Toronto Life November 2025

A journalist’s inbox is a bramble of news tips, requests, screeds and, most of all, pitches. So many pitches. Lately, I can’t help but notice how many companies describe their vaunted new gizmo or service as being “AI-powered.” Among the slew of examples are providers of AI therapy, which aim to supplant old-school, turtle-necked, chin-stroking shrinks with generative-AI chatbots that can listen, soothe and churn out empathetic, medically informed advice. What’s so wrong with that? To the millions of customers who have already signed up for AI therapy, not a thing. Nor does anything seem off to the eager hive of investors, who see in the current $1.3-billion market the potential for exponential growth. Yet we know from experience that a lot of buzzy, newfangled things don’t deserve the hype.…

“I view this moment as the beginning of our next long Raptors run”—BOBBY WEBSTER, P. 15 IT WASN’T so long ago that Toronto’s transit system was the envy of North America, with sparkling new subway stations popping up on the regular throughout the 1960s and ’70s. Then came a generation of inertia—then another—resulting in the city’s current subway system, world-famous for being excruciatingly slow and brutally overloaded. But now, something of a miracle: six new downtown Ontario Line stations are barrelling toward completion, including the mammoth cavern beneath Queen and Spadina, pictured here. It’s taken decades of dreaming and a traffic apocalypse, but in a few years, commuting across the core will no longer feel like torture.…

You’ve been the Raptors’ general manager since 2017. After Masai Ujiri’s departure in June, MLSE gave you the keys. What’s the new job like? A lot of it is a continuation of being GM: I’m in charge of the coaching staff, picking players and ensuring we have the resources to be successful: the best physical therapists, shooting coaches, and strength and conditioning coaches. The biggest change for me involves my interactions with Rogers since they became majority owner in July. Does having this level of responsibility take you further away from building a winning team on the court? It does take me a bit away from basketball, but I’m motivated by managing people, finding the best talent and getting the best out of them. In school, I was the captain…

Jordan Shore is a 31-year-old performer originally from Ottawa. In 2012, he moved to Oakville to study musical theatre at Sheridan before making his professional debut. When the pandemic hit, he shifted from musicals to commercials and influencing to make more money. Last year, he billed $100,000 for partnerships and acting roles—including his first Hallmark movie, A Christmas Angel Match, which is streaming now. This year, he has more than doubled his earnings and is on track to make $230,000. He plans to grow his wealth by investing in ETFs. Here’s how he spends the rest. “My family taught me to invest. It’s probably the wisest advice they’ve ever given me” REGULAR EXPENSES Rent: $2,680 a month. “My new place is a 625-square-foot one-bedroom in King West. The big sell for…

The Buyers: Stella Melo, 30, a business analyst at a bank, and Brian Melo, 33, an automotive refinisher, with their schnauzer mix, Stewart. The Story: In 2020, Stella and Brian purchased a one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo in Oakville’s Glen Abbey for $448,000. After four years, they were ready for something bigger and closer to Stella’s job downtown. They also wanted two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a precious amenity in Toronto: two parking spots. In October of 2024, they set their budget at $850,000 and began their search. 1 Adelaide Street East near Parliament Listed at $899,900 Unsold THE FIRST PLACE Stella and Brian saw was this two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse condo in Moss Park. The location was within walking distance of Stella’s office, but that was the only selling point. Its layout was…

Dear Urban Diplomat, The new return-to-office mandates have transformed my workplace into Lord of the Flies. We’re back four days a week, and it’s every employee for themselves. Everyone fights over limited desk space. Lunches disappear from communal fridges. People take loud calls with no regard for their neighbours. I love my job, and I’m okay with the RTO mandate in theory. I just wish the office were a bit more civil. Any advice? —CUBICLE CHAOS, South Riverdale UD: If your junior peers came up during quarantine, they may not have worked in an office before. The rest are clearly out of practice. This is an issue of education, and one that should fall on management’s desk. Ask them to provide formal guidance to your teams around office etiquette. Or,…