John Lorinc
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johnlorinc.bsky.social
John Lorinc
@johnlorinc.bsky.social
5.9K followers 460 following 330 posts
Toronto journalist & editor. Contributor to Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, Corporate Knights, Walrus, Spacing. Co-editor: Messy Cities (Coach House, 2025). Author: No Jews Live Here, A Memoir. https://chbooks.com/Books/N/No-Jews-Live-Here.
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johnlorinc.bsky.social
John Lorinc @johnlorinc.bsky.social · Nov 2
#booksky New from me, No Jews Live Here, a memoir from @coachhousebooks chbooks.com/Books/N/No-J...
No Jews Live Here
A stolen sign, ‘No Jews Live Here,’ kept John Lorinc’s Hungarian Jewish family alive during the Holocaust.From pre-war Budapest to post-war Toronto, journalist John Lorinc unspools four generations of...
chbooks.com
Reposted by John Lorinc
shawnmicallef.bsky.social
Read @johnlorinc.bsky.social on why the store thing is bound to fail because it’s watered down to a Potemkin change in how Toronto operates.
The compromised compromise, moved by Mayor Olivia Chow, passed 23-2. While Gord Perks, the architect of the deal, insisted otherwise, the new bylaw resembles the six-plex deal from the summer, with most parts of the older city opting in and most parts of the inner suburbs opting out. (This is essentially the triumph of urban form over zoning reform.) Even for what we might call the pro-corner-store parts of the city, there are all sorts of conditions in the new bylaw, including some that seem extra super fussy (e.g., "a retail store may include an ancillary eating establishment or takeout eating establishment, provided that the preparation and sale of food and beverages is limited to cold and hot beverages and low-risk or pre-packaged, ready-to-eat food items"). Such businesses are only supposed to be established on so-called "community streets," which is now a new designation in the zoning bylaw. Council also sent off requests to the province to disallow cannabis shops from becoming, well, neighbourhood convenience stores.
November 15, 2025 at 8:07 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#topoli ICYMI on @spacing.bsky.social today: Nostalgia about neighbourhood retail isn’t a strategy for bringing back local commerce. spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
Nostalgia about neighbourhood retail is not a strategy - Spacing Toronto
I have lived for many years less than 30 metres from what was once one of Toronto’s storied corner stores — a green grocer known locally as “Dom’s” — for the owner, Domenico Cozzi. He and his wife Ros...
spacing.ca
November 15, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Reposted by John Lorinc
spacing.bsky.social
Nostalgia about neighbourhood retail is not a strategy — the City's heavily compromised decision on neighbourhood retail may result in no new neighbourhood retail, writes senior editor @johnlorinc.bsky.social.

spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
Nostalgia about neighbourhood retail is not a strategy - Spacing Toronto
I have lived for many years less than 30 metres from what was once one of Toronto’s storied corner stores — a green grocer known locally as “Dom’s” — for the owner, Domenico Cozzi. He and his wife Ros...
spacing.ca
November 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
Thank goodness for free speech and academic freedom… www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Texas A&M Tightens Rules on Talking About Race and Gender in Classes
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:39 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#booksky
November 13, 2025 at 9:13 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#blueskybooks #topoli New from me in the December issue of the Literary Review of Canada (reviewcanada.ca): "Inflection Points: What we make in the moments that make us." reviewcanada.ca/magazine/202...
Inflection Points | What we make in the moments that make us | Literary Review of Canada
John Lorinc considers the art made in moments of crisis and hardship, and looks to the Weimar Republic for answers.
reviewcanada.ca
November 13, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by John Lorinc
coachhousebooks.bsky.social
AND SO BEGAN ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL EXPERIMENTS IN CANADIAN LITERATURE: André Forget at @thewalrus.ca delves into André Alexis’s Quincunx Cycle, as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the publication of Fifteen Dogs this year.

Read the full piece on André Alexis: thewalrus.ca/gods-dogs-an...
Graphic featuring the introductory paragraph to Forget's piece on Alexis. Graphic featuring paragraphs from Forget's piece on Alexis, with a photo of Alexis. Graphic featuring a paragraph of Forget's piece on Alexis, with the five books of the Quincunx Cycle.
November 12, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by John Lorinc
coachhousebooks.bsky.social
In Verdun tonight, David Berry will be joining Raymond Biesinger for his book launch at Pulp Books!

And tomorrow, in Toronto: Berry's own book launch for How Artists Make Money and How Money Makes Artists at TYPE Books (Queen St. W.). See you there.
coachhousebooks.bsky.social Coach House Books @coachhousebooks.bsky.social · 7d
Catch David Berry at two events this week, talking all things art and money. On Weds., Nov. 12, he’ll be at Pulp Books in Verdun in conversation with Raymond Biesinger (who designed the cover of HAMM&HMMA), and on Thurs., Nov. 13, please join us for the Toronto Book Launch at TYPE Books!
Event poster for Raymond Biesinger's book launch at Pulp Books on Weds., Nov. 12, at 7 PM. 3952 Rue Wellington, Verdun. David Berry will be in conversation with Biesinger. Event poster for Berry's Toronto Book Launch at Type Books (883 Queen St. W.). 7 PM. Berry will be in conversation with Sarah Lazarovic.
November 12, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Reposted by John Lorinc
johnbowker.bsky.social
There is a homebuilding incentive that works. So why did Carney leave it out of the budget? Op-ed from @johnlorinc.bsky.social www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... #cdnpoli
John Lorinc: There is a homebuilding incentive that works. So why did Carney leave it out of the budget?
A 1970s tax incentive resulted in the building of rental buildings that are still seen around the city. Is it time for MURB-2
www.thestar.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by John Lorinc
coachhousebooks.bsky.social
This weekend in @theglobeandmail.com, @joshokane.bsky.social spoke with @pleasuremotors.bsky.social about How Artists Make Money and How Money Makes Artists!

Read the interview here: www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/book...
Text from The Globe and Mail, from their webpage hosting Josh O'Kane's interview with David Berry. The page features a photo of Berry smiling at the camera. Text from the introduction to the interview between O'Kane and Berry. Page features the book cover of Berry's latest book.
November 10, 2025 at 4:50 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#topoli Wychwood Pond looking wintery.
November 9, 2025 at 2:45 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#topoli Any transit geeks out there who know what this thing is? In the Queen subway…
November 9, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Reposted by John Lorinc
alexbozikovic.bsky.social
People want to be with other people. A recent event showcased the wisdom of William H Whyte, and I ask: why don’t our public spaces follow his lead? www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/art-...
Parks should be made for people. Why does such an obvious idea elude us?
We need to create spaces where people want to gather, as William H. Whyte argued, but the central requirements are sadly absent in Canadian public spaces
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:50 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#cdnpoli Bessent: “I do think it was a big setback for the Canadian government and the Premier of Ontario should be ashamed.” Really?!? How about owning some shame for treating Canada like shit for almost a year? www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Bessent signals White House still considering tariff hike, adding to trade uncertainty
Trump has not yet enforced the threatened 10% hike, after Ontario ran anti-tariff ad using edited Reagan speech
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:19 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#topoli Mud Creek, looking good.
November 2, 2025 at 7:46 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#topoli The social and ecological disaster created by the Chorley switchback continues apace. @shawnmicallef.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Reposted by John Lorinc
brenttoderian.bsky.social
New York wins Halloween.
spockresists.bsky.social Mr. Spock 🖖 @spockresists.bsky.social · 16d
New York knows how to do Halloween!
November 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by John Lorinc
coachhousebooks.bsky.social
BOO! The Coach House squirrels are insisting that spooky season isn’t over. We’ve rounded up our most chilling reads, featuring monsters, the dead, and climate horror, for a Halloween weekend sale!

Shop select titles for 20% OFF (until midnight Nov. 2) here: chbooks.com/Collections/...
A graphic for CH's Halloween Weekend Sale, featuring nine book covers and a very scary squirrel!
November 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#cdnpoli And now, so we’re all even, how about Trump and Lutnick and that idiot ambassador apologize for acting like total assholes to Candians for the past year? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/w...
Carney Says He Apologized to Trump Over Ad Reviving Reagan’s Tariff Criticism
www.nytimes.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by John Lorinc
jasonthorne.bsky.social
I’ll be part of a panel discussion following the screening of William Whyte’s classic “The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces” hosted by the School of Cities at the University of Toronto. November 4 at the Faculty Club. Details at www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-social...
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces - Film Screening
Join us for a screening of The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces by William H. “Holly” Whyte, followed by a panel discussion.
www.eventbrite.ca
October 31, 2025 at 11:16 AM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#topoli How Toronto’s condo bubble burst. In today’s Globe and Mail.

www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/...
How the Toronto condo bubble burst
The story of the bursting bubble, and the ensuing ripple effect, shows what can happen when super cheap credit fuels rampant speculation
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:30 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#cdnpoli Such a toddler. My god. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Trump says it will be ‘a long time’ before he meets Carney
Prime Minister says he remains ready to talk to the President and has contingency plans if the U.S. refuses to resume negotiations
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:36 PM
johnlorinc.bsky.social
#wantitall What’s with Colonel Saunders sitting behind home plate?
October 26, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by John Lorinc
brenttoderian.bsky.social
Let’s be clear. If a completely immature & unhinged maniac is allowed to do this kind of thing out of toddler-level spite when President’s DON’T EVEN HAVE THE POWER TO UNILATERALLY LEVY TARIFFS, then there simply IS NO LEGITIMATE TRADE RELATIONSHIP between the United States & Canada or any country.
October 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Reposted by John Lorinc
alexbozikovic.bsky.social
Imagine a city of great apartments where everyone knows their neighbours. The Neptis Foundation has a vision: www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/art-...
A dense, urban Canada? It’s possible
A specific, provocative proposal for how Toronto might evolve offers good ideas
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 25, 2025 at 11:42 AM