Francine Kopun
TorontoStar
Toronto, ON, Canada
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Past articles by Francine:
Toronto’s Love Park has only been open for two weeks. Why is its pond already an icky green?
City of Toronto says it is aware of the issue and working to restore the pond as soon as possible. → Read More
Humans aren’t the only ones fixated on phones. Why the Toronto Zoo is cutting back on gorilla screen time
Visitors advised not to share cellphone images with the zoo’s primates as it can lead to anti-social behaviour. → Read More
Watch: Dozens of endangered turtles raised by Toronto Zoo have been released into the wild
By the 1990s, fewer than 10 adult Blanding’s turtles were found in the Rouge River watershed — not nearly enough to support a healthy population. → Read More
Mark Saunders is a tough leader who listens. Critics say he’s also made some bad calls
The former police chief knows how to lead and develop consensus, say those who’ve worked with him. Others argue he’s not open-minded enough. → Read More
Toronto Eaton Centre stays open on holidays. Why other city malls are vying to do the same
Yorkdale mall and Scarborough Town Centre renew their fight to remain open on statutory holidays, but many retail workers aren’t on board. → Read More
Poverty activist group OCAP ceases operations
The organization was founded in 1990 by British-born union activist John Clarke who ran the operation out of an office on Sherbourne Street. → Read More
Renaming Dundas Street: Inside the fiery debate that led to the decision, and why it’s back in the public eye
The city is set to roll out a shortlist of new names for Dundas Street. But some question if Toronto should move ahead with renaming the thoroughfare. → Read More
She discovered a lost photo of her father in an AGO exhibit
At the AGO’s “What Matters Most: Photographs of Black Life,” a woman found an old Polaroid of her dad on display. → Read More
Metrolinx plans to cut down historic Osgoode Hall trees after all
Despite saying in the summer it would wait for an independent review, Metrolinx now says the five 200-year-old-plus trees must go for an archeological assessment. → Read More
‘I have very, very big shoes to fill’: Family, friends and colleagues remember Toronto councillor Cynthia Lai
At a celebration of life Friday, her family, friends and fellow politicians paid tribute to the councillor who died Oct.21. → Read More
‘Anything is possible in this city’: Wave of racialized voices elected to Toronto council brings hope
Chris Moise was elected to city council Monday as part of a wave of candidates from visible minority communities. → Read More
Have empathy, a thick skin — and a ready supply of chocolate: Advice from outgoing Toronto city councillors for the newly elected
The Star asked the seven departing councillors to impart their hard-won advice to the new crew. → Read More
Housing, transit, policing among the problems new Toronto city council faces
The mayor and 25 newly elected councillors will have to quickly come to grips with a host of problems when they first meet in November. → Read More
‘What’s going on here?’: Why this election should serve as a wakeup call for Toronto
Even before voters head to the polls Monday there are lessons to be learned from this election. → Read More
71-year-old Vaughan man charged with first-degree murder in stabbing death of wife
Naheed Askaryar was pronounced dead in hospital and the cause of death was later determined be stab wounds, according to York Regional Police Const. Amy Boudreau → Read More
Toronto to cancel some fall recreation classes over labour shortage
The city said 3,800 registrants in around 540 classes are affected, representing about five per cent of all courses offered by the city. → Read More
‘I don’t know what to vote’: For the first election in more than 20 years, Ford country in Toronto is no longer Ford country
The absence of the Ford name on the ballot has left many voters wondering who to support in the Oct. 24 election. → Read More
Toronto’s Central Park? One architect’s ‘spectacular’ vision for bridge linking Islands to mainland
Instead of the lift bridge proposed by Ward 10 candidate April Engelberg, the RevelHouse bridge would swing open to allow sailboats, freighters and other large vessels through. → Read More
Ex-paramedic hopes firefighters’ vaccination win opens door for her to return
A 23-year veteran sees a chance to get back to her beloved old job even without being vaccinated against COVID-19. The city’s outside workers are also waging a fight similar to that of firefighters, says the firefighters’ lawyer. → Read More
Why Toronto city councillors are running for the exits and what that says about civic democracy
In the age of the Great Resignation and volatile public discourse, is being a city councillor a coveted role anymore? → Read More