The Toronto Observer

In June 2021, Carolynne Crawley and Jenny Davis met a mother snapping turtle in High Park who became the inspiration, or as they would call her, the founder, of their Toronto initiative. Crawley is the founder of Msit No’kmaq and is a member of the Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle. She has Mi’kmaw, Black and Irish ancestry and has worked as a child and youth worker for two decades.

Among all the high-density residential areas, two communal gardens in Thorncliffe Park bring the colour of nature into a space that used to be full of concrete and construction. “It is truly a magical space for children, as they learn how lively nature can turn wasted space into something meaningful,” said Najeeb Siddiqui, director of restoration and project leader of Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers (TPUF).

Torontonians of all ages came together for the three-day Do West Fest on Dundas Street West from June 5 to 7, featuring local businesses, musicians and artists. “It is a beautiful festival,” said Caleb Cooper, who has been bringing his clothing brand, Paranoid Print Co., to the festival since 2018.

A recent report from the Ontario Auditor General, found that the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) faced a 72 per cent unfilled absence rate for educational assistants (EA) in the 2023-24 school year. For workers on the front lines, the crisis is felt every day. EAs often work one-on-one with students who need extra help, including those with developmental or physical challenges. When EAs are absent, there is often nobody to replace them.

After the war in Iran disrupted oil shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing global crude prices higher, the cost of gasoline became a financial pain point for many Canadians. Reuters reported that Canadian gasoline prices rose , making the promise of an EV more appealing to those looking to save money on gas. The Hyundai Kona Electric is the greener version of the regular Hyundai Kona.

The 2026 NBA Draft class has been widely touted as one of the best in recent years. To start it off, the Washington Wizards, who won the lottery, will select first, followed by the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies. The draft class is headlined by three potential franchise building blocks: AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas) and Cameron Boozer (Duke).

The sound of sticks hitting the puck echoes throughout the arena, as players race up and down the rink. Cheers from the stands rise when the puck finds the back of the net. The noise of the game feels familiar, but one sound is missing: metal blades cutting across the ice. Instead, plastic wheels glide across the surface below. When Toronto’s ice melts, its hockey community does not disappear.

Dozens of runners steadily move along Lake Ontario. Some are older, some are younger. Fastened to them are their smartwatches, headphones and phones tracking their pace and blasting the soundtrack of their routines. For a growing number of young Torontonians, run clubs have become more than just a place to exercise. They have become social hubs, community spaces and, gradually, alternatives to traditional nightlife.

Heather Roberts lives with her family in Toronto in a house near Lake Ontario. Instead of turning on their home’s central A/C, Roberts and her family often open windows and use the breeze coming off the lake to keep the house comfortable. “We’re not massive air conditioner lovers in this house,” she said. Roberts, who bought the house in 2009, has been watching her Toronto Hydro bill fluctuate and, recently, increase.

When faced with defeat at the ballot box, many candidates give up their political aspirations. However, there are some who return for another shot at victory — and actually win. Chiara Padovani is one candidate who has transformed loss into optimism. “One of the things that I have learned over the course of my political runs, and I’ve lost twice, is that you’ve only really truly lost if you give up,” Padovani said.