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City News

That stupid map again

So I pick up my morning Globe and there on the front page lies the same colour-coded map of Toronto that I saw not long ago in the...

Our squishy urban winterscape

Nice post today on the Spacing Wire about navigating the snowy sidewalks with a baby. I’m so there. On Monday I walked my son to...

Lord Black: Something of a saviour

Brigades of stories yesterday recounting the sentencing of David Radler. Most say more or less the same thing. In cutting his...

William F. Buckley vs. Conrad M. Black

On a day when a repentant David Radler probably got what he deserved (which, as it turns out, is less than half the sentence doled...

Suck my waste, Toronto

Trash collection is one of those basic city services that seems impervious to new technology: you put your trash out at the curb...

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.

A different kind of review

A task force found that staffers have “deep pride” but also face “despair, disillusionment and anger with an organization...

Dwight Duncan: the Santa of Queen's Park

Dwight Duncan: the Santa of Queen’s Park

Someone had to bring Christmas to city hall this year, and, since it sure wasn’t going to be me , thank heaven for jolly Dwight...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Watching Brian Mulroney ooze through his testimony before a federal ethics committee this morning had a certain surreal...

Shirley Hoy’s small potatoes

That’s one hum-dinger of a memo City Manager Shirley Hoy sent to city staff in response to my January toilet-bowl cover...

The Hoy memo

Shirley Hoy, City Manager, circulated the below memo as a response to Toronto Life 's cover story about the challenges facing...

Black Watch: Why reporters are pricks

By and large, reporters are—how to put it?—pricks (myself included, I can assure you). Why else would they so devote...

The city’s imbalance sheets

If you’re done reading about how everything at City Hall is in fact just balance sheets .

If you’ve ever lived in Montreal...

You’ll want to know that one of the city’s long-standing urban myths has been officially

Hey, Hoy! Thanks for the publicity

Why do I bother plugging my own work when the city can do the job for me? In response to my January cover story, City Manager...

Black Watch: Reaction from around the world

As was the case after verdict day, the ink flowed freely in Britain, the U.S. and Canada, bringing news of the continuing traffic...

Black Watch: Post-Sentencing Report

Conrad Black’s three-ring circus and pandemonium medicine show came thundering back into town today. And while not so long ago...

Black Watch: Sentenced

His Lordship has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison, and ordered to pay $6.1 million in restitution as well as a...

Shameless plug

The latest print edition of Toronto Life is now on newsstands, featuring a cover story penned by me. I had no say in the cover’s...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

It’s as though we’ve never been away. On Sunday night, with the Christmas lights of Chicago exploding along every...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Like a pack of overexcited bonobo chimps, the British press can barely contain their onanistic glee at the prospect of prison time...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Lots of harrumphing and throat clearing as the fourth estate prepares to descend on Chicago for this Monday’s reckoning on...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Lord Black’s pronouncement published today clearly indicates his resignation to the prospect of jail. “I can cope with it if...

Oh Karlheinz! The Musical

Just to throw my voice upon the heap: Karlheinz Schreiber is a con artist, and last week’s column by Rick Salutin nailed his...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Like a gaggle of prattling private school brats straight out of Tom Brown’s Schooldays , the British press launched this morning...

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