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Toronto Raptors tease a new look and fans have theories

Marley Dickinson, Offside — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:12:47 -0400

The Toronto Raptors are teasing us with something.

On Tuesday, the team shared what appears to be a revamped logo on Instagram, along with the date "09.15.26" written underneath it. The teased "TR" logo draws similarities to a previous purple and red monogram-style alternate logo the Raptors used between 1995 and 2006.

There has been no word on what the new logo will represent, but Raptors fans already have plenty of theories.

The teased logo (right) appears to be a revamped graphic of a former alternate monogram logo the Raptors used from 1995 to 2006. (@Raptors/Instagram)

Speculation is running wild on Reddit.

Several fans think the team is finally moving away from its minimalist red-and-white basketball with the raptor claw and could be preparing for a complete rebrand. Others think the tease could be for a new alternate jersey for the 2026-27 season.

"Really hoping it's a rebrand that would take us back to the clean look we had from 2015 to 2020," one fan wrote on Reddit.

"Apparently there are going to be NBA Cup jerseys," another fan speculated.

The team hasn't had a new permanent alternate logo since it dropped the dinosaur and introduced its current simplified circular logo with the raptor claw marks in 2015.

If that's the case, the timing of the new logo couldn't be better, with the team expected to be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference this season.

According to NBA 2K27, the Toronto Raptors are rocking new warmup gear this coming season.

Not sure if that's a hint at a potential rebrand in the near future or not. 🧐 👀 https://t.co/Q84VpU2jse pic.twitter.com/EpC8FWp312
— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) August 26, 2026

The new logo actually made its first appearance a few weeks ago in an NBA Nike-branded jersey advertisement on Instagram. It was then spotted again on Toronto's warm-up shirts in the NBA 2K27 video game, which is set to be released on Sept. 4.

Whatever the logo ends up being used for, it appears Raptors fans will have to be patient and wait until Sept. 15 to find out.

Toronto Raptors should take a gamble on this two-time NBA All-Star

Marley Dickinson, Offside — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:28:50 -0400

The Toronto Raptors are one of just three NBA teams with two open roster spots less than a month before training camp, and there are some questions around the team's plans to fill them.

The biggest move of the summer for the Raptors front office was by far the now-pending blockbuster deal for two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. The team also acquired another solid veteran forward in Kyle Anderson.

Even if the Leonard trade goes through, the Raptors will still need to sign one more player to a standard contract before the regular season begins to meet the NBA minimum 14-player roster rule. Toronto currently has 13.

One of those open spots could go to a former two-time NBA All-Star looking for another chance to prove he still has what it takes to play in the league.

In a recent Players' Tribune article, Victor Oladipo wrote an open letter to the league's 30 general managers, asking for someone to take a chance on the 34-year-old former Most Improved Player Award winner.

Victor Oladipo, twice an All-Star, pens an open letter to NBA GMs insisting at 34: "I believe I can be a valuable contributor to an NBA locker room. And what I'm asking for right now is an opportunity to prove it." https://t.co/cpEnRPiSwt
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 1, 2026

"I believe my body is finally right," Oladipo wrote. "I believe I still have GREAT (and more importantly WINNING) basketball in front of me. I believe I can be a valuable contributor to an NBA locker room. And what I'm asking for right now is an opportunity to prove it."

Oladipo hasn't played in the NBA in three seasons after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his left knee ahead of the 2022-23 playoffs. He did, however, return to playing basketball last season, playing 26 games for the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee's development team. The 6-foot-3 point guard averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.

The Raptors have a young backcourt and could honestly use the help of a veteran guard off the bench behind Immanuel Quickley, especially given his injury history since being traded to Toronto midway through the 2023-24 season.

Last season, Toronto relied on young guards Jamal Shead and Ja'Kobe Walter when Quickley went down. While both players have a ton of potential on both ends of the floor, Oladipo's scoring presence could give the Raptors some flexibility at the position if injuries strike again.

Victor Oladipo guards former Toronto Raptors star Kyle Lowry at the 2019 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles. (Richard Mackson/USA TODAY Sports)

If Toronto were to give Oladipo a second chance, the team would have to sign him to a veteran-minimum deal because of its current salary-cap situation.

