Employees at several Tim Hortons stores across Ontario – including one owned by children of the coffee chain's founders – say they've lost paid breaks and benefits as a result of the province's very recent minimum wage hike.

And now the controversy has come to Toronto, as a location in Scarborough is under fire for implementing a no-tipping policy. 

It all started with a letter that was leaked online.

"Dear team members: It is with great regret that Ron Joyce. Jr. Enterprises Ltd. (Tim Hortons) finds it necessary to make the following changes to our incentive programs, paid breaks, and policies," reads a letter shared widely via Reddit this week.

"These changes are due to the increase of wages to $14.00 minimum wage on January 1, 2018," continued the letter, which was posted at a Coburg, Ontario store, "as well as the lack of assistance and financial help from our head office and from the Government."

Members of billionaire family tell people making less than $15 an hour that they're getting a pay cut. They deeply regret it and feel sad, though. pic.twitter.com/sEgQEhQZ2X

— Luke Savage (@LukewSavage) January 3, 2018

People across the country – including Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne – have been criticizing the company all week for taking compensation from its workers, despite bringing in $4.15 billion in 2016 alone.

"The chain was sold for billions of dollars," said Wynne on Thursday. and when I read how (Joyce Jr.) was treating his employees, it just felt to me like this was a pretty clear act of bullying."

Employees at the Lawrence Ave. E. and Markham Rd. location have come forward to say that, in addition to losing paid breaks, they're no longer being permitted to accept tips.

The Toronto Star reports that workers at the Tim Hortons franchise near Lawrence Ave E. and Markham Red. were recently told that there would be "no more tips" as of 2018 in light of the minimum wage increase.

Hey folks, please consider purchasing your coffee from the coffee chain that doesn't piss its pants over paying employees a livable wage: https://t.co/BDGadwmSta

— 2018 Derek Bolen (@hurrrdurrr) January 5, 2018

Employees at that store were reportedly told by management that all tips "must go in the till" from now on – which isn't illegal for the business to do, as long as customers are made aware that gratuities will not be accepted.

Tim Hortons Parent company, Restaurant Brands International, responded to the controversy today by saying that franchisees handle all employment matters and are thus responsible for the break and benefit cuts.

"Let us be perfectly clear," wrote the company in a statement. "These recent actions by a few restaurant owners, and the unauthorized statements made to the media by a 'rogue group' claiming to speak on behalf of Tim Hortons, do not reflect the values of our brand."

And the drama continues...

The best cheesecake in Toronto brings together two things pretty much everyone loves: cheese and cake! Whether you prefer sky-high American-style cakes piled with luscious toppings, more minimal Japanese versions or something in between, these places bake the overall richest, fluffiest, most decadent cheesecakes in town.

Here is the best cheesecake in Toronto.

Few winter activities match the unbridled fun of shuttling down a snow-covered hill on a giant inner tube. Fortunately, the area surrounding Toronto is populated with plenty of dedicated tubing hills when inner city toboggan runs aren't thrilling enough.

If there's a tubing experience that really sticks out, however, it's the late night sessions you can do at Chicopee Tube Park in Kitchener. This dedicated facility about an hour west of Toronto features six chutes that descend 250 feet over a 900 foot run.

A post shared by Alex (@alexlsheen) on Mar 5, 2017 at 4:36pm PST

The park is a popular day trip destination from Toronto and can get very busy with families during the day on weekends, but the best time to go is Saturday nights, when the little kids have been carted off to bed and you can fly down the hill underneath dark skies.

A post shared by Shae (@murphyshae) on Feb 23, 2017 at 4:06pm PST

Between Jan 13 and Feb 24, the park is open from 9 p.m. until 12 a.m. for night tubing on Saturdays, which offers plenty of time for careening downhill but also for warm-up sessions in the sprawling lodge (yes, it's licensed!) that overlooks the mountain. 

A post shared by @rajiphotography on Feb 19, 2017 at 1:42pm PST

Midnight tubing is definitely a blast in a place like Riverdale Park, but the presence of a magic carpet to help you back up the hill makes Chicopee even more alluring. 

Adult admission on Saturday nights comes in at $25, which gets you three hours of tubing if you arrive on time. Tubes are provided on site.

Looking for tons of space and light? Everybody is. For $3,000 a month, you can score both of those things in your next Toronto apartment, but the best bang for your buck is still slightly removed from the downtown core. Welcome to the land of private rooftop decks.

Here's what a $3,000 apartment looks like in Toronto right now.

$2,995 for a crash pad in Hollywood North

If you're into movie stars (or happen to be one), this 33rd floor rental suite in The Festival Tower condo building is a great choice. It’s relatively small for the price - just 577 square feet - but it's already furnished. The perfect pied-à-terre for film industry execs during TIFF. 

$2,995 for an airy St. Clair West loft

This sunny second-floor unit on Oakwood Ave. has 3 bedrooms, an indoor parking space and all new everything in terms of appliances - but the standout feature is a rooftop deck with unobstructed views of the city. Just imagine all the summer parties you could have...

$3,000 for crazy views in Queen West

This sleek corner unit at Richmond and Duncan ups the ante on floor-to-ceiling windows. Two of its walls are pretty much made of glass. This sunny space has two bedrooms, two full baths, plus a downtown location to kill for. And by "kill" I mean "pay $3000 a month."

$3,000 for 3 bedrooms in the heart of Leslieville

The swingin' skybox life isn't for everyone, and with a budget of $3,000 budget, you're well poised to rent out an actual home (or a few floors of one.) This newly renovated apartment, located on the main and upper floors of a house on Carlaw, has lots of room and homey charm.

$3,000 for a rooftop in The Annex

By renting out the second and third floors of this large house near Bathurst and Dupont, you're also renting out an incredible rooftop patio. The appliances and decor are dated, but its a large place with three bedrooms and would serve nicely for three U of T students.

Winter getaways from Toronto in the two hour range are ideal. While there are plenty of snowy adventures further away, sticking this close to home helps to mitigate storm-related stress. These destinations will take you far enough from Toronto to witness the beauty of winter in the country, but not so far that you can't get home quickly.

Here are my picks for winter getaways within a two hour drive of Toronto.

Experience Lake Muskoka in the winter

Gravenhurst is the gateway to Muskoka, located as it is on the lake after which the region takes its name. Hit this quaint town for skating on the wharf, a host of cozy pubs, and ton of wintry activities in the surrounding area like fat biking, cross country skiing, stargazing, and a huge winter carnival at the end of February.

Hit the slopes north of Barrie

There's much to be said for hitting up the two resorts north of Barrie near Highway 400: Horseshoe and Mount St. Louis Moonstone. The former offers a wider range of activities, while the skiing and snowboarding is a bit better at the latter. Be sure to pay a trip to Copeland Forest while in the area.

Relax at a quiet lakeside resort

Try to push memories of The Shining out of your head and relax at a winterized resort where there are sure to be fewer guests than in the busy summer months. Viamede Resort on Stoney Lake near Peterborough has excellent food and a gorgeous pool, while The Briars is a perfect place to witness the beauty of Lake Simcoe in the winter.

Soak up Ontario's small town food scene

City-dwellers are occasionally guilty of thinking that matters of culinary interest and importance are reserved for urban centres, but there are plenty of exceptions to this. Creemore has a fanatistic food and beer scene despite its diminutive size. Camp out here before heading to the dinner of a lifetime at the nearby Eigensinn Farm.

Slow down in Stratford for a weekend

Stratford gets bogged down by its reputation as a theatre town, but it's also an ideal winter destination if you're interested in experiencing the charms of a prototypical Ontario small town. Here you'll find nice old inns, a vibrant food and dining scene, and arts and culture events that take place all year long. Park your car and explore everything on foot.

Vintage photographs of Toronto at night have a cinematic quality that's both eerie and beautiful all at once. While the collection of nighttime photos that pre-date the 1960s isn't so robust, the ones that we do have to marvel at reveal a city that's both mysterious and alluring.

The old streetlights and neon signs might have been less efficient, but boy did they ever look majestic cutting through the blackness. Let's not forget the tungsten-lit movie theatre marquees and widening beams of streetcar headlights in the fog. 

Behold, the sublime beauty of Toronto at night.

The Auditorium Theatre Toronto (382 Queen Street West) in 1910.

The Comique Theatre (Yonge south of Dundas) in 1910.

Toronto celebrates Hydro Electricity at Old City Hall in 1911.

Wow. Old City Hall in 1919.

376 Dupont in 1923.

CNE Ferris wheels in 1924.

Sunnyside at night in 1925.

Hanlan's Point concession stand in 1928.

Whitney Block at night in 1929.

St. Clair approaching Christie in 1933.

Davenport TTC garage in 1934.

The Toronto Coach Terminal in 1935.

Midtown Theatre (now the Bloor Cinema) in 1941.

Snow blower in 1943.

University Avenue gets streetlights in 1943.

CNE midway at night in 1952.

Club One Two in 1952.

Yikes. Check out the apron. Barbecuing in 1957.

CNE arch in the late 1950s.

So Young, So Bad at the Midtown (now the Bloor) in the late 1950s — image via Silent Toronto.

Glenhome and St. Clair in 1958.

The O'Keefe Centre opens in 1960.

Eglinton and Yonge from above in 1962.

Stunning. Opening week at New City Hall in 1965.

Postcard view of New City Hall in 1965.

Aeroquay One was considered one of the nicest airport terminals in the world when it opened in 1964. This view dates from shortly thereafter.

The towering Odeon Theatre sign on Carlton near Yonge. Photo by Robert D. McMann via John Bromley's Archives.

This anonymous intersection is actually Bloor and Dundas back in the 1960s.

The Sutton Place Hotel was the lap of luxury when it opened in 1967.

A streetcar entering the Queensway from Queen/King/Roncesvalles. Love that CIBC sign. Photo by John Bromley.

The Regency Towers Hotel on Avenue Rd. (now a crappy Howard Johnson).

The Glendale Theatre on Avenue Rd. north of Lawrence in 1968.

Looking north from Dundas to Gould St. On the right is the Biltmore Theatre in the 1970s.

The Rio and Sam the Chinese Food Man on a much seedier Yonge St. strip.

A&A Records and Peter Dunn's Vinyl Museum in 1982 (the year Dire Straits released "Love over Gold."

The Wintergarden Theatre and Diana Sweets further south on Yonge St.

Elm St. just west of Yonge. You can bet the interior of Barberian's Steakhouse (left side) looked pretty much the same back then.

A lost Toronto tradition. Chess games outside Sam the Record Man on Gould St.

The marquee at the Royal Alex Theatre in the 1980s.

A perfectly moody looking Dundas West between Beverley and Spadina in the early 1980s.

Vegan mac and cheese in Toronto will help dairy-free city-dwellers from caving into their cheddar cravings. If you ask any vegan what's the hardest food they've had to give up, the answer is usually cheese. Well, fear not Toronto vegans, you can still dig into some gooey goodness at these restaurants. 

Here are my picks for the top vegan mac and cheese offerings in Toronto.

Parka Food Co.

If you're hankering for a truffle mushroom mac without the dairy, then look no further then this plant-based restaurant on Queen West. It's dressed with a bright yellow cheese sauce made from veggies and nuts and topped with mushrooms and rich truffle oil.

Planta

Located in Yorkville, here's another plant-based restaurant putting a unique spin on all of your favourite comfort foods. Opt for their Truffle Macaroni which includes celeriac, truffle, and almond parmesan. 

Bobbie Sue's

Found on Ossington, this shack of ooey mac and cheese goodness has taken the locally made favourite NONA vegan sauce and paired it with classic elbow macaroni to create an unbelievably realistic mac n' cheese.

Mythology Diner

This diner in Toronto's Vegandale 'hood cooks up a gluten-free White Widow Mac and Cheese. The dish tosses brown rice elbow pasta in a creamy play on a Mornay made with deodorized coconut oil. It’s topped with bread crumbs, and served with a daily soup or side salad.

Hogtown Vegan

If you're on the hunt for meatless, dairy-free comfort food, this is the spot. Now boasting locations in Bloorcourt  and Little Italy this restaurant serves up a pretty standard rendition of the dish, involving noodles coated with a faux cheese sauce and topped with breadcrumbs.

While the 1980s might have been the heyday of Toronto tourism advertising, there's something wildly compelling about the version of the city that was sold in the decade prior. Here was a city in the midst of massive transformation just getting its bearings on what it might become.

Two clips in particular serve as touchstones for the manner in which Toronto was coming into its own as a city that deserved mention on the international stage, one of which came from abroad and one of which was a homegrown product.

At the outset of the decade, Eastern Airlines produced a promotional reel for its service to Toronto that's rich with references to the booming metropolis the city had recently become. It's pre-CN Tower, but full of scenes featuring City Hall, the TD Centre, and the still new-feeling Bloor-Danforth subway.

