Early this morning, Kalen Alexander was sitting on the corner of Charlotte and George Streets making note of each cyclist who passed. She is volunteering her time in the first ever national cyclist count, called the Pedal Poll, organized by Vélo Canada Bikes. Alexander sat for two hours this morning, from 7 to 9 a.m.,Continue reading “The local — and national — effort to count cyclists”
Category Archives: Portfolio
In photos: Community mourns for children lost to residential schools
An impromptu memorial has sprung up at Peterborough city hall. Community members are leaving children’s toys, teddy bears and shoes to mourn the unknown number of children who died in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools.
Safer supply pilot project will study viability for small cities and rural communities
The Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic is leading a research project that explores how communities like Peterborough can provide a legal and regulated supply of opioids to people who use drugs
Health unit’s vaccine transparency report discloses when doses are given to ineligible recipients
We took a look through the health unit’s vaccine transparency report and here’s what we found.
How one media outlet raised funds with a satirical telethon
Originally published: https://indiegraf.com/indie-publisher/arthur-newspaper-satirical-telethon/ It’s a Thursday night in late March 2021, but you would be forgiven for mistaking Arthur Newspaper’s online fundraiser as an archived broadcast from 1999. The video is riddled with nostalgic blasts from the past, from vintage local advertisements to old school public service announcements. The event’s bread and butter is theContinue reading “How one media outlet raised funds with a satirical telethon”
Transgender patrons of the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre reflect on proposed gender-neutral change rooms
The new design for an inclusive universal locker room at PSWC proposes to replace gendered change rooms. Here’s what four transgender patrons of the gym think of the proposed plan.
Neighbours podcast: Peter Williams on how “connection, community and belonging” are at the core of harm reduction
Peter Williams has a long history doing harm reduction work, though he didn’t necessarily realize it as such at the time, but he notices now looking back on it. “What I know now looking back is that I was doing harm reduction work but that wasn’t necessarily the framework for it,” he says during ourContinue reading “Neighbours podcast: Peter Williams on how “connection, community and belonging” are at the core of harm reduction”
Neighbours podcast: How Peterborough Drug Strategy brings together a dozen organizations in a coordinated response
The Peterborough Drug Strategy was started in 2009 as a way to bring different organizations together to coordinate a joint response to the drug crisis. Today, they’re the name behind the projects making headlines responding to the overdose crisis: from the Consumption and Treatment Services site to the Mobile Supportive Overdose Resource Team and manyContinue reading “Neighbours podcast: How Peterborough Drug Strategy brings together a dozen organizations in a coordinated response”
Neighbours podcast: musician Pat Walsh on managing chronic pain with opiates
Patrick Walsh is a local musician and radio show host, making music under the moniker Dirty Pat Walsh. Walsh also experiences chronic pain due to workplace injuries and repetitive stress. It’s a condition he manages with his doctor through prescribed opiates. To kick off season one of the Neighbours podcast, which is looking at theContinue reading “Neighbours podcast: musician Pat Walsh on managing chronic pain with opiates”
Peterborough residents said housing was their top priority for the 2021 budget – here’s how it’s being addressed
In our sixth episode of the Budget Week podcast, co-publishers Ayesha Barmania and Will Pearson go over how the draft 2021 municipal budget addresses the issue of affordable housing and homelessness. In particular, we look at funding for the city’s shelters, rent supplements, incentives for affordable housing, and changes to funding from higher levels ofContinue reading “Peterborough residents said housing was their top priority for the 2021 budget – here’s how it’s being addressed”
Our Common Threads
Artist spent 15 years knitting gigantic interfaith tapestries as a means of wrestling with ideas of good and evil in a divided world.
quiet contemplations
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How can we recognize quiet? Is it the same way that we know a colour is black when we see it? The relativity of quiet in relation to noise intrigued me and I wanted to explore this idea in sounds I collected while exploring.
