Liberty Village is frequented by lots and lots of dogs.

I moved there about a year ago.

And I didn’t know a lot of people.

But I noticed everyone was going to this park.

In late December, I found Pounce. She was very little at the time.

She was shy at first.

Stanley Park was a great way for me to meet new people, and for Pounce to meet other dogs.

Pounce loves to stand on picnic tables. The first three times I took her to Stanley Park, she didn’t even interact with other dogs. She just stood on the picnic table and wouldn’t come down!

Thanks to Emily for sharing her story. Check out CrowdFuel, her Instagram marketing startup, and follow her on Instagram!

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I used to be a PR assistant.

At a two person company. A family business.

It was one of my first jobs out of university.

The person that I worked with really promoted me and my writing. Alan Schwarz.

He got me on a radio show!

I haven’t spoken to him in years. But he was more than a boss. He was a mentor, and a friend.

I used to take the 96 bus from York Mills to get to work. Being here really reminds me of him, and my time there. 

That was what started my writing career.

Thanks to Michelle for sharing her story. Check out her blog, Words with Michelle!

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I had a little film camera.

A few years ago, when I started getting into photography.

I would take a lot of street photos in Kensington.

Candid shots.

I remember seeing The Grilled Cheese for the first time and thinking, “I’m home”.

Since then, I come here all the time. The people working there are always genuine and super friendly. 

I love to go back there, because of that.

I remember coming here just before my friend moved to New York for school.

We had such an amazing meal. And we got it all over ourselves!

So this is a comfortable place for me.

Thanks to Hayley for sharing her story. Check out her amazing photography and modelling work!

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My partner and I moved to College and Ossington when we first came to Toronto.

Before Ossington was ‘Ossington’. It was affordable then.

Since then, Graffiti Alley has always been important to me. It was one of the first spaces that we found when we were together in the city.

But about two years ago, we took some time apart.

Graffiti Alley was also where we decided to make it work. It’s interesting to go back, with all the changes in our lives.

We did make it work, and now we’ve been together for ten years.

Thanks to Niki for sharing her story. Check out her fashion and design blog, and follow her on Instagram!

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I moved to The Village for two reasons.

It’s an affordable part of the city right downtown. And it’s just steps from the YMCA.

I needed to live close to a gym with a pool as I love to swim. And as a food writer I wanted to make sure I didn’t have any excuses when committing to my health.

I love the fountain in the park below my building. That place makes you forget that there’s a city hustling and bustling around you.

During Pride last year, my friend Jonathan and I had been dancing until 2am.

We picked up some cheap Chinese takeout and sat on the bench overlooking the fountain. We were starving.

All of a sudden we heard a splash…

…we saw the silhouette of several nudes swimming about under the stars. It’s not even a pool!

The whole time we were just munching on Chow Mein and enjoying the free entertainment.

Thanks to Andrew for sharing his story. Check out his travel and food blog DobbernationLOVES, and be sure to follow his culinary adventures on Instagram and Twitter!

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When I first got to Toronto I didn’t like it.

I was in New York for six months. Spain for three. 

When I got here, it was cold and desolate. I felt like there was nothing going on.

Walking around the main streets. Wondering where everybody was.

The thing that really grabbed me about the city was the people. They were so nice!

Especially at the Outpost Coffee Roasters. I had this moment of realization. I wanted to start my business here.

So I decided to give Toronto a shot.

Thanks to Jeffery for sharing his story. Check out his life drawing classes for bachelorette parties, and his amazing photography!

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We call it The Loop.

7 km or so for running, dog walking or snowshoeing.

You see the Brickworks over here, which is so pristine, and then you get back to our side and you see the wildness.

It really feels like you’re in the wild.

Kea once spotted a deer and barked like mad! But the deer was fast and took off.

A deer right downtown – amazing!

And the girls – Nicole and Kate – rode all the way up that hill with their bikes. It was a big ride, not paved then. More of a trail.

It’s not such a big hill, but when you’re five and seven it is!

I have so many happy memories here. Ravines are what make this city.

Thanks to Heather for sharing her story. Follow her food-related musings on Twitter and Instragram! And be sure to tune in to Breakfast Television on June 1 for Heather’s great recipes using local greenhouse vegetables.

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I used to live quite close to the pool. Just a few blocks away.

1995.

Spent every day, one summer, swimming at the pool. I was at the peak of having fun and enjoying my life.

I developed a deep friendship with Scott at the pool. 

For four years in a row I would visit Scott.

Eventually, Scott broke down. Like we all do. 

The idea of free outdoor pools was a revelation to me, when I moved here from Edmonton.

They serve this really great public purpose.

This pool manages to bring together a bunch of demographics. The ‘unscrubbed’ hipsters of Kensington. The gentrified area immediately to the west. The engaged residents of Alexandra Park. 

And that’s what my work is all about.

Generating community.

Being respectful of other peoples’ space. Taking risks. Play.

Pools are a common denominator. You can’t hide very much.

Thanks to Darren for sharing his story. Check out his arts and cultural planning organization, Mammalian Diving Reflex.

[Editor’s note: Scott was actually a piece of snot that Darren found stuck to the wall of the change room. It remained there over the course of four years.]

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Usually I’m the only girl.

I first came to Dunbat Skatepark seven years ago.

There were a lot of boards flying around that day.

“I’m gonna do this. Going out into the battlefield. Don’t get in anyone’s way.”

I never feel lonely here. Even if I have just ten minutes I can roll over here, catch some sunshine. Be with some friends.

It’s very much a community.

I know I have a certain advantage. Growing up with three brothers. And I’ve always had a lot of guy friends.

The only girl, sometimes out of fifty or more dudes. I’m instantly comfortable here.

So I want to help girls that might feel a little less comfortable.

Support them.

I love the competition with oneself. It’s not about beating another team.

Just you and your board.

Thanks to Stephanie for sharing her story. Check out Babes Brigade (@babes_brigade), Stephanie’s new skateboard group connecting other women skaters in the city! And make sure to check out her clothing line @_sb_designs_.

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Jake worked next door at Bikes on Wheels.

He was always very comfortable in Toronto. Before I moved here. 

But then when I moved here I was very anxious. Overwhelmed by the city. Not so happy.

Always having my brother around, I had that family in the city. He was that familiar face.

We would hang around Kensington. 

The first time I walked into Cafe Pamenar, someone recognized me. I remember him saying “oh you’re Jacob’s sister!”.

It was so welcoming.

I realized you can have a small community of friends and family in the big city.

Thanks to Victoria and Jacob for sharing their story. Follow Victoria’s adventures in the city on Instagram.

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