The Green Line

Founder: Anita Li

After working in journalism for two decades, with multi-platform experience at both legacy Canadian institutions and digital American publications, EIC Anita noticed that news media often failed to accurately reflect many communities they claim to serve, especially underrepresented ones. So, she set out to create a more self-aware, inclusive, equitable and community-driven local outlet in Toronto that focuses on much-needed solutions in its reporting. In 2020, The Green Line began as just a germ of an idea.

Locals know that “the green line” refers to Line 2 Bloor–Danforth on the TTC, which travels from Kennedy Station in the east to Kipling Station in the west. For many Torontonians, including members of our team, it’s their only way to feel connected to the rest of the city. That’s why the name, The Green Line, felt right — it symbolizes real, everyday people in Toronto. The Green Line soft-launched in October 2021 on Instagram and TikTok, which feature community-driven articles tailored to those platforms. In April 2022, we officially launched TheGreenLine.TO, where we debuted our Action Journey, an original theory-of-change model that encourages Torontonians to create positive social change in their communities after consuming our journalism.

By embracing ethical and innovative approaches to journalism, our hope is that we can create a trusted hyperlocal news outlet that will serve Torontonians and cover the city as our communities see it for decades to come. Perhaps one day, The Green Line will pop up in other rapidly changing cities across Canada, producing forward-thinking journalism that helps community members there survive and thrive on their own terms.