Zoomer Week in Review

December 1 2024-Ezra Levant On His Arrest At A Pro-Hamas Demonstration & Supporting Cancer Care At The Princess Margaret It seems like the police got it backwards. Last Sunday, a group of pro-Hamas protesters went to a Jewish neighbourhood, staging an event glorifying the deceased terrorist Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7 attacks on Israel. Although the protesters were violating Canadian hate laws, police arrested Ezra Levant who was on site filming the event. I talked to him about what happened. And Like thousands of Ontario cancer patients, I am here today because of the treatment I received at the PMCC. This week, Zoomermedia held its 4th annual radiothon in support of the PMCC and with Giving Tuesday coming up, I talked with Dr. Keith Stewart, Director of the Princess Margaret Cancer Program about what our charitable donation will actually pay for.

NOVEMBER 24 2024-HOW RFK JR AS HEALTH SECRETARY COULD IMPACT CANADA & DETERMINING THE RIGHT TIME TO TAKE YOUR CPP His ideas have been called “Quackery on steroids." From the debunked claims that vaccines cause autism and fluoridation causes brain damage, the appointment of anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the US secretary of health and human services is considered a danger. And while that peril is south of the border, Canadian doctors are worried about the fallout here in Canada. Tim Caulfield is research director of the Health Law Institute, at the university of Alberta and a leading debunker of pseudoscientific myths and health misinformation. And It’s a major financial decision that will affect our entire lives in retirement and many of us don’t give it the attention it deserves. When to take the CPP? We think of 65 as the usual time but you can begin receiving it as early as age 60 or as late as age 70 or anywhere in between. Take it early and use it as you wish or defer it and collect more - actually a whole lot more. Financial planner Jason Pereira crunched the numbers with me.

November 17 2024-Charities Making the Biggest Impact & A History of Big Concerts that Took Over Toronto In this season of giving, it can be overwhelming deciding which charity deserves your donation. Most charities claim to make a difference in the lives of those they work with. But just how difficult is it for donors to tell if their donation really is making a difference? Charity Intelligence has just released this year’s top 10 impact charities to help Canadians find charities making the greatest impact. We reached Greg Thomson, Director of Research at the non profit organization. And Taylor Swift fans are converging on Toronto for a series of sold out concerts, over two weekends, drawing a crowd of 50 for each night. It’s considered the most commercially successful concert series the city has ever seen. We reached music publicist Eric Alper to get his take on the concert and how it compares with some other big Toronto concerts of the past that many Zoomers attended.

November 10 2024-HOW TRUMP MAY SHAPE CANADA'S TIES WITH THE U.S. & THE 2024 SILVER CROSS MOTHER ON REMEMBRANCE DAY The consensus is that Donald Trump's resounding victory will have a huge impact on everything from the price of groceries to the Western alliance. I talked with Conservative strategist Will Stewart about how Canada’s place in the world may shift with the new US administration. And Maureen Anderson lost both her sons because of their military service although they died years later. Sgt Ron Anderson took his own life and Sgt. Ryan Anderson died of an overdose after suffering from PTSD. I talked with Maureen, this year’s Silver Cross Mother, as she prepared for Remembrance Day.

November 3 2024-The Only Canadian Hostage Still Being Held by Hamas & Continuing the Dialogue About Women's Rights Judih Weinstein, a 70 year old Canadian-born Senior and her 72-year-old husband Gadi were murdered by Hamas terrorists while on their morning walk on Oct. 7, 2023, in Southern Israel. Their bodies are still being held in Gaza. Judih is the only Canadian hostage still being held by Hamas. Their daughter, Iris, lived a nightmare not knowing if her parents were alive or dead for an agonizing 83 days. Now, she wants answers from the Canadian government to act and secure justice for Canadians targeted by Hamas and is suing a number of terrorist organizations including Hamas and Samidoun. We reached Iris Weinstein Haggai in Ottawa. And For two decades, journalist and author Elizabeth Renzetti has written about women’s rights and has just penned a new book on the subject called "What She Said: Conversations About ­Equality". She writes about women’s rights being rolled back around the world and the continuing injustices like violence, loss of reproductive rights and misogyny but urges us all to keep the faith and continue the dialogue.

October 27 2024-Dr. Jane Philpott Wants to Fix Primary Care in Ontario & Exploring the Origin Story of Poutine Former federal health minister Dr. Jane Philpott will head a new provincial health team with the goal of connecting every person in Ontario with a primary care provider in the next five years. She’ll step down as dean of Queen’s University Health Sciences to begin her new role December 1st. Some estimate there were more than 2.5 million without a family doctor, and other studies peg that number even higher at over 6 million. Up to now, reforms haven’t fixed the crisis in healthcare and we reached Dr. Philpott to find out why she claims to have the answer. And It’s french fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds but where did this food combination originate and why is the world now becoming obsessed with this Canadian cuisine? Journalist and author Justin Giovannetti Lamothe explores all these questions in his new book Poutine: A Deep-Fried Road Trip of Discovery that takes the reader on a Québécois culinary journey to find the roots of this popular food.

October 20 2024-Challenge for Older Canadians Accessing Primary Care & A New Catalogue on Painter Jack Bush Many older Canadians are struggling to get the healthcare they need. And a new report by the National Institute on Ageing is sounding the alarm, finding access to a primary care physician may be even worse than previously understood. The NIA finds that nearly 5 million Canadians 50 and older are without primary healthcare and, with an aging population, it will only get worse unless the problem is remedied. We reached Natalie Iciaszczyk, a research program manager at the National Institute on Ageing. And He was Canada’s most internationally acclaimed artist of the 20th century. And now, a new catalogue on abstract painter and founding member of the Painters 11 Jack Bush has been produced. Written by Sarah Stanners, who has published widely on modern and contemporary art, this four box set is the first full biography of the artist, tracing his life from birth to death. We reached art historian Sarah Stanners who is an Adjunct Professor of Art History at the University of Toronto.

October 13 2024-Marc Garneau's "A Most Extraordinary Ride" & Preventing Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery He made history as the first Canadian to fly in outer space. Then he notched another first - becoming the first astronaut to be elected as a Member of Parliament. Marc Garneau went on to serve in cabinet through some of the biggest events of the past decade. He came to our Liberty Village studio to talk about his memoir, “A Most Extraordinary Ride.” And It is a common but debilitating complication after breast cancer surgery. Persistent pain prevents patients from getting back to work and resuming normal life. And it is becoming a larger problem, as more and more people survive breast cancer. Local researcher and pain specialist Dr. James Khan is launching a world-wide study to test the best ways to prevent and treat it.

October 6 2024-Amir Tibon Recounts the October 7th Massacre and his Rescue Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas massacre. For the most part, we have been dealing with the fallout from that terrible event, the war, the fate of the hostages, the displacement and destruction and the worldwide rise in anti-Semitism. I talked with journalist Amir Tibon, author of The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope, who spent that terrible and terrifying day with his family in his border kibbutz safe room - here is his story.

September 29 2024-Donating the Brain for Research & Cooking for the Holidays Ontario’s Minister of Sport, Neil Lumsden, has made a commitment to donate his brain to research after he dies. The 10-year CFL veteran and four-time Grey Cup champion is one of several former football players making that legacy through the Concussion Legacy Foundation. I talked with about what he hopes this will accomplish. AND How do famous chefs cook at home and can we do the same as we prepare special meals for Thanksgiving or the Jewish new year? The answer is yes and there are tips, tricks, and recipes in Zahav Home: Cooking for Friends & Family -the book celebrity chef Michael Solomonov cooked when he had to cook at home during the pandemic.

