Some people learn about a city. Others live it. John Gerges does both. As one of Toronto’s most recognised walking tour guides, he has built a career by transforming ordinary streets into moving stories. His tours feel less like scheduled events and more like guided adventures through the city’s energy, art and hidden corners.
“Toronto never sits still, so my tours can’t either,” he likes to say. His approach has helped him stand out in a crowded tourism market, especially in neighbourhoods like Queen West, Kensington Market and Graffiti Alley, where culture moves fast and the art changes overnight.
Early Curiosity That Shaped a Career
John grew up in midtown Toronto where he spent hours exploring murals, sketching buildings and learning the stories behind neighbourhood landmarks. He was the kind of teenager who noticed new posters on lampposts before anyone else. His early love for urban culture eventually guided him toward studying Communications and City Studies at the University of Toronto.
He often reflects on this time. “I realised early on that cities tell stories, and someone has to help people hear them,” he says. While studying, he worked part-time at a small Queen West art studio. This job exposed him to local artists and the tight-knit creative scene that would later shape his tours.
After graduating, John completed a Tourism and Hospitality Management certificate at George Brown College, where professors joked that he knew downtown Toronto better than they did.
How He Built a Unique Career in Toronto Tourism
John Gerges did not set out to become a tour guide. He worked in event coordination and later at a media company creating short videos about city culture. Friends encouraged him to share his deep knowledge of Toronto in a bigger way. In 2016, he finally listened and launched his own walking tour brand.
What made his tours different? They weren’t scripted. They were personal.
Instead of covering only well-known attractions, he led people through laneway murals, community gardens, vintage shops, and pop-up art installations. He showed people the parts of Toronto that rarely make travel brochures.
“My goal is to take people somewhere they wouldn’t find on their own,” he explains.
Word spread fast. Tourists appreciated the authenticity. Locals appreciated seeing their neighbourhood through fresh eyes. Many reviews say the same thing: John Gerges makes you feel like a friend is showing you around.
His Graffiti Alley tour quickly became his signature offering. He highlights famous murals but also points out pieces that may appear and disappear within days. “The tour changes every week. That’s what makes it fun,” he says.
A Style Built on Spontaneity and Connection
John’s tours have a unique rhythm. He remembers names. He stops to chat with business owners. He reroutes the tour if he sees live music, a new mural or a food stall worth visiting. He treats Toronto as an open studio, and his guests follow along as co-creators.
His family often becomes part of the narrative. He jokes about how his brother once got lost in Kensington Market despite growing up next to it. These small stories add warmth and make every tour feel personal.
People know him for making strangers feel at home. “If someone joins a tour alone, my job is to make sure they don’t feel alone for long,” he says.
Life Beyond the Tours
When John is not working, he stays deeply involved in Toronto’s cultural scene. He lives in a loft near Ossington, surrounded by photography books, film cameras and Toronto memorabilia.
He starts many mornings doing street photography before the city wakes up. He also spends weekends exploring new restaurants and hidden food spots. “Half my tour stops come from wandering and eating,” he laughs.
His other hobbies include:
Cycling the Waterfront Trail
Repairing vintage cameras
Playing rec hockey and summer softball
Hosting Sunday dinners with friends and family
These activities keep him grounded and help him connect with the communities he serves.
A Vision for the Future of Toronto Storytelling
John is currently working on a photo-driven book documenting Toronto’s laneways and the artists who shape them. The project mixes his love for street photography with his desire to preserve local culture.
He is also developing a night tour series featuring glowing murals, neon signs and the atmosphere of Toronto after dark. “The city feels completely different at night. It deserves its own story,” he says.
For John, guiding isn’t just a job. It is a way of honouring the city that shaped him. He views Toronto as a canvas that is constantly changing, and he sees his role as helping others understand what makes it special.
“Every neighbourhood has a heartbeat. You just need to slow down long enough to hear it,” he says.
Read more:
How John Gerges Turned Toronto Into His Storytelling Stage
