Podcasts about Parks Canada

One of the big initiatives in this term of council, especially as we emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, was the effort to promote Guelph as a tourist destination. There are two major projects now in the pipeline that would do a lot to brandish Guelph as regional, provincial and nation destination, but as we look to the next term of council, will there be the political capacity to help make these projects a reality? We've talked about both of these projects in previous episodes of the pod. Royal City Science is an effort to build a science centre in Guelph, and last fall they released their feasibility study, which laid out the plan for a 100,000 square foot facility to be built in three phases and will include exhibition halls, education spaces, a planetarium and an IMAX theatre. (That would be a first for this area by the way.) When it comes to the National Urban Park, we know that infrastructure isn't the problem because the land is already there, and while Guelph City Council has endorsed the idea, three very important people have held back: The Mayor, our Member of Provincial Parliament, and our Members of Parliament. In the meantime though, there's a massive community investment in the project and they're ready to go! So what's happening now with both of these projects?  Joanne O'Meara, one of the organizers of Royal City Science, and P. Brian Skerrett, a heritage advocate and creator of Urban Park Guelph, will join us on this edition of the pod to talk about the latest with these initiatives. O'Meara will talk about the search for a site to build the science centre and whether the drama around the Ontario Science Centre is a drain on this project, and then we will then talk to Skerrett about community versus political support and getting ready to make an updated pitch to Parks Canada.  So let's talk about Guelph as a city of attractions on this week's Guelph Politicast!  To learn more about Royal City Science at their website, or follow them on Instagram. The monthly Science on Top events at Royal City Brewing will return this fall. You can also learn more about the effort to turn the OR Lands into a National Urban Park their website, on Facebook. The Yorklands Green Hub regularly hosts events on the property, and you can find more information about what's coming up here, and learn more about other Guelph tourism events here.  The host for the Guelph Politicast is Podbean. Find more episodes of the Politicast here, or download them on your favourite podcast app at Apple, TuneIn and Spotify . Also, when you subscribe to the Guelph Politicast channel and you will also get an episode of Open Sources Guelph every Monday, and an episode of End Credits every Friday.

Signal Hill marks the 75th anniversary of its designation as a National Historic Site. GUESTS - Pascale Gerdun, Robin Martin, Christina Dove, Jake Billard, Jon Harrison from Parks Canada

