Labrador Morning

A ransomware attack has crippled parts of the provincial healthcare system the past few days.

We hear from Greg Nuna of Sheshatshiu and Jessica Connors of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, whose medical procedures were delayed. Every year we hear warnings to look out for candies with things in them, and this year two sisters in Sheshatshiu found nails inside their chocolate. We hear from the older sister Anne Pone today. As world leaders continue to meet in Glasgow to talk climate change at COP26, we find out what message a Labrador environmental NGO will be bringing to the People's Summit, a separate gathering in Glasgow looking to deliver a loud message to world leaders. Roberta Frampton Benefiel of Grand Riverkeeper joins us to talk about it. The Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay held a public meeting last night to update residents on the groundwater flooding. We hear what happened at the meeting and speak with Keith Decker, a resident affected by the flooding, and Mayor George Andrews. The tanks for Black Tickle's social enterprise gas station are on the ground in the community. We hear about what's next for this project and what it will mean for the town when we speak with Rich Lewis and Joseph Keefe. Diabetes can be a hard disease to manage but patients say there's a device that makes it easier, the problem is it's not accessible to everyone. Reporter Meg Roberts brings us that story. Finally, we hear about how a teacher from Nipissing First Nation is bringing indigenous mathematics to his students.

The Francophone community in this province will continue to have its own separate French school board, despite a recommendation in the Greene Report for it to be folded into the Department of Education. We hear from Kim Christianson of the French school board. A student at Memorial University is looking into the history of contaminated waters and lands in Labrador. Julia Brenan joins us to talk about her research. Research on a public transit service in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is complete. We hear about what was learned from the Dalhousie University team when we speak with Brenna Jarrar, the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay's director of Community Development and Research. It's a battle of biblio proportions. We get the details for this year's NL Reads from Emily Gushue of Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries. Makkovik has no shortage of accomplished musicians, but it hopes a new program may help grow even more. The Makkovik Inuit Community Government has received funding for more than 40 new instruments. Chief Administrative Officer Kate Mitchell tells us what's arriving this winter. Heritage NL has a new report that says some crafting skills are going extinct in this province. We speak with folklorist Terra Barrett today. Finally, bridge may seem to be a casual card game, but during the pandemic, the underbelly of the professional bridge world has been exposed. We hear the details from AJ Stephani from the American Contract Bridge League.

What does restorative justice mean to you? An art competition collecting submissions hopes to answer that through two eared listenings. We speak with Chief Mi'sel Joe of the Miawpukek First Nation about it today. The vet clinic is reminding people that Halloween isn't just for children. They're asking you to bring your pandemic pups in for a wonder-fur treat this Sunday. Rebecca Jackson of the Valley Veterinary Clinic joins us. People hold a lot of misconceptions about bats, and to mark not only Halloween but Bat Week, we hear from biologist Hugh Broders to find out the truth. Mayor Margaret Burden of Port Hope Simpson on the show to talk about the progress of the new community centre. A cultural connections plan may soon be required for people wanting to adopt an Indigenous child. It's just one of the proposed changes in Bill 39, which would amend the provincial adoption act. Children, Seniors and Social Development Minister John Abbott joins us to talk about it. There are pumpkin contests happening this month all over Labrador. We bring you the proper carving process and advice from expert pumpkin painter Alicia Chaulk of North West River. It's Friday, so we're hanging with the Waynes to hear their film and book selections for the week. Finally, the community garden in Mary's Harbour is getting a root cellar. We learn more about that project and what's in store when we speak with Rick Johnson.

All week we've been hearing from Labradorians who have written essays for Land of Many Shores. For our final segment, we hear from poet Julia Bull on their piece "Where I'm From". The controversy between the NunatuKavut Community Council and other Inuit groups continues. NCC president Todd Russell sent a letter back to ITK President Natan Obed. We hear part of that letter and also from NunatuKavut member and Dalhousie professor Debbie Martin. Qualified childcare is a must for most parents, but it's not always easy to find. A new program through the College of the North Atlantic may help the staffing shortage in Labrador. Rhea Dale from the Pumpkin House childcare center in Happy Valley-Goose Bay joins us. Another former Wabush councillor is speaking out about the harassment and bullying she says she faced while sitting on Wabush's town council, and what the province's newly proposed Municipal Conduct Act could mean for towns across the province. Gertie Canning joins us. A brand new exploration company has high hopes for minerals in Labrador. We'll speak with the CEO of Labrador Uranium, Stephen Keith. Carolina East is performing at the Lawrence O'Brien Arts Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. We talk about her upcoming show and latest album. Gorgeous views, history and exercise. We learn about Port Hope Simpson's newest tourist attraction from Roxanne Notley of Kaumanik Adventure Tours. Finally, many parents are eager for a COVID-19 vaccine for children under 12, but not everyone is on board. Dr. Seema Marwaha of the University of Toronto joins us to talk about the issue of vaccine hesitancy.

We look ahead to COP26 in Glasgow and find out what more ambitious targets could achieve for the planet and what climate change could mean for our health. We speak with climate scientist Kent Moore of the University of Toronto. Land of Many Shores is a collection of essays hoping to highlight often-neglected viewpoints. Today we hear about the experience of journalist Leila Beaudoin as a mixed race person growing up in this province. An avid snowmobiler is criticizing the government's proposed off-road vehicle act. Michael Brophy from Churchill Falls joins us to talk about why. A few months ago you heard the story of Aiden O'Keefe and his cancer treatments when a friend of his shaved his head in support. Now the buddies are reunited. We hear about how Happy Valley-Goose Bay welcomed back Aiden today. In the midst of the NLMA calling on the provincial government to get serious about the recruitment and retention of doctors, and continued concern over medevac services, Health Minister John Haggie joins us to talk about health-care in Labrador. We get an update on groundwater flooding in Happy Valley-Goose Bay from Mayor George Andrews, and from a resident dealing with the issue Brad Keats. Finally, trauma-informed legal practices are the focus of a workshop coming to Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Thursday. We speak with Myrna McCallum, the lawyer leading the workshop, about how it can benefit everyone interacting with the legal system.

A website giving people an opportunity to learn more about the Indigenous history of the land they are living on, continues to be an important resource as we navigate reconciliation. We speak with Mesiah Burciaga Hameed from Native Land Digital about decolonizing the map. Land of Many Shores is a new book of essays with four of them having Labrador collections. It's meant to highlight often under-represented voices. We hear essay writer Alex Saunders talk about his contribution "On The Way To Hopedale". Torngat Mountains National Park has spent the past two years preparing for their eventual reopening. We get an update on the process from Sarah Leo of the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies, and Travis Barbour of Air Borealis. As well, Neil and Evan Purchase have made Air Borealis history as the first father and son piloting duo. We jump onboard a plane with them to hear about their first flight. Lela Evans, MHA for Torngat Mountains, has made the decision to leave the PC Party and sit as an independent MHA. We speak with Evans today about why she made that choice. Months after the Nain arena sat with two inches of sewage and water on the main floor, the damage is almost cleaned up. The AngajukKak of Nain Julius Dicker joins us. It's not the apology that was requested, but the issue of Neonatal Medevac service delivery for critically ill newborns was addressed in the House of Assembly yesterday. We hear a clip from that today. Talking about periods or menstrual products can be met with embarrassment and stigma. A new government program providing period products to teenagers is hoping to break those barriers. We hear from Premier Andrew Furey and Jade Pardy from the Mokami Status of Women Council. Finally, the Liberals are getting ready for a new mandate, and that means appointing a new cabinet. We hear about which veteran MPs Trudeau may keep by his side, and which portfolios looking for new leadership when we speak with Heather Scoffield of the Toronto Star.

COVID, COVID, COVID has been the news for a good reason the past two years, but experts are warning you should also be considering the flu. We hear from Sherri Christian of Memorial University about why it is important to get your flu shot this year. The vaccine passport system has been in place for four days now, and a restaurant in Happy Valley-Goose Bay isn't so pleased about how the provincial government is implementing it. We hear from Jennifer Ring, manager of Jungle Jim's, and customer Stanley Oliver. Ocean mapping sessions are coming to Makkovik, Nain and Postville. Researchers are hoping to map traditional sea ice routes and see how they've changed to help them understand the impacts of climate change. We hear about it from researcher Breanna Bishop of Dalhousie University. A new report from the Harris Centre says that climate change will dramatically affect this province, and nowhere more than northern Labrador. Rob Greenwood, the Director of the Harris Centre at Memorial University, joins us. A GPS signout program is coming to youth in Nunatsiavut in hopes of providing help to youth who may be lost out on the land. We hear about the program from Kim Oliver, regional youth services manager from the Nunatsiavut Government. We get an update on the subsea cable project connecting Nunatsiavut and Nunavut from Madeline Redfern of CanArctic Inuit Networks and Peder Nærbø, the Chairman of Bulk Infrastructure Inc. A Labrador City woman recently came home to a big, white, fluffy dog stealing pumpkins from her lawn. We hear about Ashlee Burridge's encounter with the dog, and hear from the dog's owner Val St-Gelais. Finally, Martha MacDonald has had a big impact on the arts community in Labrador, and she's being honoured in a big way. We hear from her about the naming of the auditorium at the Lawrence O'Brien Arts Centre in her honour.

