YXE Underground

Danielle Hoffart's determination and compassion is ensuring kids at St. Mary's Wellness and Education Centre in Saskatoon are getting the supports they need when it comes to food security. She is St. Mary's Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator and is a true liaison between her school and the greater Pleasant Hill community.

St. Mary's is home to 300 students with more than 90 percent being Indigenous. The school, which was built in 2012 and is part of the Greater Catholic School Division, also has a nutrition program, wellness centre, Indigenous Elders, social workers, psychiatrist and a pediatric centre. It is a hub for the community and Danielle is one of its leaders. 

Danelle has been involved with food security challenges for many years in Saskatoon. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Saskatchewan and really developed a passion for the city's core neighbourhoods through working at places like Quint, the Saskatoon Friendship Inn, and CHEP Good Food. 

For the past 14 years, she has worked within the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division, first as a Community School Coordinator and now as an Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator. 

I came into this interview wanting to focus on Danielle's work in helping students struggling with food security, and it's something we definitely cover in our conversation, but what became clear as Danielle was touring Rona and I through St. Mary's is just how much she loves her students. 

It was a real pleasure speaking with Danielle and I know you're going to love her story. 

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode of the podcast. I sure appreciate your support, Rob!!

Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and follow the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 

Thank you for supporting the podcast and a reminder that I have new YXE Underground zipups for sale! Feel free to contact me through social media if you would like a zipup. 

Cheers...Eric 

 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Take a walk through downtown Saskatoon, River Landing, Riversdale or the University of Saskatchewan campus and you will see public works of art. These pieces reflect our community’s history, they tell important stories and some even become landmarks. Alejandro Romero is passionate about the many positive impacts public art brings to Saskatoon and he shares his convictions in this episode of YXE Underground.

This past summer, my wife and I spent a few weeks in Tennessee visiting places like Nashville, Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains. Everywhere we went, we saw really stunning displays of public art. Whether it was a statue or a vibrant mural, there were pieces of art that told stories of their communities and certainly made for an interesting photograph.

These pieces also made me think of Alejandro Romero. I first met Alejandro in February of 2020, just before the pandemic arrived in Saskatoon, at a podcasting workshop for newcomers. He was one of the organizers and we instantly hit it off because Alejandro is just such a warm and inviting person.

Alejandro has called Saskatoon home for the past 20 years. He was born in Puerto Rico and became a professionally trained artist. Since 2012, Alejandro has been the public art consultant with the City of Saskatoon and works closely with artists, businesses, community leaders and city officials to help create and install public pieces of art in Saskatoon. Overall, Saskatoon has 80 pieces of public art.

When I reached out to Alejandro to see if he would be on the podcast, I asked if we could do the interview at one of his favourite pieces of public art in the city. He expanded on that idea and chose four pieces that hold a special place in his heart.

Alejandro takes you on a public art tour in this episode and I know you’re going to love it.

I want to say a special thank you to Saskatoon photographer Ali Mehdi for his amazing photographs and for being such a wonderful collaborator. Please follow Ali on Instagram because the man can really do some incredible work behind the lens.

Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

I also want to let you know that new YXE Underground shirts have arrived and they are selling quickly! They sell for 30 dollars and all of the money goes to the Saskatoon Friendship Inn which is doing important work helping our city’s most vulnerable when it comes to food security. Please reach out to me on social media or my email address…[email protected]…if you would like a shirt.

Cheers…Eric

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Spend some time with Charmaine Panko and you will quickly realize how important meaningful and empathetic discussion is to her. 

Charmaine is a Saskatoon lawyer who takes a lot of pride in helping couples and families who are going through the divorce process. She worked in a corporate law firm for 10 years after graduating from the University of Saskatchewan's law program but was always intrigued by family law.

She started a niche practice in our community focusing on conflict resolution and uses collaborative law and mediation when working in family law. 

Charmaine explains how collaborative law and mediation can help couples going through a divorce make sure their priorities are in the right place while being kind and respectful to one-another in this episode. She also shares her motivation for helping others and why getting people in a room to talk through their concerns is often the best way to reach a solution.

You will also hear from Colleen Mpofu-McBride in this episode. Colleen is a clinical social worker and works in private practice as a therapist with women, couples and families. She knows Charmaine well and has taken her mediation training. Colleen offers her unique insights into the advantages mediation and collaborative law offers couples going through a difficult time. 

I really learned a lot from Charmaine in our conversation. She is a warm and generous person who really wants to help people in our community. I really admire that. 

I hope you enjoy this episode and please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear! Don't forget to follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and listen wherever you find your podcasts including the YXE Underground website. 

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast. I truly appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric 
 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Every superhero has an origin story. For hydrologist Phillip Harder, who I consider a water superhero, his origin story traces back to when he first saw a culvert sticking straight up in the air near his farm at the age of seven.

Phillip wanted to know why there was fresh water at the bottom of that odd-looking culvert when there was an alkali body of water nearby. To a seven year-old kid growing up on a farm southeast of Saskatoon, this question needed an answer.

