As social distancing rules cause hour-long line ups at the local Metro, people are also having trouble finding free time slots for grocery delivery. Fortunately for stressed-out shoppers, our friendly neighbourhood Paupers Pub is getting into the grocery game.  “Our customers were asking for certain provisions, and it started from there,” explains Pub Manager Shelby […]

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Victory Cafe at 440 Bloor St. W. is open for take-out and is offering gourmet pizza, prepared in a wood fire oven, at roughly 40% off the usual price ($10.95). Owner Nick Ndreka declared: “this is an emergency and people need a break!” Some restaurants and bars, due to the nature of their business model, […]

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Sean Lacey saw most coffee establishments shutter on Bloor St. due to the pandemic. He saw the opportunity and opened up his own take-out only coffee venue within the Victory Cafe (440 Bloor St. W.). Lacey, pictured above, makes his own fresh baked goods on the premises and sells coffee beans to go. The new […]

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Non-medical masks can help everyone stay safer By Nicole Stoffman It’s week three of the global coronavirus pandemic and Shana Tilbrook has distributed over 100 handmade cloth masks in ten days.  “At first it wasn’t that busy, but as soon as Dr. Tam said we should be wearing masks, all of a sudden that’s when […]

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READ MORE LOCAL COVID-19 COVERAGE: ON THE COVER: Everything will be alright (Apr. 2020) NEWS: Keep Your Rent campaign emerges (Apr. 2020) NEWS: ARA helps thy neighbour (Apr. 2020) FOCUS: Andrà tutto bene – Everything will be alright (Apr. 2020) FOCUS: Local resources for a global pandemic (Apr. 2020) CHATTER: “A burger and a pound of butter please…” (Apr. 2020) CHATTER: Victory’s Nick is the anti-gouger (Apr. […]

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“Canadians are kind and generous.” The Prime Minsister tells us this in his daily briefings on the COVID-19 crisis. In reality, this statement is part truth and part aspirational. Fortunately in the Annex, and in a great many other parts of our city, this is proving to be true. Many residents are acting as model […]

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Community resources are here for you By Mike Layton This is a difficult moment in time for everyone. People across the continent are having to make substantial changes and sacrifices to their lives and routines in order to help keep them, their families, and others in their community safe. It is understandable to be confused, […]

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Bell fears the worst is yet to come By Jessica Bell  COVID-19 has changed our world. Many of us are anxiously living in private, reading our screens, and feeling helpless. At the same time, the essential workers among us are working overtime to keep us fed and safe. They are our farmers, our scientists, our […]

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The tavern that’s been serving the west-end community with drinks, dance parties, and DJ nights announced in mid-February it will close permanently. In a post to social media pages, Clinton’s Tavern announced its sudden closure. “Clinton’s has always been a bar with a lot of heart. The people who have worked at Clinton’s throughout the […]

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Maintaining historical built-form at odds with need for rental units By Tanya Ielyseieva The demolition of classic Annex houses built in the late 1800’s will be required in order to build a proposed four-storey apartment building with 48 new residential units at 661-665 Huron Street. While the proposal aims to address housing affordability, it is […]

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Kensington BIA hones its market masterplan By Khyrsten Mieras Before the pandemic, the Kensington Market BIA held an open house to share and adjust their Public Realm Masterplan. The goal of the plan is to provide a community-driven framework that will create positive change for Kensington Market’s public spaces while prioritizing equity and inclusion. Sumo […]

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What to plant in your container garden In May 2020, the Annex Gleaner celebrates 25 years of publishing. In acknowledgement of this history we are republishing highlights of our past; this feature, Portable potable vegetables by gardening columnist Bardi Vorster, is from May 1998. As spring is here this advice is timely. By Bardi Vorster […]

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