8 h. ago Beloved Toronto coffee shop opens new location after over 20 years in business

A Toronto cafe that's been a neighbourhood stalwart for over 20 years is finally expanding, opening a brand new location in the city.Every neighbourhood has its institutions; those spots that have been there as long as you can remember and that you can't imagine ever closing down. Growing up in the Beaches, for me, that was The Goof (legal name: Garden Gate), but for Mimico, Birds and Beans Cafe fits the bill.Opening its doors in 2004, the cafe has been supplying the community with fair-trade, bird-friendly coffee and eco-friendly goods for the past 21 years out of their charming cafe just off Mimico Square.If you rarely venture deep into the west end of the city, you could go your whole life without knowing it was there, but you'd be worse off for it: the coffee is excellent, and the cafe itself looks and feels like something straight out of Gilmore Girls.As of last month, even more people in the city are getting the chance to experience the magic of Bird...

Economics

37 h. ago Regina council to consider $6.8M incentive for Costco to build 2nd location in city limits

Regina City Council is set to consider a new business incentive proposal, which would compensate Costco to build a second location within city limits.

Economics

5 d. ago Toronto cafe that abruptly closed down is reopening under new ownership

An indie coffee shop on one of Toronto's busiest streets for foot traffic has triumphantly reopened after a sudden closure that many feared would be its ultimate end after close to a decade serving the community.HotBlack Coffee has been serving up third-wave espresso drinks alongside a curated selection of local wines, merchandise, baked goods and other snacks near Queen Street and University Avenue since 2016, when it debuted with a fancy under-counter espresso machine, reverse-osmosis water filter and more in a polished space.But at the end of March, the Entertainment District staple abruptly locked its doors, posting a notice of an indefinite closure in its windows and on social media."Ever since the owner, Jimson, passed away, the company has sort of been sailing blindfolded in the middle of the ocean, mainly because [of] legal issues. This has to be sorted in the right way, and we figured the only choice is to end this chapter," staff wrote sho...

Other

1 week ago Stunning Toronto trail cuts through forest that once helped defeat Napoleon

Mast Trail is a beloved hiking trail in Toronto, often visited as a fun weekend getaway. But with over 10,000 years of history in Rouge Park, there's a little more to these trails than one might think.The area is rich in history, being home to many Indigenous cultures and traditions — including the Seneca village Ganatsekwyagon and the route of famous French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette.But this piece of land was instrumental in taking down one of Europe's most infamous rulers — the self-proclaimed Emperor of France Napoleon Bonaparte.Historical contextAs the foundations for what would become Toronto were just starting to be built, France was being violently torn down. As heads rolled and war spread, Napoleon stood as a crucial part of the French Revolution's victories through Europe and Frances expansion across the continent.By the winter of 1806, having dominated most of Europe, Napoleon set his sights on conquering England — but woul...

Other

1 week ago Two friends open dream Mexican cafe in Toronto that's also a boutique

Just outside of Dupont subway station in Toronto, two friends have created a vibrant new space that blends nostalgic Mexican flavours, vintage fashion, and community. Wey Cup is a cozy but lively café and boutique that opened its doors last month, thanks to the duo that made it possible — friends Barbara Cervantes and Alejandra Blanco. On the café side, Wey Cup serves up classic coffee shop staples, like espressos, Americanos, and lattes, but it's the Mexican-inspired drinks that really stand out. Their "latte de mi corazón" is a sweet twist on a classic latte, made with creamy horchata. Their "café de olla" is a traditional Mexican brew infused with cinnamon and piloncillo (panela or unrefined whole cane sugar) that offers a taste of home for anyone missing it, or just discovering it. Other menu highlights include "grandma chocolate," a traditional hot chocolate topped with a...

