Gonez Media has announced plans to go national, unveiling an expansion of the Now Toronto brand with the upcoming launch of Now Canada and Now Vancouver.
Gonez Media Founder and CEO Brandon Gonez acquired Now Toronto in 2023, reimagining the legacy publication as digital-first format, nowtoronto.com, prioritizing short-form video and social presence, aimed at connecting with younger audiences.
The company says the expansion comes following a “breakout year” for Now Toronto in which the platform averaged more than 40 million monthly video views, increased website readership by 65%, and grew its TikTok audience to nearly 400,000 followers.
“What we have proven in Toronto is that audiences are looking for media that feels relevant, local, and authentic,” said Gonez, in a company announcement. “Now Canada and Now Vancouver allow us to take that model nationwide, creating new opportunities, amplifying Canadian voices, and telling our stories on a much larger scale.”
Gonez, formerly an anchor and reporter at Toronto’s CP24 and CTV Your Morning co-host, left Bell Media in 2021 to launch his own news and entertainment channel on YouTube. He announced the forthcoming expansion at the company’s five-year anniversary celebration.
Now Canada, Now Vancouver to launch this summer
National platform, Now Canada, is set to launch this summer, featuring “stories, trends, and cultural moments shaping communities across the country,” while Now Vancouver promises dedicated coverage of “culture, food, entertainment, business, and local voices.”
“Vancouver was selected as the first expansion market because of its dynamic cultural landscape and strong creative community, aligning with Gonez Media’s mission to support Canadian creators, artists, and storytellers across the country,” the company said in its announcement. “The expansion also reflects increasing demand from advertisers and brand partners who want to connect with engaged Canadian audiences in more meaningful ways.”
“We are seeing strong interest from brands that want to collaborate with platforms that truly understand Canadian culture,” added Kristal Shankaran, Head of Partnerships. “This expansion allows us to meet that demand while remaining proudly Canadian owned and focused on authentic audience engagement.”
Gonez Media said the expansion will result in the creation of new roles across editorial, production, partnerships, and creative, at a time when many media outlets are scaling back resources.
“Canadian stories deserve strong Canadian platforms,” said Gonez. “We are building something ambitious, independent, and designed for the future.”
