culture A Trip to the Islands With The Urbane Explorer

Amidst the crushing weight of winter, a charming short film reminds us of the possibilities for fun.

“In the winter, people like to stay inside because they can control the temperature and stay cozy,” muses comedian (and former Torontoist contributor) Jeremy Woodcock as the Urbane Explorer on a winter visit to Toronto Island—his first-ever visit to the popular summertime destination. “That means there’s a little more room for me to explore!”

Directed by Cameron Wyllie and written by/starring Woodcock, the January 2014 video is part of a series that was first brought to local attention with “Finding Bessarion,” which featured a quest to that funny Sheppard-line station that nobody seems to actually go to. Partly a tongue-in-cheek semi-satire of heart-on-sleeve local urbanists, the short films are also just genuine explorations of the nooks and crannies of the GTA. And the wintertime island visit is genuinely delightful.

We’re revisiting this video because it captures exactly the attitude of seasonal optimism this frostbitten city needs right now. Did we mention, brr? Brr.

The Urbane Explorer can be found on the John Gape YouTube channel.