A day at the hospital winning Ontario’s ER crisis

Plus, why landlord fines aren’t working, a pre-“Dune: Part Two” FAQ and the silver lining of Scottie Barnes’ injury [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. They’ve come a long way from the Shire. The now-decades-long journey of “The Lord of the Rings” pals Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan continues with [a month-long run of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” in Toronto](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Nick Lachance/Toronto Star Health Care [What a hospital system in crisis can learn from one of Toronto’s busiest ERs]( With Ontario’s emergency rooms operating in a state of calamity, Toronto’s bustling North York General has improved patient flows and cut wait times. The hospital offers virtual consultations for less serious illnesses and has repurposed an ambulance garage for patients needing enhanced isolation, Kenyon Wallace reports. [Here’s more on the less-common innovations the hospital is using to win Ontario's ER crisis](. R.J. Johnson/Toronto Star Housing [Ontario hiked its fines for wrongful evictions but landlords aren’t even getting “a slap on the wrist”]( Accusations of bad-faith evictions — landlords forcing tenants out under the guise of personal use or renovations, only to re-list the properties at higher rates — are rising. Despite maximum fines being doubled recently, landlords often recoup penalties through higher rent profits, Victoria Gibson reports. [Here’s why housing advocates say Ontario’s secretive enforcement unit is failing to deter misbehaving landlords](. Arlyn McAdorey/for the Toronto Star Sports [Scottie Barnes is essentially done for the season and it's an opportunity the Raptors can’t waste]( Do the math: six weeks remain in the regular season and Scottie Barnes just fractured a bone in his left hand. Even if their franchise star makes a speedy recovery, the Toronto Raptors are unlikely to be in the postseason mix. As Doug Smith sees it, there’s opportunity in Barnes’ injury — [but it’s not bottoming out for improved draft lottery odds](. Wade Hudson/for the Toronto Star The Third ACT [How to connect with a loved one after dementia robs their ability to communicate]( Dementia impacts communication, making it harder for caregivers to understand how to help. Thankfully, certain techniques can bridge those gaps. Start by really understanding the preferences of the person with dementia, like priming a loved one for bathing by showing them their favourite towel, experts tell Maria Iqbal. [Here’s more on how to preserve relationships between those with dementia and their loved ones](. Warner Bros. Pictures Movies [Four things to remember before watching “Dune: Part Two,” 2024’s first mega-blockbuster]( With a bladder-busting runtime and more characters than the Russian alphabet, you’d be forgiven for forgetting what happened in 2021’s “Dune,” the Timothée Chalamet-led space epic about… intergalactic spice-mining? Before watching “Dune: Part Two,” read Richie Assaly’s refresher. From who (or what) the mysterious Bene Gesserit sisterhood is to the deal with those drum-hating sandworms, [here’s what you need to know](. UP CLOSE Blake Tyers/Sundance Channel Before he was solving cases on “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent,” Toronto’s Aden Young gave an achingly beautiful performance as a death-row inmate in “Rectify.” [Debra Yeo makes the case for revisiting the unsung “prestige TV”-era gem](. SAVE THIS Dreamstime More than half of Canadians nearing retirement don’t have enough saved up, Lora Grady writes. If that’s you (or your parents), [here are the small hacks for saving with intention and maximizing your golden years](. Thanks for reading — and remember the golden rule: Dune Two others as you would have them Dune One to you. 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_209879), and Kevin will see you back here Monday. Get unlimited access to the Star Sale: Starting at only $1 for a limited time [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](