What’s it really like for newcomers outside Canada’s big cities?

Plus, here’s why critics are blasting the provincial government for reinstating these special title for lawyers [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning. A tornado that slammed central Alberta on Saturday afternoon wrecked homes and killed livestock, [but no serious injuries have been reported so far](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Sabrina Bizier/For the Toronto Star Canada at 40 million [The not-so-secret recipes to help newcomers thrive in small-town Canada]( In a country that just breached the 40-million population mark, the two-headed immigration struggle is real: newcomers trying to make a new home while Canada tries to convince them to remain in rural and rapidly depopulating parts of the country. Allan Woods explains how seemingly small issues like [finding culturally appropriate foods help ensure immigrants feel welcome in their new communities](. Monica Kidd Canada at 40 million [Amid a debate over immigration, this is why I’m proud to call Canada my new home]( Following the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, Ehsanullah Amiri uprooted his family and fled to Canada. While the country is known as a “heaven for immigrants,” Amiri knows that very often the reality for newcomers is more dire than expected. Despite the challenges, in this first person essay, [the Toronto Star journalist shares why he’s grateful to call Canada his new home](. Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star Provincial politics [Ford government quietly brings back special title for lawyers and gives it to a lot of Tory loyalists]( The provincial government is reinstituting the honorary title of “King’s Counsel” to mark King Charles’s coronation in May, reports Jacques Gallant. The Ontario government famously stopped handing them out under former Liberal premier David Peterson in the 1980s — when the titles were known as Queen’s Counsel during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II — because they had become political patronage to many people who never went near a courtroom. [Here’s why critics are blasting the government’s decision](. Gina Ferazzi/TNS file photo UNITED StateS [A new U.S. program hopes to make Native Americans feel safer and assist in getting them justice]( The U.S. Justice Department is launching a new program to respond to the missing and murdered Indigenous persons crisis and support victims. It’s an issue that’s been getting attention south of the border, following years of headlines in Canada, reports Jamin Mike. But there are challenges still — Native Americans who are not federally recognized may fall through the cracks. [Here’s why one expert worries the program might not make much of a difference](. Photo illustration by Briannah Daniel health and wellness [Shamed if we gain weight, shamed if we lose it. Body scrutiny has gone 360]( For a brief period, it felt like fat shaming might have met its match in the body positivity movement. But then the pendulum began to shift back, writes Sarah Laing. TikTok trends proclaimed a return to ’90s supermodel bodies of the “heroin chic” era and weight loss medications like Ozempic, intended to treat diabetes and chronic obesity, were suddenly everywhere. [Here’s how body shaming has become a double-bind that almost no one can escape](. UP CLOSE Erin Leydon Aussie-raised fashion designer Hayley Elsaesser may have left the beaches of Queensland for the colder climates of Ontario, but she’s still committed to creating swimwear that is pretty, playful and looks great on all bodies, writes Briony Smith. [Here’s why those who love the Elsaesser vibe are often diehard fans for life](. trY THIS R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star If you’re looking for a truly elevated patio experience, Manuela Vega has got you covered. With everything from specialty cocktails, DJ sets and skyline views, [here’s a non-exhaustive list of some of the newest and coolest rooftops in Toronto](. Thanks for reading my final edition of First Up. Your occasional comments/emails have made the experience of writing this newsletter over the last year even better. You can reach the rest of 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_189534), and Manuela will see you back here on Tuesday. BEST OFFER OF THE YEAR Last chance to get unlimited access for $3.33/month for 12 months [Get This Offer]( 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]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](