For this episode I interview Marilyn Knipfel, a new resident in Long-Term-Care at The Village of Riverside Glen. There's a perseverance and positive outlook to Marilyn that's likely helping her navigate having moved during a pandemic, and living with a broken back for the past ten years - and from her stories it would seem like it goes all the way back to her childhood, when she was diagnosed with Spinal Meningitis that left her deaf in one ear, and having to re-learn how to walk. Growing up in and around Elmira, Marilyn has raised a wonderful family, worked as a postal worker for over 30 years, worked at the drive-in theatre, and traveled the world. She has lots to be thankful for :) We're so appreciative of her sharing with us, especially having only just moved and still readjusting to her new life at Riverside Glen. Thank you Marilyn!

This interview was originally recorded on Nov 24th, 2021

For this episode I interview Vince Kurtz, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. Today's chat is all about farming - born and raised on a farm in Ariss, Vince learned everything he knows about farming from helping out from as early as he can remember pulling weeds, through to growing up and running a farm of his own. As an adult he raised beef and sold cash crops, and today he tells us about what some of that was like, and some of the farming practices they implemented. Thank you Vince for taking the time to share with us!

Original recording date: November 17th 2021

For this episode I interview Barb, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. Barb is sweet and soft-spoken, keeping a busy schedule as she stays open to trying new programs at Riverside Glen, while making the time to stay connected with her children and grandchildren. Barb shares a bit about family life, growing up in Toronto, then moving as a teen to Scarborough, attending the dances, meeting her husband, and going on to raise four children. Thank you Barb for taking the time to connect!

This interview was originally recorded on Nov. 10th, 2021

For this episode, I interview Graham Winter, a recent new-resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. Graham was born and raised in Port Credit, has been a Guelphite for 30+ years, and taught high school English in Galt for 30+ years up until his retirement. Born during WWII, with parents that lived and worked through WWI, and older siblings born during the depression, Graham talks about Port Credit during his childhood , and reflects on his parents' and siblings' generation before him, how things changed in education from his own experiences going through school, to his experiences teaching it, and how things have changed again in the time since. Graham and I bond over our shared love of high school english, and shared empathy for a younger generation facing big life choices with fewer clear paths to financial stability. It's an interesting and cathartic conversation and I’m very grateful to Graham for sharing with us!

This interview was originally recorded on Nov. 3 2021

For this episode I interview Ruth-Ann Robertson, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. Ruth-Ann is lovely, a sweet woman with fond memories of her devoted husband. She opens up about struggles in her past, and having undergone shock treatment, which has affected her memory. Despite not being able to recall anecdotes in too much detail, Ruth-Ann welcomed our chat, sharing her love for family and friends, her gratefulness for being safe and supported at Riverside Glen, and the positive feelings she still holds onto through life's challenges. Thank you Ruth-Ann for opening up to us today!

This interview was originally recorded on Oct 27th, 2021

This is my final Sustainability-Month-Themed show for 2021, and features an interview with Julia Burke. Julia teaches the "Environmental Citizenship" post-secondary course at Canadore College. This is a fascinating and educational conversation about this course, and about recognizing our role in within our global environment and our responsibility to consider our actions and what we can do to mitigate our impact.

About the course, Environmental Citizenship GED100 at Canadore College:

Based on the general principles of national citizenship, environmental citizenship goes beyond national borders to emphasize global environmental rights and responsibilities-to focus on both conservation of and planned sustainable use of our planet’s resources, as well as the recognition that environmental health is a prerequisite to human health. Environmental citizenship is a personal commitment to learning more about the environment and to taking responsible environmental action. This course is a journey into adopting attitudes and behaviours that foster global environmental responsibility.

https://www.canadorecollege.ca/.../environmental-citizenship

This interview was originally recorded on Oct 21, 2021

Additional resources Julia wanted to share:

"The four lifestyle choices that most reduce your carbon footprint" https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/.../four-lifestyle... This article has a very useful infographic showing the high, moderate, and low impact actions and the annual climate savings. The short version is that research has shown the most impactful lifestyle choice to reduce your carbon footprint is to have one fewer child, followed by living car free, avoiding one transatlantic flight, and buying green energy. Often these high impact choices are overlooked with more attention going to low impact actions such as recycling.

Ecological Footprint Calculator by the Global Footprint Network:

https://www.footprintcalculator.org/home/en

John Francis' Ted Talk: Walk the earth...my 17-year vow of silence (19 min):

For this episode I interview Gillian Grant, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. Gillian shares with us and gives a window into her life, growing up in England, her fun adventures road-tripping with her best friend Ann through Canada and the US, her many wonderful jobs at beautiful hotels in the UK, Canada, and the Bahamas, and just generally having a fun and exciting time with her life. Her health isn't the best in this moment, but she's managing to stay positive through that too. Such delightful stories that we're so thankful to Gillian for sharing! Enjoy!

This interview was originally recorded on October 20th, 2021

Another episode in honour of October being Sustainability Month, today's episode features Bella Harris, connecting to talk about Guelph's "Palz Trading Zone". Palz is a group in which folks can post items that they have available for trade, or post "ISO" (in search of) items they're looking for, and trade with community members. It allows for items to be re-homed, to reduce waste, and bring new life and value to objects that have ended their usefulness in one home and can be helpful in another. Bella and I talk about the role of trading groups like this in taking steps away from the traditional, financial structures and power dynamics of capitalism, in allowing folks' crafts and creations to become a type of currency outside of money, and the subsequent environmental, social, and community benefits of taking part in it.Palz is a private group you can join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1489544238017638 We encourage you to join and have a look at what folks have to offer - it changes all the time!Thank you Bella for being a guest today and for your work as an Admin!

This interview was originally recorded on October 13th, 2021

For this episode I interview Ann Okkema, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. Ann shares her story of moving here to Canada at 18 after the War, with her mother and father and seven younger siblings, and her boyfriend (who would become her husband a year into their life in Canada). They worked on farms here but after not too long her husband was able to make his dream of owning a bakery a reality, and they successfully ran a Dutch Bakery in Chatham until retirement. Ann is happy to call Canada her home (even if she wasn't so sure back when she was first facing the move), and we are happy she made the time to share with us.

This interview was originally recorded on October 13th, 2021

For this episode - in honour of October being "Sustainability Month" - I interview Susan Carey of the Guelph Tool Library and the Guelph Seed Library. Susan speaks about the role of sharing and lending economies within sustainability, the incredible opportunities these programs have brought to Guelph in terms of building skill-building, confidence and access to resources, and the potential they present for a future of furthering sustainability and local food access. Worth a listen! The Guelph Seed Library has a private group that can joined on facebook, and you can check them out on Instagram at @guelphseedlibrary, and to join or peruse the tools of the Guelph Tool Library you can visit https://guelphtoollibrary.org/

This interview was originally recorded on October 8th, 2021