Daybreak Alberta

As the economy in Alberta has the door creak open for some business in June, there's a new one on Edmonton's Whyte Avenue attracting attention, where the Old Strathcona Arts Emporium recently opened its doors. The concept offers spots for artists in four-week rental contracts where their work is displayed and sold for no commission beyond the rental fee. The shop is in an old skateboard store between Hudsons Taphouse and the ice cream shack. The emporium has 17 artists showing now and they are still looking for more to join them. You can look up their shop by going to https://www.sconaemporium.ca. One of the artists already benefiting from the new shop is sculptor, Ellie Shuster and to chat about her work and the new emporium, Russell reached Ellie Shuster safe at home in Edmonton. [https://www.portraitsinclay.ca/]

While many of us will go to see a show based on a familiar story, or a familiar face, it's important that new faces get a chance to shine and that's what festivals like the Ignite Festival in Calgary has been doing as it marks its 15th year in 2020 with shows are online, instead of at a theatre. Fourteen original productions are on offer from the host organization, Sage Theatre, including a shows called "Anonymous." Written and directed by Chantal Dixon, a graduate of the Univ of Calgary, the show is a 3-part web series of short films following a group in a sobriety program. Because of the pandemic, they meet through video, but will that be enough to keep them sober? One of the actors in the series is Marlo Hepburn, a student of acting at Ambrose University. "Anonymous" is the first project she has been involved with since she discovered her love of theatre back in high school and Marlo spoke with Russell.

Hello Marlo.

Through 15 years together, musician Sean McCann along with his wife and co-author, Andrea Aragon, have seen ups and downs most marriages would face. However, for Sean, his hard-drinking lifestyle started to spiral out of control and it threatened his career, life and marriage. Now sober for almost a decade, the former singer with Great Big Sea shares what he went through in a new book called "One Good Reason: A Memoir of Addiction and Recovery, Music and Love." Andrea writes about her side of the marriage and what the whole family sacrificed to remain intact. The book ends up tackling issues around addiction and sobriety, fame and religion, and reshaping life as they know it. Russell spoke with Sean and Andrea, as well as listening to two of Sean's songs, "Rise and Fall," and his newest single, "Set Me Free." [Note: This is an extended version of the radio broadcast.]

Over the course of some businesses and other public places re-opening after the Covid-19 shutdown of Spring 2020, things like art galleries and museums have welcomed back visitors, but some have wondered what to have on offer for people to see. In Grande Prairie, the art gallery decided to collect the things that have helped people in the Peace Country cope with the pandemic for an exhibit called "The Curve." Writing, music, visual art are just some of the items submitted so far and they want to see more. Jeff Erbach is Executive Director of the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie and he joined Russell from his home in the Peace.

The images are still seared into the minds of those who saw it. George Floyd, a black man from Minneapolis, appears to die as the result of police action. Officers involved have been charged in connection to Floyd's death, but the charges came after a spontaneous outpouring of protests, first in Minnesota then spreading to other parts of the U.S. and eventually to Canada and elsewhere. Other incidents like the death in Toronto of Regis Korchinski-Paquet and in Edmundston of Chantal Moore - both at the hands of police - prompted more public action. Even more unhelpful were public statements by NFL quarterback, Drew Brees, who re-stated this week that he couldn't agree with those who kneel before a game during the American anthem. And then Calgary and Edmonton both saw thousands turn out in spite of social distancing guidelines to show their support and frustration with racial violence. To further discuss this, Russell spoke with poet and performer, Wakefield Brewster, as well as Deborah Mabude, public policy researcher and journalist.

Finding diverse voices in media can sometimes be tricky and if you're part of a minority, finding yourself can be even harder. Edmonton's Robyn Taylor decided to start a search to find writers and creators from the Black Community in her home town and elsewhere and the result is "YEG The Come Up Reading Wednesdays." The program is provided by the Africa Centre which specializes in delivering programs for the African, Caribbean and the Black community in Edmonton to seniors, women, and youth. Books suggested by Reading Wednesdays are available through the Edmonton Public Library and links are provided to other sources. The weekly emails are coordinated by Robyn Taylor and Russell spoke with her about why she's made this passion a project for her. The public is invited to sign up for the Weekly Email [email protected]

Gardening has become the new everything these days and anyone with a bit of dirt in their garden appear to be filling it with flowers and veggies. And for those without a yard, planters are popping up. But should you have such a variety? What is the best way to fill a planter? And should we add chickens to the mix? To answer those questions and more, Russell spoke with gardening aficionado, Carson Arthur, author of "Garden Designs for Outdoor Living" and "Vegetables, Chickens and Bees."

Performers who normally thrive on being in front of live audiences have had a tough go since the Covid lockdown has kept people at home and venues closed. Very soon into the pandemic, online concerts and shows started to show up on social media. An Edmonton fringe festival organizer, Jon Paterson, looked at what was going on and decided the 2020 Fringe Live Series could head down that road as well. This coming Thursday, one of the performers in this year's lineup is inviting the public to view his show, "Climbing My Family Tree." Les Kurkendaal-Barrett is an American comedian, actor and writer, and it was his marriage to a Canadian that led him down a surprising path. To preview this show, Russell reached Les Kurkedaal-Barrett at his home in Los Angeles. You can see the show at FringeLiveStream.com.

As travel restrictions slowly begin to lift, Albertans are exploring what their summer plans could look like since we’ve been in lockdown since mid-March due to the pandemic. No question, some people are ready to break loose and poised to head out on adventures that take us beyond our back gardens and out into — well, if not the world just yet — then at least our home province. Just how will we manage our travel plans as we head into late spring and summer? Russell spoke with Daybreak's regular travel columnist, Kim Gray of ToqueAndCanoe.com - a multi-platform digital publishing house that celebrates Canadian travel culture.

Is it possible there will be a silver lining to the COVID pandemic? Even though this is largely a health crisis, it certainly has become a financial crisis, as well. Taz Rajan is a Community Engagement Partner with the insolvency firm, Bromwich And Smith. They recently did a survey with Canadians about who's seeing worse household incomes, and who is actually seeing increases in their disposable budgeting. She spoke with Russell about the pandemic could lead to better finances and being ready for the next disruption to society.