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How Toronto malls like Yorkdale and Yorkville Village are planning to reopen tomorrow

By
Nikki Gill
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Yorkville Village malls reopen

With Premier Ford’s long-awaited announcement yesterday that Toronto can now move into Stage 2 of the province’s reopening plan, local malls are working hard to get health and safety protocols in place to ensure the health of customers and staff is the number one priority as they reopen their doors.

Here’s a look at what shoppers can expect at four of Toronto’s most popular malls starting tomorrow.

 

Yorkdale

 

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Yorkdale released a video on its website and Instagram page to show shoppers the new signage and cleaning procedures that are in place throughout the shopping centre. Select stores and restaurants will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting June 24. Water fountains, smart carts and valet services will not be available, and some seating areas throughout the mall have been removed. There will also be limited capacity in elevators and washrooms, and some tenants will still only be offering takeout or curbside pick-up services rather than in-store shopping.

 

Yorkville Village

Along with frequent disinfecting of all common areas and high-touch surfaces, Yorkville Village is also introducing a daily flush of fresh air into the shopping centre. Elevator and washroom capacity is limited, and stairwells will be opened for visitors who prefer not to use elevators. The staff has also removed all common area seating as well as all seating in its food hall. For those who prefer to abstain from entering a mall, Yorkville Village will continue offering its contactless pick-up on the P2 level, as well as personal shopper services.

 

Bayview Village

Bayview Village will also reopen its doors on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays but some tenants may choose to operate on further reduced hours. Pusateri’s, Loblaw’s and Shoppers Drug Mart will reserve the first hour of shopping to customers who require assistance. Entrances to many shops are also limited. Loblaw’s can only be accessed from its P1 entrance, and exterior entrances must be used for Starbucks and Talbots. For a full (and frequently updated) list of stores with their current operating hours, visit the website.

 

Eaton Centre

 

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The Toronto Eaton Centre will be sure to receive a lot of traffic with its location in the heart of downtown. When it reopens on Wednesday, expect to see signage on how to navigate the many walkways in the mall while respecting physical distancing protocols. Cleaning has also been increased and hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the centre. Best Buy and Samsung will continue to offer curbside pickup services. Retailers that will be open for in-store shopping include: Canadian Tire, Hudson’s Bay, Nordstrom, Shoppers Drug Mart, Lenscrafters, H&M and Roots.

How five Toronto restaurant owners plan to reopen their patios

By
Jessica Huras
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restaurant patios
Ascari on King

With the announcement that Toronto will move into phase two of reopening on Wednesday, June 24, restaurants across the city are getting ready to reopen their patios to dine-in guests.

Five Toronto restaurant operators share how they’re preparing for the new normal of patio dining.

 

Gusto 101 and Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen

Juanita Dickson, President & CFO of Gusto 54 Restaurant Group 

“We are fortunate that most of our restaurants benefit from some level of outdoor space or patio. We have worked with the City of Toronto to apply for permitting to extend our patios beyond the current limits to allow for more seating with adequate physical distancing.

We are also preparing our teams and restaurants to take additional safety measures — digital menus pulled up via QR codes on each table, shields or masks for our teams, additional safety signage, and barriers at the host stand to protect our team members.”

 

Enoteca Sociale

Chef Kyle Rindinella of Enoteca Sociale

“While we are excited to reopen and are looking forward to hosting guests once again and sharing our hospitality, we won’t be reopening fully on day one. Before we start welcoming guests back onto our patio, we want to make sure that we have procedures in place to prioritize the safety of our guests and staff.

We are looking at the angles and spacing of our patio to ensure social distancing among our guests and we’re looking at a possible patio extension.”

 

Sofia Restaurant and Bar and KOST

kost rooftop patio

Charles Khabouth, CEO of INK Entertainment 

“The supply chain has been weakened significantly as some suppliers have had to shut down and some are struggling to procure certain products. For us, this means menu changes were necessary in terms of ingredients and costs, as sourcing has become difficult and more expensive.

Our top priority is safety and well-being. With that in mind, we are closely following the recommended guidelines from the government and local health officials to ensure the reopening goes as smoothly as possible.

