This Leslieville woman is never leaving Toronto again

Dear reader,

Four years ago, almost to the day, I was walking through Riverside when I heard the news: Toronto was going into lockdown. It was a weird time. Fear and paranoia supplanted my neighbourhood’s friendly vibe. Still, out of faith in the city (and naïveté), I assumed Toronto would pull through, maybe in a few months, and revert to its former lively self.

Down the street in Leslieville, Kelly Barrett—the subject of Curb Appeal’s top post this week—was feeling less optimistic. The isolation was breaking her, and looking out from her glass condo, she could no longer recognize her hometown. Within a few months, she sold her place and bought a bungalow in Grand Bend.

At first, Kelly thought she had found paradise. But the pesky thing about Toronto is its gravity—it tends to pull you back. If you’ve ever loved even just a part of this city, there’s a good chance part of you will love it forever. Kelly certainly agrees. She’s since returned to Toronto and shared her story here.

Also in today’s newsletter: a historic Uxbridge Victorian with a curvy staircase. Plus, an inside look at a renovation on the Niagara River. Visit torontolife.com for all our real estate coverage.

When Covid hit, it exacerbated Kelly Barrett’s big-city frustrations: the cost of living, construction, pollution—without any of the entertainment, dining or sports. “The pandemic was Toronto without its cool,” she says. “And it was just awful. As a single middle-aged woman with no children, I wanted a new chance at life. So I left for Grand Bend. Most people thought I’d miss Toronto, that I’d soon be back with my tail between my legs. And they were right—sort of.”

This 3,700-square-foot property in downtown Uxbridge comes with five bedrooms, heated floors, several patios and decks, a driveway that fits seven cars, and an in-ground pool in the back.

Goodbye, corporate design, zebra colour palettes and dingy spaces. Hello, hardwood, white all over and stunning views of the water.

In the latest issue: how two faux-Inuit sisters cashed in on a life of deception. Plus, the city’s best cheap eats, a suburban holy war between religion and real estate, a bittersweet memoir about ditching Toronto, and more. Still not receiving Toronto Life at home? Subscribe today.