In The News

Toronto Life writes on the Drake Hotel's latest expansion plans. The iconic Queen West institution recently announced that it plans to partner with local architecture firm ERA Architects Inc. to add new guest rooms in the Drake-owned property next door to the main building.

"We've been thinking about the in expansion for quite a while now; it's sort of been in fruition almost since the opening," Ana Yuristy, director of hotel operations, told us, adding that the new guest rooms will be just east of the main hotel. Owner Jeff Stober purchased the buildings next door early on-- those that house the Drake General Store and Drake BBQ -- and it's the space above these that will be filled in with additional rooms."

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original source Toronto Life

In anticipation of the launch of LG Fashion Week on March 28, the Toronto Star looks at the the state of the city's fashion industry. While  manufacturing jobs are on the decline, the article reports, the professional side of the industry is healthy and growing.

"Toronto is a growing market connected to consumers around the world, says Ben Barry, business director for VAWK -- the brand developed by Project Runway Canada winner Sunny Fong."

"You can easily be based here, but build a global brand," thanks to social media, says Barry. VAWK, which currently sells out of The Room at The Bay, will be at LG Fashion Week for the first time."

"Barry says Canada is an emerging market for luxury fashion. Toronto is home to good fashion schools and the Toronto Fashion Incubator, an agency Barry calls "amazing."

"The city is currently home to the third-largest design workforce in North America and the city has a long history of apparel manufacturing. But that sector began to dry up in the early '80s, explains labour expert Alex Dagg."

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original source Toronto Star

Surgeons at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital are getting attention from the international medical community for their innovative use of the Xbox 360 Kinect in the operating room. The Microsoft system, which uses hands-free motion-sensing controls, allows doctors to manipulate images during surgery without having to touch a thing. The system saves both time and money as surgeons are able to pull up CT or MRI scans for review during an operation without having to re-sterilize the operating area (which would involve changing gloves and gowns).

"The Kinect can recognize hand gestures, as it is essentially a depth-sensing camera that fires out a grid of near infra-red beams to figure out how far away objects are from the camera. Built-in software contains algorithms that help it detect and recognize movement."

"And using hand gestures to zoom in or out of or flip through images could cut out the time surgeons normally spend scrubbing clean after reviewing images, the doctors said. Dr. Calvin Law, a surgical oncologist with the hospital, told the paper that cleaning to prevent bacterial contamination after checking a computer can take up to 20 minutes an image, sometimes adding a full hour to surgery."

"The project was developed by three engineers at the hospital, who have used the Kinect for six surgeries, The Canadian Press said, but the hospital has plans to roll it out in other departments."

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original source DOTmed News

This week's Cleantech Forum, held on March 21st at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, brought together industry leaders from Canada, China, and India to discuss the future of green technology. The event, organized jointly by the Canada China Business Council and the Canada-India Business, marks the first time that representatives from all three countries have come together to discuss cleantech opportunities.

"Ontario's Minister of Research and Innovation Glen Murray and the Chairman of the Cleantech Group Nicholas Parker will be the event's keynote speakers."

"A first-of-its-kind event, the China-India Cleantech Forum brings together Chinese and Indian companies looking to invest in cleantech in Canada, and Canadian firms doing business in China and India. The diverse participation and distinctive networking that we'll see on Monday underscores the importance of bilateral relationships in Canada's environmental cooperation with China and India."

"The event will examine key environmental issues in five plenary style sessions-, emphasizing investment opportunities in cleantech sectors in Canada, India, and China. Sectoral breakout rooms will facilitate private meetings and networking between companies."

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original source Sify News

An underused and poorly maintained Thorncliffe Park playground could soon be transformed into a vibrant community hub complete with a cricket field, amphitheatre, butterfly garden, and extensive green space. As reported by the Globe & Mail, the $1.7-million "Valley Park Go Green" plan was initiated by a group of community activists and staff at Valley Park Middle School in an effort to give the children living in one of Toronto's densest low-come neighbourhoods "somewhere to go".

"Led by principal Nickolas Stefanoff, they plan to transform the school's playground into a community hub that will include a regulation-size cricket field, an attraction sure to draw residents out from the towers."

"Cricket isn't just a sport for many of the neighbourhood's residents, Mr. Stefanoff says. "It's a religion."

"If we need drivers for a field trip, you might get one or two. But a cricket tournament? Everyone has their own driver," says Mr. Hayter, who is also coach of the school's cricket team."

"The pitch may be its centrepiece, but the plan for the Valley Park Go Green Cricket Field project also includes an amphitheatre, butterfly garden, public gardens, a system that will divert rainwater from the school's roof to be used for irrigation, a bioswale (a landscape feature that traps pollutants) and much more green space covered by a generous tree canopy, all occupying three hectares (7.5 acres) of land."

"It's going beyond a schoolyard," says Arifa Hai, the landscape architect who is working on the project."

"We have a $3-billion backlog in school renewal � so this kind of very significant capital investment in a school field that will serve the school but also serve the community, we don't have board funds to be able to do that," says Sheila Penny, director of strategic building and renewal at the TDSB."

"Still, those behind the project say they are confident they will be able to raise the $1.7-million needed."

"Funding is beginning to pour in, says Lisa Green, co-chair of the Valley Park Go Green committee. The group expects to receive about $1-million in various grants in the next three months, and has received donations from several organizations, including $50,000 from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and $25,000 from the Live Green Toronto's stormwater management program."


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original source Globe & Mail

David Chang, New York celebrity chef and owner of the renowned Momofuku restaurant group, has confirmed plans to open two new eateries in Toronto. As reported on eater.com the restaurants--Momofuku Noodle Bar and Momofuku Daisho--will be opening in a building next to the Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto.

"Recent rumors were correct: Momofuku is indeed opening in Toronto. The first restaurant, a Momofuku Noodle Bar on the first floor, and the second, in the same building on another floor, a new fine dining concept called Momofuku Daisho."

"A Daisho apparently is the "Japanese term referring to the traditional pair of swords worn by the of the samurai class in feudal Japan." The projected opening date is 2012."

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original source Eater.com

BlogTO features Centro Trattoria & Formaggi, a Toronto mainstay that has been a go-to destination for authentic Italian food for over 30 years. Located on St.Clair near Dufferin Street, the grocery store/eatery specializes in the finest locally produced and imported Italian eats.

"I stepped into the shop in Corso Italia near Dufferin Street and was immediately struck by the volume of food in the space; cheeses hanging from the ceiling, counters of deli meats, and cookies and crackers made by companies whose names I would surely mispronounce. The owner, Mr. Celebre, was unfortunately not in, but the ladies behind the counter filled me on the details on the store."

"While some of the items sold are locally produced, such as the Santa Lucia cheeses made at International Cheese, many of the packaged products are imported directly from Italy. Those include Centro's various kids of dry pastas, olives, oils, coffee and breads. But the cheese is the main pull for customers in the area, "Especially the parmigiano," says the lady behind the counter. Of course, there's every other kind you could imagine, from Piave to Auricchio Piccante, Jarlsberg Crotonese to Swiss Emmental."

"The back end of the store is actually a dining area serving homemade foods to the area lunch crowd. "Fish on Friday," the woman says. "Calamari--that's squid, you know--salmon, rainbow trout, it's all very good."

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original source BlogTO

As part of a series on the coolest offices in Canada, the Globe & Mail features video of Mongrel Media's Toronto workspace. The office, located on Queen West near Ossington, stands out for "combining traditional elements of a turn-of-the-century building with modern elements of design".

Founded in 1994, Mongrel Media is a Toronto-based film distribution company specializing in art house, foreign and independent feature films and documentaries.

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original source Globe & Mail

The Toronto Star writes on local jewellery designer and small business owner, Jennifer Shigetomi. Shigetomi specializes in handcrafted rings and necklaces which she designs and sells as at her North Toronto store Matsu Jewellery. Because her pieces tend to cost more than the competition--due to the fact that she handcrafts each one--Shigetomi employs social media to explain to her customers the work that goes into each unique creation.

"When your product costs twice as much as the competition's, making a sale takes a little more convincing. For Jennifer Shigetomi, it's probably the hardest part of running a small, independent business."

"I spend a lot of time educating people as to why it costs so much," says Shigetomi. "There's a big difference between something that's hand-crafted to order and something that gets put out by a machine."

