A Degrassi documentary is coming to TIFF
And yes Drake will be in it.
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Today’s newsletter includes: Dollarama is building a global discount empire, Alder sells to Calgary-based Local Laundry, a Degrassi documentary is premiering at TIFF.
In case people needed another reason to sit in a Tim Hortons parking lot for hours. Electric vehicle charging stations are coming to 100 restaurants by 2028.
Dollarama is expanding across Mexico and Australia. In 2024, the company increased its stake in Dollarcity, a Latin American discount store, to become the majority owner, and in July, took over a chain of 395 discount stores in Australia.
Desjardins is buying Guardian Capital for $1.67 billion in a play to build its client base. Desjardins will absorb the financial firm’s assets and take it private.
Toronto-based athletic wear company Alder has been acquired by Local Laundry. Three years ago the company raised $2 million from REI’s venture arm, Bridge Investments, and Consumer Ventures at the height of the “sustainability” and online shopping boom. The colour selection has always reminded me of Ty Haney’s Outdoor Voices and you might remember their collaborations with Roots and Chaco, a footwear brand. Co-founder Naomi Blackman has openly posted about Alder’s struggles even since and it goes to show that a good product isn’t enough anymore, you need to have a cult-like community built around your brand.
Full-bodied Cali Cab Sauvs will stay banned in Ontario until further notice.
There’s a clear correlation between running the London Marathon and running the Canadian government. A professional goal of mine would be to interview Mark Carney and Evan Solomon while we do the loop at High Park.
I’m tracking the Victoria Secret “comeback” very closely. Hillary Super, the ex-CEO of Rihanna’s Fenty, has been tasked with turning the brand around in the years since the Wall Street Journal declared that sex is no longer selling. Super says she’s focused on making the brand feel more joyful and youthful into 2026.
“Affluent female shoppers” are fuelling new demand for Hollister dresses.
A documentary about Degrassi is premiering at TIFF. I’m learning how to use my press pass privileges this year and need someone to tell me what to watch.
Today in U.S. Open news: Alcatraz’s buzz cut, $100 caviar chicken nuggets.
A 38,000 online person book club is running reading retreats. The number of social clubs for solo activities is growing: people like to meet up to journal, knit, or read together, and some of these clubs are now pivoting into the getaway space. In Canada, I found a Vancouver-based knitting club running three trips in the fall.
Would pay a lot of money to never heard the words “viral bakery” again.
I have only one thing to add the Swift-Kelce engagement media blitz. The real winners I think are Ralph Lauren and Kindred Lubeck, who designed the ring.
