Daily newspaper in Ontario, Canada
POPULARITY
Categories
Out Today on the Binge, What Happened to the Harrisons? From the outside, 3635 Pitch Pine Crescent looked like the kind of home where nothing bad could happen, the gathering place for every birthday and holiday. Until, one spring night when tragedy struck. In less than five years, three people would end up dead in the same house. Each time, the authorities found a way to explain it away. But the family who loved them knew something was wrong. Host Amy Dempsey Raven, an investigative reporter for the Toronto Star, spent more than a decade asking what really happened inside that house? Binge all episodes of What Happened to the Harrisons? Today by subscribing to The Binge. Visit The Binge Crimes on Apple Podcasts and hit ‘subscribe' or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access. The Binge – feed your true crime obsession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Coming soon to the Binge is What Happened to the Harrisons? From the outside, 3635 Pitch Pine Crescent looked like the kind of home where nothing bad could happen, the gathering place for every birthday and holiday. Until, one spring night when tragedy struck. In less than five years, three people would end up dead in the same house. Each time, the authorities found a way to explain it away. But the family who loved them knew something was wrong. Host Amy Dempsey Raven, an investigative reporter for the Toronto Star, spent more than a decade asking what really happened inside that house? Binge all episodes of What Happened to the Harrisons? September 1st by subscribing to The Binge. Visit The Binge Crimes on Apple Podcasts and hit ‘subscribe' or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access. The Binge – feed your true crime obsession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Thank you to Mary and her partner for the request! Picture an endless stretch of highway surrounded by thick forests where there's no cell service, and towns are hours apart. Back in July 2019, that quiet part of the Alaska Highway in Canada turned upside down when a young couple on a road trip were found shot in a ditch. Before anyone even knew what was happening, it turned into a massive cross-country crime spree and a frantic nationwide search to track down the killers. Join Jen and Cam as they discuss What the Raven Knows: The Alaska Highway Murders. Source: https://youtu.be/1zHWJtk3dnc?si=W2g3e04EHgCiDKJH Timeline: B.C. triple murders by Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky | Vancouver Sun Former classmates of northern B.C. murder suspect say he would describe killing himself, others | Globalnews.ca Bryer Alan Schmegelsky (2000-2019) - Find a Grave Memorial Kam Allan McLeod (2000-2019) - Find a Grave Memorial Chynna Deese, Lucas Fowler murder: Mum reveals heartbreaking final texts | news.com.au — Australia's leading news site for latest headlines Chynna Noelle Deese - Obituary - July 15, 2019 Lucas Robertson Fowler (1995-2019) - Find a Grave Memorial What We Know About the American-Australian Couple Murdered in Northern Canada The murders of Chynna Deese, Lucas Fowler & Leonard Dyck – A True Crime Podcast The Northern British Columbia Murders Port Alberni - Wikipedia Jul 29, 2019, page 8 - The Daily Sentinel at Newspapers.com™ Jul 24, 2019, page A6 - The Charlotte Observer at Newspapers.com™ Jul 21, 2019, page A13 - The Charlotte Observer at Newspapers.com™ Jul 23, 2019, page A4 - Asheville Citizen-Times at Newspapers.com™ Jul 26, 2019, page A12 - The Charlotte Observer at Newspapers.com™ Jul 19, 2020, page 1 - The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com™ Jul 19, 2020, page 8 - The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com™ Jul 21, 2020, page 2 - The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com™ Aug 16, 2019, page A8 - The Province at Newspapers.com™ Aug 08, 2019, page NP3 - The Vancouver Sun at Newspapers.com™ Aug 25, 2019, page 13 - The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com™ Aug 25, 2019, page 12 - The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com™ Aug 13, 2019, page A10 - Rimbey Review at Newspapers.com™ Dec 30, 2019, page A5 - Whitehorse Daily Star at Newspapers.com™ Jul 23, 2019, page A6 - National Post at Newspapers.com™ Jul 25, 2019, page A16 - The Free Press at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™ Sep 30, 2019, page A5 - Whitehorse Daily Star at Newspapers.com™ Oct 02, 2019, page A33 - Alberni Valley News at Newspapers.com™ Dec 20, 2019, page NP4 - Calgary Herald at Newspapers.com™ How the RCMP found Canada's most wanted fugitives with a raven, a Cree trapper and luck - The Globe and Mail New documents shed light on McLeod, Schmegelsky manhunt and 3 northern B.C. deaths 2019 Northern British Columbia murders - Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill dive into the NHL and Fanatics announcing plans to unveil “Hometown Remix” uniforms and apparel for all 32 NHL teams. What would the Leafs' remix look like—and what would we want to see?Plus, John Tavares' ongoing tax battle with the Canada Revenue Agency over the $15.25 million U.S. signing bonus he negotiated as part of his seven-year, $77 million U.S. contract to leave the New York Islanders and join the Leafs eight years ago.The boys also sift through what Morgan Rielly had to say about his summer and future in Toronto to the Toronto Star's Dave Feschuk and the media at Hockey Night in Brampton.And finally, they give their thoughts on Daily Faceoff listing the Leafs as one of the five most improved teams in the NHL this summer.
