Hybla Minute spoke with Matthew Reisler about journalism and what lengths he would go to for pancakes.  To be starting your career as a reporter in rural Ontario in a pandemic is going to get you some new skills pretty fast. Our conversation touches on aspects of life up here and advice on how to comsume media....especially when so much is at stake now.  The Mayor of Essonville, Albert Saxby is our musical guest. Enjoy and always remember to fact check!

Hybla Minute welcomes Spring!

Spring is very welcome right now - but away your winter boots and no worries about getting the firewood now - at least for this year. The Hybla Minute will be talking with Shannon about the programs she's involved in at the Trust. Housing for people in precarious situations and Harm Reduction share some unique approaches in a rural setting - While we talk the seriousness of what's happening here, the conversation is hopeful and insightful. She and North Hastings Community Trust are changing things for the better in our communities. Shannon because of her strength and smarts give me hope. I know listening to what she has to say will do the same for you. In these dark times, as Harvey Milk said, "You got to give them hope." Shannon gives us hope.

Music: California Kilowatt, a music project by singer, songwriter and record producer Matt Leger

Across rural communities, community centres are being torn down or condemned. Public spaces are important spaces and who better to tell us how important they are than our guest Tammy Lin Foreman tells stories about the important role the community centres in the area played throughout her life, and makes a strong case for recognizing how community centres are the heart of a place.  Also a singer-songwriter, Tammy recorded two songs for the Hybla Minute.  The lyrics are the late poet Pete Jones and the music written by TammyOne song is Hybla Hollow! Sweet!

Rural Ontario has to deal with the Covid19 like the rest of the world, although rural life brings specific challenges and benefits. Hybla Minute talks to Bancroft Mayor Paul Jenkins about what his municipalities and others are doing at this time. There are bears to consider! And musical guest singer-songwriter Donna Leclair sings one of the most beautiful songs - her song Red-Winged Blackbird.  

Rural communities are grappling with how to adjust our lives to the new normal. The Hybla Minute will be talking with rural mayors about their preparedness and plans for what's ahead. Host Roy Mitchell talks to Hastings Highlands Mayor Vic Bodnar about how he and the municipality re dealing with the Covid 9 Pandemic and how the community is responding.  Musical Guest: Local band The Salt Cellars are featured with a song from their recent CD The Crooked Tree.