Editorials - Aug. 1, 2025
It’s now undeniable
The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) has confirmed that a long-lived supercell thunderstorm spawned three tornadoes in Huron County last weekend. Luckily, the tornado(es) did not cause the kind of destruction we saw with the EF3 back in 2011, with only tree and crop damage and some minimal structure damage and no injuries. This storm did generate a social media blitz of photos and video clips, as it was visible along a busy corridor during prime time, making it one of the most photogenic storms of recent memory.
Climate change can no longer be denied. The heat and humidity of this summer is remarkable, and scientists have confirmed that not only is tornado activity in Ontario increasing, the strength and length of the season is also on an upward trend. In fact, there is some concern that the traditional “tornado alley” in the United States is actually shifting northwards into Ontario.
In addition, the latest Zone Hardiness Map provided by the federal government shows that 80 per cent of the country has seen a zone increase because of the warming temperatures. In fact, the hardiest 9A zone has expanded from just a tiny speck on the map to cover parts of Vancouver Island and the southern reaches of B.C.’s lower mainland. Those regions could be suitable for certain palms and even cold-hardy citrus. Just as grape cultivation has grown by more than 25 per cent in the last three decades, researchers say these zone shifts could provide new opportunities for horticulture and agriculture.
Climate change appears to be inevitable, so hopefully we can trade off the bad with some good. – DS
Coming back for more
A wise and considerate reviewer for The Citizen dubbed Emma Donoghue’s The Wind Coming Over The Sea the best original show that the Blyth Festival has produced in nearly 10 years. That opinion appears to be validated, as the show has been extended for a week and a half from late September into early October. The additional dozen performances extends the season late into fall for the first time in years.
Not only is this a success story for the Blyth Festival as it - and the rest of the country’s live theatres - continues to build itself back up after being torn down by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s a stroke of luck that the show’s professionals were able to commit to another 12 shows after a six-week break (the original run ends on Aug. 12 and the extension begins on Sept. 25).
Perhaps with the star power of Donoghue in tow, Festival personnel saw the potential and had this in their back pockets all along, or perhaps it was simply an off-the-cuff reaction to the show’s runaway success, either way, having more people in Memorial Hall, coming to Blyth and seeing the village is an exciting development.
Congratulations to the Festival, Donoghue, director Gil Garratt, the performers and the crew for the success of the show and what’s hopefully the christening of a fruitful relationship with the Festival and Donoghue that will produce creative gold for years to come. – SL
The time is now
For long-suffering Toronto sports fans, this baseball season feels different. Not like wishful thinking, not like cautious hope, but like something real is finally, unmistakably, taking shape. The Blue Jays hold one of the best records in Major League Baseball and recently reeled off the longest home-winning streak in franchise history.
It has been more than 30 years since “Canada’s team” last lifted the Commissioner’s Trophy. A full generation of fans has come of age without witnessing that kind of triumph, without knowing what it means to play deep into October with everything on the line. Now, the buzz is back. But so are the challenges. Injuries have tested the team’s depth, and several marquee additions have yet to deliver. Baseball is merciless that way; one cold week can undo a month of good work.
Yet that tension is exactly what fans have yearned for. Toronto baseball loyalists have spent a decade waiting for meaningful late-season games, for lineups that inspire belief and for pitching rotations that carry ambition. To be here, with a lead in the division, a locker room that believes and a roster that blends youth, grit and experience, feels almost surreal.
The Blue Jays front office made its trade-deadline choices. Whether those moves prove shrewd or short-sighted remains to be seen. But what matters now is what happens next. What’s undeniable is the electricity surrounding the team. For the city and its fans, this could be the most thrilling October since Jose Bautista’s triumphant “bat flip”, which ultimately didn’t lead to World Series glory for the Blue Jays.
The wait has been long. But every journey begins somewhere, and this one feels different. This one feels real. For the Blue Jays and those who have kept the faith, the time to believe fully, fiercely and together may have finally come. – SBS