Before CanadianCrossing.com was a concept, the SARS coronavirus impacted a lot of areas, including Toronto. The World Health Organisation (WHO) even issued a travel advisory in late April 2003 against Toronto. The WHO did lift the travel advisory after a week.
I confess the only thing I really remember about the SARS coronavirus was that Conan O'Brien took his late night NBC show to Toronto. Late Night with Conan O'Brien played the Elgin Theatre on February 10-13, 2004.
Credit for the move came from Peter Soumalias, a co-founder of Canada's Walk of Fame, and Toronto native and Late Night executive producer Lorne Michaels.
O'Brien had a bit of fun with getting the crowd going with "Go Leafs Go" chants. Canadian guests included Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox, Ron James, and Stompin' Tom Connors. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog got in a bit of hot water over comments made about the French Canadians.
Conan O'Brien deserves our support for his support for Toronto
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CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage
We see with the current COVID-19 that travel is down. Airlines and airports are more directly affected by the reduced travel. Restaurants, travel destinations, hotels, and other travel-related industries also suffer.
Things are not nearly as bad in Toronto and Canada so far. However, fewer people are traveling and that affects everyone.
Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia were looking forward to hosting the 2020 women’s world hockey championship. The tournament was postponed; the cities will host the 2021 version.
The 2009 Toronto garbage strike that affected the ferries out to the islands was self-induced. The coronavirus outbreaks don't have an obvious fault, but everyone suffers.
Canada, Ontario, and Toronto weren't ready for the SARS outbreak; the entities appear to have learned and are applying techniques to overcome the COVID-19 outbreak.
We strongly encourage travel whenever we can, Canada or elsewhere. The stories out of Rome sounded intriguing with tourists having more room to breathe at tourist stops. These stories came just before Italy instituted a travel ban throughout the whole country.
If you live in Canada, take advantage to visit nearby places, subject to safety concerns. If you live near the Canadian border, find the passport and make a small trip.
photo and logo credit: Late Night with Conan O'Brien/NBC
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