Some of the new measures we have in place include, but are not limited to, training all staff on wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, physically distanced tables (a minimum of six feet apart), frequent cleaning using industry-leading sanitation solutions, disposable dishware and cutlery, touchless menus, separate entrances and exits, and strategically placed staff to mitigate lines and crowding.”

 

The Chase and Kasa Moto

Kyle Sloopka, Director of Operations with the Chase Hospitality Group 

“We were all anticipating it would be a Friday, not a Wednesday, so we’re just trying to realign the teams and get everything sorted. 

We have a COVID-19 playbook that we’re going to be sharing with all of the staff — just to go through exactly what the new rules and the new steps of service are going to be to keep people safe.

People are very used to treating our dining rooms like their living rooms, which is what we love. But we need to train our guests on how to properly go about booking reservations versus walking in and on abiding by some of the rules and regulations to keep us safe and have it be an enjoyable experience.

A lot of staff have potentially rethought whether or not they’re going to be coming back to the industry at all, so we can’t just simply rely on all the same people to come back.

It’s just not as simple as flipping the light switch back on again.”

 

Ascari Enoteca, Hi-Lo Bar and Gare de l’Est

ASCARI

John Sinopoli, Partner & Executive Chef with Ascari Hospitality Group 

“We have two existing patios and we are hoping to add two more to our other properties through the CafeTO program. As soon as we can be physically ready, train our staff and get our kitchen teams prepared, we will open. Ideally, it will be on the first day allowed but realistically that will be a challenge.

The largest challenge is likely going to be our teams getting their sea legs back underneath them while adjusting to the many new and necessary protocols for executing service.

Also, managing the guests’ expectations in both quality and speed of service while adhering to the new guidelines could be a challenge, but I’m sure as the public and our team get a few days under their belt, all will be well.

The first few days will require extra patience and care on everyone’s part (including the guests!) as we know that everyone will be excited to be out enjoying a meal and a drink on the patio and our team will be excited to be back at doing what they love.”

Interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity

Ben Mulroney steps down from his role as anchor on Etalk

By
Nikki Gill
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0
ben mulroney

Ben Mulroney returned to CTV’s Your Morning today after being on vacation last week and addressed the backlash his wife Jessica Mulroney has been receiving at the top of the show. He also announced that he will be stepping away from his role as anchor at Etalk.

“I want to take a moment to speak to you about the situation surrounding my wife Jessica, and the next steps I will be taking with Bell Media,” he said. “I love my wife, however it is not my place to speak for her. And today, together, we are committed to doing the work to both learn and understand more about anti-Black racism as well as learn and understand more about our blind spots.”

Mulroney then acknowledged his privilege and how it has benefitted him throughout his life and career.

“My privilege has benefitted me greatly, and while I have certainly worked hard to build my career, I know that systemic racism and injustice helps people like me, and harms those who aren’t like me, often in ways that are invisible to us. This needs to change,” he said.

 

 

Mulroney also stated that more Black voices, Indigenous voice and people of colour are needed in Canadian media and in all other professions and said that is why he has decided to step away from his role as anchor at Etalk.

“It is my hope that the new anchor is Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour who can use this important platform to inspire, lead and make change,” he said.

Mulroney won’t be leaving the show entirely though, he stated that he will still contribute to the show and host red carpet events, as well as take on special projects. He also stated that he will continue his role as co-host of Your Morning with Anne-Marie Mediwake.

How one Toronto food business has adapted amid the pandemic

By
Jessica Huras
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0
toben food by design
L-R: Ryan Feldman, Elana Kochman and Toben Kochman of Toben Food by Design

Elana Kochman was gearing up for the beginning of the busy spring season at Toben Food by Design, a high-end Toronto catering company, when the pandemic hit.

“In a matter of a week, everything came to almost a dead halt,” she says.

With their private events and corporate food programs suddenly cancelled or put on indefinite hold, Kochman says she and business partners Ryan Feldman and Toben Kochman quickly changed gears and began developing a home delivery food service that they could safely execute.

“We turned to the fact that everyone was in their homes and access to groceries was becoming much more difficult,” she says.