The whole two minute clip is dazzling for the way that it boldly proclaims Toronto's place on the world's stage, from shots that look like old buildings being torn down for new ones to an at times haunting soundtrack that changes pace in manner reminiscent of the Chinatown trailer.

Fast forward to 1979, and you have one of the all time great tributes to Toronto in the form of "People City." Commissioned by Moses Znaimer to run at the beginning at end of each day of programming for his brand new station Citytv, it was a watershed moment for local television but also the image of Toronto.

Co-written by Gary Gray and Tommy Ambrose, it was a proto city anthem that placed Toronto's ultimate worth in its mix of people. Sure, the lyrics are dreadfully sentimental, but they seem to look forward rather than back.

"Find yourself in people city
Stay awhile if you can
With folks who will be tomorrow's faces
Kickin' the traces
Showing you places
In Toronto
That's people city"

"People City" wasn't a tourism clip in the strictest sense of the term, and yet it hit on something that every person marketing Toronto in the years to come would lean on entirely. It's also now the subject of a wonderful short documentary from Retrontario that traces its origins and reveals how close it came to becoming the city's official anthem.

For all the focus on architecture and landmarks required of a promotional film, the greatest selling point that this city had to offer was its livability, lack of pretence, and, back then, its budding diversity.

Chicken wings in Toronto run the gamut from conventional pub grub offerings to sticky Asian-inspired styles. From fried Buffalo wings and Korean varieties to smokehouse specialities, this quintessential finger food is as diverse as the city itself.

Here are my picks for the top chicken wings in Toronto by neighbourhood.

Annex

MyMy Chicken on Bloor is all about fried chicken. Recipes come straight from Korea and wings are available in flavours like gold cheese and spicy.

Avenue & Lawrence

Drums & Flats is a dedicated wing joint that offers the choice of just drumettes, just flats, or mixed. You can order them wet, dry, or double dipped in over a dozen flavours including mango jerk and Ragin' Cajun.

Baldwin Village

Move over blue cheese, Ramyun chicken wings at Mo'Ramyun are best dipped in garlic mayo and sweet chili. The unique riff on Korean fried chicken is encased in crispy noodles and deep fried.

Beaches

Smoked bird wings at Hogtown Smoke start with organic chicken seasoned with a spicy rub. They smoke for two hours in the wood fired pit and then take a bath in the deep fryer before being painted in a choice of sauce. Each order comes with house-made chipotle ranch dip.

Bloor West Village

Bryden's is an excellent source for cheap yet delicious chicken wings. Discover wing deals all day Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday through Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Bloorcourt

Get your wing fix at Hurricane's Roadhouse where a pound of wings can be had grilled or fried and tossed in a choice of over 10 sauces including Cane's sweet heat, honey garlic or jerk.

Bloordale Village

Duffy's Tavern does their cheap wing nights on Wednesday where you can grab a pound for just $5. Order them in all your standard flavours like mild, medium and hot. 

Wet naps are a must if you order the chicken wings at James Cheese Back Ribs. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Chinatown

James Cheese Back Ribs is Toronto’s go-to destination for Korean pork ribs wrapped in gooey, stretchy mozzarella cheese. Aside from that they also do chicken wings covered in spicy, zesty sauce fried Korean-style.

Corso Italia

Barbecue purveyor Earscourt BBQ serves up their four hour smoked wings by the plate, with ribs, and in their pit master platter. 

Danforth

Head on over to Auld Spot Pub for a plate of big, juicy chicken drummies. Have them sauced in classic Buffalo style or opt for honey hot, BBQ or scotch bonnet flavours.

Dundas West

The Dyno wings at Hanmoto aren't your typical chicken wings. An order of these features goyza filling stuffed into a de-bonned wing that's deep fried and finished with a drizzle of Kewpie mayo and a sprinkling of nori, cilantro, and hot peppers.

East York

La Famiglia Pizza is the type of pizzeria that everyone outside the delivery zone should be envious of. Not only does this joint offer pizzas, pastas, hot subs and garlic knots, but the wings are lustful.

Entertainment District

Scorpion wings add variety to the taco-centric menu at La Carnita. Confit wings here are deep fried 'til crisp then tossed in a fiery chili sauce.

Etobicoke

Crowds flock to Sloppy Joe's for the 80 cent wings on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Flavours are relatively standard and include hot, honey garlic and dry rub cajun spice. 

Financial District

Real Sports serves up massive and flavourful flappers by the half dozen in 10 flavours including unique ones like Thai chili, butter chicken and lime salt. 

Junction

Indie Ale House does wings in three styles; an ultra hot papaya habanero, spiced maple liquorice, and an Italian inspired style seasoned with peperoncini, parm and oregano.

Wings are often a saucy affair The Dirty Bird. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Kensington Market

Deep fried wings at The Dirty Bird come in flavours like dry & dirty, Buffalo, sticky honey garlic, and jerk BBQ. Order them by the pound, half pound, or piled on top a maple buttered waffle.

King West

Get your wet naps ready at the Wheat Sheaf because the specially seasoned wings served 10 per order demands that you roll-up your sleeves and dive right in. Customary carrots, celery and blue cheese dip are included while the selection of sauces ranges from mild to suicide.

Koreatown

Crispy breaded wings dominate the menu at Clinton's Tavern. Sauces on the side include varying degrees of hot sauce plus unique options like smoky BBQ and Thai chili. 

Little Italy

Authentic Buffalo wings ranging from mild to Armageddon are the specialty at Duff's Famous Wings. Order a single flavour by the pound with celery and dill dipping sauce on the side.

Markham

Blazing fire chicken wings are the thing to get at the Korean fried chicken joint Home of Hot Taste. 

Ossington

Hawker Bar slings wings by the pound or half pound glazed in sweet and sticky chili soy glaze that pleasingly packs just a touch of heat.

Parkdale

The menu at Duggan's advertises chicken wings five ways: mild, medium, hot, jerked, lemon Pepper and cajun dry rub. Have 'em accompanied by a herb aioli.

Queen West

Chimac specializes in Korean fried chicken and wings are available breaded or un-breaded with your choice of sauces like lemon pepper, BBQ and honey garlic. 

Riverside

Aft Kitchen & Bar brines wings then smokes them low and slow before flash frying them for added crunch. House BBQ sauce adds a final hit of smoky flavour. Each order includes a pile of fries. 

Roncesvalles Village

Barque Smokehouse bills three styles of plump, pit-smoked wings including dry rub, sweet heat and chipotle. Order each flavour by the pound.

Rosedale

Over two dozen unique flavours of giant wings served baked or fried are on the menu at the Crown & Dragon. Standouts include the baked tandoori spiced Bollywood and the sticky and sweet classic Coke glaze over fried wings. Visit Tuesdays and Thursdays for half price wings.

Parmesan dusted wings are always a real treat at Victorian Monkey. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Scarborough

If you love wings as much as you love steampunk, Victorian Monkey is the spot for you. Their garlic parm wings are solid, and they also have honey hot, sticky sesame, and cajun dry rub flavours.

St. Clair West

For a fish and chip joint, Fresco's serves up some pretty stellar wings. A half pound with any side and a dip comes in a choice of flavours including my personal fave, smoked lime tequila.

West Queen West

Jumbo grilled wings at Squirly's boast crispy skins and tender meat. Mild, medium, or hot flavours are the only options, and each order is served with celery, carrots and blue cheese.

Woodbridge

Memphis BBQ is a divey roadhouse on Islington slinging wings either smoked or fried. Opt for the smoked which is marinated overnight before being smoked for four hours and then glazed and finished on the grill for a little flame-licked flavour.

Yonge & Bloor

The Bishop and the Belcher does roaster wings by the pound. Get them tossed with your choice of mild, medium, hot, chipotle, sriracha, or sticky sesame garlic sauces. Each order is served with fries and choice of chunky blue cheese or house dill dip.

Yonge & Dundas

Meaty slow smoked wings coated in dry rub seasoning at Lou Dawg's are sold by the pound. Have them plain or tossed in one of the finger licking house BBQ sauces.

Yonge & Lawrence

Smoked chicken wings are a standout on the menu at Stack Restaurant. Wings are seasoned with their own Memphis rub and served with slaw and garlic dipping sauce. 

Yorkville

The Pilot slings wings by the pound with veggie sticks and ranch dip supplied on the side to offer reprieve from spicy flavours like kamikaze.

The Bentway Skate Trail has officially arrived in Toronto. What is the Bentway, you ask? It’s the project revitalizing the area underneath the Gardiner Expressway so we can have more usable public space with free programming in a city that desperately needs it.

The skate trail is the first section of the Bentway ever to be completed and open to the public. The 220-metre track is just a small part of the 1.75 km area under the Gardiner to be transformed into public space.

