Margins Magazine - Volume 3 Issue 1
2020 has been a year of immense change and upheaval thus far, with our idea around what is normal challenged in the midst of a pandemic. In this midst of these volatile times, our team at Margins Magazine has come together to create Volume 3 Issue 1 of our publication, revolving around the theme of CHANGE. In this issue, our writers have worked hard to bring you pieces that critically discuss the realities of the current moment from advocacy effort across different fields to issues such as domestic violence and colourist. At #UTSC, we connect with Radio FWD and UTERN at UTSC to learn how campus groups are affected during the pandemic and how they are evolving their programming while staying connected with students. We’ve received amazing creative submissions from members of our local community and around the world that have allowed us to curate this issue with stories that truly represent the heart, soul, and pulse of the current times. Bringing together all these voices in Margins has been a true labour of love. We truly hope that the stories, words, and art within Margins resonate with you. Follow us on Instagram @wtcmargins & LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/margins-magazine!
2020 has been a year of immense change and upheaval thus far, with our idea around what is normal challenged in the midst of a pandemic. In this midst of these volatile times, our team at Margins Magazine has come together to create Volume 3 Issue 1 of our publication, revolving around the theme of CHANGE.
In this issue, our writers have worked hard to bring you pieces that critically discuss the realities of the current moment from advocacy effort across different fields to issues such as domestic violence and colourist. At #UTSC, we connect with Radio FWD and UTERN at UTSC to learn how campus groups are affected during the pandemic and how they are evolving their programming while staying connected with students.
We’ve received amazing creative submissions from members of our local community and around the world that have allowed us to curate this issue with stories that truly represent the heart, soul, and pulse of the current times.
Bringing together all these voices in Margins has been a true labour of love. We truly hope that the stories, words, and art within Margins resonate with you.
Follow us on Instagram @wtcmargins & LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/margins-magazine!
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MARGINS<br />
MARGINS<br />
downtown Toronto, explaining that “due to recent<br />
events, [their] Toronto location is now permanently<br />
closed” (@MoogAudio). The closure was met<br />
with dismay, as their supporters expressed how<br />
sad it was to hear that the store would no longer<br />
be operating out of Toronto. In addition to their<br />
closure, Moog Audio initiated a clearance sale on<br />
equipment from this location, further illustrating<br />
how impacted they were.<br />
They would unfortunately not be alone in this,<br />
as multiple businesses would begin to announce<br />
closures in Toronto. The Westerly, a restaurant and<br />
bar located in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood<br />
was forced to close indefinitely, explaining in a<br />
notice on their door that the “stress and uncertainty<br />
due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 has been<br />
overwhelming in so many ways. The financial<br />
resources to hang in and stay closed indefinitely<br />
until we can re-open are not available. And so,<br />
regretfully, we are now closed permanently”<br />
(Appia). As in the case of Moog Audio, saddened<br />
customers shared their sorrows in response to this<br />
closure. Unfortunately, some local businesses<br />
were ill-equipped to take on the financial burdens<br />
that came with operating during COVID-19.<br />
Some positive changes have also emerged, for<br />
instance, businesses have adjusted their objectives<br />
in order to better serve their community. Spirit of<br />
York Distillery Co., for example, has completely<br />
revamped their production model, focussing their<br />
efforts “toward something Canadians have been<br />
emptying from store shelves: hand sanitizer.” By<br />
switching from alcohol to sanitizer production,<br />
this company has completely changed their<br />
model and objective in order to support their<br />
community in combating the virus. Additionally,<br />
“all the proceeds will go to local food banks to<br />
support community members that have limited<br />
access to food or are unable to leave their homes”<br />
(Deschamps). This company not only adjusted<br />
their model to accommodate present demands, but<br />
also supported the local community by investing<br />
in community resources.<br />
There are also a large number of creatives and<br />
professionals tapping into virtual resources in<br />
order to continue highlighting the arts. For artists<br />
and creatives that rely on social spaces and<br />
platforms to showcase their works, this period<br />
of quarantine can prove difficult and financially<br />
challenging. Crystal Semaganis, a Cree artist<br />
and writer, founded the Turtle Island Quarantine<br />
Festival as “an outlet for Indigenous artists to<br />
share and sell their work and exchange tips”<br />
(Lisk). This festival ran for seven weeks and<br />
allowed Indigenous creatives to submit works<br />
for recognition and prizes. Artists were able to<br />
showcase their abilities and receive monetary<br />
rewards in exchange. The importance of creating<br />
virtual platforms that allow for creatives to share<br />
their talents (and be compensated accordingly)<br />
during a time when people are unable to connect<br />
physically cannot be overlooked, and it is inspiring<br />
to see how virtual workarounds are being fostered<br />
to support this.<br />
Entrepreneurs have also found unique and creative<br />
ways to adapt and virtually connect with their<br />
clientele. Afro-Caribbean dance group, C-Flava,<br />
has demonstrated this through virtual dance classes<br />
they facilitate using Zoom. Entitled “Flavaful<br />
Fridays” the group describes the classes as a way<br />
to “keep you flavaful through this quarantine”<br />
(@bookcflava). One of their members, Shakkoi<br />
Hibbert, has also created “Floetry Fitness”<br />
sessions, which are classes meant to support<br />
“black identifying women” with their confidence<br />
and charisma (@needsomekoi). Shakkoi, who is<br />
also a published author, continues to inspire and<br />
encourage her followers with motivational posts on<br />
Instagram that offer potential work opportunities<br />
people can take on during quarantine. Innovative<br />
ideas like these exemplify how creatives have<br />
taken this time to adapt, navigate, and (virtually)<br />
invoke positive change.<br />
Overall, COVID-19 has caused businesses of all<br />
shapes and sizes to change and adapt in order to<br />
survive (and sometimes thrive) in the new market<br />
conditions. As we continue to watch this play<br />
out in real-time, it is important to recognize that<br />
change itself is a constant, and those who embrace<br />
it may find unique and creative ways to do so.<br />
WORKS CITED<br />
Appia, Veronica. “Roncesvalles restaurant<br />
permanently closes due to coronavirus crisis.”<br />
Toronto.com, 28 Mar. 2020, https://www.<br />
toronto.com/news-story/9918558-roncesvallesrestaurant-permanently-closes-due-tocoronavirus-crisis/.<br />
Accessed 30 June 2020.<br />
Betts, John. “COVID-19: The latest updates<br />
from McDonald’s Canada.” McDonalds, 21 Mar.<br />
2020, https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/<br />
about-us/covid19-updates.html. Accessed 30<br />
June 2020.<br />
Deschamps, Tara. “Meet the companies quickly<br />
pivoting to serve Canada’s COVID-19 needs”.<br />
TheStar.com, 18 Mar. 2020, https://www.thestar.<br />
com/business/2020/03/18/meet-the-companies-<br />
quickly-pivoting-to-serve-canadas-covid-19-<br />
needs.html. Accessed 30 June 2020.<br />
Fox, Chris. “Tim Hortons employees now<br />
required to wear masks in effort to limit spread<br />
of COVID-19.” CP24.com, 22 Apr. 2020, 8:41<br />
a.m., https://www.cp24.com/news/tim-hortonsemployees-now-required-to-wear-masks-ineffort-to-limit-spread-of-covid-19-1.4906717.<br />
Accessed 30 June 2020.<br />
Lisk, Shelby. “How Indigenous artists are getting<br />
even more creative during COVID-19.” TVO.<br />
org, 27 Mar. 2020, https://www.tvo.org/article/<br />
how-indigenous-artists-are-getting-even-morecreative-during-covid-19.<br />
Accessed 2 July 2020.<br />
Rumleski, Kathy. “McDonalds closes London<br />
restaurant due to positive COVID-19 case.”<br />
CTVNewsLondon.ca, 19 Apr. 2020, 5:01 p.m.,<br />
https://london.ctvnews.ca/mcdonalds-closes-<br />
london-restaurant-due-to-positive-covid-19-<br />
case-1.4902953. Accessed 30 June 2020.<br />
The Canadian Press. “Tim Hortons moving<br />
to take-out, drive-thru and delivery only.”<br />
CTVNews.ca, 16 Mar. 2020, https://www.<br />
ctvnews.ca/business/tim-hortons-moving-to-takeout-drive-thru-and-delivery-only-1.4854822.<br />
Accessed 30 June 2020.<br />
“Updates on the Current Public Health<br />
Environment”. Tim Hortons, 15 Mar. 2020,<br />
https://www.timhortons.ca/importantinformation-about-the-current-public-healthenvironment.<br />
Accessed 30 June 2020.<br />
@Bookcflava. “HAPPY FRIYAY GUYS!!<br />
Be sure to tune into our #FlavafulFridays…”<br />
Instagram, 3 Apr. 2020, https://www.instagram.<br />
com/p/B-hknsYF-Vo/. Accessed 2 July 2020.<br />
@MoogAudio. Closing Announcement.<br />
Facebook, 29 May. 2020, 5:24 p.m., https://<br />
www.facebook.com/moogtoronto/photos<br />
/a.1045628678829999/3151237498269096/.<br />
Accessed 30 June 2020.<br />
@Needsomekoi. “I recently created a space<br />
for black identifying women to release…”<br />
Instagram, 3 Jun. 2020, https://www.instagram.<br />
com/p/CA_PEizlyS0/. Accessed 2 July 2020.<br />
@Needsomekoi. “My people: We SEE the<br />
organizations that fail to hear and see…”<br />
Instagram, 11 Jun. 2020, https://www.instagram.<br />
com/p/CBTwl4Xlen8/. Accessed 2 July 2020.<br />
@SevenWolves. Turtle Island Quarantine<br />
Festival 2020. Facebook, 2 May. 2020,<br />
9:00 p.m., https://www.facebook.com/<br />
events/584089788854463/. Accessed 2 July<br />
2020.<br />
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