Subscribe

Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!

City News

DIY variations on the pandemic's must-have accessory

DIY variations on the pandemic’s must-have accessory

Resourceful Torontonians are slowing the spread with colourful, creative, homemade face masks

“The orders quadrupled overnight”: An Instacart shopper describes what it's like to deliver groceries during a pandemic

“The orders quadrupled overnight”: An Instacart shopper describes what it’s like to deliver groceries during a pandemic

“These days, people are super-hostile in the grocery stores. Everyone's scared of each other”

A marketing manager went from making $75,000 to collecting EI. Did Covid-19 change his financial philosophy?

A marketing manager went from making $75,000 to collecting EI. Did Covid-19 change his financial philosophy?

Michael spent lavishly on restaurants, foreign vacations and designer clothing. When the pandemic hit, he (sort of) reckoned with his frivolous spending

“This is unlike any work I've done. You can't even stop to grieve”: Why a retired homicide detective and his son are volunteering at a long-term care facility

“This is unlike any work I’ve done. You can’t even stop to grieve”: Why a retired homicide detective and his son are volunteering at a long-term care facility

“Of the 80 workers who were usually there, only eight remained”

“We can't even have a funeral for him”: What it's like to lose a father to Covid-19

“We can’t even have a funeral for him”: What it’s like to lose a father to Covid-19

“A few weeks ago, Covid-19 seemed abstract, all numbers and press briefings. I never imagined my dad would become one of those statistics”

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.

A family of foxes is hanging out around CityPlace

A family of foxes is hanging out around CityPlace

With humans on lockdown, animals are popping up in surprising places, and we can’t stop staring at them—from a distance

“Right away, we had 19 drivers volunteer to help out”: How Wheel-Trans operators are helping Covid-positive patients get medical care

“Right away, we had 19 drivers volunteer to help out”: How Wheel-Trans operators are helping Covid-positive patients get medical care

“We serve a vulnerable group of people. Many of our passenger require life-sustaining treatment, like dialysis or chemotherapy, and have no other way to get around”

“I would move mountains to see him”: A Toronto family borrowed a bucket truck to visit their grandfather through a third-floor hospital window

“I would move mountains to see him”: A Toronto family borrowed a bucket truck to visit their grandfather through a third-floor hospital window

“My grandfather’s room faces a parking lot. We decided to lift my mom up the side of the building”

Missing sports? So are the Blue Jays. Here's how Vlad Jr., Bo Bichette and the rest of the team are keeping busy during the pandemic

Missing sports? So are the Blue Jays. Here’s how Vlad Jr., Bo Bichette and the rest of the team are keeping busy during the pandemic

Yes, many are as bored as you. Here’s how they’re whiling away the hours until the season starts again

"We're dropping off food parcels for people in need": How Torontonians are observing Ramadan this year

“We’re dropping off food parcels for people in need”: How Torontonians are observing Ramadan this year

“We normally speak about the potential dysfunction of spending most of your time on social media. Now we’ve done a 180”

How and when will the province re-open? Rod Phillips, Ontario's recovery czar, has some answers

How and when will the province re-open? Rod Phillips, Ontario’s recovery czar, has some answers

A conversation about the path to the next normal with the chair of the province’s jobs and recovery committee

“You can't give someone a bath from six feet away”: What it's like to work at a long-term care facility right now

“You can’t give someone a bath from six feet away”: What it’s like to work at a long-term care facility right now

“Early on in the pandemic, there was a lot of emphasis placed on preparing hospitals, but not for preparing long-term care homes”

"We're issuing fewer warnings and more tickets": Sergeant Jesse Weeks on how police are enforcing social distancing

“We’re issuing fewer warnings and more tickets”: Sergeant Jesse Weeks on how police are enforcing social distancing

“There was a lot of confusion around the rules at first. And I get it. There is definitely room for interpretation”

"We were caught in no-man's land between four countries, none of which wanted us": How a family of four became stranded in Cuba

“We were caught in no-man’s land between four countries, none of which wanted us”: How a family of four became stranded in Cuba

What happens when a French-American family on sabbatical in Toronto heads to Cuba for a vacation

“My midwives gave me the big blue pads that people use for puppies”: When Covid hit, this Toronto mom changed her plan and decided to give birth at home

“My midwives gave me the big blue pads that people use for puppies”: When Covid hit, this Toronto mom changed her plan and decided to give birth at home

“It was like the midwives had never been there, except they left a baby behind”

"Wâhkôhtowin is like 'love thy neighbour' on steroids": Author Jesse Thistle on the Indigenous teaching that's getting him through the misery of social distancing

“Wâhkôhtowin is like ‘love thy neighbour’ on steroids”: Author Jesse Thistle on the Indigenous teaching that’s getting him through the misery of social distancing

He’s used lockdown as an opportunity to reconnect to the giant web of kinship

"A client books a sexting session like they would book a massage": How a Toronto sex worker is pivoting her business online

“A client books a sexting session like they would book a massage”: How a Toronto sex worker is pivoting her business online

“People hire me me because they’re missing physical touch and intimacy in their lives. After all this isolation, I have a new appreciation for that”

Q&A: David Frum on Trump’s pandemic response and what it means for the U.S. election

Q&A: David Frum on Trump’s pandemic response and what it means for the U.S. election

“He is the worst human being ever to occupy the office, and that includes slave owners”

The inside of an ICE detention centre is as horrific as you think. I know because I spent 45 days in one

The inside of an ICE detention centre is as horrific as you think. I know because I spent 45 days in one

My only salvation: voluntary deportation. Toronto became my home and my path to redemption

“We've run errands for more than 3,000 families”: How a local Muslim youth association is helping people buy groceries and fill prescriptions

“We’ve run errands for more than 3,000 families”: How a local Muslim youth association is helping people buy groceries and fill prescriptions

“We’ve started getting calls from people who don’t qualify for the CERB benefits, who are struggling to put food on the table”

“I'm often the only person my customers see all week”: When Covid struck, this TV professional became a food courier

“I’m often the only person my customers see all week”: When Covid struck, this TV professional became a food courier

“Before Covid, the most dangerous part of the job was navigating traffic through the city. Now the biggest risks are pickup and delivery”

“It’s like a portable ICU in a box”: This Toronto company is massively scaling up production on its unique ventilators

“It’s like a portable ICU in a box”: This Toronto company is massively scaling up production on its unique ventilators

“We’ve been approached by countries in South America and Europe to produce ventilators”

“My fingers are crossed that we've slowed down the spread”: An ICU nurse describes what it's like to treat Covid cases

“My fingers are crossed that we’ve slowed down the spread”: An ICU nurse describes what it’s like to treat Covid cases

“Nurses are expected to be like the soldiers who are happy to go to war. If you refuse to work, you’ll lose your job. But your job could kill you”

“Before homeschool, we had Dad School, which was really hard”: Toronto kids reflect on their online classes so far

“Before homeschool, we had Dad School, which was really hard”: Toronto kids reflect on their online classes so far

“When this is all over, I am most excited to go to the library”

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?