A reading of articles and features from the Monday August 17th issue of the Toronto Star
As the trade deadline looms, Ottawa tells premiers that U.S. booze may need to be put back on the shelves should the two countries reach a trade agreement. We dig into the latest with Rob Benzie, Queen's Park Bureau Chief of The Toronto Star.
A reading of articles and features from the Friday August 14th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Thursday August 13th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Thursday August 13th issue of the Toronto Star
Punishing American tariffs will kick in on August 19, unless Prime Minister Mark Carney's team strikes a trade compromise with Washington. Our National Affairs Panel -- The Globe and Mail's Stephanie Levitz and the Toronto Star's Ryan Tumilty -- on what's at stake.
A reading of articles and features from the Wednesday August 12th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Tuesday August 11th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Tuesday August 11th issue of the Toronto Star
Why are we seeing such a jump in costs? Can someone be 'too rich to rescue'? GUEST: Andy Takagi - transportation reporter with the Toronto Star
There's been talk of high-speed rain for generations in Canada and while there's been a lot of studies and political promises, there's not a lot to show for it. Finally, plans are taking shape for the Alto high-speed rail project, which could get you from Toronto to Montreal in just 3 hours. Except well before construction begins, it's facing push back.Farmers in Ontario and Quebec are worried about how the proposed route will affect their land. A growing chorus of politicians from the opposition Parti Quebecois to the federal Conservatives are pushing back on its massive price tag. And now, Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives in Ontario are also questioning the project. The Toronto Star's Queen's Park Bureau Chief Rob Benzie joins guest host Jason Markusoff to tackle the question: could political disagreement derail this long-awaited train project?For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts
A reading of articles and features from the Monday August 10th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Friday August 7th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Thursday August 6th issue of the Toronto Star
Seven years in, we're looking at what might just be the longest and most involved media defamation trial in Canadian history: former Alberta United Conservative Party candidate Caylan Ford is suing PressProgress, the CBC, Toronto Star and several others, for $7.65 million. She says that they wrongly portrayed her as a white supremacist, they say that they were only quoting her… Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Andrea Varsany (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Jen GersonPhotoFurther reading: Caylan Ford Statement of ClaimPressProgress Statement of ClaimDefend Canadian Journalism - Broadbent Institute Defend Canadian Journalism - PressProgress Litigation — Caylan FordSupport PressProgress - Defend Canadian JournalismCaylan Ford speaks out: Former UCP candidate reveals why she was “cancelled” | Keean Bexte Resisting the mob (feat. Caylan Ford) When the Mob CameAlberta Needs Anti-SLAPP Legislation! UCP Candidate Complained ‘White Supremacist Terrorists' Are Treated Unfairly, Leaked Messages ShowPress Progress claims my lawsuit is a frivolous SLAPP action. Here are the facts. Sponsors:oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free!Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.caIf you value this podcast, support us! You'll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You'll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you'll be a part of the solution to Canada's journalism crisis, you'll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A reading of articles and features from the Wednesday August 5th issue of the Toronto Star
On October 19th, Albertans will head to the polls to vote on whether or not there should be a referendum on staying a part of Canada or separating. So, how is the campaign to keep Canada united faring? What about the campaign for Alberta to leave? Today on Front Burner, guest host Jason Markusoff in Calgary speaks with Toronto Star opinion writer Richard Warnica about his reporting on both campaigns, the enthusiasm gap, and what it might mean for the future of the country.
A reading of articles and features from the Tuesday August 4th issue of the Toronto Star
Jim Richards speaks with criminal defence lawyer Monte McGregor about a troubling case involving fake Facebook messages and the growing challenge courts face in distinguishing real digital evidence from increasingly convincing fabrications. Then, listeners weigh in on a surprisingly passionate debate: Are minivans cool again? As millennials embrace practicality over image, Jim asks whether the much-maligned family vehicle is making a comeback. The hour wraps up with Mike Wilner, Toronto Star columnist and host of Deep Left Field, breaking down the Blue Jays' trade deadline moves and evaluating how GM Ross Atkins handled a pivotal moment for the franchise.
We hear your thoughts on the federal government pulling support for expanding the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and we'll hear from Rob Benzie, Queen's Park bureau chief for the Toronto Star.
When a realtor entered the Toronto home of Barry and Honey Sherman on December 15, 2017, she expected the couple to be out of town and the house to be empty. The agent showed a young couple around the massive home, room by room, and when they reached the bottom floor, where the pool was located, they found the bodies of the Shermans, leather belts cinched around their necks and secured to a metal railing. To the Toronto Police Homicide Squad, the deaths of Barry and Honey were suspicious, but they were hesitant to label the deaths a homicide and thought it was possible they were dealing with a case of murder-suicide. There was no sign of forced entry, nothing appeared to be missing, and other than the belts around their necks, only Honey had suffered obvious injuries. It took multiple autopsies and significant advocacy from the family, but eventually the Sherman's deaths were labeled a homicide. But the question remained, who would have wanted to kill the older couple, and if not for money, why? Mentioned in this Episode Preorder THE BUTCHER LEGACY! Can't make it to The Butcher Legacy Book Tour in person? Buy a Virtual ticket and get a signed copy and stream the Event live on 8/11! References Campbell, Matthew. 2018. The unsolved murder of an unusual billionaire. October 24. Accessed July 26, 2026. https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2018-apotex-billionaire-murder/. Donovan, Kevin. 2019. The Billionaire Murders: The Mysterious Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman . New York, NY: Viking. —. 2025. "'I'm playing blind' on who killed Barry and Honey Sherman, lead Toronto police detective admits." Toronto Star, October 28. —. 2019. "Police have working theory in Sherman case, court told." Toronto Star, April 25: 1. —. 2020. "Sherman probe focuses on video evidence." Toronto Star, Janaury 18: 1. Donovan, Kevin, Wendy Gillis, and Emma McIntosh. 2018. "Targeted." Toronto Star, January 27: 1. Friscolanti, Michael. 2018. What's slowing the cops down at Apotex headquarters. January 29. Accessed July 27, 2026. https://macleans.ca/news/barry-and-honey-sherman-murders-whats-slowing-the-cops-down-at-apotex-headquarters/. Gibson, Victoria , and Janet Kerr. 2017. "Billionaire and his wife found dead in home." Toronto Star, December 16. Gillis, Wendy, and Tamar Harris. 2017. "Family of Apotex drug founder blast Toronto police, call for a 'thorough, objective' investigation ." Toronto Star, December 17. Kingston, Anne. 2018. The other side of Barry Sherman. April 5. Accessed July 27, 2026. https://macleans.ca/news/canada/barry-honey-sherman-murders/. Lancaster, John. 2021. Court documents reveal more details about 2017 homicides of Barry and Honey Sherman. January 5. Accessed July 27, 2026. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/barry-honey-sherman-murder-2021-1.5860527. McKeen, Alex. 2017. "'I have always been very conscious on my personal mortality'." Toronto Star, December 21: 1. Tsekouras, Phil. 2022. Relative believes 'someone was making a statement' in murder of Barry and Honey Sherman, unsealed documents show. January 14. Accessed July 26, 2026. https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/relative-believes-someone-was-making-a-statement-in-murder-of-barry-and-honey-sherman-unsealed-documents-show/. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Dad Edge Podcast (formerly The Good Dad Project Podcast)
