convenience store toronto

Someone is paying homage to convenience stores in Toronto

Convenience stores dot Toronto's streetscape and nearly every neighbourhood has a local favourite.

Perhaps yours is highlighted in this documentary series that just landed on YouTube.

Convenience Stories, by Toronto filmmaker Liam Kearney and Stina Diรถs, features documentary shorts that highlight the history behind some of the city's most locally famous convenience stores. The series originally appeared on Bell Fibe TV1, but now you can watch it all online.

"The project began in 2014 when we realized how people a sense of ownership to 'their' convenience stores. They often say 'my' convenience store when they refer to the store they regularly visit," says Kearney via email.

"From there, we found these stores hold a unique place within communities. Some people leave their keys at the store when they leave town. It's often the first place young kids can go on their own, because the store owners know the family."

This isn't the first art project dedicated to convenience stores. Derek Attewell started the @convenience.to Instagram account to photograph these local landmarks.

Some of the stores featured include Old's Cool General Store in East York and The Lucky Penny near Trinity Bellwoods.

Lead photo by

Hector Vasquez at Old's Cool General Store


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