Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
When COVID put an abrupt halt to social gatherings, many homes were reconfigured to encompass school study areas and home offices. Now that pandemic restrictions are easing, there is a gentle art to opening your home again to guests who (like hosts) are out of practice and grappling with a somewhat changed social terrain.
Hugs and handshakes? Dining tables or backyards?
Because the pandemic isn't over and comfort levels vary, etiquette and homes experts agree that communication, flexibility and compassion are key to making sure things go smoothly.
Their tips:
"While some people have jumped right back to hugs and handshakes, others aren't quite there yet so it's very important to ask people about things first, and respect differing comfort levels," says Lizzie Post, co-president of The Emily Post Institute and great great granddaughter of etiquette maven Emily Post.
"Ask `Is a hug OK?' If it's not, express that friendliness and enthusiasm with words," she says.
"It's important to be understanding and keep in mind that people are coming together to connect and to celebrate," adds Krissy Tiglias, executive editor of Southern Living.
Touch base with guests before the gathering. "Let them know how many people there will be and where you'll be gathering. People are returning to social gatherings at different paces, and that allows guests to prepare accordingly," she says.
Amy Panos, home editor for Better Homes and Gardens, adds: "Don't hesitate to get specific, like `everyone who's invited is vaccinated so no need for masks,' or, `we have unvaccinated kids, so let's mask up when possible."'
Where guest lists are concerned, the pros agree it's a good idea to start small as you figure things out.
"Consider a smaller guest list to begin with, in the first few forays to test the waters, then tweak your approach as you go along," Panos suggests.
Says Lizzie Post: "A lot of people are experiencing fatigue a little faster than before. A couple hours out is often as much as people are ready for at the start. People should be able to let a host know ahead of time if they think they may want to make it an early evening. And hosts should try to be flexible and understanding.
"It's a time to be compassionate and understanding, and not to take things too personally."
"For overnight guests, think of making space for a comfortable chair or a little desk in the guest room. Make it into a kind of mini hotel room so they have a place to rest and recharge. Many of us are taking longer trips, and will be needing to get some work done while we're there," says Panos.
And instead of piling onto the couch or squeezing around a dining table, as people did before the pandemic, these days people tend to be more comfortable if they're able to spread out.
"This may be the time to invest in stackable stools or chairs to keep handy so people can spread out comfortably, and keep the windows open if you can," Panos says.
As Martha Stewart Living director Tanya Graff says, "We have become pros at doing everything outside. If you can entertain as much as possible outside, I would continue to do that."
While it's not necessary to dismantle pandemic-configured home offices, you'll want to tidy things up, especially in areas where you'll be entertaining.
"Any time you'll be inviting people over, make sure you have a nice, clean, available space. If your living room is also an office, office things should be cleared away. Get the space ready for guests," says Post.
Says Tiglias: "I think we've all been cleaning more, but a deep clean of highly trafficked areas is a good idea. Walk through where guests will be, and make sure everything is clean and organized."
"Remember that those under 12 still haven't been able to get vaccinated," Graff says.
She suggests setting up a separate kids' table, and being outdoors as much as possible.
"Make sure everything has serving utensils and no one has to use their hands with things," Graff says. "Individual desserts like ice cream sandwiches or individual fruit cobblers are great."
Tiglias, of Southern Living, says setups that allow guests to serve themselves, like a "make your own strawberry shortcake" station or a "Bloody Mary bar," are also popular now.
"When it comes to hosting, especially for the first one or two gatherings, take a step back and go with what you know will be a hit," she says.
Margaret Mayfield, of Los Osos, California, recently gathered with extended family around the table, outdoors, for the first time in a long time.
"My husband has a large family that thrives on family get-togethers with great food and even better wine, but once the pandemic hit we agreed it was best to hold off until we were all fully vaccinated," she says. "As soon as we were, it was time to celebrate!"
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for a specific chocolate brand sold in Ontario and Quebec.
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Zendaya and castmates Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor have been on a globetrotting press tour to get the word out about Italian director Luca Guadagnino's original film, which opened in 3,477 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Quebec will invest $603 million over five years to counter the decline of French in the province, French Language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge announced Sunday.
A senior Qatari official has urged Israel and Hamas to show "more commitment and more seriousness" in ceasefire negotiations in interviews with Israeli media, as pressure builds to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages and bring a ceasefire in the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza.
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
One person has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man who fell from a balcony following an altercation inside a Toronto apartment building.
As if a 4-0 Edmonton Oilers lead in Game 1 of their playoff series with the Los Angeles Kings wasn't good enough, what was announced at Rogers Place during the next TV timeout nearly blew the roof off the downtown arena.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”