North Toronto Post December 2021

NY-DEC-21-OFC_Layout 1 2021-11-18 11:30 AM Page 1

SWISH CHALETS THREE VERY MERRY MOUNTAIN HOMES HIT THE MARKET!

Fleece on Earth JEANNE BEKER ON THE CITY’S COSIEST CASHMERE

T.O.’S 21 MOST INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN OF 2021

DECEMBER 2021 · VOLUME 23 · ISSUE 3

NT-DEC-2021-IFC_IFC 2021-11-15 3:42 PM Page 1

When it came time to sell our house, I knew I would ask Kathy to be our realtor. Kathy took great care when selling both my mom’s house and my aunt’s house. I think of her as our family realtor! Kathy took care of all our worries about moving including managing all the clutter that had accumulated over our 20 years in our home.

Kathy’s warm guidance was there to help find a solution to all of the challenges when selling a house. The house selling process felt like I had a caring family member helping me every step of the way.

Kathy’s level of service is unparalleled and I would choose Kathy as my realtor again and again!

— Emily O’Brien

Platinum Service Broker

KATHYMCLACHLAN.COM 416.399.6153 IT’S ALL ABOUT SERVICE ® Kathy McLachlan, Broker of Record RE/MAX Hallmark Kathy McLachlan Group Realty Ltd. Brokerage 170 Merton Street, Suite 103, Toronto M4S 1A1

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 2021

Welcome to this month’s Post.

Sit back & enjoy.

SWISH CHALETS Three very merry mountain homes hit the market

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A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN TV host Meredith Shaw and chef Rodney Bowers on their epic proposal

43

HOLIDAY TAKEOUT STAKEOUT Two of T.O.’s best chefs sample a pair of delicious Chinese favourites

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FLEECE ON EARTH Jeanne Beker's guide to the cosiest cashmere in town

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@aritzia.com

DECEMBER 2021

T.O.’S MOST INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN The city’s 21 most inspiring women of 2021

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NEWS

CITYSCAPE

TORONTO THE GOOD

Could T.O. finally land an NFL expansion franchise?

Plus, new affordable housing rules and community activism

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Could Toronto finally land a bona fide NFL team?

During an interview on an American sports talk radio show, an NFL

insider name-dropped Toronto as the possible site of an NFL team should the league decide on expansion. The idea of an NFL team in the city has long been the subject of intense speculation, but the same stumbling blocks always got in the way, including a massive new stadium that would invariably require government support in addition to the conflict with the Canadian Football League and the fact that an individual, not a corporation such as Rogers or Bell, would need to step up to pay an expansion fee that could top $1.5 billion. Still, in typical Canadian fashion, we appreciate just being mentioned. And in doing so, it set off a wave of social media banter between those for and against an NFL team in Toronto.

Toronto City Council has voted to adopt a new Inclusionary Zoning policy that will require developers to include affordable housing in their developments. The city is the first in Ontario to implement such a policy. It will require new developments with over 100 units total and near major transit stations to make five to 10 per cent of rental and ownership units affordable beginning in 2022. Those who qualify should make between $32,486 and $91,611 in annual income, and the units would be priced at no more than 30 per cent of their monthly income.“This comprehensive Inclusionary Zoning policy will get more affordable housing built in our city,” Mayor John Tory said in a statement. “It will ensure that our city remains vibrant and strong as it continues to grow.

If you were driving on Bathurst Street, just north of Davenport, you

might have seen the largest “Notice of Violation” signage you may ever have come across. After 15 years of complaints to city hall falling on deaf ears, residents living in Ward 12, Toronto–St Paul’s decided to poster over two billboards they say have no permits, and they claim that there are dozens of additional corporate billboards around Toronto operated illegally. Calling out the billboards as being “visual pollution without a permit,” Dave Meslin, founder of the non-profit Toronto Public Space Committee, believes that the city’s public spaces should be democratically controlled by the people who inhabit the area.

CITYSCAPE

THE POST INTERVIEW

Mayor Tory’s message of hope for Toronto

NEWS

BY THE NUMBERS

At the end of a very trying year, Mayor John Tory sits down for a chat about the pandemic, whether or not he plans to run in the 2022 municipal election and his message to local residents during the holiday season by Ron Johnson

38 The number of outdoor skating rinks in Toronto that are now open to the public, without last year’s booking requirements.

30 The age of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray, who just won the American League Cy Young Award for best pitcher.

Mayor John Tory has made homelessness a priority since the last election

What have you learned from the pandemic?

What I've seen in the face of something like this, which is absolutely unprecedented and that affected everybody in some way or other, whether it's health or otherwise, was how people reacted to it. And I saw a tremendous reaction, which I've often commented on, in facing an attack where people stepped up to help others.

When you see something happen like the flooding in B.C., what goes through your head as mayor?

You know, thank goodness we haven't experienced anything like that. But the real kind of reasoning behind our declaring a climate emergency here was because of things like that, that could happen here.

One city councillor has already decided not to run in the next election.

Do you think more will follow suit?

Is there burnout?

Nobody has said so to me. It's been a trying period of time, but at the same time, it also reminds you of the fact that some other things were put a bit onto the side burner, because you just couldn't deal with it during an emergency, and you might want to proceed forward with it. I mean, notwithstanding the pandemic, we continue to make immense progress on affordable and supportive housing. And I'm happy about that. So I think a lot of people are thinking like I am, which is, well, there were things that just got put a bit

to the side because of the pandemic, and that, you know, if you really believe those things need to get done and that you believe that you can get behind them in a way that perhaps others couldn't, that might cause people to stay.

I should ask then, if you are planning to run again?

I would have to sit down and have discussions. The first discussion is with your family and whether they will, you know, put up with you doing this on a continuing basis, because there's no doubt it affects your family life.

Second is yourself and whether you want to continue to do this kind of work, which you understand enough about it to know it's unusual in the context of some of the demands that it makes on you. And then the third is that discussion that says, well can you be of benefit to people by your remaining in office.

Our issue is dedicated to the city’s most inspirational women. Who inspires you?

I just think that this is the time when the reflection that naturally comes your way as to what inspires you or who inspires you is, you know, the example, after example, after example of these community organizations that have always existed but really came to the fore during the pandemic. And the executive directors of some of these organizations that are relatively anonymous, you know, but played extraordinary roles.

14 The estimated size of a pack of wild boars said to be roaming the countryside northeast of Toronto.

9 The age at which Matrix Resurrections—which hits theatres this month—star Keanu Reeves made his stage acting debut in T.O.

7 The deadline date in December for commenting on the new name for the former Ryerson University.

DECEMBER 2021

Take hope from what we just went through, you know, because it shows that the fundamental foundations, the fundamental values and the fundamental approach of Torontonians, to supporting each other in tough times, it's all still there. And that as the pandemic recedes, it's going to come to the fore again.

It's already started to happen. People should be incredibly optimistic about the future this city has. And you know, I'm not bullish just because I'm a cheerleader. Of course, I'm a cheerleader, because I want to try and make people inspired and confident about the future. But I'm bullish because I believe all the fundamentals are there to have us bounce back stronger than ever. And I just believe that is going to happen. It just requires a bit more patience and a bit more time. But all the fundamentals are there. So people should have hope. And they should give each other hope and make sure they don't show their frustration because I know it's been frustrating, to say the least, but be hopeful, be inspired and inspire others.

What has surprised you?

The notion that we, as a city, are approaching 90 per cent of people fully vaccinated is extraordinary. And I don't think people who have been part of that, I mean, we provided the infrastructure, but I don't think they realize, in global terms, how extraordinary an accomplishment this is and how it is helping us today, to be in better shape in terms of the pandemic.

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We need this holiday season more than ever Highlighting those who inspire and remembering to not forget the past year

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YORKVILLE POST (CONDO EDITION)

DUFFERIN

public spaces and on the people that stepped up when we needed them most. The shopkeepers who kept their stores open and created safe spaces for people to get groceries is just one example.

We focused more on a peoplecentred city where bicycles were born-again and ridership boomed, on carving out new park and café space in the most unique of places – our streets.

We were ingenious in some ways and faltered in others. It will be a long but very important process to figure out a way forward that truly benefits all of us.

But for now, we have the holidays, and we have earned them. In this month’s edition, we have features on a slew of festive stage shows around town in December, delicious new restaurants and holiday treats for kids as well as what local business associations are doing to draw shoppers to our main street businesses. Let’s all shop and eat locally this month!

We kick things off by interviewing Mayor John Tory a year prior to the next city election.

From all of us here at Post City, the best of the holiday season to you all and have a happy and very healthy new year!

Kristine Hughes

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Our December editions are always a joy to produce. For the last six years, we have highlighted many people we consider to be the most inspiring in the city.

It’s meant to inspire, sure. It’s also meant to highlight how many interesting and thoughtful people we have in this amazing town of ours.

This has been the toughest period in the lives of many Torontonians, myself included.

My family and I have never been through anything close to what we’ve all been through, and the healing process will be long.

I do believe, for myself, I want to jump back as quickly as possible into something approaching normal and try to forget about things for a while.

I did that when the El Mocambo opened up last month, and I found myself strolling up Spadina Avenue towards the neon palms, the same way I did when I moved to the big city decades ago.

I stood shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers and shared an experience. It wasn’t magical. It was great, the venue is incredible, but I was nervous.

I think at some point we need to reconcile with the past two years. Despite wanting to get back to normal as quickly as possible, there are lessons to be learned and thoughts to be shared. As a city, I think collectively we can become even stronger. We understand about the focus on public health, on

Erin Neilly

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One of our cover story’s inspiring women, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan of TV show ‘Never Have I Ever’

Dorothy Chudzinski Lindsay Low

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NEWS

What is the metaverse? People don’t really know, but since Mark Zuckerberg decided to turn Facebook into Meta and embrace the metaverse, we all want to.

Turns out, the name has local Toronto roots. The original Meta was a AI startup founded by two Lawrence Park siblings Sam Molyneux and Amy Molyneux from their parents’ house in the upscale North Toronto neighbourhood. In 2017,

Meta merged with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which is owned by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. When Zuckerberg decided to embrace the virtual reality metaverse, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative announced the rebranding of Facebook taking the Meta name. Sam Molyneux had already left to establish a new venture dubbed Poppy Health Inc.

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The Toronto roots of the metaverse

DECEMBER 2021

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A rendering of the new development proposed for 110-116 Avenue Rd.

Yannex residents don’t want new development Yorkville/Annex heritage street not the place for looming building

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A condominium development proposed on the site of two heritage buildings on Avenue Road in the Annex is causing concern amongst local residents of the adjacent residential street.

The site is 110–116 Avenue Rd., running between Tranby Avenue and Bernard Avenue. For those keeping an eye on the news, part of the address was the location of a large fire that occurred seven years ago and destroyed the historic building at 116 Avenue Rd. and permanently damaged 114 Avenue Rd. But with the new development application comes news that the developer has pledged to fully restore the existing heritage homes as part of the redevelopment process.

“Yes, they are totally restoring 110 and 112 Avenue Rd.,” said Sandra Shaul, of the Annex Residents’ Association. “One hundred ten has had a sort of a modern storefront added to the front of it. That’s going, and so you’ll have the original house front restored. So that's the good news. The bad news is we lost two houses.”

Some residents, especially those on neighbouring Tranby Avenue, think the plan is a bad one: too big, with an ingress to the new development on the very narrow Tranby.

“Tranby Avenue is one of the most charming, most historic and

quite possibly the narrowest street in the city,” said Tranby resident Jennifer Jolley. “The city requires all homeowners on Tranby to preserve the heritage of their homes when renovating, and yet this proposed building is not at all in keeping with the ‘look and feel’ of the street. It is inappropriate to allow a nine-storey project to loom over the three-storey Victorian and Edwardian houses with ingress and egress from and onto these narrow heritage streets.”

Jolley said that more than 70 per cent of Tranby residents have sent letters and emails to local city councillor Mike Layton in an attempt to thwart the proposed development.

“There have been over 50 wellwritten, impassioned letters sent by residents, some of whom have lived on this street for 50 years and some who have lived on this street for one year or less,” said Jolley. “They are in complete agreement in their opposition to the proposed development and have offered constructive suggestions.”

Jolley said, if a development were to proceed on the site, she would like to see the ingress/egress moved to Avenue Road and away from the narrow side street, that it be a building that complements the unique character of the area and that both heritage homes are maintained.

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Mt. Pleasant facing condo overload?

Influx of thousands coming to quaint nabe Residents near Mount Pleasant Road and Eglinton Avenue East can expect big changes coming to the neighbourhood over the next decade as development of midrises and highrises picks up.

There are currently approximately 45 towers and mid-rises in the works for the midtown area, according to South Eglinton Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (SERRA) president Andy Gort.

He said that the population near Soudan Avenue, just south of Eglinton, will increase from around 6,600 people to up to 20,000 people.

“It’s a huge population increase,” he said. “And I haven’t seen a sidewalk being widened yet.”

Gort is concerned that the onslaught of developments may change the area’s character — defined by small, quaint storefronts — forever as the decidedly low-rise street will gain a number of 20- to 30storey buildings.

The developments are even targeting beloved neighbourhood staples, such as the Mabel's Fables bookstore and the art deco Capitol Theatre, leaving the question of what the neighbourhood will be like in a decade.

“I’ve seen renderings of when it’s all built out, and you’re going to get a bit of a ‘canyon effect,’ ” Gort said. “It feels a little bit like the soul is disappearing out of the area.”

A development application for 733 Mount Pleasant Rd.

originally called for nine storeys, when submitted in 2018, but was changed to 27 storeys after the province eased restrictions on tower height for the area, according to local councillor Josh Matlow.

This development is one of three highrise condominium applications adding significant growth to Mount Pleasant that arrived at last month’s Toronto City Council meeting for decisions of some sort. The other developments are slated for 808 Mount Pleasant Rd., along with

“The community isn’t just left with just another soulless generic glass facade.”

700–730 Mount Pleasant Rd. that is parcelled with 214–226 Soudan Ave. and 19–21 Brownlow Ave. And that’s just one meeting.

There isn’t much the City of Toronto can do about it, said Josh Matlow. He explained that the current policies set by the Province of Ontario favour developers over community building.

One tool at the city’s disposal, though, is “heritage listing.”

Back in 2017, Matlow helped lead a push to have 258

by Eric Stober properties listed in the city’s Heritage Register — 86 of which are along Mount Pleasant Road.

City council approved all of the listings for Mount Pleasant, which means that the owners of the properties must give 60 days' warning before demolition to allow heritage staff to assess the property and see if it should be “designated heritage,” which would provide further protections to the property.

Matlow said there is often a misunderstanding about heritage listing: that it slows down development. It doesn’t (but it is an opportunity to help preserve the building’s character).

He said there is often room for compromise between heritage listing and designation that allows developments to continue while still preserving elements of a building’s facade.

For example, plans for the Capitol Theatre will preserve elements of the theatre’s face that date back to 1914 while building a 14-storey condo in the back.

Think of it like the mullet of developments.

That kind of compromise may allow Mount Pleasant to retain some of its character while expanding vertically, according to Matlow. “[So] the community isn’t just left with just another soulless generic glass facade,” he said. “If a new building is able to incorporate materiality and the character that the community really appreciates… why wouldn’t you try?”

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Affordable housing is desperately needed as prices escalate in Little Jamaica

Midtown Green P could be affordable housing Local councillor wants Eglinton Avenue lot to transform to community hub

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by Eric Stober

12

Toronto City Council has voted to explore further whether a Green P parking lot in Little Jamaica can be a site for affordable housing.

City councillor Mike Colle hopes to transform the parking lot near the northwest corner of Dufferin Street and Eglinton Avenue West, into a 10-storey building featuring about 100 affordable housing units and a community hub on the first floor or two.

The Green P parking lot at 20 Shortt St. could also be included underground, Colle said. The site is now flagged to potentially be added to the city’s Housing Now initiative, which helps fast-track affordable housing projects.

Colle estimates the project could be done in two years.

“We need to get this affordable housing in place before all of the property in the city is basically taken up by luxury condos and luxury rental,” he said. “We're losing any potential supply of affordability because condos are going up.”

Little Jamaica is especially threatened by a slew of developments that could outprice current residents near the future Fairbanks LRT station.

The prices for the affordable units would be set according to the city’s affordable housing guidelines, which say that rental units should be set at 80 per cent

or lower of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) average market rent.

Colle estimates a rental unit would be about $1,000 a month, and said it is geared for those who make between $30,000 to $60,000 a year.

“We have a severe shortage of affordable housing in Toronto,” he said. “That’s why we have to take every opportunity.”

Local resident and administrator for the Little Jamaica Community Association, Kimberly Daley, said the community is in support of the idea, especially the inclusion of a community hub.

“There’s nothing in the neighbourhood,” she said, “no public health offices, no community services … it’s really needed up here.”

Daley also recognized the need for affordable housing as prices in the area are skyrocketing.

“I don’t know where they think people will live,” she said. “[It is] prohibitively expensive for young people.”

Daley said that the initiative can help the area feel like a neighbourhood, rather than have people stuck in “silos of condos.”

“That’s not what builds a healthy community,” she said.

“Somebody has to take charge and make sure we have a nice walkable, vibrant area.”

NEIGHBOURHOOD

NEWS

Residents say the proposed development at 1648-1670 Avenue Road is not in keeping with neighbourhood character

North York condo plan disappoints Goldberg Group, on behalf of the owners of the property, Starbank West Corporation.

On Nov. 16, the application was circulated to city divisions for feedback. Following that, there will be a preliminary report, a committee and North York Community Council meeting and then a final city council decision.

“We've had preliminary discussions. It meets a lot of the mid-rise guideline objectives,” said Ben DiRaimo, a Toronto city planner. “It's not a highrise. It's the kind of development at nine

“We can help them realize the importance of their respectful approach.” storeys, which we think is appropriate for a street like Avenue Road.”

Although he stressed the development had yet to be approved, and may not be at all, he also calls the area the “new Yorkville” in a lot of ways.

“We have not approved it. We have not encouraged this, but we do set out an official plan,” he said. “And we set out indicators of where we'd like development to go. And one place where we see development happening is on Avenue.”

One point in the proposal’s favour, from a city planner’s point

of view, is the mid-rise building’s ability to intensify major streets without burdening the surrounding neighbourhood.

But representatives of a local residents group are disappointed by the proposal and point to the City of Toronto’s Avenue Road Study requirements that the plan is exceeding in numerous ways.

“The application doesn’t respect the Avenue Road Study requirements,” said Frances Rochette of the Upper Avenue Community Association.

Rochette explained that the building height at 36.5 metres is 14 metres over the permitted height of 22.5 metres and the nine- or 10-storey building is not in keeping with the character of Avenue Road, in addition to questions about angular plane requirements and balconies projecting into the required stepback.

“We welcome new investments in Avenue that help grow our community. However, it is insulting to the community when developers choose to ignore the character of the neighbourhood for their sole benefit,” said Rochette. “We hope that in working collaboratively with the city, councillor Colle and the developer, we can help them realize the importance of their respectful approach to this new application.”

The staff of Ward 8 Councillor Mike Colle declined to comment on the proposal at this time, citing it will first need to be reviewed by City of Toronto Planning staff and the councillor’s own team.

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DECEMBER 2021

Recently, an application was submitted to Toronto City Council for a proposed redevelopment of 1648–1670 Avenue Rd. It’s a large development for this area, which is mainly composed of older buildings of two and three storeys.

But there are many applications and developments on the way, and local residents have concerns.

There are numerous approved seven-storey buildings on Avenue Road and a large development proposed for the corner of Avenue and Lawrence Avenue West with buildings of more than 10 storeys.

The development site is on the west side of Avenue Road between Cranbrooke Avenue and Brookdale Avenue, across the road from the Avenue Nissan dealership.

The development plan would transform the strip into a mixeduse building, with a total nonresidential gross floor area of 830 square metres, and a residential gross floor area of 13,155.10 square metres.

The proposed redevelopment of the site is for a nine-storey mixed-use building. A total of 58 residential dwelling units are proposed with 87 vehicular parking spaces (24 for visitors) and 90 bicycle parking spaces below grade. The residential units would be larger than an average condominium building with the majority, 55 per cent, having three bedrooms.

The proposal comes from the land use planning consultancy

by Nicholas Sokic

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Residents concerned over Avenue Road proposal

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Canadian Bicycle Recycling

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STINTZ ON MIDTOWN

Donate Your Used Bicycles We’ll pick them up for free!

canadianbicyclerecycling.com Be sure to let us know which magazine you saw our ad in!

Knowing which neighbourhoods respond, helps us help others!

The majority of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings

T.O.’s natural gas crunch

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Toronto needs bold action to create a climate-friendly city of the future

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The effects of climate change are being felt across the nation and across the globe. The Cop26 Summit is not the only place where action on climate change is being discussed. In 2019, Toronto City Council unanimously passed a motion declaring a climate emergency. The motion set the framework for the actions that will be required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions so that the global temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The action plan arrives for the December city council meeting and will outline what the city, and each of us, will need to undertake to reach the stated goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

Since 57 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the City come from homes using natural gas, the plan will need to address its widespread use in most of the buildings and homes.

The current goal is to phase out natural gas by 2030 and ensure all new buildings are constructed to produce near zero greenhouse gas emissions. The enormity of phasing out natural gas cannot be understated and could result in significant increases to the average home’s electricity bill and rolling brown-outs.

While the City cannot control when natural gas is phased out, there are things that can be done at the local level to help promote sustainable development using clean power and the City is in position to advance sustainable development, especially along the waterfront.

Waterfront Toronto had a vision to build a modern city and partnered with Google on a plan to build the city of the future.

Sidewalk Labs, the subsidiary of Google, was hired to build the plan but got mired in controversy and closed up shop. But one of those ideas, which was largely overlooked, was the plan to build a thermal power grid that would rely on clean energy and had the potential to power an area much larger than the development site.

The waterfront still needs to be developed and there are current plans underway. This is the time for the City to figure out how to power those developments in a sustainable way that could lead the way forward to net-zero emissions.

There are many actions that we will all need to take over the next decade to reduce global emissions.

Designing and building zeroemissions homes is something that the City can contribute to since Toronto is the fastest growing city in North America.

Hopefully the City’s report will include some boldness and pragmatism alongside the platitudes.

KAREN STINTZ

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

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Broker, Senior Vice President, Sales 416-725-4256

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City councillor Joe Cressy announced he wouldn’t run in the next election

Loss of Cressy a blow to the city a political purpose and gets them to see a more reasonable and progressive position. He did that when he got Mayor John Tory to visit centres that supported those addicted to drugs and convinced him to advocate for safe drug injections sites and see five or six such sites established in the city.

He worked with people at city hall, in other cities in the province and at Queen’s Park to reverse the cuts to provincial public health funding and then to ensure that cities could

“It is a way of not making decisions, of not providing leadership.” respond more quickly and more reasonably to the COVID pandemic than the province showed any inclination to do.

Cressy’s view is clearly that if you talk to people openly and with conviction and appeal to their best instincts they will step up. His announcement about not running again concerned the personal: he wants to spend more time with his wife and his twoyear-old son.

One understands that, and good for him. But if we had a more active council, one that took responsibility for doing the things that Joe Cressy has been

doing, that would make more time for everyone to devote to family matters.

Losing Joe Cressy is a real blow to local politics.

We need a rejuvenation that Queen’s Park, which controls the mechanisms of city elections, refuses to grant. It won’t allow the number of wards to increase to bring in new blood, new ideas.

It won’t allow cities to reduce the voting age. It won’t allow residents who are not yet citizens to vote, even though they pay property taxes and, as newcomers, have many useful ideas that could be implemented.

Looking forward to the municipal election a year from now does not engender much enthusiasm. No new voices seem to be on the horizon, and too many councillors seem to think their main job is to ensure their re-election.

Well, maybe these dark thoughts are nothing more than a reaction to the coming of the dark winter days. Perhaps as the solstice turns and the days brighten up hope in a better political future for the city will return as well.

JOHN SEWELL

Post City Magazines’ columnist John Sewell is a former mayor of Toronto and the author of a number of urban planning books, including The Shape of the Suburbs.

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DECEMBER 2021

Maybe four years is too long a term for city councillors. They seem a tired bunch, but maybe some of us city residents are more exhausted than they are.

One thing that caught my tired eye was the city manager’s report that said he had a backlog of some 393 requests for reports on various issues from the city council and its committees.

That’s a vast number of items requiring a vast amount of time.

One way of looking at this is to say that the city manager needs a lot more staff just to respond to all that civic activism.

But a different perspective is to say that this great number of requests for reports is nothing more than councillors offloading issues onto the city staff rather than addressing them directly. It is a way of not making decisions, of not providing leadership, of avoiding taking a firm position with constituents and instead saying, “That’s an important issue and we have asked staff to report on it.”

Maybe the situation would be different if elections were held every two or three years, as happened three decades ago before the province imposed the four-year term limit.

All of which might help to explain the discouraging decision by councillor Joe Cressy that he will not run in the municipal election a year from now. Cressy has been one of the most active members of council. He works well with people who disagree with him on the fundamentals of

NelsonDenhamBrown.com NelsonDenhamBrown@sothebysrealty.ca

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Most on council seem unable to take a stand on big issues

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FEATURE

NEWS

community art organization to animate approximately 20 store windows with custom original holiday art created by local artists for all of the community to enjoy.

There is also a special promotion of gift vouchers valued at $25 each that can be used at any business in the BIA (with a few exceptions such as LCBO, Cannabis shops and Shoppers) to be used for purchases in the post holiday time January to March.

The Junction

© CNW Group/The Junction BIA

This year, the Junction BIA is bringing back its popular holiday art experience first introduced in 2021. This year’s event runs until Jan. 2 and promises to be even more spectacular as 30 to 40 local and international artists are set to create winter-inspired artwork that will be brought to life with augmented reality (AR). The first large-scale AR display of its kind to hit the streets of Toronto, it’s a new way for visitors to explore and shop the Junction and a great reason for families to get outside this winter.

L-R: Holiday windows in the Junction, and Instagram photo contests in Little Italy

Little Italy

Now that we are nearly two years in, it’s fair to say that small businesses have borne the brunt of the pandemic. Recent findings by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business show that many continue to struggle and that one in seven independent retailers are at risk of closing.

It is all hands on deck in an effort from local businesses to adapt to a changing landscape, rebrand and encourage Torontonians to support main street.

Local Toronto businesses have had to continually adjust to the “new normal” as fewer shoppers are entering brick-and-mortar stores or attending in-person events. With that in mind, Toronto City Council recently voted in favour of a 15 per cent reduction in property taxes for small businesses that will begin next year. And although that will help, more could be done, and that includes main streets rebranding as community destinations.

“Small businesses are the

backbone of our main streets and our neighbourhoods. If they don’t come back strong, we can’t come back strong,” said Mayor John Tory.

The City of Toronto has also launched a slew of programs to help local businesses this season, including the ShowLoveTO campaign that includes 280 TV spots and other advertising

"BIAs have had to be creative in coming up with ways to support their businesses as much as possible with lockdown constraints,” said Emma McInerney, events co-ordinator at Cabbagetown BIA. “At the Cabbagetown BIA, this has been done through new events that encourage people to shop local, disseminating information to our

“Small businesses are the backbone of our main streets and our neighbourhoods.” encouraging people to shop local.

There is also StrollTO, a program to encourage the exploration of Toronto neighbourhoods through guided walks. Part of the StrollTO program is NoVacancy, which helps local artists animate vacant storefronts.

Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) around the city have also stepped in to help.

businesses about City of Toronto grants and funding available to them, and through expanding our social media reach and featuring our member business online."

Here is a look at what some BIAs are doing. Get out there and support our main streets this holiday season.

Yonge & St. Clair

As businesses began to reopen

and social gatherings resumed, the folks at the Yonge & St. Clair BIA were among the first to rethink how storefronts could broaden their services to attract more customers. During the peak summer months, Patio, located at 1503 Yonge St., offered indecisive diners the opportunity to order food from 11 local restaurants, which were then delivered to one of 20 picnic tables via a QR code.

That’s just one of many clever activations this BIA has utilized to draw people to this growing midtown nabe.

There are also massive street murals aplenty, including the new WaterfallYSC art installation featuring flowing metal bands fashioned to resemble water.

The Eglinton Way

Always a very active BIA with an interest in public art as a way to draw shoppers to this stretch of Eglinton in midtown Toronto, this holiday season the Eglinton Way is launching a Window Wonderland installation. The BIA is partnering with Steps, a

Riverside and Queen Street West

Earlier this year, the Riverside BIA (Queen East) teamed up with the Queen Street West BIA to offer virtual walking tours that allowed visitors to peruse local public art from Canadian artists while learning the stories behind them. Queen and Riverside have joined forces again with #HolidaysOnQueen, a monthlong extravaganza that began on Nov. 14.

Leslieville

Leslieville’s annual holiday shopping experience, Wanderlust, is back for 2021. The month-long event includes a Santa scavenger hunt and three weeks of deals and giveaways. It culminates with a holiday competition Dec. 1 to 13 that will see storefronts sporting festive window displays.

DECEMBER 2021

From public art to augmented reality store windows, these collective retail hubs have gone glam and gorgeous and are taking no prisoners by Jennifer Schembri

Nestled in the heart of College Street, Little Italy brought back its popular 12 Days of Giveaways, but this year, it’s with a little help from social media.

This active BIA also launched a 10-day ice sculpture hunt that saw the Little Italy BIA “hiding” sculptures around the neighbourhood that visitors could then snap a pic of and share on Instagram.

| POST |

Main street BIAs reposition, rebrand, and reinvent for the post-COVID world

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NEWS

NEIGHBOURHOOD BUSINESS

A Yorkville department store that looks like a boutique hotel Plus a local outerwear brand’s first pop-up, North York gets a haute couture coffee shop and more With Yorkville’s lineup of luxury boutiques, it’s no surprise that multi-brand retailer The Webster chose the neighbourhood as the location of its first international store. The Miami-based store offers men’s and women’s wear from more than 100 leading brands from Balenciaga to Celine, Chanel, Dior, Gucci and plenty more. The new location, at 121 Scollard St., resembles a boutique hotel with a door attendant greeting customers — it’s called luxury for a reason!

Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre is home to a new pop-up for Canadian retailer Quartz Co. This is the brand’s first time opening a pop-up and its first storefront location to open in Toronto. Since 1997, Quartz Co. has been making quality jackets that are inspired by and designed for Canadian winters. The boutique is minimalistic with proudly Canadian pine wood furniture. The pop-up features some of Quartz Co.’s latest outerwear designs, including a debut of the New Horizons fall/winter 2021–2022 collection.

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The Webster’s first Canadian outpost lands in Yorkville

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Since 2013, Dineen Coffee Co. has been a favourite goto boutique for espresso drinks and delicious pastries.

Now, the sophisticated shop has opened its fourth location, the first in North York, at 311 York Mills Rd. Alongside coffee, Dineen serves up savoury pastries, including chocolate brownies, fresh-baked croissants and a rotating menu of sandwiches.

In the past few years, several sport shoe and athleisure boutiques have opened around the city, and now JD Sports joins the roster. The U.K.-based brand, with stores across Europe, has just opened its first Canadian location situated in CF Fairview Mall. JD Sports has the top styles in footwear, apparel and accessories, offering the most in-demand and stylish brands like Nike, Jordan, Adidas, the North Face, Vans and more.

You may recognize women’s lifestyle brand Lafayette from the racks at Saks Fifth Avenue and Northstrom, but now the boutique has opened its first stand-alone location in Canada. Sharing the building with a lineup of luxury brands, including Dior, Prada and Moncler, the New York City–based brand’s new storefront is situated in the heart of the strip at 130 Bloor St. W. The modern and dynamic brand features a range of upscale women’s products, including footwear, bags, jewelry and accessories.

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Last month, Children’s Garden School (CGS), a Leaside private school at 670 Eglinton Ave. E., surpassed its goal by raising $16,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation. CGS has been holding the fundraiser with the annual Terry Fox Walk for 23 years now, with kindergarten teacher Sara Adamson taking the lead on fundraising. The students were all supporting the cancer research cause in blue Terry Fox T-shirts.

CRIME

NEWS

AREA BREAK-INS

Wishing Our Customers a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

NOVEMBER 2021 - TORONTO WHERE

WHEN

TIME OFOF DAY TIME DAY

MOUNT PLEASANT RD. AND BLOOR ST. E.

NOV. 1

5 P.M.

AVENUE RD. AND PEARS AVE.

NOV. 3

10 A.M.

GLENVIEW AVE. AND DUPLEX AVE.

NOV. 4

12 P.M.

RIDGEVALE DR. AND LYNNHAVEN RD.

NOV. 4

4 P.M.

TORRESDALE AVE. AND FINCH AVE. W.

NOV. 5

8 A.M.

TORRESDALE AVE. AND ANTIBES DR.

NOV. 5

4 P.M.

OLD YORK MILLS RD. AND CAMPBELL CRES.

NOV. 7

8 P.M.

KATHERINE RD. AND MURRAY RD.

NOV. 8

4 P.M.

BALLIOL ST. AND MARTIN RD.

NOV. 9

3 P.M

MILEPOST PL. AND THORNCLIFFE PARK DR.

NOV. 11

12 P.M.

LORD SEATON RD. AND COTSWOLD CRES.

NOV. 11

6 P.M.

KILBARRY RD. AND HIGHBOURNE RD.

NOV. 13

6 P.M.

YONGE BLVD. AND OLD ORCHARD GRV.

NOV. 13

9 P.M.

BAYVIEW AVE. AND SPRING GARDEN AVE.

NOV. 14

1 A.M.

FAIRLAWN AVE. AND BARSE ST.

NOV. 14

5 P.M.

DINE-IN is Now Open

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Call for Take Out with Curbside Pick up www.windfieldsrestaurant.com Delivery Now Available

Windfields will remain open at our current location (801 York Mills Road) for several more years!

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CRIME BRIEFS

public assistance in an aggravated assault investigation after an incident in North York.

On Nov. 5 at 10 p.m., officers responded to a call in the area of Hilda Avenue and Green Bush Road, just west of Centerpoint Mall at Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue. It is reported that the victim was walking a dog when the victim became involved in an altercation with an unknown male suspect. The victim sustained serious injuries and required hospitalization. The suspect was last seen walking southbound on Hilda Road. Police are asking any witnesses to come forward.

Police are seeking

A 65-year-old female victim of Toronto who suffered

severe injuries in the 2018 Toronto van attack has succumbed to her injuries, becoming the attack’s 11th fatality. On Monday, April 23, 2018, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Alek Minassian, then 25, of Richmond Hill, drove a van off of the road and onto the side-

walk, deliberately striking people in the area of Yonge Street and Finch Avenue. Minassian was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder and found guilty of all charges in March of 2021. On Nov. 11, police announced that Amaresh Tesfamariam, who had suffered severe injuries in the attack and had remained in the hospital since the incident, had succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased in hospital on Oct. 28.

Minassian is next due in court on Jan. 11, 2022, to possibly set a date for sentencing. Though Tesfamariam’s death is now considered a homicide, Minassian will not face any new charges due to the time elapsed since the injuries were sustained, though police say the judge will consider Tesfamariam’s death when Minassian is sentenced. male accused of Toronto is the second individual arrested as part of a shooting investigation after an incident at Yorkdale mall in the summer. On Aug. 29, it is alleged that two groups of individuals were involved in an altercation, and shots were exchanged between the groups. Police arrested one male suspect nearby with the assistance of mall security, and a loaded firearm and ammunition was recovered. On Nov. 2, the 23-year-old was arrested in the Greater Sudbury area and charged with discharging a firearm with intent. Toronto Police Service is making arrangements for his transfer of custody to face the charge.

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DECEMBER 2021

would like to make the public aware of two street robbery investigations that occurred in the Trinity Bellwoods Park and Christie Pits Park areas. According to TPS, a large group of teenage boys were involved in two incidents in late October at local parks, which included both assaults and robberies. Officers regularly patrol these areas, and investigators are asking that people remain extra vigilant when travelling through the parks, on public transit or walking late at night.

| POST |

Toronto Police Service (TPS)

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COVID -19 NOTICE Rest assured, all aspects of my business are conducted with strict safety precautions in place.

COVID-19 related restrictions are done in accordance with the Ontario government’s framework to protect the health and safety of our clients and colleagues.

36 HAZELTON AVE. #6A

$7,995,000. 2 BEDS AND 3 BATHS, APPROX. 3,150 SQ. FT. + 420 SQ. FT. TERRACE.

$2,450,990. 2 BEDS AND 2 BATHS, APPROX. 1,298 SQ. FT. + OUTDOOR SPACE.

FOR SALE

SOLD

394 OLD ORCHARD GROVE

33 SHEPPARD AVE. E. #2011

LAWRENCE PARK

$1,579,000. 25’ X 105’ LOT, APPROX. 1,808 SQ. FT. TOTAL, & C1 COMMERCIAL ZONING.

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50 YORKVILLE AVE. #3603

79 TRUMAN RD.

SOLD FOR 99% OF ASKING.

R E A L | POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1

$6,349,990. 2+1 BEDS AND 3 BATHS, APPROX. 2,670 SQ. FT. + 575 SQ. FT. TERRACE.

321 DAVENPORT RD. #201

FOR SALE

23 LOWTHER AVE.

20

321 DAVENPORT RD. #PH01

E S T A T E

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REAL ESTATE

NEWS

BLUE MOUNTAIN LODGE OF LEISURE

This four bedroom, three bathroom chalet at 175 Timmons St. has received a full, top to bottom renovation, which brought in some stunning upgrades, including a hot tub and a stylish outdoor sauna. Nestled right in the middle of a treefilled lot, this mountain home will give you a sense of privacy while also being just minutes away from all the fun that Blue Mountain village and Georgian Bay have to offer. It’s listed for $1.699 million with Century 21 Millennium Inc.

SWISH CHALETS These ski chalets are all about location — but the hardwood finishes, modern amenities and stunning layouts don’t hurt!

Just steps away from some of the best ski resorts in Ontario, residents of these coveted properties can hit the slopes in the afternoon and warm their toes by the fireplace with hot cocoa in hand by the evening.

MOUNTAIN OASIS

With views of the Mount St. Louis ski hills from your doorstep and forest-filled surroundings, 151 Mount St. Louis Rd. E. is the ideal ski chalet for those looking for a little more privacy. It’s listed for $2.639 million with eXp Realty.

Thirty-two Trails End offers gorgeous outdoor living with an extensive deck, hot tub and wood-fired sauna, plus gorgeous log cabin–style interior design that’s modern but cosy. It’s listed for $2.5 million with RE/MAX By The Bay Brokerage.

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LUXURY LOG CABIN

DECEMBER 2021

COLLINGWOOD

MOUNT ST. LOUIS

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BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

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REAL ESTATE

NEWS

FOREST HILL SOUTH STAYCATION-READY

Nestled in the opulent neighbourhood of Forest Hill is a mid-century modern haven with a long list of luxuries. The mansion at 39 Burton Rd. spans 10,000 square feet across three levels. Although the entire place is jaw dropping, the biggest standout features include an indoor pool and a hot tub. This sprawling residence might be the reason why your family opts to have Christmas at your house this year. It’s listed for $9.288 million with Forest Hill Real Estate Inc.

HOME ALONE? NOT THIS YEAR These three spacious, decked-out homes are primed and ready for family reunions this holiday season. From enviable indoor amenities to landscaped backyards to spare rooms galore, the future owners of these mansions will have everything they need to fulfill their hosting duties. Eat, drink and be merry!

ROOM TO SPARE

Thirty-one Errington Ave. comes with countless built-in office spaces, spare bedrooms, a finished basement and a beautifully landscaped backyard, ready for visitors and gatherings of all kinds. It’s listed for $5.995 million with Royal LePage.

The property at 111 Estelle Ave. comes right out of an ensemble holiday movie set. With a sauna, recreation room and elaborate chef’s kitchen, there’s something for the whole family! It’s listed for $2.988 million with RE/MAX Ultimate Realty Inc.

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HOME SWEET HOME

DECEMBER 2021

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NEWS

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Why is Ontario seeing large housing migration?

More than 12,000 people left the province, mostly for BC and Nova Scotia

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

A recent real estate report has shown a record number of Canadians have packed up and left their province for the greener pastures of another. The question is will the trend continue and why is it happening?

According to Statistics Canada, inter-provincial migration advanced 55.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2021. Ontario had the biggest decline at more than 12,000 residents leaving the province, marking the largest population outflow since 1980.

“As somewhat of a hyperbole, we've been calling it within our brokerage ‘the mass exodus.’

Because from … really since 2020 to 2021, it really just intensified, but it has been unlike anything we've ever seen,” said Odeen Eccleston, the president of Wiltshire Eccleston Realty: “that so many people from Toronto just decided to either rent out their property and then find a new place to live, and often that's with them and their families, or sell their place in order to move out to one of the rural or even just secondary markets.”

The pandemic has upended all of our lives over the last two years and spurred many on to decisions they otherwise might not have made.

Their choice of a home is no

different. But in Eccleston’s experience, the primary reason that people left Toronto was for more space and, of course, affordability.

Her company builds homes as well, and she’s been getting near biweekly requests from clients asking to build on land outside of Toronto.

According to Eccleston, this mass exodus hasn’t been affecting the condo market.

The biggest recipient of interprovincial travel has been British Columbia, which attracted 15,000 more people in the second quarter of this year than those who left it.

In second place was Nova Scotia, increasing by nearly 5,000 residents. The Maritimes in particular has not seen this sort of population growth since 1961, and anecdotally Eccleston has sold about six homes from people who moved to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I. “[In the past] I couldn't even convince people to go to some of these places,” she said. “They’d think it was crazy. Whereas now, it's so strange to me how pervasive the idea of moving to a rural town or just a more remote part of the GTA is, whereas so many people were adverse to the idea [before].”

—Nicholas Sokic

REAL ESTATE

NEWS

The Bank of Canada has indicated it would raise interest rates six times in 2022

Banker says prep for higher rates

What is your advice for homeowners regarding 2022 and what they should be looking at with renewals?

Let's put it two different ways. I will separate current mortgage holders into two. One is those who took mortgages in 2018, 2019 or 2017.

OK, those are the ones that actually will not feel much of the pain of any increase in interest rates. Why? Because they borrowed at a relatively high interest rate. Remember the last time the Bank of Canada raised interest rates was in 2017. OK? So they're basically locked. There is some immunity there.

However, if you took a mortgage in 2020 and 2021, and a lot of people did actually — originations went up by 60 per cent during the pandemic — then you're totally exposed, OK, assuming that interest rates will remain up in 2025 and 2026.

Basically, what I'm saying is that, if you took a mortgage recently, try to use the next few years to accelerate principal payments, if

you can, and benefit from low interest rates.

The other thing is that, if you buy a house now and you use variable, you definitely have to be clear about your ability to finance that mortgage with higher interest rates down the road because interest rates will be rising.

What is the latest on inflation, now up to 4.7 per cent?

If you look at the overall situation, it's very clear that the year-over-year base effect will disappear.

So prices, by early 2022, will start showing some softening.

However, that doesn't mean that inflation is not an issue. And the Bank of Canada and the Fed are telling you that they simply don't know where inflation will be.

And that's the reality: nobody knows where inflation will be six months from now.

We know that the big numbers will slow down, but whether or not they will stabilize at over two or three per cent — that's the big question.

Will the rise in interest rates be enough to cool a housing market that continues to set records?

First of all, we have to understand that one of the reasons why the latest numbers are so strong, namely October numbers, is

because of the fact that interest rates are starting to rise. We always see this non-linear relationship between activity and interest rates. In the early stages of higher rates, or when the people start tweeting about higher rates, activity goes up.

Why? Because you try to basically get into the market before it actually goes up. So we are now borrowing activity from the future. And that's why we're seeing this acceleration in October. And there is no reason to believe that that will not continue over the next few months ahead of any increase in the Bank of Canada's rate. That's one thing.

The other is how quickly rates will be rising. You see the market is now anticipating and pricing in a situation in which the Bank of Canada will move no less than six times in 2022. That's a huge change from previous expectations. Until recently, the market was talking about moving in 2023. Now, not only is the market saying 2022, but six times 2022. That's a significant increase. Now, I suggest that the best way to go is to start early. So I have no issue with that. But go more slowly. Every economic recession was helped if not caused by a monetary policy level in which central bankers raise interest rates way too quickly.

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The inflation rate is sky high.

The housing market set a record in 2021 with two months left before the end of the year. With so much volatility, we decided to check in with our real estate expert and member of Post City’s Real Estate Roundtable, Benjamin Tal.

