For the first-time ever, arm wrestling has become a professional, team-based sport that will be broadcast to countless living rooms. With teams across North America, including Vancouver, TAWF is a gripping and competitive new spin on arm wrestling.

Following a successful pre-season launch in late 2025, when the Montreal Saints defeated Toronto Smoke, the Vancouver Wildcats will take on the Calgary Rangers on August 29 in their own pre-season spectacle. The action takes place at Calgary’s Grand Theatre.

In the meantime, Vancouver Wildcats team members will spend the summer training for the anticipated event. At the forefront of the Vancouver Wildcats is Vancouver arm wrestling legend Marlon Hicks, who serves as the team manager. His wife, Dawn, is one of the three females on the team. This also includes 63-year-old grandmother Lori Pow, known in the arm wrestling world as “Queen of the Table.”

Fans – old and new – can expect an eclectic array of athletes and unmatched entertainment once TAWF hits televisions on Fight Network. The inaugural TAWF season kicks off on November 7, 2026.

A Literal Game-Changer

The TAWF is fundamentally shifting the sport (yes, it’s a sport) of arm wrestling’s DNA. By introducing a 100-point threshold and a team-based structure, the league has transformed individual bouts into a complex, high-stakes tactical battle.

At the inaugural TAWF showcase, Montreal Saints’ “stoppage-style” victory – a TKO in the arm wrestling world – demonstrated that matches are now won through depth, resource management, and strategic “gambles” rather than just isolated strength.

“The biggest difference is our new team format, which keeps the audience glued to the stage,” says Jason Costantini, Executive Producer and Co-Founder of TAWF.

Primetime Ready: Mass Appeal and Global Broadcast

With the anticipated 14-week season, TAWF is positioned for massive mainstream growth. By securing a broadcasting deal with Fight Network, the league is bringing the grit and drama of the “MAC” ruleset – designed for faster starts and more decisive finishes – to a wide television audience. This isn’t just for niche fans; it’s a sport built for the modern viewer.

The combination of intense physical limits and chess-like strategy offers a compelling spectacle that rivals established combat sports.

The Road to the Finals

The league features eight powerhouse franchises across North America, including:

● Canada: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary
● USA: Tampa Bay, Long Island, Las Vegas, Detroit

As the pre-season moves through Calgary, Long Island, and Las Vegas, the momentum will build toward a historic USA vs. Canada Final. For Costantini, who built this league on a foundation of resilience following a personal battle with cancer, TAWF represents more than a competition – it’s a movement.

“The misconception is that it’s just a strength contest,” says Costantini. “In reality, it’s a strategic sport… delivering a better experience for athletes, fans, and broadcasters alike.”

Fans can tune in to Fight Network to catch all the excitement themselves.

The post TAWF is Revolutionizing Arm Wrestling for the Masses appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Last month, iQ Offices, the country’s largest Canadian coworking operator, officially launched its new 60,000 square foot flagship location in the heart of Toronto’s Financial District (302 Bay St.), transforming a stunning 14-storey heritage building – a Bank of Montreal branch in a previous life – into a next-generation workplace. “I’m a real estate guy,” says Kane Willmott, co-founder and CEO of iQ Offices, of the sprawling property. “This building came on the market for the first time and, as soon as we saw it, it was PATH-connected, beautifully historic, and on the corner of King and Bay – check, check, check.”

Redefining “business as usual,” the new flagship is the first hospitality-infused workspace created for Canada’s most progressive companies. Think: hotel-style service, designed for optimal business achievement. Here, a workday can include a cold plunge and sauna session, an afternoon game of billiards with coworkers, and a cocktail on a breezy, view-filled terrace. (If you’re now reevaluating your workplace, that’s understandable). 

Amenities aside, it’s easy to get lost in the space’s design details. Architects Arcadis have created an inspiring backdrop that fosters both a sense of privilege and Toronto’s rich past. “We took everything right down to the studs and built it back up again,” says Willmott of the two-year construction project – one he calls an “ultra-marathon” due to its time-consuming complexity. “It was in good shape, considering it was over 100 years old. Everything is new – all of the HVAC, the electrical – with the exception of anything that’s historic; things like chandeliers, brass, wood, and marble. We had a company come in to tell us what was historic,” he continues. 

The meticulously restored heritage elements, from the elaborate plaster ceilings of the former Grand Banking Hall to an ornate spiral staircase and elegant marble and brass details (like doors and railings) throughout, create an atmosphere of sophisticated charm – a far cry from a typical, somewhat sterile, coworking space. Perhaps that’s because it’s not a typical coworking space. You won’t find young freelancers or start-up dreamers typing away on personal laptops here. Instead,  iQ Offices caters to established companies, from small and medium-sized organizations to those with billion-dollar valuations. It’s a curated environment for high-performing professionals, scaling teams, and design-conscious companies that demand more from where they work. 

This means an amenity program that spans a total of four floors. With wellness front and centre, the iQ Flagship boasts a thermotherapy suite, complete with a large cedar sauna, two cold plunges, and  dedicated showers with towel service. Meanwhile, a sleek games room features a convertible billiards table (which doubles as a boardroom table) and fully-staffed barista bar. 

The space also boasts an abundance of breakout areas, swoon-worthy kitchens (with all the built-ins) on every floor, and nine bookable meeting rooms. Come happy hour time, either the rooftop terrace – which sits off a kitchen and offers sprawling south and west views of the Financial District – or the Grand Banking Hall (complete with its highly decorated plaster ceiling, ornate chandeliers, and tavernelle marble wall cladding) make the perfect spot to sip and swirl. 

Practical amenities include custom soundproof phone booths, enterprise-grade internet connectivity, printing stations, and on-site support, all easily accessible through direct PATH access and an opulent member’s entrance off Bay Street. Other talking points include music in individual bathroom stalls (which turns on upon entry),  complimentary snacks, massage chairs, and nine-foot glass throughout (the standard is eight feet).  

As companies need less office space than they did pre-pandemic, some are opting for better, but smaller, spaces, notes Willmott. It comes down to the employee experience and meaningful engagement. “For the same cost, companies can either have a 15,000 square foot office in a B or C quality building, or a 7500 square foot office in a AAA or trophy asset,” says Willmott. This concentrates demand into the trophy assets. In a climate that’s become accustomed to remote and hybrid work, iQ Offices at 302 Bay Street provides flexible office solutions, from private offices accommodating teams of various sizes to customizable full-floor workspaces. 

Willmott highlights how, because many big companies lease office space that’s smaller than the number of employees they would need to accommodate, they’ll often host offsite and breakout events. Spaces at 302 Bay – like the stylish boardroom adjacent to the games room and bar – were designed with this in mind.  “A lot of big companies like Shopify and Yelp are doing that now,” says Willmott. He also highlights how the sprawling amenity spaces are designed to accommodate different types of work styles – peaceful and quiet or lively with background noise. 

As Willmott stresses, companies now need to “earn the commute” of their employees, many of whom can perform perfectly fine remotely. And this stunning space does just that, as it leads a new era of style-meets-substance workplace culture in Canada.

The post iQ Offices Transforms Historic Bay Street Bank into Toronto’s Newest Power Hub appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

In a tourist region like Cancun, one all-inclusive resort can blend into the next. But, if you look a little closer – though most share the appreciated common denominator of a postcard-worthy white-sand beach with piercing turquoise water – many offer distinctively different vibes that cater to various types of vacationers. At Meliá Casa Maya, the theme is refined simplicity, with an overall vibe that can feel more like a boutique seaside escape or cosmopolitan hotel than your typical tropical all-inclusive.  

The sleek all-inclusive resort is smaller than the sprawling (sometimes overwhelming) options typically found in Cancun. You know, the type you never quite find your way around until the last day and that have so many restaurants and amenities that you often can’t try everything during a single stay. Refreshingly, Meliá Casa Maya’s small assortment of restaurants and bars are neatly contained around an ultra-long, rectangular central pool – the resort’s crown jewel – with the stunning beach as a backdrop. With just 260 all-inclusive hotel rooms, this is the type of spot where the five-star staff and other resort guests quickly become familiar faces. 

The design-forward renovations transformed what was previously exclusively a condo and time-share development largely into the new all-inclusive resort. It still houses 34 suites for original condo owners and 50 for time-share owners. Perhaps as a result, the lobby design and vibe feels like one of a big-city hotel, with ultra-modern decor and art, a sleek central bustling bar, and a nighttime DJ.

At Meliá Casa Maya, three types of rooms range from standard hotel rooms, to full family suites. Adjoining suites are available for larger groups. For a worthwhile upgrade, the spacious Level suites come with added perks like soul-soothing views, a personal butler (reliably available via WhatsApp), private check-in/check-out, the Level Lounge, and access to exclusive areas of the resort. The swim-up Level suites offer a separate private pool right outside a sliding glass door. 

The food here is some of the best you’ll experience at an all-inclusive resort. Like other Meliá all-inclusive properties, the jam-packed Merkado buffet (available to all guests for breakfast and dinner) is full of a well-curated assortment of colourful goodness that caters to all dietary restrictions – ensuring that no guest leaves hungry. The quesadilla station in particular is a crowd-pleaser. The buffet fare is best enjoyed from a terrace that overlooks the pool, with the ocean as a backdrop and a green juice in hand. 

The most scenic place to dine, however, is at one of the beach-side tables at Cape Nao, a breezy thatched-roof beach club reserved for The Level guests, though others can pay to eat here. Here, the easy-on-the-eyes fare (phone eats first here) is fresh, light, and flavour-packed. Stand-out menu items included everything from a salmon omelette and huevos rancheros, to fresh fish tacos, a beet salad with goat cheese, a perfectly done salmon filet, and octopus grilled to that optimal texture. 

Meanwhile, Italian restaurant Casa Nostra (reservations are recommended) offers a cozy yet contemporary design, with exposed brick, chic leather bistro stools, visible red ceiling pipes, large modern light fixtures, stylish booths, and a bar across from an open-concept kitchen with a pizza oven. Here, comforting dishes include a creamy caprese salad with perfectly ripened tomatoes, mussels in a white wine sauce, a cheesy lasagna, and an assortment of pastas. Tip: split a pizza for the table in addition to apps and entrees – it’s worth it. On the more casual side, lunch or mid-afternoon snacks, The Grill serves up poolside staples like burgers and hotdogs.

The resort currently does not feature a gym (although that could change in the future), but it offers various ways to stay active, from morning yoga on the beach, to aquafit classes, volleyball, and poolside salsa dancing lessons. Of course, the long, rectangular central pool almost beckons one to swim some sun-kissed laps (despite its rather chilly temperature). The wide, white cement stairs that connect the pool area to the beach offer a perfect spot for tricep dips with a view. Otherwise, the fitness buffs may want to pack an exercise band for personal in-room or beach workouts. 

The youngest travellers (and the young at heart) can clock in hours of exercise running around the resort’s water park. Located in a separate part of the property, the all-ages water park offers fun for everyone. While toddlers and younger children will get a kick out of gentle slides and water features that dump and spray water, the older and more adventurous set will appreciate the adrenaline rush offered by a water slide that drops straight down (and has a rather rough landing – take it from experience) or the fast-moving twisty slide beside it. Adjacent to the water park is a smaller circular pool for guests of all ages, with sun loungers and umbrellas. 

In general, if you’re in the market for a family-friendly all-inclusive that’s small, sleek, and sophisticated, the Meliá Casa Maya may be your best fit. 

The post Meliá Casa Maya brings sophisticated simplicity to Cancun’s all-inclusive market appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

This is thanks to the SickKids Foundation and their holiday-focused initiatives for young patients. The foundation’s mission is to inspire communities to invest in health and scientific advances to improve the lives of children and their families in Canada and around the world. 

Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) – the marketing board for the largest sector of Ontario agriculture – is back to help spread the holiday cheer this season with a $500,000 donation to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and other children’s hospitals in Ontario. This brings DFO’s total donations through their Milk & Cookies campaign to over $3 million since 2019. These important funds support the most urgent needs of children and families spending the holidays in hospitals across the province.

“The funds help four children’s hospitals across the country and are allocated to our highest priorities,” says Jennifer Bernard, President & CEO of the SickKids Foundation. “So, that may be equipment, specialized medication, or compassionate funds for people who come to Toronto unexpectedly. It really goes to the highest priorities of every hospital to ensure we can respond to something urgent or that we weren’t expecting.”

Beyond their financial contributions, to make the holiday season even more special, DFO is bringing back the beloved Magic Milk Glasses. These keepsakes, featuring heart-warming drawings and matching built-in cookie cutters designed by children across Ontario, will be given to in-patients in Ontario’s children’s hospitals. These glasses help ensure that every child can participate in the age-old tradition of leaving milk and cookies for Santa – even from their hospital room.

“Dairy Farmers of Ontario is committed to supporting communities across Ontario. We want to show children and their families spending the holidays in Ontario children’s hospitals that we are thinking of them,” said Cheryl Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Dairy Farmers of Ontario. “Our Magic Milk Glass initiative goes beyond the donation to ensure these children are able to experience the special Christmas Eve ritual of leaving milk and cookies out for Santa.”

