Royal Bank of Canada on the Defensive Over Criticism of Fossil Fuel Financing
Accused of being Canada’s biggest financial backer of fossil fuel projects, the bank is feeling the heat—even if it doesn’t say that publicly.
GFL Says It’s ‘Green For Life’—Its Neighbours Disagree
The GTA waste management company projects a green image. But a history of fires, water contamination, regulatory violations, and the complaints of neighbours from North Carolina to Hamilton tell another story.
Toronto’s Green-ish Economy
If we want to write about the environment, we need to write about business.
Meet the 2024 Local Fellows
We’re excited to announce this year’s Local Journalism Fellows: Alice Boyle, Sam Rosati Martin, Matthew Molinaro, and Mzwandile Poncana.
The Local Wins at the Digital Publishing Awards and National Magazine Awards
Our coverage of the mayoral election and the Finch West LRT construction were recognized at a pair of awards ceremonies on Friday evening.
The Local Wins Two Canadian Association of Journalists Awards
Daysha Loppie received the Student Award of Excellence and Simon Lewsen won the prize in the Community Written category.
Don’t Save Local Journalism, Reinvent It
We launched The Local on this day in 2019. After five years, one global pandemic, multiple elections, and a constant drumbeat of bad news for the media, here’s why I’m more optimistic than ever about local, non-profit journalism.
Five National Magazine Award Nominations for The Local
It is the highest number of NMA nominations received by The Local in a single year, and includes one for Editorial Package.
A Mississauga Factory Is Using a Known Carcinogen. Residents Had No Idea
High levels of ethylene oxide were detected near a now-closed Scarborough plant owned by Sterigenics, which has agreed to pay over US$400 million to claimants alleging cancer in the U.S. The company has since moved to Mississauga.
The Life, and Slow Death, of the Toronto Arts Critic
Toronto once had a thriving ecosystem of cultural critics who prodded, inspired and annoyed both readers and artists. As the media sheds its arts writers, what does a city lose?
The Local Is Nominated for Five Digital Publishing Awards
The nominations include the prestigious prize for “general excellence in digital publishing.”
Toronto’s Arts Institutions Are Crumbling and it’s Always the Same Story
The trouble at Hot Docs, TIFF, Artscape and the AGO are part of a larger failure in a country that doesn’t take art seriously.
Building Your Own Art Scene
These four young queer artists couldn’t see a space for themselves in the mainstream Toronto art world. At Hearth, a thriving alternative gallery started in a downtown garage, they created their own.
How to Make a Toronto Indie Movie
Kazik Radwanski is part of a cohort of local filmmakers changing Toronto’s cinematic identity. With his latest film, Matt and Mara, he’s trying to reach an international audience.
Not ‘Indigenous’ Enough
I’ve been told my paintings aren’t really “Indigenous art.” How the commercial demand for one specific version of the Indigenous experience pigeon-holes today’s artists.
Can Artists Be Parents?
For many Toronto artists, choosing a career in the arts and choosing to have a family can feel mutually exclusive.
The Local Receives Three National Journalism Award Nominations
Our community stories from 2023 are finalists for the Canadian Association of Journalists awards
From International Student to Popstar
Harkirat Sangha came to Canada to study and ended up driving trucks. He’s now finding fame and fortune singing about it.
Why Aren’t Arts Workers Unionized?
Behind every piece of art is a community of underpaid, idealistic gallery installers, box office staff, and technicians. Why arts work needs to be seen as real work.
The Value of Art and the Cost of Losing it
Toronto’s cultural institutions are reeling and its artists are struggling. What’s lost when a city no longer supports the arts?