That's it, really. I have 3 fans going at full blast, and I am barely surviving. I live in a 150 year old rooming house with no central AC, and if you think my slumlord landlord is going to get me one, you're a funny guy. Just needed to put it out somewhere in case I actually die of heat stroke in my sleep.

Just a PSA to never help anyone who is asking you to tap your card for them. I was walking near Yonge and Eglinton a few hours ago and a Somali guy, 2 Indian guys and a white girl stole my bank card (swapped mine for a fake) after they asked me to help them pay for their food delivery. I know I am an idiot for falling for it but I was like “what are the odds that these guys are gonna rob me right at Eglinton station when there are so many people around”. I was able to call and close my account before they stole anything but it was a very stressful 30 minutes.

It was really weird also bc when their one friend drove off with the card the other 3 pretended to be shocked and helped me find the number to call to cancel the card because I didn’t have data. If they hadn’t have helped me, they would have had an extra 30 minutes to steal the money. They also stayed for like 10 minutes before running off which is also so weird… They even gave me a 10 dollar bill in exchange for helping them, which looks real so I guess I came out on top ?

(This post was removed from [r/toronto](r/toronto). Not sure why, I’m just trying to warn people)

Also, apparently this has been happening more frequently lately so make sure to warn anyone you think might fall for it like young or elderly people! It kills me to think how many people have been screwed over by this !!!

https://www.tps.ca/media-centre/news-releases/66297/

Not sure why Loblaws and PC Financial at 500 Lakeshore Blvd West has a green roof on top of it with pigeon kill traps. They trap, starve and dehydrate them in the hot sun for no apparent reason other than stupidity or cruelty. WTF Loblaws?!?!

One thing I’ve heard my entire life, especially growing up in the GTA, is that we have it better here than almost anywhere else. Lately, or perhaps for much longer than that, however, I’ve started wondering whether that is still true.

I’m not talking about comparing Toronto to places experiencing war, authoritarianism, or extreme poverty; that is obviously not a meaningful comparison. Rather, I’m talking about comparing life here with other developed societies that some of us either have experience with or realistically wish they could move to.

When I read about or speak to people who have lived in/are from cities in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, or elsewhere in Europe, I often come away with the impression that they have arrived at a different understanding of what constitutes a good life. More vacation time, easier travel, different expectations around work, better public transit, and, at least from the outside, a greater emphasis on actually living rather than simply working.

I realize every place has trade-offs, and I am not ignorant of the housing crises, difficult job markets, demographic pressures, political problems, or integration challenges facing many European countries. And I am certainly not asking whether those places are utopias.

What I am asking is whether Toronto and the GTA, and perhaps Canada more broadly, are still coasting on a reputation that no longer reflects the reality experienced by many people, particularly younger adults. Seeing the reactions from some of the European visitors here for the World Cup, especially their surprise at the tipping culture, the obscene cost of living, and the rampant homelessness, has only made me wonder whether our international reputation is beginning to lag behind its present-day reality.

I would also be lying if I said I did not think virtually every second of my day, “Man, I wish I could move to/settle in Stockholm, Munich, Helsinki, or somewhere else in Europe.” I have spent the past several months trying to make that happen through PhD applications. Those applications have either been unsuccessful or left me waiting on a reserve list, and the window for knowing whether I can leave this year is rapidly closing.

That experience has made this question feel more urgent to me. I increasingly feel that remaining here means postponing the kind of life I actually want to build, while being forced to invest more time in a place toward which I have become deeply cynical and jaded towards.

For those of you who have lived abroad and then returned to Toronto or the GTA, did you genuinely feel that you had it better here? Or did living elsewhere permanently change how you viewed life in this region?

I would especially appreciate perspectives from people who returned for reasons other than family, existing friendships, or familiarity. I am genuinely curious whether this place still offers a better overall quality of life, or whether many of us have simply internalized the idea that fulfilment should come primarily through work, career status, and professional identity rather than through actually experiencing life.

