The City of Toronto has announced the temporary shutdown of two CampTO locations after a participant tested positive for COVID-19. According to a statement on the City of Toronto’s website, a participant at the Barbara Frum Community Centre has tested positive for the virus. The camper was sent home from the camp with symptoms last
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is investigating a cluster of COVID-19 cases involving people who attended a resort and a restaurant in Muskoka over the August long weekend. Eleven people out of a group of about 30, all from various families, who attended the Deerhurst Resort and 3 Guys and a Stove restaurant over the
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is appointing Humber River Hospital as the interim manager of long-term care home Villa Colombo in North York. In a statement released on July 17, the ministry stated that, despite receiving support and advice from Humber River Hospital for weeks, the facility, located at 40 Playfair Ave.,
A new City of Toronto program will help newcomers experiencing homelessness during COVID-19. The program, operated on behalf of the city by the community agency, WoodGreen Community Services, is providing 70 vacant units in Regent Park as temporary housing for refugees and asylum seekers. Move-ins will take place on a phased in-basis starting from mid-July
Ontario is reporting the lowest number of new daily COVID-19 cases since March 25. On Wednesday, health officials confirmed a total of 37,052 cases of the virus in the province as of July 14. Compared to the previous day, this represents an increase of 102 confirmed cases, an increase of nine deaths, and an increase
David Suzuki is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things and author of more than 30 books on ecology (with files from Sherry Yano). World leaders have declared we’re all in the same COVID-19 boat. In response, writer Damian Barr tweeted, “We are not all in the same boat. We are all in
Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, is recommending that the city offer quarantine centres for COVID-19 patients who can’t self-isolate at home. The recommendation was made — and unanimously approved — by the Toronto Board of Health on Thursday morning during a virtual meeting. “The risk of COVID-19 shouldn’t depend on where
Ontario is pausing commercial evictions as the province continues with its COVID-19 recovery plan. On Wednesday night, the provincial government passed the Protecting Small Business Act, temporarily halting or reversing the evictions of commercial tenants. The act will protect these businesses from being locked out or having their assets seized during COVID-19. Tenant rights activists
Education minister Stephen Lecce joined Premier Doug Ford and Christine Elliott, the minister of health for their daily press conference on Tuesday to announce that child care centres across the province were allowed to open this Friday, June 12. Since then, Lecce learned that he had come into contact with someone who tested positive for
The Ontario government reported 344 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday—40 fewer cases than reported on Thursday. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 27,210, including 2,230 deaths (an increase of 41 deaths from the previous report), and 20,983 recoveries. On Thursday, Health Minister Christine Elliott said the province is
A new public project is covering the city with art depicting real-life experiences and feelings during the COVID-19 crisis in Toronto. The team behind the Bentway, an innovative public space beneath Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway, launched the public art initiative on May 25. The new project, called “It’s All Right Now,” will run until the end
The Loblaws at Christie and Dupont has reopened for in-store shopping as of Monday, May 25 after being closed following two COVID-19 cases. On May 11, with exception to pharmaceutical and pick-up grocery services, the store was temporarily closed for cleaning after a number of employees tested positive for COVID-19 on April 17, April 29,
Premier Doug Ford had some strong words of caution for the hordes of people who flocked to Trinity Bellwoods this past weekend looking to enjoy the nice weather. “I’m disappointed to say the least with everyone that showed up to Trinity Bellwoods on Saturday,” Ford said on Monday. “Why don’t you do us all a
While overnight camps have been cancelled by the province of Ontario, one such organization hasn’t given up the fight just yet. Camp Timberlane has sent an email to its clients suggesting that there could be overnight camping this summer if they get the go-ahead for a pilot project signed by owner and director Corey Mandell.
As we approach the two-month mark since the economic shutdown began in Ontario, the impact of Toronto’s income inequality on one’s ability to self-isolate and keep food on the table has become clear. Those whose only adjustment is to work from home, and who have been able to save for many years are likely to
A Loblaws at Dupont and Christie is temporarily closed as of Monday after a number of employees tested positive for COVID-19 and critics are questioning how many cases have been publicly reported, and what is being done to protect workers. Beginning on Monday, the Loblaws, located at 650 Dupont St., will be converted to a
Scroll to the bottom to access a list of resources for survivors of IPV and sexual violence. If you are experiencing any type of violence and wish to speak to someone from the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, click here. In early April, Statistics Canada released a report on the health and social challenges that Canadians
When Thomas Herring was in kindergarten, he and his classmates were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. Herring, at age five, already had an answer — a robotics engineer. Now, as a fourth-year engineering student specializing in robotics at Rice University in Texas, Herring is fulfilling his dream as a member
MELISSA SAMAROO | Michael Garron Hospital One year after completing the nursing program at Ryerson University, Melissa Samaroo began working at Michael Garron Hospital. A year later, SARS happened. “I think experiencing SARS first-hand and caring for those patients in critical care opened my mind to the possibility of a pandemic,” says Samaroo who is now a
Columnist John Sewell is a former mayor of Toronto and the author of a number of urban planning books, including The Shape of the Suburbs. The pandemic has created a massive breach in the City of Toronto’s finances. The 2020 budget was approved by the city council just before the pandemic. It amounted to just
An employee at Pusateri’s Fine Foods has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), after visiting two of the gourmet grocery stores in Toronto. On Wednesday, April 29, the company was notified of its first confirmed case of COVID-19. Although the employee in question was working primarily out of head office, they had reportedly visited
Popular Italian pizza joint Lambretta Pizzeria announced its closure this week, leaving the Roncesvalles community reeling at the loss of another much-loved business from the COVID-19 pandemic. Lambretta took to social media to express their frustration at the lack of support for local businesses. They revealed on their Facebook page that they have not received
There are reports of COVID-19 outbreaks at two Toronto-area hospitals: North York General and SickKids. On Monday, April 27, North York General posted a notice on their website after three patients tested positive for the virus in their Reactivation Unit-5 West. “The health and safety of our patients is our top priority and all appropriate
Every night at 7:30 p.m., people across Toronto take to their windows and balconies to cheer and show support for frontline workers. Restaurants are banding together to provide hospitals with meals and hotels are opening up rooms so that frontline workers can self-isolate from their families. But as companies iron out policies and evolve best practices
Toronto’s favourite Raptor Serge Ibaka continues to engage Toronto fans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, whether through his Instagram Live talent show or through his philanthropy efforts. On April 9, the six-foot-10-inches power forward pledged to match up to $100,000 through his organization to support Fred Victor’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund — and the organization is reminding
