YXE Underground

For the past 48 years, the Kinsmen Foundation and Telemiracle has been raising money to improve the quality of life and independence of Saskatchewan residents. Their generosity is huge and the province rallies every year to support the Telemiracle fundraising event on television, but you might not know about all the work that goes on behind the scenes, all year round, to connect the Kinsmen Foundation with people in need. We learn about this incredible work in this episode of YXE Underground. I can vividly remember being 8 years-old, sitting on the living room floor next to my sister, in our home in Swift Current, eagerly waiting for our names to slowly scroll across the bottom screen during Telemiracle. I’m sure I am not the only one who has a memory like this.I think Telemiracle is one of those Saskatchewan institutions that just seems to bring people together. The fact that this two day annual fundraiser raises millions of dollars to help people in need, whether it’s a piece of medical equipment or to help cover the costs of travel for a medical procedure, is worth celebrating.However, it’s only been in the past few years that I’ve learned about all the work that happens year round by a passionate group of volunteers that connects people in need with the Kinsmen Foundation. These volunteers are from across Saskatchewan and often meet at the Kinsmen Foundation headquarters in Saskatoon.I wanted to learn more about these Kinsmen and Telemiracle volunteers and how they work with people and organizations across Saskatchewan, and I was lucky enough to meet Raelynn Nicholson and Tyler Hall.Raelynn is the Kinsmen Foundation Board Chair and lives in Assiniboine, Saskatchewan. Tyler Hall is this year’s Telemiracle Chair and he lives in Mortlach, Saskatchewan. They are volunteers who love making a difference in the lives of people, and as you will hear, their roots run deep with it comes to Kinsmen and Telemiracle.I was lucky to catch them both in Saskatoon last month and we met for coffee at the Broadway Roastery on 8th Street. We cover a lot of ground in just over a half-hour...like how the volunteer board decides where to spend its money and what it’s like getting to really know families in need. We also discuss why this work means so much to Raelynn and Tyler, and as you’ll hear, they have a lot of fun working together.A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. If you are looking for someone to manage your money and give you thoughtful advice on investments, you should really speak with Rob Rongve. Thank you so much for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and follow YXE Underground on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar. I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for Walking with Lisa episodes. In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who is about to begin a new role with Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season. The premise of these Walking with Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"In this episode, Lisa shares her insights into the thoughts and feelings that go into making a major pivot in one's life. Lisa comes at this topic from a very honest place as she is in the midst of a significant pivot in her professional life. Thank you for always being so honest and authentic with listeners, Lisa! These Walking with Lisa episodes drop every month wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. Thanks so much for listening and don't forget that a new episode of YXE Underground drops February 15th.Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

The final days and moments of a person’s life can be uncomfortable subjects for people to think about, let alone discuss with others. But what I discovered by spending a morning at the Hospice at Glengarda, Saskatchewan’s first stand-alone hospice, is that there is so much room for light, laughter and gratitude when the end is near. What I also discovered is how much work it takes from very dedicated and caring staff to ensure those streams of light make their way into the hospice. You are about to meet some of those people as we take you inside the Hospice at Glengarda.In January of 2021, the Hospice at Glengarda opened on a quiet residential street in Saskatoon’s exhibition neighbourhood. The hospice has 15 private rooms and is designed for patients requiring end-of-life care. The story of how the Hospice went from idea to reality is really amazing and one we covered a few weeks ago in a bonus episode of the podcast featuring Lecina Hicke, CEO of the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation. I strongly encourage you to give it a listen if you haven’t done so already as Lecina tells the story so well. Now, I must admit that before I stepped foot in the Hospice at Glengarda, in my mind, this was going a very serious and perhaps solemn interview because we were going to be talking about death and dying. Well, that quickly changed when I met Robin Stahl, Kristin Hubic and Monique Blom. As I mentioned earlier, there is so much light and energy and laughter in this space and I feel so grateful to have spoken with Robin, Kristin and Monique together as they have amazing chemistry.They gave my photographer and friend, Molly Schikosky, and I a tour of the Hospice and made us feel so welcomed. I maybe asked five or six questions over the span of our two hours together which is wonderful because, as you are about to hear, they fed off of each-other’s energy and traded stories with one-another that illustrate the importance and significance of their work. The tour they gave us was very unique. They wanted to place us in the shoes of a person who was arriving into the Hospice, which is why Monique asked if I would lay down on the floor of the back entrance. That’s because when a person arrives to the Hospice, they enter on a stretcher through the back door. As you will hear, this back entrance is a very unique space. From there, we visit one of the spa rooms, the main floor kitchen and the smudge room. We weren’t able to go inside of the patient rooms as they were all full but we do talk about what the rooms look like and why paying attention to the little things in so important to patients and families. A big thank you to Robin, Kristin, Monique and the entire team at the Hospice at Glengarda for making time for us and making us feel so welcomed in their space. I know you will enjoy this episode. Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!A big thank you Rob Rongve and his team at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. I’m your host, Eric Anderson. Happy New Year to all of you and I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.I am really excited to begin 2024 with a bonus episode featuring a really kind and passionate person in our community. Her name is Lecina Hicke and she is the CEO of the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation.The reason I reached out to Lecina is I wanted to do an episode focusing on the Hospice at Glengarda. As you will hear in our conversation, Lecina has a very strong connection to the Hospice and worked extremely hard for years to ensure its construction and its mission of providing compassionate and meaningful End-of-Life care would be successful.The Hospice at Glengarda is a 15-bed Hospice located on Hilliard Street East and Melrose Avenue in Saskatoon’s Exhibition neighbourhood. My wife and I used to live on Ash Street and would walk by the construction three times day because our dog Fred loved his walks, and it was really something to see this beautiful building going up in a quiet, old neighbourhood in the city.The Hospice is governed by Emmanual Health, owned by St. Paul’s Hospital and was Saskatchewan’s first stand-alone hospice.I feel very lucky to have spent an afternoon with Lecina in her office at St. Paul’s Hospital learning about the work that went into fundraising for the Hospice, why educating the general public was so important, and the impact a gentleman named Gord Engel had on her and the Close to Home fundraising campaign.Now, the plan is to do an episode where we take you inside the Hospice at Glengarda and speak with staff about the work they are doing. We are just working on finding a time that works for everyone. Hopefully that episode will come out in the next few weeks, but I really think knowing the background behind the creation will of the Hospice will make you appreciate the work it is doing for patients and families in Saskatoon even more.Thank you so much for listening to this bonus episode and don't forget to share it and leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Finding your voice as a young artist can be challenging, especially if you can't find the right space to express yourself creatively. Luckily for young people in Saskatoon, Jody Lerat and her team of students have created a safe and inviting space where young artists are free and encouraged to discover their voice. It's called Future Artistic Minds and you are about to visit this collective here on YXE Underground.I was able to spend a Tuesday night in late November at the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op in Saskatoon's Riversdale neighbourhood. The building is broken up into several different spaces. There's a recording studio down the hall from the kitchen, a silk screening press in the basement, and in the kitchin and dining room area, a group of high school and early 20 something artists are sitting around a long, wide table making art out of felt. All of this falls under the umbrella of the Future Artistic Minds collective, also known as FAM. This evening is a drop-in session meaning people can come in and create alongside other artists. This is where Jody Lerat spends a lot of her free time. She teaches art at Mount Royal Collegiate here in Saskatoon and is an artist herself. She knows everyone in the room and whenever she enters a different space in the building, young artists light up and say, "hi Jody!" It's clear after five minutes that everyone here looks up to Jody.There's a lot happening at FAM and it's all under the caring and encouraging eye of Jody Lerat. For almost two years, I've been trying to get Jody on the podcast as I think she's a wonderful leader in our community who deserves to be celebrated, so I am excited to feature her and the collective on the podcast. Jody is from Cowessess First Nation in Treaty 4 territory but grew up in Saskatoon for most of her life. She talks openly in our conversation about the joy she experiences when she sees young artists collaborating and why encouraging today's youth to pursue careers in the arts is so important. She also talks about the deeply personal role art has played in her life and why it fuels her passion to be the best art teacher she can be.I also want to give a big thanks to FAM member Sofiya Zhukova who stepped up at the last minute when I couldn't find a photographer for this episode and totally rocked it! Sofiya took incredible photos and was so much fun to work with. She is just starting her own photography and graphic design career and let me tell you, she is good! Thanks so much for all of your help, Sofiya.Please feel free to give the podcast a 5-star review and tell your friends if you like what you hear. Doing both really does help the podcast reach more listeners so thank you!I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season and can't wait to talk with you in 2024.Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar. I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for "Walking with Lisa" episodes. In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who today works at the University of Saskatchewan, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season. The premise of these "Walking with Lisa" episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"In this episode, Lisa dives into the challenges we face when it comes to the holiday season. Whether it's pressure to attend work functions or feeling the need to buy the perfect, most extravagant toy for your child, the holidays bring out many unique challenges. Lisa shares her insights on this time of year and how we can keep our minds healthy during such a hectic time. These "Walking with Lisa" episodes drop on the last Thursday of every month wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. Thanks so much for listening and don't forget that a new episode of YXE Underground drops December 14th!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

For more than 20 years, Kim Fisher has worked at the Saskatoon YWCA helping women and their families receive the supports they need and doing it with kindness and compassion. The YWCA is many things to many people in our community. There is an employment and learning centre that helps people learn the skills to reach their employment goals. The childhood development centre provides daycare to kids from across Saskatoon. And of course there is the gym that many years ago I frequented when I was a university student living a block away from YWCA. For this episode, we focus on the YWCA’s Emergency Crisis Shelter, the long term residents and the programming it provides to women and their families in need of help. Kim Fisher is the Director of Residential Programs at the YWCA and is a very busy person. She oversees several different support programs, which she talks about in our conversation, and has been helping with the organization’s efforts to expand their capacity through their Hope Lives Here campaign. The need for safe housing is high in Saskatoon.In 2022, the YWCA Crisis Shelter and Residence turned away more than 4000 women, youth and children looking for a safe place to stay in our community. Kim shares the wonderful news of the campaign’s success and the expansion happening right now at the YWCA in our conversation. She also explains why it takes so much courage for women to seek out the help and services offered at the YWCA and why this work means so much to her.Thank you so much for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. Please leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and feel free to tell a friend about YXE Underground!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you! If this is your first time listening, welcome! YXE Underground is local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar.I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for 'Walking with Lisa' episodes.In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to this pitch. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who today works at the University of Saskatchewan, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season. The premise of these 'Walking with Lisa' episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"Now, for this episode, we might have skipped out on the walking part due to the weather! It snowed on the day we were going to record and I just wasn't ready to walk in the cold and deal with slippery sidewalks yet. So Lisa graciously offered her office instead. I promise we will walk next month no matter how cold it is! Our conversation centered around a couple of really interesting themes. The first is the idea of belonging versus fitting in, which is something that really hit home with me in regards to my days as a journalist, and then how that idea fits into what makes a supportive, inclusive community. As always, Lisa shares her thoughts and insights in a clear and honest way. I am grateful for these conversations and I hope you enjoy them too. These 'Walking with Lisa' episodes drop on the last Thursday of every month wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.Thanks so much for listening and don't forget that a new episode of YXE Underground drops November 9th! Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Literacy is something many of us take for granted, and yet one in three people in Saskatchewan struggle when it comes to things like reading, writing, comprehension numeracy skills. At Foundations Learning and Skills Saskatchewan, a dedicated group of staff and volunteers is helping adults who want to improve their literacy skills for free. Charlene Siwak is the Adult Literacy Coordinator at Foundations and sees the impact literacy has in our community. She takes listeners inside the Adult Literacy Programs offered by Foundations and why this work means so much to her in this episode. I think it takes courage for people to admit when they need help and seek out resources that can help them achieve their goals, and when it comes to Foundations Learning and Skills, the goals it helps people reach revolve around literacy.The organization, formerly known as READ Saskatoon, has been helping people 18 and over in Saskatoon and the province for decades achieve their learning goals.Charlene Siwak and her colleagues work with learners from all walks of life in Saskatoon to help them reach their goals, and what I found so interesting in speaking with Charlene is just how unique it is working with adult learners compared high school or elementary school students. She is passionate about making a difference in peoples’ lives and as you will discover in our conversation, loves working with adults to reach their education goals. I learned so much from Charlene in our conversation and I know you are going to as well. Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcasts here in Saskatoon. I really appreciate your support. Don't forget to tell your friends about the podcast and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

This month, the Broadway Theatre is celebrating 30 years as a community owned and operated theatre in Saskatoon which is an achievement worth celebrating. The Broadway is many things to many people. For music lovers, it’s a place where they can see their favourite artists and bands in an intimate setting and discover new and emerging talent from across the world. If you love live theatre, then you have no doubt seen the Saskatoon Soaps perform on stage or watched a theatre group perform during the Fringe festival. Movie fans flock to the Broadway for classic films, the best in global cinema and independent Canadian movies. I even dragged my wife with me to see a screening of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan at the Broadway…an experience I know she is grateful for!For the past 30 years, the Broadway has been a hub of cultural and community events in Saskatoon and the future looks bright for the next 30 thanks to strong leadership, community support and an army of passionate volunteers. I was fortunate to speak with three amazing people who love the Broadway Theatre. Holly Gilroy is the Broadway's Operations Manager, Aryn Otterbein is its Artistic Director and April Sora is a previous board member and passionate volunteer. Together, they cover everything from the joys of working with the community to ensuring the next 30 years are just as successful for the Theatre.Thank you so much for listening to this special bonus episode of the podcast. The Broadway is one of my favourite places in Saskatoon and we are really lucky to have such a hub for community events in our city. Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you! If this is your first time listening, welcome! YXE Underground is local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar.I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for 'Walking with Lisa' episodes.In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to this pitch. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who today works at the University of Saskatchewan, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season. The premise of these 'Walking with Lisa' episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"For this episode, I met Lisa on a very sunny afternoon the University of Saskatchewan campus. Our conversation centered on a presentation she had recently given with her friend Adrianne Vangool at the Evoke Conference that focused on comparison versus envy. These 'Walking with Lisa' episodes will drop on the last Thursday of every month wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.A few housekeeping notes... A special bonus episode of YXE Underground will drop on Tuesday, October 3rd, that will take listeners to the Broadway Theatre which is celebrating 30 years as a community owned theatre in October. This was a fun one to record as we look at what makes the Broadway such a unique cultural organization in Saskatoon and what's on tap in terms of concerts and events this fall.Then on October 12th, a brand new episode drops featuring Charlene Siwak will be released. Charlene is the Adult Literacy Coordinator at Foundations Learning and Skills Saskatchewan, which was formerly Read Saskatoon, and she is such a wonderful person. I can't wait for you to hear how she is making a difference in our community.Finally, if you have a dog or cat, you definitely need a YXE Underground dog or cat bandana! They are yellow and black, cost 10 dollars and all the money will go to New Hope Dog Rescue's Animal Safekeeping Program, which was the focus of this month's episode of the podcast. It's an incredible program and we are raising money for it through these dog and cat bandanas, so please reach out to me on social media or email: [email protected] if you would like one. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy our walk!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Welcome to Season Six of YXE Underground. Thank you so much for your continued support and I am thrilled to be back sharing stories of people who are making a difference in Saskatoon but are flying under the radar. This season's first episode focuses on the Animal Safekeeping Program. It is a partnership between New Hope Dog Rescue and the Saskatchewan SPCA and is helping people and animals who are leaving a domestic abuse or interpersonal violence situation. I was fortunate to speak with Sandra Archibald and Laura Zmud to learn more about the Animal Safekeeping Program.Sandra is the Executive Director of New Hope Dog Rescue and Laura is the Family Ties Coordinator with the Saskatchewan SPCA. They found time in their busy schedule to meet with me at the SPCA office in Saskatoon to share more about the program and its importance in our community. I learned so much from speaking with Sandra and Laura and have so much respect for the work they are doing to help people who are experience interpersonal violence and their pets. I know you are going to learn a great deal as well. I want to mention that I am doing two podcast merchandise fundraisers for the Animal Safekeeping Program. The first are dog and cat bandanas that are yellow and have a black YXE Underground logo on them. They cost 10 dollars and your pet will look so good wearing them! The second fundraiser is a new round of YXE Underground t-shirts! The shirts are 3/4 length baseball tees that are blue and white with a blue YXE Underground logo. They sell for 25 dollars. All of the money from the sale of bandanas and shirt will go to the Animal Safekeeping Program. You can reach out to me on social media or send an email to [email protected] if you would like some new merchandise and to help people and animals in need. Thank you so much for listening to this season's debut episode and thanks again to Sandra and Laura for their generosity and kindness. Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Hello and welcome to a special summer bonus episode of YXE Underground. My name is Eric Anderson and I hope you are having a wonderful summer so far. I spent the first two weeks of July on a trip to Scandinavia with my Dad and had a really great time there. We spent time in Norway, specifically Oslo and a city called Narvik within the Arctic Circle, which was pretty crazy to experience as the sun just doesn't really go down at all. We would go to bed around 1 am and it was like 7pm here in Saskatoon, so that was pretty neat to see. The reason for our trip was to learn more about my Grandpa Anderson's experiences as a member of the Norwegian Resistance in WWII and we really learned a lot. I posted a little bit about it on the YXE Underground social media channels but I did some audio recording during our trip and fingers crossed I'm going to be doing a radio documentary for CBC Radio about our time in Norway and my Grandpa's experiences.I am also excited to be back in Saskatoon and to be talking about the Saskatoon Fringe Festival! It's one of my favourite times of the year here in the city. There's great live theatre to take in, there's wonderful local vendors to check out, the buskers are great and if you have kids well there's so much to do!The Saskatoon Fringe Festival is put on by Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre. It starts on August 3rd and goes to August 12th. There's so much going on in the festival, including a return to Broadway Avenue on August 5th and 6th, that I felt it warranted a summer bonus episode with one of my favourite people in the world, Anita Smith. Anita is the Artistic and Executive Director for 25th Street Theatre and is basically thinking about the Fringe Festival 365 days a year. When I met up with her last week and asked if she was getting any sleep as the festival was getting closer, she told me she was actually dreaming of the Fringe Festival. That's how much Anita Smith cares about putting on a fantastic Fringe Festival for us here in Saskatoon!Now, before we get to our conversation, I quickly want to mention that Season 6 of YXE Underground will drop on September 14th and I am so excited for this upcoming season! I am going to try some new things this season with more episodes and more online promotion that I am eager for you to hear and see and I have some great new merchandise not only for people but for our four-legged friends as well! I'll share more details as we get closer to September but thank you so much for all of your support and spreading the word on all things YXE Underground.Have a wonderful time at the Fringe Festival and best of luck to Anita as she attempts to see all 18 plays during the festival! I started by asking Anita how she was feeling a few days before the festival kicks off. Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Educating people of all ages and cultures is what drives Elaine Sutherland. For nearly 25 years, she taught in schools, mostly as a kindergarten teacher, and helped her peers incorporate Indigenous history and teachings education into their classrooms. Today, you can find Elaine at the Office of the Treaty Commissioner where she is the Director of Treaty Education. The history of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner is interesting.It was created in 1989 by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Government of Canada to guide both parties through their differing views on Treaties. For those unfamiliar with Treaties, in Saskatchewan they are the formal agreements between the Crown and First Nations with their expectations and obligations.11 numbered treaties were negotiated after confederation and between 1871 and 1921. They cover the territories from present day Ontario to Alberta as well as parts of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. In Saskatchewan, there are six treaties: Treaty 2, treaty 4, treaty 6, treaty 8 and treaty 10. Saskatoon is in treaty 6 territory. The Office of the Treaty Commissioner’s vision in our province is to promote respect and understanding of Treaties, and to support Treaty parties in maintaining and enhancing the Treaty relationship through dialogue, neutral support, assistance with resolving disputes, and commitment to the Treaty principles.I would strongly recommend spending some time on the OTC’s website as there some great online resources available and it’s just interesting learning about this organization.Learning is a theme in this episode as it’s something Elaine Sutherland firmly believes we should all be doing no matter where we are in our lives. For the past two years, she has been teaching the importance of treaties to people in our city, our province and across Canada. She left a highly respected teaching career to take on this role and it has not always been easy. However, you will hear why this work…why sharing the stories of treaties with businesses, organizations and especially teachers, as well as strategies to help on their learning journey, is so meaningful to Elaine. You will also hear in this episode how Elaine’s new two day education session called the Treaty Learning Journey is connecting with participants here in Saskatoon and throughout Saskatchewan.Thank you so much to Elaine for sharing her story on the podcast and to the Office of the Treaty Commissioner for its cooperation and support. You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or the the YXE Underground website. Follow YXE Underground on social media! Simply search 'YXE Underground' on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. This is the Season 5 finale of YXE Underground and I can’t thank all of you enough for supporting my podcast. Whether you’re listening to or sharing the podcast, or maybe you’re telling a friend to check it out, or you’re buying podcast swag that support local organizations…thank you so very much! I had no idea this podcast would go on for five years and it really is a privilege sharing these stories with you. Thank you for the opportunity to do so. I can’t wait for Season 6 to launch in September and you might hear a summer bonus episode or two between now and the fall. If you have any recommendations when it comes to people or organizations that should be featured on the podcast, I would love to hear them. Feel free to send an email to [email protected] or fill out a nomination form on the website. You can also drop me a line on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I know there are so many people in Saskatoon making a difference in our community who are flying under the radar so let’s get them on the podcast and share their stories. I hope you have a safe and wonderful summer and be on the lookout for a few bonus episodes in July and August before Season 6 begins in September. Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

It’s a Thursday night and four people are sparring under the careful watch of Haven Seto.For years, Haven has worked with athletes of all ages to help them develop their boxing, kickboxing and wushu skills. Wushu is also known as kung-fu, and it’s played an important role in Haven’s life.I am so excited to introduce you to Haven Seto.He is the epitome of a community leader. He loves helping others, he is passionate about making his community a better place, and he understands the importance of hard work and kindness.For the past 15 years, Haven has worked at the Saskatchewan Intercultural Association here in Saskatoon. This organization provides programs and services to help newcomers and Indigenous find success in their communities and has been doing this work since 1964.Haven oversees all of the employment programs and as you will hear in our conversation, he takes so much pride in helping newcomers and Indigenous people find meaningful employment in Saskatoon.He also owns and operates the Chinese Martial Arts Academy where he is one of several coaches working with athletes of all ages. Mentorship and helping others are key aspects in Haven’s life and he’s able to do both in his role not only at the gym but at the Saskatchewan Intercultural Association.It was a true pleasure spending time with Haven to not only learn about the many roles he plays in our community but about why all of his work means so much to him. Haven's personal story is compelling and I think one that you will connect with. Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Goodpods or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. You can also listen to episodes on the YXE Underground website.Find YXE Underground on social media. Search YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for episode updates and photos from each episode. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast.Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

It has been just over a year since Ukrainians began arriving in Saskatoon, fleeing from war with Russia, and arriving with very little to start their new lives in our community. There have been many stories chronicling the efforts of people and organizations to help Ukrainians not only arrive safely but to set them up for success in Saskatoon and all are worth celebrating. For this episode, I wanted to highlight the efforts of people you may not know but their work is helping Ukrainian newcomers find safety and security in Saskatoon.You are going to meet four amazing people in this episode. We will visit Travis Homenuk and Shauna Tilbury at the Saskatoon Public School Division’s Newcomer Student Centre. We will find out why Linda Rudachyk is working so hard to find affordable housing for Ukrainian families and we start the podcast with a trip to the Saskatoon Open Door Society to meet Lyudmyla Pastushenko. I want to thank all of my guests for sharing their stories and passion for helping others.You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods, or the YXE Underground website. Follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast and I hope you enjoy this episode!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

You can’t help but be in awe when you walk into Child Life Zone at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital. First of all, it’s really big. There’s plenty of space for kids to simply play which is a concept Dominique Rust touches on several times in our conversation. There are large windows that encompass the room and allow plenty of sunlight in, the ceiling is high and the space has one of the coolest music rooms I’ve ever seen. There’s even a beautiful kitchen and dining space for families to use. The Child Life Zone is part of a North American organization called Teammates for Kids. There are Child Life Zones in various cities across the United States but Saskatoon is the only city in Canada that has a Child Life Zone.What is the purpose of the Child Life Zone? It offers support and education for young patients and families to help reduce stress and anxiety that go along with hospital stays, tests and procedures. It also offers kids a break from the hospital setting, which I think is something we can all empathize with. In this space are certified child life specialists, like Dominique Rust, along with recreation therapists and a music therapist. The Child Life Zone would not exist without a host of community partnerships and sponsors, which Kristina Konchak facilitates in her role with the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. It was a real pleasure receiving a tour of the Child Life Zone from Dominique and Kristina. Dominique is the Manager of the Child Life Zone and she manages a team of recreation and child life therapists, as well as a music therapist.Kristina is the Hospital and Community Engagement Director for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.What I love about our conversation is that as Dominique and Kristina are describing the many amenities in the space, they share the impact they have on children and their families. I hope you enjoy the tour!Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. You can also listen on the YXE Underground website. A big thank for all of your support these past five years! YXE Underground recently passed the 50,000 download mark and I am so grateful for each and every one of you for getting behind this local, independent podcast. I truly appreciate it!Here's to the next 50,000 downloads!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Andrew Baenziger is in his dream job.As the Adaptive Technologist for SaskAbilities, he is helping people overcome barriers they are facing due to disability or injury through his passion for technology and empathy to help others in need.Andrew invited us to his workshop to show us how he uses technology, and perhaps a piece or two from his aquarium, to make a difference in lives of people here in Saskatoon.It was wonderful spending time in his workspace at SaskAbilities for this episode.The main space, which is a classroom inside an old school, has a few desks which are covered with different devices and creations made by Andrew that are designed to help people in a variety of ways. He calls it his showroom and it’s where most of our conversation takes place…But his favourite space to spend time is definitely his workshop. It’s attached to the showroom and it’s where Andrew loves to fix things.As an Adaptive Technologist, Andrew works with people who need help overcoming barriers in their lives. Often times, these barriers revolve around communication. Andrew shares some great examples in our conversation of how he has worked with clients to come up with creative and cost-efficient solutions to barriers they are facing due to disability or injury.I think one of Andrew’s many strengths is how he combines his passion for technology with a genuine interest in helping people. You will hear a wonderful quote in the second part of our conversation from Andrew where he puts his job into a greater perspective that I think will stick with you.You will also hear my friend and YXE Underground photographer Rona Andreas ask a few questions to Andrew. Rona is an Occupational Therapy Assistant at Sherbrooke Community Centre, which is where I work, and I wanted to make sure she had a chance to ask Andrew some questions because she would view his work through such a unique lens.Let me tell you…Rona asks some good questions.You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Goodpods or the website: yxeunderground.com. Feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.Don’t forget to follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.Thanks so much for listening and I hope you enjoy Andrew’s story.Cheers…Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. This episode is a continuation of last week’s episode where we featured an incredible nonprofit organization called Empty Arms. It is a perinatal support group that provides supports to individuals and families who have experienced the loss of a child during pregnancy or up to the age of six.Jasmin Herchak and Briana Koop co-founded Empty Arms in 2015 and were the featured guests in last week’s episode. They were amazing to speak with and the feedback I’ve received from listeners highlights their empathy and kindness. I hope you get a chance to listen to their story if you haven’t done so already.The other voices you heard in last week’s episode belonged to Dax and Sara Irons. They share the story of their son, Everett, who was born on September 22nd , 2018 and passed away at birth. They are grateful for the support Empty Arms provided them during such a difficult time, and in fact it was Sara’s idea to feature Jasmin and Briana on the podcast.Sara and Dax invited me to their home on a chilly Saturday morning in December to talk about Everett and the supports Empty Arms provided them. It was a really powerful conversation and I can’t thank Sara and Dax enough for their honesty and vulnerability in sharing their story.I played a few minutes of our conversation in last week’s episode but I want to share with you the entire interview because I just found it so powerful in how it shows the impact Empty Arms has on people like Sara and Dax. I also wanted to share it because Sara and Dax gave so much of themselves in telling their story. I’ve known Sara for years through Saskatoon’s yoga community but this was the first time I met Dax, and he just shared so much of his heart in our conversation. I am grateful to both of them.We did the interview in the living room of their home. Dax and I sat on the couch while Sara sat cross-legged on the floor. On the coffee table in front of us were objects that were part of the Empty Arms care package that you’ll hear them discuss throughout the interview.Again, I am so grateful to Sara and Dax for sharing their story with me on the podcast.Listen to and follow YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Spotify, Goodpods or the YXE Underground website. Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Jasmin Herchak and Briana Koop took traumatic and devastating experiences with loss and turned them into something that is helping so many people and families in Saskatoon. I think that deserves to be celebrated.In 2015, Jasmin and Bri created Empty Arms. It is a nonprofit organization that provides support to individuals and families that experience grief and bereavement due to the loss of a child during pregnancy or up to the age of six. As you will hear in this episode, Jasmin and Bri started Empty Arms because they experienced the loss of a child and quickly noticed the lack of supports for people who experience such a loss. The work being done by the staff and volunteers Empty Arms is really incredible. They offer tangible supports to individuals and families when they are in the hospital and help create a supportive community in the months and years following a child's death. Jasmine and Bri explain why this work matters to them so much and how it continues to help them in their respective grieving processes. It was also interesting to learn how Jasmin and Bri have forged a wonderful relationship with the staff at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital and the team at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation. It's wonderful to see a big organization like the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation recognize the great work of a small, nonprofit organization like Empty Arms.This episode would not have happened without Sara and Dax Irons who you will hear in this episode. Sara sent me an email last year telling me about the death of their son, Everett, in 2018 and how vital a role Empty Arms played in supporting them through such a difficult time. I am grateful to Sara and Dax for sharing their story and introducing me to Jasmin and Bri. A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities for supporting this episode of the podcast and for being such wonderful fans of all things YXE Underground. You're the best, Rob! Thank you for listening to this episode and I hope you find it inspirational. I sure did in producing it. Feel free to make a donation to Empty Arms as I know they would appreciate it.Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

If you ever get a chance to talk with Adrianne Vangool, take it. Jump at the opportunity to talk with her because you will find yourself talking with someone who is wonderfully honest and I think truly wise about the world around her. She comes by her wisdom through hard work, curiosity and reflection and its reflected in her debut book, 'The Journey of Self-Care to We-Care.'Adrianne is a physiotherapist and owns her own business, Vangool Wellness. She is also a fantastic yoga instructor who incorporates yoga into her physiotherapy practice, and she explains the many benefits of yoga for a person's physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health in her book. She also shares her own personal story in her book. I really admire Adrianne's honesty in sharing some of the struggles she has experienced in her life. I think it shows a great deal of bravery and it's something we talk a lot about in this conversation. We also talk about Adrianne's creative side as well. As you'll discover in her book, Adrianne loves writing poetry and she writes some beautiful poems that connect with different themes. I think the poems give the reader a better sense of who Adrianne is as a person and why writing this book was so meaningful to her.Adrianne was kind enough to ask if she could be featured on the podcast to help promote the book. Of course I said because, well, just read the first paragraph of these show notes! We met at Vangool Wellness and sat crosslegged in her yoga studio to talk about the many themes in her debut book. I am very grateful to Adrianne for the opportunity to interview her and I am so excited for her book to launch in January of 2023.Speaking of book launches, Adrianne is having a book launch on January 22nd at Ivy Yoga House from 1-3pm. The amazing Lisa Grieg is hosting the event and will be asking Adrianne questions about the book. The book launch is free to attend but you do have to register online. Thank you so much for listening to this special bonus episode of YXE Underground! I hope you enjoy our conversation and be sure to buy Adrianne's book. You will love it! Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: 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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: 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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: 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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: 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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: 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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: 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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: 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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: 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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: 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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

