Ed’s: The Canadian dream

Re For Guardian newspaper, Honest Ed’s tells T.O. story, Jan. 5 Honest Ed’s may be a ramshackle building of little architectural distinction, but it is indeed a true expression of our city, post World War II. It reflects the waves of immigrants who have populated the expansion and diversity of Toronto, as successive waves have arrived from all corners of the world, settled in ethnic neighbourhoods around Bloor and Bathurst, shopped at this mecca of affordability, and moved successive generations up the social ladder and into other parts of the GTA.

Indeed, the Mirvish story itself is one of an immigrant family that started with little and grew to create a civic institution, and become major benefactors to the city’s live theatre scene, among other cultural and civic contributions.

Can there be a more fitting metaphor for “the Canadian dream” than Honest Ed’s? David Balcon, Toronto