Bayview Village is entering a new era with the completion of its extensive interior renovation, designed by Antonio Tadrissi, more than 60 years after it opened as an open-air shopping centre.
Its transformation is going to be integrated into a mixed-use development led by QuadReal Property Group.
The renovation includes artisanal marble tile laid in chevron patterns, brass and copper detailing, custom infinity seating, and hand-troweled Venetian plaster ceilings, explains a release.
There is also a new “Big Bang” chandelier that anchors Centre Court, while the two-storey “Lady Flamingo” sculpture stands as an artistic installation within Bayview Village. Interior Ficus trees are integrated throughout the redesign.
Located at Bayview Avenue and Sheppard Avenue, the centre is home to over 90 luxury retailers, restaurants, boutiques and wellness concepts.
The completion of Bayview Village’s interior renovation marks a milestone in the reimagination of the broader 22-acre master plan, which will introduce new residential, retail and public realm offerings, the release adds.
Envisioned as two distinct, yet connected villages, the development will unfold in phases, with construction currently underway on the North Village, the first phase of the redevelopment.
An open-air retail promenade will become the social spine of the district, linking three new residential buildings to the reimagined shopping centre and a 40,000-square-foot public park at its edge.
A future phase along Sheppard Avenue, the South Village, will introduce a new pedestrian-centric district.
Once complete, the master plan will add more than one million square feet of residential space and more than 100,000 square feet of new retail.
PowerCo Canada has named EllisDon Corporation the general contractor for its $7 billion St. Thomas gigafactory, marking a key milestone as the project advances into its next phase of construction.
The project is now moving into the core infrastructure and structural phases that will support future production.
Work includes the production-building shell, mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations, energy and utility systems and supporting site services. Approximately 60 EllisDon workers are currently onsite, expected to ramp up to roughly 1,300 workers at peak, alongside additional personnel supporting parallel project activities, a release reads.
At 1.5-million-square-feet, the plant will be the size of 210 football fields just for the factory alone. The entire industrial park itself amounts to 1,500 acres, or an area of 850 football fields.
“The PowerCo facility represents a transformative investment in Canada’s industrial future, and EllisDon is proud to play a role in its delivery,” said Max Mantha, president, construction at EllisDon in a statement. “As a Canadian-headquartered, employee-owned company, we are committed to building the infrastructure that will help support Canada’s growing electric vehicle and battery manufacturing sector. This project will create opportunities for skilled tradespeople, local businesses, and communities across southwestern Ontario, and we look forward to working with PowerCo and our partners on this landmark development.”
Ground was broken in 2025 on the project, with Magil Construction Canada leading foundation construction for three major buildings and Steelcon Group of Companies fabricating and erecting structural steel components.
PowerCo has stated it is also aligning the project’s timeline and product strategy “with evolving market demand, technological advancements and the Volkswagen Group’s long-term strategy.”
St. Thomas is now expected to begin operations in 2029. PowerCo had previously said initial battery production was targeted for 2027.
“The St. Thomas gigafactory remains a cornerstone of our North American strategy,” said Joel Karlsberg, chief procurement officer with PowerCo Canada.
“We are continuing to build now while determining how and when the facility scales over time. This is about getting the pacing right — not stepping back — to protect our long-term investment, support regional jobs, and position Canada, Ontario and St. Thomas to benefit in a dynamic and evolving market.”
The Ontario government has announced it is kicking off its fifth annual Level Up! skilled trades career fairs to introduce students, families and jobseekers to in-demand careers in the skilled trades.
Through multi‑day events planned in 12 communities, the 2026 fairs are expected to reach more than 60,000 people and will include open house sessions and interactive exhibitions that will inspire the next generation of workers, a release reads.
The fairs showcase dozens of Ontario’s 144 skilled trades through hands-on demonstrations, exhibits and conversations with employers, unions and training providers.
All open houses are free and run from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the following locations:
Kingston — September 29
Barrie — October 6
Timmins — October 14
Thunder Bay — October 21
Sudbury — October 28
Hamilton — November 3
Windsor — November 11
London — November 17
Ottawa — November 24
Oshawa — December 1
Mississauga — December 8
Ontario now has more than 94,000 active apprentices, the highest number in more than a decade, as more people choose careers in the skilled trades. By 2035, about one in six job openings in Ontario is expected to be in a skilled trades-related occupation.
O empresário e benemérito luso-americano John Negreiro Guedes (segundo a contar da direita), acompanhado por representantes da Primrose Companies e dos Bombeiros Voluntários de Vidago, durante a sua mais recente visita à alde. Créditos: DR.
One of the most striking expressions of the Portuguese presence in the world is found in the entrepreneurial spirit and achievement-oriented drive of so many compatriots who, far from their land of origin, built paths of recognized professional, business, and civic success. Among these examples of determination, merit, and a constant connection to one’s roots, John Negreiro Guedes stands out as a prominent businessman, architect, and leading benefactor within the Luso-American community.
Born in the village of Vilas Boas, in the municipality of Chaves, João Negreiro Guedes emigrated to the United States of America in the early 1960s at just ten years old, during a period marked by the socioeconomic hardships that affected the Transmontano interior under the Estado Novo. In the United States, he earned a degree in Architecture from Norwalk State College in Connecticut and subsequently built a distinguished business career that led him, in the late 1970s, to found Primrose Companies. Headquartered in Bridgeport, this architecture and construction firm specializes in commercial, multi-family residential, and medical unit projects across the states of Connecticut and New York.
Over more than four decades of professional activity, the Luso-American architect has been tied to numerous notable projects, including the Birmingham Apartments in Shelton, the Federal Arms Apartments in Bridgeport, the Twin Brooks Village Homes in Trumbull, the Post Road Professional Center in Westport, and the Easton Community Center in Easton.
Currently, under John Negreiro Guedes’ leadership, Primrose Companies has four major developments under construction in the state of Connecticut, representing a total investment of approximately $110 million. Among these projects are a new apartment building in Bridgeport featuring 88 residential units and a parking garage, as well as a mixed-use building in Fairfield with 50 apartments, ground-floor commercial spaces, and a two-story parking garage. In addition to these developments, four more projects are in the pre-construction phase with an overall budget of around $150 million, illustrating the scale achieved by the company and its significance within the U.S. construction and real estate development sector.
However, his success on American soil never distanced John Negreiro Guedes from his roots in Trás-os-Montes. On the contrary, his connection to his homeland remained a constant throughout his life, translating into a remarkable spirit of solidarity and commitment toward his communities of origin.
In Vilas Boas, a village to which he returns regularly, he has supported various sports, cultural, and recreational initiatives. Among his contributions are the acquisition of land for the local soccer field and financial support for building the headquarters of the local cultural association—gestures that testify to a close relationship and sense of responsibility toward the community where his roots were born.
This spirit of solidarity extends equally to several institutions in the municipality of Chaves, taking on special meaning through the support provided to the Humanitarian Association of the Volunteer Firefighters of Vidago, where John Negreiro Guedes has become one of the most vital benefactors over recent decades.
Among his numerous contributions to the humanitarian department, a key highlight in 2007 was the donation of a vital signs monitor. The following year, the Luso-American benefactor donated a fully equipped emergency ambulance, valued at approximately €60,000. In 2017, he made a significant donation that allowed the entire active department to be equipped with No. 2 uniforms. Early in 2023, he played another key role by contributing to the acquisition of a command vehicle and two non-emergency patient transport vehicles.
During the most recent holiday season, John Negreiro Guedes once again demonstrated his commitment to the Vidago Volunteer Firefighters by making a substantial contribution toward purchasing a new emergency ambulance (ABSC). This is an essential asset for reinforcing the department’s operational capacity, whose coverage area spans roughly 100.27 km² and serves approximately 5,300 residents across a territory defined by dense forestry, commercial and industrial sites, and an extensive road network.
Recognition of his contributions to the cause of Portuguese firefighters extended beyond local borders. The League of Portuguese Firefighters honored John Negreiro Guedes with the Gold Badge (Crachá de Ouro), one of the institution’s highest honors, awarded to individuals who have carried out actions and provided services of recognized importance in dignifying the firefighters’ cause. Furthermore, the Humanitarian Association of the Volunteer Firefighters of Vidago awarded him the department’s Silver Medal and, in 2022, memorialized his tribute by unveiling a bust at the “Peace Soldiers” headquarters.
More than a story of business success, John Negreiro Guedes’ journey is also a story of belonging, memory, and solidarity. Between America, where he built his professional career, and Vilas Boas, where his roots remain, he embodies the ability of so many Portuguese people to build a new life far from their native land without severing ties to their origins—transforming that bond into concrete support for local communities and institutions.
Luso-American businessman and benefactor John Negreiro Guedes (second from the right), accompanied by representatives from Primrose Companies and the Vidago Volunteer Firefighters, during his most recent visit to the village of Vilas Boas in late September.
Daniel Bastos/MS
The content on the Milénio Stadium website is automatically translated using Google Translate.
Those who promise too much without a proven track record may be fooling the people.
My dear friends and readers, I have always heard that it is with feet under the table that the best friendships and the best business deals are often made. But it is also at the table, over good conversation, that we often get to truly know a person.
I, as many of you already know, do not hesitate to speak my mind. I may not always be right, but I try to pay attention to what I hear and, above all, to understand well what is being said to me.
Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting someone with a profile many would wish to have: upfront, simple, cautious with words, possessing a broad vision, and deeply attentive to the interests of the people and public accounts.
We spoke about poverty, employment, and the responsibilities of those who govern. One idea became crystal clear: you cannot promise everything to everyone without first thinking about who will pay for it and where the money will come from. The role of those who govern must also be to create the right conditions so that people can work, progress, and build their own future.
We also discussed employment. The reality is that difficulties exist, but there are also sectors lacking labor where greater investment in training, preparation, and the willingness to work is needed. We cannot build a society where everything is presented as a right without also talking about individual duties and responsibilities.
My friends, all this to say once again that politics cannot just be a race to make promises. Any day now, we’ll hear someone claim that we all have a right to win the lottery. Or better yet, that we deserve to win and that someone has an obligation to hand us the winning ticket.
Great leaders aren’t necessarily those who promise the most. They are those who know how to explain what is possible to achieve, how it can be done, and, above all, who is going to pay for it.
During our conversation, I even mentioned to him with a bit of humor that, despite being elected by a left-leaning party, some of his ideas seemed closer to social democracy. And he smiled.
Above all, I saw a person who is very careful with spending, concerned with balancing the accounts, and committed to ensuring quality of life for his residents. A person who seems to understand that quantity is not quality, and that governing cannot simply be about handing things out without thought for the next day.
I particularly liked one point he made: in politics, not anything goes. Those who govern must also remember that, all too often, some run up the debts while others are left with the responsibility of paying them off.
And this isn’t just about politics. It’s a reality we all recognize, whether in a family, a business, an association, or a country. We cannot spend today without thinking about the consequences tomorrow.
My dear readers, are you curious to know who this person is that I had the privilege to meet?
His name is Eng. Frederico Furtado de Sousa, Mayor of Lagoa, in the Azores.
It was a pleasure meeting him. I found a humble, intelligent, straightforward, and measured person, but above all, someone who conveyed to me the idea that, in politics, party colors should never stand above the responsibility of governing.
Mr. Mayor, I hope you continue to be the person the people of Lagoa chose to manage the future of their municipality, with calmness and without euphoria. You came to Toronto and, perhaps without even intending to, ended up giving many of us a little lesson: there are rights, but there are also duties; there is support that is necessary, but there are also responsibilities; and public money is not bottomless.
It was a conversation over a meal, with feet under the table, but it left me with one certainty: sometimes, you need to know the person before you judge the politician.
Now you know who this person is that I met with feet under the table.
Look up and listen to the Mesa Redonda program from September 25th, and see what a good politician truly looks like.
The Virgin Mary "wore a hijab", showing Islam's attitude to women does not conflict with Western values, council staff who handle anti-terror work have been told in a talk about Islamophobia.
Scrapping the triple lock might not raise any money at all, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned, threatening Andy Burnham’s plan for a 'National Care Service' and raising the prospect of huge tax hikes.
A commercial pilot flying from Dubai to Israel attacked his co-pilot before being overpowered by passengers, potentially averting a major disaster in what is feared to have been an attempted hijacking.
The Government is keeping a blacklist of people who question its policies, with social media posts criticising the Government being monitored and investigated by officials.
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the 'climate emergency', public health 'crises' and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
Police officers were lectured about Nigel Farage in a publicly funded talk about Islamophobia, with the Reform leader's doubts about Muslims' ability to adhere to British values compared to a racially aggravated offence.
Andy Burnham has announced that he will axe the pensions triple lock in 2030 to pay for free social care as well as unveiling an elections shake-up to shut out the Right from power.
Danny Tommo, the anti-migrant activist, has been denied bail after appearing in court for allegedly slashing a migrant boat in the Channel – despite the five suspects in the RAF Fairford terror plot all being bailed.
Labour Minister Jenny Riddell-Carpenter has said that visions of Britain based on warm ale, pubs and black labradors are a "far-Right" fantasy that "never really existed".
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the 'climate emergency', public health 'crises' and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
A house fire that killed a family in Merseyside was started by a lithium-ion battery after “an electrical event" caused the battery "to go into thermal runaway”.
The BBC has been slammed after publishing a piece arguing that the popular "bare-looking" manicure trend is rooted in racism, classism and "white supremacy".
Cooking, recording a podcast, publishing a book, digitizing family cassettes, or bringing a telescope home. Public libraries across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond have reinvented themselves and now offer—almost always free of charge—services that many residents are unaware of. We took a look at six of them. Here’s a tip… enjoy!
Toronto Reference Library (DR)
TORONTO | Toronto Reference Library
The home of writers and creators
The largest reference library in the country, located right by Bloor-Yonge station, is a true cultural hub.
Publish your own book: The Asquith Press service allows you to print self-published books.
Author talks: The Bram & Bluma Appel Salon regularly hosts renowned writers and academics.
Free recording studio: You can record a podcast or song, take a professional headshot for your resume, or film a video project for school.
Tech to take home: You can check out Arduino kits, Raspberry Pi sets, audio recording gear, and Artificial Intelligence learning kits.
Culture without a ticket: With tpl:map passes, cardholders get free admission to the city’s artistic and cultural attractions.
Useful Information
Address: 789 Yonge Street, Toronto (corner with Asquith Avenue, Yorkville neighborhood). Located one block north of Bloor Street; the nearest subway station is Bloor-Yonge.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday, 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM.
Free membership eligibility: Anyone who lives, works, attends school, or owns property in Toronto, upon presenting ID with their name and address.
Non-residents: $50 for three months or $150 for 12 months. This card does not grant access to musical instruments, tpl:map passes, Ontario Parks passes, or Wi-Fi hotspots.
Digital alternative: Toronto residents aged 13 and older can apply online for a free digital card for immediate access to digital resources.
Hazel McCallion Central Library (DR)
MISSISSAUGA | Hazel McCallion Central Library
A library for cooking, gaming, and starting fresh
Renovated and reopened in 2024, Mississauga’s central library has become one of the most surprising spaces in the region.
Community kitchen:The Kitchen is fully equipped and hosts programs on health, nutrition, and food literacy.
Gaming and virtual reality room: Offers free access to gaming PCs, consoles, and virtual reality stations.
Support for those in need: The Open Window Hub connects unhoused individuals or those facing mental health challenges with community services and organizations.
A quiet space: A multifaith prayer room is open to people of all faiths to pray, reflect, or meditate.
Art in the makerspace: Beyond 3D printers, the space hosts the Art Hub program, featuring digital, visual, and performing arts activities.
Useful Information
Address: 301 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Mississauga (across from City Hall). Contact: 905-615-3500.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Free membership eligibility: Residents and anyone who studies, works, or owns property in Mississauga.
Non-residents: $40 per year.
How to sign up: Simply bring a document showing your name and address to any branch; non-residents must also bring proof of employment, property ownership, or enrollment in a local school. An Ontario driver’s license or Photo Card is accepted.
Parking: Paid, but free on weekdays after 6:00 PM and on weekends.
Brampton Public Library – Springdale Branch (DR)
BRAMPTON | Springdale Branch
Late-night studying and taking care of nature
With its green roof and undulating architecture, the Springdale branch is one of the most unique in the Brampton network.
Science serving conservation: In partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), the library 3D-printed models of snapping turtles, which were placed in nesting areas at the Heart Lake Conservation Area.
Late-night study room: The After Hours Study Hall opens on Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM for ages 14 and up. During exam season, hours extend until 1:00 AM, Monday through Thursday.
Free legal advice: In partnership with the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, low-income individuals and families can receive a free one-on-one consultation.
An unusual “Library of Things”: In the Brampton network, you can check out telescopes, GoPro cameras, radon detectors, birdwatching kits, memory support kits, and passes to the ROM.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Friday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
Free membership eligibility: Registration is free for all Ontario residents. This is the most open policy among all six libraries.
How to sign up: Online or at any branch with a document showing your current address. Online registrants have limited access until they visit a branch to verify their address.
Bonus: Members get a 10% discount on tickets at The Rose Theatre.
Hamilton Public Library (DR)
HAMILTON | Central Library
Seeds, music, and welcoming spaces
Hamilton’s central library, located downtown, focuses heavily on community and sustainability.
Seed library: In partnership with Green Venture, patrons can take home seeds to plant and, at the end of the season, return harvested seeds to renew the collection.
Lunchtime music: Every Friday at noon, the library hosts live concerts.
Newcomer center: The Newcomer Learning Centre on the 4th floor offers resources and programs for learning English.
The city’s memory: The Local History & Archives department has been collecting and preserving Hamilton’s history since 1914.
Senior fitness: The SMART program helps improve strength, balance, and flexibility for all fitness levels.
Useful Information
Address: 55 York Boulevard, Hamilton. Contact: 905-546-3200.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Free membership eligibility: Anyone who lives, works, studies, or owns property in Hamilton, with proper identification.
Non-residents: $100 per year. This is the most expensive option among the six.
Note: Cardholders from selected neighboring municipalities can also borrow books in Hamilton.
Oshawa Public Library McLaughlin Branch (DR)
OSHAWA | McLaughlin Branch
Saving family memories
Gifted to the city in 1954 by R.S. McLaughlin, founder of General Motors of Canada, Oshawa’s main library is a historic building featuring Frank Lloyd Wright architectural influences.
Memory Lab: In the Local History Room, patrons can convert old photos, VHS tapes, vinyl records, and audio cassettes into digital formats.
Motor City history: The local collection features unique materials on the McLaughlin family and the history of General Motors of Canada.
Internet for those without:Connect Kits include a tablet and a Wi-Fi hotspot, available for six-week loans to residents without home internet.
Books and ideas for seniors: Every month, seniors can discover a new author, listen to a reading, and participate in a Q&A session.
The big book sale: The Friends of the Library organize an annual fall book sale to support the library.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Friday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Free membership eligibility: Anyone who lives, works, studies, or owns property in Oshawa or anywhere within the Region of Durham.
Non-residents: $40 per year. Does not include museum passes, Ontario Parks passes, or Wi-Fi hotspots.
Renewal: Memberships must be renewed every two years.
Aliston Beeton Seed Library (DR)
ALLISTON | New Tecumseth Public Library – Memorial Branch
A small library with a Nobel prize treasure
Located in a town of about 23,000 residents, the Alliston library proves you don’t have to be big to impress.
The legacy of insulin’s co-discoverer: In 1988, the library inherited letters, diaries, photographs, and personal items belonging to Sir Frederick Banting from his widow, including his pipes and eyeglasses. Today, the collection can be explored online through the Banting Digital project, which also includes Banting’s drawings and paintings.
Borrowing… cookware and ukuleles: The Library of Things in the New Tecumseth system includes Instant Pots, ukuleles, bongos, telescopes, VR headsets, sewing machines, meditation kits, and Ontario Parks passes.
Educational computers for kids: Donated in memory of two local children, these stations feature educational games focused on reading and math.
English conversation: An ESL Conversation Circle for non-native English speakers.
Books at the potato festival: The library sells donated books during the annual Alliston Potato Festival in August.
Useful Information
Address: 17 Victoria St. E., Alliston. Contact: 705-435-5651.
Hours (subject to confirmation): Monday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Tuesday to Thursday, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; closed on weekends.
Free membership eligibility: Anyone who lives or pays taxes in New Tecumseth, as well as the municipalities of Adjala-Tosorontio, Mono, and Mulmur. Free membership is also extended through reciprocal agreements to residents of Bradford-West Gwillimbury, Caledon, Essa, Innisfil, and King Township.
Non-residents: $30 per year. The lowest fee for non-residents among the six libraries.
How to sign up: Bring a document showing your current address (driver’s license, health card, utility bill, etc.). Applicants under 16 require a parent’s signature.
Autumn has arrived gently, the leaves are starting to change color, and the days are growing shorter. And it is precisely now, when you crave a good book and a warm corner, that I come to talk to you about libraries.
I confess: for a long time, I too thought a library was a quiet place, filled with bookshelves and someone telling us to “shh!”. Well, think again. Today’s municipal libraries are anything but that.
Right around us, you can check out a ukulele, a telescope, an electric cooker, or a museum pass. You can record a podcast, 3D print an object, learn how to cook, digitize old VHS wedding tapes, or even get free legal advice. In Hamilton, there is a seed library; in Alliston, they keep the letters and eyeglasses of Sir Frederick Banting, the “father” of insulin.
And what about technology? Libraries didn’t run away from Artificial Intelligence; they embraced it. They teach how to use it wisely, lend laptops and internet access to those who don’t have it at home, and help older generations overcome their fear of smartphones. In Mississauga, more than half of those using these services say the library is the only place where they have access to this technology. In Toronto, 83% of those who used them improved their employability. Now that is a true public service.
For families, it is a real treasure. And at a time when everything costs an arm and a leg, a free treasure! Storytime for babies, coding and robotics clubs, youth spaces with snacks included, games, movies, and streaming platforms—all with a simple card. In Brampton, just living in Ontario is enough to get one without paying a single cent.
But perhaps the most important thing isn’t what you take home. It’s what you find inside: a place where no one forces you to buy anything, where a grandfather, a granddaughter, and a neighbor who just arrived in Canada sit at the same table. In times of screens, loneliness, and misinformation, that is no small thing.
So, I leave you with a challenge: if you haven’t stepped into a library in a few years, pay one a visit. Take the kids, take your parents, take your curiosity. I guarantee you’ll leave surprised—and, who knows, maybe with a ukulele under your arm.
It is what it is, and it will always be worth what it’s worth.
Today, the traditional image of a library with thousands of books, high shelves filled with history and stories, is far removed from reality. In fact, this is a reductive view, because the function of this type of public space is now far more comprehensive. Especially in a multicultural and fast-growing city like Toronto, where free public spaces are increasingly rare, the Toronto Public Library (TPL) has become a true meeting point filled with past, present, and future. Indeed, any regular user can attest that, today, a library is essentially bursting with life.
The numbers speak for themselves. With 100 branches spread across the city, TPL is the largest and busiest public library system in North America. In the last year alone, it welcomed over 14 million in-person visits, and eight in ten Toronto residents use the library—whether to study, work, look for a job, learn something new, or simply have a welcoming place to be.
But what can actually be found in a library today? Far more than one might imagine. Beyond books—both physical and digital—TPL offers free internet access and computers, training in digital skills and Artificial Intelligence, 3D printers, recording studios, and even a musical instrument lending library. There are dedicated spaces for children and teenagers, support for job seekers and small businesses, and initiatives that help residents participate in an informed way in the city’s democratic life.
In an era marked by loneliness, polarization, and misinformation, the library also assumes an essential civic role: bringing people together, promoting access to trusted information, and building bridges between different perspectives.
We spoke with Toronto’s City Librarian, Moe Hosseini-Ara, to understand how the library has reinvented itself, what impact it has on the lives of those who visit, and what might surprise those who haven’t been back in a while.
Milénio Stadium:For those who don’t know, how would you describe the Toronto Public Library and the role it plays in city life today?
Moe Hosseini Ara (DR)
Moe Hosseini-Ara: Eight in ten Toronto residents use their library as a place to work or study, borrow a book, attend a program, look for a job, develop skills, or simply to have somewhere to go.
As the city grows, so does the need for shared spaces, trusted information, and human connection. The Toronto Public Library (TPL) has become essential civic infrastructure.
TPL connects people to resources and opportunities through a trusted network of 100 branches, expert staff, and an extensive offering of online services. We are the largest and busiest public library system in North America.
MS: What role do TPL branches play as community gathering spaces?
MHA: TPL offers something increasingly rare: a free, welcoming public space where no purchase is required.
Our 100 branches across the city are vital community hubs that support individual and community resilience.
In the last year alone, TPL branches recorded over 14 million in-person visits, and our website (tpl.ca) had more than 32 million visits.
MS: In a fast-changing world, especially with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, how does TPL help residents keep up with these changes?
MHA: From early literacy to Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills, TPL offers free lifelong learning opportunities for every stage of life, helping Toronto residents build the knowledge, digital skills, and confidence needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world, while helping close the digital divide.
The impact is real: 83% of users who accessed TPL’s technology services reported improving their employable skills or achieving career goals.
MS: We live in times marked by loneliness, polarization, and misinformation. What contribution can a public library make to bring people closer together and strengthen democratic life?
MHA: In an era of rising isolation, loneliness, and polarization, TPL is the gathering spot where Toronto residents come together, connect with one another, learn to combat misinformation, and engage with perspectives beyond their own.
This is a role valued by the public: 93% of Toronto residents agree that public libraries are an important resource for the community.
MS: Many people still associate libraries solely with books. Which TPL services tend to surprise those who discover them for the first time?
MHA: There are services people might not realize we offer… while books, both physical and digital, remain our core foundation, our free services go far beyond that. Many people may not know that we offer:
Free internet access, computers, and printers;
Help with tech and digital literacy, including AI upskilling (note: we have an AI policy that guides our staff toward the safe, responsible, ethical, and effective use of AI tools);
Virtual interview rooms for job seekers, 3D printers, Adobe Creative Suite, and recording studios;
Musical Instrument Lending Library;
Programs for children, English as a Second Language (ESL) learners, job seekers, and small businesses;
After-school clubs for children, featuring free activities like hands-on projects, coding, and robotics workshops;
Youth Hubs—welcoming spaces for teenagers after school and during the summer, always staffed with support teams. Free, nutritious daily snacks are provided;
We are also gearing up for the municipal election with our Celebrate Democracy initiative, which provides reliable, accessible resources to help residents understand key issues, learn about candidates, and actively participate in the process;
Our popular tpl:map passes, which offer free access to Toronto’s arts, cultural experiences, and attractions.
The services mentioned here are just a small sample. Anyone who hasn’t visited the library in a while might be surprised by everything they will discover!
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