year of wild uncertainty, and it might feel quite unpleasant. But I think by the end of the year, toward into next year, we'll have clarity on a lot of things, including possibly a new trade agreement with the U.S. Things will feel calmer. This is a time when governments can do big things, and ours seem galvanized at every level. I hope we do big things this year. That's more of a hope than a prediction, but it's what I'm sitting in amid all of the bad feelings of not knowing what's going to happen next.

Uncertainty aside, I think interest rate policy will eventually get traction, and buyers will get off the sidelines and buy. The market will start to improve. There's been some kind of sideline stuff happening, but it'll start to improve. The overhang in the rental market and the condo resale market will probably largely clear up this year. We'll see some price increases probably toward the end of the year, midpoint to the end of the year. Ultimately, the market's going to get better, and we’ll see that by this time next year. It still won't be a place where we can sell new housing out of concrete, but the stick stuff will happen, and we'll see a resurgence of that.

THE CONDO KING BRAD LAMB:

2025 PREDICTIONS

THE SALES PRO BARRY COHEN:

I think that the average price will hold level this year. I don't think we're going to see any growth. I think that the condo market, new condos, is going to continue to suffer. But resale condos are holding their own. They're up or down one or two per cent. But where I do see a shift is in luxury condos.We are selling high-end condos, $3 million and up, and that's going well. but we're also selling $6 million, $7 million and $8 million condos, and we're finding that people are moving from detached into these large condos for safety or downsizing. So I think that that trend will continue.

THE BANKER BENJAMIN TAL:

Well, I think that the economy will slow down over the next few quarters. There's no question about it. The unemployment rate, unfortunately, will rise. Things will clear at the second half of the year toward the end of the year. Interest rates will be lower than they are now. And I think that what would be a big surprise is how quickly demand will be rising. I think that population growth will be faster than expected, and that's something that will add to demand. So the inventories in the condo market will be swollen faster than perceived.

their land and trying to get rid of it, but we don't see that translating. And so we do have to fix it. It does have to come from levers outside of the individual, that is true. But I do think that there are other things that we can think about in the conversation in the continuum of the conversation. We haven't touched on seniors.

SECTION FOUR: THE RENTAL MARKET

POST: Why are rental rates declining? How low will they go? And any other thoughts you want to throw in there, Adrian?

ADRIAN ROCCA: Who in this room actually thinks, I hear this all the time, “Oh, you must be so happy you're not in the condo market. Rental's where it's at.” Who actually thinks rental's where it's at today? Put up your hand.

So this is the only way we can make rental work today: we're one of the very few, because of our vertical integration. We develop, construct asset property, manage entirely in-house. We actually go more downstream than that. We have our own school that plugs into our young family buildings. We do our own kind of food and beverage line. We have a bunch of different levers where we could move fees around and profit around to make sense of going vertical. And we're really focused on tactical execution, our ability to move quickly through design, development, construction and actually start cash flowing. That gives us a big advantage in the market. Most people don't have that advantage, right? And so when you look at rents declining, 8.5 per cent, everyone's like, “Why are rents declining eight and a half per cent?” Because we have 25,000 units completing this year. And we have a lot of downward pressure on rentals. We have a lot of downward pressure on lease velocity because of that. It's an absolute dog fight with concessions and trying to create separation, not only with our competitors and purposebuilt rental, but also the condo market. And it's pretty binary. An investor that bought is in survival mode right now to drop their rents to at least cover a portion of their mortgage, right? So that creates a huge issue in our market. And so as a mid- to long-term view, I'm incredibly bullish on building rental.

And we're going to continue to do that when we want to be the pre-eminent national players. Doing that today is incredibly difficult, right? You need institutional capital. It's a big balance sheet game. It's not a private balance sheet game, unless you could get ACLP [Apartment Construction Loan Program] from the CMHC [Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation], or kind of do smaller buildings. There's a lot of financial recourse or guarantees that you have to underwrite as a developer or as a landlord.

I definitely agree with Brad, right? Like what was sold off plan, you know, in terms of a very small kind of one-bed, 450 square feet, 650 square feet twobeds, that actually sold really well. The rents don't translate in the same kind of respect. We've actually made a really bold call going after young families and downsizers, right? It's a pretty lonely place right now. Most of our buildings are larger, more livable suites. What does

“AN INVESTOR IS IN SURVIVAL MODE RIGHT NOW, DROPPING THEIR RENTS TO AT LEAST COVER A PORTION OF THEIR MORTGAGE. THAT CREATES A HUGE ISSUE IN OUR MARKET.”

—ADRIAN ROCCA

that mean? We're doing 850-, 900square-foot two-beds. We're doing 1,100, 1,200-square-foot three-beds.

We're actually seeing good leasing velocity, really strong rental tones in that segment of the market. But it's not just real estate. It's not just bricks and mortars. It's not just the size and composition of those suites. It's how do you actually program? How do you bring that to life? If you're going to go after young families, where are they going to go to school? Schools are at their capacity. I'd argue the quality of the education has deteriorated over the years. I didn't want to deal with the city. I didn't want to deal with the province to get a school and go through all that red tape. So we just created our own school. It's called the Bloomsbury Academy. We do it at subsidized tuition just for our residents.

I lived in London in the U.K. for seven years, and so we fundamentally wanted to create different product. I love masonry, I love brick. Our facades are really

uniquely different. I remember the first building I did was when I was at Tricon, the Selby, which is a 50-storey rental tower. And people would say, there's no way the U.S. operating model and rental model is going to work up here. Canadians are fundamentally different. I totally disagree. As it relates to tariffs, I'm pro-Canada, but as it relates to hospitality, Canadians are no different than anyone else that wants to go to a really nice hotel and get looked after, right? — and wants to walk in their front door and see an animated lobby and really great customer service and great hospitality with great programming. If you're a new member to Canada, you're going to get a community that's going to invest in you and invest in that experience, and that is what we need more of. And we're just not getting that at all. What I get all the time is “You're only building luxury.” We're across the spectrum. By the way, we are going to get into affordable social housing. I'm really passionate about that. Now, are you creating a big balance sheet on the back of that? No, but you're living a comfortable life. It's sustainable. You could run a P&L [profit and loss statement] on the back of that. You could actually live a really sustainable life. So I think there are actually more legs in that segment of the market than we're giving ourselves credit for. We do get a lot of pushback from some institutional investors around the longevity around the rents that we are underwriting. But I actually say, in the next five years, 75 per cent of the highrise product is actually gonna be PBR, purpose-built rental versus condos. And I think that's a good thing.

BARRY COHEN: Do you foresee a glut of rent? Are we short inventory right now on purpose-built rent?