The Raptors' trade for Leonard means Toronto will now take on more salary and approach the NBA first apron threshold, meaning they are hard-capped at $209 million and restricted from signing players via the regular-season waiver market or via trade.

Since Oladipo is a free agent and not currently on an NBA roster, the first apron restrictions would not apply if the Raptors chose to pursue him.

Don't expect the Raptors to bite anytime soon.

Toronto will likely not make larger moves until the Leonard investigation is fully wrapped up. Still, Oladipo is an intriguing name for a team with a couple of open roster spots and a need for veteran depth.

Ontario preparing for what could be one of the strongest storms of the year

Kimia Afshar Mehrabi — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:19:15 -0400

September is kicking off with a bang, as Ontario braces for a multi-day stretch of severe thunderstorms that could bring torrential downpours, damaging winds, and even isolated tornadoes across the province this week.

According to The Weather Network's latest report, a low-pressure system in northwestern Ontario could result in severe thunderstorms on Tuesday, with the possibility of heavy rain, strong winds, and large hail.

The multi-day event is set to begin on Tuesday afternoon, with isolated thunderstorms near Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. While the storms could potentially move towards the GTA and the Niagara Region, short bursts of precipitation (between 30 and 60 minutes) are much more likely here.

Latest HRRR model is doubling down on tomorrow's severe weather potential across Southern #Ontario

Could be the most significant event of the year

Continues to show maxed out Tornado parameters east of Lake ##Huron

Will continue to monitor and post updates #OnWX #ONStorm https://t.co/9AzEBWvEPh pic.twitter.com/wrMz2RT79n
— WxOntario (@WxOntario1) September 1, 2026

The weather will become more unsettled on Wednesday, when a sweeping cold front from Michigan arrives in Ontario. This system will increase the potential for severe weather across southern and eastern Ontario, with risks of "torrential downpours, damaging winds, large hail, and the possibility of isolated tornadoes," according to the network.

"Morning rain may impact the GTA and Highway 401 corridor, with severe storms expected through the afternoon and evening," the report reads.

"The timing of Wednesday's storms remains uncertain. Storm activity is expected to develop across cottage country and into Quebec by early afternoon. Prefrontal rain could impact areas from the GTA to London earlier in the day."

Wednesday's daytime high is expected to feel like 37 C with the humidity, while Thursday's peak temperature of 25 C will feel more like 31 C.

Widespread Severe Thunderstorms continue to look likely tomorrow across a large portion of SW #Ontario and into parts of the #GTA

At this point, the circled area is at greatest risk of seeing the strongest storms

Torrential rain, large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes are all… https://t.co/9S570IoJkH pic.twitter.com/7AlFreRCuN
— WxOntario (@WxOntario1) September 1, 2026

The event is expected to come to a conclusion on Thursday, when — minus a few potential showers in the morning — precipitation will finally cease. Between Friday and Sunday, sunny conditions are expected in the GTA, with comfortable daytime highs between 23 C and 25 C.

Between Tuesday's high of 28 C and Sunday's overnight low of 11 C, Toronto's temperatures will swing by 17 C over the course of just a few days.

Despite the sunshine over the weekend, The Weather Network warns that showers and thunderstorms could return just in time for Labour Day, as more humidity builds up throughout the region.

Psychedelic trail of glowing lanterns transforming major Toronto destination

Sandeep Panesar — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:43:28 -0400

The Toronto Zoo is transforming part of its sprawling grounds into a nighttime trail packed with thousands of illuminated animal displays for the debut of its Glow in the Wild attraction.

The new experience, which takes guests through the Americas, Australasia and Core Woods, aims to offer a completely different way to experience the property after dark.

The new after-hours experience takes visitors on an approximately 1.5-km outdoor walk through sections of the zoo, with giant lantern installations and light displays, making for plenty of photo-ops along the path.

Along the trail, visitors will encounter more than 2,000 handcrafted lantern displays — 90 per cent made from recyclable materials — inspired by animals, nature and cultural stories.

Map of the Glow in the Wild path.

The installations offer more than just pretty lights, though. One of the event's main attractions focuses on the endangered Blanding's turtle, a display developed with an Indigenous artist, which uses lantern art and storytelling to educate passersby on the species and the importance of protecting vulnerable wildlife.

Since the entire experience takes place outdoors, you'll want to plan your visit accordingly. The event will continue through a range of weather conditions, including rain and snow, and considering the route covers roughly 1.5 kilometres, visitors should be prepared for a substantial outdoor walk.

Parking is always available on site for those driving to the attraction. But for anyone taking transit, a temporary TTC shuttle operates on Route 200 between Meadowvale Loop and the Zoo. The service is expected to run every 10 to 15 minutes, beginning half an hour before Glow event times and continuing for about 30 minutes after the event.

Please note that this temporary Glow shuttle schedule won't appear on the regular TTC website.

Glow in the Wild opens on Wednesday, Sep. 2, 2026, will run Thursday to Sunday until Jan. 3, 2027, with extra dates to be added around the December holiday period.

Hours of the attraction vary by date; the earliest slot guests can purchase is 6 p.m., and the latest is 9:15 p.m., so visitors should check the ticket calendar for available entry times.

The Zoo recommends booking ahead, particularly for popular nights and the holiday season. Tickets are $38 plus applicable taxes and can be purchased directly on the Toronto Zoo's website.

It should also be noted that Glow in the Wild admission is separate from regular daytime Zoo admission. Anyone visiting during the day who wants to return for the evening event must leave when normal zoo hours end and return with a valid Glow in the Wild ticket.

One of Toronto's favourite date night spots is closing to make way for a new restaurant

Phoebe Knight, Dished — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:43:27 -0400

Martine's Wine Bar, a rustic-elegant spot in Little Italy created by Hailey Burke and Grant Van Gameren (Bar Raval), may have only been open for a little over two years, but my oh my, did it ever have an impact on Toronto.

The eclectic Palmerston restaurant almost immediately soared to the top of everyone's must-visit list, earning particular stars for its finesse as a date-night spot. Anecdotally, I can count on two hands the number of romantic success stories I've heard of blossoming at Martine's. None of my own, mind you, but that's fine. I'm not bitter or anything.

Soon, though, Martine's will become little more than a passing mention in future wedding speeches, as Burke and Van Gameren prepare to close up shop and flip it into something that, dare I say, might just be even better.

Exhibit A: The new restaurant, called Casa Rubia, will build off Bar Raval's mastery of Spanish cuisine in a new, steakhouse-esque environment.

Exhibit B: Chef Zach Smith (Fat Rabbit, Bar Les Incompetents, Bar Raval) has signed on to the project as a chef and partner alongside Burke and Van Gameren.

Casa Rubia's team: Grant Van Gameren, Hailey Burke, Zach Smith, and a suckling pig.

"Spanish food has been a huge part of my career, so Casa Rubia feels like a natural return to it, but with a different perspective," says Smith. "The opportunity to work with Hailey and Grant, in this room, just felt like the right project at the right time."

With a name derived from Rubia Gallega, a cattle breed native to Galicia, you can expect to find plenty of cuts of Rubia Gallega beef on the menu, but you'll also be able to sink your teeth into a diverse array of other Northern Spanish (and Span-ish) dishes.

Wood-fired suckling pig, bone marrow with grilled scallops and sea urchin, langoustine and smoked tuna carpaccio and whole-roasted turbot are among the non-beef standouts on the restaurant's opening menu.

Similarly, Burke's cocktail program includes a diverse selection of classics with a Spanish twist, like the house specialty, the Casa Rubia Martini, which consists of gin, vodka, Manzanilla sherry and Spanish dry vermouth, with atomized peat, tarragon, sea salt and sea asparagus. The wine list, curated by Wine Director Lexi Wolkowski, is built upon the foundation of Spanish and Atlantic wines.

"I want the drinks to feel like they belong at the table," says Burke. "You can start with a Martini, move into Spanish wine during dinner, have vermouth somewhere in between and finish with a digestif. It should feel easy and generous."

Where Martine's was lauded for its refreshingly rustic interiors, Casa Rubia will carry the flame in shades of oxblood and cream, with salvaged pine and plaster paying homage to old-world restaurants.

"I have a feeling Rubia is going to be a very special place," Van Gameren says. "The food feels natural and the presentation unique. I think it's exactly what Toronto needs right now."

Casa Rubia will be located at 293 Palmerston Ave. and officially opens its doors on Thursday, Sep. 24.

Stretch of popular Toronto street will shut down this month for huge music festival

Sandeep Panesar — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:04:31 -0400

Looking for another reason to party on one of the city's most happening streets? You're in luck: Sound on Geary returns to Toronto on Geary Avenue later this month, turning more than a kilometre of the street into a giant outdoor music festival.

This music festival features eight individual stages with programming presented by several of the city's popular music and nightlife hotspots. Attendees will experience a packed street with live artists and food options that truly represent Geary Avenue, one of Toronto's "most interesting streets."

As a music-forward attraction, music fans are in for a real treat all night long; expect an eclectic mix of sounds, from pop and hip-hop to punk and experimental music.

One of the night's highlights will be the return of the Blood Brothers Battle of the Bands, taking place at the Sound Garage, a festival tradition in which six local bands will go head-to-head for a $500 cash prize and studio recording time.

Beyond being an open-air attraction with plenty of food and music, the best part is that it's completely free. And if social media reactions are any indication, Toronto residents are excited to get the party started on Sept. 19, when the street will turn into pedestrian-only territory.

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A post shared by Sound On Geary (@soundongeary)

The comment section of the official announcement on Instagram is flooding with excitement, with people saying things like "Something major is happening" and "Geary is the best!" to add to the hype.

Sound on Geary is happening on Sept. 19 from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., with the festival footprint spanning roughly 1.2 kilometres of the street, stretching from Ossington to Primrose.

Toronto Blue Jays fan favourite Ernie Clement gets engaged

Marley Dickinson, Offside — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:08:28 -0400

One of the most popular players on the Toronto Blue Jays is reportedly on his way to signing a lifetime contract with his partner.

Ahead of the Blue Jays' big three-game road series against the Cleveland Guardians, Ernie Clement has reportedly proposed to his longtime partner, Stefanie Brejcha.

The couple has not publicly announced the engagement, but a photo of Brejcha wearing an engagement ring was shared on Instagram by Clement's former Blue Jays teammate Joey Loperfido's fiancée, Faith.

Clement and Brejcha hard-launched their relationship in January 2024, though the two are believed to have met while the infielder was in the Cleveland Guardians organization in late 2022.

A screenshot of Brejcha's engagement ring was shared to her friend's Instagram story on Monday. (@faith_reilly/Instagram)

Brejcha attended nearby Kent State University, about an hour south of Cleveland, and grew up in Mentor, Ohio, a suburb of the city.

The 30-year-old has had his partner in attendance for several Blue Jays postseason games last season, and the pair most recently walked the red carpet together at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

At that game, Clement started at second base for the American League after receiving the most votes among all AL players.

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A post shared by @stefanie_brejcha

Clement has become a fan favourite in Toronto since signing a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays in 2023. It was his record-setting 2025 postseason, where he recorded a single-postseason-record 30 hits, that turned him into a household name across Canada and the rest of the league.

He prides himself on showing up in the biggest moments and currently leads all Blue Jays players in hits and games played this season. And now, with his engagement, he has a bigger moment still to come.

Toronto bar now offering a $1,000 cocktail that comes with a ride in a Rolls-Royce

Phoebe Knight, Dished — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:43:17 -0400

A luxe Toronto bar is offering the city's residents an experience that'll make even the most average of us feel like A-Listers — it just happens to come with a $1,000 price tag.

Toronto has seen its fair share of steep-priced dining experiences, from a $123 hot dog to a $1,000 Surf and Turf, but luxury doesn't always need to speak the language of sticker shock to get noticed.

At dbar, the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto's polished ground-floor bar, for example, the opulent offerings come with moderately more palatable price tags: cocktails, though still pricey, typically float around the $30 mark.

