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TORONTO STAR
Homeless encampments are growing again in Toronto, as the city faces a surging crisis (ven., 09 juin 2023)
The number of homeless encampments in Toronto is once again on the rise, after falling last year to a quarter of their footprint during the pandemic.
With twice as many camps this May as there were a year prior, it represents another symptom of the city’s deepening homelessness crisis.
According to new data provided by the city, the most prominent clusters are on the east side of downtown, including 45 tents and structures in Allan Gardens, and numerous camps in the Lower Don
Parklands and Riverdale Park. Across Toronto, as of mid-May, city staff were aware of 199 camp setups spread over 90 locations.
That’s a dramatic jump from the same time last year, when staff knew of 105 tents and structures — 88 on parks and recreation land and 17 in locations overseen by the city’s transportation
department — though it’s still well below the roughly 400 structures seen in mid-2021.
The rise corresponds with system-wide pressures: there are simply more people homeless in Toronto this year than last, and for several months the number of people turned away from shelters has
been rising. City hall, meanwhile, expects to shut down two of its pandemic-era shelters by late summer, at a time when
funding to hand out new housing subsidies has run dry.
To Lorraine Lam, an outreach worker in the downtown east, the surge doesn’t come as a surprise, given the rising toll of homelessness across the city.
“As someone who has done this work for so long, I feel like this is totally predicted and anticipated,” she said.
Rising numbers
Across Toronto, more than 10,500 people are known to be homeless, according to the city’s latest data from April — six per cent more than the count one year earlier. In the same month, an average
of 143.7 people per day were turned away from shelters for lack of space.
The latest citywide street survey, from spring 2021, indicates that most people weathering homelessness outside are men, at 80 per cent; a disproportionate 23 per cent are Indigenous. The average
age was 43, and at last count, seven per cent reported being veterans of the Canadian navy, army or air force. Most, at 87 per cent, were chronically homeless.
In interviews with the Star, encampment occupants have cited many reasons for turning to life outside, though many have cited fear of theft or violence in shelters. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in documented violent incidents
in Toronto’s homeless shelters, attributed to crowding, inadequate mental health supports and the opioid crisis.
Toronto physician Andrew Boozary, who works with patients facing homelessness, says he’s seen people make the “impossible choice” to stay outside due to both safety concerns and difficulty in
finding beds. He worries that, without more housing options, people surviving outdoors will face long-term health effects — from sleep disruption to the effect of heat spells or air pollution
from wildfire smoke, which could worsen conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chronic issues could become acute or even fatal, he said.
“This is why it’s a real public health concern.”
Visible versus invisible
While outdoor homelessness existed in Toronto before COVID-19, the pandemic thrust it into the public eye, as camps cropped up in areas where they hadn’t typically been seen, such as Trinity
Bellwoods Park.
After a series of high-profile encampment clearings in 2021, people seemed to retreat from visible locations. Last summer, while there were still camps in Grange Park and Allan Gardens, there
were fewer tents overall, and the most common location was the Lower Don Parklands — dense woods, cut through by walking and biking trails, along the edge of the Don River.
This year, as the number of known camps has again surged, they’re spread across the city, from Scarborough City Centre to the Humber Arboretum and Trinity Square, though several of the most
common spots are in the downtown east, including roughly a quarter in Allan Gardens.
Lam said that for some, a decision to move to a more visible park encampment such as Allan Gardens can be about access to services.
She sees the camps clustered in the downtown east as reflective of the area’s historic role as a hub of social services in Toronto. “These were the pockets of neighbourhood where people gathered
for health care, for mental health resources, for food security,” she said.
In recent years, she said, the city has also created priority programs to move people from high-visibility locations such as Dufferin Grove into hotel shelters or housing.
“I think there are people in the system who also know that the more visible you are, the more likely you are to get services,” she said. “Everybody just wants a chance to get housed.”
It is harder for those who live more off the grid, Lam observed. She recently spoke with one man who showed her a yellowing copy of his 2010 application for subsidized housing. After probing his
case, Lam learned a home fitting his needs had become available in 2016, but as he was living transiently, officials couldn’t get in touch. His application was then cancelled.
“Now we’re going to have to start all over again.”
‘This is only going to get worse’
To both Boozary and Lam, the outlook is bleak.
“This is only going to get worse in the months to come, from what we’ve seen,” Boozary said, citing the city’s mounting struggles with shelter capacity, the end-of-August closure of two shelters that house roughly 350
people, and a plan to squeeze more beds into existing sites.
There are fewer exit routes now, too, with city hall
burning through a year’s worth of funding for portable housing subsidies — meant to last until spring 2024 — by the end of last month.
At city hall, officials have been raising alarm bells in recent months. In April, the head of the city’s shelter department, Gord Tanner, warned that Toronto is spending $317 million more than it
has budgeted for shelters this year. Without extra funding from other governments, he warned Toronto could have to fast-track the ongoing shelter
closures as early as the beginning of 2024.
Last week, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie announced the city would begin redirecting refugees who turned up at city shelters to federally funded sites instead, which she framed as a difficult
decision to create more space. At the same time, the city would be reducing the distance between beds — extended during the pandemic — back to pre-COVID levels.
When asked about the rise in encampments, McKelvie pointed to a set of recommendations from Toronto’s ombudsman, Kwame Addo, that were recently accepted by city council. Addo’s report said that,
if the city decided it was necessary to clear a camp, it should ensure it met certain parameters, such as providing mental health services at the time of the clearing.
While stressing the city was prioritizing a “humanitarian” approach with those camping outside, McKelvie also told reporters that city staff had her support “in enforcing the rules.”
Lam, all the while, is urging the city to focus on creating affordable housing to give people a way out of homelessness — lest people simply be displaced from one encampment to another.
“Everybody that I’m working with, they’re just trying to survive.”
Victoria Gibson is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering affordable housing. Reach her via email: victoriagibson@thestar.ca
>> Lire la suite
This DIY air purifier could improve your home’s air quality and protect you from wildfire smoke. Here’s how to make it (Thu, 08 Jun 2023)
As acrid wildfire smoke from Quebec and northeastern Ontario drifted to the GTA earlier this week, Kristin Iorio, who lives with asthma, could feel her chest constrict and her breathing become
heavier.
So, she decided to build an air purifier herself in order to clean the air in her home in Ajax, Ont. Using nothing more than two air filters, a portable fan, some duct tape and cardboard, Iorio
was able to assemble a makeshift purifier in less than 30 minutes.
After turning it on, the impact was noticeable.
“I can just say anecdotally, I coughed and wheezed less,” said Iorio. “It’s certainly worth the effort to build it.”
Homemade air purifiers making a comeback as wildfires rage
These DIY air purifiers were popularized during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people sought
to mitigate COVID-19 transmission in indoor settings. Now, however, as wildfire smoke envelops large swaths of southern
Ontario and the U.S. eastern seaboard, the devices have been thrust in the spotlight once again.
Iorio, who is also a chemical engineering PhD student at the University of Toronto studying air quality, said these homemade purifiers are a simple and effective tool to improve air quality and
remove pollutants.
