As of today, January 5, 2022, we are entering many new restrictions in Ontario. The following measures will be in place for the next 21 days, which is until January 27. This of course may fluctuate depending on our health system at the time of completion.

If you’re not familiar with the new restrictions in Ontario or need a refresh, we’ve listed the changes below.

GATHERINGS

Social Gatherings

• Indoor gatherings limited to five people or fewer
• Outdoor gatherings limited to 10 people or fewer

Weddings, Funerals, Religious Services, Rites & Ceremonies

• Indoor services are limited to 50% capacity of the room size
• Outdoor services are limited to the number of people who can maintain two metres distance

OPEN

Retail

• Must operate at 50% capacity
• Safety measures for shopping malls, pharmacies, hardware stores etc. include the above capacity limit with distancing in line ups and safety screenings

Restaurants, Bars & other Food Or Drink Establishments

• Take out, drive through, and delivery are allowed
• Food courts remain open for takeout only
• Outdoor areas are open with restrictions including no more than 10 people per table, patrons must remain seated, no dancing or singing
• Liquor stores remain open with capacity restrictions and limited hours

barbers, Hair Salons & Tattoo Parlours

• Must operate at 50% capacity and are by appointment only

Hotels & Motels

• These establishments remain open except for the indoor gyms, pools, steam rooms/saunas
• Restaurants within the hotel or motel may offer takeout or delivery only

Parks

• Outdoor parks and playgrounds remain open

Libraries

• Open with 50% capacity

CLOSED

Work Offices

• As of right now, work from home is in place, unless the nature of the work requires workers to be on-site

Camps

• Day and overnight camps are closed

Restaurants, Bars & Other Food or Drink Establishments

• Indoor service is closed

Meeting & Event Spaces

• Indoor areas are closed with exceptions, such as child care, court and government services, social services, health services, collective bargaining, and mental health/addiction services up to 10 people

Gyms & Recreational Fitness Facilities

• Gyms and fitness facilities are now closed with exceptions to those training for the Olympics and Paralympics

Concert Venues & Theatres

• Indoor areas of concert venues, theatres, and cinemas are closed except for rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted performance

Personal Care Services

• Saunas, steam rooms, and oxygen bars are closed

Museums & amusement Parks

• Zoos, CN Tower, historic sites, science centres, and more, are closed

Schools

• All publicly funded and private schools are remote learning until at least January 17

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Wearing face masks have become the new norm and are mandatory to wear inside public spaces. A bunch of Canadian fashion brands have stepped up to the plate and are manufacturing face masks, along with new businesses focused on this specialty.

If you’re going to purchase a face covering, you might as well shop and support Canadian businesses, right? Remember to wear a mask and be considerate of others when social distancing!

Now, here are some of the best face masks made by Canadian brands. 

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Over the past few months, frontline workers have helped keep our cities running. While we’ve been doing our part by social distancing and staying home, they’ve been supporting us at hospitals, grocery stores, and beyond. If there’s anyone that deserves a special treat this summer, it’s them!

Many businesses have shown their appreciation by offering free meals, access to activities, and more, and now a popular Toronto museum has something to give back to those on the front line, too.

For the entire month of August, frontline workers can get free access to the ROM.

The ROM is offering this as a huge thank you to those individuals who have put their own health on the line during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frontline workers that will get special, free access include emergency services, health care, grocery store workers, city operations, social services, public transit, and delivery services. 

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A post shared by Royal Ontario Museum (@romtoronto) on Jun 16, 2020 at 8:20am PDT

If you are classified in one of these categories, take some me-time for yourself and immerse yourself in the 40 amazing galleries and collectons that the ROM has to offer.

To reserve a visit, frontline workers can book a timed ticket by emailing the ROM’s contact centre at info@rom.on.ca or calling (416)-586-8000. And it doesn’t have to be a solo visit! You can invite a few of your social distancing bubble pals, too. Each timed ticket includes spots for up to three guests.

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A post shared by Kimpton Saint George Toronto (@saintgeorgetoronto) on Oct 5, 2019 at 8:18am PDT

With the pandemic prevalent, visitors are very much required to wear a face mask and continue to follow The rules of physical distancing.

Areas around the museum have strict limit capacities as well as marked pathways to comply with. Feel safe on your outing to the ROM so be sure to follow all of the rules, and of course, have lots of fun!

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A post shared by Royal Ontario Museum (@romtoronto) on Jul 31, 2020 at 12:17pm PDT

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As the province enters Stage 3 of reopening, our list of summer activities is getting longer. This August, we’ll see restaurants, fitness centres, and other forms of entertainment reopen with restrictions, including movie theatres.

Canada’s largest movie theatre chain is one of the entertainment services that will be reopening. The company made the announcement after movie theatres were given the thumbs up to expand capacity.

Cineplex will be reopening 25 cinemas across Ontario.

Cineplex announced to open select cinemas across the province on Friday after Ontario’s chief medical officer of health gave movie theatres the green light to expand capacity.

Movie theatres are now permitted to have 50 people per screening and multiple screenings in one building at one time. Prior to this, movie theatres were only allowed to have 50 people in the building at a time, which would have meant that many theatres would operate at a loss. The change in restrictions is a huge win for theatres and moviegoers.

To welcome movie lovers back, Cineplex is offering two amazing deals.

For a limited time, you can score movie tickets for select showings and theatres for just $5 and on Tuesdays, movie tickets will run for $2.99. You can reserve your seating online, which will ensure proper physical distancing. Additionally, guests in “communities where it is mandated” will be asked to wear masks for their visit, so don’t forget to bring yours!

Here are some of the Cineplex theatres that are reopening in Ontario:

• Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP
• Cineplex Cinemas Yorkdale
• Cineplex Odeon Eglinton Town Centre Cinemas
• Cineplex Cinemas Queensway and VIP
• Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk
• Cineplex Cinemas Vaughan
• SilverCity Richmond Hill Cinemas
• Cineplex Cinemas Mississauga
• Cineplex Cinemas Winston Churchill & VIP
• Cineplex Cinemas Pickering and VIP
• SilverCity Brampton Cinemas

For a full list of theatres open across Canada, head to cineplex.com.

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Are you looking to get out of the house for a safe and fun adventure? Tons of attractions in Toronto and around the GTA are changing the way they operate with safe drive-through business models. Take your loved ones out and explore all kinds of great new attractions, all from the comfort of your car!

Keep reading to discover 9 super fun drive-through attractions happening this summer!

Toronto Zoo Scenic Safari

Take a drive around the Toronto Zoo Scenic Safari with commentary teaching you all about animals as you see the Toronto Zoo from a whole new perspective. Plus, you can even drive through the lion cave! It’s just like taking your family on a real-life African safari but with a variety of animals from around the world.

The 5 Drive-in theatre

The 5 Drive-In Theatre is located in Oakville and is playing a fantastic line up of movies all summer. Enjoy a brand-new summer blockbuster or of the many classic films that the theatre will be playing each week. Sit back and recline the driver’s seat for a night of amazing double features!

City View Drive-in

City View Drive-in is hosting a great line up of live music events with an amazing view of the Toronto skyline in the background. From the safety of your own car, experience some world-class entertainment in a massive 238-foot stage class talent. City View Drive-In even offers food delivery right to your vehicle, so there is no reason to ever step foot outside your car.

Together At The Drive-In

Together At The Drive-In is a two-day music and film series that’s totally socially distant because visitors will be experiencing it from the car. The event is all for a good cause too because proceeds go toward our hardest-hit communities from COVID-19 & social injustice. Enjoy live performances, DJs, and movies!

Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur Park

Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur is located a bit outside the GTA near Peterborough but it’s worth the drive. Experience the Drive-Thru Dinosaur Park where you can tour around from the comfort of your vehicle and experience what it would be like driving through a world of dinosaurs. Come see the realistic life-sized animatronic dinosaurs which make for a fun day out for the whole family.

Haunted Ghost Drive-Thru Tour 

Love a good ghost story? Who doesn’t! For just $20, you can take a driving tour of the historic Pickering Village Museum at night and hear stories from the past that are still haunting us today.

Van Gogh Exhibit

The Van Gogh Exhibit drive-through experience is located 1 Yonge Street and it’s showcasing Van Gogh’s finest creations as projections on the walls. This is a completely new and exciting way to view art that’s brought to you by artistic director Massimiliano Siccardi who is known for creating numerous pieces of video art for prestigious festivals. This event is on from July until September 2020.

Lavazza Drive-In Film Festival

This drive-in film festival is set to feature films from countries that are most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. A different nation will be represented every night from July 20-31 and the countries include France, Spain, China, Russia, the US, the UK, Brazil, India, Iran, and Canada. There’s a special “Focus on Italy” series that showcases the beauty that the country has to offer. Plus, a portion of ticket sales will go to support AiutiAMO l’Italia which is an initiative launched by the Italian Embassy in collaboration with the Canadian Red Cross.

TIFF

With lots of annual events being cancelled due to COVID, TIFF is one that’s sticking around. This year the Toronto International Film Festival there will be hosting drive-in screenings for a selection of TIFF films, as well as digital screenings in the comfort of your home. With a lineup of 50 feature films, interactive talks, digital red carpets, and Q&A’s with cast and filmmakers.

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When it was announced that Toronto could finally join the Stage 2 phase of reopening, I was of course excited because I’ve wanted nothing more than to feel some semblance of normality after the last few months of quarantine due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. I couldn’t wait to book in at one of my favourite beauty studios in the city but I won’t lie and say I wasn’t a little nervous. However, I was pleasantly surprised that my trip to the salon for a haircut was great even during COVID. Of course, it was different but once you wrap your head around that it’s still your hairstylist behind the mask and they’re still as lovely and friendly as ever, it wasn’t so strange.

I got my first COVID haircut at we are we are which is a hair salon on Queen West near Trinity Bellwoods.

The hair studio feels like a cool and cozy loft and consists of five accomplished hair pros who all complement each other. The team’s talents range from cuts and colours to colour correction, bridal, and even blonding. Safe to say that no matter what your hair goals are, that they can be accomplished here.

While we are we are is super excited to get back to business after being closed for a few months, salon owner David Nadicci isn’t playing around when it comes to the safety of staff and clients.

Immediately after hearing that the salon was reopening on June 30, I reached out to book an appointment for my mum and me. Right away David advised me that we couldn’t come together to our appointments and of course, I more than understood and was happy to comply.

In addition to social distancing protocols, the salon has also implemented safety measures like increased sanitation, new capes for each client, and mandatory face coverings.

The salon posted on it’s Instagram all of the new rules and I even got an email the day before my appointment letting me know of the changes.

Before stepping inside I masked up and once inside I washed my hands and gave David a huge air-hug. I was pleased to see that the salon was near-empty (strange to say, I know) and that everyone was adhering to the face-covering rule.

My nerves went away when I saw how seriously the salon was taking everyone’s safety.

Even during the hair-washing portion of the appointment, my mask stayed on and while it felt strange at first, I quickly got used to it. Let’s be real: wearing a mask isn’t super comfortable especially during the current heatwave but if it can save someone else’s life, then to me it’s well worth it.

Aside from the mask, social distancing, and extra hand sanitizing, my haircut felt the same as others pre-COVID. Once we were done, I paid via e-transfer to keep it cashless and was on my way.

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After months of government-mandated closures, more and more retailers start to reopen stores across the country. For those who love shopping, it’s really exciting news. So far, Value Village, TJX, Aritzia, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and more have welcomed shoppers in and the next major retailer we can add to our list of stores to visit next is fast-fashion retailer, H&M.

H&M has gradually been reopening stores across the nation.

In total, H&M has 40 stores currently open to shop across the country. In British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, PEI, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick, all stores are open, while in Ontario and Quebec, select stores with street entrances are open.

Like other retailers that have reopened stores, the fast-fashion retailer is implementing new health and safety protocols for its employees and shoppers.

Some new things you’ll notice when you visit an H&M store are enhanced cleaning of high-touch areas throughout the day, fitting room closures, returns held for 24-hours, PPE for all store employees, Plexiglass barriers at cash desks, social distancing stickers, and audio notes reminding employees and shoppers to socially distance. The H&M Garment Collection program, which exchanges store credits for used clothing, is on pause until further notice. Additionally, all stores will be running on reduced hours.

Here’s a list of all the H&M stores that have reopened in Canada:

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Calling all TJX fans! The moment you’ve been waiting for is just around the corner.

While stores across Canada have been closed due to the global health crisis, retailers across the country have slowly been reopening in accordance with government regulations.

WINNERS, Marshalls, and HomeSense are among the retailers who have started to reopen to the public.

Currently, TJX has reopened stores in Alberta, PEI, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, and Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Quebec are next on the list. According to the retailer’s websites, stores across these three provinces are slated to reopen on Wednesday, May 27.

As to what that will look like at WINNERS, Marshalls, and HomeSense, here’s what we know:

• Stores will be reopening with limited hours. Check your local WINNERS, Marshalls, or HomeSense to find the exact operating hours.
• A limited number of shoppers will be allowed in-store at a time. In-store, shoppers can expect social distancing markers in queue lines.
• All store associates will be provided with personal protective equipment. In addition, there will be new protective shields at all cash desks and shoppers are encouraged to wear masks in-store, too.
• New cleaning regimens have been put in place. High-touch surfaces in TJX stores will be disinfected more regularly. There will be hand sanitizer around the stores for customers.
• The return policy has been updated. If you made a purchase between February 18 and March 18, 2020, you have up to 30 days after your local store opens to return or exchange the item. For new purchases, TJX’s standard return policy applies and there are new processes in place for store associates handling these items.

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A post shared by WINNERS (@winners) on May 25, 2020 at 7:02am PDT

To find the nearest WINNERS, Marshalls, or HomeSense reopening near you, head to the tjxcanada.com.

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All sorts of retail stores are reopening but what about our beloved library? If you’re missing the days of borrowing books from the library, then today is going to be a good day for you. It’s just been announced that the Toronto Public Library is rolling out curbside pick-up and drop-off.

Starting Monday, May 25, books that are on-loan can be dropped off at select boxes at Toronto Public Library locations across the city and Drop-off at all remaining branches will open on June 1.

“We are all excited about this first step in the reinstatement of our services, with the introduction of curbside drop-off and pick-up of materials,” city librarian Vickery Bowles said. “It’s been so heartwarming to see the public excitement about this news. We know how many Torontonians rely on their library to stay connected, informed and engaged.”

In regard to checking out items from the library, CP24 reports that curbside pickup is slated to start in June.

Have a book on hold or on loan? Don’t worry about any late fees as the library says you won’t be charged any fines as due dates for all checked-out items will be extended until after branches reopen.

However if you don’t have a library card, you won’t be able to get one until branches officially open. With that being said, TPL has blessed us with instant access to OverDrive, the largest collection of e-books and audiobooks, with the city’s new Instant Digital Card. This means you don’t have to spend a cent to read or listen to those books you’ve been meaning to get around to.

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It’s no secret that businesses have been suffering ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Now that select retail businesses are allowed to reopen, you might want to take a look at your receipt to see if you’re paying a COVID-19 surcharge.

These COVID-19 surcharges are meant to cover the business’ cost of masks, sanitizer, cleaning products, etc. that have doubled in price over the past few months.

Even with businesses reopening, the numbers won’t go back to “normal” overnight and these retailers need help bouncing back. According to CBC, a steakhouse in Missouri garnered attention when it charged a customer a $2.19 COVID-19 surcharge.

‘Scuse me … what? A covid surcharge…? pic.twitter.com/IYcrkcqIJ3

— Talia (@talialikeitis) May 11, 2020

It’s important to note that these extra COVID charges aren’t only popping up south of the border.

One hair salon in Manitoba has re-opened it’s doors but due to social distancing guidelines, it can only accommodate a limited amount of clients at a time as well as half the amount of staff. All this while the cost of PPE has doubled in price means that it’s not all “business as usual.”

It also seems that there aren’t set guidelines or rules on what these businesses can charge.

David Newman, owner of “Hair by David & Co.”, a salon on Richmond Street in Toronto told Global News, “Some people are charging more, some people are charging a bit less. We came up with the number because it pays to cover the basic cost of what we’re going to use…”

While these new COVId-19 charges are definitely a new adjustment for us consumers, it’s important for these businesses to get the help they need in order for them to continue operating as normal as possible but transparency about what folks are paying for is key.

David Soberman, professor of marketing at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto told CTV, “Transparency is not an option for a business — it’s an obligation,”

“Companies need to make it clear what consumers will be expected to pay before they engage the business. And if they don’t, I would go as far as to say they have every right to refuse to pay.”​ 

These new COVID-19 surcharges are a delicate balance as it might scare off potential customers who are experiencing some major belt-tightening themselves, however these businesses do need all the help they can get right now.

Time will only tell what’s in store (literally) for retail businesses in the time of COVID.

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