The key term here is typically, though, because from Sept. 8 to 20, dbar is introducing what may just be one of Toronto's most over-the-top — and expensive — new cocktail experiences. In honour of TIFF, such excess is only fitting.

Clocking in at a cool $1,000, dbar's new tableside cocktail, The Final Cut XO Sazerac, is equal parts beverage and experience.

Crafted by dbar Assistant Manager Holly Forgrave, the cocktail is crafted using Rémy Martin XO Cognac and 16-year-old Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky, the former of which runs around $250 a bottle, and the latter around $175.

In true Sazerac fashion, it's then finished off with Absinthe, Peychaud's bitters, lemon oil, and sugar tableside.

The experience doesn't end once you've taken the last sip of your cocktail, though. Seeing as — one can only imagine — the experience of sipping a $1000 cocktail at one of the city's most premium hotels might just make you feel like quite the high roller, you'll likely want to keep the night going after your trip to dbar.

Lucky for you, the cocktail experience comes with a free ride in the hotel's Rolls-Royce to your next location, anywhere within the hotel's 2-km radius. If you happen to have a spare $1,000 lying around, this may not be the most fiscally responsible way to use it, but it sure would be the most fun: almost like the adult version of Home Alone 2.

The Final Cut XO Sazerac is only available once a night from 4 p.m. on, by walk-in only.

Toronto temperatures are going to swing by 17 C this week

Kimia Afshar Mehrabi — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:00:42 -0400

Although summer is technically winding down with just three weeks left until the official start of fall, Toronto is getting one last taste of sweltering summer weather this week before temperatures take a noticeable dip.

September is already underway, but Toronto is in for several more days of heat this week, with temperatures expected to feel well into the high-30s before things cool down considerably this weekend.

Tuesday is gearing up to be the hottest day of the week, with a daytime high of 28 C expected to feel closer to 39 C with the humidity. There's also a chance of showers and a risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon, while fog patches are expected to dissipate in the morning.

Environment Canada's 7-day forecast for Toronto.

Things will just barely cool off on Wednesday, when the high is expected to reach 28 C again (although it'll feel more like 37 C with the humidity). By Thursday, temperatures will just barely ease, with a few showers possible in the morning and a daytime high of 27 C.

The weather is expected to finally settle just in time for the weekend on Friday. Temperatures are set to reach a pleasant 26 C, though the humidity will make it feel closer to 31 C. Sunny conditions are expected to stick around through Saturday and Sunday, with highs of 25 C and 24 C, respectively.

And while it'll still feel warm on Sunday, temperatures are expected to fall to just 11 C overnight, marking a 17 C swing from Tuesday's scorching conditions.

If you're already wondering what the rest of September has in store weather-wise, the Old Farmer's Almanac is offering an early glimpse at what the month ahead has to offer.

According to its long-range weather forecast for southern Ontario, the period between Sept. 5 and 8 is expected to be warm, with a risk of thunderstorms. From Sept. 9 to 16, southeastern Ontario could see showers, while areas farther west are expected to get sunny and cooler conditions.

The week of Sept. 17 to 23 is expected to be cool across the region, with showers followed by more sunny weather. The final week of September is anticipated to bring a rainy and chilly stretch as the month comes to a close and October approaches.

Overall, the Old Farmer's Almanac is forecasting an average temperature in September of 15 C, which is 1 C below average. Precipitation totals are expected to reach 115 mm — approximately 25 mm above average for the month.

Two of Toronto's most stunning condo tower plans scrapped for something new

Jack Landau — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:44:46 -0400

Two of the most impressive condo towers planned for Toronto have been quietly scrapped in favour of a new student residence project, and if you were expecting the new vision to look anywhere near as interesting as the last, I have bad news for you.

The pair of side-by-side condo visions at 210 Bloor Street West and 208 Bloor Street West were primed to be among the coolest new residential towers in Toronto.

That is, until the two sites were combined into a single assembly, and the ambitious architectural visions were replaced by a watered-down design for a 36-storey student residence tower from Turner Fleischer Architects.