ADRIAN ROCCA: Today we are not, but if you actually forecast the drop in new starts — if you look at the last 10 years, we've been about 16,000 units — I'm talking about condo and purpose-built rental. If you look at last year, we were down to 12 [thousand units]. This year we're gonna be down — these are new starts — down to five and a half to six. So we are totally undersupplied. If we talk about a housing crisis, the longer this goes, the government's gotta wake up. They have done a good job engaging the private sector. What they've done a poor job is sticking their neck out and forget-

ting about politics and actually making good decisions. So I think that needs to change. Thirty per cent of our total development costs is municipal levies, government levies, development charges. We need a full waiver.

The government continues to reach out. Ben and I have been in a number of meetings with them, but they have not done anything, especially municipally with the mayor's office. We actually need more help. Zero of zero is zero, right? The fact that we've been sitting on our knees right now, waiting and pleading with the government to actually step up and help is a disgrace. We absolutely need help yesterday. And the longer this goes by, this is gonna turn a crisis to a catastrophe.

POST: Michael, do you want to weigh in before we wrap up rentals?

MICHAEL KALLES: I'll just give you the per-

spective from the brokerage side. Listings are up 46 per cent on rentals. There's just a major glut, what we're seeing, and our product is different. It's usually investor condo units, owners who thought they would make it big on capital appreciation. Now they're saying, look, let's see if we can just get some type of contribution to our mortgage payments. But I think the big thing is that, right now, I'm hearing Brian's words from last year saying that people are making a decision to live in a rental, and listening to Adrian — these are lifestyle condominiums. I've seen basketball courts and facilities that are second to none. And you can't compare that to a person who bought an investor condo and is trying to push it out the door. But we are seeing incentives from landlords, free months, reduction in rents coming month after month after month. So it's certainly changed in the last six to 12 months.

Ever since the aftermath of the pandemic caused a double-digit jump in rents across Canada, Toronto has been feeling the pressure. But this year, rental rates have seen a steady decline after a spike in unit completions and an increased vacancy rate, putting a bit of the power, temporarily, in tenants’ hands.

POST: We're going to jump into our audience's questions. The first one is for Benjamin, what is the probability of the Bank of Canada raising rates to support the Canadian dollar?

BENJAMIN TAL: Twenty-two percent. No, they will not do that. The opposite is going to be the case. I think that the Bank of Canada will be cutting interest rates. They have to show that they are participating in the effort to fight Trump to an extent. The government is going to do something as well. So the government, plus the Bank of Canada, will try to help. I will not be surprised if, by June, July of this year, we'll see interest rates much lower than they are now. We see the Bank of Canada cutting to about two per cent. [Editor’s note: After the panel, the Bank of Canada has since cut rates again from three per cent to 2.75 per cent.]

POST: Our second question, anyone can jump in, how can we get development companies to build larger units instead of megaprojects with all tiny one-bedroom and studio units for investors?

BRAD LAMB: So there's been a lot of talk about small condos. So here's the issue. We have to sell 70 per cent or 75 per cent of the building before a bank will lend us the money to build it. That's how the model works. No one is going to put $400 million into a building of their own money and just build a building. So you have to borrow the money. So in order to borrow the money, we have to have the sales.

So we had to figure out a way of selling buildings quickly so that we could actually build them instead of giving their money back and getting in trouble with the newspapers and Tarion [the Province of Ontario’s new home warranty program]. So the model is, it always was investors, it's now more so catered to investors, and there's been a lot of slagging on condominium investors. I disagree with all of it. Most condominium buildings are very nice. The facilities are very nice. The ones I build are beautiful. We just finished a building called the Bread Company nearby here. We're renting 480-square-foot apartments, so investors are listing for $2,200, $2,300. There's nothing wrong with that. That's not any lower than it was a year ago. It's about the

2025 PREDICTIONS

THE CITY BUILDER SALIMA RAWJI:

I focus on students right now, and so I think we are going to see student housing continue to pick up interest as an asset class in 2025. I don't know about 2026, but definitely, we're going to get deals done in 2025.

THE BROKER MICHAEL KALLES:

Well, I'll quote someone from my office. They had a funny line. They said, "People in Toronto don't like to buy real estate unless there's a lineup." I don't know why that is. Step off the sidelines! So my prediction, looking a little further into the future, as I said at the beginning, I'm very bullish on the market, and I think there's going to be some instability. I think condos are going to be back by 2028, and I think we're going to be in a better, probably stationary, year. I think it'll be probably around where we were in 2023 and 2024.

same. I think if you deliver something nice, then people will come to it.

SALIMA RAWJI: Let's just think about the history of time. We had a bunch of rental construction happen in the ’70s. There was government support that made that happen. The government support went away. We had growth in our market. So we had condos. We had net inflow, so we had demand for housing, and so we see run up in prices. So people say, "Hey, this is a good way for me to make money." Nothing wrong with that. Our industry responds.

What does our industry do? We design for the investor. And we all knew it was happening, and we all did it. And the structures of the industry are designed around that model. If the question is, "How do we not do that?" then we need to focus on the end user as the buyer. And then, what has to happen structurally in the system to change so that the end user is the one that actually drives the decision making through that process.

AMANDA LANG: Which, not to be the skunk at the garden party, but people talk about our housing market as though it's a market that's not functioning. And I would say it's a market that is functioning exactly as we've designed it…

SALIMA RAWJI: Exactly.

AMANDA LANG: …Which is we've financialized it. We turned it into an investment product, and therefore, scarcity is rewarded. And that's why we don't build, and that's why we price people out of building, because 60 per cent of us own houses. And no politician is going to stand up and say, "The solution to our housing problem is that the value of all of your houses is going down 40 per cent." That is the solution, by the way. We need to build enough houses for the overvaluation to come out, but more importantly, it changes the customer. It changes the product. And if we don't do that, we're going to have the same problem.

BRAD LAMB: We cannot get end users to make a decision, a timely decision, in buying an apartment. We can't wait two years. We can't open a sales pavilion and wait to have 200 sales happen over two years. We can't do it, or we can't build it, because the costs go up too much. The city even changes tariffs. In a period of two years, they could double, and in fact, they did double the tariffs for the lot levies from $35,000 to $75,000. So we get stuck underwater. There's no model. And by the way, Miami, L.A., New York, same thing. They all sell their condos to investors.

AMANDA LANG: Brad, I have no problem with you building for investors and investors participating in this market, if that's what we decide to do. Where you lose my interest is when tax dollars are then going to support that process. You want an HST break. You want developer fees cut. Which, by the way, they don't go to fund Cadillacs. They go to us. They go to the city. So we have to square the circle here a little bit on what our efforts are about.

BRAD LAMB: Well, you're going to give a tax rebate to Fitzrovia, who are building apartments. So, who cares if one guy owns 300 units or 300 guys own one unit? That's a rich guy, and you're saying that this rich guy can have all these great incentives. Why can't the one person that's buying an investment condo get an incentive to build a home for someone who can't afford to buy a home? What's wrong with that?

