Sasha Honsevych sits on a howitizer in 2016 while a soldier for pro-Ukrainian forces in the Donbas Battalion during the Russo-Ukrainian War. (Photo courtesy of Sasha Honsevych)
For our first show of this season, Midweek hosts Jodi Gillam and Jen Siushansian took us to the country — a few countries, in fact, but also to several farms to meet folks (and turkeys) living out there close to the land.
First, though, Midweek reporter Cassandra Yanez-Leyton looked into the implications of China’s decision to release two imprisoned Canadians immediately after extradition proceedings involving an influential Chinese tech executive were dropped in Vancouver. Then reporter Jen Osborne spoke with Sasha Honsevych, a Ukrainian who now calls Canada home but still worries deeply about the prospects for democracy and peace in Ukraine and its intimidating neighbour, Russia.
Democracy is strained in Russia, but casting a secret ballot isn’t a breeze for many Canadians, either. Reporters Maia Smith and Sarah O’Leary brought us a documentary on the frustrations of one Ottawa man with muscular dystrophy who has no mobility in his limbs and needs to have others mark his ballot for him, sometimes in polling places that aren’t easily accessible.
Our first show of this season was the day before Canada’s first-ever Day of Truth and Reconciliation, and Midweek’s Cindy Tran spoke with organizers of an event in Pembroke to teach locals about the history of residential schools and colonization.
This year, there are only 13 turkeys at Maple Hill Urban Farm — just enough for Don Trott’s family and friends. (Photo by Rebecca dePencier)
Then reporter Rebecca dePencier teamed with Zac Delaney and Cassandra to ask folks on Carleton University’s campus about their plans and advice for the upcoming solemn day; the main suggestion they heard for non-indigenous Canadians on that day was shush — just listen. Obeying that advice, Jen was back with an interview with a Tla’amin Nation elder in British Columbia about her people’s reaction to latest developments on the Fairy Creek logging standoff.
Reporter Jen Siushansian covered a Fridays for Future climate change protest in downtown Ottawa, Ben Andrews spoke with newly elected Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi about local implications of that same issue, and Rebecca was back to talk turkey. Real turkeys. Rebecca visited Maple Hill Urban Farm to hear from farmer Don Trott about how he tries to give his birds a pretty good life, as long as that lasts.
Reporter Jen Osborne came back one more time to introduce us to Walter Ulansky of Vernon, B.C., (top photo, by Jen Osborne), as he looked back on his 40-year career as a horse shipper, buying up aged, broken-down or injured horses that he’d then sell to slaughter houses. He says old age has softened him, and he now sends horses to rescue farms, rather than to the abattoir.
Don Trott (far right) in front of the Maple Hill Urban Farm barn on a sunny morning in September. (Photo by Rebecca dePencier)
Then back to the big city to the Fly Market (no, that’s not a typo for “flea”), where reporter Kimberley Moriarity found out about the vintage clothing trade, and Cindy Tran next reported on how organizers of the Riverside Electric Dance Music Festival are factoring COVID-19 precautions into their plans.
Cassandra was back once again with a visit to a BYOB (“Bring your own board”) chess club at Eddy’s Diner in the Glebe, Meagan Gillmore found out how the pandemic affected members of a table-top gaming club at Carleton, and reporter Erin Wai looked at how the resurrection of intramural leagues at Carleton is giving some students a much-needed jolt of energy.
And after a look-ahead to the upcoming Panda Game between Carleton and the University of Ottawa, we closed off by going back out to the nearby countryside as Zac Delaney looked at how some local farmers are harvesting income from Halloween-theme activities that can be a-maze-ing…
Midweek: It’s good to be back!