Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared in print on July 16th, 2016.

I have run over 130 marathons in my life. Last year, I ran the Toronto Waterfront Marathon three times in one day to raise awareness for survivors of sexual violence.

I get up everyday at 4:15am and run for two hours. What I really love about Toronto, is I can cover most of our city throughout the week.

It’s cathartic to hear your footsteps pounding through the pavement. Crunching through the leaves. Or splashing in the water when it’s raining.

One of the beautiful things for me is running past Toronto’s churches. I can remember sitting in these churches, feeling completely lost and broken. But I can also remember feeling completely grateful for how my life has changed.

Thanks to Jean-Paul for sharing his story!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared in print on May 7, 2016.

My wife and I used to shop here in the late ‘60s. We always shopped at Honest Ed’s. Clothing, food, and everything else we needed. It was all we could afford at the time. 

I always loved the uniqueness of the street. It’s full of old buildings and artists’ studios.

When a chance came up to rent a studio on Markham Street a number of years ago, my son and I grabbed it.

The studio we share is just above Butler’s Pantry. To get inside, I have to walk up an old fire escape. Very carefully!

Thanks to Hooley for sharing his story. Check out his visual art portfolio at hooley.ca.

And thanks to Tahnee Reyes for joining us!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on April 8, 2016.

I remember seeing the view of the skyline over the Don Valley. Something about that view made me realize what was possible in my career.

Although I was living in Toronto, I still traveled back and forth between here and Montreal for gigs and to visit my family. At first, Toronto just seemed like a city I was living in.

But I remember one drive back to Toronto, a few years ago. I saw the Bloor Viaduct towering over the Don Valley. When I saw the bridge that time, I felt like I was returning home.

Thanks to Alexandra for sharing her story!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared in print on March 19, 2016.

After finding out I got the job, my family and I came to visit Toronto in February of 2014. Just to get a sense of the city.

We were coming from the Miami sunshine to a city that was just getting over the 2013 ice storm. Toronto looked like the Canada we had always pictured.

My family and I stayed just off Nathan Phillips Square. The wind on Queen Street was bitter, but we saw some ice-skating going on in the square. So we decided to join in! Then we all had hot chocolate at the snack bar.

Thanks to Kevin for sharing his story!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on March 11, 2016.

Growing up, life wasn’t so easy. I was always really shy, and kids picked on me a lot.

As I got older, some people I knew on my street were making fun of me because I didn’t know how to play sports. One day, they had a home-run competition, and they asked me to play. I could barely hit the ball. And they laughed at me. Those kids were mean.

Some of my teachers told my family about the Special Olympics. I started out playing floor hockey. Finally, I had a way to meet lots of people and learn some new skills.

Thanks to Kevin for sharing his story.

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on February 12, 2016.

I used to hear stories about Riverdale. My uncle always liked to go tobogganing at Riverdale Park. One time, when he was a kid, he was run over by a bobsled.

And my dad wiped out at Dundas and Broadview on his Harley Davidson. I guess I thought it must have been a dangerous place!

My dad owned an office systems company, which sold automated filing machines. During my summers I used to work there, putting 10,000 labels on 10,000 file folders. It wasn’t fun, but I learned a lot about the value of working for yourself.

Thanks to Lea-Ann for sharing her story!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on January 29, 2016.

The Ismaili community has been anticipating the Aga Khan Museum for a long time. It was so exciting to have a space that embodies religious and secular values. 

A lot of the artifacts at the museum are directly tied to Ismaili and Islamic history. But there are also elements that can’t really be defined. Some artifacts belong to many cultures. 

And that’s like history itself. So many cultures intersecting. That’s one thing I love about the museum.

Thanks to Sheniz for sharing her story. Check out the Aga Khan Museum!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on January 15, 2016.

On Christmas Day, Alon and I were sitting at a diner, trying to imagine what our ideal Saturday would be.

The day starts off with us sleeping in of course. At about 9:30am, we’ll walk to Wallace Avenue, and then pick up vegan doughnuts at Bloor and Lansdowne.

After that, we’ll go east to grab coffee at The Common, and then go for ramen at College and Bathurst.

I’ll go home and do some reading, while Alon picks up the kids. We’ll all have supper together, watch a movie, and play board games.

Thanks to Pablo for sharing his story!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on January 8, 2016.

As a kid, I loved to cook.

My parents made me a deal. I was able to get out of doing the dishes if I cooked dinner. It wasn’t a very difficult decision for me!

I loved cooking anything from Madhur Jaffrey’s cookbook. She used to have an Indian cooking show every Saturday, and I watched it all the time. Before long, I became obsessed with Indian food.

Thanks to Emily for sharing her story. Click here to learn more about her work at 8-80 Cities!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!

Editor’s Note: The Following is an abridged version of a story written as part of a collaboration with The Globe and Mail. The story originally appeared on December 23, 2015.

One rainy Monday morning, Cam and I pulled up in front of The Roundhouse. I saw a sign that read: ‘For Commercial Use Proposals, Call This Number’. We called.  

When we started, it was all abandoned fields, rail tracks, and locomotive repair yards. It wasn’t the vibrant urban neighbourhood you see today. People didn’t think they could access The Roundhouse at all.

In the beginning, we even had to host events to prove to the community that we were here!

Thanks to Cam and Greg for sharing their story. Enjoy Steam Whistle Pilsner in Toronto and across Canada!

Hogtown Stories is a project by Jeremy Korn. Follow Hogtown Stories on Facebook and Instagram!