I  have been battling an ongoing detached retina problem in my left eye since the beginning of March. I have found the past five months though far more difficult than the five months following a little bit of open-heart surgery that I had pre-Covid in November 2019. Like so many things, we take health related matters for granted until all of a sudden, something does not work. It has been mentally challenging as well as physically challenging. It has given me though one of the greatest lines that I can use with clients, being, “Let me cast an eye over that document for you.”

To rely on one as opposed to two eyes has certainly been a learning curve, especially given that my “good” eye is really not so good either. I am not sure it is near sightedness or far sightedness. The reality is that without glasses or a contact lens, it is all a blur. I keep muttering to myself with every misstep or near miss, “I don’t see so good.”

Given the eye, I have been really restricted as to physical activity. When I asked my doctor what I could do, his answer was one word – “walk”. And so, I have taken up walking. While I thought I knew my neighbourhood and city, what a different perspective seeing it at a slower, cautious and more deliberate pace. Truly eye opening, if you will. The subtleties and the nuances of streets that I once thought I knew came more into focus. The architecture, both good and bad, the landscaping, again, both good and bad, and the human connection, they were both good and bad too.

The first week or so, I stuck to the neighbourhood but did mix it up as opposed to the same route every day. As time went on, I went farther and farther. Five kilometers became six and then double digits. On Father’s Day, I was to meet my daughter downtown for brunch to be followed by the Jays game. I simply decided to walk downtown. It was great and I enjoyed it so much that I walked home most of the way as well. The longest walk was about 23 kilometres.

I have walked through the College Street Fair and through the Pride Festival. I have headed east and west along a number of our main thoroughfares. Sometimes I would start and end at home. Other times, I would walk one way and take the TTC the other way. Once, I took the Bloor line all the way east to Kennedy and walked home along the Danforth. The next week, I took the Bloor line west to Kipling and walked back home along Bloor. All of it was eye opening. I knew we are a multicultural city, but I did not appreciate based on the signs, the significance of our Ethiopian community, as one small example. I of course knew of the Humber River, but I had no clue of the Mimico Creek. To see kayakers and canoeists enjoying their sport right in the middle of our town made me smile. No need to beat traffic to go “up to the lake”. It is all right here. Our ravines are a true treasure of the city. I took respite there in the hot days of summer, the cool air beckoning me down their many trails. Bonus to enjoy the gurgle and the even cooler air of the streams running through our city. As it is said, Toronto really is a city within a park.

So, what did I see? I saw our multicultural city firsthand. I saw the beauty, and yes, the poverty. I saw the opportunity of urban brownfield development to house our people. It is coming, but slow. I was struck by (in my view) the great architecture of the newly renovated Albert Campbell Library at Birchmount and the Danforth. I saw some beautifully repurposed buildings such as an old theatre on Bloor West. I was amazed by a brand-new community in the Junction on the site of the former Glidden paint factory, right off the West Toronto Rail path. Not one, but two cafes did I find there. And the Rail path itself is great. I lost count of the number of cannabis stores that seem to have popped up like weeds throughout the City. I did find though two shops on Gerrard selling Jackfruit. I had never seen a Jackfruit before.
I found a 10-year wedding anniversary present for my wife in a small independent jewelry boutique on Queen West. Yes, she liked it very much. I also found a French taco place (really?) on College Street that was quite good. 

 

On the Danforth, I had a hankering for a spanakopita, and I certainly found the right shop given the line. That said, one of my rules in life is that I do not wait in line for food. And who knew we have a Cadbury chocolate factory right in the middle of our city? And, as everyone in Toronto will attest, I saw more than a few “Notice of Application” signs for rezoning.

As for our citizens, I saw mostly good behavior. Drivers were very courteous generally. There were no near misses. Walkers and runners and dog people across the board were really good. There are a few in this town who do think though that a public ravine is the ideal place to have a very loud phone or video conference while wearing headphones. Please people, respect the environment and the people looking for quiet. The “needs much improvement” award though has to go to the owners of the bikes and e-scooters racing on our sidewalks and not streets or bike lanes. Whether coming toward you or coming from behind, they are a menace, especially to those who do not hear or see so good.

And what did I not see? I don’t think I saw one public washroom. For sure I did not see one public water fountain. I was looking. I wanted to refill my water bottle and was forced to stop a few times at stores to buy a bottle. Shame. I did not see many signs that should be in place to help citizens and visitors alike. Not one sign or arrow either way on Bloor to point out the stairs to the West Toronto Rail path – and remember, I am working with one eye. And walking along the Danforth, not one sign to direct a pedestrian to the TTC subway station at Pape, which is actually on Pape north of the Danforth. Shame again. We can do better.

We are blessed. We have a wonderful city. I would not say “world class”, but wonderful for sure. And seeing it with one eye certainly made me appreciate it even more. Go on. Get out there and see for yourself.