The Dark Room

As gun violence continues to rise in Toronto, many are divided as to what the “proper” response to ending it should be. For some, it’s a tough-on-crime approach that focuses on legally disciplining, as through incarceration, perpetrators of gun violence. For others, like Rev. Sky Starr, it involves being sensitive and responsive to the needs of communities, especially those directly affected by such violence.

In this episode, Dr. Paul Salvatori speaks with Rev. Sky about how she first became involved in compassionate efforts to end gun violence, her continuing work—within and beyond Toronto's Jane and Finch community—to help others heal in its traumatic aftermath and the role spirituality can play in governments better ensuring safe communities while respecting the rights and dignity of all.  

Learn more about Rev. Sky and Out of Bounds—the grief and trauma support group of which she’s both founder and executive director—here. Further info on the “Community Interfaith Remembrance” event, hosted by Out of Bounds and discussed by Rev. Sky in this episode, can be accessed there as well.  

***

CREDITS

Producer - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Writer & Host - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Sound Editor - Peter Bull

Music - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Dr. Paul Salvatori speaks with former Ontario Premier and current provincial Member of Parliament, Kathleen Wynne, about how the progressive and social-minded politician entered politics, the activist outlook and philosophy that has guided her throughout her career and even the place of love in the often combative world of politics. As might be expected given the media attention it’s received, the discussion does not shy away from the controversial Ontario sex-ed curriculum Kathleen introduced while Premier. Shedding new light, Kathleen shares how the curriculum was first developed, how she handles the harsh pushback it still receives and, perhaps most importantly, the essential role it plays in the care and education of young people.

Thank you to Wendy Weston, Kathleen’s assistant, for helping coordinate this episode of The Dark Room.  

***

CREDITS

Producer - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Writer & Host - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Sound Editor - Peter Bull

Music - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Live talk and discussion with tireless homeless advocate, educator, writer and recipient of the Order of Canada, Cathy Crowe, about her recently published book, A Knapsack Full of Dreams: Memoirs of a Street Nurse. Hosted at Eastminister United Church (Toronto), Cathy reads from the book—providing a window into her beginnings as a social justice nurse—followed by an intriguing conversation, alongside Anna Willats, on the difficult challenges and rewards fighting homelessness in Canada.  

Special thanks to Another Story Bookshop for organizing the event. You can learn more about and purchase Cathy’s book here.

Why it's important to understand the role anger, closely associated with pain, plays in fueling gun and other forms of violence, as well as the perpetrator's perspective--without endorsing or promoting it. Find "Sins of the Father: How Abuse at Home Led Me into the Criminal Underworld", Vito's story mentioned in the cast, here: https://bit.ly/2KFIvEf

As the well-known proverb goes, “one man’s art is another one’s treasure”. This may aptly be applied to Montreal-based artist, Carlo Polidoro Lopez, whose daring work is literally made up with garbage, also characterizing its beauty and originality. 

Dr. Paul talks with Carlo, alongside his son, Alex, about his work and how it began in adult life rather than as a a “wonder child”. Defying traditional Western aesthetics, Carlo’s non-linear work—blending a smorgasbord of colour and texture—invites the viewer to rethink what it means to be creative. For Carlo this involves drawing from both his personal and collective past, as a multiethnic Canadian, while giving form to raw thoughts and feelings as they occur to him in the very process of making art.  

View Carlo’s most recent work on Instagram. You can also learn more about Carlo on his website.  

***

CREDITS

Producer - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Writer & Host - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Sound Editor - Peter Bull

Music - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Recently, some have suggested a pill could be the solution to the "loneliness epidemic". Dr. Paul instead entertains how altruistic love, namely putting others before ourselves, might be the healthier and better solution. It might also prevent tragedies like the recent death of Carson Cremini, in British Columbia, from happening too.

A recent story about why it's important to be honest in today's freelance or "gig" economy not only to be ethical in business but promote a more trusting, socially cohesive world.

Why young men become violent when they feel they don't matter and how healthy bonding can prevent that, as well as what we--as a society--can do to be part of that patient and caring process.

In the wake of a high number of shootings in Toronto this past long-weekend, as well as the mass shootings in the United States that took place during the same time, Dr. Paul Salvatori shares a brief word on the need to address the pain behind gun violence in order to better understand and end it, while encouraging respectful face-to-face dialogue (offline) as the means through which this can occur. 

This is the first episode of "The Dark Room Unscripted", featuring off-the-cuff reflections by Dr. Paul. In keeping with the topic of this episode, "Too Young for a Funeral"--a recent song by Dr. Paul (under the artist name "Salvatori")--follows the discussion.

In honour of the Third Annual Maria Salvatori Mother's Day Special, Dr. Paul Salvatori talks with Alison Irons and Kelly Whetter. The two mothers courageously share their difficult journey of having each lost a child to gun violence and how that tragedy has motivated them, together and as individuals, to create a safer, less deadly world. Though words alone can never do justice to the pain of losing a child to gun violence, Alison and Kelly reveal that such pain does not automatically condemn one to despair. Rather, as Alison and Kelly's determination show, it can be transformed into remarkable strength, allowing one to support others in similar hardship while challenging us to rethink the conditions that bring about senseless killings. Learn more about Alison and Kelly's anti-gun violence advocacy and group, Communities for Zero Violence, here. You can also learn about Kelly's anti-gun violence foundation, Gabe's Read Balloon Foundation, here.

This episode is in memory of Alison's daughter, Lindsay Wilson, and Kelly's son, Gabriel Nikov, whose lives were cut all too short by gun violence.

Special thanks to anti-gun violence advocates, Louis March (Zero Gun Violence Movement) and Chris Glover (Toronto MPP), for helping make this episode possible.        

***

CREDITS

Producer - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Writer & Host - Dr. Paul Salvatori

Sound Editor - Peter Bull

Music - Dr. Paul Salvatori