AMANDA LANG: Well, don't be disingenuous. Partly, that's because of the type of housing that he's building. So he's getting taxpayer government support, policy support for the type of … again, it goes back to building condos that are livable for people that need the homes, the market that we're trying to serve.

BRAD LAMB: His [Fitzrovia’s] apartments aren't as livable as you think. Nine hundred square feet for a two-bedroom? Come on. When I started selling real estate, a two-bedroom was 1,500 square

feet. That's livable. Nine hundred square feet is barely livable. He's doing what he has to do. He needs a rent per square foot to make it work. He knows exactly what he's doing, and that's why he's doing it.

AMANDA LANG: He's still working within the system we have.

BRAD LAMB: You live in a dream world.

AMANDA LANG: He's working in a financialized system.

BRAD LAMB: I'm sorry. You need to be a realist and not live in a dream world.

AMANDA LANG: No, no. You're saying you want the system as you operate it to stay the same. I'm saying, if we want to make change, you have to actually change things. That's all I'm saying.

SECTION SIX: FIRST-TIME BUYERS

POST: OK, that's the perfect segue into the next question. When we're talking about the public, the average buyer, when there are weaknesses in the market, how do people right now take advantage of that?

BARRY COHEN: I don't really think there's a weakness. Again, there isn’t a mentality to buy a house right now. But we're talking about a one per cent, two per cent change in price. In the past five years, if you go back out to 2022, we're up about seven per cent. The big jump was 2019 to 2020, right? and then 2022. So, right now, we're seeing, OK, real estate went down two per cent. Sales are down 25 per cent. It doesn't change the average price. But forget about waiting for a weakness because the demand will be too strong. As rates go down, people will find real estate more affordable. More will come in. There's wealth transference. There's still immigration. I don’t see that changing in the near future. Buyers have to look outside Toronto. If you can’t buy a detached home — it’s $1.7 million in Toronto right now — you’ll have to look to other areas.

IN GRATITUDE

KORTNEY WILSON: One of my jobs is convincing buyers right now that they are, in fact, paying 100 per cent interest when they're renting a house and that this is the time for them to buy, even if it's outside of the district they want to be in. And I'm having great success. Of course, it's slightly more affordable. But when everything flips on its side, we will see, again, supply-todemand issues, and they won't be able to afford anything for the next 10 years.

MICHAEL KALLES: Just a quick point. In today's market, there's so much money on the sidelines. It's not like the financial meltdown that billions were melted away. The money is there. It just takes confidence, right? And all of the things that we're talking about, federal election and tariffs, that's the enemy of real estate. But I can tell you there are opportunities, but you have to be a pioneer. You have to step off the sidelines to pick them up. I say this every year, but I'll say it again. I think I've said it for 18 years straight, but no matter when you bought, if you held a home for seven years anytime in the last 60, you've made money. So don't treat it like an asset. It's your home. It's utility. It's made-inCanada memories. It's where you raise your family. So I think that we have to stop thinking about everything as asset. The best time to purchase a home is when you can afford it. That's the time to step off the sidelines.

BENJAMIN TAL: Just one thing about the money on the sideline, very important, is that investing was easy over the past few years. Everybody went to GIC. Remember six per cent, seven per cent GIC? Forget about investment, forget about stocks. Now, GIC rates are going down, with interest rates going down. I estimate that there are $370 billion of excess savings sitting in GICs looking for the exit. And this exit is real estate. This exit is dividend-paying stocks. So there is a lot of money in the system to finance a lot of purchasing. There is purchasing power, and this money is looking somewhere. And if real estate would be a good opportunity, people will go there because the money is there. There's no question about it.

T.O.’S LEADING PROFESSIONALS

PLANNING IN VOLATILE TIMES

Wills made today actually speak from the date of your death. With our explosive markets, assets and debts you had yesterday may not be the same today or the next or even next year. That will apply also when you die. Your assets and debts may be more or less, and some assets and debts may not even exist at all.

It is common for people when creating a Will to want to tailor it to the assets you have now. For example, you have a house worth $1,500,000.00; $1,000,000.00 in investments which may be bouncing up, down or sideways; household furnishings; and a car. You provide a lawyer with instructions that you want to leave $10,000.00 to each grandchild (there are 10), $25,000.00 to 5 charities and $100,000.00 to one of your children. You then leave the remainder (or residue of your estate as it is called) to your spouse or children or both.

Well that’s fine for today. Maybe you have enough money if you die tomorrow for the Estate Trustee to pay your debts, your funeral expenses, income tax, cash legacies and

CONTACT

Mary Anne Shaw - Barrister and Solicitor 1366 Yonge Street, Suite 308

residue. But as life goes on as it is today in these volatile times, and you sell your house, you spend significant money on health care costs or just on your own personal enjoyment, your assets may dwindle. Or you may be lucky enough to see them even increase.

Some people guided by the provisions in their Will don’t live their lives fully afraid to spend their money because of it. Others could care less and spend it all. You forget to update your Will which is now clearly outdated. You die. There may not be enough left to pay for all those cash legacies, your funeral expenses, debts and income tax and certainly nothing is left for your spouse or children.

So you should, if not right now in these volatile times, review your Will at least every 5 years. Pull out your list of assets and debts with current values. Look at the economic climate and ask yourself: Does everything that I said in my existing Will make sense now. If not, do a new one. This applies no matter how old you are.

maryanneshaw@shawlaw.ca Tel: 416-968-0096

BIKE CRASHES HAPPEN, IT’S GOOD TO BE PREPARED

We love cycling! We do it for exercise, we commute to work, we pick up the kiddos at school and grab groceries on our bikes. Riding a bike is an incredible way to explore Toronto, while doing your part to fight climate change. That said, in our busy city it is not without some risk.

Collisions with motorists happen more regularly than we would like. In our experience this is often due to distracted and dangerous driving, as well as impatience of those behind the wheel. The results can be quite serious for people on bikes. We see concussions, broken bones, and even psychological trauma regularly.

Our hope is that it never happens to you, but it is always best to be prepared. Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to help someone as a witness to a collision. In either case, here are critical post-collision steps to take:

1) Get off the road and to safety if your injuries permit.

2) Contact authorities at the scene by dialing 911 or asking a bystander to do so.

3) Take pictures of the driver’s license plate, property damage, bike lane blockages, etc.

4) Seek medical attention even if you think you’re just a little banged up.

If you’ve been struck by a motor vehicle and injured, no matter who’s at fault you have access to Accident Benefits through auto insurance for lost wages, physiotherapy and associated medical costs. You may even be able to seek additional compensation through a lawsuit to provide for longer term recovery needs.

Of course, always contact a lawyer who can advise you of your rights. Be sure it is one who specializes in cycling law!

Ride bikes, have fun, be prepared and be safe. See you out there.

Joel Zanatta and David Shellnutt, Founding Partners of The Biking Lawyer LLP

The Biking Lawyer LLP represents injured cyclists across Toronto and Ontario. Through proven advocacy both in and out of the court room, their lawyers have succeeded in helping people

Mary Anne Shaw, B.A., LL.B.

Mary Anne Shaw is an established lawyer whose law practice focuses on Wills and Estates, Residential Real Estate and Family Law. Mary Anne Shaw is very active in the community, and has served on many boards and foundations in the not-for-profit arts and health sectors. She provides personal service and practical solutions. BIO

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CURRENTS

Acting, cooking, rocking: Is there anything these T.O. celebs can't do?

Chef Matty Matheson is a celebrity chef, restaurateur, actor and … musician?

The Toronto icon made headlines in March when he announced that he would be taking on a new title as lead vocalist of rock band Pig Pen — formed alongside friends Daniel Romano (singer and guitarist) and Wade MacNeil (lead guitarist of Alexisonfire) and debuting on April 25 at Sneaky Dee’s. He’s not the only

Toronto celebrity to do so — Keanu Reeves helped form alt rock band Dogstar in the ’90s, opening for Bon Jovi and David Bowie and reuniting in 2020 after an 18-year hiatus. Kiefer Sutherland launched the Kiefer Sutherland Band in 2015, releasing a sonic homage to the city with the 2022 album Bloor Street. And let’s not forget Ryan Gosling’s short-lived rock duo, Dead Man’s Bones!

© Beth Elliot

Clockwise from top left: Matty Matheson (middle) and the Pig Pen band, the Kiefer Sutherland Band, Keanu Reeves playing bass in Dogstar

APRIL’S GREATEST HITS

The hottest shows and events in Toronto this month include a night of standup with Troy Hawke, foot-stomping country with Kelsea Ballerini, documentary films at Hot Docs and more. By Ron Johnson

KELSEA BALLERINI

Kelsea Ballerini brings her show to Scotiabank Arena on April 13 — her only Canadian stop on tour. The rescheduled date ensures fans won’t miss out on seeing the country star following the release of her latest album, Patterns. Scotiabankarena.com

THE ROYAL OCCASION

The Royal Occasion fundraising concert is scheduled for April 24, featuring performances by Paul Shaffer. Yes, that Paul Shaffer, along with Rufus Wainwright, Amanda Marshall and others at Koerner Hall. Rcmusic.com

FRANZ FERDINAND

Scottish indie rock band

Franz Ferdinand will bring its energetic, danceable sound to Toronto’s History on April 15. Known for hits like “Take Me Out” and “Do You Want To,” the band continues to captivate audiences. Historytoronto.com

A STRANGE LOOP

The Pulitzer Prize–winning musical A Strange Loop takes the stage at Soulpepper Theatre from April 22 to June 1. This thought-provoking production follows Usher, a young playwright navigating his identity, ambitions and inner demons. Soulpepper.ca

LUCY DACUS

Lucy Dacus brings her signature storytelling and songwriting to Toronto’s Massey Hall on April 25–26, as part of her Forever Is a Feeling Tour. Fresh off a groundbreaking year with boygenius, she’s set to captivate audiences with new music. Masseyhall.com

LIFE AFTER

Britta Johnson’s Dora Award–winning musical Life After returns to the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre stage, opening on April 16 and running until May 10, with an exceptional cast that includes Jake Epstein, and Chilla Kennedy. Mirvish.com

TROY HAWKE

Troy Hawke, the mustachioed mastermind behind the Greeter’s Guild, brings his razor-sharp wit and 1930s charm to the Royal on April 11. Expect a night of impeccable comedy, wordplay and eccentric observations. Theroyal.to

THE LINDA LINDAS

American super fun rock band the Linda Lindas is an all-female pop-punk extravaganza formed in 2018 and taking the world by storm. The band checks into the Opera House on April 26 for a sold-out show.

Theoperahousetoronto.com

HOT DOCS

The 32nd annual Hot Docs Festival is scheduled to take place in Toronto from April 24 to May 4. The festival has announced its first slate of films, including The Nest, Deaf President Now! and Apocalypse in the Tropics Hotdocs.ca

HIROMI

Grammy-winning pianist and composer Hiromi performs with her new quartet, Sonicwonder, blending jazz, funk, and synthesizer-driven sounds from her latest album. The concert takes place on April 5, at the Meridian Arts Centre. Tolive.com

METALLICA

Legendary rock titans Metallica bring their M72 World Tour to the Rogers Centre, April 24 and 26, featuring a "no repeat weekend" format with different setlists and opening acts such as Pantera, Limp Bizkit and others. Ticketmaster.ca

JOB

Coal Mine Theatre presents the Canadian premiere of Job, a psychological thriller by Max Wolf Friedlich, running from April 20 to May 11. Directed by David Ferry, the play explores internet culture and human responsibility. Coalminetheatre.com

SPRING SHOPPING GUIDE

JEANNE’S FAVE

JEANNE’S FAVE

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JEANNE’S FAVE

POCKETFUL OF SPRING

Functional fashion is key for spring — so it's no surprise utility style has taken over the runways this season! Featuring pockets galore, Jeanne Beker has helped us source the best of this trend from locally owned shops.

A. VEST, Kotn, $128, 148 Ossington Ave.

B. CARGO TROUSERS, Smythe, $525, 1116 Yonge St. “A pant like this is so flattering and really elongates the leg, and all the different little pockets are so cool.”

C. EARRINGS, Mejuri, $298, 64 Ossington Ave.

D. BUTTON DOWN, Due West, SALE $239, 431 Queen St. W.

E. BELT, Park & Province, $190, 927 Queen St. W.

F. MINI SKIRT, Aritzia, SALE $38.99, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr. “What a fun little skirt, and it's a great olive colour.”

G. SHOES, Maguire Shoes, $285, 760 Queen St. W.

H. QUILTED JACKET, Andrews, SALE $399, 2901 Bayview Ave. “Great for dressing for the country and for the city, too, this has a cosy vibe to it.”

I. TOTE, Pixie Mood, $125, pixiemood.ca “These straps are adjustable, so you can

wear them multiple ways, and it's great to have signature pockets in the front.”

J. DENIM SHIRT, Kotn, SALE $98, 148 Ossington Ave.

K. JUMPSUIT, Frock, SALE $275, 97 Roncesvalles Ave. “Jumpsuits are so cool, and what a nice colour. I love the cropped leg. You could wear this with or without a belt!”

L CROSSBODY BAG, Lululemon, $74, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr. “This is a really cool bag that looks really functional and great for travel.”

M. NECKLACE, Vitaly, $198, 505 Queen St. W. N. FITTED VEST, Smythe, $525, 1116 Yonge St. “This has a dressy kind of edge to it, and the pockets make it sporty. This is a really statement-making garment.”

O. MIDI SKIRT, Over the Rainbow, SALE $72, 55 Bloor St. W. “What a beautiful latte colour with the patch pockets and the split up the front.

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

Ontario’s 9 best cherry blossom hot spots

Spring in Ontario isn’t just a season — it’s a spectacle. For a fleeting few weeks between late April and early May, the province is draped in delicate clouds of pink and white as cherry blossoms burst into bloom. Check out Ontario’s best sakura spots.

1. Edwards Gardens, Toronto: Less crowded and more refined this North York oasis, beside the Toronto Botanical Garden, features blooms near the water fountain and courtyard.

2. High Park, Toronto: The OG of Toronto’s cherry Sakura scene. With trees gifted by Tokyo in 1959 and more from the Sakura Project, this is the city’s largest blossom collection.

3. Major’s Hill Park, Ottawa: Cherry blossoms and tulips in one spot? Major’s Hill Park delivers a double feature of florals, all with the stunning backdrop of Notre Dame Cathedral.

4. Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara: This 99acre garden paradise offers a dreamy cherry blossom display near its entrance in mid to late May. Explore the Victorian rose garden, herb garden and scenic trails for a full floral experience.

5. McFarland Park, Niagaraon-the-Lake: This is a hidden gem for springtime blooms. The trees near McFarland House and its charming tea room make for an elegant afternoon out of the city.

6. Spencer Smith Park, Burlington: This waterfront park, with its Japanese-inspired garden, is home to a grove of cherry blossom trees gifted from Itabashi, Japan.

7. Gairloch Gardens, Oakville: Elegant formal gardens, a peaceful pond and walking trails make Gairloch Gardens a perfect spot for cherry blossoms.

8. Bayfront Park, Hamilton: Sakura trees donated by Japan line the entrance of Bayfront Park, welcoming visitors approaching the waterfront with their delicate pink flowers.

9. The Arboretum, Guelph: The University of Guelph Arboretum, featuring 400 acres of plants, gardens, woodlands and meadows, comes alive in spring with a colorful display of pink blossoms. Lauren DiBenedetto Like this? Find more traveL content

Cherry blossoms usually bloom late April to early May in Toronto

Dear Sangita: My sister is having an affair with a married man and it's completely ruining our relationship. I'll put it bluntly — I don't approve of her lifestyle. I think it's irresponsible and awful to interfere in another person's family/relationship like this. She sees it as a fun fling and says I'm worrying too much about it and it's not a big deal. I find it hard to be around her now because all I'm thinking about is her relationship choices. How do I manage this? I don't like feeling distant from her but I just can't approve of what she's doing.

—Sinning sister

Dear Sinning: You 100 per cent should feel comfortable stepping away from your sister — you don’t want to be involved with any of this. You absolutely can tell your sister that it’s bothering you and, essentially, say, “Live the life you want to live, but I don’t appreciate it, don’t approve of it and don’t think it’s the right thing to

do” and then walk away. You’re siblings — when she gets through this phase, you’ll most likely come back together. Of course you don’t want to be distanced from your sister, but you do want to be distanced from what she’s doing. It’s OK to tell her, “I don’t want to be a part of all this. When you’re done with it, call me.”

Dear Sangita: I think my fiancé did something untrustworthy on

his friend's bachelor trip — and now I'm worried he'll do the same on his own bachelor trip. He travelled to Montreal with his friends and told me that they ended up hitting it off with a group of girls. One girl's name kept coming up, and when I pressed him on her, he got a little cagey and just said they were all hanging out as a group. I have this feeling that he did something he doesn't want to tell me, not nec-

essarily cheating, but not necessarily NOT cheating. He is otherwise so loving and loyal. Am I marrying a soon-to-be cheater?

Bachelor trip blues

Dear Blues: If you feel something did happen, there’s a good chance that something did. But bachelor parties are sometimes a bit of a grey area; not everyone knows what is or isn’t allowed. I remember my husband went on a golf trip for his, but if he had said they’re going to a strip club after, I don’t know how I would have reacted. Maybe I would have been comfortable with that, knowing it was just for the bachelor party. These kinds of events are just so hard to navigate.

In your case, he has his own bachelor trip coming up soon, so this can be a discussion you can have ahead of time — setting boundaries in terms of what you are both OK with (or not). As for this situation, I don’t think you need to worry that you’re marry-

ing a cheater. If your fiancé has never given you a reason to doubt him until now, I think it’s OK to move on from this. You can use this situation as a basis for the conversation around setting some ground rules for his trip, but I don’t think you need to panic. He did, after all, willingly tell you about this woman — there may have been some behaviour you wouldn’t approve of, but that doesn’t mean cheating. Of course, if there have been red flags before, then that’s different. But if you know him, you love him and you trust him, this shouldn’t change that. Just have a frank discussion so it doesn’t happen again.

Have a relationship or life question for Sangita? Send it to advice@postcity.com.

FAST FACTS

NAME: Chelsea Muirhead

FAVE T.O. VENUE: Factory Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille

GO-TO MEAL: The peameal bacon sandwich at Paddinton’s Pump

FAVE THINGS TO DO:

Taking her dog Mowgli to the island, walking around High Park

T.O. actor joins new Netflix medical drama

Chelsea Muirhead is about to explode. The Toronto-born actor is making waves in the acting industry. After starring in 2023’s drama series Warrior, you’ll see her swapping the ring for the trauma room in Netflix’s new medical drama Pulse, premiering April 3 — making a successful jump from Hollywood North to Hollywood proper.

Growing up in Toronto, Muirhead always had big dreams. She honed her craft at Toronto Metropolitan University where she underwent the rigorous training of a conservatory program.

“I was in class from 6 a.m. until midnight some days,” Muirhead recalls. “Sometimes I’d sleep in the studio. It was blood, sweat, tears — all of the above.”

Despite the challenges, she’s never let her momentum slip. In her early career, she took on local indie projects, acted in theatre productions and worked odd jobs — including an elf at Black Creek Pioneer Village.

Landing Pulse was a whirlwind — when Muirhead got a callback, she had to learn a fourpage scene just an hour before performing it.

“It was nerve-racking, but it was one of those moments where I had to trust myself,” she says. “And once I got onto set, everybody was just so lovely. Everybody is cast so perfectly. We

just had the best time shooting and figuring it all out together.”

Pulse’s authenticity is bolstered by a surgical expert on set.

“We had a real surgeon, Josh Choke, and an emergency room nurse, Rosa, who were our first point of contact to teach us the proper words, how to move, how to run but not rush,” Muirhead says. “It was a challenge, but it was very fulfilling. I’m such a nerd — I love learning new skills like that.”

