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2020: Toronto’s rollercoaster year in pictures

Couple social distance beach best toronto photos 2020
Jacqui brings supplies to her friend Myrtle, April 28th, 2020.
Friends undertake a distanced delivery of supplies on April 28. Nick Lachance

The longest year ever is finally at its end. It’s hard to remember the fleeting two-and-half months of normalcy before Ontario entered a state of emergency in response to COVID-19. The crisis has reshaped our relationship to public space – and each other.

Though this story is billed as “Toronto’s year in pictures,” the images really begin in mid-March when a looming lockdown sparked panic buying in supermarkets.

In the time since, the city experienced nine months of pandemic measures, protests and pivots. Photographers Samuel Engelking and Nick Lachance documented the lockdowns, the protests, the summer of brief reprieve, the never-ending lineups, the distanced hangouts and what few cultural events were allowed to take place.

Here are our best Toronto photos from 2020.


No Frills on March 16 2020
Samuel Engelking
Empty shelves being restocked in Metro, March 14, 2020.
Man walks by ironic advertising during COVID-19 pandemic on March 24 2020
Nick Lachance
A lone person walks in the sunshine, Sunday April 5th, 2020.
Nick Lachance
A warning sign in an apartment window, on March 27, 2020.
Nick Lachance
A person waits at a empty intersection, April 24th, 2020.
Nick Lachance
A child rides a bike through a park as caution tape keeps children away from a rope swing, Wednesday April 8th, 2020.
Nick Lachance
Protesters holds a signs at an anti-lockdown protest at Queens Park, April 25th, 2020.
Nick Lachance
A man sits outside the boarded up entrance to H&M, Thursday April 2, 2020.
Bylaw officers ask two people breaking the 2 meter distance rule to leave Trinity Bellwoods Park after they fail to produce ID that proves they live together, April 25, 2020.
Nick Lachance
A shopper in Kensington Market
Samuel Engelking
A photo of social distancing circles in Trinity Bellwoods Park on May 28, 2020
Samuel Engelking
Health-care workers near St. Michael's Hospital walk past a sign of encouragement.
Samuel Engelking
Cherry blossoms bloom in Trinity Bellwoods Park, and barriers keep the public from crowding them, May 1st, 2020.
Nick Lachance
Downtown retailers boarded up in early June ahead of planned protests against police brutality.
Samuel Engelking
We Stand protest Nathan Phillips Square Toronto
Samuel Engelking
Juneteenth sit in Toronto
Samuel Engelking
The John A Macdonald statue at Queen's Park in July 2020
Samuel Engelking
CafeTO patios line the sidewalk on Danforth Avenue.
Samuel Engelking
Long line-ups formed outside Women's College Hospital's COVID-19 testing centre at the beginning of the second wave in September.
Samuel Engelking
A masked pedestrian in at Yonge and Queen.
Samuel Engelking
The Opera House lights up red as part of a campaign to draw attention to the struggling live events sector on September 22.
Samuel Engelking
A photo of Anastarzia Anaquway
Samuel Engelking
As part of a national day of action, members of the Six Nations and allies march from Queens Park in solidarity with land defenders across the country on October 9, 2020.
Nick Lachance
Against The Grain patio bubble dining with bubble domes
Samuel Engelking
A person jogging in a face mask in Toronto
Samuel Engelking
Encampments have become an increasingly common sight in public parks as homeless Torontonians fearful of catching COVID-19 in shelters moved outside.
Samuel Engelking
Social distancing signs remain in effect on the subway.
Samuel Engelking
A mural outside House of Bud Co in Parkdale Toronto
Samuel Engelking
A waterfront stroll past fall colours in November.
Samuel Engelking

To see more of our best Toronto photos of 2020, visit instagram.com/nowtoronto.

@nowtoronto

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