Toronto city council will soon consider a motion to extend restaurant and bar outdoor patio bylaws that make the CafeTO program possible until spring 2022.
The current temporary use bylaws will expire on May 25, 2021. The motion requests that the city council extend temporary use by-laws that allow an increase to the maximum size of outdoor patios and remove restrictions that might prevent an outdoor patio from being located in front of buildings until April 14, 2022.
“Preparation and planning by business owners for outdoor patios typically occurs in the first quarter, and providing an extension to the existing by-laws will provide certainty to operators of these establishments,” the city council agenda read.
The bylaws will complement the city’s CafeTO program that launched last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic and allows restaurants and bars to create expanded patios onto sidewalks and streets.
The program transformed Toronto’s streetscapes and breathed new life into restaurants severely impacted by the pandemic and restrictions that limited or shutdown indoor dining.
According to a city report, the CafeTO program supported 801 restaurants in 62 BIAs and 96 restaurants outside of BIAs last year.
Ten thousand restaurants across Canada have already closed during the pandemic, according to Restaurants Canada. While the CafeTO program has been extended, these bylaw changes are still necessary to make it feasible. They will be the same as the existing bylaws, apart from a new expiration date that coincides with the expiration of the extended CafeTO program.
“Keeping CafeTO and making it bigger and better is the right thing to do,” Mayor John Tory said in January 2021, when the city’s executive committee approved extending the program. “The CafeTO program was a popular and successful quick-start COVID-19 response program that helped local businesses stay in business, helped protect jobs, and improved the quality of life in our city for residents. We know operators and residents want the program to return this summer and we must do everything as we can as a municipality to help local businesses.”
It seems now more than ever, how we choose to spend money is impacted by where that money is ultimately going. Whether shopping to keep local brands in business, shopping to support a charitable organization or to raise awareness about various causes, there are numerous options for making informed purchases that may also help create positive change.
Launching on International Women’s Day on March 8 is a new collaboration between Canadian accessory brand, ela and Métis artist, Christi Belcourt, that puts a fashion-centric focus on the need to protect the world’s oceans. The design of the limited-edition pouch, part of Holt Renfrew’s H Project, is based on Belcourt’s work, Water Lilies – and the interior is made from recycled water bottles.
In addition, $10 from the purchase of each vegan leather pouch will be donated to Oceana Canada, a registered charity focused on protecting and restoring the world’s oceans.
“Most people are unaware that oceans provide the earth with 50 per cent of its oxygen,” says Belcourt. “The water lily is also a powerful medicine; it not only cleans the water but is food and medicine to many species on Earth.”
Using fashion as a way to spotlight an important cause isn’t new, but it remains a simple yet impactful way to show support for important issues, whether global or local in scope.
“This collaboration really defines the core of what we strive to as a brand,” says designer, Ela Aldorsson. “We are on a mission to create cruelty-free and sustainable products that we and our customers can be proud of.”
Since 2013, Holt Renfrew’s H Project has been curating an assortment of products from around the world that support local cultures and charities as well as raise awareness for various causes. The spring 2021 ela editor’s pouch is an exclusive H Project collaboration between ela and Christi Belcourt and will be available at all Holt Renfrew stores across Canada and on holtrenfrew.com starting March 8.
Hold onto your shoulder pads: the power suit is seeing a major resurgence from the 1980s — a defining decade for women advancing in the workforce and staking their claim in previously male-dominated industries. At once bold, sexy and statement-making, rocking a power suit is a shortcut to feeling like your most empowered self, and it’s making a comeback in 2021.
Mercedes-Benz Canada and Canadian fashion brand Pink Tartan have collaborated on the She’s Mercedes Power Suit Project to create a collection of women’s power suits, each designed with a distinct style in mind. The project is part of the global She’s Mercedes platform, which is dedicated to sharing unique success stories of women from all countries, backgrounds and industries to unite, connect and empower.
With three Canadian powerhouse women as muses — songstress Mitsou Gélinas, The Social co-host Melissa Grelo and Canadian model and TV personality Stacey McKenzie — the project aims to showcase the different ways women express their personal style and dress to impress. The collection of suits includes three distinct designs, each reflecting a different interpretation of the power suit for modern women.