It's 9:30 on a cold January morning at the Saskatoon Field House and 85 year-old George Parchomchuk is right where he wants to be. He is walking on the track!For the past 20 years, George has been a member of the Coronary Artery Rehabilitation Group. He suffered his first cardiac event in 2001 and is grateful for the education and support he has received in the group. I know this because George Parchomchuk is my uncle and he sparked the idea to do this episode.CARG is a non-profit, peer support group for people who have experienced a cardiac event. It offers supervised exercise and educational programs to its members and does an excellent job of creating community here in Saskatoon. Members are easy to spot on the Field House track thanks to their bright red shirts. The significance of these red shirts is explained by Al Sather in the episode. Al, who was a member of the Saskatoon Police Service, became a CARG member in 2016 after undergoing open-heart surgery. Al is joined in the episode by CARG President, Dennis Johnson. Dennis, who was a highly regarded professor at the University of Saskatchewan, became a CARG member in 2005 after a series of heart incidents including open-heart surgery. Al and Dennis share their personal stories in the episode and explain how CARG continues to benefit hundreds of people in Saskatoon. They are honest, sincere and I think are amazing ambassadors for the organization. Follow and listen to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Don't forget to leave a 5 star review if you like what you hear. Thank you so much for listening and support a local, independent podcast and thanks again to Al, Dennis and my Uncle George for their help in making this episode such a success!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

“It’s the hardest thing for them to walk through the door because nobody wants to be in that position. It’s their reality now. They are a bereaved by suicide person. So when they rip off that first Band-Aid and they come in, they’re just met with such warmth, caring and a level of understanding. It sort of gives them a place where they now belong. That community of belonging is so special.”This is one of the many quotes from Jill Cowan that stuck with me after our conversation. She is compassionate, full of empathy and not afraid to talk about a subject that many, myself included, feel uneasy to discuss.In 2015, Jill's 16 year-old son Max died by suicide. It was a devastating loss for Jill and her family and they looked for support to help them with their grieving. This proved to be very difficult. Jill experienced a gap in services many families in Saskatchewan have experienced when looking for support after a death by suicide. This experience sparked her to co-create, along with her friend and social worker, Anjeanette Corbeil, a program called Healing to the Max. Healing to the Max offers a 12-week intensive group session for adults where a facilitator works with participants to understand and work through their grief in a variety of ways including journaling and art therapy. There are also sessions available for teens ages 11-19.Jill, who is also a group facilitator, opens up in our conversation about why she co-created the program and explains how families come together in the group sessions. She also touches on her grieving for Max and how that empathy allows her to truly connect with families in the program.Jill also has big plans for growing Healing to the Max that I think you will find inspiring. I am very grateful to Jill for putting me at ease during our conversation. As you'll hear in the episode, Jill went to extraordinary lengths to make me feel comfortable and I think that really helped to set the tone for a wonderful conversation. You can find YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website or wherever you find your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!You can also follow the podcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Thank you so much for supporting a local, independent podcast and I hope you enjoy this episode.Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

When I think of a fire department, I think of red fire trucks with ladders reaching towards the sky and fire fighters who are willing to sacrifice themselves to save the lives of others. All that is true with the Saskatoon Fire Department, but there is another side to this department that is making a difference in our community through empathy, dignity and respect. This episode looks at the work of the Saskatoon Fire Department's Community Risk Reduction Team. This group is lead by Assistant Chief Yvonne Raymer and supported by Chief Morgan Hackl. They are the featured guests in this episode and do an outstanding job of articulating how important this team's work is in Saskatoon.The Community Risk Reduction Team focuses on issues such as homelessness, addictions and mental health challenges. It engages our most vulnerable population through meaningful conversations and then works with other community groups such as CUMFI to ensure people who need help finding safe housing or mental health supports do not fall through the cracks.I learned so much from Yvonne and Morgan during our conversation and have a greater appreciation for the work being done by the Saskatoon Fire Department in our community. I hope you feel the same after listening to this episode. Follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the website. Don't forget to leave a five-star review if you like what you hear!Thank you so much to Yvonne and Morgan for taking the time to speak with me on the podcast and for the work they are doing in our community.Thank you again for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season and we'll talk with you again in 2022!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

For Nahanni Olson, the best way of reaching Indigenous youth in our community is through meaningful relationships, and that’s why I think she is the perfect person to lead this new University of Saskatchewan mentorship program called BIRM. She is all about relationships!BIRM stands for Building Intercultural Resilience Mentorship. The program is in the pilot stage and is partnering with two local high schools, Mount Royal Collegiate and Bedford Road Collegiate, to connect Indigenous high school students with university students. I think it's a wonderful program with so much potential to make a meaningful difference not only in the lives of high school students but in the university mentors as well.Nahanni has been making a difference in our community for years. She has been a teacher in the Saskatoon Public School Division since 2008 and spent the past four years as Bedford Road Collegiate's first Indigenous Student Advocate before taking on this new role with the University of Saskatchewan. Educators can have such a positive impact on their students and as you'll discover in this episode, Nahanni has left her mark on many students in Saskatoon.Nahanni is someone who has been on my radar for the podcast for the past few years thanks to my wife, Jen. She taught with Nahanni at Mount Royal for years and cannot say enough amazing things about her. I have to admit that I was slightly nervous when I first met Nahanni on a very warm November afternoon on the UofS campus. This was THE Nahanni Olson I had heard so much about that I was speaking with and I didn't want to mess it up.Honestly, I don't think I could have messed up a conversation with Nahanni because she is so easy and wonderful to speak with. She is an excellent listener and passionate in her beliefs. She wants Indigenous youth to think beyond what is expected of them and see that they can make a difference in the world. Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast! I know you are going to love listening to Nahanni (I sure did) and hopefully you'll learn as much as I did from her. You can listen to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website or wherever you find your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!Best of luck to Nahanni and all the students in the BIRM program! Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

"In rural-speak: head out of the city on 22nd Street and stay on Highway 14 for about 10km."This is how Katie Suek started an email this summer when we were coordinating this podcast episode. Despite the fact that it's a short drive from Saskatoon to the Suek acreage, as soon as you step foot on Restoring 71, you do feel like you are light years away from the city.In 2015, the Suek family purchased an 80-acre acreage west of Saskatoon as a way to reconnect with nature and offer their children the opportunity to spark a love for the natural world. They used nine of those acres to build a home and left the remaining 71 in the hands of mother nature. Today, those 71 acres have become an incredible conservation and restoration project, and the really cool thing is that Katie wants you to come visit her backyard for free! Since the Covid-19 pandemic started in March of 2020, Restoring 71 has hosted hundreds of visitors, including elementary and high school students, seeking to connect with nature in a meaningful way. What I love about Katie's story is that she is encouraging people to come visit her home; to visit Restoring 71; to learn about conservation and simply enjoy a space that nature has reclaimed after generations of farming. I feel very lucky to have spent a beautiful August evening with Katie and her husband, Aaron, exploring the trails of Restoring 71 and hearing their passion for this unique project. I think what they are doing with Restoring 71 makes them community leaders when it comes to understanding our relationship with nature, and I hope you are able to experience their 71 acres and soak in its beauty. A big thank youto Saskatoon's Escape Sports for supporting this episode of the podcast! If you're looking for outdoor gear in Saskatoon, be sure to check out Escape Sports. Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast. If you like what you hear, don't forget to tell a friend and leave a 5-star podcast review. Follow and listen to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website or wherever you find your podcasts. Thank you so much for listening and I hope you enjoy your time at Restoring 71.Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Welcome to Season Four of YXE Underground. I am very grateful for your support of this local, independent podcast and I am excited to be sharing another season of stories with you. We begin Season Four with an in-depth look at safe and affordable housing in Saskatoon. This is an issue that has come up time and time again throughout the podcast. Whether it is looking at mental health issues in our community or focusing on addictions, the lack of safe and affordable housing in our community comes up as a root cause of these issues. I have been looking for a way to approach the issue on the podcast for over a year now but was struggling with finding a way into the story. Luckily, I received an email from Sheri Benson this past summer. Sheri is the CEO of the United Way Saskatoon and a YXE Underground listener. She told me I should do an episode on safe and affordable housing and I said, "sure...but I will need your help!" We met for lunch and came up with three people who we thought would make great guests on the podcast and could bring unique perspectives to the issue. I am thrilled they all said yes to being on the podcast.Priscilla Johnstone is the Homelessness Action Plan Manager with Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership. She works with community organizations to deliver funding for various housing projects. Priscilla also works directly with Saskatoon's homeless population and does so through an Indigenous lens. Jordan Mills is the Director of Clinical Services at Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Services. He helped to start an innovative housing program in 2014 called Housing First. It is a unique program and one that Jordan passionately discusses in this episode.Chelsie Fulton is the Pride Home Manager for OUT Saskatoon. Pride Home is a house that provides 2SLGBTQ youth between the ages of 16 and 21 a safe place to live open and free lives. It opened five years ago and is serving an important role in Saskatoon. All three guests bring passion, empathy and years of experience to their roles, and it was a real pleasure speaking with them for this episode. You can follow and listen to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts. You can also listen to every episode on the website. Don't forget to follow to YXE Underground on social media and feel free to leave a review if you like what you hear. Thank you so much for supporting this local, independent podcast and I hope you enjoy this episode. Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

I’m very excited to share with you a conversation I had last month with a really insightful and caring person named Lisa Grieg. Lisa is a social worker by trade and has worked as a therapist in the past. Currently, she works as a Student Affairs Professional at the College of Dentistry at the University of Saskatchewan and is about to have her second child. Lisa also has a wonderful podcast called Highlighting Real as well as a great Instagram Page with the handle Lisa Grieg Wellness. Through her Instagram account and podcast, Lisa shares stories and sparks conversations centering on mental health and wellness, but what I love about Lisa is she does this in a very authentic and genuine way. In no way does Lisa try and tell people how to feel or sell them something as a quick fix to mental health challenges. Instead, she shares what is going on in her busy life...Lisa has a husband with great musical tastes named Ross and a son, Holden…and the challenges they all face. I really admire how Lisa discusses mental health and wellness and I wanted to know more about how she’s able to spark so much interest and discussion in our community through her podcast and Instagram account.We met at Sparrow Coffee shop on 2nd Avenue and sat down outside to talk. It was the day after Saskatchewan’s public health orders were lifted and you’ll hear that mentioned a few times in our conversation. You’ll also hear Lisa discuss why she wants to connect with people in our community, how wellness has become so commodified in recent years, and if she ever feels like she shares too much on social media.I loved speaking with Lisa and I hope you find the time to find her podcast and Instagram accounts as they are both worth your time. Don't forget that Season Four of YXE Underground drops on September 9th. Follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your podcasts or the website. Thank you for all of your support and talk with you soon! Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Welcome to a special summer bonus episode of YXE Underground. I hope you are having a great summer so far and are managing to stay cool in what has been a sweltering summer here in Saskatoon. I want to share with you a conversation I had a few weeks ago with a really amazing young man named John Langan. John is a member of the Canadian Military and the Saskatoon Police Service, and on July 21st, he will make his debut as an author. John has written a memoir entitled Iskoces Tipiskak. It is a remarkable look at his life, the role indigenous spirituality and culture plays in everything he does, the impact of residential schools on his family and the role indigenous peoples will play in our country’s future. In the last few months, we have all been reminded of the terrible atrocities committed on Indigenous peoples across Canada. The discoveries of unmarked graves on the grounds of residential schools in Kamloops, BC and Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan are a terrible legacy of colonization that will impact Canadian society for generations to come. It’s something John and I discuss in the episode and how his book can further that conversation. John is a joy to speak with. He is charismatic, kind, passionate and determined to bring about change in so many different. You will hear him laugh lots in our conversation, but as he explains, don’t let that fool you in thinking he is not serious about his role as a leader in his community. It’s simply a way he manages the trauma and pain he encounters and feels. John and I met for coffee here in Saskatoon on a Sunday morning and covered a lot of ground in just a half-hour. That's probably because he’s so easy to speak with. We talk about why he wanted to write a memoir now and what he hopes to accomplish with his book. We also discuss how it connects to the tragic news coming out of Kamloops and Cowesssess.I want to warn you that we bring up some very difficult subjects and John shares some deeply personal and heartbreaking stories.If any of these stories are triggering for you, please know that supports are available for anyone affected by the lingering effects of residential schools and those are who are triggered by what is happening in Canada right now. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society can be contacted toll free at 1-800-721-0066. A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. You can access emotional and crisis referred services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line at 1-866-925-4419.Finally, I would like to acknowledge that this interview was done on Treaty 6 territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis.Please feel free to follow and like YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. You can also listen to episodes on the YXE Underground website. Thank you again to John for sharing his story on the podcast. Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

When you walk into Saskatoon's Prince Philip School, a wave of hospitality and community hits you. It's a small elementary school tucked away in the city's south end and it holds a special place in Mindy's Macdonald's heart. Mindy attended Prince Philip as a child and now teaches kindergarten in a carefully classroom to ensure her students are kept safe during the pandemic. Seriously, I just stood in amazement at the amount of empathy and creativity Mindy put into her classroom this year. She does a wonderful job of explaining why she had to organize the space in this way during the first few minutes of the episode.My nephew, Everett, was the first person to tell me about Mindy Macdonald. He is six years-old and is in her class. He loves how enthusiastic Mrs. Macdonald is and the fact that she allows animals and plants in the classroom. After spending an hour with Mindy, I can see why my nephew thinks so highly of her.I am biased in my support of teachers. I had a brief two year career as a teacher and my wife teaches high school in Saskatoon. I know how hard the profession is and the insane amount of work that good teachers put in for their students. Mindy Macdonald is one of those teachers.In this episode, you'll discover how Mindy has done an incredible job of creating a sense of community with her students and their parents despite the fact that Covid-19 prevented so many of those little interactions between teachers and students. Hearing Mindy describe how she has taught proper speech even though she couldn't see the mouths of her students due to masks was so interesting. There are plenty of WOW moments in our conversation and I think you will really connect with Mindy's passion. This is the final episode of Season Three of YXE Underground and I want to thank you, the listener, for all of your support! The podcast reached a new level of listenership and engagement this season and I am grateful for it. I also want to thank all of the guests who appeared on the podcast this season. It takes courage to share your story in such a public way and all of my guests did an amazing job. I also want to thank all of the local businesses who supported the podcast this season. For this episode, the great team at Ivy Yoga House offered their support and I am so grateful. The community that Jen Rondeau and her teachers have created is something special. I have been practicing there for almost a year now and I am getting closer to getting my heels to the ground in downward dog!!I'll be spending the summer gathering interviews for Season Four which will drop in September, but I'll be dropping some bonus episodes in July and August so be sure to subscribe to the podcast so that you don't miss an episode.I hope you have a safe and wonderful summer and thank you again for all of your support this season!!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Jordan Stovra's character cannot be contained behind a mask and a hairnet. For the past eight years, the 24 year-old former football player has worked pretty much every job you can imagine at the Varsity Common Sobeys on 8th Street and Cumberland in Saskatoon. Whether it's cutting halibut steaks in the seafood department, collecting carts in the parking lot, checking lottery tickets or even trying his hand in the produce section, there's nothing Jordan can't do in his store. He loves his job and is a joy to be around.I've seen Jordan every weekend for the past year. My wife gives me a shopping list and off I go to the Sobeys to purchase groceries. I love doing it. It gives me purpose and makes me feel like I am in control of at least one part of my life when so many other things are no longer within my grasp. I wouldn't be able to do this without essential workers like Jordan coming into work every day to make sure the shelves are stocked. I wanted to recognize the work of grocery store workers in this pandemic and Jordan seemed like the perfect person to feature on the podcast. I am grateful he said yes and I am also grateful the local and national managers at Sobeys felt the same way! It can sometimes be tricky navigating the corporate structure of a big company to get an interview request answered, but Sobeys was great to work with and I think listeners are really going to love this episode.Jordan talks about the challenges posed by the pandemic and just how crazy the first few weeks were when Covid-19 arrived in Saskatoon. "Every day felt like December 23rd which was our busiest day. It was like that for two straight weeks," explains Jordan in the episode. He talks about how the pandemic has brought his colleagues together in some ways but he also discusses the things Covid-19 has robbed him of. Jordan might give off a rough and tough vibe when you first meet him but he's a really sweet and kind person with a big heart who cares for those around him.Saskatoon photographer Rona Andreas and I were able to spend a Saturday morning in mid-April with Jordan just as the store was opening up. You'll hear people shuffling up and down the aisles, busy checkout stations and Jordan smiling as he cuts halibut steaks for customers to enjoy. It was so much fun spending time with Jordan and seeing how much he truly cares about his job. A big thank you to Ivy Yoga House for supporting this episode of YXE Underground. I think it's the best yoga studio in Saskatoon and I hope you get the chance to check it out!Don't forget to follow and listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. Stream episodes on the website as well. Please rate and review YXE Underground if you like what you hear. Thank you for supporting this local, independent podcast. I really do appreciate all of your support and I hope you're all staying well and healthy. Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

