Ontario has a plan for life after Omicron

Plenty of calendars to mark now

Ontario Ministry of Health @ONThealth

As part of Ontario’s cautious and gradual approach, effective January 31, indoor social gathering limits will increase to 10 people and outdoor social gathering limits will increase to 25 people. Learn more: covid-19.ontario.ca/public-health-…

Doug Ford presented a new three-step plan to get Ontario back to where things were before Omicron. But the public health measures also won’t entirely end by the second anniversary of when it all began, in mid-March. The timeline is too slow for some and too soon for others. Quebec is avoiding similar debates by keeping things shut.

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The claims of shame for Pride

Tom Hooper @thomashooper

As members of @PrideToronto we must take action to disrupt this settler-colonialism. I am asking all members to VOTE AGAINST approving the audited financial statements until compensation, accountability, and transparency has been achieved. Corporate Pride must be abolished.

“Misdirection of Funds and Settler Colonialism” is the title of a study that historian and Pride Toronto board member Tom Hooper also outlined on Twitter, alleging the misdirection of $1.85 million of Heritage Canada grant funding. The details are destined to be discussed in an annual general meeting ahead of future plans.

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The entire board of directors of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre has stepped down. Departures from the Toronto queer stage company came amid a process of “organizational review and transformation” initiated in 2020. Sky Gilbert, the original co-founding face, had his connection to Buddies severed in 2019, after 40 years.

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Les Expos remaining a memory

Nostalgia for the Montreal Expos was roused by the retirement of 82-year-old Dave Van Horne, who did play-by-play for the team from 1969 to 2000, and then spent 21 seasons with the Miami Marlins. Meanwhile, hope for Major League Baseball approval for the Rays to split games between Montreal and Tampa Bay was officially dashed:

Shi Davidi @ShiDavidi

“Listen, there's a will, there's a way. And I'm hopeful that one day maybe we'll have baseball back in Montreal. I don't know which way, in which form. But I know there's an appetite.” Stephen Bronfman left mulling next steps after MLB nixes Rays share:

sportsnet.caBronfman left to mull next steps for Montreal after MLB nixes Rays’ planIt’s back to the drawing board for those hoping to bring baseball back to Montreal. Stephen Bronfman plans to take a step back after a plan to share the Tampa Bay Rays was shot down by Major League Baseball’s executive council on Thursday.

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Meat Loaf dead at 74. The success of his album Bat Out of Hell was sparked by Toronto radio airplay on CHUM-FM in January 1978, followed by an El Mocambo showcase caught on tape. Four decades later, the stage musical version was backed by Bell Media, by which time Mr. Loaf had retired from performing for health reasons.

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Finally, bard of Bloor and Yonge

Kiefer Sutherland shared the title track of Bloor Street in October. With the release of the rest of the album, he’s making the rounds to discuss how it was inspired by visiting his old haunts while shooting three seasons of Designated Survivor in Toronto, where the live music lifestyle depicted in his new “Chasing the Rain” video is on hold: