A first-of-its-kind festival is taking place in rural Manitoba. Winter Fest, a celebration of the heat of the islands and the cold of the Canadian winter, invites Manitobans for music, camaraderie, and delicious Jamaican food.

I checked out the festival's test drive Thursday and spoke with organizer Neville Hamilton and musician JEDIMZ.

https://www.iralfest.com/event-details/

https://www.facebook.com/Jedimz360/

Although there are many memorable activities to enjoy during the Canadian winter, one can sometimes miss the warm weather of summer.

In Steinbach, Manitoba, a new restaurant can help warm you up with delicious Jamaican food. Neville Hamilton is a busy man. Not only did he create the International Reggae Afro Latin Music & Arts Festival, but he is now the proud owner of the Di Reggae Grill.

https://www.direggaegrill.com/

Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

Bohdana Kornelyuk immigrated to Canada four years ago to study, pursuing a master's degree. Bohdana now works in Canada. 

With her family still living in Ukraine, she's had restless nights as the invasion from Russia continues. She now speaks out with thousands of other Ukrainian Canadians for the world's leaders to aid her home country. 

This interview was conducted on February 25, 2022.

What does it take to become a doctor? Of course, the years of diligent study, but also a drive to understand what ails people, and a passion heal the wounded.

Dr. Jared Bullard exemplifies those traits. Not only is he a pediatric infectious disease expert, but he is driven to inspire the doctors of tomorrow.

Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

Dr. Orest Cap and his brother Alexander share their thoughts and messages from family and friends as Moscow attacks the sovereign borders of Ukraine. 

Dr. Cap is a professor emeritus from the University of Manitoba and holds a Ph.D. in technical-vocational education, and Alexander the Principal at Holy Cross School. Both have friends and family in Ukraine, some in the eastern region. 

This interview was conducted on February 24, 2022.

ACOMI, African Communities of Manitoba Inc, unites the Winnipeg community through unity and friendship of people of African heritage in Manitoba and understanding between peoples of African heritage and Canadians of all backgrounds. 

With it being black history month, I wanted to connect with ACOMI to learn about the organization and some of its programs coming in the future. With more, here’s Tolu Ilelaboye.

https://africancommunities.ca/

Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

Last winter, U Multicultural hosted an Ethnic Music Concert Series, inviting artists of all backgrounds to share their music. One of those groups was the Dust Rhinos. 

This 5-piece Celtic rock group has seen members come and go. The current roster, Ryan Spracklin, Darren Wittmann, Ivanka Wtkin, Dan Cannon, and Blair McEvoy, is a tight-knit group of friends ready to perform traditional airs and reels and jigs and have fun doing it. 

So let’s meet up with the Dust Rhinos, Manitoba’s premier party band. 

https://dustrhinos.com/

Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

As we're looking ahead to spring and summer and COVID restrictions easing in many provinces, many are cautiously optimistic about what the future holds for festivals and cultural events.

A group from the Greater Victoria area is in that boat, ready for the possibility of hosting their folk festival this summer. Let's sit down with members of Folktoria to find out about this celebration of diversity and unification.

https://www.facebook.com/Folkathome/

Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

Winnipeg got a special visitor this February with a visit from the Swedish Ambassador to Canada, Urban Ahlin.

Before Ambassador Urban took a trip on some kicksleds onto the Red River, he shared how Sweden uses these sleds and his experience visiting Ottawa. 

Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

I met up with Sonja Lundstrom, President of the Swedish Cultural Association, and Anders Swanson from Winnipeg Trails Association to talk about the highlights of the Swedish Ambassador's visit to Winnipeg. 

They also share what Canada can learn from Nordic countries, how to enjoy the wonders of winter, and how to better connect to the lands. 

https://www.winnipegtrails.ca/

https://www.scandinaviancentre.ca/sweden

Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.