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Toronto murder suspect now being investigated as a serial killer

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Toronto-based landscaper Bruce McArthur has now been charged with five counts of first-degree murder in relation to a string of disappearances dating back to 2012.

And police believe there could be more bodies to come.

Homicide Detective Sergeant Hank Idsinga announced on Monday that the 66-year-old suspected killer was just charged with three additional counts of first-degree murder, on top of two counts for men whose deaths were linked to McArthur earlier this month.

"It's a serial killer," said Idsinga when asked what kind of case this is. "An alleged serial killer. He's taken steps to cover his tracks."

Those steps allegedly included hiding the dismembered bodies of his victims around properties he'd been hired to landscape.

Police say that the dismembered remains of at least three people were recently found in the backyard of 53 Mallory Crescent in East York.

At this point, the remains have not been identified. Specialists from the province's forensic pathology services and the Centre of Forensic Sciences will be investigating the remains further.

Still, McArthur is now also believed to be responsible for the deaths of 58-year-old MajeedKayhan, reported missing since October 2012, 50-year-old SoroushMarmudi, reported missing in August 2015, and 47-year-old Dean Lisowick, who was not reported missing.

"We do believe there are more (victims)," said Idsinga at police headquarters this morning. "We don't how many more victims there are going to be, but this is beyond the gay community."

Police continue to search properties associated with McArthur and are asking anyone who may have hired him at some point to come forward. 

"The city of Toronto has never seen anything like this," said Idsinga, noting that most of the body parts recovered were hidden in large planters.

Investigators have thus far identified about 30 properties of interest within Toronto and "have seized quite a few planters from around the city" as well.

"We believe there are more remains at some of these properties that we are working to recover," he said.

"There are at least two sites that we do want to excavate where people might be buried."


This Week on DineSafe: Freshii, Aroma, Sukhothai, What A Bagel, Pizza Hut, Tone Sushi

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Two of Toronto's best cheap sushi restaurants were busted by city health inspectors last week. Both Tone Sushi and Sushi Delight managed to rack up a whopping 11 infractions between the two of them. 

Find out what other Toronto restaurants got in trouble with the food police this week on DineSafe.

Pizza Hut (1862 Eglinton Ave. West)
  • Inspected on: January 22, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Tone Sushi (414 Queen St. West)
  • Inspected on: January 22, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 3)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
A1 Sweets & Restaurant (3300 McNicoll Ave.)
  • Inspected on: January 23, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 3 (Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to maintain hazardous foods at 4C (40F) or colder.
Brownstone Bistro (601  Yonge St.)
  • Inspected on: January 23, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 1, Significant: 4)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Tov-Li (3519 Bathurst St.)
  • Inspected on: January 23, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 3, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to maintain hazardous foods at 4C (40F) or colder.
Aroma Espresso Bar (2040 Avenue Rd.)
  • Inspected on: January 24, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 4 (Significant: 3, Crucial: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.
Freshii (40 King St. West)
  • Inspected on: January 24, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 2)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Sushi Delight (461 Danforth Ave.)
  • Inspected on: January 24, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 1, Significant: 4, 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.
Sukhothai (1442 Dundas St. West)
  • Inspected on: January 25, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
A&W (1115 Bloor St. West)
  • Inspected on: January 26, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
What A Bagel (3515 Bathurst St.)
  • Inspected on: January 26, 2018
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: Operator failed 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.

Doug Ford says he's running for Ontario PC leader from mom's basement

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Well, it's official. Doug Ford is throwing his hat into the ring for leader of Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party.

This means that he can no longer run for Mayor of Toronto – at least not until the provincial race is over (though, theoretically, he could still jump in again at the last minute.)

Ford announced his provincial leadership bid from his mother's basement in Etobicoke around noon on Monday, vowing to "clean up the mess" and save Ontario's PC party from falling into the hands of "elites."

"The McGuinty-Wynne Liberals have destroyed Ontario's economy," wrote Ford on Twitter following the announcement. "Life in this province is unaffordable... The hardworking taxpayers of this Province deserve better."

Ford, the brother of late former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, has set up a website for his campaign in which he refers to himself as a "Canadian businessman and politician."

This site doesn't include much at this point aside from an input form for voters to register their support.

Reaction to the idea of Ford as Ontario's Premier (should he win the provincial election this June) has been harsh, swift and filled with talk of basements.

On the one hand, running for provincial party leader news means that Ford won't be focused on running for Mayor of Toronto this spring.

"I had every intention of running for mayor of this great city," he said during his press conference on Monday. But alas, he's chosen provincial politics instead.

On the other hand, the potential leader of our entire province just held a press conference from his mom's basement.

This has largely overshadowed most of everything else being said about Ford on Twitter right now.

Despite the joking, political buffs are taking Ford's move quite seriously.

The former city councilor is seeing his fair share of #FordNation supporters in his own feed, and they don't care one bit about where he runs his campaign from. 

Hey, if a reality TV star can become President of The United States, surely a politician can host press conferences from their mom's basements and win.

We've seen stranger things happen with politicians in this city (and family.) At the very least, this is going to be an entertaining run.

Heck, it already is.

Not everyone happy with Alessia Cara’s big win at the Grammys

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Alessia Cara was named best new artist last night at the 2018 Grammy Awards, becoming the first Canadian ever to win the award.

Not everyone, however, thought the Brampton-based singer and songwriter was right for the honour. 

Alanis Morissette, Drake and even Justin Bieber have all been nominated as best new artist in the past, but to date nobody born in this country has managed to snag the coveted award.

Cara, 21, was obviously stoked.

"Everyone deserves the same shot," she said in her acceptance speech during last night's ceremony in New York City. "And that goes for everyone — not just those in the industry."

News that the Brampton-born singer and songwriter had won a Grammy got fans riled up to the max online. Cara did launch her career on YouTube, after all.

Those who've been following the artist's career were proud and happy for Cara's success, but many noted that something was off – primarily the category she won an award for

You see, Cara hasn't released an album since Know-It-All in 2015.

She sang on the soundtrack for Disney's Moana in 2016, Zedd's hit track Stay last year, and has made a handful of guest appearances on the albums of other musicians.

She's not exactly a "new" artist, is the point – which some saw as insulting to Cara, and unfair to other artists nominated in the category.

Fans may have felt slighted, but Cara herself appeared to be unfazed last night. Not only did she win the award graciously, she crushed the show's closing performance with Logic and Khalid.

On Monday afternoon, the artist was similarly composed in statement she released via Instagram.

"To address the apparent backlash regarding winning something I had no control over," it reads. "I didn't log onto grammy.com and submit myself. that's not how it works. I didn't ask to be submitted either because there are other artists that deserve the acknowledgement."

"I'm aware that my music wasn't released yesterday," she continued, "but I'm trying very hard to use the platform I've been given talk about these things and bring light to issues that aren't fair..."

"I will not let everything I've worked for be diminished by people taking offence to my accomplishments and feeling the need to tell me how much I suck," she said.

"Thanks to everyone who's shown me kindness and support along the way," she concluded. "I'll stop talking now."

You can read the full statement on Cara's Instagram profile now.

The 20 most beautiful indoor spaces in Toronto

King St. restaurant now using Trump slogans to complain about streetcars

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MKSGA!

It doesn't have quite the same ring as MAGA, Trump nation's "Make America Great Again" rallying cry, but the message is similar.

Kit Kat owner Al Carbone wants to "make King St. great again," and he's installed yet another pair of ice sculptures in front of his restaurant this week to help get the word out far and wide.

Carbone's ice sculpturing campaign began roughly two weeks ago with the appearance of a giant, icy middle finger in front of the Kit Kat.

That sculpture kicked off a now weeks-long series of heated arguments between restaurant owners like Carbone, who say that new traffic restrictions on King are hurting business, and local citizens who support the King Street Transit Pilot.

Things only intensified last Monday when Carbone announced his #ReverseKingCarBan campaign – a social media movement supported by city councillor Giorgio Mammoliti and Ontario PC leadership hopeful Doug Ford.

The original middle finger sculpture, which had the words "fuddle duddle" at its base, was joined by sculptures of a small business and the heads of Mayor John Tory, former city planner Jennifer Keesmat and city councillor Joe Cressy riding a streetcar last week.

It was only on Wednesday that the middle finger was replaced with two icy thumbs up and the word "VICTORY."

"We proved our point," said Carbone when asked about what the thumb sculptures meant. "City Hall isn't listening and everybody knows that now. It was a good investment."

And yet, as of Monday, those thumbs up sculptures are gone.

Both hands have been replaced with a new sculpture that reads "Make King St. Great Again." A second, thinner sculpture nearby has the words "thank you for your support" under a giant "SOS."

King Street ice

"The King Street Pilot is causing damage to the businesses within the Entertainment District," reads a petition that Carbone is still circulating through social media.

"There is a lot of conflicting information being put out right now and we are seeking signatures from those that live, work, visit and commute through the Entertainment District," he writes "to shine a light on the actual number of people being negatively impacted by the City's lack of action in amending the Pilot."

 A total of 156 people have signed the petition so far.

There's now a movie about one of Toronto's most famous restaurants

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A new documentary featuring the head chef of Canoe – Toronto's favourite upscale restaurant for a 360-view of the city – will be released this year, and possibly even screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Focusing on a single dish served at the Financial District restaurant, Before The Plate deconstructs how we eat by breaking down the dish to its ten ingredients and tracing each of them back to the eight farms they came from. 

Starring Canoe's Chef John Horne, the film is all about our food, where it comes from, and how it affects Canadian farmers and the consumers who buy from them.

If you sometimes question where your food comes from or just want to know more about Canadian agriculture in general, Before The Plate will be screening in Toronto this August

Problems with Presto fare gates continue to plague TTC

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By now the Presto system has become a fixture on the TTC, but as the roll out inches toward completion, the fare payment technology is still suffering from a number of frustrating hiccups.

The latest in a long list of challenges that have plagued the introduction of the payment program involves the computer software used to manage the fare gates that can be increasingly found at the entrances to subway stations.  

According to a report from the Toronto Star, as more and more fare gates have been installed, it's "overloaded the capacity of the existing software platform, causing a glitch that means the TTC is often unable to detect when a gate fails."

The Star further notes that the fare gates are meant to run on dedicated software distinct from what's used for card readers and re-load machines, but so far everything is managed by the same system, which is putting it under too much strain.

A year ago, statistics from Metrolinx indicated that 12 per cent of fare gates were malfunctioning. Even as that number improves, it's still crucial that the TTC be able to identify crippled gates so it can fix them as soon as possible. 

Disabled fare gates can encourage fare evasion, particularly at station entrances without fare collectors or customer service agents. And even when the gates are working optimally, there's going to be occasions when rough treatment from customers renders them inoperable. 

Apparently a solution is in the works with the software manufacturer, though it remains to be seen if the problem can be corrected in time for the planed phased out of legacy fare payment systems by the end of the year. 


Onlookers amazed as hawk devours pigeon in Toronto

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Nature is all around us, friends, even when we don't really want it to be.

A majestic red-tailed hawk was spotted on Monday eating its lunch – a Toronto pigeon – near College and Spadina, right on the sidewalk in front of Canada Computers. 

"Red tail hawk enjoying some street meat," wrote Ian Milne in the caption of a video he shot and shared to Instagram.

The video, while short, is graphic – but in an intriguing way. Especially if you're into gritty urban nature docs (or hate pigeons).

A post shared by Ian Milne (@canipulator) on

Milne's footage shows the sizeable hawk straight up devouring a smaller bird as snow falls all around it, pausing only to chew or pull at some flesh.

Not even people passing by could distract the mighty bird from its meal as it tore through bone and feather with ease. 

"Likely the bird is injured," he told someone in the comments. "I had to put rope around them to stop textwalking zombies from stepping on them."

It's not unheard of to see birds of prey in the urban jungle, though they usually don't start showing up around Toronto until late February or early March.

Hawk pigeon Toronto

Hawks have also been known to chow down on pigeons, but it's not a staple of the animal's diet. According to the Ontario Wildlife Foundation, red-tailed hawks eat mainly of rodents like mice, gophers, chipmunks, voles and squirrels.

Sightings of Toronto raptors (as in birds of prey, not basketball players) have been popping up quite regularly local social media channels lately, suggesting that people might be getting more into local wildlife.

Either that, or the number of hawks and owls are rising downtown – in which case, look out pigeons.

OSCPA investigating shocking videos of dog abuse near Toronto

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The OSPCA is investigating reports of serious animal cruelty involving more than 100 dogs at a sledding company near Toronto thanks to two viral Facebook posts. 

