Ten things Denzil Minnan-Wong can’t live without

Ten things Denzil Minnan-Wong can’t live without

The outspoken city councillor—and Toronto’s backup mayor—shares the 10 things he can’t live without


Ten things Denzil Minnan-Wong can’t live without

1
My car
I’m a car guy. I used to have a Porsche 928 S4 and a BMW 328. Those days are gone (I’m a family man now), but I love driving alone in my Subaru Forester. I come into the city from North York every morning and watch the sun glint off the towers.

2
My good luck charm
It was given to me by my aunt on my wedding day five years ago, and it reminds me of my heritage. One side has the Chinese character for luck, and the other has a dragon. I wear it every day.
3
Twitter
Being connected is crucial in my job, so I’m always on Twitter. My favourite accounts to follow are @HonestToddler and @TheTweetOfGod.
4
My art collection
I first saw Heather Haynes’s paintings at a restaurant in Kingston a few years ago. I went to her studio in Gananoque the next day to buy my first piece. Since then I’ve bought three more. I never tire of looking at them.
5
My Birks
I wear them through the summer and around the house in the winter. I’ve waited 25 years for them to come back in style. Wearing them helps me fit in downtown.
6
My horn-rims
Chinatown Optical on Dundas West is the best. The owner, Chi Tan Thai (or Tan the Man, as I call him), has thousands of frames and a knack for knowing which ones are perfect for your face. Mine are from the Belgian-Japanese brand Iyoko-Inyaké.
7
My American Range commercial oven
I love cooking for family and friends, so I’ve got a great oven at home—it even has a salamander broiler. My favourite meal to make is roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, but I cook everything.
8
My backpack
I’ve had this bag since the Miller days. It has pockets for my iPad and committee reports, and it doubles as a diaper bag for my two and three-year-old daughters, Erin and Sally.
9
My Xbox
At the end of the day, after my wife and kids are asleep, I love playing Halo to unwind. It’s very House of Cards, I know.
10
My movie popcorn
I go to the theatre just for the popcorn. I don’t even care what’s playing.