# Toronto Life > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Toronto_Life > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Toronto_Life.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Life > Source revision: 1301444863 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Canadian magazine}} {{Infobox magazine | title = Toronto Life | logo = | logo_size = | image_size = | image_file = | image_alt = | image_caption = | editor_title = Editor-in-chief | editor = Malcolm Johnston | previous_editor = Sarah Fulford (2008-2022)
[John Edward Macfarlane](/source/John_Edward_Macfarlane) (1972-1974, 1992-2007)
[Marq de Villiers](/source/Marq_de_Villiers) (1981-1992),
Don Obe (1978-1981),
[Thomas Hedley](/source/Thomas_Hedley) (1977-1978),
Alexander Ross (1974-1977) | staff_writer = | photographer = | category = | frequency = | publisher = Jason Maghanoy | circulation_year = June 2015 | total_circulation = 87,929{{cite book|title=Alliance for Audited Media|date=October 30, 2016}} | founder = | founded = | firstdate = {{Start date|1966|11}} | company = [St. Joseph Media](/source/St._Joseph_Media) | country = Canada | based = Toronto | language = English | website = {{URL|http://torontolife.com}} | issn = 0049-4194 | oclc = }} '''''Toronto Life''''' is a monthly [magazine](/source/magazine) about [entertainment](/source/entertainment), [politics](/source/politics) and life in [Toronto](/source/Toronto), [Ontario](/source/Ontario), Canada. ''Toronto Life'' also publishes a number of annual special interest guides about the city, including ''Real Estate'', ''Stylebook'', ''Eating & Drinking'', ''City Home'' and ''Neighbourhoods''. Established in 1966, it has been owned by [St. Joseph Communications](/source/St._Joseph_Media) since 2002. ''Toronto Life'' has a circulation of 87,929{{cite book|title=Alliance for Audited Media|date=June 30, 2015}} and readership of 890,000.{{Cite web|url=http://mediaincanada.com/2016/10/14/steady-as-she-goes-toronto-life-turns-50/|title=Steady as she goes: Toronto Life turns 50|date=October 14, 2016|first=Bree|last=Rody-Mantha|website=[Media of Canada](/source/Media_of_Canada) |access-date=2019-01-20}} The magazine is a major winner of the [Canadian National Magazine Awards](/source/Canadian_National_Magazine_Awards), leading current publications with 110 gold awards including 3 awards for Magazine of the Year in 1985, 1989, and 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www.magazine-awards.com/index.php?ci_id=1793&la_id=1|title=National Magazine Awards searchable archive|access-date=2015-12-17}} ''Toronto Life'' also won the Magazine Grand Prix award at the 2021 National Magazine Awards, with the jury writing that it is "alert to the cultural moment, bold in its journalistic exposés, up-to-the-minute in its services reportage and smart about the platforms it uses to deliver content to readers. The issues its editorial team assembled during the [pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic) showed just how relevant and useful a first-class city magazine can be."{{Cite web|date=2018-06-20|title=Magazine Grand Prix|url=https://magazine-awards.com/en/winners/magazine-grand-prix/|access-date=2021-08-02|website=National Magazine Awards|language=en-CA}} It is also known for publishing an annual 50 most influential people in Toronto list.{{Cite web|url=https://torontolife.com/city/influential-torontonians-2018/|title=The 50 most influential Torontonians of 2018|date=2018-11-15|website=Toronto Life|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-17}} ==History== Established in November 1966,{{cite web |title=The weirdest covers from Toronto Life's first 50 years |url=https://torontolife.com/city/life/50-years-of-toronto-life-covers/ |website=Toronto Life |access-date=7 November 2019 |date=7 June 2016}} ''Toronto Life'' was purchased by [Michael de Pencier](/source/Michael_de_Pencier) in 1972 and held until 2002, when it was sold to St. Joseph Media.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mastheadonline.com/archives/2006/200609.shtml|title=Home Depot enters shelter category|publisher=Masthead Publishing Ltd.|date=28 September 2006|access-date=2010-10-22|quote=Michael de Pencier, remember, was the long-time proprietor of Key Media, which was sold to St. Joseph Media in February 2002 for an estimated $36 million. Titles included Toronto Life, Fashion, Where Toronto and a stake in Gardening Life.}} The publisher also owns the tourism magazine ''Where Canada'' (published in several large cities), ''[Fashion](/source/Fashion_(magazine))'', ''Wish'', ''Wedding Bells'', and several smaller magazines. The current editor-in-chief is Malcolm Johnston, who succeeded long-time editor Sarah Fulford (since 2008) in February 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/life/together/places/2022/05/15/new-toronto-life-editor-in-chief-malcolm-johnston-gives-a-taste-of-the-best-new-restaurants-issue.html|title= New Toronto Life editor-in-chief Malcolm Johnston gives a taste of the 'Best New Restaurants' issue {{!}} The Star|website=thestar.com|date= 15 May 2022|language=en|access-date=2022-09-22}} [Marq de Villiers](/source/Marq_de_Villiers) was editor-in-chief from 1981 to 1992 and then publisher. [John Edward Macfarlane](/source/John_Edward_Macfarlane) was editor-in-chief from 1992 to 2007. He had previously had the position from 1972 to 1974 and was succeeded by Alexander Ross. [Thomas Hedley](/source/Thomas_Hedley) was editor-in-chief from 1977 to 1978 and Don Obe was editor-in-chief from 1978 to 1981.https://strategyonline.ca/1992/07/13/6251-19920713/ [Peter Herrndorf](/source/Peter_Herrndorf) was the publisher of ''Toronto Life'' from 1983 to 1992. In 2015, an article titled "Jennifer Pan’s Revenge: The inside story of a golden child, the killers she hired, and the parents she wanted dead"{{cite news|url=http://torontolife.com/city/crime/jennifer-pan-revenge/|title=Jennifer Pan's Revenge: The inside story of a golden child, the killers she hired, and the parents she wanted dead|last1=Ho|first1=Karen K.|date=22 July 2015|access-date=9 January 2017|publisher=Toronto Life}} by Karen K. Ho brought the previously relatively obscure [Jennifer Pan](/source/Killing_of_Bich_Pan) murder case to international attention.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/27/tragedy-of-golden-daughters-murder-plot-against-parents-resonates-with-asian-immigrant-children/|title=Tragedy of 'golden' daughter's fall resonates with Asian immigrant children|last1=Wang|first1=Yanan|date=27 July 2015|access-date=9 January 2017|newspaper=[Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post)}}{{cite news|title=Is it possible to love and hate?|date=15 August 2015|publisher=[Northwest Asian Weekly](/source/Northwest_Asian_Weekly)|id = {{ProQuest|1706574280}}}} In October 2018, it was announced that ''Toronto Life'' will launch a membership program with access to ''Toronto Life''’s events, as well as special offers from local venues.{{Cite web|url=http://mediaincanada.com/2018/10/29/toronto-life-sets-sights-on-membership-program/|title=Toronto Life sets sights on membership program|date=October 29, 2018|first=Catherine|last=Phillips|website=[Media of Canada](/source/Media_of_Canada) |access-date=2019-01-20}} == Controversies == === Libel suits === ==== Successful ==== In November 1987, ''Toronto Life'' published a 50,000-word article on the Reichmanns family written by Elaine Dewar. In January 1988, Paul, Albert and Ralph Reichmann sued Dewar and Toronto Life for $102 million, claiming that the article defamed their family. In 1991, after exhausting the cover of ''Toronto Life'''s libel insurance policy, an out-of-court settlement was reached between the parties that saw the article retracted and ''Toronto Life'' make “a substantial donation to four charities” designated by the Reichmanns.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1991/2/11/a-magazine-apology|title=A magazine apology {{!}} Maclean's {{!}} FEBRUARY 11, 1991|last=Deacon|first=James|website=Maclean's|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}} In its apology, ''Toronto Life'' said its article "incorporated many allegations and insinuations about the Reichmann family which ... there was no reasonable basis for" and said it now realized that "none of the allegations and insinuations should ever have been raised." Stephen Trumper, the president of Toronto Life Publishing Co., said “we should have been much more rigorous in that process and more precise in our conclusions,” and that “any and all negative insinuations and allegations in the article... are totally false.”{{Cite news|title=A Magazine Apology|date=February 1991|work=Toronto Life}} ==== Unsuccessful ==== In April 2015, Canadian entrepreneur Michael Elder, the son of [Jim Elder](/source/Jim_Elder_(equestrian)), attempted to sue the magazine to prevent publication of a feature about him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/04/23/toronto-life-defying-libel-threat-from-prominent-entrepreneur-michael-elder_n_7123108.html|title=Toronto Life Stands Ground In Face Of $100-Million Lawsuit From Businessman|date=2015-04-23|website=HuffPost Canada|language=en|access-date=2019-01-20}} Superior Court dismissed the motion for an injunction and awarded the magazine $17,000 in costs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/04/22/court-bid-against-toronto-life-fails-to-stop-publication.html|title=Court bid against Toronto Life fails to stop publication {{!}} The Star|website=thestar.com|date=22 April 2015 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-20}} === Unlawful employment practices === In March 2014, ''Toronto Life'' was required to shut down its unpaid internship program implemented in 2009, after the [Ontario Ministry of Labour](/source/Ministry_of_Labour_(Ontario)) declared that its longstanding practice of not paying interns was in contravention of the ''[Employment Standards Act](/source/Employment_Standards_Act)''.[http://j-source.ca/article/ontario-labour-ministry-cracks-down-unpaid-internships-toronto-life-walrus "Ontario labour ministry cracks down on unpaid internships at Toronto Life, The Walrus"], The Canadian Journalism Project, March 27, 2014 The magazine responded, saying "The idea that we can start paying everybody completely misunderstands the nature of the economics of the magazine industry at the moment."[http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/03/27/unpaid-internship-crackdown-toronto-life-walrus_n_5044462.html "Unpaid Internship Crackdown At Toronto Life, The Walrus Magazines"], Huffington Post Canada, March 27, 2014 ''Toronto Life'''s first (unpaid) intern, Derek Finkle, started with the magazine in 1993. During his internship he wrote a cover story for the magazine for free. He weighed in on the controversy saying that he backs the decision of the Ontario Ministry of Labour.[http://www.thestoryboard.ca/unpaid-internship-conspiracy/ "The Unpaid Internship Conspiracy"], TheStoryboard.ca, March 31, 2014 === Journalism ethics violations === In December 2014, ''[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)'' published an investigation stating that in 2013, the magazine dismissed a feature about 15 women [Jian Ghomeshi](/source/Jian_Ghomeshi) was dating after the protest of his PR team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2014/12/19/how_ghomeshis_publicist_worked_to_shut_down_toronto_life_story.html|title=How Ghomeshi's publicist worked to shut down Toronto Life story {{!}} The Star|website=thestar.com|date=19 December 2014 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-20}} In January 2018, the magazine was accused of hiding a published negative review of steakhouse BlueBlood from its website.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eater.com/2018/1/12/16885142/toronto-life-removed-critical-review-blueblood-advertiser|title=Why Did This Magazine Take Down a Negative Restaurant Review?|last=Burton|first=Monica|date=2018-01-12|website=Eater|access-date=2019-01-20}}{{cite web |last1=Hiltz |first1=Robert |title=Toronto Life Pulled Down A Critical Review Of An Advertiser's Restaurant |url=https://www.canadalandshow.com/toronto-life-pulls-down-critical-review-of-advertisers-restaurant/ |website=www.canadalandshow.com |date=12 January 2018 |access-date=7 November 2019}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.torontolife.com/ ''Toronto Life''] {{St. Joseph Communications}} {{Authority control}} Category:Local interest magazines published in Canada Category:Monthly magazines published in Canada Category:St. Joseph Media magazines Category:Magazines published in Toronto Category:Magazines established in 1966 Category:1966 establishments in Ontario --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Toronto Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Life) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Life?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.