By Julia Hennessey For the first time ever, the Toronto Fringe Festival has officially opened its programming to include visual artists, and according to Gideon Arthurs, barring hate crimes, anything goes. “People don’t feel like [art is] accessible so they don’t understand it and they don’t interact with the visual arts,” said Arthurs, the festival’s […]

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By Katie O’Connor In a city of small spaces like Toronto, loud and obtrusive neighbours can become more than just a mere annoyance. Conflicts rise as the weather heats up, which is why making nice with them has never been more important. St. Stephen’s Community House (260 Augusta Ave.) offers a free mediation program for […]

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By Katie O’Connor After years of power struggles, the City of Toronto took control of Casa Loma (1 Austin Terrace) from the Kiwanis Club, which has managed the historic castle for almost 75 years. The city owns Casa Loma, but had contracted out management to the charity since 1937. In exchange for ending the management […]

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By Julia Manoukian The Toronto District School Board has jumped on the green bandwagon with a long-term solution that seemingly kills two birds with one stone, but the upcoming provincial election could bring all this to a halt. Unveiled May 19, and born at Hillcrest Community School (44  Hilton Ave.), a groundbreaking partnership between the […]

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By Emina Gamulin A recent immigrant just got a job in Toronto and wants to celebrate. She walks into a convenience store and looks for some beer. Unable to find any, she asks the clerk behind the counter where she might find some. “We don’t sell beer here.” Confused, she walks out and spots a bar […]

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By Cara Waterfall Festival on Bloor started as a bet between local business owners and has become a summer staple for Annex residents. Credit: Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre. Festival on Bloor (FoB) originally began with a disagreement between Andrew Kilgour and former James Joyce Irish Pub (386 Bloor St. W.) owner Robert Costello. “I […]

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By Susan Oppenheim From his beginnings in Toronto 50 years ago as a 9-year-old Italian immigrant, to his position today as the NDP Caucus Chair at Queen’s Park, not much in Rosario Marchese’s approach to life seems to have changed. He has remained solidly grounded to family, community, and Canada. His career has centered on […]

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Compiled by Emina Gamulin, Perry King, Beth Macdonell, Rebecca Payne and Lindsay Tsuji The Candidates Question One: mental health Question Two: family reunification Question Three: the Canadian Forces Question Four: electric trains Question Five: prisons or poverty? The Riding Parkdale-High Park is one of the most diverse ridings in Canada in terms of income and […]

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Gleaner Community Press is interviewing Federal candidates for Trinity-Spadina and  Parkdale-High Park and we are seeking questions from you (besides “why are we having another election?”).   After we have received all the questions we will then make a final selection based on diversity, relevance to the local community, and “goodness” (objectively and subjectively decided by […]

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  By Emina Gamulin While the head of the local residents’ association jokingly refers to them as the “Politically Correct Development Group,” the newly-renamed PCDG says they will continue to do the work they’ve always done: encouraging economic and employment initiatives in Parkdale. “The vision is to build connections among businesses, residents, and organizations that […]

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By Beth Macdonell On March 9, The city’s Committee of Adjustment panel turned down a request by Parts and Labour (1566 Queen St. W.) to construct a roof-top patio. Eighteen opposing community members showed up at the meeting and 68 people signed a petition submitted to the committee against an outdoor space, says Josie Kruzick, […]

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By Melissa Sundardas The new subterranean research lab on University Avenue is bringing a scale of advanced, breakthrough technologies for research that would make Willy Wonka proud. Located just beneath Toronto Rehab Institute’s University Centre (550 University Ave.), this new facility—called the Challenging Environment Assessment Lab (CEAL)—allows scientists to safely and accurately develop treatments, technologies, and products that will […]

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