September 22 2024-Exploding Pagers in Lebanon & AI Saving Lives in Hospitals The use of pagers and walkie talkies may seem like a relic from the 1990’s but in Lebanon, this week, they were the targets of an entirely new level of electronic sabotage. Over two days, thousands of devices carried by Hezbollah terrorists exploded. Israel is presumed to be behind the attack. We spoke with Dr. Amos Guiora, a Law Professor at the University of Utah and former legal advisor to the IDF in Gaza. AND It’s an AI early-warning system that can save lives in hospital. The technology called Chartwatch, predicts which patients are at risk of deteriorating while in hospital and a new study from St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto found it was associated with a 26% decrease in unexpected deaths. We talked with lead author and internist Dr. Amol Verma.

September 15 2024- Athletic Fundraising Events vs. Traditional Galas & When Is It The Right Time To Take Your CPP? This morning the annual Terry Fox Run is underway with 15,000 participants here in Toronto and many more across the country. Last weekend, The Princess Margaret's Walk to End Cancer raised a record 3.5M with 1500 walkers. As fundraisers recover from Covid, athletic participation events are eclipsing traditional galas more than ever. I talked with Steve Merker, Vice President Corporate and Community Partnerships, PMCF, and co-founder of Ride to Conquer Cancer. And It’s one of the most critical financial decisions Zoomers face, and most of us don’t give it the attention it deserves. The decision about when to take CPP will affect your finances for decades and you can collect a great deal more if you defer it from the age of 65 to the age of 70. Dr. Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, is the Director of Financial Security Research of the National institute on Ageing and she looked at the reason why more people don’t do that.

September 8 2024-On the Road with The Beatles & It's Arthritis Awareness Month It’s been 60 years since Beatlemania gripped the world. And one man..then a reporter with the London Daily Express..spent six weeks of unrestricted access to the fab four during their iconic 1964 North American tour. In his book ‘The Beatles And Me On Tour- 60th Anniversary Edition’ Ivor Davis recalls his life on the road, serving up the stories behind the stories. We reached author Ivor Davis at his home in Southern California. And Cutting-edge research is helping the over 6 million Canadians who suffer from arthritis, find some life changing relief. But, arthritis remains the leading cause of workplace disability in Canada, impacting sleep, mental health, physical activity, and more. We speak with Dr. Megan Himmel, Rheumatologist with UHN’s Schroeder Arthritis Institute.

September 1 2024-Tips For This Wasp Season & The "Grandma Babysitting Club" They seem to be everywhere this summer…unwanted guests at our backyard bbq’s, outdoor family gatherings forcing many of us indoors. Why so many wasps now, is there anything you can do to keep them away, and what should you do if you get stung? We posed these questions and more to Royal Ontario Museum’s entomology expert Antonia Guidotti. And An Ontario grandmother has come up with a novel approach to help families find temporary childcare. Since launching the ‘Grandma Babysitting Club’ earlier this year, founder Maria Martin has recruited six other Grandmas to the club offering in-home child care, with the goal of expanding the program. It has the added bonus of keeping the retirees young. We reached Maria Martin at her home in Kitchener.

August 25 2024-Wait Times for Surgery in Ontario & What Are We Agreeing to When We Click “I Agree” There is a staggering variation in wait times for elective surgery in Ontario. For cataract surgery for instance, it ranges from 15 days for some patients to 249 days for others. And it’s not just the difference from one hospital or clinic to another, but from surgeon to surgeon. I talked with Dr. David Urbach, head of surgery at Women’s College Hospital, and author of a study that tracked the time between a diagnosis and the date of surgery. And Thankfully Disney has backed off its bid to block a wrongful death lawsuit. But the entertainment giant had been claiming that a man could not sue it over the death of his wife because of terms he signed up to in a free trial of Disney+. But the question remains: what are we agreeing to when we click “I agree.” I talked with Technology analyst Carmi Levi.