Toben’s new line of home meals runs the gamut from prepared entrées, pastas, and salads to vacuumed-packed marinated meats that customers can cook at home. Many dishes are based on popular items from their catering menu, but served in a family-style format.

toben food by design

Orders are placed through their site, with contactless deliveries made Monday to Friday or pick-up available at their Stockyards-area headquarters. Seven weeks into the pivot, Kochman says the response has been strong.

“People were pretty stoked that they could get our food, not just through a function,” she says, adding that they’ve been able to rehire about a quarter of their former 80-person team, most of whom they had initially made the difficult decision to lay off at the beginning of the pandemic.

The delivery program has also given the Toben team the opportunity to give back to a good cause. The company is partnering with Nanny Angel Network, an organization that provides free child care to mothers with cancer in the GTA and Kingston. Toben is providing free meals to select families weekly, helping to support mothers who are too unwell to cook or struggling to access grocery stores.

Customers have the option to make additional donations to the organization when placing meal orders. Kochman says Toben is also currently working on developing new charitable partnerships with other local hospitals and long-term care facilities.

 

 

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“It’s been overwhelmingly positive,” says Kochman, adding that she and her partners already plan to continue their home delivery program and their partnership with the Nanny Angel Network after they’re able to resume their normal catering operations. “It’s allowed us to reconnect with clients that we haven’t been able to work with for years, because they haven’t had events to plan.”

As summer approaches, the team is also set to expand their delivery radius to include cottage country areas.

“We’ll be doing drops to different areas, on different days of the week beginning in the middle of June,” Kochman explains.

While Toben has been part of numerous charitable initiatives in the past, Kochman says that the team has appreciated the opportunity to start giving back on a daily basis.

“As concerned as everyone is about their bottom line — no one wants to go out of business during this time — it’s our duty to recognize what we can do with our business, our industry, our craft, and support that way,” says Kochman. “You have to take a humanitarian approach during times like these.”

Jessica Mulroney steps down from her charity after being removed from her roles at Cityline, Hudson’s Bay and more

By
Nikki Gill
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0
jessica mulroney

Jessica Mulroney stepped down from the board of directors of the charity she co-founded, The Shoebox Project. Mulroney has been receiving backlash after Toronto influencer Sasha Exeter posted a video to her IGTV channel on June 10 detailing threats she received from Mulroney. Exeter says the threats were prompted by a call-to-action Exeter had posted on her Instagram Stories about Black Lives Matter, where she urged people with large followings to post about it too.

Mulroney responded to Exeter assuming the call-to-action was directed at her and that kickstarted a series of events which Exeter says resulted in Mulroney exercising her white privilege and perceived power over her. Mulroney then posted a public apology while also threatening to sue Exeter for libel in a private message. The full breakdown of what occurred can be found here.

After Exeter went public with her story, networks and television shows have chosen to remove Mulroney from their programming, along with her stepping down from her role at The Shoebox Project.

 

 

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The charity’s Instagram post went on to say, “As an organization, we are deeply committed to do better for Black and Indigenous women who have been systemically oppressed in Canada and around the world.”

This comes after CTV, the network that airs Mulroney’s show I Do, Redo, issued a statement that it is removing the show from all Bell Media channels and platforms effective immediately on June 11.

 

 

“Jessica Mulroney conflicts with our commitment to diversity and equality,” said the statement. Cityline, the daily lifestyle show where Mulroney appears for fashion segments, issued a statement that she will no longer appear as a guest expert on the show, and host Tracy Moore also posted to Instagram with the words “Trust Black Women” on June 11 where she wrote that Mulroney “used her extreme privilege to potentially bury a Black sister.”

 

 

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Additionally, Good Morning America, where Mulroney appears as a fashion expert, and Hudson’s Bay, where Mulroney works as a fashion and bridal specialist for Kleinfeld Canada, also cut ties with her.

DIY expert Mark Rason on how to build a giant backyard chalkboard

By
Nikki Gill
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0
chalkboard

Mark Rason is an expert DIY’er and self-taught woodworker and carpenter who frequently shares his tips and tricks on building high-quality, hand-crafted products on social media. He is also the project manager for Scott McGillivray’s Youtube series called Scott’s House Call. Follow him at @remarkableworks to discover new ideas and inspiration.

