Winter has been swinging between flurries and sudden cold snaps in recent months, but the next three months of temperatures might come as a surprise. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) just published its latest three-month temperature outlook for Jan to March 2026, and for most of Ontario, the forecast will be milder-than-normal overall (just expect plenty of room for classic winter chaos in between).

For Toronto (including Toronto Island) and southwestern Ontario, there’s a 40-49% chance of above-normal temperatures, 30-39% near normal and 20-29% below normal. Northern Ontario shows a somewhat stronger warm tilt in spots, too (communities like Timmins and Kapuskasing show even higher above-normal probabilities than the GTA!)

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s 60-day extended outlook for Southern Ontario, we can expect cold snaps mixed with mild stretches and then colder turns over the next few weeks. For January, the average temperature for Southern Ontario will be -6.5°C, with a regional split that’s below average in the east but slightly above average in the west. Precipitation will also be a bit lower this month (around 40 mm).

In February, we can expect a mid-month mix of rain-and-snow periods during a warmer spell, before a colder end to the month. February’s average temperature is expected to be above average (around -2°C), with higher precipitation (about 75 mm).

If you’re looking for fun things to do this season, here are 10 festivals to get excited about in Toronto this winter! The city also has tons of cool places to go tobogganing, as well as cozy winter cabins to rent nearby if you’re up for a weekend getaway.  

If you’d prefer to hibernate from the cold (no matter how mild this winter is), explore these five indoor garden oases in and around Toronto to escape the winter blues, or trade the winter ‘blahs’ for warm drinks and some friendly competition at these board game cafés!

Toronto actor Simu Liu was back in town to shoot his latest series. Spy thriller The Copenhagen Test — airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Showcase and all episodes are available on STACKTV — explores trust, identity, a rather nefarious look at technology through a hacked intelligence analyst.

Liu sat down with Streets of Toronto for this feature interview:

What do you hope audiences take away from ‘The Copenhagen Test’?

Maybe put your phones down. Don’t give Facebook all your information. Be careful. Be careful with everything you see. In this day and age, even things you read or videos you watch — anything can be altered and manipulated. So yeah — just be careful.

Your character’s friend or mentor on the show is a chef. Could you name-drop a few of your favorite Toronto restaurants?

PAI is definitely up there — I love PAI. I love Akin. Aburi Hana in Yorkville — amazing, incredible sushi, just on the Michelin star list recently too, which is so awesome. I really feel like Toronto is evolving really rapidly from a food standpoint and becoming this really vibrant and exciting food city. Super, super cool.

What was the biggest challenge for you as an actor?

You know, the fight scenes, the action, whatever — I feel like that’s almost bread-and-butter, second nature to me at this point. But knowing that this character was going to have to walk this impossible tightrope, where he’s constantly performing for this kind of unseen enemy through his eyes and through his ears, it was a very unique acting assignment.

What do you think makes this series different from other spy thrillers, like the Jason Bourne films?

I think, growing up, not really seeing people who look like me portrayed on screen in a heroic way — here, you’re going to see an action hero you’ve never really seen before. It feels like a fresh take. Alexander is Chinese American, and when we meet him, he’s really desperate to prove himself — almost willing to do anything to prove his worth and what he’s capable of, and also to be accepted.

So how does the character develop?

Over the course of the show, what emerges is this more self-assured moral compass. He decides, “I’m not going to do what other people want me to do. I’m going to do what I want to do,” because he trusts what he believes is right and wrong. Just watching that compelling story wrapped in a really cool sci-fi premise is amazing. And I haven’t even mentioned Melissa Barrera, but that’s another huge part of what makes the show special.

And it was shot here?

Yes, I’m really proud that we shot the show in Toronto and shared a lot of crew members from a show I did back in the day. It was just a really cool full-circle moment for me to go back home.

Tell me about your chemistry with Melissa Barrera.

What I love most about her is that she’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves and get into it. A lot of actors carry different reputations around them. Some do not want to touch a stunt. Some are very clear about what they will and won’t do physically. Melissa is a very physical role, and it would have been really challenging if we’d had an actress who didn’t want to participate in the fights. Melissa just threw herself into the training process, became such a good fighter, had that competitive energy — she came to set every day wanting to do it better. I can’t say enough good things about her as an artist, performer, and human.

Toronto’s most famous tower is getting a big refresh just in time for its 50^th anniversary.

As we previously reported, the CN Tower has been undergoing a $21-million modernization since 2023, focused on its Terrace Level, which is part of the Lower Observation Level experience 113 storeys above the city. The goal is to make the space feel more contemporary and accessible, while giving visitors an even better reason to linger (and, yes, to brave the famous glass floor).

If you’ve been to the tower recently, you may have noticed that the Terrace Level is partially open while renovations continue. The redesign is expected to expand indoor viewing capacity, extend the indoor observation and provide a new, uninterrupted glass floor. The plan also includes state-of-the-art interactive video walls featuring animated visual interpretations of original works by Canadian artists, including Indigenous artists from across the country (check out “Artmosphere”).

Accessibility is a huge part of the project. The Tower notes that one of the primary goals of the redesign is improved accessibility, continuing a multi-year push to reduce barriers for guests.

 

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This isn’t the Tower’s first major makeover in recent years. In 2018, officials announced a $16-million renovation of the Main Observation Level, introducing features like floor-to-ceiling window walls for more seamless panoramic views and improved universal access.

While 2025 marks 50 years since the Tower was completed (April 2, 1975), it opened to the public on June 26, 1976, meaning the renos will land just in time for the 2026 anniversary! According to reports, the 50th anniversary celebration kicks off on Jan 21, 2026, at 10 am, with more details expected soon.

If money is a bit tight, Torontonians looking to experience the CN Tower can do so free of charge if they present their Toronto Public Library card.

The CN Tower’s main entrance is at 290 Bremner Blvd, between the Rogers Centre and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.

Toronto’s iconic gentlemen’s club is closing its doors at the end of the month. In a recent Instagram post, Filmores thanked customers for more than four decades at its Dundas Street East location, and invited people to visit before the doors shut.

“Thank you for 45 amazing years at 212 Dundas. Filmores isn’t done, we are just closing this chapter for now ! Come visit us before January 31st, we would love to see some familiar faces.”

 

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The property has been slated for redevelopment since Menkes Developments purchased the site in 2020. According to the latest application submitted to the city in 2022, the developer wants to build a 42-storey mixed-use building consisting of 32,740 square metres of gross floor area, with 522 residential dwelling units above ground-floor commercial space.

So, what will become of the vintage neon Filmores signage? The iconic sign with its catchy taglines has been a fixture at Dundas and George for years, but according to a city heritage staff report, it’ll likely be donated.

“While the existing signage is highly recognizable, it is not a heritage attribute of the property included in the Statement of Significance and the cultural heritage value of the property is associated with the Wilton Court Hotel era,” the report states, noting that, in recognition of the iconic nature of the Filmores sign and the “increasing rarity of neon signs throughout the city,” the sign should be donated to a museum (with commemoration strategies to be explored in future stages).

But maybe this isn’t the end of Filmores. Consider it more of a pause, placing Filmores in a category Toronto knows well: institutions that disappear from one address and re-emerge somewhere else, preserving the vibe while adapting to new economics and audiences.

“While we will be CLOSING at 212 Dundas St. E. as the property undergoes redevelopment, we continue to search for our new downtown home,” the club stated in the Instagram post. “Come celebrate the closing of this chapter and stay tuned for the next 45!”