Daybreak Alberta

At a time when there is so much on our mind, getting immersed in a good book can be a challenge. That's why Daybreak's books reviewer, Angie Abdou is recommending poetry. You can dip in and out of individual poems when you get the chance, or feel the need. She joined Russell to discuss poetry collection from Mark McCutcheon, Kat Cameron, Valerie Mason-John, and Anne Sorbie.

Lockdowns and physical distancing rules to curb the spread of COVID-19 have changed the way we do almost everything, including how we exercise and get around and it's changed many people’s relationships with bicycles. CBC science reporter Emily Chung has been looking into exactly how.

The month of April was supposed to be four weeks of performances for Calgary's Verb Theatre as the company had commissioned the festival "Blue Light." It was to be a showcase for theatre work about social media in the modern world. Well, like so many things involving the public, the show had to call down public performances, or so they thought. In the end, Verb Theatre decided the show could go on precisely because of social media tools. Part of the series involved an online component where performers sat down for breakfast and discussed their life and ideas. Karen Johnson-Diamond and Griffin Cork have been hosting the Blue Light Breakfast Series and spoke with Russell.

The weather is warming up and the backyard could be the ticket to expanding your livable space. To share their best tips and tricks about landscaping and planting, Russell spoke with a familiar voice for CBC listeners, Edmonton horticulturist Jim Hole, as well as Adele Goodwin, owner of Earthworm Landscaping Design.

It's fair to say that food safety and food security are being thought of more and more in the wake of COVID-19 and it was something farmers across the country have been talking about, as well. With more on why, Russell Bowers spoke with Lynn Jacobson, president of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture. He's also a grains and oilseeds producer near the hamlet of Enchant in southern Alberta.

The ongoing pandemic has meant many of us have been inside - watching TV, playing video games, or streaming music. But who is picking up a good book? Russell Bowers caught up with two people on the front lines of the book business in Alberta, Kelly Dyer at Audrey's Books in Edmonton and Susan Hare, co-owner of Owl’s Nest Books in Calgary.

Easter Sunday is normally a bustling time for Christian churches but that's not the case this year in the face of COVID-19. Some congregations are finding creative ways to worship together despite physical distancing and restrictions on gathering. For example, the Deer Park Church in Red Deer. Ben Elliot is the lead pastor and Russell spoke with him after hearing what the services now sound like.

Long weekends like at Easter are normally a busy time for people in the arts community, however, COVID-19 has changed all of that. That doesn't mean cultural types are doing nothing and so Russell gathered together an Alberta writer, a musician and a theatre type. Daryl Cloran is the artistic director at Edmonton's Citadel Theatre. Brenda Damen is a writer who this week was longlisted for the 2020 CBC Short Story Prize.

And Rozette is a singer, songwriter and voice coach.

Health officials in Canada have changed course and are now saying that wearing face masks can help control the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Theresa Tam - Canada's chief public health officer - has been reluctant to recommend masks - up until now. To advise on what masks can - and can't - do to help in this pandemic Russell contacted Jason Kindrachuk, an Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba.

Kodette LaBarbera is a Calgary wife and mother who says she has built her life on building better communities through a healthy, active and charitable lifestyle. It was as a wife to former NHL goaltender, Jason LaBarbera and mother to two sons, where she co-starring on the TV show "Hockey Wives". Through the popular docu-series, she showcased her charitable endeavors, And now she also focusing on helping children affected by the lack of a school breakfast program. She is working with the Breakfast Club of Canada to help fund their Emergency Fund and get good meals to Alberta children. Kodette LaBarbera chatted with Russell about the appeal and why it's important to her.