The Church Street pedestrianization pilot is off to a good start, according to residents and business owners in the area. The pilot, which started on June 19 and runs through Aug. 21, prohibits cars from the Village thoroughfare for two blocks, between Wellesley Street and Alexander Street. Though the estimated cost of the nine-week pilot has ballooned by more than three times due to security demands from the police, Toronto city council voted to create more car-free areas for next summer.
Torontonians will have access to an additional 10 acres of public space by the end of July, as Biidaasige Park in the Port Lands continues its steady expansion. Visitors can now walk along the Lassonde Art Trail, a four-kilometre open-air public art experience featuring seven new sculptures. Located near Cherry Street on the artificial island of Ookwemin Minising, Biidaasige — which means “sunlight shining toward us” in Anishinaabemowin — opened its first phase in 2025. Part of an effort to revitalize the Port Lands and provide the city with flood protection, the entire 50-acre park is expected to be open by 2028.
One of Toronto’s most well-known landlords has been fined nearly $1 million for failing to comply with property standards orders at 500 Dawes Road in East York. The highrise rental building, which residents say has fallen into a dire state of disrepair, is owned by Havcare Investments. In his ruling, Justice of the Peace John Scarfe said that Havcare is “essentially a slumlord that preys on vulnerable tenants.”
Sneaky Dee’s, the beloved dive bar and music venue on College Street, isn’t going anywhere, at least not for the foreseeable future. In the spring, patrons and community members were shocked to learn of a plan to demolish Sneaks to make way for a 16-storey condo tower. Following community uproar, RBC eventually weighed in to say they owned a building in the proposed area and had no plans to leave. The plan was quickly withdrawn. So go on and grab a big plate of nachos to celebrate.
Toronto police were involved in a “conspiracy” to set up and operate illegal cannabis dispensaries and massage parlours, according to a newly revealed court document. The revelation, first reported by Global News, stems from an ongoing investigation into police corruption known as Project South. In February, eight Toronto police officers were charged for leaking confidential police information to organized crime, facilitating shootings, extortion and a plot to murder a corrections officer.
Kawhi Leonard is returning to the Toronto Raptors — maybe? In late June, ESPN reported that the NBA superstar and beloved “fun guy,” who played a key role in bringing the Raps the championship in 2019, was returning to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a handful of picks. However, the Raptors later announced that the trade was being put on hold until the NBA completes an investigation into allegations of salary cap circumvention surrounding Leonard’s contract with the L.A. Clippers.
This article appeared in the 2026 Summer issue.
