The Yonge + St. Clair Collectible Card Series is our love letter to this neighbourhood — a celebration of the characters, corners, and community projects that give the area its pulse. These aren’t just fun, vintage-inspired keepsakes. They’re snapshots of the people and ideas shaping this place — one storefront, community project, and story at a time.

Each card is a tribute.

To the business owners who open early and stay late.
To the artists turning blank walls into conversation starters.
To the city-builders, dreamers, and neighbours doing the good work, often without a spotlight.

How to Find a Card

These cards are limited-edition — printed in small batches and only available through local events, featured storefronts, and special activations. So if you spot one, don’t wait. Start your collection. Not every card will be easy to find, and we think that’s part of the fun.

We’ll be announcing each new card drop right here on this page — and on our social media channels, in the digital newsletter (subscribe here), and out in the wild at participating local businesses and neighbourhood events.

Think of it as a bit of a scavenger hunt — but with more local flavour and fewer cryptic clues.

Card Releases So Far

Paperboy Cards & Gifts – Featuring Steven Gerry (June 2025)

Front: Paperboy Card & Gifts, Storefront at 7 Pleasant Blvd.
Back: Steven Gerry, Owner + Operator. For 22 years Steven has operated his shop at 7 Pleasant Blvd – just steps from Yonge + St. Clair – collecting, curating and sharing boutique treasures with the neighbourhood.

Zelden’s Deli and Desserts – Irene and Shelley Zelden (June 2025)

Front: Zelden’s Deli and Desserts, Storefront at 7 Pleasant Blvd.
Back: Irene and Shelley Zelden. Carrying forward a Toronto deli legacy since the 1980s, Irene and Shelley Zelden blend tradition, innovation and sweet neighbourhood charm at Zelden’s Deli and Desserts.

Coffee with is a Cop is a public, drop-in meet and greet event, bringing Yonge + St. Clair’s police team (53 Division) together with members of public and local business owners for a casual chat over a coffee or tea. This informal event is designed to provide a chance for you to meet your local police team, ask any questions you’ve been curious about regarding police duties, and learn about the safety plan for Yonge + St. Clair throughout 2025.

On Wednesday April 23rd from 11AM – 1PM, come to La Barista Cafe located on the lower concourse of 12 St. Clair East to enjoy this community-led event produced by the Yonge + St. Clair BIA

Follow the Yonge + St. Clair BIA on Instagram, and Facebook for ongoing updates.

How to Attend

RSVP now for a free coffee or tea when you come say hello to the 53 Division police team on event day. Limited beverage supply will be available for non-registered walk-in guests, while supplies last.

Details:
Wednesday April 23rd, 2025 – 11am to 1pm
La Barista Cafe, 12 St. Clair East – Lower Concourse

(Direct link to RSVP site: https://www.universe.com/events/coffee-with-a-cop-meet-and-greet-yonge-st-clair-tickets-76831J) 

FAQs

Together we can build a community that’s both locally rooted and nationally strong 🍁

On this page, you’ll find a quick-start guide to support our homegrown and Canadian economy. Whether you’re discovering new local Yonge and St. Clair businesses just around the corner from your home or office, or discovering homegrown options for your upcoming purchases and appointments you’ll find easy and practical tips below. Save and share this link: www.yongestclair.ca/proudlycanadian to stay in the loop.

Below are 4 Easy Ways to Kickstart Your ‘Buy Canadian and Buy Local’ Impact

4 Easy Ways to Kickstart Your ‘Buy Canadian and Buy Local’ Impact

1. Start with Low Hanging Fruit

Some inexpensive ways to kickstart your impact and keep your dollars here at home include:

● Review and reconsider your online and paid subscriptions, and pause or cancel subscriptions

● Explore and discover local, homegrown businesses and services using the Yonge + St. Clair directory including local:

+ Arts + Retail
+ Food + Drink
+ Health + Wellness
+ Office + Services
+ Go to www.yongestclair.ca/whats-here

● Switch to Canadian big box stores. See the big Canadian list of places to shop as researched by Canadians (source: Reddit/r/buycanadian)

● Reconsider your payment methods and opt for cash or Canadian institutions to process your payments

● Use local or local taxi services instead of Uber or Lyft and consider international ride-share apps, ie. Hopp app (by Estonian-owned company, Bolt) now available in Toronto

● Choose Canada and local for your upcoming vacation

2. Spread the word.

Tell your friends and family about ways they can support local and Canadian. Suggest that people start with the above Low Hanging Fruit listed above. You can always revisit this page at: www.yongestclair.ca/proudlycanadian

3. Help improve the Yonge + St. Clair local directory.

You can help out in Yonge + St. Clair by using the local business directory yongestclair.ca/whats-here 

● Suggest additions to the existing list by contacting [email protected]

● Correct errors in lists, our team will be happy to update the directory to make locations easier to find

● Share stories or purchases that are local or Canadian on your socials by tagging or mentioning Yonge + St. Clair on either Instagram or Facebook via @yongestclair or #yongestclair. We will repost your local and Canadian finds!

● Post reviews of local stores, goods and services so other people can discover them too (Google Maps, Yelp etc.)

● Inform us about brands, establishments, local businesses that support underrepresented demographics or have great ethical/sustainable practices in Yonge + St. Clair

The Yonge + St. Clair BIA team can be reached directly at [email protected]

4. Remember the big picture.

Our goal is to increase our impact in a way we can sustain for the long haul. We do not have to 100% divest from non-Canadian products to move the needle, as many existing Canadian and local businesses will have existing inventories and stock already. It will still help the local economy thrive whenever you purchase or book appointments and services with them. Buying and supporting local, independent Canadian-owned shops that source goods from abroad still sustains the Canadian way of life instead of purchasing directly from American alternatives.

You can email [email protected] with any ideas, questions or concerns not covered on this resource page. Together we can build a community that’s both locally rooted and nationally strong 🍁

Things have gotten tougher lately—the Yonge + St. Clair BIA knows these aren’t just news headlines, they’re real issues affecting your shops and offices, your staff, and the community we all care about.

But here’s what we also know: resilience is woven into the fabric of small and commercial Canadian businesses. And with so much uncertainty at our doorstep, we’re focusing on what we can control: powering up our homegrown, neighbourhood economy by connecting your Canadian products, services, and expertise directly to the neighbors who need and value them most, while also uniting local businesses with domestic resources to keep growth rooted here.

Together we can build a community that’s both locally rooted and nationally strong 🍁

On this page, you’ll find timely resources gathered by the Yonge + St. Clair BIA to support your ongoing business efforts.

Have Your Say: Tariff Impact Surveys

The US-Canada tariffs remind us how quickly the business landscape can shift. And although we’re determined to turn these challenges into opportunities for Yonge + St. Clair businesses, we can’t do it without your feedback.

Right now, the City of Toronto, Yonge + St. Clair BIA and Canadian Urban Institute need your feedback now to start accurately addressing your business concerns, resulting in the types of support required to future-proof your business and our communities.

Your feedback will directly inform the creation of:

+ City of Toronto led purchasing and support programs for local businesses

+ Hyper-local Yonge and St. Clair programs to amplify your business efforts

+ Broader advocacy and campaigning by the Canadian Urban Institute to all levels of government

This is in addition to Provincial and Federal aid programs which are currently being planned, more announcements to come.

You can complete the surveys using the links below 📝:

1. City of Toronto Tariff Impacts Survey (5 Minutes)

2. Yonge + St. Clair BIA Tariff Impacts Survey (4 Minutes)

3. Canadian Urban Institute Tariff Impacts Survey (4 Minutes)

City of Toronto Economic Response Resource Page

The City of Toronto aims to create and gather domestic resources that businesses can use to strengthen their self-sufficiency in response to US-Canada tariffs.

The City of Toronto is taking strong action to mitigate the effects of tariffs and strengthen local economic resilience, including:

+ Convening business and labour leaders to advise on the City’s response

+ Establishing a U.S. Engagement Secretariat within City Hall

+ Actively monitoring tariffs and implementing an action plan that includes enhanced local procurement to minimize disruptions

+ Gathering input from local businesses to understand how tariffs are affecting them.

Review and bookmark the City of Toronto’s economic response webpage, which contains ongoing updates and resources for all business types, including information on impacted sectors:

1. City of Toronto: Economic Response Webpage

A Practical Guide for Small and Medium Businesses: Responding to Tariffs

To support businesses, particularly SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), The Toronto Board of Trade compiled key resources, expert insights, and practical tools to help mitigate the impact and identify strategic opportunities.

This playbook is your concise, actionable guide to navigating this turbulent period. It’s designed specifically for Canadian SMEs who need immediate, low-cost strategies to mitigate the impact of these tariffs and emerge stronger. Split into five modules, the playbook covers:

Protecting Cash Flow
Adjusting Costs/Pricing
Diversifying Suppliers
Adopting Lean Methods
Optimizing Payments

Download the full playbook (PDF) here: PDF Download

You can email [email protected] with any ideas, questions or concerns not covered on this resource page. Together we can build a community that’s both locally rooted and nationally strong 🍁

For 10 days from January 24 – Feb 2, 2025 Toronto will be buzzing with energy and innovation. The DesignTO Festival celebrates design as a multidisciplinary form of creative thinking and making. People come to explore, learn, and get inspired through architectural tours, craft and design exhibitions, window installations, thought-provoking talks, and other unique experiences.

The Yonge + St. Clair BIA is a proud sponsor of the Festival, and will host 7 large-scale art installations in various highrise office lobbies and multiple guided walking tours across the neighbourhood, including one led by the artists. Installations include original and sponsored works designed and constructed by locally-based artists.

A special thanks to our site sponsors who have invested additional resources to ensure these art installations are larger than life: JLL, ChoiceREIT, Desjardins.

Use the map below to find all the festival programming, and click the links below for more information.

INSTALLATIONS

1 – ‘The Archivist’ by Pixel Heller (📍 2-22 St. Clair E)

2 – ‘Narcissus Falls’ by Land Art Design (📍 2 St. Clair W)

3 – Yes, And by Gensler (📍 30 St. Clair W)

4 – Tangled Paths by Nargiza Usmanova, NUMZ Graphics (📍 40 St. Clair W)

5 – Bubble Quilt by Studio Rat (📍 55 St. Clair W)

6 – ‘Homing (Pigeon Store)’ by Maddy Young, and MCA Gallery (📍 95 St. Clair W)

7 – ‘Beyond the Body’ by Pixel Heller, and MCA Gallery (📍 95 St. Clair W)

SIGN UP FOR FREE: GUIDED WALKING TOURS

8 – DesignTO Tours: Dualities  This walking tour invites you to take a closer look at three temporary artworks with firsthand insight from the artists and designers behind the projects, delve deeper into the site-specific installations, their stories, and how they came to be.

📅 Sunday February 2, 2025 2:00pm – 3:00pm, starting at 2 St. Clair West. 🎟️ RSVP Here.

9 – Yonge + St. Clair Guided Walking Tours This series of four (4), 45-minute long walking tours are expertly led by urbanism expert + published author Lloyd Alter. Each tour will take groups to 3 art installations while also providing deeper insight into the architectural and historical elements of Yonge + St. Clair.

When you sign up to attend a tour you will automatically be entered for a chance to win A DINNER FOR 2 AT ONE OF OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS. Applicants must complete a sign up form and attend a tour to be eligible.

Please note that these tours will include indoors and outdoors routes, dress accordingly for the winter weather. 

Sign up for your preferred tour dates below:

📅 Tour 1: Saturday, January 25th 2-3 p.m. RSVP and Tour Details Here.

📅 Tour 2: Sunday, January 26th, 2-3 p.m. RSVP and Tour Details Here.

📅 Tour 3: Tuesday, January 28th, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. RSVP and Tour Details Here.

📅 Tour 4: Thursday, January 30th, 2-3 p.m. RSVP and Tour Details Here.

SNEAK PEEK: BEHIND THE SCENES 

Many of the artworks hosted at Yonge + St. Clair are all-new and original pieces that are being unveiled for the first time on January 24th. To keep your interest piqued, some of the artists have generously documented and shared images of their behind-the-scenes work below!

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors and Collaborators

Use #DesignTO and #YongeStClair when you share your photos, and we’ll feature them on our socials.

The Toronto Gingerbread Festival is back and sweeter than ever! This year’s festival will run from December 3-10, 2024. The week-long Gingerbread Festival will be unveiling 16 professionally-designed gingerbread houses at select storefront windows across Yonge + St. Clair, crafted by our resident gingerbread architect, Lisa Phillips, who has created edible architecture for A-List celebs and major retail displays.

The beloved annual event, presented by the Yonge + St. Clair Business Improvement Area (BIA), is set to transform the neighbourhood into a magical gingerbread wonderland. In addition to the professionally crafted gingerbread displays in storefront windows, come attend the launch event, get complimentary gift wrapping with proof of purchase, enjoy seven nights of musical pop-ups in local shops + eateries, and a weekend holiday block party at Fairgrounds + more!

To attend – save the schedule below and RSVP to all the programs following the links on this page.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Dec 3 – Dec 10 | Explore Gingerbread Lane: Discover 16 stunning gingerbread houses professionally-designed gingerbread houses at select storefront windows across Yonge + St. Clair, crafted by our resident gingerbread architect, Lisa Phillips, who has created edible architecture for A-List celebs and major retail displays! Vote for your favourite to enter a raffle for a $100 gift card (3 winners) either by visiting 2 St. Clair West to enter by ballot.

Dec 3 – Dec 10 | Free Professional Gift-Wrapping |📍At the public lobby of 2 St. Clair West Daily, 12PM -2PM and 5PM – 7PM : Spend $20 at any Yonge + St. Clair business, restaurant or service and bring any item to be professionally gift-wrapped at 2 St. Clair West from 12PM – 2PM or 5PM – 7PM Daily. Your item does not have to be purchased locally. Your item can be up to 2ft x 2ft x 1ft in size. Walk-ins are welcome. Or book your gift-wrapping timeslot below

Dec 3 – Dec 10 | Office vs Office Gingerbread Competition |📍At the public lobby of 2 St. Clair West Daily 9AM – 6PM. Vote for your favourite office-created gingerbread houses to enter a raffle for a $100 gift card. See the displays at 2 St. Clair West to enter by ballot.

Dec 4 – Dec 10 | Musician Pop-Ups across Yonge + St. Clair, Gingerbread Music Series, 5PM – 7PM
Pop-up live musicians at select shops and restaurants every day. Simply show up to attend at all 7 locations. Save the dates:

MUSICIAN SCHEDULE + LOCATIONS

Dec 4, 2024 | 5PM – 7PM| 📍Grandma Loves You – 40 St. Clair West | Cuban Jazz with Pablo Terry & Sol De Cuba

Two shows, one night! Dec 5, 2024 | 5PM – 7PM | 📍 Paperboy Cards & Gifts – 7 Pleasant Blvd | Violinist, Natalie Wong

Two shows, one night! Dec 5, 2024 | 5PM – 7PM | 📍Mary Be Kitchen – 21B St. Clair West | Brass and Keyboard, Sean & Eric

Dec 6, 2024 |5PM – 7PM | 📍Gatherings Restobar | Classic Rock + Covers, The Copy Cats

Dec 7, 2024 | 5PM – 7PM | 📍Ambiyan on Yonge, 1560 Yonge Street Ground Floor Courtyard | Guitar and Vocals, Michel Dequevedo

Dec 8, 2024 | 5PM – 7PM | 📍Union Social, 21 St. Clair West | Upbeat Busking Band, Maple Noyz

Dec 9, 2024 | 5PM – 7PM | 📍Zelden’s Deli and Desserts, 1446 Yonge Street | Classic 50s and 60s and Roots Rock, Bonnie Memphis

Dec 10, 2024 | 5PM – 7PM | 📍St. Clair Greetings 1421 Yonge Street | Guitar and Vocals, Michel Dequevedo

Dec 7 | Free Padel / Pickleball at Fairgrounds Rosehill, 12PM – 6PM📍1375 Yonge Street Gingerbread Festival Holiday Block Party @ Fairgrounds (One Day Only!):  Don’t miss the FREE PADEL session and grand celebration at the heated Fairgrounds Pickleball Court with more goodies and programs —the perfect way to wrap up your Gingerbread Lane adventure!

Mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate the season at the Toronto Gingerbread Festival. Click the map below to download to your device. Let’s make this the sweetest holiday yet! ✨

FESTIVAL MAP
Click Map to Download

Follow us on Instagram or email [email protected] if you have any questions! Or download the printable event flyer.

For a limited time only from Aug 13 – Aug 15, a pop-up vintage, local and handmade market opens at Yonge + St. Clair!

From 5PM – 8PM, come shop, peruse and discover a collaborative market between Yonge + St. Clair merchants and Toronto-based indie vintage shops as we convert a parking lot into a fun retail experience!

With 10 stalls of retail goodies each day, don’t miss out on original and rare finds!

Located at 1501 Yonge Street, invite your friends, coworkers, family and pets to this summertime pop-up.

Looking to grab a bite after you shop? Explore local eateries just a short walk away from the Midtown Market. Talk to on-site staff for directions and recommendations.
Please note: Restaurant operating hours may vary, see in-store or check online for respective store hours.

Want to be a vendor? Limited spots are still available! If you sell anything from clothes to jewelry to art, email [email protected] to secure a stall. Activity stations are also welcome. Stall expenses are covered by the Yonge + St. Clair BIA and vendors keep 100% of their revenue.

Want to help out? We are also recruiting volunteers! Email [email protected] if interested.

The Brain Project is here at Yonge + St. Clair and we sat down with Dan Tanenbaum, the artist behind ‘Gear Head’, to chat about brain health, watches, and this amazing initiative.

Q: What was your creative thinking and process behind Gear Head and how does a watch symbolize brain communication to you? 

I work with vintage parts for my art and when I heard of the Brain Project I thought it would be a perfect fit for my artwork.  Watch movements are very intricate with hundreds of tiny gears and cogs all working together to accurately tell the time.  If one piece doesn’t work then the whole mechanism falls apart.  To me, the brain is very similar.  It’s a very complicated organ that has many different functions all working together, but if one aspect of the brain isn’t working correctly it affects us in one way or another.

Q: Gear Head is encrusted with thousands of vintage watch parts, appearing to be one cohesive movement. How did you source the parts for the sculpture and how long did this sculpture take to create? 

Sourcing parts is always the most difficult part of my creations.  The size of the Gear Head Brain was a larger canvas than I was used to and had to compile thousands of parts, luckily, I have been hoarding parts for many years by attending flea markets, antique shows and estate sales and was able seamlessly cover the brain to appear as if all the parts are working together.

Q: In previous interviews, you mentioned you come from a long line of watch collectors. Are you still collecting watches? If so, what is your favourite or most valuable watch in your collection?

I do indeed come from a long line of collectors and I have collected many different things over the years.  The truth is that most of my collections are housed in drawers but with watches it is a collection I can wear and see daily.  While I only have one wrist to showcase my collection one at a time I continue to seek out unique timepieces as they become available.  While all my watches get “wrist time” I have a couple of favourites.  My 1958 Rolex submariner ref 6538 and my Urwerk 103.09 are two of my unique pieces.

Q: Your work is very detail-oriented. Have you always worked in this medium, or did you begin your career as an artist producing other types of work? 

I was an art director for many years and transitioned into becoming a technology entrepreneur in my early 30s.  I wanted to stay connected with my creative spirit and searched out a medium that would work for me. With my obsession with timepieces I felt that working with these intricate parts would be a perfect medium.

Q: Is this your first year participating in The Brain Project? If so, what excited you the most about this city-wide initiative? 

This is my first year participating in The Brain Project.  I loved seeing these creative art pieces throughout the city over the years and have always wanted to participate.  I am a huge fan of how this project brings art and brain health awareness to the streets.  I love seeing how each artist brings their unique flare to the medium and the reactions of the people on the streets.

Q: What role do you think public art plays in sparking conversations or raising awareness about particular issues? 

I believe that public art invigorates public spaces and allows artists to be social and civic leaders, advocating through art for different perspectives that can challenge beliefs and start conversations.  I love that public art is so accessible it engages people outside the typical medium (museums and art galleries).

Q: Can you tell us about some other current projects that are underway and do your works have residing themes you are interested in? If so, what are they? 

My artwork is constantly evolving.  While I continue to use the same medium I work hard to reach different audiences.  One project I just completed was working with Kidrobot on one of their vinyl figures called the Dunny.  I encrusted them with vintage watch parts turning these typically soft and light figures into a heavy steampunk character.

Q: Yonge + St. Clair is home to many different art forms, what compelled you to participate in this project and what initiatives are you excited to see in the area?

I am a huge fan of this amazing city we live in with such diversity and energy this art project brings new life to some incredible parts of Toronto.

It was somewhat serendipitous that my piece ended up at Yonge + St. Clair.  My first condo was at Avoca and my first startup company was built in an office right at that corner.  Watching that part of the city evolve over the years has been amazing to see.  While some of the Brains are in the downtown core I was thrilled to hear that my artwork would be showcased on this corner.  I’m excited that this area is seen as an innovative and forward-thinking area of the city.

— Don’t forget to vote for your favourite 2018 brain! — 

The artist with the most public votes as of August 31st 11:59pm (est) will win the Yonge + St. Clair People’s Choice award!

Vote here