Jenna Free is a counselor who specializes in ADHD, and she doesn't teach it from a textbook, she lives it, having been diagnosed herself at 32. Her work zeroes in on the piece she says the field keeps missing: dysregulation. Through her ADHD regulation groups and her training for mental health professionals, she teaches a method built around regulating the nervous system, thoughts, and behaviors, and she's put it all into her bestselling book The Simple Guide to ADHD Regulation, a Toronto Star and Globe and Mail bestseller. The core idea here reframes almost everything men think they know about ADHD. Jenna argues that most of what gets labeled ADHD is actually an ADHD brain stuck in chronic fight or flight, and that it's fixable. She and Larry get into what's happening in the brain during dysregulation, the four survival responses, why potential keeps you stuck, and how simply refusing to fight with reality can change your whole day. If you or your kids have ever felt like putting on socks is a full body assignment, this one explains why. Timeline Summary [1:58] – Getting diagnosed at 32 and finally making sense to herself [3:28] – Four careers by 35, from marketing to modeling in South Africa to teaching [9:14] – Two kids under a year and a half apart and max fight or flight [9:57] – Your mess becomes your message [10:16] – The full bio: the ADHD regulation method and a bestselling book [13:16] – What's actually happening in an ADHD brain stuck in fight or flight [14:43] – Why the fight or flight symptom list looks almost identical to the ADHD one [15:49] – The socks story and how different life feels once you're regulated [18:58] – Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, and how each one shows up [20:39] – Why your body can't tell a to-do list from a bear [22:01] – Which survival response dominates, and whether gender or age matters [24:41] – Why this work is hard for kids and lands better with bought-in adults [25:28] – Hyperactive, inattentive, and combination types across the lifespan [26:28] – Where regulation actually starts, and why buy-in comes first [27:43] – Putting on your dysregulation goggles to see symptoms differently [29:26] – Giving yourself permission to regulate when survival mode resists it [32:44] – Physical regulation first: slowing down to signal safety to the body [35:14] – Potential versus reality and the shoulds that pull you back into panic [36:50] – The spilled box of gems and dropping the fight with reality in five seconds [38:27] – Larry's disputed parking charge and staying calm while everyone else panicked [43:12] – Do people with ADHD have less energy, or is it pouring onto the floor? [45:13] – Why Jenna's calming tone regulates her own body in real time [48:14] – How fawning and people pleasing trace back to the amygdala 5 Key Takeaways It's Often Fight or Flight, Not Just ADHD — Many of the symptoms people write off as permanent ADHD traits, the overwhelm, paralysis, and procrastination, are actually a nervous system stuck in survival mode. That part is treatable. Your Body Can't Tell a To-Do List From a Bear — Under chronic stress, blood flow leaves the prefrontal cortex so you can fight or run, which is exactly why you can't think clearly when you sit down to work. Buy-In Comes Before Any Technique — Regulation work is uncomfortable because your system thinks its old patterns are keeping you alive. You have to genuinely want the change to push through the resistance. Start by Physically Slowing Down — Walking instead of rushing, dropping your shoulders, and typing at a reasonable pace all signal safety to the body. Small shifts over time retrain the nervous system far better than fast, intense change. Stop Fighting With Reality — Shoulds, what-ifs, and "this shshouldn't have happened" throw you straight back into panic. Naming what is real and asking "now what" is one of the fastest ways to calm the system down. Links & Resources Episode page and all links: https://thedadedge.com/1512 Dad Edge Day with the Arizona Cardinals (November 15, Cardinals vs Rams, State Farm Stadium): https://thedadedge.com/nfl Enjoyed This Episode? If Jenna's reframing of dysregulation gave you a new way to understand your own brain or your kid's, put one piece of it to work. Catch yourself the next time you're rushing and physically slow down, and notice how quickly your body follows. If the show keeps delivering, follow, rate, and leave a review so more fathers can find these conversations. This episode discusses ADHD, disordered eating, and mental health. If any of it resonates personally, consider reaching out to a licensed professional who can offer support tailored to you.
