Meet the women leading Canada’s response to Russia

Plus, Canada’s role in cracking a child sex abuse ring, a rent-control conundrum, condoms and a 25-foot iguana [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. If you don’t think people can change, consider Robert Pattinson. The actor once pigeonholed as a pouty vampire heartthrob is now earning rave reviews, [including from the Star’s Peter Howell]( as... a deathly grim guy dressed as a bat. Talk about range. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Canadian Press/Justin Tang federal politics [Meet the ministers leading Canada’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine]( When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his cabinet last year, three women considered future Liberal leadership candidates landed in three powerful positions. [Chrystia Freeland]( stayed the course as deputy PM and finance minister; [Anita Anand]( fresh off of helping lead Canada’s COVID-19 response as procurement minister, was named defence minister; and [Mélanie Joly]( got the bump to minister of foreign affairs. From the Star’s ace reporters in Ottawa, [here’s what you need to know about the ministers guiding Canada through the geopolitical crisis in Ukraine](. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star affordable housing [What happens when you outgrow your apartment if the market has outgrown you?]( Sharlene Henry is stuck at 33 King St. She and her husband pay $1,334.43 a month for a two-bedroom unit — about $800 less than similar recent listings. It’s too small for their family of five, but it’s rent-controlled. In a city facing calamitous affordability issues, the situation is too familiar to many Torontonians, Victoria Gibson reports. Here’s Victoria’s rundown of rental housing in the city — with an assist from an [eye-popping interactive chart](. Steve Russell/The Star pandemic [At Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, the struggle against COVID-19 rages on]( Even as Canada’s COVID-19 cases ebb, health-care workers continue to bear the wounds from two years of hardship, both at work and at home. “Our house,” a nurse explains after wiping away tears, “it has been affected with so much sickness and death.” [Megan Ogilvie’s words and Steve Russell’s striking photographs take us behind the scenes of the crisis]( still isn’t over for many Canadians. Johanna Chisholm/The Star fleeing ukraine [“If you love this child, you must let me take him away”]( Those are the words that convinced Natalia Korobkova’s son Roman to let her take his seven-year-old son west into neighbouring Poland on Tuesday night. Roman didn’t think the violence would reach western Ukraine. Now the 35-year-old civilian is joining the country’s defence forces and Natalia is caring for her grandson while considering the possibility that she might have been saying goodbye to her son for the last time. From on the ground in eastern Europe, [Johanna Chisholm shares the story of parent’s worst nightmare](. Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward crime [How Toronto cops helped crack a global child sex abuse ring]( It started in New Zealand in 2019, when investigators began linking more than 90,000 accounts from an online database of child sexual abuse content to users around the world. In collaboration with police in 13 countries — including the RCMP and units in Toronto and Vancouver — the investigation has led to 836 arrests, including 47 Canadians, and the removal of 146 children from abusive situations. Alyshah Hasham and Wendy Gillis detail what we know so far and [how the trove of “horrific” content will aid investigations for years to come](. UP CLOSE Miriam Osborne Photo The status quo wasn’t working for Yasemin Emory and Whitney Geller. The condoms they found at local shops didn’t feature an ingredients list — a no-go for those with certain allergies — and depicted outdated images of masculinity on their packaging. That’s why the design studio partners created Jems, a condom brand aimed at addressing the needs of Gen Z. [Briony Smith has their story here](. pet THIS Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star Take a trip to Parliament St. and it’s impossible to miss Lizzy, the 25-foot iguana standing constant vigil over the entrance of the Menagerie Pet Shop. These days, the Toronto landmark — and its signature sculpture — is as much a showcase of birds, fish and reptiles as it is a retail operation. Owner Kaelo Gallagher tells Tracey Tong [how the Menagerie reimagined itself in the face of the pandemic](. Thanks for reading. 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_110386), and Lex will see you back here Monday. [The Star]( 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]( [Become a Star Subscriber]( [View in Browser]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](