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"I was a successful marketing exec in Toronto. I gave it all up to farm hops and open a brewery"

“I was a successful marketing exec in Toronto. I gave it all up to farm hops and open a brewery”

Graydon Lau had a decades-long career in the marketing industry, working for big-name alcohol brands. When his best friend approached him with a business idea, he left his job and dove in. Then, just as everything was coming together, tragedy struck

"I’ve worked at the Black Bull Tavern for 40 years—and I plan to stay until the very end"

“I’ve worked at the Black Bull Tavern for 40 years—and I plan to stay until the very end”

The Black Bull is up for sale. Here, bartender Sheldon Chow recalls some of his wildest encounters and considers a future Queen West where the bar may be no more

“After I suffered a catastrophic brain injury, doctors told me I may never walk or talk again. Three years later, I finished medical school”

“After I suffered a catastrophic brain injury, doctors told me I may never walk or talk again. Three years later, I finished medical school”

Matthew Galati was 23 and in his second year of medical school when a car accident left him with a devastating traumatic brain injury. Instead of accepting his grim prognosis, he made a full recovery—and now helps others who are suffering from similar injuries

“My grandpa was the oldest person to swim across Lake Huron. He inspired me to take on Lake Ontario"

“My grandpa was the oldest person to swim across Lake Huron. He inspired me to take on Lake Ontario”

Seeking a new challenge, Jason Kloss took up his grandfather's old hobby: open-water swimming. Last week, Kloss raised over $55,000 for CAMH by attempting a 51-kilometre swim across Lake Ontario

"I spent lots of time in hospitals and realized that nobody knows what to buy for a sick person. So I started making my own hospital kits"

“I spent lots of time in hospitals and realized that nobody knows what to buy for a sick person. So I started making my own hospital kits”

Geoff Church had cancer twice, which involved major surgeries and chemotherapy. For his second go-around, he packed a bag of items to make his recovery more comfortable—and then launched his own brand of customized kits

"I started my popcorn business from behind bars. It gave me a second chance at life"

“I started my popcorn business from behind bars. It gave me a second chance at life”

When Emily O'Brien was 26, she was convicted of drug smuggling. While serving a four-year sentence at a Hamilton prison, she came up with the idea for a new business. Her mission: to show people that everyone deserves a second chance

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.

"I was a teenage political prisoner in war-torn Sri Lanka. Today, I'm one of Canada's top financial executives"

“I was a teenage political prisoner in war-torn Sri Lanka. Today, I’m one of Canada’s top financial executives”

After surviving imprisonment and torture at the hands of the Sri Lankan army and losing his father to the war, Roy Ratnavel was determined to make a name for himself in Toronto

"I started Craig's Cookies out of my tiny one-bedroom in Parkdale. A decade later, we have five locations across the city"

“I started Craig’s Cookies out of my tiny one-bedroom in Parkdale. A decade later, we have five locations across the city”

Craig Pike used to bake cookies by the dozen in his home oven, delivering orders around the city on his bike. Now, he's running a cookie empire—and fostering an inclusive workplace for queer and trans employees

"I was in Sudan when the fighting started. This is how my family and I got out"

“I was in Sudan when the fighting started. This is how my family and I got out”

Nisrin Elamin took her three-year-old daughter to Khartoum to celebrate Ramadan. When the conflict began, they found themselves with no food, water or power and were forced to risk a harrowing journey out of the country

"After a vicious school rumour destroyed my confidence, canoe tripping helped me get it back"

“After a vicious school rumour destroyed my confidence, canoe tripping helped me get it back”

A long-running rumour at her Toronto private school convinced Hannah Griffin that she was a bad kid, so she started acting like one. Then a wilderness portage trip—and an unexpected encounter along the way—changed that

"I was a troubled teenager when I met the late legendary actor Gordon Pinsent. He changed my life"

“I was a troubled teenager when I met the late legendary actor Gordon Pinsent. He changed my life”

When Lisa Bunting was cast alongside Pinsent in the CBC's A Gift to Last, she didn't know that working with the celebrated Canadian actor would be a highlight of her almost-50-year career—or that he would have a profound influence on her life

"When I left an elite US running group to train in Toronto, I worried I'd made a huge mistake. Then I broke a record"

“When I left an elite US running group to train in Toronto, I worried I’d made a huge mistake. Then I broke a record”

How moving back to her hometown helped track-and-field star Lucia Stafford become the top 1,000-metre runner in North America

"I was a costume designer for film and TV. Now I make beautiful gowns out of other people's trash"

“I was a costume designer for film and TV. Now I make beautiful gowns out of other people’s trash”

Resa McConaghy had a decades-long career designing costumes for stars like Kim Cattrall and Helen Mirren. When the film industry ground to a halt during Covid, she started upcycling old fabric into elaborate couture

"I flew to Syria and Turkey to help save lives after the earthquake. The destruction was beyond imagination"

“I flew to Syria and Turkey to help save lives after the earthquake. The destruction was beyond imagination”

A Syrian Canadian trauma surgeon tells the heartbreaking story of his most recent trip home

Peter Herrndorf was a dream publisher, my boss and my friend

Peter Herrndorf was a dream publisher, my boss and my friend

I worked with him at Toronto Life in the late 1980s and early 1990s and marvelled at his passion for arts and media in this country. In his 82 years on the planet, he did more for Canadian culture than probably anyone alive

In 1954, I joined a sit-in for civil rights in small-town Ontario. Seventy years later, I'm still fighting for equality

In 1954, I joined a sit-in for civil rights in small-town Ontario. Seventy years later, I’m still fighting for equality

"One man told us that, until our protest, he couldn't even buy an ice cream in his hometown"

After my husband tried to kill me, I was forced to flee Kenya. Eight years later, I'm still fighting for justice

After my husband tried to kill me, I was forced to flee Kenya. Eight years later, I’m still fighting for justice

Nobody believed that my charming husband was secretly abusive

Losing my voice to throat cancer threatened to end my career as a musician. Instead, it was just the beginning

Losing my voice to throat cancer threatened to end my career as a musician. Instead, it was just the beginning

I realized that, even if I never sang another note, there were other ways to express myself

"I spent five years in a white-power gang": Inside the twisted world of Toronto's white supremacist movement

“I spent five years in a white-power gang”: Inside the twisted world of Toronto’s white supremacist movement

After my dad died, I started repeating racist rhetoric, dressing like a skinhead, picking fights with strangers and committing petty crimes. Then I realized the absurdity of my beliefs

I was addicted to prescription drugs, and I tricked doctors into giving them to me. Now, I help others who are struggling like I have

I was addicted to prescription drugs, and I tricked doctors into giving them to me. Now, I help others who are struggling like I have

After living with a substance use disorder for years, I got sober and now work on the other side of the health care system

My wife and daughter were killed when Iran shot down Flight PS752. I will do whatever it takes to bring the corrupt regime to justice

My wife and daughter were killed when Iran shot down Flight PS752. I will do whatever it takes to bring the corrupt regime to justice

Iranians around the world and within the country are rallying for change. The death of Mahsa Amini only intensified our resolve

This year, at 62, I became the oldest woman in history to summit K2

This year, at 62, I became the oldest woman in history to summit K2

I did it two months after scaling Everest and two weeks before standing on top of G2, completing three peaks over 8,000 metres in one season

A complete stranger saved my life. Fifteen years later, another one saved my son

A complete stranger saved my life. Fifteen years later, another one saved my son

As a child, I found out I had a rare disease and would need a four-organ transplant. This past July, my son had the same life-saving surgery

I took a three-month vow of silence and walked nearly 1,000 kilometres

I took a three-month vow of silence and walked nearly 1,000 kilometres

After 16 years as a radio host, talking and talking had made me miserable. How shutting up saved my life

Best New Restaurants

These are Toronto’s best new restaurants of 2025

These are Toronto’s best new restaurants of 2025

This year’s list includes a Korean Ecuadorian diner, a supper club that showcases regional Chinese dishes tweaked with seasonal Canadian ingredients and a Parkdale chaat house that makes a mean Pakistani Sloppy Joe. It’s official: fusion is in

Big Stories

Save Me From My Screen: How smartphone addiction is ruining our lives

Save Me From My Screen: How smartphone addiction is ruining our lives

Despite the do-not-disturb settings, time-spent reminders and ritual purging of apps, we’re still hopelessly obsessed with our devices. Dispatches from the digital minimalist movement

The $4-Million Girlfriend Experience: The thief, the cam girl and their whirlwind fraudulent romance

The $4-Million Girlfriend Experience: The thief, the cam girl and their whirlwind fraudulent romance

Stephanie Sahler was a cam girl. Ralph Puglisi was a man willing to pay anything for her doting attention. It was the perfect arrangement—until she realized that every penny he sent her was stolen

Dr. Ozempic: Inside the medical discovery that revolutionized weight loss

Dr. Ozempic: Inside the medical discovery that revolutionized weight loss

I was just a baby scientist when I discovered the hormone that made Ozempic possible. I had no idea how life-changing—and world-changing—that breakthrough would be

A behind-the-curtain look at the insatiable political ambitions of Doug Ford

A behind-the-curtain look at the insatiable political ambitions of Doug Ford

Is Ontario’s pugnacious premier charting a course for Ottawa? He definitely isn’t not considering a run for prime minister. A long, hard look at the populist’s playbook

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

Game Over: Inside fallen Toronto Raptor Jontay Porter’s sports betting scandal

Game Over: Inside fallen Toronto Raptor Jontay Porter’s sports betting scandal

As the pivotal member of a notorious betting ring, Porter was playing for another team. The story of a cheater, his bookmakers and the wager that brought them all down

Megan Savard for the Defence: Meet the lawyer representing a player at the centre of the Hockey Canada trial

Megan Savard for the Defence: Meet the lawyer representing a player at the centre of the Hockey Canada trial

She’s fierce, shrewd and relentless. And she doesn’t just want to win—she wants to dismantle the prison system altogether

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

To fellow tourists he met around the world, Jeffery Shuman was a semi-retired developer with a bright smile, an even tan and a fat wallet. In truth, he was a legendary bank robber on the run from the Toronto police and the US Marshals

Anchor Man: Fox News host John Roberts on Trump, the trade war and the American psyche

Anchor Man: Fox News host John Roberts on Trump, the trade war and the American psyche

If Fox News seems an unlikely landing spot for a guy who got his start pumping out Platinum Blonde on MuchMusic, you probably haven’t heard his thoughts about joining the notorious network, the Canada–US relationship and what he misses most about Toronto

Trump's Loss, Toronto's Gain: Meet the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries ditching the US and moving north

Trump’s Loss, Toronto’s Gain: Meet the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries ditching the US and moving north

They’re coming from Big Law, the Ivy League, arts institutes and beyond, brimming with smarts and energy and united by a common cause: avoiding the carnage of Donald Trump. True tales from the brain gain

The Magic Lab: How chemist and computer scientist Alán Aspuru-Guzik brought self-driving laboratories from Harvard to Toronto

The Magic Lab: How chemist and computer scientist Alán Aspuru-Guzik brought self-driving laboratories from Harvard to Toronto

Aspuru-Guzik and his multinational team of mad scientists are combining chemistry, robotics and AI to fight climate change, streamline organ transplants and supercharge the scientific method. How did their lab end up at the University of Toronto? In a word: Trump

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

The Joy of Sex with Strangers: A Toronto hotwife’s adventures in ethical non-monogamy

The Joy of Sex with Strangers: A Toronto hotwife’s adventures in ethical non-monogamy

Three months ago, I was a suburban mom in a monogamous relationship. Now I’m sleeping with people I meet online—with my husband’s blessing—and we’ve never been happier. Don’t judge us until you’ve read our story

The Scandal, the Firing and the Fallout: Anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC

The Scandal, the Firing and the Fallout: Anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC

Nadine Ahn was a high-ranking executive at the bank. Ken Mason, her subordinate, was rapidly promoted. Then someone claimed to see them canoodling at the Royal York, tipped off HR and triggered an inquisition

Just Listed

For Sale: 25 North Drive

For Sale: 25 North Drive

Leave the city in the city

For Sale: 25 Strathgowan Crescent

For Sale: 25 Strathgowan Crescent

This Grande Dame of Lawrence Park is an absolute treasure

For Sale: 9 Audubon Court

For Sale: 9 Audubon Court

Welcome to 9 Audubon Court, a Mid-Century Modern retreat among the treetops

For Sale: 500 Wellington St W PH1001

For Sale: 500 Wellington St W PH1001

Experience unparalleled luxury in this breathtaking 6,200 sq. ft. penthouse, designed to perfection including a private 2,000 sq. ft. rooftop terrace, complete with a raised glass pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, and unobstructed panoramic city views.

For Sale: 1445 Islington Avenue

For Sale: 1445 Islington Avenue

Welcome to 1445 Islington, a stunning property located in highly sought-after Edenbridge-Humber Valley