Toronto’s latest public art project might be easy to miss at first glance. The “Little Free Cinema” sits near Wychwood Barns, and looks a bit like a Little Free Library, but instead of paperbacks, it offers something much rarer: a tiny public venue for experimental film! Passersby can look through a peephole and watch a silent short playing on a miniature screen inside.
Head over this month from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and you can see the looped silent film diario de verano (summer diary) (2025) by Cristal Buemi and Franci Duran, a work that uses local plants in the film-development process. Previous programming has also included Tape-stry (2023), which is a 16 mm experimental animation video by Rennie Taylor, as well as Sugar Beach (2011) by Mark Loeser and Through and Through (1992) by Barbara Sternberg.
According to a recent Toronto Star article, The Little Free Cinema was inspired by New York’s Peephole Cinema, but the Toronto version has been adapted to feel right at home. While its form may look like a Little Free Library, its iconic painted eye is meant to recall the city’s Neighbourhood Watch signs, so passersby can stop and look rather than simply monitor.
BUS’s ambition is to eventually create a mobile gallery. The collective has already said it wants to build 10 more of these Little Free Cinemas across Toronto and is actively looking for more sites, including front lawns, parks, cafés and restaurants!
But for now, the Little Free Cinema in Wychwood is the first step.
Follow @buscollective for more info and the exact location of the cinema.
Spring in Toronto is when cherry blossoms take over the city, and the best part? You don’t always have to deal with crowds to enjoy them. From quiet residential streets to tucked-away trails and city parks, these delicate pink and white blooms appear in unexpected corners, offering little pockets of calm and beauty.
Whether you’re planning a leisurely walk, a picnic with friends or a casual photoshoot, Toronto and its surrounding neighbourhoods have something for every kind of spring outing. Time your visit accordingly: Sakura Steve is predicting peak bloom to begin at the end of April and continue into the first week of May in Toronto.
Here’s a guide to some of the best cherry blossom spots to visit this spring, plus what makes each location special and how to get there.
Cherry blossom spots in Toronto
High Park
High Park is Toronto’s ultimate cherry blossom destination, known for its hundreds of trees gifted by Tokyo in 1959 and later additions from the Sakura Project. Stroll along the winding trails near Grenadier Pond to enjoy the pastel pink and white blooms, which create a magical canopy over the paths. The park is lively during peak bloom, perfect for photography and a scenic walk, though it can get crowded.
Address: 1873 Bloor St. W.
Exhibition Place
A peaceful alternative to the busy High Park, Exhibition place has cherry blossom tress scattered around open spaces and waterfront paths. Key spots include Princess Margaret Fountain and Bandshell Park, as well as a collection of trees along Yukon Place in front of Liberty Grand. The area offers plenty of space to wander and to enjoy lake views and springtime blooms without the hustle of downtown crowds.
Address: 1873 Bloor St. W.
Cedarvale Park
Cedarvale Park is a quiet, leafy escape in York with cherry trees lining the main trail. It’s perfect for a relaxing walk, cycling or spending time in the off-leash dog park. The mix of blossoms and natural greenery makes it calm, picturesque setting for a spring day.
Located in the west end, Trinity Bellwoods is already one of the city’s most popular parks — and that takes on a whole new level when the 70 cherry blossom trees located in the south end bloom. Bring a picnic blanket or a book and enjoy this urban green space filled with flowering trees and friendly dogs.
Address: 790 Queen St. W.
John P. Robarts Research Library Area
This downtown spot features about 70 cherry trees along pedestrian paths near Huron and Harbord streets. It’s ideal for a short stroll or quick photo session in the heart of the city, combining urban architecture with seasonal colour. Plus, it’s a quieter area of the city, so you’ll likely find a great photo op spot without too much crowding.
Address: 130 St. George St.
Toronto Centre Island
Accessible by a short ferry ride (at $9.57 per person), Centre Island has 30 cherry trees near the William Meazy Maze. The island’s waterfront views and family-friendly facilities make it a great day trip to enjoy the blossoms away from city streets.
