Recipefiesta

From The Wolves of Willoughby Chase on a Cornish clifftop to Shakespeare in Regent’s Park, here are some of the summer’s best productions

Make the most of the return of live performance this summer – without the anxiety of spending time indoors with a crowd of strangers – with an outdoor theatre show. These venues don’t require negative Covid tests because they’re fully outside, but most have significantly reduced capacities (at least until social distancing restrictions are eased), so don’t dally – tickets are likely to sell out quicker than usual.

Continue reading...

from Travel | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2TlZsd5

The sweeping stay-at-home order implemented by Ontario's provincial government nearly two months ago is set to expire this Wednesday — and Premier Doug Ford has given no indication that he will extend it again (as he has done multiple times over the past eight, dark, locked-down weeks.)

So what does that mean for we, the people?

Not a whole darned lot, unfortunately, as we'll still be in "emergency break shutdown" mode until the government says otherwise (it's looking like two weeks.)

Health Minister Christine Elliott stated on May 20 when announcing the province's 3 Step "Roadmap to Reopening" plan that we'd likely exit shutdown and enter the new framework during the week of June 14.

Late last week, Ford himself reaffirmed his commitment to a June 14 reopening date, despite Ontario's fast-rising vaccination rates and falling case counts.

Unless anything changes, this means that all of Ontario will spend two weeks in lurch, not under a stay-at-home order but not in reopening mode yet, beginning on June 2.

The one major rule change is that Ontario residents will be able to leave their homes (legally) for any reason. Currently, under the stay-at-home order, we may only leave for essential purposes that include such things as grocery shopping, accessing health care and exercise.

Also key to note is that the government just issued an extension of some specific orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, including the prohibition of recreational camping and a ban on interprovincial border crossings, until at least June 16.

If Ontario goes right back to the same rules that were in place after the emergency break shutdown went into effect but before the stay-at-home order was issued, the rules will look a lot like they did when they were announced amid the third wave (with some exceptions involving extra rules tacked on in mid-April.)

Here are some of the more pertinent rules for shutdown zones under the Reopening Ontario Act (independent of the stay-at-home order) as of the act's last modification on May 22.

Work from home except where necessary

Each person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall ensure that any person who performs work for the business or organization conducts their work remotely, with limited exception, for instance, where the nature of their work requires them to be on-site at the workplace.

Screening

Businesses must implement passive screening for patrons by posting signs at all entrances informing people to screen themselves for COVID-19 before entry. Workplaces must screen all workers or visitors entering the work environment. See the COVID-19 Screening Tool for Workplaces for more information.

Capacity limits

In person shopping permitted for some types of retail, subject to ability to maintain two metres of physical distancing and capacity limits of:

• 25 per cent for supermarkets and other stores that primarily sell groceries, convenience stores and pharmacies
• Big box stores are not permitted to sell items considered non-essential 

Physical distancing

Everyone in Ontario must maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from others (except for caregivers or other members of their household) in a place of business or facility that is open to the public.

Face coverings

Everyone must wear a mask or face covering that covers their mouth, nose and chin in indoor public spaces (with limited exceptions).

Events and gatherings

• Indoor organized public events and social gatherings are not allowed, except with members of the same household (the people you live with).
• Individuals who live alone and single parents may consider having exclusive, close contact with another household to help reduce the negative impacts of social isolation.
• Outdoor organized public events and social gatherings must comply with public health advice on physical distancing and have no more than 5 people.

Weddings, funerals and other religious services, rites or ceremonies

• physical distancing must be maintained
• guests must wear masks or face coverings
• capacity limits of 15 per cent indoors, and 10 people outdoors
• Drive-in services, rites or ceremonies permitted, subject to certain conditions. Virtual services permitted.

Meeting and event spaces 

Only permitted to open for:

• child care centres and authorized recreational and skill building programs (as described in the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014)
• court services
• government services
• mental health and addictions support services (for example, Alcoholics Anonymous), permitted to a maximum of 10 people
• social services
• collective bargaining, so long as more than 10 people are permitted to occupy the rented space

Restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments

Take out, drive through, and delivery permitted only (includes the sale of alcohol). In-person dining closed. Patios closed.

Night clubs and strip clubs only permitted to open if they operate as a food or drink establishment.

Supermarkets, convenience stores, indoor farmer’s markets and other stores that primarily sell food

• Open for in-person retail (25 per cent capacity where two metres physical distancing can be maintained)
• curbside pick-up
• delivery

Pharmacies

• Open for in-person retail (25 per cent capacity, where two metres physical distancing can be maintained)
• curbside pick-up
• delivery

Liquor, cannabis, hardware and pet stores

• Limited to 25 per cent capacity, where two metres physical distancing can be maintained
• curbside pick-up
• delivery

Services

Permitted services include:

• rental and leasing services, including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental
• gas stations and other fuel suppliers
• automated and self-service car washes
• laundromats and drycleaners
• snow clearing and landscaping services
• security services for residences, businesses and other properties
• domestic services to support children, seniors or vulnerable persons, including housekeeping, cooking, indoor and outdoor cleaning and maintenance services
• vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services
• courier, postal, shipping, moving and delivery services
• funeral and related services
• staffing services including providing temporary help
• veterinary services and other businesses that provide pet services and for the health and welfare of animals, including farms, boarding kennels, stables, animal shelters, research facilities, pet groomers, pet sitters, pet walkers, pet trainers (including for service animals)

Short-term rentals

Short-term rentals (for example, cottages, cabins) are only to be provided to individuals who are in need of housing.

Post-secondary institutions

Post-secondary institutions open for virtual instruction, with limited exceptions where in-person instruction is required (e.g., clinical training, trades). Subject to physical distancing with limited exceptions.

In-person teaching (each instructional space at the institution at one time) and in-person examinations cannot exceed 10 persons, with limited exemptions for:

• diagnostic cardiac sonography and diagnostic medical sonography
• diagnostic ultrasound
• medical imaging
• medical laboratory assistant and medical laboratory technician
• medical radiation technology
• medicine
• mental health and addictions services, including psychology services, social work services and counselling services
• nursing
• paramedic
• personal support worker, supportive care worker, home care worker or a similar occupation
• pharmacy/pharmacy technician
• public health inspector, if the program is accredited by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
• rehabilitation sciences (nutrition, speech language pathology, occupational science and physiotherapy)
• respiratory therapy

Additional requirements for in-person teaching that involves singing or the playing of brass or wind instruments.

Real estate (including pre-sale construction)

No open houses – showing a property permitted by appointment only.

Transportation services

Permitted services include:

• transportation services provided by air, water, road and rail, including taxis and other private transportation providers
• support services for transportation services, including logistical support, distribution services, warehousing and storage, truck stops and tow operators
• services that support the operations and safety of transportation systems including maintenance and repairs
• marinas, boating clubs and other organizations that maintain docking facilities (with conditions)
• businesses that provide and support online retail, including by providing warehousing, storage and distribution of goods that are ordered online

Community services

Businesses that deliver or support the delivery of community services are allowed, including:

• sewage treatment and disposal
• waste collection, transport, storage, processing, disposal or recycling
• potable drinking water
• critical infrastructure repair and maintenance including roads, dams, bridges
• environmental rehabilitation, management and monitoring, and spill clean-up and response
• administrative authorities that regulate and inspect businesses
• professional and social services that support the legal and justice system
• policing and law enforcement
• fire and emergency services
• paramedics
• coroner and pathology services
• corrections and court services
• licences and permits
• allotment gardens or community gardens

Outdoor recreational amenities

Outdoor recreational amenities that were permitted to reopen as of May 22, subject to some conditions, include:

