Historicist: Sir Edmund Walker

How a boy from Hamilton became a banker, an art collector, and a museum founder.

By Dennis Duffy May. 27th, 12:00 pm

The Royal Ontario Museum on August 29, 1935. Photo from the City of Toronto Archives Fonds 1231, Item 682.

The Downtown Relief Line Still Being Debated After More Than a Century

Mayor John Tory continues his stand-off with the Province to demand it fund transit projects, rather than even considering raising property taxes.

By Kieran Delamont May. 26th, 8:30 am

An early plan for the Relief Line—from 1910.

The Story of Toronto’s First Jewish Congregation

Now and Then explores the stories behind Toronto’s historical plaques and monuments.

By Erin Sylvester May. 25th, 6:15 pm

The Holy Blossom Temple on Bathurst Street circa 1959. Photo by Harold Robinson and used courtesy of the Ontario Jewish Archives (Item 932).

The Arrogance of Scarborough Transit Planning Leaves Thousands Behind

The LRT network would reach 125,000. The one-stop subway reaches a small fraction of that.

By Tricia Wood May. 25th, 3:45 pm

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The Winners From The 2017 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards

An expanded slate of critics recognized exceptional shows such as Robert Lepage's 887, Annie Baker's John, and Sankoff & Hein's hit musical Come From Away.

By Steve Fisher May. 25th, 12:00 pm

The Toronto-created Come From Away has won three major Toronto Theatre Critics Awards. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Leaving The Comfort Zone; Looking Back on Toronto’s After-Hours Institution That Closes This Weekend

The notorious Sunday morning party will continue at a new home on King West.

By Benjamin Boles • Photos by Tanja-Tiziana May. 25th, 10:30 am

Deko-ze

Urban Planner: Here’s What’s On In Toronto This Week, May 24-30

This week, the city opens its doors; ride into Bike Month with Councillor Mike Layton; and catch the final edition of a drop-in play-reading series at the Gladstone.

By Steve Fisher May. 24th, 8:15 pm

Pedestrian Sunday in Kensington. Photo by Grant D in the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

It’s Past Time For Indigenous Writers To Get a Seat at the Table

What it was like being one of the first Indigenous reporters to work at the Toronto Star.

By Jasmine Kabatay May. 24th, 10:30 am

Jasmine

Goodbye To Toronto’s Fabulously Tacky Honest Ed’s Sign

The Bloor and Bathurst will never be the same.

By Andrea Houston May. 23rd, 8:30 pm

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Postmedia Columnists Hate Political Correctness Even More Than Terrorism Now

Also overly sensitive analysis of Lou Reed lyrics. They hate that, too.

By Jesse Hawken May. 23rd, 3:15 pm

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Mayor Tory Missed Opportunity to Speak Up for Gay Chechens

Human rights organizations like Rainbow Railroad are calling on the Canadian government to grant emergency visas to people trying to escape.

By Marina Tyszkiewicz May. 22nd, 2:00 pm

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May Council Preview: Relief Lines, Budget Directions, Pride Motions, and Cricket

Here's some of the items you'll want to keep your eye on this week.

By Kieran Delamont May. 22nd, 10:15 am

Photo courtesy of Shaun Merritt, from the Torontoist Flickr Pool

The Blue Jays Have a Homophobia Problem. How Do We Fix It?

There is an institutional responsibility to address the culture of toxic masculinity in the wake of Kevin Pillar's anti-gay slur.

By Stacey May Fowles May. 21st, 2:38 pm

I Was in the Room While Jordan Peterson and Senators Debated My Human Rights

Canadian trans rights legislation passed another hurdle this week. Bill C-16 now heads to a third and final vote in the Senate.

By Sophia Banks May. 20th, 2:56 pm

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Historicist: Mama Chikie Shakes Up the Clubs

Dora Drummond, better known as Mama Chikie, became a go-go-dancing sensation on Yonge Street at more than 65 years old.

By Chris Bateman May. 20th, 12:00 pm

The Toronto Star introduced Mama Chikie to the city in 1969. Image: Toronto Star, August 7, 1969.

Turning True Stories of Sex Trafficking into an Opera

From Toronto's Tapestry Opera comes the wrenching story of a young Ukrainian woman lured into the dark world of human trafficking.

By Michael Mori May. 19th, 11:30 am

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Urban Planner: Here’s What’s On In Toronto This Week, May 18-23

Soulpepper stages a classic choreopoem; the Combustion and Paprika Festivals launch, with opening workshops for minorities and youth; and summer music day festivals begin, with some flood complications.

By Steve Fisher May. 18th, 8:15 pm

The Lady in Blue (SATE) speaks while the ensemble looks on. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Where Goin’ Down the Road was filmed in Toronto

Belatedly, revisiting the cold, grey 1969 Toronto in a CanCon classic.

By David Fleischer May. 18th, 9:30 am

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Most Read

Toronto’s Little India is Undergoing an Urban Transition with the Vision To Preserve Its Identity

Gerrard Street is changing, but the area hopes to maintain its Indian culture.

‘There’s no reason they should be asking for my 2015 taxes’

Renting while Black, and while too tall to fit in many small apartments.

The Parkdale Rent Strike is Gaining Steam

The CEO of MetCap, which runs the buildings whose tenants are on strike, drove into a tenant advocate Tuesday.

Historicist: How the ROM Became a World-Class Museum

After Sir Edmund Walker decided to make a museum, he needed to build a team of people dedicated to making the dream happen.

Remember Dimitri the Lover?

Urban Planner is Torontoist’s daily guide to what’s on in Toronto, published every morning. If you have an event you’d like considered, email all of its details—as well as images, if you’ve got any—to [email protected]. Greg Gossel, Super-Hero Battle, mixed media on canvas, 32″ X 32″, courtesy of Show & Tell Gallery. ART: In its […]