Diving into Toronto’s secret flood map

Plus, Inside the “energy exchange” boom, answering a winter tire FAQ and a chilling COVID-19 reminder [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. If Toronto is going to name anything after former Mayor Rob Ford, still as beloved in some corners as he’s reviled in others nearly eight years after his death from cancer, [why not an amateur football stadium]( Here’s the latest. MUST READS Toronto Star graphic INTERACTIVE [Here comes the flood: What a secret map tells Torontonians about the local toll of climate change]( While Toronto’s official flood-vulnerable zone map showed their neighbourhood wasn’t a high-risk area, Jon Salvatore and Blair Audet’s soggy basement begged to differ. Like thousands of Torontonians, they never had access to maps that showed what would happen if city drainage infrastructure was completely overwhelmed — by one of the region’s increasingly common “100-year storms,” for instance. Kate Allen and May Warren take us inside what one analyst calls [“Canada’s most significant climate change risk.]( Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press file photo Pandemic [Two chilling numbers underscore the current state of Ontario’s (still) ongoing fight against COVID-19]( Public Health Ontario data paints a stark picture: more Ontarians died of COVID-19 during a three-month span this fall (574) than in motor vehicle crashes on provincial highways in all of 2022 (about 350). While the virus is certainly less fatal than in previous years, public health experts warn that we still need to keep our metaphorical seatbelts on by updating our flu shots, Megan Ogilvie and Kenyon Wallace report. [Here’s who is most vulnerable during the current wave](. Unsplash Technology [If you’re a woman reaching for your phone in the same way a baby pines for a pacifier, read this story]( Per a landmark 50,000-participant study by the University of Toronto — the largest probe into global smartphone use ever conducted — women report more problematic smartphone use than men, which appears to correlate to mood disorders like anxiety and depression, Christine Sismondo writes. [There are a few prevalent theories as to why women seem to be more greatly impacted](. Ramon Ferreira Toronto Star Illustration Labour [Unpaid work for free yoga? Where some find community, others feel exploited by the “energy exchange” boom]( “Energy exchange” programs have existed in Toronto’s yoga and fitness scene for years. You volunteer at the studio or gym for a handful of hours each week and receive free classes in lieu of pay. Think front-desk and cleaning jobs, Anthony Marcusa writes. But unpaid roles can be essential for operating many businesses, [raising concerns about the legal and ethical ramifications of the work-for-yoga tradeoff](. Matthias Nareyek/Getty Images Movies [Finally in the spotlight, Germany’s Sandra Hüller is ready for her awards season closeup]( If you consider yourself a cinephile, expect to hear the name Sandra Müller plenty over the ensuing award season. With over two decades of experience, the 45-year-old German actor is suddenly in the spotlight as the star of two major award contenders, murder thriller “Anatomy of a Fall” and Holocaust drama “The Zone of Interest.” [Veteran movie critic Peter Howell caught up with Hüller to discuss her massive international breakout](. Check THIS Brian Early/For the Toronto Star As Canada’s roads get icy, drivers question how many more years they can get out of their winter tires. Mechanic Brian Early explains [why the very quality that makes winter tires effective also gives them short lifespans](. Thanks for reading. Please send your definitive ranking of today’s top working German film actors and any other questions or comments to 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_205608), and I will see you back here tomorrow. HOLIDAY SALE Now only $39.99 for 1 year [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]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](