“The one that I made is very ugly,” she said with a chuckle. “I’ve seen much nicer looking ones … but it doesn’t need to be pretty to work.”
Corsi-Rosenthal box purifier effective for wildfire smoke
The efficiency of these DIY devices vary based on, among various factors, the type of fan and filters used, along with the size of the room. Iorio’s improvised purifier reduced the particle
concentration inside the house by about 70 per cent after about 30 minutes, she said after measuring it with her particle monitor.
Perhaps the most well-known version of the DIY air purifier is the Corsi-Rosenthal box, cocreated during the pandemic by environmental engineer Richard Corsi and filter manufacturer Jim
Rosenthal.
Informal tests conducted by Rosenthal found the device removed about 60 per cent of one-micron particles out of the air, and nearly 90 per cent of the 10-micron ones. For context, much of the air
pollution produced by the forest fires are 2.5 microns or smaller.
But no matter the device, the mechanics are the same, explained Iorio: “It’s similar to how a mask would work … You’re forcing air through the filter, and that stops particles of varying
different sizes.”
How to assemble a Corsi-Rosenthal box
To build the popular Corsi-Rosenthal box, here’s what you need: a box fan, the cardboard box for the fan, duct tape and four filters with a MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) rating of 13
or higher.
First, build the four vertical walls of the DIY purifier using the four air filters, connecting them together using duct tape. Ensure the seals between the filters are air tight, as you want all
the air flowing into the fan to pass through the filters.
Next, place the filters on the floor, on top of the cardboard box which contained the fan. Again, tape all four edges to create an airtight seal.
Finally, install the box fan at the top of the contraption and tape the corners to the filters.
“It’s just a square, flat box fan and you attach a filter to the side of it so that as the air is drawn through, and pushed out by the fan, it’s cleaned,” explained Jeff Brook, an associate
professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry. “It’s sort of that simple.”
While the device is safe to use — tests have shown it is very unlikely to cause a fire — Iorio recommends checking on the device regularly while in use to ensure the fan does not overheat.
If you don’t have an air purifier or are unable to assemble one, experts recommend turning on your air conditioner or fan. Ensure it’s set to recirculate indoor air and not pulling in smoke from
outside. This air circulation can also help improve air quality.
Iorio also suggests putting a MERV-13 filter in your furnace and setting the thermostat to recirculation or fan mode, “just to keep the air circulating constantly.”
Does it actually work?
Iorio’s indoor particle concentration was roughly one-third of the outdoor concentration before she turned on the filter’s fan at around 10:00 a.m. — but noted this measurement will vary from
house to house.
“If you generally have good insulation during the winter, you shouldn’t have as much infiltration as a house that tends to be draftier.”
Within the first 15 minutes of the fan being on, the particle concentration dropped by 67 per cent. Air levels returned to about 90 per cent of the original indoor concentration after about 40
minutes.
Nearly an hour later, it dropped to the background concentration of her house — the levels they’re usually at without wildfire smoke.
Climate change increasing severity and frequency of forest fires
Currently, there are 432 active forest fires burning across the country, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. This year, to date, there have been 2,358 fires, resulting in
roughly 4.2 million hectares of area burned.
As of 11 a.m. on Thursday, the air quality health index for Toronto was a level 4, indicating a “moderate risk” to health, according to Environment Canada. That value was expected to peak later
in the day at a level 7, which poses a “high risk” to health.
Due to climate change, these wildfires are
becoming more severe and frequent, experts warn.
While it’s rare for large amounts of wildfire smoke to reach Toronto, as has happened this week, it’s going to “absolutely” happen more frequently, said Brook.
“We’re drying out and heating up our forests and our ecosystems,” he said. “That’s what climate change is doing and this is the result.”
With files from Alessia Passafiume
Joshua Chong is a Toronto-based staff reporter for the Star’s Express Desk. Follow him on Twitter: @joshualdwchong
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Air quality index currently at level 5 in Toronto; New York airport grounds inbound flights for the second day in a row (Thu, 08 Jun 2023)
This story is no longer updating. Please visit theStar.com for the latest on the wildfires burning in Quebec and northeastern Ontario.
4:45 p.m.: The Toronto District School Board says schools will be monitoring the Air Quality Health Index throughout the day Friday and will announce plans for recess in the
morning.
“The past few days have shown us that it is incredibly difficult to predict air quality level in advance, as it is constantly changing throughout the day and varies from location to location
within Toronto,” read an email sent to parents from the TDSB.
“Principals will check the AQHI throughout the school day and make a determination to either proceed with outdoor recess and activities (level 1-6 on the AQHI) or consider moving indoors (level
7-10), based on local conditions.”
3:46 p.m.: An orange haze from wildfire smoke has spread from Massachusetts to South Carolina and as far west as Missouri, threatening to disrupt flights and forcing millions to
mask up or stay inside.
Inbound flights to New York’s LaGuardia Airport
were grounded for a second day due to low visibility, while the Federal Aviation Administration warned that flights could also be halted at JFK, Newark and Teterboro.
How to protect your pets from wildfire smoke
3:40 p.m.: Smoke particles from wildfires can be particularly harsh on the elderly, children and those with breathing conditions — and pets aren’t immune, either.
For humans, protection looks like mask-wearing, closing doors and windows, and limited exposure to the smoke, according to the experts. So what do these conditions mean for pets who would usually
go out for a much-needed walk, and how can pet owners protect them?
Read the full story here from Star reporters
Manuela Vega and Santiago Arias-Orozco.
2:50 p.m.: As of 2 p.m., the air quality health index for Toronto is a level 5, indicating a “moderate risk” to health, according to Environment Canada. That value is expected to
peak later today at a level 7, which poses a “high risk” to health.
How to create a cheap and easy air purifier at home
2:15 p.m.: Homemade air purifiers are making a comeback. These DIY devices, called Corsi-Rosenthal box
purifiers, were popularized during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people sought to mitigate COVID-19 transmission in indoor settings. Now, however, as wildfire smoke envelops large swaths of
southern Ontario and the U.S. eastern seaboard, the devices have been thrust in the spotlight once again.
Here’s how a DIY air purifier could improve your home’s air quality and protect you from wildfire smoke.
Read the full story
from the Star’s Joshua Chong
1:46 p.m. U.S. President Joe Biden says he has ordered the U.S. federal government to respond promptly to any Canadian requests for more firefighters. He calls the fires “another
stark reminder of the impacts of climate change.”
Should you wear a mask while the air quality is poor?
1:10 p.m. Smoke from wildfires raging in Quebec and northeastern Ontario is expected to blanket Toronto for much of the week, prompting a special air quality statement for the
city and warnings of possible “high levels” of pollution.
With some Toronto residents already reporting the smell of smoke and conditions expected to worsen, experts say those in affected areas should consider wearing a mask and taking other precautions
to reduce exposure.
“Every reduction in breathing this stuff provides a benefit to your health,” said Jeff Brook, an associate professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health and
Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry.
Read the full story from the Star’s Joshua Chong
12:58 p.m. The fireworks display in Niagara Falls is being cancelled for a second consecutive night.
“Due to the impact of the wildfires burning across the country, and the associated air quality advisories in many areas of Canada, including in Niagara, this evening’s Niagara Falls Fireworks
program is being paused again this evening. Air quality conditions will be reviewed on a daily basis, with updated status reports issued at noon,” a statement read.
12:35 p.m. Operations at Toronto Pearson Airport are not currently impacted by air quality, Pearson airport tweeted, but some flights from the U.S. eastern seaboard could be
affected. “If you’re flying today, check with your airline before heading to the airport,” Pearson said.
Toronto’s poor air quality
12:21 p.m. Canada’s most populous city is experiencing hazy skies and poor air quality as
smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Quebec moves over Toronto.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Toronto, warning of high levels of pollution and deteriorated air quality as a result of smoke from the fires.
The Toronto District School Board and the York Region District School Board have moved recess and other outdoor events indoors today, while the Toronto Catholic District School Board says its
schools can consider indoor recess based on the air quality health index.
Read the full story
12:10 p.m. As of 11 a.m., the air quality health index for Toronto is a level 4, indicating a “moderate risk” to health, according to Environment Canada. That value is expected
to peak this later today at a level 7, which poses a “high risk” to health.
11:40 a.m. Quebec’s wildfire fight is focused today in the province’s northern region where flames have reached the doorstep of a municipality of roughly 800 people.
Authorities say a wildfire is within 500 metres of Normétal, Que., located 720 kilometres northwest of Montreal.
Quebec’s forest fire prevention agency says it is confident the small community can be protected and that winds in the region are less strong than feared.
Read the full story from the Canadian Press
10:55 a.m. As an orange apocalyptic cloud of darkness and despair descended onto New York City Wednesday, Americans were understandably upset. And where did they point the finger
of frustration?
To the north.
“EH!POCALYPSE NOW,” screamed a banner on the cover of the New York Post Thursday morning, playing homage to a joke from the 1999 South Park
movie. “Canuck wildfires plunge NYC into eeire smoky hell. BLAME CANADA!”
Read the full story from the Star’s Justin Smirlies
10:20 a.m. Norwegian officials said the smoke from Canadian wildfires that has enveloped parts of the U.S. and Canada in a thick haze is expected to pour into Norway on Thursday.
Atmosphere and climate scientists with the Norwegian Climate and Environmental Research Institute used a forecast model to predict how the smoke would travel through the atmosphere.
9:57 a.m. As of 9 a.m. on Thursday, it’s currently 15 C in Toronto. Temperatures are expected to rise later in the day to 19 C with a 30 per cent chance of showers. Environment
Canada is forecasting “widespread smoke” in the city for Friday, with a high of 20 C.
9:17 a.m. You can tell it’s arrived as soon as you open your eyes to find the summer light muted, occasionally with a slight haze. Maybe you cough for no reason. A dull throb
sets up shop just behind your temples.
Summers in Western Canada mean long days of sunshine, drives to the mountains and camping trips under the endless Prairie sky. But in recent years, they have also come to mean stretches of smoke;
thick clots of ash and tiny bits of debris thrown up by wildfires that block the light and fill the lungs.
It’s a significant health hazard,
particularly for the elderly, children and those with breathing conditions, and a harbinger of a changing climate to come. The skies take on a vaguely postapocalyptic orange glow, street lights flicker to life at noon
and each breath burns.
Read the full story from the
Star’s Alex Boyd
9:10 a.m. If Canada were a colour, it would be orange.
The orange flames of the burning trees, from one end of this country to the other, pushing air quality levels in Toronto, across Ontario and elsewhere to their most hazardous levels.
The orange haze that this country’s wildfires have cast
upon New York’s Empire State Building and other world-famous landmarks.
Read the full story from the Star’s Allan
Woods
Inbound flights to New York’s LaGuardia airport grounded, Philadelphia region faces worst air quality
9 a.m. Inbound flights to New York’s LaGuardia airport were grounded again due to low visibility as the impact of Canadian wildfires continued Thursday.
The Philadelphia region faced the worst air quality in the U.S., while large swaths of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic experienced unhealthy levels of pollution, according to the National Weather
Service. Air conditions were set to deteriorate as far south as Alabama and Georgia. There’s a ground stop in effect for Philadelphia’s airport due to poor visibility.
8:50 a.m. The battle against hundreds of wildfires continues, as almost every jurisdiction in Canada remains under either heat or air quality warnings from the federal
government.
The day after what was supposed to be national Clean Air Day, dozens of alerts remain in place for unseasonable heat or smoky air quality that kept millions of Canadians coughing and squinting.
And forecasts suggest that air quality risks for the GTA, the Niagara region and southwestern Ontario will only increase through the end of the week.
How bad will the air quality be in Toronto?
As of 6 a.m. on Thursday, Environment Canada is forecasting the air quality health index for Toronto to reach a level 8 on Thursday, indicating a “high risk” to health. The federal department
predicts air quality will enter into high-risk levels starting at noon. By comparison, the air quality health index peaked at a level 7 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
How long is the poor air quality expected to last?
In their most recent special air quality statement issued Thursday, Environment Canada and the Province of
Ontario said poor air quality “may persist into the weekend.”
The federal government’s national wildfire smoke model, with projected forecasts for the next 72 hours, shows the GTA covered with smoke into Saturday morning.“It’s going to get worse before it
gets better,” said David Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada, in an interview Tuesday. “So it is a long bout. It’s not just a one-day wonder.”
How many wildfires are there?
As of Thursday morning, there are 151 active fires burning in Quebec, according to the province’s fire prevention agency. In Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reported 56 active fires in the province.
Why is the air quality so poor in Toronto?
Despite being located hundreds of kilometres away from the major wildfires, Toronto has been significantly impacted by the resulting smoke and air pollution. That’s because winds have pushed the
wildfire smoke from Quebec and northeastern Ontario to southern Ontario and the GTA.
Earlier in the week, Toronto saw northwesterly winds, bringing in smoke from fires burning in northern Ontario, explained Phillips.
But later in the week, “we’re going to see the winds shift more to the east and that’s a concern because it’s going to take the smoke from the Quebec fires, which are much more prevalent right
now, and move it through Eastern Ontario, and down through the GTA,” he continued.
Toronto events cancelled over wildfire smoke
Toronto events cancelled over wildfire smoke
The Toronto Zoo is reducing its hours on Thursday, operating from 9:30 am to 3 pm. They encourage guests to reschedule their visits that day, and to wear a mask if unable. Live horse races at
Woodbine Park and Woodbine Mohawk Park are also cancelled Thursday, in consideration of the “health and safety of the horses and racing participants,” Woodbine said in a statement.
The City of Toronto adjusted its programming around the smoke, including cancelling some of its city-run outdoor recreation programs scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Other programs were able
to be moved indoors.
“Program registrants are being contacted directly and will be provided updates on any future cancellations or other changes,” Toronto said in a statement. City sport fields, baseball diamonds and parks will remain
open.
Meanwhile, the city-operated Toronto Early Learning & Child Care Centres will be suspending outdoor activities; parents and guardians will receive direct updates as the situation progresses.
For people experiencing homelessness, Toronto is working to set up temporary contingency spaces at various shelters — like common rooms and other areas not used for sleeping — to accommodate more
people inside. Toronto’s Streets to Homes community outreach team is performing wellness checks, offering water and encouraging people living outside to come indoors.
Toronto History Museums has also cancelled all outdoor programming until the Special Air Quality Statement lifts. St. Lawrence Market is currently reviewing its outdoor programming and will
update its website should anything change.
How GTA school boards are reacting
School boards across the GTA have issued warnings over the smoke, with some limiting outdoor activity. These include the Toronto District School Board, which will be rescheduling or moving indoors all outdoor activities on Thursday. Included are
“recess, athletic events, field trips and local school events.”
The Toronto Catholic District School Board recommended schools to “consider indoor recess” and to reschedule outdoor activities
should students or staff have respiratory conditions. “We also reminded schools that using classroom HEPA Air Purifiers” helps reduce smoke particulates indoors, the board said.
The Peel District School Board encouraged students to “monitor how they are
feeling for symptoms,” noting health impacts may be felt days after smoke exposure. While recesses are still outdoors, they recommend students avoid strenuous physical activity and will
accommodate those who wish to stay inside when possible.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will be
shortening the length of outdoor recesses on Wednesday and Thursday. Like other boards, they encourage students to avoid strenuous activity and said “schools will make every attempt to
accommodate those who wish to stay inside or are experiencing symptoms such as coughing or throat irritation.”
The Durham District School Board has postponed or moved indoors all recess and outdoor
activities as of Wednesday, and will be monitoring and providing daily updates on its website as the situation evolves.
The Durham Catholic District School Board also moved recess indoors as of Wednesday, with
track and field moved inside for the day and its remaining events cancelled. “We anticipate similar recommendations will be in place on Thursday,” they said.
The Halton District School Board has cancelled
all sports activities and will continue to monitor as the situation changes. The Halton Catholic District School Board did not issue an update as of Wednesday evening.
Will my flight be delayed due to the smoke?
New York City became the most polluted major city in the
world on Wednesday, causing over 1,600 incoming flights to be delayed over poor visibility. But major airports in the GTA aren’t as worried.
A representative of Pearson Airport told the Star they’re experiencing no impact to operations on Wednesday and “are not anticipating an impact over the next 48 hours, when air quality is
forecast to improve.” Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport is also “not seeing any decrease in capacity” as of Wednesday, they told the Star.
WestJet and Porter Airlines told the Star they haven’t had or anticipate any delays due to smoke. Should this change, a spokesperson for WestJet said a notice will be posted to their website and
impacted travellers will be notified over email.
Air Canada told the Star it’s “monitoring this situation closely,” and that some flights between Toronto and New York City on Wednesday were adjusted due to the latter’s poor visibility
How can you protect yourself from the wildfire smoke?
Experts say you can protect yourself by taking these precautions:
Avoid strenuous outdoor activities
Wear a mask — ideally an N95 mask — when outdoors
Close all windows and doors in your house, if indoor temperatures are comfortable
Install a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter in your home
Limit the use of kitchen and bathroom fans, which can create a negative air pressure system and draw more exterior air inside
Joshua Chong is a Toronto-based staff reporter for the Star’s Express Desk. Follow him on Twitter: @joshualdwchong
Kevin Jiang is a Toronto-based staff reporter for the Star’s Express Desk. Follow him on Twitter: @crudelykevin
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‘Look at my eyes, I've been crying.’ Marilyn Denis reflects on the ups and downs of her life in television (Thu, 08 Jun 2023)
The final instalment of “The Marilyn Denis
Show” airs June 9, capping a week of emotional, reflective episodes, with special guests including Jann Arden, The Property Brothers and Michael Bublé. Denis will remain on the radio as
co-host of “Marilyn Denis and Jamar” on Chum 104.5, but as she puts it, “daytime television is done for me.” Here, Denis talks to her longtime friend
and fellow broadcaster Maureen Holloway about how she navigated difficult personalities, raising her son on set as a single mother and the celebrity interviews she loved most.
Maureen Holloway: I'm so honoured that you asked me to do this and I'll try to make it as difficult as possible. So how are you feeling about the final goodbye?
Marilyn Denis: “Well, look at my eyes, I've been crying. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been watching people’s reels of all the wonderful contributions that they made to the show, with them,
and we all get tearful because it's been a lot of hard work, a lot of years putting the show together. And I'm feeling tired, but grateful.”
MH: I was actually behind the scenes when the announcement came down. I had a chance to talk to a couple of people who have worked with you for a long time and they were absolutely
shocked [that you were leaving]. I was like, “she wasn't going to do this forever!” But a television show is like a big family, and mama’s leaving.
MD: “It’s a big family. I’ve got pretty much the same people, the soul of the show, still here doing it with me. I love collaborating with them, on a larger scale than say radio. I’m going to
miss that.”
MH: You've made it very clear, and I have no doubt knowing how much the company treasures you, that this was your call.
MD: “It was my call. I felt that when you get up early in the morning and you think to yourself, ‘what time can I go to bed tonight?’ that's not a way to live. I also have a husband now, and a
grandchild, and there are going to be extracurricular activities with the little one, soccer or swimming lessons, and I want to be awake and alert to witness those things.
The show is doing great, so let’s end on a high. This is a large step away and I think it’s part one of what will eventually be another. I really don't know when that's going to happen. I'll do
this for a little bit and see how it feels and then I'll make a decision on that.”
MH: You are not leaving; you are giving up the visual part of Marilyn Denis the TV show. But to me, the hardest thing is getting up before anybody else in the world and putting on a radio
show. So tell me, why the one and not the other?
MD: “Because I truly love radio. I don't like it when I get up at three o'clock in the morning, especially in the winter. But once I get there, I'm glad I'm there. Putting on those headsets makes
me feel happy. It’s always been my companion — other things in my life have gone crazy but I always have the radio.”
MH: I think having to worry about what to wear and makeup and hair and always having to look a certain way has got to take its toll.
MD: “There's a little bit of that but it's a treat to get your hair done every day. This is how I’d plan: I’d meet someone for lunch or go out for dinner only Monday through Thursday because I
had my hair and makeup done — because on Saturday, nothing is going to be done. I've already booked a weekly hair appointment, like my mother used to; I'm trying to decide which day is the most
important day to do that.”
MH: I don't know if people realize how comfortable your style is. To me, you wear your Converse sneakers and your baseball caps, and that is as much a part of you as the more glamorous
part. Is that going to be Marilyn most of the time now?
MD: “Yes! We gave away a lot of money the other day on the Chum morning show, and I had my baseball cap on, no makeup, the lighting was horrible. But I thought, well, that’s me on the radio.
That's what it looks like. They asked me, could you just get a little glammed up because we're doing it a little bit more optically? I will do that. You didn't used to see anybody on the radio;
that's not the case anymore. Just look at us [doing a video interview] now. I do like to get dressed up, but it will be more Marilyn, less blazers.
MH: Let's go back. Why do you think you were hired for ‘Cityline’?
MD: “I think it was the radio background, because we did it live back then. If anything went amiss, I could make something out of something. If somebody wasn't doing OK in their segment, I would
know how to fill in those spaces.
But I still don't really know why they hired me. My sister said to me one day — siblings are always so supportive — ‘Why did they choose you to do this, especially the cooking part?’ I was just a
little kid back then and I didn't know much about throw pillows. But maybe that's what it was: I really wanted to learn. I felt like Cityline, and this show too, it's like opening up a magazine,
except the man or woman would come out and say, this is how you paint the room, this is how you cook the chicken, this is how you tell your children to behave. I'm learning along with the
audience, asking the questions. It’s the curiosity factor.”
MH: Having travelled with you and spent time with you, I’ve seen how other people respond to you. There's something about you that makes people feel that if you're not their friend, you
could be.
MD: “I think it's because I was in their houses, on screen, and on the radio, when they’re getting their kids ready for school. You're part of people's lives, as they are conducting their lives.
And then the television portion of it is, ‘OK, my husband is out of the house, I get to spend one hour for myself, and I get to learn about all these things and I'm going to learn along with
her.’
When I went from ‘Cityline’ to the ‘Marilyn Denis Show,’ people would go, ‘Oh my gosh, I loved you on ‘Cityline.’’ I said, but I have my own show now! But they were still like, ‘I loved you on
‘Cityline!’’ What I learned from that is how much people are invested in you, and that people don’t like change.”
MH: You were a single mother, with this bizarre schedule in this incredibly demanding industry, doing both radio and television, with little Adam [Wylde] growing up. How was
that?
MD: “The thing that kept me going was, was if TV fired me, I’d still have the radio to depend on for money, and vice versa — I could still support the family. For Adam, and you'd have to ask him,
he knew those two things were really important. I look down at that studio sometimes, facing the audience, and I remember the audio board being on the left hand side and there was Adam, if he
couldn't go to school that day, quietly playing with his little toy cars. He needed to be quiet, he knew ‘as mommy starts talking, I can't speak, but I can be very quiet with my cars.’ I involved
him and he knew this is what mom does.
Every other weekend, he would go to his dad's house. I would collapse on the Friday, probably have a major jamming weekend, regroup and then start again on Monday. That’s how it was done. I don't
know how I did it, but I loved both of them so much.
Adam is doing so well in the business, and we've had discussions about what was lacking and what he was mad at me for, as we all do when the kids get older and you can have a beer with them. And
he's taken that information and applied it to his life right now, on how to balance as much as you can.”
MH: You've met so many famous people but who did you really like?
MD: “Stevie Nicks and I got along so well. We had lots of talks throughout the years; when she’s in town I’ll see her backstage at her concerts. We talked about how some people don’t want your
star to rise. Sally Field was very forthcoming about the bad times and the good times, too. When Jane Fonda
came on the show, I was waiting for her to come out of the room where she was getting all dolled up. She came out and she grabbed my shoulders and she looked over my face and she said, ‘That's
good.’ I said, ‘Good work, isn’t it?’ She said ‘Yeah, it is.’ I said, ‘You're looking pretty good too.’ She goes, ‘Thank you.’ She wasn’t going to talk to me about it, it was just an
acknowledgment. I said to her, ‘Hey, we're gonna go out there and have some fun. If you don't want to answer a question, don't.’ She goes, ‘No, I'm good to go.’ I had her for about 30 minutes.
I get kind of a high after I interview somebody who I really respect. And it's not always the people that are famous — everybody has a story.”
MH: So many of the women that I've talked to on my podcast have been cage-rattlers, called people out. Jennifer Valentyne is an example, and I include myself. But you have managed to be
as successful as you are without getting into trouble, and I include good trouble in this. Am I right in that?
MD: “Yeah, I think so. When challenged, one has a very intense one on one with the individual — not to say that it always worked because there's some ding dongs that I've met along the way. I was
raised by men in broadcasting. And some of them I didn't even waste my time with, to say, ‘Hey, that's not respectful.’ You can't walk on me. If I think there's an injustice to me personally, I
will definitely step up to the plate. That’s from my mother. But I don't think I'm a confrontational person. I could never do talk radio.”
MH: I know what you mean, in talk radio you’re supposed to be controversial and have an opinion for the sake of having one.
MD: “I think part of it is I was the third child of four girls. At the dining room table, I would hear the conversations and be doing a quiet dialogue of how I would respond to stuff. I’d be
reacting to the flow of the conversation, not disrupting it, but listening and saying to myself, ‘Oh, if I had the floor right now, I would say this.’ It's not that they quietened me down. But I
look back at dinners on Sunday and think I may have become a better listener because of that.”
MH: I have one more question and it has to do with Jim [Helman] and this lovely romance, this incredible story that he was your friend who was your prom date, and you found each other
after all this time. If you didn’t have Jim in your life now, would you be stepping away?
MD: “I would. There’s more life to live. Like having dinner with you and John and Jim and I! After the radio show, I’ll have the rest of the day to do other things. Golfing is one of them; I’m
very bad at golf but I’m into it. The NFL season is happening and I'm a big Steelers fan, so I can finish the radio show and be at the Whirlpool Bridge by 10.30, on my way to Pittsburgh for the
weekend. I'm excited about that. I need a little bit of a break and I'm going to get one, and I'm really looking forward to it.”
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Suspended Toronto cop charged with breaking his bail conditions (Thu, 08 Jun 2023)
A Toronto police officer facing a string
of criminal charges for allegedly stealing a luxury watch from a dead man’s home and a credit card from a deceased woman has been arrested again, charged with breaching his bail conditions.
Toronto police announced Thursday that Const. Boris Borissov was arrested and charged with one count of failing to comply with his release order.
The officer turned himself in to police at Etobicoke’s 23 Division and appeared in court Thursday, police said. Court documents show he was re-released on bail later Thursday with conditions.
Borissov, an officer with 16 years on the force, is facing nearly a dozen criminal charges including breach of trust, fraud and possession of property obtained by crime after allegedly stealing
property while on duty on at least two occasions. The charges have not been proven in court.
According to allegations contained in Toronto police tribunal documents, Borissov stole, then tried to sell, a Tag Heuer watch belonging to a missing man who was later found dead. The brand’s
luxury watches retail from roughly $2,000 to more than $15,000 for high-end models.
Police also allege Borissov stole a BMO Mastercard while involved in a sudden-death investigation into a woman discovered dead in her home in May 2020. Police allege the card was used 16 times
after her death.
Police also allege Borissov then gave the card to a man who used it in Mississauga, and that Borissov and that same man had “fraudulently obtained motor vehicles.”
Borissov is currently suspended with pay from the Toronto police. Ontario’s Police Services Act requires all officers suspended from service be paid unless
they are sentenced to jail time.
Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing for the Star. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca
or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis
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Woman dead, several injured after 8-vehicle collision in Mississauga (Thu, 08 Jun 2023)
A woman is dead and several others are injured after an eight-vehicle collision north of Pearson Airport.
Fire crews were dispatched to Derry
Road and Redwood Road, in Malton, after a “serious” motor vehicle collision at around 9:35 a.m. on Thursday.
Peel Regional Police said the incident happened after several vehicles were waiting at the traffic light on Rexwood Road, when a bus continued through the intersection travelling eastbound on
Derry Road, resulting in a chain reaction of events.
Several people had to be extricated from their vehicles. Peel paramedics said nine patients were transported to various hospitals in the region, including an a woman with life-threatening
injuries, who has since been pronounced dead.
One person remains in serious condition, while seven others endured moderate but non-life-threatening injuries. Police said there were other victims who were treated for minor injuries and
released at the scene.
No charges or arrests have been made at this time. Police are advising people to use alternate routes.
This is a developing story.
Santiago Arias Orozco is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @SantiagoAriasO6
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Despite mortgage squeeze, rising rates likely won’t slow Toronto home prices (Thu, 08 Jun 2023)
The latest Bank of Canada interest rate hike will add to the financial burden of some variable mortgage holders and those renewing fixed rate loans this year.
But Wednesday’s quarter-point increase isn’t likely to slow home price recovery in the GTA, say
real estate experts.
They say that the lack of homes listed for sale in the Toronto area will continue to buoy prices for the foreseeable future.
“Even if you saw sales flatline, you were still talking about listings well below where they were last year so market conditions would still be tighter than they were this time last year and that
supports further price growth,” said Jason Mercer, chief market analyst for the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB).
Buyers who stepped out of the market when the central bank started hiking historically low rates in March 2022 have been active again in recent months. Toronto area home prices are still down on
a year-over-year basis from the February 2022 peak average of $1.33 million but they have been edging up monthly.
May was the fourth consecutive month in which the average selling price of a home rose in the region, up to nearly $1.2 million, only 1.2 per cent behind the same month last year.
Home buyers have adjusted to the higher rates of the last year and aren’t likely to step back again because of an additional quarter-point on their mortgage, said Mercer. Even before the first of
the last nine rate rises, the mortgage stress test required home buyers to qualify for a loan at a higher rate than their bank actually charges.
Wednesday’s announcement puts the central banks’s key lending rate at 4.75 per cent — the highest since April 2001. The bank’s increase is an attempt to tame inflation that is resisting their two per cent target.
Although higher borrowing costs lead to inflation in mortgage and rent prices, “over time that’s way more than offset by its impact on consumer spending in other sectors,” said Mercer.
Royal LePage CEO Phil Soper expects his company will hike its year-end price forecast upward for a second time this year, despite higher mortgage rates. The price correction triggered by last
March’s rising rates, was over at the end of the first quarter of this year, he said.
The picture could change if rising rates appear to be a trend again, he said. If people who could move decide against it because they’re worried about a big transaction in the midst of economic
turmoil that might cool demand somewhat.
“If what policymakers were hoping for was a direct drop in home prices, I just don’t see it happening,” said Soper, “The imbalance between the people who need to put a roof over their heads is
just still so great.” He pointed to record high immigration levels and consumers who have been renting and saving to buy as price drivers.
Interest rates, he added, will gradually put upward pressure on rents as landlords renew their mortgages or purchase new property.
While listings continue to languish in many parts of the GTA, Ara Mamourian, managing partner with The Spring Team, REAL Broker Ltd., says the number of homes going to market has been increasing
in the last five weeks downtown and in urban areas like Leslieville and Roncesvalles.
But he expects Wednesday’s rate hike could start the summer slowdown a little early — although that might not be a bad thing.
“The listings are increasing now and if sales actually decrease as a result of this rate hike, the market will move back into a more balanced place where sellers aren’t necessarily in the
driver’s seat all the time but buyers aren’t either.”
People assume buyers will be immediately impacted by a rate rise, he added, but anybody who is actively in the market has a pre-approval locked in.
There will be pain in some quarters, however, said Ron Butler of Butler Mortgage. Some variable mortgage holders will hit the trigger where the interest portion of their loan surpasses the total
mortgage payment, often pushing them into longer amortization periods.
For those with fixed rate loans renewing this year, Wednesday’s interest rate increase “is a real blow,” because, after falling March through May, those rates have been rising again and the
central bank’s announcement means all chances of rate cuts this year have vanished, he said.
“Some of the better options in the 4 per cent range that existed just three or four weeks ago are gone. It’s going to be nothing but rates that start with a five or possibly even rates that start
with a six,” said Butler.
James Laird, co-chief executive of rates comparison site Ratehub.ca, estimates a homeowner who had a 10 per cent down payment on a $716,083 home with a five-year variable rate of 5.55 per cent
amortized over 25 years has a monthly mortgage payment of $4,075.
With the 25-basis point rate increase, that will increase to 5.80 per cent and their monthly payment will increase to $4,173. This means that the homeowner will pay $98 more a month or $1,176 a
year on their mortgage payments, he said in a press release.
For those who have fixed payments on a variable rate mortgage, he predicts they will exceed their trigger rate if they haven’t already — the point where your payments are no longer enough to
cover all of the interest you’ve accrued since your last payment. This means your entire mortgage payment is covering interest, so none of it is allocated toward principal.
Files from The Canadian Press
Tess Kalinowski is a Toronto-based reporter covering real estate for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @tesskalinowski
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‘Blame Canada!’ Wildfire smoke from Quebec, Ontario has Americans seeing red (and orange) (Thu, 08 Jun 2023)
As an orange apocalyptic cloud of darkness and despair descended onto New York City Wednesday, Americans were understandably upset. And where did they point the finger of frustration?
To the north.
“EH!POCALYPSE NOW,” screamed a banner on the cover of the New York Post Thursday morning, playing homage to a joke from the 1999 South Park
movie. “Canuck wildfires plunge NYC into eerie smoky hell. BLAME CANADA!”
New York City had record-breaking terrible air quality
yesterday afternoon due to the Canadian wildfire smoke, leading the world with an abysmal air quality index (AQI) rating of 342, according to IQAir — and the next city on the list wasn’t even
close. Toronto also climbed up within the top five on that dire list yesterday, with an estimated score of 175 AQI.
As of Thursday morning, New York City still sat atop that list with an AQI rating of 184, and it may not see relief for days. Toronto, for its part, might hit levels NYC saw yesterday, as
it braces for what might be the worst air
quality levels it has ever seen.
The large masses of smoke are largely coming from out-of-control wildfires from Quebec’s interior and in Northern Ontario, prompting evacuation orders for tens of thousands affected by those
areas in Canada. Despite being thousands of kilometres away, many cities in southern Ontario and the northeastern U.S. are being blanketed by a thick haze and odour, sparking public health
advisories and cancellations at sporting and entertainment venues, as well as delays at airports.
Keep in mind though that wildfire smoke is no laughing matter, as the smoke is potentially very
hazardous, even to healthy folks, and serves as an incredibly sober wake up call to the reality of climate change and the inaction of countries to address it head on. But people will
inevitably find the humour in serious things.
New York Post wasn’t the only one blaming Canada — or referencing the South Park song — for its air quality issues as many others took online to berate their neighbours up north:
Some people made references to scenes in “Blade Runner 2049” and “Dune” after seeing images of the orangey and other-wordly looking smoke:
While Canada shouldn’t be blamed — again, it’s a sign of worsening climate change conditions — some Canadians took to social media to respond in the most Canadian way ... by saying “sorry!”
With files from Thea Gribilas
Justin Smirlies is a Star digital producer based in Toronto. Reach him via email: jsmirlies@thestar.ca
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Ontario warns doctors to look out for invasive group A strep. Here’s what you need to know (Thu, 08 Jun 2023)
Pediatricians, primary care providers and hospital physicians, including those who work in emergency departments and labour and delivery units, are being asked to be on the lookout for “signs and
symptoms” of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease.
A recent memo from Ontario’s Ministry of Health, obtained by the Star, points to an increase in cases of the potentially deadly bacterial infection in the province and requests physicians be “on
the alert” for the disease, which can quickly lead to severe
illness.
Though Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease (iGAS) remains rare, data from Public Health
Ontario shows an increase in cases since January, with April having the highest reported monthly case count since the 2014-15 strep season.
And the most recent data from Toronto Public Health shows a “higher than expected” increase in iGAS cases since November, with cases in May rising to more than twice the pre-pandemic average for
that month.
Public Health Ontario data show rates are highest among children and infants four years and under and
among adults 65 and older.
Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health, requests in the May 23 memo that physicians, primary care providers and midwives “be on the alert for signs and symptoms of
iGAS in your patients.
“While iGAS remains relatively uncommon it can progress quickly and may be associated with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, sepsis … meningitis, pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions
resulting in death,” Yaffe said.
Dr. Allan Grill, chief of family medicine at Markham Stouffville Hospital, a part of Oak Valley Health, said he and his colleagues have seen an increase in non-invasive strep A infections this
winter and spring, including strep throat, and welcome the provincial alert on iGAS.
“This (memo) puts our radar up a bit, it makes us look for things a little bit more,” said Grill, a family physician. “The public doesn’t need to panic because (iGAS) is still a rare occurrence.
But we have to take the infection seriously.”
What is invasive group A strep?
Group A strep disease is a common bacterial infection that often leads to mild illnesses that are commonly treated with antibiotics, including strep throat, skin infections such as impetigo, and
scarlet fever.
The bacteria, which are typically harmless and are often found in the throat or on the skin, are spread from person to person through respiratory droplets or from direct contact with secretions
from the nose, throat or wounds.
In rare cases, the bacteria can enter the blood, joints or deep muscle tissue, causing more severe and potentially life-threatening infections. These include pneumonia; meningitis; septicemia, or
blood poisoning; and necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease.
Young children, people who are pregnant or who recently gave birth, and adults over 60 are at greater risk of developing iGAS. People who have weakened immune systems, including those undergoing
chemotherapy or who have HIV, as well as people with chronic diseases are also at higher risk.
An increase in iGAS cases
In Ontario, 894 iGAS cases were reported between Oct. 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, with Public Health Ontario noting an increasing trend in cases since January. During that same period, six
children under 18 and 113 adults died of the disease.
According to the agency’s most recent
summary, iGAS cases reported each month between October 2022 to April 2023 “exceeded the number of cases for the same months in each of the five pre-pandemic seasons, with the exception of
October 2017 and January 2018.”
April iGAS cases — close to 180 cases were reported province-wide — added up to the highest monthly total since the 2014-15 season, the data shows.
The rise in iGAS cases is being seen nationally and around the world with health authorities in other jurisdictions, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, posting alerts. Cases of iGAS dropped during the pandemic due to public
health measures such as masking and distancing.
Experts say the increase in iGAS cases may be due to the recent spike in circulating respiratory viruses —
a triple threat of COVID-19, influenza and RSV
hit hospitals hard last winter — alongside the lifting of public health measures. Epidemiological studies suggest a
link between iGAS infections and getting sick with respiratory viruses.
Dr. Richard Hamat, a pediatrician at Humber River Hospital, said he is aware of “several” patients requiring hospitalization for iGAS in the Toronto area this year.
“These are very, very severe cases where it’s become extraordinarily aggressive in certain individuals,” said Hamat, also a pediatrician at the Vaughan Pediatric Clinic in Woodbridge. “I can’t
recall any cases of invasive strep in previous years. This is very unusual.”
In a statement to the Star, Toronto Public Health said there is a “higher than expected increase in iGAS cases in recent months, starting in November, and reaching a peak in March where there
were 34 reported cases compared to a pre-pandemic five-year mean of 14 cases for that month.”
Toronto data shows there were 124 iGAS cases between January and the end of May — up from 41 cases reported during the same time period the previous year. The five-year average between 2013 and
2018 for January to May was 72 cases.
What are signs and symptoms of invasive strep?
Non-invasive strep, including strep throat, can be easily diagnosed with a rapid swab, and most patients will improve within 24 hours following treatment with antibiotics, said Hamat, who advises
patients book a followup appointment if they do not improve after 24 hours.
Parents should call a doctor if their child has a sore throat or rash with a high fever and doesn’t “perk up” or respond to over-the-counter pain and fever medications, he said. They should also
quickly seek medical attention if their fevered child “has a change in consciousness,” such as “not appearing responsive or acting more confused,” he said.
Grill said it’s important to keep an eye on rashes and skin infections; a rash that spreads quickly, with the area hot to the touch and painful, could point to a potential invasive strep
infection. Another warning sign is an extremely bad headache accompanied by a stiff neck, which could indicate meningitis caused by invasive strep.
“And if the infection gets in your blood, leading to sepsis or blood poisoning, people tend to be lethargic,” said Grill. “Whether it’s a child or an adult, if you can’t wake them up, if they’re
so tired that it’s hard to rouse them, this is a red flag.”
While invasive strep infections are rare, Grill said seeking medical care quickly is key because “patients can go from feeling pretty good to getting very sick quickly, within 12 to 24 hours.”
Patients with iGAS typically require aggressive treatment with intravenous antibiotics, he said.
Are there ways to lower the risk of invasive strep?
Good hand hygiene, including washing hands after coughing and sneezing and before and after eating, can help minimize strep infections, said Grill.
Evidence shows that a previous viral infection puts someone at higher risk of invasive strep, which is why keeping up to date with routine immunizations, such as those for chickenpox and
influenza, is important, he said, noting older adults also benefit from pneumococcal vaccines.
Hamat also advises parents about the benefits of vaccines and that having a child vaccinated against chickenpox will help lower the risk of iGAS.
“Chickenpox has always been a risk factor for invasive strep but now potentially even more so,” he said. “We can’t vaccinate against strep, but we can have timely doctors’ visits when you’re
sick, know the signs and what to look out for and prevent one of the risk factors by keeping up with your usual vaccinations.”
Megan Ogilvie is a Toronto-based health reporter for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @megan_ogilvie or reach her via email: mogilvie@thestar.ca
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Bad air quality is dangerous for your pets. Here’s how to protect them from wildfire smoke (Thu, 08 Jun 2023)
As air quality worsens due to Canadian wildfire smoke clouding Ontario, Quebec and parts of the U.S.,
experts are warning residents should be cautious of the health impacts. We already know that smoke particles can be particularly
harsh on the elderly, children and those with breathing conditions — but pets aren’t immune, either.
In a special air quality statement issued
Thursday, Environment Canada and the Province of Ontario cautioned that poor air quality “may persist into the weekend.”
For humans, protection looks like mask-wearing, closing doors and windows, and limited exposure to the smoke, according to the experts.
So what do these conditions mean for pets who would usually go out for a much-needed walk, and how can pet owners protect them?
Toronto Humane Society Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Karen Ward and Senior Manager of Shelter Medice Advancement Dr. Linda Jacobson offers some advice.
Air quality and impact of wildfire smoke on pets
Many of the respiratory risks from breathing contaminated air are shared by pet and pet owners alike. Wildfire smoke can be harmful to the health of
every living thing, even at low concentrations. In the short term, it is common for animals to experience irritation, eye redness and coughing when exposed to air pollutants.
Underlying health issues or respiratory diseases, especially for brachycephalic dog breeds like bulldogs and boxes (dogs with skull bones that are shorter in length), or older animals are at
further health risk.
Chronic conditions like shortness of breath or respiratory distress are only typically seen in cases with long-term smoke inhalation, something Jacobson says shouldn’t be a problem at the moment.
Exercise intolerance, excessive coughing and unusual tiredness or weakness are the first signs your pet may need veterinary attention.
When should you keep your pet indoors?
“A lot of common sense things that people are doing for themselves are going to help animals,” Ward said.
Keeping animals indoors when the air quality is poor is the best way to avoid health complications, even if it means limiting balcony access for your feline friend.
Making sure they’re in enclosed spaces with windows closed, and have access to purified air
circulation, are strongly recommended. Animals, especially those with underlying health issues, should be monitored closely to ensure “their general demeanour is okay,” Ward said.
Owners might also reconsider the time of day and type of walk when taking their dogs out. Dr. Ward said owners should consider walking their dogs out when the air quality and temperature humidity
are expected to be at the lowest level of risk during the day.
In a University of Calgary news article cited by Toronto Public Health, animals should be kept indoors
when the AQI is greater than 150.
Long stays outdoors are discouraged to avoid seeing “behavioural health and well-being” impacts, and exercise outdoors during the coming days should also be limited.
“If they (pets) are going to the park and start ripping, running, tearing, playing and breathing heavily, they're going to be breathing in more of that air and more deeply,” Ward said.
With files from Kevin Jiang and Joshua Chong
Manuela Vega is a Toronto-based staff reporter for the Star’s Express Desk. Follow her on Twitter: @_manuelavega
Santiago Arias Orozco is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @SantiagoAriasO6
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Should you ever use the word ‘Indian’? ‘Reservation Dogs’ star Devery Jacobs sparks a conversation about language and race (Fri, 09 Jun 2023)
Actor Devery Jacobs sparked a conversation — and lesson — about Indigenous Peoples in North America during a panel discussion released earlier this week.
In a segment from The Hollywood Reporter’s comedy actress roundtable, the “Reservation Dogs” star
corrected “Abbott Elementary” actor Sheryl Lee Ralph after Ralph referred to Indigenous Peoples as “Indians.”
During a discussion about typecasting — the casting of an actor in the same type of role, time after time — and pressures to look a certain way, Jacobs, a Mohawk woman who was born and raised in
Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec, said she’d felt she had to be “thin or be fit” to be able to star in a Marvel movie.
“Then, when I was cast in one (the upcoming “Echo”) — not a movie, a show — I was like, ‘OK, now I have all this pressure where I have to be fit.’ Then I was like, ‘Hang on, I’ve already been
cast exactly as I am,’” adding she could have benefitted from seeing someone who looked like her in media when growing up.
Ralph responded saying it was interesting how Jacobs spoke about herself as a “Native American.”
“Through what we’ve seen in the old Westerns, it’s always like, ‘You’re supposed to look like Pocahontas’ because that’s their only frame of reference for a Native American.”
She went on to say: “In so many ways, the history and the way it’s not being taught — we don’t know that it’s the whole North American continent of Native North Americans. It’s from the whole
expanse of the country. When I saw you all at Oklahoma, I was like, ‘Indians, in Oklahoma?!’ DUH, yeah, of course. Indians in Massachusetts! Indian in Vancouver! It’s the whole continent. But we
always think Pocahontas.”
Jacobs quickly jumped in to offer a correction.
“I wanna say, respectfully, that for us, we call ourselves ‘Indians.’ But for other people (who are not Indigenous) I would say ‘Indigenous’ or ‘Native American.’”
Ralph nodded, responding that she “respects” the correction because when discussions like this happen, it’s better for people who don’t understand to learn, adding she relates to Jacob’s point
because of how labels to describe Black people have changed over the years.
“If you don’t have the conversation with people, they don’t know,” she said.
Jacob added it’s also best to be as specific as possible — if you know the specific group an Indigenous person belongs to, you should refer to them by that. Jacobs used the example that she’s a
Mohawk woman.
“There’s literally over 500 different tribes and nations across North American,” Jacobs added.
“Still?” Ralph asked. “Still?!”
“Oh yeah, of course,” said Jacobs, plugging the book “Project 562” by Matika Wilbur, who visited every federally-recognized tribe. “We’re still alive and around.”
And another point Jacobs made about the term ‘Indian’?
“‘Indian’ is more like a joke that we kinda reclaimed for ourselves,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs and Ralph’s exchange
begins around 43 minutes into the roundtable, alongside Ayo Edebiri, Elle Fanning, Natasha Lyonne and Jenna Ortega.
Alessia Passafiume is a GTA-based staff reporter for the Star’s Express Desk. Follow her on Twitter: @alespassafiume
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Shane Doan joining Leafs GM Brad Treliving as special assistant (Fri, 09 Jun 2023)
BUFFALO, N.Y.—Shane Doan will be leaving the Arizona Coyotes, the only NHL
franchise he has been with since entering the league in 1995, to join the Maple Leafs as a special assistant to GM Brad Treliving.
The Star confirmed the news first mentioned by Nick Kypreos
in his weekly column last week and broken online by Kevin Weekes on Thursday after it was finalized. Word spread quickly at the NHL Combine in Buffalo, with many shocked Doan would leave
Arizona.
“Brad Treliving can be persuasive,” said one team executive.
“Treliving and Doan are tight,” said another.
Doan was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, seventh overall, in the 1995 draft. He was the last active player to have played for the original Jets. He retired after the 2017 season
as the franchise leader in games played (1,540), goals (402), assists (570) and points (972).
Doan, who had been the Coyotes’ chief development officer, comes to the Leafs in the same capacity Jason Spezza held in relation to Kyle Dubas last year, as special assistant to the GM. Spezza
stepped down the same day the Leafs announced they were parting ways with Dubas.
Doan has served as general manager of Canada's national team at the world championship and Olympics. Both Doan and Treliving are big backers of Hockey Canada. Doan also has a long-standing
relationship with Leafs Auston Matthews and Matthew
Knies due to their ties to the Phoenix area. Doan helped coach Knies as a youngster.
Kevin McGran is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @kevin_mcgran
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