My Toronto Includes Raj Patel
Raj (Rajio) Patel, freelance designer
Staying cool in the reflecting pool at Nathan Phillip Square on one of the hottest days of the summer.
What is your most favourite place in the city? Nathan Philips Square
What is it that you like about this location? I see it as a focal point for the city where I can always find activity reflecting the current climate of Toronto. Its got as many tourists as locals and is somehow always alive. Its both calming and exciting. Things can be very still there but yet there is always the buzz of activity in the background.
Where is the best place to eat in the city? That would have to be the harborfront. Its great to walk out there and sit with your lunch and a book.
What do you like about living in Toronto? I like the contrast between every pocket of the city and the opportunity to find whatever you may be looking for - even if you didnt know you were looking for it. If it exists, you’ll probably find it somewhere in Toronto and if you don’t know what you want, there is ample opportunity to explore and be a tourist in your own city.
What do you hate about living in Toronto? The primacy of the automobile and the cost of the TTC.
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? Taking a walk down/up Yonge, or sitting in the park reading. (or perhaps hunting for a patio)
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Does Marshall Mc Luhan count?
Car, Bike or Transit? Walk?
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city In 2002 the winter Olympics were underway. I was cooped up in my seventeenth floor apartment working feverishly on a major term project for school. This project was a huge deal so I had been shutting out the outside world and just concentrating on the books. I had been working at it all term but for the past week or so it had been my entire world. I knew the winter Olympics hockey finals were underway and as much as I had wanted to watch, I thought I’d be responsible and keep working. I did my best to ignore all my friends gushing over the games every few days and their excitement for the results. I tried to make myself oblivious to it. One night, as I had been coming to the end of my project (just proof reading and checking form) I heard a roar come through my window. It was drowning out my music, so I instinctively turned my music up. The roar just got louder, and louder, and louder. I opened my window to hear that it was the sound of a crowd of people. What was going on? Was it a riot or something?! … I couldn’t see anything from my window and I thought I could use a break anyhow since I was just about finished my work, so I walked out my door and followed the sound of the noise. I followed it to Yonge street, just a block away and encountered a sea of people. The hockey finals had just ended 5 minutes ago (if that) and Yonge street was absolutely FULL of celebratory torontonians, with flags and everything. It was massive and spontaneous and everybody was ecstatic. I didnt even need to ask what was going on; I could just tell. Canada had won double mens/womens Olympic hockey gold. I joined the crowd and followed the procession down Yonge. Everyone just seemed to know; Come to Yonge and start walking south. The crowd was unbelievable and it was a great way to find out the score. It really made me feel as though the city has a collective spirit and that I was part of that spirit too.
My Toronto includes tourists.
