Subscribe

City News

Calgary’s new mayor takes a page out of the Rob Ford playbook

Calgary’s new mayor takes a page out of the Rob Ford playbook

There’s a scandal afoot in the city of Calgary involving some misused funds at the city-owned energy utility, Enmax. Seems as...

Councillors’ expenses for 2010: city hall’s five winners and five losers

The city has released the data on councillors' expenses for 2010: because of the election, their annual allowances are less, and...

Will Alex Trebek be our next governor general?

Will Alex Trebek be our next governor general?

“I'll take Entertainers turned Politicians for $200, Alex.” “This beloved Canadian game show host may vie for the position...

Kyle Rae vs. the Sun, round 97. Once more, with leather

Kyle Rae vs. the Sun, round 97. Once more, with leather

The Toronto Sun and Kyle Rae , the outgoing councillor for Ward 27, have a simple relationship based on mutual loathing and...

Stephen Harper's naughty joke reveals that his humour software is working well

Stephen Harper’s naughty joke reveals that his humour software is working well

The slow drip of revelations from the memoirs of former U.S. president George W. Bush continues as we get closer to the release of...

Inside the Latest Issue

The July issue of Toronto Life features the monster cottages of Muskoka versus the resistance. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.

“Unity” dinner for mayoral candidates will help relieve campaign debts—especially Rob Ford’s

“Unity” dinner for mayoral candidates will help relieve campaign debts—especially Rob Ford’s

After long election campaigns, there’s almost always the ugly aftermath of debt—specifically, the debts that campaigns rack up...

Roger Ebert decidedly underwhelmed by Toronto's election of Rob Ford

Roger Ebert decidedly underwhelmed by Toronto’s election of Rob Ford

The city of Toronto holds a special place in Roger Ebert ’s heart. We saw that during this year’s TIFF, when the critic’s...

George Smitherman, Rick Mercer and other Canadian gays appear in It Gets Better video series

Tim Gunn did one . Hillary Clinton did one . Hell, Barack Obama did one . Seems as though making an It Gets Better video has...

Worst job interview ever: titan of Bay Street deigns to answer question from the NDP

Worst job interview ever: titan of Bay Street deigns to answer question from the NDP

When the error-prone Guy Giorno left his position as the prime minister’s chief of staff, Stephen Harper appeared to have found...

Culture picks: what to see, hear and read this month

Culture picks: what to see, hear and read this month

They love it. We want it. Three red-hot releases “It’s hard to tell whether this doc is a hoax or not. It starts off...

Dear Urban Diplomat: Do I need to tell my house guests about bedbugs?

Dear Urban Diplomat: Do I need to tell my house guests about bedbugs?

Dear Urban Diplomat, In a couple of weeks, I’m hosting an engagement party for my daughter, and 75 people are expected. Some are...

Unsurprising headlines of the future, “Rob Ford battles the TTC” edition

Unsurprising headlines of the future, “Rob Ford battles the TTC” edition

What will be Rob Ford ’s first battle after he drops the “-elect” in mayor-elect? Will it be over multi-storey skating...

Toronto named possible escape destination for Americans unhappy with today’s election

The U.S. midterm elections are going down today, and lefties are paranoid as the Democrats brace for huge losses . Case in point:...

Steve Paikin discovers his inner diva at Stratford

Steve Paikin discovers his inner diva at Stratford

Who hasn’t longed to sneak behind the scenes of a big-time theatre production and pour oneself into one of the costumes...

Stopping a gravy train of a different kind: local fitness club offers Rob Ford a discount trainer

Just what Toronto needs: more discussion of Rob Ford ’s weight. Some marketing geniuses at Nielsen Fitness have offered the...

A fake Twitter account leads into the dark recesses of the Ford campaign

A fake Twitter account leads into the dark recesses of the Ford campaign

This past weekend, @QueensQuayKaren’s followers on Twitter learned that they were not chasing a cat-loving bookworm, but rather...

Halloween: blame it on the gays

Halloween: blame it on the gays

Halloween is homo-licious! So says right-wing Toronto-born muckraker David Frum. In a piece for CNN, Frum traces Halloween's...

Regis dressed as Justin Bieber for Halloween, just like everyone else

Regis dressed as Justin Bieber for Halloween, just like everyone else

Just as we suspected, dressing up as Justin Bieber was crazy popular this Halloween. Turns out, it's not just Gordon Pinsent who...

Reaction roundup: the media weighs in on the decision that might send Conrad Black back to prison

Reaction roundup: the media weighs in on the decision that might send Conrad Black back to prison

The news broke Friday that Conrad Black might be heading back to prison. When the U.S. Supremes vacated his convictions in...

CTV weatherman Tom Brown feeds polar bears pumpkins, microphone

CTV's weatherman-about-town Tom Brown paid a visit to the Toronto Zoo last week to deliver the forecast from the polar bear...

On the chopping block: we put odds on which city-funded projects will survive Ford’s first term

On the chopping block: we put odds on which city-funded projects will survive Ford’s first term

One thing we know about Rob Ford is that he hates it when the city—pardon us, his city—spends money on things that the private...

Pandas are coming to Toronto—for $11 million

Giorgio Mammoliti is finally going to get his bears. For the past nine years, the city councillor and mayoral also-ran has been...

We’re number three! We’re number three! Toronto’s roads no longer the worst in Ontario

We’re number three! We’re number three! Toronto’s roads no longer the worst in Ontario

Toronto might not have the most progressive mayor-elect in Canada—curse you, Calgary!—but we can still hold our heads high now...

Toronto the dichotomous: we overwhelmingly support Rob Ford, but also the arts

A new survey suggests that Ontario residents believe in the importance of the arts more strongly than ever before. The poll was...

Cost of Living

These North York points enthusiasts earn $370,000 a year. How do they spend it?

These North York points enthusiasts earn $370,000 a year. How do they spend it?

“We try to maximize our rewards by using various credit cards plus PC Optimum”

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”

Urban Diplomat

Dear Urban Diplomat: My family takes Mother’s Day more seriously than Father’s Day

Dear Urban Diplomat: My family takes Mother’s Day more seriously than Father’s Day

She gets flowers, gifts and breakfast in bed; I get a lousy grill brush. Am I wrong to feel slighted?

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