Father’s Day is a little different this year, but there’s still tons of creative and fun ways to celebrate right at home. I think we’re all guilty of being overly glued to our screens these days, but if you’re lucky enough to celebrate in-person, this Father’s Day is a chance to spend some quality family time together outdoors.

Of course most of us don’t want to spend our day working away at a complicated project, but this giant four-foot by four-foot chalkboard that I made for my daughter can be built in under 30 minutes and is a great task the family can get involved in.

What’s better? It’s inexpensive to make, and it will entertain your children for hours all summer long, while giving you and your partner some much-needed quiet time. Here are the basic instructions.

Gather the materials

First thing to remember, if you plan on putting this chalkboard in your backyard, you need to buy all-season materials to sustain those unpredictable summertime downpours. I used MicroPro Sienna’s treated wood for my frame because it’s sturdy enough to withstand the elements.

You’ll also need to purchase a 40-inch by 40-inch square backer board, chalkboard paint, deck screws (I used three-inch and one-and-a-quarter-inch screws), a mitre saw, drill, box cutter knife, ruler, tape measure and safety glasses.

Pro Tip: If you are using MicroPro Sienna wood, apply a high-quality water repellent or exterior stain as soon as it’s dry to the touch. This will help prevent warping, cracking or splitting.

Start the build

First things first, start by building the frame. To create a four-foot chalkboard, you first need to cut four 42-inch pieces of wood, with 45-degree mitres on the ends. Use the three-inch deck screws to hold the boards together on the outside tip. Whenever possible, always try to hide your fasteners for a cleaner look.

Next up, the chalkboard. Use a box cutter knife to create a 40-inch by 40-inch square out of your backer board. Once that is ready, open the chalkboard paint and start painting. For this project, I used Rust-Oleum Canada chalkboard spray paint. Apply four or five coats and that should do the trick.

Finally, the finishing touches. Once the backer board is dry and the frame is assembled, mount the backer board to the back of the frame using the one-and-a-quarter-inch screws. Don’t worry if it’s not completely flush, it won’t be noticeable from the front. If you’re fastening it to a fence post, make sure your screws penetrate the frame and the backer board to secure it properly.

Make it special

I love chalkboards because they’re such versatile DIY projects. You can use them as décor in your home, a fun toy for your kids, or a stylish way to stay on top of that never-ending to-do list. I mounted my daughter’s chalkboard on my fence in the backyard, so that I can easily move it higher as my daughter grows (sappy Dad over here, I know.) During the winter months, I can also detach it and easily bring it inside.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with it. Maybe let your kids choose the frame’s paint colour or paint it to match other pieces in your yard. Coloured chalkboard paint is also available in a variety of colours. Who says your chalkboard needs to be traditional black? For a fun element, consider using magnetic chalk paint, and you can put fun drawings or photos on it as well.

Lastly — and perhaps most importantly — don’t forget to take credit for this new toy when you present the finished product to your kids!

How to make chef Susur Lee’s signature Singaporean-style slaw

By
lindsaylow
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0
Singaporean-style slaw

Celebrity chef Susur Lee’s signature dish is not only a feast for the stomach, but a feast for the eyes. Inspired by a dish from Southeast Asia, Lee put his own unique spin on it when he moved back to North America by trading ingredients found in Singapore for local ingredients. Herein, he shares his recipe for the fresh, all-season and insanely addictive salad for which the noted chef is known.

For those who want to try the original dish before endeavouring to make it themselves, Lee Restaurant is offering the Singapore slaw as part of their new takeout menu.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 pickled red onion, julienned
  • 1 1⁄2 cups salted plum dressing
  • 2 green onions, both white and green parts, julienned
  • 1 taro root, peeled and julienned
  • 2 oz rice vermicelli, broken into 3 pieces
  • 1 large English cucumber, julienned
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and julienned
  • 1 small jicama, peeled and julienned
  • 2 large roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded and julienned
  • 4 tsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 6 tsp crushed roasted peanuts
  • 4 tsp edible flower petals
  • 4 tsp fennel seedlings
  • 4 tsp daikon sprouts
  • 4 tsp fried shallots

METHOD

1. Soak green onion in very cold water to keep crisp. Meanwhile, heat a large pot of oil. When temperature reaches 400°F, deep-fry taro root, half the amount at a time, for two minutes until crisp and light gold in colour.

