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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · 2d

This piece is still the one I'm most proud of in my career. (And @chloeellingson.bsky.social's photos are gorgeous.)

The Local Magazine @thelocal.to · 5d

From the #LocalArchives: The Annex is shrinking. The towers of Crescent Town are exploding. @simonlewsen.bsky.social on a tale of two cities, and how the uneven, illogical densification pattern of the last 50 years created today’s Toronto. thelocal.to/density-the-...

In the Annex and Crescent Town, Two Sides to a Density Dilemma | The Local

The Annex had fewer residents in 2021 than 1971. The towers of Crescent Town had far more. How the uneven, illogical densification pattern of the last 50 years created today’s Toronto.

thelocal.to

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Reposted by Simon Lewsen

The Local Magazine @thelocal.to · 5d

From the #LocalArchives: The Annex is shrinking. The towers of Crescent Town are exploding. @simonlewsen.bsky.social on a tale of two cities, and how the uneven, illogical densification pattern of the last 50 years created today’s Toronto. thelocal.to/density-the-...

In the Annex and Crescent Town, Two Sides to a Density Dilemma | The Local

The Annex had fewer residents in 2021 than 1971. The towers of Crescent Town had far more. How the uneven, illogical densification pattern of the last 50 years created today’s Toronto.

thelocal.to

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · 22d

My piece on the death (and possible rebirth) of humanities education has been re-printed by @thelineca.bsky.social, one of the best places on the internet for lively writing and independent thought.
www.readtheline.ca/p/simon-lews...

Simon Lewsen: Despite tough times, the humanities aren't dead yet

And, in fact, in an era where everything is mechanized, including thought, they may be rebounding.

www.readtheline.ca

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · 29d

These words from @cherilucasrowlands.com made me happy:
"After reading a series of articles lamenting the death of higher education and critical thinking in the age of ChatGPT, I tempered my despair with Simon Lewsen’s somewhat hopeful essay on the humanities"
longreads.com/2025/09/10/d...

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Reposted by Simon Lewsen

Longreads @longreads.com · Sep 10

"I didn’t expect any of this, and I’m unsure what to make of it. But I wonder if the emerging threat of AI is restoring a sense of vitality to the humanistic mission."

@simonlewsen.bsky.social for @thelocal.to: thelocal.to/humanities-i...

The Humanities Aren't Dead Yet | The Local

Enrollment in the liberal arts has been in freefall for years. But despite apocalyptic declarations about the end of the humanities, in my own classroom I see signs of life.

thelocal.to

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Sep 10

For my Designlines column, I visited Biidaasige—the new adventure playground at the foot of the Don River—and let my toddler guide me around. She was ecstatic. Children need risky play. Long live Biidaasige.

@waterfrontoronto.bsky.social

www.designlinesmagazine.com/biidaasige-p...

Biidaasige Park Is a Triumph

Biidaasige transforms the Don River’s flood-prone, industrial canal into a restored delta and vibrant new park for Toronto.

www.designlinesmagazine.com

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Reposted by Simon Lewsen

The Local Magazine @thelocal.to · Sep 9

The humanities have been in crisis for the entirety of @simonlewsen.bsky.social's career. But despite apocalyptic declarations about the death of the liberal arts, in his own classroom he sees signs of life. thelocal.to/humanities-i...

The Humanities Aren't Dead Yet | The Local

Enrollment in the liberal arts has been in freefall for years. But despite apocalyptic declarations about the end of the humanities, in my own classroom I see signs of life.

thelocal.to

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Sep 9

So, @thelocal.to is rolling out its Higher Education issue today. I wrote an essay about the supposed death of the humanities. Are the humanities really dying, though? In my own classroom at the University of Toronto, I see surprising signs of life.
thelocal.to/humanities-i...

