Yorkville Post September 2020

REINVENTING THE OLD-SCHOOL PIZZERIA: MARK MCEWAN GRADES T.O.’S BEST NEW DELIVERY PIZZA PIES

THE CITY CITYVS. VS.THE THEBURBS BURBS FALL REAL ESTATE ESTATE ROUNDTABLE: ROUNDTABLE: BENJAMIN BENJAMINTAL, TAL,JENNIFER JENNIFERKEESMAAT, KEESMAAT,BRAD BRADLAMB LAMB&&OUR OURALL-STAR ALL-STARPANEL PANELWEIGH WEIGHININ

SEPTEMBER 2020 · VOLUME 1 · ISSUE 7

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PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE Our 31st annual primer to the city’s top private schools and programs Page 27

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A FAMILY OF STAR ATHLETES How Richard and Cathy Nurse’s love story led to the CHL, NHL and WNBA

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THAT’S AMORE Chef Mark McEwan on the best new delivery pizza parlours in T.O.

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PROMOTING BLACK CREATORS George Sully and other T.O. designers are creating fashion that helps

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| POST |

SEPTEMBER 2020

THE CITY VS. THE BURBS Our all-star panel weighs in on this fall’s most pressing real estate questions

UNIQUE FALL GETAWAYS From a home dedicated to Wes Anderson to a teepee and a yurt

3

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CITYSCAPE

NEWS

BY THE NUMBERS

THE POST INTERVIEW

Queen’s Plate delayed no more, set to run © Michael Burns Photography

Emma-Jayne Wilson on North America’s storied thoroughbred race, the favourites, and the importance of being the fastest rider on the last quarter mile by Ron Johnson

15 The Percent Pledge campaign to support Black-owned businesses and brands begun by Toronto’s Aurora James, who graces the cover of September’s Vogue.

11 The age of a Mississauga resident who broke a Rubik’s Cube world record. Oh, and she did it one-handed while Hula Hooping.

You must be getting excited for race day?

I am excited. I don't think it's going to be what we are used to, but the Queen's plate, it is about the horses, and it is about the racing, but there's a lot of tradition and hoopla that goes along with it. I hope everyone gets dressed up at home because that's part of it — getting dressed up to go to the races. So I would love to see people with their top hats and tails and in their fascinators in their own kitchen with their own television on, enjoying the Plate as you would if you were in the grandstand.

Are there any favourites this year?

When we talk about the Queen’s Plate as a whole, Clayton is a local horse that won the Plate Trial [Stakes] this year.… And there is another horse by the name of Halo. On top of that, you have the fillies. The winner of the Oaks [Stakes], Carolyn’s Voyage, will be a key contender in this year’s Plate as well.

How did you get into jockeying?

I started at a riding camp. It was at the YMCA riding camp for a week once, when I was a kid, but I’ve always loved horses. After that, I fell in love. I fell in love with the animals. I fell in love with riding. And I did some more riding camps the next year, and then my parents got me into horseback riding lessons. So I did my weekly lesson. And in a way I guess it was kind of history from there. I would do everything I could to get to the barn. I knew I always wanted to be a jockey.

What do you love about it?

Well, let me tell you this way. We have a lot of rules right now at the

25 The number of squares on a drinking bingo game based on Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce’s “mostused answers” to the public on back-to-school plans.

Have you faced any roadblocks as a woman in a horse racing world dominated by men?

I think there were challenges. When I started, I wasn't the first jock that was a woman to be at Woodbine. A very successful jock before me was Chantal Sutherland. So there was a lot of ice that was essentially broken in that sense with her.… There were always still challenges that I felt like it was about my frame of mind was going to dictate how people saw me. I didn't see myself as a female rider. I just saw myself as just another jockey who wanted to be judged on her merit and her skills. And I knew what I had to work on to be the best jockey I could be. I wanted to be as strong as any one of the guys, as a rider coming down the lane in the last quarter mile. I wanted to go toe to toe with these guys and be considered as strong, and that was something that I focused on.

17 The date in August the Raptors kicked off their 2020 playoff run as singer Jessie Reyez became the first to perform the national anthem from the top of the CN Tower.

What have been some of your proudest moments?

I’ve had some really great moments from, you know, historical moments: like on [colt] Mike Fox in the 2007 Queen's Plate is obviously one of them [becoming the first woman to win the event], but I think just the consistency over the last 16 years. I've had my ups and downs with injuries over the last couple of years, but I still maintained a level of consistency as one of the top jocks here year in, year out. I'm proud of that. And I’m pretty happy to have called Woodbine my home.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

This is Canada's horse race. This is the oldest and longest continuously run, Thoroughbred horse race in North America. So it is steeped in tradition and history. It means everything to everyone who's been involved in horse racing in Canada in any way, shape or form. So the fact that we're able to run it, we're pretty happy to have that considering the way 2020 has gone.

racetrack. There's a lot of protocols about social distancing, as everywhere. It was just the other day I broke the rules, and I snuck into a barn and into the stall of a horse that I had just won on about three days before. And I snuggled, I hugged him, I played with him. I was in the stall for probably about half an hour, you know, with the straw and the quiet time. And it's these animals that are the athletes. It is horse racing for a reason. I'm just a partner with them. And to spend that time in the stall with him … the passion that I have for this game is the animals, the athletes. I mean, they are characters and they try to learn, and so to spend that time in that stall with him, albeit against rules — I was checking over my shoulder every second — it made me feel really good because I really did miss that.

| POST |

The Queen’s Plate is being held this month, with the race being live streamed as well as some other events. What is the significance of this race?

5

NEWS

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Cycling on Bloor way up Temporary lanes could be adjusted to accommodate permanent fit

| POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0

New temporary bike lanes on Bloor are a hit with local cyclists

6

by Eric Stober

A number of volunteer organizations have found the new bike lane extensions on Bloor Street have been getting a huge amount of use since their opening.

Bells on Bloor, Toronto Centre Cyclists and the Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition released information that, over a 24-hour period, Yorkville had 4,784 cyclists passing through and further west to Dufferin Street, and Bloor had 4,408.

The groups placed volunteers at each of the intersections, where they counted cyclists passing.

Although the city has yet to release its official usage numbers, the ones reported show a quicker rate of adoption for the Yorkville stretch than the previous Bloor bike pilot between Shaw Street and Avenue Road.

That pilot saw an average of 4,501 cyclists pass through in October 2016, a couple months after its August installation, a number slightly short of the Yorkville stat recently collected. By June 2017, that number grew to 4,925 using the lane.

Thus it appears users are taking to the extension warmly, but opposition still exists to the bike lane.

The Bloor-Yorkville BIA sent a letter to Toronto City Council in late May saying that the bike lane extension in Yorkville will create “additional challenges for [the] retailers” after they have been dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BIA suggested the bike lane may interfere with organized curbside pickups and could disrupt parades.

“The pinch point conditions created by the bike lanes on Bloor Street, west of Spadina, have caused the Santa Claus Parade to reroute because the street is now too narrow to accommodate their floats,” the letter states. “If the same entanglement of bike lane infrastructure is carried further east, then the future of all parades and events for Bloor Street and the Danforth will be in jeopardy.”

Councillor Mike Layton said that he hasn’t heard from any of the BIAs since the extensions were installed, and the city did its best to accommodate their concerns.

“We are constantly looking back at the temporary design with the hopes we can refine, to address concerns from all stakeholders, but most importantly make sure it is safe,” he said. “We are, hopefully, going to be looking soon at what a permanent design will look [like] that may permanently fix problems that aren't possible [to fix] in the current design.”

The Bloor bike lane extensions were fast-tracked in late May to address transit issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. They were installed in August.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

NEWS

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2020 FALL & WINTER

Rap’s Chicken is a landmark eatery in Little Jamaica

COLLECTIONS 0-12 YEARS

Little Jamaica needs protection now Councillors team up to protect area from gentrification by Eric Stober affected access to storefronts and parking, but now from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit a lot of the area’s businesses hard.

“COVID-19 was unforeseen; there’s no way of describing it,” he said. “Everybody’s just holding on by the skin of their teeth.”

With developers eying Eglinton Avenue West as LRT construction wraps up, the potential for high value use of its properties — which in turn would create higher property taxes — is real.

“We need to start preparing business owners, to say, ‘Hey, this is something you need to take into consideration,’ because come 2022, you might be paying three times what you’re paying now,” Alampi said. “How is that going to be sustainable?”

As Little Jamaica goes through a transition and businesses are being passed from one generation to the next, Alampi wonders how many will decide to keep on going — or go for the payout. But he thinks the next generation will take pride in the area’s history and even evolve so they can attract new customers.

Matlow, for one, has an idea of a good place to start to spark that pride — officially naming the area Little Jamaica.

“If you look at the street signs there, you won’t see the words ‘Little Jamaica’ anywhere,” he said.

“It is only referred to as Little Jamaica colloquially.

“There’s a lot that needs to be done that should have been done years ago,” he said.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

night to see long lines at restaurants such as Rap’s, where jerk chicken is cooked in drums on the sidewalk until late, to get a sense of the vibrancy there.

To keep the area’s identity alive, Matlow said there are a couple things to consider.

The first step for Matlow and Colle is to create what is called a “planning framework study.”

Although traditionally such studies have focused on transportation and neighbourhood planning, such as one done for St. Clair Avenue West and Bathurst Street, the one for Little Jamaica would be “unique” since it would focus more on culture preservation.

“This would be a remarkable study because it would have to be far more comprehensive than the normal framework study,” Matlow said. “This hasn’t been done in Toronto in this way.”

He will be hosting a city staff meeting in early September that will include planning, heritage, economic development and antiBlack racism staff to discuss possible ideas.

The chair of the area’s BIA, Andrew Alampi, for one, hopes that Little Jamaica can become more of a tourist destination based on its heritage, to keep its traditions alive.

Alampi, who also runs a business in the area, is working closely with Matlow and Colle on the framework to ensure that everyone in the community is happy with it. He described how the area has been hurting, not only from the LRT construction, which

| POST |

Two city councillors are making it their mission to preserve the culture of Eglinton Avenue West’s Little Jamaica neighbourhood as gentrification threatens to spoil it.

Councillors Josh Matlow — whose constituency includes Little Jamaica — and Mike Colle have announced that they are creating a “framework” to protect the area’s Jamaican flavour.

“I’ve heard a lot of voices tell me about the concern that the character and identity of Little Jamaica is threatened due to a number of factors, including gentrification pressures, and that a lot of the small Black-owned businesses may not be able to survive,” Matlow said.

These “gentrification pressures” include encroaching development spurred by the new Crosstown LRT set to open along Eglinton, which will make connecting the area to the rest of the city much easier.

“Little Jamaica has a unique and remarkable story,” Matlow said.

“It’s the heart of the Jamaican community in the city.”

He described how immigrants arrived there and soon created a vibrant reggae scene that has contributed to Toronto’s music legacy, not to mention the food and community they built, making it a unique area. It is the city’s goto destination for authentic Jamaican food, and Matlow mentioned how its barbershops have become more “community centres” than just a place to get your hair cut.

It only takes a stroll through the neighbourhood on a Saturday

7

NEWS

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Midtown is festooned with new public art including on Bell utility boxes

Local public art blooms during COVID

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“Artists have the

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ability to share talents and lift community spirits.”

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Cows once marched down St. Clair Avenue West toward a rather dubious fate. Today, a bright mural of a cow being milked is a nod to the rich history of the neighbourhood.

The cow mural is part of a new installation of Bell utility boxes turned art and spearheaded by city councilor Josh Matlow. The paintings are a reminder of how art can lift spirits during tough times.

Matlow worked with interested artists to create a series of murals to beautify the neighbourhood.

can see for yourself what life at Amica is all about.

Plus, move in before December 31, 2020 and

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From murals on utility boxes to front porch concerts by Harriette Halepis

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"When we rent or buy houses, most of us try to make those living spaces more beautiful. We should design neighbourhoods the same way. We should make them beautiful," Matlow said.

The Bell box project is just one of the recent community initiatives created to help people stop and smile. Another art-based project getting noticed is a series of colorful pebbles placed along the Beltline Trail called Positivity Pebbles.

The Positivity Pebble project was the brainchild of two high school students, Alya Seker and

Alyssa Pather, seeking to brighten the daily walks of people exploring the Beltline Trail.

The two friends decided to paint faces and other works of art on small pebbles placed strategically throughout the trail.

"When quarantine started, we were both equally upset that we couldn't see each other. However, when it was deemed safe enough to meet up (physically distanced with masks), we took the first chance we had and decided to start a project together, not only to lift each other’s spirits but others' spirits as well," Seker says.

Although Seker and Pather started the Positivity Pebble movement, they’ve inspired others to create works of rock art too.

"We've seen over 50 pebbles that were painted by children and adults, and we love them all!" the two said.

Art seems to be one way that communities are staying connected during the ongoing pandemic.

Many artists like Seker and Pather are taking to painting to spread joy, but some are focusing more on music.

Matlow also attended a front yard concert put on by professional orchestra musicians.

"Artists have the ability to share talents and lift community spirits,” Matlow said. "While sometimes the curtain seems like it's on fire, there are a lot of silver linings too.

Sometimes, the little things in life are the big things."

CRIME

NEWS

AREA BREAK-INS AUGUST 2020 — TORONTO

WHERE

WHEN

TIME OF DAY

MILLWOOD RD. AND DONEGALL DR.

AUG. 1

7 P.M.

CASTLEFIELD AVE. AND ROSEWELL AVE.

AUG. 2

7 P.M.

ST. CLEMENTS AVE. AND ROSEWELL AVE.

AUG. 3

5 P.M.

RIDGE HILL DR. AND BATHURST ST.

AUG. 4

12 P.M.

YONGE ST. AND GIBSON AVE.

AUG. 5

10 P.M.

MOOREHILL DR. AND RED OAKS CRES.

AUG. 7

3 A.M.

AVENUE RD. AND COTTINGHAM ST.

AUG. 7

5 P.M.

RAEBURN AVE. AND YORK DOWNS DR.

AUG. 7

10 P.M.

BATHURST ST. AND STEELES AVE. W.

AUG. 8

9 P.M.

GOVERNOR’S RD. AND DOUGLAS CRES.

AUG. 8

10 P.M.

TRUE DAVIDSON DR. AND HAMPTON PARK CRES.

AUG 9

12 P.M.

MCKEE AVE. AND LONGMORE ST.

AUG. 10

12 A.M.

HARLANDALE AVE. AND BANGOR RD.

AUG. 12

1 P.M.

YONGE ST. AND SOUDAN AVE.

AUG. 13

9 A.M.

CRESCENT RD. AND ROSEDALE RD.

AUG. 14

5 A.M.

EDMUND AVE. AND BENVENUTO PL.

AUG. 14

12 P.M.

SERVINGTON CRES. AND THURLOE AVE.

AUG. 15

12 P.M.

GORDON RD. AND SENECA ST.

AUG. 16

4 A.M.

CRIME BRIEFS

Toronto Police Service has requested public assistance locating a male suspect wanted in an assault investigation. On Aug. 2, officers responded to a call for an assault in the area of Yonge Street and Churchill Avenue. It was reported that two people were involved in a physical altercation.

One male suspect began assaulting the male victim with a weapon, causing serious injuries.

A 20-year-old Toronto male suspect is now wanted for assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon and aggravated assault.

He is considered violent and dangerous.

A 51-year-old male suspect of Toronto has been arrested on child pornography–related charges after members of the

Toronto Police Service, Child Exploitation Section executed a search warrant in the area of Bayview Avenue and Moore Avenue. It is alleged that the accused worked as a security guard at the Eaton Centre and, during the course of his duties, recorded images of children. It is further alleged that, as part of the warrant, a quantity of child sexual abuse material was also located.

The accused faces two counts of possessing child pornography and two counts of accessing child pornography.

Toronto Police Service has released images of a male suspect wanted in connection with an indecent act and sexual assault investigation. On Aug. 7, police responded to a sexual assault in the area of Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue. It is reported that a 25-year-old female victim was sitting in a TTC bus shelter when a male suspect approached her, committed an indecent act and then sexually assaulted her.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

anyone who may have had contact with the victim in the days leading up to his murder and are looking for any additional video footage anyone may have from the two locations.

| POST |

On Aug. 20, Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers responded to a radio call for a shooting at a condo building on Harrison Garden Boulevard, just northeast of Yonge Street and Highway 401 in the neighbourhood of Willowdale. A 30-year-old Toronto resident has been identified as the male victim.

The victim was in his vehicle in the condo’s underground parking lot, when, video footage shows, a grey Subaru Impreza, with no rear plate and a sunroof, drove in the direction of the victim. A lone male suspect exited and shot the victim, in what police describe as a targeted shooting. The victim was found in his vehicle by a security guard and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle fled the area, and the vehicle was found burned out in the area of Weston Road and Albion Road at approximately 7:30 p.m. that night. Two males in dark clothing were seen fleeing from the car.

Police are looking to speak with

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FALL REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE OUR ALL-STAR PANEL WEIGHS IN ON THIS FALL’S MOST PRESSING REAL ESTATE QUESTIONS

WHEN WE HELD OUR SPRING REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE IN FEBRUARY, IT WAS A 400-PERSON EVENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO’S ROTMAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT. COVID-19 HAD NOT YET HIT CANADA IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY. NOW, EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED. WITH THE ALL-IMPORTANT FALL MARKET JUST AROUND THE CORNER, WE ASKED OUR HOUSING EXPERTS WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW: JUST WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH OUR LOCAL MARKET, AND WHERE IS IT HEADED?

ODEEN ECCLESTON Co-founder (Wiltshire Homes Canada) & Broker of Record (WE Realty Inc.)

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN Principal of Gluckstein Design

MICHAEL KALLES President, Harvey Kalles Real Estate

JENNIFER KEESMAAT CEO, The Keesmaat Group

BRAD LAMB Developer, Lamb Development Corp.

MICHELE ROMANOW Dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den; Co-founder & President, Clearbanc

BENJAMIN TAL Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC Capital Markets

BENJAMIN TAL: Real

estate has been the pioneer of the current recovery. Activity is strong, reflecting pent up demand and increased domestic investment activity. According to our poll, 25 per cent of homeowners are considering buying an additional unit due to low-interest rates and that the market is a bit softer. So that's the opportunity they have been waiting for. I suggest that activity will remain strong in the coming two or three months, but following this honeymoon period I see some softening in the pace of economic growth as the risk of a second wave along with the fact that the virus will overlap with the flu season will lead to increased confusion and thus reduced economic growth. The housing market will also feel the impact, contributing to that will be the impact of the end of the mortgage payment deferral period that will have at the margin a negative impact on housing activity. Overall I see a strong two to three months followed by some softening in activity during late fall and the winter with a very strong spring 2021.

MICHAEL KALLES: I’m bullish on

the real estate market. You’ll note

that the share of the pie given to ground level housing and the suburbs has grown, as people seek sanctuary and access to outdoor space, but I would never bet against the downtown core. So the demand is there. Homes are transacting in a timely fashion and at a good price.

I think we’ll have a strong fall and as prices for detached homes rise, buyers will shift their attention to higher-density options.

of living through this pandemic and sort of adjusting the way they do things. But in the first couple of months, people were kind of paralyzed, and there was very little activity. So now you’re seeing all of these record-breaking stats, and a lot of it has to do with those people who were waiting are now comfortable and jumping in.

JENNIFER KEESMAAT: Well, the interesting thing is that it's super BRAD LAMB: Even with COVID- hot. Last winter at the Rotman 19 still top of mind, the marketplace roundtable, I don’t think there was is incredibly strong, given a lot of anyone on the panel who was bullother businesses, and it looks to me ish. Everyone was saying anything like that will continue as the funda- can happen. We're not sure what's mental demand for homes in going to happen with the coronToronto exceeds the fundamental avirus. But there wasn't a single persupply of homes. son who said, wait for it, things are In terms of the buy-and-sell side, going to explode. It's going to get we will continue to be a seller's hot. It's not something that anyone market, and buyers will continue to predicted or expected. That’s the bid for homes, and it’ll just get first thing. The second thing is that worse through the early fall, and, of if you heed CMHC [Canada course, you know the winter will Mortgage and Housing Corporacome and things will slow down to tion], there’s reason to believe that the typical winter months. But the the market is artificially propped up markets are still very strong. right now by the banks — what's happened with the putting on hold ODEEN ECCLESTON: of mortgages and other kinds of So immediately follow- government incentives. And that ing the news of the once we start weaning ourselves off stay-at-home restric- these very unconventional incentions, things were at a bit of a stand- tives, we don't know what kind of still. But as every month has gone recalibration is going to take place. by, I have seen people get more and So I would love to sit here and say more comfortable with the notion it's hot and it's staying hot. But

there are some numbers that don't really make any sense.

BARRY COHEN: Who would have

thought, but it seems to be one of the few bright spots of the economy! There has been a significant shift in demand and behaviours, due to COVID-19, that has placed greater importance on people’s homes. The detached market is incredibly tight, with very little inventory, while the condo market is seeing inventory levels grow and a bit of a softening in prices.

MICHELE ROMANOW:

We’re starting to see which early lockdown predictions are coming true. We all expected prices would drop when COVID hit (myself included), but they never did. In reality, the selling prices in Toronto have actually increased 17 per cent, and new listings are up 25 per cent compared to last summer. Which is great for the economy but tough for new buyers. On the other hand, leasing and rentals are both way down this year because lots of people are leaving the city for cottages and more space. But it's still too early to know if that’s an indicator for long-term real estate changes.

SEPTEMBER 2020

BARRY COHEN T.O.’s #1 agent over all competitors for sales volume $3-20M combined since 2012

POST CITY: Give us your perspective on the state of the market heading into fall.

| POST |

PANELLISTS

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: The market is quite hot right now. People are spending a lot of time at home, and 11

COVER STORY

FALL REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE

JENNIFER KEESMAAT: TORONTO’S FORMER CHIEF PLANNER ON HOW THE RULES OF PLANNING OUR CITY HAVE CHANGED

they’re evaluating their needs and maybe opting for a new home to meet those needs. They might be looking at having more outdoor space or a home with an office or a library to work from.

POST CITY: During our last roundtable, affordability was a key issue. Things are not getting any better. What’s your take?

ROMANOW: I was surprised housing prices have remained stable throughout. The combination of low interest rates and people not wanting to change anything in their life during a crisis (like selling their house) means there hasn’t been much movement yet. But it also means that affordability continues to be a huge problem, and that’s more important than ever with millions of people losing their jobs due to the pandemic.

Concept plan for Rail Deck Park

How has the pandemic changed how we’re looking at and planning cities?

I think that’s a really good question. And it’s a question that almost every four weeks could have a little bit of a different answer. I think part of what’s happened in the past couple of weeks is the idea has kind of settled in for all of us that we’re not going back to the office any time soon. And that’s a new idea because, in the beginning, we thought, OK, we’re all going to stay home. We’re going to do our part. It’s a lockdown. And now working from home, working remotely doing Zoom calls is actually becoming a new normal. So there’s a whole variety of reasons why people choose to live in the location that they choose, but one of them is access to employment. And if you sever that connection to geographically where you can get to work from where you live, then people have a lot more choice in terms of their mobility. And we’re going to see those patterns play out, I think, in the next six months.

| POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0

So what are the implications then for city planners?

Well, at the end of the day, creating walkable neighbourhoods, where people can do a whole variety of things within proximity to home, is always going to be a more sustainable form of design. And that doesn’t change because of COVID. In fact, in some ways, because of COVID it accentuates it even more.

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The city’s going to have some serious budget issues for a few years. What impact do you think that might have on some of the bigger public projects such as, say, Rail Deck Park?

Well, I think it’s hard to say in these early days because there are so many moving parts. The city just got a massive bailout from the province on transit, which helps balance the books.

And the part we haven’t heard about, which I’m curious about as well, is the positive impacts of COVID just in terms of the expenses of the city. There’s a lot of moving parts, and smart municipalities will find ways to capitalize on the things that can mitigate the impacts of the lockdown. But on the flip side, a big part of the revenue in the city of Toronto comes from the land transfer tax, and early concerns about that disappearing have now evaporated. You know, two months, three months ago that was a really serious issue, but now the market is really hot again.

So I do think it’s a little bit of a moving target.

TAL: I don't think the current crisis will have a long-term and lasting impact on affordability. All the changes we see now will be shortlived, and by 2022 the market will again witness the issues seen in 2019 — mainly lack of supply and strong demand.

KEESMAAT: At the

beginning of the pandemic, there was a perception that everything was going to slow down. And I think there was an overwhelming sense that that might be good because, if we cool our market, rents will drop significantly and you will see a lot less pressure on housing affordability. But in fact, the opposite happened. Whereas rent dropped a little bit, which could be mostly attributed to a slowdown in Airbnb, which was on hold. There was a significant number of new listings that were fully furnished units that were likely previously Airbnb units that are now becoming new long-term rental housing.

That’s good. And there has been a little downward pressure on rents at about 10 per cent. But the overall housing market has continued to be hotter than ever. And we haven’t expedited the delivery of supply over the past six months during this pandemic. If anything, you could argue that municipalities were back on their heels, so they slowed down the processing of applications, and that will have a ripple effect and impact new supply into 2021. But on the flip side, the government is more motivated than ever to be investing in affordable housing particularly given the correlation between poverty and COVID-19, which has been directly attributed to a lack of appropriate housing —

people in overcrowded housing situations were more likely to be affected by an outbreak. That has made our government incredibly motivated to do something to address affordable housing. So we’re going to see a response from CMHC investing specifically in affordable housing in the next two years, and that will be a legacy and a direct outcome of COVID-19. It still doesn't address the fact that we have a supply problem, but it means there will be incentives in place to drive supply.

KALLES: Affordability is a real issue and it’s not going anywhere.

Look at the new homes and condos market. Construction costs haven’t gone down, land costs haven’t gone down, government fees have not gone down (if anything, they will rise following the costs associated with COVID-19), so why would we expect the cost of homes to drop? I think people entering the housing market will either require significant help from family or they will have to look outside of the city.

And the latter option is OK. That’s how communities evolve and grow.

Milton today is not the same as it was 20 years ago. Oshawa today is not what it was a decade ago.

Downtown Barrie is unbelievable.

Remember, people make communities, and as the population spreads out, the amenities and businesses follow. We have a housing site at Yonge and Bloomington that we’re selling for Acorn Homes, the very northern reaches of Richmond Hill. Five minutes from the site is a community centre on the banks of Lake Wilcox, and it is teeming with life. We have nothing like it in Toronto. So there are plenty of great places to call home in and around the GTA, and there always will be. Plus, with working from home becoming part of the culture, commute times to city offices become less of a deterrent.

COHEN: In the centre core, yes, no

question, affordability is getting worse, and that is really due to a lack of inventory. Because of COVID, people were and still are reluctant to make a move unless they really feel they need to financially or for significant lifestyle changes. But, in some ways, COVID has made real estate more affordable as it has allowed people to broaden their search to areas where they feel like they may have a better quality of life because they do not have to come into the office every day.

POST CITY: If there is a segment of real estate showing cracks, it is the condo market for a few

reasons, such as Airbnb. What can we expect here?

LAMB: Two items are

impacting the market here, and one is Airbnb, which is, I think, the less important factor. The most important factor I think is that students are not in town. So that’s the single biggest thing. There are currently around 6,000 places currently for rent at a time in downtown Toronto or in the central part of Toronto. If students come back, that will get sucked up with one-tenth of the number of students that come to the city. So I think it’s a short-term thing, and you’re seeing about a 10 to 15 per cent reduction in the pricing of rental property in that category. But otherwise, the market is quite strong. And I don't see it changing.

I can only really see it getting better as inevitably more people will come back to work, and you know, it seems to me every week, every month there is more confidence overall in the economy.

KEESMAAT: Well in the short

term, in a logical world, you should actually see that there’s less pressure on the housing market because we have, you know, universities in Toronto as a university town. Many universities are seeing on average about 10 per cent less for students that are returning. So they’re deferring for a year. And then on top of that, the drop in immigration is not translating into housing prices going down. And in fact, we’re seeing people are spending more than ever, and for some reason — I don’t know where the money’s coming from — seem to have the disposable income to do that. Now, of course, lending is part of this mix, and lending distorts, in all kinds of ways, what people are willing to do.

It might be wrong, but we’re entering into a world where interest rates don’t go up when people take on and governments take on a significant amount of debt. Historically that’s been the disincentive to having too much debt: that interest rates will start to skyrocket. But in the course of the past four months, we've actually seen that election [by the Bank of Canada] not happen.

We’ve seen governments pumping money into the economy, and we haven’t seen any inflation at all. So if we’re entering a new economic era, where people can have a tremendous amount of debt and interest rates stay low, housing prices are going to stay high.

TAL: Yes, the condo segment is

more fragile now for a few reasons.

Condos did not experience the cor-

FALL REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE

people will always want that carefree, lowmaintenance, urban living. If anything, the downturn in the use of Airbnbs could contribute to lowering the price of rental condos, making them more affordable.

LAMB: What I would say is this: I mean, being a relatively intelligent human being, if I was an immigrant in any other country, my number one choice would be Canada and my number one choice in Canada would be Toronto, pure and simple. In the world, it would be the number one place to live. As somebody who’s seen a lot of the world, as a new immigrant, your best opportunity on this planet is to get a chance to live in this country.

ECCLESTON: Well, we as Ontari-

ECCLESTON: I think that living in the heart of a city will always be attractive to enough people for it to continue to be like a real, robust and healthy market. But I think what was happening is that it was just getting perhaps a little frenetic and overvalued. So I don’t think that there’s going to be a tremendous dip. And because so many people spent so much money on these, they’re going to do everything they can to not take losses.

Right. So I think it’s going to take some time, but you know what, the numbers are still strong. They’re just not as crazy strong as they were in years past.

POST CITY: Our market has long benefited from foreign investors and buyers. How do you foresee this issue moving forward?

TAL: I think that foreign invest-

ment in real estate will, in fact, rise in the coming year or two reflecting the situation in Hong Kong.… In fact, it's already happening. The situation in the USA will also be a positive factor for Canada.

KEESMAAT: So our housing market has traditionally been directly linked to immigration. Well, immi-

ans and our government have done exceedingly well in the pandemic compared to other jurisdictions in the world in how we’ve dealt with this crisis. So I think long term that will just sort of add to our appeal and make our country and our city that much more attractive. Our cases have been low, and we’ve proven ourselves to have an excellent health-care system with how we handled the situation compared to many other places on the planet.

And so I think those stats are going to actually cause us to say OK, when everybody’s evaluating how the world dealt with this disaster.

OK. Especially when compared to Yeah, sure. Might be a model. Yeah.

So it might be a lot of people [out] there that are like, “You know, what, exactly, let's choose that. I was thinking about Toronto before, but now, it's for sure. Like this is where I want to be. Yeah.” So when those borders are opened back up, I think we might see a stream of people.

POST CITY: There is a lot of talk about people moving out of the core or out of the city, people moving to small towns, to formally cottage-style areas. What have you seen?

COHEN: Yes I’ve seen

first-hand, people looking to move up north or retire faster to the country. I think the cottage market/areas should see strong price appreciation because of this shift in buyer demand for more space but also because, now that families aren’t going on vacations, they are looking to recreational properties as an alternative.

ROMANOW: It’s here to stay. A lot of [my] Clearbanc employees bought houses during the pandemic, most of them outside the city — it’s much nicer to be in an area with nature and more space if you’re spending more time at home. The data shows sales are up 40 per cent in the GTA, compared to 16 per cent in Toronto, but it’s probably too soon to say how many people will move to the suburbs.

We’re still discussing what work will look like for Clearbanc when the office reopens. We’ve seen a lot of people leaving San Francisco and N.Y.C. because of density and affordability, but Toronto hasn’t seen that yet at the same scale. If housing prices continue to go up and the shutdowns continue, we could see it happening here more and more.

KEESMAAT: There’s a big narra-

tive right now about people moving out of the city. But if you look at the data, it’s actually hot everywhere, which is kind of astounding.

There’s a great article in the Globe that actually talks about what’s happening in the 905. But, you know, it’s kind of a giveaway, right?

When you get into the second half of the article … it talks about one of the reasons why people are looking at 905 is because prices are so high in the core of the city. So it's a bit of a myth to say, well, people are looking elsewhere because they don’t want to live in the core of the city. It’s hot everywhere.

LAMB: What is the agenda of the

Liberal Party right now? It's a green economy, right? You can’t have a green economy living in the suburbs. So it goes counterproductive to what humans are concerned about with global warming and carbon emissions. You can’t be concerned about global warming and carbon emissions and then go and flood the suburbs again with people so it destroys the Greenbelt.

Right. It’s counterintuitive to the way that most people say they want their lives to be. It’s a short-term reaction to a short-term problem.

And that’s how humans behave.

Smart humans understand that these are short-term trends. These

people who are making these stupid decisions, thinking this is the new normal way of life, they will get stuck in the suburbs and get priced out and be miserable. Because they’re going to have to have a two-hour commute with all the other idiots that moved to the 905 when they didn’t have to. That’s what's going to happen. And, you know, the young people who opt to do the same thing or to not buy or live in the city, because they think that the era of the city is over, they’re wrong. The era of the city is just beginning. Affordability will only get worse.

ODEEN ECCLESTON: THE STAR OF HGTV’S HOT MARKET ON THE MOVE TO COTTAGE COUNTRY

KALLES: It isn’t a lot of

talk, it’s fact. We are seeing it. In July, the number of single-detached homes sold in the 905 was up over 48 per cent from the same time a year earlier. Our Muskoka offices cannot hold on to their listings. Everything sells … some sight unseen. But, as mentioned before, I think it’s temporary. Work from home is here to stay, but at some point, prices get too high and buyers revert to more affordable options, typically high-density condominiums.

GLUCKSTEIN: There’s definitely

been a strong trend toward purchasing vacation homes, not just to get away from the city but to move there. And I’m seeing a shift to a smaller home or pied-à-terre in the city, with a larger home in the country. Some people are seeing it as potentially a nice lifestyle change. And people are also thinking ahead to retirement and where they’d want to be based.

Typically it’s like retirees that move a lot to the burbs, and a lot move to cottage country. But this year, we’re actually seeing quite a lot of young families, growing families, as they evaluate their lives and evaluate their marriages and their family dynamics during this quarantine.

So it made them realize, “OK, we need more space.” Right? And it made them re-evaluate their priorities. Like, “How important is it for us to live close to this coffee shop anymore? It might have been really important to be right next to this bar, or, you know, within walking distance to this bar when we were in our mid- to late-20s. But now, it's not that important. So what are we holding on to?” So, yes, I’ve seen that a lot. The demographic making that sort of exodus, it’s changed.

They are all age ranges now.

ECCLESTON:

Is there a type of person or living situation more typical in terms of moving out of town: first-time homebuyers, those looking to upgrade or downsize?

So there’s been quite a variation. I’ve definitely had a number of calls from people living in the heart of the city where it looks like the model of their work has changed. Their employer has changed the model where maybe they only have to go into work once a week or twice a week. And so as a result, they’re saying, “Well, wait, why am I living in this 500square-foot box? How much is my property worth right now?”

And I tell them all it's worth X. “OK, well, how much can that money get me in cottage country? How much can that money get me in the suburbs?”

And they realized, “Wait I can get a lot more house.” And these are people who were certain that they would never leave the core of the city or another prime neighbourhood like the Beach.

The Beach, really? So you are seeing people that already have like a nice detached home looking to move out of the city?

Exactly. I sold a house in that neighbourhood, and they were Beach people to the bone. I told them like, “Look, I can get you so much more [outside the city].” And that’s what they decided on, and they’re happy.

And they were part of that demographic as well where living in the Beach was advantageous for many reasons, including the proximity to work.

But if they don’t have to go in and work as much, it's not as big of a factor.

SEPTEMBER 2020

GLUCKSTEIN: I think

gration is at an all-time low. And, of course, it could be that there’s a bump once the borders open up again, and there’s a significant amount of processing. And we could see an acceleration of immigration. If we see an acceleration of immigration, meaning that the demand to immigrate hasn’t wavered and that it’s only been put on hold because the borders have been closed, well, then the next 12 months is going to be crazy for the housing market. Because you’re going to continue to see a built upsurge in need to be setting up new homes. That’s one scenario. The other scenario is that we are entering a period of lower immigration.

We don’t know which it is. In each scenario, it is a completely different outcome, which has implications for the housing market. We don't know what it is.

| POST |

rection seen in the low-rise due to B20 [the mortgage stress test]. Also in the GTA, we are seeing a relatively strong level of completions.

Add to that the Airbnb factor and the significant decline in immigrations and non-permanent residence, and you see reduced rental demand well into 2021. Within the condo space, I see the high end of the market feeling more of the pain. I don’t buy the notion that people would like to avoid living in an apartment building. This will be only short-lived and will not have a significant impact on that segment of the market in the long term. Also, note that an offsetting factor to that negative demographic issue is the fact that the vast majority of the 100,000 Canadians who usually move to the USA every year are staying home and therefore not adding to supply.… And in fact, that positive factor might be longlasting since to the extent that people can and will work from home.

You can continue to work for, say, a New York company from your basement in Toronto.

COVER STORY

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CURRENTS

GREAT ESCAPES

The unique fall escapes you need From a yurt in Rossport to a Wes Anderson–themed home and a teepee in Algonquin Park This September is especially hectic with a number of uncertainties, but one thing is for certain: you will need a weekend away from the madness. You will need a real change of scenery, a getaway in one of Ontario’s most unusual accommodations.

For the glampers, one of the more popular trends is staying in a yurt. Not only are they a unique structure, they are affordable, ecofriendly and, as of late, very luxurious. Yurts offer the comfort of a conventional hotel while still allowing for a taste of the wild.

Over in beautiful Rossport, Ont., and overlooking Lake Superior, is a charming and luxurious yurt that can be found on GlampingHub. This stylish yurt can accommodate up to four people with a queen bed and a luscious pullout sofa. Secluded and romantic, this yurt also boasts a fully equipped private bathroom space with a revitalizing sauna, a kitchenette for meal prep and a propane stove that’s perfect for

A bedroom in the home dedicated to Wes Anderson films and the yurt overlooking Lake Superior in Rossport, Ont.

snuggling beside, with an adult beverage. In the winter, snowshoes are also available.

One can spend the days hiking, biking, searching for wildlife or enjoying sparkling Lake Superior swimming, kayaking or simply bobbing in the water.

Should becoming a Tenenbaum be on one’s list of to-

dos, this unique home — currently located in Picton, Ont., but will be moving to a new location later this year — is perfect. The Wes Anderson Film–Themed Century House in Prince Edward County is described by the owner as a “Love letter to [Wes Anderson] and an ever-evolving design project.”

Each room is dedicated to a different Wes Anderson movie, from the Darjeeling Tea Room to Margot’s bedroom, Grand Budapest bathroom and the S.S. Belafonte sitting room. The large fenced-in private backyard is perfect for stargazing in one’s own Camp Ivanhoe.

This eccentric property has been featured in Lonely Planet, IndieWire, HGTV Canada, W Magazine, PopSugar UK, Mashable, Elle Decor, Hello Giggles and Travel + Leisure.

The Wes Anderson House sleeps four comfortably, and isn’t that a much better way to spend the night?

Finally, what could be more exciting than a weekend spent in a riverside teepee on the edge of the Amable du Fond River? Situated in Ontario’s stunning Algonquin Park, this 18-foot, custom-built teepee is the ultimate in Canadian glamping. Teepees were originally a portable home for the Indigenous people of the plains, a

necessity for their mobile way of life. Originally four to six metres in diameter, these tents were built in cone shapes with smoke holes in the top to allow for indoor fires.

This giant teepee boasts insulated floors. The property is equipped with everything one would need for a rustic yet comfortable weekend away. Days can be spent hiking, biking, wildlife watching or on the water in a canoe or kayak. At the end of the day, unwind next to the firepit, watching the stars and listening to the sounds of nature. This destination is the ultimate Ontario getaway.

NATALIE PREDDIE

Natalie Preddie is a travel and lifestyle writer, speaker and guest expert on Cityline, Your Morning and Global’s The Morning Show.

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CURRENTS

Back-to-school and dipping temperatures can only mean one thing — it's time for fall fashion.

We asked Jeanne Beker to pick the season's three must-have items to give your autumn wardrobe the perfect dose of style.

DENIM DAZE

BOMBER CHIC

DOUBLE DUTY

IntermixOnline.com, $345, “We all love a bomber jacket, but we don't often see one in denim.

I love that it's worn in and faded.”

HoltRenfrew.com, $1,605, “I love the faded denim on the jacket, and the ivory knit sleeves add a touch of class to it.”

PRETTY IN PINK

TheBay.com, $128, “This is a very classic denim jacket, except that it's pink.

So it's very fresh and feminine and unexpected.”

LONG AND LUXE RAVISHING RUST

IntermixOnline.com, $825.50, “I really love this pleated skirt.

There's something very slimming about it, and this rust colour is beautiful."

WRAPPED IN RUFFLES RED-Y OR NOT

TheBay.com, $340, “I love this wrap skirt with ruffles, which are huge for this season. This whole voluminous look is a great trend.”

LIntervalleShoes.com, $99.99, “This little red bootie is adorable. I love the platform, and this red is going to give a great boost to any outfit.”

BEAUTIFUL BOOTS BROGUE MEETS BOOT

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LOVELY LIZARD

TNTFashion.ca, $136,“This lizard print is cool, and I love the colours and this high waist, not to mention the front and back slits.”

JEANNE BEKER | One of Canada’s most trusted authorities on fashion, Jeanne has covered the industry for more than 30 years.

Now watch her on TSC’s Style Matters with Jeanne Beker or tune into her new podcast Beyond Style Matters launching Sept. 14, available wherever you get your podcasts.

| POST |

PATENT PERFECTION

SEPTEMBER 2020

HoltRenfrew.com, $409, “These McQueen boots are stunning.

They're a hybrid leather brogue and a combat boot, and they're very funky.”

15

CURRENTS

BIG READ

Changing T.O.'s fashion industry The push to ensure contributions of local Black designers are recognized

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In an effort to combat systemic and anti-Black racism, leaders and educators within the Black community have developed tools and resources to be used across all industries.

Here in Toronto, Black designers and educators have launched initiatives to highlight diversity in the fashion industry, such as footwear designer George Sully’s Black Designers of Canada (BDC) index.

“The Black community has been marginalized when it comes to fashion and our contribution to it,” says Sully. “So I created a platform to lessen the excuses often used by the industry, like ‘Black designers do not exist.’ ” At his count, Sully says there are about 160 designers featured on BDC, spanning across fashion, furniture, accessories and interior design. For him, those designers countered the argument that he had heard for decades: that Black designers weren’t featured because there weren’t enough of them.

“We needed proof,” says Sully.

“We needed to be counted to fight the ignorance of [the industry] saying we don't exist.”

The designers in the index include Bohten Eyewear, founded

by Nana Boateng Osei, a Ghanaian-Canadian designer.

There is also Daej Hamilton, a

Toronto woodwork artist who creates unique and minimalist furniture and home items.

Low visibility of people of colour in the fashion industry has always been an issue. Kim Jenkins, an assistant professor at Ryerson University and fashion historian, launched the Fashion and Race Database in 2017 as a reaction to the crises that she had observed in the industry — namely, lack of adequate representation in media and narrow standards of beauty.

“Students are having a hard time, depending on what their ethnic background is, in fitting in the fashion world once they graduate,” she says.

Jenkins had long been following the intersection of fashion and race but found herself at the centre of it in 2019 after Gucci released a black balaclava sweater with the hole for the mouth outlined with red lips as part of their Fall/Winter 2019 collection.

The sweater was lambasted across the media as a “Blackface sweater” and pulled out of the collection. Gucci reached out to Jenkins for educational support.

“I was really elated when the heads of Gucci, specifically Marco Bizzarri, the CEO and president, brought me on and just said ‘Okay, we're all ears. We're ready to listen.

How can we do better?’ ” says

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messages of solidarity but not actually changing anything about their business,� says James. “They say they stand with the Black Lives Matter movement, but I didn't see diversity in their boardrooms, the content they create or on their shelves.�

The Toronto-born, Brooklynbased designer behind the footwear and handbag brand Brother Vellies launched the pledge in early June to pressure major household retailers to start stocking 15 per cent of their shelves with products by Blackowned businesses. “Black people comprise about 15 per cent of the population in the U.S. and over 22 per cent of Canadians identify as minorities,� says James. “We focused on major retailers, such as Target, Whole Foods, Shopbop, MedMen, Barnes and Noble, because these businesses can have the biggest economic influence on the Black community.�

Sully, Jenkins and James are all seeing the tides of possibility shift.

James has been encouraged by the support her campaign received from the public, as well as the companies who have gotten in touch with her to make the pledge.

Jenkins hopes that the Fashion and Race Database will evolve into a larger conversation that involves

people in the industry as well as educators and historians who had never previously seen themselves reflected. “The history of fashion and racism and how the construct of race has impacted the fashion industry and the way we see ourselves and interact with one another is very real. It is still an issue,� says Jenkins. “It's such a big hairy topic that no one wants to address, and that's why I wanted to start tackling it.�

Sully says major organizations have reached out to him to provide support for BDC. He envisions mentoring programs, workshops, even BDC Awards. But until then, he simply wants to be counted. He wants fashion editors, when compiling lists of the top 30 designers, to go on the BDC index and find 10 Black designers to include. And for stylists, when pulling designs for editorial spreads and red carpets and television appearances, he wants them to dig into the index for new pieces to showcase. He wants new designers of colour to not be discouraged by the industry’s excuses. “I needed proof and I needed a body count. And here we are, and everything has changed because of that,� says Sully. “Everything has changed.�

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Jenkins.

This new relationship between her and Gucci signalled a change for her and for other fashion historians. “It really kind of sets the tone for what's possible or sets a precedent, at least, of what the fashion industry can do.�

While she has been in contact with other brands for this type of cultural awareness and sensitivity programming, Jenkins notes the problem goes far deeper, and the solution begins with diverse hiring and promotion — a move that global fashion houses have not undertaken. “If you open up the door to the C-suite [a corporation’s senior executives] and the organization, and they all look the same, they're all incredibly homogenous,� says Jenkins. “Or there's just, like, one person of colour who is supposed to shoulder the work and the labour of giving the entire global brand a diverse perspective.�

A major way to incorporate more diversity into the fashion landscape is by targeting the larger retailers, which designer Aurora James is doing through her campaign the 15 Percent Pledge. “Right after the tragic killing of George Floyd, I was seeing a lot of brands, retailers and influencers from across industries posting

| POST |

Clockwise from left: Brother Vellies designer Aurora James, footwear designer George Sully and assistant professor Kim Jenkins

17

CURRENTS

DAILY PLANET

Single-use paper products need rethink Ontario's logging industry must have circular principles at its core Many people are calling for a just, green recovery from the COVID19 pandemic.

One concept that could help us shift to ecologically sound economic systems is the “circular economy,” in which the need to extract resources from undeveloped natural ecosystems is significantly reduced or even eliminated. It involves shifting from a take-make-waste society to one where repairing, reusing and repurposing is standard.

When a new phrase or concept is introduced to capture a vision of a better world, industrial interests often co-opt it,to portray themselves as “green.” That’s what the Forestry Products Association of Canada is doing in response to a report calling into question the vast amounts of boreal forest pulped for toilet paper. The industry group claims forestry in Canada is “part of the circular economy.”

It’s true that in modern mills most harvested trees are used for a

Operators should be rewarded for cutting less and producing better products

variety of products. And it’s true that forests are renewable, in the sense that trees can be cut down and new ones planted. But forests that have been logged and regenerated are vastly different from forests untouched by industrial management.

Trees are harvested before reaching old-growth stages, which disrupts provision of habitat and

forest nutrient cycles. As industry favours economical tree species, natural forest composition is altered. These practices lead to forest degradation.

In essence, a circular economy is about ensuring that we live within Earth’s finite limits — the limits within which today’s needs can be met without sacrificing the ability of future generations to have their

needs met.

What needs to change so that Canada’s industrial resource extraction activities can truly be part of a circular economy?

First, limits must be set on the boundaries of industrial activities.

Cutting down forests that have never been logged to produce more toilet paper, packaging and other paper products we barely recycle can never be circular, let alone sustainable.

Canada is the world’s largest producer of newsprint and northern bleached softwood kraft pulp, a raw material for making paper products. A 2020 draft forest sector strategy for Ontario projects a 35 per cent increase in tissue production and a 25 per cent increase in packaging. The life cycle of forest-based products must be rethought, redesigned and transformed.

We must also redefine the core purpose of our forestry sector from one driven by how quickly it can cut down forests for profit to

one that rewards operators for cutting less and producing better products. A true circular economy grows qualities (such as healthy, diverse forests) over time without the need to keep growing quantities (such as number of trees logged) — better, not more.

It doesn’t make sense to destroy much-needed habitat for singleuse products such as toilet paper when recycled toilet paper and other alternatives can meet our needs. Canada’s logging industry can’t be considered part of a circular economy until it transforms itself with circular principles at its core.

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 Rachel Plotkin).

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CURRENTS

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L-R: Kia, Darnell, Cathy, Richard and Tamika Nurse

One of Canada’s top sports families Richard and Cathy Nurse on falling in love and bringing the Nurse name to pro sports by Nikki Gill

The proposal

The

proposal

was

pretty

The wedding

gym or the soccer field, so it was like we saw each other in passing for a few years. At that time, we made it a priority to have dinner together as a family whenever possible, and once in a blue moon we would get out for dinner on our own. Being empty nesters now and having flexible workouts, we eat dinner together almost every day and spend the weekends getting out to local restaurants, wineries and music venues.