2. Remove slices from oil, place on paper towel, and lightly salt. At same temperature, quickly deep-fry vermicelli, half at a time, for two seconds, or until they curl. Remove vermicelli from oil, place on paper towel and lightly salt.

 

 

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SALTED PLUM DRESSING

  • 1 cup salted preserved plum (pitted)
  • 1 1⁄2 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp mirin
  • 1 tsp dashi
  • 1⁄2 tbsp onion oil
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1⁄2 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
  • 1⁄4 tsp sea salt

METHOD

1. In blender, combine salted preserved plum, vinegar, mirin, dashi, onion oil, sugar, ginger and salt. Purée until smooth.

TO SERVE

1. Remove julienned green onion from water and drain. Divide vermicelli equally between four plates and arrange green onion, cucumber, carrot, jicama, tomatoes, and pickled red onion around noodles. Top with fried taro root.

2. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and crushed peanuts over each salad. In a small bowl, combine edible flower petals, seedlings, sprouts and fried shallots. Sprinkle flower-sprout-shallot mixture on salad and serve with salted plum dressing alongside.

City working to get farmers markets open soon complete with sanitizer stations and other new rules

By
Jessica Huras
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0
farmers market

From evenings spent on restaurant patios to beloved outdoor festivals, the pandemic has put a damper on many of our summer rituals. Fortunately, there’s hope that one warm-weather tradition will have a chance to restart before the season comes to a close. The City of Toronto has announced that it’s currently working to reopen 22 local farmers markets.

Along with the announcement, Toronto Public Health released a set of guidelines to help market organizers, staff, and vendors safely reopen.

Markets will need to rearrange their layouts to accommodate physical distancing and provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer stations for customers, among numerous other requirements needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

 

 

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The Evergreen Brickworks Farmers’ Market reopened last weekend; while St. Lawrence Market opened its seasonal outdoor market in a new location on Market Street, between the Esplanade and Wilton Street, to allow for physical distancing.

The press release from the City of Toronto states that additional market opening dates will be determined by each organizers’ ability to adhere to the new Toronto Public Health guidelines.

According to a Facebook post from East York Farmers’ Market, many markets are now waiting to receive the permits needed to reopen.

 

 

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Dear LFM Community: You may have heard earlier this week our excitement about opening in Jonathan Ashbridge Park this Sunday, June 21. Unfortunately, we have been made aware this morning by the City of Toronto that we will not be able to open in Jonathan Ashbridge Park this Sunday, June 21st, as they are not yet approving permits for markets in public parks. We know many of you were excited to shop today’s online market and pick up your farm-fresh goodies on Sunday. But we will be seeing you soon! The health and safety of farmers, vendors, staff, volunteers and community is our top priority. We are now aiming to open the following week, on Sunday, June 28th. Get ready to shop your favourite market goods when the online market opens at 9AM on Thursday, June 25th! And stay tuned here for more information, including a step by step guide to picking up your order. We can’t wait to see you, very soon. ? The LFM team

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Similarly, Leslieville Farmers’ Market posted on Instagram that it had hoped to open on June 21, but they were not granted a permit in time. They’re now aiming to open the following weekend, on June 28.

For now, many markets are targeting July opening dates, allowing them a few weeks to receive their permits and implement the new protocols outlined by Toronto Public Health.

Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market, Withrow Market, North York Farmers’ Market, and Sorauren Market are among the markets that have announced they hope to begin operating in July.

In the meantime, many popular markets like Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market are continuing to offer online ordering, allowing customers to support their favourite vendors until physical markets are able to reopen.

Five of the city’s top chefs on everything you need for the ultimate Father’s Day barbecue

By
lindsaylow
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0
roger mooking ribs

With restaurants closed, physical distancing protocols in place and the new social bubbles, Father’s Day will be a little different this year, but one thing you can do is throw your dad the best backyard barbecue. We asked five of the city’s top chefs to grill up popular barbecue favourites at home from local butcher shops. Here we have the final list of where to get all the best barbecue meats, and even some craft brews and delectable pies to pair them with. For those looking for some vegetarian and vegan-friendly barbecue ideas, check out chef David Lee’s recipes for sensational plant-based barbecue sides.