Episode 7 — Site by Otonabee River Goes from Paved to Paradise
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On October 27, 2018 community members gathered by the Otonabee River in downtown Peterborough. They donned hard hats and work boots—picked up pry bars and hammers—and they got to work removing layers of asphalt from a municipal roadway. It’s the first Depave Day of many to come, organized by GreenUp, as part of Green CommunitiesContinue reading “Episode 7 — Site by Otonabee River Goes from Paved to Paradise”
Operation Catnip helps feral cats and you can too
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If you drive North of downtown Peterborough, after about a half hour you will pass through the village of Burleigh Falls. There’s a roadside inn, a gas station, a restaurant, a boat launch — and if you stop at this little pit stop and keep a sharp eye you might spot the darting tails ofContinue reading “Operation Catnip helps feral cats and you can too”
Meet Peterborough's first black City Councillors
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The election on October 28, 2018 wound up being an historic event – because this newly inaugurated City Council is the first in Peterborough’s history that has representation of Black Canadians. And we elected not just one black City Councillor – but two! Kemi Akapo and Stephen Wright will represent Town Ward and Northcrest WardContinue reading “Meet Peterborough's first black City Councillors”
Four-way race for two Peterborough city seats on Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board
A freelance journalist and podcast producer who recently interviewed school board trustee candidates ahead of Monday’s election has a message for voters who may not have given those positions all that much thought. “It’s an important decision and we have to take it seriously,” said Ayesha Barmania, who co-hosts the Peterborough Currents podcast with WillContinue reading “Four-way race for two Peterborough city seats on Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board”
Meet the candidates for school board trustee running in the City of Peterborough
During every municipal election, eligible voters are able to cast their ballots for candidates running for municipal office. In the City of Peterborough, that means voting for the next mayor, voting for your city Councillor, and it also means voting for your local school board trustee. Local media and voters pay a lot of attentionContinue reading “Meet the candidates for school board trustee running in the City of Peterborough”
Peterborough Currents wins ‘Best in Podcasting’
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At the National Community Radio Conference awards gala in Fredericton, NB this Spring, Peterborough Currents won the award for ‘Best in Podcasting!’ It was a huge delight to be recognized for our work.
Thirteen years on, Food Not Bombs Peterborough has never missed a meal
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Every Monday in Peterborough, right when City Council sits down for their weekly meetings, across the street Food Not Bombs Peterborough is setting up tables and laying out a free community meal, open to all.
Storytelling in Sound: Podcast and Radio Production
Radio is often called the “intimate medium” – the ability for sound to connect with audiences is unparalleled. Learn how to tell stories in this delicate craft and go from passive listener to critically engaged producer. At the conclusion of this course you will have the technical skills to create your own smart and incisive audio productions.
New project will teach women construction skills to build environmentally friendly housing
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Seven years ago, Janice Keil set out on a mission to find a perfect plot of land. She loaded up her bike, took the GO train, and cycled around Southern Ontario looking for an ideal location for her new home.
Voices from Confederation Square (Sep. 30)
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It was a peaceful gathering for most of the day. The counter rally ‘Love Lives Here’ congregated at Emmanuel United Church, across the street from the park where a rally planned by Kevin Goudreau, a known white supremacist, was expected to be held.
The Master Canoe Builder
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A master canoe builder visits Peterborough and shares his knowledge with young people, and with me in this radio documentary.
The Disclosure Dilemma: Talking about disability at work
A holiday program about disability disclosure for CBC Radio.
“To me, the future is accessible… I have a very good imagination.”
In speeches delivered at The Walrus Talks, accessibility advocate Aimee Louw imagines a future when she can access services without barriers, and Azeezah Kanji, director of the Noor Cultural Centre, interrogates racism and systems of exclusion in Canada.
