In The News

As reported by the Globe & Mail, Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is on the forefront of promising new research on ways to slow the onset of Alzheimer's disease. In a paper published recently in the Archives of General Psychiatry, CAMH scientists describe their hope that boosting the production of a specific gene central to memory and learning, could delay the onset of Alzheimer's by keeping brain cells healthy for longer.

"A gene that plays a role in memory and learning also shapes the architecture of the aging brain in ways that may make people more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease, a team of Toronto researchers has discovered."

"Aristotle Voineskos of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health said the gene causes subtle weaknesses in areas of the brain that are the first to be affected by Alzheimer's. It is a common variant, carried by well over half the population, and is probably one of many risk factors related to the disease."

"If we can manipulate it, we might be able to keep brain cells healthy for longer," he said."About 500,000 Canadians have Alzheimer's and related dementias and that number is expected to double within 20 years. There is evidence that the brain damage that is characteristic of the disease begins long before people begin to experience memory loss."

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original source Globe & Mail

Toronto's CivicAction Alliance recently brought over 700 Toronto-region leaders together for a two day conference on the most pressing issues facing the GTA. On the table were some of Toronto's greatest challenges from transportation to a changing economy. As well as its most exciting assets, from cultural diversity to a thriving arts and culture scene. In the coming months, a report synthesising the much-needed conference could provide a blueprint for how Toronto can work together for a more prosperous future.

"Born under the leadership of the late David Pecaut as the Toronto City Summit Alliance after a 2002 meeting of civic leaders, CivicAction has proven the power of bringing leadership from every sector to bear on thorny regional challenges. Past summits led to initiatives like the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council to help immigrants get their all-important first Canadian work experience, a task force to address barriers that prevent working-age adults from working, and Luminato, the annual festival of arts and creativity."

"CivicAction's 2007 summit produced Greening Greater Toronto to identify and advance ideas to improve the region's environmental health and related business opportunities. One idea was to get landlords and tenants collaborating to drive down commercial building energy use. Greening Greater Toronto has done this, creating an innovative made-in-Toronto strategy to improve this major driver of carbon emissions and air quality."

"The last summit also resulted in DiverseCity, which helps businesses and other organizations capitalize on our unique cultural diversity, and galvanized CivicAction's Emerging Leaders Network � a powerhouse of 350 up-and-coming civic leaders who are spearheading their own projects on issues like economic development, sustainability and municipal electoral reform."

"These and other CivicAction projects have demonstrated the potential of collaborative leadership. They have also shown that social, economic and environmental issues do not respect municipal borders, and neither do the lives of most Toronto region residents. Many of us live in one municipality and work in another, and we regularly travel across the region for events or to visit friends and family.The message going into the summit is clear. On every major issue the Toronto region faces, we need the strong leadership of people from all walks of life and to take a regional and better coordinated approach so that we create more coherent, efficient and effective responses. Now it is up to the summit delegates and other Toronto region leaders to make that happen."

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original source Toronto Star

Toronto design firm Viva & Co.'s have designed their third New Yorker cover. Check out their blog to see "Mental Landscape", the New Yorker cover from the last week of January.

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original source Viva&Co.

Blog TO features Real Food for Real Kids (RFRK), the Toronto organization that provides healthy all-natural catering to daycares and elementary schools around Toronto (see our Yonge Street story from last March). Founded five years ago by Lulu Cohen-Farnell and husband David Farnel, Real Food now employs over 50 people and serves more than 6,000 kids at childcare centers and schools across Toronto.

"Despite the incredible leaps RFRK has made towards improving kids' access to nutritious food over the past few years, it was clear to me upon meeting David and Lulu that they see their work as very much unfinished. "There's so much misleading information out there," Lulu says as we take a seat in David's office. "Some company might tell you that their chicken nuggets are organic, but they're still filled with shit. Chemicals and preservatives."

"The other companies have tapped into the healthy food idea now," David adds, "but all they're doing is changing their marketing."

"People pay money for food that is fortified," Lulu says. "Foods that claim they have added iron, added vitamins. But all you need to do is just eat real food, cooked properly. It's so simple."

"RFRK makes all of its dishes (such as its lemongrass beef stew and samurai zucchini salad) with no artificial colours or flavours, and tries to use local and organic produce whenever possible while keeping healthfulness a priority. Despite my preconceived notions, David assured me that the cost is not as much as you would think. "The difference is about 15 to 50 cents per child per meal," he says."

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original source Blog TO

The National Post writes on Canada's "staggering growth" in commercial real estate, a market that grew 48% in 2010. Led by Toronto, which saw growth of 93% and 1,156 total transactions for the year, the surge is attributed to a stronger economy and growing investor confidence.

