Episodes

On this episode, we find out about the new Low-Resourced Senior’s Collective. From housing and finances to food, transportation and more, this collective is helping seniors navigate a myriad of services to meet their daily needs. The Low-Resourced Senior’s Collective includes: SAGE Seniors Association Drive Happiness Multicultural Health Brokers G E F Senior’s Housing Listen to our past interview with Drive happiness here. ECF Happenings: Read the latest on our blog. See our Rapid Response F...

On this episode, we find out how Nature Alberta champions the conservation of Alberta’s natural environment. For 50 years, Nature Alberta has grown a community connected by a love of nature. Their members include individuals and over 40 member clubs dedicated to environmental care. Nature Alberta acts as a hub where all these passionate groups can connect and collaborate, and is a unified voice for naturalists to advocate for environmental conservation. Links: Learn more about Nature Alberta ...

On this episode, we meet Tomi Okunnuga, creator of YEG Eats. A video series that puts the spotlight on Edmonton’s BIPOC owned restaurants. Links: Watch the YEG Eats video series on YouTube. Check out Tomi’s company, ImageneFilm. Read our blog series featuring YEG Eats: – Finding the Passion – YEG Eats Episode 1: Greenhouse Eatery – YEG Eats Episode 2: Monamie Resto – YEG Eats Episode 3: Big Bite Pizza & Donair ECF Happenings: Read the latest on our blog. See our Rapid Response Fund in ...

The Edmonton Public Library (EPL) was established in 1913 — more than 100 years ago. It has been a part of our community for generations and has continued evolving to meet the needs of the people in our city. On this episode, we speak with Pilar Martinez, the Chief Executive Officer of EPL. She tells us how the library goes beyond books to create a safe space of wonder in our community. Links: Don’t miss Terry O’Reilly and Michael Landsberg at EPL’s Forward Thinking Speaker Series. Listen to...

On this episode, we discuss our latest Vital Topic: Small Business and Employment in Edmonton. This report demonstrates just how significant entrepreneurship is to our local economy, and how it helps shape our community. Our correspondent, Emily Rendell-Watson, speaks with Jeffry Sundquist, Anka Chan and Aga Wajda-Plytta to find out more about how small businesses are coping during the pandemic, and what inspires entrepreneurs to start a business of their own. Links: Check out our latest Vita...

On this episode, we find out how Terra Centre empowers teen parents in Edmonton. This year, Terra Centre is celebrating their 50th anniversary. Over the past 5 decades, Terra has grown to meet young parents where they’re at and connect them to the services that best fit their individual needs. Supports include mental health, access to housing, literacy programs, a youth leadership program and more. Links: Find out more about Terra Centre! Check out the services they offer. Click here to see h...

On this episode, we’re getting ready to Fringe! The Edmonton International Fringe Festival is back with Together We Fringe, a hyper-local, hybrid event featuring live and digital performances. We find out how to join in on the fun, and what you can expect as you journey through the festival grounds! Together We Fringe runs from August 12 – 22, 2021. Links: Find out more about Together We Fringe! Check out this years Shows and Events. See how we can all Fringe safely together. ECF Happenin...

For our 100th episode, we speak with Martin Garber-Conrad, Chief Executive Officer at ECF, to hear about the history of Edmonton Community Foundation. How it started, how it almost didn’t happen and how the vision to create a fund in support of all Edmontonians continues to guide our work today. Links: Email info@ecfoundation.org to receive a free copy of Community Comes First. See more about ECF’s history. Learn more about community collaborations Community-University Partnership (CUP) and ...

On this episode, we visit the Smith Blackburn Homestead. Just east of Elk Island National Park, in Lamont County, lies the Smith Blackburn Homestead. The Homestead, situated within the Beaver Hills UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a Dark Sky Reserve, boasts 73 acres of wetlands and upland forest. This land was donated to Edmonton and Area Land Trust (or EALT) in 2018, to ensure its conservation. And with their careful stewardship, it is now a place you can visit. And on this episode, that’s exactly...

On this episode, correspondent Emily Rendell-Watson introduces us to Shane Scott. Shane has created an endowment fund at Edmonton Community Foundation to support LGBTQ2S+ students as they pursue post-secondary education. Join us as we learn the story behind Shane’s fund, how it will help strengthen the community and why this support is needed. Links: Check out the Shane Scott Pride Fund! Follow Shane on Facebook and Instagram. Curious about some of the stats you heard? Take a look at these re...

On this episode, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Emerald Awards! Every year, the Alberta Emerald Foundation recognizes outstanding organizations, community groups and individuals for their environmental achievements. Over the last 30 years, they have recognized almost 400 recipients and celebrated almost 900 finalists through the Emerald Awards. Links: Find out more about the Alberta Emerald Foundation. See all the winners from this year’s Emerald Awards and watch the ceremony. Che...

On this episode we visit our latest Vital Topic: Gaps in our Social Safety Net. This report looks at how programs designed to help vulnerable populations have been trimmed or reworked by various governments. The result is a complicated system of services that can be nearly impossible for those in need to access or maintain. Our correspondent, Emily Rendell-Watson, speaks with Erick Ambtman, Nadine Chalifoux and Karen Bruno to learn more about what it means to navigate assistance and programing ...

On this episode, we meet Kristine Archibald, Executive Director of the River Valley Alliance (RVA). She tells us about how RVA connects people to and through the River Valley. The River Valley is the largest metropolitan river valley park system in the world. Right now, you can traverse over 70 kilometers of connected trails right beside the river. There are two foot bridges to take you across the river, and 8 boat docks to get you onto the river. Links: Trek The Trails with River Valley Alli...

On this episode, correspondent Paul Blinov introduces us to Shannon Blanchet. Shannon is an actor, improviser and educator who has been a pillar of Edmonton’s theatre and acting community for years. And she is one of 20 recipients of the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund! Over the past 22 years the EATF has invested in more than 100 multimedia, literary, music, dance, film, theatre and visual artists; and contributed more than $800,000 to the arts economy. And this funding as been especially importa...

On this episode, we meet Dustin Bajer. Dustin is an educator, master gardener, writer, beekeeper, and ecologically inspired designer. And he is a volunteer on ECF’s Environment and Animal Welfare Sub-Committee. We’re so excited to introduce him to you! Links: Follow Dusting Bajer on Twitter and Instagram: @DustinBajer Keep with Dustin’s website. Check out our blog post featuring Dustin: The Bee’s Knees Read more about ECF’s granting milestone in our Spring Newsletter. ECF Happenings: Read...

On today’s episode, we sit down with our friends at Edmonton Shift Lab to hear about one of their latest projects aimed at shifting perspectives to eliminate racism. It’s a new board game called: Exploring Wahkohtowin. Wakhotowin is a Cree word that expresses the interconnected relationships we experience with the people and environment around us. Wahkohtowin expresses something that is constantly in motion and evolving. It’s about how we choose to treat each other, how we interact with where w...

On this episode, correspondent Emily Rendell-Watson introduces us to three Edmontonians to explore how COVID-19 has impacted each of us differently. We’ll meet Marco Luciano, Director of Migrante Alberta, Métis singer and songwriter Brandon Baker, and Tobi Obatusin, President of the Black Pharmacy Students’ Association. We’ll hear about how their communities and families have navigated this past year. Links: Read our Vital Topic: COVID-19 in Edmonton, and see our sources. See all our of our p...

On this episode, we speak with the Honourable Salma Lakhani. Her honour is the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Alberta and is the first Muslim Lieutenant Governor in Canadian history. She is also the first Lieutenant Governor who is an immigrant to Canada in Alberta’s history. We speak about her honour’s approach to the role as the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, and her commitment to connecting with Albertans along this journey. Links: Find out more about the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. Rea...

On today’s episode, we explore how anti-black racism effects the health of Black Youth in our province. We talk with Dr. Bukola Salami. She is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. She tells us about her research project to Promote The Mental Health of African, Black and Caribbean Youth in Alberta. And we speak with Noreen Sibanda. She is the Executive Director at the Alberta Black Therapists Network and is a registered provincial psychologist. She help...

On this episode, we meet Jeff Chalifoux. Jeff is an Indigenous Two Spirit father whose Cree name is Kimwewehtew (Silent Walker)*. Jeff joins us to talk about his career in social work, supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community in reducing harms associated with sexualized substance use. He shares his story of navigating substance use and correctional systems, and tells us how embracing his gender, sexuality and Indigenous heritage empowers him. Jeff is a member of the Métis Nation and an advocate for se...

On this episode, Julian Faid presents the final installment of Trailheads: A History of Urban Planning in Edmonton. We’ve covered a lot of ground in this series. We’ve looked at the pre-fort and post fort history Edmonton. How WWII influenced urban design decisions. How the personal vehicle has guided the way we prioritize our streets. How public transit shapes our city. And the challenges that come with designing an urban environment in an place that faces some of the longest winters in the wo...

In part 5 of Trailheads, Julian Faid explores the challenges of urban design in a winter city. In the first half of the episode we’ll hear from Jill Robertson, a landscape architect and a principal at Dialog’s Edmonton urban design studio. Robertson will help us understand urban design though the lens of accessibility, which is a major issue in a city like Edmonton where winter is an ever-looming challenge. In the second half of the episode, Julian is joined by Dr. Robin Mazumder, an environme...

On this episode, our correspondent Emily Rendell-Watson explores some of the trends that Millennials are setting. We meet Kim Wynn, a plant stylist at Botaniful and Linda Hoang, blogger and social media specialist to find out how they’ve embraced certain Millennial trends. This is the fourth and final episode of our 2020 Vital Signs series. Our previous topics focused on Millennials and Technology, Millennial Activism and Engagement, and Millennials and Money. Links: Read the Vital Topic: Mill...

In part 4 of Trailheads, Julian Faid explores the history, present and future of Public Transit in Edmonton. In the first half of the episode we’ll hear from Dr. Emily Grise, an assistant professor at University of Alberta and the School of Urban and Regional Planning. Dr. Grise will shine some light on public transit through the lens of the economy, and how good public transit is key to building a “world Class” city. In the second half of the episode, Julian is joined by Danika McConnell and ...