It certainly is challenging to find fun in the time of Covid-19 and its many variants. Nature has reclaimed a lot of the free time that people have now. Gone for now are the long times spent in restaurants, movies or over at friends places enjoying the company of others. The year started with the lockdown throughout Ontario, now continuing in Toronto until February 22, 2021.
Updated: On February 24th the City of Toronto extended the cancellation of major events until July 1, 2021 - you can see the media release on the bottom of this post.
From what I can read on the internet, which means it's true, is that indoor gatherings have the highest probability of catching the virus. Public Health Ontario 'COVID-19 Routes of Transmission – What We Know So Far' says "Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs predominantly through close (<2 m), unprotected contact with an infected individual(s). Based on the epidemiology of COVID-19, transmission predominantly occurs via respiratory droplets from symptomatic, presymptomatic or less commonly, asymptomatic individuals. Transmission over longer distances (>2 m) is less common, but possible under certain conditions such as prolonged exposure in a poorly ventilated space. Under these conditions, inhalation of small particle respiratory droplets and aerosols can occur. SARS-CoV-2 is likely an opportunistic airborne pathogen, as non-airborne transmission is most common, but aerosols may result in transmission under favourable conditions. In household settings, people are in close proximity to one another, thereby increasing the risk of infection. The consensus among systematic reviews is that most infections are occurring in household settings where physical distancing is not feasible and household secondary attack rates are higher than in casual-contact settings (e.g., shopping)."
From Toronto's website, "The City of Toronto has extended the cancellation of City-led and City-permitted outdoor major events through March 31, 2021 and all outdoor special event permits during this time period are cancelled. This includes festivals and other large gatherings held at outdoor sites managed by the City or other public locations, such as roads, parks and Civic Squares."
You can stay inside, alone, and try some virtual events (very available now) or put some puzzles together. If you need to get outside to prevent mental health issues, try to enjoy the outdoors and keep away from crowds, keep your mask on, maintain social distancing and practice good hygiene. I know it will be awhile before I go to a movie, eat in a restaurant and hope to minimize my public transit use.
In Jan 15 to Feb 7 we got to experience the
Festival of Cool at Harbourfront with two major audio and illuminated exhibits - Iceberg and the Sonic Runway. It was cool by the way, tres cool.
There is also
Light Up Leslieville installation on the south side of Queen St E, east of Leslie Street: Leslieville BIA Facebook page says "We invite you all to enjoy this installation with safe distances in mind (East of Leslie on Queen). Just in time for Valentines Day - it makes for a perfect photo op with a loved one. So if you’re out and stretching your legs, pay a visit."
Light Up Leslieville
Other possible light festivals include the following.
Winter Light Exhibition on the west island at Ontario Place?
Toronto Light Fest in the historic Distillery District?
As the year goes on and vaccines become available to all, more and more activities will open up once again. Here are some events that are actually planned to happen.
Winter Stations at the Beach. The annual architectural/art installations based around beach lifeguard stations is planning to return in 2021 - just after Toronto's lockdown is lifted. They usually start on Family Day (Monday, Feb 15 in 2021) but lockdown is on until Feb 22, so hopefully the weekend following the lift will be the new start.
World Naked Bike Ride 2021 - Toronto Edition: Saturday, June 12 at Coronation Park. Gather before noon, ride at 1pm.
Photo by Joe Hamilton
Snowbirds photo by Joe Hamilton
I will add more activities as they meet the requirements for easing restrictions, so come back often.
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February 24, 2021: City of Toronto extends cancellation of in-person major events to July 1
"To slow the spread of COVID-19, the City of Toronto is extending the cancellation of in-person City-led and City-permitted major outdoor events to July 1, including Canada Day parades, festivals and fireworks.
Today's announcement includes festivals and other large, in-person gatherings held at outdoor sites managed by the City or other public locations, such as roads, parks and civic squares.
Major festivals and events require long lead times for planning, rely on City sites, supports or permissions, and present higher public health risks given limits to physical distancing and exposure to attendees from outside of the area. The need to sustain essential services also limits the City's ability to support third-party event organizers to ensure public safety.
Advance notification of this decision enables event organizers to make sound decisions in support of public health efforts and their business needs, access insurance, support impacted employees, manage sponsors and develop alternative approaches such as virtual events.
This decision, made in consultation with Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, the City’s Emergency Operations Centre, Toronto Police Service and major event organizers, follows the previous cancellation of all such events up to March 31 and supports the directive that physical distancing is critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19.
The following major events are impacted by this decision (for the most up-to-date status of an event, please contact the organizer):
• Toronto Marathon, half Marathon, 5k, 10k and relay (will be a virtual event)
• Sporting Life 10k (will be a virtual event)
• Canadian Music Week (will be a virtual event)
• Doors Open Toronto (cancelled)
• Juno Awards (will be a virtual event)
• Ride for Heart (will be a virtual event)
• NXNE Music Festival (will be a virtual event)
• Luminato (virtual option to be determined)
• The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer (will be a virtual event)
• TD Toronto Jazz Festival (virtual option to be determined)
• Indigenous Arts Festival (will be a virtual event)
• Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival (will be a virtual event)
• Trans March, Dyke March & Pride Parade (will be a virtual event)
• Scarborough Canada Day Parade & Celebration (cancelled)
• Canada Day Celebrations at Mel Lastman Square (cancelled)
Event organizers with questions are encouraged to contact the relevant City permitting bodies, Toronto Police Service officers/liaisons or email
CultureTO@toronto.ca.
More information about supports available to the arts and culture sector during the COVID-19 pandemic are available at
www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-economic-support-recovery-for-businesses/covid-19-business-sector-resources/.
This announcement does not include permits issued by the City's Parks Forestry and Recreation division for activities in parks and other City facilities/sites that are able to be permitted under the province of Ontario's framework for reopening or that may be permitted as we hopefully progress through that framework. Professional sporting events are also not included in this decision – those events rely on permissions from the provincial and federal governments in addition to Toronto Public Health."
