Shawn Micallef

On the latest Spacing Radio podcast, in honour of Bike Month, I talk to cycling advocate @lanrickbennett.bsky.social (aka The Bicycle Mayor). And @shawnmicallef.bsky.social talks the updated version of his book “Stroll” and how urbanism has changed in over a decade: spacing.ca/toronto/2024...

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 078, Bike Month - Spacing Torontospacing.ca It’s Bike Month! It’s a time we celebrate cycle culture in Toronto and surrounding cities and towns. At least officially. Despite some significant gains in cycling infrastructure, there are still a lo...

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Shawn Micallef

Went for a stroll to Book City yesterday to get @shawnmicallef.bsky.social’s updated Stroll. And a managed to snag a signed copy! 📚🚶‍♀️

In the Star this weekend I wrote about the St Anne’s fire and what something like this means for those who believe & maybe don’t believe. (tl;dl: faith in humanity). www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Shawn Micallef: What we lost in the St. Anne’s fire is profound. But so is what we foundwww.thestar.com The storied architecture and irreplaceable art that suffered in the fire were only part of the story.

I wrote about this just a few weeks ago saying there would be opposition (from grumpy neighbours who don't want to live in a real city but still benefit from it) - such opposition must be overruled. www.thestar.com/opinion/toro...

Crazy that a coffee machine could jeopardize a store's existence. It's nestled on a side street north of College and Ossington. These are the kinds of places that give life and character to a neighbourhood. Zoning change can't come soon enough. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...

Toronto zoning rules, an espresso machine and an anonymous complaint: Why this shop owner says her neighbourhood store is at riskwww.thestar.com Finch Store has long had a license to sell refreshments. But the city says it’s not following zoning rules.

Shawn Micallef: Toronto has made its streets boring. Here’s how we can bring them back to lifewww.thestar.com The 15-Minute City has gotten a bad rap, but it’s really all about freedom of choice.

My Toronto Star column this week explores the unsung underside of Toronto www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Shawn Micallef: Boring and unremarkable? Not these Toronto landmarks — if you know where to lookwww.thestar.com Toronto always seemed to prefer utility over romance in its infrastructure, but look closer.

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This is more administrative than anything, but looks like another large chunk of land for Rouge National Urban Park was transferred to the feds last week (see light green below). This encompasses lands between Finch and Steeles, as well as east of Donald Cousens Parkway.

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Really enjoyed the take on this one - too often narratives blame the delivery riders who are simply serving a demand customers have created

This week I wrote about how delivery people on bikes have changed our streetscape but also changed the moral topography of arguments for and against safe transportation infrastructure for all. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Shawn Micallef: Delivery riders on e-bikes are swarming the city’s sidewalks. Guess who’s to blame?www.thestar.com Anyone who gets anything dropped off by a bike delivery rider is implicated in the fight over cycling infrastructure.

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Anyone who is both a user of food delivery services and even slightly anti-bike lanes (a common combo) need to stfu about the dangers (real!) of their riding on the sidewalk And remember, as dangerous as they may be, they aren’t 1% as dangerous as a wanktank or any other 4 wheel motorized vehicle

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And a sidearm.

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Usually such lovely people, who watch you grow up and remember you long after your school days. ❤️

Every Toronto crossing guard deserves the Order of Canada.

The kids on Thirtysomething are almost Fortysomething

As we used to say back in the day, #FordMath is a particular kind of math.

My Toronto Star column this week: Doug Ford’s taken an erratic, rapid-fire approach to housing legislation. It’s messy, it hasn’t helped build affordable housing, and it’s costing Toronto City Hall a bundle in foregone revenue that the city badly needs www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Matt Elliott: Doug Ford promised to pay Toronto for any shortfall caused by his housing rules. Here’s how that’s goingwww.thestar.com Doug Ford’s government promised to “make the city whole” when it changed development charges for housing, but that has yet to happen.

My Toronto Star column this week. Toronto has made its streets boring. Here’s how we can bring them back to life: support the city's move to begin allowing small commercial enterprises into neighbourhoods. Like we did, once. www.thestar.com/opinion/toro...

Shawn Micallef: Toronto has made its streets boring. Here’s how we can bring them back to lifewww.thestar.com The 15-Minute City has gotten a bad rap, but it’s really all about freedom of choice.

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Crowning an absolutely marvelous day, I bumped into @shawnmicallef.bsky.social giving a tour of Massey College for Doors Open. Absolutely loved his insight, particularly of the architecture and knowledge of the Shim Sutcliffe renovations. Appreciate that this gem opened to the public today!

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Spotted a copy of Stroll in Philosopher’s Walk yesterday!

City wide Stroll scavenger hunt! First hints too.

We 100% bought a wok because of Stephen Yan. His order of Canada pin should be Wok-sized!

In writing up my post about Wok With Yan, I realized that Stephen Yan does not have the Order of Canada. For the joy he brought to Canadians, he is absolutely deserving of it. #OofCforYan

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I think my job is reading. @shawnmicallef.bsky.social @laurenelkin.bsky.social

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"Because Toronto forces most new development into a few places, like our main streets, leaving residential areas untouched, we have lost many beloved retail strips that made this city what it is."

It’s my job to pay attention to the city but in updating my book Stroll even I was shocked at how much Toronto has changed. A two month project became eight months. In The Star I wrote about some of what I discovered. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Shawn Micallef: I wrote a book on strolling Toronto in 2010. The city has changed, for better or worsewww.thestar.com Toronto has undergone radical change in just over a decade — here's where.

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Toronto's changed and so has Stroll. Spacing's own @shawnmicallef.bsky.social is launching the updated edition of his book "Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto". You can buy the book now at the Spacing Store, and come to the launch on May 22 at Lula Lounge. spacing.ca/toronto/2024...

Book launch of expanded and updated edition of Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto - Spacing Torontospacing.ca Spacing’s senior editor and co-founder Shawn Micallef has expanded and updated his 2010 book Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto. The new book is out now and available in person and onli...

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Got my pre-order copy from Coach House today. Looks great. I always meant to read it and never did, but now I can enjoy the new and improved edition.

Toronto has changed and so has STROLL. A new edition for a new city. STROLL expanded and updated edition is launching May 22 at the Lula Lounge. I’ll be chatting w Ed Keenan, first edition editor. It should be fun. Maybe some arguments. www.eventbrite.ca/e/launch-for...

Launch for the Updated Edition of Stroll by Shawn Micallefwww.eventbrite.ca The launch for Stroll, the Updated Edition by Shawn Micallef in conversation with Edward Keenan. Optional dinner at 6pm. Books for sale.

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