Toronto holds a lot to be discovered in terms of everything from architecture to culture. Even residents who have lived in the great city their entire lives probably haven’t stumbled upon all of its hidden gems. However, the Doors Open Toronto event is a great opportunity to explore the city.

Doors Open Toronto is an annual festival that was first held in 2000 and is now proudly heading into its 14th year. [Read more...]

Estate planning can be a complex and difficult series of decisions. Not only does it ask one to consider his or her own mortality but also to decide who should get the things acquired after a lifetime of work. However, when a family business is involved, the estate planning process can take on a whole new dimension. Will you leave the business to your children or will you sell it? Do your children want to run the business? Better yet, can your children run the business? A lot of times, a family business feels very much like your “baby,” so how do you make this complicated decision? [Read more...]

Photo credit: NASA Goddard Photo and Video (Flickr)

If you consider yourself a bit of a “nerd” or just want to enjoy a free educational event, make sure you don’t miss out on Science Rendezvous this year!

Science Rendezvous is a unique event; it is the only national science festival hosted by 40 of Canada’s top institutions over a period of just one day. The goal? To reinvigorate the interest of Canadians (especially the youth) in the different fields of science and engineering. The event will attempt to accomplish that goal by covering a broad range of interesting topics, such as the chemistry of ice cream. [Read more...]

For many Canadians, philanthropy is an important part of their legacy—myself included.

Unfortunately, when planning how they will give to their preferred charities, many individuals and families do not realize that they can maximize their impact. And the failure to do so means that these well-meaning people are paying needless taxes and are minimizing the amount that they could be giving to the causes closest to their heart. [Read more...]

Federal regulators have recent deemed Canada’s largest banks “too big to be allowed to fail for the country,” according to a recent article by The Canadian Press.

The classification was given based on a framework from the Basel committee on banking oversight, which guides the assessment of Canada’s financial institutions, reported the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OFSI). [Read more...]

One of the most-loved art events in Toronto, the Toronto Art Expo offers guests the opportunity to explore a myriad of captivating works of art. The expo, which attracts art connoisseurs from across the globe, will feature works from over 200 Canadian and international artists and galleries.

Several of this year’s “must-see” works include “A Touch of Glass & Stone, Metal & Wood: Sculpture North,” and “Empowering Spaces.” [Read more...]

The Toronto Silent Film Festival is more than the average trip to the movie theatre: it is a unique, thrilling artistic experience. Each year, the six-day festival shows some of the most outstanding silent films throughout history. At each of these screenings, the films are accompanied by live, improvised music performed by talented musicians.

Following the sweeping success of the Oscar-winning silent film The Artist, silent films are experiencing greater recognition and a well-deserved renaissance. [Read more...]

March is the last chance to visit this fun exhibit, The Water Czar: R.C. Harris Works for Toronto, 1912-45. The exhibit is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City of Toronto Market Gallery. Admission to the event is free, but donations are suggested.

The exhibit follows R. C. Harris’s “unmatched 33-year career as head of the City’s works department through archival photos, maps and plans and by artifacts rarely or never seen before,” according to the City of Toronto website. [Read more...]

Moody’s Investors Service has cut the ratings of six Canadian lenders, “due to concerns about rising consumer debt and high housing prices,” according to Yahoo! Finance. Moody’s cut the “Aaa” rating of Toronto-Dominion Bank, which was not expected.

Toronto-Dominion, Bank of Nova Scotia, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Bank of Montreal, National Bank of Canada, and Caisse Central Desjardins were all downgraded in Moody’s most recent ratings. These companies are the largest credit unions in Canada. [Read more...]

Throughout the month of March, GTA Photography Classes offers Toronto’s Photography Camp 2013 for teens, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. This is a fun class, particularly for teens that might not have the opportunity to take an art class in school.

Every day of camp, students get to shoot in new locations near the GTA studio. Students visit places like Harbourfront, Sugar Beach, Distillery District, City Hall, and other fun sites around the studio. They have the opportunity to get some exciting and unique shots at these locations. [Read more...]