In The News

The Toronto Star features Toronto culinary scene heavyweights, Michael Bonacini and Peter Oliver, co-founders and owners of Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants. O&B currently boasts more than a dozen event spaces and restaurants in Ontario, including Canoe, the acclaimed fine dining restaurant on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower and the O&B Canteen, the popular King Street spot housed inside the TIFF Bell Lightbox complex.

"O&B will focus its efforts on the Bay's flagship store on Queen St. W. at Yonge St., where it plans to launch Bannock by fall 2011. The concept is similar to Canteen, with all-day, sit-down service that's quick and inexpensive."

"We are going to be the best corporately run food service business in Toronto, in Southern Ontario, in Canada," declares Bonacini. "That's part of our goal."

"Bonnie Brooks, president and CEO of the Bay, wouldn't bet against them. "Oliver & Bonacini is such a successful, respected and creative food company in Toronto that they were a logical partner in our minds."

"The O&B story starts in 1993 with a restaurant called Jump."

"Stockbroker-turned-restaurateur Oliver owned a bakery across the street from Centro, the fine-dining restaurant on Yonge St. north of Eglinton where Bonacini was executive chef."

"Oliver had spent years setting up the deal to open Jump on Wellington St. W. near Yonge St. When his chef-to-be fell through, he proposed a partnership with Bonacini. "When Peter and I opened Jump 17 years ago, we were one of very few places to dine downtown," says Bonacini."

"He describes his partner as a visionary who lives for putting deals together. Oliver describes their skills as complementary, saying Bonacini "knows all the things that I don't know that much about."

"The men gambled that they could survive on business-district lunch alone. Within a few years of opening , a landlord at the nearby TD Bank Tower begged O&B to take over the restaurant on the building's 54th floor."

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original source Toronto Star

Time Magazine writes on a potentially ground-breaking discovery from a group of University of Toronto scientists. At the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology, UofTs Dr. Kieran Murphy announced that cocktail of antioxidants developed at the university, could cut the damage to DNA by radiation from CT scans by as much as 50%, if taken before the scan.

"Murphy's concoction works by blocking the effect of free radicals, or unstable compounds made when radioactive waves collide with water, generated by radiation. Free radicals can damage DNA and are responsible for the premature aging and death of cells. Murphy's idea was to flood the body with antioxidants that neutralize free radicals prior to medical procedures such as CT scans, which use X-rays to image the body; the antioxidants would counter the damage from radiation."

"He stresses that while any CT scan causes some damage to DNA, for the most part the body's own repair mechanisms are able to overcome such low-level changes. "We have to balance the risks with the benefits," he says. "By far the majority of the time, the risk is far, far worth the benefit. We're just trying to say that if we can reduce that risk a little more, it's a good thing. Then we might be able to allow more screening. If we can increase the number of women who feel safe having a mammogram or the number of people who feel comfortable having a colorectal CT to detect colon cancer, or the number of people who get a coronary calcium screen to pick up signs of future heart trouble, then that would be a good thing."

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original source Time Magazine

Toronto is now one of the world's top ten global financial centres according to the annual Global Financial Centre's Index (GFCI), published last week by London-based think-tank, Z-Yen. Canada's largest city has consistently ranked in the top 15, but this year marks the first time Toronto cracked the top 10, tying for 10th position with Sydney, Australia.  As reported by Business Standard, in another first, Toronto also ranked in the top 10 for each of the six industry sub-indices including asset management, banking, insurance and wealth management.

"We are encouraged that Toronto has continued to gain momentum and global recognition as a leader in financial services," said Janet Ecker, president, Toronto Financial Services Alliance."

"We recognize, however, that many countries around the world are competing fiercely to attract financial services business to their shores and that we have to continue to work intensely to sustain our leadership."

"Half of the cities on the short list are separated by fewer than 25 points on a 1000-point rating scale. London, New York and Hong Kong maintained their top three positions."

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original source Business Standard

The Toronto Star features Godel Construction, a successful Toronto-based contracting company that specializes in renovating old homes. The husband and wife team behind Glodel construction, Lisa Godel and her husband Alan, have seen their business double in the past two years after employing the help of a professional business coach.

"For years, the Godels bought original homes from the early 1900s in old Toronto neighbourhoods and embarked on major renovations, building two-storey additions on the back, adding family rooms and master-bedroom suites. The couple renovated five homes of their own that way � buy, do major renovations, move in, finish the details, sell it and move on to the next one."

"About two years, ago, the Godels signed up for sessions with business coach Greg Peterson of Oakville-based Growth Advisors."

"They did beautiful work and they had tremendously satisfied clients," Peterson explains. "What they needed to improve was marketing and systemizing their operations, so their actions are repeatable and they can train other people to do it."

"It's a common trait among small businesses, Peterson says. The entrepreneur keeps everything to do with the day-to-day operations in his or her head."

"That's often a key to early success, but it becomes a stumbling block to growth when the founder is unable to delegate work or responsibility to others."

"Peterson says he has seen tremendous change in the Godels and their business."

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original source Toronto Star

The Fashionista Blog raves about 3 Toronto-based design labels--Greta Constantine, Arthur Mendonca, and Philip Sparks--who showcased their work during Toronto Fashion Week. The Toronto LG Fashion Week, which wrapped up on April 1st, featured both local and international designers in studio and runway show across the city.

"Known as "The Jersey Boys of Toronto," Greta Constantine designers Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill have won the hearts of many who don their draped wonders from the runway to red carpet. This season, the pair ventured out on a global escapade and debuted a collection interwoven with a multitude of inspirations that seemingly reflected the multicultural tapestry of Canada. From Japanese cuts to Tibetan shapes, the label satisfied the taste of those with a nomadic sense of style."

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original source Fashionista

The Globe & Mail interviews green entrepreneur Geoff Cape about the importance of Toronto's extensive ravine network. Cape, who conceived and championed the Evergreen Brick Works project, argues that Toronto's ravines have the potential to become a defining feature of the city. An excerpt from the interview:

"The ravines of Toronto are unique in the world. No other city has such an elaborate, such an extensive network of natural spaces. It's the defining aspect of Toronto. We have great hospitals, great cultural institutions, great universities, but so does New York, London, Chicago, Milan, Beijing. What we do have categorically unique is the ravine system. It's an asset for everyone. It doesn't distinguish between rich and poor and cultural diversity. It's available to all of us and it weaves virtually every neighbourhood, every community together, because it's physically so extensive. It connects us all."

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original source Globe & Mail

The New York Daily News encourages its readers to visit Toronto, "a glitzy, fast-paced, world-class city that pulses 24-7." Among other things, Toronto is lauded for its diverse restaurants, choice hotels and general affordability.

"Sure, every New Yorker knows how to enjoy his or her hometown without credit card burn, but it's often hard to find steals and deals in a new city. That isn't true in Toronto. Its best attraction is bargains."

"Even a cab into town is cheap. As Porter flies to the City airport, which floats on an island in the water near the heart of downtown, it's a five-minute, $8 cab ride to almost any hotel."

"The best place to start on a foodie tour in Toronto is also arguably the cheapest. Wrought-iron two-story St. Lawrence Market is a South Street Seaport without any of the artificial gloss or jacked-up price tags. Produce stands jostle for space with lunch counters serving up fish and chips and piled-high sandwiches to an eclectic crowd of office workers and a few savvy tourists."

"Don't miss the endorsement-covered Carousel Bakery (416-363-4247, South St. Lawrence Market, upper level), whose owner is clearly a master at managing the press � a rave from Emeril is pasted by the register. Its specialty is the oddly named but irresistible Peameal sandwich: a soft roll filled with pork loin crusted in cornmeal and topped with spicy mustard for less than C$5."

"Around town, look for the blaring graphics of Hero Certified Burger (heroburgers.com), a local chainlet that's like a Chipotle for hamburgers. The 100% free-range, grass-fed beef makes giant, belly-filling patties, again for less than C$5."

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original source New York Daily News

Finalists have been announced for the 2011 Green Toronto Awards. The awards, presented by The City of Toronto and Green Living Enterprises, honour Torontonions contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable city. InsideToronto.com has published the list of all 30 finalists, a mix of individuals, businesses and organizations. Winners will be announced at the seventh annual Green Toronto Awards ceremony on Friday, April 15th and will receive an award and $5,000.

see list of finalists here
original source InsideToronto

Yorkville is getting another luxury hotel. As reported by Business Traveller, the Four Seasons Hotel Group has announced plans to open a new two-tower hotel and private residence in the neighbourhood. The complex, to be situated at the corner of Bay Street and Yorkville Avenue, is scheduled to open next summer.

"The new property is just one block east of the existing Four Season"s Hotel Toronto, which will close in April 2012, and which is itself the third incarnation of Four Seasons in the city."

"Next year will see the opening of the fourth Four Seasons hotel in Toronto, a new-build property comprising a 253-room hotel (a room count which is actually significantly down on the current 380), and over 200 private residences, spread across the 26-floor East Residence and 55-storey West Residence."

"The top floor of the West Residence will house the 840sqm penthouse residence, while the hotel will take up the first 20 floors of the buidling. Features will include a first-floor restaurant with "celebrity chef concept", a ground floor bar, and a 2,600sqm spa with a skylit indoor pool, whirlpool, treatment rooms and fitness centre. There will also be two ballrooms measuring 325 and 650sqm."

"General manager of the current Four Seasons property Dimitris Zarikos is also overseeing the new development, and described the d�cor of the new property as being "minimalist, with muted tones and plenty of contemporary art."

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original source Business Traveller

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra took their program on the road this weekend, performing for a packed house at New York's Carnegie Hall.  As reported by the Toronto Star, the concert coincided with the beginning of a joint venture between the TSO, Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music and Carnegie Hall. The partnership will see the Royal Conservatory's Toronto-developed music curriculum made available to teachers and students across the United States.

"On Saturday, as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra gave a concert at Carnegie Hall, Sir Clive Gillinson, the executive and artistic director of the venue, and Peter Simon, CEO of the Royal Conservatory of Music, announced a joint venture intended to pay dividends on both sides of the border."

"Over its 125-year history, the Conservatory has developed one of the world's best-organized exam-based systems for teaching music to children and adults of all ages and abilities. And it is ready to export this know-how."

"Carnegie Hall, one of the world's most prestigious presenters of music, is acknowledging the quality of these innovations by welcoming the Conservatory into a partnership that will see the Toronto-based school's music curriculum and examination system be made available to teachers and students across the United States."

"Gillinson and Simon made the announcement together at the Music Teachers National Association convention in Milwaukee. The organization, which represents 24,000 music teachers in North America, is the base on which this enterprise will succeed."

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original source Toronto Star

Digital Journal features Toronto to Japan, a Toronto-based collective that's planning events around the city to raise relief funds for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The collective, made up of Canadian artists, musicians, writers, activists and business leaders, is holding their next event -- "Sushi Making For The Soul Of Japanese Survivors"--  in Liberty village on April 2nd.

York University's 3D Film Innovation Consortium, the 1.4 million initiative that brings together researchers, film makers and vision scientists to improve on 3D filmmaking techniques, has announced the release of its first film. The movie--the product of a collaboration between York and Toronto-based Starz Animation--uses newly developed technology to reduce nausea, eye strain and headaches for the viewer. The movie, titled Lovebirds, will  premiere at the Toronto International Stereoscopic 3D Conference from June 11-14 at Toronto's TIFF Bell Lightbox.

"Lovebirds, a mix of animation and live action by Toronto company Starz Animation, is the showcase production of the Toronto-based 3D Film Innovation Consortium, a York University initiative that has brought academic researchers and filmmakers together to explore the burgeoning world of 3D filmmaking to achieve better results."

"The computer-generated animation portions were created by Starz (which did the 3D animation for the recent Disney feature Gnomeo and Juliet). The live action set was shot by York University professor Ali Kazimi using a LiDAR device (light detection and ranging, or laser radar) to create a 3D map of the set. The information was integrated into the software with the animated images to ensure accurate placement of the birds against the backdrop and to study depth perception."

"Though the current Hollywood wave of 3D production is a few years old, it was really in 2009, with the success of such films as Coraline, Up and especially Avatar, that it truly took off. Rob Burton, Starz's vice-president of technology, decided to jump in."

"The technology of simulating depth perception through two proximate overlapping images (which is how humans see) is simple enough, but creating a realistic sense of visual movement is much harder. Our eyes don't zoom in and out like a camera, and the distance between the cameras (known as interaxial or interoccular distance) has to be constantly adjusted. The movies are typically shot with cumbersome rigs, in which two cameras are placed perpendicular to each other, one shooting straight ahead and the other capturing the image from a mirror, with each camera capable of being tilted to create converging sight lines."

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original source Globe & Mail

Wired UK writes on "Sword & Sworcery", a Toronto-developed iPad game that has received international praise since its launch last week. Designed through a collaboration between Toronto game company Capy, local artist Superbrothers and singer-songwriter Jim Guthrie, Sworcery is described as "far closer to an experimental, interactive art piece than a traditional game".

"To say anything, of any real substance, about Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, would be wrong. So much of this game -- an evocative, Zen-like fantasy romp for iPad -- is about the sheer thrill of curiosity, exploration and discovery."

"It figures, considering the endless back catalogue of adventure cult classics and minimalistic masterpieces that no doubt inspired the game. There are hints of The Legend of Zelda -- but more bushwhacking through an uncharted Hyrule than epic world-saving heroics -- and PlayStation 2 marvel Shadow of the Colossus. It reminds me of Ico, Prince of Persia and Another World."

"All games that were not afraid to sit back, drop you in a completely foreign space and let you explore with as little handholding as possible. They were games that harnessed the childlike joy of discovery and relished in the unexpected, with few tutorials and no shepherding arrows to push you in the right direction. This game definitely belongs in that exclusive club."

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original source Wired UK

Blog TO writes on LOFT, the Toronto social enterprise that's giving a helping hand to the next generation of Toronto entrepreneurs. LOFT--which stands for Life, Opportunities, Food, and Technology--was launched in 2001 to help at-risk youth develop career plans.

"Yesterday evening, the LOFT Youth Centre for Social Enterprise and Innovation launched its Capital Campaign to raise funds for its new building at 850 Bloor Street West. Operating under the Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre, LOFT--which stands for Life, Opportunities, Food, and Technology--was created in 2001 and is now on the hub of a major transition. Hoping to raise $950,000, LOFT launched its campaign last night, teaching friends, family, and visitors such as myself exactly what it offers for the youth of Toronto."

"The Loft OssingtonIn short, LOFT is about providing youth (many of whom are at-risk or face institutional barriers) outlets for their creativity, as well as mentorship, marketable skills, and career exploration. It is funded through government grants, private partnerships and donations."

"There are three social enterprises that form LOFT's core; Under the Radar Design, the LOFT Sound Studio, and the LOFT Kitchen. These three enterprises unite staff, mentors, volunteers and youth to not only give direction to young people need guidance, but also giving back to the community."

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original source Blog TO

Dwell Magazine's Miyoko Ohtake spent a week in Toronto on the look out for the city's "most interesting and innovative spots". She raves about it all--from the TIFF Lightbox to the Willcocks Commons to Gladstone Hotel--in her "Touring Toronto" slideshow.

"[Toronto] continues to surprise me, with its creative forces always at work, interesting and innovative spots always presenting themselves, and endless construction being done" see slideshow here
original source Dwell