The Toronto Blue Jays are headed to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) after a huge win over the New York Yankees last night in the Big Apple.

The team announced that Blue Jays tickets for their ALCS home games will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Toronto holds home-field advantage for the series, which means fans can secure seats for:

• Game 1: October 12

• Game 2: October 13

• Game 6 (if necessary): October 19

• Game 7 (if necessary): October 20

 

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Tickets are expected to sell quickly—last year, all three ALDS home games at Rogers Centre sold out in just two hours.

The Jays will face either the Detroit Tigers or the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS. Fans who purchase tickets for a game that ultimately isn’t played will receive a full refund.

That autumnal fever is hitting Toronto hard this year — not the flu, but our love for pumpkin spice lattes, watching the leaves fall and celebrating Halloween. The latter is one of the more stressful dates in October,  mostly because we all need help with creative costumes. Streets of Toronto has got you covered: we’ve compiled a list of 11 pop culture-inspired and Toronto-specific costumes that will blow away all of your fellow partygoers. 

Oasis or Coldplay versus the Rogers Stadium

When Oasis and Coldplay came to play at Rogers Stadium this year, neither was particularly happy. Coldplay thought that the location was inconvenient for many, particularly for the crowd management and how far away it was from public transit. Oasis referred to the stands of the stadium as poorly constructed and “stupid.” Replicate the showdown between these famous musicians and our newest music venue with a bucket hat and dark-tinted sunglasses, paired with baggy cargo pants and a T-shirt for Oasis, or a tie-dye or graphic T-shirt paired with slim jeans à la Chris Martin. Complete the look with a handheld sign of a picture of the Rogers Stadium with the iconic red no symbol over top of it. 

Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry

One of the weirder headlines coming out of our nation’s capital was when former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was snapped on a date with pop star Katy Perry. It was one of the funnier headlines to leave parliament this year, and it’s a great one to capitalize on. Get dressed up in your favourite snazzy suit with a Canada pin attached to recreate Justin (and don’t forget the signature hair). As for Katy, there are numerous music video looks that will do the job. 

KPop Demon Hunters 

The KPop Demon Hunters movie was a hit with anime lovers in the city and beyond (it quickly became Netflix’s most-watched film, ever). What you might not know is that the film’s creator and director, Maggie Kang, is from Toronto! This film has everything to choose from, costume-wise. Dress up in a casual streetwear outfit to achieve Jinu’s look. Or, get witchy with it (wide-brimmed black hat, long dark robes) to replicate the outfits from Mystery Saja. If in doubt, get yourself a pair of high socks, a skirt and a fun leather jacket to look like Mira, Rumi or Zoey. 

All things Wicked

Wicked, and its sensational cast, was a hit across theatres (and then TVs) this year. From Met Gala-worthy  press tour looks to on-screen outfits, they really outdid themselves. And this Halloween, you can too. Grab a black trench coat and a pointy black hat to look like Elphaba. Bonus points for the green face paint. For those looking for less commitment to post-party teardown, a flouncy pink dress will have you looking like Glinda. This costume could not be more timely, considering part two, Wicked: For Good, premieres in November!

Happy Gilmore 2 

With Adam Sandler being an honorary Torontonian, it’s hard not to consider Happy Gilmore 2 for style inspiration this Halloween. Happy’s look is easy to duplicate, especially if you want that look from his final scene. Grab yourself a vintage hockey jersey, baggy sportswear joggers and Timberland boots. If you’re going out with a group, then head out in full golfer gear. You might not swing like Rory McIlroy, but you can sure look like him. 

Performative male 

@jen.trt 1st performative male contest in Canada taking place in Toronto ??? #performativemale ♬ original sound – Jen | Toronto Date Guide – Toronto Date Guide | Jen

The performative male trend swept TikTok For You pages all over the world. It’s a fun trend, making fun of men who bring books to cafes just to look intelligent (and presumably appeal to women). The outfit itself has a few renditions. The simplest would be to throw on a knitted sweater, or dress shirt, tie and leather jacket combo. To complete it, step outside with an iced matcha, thin-framed glasses and as many books as possible. 

Taylor and Travis

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce getting engaged was a major event this year — you can expect to see more than a few Mrs. and Mr. Swifts at your Halloween parties! To celebrate the occasion, get dressed up in a sequined dress, or don her infamous red scarf. Kelce’s on-field look can be put together with a Kansas City Chiefs jersey. Bonus points for a massive rock on your finger. 

