Alberta Unbound

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In this podcast, Paula Simons, an Independent senator from Alberta, sets out to debate and deconstruct some of the myths that define and bind her province.

Paula Simons


    • May 20, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 55 EPISODES
    • 3 SEASONS


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    Latest episodes from Alberta Unbound

    What Happened? What Next?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 48:23


    Former Deputy PM Anne McLellan, former Alberta NDP Environment Minister Shannon Phillips and CPC strategist Ken Boessenkool examine the entrails of the federal election - and confront the threat of Alberta separatism 

    cpc ken boessenkool
    Inferno

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 37:41


    Chief Conroy Sewepagaham of the Little Red River Cree Nation talks about “making noise up north” as he works to lead his community through recovery from not one, but two, devastating wildfires.

    Josh Wingrove: Our Man in the White House

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 27:34


    Bloomberg's White House correspondent Josh Wingrove reports in from the front lines of Trump's trade war. 

    The Art of Doing - with Jesse Lipscombe

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 36:28


    Activist and author Jesse Lipscombe on Alberta's Black history, the power of radical patience, and building coalitions of resistance.  Link to Return to Amber Valley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsRkZz1KJB0

    black activist jesse lipscombe
    Who's the most Albertan of them all?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 25:37


    Political pundit Graham Thomson on why and where Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland and Pierre Poilievre are all playing up their Alberta roots. 

    Loyal to the Soil

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 29:14


    Dishing the dirt on soil health and regenerative agriculture with Kimberly Cornish, Shorty Fensky and Yamily Zavala.

    Lassoing the Narwhal: A conversation with Emma Gilchrist

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 21:12


    How Narwhal editor Emma Gilchrist's childhood in oil and gas country shaped her commitment to environmental journalism.

    Ron Ghitter: Still fighting for rights

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 24:48


    The Hon. Ron Ghitter was an architect of Alberta's first human rights legislation. Now, undaunted at 89, he's fighting to protect it.

    A Kris Wells Welcome

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 28:28


    Right wing trolls have dubbed Dr. Kristopher Wells Canada's most dangerous Senator. Now meet the real Kris Wells, Alberta's “proudest” new Senate representative.

    Municipalities Unbound Episode #3: Social Issues

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 61:42


    Join Independent Senator Paula Simons of Alberta and Senator Ratna Omidvar of Ontario as they co-host the final roundtable on municipal issues, inspired by Senator Simons' Senate inquiry into the role of municipalities in Canada today. They are joined by Mayor Dawn Arnold, Mayor of Moncton, New Brunswick; Dr. Kennedy Stewart, professor at Simon Fraser University, the former mayor of Vancouver and a former NDP MP; Lewis Cardinal, Project Manager at Indigenous Knowledge & Wisdom Centre in Edmonton; Edmonton City Councillor Keren Tang; and Mary Rowe, President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute. Youtube link to video version of the panel

    Table ronde d'enquête sénatoriale sur les municipalités #2 : Préparation aux situations d'urgences

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 84:47


    Rejoignez la sénatrice indépendante de l'Alberta, Paula Simons, alors qu'elle anime la deuxième enquête sur les municipalités, modérée par la sénatrice indépendante de l'Ontario, Bernadette Clement. Cette conversation met en vedette des maires franco-canadiens éminents de partout au pays, plongeant dans le sujet vital des municipalités et de la préparation aux urgences. Ils ont le privilège d'être rejoints par la mairesse Elisa Brousseau de Bonnyville, AB, le maire Eric Marquis d'Edmundston, NB, et l'ancien maire de Gatineau, Maxime Pendinaud-Jobin. Lien Youtube vers la version vidéo de cette table ronde   Join Independent Albertan Senator Paula Simons as she hosts the second municipalities inquiry, moderated by Independent Ontario Senator Bernadette Clement. This conversation features prominent French-Canadian mayors from across the country delving into the vital topic of municipalities and emergency preparedness. They are privileged to be joined by Mayor Elisa Brousseau of Bonnyville, AB, Mayor Eric Marquis of Edmundston, NB, and former Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pendinaud-Jobin. Youtube link to the video version of this panel (in French only)

    Municipalities Unbound Episode 1: Infrastructure

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2024 61:28


    Independent Albertan Senator Paula Simons moderates a panel of prominent Canadian experts on the topic of infrastructure and municipalities. She is joined by former federal Cabinet Minister Hon. Lisa Raitt, former Calgary Major and current Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell, urban planner and Co-Chair Commissioner of the Vancouver City Planning Commission Amina Yasin, and York University Professor Dr. Zac Spicer. This conversation was recorded in late January 2024. Youtube link to the video version of this panel