• parks and recreational areas
• baseball diamonds
• batting cages
• soccer, football and sports fields
• tennis, platform tennis, table tennis and pickleball courts
• basketball courts
• BMX parks
• skate parks
• frisbee golf locations
• cycling tracks and bike trails
• horse riding facilities
• shooting ranges, including those operated by rod and gun clubs
• ice rinks
• tobogganing hills
• snowmobile, cross country, dogsledding, ice-skating and snow-shoe trails
• playgrounds
• portions of parks or recreational areas containing outdoor fitness equipment
• golf courses and driving ranges
• ski hills

A permitted outdoor recreational amenity may only open if:

• physical distance of at least two metres can be maintained
• team sports, or other sports or games where people may come within two metres of each other, are not practiced or played
• locker rooms, change rooms, showers and clubhouses remain closed (except for access to equipment storage, washrooms or first aid)

Health care and social services

Permitted:

• organizations and providers that deliver home care services or personal support services to seniors and persons with disabilities
• regulated health professionals
• professionals or organizations that provide in-person counselling services
• organizations that provide health care, including retirement homes, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, independent health facilities, mental health and addictions counselling supports
• laboratories and specimen collection centres
• manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers of pharmaceutical products and medical supplies, including medications, medical isotopes, vaccines and antivirals, medical devices, medical supplies
• manufacturers, distributors and businesses that provide logistical support for products and services that support the delivery of health care
• organizations that provide critical personal support services in home or residential services for individuals with physical disabilities
• organizations that support the provision of food, shelter, safety or protection or social services and other necessities of life to economically disadvantaged and other vulnerable individuals
• businesses that are primarily engaged in the provision of health and safety training (with conditions)

Businesses not permitted to open

• Amusement parks, water parks
• Bathhouses and sex clubs
• Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments
• Concert venues, theatres and cinemas (includes drive in or drive through events)
• Day camps
• Horse racing (open for training only, no races or spectators)
• Motorsports
• Museums and cultural amenities
• Personal care services
• Tour and guide services
• Zoos and aquariums (permitted to operate for the care of animals)

Students of Ontario schools who haven't been getting the full university experience while learning remotely over the course of the health crisis are now hopeful that they may be able to return to in-person lectures and activities within a few months.

This will inevitably mean a shift in various housing markets as coeds return to campus from home and abroad.

Based on international student population stats from the years leading up to the pandemic, these shifts could be huge in parts of the province that have seen the number of young people moving for the sake of higher education absolutely explode recently.

In the "why are there so many 1-bedroom units being built in my city" files:

In just 3 years, the number of international students rose by:

50K in the GTA
12K in K-C-W
Over 7K in London and Ottawa
Over 5K in Windsor and St. Catharines pic.twitter.com/Dz2mRyd7Vo

— Dr. Mike P. Moffatt 🇨🇦🏅🏅 (@MikePMoffatt) May 31, 2021

Some new analyses by Ivey Business School assistant professor Dr. Mike Moffatt show that Toronto has housed the highest number of university and college kids, with more than 136,000 study permit holders by January 2018.

As the province's most populous city with a range of post-secondary institutions including U of T, George Brown and Centennial Colleges, OCADU and Ryerson University, this isn't surprising.

But, other regions are quickly catching up, and have seen huge jumps in the growth of these demographics.

Kingston, for example — home of Queen's University and St. Lawrence College — had nearly ten times more study permit holders in January 2018 vs. January 2015: 5,070 compared to 645, according to Moffatt's numbers. (International student numbers in Toronto only spiked 1.5 times more during the same period).

In the same time frame, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo's international student population grew more than four times from 3,670 to 15,420, while North Bay saw nearly six times as many of such student permit holders, from 210 in Jan. 2015 to 1,230 in Jan. 2018.

Windsor and St. Catharine's/Niagara, meanwhile, both saw 2.5 times more international students in Jan. 2018 vs. Jan 2015, while Peterborough and Barrie saw 3.5 times more, Thunder Bay saw 3.6 times more, and Sudbury, 3.7 times more.

