About Us
Different Hues. Different Views.
The Green Line is a local news outlet that investigates the way we live to help young Torontonians survive and thrive in a rapidly changing city. Together, let’s breathe new life into Toronto’s conversations so we can build a livable city for all.
OUR TEAM
ANITA
LI
Longtime journalist, media consultant and educator. Forever Scarborough native who now lives with her husband Lucan and cat twins in their century-old home in Leslieville.
JULIA
LAWRENCE
Aspiring film photographer who studies journalism, communication and design at Toronto Metropolitan University. Visits beaches at 6 a.m. to clear her head.
DANISH
ANWAR
Toronto-based standup comedian with poor taste in music. Do not consume on an empty stomach.
OTHER CONTRIBUTORS
ALEXANDROS
VAROUTAS
Scarborough mans and former chef. Big advocate of pantry diversification. Using wasabi-flavoured peanuts to heal the world.
ENGAGEMENT REPORTER AND NEWS INNOVATION FELLOW
DUPE
BADEJO
Toronto by nature. Nigerian by design. Willowdale-bred. Graduate of Humber and George Brown College. Sharing the mic with the voiceless, and discovering different ways of life, one day at a time.
ALOYSIUS
WONG
Currently a Master of Journalism student at Toronto Metropolitan University. Grew up on stories and games in the heart of downtown Toronto. Shoots photos and plays music.
SHAKI
SUTHARSAN
Toronto native and Tamil-Canadian who's currently studying journalism and public relations at Toronto Metropolitan University. Writer and avid consumer of fiction. Boyband loyalist.
MERAL
JAMAL
Graduate of Carleton University's School of Journalism. Competitive at karaoke, terrible at puns. Grew up in a noisy joint family of 20.
YUTANG
SONG
Born in China, and became a Torontonian three years ago. Now pursuing journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University. Enjoys using different mindsets to think about world issues.
STEVEN
ZHOU
An investigative journalist, producer and editor based in City Place focusing on extremism, politics and Islamophobia.
APARITA
BHANDARI
Grew up in New Delhi before moving to Toronto to study English lit at U of T. Now lives near Yonge and Finch. Tells print and audio stories, while trying to resist Toblerone bars.
SHIREEN
AHMED
Multiplatform sports journalist. Instructor at Toronto Metropolitan University. Loves sports, but doesn't love the systems of oppression that surround them. Proud resident of Mississauga. Adores cats. Drinks coffee as a tool of resistance.
HUDA
HASSAN
Writer from Scarborough, Black feminist cultural studies scholar and eldest daughter. Currently examining the connections between art, place-making and power.
SENNA
GILL
Plant-based, animal-loving Centennial College journalism student who hopes to bring more light into this dark post-pandemic world. Currently based in Midtown with roots in Vaughan.
AMANDA
JAMES
Indian student living in Old East York and pursuing a journalism post-grad at Centennial College. In absolute dismay that Tim Hortons hasn’t been a part of her life until now.
FORMER REPORTER AND NEWS INNOVATION FELLOW
KAYLA
ZHU
Vancouver native, Toronto Metropolitan University journalism graduate and long-time K-pop fan. Enjoys climbing mountains, learning about data visualization and throwing frisbees.
GARY-JOSEPH
PANGANIBAN
Montreal native and Toronto Metropolitan University School of Journalism graduate. Lives and dies by the Montreal Canadiens. Currently covering esports as a way to justify nightly gaming.
STEPHANIE
BAI
Graduate of the University of Toronto who writes about cultural and social intersections. Spare time is mostly spent eating, folding or thinking about dumplings.
GIAO
CHAU
Torontonian based near Yonge and Eglinton. Cat lover and avid home cook who explores food through the lens of migration, history and culture.
FORMER ENGAGEMENT REPORTER AND NEWS INNOVATION FELLOW
ARSHEEN
SHAMAILA
First-generation Pakistani-Canadian and University of Toronto alumni. Obsessed with fashion and hip-hop. Heart of a poet, soul of an activist.
KATHRYN
MANNIE
University of Toronto grad who’s worked for The Globe and Mail and The Varsity. Loves all things cooking, chess and the Chinese diaspora.
DAVID
LOCHEAD
Toronto Raptors fan, reporter and Carleton journalism grad. Passionate about building a media ecosystem that better represents society.
RAWAN
YAGHI
Data-driven engagement journalist who’s crazy about digital strategy and data insights. Oxford University and CUNY graduate. Loves fiction, music and art in all their aspects.
WHO WE ARE
A person’s values reveal so much about
their character, so in that spirit, here’s
what we stand for.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
I created The Green Line for kid Anita, that born-and-bred Scarborough girl who grew up near McCowan and Finch feeling disconnected from the rest of Toronto, but who also had a lot of pride in who she was and where she came from. Growing up, I often made the long trek downtown — the symbolic centre of Toronto — by taking the 129 bus near my childhood home to the RT, before transferring to Kennedy and heading west on the green line for school, work and play.
There are a lot of kids like that across this city. Some of them come from Rexdale, others from Willowdale. But all of us share the same deep connection to the places that shaped who we are today.
And who are we today? Gen Zs. Millennials. Underserved Torontonians. In other words, the driving force behind Toronto’s culture and sense of community. So, now is the time to pay it forward by taking action on the issues that matter to us and our people.
Join The Green Line movement. Help us redefine Toronto through the way we live and the stories we tell.
ANITA LI
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
The Green Line
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