    Protecting Trans Kids: a Conversation with Alex Marshall and Kristy Harcourt

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 45:10


    Senator Simons talks to Alex Marshall and Kristy Harcourt about proposed legislation that will negatively affect the health and privacy rights of the transgender community. Alex Marshall works for the University of Alberta's College of Health Science, where she is the college's Strategic Initiatives Officer for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Kristy Harcourt is a social worker in clinical practice and therapist who devotes much of her practice to counselling trans kids and their families. She is a social work instructor at MacEwan University, the organizer of Edmonton's annual Queer Prom and a long time gay rights activist.

    The State of Journalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 64:20


    As part of Freedom to Read Week celebrations, Senator Simons moderated a panel discussion with journalists Danielle Paradis, Jason Markusoff, and Jonny Wakefield on the state of journalism. This event was presented in partnership with the Edmonton Public Library, LitFest, and Calgary Public Library. Jonny Wakefield has been with the Edmonton Journal/Sun newsroom since 2017. He is now the courts and crime reporter, covering the Edmonton Law Courts and other justice issues. He came to Canada from the U.S. as a student in 2009 and became a dual citizen in 2020. Danielle Paradis is an award-winning Indigenous (Métis) magazine writer, journalist, editor, educator, podcaster and mentor who lives in Treaty 6 (Edmonton, Alberta). She has written for both local and international audiences. You can read (or hear) her work at Aboriginal Peoples Television (APTN), Canadaland, Chatelaine, The Walrus, Alberta Views, Toronto Star (Edmonton), Canadian True Crime Podcast, and The Sprawl. Danielle covers politics, arts and culture, and Indigenous Issues. Danielle loves a good FOIP story and studied investigative journalism, story-based inquiry method, at the Centre for Investigative Journalism out of the UK. She has journalism, focusing on advanced reporting and reporting on diverse communities at MacEwan University and Humber College. She has also worked for a non-profit, Indigenous Friends Association, that focuses on connecting traditional knowledge and digital technology for Indigenous youth. She also has a background as a literary editor for Other Voices and in-depth media experience in both television and audio journalism. Jason Markusoff has been writing about what's happening – and not happening, but maybe should – in Alberta for more than two decades. He's a writer, editor and producer with CBC Calgary, and before that he's been a correspondent for Maclean's, Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal. He's on Twitter a lot less these days, for patently obvious reasons. Paula Simons was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2018, after a long and distinguished career as one of western Canada's most acclaimed journalists. She has been a radio documentary-maker, a playwright, and an author of popular history, but she is best known for her work as a political columnist and reporter with the Edmonton Journal.

    Corb Lund: Cowboy Troubadour

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 32:50


    Senator Simons speaks with Corb Lund about western history, storytelling, his evolution from heavy metal urban rocker to western troubadour, his battle against coal mining on the Eastern Slopes, and his brand-new album, El Viejo. (This interview was recorded January 16, 2024.)

    Disinformation Contagion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 35:46


    Senator Simons speaks to Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy and Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta, about the Canadian and global rises of health misinformation and disinformation. Timothy's books, including Relax: A Guide to Everyday Health Decisions with More Facts and Less Worry and The Science of Celebrity . . . or Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?, can be found here.

    The Proof is in the Pudding

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2023 31:06


    Senator Simons interviews Canada's newly appointed Supreme Court Justice, the Honourable Mary T. Moreau, about growing up franco-albertain, her groundbreaking legal career, and moving to bilingual Ottawa.  (This interview was recorded on November 29, 2023.)

    Talkin' ‘Bout Communication

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 47:01


    Senator Simons speaks with Dr. Emily Laidlaw, Karen Unland, and Jen Gerson about current and future communications issues.  Dr. Emily Laidlaw is Canada Research Chair in Cybersecurity Law and Associate Professor of Law at the University of Calgary. Jen Gerson is a co-founder of The Line and a commentator and journalist who has contributed to the CBC, the National Post, Maclean's, the Walrus, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. Karen Unland is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Taproot Edmonton, the creator of the Alberta Podcast Network, and co-host of the podcast That's a Thing?!

