Here’s an issue for our city’s critics

ERIC MCMILLAN, Editor-in-Chief

Like most Torontonians, I have relatives across Canada who like nothing better than to rail against Toronto. How can you live there? They ask as if it’s incomprehensible that I could. Toronto’s so busy, so unfriendly, so expensive, so dangerous, so stuck-up. You wine-sipping, cycling, pseudo-sophisticated pinkos who think you’re the centre of the universe …

Oh, wait, that’s what Torontonians say about each other. Many of our external critics have taken heart recently from the seeming revolt of the suburbs, led by our new mayor, against the central and downtown Toronto politics and lifestyles.

This magazine, which is directed toward midtown Toronto residents, covers these political squabbles that divide our diverse residents. In this issue we’re looking at one outcome of the recent political upheaval: the engagement of our citizenry. Certainly that’s got to be a positive for Toronto — so many of us care about our city’s future.

The feature on our high and low-end housing problems plays into a certain critical view of Toronto. But we have to deal with this problem.

But Toronto Today also covers all the people and things that make this city so livable: our interesting (and friendly) neighbours, our arts, our gardens, our places to eat and play, our sports and schools.

If you want to send a copy to your relatives, please feel free.