As anyone with a smartphone in Canada knows all too well, data plans do not come cheap.

But we Canadians are a resourceful bunch, and we know all the tricks to getting by when internet is scarce. Using Google Maps offline, downloading Spotify playlists at home so you can listen to them on your commute – we’ve learned to adapt.

But that doesn’t change the fact that the Wi-Fi struggle is so real.

Fortunately, a local organization is making things a little easier for the data-deprived.

Technology non-profit reBOOT Canada is helping bring free Wi-Fi to the Toronto west-end neighbourhood of Parkdale.

Photo: Grant Hollingworth, via Flickr

From Sorauren to Dufferin, users will be able to surf the internet to their hearts’ content for a whole year.

Oh, and did I mention it’s completely free?

No more nursing that one sad little green tea at Starbucks all day, or being confined to a stuffy library. Additionally, having access to 24/7 indoor and outdoor internet access will be a huge benefit for many Torontonians who don’t have the luxury of being able to afford a souped-up data plan or a fancy coffee shop latte.

Cities such as New York and London, Ont. have experimented with similar programs, but Toronto has never quite figured out how to make free Wi-Fi happen.

The best we have are TTC hotspots, which are a) only available at a handful of stations and b) have spotty connectivity at best.

This is obviously great news for Parkdale but it’s hard for this Midtowner to not feel just a wee bit jealous. Let’s hope they can expand this project to the rest of the city.

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