Off Script

It’s a blood sport, a fight to the death. Dogs pitted against each other in a makeshift torture arena while spectators gamble on which breed will triumph. It’s an underground crime that rescue organizations say the public needs to know about. It’s brutal, uncomfortable and disturbing, but those on the front lines say it’s time to lift the veil on this well-kept secret.

More Albertans than ever before are choosing medically-assisted death. Among them, a former nun who wasn’t waiting for God to decide when she died. She wanted to make that decision all on her own. In this episode we explore the controversy and conflict between religion and medically assisted death, and uncover a beautiful and friendship between faithful friends and how they helped their terminally diagnosed friend in her final journey of life -- fulfilling her final wishes.

Experts have studied the evolution of human conditioning and found that because of technology, real connection is absent from our daily lives. There can be deprivation of the human touch. Single. Married, young and old… the need is universal. And professional cuddlers have found a way to restore and nurture therapeutic touch. It’s a form of therapy growing in popularity.

This is a story about all the stars aligning. Some even calling it a miracle. Every thing and every one working together perfectly when seconds count. This is the story about how an 11 year old girls’ life was saved by her school principal and teachers. They went above and beyond. Just one month after being trained in first aid, their grade 6 student collapsed on the schoolyard, her heart stopped and she wasn’t breathing. Knowing what to do allowed them to become heroes…rescuing their student from a tragedy.

It’s a lifeline for some vulnerable youth. A very unique program designed specifically for young Indigenous girls. Stardale brings together these female teenagers who share a common experience. Many come from broken homes, suffered abuse, exposed to addiction, struggle with suicidal thoughts….but in this one space once a week they can be as vulnerable as they want to be. The program gives them confidence and empowerment.

An unusual change to the criminal code has been sitting dormant for over a decade. It’s a law designed to be applied when there’s negligence on a job site. But when a worker dies in this country because safety is ignored, it’s rare anybody is held to account. Nate and Jill uncover how one police jurisdiction is paving the way for the rest of Canada to ensure people go home at the end of their shift.

It’s a rarely talked about part of the journey of breast cancer. But a national organization is creating a unique and intimate experience that allows women to see real-life surgical results and gain a better understanding from women who have undergone breast surgery. Reconstruction options are often only talked about in doctor’s and surgeon’s offices. We bring the audience the 'Show and Tell' lounge. It’s a brave, compelling, heartfelt and emotional experience.

Over the last decade, a selfless contingent of people volunteer hours of their time to erect a symbolic cemetery in Calgary. A 5-acre grassy field along Memorial Drive is transformed into "The Field of Crosses." Every Remembrance Day, 3400 crosses grace this vast space honoring the southern Albertans who died on the battlefields of war. But there’s an especially unique brigade of bikers -- veterans -- who spend exhausting days implanting the metal bases for the crosses to stand proud. These people are the foundation for a humbling sight, It gives thousands the chance to pay their respects to the soldiers who never made it home.

Do you believe in ghosts? It’s a fascinating question that attracted Nate and Jill to a heritage home in Drumheller. The original owner lost his life inside the home, but appears to have never left. The man who now lives in this century-old character home doesn’t mind sharing his space with the spirit of Dr. Bob. We went in with open minds to take a tour of this haunted home in the days leading up to Halloween.

A unique medical clinic is the first of its kind in Alberta. After having navigated the intimidating health care system herself, the mother of a transgender teen created a non-profit foundation designed specifically for transgender youth. Skipping Stone is saving lives and making a profound difference in the community. From humble beginnings it’s now become a critical service for trans youth and their families.