You final exam is cancelled — forever

Plus why this Toronto byelection is a referendum on Canada’s future, how to avoid pickpocketing and celebrating Bloomsday [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning and happy Father’s Day — hi, Dad! My thoughts are also with anyone for whom this day evokes complicated feelings. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Steve Russell/Toronto Star Education [Exams were a high school staple. Here’s why one school board's decision to drop them hasn’t been so simple]( During the pandemic, Ontario hit pause on traditional high school exams. While many school boards eventually reinstated them, Janet Hurley reports that others have stayed the course, citing concerns that prioritizing a format that rewards rote memorization and mental stamina fails to properly gauge a student’s understanding of course materials. [Some Grade 12 students fear they’re entering the next stage of their academic careers unprepared](. The Canadian Press file photos Politics [Why the future of Canada’s federal government might hinge on this one Toronto byelection]( The upcoming federal byelection in Toronto-St. Paul’s may as well be a referendum on Justin Trudeau versus Pierre Poilievre. Early impressions from potential voters are mixed, reports Tonda MacCharles. Some feel the prime minister has overstayed his welcome, but others are unsure if they can trust the fiery opposition leader. [The riding has clearly become a barometer for a lot more than local representation](. Ramon Ferreira/Toronto Star illustration using Dreamstime images CRIME [Pickpocketing attempts are surging. Here’s how to protect your valuables this summer]( A combination of job losses and the rising cost of living in Toronto has led to a “significant increase” in pickpocketing incidents across the GTA in recent years, security experts tell Kevin Jiang. Major tourist hubs like the downtown core and crowded public transit routes are prime for pickings. As petty thieves become more sophisticated in their approach, [here’s how to keep your valuables safe](. Steve Russell/Toronto Star AGRICULTURE [Hardier grapes can help Ontario winemakers resist climate change. The feds’ tax rules may pose a bigger challenge]( You’ve heard of Chardonnay — but Geisenheim? This hybrid between North American and European grape species has proven exceptionally hardy — no small thing as climate change lays siege on an industry rooted in tradition, Kate Allen reports. [Geisenheim also offers the potential for Ontario winemakers to claim a distinct wine style of their own](. Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press politics [Naheed Nenshi has launched his return to Canadian politics. Alberta’s reckoning on progressive politics awaits]( After years of symbolically wearing purple — a blend of Liberal red and Conservative blue — Naheed Nenshi is adding a little orange as he campaigns for leadership of Alberta’s NDP party. The former three-term Calgary mayor has seemingly already reinvigorated the party’s base, with new members sprouting up across the province, writes Alex Boyd. [Nenshi’s arrival sets up a fight for the future of prairie progressivism](. UP CLOSE Steve Russell/Toronto Star Aisling Murphy was only five when her dad began teaching her the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” on piano. Bill Scanlan Murphy had run around with the band’s hard-partying drummer Dennis Wilson and even played with them on a few occasions. [This is the rare feel-good Father’s Day story that features a detour to Charles Manson’s prison cell](. Celebrate THIS Toronto Star illustration using photos from dreamstime Happy Bloomsday! June 16, 1904 is the date in Irish author James Joyce’s landmark tome “Ulysses,” which follows Leopold Bloom’s bumbling adventures around Dublin. Richie Assaly and Zak Black offer a guide on [how to join in on the Bloomsday festivities around Toronto today](. Thanks for reading. As always, First Up’s weekend editions have no final exam. You can reach the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_215221), and Kevin will see you back here Monday. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](