As Moffatt notes, most of the province's non-permanent residents in general are those who are here to study, and the number enrolled full-time at colleges has drastically hiked to surpass those enrolled full-time at universities.

Here's the 10 fastest growing Universities/Colleges in terms of international students, over last 3 years of which we have data. It may not be the places you think. pic.twitter.com/mQ9L5nCumU

— Dr. Mike P. Moffatt 🇨🇦🏅🏅 (@MikePMoffatt) May 31, 2021

The top schools for growth have been U of T and Centennial College in Toronto, followed by Contestoga College in Kitchener and Fanshawe College in London, and then two more T.O. institutions, York University and Seneca College.

And it is these schools and the aforementioned regions that can likely continue to see the highest growth in attendees from abroad as in-person learning resumes, border restrictions loosen and international travel ramps up again — and hopefully they will have the housing to accommodate the influx.

The best fruit and vegetable stores in Toronto are small but mighty, and still offer the option of browsing out in the open air in front of their stores that chain supermarkets don't. These places are every neighbourhood's go-to for reasonably priced in-season produce.

Here are the best fruit and vegetable stores in Toronto.

7 - Kai Wei Supermarket

<p>Chinatown has plenty of fruit and veggie stores, but this one stands out amongst the shops with rows of heaping bins out front. The narrow aisles are packed not only with produce but also noodles, meat and seafood.</p>
8 - Maple Produce

<p>Duck under the awning at this Roncesvalles store to find a treasure trove of fresh fruit and vegetables. The interior of the store is well organized, and the prices are hard to beat in the area.</p>
4 - Bloor Fruit Market

<p>This is Koreatown's one-stop shop at the corner of Manning for flowers as well as produce like berries, pineapples, tomatoes and asparagus that usually go for just a couple of bucks.</p>
3 - Carload on the Beach

<p>Locations of this shop in the Beaches, Bloor West Village and at Yonge and Eglinton stock a wide selection of fruit, veggies, dairy and flowers as well as natural and organic foods. They've been in business since 2003 and can do home delivery.</p>
5 - Kensington Fruit Market

<p>On St. Andrew in Kensington Market, this local grocery store has been owned and operated by a family for over 40 years, and carries fresh produce throughout the year. Baskets and shelves outside and inside the market are always stocked to the brim.</p>
6 - Harvest Wagon

<p>Rosedale is home to this slighly fancier produce store that carries a ton of fresh produce and flowers as well as groceries, prepared foods, juices, cheese, deli products, home essentials, and health and beauty products. The business is run by a family with over 40 years of experience.</p>
9 - Phil's Place

<p>This shop has been a part of the legendary St. Lawrence Market since 1982. They sell a large selection of rare fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, flowers, mushrooms, heirloom veggies, dates and figs, and even have items like edible flowers.</p>
10 - Valley Farm Produce

<p>This shot in the heart of Greektown on the Danforth sells seasonal Ontario produce like corn and strawberries at affordable prices as well as imported items like cherries, and other things like juices and flowers.</p>
11 - Family Foods

<p>Find this gem in the St. Lawrence Market selling all sorts of produce, from local seasonal fruits and veggies to rarer imported ones. Spices, gourmet mushrooms, unusual peppers and other items not on many grocery store shelves can be found here.</p>

Though the economy in Ontario will begin opening up once more in the coming weeks as we make our way out of the third wave of the pandemic, there is still a long road ahead as far as vaccinating the population, keeping variants of concern under control and assuring that COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations stay low.

This is ostensibly why the provincial government is moving to extend its emergency powers, which enable it to make quick decisions and implement restrictions like business closures and gathering limits in less time and with less red tape.

But, this latest motion coming to Queen's Park on Monday has some residents and local politicians concerned, as it is asking that these powers be extended all the way through December 1.

Please vote NO @BhutilaKarpoche This is completely nuts. Ford does not need emergency order power until December. https://t.co/6DAuSXtVeS

— Joy McCarthy (@joyoushealth) May 31, 2021

The motion, presented by MPP and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, is one that that Premier Doug Ford has recommended so that he has powers to amend and extend various emergency orders as needed for the remainder of the year as we attempt a return to normal.

But it's definitely causing a lot of fuss on social media, where people are apprehensive about the lengthy timeline and potential governmental overreach.

Doug Ford says he is “just not into big government” yet his own MPPs will extend his sweeping unlimited emergency powers until December. This means his government will go unchecked without debates, committee, and with less accountability and transparency. #VoteFordOut2022

— J Kyle Davidson (@Kyledavidson002) May 31, 2021

A state of emergency in Ontario was first brought into effect in March 2020 and was eventually allowed to expire before being introduced again in January 2021 before yet again expiring and yet again returning for a third time in early April, and is separate from the emergency orders under it.

The state and its orders and have to continually be extended every two weeks and every 30 days, respectively, to remain in effect. 

Currently, a number of orders remain in effect under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA) and the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA), including the stay-at-home order, regulations for various businesses in operation and for those who will soon be permitted to reopen, the overall power of the government to enforce COVID-19 orders on businesses and individuals, and more.

On Monday, PC MPPs will be forced to pass a motion giving @fordnation power to extend the Emergency Orders to December, without a vote or parliamentary debate.

This unnecessary abuse of power is hostile to our democracy. We must condemn & oppose it unanimously. #onpoli #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/VDHiZYLg08

— Roman Baber (@Roman_Baber) May 30, 2021

As Jones's motion being voted on today states, "the power to amend and extend the orders expires on the first anniversary of the day the orders were continued by the Act" and the decision to allow the powers to continue need to be voted on by the Legislative Assembly.

Noted lockdown opponent Roman Baber, controversial independent MPP for York Centre, said to his peers today that "extension will be done by a government-run committee without debate or vote in this house ... today the government will cut Parliament out of its most impactful decisions in our lifetimes."

"The premier will have the ability to close schools, lockdown business, and prevent us from seeing family, all because he says so," Baber continued. "Speaker, this is an unprecedented abuse of power."

Today the Ford government will be committing yet another total abuse of power as they vote to pass a motion to extend Premier Doug Ford’s emergency powers to December. This is not how democracy works. I strongly urge #Nepean MPP @MacLeodLisa to vote against this. #onpoli

— Tyler Watt 🇨🇦 (@tylerwatt90) May 31, 2021

According to the OLA website, the motion was carried on division.

Two Toronto restaurant owners didn't let their lack of a farming background stop them from moving out of the city and starting up a farm of their own.

Ben Denham and Ashley Lloyd own White Lily Diner, and now White Lily Farms, which produces a quarter acre of over 40 vegetables including cucumbers for pickles and hot peppers hot sauce. They're also raising chickens.

Though they don't come from farming backgrounds they had been doing some research on their "someday" dream of moving out of the city and learning to farm prior to the pandemic.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by White Lily Farms (@whitelilyfarms)

"When the lockdowns came we finally had some time to slow down from the daily restaurant grind and think about what we were looking to accomplish long term," Denham tells blogTO.

When some of the initial shock of the first wave of the pandemic wore off and the restaurant had a "pivot plan" in place, the pair began looking at properties in areas surrounding the GTA.

"We ended up falling in love with a 10-acre horse farm property just north of Uxbridge and pulled the trigger," says Denham.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by White Lily Farms (@whitelilyfarms)

They made renovations to the house at the new property, sold their home in Parkdale and moved to Uxbridge shortly before Christmas 2020.

The winter was spent commuting back and forth to the diner while converting the barn into a wash-and-pack and vegetable production facility.

