Rampant littering and disregard for human life? Toronto going wild on weekends may actually be a good sign

Thestar.com
May 31, 2021
Emma Teitel

Every time the sun shines and sometimes when it doesn’t, Ontarians flip the bird at the provincial stay-at-home order set to expire on June 2. But nowhere is this bird-flipping more obvious than in the GTA on a stifling hot Saturday.

It’s an immutable fact that every weekend in and around Toronto these days is an absolute s--t show, packed full of beach parties, illegal drag races (the heterosexual kind, unfortunately), public boxing matches, illegal fireworks demonstrations and heaps of leftover trash. The Victoria Day long weekend was no exception to this rule.

It’s hard to believe that this weekend -- during which at least one east end beach bash is rumoured to be scheduled -- will be any different.

“Don’t fire off in any parks, any roadways or laneways,” Vaughan Fire Services captain Andre Clafton told a CP24 reporter during a TV segment about fireworks safety on May 24. “With the COVID rules right now, you’re only allowed five people, so you want to make sure that everybody stays safe and follows all the rules.”

Clafton gave this demo standing in an open field in broad daylight, at one point bending over to show off his safety goggles and a “neat little bag where you can put your sand.”

God bless his heart because we did not heed his words. On Victoria Day weekend, GTA-ers “fired off” in parks, roadways, beaches and directly at one another’s heads. Footage posted on social media of a large gathering (formerly known as a party) at Woodbine beach looks like something out of a Harry Potter movie: teenagers running all over the place exchanging small bursts of light back and forth in the darkness.

But there was no magic present at Woodbine beach on May 24. Only stupidity. Not only did the youth fire small explosives at each other at close range (breaking the physical distancing rules that curb the spread of COVID-19 and in this case, the likelihood that your face will explode). They made a colossal mess. The beach was filthy in the morning, prompting the following statement from Toronto Mayor John Tory on Tuesday:

“In the wake of the pandemic, we have increased litter patrols and garbage cleanup in major parks to recognize the increased use of these outdoor spaces. So it is troubling to see that people continue to leave their garbage in the park and on the beach.”

It’s more than troubling. It’s pathetic. It’s ugly, inconsiderate behaviour and there’s no excuse for it. The city could line entire beaches and parks with an arsenal of garbage bins and people would still throw their red cups and candy wrappers a foot short of the target.

But despite the rampant littering and disregard for human life (one person was sent to hospital as a result of errant fireworks), there’s actually a glimmer of something good in Toronto’s lively weekends of late, whether we’re talking about people showing up to beaches, parks or political rallies.

There’s clearly an abundant desire among Torontonians to be outside and unafraid among other people. The city is humming back to life, even if it is humming off cue -- a beat too soon.

In the case of Woodbine beach, this is alarming. But in the overwhelming majority of cases, where outdoor space is enjoyed safely, it’s a relief.

After all, in the early days of the pandemic the question of the fate of the city loomed large. Urban living was dead, we were told. Density was dead, we were told. The future of the city lies outside of it, we were told.

Well, we were told wrong, because Toronto isn’t even finished with this pandemic thing yet and people are champing at the bit for a taste of public life -- so much so that in many cases they are devouring their public spaces whole.

“It really doesn’t surprise me that they’re getting out there,” says U of T Scarborough psychology professor Steve Joordens about the last few weekends in the city. “The 15- to 25-year-old generation -- it’s all about generating social networks and meeting new people, and that group has been stymied for a year.”

What about the rest of us old fogeys who are at home this weekend instead of shooting roman candles at strangers?

“I predicted something called the great snapback,” says Joordens. “We’re social creatures from birth, perhaps the most social animals around. We have evolved the need to be around other people. These habits are very powerful.

including up-to-the-minute updates on Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

“Yeah, we went through a crazy year, but I truly believe that for the vast majority of people, once they feel safe, I think you will see people tentatively go out at first with little bit of anxiety. But as soon as they get out there they will feel that warm blanket of old habits. It will be like coming home.”

That sounds lovely. Hopefully “home” won’t be completely trashed when we get there.