Other

2 w. ago Trendy Toronto cafe announces sudden and indefinite closure after a decade

An award-winning Toronto cafe that has been a mainstay in the city's most tourist-heavy neighbourhood has unexpectedly shuttered, with management's confusing (though heartfelt) goodbye message leaving the community wondering about what's to come for business — and the prime address it has called home for close to a decade.On the surface, the closure of HotBlack Coffee appears to simply be the latest casualty in the undeniable demise of the Queen West strip, but missives posted both in the coffee shop's windows and on its social media pages explains that its situation is a bit more complicated, and its future, quite up in the air.General Manager Momi Kishi explained in a post dated March 25 why the cafe's doors, a stone's throw from Osgoode subway station, would have to close for at least a while a mere five days later. And surprisingly, it wasn't due to a rent increase or rising c...

Other

2 w. ago One of Toronto's best donut shops is closing down after 14 years

A Toronto donut shop known in equal measures for its salacious name as its tasty treats will be closing down for good this summer, as its founder pursues a new direction.It's been a storied run for Toronto's Glory Hole Doughnuts, which, over the past 14 years, has earned itself not only an evangelical community support base but a reputation for being one of the city's best doughnut shops — if not the best.Despite the popularity that the shop's various locations have sustained over the years, though, operating a small business always comes with its fair share of difficulties, a reality that owner Ashley Jacot de Boinod has never shied away from sharing.From highs like expanding from their original Parkdale space to new locations in Harbord Village, Little India and a pop-up in the Eaton Centre to more challenging moments like closing down the aforementioned Parkdale shop and getting candid about the difficulty of maintaining a business i...

Politics

3 w. ago Toronto Maple Leafs bringing back huge free tailgate parties for playoffs

It's a tale as old as time: the Toronto Maple Leafs have once again clinched a spot in the NHL playoffs, and the team is bringing back its legendary tailgate viewing parties to give fans the chance to celebrate for free in Maple Leaf Square.NHL Playoff season has become something of an annual (if not bittersweet) tradition in Toronto, and for good reason. 2025 marks the ninth consecutive season that Toronto's equally beloved and beleaguered Maple Leafs find themselves on the road to the Stanley Cup, blanketing the city with ample excitement and anticipation.Hopes are high this year, as the team has clinched a top-two finish in the Atlantic Division and secured a home ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Let's just hope that another tradition — you know, the one where the Leafs don't end up winning the Stanley Cup — doesn't end up panning out as usual.While a ticket to see the team take the ice in person could already set you b...

Culture

3 w. ago Minuteman Press Franchisees Melanie Collao & Gary Biala Grow Sales Through Key Acquisition & Celebrate 6 Years in Winnipeg

WINNIPEG, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Melanie Collao and Gary Biala are the owners of Minuteman Press in Winnipeg since February of 2019, when they opened a brand new location. In September of 2024, Melanie and Gary acquired Rap Printers & Rent-a-Post, a single location operating two distinct businesses with over ten years in […]

Culture

3 w. ago How this Toronto coffee shop invented the city's most viral drink

One caffeinated creation from a Toronto cafe has been breaking the internet (locally, at least) over the past few weeks, but its owners tell me that its conception was actually a happy accident.Toronto has had its fair share of viral food moments over the years, from ketchup and mustard-flavoured ice cream to delightfully jiggly cat-shaped pudding, but few — in recent memory, at least — have sunk their teeth into the city quite the way that Forget Me Not Cafe's Banana Bread Matcha Latte has.A recent explosion across the TikTok and Instagram feeds of many (if not all) Toronto residents has left many yearning to try the creamy, pastel-coloured concoction.Pairing ceremonial-grade matcha with housemade sweet cream, a hefty dose of banana flavouring and a single banana chip for garnish, the flavours of the drink are designed to complement one another in perfect synchronicity.    View this post on Instagram        &nb...

Other

3 w. ago UROSPOT Opens First Lower Mainland Location, Bringing the Pelvic Floor Revolution to Vancouver

New clinic offers non-invasive treatments to help Canadians regain control of their pelvic health VANCOUVER, British Columbia — UROSPOT, Canada’s leader in pelvic health and bladder wellness, has opened its first clinic in the Lower Mainland. Located in the Hycroft Medical Building in Vancouver’s South Granville neighbourhood (3195 Granville St, Suite 115, Unit 8), the […]

Other