Everything you’ll understand if you grew up in Toronto

Growing up in Toronto is a unique experience and one you can only understand if you’ve lived it. From peanut allergies to weekends at Kensington Market – here’s the best memories from our childhood there.

Feeling like you’d grown up when you were finally allowed to go to Queen West

A Torontonian preteen rite of passage – although making it to anywhere downtown felt like you’d finally hit adulthood, until you spent all your money at Sugar Mountain.

Having an unexplainable affinity with Hedley

The noughties were peak Hedley ever since Jacob Hoggard appeared on Canadian Idol, and Never Too Late became every teenage girl’s Motorola razr ringtone.

Knowing the struggle when every second kid in Toronto has a peanut allergy

We all heard the tale of a kid years ago who died because someone across the school bit into a peanut butter sandwich. We’re still not sure how much of it was truth but peanuts were strictly banned within school.

Marineland was everyone’s problematic fave

Before Blackfish gave everyone a moral compass on marine captivity, Marineland was the ultimate childhood day out. Now it’s kind of sad.

Knowing someone who claimed there was a moose statue at his party

You feel like it was probably a lie but then again, you never know.

Buying every novelty item at Kensington Market and not being ashamed

Most of your allowance likely went on the large amount of crap from Kensington Market that ended up stowed away in your room. There was never a need for you to own an off-brand Von Dutch hat, but there you were, with five.

Accepting that Paul the Intern was probably the biggest TO celeb of 2008

Watching Paul the Intern on MTV Live after school a weekday highlight, and you were guaranteed to spot him around Yonge and Bloor. Was he an actual intern? Will we ever know?

Niagara Falls was a go-to school trip

You’d done the trip countless times but if you were lucky, after the obligatory ride on the Maid of the Mist, you’d be allowed to go into Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum – essentially the best a school trip can get.

And a Jays game was always the official end of year trip

There was probably some kid that acted out on the previous grade’s amazing end of year trip and so, like every year, your school trip was to a Blue Jays game. Not as glamorous as other trips but they did let you run around the baseball diamond after the game.

Making it your life mission to be in the audience for Much Music

Alongside MTV Live, Much on Demand was an after school must watch. We all wanted to be in the audience so we could meet Tim Deegan, and The MMVAs were basically the Oscars.

Only referring to Drake as Wheelchair Jimmy

If you grew up in Toronto then you’ll know Drake didn’t start from the bottom, but in fact, on Canadian television (which isn’t far off) and we’re still not over the moment he got shot by Rick. Remember when he had a dream that he could walk again? Tragic.

Knowing that pizza lunches were the highlight of your elementary school life

A monthly school order from Pizza Pizza, a bag of Lays and a chocolate milk carton. Peak. There was a time when you were allowed the coveted Ketchup flavour of Lays but one kid ruined everything by acting out and so you were only allowed plain ever since.

And realising that Happy Bunny stickers were the worst

They can actually fuck off.