Toronto 25 years later

I left Toronto 25 years ago. First to pursue graduate studies in the United States. Then onto a global career that has made me a legal resident over the years of five other countries (USA, Germany, Singapore, UAE, and Saudi Arabia). In that time, I travelled to 50+ countries, got married, became a polyglot, and won (hockey) beer-league championships in three cities. I currently split my time between Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Abu Dhabi (UAE).

My transition into a global citizen is quite remarkable considering that I had previously never travelled or left Toronto (with the exception of a few visits back to my ancestral village). But that all changed in the summer of 1999 after I had graduated from the University of Toronto.

I arrived in Canada at age four. I grew up in South Riverdale. The area now goes by the name Leslieville, and is considered one of the trendier neighbourhoods of Toronto. But back when I lived there (’80s and ’90s), it was an industrial working class district. My parents paid a pittance (relative to today’s market) for our house back in the early 1980s.

The factories of Eastern Ave and Carlaw Ave are now replaced by lofts and condos, and the grimy shops on Queen Street East of that era have now given way to antique shops, brunch restaurants, and fancy cafes.

I am a product of a working class upbringing and retain those roots even as I am now a well-compensated global expat. My formative years were spent working in restaurants, supermarkets, and bars when I was a teen and young adult. My family struggled financially. As a teenager I had run-ins with the law and was at one time expelled from high school. Even after eventually entering university, I endured a bout of homelessness.

I was on vacation in Toronto, re-exploring the city of my youth. Among other things, I used the occasion to attend my 25th-year reunion at the University of Toronto (Trinity College), meet up with childhood friends, and see familiar places.

Toronto has changed a lot, but so too has my station in life and perspective. For one, growing up, I did not get to experience many of the offerings of Toronto as my family was poor and we lacked the means and confidence to explore the city. I don’t feel awkward anymore to shop in Yorkville, have an espresso in chic cafes in Little Italy, or stroll the financial district. (My only real experience with Toronto’s financial centre previously was to go to the offices of bank employees in the mid-90s pleading for them not to foreclose on my parents’ house – which they did anyhow.) I am now in a position in life where I am more financially stable and self-assured.

Being back in Toronto brought a bag of mixed emotions. I felt like a stranger in my own city. Toronto is still my “hometown”. My family still lives in the same house that I was raised in. (My family regained the home that was foreclosed by the bank.) I grew up watching Polka Dot Door as a child, feted the Blue Jays’ World Series victories of the early 1990s on Yonge Street, can sing the Pizza-Pizza song, and suffered through years of angst cheering for the Leafs. (Don’t get me started about the 1993 playoffs in which Gretzky highsticked Doug Gilmour.) In fact, Toronto remains the city where I have spent the most time of my (adult) life – even as I have largely missed out on the past quarter century of developments.

Walking through the campus of the University of Toronto brought back many memories. I was fortunate to have received a great education there, which allowed me to springboard towards a PhD at Princeton. I was enrolled at Trinity College, the “establishment” college at U of T. It was very intimidating for me as a poor and unsophisticated kid – who dumpster dived to make ends meet — to be at Trinity. The resident students wore black gowns when they dined in Strachan Hall (although I heard that this tradition was discontinued in 2018), typically came from posh schools such as Upper Canada College, and had well-to-do parents. I lived off campus but tried taking advantage of the dining experience at Trinity nevertheless. I stood out like a sore thumb with my ponytail and gritty appearance. It was not an easy experience. Now I am able to enjoy in confidence the full charm of the campus.

I visited my old probation centre on River Street. It brought back harsh memories. I had an unhelpful probation officer that recommended to the Crown that I serve jail time when I was a young offender before the courts. (I was eventually sentenced to serve community hours.)

I also visited Riverdale Collegiate, where I started and finished secondary school, even as I had attended three other schools in between. I am indebted to a teacher there who helped pivot my life in the right direction.

Unfortunately, the restaurant on The Esplanade (The Organ Grinder) where I worked over six years as a busboy and waiter is no longer there. It has been replaced by a bar. Nevertheless, I did manage to have dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory – a “sister” and adjacent restaurant of the Organ Grinder — with an old friend from my restaurant days. That rekindled fond memories.

When I arrived in Canada in 1979, Toronto was the country’s second city (behind Montreal). But now it is by far the dominant metropolis. When I left in 1999, Toronto was fumbling coming to terms with its rising status as a world class city. On this trip, I noticed a different vibe in my hometown. It is definitely busier, brasher, and more expensive. A cynical me would say that it has lost its folksy charm and innocence.

One thing that has not changed, however, is the failure of the Maple Leafs in bringing home the Stanley Cup. I pray that the jynx is broken before the next 25 years.