DECEMBER 2021

Economist Benjamin Tal on what to do next

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CATHERINE O’HARA

The Comedian

The Advocate

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If I’m ever in trouble, and I often am, I would want Pam Palmater by my side. Her sharp intellect, steadfast ethics and caring heart place her at the centre of many colonial storms. From land rights to child rights, Pam draws on the multi-generational strength handed down to her from her ancestors to stand in the winds of injustice that continue to pile up on the hopes and dreams of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples and weigh the country down.

Colonial governments intentionally dehumanize Indigenous peoples and weave false historical narratives to hide egregious human and land rights violations.

Recently this all came into stark relief when Canadians learned that thousands of Indigenous children died in government-run residential

By Cindy schools and were buried in Blackstock unmarked graves.

EXECUTIVE A natural communicator, DIRECTOR, Pam knows public awareness FNCFCS is the antidote to government abuses and excuses for ongoing injustices like not getting clean drinking water to First Nations, fighting residential school survivors in court and fumbling the implementation of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry.

A prolific author and media educator, Pam also hosts her Warrior Life podcast showcasing the rich diversity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit and thought-provoking conversations on decolonization. And then there is my favourite — her fabulous Warrior Kids podcast showing how young people are making meaningful reconciliation a reality. Some call her an activist. I call her a truth and justice hero.

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© Rebecca Wood

PAM PALMATER

You’d be hard-pressed to find another actress more lauded than Catherine O’Hara. Emmys, Golden Globe, SAGs and CSAs, this Order of Canada and Governor General’s Award recipient has made her mark on our screens and imprinted into pop culture’s psyche for over four decades. Catherine’s commitment to her craft results in incredibly memorable performances where she somehow is both instantly recognizable and simultaneously disappears completely behind her carefully inhabited characters. What actor out there doesn’t wish they could emulate the incredible technical prowess and comedic agility required to produce Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek, Mickey Crabbe from A Mighty Wind or even

By Lara Jean Chorostecki Kate McCallister’s infaACTOR mous, “Kevin!” from Home Alone? Catherine is a pioneer in creating characters that make our stomachs hurt from laughter while our hearts feel deeply. Over a remarkable 40-plus year career, her influence can be felt in entertainment around the globe.

It’s not easy at the best of times to be an actress in film and television, and Catherine’s endurance is a testament to her incredible artistic spirit and deep well of talent, which she draws from time and time again. Catherine’s playful spirit keeps us guessing what she could possibly do next, holding our breath with eager anticipation, knowing we are bound to be delighted. Catherine’s oeuvre is one that never tires on a rewatch, always ages impeccably and will continue to inspire for generations to come.

JILL ANDREW

The Politician I first met Jill Andrew shortly after we won our races in June 2018.

We were immediately thrust into the all-consuming role of opposition MPPs during the chaotic reign of the Doug Ford government.

This is what I most appreciate about Jill. Jill is a passionate advocate for her residents, always with her eye on equity and fairness.

About 60 per cent of the constituents in her district of Toronto–St Paul’s are renters, and many struggled with the threat of eviction because they lost their job during the pandemic. Jill stands up for them — just like she advocates for affordable housing and government aid for the struggling small businesses along Little Jamaica and midtown.

I’ll let you in on a secret: sometimes when the

By Jessica Bell camera isn’t on us, we MPP, UNIVERSITY-ROSEDALE work on our laptops in the legislature. When Jill gets up to speak, however, I always stop and listen. Her speeches are well researched yet personal, and her delivery is captivating. My favourite speech of Jill’s was on her bill to recognize the first week of February as Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The bill’s purpose is to help the estimated three million and counting Canadians who live with eating disorders, one of the most serious and deadly of mental health issues, social stigma and body shame. Jill spoke about her own experience with body image and the support she received from the organization Sheena’s Place. The bill passed unanimously. I keep a copy of Jill’s speech in my office.

T.O.’S 21 MOST INSPIRING WOMEN OF 2021 Our annual showcase of the city’s most inspiring women features artists, activists, athletes and more who have led by example, achieved against all odds and made this city and this year special.

The Designer

The Entrepreneur

From early on, Aurora James’s goal has always been to promote traditional African design practices and techniques. Later, she started working in other countries within Africa and beyond. You see, Aurora’s vision and mindset for amplifying people of colour has always been deeply rooted, an unbreakable foundation of sorts.

This is what makes Aurora Aurora. More than the countless awards she’s received in fashion — including the Council of Fashion Designers of America Founder’s Award this year — along her journey, Aurora is simply a beacon for change. True change. In June 2020 Aurora created what the world would come to know as the 15 Percent Pledge, one of the most recognized

By George Sully and important contriDESIGNER, SULLY & SON CO. butions to come from last year’s protests that saw injustices and police brutality unfold before our eyes. This was only the beginning.

What Aurora helped create not only shook the foundation on which the fashion industry stands but also had an equal and profound impact on BIPOC designers across North America, including myself as a Black designer. I have always admired Aurora’s work in fashion, but little did I know she would be pivotal in the way the world admired mine. For that, I will always be indebted to her including those that have gotten a little more shelf space because of her courage.

When I think of Noura, I think of brilliance, community, innovation and inspiration.

I had the privilege of meeting her while serving as the president of the Black Business and Professional Association. She came to us with a full heart, and her company generously donated to the BBPA National Scholarship Fund. I admired how much Noura gave of herself to support the work and dreams of the students. She spent hours sifting through the applications and getting to know each student.

Noura wanted to give opportunities to students who demonstrated purpose and the self-motivation to face down challenges and create their own stories.

By Her support also included Nadine unique scholarships so that Spencer the students didn’t have to CEO, dehumanize themselves to BrandEQ get funding.

It was clear to Group me that she is deeply in touch with her humanity.

Noura also showed up to present an inspiring talk to the 108 students who graduated that year. She later attended the BBPA's Boss Women entrepreneurship training, where she shared her own story. She held nothing back, telling about the challenges, trials and, ultimately, the rewards she encountered on her path to becoming a woman in power.

Ultimately, I see Noura as the ideal example of what a professional woman should be — empathetic, generous, inspired and inspiring, a team player and a natural leader and, most importantly, passionate about all that she does.

I still remember the day.… It was Sept. 7, 2019. I was an intern at TSN, working an 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift in the newsroom when Bianca Andreescu became the first Canadian tennis player to win a grand slam singles title. Personally, I thought it was nearly impossible.

A Canadian? Defeating the legendary Serena Williams in her own country? There was just no way. But while I had doubts in my mind, the then 19-year-old phenom already had the victory visualized in hers. And with the win, she inspired a generation of young tennis players and athletes across Canada.

But Andreescu’s on-court success isn’t the only thing that’s made her such an inspiration. At the young age of 21, she’s

By Peter Ash already managed to build a MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST brand with multiple major sponsors such as Nike, BMW and Rolex. And although she’s tasted some of the luxuries of being a pro athlete, Andreescu hasn’t forgotten where she came from.

She’s donated thousands of dollars to Tennis Canada and even auctioned a special racquet of hers to help out the Centre for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 response fund during the peak of the pandemic last year. Maybe it’s her incredible mindset or maybe it’s her solid poise. Either way, she’s made professional life look easy.

From rising Canadian talents in Leylah Fernandez to Katherine Sebov, tennis fans across the country now have a lot to look forward to. And thanks to the inspiration that Andreescu has become, I think the names will continue to grow in the foreseeable future.

DECEMBER 2021

The Athlete

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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© Noam Galai - Getty Images

BIANCA ANDREESCU

© CNW Group Indigo Books Music Inc.

NOURA SAKKIJHA

© Yung Yemi

AURORA JAMES

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TORONTO’S 21 MOST INSPIRING WOMEN © Kiruthiha Kulendiren

MAITREYI RAMAKRISHNAN

The Actor

FARRA N HYTE

The Performer

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I first met Farra N Hyte (Chantelle Carr) when I was 19 years old. She was the headliner at Crews & Tangos, and I was captivated from the first moment I saw her. A few years later, I was lucky enough to be adopted into her drag family [when an established drag performer takes a younger one under her wing and mentors her, essentially choosing their own family] and even to be given my drag name by her!

Simply put, there is no one like Farra. She is a star, but she is also a kind and By generous human being. She Brooke has set a standard of excelLynn Hytes lence in Canadian drag CANADIAN that we all aspire to. She DRAG QUEEN has worked so hard through her career, and it makes me so happy to see her get the success and recognition she so justly deserves.

Watching her as a judge and choreographer on Call Me Mother, running and guiding her own drag house, has shown just how revered and beloved she is and what an inspiration she continues to be to drag queens everywhere.

A forever icon in the Toronto drag scene, it’s a joy to call her my friend and an honor to call her Mother.

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The inspiration goes on and on...

A few more of the city’s most inspiring women

As someone who takes great joy in seeing South Asian representation across a myriad of platforms, watching Maitreyi Ramakrishnan star in Never Have I Ever would have done wonders for me as a teen, given how impactful it was for me as an adult. What made the show what it was was the standout performance by Ramakrishnan, who is both authentic and refreshing on and off screen. Despite being six years her senior, I look up to the 19-yearold superstar for how she carries herself and speaks about what matters to her and how she is clear on her principles. Earlier this year, Ramakrishnan requested that people learn to pronounce her name correctly, after constantly having to

By Rumneek Johal correct others. She disEDITOR-IN-CHIEF, 5X PRESS cussed how integral names are to one’s identity and, in doing so, invited so many people, including myself, to do the same. Setting a boundary and choosing to affirm her connection to her culture and identity over other people’s temporary discomfort was admirable. So many of us are conditioned to dilute or hide the parts of us that make us different to make it easier for other people, even if it makes things harder for us. “I’m asking for basic respect when I want people to say my name right,” she said on Twitter. At such a young age, the Mississauga native speaks with so much conviction and confidence about what is important to her, with the unintended result of inspiring other brown girls to be fearless about what matters to them too.

HAYLEY WICKENHEISER

The Triple Threat Growing up as a girl in sports, Canadian professional hockey player and four-time Olympic gold medallist Hayley Wickenheiser meant so much to me. I would marvel at her, starry-eyed as I watched her on TV, a show of brilliance every time she took to the ice. When she led the country to the gold medal after every Olympic Games, I asked my dad to teach me to play hockey despite my lifelong dedication to sports like ballet and cheerleading. When she walked into the Sochi opening ceremonies with the Canadian flag on her back in 2014, I got my hands on the Bay’s Team Canada Olympic mittens the very next day. I wasn’t the only girl who looked up to Hayley back then, and I’m not the only woman who still reads about her in awe today.

By Christina Flores-Chan Yes, she is one of the most JOURNALIST powerful and accomplished women in sport of all time, as the country’s all-time leader in several international hockey categories and the first woman to score a goal in a men’s professional league.

Yes, she is now a resident emergency doctor at a hospital in Toronto by day and senior director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs by night.

Yes, she just released a nationally bestselling novel to add to her copious titles of accomplishment.

But she is also, and perhaps most importantly, a woman who unapologetically dove into a male-dominated industry and proved that she, along with other young girls watching with their Team Canada mittens on, deserve to be there.

Kerin John

Allie Rougeot

Eleanor London

Iman Vellani

Kerin John started Instagram page Black Owned Toronto back in 2020 to give Black-owned businesses in the city a well-deserved chance in the spotlight. She’s since opened two retail locations in Toronto.

One of the loudest voices behind the climate strikes that filled the streets of Toronto is Aliénor (Allie) Rougeot. She founded Fridays for Future Toronto, a chapter of the youth-led movement raising awareness through rallies.

Eleanor June London is a past president of Reena Foundation, which started as a grassroots group fighting to create community homes for people with developmental disabilities and now supports more than 1,000 individuals.

Iman Vellani is set to make her Hollywood debut as Kamala Khan, otherwise known as Ms. Marvel. She’s breaking barriers playing the first onscreen Muslim superhero and Marvel's first Muslim character to star in her own title.

The Artist

The People’s Doctor

I have no idea where to start in describing how inspiring Tanya Tagaq is as a person, so I'll just start by saying how metal she is.

Tanya is a pure face-melting stage destroyer, an unstoppable force of sonic combustion. I could spend this entire space trying to describe how many ways her fearless performances can strike you like a bolt of lightning to the soul.

But there are so many facets of her that I am just constantly inspired by. She is a multi-hyphenated talent who excels at absolutely everything she does. We can talk about Tanya the unparalleled musical talent, the bold voice speaking truth to power, the painter, the poet and philosopher or

By Chelsea McMullan how fiercely she loves her family and how relentlessly FILMMAKER she fights injustice. I am just astounded by her. Her creative energy blazes like a million-watt spotlight visible from space.

I feel incredibly lucky to have her as a friend because she loves with that same intensity. She wants to know how you're doing at the very heart of your being and will accept no polite deflection.

She teases me endlessly but knows exactly how much I can take.

Nobody can be more tender.

The only way I can describe it is that life feels more exciting and joyous whenever she's around. Tanya makes you feel like you can reach up and graze the cosmos with your fingertips.

The past two years have tested our city like never before. Thankfully, we had a public health leader who was more than up to the challenge.

Throughout the pandemic, Toronto's medical officer of health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, has guided us every step of the way — from making tough calls to reduce COVID-19 transmission to spearheading the most expansive vaccination program in our city's history. She has truly been “the people's doctor.”

As the head of the largest public health unit in Canada, Dr. de Villa has worked day and night — literally — to serve the people of Toronto.

In those terrifying first few months of the pandemic, she spoke to the public each day, clearly explaining what was happening in our city and By how to take precautions.

Joe Cressy With her trademark scarves, COUNCILLOR, professionalism and compoWARD 10 sure, she helped keep us safe.

Throughout her career, Dr. de Villa — who always insists I call her Eileen — has been committed to caring for our most vulnerable.

Whether it's advocating for paid sick leave, supporting supervised consumption sites or dispatching mobile vaccination clinics to hard-hit neighbourhoods, Eileen's approach is always one that's equally rooted in scientific evidence and empathy.

I'm proud to have been able to work with her and honoured to call her a friend. Eileen has often said that she thinks of the entire city of Toronto as her patient. At a time when we needed it most, we couldn't have asked for a more compassionate or committed doctor.

© Noam Galai - Getty Images

JEN AGG

The Restaurateur As usual, when there's a hard job to do, it falls on a woman to get it done. When the food industry’s dirty laundry began to be aired — the lousy pay, nightmarish hours and harassment at the hands of bosses — it was Jen Agg, co-founder of the Black Hoof and author of I Heard She's a Real Bitch, who used her platform to call out the city's boorish offenders. The Black Lives Matter banner on her front door at the Rhum Corner leaves nothing to doubt. Agg speaks her mind. Fighting words, especially on Twitter, is her verbiage of choice, and yet she's also quick to point out trends and people she loves. (She was one of the first to bring attention to the deliBy Ben Kaplan ciousness of MIMI JOURNALIST Chinese). A scenester, fashionista and wordsmith, she brought Dundas West some of the Ossington vibe and opened upscale cuisine in Kensington Market, and yet her real gift to the city has been an ethos that more restaurateurs should get behind. An outspoken kingmaker whose taste reigns supreme, Agg can open a restaurant, pen a bestseller, rip apart a Globe and Mail editorial and still make it to Scaramouche in time to cop a great glass of wine. Whether talking about race or pay in the kitchen, staffing or Toronto's next dining trends, when Jenn Agg talks, we all need to listen. It's something, most often, no one else has the courage to say.

Paige Hennekam

Ali Haberstroh

Sarah Nurse

Kiley May

Roberta Timothy

With 2.6 million TikTok followers, Paige Hennekam certainly has influence, and she’s using it to share her experiences as a woman with autism to change the conversation around autism diagnoses in girls.

Ali Haberstroh’s directory of local shops, conveniently named Not Amazon, exploded in December of 2020.

Her website got thousands of visits and brought business to local companies when they needed it most.

Hockey star Sarah Nurse is set to represent Team Canada in the 2022 winter Olympics. She’s been outspoken about representation for women of colour within the sports industry and aims to be a role model for the next generation.

Exploring themes of representation and diversity for transgender and Indigenous women, two-spirit trans actress and artist Kiley May’s most recent trilogy on trans desire featured in the ImagineNative film festival.

The first Black health lead at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Roberta Timothy organized the first countrywide forum on COVID-19’s impact on African/Black communities in Canada.

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EILEEN DE VILLA

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TANYA TAGAQ

DECEMBER 2021

TORONTO’S 21 MOST INSPIRING WOMEN

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CURRENTS

It’s difficult to resist the call of early holiday sales this time of year. But if the thought of all that consumerism gets you down, these Toronto businesses are pairing fashion with giving back this year. Outerwear brand Nobis (ambassador Giacomo Giannotti pictured on the left) is supporting jacket donations to vulnerable community members through their #NoColdShoulder initiative and do-

nating $50 per purchase throughout the winter to participating charities. Buying from Peace Collective (top right) guarantees a donation to various mental health, refugee aid and food security organizations, and Toques from the Heart (bottom right) donates a toque to a Canadian experiencing homelessness for every toque purchase made. Support a brand you love and a cause you care about, all in one!

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Toronto fashion brands show they care

DECEMBER 2021

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“I love the generosity of the turtleneck, and the open sleeves are so luxurious.”

“I think the bold stripes are fantastic, and the colouration of the camel is so clever.”

You’d want to live in a turtleneck like this all season.

Orange is a fashion classic.”

"This saturated jewel tone is so rich and vibrant and great for the winter."

“This artful, artisanal detailing makes this such a special, forever piece.”

PUFFED UP POMPOMS

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“It would look very chic with a little pencil skirt or with a pair of leather pants, but of course you can also dress it down with a great pair of jeans,” Jeanne says. @farfetch.com

"If money is no object, this black one is pretty fabulous to me. It's hard for me to resist a great big black sweater, and this one has all the fringing along the arm and the beautiful texture all throughout it. I love the generosity of the body and also of the sleeves. It's such a dramatic, cosy look; it's just gorgeous." Thebay.com, $1,445

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Fashion Santa is back in town T.O’s Paul Mason is bigger than ever and bringing joy and holiday cheer to people everywhere

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He’s got a big white beard, wears red suits — especially around Christmas time — and brings joy and happiness to . . . adults? This is not your average Santa Claus.

Paul Mason, better known as Fashion Santa, what some may consider the new and improved Santa is bigger than ever. He looks expensive, dresses expensive, has a gravelly voice and has the kind of tall and suave stature that commands a presence. But Mason is careful to point out that he’s not trying to replace the O.G. Santa.

“I’m not trying to compete with the old Santa. My Santa is just a more fashion-savvy, adult version,” he says.

Fashion Santa exploded onto the scene in 2015 with an ad campaign for Yorkdale mall that went viral, hitting three billion impressions, according to Mason.

It was enough to draw the attention of Justin Beiber, who stopped by the mall to take a selfie with Mason, adding to the media frenzy.

But the story of how Mason got there is a sad one. Before all this, he was modelling in New York, landing campaigns with big names like Macy’s and Dolce & Gabbana and signed to Ford Models. But in 2008, his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Mason moved back home to become a full-time caregiver for her, and she passed away five years later.

“In the grieving period that I

had, I stopped working and stopped shaving altogether,” he explains. As time went on, he let it grow into a beard. “In fashion, it's nice to have different looks, and I was liking what I was seeing. I didn't even know how to grow a beard, but I just let it happen.”

Mason put his fashion background together with his new look, creating Fashion Santa and pitching it to a few retailers. If you’ve ever seen a photo of Mason, you’d see why — the resemblance is certainly uncanny.

After the campaign went viral, Mason says he was getting stopped on the streets for selfies constantly. It was important to him to figure out a philanthropic tie-in for the work he was doing — perhaps in the spirit of Old Saint Nick himself – so Yorkdale vowed to donate one dollar to SickKids for every selfie people took with Fashion Santa if they used the #FashionSanta and #Yorkdale hashtags.

His relationship with Yorkdale was severed after they both applied for the Fashion Santa trademark, which Mason eventually won in a legal agreement that he had exclusive rights to the name.

Mason believes the visibility of that social media campaign is what launched him into what appears to be permanent stardom.

He’s certainly not the first chiseled man to grow a white beard, but Mason says there might

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opportunities.

“It’s my favourite thing to look forward to, the Fashion Santa memes that come out,” he says.

“Some of them are too raunchy. I can’t even mention them. Is that success, when you become a meme? I have no idea.”

Mason says that, at this point, he’s close to being able to work as Fashion Santa 12 months a year.

For him, that’s just what he wants.

“I find now that, when I do something outside of Fashion Santa, it's a bit confusing to the public and to my followers. I’d rather keep going with this. I’m really happy with it.”

As the resident Fashion Santa, he’s not just the expert on all things Christmas, but all things fashion too. He says holiday fashion is really fun because it can be so short-lived.

“You pull out all this stuff that you wouldn't normally wear the other 10 months of the year,” he explains. “You've got all these incredible fabrics and silks and satins and patents and all these shiny, baubly things that you would never wear otherwise. And I think that's what is kind of fun about the season.”

But ugly Christmas sweaters are where he draws the line.

“Oh no, I would never wear one,” he says.

Spoken like a true Fashion Santa.

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be something slightly sacreligious about an icon as famous as Santa that scares people off from doing what he’s done.

“I don’t think people want to mess with such a thing,” he says.

“But I'm not trying to replace him. I'm just adding another component to the already established iconic figure of Santa.”

“Maybe if I was just out there doing advertising after advertising, it could look like a little bit of a gimmick, but a key component of what I do is charity driven,” Mason says. “So I think maybe that’s why I get a pass for trying to mess with the idea of Santa.”

Mason says Fashion Santa exists in part to bring a bit of Christmas joy back to adults who have long grown out of believing in Santa and waiting impatiently for Christmas morning.

“Doing all those selfies, it was cross-cultural. It wasn't defined by any religion or any kind of stance.

It was just a really fun idea for adults to have 10, 20 seconds of joy,” he says.

“I can remember when whole offices were coming down because they were competing with other offices to see who got the photo with Fashion Santa first,” he says.

“When that kind of moment happens, it’s quite special.”

And in another, perhaps more predictable way, Fashion Santa is ripe for adult memeing

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Local brand’s first pop-up arrives at Yorkville Village with a silky touch

Luxton’s signature design was inspired by founder Dinah Luxton’s own kids

Upgrading the ’80s snowsuit New Toronto pop-up offers a stylish alternative to winter wear A new outerwear-focused pop-up from a Toronto designer who was inspired by her own kids’ snowsuits just arrived in Summerhill.

The pop-up, from the brand Luxton, is the first the company has tried since its inception in 2019 and will be open until the end of December.

“We opened very late in the year in 2019,” founder and designer Dinah Luxton says.

“And then two months later, COVID hit, so we’ve never had the chance to really be face to face with our customers.”

Luxton hopes this pop-up will give her a better sense of what shoppers are looking for — though with this unique collection, it’s more likely shoppers will end up finding something they didn’t know they needed.

The company’s star item is a made-forwinter jumpsuit. Think the retro adult snowsuits of the ’80s, but with a high-fashion and sleek twist. Available in quilted or pufferstyle black, it’s true out-of-the-box thinking for women’s outerwear — and that’s exactly

what Luxton is aiming for.

The designer says she knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue a career in fashion design, becoming a fit model at Club Monaco right out of her fashion college program.

“My mom is a fibre artist and she always had garments, yarn and fabric lying around, so I picked it up from her,” she says.

After working in product development and merchandising for years, Luxton realized she wanted to pursue her own concept and work more toward serving the needs of the market. At the time, as a parent to young kids, Luxton found herself spending hours outside with them.

“They’re dressed head to toe in snowsuits, and they’re so warm and just in another world, completely free,” she says. “I wanted that same feeling because I felt like I was always cold or underdressed.”

Luxton decided she would try designing bomber pants for herself to keep at least her legs warm, and she says it “completely

by Julia Mastroianni

changed” her winter. The next step? Add a jacket on top to turn it into a full jumpsuit.

It was this jumpsuit look that acted as the foundation for the eponymous brand she launched in 2019, Luxton.

“We wanted to fill the gap between Canada Goose and Gucci,” Luxton explains.

“We’re not utilitarian, necessarily, and we wanted to serve the outerwear needs of women with different kinds of style. There are so many pieces that could help women experience winter in a totally different way and absolutely love it and absolutely love being outside,” she says.

Most winter outerwear, she says, makes you desperate to put it away for good once February or March rolls around and the gloom and cold of winter has gotten under your skin.

“I want women to feel sad when they put this outerwear away in March.”

The pop-up will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1156 Yonge St. until the end of the year.

Located inside Yorkville Village mall, Canadian brand Numi’s first pop-up space is joining the likes of other highend boutiques such as TNT, Via Cavour and Jacadi, and exclusive labels from top Canadian and global fashion designers, including Balmain, Isabel Marant, Kenzo, Yeezy, Victoria Beckham, Smythe, the Row and Brunello Cucinelli.

With the COVID-19 era ushering in more comfort in fashion, many brands are borrowing from the loungewear trend that has become a staple in wardrobes all over the world, particularly as hybrid working models become the norm. Silk has become a staple fabric for designers looking to use sustainable, luxurious fabrics that don’t sacrifice style for function. Numi is one of the brands leading the charge, launching a new sustainable silk loungewear collection, which shoppers can snag in person at Numi’s new pop-up shop.

Why is silk better for the planet? It’s a natural fibre that biodegrades. What’s more, mulberry trees that sustain most silkworms require few pesticides or fertilizers and can be grown organically, requiring much less water than other popular textiles, like cotton.

Numi is planning several in-store events with other like-minded brands, including a monogramming event with Ela Handbags and a partnership with Radford Studio, a skin care and beauty shop located next door.

“We are so excited to bring an in-person experience to our customers where they can touch and feel and try on our products,” says Numi founder, Michelle Shemilt.

Stop by the 55 Avenue Rd. spot to get a head start on your holiday shopping, or just browse the new collection in person.

—RF

Signed, sealed and delivered by Masai Ujiri The 2.0 capsule collaboration features 10 athleisure pieces,including matching sweatsuits in tie-dye patterns and cosy fleece. Shoppers can also pick up T-shirts and full-zip merino sweaters boasting the Humanity logo (featuring Ujiri’s own handwriting).

Ujiri founded the That’s Humanity movement in 2020.

“The #ThatsHumanity movement is meant to challenge all of us to seek out and embrace the things that make us human,” said Ujiri.

“Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s fight for equality for all people, it is expressed through stories, shared experiences and art — all of which is represented here in the beauty of fashion.”

You can get your hands on the collection’s pieces in-store and online beginning early December, but don’t wait — the collection is expected to sell out.

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© Lindsay Rosset

The holiday season has arrived, and this year you can give more than just a good gift. For its second consecutive year, Canadian menswear retail giant Harry Rosen has developed a capsule collection in partnership with Toronto Raptors vice-chair and president Masai Ujiri and Toronto-based designer Patrick Assaraf. When you purchase an item from the line, aptly named the 2021 Humanity Capsule, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to community partner Water First Education & Training Inc., an internship program that provides certified water treatment plant operator training for Indigenous youth.

“This support from Harry Rosen and Masai is a critical investment in Indigenous youth and communities that will help solve water challenges independently and in the long-term,”says John Millar,executive director and founder of Water First.

DECEMBER 2021

The Raptors president’s clothing collection features his own writing by Raquel Farrington

Masai Ujiri in his new collection

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Niagara offers a winterized version of their classic wine tours

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Adventures worth wearing long johns for As the brittle chill of the colder months sets in, it can be tempting to never leave the comfort of your space heaters. But there’s still plenty to do this winter in Ontario.

Whether you’re looking for a family Christmas getaway or just an escape from the city, get yourself your own winter wonderland.

The Hobbit Hole

That’s right, you can rent out a Hobbit Hole. Located on a working farm near Indian Point and Emily Provincial Park, this hillside residence is a 2.5-hour drive from Toronto. It’s not the most luxurious experience, and you’ll need to BYO everything (including the one ring to rule them all). But it’s a nice warm spot for lovers of the outdoors. A winter Shire experience is something any hobbit can appreciate. Hillsidestables.ca Lake Scugog Ice Fishing

Grab some brews and some buds and get yourself a spot in one of the most popular ice fishing locations in Ontario. Located in Port Perry, Scugog has a very healthy population of perch and crappie that are available to catch through an ice hole in the lake. You’ll need a fishing licence to partake, as per Ontario regulations, but this charming port town in Durham is an easy escape from Toronto.

Scugoglakestewards.com Golden Lake Cabin

The height of glamping, this lakeside cabin a little over four hours outside of Toronto is a

perfect spot for couples looking for a romantic retreat. From the allwood interior to the kitschy kitchen appliances, this cabin has the perfect esthetic for bundling up with some cocoa by the fire. If you’re keen to explore, the Ottawa Valley has some stunning scenery that’s worth braving the cold to see.

Airbnb.ca/CanadianLakefrontCa bin The Torrance Barrens

Getting access to some beautiful skies in Toronto can be tough with all the light pollution. The Torrance Barrens was designed as a Dark Sky Reserve, so you can get a glimpse of those beautiful stars closer to home. It’s two and a half hours away, making it the closest place in southern Ontario to catch a glimpse of those stars just north of Gravenhurst. Be sure to check out the space weather website and the Torrance Barrens clear sky chart so you can get the clearest possible sky. Torrancebarrens.com Niagara Icewine Festival

No one said wine had to stop just because it’s getting colder. Take a trip to down to Niagara in January for that vineyard experience you missed during the summer.

Experience the 29 wineries taking part in this wine lover’s winter wonderland. There are also plenty of things to do in the Niagara area in between sips of wine, like the Winter Festival of Lights or even a wintery trip behind the falls.

Designate a driver and get to drinkin’! Niagarawinefestival.com

Getting Alberta off of the fossil fuel train Toronto can lead the way to a future free of coal, oil and gas For years, Alberta’s government has been spending millions of its citizens’ dollars to defend and promote the most profitable industry in human history, despite dire warnings of how that industry is fuelling a global climate crisis that threatens human health and survival. It also leaves the province on the hook for everything from “stranded assets” as the fossil fuel market winds down to cleaning up thousands of abandoned and orphaned oil and gas sites.

At least Alberta’s government makes no secret of its support for fossil fuels, especially the tarry bitumen it wants to export to the world. Other governments talk about the need to address what they agree is a climate emergency, and develop plans and targets, all while paying for pipelines with tax dollars, subsidizing oil and gas and promoting rampant methane fracking for liquefied “natural” gas.

The twisted premise appears to be that the human-created economy and its jobs take precedence over environmental concerns, regardless of how critical they are. But support for coal, oil and gas fails even on that flimsy argument.

It’s important that working people from sunset industries get support and retraining if they want it, whether their jobs are threatened by growing

automation or declining markets and the urgent global energy transition. In rethinking our economic priorities, we must also rethink the ways we work. But even under current systems, better economic and employment opportunities exist in the expanding clean tech sector.

But this only shows that an energy transition needn’t bring the economic catastrophe fossil fuel supporters predict. The truly overwhelming economic fact is that the accelerating impacts of global heating — from floods, droughts and wildfires to disease spread, pollution and refugee crises — are extremely costly and will get even more so if we fail to confront climate disruption.

Evidence continues to mount on the catastrophic consequences of failing to address the climate emergency, with reports from international bodies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, International Energy Agency, World Bank, World Health Organization and more, spelling out the increasing urgency.

With governments continuing to promote and subsidize fossil fuels even as they meet for conferences like COP26 in Glasgow to hammer out solutions and agreements, it’s no surprise the world isn’t on track to avoiding the worst climate impacts.

A recent study by the UN Environment Programme and others found that current plans and policies will keep global oil and gas production rising for the next two decades, with coal production falling only slightly.

According to the Guardian, “Detailed analysis of 15 major fossil fuel–producing nations found that the US, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia and China all project increases in oil and gas, while India and Russia intend to increase coal production. Only two of the countries expect oil and gas production to decline: the UK and Indonesia.”

It also found the world has directed more than US$300 billion of new public financing to fossil fuel activities since the COVID-19 pandemic began — outpacing public investment in renewable energy. The Guardian also notes that the world’s 60 biggest banks have provided US$3.8 trillion in financing for fossil fuel companies since the Paris Agreement in 2015.

Those who have been pleading for decades about the need to curtail fossil fuels have repeatedly been told that a transition “can’t happen overnight.” But that’s been an excuse to keep it from happening at all, as we clearly see now. And despite growing evidence, we’re still being treated as enemies by governments like Alberta’s.

It’s not just environmental advocates that are calling for fossil fuels to be left in the ground, for subsidies to end and for carbon sinks like wetlands, grasslands and forests to be protected and restored. It’s a massive majority of scientists, world leaders, thinkers and international agencies.

We’ve heard a lot of promising talk from world representatives in Glasgow. Let’s hope it’s not more “blah blah blah,” as Greta Thunberg says. Our jobs, health and lives depend on ambitious action to get off fossil fuels.

Governments must lead, and politicians must remember they’re elected to serve the people, not a single, declining, destructive industry.

DAVID SUZUKI

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

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (middle) spoke at COP26

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Race car driver Toka Murphy is on a mission to go pro From leaving engineering school to becoming an Ontario motorsport champion in just three years by Megan Gallant On semi-professional race car driver Toka Murphy’s website, six red words scroll across the bottom of the page, on repeat: “On a mission to go pro.”

That’s been Murphy’s goal since he graduated from high school at Northern Secondary School in 2015. Growing up, Murphy was a “car enthusiast,” able to point out and talk about any car. This “obsession” naturally led to a passion for race car driving.

But for Murphy, who grew up moving from house to house and often resided in community housing, it seemed unrealistic to consider a sport that he says would be lucky to cost him under $100,000 in a season.

“When I started working during high school and earning money for myself, I was inspired to keep working to make enough money to race,” Murphy says. He saved up enough to get his racing licence after graduating, despite knowing very little about the industry.

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Race car driver

Toka Murphy left university intent on saving up for a racing licence

Then, in 2018, Murphy competed in his first race in the Super Production Challenge (SPC) series in the compact class.

The SPC series offers a more accessible motorsports option for drivers of different experience levels and is one of the most competitive series within the

Canadian racing market.

“I was so bad that they wanted to kick me off the track,” Murphy says, stating he was a hazard to other drivers since he was unpredictable and didn’t know what he was doing.

But under the wing of Kunick Auto Sport race team, Murphy

learned the ins and outs of the sport, and by the end of that same year, he pulled off the championship.

And his passion only grew.

“There’s nothing you think about except racing. You’re in the moment. Time doesn’t exist,” he says. “And then when you get into the zone, the feeling is so euphoric.”

After that first season, Murphy knew he had enough talent to start racing more seriously and to actually succeed. He’s been funding his own career ever since.

Since his 2018 win, Murphy was crowned the 2019 SPC Compact Vice Champion. In 2020, he moved up to the production class, a faster category, and won the entire competition.

As someone who faced challenges getting to the level he’s at now, Murphy just hopes he can be a model to inspire others to go for their goals, even if they seem unattainable.

“I just want to inspire people to do what they want to do. You don't have to follow the social norms.

Do what you want to do.”

He explains that it was a risk dropping out of an engineering program at York University to put all his finances into racing and find work to live and pay for the sport, but it was one he knew he had to take.

“I don’t know which way is the right way, but I know I can take a step forward, and the more steps I take, I can start to learn which direction is better.”

He says following his dream is like walking through a maze: the path isn’t always laid out for you, but you’ll find your way: “I want to inspire people to just take a step forward.”

Following the completion of the 2021 season, Murphy is on the search for a new team for next season. He is always welcoming sponsors to help budget his racing so he can do it full time.

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then all of a sudden, there were candles everywhere. Rod had nothing to do with this power outage. It just so happened that the universe was kind of on our side. So we’re suddenly in this twinkly greenhouse. At the end of the meal, I said, “OK, we should go, because the chef is probably stressed.”

But he said, “No, let’s wait,” and he was waiting for the other people to leave, so we did. At this point, we’re in darkness, and I remember he got down on the ground. I was thinking, “What are you doing down there?” I could feel him lunging toward me, and I still had no idea what was going on, and then he asked me and I said yes. I was emotional. And then one of the most magical things happened.

Rod said, “I wish I could just see your face, because there's so much joy.” And then in that minute, the lights came back on, and it was just beautiful.

Meredith Shaw and Rodney Bowers got engaged in July

A match made in television heaven TV host Meredith Shaw and chef Rodney Bowers on their miniseries-worthy proposal If you don’t recognize Meredith Shaw from her countless TV appearances on The Social, The Marilyn Denis Show and more, you’ll definitely recognize her voice. She’s probably the first thing you hear once you get in the car on the way home from work as a radio host for CHUM 104.5. Her fiancé, Rodney Bowers, also frequents your TV screen, in between his role as head of food media at Centennial College. The couple share the details of their steamy first date, unbelievable proposal and how they juggle their careers.

How they met

MS: I think we were both kind of aware of each other because of what we do for a living. But we met at an event that I was emceeing for CHUM-FM. And he was there with a brand he was working with. We always say that Marilyn Denis was kind of our matchmaker.

The first date

RB: It took months and months of awkward courting. Our first

date, we went for lunch in Little India.

MS: Rod just felt like home to me; he always had the minute I saw him. There was something about him that was familiar. It was that feeling that I've heard other people talk about but I hadn’t felt yet. And then when I met him, I did. The first date was nothing like what I would imagine a great first date to be, but it was a great first date. He makes me laugh all the time.

RB: Little did she know, on the date, I actually had one of the hottest peppers I had ever put into my mouth. I was trying to hold it back, sweating profusely, trying to quench my thirst with water.

The proposal

MS: It was his birthday and we went to this beautiful farm just outside Montreal. It was incredible. He knew the chef and everything we ate there was grown there and picked that day.

It was a beautiful glass greenhouse in the middle of the field. About halfway through the meal, the power went out. And

Balancing career and marriage

RB: It’s a lot of work. When we do what we do, we need to be patient. I think it works because we're not too needy. We're giving, we're respectful of boundaries and things that the other person has to do. Meredith has 87 jobs, basically: she’s on the radio, she models and she's a stylist, she's an expert and she runs all things. I'm a professor, I'm on TV and I’m a chef. The media world is very different on the inside than it is on the outside looking in, and so I think we both have that understanding of what it is, what it takes and what it requires.

Working together

MS: It was really cool for us to come together and shoot a television show called Double Your Dish, which we did last year during quarantine. That was really exciting, because we were able to really work together, which we hadn't done as intensely before. I hope to do more things like that. It was really fun to bring our different passions together.

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MS: Humour! I think things are so hard, and relationships are hard, and we're not exempt from that. But we have a deep, deep love and respect for each other.

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FESTIVE WINTER FESTIVAL FUN Holiday Hills All you really need to know about Holiday Hills at the stackt market is that it marks the return of Crokicurl. But if that’s not enough, the six-week holiday festival also features weekend vendor markets and 26 resident stores for holiday shopping, live music showcases, local art, holiday-themed workshops and DIYs, comedy shows, a drag brunch and unique dining experiences. Phew. It runs until Dec. 31.

From hip basement soirees to booming big-budget Broadway musicals Mirvish is back this month with the first production of its 2021–2022 season. The 50th anniversary production of Jesus Christ Superstar that follows a critically acclaimed run in the United Kingdom.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.

Aaron LaVigne leads the show as Jesus, joined by James T. Justis as Judas and Jenna Rubaii as Mary. The tour also features Alvin Crawford as Caiphas, Tommy Sherlock as Pilate and Tyce Green as Annas.

The production runs until Jan. 2, 2022, at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

The National Ballet of Canada is back with its revered holiday classic The Nutcracker.

The holiday favourite will return to the stage for live performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto this holiday season, December 10–31. The Nutcracker is a long-standing tradition in the city, and the National Ballet’s version, by James Kudelka, is renowned for its beauty and brilliance.

For 2021, The Basement Revue returns to The Paradise on Bloor, every Thursday in December beginning on the second and running until the 30th. Each night will also be broadcast via Side Door.

Toronto’s Art of Time Ensemble will be performing its first live concert in 22 months when it takes the stage at Koerner Hall for To All A Good Night 6 on Dec. 9.

The self-proclaimed “different holiday concert” is back with a new edition for these strange times, featuring the music of Stevie Wonder, John Prine, Stephen Colbert & Elvis Costello and Duke Ellington and with performances by Jackie Richardson, Jessica Mitchell, Liam Russell, David Wall and Tom Wilson.

Fancy a trip to charming Niagara-on-the-Lake this holiday season? Now you have two more reasons to make the short drive, as the Shaw Festival is presenting two Christmas classics.

The musical Holiday Inn, of “White Christmas” fame, directed by Kate Henning. The Shaw is also presenting a production of A Christmas Carol.

Both productions run until Dec. 23.

The popular Basement Revue, the brainchild of musician Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene), is set The Andy Kim Christmas show checks into the newly renovated Massey Hall on Dec. 8 for what is sure to return to Paradise on Bloor for a series of halfto be a magical concert. literary, half-music variety shows every Thursday night.

Jully Black “I have long wanted to do the Christmas show at Toronto’s The Basement Revue has been offering its unique take on a late night cultural soiree for 13 years since Collett and company first hit the historic Massey Hall, and with the support of Live Nation Canada, I am excited to be one of the first to perform after their revitalization and stage at the Dakota Tavern in 2007.

The concept is simple in that it pairs a musician with an author who bring the Andy Kim Christmas back in front of a live audience,” Kim hit the stage together to perform, well, something. The idea has resulted says.

Special guests for this year’s show include Billy Talent, the in some epic happenings such as when Leslie Feist backed up Michael Ondaatje or Margaret Atwood stepped up to the mic in front of one of Sheepdogs, Ron Sexsmith, Alex Lifeson, Jully Black, Tyler Shaw, Sloan, Toronto’s most celebrated bands, saying, with her characteristic deadpan William Prince, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Jake Clemons, Men Without Hats, Pursuit of Happiness, Theo Tams, Beverly Mahood, Georgia wit, “Hit it, Sadies.”

As is tradition, each evening’s pairings will remain a secret until Harmer and Choir! Choir! Choir!.

All the proceeds from the show are going to CAMH Gifts of Light. showtime, and that includes the performers.

Winter Village The Historic Distillery Market has always been one of the most picturesque places in Toronto to get a serious helping of the holiday spirit. The Winter Village will feature eight new vendor cabins, 12 food vendor cabins, buskers, carollers and live entertainment, amongst the Distillery District’s existing local merchants. Tickets for the market are $8 per person.

DECEMBER 2021

The best holiday shows in T.O.

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L-R: ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ coming to the Princess of Wales Theatre and the National Ballet of Canada’s classic ‘The Nutcracker’

WinterFest Beginning Nov. 13 and running until Dec. 31, Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest returns bigger than before with more live entertainment, millions of holiday lights, festive treats, themed areas and artisan markets. New this year, the immersive event will include the Northern Starlight in the themed North Pole area. Guests can visit a magical land worthy of a Hallmark movie with a tunnel covered in 100 feet of colourful LED lights.

Crokicurl at stackt market

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CURRENTS

MUSIC

The Weather Station released its fifth album earlier this year

Music for a climate crisis The Weather Station returns

Season’s Greetings!

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY New construction

Ideal 33 suite Boutique condo on the Harbour in Downtown Picton. 8 suites remain from 754 - 1,283 sq.ft., large balconies, walk to shops visit pictonharbourlofts.com

COMING SOON

Hogg's Hollow, on the River. Updated 4 bdrm home with Reno Eat-in Kitchen, new Lux Master Ens + updated baths, walk-out Fin Lower Level, 2 car garage. Lush ravine lot with large garden and huge entertaining deck

| POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1

YONGE/YORK MILLS

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Ideal Empty nesters' double suite over 2,200 sq.ft., 2 Bdrm plus Office + Fam Rm, Generous Room sizes, small Exclusive building, walk to subway. 2 pkg, 2 lockers $1,799,000

Recently, Toronto band the Weather Station, led by Tamara Lindeman, began a tour following the release of the brilliant new album Ignorance, which is steeped in concern over the climate crisis.

Ironically, the tour ended up leaving Vancouver hours before the “atmospheric river” would wreak havoc on the province.

“If we had left a couple hours later, we wouldn't have made it out of Vancouver at all,” Lindeman says. “Watching it all unfold, it's really frightening. I feel for B.C., and it's just such a classic example of the fragility of everything.”

Lindeman wrote Ignorance in 2018 when she was participating in climate marches in the city, and youth activists such as Greta Thunberg were energizing the climate justice movement.

This isn’t an overtly “environmental” record asking listeners to rage against the machine. Instead, it speaks to Lindeman’s climate grief, the helplessness in the face of an immense problem. And it’s that honesty that continues to resonate and has some dubbing Ignorance as one of the best albums of the year.

She says the message is subtle.

And, it might be, as her poignant message is wrapped lovingly in her disarmingly honest and lush songwriting.

“I was really just processing my own feelings,” Lindeman says.

“What’s really interesting to me is that I thought the climate thing was subtle. It shows me that what I was experiencing is something that many people were emotionally, because it's obviously

by Ron Johnson

resonating with people in the music, and they're hearing it, which is unexpected.”

For her new, fifth album, as she often does, Lindeman drags the Weather Station into new sonic territory, tapping into a decidedly more pop-oriented vein of music with a nod to the off-kilter vibes of early new wave and synth. It’s music with a message but a very groovy one.

To help bring a vision to life, Lindeman worked with producer Marcus Paquin (Arcade Fire, the National). And she even signed onto a new label in Fat Possum Records.

Indeed, the one-time staple of Toronto’s DIY folk scene has crafted a career-defining album that brought her to the top of many Best of 2021 (so far) lists.

But for Lindeman, she is just happy to be back on tour doing what she loves.

“I do have a deep love of travelling and being on the highway and, you know, the climate considerations. I always find it really heartening to be out in the world and just meet people and remember that the world is bigger than Toronto,” she says.

“Honestly, we're just very happy to be together and playing shows. A lot of joy, for sure.”

She can’t wait to hit the hometown stage at the Danforth Music Hall on Dec. 4.

“We [Toronto] were one of the most locked down places right in the world. And I was there the whole time, so I’m just grateful for the chance,” she says. “I’m excited, for sure.”

BOOKS

CURRENTS

Since 1996

HEARTH & HOME: COOK, SHARE, AND CELEBRATE FAMILY-STYLE

by Lynn Crawford and Lora Kirk Do you have someone on your holiday gift list looking to up the culinary game this winter? Try this gem from two of Toronto’s best chefs, Lynn Crawford and Lora Kirk, who share their favourite family-style recipes for everyday cooking and casual celebrations at home. Heart & Home features more than 140 recipes.

PERMANENT ASTONISHMENT: A MEMOIR

by Tomson Highway One thing is true, and that is Highway exudes joy, and it comes through in the writing of his fascinating memoir. Highway’s latest work, Permanent Astonishment, which was named the winner of the 2021 Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction, tells the story of the Cree playwright and novelist’s upbringing alongside a dozen siblings in northern Manitoba.

Moving? Redecorating?

Clearing an Estate?

If you have furniture and home accessories that you would like to sell on consignment, Of Things Past offers a Home Consultation Service.

Items of interest include well-crafted, brand-name, and designer furniture, sterling silver/silver-plate, mirrors, table and floor lamps, crystal and fine china.

To be considered, items must be in perfect or near-perfect condition.

For inquiries please email: homevisit@ofthingspast.com Toronto’s Largest Consignment Showroom for Luxury Home Furnishings and Décor 185 Bridgeland Avenue (5 minutes from Yorkdale Mall) – 7 days a week – 10-5 pm.

HOMETOWN HOLIDAY STORIES Four Toronto books sure to please all the readers in your life this season

by Ron Johnson

There are so many reasons to join Kids Book ClubTO! We offer weekly book clubs both in-person and virtually for children, in grades 2-8. All of our clubs foster a love for reading while gaining confidence in expressing opinions about books in a social environment.

All clubs are led by experienced Teachers!

Your child will LOVE this learning experience, join us!

Be sure to check out our Instagram to learn more about us!

One of the most revered novelists in the city and the country behind such classics as The Englishman’s Boy and a three-time Governor General’s Award winner, releases his first novel in a decade — an epic story of crime and retribution, of war and its long shadow.

MASSEY HALL

by David McPherson, foreword by Jann Arden Toronto’s iconic concert hall has finally reopened after a massive renovation. What better time for a gorgeous full-colour book that chronicles the history of the 127-year-old Old Lady of Shuter Street.

| POST |

AUGUST INTO WINTER

by Guy Vanderhaeghe

DECEMBER 2021

@kidsbookclubto • WWW.KIDSBOOKCLUBTO.COM

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VOLUNTEERING & GIVING GUIDE

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR GIVING FROM THE HEART Give back this season by supporting these extraordinary organizations and foundations who are doing incredible work in our neighbourhoods. Whether you volunteer your time or make a donation, when you give a little kindness, you can have a big impact!

HOW TO GIVE

DONATE ONLINE cltoronto.ca/donate OR CONTACT: Sylvie Labrosse - Manager, Fundraising 647-588-9465 | sylvie.labrosse@cltoronto.ca Registered Canadian Charitable Organization | #10769 4143 RR0001

Let’s give all Torontonians a happy holiday season | POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1

Although he works very hard to provide for his son Aidan, Darcy has a low income and struggles to make ends meet. Because Aiden is Darcy's first priority, there is little money left to spend on necessities for himself.

Darcy desperately needs shoes to wear to work and warm winter boots as the cold season approaches.

These are the kind of stories we hear from the people we support; good people like Darcy who are doing their best under difficult circumstances.

Today, as the emergency of the pandemic is thankfully receding, we’re able to focus on the urgent issues facing many of our community members who are struggling with poverty and isolation as we head into the holidays.

As you know, this is a time when these issues are magnified.

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What’s an intellectual disability?

An intellectual disability is a lifelong impairment in cognitive function that affects areas of daily living, such as personal care, language skills, and learning abilities.

People with an intellectual disability often face barriers in creating the life they want. Of the estimated 250,000 people in Ontario with an intellectual disability, less than 25% are employed and only 6% have suitable housing with appropriate supports.

In our city alone, Community Living Toronto supports over 4,000 people with an intellectual disability through our 80+ locations and 50+ programs that provide housing, community participation opportunities, skill development, employment training, and more. Our vision

is to create a society where everyone belongs - a society where everyone is valued.

Share some holiday kindness You may be surprised just how much a little kindness will mean for someone facing another holiday on the margins. The concept of gift giving feels entirely out of reach for someone who is trying to decide between paying their heating bill or buying groceries.

Everyone deserves a chance to take a deep breath, gather safely with loved ones and enjoy this special time together (and hopefully a great meal or two). Tis’ the season for generosity – let’s help deserving families like Darcy and Aiden enjoy the holidays!

VOLUNTEERING & GIVING GUIDE

HOW TO GIVE

North York General Foundation 4001 Leslie Street | 416 756 6944 NYGHFoundation.ca/NICU Registered Canadian Charitable Organization #88875 1245 RR0001

Four-month-old Apollo and his mother Chrysoula enjoying playtime at home

Apollo during his 44 days in the NYGH NICU

“I gave birth to Apollo, but North York General Hospital gave him life.” - Chrysoula In March, Chrysoula’s joy of having a second child turned to worry, as she felt sharp pangs in her stomach in her 30th week of pregnancy.

She was rushed to North York General Hospital (NYGH) where it was confirmed that she was in pre-term labour.

She was terrified, wondering if her baby was going to be safe arriving so early. But her worries were reassured by the doctors and nurses at NYGH who stood by her side to provide urgent care. After a few harrowing hours and a C-section, Apollo was born.

However, birth was only the first obstacle Apollo would have to face in his first few weeks of life. Apollo spent the next 44 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at NYGH with tubes and machines helping him take every laboured breath.

COVID-19 was surging in the city with strict hospital protocols.

Only one parent could stay with Apollo at any time and no extended family was allowed to support the new parents. Chrysoula had to isolate herself, screening for COVID-19 every day as she visited her son.

At this difficult time, the doctors and nurses cared not only for fragile Apollo, but also doubled as a support system for the family.

They would comfort Chrysoula when she was overwhelmed watching her infant fight to get healthy and would patiently respond to her husband’s queries about Apollo’s progress. Due to the care team’s tireless efforts after almost 7 weeks in the NICU, Apollo finally emerged as a graduate.

Chrysoula knows that the exceptional care Apollo received in those first few weeks at NYGH is the reason he survived, and the care he continues to receive will help him have a healthy life.

This Giving Tuesday and holiday season consider a gift to North York General Hospital to help ensure other infants like Apollo are given the chance to live. Your donation will make a world of difference for the many families in the diverse communities that the hospital serves.

Please donate before December 31st to receive your 2021 tax receipt.

Visit NYGHFoundation.ca/NICU

HOW TO GIVE

Wildlands League 371-401 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V 3A8 Wildlandsleague.org / info@wildlandsleague.org Registered Canadian Charitable Organization | #11878 2317 RR0001

Rouge National Urban Park

the climate and for the planet, with a goal of protecting 30% of Canada’s natural lands and water by 2030.

But we need your help.

With donor support, we’ve already advanced protection of marine life in the Hudson and James Bay, ensured national park protections for the Rouge in Toronto and prevented logging in half a million hectares of intact northern forests.

In Southern Ontario, the Golden Horseshoe is both an extinction hotspot and ground zero for climate impacts. That’s why increasing protection, connection and restoration will be a game changer for the future of our planet.

More than just public parks, we’re talking meadows where

songbirds sing, ecological corridors where species can thrive, and protected lands where wildlife can leave paw prints in the snow, all close to where we live. This nature network will protect our ecosystems and make the largest Canadian impact to halt species extinction. More nature is our best buffer against extreme heat and flooding.

A donation to Wildlands League will help safeguard all that you love. Give a gift today at wildlandsleague.org and help us ensure the future you promised your children and grandchildren.

| POST |

In the last two years, many of us have taken to nature like never before. With our favourite indoor places closed and social separation keeping us apart, we explored parks, hiked ravines and discovered new forest trails.

Those same spots are home to thousands of species, hundreds of which are endangered. Of the 500 species at risk in Canada, over 50% of them live near or in cities. Every time a species winks out, it’s a sign that nature is dying.

Wildlands League is committed to preserving our parks, forests, rivers, lakes, and oceans for you and your children. We tackle irresponsible development that threatens nature and wildlife habitats across Ontario. We give voice to Canada’s nature for our children, for

DECEMBER 2021

Protect Nature for Generations to Come

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VOLUNTEERING & GIVING GUIDE

HOW TO GIVE

Easter Seals Ontario One Concorde Gate, Suite 700, Toronto • 416-421-8778 www.EasterSeals.org • lsquizzato@easterseals.org Registered Canadian Charitable Organization | #119068377 RR0001

100 Years of Changing the World for Kids with Physical Disabilities As we ring in the new year, Easter Seals Ontario will be celebrating 100 years of changing the world for children with physical disabilities. On this momentous occasion, we look back on the exciting history of Easter Seals Ontario and its profound impact on the lives of thousands over the past century. Since its inception in 1922, Easter Seals Ontario has been forging the way for enhanced care and services for children with physical disabilities. Easter Seals Ontario has pioneered many essential programs and services over the past century. Notably, being the first organization to provide in-house nurses, to build fully accessible summer camps, and to build a provincial treatment center with in-patient and out-patient facilities.

The organization was also instrumental in establishing a network

of children’s treatment centres throughout the province now known as Empowered Kids Ontario, creating northern medical clinics so families would not have to travel to the southern part of the province to see a specialist, and initiating public health campaigns to promote issues such as the pasteurization of milk, bike helmet safety, and the benefits of folic acid.

Easter Seals was built with grassroots support from communities across Ontario. To this day, they rely solely on the generosity of their supporters to provide funding for costly mobility and accessibility equipment, opportunities to participate in fully accessible camping and recreational programming, and scholarships that allow kids with physical disabilities to pursue their dreams of post-secondary

education. A donation to Easter Seals today will help kids with physical disabilities in Ontario continue to access life-changing programs and services.

Throughout the past century, Easter Seals has survived and evolved through depression, war, peace, prosperity, economic recessions, and a global pandemic. They are more committed than ever to doing everything within their power to help remove barriers and create a more inclusive society so children and youth with physical disabilities can experience greater independence, freedom, and dignity. Celebrate with Easter Seals this holiday season. Learn more about joining Easter Seals' century-long legacy of inclusion, accessibility, and acceptance at EasterSeals.org.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Girl Guides of Canada girlguides.ca/volunteer info@girlguides.ca • 1-877-564-6188

Maria Hornak and her daughter Gabriella

Girls with volunteer at winter camp near Goderich, Ontario

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Spark Incredible Moments for Girls in your Community as a Girl Guide Volunteer

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For more than 100 years, Girl Guides of Canada has been creating safe, inclusive space for girls to take the lead and jump into fun activities designed to help them grow – all with the support of their peers and the leadership of valued volunteers.

Girl Guides has been a vital experience for both volunteer Maria Hornak and her daughter ever since arriving as newcomers to Toronto in 2007. Hornak says that she is grateful for the opportunity Girl Guides gave them to find community and life-long friendships.

“What better way to get to know the neighbourhood, give back to the community in which I live, and share this experience with my daughter,” Hornak says. “We all want to feel a sense of community and Guiding did that for me.”

Hornak has been volunteering with Girl Guides for more than 14 years and says it has been rewarding to be part of a girl’s journey of self-discovery.

“There are lots of firsts in Guiding, be it a girl’s first time away from home, first time staying in a tent or first time canoeing,” she says.

“Girls often later reminisce that some of these are their best memories. I find it so rewarding to be alongside them on the journey.”

Hornak considers it a privilege to see girls’ unique qualities shine through, especially when they have the chance to take on leadership roles. Depending on their age, girls could be teaching their peers a new skill or organizing a community service event.

“Their unique abilities come to light, and we get to experience the passion and drive they demonstrate representing the causes they believe in,” Hornak says.

Girl Guides of Canada invites women to join our valued team of volunteers! As a volunteer with Girl Guides, you’ll mentor girls in your community and help them unleash their potential as they develop ready-for-anything skills and go on new adventures.

Find out more at girlguides.ca/volunteer

FOOD

Miracle on Bloor (top right) has returned to Queen Street West once more, this time with its holiday-themed tiki sister bar, Sippin’ Santa (left). Dig out your ugliest Christmas sweater and head on down to 875 Bloor St. W., from now until Dec. 26, to enjoy some festive cocktails from this pop-up that’s become a holiday tradition. If it’s all-around winter cheer you’re after, over at 164 Bathurst St. W., the Sweaters n’

Snowflakes pop-up (bottom right) is also back for a second year. Although a sparkly Scotch pine forest aglow in twinkling lights is the star of the show, this pop-up is also a full-fledged food and wine bar complete with wood fire BBQ and pizza. There’s also a magical light tunnel, perfect for Instagram selfies, and five outdoor firepits that will keep you nice and toasty while you sip on a glass of mulled wine amongst friends.

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The most wonderful pop-ups of the year

DECEMBER 2021

© Instagram @callaisfoodcraze

© Instagram @sippinsantatoronto

© Instagram @miracletoronto

SECTION

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hello ide!! leas Now open what we do Infant exams Cleanings and checkups Minimally invasive dentistry Emergency dental care Tongue/lip tie assessment Co2 laser tongue/ lip tie releases +0 , Braces + Invisalign® for kids and teens

The Experience Friendly specialized squad + / / / Toothpaste menu Prize centre + ! +

Free parking +

Leaside (Longos plaza) $& * - $"#. %#'/(()/#(#( Leaside@smilesquad.ca

smilesquad.ca

DANIEL PUSTIL

Bathurst + St. Clair #%%" %#'/($&/#(#( Hello@smilesquad.ca

@smilesquadkids

TOP 1% REALTOR IN TORONTO Dollar Sales

Sales Representative

d 416.565.4001 | o 416.913.7930 | 24/7/365 | dpustil@sothebysrealty.ca | sothebysrealty.ca

| POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1

SOLD

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SOLD

REPUBLIC OF RATHNELLY

BEDFORD PARK

Modern masterpiece in the heart of the Republic of Rathnelly. Open concept floorplan, oversized windows, hardwood flooring throughout and a third floor retreat with a walk out to a sun filled rooftop deck. Treed backyard oasis with multiple ponds. Steps to restos, shopping and nature trails at your front door. *represented buyer

Luxury designed home situated on a sun drenched lot totalling over 4,680 sq ft. Featuring 10’ ceilings, library, chefs kitchen with walk out to yard, heavenly spa like primary ensuite, four other bedrooms with semi em suites, 2 car garage and so much more!! * represented buyer

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada | 192 Davenport Rd, Toronto ON M5R 1J2

TASTE TEST

FOOD

HOLIDAY TAKEOUT STAKEOUT Chef Craig Wong (General Tao’s chicken)

Ordering in Chinese food has become a holiday tradition. We asked two of T.O.’s best chefs to sample General Tao’s chicken and yeung chow fried rice from some of the city’s best restaurants.

Chef Anna Chen (Yeung chow fried rice)

WINNER

KWAN

DYNASTY

C’EST BON

YU SEAFOOD

CYNTHIA’S

kwan-dimsum.com, $15.95

dynastyyorkville.com, $21.95

cestbonrestaurant.com, $17.50

yuseafood.com, $24

cynthiaschinese.com, $12.75

“This one was a bit dry, but there were a lot of really tasty veggies in this dish.”

“There’s a lot of wok hei, and there are more vegetables than I’ve seen with the others.”

“Lots of char sui pork, and they didn’t skimp out on any of the vegetables or chicken either.”

“This is very tasty, and there are nice chunky shrimp in there. Overall, it’s a balanced dish.”

“There’s lots of shrimp in here, and the colour is very bright from the egg.

It’s very balanced.”

DYNASTY

C’EST BON

YU SEAFOOD

CYNTHIA’S

dynastyyorkville.com, $20.95

cestbonrestaurant.com, $16.95

yuseafood.com, $24

cynthiaschinese.com, $17.95

“This was really tasty. This is the style and texture I like to see when eating General Tao.”

“It has that sweet chili sauce, almost more of a spicy sweet and sour sauce.”

“There’s some heat present, but this dish reminds me more of a sweet and sour sauce.”

“It had all the flavour profiles I was looking for and it had a nice texture.”

“This is less saucy and more stir-fried. I can smell some sort of fermented chili in here. It has some funk to it!”

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KWAN kwan-dimsum.com, $15.95

DECEMBER 2021

WINNER

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­ ©

PROFILE

FOOD

Chef Adrian Niman brings the heat T.O.’s hottest restaurateur on opening MIMI Chinese and expanding his culinary empire south of the border

by Ben Kaplan

Pantry location in Rosedale.

“With all of these amazing local ingredients in Miami and fresh produce available year-round, my mind began spinning. We think about Canada as this huge country, but the truth is that Florida has the same population as Canada. I felt like Food Dudes South could only do well.”

Food Dudes South, which begins serving yachts, weddings and bar mitzvahs in January 2022, will incorporate the beloved accents of the Food Dudes empire — tomato toast, truffle sliders, pastrami salmon and Israeli skewers — all with Miami flare.

Niman plans to incorporate sustainable grouper, snapper and snow crab into his menus, and his partner in Miami has experience working at the Florida outpost of Nobu. Both men know fresh fish.

“It’s so exciting to have that Miami access to seafood and also incredible farms and produce, like citrus and tomatoes — all the warm-weather flavours that I can work with year-round,” says Niman.

The way he sees it, Miami is perfect for all of his brands. “We’ll have Food Dudes North and Food Dudes South, and we’re bringing Blondies Pizza to Miami and looking into potentially a Mimis or Rasa or Pantry or Sara,” he says, a big smile on his face. “There’s just an energy when you arrive in

Miami and get off the plane — the food is delicious and nobody judges anybody, which is how it should be.”

As the numbers behind his business get bigger, the pressures mount on the chef. Niman says he’s only too familiar with the dangers of cooking, and he’s seen first-hand the fallout from food groups who mismanage their money. One group in particular with a reputation for stiffing their suppliers and racked up a hefty debt, were almost his partners.

Niman almost worked with that

people, it only leads one way.”

Niman’s philosophy amongst all his locations, whether he’s an owner or investor, flies in the face of conventional wisdom — it’s not about customer first.

“I think the employee comes first and that spills over to how the customer is treated,” he says. “If you come into Pantry and grab a combo number one and the staff isn’t happy, you won’t have a positive experience. Staff being happy, I think, always comes first.”

To establish himself, Niman grew from a chef into a builder of

“My dream is becoming a reality in which everyone grows.” team (who he wishes not to name) back in 2018, but he trusted his instincts and learned an important lesson in being a restaurateur: the owner of the business gets paid last.

“As I was negotiating the deal, I realized the inner workings, and it became apparent that they stretched themselves too thin,” says Niman. “If you treat people with respect and don’t burn suppliers — not one supplier in Toronto could ever say, ‘Food Dudes burned us on a bill.’ We have the mentality that everyone gets paid first — if you stiff

empires and the first big lesson was stepping back from day-today operations. The second was to empower his people and let them lead the way. He takes pains to credit the success of Mimi to his longtime partner David Schawrtz and Blondies Pizza, the brainchild of Matt Blondin, which now has eight locations. Both men have spent years prior to their successes working by Niman’s side.

“I started to see after year five or six that I had to change my leadership style and stop being so micro and worrying about the chopped salad being exactly how I

want it,” says Niman, who points to cooking for 500,000 people at the Honda Indy or six NHL teams at Hotel X during the pandemic bubble as good examples of him trusting and leaning on his team. “I never thought Food Dudes would grow to what it has and I would expand to south Florida, but I never stopped investing in my people and I wasn’t scared to take risks.”

The risks these days are exhaustion and his own mental health, something he’s spoken openly about. In addition to the restaurants, he’s an owner in Olli, a line of premium edibles that makes white label gummies for Ace Valley (owned by cannabis company Canopy Growth) and recently came out with a product that’s sugar-free.

“My two passions,” he says, “are food and cannabis,” he says.

And, even though he’s clearly having a moment, he says he works hard to maintain a worklife balance.

“Sundays are my day with my children, and everyone knows to never schedule anything for me on that day,” he says. “It grounds me and makes me think I can live a normal life of being a parent and a family man because I want to keep going. I want to see everyone flourish. My dream is becoming a reality in which everyone grows.”

| POST |

It was after a long, brutal bout of COVID-19 that Adrian Niman found himself in Tulum, Mexico, dreaming about Miami. A longtime denizen of the city, Niman was with his family on an extended recoup mission when he began to get an idea: sure, Miami is amongst the culinary destinations of the world. And no one could doubt that Miami competes anywhere with anyone when it comes to food. But do they have anything like Food Dudes?

Niman was 22 when he started the city’s premier event catering company at his parents' condo at Yonge and St. Clair, and since then, he’s turned it into a multimillion dollar business. He’s also opened Sara and its sister restaurant, Rasa, and helped steer Blondies Pizza, gourmet grab and go; Pantry; and, very recently, the hottest new open of 2021, Mimi Chinese. All in all, he’s built a culinary empire not recently seen locally since Mark McEwan became a fixture on TV. For Niman, Miami was the perfect breeding ground for Food Dudes South.

“There’s just such a growing multi-cultural feeling in the city, and it’s not just Cuban food, but this incredible mixture of Japanese, French, modernAmerican and Chinese,” says Niman, 37, over coffee at his

DECEMBER 2021

Chef Adrian Niman has a host of ventures going, even a cannabis edibles business

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FEATURE

FOOD

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A BEEF WELLINGTON REVIVAL A classic holiday dish, beef Wellington is having a moment. So skip the prep work this Christmas and complete your feast with an order from one of these four local Wellington purveyors.

by Christine Hogg

3

4

STOCK-IN-TRADE

BLUEBLOOD STEAKHOUSE

OLLIFFE BUTCHER SHOP

HY’S STEAKHOUSE

Stock-in-Trade’s beef Wellingtons are made from pasture raised, hormonefree beef, which is painted with Dijon mustard, then wrapped in mushroom duxelle. The puff pastry is also made and folded in-house by hand and brushed with butter to give the crust a golden, flaky glow. All of the beef Wellingtons are decorated with a slightly different design each time.

Stock-in-Trade’s beef Wellingtons come in various sizes and can feed anywhere between two and six people. They can be purchased via the restaurant’s online retail shop or for pickup at the store, 1324-A Gerrard St. E. $50–$125, stockintradeto.com

BlueBlood Steakhouse is notorious for serving only the finest cuts of meat, with steaks ranging in price anywhere from $55 to $220. The Short Rib Wellington, BlueBlood’s take on the classic beef Wellington, features braised beef short ribs done in a mix of veal stock and Shiraz. Once the meat has been saturated in juices, it is coated in mushroom duxelles and rolled into a flaky puff pastry. BlueBlood Steakhouse’s Short Rib Wellington is available in eight or 10 ounces, and serves two people. It can be enjoyed at the restaurant, 1 Austin Terr., or ordered for takeout. $58, bluebloodsteakhouse.com

Olliffe Butcher Shop has been serving up fine cuts of meat to customers and chefs in Toronto since 1975. Along with selling cuts “from nose to tail,” the butcher shop also sells gourmet meals to go. Olliffe’s beef Wellington uses a centre cut of beef tenderloin that is sourced locally at a farm in Norfolk County in southern Ontario. The tenderloin is then wrapped in a savoury green onion crepe with duck foie gras and mushroom duxelle. Olliffe’s beef Wellington sells for $63 per pound and can be ordered online or picked up at the store, 1097A Yonge St. From $63, olliffe.ca 5607 Yonge St.

Beef Wellington is a staple on Hy’s menu. Hy’s beef Wellington features a filet of beef tenderloin, with foie gras and oyster mushroom duxelle, baked in a buttery puff pastry. Hy’s beef Wellington is served with a red wine reduction, which offers an intense, complementary flavour to tie together the delicacy of the pastry, the earthiness of the mushrooms and richness of the foie gras and prime filet. Hy’s beef is sourced from farms in High River, Alta. The filets are aged a minimum of 28 days and are hand butchered at the restaurant, 365 Bay St. $67.95, hyssteakhouse.com

DECEMBER 2021

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RESTAURANT DELIVERY GUIDE

www.khoraksupermarket.com

www.cestbonrestaurant.com

416 483 0922

6125 YONGE STREET • 416 221 7558 EXT. 311

2685 YONGE STREET • 416 932 2811

1580 BAYVIEW AVENUE, TORONTO

OPEN EVERY DAY 8AM-10:30PM

OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY

LET US CATER YOUR HOLIDAY EVENT

Pictured: Holiday Turkey Special

Pictured: Black Bean Basil Chinese Eggplant

HOLIDAY FEASTS

MENU HIGHLIGHTS

MENU HIGHLIGHTS

Option 1 - Christmas Turkey Special: A Baked & Garnished 14-16 lb Fresh AAA Stuffed Turkey (option to get it unstuffed) Tray of delicious mashed potatoes and gravy Tray of mixed sautéed vegetables with a special rainbow rice and stuffing on the side Feeds at least 10 guests $139.99

House Pan Fried Dumplings

Mante Dumplings House-made dumplings filled with seasoned ground beef, baked, dressed with garlic yogurt, dry mint, sumac and extra virgin olive oil

BBQ Pork Spare Ribs Crispy Ginger Beef Spicy Peanut Chicken General Tsao's Chicken

Option 2 - Christmas Whole Chicken Special: One Stuffed Whole Chicken With Rainbow Rice, Mashed Potato & Gravy, Sauteed veggies Feeds at least 4 guests $39.99

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Sarma House-made vine leaves(vegan), stuffed with rice and vegetables, served warm

Basil Chicken House Mix Vegetable House Chili Prawn

Cauliflower Double roasted, dressed with tahini, aioli, grated akawi cheese, chimichurri, pine nuts and pomegranates

Seafood Cantonese Chow Mein

Lamb Chops Mennonite Lamb, grilled; shishito peppers, olive oil to finish

Also Wide Selection of Vegetarian and Tofu Dishes

Mediterranean Sea Bad Whole white fish grilled, deboned

Khorak Supermarket originally started in 1989 as a 1500 square feet convenience store and has evolved to a 14,000 square feet Supermarket serving over 20,000 families weekly! Today, Khorak Supermarket has become Canada's #1 choice when it comes to Persian / Middle Eastern Supermarkets. We specialize in: Bakery, Produce, Grocery, Butchery, Catering, Prepared Foods, Specialty Nuts, Organic Products & MORE! Shop ONLINE: KhorakSupermarket.com *Order by Dec.20th & Receive A $10 Voucher for your next purchase. USE PROMO CODE: PostCityXmas

C’est Bon would like to thank all of our customers for their continued support during this period.

All our staff are taking additional safety measures to ensure the safety of both staff and all of our customers.

Mayrik is the most endearing way to say "Mother" in Armenian.

A celebration of mom and the kitchen we grew up in. Highlighting a fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. #DiveintotheMediterranean @MayrikTO

*All orders need at least 48 hrs to prepare. Pick up only.

Offer not valid with any other promo or offer. While quantities last.

Order Direct Online

Option 3 - Christmas 2 Whole Chickens Special: Two Stuffed Whole Chickens Tray of Rainbow Rice, Mashed Potato & Gravy, Sauteed veggies Feeds at least 8 guests $59.99 PICK-UP ONLY

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Pictured: lorem ispsum

Special Fried Rice

www.cestbonrestaurant.com or call 416-932-2811 Order Online at www.Khoraksupermarket.com

NEWS

FOOD

One of the city’s coolest bakeries just opened in midtown

L-R: A Cuban mojito at Ergys Coffee Till Cocktail; owner Ergys Tafilica

Forest Hill shop is a secret speakeasy by night On weekends, Ergys switches from coffee to cocktails by Raquel Farrington A popular hair salon, Ergys Studio, used the COVID-19 closures to transform its waiting area into a coffee shop and cocktail bar.

Clients and passersby alike can come into Ergys Coffee Till Cocktail for a latte and a croissant or an Espresso Martini — Ergys’s specialty — at this new location nestled in behind the popular salon, a mainstay in the area for the past six years. In true speakeasy fashion, Ergys Coffee Till Cocktail has a discreet alleyway entrance, and the owner, Ergys Tafilica, has done minimal promotion, preferring to keep things on a “if you know, you know” basis.

Originally from Albania, Tafilica had dreamt of adding a European-inspired coffee shop and cocktail bar to the back of his salon for years but struggled to find the time to bring these dreams to life as salon owner and master stylist. “COVID-19 forced me to slow down. Suddenly, I had all this time and I decided to go for it. Many businesses

downsized during this time, but I expanded and it’s worked out so far,” he says.

During what felt like never-ending closures for personal care businesses, Ergys says he began renovating the space formerly used as a waiting room for hair clients, securing a liquor licence and transforming the spot into a place people can come to slow down, sip their drinks and connect with one another.

Decked out with red and black leather furniture and a fully stocked bar emanating neon blue light, the space gives off a warm, mid-century modern vibe with neutral wooden accents. A couple nights a week a Spanish guitarist comes and sets up shop, creating a true European escape right in the heart of Toronto’s upper village.

Pop in on your morning walk for the usual coffee shop offerings, like cappuccinos, matcha and cortados. There are also freshly made pastries, like croissants and biscotti, up for grabs, homemade by Tafilica’s sister-in-

law daily. Ergys also offers a menu of freshly blended smoothies for a healthy morning jolt, with protein and nut butter add-ons to fuel you through the day. At night, you can settle in with friends for the usual cocktail menu haunts like an old-fashioned or a margarita, or try something new like the French martini. Although Tafilica is considering expanding the evening menu in the future, for now you can still snack as you sip with small plates like charcuterie boards and chips and guacamole.

“My goal with this space was to make something intimate and warm. As a European man, coffee is something you sip slowly in a mug, no takeaway cups. It’s a time to catch up with friends and connect, and that’s exactly the environment I wanted to create here,” he says. Ergys is open seven days a week, Sunday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Prairie Boy Bread recently opened at Yonge and St. Clair, signalling the completion of a project that was two years in the making.

First announced back in January of this year, owner Grant MacPherson had originally hoped to open the new shop

by April 2021. “This location has been a long time coming and we know you were in it with us every step of the way,” reads a recent post on Prairie Boy’s Instagram page.

Having officially opened on Sept. 24, the new Prairie Boy still offers all of the classics, like the Sammy Bread in white or multi-grain, as well as a few new feature loaves. Available for sale now until December, Prairie Boy has partnered with Blood Brothers Brewing Company to create a beer bread. The loaf uses just five simple ingredients (organic bread flour, water, Blood Brothers beer, sourdough starter and spent grains) and runs for $8 a loaf.

Prairie Boy Bread is an organic and artisan sourdough bread bakery that sells its products through three retail locations as well as through a wholesale program, which includes carefully chosen restaurants and business partners.

The bread itself is made through the method of working with high hydration levels, long ferments and using 100 per cent organic flour locally sourced primarily in Ontario but also Canadawide. Many of Prairie Boy’s flour partners are suppliers from Mennonite communities across Ontario.

Prairie Boy’s newest storefront is located at 1 St. Clair Ave. E. Pop by for a loaf or a treat from Monday to Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., or Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

—Christine Hogg

Euro-Korean fusion spot comes to Yorkville who has been running the restaurant since October with help from his wife, Jennifer, a health-care professional who took a leave to focus on this new venture.

Chef Jeong has always had a vested interest in food. He grew up in Yeosu, a small ocean town in the southernmost part of Korea, well known for its food culture. Learning to cook from his mother and grandmother, he went on to pursue a career in the food industry, working all over Korea before coming to Toronto. All along, he knew he wanted to combine his love for traditional European dishes with the tastes of his home country in a place he could call his own.

Chef Jeong plans to rotate the menu seasonally and will eventually offer patio seating for the warmer months of the year. Swing by 156 Cumberland for dinner Tuesday to Saturday, from 5 to 10 p.m.

—RF

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© Lindsay Rosset

A new restaurant offering European dishes with a Korean spin is moving into 156 Cumberland St., the site of former French restaurant Chabrol, which temporarily shut its doors earlier this year.

The new spot, named after its street address, is an intimate space with indoor seating that fits up to 40 people. Patrons can cosy up for dinner, selecting from a refined list of appetizers, mains and desserts — all made in-house using fresh, seasonal ingredients. A selection of wine, beer and cocktails is available, too, with half-priced wine on Wednesdays.

Owned by MJ Jeong, former chef at now-closed Queen West restaurant Canis, opening 156 Cumberland has been a lifelong dream, though not without its risks. “It’s scary seeing so many restaurants close down the past few years...but when we were given the opportunity, we took it without a second thought,” says Jeong,

DECEMBER 2021

156 Cumberland has replaced French restaurant Chabrol

156 Cumberland uses seasonal ingredients

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FOOD

NEWS

This home baker from the 905 is competing on hit CBC show Steve Levitt is one of three GTA contestants on The Great Canadian Baking Show by Christine Hogg Now in its fifth season, The Great Canadian Baking Show is a Canadian adaptation of The Great British Bake Off and produced for CBC Television. Over the course of eight weeks, 10 amateur bakers from around Canada compete against one another in a series of challenges, presenting their sweet creations before a panel of judges.

This year’s judging panel includes French chef, restaurateur and television personality Bruno Feldeisen and Canadian pastry chef Kyla Kennaley. Out of the ten contestants on the show this year, only three of them hail from Toronto and its surrounding cities. We caught up with Steve Levitt, a small business owner from Aurora, Ont., to learn more about what inspired him to audition.

Is this your first time auditioning?

Not even close, actually. I applied in seasons one, three, four and five. I skipped two because, after having a phone interview for season one, I realized that I was nowhere near ready and had done nothing to improve my skills by season two. For season three, I actually made it to the audition stage. Finally, all the stars aligned for season five.

Where did your love of baking come from?

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Steve Levitt is from Aurora

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My love for baking developed from a lifestyle change where I began a fitness regimen and eating healthy.

Stay with me on this … once I dropped 110 pounds and was “stable,” I wanted to introduce sweets (in moderation) back into my life — especially chocolate chip cookies. I figured, if I was going to eat one, it better be the best possible cookie. Cookies led to cakes, cakes led to my season one application and my push to season three led to what has become quite a passion.

Baking aside, what’s your professional background?

I started a promotional products company about 30 years ago (gosh, maybe even longer). Like baking, I’m self-taught in all aspects (including computer work and basic design and accounting). I’ve been married for the past 26 years to the greatest person I’ve ever met. Everything great that I’ve done or that has happened is as a direct result of her support, love and guidance. I’m a dad to two wonderful daughters. Yes, all of that is part of my background. If I’m not a good person, husband, father and friend, the rest doesn’t matter.

If you win, what are your plans?

Honestly, I’ve seen and done a lot in my life to this point. I’ve learned not to make too rigid a plan. Life has a way of taking you down a path you didn’t even know existed. Heck, seven years ago I didn’t even know how to bake a cookie.

NEWS

FOOD

Creamy carbonara pasta with peas and seitan bacon

Plant-based Hunny debuts on Bloor Hogtown Vegan’s new concept is great for hanging out Hogtown Vegan, Toronto’s favourite home to plant-based deliciousness, opened a new concept and customers already can’t get enough. Hunny is an Instagram-worthy hangout spot with all the familiarity and great tastes of Hogtown Vegan.

Hogtown Vegan’s Bloor Street location has been closed since the start of the pandemic, but as restrictions began to lift, the restaurant took the chance to open a whole new concept.

Unlike Hogtown Vegan, which is known for its diner-style patio seating, Hunny is a cosier bar restaurant for guests to just hang out for as long as they want.

According to an Instagram post on Hogtown Vegan, Hunny will have a brand-new menu, including pastas like carbonara and a cheesy marinara. “Meaty”

mains include the bacon grilled cheese (made with seitan bacon and Daiya cheese), and the lemon coconut cake is a deliciously sweet treat for dessert.

And who doesn’t love an all-day breakfast? At Hunny, customers can get eggs and bacon (sourdough bread topped with seitan, scrambled eggs and butter-fried seitan bacon) any time of day!

Hunny’s will include some of Hogtown’s most popular items, like the caesar salad and gooey Mac ‘n Cheez, which is baked and topped with herbed bread crumbs. In case it wasn’t obvious, everything on the menu is entirely vegan. The drink menu will be similar to Hogtown Vegan’s, with draught beer and classic cocktails. New cocktails on the menu include a gin

COR

Lavender Collins and a Billionaire for bourbon lovers.

Hunny is a place you’ll want to hang out in, with comfy couches, lots of plant life, colourful bright lights and all around cool new vibes. One section of the restaurant is home to the “Great Wall of Knick-knacks,” which is, well, small shelves of animal knick-knacks scattered along a pink wall. A neon sign that reads “I’m a Princess” hangs over a cosy armchair, which has already become an Instagram-worthy selfie location.

Hunny is open Thursdays through Sundays, from 5 p.m until midnight, at 1056 Bloor St. W. The restaurant is currently not accepting reservations, so you better get in early because this place is sure to fill up fast!

—Megan Gallant

heart’s content without breaking the bank. Still not sold? A small but mighty food menu offering unpretentious eats like hot dogs and grilled cheese is also up for grabs.

“We want to showcase that sake goes with anything and doesn’t have to be so fussy. Sake and a grilled cheese sandwich will make you happy,” the pair says.

Even homebodies can enjoy everything Goodness Sake has to offer with GTA delivery and provincewide shipping when you order a bottle online.

The 322 Bathurst spot will soon be expanding their drink menu to offer sake-based cocktails. For now, swing by Tuesday to Saturday, from 5 p.m. to midnight, for the food and drink pairing you didn’t know was missing in your life: straight sake and the good old-fashioned hotdog.

— Raquel Farrington

| POST |

The duo behind Bathurst Local, a wine and beer bar at Bathurst and Dundas, has recently expanded to offer sake right upstairs.

Glenn and Anna Wesley have shared a love of Japanese liquor for years and wanted to make it more accessible here in Toronto. And so, Goodness Sake was born, right above their dimly lit wine and beer outpost, a staple in the area for the past seven years.

The modern space exudes the same sort of nonchalant, hipster vibe of their downstairs neighbour, with simple bench seating, exposed piping on the ceiling and the main event: funkier, unique sakes you won’t find at more food-forward joints in the city.

Approachability is guiding every decision they make with Goodness Sake, including pricing bottles much lower than you’d typically see and skipping the corkage fee, so you and your friends can sip to your

DECEMBER 2021

New sake bar also features gourmet grilled cheese

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FOOD

NEWS

This holiday season...

Give the Gift of Spanish 3 one hour Online Lessons for $99! *first time students only

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

Pinsa is a lighter, fluffier version of pizza

Amano uses an ancient Roman pizza recipe Grab a slice of pinsa at Amano Trattoria

by Jessica Huras

Open Sunday - Thursday 1-10pm | Friday & Saturday aturday 1-11pm

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Proudly Serving

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We Deliver!

Amano Trattoria is a new Italian “Essentially, it’s bread with restaurant from Open Concept toppings on it,” he says. Amano Hospitality, the team behind Trattoria’s dough is made inAmano Italian Kitchen. Set in house from a natural sourdough Old Toronto, Amano Trattoria starter and fermented for two feels like a sophisticated older days. The result is a light, airy sibling to its sister restaurant, base that doesn’t leave you feeling which has locations in Union as weighed down as a traditional slice of pizza. Desserts are a mix Station and Newmarket.

In contrast to Amano Italian of classics and others that branch Kitchen’s bright, fast-casual out from the Italian theme, such atmosphere, Amano Trattoria’s as this pavlova with lemon curd, blueberry compote and vibe is moodier and more chantilly cream. intimate — more suited to lingering over a ON THE MENU few glasses of wine, The drinks Crispy arancini, rather than gobbling The cocktail menu is handmade pastas, up a plate of pasta anchored by several classic Italian desserts, before hopping on a variations on the and much more. train at Union. staple Italian cocktail, the negroni. The Cynar The food Negroni, for example, Co-owner and chef Michael features Ungava gin, Cynar, Angeloni says the loose slogan for vermouth and gentian liqueur. both concepts is “inspired by our There are also good-sized lists of heritage but not defined by it.” sparkling, white, red and rose He says the restaurant aims to wines, with a focus highlight classic Italian fare but (unsurprisingly) on Italian with a playful, modern approach bottles. The drinks menu is that draws on local Ontario rounded out by a handful of local ingredients. and Italian beers, including The assaggini section of the Moretti and Peroni on tap. menu includes small bites perfect Amano Trattoria is located at 9 for sharing, and all of the pasta is Church St. You can stop by made in-house. The menu also Amano Trattoria Tuesday to includes a variety of pinsa, which Thursday, from 4 to 10 p.m., and Angeloni describes as an ancient Friday and Saturday from 4 to Roman style of pizza. 11 p.m.

NEWS

Happy Holidays from all of us at

FOOD

Catering for all occasions, we take care of it all.

Remember our number, that’s all!

1136 Centre Street, Thornhill www.centrestreetdeli.com

The CaféTO program will make sidewalk cafés a permanent reality for restaurants across the city

Students consistently make 1-2 years of growth in 40 Hours of Instruction

City votes to keep CaféTO program A five-year plan is in the works The CaféTO initiative has helped many restaurants survive through a very dismal period.

Now, Toronto City Council has just voted to approve a plan that will see the program become a permanent fixture.

“The CaféTO program has helped more than 1,200 restaurants and main streets across the city and provided millions of dollars in support for the restaurant industry throughout the pandemic,” said Mayor John Tory, in a statement.

“This successful program supports operators, protects jobs and creates vibrancy … and I know it will help Toronto come back from the pandemic stronger than ever, while also providing much-needed support to local businesses for years to come.”

The CaféTO 2022 and Beyond staff report was adopted

by Ron Johnson

by city council by a vote of 23 to two with only councillors Stephen Holyday and Michael Ford voting against it.

Approximately 500 restaurants citywide have permanent permits for sidewalk cafés.

This year, 429 more were added through CaféTO. Making the program permanent gives city restaurants and cafés clarity going forward with expanding outdoor dining options, something that the industry was asking for, including Eataly Canada’s managing director Nico Dagnino, who wrote a letter to the city and proposed making CaféTO a more permanent fixture in the city by extending the program for five years and expanding locations.

He wrote that the benefit to the city is a blooming café culture found in some of the best cities

around the world, such as Rome, London, Paris and New York City.

“As citizens and visitors to these cities cannot imagine life without an outdoor café experience, Toronto is setting expectations that daily life must include high-quality outdoor hospitality experiences,” Dagnino wrote.

According to the city, CaféTO curb lane (on-street) cafés will return in 2022, under similar guidelines and requirements of the 2021 program. And all application, transfer and — with the recent city council vote — all permit fees for curb lane, sidewalk cafés and public parklets will be waived next year.

Registration will open early in the new year, and installation will start as soon as May.

virtual and in-person sessions!

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Family builds Kensington condiment empire THANK YOU... for supporting your local Canadian brand. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a fulfilling New Year complete with many happy memories.

416-322-8000

w w w. b o s ley re a le s t a t e . co m

Bo s ley R e a l E s t a t e lt d . , Bro ke ra g e

DECEMBER 2021

dressings and then evolved to produce soup products. Later this year, Menceles expects to market salty snacks and coffee roasted right here in Toronto. Kensington Market Street Food can be found at roughly 100 independent stores, mostly in Toronto and the GTA. Menceles plans to expand further beyond the city, though feels it is important to first establish that the brand is doing things properly and customers are responding well to their current products, flavours and prices.

“It’s just a brand that people understand immediately. They know where it should be and that it’s the kind of food that should be kept in markets and just a lot of other cultural things that go together with it: colour, music, art, languages — all the various cultural things that the brand brings.”

—Megan Gallant

| POST |

When Andrew Menceles’s family emigrated from Hungary to Canada in the late 1950s, his parents opened Fortune Housewares, Canada’s first dedicated kitchenware store that imported one-ofa-kind products. Located on Spadina, the store was just a street away from Kensington Market.

“Kensington Market is kind of in my DNA,” Menceles says. His company Jam Brands, sister to PB Brand Inc., owns various trademarks, and one day he realized the market would make a great food brand. “The market has a really great history of ethnicity. So many different types of ethnic groups have circulated through Kensington as they arrive in Toronto,” Menceles says. Unlike most food brands, Kensington Market Street Food includes a whole range of products.

The company began with condiments and

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NEWS

The Mask offers hearty eats and generous portions

Former soccer player opens new eatery The Mask offers Eritrean comfort food

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by Raquel Farrington

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Joining the ranks of local place for sharing a meal among restaurants such as African Palace friends, with big portions that can and Lalibela, Bloor West has accommodate just about any added a new eatery for authentic dietary restriction.”

Menu features include meat Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine to the block, smack dab between platters with the choice of goat or Koreatown and Bloordale village. lamb, which can be made spicy or The Mask Bar & Restaurant is not depending on preference. All located at 965 Bloor St. W., and is meat is one hundred per cent halal. owned and operated by Eritrean- Vegetarians and vegans can join in born former soccer player turned on the fun too with tons of veggiefood industry aficionado based options, like the veggie Samsom Tadese. The new combo, a colourful platter location opened back of collard greens, in August of this year lentils, red beets and ETHIOPIAN EATS and has been serving spinach sitting atop All of the meat dishes, up big portions and a traditional like those with goat or authentic flavours flatbread made lamb platters, are 100 for breakfast, lunch from teff flour. percent halal. and dinner ever Be sure to order since. the shiro to start — an A 10-year veteran of Ethiopian flatbread the food industry, Tadese encasing a flavourful mixture owned a bar in Uganda before of ground up roasted chickpeas, immigrating to Canada in 2019 seasoned and simmered with with his auntie, who does most of onion, ginger, garlic and chili. the cooking behind the scenes. She Beyond the delicious eats, Friday is the authentic edge in the and Saturday nights are kicked up kitchen, giving patrons a true taste a notch with DJs spinning of the duo’s home country, Afrobeat and ’90s R & B music. providing eaters with a distinct The bar is stocked with a wide flavour profile marked by an selection of national and premium eclectic combination of spicy, sour, beers and wines with plans to tart and earthy. expand into cocktails in the very With capacity for around 50 near future. The Mask Bar & people indoors, the atmosphere is Restaurant is open Mondays to spacious but still intimate, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 described by Tadese as “the perfect p.m.

GIFT GUIDE SECTION

HANDMADE PLUSHY SNOWGLOBE etsy.com @creationsbycatherine

POCKET-SIZED DRAKE drakegeneralstore.ca

CARVED WOOD BLUE JAY Abbott Collection outerlayer.com

Toronto tree trimming treasures Whether you’re struggling to find a gift for your dad who already has everything he needs or a colleague in a Secret Santa swap, ornaments are a safe bet that pretty much everyone can appreciate. It’s that gift-giving time of year again, and the city’s best artists and shops are pulling out all the stops to showcase items that you just can’t resist. We’re all about shopping local, so let’s add another layer this

year — don’t just shop local, make it all local! These ornaments from Etsy creators, the Drake General Store and more will add a bit of T.O. sparkle to your tree.

From a Timbit-style felt box to a plush reimagining of the iconic Gooderham building to a clever design featuring Toronto’s unofficial animal mascot (a raccoon) on a streetcar, make your Christmas tree one that would make the 6ix God proud!

DECEMBER 2021

ICONIC GOODERHAM BUILDING etsy.com @creationsbycatherine

| POST |

RACCOON ON A STREETCAR bluebananamarket.com

© Instagram @fancyfranks

SWEET FELT DONUT BOX drakegeneralstore.ca

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

JEWELLERY

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Secrett Jewel Salon

Our collection of fine jewellery ranges from the latest designs to the most classic with an amazing choice of gemstones and pearls. Season's Greeting to all our clients and friends! Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 to 5pm. Mask required. 18k yellow gold red tourmaline Ring, one of a kind.

Please call for price information.

162 Cumberland Street, Toronto 416 967 7500 www.Secrett.ca

DECOR FOOD

Shaynee’s Gift Selections

Find the perfect gift at Shaynee’s Gift Selections - like the iconic Nambé Scoop Server. Designed by Wei Young, this is a modern variation on the classic chip and dip serving plate. Fill with chips and salsa, or even stones with a tea light for a tasteful alternative centrepiece.

Charmaine Sweets

Charmaine Sweets is your neighbourhood bakery baking everything from scratch and fresh to order! Be sure to pick up some sweet treats as a great gift idea! These rich, buttery treats come in tins or boxes - all wrapped up to give to someone special!

Nambé Scoop Server. Price available on request.

3501 Bathurst St. - 416 787 4497 441 Clark Ave. W. - 905 709 0430

Shortbread cookies, $12 - 45 115 Vanderhoof Ave. - 416 234 5105 - ww.charmainesweetsstudio.com

FASHION

Linea Intima

Everybody wants to look good (shopping for yourself or for gifts). Foundations make a building stand! Undergarment foundations, even when you think nobody will see, will make the difference between okay to amazing! The right fitting bra will improve your posture, your confidence and of course your looks! Linea Intima will take care of all your lingerie needs! Improving women’s lives one bra at a time! Emprente Allure collection Bra - $239 & full brief $109 416 913 7991 www.lineaintima.ca for all locations and online shopping

ART

John A. Libby Fine Art FASHION

Invites you to tour the Holiday Show at our gallery or at www.libbygallery.com.

See many new works by Contemporary Artists as well as a selection of Canadian Historical paintings. We specialize in Fine Art Sales, Restoration, Appraisals & Leasing. Our Custom Framing is second to none with an emphasis on conservation. Please call for further information. This painting is by

relevé clothing

William Ronald, RCA, (1926-1998) Painters Eleven "The Last Time I Saw Paris"

The most comfortable hoodie you'll ever own. All Aviator Nation products go through an intense breaking-down process that gives them a vintage feel you'll love because it's broken in from day one of wearing it. Hand sewn in the heart of Los Angeles. You're going to live in this hoodie! Aviator Nation 5 Stripe Zip Hoodie Price: $255

463 King Street East 416 364 3730

1727 Bayview Ave., East York 416 546 8346 - releveclothing.com

HEALTH

Stay Balanced with Betty

Online Yoga Videos.

Get grounded and stay uplifted this holiday season.

Give someone a gift that keeps on giving!

Holiday special 50% off first month of a monthly membership Use code: holidaygift2021 throughout December and January

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video.staybalanced.ca

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DECOR JEWELLERY

Joie Jewelry

Next level jewelry from Spain. Strong lines, clean volumetry, structural presence. The new signature chain is the unexpected match between grace and industriality, a fresh and genuine design statement that frames our era. Finished in 18k Gold plating. Chain length

William Ashley

For the perfect gift, William Ashley carries the finest selection of world renowned brands. Designed by Cedric Ragot, the Squall Porcelain Vase by Rosenthal is part of the innovative Studio-line of home decor. Available in white or gold, the sculpture vase captures the natural force of a whirlwind/twister.

Squall by Rosenthal, Porcelain Vase $410

adjustable up to 52.5 cm. $525 220 Bloor St. W., Toronto - 416 927 8181 - www.joiejewelry.ca

131 Bloor Street West - 416 964 2900 www.WilliamAshley.com

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

JEWELLERY

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Van Rijk Jewellers

Diamond studs are a timeless expression of love and beauty, and are the perfect gift to show that special someone that you care.

Available in many sizes and price ranges, diamond stud earrings are the perfect accessory that will go with everything.

Diamond Stud Earrings. Price available on request.

90 Eglinton Ave. E. 416 440 0123 vanrijk.com

FOOD & DRINK FASHION

Holiday Gift Giving is easy at Sahara & Co with our complimentary gift wrapping and premade Gift Baskets. Sahara & Co's loose leaf tea brand Sahara Tea focuses on premium wellness teas, incredible taste, and all hand blended in our studio. The popular hand poured soy candles are made with essential oils, and all natural ingredients along with our Bath Therapy Salts. Come by to visit and pick up ready made gifts. Mention GIFT20 to receive 20% off your gift baskets.

Lemonwood

Lemonwood's newest addition to hat wear! The perfect classic cuff beanie with a tie dye twist. Suitable for anyone on your list!

Knitted from a thick cashmere blend material that's extra soft and warm. It's ribbed for a snug fit and has an adjustable cuff and detachable fur pom. Available in 4 colour combinations - $85

953 Mount Pleasant Rd. (North of Eglinton) saharandco.ca - 647 341 4151

1224A Yonge St., Toronto - 905 827 1503 - www.lemonwood.ca

BEAUTY

Sahara & Co.

Gidon Aesthetics & Medispa

Awaken your eyes this holiday season with non-invasive radio frequency skin tightening. Naturally produced collagen firms the eyelids, softens lines and elevates the brow. Improve the early signs of sagging and hooding for a more youthful appearance. The long lasting results are suitable for all skin types. Price upon request.

1849 Yonge St. Ste. 307 416 483 4541 www.gidonaesthetics.com

Dr. Flea’s Flea Market

HOME

Shop Local with Canadian Fashion brand Rock ‘N Karma. Known for their Black Miracle Fabric, iconic statement couture jackets and size inclusive clothing. Channeling their love for fashion-fueled from art, Rock `N Karma is the right amount of edgy, chic and fun needed in your wardrobe! Cropped jacket $285. Use code: KARMA for 20% off 789 Queen St. W. - 416 345 8389 www.rocknkarma.com - Instagram @rocknkarma

Zestspot

Give the gift of culinary mastery or simply level up your cooking & baking game with 1 of 4 stunning, professional tool kits from de Buyer, available from Canada's newest one-stop-shop for premium kitchenware products, and the best place for gift giving inspiration for food lovers. de Buyer Tarts & Cakes Baking Set, gift sets from from $110-189 zestspot.com

Rock ‘N Karma

Happy holidays from Post City and Streets of Toronto.

DECEMBER 2021

8 Westmore Drive 416 745 3532 (FLEA) www.drfleas.com

FASHION

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Miss Dior is fresh with sparkling zests of Blood Orange and Mandarin illuminating the top notes. At the heart, a Lily of the Valley accord brings freshness and lightness to the spicy burst of a Grasse Rose note. The base of a clear Patchouli accord brings these happy notes together in an endless round. Miss Dior Perfume starting at $65

@ russiantorontolife

FASHION

67

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

HOME DECOR

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Artemide

The iconic Eclisse table lamp available in limited edition PVD metallic finishes for the 100th anniversary of the designer Vico Magistretti. Originally released in 1967 it has become an icon of Italian industrial design, Eclisse can provide direct or diffuse light. Inspired by a miner’s lamp used by the hero Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, the lamp is composed of a fixed outer shell and a moveable inner shell.

Promo price of $352 (regular $440) for a limited time 5 Mill Street - 416 628 6718 torontoshowroom@artemide.net - artemide.net

BEAUTY FASHION

Blowdry Lounge

Give the gift of style this Holiday Season from Blowdry Lounge Toronto’s premiere 'Blowdry' salon. Designed to maintain healthy and styled hair in between haircuts and colours, treat that special someone on your list with a gift package - purchase 5 signature blowouts and save $5.00 on each Blow Dry Service.

Zero 20 Kids

Just in... designer inspired mini versions of purses, hair clips and clothing. Perfect to elevate the look of any outfit. Makes a perfect gift for every girl on your holiday list. Order on-line 24/7 at www.zero20kids.com or visit instore. Girls designer look black & white

Packages starting at: $200

tweed purse. Huge variety of styles and colours ranging from $39 to $59

3 Locations www.blowdrylounge.com

7700 Pine Valley Dr. #8 - 905 851 6041 - www.zero20kids.com

JEWELLERY

Cynthia Findlay Fine Jewellery & Antiques

From our authentic Art Deco Collection... A stunning Art Deco 18kt yellow gold with silver top mill grain ring that features 1 old European cut diamond, est. 0.55ct (VS1 clarity & I-J colour); 28 French single cut diamonds, est 0.57 ct (SI-I1 clarity & I-J colour) and 14 square and straight baguette deep green emeralds, est 0.67 ct. It is currently size 7.25 (7 1/4). Product Code JRD86578. Call for details.

416 260 9057 Shop online at www.cynthiafindlay.com

Peppertree Klassics

Drop by Peppertree Klassics on Main Street in Markham for fabulous gift ideas such as women’s and men’s socks - a festive and fun gift item for the holidays! Check out our Gnomes while you are visiting...see you soon! The Peppertree Fashion Team. Women’s and Men’s Socks $15

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137 Main St. North, Markham 905 294 3882 www.peppertree.ca

68

HOME DECOR

FASHION

Beestung Lingerie

Beestung's amazing selection of luxe lines includes Eberjey, Hanro, PJ Salvage and more. Classic pajama styles like Eberjey’s iconic Gisele Pajama or fun holiday sleepwear from PJ Salvage that’s sure to please her. Beestung also carries pjs for the guys in your life too. Lounge & sleepwear from $99-299 2624 Yonge Street - 416 481 2849 - www.beestunglingerie.com

Bernardi’s Antiques

Sterling silver serving pieces have always been a popular gift, whether it be for a birthday, wedding, Christmas or even a lovely thought as a gift when invited to a dinner party. Serving pieces are practical and beautiful and will elevate and enhance your table setting. Sterling Silver Serving Pieces. Call for Details.

699 Mount Pleasant Rd. 416 483 6471 - www.bernardisantiques.com

Happy holidays from Post City and Streets of Toronto.

@ 6ix.angle

FASHION

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Happy Holidays from our family to yours.

Wishing you a safe and cheerful Holiday Season.

Price: $255

www.CharmaineSweetsStudio.com 115 Vanderhoof Ave. 416-234-5105

DECEMBER 2021

1

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

69

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Stay Balancedwith betty Online Yoga Videos • Yoga Sessions • Individual Poses • Yoga Tips • Meditation

Guided Yoga Short & Quick to Full Length Videos Designed to fit your life Nourish your heart-centred connection to you!

Try it free for 7 days at video.staybalanced.ca www.staybalanced.ca •

@betty.staybalanced

Price: $255

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1

70

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

YVONNE ROBERTSON'S

Holiday Gift Baskets Wellness Teas & Accessories

saharandco.ca

953 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

(At Erskine Ave)

162 Cumberland Street 416.967.7500

Toronto

It's iconic.

It's classic.

Price: $255 1

Our best-selling Eberjey pajama.

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2624 Yonge Street, Toronto | 416.481.2849 www.BeestungLingerie.com

DECEMBER 2021

Also available for the guys!

71

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Cynthia Findlay

Est. 1978

Fine Jewellery & Antiques

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

• Appraisals • Restoration • Custom Framing • Fine Art Leasing

A HOLIDAY GIFT THAT LASTS

Toronto, Canada

George Boyer, OSA “Ice Huts”

“HOLIDAY SHOW” December 4 - 22, 2021

New works from our Contemporary artists as well as a selection of Canadian Historical paintings including the Group of Seven.

Our gallery is open for viewing by appointment.

Visit our website for a visual listing of many pictures in this show.

JOHN A. LIBBY, President, Canadian Professional Appraisers Established in 1978

463/465 4 46 3/465 King Stre Street East E ast | 416-3 416-364-3730 Mon to Fri 11 to 6; Sat noon to 5

www.libbygallery.com libb ll

Price: $255 1

Shop early... there is only one! | POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1

SHOP OUR ONLINE STORE

72

www.cynthiafindlay.com 416-260-9057 Open by Appointment Only.

416.260.9057

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

1

SPECIALIZES IN Price: $255 AGING & SUN-DAMAGE TIRED OR ANGRY EXPRESSION LOOSE & SAGGY SKIN LINES & WRINKLES BROWN SPOTS & FACIAL VEINS ACNE & ROSACEA STUBBORN FAT DEPOSITS

90 Eglinton Avenue East

416-440-0123

Visit us online: www.vanrijk.com

BUY • SELL • TRADE

Estate Jewellery and Watches

Tues. Wed. Fri. 10:30am–5:30pm Thurs. 10:30am–6:30pm Sat. 11:00am–5:00pm Sun. Mon. Closed

1849 Yonge St., Suite 307 Toronto

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Since 1985

To book a consultation please call: 416.483.4541 www.GidonAesthetics.com

DECEMBER 2021

Rolex • Patek • Cartier • Omega • Breitling • Audemars Piguet • IWC

73

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Price: $255

| POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1

1

74

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Price: $255

(416) 483-6471

DECEMBER 2021

1

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

75

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Box

ing

Vis We it us f ek Sal or es

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

GNOME HOLIDAYS AT

We have lots of fabulous gift giving ideas for that Special Someone The Holidays are around the corner Drop by to see all our Fab Winter Items TODDLERS Looks at Peppertree sizes 2T to 5T

Mention this ad

To receive

OPEN BOXING DAY DECEMBER 26th Turning houses into homes since 1977

www.AltaModaFurniture.com

T. 416.636.5495 680 Rivermede Road . Concord . Ontario Keele St., North of Highway #7

35% off* All Winter Items

10 a.m. til 4 p.m.

ONE DAY SAVINGS

*Reg Prices

December Hours: TUES. WED. 11 a.m. - 3p.m. THURS. FRI. SAT. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. SUNDAYS Noon - 4 p.m.

Price: $255 1

MASSIVE CLEARANCE SALE UP Many items below cost!

TO 80% OFF AND FURNISHINGS | POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1

CLASSIC TRADITIONAL MODERN

76

CHANDELIERS • PENDANTS • SCONCES • LAMPS • OUTDOOR • BULBS FANS • PARTS • CEILING & VANITY LIGHTING • CONSIGNMENT • BUY • TRADE

Brand Name Lighting for Less!

Specializing in Fixture & Lamp Repair, and Fixture Restoration

Manufacturers Clearance Centre

84 Doncaster Ave.

(Yonge & Steeles) phone: 905.482.0350

Tues to Fri 10am – 6pm • Sat 10am – 5pm • Sun 12 – 5pm Visit us at www.inhomelighting.ca | Email: inhomelighting@rogers.com

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Rolex • Patek • Cartier • Omega • Breitling • Audemars Piguet • IWC

Since 1985 90 Eglinton Avenue East

416-440-0123

Visit us online: www.vanrijk.com

Estate Jewellery and Watches

Tues. Wed. Fri. 10:30am–5:30pm Thurs. 10:30am–6:30pm Sat. 11:00am–5:00pm Sun. Mon. Closed

Price: $255

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DECEMBER 2021

1

77

Henry Cuesta, cleaning neighbourhood carpets for more than 18 years

Jennifer MacLean, beautifying area gardens for over 10 years

Joanne Sallay, helping people learn for more than 30 years

Tom Day, keeping pipes and drains clear for over 26 years

Steven Benoit, over 15 years of cleaning carpets

Carol Roberts over 30 years of painting homes

John Bell, adding colour to Post City readers’ homes for more than 26 years

December Featured Classifieds Next issue deadline: Dec 20th by 5 p.m. TRADES & SERVICES ADS NOW ONLINE at postcity.com

TOWNLEY MASONRY Restoration LTD. PROFESSIONAL DUCT CLEANING Toronto's most respected cleaning service!

• CARPETS • DRAPERY • AREA RUGS • FURNITURE

POWER VAC OFFERS A VARIETY OF INDOOR AIR QUALITY SERVICES Professional Duct Cleaning since 1966

416 -461- 4006

• NADCA Certified Air Systems Cleaning Specialists on staff • Indoor Air Quality Testing by Professional Engineer • Certified Mold Remediators and Ventilation Inspectors • State of the art Air Filtration Systems

info@reliablecarpet.ca www.reliablecarpet.ca

WWW. POWERVAC . CA

Junk Removal and disposal, big or small!

We get rid of all your junk and unwanted clutter!

®

Household items.

Yard waste.

Renovations debris.

Office furniture removal.

Electronic waste, etc.

416-245-5120

DUNCAN TOWNLEY

416-882-6673 RESIDENTAL / / COMMERCIAL BLOCK WORK / / BRICK WORK TUCK POINTING / / PARGING CHIMNEYS / / STONE WORK BASEMENT MASONRY

PAVING ASPHALT • INTERLOCK • CONCRETE

­

­­

Free estimates (647) - 482 - 7444 residential/commercial contact@junkmagic.ca

Insured & Bonded • 15 years’ experience

416-701-1881

info@epicpaving.ca www.epicpaving.ca

2021 Spring Clean Ups Lawn Fertilization Lawn Mowing Garden Clean Ups Hedge & Shrub Trimming Leaf Raking

FREE ESTIMATES

AARON FELDMAN FULLY INSURED & LICENSED

FIXALL

416-402-4787 www.fixallmechanicalservices.com



• Electrical • Drywall Repairs • Plumbing • Garage Door Repairs • Appliance Installation  Commercial/Industrial/Residential FREE ESTIMATE 24 Hour Service aaronfeldman@bell.net

TERRAFORM | POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1

CONTRACTING

78

Design

Build

Stone Work & Landscaping

Renovate

Renovations Additions Renovations Additions Project Project Management Masonry Masonry W Work ork New New Home Construction Construction

Design Design & Permit Services Bonded & Insured WSIB Registered All W Work ork Guaranteed

416.564.0149 pawconstruction.ca Providing Professional & Quality Construction Services for over 20 years

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE

CALL US TODAY!

www.ccsrenovationsandmasonry.com

admin@ccsrenovationsandmasonry.com

Tel: 647-726-0030 • Fax: 905-248-1160

Low Commitment Consulta on by a Licensed Architect for all your home/co age or renova on needs. Municipal approvals and permits. Energy efficient approach.

Call or E-Mail Constan te at 416-481-4087; info@radeff.ca

VISITUS AT: WWW.RADEFF.CA

416-848-0978

PERSONAL TRAINING 1

In Your Home or Office

4. Home Improvements 5. Painting 6. Electrical 7. Plumbing 8 Landscaping 9. Interiors & Upholstery

HOME IMPROVEMENTS 4

Personal Certified Fitness Trainer

Active Aging Certified Trainer

HOME

Care At Home

Call Lori 416-616-1797

inhomefitnesstrainertoronto.ca

Please Call David

Fitness Equipment Supplied First Session FREE Workouts include stretching, resistance, core, cardio and balance training.

Exercise keeps you youthful, healthier, stronger longer!

Shower Restoration of Toronto

416-787-8084

showerrestorationtoronto.com info@showerrestorationtoronto.com

Service in over 70 languages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Accredited by Accreditation

0!2+%2 2%34/2!4)/.3 3INCE

ALL MASONRY

s 0ORCH 2EPAIR 2EBUILD

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Personal Trainer Online

s 4UCK 0OINTING Professional Care For Seniors Companions/Homemakers Personal Support Workers Caregivers Full Time Long Term Your Employee Highly Personalized Service

personaltrainerlaurie.com

HEALTH PROGRAMS 2

for Tranformational Breakthroughs • Digestion • Anxiety • Mobility • Depression • Complex Issues

ADAM

thehealthguy22@aol.com

(416) 889-6449

s 0ARGING 2EFERRALS !VAILABLE #ALL "RIAN

OF EXPERIENCE IN

Heating, Air Conditioning, Fireplaces, Hot Water Tanks and Boilers.

Rental Programs also available.

CALL: 416 930 5371

BRIANJPARKER

Call

416-398-4663

t AppliancFT )PPL 6Q

'3&& &45*MA5&4 4JMvFSIJMM &MFcUSJD 4ervice

• Roof Repairs • Roof Maintenance • Missing Shingles • Major/Minor Leaks • Eaves and Downspout Repair • Raccoon Problems • Squirrel and Bird Problems

& REPAIR EXPERT s Chain Link s Dog Runs s Gates s Removal s Etc. s No job too small Top quality workmanship Proven unbeatable prices Res & Com

Peter Topp @

FINLAY TOPP CONTRACTING

416-724-5372

• Picture Hanging • Fixture Installations

GARAGE LEANING?

• Plumbing & Electrical

Ready to fall over?

• Deck & Fence Repair

Garages rebuilt at substantial savings over replacement (single/double) • No Permit Required • No Tax Reassessment • No Set Back Issues Just a nice garage at a fraction of the cost of replacement

Of course we also do General Home Renovations

Free Estimates • Licensed Seniors’ Discount

416-820-3852 IS IT LOOSE, WOBBLY, STICKING, CROOKED, LEAKING, CRACKED OR BROKEN? DOES IT NEED REPAIR?

CALL DAVE! @ 416s222s7583 For Minor Household Repairs s (OME 2EPAIRS s 0AINTING s $RYWALL s 3HELVING s /DD *OBS s %LECTRICAL &IXTURES s NO JOB TOO SMALL s AFFORDABLE s FAST s RELIABLE & PROMPT s SENIORS’ DISCOUNT s YOUR SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED

WILDLIFE EXPERTS

ECONOMY FENCE

IRA’S HANDYMAN SERVICES

ww www.seniorhomecarebyangels.com/toronto1 w.seniorhomecarebyangels.com/toronto1

New Installations High Quality Workmanship & Excellence

416-248-0211

Serving South of Steeles

care Up to 24 hour care Preparation Meal Preparation Errands/Shopping Hygiene Assistance Light Housekeeping Respite Care Care for Families Palliative & Chronic Chronic Care Care Joyful Companionship Alzheimer/Dementia/Parkinson/Diabetes and Cancer Care Care Provider Provider for Veteran Veteran Independent Program Program Weekends/Holidays Weekends/Holidays TTemporary/Long-term eemporary/Long-term Day/Night, Live-in Care Live-in,, Live-out Care FREE in-Home Consultation

Repairs to Leaky Skylights

t PBOFM 4ervice 6QgrBEFT t PPPMT BOE )PU UVCT t Troubleshooting

ROGERS COM

WWW PARKERRESTORATIONS COM &ULLY )NSURED ,IC 4

416-460-2250

Select Your Your Caregiver Careeggiiver

LICENSED Eletrical Contractor

647-767-0164

416-884-1882

Health Programs

s "RICK 2EPLACEMENT

OVER 30 YEARS

Train with me on: FaceTime Whatsapp Zoom

CBMM %aWJE

416-830-6492

ROOF REPAIRS

416-754-0700

SKYLIGHT PROFESSIONALS

t LO8 RA5&4 t 4enior’T EJTcount

PROFESSIONAL

nhihealthcare.com

A $20 membership gives es you y oga classes access to 7 LIVE yoga weekly, y,, plus taped classes clas weekly, Yo it on YouTube.

Be partt of it.

t RenovaUJPO Repair t PainUJOH Drywall t PMVNCJOH &MFctrical

&4" &$R"

Canada Award Winning Agency NHI is proud to serve Toronto and the GTA since 1985

Yoga oga Classes LIVE on ZOOM

Handy Man

• Painting • Furniture Assembly • Interlock Repair • Shingle & Flat Roof Repair

“Small Job Specialist”

Squirrels Raccoons Birds sProfessionally Repaired sRoof Repairs Free Estimates s Licensed Seniors Discount

416-248-0211

Call

Peter Topp @

416-460-2250 Serving South of Steeles

irathehandyman@hotmail.com

Call Peter:

416-554-3517

416-274-6942

DECEMBER 2021

1. Personal Training 2. Health Programs 3. Senior Services

SENIOR SERVICES 3

| POST |

HEALTHCARE

FINLAY TOPP CONTRACTING

79

ROOF REPAIR EXPERTS

PAINTING 5

ROOF REPAIR

JOHN BELL PAINTING

ROOF MAINTENANCE

“Thank you for what most painters promise but few deliver.” R.L.

MISSING SHINGLES MINOR/MAJOR LEAKS EAVES & DOWNSPOUT REPAIR

RACCOON PROBLEMS SQUIRREL & BIRD PROBLEMS FREE ESTIMATES NO JOB TOO SMALL SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT LICENSED

416 820 3852 Eavestroughing & Siding Experts

416-491-1010

Quality Workmanship Guaranteed

5” Seamless Eavestrough Soffit / Fascia & Siding Free Estimates Seniors Discount Licensed

416-820-3852

Handy man

With Dump Truck

• Renovation • Repair • Electrical

• Plumbing

• Carpentry • Drywall

APPLIANCE REPAIRS Professional repairs of all brands of refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers, dryers, washers, heating and air conditioning. Warranty. Credit cards accepted.

Seniors’ discount. Please call Fred 416266-6122.

s 0AINTING s 0APERING s $RYWALL s 3TUCCO s &AUX Clean & efficient work done on time.

FREE ESTIMATES   Service

Upgrades

Troubleshooting

Ceiling Fans Pot Lights  Lighting Designs LED Retrofits Nest Thermostats Pools / Hot Tubs Generators  

  

LICENSED ELECTRICIANS

HomeStars best of

2018-2021 Reader s Choice 2020

LANDSCAPING 8

ELECTRICAL 6

s 30%#)!,):% ). +./" 45"% 7)2).' s 3%26)#% 50'2!$).' !-03 s 2%0!)23 #/-0,%4% 2%7)2).' s &5,,9 ).352%$ "/.$%$ ,)#%.3%$

Lic. # 7003478

        

  

Repair & Replacement Faucet Sink Toilet Shower Laundry Main Valve Leaking Pipe Backup Drain FULLY LICENSED & INSURED 24HR. SERVICE MET. LIC. # PH23521

416-876-6679

MILE S PAINTING

Over 20 Years Experience!

Interiors & Exteriors.

Professional, Clean & Timely Work.

Fully Insured References Available.

• Demolition • Painting

Lucomm Electric Inc. is a fully licensed and insured electrical company.

As an Electrical Safety Authority Licensed Master Electrician, Przemek Podruczny is ready and able to take care of all your Commercial and Residential electrical needs.

647-894-1673

Tom Day Plumbing & Drains

Faucets, toilets, sinks, etc. installed. Blocked toilets, backed up drains, basement back ups.

External & internal drain excavating. Complete washroom renovations.     

 24 hr. service 

Yonge / Eglinton LOW RATES

416-819-8888

PLUMBING 7 Call For a Free Estimate

416-303-3276

| POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1

BWM

CONSTRUCTION INC.

25 Years Experience

Flagstone & Stone Work Brick Restoration & Masonry Retaining Walls Concrete Work & Steps Rebuild Walk Out Basement Excavating & Addition

Varnishes

Call John: 416-827-8397 bwmconstr@hotmail.com 80

416 821 0448

Toronto’s Trusted Plumbers Since 1979 2000+ Reviews 9.7/10

         



WaterWorks Plumbing and Drains

Waterproofing Drains Fixtures -Waterproofing -Drains -Plumbing

40+ years experience Upfront Pricing Seniors Discount Michael Yuffa Master Plumber

  



416-489-9633 WaterWorksCanada.com

Specialist in Hazardous Tree Removal & Ornamental Pruning

416-522-7288 Free Consultations shastagardens@hotmail.com

Hersey Tr Tree ee Ltd.

Professional Professional Arborist t

Pruning P r uning

t

Removal Removal

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Planting

Local (Teddington (Teddington Park) Business

Gr Great eat Job

Great Gre eat VValue alue Call/Text Call/T Te ext David:

• Gardening • Disposal • Decks and Fences

Design & Installation Planting & Pruning Garden Maintenance Complete Garden Makeovers

~Fully Insured~ Insured~

CALL ANTHONY

416-704-4990 alcelectricinc@gmail.com

SHASTA

GARDEN DESIGN

We are a full service tree care company that promotes tree preservation with an ethical approach to caring for trees.

- Pruning - Removals - Planting - Arborist Reports -

647-741-7036

416-462-0007

Email: info@herseytr ee.ca info@herseytree.ca Herseytr ee.ca Herseytree.ca

www.kellytree.com

CITY TROPICALS INC.

INTERIORS & UPHOLSTERY 9

MARCANTONIO FURNITURE Living Plants for Public and Private Spaces Tropical Plant Maintenance/Sales Tropical Consultation, Design & Installation Pruning & Synthetic Plants

FREE ESTIMA ESTIMATES AT TES Bus: 416-422-4707 Fax: 416-422-4701

Restoration & Repair

Restoration of antique & modern furniture. In-home touch-ups of dining room sets, bedroom sets & kitchen cupboards.

Gluing & general repairs.

35 years’ experience

416-654-0518

cti@citytropicals.com 593 Mortimer Ave. Ave. Toronto Toronto M4C 2J6

SERVICES What does your garden need this season?

Grandma s Garden Winter Arrangements Fall Clean-Ups Blueprint Design Decorative Planters Landscape Lighting Garden Makeovers & Maintenance

Vision. Design. Build.

grandmasgarden.ca

10. Cleaning 11. Computer Services 12. Appliances 13. Art & Design

CLEANING 10 CLEANING LADY AVAILABLE Experienced, insured, honest and hard-working. Attention to detail. maidforyoutorontoltd.com.

Call Tanya at 416-897-6782.

COLLECTOR LOOKING FOR Old Tube Hi Fi Components and Speakers. 40 Years or Older.

APPLIANCE REPAIRS Professional repairs of all brands of refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers, dryers, washers, heating & air conditioning. Warranty.

Credit cards accepted. Seniors’ discount. Call Fred 416-266-6122.

t .BDJOUPTI t .BSBOU[ t 'JTIFS t Tanoy t )BNNPOE 0rgans t 3FDPrE $PMMFDUJPOT

ART & DESIGN 13

WANTED

mollymaid.ca

Call: 519-853-2157 1-800-947-0393

A Collector Trying To Recreate An Old Time General Store

Dependable Cleaning from the Professionals you can Trust!

is looking for items found in a General Store before 1960. Eg. Tea tins, tobacco tins, post cards, bottles, magazines, old paper items, comic books, signs, toys, advertising, old store stock, etc.

855.223.5851 DRY EXTRACTION CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING SINCE 1997

416-745-4981 or 416-953-6219

GREEN, CLEAN & DRY without the use of water FOR AN ESTIMATE CALL HENRY CUESTA

416-882-2942

HOUSEKEEPER

Sunny Disposition Quickly Learns Your Preferences Anticipates & Solves Problems

Impeccable References from

10-YEAR CLIENTS

PLEASE PHONE

GILLIAN 416 234-5500 COMPUTER SERVICES 11 COMPUTER AND IT SUPPORT Set-up, Tutoring, virus removal, troubleshooting, networks.

House calls or remote support.

Patient, references available.

Your questions? My answers!

David Block: 416-830-6160; Email: dblock@sympatico.ca.

• Gold • Coins • Figurines • Bronze • Jewellery • Instruments • Silver • Porcelain • Paintings • Watches • China

                

PAID

Tibor: 647-866-5040 REAL ESTATE/ RENTALS 15

14. For Sale/Wanted 15. Real Estate/Rentals

FOR SALE/WANTED 14 WANTED A collector recreating an old time General Store is looking for items found in a store before 1960.

Tea tins, tobacco tins, postcards, bottles, magazines, old paper items, comic books, signs, toys, advertising.

CASH PAID. 416-745-4981 or 416-953-6219

WANTED

Quality antiques Sterling, Silver Plate Chinese, Japanese,

& Asian wares Bronze Paintings Old jewellery, watches, coins & medals Military items Teak Furniture Fancy cups & saucers Professional & Courteous 30 Years Experience Call David

416-231-9948

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NOW AVAILABLE FOR RENT One Bedroom &

M A R C D AV I S & ASSOCIATES

Fine Art - Antiques Estate Sales - Appraisals Family Division

416 781 8800 www.marcdavis.ca

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS FOR 44 YEARS

WANTED! FINE ART & ANTIQUES

Chinese Japanese Asian Porcelain Jade Bronze etc.

Canadian art & fine paintings Inuit sculpture Sterling & jewellery China & porcelain Moorcroft Doulton Art glass

THE SKY S THE LIMIT

LEARNING

16. Tutoring 17. Music Lessons

TUTORING 16 MATHEMATICAL TUTORIALS Private tutoring in mathematical subjects from refresher courses to advanced levels for all ages.

Call George Giordano, B.Sc., M.A. bbgeorgebb@gmail.com or 416-545-1937.

IMPROVE YOUR FRENCH! Join our lively and congenial

call Andrew Plum

daytime conversational French

English Gentleman Buyer

For more information, please call

416-669-1716 plumsfineart.com

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classes for adults. All Levels.

Qualified Experienced Teacher

416-488-4908

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NEW HORIZONS MUSIC NORTH YORK Group Group Lessons for Adults Ukulele and Concert Band

& $ "

www.teachersoncall.ca

416-519-8335 905-881-1931

Mt Pleasant Rd, South of Eglinton.

Please Contact (416) 228-0000

www .skypminc.com

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Bachelor apartments

MARKETPLACE

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THOROUGH, METICULOUS

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CASH PAID

DRY TECHNOLOGY

Area Rugs C l e a n e d i n Yo u r Home/Condo R e p a i r s Av a i l a b l e

TOP CASH

R Reawaken eawaken yourr passion p y for music EXPERIENCE THE

TUTORSHIP ADVANTAGE!

Our expert tutors provide the personal instruction & constant support that improves grades, builds study skills, increases self-confidence, reduces stress & prepares students for University.

We tutor online, all grades (Primary-University) & all subjects including: ESSAY WRITING/ ENGLISH MATH/SCIENCE CHEMISTRY/PHYSICS/BIOLOGY STUDY SKILLS/EXAM PREPARATION FRENCH

416-573-0274 tutorship.ca

SPECIALIZED TUTORING

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416 - 721 - 2748

nhmnorthyork@gmail.com newhorizonsmusicnorthyork.ca

Drum L Lessons essons

Learn Learn Jazz, Jazz, R Rock, ock, F Funk unk and Mor More! re e!

P Private, rrivate, one on one, drum lessons a att my loca location tion OR your home

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30 YEARS TUTORING

Specialities: Dyslexia, Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities & More Cert. Orton-Gillingham Practitioner Remedial/Enrichment Instruction Teaching All Subjects, K-Grade 9

POST CITY MAGAZINES NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE

Arlene T., B.Sc., M. Ed., O.C.T.

December 20

arteach@rogers.com (416)-487-5095 Zoom Tutoring Available Covid-19 Protocols Followed

416-250-7979 x270 classifieds@postcity.com

DECEMBER 2021

CLEANING LADY WANTED Same dependable cleaner weekly for Summerhill area. Must be flexible, meticulous and cat friendly. References required.

Text contact info to 647-558-8645

APPLIANCES 12

| POST |

SHINY CLEAN HOUSE An Experienced European cleaning lady will keep your house clean. Our company is fully Insured & Bonded. Call Inna or Inga, 416-929-5777. www.shinycleanhouse.ca.

81

Our T.O. Naughty List Shining a light on the city’s most caring, giving and wonderful people (and pets) of 2021

SCOTTIE BARNES The Toronto Raptors rookie is the real deal and loves his new city. He has become an instant fan favourite with his infectious energy.

SANDY HUDSON One of the founders of Black Lives Matter Canada, Hudson and BLM Canada bought a building to transform into an office and community arts hub.

MATTY MATHESON Toronto’s fun-loving, tattooed and talented chef has become a global sensation, but he is true to the 6ix, bringing top-quality fare to his hometown.

GARRY HURVITZ This Toronto entrepreneur gave SickKids an early holiday gift when he donated an incredible $50 million to the children’s hospital.

DR. ISAAC BOGOCH The COVID-19 pandemic is a battle against a deadly virus and a misinformation campaign. Luckily we have the good doctor who keeps it real.

DRAKE Yes, Toronto’s own music icon likes attention, but when he tweeted about wanting to bring a WNBA team to town, we noticed. Let’s make it happen.

DR. JANET SMYLIE This leader in the field of Indigenous health, and one of Canada's first Métis physicians, is working hard to get vaccines to the city’s First Nations people.

MACY THE YORKIE When a large coyote chased a 10-year-old on a suburban street, Macy risked life and limb to defend her person. Don’t worry, she’s OK.

Photo credits: Scottie Barnes: Instagram @ya.boy.scottie, Sandy Hudson by Melissa Renwick, Garry Hurvitz: Twitter @SickKids, Macy the Yorkie: Dorothy Kwan (owner), Dr. Isaac Bogoch: Twitter, Janet Smylie

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2021

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NT-DEC-2021-IBC_IBC 2021-11-15 3:02 PM Page 1

COHEN H O M E S & E S TAT E S

277 277 ARLINGTON ARLINGTON AVENUE AVENUE

C COVETED OVETED DO DOWNTOWN WNTOWN ADDRESS ADDRESS

HU HUGE GE R ROSEDALE OSEDALE SEMI-DET SEMI-DETACHED ACHED

DE DESIGNER’S SIGNER’S O OWN WN MA MASTERPIECE STERPIECE

2 MONTCLAIR MONTCLAIR AVENUE AVENUE

221 F FOREST OREST HILL ROAD ROAD

228 C COLDSTREAM OLDSTREAM A AVENUE VENUE

UNPARALLELED UNPARALLELED LAWRENCE LAWRENCE PARK PARK SETTING

Clas Classic sic F Forest orest Hill home home.. Grand Grand principal principal rrooms. ooms. 3r d le vel loung e w /cathedral ceiling.

3rd level lounge w/cathedral ceiling.

P rimary suit ew /balcony o verlooking g Primary suite w/balcony overlooking gardens. ardens.

Permit Permit ready ready for for 9 9,800 ,800 s sq. q. ft b by y Richar Richard dW Wengle engle Arch.

Arch. Lush pie shaped lot o off 1167’ 67’ width b backing acking on to to ravine-like ravine-like s setting. etting. P Privacy rivacy & s serenity. erenity.

T TORONTO’S ORONTO’S MO MOST ST EX EXCLUSIVE CLUSIVE RE RESIDENCE SIDENCE

TEDDINGTON TEDDING TON PARK PARK GEORGIAN GEORGIAN

187 187 DUNVEGAN DUNVEGAN ROAD ROAD

FOREST FOREST HILL G GATED AT TED MA MASTERPIECE STERPIECE

NT-DEC-2021-OBC_OBC 2021-11-15 3:43 PM Page 1

ROYAL LEPAGE Real Estate Services Heaps Estrin Team, Brokerage 1391 Bayview Avenue, Toronto 416-424-4910

www.NorthTorontoLiving.ca Buying Selling Renting Investing Wishing You Peace & Joy this Holiday Season If you're thinking of selling in 2022, please feel free to contact me for my checklist on how to prepare your home for sale & how I can help take away all the stress. I'm always happy to provide you with a complimentary home evaluation if you're ever curious what your property is worth in this market. Best Wishes —Jennifer 2+1 BDRM, 2BTH RENOVATED HOME W/ FINISHED BASEMENT PRIVATE DRIVE HUGE BACKYARD $3000/MTH SOLD

FOR LEASE

Jennifer Williams Broker

ER

Y BU

P

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ER

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P

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ED

Belinda Lelli

1B

1+

Direct: 416-419-8611 jenwrealestate@gmail.com IG: @northtorontoliving

Sales Representative

2019, 2018, 2017

416-457-4407 BelindaLelliTeam.ca info@BelindaLelliTeam.ca

5 Midland Ave, Toronto | SOLD

Cott. 2041 Little Papineau Lake Rd, Hastings Highlands | SOLD

ER

Y BU

49 York Mills Rd, 513 | For Sale

3018 Yonge Street | LEASED

P

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108 Kingslake Rd | SOLD

ROYAL LEPAGE Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage 4025 Yonge Street, Suite 103 Toronto 416-487-4311

ER

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Sylvia Wolff

Belinda Lelli 416-457-4407

Suzanne Stephens 416-731-8623

Shayan Sharifi

P

RE

170 Lake Prom, Etobicoke | SOLD

942 Millwood Rd, Leaside | For Sale

7 Macleod St, Toronto | LEASED