40 h. ago Ontario once had very bizarre McDonald's locations but they're gone forever

Although most McDonald's locations in Ontario look nearly identical today — with their grey exteriors and red columns topped with the chain's famous golden arches — some outlets had their own distinct quirky character throughout the 1970s and 1990s. As franchise owners worked to set their locations apart from others, many experienced unusual features that have since disappeared, including attached train cabooses to host birthday parties, and even one with a gas station built beneath it. For those who grew up in Ontario during the late 20th century, the sight of a bright red caboose beside your local McDonald's was a staple of childhood. Franchise owners across the province, from Chatham to Stratford, Barrie to Owen Sound, and Orangeville to Mississauga, converted former railway cars into dining rooms and play areas, and birthday party rooms. A McDonald's caboose restaurant in Chatham, Ont., in 1985. Photo: Don McQueen/Old Ont...

Other

50 h. ago Loblaw closing No Name discount grocery stores in Ontario after just a year

Loblaw Companies Ltd. is slowly winding down its ultra-discount No Name grocery store program, with two of the three pilot locations in Ontario now closed or slated to shut down just over a year after they first opened. The stores were originally launched in September 2024 and gave shoppers access to even lower prices than the company's existing discount chains, like No Frills. The concept aimed to reduce operating costs through shorter store hours, a smaller assortment of products, limited marketing, no refrigeration, and fewer weekly deliveries. At the time, the company said that the stores would help customers save up to 20 per cent on everyday essentials; however, it looks like the concept didn't exactly land with consumers, as its reduced operating costs meant shoppers would have to shop elsewhere for refrigerated items like dairy or fresh meat products. The bare-bones stores carried just 1,300 products, compared to the 7,000 items typically carried in sm...

Other

55 h. ago I took a trip back in time to ride vintage TTC streetcars and here's how it went

The Halton County Radial Railway (HCRR) allows the public to get up close and personal with the rich history of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and its generations of streetcars.Located near Guelph, Ont. HCRR is Ontario's first and largest museum, highlighting electric railways. Among the museum's main draws, visitors can board vintage transit vehicles and ride around a scenic, two-kilometre-long loop, or explore the barns full of classic streetcars and subway trains.Even if transit history is not your hyperfixation, the museum's rail circuit offers perhaps one of the best fall colour experiences in the province when the grounds transform into a wonderland of fall colours every autumn.Explore the Halton County Radial Railway in this photo gallery.

Transport

1 week ago Southwestern Ontario boy, 14, hasn't been seen for several days: Police

Ontario Provincial Police on Tuesday were seeking the public’s help locating a 14-year-old boy who hadn’t been seen for several days. Police said the 14-year-old, identified only as Frank (Franz), left his home in Vienna, a small village of about 750 people in Elgin County, last Friday around 5 p.m., and is believed to have […]

Events

1 week ago Experience Niagara Falls like never before at Ontario’s first flying theatre

You may have visited Niagara Falls, but you’ve never experienced it quite like this.Niagara Takes Flight is a thrilling new attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario, that quite literally takes guests to new heights. Located at Table Rock Centre, just steps from the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, this state-of-the-art flying experience is the first of its kind in the province and the second in Canada. It features a 180-degree domed screen that immerses you in cinematic aerial views of the region.Soar through the sky on a journey that celebrates the rich history of Niagara, along with the geography and people who make it so special.The full experienceBefore your feet leave the ground, you’ll move through a captivating pre-show that spans three media-rich rooms, each guiding you through different eras of Niagara’s history.Plus, Niagara Falls-raised filmmaker James Cameron (yes, that James Cameron) lends his voice for key pieces of th...

Culture

2 w. ago Taco joint with five locations in Ontario is finally opening a Toronto outpost

A taco chain that's been making a splash across Ontario is finally about to open a location in downtown Toronto.When we talk about, think about, and, most importantly, eat tacos, authenticity is typically a lauded quality. The more it tastes like you just picked it up from a stall on the streets of Mexico City, the better.Generally, we’re inclined to agree with that take, but in the case of Newmarket's Ghost Taco, inauthenticity is the name of the game.It's not a blunder on the restaurant's behalf, but their modus operandi, as the chain proudly advertises the "unauthentic Mexican" cuisine on their menu.Their menu includes 12 taco varieties, which you can mix and match for servings of two, three or four, and which come in flavours ranging from tried-and-true to utterly out of this world.Take the vampire, for example, which comes with fried cheese, pickled jalapeño, braised pork and sriracha aioli, or the Alabama chicken,...

Sport

2 w. ago You can now buy and reload Presto cards at No Frills locations in Ontario

Buying or loading up a Presto card just got a whole lot easier thanks to a new Metrolinx pilot program that launched on Monday.The regional transit agency has partnered up with supermarket chain No Frills to bring Presto machines to five of the brand's grocery stores in Ontario — including three locations in Toronto and two in Ottawa.Metrolinx announced the new pilot partnership on Tuesday, revealing that Presto cards can now be purchased at the following locations:Jordan's No Frills, 1022 King St. W. (Toronto)  Carlo's No Frills, 6220 Yonge St. (Toronto)  John's No Frills, 1591 Wilson Ave. (Toronto)  Chris and Samia's No Frills, 200 Grant Carman Dr. (Ottawa)  Connor and Kennedy's No Frills, 2681 Alta Vista Dr. (Ottawa)  The pilot partnership also comes with the reveal of a new physical Presto card design bearing the No Frills logo, though its iconic yellow branding is otherwise conspicuously absent from the new-look cards.Metro...

Transport

3 w. ago PharmaCorp to Acquire a Pharmacy in Ontario for $5,300,000, New Non

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Sept. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PHARMACORP RX INC. (“PharmaCorp” or the “Corporation”) (TSXV: PCRX) is pleased to announce the signing of a definitive share purchase agreement to acquire a 100% interest in a PharmaChoice Canada bannered pharmacy business located in Ontario (the “Acquisition”). This transaction marks PharmaCorp’s first acquisition under its charter […]

Economics

4 w. ago The history of the Golden Griddle restaurant chain in Ontario

Decades before Ontario's brunch scene was overrun with trendy lattes and Instagram-worthy plates, there was the Golden Griddle, a no-frills, all-Canadian family restaurant that was synonymous with family gatherings, after-club eats, and well-earned breakfasts after all-nighters and final exams. The chain, which eventually went on to open dozens of locations across the GTA, southwestern, central, and eastern Ontario, had its humble beginnings at a 60-seat restaurant at the corner of Redpath and Eglinton Avenues.The brunch chain was founded by entrepreneur Harold McDonnell on May 2, 1964, and quickly grew to become one of Canada's most popular chains of family restaurants. Its home-style meals were served all day and became a go-to for everything from chocolate chip pancakes to omelettes, Belgian waffles to schnitzels, and burgers to dinner entrees. The chain began franchising in 1977, with many opting to stay open 24 hours a day. While the G...

Other

4 w. ago Ontario is home to Canada's biggest corn maze and it's now open for the season

Did you know that Canada's largest corn maze is located right here in Ontario, in the historic little town of Dundas? If you're looking for a fall adventure that gives you a bit of a challenge, Hanes Farm and Corn Maze offers the chance to get lost in almost 20 acres of vast land, as you zigzag through this impressive labyrinth of fun.This maze sets itself apart from others through its sheer scale — it will take you anywhere from one to two hours to complete, but you'll be fully equipped with everything you need to get out on the other side.Guests are given a map, pen, and clipboard before heading to the start line, and although it may sound like a walk in the park (or should I say, a stroll in the stalks?), it's not an easy feat: there are winding trails and massive corn walls to throw you off. The maze is also designed to test your sense of direction.And for anyone who has visited in the past, note that each year, something ...

Other