Guelph Politicast

GUELPH POLITICAST REPEAT - Give (More) Blood.

Your regularly scheduled Guelph Politicast is taking a few weeks off, so in lieu of two weeks of dead air, we'll be playing some Politicast repeats. You see kids, a repeat is when an episode that's previously aired is re-played, or re-run, instead of airing an entirely new episode. For this first week, we're going to back in time to the end of last year for an issue that matters to all us: blood.
This episode originally aired during the holiday season, a time period where a lot of people have time off, and the increase in blood need goes up. Can you guess what other time of year where people take a lot of days off? August. The summer offers no shortage of opportunities for people to get hurt so bad that they need blood, and let's not forget the regularly scheduled surgeries and transfusions that require the constant flow of fresh blood.
Presently, the Guelph-office of Canadian Blood Services is putting out a repeated and urgent call for O-negative blood. Apparently, only seven per cent of Canadians have O-negative blood, but these select people are universal donors, meaning their blood can be given  to anyone with any other blood type in an emergency. Canadian Blood Services is still collecting blood safely in the midst of COVID-19, and there are a lot of reasons why you should give. Let's discuss. Again.
On this rerun of the podcast, we are joined by Kersten Dupuis, the Territory Manager at the Guelph clinic of Canadian Blood Services. She will share her personal about the importance of blood donation, and how it inspires her to promote blood donation at her job every day. She will also explain what the experience of giving blood is like now, the process you’ll have to go through, and why there’s a lot of pressure to get blood donations over the holidays.
So let's talk again about blood, and needing blood, on this week's rerun of the Guelph Politicast!
Canadian Blood Services in their Guelph location at 130 Silvercreek Parkway North is open and ready to take your blood, but you do have to make an appointment to donate. To find out how, visit their website, or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).
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 Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, 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. 

Open Sources Guelph #33 - August 5, 2021

This week on Open Sources Guelph, it's a Canadian affair. We're digging into matters of provincial interest with the a new plan for a favourite old school tourist attraction, and the potential courting of COVID disaster in the Wildrose province. In national matters, we'll consider the latest rumours around the possibility of a fall election, and that cold chill you're feeling might be connected to Trudeau's immediate predecessor.
This Thursday, August 5, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:
Warn to Run. August is here, and that means we're getting down to the wire in terms of a potential fall election call. There's a Governor General in place ready to receive the PM's request to dissolve Parliament, the Liberals have been giving out money from one coast to the other and the other, and the number of pieces about opposition parties in shambles has gone up precipitously. So what about it, are we close to an election call?
A Place in the Stun. Last week, Premier Doug Ford took up a matter of major importance beyond the fourth wave and re-opening schools: the future of Ontario Place. Predictably, critical mass was less than enthusiastic about the Ford government's ambitions, and among their concerns are the loss of valuable public space, and the privatization of Ontario Place facilities and attractions. But Ford wouldn't do that, would he?
Typhoid Kenney? While the rest of the country is working to avoid a fourth wave, it feels like Alberta is wholeheartedly embracing it. Alberta is lifting all COVID restrictions in the next few weeks, and that's a concern because the Delta variant is making the rounds, while at the same time the Alberta government is cutting the salaries of healthcare workers and losing doctors and nurses. Is this the perfect storm for Alberta?
Don't Call it a Comeback. From just beyond the black gates of Mordor, something is stirring... Look, former-Prime Minister Stephen Harper is not the most popular guy in the world, or Canada for that matter, but he's been back in the news lately criticizing the current government's COVID response, while a poll shows Conservative Party members would be more excited about Harper's return as leader than voting for their current leader. Is this Harper's time to shine?
Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

End Credits #210 - July 28, 2021 (The Fear Street Trilogy)

