Cost of Living

The struggles of newly-minted graduates and of independent restaurants in the face of the pandemic

What is it like for college and university graduates graduating into a recession, along with a a visit to garden centre to talk about booming (and blooming) sales. And what will it take for restaurants to survive the COVID-19 pandemic?

Plus how young Canadians are growing the garden(ing business)

In episode 36, the Cost of Living speaks to college and university graduates about what it's like to graduate into a recession, we visit a garden centre to talk about booming (and blooming) sales and we talk to chefs and restaurant owners about what it's going to take to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. (GP Studio/Shutterstock, Maggie MacPherson/CBC, Tracy Fuller/CBC)

A whole cohort of young Canadians are entering the workforce at the same time the economy is shedding jobs, seemingly by the minute.

What challenges lie ahead for these very, very unlucky post-secondary graduates?

Hear from two young graduates about their concerns, plus an economist about the prospects of starting one's career in an economic downturn.


Young Canadians are really digging gardening right now — particularly Gen Z and millennials! Interest is so high, Canada's biggest seed company temporarily halted online sales to deal with a backlog of orders.

So what is making all these gardens grow?

Listen as we head inside a garden centre to find out why so many of us are suddenly interested in growing our own food.


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The restaurant business is hard enough during good times, let alone right now. Hours are long and profits are razor thin, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only compounded the many challenges facing independent restaurateurs in Canada.

Even with emergency programs to support these businesses, some estimates say only 50 per cent of independent restaurants will survive past this summer.

Hear more from chefs across the country about the brutal business of dining and what could happen to their businesses post-coronavirus.


Click 'Listen' at the top of this page to hear the whole episode or download the CBC Listen app.