In Parisian pools, Summer is already in full swing

Plus, inside Trudeau’s nosediving popularity, a Toronto nest egg debate and saying bye to a Blue Jays stalwart [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. Whatever the upside of spying might have been, Bruce Arthur writes that [the punishment handed down to Canada’s women’s soccer team yesterday has already cost the defending Olympic champs dearly](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images Paris 2024 [Summer shines as gifted teen swims to Canada’s first medal]( And just like that, Canada has opened its account at these Olympic Games. Seventeen-year-old Summer McIntosh collected a silver medal in the 400-metre freestyle. She barely had time to relish the moment before joining her teammates for a fourth-place finish in the relay, Rosie DiManno notes. [Here’s what you missed on Day 1 of the summer of Summer](. Chris Young/The Canadian Press FEDERAL POLITICS [We know that Justin Trudeau’s popularity has taken a nosedive. According to Canadians, here’s why]( In Canada-wide polling last year, respondents made it clear that Justin Trudeau was less popular among male voters. Today, that gender gap has mostly disappeared — and not in a good way if you’re the prime minister, Susan Delacourt writes. Thanks to the latest poll data, [we know whether Trudeau’s sliding popularity is owed to a specific thing he did (or didn’t do) or if it’s just personal](. Steve Russell/Toronto Star HUMAN CONNECTION  [As a killer drew his final breath, this Toronto minister held him. The lessons from her unlikely friendship will last a lifetime]( Ten years ago, future church minister Bri-anne Swan was compelled to contact Ramiro Gonzales, a man sentenced to death for committing heinous crimes as a “broken, suicidal and violent” teenager. A month after sitting with Gonzales while he drew his final breath, Swan tells Amy Dempsey Raven [how their unlikely friendship taught her a profound lesson in the power of grace and redemption](. McKenna Hart Real estate [The house once represented a retirement nest egg. Now, it might be their kids’ only chance at owning property in Toronto]( When Star reporter David Rider and his wife bought their east end home in 2002, a neighbour was shocked someone paid $300,000 for the property. Today, homes in the area routinely approach $2 million. At one point, the prospective windfall from selling the home was considered the couple’s nest egg. But if they sell, [it could erase their kids’ best chance of home ownership](. Courtesy AGAC Culture [With sky-high rents rendering traditional galleries impossible, Toronto’s artists are getting (even more) creative]( Toronto’s artists historically helped revitalize once downtrodden or overlooked areas like Yorkville and Queen West into hip cultural hotbeds — invariably crushing the neighbourhoods’ affordability, Brandon Kaufman writes. Once again priced out of traditional gallery spaces, [some are venturing even further afield, converting anything from basements to laneway garages into the forefront of Toronto’s art scene](. [Medal Alerts] Find out fast whenever Canada makes it to the podium. The Star has you covered as athletes go for gold in Paris. Get up-to-the minute email alerts whenever Canada medals, plus other news from the games, with the Star's free Medal Alerts, [brought to you by Havelock Metal Co](. If you're interested, please [sign up here today](. UP CLOSE Chris Young/The Canadian Press Knowing that impending free agent Danny Jansen would be traded by the deadline didn’t make it any easier on the Blue Jays clubhouse, Gregor Chisholm writes. He joined the team as a skinny 17-year-old over a decade ago. [Yesterday, he left as one of the more prolific catchers in franchise history](. EAT THIS R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star Until Aug. 25, the plaza outside of Union Station will be alive with the sounds, smells and tastes of Toronto’s once-dormant street food scene. Karon Liu takes us on a visit to Union Summer, the outdoor food market where a dozen vendors rotate through five stalls, [serving up tasty bites from all corners of the city](. Thanks for reading. It takes a relay team of writers and editors to produce First Up — and we’re aiming for the podium with each edition. 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_217349), 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](