This is Edmonton

It’s less than a week until referendum day, but this vote has been decades in the making. To prepare us for what’s next, producer Pippa Reed takes a look back at how we got here. From the first Prime Minister Trudeau and the National Energy Program, to the drama of dueling petitions and court cases, we look at the long story of separatist sentiment in Alberta.

In less than two weeks, Albertans head to the polls to answer 10 questions that could affect the future of the province. The historic, non-binding referendum includes five questions about immigration, four about constitutional changes and one about whether Alberta should stay in Canada or start the process for another vote to separate. The questions are long and dense, so we thought a debrief on what they mean would be worthwhile for our listeners. Clare Bonnyman sits down with CBC reporters Rukhsar Ali and Joel Dryden, who have both written extensively about the questions Albertans will vote on.

On this National day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, things feel a little different. The upcoming provincial referendum, and question on separatism, is colouring conversations as communities mark the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 6. On this episode of the show, reporter Stephanie Cram explains the significance of Treaty 6, and what it means for a possible separation vote. Plus, why First Nations in Alberta are gearing up to “Rock the Vote” in a few weeks.

The former Edmonton Journal building has been listed for sale. While Journal employees haven't worked in the space for a number of years, the sale marks a shift in the way local news is reported, and how audiences reach it. On this week's episode of This Is Edmonton, guest host Colton Hutchinson speaks to media consultant Marty Forbes about the changing landscape of local journalism.

Hockey season has yet to begin, but the Oilers are back in the headlines. Last week they signed Alex Formenton, one of the five players from the 2018 world juniors team, acquitted in a sexual assault case last year. The signing has divided fans. We break it down with a local sports writer, and talk about whether or not community backlash can create change in hockey culture.

How long can you hold your bladder? If you’re out and about in Edmonton, you might find out the hard way if you’re caught without a public washroom nearby. Publicly accessible toilets are a big part of urban planning, but they can be challenging to implement. Reporter Liam Harrap took stock of Edmonton’s public washrooms and looked into the city’s plan to ensure everyone has a place to go when nature calls.

When Edmontonians text Transit Watch, ETS’s safety reporting hotline, it reveals what’s actually happening on our transit system. But where do those messages go? The CBC obtained a month's worth of messages to Transit Watch. The CBC’s Madeleine Cummings breaks down rider’s concerns, and how their experiences shape the future and function of ETS.

Bike lane controversy is not going away in Edmonton — if anything it’s getting louder. This fall the provincial government plans to introduce legislation that would allow them to remove bike lanes in cities, and in the meantime neighbours are opposing new active transportation pathways in progress throughout the city. So how many people are actually using Edmonton’s bike lanes? CBC reporter Emily Williams looks at the numbers and what we know.

When Delwin Vriend’s legal battle lands in the Supreme Court of Canada, public debate turns ugly. And like it or not, Delwin and his legal team become the faces of the battle to protect sexual orientation; heroes to some, and villains to others. 

Host Falen Johnson and journalist Clare Bonnyman bring us behind the scenes of the fateful SCC case, Vriend v Alberta, and a ruling that breaks new ground for 2SLGBTQ+ people, but also breaks Delwin. Even after proclaiming “Ha-ha, I win,” he faces hard choices about how to handle the legacy of the case in his life.

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Delwin Vriend isn’t seeking the spotlight. As an introverted gay man, working at an Edmonton Christian school in the 1990s, he keeps a low profile. But when he’s fired for being gay, he knows he needs to push back in a very public way.

Host Falen Johnson and journalist Clare Bonnyman recount the case of Vriend v Alberta, and the loud and sometimes lewd court battles that see a judge turn his chair to the wall when Vriend’s lawyers speak; newspapers plastering his photo next to a pic of a convicted pedophile; and a government scrambling to shut his case down.

Want to listen to more episodes of See You in Court? Click here.