During the spring, they've been building raised beds, planting and transplanting seedlings, putting in perennials (like apple, cherry, apricot and plum trees, as well as rhubarb, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries), planting an herb garden and "resurrecting" an old chicken coop for their hens.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by White Lily Farms (@whitelilyfarms)

Most of what they grow this year will be for the diner or preserved for their products, though they will be launching a CSA-style vegetable box through the diner and are even hoping to provide recipes for the ingredients they grow.

They're also planning on selling wholesale to "like-minded chefs/restaurants" in Toronto. They aren't planning on direct farm sales or visits for the public this year, but are looking at doing that in the future.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by White Lily Farms (@whitelilyfarms)

"We've had few cooks from Toronto up here to help out and learn with us, which has been great," says Denham.

"We really hope the project will inspire more industry people to take a closer look and learn about where and how our food is produced, and maybe make the transition as well."

Toronto beach bums rejoice: Beaches across the city are officially open for swimming this weekend, which is perfect timing because it's going to be a hot one.

The 11 public beaches maintained by the City – all of which are technically open year-round, but without lifeguards or toilets – will be open to swimmers starting June 5.

And eight of them have earned Blue Flag certifications this year for meeting high environmental, safety and cleanliness standards, so you don't need to worry about e. coli.

The beaches will be "open" until September with supervision and regular maintenance between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. until mid-August and until 7 p.m. up until Labour Day.

Washrooms and other facilities will be open the same hours.

As usual, the City recommends enjoying the water only when a lifeguard is on duty and reminds visitors to stick to the designated swimming areas when getting a few backstrokes in.

Provincial gathering limits and other lockdown measures will also be in full effect until further notice, so make sure to keep up with what will be allowed before you make your way to the sandier sections of the city. 

Keep in mind that popular spots like Bluffer's Beach and Woodbine are likely to fill up quickly, so opting for quieter beaches like Rouge or Marie Curtis that are more secluded from the city will make it easier to enjoy your beach day safely. 

A Toronto high school physics teacher is bringing the bar outdoors with his invention, the TreeShelf.

Mike Doig started doing carpentry projects to get some fresh air when teaching went online. He came up with the idea for his  TreeShelf invention when a neighbour gave him some extra wood from her fence this past Victoria Day.

The TreeShelf straps to a tree to make any backyard a bar. Photo courtesy of Mike Doig.

The portable L-shaped shelves can be attached to trees with a ratchet strap similar to a slackline or hammock that doesn't damage the tree. Neighbours can set them up at trees a safe distance apart to socialize while staying distanced with their own personal bar space.

"Distanced socializing with the neighbours has become an important part of our routine since the pandemic hit," Doig tells blogTO.

"We even came out in snowsuits on some of the coldest winter evenings. I thought the shelf would make it easier for everyone to hang out comfortably at a distance."

Neighbours quickly started raving about the shelf and encouraged Doig to start selling it. Within two hours of one neighbour posting about the shelves in a local Facebook group, he got six orders.

Neighbours gathers outdoors at a distance around a TreeShelf. Photo courtesy of Mike Doig.

People in areas surrounding his Leslieville neighbourhood have been doing lots of distanced sidewalk socializing where such a product would come in handy, and people have also been buying them for the trees at their cottage and as Father's Day gifts.

Doig is hoping to ramp up production with a goal of making 1,000 more for a good cause. The TreeShelf is $75 including local delivery and all profits go to the Glen Rhodes Food Bank.

"I have summers off and I have fun building stuff, so I figured why not build more?" says Doig.

"Since this is a neighbourhood project, we want to help neighbours in need. We all walk by the food bank every day and see dozens of people waiting outside."

The TreeShelf can be carried around from place to place. Photo courtesy of Mike Doig.

Doig also sees the TreeShelf being useful and successful beyond the pandemic.

"Hanging out with neighbours has definitely been a silver lining of the pandemic for us," says Doig.

"I hope other people enjoy their shelf too because this has been a challenging and isolating year. Finding a safe way to connect is important."