| What you loved and loathed last month
Big Heroes in the 6
Reaction to our June cover story, which recounted the aftermath of the van attack at Yonge and Finch through the voices of people who were there that day, included such heartfelt sentiments as “Tears in my eyes,” “Proud to be a Torontonian,” “You are my Toronto” and…
“Thanks for profiling ‘ordinary’ people who turned out to be extraordinary. The combination of all their stories moved me to tears and demonstrated what our Toronto community is all about.”
—Earl Silver, Toronto
“After the van attack at Yonge and Finch happened, we all wondered, ‘Why?’ As I write this a month later, we are still wondering. And no matter what the accused says in the future, the attack will never make sense. I did feel real comfort, however, when I read your cover feature. The short, first-person stories provided a much-needed salve to wounds we have all experienced. It did me a lot of good to know there are such brave and kindhearted people in the world.”
—Paul Fraumeni, Toronto
“‘The Faces of Yonge & Finch’ is balm for the trauma of April’s events. It is a poignant and deeply moving testament to the power of the human spirit, the selfless helpers, and what truly unites us as a human family. Thank you.”
—@MariaVamvalis, Twitter
“Heartwarming and beautiful to see this community come together. Loved reading the stories and the big and small things people can do in times of crisis.”
—Ruby Tuesday, Facebook
I Love Lucy
Anais Granofsky’s memoir about growing up on both sides of the tracks— in subsidized housing with her single mom one week, in a Bridle Path mansion with her wealthy grandparents the next—generated a vast outpouring. Some readers were initially drawn in by the Degrassi connection (Granofsky played Lucy Fernandez on the original Degrassi Junior High), others had never seen the show, but all were blown away by her story.
“We had just received the new Toronto Life when my husband grabbed it first, as usual, and began reading. As I sat beside him on the couch I saw him wiping a tear away and commenting, ‘That was a really good story’ (and he is not one to cry easily). He was referring to Anais Granofsky’s memoir. What a beautifully written and touching account of her childhood and the love she has for her family. I admit I, too, welled up at the end.”
—T. B., Toronto
“A remarkable story beautifully told. Life is so wondrous, rich and brimming with possibilities. Thank you, Anais Granofsky, for sharing details of your unique journey. After reading, I have this curious compulsion to hug each character on the branches of your family tree.”
—David Stones, Toronto
“Thank you, Anais Granofsky, for sharing your life experiences with us and in doing so, teaching us that our differences are to be shared, understood and celebrated. We need a little more of this in today’s world.”
—Susan Webb, Uxbridge
“Anais is the reason tissue didn’t last long in my household.”
—Mr. Cool Ice, torontolife.com
“What a fascinating story and incredibly well written. I remember her from Degrassi but never knew
this history and what a life story, really enjoyed reading it!”
—Kristi Hall, Facebook
“This was incredibly touching. Truly special to come out of these things without anger, focusing primarily on the good in each strange and confusing part of life.”
—Jacquelyn Cyr, Facebook
Perhaps the off-the-charts readership owed something to the quasi-celebrity retweets:
“This was an engaging read that made my flight home breeze by and had me reflecting on my own extended family. I always loved Lucy on #Degrassi and I was delighted to read about Anais’s American/Canadian origins. This is worth your time!”
—@ThatKevinSmith, Twitter
“I knew Anais back in the day, and her mom was such a lovely lady, proud and supportive. I’m happy to see that this incredible story is being told. I wish Anais nothing but the best, and I’m excited for her to be able to tell this incredible story.”
—@patmastroianni, Twitter
“Must read, Toronto. Also for anyone living in between.”
—@cameron_tiff, Twitter
“Highly recommended reading from Anais Granofsky in @torontolife!”
—@EdtheSock, Twitter
And the New York Times shoutout didn’t hurt:
“I’m a mega Degrassi devotee, and my fandom includes not only the show’s modern incarnations but also its original low-budget versions from the early 1980s. This week I came across this beautiful, thoughtful autobiographical article by Anais Granofsky, who played Lucy Fernandez on Degrassi High. Not to be Stefon, but this article has everything: a biracial girl navigating class conflict in 1970s Canada, cultural Judaism and the teachings of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.” —Margaret Lyons, New York Times TV critic
Silenced Partner
Readers were horrified not just by the crimes of Peizheng Qiu—the house flipper who murdered his business partner and methodically dismembered his body—but also by what many considered the relatively lenient punishment he received.
“Eligible for parole after 14 years! Seriously?”
—Rhamy Abdel Hamid, Facebook
“A man was murdered savagely and no thought for him? Qiu was never a man, he was a boy who was spoiled and too stupid to know when in over his head. If he were a man he would have paid his debt and not killed. He should get life, not 14 years. RIP Bertram. I am sorry this happened to you.”
—stella.marie, torontolife.com
“Reads surprisingly similar to the Crossbow Killer case or that girl who took a hit out on her parents: people trying to fly high and getting swatted down, turning to murder. Just sad.”
—Magjee, Reddit