The Humanities Aren't Dead Yet | The Local

Enrollment in the liberal arts has been in freefall for years. But despite apocalyptic declarations about the end of the humanities, in my own classroom I see signs of life.

thelocal.to

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Aug 20

The federal government is seeking to punish the City of Toronto for failing to legalize sixplexes. My hot take: When it comes to housing, the feds should throw their weight around even more. My latest column instalment for Designlines.
www.designlinesmagazine.com/sixplexes-in...

Toronto Fumbled on Sixplexes—Now It Could Lose $30 Million

The Federal Government Might Refuse to Hand Over $30 Million in Housing Funds to the City of Toronto for its shortcoming on Siplexes.

www.designlinesmagazine.com

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Aug 8

I'm jazzed to be included in the Sunday Long Read's 500th weekly edition—an essential round-up of the best long-form journalism.

mailchi.mp/sundaylongre...

The Sunday Long Read: 500 Editions!

The week's best journalism. Every Sunday.

mailchi.mp

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Jul 29

In 2002, Ryan Wedding was a rising-star athlete. Today, he's an international drug lord running a billion-dollar enterprise. In @torontolifemag.bsky.social, I tell the story of how a cherubic kid from Thunder Bay, ON, became one of the world's most-wanted fugitives.
torontolife.com/deep-dives/b...

Becoming El Jefe: The story of Ryan Wedding, Canada’s Olympic snowboarder turned ruthless drug lord - Toronto Life

Before Ryan Wedding landed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list as a high-level associate of El Chapo, he was a bright-eyed kid from Thunder Bay. The inside story...

torontolife.com

Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · May 29

For @thestar.com‬, I interviewed Meghan Daum—personal essayist turned heterodox podcaster—about her new book, the LA fires, the fertility crisis, what JD Vance gets right and wrong about family policy, and whether we've passed peak wokeness.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Meghan Daum became famous for her deeply revealing personal essays. Now, she sees self-censorship everywhere

In her new book “The Catastrophe Zone,” she explores middle age, giving up dreams and losing everything in the LA fires

www.thestar.com

Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · May 6

My City Beat Column—on art, architecture, and urbanism—for Designlines magazine is a finalist for a Digital Publishing Awards (Best Column). And that's a nice little nod for a column in its first year.

National Media Awards Foundation @canadamediaawards.bsky.social · May 6

🏙️ The City Beat

Designlines Magazine

Finalist – Best Column at the 2025 Digital Publishing Awards

Well done, @simonlewsen.bsky.social and team!

🔗 zurl.co/It9q7

#DigitalPublishingAwards #DPA25

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Reposted by Simon Lewsen

National Media Awards Foundation @canadamediaawards.bsky.social · May 6

🏙️ The City Beat

Designlines Magazine

Finalist – Best Column at the 2025 Digital Publishing Awards

Well done, @simonlewsen.bsky.social and team!

🔗 zurl.co/It9q7

#DigitalPublishingAwards #DPA25

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · May 5

For the latest instalment of my City Beat column, I wrote about one of my favourite places in Toronto—the Paradise Theatre. This is what the future of moviegoing looks like.
www.designlinesmagazine.com/paradise-the...

All Culture Is Niche Culture—Even the Movies

Today, the Paradise Theatre seems less like a quirky anomaly and more like the future of cinema and where to watch movies in Toronto.

www.designlinesmagazine.com

Reposted by Simon Lewsen

National Media Awards Foundation @canadamediaawards.bsky.social · May 1

🏆 Finalist | #NMA25

The Perilous Lives of International Students
@torontolifemag.bsky.social | By @simonlewsen.bsky.social

They come for education and a better future—only to discover the target on their backs.
🔗 zurl.co/jxlTb

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Apr 26

Here's my cover story for Report on Business magazine. DEI's fundamental premises—bias is bad, diversity is good—are as defensible as any premises have been. But foolish ideas and practices have been smuggled into the workplace under the guise of DEI.
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/rob...

DEI was under threat long before Donald Trump. But he didn’t kill it alone

The proximal cause of this about-face is Donald Trump, whose comeback is both a symptom and driver of this corporate vibe shift. But the backlash was brewing long before that

www.theglobeandmail.com

Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Apr 24

I wrote the cover story for the May issue of Report on Business magazine. It's about DEI—why people oppose it, where it went wrong, and what it could be .
@theglobeandmail.com
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/rob...

DEI was under threat long before Donald Trump. But he didn’t kill it alone

The proximal cause of this about-face is Donald Trump, whose comeback is both a symptom and driver of this corporate vibe shift. But the backlash was brewing long before that

www.theglobeandmail.com

Reposted by Simon Lewsen

John Healey @johnhealeyimages.bsky.social · Apr 15

Great piece by @simonlewsen.bsky.social The hard working brass knuckles behind the sloganeering.
macleans.ca/longforms/je...

Jenni Byrne's Big Gamble - Macleans.ca

The ruthless tactician behind Pierre Poilievre’s campaign has spent decades shaping Canadian conservatism from behind the scenes. This year’s election will be her greatest achievement—or her undoing.

macleans.ca

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Apr 15

I'm on today's edition of CBC's Front Burner podcast, talking about Jenni Byrne, the controversial strategist behind Pierre Poilievre—and about the fierce infighting that's suddenly emerged within the conservative movement.

www.cbc.ca/radio/frontb...

The Conservative kingmaker behind Poilievre | CBC Radio

You might not know her by name, but Conservative campaign manager Jenni Byrne is one of the most powerful kingmakers in the party's modern history — and she may have almost as much at stake in winning...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Simon Lewsen

Inori Roy @royinori.bsky.social · Apr 10

Phenomenal story from Simon, it's essential reading this election season. Don't miss it!

Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Apr 1

For @macleans.bsky.social, I profiled Jenni Byrne, the mastermind behind Stephen Harper's game-changing 2011 victory, who's now trying to work her magic again for Pierre Poilievre. The plan was going perfectly. Until it wasn't.
macleans.ca/longforms/je...

Jenni Byrne's Big Gamble - Macleans.ca

The ruthless tactician behind Pierre Poilievre’s campaign has spent decades shaping Canadian conservatism from behind the scenes. This year’s election will be her greatest achievement—or her undoing.

macleans.ca

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Apr 11

High praise from one of my favourite journalists!

Inori Roy @royinori.bsky.social · Apr 10

Phenomenal story from Simon, it's essential reading this election season. Don't miss it!

Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Apr 1

For @macleans.bsky.social, I profiled Jenni Byrne, the mastermind behind Stephen Harper's game-changing 2011 victory, who's now trying to work her magic again for Pierre Poilievre. The plan was going perfectly. Until it wasn't.
macleans.ca/longforms/je...

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Reposted by Simon Lewsen

Jen St. Denis @jenstden.bsky.social · Mar 31

Really great #cdnpoli piece today in @macleans.bsky.social macleans.ca/longforms/je...

Jenni Byrne's Big Gamble - Macleans.ca

The ruthless tactician behind Pierre Poilievre’s campaign has spent decades shaping Canadian conservatism from behind the scenes. This year’s election will be her greatest achievement—or her undoing.

macleans.ca

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Simon Lewsen @simonlewsen.bsky.social · Apr 3

A reminder for everybody mourning the death of Val Kilmer: The greatest celebrity profile of the 21st century is a profile of him. Honour his legacy by reading this extraordinary piece.
www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/m...

What Happened to Val Kilmer? He’s Just Starting to Figure It Out. (Published 2020)

Cancer has taken his voice, but the unlikeliest movie star in Hollywood history still has a lot he wants to say. (Published in 2020.)

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Simon Lewsen

Jessica Johnson @jessicajohnson.bsky.social · Apr 3

Besides offering us all a long-overdue closeup look at the woman behind Pierre Poilievre’s success, this is just a great example of a magazine profile by @simonlewsen.bsky.social macleans.ca/author/simon...

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