“The goal of the She’s Mercedes platform is to connect and inspire successful women,” says Virginie Aubert, vice president of marketing at Mercedes-Benz Canada. “We are truly humbled by the incredible Canadian women who have contributed to this initiative and are excited to now share the collection — as well as the campaign — with Canadians.”
Designed by Kimberley Newport-Mimran of Pink Tartan, each suit takes on the persona of different women at each stage of their journey. In keeping with the theme of women supporting women, all the muses have gifted the suit to an important woman in their life such as the inspiring colleague, the determined entrepreneur and a friend in need of additional confidence.
“Using fashion to make women feel confident and strong has always been at the heart of my design ethos,” says Newport-Mimran. “The She’s Mercedes Power Suit Project allowed me to tap into that passion while creating three suits that reflect each of these women’s individual perspectives, power, and confidence.”
Canadian photographer Caitlin Cronenberg was commissioned to photograph Gélinas, Grelo and McKenzie wearing the suits, and the full content series can be viewed at Mercedes-benz.ca/powersuit.
A portion of the project’s proceeds will go to Dress for Success, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing low-income women with clothing to help them make a good impression and land a job. The collection is set to launch on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2021 and will be available online at pinktartan.ca.
Suits star and Toronto native Patrick J. Adams is rising to Meghan Markle’s defence in a strongly-worded Twitter thread directed towards the British royal family and the U.K. media. Adams is just one of several celebrities who are speaking out against the bullying and racism Markle has endured since joining the royal family when she wed Prince Harry in 2018.
Adams’ defence of Markle comes weeks after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they would not be returning to their royal duties, and just days before their highly anticipated in-depth interview with Oprah is set to air on Sunday, March 7. In previews of the interview, Markle calls out the royal family for “perpetuating falsehoods,” noting she feels liberated now that she is no longer part of the institution.
In the Twitter thread, Adams admonishes the royal family for its “toxic” and “archaic” dynamic, as well as the British media for its endless tirade of racist and slanderous comments about Markle.
She has always been a powerful woman with a deep sense of morality and a fierce work ethic and has never been afraid to speak up, be heard and defend herself and those she holds dear. Like the rest of the world, I have watched her navigate the last few years in astonishment.
Adams goes on to say the royal family’s recent behaviour towards Markle is just another example of how outdated and “bankrupt of decency” the institution has become. He finishes the thread by urging the family to “find someone else to admonish, berate and torment,” adding “my friend Meghan is way out of your league.”
However, despite Adams’ laudable attempt at defending his friend, many Twitter users are clapping back against Markle, accusing her of being a narcissist and of playing the victim role. One Twitter user wrote, “Meghan behaved terribly towards palace servants and ran ahead of herself. She thought as a princess she could stamp her feet and bully servants. Shame we were hoping for an independent modern woman who would fight for the down trodden.”
Other celebrities who have come to Markle’s defence include actors Jameela Jamil and Janina Gavankar of The Way Back and The Morning Show, who wrote “I have known Meghan for 17 years. Here’s what she is: kind, strong, open. Here’s what she’s not: ‘a bully’.”
Adams’ thread has amassed thousands of likes and retweets since posting it a few hours ago.
It’s not quite the Beach and it’s not quite the Danforth. Beach Hill is tucked in between, and this established neighbourhood offers a bit of everything including charm, location and a smattering of new restaurants and shops in the up-and-coming strip along Gerrard Street East and Woodbine Avenue. Here, you’ll find tree-lined streets, an eclectic mix of housing and really some fantastic commuting options including access to the subway at Danforth, new separated bike lanes on Woodbine and the streetcar on Gerrard.
PRICE TAG: Expect to pay more than $1 million for a renovated semi, of which there are plenty, and a detached home will run $1.5 million and up. There are also new condos springing up, especially at a new building at Gerrard and Woodbine.
BOTTOM LINE: This is a fantastic pocket of homes, which is quiet and family-focused but with enough transit options and local restaurants, such as Bodega Henriette, Beach Hill Smokehouse and Blue River Pizza, to attract young families to keep the area vibrant. And it’s a downhill walk or bike ride directly to the beach or north to the subway and Danforth’s nightlife.
