Toronto becomes the centre of the universe (again) this June. Paul Wells brings his Road Show to the reborn Hugh’s Room on Broadview Avenue on Saturday, June 20, three months after his sold-out Vancouver show. Canada’s biggest political Substack lands in Canada’s biggest city for an evening built around a single thread, Toronto itself.
Wells started staging these live events in 2023 as a way to thank subscribers and bring his audiences together, political junkies, music fans, and people who’d rather listen than shout. Every Ottawa Holiday Show and the first Vancouver Road Show has sold out. With Hugh’s Room holding a modest 200, tickets should move fast.
The night pulls together politics, media, and the arts. Wells sits down with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow to talk about the challenges facing the city, followed by a panel featuring Mark Carney’s former chief of staff Marco Mendicino, former top Conservative staffer Jason Lietaer, and Toronto Star editor-in-chief Nicole MacIntyre.
The arts side runs pretty wide, too. Wells talks with playwright Michael Healey, whose plays ‘Rogers v. Rogers’ and ‘The Master Plan’ ran at nearby Crow’s Theatre. Rapper Cadence Weapon appears fresh off his new album ‘Forager’ and a new book, ‘Ways of Listening’, published under his given name Rollie Pemberton. Wells also introduces Milton singer-songwriter Gavin McLeod, a young talent worth watching.
Cameco serves as Presenting Sponsor for the evening. It’s a relaxed community hall with a glorious history, and the kind of room where a city gets to talk about itself.
Show Details:
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
Doors: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Venue: Hugh’s Room, 296 Broadview Ave, Toronto
Tickets are on sale now, $60 in advance and $67 at the door