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Fair Enough: skin-lightening is potentially hazardous, politically charged—and disturbingly popular

Fair Enough: skin-lightening is potentially hazardous, politically charged—and disturbingly popular

This past winter, a subway ad for Liberty Clinic sparked much controversy when it proclaimed, “Get brighter and lighter skin!”...

"We're on the bandwagon no matter what": Leafs fans on what it would take for them to finally stop buying tickets

“We’re on the bandwagon no matter what”: Leafs fans on what it would take for them to finally stop buying tickets

It takes a lot to get Toronto Maple Leafs fans to stop supporting their team, but they may have finally started to give up. Last...

Could the TDSB really be broken up into smaller school boards?

Could the TDSB really be broken up into smaller school boards?

THE IDEA Earlier this month, education minister Liz Sandals appointed an expert panel to troubleshoot the notoriously...

Rob Ford has to apologize for being racist a couple times

Rob Ford has to apologize for being racist a couple times

Next week's city council meeting will be the setting of another classic Rob Ford forced apology, as he owns up to a few racist...

Dear Urban Diplomat: can I disobey the demands of sidewalk-hogging TV crews?

Dear Urban Diplomat: can I disobey the demands of sidewalk-hogging TV crews?

Dear Urban Diplomat, I work near Victoria and Adelaide, which is almost always occupied by TV crews. I can’t go anywhere without...

Inside the Latest Issue

The June issue of Toronto Life features the best new restaurants of 2026. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.

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...

Q&A: David Hulchanski, the U of T professor sounding the alarm on income inequality

Q&A: David Hulchanski, the U of T professor sounding the alarm on income inequality

David Hulchanski has been thinking about affordability and cities ever since he moved here from upstate New York in the late '60s...

Twitter makes the same two jokes about the TTC's mysterious subway ooze

Twitter makes the same two jokes about the TTC’s mysterious subway ooze

You may be wondering about the the oily mystery liquid currently leaking onto subway tracks at College Station and preventing...

Doug Ford is peeved that John Tory won't help pay off his campaign debt

Doug Ford is peeved that John Tory won’t help pay off his campaign debt

Doug Ford told the Sun that he's very, very disappointed by John Tory' s decision not to attend a $300-a-ticket fundraiser, the...

The brother of Sandro Lisi's alleged crack-video extortion victim got shot on Tuesday

The brother of Sandro Lisi’s alleged crack-video extortion victim got shot on Tuesday

On Tuesday afternoon, a 21-year-old man named Ahmed Siyad was shot in the parking garage of a Toronto Community Housing high-rise...

People with their arms crossed in front of things they're against: a taxonomy of the Star ’s favourite visual cliché

People with their arms crossed in front of things they’re against: a taxonomy of the Star’s favourite visual cliché

Two things are inevitable in a big city: constant change, and constant opposition to change. Local media outlets have a tough time...

How real estate stagers turn every sale condo into an Ikea-filled dream home

How real estate stagers turn every sale condo into an Ikea-filled dream home

Trawl through enough real estate listings and you'll notice it: the interiors of a lot of different homes on the market all look...

Rob Ford tries 31 times to derail John Tory's budget

Rob Ford tries 31 times to derail John Tory’s budget

City council approved mayor John Tory' s first budget on Wednesday evening, but not before reckoning with a classic Rob Ford...

Memoir: my life revolves around trying to get inside my autistic daughter's head

Memoir: my life revolves around trying to get inside my autistic daughter’s head

I always considered myself a confident and capable mom. My husband, Al, and I had two daughters: Naya, born in 2006, and...

Is the Union Pearson Express cushy enough to justify its $27 ticket price? What you'll be shelling out for

Is the Union Pearson Express cushy enough to justify its $27 ticket price? What you’ll be shelling out for

If Metrolinx's fancy new Union Pearson Express works as advertised upon its expected launch later this year, its trains will whisk...

Dear Urban Diplomat: what should I do about an annoying e-biker?

Dear Urban Diplomat: what should I do about an annoying e-biker?

Dear Urban Diplomat, Every day on my commute along Eastern Avenue, this guy on an electric bike zooms past my car, sometimes in...

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

Dear Urban Diplomat: how do we get our 15-year old son to delete his porn browsing history?

Dear Urban Diplomat: how do we get our 15-year old son to delete his porn browsing history?

Dear Urban Diplomat, My son is a normal 15-year-old, so I wasn’t too disturbed to discover that he surfs porn on our...