The live Sounds Like Life experience
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Live from Sadleir House, Sounds Like Life braved a performance in front of a live studio audience. Part of Peterborough Independent Podcasters Pints & Podcasts pub night, I joined a number of other vulnerable podcasters getting onto the stage to lay our podcasts bare for all to see. I selected some sounds from the pastContinue reading “The live Sounds Like Life experience”
Eskasoni Immersion School builds strength of Mi’kmaq language
Eskasoni is a First Nation community on Cape Breton Island, and by many accounts, the Mi’kmaq language is alive and well amongst residents of this fairly large reserve. Speaking with many people who live there, Cross Country Checkup heard repeatedly how highly they value their language, and how integral it is to their culture.
‘Who is Jimmy Gwich?’: the story behind my radio sign-off
A video about Cross Country Checkup host Duncan McCue and his radio sign-off.
The doc with all the donkeys
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Originally published: https://soundslikelife.ptbopodcasters.ca/podcast/episode-4-the-one-with-all-the-donkeys/ There’s no question that the donkeys, mules and miniature horses at the Primrose Donkey Sanctuary in Roseneath, Ont. are well taken care of. Sheila Burns and her volunteers make the rounds every day to take care of these retired animals, many of which have stories of abuse and neglect. One afternoon inContinue reading “The doc with all the donkeys”
Those donkeys have real character!
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The Primrose Donkey Sanctuary gives a home to discarded animals in Ontario. With the price of hay so high, there’s a lot of donkeys up for auction and owner Sheila Burns has her hands full with these guys.
Happy Birthday to my Grandma
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On Saturday October 22, 2016, my family gathered in Sudbury, Ont. We were celebrating the 90th birthday of my lovely grandmother, Margaret. Over 100 people congregated in the church basement that day: a mix of my grandma’s family, extended family, old friends, new friends… people who were mostly strangers to me. Ahead of time, IContinue reading “Happy Birthday to my Grandma”
Travellers on the Trans-Canada Trail
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The Trans-Canada Trail is touted as the longest network of trails in the world. When completed, it will span the length of Canada, going from the tip of Newfoundland, to the Arctic Ocean in the Northwest Territories, and over to Vancouver Island. For my birthday, my partner and I went to none of those places.Continue reading “Travellers on the Trans-Canada Trail”
La Vie Bilingue: French immersion programs in Canada through the ages
Since its beginnings in the 1960s, French immersion has polarized many Canadians, and the debate lives on today. Read this backgrounder on French immersion programs and contribute to the Checkup conversation.
Women seek apology, inquiry from government for ‘forced adoptions’
Spring of 1968, an 18-year-old ‘unwed mother’ sees her son for the first and last time before a 33 year separation. Jennifer Charles is one of an estimated thousands of Canadian women who alleges that she was coerced into giving up her newborn baby for adoption against her will. Charles became pregnant in an eraContinue reading “Women seek apology, inquiry from government for ‘forced adoptions’”
Rising from the ashes and smoke in Fort Mac
Fort McMurray evacuees are beginning the long process of coming to terms with what was lost in the flames. The city’s fire chief estimates that 85% of homes in the area are intact: a relief for most evacuees. The evacuation Leanne Shannon escaped the wildfires with her family. She’s one of the lucky majority whoseContinue reading “Rising from the ashes and smoke in Fort Mac”
Energy East pipeline will affect more than the economy, says photographer
Robert van Waarden is a photojournalist who travelled the full route of the Energy East pipeline in 2014, armed with a film camera. He captured the faces and the stories of those living in the direct path of the proposed development, to hear how they felt about this. Listen to him describe the Along theContinue reading “Energy East pipeline will affect more than the economy, says photographer”
Photography project shows the humanity in palliative care
In a previous post I wrote about the work I’ve been doing as CBC Radio’s digital producer for Cross Country Checkup. That work continues with online exclusive content (very fancy, I know). This week I got to produce an extra interview for the program that we put online a few days in advance. The pieceContinue reading “Photography project shows the humanity in palliative care”
Digital producing for Cross Country Checkup
Cross Country Checkup is one of CBC’s oldest currently running programs. It began in 1964 as a revolutionary project — and one that has yet to be replicated — an open-line program that airs live in six time zones. Canada is one of the few nations to span so many time zones and to haveContinue reading “Digital producing for Cross Country Checkup”
In São Paulo, your book is also your subway ticket
Originally posted on CBC Books on December 1, 2015 Photo credit: Agência Africa — photo still from a promotional video One publishing group in Brazil, L&PM Editores, is making São Paulo commuters’ subway reading a little easier. Rather than going to the trouble of carrying both your book and your subway fare, they’ve combined theContinue reading “In São Paulo, your book is also your subway ticket”
“I really thought it was going to burn down to ashes”
Originally published: http://www.trentarthur.ca/i-really-thought-it-was-going-to-burn-down-to-ashes/ Late in the evening on Saturday November 14, the Peterborough Masjid Al-Salaam was set on fire. The ongoing police investigation claimed that the fire was set deliberately and the timing of the arson attempt, only a day after an attack on Paris by the terrorist group the Daesh (ISIS), has led authoritiesContinue reading ““I really thought it was going to burn down to ashes””
Manoomin // Rice picking in the Kawarthas
Around the end of September and beginning of October, I had the amazing experience of helping James Whetung of the Curve Lake First Nation harvest wild rice in what he calls “the wild rice basket of the world”. Wild rice (manoomin in Anishnaabemowin) is a grain indigenous to the Central Ontario area, as well asContinue reading “Manoomin // Rice picking in the Kawarthas”
10 of the Funniest Canadian Books
Need some good old Canadian humour? How about some good new Canadian humour? Check out this list of the Funniest Canadian Books we could think of. Just click here or the link below.
25 Great Books from 25 Years of Writers & Company
Writers & Company with Eleanor Wachtel is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. We’ve collected the highlights from the past 25 years here for you – some of the best authors and interviews since the show began! Click below or here to see the 25 most notable books selected by Eleanor Wachtel and her team.
Store manager who survived Kenya’s Westgate Mall attack won’t return to work
Fatima Abdul-Rahman is pleased the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, is reopening this weekend. But, after barely surviving the attack at the mall, she doesn’t want to work there anymore. When Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked the Westgate nearly two years ago, they killed 67 people and injured more than 175 others. Abdul-Rahman was one of thoseContinue reading “Store manager who survived Kenya’s Westgate Mall attack won’t return to work”
Trent student earns Gzowski internship
University bookstores and how to undermine them
As we come to the end of the year, buying schoolbooks is one of the last things on our minds. But thinking ahead to next year, Arthur decided to look into the question of how exactly Trent’s bookstore works, and why book prices are set so high. Currently, Trent University has a contract with Follett,Continue reading “University bookstores and how to undermine them”
How to get something done at Peterborough City Hall
Originally published: http://www.trentarthur.ca/how-to-get-something-done-at-peterborough-city-hall/ Say you have a great idea for Peterborough. It’s a very reasonable project or policy that would vastly improve the quality of life for residents of the city. It’s something that would fall under the purview of the municipal government, (e.g. improving sidewalk accessibility). How would you go about getting it done?Continue reading “How to get something done at Peterborough City Hall”
Precarious Peterborough: Living on the edge of poverty
Originally published: http://trentarthur.ca/precarious-peterborough-living-on-the-edge-of-poverty/ The number of people living precariously in the city of Peterborough and in Canada has been growing in the past few decades. To live precariously is to live without certainty of income and without the security of self that comes with it. It is a sociological and political term that is usedContinue reading “Precarious Peterborough: Living on the edge of poverty”
Blended Learning: The line between two worlds
Taking the best of the classroom and digital tools, blended learning is testing the limits of pedagogy.
Bata Library, the knowledge centre of Trent University
The library has long been an integral institution of a university–but with more and more literature and research found online, what is its role for students today?