The top running trails in Toronto take runners beyond the big city sights and sounds; mostly out of sight of the towering structures and congested streets. For those tired of dodging pedestrians, SUVs and newspaper boxes while running the same boring routes, here are my picks for the top 5 running trails in Toronto.

Housing isn't the only thing that is costly in the centre of the universe these days. The city that looked like a pretty good deal back in the era of the 65-cent dollar is getting rather expensive, and we're not just talking sports tickets.

When it comes to video game development, Toronto has historically been overshadowed by Vancouver and Montreal, where big developers like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft reign supreme. Toronto has always fostered the growth of smaller independent studios and with the increasing trend towards mobile and tablet use; the city is beginning to be recognized as a major hub for video game development.

Here I take a look at some of the gaming companies based out of Toronto. Chances are, at least one of the titles on your smartphone was developed by them.

There's no doubt that Toronto has an impressive amount of high-quality coffee shops to choose from. For most cafes, the main focus is on perfecting their espresso-based drinks. What's surprising though, is how common it is for many of these cafes to outsource their baked goods rather than make their own - all from a handful of the same local Toronto bakeries like Circles and Squares, Queen B Pastry, Bunners and Desmond & Beatrice.

From a business standpoint, focusing on your core offering (coffee) and leaving the baked goods to other local "experts" does make a lot of sense. On the other hand, many of these cafes are outsourcing their baked goods from a handful of the same bakeries. This approach has resulted most of these coffee shops all showcasing similar displays of baked goods that over time becomes predictable.

Canoeing in Toronto? Despite what many might think, Toronto is a paddling paradise. Some might say it's an urban canoeists wet dream. In a good day of paddling, the sights you'll likely see over the gunwale of your boat range from gritty urban decay and graffiti murals to hidden beach hideaways and curious wildlife. Toronto has river systems, lakefront beaches, and islands in the stream. Escaping the dull grind of city life is as easy as renting a canoe. Of course, the most frustrating aspect of renting a canoe is getting it from the rental shop to the water.

With the explosion of smart phones and tablets, apps are quickly attracting some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs in the industry. Robleh Jama is no exception. After starting his award-winning app studio in Toronto, Tiny Hearts, he is quickly changing the way entertainment and educational games are being developed in Canada.