A reading of articles and features from the Friday July 31st issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Thursday July 30th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Wednesday July 29th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Tuesday July 28th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Tuesday July 28th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Monday July 27th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Friday July 24th issue of the Toronto Star
Marineland Canada is officially closing, and this week the park began moving its remaining beluga whales out of Niagara Falls. Six belugas were flown out on a single flight this week, four to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and two to SeaWorld San Antonio, marking the start of a rescue effort that has been years in the making. Andrew walks through how the park got here, from its 1961 founding through decades of protests, whistleblower allegations, OSPCA charges, and a failed 2025 attempt to export the belugas to a Chinese aquarium. The episode traces the full timeline: the 2012 Toronto Star exposé that first exposed conditions at the park, trainer-turned-whistleblower Phil Demers and his years-long legal battle with Marineland, the 2019 passage of Canada's Free Willy Bill, and the deaths of Kiska the orca and Mary Holler, the park's last owner, which left the facility's future uncertain. Andrew also digs into why Marineland's plan to send the belugas to China was blocked and why sending them to accredited US aquariums, while still captivity, is being treated as the safer near-term option. Andrew shares his own take on the ethics of the situation, arguing that owning captive animals comes with an obligation to care for them regardless of a park's finances, and explains why release into open ocean is not a realistic option for whales that have never hunted on their own. He also covers the ongoing effort to build a whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia and the funding gap still standing in its way. Takeaways Marineland Canada is closing and moved its first six belugas to US aquariums this week The park's collapse followed over a decade of OSPCA charges, whistleblower allegations, and public protest A planned export of the belugas to a Chinese aquarium was denied by Canada's fisheries minister Belugas raised in captivity cannot be released directly into open ocean since they have never hunted on their own The Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia still lacks federal permits and full construction funding The land Marineland sits on is expected to be sold for development once the animals are relocated Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help you need with Pisces Oceans Inc.: https://www.piscesoceans.ca Connect with Speak Up For Blue Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube
A reading of articles and features from the Thursday July 23rd issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Wednesday July 22nd issue of the Toronto Star
Almost three years ago, some 200 inmates at Maplehurst Correctional Facility in Milton, Ont. were subjected to strip searches, zip ties and pepper spray during an violent incident that lasted more than a day. Since then, multiple sentences have either been shortened or thrown out, including a first-degree murder case from 2022. The provincial ombudsman has since launched an investigation to find out what exactly happened during the incident, and why prison officials reportedly lied about it. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Brendan Kennedy, an investigative reporter with the Toronto Star to discuss the conditions in Maplehurst that might've led to the incident, and why the Ford government has been so quiet on it. You can find some of Brendan's work here: https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/torturing-us-as-payback-inside-the-disturbing-allegations-of-how-ontario-jail-guards-exacted-their/article_0286cc24-5671-11ef-b32d-9394cf9702a4.html We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A reading of articles and features from the Tuesday July 21st issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Tuesday July 21st issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Monday July 20th issue of the Toronto Star
Did you know that Ernest Hemingway wrote for the Toronto Star? The iconic cigar-smoking, bull-fighting American writer spent two separate stints living in Canada. It was partly while living and working in Toronto that he developed his stripped-down, sparse writing style. Author and Hemingway expert Terry Fallis reflects on the writer's larger than life reputation and his time spent in Toronto ahead of the upcoming International Hemingway Society Conference. Plus, CBC producer Christine Pagulayan talks about the latest trend to hit the world of romance. Books discussed on this week's show include:And Then There Were None by Agatha ChristieLittle Face by Sophie HannahBefore You Go to Sleep by S. J. WatsonLife After Life by Kate AtkinsonIt's Not What You Think by Clare MackintoshCheck us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks
A reading of articles and features from the Friday July 17th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Thursday July 16th issue of the Toronto Star
Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes wonder if a strike lands in the head area, does it leave a mark? Will LeBron announce his next team at Fanatics Fest this week? Or wait til after the world cup? Or will he continue to keep the whole world right where he wants them: in the cuck chair. Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star makes his triumphant return to discuss The Neverending Story of Kawhi Leonard, the trade back to the Raptors that was put on hold, how much the salary cap landscape has shifted in only a year and a bunch of references to Sidney Crosby cuz, yknow, Canada. Subscribe to the Illuminati YouTube Channel Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at https://www.patreon.com/countthedings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Follow Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A reading of articles and features from the Wednesday July 15th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Tuesday July 14th issue of the Toronto Star
A reading of articles and features from the Tuesday July 14th issue of the Toronto Star
In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Rachel Phan about her powerful memoir, Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family & Belonging (Douglas & McIntyre, 2025). A warm and poignant narrative about finding one's self amidst the grind of restaurant life, the cross-generational immigrant experience, and a daughter's attempts to connect with parents who have always been just out of reach. When she was three years old, Rachel Phan met her replacement. Instead of a new sibling, her mother and father's time and attention were suddenly devoted entirely to their new family restaurant. For her parents—whose own families fled China during Japanese occupation and then survived bombs and starvation during the war in Vietnam—it was a dream come true. For Phan, it was something quite different. Overnight, she became a restaurant kid, living on the periphery of her own family and trying her best to stay out of the way. As Phan grew up, the restaurant was the most stalwart and suffocating member of her family. For decades, it's been both their crowning achievement and the origin of so much of their pain and suffering: screaming matches complete with smashed dishes; bodies worn down by long hours and repetitive strain; and tenuous relationships where the family loved one another deeply without ever really knowing each other. In Restaurant Kid, Phan seeks to examine the way her life has been shaped by the rigid boxes placed around her. She had to be a “good daughter,” never asking questions, always being grateful. She had to be a “real Canadian,” watching hockey and speaking English so flawlessly that her tongue has since forgotten how to contort around Cantonese tones. As the only Chinese girl at school, she had to alternate between being the sidekick, geek, or Asian fetish, depending on whose gaze was on her. Now, three decades after their restaurant first opened, Phan's parents are cautiously talking about retirement. As an adult, Phan's “good daughter” role demands something new of her—and a chance to get to know her parents away from the restaurant. In Restaurant Kid, Phan deftly combines candour, wit and insight to craft a vibrant and important narrative on the strength and foibles of family, and how we come to understand ourselves. Rachel Phan is a Chinese Canadian author. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University's Master of Journalism program, she and her work have been featured on CBC, Huffpost, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Toronto Star, the National Post, Chatelaine, and Maclean's. Her instant national bestselling book, Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family and Belonging (2025), was named one of CBC Books' Best Books of 2025 and longlisted for Canada Reads in 2026. She lives in Toronto, ON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Rachel Phan about her powerful memoir, Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family & Belonging (Douglas & McIntyre, 2025). A warm and poignant narrative about finding one's self amidst the grind of restaurant life, the cross-generational immigrant experience, and a daughter's attempts to connect with parents who have always been just out of reach. When she was three years old, Rachel Phan met her replacement. Instead of a new sibling, her mother and father's time and attention were suddenly devoted entirely to their new family restaurant. For her parents—whose own families fled China during Japanese occupation and then survived bombs and starvation during the war in Vietnam—it was a dream come true. For Phan, it was something quite different. Overnight, she became a restaurant kid, living on the periphery of her own family and trying her best to stay out of the way. As Phan grew up, the restaurant was the most stalwart and suffocating member of her family. For decades, it's been both their crowning achievement and the origin of so much of their pain and suffering: screaming matches complete with smashed dishes; bodies worn down by long hours and repetitive strain; and tenuous relationships where the family loved one another deeply without ever really knowing each other. In Restaurant Kid, Phan seeks to examine the way her life has been shaped by the rigid boxes placed around her. She had to be a “good daughter,” never asking questions, always being grateful. She had to be a “real Canadian,” watching hockey and speaking English so flawlessly that her tongue has since forgotten how to contort around Cantonese tones. As the only Chinese girl at school, she had to alternate between being the sidekick, geek, or Asian fetish, depending on whose gaze was on her. Now, three decades after their restaurant first opened, Phan's parents are cautiously talking about retirement. As an adult, Phan's “good daughter” role demands something new of her—and a chance to get to know her parents away from the restaurant. In Restaurant Kid, Phan deftly combines candour, wit and insight to craft a vibrant and important narrative on the strength and foibles of family, and how we come to understand ourselves. Rachel Phan is a Chinese Canadian author. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University's Master of Journalism program, she and her work have been featured on CBC, Huffpost, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Toronto Star, the National Post, Chatelaine, and Maclean's. Her instant national bestselling book, Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family and Belonging (2025), was named one of CBC Books' Best Books of 2025 and longlisted for Canada Reads in 2026. She lives in Toronto, ON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-american-studies
In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Rachel Phan about her powerful memoir, Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family & Belonging (Douglas & McIntyre, 2025). A warm and poignant narrative about finding one's self amidst the grind of restaurant life, the cross-generational immigrant experience, and a daughter's attempts to connect with parents who have always been just out of reach. When she was three years old, Rachel Phan met her replacement. Instead of a new sibling, her mother and father's time and attention were suddenly devoted entirely to their new family restaurant. For her parents—whose own families fled China during Japanese occupation and then survived bombs and starvation during the war in Vietnam—it was a dream come true. For Phan, it was something quite different. Overnight, she became a restaurant kid, living on the periphery of her own family and trying her best to stay out of the way. As Phan grew up, the restaurant was the most stalwart and suffocating member of her family. For decades, it's been both their crowning achievement and the origin of so much of their pain and suffering: screaming matches complete with smashed dishes; bodies worn down by long hours and repetitive strain; and tenuous relationships where the family loved one another deeply without ever really knowing each other. In Restaurant Kid, Phan seeks to examine the way her life has been shaped by the rigid boxes placed around her. She had to be a “good daughter,” never asking questions, always being grateful. She had to be a “real Canadian,” watching hockey and speaking English so flawlessly that her tongue has since forgotten how to contort around Cantonese tones. As the only Chinese girl at school, she had to alternate between being the sidekick, geek, or Asian fetish, depending on whose gaze was on her. Now, three decades after their restaurant first opened, Phan's parents are cautiously talking about retirement. As an adult, Phan's “good daughter” role demands something new of her—and a chance to get to know her parents away from the restaurant. In Restaurant Kid, Phan deftly combines candour, wit and insight to craft a vibrant and important narrative on the strength and foibles of family, and how we come to understand ourselves. Rachel Phan is a Chinese Canadian author. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University's Master of Journalism program, she and her work have been featured on CBC, Huffpost, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Toronto Star, the National Post, Chatelaine, and Maclean's. Her instant national bestselling book, Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family and Belonging (2025), was named one of CBC Books' Best Books of 2025 and longlisted for Canada Reads in 2026. She lives in Toronto, ON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography