The Big Story

It's been a little over three months since the small eastern British Columbian town of Tumbler Ridge was rocked after a shooter opened fire at the local secondary school. Eight people were killed and dozens were injured. In the weeks that followed, a number of lawsuits and investigations have ensued, as well as plans to demolish and rebuild the school where the shooting took place. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Trent Ernst, a publisher at Tumbler RidgeLines Newspaper, to discuss how the community's been grappling with the aftermath and what its members expect from the government at this point. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: WHO officials speak on the Ebola outbreak, takeaways from U.S. primaries, Carney is in B.C., Quebec's Premier returns from France, and who controls your water? Ontario's privatization push. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

The Ontario government is eyeing a shift in its water management operations. It's a move Premier Ford insists is nothing like what the Harris government did back in 2000, when seven people died and thousands fell ill after E. Coli was found in Walkerton's water drinking supply. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Meera Karunananthan, assistant professor at Carleton University to discuss Ontario's Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, the implications of allowing water operations to be overseen by for-profit models, and how Ontarians can fight back against the potential new changes. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: The World Health Organization is warning about an Ebola outbreak in two African countries, the U.S. has called off military action against Iran, Three Canadian police officers have been arrested in Barcelona, allergy season in Canada is expected to be worse than previous years, and is Canada ready for another wildfire season? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

At least 100 people were forced from their homes last week due to an evacuation order in an area of Woodlands County, southeast of Whitecourt, Alberta, thanks to a fast moving wildfire. It's becoming an increasingly common story in the province-- and across the country-- a decade after devastating fires wiped out Fort McMurray. And as Canada heads into this year's wildfire season, can we expect a repeat of the last three seasons, or something potentially worse? Host Maria Kestane speaks to Mike Flannigan, a wildfire expert and professor at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia on how ready Canada is heading into the season, and whether or not we should expect a pattern in the years to come. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

A recent report from Statistics Canada says our country hit a new fertility rating law in 2024, with over half of women aged 20 to 49 childless. Without immigration, the rate needed to maintain a steady population is 2.1 children per woman, but in Canada, it's now 1.25- below the 1.3 line that experts describe as "ultra-low". Host Catherine Jette is speaking with journalist Cara Stern from the Missing Middle Initiative, an organization dedicated to reviving Canada's middle class, about the many factors contributing to young people's decision not to have as many kids. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show "In This Economy?!" "The K-shaped economy." From housing, to productivity, to wages, it's a phrase you hear more and more often these days. But what exactly does it mean? And how is it effecting your wallet? In this episode of In This Economy?!, co-host Kris Kris McCusker is speaking to economist Jim Stanford, director of the Centre for Future Work, to find out. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: The Prime Minister speaks alongside the Premier of Alberta, Donald Trump returns to the U.S., the price of gas is rising, Drake drops three new albums, and smart glasses: the good, the bad, and the unregulated. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Have you ever came across a person wearing glasses in public and thought: "Are they filming me?" With the rise of smart glasses - glasses with cameras and AI technology embedded within them - the concern of privacy has become more prominent. And not only whether or not you're being filmed, but what happens with the content once it's captured. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks with technology lawyer Ritesh Kotak, about how concerned you should be about your privacy, what laws govern wearable technology, and what you could do to protect yourself. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: Honda suspends plans for a new Canadian plant, Trump's Beijing visit, the country's springtime real estate market showed signs of slowing sales, and who will headline the first-ever World Cup Final halftime show. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

US President Trump is in China for the second half of this week, talking all things trade, alliance and geopolitics. It comes at a delicate time for the President, as approval rating continue to plummet following a rise in the cost of living as a result of the war in Iran. In tow was a slew of some of the country's most powerful executives, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Larry Fink to name a few. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Jia Wang, Senior Fellow at The Chinese Institute at the University of Alberta and Senior Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, to discuss potential Canadian implications of Trump's China visit, how the Iran war is affecting the US-China relationship, as well as the political importance of this trip ahead of the US midterms. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: Trump lands in Beijing, King Charles throne speech, the Artemis II crew meets Carney, an American coffee giant is coming to Canada, and integrating Indigenous healthcare could solve Manitoba's HIV crisis. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Manitoba's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, declared a public health emergency over the rise in HIV rates, which have steadily increased since 2019. The province saw close to 330 new cases in 2025 - almost four time the rate of new cases 7 years ago. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Michelle Monkman, interim CEO of Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin (KIM), to discuss why the province's healthcare system should be more welcoming of Indigenous healthcare practices, the importance of making sure provinces have testing resources, and how federal systems should take more accountability for the rise in rates. Learn more about KIM's work here: https://kiminoayawin.com/ We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: Deadline day for the 2026 census, British PM faces resignation calls, Donald Trump visits Beijing, more sanctions against Russia, and what the Alberta data leak can teach us about separatists. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Experts are calling it the largest data breach in Canadian history, sparking fears for the safety of all Canadians - everyone from public figures to victims of domestic abuse. Both the RCMP and Elections Alberta are investigating after Elections Alberta said a pro-separation group had un-authorized access to a separatist party's copy of the electors list - containing the personal information of nearly three million Albertans, including their address. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to political strategist, Zain Velji to discuss how the group got a hold of the electors list, the political fallout across the country, and why economic moves from the PM's office fall short of actually deterring the separatist movement. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: Iran has responded to the U.S. proposal to end the war, a new poll finds the federal Liberals are leading over the opposition Conservatives, the 2026 census deadline is tomorrow, the FIFA world cup is just over a month away, and what's the state of Canada's bilingualism? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

It's been decades since Canada implemented an official bilingualism policy nation wide-- but the history of our two official languages in Canada goes back much further. And following a recent Macleans article questioning the validity of official bilingualism, the question remains: what is the state of bilingualism in Canada? Host Catherine Jette speaks with Dr. Luisa Veronis, Research Chair in Immigration and Franco-Ontarian communities at the University of Ottawa, to look at the historical and modern implications of Canada's language policy. Macleans Article: https://macleans.ca/politics/official-bilingualism-has-failed-canada/ We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

During the course of a year that saw heavy flight delays and cancellations, crowded airports and rising ticket prices and baggage fees, airlines in North America still managed to deliver stand-out passenger experiences. The JD power 2026 North America airline satisfaction study shows the overall satisfaction rate up 8 points (on a 1,000-point scale) year over year, with improvement occurring across all segments. However, as airfares have begun to skyrocket in 2026, airlines may soon find it difficult to offset high costs with great service, and customers can expect to see a lot of new fees this summer for fuel surcharges and checked bags. So, will travellers balk at higher prices or if they do travel, will they be starting their vacation in a lousy mood? In this episode of In This Economy?!, host Mike Eppel talks to Michael Taylor, senior managing director of travel, hospitality, retail and customer service at JD power, to discuss their recent findings, and what it could mean going forward. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

The April jobs report is not good for Canadians trying to get a job, the Pentagon has released it's first batch of U.F.O. files, the voice of nature around the world, Sir David Attenborough, is celebrating his 100th birthday, and politics on the pitch: geopolitical tensions shaping the world cup. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

As Canada gears up for soccer's most exciting time, we can't help but notice the dark cloud that looms over the World Cup. The current geopolitical reality on the global scale - whether it's the Iran-US/Israel war, the violent fallout after the death of Mexican drug lord El Mencho, immigration crackdowns throughout the US - has stirred real safety concerns for the more than 100 games across the three countries. Guest host Devang Desai speaks to Aaron Ettinger, political science professor at Carleton University to discuss the intersection of sports and politics, how US President Trump uses international sporting events to his own advantage, and the role of FIFA. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: Could the ill-fated ship be ground-zero for the next pandemic, how close is a potential peace deal in Iran, the U-S secretary of state is at the Vatican, most Canadians support bans on social media and AI for kids, and the Prime Minister will host Dutch royalty ahead of the annual Tulip Festival. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

