When a Whitehorse resident wrote a letter to the mayor of a little Alaska border town to say she's boycotting the US and that she's "breaking up with America," it captured a feeling many Canadians have right now. But breakups hurt. And this one cuts deep, upending a tradition of connection between these two northern towns.

In the small port town of Skagway, about two hours from Whitehorse, locals are feeling the loss of their northern neighbors. Some residents are handing out Canadian flags, while Alaska state representatives push resolutions affirming Canada's sovereignty. CBC's Julia Pagel travels to Skagway to hear from business owners, tourism officials, and local politicians about their attempts to heal this division.

Produced by Julia Pagel and Joan Webber / original aired on The Current 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit 

In the countryside across Cambodia, mass graves known as the killing fields, haunt the landscape. They are reminders of the reign of Pol Pot, one of the 20th century's most violent political leaders. He was the leader of the Khmer Rouge. When they seized power they undertook a radical experiment to create a pure Communist utopia.The plan was called "Year Zero."

Pol Pot's communist utopia led to the murder of approximately two million Cambodians. Cities were emptied and citizens were forced into rural labour camps. Only the lucky survived. 

In Howard Goldenthal's documentary, Year Zero Plus 50, he follows the stories of survivors of that era. For them, the quest for justice remains. 

Produced by Howard Goldenthal and Joan Webber, originally aired on Sunday Magazine.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

In the small Innu community of Sheshatshiu, Labrador, 27 people have died from drug-related causes in just two years — a staggering number for a population of only 2,000. At the centre of this crisis is an alarming surge in cocaine, now deadlier than before.

Police and drug experts say the situation on this Innu reserve is a consequence of a booming cocaine trade that’s unleashed high-purity cocaine into even remote corners of the country.

In his documentary, Pure Hell, CBC investigative journalist Ryan Cooke goes on a quest to find out why this is happening. His journey takes him from the high-stakes pursuit of smugglers aboard a Canadian Navy vessel in the Caribbean, to Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation, where former federal cabinet minister Peter Penashue was so desperate to save his community that he attacked a suspected drug dealer's car with a crowbar.

Produced by Ryan Cooke and Joan Webber with help from Katie Breen / originally aired on The Current. 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

As election signs crowd our streets, leaders hold rallies and our airwaves are full of political advertising, we seldom consider the candidates who run knowing they have almost no chance of winning. These are people who put their names on ballots in ridings dominated by political heavyweights or party strongholds. 

In the documentary, "The Longshots", CBC producer Joan Webber introduces us to four former longshot candidates from elections past who ran despite impossible odds. There is Kyle Warwick, a then 22-year-old political science student who campaigned while studying for his finals. Then there is Yvon Vadnais, who decided to run against Justin Trudeau in his Papineau riding and Matt Master Bergener, a musician who rode horseback through Calgary while challenging then PM Stephen Harper. Finally there is Beatrice Ghettuba, an immigrant from Kenya who wanted to run to counter people’s expectations of an immigrant. 

In the doc, you’ll discover why these candidates take on the grueling work of running for office when the chance of winning is close to impossible. 

The doc was produced by Joan Webber and originally aired on The Current.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

Some people struggling with opioid addiction are turning to a powerful psychedelic called ibogaine. The drug is derived from the bark of an African rainforest shrub, and its proponents believe it sends people on a transformative journey that can free them from addiction. 

In countries like Mexico, ibogaine use is unregulated, so resort-like clinics are offering what they consider treatment for addiction, by sending people on powerful psychedelic trips. 

In her documentary "Ibogaine: The Last Trip?", senior CBC reporter Karen Pauls introduces us to Rocky Dhillon. He’s one of a growing number of Canadians who are seeking out this treatment in Mexico. We’ll also meet a Winnipeg businessman who is trying to get Health Canada approval for clinical trials of ibogaine, with the goal of offering it as a treatment for addiction in Canada. Some say the drug has changed their lives but there have also been tragic consequences, like the Canadian man who died on an ibogaine trip in South Africa. 

Produced by Karen Pauls and Joan Webber / originally aired on The Current. 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

In Surrey, B.C., a bird renowned for its beauty became the centre of an ugly dispute. In the quiet Sullivan Hights neighbourhood, a group of peafowl divided a community for over a decade. 

The story began when Ryan Craig and his wife bought a home and quickly noticed three peacocks roosting nearby. At first they were charmed, but soon became overwhelmed as this population exploded to some 100 birds. They and their fellow residents soon faced damaged property and a messy, noisy battle with the animals. 

In his documentary, A Foul Feud, CBC Vancouver journalist Rafferty Baker takes us into this divided community where neighbours were no longer speaking to each other, a tree was illegally felled and bylaw officers called in to deal with the peacocks — and the residents. 

The documentary was produced by Rafferty Baker and Joan Webber and originally aired on The Current in 2018.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

A black-and-white photograph shows 11 young Chinese boys in untucked shirts standing in a row, with a middle-aged Western man in a suit smiling behind them.

This image would lead Fang Sheng on a journey to uncover his father's musical past and the identity of the mysterious "Mr. Adler," — a Jewish refugee who fled to Shanghai during World War II to escape the Nazis.

In Finding Adler, we follow Fang as he pieces together how an orphaned Chinese child became one of the founding members of China's National Symphony Orchestra with the help of an Austrian violinist named Ferdinand Adler. 

Produced by Sharon Wu and Liz Hoath / this documentary first aired on The Current back in 2018.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

In central Mississippi the poultry industry dominates, with massive processing facilities operating around the clock. Employing tens of thousands of workers, these chicken plants are the economic backbone of the region. 

But on August 7, 2019, officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted one of the largest workplace raids in U.S. history, detaining 680 undocumented workers across seven poultry facilities. 

In his documentary, “Practically Mexico Now,” CBC doc producer John Chipman takes us to the heart of this community to document the ongoing impact of the immigration raids all these years later. What he finds is a community where fears are rising as Trump promises mass deportations. 

The doc was produced by John Chipman and Jodie Martinson with help from Liz Hoath. The doc originally aired on The Current.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

It’s a little money saving trick Canadians who live near a provincial border know well. They drive to another province to save a bit because products are cheaper there. It’s the kind of thing you’d do without giving it a second thought. However, for Gerard Comeau, driving from New Brunswick to Quebec to buy a case of beer resulted in a ticket and a constitutional challenge that made it all the way to the Supreme Court.  

In her documentary, “A Case of Beer …. and Borders,” CBC producer Jodie Martinson explores how Comeau’s beer run became a high-stakes legal battle over interprovincial trade barriers in Canada. The case pittled those who wanted to maintain provincial control of some industries against others pushing for free trade.  

The documentary was produced by Jodie Martinson, Liz Hoath, and Joan Webber, with assistance from Mary-Catherine McIntosh. The doc originally aired on The Sunday Magazine.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

Over the past near-century, Academy Award categories have come and gone. In the silent film era there was an award for Best Title Writing. You know, the written cards that summarized the “dialogue”? Oscar worthy. 

This year’s 96th Academy Awards broadcast saw Oscars handed out in a whopping 23 different categories, from the big wins like Best Picture, to awards for behind-the-scenes expertise in costuming and score. But one group of people thinks there should be yet another added to that list: best stunts. 

Stunt actors are real life action heroes behind the biggest movies, but it’s unlikely we know their names and faces, at least not if they’re doing their jobs right. They risk life and limb to bring films to life. The chariot race in Ben-Hur? The entire Fast and Furious franchise? None of them would be possible without stunt coordinators and performers. 

On this week's Storylines, Joan Webber tells the story of a decades-long effort to get stunt workers their Oscar due.

Produced by Joan Webber. Story editing by Julia Pagel.  This documentary first aired on Storylines back in April of 2024.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit