Viewpoints

The historic Bellevue House located in Kingston, Ontario, is reopening its doors to the public, after being closed for six years. The Québec town of Stanstead, seeks a new future for the historic Del Monty Hotel property. The Toronto Japanese Film Festival enters its 13th year, presenting more international premieres. And we’ll be visiting a Human Rights exhibit that has been touring in different locations in the province of British Columbia. 

Thanks to our journalists Christena Lawrie, Derek Bullard, Owen Thompson and Lauryn Mackenzie. National Editors Maureen McEwan and Victoria Fenner. Host and producer Boris Chassagne. Viewpoints is produced by the Community Radio Fund of Canada with the collaboration of your local radio. 

It’s Invasive Species Month across the country, and we’ll be closing in on efforts made in different provinces to eradicate those plants, animals, bugs and other organisms that shouldn’t be here… on land or underwater. Out west, environmental authorities are worried about the first invasive green crab being found in Cortes Island waters. Nanaimo, BC, is asking its citizens to be on the lookout for problem plants. Then to Québec’s Otter Lake, where authorities are gearing up to tackle the spread of the dangerously invasive European milfoil. In Wellington, Ontario, more than 150 properties are hit by a termite infestation. The municipality wants to hire the big guns. And then, we change the subject to something entirely different. We’ll go to Montreal, Québec, where protestors march against the education minister’s mixed-gender bathroom ban.

Our reporters this week were Lauryn MacKenzie, Caleb Nickerson, Loni Taylor, Kate Stockman and Jules Bugiel. Our national editors, Victoria Fenner and Maureen McEwan. Viewpoints is produced by the Community Radio Fund of Canada. I’m your host and producer, Boris Chassagne. 

We’ll drop by Ontario, where the Russell Township forgoes a by-election by simply appointing its new mayor. The Eaton Centre will be home to the 4th Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival this May: Owen Thompson met up with the founder of the streetwear brand, Aaniin Retail. Centre Wellington’s Space Beans compete in national computer science challenge. In Liverpool, a Nova Scotia artist rediscovers her creative spark and exhibits her work at a new show called From Chaos to Calm. And a North Hatley, Quebec restaurant is now one of four in the whole country to get a Five Diamond rating. 

Thanks to our journalists Candice Vetter, Derek Bullard, Owen Thompson, Rick Conrad, and Kate Stockman. To both our national editors, Victoria Fenner and Maureen McEwan. Viewpoints is produced by the Community Radio Fund of Canada. Host and producer Boris Chassagne. 

The city of Prince Rupert BC is embarking on its largest infrastructure investment in 100 years. Volunteers at Prince Edward County’s first Repair Cafe, in Picton, Ontario, help people fix things that might otherwise head to the landfill. A punk-rock music show promises to attract all ages. And it does! A new supportive housing building opens in Nanaimo, B.C. Some 51 units built to help the unhoused. And the warm winds of spring are heading our way. Toronto, authorizes more than 1,500 restaurants, and cafés to seat their clients on the city’s sidewalks and streets.

Thanks to Brenda Little, Tori Weldon, Dan Mesec, Lauryn Mackenzie, and Owen Thompson. To both our national editors, Maureen McEwan and Victoria Fenner. Viewpoints is produced by the Community Radio Fund of Canada with the precious help of your local radio station. Yes, the one that we both love! I’m your host and producer Boris Chassagne, thanks for being with us this week and until the next! Ciao.

The Orford Express train used to be a moving restaurant and the star and studio of a TV show. But the scenic tourist train has been parked in Magog, Québec since 2019. However, it’s on track for a comeback by spring 2025. Internationally renowned singer-songwriter and musician Alex Cuba will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, from the University of British Columbia. Northwest BC prepares for another tough wildfire season. The Black-capped chickadee bird wins a vote, en route to become Nelson’s official city bird. And we’ll be taking a short stroll down Lake Ontario Beach, which is being made accessible for people with disabilities, using mats and two floating wheelchairs. 

Thanks to Brenda Little, Scott Onyschack, Sabrina Spencer, Derek Bullard and Dan Mesec. To both our national editors, Maureen McEwan and Victoria Fenner. Viewpoints is produced by the Community Radio Fund of Canada. Host and producer Boris Chassagne. 

This week we’ll feel like nature lovers, and talk about the birds, the trees, and the recyclees… We’ll first turn to the sky again this week. Not for a total solar eclipse, though. Instead, we’ll be on the lookout for thousands of sandhill cranes returning to the Bulkley Valley in British Columbia. Summer is not far ahead! Then to Toronto, which is celebrating this April, the 65 years of the sakura tree donations by Japan or cherry blossoms. The blooms are at their peak this month in Toronto parks. And finally we’ll move out east. Since April 1, New Brunswick consumers who return their beverage containers have been getting their full deposit back, doubling the cash payout on a bag of cans and bottles. Erica Butler heads down to the Wheaton All-in-One Redemption Centre in Sackville to witness it all. 

Our journalists this week were Pamela Haasen, Owen Thompson and Erica Butler. Our national editors were Maureen McEwan and Victoria Fenner. Host and producer Boris Chassagne. Viewpoints is brought to you by the Community Radio Fund of Canada. 

On today’s show we will, of course, as many others recently did, turn to the sky. Some of us witnessed on April 8 the best of what astronomy can bring. Derek Bullard met up with people in Sherbrooke’s Jacques Cartier Park, where the Sun and the Moon drew big crowds. From Sherbrooke to Montréal to catch a glimpse of the last days of a popular children’s bookstore. La Petite Librairie Drawn & Quarterly closes its doors after six years. And to Ontario, where the Pollinator Roadside project advocates for blooming roadsides and to restore their habitats. 

Many thanks to our journalists M. P. Holmes, Jules Bugiel and Derek Bullard in Québec and Ontario. And to our national coordinators Victoria Fenner and Maureen McEwan. Host and producer Boris Chassagne. Viewpoints is brought to you by the Community Radio Fund of Canada. 

Québec’s $11 billion deficit is a result of its own fiscal choices say researchers and opposition parties. The Alberta government spends 5M$ to boost women’s shelters across the province. Ontario farmers are bracing for unpredictable weather as spring arrives. Dams in Nanaimo, British Columbia, are in bad shape and could kill hundreds if they fail, says an expert. In Nova Scotia, the Queens County wind farm is getting closer to reality. Thirty-three wind turbines are planned near the Mersey River in Milton, giving local residents a truly green power alternative.

Our reporters were Jules Bugiel, Mick Sweetman, Ryan Hunt, Riley Gillespie-Wilson, and Rick Conrad. Thanks to our national editors, Victoria Fenner and Maureen McEwan. Viewpoints is produced by the Community Radio Fund of Canada. Host and producer Boris Chassagne.

Access to a life-saving intra-nasal Naloxone programme could end soon in New Brunswick. Community workers worry that the life-saving measure could be harder to get. The Cortes Island Food Bank off the BC coast released its annual report showing a 600% increase in need for food. In Kitchener, Ontario, the Irish Real Life Festival has some alternative ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in a city where drunken St. Patrick’s Day parties have become too common in recent years.

Our reporters were M. P. Holmes, Louis Belcourt and Tori Weldon.Thanks to our national editors, Maureen McEwan and Victoria Fenner. Host and producer Boris Chassagne. Viewpoints is produced by the Community Radio Fund of Canada. 

In New Brunswick, self-serve community food banks, fall victim to abuse. In British Columbia, a local school principal looks at the realities of cell phone use, as the province legislates to ban cells in class next September. Alberta introduces a new program to prepare for floods and droughts. Health authorities are in high alert across the country as measles is making a comeback. A growing number of cases have been reported in four provinces so far. Authorities worry that the situation could get much worse. And a recent report contradicts UBER’s contention that its drivers are making $33 an hour. A new report says it looks more like $6.37 per hour.

Our reporters were Erica Butler, Pamela Haasen, Ryan Hunt, Jeff Gard and Owen Thompson. Thanks to our national editors, Victoria Fenner and Maureen McEwan.
Host and producer Boris Chassagne. Viewpoints is produced by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.