The 35-year-old Vancouver fan wasn’t bluffing. Having already travelled to Las Vegas to see her teenybopper crushes, she's now preparing to fly across the country for two Toronto concerts, spending roughly $600 on tickets alone.
And she's hardly the only millennial willing to pay a tidy sum to party like it’s 1999.
Nearly three decades after their commercial peak, the Backstreet Boys have booked a staggering 12 shows at Toronto’s Rogers Centre in 2027, citing “overwhelming demand.” The run doubles the venue’s previous record of six shows, set by Taylor Swift during her Eras Tour in 2024.
While some current major artists are cancelling tours amid sluggish ticket sales, the once-baggy-jeaned quintet is proving nostalgia is a hell of a drug.
“I haven’t seen a Top 40 artist in so many years,” says Smith, a self-described “Y2K-era girlie” who made two trips to the Backstreet Boys’ Las Vegas Sphere residency last year.
She suspects millennials are seeking comfort in the past.
“I feel like during COVID we all retreated back to our nostalgia,” says the customer support professional.
“Times are tough. You're going back to when it was simpler and just living in that moment.”
WHEN QUEEN STREET WENT BACKSTREET
Bill Welychka remembers when the Backstreet Boys could bring downtown Toronto to a standstill.
At the height of the boy-band craze in the late '90s, the former MuchMusic VJ watched thousands of screaming teenagers descend on the channel's Queen Street West headquarters, hoping to glimpse the five American heartthrobs.
“There were certain bands where we knew we'd have to hire security, where we would have to close the street down. The Backstreet Boys were certainly one of those bands,” he recalls.
“I think they fed off of that energy and the applause and the screams and the tears.”
The Toronto residency is dubbed “Into the Millennium — Homecoming: Live in Canada,” fittingly so: Canada was the first North American market to embrace the group.
Welychka remembers the frenzy spreading from Europe to Quebec, then across Canada, with MuchMusic putting their videos into heavy rotation.
Members of the Backstreet Boys from left, Kevin Richardson, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough talk to media at a press conference in Toronto on May 21, 1999. (CP PHOTO/Rene Johnston)
“We latched on to them very, very early on,” he says.
But the boy-band bubble eventually burst. As tastes shifted in the 2000s, the Backstreet Boys faded from the charts, trading stadium-scale hysteria for more theatres and casinos.
Now, with their original fans approaching middle age, Welychka reckons they're yearning for a time when their biggest responsibility was keeping a Tamagotchi alive.
“It's a different day and age now. It's a lot more frustrating,” says Welychka, citing unemployment and the cost-of-living crisis.
“A lot of people want to get those feelings back you once had. If you're a 45-year-old woman and screaming and crying, nothing wrong with that.”
SAME CRUSHES, BIGGER ALLOWANCES
Eleni Papamichelakis knows the feeling. The 39-year-old Durham Region mother drifted away from the Backstreet Boys as adulthood took over, only to rediscover her teenage obsession when she caught their Sphere residency last year. Now she's taking her 11-year-old daughter to see the group, just as she did at that age in 1998.
Part of the appeal is revisiting a pre-smartphone era, when having fun just required a CD and some friends to dance with.
“The world and, like, life has changed and it's become so digital and sometimes a little bit impersonal,” says the mortgage agent.
“We lived in such a fun era where we had to kind of entertain ourselves.”
Eleni Papamichelakis poses at a show during the Backstreet Boys' Las Vegas residency at the Sphere in this undated handout photo.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Eleni Papamichelakis (Mandatory Credit)
A grown-up bank account helps, though: “We have the money to go and see these concerts in a better seat than when we were younger.”
Not every artist is benefiting from that spending power.
The concert industry has been grappling with so-called “blue dot fever,” named for the unsold seats dotting Ticketmaster seating charts.
This year, Meghan Trainor scrapped her tour, Zayn Malik cancelled his U.S. dates and Post Malone scaled back his stadium run. Though the artists cited varying reasons, the cancellations have fuelled speculation about sluggish ticket sales.
The Backstreet Boys, meanwhile, are once again larger than life at the box office. Their Toronto residency could draw nearly half a million concertgoers, with tickets ranging from around $100 to well over $1,000 for VIP packages.
Nostalgia has always sold concert tickets. But Scott Henderson, a professor of popular culture at Trent University, says it's becoming an increasingly vital draw for major venues amid an uncertain touring market.
“It's kind of fuelling the industry in ways it never used to,” Henderson says. “That used to be a separate market, that nostalgia market. Now it's what big venues like the Rogers Centre are going to have to look for.”
Sentimental millennials, he says, now have deeper pockets and a willingness to splurge on premium tickets.
“That's your guaranteed audience."
