An insider look at Justin Trudeau's scramble across Europe

Plus, the true cost of your commute, an airline bombing cold case, T-rex teeth, and a Nova Scotia treasure hunt [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. Make sure you read to the end for a story about a Torontonian with one of the more unique collections we’ve seen (though he evidently missed out on the chance to own a [custom toilet in the likeness of Metallica’s drummer](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld war in ukraine [The inside story of Justin Trudeau’s diplomatic scramble in Europe]( Political birdwatchers sighted a rare glimpse of the breakneck paddling happening beneath the surface to keep the typically polished image of international diplomacy afloat this week. Between hurried photo ops and meetings that ran over schedule across Europe, there was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, conceding that not all NATO allies share the same strategic outlook — though they remain united in their opposition to the war in Ukraine. Here’s Tonda MacCharles with an in-depth, [behind-the-scenes look at Canada’s role in the international rush to respond to Russia](. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star OFFICE CULTURE [The true cost of your daily commute]( As offices across the GTA reopen, those who had the privilege of working from home these last two years are being reminded about one of the worst parts about going to work: having to actually go into work. As Benn Spurr reports, the time tax on commuters is quantifiable: Statistics Canada estimates Torontonians face an average commute of 72 minutes per day — the longest in the country. And then there’s the rising cost of gas and the pollution. Here’s why even corporate-culture-minded employers may want to [think twice about a hardline return-to-office approach](. Mount Dennis Planning Framework/Perkins & Will city planning [Mount Dennis was left behind; soon, it could be a template for a better Toronto]( When the local Kodak plant shuttered for good in 2006, Mount Dennis lost a hub of industry that once employed as many as 3,000 people. Now, the neighbourhood northwest of Toronto’s downtown will soon find itself at a literal crossroads — well, crossrails, actually. As an interconnected stop on the Kitchener GO Line, the UP Express airport train and the still-in-progress Eglinton Crosstown LRT, community advocates and business owners envision a transformation into the next Roncesvalles or Junction. Donovan Vincent gives you a [peek through a window into Toronto’s potential future](. Toronto Star Archive cold case [“Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” Who bombed Flight 21?]( It took three days for volunteer rescue workers to locate the wreckage of Canadian Pacific Airlines Flight 21 after it plummeted into the B.C. interior back on July 8, 1965. On board the flight to Whitehorse were six crew members and 46 passengers — including a senior partner at an accounting firm that had just helped expose one of the greatest frauds in Canadian history. But Flight 21 didn’t just crash — it was blown out of the sky by an explosive detonated in the rear washroom. In the latest Toronto Unsolved, Peter Edwards takes us through what we know — and [whether the auditor is really the key to solving the infamous cold case](. Supplied Photo/Tourism Nova Scotia first person [The hunt for the treasure of Nova Scotia’s Oak Island]( It started with binge-watching an over-the-top reality series — History Channel’s sensationally dramatic The Curse of Oak Island — during last spring’s lockdown. Soon, Jennifer Merrick had her family emulating the on-screen protagonists of their guilty pleasure, driving from Toronto to southern Nova Scotia to search for the show’s long-fabled treasure trove. The Merricks may not have found Shakespeare’s lost manuscripts, pirate booty or the Holy Grail, but [Jennifer says they found something even more precious](. UP CLOSE R.J. Johnston/The Star Ben Lovatt has a bone to pick — several thousand, actually. His Cabbagetown haunt SkullStore and Prehistoria boasts a bevy of historical and natural artifacts, all ethically and sustainably sourced, Lovatt tells Celeste Percy-Beauregard. The sales of curios like T. rex teeth, Viking axe heads and taxidermy giraffes help fund Lovatt’s donate-what-you-can educational tours — [which are currently running during March break](. eat THIS Instagram/@petitpatisserietoronto Meleni Huynh is only a baker’s-dozen-years-old (13), but her Instagram-based bake shop Petit Patisserie has the makings of a hit. Her signature matcha white chocolate chip cookies have earned rave reviews — and allowed her to give back, with 10 per cent of sales going to charity. “When people say, ‘Wow, those were so good, I want more.’ It’s just a great feeling,” she tells Briony Smith. [Here’s what’s next on the menu for Meleni](. Thanks for reading. And remember: if Jurassic Park and its endlessly derivative sequels have taught us anything, it’s that we should really be paying far closer attention to eccentrics with an inordinate interest in dinosaur fossils. 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_111847), 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. 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