On a December evening in 2017, Andrea Schick's life was thrown into chaos. The health of her four and a half year-old son, Sebastian, quickly took a turn for the worse. Doctors in Regina didn't know what was wrong and because Saskatchewan didn't have a children's hospital at the time, Andrea and her family were forced to travel to Edmonton so that Sebastian could receive care. It was in Edmonton that Andrea and her family relied on the Ronald McDonald House organization to provide the structure and support they desperately needed during Sebastian's time in the hospital.Sadly, Sebastian's story did not have a happy ending. He passed away and as you'll hear in this episode, the loss will forever stay in Andrea's heart.What will also stay in her heart is her support of the organization that helped her family through such difficult circumstances.In this bonus episode of the podcast, Andrea shares her son's story and explains how the Ronald McDonald House supported her and her family when they needed it most. She also explains why she has become involved with the Ronald McDonald House here in Saskatoon and the importance of supporting those families whose stories do have happy endings.I want to thank Andrea for agreeing to be on the podcast. Andrea lives in Regina (but grew up in Saskatoon and even worked at McDonalds when she was a teenager) and we connected through Zoom. It's not easy to share a story like this in any situation, let alone over Zoom with a podcast host you've never met. So Andrea, thank you for opening up the way that you did, and I know your story is going to leave its mark on so many listeners.This bonus episode stems from the last episode of the podcast where we took listeners inside the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon to meet the staff and discover how they have continued to support Saskatchewan families with sick children during the pandemic. The response to this episode has been amazing and it's clear the organization has impacted so many families across the province.Thank you for supporting this episode and don't forget to subscribe for free to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your podcasts. You can also stream all episodes on Spotify or the website. A brand new episode drops May 13th and I think you will love it!Stay safe, keeping washing your hands and thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast.Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Spend some time in the Ronald McDonald House here in Saskatoon and you will feel a lot of things.You will feel the kindness of staff as they work to serve the families that are calling the house home while going through extremely challenging times.You will feel creativity as you discover all the big and little things within the house designed to make a family's stay as pleasant as possible.And I think you will feel the strength of an organization that has people pulling in the same direction to serve families.I feel fortunate to have spent a morning back in February in the Ronald McDonald House and that I get to share that experience with you in this episode.The Covid-19 pandemic, as you will hear, has made the mission of the Ronald McDonald House (which is to provide programs for families with sick children that positively impact the health and wellbeing of the entire family) a bit more challenging to fulfill. What you will also hear are people who love what they do at the house and are working together to ensure families are taken care of. You will hear from the following team members in this episode, and each provide a unique perspective on the organization and what the past year has been like.Tammy Forrester - CEOKaren Linsley - Director of Development and CommunicationsKim Gilbert - Director of Human Resource DevelopmentStephanie Turner-Chiasson - Director of FinanceMarcelline Zimmer - Director of OperationsYou will also hear from Regina's Andrea Schick who shares her family's experience of staying at a Ronald McDonald House. I can't imagine a more harrowing experience as a parent than rushing your child to the hospital, especially if you have no idea what is wrong with them. Some Saskatchewan families in this situation travel to Saskatoon in search of answers at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital and often they end up spending time at the Ronald McDonald. I hope this episode gives you a sense of what happens inside the house and how not even a global pandemic can get in the way of this team fulfilling its mission for Saskatchewan families. Follow and subscribe to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website. Don't forget to leave a review if you like what you hear. A big thank you to the Ronald McDonald House team for welcoming Rona and I with open arms! We both appreciate your kindness and generosity.Special thanks to Saskatoon's Michelle's Flowers for supporting this episode. Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast! It means a lot.Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

March 20th was the first day of spring and it felt like a day to be outside. I woke up early to go for a haircut and run a few errands, including picking up lunch for my wife who was at home participating in an all day zoom conference. I think seeing her sitting in front of her laptop inspired me to make the most of the afternoon and headed out for a walk.I parked off of 14th Street close to Broadway and headed towards the Broadway Bridge. I knew I wanted to end at the Remai Modern and enjoy the Meewasin Trail and River Landing, but as I approached the Broadway Bridge, I wanted to get away from the sound of cars. So I veered left towards the Traffic Bridge.I haven't walked that bridge in months and you'll hear more people and bikes in this part. I forgot how great the views are of the river on the Traffic Bridge. I also saw lots of lovely puppy dogs and it took all my strength not to walk up to them and say hello...Social distancing played a role in that decision as well!Once I hit the Meewasin Trail, I headed west towards River Landing and the Remai Modern. You'll hear snippets of conversations from people walking by and one very excited kid who couldn't throw enough rocks in the river. The end was my favourite part of the walk. The birds were really singing near the Remai and you can hear a bit of the echo coming off the building. You will also hear a group of eight young adults who belonged to a church youth group and were handing out free lunches to members of our community. One of the members had an acoustic guitar so I motioned for him to strum as I approached them. What I didn't expect was for the group to burst out into song but they sounded wonderful and I appreciate them playing music for an absolute stranger holding a microphone. I've been listening to a podcast called Field Recordings which features sound from audio-makers from around the world. I just think it's so neat to hear real life in your headphones and so I wanted to capture a little bit of that in this bonus episode. I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy and safe these days. A brand new episode drops on April 8th featuring the team at the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon. I think you'll really enjoy it!Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. I really do appreciate it.Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

"If I allow praise to be why I do this job or get wrapped up in that life-saving mentality, I would worry about the job I'm doing. You have to keep some humility."Jen Rondeau is a very humble and wise woman. As a Critical Care Paramedic, her job is to help those who need immediate medical help. She works with Air Ambulance and Road Ambulance based at Medavie Health Services West in Saskatoon's Stonebridge area. She works with others to save lives. What I quickly learned, however, is that accepting praise and then letting it go is really important for Jen and she explains why in this episode.I met Jen last summer when I walked into her yoga studio, Ivy Yoga House. Two things quickly stood out to me. The first was how welcoming the space was. Sometimes I feel intimidated in a yoga studio because I'm just not that good, but there is a great feeling when you enter the studio that instantly puts you at ease. The second was that Jen was there to greet and say hello to everyone. It's a small but I think important example of Jen's kindness and she explains why this is important in the episode.I've got to know Jen since that first class and after hearing some pretty incredible stories of being on the frontlines of the pandemic, I just had to have her on the podcast. I am grateful she said yes and was game for doing the interview in the back of one of the ambulances at Medavie headquarters.Jen is a wonderful storyteller and opens up about the highs (the love she and her colleagues received from the public when the pandemic first started) and the lows (watching conspiracy and anti-mask protests take root in Saskatchewan) of being a paramedic during Covid times. She also discusses the challenges that come with having her own family question the science behind vaccines. It's not easy to talk about these things so I really appreciate her sharing so much with listeners.Thank you to Saskatoon physiotherapist and yoga instructor Adrienne Vangool for her help with this episode! A big thank you to City Perks Coffeeshop and Sparrow Coffee for supporting this episode. Both of these locations serve great coffee, great food and are wonderful spots for conversations with friends. Thank you to Coralee and her team for their belief in the podcast!Follow YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your podcasts. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website. Please give a 5-star review if you like what you hear! Thank you so much for supporting this local, independent podcast! I sure do appreciate it and I know you're going to love getting to know Jen Rondeau. Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

How are you doing?It's a question I have asked my friends, my family, my colleagues and plenty of strangers during the last year. It's been a hard year for many in our community due to the pandemic. I think it's fair to say we've all had to deal with various mental health challenges. As we approach one year of the Covid-19 pandemic here in Saskatoon, it seemed like the right time to see how we are all doing in terms of our mental health. I am grateful that Samantha Horswill and Colleen McBride agreed with the timing and to appear on the podcast.Dr. Samantha Horswill is a Registered Psychologist at Chartier Arnold Shimp and Associates here in Saskatoon. Colleen McBride is a registered social worker and counsellor who has a private practice called The Practice. You might remember Colleen from a Season One episode looking at cancer care in Saskatoon. Samantha and Colleen share not only their experiences throughout the pandemic, but so much wisdom and insight when it comes to mental health. You will hear me say several times in this episode, "I am learning so much from you" because, well, it's true! They both explain complex emotions in clear and articulate ways, and I really think you will learn lots from them. This episode is a bit longer than most YXE Underground episodes but I really encourage you to listen all the way to end as there are pearls of wisdom sprinkled throughout. I ended up taking two pages of notes when I listened back to our conversation because Samantha and Colleen share much knowledge!Thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. Please feel free to leave a 5-star review of the podcast on your favourite podcast app and don't forget to subscribe for free to the podcast wherever you find your podcasts. You can also stream episodes on Spotify or at www.yxeunderground.comThank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast! I really do appreciate it. I hope you are all doing well. Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

