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A Better Toronto, According to a Bunch of Kids
Torontoist—that’s Karen Aagaard, Tim Kiladze, Nick Kozak, and David Topping—spent our Sunday at Bunch Family Salon at OCAD. Throughout the afternoon, we interviewed the kids in attendance, finding out what they like and don’t like about Toronto, and what their ideas for how to make the city better are—continuously updating the article as we spoke to each new kid.
Julian, 9
What do you like about Toronto?There’s lots of good things happening.
What place do you like the best?
The CN Tower…I’ve only been there once, when I was 5. I remember the mascots and taking pictures and the glass floor.
What do you not like?
All the big buildings in some places—they block out the sun.
What would you change about the city?
Maybe more parks, more places to play. And not as much pollution.
Quincy, 6
What do you like about Toronto?The CN Tower. I like to look down at the glass floor.
Mom: you also like the parks.
Oh, I like High Park.
What do you like to do there?
I like to play.
Is there anything you don’t like about Toronto?
I don’t like waiting. For the bus.
If there’s one thing you could change about the city what would it be?
Not to waste the energy.
Jack, 5
What do you like about Toronto?More parks and buildings.
Do you have a favourite place?
Ireland.
Oh…in Toronto?
Dad: He likes Withrow Park a lot.
What do you like to do there?
I like to go down really fast on the windy slide.
Is there something you think Toronto could have to be perfect?
A giant park.
Sofia, 4
What do you like about Toronto?I like to play outside.
What do you like to do?
Soccer.
What else do you like to do outside?
We [Sofia and her brother, Julian, at the top of this post] like to ride our bikes. I like to take a long path. I have a Barbie bicycle, and I have a red bicycle. I have two bikes.
Is there anything you don’t like about Toronto?
I don’t like anything. [Laughs]
Cien Soo, 4
What do you like about Toronto?I like the animals—in the backyard.
Where else do you like to see animals?
The zoo.
What else do you like about the city?
Movies.
Where do you like to see them?
In my room.
What was the last movie you saw?
[pause]
Mom: Desperado, the one with the mouse.
Is there anything you don’t like about Toronto?
Yeah! The cars. [But] I like the trucks.
Tev, 10; Kohl, 8
What do you like about Toronto?Kohl: Its food.
Tev: The Rogers Centre
What do you like about the Rogers Centre?
Tev: Motorcycles, cars…
Are there any particular kinds of food you like getting?
Kohl: Chicken, and meat.
And what would you change about Toronto?
Kohl: More eco-friendly cars.
Tev: More food.
Keida, 10
What do you like about Toronto?I like the ROM and the AGO. I like the design, how it’s not like any of the other buildings. How they stand out. Um…I don’t live here.
Where do you live?
Guelph, Ontario.
Is there something you’d change about Toronto?
Easier to find stuff. Places to go…you see a lot of the same stuff.
So you think every street should have more different kinds of things on it?
Yeah.
Luke, 5
What do you like the best about Toronto?The CN Tower. It’s big.
What else?
I’ve been to mummy’s office, where she works, I like that place. There are lots of pictures. And sometimes I get to watch a movie.
Is there anything you don’t like about the city?
Nope. I like everything about it.
Paola, 7 “and a half”; Lola, 7
What do you guys like about Toronto?Paola: I like going to the parks…I like going to bike, all around Toronto. I once biked all the way to Centre Island.
Was that hard?
Paola: There were lots of hills.
What is your favourite part of the city?
Lola: I like going to the park. Sorauren Park…
Do you know how to spell that?
Lola: No.
Paola: I like going to the CN Tower!
Lola: Me too!
What do you like about it?
Paola: We get to dance on the glass-bottomed floor.
Lola: It’s scary…we can see almost the whole entire city!
Zannatul, 7; Michelle, 7; Shawly, 8
What do you like about Toronto?Shawly: Ice cream. Chocolate. I like to get it from the ice cream trucks.
Zannatul: I like to play hide and seek. I like to play in the park.
What buildings do you like?
Shawly: The glass one. [The AGO.]
What you do not like?
[Zannatul shakes her head]
What about you?
Michelle: I like the glass building…the Art Gallery of Toronto.
Fynn, 2; Nathaniel, 4
Tell me what you like the best about Toronto.Nathaniel: I like best about…trucks.
Where do you like to go?
Nathaniel: The truck stop!
Parents: There’s no truck stop near us…
Fynn: To the zoo! There are animals at the zoo!
Do you have a favourite thing at the zoo?
Fynn: The lions!
Nathaniel: I have a favourite truck! The tow truck.
What else do you like, outside of trucks?
[no answer]
Alto, 7
What do you like about Toronto?It’s fun.
What do you think makes it fun?
All the stuff in it.
What are your favourite things to do?
I like going to the beach. Wasaga Beach.
What buildings do you like? Do you like the funny-looking ones?
Yeah!
Like which ones?
This one. And the ROM. I don’t like the regular-looking ones.
Vincent, 3; Maxime, 7; Beatrice, 5
What do you like about Toronto?Beatrice: Flowers…pink flowers.
Vincent: Cars
What don’t you like about Toronto?
Beatrice: I don’t like boys.
What do you like?
Maxime: Sports. Lacrosse. I like to play at Long Branch.
Is there anything you like outside of sports?
Maxime: Soccer.
Christian, 9
What do you like about Toronto?The ROM….the Art Gallery.
What do you like about those places?
They’re cool.
How would you describe the ROM?
It looks really modern, it’s not like a building, it kind of looks like a spikey thing.
Have you been inside the ROM?
Yeah!
Do you like it?
Yeah.
Elliot, 6
What do you like about Toronto?That squirrels wake up in the morning, and I watch them run and chase each other.
What buildings do you like the best?
I like the tallest buildings…I like the CN Tower.
Do you like riding the streetcar?
Yeah. I like riding my bike. It’s got two wheels!
Carson, 3
What do you like about Toronto?Trees and plants and flowers.
Do you have a favourite park?
Toronto Park.
Joey, 6
What’s your favourite thing to do?Go to the Science Centre…
Have you been up the CN Tower?
[Joey shakes head]
Dad: yes you have!
What don’t you like?
There’s lots of pollution.
What would be your perfect city? What would it have?
Skiing hill.
What kind of hill?
Huge.
Fake snow or real snow?
Real.
Ryan, 8
What do you like about Toronto?Umm…I just like…basically everything.
Do you have a favourite part?
I don’t have a favourite part.
What do you like doing?
Singing in my room, reading…every Saturday morning we go to Brickworks…we go to the market and and we just buy stuff…we buy everything.
Do you have one favourite building?
My house.
What don’t you like about Toronto?
I wrote a letter that I’m sending to Dalton McGuinty to get all the restaurants to ban pesticides and chemicals.
Like what restaurants?
McDonald’s, Pizza Pizza…
How did you hear about their using pesticides?
[Points to mother]
All photos by Nick Kozak/Torontoist.