Though her career has taken her across borders, Muirhead remains connected to Toronto. She recently appeared in Law & Order Toronto, fulfilling a “bucket list” dream. “Growing up watching Law & Order and seeing my name in the credits — it was surreal,” she says. “I and all of my friends were auditioning for every character under the sun and hoping. To die on that show and be on that slab in my hometown felt like an honour.”

Now, Muirhead is dreaming of all that could come next — stepping onto the Broadway stage, performing Shakespeare in London or diving into intense roles.

“I would love to play an absolute psycho — some kind of Joker-type character,” she says and laughs. “Everything interests me — comedy, drama, action — I just want to keep learning and growing.” —Sadaf Ahsan

Chelsea Muirhead will star in Netflix series ‘Pulse’

Soccer star Diana Matheson on meeting her gold medal match

By scoring the game-winning goal that won Canada our firstever medal in women’s soccer at the 2012 Olympics, Diana Matheson had already succeeded in putting our country on the map for the sport. But she decided there was more to be done — and in 2022, she spearheaded the launch of Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league. It’s finally here: the kickoff of the Northern Super League (NSL) happens in April, including a Toronto game on April 19. Ahead of the launch, we caught up with Diana to get the scoop on her gold medal–worthy romance with her wife, Anastasia Bucsis, speed skating Olympian and current CBC Sports host and analyst.

How they met

We met at a Canadian Olympic foundation fundraiser. We had a great night, and following that, she texted and reached out several times, but I am a terrible texter and was a bit oblivious, and we

kind of lost touch. But we reconnected at the Milton velodrome, watching a friend, cyclist Georgia Simmerling, do a trial up there.

The first date

We count that as our first date. We actually had dinner with Georgia and her partner (Olympian Stephanie Labbé), and they ended up leaving early, so we ended up talking for hours. We looked back and later realized that

it was on Feb. 14 — so unbeknownst to us, we had our first date on Valentine’s Day!

The proposal

Anastasia proposed — at some point, she called dibs on proposing! We had just gone out for a date to a favourite spot in the city. She had arranged for my sister and her husband to come by our house while we were out, and she had them set up some beautiful

flowers and candles up in our den at home. When we got home, she called me upstairs in a weird tone that I couldn’t place. I was like, am I in trouble? I went upstairs, and she was down on one knee.

The wedding

We got married in Montana. She’s from Calgary, so we looked for some venues in and around the foothills of Alberta, but we have some friends that live in Montana, so we started looking around there too. We did the city hall wedding here in Toronto, just with friends and family. And then about a month later, on Aug. 31, 2023, we got married in Montana. Our sports friends are all over Canada and the U.S., so we wanted to try to bring everyone together. We had a golf event, a brewery event and then a beautiful ceremony at this river mountain venue just outside Missoula.

The secret to success

We both prioritize supporting

each other toward our dreams within work but also just love spending time together as well.

Balancing careers and a relationship

Coming from high performance sport for both of us, when you're chasing a dream, that balance is sort of a myth. You do the best you can! We’ve had the busiest two and a half years of our lives, with Anastasia building her career and hosting the Olympic Games on CBC, and with us building the NSL and all the stress and uncertainty that comes with that. But we've just tried to get better at managing that stress and finding the things that we can do together that bring us energy, but in a way that feels restful and restorative.

The future together

We plan on expanding our family. Right now we’ve got a small Toronto condo. Maybe in the future we’ll have a patch of land that we can build up.

L–R: Anastasia Bucsis and Diana Matheson got married in Montana

SUMMER CAMPS + PROGRAMS

Our guide brings together some of the city’s finest camps and programs. It’s our hope that the guide will help your children achieve their dreams, make new friends and gain an appreciation of nature.

Debate Camp

Debate Camp provides an engaging, skills-enrichment summer opportunity for students in grades 4 through 10. In 2025 we are excited to once again bring Debate Camp to the Toronto area, with 2 locations - and 5 weeks of day camp to choose from! Our day camps are located in Forest Hill and Lawrence Park area (with daily bus r/t from Richmond Hill available in August). Also new in 2025 is our Ottawa Overnight Debate Camp - with accompanied train service r/t from Union Station. We offer a well-loved program in public speaking, parliamentary debate and Model United Nations - open to all ability levels. Daily schedule also includes organized games, impromptu speaking, drama and interactive activities to ensure camp retains a fun and balanced approach to learning. Important and timeless skills for this generation. Join us in 2025!

CAMP DIRECTOR: Nick Szymanis

SUMMER CAMPS + PROGRAMS

Camp Tanamakoon

Since 1925 Tanamakoon girls have returned year after year to develop life time skills and friendships in Ontario's pristine Algonquin Park. Parents can feel secure with the knowledge that we pride ourselves in hiring compassionate, caring and highly skilled staff. Tanamakoon preserves traditional camp values while promoting self esteem in all campers. Developing character, fostering compassion, learning respect for others and the environment and instilling a sense of taking responsibility for themselves are part of everyday life at Tanamakoon. Tanamakoon will provide your daughter with an exceptional experience that will develop skills she can use throughout the rest of her life. Algonquin Park provides the perfect natural environment that gives girls permission to “unplug” and to lead a simpler more gentle life. 3 day Kindercamp, 6 day Minicamp and 2 and 4 week sessions

Bayview Glen Camp

Since 1962, we have been creating unforgettable summer memories for thousands of children as one of Toronto's longest-running day camps. Bayview Glen offers enriched, age-appropriate programs for campers ages 4-6, specialty camps for campers 7-12, and a leadership program for campers 13-15. We also offer an inclusion program for campers requiring additional support. Single- and multi-week registration options are available. Join us on the centrally located, secure, and air-conditioned campus of Bayview Glen School, where campers can enjoy sports fields, a theatre, tech/robotics labs, art studios, gymnasiums, outdoor spaces, and more. Specialty camps include art, basketball, soccer, musical theatre, dance, magic, coding, and robotics. We even offer off-site specialty camps like sailing and lake days! Convenient bus depot pick-up and drop-off points are located throughout the GTA! Make this summer one to remember with us!

Enriching Girls Lives Since 1925

“Where Growth and Fun Walk Hand in Hand"

Girls 4-16 Years Sessions:

- Kindercamp Girls 4-6 years

- Mini Camp 6 day sessions

- Two week + Four week options

SPRING FAMILY WEEKENDS

Open to all families, whether you're a longtime friend of Tanamakoon or discovering us for the first time. Join us for a weekend retreat like no other!