In early April, the luxury cruise liner MV Hondius set sail from Argentina across the Atlantic ocean, but things did not go as planned. Since then, three people have died and three others had to be evacuated for emergency medical treatment-- including the ship's doctor-- as they deal with an outbreak of Hantavirus. Now, passengers are still quarantined on the ship, as the World Health Organization tries to contain the disease. In this episode of the Big Story Podcast, host Caryn Ceolin speaks with Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases expert out of the Toronto General Hospital, about hantavirus: what we know, what we don't know, and if this could be the start of the next pandemic. Then, Caryn speaks with Dr. Muhammad Morshed from the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control about what might've happened on the ship that started the outbreak, and what we know about the world's first documented outbreak of this unnerving disease on a cruise ship. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: Trump is threatening to bomb Iran if the country doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a big win for Canada's aviation industry, Ontario will lower the early screening age for colorectal cancer, one researcher says the study of a massive tsunami in Alaska is a warning that we need better monitoring, and can Canada unclog it's housing market? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

A lot of the housing conversation goes towards first-time home buyers...but what about second-time? Or those looking to downsize? A clogged-up housing market is a problem that affects Canadians in all life stages. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Dr. Mike Moffat, Founding Director of the Missing Middle Initiative at the University of Ottawa. They discuss how what's impacting Canadians from moving through the housing market, how government initiatives can help residents find a place to meet their needs, and whether the market will recover soon. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: Hantavirus "cluster" on cruise ship, Iran war update, gunfire near the Washington Monument, the 2026 Census begins, and it's time for Canada's architecture to better reflect our values. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Canada is known for its vibrant culture and diversity, but you wouldn't know that from our architecture. It's no surprise that the bottom line plays a role into materials and design decisions of commercial, residential and cultural buildings, but is there a way Canada can balance creativity, budget and authenticity to have the best looking country? Host Maria Kestane speaks to Alex Josephson, founder of Toronto-based architecture firm, Partisans, to dig into the investment Canada needs to make into its up-and-coming creatives, and just how important building aesthetics are to our country's ethos. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: Carney visits Armenia, suspected Hantavirus outbreak, tariff relief announcement, Habs win, and who pays the price for privatization? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Mark Carney's government has floated the idea of privatizing Canadian airports, suggesting it will make them better. But with Canadians already fed up with air travel, as costs seem to go up while service goes down-- would that really be the result? And what would the move mean for airport workers across the country? Host Caryn Ceolin speaks with Siobhán Vipond, Vice President at the Canadian Labour Congress, to discuss the case for leaving airports as they are, the hidden costs of privatization, and the case for public ownership as it pertains to national sovereignty. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: The Bank of Canada governor says he's encouraged by the federal government's efforts to insulate the economy against future shocks, a new poll shows most Canadians are not comfortable with the direction of the national economy, Alberta marks a somber anniversary, Habs fans are preparing for Game 6, and one year later and two Nova Scotian kids are still missing. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Almost exactly a year ago, six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother, Jack allegedly wandered into the woods near their family's home north of Halifax and never returned, leaving few clues as to what happened to them. The RCMP has since kept the details of the investigation tight-lipped, leaving the community, media and the country at large with more questions as time goes on. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks with Natasha O'Neill, web editor for CityNews Halifax, about what we know-- and don't know-- to this day. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: The families of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting victims are set to seek nearly 1-billion dollars in lawsuits against Open A-I, the Canadian economy sees growth in the first quarter, Canada will host a new NATO bank, the Prime Minister has named the new E-U ambassador, and how the boom in romance novels can help other media meet consumer needs. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

If you've felt compelled to pick up a steamy, smutty book throughout the last few months, you wouldn't have been the first - and you probably won't be the last. It's no doubt romance novels are having their moment, and besides the books themselves, readers and consumers alike are going beyond the pages and diving into their respective worlds. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Deborah Aarts, a freelance business writer about how Canadians are opting to invest in community, and how the recent boom in romance novels could teach other traditional media how to meet consumers where they're at. You can read Deborah's article here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/rob-magazine/article-the-swoon-boom-meet-the-business-savvy-smut-mongers-of-the-great-hot/#comments We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: Reaction to the federal spring economic statement, Trump threatens Iran, King Charles in the U.S., and Health Canada approves the first generic version of brand-name Ozempic We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Within minutes of news that shots rang out at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, online spaces were filled with the 'what ifs'. Conspiracy theories and fringe narratives continue to dominate the noise surrounding the latest attempt at assassinating US President Donald Trump, spreading disinformation while simultaneously tainting the opportunity for meaningful and critical dialogue. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Geoff Dancy, a political science professor at the University of Toronto to break down how these conspiracies take advantage of a politically polarized America, and how we can make sense of what's real versus speculation. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: One year of Mark Carney, the UAE says it will leave OPEC, King Charles in the U.S., the Royal Canadian Mint launches a review, and who is being inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

The Davos speech, the tariff profile, and now the Canada Strong Fund. It's been a busy year for Mark Carney since being elected as Canada's 24th Prime Minister this day last year, and as Canadians face tough economic and geopolitical uncertainty, we're taking a look back at how Carney has managed to bring the country together through some of the year's - and Canada's - rockiest moments. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to journalist and host of The Paikin Podcast, Steve Paikin, to discuss how Carney's tenure so far has changed Canada's global profile, how much of a difference he's made in strengthening the domestic economy, and how his work will be perceived in a post-Trump world. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: Tehran is reaching out to Russia for support, a preview of tomorrow's interest rate announcement, Carney unveils the country's first national sovereign wealth fund, Canadians appear to want the government to focus more on affordability, and the real cost of foreign sloapaganga on Canadian democracy. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

It started with mispronunciations-- saying "Regina" wrong, or saying "Atlanta" instead of "Alberta"-- but it spiraled into so much more. With their interest piqued, the Media Ecosystem Observatory began looking into a network of dozens of YouTube channels claiming to be covering Canadian politics from an Albertan perspective, and they found faceless, Dutch content creators to be behind the videos instead. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Chris Ross, Senior Analyst at the Media Ecosystem Observatory, who led the team looking into these channels, about what exactly they found. After the break, Caryn speaks with Chris Tenove, Assistant Director of the Centre for the study of Democratic Institutions at the University of British Columbia about the reliability of online platforms, and how lack of regulation could threaten Canadian democracy. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Plus: U.S. alcohol will likely stay off Canadian shelves until the tariffs are dropped, U.S. officials provide an update this morning on the war in Iran, Canadians, once again, not making as many trips to the states, the Michael Jackson biopic hits the big screen today, and should Canada consider a smoke-free generation? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

The British government is set to ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2008 - raising both hopes that it could create the first smoke-free generation, but also doubts about whether it could actually be enforced. The legislation also puts limits on the sale and consumption of vape products. Host Maria Kestane speaks with Michael Chaiton, a Senior Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and an Associate Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, about whether or not the idea is feasible, and if it might be worth considering in Canada. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

FINTRAC is warning young people from India are being used for extortion schemes in Canada, a rare late-night sitting at Queen's Park to debate Ontario Premier Doug Ford's controversial budget bill, two trains in Denmark crash in what police are calling a major incident, and how the jet fuel crisis will impact your travel plans. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

It's the time of year where Canadians would usually start putting their summer travel plans on paper, but this year looks different. Fuel shortages, however, have forced a number of airlines - including Air Canada - to cancel several routes for months, upending where and how Canadians spend their summer. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Lorn Sheehan, professor of strategy and tourism at Dalhousie University to discuss how travelers could brace for a turbulent next few months, and how fast we could feel relief should Iran and the US sustain a lasting ceasefire. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky