Mainstreet Halifax

On a Maritime-wide edition of Mainstreet from Halifax, host Jeff Douglas plays archival audio of Sergeant (Ret'd) Tyson Bowen, who gave 14 years of his life to the Canadian Armed Forces, including two combat tours in Afghanistan. Then Jeff speaks with Tyson's sister Tanya Browne, from our studio in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In spite of all he had done with his life, Tyson was just 35 years old when he died on September 3. 2022.

Brian MacDonald is the former executive director of Aman Lara, an organization of volunteers and veterans that perform 'extractions' from Afghanistan. That began in 2021, following the collapse of the Afghan government and the return to power of the Taliban. So at first, the organization's main focus was helping Afghans escape their country. This work expanded in 2022, to helping people get out of Ukraine. Two years ago, Brian stepped away from his role at Aman Lara, to start an organization called Utimus. It has a large focus on getting newcomers to Canada the qualifications they might need to join the workforce here. Utimus is based mostly in Ontario, but the CEO and founder, Brian, is located in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Here's his conversation with host, Jeff Douglas.

Ted Barris is the author of many books about Canadian experiences in the Second World War. His latest is, "Battle of Britain: Canadian Airmen in Their Finest Hour." In this conversation, available exclusively online, he talks with host Jeff Douglas about the origins of the RCAF.

Today is Indigenous Veterans Day in Canada. It's a way to honour Indigenous veterans for their role in serving the country. A role that has been largely overlooked.

Earlier this week we spoke to Anishinaabekwe Debbie Eisan. She is leading a delegation to Belgium to commemorate fallen Indigenous veterans and Canadian service members. The group will take part in ceremonies leading up to and including Remembrance Day. Debbie is an Elder of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, and a 36 year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. Jeff Purdy is the great-great grandson of Sam Glode - who served with the Royal Canadian Engineers No. 1 Canadian Tunnelling Company during the First World War. Here's their conversation with host, Jeff Douglas.

On Tuesday, November 12, Winter Moons opens at Neptune Theatre on the ScotiaBank Stage. It's a Nestuita'si Storytelling Production, written and directed by shalan joudry, with choreography by Sarah Prosper.

Jeff Douglas speaks to the creators about this work that takes up deep into the forest and back in time to a group of Fire Keepers keeping an ember alive through the three moons of winter.

Ken Hansen is a former naval commander, a former chair of the Maritime Studies Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, and a former adjunct professor of political science at Dal. He speaks with host Jeff Douglas.

He also gives Mainstreet host Jeff Douglas his take on where Democrats have gone wrong.

The show uses art, video, food and storytelling, the show has a large focus on demystifying the Day of the Dead and fosters a connection and cross cultural exchange between the Mi'kmaw and Zapotec (Bën Za) youth. The exhibit closes on November 8th.

To hear more Alex Guye reached two people behind the exhibit. Tania Fuentes is an art educator, researcher at NSCAD and the curator of Xandú. Joshua Schwab-Cartas is an assistant professor at NSCAD and the project lead of Xandú. The first voice you'll hear is Joshua explaining what Xandú means.

In his books - starting with "American Nations: A History Of The Eleven Rival Regional Cultures Of North America" - Colin Woodard makes the case that Americans have always been divided. He's director of the Nationhood Lab at the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy.

He tells host Jeff Douglas about "Leonard Cohen: The Man Who Saw the Angels Fall."