Long live the King

Plus, the massive downsizing at Bell Media and its impact on Lisa LaFlamme [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning. King Charles III has officially taken the throne in an ascension ceremony at St. James' Palace in London. This is [what we know about the new line of succession](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Central Press/AFP via Getty Images Royals [At 25, Elizabeth unexpectedly became Queen. Here’s how she maintained her 71-year reign]( Elizabeth was an accidental princess and the daughter of an accidental king. The throne was never supposed to be hers, writes Richard Warnica. When her father died in 1952, she took on the role of Queen with a quiet composure that would mark just over seven decades on the throne. Through scandal, heartbreak, national decline, and local humiliation, [here’s how Elizabeth II, Queen of, among other territories, Canada, grew into a living symbol of endurance](. AP Succession [Don’t sleep on King Charles — the underappreciated, long-suffering heir will make a good ruler]( While his personal life has sometimes mired his role as heir to the throne, King Charles will make a very good ruler, argues John Fraser. Although something of a rebel, he is still a traditionalist. Like his mother, he has a sense of duty and service. [Here’s why we can expect leadership that is steady, ethical, and deeply woven into the fabric of our history from King Charles](. Photos by Shan Qiao Photography, LinkedIn, Justin Tang/Toronto Star, CJF Awards Business [Lisa LaFlamme was just the latest loss in a massive Bell Media downsizing]( In August, Lisa LaFlamme’s surprise ouster from CTV plunged Bell Media into a public relations crisis. But reporting by Jacob Lorinc shows that Bell has axed hundreds of workers in rapid succession over the last year. LaFlamme’s departure is the most recent example of Bell executives’ “obsession with head counts” and saving their bottom line. [Here’s how the cuts are provoking an internal staffing crisis and an external optics nightmare that could threaten the news company’s brand](. The Canadian Press Federal Politics [The NDP already has a plan to beat Pierre Poilievre]( While the federal conservatives have made plans to scale back their convention in the wake of the Queen’s death, they will go ahead and elect their leader today. If Pierre Poilievre is victorious, the New Democrats have already come up with a strategy to challenge his portrayal as the candidate for the working class. [Here’s how the NDP plan to stop Poilievre from stealing the labour vote](. Lavoieentertainment.com, Toronto Star Photo Illustration FOUR DAYS: PART 4 [An inside look at Christopher LaVoie’s checkered past]( Before Christopher LaVoie convinced people to participate in his reality show “4 Days to Save the World,” which never materialized, he exploited eldery people by asking them to donate to a charity that didn’t exist. He also sold employment documents to headhunting firms for $5,000, reports Kevin Donovan. [Here’s a look at LaVoie’s backstory and dubious ventures before reality television](. POV Rosie DiManno: We thought Elizabeth would live forever. [How can anyone follow her example]( Vinay Menon: [What kind of King will Charles be]( Clues in his first speech show he must change to suit his new role and a changing world. Martin Regg Cohn: [Could a fresh federal transplant help Ontario’s luckless, leaderless Liberal party]( Amira Elghawaby: [Will municipal elections lead to more diverse representation on councils]( Don’t hold your breath. Ziyana Kotadia: Ontario needs a [consent awareness week to prevent sexual violence]( as new students begin university this fall. Star Editorial Board: Canada will welcome a new mental health hotline in 2023. [Here’s what we can learn from America’s mistakes](. DO THIS Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Between TIFF and Toronto’s first ever Rolling Loud festival, the City is buzzing this weekend. To help plan your time, Demar Grant lists some of the biggest events and shares [everything you need to know about what’s going on in Toronto this weekend](. 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_143944), and I will see you back here tomorrow. [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](