CAMP TYPE: Overnight Camp

AGE RANGE: 4-16 yrs

TOTAL ENROLMENT: 200

CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: 3:1

SESSION LENGTH: Varies

SESSION COST: Varies

CAMP DIRECTOR:

CONTACT: 905-338-9464 tanamakoon.com

CAMP TYPE: Day Camp

AGE RANGE: 4-13

TOTAL ENROLMENT: N/A

CAMPER/STAFF RATIO:

Patti Thom

Located in the Heart of Algonquin Park

SUMMER CAMPS + PROGRAMS

Medics Camp

Dive into the unique world of Medics Camp, where Kids are Doctors for a Week! As one of the few STEM.org-accredited programs in Ontario, we immerse kids ages 5-12 in medical science, health, and the human body with hands-on activities, real medical equipment, and exciting experiments and specimens. Each themed week—Discover, Explore, and Forensic Med—offers fun-filled learning tailored to every age group. Our programs build confidence, curiosity, and collaboration while fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Teens ages 13-17 can join the FALCON program to earn Red Cross first aid certification and develop leadership abilities. With age-specific groups and engaging, learner-driven programming, Medics Camp inspires young minds and future healthcare professionals. It’s more than a camp—it’s a foundation for the future. Dive into medical science, make lifelong friends, and have fun. Your medical journey starts here!

Camp Big Canoe

For 8 to 14 year old campers, an unforgettable overnight camp experience on our own private lake! Days are filled with swimming, paddling, crafting and so much more, including our legendary campfires, campwide games, theme days and canoe trips. Our "Outdoor Skills" and "Leader In Training" programs give 15 and 16 year olds the opportunity to earn OSSD credits while learning valuable outdoor and leadership skills. If your 6 to 9 year old camper is ready for an overnight camp experience, PeeWee Camp is ready for them! Experienced staff welcome campers to a fun and safe introduction to camping at Big Canoe in this 5-day stay. Session 1 June 30 (12 days), Lego Robotics Camp July 6 (5 days), Session 2 July 14 (12 days), PeeWee July 25 (5 days), Session 3A July 29 (5 days), Session 3B August 3 (6 days), Session 4 August 12 (12 days), LIT, Outdoor Skills - July and August Sessions.

CAMP TYPE: Day Camp

AGE RANGE: Ages 5-12 (traditional) and ages 13-17 (first aid leaders)

CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: 6:1 / 8:1 / 10:1

SESSION LENGTH: one week (3 themes) SESSION COST: $449

CAMP DIRECTOR: Amanda Farris

CONTACT: 647-428-0004 www.medicscamp.com

DIRECTOR: Ian McTavish

FOOD

When the late Anthony Bourdain spent 30 hours in Toronto for The Layover in 2012, he made sure to hit some of the city’s best eats. Now, with the Lunch Lady — a Bourdain favourite from Vietnam — opening a location on Ossington, it’s the perfect time to revisit three of his top Toronto picks. At Porchetta & Co., Bourdain raved about their signature sandwich, thanks to

The late, great Anthony Bourdain’s top spot for Vietnamese eats lands in T.O.

tender pork shoulder wrapped in prosciutto. He also stopped by Carousel Bakery at St. Lawrence Market for Toronto’s iconic peameal bacon sandwich, followed by a classic Canadian butter tart. Finally, at the Burger’s Priest, Bourdain couldn’t resist joking about the indulgent, artery-clogging creations, proving he was all in for their over-the-top burgers.

Clockwise from left: The Lunch Lady’s Vietnamese dishes, the infamous peameal on a bun, Bourdain filming, Porchetta & Co.’s signature sammy

THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED RYE

We're smoking the competition in a delicious deli showdown: Centre Street Deli, rooted in Montreal’s Snowdon Deli, faces SumiLicious, born from a Schwartz’s Deli vet (yes, the Céline Dion one!). Anthony Rose, of Fat Pasha, and Vito Marinucci, of 7 Numbers, judge Toronto’s top deli favourites.

SumiLicious

5631 Steeles Ave. E., #5, Scarborough Established: 2018

VS.

ROUND 1 - COLESLAW

SumiLicious: Anthony: 3.25/5, Vito: 4/5

Centre Street Deli: Anthony: 3.25/5, Vito: 3.5/5

Vito and Anthony had different takes on the coleslaw. Anthony thought Centre Street’s was “classic” but a bit “pedestrian,” preferring the crunch and pickle kick in SumiLicious. Vito liked the peppery, pickley flavour at SumiLicious and found it more exciting.

ROUND 2 - FRENCH FRIES

SumiLicious: Anthony: 3.5/5, Vito: 4/5

Centre Street Deli: Anthony: 5/5, Vito: 4.5/5

When it came to the fries, Anthony loved the Montreal-style ones from Centre Street Deli – crispy and soft. He thought they had that perfect old-school vibe, and Vito agreed. Vito also liked the spice on the fries from SumiLicious even if Anthony wasn’t a fan of the starchiness. They agreed on one thing – fries are always a good idea.

ROUND 3 - SMOKED MEAT SANDWICH

SumiLicious: Anthony: 8/10, Vito: 8.5/10

Centre Street Deli: Anthony: 7.5/10, Vito: 6.5/10

Vito thought Centre Street’s smoked meat was too thin, while Anthony found it a bit underwhelming. On the flip side, Vito loved the hand-cut brisket at SumiLicious, calling it perfectly balanced, and Anthony was all about the well-sliced meat and spices. When it came to pickles, both agreed SumiLicious nailed the crunch and garlic, while Centre Street’s were more classic.

Centre Street Deli

1136 Centre St., Thornhill Established: 1988

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the hot List

EATER’S DIGEST: A laundromat goes for a spin, a bar rocks maple, plus a French fave closes

Bonito’s on Ossington is the retro hangout you didn’t know you needed. A former laundromat now decked out with '70s wood panelling and sports memorabilia, this spot serves up a playful mix of Latin and Korean-inspired comfort food like hamachi ceviche and stuffed chicken wings.

The new St. Lawrence Market North building is now open, bringing the iconic Saturday Farmer’s Market back to 92 Front St. The five-storey space is a sleek upgrade from its temporary setup, featuring a bustling Market Hall, green roof and plenty of parking. Although vendors continue to bring seasonal produce, the new building’s modern amenities ensure an elevated experience for both shoppers and local businesses.

Tha Phae Tavern, the latest from Pai and Kiin’s Nuit and Jeff Regular, has landed in Toronto and it’s anything but your average Thai restaurant. Killer cocktails, crave-worthy Thai bites with a twist and private karaoke rooms where you can let loose and sing like no one’s watching (even if they are). This is the spot to hang out, eat, drink and do it all again tomorrow.

Grizzly Bar on Queen Street West is Toronto’s first Canadian-themed bar, serving up Ontario wings in maple-whisky sauce, Quebec bison burgers and Montreal smoked meat. With local drinks, Canadian tunes and comedy from Second City, it’s the ultimate spot to celebrate all things Canada.

The masterminds behind Toronto’s Delysees just unveiled Campaniae, a champagne lounge with French Moroccan vibes. The menu features a vari-

ety of Moroccan-inspired shareable plates, desserts reimagined as cocktails and champagne from the finest producers.

The team behind Papi Chulo’s and Aleria, is set to drop two must-visit spots this spring: Papi & Rosita’s and Little Ese. With tacos, pizza and pasta, Papi & Rosita’s promises a high-energy vibe across two levels, and Little Ese is poised to be Queen West’s go-to hangout for shareables and patio fun.

Cassius Cucina Contemporanea is set to redefine King West’s dining scene when it opens in May. Unapologetically original, the space combines authentic Italian cuisine with striking design, shifting effortlessly from refined dining to a high-energy social hub, bringing an entirely new vibe to the neighbourhood.

Greta Solomon’s, the beloved Leslieville bistro that captured hearts for nearly a decade, has closed its doors for good. Owner Darlene Mitchell confirmed the news on Instagram, expressing pride in the restaurant’s legacy. Since 2016, the French-inspired spot has been known for its intimate atmosphere and creative dishes.

After 32 years, Golden Wheat Bakery in Little Italy has shuttered its doors permanently. Known for its breads and Portuguese desserts, the familyowned bakery bid farewell, thanking loyal customers and employees. The second location on Rogers Road remains open, as rents continue to pressure small businesses across Toronto.

The 10 hottest reservations in and around town Mediterranean-Asian punchy refreshing Violet and the dream-like

Argentine steak house with mouth-watering cuts, plus $20 steak frites deals.

Nobu Continues to impress with luxurious dining and cutting-edge dishes.

Jamil’s Chaat House Serves up authentic Pakistani-inspired chaat and creative dishes.

Tha Phae Tavern Rumeli This new spot with regal decor serves upscale Turkish cuisine.

Linny’s

Chef David Schwartz’s Linny’s blends nostalgia and theatre with a unique steak-deli twist.

Medusa

A Greek feast awaits at Medusa, transporting you straight to the Aegean with every bite.

Tha Phae Tavern’s Jeff and Nuit Reguar, French Moroccan eats from Campaniae

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A taste of Florence comes to midtown

A new midtown sandwich spot is taking customers on a trip to Italy through schiacciata — a Tuscan flatbread somewhat similar to focaccia, though thinner, crispier and chewier.

Despite opening in February, Ariete E Toro has quickly earned comparisons to Florence’s iconic All’Antico Vinaio, with its artisan sandwiches flying off the shelves. The constant sellouts prove this new spot is already a hit in Toronto.

“Simple yet refined and classy,” is how the owners of Ariete E Toro describe schiacciata. Opening a sandwich shop dedicated to the bread, they say, was inspired by a trip to Italy last summer.

with Gorgonzola and pear crudo to a beef brisket with pesto genovese and fior di latte, each sandwich is unique and is complemented by the crunchy schiacciata.

ROLL CALL

The spot is the city's only dedicated schiacciata shop bringing a taste of Tuscany with every bite.

“We visited many awesome food spots but schiacciata sandwiches stuck out for us,” says one of the owners. “I thought we should do a concept like this back home.”

Ariete E Toro, named after the Aries and Taurus astrological signs, offers freshly made bread picked up daily from a local bakery and made-to-order sandwiches with high-quality ingredients. From a 16-month aged prosciutto di montagna

Guests can also build their own sandwiches, choosing from a wide selection of cured meats, like spianata, porchetta and mortadella, along with an array of vegetables, cheeses and spreads. The sandwiches can be paired with flavoured Italian soda drinks including San Pellegrino, Niasca Portofino and Strappi. There is also a small instore wholesale section where you can find authentic Italian products to bring home with you.

Ariete E Toro's midtown location is selling out fast, but soon, it’ll have more inventory to meet lunch rush demand. The menu will soon feature seven sandwiches, plus weekly specials. In the coming months, Ariete E Toro plans to add seasonal sandwiches, salads, Italian gelato and, as the weather warms, a coffee program with an outdoor patio.

Ariete E Toro is located at 12 Keewatin Ave.

—Megan Gallant

JAMIE DEMPSTER

One of the shop’s offerings is the mortadella with pistachio pesto

Rick Silver on T.O.’s best and worst bites

Toronto’s dining scene never slows down and neither does food influencer Rick Silver (@dicksworld). He’s back to deliver more of his unfiltered critiques on four spots that are either living up to the hype or falling flat. When Rick speaks, you listen.

1. Miznon: This Middle Eastern spot serves the fluffiest pita sandwiches in town. Try the hummus with pitas and a bag of brisket loaded with meat and onions. Even if you're not a fan of cauliflower, the roasted mini head is a musttry. Multiple locations, including 1235 Bay St.

The Rating: 9.1/10

The Rating: 7.3/10

Final Bite: Next time, go for the special.

3. Crudo: Epic Italian sandwiches, made hot and fresh with classic toppings, served from a small Etobicoke plaza. When I say it’s worth both the drive and the wait, trust me — it really is. Just be warned, it might take you half an hour just to find a parking spot! 1451 Royal York Rd.

The Rating: 9.7/10

CAULI CHIC

It was at Miznon Paris that the nowiconic roasted cauliflower pita was introduced.

Final Bite: Prepare to wait, or skip it altogether.

Final Bite: If you love a good pita, this place is a must-try.

2. Sisters & Co: People rave about Sisters & Co, but here’s my take: the eggs were perfect, and the sourdough was nice, but the bacon and potatoes, though seasoned well, were deep-fried and underwhelming. Should’ve gone for the apple crumble pancake special — my bad. 887 Dundas St. W., 7725 Birchmount Rd.

4. The Burger Shack: This iconic flamegrilled burger spot never misses. The 50year-old grill adds flavours few other burger joints can match. Fresh-cut fries complete the package. The decor, straight out of the '70s, is untouched and never needs, nor should ever get, an update. 233 Eglinton Ave. W.

The Rating: 10/10

Final Bite: Don’t take it to go — stay and get the full experience.

RICK

Rick Silver doing what he does best, the chicken pita from Miznon

SILVER is a Toronto food influencer, always on the hunt for the best eats in the city.

BEFORE AFTER

Before you go... take a look at how much our city has changed over the years. 1964 vs. 2025 1950 vs. 2025 1964 vs. 2025

City hall’s distinct twin towers and circular podium have remained a staple in Toronto's architectural identity. Kensington

FABULOUS YORK MILLS HOME

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PRESTIGIOUS BANBURY HOME

Offered at $2,895,000

Thoughtfully designed home on 60’ x 120’ lot. Updated kitchen w/walk-out.

Offered at $7,399,000

8,000

Offered at $4,280,000

Over 4,500 sq.ft. of elegance. Striking two-storey foyer w/ circular staircase. ST. ANDREWS CUSTOM

SPRAWLING WINDFIELDS HOME Offered at $5,995,000

Grand 8,300 sq.ft. residence w/finest luxe appointments on pie shaped lot.