3 h. ago Pierre Poilievre wants to sell Ontario on his housing plan but will it help you?

Canadians will head to the polls to elect their Prime Minister on April 28, and undecided voters in Ontario have just a few days to make their choice before the 2025 federal election.Housing is one of the most significant issues facing Ontario and B.C. residents amid the rising cost of living in the provinces, and the candidate with the best housing policy might just win over a fair share of undecided voters who are looking to purchase a home.Federal Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre's campaign has largely focused on taxation when it comes to easing the cost-of-living burden, but blogTO's parent company, ZoomerMedia, recently had the chance to ask the candidate himself how his party would make homes cheaper for Ontario and B.C. residents, if elected."I really relate with young people, because I see them every day telling me that they work non-stop and it barely covers the rent they'd have to save for 29 or 30 years to get a down payment on the average ...

Economics

4 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 home on market for first time in decades is half the price of neighbours

In a Toronto neighbourhood where houses on average sell for $1.4 million and more, finding a home for almost half that price feels too good to be true. 54 Morberly Ave. is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom semi-detached house just steps from the Danforth, and it's listed for only $799,000. One reason the home might be listed for so low is that they want to incite a bidding war. An aerial shot of the house and property. Which, in most neighbourhoods, is not a thing that's happening right now. But the Danforth is one of the few neighbourhoods that is still seeing overbidding. The living room with a fireplace. The other reason this house might be listed well below the neighbourhood average is because this is the first time the home has been listed in decades, according to the listing, and likely needs a lot of work. The dining room. Don't get us wrong, the house does have some things going for it, like a good layout and lots of natural ligh...

Economics

9 d. 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...

Other

9 d. ago Huge festival bringing over 100 music and comedy stars to Toronto next month

Toronto music and comedy fans are in for a treat this spring because a massive festival is coming to town with some huge stars.The 42nd edition of Departure Festival is bringing more than 100 artists from across the city, Canada and the world together from May 6 to 11.Whether you're looking to dance all night to great music or laugh it up with some of the biggest stand-ups in the world, there's a show for you to discover at the 40+ venues across Toronto. And tickets and passes are on sale now."We're showcasing over 100 emerging and established artists across music and comedy, giving Toronto fans plenty to discover," said Pat Murphy, Festival Director."Whether it's the next chart-topping musician or a comedian destined for the big stage, it's a great time to support Canadian talent and catch future stars on their way up." The Departure Festival Music Pass grants you access to over 100 showcase artists, including Toronto's own Jade Hilton, Priyana, Rochester, Charlie Houston, Sea...

Culture

1 week ago $5 million contemporary home has unmatched views of the Toronto skyline

While many of us would count ourselves lucky to be able to buy a house of any kind in Toronto these days, if an urban oasis is what you're after, look no further than this $5 million contemporary gem.Located due south of the bustling Yonge and St. Clair intersection, 37 Woodlawn Avenue West rests on a more secluded residential street lined with older, classic homes, making this dashing dwelling truly stand out.An enviable score in Summerhill, the home boasts Toronto skyline views that are virtually impossible to come by in the city, let alone in an equally sought-after neighbourhood.The home, which stands at just over 3,600 sq. ft. spread across three floors and a walk-out basement (which is mostly above-grade), is also home to its very own private Cambridge elevator that accesses all four levels.For an extra dose of the neighbourhood's lengthy history, the property backs onto the historic Woodlawn House, built in 1840, which is the second-oldest home in Toronto.Upon entering the ho...

Economics

1 week ago Glass House Brands and Eaze Partner to Launch PLUS Cannabis Gummies in Florida

LONG BEACH, Calif. and TORONTO, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Glass House Brands Inc. (“Glass House” or the “Company”) (CBOE CA: GLAS.A.U) (CBOE CA: GLAS.WT.U) (OTCQX: GLASF) (OTCQX:GHBWF), one of the fastest-growing, vertically integrated cannabis companies in the United States, has announced a partnership with Eaze Inc. (“Eaze”) to launch PLUS cannabis gummies in […]

Culture

1 week ago Quaint Toronto house is a rare find for under $1 million but still needs work

Normally, when you see a Toronto house like 510 Northcliffe Blvd. that's a detached home listed for under $1 million, you'd expect a bidding war. But times have changed in Toronto. The majority of homes are selling for less than the listed price, and with the economic and political uncertainties, there's less competition overall. The front entrance. So if you're a first-time homebuyer, this might be the perfect opportunity to get on that property ladder. The living room with a bay window. 510 Northcliffe Blvd. is the perfect diamond-in-the-rough-type of house that could be worth way more with a couple of upgrades and a few years. A back patio. First off, it's located in Oakwood, a neighbourhood that has seen property values rise more than seven per cent in the last 12 months.An aerial view of the neighbourhood. Second, it's a detached house, which typically sells for $1.3 million in this area, and could be worth way more when th...

Economics

1 week ago Toronto affordable development will cost the City $1.5 million per resident

Originally constructed in the 1950s, the facility which currently houses Toronto's largest shelter for men, Seaton House, was never intended to serve as a long-term shelter, and has reached the end of its service life. As a result, the City is undertaking a massive $556 million initiative, dubbed The George Street Revitalization (GSR) project, to replace the existing men's shelter with a new, modern facility while simultaneously co-locating essential services, including a long-term care home, supportive housing, and a community service hub. Phase one of the revitalization project involves the redevelopment of 309-345 George Street into a 10-storey institutional building that contains 80 emergency shelter beds, 100 transitional shelter beds, 124 long-term care beds, 70 supportive housing units, and a 2,269 square metre community hub.According to a city staff report, the implementation of phase one will be within the approved Toronto Shelter and Support Servic...

Economics

1 week ago Landlord stores hundreds of tires in Toronto backyard despite city order to remove them

In a residential backyard at a house on Heale Avenue in Toronto, you'll see piles of used automobile tires — not just a few tires, but more than 800.

Other

2 w. ago The 'vibiest house' in Toronto with an iconic mural just hit the market for $1.5 million

Everyone knows that Trinity Bellwoods is one of the coolest neighbourhoods to live in, but to claim to be the "vibiest house, in the vibiest location" is bold. And yet, the claim rings true for 8 Humber St. Located in the heart of Ossington, this four-bedroom, four-bathroom Victorian semi-detached house is beyond cool. The Jerry Rug mural. First off, it has a custom Jerry Rugg aka birdO mural on the entire west facade of the house. The iconic mural has just recently been restored, which makes this house stand out even more. The foyer. And that's just the exterior. The dining room. As you enter the house, you're greeted by a newly renovated house.The open concept main floor. The open concept main floor has soaring ceilings, exposed brick and a Scandinavian-inspired kitchen. A bedroom. The second floor boasts three bedrooms and a three-piece bathroom. Another bedroom. Each room is "vibey" in its own right. ...

Economics

2 w. ago Huge share of Canadian renters blame housing crisis on wages

A new survey by online marketplace rentals.ca shows that many Canadian renters feel priced out of the housing market, with several factors driving unaffordability.The 2025 Federal Election Survey questioned hundreds of Canadian renters and discovered that over 40 per cent blamed the housing crisis on wage stagnation compared to housing prices.A total of 47 per cent of renters surveyed also identified stagnant wages and rising housing costs as a key issue in the upcoming federal election."Renters are just as concerned about affordability pressures and economic fairness as they are about supply constraints," stated the report."While issues for currently undecided voters were similar to the broader population, they did skew more towards concerns with inflation and wage stagnation, indicating that addressing the overall cost of living could be the key for parties hoping to win over these swing voters."A recent report from Normandin Beaudry, an actuarial consulting service, sai...

Other

2 w. ago ‘Means the world’: Tiny home removed from Toronto park after resident given full time housing

After years of experiencing homelessness, a Toronto man is celebrating a fresh start as he moves into permanent housing with the help of Tiny Tiny Homes.

Other

3 w. ago Toronto house rumoured to have almost been bought by David Bowie selling for $14M

There are plenty of nice houses in Toronto, but rarely is one so unique and beautiful that it once caught the eye of the late British rock star David Bowie. Rumor has it that back in 2012, when 87 Highland Cres. was on the market, Bowie made a special trip just to see this house. Now, they're just rumours, but if any house is worth flying from London to Toronto to look at, this one is. The living room has a wood-burning fireplace. 87 Highland Cres, also known as the Weathering Steel House, is a four-bedroom, six-bathroom architectural beauty designed by acclaimed architectural firm Shim-Sutcliffe. The upstairs landing with views of the treetops. The home was built in 2001 and was celebrated with the Governor General's Architecture Award in 2004. A bedroom. Shim-Sutcliffe designed the home with a rich material palette of weathered steel, wood and water, with a focus on harmonizing the home with the natural elements of the ravine....

Economics

last month Newly renovated Toronto bungalow is poised to start a bidding war at only $600,000

If you haven't gotten the memo, real estate bidding wars are back because, of course, they are! It's Toronto.Seriously, what would this city be without its overpriced housing market? And likely, the next house that's about to sell for way more than it's listed is 85 Sharpe St. The living room. This two-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow is definitely a flip, but not a bad one.  The main floor bathroom and a bedroom. 85 Sharpe St. sold in 2023 for $700,000 in "as is" condition, but over the last two years, the owners have renovated a lot. The kitchen. According to the listing, everything from the floors to the kitchen cabinets, bathrooms, basement, and more has gotten an update. From the pictures, it looks good. The view from the front entryway. It's clearly been staged, but the living room is bright and airy with engineered hardwood floors.New appliances and cabinets in the kitchen. The kitche...

Economics