So I have gone ahead and registered mytorontoincludes.com. It will be the official home of the project as I continue to shoot it over the next year. You’ll be able to find the latest news on the projects as well as all the profiles of the people who participated in the project.

The project started out as a summer portrait project, a sort of sequel to my “Portraits in the Park” project from the summer of 2005. But it has since taken a life of it’s own with a website of it’s own. Currently, I have over 200 people whom have signed up to participate on the project which is phenomenal, but let me tell you it’s not too late to fill out the form and be a part of it as well. We are especially looking for folks from the East, West and North, to fill out our map.

Basically, the project is about capturing not only the city, but the amazing and diverse people who live and work in the city. You think you know Toronto, but let me tell you, you haven’t seen everything the city has to offer. The project will give you a glimpse into what makes Toronto a truly special place. I know I believe it and I think the people in the project believe in it too. Come and see their pictures and read their stories.

Georgia Kristoffersen, Admin/ Receptionist
Deciding what to get at Tequila Bookworm.

What is your most favourite place in the city?
That’s a hard one. I would have to say Tequila Bookworm. It’s a great little cafe/restaurant on Queen West.

What is it that you like about this location?
I’m not too sure, it’s just a great place to hang out with friends and have a coffee. There’s a laid back and trendy atmosphere without the faux-hemian pretencious vibe that some other Queen West locations can have.

Where is the best place to eat in the city?
There’s tons of great places in the city! I would say a great cheap place is Pho Hung. I’m addicted to Pho!

What do you like about living in Toronto?

Multiculturalism. I lived in Europe for a little while, and I really missed different ethnic neighbours (like Chinatown, or the Danforth) that being different is excepted, and cool. It’s not just different.

What do you hate about living in Toronto?

The ‘gang’ or gun violence issue. It just sucks. Or medias coverage of it. A family member that lives in Sudbury once said that she didn’t want to come to Toronto cause she “didn’t want to get shot” It was like that time when SARS was an issue, nobody wanted to come to Toronto. Everyone was paranoid.

Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city?

(Window)shopping! Or maybe cloistered somewhere in Chapters.

Who is your favourite Local Celebrity?

Mike Myers. Loved him on SNL.

Car, Bike or Transit?
Transit.

Favorite personal story or commentary on the city
I love being a host to family/friends that visit me here. I’ve lived here most my life and I still switch to tourist.

My Toronto includes belonging.

Scott Cooper, Audio Engineer, Songwriter/Musician, Producer
Performing at the Gladstone during the Picture the Cure Benefit.

What is your most favourite place in the city?
Pretty much all of Queen St West, from Yonge right on over until my feet get tired.

What is it that you like about this location?
I live on Queen West, so it’s where I spend most of my time anyway. There’s so much art and music and cool places to hang out, shop, and eat…but it’s not just for one kind of person - it’s a pretty amazing little mosaic.

Where is the best place to eat in the city?
Oh man, I couldn’t settle on one best thing. Depends on the mood. I love awesome little take-outs like Sandwich Box, Burrito Boyz, Black Camel. Sushi at Crispy Roll. Indian at Trimurti. Hitting the patio at Black Bull. Sunday breakfasts at Stem. Baldwin Street is also another gem of amazing little restaurants. OK, I’m getting hungry now.

What do you like about living in Toronto?

Toronto affords me the opportunities, places, and friends to do everything I want with life. Play music, make records, eat amazing food, spend time with the people I love, meet interesting and insanely talented new people, take photos. It’s just good
livin’!

What do you hate about living in Toronto?

Tourists and 905 club-goers who don’t respect the downtown area. To some it’s a just toilet and garbage dump; a place to party, consume, litter, vandalize, and leave behind.

Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city?
Breakfast at Stem. Wandering around taking photos. Writing songs on my balcony. Hanging out drinking coffee (or pints!). Spending time with my beautiful wife Stacey. Thinking about what to have for lunch/dinner. Napping.

Who is your favourite Local Celebrity?

Local indie musicians who deserve more spotlight

Car, Bike or Transit?
Damn Proud Pedestrian.

Favorite personal story or commentary on the city
I sometimes work really late in my studio and whenever I walk back home, I always get so excited to see how alive the city still is. People are eating food, laughing, listening to music, talking, hanging out, painting, watching TV, sitting on patios, falling asleep on benches at 3am on some random Tuesday. It just reminds me that despite millions of people doing millions of different things, how simple and beautiful and small and connected every person living here is.

My Toronto includes more free time, silliness, kobe beef, vespas, mandatory siestas, less urban sprawl, sleepovers, spontaneous jamming, BBQ, free parking, graffiti-resistant walls, mind-boggling works of art, cell phone obliteration, tailgate parties, tasty soups, and YOU.

Jennifer Hollett, Storyteller
Revisiting the old hood at Degrassi and Queen

What is your most favourite place in the city?
Degrassi Street

What is it that you like about this location?
The Kids, Junior High, High, and The Next Generation. This area inspired the ultimate afterschool special, and I believe the best teen tv series of all time. Diverse, charming, and friendly, Toronto’s Degrassi Street deserves the hype.

Where is the best place to eat in the city?
King’s Cafe on Augusta. I love the food here so much that I could cry in joy. Order Soy Drumsticks as an appetizer, and the Kung Po Soy Chicken with rice for a main entree to taste why King’s tagline is “Perfect Vegetarian Food”.

What do you like about living in Toronto?

The world squeezed into one city.

What do you hate about living in Toronto?

Everyone’s too busy to fully enjoy what Toronto has to offer.

Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city?

Blogerati approved brunch, catching up with friends.

Who is your favourite Local Celebrity?

Stephen Lewis

Car, Bike or Transit?
TTC

Favorite personal story or commentary on the city

One of my favourite Toronto memories is performing in the 2005 V-Day production of The Vagina Monologues. I was part of an amazing cast of vibrant and passionate women from the city, speaking about everything vagina! I played a Southern woman of colour in “The Little Coochie Snorcher That Could”. The show sold out and proceeds from the performance went to to Julliette’s Place, a shelter in Toronto for abused women and their children, as well as aid for women in Iraq.

My Toronto includes everyone.

Adina Goldman, pixel pusher/ website wrangler
Buying some produce at the corner of Dundas and Huron in Chinatown.

What is your most favourite place in the city?
Kensington Market/Chinatown

What is it that you like about this location?
The bustle, the colors, the food, and that it is everything that Toronto isn’t supposed to be.

Where is the best place to eat in the city?
Perola for pupusas, Golden Turtle for the Pho, Udupi Palace for the Dosas, Flip, Toss Thai for the Phad Thai….none of these places for atmosphere.

What do you like about living in Toronto?
Good food, small communities, neighbourhoods nestled in the downtown, hidden jems, lovely friends, everything in bikeable distance.

What do you hate about living in Toronto?
pollution, high cost of living, the honking soccer fans, the way people are afraid to dance at concerts.

Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city?
Eating pupusas at Perola’s, shopping for groceries, making a big dinner, riding my bike.

Who is your favourite Local Celebrity?
Live here long enough, it could be you!

Car, Bike or Transit? bike

Favorite personal story or commentary on the city
This city has so many hidden treasures. I love being able to walk down streets in my ‘hood and run into old friends, or find complete anonymity a streetcar away. It’s the perfect size - intimate enough that you feel you can change things in your neighbourhood, but large enough that you can still get lost in the urban bustle.

My Toronto includes a sprawling community of wonderful people, constant distractions, every spice and flavour from around the world, and plenty of green space.

Kevin Fox, Musician
Doing some work at home.

What is your most favourite place in the city? My home on Toronto Island

What is it that you like about this location? The relative quiet

Where is the best place to eat in the city? Home

What do you like about living in Toronto? The people

What do you hate about living in Toronto? No hate but the traffic gets to me

Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? At home seeing where the wind blows me

Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? No favourites…. I love and support them all

Car, Bike or Transit? Walk

Favorite personal story or commentary on the city Sharing smiles with strangers in hopes it inspires others to do the same

My Toronto Includes you

Andy Walker, TV personality/technology writer
At the corner of Yonge and Dundas.

What is your most favourite place in the city? Dundas Square - its the most dynamic urban corner in the city with colorful characters, bustle of urban Toronto and it changes daily with all the construction and yet it stays the same

What is it that you like about this location? It’s where I started in Toronto nearby at Ryerson

Where is the best place to eat in the city? Crush on King Street - fabulous wine list, great food and professional service.

What do you like about living in Toronto? I like that its safe, eclectic and mine

What do you hate about living in Toronto? Driving on streetcar tracks

Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? Patio maybe in Roncey or on King drinking an imported pint of beer

Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Mike Stafford, radio host

Car, Bike or Transit? car for sure

Favorite personal story or commentary on the city There are so many. Toronto for me evokes everything from the Snowbird crash at the CNE I covered when with the Toronto Sun to neighbourhoods that suggest different girlfriends I’ve had and lives I have lived here.

My Toronto includes street hotdogs, High Park, great restaurants, the beach, the waterfront, sweltering summer skies and snow on the Gardiner.

Mia Sheard, Singer/Songwriter
Enjoying a Decaf Americano on the patio at I Deal Coffee

What is your most favourite place in the city? Kensington Market - I Deal Coffee

What is it that you like about this location? I feel relaxed there. All walks of life are welcome and accepted there. It’s colourful and the coffee is fantastic.

Where is the best place to eat in the city? Bacchus Roti

What do you like about living in Toronto? I love the diversity of its neighbourhoods. I love the culture - particularly the music scene. It’s one of the safest cities around. It’s cullturally diverse.

What do you hate about living in Toronto? I hate the smog and those who sit in idling vehicles. Toronto lacks vision. We don’t cherish old buildings, we need more bike lanes, more beauty by the waterfront. We need to be more environmentally active.

Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? Sitting on my front porch or in the back garden with my daughter watering plants and hanging with my neighbours.

Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Rick Mercer

Car, Bike or Transit? Bike, transit and sometimes car. In that order.

Favorite personal story or commentary on the city My great-great grandfather was the mayor of Toronto.

My Toronto includes small, family-run businesses.

Wendy Koslow

Belting out a tune at Kickass Karaoke, upstairs at the Rivoli

What is your most favourite place in the city? Upstairs at the Rivoli on a Kickass Karaoke night.

What is it that you like about this location? I was there the first time I really impressed Joey, who would much later become my husband. Also, I feel part of the city when we go there, which makes me so happy since I haven’t lived here long.

Where is the best place to eat in the city? Hidden jewel: I’m not telling, but Rannie, we’ll take you there. Cheap eats: San Francesco or Swatow. Fancy pants: Scaramouche or La Fenice

What do you like about living in Toronto? I like that I can find my way around even though I’m new here. I like that people have surrounded me and treated me with incredible warmth. I like the overt multiculturalism, as opposed to the repressed weird style in Boston, where I’m from.

What do you hate about living in Toronto? I hate milk in bags.

No, just kidding. I hate that I don’t yet have a job, and I want a team and wonderful coworkers and a daily purpose like I had in my old life.

Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? We have dinner Sunday evenings with my in-laws, so you’d probably find me at my husband’s sister’s house, playing with our nephews.

Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? My husband, Joey “The Accordion Guy” DeVilla. Or Carson from Kickass Karaoke.

Car, Bike or Transit? Transit when possible. Then car.

Favorite personal story or commentary on the city Having only lived here nine months, I think my proudest Toronto moment was the first time I ran into someone in the subway. It was about six weeks after I arrived, and I was waiting in Dufferin station to meet Joey, and there all of a sudden was his first cousin Saturn. It rocked. I felt like a real part of things.

My Toronto Includes everyone who’ll include me.

Sean Galbraith, Urban Planner
Touring some photographers through the Toronto Brickworks

What is your most favourite place in the city? Don Valley Brickworks, in its current state

What is it that you like about this location? Amazing wetlands and nature trails combined with fantastic industrial decay. I could spend every weekend here.

Where is the best place to eat in the city? Any hot dog vendor.

What do you like about living in Toronto? Technically, I live in Mississauga.. but by the end of the year we’ll be downtown. We’re looking to live downtown for the convenience, for the urban lifestyle, for the lack of a lawn and a driveway to shovel.. and because Toronto is the best city I’ve ever been to.

What do you hate about living in Toronto? Traffic, but that’s a function of any large city. Shitty architecture by and large.

Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? Wandering around south of Bloor taking photos. In inclement weather, movie.

Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Andy Barrie, even with his annoying constant lung hacking.

Car, Bike or Transit? Transit, but each is a tool that has its place

Favorite personal story or commentary on the city Giving my now-fiancee our first kiss while in a hammock in Parkdale during the Symphony of Fire.
My Toronto includes everyone who makes it what it is.