Toronto, March 14, 2020: As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve, a multitude of events and popular attractions have been cancelled or closed.
Grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants remain open in Toronto.
Here is a list of cancellations and closures:
- All publicly funded schools in Ontario will be closed for two weeks after March Break, March 14 to April 5.
- Daycares at TDSB schools to close March 14 to April 5.
- All licensed childcare centres will close for the next three weeks starting Monday
- York University announced Friday it will move all classes online.
- The University of Toronto cancelled its classes but said they will find other means to teach courses, including moving online.
- Ryerson University said it will be shifting all in-person classes to virtual and other alternative forms of delivery.
- The Archdiocese of Toronto said public Mass is cancelled March 14 and 15.
“The Government of Ontario’s top priority will always be the health and well-being of Ontarians. To help contain the spread of COVID-19, Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, has recommended the immediate suspension of all gatherings over 250 people because of this pandemic. “
Ontario’s attraction agencies and convention centres responded to the recommendation and will be taking appropriate measures for their unique properties. This includes:
- Ontario Science Centre; closed until April 6
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Art Gallery of Ontario: closing its door for three weeks starting Friday, March 13
- Ottawa Convention Centre (Shaw Centre)
- Metro Toronto Convention Centre
- Science North
- Niagara Parks Commission
- St. Lawrence Parks Commission
- McMichael Canadian Art Gallery
- Royal Botanical Gardens: closed until at least April 6
- Ontario Place Corporation
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- The CN Tower said they will close after the end of day Friday and will not reopen until April 14.
- Ontario Place Cinesphere closed with no reopening date provided.
- Recreation and community centres and arenas closed until at least April 5
In light of Friday’s announcement from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, sports institutions, art and music facilities, and other big public events were either cancelled or postponed:
- The big four professional sports leagues — NBA, NHL, MLS, MLB — announced they are suspending their leagues due to the outbreak.
- The Ontario Hockey League cancelled its 2020 OHL Cup
- Canadian Screen Week announced the cancellation of its activities, including the broadcast gala set for March 29 in Toronto.
- The Home Show announced on Thursday it is cancelling its event that was meant to begin Friday at the Enercare Centre
- Canada Blooms announced Thursday its event was cancelled, which was also at the Enercare Centre.
- The popular One of a Kind — The Spring show in Toronto was postponed from the end of March to June 18-21.Toronto’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade that was set to take place on March 15 has been called.
- The Toronto Symphony Orchestra said it has cancelled all remaining concerts in March.
- Toronto Comicon was cancelled.
- The Hockey Hall of Fame will be closed through to April 6.
- The Collision Tech Conference which was meant to take place in Toronto moved the entire event to online-only.
- The Ontario superior court has suspended juries for upcoming trials
- Shopify’s Unite conference in Toronto was cancelled.
- Ski Hills are closed until at least April 5
- Toronto city council and committee meetings are suspended
- Hot Docs Film Festival announced it will postpone its event which was set to take place April 30 to May 10.
- Aga Khan Museum will be closed until April 7
- The Toronto Zoo will be closed until April 5
- Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls is closed until April 2
- All Apple Stores are closed until March 27
- All Mirvish theatres are closed for the first time in history until April 2.
By: Marites de Jesus, FWH