Charitable campaigns and office food drives have concluded until the jingle bells ring again. But the needs of Toronto’s hungry persist year-round and the data shows that the level of food insecurity in the city is reaching unprecedented levels.

After a decade-long boom, the growth of wineries in Prince Edward County has hit a plateau so county businesses are focusing on another boozy beverage — beer. Since 2016, five breweries have opened in Prince Edward County and five more are under construction.

Jordan Rainhard started home-brewing beer in his parents’ house six years ago. These days, he’s crafting IPAs, porters and stouts at his eponymous west-end Toronto microbrewery. He raises a glass to his favourite spots in the city.

It’s a sunny Wednesday afternoon and 50-odd members of the Food Dudes catering staff are gathered in the offices of their east end facility for a team meeting. Among the crowd are event planners and administration staff, plus chefs and cooks in logo-embroidered jackets.

Scottsdale has long been a winter escape destination for Canadians and the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa is a worthwhile spot for sun-seekers, golfers and families alike. The luxury resort spans 27 acres set at the edge of the Sonoran Desert and the Gainey Ranch Golf Club and offers picturesque views of the McDowell Mountains.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a side of new knowledge at Barcelona-based Papabubble’s sleek Toronto candy shop. Watch hard candies, made with detailed designs and greetings (reminiscent of Murano glass), be rolled out to a final diameter of just one centimetre. Candy ­makers train for three months to learn their craft.

In a basement unit on Markham St. in Mirvish Village, ceramicist Catherine Carroll lays out a selection of subway tiles. Glazed with an uneven texture in shades of grey, they have a slightly imperfect quality — proof they are made by her hands.

First constructed in 1838 as a flour mill powered by nearby MacLaren Falls, the Wakefield Mill has seen a few different lives – as a sawmill, woolen mill and general store – until it was renovated into a destination hotel and spa in 2000.

It’s 8 P.M. on a snowy winter evening and the dinner rush is in full force at Korean Village Restaurant. General manager Jason Lee stands tableside by two patrons who are dining at the 38-year-old Koreatown institution for the first time.

Brandon Olsen is a man obsessed with process. Prior to opening of his French restaurant on Ossington, La Banane, the chef spent hours in the kitchen breaking down every element of his menu in progress.

While Florida’s warm oceans and natural beauty are typical draws for Canadians visiting the Sunshine State, why not consider its history and culture offerings by exploring its oldest city: St. Augustine?

With a population of just over 300,000, Pittsburgh’s personality wavers between small city and big town. Skyscrapers in its Central Business District rival those of Toronto or New York City but span just a few short blocks. Without the fierce competition and aggressive real estate markets of larger metropolises, industries in Pittsburgh have room to experiment and grow.

For a DIY take on your upcoming nuptials, head over to the Devil’s Workshop on Queen Street West, at the edge of Trinity Bellwoods Park. In the warm, intimate studio space behind the jewellery shop storefront, owner and instructor Sarah Wan offers a popular, weekly Wedding Band Workshop.

Two years ago, Victor Barry and his wife, Nikki Leigh McKean, promised each other to not open a new restaurant for at least a year. It was a difficult proposition for a chef still glowing from his latest venture — transforming Splendido into the wildly successful Piano Piano.

To make a BeaverTail doughnut, whole wheat dough is hand-stretched into an oval shape and fried in canola oil. It’s still warm when the pastry is served, topped with cinnamon and sugar or more extravagant additions and part of the BeaverTails experience is watching the decadent treat being prepared in front of you.

In Toronto’s west end, Callum Hay and Eric Portelance are brewing the first-ever batch of beer in their new operation — Halo Brewery. Hay is clad in industrial overalls, crouched over a pump to adjust settings that will transfer the contents of a stainless steel vat into a nine-foot kettle that sits adjacent.

On April 1st, over 60,000 people will gather at the world’s largest maple syrup festival in Elmira, Ontario. There are plenty of tributes to this liquid maple gold at the event, from pancake breakfasts to high-fiving the pancake-shaped mascot (aptly named Flapjack).

Shriram Venkataramana had two months to look for an engagement ring for his girlfriend, Payal Uttam. He wanted to propose while they were on vacation in Bali, but he was overwhelmed just thinking about finding the perfect ring. “It was very intimidating,” Venkataramana says.

On July 9th, Toronto Mayor John Tory stood on a stage facing a small crowd of food festival-goers. At his side, an assistant held a museum-like bell jar displaying a flour-dusted white bun stuffed with slices of lean and salty pork and a ruffle of lettuce.

Surfing ocean waves is ­decidedly a great warm-weather workout, and for lovers of the sport, long Canadian winters can be a drag. Luckily for year-round enthusiasts and ­aspiring surfers alike, Surfset Toronto has brought the boards ­indoors to an intimate studio in the Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood.