Rod Cohen has been the Executive Director of the Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach Service on Blake Street for over 30 years. The small, hidden street played a big part in the development of Toronto, and has a mysterious charm. However, there are s

Exploring Toronto's sexy past from Sir Sandford Fleming to Elizabeth Taylor

Nov 26th, 2020 27m 3s

Adam Bunch is the host of the Canadiana web series, and the author of both the Toronto Book of the Dead, and the forthcoming Toronto Book of Love. We explore a few different stories of love, jealousy, divorce, scandal, and dedication, like tha

This is what it's really like to live on the Toronto Islands

Nov 19th, 2020 14m 12s

Julian Ganton has found himself back living on the Toronto Islands where he and his family grew up. He also runs Toronto Island SUP, and is passionate about preserving and documenting the unique wetlands. As a full-time Islander, Julian talks a

This is how Sook-Yin Lee became a VJ at MuchMusic and what she's up to now

Nov 12th, 2020 28m 36s

Sook-Yin Lee recalls her time at MuchMusic in the 90s and early 2000s, including the unexpected job offer from Moses Znaimer that started it all. She talks about the move to Toronto, her memorable first day, celebrities, Speaker's Corner, and h

The making of Today's Special and how it was the wackiest TV show in Toronto history

Nov 6th, 2020 18m 6s

Nina Keogh talks about working in children's television in the 70s, 80s and 90s, on shows like The Friendly Giant, Polka Dot Door, and Today's Special, where she took on the role of the rhyming mouse, Muffy. She also discusses growing up with a

This is what it's like to live on a private street in Toronto

Nov 3rd, 2020 23m 15s

Former Percy Street resident of 23 years, Cynthia Wilkey talks about what it was like to live on a private laneway in Toronto's Corktown neighbourhood. Plus, Wilkey touches on the mysterious wad of cash that was found in her rafters during reno

Russell Oliver is the Cashman behind Toronto's most unusual jewellery store

Oct 26th, 2020 24m 12s

Russell Oliver has been in the gold and jewellery business for the past 50 years, so as you can imagine, he's got some interesting stories about his iconic commercials, celebrity encounters, legal issues, and interacting with fans. In what coul

Howard Street in Toronto is a city within a block

Oct 21st, 2020 19m 32s

Sasha Ortega and her family own Tinuno, a Filipino restaurant on Howard Street in one of Toronto's most densely populated communities. Sasha talks about growing up in St. James Town, how the area has changed over the years, and what the future

The past and the future of the El Mocambo in Toronto according to owner Michael Wekerle

Oct 15th, 2020 23m 53s

When Michael Wekerle bought the historic El Mocambo in 2014 on an impulse for $3.8 million, he had no idea how expensive and long the process would be. When it was finally time to open, the pandemic hit. Wekerle talks about growing up near Yong

Plans for the Scarborough Bluffs means changes for the Toronto shoreline

Oct 7th, 2020 19m 8s

Jane Fairburn recalls her traumatic experience slipping down Killer Hill at the Scarborough Bluffs, and how that inspired her to write Along the Shore. She also discusses the history of the cliffs, and their connection to the rest of the city,

Nude beaches and resorts near Toronto and the rising popularity of naturism

Oct 1st, 2020 17m 28s

If you've ever been curious about naturism, which is slightly different than nudism, Greg Snow, the president of the Federation of Canadian Naturists and resident of Bare Oaks talks about the misconceptions and benefits of being nude in public,

Little Jamaica in Toronto at risk from transit-based gentrification

Sep 29th, 2020 15m 17s

Canadian rapper Cadence Weapon moved to Toronto about five years ago, he wrote a song called High Rise. The tune is about the lack of affordable housing, and the negative effects of gentrification, especially when it comes to racialized neighbo

Canada's Drag Race winner Priyanka is more than just Toronto's most famous queen

Sep 22nd, 2020 21m 14s

As the first winner of the first season of Canada's Drag Race, Priyanka discusses going through a once-in-a-lifetime experience during a pandemic, balancing drag with a day job, and coming to terms with being gay. Plus, which Toronto queens sho

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Introducing the blogTO podcast

Sep 18th, 2020 1m 46s

We love Toronto, and we want to shout it from the mountaintops! Of course, we know the city isn't perfect (it's far from it), but we want to tell the stories, and talk to the people who make it weird and wonderful. Hosted by Dani Stover, regu

Why this tiny Toronto restaurant is eliminating tipping

Aug 13th, 2020 16m 37s

Toronto police are warning the public of a string of incidents involving a creepy man harassing women in a white SUV. A bar and music venue that has been around for 74 years is closing because of a dispute with their landlord. Plus, Ten Restaur

What it's like to be a graffiti artist in Toronto

Aug 12th, 2020 15m 30s

A Toronto restaurant group is implementing a 15% tip on all takeout orders. Out-of-towners tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting a Muskoka resort over the August long weekend. The city just introduced a new online reservation system for g

How one Toronto strip club has reopened in Stage 3 and what's different

Aug 11th, 2020 12m 57s

Premier Doug Ford is happy for Russia, but is a little skeptical of the country's new coronavirus vaccine. Ontario reported just 33 new cases of COVID-19. Weather radar near Lake Erie captured hundreds of thousands of birds. Plus, Toronto's ico

Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia has some advice for disappointed Maple Leaf lovers

Aug 10th, 2020 13m 46s

Toronto police responded to a strange incident on Cherry Beach where two bloodied men were brandishing chainsaws. Ontario announced a $6 million grant program to help police buy more surveillance cameras. A customer lashed out at employees at a

This inclusive new cycling club is taking over the streets of Toronto

Aug 7th, 2020 14m 41s

Doug Ford called Donald Trump a "backstabber" after the US president slapped tariffs on all aluminum imports. Canada plans to fight back with their own tariffs, to the tune of $3.6 billion. A popular French restaurant in Little India that was s

Site of demolished high school in Toronto has turned into a beach with no water

Aug 6th, 2020 17m 34s

Another crane collapsed into an intersection in Regent Park today, causing a power outage, and thankfully, no major injuries. A massive service disruption affected Bell and Telus customers in parts of Ontario. Plus, the site of a demolished hig

This Toronto doctor is helping gyms to reopen safely through behavioural studies and simulations

Aug 5th, 2020 14m 38s

Toronto's Medical Officer of Health says that the first weekend of Stage 3 in the city was a success. A server at a North York restaurant was fired for putting a racial slur on a customer's receipt. Neighbours of Dutch Dreams keep calling healt

Toronto restaurant known for its Belgian-style fries has permanently closed

Aug 4th, 2020 12m 21s

The NBA is back, and the Toronto Raptors are off to a good re-start, even though they're playing in front of virtual fans only. Doug Ford says the pandemic could last until 2021 without a vaccine, and that 10-person bubbles will not be expandin

The back-to-school plan in Ontario lacks empathy and creativity according to Liberal party leader

Jul 31st, 2020 17m 8s

A customer at a downtown Pizza Pizza completely lost it over someone not wearing a face mask. A restaurant in the Financial District has decided to ban tipping, and will raise prices by an average of 18 per cent. Plus, the PC's released their b

What the future holds for Paradise on Bloor as Toronto moves into Stage 3

Jul 30th, 2020 17m 36s

The Ontario government announced that kids will go back to school in September, and unveiled a plan that includes face masks and screening measures for staff and students. Cineplex will open 25 movie theatres across the province on Friday. Plus

How a Toronto artist got the Raptors to wear her BLM face masks

Jul 29th, 2020 17m 25s

Doug Ford announced that Toronto and Peel Region will be permitted to move into Stage 3 starting Friday. This means gathering limits will increase, and more businesses can reopen, however there are some specific rules for the GTA. Ontario repor