For this episode I interview Doreen, a resident in Long-Term Care at the Village of Riverside Glen (joined by Rec Team member Nao). Doreen provides us with a whimsical trip back through her memories of growing up in St Thomas, and attending the dances in Port Stanley as a teenager around the time of WWII. She and her older sister would ride the electric train to Port Stanley, wander the boardwalk, and people-watch. The dances were full of men in the service, and people from the surrounding towns, and Doreen gives us a glimpse into the magic and fun of this for her and her friends, and also the meaningful social outlet it provided for the men in the service away from their homes and families. This conversation gives a glimpse into some of the nuances of these war days that you don't normally hear about, and Doreen is a treat. She's also super relieved to be fresh out of quarantine! Thank you Doreen for sharing your story with us! 

This interview was originally recorded on August 4th, 2021

For this episode I interview Elaine Charette, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. Elaine was a delightful guest full of wonderful facts and beautiful memories - using the quilt, lamps, prints and photographs she has displayed in her room as inspiration, Elaine shares stories of her trip to Iceland with her aunt, where she reconnected with family and learned of many Icelandic landmarks and traditions (which includes and her knowledge of Icelandic horses and "tolting"), her 20+ years working at Guelph Public Library, her wonderful husband the artisan and salesman, and her passion for native plants. She was an active member of "Nature Conservancy Canada" and encourages everyone to check out their work, and consider cultivating native plants in the spaces you have available to plant. You can learn more about their work at https://www.natureconservancy.ca/.../ontario/contact-us/

This interview was originally recorded on July 21st, 2021

It was SUCH a pleasure interviewing Miss Lynda - Lynda is a resident in Long Term Care at @the villaThe Village of Riverside Glen, and for this interview she was joined by rec-team-member Brandon, and together they talk about the activities and programming in Long Term Care. Lynda immediately got to work when she first moved in to Riverside Glen two years ago, volunteering in support of the staff, helping with paperwork, delivering mail to the residents, running their store, and any other tasks she can find. She spotted a staff member who was consistently working past the end of her shift, and Lynda set out to "be her legs from within her wheel chair". Lynda shares really valuable insights in to life in these spaces, celebrating the independence and purpose she feels volunteering has given her, and also sharing the complex emotions of navigating life through a pandemic, the realities of the moments of isolation, limitations on spaces and activities and waiting for programming to return. But she feels safe and supported and optimistic that we can (and must!) learn from this experience and come out stronger on the other side. 

This interview was originally recorded on July 14th, 2021

For this episode I interview Gloria Mahoney, a resident in Long-Term Care at The Village of Riverside Glen. Gloria has only just moved to Riverside Glen, but she's lived in Guelph most of her life. Gloria tells us about work, family, her love of cruises, and her and I bond over our shared loved of Maryhill where much of Gloria's family is from. Thank you Gloria for sharing your story!

This interview was originally recorded on July 7th, 2021

For this episode I interview Joyce, a resident in Long-Term Care at The Village of Riverside Glen. We talk about Joyce's life growing up in Hespler, marrying the neighbour boy and becoming a farmer's wife at 19, what has changed and what as stayed similar over the years both in terms of the surrounding countryside, also in terms of our relationships with our neighbours. And we talk about our favourite foods to grow in our gardens! Thank you so much to Joyce for sharing!

This interview was originally recorded on June 30th, 2021

For this episode I interview Eileen Merritt, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen . Eileen's led what she proclaims to be a simple life, but it's clear it was full of a long and loving marriage to her husband Ivan, living in Grimsby, Stratford and Stoney Creek, raising their three children and traveling across the country together. She gives us a glimpse into some sweet moments, and we appreciate her sharing her story. Thank you Eileen!

This interview was originally recorded on June 23rd, 2021

For this episode I interview Andrea Bennett, author of "like a boy but not a boy - Navigating Life, Mental Health, and Parenthood outside the Gender Binary" Today they connect about these topics, about mental health and parenthood and how life has been changing and adapting post-book, and how the pandemic has further been impacting these experiences. Jenny reaches Andrea at their current home in a small town on the coast of B.C., where they work from home as an editor, growing a vegetable garden and helping raise their 3 year old child. Thank you Andrea for connecting today!

This interview was originally recorded on June 28th, 2021

For this episode I interview Henry Adam Svec, author of "Life is Like Canadian Football and Other Authentic Folk Songs". Today we talk about this newly released novel, and the chronicle of this fantastical folk-song-collecting story that Henry has been regaling us with all these years, as it moved through the "CFL Sessions", "Folk Songs of Canada Now" and "LIVINGSTON™". We also talk about the blurry lines that can exist between truths and fiction with writing, that these truths are bent and skewed through our filters as the audience, and how perhaps we are partially culpable when we believe we've been led astray by a story. You can find Henry's book at invisiblepublishing.com and you can follow Henry's projects at henryadamsvec.ca

This interview was originally recorded on June 22nd, 2021

For this episode I interview Jean Birkett, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. Jean is 98, lived through the depression, WWII, and even a positive Covid diagnosis during this pandemic. Her father was a prisoner in a Prisoner of War Camp in WWI, and was a guard at one in WWII, and a subsequent illness brought the family to Toronto from Timmins when her father lost his knee. Jean gives us a glimpse into Toronto in these war and post-war years, working at General Electric and Random House, and while this history hasn't always been easy, throughout the loss and hardship she's experienced she understands the role that overcoming hurdles and learning from mistakes has in shaping us, and has felt incredibly supported by her family. She is looking forward to more day trips out into the sunshine, and the arrival of her new teeth so she can finally enjoy hamburger. Thank you Jean for sharing your story!

This interview was originally recorded on June 17th 2021

For this episode I interview Kim Gadoury, who (at the time of this recording) was planning to swim across Guelph Lake this Saturday June 19th to raise awareness and advocate for the need for a 24 hour food depot and overnight shelter. Kim speaks today about food security, about the stigma that often faces her and other folks living below the poverty line and in geared-to-income housing, and about how hunger and crisis can touch anyone, not just low income people. Kim has wanted to swim across Guelph Lake for years, and was fuelled to finally do it when she read the Ontario Government's recent announcement of a mandated expansion of Guelph's population to 203000 by 2051 - she wants to get folks talking about these issues before we run out of time to address the gaps that already exist. Kim encourages you to consider making a donation to the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition's various amazing food programs.

This interview was originally recorded on June 8th, 2021