For Vanessa Capozi, a 39-year-old Montreal-area mother of two, the Backstreet Boys offer something priceless: a break from adulthood.
“Life has taken over right now,” says the special education technician. “Rarely do people my age take time for themselves.”
But when her favourite boy band hits the stage, she gets to be 15 again.
“For those two hours, nothing else exists. I'm just there as me, that teenager, watching the Backstreet Boys.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026.
By Alex Nino Gheciu | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
That includes chocolate like Coffee Crisp, KitKat, Caramilk, Mars and Twix, candy like Twizzlers, Swedish Berries and Sour Patch Kids and chips like Ruffles.
Narcity went to all three stores, looked for similar products, checked prices and then compared costs.
So, here's what you need to know about the Halloween candy, chocolate and chips and which store has the cheapest products.
Coffee Crisp, KitKat, Aero and Smarties
Coffee Crisp, KitKat, Aero and Smarties at Costco. Centre: Coffee Crisp, KitKat, Aero and Smarties at Walmart. Right: Coffee Crisp, KitKat, Aero and Smarties at Loblaws.
All three stores have packs of Coffee Crisp, KitKat, Aero and Smarties chocolate, but Costco has full-sized bars, while Walmart and Loblaws have treat-sized bars.
It costs $21.99 for a 1.08-kilogram box of 24 full-sized bars at Costco, which works out to $2.03 per 100 grams and $0.91 per chocolate.
It costs $15.97 for a 977-gram box of 100 treat-sized bars at Walmart, which is $1.63 per 100 grams and $0.15 per chocolate.
It costs $24 for a 977-gram box of 100 treat-sized bars at Loblaws, which breaks down to $2.45 per 100 grams and $0.24 per chocolate.
Walmart is $0.40 cheaper per 100 grams than Costco and $0.82 cheaper per 100 grams than Loblaws for this product.
Caramilk, Dairy Milk Oreo and Twirl
Dairy Milk Oreo, Cadbury Toffee Crunch, Twirl and Caramilk at Costco. Centre: Dairy Milk Oreo, Caramilk, Wunderbar and Twirl at Walmart. Right: Dairy Milk Oreo, Caramilk, Wunderbar and Twirl at Loblaws.
These stores have the Cadbury treat-size bar variety pack with Caramilk, Dairy Milk Oreo and Twirl chocolate, but Costco includes Cadbury Toffee Crunch, while Walmart and Loblaws include Wunderbar.
It costs $17.99 for a 1.3-kilogram box with 120 chocolates at Costco, which breaks down to $1.38 per 100 grams and $0.14 per chocolate.
It costs $15.48 for a 993-gram box with 90 chocolates at Walmart, which works out to $1.55 per 100 grams and $0.17 per chocolate.
It costs $22 for a 993-gram box with 90 chocolates at Loblaws, which is $2.21 per 100 grams and $0.24 per chocolate.
Costco is $0.17 cheaper per 100 grams than Walmart and $0.83 cheaper per 100 grams than Loblaws for this product.
Ruffles chips
Ruffles chips at Walmart. Right: Ruffles chips at Loblaws.
Both Walmart and Loblaws have boxes of snack-sized Ruffles chips.
It costs $12.97 for a 640-gram box of Ruffles chips with 40 snack-sized bags at Walmart.
It costs $12.99 for a 640-gram box of Ruffles chips with 40 snack-sized bags at Loblaws.
Walmart is $0.02 cheaper than Loblaws for this product.
Mars, Twix, Snickers and peanut M&M's
Mars, Twix, Snickers and peanut M&M's at Costco. Right: Mars, Twix, Snickers and peanut M&M's at Walmart.
Both Costco and Walmart have the treat-sized Mars, Twix, Snickers and peanut M&M's chocolates for Halloween.
It costs $23.99 for a 1.48-kilogram box with 140 treat-sized chocolates at Costco, which works out to $1.62 per 100 grams and $0.17 per chocolate.
It costs $14.97 for a one-kilogram box with 95 treat-sized chocolates at Walmart, which breaks down to $1.49 per 100 grams and $0.15 per chocolate.
Walmart is $0.13 cheaper per 100 grams than Costco for this product.
Twizzlers
Twizzlers at Costco. Centre: Twizzlers and Jolly Rancher gummies at Walmart. Right: Twizzlers and Jolly Rancher gummies at Loblaws.
Each store has treat-sized Twizzlers, but the Costco pack has more flavour varieties, while the Walmart and Loblaws packs have Jolly Rancher gummies.
It costs $14.99 for a 1.3-kilogram bag with 109 pieces at Costco, which works out to $1.15 per 100 grams and $0.13 per piece.
It costs $12.97 for a 1.02-kilogram bag with 100 pieces at Walmart, which is $1.27 per 100 grams and $0.12 per piece.
It costs $20 for a 1.02-kilogram bag with 100 pieces at Loblaws, which breaks down to $1.96 per 100 grams and $0.20 per piece.
Costco is $0.12 cheaper per 100 grams than Walmart and $0.81 cheaper per 100 grams than Loblaws for this Halloween candy.
Reese's, Oh Henry, Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme and Whoppers
Reese's, Oh Henry, Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme and Whoppers at Walmart. Right: Reese's, Oh Henry, Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme and Whoppers at Loblaws.
Walmart and Loblaws have bags of Reese's Cups, Reese's Pieces, Oh Henry, Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme and Whoppers chocolate for Halloween.
It costs $12.97 for a 962-gram bag with 100 chocolates at Walmart.
It costs $20 for a 962-gram bag with 100 chocolates at Loblaws.
Walmart is $7.03 cheaper than Loblaws for this product!
Swedish Berries and Sour Patch Kids
Swedish Berries and Sour Patch Kids at Costco. Right: Swedish Berries, Sour Patch Kids, Fuzzy Peach and Swedish Fish at Loblaws.
Costco and Loblaws have Halloween candy boxes with Swedish Berries and Sour Patch Kids, but the Loblaws pack also has Fuzzy Peach and Swedish Fish.
It costs $23.99 for a 1.9-kilogram box with 150 pieces at Costco, which breaks down to $1.26 per 100 grams and $0.15 per piece.
It costs $19 for a 1.12-kilogram box with 90 pieces at Loblaws, which is $1.78 per 100 grams and $0.21 per piece.
Costco is $0.52 cheaper per 100 grams than Loblaws for this Halloween candy.
Cheetos
Cheetos at Walmart. Right: Cheetos at Loblaws.
Walmart and Loblaws have boxes of snack-sized Cheetos for Halloween.
It costs $12.97 for a 640-gram box with 40 snack-sized bags at Walmart.
It costs $12.99 for a 640-gram box with 40 snack-sized bags at Loblaws.
Walmart is $0.02 cheaper than Loblaws for this product.
WHICH STORE HAS THE CHEAPEST HALLOWEEN CANDY?
Now that we've compared prices for eight Halloween candy, chocolate and chips at Costco, Walmart and Loblaws, let's break down which store has the lowest prices.
Costco is the cheapest store for the box of Dairy Milk Oreo, Cadbury Toffee Crunch, Twirl and Caramilk, the bag of Twizzlers and the box of Swedish Berries and Sour Patch Kids.
Walmart is the cheapest store for the box of Coffee Crisp, KitKat, Aero and Smarties, the box of Ruffles, the box of Mars, Twix, Snickers and M&M's, the bag of Reese's, Oh Henry, Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme and Whoppers, and the box of Cheetos.
None of the Halloween candy, chocolate or chips at Loblaws that Narcity compared have the lowest prices.
READ NEXT: Costco has Kirkland Signature Halloween candy that's cheaper than name-brand items
Cintia revient sur le commentaire déplacé de Kevin à propos de son physique à OD
Après une semaine ayant mené à l'élimination de quatre candidats, le premier couple de femmes de l'histoire d'OD est maintenant hors de l'aventure. Lors d'une entrevue avec Narcity sur son expérience à Occupation Double, Cintia donne son avis sur le commentaire de Kevin à propos de son physique.
L'épisode du dimanche 15 novembre dévoilait un extrait où Kevin, dont l'alliance amicale avec Cintia venait de prendre fin, car elle s'est mise en couple avec Marjorie, lance un call sur la liaison des filles : « Leur relation est aussi fake que leurs poitrines. »
Maintenant que Cintia a pu voir l'épisode, elle commente.
La sélection de l'éditeur : Les Québécois réagissent aux mesures du temps des Fêtes et tu vas un peu trop « relate »
Cintia de Sa
Elle affirme ainsi que, selon elle, ce type de commentaire sur le corps des femmes ne devrait pas être quelque chose d'acceptable.
« C'est un commentaire sexiste. Pour vrai, j'étais triste de voir qu'il a dit ça », dit-elle.
Cela dit, elle affirme qu'elle ne pense pas qu'il ait voulu lui faire du mal pour autant.
« Je sais qu'il a dit ça dans un moment où il était fâché fait que ce n'était pas mal intentionné. Kevin nous déteste pas et on ne déteste pas les gars. C'est plate, c'est très mal sorti, mais je ne crois pas que Kevin soit une mauvaise personne », termine-t-elle.
Kevin, pour sa part, a expliqué qu'il s'agissait de locker room talk et s'est excusé publiquement « à ceux que ça a touchés personnellement ».