Otis is the author of two published books, The Gifted and Song of Seasons, the latter of which was recently released. These works mark the beginning of a developing body of writing, as he continues to work on several additional projects that expand both his storytelling and his exploration of different styles and genres. Through his writing, Otis aims to create engaging narratives that resonate with readers and encourage curiosity, imagination, and emotional connection.

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Otis draws inspiration from everyday experiences, people, and the diverse communities that surround him. In addition to his writing, he is committed to giving back to his community. He regularly volunteers at a local food bank, supporting efforts to help those in need and strengthen community connections.

When he is not writing, Otis enjoys spending time developing new ideas for future books while continuing to engage with his local community and creative pursuits.

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Which ’hood are you in?

Bathurst Manor

What do you do?

I am a Canadian novelist who writes purely out of passion and the love of the game. I am someone who would pay others so that I could write, and I am fortunate enough that I do not have to. I simply love it and view it as a form of art; where if a picture is the equivalent of a thousand words than a book is the equivalent to at least 50 pictures.

What are you currently working on?

Currently, I am working on my third book… which I don’t want to talk about because I do not want anyone to steal the idea. In between that, I get up to too many other things. From volunteering at a food bank every week to helping out at my family’s business, I am usually busy.

Where can we find your work?

In bookstores in Canada, as well as on Amazon. Unfortunately, I do not use social media, but I am working on a website, where I will post some short works of mine for free. It will also have a way for people to reach out to me if they want to.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Author Michael Otis appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

What is your channel called and what is it about?

My name is Eli (eli.alii on all platforms), and my content is all about exploring Toronto through my lens. From food spots and thrift finds to hidden gems and everyday experiences. I like showing both the fun and chaotic sides of city life in a way that people can actually connect with. Everything I share is rooted in my personality, so it feels real, relatable, and a little unfiltered.

When did you start it? What motivated you at the beginning?

Honestly, it goes back to around 2010, when I was watching creators like Superwoman and seeing how they could turn everyday moments into something entertaining and relatable. That really stuck with me.

I’ve always been posting on my Instagram stories – sharing little moments of my life in the city without even realizing it was the beginning of something bigger. I’ve always been a bubbly extrovert who loves making people laugh and putting my put my friends on hidden gems, for as long as I can remember.

At the start of 2025, I created my first vision board and put “content creator” on it — and that’s when things really shifted for me. I’ve always believed in manifesting whatever I wanted, whether it’s a new job or a travel opportunity; content creation was no different. I decided to take it seriously, and from there, it naturally started to grow into what it is today.

Who were you inspired by? Any influences?

This might sound corny, but I’m doing this for my future self. I owe it to myself to see this through and show up every day. There have been so many times in my life where I started something, gave up, and regretted it — and this chapter isn’t going to be one of them.
I’ve learned to tune out the noise and not let negativity get to me. If anything, it fuels me. It pushes me to be better and inspires me to prove to myself that I can actually make it. Even though I’m still a micro-influencer, the people around me and my community have been my biggest motivators and cheerleaders. Their constant support and encouragement are what keep me going — and honestly, without them, I might have given up.

How would you describe your audience?

My audience is primarily young adults who are navigating life in a big city [like Toronto]. They’re curious, social, and always looking for new experiences. whether that’s trying new restaurants, discovering hidden gems, or relating to everyday moments.

They gravitate toward content that feels real, unpolished, and authentic — like advice or recommendations coming from your home girl or your best friend. It’s personality-driven, honest, entertaining, and easy to connect with.

What is your creative process? Do you have people who work with you?

I’m a solo content creator at the moment, and my process is very instinctive. Most of my ideas come from real thoughts or moments — either something I want to vent about, a struggle I’m going through, or something I’ve discovered and feel like I need to put people on because they would genuinely love it.

From there, I focus on building a strong hook and turning that idea into content that feels natural, unpolished, and authentic. I don’t like overproducing — I want it to feel like you’re hearing something from your best friend, not watching something staged.

I handle everything myself, from ideation to filming and editing, which allows me to stay true to my voice. I also sometimes create content with my mom, which adds another layer of fun and personal element to what I do.

How do you monetize your content? Do you also have another job?

I’m currently in the early stages of monetizing my content, with a focus on building a strong and engaged community first. I’m intentional about growing my platform in a way that aligns with my style and audience, and I’m open to brand collaborations that feel authentic to my content.

Alongside content creation, I work full-time as a Project Coordinator, and balancing both has helped me stay consistent, disciplined, and strategic as I continue to grow my platform.

What is your favourite piece of content you have created?

Check it here!

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

The best part about what I do is being able to express myself freely and unapologetically, while also connecting with people who genuinely relate to my content. I’ve also built an amazing network and friendships with other content creators in Toronto, which has been such a rewarding part of the journey.

I love when people come up to me and tell me that my content resonated with them or which restaurants have become their go-to because of my recommendations. It makes everything feel meaningful.

The most challenging part is the unpredictability of social media. You can put a lot of effort into something and not always see immediate results – which can be discouraging. Even though I genuinely love creating content, things like finding motivation to edit or even dealing with limited storage can be frustrating at times.

But those small challenges have pushed me to build resilience, stay motivated, and keep showing up consistently regardless of the outcome.

What are your future plans for your channel?

My goal is to continue growing my platform into a strong, engaged community where people feel like they can relate, connect, and be part of something real. I want it to feel like a space where you can come for recommendations, honest opinions, and everyday moments — like you’re hearing it from a friend.

Long-term, I want to turn this into something I can do full-time and build a career out of it. A big part of my motivation is being able to support my family and eventually retire my parents — that’s something that really drives me to keep going and take this seriously.

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another Canadian content creator that you love?

@Getrealwithreish – I love her content, talking about women’s health and wellness

The post My Digital Life: Content Creator Eli Alii appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

When Bonggun moved to Canada, he didn’t arrive with a five-year plan or a safety net. He arrived with curiosity, work ethic, and an ability to see the absurd in everyday life — especially when cultures collide. Comedy didn’t just become a career choice; it became the most natural way for him to make sense of the world.

I’ve watched him take comedy seriously in a way most people don’t expect. He studies it, rewrites obsessively, performs constantly, and somehow stays humble through all of it. He’ll joke about not knowing what he’s doing, but behind the scenes, he’s disciplined, focused, and stubbornly committed.

What makes Bonggun stand out is that his comedy isn’t loud or forced. It’s thoughtful, sharp, and rooted in real experience. He makes people laugh first — then realize they’re seeing something from a perspective they hadn’t considered before. Watching him grow, it’s clear this isn’t a phase. This is exactly where he’s supposed to be.

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Which ’hood are you in?

York — currently spreading the smell of kimchi day by day to make the neighbourhood more Korean and Asian.

What do you do?

Stand-up comedy, creating seriously funny content.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently creating interview-style comedy content built around a reverse-interview format. The premise sets up an expected, normal answer, then intentionally subverts it with an unexpected or absurd response that often bridges cultural perspectives. This minimal, direct approach aligns with my comedy style — saying exactly what needs to be said, without over-explaining, and letting the simplicity make the joke stronger.

Alongside content creation, I am touring consistently across Canada. This year, I am focusing on developing my material more thoroughly with the goal of building a full one-hour set and filming my first comedy special.

Where can we find your work?

Everything can be found here.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Performing Artist Bonggun Kim appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

His parents were born to immigrants who arrived in Vancouver in 1908. His father’s early years were spent in Fernie, BC, prior to attending UBC in the late 30s and then enlisted in the Canadian Air Force as a flight navigation instructor. His mother was born in Vancouver. Both parents met after an introduction from my mother’s brother, who also attended university, something rare for the sons of Canadian immigrants in the 1930s in British Columbia.

Henry was the second of six children who were introduced to work at a very early age, progressively moving from work in the family’s machine shop, boat building yard and then onto working as a deckhand, mate, and occasionally Captain of the company’s tugboats operating all over the BC Coast.

On some very good fatherly advice, Henry attended the University of British Columbia and then obtained an MBA degree from the University of California, Berkeley. With an MBA under his belt, Henry arrived in Toronto on August 14, 1969, for his first job in the corporate world and where he met his wife Christine, the mother of his four children. Three of Henry’s kids live in Toronto, and his eldest daughter Jessica, lives in New York with her three children.

Henry’s career is a very long way from the tug boats of his youth and has encompassed corporate jobs of increasing responsibility, building and operating a leading strategic market research company, cofounding a successful ad agency, investing, diverse range of businesses in Canada and the US, spending time as a director in the 1990s for two years on the Board of Kids Help Phone and donating to various charities.

Currently dividing this time between a home he and his partner Louise built on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, and at their farm in Caledon.

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Which ’hood are you in?