"It's almost as if the recession was 20 years ago, instead of just two," John O'Bryan, vice-chariman of CB Richard Ellis, said in a release. "It was really a coast-to-coast recovery � something we haven't seen before."

"This level of activity was not unexpected," Mr. O'Bryan said. "Virtually every asset class in the country showed strong performance, although operating businesses, such as hotels, manufacturing plants, and retirement homes were somewhat slower to recover."

"On a regional basis, Toronto saw the value of its transactions double from $3.8-billion in 2009 to $7.4-billion last year.  In Vancouver, 1,263 commercial real estate transactions took place during 2010, valued at over $2.9-billion, which was relatively unchanged from 2009."

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original source National Post

The Gladstone Hotel recently celebrated 5 years since its re-emergence in 2005 as an art-hotel, venue space and bar. The National Post's Adam McDowell writes on The Gladstone's "commitment to being a dozen flavours under one roof" and how its become one of Toronto greatest cultural hubs.

"... a party last month to marked five years since the place reopened with a new and hipper ownership and management, vibe and mandate. True to the Gladstone's commitment to being a dozen flavours under one roof, the party featured a jazz band, art installations and fleshy burlesque dancers doing their saucy thing under a bright green number five."

"Like the Drake down the street, the Gladstone was, not so long ago, a seedy beer hall with a quasi-rooming house upstairs and a gritty reputation. My mother was terribly nervous when, as a teenager in the mid-1990s, I had a meeting with a gig promoter there. Nowadays, it functions as a hipster community centre while still catering to some of the old Queen Street blue-collar crowd (their patron saint was Hank "The Gladstone Cowboy" Young, the chatty operator of the vintage elevator, who passed away in October 2009 and is greatly missed). The experiment has given the place a unique charm and energy. Depending on the night or day, you can partake in an art show, a bluegrass concert, nude art lessons or Simpsons trivia. Or while away a Sunday afternoon with a bottle or two of Molson Stock Ale."

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original source National Post

Researchers from University of Toronto have made giant strides in the search for relief from obstructive sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder that effects more than 18 million North Americans. As reported by the Medical News, the UofT scientists found that repeated obstruction of the airways releases the brain chemical noradrenaline, an important finding as it suggests that common drugs that affect noradrenaline levels in the brain could be used to improve breathing in patients suffering from sleep apnea.

"In a recent study that appeared in the Journal of Neuroscience, scientists from the University demonstrated that repeated obstruction of the airways requires release of the brain chemical noradrenaline. The release of this chemical helps the brain learn to breathe more effectively and purposefully."

"What we showed is that repeated disruption of normal lung activity - what happens during sleep apnea - triggers a form of learning that helps you breathe better. This type of brain plasticity could be harnessed to help overcome the breathing insufficiency that typifies sleep apnea" says Dr. John Peever, Associate Professor of neuroscience and lead author of the study."

"These findings are important because they suggest that artificial manipulation with common drugs that affect noradrenaline levels in the brain could also help improve breathing in patients suffering from sleep apnea. This work could serve as the potential basis for developing the long sought after pill for sleep apnea."

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original source Medical News

Toronto's legendary Arcadian Court, the restaurant and event space that occupies the Bay's eighth floor, is getting a makeover. The Court, which first opened in 1929 in what was then the Simpsons Department Store, has been a Toronto institution for decades. As reported by the Toronto Star the "new" Arcadian Court, tentatively dubbed "The Loft", will be revamped as a versatile event and meeting space.
 
"Now part of the flagship Bay store, the current owners say they plan to restore the Arcadian Court to its former glory, the next step in breathing life back into the department store chain, a once fading Canadian icon."

"The plan for the Arcadian Court is part of a larger deal the Bay has struck with upscale local restaurateur Oliver & Bonacini and global foodservice firm Compass Group Canada to make over the restaurants in all 24 Bay stores that offer foodservice."

"Upstairs next to the Arcadian Court, the retailer plans to create a new event and meeting space, tentatively called The Loft, which will cater to both business and social occasions of various sizes. Construction is scheduled to begin in April and end 16 months later."

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original source Toronto Star

Toronto's Soulpepper Theater Company is revamping its business model with the goal of producing more quality plays on smaller budget. As reported by the Globe & Mail, Soulpepper's artistic director Albert Schultz has combined the North American and European model of financing nonprofit theater to create the perfect financing hybrid for one of Canada's premier theater companies.

"What's the biggest economic problem with the way non-profit theatres operate in North America? The inflexibility of inventory.

"Soulpepper Theatre Company artistic director Albert Schultz thinks he has the fix, however.

Over the past 12 years, Schultz and his colleagues have built the classical company up from a two-play summer season to a year-round operation with its own Toronto venue. For its 2011 season it's upping its productions to a whopping 17 from last year's 12.
More related to this story"

"But Schultz expects its production costs will only increase by about 14 per cent."

