The Ontario Bread Co. has been making bread off an alleyway near Dundas and Ossington for more than eighty years but it wasn't until this past March that many Torontonians heard of it for the first time. That was when three workers at the bakery split $50 million in a Lotto Max draw. I have to admit I was among the blissfully unaware. I used to live two blocks away from this place and often stopped in at I Deal Coffee just around the corner. I had no idea that mere steps away fresh loaves of Polish bread were being baked and bagged through the wee hours of the night.

Alas, the story of the Ontario Bread Co. will take another turn this time next year when it relocates to an industrial area in Mississauga and hands over the building to local design firm RAW. They'd like to transform the laneway-bounded plot into townhomes but are having trouble getting their plans approved by the City. Nevertheless, they took over the bread factory last night to host their annual party (Raw Rising) and provide attendees the opportunity to tour the facilities and think about what might become of the historic site.

Booze, oysters, charcuterie and ceviche shooters were on the menu while loaves of bread were plastered to walls and pillars everywhere just in case anyone needed a little reminding where they happened to be.

Photos by Tony Chen.