Inside Maple’s intimate lunch for Toronto tastemakers

An inspiring cross-section of Toronto’s creative community gathered on a sunny October afternoon in Summerhill for a beautiful meal and a meaningful message. Hosted at Taline, the Armenian restaurant from chef Seb Yacoubian, and co-hosted by Maple and Toronto Life, Maple’s “This Is What I Signed Up For” lunch marked the virtual care provider’s first-ever creator gathering—a live extension of its fall campaign celebrating balance, family and modern wellness.

“In this room, I see the city’s most recognizable creators, entrepreneurs and media personalities, all of whom know first-hand the challenge of keeping up with a full life and staying well, and can’t stop when access to health care gets in the way,” said Megan Shay, Maple’s head of communications and government relations. “Maple was built for exactly that—to make care something that fits into your life, not something that slows it down.” In her opening remarks, she set the stage for the event designed to connect, inspire and reflect how Maple supports Canadians through life’s busiest seasons.

Jason Maghanoy, publisher of Toronto Life and event co-host, followed with a candid anecdote about discovering Maple through personal need. After a frustrating experience trying to find a doctor to interpret blood-work results, he decided to explore virtual care instead. Within thirty minutes, he had the clarity he needed—no waiting room line. “That experience changed everything,” he said. “In a city as busy as Toronto, timely care shouldn’t be out of reach.”

Food with a Story

As the first course arrived, a colourful spread of mezze plates, the conversation shifted to the chef behind it all. Seb Yacoubian, who co-runs Taline with his brothers, explained the origins of the restaurant and its namesake: their late mother. “Everything in here is meant to bring her spirit to life,” he said.

For Yacoubian, the connection between food and family runs deep. He spoke about managing two restaurants, raising a toddler and navigating hospital visits for his son—all while keeping his kitchens running. “Between my brothers, my wife and seventy employees, I admit this all the time: this is what we signed up for,” he said, drawing some laughs and underscoring the event’s theme—that care, like good food, should fit naturally into real life.

The Meaning of Care

The conversation deepened as Kimberlee West, Maple’s director of product marketing, spoke candidly about her own experience managing chronic anemia and how using Maple helped her finally prioritize her own well-being. “We’re conditioned to think our issues can wait,” she said. “But real care starts when we stop postponing ourselves.”

Her remarks captured the intent behind Maple’s approach to health care—making it more immediate, human and adaptable to people’s real lives. By connecting Canadians with licensed doctors and nurse practitioners within minutes, Maple helps turn health management into something proactive rather than reactive, whether it’s a lab result, a mental health check-in or care for a child. It’s about meeting people where they are, in the rhythm of their everyday lives.

From the Front Lines

A break between courses of tabule, mante and braised cabbage made for the perfect time to hear from Dr. Sonal Talwar. The family physician, who’s worked with Maple since 2020, spoke about balance—not as a buzzword but as a daily negotiation. Between her practice in Mississauga and raising two young children, she described how virtual care allows her to sustain both her career and her family life. “Maple allows me to fit medicine into my life as opposed to me revolving my life around medicine,” she said.

Her experience also reflected how Maple extends care beyond city limits. After seeing first-hand the lack of walk-in options in parts of the country, Dr. Talwar obtained medical licences in Prince Edward Island, British Columbia and Alberta so she could treat patients in provinces facing critical shortages. “There are communities where the closest clinic is twelve hours away,” she explained. “Through Maple, I can reach those patients in minutes.”

Her words reminded guests that the conversation about care doesn’t end at the city limits—it extends across the country, to anyone in need of timely support.

In this, and as the event wound down over plates of dessert, what stood out was how much common ground existed across the table. Different careers, different paces, but the same understanding that staying healthy is part of staying driven. In a city where time is tight and schedules are full, finding care that fits seamlessly into daily life feels less like luxury and more like necessity.

The food, the setting and the thoughtful parting gifts were just the cherry on top of an afternoon that brought that idea to life: proof that good company, good conversation and a bit of practical insight can make even a weekday lunch feel worthwhile.

Discover how Maple makes health care accessible anytime, anywhere at getmaple.ca.