We were married on April 8, 1994. It was a Friday night, and we had a church wedding and a cocktail party at a hall with family and friends. It was a great time, but we ran out of food and had to order pizza at midnight!

We had our honeymoon in Las Vegas.

We share a love of sports, music, travel and a good party! We enjoy spending time with family and friends whenever possible.

Richard recently got us some bikes, so the plan is to explore the trails in our area.

Shared interests

The kids

Secret of success

We have three kids. Tamika, 32, played Division 1 basketball for Oregon and Bowling Green State; Darnell, 25, is an Edmonton Oilers defenceman; and Kia, 24, plays in the WNBA for the New York Liberty. We are new grandparents to Jaxon as well.

We have very different personalities, but they complement each other. Neither of us is perfect — though Richard thinks he is — and we are OK with that. We have never been afraid to have tough and colourful conversations about anything, and we both appreciate how hard we have worked for each other and for our family over the years. After all this time, we still enjoy each other’s company, love a good laugh and share a great history, and we are excited about what comes next.

Balancing careers and marriage

Things used to be pretty hectic with marriage, our jobs and the kids when they were younger.

After work, one of us was at the rink and the other was at the

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How they met

Richard and I met at an all-ages dance when I was 14 and he was 16. Another guy was talking to me, and a friend of mine asked him to help me out. He saved me by cutting in and acting like we knew each other already. We went out just once or twice back then. Later when I was 16 and he was 18, we met up again at another dance and we have been together ever since.

uneventful. We had been dating for almost 10 years at that time, so it wasn’t a surprise when it happened. It was Christmas morning, and we were opening gifts with my family when he kind of put me in a headlock — his idea of a hug — and gave me the ring.

It wasn’t like it happens in the movies, but that’s not really our style anyhow.

| POST |

If you’re a sports fan in Canada, you’ve likely heard of the Nurse family. Richard Nurse is a former CFL player for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and his wife Cathy is a former varsity basketball player for McMaster University.

Athletics clearly runs in the family as their children have become stars in hockey and basketball, playing in the NHL and WNBA. Now, Uninterrupted Canada is following the family to create a feature biopic on the Nurse family and their emergence as one of the country’s top sports families. The documentary, which has yet to be titled, will debut this fall on TSN. Here we caught up with Cathy to find out the story of how the Nurse family came to be — starting with how she met Richard.

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FALL HOME DESIGN

20

TASTE TEST

FOOD

TO TOP IT OFF Creative combos include pickles and mustard, mushrooms, truffle, pineapple and more!

A NEW CLASS OF OLD SCHOOL PIZZERIAS RUNNER-UP

RUNNER-UP

MAKER PIZZA

PI CO.

NORTH OF BROOKLYN

“Great presentation!”

McEwan says of Frank’s Best white pizza. “You can tell they rest the dough to develop air bubbles in the crust. I love the caramelized onions and goat cheese.

The honey and sesame is a nice touch.”

1537 Avenue Rd., $17/12-inch

“Thin crust with a good crunch. I liked the flavour of the roasted garlic and finish with olive oil,” McEwan says of the Sherway Pizza.

“All the toppings, everything complemented each other well!”

1070 Don Mills Rd., $14/10-inch

“If you like truffle and mushrooms, this is a pizza for you,” McEwan says pointing to the 14inch Truffle Shuffle pie.

“It has a tasty dough and generous mushroom toppings. Such a great flavour!”

469 Church St., $18/14-inch

FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE McEwan enjoyed the classic 14-inch sausage and onions pizza by the Burger Priest founder’s new pizzeria.

“The sauce has a sweet flavour,” says McEwan.

“Good size as well!”

832 Dundas St. W., $20/14-inch

CONSPIRACY PIZZA

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

“This is definitely a creative pizza!” McEwan says of the Bay of Pigs.

“The pulled pork is juicy and there are plenty of mustard and dill pickles!

This is like a pulled pork sandwich.”

176 Wicksteed Ave., $11.95/10-inch

“The smoky bacon flavour was quite strong, but overall a really good pizza,” McEwan says of the Porky Pine slice.

“Bacon and pineapple is a classic pairing that gets a nice kick from the jalapeno.”

331 Adelaide St. W., $14/10-inch

| POST |

WINNER

SEPTEMBER 2020

Toronto is bearing witness to a new breed of entrepreneurs that are delivering their unconventional take on traditional pizza to homes across the city. In this month’s taste test, chef Mark McEwan tries some of their latest creations and tells us which new(-ish) parlour makes the best pies.

21

FOOD

NEWS

Toronto’s glam dining scene returns One of midtown’s most iconic spots is back

| POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0

One of the city’s longest running fine dining institutions, Scaramouche, has reopened its doors to the public for the first time since March.

The much-anticipated milestone of entering Stage 3 finally arrived for Toronto. As of early August, restaurants have been allowed to reopen for modified indoor service.

However, as many of Toronto’s most beloved establishments have been fully shut down since March, reopening under guidelines of distanced dining at half capacity has brought a new set of challenges to the industry.

“We’ve been doing our best to be ready at any point in time over the last six weeks,” says Carl Korte, partner at Scaramouche, a 40-year mainstay in fine dining.

“But, we decided to skip a week in case there were further developments. In several markets, restaurants have opened and then closed again, and we’re erring on the side of caution. None of us in

22

by Saliha Chattoo

Scaramouche has become known for its meticulously plated cuisine

this business can afford to close and reopen.”

This balancing act of opening in a timely yet effective manner is a familiar struggle to many in the industry.

Jen Agg, the powerhouse behind Toronto’s Grey Gardens and Bar Vendetta, has also announced that, despite wanting to open as soon as

possible, they won’t be opening indoor spaces for at least a few more weeks due to safety concerns.

Scaramouche’s official opening date for modified indoor dining came on Aug. 7, exactly one week after the city’s official Stage 3 reopening date. During that time, the team was busy sanitizing

fabrics, installing Plexiglas barriers and redesigning the dining room so that distancing protocols are adhered to during service.

“Our biggest issues right now are capacity and the extra costs of the safety protocols,” Korte says.

“It all makes sense, and we’ve set our dining room up to be safe and spacious, but it’s going to be a challenging year. We’ll see half our level of business if you just do the math.”

Of course, reservations are the name of the game, when it comes to easing back into indoor dining, as capacity issues will be a constant concern.

DaiLo, a popular Toronto spot for French-Cantonese cuisine, is asking patrons to plan ahead if they opt for indoor service, and patio service remains available for walk-ins. Others, such as Gusto 501, Janet Zuccarini’s newest trattoria, are accepting both walkins and reservations for indoor and outdoor dining.

But although restaurants like Scaramouche are doing what they can on their end, the question of how many Torontonians are ready to dine indoors — and what that means for restaurants staying afloat throughout Stage 3 — still looms.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what the demand issues will be,” says Korte. “There’s still a lot of uncertainty about how customers will re-engage the restaurant world. I hope it’s with strength and enthusiasm, but I’m sure there’s some reticence out there.

So the next big step is finding out what the demand will be and responding accordingly.”

Scaramouche will continue to offer a few tables inside and on the patio with the Pasta Bar & Grill just off Avenue Road. The restaurant is accepting reservations at 416-961-8011 and is also offering à la carte menus for takeout, with menu options posted on the website at scaramoucherestaurant.com.

© Maxime Bocken/Studio Munge

NEWS

Amal's interior has colourful bursts of pastel blues, and a hand-painted ceiling tapestry

Charles Khabouth brings new Lebanese concept to Yorkville Doors opened to the public at the upscale space last month by Jessica Padykula Charles Khabouth and Danny Soberano are not letting a pandemic slow them down.

The duo behind some of the city’s most popular restaurants (Sofia, Kost, Byblos and Weslodge, to name a few) recently announced the opening of Amal, a modern Lebanese restaurant at 131 Bloor St. W., with a second location opening soon in Coconut Grove, Miami.

Amal (pronounced: am-elle) is a traditional Arabic name meaning hope, and the venue will put the spotlight firmly on the

culture, food and people of Lebanon: something close to Khabouth’s heart.

Last year, Khabouth, who is LebaneseCanadian, travelled to Lebanon with Ink Entertainment executives so the team could immerse themselves in Lebanese culture.

As such, everything from the decor to the dishware has been hand-picked and imported from Lebanon.

“As a Lebanese-Canadian, I take great pride in offering an authentic dining experience at Amal,” says Khabouth. “My wish

is that we [pay] tribute [to] the people of Lebanon in a positive way and continue to bring awareness to the amazing yet challenged country, especially during this time of need. The Lebanese are such passionate and hospitable people, with deep love for family and celebrating life together. We plan to honour this way of living with Amal in Toronto.”

At the helm of the kitchen is Beirutborn executive chef Rony Ghaleb, who moved to Toronto from Beirut in 2019.

Ghaleb brings with him extensive experience, having worked at some of the most well-regarded hospitality venues in Lebanon, including the Four Seasons Hotel in Beirut.

Amal’s menu is serving dishes influenced by the different civilizations that held power in the region and feature elevated Lebanese dips, cold and hot meze, skewers, sharing platters and more. The menu also includes a selection of arak, a drink that symbolizes the traditional spirit of the Middle East.

In addition to highlighting Lebanon’s cuisine and culture with Amal, Ink’s CEO has also pledged to help the country in response to the recent Beirut port explosion.

Khabouth (along with other prominent Lebanese-Canadian business leaders) has formed the Lebanese Canadian Coalition (LCC) to support relief efforts to rebuild Beirut. The coalition has committed to fundraise $2.5 million, with all proceeds donated to the Humanitarian Coalition and the Canadian Red Cross, and it will be used specifically for relief efforts in Beirut.

With enough space to accommodate 155 guests inside and 62 guests outside, Amal opened its doors to the public on Tuesday, Aug. 18. However, the restaurant is currently operating at a reduced capacity, in accordance with guidelines set out by Toronto Public Health officials, to ensure safe social distancing.

Craig Wong opens wine bar with rooftop patio equally short but thoughtful, offering globespanning natural wines by the glass and bottle.

The current lineup includes the aromatic 2019 Neon-Eon Tropicalia, an orange wine from Okanagan Valley, B.C., and a peppery Pineau D’Aunis from Loire, France.

In the works for over a year, Bar Mignonette’s opening plans were put on hold for months as a result of the pandemic. The restaurant has now revealed an airy, tropical-themed space that’s a fitting match for its pared-down menu.

Lower-level sister restaurant Patois continues to offer its Caribbean-Asian fare for dine in as well as on the street-facing patio. Bar Mignonette is open and taking reservations for its physically distanced dining room and patio. Walk-ins are also welcome.

— Jessica Huras

Montreal’s iconic steak house Moishes is vacating its home on the Plateau, leaving many steak lovers wondering if Toronto’s beloved steak houses will face a similar fate.

When the 82-year-old restaurant closed its doors to the public in March, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, no one could have predicted that the famed steak house would not reopen, even after restaurant dining returned.

For a restaurant that has survived through the hardships of the Second World War, a couple of independence plebiscites and the massive financial crisis of 2008, it’s agonizing to see Moishes crestfallen in the face of the novel coronavirus. However, not all may be lost, at least not just yet.

Going by reports, Lenny Lighter — son of restaurant founder, Moishe Lighter, and present corporate director — has assured patrons that the steak house will return.

“I don’t know where. I don’t know when. But we will be back,” he was quoted as saying in a recent interview.

He added that the restaurant’s lease was set to expire at the end of December, and they had already acquired a new location somewhere in Victoria Square downtown.

“That was our plan,” he says in the interview. “To stay open, move the restaurant and continue operations in that new location, but due to COVID, everything fell apart. We had also started construction on the new restaurant.”

The original plan to move to a new location is still in place — just not right now.

“Will there be a vaccine? And will we get back to normal sooner, rather than later? Or will there be a second wave, and will these things be delayed? Nobody knows. With so much uncertainty ahead of us … we’re just going to take the time and see how things will unfold, when they’ll unfold,” Lighter says in the interview.

Although there is no fixed date for its potential return to business, patrons of Moishes can still get their hands on its pre-packaged products in grocery stores.

Meanwhile in Toronto, popular Brant Street steak house Jacobs & Co. is still closed for dine-in services, with no set date for reopening to inside diners.

“It’s so disheartening to hear about Moishes,” says chef Danny McCallum of Jacobs & Co., adding, “It’s a very difficult time for everyone in the restaurant business. It is almost mind-boggling how everything changed in a matter of months.”

— Twinkle Ghosh 23 | POST |

Dundas West has a new destination for natural wines and rooftop views with the opening of Bar Mignonette. The new spot from chef Craig Wong is located on the second floor of Patois and features a rooftop patio overlooking the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood.

Bar Mignonette’s brief menu emphasizes light, boldly flavoured bites, such as melon and prosciutto and a bread and butter pairing with Brodflour sourdough. Dishes, including the heirloom tomato with dashi vinegar jelly and Korean mint, play with the Asian and Caribbean influences for which Wong’s cooking is known. Seafood is also a major focus, with the restaurant featuring a raw bar as well as seafood-centred dishes like clams and pasta with black garlic and sake.

Curated by sommelier Toni Weber (former beverage director at Giulietta), the wine menu is

Iconic Montreal steak house closes after 82 years in business

SEPTEMBER 2020

Find Bar Mignonette on the second floor of its sister restaurant Patois

FOOD

Chef Craig Wong

FOOD

FEATURE

New rules of the fine food game How international outposts Café Boulud, Momofuku and Eataly are coping with Toronto’s dining guidelines

Chef Daniel Boulud

Over the last couple of months, a number of restaurants across Toronto have been forced to close their brick-and-mortar locations, unable to survive the significant loss of revenue, high cost of rent and staffing shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic, not to mention the added difficulty of learning to navigate the long list of seemingly ever-changing rules and guidelines surrounding the city’s dining scene.

According to a recent survey conducted by Restaurants Canada (a not-for-profit entity representing the nation’s food industry), it could take up to 18 months for some businesses to return to profitability.

The survey states that almost half of the eateries — even with takeout offerings and indoor dining operations at 50 per cent capacity — are running at a loss.

If things continue at this pace, only 13 per cent of the food service businesses are expected to be profitable again within six months. About one-third will need a year to bounce back, and 36 per cent are looking at nearly 18 months. Not surprisingly, almost everyone — 90 per cent — continue to record lower sales when equated with this time last year.

In Stage 2 of reopening, most restaurants witnessed a staggering start with dine-in options limited to outdoor areas such as patios — including curbside ones made possible through the city’s CaféTO program — parking lots and adjacent premises. However, now with Stage 3, business has started to pick up for some,

albeit slowly.

Nicki Laborie, founder and owner of Bar Reyna Yorkville and Reyna on King, spoke with Post City about how local restaurants are faring.

“Earlier, we were hardly making six to eight per cent of what we made last year, and takeout didn’t really help business,” says Laborie. “It was only after the City of Toronto authorized a 22-seating patio for our second location, Reyna on King, that we started making close to 50 per cent of sales.”

Now, with some indoor dining, Laborie says the restaurant can seat up to 52 patrons. In the last couple of weeks, Laborie says Reyna on King has made close to 70 per cent of last year’s sales.

“We have started hiring again, and by fall, we are hoping to go back to our regular menu,” she says.

However, even some big international operations have taken a while to get back in the game, lacking access to any kind of outdoor patio.

Chef David Chang’s popular noodle bar, Momofuku — which is based in New York City — had to cut back on operating hours at its Toronto location on University Avenue. The hip ramen spot was limited to takeout and delivery from 3 to 8 .p.m daily, except on Mondays. In Stage 3, Momofuku has reopened for indoor dining from Tuesday to Friday, 12 to 3 p.m., and for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m., but with a limited menu. Momofuki has taken several

T.O.’S TOP PROFESSIONALS

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UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE DIVORCE ACT

24

Cheryl Goldhart – Expert Family Law Lawyer, Mediator and Arbitrator

The Government of Canada is set to introduce amendments to the Divorce Act that will change the way we talk about children’s issues. The term “custody” will soon be replaced with the term “decision making”, referring to the authority to make major decisions for children (for example: who will make major medical and/or educational decisions for a child?). The term “access” will soon be replaced with the term “parenting time”, referring to the time a child spends with each parent.

Families do not typically have a formal determination regarding decision making and parenting time until parents divorce.

Parents who are able to communicate effectively with one another may opt for joint decision- making, where they make all major decisions together. In contrast, parents who cannot communicate effectively may prefer that one party have sole decisionmaking authority (i.e. that person makes all of the major decisions for the child(ren)) or that they share parallel decision making (i.e. the parents divide decision making responsibility between themselves).

Similarly, parents who live close together and have a good co-parenting relationship may choose an equal time parenting schedule, where their child lives equally with each of them. Other families may choose to have the child live primarily with one parent, and have specified parenting time with the other parent (for example: every other weekend).

If your family is navigating these issues, you should speak with a lawyer in order to identify the best arrangement for your family, and in particular, your children. Speaking with a lawyer will also give you important information about the extent to which your preferred parenting schedule may impact other financial issues that arise from the breakdown of your marriage. A lawyer with experience in the area of family law can not only help you in creating a comprehensive parenting plan that covers both issues of decision making and parenting schedule, but also in drafting a legally enforceable agreement that includes those and other important terms.

BIO Cheryl Goldhart is a certified specialist in Family Law with over 30 years of experience practicing exclusively in the field. She specializes in complex, high conflict and high net worth cases. She is an accomplished lawyer, OAFM accredited family law mediator and a certified family law arbitrator by the ADR Institute of Ontario.

CONTACT Goldhart & Associates 20 Eglinton Ave. W. Suite 1305

416-967-6111 www.goldhartlaw.com

FEATURE

MICHELIN STAR CHEFS UPDATE SUSHI MASAKI SAITO Yorkville’s exclusive sevenseater restaurant by chef Masaki Saito, who has two Michelin stars under his belt, stopped its takeout and delivery service in June and has not yet reopened for indoor dining.

L-R: The bao at Momofuku and the dining area at Eataly

launched its Cloud 9 Oasis menu, offering a selection of healthy dishes and a refreshing wine list. Café Boulud continues to adjust certain dishes on the menu to reflect the seasons, and the d|bar lounge is once again open daily with live DJ entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Like Eataly and so many other restaurants across Toronto, Café Boulud is opting to continue its take-away menus as well.

It’s difficult to predict what lies ahead for Toronto’s dining scene, but one constant that seems apparent is that takeout and delivery services are here to stay.

—Twinkle Ghosh

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raise the bar of hospitality overall, which, in the long run, can be the silver lining.”

Meanwhile in Yorkville, Café Boulud — which has locations in New York and Palm Beach — has finally been able to reopen after months of uncertainty.

“Both the Café Boulud and d|bar teams were fully prepared and ready to welcome guests as soon as Stage 3 arrived in Toronto,” says Maxime Regad, director of food and beverage at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, where the restaurants are located.

According to Regad, the Spa Terrace just

AKIRA BACK Michelin-starred chef Akira Back’s eponymous eatery has reopened for indoor dining in Toronto’s Bisha Hotel and has also unveiled a new patio.

| POST |

new safety precautions, including new digital menus available with a URL or QR code.

During the previous phase, Eataly, too, had to tweak hours to cater to customers on their new customized patio.

“We wanted to create a full summer experience outdoors — from greenery to a coastal-inspired menu — so diners could take a trip to Italy without ever leaving the city,” says Raffaele Piarulli, executive VP of Eataly North America.

“We’ve added a breakfast service from 8 to 11 a.m. daily and have seen many of our regular café-goers move outside to take a seat and enjoy their coffee and cornetti.”

With more than 35 locations worldwide, the Italian food emporium has had to adapt on a much larger scale. According to Piarulli, Eataly had implemented a series of home delivery services, through Instacart and Uber Eats that are proving to be successful during such uncertain times.

“Not just Eataly fans, but also a completely new customer base, have been able to enjoy our retail products without leaving the safety of their homes,” Piarulli says.

Now, in Stage 3, two of Eataly’s indoor restaurants in Toronto — La Piazza and La Pizza e La Pasta — have reopened, following the limited capacity guidelines.

“From what we’ve seen, some of the ‘new’ habits, such as the takeout culture, have solidified, and … we think dining out has become more of a treat and less of a ‘taken for granted’ habit,” Piarulli says. “And that, we believe, will inevitably

FOOD

25

FOOD

NEWS

Clockwise from left: Pad Thai wings, chef Nuit Regular, and the spot’s colourful curbside patio

Chef Nuit Regular opens an exciting pop-up

| POST | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0

Thai-inspired comfort food comes to Adelaide in Toronto by Saliha Chattoo

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It was only a matter of time until chef Nuit in her culinary chef Nuit Regular (Sabai Sabai, playground and give in to the Pai, Kiin) brought her own small whims of her ever-evolving revolution to the food scene inspirations and creations.” during these pandemic-addled The website also features six of times. the items on the current menu, a

By Chef Nuit, a new pop-up few of which are currently sold restaurant on Adelaide based in out after opening on Aug. 18. the Kiin Toronto space, is the Tom yum fries ($5) and pad Thai latest experiment from Regular wings are among the smaller fare, that was prompted by the new and mains run between $14 and realities of COVID-era $20, including the massaman beef hospitality. sandwich ($14), a sandwich The announcement on a soft roll with was made on Pai braised beef covered Toronto‘s Instagram in massaman curry POPULAR FAVES feed, detailing the and melted smoked The new concept is new venture. provolone. dishing out chicken “Yes, it’s been a Regular’s satay poutine and pretty downer 2020 culinary prowess pad Thai wings. so far, to say the has landed her and least,” her partner, Jeff her restaurants Regular, wrote in the nationwide accolades, post. “So chef Nuit Regular both for the love and wanted to do something fun and passion she brings to her food and creative to help lift our foodie her willingness to be bold and spirits. Through By Chef Nuit, original while honouring timechef will be breaking through her tested classics. The best way to be constraints of traditional Thai in the know about the pop-up’s cuisine to bring you … pretty newest menu items is to follow much whatever she feels like.” the Instagram page, where items The pop-up is open for takeout like the chicken satay poutine and delivery from Tuesday to (available on Wed., Aug. 19) Sunday every week (12:30 p.m. to continue to debut before selling 9:30 p.m.) and there is also out shortly after. limited seating on a colourful new Drop by 326 Adelaide St. W. or curbside patio outside. call 647-490-5040 to place an The pop-up’s official website order, or find By Chef Nuit on invites Toronto diners to, “Join Uber Eats.

2020 Schools & Program Listings

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Fall Education Guide

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A streamlined, end-to-end process for discovering, researching, MEETING, and enrolling in a school — all online, through a special portal customized to your interests and stage of research.

October 3 - 24 Browse

1

Start now Browse the schools in your area (and/or abroad) that meet your needs. Watch 3-minute videos that explain what each school does differently and uniquely well.

2

Virtual Expo

Oct 3 Drop in on school reps through live video chat, and join live video seminars with education experts who will help you conduct a more effective school search and application process.

3

Q&A Roundtables

4

1:1 Consultations

5

Open Houses & Tours

Fall 2020 RSVP for private tours or Open House events, where you’ll gain a visceral sense of life at the school.

6

Applications

Oct 5 - 18 Join by videoconference as alumni and current students/ parents share their perspectives on your shortlisted schools— including insight on school culture, strengths, and weaknesses.

Oct 5 - 24 Book free discovery meetings with admissions officers— conducted by videoconference—where you can delve deeper into the suitability of each school for your child.

Fall 2020 Gain quick access to admission deadlines, requirements, and application forms. Our portal makes managing your process fast and easy.

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It’s simple. It’s online. It’s free.

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By Our Kids: Canada’s Guide to Private Schools

JOIN THE PATHWAY OurKids.net/pathway

2020 PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE SPECIAL FEATURE

Post City Magazines’ 31st annual Private Education Guide features the area’s top private schools & extracurricular programs, including an easy-reference information bar containing vital details such as class size, student-teacher ratios & real tuition costs.

Northmount School Northmount School is Toronto’s only independent, JK to Grade 8 Catholic boys’ elementary school. Catholic principles provide the foundation and purpose to our school’s everyday life that lead us to a conscious belief that we have a responsibility to prepare our students to build a better world. Thus, our students learn and grow in a community that places great value on the God-given dignity of each person, individuality, self-discovery and kindness, while immersed in a strong academic program.

Philosophically, we understand that education alone is not enough. It is education with values that matter. Our creative and stimulating curriculum goes well beyond the standard requirements and is designed to ensure that students move onto high school with a breadth of knowledge. Our small class sizes and specialist teachers mean particular strengths are identified and nurtured. This is Northmount School.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1990 GRADES: JK-8

ENROLMENT: 135 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $18,100 - $22,200

Robbins Hebrew Academy RHA students learn to apply creative, critical and global thinking within a close-knit community that promotes positive social development and lifelong character. We offer a world-class curriculum informed by cutting-edge research and meaningful data.

As the first Jewish day school to be accredited by CAIS, we uphold the highest standards shared by Canada’s finest independent schools. RHA’s Early Years Program is modeled on a leading approach to early childhood education that has been

developed, researched and evaluated extensively. It is inspired by Reggio Emilia and encourages curiosity, communication and problem solving. Our students develop the critical skills required for 21st century success and a lifelong love of learning.

RHA graduates go on to become society’s original thinkers and principled leaders. For more information, please contact Michael Ferman at 416-224-8737 ext. 137 or mferman@rhacademy.ca. Visit www.rhacademy.ca.

SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1961 GRADES: Nursery-Grade 8

ENROLMENT: 390 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: N/A TUITION: $13,950 - $17,990

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1961 GRADES: JK-8

ENROLMENT: 320 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $25,750 - $42,100

www.montcrest.ca admissions@montcrest.ca Montcrest School - You’ve got this.

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Our broad aspiration is to be recognized as the leading elementary school community in Canada in realizing the unique potential of each child. Please visit our website or contact our admissions team to learn more about the Montcrest experience for your child and family.

SEPTEMBER 2020

Montcrest School Montcrest School is a welcoming community that specializes in cultivating incredible young people. We believe in small class sizes and unparalleled student-teacher relationships.

We believe individuality is something to protect, not suppress. And we believe in meeting our students with the ideal supports — and perfect challenges — for each age and stage, so they emerge as secure, self-directed young people who excel in academics and in life. Simply put, Montcrest helps children become who they’re meant to be.

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St. Clement’s School St. Clement’s School is an independent girls’ day school in midtown Toronto. We are recognized for our long-standing commitment to academic rigour and excellence within a close-knit, nurturing community. At SCS, you will find our unique smallschool advantage: with 460 girls in Grades 1 through 12, every girl is known and valued.

From the foundation laid in Grade 1, throughout their time at SCS, our students are encouraged and taught to question and discern, connect within and across disciplines, and persist through complexity and uncertainty. Our girls stand out as intellectually curious, courageous, and compassionate.

At SCS, each girl will discover her own path and leave us ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities of our rapidly changing world.

Individuals

ENTHUSIASTIC INQUIRER

citizens E X P E R I M E N TA L A R T I S T

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ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1962 GRADES: Age 2-UE ENROLMENT: 1,475 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Varies TUITION: $20,360-$35,320

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

—Albert Einstein

who act.

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SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1901 GRADES: 1-12 ENROLMENT: 460 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $31,900

TFS - Canada’s International School TFS’ mission is to develop multilingual critical thinkers who celebrate difference, transcend borders and strive for the betterment of humankind. The pioneer of French immersion in Canada, TFS offers an education that is unparalleled in its excellence, preparing students for today’s global world. Bilingual and coed since 1962, TFS teaches the curricula of France and Ontario through the framework established by the IB programs. We want our students to exude academic ambition, benefit from an all-round development as individuals and citizens, and view the world from an international perspective. TFS students balance rigorous science, arts and humanities programs, in a caring and nurturing environment.

Students benefit from exceptional facilities, a 26-acre ravine, and a diverse, non-denominational environment. Campuses in Toronto and Mississauga. Ask about our full entrance scholarships for Grade 7 and above.

who reflect,

SEE THEIR STORIES

TFS.CA BILINGUAL · IB WORLD SCHOOL · CO-ED · AGE 2 TO GRADE 12 JOIN US FOR A VIRTUAL ADMISSIONS EVENT

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $#####

O Open pen H House ouse for for Parents Parents For For Grade Grade 9 st student udent e entry ntry S September eptember 2 2021 021

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1960 GRADES: 9-12

ENROLMENT: 1,100 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Call for Details TUITION: $18,999

Register for New Stream student tours: Tanenbaumchat.org/new-stream

E Evening vening S Session ession TTuesday, uesday, October October 27, 2020, 8:00 PM PM M Morning orning S Session ession W Wednesday, ednesday, O October ctober 28, 2020, 9:00 A AM M Learn Learn more more about our New New Stream Stream Program Program for for students students with little to to no Jewish day day school experience. experience.

New Stream Sessions i Tuesday, October 27, 2020, 7:15 PM Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Following morning Open House session

Upper Canada College Upper Canada College has been educating the next generation of leaders and innovators since 1829, inspiring them to make a positive impact on their world. An International Baccalaureate (IB) World School located in central Toronto on 35 acres of green space, UCC has modern learning environments, state of the art facilities and countless athletic and co-curricular activities. UCC enrolls 1,170 boys in Senior Kindergarten through Year 12, including 88 boarding students representing

25 countries, and has 10,000 alumni in more than 75 countries. Grounded in its mission to deliver transformational learning experiences, the school fosters the development of head, heart and humanity, and inspires each boy to be his best self.

UCC is committed to ensuring 20 per cent of students receive financial assistance, with $5 million available annually to Canadian students.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1829 GRADES: SK-12

ENROLMENT: 1,170 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $34,135

RSVP Required: tanenbaumchat.org/open-house

F For or more information:

tanenbaumchat

g

tanenbaumchat1 tanenbaumchat1

SEPTEMBER 2020

Our New Stream program is designed for students with little or no previous Jewish day school education and provides an opportunity for every Jewish child to experience TanenbaumCHAT.

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TanenbaumCHAT Find yourself at a vibrant Jewish high school with limitless opportunities! At TanenbaumCHAT, students experience an enriched academic program and lively extra-curricular offerings, and make friendships that last a lifetime. By strengthening their Jewish identity we prepare our students to live lives of high moral character, intellectual curiosity and commitment to civic duty. Our graduates emerge with the knowledge, courage and determination to positively impact the world around them.

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The Mabin School The school you’re looking for does exist. An established school where children, teachers and parents work together to create something special and different. The Mabin School is a home away from home, where children love to learn because they feel known, respected and capable. Mabin is an educational leader that develops confident and independent learners through a rich, hands-on program centred around our belief in Integration, Inquiry and Reflection.

Mabin students thrive upon graduation and are sought after for their academic competence, original thinking and adaptive leadership abilities. Discover more about Mabin's progressive program and our academic and social curriculum at mabin.com. Find out more by calling 416-964-9594 or by emailing us at admissions@mabin.com.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1980 GRADES: JK-Gr. 6 ENROLMENT: 150 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: N/A TUITION: $27,230

St. Michael’s College School Since 1852, St. Michael's College School has been educating and forming young men in goodness, discipline, and knowledge for lives of leadership and service. We are Canada's only Catholic, Basilian, faith-based independent school, educating young men from Grades 7 to 12 in a university-preparatory programme. Under the direction of the Basilian Fathers, our students discover the courage and develop the faith to be a modern man of St. Michael's: free in mind, body, and soul to pursue truth, choose goodness, create beauty, and build a civilization of love and care in service to our community and the world. Our students unleash their passion for meaning and curiosity by embracing Deep Learning, an inquiry-based learning pedagogy. In graduating young men who change the world through lives of faith, character, and service, St. Michael's College School brings integrity, unity, and healing to a fractured and uncertain world.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1852 GRADES: 7-12 ENROLMENT: 1,000 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 14:1 TUITION: $20,900

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“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”

— B.B. King

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The Toronto Heschel School Celebrating its 25th anniversary, The Toronto Heschel School is a hidden gem, offering a progressive Jewish education within a tightknit, caring community. Abraham Joshua Heschel said, “Wonder is the root of all knowledge.” We aim to inspire a sense of awe and wonder in your children, and a lifelong love of learning. The school is inclusive and egalitarian, promoting mutual respect.

Small acts of kindness and concern for others are the basis of interactions at our school. Heschel offers an award-winning,

integrated curriculum built upon arts-based learning and Jewish culture and literacy. We teach for understanding, whereby students internalize concepts and learn to think creatively and critically. Bilingual kindergarten classes foster a high level of Hebrew competency. As the first Jewish Day School in Ontario to reach Platinum EcoSchool status, environmental stewardship is emphasized.

Discover what a Heschel education could mean for your child!

SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1996 GRADES: JK-8

ENROLMENT: 300 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 7:1 TUITION: $15,975-$18,975

Bannockburn School A leading independent Montessori school for over 25 years, Bannockburn is recognized throughout and beyond North Toronto for outstanding academic standards, steadfast commitment to Montessori education, and deep respect for the potential in every child. Bannockburn’s Toddler, Primary and Elementary Montessori programs offer an enriched curriculum that exceeds provincial standards and nurtures a love of learning.

Children ages 18 months to 12 years flourish in a child-centered community that cultivates

independence, imagination and intellect.

Located in a beautiful facility amidst 5 acres of green space, Bannockburn provides an ideal setting for inspired learning, with brilliant Montessori classrooms, ample outdoor fields, a full-size gymnasium, and Music, Art and French specialty rooms. Every family at Bannockburn is proud to call it home: a warm, welcoming place where children love to learn, and where they thrive as creative, confident and compassionate individuals. Please visit www.bannockburn.ca to learn more.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1993 GRADES: Toddler to Gr. 6

ENROLMENT: 200 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Varies by Age TUITION: $15,900 - $25,600

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

ENROLMENT: 500 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 7:1 TUITION: $37,700

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

– Anthony J. D’Angelo

venture further greenwoodcollege.org | 416 482 9811

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support from the Student Success Centre.

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

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

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Imagine a Child…

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

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

Now imagine this is your child

Join us at the Giles School for a personal tour that promises to “awaken your mind, quicken your spirit and stir your heart!”

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

The Giles School Why Giles? The Giles School has over 30,000 square feet for 110 students. Our school is a deliberately small school that fosters an inclusive, innovative and international education. We are primed to open with plenty of space to implement rigorous safeguards at the same time as offering a strong academic program. We aim to make our students "world ready" - that is, with international, innovative and inclusive mindsets! We believe students can make incredible contributions to their school, work, and family lives. When you invest in Giles, your child has access to a force of talented teachers; small classes (10-15 students maximum in each class); a solid bilingual education in French and English; deep exposure to Mandarin and an introduction to Spanish, Arabic and Russian languages. By offering the six official languages of the UN, our students gain a global understanding of culture and industry.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1989 GRADES: Pre-K to Gr. 8 ENROLMENT: 110-120 students STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: $13,300 - $23,400

The Bishop Strachan School

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For over 150 years The Bishop Strachan School (BSS) has been inspiring young women to be fearless and educating them to be leaders. Renowned for its powerful learning approach, the school’s new wing boasts state-of-the-art learning spaces designed to foster collaboration, investigation and inquiry.

BSS offers innovative STEAM-focused academics, a robust athletics program and an expansive collection of co-curriculars.

Students are provided with numerous opportunities to engage with the world and find their place in it.

We have more than $1.7 million in financial assistance available, and seek to provide opportunities to as many qualified applicants as possible. With expert faculty supporting students’ emotional, social and creative development, BSS provides an inclusive and caring environment. Learn more at bss.on.ca.

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ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1867 GRADES: JK to Grade 12 ENROLMENT: 917 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: $33,830 (Day School)

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

— Dorothy Parker

CGS (Children’s Garden School) Children’s Garden School, on Eglinton east of Bayview, has been a special place for children and their families since 1986.

They are a neighbourhood private school committed to small class sizes, a nurturing approach, and student health and well-being. CGS champions each child through their early, critical years of education. Whether students are in school or learning online due to the pandemic, CGS is embracing the ‘new normal’ in education with spirit. Strong academic curriculum and

early literacy, high participation in the arts, athletics, public speaking and outdoor education. The CGS experience prepares students exceptionally well to move on to larger private schools. Preschool-Grade 3.

Full and half-day Preschool & JK options.

Extended care. Real Food for Real Kids hot lunch. Visit their blog at cgsschool.com to find out what makes CGS special. Want to learn more? Contact Director of Admission, Kelly Scott, at kscott@cgsschool.com/ 416-423-5017.

SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1986 GRADES: Preschool to Grade 3

ENROLMENT: 100 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1, 12:1, 15:1 TUITION: $10,600-$23,000

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1978 GRADES: 5-12

ENROLMENT: 125 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Varies TUITION: $52,000 (boarding)

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delivering a highly structured programme offering academic remediation, small class sizes, monitored study halls, and an active athletic programme for boys. Utilizing the military school theme provides the foundation of a structured and disciplined learning and living community. Students are challenged to strive to their true potential, with 100% of our graduates over the past decade being placed in university or college programs. Visit www.RLA.ca to learn more.