A new study suggests developing countries lack access to climate change-related research. We speak about the study with Warren Mabee, the director of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy at Queen's University. Allysha Jacque, a visual arts graduate originally from Postville, was recently selected as a winner of the BMO 1st Art Award. We hear from her as she shares her inspiration for the work she creates. Do you know a kid who loves playing video games and is interested in making them? We hear about a workshop that is teaching youth to do exactly that from Denise Cole of the SHIELD project and Mary McDonald of Pinnguaq. Charlotte Wolfrey, the AngajukKak of Rigolet, says their outdoor rink will have to go without a cover, even though the materials are sitting in the community. We hear her explain why today. A photographer in Labrador West has started a group to share photographs from all across Labrador. Timothy Collins joins us to talk about it. Labrador City's Tanya Trail is set to be overrun by zombies! For the spooky season, the Town of Labrador City and the Menihek High Graduating Class of 2020 have joined forces to organize a Zombie Walk. We speak with special events program coordinator Evelyn Ryan for all the details. Reporter Meg Roberts joins us to talk about a Wabush councillor's claims of bullying on council and why she resigned. The parents of a critically ill newborn who had to wait for neonatal medivac services are calling on the health minister to apologize. They say their daughter was the top priority call, but no medivac came due to not being able to fly overnight. We hear from a letter they sent to Premier Andrew Furey today. It's Friday, so we're hanging with the Waynes to hear their film and book selections for the week. Finally, if you want to show off your pumpkin carving skills, CRB Supermarket in North West River has you covered. We hear about the carving contest from owner Collin Baikie.

Musician Amelia Curran is a strong voice for mental health in this province, but as an invited board member on the Provincial Recovery Council for Mental Health and Addictions, she never felt that her voice was being heard. We hear her talk about her experience on the council today. An eight-year-old girl from Cartwright is asking School Sports NL to change cross-country running distances so that boys and girls to run the same lengths. We hear from Isla Morris and her mother Kristin Pardy-Morris about why they want the change made, and we hear a response from Trisha Boyer, the acting Executive Director of School Sports NL. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically reduced tourism in northern Labrador, but the Nunatsiavut government hopes to make the next five years better than ever. We get a sneak preview of their tourism strategy from Jillian Larkham, the director of Tourism Nunatsiavut. As the provincial government considers more hydroelectric projects, a group in Labrador thinks that it's a bad idea. We speak with Roberta Benefiel of Grand Riverkeeper Labrador. Iron ore prices have been unstable for the past couple of years. We hear from analyst Paul Gray of Wood Mackenzie about why prices are where they are now, and where they may be headed. 17 years after opening, Jeannie's Barber Shop in North West River is closing. We bring you there for a haircut and a conversation with Jeannie Hibbs about what led to that decision. Days of rain resulted in part of Highway 520 being flooded for hours. Emergency crews were on site at a spot between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and North West River yesterday. We get an update from Lake Melville MHA Perry Trimper. Finally, what is the risk of someone contracting Covid-19 if they are fully vaccinated? We hear from CBC House Doctor Peter Lin about breakthrough infections.

Every decade's fashion choices seem to pull inspiration from the past. We speak with image consultant Shelby Varughese about what makes some things cool again, and why early-2000s looks are having a moment. The Nunatsiavut Government will receive 61 million dollars of funding for infrastructure projects. First Minister Tyler Edmunds joins us to talk about the importance of these funds. A three-day virtual summit is being held for indigenous youth aged 16 to 35. The event will focus on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, employment skills, and mental health. We hear about the event from Michele Young-Crook, the President and CEO of the National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association. Living costs are sky high, and health care services have been under scrutiny. We speak with Lela Evans, MHA for Torngat Mountains, about these topics today. Back to school has meant an increase of colds and flu for many young people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, but several of the symptoms are the same. Labrador-Grenfell Health Medical Officer of Health Dr. Thomas Piggott talks about what you should do if your unvaccinated child starts developing symptoms. Have you downloaded your vaccine passport yet? In just a couple of days, proof of vaccination is essential, but what if you don't have an MCP number? We hear about that issue from Fakhri Matar and Maria Dussan. Alison Coffin is stepping down as leader of the provincial NDP. Labrador Morning speaks with Kyle Rees, the president of NDP NL, about Coffin's legacy as leader and what comes next for the party. Finally, it's no secret that travelling from northern Labrador to the island is expensive and requires a great deal of organizing. Youth in Makkovik are trying to raise funds on short notice to get themselves to the cross-country running provincials in Glovertown. We speak with their coach Jonathan Powell.