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.

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Which ’hood are you in?

St. Clair West.

What do you do?

I host Rogue Psychology, a show that examines modern behaviour.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on new episodes Rogue, using my background in stand-up, to examine unconventional methods for improving how we process information, date, scroll, and show up in the world.

Where can we find your work?

You can find a trailer for the show here.

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

She is creative, expressive, and never afraid to take up space. Whether she’s performing, building her brand, or stepping into new opportunities, Azaria moves with intention and authenticity. What makes me most proud isn’t just her ambition, but her resilience. She has faced challenges head-on and turned them into stepping stones toward something greater.

Behind the spotlight is a thoughtful, strategic young woman who understands the power of growth and reinvention. She dreams big, plans smart, and executes boldly. Watching her evolve into someone who inspires others simply by being herself has been one of my greatest joys.

Azaria Niko isn’t just chasing success — she’s creating her own lane, and I couldn’t be prouder to call her my daughter.

-Written by Mama Care

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Which ’hood are you in?

I reside in Mimico, right by the water. It’s a wonderful place to live. There are farmers’ markets from the Spring to the Fall with quality produce. I love to go for a run in the morning; there are so many paths you can take.

What do you do?

I’m a multi-hyphenate creative and entrepreneur: a signed model with Elite Model Management, actress and stuntwoman, music artist, dancer and instructor, and equestrian, while also building businesses, finishing my final year in Business Management, raising my twin daughters, and bringing faith, humour, and heart into everything I do.

What are you currently working on?

I have dedicated myself to a comedic social experimental show called Rogue Psychology, which is a must-watch! I am John’s friend, helping him navigate the world and conquer issues that need solving. The show is hilarious, and I cannot wait for the world to tune in.

Where can we find your work?

I am on IMDB and you can follow my Instagram

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Multidisciplinary Artist Azaria Niko appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

After years of pursuing art alongside other endeavours, Di Francesco has dedicated himself to creation full-time. This pivotal transition allows him to fully immerse in a style defined by an intense focus on light, colour, and energy, achieved through vibrant pigments and expressive brushwork that captures fleeting moments.

Di Francesco draws deep inspiration from his surroundings, using the varied light and texture of the Canadian environment as a constant muse. His artistic vision is influenced by past Canadian masters and Impressionistic techniques as well as Eastern art traditions. Rather than precise realism, his aim is to convey the emotional essence of a subject, transforming everyday observations into layered visual stories.
As he notes, “Art has always been a big part of my life… I am most passionate about oil on canvas. I love vibrant colour, and brush strokes that create energy.” His intuitive approach and use of saturated, juxtaposed hues build depth and warmth, ensuring his work resonates with a growing audience and cementing his place as a compelling voice in contemporary Canadian art.

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Which ’hood are you in?

I was born and raised in Little Italy with its unique sights, sounds, foods, and Chin Radio as a backdrop. It was a unique and magical place that bordered on Little Portugal, Chinatown, Koreatown and Kensington Market and a place where everyone seemed to be connected or related. Today, I’m often drawn back to this area to see the changes and to experience the wonderful fusion of foods and the tapestry of cultures that seem to have been woven together. It’s as if one neighbourhood has spilled into the next in a wonderful organic way. When I walk through, I often take photos like a tourist, sketch a scene or chat with someone I’ve just met. I love these walks.

What do you do?

I’m so busy these days. Where do I begin? Are you familiar with Plein Air? Plein Air is a French term that was made famous by the French Impressionist artists. It is a tradition of taking portable easels outdoors to paint in urban and rural settings. French artists would paint together in this way, supporting each other while learning and sharing ideas, techniques and approaches. They painted what they saw and felt in a way that was fresh, new, inspired and dynamic. A group of us casually started to meet and paint in this way.

I am a founding member of the Mississauga Plein Air group (SPag) called @saugapleinairgroup, which boasts over 400 members right now. This Plein Air group meets regularly, shares techniques, celebrates the city of Mississauga and southern Ontario and has become a driving force in the city’s art culture. Artists paint at events, heritage sites, in business centres and have had many group exhibitions. It hosts the annual Mississauga Plein Air competition, which has attracted participants from across Southern Ontario to compete in the spirit of Plein Air with prizes and a group exhibition as a culminating activity.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve always got a series of paintings on the go. I’ve just completed a Toronto Chinatown series of paintings, and now I’m in the midst of doing a series called the Personality of Trees. As part of @saugapleinairgroup, we have a group exhibition, some workshops and indoor painting sessions on the go. Who knows what 2026 will bring.

Where can we find your work?

I’ve got a number of paintings presently at 33 East Street Gallery in Goderich, Ontario, a painting at Visual Arts Mississauga, and another at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinberg. My paintings can also be viewed and purchased through @helloart.inc, @localart.store, my Instagram, and website.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Visual Artist Angelo Di Francesco appeared first on Toronto Guardian.