Toronto played host to one of its quirkiest gatherings of the year this week: a mock funeral for Tamagotchi digital pets at a local digital pet cemetery. Attendees came to mourn the pixelated companions of their childhoods, the egg-shaped handheld toys that demanded feeding, discipline and attention from a generation of 1990s kids.
According to CBC's coverage, the ceremony mixed humour with genuine sentiment. Participants shared memories of the relentless beeping of a hungry Tamagotchi during school hours, and of the guilt of coming home to a neglected, departed digital pet. Organizers framed the event as a lighthearted send-off, but the turnout showed how deeply the little gadgets shaped a generation's early relationship with technology.
Beyond the nostalgia, the gathering sparked a playful debate about what we owe our virtual companions — a question that feels more relevant than ever as AI assistants and digital pets find new life on modern devices. For Toronto, it was equal parts comedy and catharsis: a city pausing to say goodbye to the toys that taught it how to care.
