The FEED

something for everyone on today’s show …

We start with a catch up with Mayor Steven Del Duca of Vaughan and move to a very important ‘expiry date’ check – one that could save your life. Ryan Schell - Chief Fire Prevention Officer for Central York Fire Services will join us to explain. Plus, we’ll give the *goat* a little love …not ‘the greatest of all time’ kind of goat but the actual animals – raised by York Region resident Ian Matthews as an eco-friendly solution to environmental concerns.

Also, our ongoing celebration of Canada just ahead of the country’s 158th birthday! Why are you a proud Canadian and what makes us so unique?

 Dust off your cowboy boots and mark your calendar. There’s a brand new summertime festival in Markham that you won’t want to miss, and …love this segment in the show when we highlight an emerging Canadian Artist – remember the name Carina B.

She is a rising superstar …and you’ll hear for yourself. 

In today’s show, we have our usual excellent roster of guests covering topics that span what’s trending, what to do with your free time, some health news and what you need to know that is happening in your world. 

The people bringing us these stories include:
Benn Barrantes, CEO, ONBARR Conference

Teresa Di Felice, of the CAA with a study of pedestrian safety that might surprise you;

Fiona Su, President of the Canadian Arts and Wellness Alliance talking about Dance on Yonge 2025; 

Emilie Alderman, Deputy City manager, Public Works in Vaughan about what to leave out and what not to pick up on Curb Days;

Dr. Jeff Habert, a family physician in Thornhill for the last 35 years with a fresh perspective on Diabetes, plus

Mayor Steve Pelligrini of King Township, and

Paul Metcalf of the Heavyweights Brass Band performing at the Toronto Jazz Festival

WE BEGIN …BY CELEBRATING THE FEATURE FILM DEBUT OF A POWERFUL NEW VOICE IN CANADIAN CINEMA. TORONTO-BASED FILMMAKER REBECCAH LOVE’S MOVIE ‘FORTESCUE’ IS DESCRIBED AS A QUIET REFLECTION ON WOMANHOOD,  

PSYCHOSIS AND FRIENDSHIP, AND TOUCHES ON SOME PRESSING QUESTIONS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH. THE FILM IS FICTIONAL …HOWEVER REBECCA’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH BIPOLAR DISEASE GIVES HER WORK COMPELLING AUTHENTICITY.  

TOUGH MUDDER IS A SERIES OF EVENTS WHERE PARTICIPANTS NAVIGATE GRUELLING OBSTACLE COURSES THAT  

CHALLENGE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRENGTH. AND GOING THROUGH IT MEANS GETTING DIRTY….REALLY DIRTY. ATHLETES WHO FINISH THE TOUGH MUDDER EVENT DESCRIBE FEELING SORE AND EXHAUSTED AND…EUPHORIC. NOW TOUGH MUDDER IS WELCOMING PARA ATHLETES AND GENERAL MANAGER NICOLAS BERTRAND JOINED JIM LANG TO EXPLAIN.

YORK PRIDE IS CELEBRATING 25 YEARS AND THE FESTIVAL HAPPENING JUNE 21ST AND 22ND, PROMISES TO BE BIGGER AND  

EVEN BETTER. PROGRAM MANAGER, JACOB GAL SHARES HOW YOU CAN JOIN IN ALL THE FUN WHILE SUPPORTING FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS IN THE LGBTQ2S-PLUS COMMUNITY.

ON JUNE 18, 2023, THE WORLD WATCHED AS A TOURIST AND EXPEDITION CAPSULE - THE TITAN SUBMERSIBLE SLOWLY  

DISAPPEARED INTO THE NORTH ATLANTIC. ON BOARD THE DEEP-SEA VESSEL WERE 5 PEOPLE …EXCITED FOR THIS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME ADVENTURE TO REACH THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC ON THE OCEAN FLOOR. IT NEVER HAPPENED – INSTEAD, DISASTER STRUCK AND ALL 5 WERE KILLED WHEN THE SUBMERSIBLE IMPLODED.TWO YEARS LATER – A NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE TRAGEDY EXPLORES WHY IT HAPPENED AND THE LESSONS LEARNED. JIM LANG SPOKE WITH DOCUMENTRY DIRECTOR PAMELA GORDON.

A MIGRAINE IS ONE OF THE MOST DISABLING MEDICAL CONDITIONS IN THE WORLD — YET OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD AND

MINIMIZED. MAYA CARVALHO - FOUNDER OF THE CANADIAN MIGRAINE SOCIETY - IS ON A MISSION TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR LIVING WITH MIGRAINES.  MAYA HAS BUILT A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY THAT OFFERS EMPATHY AND EDUCATION TO MIGRAINE SUFFERERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THEM.

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU BLEND ROCK AND ROLL AND BLUES AND SOUL? A VERY COOL TORONTO BAND CALLED PROPTER HAWK. THE GROUP IS KNOWN FOR ITS ENERGETIC PERFORMANCES …THEIR SOUND INFLUENCED BY ‘THE BEATLES’, ‘ THE BAND, OTIS REDDING AND HUMBLE PIE. PROPTER HAWK CAME TOGETHER 5 YEARS AGO …WITH LOTS OF NEW MATERIAL CREATED DURING THE PANDEMIC YEARS. LEAD GUITARIST ALEC MCEACHERN - IN STUDIO WITH SHALIZA BACCHUS.

The 2025 CAA worst roads campaign has released its annual list ….and you might be surprised which roads 

*did* and did not make the grade. Government Relations and CAA consultant Brian Pirvu joins us.

Cameron Waite is the founder and CEO of Real Life Robotics …here to explain how and why robots are rolling into a neighbourhood near you

Laura Lavalee, CEO of Evergreen Hospice, has some firsts to share and an expansion announcement too

Plus

Trevor Linden, Captain Canuck, looks back at his career and the challenges facing players then…and now

Richmond Hill Mayor David West has details on new rules for some much-loved members of the family – our pets!

And

The Region’s’ Jack Mancini celebrates senior’s month!

Joining us – authors and politicians …community builders and a Canadian music legend and hometown hero. 

Christian Wehrli has organized a very special walk called the Fairly Trail Walk for Esther and is raising funds for children's books in local libraries in honour of his late sister.

We have Dennis Bulani, a Saskatchewan farmer and author who wrote the book - 'What a Farmer Wants You to Know aboutC Food’.  Dennis discusses why you should have confidence in the food in stores.

Plus

Alex Lombardi, the chair of ‘hike for hospice’ of Hospice Vaughan shares here plans for the hike, the unique service hospice care provides to end-of-life clients and why she is motivated to lead this event.

Newmarket Mayor John Taylor invites residents to have their voices heard through a survey about a snow removal pilot project

Jack Mancini reports on great spots in York Region to explore and get active.

And, we are big fans of this great Canadian artist Michael Hanson is an epic drummer and founding member of legendary rock band Glass Tiger. Michael’s a Newmarket resident too and new inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame …and he is on the show!!

Our guests on the show include:

Josh Landau, Director of Government Relations, Ontario, with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs  who speaks with us about the rise in hate crimes in the GTA.

Ken Campbell, award winning hockey writer who cuts through the noise surrounding the Maple Leafs heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and hope dashing  loss in game seven

Plus

Mark Kahan from the Canadian Cancer Society with details on the incredible ‘Wheels of Hope’ program, how its helping cancer patients …and how you can get involved

The Canadian Mental Health Association, York Region and South Simcoe has declared a bold new objective – find a Cure for mental illness. We talk with CEO Rebecca Shields about this extraordinary goal. 

Markham’s proposed transportation master plan aims to cut commute times and reduce frustration too. Transportation lead Samson Wat joins with an update on how ‘the plan’ is progressing. 

And hometown ‘McPride’ for McDonald’s franchise owners in Markham who were all smiles on McHappy Day. We’ll tell you why!

Today – we cover some of the stories that made headlines this week along with a great lineup of guests including:

 
Nicholas Jennings, music journalist, historian and board member for the Toronto Music Experience who speaks to us about the launch of this project.
  

Ontario minister of municipal affairs and housing, Rob Flack, who will share details of a new act designed to cut red tape and speed up home construction. 

Plus, Karen Todd, Executive Director of the York Region non-profit Bridgenorth, tells us how her organization works with people caught in the sex trade industry. 

Ben Eisen, Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute and co-author of Ontario’s Economy is Broken, explains why our province has experienced a longer and deeper period of stagnation than the rest of Canada, a timely conversation with the latest Ontario budget, tabled this past week. 

We meet incredible athlete and gold medallist (and York Region resident) Paul Rosen , who reached the Paralympic podium after losing his leg in a hockey injury. Paul’s resilience has been tested …again …and he’ll share his story.

Laura Mirabella from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection has details on a new exhibit and on York Region’s event of the year, Moonlight Gala 2025.

And 1059’s Jack Mancini has what’s open and closed this Victoria Day Long Weekend plus a fantastic deal from Presto …and where to watch the fireworks.

Today – as always - we have a great mix of trending, Insightful, York Region-focussed stories along with 

A stellar guest list - including:

Mike Smith who shares what’s happening at the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame and how you can get involved, plus

Vaughan Mayor Stephen Del Duca introduces Vaughan Flavours - a new local food festival set for July and August, and

We meet Ayami Sato, arguably the best woman baseball player in the world …on the mound in Toronto this weekend and making history too 
 

Louise Fry of the TD bank shares the results of a new survey focussed on Canadian women - just in time for Mothers’ Day

MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy reveals details of a provincial program that’s pumping millions of dollars into York Region, and 

The evolution of our population over the coming decades. A new paper by professor Daniel Hiebert from the 

University of British Columbia - in cooperation with the C.D. Howe Institute - examines the important role and limitations of immigration in Canada. Professor Hiebert joins the show.

This past week was heart failure awareness week in Canada. Here to share important details is Dr Justin Ezekowitz, Cardiologist and President of the Canadian Heart Failure Society.

IF YOU ARE A REGULAR LISTENER, YOU WILL KNOW THAT NOT ONLY HAS ANN BEEN MISSING, THE FEED ITSELF HAS BEEN ON HIATUS AS WE RETOOLED AT THE STATION. TODAY’S SHOW MARKS OUR RETURN AND BECAUSE OF THIS WE HAVE SEVERAL GUESTS WHO WILL GET US ALL BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS. WE ARE EXCITED TO BE JOINED BY:

CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER OF THE NORTHERN SUPER LEAGUE, A PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER ORGANIZATION, DIANA MATHESON

DEREK ANDREWS, PERFORMING ARTS MANAGER OF THE AURORA CULTURAL CENTER SHARES AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR YORK REGION PERFORMING ARTISTS

BRENDAN NEELY, A FIREFIGHTER AND FATHER WHO SHARES HIS ASPIRATION TO BREAK A GUINNESS WORLD BOOK RECORD WITH A BABY STROLLER

TAZ STUART, ENTOMOLOGIST AND PEST TELLS US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TICKS AND FLYING PESTS JUST IN TIME FOR THE WARMER WEATHER

AND AS WE PREPARE TO CELEBRATE MOMS EVERYWHERE, WE HAVE RYAN DE SILVA, DIRECTOR AND GENERAL MANAGER OF NEWMARKET’S UPPER CANADA MALL TO LET YOU KNOW HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY AND HONOUR YOUR MOM

BUT FIRST WE CATCH WITH MAYOR STEPHEN DEL DUCA WHO IS ANNOUNCING MORE GREEN SPACE AND A NEW PARK IN VAUGHAN.

• Eric Jolliffe, former Chief of York Regional Police; who has taken on the role of Chair and CEO of the Regional Municipality of York, spoke with Ann Rohmer about his responsibilities and goals for the region. Jolliffe talks about his learning curve in his new role, emphasizing the importance of collaborative partnerships and understanding the wide range of services provided by the region.
• Emily Kelly from Blue Door is with Glynn Perkins to discuss the Coldest Night of the Year initiative, which aims to raise awareness and funds for the homeless during harsh winter conditions. Kelly explains the range of services provided by Blue Door, including emergency housing, health support, and employment training, and highlights the importance of community support.
• Jim Lang spoke with the Minister of Small Business, Rechie Valdez, on the strategies to minimize the impact of Trump's tariffs on Canadian businesses, emphasizing the need to support local industries. Valdez highlights the government's Team Canada approach to defending Canadian interests and supporting small businesses against the proposed tariffs.
• Shaliza Bacchus is with Sunder Singh of the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women discussing  her work in supporting displaced women and children, and the upcoming SIP and Support High Tea event.
• Dr. Dominic Novak of the Ontario Medical Association discusses the severe shortage of family doctors in Vaughan, affecting over 42,000 residents. Novak highlights the challenges faced by family doctors, including outdated funding models and administrative burdens, which deter new doctors from entering the field.
• Jim Lang interviews Greg Keelor and Dale Heslip about the new Blue Rodeo documentary, which celebrates the band's enduring legacy and impact on Canadian music.