Curious about how the much-discussed Rob Ford crack video came to be viewed by the Toronto Star‘s Robyn Doolittle and Kevin Donovan? Wonder no more! They’ve captured the adventure in an article that ran in the Star today.

Well, it seems that if Mayor Rob Ford does have a drug problem, he may already have a solution in mind. In 2005, the then-city councillor told the National Post that problems in his own family have taught him “tough love” is the only way to battle drug use. Rather than focus on harm-reduction strategies, Ford at the time advocated for enforcement and rehabilitation measures, saying if drug users had to dry out in jail, great! We wonder if he’s still singing the same tune today? We could try asking him at his next press conferen…never mind.

Here’s a bit of good news for Team Ford: The Magnetgate scandal isn’t likely to stick. Sure, the jokes may continue, but city officials have dropped the complaint as, according to the City’s acting director of licensing, “Mayor Ford did not commit a breach of the bylaw, as he is not in the business of being a bill distributor within the meaning of the licensing bylaw.” Nope. That he is not.

Were you lucky enough to catch Kanye West’s video debut last night? If you were outside the ROM between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., The Bay between 10:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m., TIFF Bell Lightbox between 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., or Much Music from 12:30 a.m. to 2:45 a.m., you may have caught a glimpse of the new video for his latest song, “New Slaves,” on the walls. In total, the video was projected on 66 buildings across the world. Toronto thanks you, Kanye, for including us, and gifting us with your video presence.

The GTA’s Marineland, which has received quite a bit of bad press this year, will open its doors for the season today. To mark the opening, a group of protesters—and police—are expected to attend following a rough off-season of widely publicized claims of animal abuse and neglect with no charges laid. While protesting at Marineland is certainly nothing new, the way the park is dealing with it seems to be. It’s being reported that unlike years past, protesters will be kept on the other side of a fence erected around Marineland’s parking lot, rather than close to the entrance. Ah, yes. Protesters. Those most likely to stay where, and do what, they’re told.

While the number $100 million seems to get thrown around an awful lot, betting that this is the fee a Toronto-based casino will generate may not be a sure bet. In fact, sources tell the Globe and Mail that the Ontario government has reviewed several possible formulas for casino hosting fees and has so far rejected the scenarios that would allow Toronto to take in $100 million annually. This could mark a make-or-break for the casino vote, as some councillors have said they cannot back the casino plan if the City gets anything less than that magic number.

The fight against jets at Billy Bishop Airport continues its ascent as a new group has been formed to argue against the expansion plan. NoJetsTO, which describes itself as a non-profit coalition of citizens and groups, showed up at City Hall on Friday to make their demands known. According to their website, the coalition opposes longer runways and intends to stop the introduction of jets to the Toronto Island Airport. They are also lobbying to halt the City’s study examining Porter’s bid to change the Tripartite Agreement that governs the airport.

Mayor Rob Ford’s likeness will soon be captured in a masterpiece that will outlive us all. Artist-turned-city councillor Gary Crawford (Ward 36, Scarborough Southwest) has been commissioned by the mayor’s mom to paint a picture of her baby boy. While the picture most of us may draw in our heads when we imagine how councillors would represent the City’s head honcho on paper may be of a more satirical variety, we assume that Mama Ford is looking for something a touch more regal.

The Toronto Marathon is this weekend, and memories of Boston are not far from people’s minds. In order to show respect to the American city, the race will kick off with a moment of silence at Mel Lastman Square and there will be “Remember Boston” patches on every bib. While the run is expected to draw the usual crowds—this year approximately 60,000 spectators are expected—there is also a heightened sense of unease with organizers warning participants and spectators to “be vigilant” and to report any suspicious behaviour. Here’s a list of marathon-related road closures.

Lastly, just one final reminder that there will be no subway service today on the University line between St. George and Union stations. Shuttle buses are operating, as is the Yonge subway line.

International Spectrum is the most polyglot of Hot Docs 2013′s 11 film programmes, with a slate made up of submissions from countries that include Egypt, Serbia, Brazil, Finland, Denmark, and China, to name just a few. You won’t necessarily find many familiar names or topics among these selections, but then that’s the whole idea.

Click any of the images below for more information about a particular International Spectrum film. Or, check out our nifty Hot Docs 2013 hub for a list of all our reviews to date.

12 O’CLOCK BOYS DIRECTED BY LOTFY NATHAN

LOVE STILL DIRECTED BY GUZMÁN GARCIA

THE LAST STATION DIRECTED BY CATALINA VERGARA AND CRISTIAN SOTO

FOREST OF THE DANCING SPIRITS DIRECTED BY LINDA VASTRIK

DRAGON GIRLS DIRECTED BY INIGO WESTMEIER

ANOTHER NIGHT ON EARTH DIRECTED BY DAVID MUNOZ

While the city’s “Mink Mile,” otherwise known as the Bloor Street high-end shopping district, may cost the average designer label-buyer a pretty penny, it appears to be a drag on the City’s savings, too. Four Seasons Site Development, the company that completed renovations to the Bloor Street corridor from Church Street to Avenue Road, is seeking nearly $1.4 million in damages from the City (which, of course, is in addition to the $24.2 million the City is already paying for the work). The company alleges that in addition to construction delays (which anyone who ever has to drive across Bloor is likely intimately familiar with), they were also required to add a few “extras,” to the tune of 90 cast iron tree grates as well as underground “soil cell” structures in which to grow the trees. Huh. Those are some expensive bike racks.

Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games officials are playing coy when it comes to revealing the cost of selecting from this, erm, intriguing cast of characters. We really sympathize with the group for staying mum, it is certainly difficult to put a price on art like that.

In response to the fact that more than 1,000 patients at hospitals in Ontario received watered down chemotherapy drugs, the Ontario Government is stepping up its oversight role with a new regulation under the Public Hospitals Act to ensure that hospitals purchase drugs only from accredited suppliers. Oh wait, that wasn’t already the case?

In case you missed it yesterday, the TTC service interruption scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled. However, there are a few road closures to be aware of, including Front Street between Simcoe and John streets from Friday at 7 p.m. through Sunday at 7 a.m. Yonge Street will be closed between Lawrence and Erskine avenues from 6 a.m. Sunday to prepare for the Toronto Yonge Street 10k Run. From 9 a.m., the closure will be extended down Yonge Street all the way to Richmond Street. There will be a number of additional street closures related to that race, so be sure to check your route before heading out in that ‘hood.

Typically, the sound of crickets at an event means it’s a less than stellar one. But at Thursday’s Future Food Salon, the little insects were the stars of the evening.

Held at Gallery 345, the Alimentary Initiatives and Cultures of Cities Centre event was focused on the future of food, with a heavy emphasis on entomophagy—which, for the uninformed, is the eating of insects.

By the year 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach nine billion people. This means more mouths to feed, and more clearing of land to support food production. The amount of land necessary to feed one North American person meat for just one year, for example, is 549 square metres, according to research compiled by the Future Food Salon’s keynote speaker, Jakub Dzamba, a McGill PhD student and cricket connoisseur. Livestock, such as cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals we raise for meat and dairy, require—in addition to vast amounts of land—water, energy, and feed.

Because of this, insects are emerging as a viable alternative to livestock consumption. Bugs are already being eaten in other parts of the world, including places as close to home as Oaxaca, Mexico. According to Dzamba, these creepy crawlies have benefits beyond the environmental. They also pack a protein-filled punch.

“They actually have a protein content similar to beef,” Dzamba said while touting the benefits of cricket consumption. “Plus, the fibre content is much higher.”

Because the shells of crickets aren’t digestible, they pass through the digestive tract, making them a good source of insoluble fibre. With this in mind, Dzamba recommends eating crickets ground and added as protein powder to a variety of dishes.

Aruna Handa of Alimentary Initiatives counts herself as an insect-eating enthusiast. She also sees the wider benefits of entomophagy.

“Insects are so tasty, they’re so sustainable, they’re so versatile for cooking,” she said. “And we wanted to celebrate that.”

Guests at the Future Food Salon were offered a tasty spread of cricket-based dishes. The bugs came intact, spiced, and dry-roasted, but were also presented in canapés prepared by Urban Acorn Catering, as well as atop cookies. Cookie Martinez had prepared an even more daring dessert option: crickets drizzled in chocolate.

Urban Acorn Catering chef Daniel Holloway cut his cricket teeth only weeks ago, but found them easy to use in dishes.

“They have the consistency of popcorn, and the taste of almonds, so I found them very easy to work with.”

The canapés he and co-owner and chef Marie Fitrion prepared for the salon included “Chick & Chirp” burgers, which consisted of chickpea patties made with cricket flour; buckwheat crepes stuffed with pickled cabbage, dried crickets, and rhubarb; and a garbanzo blini with carrot mousse, which was the “buggiest” of all the options, with several whole, roasted crickets on top of each mini chickpea pancake.

If causal observation can be considered an adequate gauge, it seems that the future is not far off, at least for Toronto. Salon guests happily munched cricket-laced and -topped dishes throughout the evening, many (this writer included) going back for seconds, thirds, and fourths.

All photos courtesy of Urban Acorn Catering.

Casa Acoreana, at the corner of Augusta Avenue and Baldwin Street. Photo by Uncle Lynx, from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

No stranger to controversy, Kensington Market is once again in the spotlight. Last month, several storefront units in a building at one of the neighbourhood’s key intersections—Augusta Avenue and Baldwin Street—went up for rent, and now Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity Spadina) is pushing the City to conduct a heritage study of the site. It’s a move that could put the brakes on plans to turn the intersection’s modest storefronts into new—and possibly upscale—retail.

In his written request for the study, which was approved by the Toronto and East York community council on April 9, Vaughan noted that this “prominent corner in the heart of Kensington Market” has been characterized for many years by the small retail floorplates of the businesses in the building (the property comprises several small storefronts at 235 Augusta Avenue and 200 to 206 Baldwin Street). He also wrote that part of the uniqueness of Kensington Market has been the area’s ability to act as an incubator for small businesses, and that this is possible as a result of affordable commercial rents.

“We’ve asked Heritage Services to examine it,” Vaughan told us, “to let us understand what changes should be prevented, and what changes might be possible on the site, but also to protect what is critically important infrastructure in the Market, which is small spaces that are start-up spaces.”

With the heritage study on the way, Vaughan thinks prospective tenants shouldn’t plan to make sweeping changes. He describes the building as “a significant cultural landmark in a neighbourhood that is one of the most prized possessions of the city.”

His concern is that a business may try to consolidate all the small storefronts into one, giant space. If the building were ultimately to be added to the City’s inventory of heritage properties, Vaughan hopes it would be protected from that and other types of changes, including relatively small ones, like the removal of benches from outside the property.

“If you’re Company X and expect to come in, re-brand, and demolish the interior of this building, you better think twice,” he said.

Phil Pick, a real estate agent described by Vaughan as “very aggressive,” is the listing agent for the property. According to Vaughan, Pick wants to turn the intersection into a high-end retail destination, which would mean evicting its current tenants.

For his part, Pick notes that none of the parties interested in the space at Augusta and Baldwin represent national businesses. He says that he, like Vaughan, is only trying improve the face of the Market. Contrary to the popular narrative, Pick says that he doesn’t see himself as being opposed to the councillor.

“Whatever the city can do [to preserve the heritage of the market] I’m all for,” Pick said. “As long as it doesn’t infringe on people’s rights to earn an income.”

While he says he’s in favour of preservation, Pick is concerned about the fact that heritage designations on buildings sometimes place limits on landlords’ abilities to rent properties to tenants of their choosing.

“The business of trying to control somebody who owns a property from doing what they want in their own property, I’m not that comfortable with that,” he said.

Kensington, he added, is an open marketplace, and when properties sell at market rates, the new owners need to get a return on their investment.

“Yes, the neighbourhood is maturing, but you’ve got to understand it’s a function of real estate in the heart of Toronto,” Pick said. “It’s become very valuable, and each year it goes up in value.”

“Ultimately it’s a function of real estate and supply and demand.”

To Pick, change in Kensington Market is a positive thing. He says new owners renovating their properties is good for the area, as it improves the overall environment.

“Because of that, you see less graffiti and less crime, because the tenants have a vested interest. Now when they see a kid walking down the street with a can of spray paint they say something.”

Vaughan doesn’t seem convinced by the free-market argument. He maintains that he’s trying to prevent the neighbourhood from being put at risk by, as he describes it, people who think that the real-estate market should dictate how Kensington Market grows.

“The Market shouldn’t be surrendered to market forces just because a certain real estate agent thinks Margaret Thatcher should run the world,” he said. “This is a unique and critically important piece of food infrastructure in the city, but it’s also a critical and unique piece of social infrastructure in the city, celebrated around the world for its existence.”

Was it the gagging sounds? Do people like (poorly executed) fake barfs? (Also, do you like reading the word “barf” while cruising the news and eating breakfast? You’re welcome.) New Forum Research poll findings show that Mayor Rob Ford’s job approval rating now sits at 49 per cent, which is up almost 10 per cent from two weeks ago. After a busy week of mock-puking at the thought of transit taxes, fighting for a burger joint at City Hall, and facing claims that he struggles with alcohol abuse and spends relatively little time at the office, Mayor Ford’s work is getting a stamp of approval from nearly half of all respondents. Yep. Well, keep up the good work, chief! We guess…?

Looks like Torontonians feel Mayor Ford’s fake-puking pain (oops, we brought it up again! Sorry…how are your eggs?), as only one in three Toronto and region residents approve of the taxes and tolls proposed this week by Metrolinx to pay for a dedicated transit fund, according to a (different) Forum Research poll. Of the “revenue tools” proposed, a cost increase on parking spots and tolls on HOV lanes appear the most palatable to respondents, while an increase on GTHA taxes is the least accepted proposal.

Arts and culture may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think billboards, but thanks to the latter, the former has received a cash injection. Toronto city council has unanimously approved the allocation of $6 million in funds generated from the third-party sign tax to six priority arts and culture programs, the majority of which will go to the Toronto Arts Council, an arms-length organization that distributes arts and culture funding on behalf of Toronto. Hmmm, maybe they’ve got a little extra to throw to Metrolinx?

Sam James, the owner of the popular coffee shops of the same name, is charged with assaulting anti-abortion picketers on March 18. Using his alleged “weapon” of choice (coffee, what else?) he and a friend confronted a group of pro-life protesters rallying outside Harbord Collegiate Institute, allegedly spitting at them before tossing coffee on their signs. If that wasn’t clear enough, he also made his feelings about the protest known via Twitter, tweeting “the abortion protesters at harbord collegiate couldn’t find any lower hanging fruit to target than impressionable youths?” the day of the alleged assault.

And, finally, before you slam your laptop shut and make a run for the subway, just one last reminder about more TTC disruptions this weekend—avoid Kipling to Jane stations today, and Bloor to Union stations on Sunday.

In case you thought that the mayor’s choice to give a pro-casino speech at a religious event was rather unseemly, we’re happy to tell you that Councillor Doug Ford (Ward 2, Etobicoke North) has provided a bit of perspective. You see, the orthodox Jews present at the gathering support the mayor’s vision as they are “business people.” Yes, apparently Toronto’s entire Jewish community is made up of business-minded people who are therefore, clearly, in support of a casino. But fear not, secular community, it’s not just the orthodox that will have a chance to hear Mayor Rob Ford’s (ahem) “rousing pro-casino speech.” According to Brother Doug, the mayor will be going from ward to ward to keep “hammering” councillors who do not support his casino plan. Ah, essentialism and bullying, these are a few of the Fords’ favourite things.

