On July 1^st, the Toronto Sign will be lit orange in solidarity with Indigenous communities across Canada, and official flag poles at City Hall will be flown at half-mast as people across Canada continue to honour the Indigenous children whose lives were taken, and as Canadians reflect on the tragedy of residential schools.

I hope that we can all take this day to learn more about Canada’s history and relationship with Indigenous communities, and consider how we can help advance truth and reconciliation. More information is available from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: https://nctr.ca/.

Here are the highlights of what’s allowed under the Step 2:

• Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people;
• Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 5 people;
• Essential and other select retail permitted at 50 per cent capacity;
• Non-essential retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
• Personal care services where face coverings can be worn
  

  OXYGEN BIKES to stay healthy and fit this season on the trail.

  at all times, and at 25 per cent capacity and other restrictions;

• Outdoor dining with up to 6 people per table, with exceptions for larger households and other restrictions;
• Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted at up to 25 per cent capacity of the particular room;
• Outdoor fitness classes limited to the number of people who can maintain 3 metres of physical distance;
• Outdoor sports without contact or modified to avoid contact, with no specified limit on number of people or teams participating, with restrictions;
• Overnight camps for children operating in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health;
• Outdoor sport facilities with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
• Outdoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas, with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
• Outdoor horse racing and motor speedways, with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
• Outdoor fairs, rural exhibitions, festivals, permitted at 25 per cent capacity and with other restrictions.

 

And just like that. With the stroke of a pen. All concerts, major events like summer blockbuster concerts and stage shows which makes Toronto famous are gone.

The high-profile events, like Toronto International Film Festival, Molson Indy, Toronto Caribbean Carnival and others that attract visitors from around the world have been cancelled for a second year as we fight COVID-19.

Our local South Etobicoke stages will remain silent again as we ride out the variants and support our local businesses.

There are also the many garden and floral displays, boat, home shows and attractions slated for the Mimico Square stage which may be scaled back, held virtually, or just disappear.

Many more residents have taken to walking or cycling in the parks with their family and loved ones as a means of getting out and enjoying fresh air.

At the same time, police anti COVID-19 teams have arrested more than 1,000 people in banned public gatherings. They were busy for the fireworks displays and traffic chaos on Victoria Day long weekend at Humber Bay Shores. Videos shows piles of garbage left in the parks and beaches.

Many parents are shell-shocked wondering what to do and how to entertain the kids with events cancelled. I am most disappointed over the loss of my favourite, the Caribbean Carnival, which takes place in late August and usually attracts a million revellers yearly.

I miss the colourful costumes, dancers, calypso singers and steel pan players. I can already taste the flavourful street food, as roti or jerk chicken dishes.  It was also a time to catch up with old friends who I hadn’t seen for years.

The festival, which has been ongoing for more than 50-years, attracted many people from the Caribbean as well as thousands more from the U.S., who travelled here yearly to enjoy themselves.

Every hotel room in the city is filled at Caribana time, with officials estimating at least $400 million spent by visitors in the local economy.

All the nightclubs, restaurants and dance halls were jammed with after-hours partiers, sucking up the Caribana experience.

Many are also concerned that after two years of cancellations, some of the events may not return. There is already petitions online with thousands of signatures to save the CNE after 142-years. There are fears the iconic festival may not return due to a lack of funding and loss of sponsors.

In our second year of COVID-19 lockdowns and with businesses and other services to reopen this month, many people cannot wait to be able to visit and gather with their loved ones.

Local bicycle shops, like Oxygen Bike Co., admit there is even a shortage of bicycles due to supply and demand as more people take up the sport. All that are available are the expensive bikes.

“Most of our bikes are sold out,” says Oxygen owner Shawn Fitzpatrick. “It’s all about supply and demand.”

Not to rub it in, but also cancelled due to the virus are the popular: Afrofest, Salsa in Toronto, 49^th Annual Festival of India, Bloor West StreetFest, Beaches Jazz Festival, Taste of Danforth, Toronto Chinatown Festival, Labour Day Parade and the many other smaller community festivals in the area.

This summer will not be different than last in that we are told to remain indoors, socially distance and wear our masks. Grin and bear it, we are reminded. There are better days a’coming. I sure hope so.

 

Tom Godfrey is Publisher of The South Etobicoke News, who lives in the community. He was a reporter for the Toronto Sun for many years before deciding to use his skills in community journalism.