Gabe Oatley
@gabeoatley.bsky.social
Reporter with @torontotoday.ca, covering Toronto's downtown core. Bylines with: CBC, Future of Good, Xtra! etc. He/Him
SCOOP: Within a week, this TDSB elementary school has lost its principal, VP, and two teachers. Parents say the institution is "in crisis" and facing a surge in student violence. #topoli #onpoli #TDSB www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
Why are parents saying this Toronto east end school is ‘in crisis’?
Parents of Bowmore Road Public School allege their Upper Beaches school is experiencing a surge in student violence and bullying
www.torontotoday.ca
January 22, 2026 at 9:38 PM
SCOOP: Within a week, this TDSB elementary school has lost its principal, VP, and two teachers. Parents say the institution is "in crisis" and facing a surge in student violence. #topoli #onpoli #TDSB www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
NEW: NEW: On Tues, Toronto's community council approved a new 48-storey development above a church. While some residents complained it would "eclipse" nearby Allan Gardens, councillors voted in favour. If approved, it'll offer 100+ units of affordable housing. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
This 139-year-old Toronto church could be turned into a skyscraper
The building will tower above a Cabbagetown church and include more than 100 units of affordable housing
www.torontotoday.ca
January 16, 2026 at 10:15 PM
NEW: NEW: On Tues, Toronto's community council approved a new 48-storey development above a church. While some residents complained it would "eclipse" nearby Allan Gardens, councillors voted in favour. If approved, it'll offer 100+ units of affordable housing. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
NEW: The Toronto Police Service plans to soon begin using an AI agent to handle all non-emergency calls. They'll use a Canadian company's technology, which works a bit like Alexa or Siri. The police union supports it, but two experts we spoke with are worried. www.torontotoday.ca/local/crime-...
Your next non-emergency call to Toronto police could be answered by AI
The force says the new technology is expected to reduce wait-times for non-emergency calls, such as for reporting illegal parking, a break-in or graffiti
www.torontotoday.ca
January 15, 2026 at 9:35 PM
NEW: The Toronto Police Service plans to soon begin using an AI agent to handle all non-emergency calls. They'll use a Canadian company's technology, which works a bit like Alexa or Siri. The police union supports it, but two experts we spoke with are worried. www.torontotoday.ca/local/crime-...
NEW: Under provincial supervision, the TDSB has posted it's first budget surplus in three years... But it's not because of spending less. #education #tdsb www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
TDSB achieved a surplus in 2025 for the first time in 3 years. How?
The surplus was about $24 million more than what had been projected by the board
www.torontotoday.ca
January 7, 2026 at 10:10 PM
NEW: Under provincial supervision, the TDSB has posted it's first budget surplus in three years... But it's not because of spending less. #education #tdsb www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
NEW: Advocates are worried Health Canada’s decision to allow a for-profit multinational company to extract blood plasma at twice the annual rate of Canadian Blood Services is putting Canadians at risk.
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
Why can a for-profit plasma company collect plasma more often than Canadian Blood Services?
Health Canada cleared Grifols, which operates two paid collection clinics in Toronto, to extract plasma from its clients up to 104 times per year
www.torontotoday.ca
January 6, 2026 at 10:08 PM
NEW: Advocates are worried Health Canada’s decision to allow a for-profit multinational company to extract blood plasma at twice the annual rate of Canadian Blood Services is putting Canadians at risk.
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
NEW: This is the second in our two-part series on paid blood plasma collection clinics. This one looks at financial incentives driving plasma deposits of as much as twice per week and over 100 times per year. www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
How this for profit company is ‘gamifying’ plasma donations in Toronto
Toronto’s new paid plasma donation clinics pay a ‘bonus’ of $100 if an individual gives blood plasma 100 times in a calendar year. Advocates say ‘gamified’ incentives put donors at risk
www.torontotoday.ca
December 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
NEW: This is the second in our two-part series on paid blood plasma collection clinics. This one looks at financial incentives driving plasma deposits of as much as twice per week and over 100 times per year. www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
NEW: This one shocked me. Amid an ongoing cost of living crisis, some cash-strapped Torontonians are turning to a new, controversial way to get by: selling their blood plasma. 🩸 1/ www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
People are making money selling blood plasma. Isn’t that illegal?
Paying for blood is illegal in Ontario, but a for-profit company recently opened two new paid locations in Toronto thanks to a Canadian Blood Services exemption
www.torontotoday.ca
December 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM
NEW: This one shocked me. Amid an ongoing cost of living crisis, some cash-strapped Torontonians are turning to a new, controversial way to get by: selling their blood plasma. 🩸 1/ www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
NEW: About 1/5 or more of TDSB elementary schools have half-time vice principals. In the other half of their time, many of these VPs are supposed to be doing special education. But according to a new report from @ElemTeachersTO that's often not happening. www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
TDSB’s half-time vice principals are not completing required special ed teaching: survey
The president of the TDSB’s elementary teachers’ union says the survey shows there is ‘systemic discrimination’ of special needs students within the board
www.torontotoday.ca
December 9, 2025 at 10:02 PM
NEW: About 1/5 or more of TDSB elementary schools have half-time vice principals. In the other half of their time, many of these VPs are supposed to be doing special education. But according to a new report from @ElemTeachersTO that's often not happening. www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
NEW: At TDSB, the number of violent incidents happening on school property (and reported to the Ministry of Ed) is up. Yet, the number of students suspended has declined slightly. Why? www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
Violent incidents at the TDSB remain higher than pre-pandemic: report
Despite more reported violent incidents at the TDSB, the number of students suspended has declined slightly since pre-pandemic. Why?
www.torontotoday.ca
December 8, 2025 at 10:30 PM
NEW: At TDSB, the number of violent incidents happening on school property (and reported to the Ministry of Ed) is up. Yet, the number of students suspended has declined slightly. Why? www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
NEW: At a raucous consultation on Monday night, High Park residents urged the city to say “no” to a proposed development — two 40-ish storey towers — which residents claimed risked harming the park, making parking more difficult and flooding basements. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
High Park residents balk at proposed two-tower ‘monster’ development
During a consultation on Monday night, residents claimed the development could harm High Park, ensnare local traffic and cause flooding of nearby basements
www.torontotoday.ca
December 3, 2025 at 10:42 PM
NEW: At a raucous consultation on Monday night, High Park residents urged the city to say “no” to a proposed development — two 40-ish storey towers — which residents claimed risked harming the park, making parking more difficult and flooding basements. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
NEW: In Toronto's previously red hot rental market, rent decreases were a rarity. Now, one prominent Toronto realtor said he hears about once per month from landlord clients who have been willing to negotiate price downward to keep good tenants. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
How Toronto tenants are negotiating rent decreases amid the condo downturn
Where tenants have been successful in negotiating lower rent, it’s typically in the range of a 10 or 15 per cent decrease, according to a real estate expert
www.torontotoday.ca
November 27, 2025 at 10:18 PM
NEW: In Toronto's previously red hot rental market, rent decreases were a rarity. Now, one prominent Toronto realtor said he hears about once per month from landlord clients who have been willing to negotiate price downward to keep good tenants. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
NEW: The TDSB's supervisor has scrapped a planned cut to a student music program. The executive direction of a charity that launched a petition fighting the cut said the decision is evidence that "advocacy works." #tdsb www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
‘Advocacy works’: Provincial supervisor reverses TDSB’s decision to cut music program
The Toronto District School Board had planned to cut the itinerant music program in order to save about $5 million per year
www.torontotoday.ca
November 26, 2025 at 8:35 PM
NEW: The TDSB's supervisor has scrapped a planned cut to a student music program. The executive direction of a charity that launched a petition fighting the cut said the decision is evidence that "advocacy works." #tdsb www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
NEW: On university campuses, ChatGPT and Google's Gemini are now commonplace tools. We spoke with professors at UofT to hear how they're adapting. Key lessons? For one, fewer take-home assignments and more in-class exams. www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
The new learning curve: How student AI use is changing teaching at UofT
University of Toronto professors are changing their evaluation methods to adapt to their students' increasing use of artificial intelligence tools, like ChatGPT and Gemini
www.torontotoday.ca
November 24, 2025 at 9:54 PM
NEW: On university campuses, ChatGPT and Google's Gemini are now commonplace tools. We spoke with professors at UofT to hear how they're adapting. Key lessons? For one, fewer take-home assignments and more in-class exams. www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
NEW: A proposed 11-unit redevelopment on Palmerston Blvd. was turned down by a city committee last week. The committee, in line with a number of concerned residents, claimed the proposal was "excessive" for the site and would tarnish the area's character. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
‘Excessive’ 11-unit Palmerston redevelopment axed by city committee
The building plan has faced sharp backlash from residents, some of whom have called the redevelopment a ‘monstrosity’ that ruins the neighbourhood’s character
www.torontotoday.ca
November 18, 2025 at 9:34 PM
NEW: A proposed 11-unit redevelopment on Palmerston Blvd. was turned down by a city committee last week. The committee, in line with a number of concerned residents, claimed the proposal was "excessive" for the site and would tarnish the area's character. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
NEW: Despite an eleventh-hour bid to stop it, the Palestinian flag flew outside Toronto’s City Hall on Monday for the first time ever. We've got photos, reactions, and info on the failed injunction application. www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
Palestinian flag flown at Toronto City Hall for first time, despite efforts to stop it
A pro-Israel advocacy organization attempted to halt the flag raising by seeking an injunction, but was denied by a judge early Monday morning
www.torontotoday.ca
November 17, 2025 at 7:05 PM
NEW: Despite an eleventh-hour bid to stop it, the Palestinian flag flew outside Toronto’s City Hall on Monday for the first time ever. We've got photos, reactions, and info on the failed injunction application. www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
NEW: A pro-Israel advocacy group has filed a judicial review with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice seeking to bar the City of Toronto from allowing an organization to fly the Palestinian flag for the first time at City Hall next week. www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
Pro-Israel organization files legal challenge aiming to halt Palestinian flag raising at City Hall
The first-ever raising of the Palestinian flag at City Hall is set to occur on Nov. 17
www.torontotoday.ca
November 13, 2025 at 10:16 PM
NEW: A pro-Israel advocacy group has filed a judicial review with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice seeking to bar the City of Toronto from allowing an organization to fly the Palestinian flag for the first time at City Hall next week. www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
NEW: The province has barred livestreams at remaining TDSB committee meetings, but they’ve gone several steps further to restrict transparency at the Toronto Lands Corporation, the board’s real estate arm. Here’s why that has some trustees concerned. www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
‘I feel like they’re hiding something’: Increased secrecy at TDSB’s real estate arm worries some trustees
During a board meeting of the Toronto Lands Corporation, the TDSB’s supervisor signalled a forthcoming change in the powerful organization’s operations
www.torontotoday.ca
November 12, 2025 at 11:17 PM
NEW: The province has barred livestreams at remaining TDSB committee meetings, but they’ve gone several steps further to restrict transparency at the Toronto Lands Corporation, the board’s real estate arm. Here’s why that has some trustees concerned. www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
NEW: What’s an appropriately scary Halloween display, and what’s offside? Residents of a west end toronto neighbourhood are debating just that, after a homeowner created a display that included a realistic female mannequin with an axe to the head. www.torontotoday.ca/local/family...
Some locals upset over Halloween display they say is ‘too real’ and ‘over the top’
The neighbourhood Halloween display features a graphic mannequin of a woman with a pickaxe to the skull
www.torontotoday.ca
October 31, 2025 at 8:54 PM
NEW: What’s an appropriately scary Halloween display, and what’s offside? Residents of a west end toronto neighbourhood are debating just that, after a homeowner created a display that included a realistic female mannequin with an axe to the head. www.torontotoday.ca/local/family...
