Hidden Gems Toronto

Send us a textRob 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.​Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

Send us a textThe 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! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

Send us a textTo 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.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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.  Residents are fortunate to have him in their corner.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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 listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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 sculpture which he then adapts to a larger finished piece that will occupy a public space in the community. By any measure, he is a cherished hidden gem.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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 relentless in her pursuit.In this episode, she talks about her experience to date and what she has planned moving forward. She is a force.  Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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 Mayor. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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 managerCatherine Campbell explains, the process working with artists is just as important as the final results.  Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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 Canada in a miniature but realistic and detailed fashion that literally takes your breath away. Jean-Louis tells us how it all came about and explains how thinking small, can sometimes pay big dividends. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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 Director of Partnerships and Development, Tricia Schers, pulls back the curtain and tells us how they do it and more importantly, how you can travel in a way that makes a difference.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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, yet their (Zach prefers the gender-neutral pronouns "they/them") compassion and respect for the homeless is on full display. They are a force for change in our city.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

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 much needed breath of fresh air. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

In this podcast we chat with the Executive and Creative Director of El Mocambo, the effervescent, Mike Chalut.  Mike talks about how the El Mocambo was completely renovated into a state of the art facility, while at the same time, paying homage to its illustrious past. It seems everyone has an Elmo story and you will hear lots of them in this podcast. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

In this month's podcast  we chat with Ben Lovatt, owner of the Skull Store and Prehistoria Museum.  He proudly calls his museum the worlds weirdest recycling centre and Canada's biggest oddity shop. When you see what Ben has on display,  you will quickly surmise that “odd” barely scratches the surface.  Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

For the past decade, Sgt. Derrick Gaudet has always referred to his police dog in the K9 unit as his partner. And why wouldn't he? His four-legged companion, Major, has played a vital role in solving numerous complex crimes in Canada. It was Major after all who, on a cold winter's day, found the remains of the bodies that were hidden in planters by serial killer Bruce McArthur. Derrick talks about their exceptional career together and the challenges of taking care of Major now that they have both retired.Retired RCMP officer, Stacey Talbot talks about Ned's Wish foundation, which helps cover the substantial medical bills for retired police dogs. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

In this podcast we tackle the issue of food waste and food production from two unique perspectives. Julia Girmenia works for a charity known as Not Far From The Tree. This creative organization has figured a way to not only salvage huge quantities of fruit that grows in our backyards, but has created a program that shares that fruit with homeowners, volunteers and people in need. Mike Gallay decided he would create a planter box where he could grow his own fruit and vegetables. Then he started to make more for others who liked what he had created. Well, that little project grew in leaps and bounds. To date Mike and his cohorts have produced more than 200 boxes to share with others. And what does Mike charge for these gems? Absolutely nothing. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

During a stressful time in her life, Julia Zarankin went searching for a new hobby and decided to give Birding a shot. This grew into a real passion that led to her writing a fascinating book about her experience. There are more than 350 bird species in Toronto and Julia is on a quest to see them all. After listening to her insights you may be compelled to dig out your old binoculars and become a birder yourself.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

For more than 35 years the charitable organization called Trailblazers has been  providing people with visual impairments an opportunity to ride around the city and points beyond on a tandem bike. We interview John Tam who is sighted and Geza Fenyo who is blind to talk about their experiences out on the trails. They have a very inspiring story to tell.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

The challenges facing an independent bookstore in Toronto are daunting. If book store owner Ben McNally made a list of the pros and cons of staying in business, the cons would win hands down. But fortunately for Toronto, Ben doesn't make lists; he sells books. Listening to Ben chat about his life in the book world, it is clear that he still opens a box of new books with the anticipation and giddiness of a kid on Christmas morning. After 50 years, he still loves what he does.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

For the past 15 years, nurse practitioner Bertha Hughes has worked in the Cardiovascular and Vascular Surgery Unit at St. Michael's Hospital in downtown Toronto. She has been a beacon of knowledge, compassion and hope for patients and their families who are undergoing traumatic and life-changing surgery. And despite all the challenges of COVID-19 and the overall state of nursing in Canada, she remains optimistic about the future of her profession.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

Gordon Precious is many things: a charming raconteur, an intrepid word traveller, an accomplished magician and a talented athlete, whose love of heli-skiing garnered him a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. And did we mention he is 97 years old? You are going to want to hear his story.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

For the past 15 years, New Circles has played a major role in helping new immigrants and people living in poverty in Toronto.  Located on an unassuming industrial street in Scarborough, this organization started out providing gently used clothing to people in need. And while that alone was a noble undertaking, New Circles evolved from providing just clothing to adding classes where clients can learn new skills that lead to employment and career opportunities.  If there is an overriding philosophy at New Circles it is that people living in poverty deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.  We talk with the executive director of New Circles and hear as well from a client who has benefited from taking their skills courses. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

There may not be a more iconic event that occurs annually in Toronto than the Santa Claus Parade. For more than 115 years, Jolly old St. Nick and his cohorts have marched through the streets of Toronto bringing joy to more than 500,000 onlookers and millions more on TV.  The parade has overcome some seemingly insurmountable obstacles over the years, including two world wars, a loss of its major sponsor, brutal snow storms, and now Covid. And during all this time, it has never missed a year.  In this podcast, the CEO of the Santa Claus parade, Clay Charters, pulls back the curtain and gives us an insider view of how this parade comes together each year. With a full-time staff of 12 people and more than 3000 volunteers, it's a wonder to behold. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

Mary Ladky is the executive director of the Children's Book Bank. Strategically located between Cabbagetown and Regent Park, the book store is set up in a converted Victorian style home. It is beautifully laid out and is very child friendly. After admiring the surroundings, you might notice that something is missing. There is no checkout counter.And that's because all the books are free. Mary talks about the history of the book bank and presents a compelling case on the benefits of children learning to read and the consequences for those who do not. We soon learn that Mary is a fierce champion of child literacy.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

Ryan Church has worn many hats in his young illustrious career. He is an entrepreneur,  designer, biologist and with many patents already in his name, he is an inventor. As an active environmentalist, it seemed only natural that his latest invention has the potential to seriously impact the amount of energy we can produce from Wind Turbines around the world. He is a great Canadian with a fascinating story to tell.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

Meet Charleen Beard. Her accordion playing father decided in 1957 to teach music lessons out of his basement. Since that opening, more than 10,000 students have walked through the doors of the Lippert Music Center. Charleen, who now presides over the business, gives us her take on the family business and shares her insights into the joy of learning to play a musical instrument.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

Two retired police officers bring more than 60 years of experience to bear on this intriguing tour of crime scenes in Toronto. It is an educational tour filled with amazing stories, insider analysis and even a healthy dose of humour. These are not your typical retired police detectives. Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto

Meet Martin Howard, a Torontonian who interacts with typewriters on a daily basis. He collects 19th century typewriters, and also buys, repairs and sells more recent models. His passion for typewriters inadvertently led him to acquire a prominent role in the critically acclaimed documentary, California Typewriter, where he shares the marquee with the likes of Tom Hanks, John Mayer and Sam Shepard.Thanks for listening! Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.netFollow us on Instagram at hiddengems.torontoand Facebook at hiddengems.toronto