Good afternoon — Toronto is stuck in a deep freeze that won’t quit, the Crosstown is finally opening after 15 years of waiting, and City Hall is floating corporate sponsorships in public parks.

Meanwhile: snowbanks are causing highway crashes, residents want to double Allan Gardens, and streetcars are still getting blocked hundreds of times after storms.

Plus: A Blue Jay legend retires and there are new alcohol rules for the Olympics.

Let’s get into it.

THE DIGEST: 7 Handpicked Stories

❄️ Stuck Below: Toronto has logged 21 straight days without temperatures rising above zero, marking one of the city’s longest cold snaps in more than a decade, according to Environment Canada. Forecasters say the deep freeze is likely to linger until around mid-February, with no meaningful warm-up in sight.

🚘 Cars Launching Off Snowbanks: Police warn drivers across Greater Toronto Area to slow down after multiple vehicles were launched over highway barriers due to large snowbanks left behind by recent storms. The Ontario Provincial Police say most of the crashes were caused by driver error, urging motorists to adjust speed and driving habits to winter conditions.

🚇 Crosstown LRT Opens Today: The long-delayed Eglinton Crosstown LRT is set to open today, nearly six years late and 15 years after construction began. City and provincial leaders are calling the project’s rollout a “nightmare,” but say the focus is now on moving forward as the 19-kilometre line begins phased service across Toronto.

💰 Mad Men Parks: Toronto is considering allowing corporate naming rights and sponsorships in public parks as a way to generate new revenue. The proposal would let private companies attach their names to park features or spaces, sparking debate over funding needs versus preserving public spaces from commercialization.

⛲️ Push to Expand Allan Gardens: Thousands of residents are backing a proposal to nearly double the size of the historic Allan Gardens Conservatory in Toronto, expanding its greenhouse space from about 16,000 to 34,000 square feet. Supporters say the expansion would preserve a cherished landmark for future generations.

🏝️ New Island Takes Shape: Waterfront Toronto is advancing early designs for Ookwemin Minising, a major eastern waterfront project that will eventually be home to more than 15,000 residents. The plans are being shaped with over 600 community inputs guiding the layout of streets, parks, and public spaces following the completion of flood protection and ecological restoration.

⛔️ Blocking Streetcars: Drivers blocked streetcar tracks more than 300 times in just 11 days after Toronto’s recent snowstorm, repeatedly disrupting service despite $500 fines. The Toronto Transit Commission says even brief track blockages delay hundreds of riders.

MORE YOU NEED TO KNOW

✈️ Pearson Complaints: Nearly 40% of Canada’s airline complaints involve flights through Toronto Pearson Airport, according to a new analysis of cases handled by the Canadian Transportation Agency. There are far fewer complaints tied to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

🍻 Olympic Buzzed: Toronto council approved 6 a.m. alcohol service during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, allowing bars and restaurants to open early so fans can watch events live. The temporary measure runs from Feb. 5 to Feb. 22 and is optional for businesses.

⚾️ Buck Martinez Retires: Buck Martinez announced his retirement after decades as the voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, ending a broadcasting career that spanned multiple eras of the franchise. Martinez cited a desire to step away after the 2025 season and enjoy the years ahead following a long career as a player, manager, and beloved analyst.

LOST TORONTO:
Yonge & Bloor (Demolished)

Then: From 1944 to 1972, The Pilot Tavern sat at 800 Yonge Street, flanked by two CIBC branches, its name a tribute to WWII RCAF pilots.

Now: The tavern was relocated to 22 Cumberland Street, and the original site is now home to the 34-storey Two Bloor West tower.

THINGS TO DO IN TORONTO: THE ‘INSIDER’ SCOOP

Editor’s Pick! Queen's Park Family Day Winter Festival 2026 - Looking for something fun and free to do this Family Day weekend? Come to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for hands-on activities, indoor and outdoor experiences, and live entertainment during this year’s Winter Festival! Learn about parliament during a Chamber tour, get creative with crafts and activities, and keep entertained with live musical performance and shows. Take part in a mini hockey arena and curling rink, admire the work of a professional ice carver in action, and participate in an inflatable carnival game.
February 15–16 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Last entry at 3:30 PM)
Location: Queen’s Park, 111 Wellesley St W

Spirits of the Distillery District Ghost Tour - Explore the haunted history of Toronto’s Distillery District on this lantern-lit walking tour through one of the city’s most storied (and spooked) neighbourhoods. Hear chilling tales of industrial tragedy, ghost sightings, and unexplained events as you wander cobblestone alleys and historic laneways. A perfect mix of Toronto history and paranormal lore.
Multiple dates | Check website for current schedule.
Location: Distillery District

Beer, Cheese, & Chocolate Pairing Night - A triple threat of flavour at Rorschach Brewing. Join head brewer Matt for a guided tasting that pairs five Rorschach beers with five artisanal cheeses (from The Pantry) and five hand-crafted chocolate bonbons (from Onyx). Expect rich stouts, bold IPAs, creamy brie, aged cheddar, and chocolate that melts in sync with every sip. Doors open early for dinner and drinks before the main event.
February 13 | 7:00–9:00 PM
Location: Rorschach Brewing, 1001 Eastern Ave

Frosty Flora Nature Walk in High Park - Discover how Toronto’s wild plants brave the cold. Bundle up and join a guided family-friendly walk through High Park’s frosty trails. Along the way, you’ll learn how native plants adapt to survive winter, how to spot them in their seasonal forms, and the crucial role they play in helping local wildlife endure the cold.
February 15 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: High Park Forest School 375 Colborne Lodge Dr

Powering Progress: Toronto's Electric Revolution - Step inside Casa Loma and follow the current of history, Powering Progress: Toronto’s Electric Revolution is now open, tracing how Sir Henry Pellatt and the power of Niagara Falls lit up an entire city. Explore how hydroelectricity transformed Toronto’s homes, streets, and transit, with rare archival photographs, early tech artifacts, and immersive displays that bring the city’s electric awakening to life.
January 27 – March 1 | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM daily
Location: Casa Loma Group of Seven Gallery (Third Floor), 1 Austin Terrace

Valentines Chocolates & Truffles by Emily Zimmerman - Skip the store-bought box this year and craft your own decadent Valentine’s treats. In this interactive workshop, culinary instructor Emily Zimmerman will guide you through the art of truffle and chocolate making using organic, fairly traded ChocoSol chocolate. Perfect for sweethearts or solo indulgence, you’ll leave with a box of handmade chocolates, recipes, and the skills to recreate them at home.
February 14 | 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: The Depanneur, 192 Spadina Ave, Suite 501

RECOS: Things you will love for under $50

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK

We are lucky this still exists today: 9 facts about the Distillery District that you probably didn’t know.

Here is the link: Click here to watch

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The WSJ just reported the highest price ever paid for modern art at auction.

While equities, gold, bitcoin hover near highs, the art market is showing signs of early recovery after one of the longest downturns since the 1990s.

Here’s where it gets interesting→

Each investing environment is unique, but after the dot com crash, contemporary and post-war art grew ~24% a year for a decade, and after 2008, it grew ~11% annually for 12 years.*

Overall, the segment has outpaced the S&P by 15 percent with near-zero correlation from 1995 to 2025.

Now, Masterworks lets you invest in shares of artworks featuring legends like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso. Since 2019, investors have deployed $1.25 billion across 500+ artworks.

Masterworks has sold 25 works with net annualized returns like 14.6%, 17.6%, and 17.8%.

Shares can sell quickly, but my subscribers skip the waitlist:

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_{*Per Masterworks data. Investing involves risk. Past performance not indicative of future returns. Important Reg A disclosures: masterworks.com/cd}

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