The South Bayview Bulldog

The Canadian National Exhibition has been cancelled this year because of the COVID-19 epidemic, the president of the CNE Association has announced. It is the first time the event has been cancelled since the Second World War. Speaking to the Toronto Star, John Kiru said the decision was difficult. “Summer won’t be the same without the sights and sounds of the CNE.” Mr.Kiru said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution to help prevent employees, volunteers, visitors, vendors and artists from contracting COVID-19.

The Ministery of Health reports 361 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday. Daily numbers have crept up this week from a recent low of 294 on Sunday. Ministry of Health

• A quarter of ex-transit riders won’t take the TTC again without COVID-19 vaccine, study says

Record May cold to recede this week

Record cold weather and frost-nipped annual plants have joined the coronavirus blues across South Bayview this week. Toronto awoke Tuesday to the coldest May 12th seen since the Great Depression. As of 4 a.m. on Tuesday, it was -3 C at Pearson Airport, beating a cold record of -2.2 C set back in 1939.

MP Rob Oliphant has published a constituency update which among many items includes Mother’s Day reflections on his parents. He and others will participate in  a “Tele Town  Hall” Wednesday, May 13 starting at 6.30 p.m. Full release

Begins Wednesday at 6.30 p.m.

MP’s mother and father

Mickey and Minnie allowed to defy social distancing/BBC

Among COVID-19 headlines Tuesday is the re-opening of Shanghai Disneyland, a decision that some health professionals are calling a “huge risk.” Back home, the Ontario Legislature will sit Tuesday — with social distancing — and is expected to extend the province’s state of emergency to June 2, while also holding question period again.

Lawsuit against Pickering care home

The appalling price paid by the elderly in nursing and retirement homes has prompted a lawsuit against the owners of Orchard Villa home in Pickering where as many as 72 people have died of COVID-19. And City News tells of a woman who says she believes she saved her father’s life by getting him transferred to the hospital from Downsview Long Term Care where an estimated 37 people have died.

The Toronto Star publishes a story from the courts Monday saying that a mother and her teenage daughter are suing Havergal College for $38 million, claiming the Toronto private school failed to protect the daughter from “relentless” bullying and dismissed her suicide attempt as “a contrivance.” The school has denied the claims. Twitter

• Dad sues Havergal College, says daughter has been bullied

The Ministry of Health has reported 308 new COVID-19 cases Monday. The number comes amidst massive testing across the province. Close to 50,000 tests have been done in just the past 72 hours in an effort to find as many sources of infection as possible. Monday’s case count is slightly higher than Sunday’s 294 cases, the lowest recorded in more than six weeks. There have now been 1,669 deaths in Ontario with total recoveries at 15,131 and 3,746 active cases. Thus the total of all infections to date is 20,546. Ministry

Shopkeepers across the City are officially open for curbside business but many of them say don’t recall ever being told not to provide this service.

• Ontario expected to extend state of emergency to May 31

The Ontario Ministry of Health has reported 294 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Sunday. It is the lowest number of daily cases reported by the province since March 31. Ministry of Health

John Tolkamp @jtolkamp

This montage was created by hyu08 @yucanuck08 ·

The RCAF Snowbirds swooped across Toronto about 10.15 Sunday morning in a salute to a nation’s fight against COVID-19. This cross country tour to rally our spirits is called Operation Inspiration. Twitter

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A post shared by Matt MacKenzie (@rcaf_acs)

Rock and Roll legend and creative genius Little Richard has died. His “Good Golly Miss Molly” salutation to an imaginary girlfriend still resonates.

Will COVID-19 spell the end of acting? 

Heaven forbid, but as Eli Glasner reported on The National, the pandemic is making many live dramatic and comedy producers turn to animation.

Symphony Orchestra salvages young woman’s recital

Brooke Mead says she felt like she had been robbed when her graduation violin recital was cancelled because of COVID-19. But she was able to regain that right of passage courtesy of the Philadelphia  Symphony Orchestra.  

Another COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Toronto Western Hospital, where the institution has seen as many four occurrences. Reports indicate that as many as 83 staff have tested positive but not all cases are active.