In The News

The Toronto Zoo has made the Cheapflight.com's list of the world's best zoos.
 
It was ranked in the top 10 along with Belize Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Dubai Underwater Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, Lone Pine Tree Koala Sanctuary (Brisbane, Australia), National Zoo (Washington), San Diego Zoo, Singapore Zoo and Wuppertal Zoo.
 
"The more than 5,000 animals—covering more than 500 species—is a strong representation of the planet's creatures. Bring your camera for the 5-acre polar bear habitat or the Gorilla Rainforest, the globe's largest indoor habitat for lowland gorillas," writes the Huffington Post about the Toronto Zoo.
 
Read the full story here
Original source: Huffington Post 

Toronto's new Four Seasons hotel is attracting global attention—and it's not even open yet.
 
"Toronto's über-luxe Four Seasons Hotel in the former hippie haven—now ch-chi neighbourhood— of Yorkville, has announced it is taking reservations for October 1 and beyond," writes Hotelchatter.com.
 
"Designed by the Canadian interior design team of George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, the hotel is full of soothing grays with accent colors of Wedgewood blue and butter cream yellow. Floor-to-ceiling windows and Toronto's largest spa are only two of the items that set it apart from the crowd."
 
The old Four Seasons is also in the news. Or, at least its old stuff is.
 
"The contents from the original Four Season Hotel Toronto are going up for auction to make room for the new Four Seasons Hotel," writes blogger Melanie Nayer on Boston.com about the auction which closed June 2.
 
"Everything from window dressings to table accents and custom furnishings from the luxury hotel will be auctioned off," writes Nayer. "According to reports, you'll be able to bid on everything from the 400 luxury guest suites to the hotel's kitchenware and spa adornments. Hosting a dinner party soon? Bid on banquet tables, buffet trays, and champagne buckets from the hotel. Grand pianos, crystal chandeliers, designer lamps, and marble flooring will also be auctioned off, as well as bedding, spa robes, antique desks and kitchenware."
 
Read the full stories here and here
 
Original sources: Hotelchatter.com & Boston.com

When Laura DeMarco, a writer at The Cleveland Plain Dealer, visited Toronto recently, boiled beef and cabbage, poutine and bannock were prevailing motifs.
 
"We've been to Toronto many times, in part because it's such an easy way to enjoy a European-feeling locale," writes DeMarco. "It's a quick drive, the currency exchange is about even, and we've always found Torontonians friendly and helpful."
 
"This time, we dedicated ourselves to exploring more about what makes this city uniquely Canadian, not just a slightly altered version of an American or English city. With only two days, we decided to forgo some of the bigger, time-consuming museums and tourist sites we'd seen before, and concentrate on getting to know the city's diverse neighborhoods and history better. A bannock sandwich wasn't a bad way to start."
 
Forgoing the usual tourist attractions, DeMarco praises the food and nightlife if not Toronto prices.
 
"We liked [the Muskoka Brewery IPA], though were taken aback at the $6 draft price—something we found to be the norm during our stay. Toronto is an expensive city, especially for dining and drinking. There is a 13 percent sales tax added to all bills. Add a 20 percent tip onto that and you end up paying an additional third on top of your bill."
 
Read the full story here
Original source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

WestJet is raising eyebrows—and the hopes of Toronto's budget-conscious flyers—with its new route from Toronto to New York.
 
"WestJet's foray into New York escalates the challenge to Air Canada, the country's biggest airline," writes Bloomberg's Frederic Tomesco. "Founded in 1996 with a focus on vacationers, Calgary-based WestJet now holds more than a third of Canada's air traffic after the discount carrier established a foothold in the Eastern Triangle linking Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal."
 
"'New York is really our first big push into the business market into the US,'" Bob Cummings, executive vice president of sales and marketing, said in an interview. 'We are pretty close to capped out with the leisure market with respect to our life cycle. We've barely scratched the surface on corporate travel.'"
 