Electricity Canada CEO Francis Bradley joins thinkenergy to unpack the 2026 State of the Industry report, Forging Canada's Electricity Future. Why is public trust in utilities peaking in light of extreme weather? Why is a single word in the Fisheries Act halting major hydro projects? They dive into supply chain headaches, bureaucratic red tape, and how treating the power grid like core tax-funded infrastructure can make electricity bills more affordable for consumers. Related links  Electricity Canada: https://www.electricity.ca/ Francis Bradley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francis-bradley-icd-d-ias-a-3617802a/   Electricity Human Resources Canada: https://ehrc.ca/  Trevor Freeman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-freeman-p-eng-8b612114  Hydro Ottawa: https://hydroottawa.com/en    To subscribe using Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinkenergy/id1465129405  To subscribe using Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7wFz7rdR8Gq3f2WOafjxpl  To subscribe on Libsyn: http://thinkenergy.libsyn.com  --- Subscribe so you don't miss a video: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkenergypod Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkenergypod/  Stay in the know on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinkenergypod Keep up with the posts on X: https://twitter.com/thinkenergypod - Transcript: 00:01 Trevor Freeman: Welcome to Think Energy, a podcast that dives into the fast-changing world of energy through conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and people on the front lines of the energy transition. Join me, Trevor Freeman, as I explore the traditional, unconventional, and up-and-coming facets of the energy industry. If you have any thoughts, feedback, or ideas for topics we should cover, please reach out to us at thinkenergy@hydroottawa.com. 00:27 Trevor Freeman: Hi everyone, and welcome back. Here's something you've heard me say before: the energy transition isn't coming, it's here now. And that's showing up in a lot of different ways—from the significant increase in demand that we're seeing driven by AI data centers and electrification, to the ever-increasing adoption of distributed energy resources by everyday Canadians in their homes and businesses. Even utilities looking to non-wire solutions as a strategy to employ alongside the traditional poles and wires approach to meet this growing demand. That's all happening now. 01:03 Trevor Freeman: And that really underscores the message that the time for talking about how we will eventually build out our grid to handle the energy transition has turned into the time to build and deliver on that talk. But, as with most things, it's never just that easy. This is all happening against the backdrop of an energy industry that is, to say the least, facing some pretty significant turmoil. What sector isn't right now? There's global conflict, there's a need for bold new policy direction, changing technology—these are not insignificant factors. 01:38 Trevor Freeman: And so, to help us understand where we currently are at and where immediate action is necessary, I think it's time we check in with a two-time previous guest on this show: Francis Bradley. Francis is the President and CEO of Electricity Canada, the leading voice for the electricity industry in this country. We've had Francis on the show before in the past and it's great to have him back here today to chat about some of these issues. 02:04 Trevor Freeman: Every year, Electricity Canada releases a State of the Industry report that serves as kind of a pulse check on our sector. You'll hear shortly in my conversation with Francis that there is something to the naming of these reports. In 2023, the message was "Build It". In 2024, they used the title "Getting to Yes". But the 2026 report, which was just released, has a bit of a different title: it's called "Forging Canada's Electricity Future". 02:35 Trevor Freeman: Now, to forge something implies heat, pressure, a lot of hard work. And this report does exactly that. It dives into the regulatory system that we operate in, the gaps in our labor and supply chains, and this new geopolitical reality that's pushing Canada to prioritize our own domestic production. But it's not all warnings. There is a roadmap, so to speak, in the report that specifies 18 recommendations that Electricity Canada proposes be addressed in order to help our industry thrive. As the need to increase our capacity and meet these rising energy demands intensifies, getting projects moving, getting shovels in the ground is absolutely critical. So, it's really great to have Francis here today to chat through that and talk about what's in the report, and I'm sure it'll be a great discussion. 03:26 Trevor Freeman: Francis Bradley, welcome to the show—welcome back to the show. 03:29 Francis Bradley: Oh, delighted to be back. Good to see you. 03:32 Trevor Freeman: So Francis, it's great to have you back on the show. It's always a pleasure to catch up and get, you know, your perspective, your take on what's happening in the world of energy, and particularly the Canadian energy landscape. So, we chatted just under a year ago, and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that was a pretty tumultuous time in the world of energy, at least here in Canada. 03:52 Trevor Freeman: So, just for context setting for our listeners as a reminder: we had just come out of both a provincial and federal election here in Ontario. Our various levels of governments were responding to actual tariffs and threats of additional tariffs. There was a lot of talk about national energy projects from pipelines to east-west electricity grids. So, with that as the backdrop, how has the last year been for you and Electricity Canada, being kind of the main association representing the electricity industry in Canada? Have we seen some of those big projects move forward? Is it all talk or have things actually happened in the last sort of 10, 12 months? 04:36 Francis Bradley: Yeah, I mean, this is a—this is a really good question and it's a great place to start our conversation. You're right, things have been pretty crazy this past year. But also, from the perspective of energy and electricity, there's also been some pretty significant developments as well, particularly I'd say the people who are responsible for the things that we care about in the federal government. 05:04 Francis Bradley: So we've, you know, we've got a Prime Minister that used to be Vice Chair at Brookfield; we've got a Minister of Energy that used to chair the board of Hydro One; the head of the civil service most recently was the President of Hydro Quebec. So, you know, among all of that massive change, we also saw now a team in Ottawa that actually understands our sector and that gets the challenges that we're talking about. 05:32 Francis Bradley: So, you know, have we seen significant projects moving forward? Well, I mean, part of the challenge, of course, is projects in this sector are very, very long-term. I mean, they take a long time. These are not, you know, kind of shovel-ready projects that are just sitting on the sidelines and immediately you get a go, you can move forward. These are generational investments. But what we have seen, I think, is some real movement by the federal government and a very significant change in terms of their approach. 06:05 Francis Bradley: Bill C-5, for example—the first piece of legislation that we saw moving through—that sent a real signal that the government was serious, as serious as you can be in a minority government situation. Short of changing a large number of laws, they essentially do a carve-out for those projects of national interest—or some people call them "PONIs," Projects of National Interest. So we saw addressing, trying to move that small set of projects more quickly through the process. We saw the establishment of the Major Projects Office as a kind of a concierge for these major projects. We saw the MOU with the province of Alberta also, I think, a sign that there is a real desire to see major projects move forward. 07:01 Francis Bradley: But the challenge here—and this is what I raised when I appeared before the parliamentary committee reviewing Bill C-5—is that's all well and good if you happen to be one of those PONIs. If you happen to be the proponent for one of these projects of national interest, that's terrific; you're able to move through this project more quickly. But you know, the reality is the vast majority of the projects that are going to make a difference for the electricity sector and ultimately for Canadian customers may not rise to that level of a Project of National Interest. And so, all of the concerns that we had previous to Bill C-5 really remain for the vast majority of projects that we're going to be facing. 07:44 Francis Bradley: So, yeah, have we seen movement? Yeah, I think we've seen pretty significant movement. We've seen all of the right signals, but as I said, the government can only go so far as a minority government. Now, that's today when we're recording this, but by the time this plays, we may not be in a minority government situation anymore. But that is the reality; it is difficult for the government to get legislation through as a minority, and I'm certainly pleased that one of the first priorities was addressing "how do we get projects built?" because that's something that we've been talking about for a long time. 08:24 Trevor Freeman: And do you see—you know, obviously Canada exists within the broader backdrop of global energy politics or the energy kind of situation? There's a lot going on there right now, of course, you know, conflict in energy-producing countries. Do you see us continuing to move forward on these? So, the last year was kind of a foundation setting, figuring out how to get major projects done, and now we're moving into hopefully implementation, or have we been knocked off course? Do you see something changing significantly in Canadian energy policy and politics as a result of what's happening globally? 09:03 Francis Bradley: Yeah, you know, again, a really good question, Trevor. Because certainly the short-term challenges that we've seen with now the war in the Middle East and the roiling of markets and the significant increase, I think if anything, it's going to prove to be an even greater impetus for us. I don't think it's going to slow us; it's probably going to get us to speed up. I think it certainly will with respect to our colleagues that are in the oil and gas space, but also for electricity. 09:37 Francis Bradley: I think it's going to increase the desire that people will have to see greater energy sovereignty in Canada. And so, a lot of the issues that we've been talking about with respect to building out, meeting the future demand, and getting things built were not directly addressing Canadian sovereignty, but they indirectly address Canadian sovereignty. And over the last year with the challenges with the Trump administration, suddenly questions around Canadian sovereignty are getting more traction. So yeah, I think what's happening in the world today—certainly the most recent past—is going to prove to be, I think, even more impetus for us to want to move and move expeditiously in this space. 10:24 Trevor Freeman: Yeah, I guess something that I think has become clear to folks outside of us who kind of are in the industry is just how tied our energy reality and energy policy is to what's happening globally. And to your point, kind of that global policy, global economics—it's all intertwined and probably people are paying attention to it more now than at least in recent memory. 10:48 Francis Bradley: Yeah, and the good news, at least with respect to electricity, is we are not tied to a world market for electricity and electricity pricing the way like the oil and gas and the price at the pump. If you're filling up your car—I don't fill up my car anymore, I drive electric. But I, you know, I've got family and colleagues that are filling up and I'm hearing, you know, already feeling pain at the pump, which is, you know, the reality of having an international world market. 11:21 Francis Bradley: Our electricity market thankfully doesn't get that kind of—of an impact as a result of those changes. However, what happens in the U.S. with respect to supply and reliability certainly affects us, and it's something that we're watching closely. You know, we've seen cancellations of offshore wind projects, for example, off the East Coast of the United States. You know, we've seen a step back from a number of different types of technologies in the U.S.. So, while international affairs are not necessarily making me as concerned directly with respect to electricity, the North American picture, though, is raising questions with respect to reliability. 11:58 Trevor Freeman: We always go to interesting places during these conversations, right, Francis? 12:02 Francis Bradley: We do, I know. And I kind of—you got my brain going here. Sometimes I like to go down a rabbit hole. 12:09 Trevor Freeman: Okay, so I think that's a good context setting. That's a good place to start to understand where we are, what's been kind of going on, who knows what's coming up. But I do want to spend the bulk of our conversation here talking about Electricity Canada's 2026 State of the Industry report, and the title of that report is "Forging Canada's Electricity Future". 12:31 Trevor Freeman: So, not to spend too much time on semantics, but in previous years, you've titled these reports "Build It," "Getting to Yes" was another example. This year you've chosen "Forging." Is there a play on words there? You know, we're moving into a more high-pressure, difficult phase of the energy transition? Is there anything that we should read into that title, or am I kind of just picking at straws here? 12:56 Francis Bradley: No, you're not. We've been very intentional in terms of what we've been titling our State of the Industry. And so, you know, we've seen an evolution in terms of the thematic approach that we've been taking to this report. And so, you know, when I moved into the role of CEO, we began producing sort of these annual snapshots of the sector. They're intended to kind of lay out what we see as the current state of the electricity sector in Canada and our prescriptions for, you know, what should be done to be able to address our challenges. 13:30 Francis Bradley: And you know, if I look back over the last several years—and you noted some of the thematic approaches we've had in the past—2019 we started with, you know, it was all about "Resilience". 2020 it was about "Transformation". 2021 it was "Renewal". 2022 everybody was talking about net zero, so our theme back then was "Accelerating to Net Zero". 2023, "Build It," you noted that. 2024 was "Getting to Yes," and you noted that one as well. That was an interesting report because it really did focus on—it seemed to have a culture of "no" when it comes to "can we get stuff done?" and it attempted to address that. 14:14 Francis Bradley: 2025, last year's report, you know, as you noted, we were in an interesting place this time last year. You know, we'd just come out of an election. So at the beginning of last year, we put out our annual State of the Industry and it was focused on—we called it "Electricity is Essential" and it really was kind of our election platform edition for electricity. 14:38 Francis Bradley: And yeah, here we are in 2026, so "Forging Canada's Electricity Future." And now, you know, we were very conscious; we wanted to use that term "forging". And forging is, as we note in the report at the very beginning, it means to create something strong and something lasting. So, for example, one forges steel, but you just bake a pie. So, like, we're talking about what is going to be long-lasting and sustainable in terms of our build-out for the future. 15:11 Francis Bradley: So, it isn't necessarily about higher pressure, but it's that it's time to build. It's time to build now, but it's time to build stuff that is going to be enduring, especially given the moment we're in. And that moment includes—well, some things that we haven't seen for a while: federal-provincial-territorial consensus on the need to address long-term electricity needs. 15:37 Francis Bradley: You know, as I mentioned a little bit earlier, we've got people in the key offices in Ottawa, for example, that actually understand the electricity sector, and a federal government that has said that they're going to be introducing very soon—by the time this airs, it's probably already out there—a federal strategy with respect to electricity, something that we've been asking for for a while. So, it isn't necessarily about pressure; it's more about building something that is enduring and something that will last and something that is sustainable given the sort of the time and place that we find ourselves in. 16:15 Trevor Freeman: And in light of that, like looking at the fact that we are hopefully moving into this period of building, of growing, you know, something that jumps out from the report is trust in electricity companies. So, you note that trust is at an all-time high in the players in the sector, even as a majority of Canadians are feeling, you know, to put it in quotes, "financially paralyzed"—and that's from a 2025 RBC study. Trust isn't usually a word that we use for large institutions, large organizations, which a lot of our energy companies are. Why do you think that Canadians are feeling an all-time high in trust in their utilities right now, maybe more so than other parts of the sector? And how do we protect that trust, and I'm thinking especially as we move into periods of growth, periods of change in the industry? How do we protect that? 17:08 Francis Bradley: Yeah, trust is—it's an interesting concept, particularly with sort of institutions when we're approaching it from that perspective. So, you know, what we're talking about here in the report is a specific measure on favorability, and the favorability towards electricity companies specifically. And so, this comes from the polling work that we do, the annual polling that we undertake on behalf of the sector. 17:39 Francis Bradley: Now, polling is interesting; public opinion research is interesting. Almost 40 years ago, when I was hired into this sector, I was hired at the Canadian Electrical Association at the time specifically because of the work that I'd previously and quite recently been doing in public opinion research in the oil and gas sector. So, you know, when we've got questions about what our polling is, I bring both some historical perspectives and I perhaps bring some biases to these conversations. 18:13 Francis Bradley: So, what is trust and why are we suddenly seeing this upswing in favorability? So, my take on it is that it's all about reliability. My take is that favorability is being driven, I think, partially by extreme weather of all things. Because, you know, the last time we saw favorability ratings this high was following the ice storm in Eastern Canada in 1998. 18:41 Francis Bradley: So, customers are seeing electricity companies now, today, keeping the lights on, restoring power following extreme weather events. And they're being told by the media, and they see it and read it everywhere, that weather events are becoming more frequent, they're becoming more extreme, and yet the companies are maintaining reliability. And that is something I think the customer is feeling. 19:10 Francis Bradley: So, like, if you think of sort of a hierarchy of needs from a customer's perspective of what they need from an electricity company—and while, you know, it's going to differ from person to person in terms of what the ordering is going to be—I can guarantee that the top three will be environmental impact, cost, and reliability. And of those three, that last one is actually the first one: reliability. For the customer, they want all of the different attributes that you get from electricity, but the one thing that is non-negotiable is reliability; the lights need to stay on. 19:48 Francis Bradley: And you know, I approach this based upon the work that I've done, as I said, historically. I recall doing focus groups in the spring of 1998 following the ice storm, when we saw the last really major surge in favorability. And I was asking customers about their views, and you know, at the time, as I said, you've got people that are suddenly more favorable towards the sector. 20:13 Francis Bradley: And what I was getting in the focus groups, in the conversations, was people had seen a lot of images on television news and on the cover of newspapers and magazines back when people actually had hard copies of newspapers and magazines. Of images of crews doing heroic things—you know, like hanging off of helicopters, working on lines, and so on. And so, you know, I really do think there is a direct relation between people's favorability of the sector and their perception that given that reliability is so critically important, we as a sector seem to be doing really good stuff. And, you know, they continue to see images on the net as opposed to necessarily in hard copy newspapers of the sector doing incredibly, you know, difficult and challenging things to make sure that the lights stay on for customers. 21:12 Francis Bradley: But of course, it isn't all about simply favorability, and as I said, it's reliability, it's environment, and its cost. And the biggest challenge outside of that, I think over the long term, is going to be the whole question around affordability and cost to the customer. So, you know, you're asking what's driving it, I think it's reliability, but what's the major challenge going forward? I think it's going to be all about affordability for the customer. 21:40 Trevor Freeman: Yeah, it's this interesting, almost ironic feature of extreme weather, of these major outage events—and you know, I'm speaking from Ottawa, we've had our share in the last number of years, let me tell you—that it does force the customers to think more about what it takes to keep the lights on. And if everything's running smoothly and there's no bumps in the road at all, it almost gets forgotten a little bit. But it takes those big events to sort of bring that back to the forefront and there's inconvenience, of course, in the outage, but it also helps people to understand, yeah, this is what is required for this, you know, a grid that is complex and difficult to keep up and running. 22:24 Trevor Freeman: So, I kind of hear what you're saying, affordability you've highlighted a couple times there in the last little bit, and that's kind of where I want to go next. That continues to be top of mind for customers, and you've highlighted it, we hear that from our customers, we see that in the kind of conversations that we're having with our customers. Electricity Canada runs a national customer survey; back in 2024, 84% of respondents to your survey said that an increase in my electricity bill would have a major impact on my finances. So, you know, customers are saying, we'll feel it if electricity bills go up. 23:02 Trevor Freeman: And there's a tension in that because for the foreseeable future, affordability and the need to invest in the grid to build, to grow—we talk about that a lot on the show about how we kind of need to allow for more capacity, accept more distributed energy resources—those two things are going to be in tension with each other. How can utilities manage that, work with other stakeholders—for example, like various levels of government—how do we work together to ensure that the need to expand and invest in the grid doesn't impact rates too dramatically and impact affordability that customers say is so important? 23:44 Francis Bradley: Yeah, and that's the—that's the, you know, that's I think probably the most fundamental challenge that the sector is going to face in the years ahead, the whole challenge around affordability. But sort of I come at this in a bit of a different way, and that is not, you know, not the question of what the customer is paying but what the customer should be paying versus the taxpayer, right? 24:14 Francis Bradley: And so, the question I have is, you know, shouldn't we be looking at treating electricity as part of our core infrastructure? Right? And you know, we've actually started to have conversations around this with respect to our, you know, our defense spending targets. We're going to go from 2 to 3.5%, but that includes, you know, sort of all the supporting infrastructure for defense. Well, geez, shouldn't that actually include, you know, the defense infrastructure, the defense critical electricity infrastructure? 24:49 Francis Bradley: So, you know, if we're thinking about infrastructure and electricity being part of the core infrastructure, as we do with roads or ports or public transit, for example—core infrastructure that is required to enable the economic prosperity of the country—then we shouldn't be looking at relying solely on the kilowatt-hours paid by customers. Because this isn't simply, you know, delivering electricity to a customer; it is ensuring that we have the infrastructure that the economy as a whole needs. 25:27 Francis Bradley: So, you know, just like transit users today, when they buy their transit pass, are not paying 100% of the cost because we recognize that that's actually part of core infrastructure for a country and it needs tax-based funding. So, you know, we need to be looking at more creative ways to be able to address what that funding gap is going to be. 25:54 Francis Bradley: You know, we've got existing tools; we've got the clean technology and clean electricity investment tax credits, we've got the Canada Infrastructure Bank, we've got indigenous loan guarantees—there's a number of other programs that the federal government has in place. But we're going to need to do a lot more if we're going to actually look at kind of growing the Canadian economy and bringing in the investments of basically $2 trillion over the next 25 years. All of that $2 trillion can't go on the rate base, right? But by the same token, when you look at every other piece of core infrastructure that we've got, it is paid for by a mix of user fees and tax base because this is what one does as a nation—one supports the core infrastructure that we've got. So, I think that's how we're going to have to address this in the future. It is kind of having a clear understanding of what one does as a country for our infrastructure, and so it should be paid for as infrastructure as opposed to consumption of electricity by consumers. 27:01 Trevor Freeman: Now, in Canada—like a lot of other jurisdictions—energy is a provincial jurisdiction. So, the kind of change and change in thinking that you're talking about, it's not just one conversation you need to have with the federal government across the country; you're talking about multiple different stakeholders and players and trying to move that conversation. How do you go about that? And I know you're not starting from scratch; this is a conversation you've been having for a while. What does that change look like in a country like Canada where we've got so many different jurisdictions? 27:37 Francis Bradley: Yeah, well, you know, we've done this before. And we've done this with other sectors. No, I mean we have, right? You quite rightly point out that electricity is a provincial responsibility according to the Canadian Constitution. But guess what? So is health. So is public—I mentioned public transit. You know, when we build the next LRT line, it's not going to be all paid for by transit users in Ontario. Some of it is going to be paid for by the provincial government and some of it is going to be paid for by the federal government. You're not seeing any major transit infrastructure in this country—and that is not a federal responsibility—not being built today without some federal contribution. 28:23 Francis Bradley: So, we're not starting from zero from a conceptual standpoint; we do this with many other sectors, but it is those sectors that we know are the kind of the core infrastructure that we require as a country, you know, from health care to public transit to roads and so on. And the conversations are not, you know, not just starting tomorrow, right? These are conversations that have been going on for quite some time. 28:50 Francis Bradley: But yeah, you know, it's interesting when talking to folks that don't spend a lot of time in this space, they ask, like you did, they ask the question, "Wait a second, this is provincial responsibility, isn't it going to be just like an absolute bear to try and have this conversation?" Yeah, not so much. It's like, this is—we've had this conversation on a whole pile of other files where we recognized that we needed a more holistic approach and a national approach that brings together the federal government, the provincial government, the regional municipal governments, and the local community. 29:26 Trevor Freeman: Great. So, pulling on that same thread, regulatory constraints—we all like to talk about regulatory constraints, it's a reality in our industry. The report talks about this being a system that chooses delays. So, tell me a little bit about that and about some of the specific challenges that utilities are hitting right now when they're trying to get projects moving, trying to get things off the ground, and what do you recommend, what does Electricity Canada recommend to streamline that process and get things moving? 30:00 Francis Bradley: Right. So, you know, and we talked earlier about some of the themes of the previous reports—one of them was thematically called "Getting to Yes". Because yeah, I mean, at least our view is by and large the approval regimes that we've got for projects in this country are biased towards figuring out how to turn down projects. You know, what are all of the ways that one can say no, as opposed to like, how do we actually get to yes, and how do we use these—and that isn't to say that it should automatically be a yes or automatically be a no. It should be a clear process that isn't biased one way or the other. 30:41 Francis Bradley: And also, you know, the way we've kind of built this system over the years, we've got multiple levels of government—we were chatting about that just a moment ago with respect to funding—from municipal to regional to provincial and territorial and federal government. And on any project, there's requirement, there's regulations, and there's requirement for approvals and need for coordination, and so inevitably right off the bat, it's going to result in delays. Delays, as I always like to point out to people, delays mean costs—additional costs, additional costs are borne by the customer. So, you know, if we can address this, it also helps us to address the question that we were talking about earlier about affordability. 31:30 Francis Bradley: Right? Like, how long does it take to get a major project built? Depending upon the kind of project that you're talking about, it can be decades or more. So, you know, to what degree can we simplify this? We've got duplication—federal and provincial processes. As well as, in addition to that duplication and different layers, we've got unnecessary regulatory actions that crop up, and the example that I often use—because it's a real head-scratcher for me—is a couple of years ago, the federal government changed the Fisheries Act. 32:07 Francis Bradley: And the Fisheries Act now protects fish as opposed to protecting fisheries. And that sounds like a fairly simple esoteric issue, but it is massively now complicating the licensing and the relicensing even of existing facilities when their licensing comes up. So, by—it wasn't intentional to make it that much more complicated, but it is almost impossible right now to license a hydro facility. There are very few hydro facilities that are currently compliant with this new Fisheries Act that protects individual fish as opposed to fish populations. I don't know, maybe part of the problem is the word fish is both singular and plural, but that just gives you a little more complication for when lawyers get involved in this. 32:59 Francis Bradley: So, listen, what do we need, right? For years, we've had, in four or five years in a row, either in the federal budget or in the fall economic statements or in other pronouncements by the government of Canada, a promise to bring in a "one project, one approval" regime, which sounds great, but we haven't gotten there yet. And it's something that keeps getting promised year after year after year. We need to get to that one project, one approval regime. 33:34 Francis Bradley: And then the other thing is the federal government has also now committed—they introduced it in Bill C-5 for the projects of national interest—a two-year federal approval timeline for major projects. Well, we actually need that for all projects, not just those "PONIs," not just those projects of national interest. We should have a federal timeline on all projects. Again, which isn't to say that every project gets approved within two years, but like, if it's going to get a thumbs up or a thumbs down, you need to know in a reasonable amount of time so that you can figure out what the alternative will be if it's a thumbs down. 34:16 Francis Bradley: So, you know, I think it's just as reasonable to say we need to know if we're getting approval, but we also need to know if we're not getting approved so that alternatives—and that needs to be done in a timely manner. And so the federal government has permitted, has committed to like this two-year timeline for projects of national interest; we'd like to see that across the board—federal government, provincial governments as well—for all projects. We've got the Major Projects Office that's been set up; I'm certain that already there's lessons that are being learned from the Major Projects Office. Well, let's draw those lessons and apply them to all projects, not projects of national interest. 35:00 Francis Bradley: Red tape reduction—we've heard of desires to ensure that we're looking at opportunities—well, that should be a continuous and ongoing process. And then finally, duplication between the federal government and the provinces—we need to eliminate that duplication. You know, for example, even on things as simple as environmental assessments—well, pick one, right? Let's get an agreement between both levels of government that one project, one review for that project will be sufficient. And so the feds can recognize the provincial process, the provincial can recognize the federal—one or the other as opposed to having multiple levels of government essentially doing the same work over and over again. And again, as I said earlier, as you well know, Trevor, these additional costs land in one place and one place only right now, and that's on the ratepayer, that's on the customer. 35:56 Trevor Freeman: And it's that double cost of the additional time and effort necessary as well as delaying whatever kind of economic activity the customer might be waiting for, which kind of ties into my next question here of we're seeing more and more—and this has always been the case but maybe it's just a little bit more on the forefront now—the importance of energy for economic development, for attracting investment and business. And that's true in our service territory absolutely as well as others. So, supply chain challenges have cropped up in the last little while and are getting into the mix and causing some of those delays. In order to move forward, what can the federal government do to bolster supply chains? Is it bringing more things domestically? Are there other tools that they have at their disposal? How do we go about addressing the supply chain challenge? 36:52 Francis Bradley: Yeah, and this is a real issue—as you know from your perch at Hydro Ottawa—it's a challenge for even a company such as yours and it's right across the sector. The delays and the time that it takes to get into the queue to get particularly for large pieces of equipment, but even for some of the smaller stuff, is simply becoming more and more challenging. We thought it was a COVID-19 blip, but it wasn't, right? I mean, it is continuing, it is persisting six years later; the supply chains remain as challenged as they were, probably even more so. I mean, a couple of years ago we saw a ship get stuck sideways in the Suez Canal and it affected supply chains for every sector right across the globe. 37:46 Francis Bradley: So yeah, you know, we need to be addressing this. So what we're proposing is we look at the establishment of what we're calling a Canadian Electricity Supply Chain Roadmap. This, done in partnership with the federal government, electricity companies, suppliers, and so on—everybody that's got a stake in this—to take a more systematic and collaborative and cooperative approach to addressing supply chains, and come together to identify those opportunities to do some of the things that you mentioned. You know, what about domestic production on some of these things? What about domestic production in those areas where we've got the potential for exports as well? So that would be potentially not only an ability to address a supply chain issue, but also to look at economic opportunities for Canadian businesses. 38:43 Francis Bradley: And can we look at leveraging some of the existing tools that we've got and repurpose them so that they are focused on addressing what would be identified as needing to be in that supply chain roadmap? Let's leverage tools such as tax credits, Business Development Canada, Export Development Canada, the Canada Growth Fund. So, you know, it'd be interesting if there were other venues and other opportunities, but we have existing tools; we're just not, I think, focusing them directly and specifically with respect to the supply chain requirements for the electricity sector and we should be looking at doing that. And you know, the challenges—I've spent time with the steel producers, for example—it is fascinating to try and get a sense of what those challenges are for the partners that we've got, whether it's steel or aluminum or finished products or transformers; it is endlessly complex, evolving, and so you know, we really do think developing some kind of a clear roadmap with all of the stakeholders would benefit the sector as a whole. 39:56 Trevor Freeman: Yeah, I mean certainly those challenges are ubiquitous across multiple sectors, and I think the one thing that we do find is when we bring up the challenges we're having with our customers or potential customers, they all get it, it's not a surprise. They don't sit there kind of surprised to hear that oh, it's going to take us this much time to bring in that transformer because they're going through some of those same challenges and I think the need is cross-cutting to address it. Another input, of course, into any sector and certainly the electricity industry is just the human capital required—the skilled labor required on the design side, on the construction side. Your report recommends establishing a Federal Industry Workforce Advisory Council. What would the priority be for that council and how do you help the utility industry compete against other industries that are also out there kind of participating in this war on talent trying to get the best and brightest into their sectors? 41:03 Francis Bradley: Yeah, no, I mean it is definitely a challenge. It's something that we've been addressing for, geez, probably two decades now at the association. We helped establish Electricity Human Resources Canada back in the day; it was spun off from some of our activities we'd done previously. So, you know, this is an area that we've been particularly concerned about in the sector for, well, as I say, you know, 20 years, it's been a generation that we've seen this challenge coming and we know it's on its way. 41:38 Francis Bradley: We are seeing, I think, some very good work in this space—I did mention Electricity Human Resources Canada; they do some terrific work, they are absolutely a critical stakeholder, increasingly a thought leader in this space. But you know, as you note, we have a very specific ask in our State of the Industry and that is getting the federal government to pull together a senior-level advisory committee with representatives from industry associations, from unions, from training providers, from the sector as a whole, to discuss these emerging labor market issues, to review the forecasts. 42:18 Francis Bradley: They need to address strategies, and so the mandate needs to be very specific: ongoing review, monitoring, and improvement of our workforce mechanisms to ensure that they remain adaptive and responsive to labor market realities. And so, this is not something that the sector and the electricity companies themselves control; this is something that requires the collaboration and participation of governments with respect to the policies that they bring forward, with unions, and with the training providers. 42:55 Trevor Freeman: Yeah, and as we look at sort of that next generation—you talk about this being a generational challenge—it's one thing to attract the skilled workers of today, it's another to bring up and build those skill sets. We talk about that a lot on the show about how we kind of need to build those skill sets. So, a bit of a platform for you here: why should someone consider that career in the electricity industry? What's the hook? What's the thing that you would convince them to come? I kind of know what my pitch is, but I'm curious to hear what yours is. 43:29 Francis Bradley: All right. Well, listen, I mean, like, sort of on the first piece, you know, I think this is where the adaptive and responsive comes into play. That advisory council I talked about I think would be able to recommend how we adjust and how we adapt our programs to further, you know, promote the sector. But why would I recommend somebody in this sector, and who would I begin with? Absolutely. 43:56 Francis Bradley: I mean, first off, I mean, this is a sector where we're going to see massive growth. We know that it is coming; we know that we're going to see a doubling of demand out to 2050. And so, with that massive growth, the prospects for skilled trades, the prospects for anybody in this sector is very bright. 44:21 Francis Bradley: And you know, one of the other things as well that I'd like to point out is we hear a lot of talk about how AI is going to massively change the workforce of the future. But when we're talking about skilled trades, you know, AI can do a lot of things, but ChatGPT is never going to be able to climb a pole, swing a hammer, or install an insulator. So, you know, not only is this a sector where the growth is going to be very significant over the next 25 years, it's also one where we know we actually need people to do these things. 44:54 Francis Bradley: And these are, you know, for a certain type of person, this is really cool and interesting stuff. So, you know, whether it is in the skilled trades or people in the technologies, this is a sector that has some really interesting, fascinating career choices and they're ones that, you know, the ChatGPT is not going to be taking away from you. 45:18 Trevor Freeman: Yeah, and it is this—the sector is evolving, it's innovating, it's changing, but to your point, we still need that traditional infrastructure. We need that growth, there will be more poles and wires, there will be cooler technology to work on, but we still need folks to install them. And something that I tell people that are interested—you know, a lot of younger folks coming up are really passionate about the environment, climate change—this is a great sector for that. This is a great spot to focus on that; the electricity industry is the, you know, tip of the spear when it comes to addressing climate change—electricity is the solution. 46:01 Francis Bradley: And it will continue to be so well into the future. Yeah, no, absolutely couldn't agree more. 46:07 Trevor Freeman: So, pivoting then to climate change, and we're seeing we've talked here a couple times about the increase in severe weather events, you know, wildfires in parts of the country. Utilities are facing this challenge of not only meeting growing demand but also meeting it in a harsher environment—I think there's no better way to say it—our grid needs to be more resilient and people are relying on it even more. What are some of the recommendations that you've identified on how utilities adapt to this changing world and become more resilient? 46:46 Francis Bradley: Yeah, well, you know, you're right, the conditions, the extreme weather that we're facing is not something that's going to go away. I find it interesting that I think every six months we add something new to the lexicon to try and just describe how crazy the weather has gotten—you know, like atmospheric rivers and heat domes and... 47:09 Trevor Freeman: Derecho! 47:11 Francis Bradley: Yeah, right, like when did we—I never heard of a derecho until it ripped through, I don't know, how many thousands of poles it tore up through Ottawa. Exactly. So, you know, this stuff is real and it's evolving. 47:25 Francis Bradley: And so, yeah, what are we proposing? We've kind of got three big asks in this area. The first one is we need to do a review of those federal and provincial legal frameworks. Do we have the appropriate protections related to industry-caused ignitions as we say? So, you know, if inadvertent but there is a spark from infrastructure that causes, for example, a fire, you know, do we actually have legal frameworks that can address this in a way that doesn't simply go in and bankrupt a company as happened in California? So we're supporting work in this space. 48:06 Francis Bradley: Second, we want to establish formal coordination mechanisms between our sector and—it may sound a little esoteric for us sitting here in downtown Ottawa—but Parks Canada, to address vegetation management on federal lands. There is a lot of federal land particularly, for example, in the Rockies, but not exclusively; there's lots of other parts of this country where there's vast swaths of land that is owned by Parks Canada that our infrastructure transits through, and so we need better coordination mechanisms. And we saw that frankly with respect to the fire in Jasper a couple of years ago that we could and need to do a lot better in terms of our coordination. 48:54 Francis Bradley: And then finally, we're suggesting looking at a resiliency tax credit or some kind of a targeted funding program to support weather hardening of electricity infrastructure, to protect the system from growing exposure to extreme weather. To cover off all of those things, whether it's wildfires or ice storms or windstorms or floods or tornadoes. You know, again, it kind of comes back to that concept of this is core infrastructure; there are some things that actually should be tax-supported, and weather hardening of our core infrastructure is something that we should be thinking about. Is that should be on the bills of customers, or is that something that as a country we need to address? 49:43 Trevor Freeman: Great. So Francis, as we wrap up our conversation here—you know, if we go to the end of your State of the Industry report, you've got 18 recommendations. We're not going to go through each one individually. Is there one that rises above the rest, or let me put this a different way: if you could sum up or distill this kind of entire report into a key takeaway or a key action item, what would that be? How do you kind of wrap all this up in a bow, which I know is a difficult thing to do for such a comprehensive report as this? 50:23 Francis Bradley: Right. So, you're actually asking two questions there: is there one I want to point out or and what's the wrap-up? I mean, if there was one thing of those 18 that I'd say, "Please in the next 12 months, for goodness' sake, at least do this one thing," it would be reforming the Fisheries Act, and I mentioned that earlier. Because right now, it focuses on individual fish as opposed to the impact on fish populations. So, that's one if I wanted one that I think should be fairly easy to address and to move forward with, it would be that one, which I think was number two on the list. 51:03 Francis Bradley: But you know, of all of the 18, they're all about "can we get our stuff built?" and "can we get it done in a timely manner because the customer is counting on us?" So, you know, if one of those encapsulates that, I would say it's probably the first one, which, though talks, specifically to this two-year federal approval timeline. Thematically, what it's all about is we have to move and we have to move quickly, but we have to do it in a collaborative manner. 51:35 Francis Bradley: But you know, in the end here, what we're talking about is demand is going to double in the next 25 years. We need to invest $2 trillion. So let's do this in a manner that is sustainable and enduring, so not piecemeal, not piece by piece. So that kind of brings me back full circle to the very beginning of this report: "Forging Canada's Electricity Future." Forging is to create something strong and lasting through effort. And so I think thematically it's "let's build sustainably and in an enduring manner and not piecemeal". So, let's forge. 52:13 Trevor Freeman: I had planned on wrapping this up with inviting you back on the show a year from now to kind of talk about where we go, but you've recently announced that you're retiring soon—the next sort of few months are going to be wrapping up your time at Electricity Canada. So first of all, congratulations on that. 52:32 Francis Bradley: Thank you. 52:33 Trevor Freeman: The invitation stands, so you're welcome to come back out of retirement to come on the show and check in with where we are, and so the invitation will remain open. 52:43 Francis Bradley: Well, and as you know, I do a podcast, and I may continue to do my podcast on the future of electricity beyond that. Remains to be seen. 52:54 Trevor Freeman: That's great. Well, I hope that on your show, on this show, we'll be able to talk through how some of these things that we're discussing now, how they've been implemented, how they've actually moved forward and we're able to see some results in that. Francis, thanks so much for coming on the show. Always appreciate your insight and appreciate you being here and looking forward to chatting again soon. 53:18 Francis Bradley: Awesome, always great to chat. Thanks for the invitation. 53:21 Trevor Freeman: Take care. 53:26 Trevor Freeman: Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Think Energy podcast. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and it would be great if you could leave us a review—it really helps us to spread the word. As always, we would love to hear from you, whether it's feedback, comments, or an idea for a show or a guest. You can always reach us at thinkenergy@hydroottawa.com.