O’NEILL, OSHAWA | For the value
Downtown Oshawa
There is no region in the GTA that is hotter than the ’Shwa. It’s an actual small town with a main street, easy access to the lake and very affordable housing prices. At least for now. The top neighbourhood is still O’Neill, one of the city’s oldest and best neighbourhoods with plenty of estate homes and large lots for privacy. The area is in the centre of town, just north of the core and close to all the important amenities including the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club, galleries and shopping with many schools and parks nearby. The housing stock is a mixture of Edwardian, Tudor and Arts and Crafts houses. If you’re looking for a picture-perfect older and stately family neighbourhood with access to green space and country drives, this could be the spot.
PRICE TAG: A large detached four-bedroom century home on a sought-after street can still be had for $600K to $800K. Modern rebuilds for $1.2 million. Bungalows for less than $600K.
BOTTOM LINE: Oshawa is one of the hottest areas in the GTA because you can get a lot more house for your money, but it’s not simply a suburban cookie-cutter enclave. This is an actual town with a proud working-class history and charming upscale neighbourhoods waiting to be discovered. Don’t sleep on the ’Shwa.
THE JUNCTION TRIANGLE | For the artsy cyclist
This little sliver of west end hipness runs south of Dupont and west of Lansdowne along the West Toronto Railpath down to Dundas. It’s one of the most exciting areas of the city with a burgeoning arts scene and plenty of cool new restaurants. If one is taken with city biking, this is a dream neighbourhood. The Bloor bike lanes will arrive in due course. The West Toronto Railpath runs through the western edge of the neighbourhood and the entire area is very cycle forward.
PRICE TAG: Most of the housing stock available will be condos, but there are serviceable semi-detached homes that come up on the market and run around $1.25 to $1.5 million. As this area is still on the rise, there are fixer-upper opportunities if one is willing to invest in a home in poor condition. A nice two-bedroom loft condo could be had for under $700K.
BOTTOM LINE: This is a neighbourhood that still boasts some urban grit, some artsy underbelly, thanks to the arrival of the Museum of Contemporary Art and other small galleries nearby, and offers a taste of what true urban living in Toronto looks like.
EARLSCOURT | For the young foodie family
Mercado Negro’s colourful patio
St. Clair West is hot hot hot from Bathurst all the way west as far as one can travel, and Earlscourt, between Dufferin and Old Weston Road, and neighbouring Corso Italia are at the top of the temperature gauge. One of the centres of the city’s Italian community (yes, the food is incredible pretty much anywhere you look), the neighbourhood is filled with solid brick family homes dating back from 50 to 100 years with a good mix of detached, semis and bungalows, which means young families are keen to get in here and enjoy all the area has to offer.
PRICE TAG: There is still a chance to nab a home here for under $1 million, but they are few and far between. Expect to pay more than $1.5 million for a detached home. Condos, of which there are many coming online, can be had for $600K to $800K, providing an entry point for first-time homebuyers.
BOTTOM LINE: This is such a vibrant area with a bit of everything, including a dash of urban grit combined with suburban quiet. It has culture, nightlife, parks. It’s great for cycling. It’s close to downtown but not too close. People in this area are family forward and look out for one another. And the St. Clair streetcar is fantastic.
BOWMANVILLE | For the history buffs
A historic home in Bowmanville
Bowmanville is the historic urban centre to greater Clarington. It’s got history, it’s got a vibe, and it’s red-hot right now. If you like grand Victorian homes, this could be the place for you. Although all of Clarington is garnering significant attention, Bowmanville is the prize. It is here in a fairly small district that one can find the quiet, tree-lined streets, in walking distance to the historic Victorian centre of town with its shops and restaurants.
PRICE TAG: Large Victorian homes are the thing in the historic Bowmanville district. Expect to pay $700,000 to $1 million to nab your dream home: large, newly refurbished, sizable lot and plenty of quiet and privacy on a tree-lined street.
BOTTOM LINE: Bowmanville is still far enough away to dissuade some homebuyers, but with working remotely a possibility now and in the future, many more are discovering the sizable charms of this picturesque neighbourhood, including those looking to wind down from work and cash in on the equity of their city home for something more affordable and park the savings or commute into the city a couple of times per week.
ALDERWOOD | For the urban wilds
Marie Curtis Park
Located between the QEW and Long Branch and bordering Etobicoke Creek, Alderwood has a long history in the city dating back more than 150 years and was originally planned to be called New Toronto Heights. It has continued to be a fantastic little pocket for years with large lots and plenty of privacy and it is finally getting noticed as young families get priced out of Long Branch and other nearby communities on the rise. Still, it is a relatively undiscovered territory by Toronto standards especially considering the fantastic location near transportation corridors, GO, burgeoning Long Branch, the lakeside amenities and a slew of gorgeous parks, such as Etobicoke Creek and Marie Curtis, not to mention the fantastic restaurants and shopping along Lake Shore.
PRICE TAG: Most of the homes are post-war construction with a good mix of styles. Yes, homes are being torn down or renovated completely, and the price point has seen quite the uptick of late. Bungalows for land value can still be had for around $1 million to allow homebuyers to create their own dream homes, whereas a renovated and detached home will run $1.5 to $2 million. There is still good value here.
BOTTOM LINE: Life south of the QEW is just fine for so many Torontonians who are discovering the sweet gems like Mimico and Long Branch along with the quaint pocket of Alderwood. The area has a bit of an industrial history that has shielded it from major price increases, but now is the time.
CLIFFCREST | For the savvy seclutionist
Bluffers Park
By now, Birchcliff is a well-established hot neighbourhood with a slew of condo projects in various states of completion that are changing this area for the better. Now, the slow march of gentrification is heading even further east in search of the next east-end hot spot. It looks like Cliffcrest, centred on Kingston Road between Midland and Bellamy, is the spot, and for good reason, not the least of which is a well-known lakeside gem by the name of Bluffers Park. Yes, Kingston is a bit of a dog’s breakfast with the ramshackle motels and strip malls in dire need of a sprucing, but it is changing. Veer off the main drag and there is nothing but picture-perfect avenues, some reminiscent of small-town Ontario. Others boast some of the best luxury homes in the city.
PRICE TAG: South of Kingston Road to the lake is prime Cliffcrest, and homes range in price as much as the housing styles. A bungalow can still be had for under $1 million, but there are also multimillion-dollar modern gems that hit the market boasting luxury living on the Scarborough Bluffs.
BOTTOM LINE: If privacy and luxury living are more important than shopping destinations and restaurants run by big-name chefs, then Cliffcrest might surprise. Think cliffside views overlooking Lake Ontario, spacious grounds, modern homes to rival the best in the city at a fraction of the cost. And this little enclave is starting to head up in a big way.
One of the most unique and special neighbourhoods in the city, Rathnelly is best known for having mockingly declared that it was separating from Canada back in the day. It’s that kind of DIY vibe and community spirit that continues to permeate the air in the little neighbourhood that sits southeast of Casa Loma to Avenue Road. It is hard to find a home in this area in the best of times, but inventory has slowed to a trickle.
PRICE TAG: Most home sales in the area are of the condo apartment variety, but a detached home is a true prize, and to claim it, expect to pay north of $3 to $4 million.
BOTTOM LINE: This quirky ’hood is ideally situated near Casa Loma, Ramsden Park, Yorkville and more, yet it’s got its own unique spirit. There are fantastic private and public schools nearby, and it is a wonderful area for walking and cycling. Find a home here, and you’ll never want to leave.
North of the downtown core of Whitby and beyond the suburban fringe homebuyers can find the charming neighbourhood of Brooklin. No, it isn’t the grittier, artsy neighbourhood to small-town Whitby. Brooklin has a charming historic centre that dates back 150 years to the time the village was named Winchester. It is primarily a rural area, sits on the Oak Ridges Moraine and provides residents with the perfect blend of rural and urban living.
PRICE TAG: Most homes that come up for sale in Brooklin are large, detached and newer homes and range in price from $800K to approximately $1 million.
BOTTOM LINE: If you’ve been yearning for a more pastoral kinda vibe but don’t want to give up all urban amenities, Brooklin could be a fine choice. It’s a unique pocket neighbourhood with upscale amenities at the ready, a good selection of homes and a farm-forward feel that will have you enjoying fresh produce and goods on the daily. Plus Highway 407 is close, so it’s easy to commute back into the city centre. But why would you?
UXBRIDGE | For the wannabe cowpokes
Downtown Uxbridge
The small town of Uxbridge bills itself as the trail capital of Canada, and that is enough for many people these days. The area on Ontario’s Greenbelt and the Oak Ridges Moraine is surrounded by gorgeous rolling hills, creeks and green spaces ideal for hiking, trail running, mountain biking and cycling. If you’re an active outdoors lover, this could be your mecca. But it’s also developing a reputation as one of the most sought-after residential areas in the GTA. Just last month, Uxbridge recorded one of its highest sales in history when former Maple Leafs hockey player Gary Roberts’s estate sold for more than $5.2 million.
PRICE TAG: Unlike some areas, the most popular Uxbridge homes are located in some of the countryside enclaves to the south of the city, whereas those in the picture-perfect town core and just north can be more affordable. For instance, a large, detached and modern home can be had for $700K to $800K in the central area. In the countryside preserve to the south, an estate home will run $1.5 to $2 million, but they are generally stunning and come with plenty of land.
BOTTOM LINE: This area is far enough away from the city to have retained a true small-town, country vibe. The people are unabashedly neighbourly, and the area is an outdoorsy wonderland. If you’ve dreamed of owning a horse, or at least a cowboy hat, this is the place.
UPPER VILLAGE | For the statement home
A home in Upper Village
This attractive midtown neighbourhood on the north side of Eglinton between the Allen Road and Bathurst boasts a moniker synonymous with fine living in the city of Toronto. It has long been a desirable address, but now, thanks to the soon-to-be-completed Crosstown LRT ushering in renewal and the desire for detached homes and some privacy within the city, the Upper VIllage is hot once again with bidding wars erupting over severely limited inventory.
PRICE TAG: No surprise most homes in this area are detached and sizable with good lots, but more modest than the palatial estates south of Eglinton in Forest Hill Village. Still, expect to pay north of $2.5 million to get into this neighbourhood.
BOTTOM LINE: This is an established family neighbourhood in a fine midtown area with all manner of transit options available, from the subway to the coming LRT, as well as easy commuting downtown or out of town via Allen Road to Highway 401. There are fine schools nearby, as well as excellent shopping and dining options along Eglinton. It’s a statement area.
RUNNYMEDE | For the west end sporties
Just north of Bloor West village is the hidden gem of Runnymede. A classic west end gem bookended by the posh Bloor West strip to the south and gritty Dundas West and the Junction to the north with the tony Baby Point enclave and the Humber River to the west, Runnymede is nestled lovingly in the middle of many remarkable Toronto areas. It’s no wonder houses fly off the market faster than they can be listed. Several hot new restaurants have located beyond the Junction and are now cooking up a storm on Jane Street to the west. The neighbourhood is anchored by Runnymede Collegiate Institute, which dates back nearly a century and was once the hallway of choice for NHLer P. K. Subban. Not surprisingly, the entire area is pretty sporty with constant hockey action at nearby George Bell Arena and other local rinks.
PRICE TAG: Although real estate in the area isn’t on the low end, it is certainly more affordable than other nearby neighbourhoods, and there is a good enough housing mix. The trouble is finding a house upon which to bid. And, yes, you will bid. Expect a renovated and detached three-bedroom home to approach $2 million.
BOTTOM LINE: Raising sporty and active kids is kinda the thing in this area. If they aren’t playing hockey, they’re down in the Humber River Valley or High Park or another of the many parks and green spaces nearby. That being said, there are plenty of food and shopping distractions to keep the entire family amused.
You don’t have to purchase real estate to enjoy the luxuries in Forest Hill South. Homes are also available to rent, one of them being 103 Dunloe Rd. This two-storey home features elegant designs throughout and a finished lower level with a rec room.
This home is just a 10-minute drive away from all the shops and restaurants at Yonge and Eglinton. With four bedrooms and five bathrooms, it’s available to rent for $11,900 per month.
The living room has lots of natural light thanks to the large windows on both sides of the room. This formal gathering area also features a fireplace.
Hardwood flooring and 10-foot ceilings carry throughout the main level. Mirrored walls add dimension to the formal dining room which has space for a 10-person table.
Full height windows brighten up this area of the home.
