Toronto is a city with many facets. The historic district of the Distillery joins the modern district of the Financial District or the industrial district of Liberty Village. Cabbagetown’s Anglo-Saxon architecture contrasts with the village atmosphere and beaches of Leslieville. Not to mention the Chinese, Portuguese and Italian quarters. The CN Tower, Kensington Market, Casa Loma, and sprawling Trinity Bellwoods Park are popular spots. When the largest Canadian city is the scene of many productions, it sometimes agrees to replace New York or Chicago to multiply the possibilities. A short TV tour of the Ontario capital.
Kim’s convenience
Photo provided by CBC
We follow a Korean family who settled in Toronto and opened a supermarket there in Moss Park (near old Toronto). In South Korea, Appa (the father) was a teacher. It preserves traditional values. Her children were born in Canada and a rift developed between her and her son. This sitcom focuses on assimilation, but also on the generation gap that sometimes confuses mindsets. Marvel star turned Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) plays the son for five seasons. Although the series has ended, the convenience store (Mimi Variety Store), located at 252 Queen Street East, still carries the Kim’s convenience sign.
▶ Broadcast on the Gem platform
working mothers
Photo courtesy of Netflix
The return to work of four women from maternity leave fuels the seven seasons of this comedy. For creator (and lead actress) Catherine Reitman, it was important that each character be identified with their neighborhood, as is the case with New York and the protagonists of Sex and the City. We therefore recognize the Rosedale, Cabbagetown, Annex, Financial District and Cedarvale (Avenal Drive, Glen Cedar Road, Bathhurst Street) sectors. The team also regularly tour the beaches and the charming neighborhood of Leslieville.
▶ Streamed on GEM and Netflix
Degrassi
Photo courtesy of Degrassi.tv
The Degrassi franchise for young people has become a school. It was purchased in 140 countries and used in various series between 1979 and 2017. Degrassi (The College Years) marked a turning point. It was about the problems of a group of students in a Toronto high school. At that time, we showed a realistic environment with cultural, financial and social diversity with great sensitivity. The school used for filming was the Vincent Massey Public School at 68 Daisy Avenue, Etobicoke (West Suburb). Several scenes took place in the Queen-Broadview Village neighborhood, where DeGrassi Street is located. “Degrassi: The New Generation”, in which the famous Drake could take his first steps in show business, was rather shot in the huge studios (Epitome Pictures), where the locations, even outside, were recreated.
▶ Streamed on Amazon Prime
Orphan Black
Photo courtesy of BBC America
Sarah is a destitute young woman who survives by stealing. By chance, she witnesses the suicide of a detective, Beth Childs, who looks like two drops of water. It is therefore his identity that will take it away from him. The neighborhoods of Scarborough, an eastern suburb of Toronto, are mentioned. In fact, the series would have been more likely to have been filmed in Brampton and Mississauga to the west, and of course Toronto. The events of the first episode take place elsewhere in Union Station. You can see Graffiti Alley (West of Spadina Avenue, South of Queen St W). The police station is under the King East Viaduct near Richmond Street and Adelaide Street. Beth (Sarah) lives in a townhouse in the CityPlace neighborhood, in the center of town. And it’s not uncommon to see the CN Tower in the distance.
▶ Streamed on Crave
The recruits of the 15e
(rookie blue)
Photo courtesy of Global
This detective series follows the daily challenges of five police academy recruits confronted with the realities of the streets of Toronto. They develop at Post 15. It is Post 51, which served as a showcase for the filming.
▶ Streamed on Netflix and watch.globaltv.com
The Murdoch investigation
(Murdoch Secrets)
Photo provided by CBC
The popular series, which has just been renewed for a 17th season, begins in 1895 in Toronto. Detective William Murdoch uses state-of-the-art methods to solve crimes. Some historical locations appear in the series: Don Jail (prison), Casa Loma, Distillery District, Polson Pier or Allan Gardens, as well as the very pretty Cabbagetown neighborhood and Black Creek Pioneers Village (York University sector). The challenge is always to ensure historical credibility without overly ‘contaminating’ the locations with contemporary artifices. The production also turned to the city of Hamilton. The Borough of Dundas, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, the Tamahaac Club and the Balfour Estate are places that bestow this historic cachet.
▶ Broadcast on Gem
Frankie Drake: Private Investigator
(Frankie Drake Mysteries)
Photo provided by CBC
As the first female detective, Frankie leads her investigations in 1920s Toronto. Your employees are exclusively women. As with Murdoch Mysteries, historical locations are essential. The city of Hamilton (50 minutes southwest of Toronto) hosted the production. The Liuna train station was used several times and even served as the main entrance for a hotel. Westfield Heritage Village, about 20 minutes outside of town, is also popular for its 35 expertly preserved historic buildings.
▶ Broadcast on Gem
Suits: Both do this Couple
(suits)
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Toronto agrees to pretend to be New York in this American series (in which Meghan Markle was revealed). It describes the daily life of ambitious lawyers in a prestigious law firm, where lies are spread in favor of performance. The Bay Adelaide Center’s huge glass lobby (333 Bay Street), designed by architect James Turrell, is a regular feature in the series, replacing the Pearson-Spectre firm’s entrance. It’s like being in the middle of Wall Street. The Ritz-Carlton lobby is often used for numerous meetings between counterparties, while cocktails among colleagues are held at the Luma Bar (in the TIFF Bell Lightbox – 350 King St) or the Fairmount Royal York (100 Front Street).
▶ Streamed on Netflix
The Scarlet Maid
(Tea The Maid’s Tale)
Photo provided by Hulu
Although this futuristic dystopia is set in a fictional city, some Toronto locations are recognizable in it. St. Aidan’s Church (70 Silver Birch Ave) is the Red Center where the maids are “trained”. You will also recognize the old town hall. This very tough series documents a young woman’s struggle in a male-run society where she is reduced to a servant who is abused to procreate.
▶ Streamed on Crave
Welcome to Schitt’s Creek
(Schitt’s Creek)
Photo provided by CBC
Let’s get out of the big city and embark on an extended pilgrimage an hour’s drive from Toronto. This series, which chronicles the plight of a wealthy family forced to live in a small-town motel after losing everything, has become one of the biggest hits on Canadian television. Note that the famous Motel Rosebud is located in the small community of Mono near Orangeville (northwest of Toronto) on Hockley Road. It is still intact as it is closed.
The rest of the fictional town of Schitt’s Creek is actually in Goodwood (45 minutes northeast of Toronto). If you exit at the corner of Front Street and Highway 47, you’ll have a view of the (private) building that housed the Tropical Cafe, where the Roses ate almost all of their meals. We also see Bob’s Garage, where the Patriarch has his office, and the Rose Apothecary, David and Patrick’s store, which is actually a yarn store (Romni Goodwood). And the old town hall near the railway line served as the “town hall”.
▶ Broadcast on Gem