Toronto’s Influential Set Talks TO

Amidst the Rob Ford controversy (which is getting quite boring, frankly), we found ourselves at Toronto’s Ritz Carlton for Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential party on Thursday (November 7th). In a departure from the negative hoopla that has engulfed the city, the event celebrates the contributions of influential Torontonians in culture, the arts, fashion, media, politics, business and everything in between. Needless to say, Ford himself wasn’t in attendance.

As we made our way around the room, we chatted with some of Toronto’s most influential – some whom officially made the list and others who we’ll likely see on it in the near future – where we asked them the same two questions:

1. What is your favourite spot in Toronto?
2. What do you hope for the city in the next decade?
 

“In the next decade, I want to see a housing program, and that the economic diversity of our communities is a fundamental characteristic of our city. We need to house hotel workers near hotels, to house nurses near hospitals, so that you can live and raise your kids near where you live. We also need to be able to find a way to cut down transport costs.” 

“My favourite area is a neighbourhood called Alexandra Park that is about to go through a major revitalization. It sends more kids to university than any other public housing project in the country. When they need something, they make it happen.
Adam Vaughan, Toronto city councilor, Ward 20


“I’d like to see better leadership from the government.”

“High Park is my favourite place to go. I live near there and they recently rebuilt the playground after it was unfortunately burned down by vandals.” 
– Gerald Butts, Principal Advisor to Justin Trudeau and Toronto Life’s Most Influential 

“That’s tough. Actually, my friend Alana Hurov right here is an amazing yoga instructor and she does classes at the Shangri-La called Hotel Yoga. It’s a great place to be.” 

“My biggest hope is that we support each other more because I don’t think we do in general. We have so much talent here but we tend to leave Canada and go elsewhere because we simply don’t support our own. If there was more support and if we embraced our talent, we would be able to retain our talent and in turn help drive our economy.”
– Stacey McKenzie, Canadian supermodel, motivational speaker


In terms of favourite places, I love the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. It’s a gorgeous building and I enjoy the performances there, whether opera or ballet. It’s definitely one of my favourite venues.” 

“I think Toronto is generally on a good path. We are really building the arts and culture, events and culinary scenes, and as long as we continue in this path, we will be alright. The progress is reflected in something like LuminaTO; Chicago has said that they wish they had LuminaTO. We need to continue to grow and not only build up our own talent, but also attract other talent. Also, probably a new mayor… that may help.”
Amy Burstyn, Knot PR  


I have so many spots I love. I like Roncy, it is an amazing area, and I like West Queen West, and even Kensington when I want to be really connected with raw Toronto. It is just an amazing city and love discovering it. I kind of treat it like a tourist. I am always reading about it, doing research and checking out new amazing places” 

“I think that we are a world-class city that people just don’t know about yet. We don’t have the same level of international tourism like Chicago, for example, even though I consider it world-class and would love it to get to that level of awareness. On another level, I think we have so much talent that’s not being developed the way it could be; we have so many new Canadians that are not given the opportunity, and I think we can do so much more with them. Finally, we need to connect the city. I mean, there’s an amazing area like the junction, but it’s just so difficult to access because it’s a mission to get there. We need greater connectivity transportation-wise to take advantage of it all.”
– Jagmeet Singh, MPP Bramalea-Gore-Malton 


“I love spending time on Queen West, and my favourite restaurant is Chantecler.” 

“I’d like to see the Maple Leafs win a championship.”
Michael Nguyen, Garrison Bespoke, who partnered with Toronto Life to create a tailored 96-hour shirt for the Influential guests 


For me, I love Queen Street. My office is located about half a block off Queen Street; Queen Street East and West is an important corridor for business, it is what inspires us, what engages us, and is filled with unique vintage stores that we love to support. It represents the authenticity of a true, fabulous city.”

“I think I am less concerned with development than keeping the slate of the city. What we offer more than many American cities is that we are a neighbourhood city, and I want to see people to continue to appreciate the neighbourhoods and to celebrate what makes us who we are, which is our uniqueness, diversity and historical influences combined with creativity and fresh new energy.
– Sarah Richardson, interior designer and television personality 

“It’s hard to name one location. Toronto is a city of great, diverse neighbourhoods. I like the parks and green spaces and am adamant about the idea of supporting ecology and water preservation. I would love to live in a modern city that still embraces the natural elements – parks, trees and water – so that’s my hope.” 
– David Hamilton, Publisher, Toronto Life 

“Bar Chef is one of our favourite places. We have our favourite drinks there and the bartenders there are actually some of the best “bar chefs.” They remember all their clients and what they like. I also love Starfish Oyster bar, because… I just I really love Starfish.” 

“A new mayor. I would also really like to see another waterfront, that’s a big thing. Something also needs to happen with the roads, because driving in this city is getting ridiculous.”
Aliya-Jasmine “AJ” Sovani, MTV television personality and producer
 

“Better public transportation.”
Mike Bradwell, Toronto Argonauts 

“I may not be the one to ask because I just moved here three months ago, so I rely on the other Social ladies. I do like the beaches, I like walking there with my husband and my dogs, but it’s still new to me.”

“Our plans for the future? We are going to make Mel’s future daughter into the next Madonna and set her up with Cynthia’s son and they can be the future Canadian royalty.”  
Elaine “Lainey” Lui, The Social, and one of Toronto Life’s Most Influential 

“For a place to chill and eat and drink, I love Gusto 101 right now.”

“I’d like to see Justin Trudeau for prime minister and The Social to take over the world”
Melissa Grelo, The Social 

“I am a new mom, so things have changed, but before I had a baby, I’d say anywhere with great oysters. I like Le Societe. In general, though, being outdoors and taking advantage of one of the bike trials in the city.”

“I would like Ford out of office.”
Cynthia Loyst, The Social
 

“My hope for Toronto is that we are a world-class city, so we should do all things world-class. I’d like to see more of a connection between the urban and suburban experience and having the best minds in the city work in collaboration versus in isolation and for themselves.”
Marcello Cabezas, culture/experience producer 


“Right now my favourite place is Dufferin Grove Park. My wife and I have a four-year-old son and it feels like kind of a throwback to Haight-Ashbury some weekends. It’s an incredible community, with people from diff parts of city, kids running around, people leaving toys there for kids to play with, meals that are cooked outdoors at night. It’s amazing; it feels like utopia.” 

“There is enormous creativity in this city that I’d like to see tapped into further. There is also a war right now, a cold war, between the downtown and the suburbs, so if we can end that in 5-10 years, I’d like to see that.” 
Cameron Bailey, Toronto International Film Festival, and one of Toronto Life’s Most Influential 

Here is this year’s complete list of Toronto Life’s Most Influential: 
Alan Lenczner, Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin
André Marin, Office of the provincial ombudsman
Andy Byford, TTC
Anthony Lacavera, Wind Mobile
Bill Blair, Toronto Police Service
Cameron Bailey, Toronto International Film Festival
Charles Khabouth, Ink Entertainment
Chris Hadfield, Astronaut
Chrystia Freeland, Liberal Party of Ontario
David Mirvish, Mirvish Productions
David Rosenberg, Gluskin Sheff
David Thomson and Peter Thomson, Woodbridge
Doug Holyday, Queen’s Park
Drake, Musician
Ed Clark, TD
Elaine Lui, CTV
Gary Slaight, Slaight Music
George Cope, BCE
Gerald Butts, Principal Advisor to Justin Trudeau
Galen Weston, Loblaw Companies
Gord Nixon, RBC
Heather Reisman and Gerald Schwartz, Indigo and Onex
Jade Raymond, Ubisoft
Jennifer Keesmaat, City Hall
Jian Ghomeshi, CBC
Jim Flaherty, House of Commons
John Campbell, Waterfront Toronto
Jorn Weisbrodt, Luminato
Julie Bristow, Bristow Global Media
Kathleen Wynne, Queen’s Park
Larry Tanenbaum, MLSE and Kilmer Group
Leo, Elvio, and Angelo DelZotto, Tridel
Margaret Atwood, Novelist
Mark Wiseman, CPP Investment Board
Matthew Teitelbaum, Art Gallery of OntarioMaureen Jensen, OSC
Michael Cooke and Kevin Donovan, The Toronto Star
Michael MacMillan, Blue Ant Media
Michael Nobrega, OMERS
Mitzie Hunter, Queen’s Park
Peter Gilgan, Mattamy Homes
Peter Munk, Barrick
Prem Watsa, Fairfax Financial
Rahul Bhardwaj, Toronto Community Foundation
Randy Carlyle, Maple Leafs
Robert Deluce, Porter Airlines
Robert Prichard, Torys LLP
Sarabjit Marwah, Scotiabank
Sheldon Levy, Ryerson University
Tim Leiweke, MLSE

Click here to see the full gallery. 

Photos by Anat Moshkovich