Now Magazine Launches 25th Annual Readers’ Choice Edition

Magazine highlights top businesses and people in Toronto, announcing winners of the 2020 awards

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 19, 2020 / Media Central Corporation Inc. (CSE:FLYY)(FSE:3AT) ("MediaCentral" or the "Company") today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, NOW Magazine ("NOW"), has published its annual edition of the annual Readers' Choice Awards, marking 25 consecutive years of the awards.

NOW's annual Readers' Choice is a chance for readers to share what they love about Toronto – from restaurants and retail stores to drag performers, parks and politicians. With the negative impact of COVID-19 on small and local businesses, this issue is more important than ever, as it draws attention to the city's best loved businesses and people. The voting process is not only great exposure for the winners and runner-ups, but the nomination and polling periods give all local people, places and businesses increased visibility across the millions of readers who rely on NOW in print and online.

A Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey found that one in seven Canadian businesses may not survive the COVID-19 pandemic. NOW recognizes the impact of the pandemic on its city's local businesses, big and small, and knows that this year's awards bring much needed attention to ones that are excelling in their speciality. Acknowledging the nuances of 2020, NOW added new categories to reflect the ways life has changed during COVID-19, including Best Drive-In Venue, Best Virtual Fitness Instructor, Best Online Party Series and Best Face Mask Designer.

"This year, the pandemic forced us to push the Readers' Choice issue back a bit later than we normally run it, but we felt it was more important than ever to highlight businesses and cultural organizations struggling during the financial crisis," said Kevin Ritchie, Editor, NOW Magazine. "We've added new categories to ensure each poll reflects the changing ways people interact with local culture and business. In the spirit of the poll, we definitely welcome reader suggestions for new categories to add in next year. NOW Magazine has always been the voice of the city and this issue is a way of celebrating our readers' and their favourite places, people and things across Toronto."

Winners are typically a mix of independent and mainstream businesses and people. Although NOW has added new categories over the past 25 years, its readers' tastes can be consistent. For example, Ikea was voted Best Furniture Store in 1995 and again in 2020. Voters are also always on the cusp of trends. In 2019, NOW readers picked Priyanka as Toronto's best drag performer and she was featured on the cover. This year she won the reality competition TV series Canada's Drag Race.

The 25th edition of NOW Readers' Choice awards will be on stands from November 19 to November 25, 2020.

The 2020 NOW Readers' Choice winners and runners up are:

ART & BOOK

Best Artist Instagram

@Yovska
@ethanhanzelart

Best Book Store

Glad Day Bookshop
Book City

Best Independent Gallery

Black Artists' Network in Dialogue (BAND)
Blue Crow Gallery

Best Museum

AGO
ROM

Best Virtual Event

Queen West Art Crawl Virtual Online Festival 2020
The Cloth That Changed The World: India's Painted And Printed Cottons (ROM)

FILM & TV & STAGE

Best Canadian Web Series

Queens
The Ninth

Best Comedy Club

Comedy Bar
The Second City

Best Drive-In Venue

Ontario Place Drive-In
5 Drive-In

Best Independent Film Venue

Revue Cinema
Fox Theatre

Best Local Drag Performer

Halal Bae
Ivory Towers

Best Site-Specific Theatre Company

Shakespeare In High Park (Canadian Stage)
Outside the March

Best Theatre Company

Buddies in Bad Times
Soulpepper Theatre Company

Best Small/Indie Film Festival

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
Regent Park Film Festival

Best Streaming Service

Netflix
CBC Gem

Best Virtual Cinema Platform

Hot Docs at Home
Bell TIFF Digital Cinema

best virtual film festival

Hot Docs
TIFF

MUSIC

Best Label

Dine Alone Canada
Universal Music Canada

Best LGBT Bar

Glad Day Bookshop
Crews & Tangos

Best Live Music Venue –

Danforth Music Hall
The Horseshoe

Best Local Online Concert

Great Canadian Dueling Pianos
Donavon's Anti-Social Gathering

Best Music Streaming Service

Bandcamp
Spotify

Best Online Party Series

Club Quarantine
Lavender

Best Radio Station

CBC 99.1
Indie88

Best Record Store

Sonic Boom
Rotate This

CITYSCAPE

Best Activist

Paul Taylor – FoodShare
Desmond Cole

Best Activist Campaign

Black Lives Matter
Not Another Black Life

Best Activist Group

Black Lives Matter -Toronto
Parkdale Organize

Best Beach

Hanlan's Point Beach
Woodbine Beach

Best Campground

Killarney Provincial Park
Bruce Peninsula

Best City Councillor

Kristyn Wong-Tam
Gord Perks

Best College

George Brown College
Humber College

Best Continuing Education School

The Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University
George Brown College School of Continuing Education

Best Enviro Group

Climate Justice Toronto
Toronto Environmental Alliance

Best Library

Toronto Reference Library
Bloor Gladstone

Best Local Podcast

Do You Queer What I Queer?
JazzCast

Best MP

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith
Arif Virani

Best MPP

Bhutila Karpoche
Jill Andrew

Best Neighbourhood

Parkdale
Roncesvalles

Best Park

High Park
Christie Pits

Best Pool

Sunnyside
Christie Pits

Best Radio Personality

Matt Galloway- CBC
Heather Bambrick – JAZZ.FM

Best Skating Rink

Nathan Phillips Square
Greenwood

Best University

University of Toronto
Ryerson University

Best Youth Organization

LGBT Youth Line
Fridays for Future

SHOPPING & SERVICES

Best Accountant

Artbooks
D. Jae Gold

Best Animal Hospital

Bloorcourt Veterinary Clinic
Roncy Village Veterinary Clinic

Best Art Supply Store

Above Ground Art Supplies
Curry's

Best Bank or Credit Union

TD
Tangerine

Best Barber Shop/Men's Salon

Hagen Hair & Barber
Glassbox

Best Bicycle Store

Sweet Pete's Bike Shop
Batemans Bicycle Company

Best Car Service

Master Mechanic High Park
Sunny's Auto Clinic

Best Cell Phone Provider/Data Plan

Freedom Mobile
Telus

Best Cleaning Service

Spotless in the 6ix
The Clean Clique

Best Consignment Clothing and Accessory Store

Courage My Love
Common Sort

Best Contractor

Nailed It! Toronto
Those Repair Guys

Best Courier Service

Canada Post
Send-it Courier

Best Developer

The Daniels Corp.
Streetcar Developments

Best Dentist

Dr. Judy Sturm & Associates
St. Clair Dental Associates

Best Design Firm

ERA Architects Inc.
AJ's Antique Revival

Best Dispensary

CAFE
Tokyo Smoke

Best Flea/Local Market

Leslieville Flea
Arts market

Best Florist

Wild North Flowers
Sweetpea

Best Furniture Store

IKEA
Structube

Best Grocery Store

Fiesta farms
No Frills

Best Hair Salon

Grateful Head
Civello

Best Independent Jewellery Store

Made You Look
Edwards and Davies Jewellers

Best Indie Men's Clothing Store

GotStyle
Uncle Otis

Best Indie Women's Clothing Store

Coal Miners Daughter
Poa Studio

Best Internet Provider

Teksavvy
Beanfield

Best Jeans Store

Over the Rainbow
Body Blue

Best Language School/Classes

George Brown College School of Continuing Education
Goethe-Institut Toronto

Best Local Etsy Crafter

Sudsatorium
Ave Mariabell Designs

Best Local Face Mask Designer

Peach Berserk
Peace Collective

Best Local Jewellery Designer

Jenny Bird
Michelle Ross

Best Manicure & Pedicure

The Ten Spot
Poa Studio

Best Cannabis Strain

Girl Scout Cookies
Northern Lights

Best meal kit service

Good Food
Hello Fresh

Best Men's Shoe Store

Getoutside
The Australian Boot Company

Best Nutritionist

Julie Daniluk
Joy McCarthy

Best Online Only Local Retailer

Well.ca
Flamingo Market

Best Optical Store

Eye Candy Opticians
Dresden Vision

Best Organic Food Store

The Big Carrot Community Market
The Sweet Potato

Best Pet Store

Pet value
The Dog Market

Best Photography Store

Henry's
Downtown camera

Best Piercing/Tattoo Store

Black Widow Tattoo
Bellwoods Tattoo

Best Real Estate Agent

Alexandra Cote
Mia MacDonald

Best Sex Supplies Store

Good For Her
Come As You Are Co-operative

Best Spa

Body Blitz Spa
Poa Studio

Best Sporting Goods Store

MEC
Sporting Life

Best Tattoo Artist

Alanna Mule – Bellwoods Tattoo
Psych Young – PunkAssPiercing

Best Therapist

Justin La Rose
Bronwyn Singleton

Best Unique Gift Store

Outer Layer
Arts Market

Best Vintage Clothing Store

Black Market
Public Butter

Best Virtual Fitness Teacher

Jennifer Hicks- Nia Dance
Julie Sawchuck – bomb fitness

Best Virtual Workout Studio

Bomb Fitness
The Pink Studio

Best Women's Shoe Store

gravitypope
Getoutside

FOOD & DRINK

Best African Restaurant

Lalibela
Ethiopian House

Best Bakery/Bread

Blackbird
Mabel's Bakery

Best Bar

Bar Raval
Shameful Tiki Room

Best Barbecue

Beach Hill Smokehouse
Barque

Best Barista

Maurice Hriech – Pilot Coffee
Camille Blott Pamarosa

Best Bartender

Greg Howard – beerbistro
Sam Dobie – Round the Horn

Best Beer Bar

The Only
Bar Volo

Best Breakfast/Brunch

Maha's
Lady Marmalade

Best Burger

The Burger's Priest
Rudy

Best Burrito

Burrito Boyz
Fat Bastard Burrito

Best Butcher

Sanagan's Meat Locker
The Healthy Butcher

Best Caesar

Barque Smokehouse
Three Speed

Best Cafe

Rooster Coffee House
Lazy Daisy's Café

Best Caribbean Restaurant

The Real Jerk
Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen

Best Cheap Eats/Meals Under $10

The Momo House
Fearless Meat

Best Cheese

Cheese Boutique
Alex's Farms

Best Chef

Aki Urata – Kinton Ramen
Patrick Kriss – Alo Bar

Best Chicken Wings

Sneaky Dee's
Crown & Dragon

Best Chinese Restaurant

Buddha's Vegetarian
Rol San

Best Chocolate

Soma
ChocoSol Traders

Best Cocktail Bar

The Shameful Tiki Room
Civil Liberties

Best Deli

The Big Carrot Community Market
Fearless Meat

Best Delivery Service

Fresh City Farms
Uber Eats

Best Dessert

Heirloom Toronto
Nadege Patisserie

Best Dim Sum Restaurant

Mother's Dumplings
Rol San

Best Diner

The Lakeview
Skyline Restaurant

Best Donut

Glory Hole Doughnuts
Bloomer's
 

Best Dumplings

Mother's Dumplings
Momo Hut and Gardens

Best Falafel

Maha's
Ghazale

Best Fish

Hooked Inc.
De La Mer

Best Fish & Chips

Harbord Fish and Chips
Off The Hook

Best Food Truck

Heirloom Toronto
The Food dudes

Best French Restaurant

Le Select Bistro
Alo

Best Greek Restaurant

Mezes
Mamakas Taverna
 

Best Ice Cream/Gelato

Ed's Real Scoop
Bang Bang

Best Independent Brewery

Collective Arts
Left Field Brewery

Best Indian Restaurant

Banjara
Lahore Tikka House

Best Italian Restaurant

Terroni
Sugo

Best Japanese Restaurant

Kinton Ramen
Kinka Izakaya

Best Juice Bar

The Big Carrot Community Market
Village Juicery

Best Korean Restaurant

Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu
Korean Village

Best Latin Restaurant

Pomarosa
Tacos el Asador

Best Mexican Restaurant

Tacos El Asador
El Catrin

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant

Tabule
Maha's

Best Patio

El Catrin
The Three Speed

Best Pizza

Libretto
North of Brooklyn Pizzeria

Best Poutine

Smoke's Poutinerie
Rudy

Best Pub

House on Parliament
The Caledonian

Best Ramen

Kinton Ramen
Ramen Isshin

Best Restaurant

Lake Inez
Papyrus

Best Roti

Mother India
Pam's Roti Shop

Best Sandwich

California Sandwiches
Black Camel

Best Seafood Restaurant

Rodney's Oyster House
Oyster Boy

Best Server

Scotty Stiles – Mildred's Temple Kitchen
Charlie Nielsen – Mill Street Brewery

Best Splurge Restaurant

Bar Isabel
Alo

Best Sports Bar

The Dock Ellis
Real Sports

Best Steakhouse

Barberian's Steakhouse
The Keg

Best Thai Restaurant

Pai
Sukhothai

Best Tea

Genuine Tea
David's Tea

Best Tibetan

Momo Hut and Gardens
Tibet Kitchen

Best Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant

Fresh
Planta

Best Wine Bar

Le Select Bistro
Lake Inez

Best Toronto Beer

Left Field Brewery
Blood Brothers

APPS & GAMING

Best Dating app

Bumble
Hinge

Best Financial App

PC Financial
Mint

Best Instagram Account – Personality

@parkdalelife
@shedoesthecity

Best Instagram Account – Photography

@_qweenton
@wademuir

Best Instagram Account – Pet

@estherthewonderpig
Miss.picklesthepug

Best LGBTQ Dating App

Grindr
Scruff

Best Local TikTok

oridaganjazz
Snarky Marky

Best Local Twitch Streamer

Speakeasy Tattoo
Dungeon Dudes

Best Local YouTube account

The Edgy Veg
Matty Matheson

Best Organization App

Asana
Workday

Best Recipe App

All Recipes
Forks Over Knives

Best Self-Help App

Calm
Better Help

Best Video Game

Animal Crossing
The Sims 4

Best Virtual Learning App

Duolingo
Google Classroom

About Media Central Corporation Inc.

Media Central Corporation Inc. (CSE: FLYY, FSE: 3AT) is an alternative media company situated to acquire and develop high-quality publishing assets starting with the recent acquisition of Vancouver Free Press Corp., the purchase of NOW Communications Inc. and the launch of digital cannabis platform CannCentral.com. MediaCentral is consolidating and digitally monetizing the over 100 million coveted and premium consumers of the approximately 100 alternative urban publications across North America, creating the most powerful audience of influencers.
www.mediacentralcorp.com
Instagram: @mediacentralcorp
Twitter: @mediacentralc
Facebook: Media Central Corp.

About NOW Central Communications Inc.

NOW Central owns and operates NOW Magazine and nowtoronto.com. Since 1981 NOW has been Toronto's news and entertainment voice, published in print every Thursday, and daily at nowtoronto.com. Reaching over 25 million annual readers, NOW has been a leading publication, defining and pioneering the independent and alternative voice for more than 38 years. NOW Central Communications Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Central Corporation Inc. (CSE: FLYY, FSE: 3AT).

www.nowtoronto.com
Instagram: @nowtoronto
Twitter: @nowtoronto
Facebook: facebook.com/nowmagazine

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to internal expectations, expectations with respect to estimated margins, cost structures, and cost structures in the media industry. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing costs; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments involving; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the media industry generally, income tax and regulatory matters; the ability of MediaCentral to implement its business strategies; competition; currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive and should carefully review the various risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's filings on SEDAR. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

For further information:

Investor Relations:
Investors@mediacentralcorp.com

Media:

Faulhaber Communications, Lexi Pathak, media@mediacentralcorp.com

www.mediacentralcorp.com

SOURCE: Media Central Corporation Inc.

ReleaseID: 617495