28 h. ago Two beloved neighbourhood institutions in Toronto to be replaced with new tenants

Two long-standing local businesses in a Toronto neighbourhood are about to get taken over by some exciting tenants.It's never easy to see cherished local businesses — especially those that have been fixtures for years — close down, and even less so to see someone else move in; especially when it all too frequently ends up being the fifth cannabis dispensary in a 2-kilometre radius, or a new location of a chain no one really asked for.In the case of Leslieville, though, it just so happens that two beloved businesses that have closed their doors in the past year or so have both been scooped up by new tenants, and they're both small, local businesses.As a one-time east side resident for many years, when Reliable Fish and Chips shut down after nearly 100 years, I was absolutely shattered. Did I eat there frequently? No, but something about the loss of such a lengthy history really struck me deep.Months after the closure was officially announced, though, some deeply exciting ...

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4 d. ago Prolific local DJ dropping album of sounds recorded around Toronto

An award-winning Toronto-based DJ and musician is about to drop an album of sleep sounds with a decidedly 'Six twist: it's all sounds found in and around the city.Local DJ Andrew McDonnell is no stranger to making and mixing music; for as long as he can remember, he's had a passion for sound.What began with him making mixtapes as a kid turned into buying turntables and learning how to DJ vinyl. After university, he headed to Toronto's Harris Institute to study producing and engineering, and the rest, one might say, was history.From there, he began working on post audio for television shows, which, over the years, have landed him a series of Canadian Screen Awards, Daytime and Children & Family Emmy nominations, all while spinning in Toronto on the side.He's played the likes of Coda, Nest, Danforth Music Hall and Velvet Underground, on top of producing his own music, which has caught the attention of a number of international DJs like Hernan Cattaneo and John ...

Sport

9 d. ago Toronto bar backpedals on permanent closure amid delays with new concept

Members of Toronto's CityPlace community were rattled, to say the least, when the news about the neighbourhood's beloved Fox and Fiddle location's impending closure first broke.A local fixture for years, the franchise was something of a neighbourhood watering hole despite its obvious position as a member of the nationwide pub chain.Independent or not, it served as a go-to spot for after-work drinks and sports game-viewing parties for the community's many residents and workers for years, until early 2025, when the location suddenly shut down, marking the second Fox and Fiddle location in Toronto to close within the space of a week.It wasn't all bad news when the closure was announced, though, as franchise owners, the Reign Company, who also own Fox on John, shared that a brand-new day-to-night social club called Charlie Social House would be taking over the space."We saw an exciting opportunity to create something truly transformative that aligns with our vision for th...

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2 w. ago Toronto's crime rate soars 40% above New York in one department

Toronto is known as a low-crime city compared to locales with similar or greater populations, but it may surprise some to learn that the 416 is way ahead of even New York City, Detroit and Los Angeles in one specific category of criminal activity.A new study published on Tuesday by independent Canadian think tank the Fraser Institute reveals that Ontario cities like Toronto, Hamilton and Windsor outpace several major U.S. cities in property crime. This includes many places known for their high crime rates, like New York City, Detroit, L.A. and Flint, Michigan.The study looked at the property crime (e.g., burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft) rates of large urban areas with populations of 100,000 people or more, using maximum annual crime rates from 2019 through 2022.Toronto's per person property crime rate exceeded New York's by a shocking 40 per cent, though overall crime rates are obviously much higher in what is the United States' largest city.Howeve...

Events

3 w. ago Huge Ontario music store known for being largest in Canada closing after 57 years

It's the end of an era for an enormous music store just north of Toronto, as local institution Cosmo Music has announced its impending closure after almost six decades in business.The Richmond Hill establishment —famously known as Canada's single-largest music store — announced on Wednesday that it would close its doors after 57 years.In a press release, the ownership called the "difficult decision" a product of "significant challenges faced by the company after the COVID-19 pandemic, despite major technological investments and efforts to adapt to a changing market.""We are deeply grateful to our dedicated team, loyal customers, brand partners, and the music community that has supported us throughout these incredible years," said the Hebert family, owners of Cosmo Music."It's been a privilege to serve as a hub for musicians and music lovers alike.""Cosmo Music has always been more than just a store," the Hebert family statement continued. "It has been a space where ...

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3 w. ago COSCIENS Biopharma Inc. Announces Successful Phase 1 Results Supporting Initiation of Phase 2a Clinical Efficacy Trial with Avenanthramides as a Potential Anti

No significant clinical adverse event observed in Phase 1clinical study Pharmacokinetic profile established and range of doses selected for Phase 2a Clinical Efficacy Study First patient expected to be treated in the Phase 2a Clinical Efficacy Study on March 14, 2025 at the Montreal Heart Institute TORONTO, ONTARIO, March 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — COSCIENS […]

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4 w. ago Filipino restaurant in Toronto embarking on big expansion in new neighbourhood

A Toronto restaurant is closing down their original location in favour of a new neighbourhood, in a move its owners call "bittersweet."Ever since opening their doors in 2017, Islas Filipino has been much more than just one of the best Filipino restaurants in Toronto; it's served as a hub for events and community building in its beloved Parkdale neighbourhood.From live music nights to Filipino heritage celebrations, it seems like the restaurant, situated on the block of Queen West immediately east of Roncesvalles, is always alive, bringing a bright spirit to the already deeply community-oriented neighbourhood."We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our Parkdale community over the years," owners Marc and Mariel Buenaventura write in the caption of a recent Instagram post.Despite all the support the community has offered over the past 8 years, and vice versa, though, Marc and Mariel announced, in the very same post, that Islas would soon be leaving the neighbourhood,...

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