Elska Toronto: world class at last

16 - Aug 2021 -

Toronto has, for decades and as long as I can remember, had an inferiority complex expressed as a desire to be a 'world-class city.' That longing is usually expressed by politicians as a need for more shopping malls, subways and a Ferris wheel on the waterfront; by foodies as a need for pricier and more eclectic restaurants; by musicians as a need for more venues and marketing; by tourism boards and BIAs as a need for more festivals and nightlife; by gay men as a need for more meat.

Living within a city it is easy to let hometown pride turn to focussing on the inevitable problems with urban life. There is a tendency to fantasize of how glorious other cities must be with their cultural institutions, scenery, art scenes and men. Chief photographer and editor of Elska, Liam Campbell, turns those fantasies into bulletins from the front, travelling to Istanbul, Taipei, Cardiff, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Stockholm, and many other destinations, to take "honest and intimate photographs of a cross section of local LGBTQ men." In 2016, he travelled to Toronto.

When the pandemic hit, travel plans and intimacy went out the window and Campbell, unable to create a new issue of Elska, decided to reprint an issue that was sold out (many are but can still be ordered in an e-format) but for which there was pent-up demand. "Earlier this year we asked our readers to choose one past edition to bring back,"  says Campbell, "and Toronto was the winner. I don’t feel that the issue got enough attention the first time. When we first released it I thought of it like an exemplar Elska, with the perfect blend of bold photography, thoughtful storytelling, and diversity. But perhaps people didn’t find the idea of Canada exciting enough, and sales were low. But the fact that Toronto won our vote suggests that interest has at last arrived and that maybe people are ready to give Toronto the attention it deserves as a great and compelling city.” Inferiority complex no more.

It is always fascinating to have a visitor's insight on one's hometown. Campbell says Toronto is "a city famed for its dynamism, its multiculturalism, and for its oh so friendly people. It's also one of the most hard to fathom cities - the architecture is all over the place, the neighbourhoods all feel disparate, and the whole place is vast, but somehow the mix just works, paralleling the fabulous diversity of its population." 

Campbell photographed "a dozen Toronto boys who represent the city's diverse make-up - all different backgrounds, body types, and ages ranging from 20 to 73. You'll get to know them through Elska's honest brand of photography as well as through personal storytelling - each lad gets his own chapter including their self-penned story so you can get to know them even more. Some of the story highlights include: Richard W's recollection of marching naked during Pride; Daniel C’s internal monologue over which one of his two great loves he’d want to invite back into his life if he could; Tate S's piece on those little micro-moments of recognition that confirmed his gender more than any surgery could do alone; Milan C's touching tale of losing a keepsake that was so meaningful to him but seemed meaningless to others; and Adam Z's text that wonders, “Why am I an animal?!”

Browsing the photographs Elska provided, I recognized two men who have been profiled and interviewed here, as well as a writer whose work I admire. The others all seem like men that would also be interesting to get to know. Sometimes world-class fantasies can be found right next door.