The phrase, “if it’s too loud, you’re too old” is fun, but honestly… Toronto is so loud that it could be hurting more than your ears. According to CBC News Canada, the noisy city “could not only be harming your hearing, but your cardiovascular system and mental health as well.”
From construction to traffic to, yes, even the music, it’s a loud city. Many love it for that, but there are a few that it’s affecting in a negative way. From late night noise keeping them up, to just the constant stress of loud traffic, it’s affecting more than just Toronto’s hearing.
Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s medical officer of health is making a few recommendations. She wants to develop a noise management action plan and adopt the World Health Organization’s recommendations on noise.
Helping her cause is the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 591 that “requires that no person shall make, cause or permit noise or vibration at any time, which is likely to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort, or convenience of the inhabitants of the City.”
But how far does something like this go and how far should it go? There are codified general rules in effect for construction that include quiet from 7 AM-7 PM on weekdays and 9 AM-7 PM on weekends. And traffic… is traffic.
What does this mean for music? While there are no citywide guidelines to enforce Chapter 591, venues already have specific location guidelines that they must follow. So, at this point, hopefully nothing will change for venues, forcing them to bear the brunt of yet another regulation.
But for your own personal well-being, always remember ear protection if you’re hitting a venue and if you’re a neighbor to a venue, or just a loud neighbor, communication is key.
Is loudness part of city life or is there something more that could be done?
What are your thoughts?
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