Tough sledding at Toronto’s “no-fun” parks

Plus, who is Kenneth Law, Canada’s “Merchant of Death”? Also, the city’s ugliest intersection and Blue Monday mood-boosters [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. January 14 is National Dress Your Pet Day, an observance no doubt designed to reinforce that animals should feel ashamed of their nakedness the other 364 days of the year. Here’s the latest. MUST READS THEU-CSN/Dreamstime/Toronto Star illustration INVESTIGATION [What we know about Kenneth Law, the Canadian accused of operating an international assisted suicide business]( Called the “Merchant of Death” and “Poison King,” Kenneth Law is facing 14 second-degree murder charges linked to suicides. The 58-year-old former Fairmont Royal York cook is accused of selling at least 1,200 packages to more than 40 countries intended to facilitate self-harm, Omar Mosleh reports. His alleged victims range in age from 16 to 36 years old, with multiple minors. [Here’s what we know about Law so far](. R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star CITY LIFE [Toronto councillor blasts “no-fun” anti-tobogganing rules, hopes city won’t enforce its bylaw]( The next generation of Toronto’s would-be lugers were met with an unwelcome sight this past snowfall: new signs declaring that tobogganing is prohibited at 45 of the city’s hills due to nearby hazards like stumps and rocks. “Frankly, it’s embarrassing,” Coun. Brad Bradford tells Francine Kopun, adding that he doesn’t think the signs will prevent anyone from taking to the hills. [Here’s how the city made its decision and which hills remain designated for sledding](. Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star TRANSIT [After Line 3’s final ride, Toronto had a plan to get Scarborough moving. Now, there’s no money]( When the Scarborough RT line was shuttered nearly six months ago, locals were told the city planned to install a busway to expedite transit service until the Scarborough subway extension opened in 2030 (or later). The hope of smoother commutes across east Toronto was dealt a major blow this week with the revelation that there’s no money set aside in the budget for the stopgap project, Lex Harvey reports. [Weary travellers lament that there’s no relief in sight](. Shawn Micallef/For the Toronto Star DESIGN [What Toronto’s ugliest intersection says about the need for beauty in our city surroundings]( It wasn’t always like this for the intersection of Queen Street West and Bay Street. Until modernization efforts saw the installation of dull glass and white panels five years ago, the Simpsons department store tower on the southeast corner was once a beacon of semi-brutalist design in the downtown core, Shawn Micallef writes. Though beauty might not be the most pressing of issues in these turbulent times, it does indeed matter. [Here’s why](. Pexels WELLNESS [Tackling the decidedly unscientific Blue Monday with six practical, science-backed mood-boosters]( The third Monday in January marks Blue Monday, supposedly the most depressing day of the year. While the origins of the day are rooted in a clever marketing campaign, with cold, slushy weather and dark evenings, these are certainly the doldrums of winter, Sarah Laing writes. Even if there’s no concrete data behind Blue Monday, [these six science-backed tips and tricks can help shake your winter blues](. UP CLOSE Giovanni Capriotti/For the Toronto Star In her native Portugal, Mery Andrade is a hoops legend — one of the finest players the country has ever produced, Chelsea Leite writes. Now a rookie assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors, [she’s a key part of the team’s plan to turn its prospects around](. SEE THIS Kyle Purcell No more rehearsing and nursing a part; it’s curtains up for a bevy of new live theatrical performances coming to Toronto and beyond in 2024. Karen Fricker, Glenn Sumi and Aisling Murphy break down [the 14 shows they can’t wait to see this year](. Thanks for reading. You can send questions, comments and pictures of your dog wearing a funny little hat 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_207114), and Manuela will see you back here Monday. Get unlimited access to the Star Limited time offer: Only $4 for your first 8 weeks [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](