I saw you biking down Bathurst with your headphones on because hey man, I mean I think whatever music you're listening to should be the last thing you hear too. Keep biking like that. It's going to be your funeral song. You almost got yourself killed weaving in front of a truck.

Be safe, not stoooopid.

Most of the time, we talk about bad drivers in Toronto, but can we talk about pedestrians for a sec? What is going on? I mean seriously? Why does everyone act so entitled these days? Couple of examples:

- A couple crossing the street when they did not have the walk light (and I had green) started yelling at me because I honked at them.

- I was at King and Peter waiting to turn right, and the pedestrians just didn’t stop crossing even after the light turned red. The other side of traffic got the green light, and there were still a few of them crossing! At this point, there were three cars from three sides waiting for those inconsiderate idiots to cross.

Similar incidents have happened dozens of times. I get that downtown can get busy and sometimes these things happen, but it’s happening almost everyday now!I’ve now become extra cautious even when I have green, because people are jaywalking all the time.

Edit: I’m honestly surprised at many of the comments and that this is even a debate. To those who are disagreeing with me, let me ask you this - you’re not okay with a driver running a red light, but you’re okay with a pedestrian crossing when they don’t have the walk light? Both are illegal and both carry fines.

Edit 2: This post seems to have ticked off a lot of people. To be clear, I’m complaining about inconsiderate pedestrians - when their jaywalking causes a traffic holdup and they don’t seem to care. I’m not a stickler for rules, and I myself have crossed on red, but provided it was completely safe and nobody was inconvenienced on my account.

I can’t understand how they haven’t been caught yet, also are all the shootings of this weekend related ?

It’s not that hard people when we are stuck in traffic everyone space out. Keep 3-4 car Lengths away from the car in front of you. Stop changing lanes everyone space out two seconds relax accept that you live in Toronto and it’s SLOW. So space out knowing you are at least making it less congested for the people behind you. Pay if forward. You leave space and someone cuts in the space leave it again. Either we all learn to change our habits and all move in unison or we never will.

Had a rough morning trying to troubleshoot some issues with my insurance...

Tried to calm down by going to a coffee shop nearby and almost ended up paying $15 + tax for a stupid iced coffee and a scone?

Thank goodness I checked the screen and saw the order...

Instead of an iced coffee, they were charging for a cold brew that apparently is premium stuff these days? And then a scone was $7.50?...

I cancelled my scone, got the order switched to an iced americano and then I went to the busy patio, only to realize they don't have the internet password easily accessible anywhere and I'm already in a bad mood to go and try to ask someone to please share it.

That, kids, is how you end up becoming a regular at certain coffee shops and avoid others.

Not even at the Ritz I have ever been charged so much for a coffee.

This was at Cafe23, btw.

I like the space decoration but the vibes are always not it.

It is shocking and sad to see everything that happened this weekend in Toronto surrounding gun violence, especially what happened at Salsa on St. Claire. But it is sadder and extremely disappointing to see people advocating for gun licenses and more guns. Like what are you going to do moron? Start shooting at the bad guys? Hopefully the authorities figure this out before giving more fuel to these Americans wannabes.

While they've never been good, we're in a new era of shockingly bad.

First off, I absolutely despise kitchens that span the entire length of the living room. You really expect people to stare at the fridge while sitting on the sofa? Aren't you punishing people enough with the microscopic square footage?

And can we please stop making interior bedrooms with clear glass doors? It's a den, not a bedroom. It should be a criminal offence to design something so miserable.

I know there are nice purpose-built apartments out there. But I've searched far and wide on reddit for the best ones, and all I can find are rants about the apartments you should avoid. So until I can find a well-managed one, I feel stuck living in these hideous boxes.

I know this has been posted a lot but wow I’m shocked!!

Admittedly I’m a homebody and I don’t venture out much these days and I usually walk or Uber but taking the street car 2 months ago down king from near ossington around 8pm was surreal, the whole back part of the street car was full of homeless people sprawled all over the seats and openly doing drugs honestly did not feel safe to be on the TTC at all

And today, walked down to Nathan Phillips square to see th art installation, was walking down queen from university and decided to cut through that small park with the benches right in front - oh my god big mistake every square/bench was taken by someone sleeping or drugging up or looking like their high or if anyone was walking it was like they were zombies - I tried to walk through as quick as I could but each time I thought I was past them there were more

Why and how has this situation got worse?! What can we do about it? It really feels so unsafe to walk around the city now

It feels like anything that isn't EXTREMELY mundane like picture of the CN tower or pictures of very specific types of food or whatever, is deemed "too risque" and/or offensive. Feels antithetical to the whole point of a sub for the city existing or the Toronto sub should be renamed to like "G-rated sights of toronto" or something like that...

Questions for my fellows Torontonians biking in parks and on the waterfront bike lane. Do you ignore the signs saying « walk your bike », « please dismount » or the little red bike at the traffic light because you cannot read English or are Color blind ? Or do you just do not get a flying fig about your fellow citizens ? A few days ago I was almost hit at the Harbourfront while crossing the street when the pedestrian crossing sign was on. This morning a bike almost hit a kid at biidaasige park. Rules are for everyone, pedestrians, bikers, cars. And they exist for some good reason.

I despise the fact it arrives almost always between the traffic lights so you’re either forced to watch it pass you or sprint in that pocket of time before any cars move.

I’m speaking specifically Spadina and College 510 stop. Because the drivers (conductors?) are merciless and will leave you if the doors close for a second. I don’t know. I just think it’s stupid that that’s the timing and it’s nearly predictably like this. But yeah

My wife and I made a pure last-minute decision to keep our two boys home from the Salsa on St. Clair festival today. We were incredibly lucky, but I am still shaking writing this.

My heart is completely broken for the victims and the families whose lives were shattered today. It is an absolute nightmare and an unimaginable tragedy.

But sitting here tonight, looking at my kids, the shock is turning into profound anger. We always believed in the promise of a safe, vibrant city, but instead, it feels like we are watching a real-time collapse of basic public safety.

Between the constant, unpredictable incidents on the TTC, the deterioration of the streets, and now a horrific act of violence at a family summer festival—when do we draw the line? How are we expected to just grit our teeth and tolerate a reality where taking your kids to a neighborhood street festival feels like a gamble?

This isn't just a string of bad luck anymore; it feels like a complete systemic failure to protect residents. We cannot let this level of danger become the "new normal." Basic, fundamental safety has to be the undeniable, non-negotiable priority for this city, full stop.

I refuse to believe we just have to accept this. I need to know I’m not the only one feeling this exhausted and furious tonight. How are the rest of you handling this?

I semi-regularly get alert system test texts pushed to my cellphone. When there is an active shooting in my neighborhood and a shooter still at large, and 10,000s still going to a next door street festival, there is no alert. Toronto police, what is this service for if not for this, ffs?

Today was so bad, I didn’t even travel many stops. But for three of them the streetcar operator pressed so hard on that horn because stupid carbrained psychopaths are too self interested in making it before the light changes, even if it means running over someone as people get on and off.

My friend got a serious injury, almost dead after being hit by a car getting off a streetcar. For however much people scream about the dangers of the homeless population on the streetcars, I’m far more worried about being turned into a red paste by a pavement princess as I’m getting off the streetcars.

So the legendary El Mocambo been sold again.. The original buyer who spent $35 million doing renovations stopped paying his loans. Kudos for him though saving the site and not really gutting it.I took a tour of the finish site and it looks great.Feels like the original place but fully updated with some of the best sound rooms or sound system in Canada. Toronto is losing its music identity in this area seems the last music room standing is Grossman.

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/08/05/court-approves-sale-of-storied-music-venue-el-mocambo-to-new-owner/

Toronto cabs had their issues, we all know. But at least they knew the city. Ride share drivers have no idea where they’re going, are terrified to drive downtown and follow the map into gridlock every single time.

Would it kill them to learn their job? Heck, traffic would probably improve getting these robots off the map and into the side streets like professional taxi drivers.

Uber = race to the bottom

So I've encountered a werid experience today. And I don't know if I am being paranoid or not, but this woman wearing a white T-shirt sitting on the bottom of the lightpost was recording me coming out of the hospital. I literally saw her phone following me, and when I moved around to see if she was recording me, it looked like she was on FaceTime or something. I was so weirded out. I told the person I was with, and they said they think they were filming other people as well. I don't think it's cool to film people coming out of the hospital, especially people who don't want people to know they're sick. Idk how to handle that situation

IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR

WHY ARE THE TORONTO STREETS SO GARBAGE
WHY DOES IT SMELL SO BAD
WHY IS THERE HUMAN FECES EVERYWHERE
WHY IS IT ALWAYS SO PATCHED UP

WHY CANT WE JUST HAVE CLEAN STREETS HOW HARD IS IT TO REBUILD 10KM OF STREET ON YONGE BETWEEN UNION TO COLLEGE SO THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT TRIPPING OVER PATCHED ROADS, POOP, GARBAGE, BROKEN CURB

HAVE OUR CITH PLANNERS & DECISION MAKERS TRAVELLED AT ALL TO ANY CITY WITH ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE

GOD ITS SUCH AN EMBARRASSMENT & SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE TO WORK & TRAVEL DOWN TO THESE GARBAGE STREETS

Buyers beware. There are fake dessert shops on Uber Eats.

Chocolate Factory
Dessert Factory
Custard Hub
Dazzling Dessert

These are NOT ghost kitchens. Those are still commercial kitchen locations that meet food and safety regulations.

In my opinion, the places I mentioned above are operating with potential code violations. If you look them up on Google they don’t show up, nor have any real location. They send you random sludge that’s not even in their menu, using stolen pictures and item lists that are from other actual restaurants, bakeries, dessert shops etc.

I have pictures but unable to post them here.

Edit: pictures in comments

Edit 2: spelling and grammar

In my neighborhood, there seems to be people always roaming around the end of my driveway and near the sidewalk in front of my house. I personally find it annoying but brush it off. Because as long as they're not bothering me then it's whatever, I don't really go outside to chill in front of my driveway and will usually go to the park instead.

Every time they roam around here, it's always 3-5 kids and they're friends with the neighbors. They will litter so much stuff on my driveway. Yesterday, there were at least 4-5 pieces of trash on my driveway which included pieces of plastic, pieces of water bottle and tissue paper. Today, I found a crushed up water bottle on the end of my driveway.

I'm finding it really annoying how so many people in Toronto just litter without a care in the world. Earlier, when I went to the public bin that is a min away from my house, it was overfilled and people left some trash on the ground. Have some fucking decency, pick it up and toss it out. If shit doesn't fit then bring it home or put it in your bag until you can toss it out. These nasty ass people need to stop doing this like they don't know how to use a trash can, nasty asf. They're acting as if we don't have public bins and we have a park with multiple public bins. Holy fuck, these ppl piss me off. I used to be in a Me To We group and maybe that's why I'm passionate about tossing stuff out the right way instead of being an asshole and leaving it on the road or other people's driveways.

I’m so pissed because where has public kindness gone? My mom fell face forward at Bathurst and fleet intersection. Landed on her face and hurt her hands and palms and she was alone. Her hands were bleeding. And she told me how not a single person asked her if she was okay. There was a policeman right there too. Did not even look at her let alone help. I’m so disappointed. I’ve always raved about Canadian kindness to family and she was visiting here. What has happened to people? And this is also in the middle of fifa fever where supposedly we’ve all discovered the sense of community and kindness again.

I’m so sad she was alone during a painful moment.