Word of the end of the road for traveller vaccine mandates came on the same day as Justin Trudeau announcing he tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time this year, following his return from the Summit of the Americas in L.A. Ottawa is also reportedly pulling the plug on the COVID Alert app, which was widely considered a debacle all along.
Notes app gets new workout
The ongoing history of Liberal MP apologies got another entry from Adam van Koeverden, who replied to the concerns expressed by an unvaccinated Ontario-born teacher living in New Zealand with a “Fuck you.” The tweeted regret ranks with the best of former MP Adam Vaughan, or anything that was related to parliamentarians caught undressed on Zoom.
“Russian officials will not be invited to Canada Day events hosted by the department.” Global Affairs Canada clarified their diplomatic position on parties after a representative attended a Russia Day celebration at that country’s embassy in Ottawa. But senior officials knew in advance that the invitation was being accepted.
The high price of poppin’ tags
Recent attention to thrift stores has largely focused on price hikes, which come with the reminder that Value Village is a for-profit retailer with a business dependent upon donations. But the brand is betting on a new Toronto boutique on Queen Street West, and another set to replace the Rexall that took over Ye Olde Brunswick House in the Annex:
Watching for bargains at Mel Lastman’s estate auction. The stuff comes from the home of the former Toronto mayor, who died at age 88 last December—23 months after his wife, Marilyn. Much of it might’ve been prized by her, but Mel’s personality is in lots of lighters and wristwatches—especially the one that flashes “TIME TO FUCK“ on the face.
Finally, ruby slippers redux
Rufus Wainwright is back to doing Judy Garland, on the recording of a virtual concert at Capitol Studios when she turned 99, and released as an album on what would’ve been her 100th birthday. It happened 15 years after Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, a byproduct of growing up watching The Wizard of Oz: