DNTO

Rites of passage mark the end of the life you've known and the beginning of something new. Life is peppered with these transitional moments: some of them you look forward to, others you dread.

We've all got places that have made a major impact on us. Sometimes, those meaningful locations call us to return — whether it be to rekindle old memories, right a wrong, or get some closure. The problem is, you never know if past places will live up to the snapshot you keep tucked away in your mind. So on this Now or Never, we bring people back to the places that matter to them.

In the last few weeks, there have been many tragedies that have rocked the country. From an intersection in rural Saskatchewan, to a busy Toronto sidewalk, to a dirt road in northern Manitoba — Canadians are reeling from devastating and unexpected losses. And they're coming together in surprising ways. Loss inspires so many Now or Never moments. On this episode, meet people who are channelling their grief into action.

If you need some incentive to get off your couch and do one good thing for your health today... listen to this episode of Now or Never!

Meet Canadians from all walks of life who are taking their first, tentative steps to improving their physical and mental health. Meet a life-long smoker taking a drag on his very last cigarette. Try to keep up with a 70-year-old with terminal cancer as she climbs to the top of the CN Tower. Ride along with a veteran as he navigates the difficult road of post-traumatic stress disorder.

When are you going to give me grandchildren? Why don't you call more? Why can't you be more like your sister? The list of family expectations can be long.

And those expectations are often wrapped up in culture, family history and tradition. They can carry some serious emotional weight.

On this Now or Never, you'll meet people who are trying their best to not let their family down by facing their expectations — spoken and unspoken — head on.

If Now or Never were a community centre, it might be something like the Roundhouse. This arts and recreation centre in downtown Vancouver draws people of all ages and walks of life — like a troupe of dancers over 50 and a class of parents teaching their babies sign language.

And it's the perfect place to test-drive our brand new Now or Never list! 11 questions that we've put together to challenge you — and us, too — to think big, do things you've long wanted to do and have the personal moments that you've been needing to have.

We started the season by putting together the Now or Never list, an interactive questionnaire we hoped would motivate you to do things that you may have been putting off — or not even realized that you needed to do.

Whether it's reliving your favourite childhood activities, breaking your bad habits, or even nudging you to reconnect with the people that matter most, the list was designed to help you make changes big and small. We didn't know if it would catch on. But every week, hundreds of people from across the country filled it out.

On this episode, you'll meet some of the Canadians who were nudged by the Now or Never List. From a woman on a quest to meet every single one of her neighbours, to a swimmer who needed to thank the lifeguard who saved her life.

Today we're on a mission to drag people away from their phones, tablets and TVs and into the great outdoors. Trevor Dineen and Ify Chiwetelu will try to convince office workers to get outside and play basketball with them, we'll ride along with a blind woman taking her first bike ride in 39 years and meet a mother and daughter finding nature in the place you least expect it.

In Canada, one in every 68 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. It is the fastest growing and most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in the country — but not a lot of people truly understand what it is.

On this Now or Never, you'll learn about autism from people who are surviving and thriving with the disorder in their own unique ways. And you'll discover the challenges people with autism are tackling head on.

For better and for worse, teenagers today are growing up with the world at their fingertips. All this while still dealing with the pressures of figuring out who you are, who you want to be, and what is important to you.

From the pressure of being the best 13-year-old basketball player in the country, to the stress of keeping a secret that you know your family won't accept, hear from teens all across Canada who are ready to speak out about their experiences.