Philip Alves

A river runs through it. Well, it’s a more of a creek than a river; “it” being the square of western North York officially known to the city as Rustic. It’s a quaint oasis of sleepy, post-war suburbia — the Black Creek and scenic parks, churches and schools nestled neatly among bungalows — the sort of place that inspired the Monkees to record Pleasant Valley Sunday and Geddy Lee to wail about Subdivisions.

From a base in Kassel, Germany– once the home of fairy-tale masters the Brothers Grimm — entire panzer divisions of invading Waschbaren (“wash bears”) have been fanning out across Europe for decades. Native to North and Central America, the raccoon first sailed east across the Atlantic in the 19th century, when its furs were in [...]

Late-spring sunshine bathed the third annual St. James Town Festival, which went ahead despite an 11th-hour permit scare, thanks to a sacrifice made by Festival volunteers – their lunches.

How did they get there? Five successful Canadian executives share the best career advice they ever received from their fathers or mentors on their way to the top.

On May 18, at the Ralph Thornton Centre on Queen Street East, politicians, developers and Leslieville residents met under the stewardship of Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 30, Toronto-Danforth) to discuss what many in the community had been fearing for months – namely, what one opponent called the “malignant” intrusion of big-box retail into their neighbourhood, Wal-Mart generally being the most feared tenant.

A migratory bird with little time for Toronto is what inspired North York artist Stephen Cruise, and what anchored his vision for his latest commission. Last week, Concord Adex Developments unveiled Concord Park Place, a 42-acre, $2-billion condo project along Sheppard Avenue East between Bessarion and Leslie. A project as large as Park Place is [...]

Ends of the Earth Getting away from the infernal BlackBerry – cellphones too – can be daunting. It takes willpower to unplug. You can connect from just about anywhere, it seems. Even cruise ships are no longer safe. So, where to go to get away from the wireless ties that bind you to work? Bay [...]

Tuesday afternoon was a gloriously sunny 28C, perfect for a walk west out of Riverdale, through the park and across the pedestrian bridge over the DVP, which is exactly what I did. Over the bridge stands Riverdale Farm, an enclave of what us city folk imagine as quaint and old-fashioned. Just past the old farm’s [...]

TORONTO The city recently released Change Is in the Air: Toronto’s Commitment to an Environmentally Sustainable Future, a wish list of ways Toronto hopes to reduce its environmental impact. But, as the frog says, it ain’t easy being green. The city is on its way, though. Take street lighting. Toronto has taken its first step [...]

There’s no two-tier health care at Etobicoke General Hospital. But if you’re a rare peregrine falcon, you might get a free private room. Earlier this month, volunteers from the Canadian Peregrine Foundation, a non-profit group focused on helping endangered and threatened birds of prey, built and installed a nest tray on a ledge next to [...]

On doors and windows and countertops at food establishments all over the city are the familiar green “pass” signs assuring us that the grub is good, at least according to Toronto Public Health. But seldom does one spy a yellow or red sign. Is the system working? Unfortunately for seven of the 6,841 establishments inspected [...]

MORRIS PETERSON Morris Peterson, the longest-serving Toronto Raptor, knows a thing or two about his adopted hometown — and about success. For the first time since 2002, his squad is heading to the playoffs. MoPete took time out to speak to Philip Alves about life downtown. SCHOOLING THE NEW GUYS If they want to go [...]