SEPTEMBER 2020

Robert Land Academy Bright but underachieving? Possibly exhibiting the characteristics of or diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, LD or other learning challenges? Requiring more structure and resource than you can provide? Likeable, charming and full of potential? Are you the only one who believes that he is capable of so much more? We have a place for him.

Robert Land Academy is an independent military-themed boarding school helping boys in grades 5 through 12 achieve their potential. For over 39 years, RLA has been

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Be in your element.

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TAKE ON THE WORLD !

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Toronto’s Leading Co-Ed, JK-12, IB World School Apply Now for September 2021

yorkschool.com

ePrograms ePrograms is a virtual learning ecosystem created by educators to support the health and well-being of students and provide access to Canada’s top-tier professionals in music, art, culinary and finance to share their knowledge, expertise and passion. We offer live online group programs and private lessons connecting tomorrow's superstars with today’s in a safe online space to cultivate a love of the arts and learning in a fun and accessible way. ePrograms offers 12-week programs with 1 to 2 sessions per SCHOOL TYPE: Extracurricular YEAR FOUNDED: 2020 AGE RANGE: 10-22

week in instrumental and vocal music, visual arts, cooking and finance. Sessions are 45 – 60 minutes in length and are delivered via Zoom. Sessions will have 8 to 12 students and are led by an individual world-class professional. Please visit our website at www.eprograms.ca to register and for more information or contact info@eprograms.ca with questions.

ENROLMENT: N/A STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 12:1 TUITION: $225-$300/program, $25/class

The York School The York School is a coeducational, independent day school located in the heart of midtown Toronto. We offer a challenging and progressive learning experience in an inspiring environment with dynamic and flexible learning spaces. We were the first school in Canada to offer the International Baccalaureate programme for students from JK- 12. The IB Diploma is the ultimate passport for globally-minded students who will travel, work and live all over the world.

While we offer an internationally-recognized

educational programme, we pay equal attention to the social, emotional, and physical development of our students.

Through our innovative curricular and extra-curricular offerings, we develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people. As engaged citizens of the world, our students go on to pursue their passions with confidence. With such an engaged and diverse community, an education at The York School cultivates supportive friendships that last a lifetime.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1965 GRADES: JK-12

ENROLMENT: 730 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $30,000 to $33,000

Crestwood School Crestwood School practises the traditional art of teaching by challenging young minds to learn and by structuring experiences that make learning possible. The school’s philosophy is based on tried-and-true methods of teaching the basics, thus providing students with a solid foundation in the three Rs. Homework and development of students’ organizational skills and good work/study habits are an integral part of the program. At the same time, Crestwood School is concerned with the “whole child”

— striving to maintain the balance of a child’s physical, social and emotional development. Each teacher is the key. With a well-planned program, a positive rapport with each and every student and a sense of commitment and dedication, Crestwood School’s goals are met!

Crestwood is located in the beautiful wooded valley at Bayview Avenue and Lawrence Avenue.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1980 GRADES: JK-6

ENROLMENT: 350 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $18,000-$27,300

Due to Covid we are presently not having open houses.

We welcome you to book a private tour.

Celebrating 40 years

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

— Dr. Seuss

SEPTEMBER 2020

Please call the school

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

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

Toronto Prep School

The Toronto Prep School is an independent, inde ependent, co-educational, univ university versity preparat preparatory ory school for discerning students and parents. discerning

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

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

A combined 60 years of teaching experience has prompted Steve and Fouli Tsimikalis to create an environment that promotes learning, develops leadership and awakens social consciousness through the employment of energetic and hand-picked experienced faculty and staff. Toronto Prep offers a rigorous academic curriculum with the opportunity for students to participate in a variety of school clubs and athletics. Each student will receive a MacBook Pro and a full membership to GoodLife Fitness, to promote and sustain effectuality in mind and body. Steve and Fouli have determined that it truly takes a village to raise a child. “A faculty working closely with parents/ guardians, smaller classes, supervised extra help before and after school and on Saturdays help students reach their personal potential for success,” notes Fouli. Their passion for teaching is evident: “The opportunity to contribute to the development of young men and women is a privilege,” says Steve.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 2009 GRADES: 7-12 ENROLMENT: 400 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: $27,250

The Sterling Hall School

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

We celebrate boy energy! Your son will enjoy active and foundational learning, inspired to develop his compassionate heart and capable mind through our health & community program and character education. We ensure that boys are engaged in learning, grounded in a strong foundation of literacy and numeracy, taught by dynamic teachers using proven learning strategies designed specifically for boys. Sterling Hall offers a robust online and on-campus learning program. With newly implemented health and safety protocols, we will ensure your son is as cared for as he is welcomed, challenged and recognized. The Sterling Hall School is where boys belong.

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

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

— Plutarch

Sunnybrook School Sunnybrook is an IB co-ed school for students from JK to Grade 6. Positive, nurturing relationships at school give our students the confidence to challenge themselves; SBS teachers create a welcoming classroom experience in which all students can reach their potential. Through inquiry and exploration in the IB Primary Years Program (PYP), students learn the concepts, skills and knowledge to prepare them for Middle School. Academic learning at SBS is balanced, holistic and engaging;

including Phys Ed, Music, Library, and daily French. Our strong arts program fosters creativity and self expression. Our Singapore Math program engages all learners. We are prepared for all possible teaching scenarios for the upcoming school year. Given our school size, Sunnybrook is able to offer a comprehensive remote IB curriculum including Phys Ed, Music and daily French classes. Please visit our website for more information and to take a virtual tour!

SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1952 GRADES: JK-6

ENROLMENT: 140 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 9:1 TUITION: $27,200

Bayview Glen

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1962 GRADES: Preschool - 12

ENROLMENT: 1,000+ STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Call for details TUITION: $18,850 - $28,000

Register today for 2020 Book a virtual visit today at admissions@sunnybrookschool.ca

SEPTEMBER 2020

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

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

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

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

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

Programming for Academic and Creative Excellence Grades 1-12 P.A.C.E. is based on the premise that gifted children are in need of high-powered learning experiences to challenge their minds and ensure intellectual growth and achievement.

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

The Academy for Gifted Children - P.A.C.E. is devoted entirely to meeting the needs of identified intellectually gifted students in grades 1 through 12. Through a differentiated curriculum built on greater depth and breadth of instruction, our mission is to enhance the abilities of our students, while simultaneously addressing their social and emotional needs. P.A.C.E. is based on the premise that gifted children need high-powered learning experiences to challenge their minds and ensure intellectual growth and achievement. In addition to the academic disciplines, P.A.C.E. students excel through their experiences with dynamic field studies, a competitive fine arts program, a comprehensive athletic program and a plethora of national and international competitions.

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

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1993 GRADES: 1-12 ENROLMENT: 340 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 15:1 TUITION: $14,500

WillowWood School A co-ed independent school for diverse learners, WillowWood was founded in 1980 based on the core value that all students have a right to learn with dignity, that a warm and nurturing school can serve as a foundation for remarkable lives and that it is the whole person who matters. We have a long tradition of delivering targeted, personal education that considers each student's needs, inclinations and strengths. This individualized approach ensures that students are able to discover and embrace their strengths, address their weaknesses, and maintain their dignity. Classes are small, the atmosphere is warm, and the pedagogical approach is holistic. Our effective teaching strategies, enthusiastic staff members, innovative programs and friendly environment bring out the best in students, build self-confidence and inspire a love of learning.

If your family is seeking a new style of school with a strong history of inspiring students, we’d love to meet you. Visit www.willowwoodschool.ca for more information and to set up an online interview and virtual tour.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1980 GRADES: Foundation 1-2, 3-12 ENROLMENT: 250 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: Approx. $23,000

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

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— Nelson Mandela

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

Fit Learning Fit Learning provides the best learning foundation for every child, regardless of age, disability, challenge or label. By combining the latest in behavioural and cognitive sciences, Fit Learning offers completely individualized programs that transform children as learners.Fit Reading, Fit Logic, Fit Math, Lil’ Fits and Fit Homeschool are all of our subject areas, each uniquely designed to help all kids. Our homeschool program provides homeschool support and supplementation in core skill

areas. Children attend Fit sessions from two to six hours per day three to five days per week and receive intensive one-on-one academic and cognitive training.We are unlike any learning experience your child has encountered. A Fit Learning session is a fast-paced, goal-oriented, high-energy instructional interaction with a Fit Learning Coach. Just as an athlete or musician trains, we focus on repetition, endurance, accuracy and performance. Kids leave full of confidence and ready to tackle their worlds!

SCHOOL TYPE: Tutoring Program YEAR FOUNDED: 1998 GRADES: K-12

ENROLMENT: Varies STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: Varies TUITION: Varies

Prestige School Prestige School offers students an accelerated curriculum, close home-school contact and small class sizes. Younger students benefit from advanced math and science programs, French lessons from JK, nutritious hot lunches and extensive before and after school care. Additionally, students can look forward to intricate arts and crafts lessons, music and dance classes, and computer studies sessions that will encourage students to be creative through computer animation and document publishing. Older students experience

individualized learning and 100% university placement. Our after school program strives to support the needs of children through academic, recreational, and social opportunities that enhance school day learning and build upon individual strengths and interests necessary for lifelong success. Our programs are designed to: improve children’s grades and academic achievement; increase children’s interest and ability in reading; increase homework quality; promote better social skills and improve self-confidence.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 2003 GRADES: PS to 12

ENROLMENT: 280 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 or 18:1 TUITION: $11,000 - $16,000

Regardless of age, disability,challenge or label, Fit Learning provides the best learning foundation for every child

Online or in our Leaside lab!

“He learns more in a Fit session than he did in weeks of regular school. And he feels so good about himself.

I love this. Thank you.” − Erin, Lawrence Park

READING COMPREHENSION MATH LOGIC & PROBLEM SOLVING

PRESTIGE SCHOOL Independent Private School • Grades PS to 12

• Small class sizes • Accelerated Math & Language programs • French from Kindergarten • Physics, Chemistry & Biology as separate subjects from Grade 4 • Graduates receive OSSD • Outdoor playground • Before/After School Programs • Door-to-door transportation • Homework Help • Hot lunches • Tutoring • Variety of clubs Richmond Hill Campus (PS to 8) 11 Headdon Gate (Bathurst & Major Mackenzie)

Toronto Campus (JK to 12) 21 Eddfield Avenue (Yonge & Sheppard)

416-250-0648

www.prestigeprivateschool.ca • prestige@prestigeschool.com

Branksome Hall

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1903 GRADES: JK-12

ENROLMENT: 900 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 9:1 TUITION: $34,650-$38,150

The world is facing some difficult challenges.

This is what the challenges are facing.

Canada p South Korea

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.”

– Sydney J. Harris

SEPTEMBER 2020

Abroad Program with our South Korean sister school, Branksome Hall Asia, as well as Noodle — our pioneering accelerator program for student entrepreneurs. Our graduates are welcomed by leading universities in Canada and around the world, most with scholarships. We provide more than $1 million in student financial assistance each year. Branksome continues to set the pace for innovation in girls’ education, ensuring today’s students are well-prepared to solve tomorrow’s complex problems.

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Branksome Hall is Toronto’s only all-girls, all-years International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. Our IB Advantage for Girls sparks students’ curiosity and passion for new challenges through our unique combination of outstanding academics, wellbeing, international-mindedness and a strong focus on innovation. Our inquirybased Liberal Arts curriculum is enriched by our four core values: a sense of community, inclusiveness, creativity and making a difference. We offer an immersive Study

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SEPTEMBER 2020 EDITION YOU’VE REACHED THE END OF THE

Paul Gorbould, Flickr Creative Commons

Sam Javanrouh, Flickr Creative Commons

The Toronto International Film Festival will once again premiere the latest and greatest movies from around the world this month. But, the selfies, waves and autographs from the stars to adoring fans will have to wait until next year. Until then, we can remember.

Brad Pitt, circa 2008, was at the festival for the film ‘Burn After Reading.’

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Canadian fave Ryan Reynolds from the 2015 festival premiere of ‘Mississippi Grind.’

Halle Berry, who has a film at this year’s festival, was in town for ‘Cloud Atlas’ in 2012.

GabboT, Flickr Creative Commons

Josh Jensen, Flickr Creative Commons

Viv Lynch, Flickr Creative Commons

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Bill Murray was in town in 2012 to showcase his film ‘Hyde Park on Hudson.’

When ‘Just Mercy’ was at the festival last year, Jamie Foxx came to town.

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JOSEPHSON OPTICIANS 60 BLOOR STREET WEST (ENTRANCE ON BAY ST.) 416-964-7070 | WWW.JOSEPHSON.CA