Dylan Blake and Natasha Guerriero say they were booked for a dog sledding trip on Sunday through Toronto Adventures, an outdoor recreation experience provider.

When the couple arrived in Moonstone, Ont. for the outing, they were horrified by the "cruel and sickening environment" at Windrift Kennel, which had been subcontracted for the event.

Both Blake and Guerriero, provided details accounts of what they saw (along with videos) on their respective Facebook accounts.

The clip above, which shows an injured dog struggling to get attention, was posted to both accounts. It has now been viewed nearly 5 million times in just 24 hours.

"The dogs were extremely scared when walking up to them and some of them were sick, starving, and injured," wrote Blake in his post with the videos.

"It was shocking. When petting the dogs they were so not used to affection and they would not want me or my girlfriend to leave them because of the lack of attention they get."

"This is mass cruelty toward harmless and innocent animals," he wrote. "This place needs to get shut down."

You'd be hard-pressed to find many out of the more than 12,000 commenters on Blake's post who disagree.

Both Blake and Guerriero said they were told that, when the dogs aren't working, they are chained to a post where they both sleep and go to the bathroom. 

"One of the people working there told us not to get too close because they don't get washed very often," said Guerriero. "You could definitely tell petting just one because we were full with dirt from their coat and sh*t from their paws."

With literally millions of views on their videos, the couple is bringing quite a bit of exposure to Windrift and Toronto Adventures right now.

The former has taken down its Facebook page and has not yet responded to a request for comment on the allegations.

The latter on its website today that, while Toronto Adventures has "used the services of Windrift Kennels for dog sledding," they "take pride in ensuring that no animals are ever mistreated."

"We review all dog sledding companies we hire for our events to guarantee that they are certified & regularly inspected by the appropriate Ontario government enforcement offices," reads the message. "We will be requesting an additional inspection of Windrift Kennels."

Many of those commenting on the Facebook videos have vowed to contact the OSPCA or police (though Guerriero says she already did this before posting the video.)

Their efforts could very well pay off for any animal who may be in trouble at Windrift Kennels or elsewhere on the local dog sledding circuit.

OSPCA spokesperson Melissa Kosowan confirmed by email today that the agency is aware of the situation and that an investigation is ongoing.

"Concerns relating to a dog sled operation in Central Ontario have been reported to the Ontario SPCA and we are following up accordingly," said Kosowan.‎"As this is an ongoing investigation, the details we can provide are limited in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation."

"The Society takes all reported concerns of animal cruelty seriously," she said. "We want to assure the public that the protection and care of the dogs is our top priority."

7 things to do in Toronto today

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Today in Toronto you can explore the future of tech while eating free food and sampling craft beer, catch a pay what you can improv and stand-up show, and more. Don't forget, Winterlicious has also officially kicked off!

Events you might want to check out:

Wafia (January 30 @ The Drake Hotel)
Australian singer-songwriter Wafia makes her way over from across the world to play you a show at The Drake. Pittsburgh's Jaira Burns kicks off the night with a set of her own.
Seeing the Future (January 30 @ Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery)
Big Rock Brewery is hosting a free, hands-on presentation of new innovations in augmented reality and holographic computing. All the while they'll be sampling craft beers and providing complimentary eats.
Simplify Your Stuff (January 30 @ Love Child Social House)
Productivity coach and professional organizer Clare Kumar leads a workshop focusing on the idea that less is more. Following the workshop is a clothes swap where you can let go of things you don't need.
Pay What You Can't (January 30 @ Comedy Bar)
Filled with some of the steamiest comedians Toronto has to offer, Comedy Bar hosts a pay what you can night of stand-up and improv, featuring the likes of Tim Blair, Isabella Campbell, and more.
Strad Style (January 30 @ Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema)
Hot Docs' Music on Film series screens Strad Style, a film about an eccentric Ohio man who convinces a famed European concert violinist that he can make a copy of a Stradivarius violin, and then struggles to meet the challenge.
Winterlicious (January 26 - February 8 @ Multiple Venues)
Toronto's favourite prix-fixe meal extravaganza features more than 200 Toronto restaurants, giving you plenty of reason to expand your horizons and explore the city's culinary scene.
Toronto Spring Gift Fair (January 30 @ Toronto Congress Centre)
A brand new collection of artisan products and crafts make their way to the Toronto Congress Center for the spring time edition of the Gift Fair. Maybe you'll find the perfect Valentine's gift!