This week on End Credits we feel the chills. This August day, we will shut ourselves indoors, turn off the lights, and binge an entire new horror trilogy on Netflix. This week, we are tackling each and every entry of the Fear Street trilogy! Will Fear Street offer the spine-tingling delights we want? Let's hope so, we're throwing a whole episode at it.
This Wednesday, August 4, at 3 pm, Adam A. Donaldson and Candice Lepage will discuss:
REVIEW: The Fear Street Trilogy (2021). Summer is a great time for horror movies,so why not take in three of them back-to-back. Netflix had an unusual weekly release schedule for this ambitious horror trilogy set in three different time periods. We meet the disadvantaged teens of Shadyside in 1994, then flashback to Camp Nightwing in 1978, and then go all the way back to the village of Union in 1666. Can our 90s heroes overcome the ancient evil that's ravaged their unfortunately named town for over 300 years? Let's binge the trilogy and find out!
End Credits is on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca Wednesday at 3 pm.

GUELPH POLITICAST #285 - Take a Hike!

There's still a lot of summer left, so what are we supposed to do with some of our extra down time? How about enjoying some local paths and trails for a nice hike? It’s never not a good time to take a walk and enjoy the natural splendor of the Guelph area, but a warm day, a cool breeze, a clear trail, and a sensible pair of shoes is not a bad way to pass some time, and no one knows that better than the current head of the local hiking club.
The trails of Guelph have been the subject of a lot of discussion lately as walking and hiking, like a lot of outdoor activities, have seen an increase in interest during the pandemic. At the same time, the City of Guelph was putting the finishing touches on the Trails Master Plan, an ambitious program to make local trails more accessible, and improve their connectivity across the city. One of the community groups at the forefront of pushing the City on those improvements is the Guelph Hiking Trail Club.
In their own words, the Guelph Hiking Trail Club is a non-profit organization established in 1970 dedicated to stimulating an interest in hiking, establishing and maintaining trails, and encouraging conservation and awareness of the natural environment. They organize group hikes, promote social connections between local hikers, and advocate for a better hiking experience, like they did earlier this year when they successfully raised $50,000 for a bridge over the river along the James Street Trail.
John Fisher, current president of the Guelph Hiking Trail Club, is the guest on this week's podcast, and he will talk about how he got involved, and where the good hiking is for beginners and more advanced people. He also discusses the need to have good hiking etiquette, and whether or not the pandemic has had an impact on the number of hikers on area trails. And finally, Fisher will talk about what kind of work that the local trail network needs, and how City Hall can help make the most out of the Trails Master Plan.
So let's take a hike on this week's edition of the Guelph Politicast!
To learn more about the Guelph Hiking Trail Club, you can go to their website, or connect with them on social media through Facebook and Twitter. To find the location of different trails in the city, you can visit City of Guelph website here, and to look at the Trails Master Plan on the City's website, click here.
***The Guelph Politicast will return with new episodes on August 24.
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 Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, 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. .

Open Sources Guelph #337 - July 29, 2021

This week on Open Sources Guelph, we wonder about going too far. In Toronto, if could be argued that they definitely went too far "helping" homeless people get out of the park, and some people will say that it could be going too far to demand vaccine mandates. Some people are also saying that our city's mayor has gone too far, and we'll ask him about that and other stuff as we joins us for this week's show.
This Thursday, July 29, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:
Intolerable Cruelty. Last week, the Toronto Police Service and City staff cleared a couple of homeless encampments from parks with, well, let's call it "extreme severity." For added authoritarian shades, the police tried to keep protestors and media out of the area, and a Canadian Press photographer was even among the people arrested. Why the use of force, and is this really how John Tory wants to handle homelessness?
Iron Mandate. As the Delta Variant ravages unvaccinated populations in the United States and around the world, governments are now flirting with vaccine mandates. It's the same thing here in Canada. Even though the rate of people who are fully vaccinated continues to grow, there are certain areas where politicians and advocates want 100 per cent of people to be vaccinated, and they have to mandate to do it. So why not?
Summer of Cam. Guelph City Council went on summer break last week, which means that the mayor now has nothing better to do then appear on this show. Joking aside, there are some serious issues to discuss with Mayor Cam Guthrie, including the development of social housing, the use of MZOs, and the upcoming conference of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). We'll talk about all that, and how the mayor feels about being called a tyrant over COVID measures.
Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

End Credits #209 - July 28, 2021 (A Quiet Place Part II)

This week on End Credits, we're going to try and keep the noise down. Summer is here, COVID cases are down, and people are feeling like celebrating, but those pesky aliens with super-sensitive hearing are back in A Quiet Place Part II, and we're going to review on this episode. Before that, it's another trip to a summer of the past, this time around the mid-90s!
This Wednesday, July 28, at 3 pm, Adam A. Donaldson and Tim Phillips will discuss:
Summer Lovin’ Part 11: 1994. As we enter the mid-90s, we see the annual summer movie season begins to looking like something we're very family with 25 years later. From unnecessary sequels, to potential superhero franchises, and some genuine surprising hits, we will re-live the Summer of 1994 in the same way that one movie character from that summer re-lived the greatest hits of the 50s, 60s, and 70s like it were a whole box of chocolates!
REVIEW: A Quiet Place Part II (2021). In 2019, that smirking guy from The Office proved that he had the horror chops of a seasoned pro when he directed a movie about a family living in silence on an isolated farm to avoid aliens with super-sensitive hearing. Could John Krasinski catch lightening in a bottle? In the second Quiet Place, Emily Blunt leads her family to find salvation. even while possessing a powerful new weapon that can be used against the alien creatures. The elements are there to make something cool, but is Krasinski able to deliver?
End Credits is on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca Wednesday at 3 pm.

GUELPH POLITICAST #284 - Expanding the Mental Health Landscape

Last week, ground was broken for the future Centre for Children’s Mental Health and Developmental Services Building, which will come to be known as the Grove. When it opens in 2023, the Grove will offer 30 service providers across three floors helping 9,000 local children, youth and their families needing mental health and developmental services, support and treatment each year, and all courtesy of a unique and generous partnership.
The idea of Integrated Youth Services Network has been covered on this podcast before. The concept involves the creation of a safe space for youth aged 12 to 26, and offering a “one-stop shop” service hub to address the mental health, community and social services needs of young people. Over two dozen different community groups led by the Rotary Club of Guelph helped get things this far, and there are already three smaller hubs in business across Wellington County in Erin, Fergus, and Palmerston.
Aside from the advancement in the cause of mental health, this project is notable because of a $50 million donation to make it possible, which is the largest private donation to mental health services in Canadian history. The person writing that proverbial cheque is Robert Eilers, president and director of the Vesterra Group of Companies. Eilers joins us on this week's show along with Helen Fishburn, the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington, who will be the new building's biggest tenant.
In their joint appearance on this week's podcast, Fishburn and Eilers will each talk about the Grove project from their own unique perspectives. Fishburn will discuss how we’re now entering the mental health surge of the pandemic, and how the new building will improve the local delivery of mental health services. And Eilers will share his very personal story about his own struggles with mental health as a young person, and how he got the help he needed to become the successful business person he is today.
So let's talk about building up mental health services on this episode of the Guelph Politicast!
To learn more about The Grove and integrated youth wellness hubs in Ontario and throughout our region, you can go the Grove's website here. To learn more about mental health services in the region, go to the CMHA Waterloo Wellington website, and to learn more about the Vesterra Group of Companies, you can visit their website 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 Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, 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.
Photo of Robert Eilers and Helen Fishburn courtesy of CMHA Waterloo Wellington's Facebook page.

Open Sources Guelph #336 - July 22, 2021

This week on Open Sources Guelph, we've got leadership issues. We'll head to Manitoba where the effort to right the ship on Indigenous affairs blew up spectacularly on live TV (see above), and then we'll go to the Federal level where there's actually some good news for one beleaguered national leader. In the back half, we welcome, perhaps, our most prestigious guest yet, Ontario's Official Opposition leader!
This Thursday, July 22, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:
Kicking it Old School. It was supposed to be a reset after a week of bad stories, but Alan Lagimodiere, a Métis MLA in Manitoba, only went 10 minutes as thew new Indigenous Affairs minister without creating controversy. Lagimodiere misspoke about the intentions of residential school administrators, and NDP leader Wab Kinew was not having it (see above). What the heck is going on in Manitoba on Indigenous issues?
Scenes from A. Paul. After a month of upheaval in the upper echelons, Annamie Paul status as leader of the Green Party seems safe for now, but there are a lot of lingering questions about what's going on behind the scenes. Is there some truck to Paul's assertion that attacks on her are rooted in misogyny and racism? Can the Green Party pretend that nothing happened in order to make it through the next Federal Election?
It Was Andrea All Along. Last week, Official Opposition leader Andrea Horwath came to the University of Guelph to announce the NDP's plan for electric vehicles and supporting transit. While she was in the neighbourhood, Horwath talked to Open Sources about those future election plans, plus the current status of the Provincial government's COVID response, and what she would be doing right now if she were the Premier of Ontario.
Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

End Credits #208 - July 21, 2021 (Gunpowder Milkshake)

This week on End Credits, we're going to get some more action. After checking out all the ladies kicking butt last week in Black Widow, we found some more women that know how to kick butt, and know how to do it well. This week, we're reviewing Gunpowder Milkshake, and we're going back to the summer movie well by revisiting the flicks from 1993!
This Wednesday, July 21, at 3 pm, Adam A. Donaldson and Peter Salmon will discuss:
Summer Lovin’ Part 10: 1993. Climbing back onboard the wayback machine to the summer movie seasons of the past, we come to the year 1993, which was mostly about Jurassic Park. Steven Spielberg's dinosaur fantasy broke most, if not all, box office records that summer, but there were lots of different hits, more than a few misses, and there were definitely some bunker busting bombs! Let's take a trip back to the Summer of '93.
REVIEW: Gunpowder Milkshake (2021). In The Expendables, Sylvester Stallone brought together a team of the toughest tough guys from the 80s, 90s, and today. There was once an idea to do a female version called The Expendabelles, but the closest we'll probably get to that now is Gunpowder Milkshake, a new movie that features Karen Gillan as a hired assassin that crosses the line. When she gets into trouble, it's her mom Lena Headey that saves the day, along with her mentors Angela Bassett, Carla Gugino, and Michelle Yeoh. So does the movie kick ass?
End Credits is on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca Wednesday at 3 pm.

GUELPH POLITICAST #283 - Still COVID [Summer Edition] with Dr. Mercer

It is time again for another in-depth look at the local pandemic picture: how are we doing, where are we going, and what can we expect next? We’re now almost 18 months into the pandemic, and while normal still sometimes seems far away, there is a perceptible feeling that the worst is over, and there are better days ahead. But are there really better days ahead?
Back in May when we had the last "Still COVID" podcast, those brighter days still seemed so far away. We had yet to even enter phase one of the economic re-opening, case counts were coming down slowly, concern about COVID variants were everywhere, and so were concerns that Canada was lagging behind in vaccine distribution. It’s strange what a difference about 10 weeks can make because we're re-open now, and those vaccines are getting into arms pretty darn fast. 
Still, about 20 per cent of the eligible population that has yet to receive their first dose. Students will be going back to school in a little over a month, and there are still a lot of questions about what that will look like. And while we revel in the re-opening and having a rare restaurant meal indoors again, we have to wonder if COVID will come roaring back with fall and winter? Questions like these require the input of a public health authority, and we’ve got one!
This week, we’re joined again by medical officer of health Dr. Nicola Mercer, who will talk to us about the current state of the vaccine rollout, and how we get first shots to the last 20 per cent. She will also talk about getting ready for back to school, and what the campaign to vaccinate kids under 12 might look like. And finally, Dr. Mercer will discuss the potential impact of COVID this winter, the debate around a third booster shot, and how it might be harder to get back to normal than we think.
So let's talk about our current place in the pandemic with Dr. Mercer on this week's Guelph Politicast!
You can stay up-to-date on the latest COVID case numbers and the vaccine rollout at the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health website. Remember, if you haven’t received you first dose of vaccine, you can now go to any public health clinic and get taken in right away. And if you need to get your second shot, you can now book directly at the Public Health website.
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 Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, 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.