CITY/LOCAL NEWS:
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Local news stories were a bit light this week! Please remember, if there are things you think your fellow Cabbagetowners should be hearing about, feel free to email us at info@cabbagetowner.com.
___________________________
LOCAL BUSINESS OFFERS VIRTUAL BABYSITTING CLASSES FOR KIDS
A couple of weeks back we shared a link to a company (in Nepean it turns out!) offering virtual babysitting programs for kids, completely overlooking the fact that we have a local Cabbagetown business that does this too!
Heart to Heart First Aid CPR Services has been located at 216 Carlton St. for the last 22 years and provides courses in Red Cross Home Alone, Babysitting, First Aid, BLS, First Responder, Instructor Courses, Emergency Medical Responder and Psychological First Aid.
They are now offering virtual babysitting courses and Cabbagetown residents can get an introductory 50% off using promo code CTYOUTH.
___________________________
ANNEMIE PAUL LINES UP 2ND RUN FOR TORONTO CENTRE
The Green Party leader plans to announce her candidacy for the nomination there Thursday ahead of a possible federal election, setting her up for a rematch, reports Christopher Reynolds at the Canadian Press.
___________________________
ROOMING HOUSE PROJECT UPDATE FROM DIXON HALL
The CRA received this message from Dixon Hall, providing a bit of an update on the Rooming House Project at 502-508 Parliament.
___________________________
LIVE GREEN TORONTO HOSTS FREE VIRTUAL COOKING EVENT
Learn how to make a delicious and sustainable seafood chowder at home in this first interactive episode of the new Live Green @ Home Workshop Series.
___________________________
DONATION DAY AT THE BOOK BANK
The Children’s Book Bank (350 Berkeley at Gerrard) is holding a book donation day on Saturday February 13 from 11 am to 2:30 pm. Bags and boxes can be left on the wooden pallet inside the gated driveway.
(Thanks to Doug Fisher at CNR for this piece)
___________________________
A BIT OF VACCINE FUN FROM BRITAIN’S NHS
Elton John and Michael Caine have joined forces in a new ad encouraging the public to get Covid-19 vaccinations. Released on Wednesday, the ad shows the British showbiz icons competing for a starring role in a promo video for the jab.
PANDEMIC UPDATES:
DOUBLE MASKING APPEARS TO BE TWICE AS EFFECTIVE
U.S. government researchers have found that two masks are better than one in slowing coronavirus spread, but health officials stopped short of recommending that everyone double up.
___________________________
CANADIAN VACCINE DELIVERIES EXPANDING NEXT WEEK
A month-long slowdown in Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine deliveries should end next week, with the single biggest shipment of vaccines from Pfizer and BioNTech to date and almost two million doses expected in the next month, reports Mia Rabson at CTV News.
___________________________
P.E.C. SAYS VISITORS NOT WELCOME AS LOCKDOWN EASES
The health unit for the popular Prince Edward County wine region is serving notice it wants most tourists to stay away when the area reopens for business as stay-at-home orders get lifted, reports Rob Ferguson at the Toronto Star.
___________________________
CITY READIES 9 MASS IMMUNIZATION CLINICS
Mayor Tory has announced the locations of nine City-operated COVID-19 immunization clinics. The City’s Immunization Task Force is working to ensure all nine City-operated clinics will be ready to open once the Province of Ontario provides direction, and vaccine supply is secured by the Government of Canada.
___________________________
COVID-19 VARIANTS IN CANADA – ONTARIO LEADS THE PACK
The highest concentration of COVID-19 variant cases reside in Ontario and this week, the first known case of the Brazil variant in Canada landed in Toronto, reports Bianca Bharti at the National Post.
___________________________
MASKS IMPACT BRAIN’S ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE FACES
Remembering to grab your mask before walking out the door may be getting easier, but recognizing your neighbour, co-worker or third cousin when they’re wearing one can still be a bit of a challenge, reports Carly Thomas at CBC News.
___________________________
DOCTORS COIN TERM FOR PANDEMIC LINKED ANXIETY
Severe anxiety linked back to the COVID-19 pandemic now has a name: “coronaphobia”, reports Ross Andersen at CTV News.
___________________________
COVID-19 VARIANTS – YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
At least two of three variants of concern are spreading in Canada, in some cases with no known link to travel. Here’s a look at some of the most common questions Canadians have about the variants.