Every Saturday at noon, Historicist looks back at the events, places, and characters—good and bad—that have shaped Toronto into the city we know today. Sketch of Sydney Newman. Detail from cover of Cinema Canada, August-September 1974. To Sydney Newman, television drama was all about appealing to the common man. Described in an obituary as “brash [...]

Original illustration by Matt Hammill and Emily Tu for the Toronto Public Space Committee, poshed up by Jonathan Goldsbie. Earlier this afternoon, Torontoist was explaining to an American friend the quirks of the process by which Torontonians are supposed to dispose of our coffee cups: pop the plastic lid off the paper cup and throw [...]

Photo courtesy of WordFest. This Thursday the Toronto Reference Library will host a LongPen event with Margaret Atwood—inventor of the device—who will interview BBC personality and author Kate Mosse (not the model), who will be in Sussex, England. Conducted via video conferencing, Mosse will read from her newest work, Sepulchre, and answer audience questions, and will be able to sign books with the LongPen. Mosse's book will be available through Nicholas Hoare Books at...

How does a newly-opened shopping complex bring in shoppers? Hold a British-themed sale, featuring specials on fine UK products like Orange Julius and Gordon Lightfoot records! The Yonge-Eglinton Centre opened in October 1973 with Dominion and Horizon as its anchors. The short-lived Horizon chain was an attempt by Eaton's to enter the crowded discount department store field. This location was converted to an Eaton's store when the company pulled the plug on Horizon in...

CityPulse. The New Music. Baby Blue Movies. City Lights. Fashion Television. Speaker’s Corner. These programs are among the innovative shows that have aired on CityTV since it officially launched way up the dial 35 years ago this evening. CityTV had a short gestation period after the CRTC approved its license in November 1971. Key figures [...]

No Film Friday again today, as we’re still too busy with the festival A few of the films that played at the festival are out already, with Neil Jordan’s The Brave One, David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises and Julie Taymor’s Across the Universe all on general release. Not even new release Mr. Woodcock escapes a connection—it’s [...]

The soldier killed Wednesday in Afghanistan has been confirmed as Master Cpl. Darrell Jason Priede. The 30-year-old grew up in Burlington, Ont. but lived in Grand Forks, B.C. until he left for Afghanistan a month ago. He was killed along with six others when a rocket flew into their Chinook helicopter. The Ipperwash Inquiry was [...]

Stéphane Dion says that the Tories should pull the attack ads targeting him in Quebec. Because god knows the best possible way to deal with an unprecedented and unpopular attack ad is to whine about it. That makes Dion look like a strong leader, all right. With a possible spring election looming, the Star does [...]

Ah, convergence. It’s a word fraught with different meanings, competing motives, and opinions up the proverbial wazoo. To some, convergence is a paradise of synergy, cross-promotion, and massive profits. To others, it’s confirmation that more and more information is being disseminated by less and less people. Wherever you stand, however, the world of Toronto media [...]

Hey there George Stroupo… George Stoppogrop… George Stroumboulopoulos (lordy, there’s a candidate for taking your partner’s name in marriage), in shocking us with your return to the Ceeb, you also proudly imply that you took out your nose ring and forced the damn thing through your… uh… Little George. What, The L.A. producers didn’t think [...]