iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Both JFL Toronto and JLF Toronto are taking place this weekend, with some events happening directly next door to each other. I look forward to Pete Davidson fans ending up at a cooking demonstration by Vikram Vij, and vice versa.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Bradford complains that, on a weekly basis, he sees someone smoking crack on the 505 streetcar, which is perplexing given how much his rhetoric around the city's finances suggests there's at least one famed crack-smoker he holds in high esteem.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

"I was the first to say I would freeze property taxes in 2027, so Brad has copied that," Alexander says, which reminds me of that TikTok micro-drama where a D&D influencer accused Critical Role of plagiarism for also creating a magical character named "Opal."

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

And now the candidates will scrum, one at a time, on this stage that, 19 years ago, Eddie Vedder graced with a short acoustic set to promote an Iraq War documentary co-directed by Phil Donahue.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The debate is moderated by Toronto Star eic Nicole MacIntyre, but every 15 minutes or so, she throws to a question from CityNews' Alan Carter, who wanders out from the wings, in the sort of arrangement that was presumably set out in writing when CityNews came on as a broadcast partner.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Alexander likes the term "eyewash."

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Now Chow and Bradford are debating whether Toronto, which doesn't have much in the way of oil or minerals to mine, could realistically see the same kinds of foreign investment as whatever it was that Carney was hocking last week.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The dynamics of this debate are so far what you'd expect, with Chow and Alexander being cordial to each other (since it arguably benefits them both), with Bradford in a cloud of barely contained anger.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The crowd cheers Chow's mention of an increase to Toronto's credit rating, and it's genuinely tricky to tell how much of that is because the room is loaded with her supporters and how much is because it's loaded with businesspeople.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Board of Trade / Toronto Star debate kicks off with an introduction from Board of Trade CEO Giles Gherson, who declines to mention that next month marks the 20th anniversary of his resignation as editor-in-chief of the Star.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

On this stage, I've seen everyone from Werner Herzog to Steven Del Duca, and I'm looking forward to finding out where on that spectrum each of tonight's participants falls.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I like imagining each of the dailies hosting a debate amidst an intense pallette of its brand colours, like setpieces in a Zhang Yimou film.

A deeply blue stage, including a blue cyclorama, ahead of the Toronto Star and Board of Trade's mayoral debate.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

"I actually didn't know this was four hours," says the person sitting next to me, as we await the start of the four-hour film. #TIFF26

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

This is gonna be the best Peloton class since that German-language one with the theme from Schindler's List, during which the instructor stayed respectfully silent:

A listing for a live Peloton class scheduled for 10:00 AM:

30 min 9/11 Anniversary Ride
Christine D'Ercole • Cycling

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Every Showtime series should get revived on YouTube with its own edible swag. Billions bagels. The Curse cupcakes. Escape at Dannemora deep-dish. Yellowjackets anything.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I'd be more impressed that a circa-2012 NOW Magazine clipping merited placement in a Lighbox vitrine reserved for archival material if it weren't next to what appears to be a printout of a two-year-old Variety article:

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Perhaps progressives have more of an edge in municipal politics than in other arenas because "We are building more affordable housing!" tends to be a better applause line than "We are keeping property taxes at or below the rate of inflation."

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Chow speaks about kayaking on the lake, which will always be (points microphone at crowd) "LAKE ONTARIO!" A young couple in front of me embraces, kisses.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

And now, Jim Cuddy, because this is, after all, a concert hall on the Danforth.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

ACORN organizer Ryan Endoh is up to speak, talking about issues with 500 Dawes Rd., on which he'd been unable to get traction with the local councillor, Bradford, but on which he was able to get the mayor to take action.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The MC is comedian Sunthar V. Next, poet Randell Adjei. These events inevitably build toward Chow having to do something that's not especially among her strengths, delivering an inspiring speech from a script. Like if Bradford's rallies built toward a peformance of being magnanimous and personable.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The MC calls out the former municipalities represented in the crowd, asking for example, "Is East York here tonight?" To which, this being an NDP-adjacent event on the Danforth, the answer is a disproportionately loud "Yes!"

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The Pan Fantasy Steelband opens the programme, with a song that seems to involve a backing track, live instrumentation, a vocalist, and the noise of the crowd all unhelpfully muddled together.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The crowd is specked with LiUNA members, whose shirts happen to be an NDP-ish orange. Had they been SEIU members, it would have been a perfect Chow purple.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

It's the first municipal political event I can recall being at at which attendees are wanded down by security prior to entering.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Those waiting in line for Olivia Chow's campaign kick-off are treated to the stylings of one (1) Barenaked Lady and one (1) Shuffle Demon.

