Tuesday June 30th
If you’ve been holding off on wearing a mask, you no longer have a choice but to wear one when indoors in public spaces. Mayor John Tory made it official this morning.
Sadly no fireworks tomorrow, but there will be more options for beer on a patio. Toronto city council has approved a plan to allow restaurants and bars to expand their patio space, or add space in parking lots, starting tomorrow.
Entertainment
Iskwe’s Little Star video picked up a Juno award last night. And Celeigh Cardinal, won Indigenous artist of the year for her record, Stories from a Downtown Apartment
And Hollywood power couple Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have donated 200-thousand dollars in aid of Canada’s National Indigenous History Month. The money will support Indigenous women’s voices and leadership through a program at the Coady Institute in Nova Scotia.
Monday June 29th
After weeks of protests calling for a cut to police funding, Toronto City Council this morning will debate police reform. Council will also address the possibility of mandatory masks.
A report in the Globe and Mail suggests the province is about to announce a task force to look at overhauling the towing industry.
Tonight the Juno Awards will be handed out at a virtual event. Indigenous artist Iskwe is one of the performers along with Alessia Cara. Winners in 42 categories will be announced over 90 minutes.
Baseball
As early as today, the government could sign a deal for the Jays to start training in Toronto this week. They would stay in the hotel next to Rogers Centre.
Friday, June 26th
If you like to swim to cool off, 15 pools in Toronto will open today followed by more over the weekend. Toronto beaches are open. And more things to do.. .Ripley’s Aquarium re-opens but tickets have to be purchased in advance.
Something many parents have been waiting for. The TDSB says the 200 daycares operating in their schools will open Thursday of next week with proper pandemic protocols in place.
Finally, more PPE
Remember at the start of the pandemic, Canada was struggling to find enough personal protective equipment? Today Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce Canada is closer to becoming self-sufficient with the production of PPE. He’ll be at an Ottawa brewery that’s producing hand sanitizer.
Thursday, June 25th
Those horror stories about COVID-19 in long term care homes are backed up by a new study. The Canadian Institute for Health Information finds the proportion of Canadian COVID-19 deaths in long-term care facilities is about twice the average of rates from other developed nations.
Finally Windsor moves into phase two today, but the nearby communities of Leamington and Kingsville remain in phase one.
More money and more opportunities are coming for students looking to make ends meet during the summer months. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to roll out a new program for unemployed students.
Toilets and other studies
What we flush down the toilet, could leave clues about a second wave of COVID 19. There’s a report in the Toronto Star saying researchers at Ryerson University are looking to sewage to track remnants of the virus. And it could identify spikes in hot spots around the city.
And if you wanted to get in on a study about the long term effects of COVID 19. Researchers at Western University, the University of Toronto and Sunnybrook have launched a new website: covidbrainstudy.com They hope to have 50,000 COVID-19 survivors take part.
Indigenous
Allegations are swirling about a hospital on Vancouver Island, that emergency room staff played a “game” to guess the blood-alcohol level of Indigenous patients.
Eifel Tower
The Eifel Tower in Paris reopened this morning, more than three months after France went into lockdow
Tuesday June 24th
Welcome to phase two. Malls, restaurants, bars, hair and nail salons, art galleries, all open today.
Summer Camp TO registration started this morning online.
And Mayor John Tory has announced that ferry service to the Toronto Islands will be available to the general public starting Saturday, but you will have to book a spot ahead of time.
The TORONTO sign in front of city hall is lit up in gold today- the city’s way of saying congratulations to all recent graduates.
Baseball
Major League Baseball is finally a go… a 60-game schedule that will start July 23rd or 24th i nempty ballparks
The Canadian government is open to the Jays playing in Toronto this summer, but the league has not submitted the required plan to Canadian authorities.
Monday June 23rd
Announcements
Ontario Premier Doug Ford will make an announcement this afternoon alongside the minister of education following a technical briefing on changes to the province’s math curriculum. Ford has long promised to fix the current Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) testing program by replacing it.
Next time you leave Pearson Airport you will be sprayed with a disinfectant. The airport is releasing its post-pandemic plan today.
Phase 2
As Toronto and Peel get ready for stage two, a new poll says two thirds of Canadians want to continue social distancing. The poll was conducted by Leger and Association for Canadian studies
As of today, anyone riding VIA Rail will have to wear a mask
Indigenous
The Native Women’s Association of Canada has released a report that says domestic violence has been exacerbated by the pandemic. At-risk women are being offered a cellphone they can hide, to privately reach out for help.
Five years after Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommended sports programs reduce barriers and become more inclusive of Indigenous athletes, a panel of experts say not enough has been done to reach that goal.
A CTV news analysis finds an Indigenous person in Canada is more than 10 times, more likely to have been shot and killed by a police officer in Canada since 2017 than a white person in Canada.
The street signs along Cornwallis Street in Sydney Nova Scotia have been removed. The street was named after Edward Cornwallis who founded Halifax in 1749. He issued a so-called scalping proclamation the same year, in which he offered a cash bounty to anyone who killed a Mi’kmaw person.
A First Nations student who led the campaign to get McGill University to drop the name “Redmen” from its men’s sports teams, has graduated as one of the university’s few Indigenous valedictorians.
Friday June 19th
It appears the driver of a car that smashed into a van killing a 37-year old mother and her three children on Thursday, should not have been behind the wheel. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown says the 20-year old driver was without a licence and had plates that didn’t match his car.
A funeral will be held today for 48-year-old Rodney Levi at his First Nation in New Bruinswick. The Indigenous man was shot by an R-C-M-P officer during a barbecue last week.
More protests
There will be another protest in Toronto today, calling for defunding of the police department. The Abolish The Police Junteenth Sit-In will start at College and Bay near police headquarters at noon and end at City Hall at 6 pm.
The Ford government is planning to reduce holidays for front line retail workers, according to Unifor. The union is holding a virtual rally today.
School announcement today
An announcement is expected from Ontario’s Education Minister at one this afternoon, about what’s happening with school this fall.
Thursday June 18th
Finally, starting today, you can visit your loved ones in long term care homes. But you’ll have to follow strict rules. No hugs, must wear a mask, and you must prove that you have not tested positive for COVID-19 over the past two weeks. And you’ll have to book an appointment for your visit.
Premier Doug Ford is pushing to extend Ontario’s state of emergency until July 15th, but he’s hopeful it will be the final extension. MPP’s will decide next week.
The days of cut-throat competition in Toronto for an affordable rental unit are gone, at least for now. An organization that deals with leases says supply is up, driving rents down, Urbanation says new listings increased by 74 percent in the first half of May.
Indigenous
The first nationally distributed children’s series to feature an Indigenous girl living in Alaska as the lead character has been awarded a prestigious Peabody Award. Molly of Denali is an action-adventure comedy for kids.
Wednesday, June 17th
Premier Doug Ford is extending Ontario’s emergency orders until the end of the month even though the province’s economy is gradually opening up.
First Nations leaders in New Brunswick will meet today, with Premier Blaine Higgs to discuss systemic racism, police violence against Indigenous people and several high profile shooting deaths
The first round of debates involving four federal Conservative leadership hopefuls kicks off tonight. The debate is being held in French, although none of the four candidates — Leslyn Lewis, Peter MacKay, Erin O’Toole and Derek Sloan — are fluently bilingual.
No More Aunt Jemima
Quaker Oats says the Aunt Jemima brand of syrup and pancake mix will get a new name and image, saying “Aunt Jemima’s origins are based on a racial stereotype.”
Tuesday, June 16th
Whatever you do right how please don’t sing. That’s the gist of the message coming from the provincial government, which has included explicit bans on singing, even dancing in outdoor seating areas in restaurants, child care settings, and discouraged in areas of worship.
Premier Doug Ford says all regions of Ontario except for Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex will be in Stage 2 of the province’s phased reopening plan as of Friday… so no haircut yet.
In an effort to get more people back on public transit, the TTC will be giving out free Presto cards this summer and fall. The transit agency will distribute the cards in areas where Presto use is relatively low.
Indigenous
A group representing dozens of First Nations in northern Ontario is calling for an investigation into systemic racism in the R-C-M-P. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says he will be writing to the prime minister to urge a “comprehensive, independent and transparent investigation” into racism and the use of force against Indigenous Peoples.
Polaris Prize Announcement
Two of the Indigenous artists you hear on 106.5 ELMNT FM have been nominated for a prestigious prize. William Prince and Riit are nominees on the Polaris Prize Long List.
Monday June 15th
We could soon book an appointment for a haircut and mani-pedi, go to a restaurant, and a shopping mall. Premier Doug Ford will make an announcemet at one this afternoon about more reopenings for Toronto.
The Toronto Public Library says its new curbside pickup system is a hit. More than 8,000 appointments have already been booked.
A motion will be brought forward at Toronto city hall this week to create bus-only lanes on some busy streets. The affected routes would include:
- Jane Street from Eglinton Avenue to Steeles Avenue.
Dufferin Street from Dufferin Gate to Wilson Avenue.
Steeles Avenue West from Yonge Street to Pioneer Village Subway Station.
Indigenous
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde is calling for a complete overhaul of the policing system in Canada after a First Nation man was shot and killed by New Brunswick RCMP, eight days after 26 year old Chantel Moore was shot by a police officer in Edmundston during a wellness check.
Bellegarde is pushing for community-based policing services as an option for First Nation communities, a zero-tolerance policy for excessive force, and higher recruitment standards for officers to prevent those with racial biases from joining the force,