Toronto Story

05/12/2016

|| Distillery District ||

“The most prominent feature of this place would be the warm colours, because of the red bricks of the buildings that surround the area. It can be associated with the Love sign with many locks attached, the heart shaped sign, and the gigantic spider-like statue.

In the past, it was a popular spot for me to go on first dates. I would walk around St Lawrence Market first before going to the Distillery District. Unfortunately every time I went to this place for a first date, there would never be a second date (haha!). However, I now go to the Distillery District with my current boyfriend, just to enjoy a drink and talk about anything and everything. I also always go to this place with friends during Christmas time, because of the Christmas market (free booze!). The Christmas market always has great food and pretty lights.

What intrigued me about this place was the alcohol, the desserts you could get there, the cute small boutiques and nice restaurants there. It's a great place to go to find a gift or eat a nice meal with friends. It’s a place of that’s always lively, cheery, warm, relaxed and romantic.”

- Karen Xiao

05/09/2016

|| U of T ||

“University of Toronto has a special place in my heart. I met my wife while we were both undergraduate students – and we eventually got married on campus. As someone who now works for the university, it is also a privilege to interact with so many wonderful people, and be able to learn from them. It is a very special place indeed.”

- Professor Dragan Stojanovic

05/07/2016

Come meet us at the Markham Expo at Milliken Mills Community Centre (7600 Kennedy Road, Markham)!!

Buy a Toronto Story Sweater for $20 today only!! (20% off original price)

We can't wait to see you!😊😊😊

05/07/2016

Find us at the Markham Expo to PURCHASE OUR APPAREL!

* Special day sale *

MARKHAM EXPO IS TOMORROW! We're stoked to be bringing you the biggest Expo yet, RAIN OR SHINE! Party all day with us tomorrow at the Milliken Mills Community Centre from 2 PM to 11 PM. Spend a day chilling inside and out, rain or shine. You won't wanna miss the indoor AFTERPARTY AT 8:30 PM! It's gonna be . GET HYPED.

05/05/2016

Join us at Markham Mayor's Youth Council Markham Expo event THIS SATURDAY !

Only $25 for a crewneck sweater, or $15 for a tshirt!

05/03/2016

|| Regent Park ||

“My community Regent Park has had a great impact on me. It was where I grew up. As a young child when I walked out of my apartment building I would see children playing, teenagers listening to music, and parents walking with their children. I get nostalgic just thinking about it. Although the community was beautiful it was also tough. I had to make decisions early in life, and seeing my mother struggle raising me alone helped me focus on my future.

Planning for my future at such an early age is what allowed me to explore fields like early childhood education and photography. Being raise in raised in Regent Park, as the city began to tear my community down and apart I felt the urge to document everyday life in my changing neighbourhood. I am currently working on a couple of projects that include documenting the Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj in Saudi Arabia and a project that solely focuses on the Regent Park community.”

- Yasin Osman

04/30/2016

|| Salon De Elephant (Hair Salon) ||

“It’s kind of a “sketchy-ish building” as it is narrow and has a noisy creaky stairwell. And then you walk upstairs and it’s kind of like this incredible sanctuary that they’ve created. It’s beautiful hardwood floors, the furniture is very very beautiful. They greet you very nicely. The first time I walked in, it was incredible. They’ll sit you down at one of the haircutting chairs. They’ll bring you a cup of beautiful cucumber water. I’ve never had water that is such a perfect temperature, kind of between warm and hot. And while you’re waiting, there are some cool magazines. There's a really big window that faces the sun, so it’s beautifully lit.

They have these asian fashion magazines. It’s not something I usually partake in, so when you’re there and have nothing to do except for that, I just have to open it up and take a look around. I would look at these fashion magazines and just get a sense of how style works. I found that when I went to Korea this past summer, that asian fashion is often a lot more ahead of North American fashion, different for European fashion. Interesting in it’s own way, and just created differently.

The significance to me, it’s just having something that I come to roughly once every month or five weeks. I live downtown right now, I used to live at markham and it’s at Yonge and Finch, but it’s pretty much the only haircutter I’ve been to in the past two years. And I always find a way to get back and it’s come at times when you need a little break. Maybe even not so much a break, but a break from constantly doing and just having an hour or longer than that to just think. You’re looking in the mirror at yourself for a long period of time, or waiting for a long period of time. Everytime I go in there I make a point of not going on my phone. It’s just this time where I have a chance to really think about what my plans are going forward, and remember to be creative.”

- Jerry Zhang

04/27/2016

|| 86 Bellwoods Ave. ||

“This place was the rental house that I resided in when I first landed in Toronto, Canada. It was one single room. It was one of the cheapest houses that I could find. The monthly rent was about $150, while I had $500 budget to spend monthly. Lots of cockroaches in this rental house. It was cold and dim at night as I always arrived home late, either from my masseuse job or English classes. I attended 3 ESL classes every weekday. The harsh living conditions thrived me to work harder to where I am today. My dream was to one day buy my own car.”

- James Lee

04/21/2016

|| The alleyway that connects Broadview Avenue to Cambridge Avenue. ||

“The introduction of the alley into my life accompanied a period of realization. This year I began attending vocal lessons at my teacher's apartment, and had to walk through the alley on my commute. It was dark and dismal and unnerving, and I truly did feel unsafe the first time I made that hundred metre journey. I've never seen the alley in the daylight, so I'd say I was intrigued by its darkness. I had an awakening -- I, as a young woman, was immensely vulnerable. Despite being in an objectively safe, residential neighbourhood, I felt at risk.

In conjunction with this sombre revelation, I felt a sense of fierce independence and responsibility for my own safety. I turned my music way up and took the first step. Now I walk through the alley every Monday evening, and I no longer feel fragile; I feel empowered. I think the alley has made me hold my head slightly higher and walk with more purpose. I feel as though I've gained more control over my life.”

- Claire Jansen-­Faught

04/18/2016

|| Much Music Building ||

“Queen Street and Much Music played a critical role for meeting the love of my life. All the restaurants, patios, people and overall liveliness. There were always people walking around. I was a great place to give a friend a taste of what Toronto is like. Queen West and in particular Much Music back in the early 2000s was very lively. There were always people walking around. Much Music often had famous musicians in attendance and often opened up the windows or stage and had them walk out onto Queen Street.

That special day we capped off a wonderful afternoon of lunch, Sega City, and a up close encounter with Janet Jackson. I grew up in downtown Toronto and consider myself a lifelong Torontonian. It allowed an immigrant family to live out the Canadian dream.”

- Wai-Yiu Chan

04/14/2016

Check us out and support us on TheSTAGE SAGE Canada!

Introducing our first Socially Responsible Business (SRB) finalist for The STAGE 2016!

Toronto Story aims to unite the diverse voices of our city by sharing their stories. Their mission is to give Torontonians the opportunity to connect with each other and the city on a more personal level. This means being able to find relatable places and perspectives, while contrasting them with their own experiences. The company takes people’s experiences with a location in Toronto that is significant to them, and interpret them into a simplistic design. These designs are then printed on apparel to spread the stories, and a full written transcript of the story is also printed online for readers. Every story and every location that is shared, ultimately portrays Toronto’s story.

04/12/2016

GIVEAWAY Requirements:

Submit a personal story behind a specific location (within the GTA) to our Typeform: https://torontostory.typeform.com/to/MZ5Jxm

If you have an questions please email [email protected]

ENDS on Wednesday, April 4th, 2016

*Disclaimer: By entering this giveaway you are allowing Toronto Story to post your story response on public social media accounts and websites. Your story may also be used and interpreted as a basis for future designs.