Anika Smithson (left) and Monika Szyptko (right) hold up a garbage bag after a clean up in Smiths Falls. (Credit: @Arising_tide / Anika Smithson ) Top photo: Monika Szyptko (front), Anika Smithson (left), and Danika Guppy (back) at Hartwell Locks after a long journey. (Credit: Ocean Wise Conservation Association Benjamin Aube)
This week from the virtual Midweek newsroom, we once again bring you three new podcasts about adventures to raise awareness about the environment, a 16-year-old professional soccer player, the continuing realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, and so much more.
Podcast 1: When you’re passionate about a cause, you’ll travel great lengths—both metaphorically and literally—to make some change.
Midweek’s Hamza Ali brings us the story of three young women who kayaked 202 kilometres to spread awareness about ocean conservation (and tidy up what the rest of us spread too carelessly).
While some kayak for the environment, others help children learn about it. Midweek’s Kayla Holmes spoke to Michael Leveille, a private school teacher in Ottawa, who has been taking his students outdoors to experience nature for nearly two decades.
Midweek reporter Kieran Heffernan
Hosts Graham Swaney and Hamza Ali also took us through stories about tragic losses and and about expressing what’s so often kept locked inside.
Many people around the world are still seeking answers about the Ukrainian plane that crashed in Iran on Jan. 8 after being hit by missiles. Midweek’s Graham Swaney spoke to Mohsen Rostami, who went to a rally in Montreal to condemn the lack of justice for victims.
In times of pain or joy, expression becomes an important outlet. Midweek’s Kieran Heffernan spoke to Riley Lewicki, a published poet, who’s part of the Sapphic Poetry Collective.
This podcast was produced by Taylor Clark and Natalie McGrath.
Midweek reporter Kindra Squire
Podcast 2: For this podcast, producers Rima Moussalli and Matthew Newell assembled stories about schools and tourism in the age of COVID-19, farming in cities and more.
The pandemic is affecting many people in different ways, and among the affected are parents with school age children facing new and shifting procedures. Midweek’s Kindra Squire spoke to a single mother of three about how these procedures are affecting her work life.
This mother isn’t alone. Ottawa’s tourism industry has also taken a hit during the pandemic. Midweek’s Camryn Patterson spoke to Julia Thomson, the corporate communications specialist for Ottawa Tourism, who says Ottawa’s tourism will come back strong … when it gets the chance.
Hosts Matthew Newell and Ethan Diamandas also introduced stories about a rising sports star, a cool blend of physical and linguistic learning, and the art of farming in the city.
Antoine Coupland (front left) says he’s made lots of progress with Atlético Ottawa this year, as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Canada’s young soccer superstars. (© Freestyle Photography/Atlético Ottawa)
Antoine Coupland is a professional soccer at just 16 years old, and loves the game. The Atlético Ottawa midfielder spoke to Diamandas about his career so far and what it’s like being such a young professional soccer player.
Midweek’s Kate Schellenberg spoke with an Ottawa couple about their karate and Japanese language classes.
And while some in Ottawa learn the Karate chop (and learn it’s called shutō-uchi in Japanese), the Black Creek Community Farm in Toronto is offering locals a chance to chop vegetables they grow themselves right in the heart of the city. Midweek’s Kevin O’Rourke McColl spoke to Christina Hoang who’s teaching the community about food preservation.
Midweek reporter Meral Jamal
Podcast 3: On this week’s third podcast, a witness spoke to Midweek’s host Emily Koch about an attempted arson on Oct. 1 in Sandy Hill, a neighborhood close to the University of Ottawa, and full of many students.
Iranian-Canadian Community organizer Armin Morattab lost loved ones in the Ukrainian Airlines’ crash earlier this year, and he’s among those still looking for answers.
Midweek’s Meral Jamal spoke to Morattab about the rally he organized in Montreal to criticize the lack of action from governments due to the pandemic — the rally attended by Mohsen Rostami, who we met in Podcast 1.
Midweek reporter Hannah Rivkin
And while the pandemic has many of us climbing the walls, rock climber Stephane Charpentier shared Midweek’s Hannah Rivkin how got through the first round of climbing gym closures and how he will do it again as the next wave of the outbreak worsens.
Finally, Philip Lyall, part owner of Mountain Orchard just east of Kemptville, and Ron Whitteker, the orchard’s greeter, spoke to Midweek’s Warren Reid about how the orchard is adapting to the fall apple picking rush during a pandemic.
This podcast was produced by Paige Kahkonen and Ingrid Mutoni.