Ben Spurr
@benspurr.bsky.social
City hall bureau chief at the Toronto Star
At Downsview Park where Mayor Olivia Chow is joined by federal housing minister Gregor Robertson and CEO of Build Canada Homes (and former mayoral rival) Ana Bailao to make a housing announcement.
October 14, 2025 at 2:36 PM
At Downsview Park where Mayor Olivia Chow is joined by federal housing minister Gregor Robertson and CEO of Build Canada Homes (and former mayoral rival) Ana Bailao to make a housing announcement.
Mayor Chow and Deputy Mayor Malik have arrived.
September 30, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Mayor Chow and Deputy Mayor Malik have arrived.
Mayor Olivia Chow at Wellesley station announcing details of a pilot project that will deploy Toronto Community Crisis Service teams to downtown subway platforms.
September 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Mayor Olivia Chow at Wellesley station announcing details of a pilot project that will deploy Toronto Community Crisis Service teams to downtown subway platforms.
Coun. Dianne Saxe has some stronger words about today's bike lane ruling, saying the Ontario government's "wasteful and dangerous plan" has been "dealt a serious blow."
July 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Coun. Dianne Saxe has some stronger words about today's bike lane ruling, saying the Ontario government's "wasteful and dangerous plan" has been "dealt a serious blow."
Statement from Mayor Chow's office on bike lane ruling stops short of explicitly saying she welcomes the court's decision. Says bike lanes keep ppl safe, council should have control of municipal infrastructure, and city is reviewing the ruling.
July 30, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Statement from Mayor Chow's office on bike lane ruling stops short of explicitly saying she welcomes the court's decision. Says bike lanes keep ppl safe, council should have control of municipal infrastructure, and city is reviewing the ruling.
Mayor Olivia Chow is at St. Lawrence Market this morning to give a key to the city to Robert and Maurice Biancolin, longtime operators of the Carousel Bakery.
July 15, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Mayor Olivia Chow is at St. Lawrence Market this morning to give a key to the city to Robert and Maurice Biancolin, longtime operators of the Carousel Bakery.
Nominations for the Ward 25 byelection to replace Jennifer McKelvie open this morning. Scarborough businessman Shawn Allen is among the first to register.
June 23, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Nominations for the Ward 25 byelection to replace Jennifer McKelvie open this morning. Scarborough businessman Shawn Allen is among the first to register.
The mayor, premier and ministers pose with workers on the East Harbour project.
June 17, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The mayor, premier and ministers pose with workers on the East Harbour project.
At a press conference at the East Harbour site where Premier Doug Ford and Mayor Olivia Chow are making a transit announcement. These planks show where the VIPs will stand.
June 17, 2025 at 12:33 PM
At a press conference at the East Harbour site where Premier Doug Ford and Mayor Olivia Chow are making a transit announcement. These planks show where the VIPs will stand.
Mayor Chow helps unveil the World Cup countdown clock in front of city hall
June 12, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Mayor Chow helps unveil the World Cup countdown clock in front of city hall
Stephen Holyday prop alert! "I don't want this person to be the traffic czar," he says, holding up a picture of Polkaroo
April 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Stephen Holyday prop alert! "I don't want this person to be the traffic czar," he says, holding up a picture of Polkaroo
Chow announces the city is launching its property tax deferral program for industrial businesses. The program was in the city’s tariff response plan released last month
April 17, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Chow announces the city is launching its property tax deferral program for industrial businesses. The program was in the city’s tariff response plan released last month
This is how contact lenses are made, apparently
April 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This is how contact lenses are made, apparently
At a plastics factory in North York where Mayor Chow is going to speak about supporting local manufacturers affected by US tariffs
April 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
At a plastics factory in North York where Mayor Chow is going to speak about supporting local manufacturers affected by US tariffs
How was Therme able to exaggerate its experience? Times found its logo "bears a striking similarity to the logo of another European spa complex, one built and operated by an entirely different company — with the same name."
April 16, 2025 at 11:30 AM
How was Therme able to exaggerate its experience? Times found its logo "bears a striking similarity to the logo of another European spa complex, one built and operated by an entirely different company — with the same name."
At city hall press conference, Mayor Chow holds up photo she says she took at Queen and University showing drivers blocking the intersection. Her 2025 budget added more money for traffic wardens to deal with the problem.
April 9, 2025 at 1:14 PM
At city hall press conference, Mayor Chow holds up photo she says she took at Queen and University showing drivers blocking the intersection. Her 2025 budget added more money for traffic wardens to deal with the problem.
Health protocols for the mayor’s tour of a food manufacturing plant in Etobicoke this morning are … thorough
April 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Health protocols for the mayor’s tour of a food manufacturing plant in Etobicoke this morning are … thorough
Mayor Chow is touring the Armstrong Fluid Technology factory in Scarborough as part of her “Shop Local, Buy Local” push. Accompanying her is the local councillor, Michael Thompson, who is currently on trial for sexual assault.
March 11, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Mayor Chow is touring the Armstrong Fluid Technology factory in Scarborough as part of her “Shop Local, Buy Local” push. Accompanying her is the local councillor, Michael Thompson, who is currently on trial for sexual assault.
Deal reached between city and its inside workers union, averting a potential strike next week.
March 8, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Deal reached between city and its inside workers union, averting a potential strike next week.
TO officials have released an update on the impacts of a potential labour disruption next week as inside city workers with CUPE 79 will be in a legal strike position at 12:01 am March 8. All 39 city child care centres would close, programming at rec centres would be cancelled.
February 28, 2025 at 5:46 PM
TO officials have released an update on the impacts of a potential labour disruption next week as inside city workers with CUPE 79 will be in a legal strike position at 12:01 am March 8. All 39 city child care centres would close, programming at rec centres would be cancelled.
Mayor Chow makes a pizza at Junction-area pizzeria Gram’s, whose owner has made efforts to cut US ingredients from his supply chain in face of Trump’s tariff threat. She says the C is for Canada. She’s also made a maple leaf out of sauce.
February 28, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Mayor Chow makes a pizza at Junction-area pizzeria Gram’s, whose owner has made efforts to cut US ingredients from his supply chain in face of Trump’s tariff threat. She says the C is for Canada. She’s also made a maple leaf out of sauce.
City provides update on snow removal efforts. About 105,000 tonnes have been removed since last Wednesday.
February 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
City provides update on snow removal efforts. About 105,000 tonnes have been removed since last Wednesday.
Mayor Chow about to make announcement about “Toronto’s role in Team Canada response to U.S. Tariffs.” This is the backdrop in her office.
February 3, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Mayor Chow about to make announcement about “Toronto’s role in Team Canada response to U.S. Tariffs.” This is the backdrop in her office.