1. Canadians are finding extra money in the mail
The pandemic sparked the worst financial crisis in a generation and sent unemployment to its highest level since 1982 in the spring. Money matters became more than a trending topic. Ottawa responded by doubling GST/HST credits for low- and medium-income individuals and families as a supplement to other relief measures such as the Canada Emergency Relief Benefit or CERB. Our most-read story was a short news update, but its popularity is emblematic of how Canadians devoured stories about money and financial relief this year.
2. Nova Scotia mass shooting lays bare media’s white male bias
Indigenous author and activist Pamela Palmater wrote this op-ed in the wake of the mass shooting in Nova Scotia in April that focused on how the media frames coverage of the white male violence in ways that suggest exceptional circumstances. “We should be focused on what happened and how to prevent these kinds of mass killings in the future, not writing a heartfelt biography of the killer,” she wrote. “Whether or not he was a nice man is irrelevant.” Read the story here.
3. Toronto real estate market is headed off a cliff
The impact of the pandemic on Toronto’s perennially red-hot real estate market was a major subject of interest this year. With a housing crisis already well underway due to the financialization of the housing market, everyone is watching to see whether COVID will force home prices and rental listings to come down – even slightly. Home prices seem to be weathering the storm just fine, but rental listing prices are projected to keep falling in 2021 – and then surge back up in 2022. Read the story here.
4. Siren Head: Toronto artist’s monster an unlikely gaming hit
A five-minute indie horror game starring a 40-foot creature captured the attention of the gaming community in a big way. This interview with Toronto-based Siren Head creator Trevor Henderson about the game’s origin story became a go-to read for the fandom. Read it here.
5. Readers’ Choice 2020
Our annual readers’ survey of the best local shops, restaurants and more felt extra important this year. With local business closing, opening and then closing again on a rollercoaster ride of public health measures, many were forced to innovate. Some launched e-commerce and delivery options, others opened drive-ins and many self-employed people began offering virtual services. We tried to reflect all the changes in this year’s Readers’ Choice poll.
6. 22 face masks from Toronto brands and designers
It feels like eons ago that public health officials were waffling on whether to advise us all to wear masks. Face coverings are now an everyday part of life and likely here to stay after the pandemic. Face masks are now as common as socks and underwear, with every major brand, social media influencer and celebrity hawking them. Of course, NOW readers prefer to buy local. Read the story here.
7. Calls to suspend rent in Toronto get louder
The housing crisis intensified this year, but the urgency was felt perhaps most intensely just after Ontario declared a state of emergency in March. Many called for a suspension of rent and mortgage payments as Ontario and Ottawa scrambled to respond to the fast-unfolding crisis. Governments eventually provided relief, but it was temporary. Ontario’s eviction moratorium rolled back in the summer, leading to an “eviction blitz” and renewed calls from legislators and activists alike to reinstate a ban. Read the story here.
8. Every Toronto restaurant that has closed during COVID-19
COVID-19 hit the hospitality sector hard, with many restaurants and bars shutting down. In an industry with notoriously thin margins, restaurant closures are hardly uncommon but 2020 felt different: long-running neighbourhood spots, big franchises and buzzy upstarts were not immune to the pandemic’s economic fallout. Read an updated list of 99 restaurants that closed this year here.
9. Five Nintendo Switch games you can download for free right now
When lockdown measures hit in March, offline entertainment and culture dried up and many people stuck at home started playing Nintendo’s Animal Crossing. But video games aren’t exactly cheap. What happens when money matters collide with video games? Read our listicle on the best free downloadable Nintendo Switch games.
10. Not-Amazon makes it easier to shop local in Toronto
As the second wave of COVID-19 gripped Toronto, restrictions on dining and non-essential retail returned. Independent store owners grew upset that box stores were allowed to remain open (because they sell groceries in addition to other goods) and a shop local movement gained hold. Meanwhile, tech giant Amazon’s net income skyrocketed to $6.3 billion (USD) in the third quarter. Let’s face it: Amazon is a go-to for many shoppers, but many others are looking for alternatives. Enter enterprising developers, like the people behind the site Not-Amazon. Read the story here.
