21 h. ago It's been a history of ups and downs for Toronto's most notorious speed camera

Whether you love or hate Toronto's automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras, the City continues to lean into the road safety strategy, adding another 75 of the machines to various Community Safety Zones just this month, bringing the total to 150.The tech has proven to be both extremely effective and lucrative since it was launched as a pilot in 2019, bringing in millions in revenue and resulting in tens of thousands of tickets.This success has been led by one camera in particular along Parkside Drive, the High Park-adjacent thoroughfare that has become notorious for accidents — and, now, its ongoing ASE drama.In its first 1.5 years of operation alone, the Parkside machine nabbed more than 34,000 speeding drivers, amounting to a phenomenal $3.6 million-plus in fines, a figure that has since surpassed $7 million. But, this has led to it being targeted by vandals, something that has become a persistent issue with the tec...

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24 h. ago Doors Open Toronto returns for 2025 with more than 150 places to explore for free

There's so much to explore in Toronto, and you've been meaning to get out and learn a little more about our city, Doors Open is the time to do so. The initiative opens hundreds of buildings that are usually closed to the public across Ontario and Toronto for an entire weekend, free of charge.In Ontario, Doors Open kicks off in Guelph on April 26, but here in Toronto, the Doors Open weekend runs one month later, starting on May 24 until May 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m."Explore Toronto's architectural, historical, cultural and socially significant buildings for free during the Doors Open weekend. For Doors Open 2025, we will be exploring the many sides of our playful city — for kids of all ages," shares Doors Open Ontario."From sports to music to theatre, Doors Open sites and programming will explore the joyful, irreverent and sometimes serious times of play."For the 2025 rendition, there are 157 sites to explore in Toronto. Some notable buildings yo...

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63 h. ago Montreal Roses hold on to edge AFC Toronto in second outing for Northern Super League

TORONTO — The Northern Super League kicked off mid-week in Vancouver but there was still a sense of history Saturday as Montreal Roses FC hung on to edge AFC Toronto 1-0 in Game 2 at BMO Field. “Women in Quebec, women in Canada, they deserve this,” said Montreal coach Robert Rositoiu. “And I really hope […]

Sport

5 d. ago Toronto house totally gutted by fire is still selling for half a million dollars

In November 2023, a row of historic houses in Toronto's Cabbagetown neighbourhood mysteriously went up in flames. Toronto Fire confirmed to blogTO back in 2023 that the primary addresses for the incident were 225 through 229 River St.229 River St. had been sitting on the market, boarded up for a while, and then, on the day of the fire, it sold. 229 River St. had also been listed as a "multi-unit development" possibility, though the wording was removed from the listing.The front of the house. This made some people suspicious, with some speculating that the fire may have been started to get out of having to replicate the heritage attributes of the house.According to the Ontario government webiste, if a heritage property is destroyed by fire or accident, "the designation by-law does not require the owner to replicate any lost heritage attributes. A replacement building can be of a different design," as the "intent of designation is to preserve the historic, phy...

Economics

6 d. ago Toronto seeking to turn over a new Leaf under Berube after clinching 1st Atlantic Division title

For everything he’s done since his celebrated arrival in 2016, Auston Matthews can’t change the Toronto Maple Leafs’ history of early round playoff collapses.

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6 d. ago Toronto aims to turn over a new Leaf under Berube after clinching first Atlantic Division title

For everything he’s done since his celebrated arrival in 2016, Auston Matthews can’t change the Toronto Maple Leafs’ history of early round playoff collapses.

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1 week ago The history of the horse and human water fountains in Toronto

Long before Toronto's streets were jam-packed with cars and motorcycles, they were filled with carriages and horse-drawn streetcars.In the 19th and early 20th century, horses were one of the city's primary modes of transportation, and just like today's vehicles need gas stations and charging stations, horses needed water troughs to keep them going through their long journeys.As a result, there were tons of horse and human water fountains across the city at major intersections during this time, and many of them even featured a tiny basin for dogs at their base.Horses having a drink at a Toronto water fountain in the 1910s. Photo: Archives of Ontario.One of the last surviving examples in Ontario still stands in St. James Park, along King Street East near Church Street.Manufactured by the Canada Foundry Company Ltd., the cast-iron structure dates back to the late 1800s. Facing south toward King Street is a large trough once filled by two taps, offering water to horses that fr...

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1 week ago Toronto bakery closing permanently as owner moves to Australia

A much-loved bakery from a prolific Toronto baker is closing down permanently this spring as its owner prepares to embark on a journey across the International Date Line.Toronto baker Jean Blacklock has been something of a household name in Toronto for some years now, running the sensational Prairie Girl Bakery for a decade before ultimately closing it down in 2021.As the city reeled from the loss of the widely adored cupcakes, Jean was hard at work with her new-and-improved online concept, Sticky Bakery, which, on top of the cupcakes, serves decadent delights from cakes to cinnamon buns, opening their storefront on St. Clair West in November of 2024.Suffice it to say, in the years that Sticky Bakery operated as an online bakery and in the months since opening the brick-and-mortar, it has become a sensation, regularly selling out of their goodies within hours of opening.Despite Jean's prolific history on Toronto's pastry scene, along with Sticky Bakery's unwavering popular...

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1 week ago Toronto Blue Jays just made franchise history in a very depressing way

Through the first two weeks of the season, the Toronto Blue Jays have already gone on a bit of a mini roller coaster.With a record of 8-6 that has them tied for first in the AL East, they've gone through a four-game winning streak and a three-game winning streak, coupled with a three-game losing streak in the middle.Through four different series against Boston, Baltimore, the New York Mets, and Washington, they've been swept, swept their opponents, split a series evenly, and had a second sweep attempt fall short in the final game.Toronto's first 14 games have included a little bit of everything, but there's been one glaring issue on which the Blue Jays still have quite a bit of work to do.In the first two weeks of the year, Toronto has hit only six home runs, an all-time franchise low, per Sportsnet stats.Blue Jays 6 Home Runs are their fewest in franchise history through 14 games— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 11, 2025New trade acquisition Andres Gimenez hit three home run...

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1 week ago Toronto Blue Jays gave Guerrero Jr. some cool perks in huge $500M deal

The Toronto Blue Jays made a bit of history this week, officially inking Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to one of the largest deals in sports history.Guerrero's US$500-million contract over 14 years is the fifth-biggest ever by an athlete, the most by any player on a Canadian team, and the third-biggest ever in the MLB behind only Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani.But even though other deals might end up with higher dollar values in the actual amount of the deal, there's something no athlete making more than Guerrero can say is in their contract clause.As per baseball insider Jon Heyman, Guerrero Jr. gets four premium tickets to each home game, but also a full suite inside of the Rogers Centre.Vlad Guerrero Jr.Jays$500M/14Signing Bonus - $325M (payable 2025-2039)$17M - 2026, 2027$16M - 2028$15M - 2029$14,5M- 2030-32$12,5M - 2033, 2034$11,5M - 2035$10,5M - 2036$7M - 2037$6,25M - 2038, 2039Awards bonuses4 premium seats, 1 suiteFull No Trade— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 10, 2025For a ballpark...

Economics

1 week ago Toronto debuting cheap golf simulators so you can still play in miserable weather

Golf season in Toronto is now in full swing, and residents don't need to let gloomy weather stop them from stomping the green.The City's five public courses, including Dentonia Park, Don Valley, Humber Valley, Scarlett Woods and Tam O’Shanter, are getting revamped with new programs for seniors, women and youth — including the addition of two new golf simulators at Tam O’Shanter.The TrackMan 4, the state-of-the-art golf launch monitor the city has installed, uses "advanced radar technology to provide precise data on ball flight and club performance."The city's booking website claims the simulators offer an “immersive and accurate golfing experience, allowing you to work on your swing, fine-tune your technique, and play world-class courses without worrying about the weather.”The simulators boast a popular reputation among pros, coaches and fitters thanks to their "accuracy and highest quality data."To help further bolster the season, the city is also offe...

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1 week ago Toronto Raptors rookie just did something not seen in NBA for decades

The Toronto Raptors gave their fans one final bit of history at Scotiabank Arena to close out their final home game of the year.While much of their fanbase is more focused on their draft lottery odds than the actual on-court product, one Raptors rookie ended up doing something rarely seen in team history on Wednesday night.Raptors rookie forward Jonathan Mogbo achieved his first career triple-double on Wednesday night in the 126-96 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, picking up 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds."It was a lot of stuff going on, but it was great to see everybody happy," he said.Not only was Mogbo's triple-double the first by any rookie in the NBA this season, but it was also the first in Raptors history by a first-year player since Damon Stoudamire pulled it off in the franchise's 11th-ever game back on November 21, 1995.RJ Barrett leads the Raptors with two triple-doubles this year, while Scottie Barnes has one. Kyle Lowry is the franchise all-time...

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1 week ago Opinion: Alberta should put a stop to municipal 'vacancy taxes'

What happens when a municipal government decides that how you use your own property is grounds for financial punishment? In Canmore, a radical new tax policy threatens to transform property ownership from a well-earned right to a highly-regulated privilege — potentially driving some owners to sell, threatening investors and turning a once strong community spirit […]

Politics

1 week ago Legendary Toronto music venue around for 70 years is up for sale

Toronto's iconic El Mocambo music venue, a staple in the city's entertainment and live music scene for more than seven decades, is now up for sale after its owner and former Dragons' Den star, Michael Wekerle, defaulted on $55.6 million in debt through the companies he controls.Last Friday, an Ontario court intervened and appointed Ernst & Young Inc. to oversee the venue's sale. The music venue first opened its doors in 1948, and after decades of hosting legendary artists like The Rolling Stones and Blondie, Wekerle purchased the venue in 2014 for $3.8 million.The investor invested over $30 million to refurbish the space, and despite multiple setbacks, the venue reopened in 2020, only for it to be delayed once again due to the global pandemic.Wekerle was taken to court by Waygar Capital Inc., a creditor that claims Wekerle's companies have failed to repay loans, which include funds used for El Mocambo's renovations.Future of Toronto's historic El Mocambo threatened by legal...

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2 w. ago Guerrero's huge Toronto Blue Jays deal is biggest in Canadian sports history

The Toronto Blue Jays made perhaps their most impactful business decision in franchise history this weekend when they opted to keep Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a long-term deal.The reported US$500-million contract over 14 years isn't just the biggest in Blue Jays history by a long shot — it's actually the biggest contract in Canadian sports history for a single athlete and the fifth-largest in the history of professional sports.Guerrero is a dual citizen of Canada and the Dominican Republic. He was born in Montreal during his father's time with the Montreal Expos, but he always represents his family's heritage internationally.George Springer's US$150-million contract over six years was the previous largest in Blue Jays history, while Joey Votto's US$225-million deal with the Cincinnati Reds was the previous high for a Canadian-born player.Looking at NHL deals, it's no real comparison.Of Canadian players, Shea Weber actually holds the record for most total money in a contract, wit...

Sport

2 w. ago Historic Victoria church could become arts centre and housing under new proposal

The plan would transform the property with the conduction of 130 units of rental housing, plus a new arts centre and a renovation of the church itself.

Culture

2 w. ago Maple Leafs’ Matthews gladly ‘witnessing history’ in Ovechkin chase

The long list of National Hockey League types blown away by Alex Ovechkin’s goal-record chase includes the guy who might catch him one day. Ovechkin went into the Washington Capitals’ game in Boston against the Bruins on Tuesday night five goals short of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 for most in NHL history. Maple […]

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3 w. ago Ontario to be hit with colossal storm with weeks worth of rain in one day

Make sure you set aside some extra time to get to work on Wednesday morning, because Ontario is set to be hit with a massive rainstorm that will bring upwards of 50 millimeters of precipitation to some areas. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a special weather statement on Tuesday morning for Toronto, warning of significant rainfall that's expected to hit mid-week from Wednesday morning through early Thursday morning. According to The Weather Network, the historical average for rain in Toronto during the month of April is 93 millimeters, and some areas are expected to get at least half of that in one day. Total rainfall amounts will range anywhere from 30 to 50 millimeters, with locally higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. According to ECCC, rain will begin Wednesday morning over extreme southwestern Ontario before reaching the Golden Horseshoe by Wednesday afternoon. Another week, another low pressure system.Special weather ...

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3 w. ago Historic Toronto property transforms into Ancient Greece for new immersive experience

A haunting new immersive experience is about to take over a historic venue in Toronto, transforming the space into Ancient Greece for a daring retelling of a story we all know.The name Medusa conjures an immediate mental image for almost everyone. There's something about the vengeful, snake-haired gorgon who can petrify a person with a glance that captures the imagination and refuses to let it go.From depictions in classic art, film, comics and, of course, the iconic Versace logo, Medusa is a cultural figure we just can't seem to shake.However familiar you may consider yourself with the mythical figure, though, Ophis, the new immersive theatrical experience from Toronto's Transcen|Dance Project, might just change the way you think of her forever.Taking over the Great Hall for a limited, seven-night run, the show allows you to — quite literally — step into the world of Medusa and Greek mythology to experience her story like never before.Starring an illustrious c...

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3 w. ago The history of the Selby Hotel in Toronto and its connection to Ernest Hemingway

The Selby Hotel, once located at 592 Sherbourne St., is a Victorian mansion with a history that spans over 140 years and boasts an interesting connection to writer Ernest Hemingway.Originally built for Henry Falwell Gooderham, a member of the influential Gooderham family, the mansion was designed by renowned architect David Roberts Jr. between 1882 and 1883.Roberts Jr. also designed many buildings in Toronto's Distillery District, and is perhaps most known for his iconic Gooderham Flatiron Building at 49 Wellington St.The Selby Hotel in 1940. Photo by City of Toronto Archives.The red brick mansion's Queen Anne Revival style pays homage to the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, and was constructed during a residential boom in Toronto.During the time it was built, the St. James Town neighbourhood was home to several of the city's most affluent families, and many grand Victorian homes sat on Sherbourne Street. However, only a few of these original mansions remain int...

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