Bernard says that the annual Magic Milk Glass initiative is really about bringing the holiday spirit to kids who have to spend the holidays in the hospital and reinforcing that they’re on Santa’s ‘good list.’  “A lot of people don’t realize that kids don’t get to go home for the holidays when they’re in an acute center,” says Bernard. “So, it brings the tradition of leaving milk and cookies for Santa to them. It really makes kids feel like they haven’t been forgotten, that they get to participate in Christmas traditions, and that they are on the ‘good list.’ A lot of kids don’t know why they’re sick – they blame themselves. So, a big part of Santa coming makes them feel like they’re a good kid, and that’s what makes this tradition so important.”

SickKids outpatient, 9-year-old Sadie Middleton, knows this well. While she’ll spend Christmas at home with her family this year, that hasn’t always been the case. “I’m excited to have Christmas at home this year,” says Middleton, with a shy smile. She says last year in the hospital, they made gingerbread houses, had the Elf on the Shelf come, and – of course –  left the Magic Milk Glass out for Santa.

“We do a whole holiday program and ensure every child gets a gift and that their siblings do too,” says Bernard. “We bring the spirit of the holiday season into the hospital. We respect different faiths and backgrounds, but we definitely do our Santa and make sure the children feel like they’re part of the outside world, even though they’re in the hospital.”

Sadie’s mom Julie remains grateful for these efforts. “We weren’t at home, but we did fun things to make it feel like home,” she says. “Things like this are so impactful for families like us, who’ve now spent two Christmases in the hospital. It’s really hard, but to make it joyous and to do something to celebrate the holidays is really important. We’re really thankful.”

If you want to get involved in this heartwarming initiative, DFO is also hosting its first-ever Magic Milk Truck experience, a mobile pop-up event where families can enjoy free milk and cookies, and design their own Magic Milk Glass drawings. The event will take place at Shops at Don Mills on Saturday, November 23 at 10:00 AM.

Furthermore, until November 26, Canadian kids are invited to submit their own Magic Milk Glass drawing and make the magical ritual of leaving milk and cookies out for Santa mean even more this season. “We encourage children to get their creative juices flowing and send their drawings that may end up on the glasses for these children,” says Bernard.

Share your #MagicMilkGlass design on social media using @ontariodairy and using the hashtag.

The post Dairy Farmers of Ontario Make the Holidays Brighter for Sick Children appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

“Employees are looking to employers for a curated workplace experience – one that’s worth the commute,” says Kane Willmott, a proven leader in creating bustling and successful office spaces.

The Toronto native founded coworking company iQ Offices back in 2012. There are now eight locations across Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto. iQ Offices designs and manages elevated private workspaces that enhance productivity, creativity, and collaboration. Things like a modern design, boutique-level service, and trusted privacy set iQ Offices apart from traditional coworking.

Though coworking wasn’t a new concept back in 2012, Willmott noticed a growing desire for it. “We saw what was going on internationally, and that it was gaining momentum in other markets outside of Toronto,” he says. 

Prior to the pandemic, Willmott says that the growing popularity of coworking was already a good indicator of what was happening in Toronto’s commercial real estate market – one typically characterized by sky-high lease costs and terms of at least five years. “In coworking, you have much shorter terms than a traditional office lease,” says Willmott. “The fact that it’s less of a commitment is attractive to business owners.”

While business is bustling for iQ Offices now that the pandemic is in the rear view, Toronto’s commercial vacancy rates have shot up to record-breaking levels when it comes to the office, as we used to know it. 

Vacancy Rates Years in the Making

Willmott stresses that the office real estate market is very slow to react to anything – on the negative or positive side. “Real estate in general moves at a glacial place,” he says. “Something may happen that can be a shock to the market, but if the majority of leases are 10 years long, for example, then there is only an opportunity for 10% of the occupied space to come up, regardless of what’s happening in the market, because people are tied into longer leases.”

So, current vacancy rates are likely the result of decisions made years ago, in the thick of the pandemic and its transformation of both the workplace and daily life. “When COVID happened, companies that weren’t using their offices were able to give us their notice and leave,” says Willmott of iQ Offices’ clients. “Other companies that were locked into five or 10-year leases may not even have the opportunity to react for another three years when the lease is done.” 

Now that they may have this opportunity, we’ve seen a sharp rise in vacancy in Toronto’s commercial real estate market. 

“When you look at the vacancy rates and reports of what’s happened quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year, the trend is that vacancy rates are going up and are at record levels,” says Willmott. “When people look at those figures, they tend to think that everyone is exiting their offices. Really, that is happening, but what we’re seeing is an exodus of companies that made these decisions four years ago, but – because they were committed to leases – were unable to act. But because real estate moves so slowly, all these spaces that were under-utilized are just now coming to the market.”

In contrast to the vacant office buildings, coworking spaces like IQ were able to recover quicker once the term “social distancing” was no longer in our daily vocabularies. 

“What our model allowed us to do, on the other side, was to fill up faster once the pandemic subsided,” says Willmott. “We transact quickly. You can come in and sign an agreement and have your entire team moved in there and working the next day, with internet and furniture, and everything they need. Even if a traditional office is built-out, just the paperwork to do a traditional lease is going to take three months, let alone everything you need to get that space up and running.”

A “Dichotomy in Terms of Demand”

While Canada’s commercial vacancy rates have shot up across the board, this rate varies between assets, says Willmott. “We’re seeing a dichotomy in terms of demand in the market,” says Willmott. As companies need less office space than they did pre-pandemic, some are opting for better, but smaller, spaces. It comes down to the employee experience and meaningful engagement. “For the same cost, companies can either have a 15,000 square foot office in a B or C quality building, or a 7500 square foot office in a AAA or trophy asset,” says Willmott. This concentrates demand into the trophy assets. 

“The heads of companies do see value in bringing their employees into an office,” says Willmott, referencing Amazon’s recent return-to-office policy. “Everyone is looking for a return on that investment, however. They’re saying, ‘if I’m spending $50,000 or $100,000 every month, I want engagement.’ They want to attract, retain, and engage the best talent, who can innovate and move the business forward. If you, as a leader of a company, can use the workplace as a tool to drive engagement, you’re going to start to see positive returns in terms of profitability, innovation, and competitive advantage.” 

According to a Gallup study, companies in the top quartile of employee engagement experience 21% higher profitability than those in the bottom quartile. This statistic paints a vivid picture: engaged employees are not just satisfied employees—they are a direct line to improved financial outcomes. 

Activated and Engaging Spaces

Business owners are starting to understand that a plain, old, uninspiring office just won’t cut it. Due to the newfound ability to perform work remotely, expectations for being called to location have soared. Employees now expect a return on the time invested in the commute. 

Coworking spaces have benefited tremendously from this shift in mindset, says Willmott. More companies – including large, international corporations – are outsourcing the office experience to co-working spaces like iQ Offices. 

With amenities like outdoor terraces, lounge areas, top-quality technology, friendly staff, and more, iQ Offices offer an activated and engaging environment – one that’s indeed worth the commute (even in Toronto traffic). “What we offer is difficult for companies to replicate on their own in under 10,000 square feet,” says Willmott. “We have to earn the commute of every single person that comes to IQ every single day. And, if we don’t, that’s a fail.”

Willmott says this curated experience is one that’s constantly evolving. “Some business owners think they can replicate what we’ve spent 12 years perfecting,” says Willmott. “It’s really hard to forecast and say, ‘I have this many employees and am going to take on this lease for say five years.’ Often, it doesn’t work out or isn’t used in the way you think it will be used. What if it’s too crowded? What if it’s not crowded enough?.”

With coworking spaces, however, you can make micro adjustments as you go along, something you don’t get in a traditional office. Willmott also points to hidden costs often not considered when leasing traditional offices. 

“Often, companies may leave coworking spaces because they think a traditional office may be cheaper, but they underestimate the costs and the execution isn’t as simple as they planned,” says Willmott. “A trend we’re seeing is small and medium businesses move to traditional leases from coworking. On the other hand, big, international companies are coming into coworking spaces, knowing that it’s the least expensive way to get that curated employee experience.”

Back to the Office

Moving into 2025, Willmott thinks Toronto will see more vacant commercial spaces fill up, as the general trend is back to office – at least, to some degree. “We will see positive absorption in Toronto as we see more space get leased. The challenge in making the prediction is understanding how much empty, leased space still needs to shake out. How much space is sitting there vacant and dark and unoccupied that the same companies will be letting go of to move into a smaller space?.”

He expects that renewal probability for 2025 will be relatively low. “But in general, you’ll see more utilization of space,” says Willmott. “They’re going to be the ones coming off a five-year lease in 2020 or a seven-year lease in 2018.” 

In the meantime, it’s safe to say that countless Canadian company heads will turn their sights to coworking spaces like iQ Offices as “business as usual” continues to evolve with the times. 

The post Canada’s Coworking Leader Talks Toronto’s Soaring Commercial Vacancy Rates appeared first on Toronto Guardian.