10 h. ago Cherry blossoms, Earth Day and more beautiful things to honour this weekend in GTA

It’s the last weekend of April — can you believe it? The Maple Leafs will be in Ottawa to play the Senators in Game 4 on Saturday night, but there will be a tailgate party in Maple Leaf Square at Scotiabank Arena, with the game being played on the outdoor big screen. And while there […]

Culture

13 h. ago Toronto's foremost cherry blossom expert is getting honoured by Japan

Toronto's most iconic cherry blossom expert is getting his well-deserved flowers as he receives a special honour from Matsunaga Takeshi, Consul-General of Japan.It's almost impossible to discuss Toronto's breathtaking High Park cherry blossoms without the city's resident sakura expert, who fittingly goes by the name Sakura Steve online, entering the discourse.Steven Joniak, the man behind Sakura in High Park, has been Toronto's (and blogTO's) source for cherry blossom updates ever since he launched his website in 2012, supplementing his journey with extensive research on the trees.To date, Steve is the foremost authority for Toronto residents keen to catch the peak bloom every year, providing weekly updates and, at times, braving less-than-ideal conditions from March to May as the trees progress.While Steve has certainly earned his fair share of recognition over the years, he's now about to receive an official honour for all of his contributions...

Other

60 h. ago Cherry blossoms in Toronto could start their 2025 bloom this week

Cherry blossoms across Toronto could begin their 2025 bloom within the coming week as warmer temperatures and sunny days finally appear here to stay.After a clunky start to spring, with snowstorms surprising Toronto residents well into March and cold snaps stalling the growth of plant life in the city, the warmer weather appears to truly be here to stay. Finally.For many in the city, that means populating your social calendar with open-air concerts and patio cocktail plans, but it also marks the return of one of Toronto's most spectacular natural sights: the annual cherry blossom bloom at High Park.While it can be tricky to time your trips out just right so that you catch the blossoms in peak form, Toronto's resident cherry blossom expert, Sakura Steve, has his finger on the pulse, keeping sakura enthusiasts informed with comprehensive updates on their development.According to his latest observations, the bloom may just be upon us sooner rather than later.After chi...

Culture

65 h. ago Canadian Vaping Association Unveils Groundbreaking Recycling Initiative Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future

Ottawa, ON, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This Earth Day, the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) is teaming up with industry leaders to launch VapeCycle, a groundbreaking nationwide recycling program designed to address the environmental impact of e-waste in disposable vaping products while supporting Canada’s public health harm reduction initiatives.  While vaping remains the most effective […]

Sport

66 h. ago A message from Earth Day: Hold politicians accountable on pollution

This Earth Day is bittersweet. While it is usually a time to reflect on how we can build a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations, this year it was overshadowed by a major climate policy setback — the loss of consumer carbon pricing, with the final Canada Carbon Rebate being issued to eligible Canadians […]

Politics

67 h. ago Burt’s Bees on sustainable beauty—and why it matters more than ever

In honour of Earth Day, we spoke to Abena Antwi, product designer and chemist of Burt's Bees, about what sustainability really looks like in the beauty industry.

Other

69 h. ago Gamifying litter cleanup: How a new initiative in Ontario is turning trash into cash

A local environmental charity from Georgian Bay is the first in North America to partner with an app that gamifies helping the environment.

Other

3 d. ago Farmers Driving Change This Earth Day by Recycling on the Farm

ETOBICOKE, Ontario, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — April 22, 2025. This Earth Day, on April 22, Cleanfarms shines a light on the vital role Canadian farmers play – their innovative spirit and deep-rooted dedication are key to environmental stewardship in agricultural recycling. “Farmers have always been at the heart of environmental stewardship,” says Barry […]

Sport

5 d. ago OPINION: Earth Day reality check shows Canada’s air quality is excellent

On Dec. 1, 1962, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers met the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 50th Grey Cup at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium. During the game, a mass of thick fog rolled ashore from Lake Ontario, severely limiting on-field visibility and forcing the CFL to suspend play with less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter (the game […]

Culture

6 d. ago Insurance Claims Go Green: Industry Launches North American Green Council on Earth Day

Industry leaders are coming together to collaborate on climate solutions in the insurance claims supply chain. Clean Claims, Complete Care, EcoClaim, Federated Insurance, First Onsite Property Restoration, Humber Polytechnic, Northbridge Insurance, Pro-Claim Group, PuroClean, Specialty Program Group Canada, and others are joining a new Council to target climate action in an area of business that […]

Economics

7 d. ago Easter festivities and other events to hop to this long weekend in GTA

The long weekend is upon us and while Easter and Passover may be winding down, that doesn’t mean events have been put on hold. In fact, there is a lot going on in and around Toronto – you just have to know where to find it all. Here’s what you need to know to make […]

Other

7 d. ago Western Financial Group Champions Earth Day with Community Cleanup Initiatives

Empowering Communities Through Sustainability and Care HIGH RIVER, Alberta, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Western Communities Foundation, the non-profit arm of Western Financial Group, is proud to participate in multi-location community clean-up and tree planting initiatives celebrating Earth Day (April 22). Thanks to an unwavering commitment to sustainability and care for our staff, […]

Sport

9 d. ago Fencer disqualified for taking knee against trans athlete invited to testify before Congress

A female fencer who was disqualified after refusing to compete against a transgender athlete in a women’s bout has been invited to testify before Congress. Stephanie Turner, 31, opted to take a knee instead of fence against 20-year-old Redmond Sullivan, who was born male, at USA Fencing’s Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland last month. In […]

Other

1 week ago Toronto’s ‘cherry blossom watch’ says it’s almost time for popular spring pilgrimage

Toronto's largest public park says its famous cherry blossom trees are showing their first signs of impending bloom.

Other

1 week ago Looks like Toronto has to wait a little longer for 2025's cherry blossom bloom

As the spring weather blooms into full effect, Toronto residents are eagerly awaiting one of the most highly anticipated events — the cherry blossoms in High Park.Local cherry blossom expert, Sakura Steve, has been keeping his weekly updates, and given an update on when we can expect the cherry blossoms to hit full bloom.After a recent visit to High Park, he showcased that the current buds are sitting at Stage Two in their blooming process. That means little progress has been made from last week's green-tipped babies into fuller, rounder buds — but that’s a good thing.Because Toronto experienced colder-than-usual weather during April, this stage of the process has kept the buds safe and secure to combat the harsher climate.Steven notes that, if the buds had progressed to Stage Three or Four, they would've likely been damaged.But this comes with the downside of the cherry blossoms being stuck at Stage Two, delaying their development by a short while — as ...

Other

1 week ago A massive sand dune is coming to the middle of downtown Toronto

While much of Toronto's downtown core can best be described as a concrete jungle, one area is getting a particularly intriguing dose of nature this summer in the form of an enormous artificial sand dune.The onslaught of warmer temperatures and sunny days signals the return of some of Toronto's most celebrated spring and summer traditions, from outdoor concerts at Budweiser Stage to the cherry blossom bloom at High Park, but this year, the city is also gearing up for some interesting new events and attractions to keep things fresh.Down at The Bentway, Toronto's reclaimed public space under the Gardiner Expressway, there's a particularly vibrant suite of programming scheduled to take place throughout the season, including the return of their popular roller skating rink and Art Socials.Some additions for the 2025 spring and summer season promise to be a little bit more... unique, though, like Sand Flight, an immersive dance performance that takes place atop an enormous sand d...

Other

2 w. ago T.O. Food and Drink Fest and more events to cheers this weekend in GTA

April showers are supposed to bring May flowers but unless you’re in a nursery or greenhouse, there has been little in bloom to appreciate. Maybe next week? We’ll keep telling ourselves that. By now, though, we should all be used to the weird weather in the city and go about our business – and pleasure […]

Other

2 w. ago Enormous outdoor flower market coming to Toronto just in time for Mother's Day

Toronto is getting a huge outdoor flower market all summer long, and it's set to arrive just in time for Mother's Day.With blustery temperatures forecast all week in Toronto, it's easy to feel like we'll never be able to enjoy spending time outdoors again (let alone choose to, voluntarily), but signs of spring are everywhere.From tracking the progress of High Park's cherry blossoms to eagerly anticipating opening day at Canada's Wonderland, there's just no denying that we are, despite the weather suggesting otherwise, edging ever closer to the sunny season.Another hotly anticipated annual spring and summertime tradition in Toronto, the Toronto Flower Market, is also due to make its comeback alongside the sunshine, gearing up for its 12th season kickoff this May.As is the tradition, the monthly market will host its first event of the season on Saturday, May 10, the day before Mother's Day, so that you can treat the mothers and mother figures in your life to a brea...

Other

2 w. ago Here's when you could see Toronto's cherry blossoms in full bloom for 2025

After a few false starts, there's no denying now that spring has officially sprung in Toronto, and with it comes the return of one of the city's most spectacular sights: the annual cherry blossom bloom in High Park.It's been a rollercoaster few weeks for Toronto, weather-wise, after blustry lows, an ice storm, biblical levels of rain fall and, to cap it all off, a summerlike Thursday with temperatures reaching 20 degrees Celsius. Not that I'm complaining — not about that last part, at least — but I couldn't help wondering how the dramatic temperature swings would affect the city's most-anticipated plant life.But according to the latest update from Toronto's resident cherry blossom expert, Sakura Steve, High Park's cherry blossoms appear to be utterly unfazed by the unpredictable weather.Steve says that, even in spite of nearly every type of weather imaginable being unleashed on the city within a seven-day span, the buds are continuing to grow, and have off...

Other

2 w. ago Three to See Edmonton Events: Smokey at Aviary, Mile Zero Horizons Cabaret and No Other Land

Smokey: It’s local musician and public art master Smokey Johnson’s 45th birthday and, in honour of it, he’s released a beautiful, rather chipper new indie pop song called Ready to Die. You can watch the preposterously charming jumping-kids video online, but the awesome, re-emerging local promoter Double Lunch has also put together a great lineup […]

Transport