World Headlines: A look inside the great food migration

First Up

By Ashley Okwuosa

Good morning. Jeremy Lin has returned to Toronto, sort of. The former Raptors player has launched the Jeremy Lin Basketball School, which will be introduced at several Markham, Scarborough, North York and Toronto schools later this year. Here’s the latest.

MUST READS

Ramon Ferreira/Photo Illustration

ONTARIO VOTES

What role did the polls play in Ontario’s lusterless election?

Low voter turnout impacted Ontario’s lacklustre provincial election, but political writer Luke Savage says that our addiction to polls might share some, if not most, of the blame. Here’s how polls might have progressed from reflecting public opinion to actively influencing them as well.

Shruti Bhatnagar/Toronto Star Illustration

HOUSING

How Toronto’s housing market convinced this writer to finally move abroad

When Tajja Isen and her partner looked into buying a home, it wasn’t Toronto’s uninviting housing market that scared her, but the idea of being “unhappily stuck” in the city. Here’s how Tajja decided to uproot her life and become a renter in New York, of all places.

Jen St. Denis/Metro

DRUGS

Why decriminalizing hard drugs alone won’t mark the end of Canada’s drug crisis

Last week, the federal government allowed British Columbia to decriminalize possession of small amounts of hard drugs for the next three years. Dr. João Goulão, who helped cut hard drug use by 75 per cent in Portugal, calls it “a window of opportunity,” but urges government agencies to do more to make a lasting impact. Read Jeremy Nuttall's story here.

Ramon Ferreira/Photo Illustration

FOOD INSECURITY

The great food migration — why more shoppers are turning to discount supermarkets and food banks

Food inflation is forcing a wider band of shoppers to shop at food banks and discount stores instead of traditional supermarkets, writes Joshua Chong. One food bank CEO noted that his clientele is changing, too — more full-time workers are coming in to feed their families. “It never used to be like that,” said the CEO. Read Joshua’s full story here. And tell us, how often do you shop at discount grocery stores?

Richard Lautens/Toronto Star

COURTS

What the trial of Hedley’s Jacob Hoggard says about his ‘rock star lifestyle’

Jacob Hoggard’s lawyer says Hoggard’s behaviour, like sending leading text messages to underage girls, is all a part of the “rock star lifestyle.” But advocates say this is an excuse that comes at the expense of teenage girls. Olivia Bowden and Alyshah Hasham break down what Hoggard’s trial says about normalizing bad behaviour in the music industry.

UP CLOSE

Kagan McLeod for the Toronto Star

Indonesian-born OB/GYN Dr. Frances Lim survived the Second World War and arrived in Kingston in 1963, becoming one of four women in a graduating class of 60 at Queen’s medical school. Over a span of 31 years, Frances delivered between 10,000 and 12,000 babies, writes Tracey Tong. Read more about Frances’ life here.

VISIT THIS

R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star

Within one West End neighbourhood stand four of the city’s oddest-looking homes, decorated in action figures, Greek statues or just lots and lots of cork. Unsurprisingly, the homes have been drawing locals and tourists alike for more than two decades. Celeste Percy-Beauregard breaks down why these West End homes are worth a visit.

Thanks for reading. You can reach the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca, and Manuela will see you back here Monday.

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