Subscribe

City News

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”

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.

“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”

Tokyo 2020 is postponed—now what? Olympic hopefuls tell their stories

Tokyo 2020 is postponed—now what? Olympic hopefuls tell their stories

Some athletes will compete in 2021, others are watching their Olympic window slam shut

“We had 190 volunteers in two days”: How U of T med students are helping health care workers with groceries and child care

“We had 190 volunteers in two days”: How U of T med students are helping health care workers with groceries and child care

“Our teachers, mentors and professors are all doctors and health care workers: we realized they were going to be on the front lines for this crisis”

“When I return to work, I won't be able to touch my family for a long time”: This ER doctor became a new dad in the middle of the pandemic

“When I return to work, I won’t be able to touch my family for a long time”: This ER doctor became a new dad in the middle of the pandemic

“The world outside our hospital room terrified me. But then I’d look at my son, and he'd bring a light in a dark time”

“One restaurant offered free food to seniors and low-income people”: Inside Caremongering, the Toronto Facebook group for good deeds

“One restaurant offered free food to seniors and low-income people”: Inside Caremongering, the Toronto Facebook group for good deeds

“We’ve shown that there’s an enormous potential for compassion and love”

"They close their eyes and get lost in song": How a 24-year-old singer serenades the elderly via FaceTime

“They close their eyes and get lost in song”: How a 24-year-old singer serenades the elderly via FaceTime

“I’m determined to keep them from becoming further isolated”

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