GLASS ACT

A couple trade Toronto condo life for a sun-powered hideaway in farm country

- Isabel B. Slone

AFTER SIX YEARS in their compact, 701-square-foot one-bedroom condo in downtown Toronto, Sportsnet hockey reporter Shawn McKenzie and social media creator Sydney Hoffman were squeezed for space. "I didn't want to take two steps and be in my bedroom anymore," says McKenzie. In 2021, the couple rented a house in Collingwood, Ontario, for a month, and the expansive space and tranquil surroundings were a revelation. "Whenever we sat out to watch the sunset, it was so quiet that we could hear the birds chirping," says Hoffman.

"It was very calming." They were ready to leave condo life behind.

After crunching the numbers, they realized their budget could stretch far enough to buy a piece of land outside Toronto and commission an architect to build their dream home. The couple bought land in Caledon, a farming region just northwest of the city, close to conservation areas and hiking trails. They fell in love with the first property they viewed-a nearly two-acre lot surrounded by trees-and purchased it with a handshake agreement.