Address: 9 Queens Quay W.
Woodbine Park
There’s a grove of 20 new cherry blossom trees located here, thanks to a recent gift from Japan. Woodbine Park offers trails and open lawns to enjoy the petals. It’s an inviting space for morning walks or a leisurely afternoon outdoors during peak bloom.
Address: 1695 Queen St. E.
Birkdale Ravine, Scarbrough
A hidden gem in Scarborough, Birkdale Ravine is home to 45 cherry trees gifted from Toronto’s sister city of Sagamihara, Japan. Located up a hill on the south side of the ravine, if you’re arriving by car, make sure to park at the Lyon Heights Road entrance.
Address: 71 Lyon Heights Rd., Admission: Free
University of Toronto Scarborough Campus
Courtesy Tina Adamopoulos and Alexa Battle, utsc.utoronto.ca
About 50 cherry trees bloom near the Humanities Wing in Sakura Grove. Visitors can enjoy a quiet campus walk, taking in the trees and surrounding greenery for a tranquil spring experience.
Address: 1265 Military Trail, Admission: Campus parking fees may apply
Centennial Park, Etobicoke
@alexinportcredit/Instagram
Home to 463 cherry trees, Centennial Park is Ontario’s second-largest collection. Northeast of the conservatory, the walking path winds through blooms, offering a colourful and serene trail. It’s great for picnics and photos in a spacious setting.
Address: 256 Centennial Park Rd.
Broadacres Park, Etobicoke
A peaceful, smaller park with about 100 cherry trees near Elderfield Crescent, Broadacres Park is quiet even during bloom season, making it ideal for undisturbed walks among the blossoms.
Address: 35 Crendon Dr.
Kariys Park, Mississauga
Kariys Park is a stunning Japanese-style garden with over 300 cherry trees, koi ponds and ornamental features. This serene space is perfect for photography, meditation or simply soaking in a quiet beautiful environment.
Raptors tailgates are coming back for every playoff game, including away games, allowing fans to gather outside Gate 6 at Scotiabank Arena to watch on the big screen. Bonus: it’s free, and fans can expect the usual playoff-party extras, including live programming, giveaways, activations and special guests.
All you need is a mobile pass to get into Jurassic Park, with passes available exclusively through the Raptors app. Fans can enter a draw for up to two free, non-transferable passes per game through Raptors Fan Access via the app starting at 9 a.m. ET the day before each confirmed playoff game. The draw closes at noon, and winners are notified at 1 p.m.
Once you’ve got a pass, head over on time as there will be hundreds of other fans in the crowd! Jurassic Park opens two hours before each game, and gates close after halftime. Fans heading downtown should also expect some traffic changes around the arena, with Maple Leaf Square closed to vehicles throughout the playoffs and nearby Bremner Blvd subject to game-day closures when a tailgate is planned.
And look out for other perks in the coming weeks! The Raptors are teaming up with The Coffee Party for Full Court Press, a daytime kickoff event inside Scotiabank Arena’s broadcast studio and concourse with live DJs, food, giveaways and yes, lots of coffee.
Inside the arena, fans will be encouraged to be in their seats for tip-off to take part in the Red Takeover: a special playoff moment where a QR code transforms phones into a sea of red, lighting up the arena in Raptors colours as the team takes the court. Two tailgate fans will also be upgraded into the game, while home playoff crowds can expect special-edition shirts or rally towels, clappers on every seat, and other surprise giveaways throughout the run.
Digital avatars and player cards will also be huge this year. During the playoffs, fans can create personalized Raptors-themed avatars through Fan Access and share them on social media, then turn those into keepsake player cards at Fan Card booths during home playoff games!
And because no Toronto playoff frenzy is complete without themed food and merch, Real Sports Bar & Grill is getting involved too, rolling out Raptors-themed menu items like Jurassic Nachos with purple and red chips and a 3-Point Play Burger with triple smash patties. Then head to Real Sports Apparel for a limited-edition 2026 Raptors Playoffs collection that includes an authentic on-court We The North T-shirt, a Peace Collective fan top, new headwear and accessories.
