Elbows up at Toronto's new Canadiana-themed bar in Toronto

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Elbows up, Canada.

And we mean that in the most fun way possible – with a cold pint of beer.

Opening on April 11 at 736 Queen St. W. west of Bathurst St. in Toronto, Grizzly Bar is taking all things Canadian to the next level.

Featuring a menu of (mostly) Canadian foods, Canadian beer, and themed cocktails for each of the provinces, there will be plenty of opportunities to indulge in all your favourite Canuck delights.

Owners Jason Kapalka and his wife, Jessica Langer Kapalka, are no strangers to the themed-bar realm (the space has been used for Halloween and beach-themed bars in previous incarnations). Now is the perfect time to feature all things Canadian, as patriotism soars amid insults and tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

“We wanted people to have a place to come together and really celebrate all the things that make Canada great and make Canada strong,” explained Langer Kapalka of the concept’s inception.

Kapalka, a former video game guru of Bejeweled fame, added, “I’ve always liked seeing the most ridiculous Canadian bars when you go overseas somewhere … like in China where there was a Canadian bar with all poutine.

“Those are kind of funny because they’re a bit over the top. And never seem to make sense to actually have one of those in Canada … but it did seem like the current environment made that kind of more of a thing I think people could could get behind and even embrace — even if it’s a little bit over the top and it’s sort of silly.”

Speaking of poutine, there will be plenty of that on the menu – made from Canadian ingredients, and some featuring small Canadian companies, like one from Collingwood that supplies dairy-free cheese curds for the vegan poutine.

As for beverages being offered, a Canadian mainstay, Moosehead, will be on tap, as well as a “bourbon-style” whisky from Felix Spirits. The bar also hopes to bring in Twin City beer from Vancouver, one of Kapalka’s other ventures.

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Billed as an “immersive experience,” the bar will also feature a quiz to test your Canadian knowledge (spoiler alert: the prize is maple syrup), and a partnership with Second City, to bring Canadian comedians to the stage.

Grizzly Bar also plans to play nothing but Canadian content on the speakers.

“We have DJs spinning Canadian music and we’ve got a little stage and a setup for live music. So, we are really looking forward to being a venue for Canadian performers, whether that’s music or comedy or anything else,” Langer Kapalka said.

She added an event called the Hoser Olympics is also in the works, with events like “hockey tape escape — where participants have to escape after being bound with tape —  a looney toss, and a Timbit tower-building challenge.

And last, but not least, the Great Canadian Apology Contest, where contestants “will be given progressively more difficult situations to apologize for.”

While the biggest contest in Canada on the horizon is the April 28 federal election, the Kapalkas stressed Grizzly Bar is patriotic, not political. “We consider it patriotic and not nationalist. We’re not endorsing any candidate.”

With the taps ready to flow, the bar will be ready to embrace everyone who loves Canada – whether Canadian or not.

“We would love for Americans who support Canada and Canadian sovereignty to come and spend their dollars in Toronto and come and discover why Canadian beer is so much better than American beer,” Langer Kapalka added with a laugh. “Grizzly Bar is for anybody who loves Canada and supports Canada, whether you’re a Canadian citizen or not.”

While you’re dusting off your Keswick dinner jacket for a night on the town, don’t forget to check the pockets for any old paper Canadian Tire money kicking around, as the bar will be accepting (in exact change only) Canadian Tire money at par for your bar tab.

“We can’t give change in Canadian dollars for Canadian Tire money. We could probably give change in Canadian Tire dollars if we have it,” Langer Kapalka said.

Check your glove compartment, just in case.

laura.nelles@sunmedia.ca
Twitter: @shantoranelles