This week the crew got creative, and piloted our podcast skills. The CUPE 2424 strike (photographed above by Lauren Sproule), was a curveball that kept us on our toes and finding new ways to tell the stories you love and we love to tell. In fact, we came up with enough material to create a double-product show.
Four hosts. Two podcasts. One production day. Same quality reporting.
To distinguish between the two creations, we thought long and hard and came up with: Podcast A and B. Okay it didn’t take that long, but we were keeping busy with more important things!
CUPE 2424 union workers stop traffic to hand out information about the strike to drivers who are about to cross the picket line. They thank drivers for their patience and encourage them to get involved on social media to support the strike. Photo by Christine Vezarov.
The first podcast (A) helped listeners understand a bit more about the strike that catalyzed its creation, reporter Lauren Sproule spoke with Jerrett Clark, the Union President, about the wording battle being waged at Carleton University that has affected over 850 support staff.
Also affected and in need of support are journalists whose job it is to cover traumatic events. As the consumer we have the choice to carry on watching, reading or listening, but as the reporter that luxury isn’t an option. Midweek’s Maggie Parkhill attended the Trauma-Informed Journalism Symposium to bring us the news on how to support our journalists, and how, as journalists, we can protect ourselves and those we interview.
Reporter Kaitlin Fisher’s time with Goderich’s Jack Chapter, a mental health alliance club further detailed the importance of taking time for ourselves (no, a Kit-Kat won’t suffice).
We also took to the streets to hear about the women who inspire us, bet you can’t guess who the most commonly mentioned woman was but that you won’t be surprised to hear it.
The Gee’s Bees founders, Marianne and Matt Gee (left and right, respectively) beside two beehives on their property. Each beehive can house up to 50,000 bees. Photo by Christine Vezarov.
We swung down to the Ottawa Swing Festival, learned how to dodge the flu and heard the latest about whether Abdullah Abdi will be able to avoid deportation. Abdi is a Somalian who came to Canada at a very young age. So young that no one applied for his citizenship, and he was too young to do so himself. After growing up in Canada and moving in and out of the foster-care system his whole life, he is being brought before the Canadian courts with the possibility of being deported back to Somalia. Although the trial occurred today, the results weren’t in in time to include them in our show, but Midweek’s Emily Fearon brought you the details behind the decision-making.
During our second podcast (B), hosted by two different (but equally talented) team members, we started off with a discussion about the recent rise in violent crime in Ottawa. We’re only in the third month of the year yet there has already been 20 shootings in the country capital. Nancy Orswold, executive director of Crime Prevention Ottawa, doesn’t think this is a job the police should have to tackle alone and suggests a four pillared prevention strategy. Listen in for tips on how you can help make your community safer.
Mountain Equipment Co-op has signed up to do their part in making American communities safer by discontinuing the sale of rifles. Midweek’s Kaylyn Whibbs brings us more.
Sixteen pomsky puppies joined a full class Sunday afternoon in Kanata for an hour of Puppy Yoga. Founder and Owner Keith Mitchener says the puppies are there as a way to help promote love and positivity. These classes have been a hit in Ottawa with the classes all selling out weeks in advance. (Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs)
Listeners hear from the founders of Gee’s Bees, a local endeavour to educate Ottawa residents about the importance of beehives and how to grow sustainable agriculture at home. We visit the Sugar Shack and the high profile guests with a sweet tooth for Canada’s signature maple treat. And Midweek’s Keegan Hughes introduces us to the 19 and 21 year old owners and operators of Dreamland Café, a pasta café that is expanding to a new location in Little Italy. Whoever told you young people are only active when it comes to social media never met the De Leo sisters.
Finally, we get an ear-glimpse of how peaceful puppy yoga can be, yeah, puppy yoga. Watch out goats – you have competition! And we finish off with a ghost tale of spirits that might be disrupted by the Chateau Laurier’s long awaited expansion. Maggie Parkhill and Maureen McEwan take us from the old haunts to the new.
Now go ahead, hit play.