If you’re keeping an eye on the watch parties, the first tailgate is set for Saturday, April 18, at 11 a.m., ahead of Toronto’s 1 p.m. Game 1 matchup in Cleveland. Follow @raptors for more info.
First steaks, now cakes? Toronto’s wedding-cake scene just got a glossy international nod from THE WED. The online wedding magazine published a new roundup of the 30 Best Cake Artists Around the World, and two Ontario names made the cut: Markham’s LiMa Cakes and Brechin’s Cry Baby Cakes, the brand led by former Toronto-based pastry artist Brooke Cowitz.
THE WED’s list is all about a new wave of cake makers who are pushing past traditional wedding cakes and treating dessert more like art, with sculptural finishes and flavours that step “way outside the expected”. On her site, LiMa Cakes founder Sona Karapetyan says her path into edible art was shaped by years of experimentation in painting and graphic design, so her background shows up in cakes featuring abstract shapes, architectural details and unusual textures…like this stylish monochromatic cake made with flexible gum paste!
THE WED profile highlights Karapetyan’s design language and says each cake is created as a bespoke piece, “inspired by the personality and style of her clients and designed to complement the unique theme of every event”. Bonus: the Markham-based studio offers private in-person workshops, including one-on-one sessions, hands-on classes and consultations for decorators looking to sharpen their technique and creative direction.
The second (and only other) Canadian name on the list is Cry Baby Cakes. Brooke Cowitz is the pastry artist behind the brand, and she first built a following in Toronto, working out of an Etobicoke kitchen before relocating to Lagoon City in Simcoe County! She graduated from Niagara College’s culinary program and has worked as a pastry chef at Quatrefoil in Dundas and later in La Banane’s kitchen before launching Cry Baby Cakes during the pandemic. While Cry Baby still has a presence online (so you can salivate over her OG creations), Cowitz’s current storefront is Phil & Rosie’s in the Brechin area, about 1.5 hours from Toronto, or a 30-minute drive from the famous Cooper’s Falls ghost town.
Thankfully, it looks like she’s still baking stylish cakes alongside other sweet treats, like holiday cookie boxes and freshly baked goods! So, time for a road trip, perhaps?
Dear Sangita: My partner and I decided to make loose friends with our new neighbours. Now they’re obsessed with us! We invited them over for a coffee, when they first moved into the neighbourhood, just wanting to be friendly. They invited us back. But now they’re literally knocking on our door multiple times a week, inviting us for everything from going to the theatre to having a full sit down dinner with them or game night! How do we distance ourselves? — Neighbourly nuisance
Dear Neighbourly: This is a tough one. They’re your neighbours, and they’re going to be there for a while, so you have to handle this very delicately. I don’t think you can be totally honest in this situation, and since they’re not close friends, it’s OK to tell a little bit of a lie from time to time. Let them know you’re not available every time they ask, and eventually they’ll get the message. You can also invite them over to your place so you feel like you have a bit more control over timing and scheduling — but invite them for a time a month out from now. Maybe with the promise that they’ll be seeing you in a few weeks, those invites will become a little less frequent. Ultimately, take this as a compliment: you made such a great impression and you’re so incredible that they want to make real friends with you!
Dear Sangita: My boyfriend refuses to recycle. This might be a deal-breaker. He insists that it makes no difference and has a big conspiracy about how everything goes in the same chute anyways. I know that’s true sometimes, but not all of the time, and I think being someone who won’t take two seconds to properly recycle reflects very poorly on him. What does this mean about who he is as a person? What else is he careless about? — Reduce, reuse, relationship regret
Dear RRRR: It really does depend what country you’re in. Many countries don’t recycle at all, and Toronto tries, but we don’t always do a great job of it. So it’s not really a conspiracy; your boyfriend is telling some truth. This seems to be something that is so important to you, but not so important to him. I don’t know if it’s fair to judge him on something that matters only to you. For example, some people really like to work out, but their partner does not, but you love them for other things. There’s a reason why you’ve met this person and there’s a reason why you’re dating. You’re pushing your narrative about what you think is right onto someone else, and a lesson we all have to learn in relationships is that you’re never going to change a person unless they want to change. I think you can definitely meet each other halfway on this: maybe he can commit to recycling the metal cans, because we know those will for sure be recycled in Canada. You definitely don’t need to break up with him. Maybe you can both teach each other a little bit about your own perspectives on recycling and find a middle ground!
Dear Sangita: My wife met my “work wife” for the first time. Now, she has a lot of questions. I thought I was protecting my wife by not telling her too much about her, but now I feel like it’s making me look suspicious. What do I do?
Dear Sangita: My husband discovered I was having an affair, but since it happened he hasn’t mentioned it at all and is weirdly pretending like everything is the same. We have to talk about it, and I know he’s probably hurt. How do I get him to open up?
Dear Sangita: I’m engaged to a married man. He was supposed to have mailed in the paperwork before he proposed to me, but I found out after that some documents were missing when he did. Was I wrong for calling off the wedding?
Dear Sangita: My mom is going through what some might call a mid-life crisis since divorcing my dad, and it’s giving me a lot of stress! I’ll call her at 11 p.m., and she’ll be getting ready to head to an all-nighter club. I want her to be happy, but I also want her to be safe. What should I do?
A Michelin-recommended restaurant in Vancouver has just opened a location in Toronto, and this one is even bigger and better.
Now open at 115 Wellington Street West, Riley’s Fish & Steak brings all the glitz, glam, and high-quality bites, the Glowbal Restaurant Group is known for. The group is also behind Black + Blue, which opened in the Financial District after expanding from British Columbia.
The new chophouse serves up steak and seafood executed with flair and a side of live music. Glowbal Restaurant Group CEO Emad Yacoub says Riley’s “uniqueness” made it an ideal concept to bring to Toronto.
“The food scene everywhere has started to lose that family-style feeling — like going to your grandma’s or your parents’ place on a Sunday, where everything’s in the middle of the table and meant to be shared,” he says. “I want to bring that back. When you pair that with this style of food, it felt like the right way to launch in Toronto.”
Stepping into the massive restaurant is like stepping into a 1950s grand jazz bar. With private dining rooms, the space spans more than 7,000 square feet, with an additional 100 seats soon to be available on a patio opening in June.
A long bar anchors the centre of the room, while velvet chairs and table lamps give each table a warm, intimate feel. Subtle touches of luxury are everywhere — including a wine cooler with a price tag north of $100,000.
Taking centre stage is a dedicated performance area, where a rotating lineup of local musicians plays alongside dinner from Tuesday to Saturday evenings. Yacoub says the goal is to soon have a set schedule, so diners know exactly when their favourite artists are performing.
The entire space, Yacoub says, is intentional — designed to feel “timeless” and to stick around like the kind of longstanding, institutional restaurants you find across the U.S.
“I really hate restaurants that have very new designs that, two years from now, is no longer approachable, and I hate that very old design that gives you a dark room that’s not fresh,” he says. “So, when we design our restaurant, we try to keep that combination of both — the old and the new coming together.”
Such a large space allows for a broader, more elevated menu than its West Coast counterpart. With a focus on Canadian sourcing, the menu boasts shareable mains like Atlantic lobster pot pie, seafood pastas and Canadian prime steaks, alongside both hot and cold seafood towers. A whole roasted chicken stuffed with foie gras and breadcrumbs is a standout — but go early, as only a limited number are available each night.
“Coming to Toronto, the kitchen is huge, so we’re finally able to do everything I’ve been wanting to do in Vancouver but couldn’t,” Yacoub says. “We’re also adding more tableside elements — the space and direction really allow for it.”
On the drinks side, classic cocktails sit alongside some fresh takes, while the wine program features around 30 options by the glass and more than 500 labels overall.
“We’re trying to highlight smaller, boutique wineries from the Okanagan and Niagara, alongside some of the bigger names,” he says. “Everything is meant to work together — you might come in for a cocktail, then stay for a glass of wine. That’s what the whole concept is about.”
The Toronto Tempo made history last night by picking Kiki Rice sixth overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
The former UCLA Bruins player became the first-ever draft selection for Toronto’s new WNBA team, a major milestone for the organization.
Rice was one of three UCLA players taken in the top six, following Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez. During her senior season she averaged 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, Rice played a key role in leading the Bruins to a national championship while posting career-best shooting numbers.
Rice brings an impressive résumé to Toronto, including All-American honours and multiple Big Ten awards.
The Tempo also added Teonni Key, Saffron Shiels and Charlise Dunn later on.
The college draft followed the team’s earlier expansion draft last week in which the Tempo chose from a list of experienced WNBA players left unprotected by their teams.
Rice will join a backcourt that already features experienced guards chosen in that draft such as Marina Mabrey, Julie Allemand and Brittney Sykes.
And the Tempo didn’t stop with Rice. On Tuesday morning, the team announced another major addition: the signing of Kia Nurse.
Nurse is one of Canada’s best-known and most highly decorated basketball players with a long WNBA career and multiple Olympic appearances with the women’s national team. Not to mention, her work as a Toronto Raptors broadcaster.
“Kia represents everything this franchise stands for,” Monica Wright Rogers, General Manager of the Toronto Tempo said in a statement. “She’s a world-class athlete, a proven professional, and someone who has helped grow the game in Canada at every level. Having a Canadian player of her stature join Canada’s first WNBA team is incredibly special, and it reinforces our commitment to building a team the entire country can rally behind.”
There might be nothing better than hearing about a new Toy Story movie, but what about hearing that an iconic Toronto voice will be part of the fifth addition of the iconic franchise?
Everyone’s favourite Toronto restaurateur, Matty Matheson, took to Instagram to share the news that he’ll be voicing character Dr. Nutcase in Toy Story 5, slated to come out this June in cinemas.
Matheson shared a first look of the movie, captioning his post: “ITS DOCTOR NUTCASE TO YOU!!!! A DREAM WITHIN A DREAM!!!”
Dr. Nutcase’s role in Toy Story 5 is still yet to be revealed. However, in the trailer, he appears to be a peanut-shelled toy who’s stuck hanging from a tree, discovered by Woody and Bo Peep.
Woody, Buzz and the rest of the toy gang make their return this summer as they face their biggest threat yet: electronics taking over playtime. The toys reunite to take on Lilypad, a tablet that stops Bonnie from playing with them.
In the previous Toy Story 4, Woody went off to save abandoned toys, but is called back in to deal with the challenge.
This isn’t the first time Matheson has been out of the kitchen and on the screen. He’s best known for portraying Neil Fak on FX’s The Bear and has made an appearance on CBC’s Workin’ Moms. He’s also co-hosted a wide range of food shows such as Dead Set on Life and It’s Suppertime!
Earlier this year, he released the latest season of his unfiltered and hilarious cooking show, Just a Dash, on Netflix after the streaming service picked up the rights to his YouTube series.
Matheson isn’t a stranger to voicing animated characters either. He previously voiced Sauce Boss in Big City Greens for Disney+, ahead of his Toy Story debut.
It’s been a tough couple of months for the celebrity chef; Bar Clams, Cà Phê Rang (which Matheson co-owned with chef Rang Nguyen) and the Avenue Road Maker Pizza location all closed within months of each other. However, his popular burger spot, Matty’s Patty’s, is still thriving in the city (and with a second location in California), while Rizzo’s House of Parm continues to make waves in Fort Erie.
And just a few weeks ago, he launched 9,500-square-foot restaurant The Iron Cow Public House out in Hamilton.
While we’re loving everything Matty Matheson cooks up in the kitchen, we’re excited to see what he’s cooked up in the recording booth as Dr. Nutcase! Who knows — maybe a voice acting career is in his future (once he’s done with the final season of The Bear, of course). Toy Story 5 is in theatres across the country starting June 19.
Keanu Reeves is one of the nicest guys in Hollywood, and his new dark comedy Outcome is the latest reminder that critics may be split on a movie, but can still recognize a good performance when they see one. The Jonah Hill-directed flick is now streaming on Apple TV and follows Reef Hawk (Reeves), a movie star forced to confront his image after a mysterious video threatens to blow up his life.
The film’s reception has been somewhat mixed overall (OK, not exactly glowing), with a 27% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4.6/10 rating on IMDb. Still, Reeves’s performance keeps coming up as one of its strongest elements. Critics are saying the 61-year-old has become “a deeper, simpler, more resonant actor” with age, bringing “sincerity” to a comedy that’s otherwise glib.
Keanu Reeves and Jonah Hill in ‘Outcome,’ now streaming on Apple TV.
High praise, yes, but perhaps not much of a surprise for Torontonians, since the moment also comes with an extra layer of hometown pride. Long before he was Neo, John Wick or the villain in a Weezer mockumentary, Reeves was just a Toronto kid moving through local schools and hockey rinks. He was born in Beirut, but arrived in Canada as a child, grew up in Toronto and became a naturalized Canadian citizen. He attended multiple schools in Toronto, including Jesse Ketchum Junior and Senior Public School, North Toronto Collegiate Institute, De La Salle College and Etobicoke School of the Arts. He was serious enough about hockey that NHL.com still describes him as a goalie prospect who grew up in Toronto and even tried out for the Windsor Spitfires as a teenager.
But acting won out, and Reeves eventually headed to Los Angeles to pursue it full-time. During his Canada’s Walk of Fame acceptance speech in 2021, he gave a heartfelt shoutout to Hazelton Avenue in Yorkville, calling Toronto the city and culture he remains deeply grateful for.
The country’s most visionary designers, architects, builders, artists and luxury brands are returning to Toronto next weekend for the Living Luxe Design Show, Canada’s premier luxury design destination.
From April 17 to 19, the Toronto Congress Centre will play host to immersive experiences and a curated design showcase that brings luxury to life through interior design, fashion, art, real estate, hospitality and leading industry insights. This year the event, proudly sponsored by Streets of Toronto, will feature an expanded format with exciting programming that includes globally renowned speakers as well as new opportunities for emerging talent, allowing the future of design talent to take centre stage.
“The Living Luxe Design Show was created to be more than a design show,” says Jennifer Lipkowitz, who is both the co-founder of Living Luxe Magazine and the Living Luxe Design Show. “In 2026, we’re proud to expand the experience even further, spotlighting emerging talent alongside global design icons and offering a truly immersive look at the future of luxury living in Canada.”
Programming includes immersive installations by Max Jamali, custom art experiences by Amer SM, a fashion runway sponsored by Yorkville Custom Homes and Richview Landscape presented in collaboration with the Toronto Fashion Academy, and a brand new Emerging Designers Area, in which the six selected emerging designers will showcase their individual booths inspired by Rome and compete for the Best Emerging Designer Award. The winner will receive a complimentary full-scale booth at the 2027 event as well as a $10,000 grant.
Keynote speakers include celebrated designers like Lori Morris, Ali Budd and Karim Rashid, and the event also includes an opening party, an awards show and, of course, the signature Lumière-Rosè charity cocktail soiree benefittingAutism in Mind and SickKids Foundation. Visitors can also buy tickets to an opening night party, happening on April 16 and featuring live entertainment, food and drinks.
The Living Luxe Design show takes place from April 17 to 19 at 650 Dixon Rd. in Etobicoke. Tickets for all of the events can be purchased online.
When a Toronto cobbler found out the 60-year-old patching and stitching machine he needs to run his business had broken, he assumed the worst — repairing it would cost $10,000 that he didn’t have, and without it, he would have to close down his business. But when the local Dufferin Grove community heard the news, they were determined to help. On Monday, one GoFundMe and almost $16,000 later, Alazar Beyene, owner of Moneysworth and Best Quality Shoe Care, got his machine.
It was local resident Marsha Shandur who first learned about the broken machine from Beyene when she visited his store at Dufferin Mall for another shoe repair. “I said, ‘Why don’t we start a fundraiser, put a link online so that people can donate?'” And he said, ‘Is this legal?'”
Shandur set up the GoFundMe on Beyene’s behalf a few days later, sharing it to a neighbourhood Facebook group and raising around $1,500. But it was when Shandur made a TikTok and Instagram video about the situation that things “completely blew up.”
“I was getting comments from the Tragically Hip and the Arkells and Haviah Mighty, and people were all saying they were going to take their shoes there,” she says. “I think it was just the feel-good news story that people needed.”
Shandur says Beyene and his daughters told her about how he had a shoe making business back in Ethiopia, but when he moved to Canada due to the war, he came with nothing.
“He used to have to get up at 4 a.m. to rent someone else’s machine because he couldn’t afford his own machine to fix shoes,” Shandur says.
The patching and repair machine he ended up buying was a secondhand one from the 1960s, so it’s no surprise it eventually broke down.
After Shandur’s videos went viral, the GoFundMe quickly hit and surpassed its target. Currently at $15,589, she and Beyene agreed to donated any excess funds to the Maquila Solidarity Network, a non-profit fighting for the rights of garment and footwear workers.
And on Monday, Shandur and Councillor Alejandra Bravo were there for the big reveal: Beyene unveiled his brand new machine.
It comes at the right time, too — since his story went viral, Beyene’s shop at Dufferin Mall has been seeing long lines of customers, even during the winter months when Beyene says the business is usually “dead.”
You can visit Moneysworth and Best Quality Shoe Care and Beyene’s new machine at the mall; his store is located all the way down a small corridor directly to the left of H&M.
One of the most fun and lively roadways in the city could be getting even better with a new project that would see a stretch of Church Street go car-free this summer.
The City has proposed a Church Street Pedestrianization Pilot, which would temporarily close the roadway to through traffic between Wellesley St E and Alexander St from June 19 to Aug 21, creating a pedestrian-first zone in the heart of the Church-Wellesley Village!
Right now, the City only has processes in place for street closures due to construction or street events, but longer-term closures come with different challenges that require unique solutions that need to be tested (hence, the pilot).
The goal is to create safer conditions for pedestrians, support local businesses and make more room for people to gather in one of downtown’s best-known public meeting places (imagine more space for walking, sitting and making the most of shaded areas). The inspiration behind this project comes from Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest in Montreal, QC. That pilot was tested for several years and has resulted in a stretch being permanently designed for seasonal pedestrianization.
Church and Wellesley (photo: Canmenwalker, Wikicommons)
In Toronto, the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area developed a Streetscape Masterplan, which will help guide the design and operation of the reconstruction, as well as help shape the City’s broader pedestrianization policies and guidelines.
The Village has deep roots in Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ history, so the pilot coincides with two major moments this year: The 519’s 50th anniversary and the City’s proposed Cultural Districts Program, which would begin by recognizing Church-Wellesley as one of the city’s first official cultural districts.
For now, the proposal is still in the public feedback phase. The project’s estimated cost is between $50,000 and $80,000, with funding coming through sponsorships and grants, and residents are encouraged to fill out a survey or visit ExperienceTheVillage.ca to sign the petition and share their thoughts.
The project has been in the planning phase since Nov 2025, and is scheduled to go before Toronto and East York Community Council on April 30, followed by City Council on May 20. If approved, the pedestrianization pilot would run from June 19 to Aug 21, with a debrief and evaluation period expected in Nov 2026.
