Legalization in Canada is only one day away and events in Toronto today include a free concert to countdown the occasion. Florence + The Machine is here and Startup Fashion Week kicks off with an opening party. 

For your viewing pleasure this week, here is a palatial Bridle Path mansion. This is the builder’s own home and they’ve put a ton of work into making it a masterpiece.The place exudes grandeur and opulence. Right when you first enter the home there’s a massive twin staircase that looks like something out of a Disney film.

At the top of the staircase is a huge stained glass dome, which is stunning.

The mansion also boasts a cathedral ballroom, manicured lawns designed by Wendy Berger and a whole tennis court. But what mansion isn’t complete without those things?

The principal rooms are sprawling with lots of natural light filtering through.

The kitchen has all top-of-the-line appliances and marble countertops. The cabinetry is extravagant but it works with the home.

In the basement there is a spacious wine cellar, a wet bar and large rec room.

Somewhere in the home you can find a beautiful library with built in wood shelving and a fireplace. Working from home here would be a dream come true.

There are nine bedrooms throughout the mansion. The master bedroom is big, bright and beautiful. There’s a fireplace, walk-in closet and a lavish en suite bathroom.  

Probably my favourite part of the house is the pool. It’s enclosed in this magnificent room with two storeys of windows. It just looks so luxurious and spa-like. 

And for anyone who has in-laws that need some attention there’s a two-storey suite with a separate entry and an elevator. So posh!

Specs

• Address: 71 The Bridle Path
• Price: $38,900,000
• Lot Size: 246.38 x 353.63 feet
• Bedrooms: 5 +4
• Bathrooms: 11
• Parking: 36
• Walk Score: 19
• Transit Score: 50
• Listing agent: Barry Cohen
• Listing ID: C4268546

Good For

Someone with a luxury car collection. There's 36 parking spaces and with that kind of room how could you not have a fleet of Ferraris to go along with this mega-mansion?  

Move On If

You don’t mind playing at a public tennis court. You don’t need to spend almost $40 million to practice your back hand without an audience. 

Airline pilots in Canada may not be able to participate in tomorrow's "festivities." 

That's because Canada's largest airlines, including WestJet, Air Canada, and Jazz, have banned cannabis use for their pilots. 

Other staff that are involved in critical safety roles will also be under the blanket, zero tolerance ban, like those involved in aircraft upkeep, and flight operations. 

In most cases, these workers will not be allowed to use cannabis whether they are on or off duty, which echoes a similar ban for the Toronto Police. 

The announcement follows a statement from Transport Canada, which says that cannabis use is detrimental to the workers in critical safety roles. CN has said it will also impose a zero tolerance policy on cannabis for railway workers as well. 

As a passenger, it's most likely reassuring to hear. As a pilot, well, it looks like you'll have to choose between flying high, and...flying high. 

Renovations on Chinatown's HsinKuang Centre have finally been unveiled after months of construction, and it's safe to say that Toronto has lost another cultural icon.  

The bright yellow facade and traditional green gable roofs of the building at 346 Spadina Ave. (which once housed a series of Chinese restaurants, clothing markets, and, reportedly, a ghost) have officially been replaced by an office building from Metropolitan Commercial.

Toronto’s Chinatown just lost one of its iconic buildings.

The reclad is just so unremarkable and soulless.

The gentrification that began at College continues to sink south. pic.twitter.com/S83s8PPbYd

— Octopher Clark (@heychristofur) October 15, 2018

There's still some scaffolding surrounding the four-storey building, but what's currently visible shows an all-black exterior that looks a lot more sleek (read: boring) than what was there before. 

That ain't gentrification, that's uglification.

— FuzzyWuzzy💤 (@FuzzyWuzzyTO) October 16, 2018

To be fair, the Hsin Kuang Centre was desperately in need of renovations, though the extent of its transformation hasn't been well-received by many on social media so far. 

Looking at it now, you'd never know that 346 Spadina was once the centre of Toronto's Jewish labour movement as the original Labour Lyceum up until the 70s. 

Or, after that, home to Toronto's largest and most glamorous Chinese restaurant Yen Pin Place, followed by a string of eateries like Paul's Palance Deep Sea Shantung, Hsin Kuang, and eventually the dim sum spot Bright Pearl. 

When it's complete, the office building interior will be made of exposed brick, polished concrete and hardwood floors. It'll also come equipped with an elevator, and red accent lighting at night that illuminates its exterior.

But whoever leases the 28,000-square-foot building from Metropolitan Commercial should note that a number of ghost sightings have been reported on the third-floor women's washroom. 

Maybe that's why building plans have maintained the pair of iconic stone foo dogs which have long guarded the stairway facing Spadina, though that's likely more a nod to Chinatown than for superstition's sake. 

Pride Toronto is reversing a controversial decision to bar police from marching in uniform in the annual Pride Parade.

In an open letter, the organization announced it is allowing the Toronto Police Service to submit an application, and if the application meets all the requirements, they will let the cops march. 

"We asked the Toronto Police to embark on a process of increased co-operation and collaborative action with the city's LGBT2Q+ organizations," the letter reads, "we sought, continue to seek, institutional change that takes time and openness to achieve." 

In 2016, Black Lives Matter Toronto halted the Toronto Pride Parade, asking for a list of various demands, one of which was the exclusion of uniformed officers in the parade. 

Barring the Toronto police who, themselves, consist of many LGBTQ+ people whom should march with their fellow queer Canadians was an error. Our celebration was held hostage by a group unrelated to Pride.

— ℊesslar (@gesslar) October 16, 2018

The group demanded the change due to a history of tension between the queer community and police, including examples of police brutality and over-enforcement of outdated and non-existent laws. 

The decision for Pride to agree to the changes sparked a controversy that has raged the past two years. Many in the LGBTQ community felt the exclusion was necessary, while others felt exclusion of one group went against the message of Pride. 

@PrideToronto the police dont deserve to march in Pride. If you insist on including the police, they should wear t-shirts that identify themselves as police officers and supporters of Pride instead of wearing militant uniforms that hurt many marginalized people. #cdnpoli#PrideTO

— The Canadian Girl (@thecdngrl) October 16, 2018

Pride Toronto asked the TPS to withdraw their application following their arguably mishandled investigation into Bruce McArthur, a serial killer that targeted gay men. 

"We asked for time to mourn and to discover how to heal. The Police honoured our request, and the Parade became an important moment in our collective expression of resilience and our individual expressions of heartache," reads the letter. 

I feel like Halifax Pride, and the HRP did the right thing in their approach to police at pride. They protected the parade but didn't March in uniform, and the cops held a neighborhood BBQ with local vendors. It was an official event, but separate from the parade.

— 🏳️‍🌈 Mergus ex Lembus🇨🇦 (@GreatCDNSeagull) October 16, 2018

Though many in the LGBTQ community are going to be rightfully upset, Pride Toronto says next year's parade will be a continuation of efforts to include diverse experiences and voices. 

"We acknowledge and respect those who will find this decision a difficult one." 

Remember that naked man who jumped into a tank full of sharks this weekend? Well, police want to find him, and they might know who he is. 

David Weaver of Nelson B.C. is wanted by Toronto Police, but surprisingly, not primarily because of his aquarium skinny-dip. 

Police believe an assault at Exhibition Place was committed by the same person as the viral swimming sensation.

Weaver allegedly assaulted another man in an unprovoked, random attack outside of Medieval Times. Apparently, after that, he headed to Ripley's for his late-night dip. 

1015 21:14 Man Wntd In An Asslt Cause Bodily Harm/mschf Invst, Danie..., 37, Phot Rlsd https://t.co/JZavZfwBC9

— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) October 16, 2018

Police say Weaver is five feet, 10 inches tall, weighs about 220 pounds, has a shaved head, goatee, and is missing a few teeth. They are asking for any information. 

Supposedly, the dive into the shark tank may have been premeditated. The venue was hosting its Friday Night Jazz event, where the man bought a ticket, stripped down, and immediately dove into the tank. 

Ripley's Aquarium has said they plan to press charges if possible. 

Halloween parties in Toronto for 2018 are packed with the dance floors of the damned and all the haunted hits. Show off your costume at Halloween on Church Street or party it up at the aquarium. Every party has lots of tricks and treats to keep the ghoulish vibes coming.

The 2018 edition of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon returns Sunday October 21. The annual event that also includes a half marathon and 5k brings with it major road closures all over the city. 

Here's what you need to know to navigate around the city this weekend.

Course map

Whether you're a runner or a spectator, the map below details all the route info for this weekend. You can find a high resolution version here. 

This map charts out the entire route of the 2018 Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Spectator areas

While you can watch the run from vantage points all across the route, if you're looking for something a bit more exciting, there are designated neighbourhood and cheering entertainment centres throughout the course. They can be found at the following locations.

• University of Toronto (after 2.5K) from 8:50 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
• Alexandra Park (after 5K) from 8:55 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
• Liberty Village/King West (after 7.5K & 17K) from 8:05 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Swansea/Bloor West/High Park (after 12.5K) from 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Parkdale/Roncesvalles (after 11K & 14K) from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
• Harbourfront (halfway) from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Corktown (after 26K & 39K) from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
• Cabbagetown (after 25K) from 9:55 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• GreekTown (after 27K & 38K) from 10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.
• Leslieville/South Riverside (after 30K & 35K) from 10:10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• The Beach (after 32K & 34K) from 10:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
• St. Lawrence (after 41K) from 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Road closures

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has more road closures than any event in the city, but fortunately for people making their way around downtown, many of them will be lifted by late Sunday afternoon.

Key areas of the run will, however, be closed from Saturday to Sunday evening. The chart below details all the closures taking place.

Displayed here is a full list of road closures taking place this weekend for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

For more information visit the Toronto Waterfront Marathon website. Also here's an interactive map that is useful for tracking participants and charting road closures.

Cannabis becomes legal on October 17, and it's kind of a big deal. Many people are going to celebrate wildly, and one new company wants to help. 

Eddy Delivery, based out of Toronto, wants to offer a "Munchies on Demand" service for cannabis consumers. 

The service will assemble the best snacks to munch on after smoking up. The package includes Funyuns, TimTams, and more, and will offer four winners a "Lucky Green Ticket," to tour a cannabis cultivation facility—Willy Wonka style. 

But, more interestingly, the service wants to one day deliver cannabis itself. 

Currently, Eddy Delivery partners with licensed services to deliver medical cannabis, but it wants to deliver the recreational kind too. Currently only the Ontario Cannabis Store will sell the product legally, and it does so through Canada Post. 

Eddy Delivery has already partnered with Inabuggy as well, which delivers for the LCBO. 

The company's CEO, Ryan Dempsey, says they are in talks with the Ontario Attorney General's office to discuss regulation changes. 

"As you may know, they recently changed regulations to allow Ontario retail stores to be run by private companies. They're still also considering changes for other rules such as private e-commerce and delivery," he said.

"Nothing definite at this point, but we're optimistic."

The service will be launching soon, and interested users can sign up on their website to find out when they can order cannabis for themselves. 

Markham residents, beware. Cannabis consumption in public will no longer be allowed, setting the city apart from most other municipalities.

Markham's city council held a special meeting today to outline bylaws around cannabis mere hours before it is legalized. 

From Markham Town Centre, where the city just passed the Cannabis By-law to prohibit smoking of Cannabis in public places! Mayor of Markham said: “Yes, it’s legalized but NO, you can not smoke it in Markham!” #CannabisLegalization#CannabisNewspic.twitter.com/47uCk8Az3J

— Shaarmina Rodrigo (@ShaarminaR) October 16, 2018

The city previously announced that it may ban retail stores, something the provincial government gave power to the municipal governments of Ontario to decide. 

Hi Bart! Markham’s Cannabis By-Law is an additional prohibition for cannabis users who also have to abide by Ontario’s Smoke-Free Act. Yes, sidewalks and municipal boulevards are included in Markham’s Cannabis By-Law definition of public place.

— Jennifer Wan (@VoteJWANMarkham) October 16, 2018

Markham's city council has now decided that smoking weed will have to be a private endeavour, which mirrors the laws proposed by the previous Liberal provincial government. The new PC government scrapped that, and will allow public consumption. 

It looks like weed aficionados in Markham won't get to partake in any celebratory parties. Well, not legally anyway.

Family restaurants in Toronto can be tough to pick out sometimes, but once you’ve found a good one you never let it go. These are the places that families come back to time and time again for their good prices, big tables, kid-friendly offerings and delicious food that's fun to share.

Here are my picks for the top family restaurants in Toronto.

Pizzeria Via Mercanti

During the week, this outpost of a popular Italian joint in Little India gives out free Margherita pizzas for kids, but the familiar menu and casual environment also make it an easy choice for groups anytime.

August 8

An iPad ordering system makes mealtime seamless, and prices based on kids’ ages ($1.30 per year of age for dinner and $1.20 at lunch) make AYCE sushi and dim sum more affordable at this Chinatown spot.

Barque Smokehouse

Dine family-style on some of the city’s best barbecue that’s casual yet expert enough to satisfy everyone’s tastes. This Roncesvalles spot also has menus designed especially for kids.

Congee Wong

This chain with multiple locations including one near Finch and Leslie is good for groups because of its capacious tables, and fast service means no grumpy family members complaining.

Cafe Polonez

It doesn’t get much more heartwarming, homestyle and family-friendly than this Roncesvalles restaurant that dishes up big portions of plates nostalgic to Polish families from an equally sizeable menu.

Fishman Lobster Clubhouse

You can get all kinds of piled-high combos of traditionally-prepared seafood that can really only be demolished by big groups at this sprawling restaurant full of fish tanks in Scarborough.

Zakkushi

Yakitori izakaya is absolutely ideal for groups because there are so many items that everyone can pick and try a couple things, and portions are small enough for kids. Head to this Cabbagetown restaurant for a classic representation of a typical Japanese experience.

Barans

Spread out with the whole fam in this palatial Turkish restaurant in Scarborough. Feasts of kebabs and mezes are excellent for sharing.

Mezes

Greek food is all about family, and this restaurant at the centre of Greektown on the Danforth knows all about how to feed yours with hearty meals of pita, dips and saganaki that—when lit theatrically on fire—is sure to get a gasp from the whole table.

Federick

Nothing is more classic than a night of Hakka Chinese food with family where everyone’s favourite entrees and sides are enthusiastically shared, and this restaurant with locations in Scarborough and Markham always does the trick.

Always fresh, always...finger lickin’ good?

One of Long Branch’s favourite landmarks isn’t exactly historical, rather, it’s commercial: a Tim Hortons near Long Branch loop that used to be a KFC turned the iconic bucket sign outside into a coffee cup. 

The best part is, locals can’t get enough, the Timmy’s having inspired multiple Reddit threads.

Some commenters even wistfully speculate about whether an actual Tim Horton’s/KFC collab might ever be possible. Would they offer items like the “double double down” or “Kentucky fried coffee”? 

Tim Hortons took over an old KFC in Long Branch, and they turned the bucket sign into a coffee cup... pic.twitter.com/JRCmHsa77d

— Robby Duguay (@RobbyDuguay) August 13, 2015

Apparently the first person to notice the quirky transformation was “Toronto Mike,” who first posted the find on his own site by the same name back in 2015.

The makeover has some Torontonians pointing out other similar reinvented signage, even another Tim Hortons (less creatively) reusing an old Harvey’s sign.

This Tim Hortons on Jane St. re-used a Harvey's sign rather than create their own sign from scratch.

For others it just calls to mind that website cataloguing all the places that have had to make use of the unusual architecture of shuttered Pizza Huts.

Goodbye 7-Eleven, hello contemporary art gallery. 

Project Gallery is transforming an old 7-Eleven at 1151 Queen Street E. into a brand new studio space for artists and art exhibitions. 

Partnering with Hullmark Developments, this will be Project Gallery's second permanent location in Leslieville (it's actually just a ten-minute walk from their Dundas East space). They also have a studio location at 184 Munro Street.

Hullmark initially proposed to transform this 7-Eleven near Queen and Jones into a six-storey mixed-use building in April, but it appears they've chosen to make use of the space while things get sorted.

The new Project Gallery will open officially this Saturday with an inaugural group show featuring artists like Rajni Perera, Camille Fuzz, Dominique Fung, Ness Lee and Tessarlo.  

Regular operating hours will start next week, with the studio remaining closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) is officially launching its online shop tonight.

The government-run website—which will be the only legal place in Ontario to buy weed until this April, when other licensed cannabis stores can legally start selling—will be going live at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday morning. 

Until now, the provincially-run store has been operating under www.ocslearn.ca as an informative site.

By tomorrow's highly-anticipated legalization day, up to 70 types of marijuana will officially be available for sale under www.ocs.ca. That number will eventually go up to 150, according to the OCS. 

When you first visit the store, expect to enter your birth date to verify that you're 19+. 

Doing that will unlock the main page with links connecting to a page selling accessories like papers and pipes, an information section, a FAQ page, and a 'cannabis' page that allows customers to filter products via categories like price and THC percentage.

Click on the products link to browse the online shop, which will sell four weed categories: dried flowers, oil-filled capsules, joints pre-rolled by licensed producers, or pills, a.k.a casuals.

Products will clearly state the amount of THC and CBD it contains, the name of the producer, and the cost per gram. 

As of right now, product prices haven't been announced. 

A calculator at the right corner of the page will help you keep track of how many grams you've added to your shopping cart (the legal amount is 30 grams). 

The OCS site doesn't track your purchases via VPN and treats every visit as a single guest purchase, meaning you can actually open up another window to purchase 30 more grams. 

Before checking out, you'll have to enter your birth date one last time prior to completing your purchase with either Visa or Mastercard, though the OCS might eventually add other payment options too. 

It'll take between one and three days for the OCS to deliver your weed, with a province-wide flat rate delivery fee of $5. Anyone receiving and signing for the package at the door has to be 19 years-old or over.

If no one's around to sign, don't expect the package to be left at your porch or concierge: you'll have to go to your local Canada Post (assuming they're not on strik) to collect it.

And like any good online store, the OCS will allow returns. Any unopened product can be shipped back to the OCS within 14 days after purchasing it. 

Cannabis legalization has arrived in Canada and events in Toronto today include a big party and outdoor gathering to celebrate the occasion. Elsewhere, the Raps kick off their season with a big tailgate party and the Redbull Music Festival is here.

This house almost looks futuristic in its architecture. I love it! The shape of the house is so different and the interior is stunningly modern.When you walk in, you’re greeted with soaring ceiling, big bright windows and beautiful white oak hardwood floors. Unlike most houses these days, this place is not open plan.

The living room is the first room you'll see. It’s small but cozy.

The dining room and family room flow between each other.

The family room has a huge, gorgeous wall of windows that floods the place with natural light. There’s also a lovely sleek fireplace.

The kitchen is minimalistic, with white cabinets and marble countertops.

On the second floor of the house there’s three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an office.

The bedrooms are spacious and bright. My only complaint is the carpet. It’s a weird moss green that isn’t very appealing to the eye.

The third floor is exclusively for the master suite. It has a giant bedroom with lovely hardwood floors, albeit it does look a bit bowling alley-esque.

There’s also a big walk-in closet, a gorgeous en suite bathroom with marble tiles and a rooftop deck.

The basement has more living room with a rec room, extra bedroom and another bathroom.

For outside space, there’s a long deck and enough lawn space to run around on.

Specs

• Address: 16 Lyndhurst Court
• Type: House
• Rent: $11,750/month
• Listing agent: Yvonne Crawford
• Furnished? No
• Utilities: No
• Air conditioning? Yes
• Bedrooms: 4+1
• Bathrooms: 6
• Parking: 3
• Laundry? In suite
• Outdoor space? Backyard
• Pet friendly? No info

Good For

Toronto history. This home is located right next to Casa Loma, the Spadina Museum and Tollkeepers Cottage Museum.

Move On If

You’re a young professional who doesn’t need that much space. Unless you’re willing to share the home with eight other people, the rent is very pricey and the home is much better suited to a family.

Jarvis Street could soon be home to a new hotel. 

A development proposal from IBI Group and Manga Hotels has gone through a bit of a back-and-forth with the city, but has now received zoning approval. 

The proposal is for a 32-storey, 108-metre building at the corner of Jarvis and Shuter streets. The building will be a mix of hotel suites and residential units (no word on condos or rentals just yet).

The facade at the ground level was increased to three storeys, presumably to match the nextdoor townhouses. Image from IBI Group.

The proposal was originally meant for a smaller, hotel-only property. But, the latest plans include a residential space as well. 

The building will be located at 203 Jarvis Street. The space is currently a small parking lot. 

Nothing has been announced in regards to which hotel chain will operate the building, but the new tower is set to go up once everything is approved and finalized. 

Remember a few days ago when a naked guy jumped into a tank full of sharks at Ripley's Aquarium?

Well, that guy has been arrested. The suspect police believe is the man who also assaulted someone at Medieval Times, David Weaver, was caught in Thunder Bay by provincial police. 

Weaver was charged with assault for hitting someone outside Exhibition Place, presumably unprovoked. Shortly after, he headed over to Ripley's and took a dangerous dive, seemingly just for kicks.

Arrangements have been made to bring him back to Toronto to stand trial. Hopefully he keeps his clothes on this time. 

For the second time this month, Scotiabank is giving away thousands of free Presto cards pre-loaded. 

1,000 cards will be given at Spadina, Wellesley, Kipling, Finch, Eglinton, Don Mills, and Kennedy subway stations.

Wellesley is a new option, replacing College Station, which was a bit chaotic last time. The cards given away at these locations will be loaded with $6.

750 cards will be handed out at Oakville, Mimico, Pickering, and Scarborough GO Stations, each with $8. 

The promotion is to advertise the new name of the ACC: Scotiabank Arena. The company is helping to get fans to Toronto Maple Leafs games easier, partnering with Presto to do it. 

The giveaways start at 4 p.m. and continue until the cards run out. Lines started pretty early last time, so be prepared. 

Today, the federal government announced that it will pardon those convicted of pot possession under 30 grams. 

As many Canadians are spending today celebrating the legalization, many are still struggling to overcome criminal records for small possession quantities, and the federal government is planning to move quickly.

The Liberal government is planning to "remove stigma" around criminal records for those who have already finished serving their sentence, according to Minister of Public Safety, Ralph Goodale.

By the end of 2018, legislation will be introduced. If it passes, it will make pardons available for anyone with a record for possessions under 30g.

The government says it is trying to expedite the process and make it easier for those seeking a pardon.