Hurricane Fiona is “like a bad movie”

Plus, a look at Toronto mayoral candidate Gil Penalosa [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning. Nuit Blanche, the all-night arts festival, returns to Toronto from October 1 to October 2. In preparation, [test your knowledge of Nuit Blanche with a quiz](. Here's the latest. MUST READS The Canadian Press HURRICANE FIONA [Hurricane Fiona wreaks havoc and breaks records across Atlantic Canada]( Towns in Cape Breton and Newfoundland’s southern coast declared states of emergency on Saturday as Hurricane Fiona knocked out power to hundreds of thousands, uprooted trees and utility poles, and washed entire homes into the sea. “This is the most destruction I’ve ever seen from a storm,” said one resident. “It’s the first time in my lifetime I’ve seen a home destroyed.” [Read the latest updates from Star reporters as they chart the destruction of this “record-breaking” storm](. Supplied COVID-19 [For many, the pandemic is not over yet]( While there’s a strong push to return to post-COVID life, not everyone can go back to the way things were. This is especially true for medically and economically vulnerable people, as well as front-line workers in hospitals and other health-care settings. Megan Ogilvie and Kenyon Wallace talk to [six people who say COVID-19 is anything but over for them](. Rick Madonik/Toronto Star Municipal Election [Gil Penalosa shares his vision for the city if elected mayor of Toronto]( Gil Penalosa may be John Tory’s most relentless competitor, chatting to everyone and anyone about his plans to build a “Toronto for everybody.” The respected advocate for sustainable urbanism built his career advancing forward-thinking park initiatives as a former city official in Bogota, Colombia, writes Ben Spurr. [But in a field of 31 mayoral candidates, will Penalosa’s enthusiasm and experience translate into votes]( Richard Lautens/Toronto Star Sports [Inside the Blue Jays super successful social media machine]( With almost four million followers across Twitter and Instagram, the Blue Jays are translating their success in the game of baseball into an active social media following. You can credit the success online, which includes a feed full of pithy memes, evocative photos, and sharp captions, to a small team run by fans who understand how to capture the mood of the fan base. [Read Alex Wong’s profile of the Blue Jays’ small but mighty social media team, how it built trust in the clubhouse, and brought supporters along for the ride](. Shawn Micallef Opinion [Why I am not running for mayor, even though I really want to]( What would it take to run for mayor and win in Toronto? A political machine to start, one that has money, people, and connections, writes Shawn Micallef, who declined an offer to join the mayoral race in June. In his own words, Shawn explains why he refused and what hate had to do with it — [his reasons may surprise you](. UP CLOSE Steve Russell/Toronto Star For 80 years, Sully’s Boxing Gym has attracted legends like Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Scores of former students’ photos line the gym walls. David Silverberg talks to the co-owners about the facility’s [original owner, Earl “Sully” Sullivan and how the gym saved lives]( TRY THIS www.markcullen.com With cooler temperatures this fall, how you care for your garden will have to change. Mark and Ben Cullen, expert gardeners and contributors for the Star, [share their top five tips to make the most of your fall garden](. 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_146539), and Manuela 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](