Rich Underhill on sax and Jim Creeggan on upright bass, on the patio at Allen's on the Danforth.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The Ontario government is soliciting proposals for how they should go about removing the bike lanes on Yonge, Bloor, etc: www.raqsesp.merx.com/public/solic...

raqsesp.merx.com

RAQS Engineering Services - Abstract - 2024-E-0053 - Detail Design For The Reinstatement Of Travel Lane Within The City Of Toronto

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

On the second floor of Harbourfront Centre, an event celebrating Jack Layton's legacy on the 15th anniversary of his death. The rare kind of thing where I can both wear a dress shirt and not feel self-conscious toting around my bike helmet clipped to my bag.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Leaving the station, the Mayor is stopped for photos on eight occasions. Twice by TTC workers, the rest by members of the public who happen to be passing through. The children, in particular, can't believe it.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

A woman happens to walk by with a stroller and her dog. She stops to watch the end of the presser. "Yes, Mayor!" she calls out in response, with a snap.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Chow now fields the obvious question, about whether this is a campaign-ish announcement, since she's not only touting an accomplishment (fare capping at 47) but also announcing a future reduction in the cap that would presumably only happen if she's still around to find money in the budget for it.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I appreciate that this announcement was held at one of the subway stations at which coffee is readily available for purchase.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Mayor Chow is at Victoria Park station to announce the introduction of TTC fare capping as of September 1st, which I'm pretty sure had already been announced last year and then again this past spring. Oh, here's the new bit: the monthly cap is going to be lowered to 40 rides (from 47) next year.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Sami Landri: "I wonder if Olivia Chow is funny, though." Aurora Matrix: "I would say that Olivia Chow is not intentionally funny. But her, as a person — she's kind of always having a good time."

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Past the apartment Where he once shot Twitch City, Bruce McDonald bikes

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I have seldom felt as old as I did after last night's Lightbox screening of Inception, when two young people in my row speculated whether one of the actors was a pre-transition Elliot Page.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I really did not expect the decision to include Howard Moscoe's name more times than Mike Del Grande's: sc.oct.ca/ShowDocument... (pdf)

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney" may *sound* like the title of a Barry Avrich doc, but it's in Midnight Madness, so it's probably actually good: www.tiff.net/films/ladies...

tiff.net

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The New York Times would like to remind Goodwood, Ontario, that it is merely a one-hit wonder: www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/a...

Paragraph from NYT story:

And in contrast to some previously obscure destinations that are now experiencing an influx of visitors — like Goodwood, Ontario, where “Schitt’s Creek” was filmed — Richmond has been a location for numerous other shows and movies, including “Bridgerton” and “Shakespeare in Love.”

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I miss the days when people would make little pocket-sized guides with TTC tips like: If you have to use the washroom at Kennedy station, go to the ones on the Metrolinx side; they may not smell better, but they sure are shinier.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Hey, someone from the Western Standard asks a question. It's like if a black-billed magpie suddenly showed up in this part of the country.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Given how diplomatic he generally is, Carney has refreshingly harsh words for Gianni Infantino.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Asked about the reported understanding that he'd give Ford his bigger airport in exchange for a clear path for Alto, Carney deflects.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

"The mooted ideas for Billy Bishop are 'interesting' in a broader context," Carney says, in trying to explain why he'd previously called the expansion proposal "interesting."

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Now questions, where Carney gets asked about jets at Billy Bishop.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Ths mayor says we're on the site of Kennedy Green, "Canada's largest housing cooperative in a generation," and also possibly one of the Potentials on the last season of Buffy.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

In listing off attributes that drive the "fundamental greatness" of Toronto, Carney leads with "a food scene like nowhere else," which makes me wonder if he's ever attempted to navigate Scarborough strip malls without a car.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Getting the federal government back into building affordable housing is a pretty remarkable achievement.

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Feds investing 2.7 billion to build 18 new housing projects in Toronto. Promises shovels in the ground on 4500 homes by end of year. PM inadvertently says "City of Ontario" (before catching self).

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Jonathan Goldsbie @goldsbie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

When you come for Mayor Chow and Prime Minister Carney but get Gregor Robertson as an opening act, it's kind of the urbanist equivalent of buying a ticket for Jack White and getting to see Angine de Poitrine as well.

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