"I'm probably going to be playing video games": how York University students are making the best of the strike

“I’m probably going to be playing video games”: how York University students are making the best of the strike

For the fourth time since 1997, York University is on strike. With all classes cancelled and 3,700 contract faculty and teaching...

Could Toronto really ever get a second NHL team?

Could Toronto really ever get a second NHL team?

THE IDEA Stop him if you’ve heard this one before. Last Thursday, mayor John Tory threw his support behind the prospect of a...

The naked ambition of National Ballet artistic director Karen Kain

The naked ambition of National Ballet artistic director Karen Kain

Beneath her poised veneer is an exacting perfectionist, a tenacious fundraiser and a total control freak. Which explains how she turned the floundering National Ballet of Canada into one of the world’s premiere arts organizations

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...

Rob Ford is selling his crack hoodie on eBay, too

Rob Ford is selling his crack hoodie on eBay, too

Rob Ford' s latest eBay auction is proof that the ex-mayor still knows how to push everyone's buttons. The new item, currently...

Could the Scarborough RT really become a High Line–style elevated park?

Could the Scarborough RT really become a High Line–style elevated park?

THE IDEA Last Friday at city hall, TTC CEO Andy Byford surprised city councillors by reminding them that his staff are still...

Cost of Living

This 22-year-old venture capitalist is on track to make $180,000 this year. How does he spend it?

This 22-year-old venture capitalist is on track to make $180,000 this year. How does he spend it?

“I love a good bargain, so I shop at No Frills”

This globetrotting couple earns a combined $287,000 a year. How do they spend it?

This globetrotting couple earns a combined $287,000 a year. How do they spend it?

“Groceries are our biggest monthly expense after rent”

This Doctors Without Borders marketer earns $100,000 a year. How does she spend it?

This Doctors Without Borders marketer earns $100,000 a year. How does she spend it?

Manpreet Badyal moved from Delhi to Vancouver to Toronto in search of success

How a Gen Z finance enthusiast in Forest Hill spends her money

How a Gen Z finance enthusiast in Forest Hill spends her money

Business analyst and budding TikTok investment guru Chaeeun Lee hopes to visit 50 countries before she turns 30

This policy analyst and stand-up comedian makes $83,000 a year. How does she spend it?

This policy analyst and stand-up comedian makes $83,000 a year. How does she spend it?

“Investing in mental health is important. I have an unlimited membership at Othership in Yorkville”

This entrepreneur is on track to make $23,000 this year. How does she spend it?

This entrepreneur is on track to make $23,000 this year. How does she spend it?

“It was hard to accept financial aid from my parents, but it actually brought us closer together”

How an actor, influencer and amateur investor managed to earn a six-figure salary

How an actor, influencer and amateur investor managed to earn a six-figure salary

“My family taught me to invest. It’s probably the wisest advice they’ve ever given me”

Urban Diplomat

Dear Urban Diplomat: What’s the etiquette for EV charging?

Dear Urban Diplomat: What’s the etiquette for EV charging?

Dear Urban Diplomat , What’s the etiquette for EV charging? A few weeks ago, I finally found a spot in my neighbourhood to juice...

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband thinks I'm a hoarder, but I'm a collector

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband thinks I’m a hoarder, but I’m a collector

He’s started quoting Marie Kondo and insisting that I get rid of my “emotional support tchotchkes.” How can I get him to back off?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My condo building has zero tolerance for the slightest noise

Dear Urban Diplomat: My condo building has zero tolerance for the slightest noise

They’ve asked us not to shower after 11 p.m. because of “pipe whistling.” Is this normal?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband bought us a pass to skip the line at the ski hill. Why do I feel guilty for using it?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband bought us a pass to skip the line at the ski hill. Why do I feel guilty for using it?

I can’t help being embarrassed every time I sheepishly walk past the eye rollers in the regular queue

Dear Urban Diplomat: My brother is lying online about Dry January

Dear Urban Diplomat: My brother is lying online about Dry January

He’s preaching the virtues of sobriety on TikTok but still crushing six-packs every weekend, and the hypocrisy is getting on my nerves. Should I call him out?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My co-workers have forgotten how to behave in an office

Dear Urban Diplomat: My co-workers have forgotten how to behave in an office

I actually don’t mind the return-to-office mandate, but it seems like so much working from home has caused my fellow employees’ self-awareness to atrophy

Dear Urban Diplomat: My friends are getting into sober raves, and I just can't see the appeal

Dear Urban Diplomat: My friends are getting into sober raves, and I just can’t see the appeal

How does one cut loose in a well-lit room while the sun is shining and no one is even a little intoxicated?