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Loukoumades on the Danforth: Greece’s Oldest and Most Delicious Dessert
When I was younger, the Danforth was Toronto. As a twelve-year-old growing up in Northern Ontario, I didn’t know anything about the city. All I knew was that my childhood best friend, Hannah, lived in Greektown. Every once in a while, I would take a Greyhound bus to the city to visit her. The trip was very stressful for me—the bus station at Bay and Dundas was always packed and disorienting, and the subway map was anything but straightforward. But when I arrived at the Danforth, everything became familiar and comforting. I loved Hannah’s house, which was a tall and skinny building with lots of windows. As a kid who…
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Pink is Back on the Danforth
In February of 2020, life in Toronto was business as usual. Natalie Borch, founder of The Pink Studio in Toronto, was teaching a variety of classes at her studio: dance, yoga, barre, and pilates. On March 17, 2020, Premier Doug Ford issued a state of emergency, and by April 1, 2020, the Government of Ontario sent the entire province into lockdown, plunging businesses into an indefinite closure that would have profound ramifications for the fitness industry. In what would end up being one of the world’s longest lockdowns, the industry would suffer immensely, and for businesses to survive, they would need to innovate quickly, which is exactly what Natalie and…
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Is Greektown still Greek?
The changing of Greektown through the eyes of its past and present residents. Greektown has always been close to my heart. When I lived in a small town without any other Greek people around me, I yearned for a connection to my culture. Every March break, I would get so excited to visit my cousins for a week and walk the Danforth with them. Reveling in the smell of fresh pastries and the sounds of bouzouki music coming from the shops around me, It was a great place to connect with my culture and talk to interesting individuals. Recently, however, after moving to Toronto this past September, I realized that…
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Discovery and Rediscovery: Books on the Danforth
I have always been a voracious reader, consuming the short stories in grade school textbooks instead of listening in class or staying up into the wee hours of the morning to finish one more chapter. My shelves are full, bowing under the weight of series and single novels, with still more books piling up on the floor as my “to be read” list gets longer. But when I finished my English degree at university, I was burnt out from reading. Working two jobs didn’t help the situation as I had precious little time to do things outside of eating and sleeping. When the pandemic hit Canada and I was laid…
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Interviews with People Living On the Danforth
Traditionally, the Danforth is considered to be a primarily Greek community, with its countless Greek restaurants, Greek street signs, and annual “Taste of the Danforth” food festival serving as indicators of the neighbourhood’s rich cultural ties. But what are the causes and effects of the Danforth’s evolutionary transformation away from its formerly exclusive Greek identity? Although this is a long, unfinished process, the Danforth is very different than it was just a few years ago due to the newer demographic of residents and visitors influencing the area. The following interviews with Danforth locals demonstrate the differences and similarities between newer and long-term residents to help personify one of Toronto’s most…
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Next Stop: The Danforth
Whether stranded at a bus stop waiting out a delay in one of our winter storms, or stuck on the subway due to yet another signal issue, at some point we have all found ourselves cursing the TTC. But while we all like to make a good jab at Toronto’s public transit system, the fact is that it keeps people connected. In a city bursting with so many one-of-a-kind neighbourhoods, the TTC makes these places accessible to people inside and outside the community. The Danforth is a great example of one of these districts. Connected by the Bloor-Danforth subway line, the Danforth can be easily accessed through Pape, Chester, and…
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Finding Your Best Reading Spot on the Danforth
Most of us crave a certain setting in order to truly enjoy something. This is true in all aspects of life, but I would say it is most important when we are reading. To retain information on a page, we need our focus, maybe not all of it, but I would say a good chunk of it. What fuels this focus is the real question. Every person is unique, we all have preferences and quirks that are different from others, but since we live in a society, we unintentionally pick up traits/habits of those most around us. This is most noticeable in close knit neighbourhoods. I went on a mission…
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Brenda Joslin: An Individual of the Danforth Community
My neighbour is a wise and respectful woman and has a fantastic sense of humour. During the interview, when offered tea and asked about sugar, she quickly replied, “I don’t need any sugar ‘cause I’m sweet enough.” Her name is Brenda Joslin, and she is the star of this article, as she is of her life. Originally born in Plessisville, Quebec, Joslin moved to Toronto when she was four- years-old and has been living on the same street since her arrival almost fifty years ago. She attended William Burgess Elementary School and is happy to see the tradition continue with her three kids and her little grandson. Brenda says that…
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Give Them a Shot: The Perks of Supporting Local Coffee Shops Over Chains
The delights to be tasted at local coffee shops have as much character as the neighbourhood itself.
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Alexander: Statue of Greatness
It might seem strange that such a legendary figure, known for his prowess in military command, would be chosen to stand in the peaceful heart of Greektown—but the history of the Greek community in Toronto is not without opposition.