Revival of the Ketchup Wars

With supporting local being such a big trend for Torontonians this year, you can dive back into the archives. The Ketchup Wars happened in 2016, when local resident Brian Fernandez urged people on Facebook to support French’s condiments instead of Heinz, after the latter withdrew their factory operations from the small town of Leamington, Ont. Social media spiralled, and loads of Canadians began shopping for locally produced sauces. This year, get together with your friends in a ketchup, mustard and relish costume with French’s logo printed and taped to the front (or Heinz — the American brand actually did eventually go back to producing its ketchup in Canada, with Canadian tomatoes). 

Jays at the playoffs

 

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The Toronto Blue Jays have made it to the postseason this year! And the costume ideas are non-stop. Online, there’s been a massive debate from fans over who’s cooler: Catcher Alejandro Kirk or left fielder Davis Schneider. The latter could be more fun to dress up as. It’s as easy as slapping on a massive moustache, wearing a pair of sports goggles and putting on as much Blue Jays gear as you can. 

Speed camera 

Parkside Drive might be home to some of Toronto’s most chill inhabitants. But that can’t be said about their attitude toward speed cameras. This year, their local speed camera was cut down for the seventh time. Wrangle some cardboard and transform yourself into a speed camera — and pretend to run away from your axe-wielding friends as they attempt to cut you down. 

House DJ 

 

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Toronto has caught the house music bug, with artists like Fisher and James Hype performing in the city. Looking like a house DJ can most likely be put together within your own home. Grab a pair of sunglasses, a dangling chain and a baggy T-shirt. You can complete the Fisher look by grabbing a bucket hat and having your friends dress up in fish costumes. Following the fish has never been more real.

For a decade, Toronto mentalist Jaymes White has been giving the city goosebumps with his immersive séances in some of its most historic and, reportedly, haunted spaces. What began as a one-off experiment has turned into a Halloween-season staple in the city — a theatrical and real experience that blends history, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural.

Now celebrating 10 years of Toronto séances, White is marking the milestone by returning to the site that first made his name — the George Brown Mansion on Beverley Street. We caught up with him to talk about his eerie career, the phenomena he can’t explain, and what might come next.

Ten years in — that’s a huge milestone. What does it mean to you to have your séance series last this long?

It’s kind of crazy. When I first started, I didn’t expect it to blow up or become anything. I thought it would be a one-time thing. That first year, everything sold out so fast — we even had a 900-person waiting list — and I thought, “Maybe I have something here.” Then we had a pandemic, and I did an online séance to survive. Somehow, through all that, we made it to ten years and 25,000 attendees. As an independent artist doing it without grants, that feels really special.

This year you’re returning to the George Brown Mansion. Why go back now?

This is the first time we’ve ever gone back to a location. Eight years ago, we did a séance there — it’s one of the most haunted places we’ve worked in. We caught the most unexplained footage we’ve ever had; cameras captured some wild stuff. It was also a fan favourite and kind of where I made my name. Before that, people didn’t really know me in Toronto. The Beverley Street séance made the experience a household thing, so I have a special connection with it.

What’s the scariest or most unexplained thing that’s ever happened there?

One night, three chairs went flying — and we actually caught it on camera. Audience members were sitting down, and suddenly, boom, the chairs flew. We released the footage eight years ago, and I still can’t explain it.

Do you ever get scared yourself during a séance?

I’m usually too focused on the audience to be scared. My job is to make sure everyone’s okay. We’ve dealt with people fainting, shaking, even what some would call possessions. So I’m constantly watching the participants more than what’s happening around me.

 

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What’s the most extreme reaction you’ve seen from a guest?

A few years ago, everyone suddenly started screaming in the dark, and I saw a guy on the floor — still holding hands. He said something grabbed and dragged him. I didn’t believe it at first, but then I saw the footage. It literally looks like something invisible pulls him across the floor. That video went viral — over four million views — and I still have no idea how to explain it.

What’s one thing people often misunderstand about séances or Victorian spiritualism?

People think a séance just means sitting in a circle holding hands. In reality, it’s a mix of different techniques — Ouija boards, automatic writing, trance states. Those are all forms of séances, too.

If you could invite one famous ghost from history to join your séance table, who would it be?

Probably Stevie Ray Vaughan. He had such a cool energy — wild, creative, unpredictable. I think he’d bring a really unique vibe to the table.

Have you ever had skeptics come in and leave as believers?

All the time. Skeptics are my favourite people to have in the room. They usually come in thinking it’s all fake, but once you guide them in the right direction, they’re often the first to change their minds. Honestly, they’re easier to work with than believers.

After 10 years, how are you keeping the show fresh?

This year we’re going back to our roots. I can’t reveal too much, but we’re bringing back some elements from past séances — things people haven’t seen in years. It felt like the right time for a full-circle moment.

Why do you think you’re the ideal person to lead these séances?

I think people like that I’m neither a believer nor a skeptic — I’m in the middle. I have a science background, I train detectives, and I teach at universities, so skeptics respect that. Believers still connect with the experience. It means I can reach both sides.

Who should (or shouldn’t) attend one of your séances?

We recommend it for ages 18 and up, but every year we get a few kids — the youngest has been about eight or nine. They’re always the most scared, and, weirdly, if you believe in the paranormal, the kids always seem to be the ones the spirits go for first.

Finally, what would you say to convince a Torontonian to come out this year?

It’s the tenth anniversary — and maybe the last. We’ve sold out every year, and there’s nothing else like it. You get access to one of Toronto’s grandest, most haunted buildings, and you’ll experience something you can’t do at home. Whether you believe or not, it’s a night you’ll never forget.

To get to Henderson Brewing Company from Dundas on foot, you need to pass the Nestlé Factory on Sterling Road. The smell of chocolate perfumes the air. Henderson is a stone’s throw from the quaint and family-friendly Roncesvalles Avenue, but slapped in the middle of an industrial park and bordered by train tracks on one side, the surrounding area’s winsome charm is the last thing you’re thinking of as you emerge into the parking lot Henderson shares with one of the Terroni innovation kitchens. On most weekend evenings, all you can hear standing outside is the din of conversation, maybe some raucous laughter. But a few times a year, you’re met with the foreign, thunderous sound of a body hitting the mat of a wrestling ring, hard. The crowd inside — you won’t know until you step inside, but there is a crowd and it’s big — erupts with cheers. Inside, a Toronto Wrestling Club show is underway, and it’s your lucky night.

Founded by Kyle Sikorski, Mike Juneau and Stratos Aslandis, Toronto Wrestling Club (TWC) has cemented itself as the preeminent wrestling promotion in the city. The shows are rife with raucous fun, the crowd slowly getting a little tipsy as wrestlers battle it out in the ring. The club’s goal: to have a hyper-local show to bring wrestling to a new audience while giving emerging talent a sustainable platform through which to perform.

“I like to think that a reason why our show connects with people is that our wrestlers also look like people in the audience. We don’t have big, monstered, muscle-bound people,” Juneau says. “So I think seeing guys and thinking, ‘Hey, that looks like my neighbour,’ or ‘That could be my brother,’ makes you connect to the person in the ring more than thinking like, ‘Wow, that guys looks like a monster.’”

Sikorski, Juneau and Aslandis all wrestle as well as produce each TWC show. Previously, Sikorski had wrestled in Orangeville for another promotion (wrestling-speak for the companies that organize these events). There are various promotions in the GTA; one is geared towards child audiences, there’s another that treats each event more like a party, another that specifies in lucha libre — but none local enough that satisfied Sikorski and his co-founders. “We like to have our friends and family come see us wrestle,” Sikorski says. “They’re not going to come to Orangeville to see me wrestle.”

Sikorski, Juneau and Aslanidis met in their late twenties and early thirties when they joined the same wrestling company to try out a new form of physical activity. Both Sikorski and Juneau were obsessed with wrestling as children, so “it was a lifetime of watching and learning,” Juneau says.

Like most niche hobbies that require specific equipment, wrestling is expensive. “Anyone who has space and a ring is charging a premium,” Juneau says. Having wrestled ad-hoc in various promotions in southern Ontario, striking off on their own was an easy decision.

Though their initial test shows were held at Elsie’s in the Junction, TWC has found a more permanent home at Henderson, a decision rife with coincidences. Henderson had just cleared half the brewery to make space for events and its owner — a wrestling fan in his own right — was looking for a wrestling show to host, so he reached out to TWC. One of the first Elsie’s shows was called the Whipper Watson Wrestling Classic, named after Toronto wrestling legend “Whipper” Billy Watson. In 2022, Henderson brewed a beer in honour of Watson, which they brought back on the occasion of TWC’s first show at the brewery. Since then, they’ve hosted TWC’s shows, including their upcoming Fantasy Fight Night in celebration of Halloween on Oct. 24.

At first, their biggest worry was not selling enough tickets. The production is costly, given the rented ring and the hired security, but after they had a few shows under their belts, patterns began to emerge. Most tickets sell in the days leading up to the event, and they’ve never had an issue with attendance, though they still won’t know what demographics will be showing up until doors open. Rather than a challenge, the trio sees this as a welcome opportunity. Knowing they would have a diverse audience at their Pride & Glory show in June, they leaned into the theme. One wrestler, Puf, brought his own pride flag that they worked into his matchup and Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” played later as another wrestler’s walkup song. 

It is decisions like these that differentiate Toronto Wrestling Clubs from other promotions, in that they try to create a positive environment for both promoters and their spectators alike.

“We take pride in paying every single person on the show a more than fair amount than other wrestling shows. It’s an outdated carney practice of people working for free,” Sikorski says (it’s common practice for wrestlers to perform only for exposure with other promotions).

Most performers have to take a day off work on the day of the show, which will typically last until 11 p.m. Sikorski, Juneau and Aslanidis all have other employment on top of the work they do for TWC.

“There’s no way we probably could put on a show without having stable [income],” Sikorski says.

“There’s no way we could have even trained,” Juneau adds. Though the trio are paid as performers as well as organizers, the money they earn goes right back into putting on the next show. “None of us started this with the intention to make the money. We started it with the intention of having a wrestling show that we love in the city and that respects the audience.”

Unlike other promotions, TWC makes a concerted effort to start and run on time. It also breaks convention by having a wrestling agent by the name of John Green run interference between matchups so that there’s no repetition of moves, ensuring that everyone has their special moment as designed. 

There’s very little choreography that’s passed on from organizers to wrestlers. Sikorski, Juneau and Aslanidis will give light storylines or beats that wrestlers have to hit, but otherwise the bulk of what happens in the ring is decided by the performers themselves. 

As shows have become more intricate, TWC has introduced short video playback of highlights or key moments prior to a matchup to get the audience up to speed and better understand the characters. 

“I always try to compare it to jazz,” Juneau explains. “Jazz is improvised, but they have a structure or a type of song, and before the song they’re like, ‘Let’s do B minor and take the bassline for a walk.’ That’s kind of the equivalent of a wrestling chat. ‘OK, you’re going to go over the neck and I’m going to be tough in the heat.’” 

Toronto ranks as the single greatest source of pro hockey players, according to a 2025 study by NumberBarn. Well, the “greatest source” in terms of North American players. The study only analyzed American- and Canadian-born NHLers, but that still gives Toronto plenty of bragging rights (and, of course, no one needed a study to confirm Canada’s edge over the U.S.)!

The study analyzed the birthplaces and stats of all American- and Canadian-born NHL players, past and present, to determine the top area codes producing professional hockey talent. The 416 came out on top.

Researchers scored area codes across both volume (how many players they’ve produced) and quality (think goals, assists, points, awards and Hall of Famers).

By raw output alone, Toronto dominates. For the “all-time” count of U.S. and Canadian players, the 416 contributed 502 NHLers, far ahead of the runner-up 519 (Southwestern Ontario) with 359. Rounding out the Top 5 are 306 (Saskatchewan), 514 (Montreal) and 905 (Southern Ontario). Northern and central Alberta (780) and Calgary (403) placed sixth and seventh, with 300 and 243 players, showing Canada’s deep hold on the game.

“Canada absolutely dominated each and every single category. In fact, it was almost a clean sweep in every category,” study researchers noted.

“And right at the top, the greatest source of professional hockey players is none other than the 416, greater Toronto area! And not by a little but a lot,” they added, pointing out that Toronto produced nearly 150 more players than runner-up Southwestern Ontario.

“There’s almost too many names to choose from to highlight from that group of 502 players from Toronto, but you can’t go wrong with Red Wings legend (and current president of the Toronto Maple Leafs) Brendan Shanahan, as well as Hall of Fame legends Paul Coffey and Dale Hawerchuk.”

The 416 also ranks No. 1 in career goals (24,470), career assists (39,098) and total points (63,568), outpacing every other area code, including the 519, which comes second in each of these categories.

“[T]he greater Toronto area … pumped in nearly 25,000 goals all on its own,” researchers noted, adding that it’s almost 4,000 more than Southwestern Ontario. “[I]t’s the Jason Spezza and Mike Cammalleri-types — good to really great players from Toronto — who have been consistent throughout the last three-quarter[s of a] century of professional hockey.”

In terms of active players, Toronto technically holds both first and second place: the 905 has 52 active players, followed by the 416 with 36, and the 519 in third with 26.

“Of note, you could make a heck of a team with players like Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, and arguably the greatest player alive right now, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid,” researchers joked.

Alas, The Six doesn’t top every category. Goaltending is the one all-time area where Toronto falls short! The 514 (Montreal) holds the edge in career goalie wins, with the 416 as runner-up at 3,576 victories.

You can check out the full study here.