When hurricane Fiona ripped through eastern Canada last September, causing widespread devastation, The Salvation Army stepped in, offering assistance in several provinces. 

One of the hardest-hit communities was Port Aux Basques, N.L., where Dave and Bev Harvey are corps leaders. In this episode of the podcast, Dave and Bev share how the storm impacted the town and their corps, and how the Army responded.

Fabio Russo has been clean and sober for five years, since he came to The Salvation Army’s Harbour Light facility in Vancouver. Now a friendly employee at the facility's front desk, Fabio reflects on his recovery journey and how Harbour Light's "play" program played a crucial role. 

On this episode of the podcast, we're also joined by Harbour Light employees Cindy Cheung, community engagement co-ordinator,  and John Polkki, director of spiritual care, who offer insight into the "why" behind the program—how "play" builds crucial life skills and reconnects us with our Creator, and why even go-karting can be a spiritual experience. 

Brass banding is one of The Salvation Army’s most iconic and beloved ministries. But like so many things, it faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. For two years, many of us missed out on banding as groups were forced to stop meeting in person. What kind of future does banding have, now that we can rehearse and perform again? 

We asked Matt Barby for his thoughts on these questions and more. Matt is a senior soldier at London Citadel, a high school music teacher, and bandmaster of Impact Brass, a regional youth band in southwestern Ontario. 

The world of health care has been turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. But for The Salvation Army’s Toronto Grace Health Centre, it has provided opportunities for innovation and creativity. Just as the pandemic was beginning, the centre launched a pilot project called the Remote Care Monitoring Program. Using a pendant and the power of technology, the program allows elderly and at-risk patients to receive the health care they need from the comfort of their own home.

In this episode of the podcast, Jake Tran, president and CEO of TGHC, explains the Remote Care Monitoring Program, and Donna White shares her own personal experience with it.

This week, leaders of The Salvation Army’s 58 territories and commands have gathered in Vancouver for the International Conference of Leaders (ICL). This is the first in-person gathering of leaders since 2017, and the first under the leadership of General Brian Peddle.

In this episode, General Peddle gives us a behind the scenes look at the ICL—what’s on the agenda, how decisions are made and how Salvationists can stay informed about the proceedings.

In Maple Ridge, B.C., The Salvation Army recently launched a program called UpCycle. Every Tuesday and Thursday, members of the community can come to the UpCycle trailer and trade in their old items for gently used ones. No money required.

Richard McAfee, Genesis caseworker at The Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries, shares how the program came about and how it's helping people recovering from addictions.

In this episode of the Salvationist podcast, new Cadet Gladis Koshkarian shares her journey to Salvation Army officership—a journey that spans the globe, from Syria to Lebanon, to Canada and Calgary. She shares what she’s enjoyed most about working for The Salvation Army so far and why she’s excited to take the next step into full-time ministry.

In episode 7 of the Salvationist Podcast, host Brandon Laird speaks with Captain Crystal Porter, assistant territorial Indigenous ministries consultant and divisional youth secretary, Prairie Division, about her journey to reclaim her Indigenous identity, and how the craft of beading has connected her to the land and to her Indigenous community.

As of May 1, Colonel Evie Diaz takes up her new appointment as the chief secretary of the Canada and Bermuda Territory. She most recently served as the chief secretary for The Salvation Army at International Headquarters. In this podcast, shares her personal story, her perspective on leadership and her hopes for the future of the Army.

Today we are going to talk with Dr. Joel Thiessen, Professor of Sociology, Director of the Flourishing Congregations Institute at Ambrose University, and Dr. James Pedlar, Donald N. and Kathleen G. Bastian Chair of Wesley Studies, Associate Professor of Theology, Tyndale Seminary about the upcoming 2021 Wesley Studies Symposium that is online this year. 

Link to: 2021 Wesley Symposium

Signs of Life: Catholic, Mainline, and Conservative Protestant Congregations in Canada by Bill McAlpine, Joel Thiessen, Keith Walker, Arch Chee Keen Wong
More information: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1990103022/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_2WS6WQJ1352EQ0B2DXP8