A marble island provides extra counter space in the kitchen. The room is designed with light cabinetry, while sliding doors provide outdoor access.
There’s a cosy family room that’s open to the kitchen.
The long staircase is open concept, with the second storey landing overlooking the first level.
The second floor landing is the perfect spot to use as a home office.
A fireplace featured in the primary bedroom elevates the space.
The relaxing five-piece ensuite bathroom has a built-in bathtub and glass shower.
Cream-coloured cabinetry provides lots of storage space in the walk-in closet.
Here’s a look at another one of the other bedrooms.
There’s a walk-in shower featured in this second bathroom.
Mature greenery surrounds the home and brings a serene feeling to the backyard.
This home at 103 Dunloe Rd. is listed with Lynne Elkind of Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited.
Although the federal government finally got around to doling out support for the country’s artists and culture infrastructure, support didn’t come soon enough for the long-running arts centre Dovercourt House in Toronto.
Dovercourt House, a hub for the city’s dance community, was built more than a century ago as a fraternal lodge. It later evolved into a space for everything from prayer to political campaigns to wedding receptions. In 1999, a new buyer renovated the space and, in 2001, its resident companies helped make it into what we know today — an event and development venue for numerous dance companies, classes and workshops.
It’s been the full-time home of princess productions, CORPUS and Kaeja d’Dance — three of the seven resident companies that originally helped establish it as a dance centre over the last 21 years. By day, the building’s sprawling ballrooms allowed the companies to develop their routines, many of which they’ve toured around the world. By night and on weekends, the space served as a centre for social gatherings and classes.
Fostering a love for any kind of dance, Dovercourt House hosted those practising everything from swing to salsa to tango, along with yoga, capoeira and art therapy. On each of its three floors, at any given time, hundreds of dancers could be partaking in different styles, connected by their love for movement and music.
Community groups and artists have come to depend on the hub over the years as not just a work space, but a social, unifying one.
Closed for much of the past year due to the pandemic, according to a press release issued March 4, the former leaseholder was able to secure assistance through the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance, through which the landlord agreed to accept reduced rent. However, instead of approaching the current tenants to negotiate a rent increase, the landlord recently secured a new leaseholder who is no longer interested in continuing with the building’s current method of use. The tenants were not informed, either, of there being a new leaseholder. However, they are all currently in discussion in an effort to “smooth the transition period.”
“Naturally, we are still in shock and sad, and we are understanding of the building owner’s right to maximize the return on his investment,” says Yvonne Ng, the artistic director of princess productions. “We are also grateful for the new lessee and their willingness to work with us on a long transition. The Dovercourt House community has a bifurcated nature, and we work symbiotically.”
It’s a considerable setback for the centre’s resident companies, which not only offered stable revenue but, in their early days as tenants, secured several Ontario Trillium Foundation grants to make long-lasting renovations that helped make it such a memorable space in the city.
“We have poured energy, care and love into this wonderful building,” said David Danzon, artistic director of CORPUS, in a statement. “These studios have allowed us and other members of the dance community, to build relevant and successful local and touring works, while deepening our art forms. Losing the Dovercourt House is an absolute major blow, not just for the three companies that have made it their permanent home, but to the arts community at large. ”
It is also a cause for concern over the short-term future for Toronto’s arts and culture community, with, for instance, Dancemakers having also announced that it will be closing its studio doors.
“The Dovercourt House was a creative home that provided stability for the inspirations of the resident companies,” says Karen Kaeja, co-artistic director of Kaeja d’Dance. “For two decades, the crossover of professional practices and activity in the building facilitated a sense of belonging and consistency. Affordable, large, open reliable space in the city is a scarcity. Dance companies are being chased out. Having to move out of the Dovercourt House is tragic and the Toronto performing arts community will indeed feel a huge loss.”
Ng noted that the resident companies had their first formal meeting earlier this week and “will be working towards the future.”
You and your child are both human, and perfection is elusive
Parenting columnist Joanne Kates is an expert educator in the areas of conflict mediation, self-esteem and anti-bullying, and she is the director of Camp Arowhon in Algonquin Park.
I am spoiled. I have never operated a vacuum cleaner and seldom touched an iron. Forty-three years ago, when I moved in with my beloved, I left for a month to help my friend Martha care for her newborn in Vermont. My beloved was supposed to get started on a small reno. One night I called and asked for a progress report. He said the contractor hadn’t returned his call.
I said: “Did you bug him?” He said: “No.”
Clearly that wasn’t my style. I said: “How about I co-ordinate the reno, in return for which you do all my ironing and the vacuuming in perpetuity?” He agreed.
Then came the frequent cleaning lady. Julie did everything. My house was always spotless when I came home from work.
Then came COVID.
Now I clean. Every second weekend (because yes, we both still work), Leon and I do a major house clean. He does floors and bathrooms. I do the kitchen. Badly.
My cleaning is substandard. The cooktop never looks as nice as when Julie cleans it. Ovens stay stained. Countertops are streaked. Stainless steel has spots. Apparently I don’t even know how to wipe a table properly.
Today is the one-year anniversary of my cleaning career, so I reflect. Mediocrity remains my middle name. The land of mediocrity is not where I habitually dwell. In my regular work, my career, I rarely settle for less than excellence. Which is why being a crappy cleaner irks me.
But in times like this we need to make peace with mediocrity.
Parents, the news is that your best is plenty good enough. Perfect only exists in the pernicious parent-blaming place where we go to beat ourselves up — often in the dark hours before dawn.
The past year has placed inhuman demands on so many people. Parenting, once shared with teachers, extracurricular programs, community centres, grandparents and sleepovers, has become mostly a solo act, performed in isolation and with scant support.
Trying to fill all those roles for your children is heroic. Failing at it is inevitable. And that has to be OK. What does it mean that you can’t get your Grade 5 child through their math homework without tears, stomping out of the room and unanswered questions? It means that you and your child are both human, and perfection is elusive. It means you’re normal, and so is your child. This is really all too hard.
And yet, there remains a challenge parents need to meet: Relax more. You can’t truly be good to and for your kids if you’re not first being good to yourself. When your stress level redlines because of trying to school them or get them to be COVID-safe or deal with their isolation-induced loneliness (and yours), you cannot parent well. Anxious parenting isn’t helpful for either generation.
The helpful hints that proliferate online are strangely unhelpful. This craft or that woodland outing or this do-it-yourself project: taken together as a boatload of parenting advice, they add up to more pressure to be that creative, inventive, jolly, indefatigable teacher-substitute parent. I find it stressful just reading the instructions.
Stressy parenting is bad for both parent and child.
So please, please do yourself — and your kids — a huge favour: lighten up. The stakes aren’t as high as they seem. After COVID, most kids will need help catching up in school. The bar will have to be lower for a while. Kids are resilient. They’ll catch up.
Now, more than ever, they need your calm, positive support. They need you to help them find joy in the day. Dancing around the kitchen while making dinner is about 10 times more important than getting the homework done well — because it sets a positive tone in the family. Finding calm, joy — and kindness — will give your kids the sense that their world is a pretty good place despite COVID. This is the rock they need to stand on.
In order to be that foundation, all of us parents need to ease up on ourselves, to accept that we cannot achieve excellence at the new tasks COVID has imposed on us. Our well-being, and our childrens’ depends on it. We say yes to mediocrity!
Ranbir Sidhu is not your average furniture designer. He’s an artist and he’s caught the eye of celebrities such as Jay-Z and Drake. Sidhu’s company, Futurezona, specializes in custom designs for furniture and sculptures, and each piece he works on looks like a futuristic piece of art.
He created an airplane table that he custom-designed for Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company, and his most recent creation is a custom OVO table for Drake.
“We approached Drake with a few Futurezona concepts that personified his brand,” says Sidhu. “He liked what he saw, picked a favourite and gave us the green light to execute on it.”“
Sidhu recently delivered the custom OVO table to Drake’s Bridle Path home.
“The project for Drake and OVO developed primarily out of my admiration for anything done at a level of excellence. Drake is not only at the top of his game and continuing to push forward, but he is on top of ‘the game’ in general, ” says Sidhu. “OVO as a brand, is focused on offering a superb, elevated product. As an entity, OVO would only share space with the best of the best on an international scale. That is inspirational to me as an entrepreneur and a Canadian.”
Sidhu, who graduated from Pickering High School and grew up in Scarborough, has stayed local and operates his Futurezona showroom in Scarborough as well.
