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Alexandros Varoutas

Journalist and Photographer

Based in Toronto, Canada

About Alex

Alex Varoutas is a Toronto-based journalist and photographer. He has written for publications like Maclean's, Toronto Observer, Beach Metro News and, most recently, The Green Line.

Having grown up a first-generation Canadian in Scarborough, he's always been fascinated with the diverse experiences of the people that make his community unique. He often explores these subjects using humour that draws from personal experiences.

Alex spent the first half of his twenties cooking professionally so his passion for people is often linked to food, and, more specifically, where the two intersect.

When he isn't working he can be found exploring new grocery stores in the city and buying ingredients that are well beyond his comprehension. 

Writing

Next Gen Men •

Height Discrimination and Gender Bias: Unveiling the Impact on Social and Professional Lives —

“Men under six feet need not apply.”

As someone over six feet tall, you would think I wouldn’t have an issue seeing this every time I go onto a dating app. But as someone who doesn’t have luxurious travel photos, a prestigious job, and who is terrified at the idea of posing for a shirtless photo, I feel like we all lose when we pin someone's value on a single characteristic or trait.

When I say we all lose, I mean the people that are discriminating, too.

Consider online dating. According to a
Beach Metro Community News •

Franchise operator of Mamma's Pizza in the Beach in dispute with new owners of company – Beach Metro Community News

After 17 years, the longest running franchise owner in the Mamma’s Pizza chain found himself locked out of his own store.

On June 29, when Ajmala Anwari, or Ozzy as he’s known to the community, arrived at his Mama’s Pizza on 2118 Queen St. E., he found the locks had all been changed overnight.

Leading up to this has been a two-year dispute over the new franchise agreement for the business.

When Anwari’s agreement was up for renewal in April of 2019, he was surprised to see that not only did h
Beach Metro Community News •

Cold weather not a problem for Lake Ontario swimmer Christopher Hope –

The sun had just come up and it was a balmy two degrees Celsius when Christopher Hope, 82, exited his house in a bathrobe and a swim cap and made his way down to the beach.

Hope, a Beach resident for more than 12 years, discovered the activity through friends at the Toronto WindSurfing Club. Never one to back down from a challenge, he decided to adopt the practice on a daily basis, no matter the weather.

“I get out of bed, I make my bed, I get into my swimsuit, put on my swimming shoes, and wa
The Toronto Observer •

Ontario teachers are 'silently suffering' four months into the school year

This time last year, Cecilia C was walking a picket line over issues like wages, class sizes and mandatory online courses. Now, the Toronto teacher just wants some consistency as COVID-19 keeps Ontario teachers on their toes and pushes the provincial education system to its limits.


Cecilia, who asked that her last name and the school where she teaches be withheld, has been teaching in-person since September. She had to abruptly begin adapting to the new protocols of her job.


“I think I’v
Beach Metro Community News •

Federal Election 2021: Julie Dabrusin wins third term for Liberals in Toronto-Danforth –

Liberal incumbent MP Julie Dabrusin is ready to roll up her sleeves and get back to work after winning her third term in the Toronto-Danforth riding.

With 103 of 119 polls reporting, Dabrusin had 13,750 votes (for 47.5 per cent of the vote).

The NDP candidate, Clare Hacksel, received 9,499 votes (for 32.8 per cent of the vote) putting her in second place.

In third place was Michael Carey, the Conservative candidate, with 3,939 votes (for 13.6 per cent of the vote).

Other candidates that ran
Beach Metro Community News •

East Toronto Health Partners adjust COVID-19 vaccine strategy to deal with community's changing needs –

East Toronto Health Partners, a coalition of more than 50 community, primary care, home care, hospital and social services organizations, has been adapting its mobile COVID-19 vaccine strategy to keep up with the changing needs of the community.

Since the strategy was implemented in December 2020, the team has visited more than 170 locations including parks, plazas, and schools.

In addition to the already existing plan, ETHP has added COVID Outreach Centres, Workplace Vaccinations, Door-to-Doo
The Toronto Observer •

For roller skating and skateboarding coaches, the hardest trick is staying in business

In the last 100 years, few global events have caused the level of disruption we’re currently seeing in the world of sports.

From the Olympic Games to the NBA, major professional sports franchises around the world were brought to an abrupt halt as organizers scramble to minimize the financial fallout and reshuffle calendars to accommodate wave after wave of shutdowns, lockdowns, and restrictions.

For skateboarding coach Trint Thomas, though, reshuffling calendars isn’t an option. He needs to ea
Macleans.ca •

They Were Loved: Honouring Canada's COVID-19 victims

The magnitude of COVID-19's impact on Canadians' lives is difficult to fathom. Canada has already lost more than 20,000 people to the pandemic, with the number ticking steadily upwards; each of those losses has cascaded through families and communities, leaving many more thousands bereaved. Public health guidance around social distancing has resulted in restrictions around traditional mourning customs and rituals—heart-wrenchingly, many were unable even to say goodbye.

They Were Loved is an obi
The Toronto Observer •

As the pandemic pushes food insecurity to new heights in Scarborough, one woman is pushing back

By 1:55 p.m. the lineup outside a new unnamed, unassuming food bank in a Scarborough apartment building has stretched all the way down the hall, with patrons evenly spaced the entire way. One by one, the volunteer standing at the door waves them in, sprays their hands with sanitizer, and directs them to one of the two tables with groceries at either end of the room. At the tables are more volunteers who carefully layer the items in buggies and bags for those in need.

Even without the extra safe
Beach Metro Community News •

Stitched Glass documentary by East York filmmakers included in Montreal film festival –

As filmmakers, Ian Daffern and Omar Majeed are always looking for a story that would translate well to the big screen. Some of the criteria might be a distinct visual element, a local main character, and perhaps some sort of spiritual dilemma tying it all together.

Naturally, then, when they came across Kirk Dunn, an East York resident who had spent 15 years knitting three 12-foot tall tapestries portraying Christian, Muslim, and Judaic iconology, they felt they might be on to something.

Daffe

Photography

Videography

Recording and editing done by Alexandros Varoutas.