Ampersand

In this episode of Ampersand, we sit down with Hillory Tenute, CEO of Lodge Consulting, to discuss the state of reconciliation ten years after the TRC's final report.

Hillory reflects on her time implementing Call to Action 66 and the gap between government commitments and what actually reaches communities on the ground. She speaks candidly about her experience as a racialized Indigenous woman navigating political and government relations, and addresses the rise of residential school denialism and what motivates it. The conversation closes with her hopes for the next decade — stronger language revitalization, land back, and a new generation growing up with access to culture her own family was denied.

This season of Ampersand is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the TRC and explores its lasting impacts. Through conversations with Survivors, scholars, and advocates, this season reflects on the progress made since the TRC’s final report and Calls to Action, while also addressing the challenges that remain.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.

Note: this episode discusses suicide, trauma, and sexual abuse.

In this episode of Ampersand, our CEO and host Caitlin Kealey sits down with Kristy Kirkup, reporter at the Globe and Mail, to discuss how a decade of covering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has shaped her approach to trauma-informed reporting, the media's responsibility to elevate Indigenous voices, and what progress on reconciliation looks like 10 years after the TRC's findings.

Kristy traces that approach back to specific people and stories: years of relationship-building with sources like Senator Yvonne Boyer, journalist Duncan McCue's caution against being a "story taker," and the case of Devon Freeman, a First Nations teenager whose death in an Ontario group home led to a rare inquest only after Kristy's reporting and his family's advocacy. She and Caitlin also talk about the toll that shrinking newsroom resources take on this kind of reporting, the throughline of Murray Sinclair's mentorship in Kristy's career, and where she thinks reconciliation might stand another 10 years from now.

This season of Ampersand is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the TRC and explores its lasting impacts. Through conversations with Survivors, scholars, and advocates, this season reflects on the progress made since the TRC’s final report and Calls to Action, while also addressing the challenges that remain.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.

In this episode of Ampersand, our CEO and host Caitlin Kealey sits down with Stephanie Sinclair, the publisher of McClelland & Stewart, to discuss the role of publishing and storytelling in advancing truth and reconciliation.

Stephanie shares her personal journey of understanding her own mixed heritage — Cree and Ojibwe on her father's side, and German Jewish on her mother's — and how the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) helped her reckon with her own inheritance. The conversation explores how the publishing industry has responded to the Calls to Action, the growing roster of Indigenous writers being published in Canada, and the significant work still needed to bring Indigenous voices into publishing offices, classrooms, and communities. Stephanie also reflects on the challenge of denialism, the power of storytelling as a path to healing, and her vision for what the next 10 years of reconciliation could look like.

This season of Ampersand is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the TRC and explores its lasting impacts. Through conversations with Survivors, scholars, and advocates, this season reflects on the progress made since the TRC’s final report and Calls to Action, while also addressing the challenges that remain.

Watch the interview on Youtube.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, an agency that builds campaigns and brands for social change.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.

How do you bridge the gap between knowledge and action when it comes to reconciliation? In this episode of Ampersand we hear from Don Kelly, an experienced communicator who has served the Assembly of First Nations, Mastercard Foundation and the CBC in his long career. 

Don highlights the importance of supporting Indigenous-led innovation and the continuing gaps in public awareness regarding Indigenous issues. He and Caitlin delve into the role of media in reconciliation, the challenges posed by misinformation, and the benefits of incorporating Indigenous knowledge in education. 

This season of Ampersand is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the TRC and explores its lasting impacts. Through conversations with Survivors, scholars, and advocates, this season reflects on the progress made since the TRC’s final report and Calls to Action, while also addressing the challenges that remain.

Watch the interview on Youtube. 

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.

Communicating with audiences in Inuit Nunangat requires a different approach. One that centres cultural competency over flashy websites. 

In this episode of Ampersand, we sit down with Amber Aglukark and Cate Macleod — Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council’s President and Executive Director — two experts on trauma-informed communications in Nunavut and Inuit Nunangat more broadly. 

Amber and Cate speak with host Caitlin about how gender equity is affected by colonial legacies, the importance of culturally relevant services, and the role of active listening and community engagement in their work. They also discuss their hope for meaningful change in the next decade.

This season of Ampersand is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the TRC and explores its lasting impacts. Through conversations with Survivors, scholars, and advocates, this season reflects on the progress made since the TRC’s final report and Calls to Action, while also addressing the challenges that remain.

Watch the interview on Youtube.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.

What does the next decade look like for Reconciliation in Canada? From education reform to cultural heritage, this episode cuts to the heart of building respectful relationships.

In this episode of Ampersand, we’re joined by Ry Moran, Canada’s inaugural Associate University Librarian – Reconciliation at the University of Victoria. Ry reflects on the challenges and triumphs of Reconciliation since his time serving with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) ten years ago. He shares his profound insights on Reconciliation, cultural resurgence, and the importance of truth-telling.

This season of Ampersand is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the TRC and explores its lasting impacts. Through conversations with Survivors, scholars, and advocates, this season reflects on the progress made since the TRC’s final report and Calls to Action, while also addressing the challenges that remain.

Watch the interview on Youtube.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.

In this episode of Ampersand, our CEO and host Caitlin Kealey sits down with Jacqueline Ottmann, President of First Nations University of Canada, to discuss the ongoing process of Indigenizing education. 

Jackie shares her firsthand experiences with the impact of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) on Indigenous communities, and the transformative steps taken by First Nations University of Canada to integrate Indigenous knowledge systems into their curriculum. The conversation delves into the importance of truth-telling, reconciliation, and the systemic changes needed to support Indigenous students and faculty in higher education. Join us for an insightful and hopeful discussion on the future of Indigenous education and reconciliation in Canada.

This season of Ampersand is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the TRC and explores its lasting impacts. Through conversations with Survivors, scholars, and advocates, this season reflects on the progress made since the TRC’s final report and Calls to Action, while also addressing the challenges that remain.

Watch the interview on Youtube.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.

Most Canadians don’t think twice about watching a Hollywood movie, binging a Netflix original series, or scrolling on a Meta social media platform, like Instagram or Facebook. Consuming American content has become second nature to us. 

In our season two finale, we sit down with Marla Boltman, the Executive Director of Friends of Canadian Media to discuss the fight to protect Canadian media in an era dominated by U.S. tech giants. Marla shares her journey from working at a video store as a teenager to becoming a lawyer and policy advocate, explaining how her passion for Canadian content and cultural sovereignty led her to take on this critical role.

As we navigate a rapidly changing media landscape and export relationship with our southern neighbour this conversation is a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of Canadian news, content creation, and storytelling.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.

People in communications know that success requires more than just strong writing skills. It takes an ability to think outside the box to get the message out and exceed our goals. 

This week on Ampersand, we’re joined by Samantha Rae Ayoub, Vice President of Communications and Knowledge Mobilization at the Stem Cell Network. While her work supports groundbreaking research in regenerative medicine, our conversation takes a different turn—into the world of leadership, empathy, and the unexpected intersections of communications and hospitality.

Sam shares her non-linear career path, from science communications to restaurant ownership, and how those experiences shaped her approach to storytelling, de-escalation, and mobilizing knowledge for researchers, policymakers, and the public.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.

How do you make infrastructure interesting? You tell the stories of the people using the infrastructure.

In this episode of Ampersand, we sit down with Elizabeth Shilts, the Director of Communications at the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Elizabeth shares her perspective on the evolving role of communication in advancing Canada's research and innovation ecosystem. From navigating complex narratives to fostering transparency and public trust, her expertise provides invaluable insights for changemakers and communication professionals alike. Tune in to discover how strategic storytelling can amplify impact and drive meaningful conversations in the science and research landscape.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.