“When I’m creating, my inspiration is generated by time, place and space. My personal history plays a great part in my concepts, as does what is happening in my environment and the natural (and sometimes unnatural) reactions to it,” he says. “I’m also preoccupied with advancing imagination. When I think of what is possible, I also consider what might lie beyond the possible, then work towards creating that.”
Jonathan Bronfman, co-president of visual effects and tech company Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ) — the studio behind the most notable visual effects production for Marvel’s WandaVision, HBO’s Watchmen and Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy — says he remembers running around on films sets as a kid with his dad.
“Maybe, subconsciously, that planted the seed,” he says.
But Bronfman started out on a different path. After graduating from Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, he studied business at McGill University and then worked as a production assistant on TV show sets. Then he gained some experience in the producing world and realized that’s what he wanted to pursue.
Bronfman started his own production company, JoBro Productions, an independent feature film production company behind movies like The Witch and The Kid Detective that he still runs with his brother. It was there that Bronfman met his current business partner behind MARZ, Lon Molnar.
“I bring more of a management, financial, corporate angle to the partnership, and he’s a veteran visual effects supervisor with 20-plus years experience in the industry,” says Bronfman.
The pair launched MARZ in 2018 with the goal of differentiating themselves from other companies on the market.
“Being a Canadian producer or a Canadian visual effects company, we are inherently different from companies around the world,” Bronfman says.
That was the motivation behind specializing in visual effects for television as well.
“That line between the quality of film and television is dissolving,” he says. “The quality of the work, the actors, the visual effects on television shows these days are as good as feature films. So we felt like we could be doing great work and differentiate ourselves.”
MARZ has acquired some exciting projects since launching, but Bronfman feels most proud of their work on Watchmen, which involved visual effects on character Looking Glass’s mask that has been praised by multiple outlets.
“Looking at where we are now as a company. You could really point to that show as being a meaningful launching pad for our company,” he says. “I think it elevated not just our company’s reputation, but also our ability to create great content internally.”
He also references the recent release of WandaVision, pointing to the work MARZ put into actor Paul Bettany’s character, Vision, in particular (the character is an android made up of a synthetic body).
“For me over the next few years, it’s about building the best visual effects company in the world. I know that’s ambitious, but we really want to be the best,” Bronfman says.
Oliver & Bonacini, the restaurant group behind beloved Toronto restaurants like Auberge du Pommier and Canoe, is teaming up with Voilà by Sobeys to bring a gourmet experience to grocery home delivery.
Voilà already features items from Safeway, Farm Boy and Well.ca in addition to Sobeys’ own products. It’s now set to add some of O&B’s most popular dishes to its delivery line-up, with the help of Farm Boy’s test kitchen chefs.
Starting this week, you can add Maison Selby’s French onion soup, Leña’s piri piri chicken, Bannock’s tourtiere or O&B’s staple artisan chicken pot pie to your regular grocery order. The piri piri chicken for two ($26) includes both white meat and dark meat served with kale and roasted potatoes, while the family size tourtiere ($30) is filled with a blend of spiced braised pork shoulder, ground pork and ground beef.
While the selection is currently limited to these four items, offerings are expected to expand as the Voilà by Sobeys, Farm Boy and O&B teams continue to experiment with maintaining the quality and flavour of classic O&B dishes when delivered in pre-cooked and frozen form.
With various O&B restaurants specializing in cuisines ranging from French and Mediterranean to Italian and South American, we can likely expect a diverse assortment of delicious new options in the months to come.
O&B launched its own grocery delivery service in April 2020. This new partnership with Voilà appears to build on the brand’s successful pandemic pivot. As restaurants continue to suffer and online grocery booms across the GTA, O&B has found a way to marry their upscale restaurant expertise to the realities of dining at home during coronavirus.
Jeff York, partner and special advisor to Sobeys and Farm Boy, sees this partnership as filling one of the many voids created by COVID-19 as well as a welcome opportunity for expansion and creativity.
“Customers and communities have sorely missed the in-dining restaurant experience through this seemingly never-ending cycle of lockdowns in the GTA,” he said in a press release. “The entire food industry must rally behind restaurants to create fertile ground for their continued innovation.”
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