"Getting the word out has been a lot easier thanks to social media, she adds. Although she's done some advertising in magazines, she doesn't have the budget to do it as often as she'd like. Instead, she updates her Facebook page with her latest projects or sends out tweets when she's appearing at trade shows".

"I've really only been doing it for the last year or so, but it's been great. A lot of our business is really word of mouth, so when somebody 'likes' our Facebook page, all of their friends see it, and it's like a stamp of approval," says Shigetomi, who estimates about 80 per cent of her customers come from client referrals."

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original source Toronto Star

Huffington Post Travel columnist Margie Goldsmith gushes over Toronto after a recent weekend visit. Goldsmith praises, among other things, the city's culinary diversity, interesting art spaces, and unique neighbourhoods.
 
"Because I'd never been to Toronto before and only had a weekend, I decided I'd see and learn the most by hiring private guides. Art historian/artist Betty Ann Jordan of Artin Site was waiting at the Gladstone Hotel to lead me on a tour of Toronto's Art + Design neighborhood. We began at the historic Gladstone and nearby Drake Hotels, both with full-time art curators, and each filled with original art. We continued down West Queen West Street to visit some trendy boutiques. When we passed a hotel, The Cameron House Betty pointed out carpenter ant sculptures the size of giant snowshoes crawling up the wall. "There are ten ants," she says. "Get it? Tenants!".

"A little over two hours later, I headed back to the brand new Ritz-Carlton, to drop my purchases in my room overlooking the CN Tower and Lake Ontario, and headed to TOCA restaurant for a Sparkling Ginger "Temperance Cocktail" (ginseng, lemon juice, ginger beer, pink peppercorn syrup, and candied ginger). I was told that Chef Tom Brodi makes a great "fish and chips" with lobster, but I'd already become a Peameal Bacon addict, so I opted for the Toca LBLT: Yarmouth lobster and Peameal bacon on a pretzel bun."

"It was time to walk off all that food. Historian/author Bruce Bell was waiting in the lobby to take me on a tour emphasizing Toronto's past. He showed me how you can walk underground and in malls practically anywhere in the city, and then we went back outside so I could see one the city's first skyscrapers, where the idea for Superman was conceived. I had no idea that Superman was created by a Canadian author. Our last stop was the Bata Shoe Museum in Yorkville, where more than 1,000 pars of shoes -- everything from sabatons to Chinese binding shoes for women were on display. Celebrating the fact that I never had to bind my feet, I walked over to nearby chocolatier MoRoCo for a liquid caramel truffle and dark sipping chocolate."
 
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original source Huffington Post

CNN has named Toronto's Drake Hotel Sky Yard one of the "World's 15 best hotel bars". The West Queen West rooftop bar is described "as a place so hip that just being there cranks up the cool-scale ranking".

"The garden-like space, lined with eastern-inspired booths and daybeds, plays host to indie film screenings, sing-alongs, art shows, clothing sales and bands."

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original source CNN

The Toronto Star writes on Ontario's booming video game industry. The Province's gaming industry--largely centered in Toronto--has seen burgeoning growth in the past three years due, in part, to support from the Ontario government. The provincial programs designed to support digital media startups include the Ontario Digital Media Tax Credit and The Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC).

"Financial incentives and industry growth have helped foster a supportive and creative environment, said Kristine Murphy, the OMDC's director of industry development."

"Ontario is a thriving independent game development jurisdiction," she said. "There's growth in the independent games, (particularly) for games being developed for a variety of platforms: the iPhone, BlackBerry, all of the small hand-held devices (and) social media games."

"A puzzle game like Critter Crunch, developed in Toronto by Capybara Games, can be played on the iPhone or the online PlayStation Network."

"The tight-knit industry has also helped keep talent in Ontario, Murphy said."

"The founders of DrinkBox Studios, a small independent video game producer, wanted to keep working in Ontario when they set up shop in 2008."

"We were all working here in Toronto at another game company and that game company dissolved," said Chris Harvey, one of the founders. "We didn't want to leave the city because we were already here. It seemed like the support for the game industry in Ontario was increasing."

"Toronto is the hub of Ontario for game development, Harvey said"

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original source Toronto Star

Toronto has been chosen as the site of the next Future of Media panel series. Hosted by Digital Journal, the day-long free event will feature panel discussion by "some of the most influential leaders in media". "The Future of Media" will be held on April 6 at the Drake Hotel.

"Future of Media events are a must-see event for anyone interested in the rapidly changing landscape of new media, the Web and journalism. The speakers will discuss some of the biggest challenges the media industry faces today."

"The event will feature a live panel discussion followed by a Q&A session with the audience. Digital Journal will also be taking questions via Facebook and Twitter to pose to panelists. Questions may be submitted at any time between now and April 6."

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original source Future of Media Blog

As reported by the Globe & Mail, Toronto-based GreenMantra Recycling Technologies is working hard to solve Ontario's plastic problem (in 2009 alone Ontario used 235,000 tonnes of plastic packaging and recycled less than a quarter of it). Founded 7 years ago by entrepreneur Pushkar Kumar, GreenMantra diverts plastic from our landfills by converting it into useful waxes and oils.

"Used plastic is, to put it mildly, plentiful. According to Stewardship Ontario, the province alone used 235,000 tonnes of plastic packaging in 2009. Only about a quarter of that was recovered."

"Noting this fact, about seven years ago, Mr. Kumar decided to look for a solution. A metallurgical and materials engineer, he worked with his father, a chemical engineer, on the project.They reasoned that all plastics are polymers made of molecules found in many other materials. Once broken down, those polymers could be converted into other things. But what could they convert the plastic into? And what kind of process would accomplish it?"

"The Kumars eventually found what seemed the ideal answer to the first question. Synthetic waxes are usually a byproduct of oil refining, but refiners can make more money � especially in today's world of $100-a-barrel oil � from creating gasoline than from waxes, which are used to make floor wax, shoe polish and car waxes."

"So they have been altering their processes to produce less wax. That has reduced supplies, Mr. Kumar explains, which is driving wax prices up."

That creates an opportunity. GreenMantra won't compete for raw materials with existing suppliers and will have lower upfront costs than they do, he says. Does that mean GreenMantra can produce the products for less cost than established producers? Mr. Kumar says he isn't sure whether he can undercut their prices, but he is sure he can compete � and, he says, "at least I can guarantee that the prices are stable."

"The challenge, explains Lyle Clarke, vice-president of innovation and blue box at Stewardship Ontario, is efficiently recovering and realizing value from the many different grades of plastics consumers put out for recycling. GreenMantra, Mr. Clarke says, is "going at the heart of the challenge in the system."

"Mr. Kumar says his process can handle a variety of plastics, including bags and bottles. Perhaps most important, he can process mixed loads of material, potentially eliminating the time-consuming job of sorting, since existing recycling processes are mainly limited to a particular type of plastic."

"A key to making this work was finding a catalyst to drive the chemical process that breaks up the molecules. Loads of plastics are bound to contain impurities � bits of metal, glass or other materials � and GreenMantra needed a process that would continue working despite those impurities. The company found a catalyst a couple of years ago and has been refining its methods since.The beauty of GreenMantra's business model is its simplicity, argues James Sbrolla, entrepreneur-in-residence at the MaRS Discovery District, the Toronto technology incubator that has helped Mr. Kumar build his company. "They're not trying to change the world. They're picking a very simple niche that they can do well at."

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original source Globe & Mail

Toronto's music scene got major kudos this week from New York Times arts and culture critic James R. Oestreich. After a recent trip to Toronto, Oestrich praises TSO's New Creations Festival, the annual month-long event that showcases the work of contemporary composers. And, in a second article published the same day, Oestreich also raves about Tafelmusik, the Toronto-based period instrument ensemble that performs regularly at the Trinity-St. Paul's Center.

"Sometimes you get lucky. I came here to see how the Toronto Symphony was faring a decade after its troubled times, and that, it turns out, would have been satisfying enough."

"But the timing also allowed me to catch up with the acclaimed early-music ensemble Tafelmusik at the Trinity-St. Paul's Center, a converted church near Toronto University, on Thursday. And it was a superb evening: a revival of the group's magnum opus, "The Galileo Project," created in 2009 to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, tied to the 400th anniversary of Galileo's development of the astronomical telescope."

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original source New York Times