Hidden Gems Toronto

01/11/2024

In keeping with the season, we have a special "treat" for you in our latest podcast. As part of our continuing series, entitled: "You Do What For a Living" we interviewed two very creative people. Coko Galore is a comedy writer/actor who is starring on the stage of Second City.
And Kurt Scanlan has managed to turn a childhood passion into a career as a children's toy designer. They both provided us with an entertaining glimpse of their fascinating professions. We hope you enjoy it.

01/07/2024

A MOVER AND SHAKER IN SCARBOROUGH: Krissan Veerasingam is changing the face of his neighbourhood

You need a good pair of running shoes to keep up with Krissan Veerasingam. He helped launch the Scarborough Repair Café where residents can bring a multitude of household items for repair, free of charge. He is also an advocate for public transit and supports numerous environmental initiatives. As if this wasn't enough, he finds time to promote ethnic grocery stores and restaurants throughout Scarborough. And he does all this will great enthusiasm and aplomb. Residents are fortunate to have him in their corner.

Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Please visit our website at hiddengemstoronto.net

01/05/2024

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY...for Toronto's esteemed Photo Laureate,
Nadya Kwandibens.

Nadya brings an indigenous perspective to her award-winning photography.  In this podcast you will learn  that it isn't just her technical ability with the camera that makes her work so special, it's  her gentle nature and empathy for her subjects that allows her to build a trust with people and that is evident in all her portraits. As she likes to say: "The camera is an extension of my arm".

Listen to the podcast at 
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

See more of Nadya's work at
redworks.ca

30/04/2024

Field trip!
The Hidden Gems Toronto team visited Nadya Kwandibens' exhibit, "The Red Chair Sessions", on now until June 8, 2024 at the Midland Cultural Centre.
In a word, it is stunning. Definitely worth the drive to Midland! You can hear our interview with Nadya on May 1st.



.toronto

30/04/2024

Nadya Kwandibens is Toronto's first indigenous and first female poet laureate. Hear her story on our upcoming podcast, airing May 01.

30/04/2024

The "Clock Guy" who keeps Toronto ticking!
In this second episode of our series called "You do what for a living?" we introduce you to John Scott, affectionately known as the Clock Guy in Toronto. John is responsible for keeping many of our city's tower clocks running smoothly and chiming on time. John gives us a master class on how gems such as the Old City Hall tower clock operate.

After listening to John, you will be left with a whole new appreciation of this scientific wonder known as the tower clock.

Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com
And learn more at
scotiabell.ca

30/04/2024

In this podcast we launch the first episode of our occasional series about people who have interesting, if somewhat unusual occupations. And Austin Emery certainly fits the bill. Over his lifetime, Austin has attended more than 500 events dressed as a mascot. He has worn every costume you can imagine. But wait; there's more! In addition to being a mascot, he also is an accomplished sculptor who invites complete novices into his backyard and allows them to create a small sculpture which he then adapts to a larger finished piece that will occupy a public space in the community. By any measure, he is a cherished hidden gem.

Listen to the podcast at 
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Visit JoJoFun at
jojofun.ca

And learn more about Austin at
austinemery.com

01/09/2023

We are excited to launch our first episode of Season Three with an interview with the remarkable Jacquie Rushlow. Jacquie gave up a very successful TV production career to accomplish a very specific mission: to rid the world of single-use plastic, one community at a time. She is passionate, creative, and relentless in her pursuit. She talks about her experience to date and what she has planned moving forward. She is a natural storyteller and I think you will be captivated by what she has to say.

Listen to the podcast at hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Visit The Keep Refillery at
thekeeprefillery.com

Find all episodes at
hiddengemstoronto.net






.to

01/04/2023

01/03/2023

On our latest podcast you will meet the entrepreneur who has created a magical space in downtown Toronto called Little Canada. It took 11 years and millions of dollars but the result is a stunning replica of cities in Canada. The attention to detail is remarkable and breathtaking. His love of the miniature world combined with his fondness for Canada has resulted in an unprecedented exhibit. Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer is living proof that sometimes it pays to think small. The episode is called: Honey, I shrunk the country!

Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Visit our website at
www.hiddengemstoronto.net

05/01/2023

We start the year off discussing a topic that has been a difficult issue in Toronto for many decades: Homelessness (or as our guest prefers to call it, Houselessness). Zach Grant is the Community Director at the Church of the Holy Trinity, located in the shadow of the Eaton's Centre in downtown Toronto. He talks about how people dealt with living on the streets during the pandemic. His anger and frustration is palpable, but so too is his passion and respect for our homeless community. He is a force for change in our city. The podcast is called “It’s David vs. Goliath for Homeless People in Toronto.“

Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Visit our website at
www.hiddengemstoronto.net

01/11/2022

The old EL Mocambo is no longer old! In this podcast we chat with the effervescent Mike Chalut who is both the Creative Director and the Executive Director of the very new and much improved El Mocambo. Mike talks about the challenge of creating a state of the art facility while at the same time paying homage to the illustrious past of the bar affectionately known as the Elmo. We also include some vignettes of listeners' memories of visiting both the old and new facility. Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com
Visit our website at
www.hiddengemstoronto.net

02/10/2022

In this month’s podcast We chat with Ben Lovatt, owner of the Skull store and Prehistoria museum. He proudly calls his museum the worlds weirdest recycling centre and Canada’s biggest oddity shop. When you see what Ben has on display, you will quickly surmise that “odd” barely scratches the surface.

03/09/2022

Welcome to Season Two of the Hidden Gems Toronto podcast!
In this episode, you will meet retired police officer, Sgt. Derrick Gaudet, whose police dog, Major, played a pivotal role in discovering the remains of the bodies hidden in planters by serial killer Bruce McArthur. Derrick gives a riveting account of how that discovery unfolded and talks about his career with Major in the canine unit. We also chat with retired RCMP officer, Stacey Talbot, who has created a foundation called Ned's Wish, to help cover the substantial medical bills that officers like Derrick are faced with when they adopt their dogs in retirement.
Click the link in the bio to have a listen!

01/06/2022

In this podcast we talk with two very creative individuals who are tackling food waste and food production with some very novel ideas. Julia Girmenia works for an organization known as Not Far From The Tree. Julia and her colleagues have figured a way to not only salvage huge quantities of fruit that grows in our backyards, they also share that fruit with homeowners, volunteers and people in need. Mike Gallay decided to build a planter box where he could grow some fruit and vegetables. And then he built a few more to give to friends. Well, this idea caught on and in this year alone, Mike has given away more that 200 boxes and he says he's just getting started.
The episode is called Food for Thought.

Listen to the podcast at
www.hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Visit our website at
www.hiddengemstoronto.net

03/05/2022

Flying Above the Radar

During a stressful time in her life, Julia Zarankin went searching for a new hobby and decided to give Birding a shot. This grew into a real passion that led to her writing a fascinating book about her experience. There are more than 350 bird species in Toronto and Julia is on a quest to see them all. After listening to her insights you may be compelled to dig out your old binoculars and become a birder yourself.

Listen to the podcast at:
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Visit our website at:
www.hiddengemstoronto.net

01/04/2022

BLAZING NEW TRAILS
If you find yourself walking or biking on trails in Toronto this spring you might stumble upon a group of people riding tandem bikes. Chances are they belong to a club called the Trailblazers. And why tandem bikes? Because the person on the back of the bike has a visual impairment. In this podcast we talk with 2 riders who share their biking stories as well as shed light on what it is like living in Toronto when you are blind. We learned a lot from them and we think you will too. Thanks for listening.

Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com/

Visit our website at
hiddengemstoronto.net/

01/03/2022

Listen to a sample of our most recent interview with Ben McNally!

01/03/2022

The challenges facing an independent bookstore in Toronto are daunting. If book store owner Ben McNally (pictured with son Rupert and daughter Danielle) made a list of the pros and cons of staying in business, the cons would win hands down. But fortunately for Toronto, Ben doesn't make lists; he sells books. Listening to Ben chat about his life in the book world, it is clear that he still opens a box of new books with the anticipation and giddiness of a kid on Christmas morning. After 50 years, he still loves what he does.
​
Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Visit our website at
hiddengemstoronto.net

14/02/2022

Wrapping up recording our interview with independent bookstore owner, Ben McNally. Airing March 1st!

hiddengemstoronto.net

01/02/2022

A GUIDING LIGHT
For the past 15 years, nurse practitioner Bertha Hughes has worked in the Cardiovascular and Vascular Surgery Unit at St. Michael's Hospital in downtown Toronto. She has been a beacon of knowledge, compassion and hope for patients and their families who are undergoing traumatic and life-changing surgery. And despite all the challenges of COVID-19 and the overall state of nursing in Canada, she remains optimistic about the future of her profession.

Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Visit our website at
www.hiddengemstoronto.net

01/01/2022

If you want to start the New Year with a magical feeling, I think you will enjoy listening to this podcast with Gordon Precious. Gordon is a charming raconteur, an intrepid world traveller, an accomplished magician and a talented athlete whose feat in 2019 garnered him a spot in the Guiness Book of World records. And did we mention he is 97 years young? If you have elderly friends and family, I hope you will consider sharing Gordon's wit and wisdom with them. Thanks for all your support in 2021 and best wishes for 2022.

Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com
Visit our website at
hiddengemstoronto.net

01/12/2021

For more than 25 years the indefatigable Rosie Smythe has been on the front lines working to improve the lives of people living in poverty in Toronto. In her latest position as the Executive Director of New Circles, she oversees an organization that has become a beacon of hope for immigrants and refugees in east Toronto neighbourhoods. In this podcast, Rosie discusses the nuts and bolts of the organization and expands on her philosophy that people living in poverty deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We also hear from a client who says that New Circles has changed her life. An inspiring story for the holiday season!
Thanks for listening!
Cheers...Tom and Sharon Scanlan

Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Learn more about the New Circles at
newcircles.ca

01/11/2021

Is there a more iconic event that happens each year in Toronto than the Santa Claus Parade? In this podcast, the CEO of the parade, Clay Charters, pulls the curtain back and gives us a behind the scene view of how the parade comes about each year. He touches on the historical highlights, including the year they brought in real reindeer to pull Santa's sleigh. He also talks about the challenges the parade has overcome in the past, including covid 19 and shares his vision for the parade moving forward.

Listen to the podcast at
hiddengemstoronto.buzzsprout.com

Learn more about the Santa Claus Parade at
thesantaclausparade.com