"How is that possible? According to Schultz, it's because the company is no longer using the North American model to manage its inventory."

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original source Globe & Mail

The Financial Times writes why Canada is a good bet for international students seeking an MBA. Canada is lauded for its impressive business schools (notably Toronto's Rotman School of Management), healthy banking culture, and robust financial sector.

"The University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management estimates that the mean starting salary for its graduates rose to C$86,245 ($86,490) in 2010 from C$85,454 the previous year."

"Canada's big banks are in much healthier shape than most of their US and European counterparts. RBC, the country's biggest financial institution, had 72,100 people on its payroll at the end of October 2010, only slightly down from two years earlier, and 11 per cent more than in late 2007. Noting that MBAs are an important pool for the bank's future leadership, Galbraith says: "We need to keep that pipeline open."

"In a bid to capitalise on international interest in Canada's financial sector, a group of Toronto-based banks, insurers and asset managers has joined forces with Rotman to set up the Global Risk Institute in Financial Services. The institute, backed by C$10m in government grants, will provide research in various aspects of risk management and promote collaboration between regulators, policymakers and the financial industry."

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original source Financial Times

Toronto has been named one of the world's 10 "startup hubs to watch" by entrepreneurial product development company, The Grasshopper Group.

"Although not historically known as a nexus of entrepreneurship, Toronto has come onto the scene as a fast-moving startup city. As the Toronto page of AreaStartups.com explains, the city now possesses a "vibrant and quickly growing startup ecosystem" comprised of nearly 400 companies. Well-known local startups include NetShelter Technology Media, Casale Media and Macrae's Blue Book. BlogTo lists 10 of the top Toronto startups of 2009 � many of which are still thriving today."

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original source The Grasshopper Group

The International Business Times praises Toronto's Rotman School of Management for offering an MBA program that successfully fosters innovation and entrepreneurship. Part of the University of Toronto, Rotman is lauded for its Centre for Integrative Thinking, a lab where international scholars collaborate to conduct original and innovative research.

"The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto internalizes innovation and flexibility through a concept coined by it as Integrative Thinking TM."

"At the Desautels Centre for Integrative Thinking, internationally-renowned scholars come together to push the frontiers of Integrative Thinking and conduct original research, making Rotman a focal point for thought leadership and dialogue in this area.
In addition to discipline-based courses in areas like Finance and Accounting, first-year students at the Rotman MBA also take 'Fundamentals of Integrative Thinking.' This focuses on understanding and analyzing the big picture so that they are able to approach each challenge with creativity and a willingness to take risks."

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original source International Business Times

An new Toronto organization is offering would-be entrepreneurs the chance to win $1,000 cash, no strings attached, to turn innovative ideas into reality. There's only one requirement, the idea has to be awesome. The Toronto Star writes on the newly formed Toronto Chapter of the Awesome Foundation.

"It's about turning random flashes of half-baked genius into reality," says Matt Thompson, the Toronto chapter's Trustee of Awesome."

"Yes. That is his official title."

"The money is given up front in cash. No strings attached. No questions asked. And the Awesome Foundation will make no claims to ownership of the idea or the finished product."

"The Trustees of Awesome � 10 for each chapter, give or take � put up $100 of their own money every month to support awesome projects.Make no mistake; they won't peer over your shoulder as you work toward your goal. They open their wallets with hope, trust and blind faith.The Toronto trustees are a mix of artsy folks, entrepreneurs and researchers."

"We're just 10 average schmucks who care about advancing the cause of awesome," says Thompson, who works for a non-profit.

"Applications for the first Toronto grant are due on Feb 15. The Toronto Trustees will get together � probably at a pub, Thompson says � to read over the submissions. They'll pick a winner by consensus."

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original source Toronto Star

A Globe & Mail video looks at the success of Toronto-based interior design company, The FHE (Fresh Home Elements) Group. In business for only 14 months, FHE Group products, affordable and compact home accessories, are already taking in off in major Canadian retailers.  

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original source Globe & Mail

Fast Company encourages visitors to Toronto to check out the city's Distillery District, citing the addition of a sake brewery as yet another reason the District is worth the trip. The repurposed Gooderham and Worts site, already known for its concentration of restaurants, boutiques, and galleries, will be the home of The Ontario Spring Water Sake Company by this comping April.

"For first-time travelers to Toronto, it's often Yorkville and West Queen West that get most of the love. But another part of downtown that's also worth a trip is the Distillery District, on the east side. This complex of Victorian-era stone and brick buildings, now a multi-use development, is already known for its restaurants and boutiques. Come April, the area will also get its own sake brewery, the Ontario Spring Water Sake Company. It will be a true rarity, one of just a handful of sake-makers in North America, and the only one on the eastern half."

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original source Fast Company