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"The normal rhythms of Toronto have been obliterated"

“The normal rhythms of Toronto have been obliterated”

The gridlock, the subway squeeze, the lunch rush, the usual cacophony of life in the city have all been replaced by wide empty spaces. Toronto as a ghost town

Toronto Life’s May issue, produced entirely from the kitchen tables and living room sofas of its editorial staff

Toronto Life’s May issue, produced entirely from the kitchen tables and living room sofas of its editorial staff

Today Toronto Life releases its May issue, the first one in the magazine's 54-year history to be produced remotely, entirely from...

“Intubation can cause a patient to cough right into your face”: A respiratory therapist describes life on the front lines

“Intubation can cause a patient to cough right into your face”: A respiratory therapist describes life on the front lines

An intubation is basically sticking a breathing tube down a patient’s throat into the lungs so that they can be connected to a ventilator. That's a risky undertaking.

“We talked on our phones through the glass”: This Toronto man came up with a creative solution to visit his wife in the hospital

“We talked on our phones through the glass”: This Toronto man came up with a creative solution to visit his wife in the hospital

“She looked so regal, like Princess Grace. When I saw her, I cried”

"People are sleeping in the streets or ravines because shelters are unsafe": This doctor is helping restructure homeless shelters during the Covid crisis

“People are sleeping in the streets or ravines because shelters are unsafe”: This doctor is helping restructure homeless shelters during the Covid crisis

“There are roughly 8,000 people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, and there are easily 8,000 hotel beds in the city. It's such an easy intervention”

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 Pandemic Heroes

The Pandemic Heroes

So many Torontonians are stepping up. Here’s our by-no-means-exhaustive look at the amazing doctors, nurses, scientists, chefs, distillers, dancers, grocers and politicians who are making a difference in all our lives

“We just feel like we’re drowning”: How parents with newborns are coping with social isolation

“We just feel like we’re drowning”: How parents with newborns are coping with social isolation

“There is lots of screen time happening, more than I ever thought I would allow”

“Since Covid began, we've seen the highest number of overdoses since 2017”: What happens when the opioid epidemic meets a global pandemic?

“Since Covid began, we’ve seen the highest number of overdoses since 2017”: What happens when the opioid epidemic meets a global pandemic?

“It’s our job to keep people who are using drugs alive and ensure that they don’t get Covid-19. Somehow we have to do both at the same time”

“When we protect our communities, we protect our families”: How a hazmat crew decontaminates warehouses and offices after Covid exposure

“When we protect our communities, we protect our families”: How a hazmat crew decontaminates warehouses and offices after Covid exposure

“We recently did a cleanup of a 150,000-square-foot factory in Mississauga. It took us two days”

“My gender-affirmation surgery was cancelled due to Covid”: A student describes what it's like to live in medical limbo

“My gender-affirmation surgery was cancelled due to Covid”: A student describes what it’s like to live in medical limbo

“I wanted this to be the first summer where I could wear a T-shirt and not feel ashamed of my body. That’s not going to happen anymore”

“I haven’t held my baby in a month”: Councillor Joe Cressy is living apart from his family while he fights on the front lines

“I haven’t held my baby in a month”: Councillor Joe Cressy is living apart from his family while he fights on the front lines

“I’ve seen a lot of his firsts on FaceTime: first solid food, first giggle, first laugh. It's not how I imagined the first months of parenthood”

“You have minutes, maybe seconds, to get it right, or they’ll die”: A doctor describes what it's like in hospital emergency rooms during Covid-19

“You have minutes, maybe seconds, to get it right, or they’ll die”: A doctor describes what it’s like in hospital emergency rooms during Covid-19

“The media talks a lot about ‘respiratory distress,’ but that’s a euphemism. These patients feel like they’re dying”

“These people have to go to work and sweat all day with fear”: A Q&A with Christopher Morgan, the construction worker petitioning the province to shut down job sites

“These people have to go to work and sweat all day with fear”: A Q&A with Christopher Morgan, the construction worker petitioning the province to shut down job sites

Christopher Morgan, a 36-year-old sheet-metal worker, is currently employed on a construction site building high-rise condos in...

“We can pack 850 food hampers in two hours”: How the Toronto Public Library turned its branches into food banks

“We can pack 850 food hampers in two hours”: How the Toronto Public Library turned its branches into food banks

In less than an hour, more than 130 library staff has volunteered to help out

“I offered my tenants $100 off their rent. I wish I could have given them more”: How mom-and-pop landlords are coping with the pandemic

Real Estate News

“I offered my tenants $100 off their rent. I wish I could have given them more”: How mom-and-pop landlords are coping with the pandemic

Some are unable to pay their bills, others are offering discounts and deferrals to tenants

“I had to learn the sign for Covid-19”: A Q&A with Christopher Desloges, who became an overnight celebrity as Doug Ford’s sign-language interpreter

“I had to learn the sign for Covid-19”: A Q&A with Christopher Desloges, who became an overnight celebrity as Doug Ford’s sign-language interpreter

The hardest job he ever had was signing for Whoopi Goldberg

“There’s no such thing as social distancing in here”: An inmate tells his story

“There’s no such thing as social distancing in here”: An inmate tells his story

“My mother is 61 and she's showing signs of dementia. I want to get out so I can take care of her”

“You can feel disabled by all this or you can try to move forward”: A Q&A with Steven Argyris, whose company provides temporary lodging for front-line workers

“You can feel disabled by all this or you can try to move forward”: A Q&A with Steven Argyris, whose company provides temporary lodging for front-line workers

Many health care workers will be coming to Toronto—and they’ll need a place to stay

“This situation is forcing victims into captivity”: What it’s like to run a women’s shelter in Toronto right now

“This situation is forcing victims into captivity”: What it’s like to run a women’s shelter in Toronto right now

“It’s the same in shelters all over the country: violent attacks are up, distress calls are up”

“We want to have kids, but our life is on hold”: These newlyweds are living 10,000 kilometres apart because of the pandemic

“We want to have kids, but our life is on hold”: These newlyweds are living 10,000 kilometres apart because of the pandemic

“I can’t describe how lonely I am without Saori. In the meantime, we talk to each other across time zones”

How are the Raptors staying in shape during quarantine? We asked their trainer

How are the Raptors staying in shape during quarantine? We asked their trainer

An NBA-level workout, from the comfort of home

“Right now, I can either pay my rent or eat”: These Torontonians are keeping their rent on April 1

“Right now, I can either pay my rent or eat”: These Torontonians are keeping their rent on April 1

“I'm trying to keep my family safe, but I'm being forced into a position where I either work in an unsafe environment or risk losing my housing”

“We’ve been here from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. every day”: This 3-D printing company is mass-producing plastic face shields for health care workers

“We’ve been here from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. every day”: This 3-D printing company is mass-producing plastic face shields for health care workers

By next week, they’ll be producing tens of thousands per day—enough for every front-line worker in Canada

“We want to make sure these people are protected”: An Ontario sewing group is creating thousands of masks for front-line workers

“We want to make sure these people are protected”: An Ontario sewing group is creating thousands of masks for front-line workers

“We have about 400 people sewing for us across the province, and we’re up to 2,625 requests and counting”

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?