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Malcolm Johnston

Malcolm Johnston is the editor-in-chief of Toronto Life, a role he took on in 2022 after more than 11 years at the magazine. He has worked as a writer and features editor, with a strong focus on investigative journalism and in-depth reporting on the people, politics, and culture shaping Toronto.

Latest from Malcolm Johnston

Q&A: Tracey Cook, the licensing and standards chief who took on the cab industry

Q&A: Tracey Cook, the licensing and standards chief who took on the cab industry

She helped legitimize Uber. Now pot dispensary operators are feeling her wrath

Q&A: Mary Ann Turcke, president of Bell Media

Q&A: Mary Ann Turcke, president of Bell Media

On combatting rogue viewers of U.S. Netflix, navigating the new unbundling landscape and reluctantly rubbing elbows with celebs

Q&A: John Tory, one-year veteran of the mayor's chair

Q&A: John Tory, one-year veteran of the mayor’s chair

The mayor on his shifting transit strategy and Toronto's fractious police force

Q&A: Anastasia Lin, the Canadian beauty queen on China's black list

Q&A: Anastasia Lin, the Canadian beauty queen on China’s black list

Her criticism of China’s human rights record is putting her father in danger, but she won’t back down

Q&A: Bill Morneau, new finance minister and the face of Canada's deficit deep-dive

Q&A: Bill Morneau, new finance minister and the face of Canada’s deficit deep-dive

What it’s like to lead the biggest financial gamble in recent memory

Q&A: Gretta Vosper, the United Church minister who doesn't believe in God

Q&A: Gretta Vosper, the United Church minister who doesn’t believe in God

Some of her superiors want to kick the natural-born agitator out of the church. She refuses to go quietly

Q&A: Leen Al Zaibak, Lifeline Syria board member

Q&A: Leen Al Zaibak, Lifeline Syria board member

She worked at Queen’s Park and the World Bank. Her real ambition: to make life better for Syrians. Now thousands of Torontonians are pitching in

Q&A: Jim Karygiannis, the anti-Uber crusader

Q&A: Jim Karygiannis, the anti-Uber crusader

Councillor Jim Karygiannis made his reputation as a strident defender of the traditional taxi. Yet he received thousands of dollars from that same industry. Conflict? He says nah

Q&A: Marco Mendicino, who beat Eve Adams to the nomination, on staying in Justin Trudeau's good books

Q&A: Marco Mendicino, who beat Eve Adams to the nomination, on staying in Justin Trudeau’s good books

You trounced Eve Adams, whom Justin Trudeau parachuted into Eglinton-Lawrence , to win the Liberal nomination. How’d that go...

Q&A: New Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown on what he stands for (and what Snoop Dogg thinks of him)

Q&A: New Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown on what he stands for (and what Snoop Dogg thinks of him)

In private text messages that were leaked to the Globe and Mail , Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown claimed that, in this...

Q&A: Joe Fresh founder Joe Mimran on the worst part of joining Dragons' Den : the clothes

Q&A: Joe Fresh founder Joe Mimran on the worst part of joining Dragons’ Den: the clothes

You left your baby, Joe Fresh, in March, and you’ll become a Dragon this fall. Why the switch? CBC asked me several times over...

Reasons to Love Toronto Now: because the Rogers Centre will rock again

Reasons to Love Toronto Now: because the Rogers Centre will rock again

You have to be absurdly starry-eyed to be a loyal Jays fan in Toronto, but soon (and we’re not just saying this) that optimism...

Q&A: TDSB trustee Michael Ford on being the newest member of the Ford family’s political dynasty

First things first: Mikey or Michael? It’s Michael. Wow, a very stern look just crossed your face. Haha—well, when you’re...

Q&A: Education Minister Liz Sandals on getting the new sex ed curriculum past a mob of angry parents

Q&A: Education Minister Liz Sandals on getting the new sex ed curriculum past a mob of angry parents

In September, under your new curriculum, students will learn about anal and oral sex starting in Grade 7. Why is that the...

Q&A: Säad Rafi, CEO of the Toronto Pan Am Games, on leading the most polarizing event since the G20

Q&A: Säad Rafi, CEO of the Toronto Pan Am Games, on leading the most polarizing event since the G20

You were the widely respected deputy minister of health, making $428,000 a year. Then you accepted this highly controversial job...

The Break-In Artist: The hunt for the cat burglar who terrorized Toronto's wealthiest neighbourhoods

The Break-In Artist: The hunt for the cat burglar who terrorized Toronto’s wealthiest neighbourhoods

The Fort Knox of Thornhill is a stucco mansion with a mansard roof, front-yard fountain and U-shaped driveway on the area’s most...

Raptors GM Masai Ujiri, the brains behind Toronto’s most exciting team, on instilling city pride and being pals with Drake

Raptors GM Masai Ujiri, the brains behind Toronto’s most exciting team, on instilling city pride and being pals with Drake

There’s an odd sensation in the air right now—I believe they call it “not sucking.” As Raptors GM, how does it feel to be...

Deputy police chief Peter Sloly on running to succeed Bill Blair, and the first item on his agenda if he does: race

Deputy police chief Peter Sloly on running to succeed Bill Blair, and the first item on his agenda if he does: race

As deputy police chief, you are frequently mentioned as a favourite to succeed Bill Blair. Do you want the job? William Blair is...

Uber Toronto general manager Ian Black on why the city hates his company, and why John Tory doesn't

Uber Toronto general manager Ian Black on why the city hates his company, and why John Tory doesn’t

Everyone has heard of Uber, but not everyone’s sure what it is. Help us out. It’s a smartphone app: click a button and a car...

Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins on ebola, babies and why he hates talking about marijuana

Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins on ebola, babies and why he hates talking about marijuana

Ebola has killed 5,000 people, and there’s now a confirmed case in New York City. On a scale of one to 10, how concerned should...

Mark Wahlberg on burgers, 9/11 and his ongoing love affair with Toronto

Mark Wahlberg on burgers, 9/11 and his ongoing love affair with Toronto

Mark Wahlberg loves Toronto. And not just because he’s opening up a Wahlburgers restaurant here and wants to move product. He...

Brampton mayor Susan Fennell on phone bills, nice cars and "smear campaigns"

Brampton mayor Susan Fennell on phone bills, nice cars and “smear campaigns”

Susan Fennell’s poll numbers have plummeted over allegations of reckless spending. The Brampton mayor, running for her fifth...

Ivan Reitman on Ghostbusters 3, California cooking, and exploding-marshmallow deserts

Ivan Reitman on Ghostbusters 3, California cooking, and exploding-marshmallow deserts

Nobody knows how to draw laughs like the legendary Hollywood producer-director Ivan Reitman. Ask him about his new restaurant, Montecito, and things turn serious

Q&A: Kathleen Wynne on PDAs, whether she's pissed at Dalton McGuinty, and jogging, of course

Q&A: Kathleen Wynne on PDAs, whether she’s pissed at Dalton McGuinty, and jogging, of course

Premier Kathleen Wynne captured enough seats to do just about anything she wants. Revelations, prognostications and a little trash...

Private School Guide

The Private and Independent School Directory Spring 2025

The Private and Independent School Directory Spring 2025

Big Stories

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

To fellow tourists he met around the world, Jeffery Shuman was a semi-retired developer with a bright smile, an even tan and a fat wallet. In truth, he was a legendary bank robber on the run from the Toronto police and the US Marshals

Anchor Man: Fox News host John Roberts on Trump, the trade war and the American psyche

Anchor Man: Fox News host John Roberts on Trump, the trade war and the American psyche

If Fox News seems an unlikely landing spot for a guy who got his start pumping out Platinum Blonde on MuchMusic, you probably haven’t heard his thoughts about joining the notorious network, the Canada–US relationship and what he misses most about Toronto

Trump's Loss, Toronto's Gain: Meet the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries ditching the US and moving north

Trump’s Loss, Toronto’s Gain: Meet the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries ditching the US and moving north

They’re coming from Big Law, the Ivy League, arts institutes and beyond, brimming with smarts and energy and united by a common cause: avoiding the carnage of Donald Trump. True tales from the brain gain

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Crews and Tangos has been enforcing the rules of the Village for more than 30 years: wear what you want, kiss who you want, but don’t forget to tip the drag queens. With a condo development looming, we asked around for tales from the iconic spot

The Joy of Sex with Strangers: A Toronto hotwife’s adventures in ethical non-monogamy

The Joy of Sex with Strangers: A Toronto hotwife’s adventures in ethical non-monogamy

Three months ago, I was a suburban mom in a monogamous relationship. Now I’m sleeping with people I meet online—with my husband’s blessing—and we’ve never been happier. Don’t judge us until you’ve read our story

The Scandal, the Firing and the Fallout: Anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC

The Scandal, the Firing and the Fallout: Anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC

Nadine Ahn was a high-ranking executive at the bank. Ken Mason, her subordinate, was rapidly promoted. Then someone claimed to see them canoodling at the Royal York, tipped off HR and triggered an inquisition

Edward the Conqueror: The unlikely ascent of Canada’s telecom king

Edward the Conqueror: The unlikely ascent of Canada’s telecom king

Edward Rogers was dismissed as a meddling nepo baby—until he muscled out his siblings, acquired his competitors, cornered the telecom market and became the dominant force in Canadian sports

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

The Baroness von Sketch Show alumnae have elevated joking about women’s issues to an art. Their new show takes aim at menopause. How funny is that?

Murder in the Blue Mountains: The story behind the killing of Ashley Schwalm

Murder in the Blue Mountains: The story behind the killing of Ashley Schwalm

Ashley and James Schwalm had what seemed like a fairy tale life—two wonderful children, fulfilling careers and a gorgeous home close to the private ski club where they’d fallen in love. Then Ashley’s remains turned up in a burned-out car at the bottom of a ditch, and all signs pointed to her husband

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian

For years, Lamaze was the world’s top-ranked show jumper, living an enviable life filled with fancy cars, international travel and adoring fans—the kind of life a person might do anything to protect

Dividing Line: How the Bloor Street bike lane turned the city into a battlefield

Dividing Line: How the Bloor Street bike lane turned the city into a battlefield

A few kilometres along Bloor has become Toronto’s most contested strip of concrete, igniting fights over congestion, safety and the future of downtown

The Chosen One: At just 23, Scottie Barnes is the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation

The Chosen One: At just 23, Scottie Barnes is the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation

Barnes is shouldering the weight of an impatient, basketball-mad city, a hit-and-miss team, and his own colossal ambitions. Does he look worried?

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

A viral earworm about a breakup turned the Beaches into Toronto’s hottest export. Now, the panty-throwing, stage-diving, all-girl rock band is seducing fans around the world

"I was nearly beaten to death by my partner. The case was dismissed because it took too long to get to trial"

“I was nearly beaten to death by my partner. The case was dismissed because it took too long to get to trial”

How an overburdened justice system is failing survivors of intimate partner violence

Buy Canadian

"We felt disconnected from the outdoors before": What St. Lawrence Market North vendors think of their new home

“We felt disconnected from the outdoors before”: What St. Lawrence Market North vendors think of their new home

And what locally made and grown goods they’re selling

Sort-of Secret: Amelia’s Market, a Geary Avenue grocer selling local goods and light lunches

Sort-of Secret: Amelia’s Market, a Geary Avenue grocer selling local goods and light lunches

Like lovely cheese plates paired with glasses of Ontario-made wine

“There’s more attention now on shopping close to home”: How Broadfork Produce is connecting Toronto’s top chefs with Ontario farmers

“There’s more attention now on shopping close to home”: How Broadfork Produce is connecting Toronto’s top chefs with Ontario farmers

And the west-end supplier is opening to the public soon

The US tariffs are coming for your espresso martini

The US tariffs are coming for your espresso martini

With Kahlúa no longer available at the LCBO, Toronto bartenders are getting creative