Developer Plaza first proposed a 28-storey tower with a dazzling lattice of rose gold-hued metal at 208 Bloor Street West, just across from the Royal Ontario Museum in 2021 after reportedly purchasing the pencil-thin site in 2018 for $27 million.

Just next door, developer Tribute Communities submitted a re-zoning application in 2018 for a 29-storey Core Architects-designed condo building replacing the longtime music store, Remenyi House of Music, with a boutique luxury residence with just 42 ultra-luxe suites.

Previous plans for 208 and 210 Bloor Street West.

The updated plan now proposed in place of these two visions would rise 112.58 metres with a geometric exterior expression that, while still interesting in its own right, is an amalgamated pale imitation of the two luxury designs that came before.

The applicant stresses that the new proposal's massing is comparable to what was previously proposed on the now-conjoined sites, noting that "It is important to note that the built form generally complies with the approved zoning envelope" under the previous zoning by-law amendments.

In fact, the new vision is so similar that the project team even tried to pursue the change through minor variance applications typically used for small deviations from existing zoning.

However, the City of Toronto's Committee of Adjustment refused these applications, and the developers were forced to turn to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Now, the project team thinks even the provincial appeals process is too slow, and has since opted to submit a new rezoning application with the City of Toronto "out of an abundance of caution to ensure that appropriate and much-needed student housing can be implemented on a timely basis."

TTC will be nightmare of early closures and weekend shutdowns this month

Jack Landau — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0400

The TTC subway network will be a total mess of early closures and weekend shutdowns this month, with normal operations scheduled on only eight of 30 calendar days in September across the system.

Four stretches of the TTC subway will operate with early nightly closures in September, along with two scheduled weekend closures and one weekend late opening.

It is shaping up to be a rough month on the rails in Toronto, so here's everything you'll need to know to plan ahead.

Monday, August 31 to Thursday, September 3

The first planned disruption of September is already upon us to launch into the month, with Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) between St George and Broadview stations closing early starting at 11:59 p.m. nightly through Sept. 3.

Tuesday, September 8 to Friday, September 11

Another planned outage will follow a few days later, when Line 1 (Yonge-University) will shut down early nightly from St Clair to College stations at 11:59 p.m.  

Sunday, September 13

Your groggy Sunday morning errands might involve a shuttle bus this month, with Line 2 from St George to Broadview stations to open late at 11 a.m. on Sept. 13.

Monday, September 14 to Friday, September 18

The first in a series of September closures along Line 1, from St Clair to College stations, will see this stretch close early nightly at 11:59 p.m. for a full work week.

Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20

Surprisingly, the first full-weekend closure of the month isn't scheduled for another few weeks, when Line 1 from St Clair to College stations will shut down for the final weekend of meteorological summer.

Monday, September 21 to Friday, September 25

If those early nightly closures and full weekend closure weren't enough, Line 1 from St Clair to College stations will also close early for another full work week, shutting down nightly at 11:59 p.m.

Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27

The TTC will close out September with another full weekend closure on Line 1, this time affecting the stretch from Sheppard West to St Clair West stations.

Toronto to host free outdoor pool parties for dogs starting this weekend

Sandeep Panesar — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Summer in Toronto is incomplete without a pool party, and that rule applies to our beloved doggos just as much as it does to their humans.

Free annual dog swims return to select outdoor pools across Toronto starting this weekend, where your furry friends can dip and dive to their heart's content once humans have dried off for the season.

The rules of the yearly tradition remain unchanged: an adult (18+) must accompany the dogs, and each adult can bring up to two dogs. Only dogs are allowed in the pools, but pup parents must stay on the deck and supervise them at all times.

These free dog swims in Toronto don't require reservations, either. All you have to do is show up at the designated pool with your dog(s) and proof of rabies vaccination, and let your pups unleash their inner swimmers!

The free dog swim will be available on two days this season: Sept. 6 and Sept. 20, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The free dog swims in Toronto will be available at the following locations on Sept. 6:

Greenwood Park Outdoor Pool, 150 Greenwood Ave.
High Park Outdoor Pool, 1873 Bloor St. W.
Mitchell Field Community Centre, 89 Church Ave.
Lambton – Kingsway Outdoor Pool, 37 Marquis Ave.
Monarch Park Outdoor Pool, 115 Felstead Ave.
North Toronto Memorial Outdoor Pool, 213 Eglinton Ave. W.
Northwood Community Centre, 15 Clubhouse Crt.
Rotary Park Outdoor Pool, 25 Eleventh St.
Stanley Park South, 700 Wellington St. W.

On Sept. 20, the following pools will host the event:

Fairbank Memorial Community Centre, 2213 Dufferin St.
Goulding Community Recreation Centre, 45 Goulding Ave.
Heron Park Community Recreation Centre, 292 Manse Rd.
Kiwanis Outdoor Pool, 888 Cosburn Ave.
McGregor Park Community Centre, 2231 Lawrence Ave.
Riverdale Park East Outdoor Pool, 550 Broadview Ave.
Sunnyside Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool, 1755 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

Remember that admission to each of these events is on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring extra water to keep your pup hydrated at all times!

Fan Expo Toronto attendees call chaotic weekend a 'nightmare' and demand bigger venue

Sandeep Panesar — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Attendees of the 2026 Fan Expo Canada are calling this year's convention a "nightmare" after an extremely crowded weekend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre that left hundreds of visitors frustrated, uncomfortable and, in one reported incident, injured.

The annual pop-culture convention, which took place from Aug. 27 to 30, drew huge crowds to the city's main convention hall, but event-goers say the sheer number of people inside the venue made it difficult to navigate, let alone safely enjoy, the event.

Guests have since taken to platforms like Instagram and Reddit to share their disappointing experiences with the crowds, with everything from accessibility to the Artist Alley area — where narrow aisles reportedly left little room for people to stop and browse — being described as a torturous ordeal.

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Signs of overcrowding were already visible to many the moment they set foot inside the convention centre, but things got serious when an escalator going towards the Wolverine Sentinel head reportedly broke down amid the crowds.

According to online accounts, the escalator's brakes failed, causing it to plunge at full speed. "The escalator began moving really fast (with people on it), and everyone on it just began falling," someone described online. Unfortunately, some people did not make it out unscathed.

A firsthand account confirms that "the escalator cut a guy's leg really badly and EMS and security assisted him."

Screenshot via @choogiwa.

2026 Fan Expo Canada is also under fire for reportedly selling additional day passes on Aug. 29, despite the venue already being what some describe as dangerously packed and perhaps well over capacity. The overcrowding also affected some of the classic installations people flock to, including Artist Alley.

Screenshot via @fangirlreport.

"They need to rethink the aisles for Artist Alley. It was much narrower than in past years. And this caused a massive crowding issue to the point a lot of people couldn't even take time to look at what those artists offered," a Redditor complained.

For the unversed, the expo's Artist Alley is a section of the con that features professional and amateur artists and their work for purchase.

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Rather than comfortably browsing tables, some attendees say the congestion made it difficult to move through the area, with some also reporting fainting spells. "Four ambulances were called to the south building today around 4 p.m. because someone fainted. Someone else fainted outside the north building around the same time," another online user recounts.

Now, some attendees are calling for organizers to make significant changes before next year's event, including finding a larger venue or expanding the amount of space available throughout the convention.

Photo by: Fareen Karim.

One suggestion making the rounds is moving the event to Exhibition Place. "I think they should move it to the convention center at the CNE; it's much larger and able to accommodate way more people."

Another person chimed in on an Instagram reel, saying the expo, which first came to Toronto as Canadian National Comic Book Expo in 1995, has "needed a bigger venue since 2018."

Photo by: Fareen Karim.

Regardless of the complaints, the 2026 Fan Expo Canada drew massive crowds and promised a stellar roster of celebrities. Still, capacity and crowd management remain increasingly important considerations for organizers.

The expo's organizers were not available for comment at the time of publication.

Yet another phase of work starts for Union Station's endless reconstruction

Jack Landau — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Work recently began for another stage in Union Station's seemingly never-ending construction, and it will be years before there is any hope of a return to normal at Toronto's key transportation hub.

Metrolinx kicked off preliminary construction at Union Station in mid-August for its GO Expansion project, starting with the removal of a section of canopy over two platforms to facilitate platform widening.

Crews are now preparing to remove the canopy over existing tracks 11 and 12, which is set to come down in December.

It's not a change anyone is going to get super worked up about in the grand scheme of things, but when you zoom out to the broader construction waves the station has endured for the better part of two decades, it would be understandable if people got annoyed about the sight of more construction fencing going up at Union.

The City of Toronto's multi-year revitalization of Union Station, known as the Union Station Revitalization Project, launched in 2010 and, after 11 gruelling years of construction, was finally deemed complete in July 2021, but most people at the time weren't falling for it.

The $824-million upgrade saw Union Station's floor area increase by roughly 14 per cent, more than tripled GO's concourse capacity, added roughly 160,000 square feet of retail and dining, improved PATH connections, and enclosed the station's moats in glass canopies.

However, those were just the City's upgrades to Union Station, and Metrolinx had its own round of changes that have continued pretty much non-stop ever since.

The work now being carried out as part of Metrolinx's similarly named but totally unaffiliated Union Station Enhancement Project is just the latest in a project launched in early 2022 to prepare the rail hub for GO Transit's planned partial electrification by 2036 and two-way, all-day service every 15 minutes or faster.

Once these upgrades are complete, Metrolinx says Union Station will have the capacity to run up to 80 trains per hour during peak periods, which is four times the current level.

As of 2026, it has been 16 years since Union Station was free of construction, and it could be several more until the dust and noise finally settle for good.

TTC subway just got safety barriers but people think they're useless

Jack Landau — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:15:30 -0400

New safety barriers installed at TMU (formerly Dundas) Station could potentially save your life, but in most practical applications, most people think they're totally useless.

Toronto commuters have for years called for platform-edge doors to be installed in TTC subway stations amid growing concerns about subway-pushing incidents and mental health-related injuries on the city's rapid transit network.

But new barriers that debuted at TMU Station last week have been met with a harsh reception from transit users, criticized for their ineffective design and $2 million-per-station price tag, with commenters noting how anyone inclined to cross the barriers could simply walk around them.

Toronto has begun installing new $2 million per station platform fences. It's crazy that these basic fences cost as much as proper full size platform screen doors in other cities who can build cost effectively. https://t.co/FemKlSjK3H
— More Transit Southern Ontario (@moretransitso) August 28, 2026

City Councillors Josh Matlow and Brad Bradford are among those who have voiced opposition to the new barriers, with Matlow condemning the TTC's decision to install them back in June.

In response to the barrier rollout, Matlow reposted his comments from June, where he stated, "I strongly disagree with the TTC's decision to install barrier fences on subway platforms. I'm convinced it's a waste of money, and won't effectively prevent tragedies, trespassing onto the tracks or reduce subway delays. I support working toward installing real platform edge doors."

Bradford voiced anger about the new barriers, noting that it took 16 years of studies to get to this point. However, multiple commenters noted that Bradford had served four years on the TTC Board during this period.

In addition to their questionable effectiveness, the barriers are…well…just plain ugly.

Picture 1: After closing the Don Valley Trail for 3 years, here are the new barricades.

Picture 2: After years known need for platform screen doors on the subway, here are the Temu doors at TMU station.

We have an “ugly” problem in public projects in Ontario. We need to make… pic.twitter.com/7uSHlVpNBh
— Eric Lombardi (EricForOLP.ca) 🇨🇦🚀 (@EricDLombardi) August 28, 2026

The utilitarian appearance of these new safety measures has been another point of criticism, especially given the cost.

Retrofitting the TTC subway with cleaner-looking and far more effective platform-edge doors — considered the preferred alternative by just about everyone not footing the bill — has been estimated to cost between $44 million and $55 million per station, with a ballpark price tag exceeding $4 billion to fully retrofit the system.

There is a plan from the TTC to incorporate platform-edge doors into Bloor-Yonge Station into the busy interchange's reconstruction, but this element of the project remains unfunded.

The technology is indeed planned for the new Ontario Line, which is well under construction but still years from the finish line.