Had you looked at this area a few years ago, it would have been nearly impossible to imagine a picturesque urban skating trail here. It's a near-magical transformation, and there's still plenty left to do as part of the revitalization of the formerly under-utilized area. 

Today DJs Fawn Big Canoe, Nino Brown, DJ Steph Honey, DJ Shub and Skratch Bastid will be spinning starting at 11 a.m. until 11:30 p.m to provide a skate soundtrack, and weekly DJ skate parties will continue from there.

The Toronto Ice Skate Group will also put on demonstrations of “ice breaking,” a very Torontonian hybrid of skating, ice dancing and breakdancing. Musical acts Charmie Deller and Carmen Braden will also perform.

The Mayor’s Skate Party will also take place on January 7 from 1 - 4 p.m. Complimentary skate rentals and hot chocolate will be available.

There’s a ton more fun programming going on at the Bentway Skate Trail until mid-March, and the official launch of the Bentway will take place in June.

Just remember that if you attend the opening weekend of free events, bundle up! Toronto’s frigid temperatures are sticking around a little while longer yet. 

Toronto temperatures reached -21C last night— which felt more like -30C — but there's finally relief in sight for this frigid city. Earlier this morning, Environment Canada's extreme cold warning was lifted for Toronto and the surrounding area.

It's still -12C as of 10 a.m. (with a windchill of -21C) but the great thaw is underway. By Monday, temperatures are expected to reach at least 0C, which would represent a 21 degree swing over the course of about 36 hours. 

If you put your faith in the Weather Network, the city will actually get to 2C on Monday, which would be the first time Toronto was above the freezing mark in recent memory. Alas, a bout of snow will put a damper on any celebrations during the morning commute. 

This week's forecast, courtesy of Environment Canada.

The warming trend is expected to continue with a high of 4C and showers expected on Thursday. So please, please, stay off the inner harbour as ice conditions are set to rapidly deteriorate in some areas.

Now that temperatures will be a bit more bearable, there's lots of fun stuff to do outdoors, including the brand new skating trail under the Gardiner. Happy winter, Toronto.

Winter hiking trails in Toronto aren't necessarily the same places that you might wind through the woods in the absence of snow. If you're going to be out exploring in your boots, it's important to select trails that are relatively wide and less step than what you might attempt when traction is better. 

Here are my picks for the top winter hiking trails in Toronto.

Sun Valley Loop (Crothers Woods)

Much of the Don Valley is a beautiful place to hike for three seasons of the year (careful of the mud during spring, though), but once the snow has fallen, I find the double-track loop around Sun Valley the perfect destination. The terrain is gorgeous but not overly challenging.

High Park Trails

High Park is another trail network that comes into its own in the winter. The trails along the west side of the park are ideal in the snow, especially as they take you down to Grenadier Pond, which offers a lovely vista but also the possibility of more exploration if deemed safe. 

Leslie Street Spit

While you will likely be pounded by strong winds during parts of this hike, Tommy Thompson Park is majestic in the winter, complete with wild ice formations that build up along the shore. The landscape ranges from well-treed to almost lunar in spots, but it's always alluring.

Cedarvale Ravine and the Belt Line

Too many people know about Cedarvale Ravine to characterize it as a hidden gem, but it's still under-appreciated for both its beauty and walkability. Should you feel ambitious after exploring here, you can always walk a few blocks and hook up with the Belt Line Trail.

Moore Park Ravine and Don Valley Brick Works

One of the nicest winter hikes in Toronto is to walk south from the top of Moore Park Ravine down to the Brick Works. It's an easy downhill jaunt (at least on your way out), the ravine is majestic when snow-covered, and you can warm up with a hot drink when you arrive.

Vintage photos of Toronto in the winter offer a reminder that snow, ice, and cold temperatures have always been a crucial part of the experience of living in this city.

There might be fewer ice boats today, but we still try to make the most of the harsh season by tobogganing in our parks, skating on Grenadier Pond, and heading down to the frozen harbour (please be safe). 

While our forebears might not have had Gore-Tex jackets, it's quite remarkable how robust winter activities were in the past. Dare I say it, they might have had even more fun than us.

Or perhaps they were just tougher when it came to the cold. In any case, there's something about the sight of hundreds of people going down tobogganing runs in High Park that is rather exhilarating. I think I'm going to dust the old sled off.

Behold, what winter looked like in Toronto a century ago. 

12 horse team pulling snow sweeper Ca. 1890s. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

That's a lot of coal! Toronto skyline 1904. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Sleighing at Queen's Park in 1906. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Snowy University Avenue 1908. You can see Queens Park peeking out in the background. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

High Park toboggan runs ca. 1910. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Ice fishing, Centre Island 1909. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Apparently a huge toboggan at Christie Pits in 1909. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Parking at the Old City Hall quadrangle in 1910. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Kew Beach in 1911. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Snowball fight in Rosedale Ravine back in 1912. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

A propeller sled! Toronto Bay in 1912. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

A frozen pier near the Eastern Gap in 1912. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Ice-encased church post-fire on Carleton Street 1912. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Ice boats on the harbour in 1912. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Hockey at Christie Pits in 1912. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

High Park in 1913. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

High Park tobogganing in 1914. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

High Park toboggan runs in 1914. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Wychwood Barns in 1915. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Trinity College Gates in 1916. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Bloor Viaduct under construction in 1917. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

A frozen and very industrial-looking Toronto Bay in 1920. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Ice boats in front of the Harbour Commission Building in 1920.

Glen Road bus in 1923. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Snow plough in 1924. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Snowstorm on Richmond Street in 1929. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Snowy Casa Loma in 1936. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Snow blower at night in 1943. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

The great snowstorm of 1944. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Looking up Bay St. during the great snowstorm of 1944. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Snowstorm at John and King 1961 (can that driver see out of the windshield?). Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Free events in Toronto this week will introduce the city to its new DJ skate night, let you eat cheesy pizza while listening to even cheesier jokes, and discover the origins of our city's unique sonic landscape. 

Picking out neighbourhoods on the rise in Toronto is a tough task given the rapid development that's taking place all over the city, but there are little pockets — some of the them unexpected — worth focusing attention on for incoming businesses, infrastructure, and park space.

Here are 5 neighbourhoods to keep an eye on this year and beyond.

Chinatown East

This area has witnessed a slew of new businesses open along Gerrard just east of Broadview, including Farside, Wong's Ice Cream, and Good Cheese. Leslieville brunch favourite Lady Marmalade will also call the neighbourhood home come the spring. The condos are soon to follow.   

The Stockyards

The massive new Nations grocery store has injected much-needed life into the former target space at the eponymous shopping mall, but there's more going on in the vicinity, from development on Ethel Ave. to the revitalized Symes Incinerator to a host of breweries in the area.

Fort York

This neighbourhood just welcomed the Bentway Skate Trail and will surely benefit as the new public space expands in the summer. But more infrastructure is on the way in the form of Garrison Crossing, which will surely help move the masses expected to inhabit all the new condos.

York University Heights

The subway's arrival will do wonders for York, but also the surrounding area. Keele and Finch has long been home to strip malls, but the new University Heights development will add commercial density by this summer and the Keele Finch Plus Study promises more change to come.

East Bayfront

Toronto's eastern waterfront is expanding as condos like Aqualina, Aquavista and Monde are rising along Queens Quay. Soon we'll witness the extension of the lakefront promenade and new life injected into Sherbourne Common. Meanwhile, Google's presence will soon be felt. 

Events in Toronto this week include the best Canadian films of 2017 landing on the big screen at TIFF, the first of the Bentway skate parties under the Gardiner, and Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield returning to the local stage. 

Thousands of Torontonians are in the dark (or stuck at a subway station) this morning as power outages sweep the city's east end.

Toronto Hydro is reporting major service disruptions heading into Monday's commute due to a loss of power supply from Hydro One.

We're experiencing an outage in the east end with rough boundaries of Eglinton East/Lake Shore/Yonge/Victoria Park. We've lost our power supply from @HydroOne. More details to come.

— Toronto Hydro (@TorontoHydro) January 8, 2018

The outages began around 6 a.m., according to The Star, and are impacting some 20,000 customers between St. Clair Ave. E. and Lakeshore Blvd. from Yonge St. to Victoria Park Ave.

Countless others in the area are finding themselves lodged among seas of frustrated people at subway stations on Line 2.

If you're on your way westbound to downtown, stay away from woodbine st. Take go or streetcar or bus instead #TTC#MondayMadnesspic.twitter.com/w6tF64hOpV

— przemyslaw pawluk (@ppawluk) January 8, 2018

Subway service was shut down between Broadview and Woodbine stations, according to the TTC.

The power outage left Greenwood Yard in the dark, meaning that Toronto's subway trains – which rely on electricity to run – were basically stuck at home. That has led to long delays even as service was restored as of 8:40 a.m.

Westerly stations on Line 2 have been completely clogged as well. 

UPDATE: Trains turning back on Line 2 at Broadview Station and Wodoobine Station due to power outages at various locations. Shuttle buses operating from Broadview to Woodbine Station. #TTC

— Official TTC Tweets (@TTCnotices) January 8, 2018

TTC spokeserson Brad Ross told CP24 this morning that subway customers can use their fares to take GO Transit at Kennedy and Main stations.

"That's a great alternative," he said. "It's going to be a long morning for anyone who is relying on the subway."

As promised, Loblaw Companies Ltd. is now allowing customers to register for a $25 gift card after admitting to its participation in a nearly 15-year-long, industry-wide, bread price-fixing arrangement.

"Loblaw discovered that Canadians were overcharged for the cost of some packaged bread products in our stores and other grocery stores across Canada," reads the company's newly-launched loblawcard.ca microsite.

"In response, we're offering eligible customers a $25 Loblaw Card," it reads, "which can be used to purchase items sold in our grocery stores across Canada."

In exchange for this twenty-five (25) Canadian Dollar Loblaw Card you hereby release and forever discharge Loblaw (“Loblaw” includes Loblaw Companies Limited, its parent corporation George Weston Limited and their affiliates as well as all of their current and former officers,

— Kim Buckley (@kimmiecats) January 8, 2018

The gift card program, which opened for registration today, is available to any Canadian who purchased pretty much any packaged bread product from any of the company's stores between 2002 and 2015.

Basically, if you think you bought bread from Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore or any of the corporation's other 20+ grocery brands before 2015, you can register for free groceries right now.

Many Canadians have already vowed to donate their cards to local food banks or other charities.

I just signed up for my card from Loblaws so I can send it to the food bank. It doesn't affect your involvement in the class action suit. Turn a negative into a positive. Feed the hungry & make Loblaws pay for being THIEVES. https://t.co/kVycoLqJ0P

— Gail Vaz-Oxlade (@GailVazOxlade) January 8, 2018

All you need to do to is declare that you purchased an eligible bread product in the specified time frame and that you're the age of majority in your province.

Loblaw, which is Canada's largest retailer, expects three million to six million customers to redeem the offer.

This week on DineSafe is a busy one coming off the holiday break. Lowlights from the past two weeks include a Chinatown restaurant that was shuttered by city health inspectors due to failing to prevent gross unsanitary conditions plus a number of chains that were carded for other safety infractions. 

Find out who got in trouble with the Toronto food police this week.

Cibo Wine Bar (2472 Yonge St.)

• Inspected on: December 28, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 8 (Minor: 3, Significant: 5)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Second Cup (30 The Queensway)

• Inspected on: December 28, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Subway (5631 Steeles Ave. East)

• Inspected on: December 28, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Chongqing Laojiumen (4771 Steeles Ave. East)

• Inspected on: December 29, 2018
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Little Piggy's (469 Bloor St. West)

• Inspected on: December 29, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1, Crucial: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated and operator failed to maintain hazardous foods at 4C (40F) or colder.

Artisan Noodle (5421 Yonge St.)

• Inspected on: January 3, 2018
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Perfect Chinese Restaurant (4386 Sheppard Ave. East)

• Inspected on: January 3, 2018
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 2, Significant: 5)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

RaviSoups (1533 Queen St. West)

• Inspected on: January 3, 2018
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Sichuan Garden Restaurant (359 Spadina Ave.)

• Inspected on: January 4, 2018
• Inspection finding: Red (Closed)
• Number of infractions: 3 (Significant: 1, Crucial: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to prevent gross unsanitary conditions and operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Note: The above businesses each received infractions from DineSafe as originally reported on the DineSafe site. This does not imply that any of these businesses have not subsequently corrected the issue and received a passing grade by DineSafe inspectors. For the latest status for each of the mentioned businesses, including details on any subsequent inspections, please be sure to check the DineSafe site.

The best Caribbean restaurants in Toronto are synonymous with our local food culture. Spicy beef patties, doubles, patty sandwiches, coco bread, oxtail and good old rice and beans are the go-to’s that keep this city running.

Here are the best Caribbean restaurants in Toronto.