Cribwolf Talks

We go on-site with Robin Bailey and Jason Clark to the Burlington Foodbank's new Feed Halton Distribution Centre to discuss how this new initiative is addressing hunger and food insecurity in the Halton Region. From January to September 2022, there was a 24% increase in the number of people accessing food banks in Ontario compared to the previous year. Shockingly, 1 in 3 visitors were first-time users, indicating the growing need for food assistance. The situation seen in Burlington mirrors these statistics, indicating a strong need for better access to nutritious food and essential support service providers like Feed Halton in our community.

For more information on Feed Halton, visit:
https://www.burlingtonfoodbank.ca/wha...
https://www.feedhalton.ca/

Credits:
Host: Lino A. Fera
Guests: Robin Bailey, Executive Director of the Burlington Foodbank & Feed Halton | Jason Clark, Director of Operations of Feed Halton
Production: Cribwolf Talks Team
Music by: Dr. Ian Bates

Peggi Shepherd DeGroote discusses Wellbeings Pain Management & Dependency Clinic and the fundamental belief that every person deserves the right to be treated with dignity, respect and privacy, and live a pain-free life, unencumbered by addiction. The organization treats all types of chronic and acute pain, offering modern, scientifically based and cutting-edge treatments. They also provide mental health counselling for pain related challenges and addiction treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), drug use, and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

For more information on Wellbeings, visit:
https://wellbeings.ca/

Credits:
Host: Lino A. Fera
Guest: Peggi Shepherd DeGroote | Founder and President of Wellbeings Pain Management & Dependency Clinic
Production: Cribwolf Talks Team
Music by: Dr. Ian Bates

In this final episode in our three-part series on Disability Employment, Lino sits down with Jody Tick, the Executive Director at Sunflower Bakery in Rockville, Maryland. The two discuss Sunflower's unique set of hospitality and pastry arts workforce development training and pre-employment exposure programs for youths with learning differences. Jody highlights the importance of building compentency, confidence, and customer service skills to ensure program graduates are able to thrive in both professional kitchen and front-of-house environments.

For more information about Sunflower Bakery, visit:
https://www.sunflowerbakery.org/

Credits:
Host: Lino A. Fera
Guest: Jody Tick | Executive Director at Sunflower Bakery
Production: Cribwolf Talks Team
Music by: Dr. Ian Bates

In this second episode in our three-part series on Disability Employment, Lino sits down with Carolyn McDougall, the Ontario Co-ordinator for Project Search, and Dr. Jennifer Crowson, the Diversity and Inclusion Specialist for the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN). Carolyn and Jennifer provide a detailed look at the important work they do for the disability community; Project Search is a unique school-to-work training program for students with disabilities utilizing on-site learning and support, and ODEN is a provincial organization connecting businesses and Employment Service Providers to increase employment opportunities for job seekers who have a disability. The trio discuss the unique challenges faced by youths with developmental disabilities as they look to transition into the workforce and the value of strong connections and engagement between Employment Service Providers and businesses to ensure and increasing number of successful placements for those with disabilities.

For more information about Project Search and ODEN, visit:
https://projectsearchcanada.org/
https://www.odenetwork.com/

Credits:
Host: Lino A. Fera
Guests: Carolyn McDougall | Ontario Co-ordinator for Project Search; Dr. Jennifer Crowson | Diversity and Inclusion Specialist for the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN)
Production: Cribwolf Talks Team
Music by: Dr. Ian Bates

In this first episode of a three-part series, Lino connects with Matt George, Co-Executive Producer for Cribwolf Talks, to provide an overview of Disability Employment. The two discuss the road to employment and the many hurdles that still stand in the way of many individuals with disabilities seeking to join the workforce. Their conversation sets the stage for the more detailed interviews to follow in the upcoming episodes.

Credits:
Host: Lino A. Fera
Guest: Matt George | Co-Executive Producer for Cribwolf Talks
Production: Cribwolf Talks Team
Music by: Dr. Ian Bates

Lino connects with  Matt George (Producer) to review some of Cribwolf Talks’ recent episodes to reflect on the various projects that some prominent charities are currently involved in that are making an impact! The organizations are: 

• DeafBlind Ontario Services
• Habitat for Humanity Hamilton 
• Burlington Food Bank 
• KW Habilitation

Credits:
Host: Lino A. Fera
Guest:  Matt George
Production: The Cribwolf Talks Team
Music by: Dr. Ian Bates

Sean Ferris discusses Habitat for Humanity Hamilton, an independent, not-for-profit charity that builds affordable housing and promotes homeownership in the Hamilton region. They mobilize local volunteers, community members and corporate partners, seeking to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Sean highlight's the organization's on-going development model called the Home Build Program, and explains how they cover all their operational costs through sales at the Hamilton ReStore, to ensure 100% of all donations go directly to helping local families in need.

For more information on how Habitat for Humanity Hamilton is making a difference, visit:
www.habitathamilton.ca

Credits:
Host: Lino A. Fera
Guest: Sean Ferris | CEO of Habitat for Humanity Hamilton
Production: Cribwolf Talks Team
Music by: Dr. Ian Bates

Karen Madho dicusses DeafBlind Ontario Services, an organization that provides specialized services for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, non-verbal with a developmental disability, and deafblind across Ontario. At a Community Services level, supports are customized to each person’s unique needs, method of communication, and goals to live their best life.

Cribwolf Talks is proud to highlight this vital support services organization in June, as it is National DeafBlind Awareness Month. Every year, people who are deafblind, service providers, and supporters come together to help others develop an understanding of, and a comfort with, the people in their communities who are deafblind. We encourage you to join in and ‘Make a Wave from Coast to Coast’, using your creativity to help make a difference and raise awareness in your local area through Deafblind International's month-long tactile art installation initiative.

For more information, please visit:
https://deafblindontario.com/
https://deafblindservices.ca/
https://www.deafblindinternational.org/

Credits:
Host: Lino A. Fera
Guest: Karen Madho | Manager of Communications and Public Relations
Production: Cribwolf Talks Team
Music: Dr. Ian Bates

Lino spotlights the recent Intentional Community Consortium (ICC) housing conference called "A Day on the Hill", held on March 27th 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The conference focused on affordable & supportive housing for individuals with developmental disabilities.

This is the ICC's second housing conference; their first conference was held pre-COVID, back in February of 2019.

Many MPs from various political parties and a few Senators showed their support by attending and participating in the conference. "A Day on the Hill" was co-hosted by the honourable Ja’Ara Saks, MP, the Liberal Party Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

To learn more about the ICC, visit: https://intentionalcommunities.ca/

Credits:
Host: Lino A. Fera
Production: Cribwolf Talks Team
Theme Music by: Dr. Ian Bates
Images provided by : Reena.org
CPAC Video Reference: Cpac.ca

Ann Bilodeau, Executive Director for the KW Habilitation, discusses the organization's mission and vision. KW Habilitation is a local not-for-profit organization that provides a wide range of individualized services and supports to children with any special need and adults with developmental disabilities. They believe that a good life is fostered through early learning supports, inclusive living services, community involvement, and employment supports.

To learn more about the KW Habilitation and their services, visit: www.kwhab.ca

Credits:
Host: Lino A. Fera
Guest: Ann Bilodeau | Executive Director for the KW Habilitation
Production: Cribwolf Talks Team
Music by: Dr. Ian Bates