Since arriving in Toronto, I have lived mostly life in the Annex, Yonge and St. Clair and Forest Hill. Our last home in the city was in a beautiful condo in the DuPont Avenue Road area before Covid persuaded us to live at the Caledon farm, where we live with our two Vizslas and now three cats, part of the year, then drive everyone out West for the winter months.

What do you do?

I enjoy time in nature, both of our farm and our property in British Columbia, while remaining active in several of the businesses that I’ve invested in, providing strategic guidance, mentoring, and helping younger entrepreneurs develop their business ideas.

What are you currently working on?

Currently working on perfecting my Salmon and Halibut Fishing skills and enjoying my Boat Rosie on Vancouver Island, travelling with my partner and my children and grandchildren. I just published my new book, “Fool’s Gold: Angel investing and the Fine Art of Losing Money.”

Where can we find your work?

Anyone with an interest in Angel investing, or sometimes it’s called start-up early-stage investing, will find my book available on Amazon, Indigo, and at select bookstores. “Fool’s Gold: Angel investing and the Fine Art of Losing Money” contains lessons learned over 60 years and how to avoid the potholes in land mines that wait both the novice and even seasoned investors in this high-risk area.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Writer Henry Fiorillo appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

What is your channel called and what is it about?

Explore Ontario is on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube and focuses on all things Ontario; think best parks, hotels, resorts, small towns, museums, hidden gems, and everything in between.

When did you start it? What motivated you at the beginning?

I started Explore Ontario on Instagram in 2018 as a creative outlet to personally document my favourite places around Ontario to visit and explore. I had been working full-time in healthcare but held a part-time position with blogTO as the “excursions and day trip” writer. However, I wanted to create something entirely on my own where I had full creative control. I had no idea at the time that it would eventually become my full-time career!

Who were you inspired by? Any influences?

My mom! She has always been a wonderful influence as a stay-at-home mom who introduced me to the best parks, hiking trails, farm attractions, small towns, etc growing up. As a child in the summer, I remember every day being an adventure – where would we go next? She had a passion for local travel and history and passed on those traits to me. There is so much to appreciate in our own backyards, and I wanted to carry on that message.

How would you describe your audience?

Nearly all of my followers live right here in Ontario – almost 97%! My audience are local Ontarians who refer to Explore Ontario for daily inspiration of what day trips/ weekend getaways to book next. I cover a little bit of everything to appeal to everyone, no matter their gender, age, background, abilities, interests, etc.

What is your creative process? Do you have people who work with you?

I run all aspects of Explore Ontario completely on my own, including the videography, photography, writing, graphic design, community management, admin, etc. There is a LOT that goes on behind the scenes that people do not see from a 15-second video on Instagram.

How do you monetise your content? Do you also have another job?

I went to McMaster University for 4 years and then completed a post-grad program in social work. I had been working in the healthcare sector for 10+ years before being able to manage Explore Ontario as my full-time job. I monetise Explore Ontario by working with partners across Ontario on promotional content and materials. I have a Media Kit that contains Explore Ontario’s statistics, demographics, promotional packages, client testimonials and more.

What is your favourite piece of content you have created?

I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with nearly 60 tourism boards across Ontario, and Destination Stratford is one of my favourite clients. Stratford is such an incredible city, and it’s always a blast creating content for them because of the sheer beauty of the region. Here is a campaign I created for them last year to increase tourism in early fall.

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

I love having creative freedom over all aspects of my career; I report to no one but myself! I love being able to make my own choices over what projects to pursue and working independently. The hardest part is how much time I am on the road. Ontario is a massive province, and my job requires me to travel constantly. In just two years, I put over 200,000 kms on my car! It’s very challenging being away from family and balancing work schedules with my husband, who also has a very demanding career.

What are your future plans for your channel?

I hope to dedicate more time to YouTube, as Instagram and Facebook take up the majority of my time. I’ve also recently become more involved in social media consulting for brands, which I hope to do more of.

Where can we follow you?

You can follow Explore Ontario on Instagram here.

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another Canadian content creator that you love?

I’m lucky to belong to a content creator hub of 50+ local creators who are all incredible in their own unique way; it’s a very supportive group. My friend Marie is fantastic and creates phenomenal travel guides, and is an extremely talented photographer to boot. Her Instagram account is @msurlaroute.

The post My Digital Life: Content Creator Katherine Palumbo appeared first on Toronto Guardian.