Bachelor in Parkdale

Meet Local Resident Adventurer Ben Mazor

Introducing Ben Mazor: local resident, weekend adventurer, and bachelor | Jacob Ulickij

While the inherent value of Parkdale and Alberta as a whole brings new faces to our streets, it cannot be said that everyone takes advantage of our nature and recreation equally. For Ben Mazor — a Toronto transplant — the wilds of Alberta called, and he answered readily.

Meeting Mazor gives the immediate impression of a man built to craft things. Between career hopping through accounting, data management, aviation, and tourism, he picked up a few interests that are uniquely tailored to Alberta’s climate of self-starters, adventure-seekers, and tech opportunities. His hands typed invisible patterns as we spoke about his journey, no doubt coding or tying the life-saving knots that his rock climbing hobbies demand. From his 114 Avenue condominium, Mazor has been taking time to reflect on just how grateful he is to have moved out West.

“What shocked me the most about Alberta is everyone’s dedication to lifestyle and culture,” Mazor said. As evidence, he pointed out the numerous galleries that dot the foothills and mountain towns he frequents. With only a couple of years in Edmonton under his belt, he effortlessly listed bars, cafes, and hobby shops that even locals overlook. “This sort of commitment to culture wouldn’t exist in Toronto. It couldn’t. In fact, it almost couldn’t exist anywhere but in Edmonton.”

Mazor went on to paint a picture that many Albertan transplants know well: a life spent monetizing hobbies, strategically choosing friends, and fighting to stay afloat.

“Back home, it’s almost like finding a third job becomes your hobby.” Out here in Parkdale, life couldn’t look more different than the rat race he had come to expect of city life. Within a year, Mazor found a welcoming community of indoor climbers, plentiful job opportunities, and weekly access to the Rocky Mountains. 

Where he once knew congestion and busy streets, he now knows weekly bikes to the airport and back. Where there were overpriced coffees and too-trendy bars, he now finds luxury products at everyday prices — a testament to Alberta’s unique climate for self-starters who have built businesses on the grounds of shared passions for elevated dining.

Parkdale in particular was a lucky find for Mazor. As a man with more hobbies than most, the affordable and spacious condominiums allowed him to break into new niches and practice at home. Chin-up bars double as rock climbing anchors, and built-in heating and cooling systems mean he can thrive in any climate our province throws at him — fitting, as he cracked up sharing a story of how -41 C winds once turned his winter climbing gear into a wearable sheet of stubborn ice.

Have there been downsides? Yes, but you might be able to help. When it comes to dating, Ben has found it hard to share every facet of his life through the scant pixels a dating app offers. If you or someone you know is looking for a date with Parkdale’s newest bachelor, get in touch. Thirty is looking great on this local explorer who has more stories than our streets have lilac trees.

In the wild, you’ll find Ben scaling the walls of Boulders Climbing, sipping wine at 82nd Sports Pub, or scouring outdoor shops for deals on his latest outdoor fixation. Don’t be afraid to say hi — there’s much more than meets the eye of many new faces on the Avenue. If you're interested in learning more about him, email him at cadets.ben@gmail.com.