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Don't shoot the messengers. Parks Canada is banning alcohol and cannabis use in any Banff National Park campgrounds over three long weekends this spring and summer. Will this put a damper on your upcoming trips?

The City of Windsor has signed an agreement with Parks Canada to establish the Ojibway National Urban Park and Ontario's minimum wage is going up. These stories and more are in your noon news on the go.

Thousands of Iranians flee to Turkey as war and blackouts hide the crisis at home. Israel hits Tehran with new strikes as Trump extends his "energy ultimatum" by ten days. Secretary of State Marco Rubio facing pressure to explain US plan for Iran war as he meets G-7 foreign ministers in France. Former rapper Balendra Shah sworn in as Nepal's youngest-ever prime minister. Liberal MP Michael Ma faces backlash for appearing to downplay forced labour in China. Ottawa warned of WestJet safety risks weeks before viral legroom video. Parks Canada bans boats in Banff and Jasper to fight deadly fish parasite.

This week on the FratChat Podcast, we're heading deep into the woods… and uncovering why camping might be way scarier than it looks. From real-life unsolved murders like the Keddie Cabin killings and the Lake Bodom attack, to eerie disappearances on the Appalachian Trail and the chilling legend of Canada's “Valley of the Headless Men,” this episode dives into terrifying stories where isolation turns deadly. We break down what actually happened in these cases, the unsettling details that still don't make sense, and why some of these locations continue to give campers and investigators a serious sense that something isn't right. Whether it's killers hiding in plain sight or something far harder to explain, these stories will make you think twice before zipping up your tent. Beyond the campfire horror, we get into some classic FratChat chaos with listener emails and trending news. One listener spirals after sending way too many texts to a girl who wasn't responding, and we debate whether he completely fumbled or if there's still hope. Another asks if tipping culture in America has gotten out of control after being forced to tip for terrible service. We also break down the sudden cancellation of The Bachelorette amid a major controversy, and in “Not The Drag Queens,” we unpack new revelations involving Trump and Epstein that raise even more questions. It's a mix of creepy, chaotic, and controversial—just how we like it. Episode Sources:  Plumas County Sheriff's Office (official case files & updates), Cabin 28: The Keddie Murders, FBI (referenced in case summaries), Sacramento Bee (archival reporting), The Los Angeles Times (follow-up coverage), Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, BBC News, The Guardian, Lake Bodom Murders, National Park Service, The Washington Post, Associated Press, The News Leader, Parks Canada, Nahanni: River of Gold, River of Dreams, The Headless Valley Got a question, comment or topic for us to cover? Let us know! Send us an email at fratchatpodcast@gmail.com or follow us on all social media: Instagram: http://Instagram.com/FratChatPodcast Facebook: http://Facebook.com/FratChatPodcast Twitter: http://Twitter.com/FratChatPodcast YouTube: http://YouTube.com/@fratchatpodcast Follow Carlos and CMO on social media! Carlos:  IG: http://Instagram.com/CarlosDoesTheWorld YouTube: http://YouTube.com/@carlosdoestheworld TikTok: http://TikTok.com/@carlosdoestheworld Twitter: http://Twitter.com/CarlosDoesWorld Threads: http://threads.net/carlosdoestheworld Website: http://carlosgarciacomedy.com Chris ‘CMO' Moore:  IG: http://Instagram.com/Chris.Moore.Comedy TikTok: http://TikTok.com/@chris.moore.comedy Twitter: http://Twitter.com/cmoorecomedy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Adam Waterous, oil tycoon and ski-resort owner, joins Alberta Edge to discuss his unusual, decade-long fight against what he and a watchdog group call an "extreme monopoly" in Canada's national parks tourism industry. What began as a vision to build a passenger rail line connecting Calgary to Banff turned into an "in for a penny, in for a pound" saga involving the purchase of a ski hill, a challenge to a powerful U.S.-based tourism company, and tough questions about the role of Parks Canada. Waterous argues the case reveals deeper problems in Canada's regulatory system, why costs are rising for visitors, and how control over iconic landscapes can become a question of Canadian identity. This podcast is generously supported by Don Archibald. The Hub thanks him for his ongoing support.   The Hub is Canada's fastest-growing independent digital news outlet. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get our latest videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHubCanada Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get our best content when you are on the go: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple)  https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify)   Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en   CREDITS: Falice Chin - Host, Producer, and Editor STATEMENT FROM PURSUIT: "Pursuit is a global company with operations in the Canadian Rockies, Costa Rica, Iceland, Alaska and Montana. Canada has always been integral to Pursuit's success and remains central to our future. While we operate globally, our Canadian experiences are led by local teams based in their communities, ensuring decisions reflect local knowledge, long-term relationships, and the character of these iconic places.   With roots in the Canadian Rockies dating back 130 years, we're proud to be deeply connected to Alberta's communities. Over the past decade, we've added more than 1,200 jobs in Alberta, reinvested 100% of Canadian profits into local operations, enhancing guest experiences and refreshing tourism infrastructure with a focus on long-term sustainability; and contributed $3.8 million in community support between 2020 and 2025 at the community level in Banff and Jasper.   Our Promise to Place guides us to protect natural environments, respect local heritage, and strengthen communities. This commitment drives our investments in our team members, the world-class experiences we provide to guests, and our commitment to sustainability to ensure the Canadian Rockies remain vibrant for generations to come."   In 2024, the Competition Bureau conducted a detailed and independent review of Pursuit's acquisition of the Jasper SkyTram. That review examined competition related concerns raised by a group of private business operators in Banff and concluded in April 2025 with no further action.   As part of that review, the Bureau assessed official market data, including how tourism experiences operate across different geographic areas in the Canadian Rockies.   With this information, the Bureau determined there were no competition concerns that warranted further steps.   With the review complete, Pursuit remains focused on responsibly operating and reinvesting in the places where we work, including the Canadian Rockies, with a long term commitment to people, place, and stewardship."

Send a textThe difference between a good camping trip and a great one is usually a few minutes of research. We've both shown up thinking we made a smart choice, only to learn the hard way that “quiet” depends on where your site sits, what the washrooms are like, and whether you accidentally booked beside the generator crowd.We walk through how we research a camping destination step by step, from choosing the right park based on driving time, crowd levels, dog friendliness, and the best season to go. We share where we actually look for reliable info: Ontario Parks and Parks Canada websites, campground maps, Google Maps satellite view, travel blogs, YouTube campground walkthroughs, and campsite photo communities that show you what a booking page never will.Then we get practical about what to check before you click Reserve: privacy ratings, sun versus shade, distance to water, proximity to playgrounds and boat launches, and the little things that can make a site noisy or smelly. We also dig into amenities and facilities like toilet types, comfort stations, drinking water access, firewood quality, camp stores, laundry, boat launches, and RV dump stations. If you're thinking about backcountry camping, we cover the essentials too: permits, route difficulty, portages, water sources and filtration, bear activity, navigation, offline maps, and tools like AllTrails and Gaia GPS, plus weather, bugs, water levels, and fire bans.If you want more hidden gems and fewer surprises, come camp with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who's planning a trip, and leave a review so more campers can find the show.https://www.facebook.com/groups/2337422036618453https://www.facebook.com/groups/1031506520243030https://www.campsitepictures.com/index.htmlSupport the showCONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/homeEMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.comWEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.comYOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampinFACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping Support the show

Eight decades ago, Andrew Cassel's father was bundled aboard a prison ship in England and sent to Canada as an “enemy alien”, where he was held behind barbed wire for two years. The elder Cassel was part of a little-known operation that in 1940 targeted about 2,300 Jewish Europeans whom the British feared were spies for Adolf Hitler. Now, Cassel—along with other descendants and some historians—are raising awareness about what he calls “Canada's dirty little secret”. They want an apology from Canada and educational programming. The prisoners lived in harsh conditions at nine prisoner-of-war camps in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. In some cases, they were locked up together with groups of real Nazi soldiers and German U-boat crews who'd been captured by the Allies during the Second World War. But they weren't spies—they were doctors, professors, Yeshiva students and bankers who fled to England to escape the Holocaust. The British government soon realized their mistake, but Canada took until 1943 to release all the prisoners. Some experts blame widespread antisemitism in the Canadian government for the undue delay. Many of those former internees later became prominent community leaders in Canada, including the late Rabbi Erwin Schild, who died in 2024 at age 103; Justice Fred Kaufman, the first Jewish judge on Quebec's Appeal court; Alfred Bader, a chemist and philanthropist to Queen's University; businessman Eric Exton; printer Leo Klag; philosopher Rabbi Emil Fackenheim; and two Nobel Prize winners. On today's episode of The CJN's flagship North Star podcast, host Ellin Bessner is joined by Andrew Cassel; Jewish historians Paula Draper, and Jennifer Cousineau of Parks Canada, who collaborated to release a new podcast spotlighting the story of one of the POW camps south of Montreal; and Blatant Injustice author Ian Darragh, who is spearheading the apology petition. Related stories Learn more about the new Parks Canada podcast  spotlighting European Jews deported from Britain to Canada in 1940 as enemy aliens and held in POW camps in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick.  Read the petition , initiated by author Ian Darragh , sponsored by Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, asking the House of Commons for an apology and educational programming and commemorative plaques at the sites of the former POW camps. Read more about the Andrew Cassel's father, Henry Cassel , and also about the late Toronto Rabbi Erwin Schild  and Dr. Walter W. Igersheimer , all former internees. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner ( @ebessner ) info@thecjn.ca Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director) Music: Bret Higgins Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to North Star (Not sure how? Click here ) Watch our podcasts on YouTube.

Most of us go into the woods looking for a break from day-to-day life- a soft reset, a chance to slow down, breathe deeply, and disappear into nature for a while. But on an October afternoon in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Highlands National Park, a 19-year-old musician with a budding career stepped onto one of the park's most popular trails… and never made it back. This is the story of Taylor Mitchell- and the rare, terrifying attack that changed how people in Canada, and beyond, think about coyotes forever.Check out Taylor's music on SpotifySources:CNN, Global News, Dark Tales, Parks Canada, Mirror, Urban Coyote Research, International Boreal Forest Research Association, Tapatalk, Facebook - Project CoyoteSupport us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier!Follow us on Instagram at offthetrailspodcastFollow us on Facebook at Off the Trails PodcastIf you have your own outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at offthetrailspodcast@gmail.com  Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!**We do our own research and try our best to cross-reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode, and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.

FFAW president Dwan Street says they'll take a fresh look at the sea urchin fishery in light of concerns coming from a processing plant in Stoneville + At a fisheries committee in Ottawa, Liberal MP Paul Connors questions Parks Canada about what fisheries would be permitted in the proposed south coast NMCA + Astrid Arumae of Fundamental Inc is helping the town of Ferryland prepare for the effects of climate change.

In this podcast episode, Peter Scholz details his experiences and concerns regarding forest management practices in Canadian national parks, highlighting how historical and ongoing mismanagement have exacerbated wildfire risks. He also discusses his professional endeavors in rail planning across Canada and into Alaska, addressing technical and geopolitical challenges of extensive rail projects. Scholz emphasizes the need for drastic policy changes in forest management while touching on the economic and political implications of major infrastructure developments.00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:43 Early Career and Onboarding at Jasper National Park01:46 Forest Ecosystem Management and Historical Context04:42 Impact of European Forest Management Practices06:55 Pine Beetle Infestation and Government Response09:07 Jasper National Park Fire Risks and Management Challenges13:50 Personal Reflections and Critique of Park Management15:39 Recent Fires and Mismanagement Consequences23:38 Comparative Analysis and Broader Implications29:40 Historical Forest Management and Appalachian Changes30:14 Modern Fire Management Strategies30:45 Challenges in National Parks31:19 Forest Conditions and Fire Risks31:55 Smoke Jumpers and Rapid Attack Teams32:36 Massive Timber Removal Proposal33:04 Global Wood Utilization and Carbon Balance34:16 Environmental Policies and Their Impacts34:40 Ownership and Fire Management in Canada35:41 Impact of Fires on Hiking and Outdoor Activities36:52 Soil Sterilization and Permafrost39:52 Political and Bureaucratic Challenges44:37 Climate Change and Forest Management47:36 Railroad Development Projects56:43 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsFormer Jasper Park official (Scholz) SPEAKS OUT against Parks Canada leadership: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l7RXI3o9eg========Slides, summaries, references, and transcripts of my podcasts: https://tomn.substack.com/p/podcast-summariesMy Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tomanelson1

Megan and Renie speak with Michael Gemmell of Parks Canada about the establishment of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, and are introduced to a delicious treat. Correction: Ashley Eaton works with Lake Champlain Sea Grant and not Wisconsin Sea Grant.Links:Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area Lake Superior Circle Tour National Marine Conservation Areas System Plan The Gunilda Shipwreck: Tales from the Depths | Northern Ontario Travel Lake Superior Lighthouses The surprising, shocking, startling, astonishing story of Silver Islet The Sumptuous History Of The Thunder Bay Persian Roll | Flavour Network 

Send us a textWildfire smoke, sudden downpours, and surprise park closures are rewriting the camping playbook—and we're mapping a better way forward. From downbursts that flatten tree canopies to late-season black flies and fire bans that change by municipality, we share how our own trips have shifted and what actually works when conditions get weird. This is a practical, no-drama guide to staying safe, staying flexible, and still finding joy around the campfire when the rules of the outdoors keep changing.We dig into the realities campers now face: how to check fire bans across jurisdictions, read air quality indexes before you roll, and build a safer camp when torrential rain hits. We talk fire hygiene that prevents smouldering root fires, smarter site selection that avoids flood paths, and the gear that holds up—tight rainflies, solid guylines, repair tape, and a pre-filled water bucket. You'll also hear tips for navigating drought and water scarcity with reliable filtration, plus how to spot and treat heat exhaustion fast. On the wildlife front, we cover rising tick and mosquito activity, daily tick checks, and why a small removal kit can save a trip.Planning is where resilience starts. We walk through creating Plan A, B, and C routes to dodge local smoke and storms, using Parks Canada and Ontario Parks updates, cross-checking municipal advisories, and leaning on weather and AQI tools for real-time decisions. We round it out with low-impact choices—carpooling when possible, rechargeable or solar lighting, battery recycling, and Leave No Trace habits—that reduce harm without killing the fun. Camping is still magic. With a flexible mindset and a few new skills, it's not only possible—it's better, because you're ready.If this helped, follow the show, share it with a camping friend, and leave a quick review so more outdoor lovers can find it. Got a pro tip or a story from a smoky or stormy trip? Tell us—we'd love to feature it next time.Support the showCONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/homeEMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.comWEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.comYOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampinFACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping Support the show

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I bring together three trailblazers for a candid community conversation about the heart of collaboration in the travel and tourism industry. Joining are Dave Herrell, President and CEO of Visit Quad Cities; Rebecca Mackenzie, President and CEO of the Culinary Tourism Alliance; and Sage Hamilton-Hazarika, Corridor Coordinator for the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State. Together, we discuss what true collaboration looks like, and the panel explores how putting trust, vulnerability, and outcomes over ego unlocks success not just in visitor numbers, but in cultural pride, reconciliation, and the preservation of stories and identity. My guests share real-life examples of cross-boundary partnerships, from bold destination branding to the creation of transformative culinary and heritage tourism experiences. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why collaboration in tourism is increasingly about trust, vulnerability, and prioritizing outcomes over individual recognition What tangible impacts true collaboration can have, from advancing reconciliation and celebrating cultural heritage to building destination resilience and social pride How Visit Quad Cities strategically collaborates with less resourced organizations to build regional brands and blur the lines between tourism, resident attraction, and economic development Why even small, volunteer-driven organizations can punch above their weight by leveraging partnerships for major projects What “radical collaboration” means to the panelists, and how adopting a mindset of openness and flexibility allows for bold, innovative work How the panelists measure the success of collaborative initiatives with a broader lens  that builds community and legacy Lessons from Destination on the Left's Community Conversation Collaboration isn't just a buzzword—in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, it's the engine that powers growth, creativity, and resilience. Drawing on stories from Dave Herrell of Visit Quad Cities, Rebecca Mackenzie of the Culinary Tourism Alliance, and Sage Hamilton-Hazarika of the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State, this conversation revealed that radical collaboration means far more than sharing resources—it's about trust, vulnerability, and transcending individual mentality. Success in this industry isn't a zero-sum game. Rather than competing, travel professionals thrive when they collaborate, lifting each other up and focusing on shared wins rather than territorialism. Collaboration in Action: Three Inspiring Examples For Dave Herrell, collaboration is built into the DNA of Visit Quad Cities, a regional destination marketing organization spanning 58 communities across two states. Bringing together diverse municipalities, counties, and funding sources demands a strategic approach. Dave described their innovative partnership with the local chamber of commerce to develop unified branding and marketing messages for the region, intentionally blurring the lines between promoting tourism, economic development, and livability. Rebecca Mackenzie painted a picture of taste of place, showcasing how food and drink tell powerful stories about a region's heritage. The Alliance's recent event in Nova Scotia exemplifies radical collaboration: over 12 months, culinary organizations, Indigenous tourism networks, Parks Canada, DMOs, and local operators built an immersive experience intertwining Mi'kmaq history, language, and cuisine. The event attracted visitors outside peak season and fostered social impact and cultural pride. As the sole paid employee in a mostly volunteer-run organization, Sage Hamilton-Hazarika knows firsthand how partnership is essential for small nonprofits punching above their weight. Through collaboration with DMOs, historians, and national heritage areas, the Consortium is developing the Harriet Tubman Scenic Byway, which will connect historic sites across New York and beyond. Radical Collaboration What does “radical collaboration” mean? My guests agreed that it is persistence—the refusal to accept ‘no' as an answer, and the humility to let go of credit and control. It means doing the work, inviting new and unexpected voices to the table, and learning from every opportunity that arises. Measurement of collaborative success must consider social and environmental impacts, not just economic ones. For example, being asked to the table, deepening partnerships, celebrating local cultures, and expanding access are all signs of progress—even if your logo isn't always visible. Resources: Dave Herrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-herrell-57a5906/ Rebecca Mackenzie: linkedin.com/in/rebeccaleheup Sage Hamilton-Hazarika: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sage-hazarika-438b331a Travel Alliance Partnership: https://travelalliancepartnership.com/ We value your thoughts and feedback and would love to hear from you. Leave us a review on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you want to hear more o​f. Here is a quick tutorial on how to leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with journalist Chloe Berge, who spent 13 days paddling 80 miles down Canada's Firth River—one of the country's oldest and most northern rivers—before reaching the Arctic Ocean. This epic journey through Ivvavik National Park combines adventure, science, and deep cultural history in one of the most remote regions on Earth. Chloe shares her experience navigating Class IV rapids, disconnecting completely from the digital world, and standing in ancient Inuit hunting grounds that have been used for thousands of years. She reveals why this unique expedition—which hosts only about 100 visitors annually—serves as the sole opportunity for Parks Canada scientists to collect critical environmental data in this pristine wilderness. On this episode you'll learn: Why Canadian River Expeditions' partnership with Parks Canada makes this the only annual scientific data collection opportunity in the region How two weeks completely off-grid changes your relationship with time and the natural world What makes the Engigstciak mountain one of the most important archaeological sites in Arctic Canada Why the region's unglaciated history during the last ice age created such unique geological formations How paddling expectations versus reality shaped the physical demands of the journey Don't miss these moments: [04:00] Chloe's previous Arctic experiences and what drew her to this inland expedition [06:00] Standing at Engigstciak—an ancient hunting lookout used for thousands of years [08:00] Finding the rhythm of the river and how time becomes less linear in the wilderness [10:00] The immediate sense of remoteness when dropped by bush plane 200 miles from civilization [13:00] The geological wonders that didn't make the story—from glittering quartz pillars to sandstone archways [15:00] Surprising truths about the paddling requirements and physical demands [19:00] The profound mental clarity that comes from two weeks without digital connection Resources Read Chloe's complete Afar feature about paddling the Firth River to the Arctic Ocean Learn more about Canadian River Expeditions and their science-focused Arctic trips Explore Ivvavik National Park and its rich Inuit cultural heritage Follow Chloe Berge for more stories at the intersection of travel, environment, and culture Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Established 1994, the Fort George Ghost Tours are the original ghost walk in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We offer candlelit tours of Fort George National Historic Site throughout the spring and summer, as well as special Halloween tours and private tours. Learn about the history of Fort George and the ghosts that reside within the palisade walls on this 90-minute tour of one of the most haunted sites in the most haunted town in Canada! The Fort George Ghost Tours are run by the Friends of Fort George, a non-profit organization that works with Parks Canada in the preservation and interpretation of Niagara's National Historic Sites. Proceeds raised through the Fort George Ghost Tours help to support youth stewardship programs at Fort George and Brock's Monument. Over the past 20+ years, the tour has continued to grow, becoming one of Niagara-on-the-Lake's most popular evening attractions. Over 5,000 participants attend each year, many of whom report their own paranormal experiences during the tour. Join us for our ghost tour and walk away with an experience of your own!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.Please note that all XZBN radio and/or television shows are Copyright © REL-MAR McConnell Meda Company, Niagara, Ontario, Canada – www.rel-mar.com. For more Episodes of this show and all shows produced, broadcasted and syndicated from REL-MAR McConell Media Company and The 'X' Zone Broadcast Network and the 'X' Zone TV Channell, visit www.xzbn.net. For programming, distribution, and syndication inquiries, email programming@xzbn.net.We are proud to announce the we have launched TWATNews.com, launched in August 2025.TWATNews.com is an independent online news platform dedicated to uncovering the truth about Donald Trump and his ongoing influence in politics, business, and society. Unlike mainstream outlets that often sanitize, soften, or ignore stories that challenge Trump and his allies, TWATNews digs deeper to deliver hard-hitting articles, investigative features, and sharp commentary that mainstream media won't touch.These are stories and articles that you will not read anywhere else.Our mission is simple: to expose corruption, lies, and authoritarian tendencies while giving voice to the perspectives and evidence that are often marginalized or buried by corporate-controlled media

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Spencer “Boiler” Dunn. Boiler, is a self-described “pro-yapper”, improv leader, former employee of Parks Canada, pie enthusiast, and of course, a backpacker.  Spencer takes us through his long trail adventures across Canada, including the Bruce Trail, West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Island Trail—journeys that brought him face-to-face with some incredible wildlife, from bears to whales to the elusive sea wolf.  We also dive into his recent hike on the PCT—how he broke the record for pies per mile, the notoriety that earned him on trail, navigating people's perceptions as a plus-sized hiker, how his trek deepened his connection to his queer identity, and, of course, his unapologetic hatred for gear talk (which I make him do). We wrap the show with news on New Zealand's most famous thru-hike getting a whole lot pricier, tackle the age-old question of which liquids we'd want to dispense from our fingers, we do the  Triple Crown of tummy aches, and hear a listener's compelling pitch for taking this circus to the Pacific Northwest. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.  Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. [divider] Interview with Spencer “Boiler” Dunn Spencer's Instagram Spencer's Youtube Spencer's Substack Time stamps & Questions 00:03:00 - Apply to blog for the Trek, take the 2025 AT Thru-Hiker survey, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:06:25 - Introducing Boiler 00:08:50 - How did you get your trail name? 00:10:20 - What's your outdoors origin story? 00:12:30 - What is Parks Canada? 00:15:40 - What's the difference between national parks in the US and Canada? 00:17:10 - What is the outdoors culture like in Canada? 00:20:15 - Is there a community around the Bruce Trail? 00:23:10 - Do you think there's a hunger for more long trails in Canada? 00:25:00 - How did you end up on the PCT? 00:26:00 - What gear did you start with? 00:32:00 - Discussion about Boiler's PCT hike 00:32:53 - Tell us about making pies on the PCT 00:41:55 - What was your favorite town? 00:43:20 - More pie talk 00:45:38 - Discussion about being a fatter hiker 00:56:50 - Do you have any advice for someone who wants to follow in your footsteps? 00:58:45 - Discussion about differences between men and women on the trail 01:01:10 - Did you have any uncomfortable situations on trail? 01:06:50 - Do you feel more or less of a stigma in Canada? 01:09:12 - Life on trail as a BNOT 01:12:01 - Did you ever put yourself in a situation for the story? 01:14:17 - Discussion about being a BNOT 01:15:30 - Tell us about your hiking on Vancouver Island 01:24:55 - Discussion about campsites on Vancouver Island 01:26:45 - Tell us about seeing wolves 01:32:40 - Fuck Marry Kill: The West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Trail 01:35:05 - How do the 3 trails compare to each other? 01:40:25 - Differences between Americans and Canadians 02:04:00 - Where can people keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda: The Hardest Thru Hike in the World is About to Get a Lot More Expensive by Lisa Slutsken QOTD:  If you could dispense different liquids from each finger on one hand, which liquids would you choose? Triple Crown of tummy aches Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti “Lumberjack”, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

Host Shayla Oulette Stonechild welcomes guest Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson to discuss the significance of fire in Indigenous culture and its power in reconnecting us to the land amidst climate change. She shares her journey in bridging Indigenous knowledge with Western science and the challenges faced in reclaiming traditional fire practices. They explore the revival of traditional fire stewardship practices, the need for Indigenous leadership in fire management, and the role of matriarchs in these efforts.  More About Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson and her work: Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson is Métis and grew up in Treaty 8 territory (northern Alberta, Canada). Her Métis relations are the Cardinal (Peeaysis Band) and Laboucane (Laboucane Settlement) families. She currently lives near Rocky Mountain House in Treaty 6 (central Alberta).  Christianson was formerly a Research Scientist with the Canadian Forest Service (Natural Resources Canada) and an Indigenous Fire Specialist in the National Fire Management Division of Parks Canada. Christianson works with Indigenous Nations across Canada on fire stewardship practices like cultural burning and collaborates with Indigenous peoples from around the world on decolonising land management. She also studies wildfire evacuations and advocates for Indigenous wildland firefighters.  https://www.ilinationhood.ca/team-members/amy-cardinal-christianson She is the co-author of the books, First Nations Wildfire Evacuations: A guide for communities and external agencies and Blazing the Trail: Celebrating Indigenous Fire Stewardship.  Christianson also cohosts the Good Fire podcast, which looks at Indigenous fire use around the world. https://thunderbirdcollective.ca/ https://yourforestpodcast.com/good-fire-podcast/2019/9/2/welcome-to-good-fire https://www.ilinationhood.ca/publications https://www.youtube.com/@indigenousleadershipinitiative/ https://www.ubcpress.ca/first-nations-wildfire-evacuations Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! If you enjoyed the conversation, please leave a comment and thumbs-up on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app! Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find more about Matriarch Movement at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://matriarchmovement.ca/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast is produced by Women in Media Network ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womeninmedia.network/show/matriarch-movement/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 587 - Tony Berryman - Mysteries and massage therapy thrillers, written two fingers at a timeTony writes mysteries and thrillers, two fingers at a time. His first massage therapy thriller, The Night Nurse, was published in 2020. His second, On Borrowed Time, is due out June 1.Tony spent 17 years as a registered massage therapist in Vancouver and now works for Parks Canada. When he's not making a paycheque or writing books, he can be found hiking and paddling the Columbia Valley or trying out new recipes on unsuspecting guests.Tony also co-writes with Juanita Rose Violini, his life partner and murder mystery plots expert, under the pen name Trigger Jones. Trigger's first two sci fi adventure books,Gravity Doesn't Lie and Atmosphere Meltdown, are available now. The first book in their time travel treasure hunt series will be out soon.https://tonyberryman.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter (blacklocks.ca⁠), joins Alex Pierson to discuss: The “blackface” firing overturned: A labour board has overturned the 2021 dismissal of a Toronto schoolteacher who wore a Halloween costume that unintentionally resembled blackface. The arbitrator ruled the appearance was inadvertent, citing a question the teacher was asked: whether he was aware of Justin Trudeau's own blackface controversy. Unproven organ‑donor strike threat: Labour Minister Patty Hajdu's claim that a legal strike by 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants jeopardized deliveries of life-saving medications and organ tissue could not be substantiated—raising concerns she may have fabricated the scenario to justify strike restrictions. blacklocks.ca “Sexy drag” at Pride Week: A provocative scheduling choice for public service Pride week—featuring a “sexy drag rock star” at a workday bingo event—raises questions about appropriateness and cost, given that the internal notice did not disclose expenses. Widening tax auditors' powers: Proposed amendments to the Income Tax Act would empower Canada Revenue Agency auditors with new tools—allowing them to impose daily $50 fines and to compel oaths under threat of perjury—to enhance audit “efficiency and effectiveness.” Parks Canada corrects PM record: Parks Canada rushed to designate former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney as a national historic person, after it emerged that his Liberal predecessors had been honored much more promptly. The delay of 25 years—revealed by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board—prompted the belated correction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After tariff warnings and a failed Mexico deal, Prime Minister Mark Carney is on a "reduced schedule" vacation. Female athletes on Team Nova Scotia's girls' volleyball team face sanctions for privately objecting to sharing dorms with a male teammate who identifies as a girl. Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu is seeking a federal apology after Parks Canada revoked U.S. Christian singer Sean Feucht's performance permit, citing a violation of Canadians' Charter rights. Tune into The Daily Brief with Isaac Lamoureux and Geoff Knight! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 492~ July 24, 2025 Podcast Info / Topics Sean attended Parks Canada’s Lock and Paddle event in Ottawa Sean headed to Bobcaygeon with some paddling friends to meet up with Steve Chard as he paddles the Great Loop Get away from the busy National Parks and explore 7 that are best accessed by paddle […]

Episode 492~ July 24, 2025 Podcast Info / Topics Sean attended Parks Canada’s Lock and Paddle event in Ottawa Sean headed to Bobcaygeon with some paddling friends to meet up with Steve Chard as he paddles the Great Loop Get away from the busy National Parks and explore 7 that are best accessed by paddle […]

On Episode 94, we discuss Parks Canada's dubious decision to cancel the permit of a MAGA-supporting singer, we tell you about our new intervention in a case challenging the Impact Assessment Act, and we discuss Premier Smith's proposals for constitutional amendments. Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: Permit revoked for MAGA musician's concert at Parks Canada site, but show will go on (CBC News)Calls for Canada to bar bands Kneecap, Bob Vylan over anti-Israel messages test limits of free expression (CBC News)Canada should follow Britain and lower the voting age to 16 (Globe and Mail)Alberta Premier Danielle Smith suggests premiers start constitutional talk (CBC News) Jamie Sarkonak: Non-citizen johns shouldn't get sentence discounts for their crimes (National Post)Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn. The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.

I've often talked about my Sprinter and why I think people should avoid them. Now - here the truth! And then head to Canada and visit their national parks, hear a tale about dogs and sharks, get some essential shoes, and drill some holes. If you're looking for my personal articles, you can find them at https://peregrinus.ghost.io Here, there be sharks. They're swimming around our ankles.  Where did they go?  The 25 most famous Bermuda Triangle disapearances https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbpnpgw7c2s     NEWS Free Camping at Canada Parks https://parks.canada.ca/voyage-travel/conseils-tips/choisis-canada-choose/admission-camping Ticks on the Rise https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5610/ticks-are-surging-and-spreading-across-the-u.s-heres-how-to-protect-yourself PRODUCT REVIEW Skecher Slip-Ins Shoes https://amzn.to/3Ulan2R A PLACE TO VISIT  Robert the Doll at the Fort East Martello Museum https://www.kwahs.org/fort-east-martello-museum/ RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION Parks Canada App https://parks.canada.ca/voyage-travel/app Some links are affiliate links. If you purchase anything from these links, the show will receive a small fee. This will not impact your price in any way.  

Email us at cdncomsense@gmail.com Could a DOGE be a thing in Canada? We sure do need one. We have 103 reasons that the Carney has to step out of the clown car, destitute judges, debt in BC, Parks Canada goes too far, your hidden gems, and more!

We took the show to the right hand edge of Canada to talk about the 50th anniversary of Parks Canada at Cape Spear. We chat history, lighthouse keepers, baked goods and more.

Today, we're looking at the conversation around separatism and what this means for treaties Indigenous groups signed with Canada, and whether these treaties can prevent a province — like Alberta — from splitting off from the rest of Canada. Plus, CBC is sucking up to its benefactor, Mark Carney, following the prime minister's visit to the White House. Is this the kind of positive coverage Carney was expecting after pledging a $150 million increase to the state broadcaster's budget. And finally, documents uncovered by Blacklock's Reporter reveal how Parks Canada was aware of an issue surrounding dead trees in Jasper, but conducted no controlled burns in the area prior to the devastating 2023 wildfire.

In this episode, Rob Olson of the Manitoba Wildlife Federation examines the complexities surrounding ecological corridors and biodiversity commitments in Canada, with a particular focus on the 30 by 30 initiative. The program addresses the moose management crisis in Manitoba, emphasizing its community impacts and Indigenous rights. It explores the role of Indigenous Protected Areas (IPCA) and the challenges associated with ecological corridors, as well as the relationship between agricultural producers, Indigenous communities, and government agencies such as Parks Canada. Rob discusses the significance of transparency and trust within these relationships, the difficulties arising from flawed engagement strategies, and the implications of Métis rights on wildlife management. Furthermore, the discussion underscores the critical state of the moose population and advocates for a unified approach to conservation that prioritizes outcomes over control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Fossil Huntress Podcast. Today, we're taking a journey half a billion years back in time to one of the most extraordinary fossil sites on the planet — the Burgess Shale — nestled high in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada.So close your eyes and fly with me up to the top of North America, find Canada's far western shores then head east. If you were driving from Vancouver to Burgess in Yoho National park the trip takes about 9 hours. But as we are flying, we arrive rather instantly. This site isn't just famous — it's legendary. Why? Because the Burgess Shale preserves an astonishingly detailed snapshot of early life on Earth, dating back to the Middle Cambrian, about 508 million years ago. The creatures found here represent some of the earliest complex life forms — a mind-blowing cast of characters from a time when life was exploding in diversity and complexity. Think of it as nature's original experiment lab, full of alien-looking arthropods, spiny worms, bizarre filter feeders, and some of the earliest chordates — animals that share our evolutionary ancestry.Some of the headliners include:Anomalocaris – a meter-long predator with grasping appendages and a circular mouth lined with teeth. It looks like something straight out of a sci-fi film.Opabinia – with five eyes and a long proboscis, it's one of the weirdest creatures ever discovered.Wiwaxia, Hallucigenia, Marrella – each one stranger than the last.And then there's Pikaia, a tiny, worm-like creature with a notochord — a feature shared by all vertebrates. That includes you and me. It's one of the earliest known members of our own evolutionary lineage.What Do These Fossils Tell Us?The Burgess Shale helps us understand the Cambrian Explosion, that dramatic moment in Earth's history when most major animal groups first appeared.It shows us that early life was more diverse — and stranger — than we ever imagined. Evolution involves a lot of experimentation — many of the creatures found here left no descendants. Even tiny creatures like Pikaia played a major role in our own evolutionary history.It's a story of ancient oceans, evolutionary innovation, and a delicate moment frozen in shale. A time capsule from a world we barely recognize — yet one that gave rise to us all.You can visit the fossils. There are three main hikes:Walcott Quarry Hike – This is the classic. A full-day, 21 km round-trip hike with stunning views and up-close looks at where Charles Doolittle Walcott first discovered these fossils in 1909.Mount Stephen Trilobite Beds – A bit shorter but still steep, this hike rewards you with a literal ground covered in trilobites!Stanley Glacier Hike in Kootenay National Park – A more recent site with new discoveries and another great option to experience the Burgess Shale in the wild.The hikes are moderately to very strenuous, and must be booked in advance through Parks Canada's website. The guides are knowledgeable interpreters — often geologists or paleontologists themselves — and they bring the whole story to life.I highly recommend visiting Yoho National Park and joining one of those hikes. Standing on that mountainside, with half-a-billion years of history beneath your boots, is a humbling, awe-inspiring experience.

Last week, Parks Canada confirmed a dead goose in a Scarborough park tested positive for bird flu, raising concerns that with more birds flying north for spring, the virus will spread. Canada saw its first and only domestically-acquired human case in November, but in the U.S., at least 68 people have been reported infected in the last year, according to CDC data. One person has died from the illness. The poultry industries on both sides of the border have been grappling with the virus for years, and outbreaks have led to the culling of millions of birds in the last year. Now, the U.S. dairy industry is being impacted as herds of cattle in several states have fallen ill. Nicholas Florko, a staff writer with The Atlantic, joins the show to talk about the virus, how it's spreading in the U.S. and why some people are worried that it could be the beginning of the next pandemic.

Jacquie Gilson (she/her) has been involved in the interpretation profession for over 45 years as an interpreter, manager, and researcher. She has worked for municipal, provincial, national, and not-for-profit park and heritage organizations. In 2015, she completed her Doctor of Social Sciences degree after studying inspiration in interpretation for her dissertation. In 2020, Jacquie retired after 8 years as the Interpretation Coordinator for Parks Canada in Lake Louise, Banff National Park. Jacquie joins Song Stott and Paul Caputo to discuss the role of artificial intelligence in interpretation.

Parks Canada wants to hear your thoughts on the future of the main lodge at Keltic Lodge, which has been closed since the Spring. 

Ronnie-Gilles LeBlanc is a retired historian from Parks Canada.  

In a recent press conference, investigative journalist Sam Cooper and Independent MP Kevin Vuong accused four officials of being involved in a foreign interference scheme. Plus, a True North exclusive reveals the planning behind a Parks Canada exhibit that smears Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A Macdonald. And the Edmonton Police Service confirmed it was investigating an alleged sexual assault involving an Uber driver. Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Clayton DeMaine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Host, Shaye Ganam speaks with Tom Korski, the Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter about ArriveCan managers yesterday abruptly announced they'd discovered thousands of ''deleted'' emails involving business with contractors now under RCMP investigation, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly yesterday quietly removed a Russian banker from Cabinet's Ukraine war sanctions list, Critics of Parks Canada have become ''conspiracy addled,'' says Liberal-appointed senator. All this and more! GUEST: Tom Korski - Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter X(formerly Twitter): @mindingottawa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How should we remember Sir John A Macdonald? At the newly resdesigned Bellevue House in Kingston, visitors can see that Macdonald had many accomplishments as Canada's first prime minister, but he also left behind a complicated legacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fire that burned more than 33,000 hectares of land around Jasper, Alberta was recently classified as under control. Brittany Wentzell talks with a Cape Breton Parks Canada worker who spent time fighting that fire back in August.

Alex Pierson speaks with Tom Korski, the Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter about pre-election findings follow Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement that ''Canadians need to have faith in their government's honesty,'' Internal emails show Parks Canada executives feared ''public and political perception'' in managing fire hazards at Jasper, Alta, Parks Canada blames former Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps for ordering staff to put a smile on the agency's beaver mascot. All this and more! GUEST: Tom Korski - Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter X(formerly Twitter): @mindingottawa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Richard Syrett Show, July 31st, 2024 Subscribe to Richard's newsletter, "Why I Fight" Scroll to bottom of page https://sauga960am.ca/programs/the-richard-syrett-show Undocumented foreigners in Canada could number as many as a half million https://www.blacklocks.ca/lost-track-of-500000-memo/  Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault yesterday said it was “simply not true” that Parks Canada mismanaged fire preparedness at Jasper https://www.blacklocks.ca/dont-blame-feds-guilbeault/ Tom Korski, Managing Editor at Blacklock's Reporter SUBSCRIBE: https://www.blacklocks.ca/ Alberta company with ‘silver bullet' tech sat on sidelines while Jasper burned over contract dispute https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/exclusive-alberta-company-with-silver-bullet-tech-sat-on-sidelines-while-jasper-burned-over-contract-dispute/56479  Shaun Polczer – Business Reporter for the Western Standard THE CULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE Petermann Glacier in Greenland is Growing Poor Fire Management, NOT Climate Change Caused Jasper Wildfire https://www.theprogress.com/community/political-spin-irresponsible-forest-management-spawns-catastrophic-fires-7463908 Tony Heller, Geologist, Weather Historian and Founder of Real Climate Science dot com Andrew Lawton Announces He's Running for CPC Nomination in Elgin-St. Thomas – London South https://x.com/AndrewLawton/status/1818704324442128690 Average Canuck paying more in taxes than on necessities, report says https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fraser-institute-news-release-average-090000874.html  Jake Fuss, Director of Fiscal Studies for the Fraser Institute https://www.fraserinstitute.org/ RCMP FOIL JIHADIST TERROR PLOT IN TORONTO https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/father-son-in-gta-arrested-on-terrorism-related-charges-rcmp  Ross McLean is a crime and security specialist and the host of the McLean Chronicles Podcast Follow Ross on X @McLeanChronicle Watch the McLean Chronicles on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@McLeanChronicle/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Pierson speaks with Tom Korski, the Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter about the Privy Council Office managers used the n-word on the job and subjected Black employees to ''tokenism'' and ''harassment,'' a hundred percent of people questioned in Privy Council focus group research says cabinet is ''headed in the wrong direction'' on immigration, Parks Canada managers two years ago acknowledged they failed to take full precautions to save Jasper, Alta from wildfires, documents show. All this and more! GUEST: Tom Korski - Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter X(formerly Twitter): @mindingottawa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nakoda was a grizzly bear who lived in Yoho National Park. She was a well-known bear, having been tracked by Parks Canada as Bear 178, and popular with photographers and tourists who caught a glimpse of her famous blonde-white fur. Tragically, on the evening of June 6, 2024, Nakoda was struck by a vehicle on the Trans-Canada highway near the park, and was later found dead. This came only 12 hours after Nakoda's two cubs were also struck and killed on the highway. Nakoda isn't the first grizzly to die due to the railways and highways that flow through and around national park sites; but John Marriott and the team at Exposed Wildlife Conservancy hope she may be the last. John, the cofounder of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy and an award-winning wildlife photographer, joins Defender Radio to share the tragic story of Nakoda and her family, what is leading to the deaths of grizzlies in the area, and how wildlife lovers can take action to protect more grizzly bears. SHOW NOTES: Take Action with Exposed Wildlife Conservancy: https://win.newmode.net/exposedwildlifeconservancy/nakodasletter Connect with Exposed Wildlife Conservancy: https://www.exposedwc.org  Exposed Wildlife Conservancy on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/exposdwc/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/exposdwc/) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@EXPOSEDWildlifeConservancy) Support Exposed Wildlife Conservancy: https://www.exposedwildlifeconservancy.org/one-time-donation  Episode art photo of Nakoda by Exposed Wildlife Conservancy Ambassador Lee Horbachewski Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).  Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter joined Alex Pierson to discuss Parks Canada on Saturday is reopening John A. Macdonald's historic Kingston, Ont.home with ''racism and sexism'' tours and admission is only 9 bucks, an ArriveCan executive yesterday admitted to drinking and dining with contractors in breach of ethics rules but said he never talked about money, Liberal MPs yesterday opposed disclosure of payments to pharmaceutical companies for ''safe supply'' opioids. All this and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the final episode of Emma's whirlwind tour of North America's National Parks. Well... for now. There are still lots of great parks left to explore, so keep the suggestions coming and maybe Emma I can do another round next year! As promised in the episode, here are some helpful links for accessibility in American and Canadian parks: parks.canada.ca Accessible travel Accessible activities From wildlife watching to swimming with buoyant wheelchairs, Parks Canada has a variety of accessible activities just waiting for you to explore. National Parks Service Accessibility ——————————— Are you a card-carrying Earth Rangers member yet? Make sure to sign up for FREE App today to get your membership card in the mail! Get it here! https://www.earthrangers.com/EN/CA/get-the-app/ And don't forget to use the code "EMMA" in the App to unlock 25 bonus points. ——————————— For more great shows, visit GZMShows.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On a crisp September day, Trevor Janz and Patricia Van Tighem's lives are changed forever when they encounter a grizzly on their weekend hike. Patricia writes of their journey of healing, both physical and emotional, with refreshing candor and an open heart. Help is out there: Call 988 or text 741741 We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon  or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our socials Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To share a Trail Tale, suggest a story, access merch, and browse our book recommendations - head over to our website. Thank you so much to our partners, check them out! Hatch: Use our link to get $20 off and free shipping. Rocket Money: Use our link to get started saving. Prose: Use our link for a free in-depth hair consultation and 50% off your first subscription. Plus 15% off and free shipping on all future subscription orders. Naked Wines: Follow our link and use code and password NPAD to get 6 bottles of wine for $39.99 plus free shipping. Sources The Bear's Embrace by Patricia Van Tighem, LA Times, Legacy, BC Care Providers, Waterton Lakes National Park, Parks Canada

Do you really think we could visit Banff and Jasper and NOT come back with some stories to share? Today we are switching it up to bring you two tales we were introduced to on our travels to the park. Get to know Grizzly 122 aka The Boss and learn about Operation Habbakuk an idea so crazy, it may just have worked - a prototype aircraft carrier for use against German U-boats … made out of ice(?). We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon  or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our socials Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To share a Trail Tale, suggest a story, access merch, and browse our book recommendations - head over to our website. Thank you so much to our partners, check them out! Miracle Made: Use our link and code NPAD to save over 40% and get 3 free towels. Care/Of: Use code npad50 to get 50% off your first order.   BetterHelp: National Park After Dark is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off. Prose: Use our link for a free in-depth hair consultation and 15% off your subscription. Sources Parks Canada, Parks Canada (2), Whyte Museum , National Geographic , CBC, CBC (2), National Wildlife Federation, Code Name Habbakuk

Desmond was convicted after refusing to leave her seat in a segregated movie theater in Nova Scotia in 1946. But she also established the first beauty salon for Black women her area, and founded a beauty school for Black women.   Research:  Bingham, Russell. "Viola Desmond". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 16 April 2021, Historica Canada. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/viola-desmond. Accessed 09 August 2022. Bishop, Henry V. “Viola (Davis) Desmond (b. 1914 — d. 1965): Stand For Justice.” Nova Scotia Archives. https://archives.novascotia.ca/desmond/background/ Canadian Museum for Human Rights. “One woman's resistance: Viola Desmond's Story.” https://humanrights.ca/story/one-womans-resistance Flynn, Karen. “Remembering Viola Desmond.” Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective. 11/2021. https://origins.osu.edu/milestones/remembering-viola-desmond?language_content_entity=en "Fred Christie Case (Christie v York)". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 06 June 2020, Historica Canada. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/fred-christie-case. Accessed 12 August 2022. Henry, Natasha. "Racial Segregation of Black People in Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 08 September 2021, Historica Canada. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/racial-segregation-of-black-people-in-canada. Accessed 10 August 2022. Parks Canada. “Viola Desmond National Historic Person (1914-1965).” https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/res/information-backgrounder/Viola_Desmond Reynolds, Graham and Wanda Robson. “Viola Desmond: Her Life and Times.” Roseway Publishing. 2018. Robson, Wanda. “Sister to courage : stories from the world of Viola Desmond, Canada's Rosa Parks.” Wreck Cove, N.S. : Breton Books. 2010. The Halifax Chronicle. “Dismisses Desmond Application.” 5/19/1947. page 14. Via Nova Scotia Archives. https://archives.novascotia.ca/desmond/archives/?ID=28 "Viola Desmond." Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, Gale, 2022. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1631009722/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=1380ef8c. Accessed 8 Aug. 2022. Walker, Barrington. “The African Canadian Legal Odyssey: Historical Essays.” Toronto: University of Toronto Press. 2012. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.