Speaking of Mayor Ford’s pet projects, it seems that he just can’t let go of his subway dreams. Though quickly shut down by Metrolinx, the mayor on Friday once again pushed to make the completion of the Sheppard subway a priority, ahead of the Downtown Relief Line championed by TTC chair Karen Stintz (Ward 16, Eglinton-Lawrence). This re-ignition of the Toronto transit war comes on the heels of the federal budget announcement that earmarked $14 billion in infrastructure spending for cities over the next decade. Stintz was quick to respond after the announcement, speaking to the media just after about her plan. She also responded to the mayor’s ideas in a rapid fashion, publishing a blog post on her site entitled “The Experts’ Opinions on Transit Priorities for Toronto,” which counters the mayor’s vision. This war may be over before it even heats up.

The City of Vaughan, our neighbour to the north, may be looking like a bit of a utopia to Mayor Ford right about now. Not only will there be a shiny new subway line in the region’s future, but also, possibly, a casino. Vaughan has been added to the list of potential sites for a GTA casino, though apparently nobody thought to alert Vaughan’s mayor. Well, if he needs a level-headed, informed opinion to help him weigh the pros and cons we can offer…

Empire Theatres’ Empress Walk 10, a North York theatre just a stone’s throw from Cineplex Odeon’s Sheppard Cinemas, has shut its doors. The theatre, which was located just across the road from Mel Lastman Square, closed Thursday night. While a number of independent theaters have shuttered in Toronto in recent years, it may be noteworthy that Empire, which is Canada’s second-largest cinema chain, now has zero theatres in the city.

Just one last reminder that there will be no subway service between St. George and Union stations this weekend, though shuttle buses will be running frequently.

It appears as though the Ford-Thomson saga won’t be resolved anytime soon, with both sides telling very different stories. Former mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson has been out on a bit of a media blitz to tell her side of the story, which was that the mayor touched her inappropriately and made suggestive comments, while Mayor Rob Ford vehemently denies these allegations. At this point, Thomson is calling for an apology, and suggesting that they both take a lie detector test to prove who’s telling the truth. Only time will tell how this story plays out, but we have a feeling it will dominate headlines for a while yet.

The highly anticipated casino report will not be released to Mayor Ford’s executive committee next week as planned, according to information obtained by the Globe and Mail, as the City is waiting for additional information from the province’s lottery agency. The delayed report, which is to include a list of pros and cons of building a casino in the city’s downtown or expanding at Woodbine racetrack as well as results of the public consultations held earlier this year, is meant to be reviewed by the committee before it goes to council for a vote. According to a City spokesperson, council was set to debate the casino issue in early April, but now, depending on when the report is ready, it could be pushed back to May.

While plans to build the casino may be on hold, MGM is not slowing down its marketing plans. This morning, Toronto Star readers got a nice, big, splashy look at what the entertainment powerhouse has in mind for the Toronto casino. Oh, ahem, pardon us, the “seamlessly integrated resort.” As Metro Morning‘s Matt Galloway pointed out when he tweeted a picture of the ad, the word “casino” is nowhere to be found in this spread.

Thousands of Toronto residents are without power this morning, an issue likely to continue through to this afternoon. The power went out at eight apartment buildings in Thorncliffe Park at around 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon due to a problem involving an underground hydro vault, and at time of publication, are expected to remain out until later today.

A quick reminder: Due to signal upgrades, there will be no subway service between Union and St. George stations from Saturday at midnight to the start of Monday’s service at 6 a.m. Shuttle buses will be running frequently.

All of Top Chef Canada’s season-three chefs, with Lisa Ray, Mark McEwan, and Shereen Arazm in front.

About to enter its third season, Top Chef Canada has grown from a U.S. import to a reality show with authentic Canadian flavour. Last year’s winner was Toronto-based Carl Heinrich, then a chef at Marben (he has since opened his own restaurant, Richmond Station). Will this year’s winner once again represent our city?

As Top Chef Canada viewers know, there are a few people who can send competitors—and their knives—packing. At North 44 on Thursday, we, along with a handful of Toronto media, sat down with three of them: Chef Mark McEwan, who serves as the show’s head judge, show host Lisa Ray, and resident judge Shereen Arazm. We were there to sample a five-course meal prepared by this year’s five Toronto competitors.

The season has already been taped, but its results are still secret. We don’t have any inside information, but based on that lunch, plus what we know about past seasons, here’s what we predict for this year’s Toronto competitors.

Goodyear could go far. He was most recently executive chef at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Confident, experienced, and clearly passionate about good food, he has a real shot at the top. He’s experienced at working under pressure for clients with high expectations, which could only have served him well during taping. He told us that it’s all about knowing when to keep things simple, and knowing when to push the envelope. His plan during the competition, he said, was to play to the judges’ palates—something competitors in other seasons have neglected, to their regret. But skills and instincts are never a sure thing, so let’s not count out his competitors just yet.

Becky Ross, 24

Ross doesn’t immediately seem like a potential winner. The former sous chef at Malena (now closed) is quieter than many of her colleagues. One might write her off as too timid, but her food tells a different story. Adept at desserts, she knows how to round out a meal in a way that leaves everyone asking for more (no small feat at a multi-course tasting event). Her sweet-savoury smoked butter and raw-honey griddled cornbread, served with preserved peaches, whiskey cream, and spiced pecans impressed McEwan, who called it layered, sophisticated, and true to its ingredients. Why does this bode well for her? As history shows, the judges react favourably to those whose dishes actually taste like the main ingredients. If those flavours get lost, so too might the chef’s chances.

Rory White, 23

White may not have much experience, but he does have a pedigree. His most recent gig was as a sous chef at George, and he trained at the Niagara College Culinary Program. He’s known for his skills in butchery, which can be helpful on the show. (As we learned last season, the ability to create well-executed proteins can take competitors far.) He has a calm, cool demeanor, which can also be helpful. He tells us that his plan was to “go hard every day,” and he seems to have the endurance to do just that. However, his relatively short career may have been a detriment.

Ruth Eddolls, 30

If it’s drama you’re after, keep an eye on Eddolls, formerly of Pusateri’s. While we can’t say for sure, we suspect that she’ll bring a little extra personality to the show. If there was any friction with any other competitors, she didn’t let on, but we think this season may have a trick or two up its sleeve, and won’t be surprised if she has a role in it. Even so, this award-winning chef’s focus on simple and tasty foods probably helped her showcase what she was really there for: cooking. We’re guessing her skills served her well, just as long as she remembered that McEwan isn’t a huge fan of too much spice or unnecessary smoke.

Dennis Tay, 34

If there’s a wildcard contestant from this bunch, it might be Tay, the soon-to-be sous chef at Nick Liu’s GwaiLo. It’s no surprise, considering his new gig, that he gravitates to Asian-style plates, but with a twist. He told us that he’s not afraid to push the envelope, which, if done right, would have made him a strong competitor. But McEwan favours food that retains its original character, which might have been Tay’s downfall. Whatever happens on the show, we can expect to see a competitive streak in Tay, who tells us that he was “pushing hard all the time.”

Season three of Top Chef Canada premieres Monday, March 18 at 9 p.m. on Food Network Canada.

All photos courtesy of Top Chef Canada/Food Network Canada.

It looks like the would-be Toronto casino isn’t playing its cards right, as opposition to the gambling emporium continues to grow. First Capital Realty, a major Liberty Village developer, has warned that it will “immediately end” their development in the area if a casino is built in the nearby Exhibition Place. This is the second major developer this month to rise up against the casino proposal, with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust urging the City to reject proposals to put a casino at the nearby Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The head of the CNE, too, wants the casino plans squashed, vowing to mobilize “CNE nation” to stop the proposal if it moves ahead.

School gyms across Toronto may soon be filled with the sounds of bouncing balls, squeaking sneakers, and whatever else it is kids do in gyms nowadays. On Friday, The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation voted to recommend that their members “suspend their political action” against the government, and that teachers resume extracurricular activities at the province’s public high schools. Extracurricular activities had been suspended in response to an ongoing labour dispute with the government over Bill 115.

Mayor Rob Ford has requested that Paul Magder, the citizen who filed the conflict-of-interest complaint against him, pay the mayor’s legal fees for that court case. The total amount shelled out by Mayor Ford was $107,070 in legal fees and $9,335.12 for expenses such as photocopying, transcripts, and phone bills. This number covers Mayor Ford’s initial court fight, his request for leave to appeal, and his appeal. This is standard practice in Canada’s “loser-pays” court system, though there is no guarantee what Magder will end up having to pay out.

MP Olivia Chow, who is the NDP’s transportation critic, wants gridlock and public transit dealt with in the upcoming budget. She’s taking the Conservative government to task on the funding of the senate, and 65 fighter jets, stating that those funds could go towards buses and streetcars instead. Chow’s pushing for a long-term infrastructure plan that addresses shorter commute times and fixes the country’s crumbling roads and bridges, including the Gardiner Expressway.

City staff will make a recommendation Monday that the City buy and supply fair-trade certified coffee, tea, and sugar, rather than simply awarding future contracts to the lowest priced bid regardless of its certification. Approximately $300,000 is spent annually on these items, a number that supporters, including Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina), say should not rise by much, if at all, by making the switch.

Faith McGregor, who was refused a haircut in a barbershop because she is a woman, and barbershop owner Omar Mahrouk, have come to an “arrangement,” closing the case on this human rights complaint.

Photo by jeff caires from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

Toronto has long been known as something of a haven for the LGBTQ community. It’s become a destination for same-sex marriage ceremonies and celebrations, for Pride parties people talk about until the next one, and as a new home for many seeking a vibrant and welcoming place to live. But for homeless LGBTQ youth, it’s something of a different story.

“Due to Toronto’s LGBTQ-friendly reputation, LGBTQ youth frequently migrate to Toronto expecting to find support and safety, which unfortunately is not always the case,” says I. Alex Abramovich, a doctoral candidate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education whose research focuses on LGBTQ youth homelessness.

In Toronto—which, says Abramovich, is the homeless capital of Canada—the incidence of LGBTQ youth homelessness is on the rise, and agencies serving homeless youth have reported challenges in providing support to this population. Approximately 25 to 40 per cent of homeless youth are LGBTQ, compared to the approximately five to 10 per cent of the general population who identifies as such. Yet the City of Toronto does not operate a single shelter specifically for LGBTQ youth.

“We also know that many LGBTQ homeless youth feel safer on the streets than in shelters due to homophobic and transphobic violence in the shelter system,” says Abramovich. “Despite these findings, there are few specialized support services, and no specialized shelters or transitional housing for LGBTQ street involved youth in Canada.”

Abramovich recently completed a study that found a dire need for specialized services that create safe spaces for LGBTQ homeless youth, for stricter policies in the shelter system against homophobia and transphobia, and for more discussions about inclusion and acceptance among shelter providers and workers. The results of this study (which will make up Abramovich’s dissertation) will also appear in a free ebook published by the Homeless Hub this spring that will focus on applications for the research findings.

Safety is a real concern for homeless LGBTQ youth, who face significantly higher rates of criminal victimization and daily incidents of homophobia and transphobia. LGBTQ homeless youth are also at greater risk for substance use, risky sexual behaviour, and mental health difficulties, and these risk factors are amplified by the lack of available support.

Abramovich’s research also reveals that we don’t properly understand the consequences of this state of affairs. For example, we do not know enough about how the lack of specialized services impacts this population’s health, well-being, and length of time on the street; nor do we fully understand how experiencing intersecting or multiple oppressions—racism and homophobia, for instance—both on the streets and in the shelter system, impacts LGBTQ street involved youth. “Professionals working with homeless youth, as well as the general public, need a solid understanding of the impacts of homophobia and transphobia on LGBTQ people’s lives, and of the ways in which the LGBTQ community has been and still is marginalized and oppressed,” Abramovich says.

For all that we perceive our city as that safe haven, we actually do not have a thorough understanding of the connection between homophobia and homelessness, nor of the challenges of coming out and the struggles some face in forming gender and sexual identity.

While the City of Toronto does not have any shelters for LGBTQ youth, other cities have invested in these resources, something that Abramovich says we should learn from. Until then, our lack of specialized programs and a supportive atmosphere may have critical consequences.