Posts in web exclusive
WEP/Maytree Housing Series

These videos, examining the housing crisis in Toronto through a human-rights lens, were made by the West End Phoenix with the support of the Maytree Foundation. In them, we meet locals advocating for solutions in an affordability climate that’s pushing residents to the brink.

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MEET THE CANDIDATES: ELECTION SPECIAL

There are more than 700,000 people under the age of 25 living in Toronto, many of them struggling to cope with our city’s skyrocketing housing costs, surging inflation and uneven access to services and resources. We canvassed front line workers at Toronto-based youth organizations for their toughest questions — and put them to 59 city council hopefuls from eight West End wards.

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WHO'S THAT LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER?

With The Guardian’s recent revelations about the use of Pegasus spyware by governments to repress their citizens, snooping is much on our minds. Can the freedom to speak survive in an age when all speech is suspect?

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NATURE'S WORLDWIDE WEB

You’ve heard about it. You’ve seen other people doing it. Most likely you’ve experienced it yourself. In the years of COVID, we’re told, people walked more, appreciated nature more, smelled the roses, got pollen allergies and took up birdwatching for the first time. Here, to help you nurture, top-dress and root-feed your newfound passion for the Living World, are a few booky nuggets.

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CULT FOLLOWING

In view of the storming of the U.S. Capitol, I’ve got cults on the brain. Some people are now claiming to have had the best of intentions: It was in the interests of democracy that a violent mob was threatening to murder the elected representatives of that democracy, they say. By what hypnotic magic is a group hoping to save (fill in the blank) transformed into a cynical cult, run for the enrichment of a con-artist cult leader?

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BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS #10 – ALIÉNOR, AMBER, CHIARA, RAYNE, AND RILEY

Final segment in the West End Phoenix “Between Neighbours” series by Alex Gladwell features conversations from last summer/fall with Aliénor Rougeot, Amber Morley, Chiara Padovani, Rayne Fisher-Quann, and Riley Peterson.

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BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS #9 – CHIEF LADY BIRD

The brilliant artist and West End Phoenix contributor Chief Lady Bird talks about coming home in the penultimate episode of “Between Neighbours”, a 10-part WEP series by Alex Gladwell.

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BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS #8 – RYAN MCMAHON

The great Ryan McMahon talks about the power of community in the newest segment of Alex Gladwell’s “Between Neighbours” series for the West End Phoenix.

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BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS #7 – MELISSA VINCENT

“Between Neighbours”, a 10-part West End Phoenix series by Alex Gladwell, continues with beloved WEP contributor Melissa Vincent talking about Jane Jacobs at Christie & Davenport.

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BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS #6 – MOSCOW APARTMENT

“Between Neighbours”, a new West End Phoenix series by Alex Gladwell, continues with Moscow Apartment at the Paradise Theatre.

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BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS #5 – DAVE BIDINI

“Between Neighbours”, a new West End Phoenix series by Alex Gladwell, continues with WEP publisher Dave Bidini.

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BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS #4 – BRITTANY ANDREW-AMOFAH & ANTHONY N. MORGAN

“Between Neighbours”, a new WEP series by Alex Gladwell, continues with Public Policy Professional Brittany Andrew-Amofah and Racial Justice Lawyer Anthony N. Morgan at Albert's.

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BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS #3 – PATERSON HODGSON

“Between Neighbours”, a new WEP series by Alex Gladwell, continues with illustrator and musician Paterson Hodgson in Parkdale.

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BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS #2 – CHIEDZA PASIPANODYA

“Between Neighbours”, a new WEP series by Alex Gladwell, continues with artist, writer and curator Chiedza Pasipanodya in Trinity Bellwoods.

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BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS #1 – LEO RAUTINS

Introducing “Between Neighbours” a new West End Phoenix series of 10 films by Alex Gladwell featuring a Toronto of the not-so-distant past filmed before all of this. We start things off with World Champion Toronto Raptors broadcaster Leo Rautins.

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LEAVING: HARRY'S CHARBROILED RESTAURANT

Harry’s needed to be sniffed, not seen: the onion fry of your grandparent’s city, sweet grease fumes snaking out the creaking-sprocket front door. Harry’s is leaving.

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LEAVING: DOSA MAHAL, RESTAURANT

Since arriving in Canada thirty years ago via Singapore, Naomi Logan has found her happiness in preparing food for the people of Bloordale.

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LEAVING: BEN MCNALLY BOOKS

McNally always made me feel like I was in another city, or another realm, where one’s unshaken faith in literature was honoured.

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LEAVING: LA HACIENDA, RESTAURANT

La Hacienda was one of the first places in Toronto to serve Mexican food and for Queen Street artists and their friends, it was cheap and delicious in the dirty ’90s.

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LEGAL AID IS IN JEOPARDY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE A REFUGEE CLAIMANT

Thursday, June 20, marks World Refugee Day. There’s not a lot of cause for celebrating these days, but the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre (CRWC) is doing exactly that by holding a party in its parking lot. Because even when the coming days look dark, it’s important to celebrate what we still have today. While we can.

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