Send us a text Nabilah Rawji is a passionate Sommelier in Toronto and in this interview provides some terrific wine-related facts including a few surprises about the many myths surrounding the world of choosing and serving wine. Alexandra Newbould is one of Canada's preeminent courtroom sketch artists, (she recently covered the much followed Hockey Canada case). She shares her insights into how she handles the pressure of listening to sometimes disturbing evidence all while producing th...
Send us a text The dynamic duo of Matt Blackett and Dylan Reid have been part of an intriguing organization that has played a critical role in making our city better. Matt is the publisher and creative director of Spacing Magazine while Dylan is the Executive Editor. The magazine that analyzes public spaces in Toronto has been nominated for 22 national magazine awards and has taken home four honours. As if that isn't enough, Matt also manages a retail outlet called Spacing Toronto, whic...
Send us a text Veterinarian Dr. Cliff Redford and his daughter Emily, have travelled internationally on a singular mission: Rescue as many animals in life-threatening situations as possible. Their adventures abroad have been documented in an award-winning film entitled, Dr. Cliff Worldwide Vet. This film chronicles in riveting fashion, their rescue operations across the Globe. The film also captures the special bond that a father and daughter have made in doing this work as a team. It's a rem...
Send us a text Rob Spindler saw a problem in his local ravine and decided to do something about it. What started out as a one-man operation has blossomed into an annual community event. Cindy Ho and Joseph Tam thought that a Geriatric Care facility might appreciate and benefit from their singing and performing skills. Their "C & J" show now warms the hearts of residents on a regular basis. All three are proof that individuals can have a huge impact on their local community. Than...
Send us a text The Small Change Fund, led by environmentalist Burkhard Mausberg, has developed a unique way to provide financial and strategic support for more than 200 small, enterprising organizations across Canada. Burkhard explains how the program has developed and expanded over the years and also chats about his fascinating and robust career in the environmental movement. And he talks passionately about where he finds hope in the fight against climate change. Thanks for listening! Pleas...
Send us a text To celebrate our fourth Season of the Hidden Gems Toronto podcast, we decided to take a trip down memory lane. We tracked down four of the guests who appeared in our first few seasons to see what has changed since then. And much like their original podcast, each of them had intriguing updates and stories to share. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.net Follow us on Instagram at hiddengems.toronto and Facebook at hiddengems.toronto
Send us a text Coko Galore seems to have been born with an extra funny bone in her body and she proves it every night when she appears on the stage of second city Toronto. Kurt Scanlan, meanwhile, has managed to turn his childhood passion for playing with toys into a full time career. They both provide us with an entertaining account of how it all came about. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.net Follow us on Instagram at hiddengems.toronto and ...
Send us a text Adam Bunch is an award-winning historian with an insatiable interest and curiosity about our city's past. He has a knack for bringing history to life by including unusual and often bizarre characters and events in all his writing and presentations. And he has a unique storytelling style that makes the history of Toronto seem like a John Grisham page-turner novel. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.net Follow us on Instagram at...
Send us a text You need a good pair of running shoes to keep up with Krissan Veerasingam. He helped launch the Scarborough Repair Café where residents can bring a multitude of household items for repair, free of charge. He is also an advocate for public transit and supports numerous environmental initiatives. As if this wasn't enough, he finds time to promote ethnic grocery stores and restaurants throughout Scarborough. And he does all this will great enthusiasm and aplomb.&...
Send us a text Nadya brings an indigenous perspective to her award-winning photography. In this podcast you will learn that it isn't just her technical ability with the camera that makes her work so special, it's her gentle nature and empathy for her subjects that allows her to build a trust with people and that is evident in all her portraits. As she likes to say: "The camera is an extension of my arm". Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.ne...
Send us a text In this second episode of our series called "You do what for a living?" we introduce you to John Scott, affectionately known as the Clock Guy in Toronto. John is responsible for keeping many of our city's tower clocks running smoothly and chiming on time. John gives us a master class on how gems such as the Old City Hall tower clock operate. After listening to John, you will be left with a whole new appreciation of this scientific wonder known as the tower clock. Thanks for l...
Send us a text In this podcast we launch the first episode of our occasional series about people who have interesting, if somewhat unusual occupations. And Austin Emery certainly fits the bill. Over his lifetime, Austin has attended more than 500 events dressed as a mascot. He has worn every costume you can imagine. But wait; there's more! In addition to being a mascot, he also is an accomplished sculptor who invites complete novices into his backyard and allows them to create a small sculptu...
Send us a text In this podcast, we interview Julia Malaniy and Marg Gadke, who are part of a remarkable group of highly skilled medical professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to treat severely injured military and civilian casualties resulting from Russia's unprovoked war on Ukraine. It is a heartbreaking yet heartwarming story of human compassion and hope. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.net Follow us on Instagram at hiddengems.toront...
Send us a text Jacquie Rushlow is on a mission! She is determined to rid the world of single-use plastic, one community at a time. She gave up a very successful TV production career to work full-time on accomplishing this goal. In a few short years, she has opened four outlets called The Keep Refillery, where people can bring in old plastic containers and refill them with an array of everyday, household products. And for Jacquie this is just the beginning. She is smart, inventive, and relentl...
Send us a text For his entire career Peter Clutterbuck has been involved in creating and implementing social policies that have greatly impacted the quality of life in Toronto. Whether it’s poverty, mental health or marginalized communities, his finger print is on them all. Peter discusses the successes and disappointments of his illustrious career and weighs in on the state of our city from a social planning perspective. We wrap up the podcast with a chat about the upcoming election for Mayo...
Send us a text StreetARToronto has turned our urban neighbourhoods into an outdoor art gallery. Initiated 10 yours ago as a plan to reduce graffiti vandalism, the program has engaged artists to change thousands of drab buildings, underpasses and traffic-signal boxes into vibrant colourful street art. Toronto is now a world leader in this work. And as project manager Catherine Campbell explains, the process working with artists is just as important as the final results. Than...
Send us a text While growing up in Europe, Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer had a real passion for miniature trains. Later on in life, he developed a similar love for the country where work brought him for a two year stint. That country was Canada. He then had the brilliant idea of combining these two passions into one, and though it took 11 years and millions of dollars to complete, the effort was well worth it. He created Little Canada, a stunning exhibit that replicates major parts of Canad...
Send us a text Tourism is an $8 trillion global industry yet very little of that money makes its way into the hands of local businesses and communities. Fortunately, there is an organization called Planeterra that is trying to change all that. They have helped create nearly 500 community-based initiatives in more than 77 countries. Each one provides travellers with a unique travel experience that also benefits the local community and many marginalized groups. Their articulate Dire...
Send us a text Zach Grant is the Community Director at the Church of the Holy Trinity in downtown Toronto. The church is a mere 21 steps from the Eaton Centre, the epicentre of retail consumerism in Canada. The contrast could not be more stark. Zach works with, and on behalf of, the homeless people living in Toronto. Each month there is a memorial at the Church to celebrate the life and tragic death of those living on the streets. Zach's life is surrounded by grief and rage,...
Send us a text The indefatigable Sarah Lazarovic has been a journalist, editorial cartoonist and author. Her book, A Bunch of Pretty Things I Did Not Buy, is a lively tale of her fight against overconsumption, including going one whole year without buying a single piece of clothing. And her regular newsletter, Minimal Viable Planet, which she describes as an undepressing newsletter about how to fight climate change is irreverent, funny and very insightful. She is a muc...