 

Mark McEwan tests artisanal burgers

WINNER | THE BUTCHER’S SON

“This was the juiciest,” says chef Mark McEwan. “It had excellent texture, great flavour and the meat quality was excellent as well. Overall a delicious burger.” 2055 Yonge St., $4.40/patty

For the full list of butcher shop burgers that McEwan grilled up, click here.

 

Nuit Regular grills marinated chicken

WINNER | MAGEN MEATS

“I liked that the skin was on with the herbs and spices marinade,” says chef Nuit Regular. “The outcome was a nicely charred skin with a crispy texture.” 1118 Centre St., $60.99/kg  

For the full list of pre-marinated chicken that Regular barbecued, click here.

 

Roger Mooking samples racks of ribs

WINNER | THE BUTCHER’S SON

“This rack was the most meaty, had the most porky flavour and took on more smoke than the rest of the racks,” says chef Roger Mooking. 2055 Yonge St., $10.99/lb.

For the full list of ribs that Mooking tested on the grill, click here.

 

Rosa Marinuzzi bites into juicy steaks

WINNER | BESPOKE BUTCHERS

“This one was really excellent,” says chef Rosa Marinuzzi. “It left a delicious mouthfeel. It was very tender and even more juicy.” 215 Madison Ave., $68.50/kg

For the full list of N.Y. strip loin steaks from local butcher shops that Marinuzzi grilled, click here.

 

Ivana Raca cooks up spicy sausages

WINNER | OLLIFFE

“Their Italian flavour was incredible. The taste, execution and spice were well balanced,” says chef Ivana Raca. “The chicken and green onion was 10 out of 10.” 1097 Yonge St., $5.52 and up

For a full list of butcher shops whose sausages Raca barbecued at home, click here.

T.O.’S TOP CRAFT BEER

Get these brews delivered to your door

From left:

GRANITE BREWERY
This midtown brewery is offering free delivery on orders over $50 of their English-style ales.
245 Eglinton Ave. E.

BLOOD BROTHERS BREWING
This local spot is offering free delivery in the surrounding area, or pop by their bottle shop.
165 Geary Ave.

AMSTERDAM BREWERY
This Leaside brewery is offering free next-day delivery on orders over $50 across the GTA.
45 Esander Dr.

ROUGE RIVER
The Markham brewery is offering free local delivery twice a week for orders over $50.
50 Bullock Dr., Unit 8

HENDERSON BREWING
This Junction Triangle brewery is offering free next-day delivery for all orders of $50 or more.
128A Sterling Rd.

T.O.’S PERFECT PIES

The perfect way to end a barbecue feast


Clockwise from top left:

CHARMAINE SWEETS
This adorable Leaside bakery has the best cherry pie. 115 Vanderhoof Ave.

ADAMSON BAKERY
Get your hands on some key lime pie at this Leaside bakery. 176 Wicksteed Ave.

GINGER’S DESSERTS
This nut-free bakery in Richmond Hill makes pies, cakes and more. 10220 Yonge St.

PHIPPS DESSERTS
This North York spot churns out delicious pies like this pecan flan. 1875 Leslie St., Unit 21

THE ROLLING PIN
This Avenue Road spot has an endless list of pie flavours, including s’mores. 1970 Avenue Rd.

Hal Johnson on how he created BodyBreak to combat racism in Canada

By
Nikki Gill
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0
hal johnson
BodyBreak's Hal Johnson (YouTube)

As the conversation about systemic racism continues across Canada and the world, many media personalities are coming forward with their stories of how they have faced systemic, and sometimes blatant, racism in their workplaces. This week, one of Canada’s favourite fitness personalities, Hal Johnson told his story in a video that he posted to YouTube on June 15.

“You think that BodyBreak was started because of fitness. Well it wasn’t. It was started to combat racism. That was the number one reason that we started BodyBreak, Joanne and I,” Johnson says at the beginning of the video.

He goes on to explain two incidents that occurred in 1988 that led to his creation of the now iconic Canadian fitness show.

In April of 1988, Johnson says he was eager to be a sports reporter and submitted his tape to TSN and received a call that he was hired. About three hours later, he received another call from the network explaining that they were rescinding their offer because the “higher-ups” didn’t want to have two Black reporters on the network. At the time Mark Jones, who is a Black man and who now works at ESPN, was working for TSN.

Following that experience, he met Joanne McLeod while at the gym. The pair had discussed how they both wanted to work in television together. You can read the full story about how they met and fell in love here.

After meeting McLeod, Johnson was shooting a commercial at Woodbine Racetrack alongside two other individuals, a white man and a white woman.

“Right before we’re going to shoot, the assistant director goes to the director and says something, and then the director tells the white guy and white girl to switch position so it’s myself, the white guy and the white girl on the end,” says Johnson in the video. 

 

 

Afterward, Johnson asked the assistant director the reason for the switch, and he responded with a laugh saying the client didn’t want Johnson beside the white woman because someone might think that they were together.

It was this experience that then led to Johnson brainstorming to find a solution so he wouldn’t continue to endure this treatment.

“How can I change things? How can I make it that we can all live, work and play together and there won’t be this attitude that white and Black and Asian and persons with disabilities and male, female, we all can’t be together,” says Johnson. 

That’s when he came up with the idea of BodyBreak. Himself and McLeod produced the show and took it around to 42 companies and were turned down by every single one. Johnson then took the show to TSN who said they loved it, but said the problem with the show was that Johnson was Black and McLeod was white.

“I remember him saying the young lady is white. And so, we don’t think the Canadian public is ready for a Black and white couple together,” says Johnson. The program director at TSN suggested that Johnson change his part to a white man, and then they would put the show on their air. 

On June 16, TSN issued an apology to Johnson for the racism he experienced from the network in 1988.

 

 

After facing yet another obstacle, Johnson then asked McLeod who was responsible for fitness and multiculturalism in Canada, and she said, ParticipACTION. After reaching out, ParticipACTION picked up the show and they went on to do 65 episodes for them.

Johnson wrote a caption to go along with his YouTube video where he states, “For my entire life, in order to succeed, I have had to become a chameleon and conform to society. For the first time in my life I feel white people want to learn and want to listen.”

He says that he feels that talking about his experiences with racism in the workplace as a bi-racial person, that it can help to educate those who want to listen.

“It can also give us hope that we can get through this time stronger and more unified than ever. I am extremely hopeful this is a new day for all of us to come together,” he wrote in his conclusion.

Jeanne Beker’s picks for the perfect Father’s Day gift

By
Erin Neilly
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0
jeanne beker Fathers Day gift

jeanne-beker-plaidOne of Canada’s most trusted authorities on style and fashion, Jeanne Beker has covered the industry for more than 30 years. Now watch her in her current style editor role on TSC’s Style Matters with Jeanne Beker.

Jeanne Beker can’t help your dad play golf like Tiger Woods or tennis like Roger Federer, but she wants to help him look just as good. Here’s a selection of fabulous shirts perfect for socially distant sports such as tennis, golf or even hula hooping. With Dad finally able to hit the golf course, a sporty polo or a chic button-up make for the perfect Father’s Day gift.

fathers day gift

A) Retro vibes

“This knit shirt has some retro style with the stripes and I love this soft banana yellow.” Lost & Found, 44 Ossington Ave., $235

B) A gift with heart

“This chic shirt for Dad is very sharp and oozes a kind of cool. I really like this dark green colour.” Gotstyle, 21 Trinity St., $129

C) World traveller

“I love the bright colours. It’s like a little postcard that he can wear to remind him of adventures to come.” Uncle Otis, 329 Spadina Ave., $275

fathers day gift

D) Off to the tropics

“It’s got this moisture wicking detail in the fabrication and this very subtle tropical motif in this soft blue.” Sporting Life, 2665 Yonge St., $120

E) A little nostalgia

“This Gucci shirt is a salute to that bygone era of animation with these classic Mickey drawings.” Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., $1,160

F) Country flair

“I really like this folk shirt. It’s got this great plaid and is especially great for the country.” Park & Province, 927 Queen St. W., $178

G) Haute Hawaiian

“This resort shirt has that Hawaiian shirt vibe without all the gawdy colouration.” Frank and Oak, 15 Karl Fraser Rd., $69.50

fathers day gift

H) Keep it classic

“This striped rugby shirt is really classic in this soft blue and grey colouration.” Outclass, 343 Roncesvalles Ave., $120

I) Patch perfect

“This DSquared shirt looks like something a race-car driver would wear with these fun patches.” Hudson’s Bay, 44 Bloor St. E., $282.50

J) Colour me camo

“Camo is such a classic, and this seersucker cotton is very lightweight.” Gravitypope, 1010 Queen St. W., $129.99

With many retailers now open, you can visit the shops in person or follow the links to purchase the perfect Father’s Day gift online.

Ontario releases new rules for restaurants, salons and other businesses under Stage 2 reopening

By
Samantha Peksa
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0
Stage 2 reopening

As more businesses across Ontario begin to open their doors for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, many are having to adjust to a new normal.

On Tuesday, Premier Doug Ford released a tool kit for businesses to help ensure their safe reopening in a post-COVID world. Although Toronto has not yet been given the go-ahead to reopen like other municipalities across the province, that hasn’t stopped local businesses from preparing.

Restaurants are setting up their outdoor patios with a two-metre distance between tables. Shops are closing every other fitting room and curtained fitting rooms altogether. Malls are taping off indoor food courts and salons are removing facial treatments. The province has also banned singing and dancing in all outdoor dining areas, in addition to hotel gyms and real estate open houses.

According to Ford, the tool kit will help businesses identify risks, take steps to make their workplaces safe and help develop their own tailored safety plan. The premier made the announcement alongside the minister of health Christine Elliott and minister of labour Monte McNaughton.

“The COVID-19 safety plan guide builds on many supports we have already provided to businesses to help them prepare for reopening, including over 133 sector-specific workplace safety guidance documents,” Ford said.

The Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act outlines the province’s new set of regulations. The document, published last week, dictates how businesses must operate under Stage 2 of the province’s economic reopening process.

So far, 24 regions across Ontario qualify for the Stage 2 reopening. On Friday, seven more, including Hamilton, Niagara, Durham and York Region will join them.

Through all of this, one thing remains clear, it won’t be business as usual. Here are some of the rules restaurants, salons and hotels must now follow:

Restaurants and bars

Toronto has released a number of its own guidelines regarding the eventual Stage 2 reopening of restaurants across the city. According to the lengthy document, restaurant patios are permitted to operate at 50 per cent capacity with no more than six customers at each table. The city recommends masks for both staff and customers (except when eating). Diners will only be able to enter the restaurant to either pay, pick up food, use the washroom, or to access the patio.

Live music is also prohibited in restaurant and bar settings. “Loud music causes diners to lean towards each other and raise their voices or shout, thus increasing the risk of transmitting the virus,” the city’s statement reads. All pre-recorded music must also be played at a low volume.

Operators will be required to log the name and contact information for customers and staff, with a check-in time. That way, if there is a case of COVID-19 who was contagious while at the restaurant, public health will use that list to notify the staff and customers.

Salons and spas

Hair and nail salons, barbershops, aesthetician services and tattoo parlours may reopen under Stage 2 in certain regions of Ontario. However, the province is banning facial treatments and expecting customers and staff to wear masks at all times. Locker rooms, showers, steam rooms, and hot tubs will remain closed. Although some exceptions can be made for therapeutic purposes, prescribed or administered by a regulated health professional.

Hotels and short-term rentals

Hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, cottages, resorts and other short-term rental businesses can now reopen in some areas. However, any fitness centres and/or gyms on the premises must remain closed. The same goes for any communal steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools and hot tubs. 

Shopping malls

Malls and shopping centres may reopen in certain areas, as long as their food courts stay closed. Restaurants and bars within a mall can also reopen under the same guidelines that apply to stand-alone locations.

Retail stores within malls must ensure that all fitting rooms are disinfected after every use. Only every other fitting room can be used at one time, and curtained fitting rooms are not allowed.

For more information on rules regarding libraries, community centres, photo studios and more, download the document here.

 

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