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Sunnybrook doctor Ariel Lefkowitz in conversation with Toronto Life editor Sarah Fulford

Sunnybrook doctor Ariel Lefkowitz in conversation with Toronto Life editor Sarah Fulford

He was in charge of the Covid ward at Sunnybrook and kept a diary of his experience

How Maddie Lymburner became YouTube’s premier pandemic fitness guru

How Maddie Lymburner became YouTube’s premier pandemic fitness guru

“Suddenly, gyms were closing, people were working out at home and my business was exploding”

“I know nothing about my dad’s final moments. Was he scared? Was he in pain?”: What it's like to lose a parent in a long-term care facility

“I know nothing about my dad’s final moments. Was he scared? Was he in pain?”: What it’s like to lose a parent in a long-term care facility

“In the span of two hours I found out that he was in the hospital, then that he was on oxygen and, finally, that he'd died"

“I can't ask the staff to do something I won't do myself”: When his facility had a Covid outbreak, this long-term care CEO stepped up to nurse patients himself

“I can’t ask the staff to do something I won’t do myself”: When his facility had a Covid outbreak, this long-term care CEO stepped up to nurse patients himself

“The first day I went to work in the dementia ward, I wanted to throw up. I was scared shitless”

“Sometimes I'd start crying from the hormones, sleep deprivation and stress": Why these new parents fled the city for rural Ontario

“Sometimes I’d start crying from the hormones, sleep deprivation and stress”: Why these new parents fled the city for rural Ontario

“One of our new neighbours heard that we needed clothes and dropped off an enormous bag filled with hand-me-downs on the front porch”

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.

“We cut the plastic shields with a paper slicer from my dad's office”: How a 13-year-old tech whiz is 3-D printing face masks from home

“We cut the plastic shields with a paper slicer from my dad’s office”: How a 13-year-old tech whiz is 3-D printing face masks from home

“The designs are inspired by superheroes because doctors and nurses are the heroes of Covid-19”

"It will cost us about a million dollars not to operate this year": Camp Arowhon director Joanne Kates on the devastating decision to close summer camps

“It will cost us about a million dollars not to operate this year”: Camp Arowhon director Joanne Kates on the devastating decision to close summer camps

“Before lockdown, we'd ordered one of those giant inflatable water toys. So that's $20,000 gone”

Zoom calls getting boring? This animal sanctuary found a solution: Buckwheat the Donkey

Zoom calls getting boring? This animal sanctuary found a solution: Buckwheat the Donkey

After Covid-19 hit, an animal sanctuary in Uxbridge needed to source donations. So they brought the farm to the people

Join us for the first edition of “This City Live” featuring Sunnybrook doctor Ariel Lefkowitz

Join us for the first edition of “This City Live” featuring Sunnybrook doctor Ariel Lefkowitz

Toronto Life editor Sarah Fulford welcomes Dr. Ariel Lefkowitz for the first edition of our conversation series “This City...

"Suddenly I forgot all about Covid. I was just thinking about my baby": What it's like to have an emergency C-section during a pandemic

“Suddenly I forgot all about Covid. I was just thinking about my baby”: What it’s like to have an emergency C-section during a pandemic

“As my due date approached, I coloured my hair at home. I refused to give birth with grey hairs!”

Eileen de Villa is not freaking out

Eileen de Villa is not freaking out

How Toronto’s medical officer of health got us to flatten the curve

"It felt like they were trading one life for another”: This woman's cancer surgery was postponed due to Covid

“It felt like they were trading one life for another”: This woman’s cancer surgery was postponed due to Covid

“I tried to accept that I didn’t have a say in whether or not I got cancer, and I didn’t have a say in whether or not I was going to be treated for cancer”

This 2004 piece predicted the pandemic

From the archives

This 2004 piece predicted the pandemic

It was originally published a year after the SARS outbreak

"There aren't enough doctors up there”: A finance worker turned ER doctor flew to the Northwest Territories to work the front lines

“There aren’t enough doctors up there”: A finance worker turned ER doctor flew to the Northwest Territories to work the front lines

On April 19, I left Toronto for Fort Smith, via Edmonton. My journey was bizarre

“Around half of our funerals last month were Covid cases”: A funeral director on how his job has changed in the pandemic

“Around half of our funerals last month were Covid cases”: A funeral director on how his job has changed in the pandemic

”We’ve started to stream our services on Zoom so people can watch remotely”

"One little boy played the violin on his stoop": These Toronto teachers biked around their neighbourhood for an epic series of porch parties

“One little boy played the violin on his stoop”: These Toronto teachers biked around their neighbourhood for an epic series of porch parties

“We visited more than 200 families. Our voices were raspy by the end from cheering and shouting to people on their porches”

Q&A: Saad Rafi, Toronto's recovery czar, on coming out of retirement to guide the city to its new normal

Q&A: Saad Rafi, Toronto’s recovery czar, on coming out of retirement to guide the city to its new normal

Just when he thought he was out... they pulled him back in

Fourteen days on the Covid Ward at Sunnybrook: a memoir

Fourteen days on the Covid Ward at Sunnybrook: a memoir

When the pandemic hit, I was put in charge of all infected non-ICU patients. What I learned will stay with me for the rest of my life

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”

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

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