The answer to this question, and the great story that surrounds it, is in this episode of YXE Underground.

Season 5 of YXE Underground begins with Phillip Harder. He is a hydrologist and a Research Associate for the Centre for Hydrology at the University of Saskatchewan. He is also a member of a national team called the Global Water Futures research project. 

Phillip is helping communities on the prairies, and especially farmers, learn to best use their fresh water resources. He’s doing this through careful research, flying expensive drones and engaging with people on social media. 

I really admire the work Phillip is doing for our communities. I think the issue of fresh water will become more prominent in the years to come here in Saskatoon as we continue to see the impact of climate change and how it impacts the South Saskatchewan River. We rely so much on the South Saskatchewan River here in Saskatoon, but as Phillip points out in the podcast, so do many people in Saskatchewan and Alberta. We are going to need to share this valuable resource and Phillip’s research will help guide us in how best to do so. 

You will also hear from Jay Famiglietti in this episode. Jay is the Executive Director for the Global Institute of Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan and hosts a wonderful podcast called What About Water which is produced here in Saskatoon. Jay does an excellent job of putting Phillip’s work into a larger context and discusses the challenges of sharing research with people who are set in their ways when it comes to using water. 

This was such a fun episode to produce! I spent a very hot August afternoon with Phillip on his family’s land just south of Clavet, Saskatchewan, which is about 15 minutes southeast of Saskatoon. He not only took me to the infamous vertical culvert but also to a research site where some of his work is taking place. Phillip is passionate about educating people on issues surrounding fresh water and is gifted at explaining things in clear and understandable ways. 

I hope you enjoy the Season 5 debut of YXE Underground and I want to thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast! When I started this podcast in September of 2018, I had no idea it would find such a caring and engaged audience, and I sure didn’t think I would make it to a fifth season! Thank you so much for your continued support as I really love sharing the stories of people who are making a difference in Saskatoon but are flying under the radar.

Cheers…Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Anita Smith is one of my favourite people and it was wonderful to have her back on the podcast for this special summer bonus episode. 

Anita is the Artistic and Executive Director of Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre and a fierce advocate for the arts in our community. When she's not directing and acting in plays, Anita empowers local artists from all backgrounds to tell their stories on local stages. That's one of the many reasons why she is so excited for the Saskatoon Fringe Festival.

25th Street Theatre puts on the Fringe Festival which means Anita and her team are busy all year preparing for the 10 day festival in Saskatoon's Broadway District. This year's festival  features the return of international theatre companies to Saskatoon as well as some fantastic local and national companies. 

Anita was kind enough to swing by my house on a Sunday morning to offer a preview of this year's Fringe Festival for the podcast. We also discuss the importance of getting kids interested in the arts at a young age and why she feels so strongly about our community supporting local artists. 

You can learn more about this year's Fringe Festival and purchase tickets to any of the festival performances by visiting the 25th Street Theatre website. 

I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer and don't forget that Season 5 of YXE Underground drops on September 8th! I have started gathering interviews for the new season and can't wait to share them with you!!

Thank you, as always, for supporting a local, independent podcast. I really do appreciate it. Have a great rest of your summer and maybe see you at the Fringe!

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

It's easy to spot a Science Trek student in Saskatoon. Just look for their bright yellow backpack cover!

To be a member of the Science Trek means you are a part of a family. This is one of the many things I learned about the program after spending a beautiful June day with the class as it prepared for an upcoming canoe trip. It makes a lot of sense. 

Students apply to be a part of this unique Saskatoon Public Schools program from across the city and then are chosen from a lottery. Most of the students didn't know each-other on their first day of school, but through a variety of experiences (both inside the classroom and out in the community) they come together to form a family. And this family loves science!

Science Trek teaches students to view the world around them through the lens of science. It is taught by two amazing teachers: Brian Gurney and Ashley Son. Together, they empower their students to discover how science impacts our community in places the northeast swale and the South Saskatchewan River. How they go about doing this is fascinating and I think you'll really admire their approach to teaching. 

I had so much fun with the Science Trek class and I think it's a fantastic way to wrap up Season Four of the podcast.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. 

And a big thank you to all you listeners for supporting  local, independent podcast this season! I truly do appreciate it.

I hope you have a great summer and I can't wait for Season Five to launch on September 8th!

Talk to you soon, Saskatoon...

Eric 
 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Megen Olfert smiles thinking about the backyard treehouse her father designed for her when she was a kid. 

It was wide enough for a motorised wheelchair to manoeuvre inside, and a cement path wound its way through the backyard up to the treehouse instead of stairs or a ladder. 

“I felt like I was on equal ground as a kid,” said Megen, “because sometimes when you’re disabled it means you have to do things differently even though you can do the same thing. It made me feel included.”

Megen was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at nine months old. It became clear to her parents, Charles and Leila Olfert, that their daughter would need a wheelchair and their house would not meet Megen’s needs. So, Charles began designing a new home for the family.

This is an excerpt from a story I wrote for the CBC Saskatchewan website based on this episode. I love the story of Megan's treehouse!

Charles and Leila have been living in this fully accessible home for the past 36 years. Charles is an architect with AODBT architecture and interior design and is passionate about accessibility. He shares that passion in this episode and I am grateful to him for it. 

I am also grateful to have met Megen at her condominium at Cheshire Homes of Saskatoon, along with her service dog, Que. He makes a few appearances in this episode. 

What you are going to hear is the story of a young woman who was not going to let her disabilities prevent her from living a full and abundant life and the father who used his architectural and design knowledge to ensure she had access to everything she needed. 

Charles was kind enough to give me a tour of his house before introducing me to Megen at her condo. In between the tour and meeting Megen, I sat down with Charles to learn more about his passion for accessibility, how he is working with local businesses and organizations to make accessibility a priority, and his belief in the Rick Hansen Foundation's certification course. 

I had so much fun spending time with Charles and Megen and I hope you enjoy listening to their story. 

Thank you so much for continuing to support a local, independent podcast and don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. Oh, and there are some wonderful photos of Charles and Megen taken by Saskatoon photographer Rona Andreas on the website and social media sites. 

Thanks again for listening!

Cheers...Eric

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Knowing where your next hot meal is coming from is a luxury most of us take for granted, but there are people in our community from all backgrounds who struggle to find their next breakfast or lunch. The Friendship Inn has spent the past 50 years helping vulnerable people in our community struggling with food security get the supports they need. 

Every morning and lunch, 365 days a year, the Friendship Inn serves a free breakfast and lunch to people who need it. What's really amazing to me is that the organization never missed a meal in the pandemic. 

I was able to spend a morning at the Friendship Inn on a sunny Thursday in late March. I feel very lucky to have met a wonderful group of people who care for our community's most vulnerable with compassion and empathy. In this episode you'll meet Sandra Kary (Executive Director), Laura Herman (Development and Engagement Manager), Jenna Gull (Chef) and Tracy Block (Staff Member) and they do a fantastic job of sharing how the Friendship Inn is able to support so many people. 

Food security is an ongoing challenge in Saskatoon and there are many organizations who are working hard to meet this challenge. The Friendship Inn is certainly playing a vital role and I think that point will become clear to you after listening to this episode. 

Don't forget to leave a 5-star review of the podcast if you like what you hear and you can see some great photos from this episode simply by checking out YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. 

Thank you again to the Friendship Inn for welcoming me with open arms! 

Thanks for supporting a local, independent podcast! It really does mean a lot.

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

"Everybody in the pandemic has seems more friendly and more open. I've seen so many more people during the pandemic actually engaging in eye-contact and actually stopping and saying hello."

I love this statement from Frances Sreedhar! If anyone knows how people are acting on the Meewasin trails, it's Frances. 

Frances has walked more than one million steps on the Meewasin Valley trails since the pandemic started back in March of 2020 here in Saskatoon. She started walking for many different reason, which she explains eloquently in this bonus episode of the podcast, and realized that she had the opportunity to help two organizations close to her heart through her daily walks on the trails. 

In 2021, Frances raised thousands of dollars for the Meewasin Valley Authority and the Canadian Mental Health Association and is at it again in 2022. She has done a marvellous job of sharing her story with the local media (CTV Saskatoon, CBC Saskatchewan, Global Saskatoon) and I feel very lucky that she is appearing on the podcast to talk about the joys of walking and why fundraising for these two organizations is so important to her. 

If you would like to help Frances reach her 2022 fundraising goal, please check out her Facebook Page. 

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast and hope to see you on the MVA trails this spring!

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Two years ago, Saskatoon was preparing to host the Juno Awards. Covid-19 was definitely in the news, but it had not reached our community yet. All systems were ready to go celebrate the best in Canadian music. 

For myself, I was excited to release a pair of YXE Underground episodes highlighting the behind the scenes work it took to bring the Juno Awards to Saskatoon and to host the JunoFest concert series.

All of that changed when the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Saskatchewan. The Junos were cancelled. School was quickly moved to online learning at home, and my job as Communications Leader at Sherbrooke Community Centre, a long term care home in Saskatoon, quickly focused on crisis communications. 

We are now two years into the pandemic and I wanted to tell that story through the lens of registered nurses in this episode. Every day, I see the incredible work performed by nurses and I know the positive impact they are having on residents, patients and families in our community and across the province. 

I also know this pandemic has been especially challenging for all health care workers…nurses included. What I really appreciate about these guests you are about to meet is how honest they are about the challenges they have faced throughout the past two years. 

Jenna Isley, Lana Mayerle and Jamie Coates are the three nurses you will meet and I think hearing their stories will give you a new appreciation for the work they do and the impact the pandemic has had on them.

I want to thank Jenna, Lana and Jamie for sharing their stories on the podcast and for all of the work they, and all of their health care colleagues, have done throughout the pandemic caring for others.

This episode was supported by Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford. Thank you for always supporting the podcast, Rob!

Don't forget to leave a 5-star review of YXE Underground if you like what you hear. 

Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. I really do appreciate it. 

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis