Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau releases her new book, Closer Together, on April 23. It’s about her life, her journey of self-discovery and how to live authentically in an increasingly stressed out world.
Streets of Toronto spoke with Grégoire-Trudeau about the book and her life since recent events.
You had a big change in yourown life in August. How are younow, and how did the lessonsyou are writing about help you?
You know, I believe that we sit with very ingrained concepts of what relationships are, especially when it comes to love in our society. You know, successes, marriage failures, divorce — I think that we are immature, relationally and emotionally. And unfortunately, the children bear the brunt of this. We [Justin and I] can be an example of restructuring a relationship without having to kill the relationship, we can be an example of still loving each other, respecting each other, helping each other, being there for each other, even if paths become more parallel than one on top of the other.
Do you see relationships as beinginherently difficult for everyone?
The only difficult thing with relationships is that it’s two things. The reason why we have so much conflict is that we object to the difference, we don’t like difference. We think people see the world the same way we do, but that’s not the case. And then, you know, when we feel insecure in ourselves, we object even in a greater manner to difference, because difference threatens us. And if you look at the state of the world right now, that would be its greatest reflection. If we do the work of being secure in ourselves and accepting ourselves for who we are, that’s the greatest work we’ll ever do in a lifetime.
Did writing this book give youa fresh start or new perspective?
The process of writing is cathartic. It is a process that, if you allow it to be, it deepens your self-knowledge. I also had the opportunity to interview such an incredible array of experts — neuroscientists, couples therapists, children’s therapists, couples specialists. So it was a learning curve for me as well. And I kept thinking, “Oh my God, everything that I’m learning right now I want to share with other people.” And I’m kind of like that in my personality, because I’m an only child. So if I have something, I’m like, “OK, who wants to play?”
What did you find mostchallenging about the process?
Sitting my bum on a chair for hours. I’m very interested in sports, I love to move. But I also learned how to sit in meditation through the years, which is kind of a little bit counter to my personality, but it is true to our nature. The most potent version of ourselves is calm and rested. We tend to forget about that when we grow up in a society of competition and comparison.
If people take one lesson fromthis book, what would that be?
Your truth will set you free. It’s Michael J. Fox who says that we’re only as sick as our secrets: when we hide from our own selves, when we wear the mask because we hurt — and we all are co-dependent in some ways, right? We need human connection to thrive.
It’s hard for people to go deepinside their own selves though.
If you’re able to have the courage to open up inside of yourself and dive deep and befriend your silence and befriend your pain, your life, your brain, your relationships will shift in a way you won’t even believe. We have to break open in order for the light to get in. As Leonard Cohen said, ‘There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in,” which is deeply philosophical.
How important is it for peopleto embrace a mental health orwellness practice in this society?
The art of mindfulness — whether it’s sitting in silence, whether it’s yoga, whether it’s Tai Chi, Qigong, going for walks in nature or just lying down on the floor and putting your hands over your heart — whatever you choose, it doesn’t matter, as long as you can — I can’t swear — but, slow the F down.
So what’s next for you?
You know what? There’s one thing that we have to live with and also embrace and that’s uncertainty. I have a lot of ideas. But I’m OK now with living with uncertainty. It makes me emotional, just to say that because we all do [live with uncertainty], right? And I think of all the people who have no certainty in their lives, right? And I want to help out.
The Shrouds, the latest cinematic offering from celebrated Toronto director David Cronenberg, is slated for its world premiere at the upcoming Festival de Cannes. The film, boasting an ensemble cast including Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger, Guy Pearce, and Sandrine Holt, will later make its debut in Canadian theaters.
Renowned for his distinctive storytelling, Cronenberg wrote and directed The Shrouds, continuing his exploration of avant-garde themes. The movie, featuring Cassel, Kruger, Pearce, and Holt, delves into the life of a grieving businessman who creates a groundbreaking technology, GraveTech, allowing the living to stay connected with the dead. The narrative unfolds as the protagonist seeks justice for the desecration of his wife’s grave, a journey that promises to captivate audiences with its profound emotional and ethical inquiries.
“Being selected for the Cannes Film Festival is an immense honour, but to return for the seventh time is incredibly humbling. I look forward to sharing this film with the world on such a prestigious stage,” said Cronenberg.
This Cannes selection marks Cronenberg’s seventh film to compete at the prestigious festival, where his work has previously earned a Special Jury Award for Crash and a Best Actress Award for Maps to the Stars. Cronenberg’s reunion with actor Vincent Cassel, with whom he previously collaborated on Eastern Promises and A Dangerous Method, adds an element of anticipation for fans of their earlier work.
“For me, art isn’t comfortable. Comfort is for entertainment, not for art,” said Cronenberg, in a previous interview for Streets of Toronto. “All art aspires to is to explore different and perhaps not common ways of perceiving things.”
Filmed in Toronto in 2023, The Shrouds not only highlights Cronenberg’s continued fascination with the macabre and the innovative but also sets the stage for a compelling discourse on technology, loss, and human connection. The film’s selection for Cannes underscores its potential to resonate with contemporary audiences and critics alike.
According to a panel of expert judges, a Toronto pizzeria is making one of the best pies in the country.
On Tuesday, Sotirios Tzakis, owner of Descendent Pizza in Leslieville, showcased his award-winning pie during the pizza competition at the Restaurants Canada Show.
Securing the top spot in the Creative Pizza category, Tzakis brings home a $3,000 cash prize, a Sunmix dough mixer worth $3,500 the chance to represent Canada at the International Pizza Challenge during Pizza Expo in Las Vegas next year — and of course those bragging rights!
Judges for the event included Dominic Primucci, President of Pizza Nova, Rocco Agostino executive chef and partner at Pizzeria Libretto Restaurant Group and Alida Solomon, chef and owner of Tutti Matti.
“I would like to thank all of our customers and everyone who participated in the national pizza competition for choosing Descendant as the winner of the 2024 national pizza competition and giving us the opportunity to represent Canada in Las Vegas next year,” Tzakis proudly captioned an Instagram post alongside a picture of him holding the winning cheque.
@descendant_pizza/Instagram
Descendant Pizza opened its doors in 2015, and Tzakis took over ownership in 2021. “My parents used to have a little mom and pop shop back in Boston, and I grew up just making pizza for them,'” he said in a YouTube video.
Torontonians aren’t the only fans of Descendant’s pizza. In 2002, during Dave Portnoy’s visit to Toronto to promote his partnership with The Score’s sports betting app, he sampled slices at pizzerias spanning from Etobicoke to Leslieville, including Descendant.
In total, Portnoy visited 16 pizzerias in the city, and Descendant ranked in fourth place with a very respectable score of 8.1 out of a possible 10.
If you haven’t yet tasted the pie at Descendant, now’s your chance to try one of their delicious ‘upside-down’ pizzas like the Truff-Guy or Daddy’s Favourite. Visit them at 1168 Queen St. E.
Just minutes away from the Michelin-recommended restaurant Ardo, partners in business and life Jacqueline Nicosia and Chef Roberto Marotta unveil their third venture together. While maintaining their signature Sicilian flair and commitment to quality, as seen at both Ardo and their second location, Dova, Bar Ardo offers a worldly influence with dishes, drinks, decor and all around atmosphere inspired by their travels across the globe.
“It’s all the little things that have inspired us over the last fifteen years, from the dishes and drinks we’ve had, restaurants we’ve gone to, people we’ve met in different countries, and how the culture intertwines with the dishes,” says Nicosia.
The space offers an Old World meets art deco design with three eye-grabbing works by Sergio Fiorentino serving as the heart of the dining room, surrounded by a white-brick wall, a sparkling bar top, and hanging golden light fixtures.
@bar.ardo/Instagram
“One of the things we love when we’re in other countries is how people dine out to enjoy that aspect of life,” says Marotta. “There’s an effortless pleasure that people have in dining out, so we wanted to bring that here to the East End.”
From Spanish paprika to North African seeds, diners will discover a diverse array of cultural influences across the menu.
During a trip to New Orleans, exploring the large Sicilian communities in New Orleans inspired the Muffaletta — a sandwich with mortadella, fennel salami, provolone and giardiniera. In contrast, the vegan-friendly centriole, takes influence from the Middle East and Italy, made with cucumbers and pureed white beans. Other dishes come from Marotto’s own heritage, like the cavolfiore which his own grandmother regularly made for him as a child.
At Bar Ardo, patrons can indulge in shareplates and a curated selection of late-night offerings. Even the full meal items are priced moderately — a deliberate choice by the couple to maintain accessibility for the Ardo community. They aim to ensure that diners can return time after time without feeling the pinch on their wallets.
“We’re reaching a very interesting moment in the economy,” says Marotta. “We find that people limit the time they go out. Dining out has become very expensive because of rising cost of food, so we tried to offer a plate that is approachable with good value based on the price point to encourage people to go back to dining out.”
@bar.ardo/Instagram
In addition to Bar Ardo’s Italian-heavy wine list and original spins on the classics – like an espresso martini with Sicilian olive oil and Maldon salt or a penicillin with mezcal and pear nectar — the bar has also made waves for their wide selection of zero-percent drinks.
“It’s not about drinking or not drinking. It’s about having a choice,” says Nicosia.
From the refreshing Pilot Life, crafted with zero-percent gin, cucumber, snap peas, lime, mint and sparkling bubbles, to zero-percent versions of classic cocktails like penicillin, margarita and cosmopolitan, Bar Ardo offers a variety of options from its temperance section. These thirst-quenchers ensure a pleasurable drinking experience without the worry of a morning headache.
Just as Bar Ardo is a “diary” of Nicosia and Marotta’s travels, the couple are hopeful that the restaurant will become part of so many other stories, following in the footsteps of its sister restaurants which have been the setting for many first dates, anniversaries and celebrations.
“We have all these people that have a different connection to Ardo in a different way, so it’s been really special hearing all of these stories,” says Nicosia. “It’s a very special feeling to know that this space means so much to so many people.”
Just in time for summer, there’s a new shop on Ossington where you can buy all the adornments for your inner beach goddess. Shop owner Silvina Antunes is part-vintage curator and part-crochet designer. With long mermaid-esque hair, and an ever-rotating wardrobe of bright, whimsical outfits, Antunes perfectly suits the vibe of her brand, On the Map.
Her colourful, detailed creations come in every shape you can imagine — from bucket hats, shrugs and sweaters to festival tops and full-length dresses. The rest of her shop is stocked with her favourite vintage pieces including everyday Y2K apparel, ’70s bell bottoms and bohemian tops and ’80s sequined party dresses.
It may as well be her own personal closet, and yet you can walk into it right off of Ossington and College at 454 Ossington Ave. While she’s overjoyed to start sharing her personal taste with the neighbourhood, Antunes says that four years ago, she never would have imagined herself operating a retail business.
Though she was always a vintage shopper and began knitting in high school, she was set on a different career path. In 2013, she was studying international development, and taught herself to crochet simply to keep herself from getting bored during the summer break.
Soon enough, Antunes found herself unable to put her crochet hooks down. “I became kind of obsessed with it,” she says. “I was making all kinds of clothes for myself and eventually started giving stuff away to my friends because I was stockpiling it in my house. That’s when people suggested that I try selling it.”
But her plan was to work overseas when she graduated, so she began applying for jobs while working at a bar. It seemed unlikely that she’d find time to dedicate herself to a crochet business — that is, until COVID hit and forced her to re-imagine her future.
Since everything was put on hold, she continued crocheting and opened up an Etsy shop she named Mudança (meaning “change” in Portuguese), which she quickly replaced with her own website. It wasn’t until she started doing the Toronto market circuit that she really found a foothold.
@onthemap.ca/Instagram
At one of the markets she was vending at, she signed up for half a booth and was paired with vintage curator and upcycler Bobby Raffin of Three Pieces Shop. “We just got along so well,” says Antunes, “I think our work looks great together. His style is a little more neutral than mine, but still has a beachy, kind of boho vibe.” The pair ended up sharing booths at numerous markets throughout 2022 and 2023, and developed a friendship.
It was under another tent at a market that they launched a conversation about opening a brick and mortar store. As it turned out, another vendor at the market owned a space in Guelph that he was looking to rent, and Raffin is a Guelph native so he was well acquainted with the community there. They made a date to see the space the following week and immediately fell in love.
“We kind of looked at each other and were like, ‘Are we going to open a store?’ and then three or four days later we signed a lease,” Antunes says. Neither of them had ever had a store before, but trusted that they could do it together. Antunes added her own thrifting practice to her business model, and began selling equal parts handmade and second-hand pieces. Their original plan was to use the space as a pop-up between September and December of 2023, but they had so much fun, they decided to stay indefinitely.
@onthemap.ca/Instagram
She didn’t intend to expand her business beyond that, until another opportunity presented itself: a family friend had a 200-square-foot space available on Ossington. Though she was nervous to venture out on her own, she knew the space was perfect for her — though you might not have guessed it at first glance, since every single wall was painted black.
After extensive cleaning, a new tile floor, and a hefty (colourful) paint job, Antunes managed to turn the space into her dream shop, On the Map.
“I had this vision for the store being somewhere that you go for the clothes you’re going to wear on vacation,” she says, “very colourful, very standout.” The store is open from Thursday to Sunday from 12-6 p.m., and she splits her time between Toronto and the Guelph location.
She’s grateful for Raffin, and the amount of passion that he has for the business. “We balance each other out well,” she says. “We’re always able to fill in for each other, and that really takes some of the stress out of running the business.”
Even for her Toronto location, she still bounces ideas off of Raffin. Her hope now is just to build her presence in the neighbourhood. “One of the best parts about jumping from markets to having a shop is the social interaction, and getting to meet and talk to customers more,” Antunes says. In Guelph, she has regulars who stop by the shop every Saturday after brunch and she’d love to be that place for Saturday shoppers on the Ossington strip.
Every once in a while, people still ask if she’s planning to look for a job in her field, but she feels she’s on a new path. “I’m so deep in it, I love it so much, and I get so much joy out of my work,” she says. “I can’t imagine any other job being this fun and this fulfilling.”
On April 3, Ottawa City Council declared the city the official ‘Shawarma Capital of Canada.‘ Not to be outdone, Toronto continues to excel in what we do best — boasting an abundance of restaurants selling delicious shawarma.
Here are 5 of the best places to get shawarma in Toronto.
Sumaq Iraqi Charcoal Grill
@sumaqbbq/Instagram
If you want to know just how good the shawarma is at this Middle Eastern restaurant, it was TikTok food critic Keith Lee’s first stop on his trip to Toronto. Promising to ‘transport you to the bustling streets of Iraq,’ Sumaq uses veal and lamb for its shawarma, cooked over a charcoal grill for an authentic taste. 1961 Lawrence Ave E., Scarborough
Shawarma Empire
@shawarma_empire_toronto/Instagram
This tiny joint in Scarborough serves up delicious Palestinian-style shawarma, attracting crowds with its consistently long lines. Customers appreciate the grilled pita, generously filled with meat, vegetables and homemade sauce. 1961 Lawrence Ave E., Scarborough
Flaming Stove
@intleats/Instagram
Flaming Stove, a beloved spot in Toronto’s midtown since 2010, serves up delicious Middle Eastern fare. Their specialty? Chicken shawarma, marinated in-house spices and wrapped in homemade Saj bread. 21 Davisville Ave.
This small family-owned restaurant in Pape Village serves mouthwatering Mediterranean cuisine, made famous by the CBC’s feature on their super-secret shawarma marinade. No matter the hour, expect it to be bustling as people flock here for their comfort food fix.. For a twist, don’t miss their chicken shawarma poutine, served with yellow rice, salad, and sauces. 1011 Pape Ave.
Pita & Hummus
@pita.hummus.ca/Instagram
Pita & Hummus, with multiple citywide locations and late-night hours (open until 4 am on weekends), offers a halal option for everyone. In addition to shawarma, their extensive menu features tacos, fries, six types of hummus, and appetizers like spicy chilli balls and garlic potatoes. 357 Yonge St.
Welcome to The Play’s the Thing, your go-to column for a comprehensive rundown of the vibrant and dynamic theatre scene currently unfolding in Toronto. In this column, we’ll spotlight the latest and greatest productions gracing stages across the city. Let’s find out what’s happening now.
Les Miserables, Fantastique
There is always something about Les Miserables. It could be a certain performer, a unique slant by the director. But this time, with this production at the iconic Princess of Wales theatre, what stands out is the incredible set design.
This isn’t any old project the old Paris streets onto a giant screen production. The sets are elaborate, massive and really feels like the audience is immersed in the play adapted from the classic French historical novel by Victor Hugo.
Yes, the cast is amazing, my goodness, and in all the right places, namely Jean Valjean played by Nick Cartell who provided a balanced performance that had such touching subtlety and incredible control.
And, Matt Crowle and Victoria Huston-Elem provide pitch-perfect comic relief as the master of the house, Thénardier and Madam Thénardier.
This is a fantastic production in a gorgeous setting for a special night out at the theatre.
A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay about the Death of Walt Disney
Alright, I will admit to thinking this was actually a public reading of a play to be produced sometime in the distant future, but when I heard it was actually the latest from Mitchell Cushman things got real interesting, real fast.
Cushman is, of course, a wonderfully creative director and founder of Outside the March. He’s had a hand in creating some incredible immersive productions such as The Tape Escape where he took over the former Queen Video and turned it into a site-specific theatrical escape room as well as the Dora Award-winning Jerusalem at Crow’s Theatre.
So, audiences can expect a very unique experience with Cushman’s first c0-production with Soulpepper. The play, A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay about the Death of Walt Disney, sounds deliciously dark, and is described as “A 70-minute, intricately orchestrated merry-go-round written in a style akin to a hypercaffeinated David Mamet.” And, here the entire audience is sitting on the stage, so tickets will be limited for the run that gets underway April 13 and extends just until May 5.
This is one you won’t want to miss.
Diego Matamoros as Walt Disney (photo by John Walmsley)
World Premiere: Shaniqua in Abstraction
Bahia Watson is having a moment. Renowned for her 2022 summer sensation Mashup Pon Di Road, and following her inspired work in Uncle Vanya, Watson returns with a bold stroke in her latest, Shaniqua in Abstraction. And, this time it is only Watson. Seamlessly blending incisive wit with profound cultural insight, this one-woman show promises a captivating exploration of identity and womanhood.
Watson’s latest endeavour promises to entertain while pushing the boundaries of societal norms. Embracing a philosophy of art for the people, Paul Watson Productions champions artists who dare to defy oppressive structures with a spirit of playfulness and innovation.
Partnering with the esteemed Obsidian Theatre Company, a beacon for Black voices in Canadian theatre, Shaniqua in Abstraction promises an unforgettable journey through the complexities of identity and the power of self-expression.
Will this be another shining moment for Watson, who left audiences breathless with her final monologue in Uncle Vanya? We would not bet against her.
As the popular production of Six The Musical approaches the end of its huge run, audiences are preparing to bid farewell to the global sensation, and one of the longest running Mirvish shows in a time.
If you don’t know yet, Six reimagines the stories of Henry VIII’s wives, turning centuries of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st-century girl power complete with catchy tunes, and big-time performances.
The Broadway show earned a staggering 23 awards during the 2021/2022 Broadway season, including the prestigious Tony Award for Best Original Score.
The Toronto production of Six has been particularly praised for its exuberant cast, led by performers who bring both vocal prowess and charismatic energy to their roles.
If you still want to see what all the fuss has been about, but have been sitting on your proverbial hands, the clock is ticking.
The Six-Hour Production that is Inheritance Pts 1 and 2
Looking for a serious theatrical adventure? Check out Canadian Stage’s new production of The Inheritance, a six-hour drama shown in two parts.
The Inheritance at the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto offers a contemporary reinterpretation of E.M. Forster’s Howard’s End, delving into the lives of 30-something New Yorkers Eric and Toby. Their engagement is interrupted by encounters with older and younger men, sparking unexpected choices and collisions across three generations.
Winner of multiple Tony Awards, this modern masterpiece explores themes of love, loss, and legacy in the shadow of the AIDS crisis. Presented in two parts, the play skillfully weaves together past and present, drawing parallels with iconic works like Angels in America while paying homage to Forster’s classic novel.
The production directed by the talented Brendan Healy, and stars some incredible Canadian theatre talent including: Qasim Khan, Stephen Jackman-Torkoff, Antoine Yared, and Daniel MacIvor with Salvatore Antonio, Aldrin Bundoc, Hollywood Jade, Breton Lalama, Jim Mezon, Landon Nesbitt, Ben Page, Louise Pitre, and Gregory Prest.
Of course, being in two parts does mean buying twice as many tickets if you want the full monty.
Tarragon Theatre is unveiling the world premiere of El Terremoto, penned by Dora Award–winning playwright Christine Quintana, running until 21. Set against the backdrop of a seismic event, this comedic drama delves into the lives of the Jurado sisters, offering a poignant exploration of immigrant identity and the complex interplay between success, determination and suppressed desires and vibrant characters. The production is directed by Guillermo Verdecchia.
Coming Soon
Woking Phoenix: co-created by Silk Bath Collective members Bessie Cheng, Aaron Jan, and Gloria Mok, intricately explores a family’s resilience in small-town Ontario over two decades. Woking Phoenixdelves into intergenerational relationships and Chinese diasporic culture, departing from previous sci-fi themes to focus on family dynamics and food culture. Opening at Theatre Passe Muraille on April 18.
Mad Madge: Opening at the Theatre Centre on April 12, Mad Madge, a Nightwood Theatre production, is directed by Andrea Donaldson and starring Rose Napoli as Margaret Cavendish, a 17th-century poet, philosopher, and scandal-maker, in a humorous contemporary-period mashup that explores the pursuit of fame and attention.
Sangita Patel is Streets of Toronto’s new advice columnist and was previously an entertainment reporter with ET Canada. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters.
Dear Sangita: I’ve been dropping hints for the past year for my boyfriend to propose, but he’s just not getting it. Is he missing my cues or does he actually just not want to marry me? I’m worried I’m wasting my time. How do I confront him? — Ringing for a ring
Dear Ringing: You have to ask yourself, why are you in this relationship? Are you in this relationship because you want to get married? Or are you in it because you’re in love with this guy?
You absolutely can have a conversation with your boyfriend about your future together — you really should before getting engaged! I was with my husband for six years before we got married. I invested in that relationship because I knew there was something special and that we were going to spend our lives together. When it was just the right time to get married, we both kind of weighed and decided it was the time.
If you feel like you could be wasting your time, there might be something else going on — that feeling is not a good sign of a healthy relationship. Fixating on getting married and the wedding won’t be good for your relationship in the long run. Have that conversation with your boyfriend, and it may give you both some peace of mind.
Dear Sangita: I babysat my friends’ two kids once and now they keep expecting me to help out as if I’m their own personal babysitter. We’re very close, so they basically always know when I’m busy or not. How do I say something without hurting their feelings? — Reluctant babysitter
Dear Reluctant: Because you’re friends, I think you need to be open about how you’re feeling and say, “Hey, listen, I can do it once in a while, but not all the time.” It’s a hard conversation. I can see why your friends keep asking you — it’s clear they trust you, and it’s hard to find someone you trust with your kids.
It might be helpful to set a time limit for future babysitting asks; that’s something you can set with your friends. You can ask that they’re home at a certain time so that if you have plans you’ll still be able to get to them. You can also say no. I know it’s difficult to do, but you’re allowed to say, “I just need to chill today, even if I’m just at home.” If your friend truly is a friend, she’ll respect that.
Dear Sangita: I’m in a serious relationship, and I find myself wanting to spend a lot of time with this person. The issue is that I have always been of the “don’t bring your partner to the girls’ night” mindset. How do I strike the balance between having my partner around and not becoming that person? — Attached at the hip
Dear Attached: I think that you have to ask your friends before you bring your partner with you. And be reasonable — don’t bring them to every single night out. That bond with friends is really important. I truly believe a healthy relationship involves having independence — it’s important to be able to spend a few hours away from your partner without wanting to have them there all the time. You mention that you’ve been annoyed with friends who bring their partners everywhere in the past, so don’t do the same thing to your friends!
It’s spring cleaning season, but instead of just tossing away or donating old clothes and buying new ones, there’s a more sustainable option. A monthly clothing swap in Toronto allows attendees to bring their own items and swap them for something new-to-you — meaning you get to clear out your closet responsibly, you get new clothes that you love for the cost of a small donation and you’ll be helping to keep clothes out of the landfill!
As sustainable fashion has become more of a priority for gen Z, thrifting and second-hand shopping has grown in popularity. But there’s also been a push towards the idea of a circular economy that emphasizes eliminating waste, sharing, repairing and reusing — and it’s something that Lisa Amerongen is trying to promote through T.O. The Good Swap.
“Two years ago, I was kind of facing down the barrel of the climate crisis and wondering how I could do more than just my personal carbon footprint to help,” she says. “I was learning at the time about the ethical implications of the fashion industry, and I realized that I could do a swap at a larger scale, which might help decrease the amount of textile waste in Toronto and also just give people an opportunity to explore swapping instead of shopping.”
Amerongen says there are two main outcomes from swapping — you start to consider it an alternative to swapping, which reduces demand so that suppliers aren’t creating as much; and you’re giving your clothes a new life instead of keeping it at the back of your closet or contributing to textile waste.
Since founding the swap in 2022, the event has grown in popularity, with monthly swaps often selling out (the swap asks for a $5 donation but attendees must reserve their spot in advance). The rules are simple: bring up to 10 preloved items, shop the items at the swap and bring home anything you’d like, though attendees are asked to take an amount similar to what they brought.
@t.o.thegoodswap/Instagram
Items left over from swaps will be brought to the next one, unless you choose to take back your unswapped items.
Amerongen says that T.O. The Good Swap has helped combat the often “destructive” mentality in the fashion industry of always needing to buy more.
“I and a lot of people grew up thinking — and I am not a famous person — that I needed to have a new outfit every time I saw my friends,” she says.
In a world where it’s become the norm to buy entire new outfits to go on vacation and being an outfit-repeater is a faux-pas, gen Z in particular has been socialized to think buying into micro-trends and replacing sometimes entire wardrobes every couple of years is the norm. Amerongen says a clothing swap can be the “first step” for those in that mindset to understand there are other ways to approach consumption.
“For those who are feeling the need to buy new clothes, they’re getting that need met. And then hopefully, they’re starting to have conversations, read more about the consumer and environmental impact. It’s honestly just breaking free of some of those stereotypes around fashion and consumption.”
Over time, Amerongen says she’s personally seen the impact of the swap on attendees’ shopping habits. “Because we have a monthly swap, it is very accessible to people, so I’ve noticed a change for myself and my volunteers and for frequent attendees. You can scratch that terrible, materialistic consumption-driven itch more often, so it stops mattering,” she says. “You don’t get as excited — you might think, ‘Oh, there’s a dress I need,’ but then you remember — next month, there will probably be another dress I like. The monthly access actually decreases that weird push that we have.”
Clothing swaps may be the new frontier of sustainable fashion — arguably a step further than thrifting or donating. As the T.O. The Good Swap website notes, only 10-20 per cent of items donated to charity shops end up on the store floor — most clothing donated in North America ends up in the global south, where local communities and environments are severely negatively impacted.
“You know how people say every phone case you’ve ever owned still exists? Every piece of clothing you’ve ever owned is somewhere. Hopefully it’s being worn, but probably it’s just in the garbage,” Amerongen says.
Get your game face on because a “femme-forward” arcade bar from Western Canada is bringing all-ages fun to King Street West later this month.
Opening on Friday, April 26, GRETA Bar will seamlessly fit in amongst the lineup of late-night venues, party joints, and trendy restaurants that has become synonymous with King Street.
When the first GRETA Bar opened in 2018 in Calgary, Alberta, the goal of the space was to be inclusive and welcoming to all.
“I thought it would be cool to have a bar concept that was really geared towards women because a lot of the hospitality venues that were popping up and relevant were really geared towards men, but that’s not my style,” says Natalie Maas, the director of brand and marketing at GRETA Bar.
“The whole concept is ‘We are all Greta,’ so everyone from every walk of life, different backgrounds, sexual orientations and beliefs can all come to a place and congregate together over the joy of eating really good food and playing games.”
As with the other GRETA Bar locations, now also in Edmonton and Vancouver, the bar will feature a range of arcade games. Gamers can spend all night playing everything from newer virtual reality games and World’s Biggest Pac-Man to classic favourites like Mario Karts and pinball machines.
@gretabaryyc/Instagram
“There’s a wide range of people that come to GRETA Bar. We might have happy hour with older men and women playing games from their teenage years, but then have young girls who just finished class wanting to play the more state-of-the-art games coming in,” says Maas. “It’s a huge mix of games and opportunity for people to find something.”
With arcade games scattered throughout the dining space, dance floors and bar area, Maas adds that even those who aren’t feeling competitive can sit back, enjoy a share plate and sip a drink without being too far removed from their friends
As for the menu, we can expect to see some of the same globally inspired street food found on the menus out west, like boa buns, street nuggets and the classic Greta Burger which is a staple across all the menus. New additions are curated by Toronto’s own Chef Shawn Tesoro (formerly of King West’s Xango) who will be running the kitchen. Mushroom tempura and lamb chop lollipops are among the items he has added to the Toronto-specific menu.
@gretabaryyc/Instagram
“It’s a nice mix of everyone coming together with their classics and favourites to launch,” says Maas, adding that once the bar is settled, they will change the menu at least twice a year with added features. “Every location is quite independent.”
The GRETA Bar cocktail menus are just as much of a collaboration with input from team members and staff. While other locations have specialty cocktails named after staff pets, Toronto’s are unique only to the new location. Currently, the star of the show is the secret menu item — the first time the arcade bar has had one — called the Godzilla Greta. While Maas is tight-lipped about the drink specifics, she assures it’s as pink as GRETA and “very, very tasty.”
When GRETA Bar is open, they will offer a party experience akin to bottle service, where celebrations truly come alive. GRETA Bar is known to host occasional small dance-offs. For groups of six or more, the experience includes unlimited games, sparklers, cake and shareable cocktails
@gretabaryyc/Instagram
“People are obsessed with it and it makes them feel special,” says Maas, noting that guests will use the experience to celebrate everything from corporate parties to bachelorettes and even divorces. “Life’s too short not to go out and have fun and still go dancing with your girlfriend, so definitely do that at GRETA.”
While GRETA sounds like it was tailor-made for the vibrant, party-centric atmosphere of King Street West, Maas admits to initially feeling intimidated by the idea of moving to Toronto from Calgary. However, she acknowledges that GRETA Bar has already been warmly welcomed into the neighborhood.
“Every time I go, the people are so nice and have been so welcoming and just the buzz of Toronto is so infectious — it’s always buzzing, always happening,” says Maas, noting that even fellow hospitality businesses reached out to welcome GRETA Bar. “Toronto is very friendly and community-driven so we cannot wait to actually open our doors and show people who we are.”
GRETA Bar will open at 590 King Street West on April 26.
Tik Tok’s most famous food critic Keith Lee is currently visiting Toronto, and the city’s restaurant scene is on high alert. With over 16 million followers and 715+ million views, a good review from the Detroit native could lead to a sudden surge in business for small mom-and-pop shops looking for extra coverage.
He’s only been in the 6ix for a few days but has already dined on everything from shawarma wraps to Asian fusion food. So far, the GTA hasn’t disappointed him. These are all the spots the influencer has visited on his Toronto food tour:
Sumaq Iraqi Charcoal Grill (Scarborough)
Lee visited this Middle Eastern restaurant last Friday as people recommended that he try shawarmas while in the city. While he enjoyed the veal shawarma (rating it 8.4/10) and chicken shawarma (8.2/10), he wasn’t a fan of the mixed shawarma wrap (5/10). After Lee’s visit, the restaurant’s follower count jumped from just over 6,000 to 20,000+ followers. Address: 1961 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough.
This home-based chocolate shop located in Ajax sells a wide selection of chocolates, nuts, baked goods, coffee, and caramel creations. Lee described the Korean sponge toffee latte as “unique”, rating it an 8/10. He’s notoriously not a fan of sweets, so he had his wife help him out with the cakes. She rated the carrot cake with cream cheese an 8/10 and he gave it a 7/10. Overall, Lee was impressed, and he tipped the owner $2500. Address: 49 Beatty Rd., Ajax.
Located in downtown Toronto near TMU, the restaurant sells Afro Samurai–Wu-Tang-inspired deep-dish pizza. Lee said the shop was “very” tiny, but the owners had great customer service. He enjoyed the restaurant’s famous baked mac and cheese, but he wished it had a little more sauce. He rated the pepperoni pizza a 9/10, although he wasn’t as much of a fan of the Hendrix Experience pizza (infused with compressed watermelon and tequila—he rated it 7.6). Still, the mere fact that he tasted it seems to have piqued Torontonians’ interest—the restaurant was out of stock of the Hendrix Experience as of publication date. Before he left, Lee showed the owner some love by giving him a $3,000 tip. Address: 107 Mutual St, Toronto.
Lee described the food as brunch with an Asian fusion twist. He spent $74.07 and ordered the food through DoorDash. Lee, a self-described “egg benedict connoisseur”, rated the eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce a 7.7/10, noting the high-quality ingredients. He rated the “soft and buttery” waffles with blueberry compote a 9/10, the early grey pancakes with strawberry puree an 8.7/10, and the “strong” Vietnamese coffee a 7.5/10. “I’m liking Toronto so far, if you can’t tell,” he said at the end of his review. Locations: 887 Dundas St., W., Toronto. | 7725 Birchmount Rd., Markham.
Winters in many areas in the Northern Hemisphere can be a cause of concern for employers. The cold weather, energy crisis, flu, and slippery streets are a recipe for disaster.
Extreme weather conditions and temperatures can present unique challenges for businesses, especially in Canada, where employers must ensure the workplace is warm and safe. Workplace injuries due to employer negligence can lead to complicated legal issues. Avoiding it altogether is best, so we have compiled these winter safety tips.
Winter Threats to Employee Safety
Numerous winter hazards affect businesses, even in areas that don’t experience snow. Employees may face anything from dangerous driving conditions to the cold stress of working outdoors in the winter.
The specific hazards may vary by location and the nature of your business activities, but threats your people may face this winter may include:
Flight delays and cancellations
Flu and other seasonal illnesses
Hypothermia and frostbite
Local school delays and closures
Power outages
Road closures
Slip and fall injuries
Snow shoveling health risks
Structural stress and damage
Unsafe winter driving conditions
More people are working remotely, but a distributed workforce introduces new problems. These include an elevated risk of mental health issues and a more complex cybersecurity landscape.
Whether your employees work from home, in the office, or on the road, you can keep them safe with these tips. They will help you avoid cold-weather hazards that may catch you off-guard.
Winter Weather Safety Tips for Employees
Employers have a legal duty to ensure employee safety in most provinces. For example, Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, Section 25(2)(h), mandates employers to take reasonable steps to protect workers. Part of that obligation is developing policies and procedures to protect workers in cold environments.
Fortunately, you can typically foresee the risks associated with winter weather. You can take steps to mitigate or eliminate the impact on your employees and your business.
Monitor winter threats
Keep an eye on all potential threats to your people or location, from storm-related outages to local disease outbreaks. That sounds simple enough until you consider the many possible issues. Monitoring temperatures, weather forecasts, and road closures takes a lot of attention. It gets worse when you must monitor multiple office locations, field workers, or a remote workforce.
To address this problem, companies use specialized threat intelligence systems. They collate verified threat data from hundreds of sources to help you automatically identify the most pertinent information. Some systems can cross-reference real-time locations so you can quickly determine which employees are in potential danger.
Get the weather forecast
The Canadian government maintains the Environment Canada weather forecast site and the Weatheradio service. You should check the current conditions in your area before venturing outdoors. Subscribe to weather alerts on the website, which include wind chill warnings based on the local climate.
Safeguard field workers
As you can imagine, workers who must travel or work outdoors are vulnerable to weather conditions. Some outdoor workers typically stop working in bad weather.
However, others must work more, like electrical repair crews. Exposure to the natural elements increases the risk of cold-related illnesses, injuries, and accidents. You must provide them with proper training on winter work safety policies and the appropriate equipment and tools.
Suppose you have personnel who must drive for their job. Ensure their vehicles have the appropriate tires for the weather and road conditions. You should also ensure they have an emergency supply kit in their cars.
Give field workers a way to get help, like a lone worker safety app that sends an alert if they are in danger. It is a safety net for employees who might encounter danger in the field and gives them peace of mind.
Emergency communication software supporting location-based alerts is also necessary for companies with employees on the go. Real-time tracking and geofencing capabilities allow you to send only relevant, targeted weather notifications to people who need to receive them.
Maintain a safe facility during winter
You need to implement a Workplace Winter Safety Plan or develop one if you haven’t yet. Your plan should outline the risks, who are at risk, and the safe work practices and other control strategies you will use to keep workers safe. Communicate your plan to everyone in the workplace.
Falls involving ice, sleet, or snow are some of the most significant risks people face during winter. Employees who fall on slippery walking surfaces can experience a range of injuries, from sore muscles and bruises to fractures and serious head injuries.
Ensure everyone understands their responsibilities. Staff usually keep stairs, floors, and entranceways clear of ice and snow. At the same time, contractors take care of outside walkways and parking lots.
But in sudden, heavy weather, your staff may need to step in and help if the contractor is delayed. Provide them with training, tools, and equipment.
Raise awareness of slips, trips, and fall hazards through safety talks and other forms of communication. Provide prevention tips, such as wearing proper footwear (low heels, warm, waterproof, and good traction). Ask employees to report slip, trip, and fall hazards to their supervisor.
Assess the effectiveness of your prevention measures. Are snow and ice promptly cleared from walkways, parking lots, and loading docks? Are they deposited in a safe place? Are entrances and exits to buildings unobstructed and overhanging snowdrifts removed?
Winter preparedness protects your people and business. The CCOHS reports about 44,000 Canadians suffer workplace injuries annually due to accidental falls. You can’t prevent all accidents, but you can minimize the risk. You can salt the sidewalks, entranceway, steps, and parking lot to prevent the surfaces from getting slippery. You can also place absorbent mats at the entrances to avoid slips once employees enter the building.
The critical thing is to do these things before a slip-and-fall accident happens. Check your winter preparedness checklist to ensure you have completed your preparation tasks before the forecast calls for snow. Steps to improve winter workplace safety include:
Ensure you have a reliable contractor for snow removal
Inspect facilities (roof, plumbing, etc.)
Install carbon monoxide detectors to monitor for leaks
Keep walkways well-lit and marked
Maintain an adequate supply of de-icing products for walking surfaces
Perform required preventative maintenance and repairs
Provide employees with slip-resistant footwear
Create an emergency response plan
Extreme weather is not an insurmountable hurdle for workplace safety. You can mitigate the effects by creating an emergency response plan that documents the steps you will take to ensure employees’ safety in a critical event. It can be a standalone document or part of your custom employee handbook guide.
Suppose a winter storm in your area unexpectedly intensifies so people at your office cannot leave. In that case, your emergency response plan will dictate what to do for the best safety outcomes. Here are the steps to creating your plan:
Do a risk assessment: Before you plan, you must know what to prepare for. A risk or threat assessment guides you in identifying the most likely threats to your business and employees.
Gather contact information: Collect emergency contact information for all employees so you can contact and account for everyone during an emergency. Include the local EMS, fire department, and police numbers, just in case.
Delegate roles and responsibilities: Employees look to their leaders for reassurance and guidance during emergencies. These same leaders should be responsible for activating your emergency response plan, giving orders, and answering essential questions.
Stockpile supplies: You should include a plan to store essential supplies in a cold weather emergency. These include food and water, blankets, battery-powered radios, and first aid kits.
Have an evacuation plan: Some cold weather situations, such as unsafe roads and excessive snowfall, may make it impossible to evacuate your employees. Nevertheless, you should include instructions on what to do when evacuation becomes possible.
Establish communication protocols: A plan will only work if you communicate with your people. Include information on how you plan to notify them of a critical event and how they can respond. Consider implementing an automated emergency notification system.
The best time to plan for an emergency is when you’re not in one. Take time to create and implement an emergency response plan as soon as possible.
Put work protocols in place in case of an outage
Utility outages that can last hours and sometimes even days are common during bad weather. Employees without heat, power, and communication services must know what to expect. Have a plan that deals with the following issues:
Commute options
Remote/telework options
Modifications to work hours and shifts
Power outages or surge impacts
Emergency contact information
Delivery delays/statuses
Access to updates
Review winter safety topics
Keep winter safety at the forefront of workers’ minds by regularly holding brief meetings to discuss bite-size topics. That could be a safety talk to remind field workers to be wary of cold-weather hazards or provide winter driving tips.
Some topics that might come in useful in Canada include the following:
Hypothermia signs and symptoms
Cold-weather equipment handling
Safe use of space heaters
Frostbite prevention and care
Seasonal affective disorder support
How to maintain secure passwords
Encourage remote worker safety
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many employees are now working from home. As winter approaches, it’s essential to consider the increased risks that employees may face while working remotely. For example, shovelling snow can be dangerous due to injuries and cardiac emergencies, such as heart attacks.
Winter also takes a toll on employees’ mental health. Many are more sedentary than before the pandemic, directly impacting physical and psychological well-being. Numerous employees, particularly those working remotely, experience feelings of isolation that manifest as stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, about 15 percent of Canadians suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during winter.
Regular employee wellness checks are critical to ensuring your workers’ physical safety and mental well-being. Organizations can use the survey feature of an emergency notification solution to conduct confidential employee wellness checks, identify those who need additional support, and provide them with resources in a proactive manner.
Prepare for travel risks
Winter is a time when many people travel for work or personal reasons. However, this season also increases risks for travellers due to hazardous road and weather conditions and traffic on roads and airports. These risks can cause delays or cancellations, leaving employees stranded in unfamiliar places with limited resources. At worst, they could end up seriously injured in a car accident.
One way to help mitigate these risks is by using a travel safety app. It allows you to monitor the conditions of your travelling employees’ destinations so you can stay informed about potential hazards. It also provides a direct line of communication between you and your employees so that you can stay on the same page about any possible issues. Furthermore, your employees can use the app to reach out for support if needed, giving them peace of mind while travelling during winter.
Communicate the following safety tips to everyone in the workplace who drives (not only those who drive for work).
Safe driving:
Use snow tires
Slow down and adjust speed for weather and road conditions
Check road and weather conditions before you head out
Allow more time to get to where you are going
Understand how your car handles in winter
Keep a safe distance from other cars
Vehicle prep:
Check defrosters/heaters, antifreeze levels, brakes and battery
Ensure lights and indicators are working
Use winter-specific wiper blades and carry extra windshield washer fluid
Completely clean the outside of your car before you leave; chunks of ice and snow can pose a hazard to you and others
Keep your gas tank at least half full to prevent moisture in the fuel line
Carry winter survival gear, including a blanket, first aid kit, food that won’t spoil (granola bars), water, matches, extra clothing and boots, shovel, flashlight, flares, and booster cables.
Give employees a break
In Canada, there are no maximum exposure limits for cold working environments. However, some provinces have established some guidelines. Saskatchewan, for example, developed The Work Warm-up Schedule, which sets the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for cold stress.
Cold stress is the inability to maintain core body temperature that can lead to frostbite and hypothermia, which can be life-threatening. The Work Warm-Up Schedule shows the requisite warm-up breaks for working in cold conditions. It recommends additional breaks for workers as the wind velocity at the work site increases or the temperature drops.
Employees who work outside part or all of the time are at risk. Your cold stress prevention program should include:
Training for supervisors and workers on the hazards, health effects, and prevention of cold-related illness. That includes clothing and personal protective equipment, re-warming procedures, recognizing cold stress injuries, and signs and symptoms of hypothermia
Monitoring of outdoor workers by a supervisor
Acclimatizing new employees to working in the cold
Providing adequate rest breaks and warming shelters
Organizing work allows people to alternate between working in the cold and in a warm environment.
Seasonal flu can be dangerous. Those safety habits we picked up during COVID-19 can help protect us against seasonal flu and the common cold. For example, health officials in Ontario asked people to return to wearing masks indoors. It wasn’t because of a resurgence of Covid. It was because many children were getting sick, and local hospitals were overwhelmed.
To help protect your workers against winter illness, encourage vulnerable people like seniors, those with comorbidities, pregnant women, and health workers to get vaccinations. Everyone should wash their hands regularly, use hand sanitizer, and stay away from others when they’re sick.
When at work, open all windows regularly for five minutes to ventilate the place properly. Finally, check the FluWatch site for weekly flu updates in Canada. Armed with this information, you’ll know when to raise the alert level at your office.
Be the Shelter From the Storm
The most vital thing you can do in the harsh winters of Canada is keep your employees informed before, during, and after a weather event. That shows you have their best interests in mind. Fortunately, most winter storms are predictable, so you can plan for them.
Do what you can now and ensure you have an effective communication system. Being prepared can help you better manage the impact on your employees, customers, and bottom line.
About Jeremy Diamond
Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation. Click here to learn more about Jeremy Diamond.
Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation. Click here to learn more about 