Say goodbye to red-and-white Ontario health cards
Close to 3.5 million Ontario residents may soon find themselves without medical care, thanks to the provincial government’s phase-out of the old red-and-white health cards.
The Ministry of Health is accelerating the elimination of the older health cards in favour of the new, and more secure, green photo ID cards. Introduced in 1995, the photo-based cards became mandatory for Ontario residents, but old health card holders were told that their old cards would no longer be valid by 2000. Now, years later, the provincial government will soon force residents to make the switch.
CTV News reports the Ministry of Health sends out 3,000 notices per month to Ontarians, asking them to visit a ServiceOntario location to upgrade their OHIP card.
Only those residents who do not respond to the notices, or miss them, may find themselves without coverage if their card is no longer valid.
A Play Me, I’m Yours piano gets removed from Trinity Bellwoods Park
So much for performance art? A “Play Me, I’m Yours” piano has been removed from its location in Trinity Bellwoods Park thanks to impromptu concerts at 3 a.m., and subsequent noise complaints.
The piano, one of 41 in a public art installation across Toronto to celebrate the arrival of the 2015 Pan American Games, has been moved to another location.
The Toronto Star reports the teal piano held a residency at a high-traffic corner of the park, and was locked at night out of respect for the community. However, eager musicians easily broke the padlock, disturbing local residents.
The $250,000 interactive art installation will run until July 31.
The USA Olympic Swim Team (Michael Phelps!) sing Call Me Maybe
Though the appeal of Call Me Maybe is getting stale, this latest parody, starring the U.S. Olympic swim team – and Michael Phelps – is simply delightful.
Sure, the Harvard baseball team did it first, but this team-wide lip synch was done to blow off some steam before the London 2012 Olympic Games. And, like all Call Me Maybe videos, it’s adorable. Besides, in case you were dissuaded by Phelps’ wooden Saturday Night Live hosting gig in 2008, this video restores a hearty percentage of his goodwill with the public, as far as his creative prowess is concerned.
Give it a watch. After all, the Olympics start today!
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Joanna Adams is the online and social media editor for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at†@nowstarringTO.
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