Aaron Pollock: Architecture as Human Rights - Designing Spaces for Justice and InclusionIt's Pride month, and we're sitting down with Aaron Pollock, associate architect at Number TEN Architectural Group and the lead architect behind the Rainbow Resource Centre's groundbreaking phase two expansion. Aaron brings together his passion for inclusive design with real-world expertise in creating what he calls "purpose-built queer spaces" - moving beyond simply adapting existing buildings to designing from the ground up with community needs at the centre. In this episode, Aaron shares:

• How the concept of "queering space" differs from designing purpose-built queer spaces from the beginning
• Why flexibility, adaptability, and the absence of hierarchy are crucial elements in creating truly welcoming spaces
• The innovative approach of "trauma-informed design" and how the "three Cs" - choice, comfort, and connection - guide architectural decisions
• How the Rainbow Resource Centre's new building is creating both loud-and-proud moments and quiet, tucked-away spaces for those at different stages of their journey

Aaron reminds us that architecture isn't just about shelter or aesthetics - it's about dignity, access, and creating spaces where everyone can feel they belong.

We sit down with Dr. Stanley Amaladas, Director of the Mauro Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Amaladas reflects on his journey from Malaysia to Canada and shares a powerful story about his citizenship interview that shaped his understanding of human rights, responsibility, and dignity.

We're exploring:

• How an uncomfortable citizenship interview became a lesson about rights, power, and responsibility
• The difference between the legal framework of rights and our human responsibility to others
• Why "who's right and who's wrong?" is often the wrong question in conflict resolution
• Dr. Amaladas' vision for continuing Arthur Mauro's dream of making Winnipeg a "cultural centre for hope"
• The importance of approaching difficult conversations with curiosity instead of judgment
• How we can speak to those in positions of power "in a way that is not tyrannical"

Dr. Amaladas brings both academic expertise in Leadership Studies and personal experience to this thoughtful discussion about what it means to lead for peace. His perspective on treating people as people first - recognizing their dignity beyond their utility - offers an important lesson for navigating today's divided world.

As Dr. Amaladas reminds us: "It's not going to come from theories or big ideas. It's going to come from people who treat people as people."

Learn more about the Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace & Justice

We sit down with Ron Thiessen, Executive Director of CPAWS Manitoba, and Carly Gray, Environmental Education Manager, to discuss conservation initiatives in our province and the importance of connecting with nature.

We're talking about:

• The ambitious goal of protecting 30% of Manitoba's land by 2030 (currently at 11%)
• The Seal River Watershed Indigenous Protected Area initiative in northern Manitoba
• Efforts to establish Assiniboine Forest as a National Urban Park
• The powerful connection between reconciliation and environmental education
• Ways that Indigenous knowledge and Western science complement each other in conservation

Both guests share inspiring insights about our responsibility to the natural world. As Carly explains, environmental education is about helping people recognize their inherent connection to nature and fostering a sense of responsibility toward it. Ron highlights the importance of balancing conservation with sustainable development, noting that CPAWS isn't against development but seeks to protect crucial ecosystems.

Whether you're curious about local conservation initiatives or looking for ways to connect with Manitoba's natural spaces, this conversation offers practical insights into how we can protect our environment while fostering community engagement.

To find out more about CPAWs and the work they are doing, visit https://cpawsmb.org

Find out about:

• Protecting Assiniboine Forest as a National Urban Park
• The Seal River Watershed Indigenous Protected Area initiative
• Outdoor education programming and resources

And lots more...

We welcome back Dr. Rehman Abdulrehman to discuss his new book, "Developing Anti-Racist Cultural Competence." In this episode, he breaks down how traditional approaches to cultural competence often centre whiteness and view other cultures through a colonial lens. Instead, he offers a transformative framework that begins with self-reflection about our own biases.

We're talking:

• Why traditional cultural competence models can perpetuate racism by viewing other cultures as exotic or "other"
• How anti-racist cultural competence starts with examining our own biases and recognizing our role in the same "fishbowl"
• The concept of "politicized identities" and how human rights issues are often mislabeled as political issues
• Why the "celebrate everything" initiative could help redefine community and shift cultural perceptions
• How cognitive flexibility and building social connections contribute to psychological resilience

Dr. Abdulrehman reminds us that this work isn't just for white people – it's for everyone. He challenges the common excuse "I'm not racist, but..." by explaining how claiming to be "colorblind" actually erases and ignores the real harm experienced by racialized people.

Whether you're a leader looking to implement meaningful change in your organization or an individual seeking to better understand anti-racism, this conversation offers practical insights on moving from awareness to action right here in Winnipeg.

Find out more:

Read "Developing Anti-Racist Cultural Competence"

Test your own bias with Bias Outside the Box

Learn more about the "Celebrate Everything" initiative

We sit down with Haran Vijayananthan, Community Health and Wellness Director at Klinic Community Health Center. Haran shares his experience challenging the Toronto Police Service over their handling of missing persons cases and his current work making healthcare more accessible to marginalized communities right here in Winnipeg.

We're talking:

• Why "awareness" without action falls short in creating real change
• How Haran's work led to concrete reforms in how police handle missing persons cases
• The barriers that prevent people from moving from awareness to activism
• Why understanding intersectionality is crucial for effective human rights work
• Real strategies for engaging with systems to create lasting policy changes

Whether you're wondering how to move beyond social media activism or looking for examples of successful advocacy that creates systemic change, this conversation offers practical insights into making meaningful progress on human rights issues that affect our local community while connecting to larger global movements.

Haran reminds us: "If you're living in 2025, unless you're a young child, you're aware of the behaviors and issues in society. What are you going to do about it?"

Stuart Murray sits down with Devon Clunis, the first Black Chief of Police in Canadian history, to discuss his new autobiography "ONE: A Story of Hope in Our Time."

Devon shares his journey from a small Jamaican village without running water to becoming a transformative leader in the Winnipeg Police Service. More than just a memoir, Devon's book serves as a catalyst for meaningful conversations about unity in diversity during increasingly divided times.

We're talking:

• Why Devon felt compelled to write this book now and its timely message
• How his personal experiences shaped his vision for community policing
• The concerning finding that among 16,000 Canadians surveyed, only 6 people expressed satisfaction with the current state of the world
• Devon's powerful encounters with mentors who changed his life trajectory
• A surprising full-circle moment connecting Devon's family history to Winnipeg
• How faith and resilience guided him through his most challenging experiences as an officer

Devon offers a refreshing perspective on building community in an age of isolation, emphasizing that "diversity alone is not the solution - we need to be unified in that diversity."

Check out ONE: A Story of Hope in Our Time

We sit down with Ralph Bryant – a writer, filmmaker, and mental health advocate who's making waves in Winnipeg's community. Originally from the Bronx, Ralph brings a unique perspective to mental health advocacy, particularly focusing on Black men's mental health through his documentary project "On the Verge."

In this episode, Ralph shares:

• His personal journey through mental health challenges, including his hospitalization in 2018
• The alarming statistics showing Black youth suicide rates rising faster than any other population in Canada, with Black men four times more likely to die by suicide than Black women
• The "Love Notes Campaign" - a citywide initiative Ralph launched on World Mental Health Day, posting words of affirmation and support throughout Winnipeg
• How barriers to mental health resources disproportionately affect people of color, with wait times potentially twice as long
• The power of personal storytelling as Ralph discusses his documentary "On the Verge," which incorporates real audio recordings from before and during his hospitalization

Ralph's journey from trauma to advocacy shows how personal struggles can transform into community action. His Love Notes Campaign stands as a beautiful reminder that sometimes the simplest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference in someone's day.

As Ralph powerfully states: "There is no more important right for us to be focused on than the right to our mental health."

Connect with Ralph:

Instagram: @ralph_bryant

Email: [email protected]

Get Involved:

• Volunteer for the Love Notes Campaign
• Host a screening of "On the Verge" once it's available
• Support mental health initiatives in your community

For our milestone 100th episode, veteran journalist and Winnipeg Free Press columnist Dan Lett takes over the interviewer's chair to dig into host Stuart Murray's journey from Canadian Museum for Human Rights CEO to human rights podcast creator.

Murray opens up about discovering Winnipeg's rich but often overlooked human rights community, sharing stories of local champions like Dilly Knol, who transformed how she sources food for vulnerable community members - refusing to accept "almost garbage" food for the people she serves at Andrews Street Family Centre.

The conversation tackles tough questions: How well do Canadians really understand human rights issues in their own backyard? When someone asks "haven't we talked about reconciliation enough?", how do you respond? Murray and Lett explore these challenges while reflecting on the power of difficult but necessary conversations.

Stuart reminisces about:

• The unexpected lessons from 99 conversations with Winnipeg's human rights advocates
• Why reading an actual treaty document can change perspectives on reconciliation
• How Sunshine House's "Museum of Love" is reshaping harm reduction in Winnipeg
• The surprising Manitoba roots of basic annual income programs

Whether you're a longtime listener or new to the show, this candid conversation between two veteran Winnipeg voices offers a fresh look at how local action shapes human rights progress right here.

When Byron Williams and Taylor Galvin sit down to discuss their unprecedented legal case, one thing becomes clear - they're fighting for something much bigger than themselves. The duo is part of a landmark effort to grant legal rights to Lake Winnipeg under Section 7 of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms - the first case of its kind in Canada.

In this episode, we explore how traditional Indigenous knowledge and Western legal frameworks are coming together to protect one of the world's largest freshwater lakes. Taylor Galvin, a proud member of the Sturgeon Clan from Broken Head Ojibway Nation, brings spiritual and cultural context to the lake's significance, while veteran public interest lawyer Byron Williams breaks down the legal strategy that could reshape environmental protection across Canada.

We're covering:

• Why Lake Winnipeg is considered "sick" and what that means for communities that depend on it
• How Manitoba Hydro's 50-year license renewal in 2026 creates a critical window for action
• The role of Indigenous women as water protectors and knowledge carriers
• Ways that Western science and Indigenous knowledge can work together to heal the lake

This isn't just a story about environmental protection - it's about reconciliation, indigenous rights, and reimagining our relationship with the natural world. As Williams puts it: "I don't think our clients are the radical ones here. I think our clients are asking Manitoba to do what they should have done 50 years ago."

Guests:

• Byron Williams - Director, Public Interest Law Center
• Taylor Galvin - Graduate Student, University of Manitoba & Indigenous Knowledge Carrier

To learn more about this groundbreaking case, visit the Southern Chiefs' Organization website to read the full Statement of Claim.

We sit down with Theodore Biggs-Engel, a transgender activist, researcher, and fourth-year health sciences student at the University of Manitoba who is using systems mapping – a method for visualizing how different parts of complex systems interact and influence each other – to better understand gender-affirming care.As president of the Rainbow Pride Center and queer representative on the university's union board of directors, Theo brings both personal experience and academic rigor to the conversation about gender-affirming care in Manitoba. His work using systems mapping to analyze barriers to care recently placed fourth in a national competition.We're discussing:

• What systems mapping reveals about barriers to gender-affirming care
• Common misconceptions about gender-affirming care and its scope beyond medical transition
• The critical role of education in K-12 schools and healthcare settings
• Current challenges in research and data collection affecting the transgender community
• How local organizations like the Rainbow Resource Center and Manitoba Clinic are making a difference

Theo offers practical insights for allies and healthcare providers while sharing his personal journey as a transgender man in Winnipeg.

To learn more about this topic:

Watch Theo's "Map the System Canada 2024" Presentation

Theo recommends:

Watching: "Disclosure" "Will & Harper Take a Road Trip" "I saw the TV Glow"

Reading: "Detransition Baby" by Torrey Peters

Following: Fae Johnstone

Connecting locally with: Norwest Coop, Rainbow Resource Centre, Klinic Community Health