Alternate Universe (A Photographer’s Wanderings in Toronto)
Thanks to the author and photographer Garrett Campbell for contributing writing and photography to our blog. Garrett is a member of our photography community and contributed this piece about wandering Toronto and sampling its various neighbourhoods and foods from the perspective of a visitor with a hunger for variety and the rush of the big city.
Enjoy the essay. Follow the creator on Instagram: @le__graveur
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Whatever it is and wherever it may start, it’s a palpable energy that is hard to explain or put into words. It’s just …. there! And with me at least, it’s a good rush and I start to imagine the possibilities personally and art-wise and one may get thinking that anything is possible.
GarretT Campbell
There is a sort of adrenaline high I get when I’m on the bus, approaching Toronto. But, where does it start? For it doesn’t exactly start at Toronto itself, but before, still miles before. Could it be when going by Canada’s Wonderland, starting to see the traffic lights, York Region Transit buses and traffic on the roads that branch off Highway 400? Or on the electronic signs saying ‘401 – 6 min.’, Yorkdale – 11 min.’?
Could it be slightly before that, when one starts seeing carpool lots, outlet malls and those one stop ONroute gas station service centers? About Bradford or King City …. Where the traffic picks up just a little bit heavier and slighter? Or, perhaps, could the high start even before that – at Gasoline Alley just before Barrie, where one starts to see that city’s growing skyline and then wonder to themselves, ‘Have I arrived?!’
Whatever it is and wherever it may start, it’s a palpable energy that is hard to explain or put into words. It’s just …. there! And with me at least, it’s a good rush and I start to imagine the possibilities personally and art-wise and one may get thinking that anything is possible.
Upon arrival, I feel like a freer person when stepping off the platform at Union, into an alternate yet close universe, everyone just does their thing unjudged and undaunted. Some would say, unhinged!
The buildings are higher, shinier, taller. Some, not even complete yet. Chinese medicine places and ethnic bookshops and eateries abound. I start my excursion close to where Toronto itself started its first incarnation as the Town of York back in 1793, in old town. Now, a megalopolis and conurbation some 50 miles across and more at some points, it all started right here.
This is one of my favorite neighborhoods to shoot in actually. I start my excursion where Toronto itself started once, over two centuries ago. The Gooderham (or, the ‘Flatiron’) still stands its ground proudly amid the backdrop of gigantic modern and sleek financial towers. The old Gooderham still greets one as they enter the modern Financial District from the East. And, a good greeter she is! For this is a popular photo spot.
Moving south toward the lake I consider the waterfront. I once took a cruise through the Toronto Islands. It is almost spiritual how the city ends and calm waters and seemingly nothingness begins. A gaze and a wind blow across the lake, and to think another country beckons – America. And, I’ve heard them say the same about Chicago.
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The islands are somewhat their own colony, unofficially if not politically separate from the City of Toronto. The way of life somewhat slows here, more for recreation than hustle and bustle. It’s a cool tranquility though, a chill sanctuary just offshore a vibrant, exciting city. I got to see this contrast firsthand when I went on a Toronto Harbour Tour boat for the first time. One of the best times to go would be at dusk, or sunset. A little backstory here; when going on the boat, I had originally booked for an hour earlier, but missed the street I was supposed to go down and ended up going on the next cruise. This worked out in my favor though, as this one I went on was considered to be the ‘sunset cruise’, or the best for the backdrop of the setting sun against the skyline.
Yorkville promises fine dining and luxury brands from Canada and abroad. Being into luxury Vaporwave, this place indeed suits my artistic vision. I love the simple act of window shopping, even if no purchases are made. Here, among brands like Holt Renfrew and Prada, I stand on the famed Mink Mile. If I ply my art here, I can still feel like I’m somewhat participating in the high-end luxury art game. I become what I create, I feel luxurious for a day. A king for a second, a millionaire for a day, at play. But alas, when I have extra shillings, I am partial to Hudson’s Bay. For on our yearly March Break soujourns into the city as a family back in my youth, I remember my mom was partial to ‘The Bay’. I could tell it would be a big thing to her to go check out the Yorkville flagship store, to browse or to purchase, it didn’t matter. Same with me!
I love that I can dine on fresh New Zealand lamb at a tiki style bar. I love that I can shoot ample luxury Vaporwave and add my own touches to it afterwards. I love that I can visit a seemingly out of place 1970s mall, in the heart of all this grandeur and shoot regular Vaporwave, all the same. Time may have forgotten this mall, but artists haven’t. Yorkville may be different things to different people, but it is these things to me.
In Toronto, only an hour from open country and some would say, the home stretch highway, resides a sort of alternate universe, anything one may be into, any cuisine, any sport, and hobby, any way of life; it is here.
My hobbies happen to be food and photography. And, this city is an adept foodie and photographer’s dream. Despite what you may have seen and heard about condos going up – which does basically ring true – this city still has some soul tucked away and some fine old European style architectural gems. Some of my favorites are The Gooderham, St. Lawrence Hall, Osgoode Hall, St. James Cathedral and Park, and a few old bank buildings, among others.
And, foodies unite at either the ramen place by the water or a hole in the wall mom n pop curry joint off Yonge (a favorite of mine), uptown a bit more, the fare is Iranian, Jewish and Russian, among others.
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Moreover, here in Toronto, an elite can moor their yachts near Harbourfront and have a private dinner at the Toronto club. A merry gentleman can catch a fine show at the Zanzibar Club on Yonge; purported to be the longest street in the world; if not one of the longest highways.
Music aficionados can catch a regular performance at Massey Hall. One can take an afternoon and experience the grandeur at Casa Loma, an old industrialist’s estate and castle, right in the middle of the city; while all the while still being back in time for a roast duck dinner in the heart of Chinatown. Oh, how I love Chinatown, and Kensington Market! These are also two of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. I love it when urban grittiness and honest commerce collide, and here they do.
My day would usually end at this spot, then walking or streetcar back to my room, where I stay. After that, I chill in my room and have a couple of drinks with some cheese, and plan my photo and writing excursion for the next day. Ready to go to sleep, I find myself wondering …. is THIS really the dream I’m living, in a somewhat alternate universe ….? ✌️
-Garrett Campbell, Toronto, Canada. (2025)
🖋🥃🧀📖
Written in the style of ‘Among The Cities’, Jan Morris. (1985)
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Thanks to Garrett for sharing this depiction of travels and photography adventures in Toronto. You can contribute to our blog and community too. Send your ideas for articles and events to use via our contact page.
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More great pics by the author.
It is almost spiritual how the city ends and calm waters and seemingly nothingness begins. A gaze and a wind blow across the lake, and to think another country beckons – America. And, I’ve heard them say the same about Chicago.
GARRETT CAMPBELL
Sincere thank you to the creator Garrett Campbell for sharing their work with us.
Follow the artist: https://www.instagram.com/le__graveur/
