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Culture

"We can throw a wrench into the war machine": Why pro-Palestine Canadian authors are boycotting the Giller Prize

“We can throw a wrench into the war machine”: Why pro-Palestine Canadian authors are boycotting the Giller Prize

Comics artist and illustrator Michael DeForge, an organizer with CanLit Responds and No Arms in the Arts, on protesting the award's lead sponsor's stake in Israeli arms manufacturing

"You cannot achieve peace in the Middle East by destroying a literary arts organization": Elana Rabinovitch on protests against the Giller Prize

“You cannot achieve peace in the Middle East by destroying a literary arts organization”: Elana Rabinovitch on protests against the Giller Prize

The executive director of the Gillers discusses the prize’s controversial lead sponsor, her response to demands made by more than 1,500 Canadian authors, and the relationship between literature and dissent

What to see, do, read and hear in Toronto this November

What to see, do, read and hear in Toronto this November

A pop superstar comes to town, a new production of a classic ballet, a Haida artist’s latest series and more

"I never got tired of trashing hotel rooms": Sum 41's Deryck Whibley on his new memoir, Walking Disaster

“I never got tired of trashing hotel rooms”: Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley on his new memoir, Walking Disaster

The frontman talks about dating Avril Lavigne, his bad boy reputation and the band’s upcoming farewell tour

"I think Kid Rock is an asshole based on his politics": Jim Cuddy on songwriting, artistic collaboration and using his platform to speak out

“I think Kid Rock is an asshole based on his politics”: Jim Cuddy on songwriting, artistic collaboration and using his platform to speak out

In the wake of his induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, we spoke with the Blue Rodeo frontman about the band’s early days and his accolade-studded career since

What to see, do, read and hear in Toronto this October

What to see, do, read and hear in Toronto this October

A pop icon’s farewell tour, an impish take on a Shakespeare classic, a worldly artist’s Canadian debut, and more

Inside the Latest Issue

The July issue of Toronto Life features a behind-the-curtain look at the insatiable political ambitions of Doug Ford. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.

"All my years of reporting indicate we still haven’t reached gender equality": Author Elizabeth Renzetti on her new book, What She Said

“All my years of reporting indicate we still haven’t reached gender equality”: Author Elizabeth Renzetti on her new book, What She Said

The writer and journalist talks sexism, the radicalization of young men online and why she still believes in civil discourse

"The title was a helpful reminder not to get too mushy": Filmmaker Megan Park on her new Muskoka-set movie, My Old Ass

“The title was a helpful reminder not to get too mushy”: Filmmaker Megan Park on her new Muskoka-set movie, My Old Ass

The Lindsay-born writer and director talks about the inspiration behind her new flick, the beauty of Mrs. Doubtfire and why the film couldn’t have been shot anywhere but Muskoka

Inside the rise of the Tragically Hip, Canada's most beloved rock band

Inside the rise of the Tragically Hip, Canada’s most beloved rock band

Four decades ago, a group of kids riffing in Kingston bars became rock stars who redefined a nation. Here, the origin story—and tragic end—of the Hip, in their own words

The buzziest celebrity sightings at TIFF 2024 so far

The buzziest celebrity sightings at TIFF 2024 so far

Including an impromptu DJ set by Bill Murray

"This movie is about the overlooked": K'naan Warsame on his first feature film, Mother Mother

“This movie is about the overlooked”: K’naan Warsame on his first feature film, Mother Mother

On the eve of his TIFF debut, the musician and director from Rexdale discusses casting the perfect female lead, working with camels and the time he got mobbed by teenagers at the Eaton Centre

"Pierre Poilievre needs to be careful with his rhetoric": Carol Off on her new book, At a Loss for Words

“Pierre Poilievre needs to be careful with his rhetoric”: Carol Off on her new book, At a Loss for Words

The former CBC Radio host discusses the language of politics, the rise of populism and what sets Canada apart from the US

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this September

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this September

Including Canada's oldest and largest literary festival, a new Sally Rooney novel, and the return of Come From Away and more

"The rest of the country is waking up to what First Nations people have always known": Tanya Talaga on her new book, The Knowing

“The rest of the country is waking up to what First Nations people have always known”: Tanya Talaga on her new book, The Knowing

The reporter and author discusses the ongoing harms of residential schools, the importance of Indigenous representation and what needs to change to address colonialism in Canada

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this August

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this August

Including an Avril Lavigne greatest hits tour, an evening with Hannah Gadsby and Shakespeare in High Park

"We are living in a world where we need more stupid": Boman Martinez-Reid on his new series, Made for TV

“We are living in a world where we need more stupid”: Boman Martinez-Reid on his new series, Made for TV

The TikTok star discusses moving to a new medium, cooking an omelette on TV and sending up the Kardashians

Every Toronto location in the fourth season of The Boys

Every Toronto location in the fourth season of The Boys

"We're all broken and trying to put ourselves back together": Matty Matheson on season three of The Bear

“We’re all broken and trying to put ourselves back together”: Matty Matheson on season three of The Bear

We caught up with the multi-hyphenate star to talk about his journey from food consultant to actor and writer on the hit show’s latest season

"When you achieve success at a young age, it stunts your development": Pop star Amanda Marshall on returning to the stage after two decades

“When you achieve success at a young age, it stunts your development”: Pop star Amanda Marshall on returning to the stage after two decades

Beginning in 2002, a protracted legal battle with her manager and label led to Marshall’s exile from the music industry. Here, she talks about why that was ultimately a good thing

"People say I'm not country enough. What they mean is that I’m not straight": Orville Peck on his latest release, Stampede: Vol. 1

“People say I’m not country enough. What they mean is that I’m not straight”: Orville Peck on his latest release, Stampede: Vol. 1

Country music’s barrier-busting cowboy is tearing through 2024 with a new album, new collabs and a new outlook on life

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this July

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this July

Including an east-end jazz festival, a hometown show by a Canadian rock icon and an exhibition on the art of light

"Life is a sliding scale between devastating and weird": Ally Pankiw on her new dramedy, I Used to Be Funny

“Life is a sliding scale between devastating and weird”: Ally Pankiw on her new dramedy, I Used to Be Funny

The writer and director for hit series like Schitt’s Creek, Black Mirror and Feel Good talks comedy, trauma and how her new Toronto-set project came together

"People will always be able to hear Toronto in my music": Charlotte Day Wilson on her new album, Cyan Blue

“People will always be able to hear Toronto in my music”: Charlotte Day Wilson on her new album, Cyan Blue

The R&B singer discusses the city’s signature sound, her skating skills and collaborating with artists like Badbadnotgood and Daniel Caesar

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this June

What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this June

A celebration of love in all its forms, a one-woman show about mortality, a sparkling tribute to the queen of rock and more

Deep Dives

Sex worker and Anora consultant Andrea Werhun’s journey from strip clubs to Hollywood

Sex worker and Anora consultant Andrea Werhun’s journey from strip clubs to Hollywood

Andrea Werhun’s dream was to be a writer, but there was a lot more money in sex work. She told herself she’d quit soon, then spent years working as a stripper. In 2022, Sean Baker hired her as a consultant on his Oscar-sweeping film. Now she’s stepping into her own spotlight

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Crews and Tangos has been enforcing the rules of the Village for more than 30 years: wear what you want, kiss who you want, but don’t forget to tip the drag queens. With a condo development looming, we asked around for tales from the iconic spot

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

The Baroness von Sketch Show alumnae have elevated joking about women’s issues to an art. Their new show takes aim at menopause. How funny is that?

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

A viral earworm about a breakup turned the Beaches into Toronto’s hottest export. Now, the panty-throwing, stage-diving, all-girl rock band is seducing fans around the world

Quality Trash: Meet director Ron Oliver, Hallmark’s king of schmaltz

Quality Trash: Meet director Ron Oliver, Hallmark’s king of schmaltz

Over two decades and dozens of made-for-TV Christmas films, Oliver has become the Hallmark Channel’s most prolific, flamboyant and unapologetically sappy director

Aural History: Backstage stories from the legendary Budweiser Stage

Aural History: Backstage stories from the legendary Budweiser Stage

Since its first show (Bryan Adams, May 1995, sell-out crowd), Budweiser Stage has been synonymous with summer and stars both celestial and musical. As the venue kicks off its 30th season, we asked performers and staff for their best, wildest, most indelible memories of the amphitheatre by the lake

How Carley Fortune is reinventing the romance novel

How Carley Fortune is reinventing the romance novel

In just two years, she’s published two runaway bestsellers, sold film rights to Prince Harry and Meghan, finished a third book—which hits shelves this month—and is well into her fourth. Here, she talks anti-romance snobbery, what makes a good sex scene and how sudden fame has changed her life

The wildest stories from the legendary 888 Dupont art squat

The wildest stories from the legendary 888 Dupont art squat

The rent was dirt cheap, the rules were nonexistent and the parties were legendary. Now, with demolition underway, former tenants share their favourite memories of the city’s most storied artists’ space

The fabulous, terrifying, chaotic life of Josh Richards, TikTok's reigning influencer

The fabulous, terrifying, chaotic life of Josh Richards, TikTok’s reigning influencer

TikTok turned Josh Richards from an ordinary small-town teen into a multimillionaire, CEO and venture capitalist. How to make a fortune via bedroom eyes, 10-second lip syncs and a signature ’do

"We lived in a shelter downtown, and Honest Ed’s was the only store I knew": Shania Twain on her years dreaming big in Toronto

“We lived in a shelter downtown, and Honest Ed’s was the only store I knew”: Shania Twain on her years dreaming big in Toronto

Before she became a global phenomenon, Shania Twain was flipping burgers, hawking jeans and fronting cover bands in Toronto. Today, the queen of country pop is touring the world with a new album, but she’s still nostalgic about the city that made her

What to Do

The Best of the Fests: What to see, do and hear in Toronto this festival season

The Best of the Fests: What to see, do and hear in Toronto this festival season

This July, the streets are brimming with music, art, theatre and other forms of summer revelry. Here, a roundup of the best bets of the month