Since 2005, Toronto the Good has been a celebration of Toronto’s built and cultural environments that brings together city builders and citizens to explore themes of urban change, value, uniqueness, complexity, and potential.
Toronto the Good 2025
This year’s Toronto The Good party was held in Old City Hall. We celebrated cultural spaces in the city while exploring their value and envisioning new possibilities for supporting and retaining them. The City of Toronto’s Economic Development & Culture co-hosted, with special guests including the Mexican city-building organization Culturans and the Toronto Biennial of Art.
Toronto the Good 2024
ART=Waterfront
The evening brought together a range of stellar city-builders, artists, designers, policymakers, and urbanists to explore ART=Waterfront, an initiative to create a Cultural Corridor across Toronto’s entire waterfront supporting affordable artist live-work housing and performance and exhibition spaces. The night was a huge success, full of art, installations, VR, music, books, discourse, and dancing!
Photography by Tiffany Chan
Toronto the Good 2017
A Tower Renewal Partnership Celebration
For this installment, the party focused on the initiatives of the Tower Renewal Partnership, a non-profit initiative working to preserve and enhance mid-century apartment tower neighbourhoods through research, advocacy and demonstration. International experts and local city-builders held a symposium during the day to explore innovative strategies for transitioning aging apartment tower neighbourhoods to meet the demands of 21st-century cities.
Toronto the Good 2016
A Jane’s Walk Launch Party
The 2016 Toronto the Good Party marked the 10th anniversary of Jane’s Walk, a movement of free, citizen-led walking tours inspired by the ideals of the late civic activist and prolific writer Jane Jacobs. These walks encourage citizens to share stories, explore their communities, and connect with their neighbours.
Toronto the Good 2015
A Celebration of the City’s Parks and Trees
This year, Toronto the Good partnered with The Cultural Landscape Foundation to present the Second Wave of Modernism III: Leading with Landscape conference. The conference tackled numerous issues, including those that deal with the city’s identity — what does it mean for a 21st-century city to be historic and modern at the same time? — and stewardship — what new models for public/private financing and management are emerging?
Toronto the Good 2014
Election Theme
For the tenth edition of Toronto the Good, the party centred around the upcoming Toronto municipal election and was co-hosted by Dave Meslin and RaBIT, who had been advocating for the fascinating idea of ranked ballot municipal voting in Toronto. Many councillors and candidates were in attendance, including a number of mayoral candidates who braved the loud room to speak to their vision for the city.
Toronto the Good 2013
Detroit+Toronto
Developers, entrepreneurs, politicians, city staff, urbanists, and innovators from both Detroit and Toronto gathered to discuss and debate the opportunities for the future of these two great cities. It was a day to explore the urban issues at stake today for two cities linked by a history of industry, trade, and culture.
Toronto the Good 2012
Luminato’s Encampment
Toronto the Good brought Torontonians to Fort York in 2012 to reflect on the city and toast its built and cultural environments, past and future. The return to Fort York was chosen to coincide with the unveiling of Luminato’s Encampment, which consisted of 200 low-lit tents, each telling a different story from civilian accounts of the War of 1812.
Toronto the Good 2011
Invasion of Hart House
The 2011 Toronto the Good Party was held at the University of Toronto’s Hart House. The invasion of Hart House was a new venture to celebrate the University of Toronto’s urban research centre.
Toronto the Good 2010
Invades Harbourfront Centre
The 2010 Toronto the Good party was held concurrently with the Authors at Harbourfront series. The evening was filled with events, including access to all the exhibitions in the gallery, Harbourfront’s Author’s reading series, book signings, music, and video installations.
Toronto the Good 2009
Cycling in Toronto
This year, Toronto the Good celebrated riders, readers, and builders with some very special guests. The Toronto Cyclists Union teamed up with Media Lab Toronto to create a participatory installation where partygoers pedaled off their cocktails by riding a stationary bike through projected images of Toronto.
Toronto the Good 2008
Urban Centre
In 2008, Toronto The Good asked attendees to explore an idea: planners, architects, developers, and interested residents from around the world are using a new tool — the urban centre — to educate the public and debate local development issues. Does Toronto need a similar model? If so, what should it do and where should it be located?
Toronto the Good 2007
Design Matter
The Toronto Society of Architects co-hosted the 2007 Toronto the Good party to announce the winner of their “Design Matters” competition, which was on display during the party. They also want to introduce all of you to Wireless Toronto, an all-volunteer community group celebrating their 2nd anniversary providing free community wireless hotspots in cafés, bars, and outdoor places like Dufferin Grove Park and Dundas Square.
Toronto the Good 2006
Fort York
The second Toronto the Good Party was held at Fort York. Guests wandered the battlefield with other people who are passionate about the city. There were lo-fi interactive games and semi-serious attempts at fireing the cannon at the Gardiner.
Toronto the Good 2005
The First!
ERA started the Toronto the Good parties to bring together a broad cross-section of Torontonians who are interested in the city and in city building. We started these parties with Spacing Magazine and [murmur], and they have continued to be involved each year. Other partners have included Heritage Toronto, the Carpenters Union, the Toronto Society of Architects, the Distillery District, Harbourfront Centre, and Cities Centre. The first Toronto the Good took place at the Distillery District.
