Explore every episode of the podcast blogTO
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| This is the story behind Blake Street in Toronto | 30 Nov 2020 | 00:19:46 | |
Rod Cohen has been the Executive Director of the Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach Service on Blake Street for over 30 years. The small, hidden street played a big part in the development of Toronto, and has a mysterious charm. However, there are some unique challenges faced by the community of state-of-the-art public housing, as it is sandwiched between more affluent neighbourhoods like Leslieville and Riverdale, who according to Cohen, have refused to asknowledge its existence. | |||
| Exploring Toronto's sexy past from Sir Sandford Fleming to Elizabeth Taylor | 26 Nov 2020 | 00:27:03 | |
Adam Bunch is the host of the Canadiana web series, and the author of both the Toronto Book of the Dead, and the forthcoming Toronto Book of Love. We explore a few different stories of love, jealousy, divorce, scandal, and dedication, like that time Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton got engaged at the King Edward hotel, or when Sandford Fleming broke up with his girlfriend over a sunset. | |||
| Nude beaches and resorts near Toronto and the rising popularity of naturism | 01 Oct 2020 | 00:17:28 | |
If you've ever been curious about naturism, which is slightly different than nudism, Greg Snow, the president of the Federation of Canadian Naturists and resident of Bare Oaks talks about the misconceptions and benefits of being nude in public, and why as a first-timer he wouldn’t go to Hanlan’s Point to de-robe. Just don't forget your towel, and mask! | |||
| Little Jamaica in Toronto at risk from transit-based gentrification | 29 Sep 2020 | 00:15:17 | |
Canadian rapper Cadence Weapon moved to Toronto about five years ago, he wrote a song called High Rise. The tune is about the lack of affordable housing, and the negative effects of gentrification, especially when it comes to racialized neighbourhoods, like Little Jamaica. We discuss what can be done to help protect the cultural and musical history along the stretch of Eglinton West, as well as the people who have lived and worked there for decades. | |||
| Canada's Drag Race winner Priyanka is more than just Toronto's most famous queen | 22 Sep 2020 | 00:21:14 | |
As the first winner of the first season of Canada's Drag Race, Priyanka discusses going through a once-in-a-lifetime experience during a pandemic, balancing drag with a day job, and coming to terms with being gay. Plus, which Toronto queens should be on season two of the show (if there is one), and prior to all those Emmy wins, had Priyanka, or anyone, heard from Rupaul? | |||
| Introducing the blogTO podcast | 18 Sep 2020 | 00:01:46 | |
We love Toronto, and we want to shout it from the mountaintops! Of course, we know the city isn't perfect (it's far from it), but we want to tell the stories, and talk to the people who make it weird and wonderful. Hosted by Dani Stover, regular episodes will shine a light on the corners of Toronto you never knew existed and the ones you've always wanted to know more about. | |||
| Why this tiny Toronto restaurant is eliminating tipping | 13 Aug 2020 | 00:16:37 | |
Toronto police are warning the public of a string of incidents involving a creepy man harassing women in a white SUV. A bar and music venue that has been around for 74 years is closing because of a dispute with their landlord. Plus, Ten Restaurant at 1132 College Street is reopening next week with safety measures in place and 18 per cent added to the bill to abolish tipping. While not the first to do this, the move was met with a lot of hate online. | |||
| What it's like to be a graffiti artist in Toronto | 12 Aug 2020 | 00:15:30 | |
A Toronto restaurant group is implementing a 15% tip on all takeout orders. Out-of-towners tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting a Muskoka resort over the August long weekend. The city just introduced a new online reservation system for gyms and swimming pools. Plus, what it's like to be a working graffiti artist in the city, and how the community feels about people vandalizing their work. | |||
| How one Toronto strip club has reopened in Stage 3 and what's different | 11 Aug 2020 | 00:12:57 | |
Premier Doug Ford is happy for Russia, but is a little skeptical of the country's new coronavirus vaccine. Ontario reported just 33 new cases of COVID-19. Weather radar near Lake Erie captured hundreds of thousands of birds. Plus, Toronto's iconic gentlemen's club, Filmores Hotel, has reopened in Stage 3, and they still have no plans to close, despite the building being sold to developers. | |||
| Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia has some advice for disappointed Maple Leaf lovers | 10 Aug 2020 | 00:13:46 | |
Toronto police responded to a strange incident on Cherry Beach where two bloodied men were brandishing chainsaws. Ontario announced a $6 million grant program to help police buy more surveillance cameras. A customer lashed out at employees at a nail salon on Queen West, and made an anti-Asian racist remark. Plus, Superfan Nav Bhatia has been keeping busy, even without Raptors basketball, but now that it's back, he's forced to watch most of the games at home. | |||
| This inclusive new cycling club is taking over the streets of Toronto | 07 Aug 2020 | 00:14:41 | |
Doug Ford called Donald Trump a "backstabber" after the US president slapped tariffs on all aluminum imports. Canada plans to fight back with their own tariffs, to the tune of $3.6 billion. A popular French restaurant in Little India that was set to take off in 2020 announced they will close permanently at the end of the month. Plus, Man Dem Cycling Club started as a bit of a joke, but has quickly transformed into an inclusive collective of Toronto bike enthusiasts. | |||
| Site of demolished high school in Toronto has turned into a beach with no water | 06 Aug 2020 | 00:17:34 | |
Another crane collapsed into an intersection in Regent Park today, causing a power outage, and thankfully, no major injuries. A massive service disruption affected Bell and Telus customers in parts of Ontario. Plus, the site of a demolished high school in Bloordale Village has been reclaimed by the neighbourhood, and turned into a beach with no water. | |||
| This is what it's really like to live on the Toronto Islands | 19 Nov 2020 | 00:14:12 | |
Julian Ganton has found himself back living on the Toronto Islands where he and his family grew up. He also runs Toronto Island SUP, and is passionate about preserving and documenting the unique wetlands. As a full-time Islander, Julian talks about what it was like having to swim home after missing the last ferry, the cool wildlife, the trash problem, and the healing power of connecting with nature. | |||
| This Toronto doctor is helping gyms to reopen safely through behavioural studies and simulations | 05 Aug 2020 | 00:14:38 | |
Toronto's Medical Officer of Health says that the first weekend of Stage 3 in the city was a success. A server at a North York restaurant was fired for putting a racial slur on a customer's receipt. Neighbours of Dutch Dreams keep calling health inspectors because of overcrowding and littering, but these problems are not COVID-specific. Plus, as fitness centres reopen across the province, two frontline physicians have created simulations of common workout situations to address safety at gyms. | |||
| Toronto restaurant known for its Belgian-style fries has permanently closed | 04 Aug 2020 | 00:12:21 | |
The NBA is back, and the Toronto Raptors are off to a good re-start, even though they're playing in front of virtual fans only. Doug Ford says the pandemic could last until 2021 without a vaccine, and that 10-person bubbles will not be expanding anytime soon. Plus, a popular restaurant known for its Belgian-style fries, and creative poutines, has had to close due to a massive drop in tourism and foot traffic in Kensington Market. | |||
| The back-to-school plan in Ontario lacks empathy and creativity according to Liberal party leader | 31 Jul 2020 | 00:17:08 | |
A customer at a downtown Pizza Pizza completely lost it over someone not wearing a face mask. A restaurant in the Financial District has decided to ban tipping, and will raise prices by an average of 18 per cent. Plus, the PC's released their back-to-school plan, and according to Ontario's Liberal Leader, it lacks empathy, and may actually have a negative impact on the province's economic recovery. | |||
| What the future holds for Paradise on Bloor as Toronto moves into Stage 3 | 30 Jul 2020 | 00:17:36 | |
The Ontario government announced that kids will go back to school in September, and unveiled a plan that includes face masks and screening measures for staff and students. Cineplex will open 25 movie theatres across the province on Friday. Plus, the newly-opened Paradise on Bloor, which houses restaurant Osteria Rialto and Bar Biltmore, was hugely impacted by the lockdown. What does the future hold for spaces like these as Toronto moves into Stage 3? | |||
| How a Toronto artist got the Raptors to wear her BLM face masks | 29 Jul 2020 | 00:17:25 | |
Doug Ford announced that Toronto and Peel Region will be permitted to move into Stage 3 starting Friday. This means gathering limits will increase, and more businesses can reopen, however there are some specific rules for the GTA. Ontario reported fewer than 100 new COVID-19 cases for the first time since March. Plus, local artist and designer Nadia Lloyd is the woman behind the city's most popular face masks spotted on Mayor John Tory and Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. | |||
| Black Lives Matter organizer Ravyn Wngz on going viral following Toronto protests | 28 Jul 2020 | 00:19:20 | |
A racist claiming to be a teacher, told a woman who was reading in a Toronto park to, "go back to China," among other things. A popular Queen West restaurant known for its tasting menus announced it would be closing. Fewer than 10 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the GTA today. Plus, BLM's Ravyn Wngz talks about her powerful viral video, ongoing protests to abolish the police and put an end to anti-Black racism, and the first annual march for Regis Korchinski-Paquet. | |||
| Doug Ford goes off on yahoos who attended massive house party in Brampton | 27 Jul 2020 | 00:15:22 | |
Premier Doug Ford had lots to say about a 200-person party that Peel Region police broke up in Brampton on Saturday. Hanlan's Point Beach on the Toronto Islands was packed this weekend, and people under 40 make up over half of today's new COVID-19 cases in Ontario. Plus, after Metrolinx went back on their word to build a community hub for the Jane-Finch neighbourhood, resident Tiffany Ford talks about why this type of space would be essential for the community, and what happens next. | |||
| What to expect as teams arrive in Toronto for the restart of the NHL season | 24 Jul 2020 | 00:17:38 | |
A raccoon was caught doing a few laps in a backyard pool. As more regions in Ontario moved into Stage 3 today, people were lining up outside of gyms in Markham and Vaughan. The Blue Jays will officially be playing home games out of Buffalo this year. Plus, as teams start to arrive in Toronto for the restart of the NHL season, what can be expected in regards to safety protocols, amenities and TV broadcasts. | |||
| Tenants of a Toronto condo forced to share plunger after new toilets installed | 23 Jul 2020 | 00:14:44 | |
The Weeknd just debuted a new video for his single Snowchild that features some animated scenes of the city. Protesters interrupted Mayor John Tory's press conference to demand a moratorium on evictions after Bill 184 was passed into law. A CityPlace condo installed efficient, new toilets that require a communal, industrial plunger. Plus, if you're comfortable venturing out for a meal, Knockout Chicken in Kensington Market has a patio and daily combo deals. | |||
| This Toronto-based app is like Shopify for restaurants | 22 Jul 2020 | 00:21:40 | |
A disturbing video shows a rude TTC passenger pushing a bus driver past her breaking point. A Pizza Hut in Scarborough is taking action after unsanitary food handling was caught on camera. A new BiWay concept store is officially opening this fall near Yorkdale Mall. Plus, Nav Sangha on the development, and future of his Ambassador app, and the resilience of Toronto's restaurant industry. | |||
| This is how Sook-Yin Lee became a VJ at MuchMusic and what she's up to now | 12 Nov 2020 | 00:28:36 | |
Sook-Yin Lee recalls her time at MuchMusic in the 90s and early 2000s, including the unexpected job offer from Moses Znaimer that started it all. She talks about the move to Toronto, her memorable first day, celebrities, Speaker's Corner, and having the freedom to be experimental on television. Lee also touches on her current project, a feature film called Death and Sickness, made entirely at home during lockdown. | |||
| What can be done to stop gun violence in Toronto that does not involve more policing | 21 Jul 2020 | 00:19:40 | |
Chair girl, Marcella Zoia was finally sentenced, and faces two years of probation. Doug Ford told young people to not go to parties after Ontario saw a spike in new cases, with over half showing up in people 39 years of age or younger. The Eaton Centre is undergoing a deep clean after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. Plus, Louis March, the man behind the Zero Gun Violence Movement talks about how to change the political landscape in Toronto, and actually create safer communities for everyone. | |||
| Toronto restaurant server fired for writing CHINA on couple's bill | 17 Jul 2020 | 00:04:57 | |
DJ Khaled released two new songs today featuring Drake rapping in French. A new video is circulating of a woman being racist on the TTC, and a server at a restaurant in Scarborough was fired for writing "CHINA" on an Asian's couple's bill. The SIU says they will release the results of the investigation into Regis Korchinski-Paquet's death after a second post-mortem to be completed in August. | |||
| What the bills being debated at Queen's Park this week mean for the future of Ontario | 16 Jul 2020 | 00:16:42 | |
The guy who was caught on video screaming at staff at a Mississauga T&T Supermarket over having to wear a mask finally surrendered to police. A crane collapsed at a downtown construction site, and Toronto's most famous crepe restaurant has closed after almost 20 years in business. Plus, delving into the three bills that will likely pass at Queen's Park that deal with emergency orders, reopening the province, economic recovery and evictions. | |||
| The Beaver is closing after 14 years in Toronto | 15 Jul 2020 | 00:12:28 | |
Flights with confirmed cases of COVID-19 keep landing in Toronto's Pearson Airport, and the federal government is keeping track. An award-winning wine bar and restaurant in Yorkville is closing permanently. Plus, Lynn MacNeil and Will Munro opened The Beaver in 2006, and operated as a safe space that celebrated queer identities for 14 years. Now, the beloved Queen West bar, restaurant, gallery and club is shutting down. | |||
| Chef Suzanne Barr on the injustices that BIPOC-owned restaurants are facing in Toronto | 14 Jul 2020 | 00:22:59 | |
Toronto's first location of SoulCycle on King West has shut down suddenly, leaving members and staff in the dark. Scientists and U of T confirm effectiveness of a new mask that deactivates the coronavirus. Plus, True True Diner has closed permanently, but co-owner and chef, Suzanne Barr says it wasn't just because of the pandemic, and speaks to the injustices that BIPOC-owned businesses are facing. | |||
| Ontario just drastically increased the limit on social gatherings | 13 Jul 2020 | 00:13:31 | |
Premier Doug Ford announced that 24 of Ontario's 34 public health regions will be permitted to reopen in Stage 3 this Friday. This also means there will be an increase in social gathering limits, which doesn't include the GTA. The NHL officially announced that Toronto will be a hub city for the resumption of the 2019-2020 season. Plus, local influencer Feraud Porcelain talks about the importance of representation in the makeup and beauty scene. | |||
| Someone was attacked on King West for filming busy patios | 10 Jul 2020 | 00:17:06 | |
Someone was attacked from behind for capturing a video of busy patios on King West that leave little space for pedestrians. Peel police have identified the man who went on a racist tirade at T&T Supermarket in Mississauga this week, and an afternoon shooting at Scarborough Town Centre has left at least one person injured. Plus, the new mask bylaw in Toronto is proving to be very divisive, so how can individuals and businesses better manage conflict when it arises? | |||
| This Toronto pizza place operates out of a house in Riverdale on Saturdays only | 09 Jul 2020 | 00:09:10 | |
A man has been charged following an incident caught on video showing a TTC operator in an altercation with a passenger who allegedly spat on him. Someone is raising money for the T&T Supermarket employees targetted by a racist anti-mask rant. The city will start restricting parking at popular beaches to prevent parties and crowding. Plus, the guy behind One Night Only Pizza, a small venture operating out of a home in Riverdale, has plans for a post-pandemic pop-up. | |||
| Man goes on racist tirade over having to wear a mask at Mississauga supermarket | 08 Jul 2020 | 00:12:38 | |
A man went on a racist rant at a T&T Supermarket in Mississauga because he was asked to wear a mask. A popular family-owned toy store chain has filed for bankruptcy, and will be selling off all their inventory. Plus, this Toronto-based online platform that connects you with certified professionals for in-home beauty treatments may be the "new normal" for the industry. | |||
| People take to Toronto streets to protest mandatory mask bylaw | 07 Jul 2020 | 00:16:46 | |
Things got intense as hundreds in opposition of Bill 184 rallied outside of Mayor John Tory's Yorkville condo yesterday. Doug Ford plans to extend Ontario's state of emergency at least one more time. People took to the streets and subways to protest the new mandatory mask bylaw that went into effect in Toronto today. Plus, CBC’s Ty Harper talks about his new limited series podcast that explores the hip hop scene in Canada, and anti-black racism within the music industry, through a Drake lens. | |||
| The making of Today's Special and how it was the wackiest TV show in Toronto history | 06 Nov 2020 | 00:18:06 | |
Nina Keogh talks about working in children's television in the 70s, 80s and 90s, on shows like The Friendly Giant, Polka Dot Door, and Today's Special, where she took on the role of the rhyming mouse, Muffy. She also discusses growing up with a family of puppeteers, the logistics behind operating one for TV, and getting freaked out by mannequins while filming after-hours at the old Simpsons department store. | |||
| Injured woman escorted out of Toronto hospital after refusing to wear a mask | 06 Jul 2020 | 00:14:00 | |
A woman was asked to leave the emergency department at St. Joseph's Health Centre because she refused to wear a mask. Speaking of which, Toronto's mandatory mask bylaw comes into effect tomorrow, and there are some things you should know. A photographer had his gear stolen at a protest at Nathan Phillips Square this weekend, and it was caught on video. Plus, what to expect at the new Immersive Van Gogh art exhibit that is now open to the public. | |||
| Toronto restaurant owner bans customer over one-star review | 30 Jun 2020 | 00:23:10 | |
A chef and restaurant owner in Toronto effectively banned a customer after a one-star review. Toronto will soon make it mandatory to wear a mask or face-covering where physical distancing is difficult, or impossible. Syrus Marcus Ware and Rajean Hoilett from the Toronto Prisoners' Rights Project discuss the city council's vote against the motion to defund the police. Plus, who profits off the jail and prison systems, and what are some alternatives to incarceration? | |||
| Legal aid clinic in Toronto wants you to know your rights as a protester | 29 Jun 2020 | 00:12:24 | |
The Weeknd just announced a huge donation to the Scarborough Health Network Foundation. A restaurant on King West had to change its rules after a busy weekend and large crowds. Ontario saw a spike in new COVID-19 cases, and someone stole an 800-pound photo radar camera from a Parkdale intersection. Plus, what you can and can’t do as a protester from the Black Legal Action Centre in Toronto. | |||
| Toronto is home to Canada's largest independent LGBTQ2+ archive | 26 Jun 2020 | 00:19:45 | |
Mayor John Tory announced that transportation services will start issuing tickets using speed enforcement cameras in the city. Kingston is blaming people from the GTA for a new COVID-19 outbreak. Plus, documenting a pandemic, and the importance of history for folks who live in the margins, from Canada's largest independent LGBTQ2+ archive in Toronto's Church Wellesley Village. | |||
| Toronto's King of Clubs on the future of nightlife | 25 Jun 2020 | 00:15:50 | |
Chuck E. Cheese officially filed for bankruptcy protection, and a popular buffet restaurant is shutting down all of its Canadian locations. A six-day sit-in has been taking place outside of City Hall, and Nathan Philip's Square almost completely covered in tents. Plus, what does the future of nightclubs look like? Toronto's "King of Clubs" Charles Khabouth talks about the perils of the pandemic, his plans to build a drive-in, the Guvernment (RIP), and what you can expect at the new Cabana Waterfront Patio. | |||
| The problem with cops on campus at Ryerson University | 24 Jun 2020 | 00:20:13 | |
Toronto enters Stage 2 today, which means many patios, malls and salons opened, while the province officially extended its state of emergency for the sixth time. Toronto Islands are reopening to the public this weekend as ferry service resumes. Plus, a discussion about police versus policing, and why Ryerson students, past and present are fighting to permanently remove cops from the campus. | |||
| What it's like opening a restaurant in Toronto during a pandemic | 23 Jun 2020 | 00:11:42 | |
Ontario is updating its math curriculum for the first time in 15 years, and will now include personal finance and coding skills. Sauble Beach is closing down to residents and tourists alike because of wreckless day-trippers from Toronto. Plus, what it's like to open a successful restaurant during a pandemic, and what the future holds for the new Aunty Lucy's in Parkdale. | |||
| Doug Ford announces that Toronto can finally enter Stage 2 of reopening | 22 Jun 2020 | 00:18:34 | |
Doug Ford announced that Toronto and Peel regions will be allowed to enter Stage 2 this Wednesday, which means salons, patios, malls and more can reopen with safety protocols in place. Summer weather brought hundreds of people, and their garbage, to two local beaches this weekend. Plus, the first season of Drag Race Canada debuts on July 2, and it features lots of Toronto talent. Hosts Brooke Lynn Hytes, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Stacey McKenzie talk about what they're looking for in the next drag superstar. | |||
| Director X on fighting the gun violence crisis in Toronto | 19 Jun 2020 | 00:16:13 | |
Ontario released a few scenarios for how schools can reopen in September, with a plan for moving forward. Doug Ford rejected the plan to eliminate six statutory holidays for frontline retail workers. For the sixth day in a row, the province's new COVID-19 case numbers have come in below 200. Plus, as another brazen shooting took the life of at least one person near St. Clair West and Lansdowne today, Director X talks about the program he wants to bring to Toronto to tackle gun violence in the city. | |||
| Toronto fashion designer to debut Strange Fruit line as part of virtual runway series | 18 Jun 2020 | 00:15:31 | |
Public health officials reported under 200 new COVID-19 cases in Ontario for the fifth consecutive day. Doug Ford plans to extend the state of emergency yet again, and police just made the largest fentanyl bust in the history of the province. Plus, Toronto designer Mic Carter of L'uomo Strano has created a fashion line called Strange Fruit, inspired by Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, that will make its debut at a virtual runway show in a secret location. | |||
| This is what it's like to live on a private street in Toronto | 03 Nov 2020 | 00:23:15 | |
Former Percy Street resident of 23 years, Cynthia Wilkey talks about what it was like to live on a private laneway in Toronto's Corktown neighbourhood. Plus, Wilkey touches on the mysterious wad of cash that was found in her rafters during renovations in 1988, and the unprecedented court case that followed.
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| Students call out U of T's Trinity College for perpetuating anti-Black racism | 17 Jun 2020 | 00:18:04 | |
It was one year ago today that the Raptors celebrated their NBA championship win with a parade through downtown Toronto, and a rally at Nathan Phillips Square. A city lawyer predicts a spike in divorces when courts reopen. Masks are now mandatory on the TTC, and new COVID-19 cases in Ontario are under 200 for the fourth day in a row. Plus, a student who spoke out against systemic racism at U of T's Trinity College talks about her experience, and what can be done to promote diversity and inclusivity. | |||
| Gandhi Indian Cuisine is closing permanently after 25 years in Toronto | 16 Jun 2020 | 00:12:32 | |
Ontario has banned singing and dancing on restaurant patios. The average monthly price for one-bedroom units in Toronto continues to drop, and according to a new survey, 10% of residents say they will never take the TTC again, even with safety measures in place. The province reported fewer than 200 new COVID-19 cases for the third day in a row. Plus, Gandhi Cuisine, known for its East Indian rotis, is closing permanently after 25 years at Queen West and Bathurst. | |||
| This initiative provides food support to people affected by the pandemic in Toronto's Black community | 15 Jun 2020 | 00:15:37 | |
Doug Ford announced today that regions previously excluded from reopening, can move into Stage 2 this week. Toronto is one of three regions that cannot, but that probably won't stop people from making day trips out of town to get a haircut. COVID-19 case numbers out of Ontario are under 200 for the second day in a row. Plus, the Afri-Can Food Basket is a champion of food justice, and they are building a team to fight food insecurity in the African, Caribbean, and Black communities in Toronto. | |||
| Everything you need to know about getting tested for COVID-19 in Toronto right now | 12 Jun 2020 | 00:13:31 | |
For the first time since March, Ontario recorded less than 200 new COVID-19 cases. Stage 2 of reopening the province rolls out today, but not here in Toronto. However, it was just announced that social circles of up to ten people can start mixing without adhering to physical distancing rules. Brampton is now one of Canada's top coronavirus hotspots. Plus, everything you need to know about testing right now, including when the best time to go is, and asymptomatic versus presymptomatic. | |||