Sweet smells of summer

Since we're located in Toronto, I've decided to begin blogging about Toronto. For all of you who are unaware, Toronto is 16 days into the civic workers strike. Garbage has not been collected, garbage bins in public areas have been sealed off, city daycares have been closed, and some of last week's Canada Day festivities were canceled. The sweet smell of garbage has filled the summer air.

I actually live in the Greater Toronto Area, so the strike hasn't affected me...My garbage and recycling are still being collected, thankfully. But the SQM office is located in Toronto and I've noticed how inconvenient it is to not be able to use the public garbage bins. Furthermore, while driving around residential areas in downtown Toronto, I've definitely noticed the garbage. The smell and odour...and the massive piles of garbage that have been disposed of at parks and arenas, which the city has opened for disposal of household garbage. Many people have been outraged by their public space being converted into a garbage heap. Understandably, I would be too, but there aren't any other viable options right now.

With no plans to enforce the back-to-work legislation and no signs of the two sides reaching a common ground, this strike could last for many more days or weeks to come. Health officials haven't sent out any hygiene or health warnings, so I suppose for now, we are still fine. On the bright side, people are beginning to search for alternative ways of doing things in order to reduce their waste. Some people in the office have cut down on the meat they consume, eating more vegetables so that they can compost the remains.

If the strike is driving you out of your mind, why not pack up your bags an take a vacation? After all, it is summer. No better time than now to take an Evaluate It vacation to the far corners of the world, away from all this garbage. Or, if you want to experience Toronto in challenging times, now is also a good time to visit. Heaps of garbage may be piling, but the high spirits of Torontonians are not affected. Some festivities may have been canceled, but many more were still ongoing and had larger turnouts than years before.

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