Read the full story here
Original source: Bloomberg News

The Daily Commercial News gives the details of the design plans for the new Canary District on the waterfront.
 
"'Unlike many athletes' village projects which are purpose-built to house competitors during major athletic events and then converted to other uses following the games, this project is advancing the building of a community that was already planned and under development,' said Meg Davis, Waterfront Toronto's vice-president of development."
…
"To ensure aesthetic diversity across the Canary District, teams from four architecture firms—architectsAlliance, KPMB, Daoust Lestage Inc. and MacLellan Jaunkalns Miller Architects—were commissioned to design 'unique, contemporary buildings' reflective of their trademark architectural styles, Dundee Kilmer Developments said."
 
"The integrated design team was tasked to work within Waterfront Toronto's precinct and block plan built over years of consultation between key stakeholders such as the City of Toronto, local community groups, Infrastructure Ontario, and TO2015 "while still injecting their own unique creative flourishes to build a truly livable and sustainable neighbourhood."
 
Read the full story here
Original source: Daily Commercial News

The women's empowerment march founded last year in Toronto has attracted increasing interest overseas.
 
Kolkata, India, held its first SlutWalk last week, following the model established in Toronto, where women and supportive men walk to challenge mindsets and stereotypes of victim-blaming and slut-shaming that draw connections between the way women dress and act to sexual assault.
 
"Eschewing any particular dress code, a procession of about 150 people—school and college students, teachers, office goers, slum dwellers and social workers from the US—artistically covered in body-art and donning a variety of dresses from saris to shorts, began the march from Jadavpur University in the evening amidst slogan shouting," writes Toronto-based Can-India News about the Kolkata walk.
 
"What started in the city as a virtual movement on Facebook by a first year MA student, Sulakshana Biswas, became a reality when eight like-minded youngsters got together and pooled in their resources and started distributing pamphlets and spreading the word for the walj. Explaining her agenda, Biswas said: 'Sexual harassment has got nothing to do with the clothes one wears or with gender. We are also against victim blaming.'"
 
The Times of India interviewed actress Rii about her plans to participate in the Kolkata march.
 
"Rii feels the fairer sex should stand up for their rights and not give in to the logic that the so-called 'improper' dressing is behind the rise of rape incidents. 'The protest is a step in that direction. Just a SlutWalk cannot change anything, but still it's a good move.'"
 
"The concept of SlutWalk emerged after a police officer in Toronto said women should avoid dressing like sluts for their own safety. So, when did Rii first hear about the movement? 'I heard of the protests abroad. When I came to know of the cause, the memory of an incident flashed in my mind. I was reading a magazine in Toronto where a gorgeous brunette pole dancer was wearing a translucent red dress.'"
 
India cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bhopal have already hosted SlutWalks. Toronto's annual SlutWalk was held May 25.
 
Read the full stories here, here, here and here

Original source: Times of India

Both Toronto-based director David Cronenberg and his son Brandon Cronenberg had films at the Cannes film festival this year. Brandon's Antiviral was shown in the Un Certain Regard section, while David's Cosmopolis was a competition entry.
 
Michael Haneke's Amour might have beat Cosmopolis for the Palme d'Or, but the elder Cronenberg's film, based on a Don DeLillo and shot on location in Toronto, attracted considerable buzz, particularly because it stars Twilight series heartthrob Robert Pattinson. The New York Times asked Cronenberg how the project came together.
 
"Q. I understand it was the Portuguese producer Paulo Branco who had the rights to Cosmopolis and contacted you. How did that come about?"
 
"A. I think it's an interesting intuition because it's a bit like casting. I've never been in the position of having to choose a director for something. But I imagine it's a lot like choosing an actor for a role. Paulo came to Toronto with his son Juan, who had apparently told him that I was the right director for Cosmopolis. I knew of Paulo, but had never met him. Actually when I was the president of the jury here, we gave a prize to Manoel de Oliveira for The Letter, a film Paulo had produced. I'd read a lot of Don DeLillo but not that book. I read it and two days later said I would do it."
 
…
 
"Q. Since you have some insight into the jury process, do you have any thoughts on this weekend's awards? Some have said you're overdue for a Palme since you've come close a few times, and you also received a lifetime achievement from the festival a few years ago."
 
"A. This is maybe very Canadian of me but I have to say it's meaningful just to be here in the spotlight of the competition. An independent production like ours wouldn't have been able to reach as many people. At Cannes the world comes to you. It's like Cannes is our limo."
 
Read the full story here
Original source: New York Times

With digital technology conference Mesh behind us for another year, it's time to ask: What did we learn?
 
Toronto startups shared a lot of wisdom at the two-day event. ITbusiness.ca's Christine Wong learned a few lessons at the panel called "Tales From the Trenches: Stories From Startups," moderated by Mesh organizers Mark Evans and Stuart MacDonald.

Evgeny Tchebotarev and Oleg Gustol, co-founders of Toronto-based photo sharing startup 500px, talked about how they worked for eight years "before finally getting 500px to the sustainable, competitive level it's at today. As Evans pointed out, 'There are no overnight successes.' To which Gustol quickly replied: 'No — but there should be!' a bit of wishful thinking that generated big laughs." Gustol also talked about the sacrifices it takes. "We couldn't pay our bills for months. I had no life."
 
At Techvibes.com, Andrea Wahbe reported on the risks and motivation of Aliza Pulver, founder of HomeSav.com.
 
"Unlike some entrepreneurs who start their own businesses to have more flexibility, Pulver said that what she was really looking for was freedom. 'And with that freedom are both risks and rewards. It was just a now or never situation for me,' said Pulver."
 
Read the full stories here and here
Original sources: ITBusiness.ca & Techvibes.com

Toronto ranked #18 on an index of most powerful cities created by Richard Florida, senior editor at The Atlantic and director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto. It shares that spot with Shenzhen, a Chinese city of about 10.5 million. The list scores cities based on five other lists ranking global powerhouses.
 
"The most common way to rank cities is by their populations. It's well known than more than half the world's population now lives in cities and metro areas," writes Florida. "In another couple of decades that will increase to roughly three quarters. But population is a crude measure of economic strength, which is more a function of productivity, technology and human capital or skills."
 
"The biggest issue in gauging the economic power of cities until recently has been the lack of good, comparable and systematic data. But in the past several years, a number of research teams, think tanks and global consulting firms have come up with novel and innovative ways to gauge the relative economic strengths of global cities and metro areas."
 
Read the full story here
Original source: The Atlantic

In a Q&A with the Wall Street Journal's Scene Asia blog, Brampton-born comedian Russell Peters talks about how diverse audiences make for better shows. Though he now lives in the US, he says being from Canada has helped his career... and his sense of humour.
 
"You were born to an Indian family in Canada and now live in the US. How does your cultural background affect your work?"
 
"Being an outsider always makes you better at being an insider. You can see exactly what’s going on, so when you get on the inside you know exactly what to do and what not to do. Canada’s one of those countries that is on the outside…we were kind of like the middle man between England and the US. We understand both of them so we know how to work it better."
 
Read the full story here
Original source: Wall Street Journal

Not a single Canadian establishment was listed among this year's San Pellegrino World's Best Restaurants. But the UK's Independent newspaper has come to the defence of Canuck cuisine.
 
"Canada has cutting-edge chefs working with superb indigenous ingredients such as spot prawns and sablefish (black cod) from the Pacific waters, excellent beef from Alberta and the delicate summer flavours of the Maritimes. These ingredients are complemented by world-class wines from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley and the Niagara area of Ontario."
 
Among the restaurants singled out for praise is Dundas West's Black Hoof, which "may boast the world's most extreme gastropub menu."
 
Read the full story here
Original source: The Independent

Despite tough economic times and shrinking broadcast budgets, some Hot Docs participants managed to attract interest and cash, reports Variety. The international film fest wrapped up May 6. Although film lovers flock to Hot Docs, it's also an important festival for filmmakers.
 
"Last week's Hot Docs Forum, the two-day pitch event and market centerpiece, saw a roster of international decision-makers at the round table."
 
"But if Hot Docs auds—tracking to hit 160,000 and a 10% increase in box office, according to organizers—demonstrate the public's hunger for engaging feature docus, today's economic realities and diminishing broadcast windows and license fees mean the Forum, like similar events, is more about starting or furthering negotiations, as opposed to signing checks."
 
"Nevertheless, a couple of Forum projects secured cash."
 
"Shadow Girl, Chilean-Canadian filmmaker Maria Teresa Larrain's exploration of blindness via her own experience, nabbed the $40,000 Shaw Media-Hot Docs Forum pitch prize. Polish helmer Hanna Polak won the Cuban Hat award ($1,690 donated by Forum attendees this year) for best pitch for Svalka: Yula's Journey, which follows 11 years in the life of a young girl who lives in a Moscow garbage dump."
 
Read the full story here
Original source: Variety

Toronto attracts some attention in this month's Wine Enthusiast. Along with suggestions for lodgings and sightseeing, the magazine points readers toward a couple of hot spots with great wine cellars.
 
"Perched atop the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower, Canoe offers breathtaking views of Toronto and the CN Tower, and serves imaginative Canadian-inflected fare like Alberta lamb and tea-smoked duck breast with wheat berries. Sommelier William Predhomme's wine list is largely local, highlighting producers in Ontario (popular choices include Stratus Vineyards's 2007 Stratus White and Henry of Pelham's NV Cuvée Catherine Rosé)."
 
"Local Kitchen & Wine Bar is just that—a rustic wine bar for locals. It serves an array of Canadian wines from nearby Niagara, and simple but tasty plates like salumi, house-cured anchovies and fresh-pulled mozzarella. For classic cocktails with an edgy twist, don't miss Black Hoof, where mixologist Jen Agg shakes up drinks like an oak-aged Manhattan and Tea & Sympathy, with Earl Grey-infused gin, Sherry and jasmine bitters."
 
Read the full story here
Original source: Wine Enthusiast

An AT&T study shows that most Toronto businesses are ready for when disaster strikes.
 
A report published the website Cabling Networking Systems suggests that 85 per cent of Toronto-area companies have developed business continuity plans to help identify, prevent and respond to adverse conditions. A third of those say it has become a recent priority due to natural disasters and security issues.
 
"'Despite a volatile economy, businesses continue to invest in new technologies,' the firm said. 'Six out of 10 (59%) Toronto executives surveyed indicate that in 2012 their companies will make strategic investments in areas such as mobile applications (37%), cloud computing (35%) and security solutions (27%). Cloud computing has become a particular focus—a majority (57%) of executives are either currently using cloud or considering using it as part of their business continuity strategy. When it comes to disaster recovery, executives would most frequently use cloud computing for data storage (40%) and web servers (37%).'"
 
Read the full story here
Original source: Cabling Networking Systems

Is it time to tidy up and roll out the red carpet? Get ready for a visit from another royal duo.
 
Less than a year after Prince William and his new wife Kate made their honeymoon Canuck tour, William's dad and stepmom, Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, are slated to visit New Brunswick, Toronto and Saskatchewan.
 
The Huffington Post reports their "plans for the trip include a stop by the Toronto and Saskatchewan legislatures and a stop in Saint John for a Victoria Day celebration. The royal couple will also visit a First Nations University in Regina."
 
Torontonians will be able to see the couple's arrival at Queen's Park on May 22.
 
Read the full story here
Original source: Huffington Post