NEW: Proposals for two new multiplexes on Palmerston Boulevard have rankled locals. They’re concerned the projects will demolish existing affordable rentals and detract from the street’s character. They’re putting their hopes on a heritage designation. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
Palmerston residents look to fight housing redevelopments using heritage status
Residents are concerned about two recent proposed housing redevelopments, which they say will detract from the character of the neighbourhood without adding affordable housing
www.torontotoday.ca
October 28, 2025 at 10:15 PM
NEW: Proposals for two new multiplexes on Palmerston Boulevard have rankled locals. They’re concerned the projects will demolish existing affordable rentals and detract from the street’s character. They’re putting their hopes on a heritage designation. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
NEW: Over 100 students from Toronto District School Board high schools walked out of class on Thursday morning to protest what they claim are efforts by school administrators to silence expressions of support for Palestine.
www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
Over 100 TDSB students walk out over claims of pro-Palestinian censorship
Some students alleged a provincial directive restricting political speech in schools is being used selectively to prohibit expression about Palestine
www.torontotoday.ca
October 17, 2025 at 8:57 PM
NEW: Over 100 students from Toronto District School Board high schools walked out of class on Thursday morning to protest what they claim are efforts by school administrators to silence expressions of support for Palestine.
www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
NEW: Within the next few weeks, a 5G tower that has sparked significant concern from some Etobicoke locals will be completed. www.torontotoday.ca/local/policy...
Construction proceeds on 5G tower in Etobicoke amid resident outrage
Some residents have protested the tower over alleged health concerns, but Health Canada denies 5G technology poses any threat
www.torontotoday.ca
September 24, 2025 at 8:52 PM
NEW: Within the next few weeks, a 5G tower that has sparked significant concern from some Etobicoke locals will be completed. www.torontotoday.ca/local/policy...
NEW: Residents of the longstanding Dufferin Grove homeless encampment are fearful they could face a forced clearing as soon as tomorrow morning. In an emailed statement, city spokesperson seemed to suggest this could indeed occur. Full story: www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
Dufferin Grove homeless encampment residents fear imminent forced eviction
Encampment residents have received trespass notices from the city saying tents must be removed from the park by Tuesday
www.torontotoday.ca
September 15, 2025 at 8:53 PM
NEW: Residents of the longstanding Dufferin Grove homeless encampment are fearful they could face a forced clearing as soon as tomorrow morning. In an emailed statement, city spokesperson seemed to suggest this could indeed occur. Full story: www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
NEW: In a city with more than half a million renters, hostility between landlords and tenants often simmers just below the surface. But rarely do disputes become as heated and have such significant consequences for both sides as this one has. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
Landlord-tenant mess: How a multi-year ceiling leak spiralled into assault allegations, a lost job and eviction threats
Tenants claim their landlord’s negligence has left them living in slum-like conditions, but the landlord denies it, alleging tenants have blocked much-needed repairs
www.torontotoday.ca
August 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
NEW: In a city with more than half a million renters, hostility between landlords and tenants often simmers just below the surface. But rarely do disputes become as heated and have such significant consequences for both sides as this one has. www.torontotoday.ca/local/real-e...
NEW: The CNE's got a new accessibility service that disability advocates say is unlike any they've seen before in Toronto's event or festival scene. They say it helps increase autonomy and independence for disabled guests. www.torontotoday.ca/local/lifest...
CNE delights disabled guest with ‘liberating’ new support service
The free new service provides fair attendees with on-demand personal care attendants, who support guests with using the washroom, eating and getting around
www.torontotoday.ca
August 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
NEW: The CNE's got a new accessibility service that disability advocates say is unlike any they've seen before in Toronto's event or festival scene. They say it helps increase autonomy and independence for disabled guests. www.torontotoday.ca/local/lifest...
NEW: Spoke with six students moving into their TMU dorms today on-campus. It was a mix of age-old worries and hopes (will the workload be too much? yay for making friends!) and some new stuff unique to this Gen Z cohort. www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...
AI, social media and independence on minds of TMU first-years on dorm move-in day
About 1,100 first-year Toronto Metropolitan University students began moving into on-campus housing on Sunday
www.torontotoday.ca
August 24, 2025 at 8:44 PM
NEW: Spoke with six students moving into their TMU dorms today on-campus. It was a mix of age-old worries and hopes (will the workload be too much? yay for making friends!) and some new stuff unique to this Gen Z cohort. www.torontotoday.ca/local/educat...