From Ontario’s Step 1 reopening measures, to a London Muslim family killed in a hate attack, here is what we saw in the news this week.
June 11 marks Step 1 to reopening the province
Thanks to growing vaccination rates and continued improvements in public health, the Ontario government has begun the reopening process with Step 1 of its Roadmap to Reopen plan as of 12:01 a.m. on June 11.
This stage of the roadmap will allow small outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, outdoor dining of up to four people, and some attractions such as zoos and historic sites at 15 per cent capacity of their ticketed areas. Day camps and overnight camping at campgrounds will also be permitted.
Limited indoor settings such as retail may reopen, but with restrictions. Big box stores can begin selling all merchandise again. Indoor religious services, rites, and ceremonies — including weddings and funerals — will be allowed, so long as a 15 per cent capacity is maintained.
In addition, public and private schools may host restricted end-of-year ceremonies “to support students who have worked so incredibly hard throughout the pandemic.”
Before entering Step 1, the Roadmap to Reopen required that Ontario have at least 60 per cent of its adult population vaccinated with one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, the province also “needed to see continued improvement in key public health and health system indicators.”
As of June 6, a governmental news release reported that 72 per cent of Ontario’s adult population had been vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the number of patients in ICUs had lowered from 687 to 497. The provincial case rate had also decreased by 35.1 per cent.
Premier Doug Ford acknowledged the “enormous sacrifices” made by residents all across Ontario, and he urged residents to enjoy the benefits of Step 1 regulations while still following public health guidelines.
London Muslim family killed in targeted hate crime
On June 6, a Muslim family of five was attacked and killed in a targeted hate attack while out for an evening walk in London, Ont.
Salman Afzaal, his wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Afzaal, and Salman’s mother Talat Afzaal lost their lives, while Fayez, the couple’s nine-year-old son, was seriously injured. Fayez remains in the hospital and is still receiving treatment.
The accused is 20-year-old Nathaniel Veltman of London, who has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, after he reportedly ran the family down with a pickup truck. According to police, the family was targeted due to their Muslim faith.
Along with this latest tragedy, anti-Muslim hate crime rates continue to rise in Canada. According to Global News, rates have increased by nine per cent since 2018. Toronto police also claim this past year alone has seen a 50 per cent increase in hate crimes.
Following the attack, residents of the London Muslim community have become nervous about leaving their homes.
The University of Guelph has since released a statement in support of the Muslim community.
“Sunday’s violent attack is a stark reminder of our shared responsibility to fight Islamophobia and racism in all its forms. I want to emphasize that hate has no place at U of G or in any community,” said U of G President Charlotte Yates.
The statement encouraged students to reach out to Student Wellness Services, Student Experience advisors, or the Multi-Faith Resource Team for access to counselling.
On Thursday night a vigil and walk was organized by the Muslim Society of Guelph in memory of the family. The event saw over 1,000 attendees. Community leaders spoke at the start of the event, and attendees were encouraged to bring a plant to be added to a memorial garden.
The funeral will be held in London on the afternoon of June 12.
Toppled statue of Egerton Ryerson won’t be restored, prompts growing calls to rename Ryerson University
Following the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children in an unmarked grave on the site of a former residential school in British Columbia, a statue of Egerton Ryerson in downtown Toronto was toppled during a protest on June 6.
The statue, which stood outside of Ryerson University’s downtown campus, depicted one of Canada’s primary architects of the residential school system.
Officials say it will not be replaced or restored.
The protest was held on the afternoon of June 6, beginning at Queen’s Park and ending on Gould Street. Over 1,000 people participated, but as the last remaining demonstrators left, a truck arrived on the scene and pulled Egerton Ryerson’s statue off its mantle. The statue’s head was also removed, and now resides at 1492 Land Back Lane in Caledonia, Ont., the site of an ongoing land battle between local developers and the Six Nations of the Grand River.
No one was injured during the falling of the statue, which had been vandalized the week prior to the incident. Police are still investigating the matter.
Students and faculty alike have called for the statue to be removed for several years. In a statement, Ryerson University President Mohamed Lachemi said the statue’s future was “being considered” by the Standing Strong (Mash Koh Wee Kah Pooh Win) task force, as was the university’s commemorative name and elements.
“The statue represents racism, the statue represent[s] oppression,” said Sheridan College Student Dishanie Fernando to CBC. “It should have been taken down a long time ago voluntarily by Ryerson University. However, that did not happen.”
The following day, hundreds of professors and faculty from Ryerson signed a letter demanding the school change its name. In addition, many are now referring to the school as “X University” in correspondence and resumes. While Global News reports that the university’s journalism school will be renaming two of its publications, no other announcements regarding the school’s name have been made.
“It’s a little bit of justice I suppose for the Indigenous people, but not enough. It’s just the beginning,” said Fernando.
Some Ontario universities requiring vaccination to live in campus residences
Several Ontario universities are requiring their students to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they wish to live in campus residences during upcoming semesters.
On May 27, CTV News reported that Western University would become one such school.
According to the article, Western and its affiliated colleges are mandating a first dose before moving into residence or within the following 14 days. The university expects to uphold this rule “for as long as Ontario’s supply allows.”
The decision was made to prioritize health and safety within the campus environment following numerous COVID-19 outbreaks within Western residences during the 2020-2021 school year.
Western will be offering on-campus vaccination clinics during the summer.
Similarly, the University of Toronto is also requiring students to be vaccinated with a first dose before or within 14 days of moving into residence. According to CBC News, U of T will be providing vaccine doses “depending on supply” and will work alongside public health officials to do so.
U of T will also reportedly help international students in the school’s quarantine program to get vaccinated. Further, students in U of T residences who do not receive their first dose within 14 days “may face additional public health restrictions.”
Both universities are allowing requests for accommodations to be made by students who are unable to receive the vaccine due to medical or “other grounds recognized by the Ontario Human Rights Code.”
As of yet, the University of Guelph has not mandated vaccines for students staying in residence, although they “strongly encourage” all those eligible to get one.
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