I love speaking with Scotty Dicks.In Season One of YXE Underground, Scotty appeared on the podcast to talk about his work in growing Saskatoon's culinary scene. A wonderful chef who loves collaborating, Scotty worked with different restaurants and pubs in the city developing their menus while teaching classes at The Local Kitchen and running his own catering company. He was influential in educating our community where our food was coming from and why that was important to know. At the end of that episode, Scotty revealed he was ready to get back in the kitchen and was set to open a new restaurant called Odla. In the span of a few years, it has become a staple in Saskatoon's culinary scene and has garnered national attention. Scotty and his team were really hitting their stride when Covid-19 arrived in Saskatoon. In the span of a few days, everything at the restaurant changed. The menu was revamped, a website was created and Scotty was suddenly left wondering what the future had in store.What you will hear in this episode is Scotty telling the story of the last ten months at Odla, and what I really love about our conversation is how his leadership style and character comes through as clear as the distinct flavours in his cooking. I was expecting a bit of doom and gloom from Scotty when recapping his pandemic experience. Instead, I left our conversation inspired and thinking that his leadership style could be applied to so many different businesses and organizations.What you will also hear are some wonderful sounds from Odla's kitchen on a Saturday night. Seriously, it was so much fun spending an hour with Scotty and his team gathering sound and watching them in action. I was so pumped up after my time in the kitchen and all I did was hold a microphone!I want to thank Scotty, Lacey Sellinger and the entire Odla team for allowing me some really great access to produce this episode. I hope you can hear the joy because it was so much to make.A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for sponsoring this episode. Rob and his team have been managing my money for nearly a decade and they are wonderful to work with! Thanks for believing in the podcast, Rob. Thank you for supporting YXE Underground and for supporting local restaurants like Odla. Stay safe and keep washing your hands!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

I have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Jodi Grant for the past four years. Jodi is a resident at Sherbrooke Community Centre, which is where I work, and her life has been full of challenges. However, one of her constant sources of joy has been reading stories out loud to students. At Sherbrooke, Jodi reads to grade six students as part of the iGen program. iGen, which is short for Intergeneration Program, is a unique partnership between Sherbrooke and the Saskatoon Public School Division. I have seen how much joy Jodi receives from reading to the students and how captivated those students are with Jodi's flare and grace for storytelling.I think reading out loud is a real art. A person can truly bring a story to life with their voice, their energy and understanding of the text. Jodi is a master storyteller and I am very grateful she said yes to my idea of having her read a Christmas story this year for the podcast.It has been a challenging year for Jodi in terms of reading out loud to this year's iGen class. Due to the pandemic, the class is not allowed in Sherbrooke. Instead, Jodi has used a microphone and portable speaker to read to the students through a fence at Sherbrooke when the weather was mild. She is now using Zoom to read to the students every day at 1pm to their classroom at Ecole College Park. It has been inspiring seeing her overcome the challenges posed by Covid-19 to continue reading to students.I also want to say thank you to my friend, Jodi's friend, and iGen lead teacher, Keri Albert for her support in making this episode happen! You're amazing, Keri!! I hope Jodi's reading brings you a bit of joy this holiday season. Listening to it again sure brought a smile to my face. Thank you so much for all of your support this past year and I really hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season! See you in 2021...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

Yulissa Campos has a wonderful presence to her. It's a mix of confidence and conviction, fuelled by a lot of passion to tell and share stories on a stage before an audience.At the age of 26, Yulissa has accomplished a great deal in Saskatoon's local theatre scene. She has written and performed plays that are uniquely her own and has started her own theatre company, Ay Caramba! Theatre. She takes pride in telling diverse stories and sharing them with people of all backgrounds, and she is working hard to ensure that newcomer and diverse voices are being heard and celebrated in Saskatoon. I felt Yulissa's presence this past summer when I was hosting a television series focusing on important issues in Saskatchewan's theatre scene. Yulissa was one of the guests for a diversity panel and right away I was just hit with her energy and insights. I knew I had to get her on the podcast! Yulissa and I met in mid-November, a few weeks after a big dump of snow. I mention this because Yulissa is from Ecuador and is no fan of our chilly winters, but she has made friends in her seven years living in Saskatoon, and is determined to bring more diversity to our city's theatre scene...not only in terms of the actors on stage but those writing the stories. Right now, Yulissa is getting her play, I, Frida, ready for the Singapore Fringe Festival. She was preparing to travel to Singapore to perform it in person, but due to Covid-19, she will record it in Saskatoon and then have it streamed by the festival. It's a really exciting time for Yulissa and she can't wait to see where her career takes her next!I loved getting to know Yulissa during our conversation and her stories about growing up as a kid in Ecuador (and how she came to love theatre) were so interesting! I still can't believe how young she is, and I am so impressed with the impact she is having in Saskatoon in so many different ways. I know you're going to love her story!Thank you for listening and supporting YXE Underground. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and stay safe and healthy!Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis  

I was very excited and nervous for this interview. I mean, how often do you get to meet people who are literally trying to save the world? In my mind, Andrea Kroeker and Jill Van Kessel are superheroes and it was a real thrill to speak with them.Andrea and Jill are Research Technicians at Saskatoon's VIDO-InterVac, an organization located on the University of Saskatchewan that has been researching viruses and developing vaccines for decades. This year, VIDO-InterVac has been thrust into the global spotlight because of its work on developing a Covid-19 vaccine. I have loved reading and listening to stories about the work being done at the VIDO-InterVac facility. I think it's wonderful that national and international news organizations are paying attention to what is happening at VIDO-InterVac, and I also think the local media have done a great job of explaining why the work is so important. My friend and former CBC colleague Alicia Bridges wrote a really interesting story in August that you must read, and The Saskatoon Star Phoenix's Zak Verscera has written several great stories highlighting the work being done at VIDO-InterVac. I didn't want to copy their stories, but I was curious about what it must be like to be a member of a team working towards such an important goal. I mentioned how I think Andrea and Jill are superheroes. I think what makes them so interesting and such a perfect fit for the podcast is that if you ran into them say at the grocery store, and didn't know where they worked, you would have no idea they spent their days working on solving a global pandemic that has impacted all of our lives in so many different ways. I feel very lucky to have met Jill and Andrea. It took about four months to arrange a time to have our conversation, and it almost didn't happen due to a massive snow storm that effectively shut down Saskatoon last weekend. We actually recorded the interview two days before it was released and they were amazing to speak with! They are humble, kind, passionate about their work and genuinely excited to be part of a global effort to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. We cover a lot of topics in this episode (while wearing masks and at a safe physical distance, which is why Andrea and Jill sound a little distant compared to my voice). Everything from the nature of their work and why they love doing it, to how they deal with the pressure that comes with their jobs. They were very open and honest with me and I really do appreciate that. There are so many WOW moments in this episode and it was a lot of fun to listen to it again while editing. I hope you enjoy it as well!A big thank you to Trenna Brusky, VIDO Inter-Vac's Marketing Coordinator, for making this episode happen. We exchanged many emails these past few months and a lot of texts last weekend coming up with Plans A, B and C due to the blizzard. You're amazing, Trenna! I also want to thank Saskatoon photographer Rona Andreas for stepping in at the last second to take some really wonderful photos of Jill and Andrea. This episode is sponsored by Uncle Mike's All Natural Products. Mike Zimmer is the owner of Uncle Mike's and in my opinion, he makes the best darn soap in the country! I love that this episode is sponsored by a company that makes great soap because we all need to wash our hands...wash our hands...wash our hands! Visit his website to learn more about his products and I bet you'll find a stocking stuffer or two while you're there. YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. If you like what you hear, please leave a 5-Star review and tell your friends!Thank you so much for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. I really appreciate it. Cheers...Eric Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis