What 4 a.m. means for Muslims in Toronto
Toronto resident Sameer Syed, 23, pulls himself out of bed every night at 3:30 a.m. with the help of an alarm and makes his way to Baitul’ Afiyat Masjid, a small mosque on Old Kingston Road.
Toronto at 4
Getting closer to God in the twilight hours
The call to prayer echoes within the high ceilings of Jami Mosque just east of High Park in Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighbourhood. Birds begin chirping outside what was once a Presbyterian church and converted in 1969…
Night shift at Circle K is convenient for student
Gurpreet Sodhi, an international student, spends several nights working the counter at Circle K convenience store to help pay off his tuition
Techno-heads dance late into the night
At 4 a.m. in Toronto, Kollective’s late-night techno show is still going strong. People are sweating, forcing themselves to keep dancing. Others are calling for their rides and stumbling out of the venue.
Overnight shelter offers a roof, a bed and some compassion
Jeff Ndombi, the overnight manager of Warden Woods Community 24-Hour Respite Site in Scarborough, never planned on running a homeless shelter. But now he’s awake many night at 4 a.m. helping clients. He says it’s a time for damage control and therapy.
Like the futures market, this trader doesn’t sleep
Eric Bradshaw is a 21-year-old Toronto trader who has been riding the rollercoaster of international exchanges for three years.
Toronto midwife can get the call at any hour
Jyothy Nair’s work schedule isn’t like most Torontonians: once every three weeks, she’s on call for every hour of every day of that week.
Homeless and in a wheelchair, Toni Corrado navigates Toronto’s drop-in shelters
At 4 a.m., the lights are dim as soft snores and whispers travel the floor of Sistering’s 24-hour drop-in centre.
Immigrant father sacrifices high-profile career for daughters
Mahbubul Islam is working the night shift. He is awake so others can sleep.
Late-night gaming habits take toll on student
All-nighters have become a staple of university life, whether it be to catch up on late assignments or to socialize with friends. For Tom Hui, overnights are for video games.