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The health crisis has had such a substantial economic impact on individuals and businesses that it has been in too many cases irrevocable, and though some of us are lucky enough to have jobs — as different as they may now look than pre-COVID — there are still some people who have yet to be able to return to work due to lockdown.

Data from the City of Toronto shows just how drastic the hit was to employment numbers last year, and though it seems that even more men in the city are back at work than before the pandemic, this is not at all the case for women.

As pointed out by City Hall Watcher creator Matt Elliott, there is a huge disparity between how many men and women currently part of the workforce in Toronto.

Traditionally, the number of women in the city who are employed full- or part-time is about 90 per cent of the number of men who are likewise employed.

But as of April 2021, this number is only 83 per cent.

After a drastic fall in employment across the board last spring — with a staggering unemployment rate of 11.5 per cent by the fall — men appeared to return to work far quicker than women, and more of them, too.

Based on spring 2021 figures from the city, less than 610,000 women in Toronto are employed at all, a fall from just shy of 650,000 earlier in the year before the emergency shutdown and stay-at-home order.

This is compared to nearly 730,000 and upwards of 760,000 men, respectively, at the same points in time.

As Elliott notes, a more notable gap for the month of April can't be found in the data until as far back as 1993.

Unfortunately, it's at this point well-documented that women have suffered more job loss due to COVID-19 than men worldwide, in part due to the fact that more women work in face-to-face positions in service, hospitality, travel and other sectors.

There is also the fact that the switch to virtual learning and a lack of childcare options has necessitated many parents stay at home with their kids, a burden that more often tends to fall onto women.

Hopefully, as the city gradually reopens starting this month, this imbalance can right itself and bring these numbers back closer to normal ratios as more parts of the economy reopen and more individuals return to work at long last.

Grab the popcorn and your keys because Ontario Place will be hosting a huge outdoor drive-in movie festival this summer.

The Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) and CHIN Radio/TV are teaming up for the Lavazza Drive-In Film Festival to explore films from around the world on the screen at Ontario Place with Toronto's waterfront as the backdrop. 

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Similar to last year, this second edition promises a selection of international films that celebrate Canada's multiculturalism and diversity with movies representing a number of cultural backgrounds.

"The film selection will guarantee to shed a light on the intricate texture of Canadian society, bringing forward a vast collection of multicultural stories which will reflect the values of inclusivity and acceptance," says the description.

You can also expect a special Focus Italia series in partnership with the Italian Embassy in Ottawa.

Besides the films, there will also be red carpet appearances, celebrity guests and hosts, and of course, concession snacks.

The festival runs from June 27 to July 17 with ticket prices depending on the number of people per car. Three-movie packages range from $90 for one or two people per car and $150 for three or more per car. 

Demonstrators in Toronto staged a sit-in in front of the Egerton Ryerson statue on the downtown university's campus Monday to mourn and pay tribute to the 215 children found buried in an unmarked grave at Kamloops Indigenous Residential School last week. 

The sit-in was organized by a group of "Indigenous Students fighting for social justice & human rights @ X University," a name given to the school by students who've chosen to refrain from calling it Ryerson due to the historical figure's role in designing the residential school system. 

"There will be a sit in at the X statue on Gould street at X campus," reads an Instagram post shared by the group Monday. "Bring your rattles, drums, your songs, and your shoes! We will be occupying the space until we meet 215 pairs of shoes. Please join us if you can."

Breaking: Anger grows at Ryerson University's Egerton Ryerson statue, an architect of Canada's Residential Schools #215children @blogTO @nowtoronto @CBCToronto pic.twitter.com/VvE9R5sboT

— Martin Reis (@BikeLaneDiary) June 1, 2021

Participants gathered near the statue Monday afternoon as some played drums and sang, and they remained at the site until 215 pairs of shoes had been placed on the ground in memory of the 215 children found in the mass grave. 

more shoes are coming in, but we welcome more 👟👠👞🥾👢🩰 pic.twitter.com/SyWPHV4pNC

— charlize alcaraz (@charlizealcaraz) May 31, 2021

The statue and nearby building were also covered in paint and graffiti with words such as "Dig them up," "Shame," "Land back," Return them home" and "Show the whole world how many of us you have murdered," though it's unclear at this point who is responsible for the graffiti.

This is far from the first time the statue has been vandalized, however, as calls to rename the university and remove the statue have been ongoing for years. 

But Monday's sit-in came as people across the country expressed grief and outrage about Canada's horrific treatment of Indigenous children in residential schools, the last of which closed as recently as 1996.

Here is a map with all of the residential schools in Canada. The truth is literally being unearthed. Please read the TRC Call To Action. https://t.co/jia9V8hioV pic.twitter.com/h0ho4ou9xz

— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) June 1, 2021

The discovery has also resulted in renewed demands to implement the 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

On Monday, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett tweeted that a TRC request for $1.5 million in funding from the federal government for a series of projects that would identify burial site locations of children at Canadian residential schools was denied by the Stephen Harper government in 2009.

The TRC report established clearly that this was an issue that needed to be addressed urgently and unfortunately the request for funding from the working group in 2009 was denied.

2/7

— Carolyn Bennett (@Carolyn_Bennett) May 31, 2021

And while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised "concrete action" following the discovery of the mass grave, many have said they'll believe it when they see it.

It was genocide and it is ongoing

For the #215children we lost, survivors of residential schools and the future of Indigenous children

PM Trudeau must go beyond words

He must immediately end all legal actions against Indigenous children and survivors fighting for their rights pic.twitter.com/tQe4svxDXn

— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) May 31, 2021

A number of tributes have meanwhile been taking place in Toronto in honour of the 215 children, including a vigil at Nathan Phillips Square this past weekend. 

Vigil in Toronto in memory of the 215 children found dead last week on the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, British Colombia. #215children #Genocide pic.twitter.com/Nago57MxQR

— Robin (@robinpueyo) May 31, 2021

The Toronto Raptors also lowered the flags outside the OVO Athletic Centre for 215 hours in their memory, writing on Twitter that "#WeTheNorth is a rally cry for all Canadians to recognize that further truth & reconciliation is needed."

For 215 hrs we’ll lower our flags @ OVO to honour the memory of the 215 children discovered in a mass grave at a residential school for Indigenous peoples in Kamloops, B.C. #WeTheNorth is a rally cry for all Canadians to recognize that further truth & reconciliation is needed pic.twitter.com/hw9oUdqJN3

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 30, 2021

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens also held a moment of silence at Scotiabank Arena Monday night to honour the children, though some criticized the fact that they proceeded to sing Canada's national anthem immediately afterwards. 

I tuned into “the game” with excitement but the juxtaposition of a moment of silence for 215 murdered children followed immediately by “and now the national anthem” just felt so wrong... it has haunted me since.

— Daphne Gilbert (@daphnegilbert) June 1, 2021

The TTC is meanwhile planning to pause service for two minutes at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday. 

ATTENTION CUSTOMERS: Tomorrow at 2:15 PM, the TTC will pause service for two minutes in remembrance of the 215 children found at Kamloops Indian Residential School. We pause to honour them and all others who lost their lives to the residential school system.

— TTC Service Alerts (@TTCnotices) May 31, 2021

On Sunday, Toronto Mayor John Tory also released a statement about the tragedy.

I know we have all been horrified by the discovery of the bodies of 215 children on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation territory. pic.twitter.com/ngJTUhOjDC

— John Tory (@JohnTory) May 30, 2021

He promised that the city's flags would be lowered at the request of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Chief Stacey Laforme and that the Toronto sign would be dimmed "to further recognize the loss of life and the ongoing need for truth and reconciliation."

Today in Toronto Drivers Behaving Badly, we have an unidentified suspect who used the sidewalk in front of several densely populated residential apartment buildings as their own personal speedway while fleeing from cops in a stolen vehicle.

Footage of the clip, shared by a local Twitter user on Monday, shows a dark red SUV careening southbound along Jameson Avenue toward King Street West in Parkdale.

Except the car wasn't actually using on Jameson, it was travelling on the street's western sidewalk, right between a row of highrise apartment buildings and parked cars.

Shot from another building across the street, the clip shows at least two groups of people, some of them children, fleeing between cars parked along the street.

Toronto Police Services spokesperson Alex Li told blogTO Monday evening that the incident, classified as a "theft of vehicle," took place on Sunday, May 30.

This is on Jameson ave Toronto @TPSOperations @CP24 @CTVNews @blogTO pic.twitter.com/JspB1CMkZU

— king of jungle (@killakylekover) May 31, 2021

Li says the initial call came in at 7:27 p.m. on Sunday evening for a "stolen red-coloured SUV" in the Pacific Avenue and Vine Avenue area.

TPS received reports that "that the driver in the stolen vehicle was driving erratically" and that "the stolen vehicle was reportedly driving on a sidewalk."

The vehicle ended up crashing into a fence, according to Li, and the suspect fled prior to police arriving at the scene. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Fortunately — and perhaps miraculously considering all of the large residential buildings along the getaway route (not to mention the popular grocery store, restaurants, parks and even schools) — no injuries were reported.

Anyone with information can, as always, contact Toronto Police at 416-808-2222 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Aside from the obvious devastation about the Toronto Maple Leafs losing to the Habs on Monday night (are we really surprised, though?), residents of Ontario have found another reason to be angry about Game 7 of the first round of the NHL playoffs.

Though it was thrilling news that the province made the same-day decision to allow 550 fans — fully vaccinated healthcare workers, mind you — to attend the game at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena, the move has caused a stir among those who have long been advocating for the plight of small businesses that have faced months of forced closure.

I’m a big hockey fan, but I’m sorry getting haircuts and opening small business is much more important that one hockey game. Stay at home order means everyone

— Brenda Ralph-Lang (@Ralphie61) May 31, 2021

Many feel that it's great that Doug Ford and his team permitted select attendees at the game as Quebec did for Game 6 in Montreal, but that Ontario should probably be following our neighbouring province's lead for opening up some other things, too.

In regions such as Toronto, many business operations have been shuttered since November, and some, since even earlier.

If I’m a business owner in small town Ontario where Covid is very low but I’m still forced to stay closed, I bet allowing fans into stands tonight for @MapleLeafs @CanadiensMTL game 7 looks very different #COVID19 #lockdown

— Graham Richardson (@grahamctv) May 31, 2021

With the ability to do things like get a haircut, dine indoors, or have an outdoor barbecue with a group still many weeks away for Ontarians, people have questions about Ford's priorities and inconsistent (and much-contested) approach to pandemic lockdown, as happy as they are for the frontline workers who attended the game.

Great news that Ontario will lessen restrictions to allow some fans to attend the big game tonight. Now is also the time to allow haircuts, patio dining, retail shopping & gym visits. Let’s start a plan to #OpenOntario on June 2.

— Dan Kelly (@CFIB) May 31, 2021

There was definitely logic in the selection of the individuals that got to go to the game in-person, but many are arguing that there is also logic in opening up certain businesses and spaces with rigid restrictions in place, too, especially with vaccination rates in the province now ramping up.

As of last week, the province hit the milestone of administering at least a first dose to 65 per cent of the population — notably surpassing its own guidelines for entering Step 1 of reopening the economy, which we still haven't done despite meeting the criteria.

You can't get a haircut until the beginning of July, won't be able to go to the gym or dine indoors until the end of July. #onpoli https://t.co/77EsLIEg2Y

— Ryan (@R_Mallough) May 31, 2021

When the province does finally enter Step 1 on June 14, outdoor dining will finally return with stringent limitations in place, non-essential retail will get to reopen to 15 per cent capacity, outdoor pools and splashpads will reopen, and more, at long last.

A bit of creative thinking will be making concerts possible this summer, just don't expect any moshing.

Toronto Adventures, a boat rental company in King's Mill Park, makes it possible to take in a concert or live show from a boat for a novel summer experience. 

In order to take part in one of the floating concerts this summer, you'll just need to pick what performance you'd like to check out online and make your way down to the Humber Paddling Centre. 

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It's a five-minute walk from the Old Mill subway station and is where you'll be able to pick up a boat rental from which you'll be able to enjoy either a live music, comedy or magic performance right on the beautiful Humber River. 

The fact that you're in a boat makes it easy to maintain social distance. Another added perk is the scenic paddle down the river you'll be able to enjoy before settling in for the dockside show. 

Photo courtesy of Toronto Adventures. 

When it comes to the rental options, single ($40) and tandem ($70) kayaks, as well as two ($70) and three-seater ($90) canoes are available. Those who already own a boat can also purchase just a $10 ticket for the show.

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There will be nine concerts over the summer with performances from artists like Kalila Badali, Sean Pinchin and Chris Caddell. 

The full lineup of local artists from June 18 to Oct. 15 can be found on the website, as well as what up-and-coming comedians and magicians you can expect to see through the summer. 

The original location of a dessert spot that's been a favourite in Toronto has permanently closed its doors.

The 12 Cumberland location of Dessert Lady is closing for good. They've been popular for their cookies and baked goods, but the brand as a whole has become known for making some of the city's best wedding cakes.

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A post shared by Dessert Lady (@dessertlady_to)

A post announcing the closure of the location attributes it to several reasons: They were not able to get the loans from banks they needed to stay open, there was "non-stop construction" on Cumberland, the majority of that location's business was from corporate and events orders and the landlord would not agree to reduce the rent.

"No one goes back to work, no birthday parties, no meetings or events, no large cakes, which really hurt the business," owner Mandy Kan tells blogTO.

"We see how broken the system is," reads the caption to Dessert Lady's Instagram post announcing the Cumberland closure.

"They always forgot one important thing is that, everything starts as a baby stage before they grew to an adult! When there are no babies (small biz), there will be no future in the economy!"

Kan says the landlord initially agreed to postpone rent and helped out with the first round of subsidy, but eventually refused to end the lease at Cumberland and says Dessert Lady is stuck with it until they can find a new tenant.

"I hope the banks, government would spend more time to listen to small businesses and come up with better options and solutions to help all of us," says Kan.

"They need to re-evaluate the existing loan programs, are they really helping small businesses? Why would majority of them go rejected? We all need help now, not when everything is well."

The business is survived by a more recently opened location at 1 Sultan St. where they promise to combine their task force for longer hours. They'll be increasingly focusing on their savoury offerings like breakfast, lunch and dinner, but will still be doing cake.

The last day for the Cumberland location of Dessert Lady will be June 6.

Kan's plans for the future include minimizing losses and paying the debts incurred during the pandemic using sales from the 1 Sultan St. location, and also possibly writing a book about her experiences as a chef, bakery owner and entrepreneur.

"Please continue to support us, support the neighbors, support the community," the Instagram post concludes.

"Be kind and nice to each other! Together is how we can make changes and differences, and make a big comeback."