    Reference Check

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 35:45


    Senator Simons speaks to Dr. Eric Adams and Dr. Andrew Leach about the recent Supreme Court of Canada reference judgment, which found the Impact Assessment Act unconstitutional by a vote of 5-2.    Dr. Adams is a Professor in the University of Alberta Faculty of Law. Dr. Leach is a Professor of Economics and Law at the University of Alberta. His new book is Between Doom and Denial: Facing Facts About Climate Change. Dr. Leach will be speaking about his new book, Between Doom and Denial: Facing Facts About Climate Change, during an upcoming series of McGill Max Bell Lectures. Event and ticketing information can be found below:  October 19, 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario: Can governments promise a just energy transition in Canada? October 25, 2023 in Calgary, Alberta: Will the world use enough of our oil and gas? November 2, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec: Do Canada's cold temperatures mean we shouldn't worry about climate change?

    Alberta Pension Fact-Check

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 62:41


    (September 2023) The Alberta Government recently announced its intention to move forward with splitting from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and creating a separate Alberta Pension Plan (APP). Senator Simons speaks with University of Calgary professors Dr. Lindsay Tedds and Dr. Trevor Tombe about the possibility of Alberta moving out of the Canada Pension Plan and about the Alberta Pension Plan report that was released earlier this month. Following this new discussion of the APP report is a rebroadcast of our February 2023 episode, in which Senator Simons speaks to a panel of experts about the Canadian Pension Plan and the pros and cons of a possible Alberta Pension Plan. Panelists: Dr. Lindsay Tedds, Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Calgary; Deborah Yedlin, President & CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce; Ricardo Acuna, Executive Director of the Parkland Institute; Dr. Trevor Tombe, Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary; and  Dr. Leo de Bever, Senior Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute. 

    S4 Episode 10: Chinese Inclusion Acts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2023 30:56


    To mark the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Senator Simons hosts a panel discussion with panelists Teresa Woo-Paw, Gary Mar, Nathan Ip, and K. Linda Tzang.

    S4 Episode 9: Alberta Ablaze

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 32:24


    Senator Simons speaks with environmental author Ed Struzik about wildfires and the current Alberta wildfire emergency. 

    S4 Episode 8: One Just Transition

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 29:30


    Senator Simons speaks with diversity and inclusion professional Marni Panas.

    S4 Episode 7: Pension Planning

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2023 40:05


    Senator Simons speaks to a panel of experts about the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) and the pros and cons of a possible Alberta Pension Plan. Panelists: Dr. Lindsay Tedds, Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Calgary; Deborah Yedlin, President & CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce; Ricardo Acuna, Executive Director of the Parkland Institute; Dr. Trevor Tombe, Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary; and  Dr. Leo de Bever, Senior Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute. 

    S4 Episode 6: Migration

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 32:16


    Senator Simons speaks with the administrator of Mstdn.ca, Chad Ohman about what has been called the Mastodon migration. Mstdn.ca Senator Simons on Mastodon Chronos Vocal Ensemble - Choristers Private Tears  

    S4 Episode 5: The Future of Food

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2022 58:01


    Senator Simons moderates the 2022 University of Alberta Chancellor's Forum on Food for the Future. Panelists include Dr. Ellen Goddard, University of Alberta professor in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences; Gleise M. da Silva, the first BCRC-Hays Chair in Beef Production Systems; Isha Datar, the Executive Director of New Harvest, a nonprofit research institute that funds open, public cultured meat research; Alison Sunstrom, the founder/CEO of CNSRV-X Inc. (Conserve X) and Co-CEO/Founder of GrowSafe Systems Ltd.; and Dr. William “Bill” Shotyk, the Bocock Chair in Agriculture and Environment at the University of Alberta.

    S4 Episode 4: Of Ducks and Men

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 38:41


    Senator Simons speaks with Cape Breton cartoonist Kate Beaton about her graphic memoir, Ducks; her two years spent in the Alberta oil sands; and how the East coast and Alberta influence each other.

    S4 Episode 3: On the Fringe

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 31:27


    Senator Simons speaks to Vice News senior reporter Mack Lamoureux about his deep Franco-Albertan roots and his journalistic focus on extremist groups in Alberta and Canada. 

    S4 Episode 2: Her Voice of Fire (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 23:11


    Senator Simons speaks with Cree/Iroquois/French journalist and author Brandi Morin about the papal visit to Canada, reconciliation, and the meaning of Wood Buffalo National Park.

    S4 Episode 1: Her Voice of Fire (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022 22:08


    Senator Simons speaks to Cree/Iroquois/French journalist and author Brandi Morin about her memoir, Our Voice of Fire: A Memoir of a Warrior Rising.

    S3: Episode 10: A Royal Progress

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 28:07


    Senator Simons speaks to playwright, writer, composer, performer, director, and queer historian Darrin Hagen.

    progress simons darrin hagen
    S3: Episode 9: 2022 Leitch Lecture Part 3 - In the Hot Seat

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 28:04


    Senator Simons answers questions following the 2022 Merv Leitch, QC Memorial Lecture to the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. 

    S3: Episode 8: 2022 Leitch Lecture Part 2 - My Life as an Amateur Gardener

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 28:30


    Senator Simons delivers part two of the 2022 Merv Leitch, QC Memorial Lecture to the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. 

    S3: Episode 7: 2022 Leitch Lecture Part 1 - Planting a Living Tree

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 18:29


    Senator Simons delivers the first part of the 2022 Merv Leitch, QC Memorial Lecture to the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. 

    S3 Episode 6: Sense of Place

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 25:59


    Senator Simons interviews former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Beverley McLachlin about her time as a jurist in Ottawa, differences between the Canadian and American Supreme Courts, and her bestselling mystery novels. 

    S3 Episode 5: Wind from the West

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 21:29


    Senator Simons speaks with former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Beverley McLachlin about her Alberta roots, Alberta identity, and the true nature of freedom.

    S3 Episode 4: The Prairies Got Something to Say

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 33:09


    Senator Simons speaks with Edmonton rapper and poet Cadence Weapon.

    S3 Episode 3: North. South. East. West.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 34:54


    Sen. Paula Simons sits down with the history-making new mayors of Edmonton and Calgary.

    S3 Episode 2: The Equalizers II

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 24:27


    Sen. Paula Simons continues the conversation with an expert panel on equalization, its past and future.

    S3 Episode 1: The Equalizers I

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 37:12


    Everything you ever wanted to know about equalization, as Sen. Paula Simons hosts an expert town hall.

    BONUS: Pop Up and Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2021 32:07


    Cheryl Whiskeyjack and Omar Yaqub on what Indigenous and immigrant Albertans can accomplish together.

    S2 Episode 9: Reconciliation—A Triptych

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 26:20


    Aaron Paquette on truth, reconciliation and bringing light.

    S2 Episode 8: Straight Out Of Millwoods

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 20:19


    Lawyer Avnish Nanda on looking for justice.

    S2 Episode 7: Essential

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 20:07


    Calgary entrepreneur Lourdes Juan, on the burden of the model minority.

    essential calgary lourdes juan
    S2 Episode 6: The Science Of Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 21:46


    Chaldeans Mensah on the bus ride from Toronto to Edmonton that changed everything.

    S2 Episode 5: The Other Side Of Gold Mountain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 20:19


    Natalie Pon, on one Chinese-Albertan's Covid-19 epiphany.

    S2 Episode 4: A Hundred Hellos

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 22:49


    Barry Morishita, mayor of Alberta's most multicultural city: Brooks.

    S2 Episode 3: Afros In Tha Cities

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 23:16


    Journalist Tomi Ajele on Afros in Alberta, BLM, and true meaning of the Calgary Flames.

    S2 Episode 2: Giving Social Credit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 23:12


    Political scientist Yasmeen Abu-Laban on multiculturalism's forgotten Alberta roots.

    S2 Episode 1: Defying Prophecies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 26:10


    They said he'd never amount to anything. Indigenous MD Alika Lafontaine on beating odds and labels.

    S1 Episode 5: The Alberta We Want

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 18:37


    After years of being locked into a boom-and-bust resource economy, after years of battling against redneck stereotypes, after years of fighting for their future, how do Albertans create the Alberta they want? And what should that Alberta look like? In the fifth and final installment of Alberta Unbound, host Paula Simons, and her panelists -- Dr. Jared Wesley, a professor of political science from the University of Alberta; Shannon Stubbs, the Conservative MP for the riding of Lakeland, northeast of Edmonton; Dr. Diana Steinhauer, the president of Yellowhead Tribal College, and an elder with the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Treaty Six territory; acclaimed journalist and documentary-maker Omar Mouallem,  and author and former Alberta cabinet minister Doug Griffiths – tackle some tough questions from an Edmonton audience. 

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