John Barber is city columnist for The Globe and Mail in Toronto, writing Tuesday through Friday on public life in Canada’s largest city. A sixth-generation Torontonian with a longstanding interest in urban affairs, he provides local reporting and commentary that strives for the same high quality readers expect from The Globe’s national and international bureaus.
John’s Toronto column has appeared regularly during most of the decade he has spent with The Globe, although during that time he has also reported a wide range of stories on subjects ranging from economic theory to furniture design. He appears regularly on radio and television, commenting on local affairs and urban policy matters in general.
Like many other Torontonians of his generation, John was drawn to urban affairs by the successes of the 1970s, when the city enjoyed one of the most innovative governments in Canada. His political involvement began and ended with a job erecting lawn signs for John Sewell’s successful mayoralty campaign in 1978, but he has always been active as a local journalist.
John was educated at Trent University where he met his wife, Cathrin Bradbury, now a senior editor at The Globe and Mail. They have two young children, Kelly James and Mary Shannon. The family lives on the same street in downtown Toronto where John’s great grandparents bought their first house in 1880.
Old Don jailhouse set to rock with tourists and revellers
Guided tours and corporate events will likely make the Old Don Jail one of the hottest tickets in town this summer
Does Build Toronto know what it's in for?
Municipal body meant to run like a business - and councillors hate it