Ontario filled nearly 1 million prescriptions for free this month

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People in Ontario under the age of 25 have gotten more than 950,000 prescriptions filled for free this year so far, according to the provincial government.

For young Ontarians with conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, cancer and depression this is huge – as in 'being able to afford essential, life-preserving treatments despite not having insurance' huge - and it's all thanks to OHIP+:Children and Youth Pharmacare.

OHIP+ is one of several huge new policies that came into effect across Ontario on Jan. 1, 2018.

The largest expansion to provincial medicare in a generation, the program allows people aged 24 or younger to walk into a pharmacy, present their prescriptions, and get free access to as many as 4,400 different medications. 

"Since the program began on January 1, 522,158 young people and their families have already benefited from having access to free prescription medications," reads a press release from the provincial government.

"All people have to do is present their Ontario health card number and a valid prescription for an eligible medication at an Ontario pharmacy to receive free drug coverage through OHIP+."

Not sure if your prescribed medications qualify? Ontario has also launched an online search tool to help people "quickly and easily search through a list of more than 4,400 publicly funded medications and other drug products."

Drugs currently covered for those under 25 include asthma inhalers, antibiotics, insulin, diabetes test strips, birth control, drugs to treat depression, anxiety, epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and more.

The TTC was total chaos during this morning's commute

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It was a painful start to the day for tens of thousands of commuters in Toronto after TTC service went straight up wackadoodle all over the place.

I'm talking hours worth of people stranded together on subway platforms, in station stairwells, and on public transit vehicles, mushed together and seething, tweeting about how angry they are that this keeps on happening.

A total mess.

TTC Officials announced around 8:30 a.m. that trains were holding southbound on Line 1, at Museum Station, "due to a medical and a Toronto Police investigation on board a train."

The ultra-busy Bloor-Yonge Station was a total clusterfrick.

As was St. Clair West Station.

Customers at multiple stations on Line 1 reported that jam-packed trains were bypassing them en masse. The reason stated by transit control on the overhead PA? "Severe overcrowding."

Trains were also holding both ways at Warden Station this morning for a fire investigation, according to the TTC, and a stalled streetcar at Queen and Carroll saw the 501 Queen and 504 King streetcars diverting westbound around 9:30 a.m.

And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

"40 minutes Hwy 407 to Yorkdale," wrote one customer on Twitter. "What is wrong with the #TTC?!"

"Unfortunately there were some signal issues on Line 1," the transit agency's official Twitter account replied, "as well as an earlier fire investigation at Eglinton, mech issue at St. Andrew & emerg alarm at Davisville & Museum causing delays to service."

Commuters were no doubt displeased with the situation – and things got even worse when TTC officials used the PA system to (as some on Twitter put it) "blame city hall" for the delays.

"Good Morning @TTChelps, Just an observation: Subway operators may want to reconsider using the PA system to tout political agendas," wrote one passenger

"Blame politicians because the TTC isn't insufficiently funded by all tiers of Government?" she continued. "Touchè, but today is not the day."

The top 8 markets and pop-ups in Toronto this February

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Markets and pop-ups in Toronto for February definitely bring the love, from Valentine's craft sales to major bridal shows, and even the Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair. If food is your one true love, you can get your hands on Finnish meat pies this month, too. 

Events you might want to check out:

#LoveLocal Pop-Up Market (February 10 @ Studio by the Nooks)
Shop local art from passionate artisans from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., before a special Valentine's social with cocktails and snacks from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair (February 10 @ Gladstone Ballroom)
This is a one-of-a-kind fair of knits, crafts, zines, and more inspired by erotic objects and emotions celebrates DIY sex and romantic culture. Just in time for Valentine's Day!
The Love Market (February 11 @ Gladstone Hotel)
Whether you're engaged, falling in love, or have a complicated relationship with your cat, this market has something for you. Vendors specialize in jewellery, lingerie, flowers, photography, and more.
Big News Breakfast Pop-Up (February 11 @ Left Field Brewery)
Nothing beats breakfast with beer. Pop by this pop-up for breakfast sandwiches made with the freshest veggies, herbs, meats, and cheeses, paired with the brewery's array of drink options.
Valentine's Day Craft Sale (February 11 @ The Native Canadian Centre Toronto)
Over 30 authentic Indigenous vendors present crafts and food to guarantee you'll have the perfect gift for February 14th, whether you celebrate Valentine's, Galentine's, Bromance, or any other type of love.
Trinity Bellwoods Winter Market (February 18 @ The Great Hall)
Trinity Bellwoods' official market inside the historic Great Hall is always an excellent cure for the impending winter blues. Check out new vendors, sample delicious local eats, and do it all for free!
Mama Raty's Finnish Meat Pie Pop-Up (February 23 @ Left Field Brewery)
Mama Raty serves up tasty Finnish meat pies consisting of savoury beef and rice filled centres wrapped in fluffy, fried dough. Admission is free and plenty of beer will be on site, too.
The Wedding Co. (February 25 @ Artscape Wychwood Barns)
You can trust that after 17 years of running this market, the Wedding Co. knows what's up. Over 70 passionate exhibitors gather at the wintery arts hub to help make your fantasy wedding day a reality.

Everyone is making fun of Toronto cops who ate illicit weed

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Two Toronto police officers are making internationalheadlinestoday as word gets around that they've been suspended for seizing, consuming and then getting so high off of marijuana edibles they had to call for back up.

Details are a bit murky at this point, but what we do have is pretty gold in terms of joke fodder - and the entire world is loving it. Here's what went down, if you're curious as to why:

The Toronto Police Service confirmed on Monday that two of its officers are under investigation by the force's professional standards unit in connection with an incident that happened this weekend.

Police sources told NEWSTALK 1010 on Monday that the officers had obtained "marijuana-infused goodies" while raiding a cannabis dispensary at St. Clair and Dufferin on Saturday night. 

The officers allegedly ate these goodies, which were meant to be taken away as evidence, while they were still on duty.

Not feeling the effects right away, the officers decided to consume more of the product, and - well, you know how that sh** go.

Police sources told multiple local news outlets that at least one officer was complaining of "hallucinations" while intoxicated.

CP24 reports that one of the officers was so high he ended up getting stuck in a tree, prompting the pair to send out a distress call.

Both officers were reportedly taken to Sunnybrook hospital – along with a third cop who responded to the scene and slipped on ice, injuring her head.

Toronto Police Association president Mike McCormack has said that he won't be commenting on the investigation until it is complete, though he did confirm that two officers alleged to have taken edibles this weekend are currently suspended with pay.

Still, people can't seem to get enough of this case.

Many are likening the story of these officers and their hijinks to a Judd Apatow movie or the the cult classic film Super Troopers – which, coincidentally, has a sequel coming out this year on April 20.

CP24 has identified the officers in question as Const. Vito Dominelli and Const. Jamie Young from Toronto’s 13 Division.

According to CTV, the officers were apparently "conducting plain-clothed surveillance" when the incident took place and that Dominelli, for his part had "cultivated a considerable social media following by posting videos in uniform where he engages in light-hearted activities, like lip synching to music."

As it stands now, Dominelli's Twitter profile is inactive and his Instagram page has been scrubbed clean.


5 secret buildings you didn't know existed in Toronto

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Toronto is chock full of hidden and treasures. The TTC alone has an array of off-limits spaces, but many of the places we characterize as secret are better termed as barely known. Still, this hardly dampens our intrigue. Whether because of the sensitive work done at these sites or the collections they house, these buildings are kept mostly under wraps.

Here's a handful of secret buildings that you didn't know existed in Toronto.

toronto hydro house

One of Toronto Hydro's many transformer houses. Photo by ssstev.o!

Hydro houses

Even those who are broadly aware of the existence of Toronto's transformer homes have probably still passed by one or two without realizing what they were. There are over 250 Toronto Hydro substations spread across Toronto, many of them in residential-looking homes.

Scinet supercomputer toronto

One of the computer hubs at SciNet. Photo via SciNet.

SciNet

SciNet sounds like it comes straight from the The Terminator. It's Canada's most powerful supercomputer, which is managed by a consortium that includes government agencies and U of T. There are offices at College and McCaul, but the computer is located Vaughan.

north toronto wastewater treatment plant

Much of the technology at the North Toronto Wastewater Treatment Plant dates back to the late 1920s. Photo by Derek Flack.

North Toronto Wastewater Treatment Plant

Located at the bottom of a steep hill on Redway Rd., this remarkable compound has been treating wastewater using the same technology since 1929. An underground portion of the plant once used to harness methane is now closed, but the rest of the complex is fully operational. 

Toronto hydro Copeland transformer

The Clare R. Copeland Transformer Station is a huge but hidden piece of Toronto's infrastructure. Photo via Toronto Hydro.

Clare R. Copeland Transformer Station

This 50,000 square foot building exists almost entirely underground adjacent to Roundhouse Park. Tunnel boring machines were used to connect it to the grid at Windsor Station near Wellington and John streets. The station fuels much of downtown Toronto's power needs. 

toronto history museum

One of the aisles in the city of Toronto's secret history warehouse.

Toronto's hidden history warehouse

In the absence of an official museum of Toronto, thousands of historical artifacts from our city's past are housed in an unlabeled warehouse in Liberty Village. The city doesn't make the location of the site public because of the value of the materials stored here. 

Toronto radio station sparks K-Pop Twitter feud

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What started as an innocent tweet from an independent Toronto radio station turned into a full-blown war in the K-pop Twittersphere this weekend.

The initial tweet from Toronto Hits 93 has since been deleted, but asked listeners Sunday, "What would ya'll think of us dedicating one hour each day to K-POP tracks?"

The question brought fans of two opposing boy bands, EXO and BTS (the group that had Western viewers baffled at last year's Billboard music awards) into the fold in an eruption of tweets that had users turning on each other quickly.

In an industry like K-pop, it's important for fans to remind others where their loyalties lie.

BTS fans – who dub themselves the Army – were at the forefront of the conversation with claims that other boy bands were undeserving of Canadian radio play.

Some demanded that the proposed radio program play BTS hits only, because all your other favs could never.

EXO lovers – a.k.a. EXO-Ls – were quick to clap back at BTS fans. 

For those unfamiliar with the politics of K-pop, the whole affair seems a bit ludicrous. But the historic rivalry of these fandoms is complicated and clearly everyone is a little sensitive about the issue.

The Canadian BTS fan Twitter account even officially addressed the fan war by turning on the radio station itself.

Hits 93 responded to the backlash yesterday evening with an apologetic Twitter thread from its founder Viktor, who said the station was no longer considering the hour-long K-pop program for its airwaves.

The fact that this could have been Toronto's very first radio program dedicated to K-pop didn't seem to deter some fans (to the dismay of others) from celebrating their 'victory'.

Street hockey the newest form of transit protest on King St.

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A group of amateur hockey players took to King Street on Tuesday afternoon for a good ol' game of ball hockey in the slush and streetcar tracks.

You could literally hear the calls of "(street)CAR!"

The players, who convened at the corner of John and King Streets around noon today, were courteous, by all reports, moving aside to let motorists and streetcars pass through as needed.

People who live and work in the area were loving the entertainment. Heck, you could barely even tell it was a protest.

If the game's location between the TIFF Bell Lightbox and Kit Kat Restaurant didn't tip you off, allow me to explain.

The hockey game was staged as part of the latter venue's ongoing anti-King Street Transit Pilot campaign.

"King Street is empty enough to be able to play a game of hockey on the street!" tweeted one of the game's participants in an effort to back up business owners in the area who say that the area has been dead since the pilot project's launch.

The festivities were all backed by Kit Kat owner Al Carbone, who was on hand giving out pasta fagioli in front of his restaurant.

"You've got to fight for what you believe in," said Carbone, who famously erected a middle finger ice sculpture on King Street two weeks ago (and several others since then.)

Signs around the property announced free food and messages of equality like "Everyone is welcome on King Street: TTC, cars, cyclists and pedestrians!" and "Show us your metropass for a free lunch!"

Kit Kat hockey

Al Carbone in front of Kit Kat Italian Bar & Grill following his free lunch and hockey promotion. Photo by Lauren O'Neil.

The message he's spreading right now is certainly being seen as much friendlier than the icy middle finger from two weeks ago. 

While two ice sculptures remain in front of the Kit Kat, one simply reads "Make King St. Great Again."

The other says "SOS," which Carbone says stands for "Save our street."

Toronto real estate market cools but prices keep rising

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The Toronto Real Estate Board just released its annual Market Year in Review & Outlook Report for 2017/2018, and while house availability is higher than we've seen in quite some time, affordability is only getting worse.

Sales of detached homes were down by more than 18.3 per cent over 2016 – something that many analysts have been pegging on government policy decisions like Canada's mortgage stress-test and Ontario's new 15 per cent tax on foreign home buyers.

And yet, the average selling price was up by 12.7 per cent for the same type of home, during the same period of time. TREB reports that, on average, a single-family detached home cost $822,681 in Toronto last year.

"Year-over-year average price growth of over 30 per cent was reported in the first quarter," reads a release from the real estate board. "This was arguably one of the triggers that prompted the announcement of the (Fair Housing Plan.)"

The market has, indeed, been cooling steadily since the provincial government rolled out its plan in April, with listings for detached properties in the area surging and many potential buyers sitting still.

With even tougher mortgage rules now in effect, as of Jan. 1, some say that Torontonians will be even more hesitant to purchase anything – especially those who are buying for the first time.

"There remains a degree of uncertainty in the marketplace due to the psychological impact of the Ontario Fair Housing Plan," reads the TREB release. 

"First-time buyers are flexible – they can continue to rent or live with family, for example, while they decide when, where and what type of home they intend to purchase."

Bloomberg reports similarly that lots of people are sitting on the sidelines right now just waiting for prices to fall – but it doesn't look like that'll happen any time soon.

The upside, if you're a developer, is that analysts expect the condo boom to continue throughout 2018.

More and more people are giving up on the dream of a detached house and their own backyard and go for what's affordable, way up in the sky, it seems. That, or they're not buying anything at all. Not around here.

10 free things to do in Toronto this February

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Free events in Toronto this February do a terrific job giving you romantic and quirky date night options, just in time for the Valentine's season. There are also a ton of free ways to celebrate Black History Month, plus a number of awe-inspiring art events on the way. 

Events you might want to check out:

Kuumba (February 3-24 @ Harbourfront Centre)
Harbourfront Centre celebrates Black History Month with Kuumba: a Journey to Black Liberation. Free art events happen all month, some gems being Journey Through Hip Hop and I Am For You Can Enjoy.
STEP The Movie (February 6 @ Ted Rogers Hot Docs Cinema)
STEP documents a girls' high-school step dance team against the backdrop of social unrest in a troubled city. Hot Docs hosts a free screening and post-movie discussion led by Toronto teachers.
Black History Month (February 7 @ Annette Street Library)
The Toronto Public Library hosts its own speaker series during Black History Month in libraries across the city. Our pick, if you had to choose one, is journalist and activist Desmond Cole's lecture.
Best of Romance Short Film Festival (February 14 @ Carlton Cinemas)
The Carlton brings the love this month, just in time for Valentine's Day. On February 14th they're screening seven romantic shorts from places like Hungary, Italy, and Mexico. It's a film buff's dream date.
Next Wave Film Fest (February 16-18 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
TIFF's youth and future filmmaker series focuses on the creators of tomorrow, including a young filmmaker's competition and 12 free screenings of 12 films from around the world.
DJ Skate Nights Finale (February 17 @ Harbourfront Centre)
The final free DJ skate party of the season goes down on February 17th, with the theme being African-Caribbean R&B. If you miss this one, you'll have to wait until next winter to skate and dance!
WinterStations (February 18 - April 1 @ The Beaches)
WinterStations brings the world's finest in design, architecture, and contemporary art to the Beaches, with giant sculptures that can survive the harshness of Canadian winter lining the frozen waterfront.
Martin Amis (February 22 @ Bram & Bluma Appel Salon)
A huge name in the world of literature, Martin Amis has written for more than thirty years on topics including politics, sports, celebrity, and America. Hear him discuss his storied career at no cost.
Beats and Bents (February 23 @ The Bentway)
The second-to-last skate party under the Gardiner promises a night of throwback jams from the 90s and early 2000s. It'll be cold this month, so no need to worry about the Bentway melting again!
Bloor-Yorkville Icefest (February 24-25 @ Village of Yorkville Park)
Stunning ice sculptures take over Yorkville Village for a weekend full of photo ops, maple syrup taffy, and even live ice carving demonstrations.
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