August 18 2024-Professional Grief Counselling For The Loss Of A Pet & The Rich History Of The Noble Anchovy To take on ownership of a pet is to welcome a new, full-fledged member into your family, and there is an entire industry devoted to their care. With the strong emotional ties that bind people to pets, there is even professional help available to overcome the loss when they die. Certified pet grief counsellor Helen Goldberg helped us explore this service. And For something so small, they get a big reaction on both sides of the spectrum. Love 'em or leave 'em, anchovies have a rich, storied history dating back thousands of years. We caught up with author Christopher Beckman, who wrote the book on them.

August 11 2024-LTC Home Offering 24/7 Medical Record Access & How Flooding Can Damage Your Vehicle It’s believed to be a first in this country. A Toronto long-term care home is offering families direct access to their loved ones’ medical records 24 hours a day..the first not for profit to offer the service. Meighen Health Centre, run by the Canadian Salvation Army, reports that 84 percent of families are using the app regularly, cutting down on time spent calling staff about their loved ones. We reached Varsha Chaugai, a biomedical engineer in Ottawa and co-founder and CEO of Evoke Health. And Scenes of flooding and driver rescues on the DVP and other arteries this Summer come amid a record rainfall for July. And with climate change, comes a stark reminder of the dangers of heavy rainfall when travelling. For some tips on what to do if you’re caught in high rising water, we reached Shari Prymak, Senior Consultant with Car Help Canada.

August 4 2024-Are the Olympics Worth the Cost for Host Cities & How Olympics Will Impact Upcoming Tennis Tournament in Toronto Billions of people around the world are watching the Summer olympics in Paris. There’s no question the spectacle is entertaining and sometimes uplifting. But Sports Economist and senior lecturer Moshe Lander argues the games and similar events like the World cup do not deliver the benefits they promise to the locals who foot the bill. And, We’ve been talking about the perils of hosting a big international event like the Olympics. How does it compare to smaller annual events like the National bank Open Tennis set to start next week? The experts say those can make money and benefit the local economy because they come back to the same venue year after year. I talked with Tennis Canada CEO Gavin Ziv.

Toronto was already one of the most congested cities in the world, But the simultaneous construction projects now underway have made it unbearable. It takes hours more to commute on the Gardiner. Travel time has tripled along Spadina and it can take 40 minutes to drive a few blocks on the only road now open in and out of Liberty Village. It may also be shortening our lives. I talked with Jeffrey Brook, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. And Libby speaks with cyclist Lloyd Taylor about his journey with Parkinson's disease, how exercise has been helping to alleviate symptoms he deals with and how he is raising awareness about the benefits of movement and exercise through the Spinning Wheels cross-Canada relay.

July 21 2024- What a Trump Presidency Would Mean For Canada & Backlash From Overtourism What would a Donald Trump victory in the US mean for Canada? At this week’s Convention, Republican leaders blamed free trade for massive job losses in the American rust belt. And there’s the impact of trying to meet our NATO spending target and trying to compete with lower American taxes. Canadian politicians on all sides of the political spectrum are worried. I talked with Jack Mintz of the Macdonald Laurier Institute and the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy. And For most of us, it’s a great thing - the ability to get on a plane, to fulfill a bucket list item or capture the perfect Instagram shot by visiting one of the great cities of the world. But with tourism approaching record levels, the strain on local resources and residents is bringing a backlash. I asked Toronto Metropolitan University Hospitality Professor and author Rachel Dodds what we can and should do about it.

July 14 2024-What Ottawa Promised at the NATO Summit & The History of Our Obsession with Cats Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has finally announced that Canada intends to meet Nato’s 2% military spending target by 2032. The last minute announcement came after heavy criticism from allies at this week’s NATO summit in Washington. Libby Znaimer reached Prof. Stephen Saidman at the NATO Summit Expert Forum in Washington DC. And, Their antics take up a huge amount of bandwidth on the Internet and we are vastly amused at seeing them dressed as humans and doing human-like things. I am speaking , of course, about cats. But it wasn’t always this way. Cats were seen as common pests mainly useful for catching mice until the end of the 19th century. That’s when author and historian Kathryn Hughes says the great cat mania set in. Libby reached her in London to talk about her book, "Catland".

July 7 2024-Dan Hill Reflects On His Father's Legacy & Heritage Sites Lacking Safeguards In Canada The name of a Canadian human rights defender will appear on a Toronto public library after a six month renaming effort. It's another piece of Toronto that's been stripped of the Dundas name, joining Yonge Dundas Square, to be renamed Sankofa Square. This fall, the Jane Dundas branch will be named after the late Daniel G. Hill, a historian, writer, and activist who served as the inaugural director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, later as commissioner. In the 90s, Hill was awarded the Order of Ontario and appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. We reached his son, Grammy and Juno award -winning artist Dan Hill. And Last month's devastating fire at Toronto's St. Anne’s Anglican Church is a cautionary tale about preserving historic buildings. Built between 1907 and 1908, the church did not have a sprinkler system to protect its collection of religious murals — including some by the Group of Seven — that have now been lost. Experts warn that hundreds if not thousands of churches across Canada are in the same predicament of lacking certain safeguards. We reached Deb Crawford, Chair of the Architectural Conservancy Ontario.

June 30 2024-Canada's Changing Population & New Biography Reflects on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Triumphs and Failures The number of Canadians 85 and older is expected to triple by the year 2073 to as many as 4.3 million. The projections released this week by Statistics Canada aso finds that the overall population could reach 63 million in half a century. Low birth rates mean migration will be the main driver of Canada's growth for the foreseeable future. We reached demographer Doug Norris who worries the trends will put added pressure on several fronts. And The triumphs and failures of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are chronicled in a new biography by award-winning journalist and author Stephen Maher. Maher spoke with over 200 insiders to reveal the public and private life of the man who’s led this country for nine years, chronicling the Liberals leader’s triumphs and failures. We reached Stephen Maher to talk about his book called Prince: The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau

June 23 2024-Best Before Dates & June is Migraine Awareness Month Best before dates are prompting Canadian consumers to throw away food, wasting up to $400 dollars worth of edible groceries each year. In financial terms, the value of this potentially rescuable food is an astonishing $49.5 billion. That's why there’s a new campaign called Look, Smell, Taste: Canada's Recipe for Reducing Food Waste as experts try to dispel the belief that ‘best before’ does not mean ‘bad after.’ We reached Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University to find out how it works. And June is Migraine Awareness month, and there’s a national campaign to offer more supportive working environments to the millions of Canadians living with the debilitating neurological disease. As a show of solidarity with sufferers, Canadians are encouraged to turn their out of office alert for four hours - which is the minimum duration of an average migraine headache. We reached Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, neurologist and founder of Migraine Canada to find out about the campaign and new treatment options available.

June 16 2024-B.C.'s Senior Advocate Is Championing the Rights of Canada's 65 + & This Canadian Zoomer Makes Miss Universe Pageant History He’s only been Seniors Advocate for B.C. for several months but Dan Levitt has been a champion for Seniors for years and, as you’ll hear, this acclaimed international speaker, elder care leader, writer and gerontologist has returned from New York where he attended the UN Summit on Ageing on behalf of all older Canadians. He spoke with Bob Komsic. And Regardless of what your take is on beauty pageants, the Miss Universe pageant-- the one Donald Trump co-owned from 1996 to 2015--has dropped its age requirement this year. For the first time in 72-years anyone over 28 is permitted be they married, pregnant, gay or trans. Lorraine Peters of New Brunswick will make history next month in Windsor when she becomes the oldest contestant at 58. She spoke with Bob Komsic.

June 9, 2024- Cyclist raises cancer awareness at the age of 81 & Where should people spend their summer? This weekend will mark the 17th annual Princess Margaret RIDE to Conquer Cancer. More than 5,000 cyclists will ride over 200 kms over the two days, starting from the Exhibition Place in Toronto to Niagara Falls, with a pit stop in Hamilton. Last year, the ride received a contribution of $17.3 million with the help of cyclists, donors and sponsors. We reached 81-year-old Mary Jane McKeen, to tell her story about suffering from long-term cancer and biking her 15th ride this year. AND It’s going to be summer soon! Are you looking for suggestions for your next adventure? What should you do? Where should you go? Bob Comsic talked to Doug Wallace, travel journalist from TravelRight.Today to update our listeners on the latest travel trends.

June 2 2024- 80th Anniversary of D-Day & The Health Benefits of Tai Chi On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the Allies came ashore in Normandy, France when some fourteen thousand Canadians stormed Juno Beach that day, and launched a campaign that helped turn the tide of the Second World War. Both in this country and abroad, Canadians are encouraged to explore the stories of those who courageously served in this campaign. We reached Alex Fitzgerald-Black, Executive Director of the Juno Beach Centre Association about what to expect this coming Thursday. AND There's plenty of evidence that exercise can help protect our bodies and brains. In fact, a new study finds Tai Chi, a slow-moving form of martial arts, can help slow cognitive decline and protect against dementia. It’s a gentle, low-impact exercise in which practitioners perform deliberate, flowing motions while focusing on deep, slow breaths. Dr. Patricia Huston and public health expert in the department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa has been doing Tai Chi for a decade and says there are even new benefits emerging. She joined Christine Ross in conversation.

May 26 2024-Canada's Truck Problem & Cancer Diagnoses in the ER Have you noticed that most of the vehicles on our roads are very big and getting bigger every season? Eight of the top 10 are now defined as trucks and some experts say they are a health and safety hazard. Libby Znaimer spoke with HEC Montréal Associate Finance Professor Amir Barnea. AND It’s bad enough to get this news from a doctor you know well and trust, but receiving a cancer diagnosis in an emergency room is becoming more routine in Canada. That’s how one in four new patients find out. Libby Znaimer talked with critical care physician Dr. Jamie Spiegelman

May 19 2024- Dr. Eileen De Villa reflects on her leadership during COVID-19 & Life after Caregiving She became a household name as one of the key leaders who guided us through the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Eileen de Villa announced she will step down as Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health at the end of the year. She spoke with Libby Znaimer about her reflections on navigating the crisis. AND Nearly 6 and a half million Canadians do the same for family and friends - on average, 5 hours a day for four and a half years. We’ve heard a lot about the challenges of providing this unpaid care. But what happens after? That’s the focus of the latest series from Best Part Productions. Libby Znaimer talked with founder Brenda Rusnak.

May 12 2024-Anti-Israel protests are not peace protests & Liberal MP Pam Damoff describes toxicity in politics The late iconic anti war activist Jerry Rubin's son has written an article titled "This is definitely not my dad’s antiwar protest", referring to the current anti-Israel encampments at universities and elsewhere across the globe following the October 7th attacks in Israel by Hamas terrorists. Adam Rubin argues that his father and others in the anti war movement six decades ago advocated for peace and justice, unlike today where he says genuine activism has turned to violent extremism. Adam Rubin joins Christine Ross from his home in Los Angeles. AND She’s the latest in a series of politicians to step away from public life due to threats to their safety and mental health. Federal Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she’s experienced misogyny since the day she was elected 9 years ago. What’s even more disturbing than the chaos on Parliament Hill, Damoff says the toxic culture has spread to the riding level leaving her feeling unsafe in her hometown of Oakville. She joins Christine in conversation.

May 5 2024-Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's Journey to Self-Acceptance & Jane Philpott on the Primary Care Crisis It’s not exactly a memoir - though the Prime Minister’s ex, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau talks about her struggle with an eating disorder, growing up an only child, and meeting Justin Trudeau. Her book is about her journey to self-awareness and self-acceptance. Libby talked with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau about “Closer Together, Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other". AND If there’s anyone qualified to figure out a fix for our health system, it’s former Liberal Health Minister Jane Philpott - currently the Dean of Queens’ University School of Medicine. She’s calling for a radical overhaul with one crisis at the core: the shortage of family doctors. I talked to Jane Philpott about "Health for All: A Doctor's Prescription for a Healthier Canada".

April 28 2024-Crossing the Trans Canada Trail at 50 & Preparing Your Lawn The first person to cross the Trans Canada Trail: 500 DAYS IN THE WILD, a documentary by the award-winning filmmaker Dianne Whelan who spent six years crossing the entire 24,000 kilometre Trans Canada Trail, mostly alone. She began in St. John’s Newfoundland in 2015 ending in Victoria BC in 2021 and has documented her trek across the world’s largest trail in her new film that’s now streaming. Preparing your lawn after the damage from winter: Itching to get your lawn green and lush again after the damage of winter that can cause long-lasting damage? We live in a lawn obsessed culture, some say embrace the dandelions others mortified by the sight of annoying weeds on their lawn. What are the best practices you can do right now to get your lawn in the best shape? We consulted an expert, Professor Katerina Jordan, the Director of the Guelph Turf Grass Institute.

April 21 2024- Canadian charitable donations dropping: report & National Volunteer Week Have you ever made any charitable donations? Do you still make them? Any? Or have you stopped? Many have as Nicole Danesi at CanadaHelps explains. AND National Volunteer Week that just ended is held annually as a way to celebrate the many who give of their time to help others in the community, who possibly would be in even more difficulty without volunteers. Bob Komsic spoke to a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels.

How a Runaway Orphan Became a Big Time Chef A new documentary-"Born Hungry"-tells the real life rags to riches tale of Sash Simpson, a runaway child from the streets of India, who was adopted into a Toronto family with 31 siblings before becoming a world-renowned chef. Libby spoke with Chef Sash Simpson about his life and why he decided that now was the time to make a movie about it. Are We Too Afraid of Cancer? April is Daffodil Month, a time devoted to raising awareness about Cancer.The all-consuming fear of it is still with us even though survival rates have skyrocketed. Author David Ropeik argues that this fear is also harming us. I talked with him about "Curing Cancerphobia: How Risk, Fear, and Worry Mislead Us".

An Elder Rights Lawyers Fight Against For-Profit Homes is the subject of new Doc "Stolen Time" Elder rights lawyer and advocate Melissa Miller is the subject of a new documentary–titled “Stolen time”-- that follows her legal battle against some of the world’s most powerful long-term care corporations. I talked with her about the film which chronicles her toughest case yet—a mass tort representing hundreds of families Are You Suffering from Tinnitus? Here's What You Need to Know Ringing, buzzing, clicking and hissing. Those are the kind of sounds you may hear if you’re afflicted with Tinnitus. The symptoms range from mild to debilitating and more than 9 million Canadians are affected. I talked with Dr. Yvonne Chan, Otolaryngologist-in-Chief, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health.

March 31 2024 - Religion in Canada & Ottawa’s Arms Embargo with Israel What Research Tells Us About Canadians’ Relationship with Religion It’s Easter Sunday and it’s likely that family dinners and easter egg Hunts outstripped church attendance as a way to mark the holiday. Formal religious observance has been declining for years in our country though about half the population still believe in God. And many people are closely attached to their religion but do not have faith in a higher power. Libby talked with Dr. Jack Jedwab about the state of our spirituality. Ottawa’s Arms Embargo with Israel Last week Melanie Joly, Canada's foreign minister, announced an arms embargo on Israel. But it turns out Canada has spent much more - over a billion in recent years- on Israeli weapons systems and they are being used to protect Canadian pilots, fighters, and naval combatants around the world. Libby spoke with israel’s ambassador to canada Iddo moed.

Cottage Country Prices Set to Spike in Ontario Cottage country prices are set to soar again as Zoomers look to switch family homes for country retirement living. According to a recreational property report out this week from Royal LePage, the national median single-family price forecast is set to increase by 5%, with all of Canada's provincial recreational markets seeing an increase in single-family home prices in 2024. Libby Znaimer spoke with Phil Soper, CEO and president of Royal LePage, to unpack this information. Save The Date! A Total Solar Eclipse is Coming April 8, 2024 The next total solar eclipse visible in North America will occur on April 8, 2024. The path of totality will cross over parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada, with millions of people expected to witness this spectacular phenomenon. Libby checked in with Bill Archer, a Mission Scientist with the Canadian Space Agency, to discuss this rare event.

Eldercare Evolved: AI Companions & Compassion Exploring AI companions in eldercare: Meet VIV, offering conversation and compassion. We discuss the latest report from the National Institute on Ageing and the transformative role of technology, featuring Catherine Phee's experience with dementia. Is this the future? Dr. Adriana Shnall weighs in. From Actor to Icon: Zelensky's Showman Journey Dive into the captivating journey of Volodymyr Zelensky, from actor to wartime leader, as we discuss "The Showman" with Time Correspondent Simon Shuster. This intimate portrait traces Zelensky's evolution from the bright lights of variety shows to the front lines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Explore how he transitioned from comedic actor to an iconic figure leading Ukraine's fight for its future. Join us as we unravel the personal transformation of President Zelensky and the pivotal moments captured in "The Showman."

UN Report finds Hamas likely committed rape during Oct. 7th massacre: This week, the UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict presented a report concluding that rape and gang rape likely occurred during the October 7 Hamas attack in Southern Israel. It also found “clear and convincing” evidence that hostages were raped while being held in Gaza and that those currently held are still facing such abuse. The UN was late to acknowledge these crimes and the fact-finding mission leading to the report took place largely because of the efforts of Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Director of the Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women at Bar Ilan University. I spoke with her when she was in town earlier this week. The Rise of a 100-year-old social media star: Social media star Mildred Kirschenbaum recently celebrated her 100th birthday. She’s been an online sensation since her 99th birthday when her daughter posted a video with her tips on living to her age. They were so popular that she wrote a book and Libby spoke with her ahead of the launch.

Older Zoomers Are Delaying Their Home Downsizing Plans: There’s been a demographic shift when it comes to Boomers downsizing from their homes. In fact, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing, Seniors are now less likely to sell their homes before the age of 85, a big change from three decades ago. Boomers are not expected to downsize in a meaningful way until mid-2040. Better health and lack of housing are driving the trend. We reached CMHC Economist Francis Cortellino who authored a recent study that confirms the trend. Toronto Funeral Homes Worried About Burial Shortages: Death is often considered a taboo subject, but funeral homes in Toronto are sounding the alarm about a crisis: a lack of space to bury the dead. Some industry experts predict space will run out in a little as 10 years. The dire situation reflects the current housing crisis, where land is a premium. We reached Kim Hunter, Owner of Humphrey Funeral Home to talk about changes in the funeral industry.

Homesharing program pairing Students with Seniors: An Ontario based company is making intergenerational living normal in Canada. SpacesShared is a home sharing platform that matches students with Seniors who have empty bedrooms and the company says it’s been overwhelmed by requests. With affordable housing more elusive than ever, this program is not only a win for students, but it creates some income and connections for Seniors who face isolation in growing numbers. We reached SpacesShared co-founder and CEO Rylan Kinnon. New Cars Zoomers Love to Drive: The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada has just named the 2024 car of the year. And the winner is: the Toyota Prius. And Toyota also claims other top spots. The awards were just handed out at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. Jil McIntosh has been writing about cars for years for various industry publications and she was also a judge at this year’s car show. We reached Jil to find out what older drivers want in a car.

How Canadians Are Enjoying Sex: On Valentine’s day this week, Sociologist Tina Fetner released a book on Canadian sexual practices based on the first ever survey of what Canadian adults do in the bedroom and who they do it with. It’s called "Sex in Canada: The Who, Why, When, and How of Getting Down Up North". And Libby started the conversation by asking how we are different from Americans. Ageism in Politics: This week a special counsel cleared U.S. President Joe biden of criminal wrongdoing in his handling of classified documents, But Robert Hur, who is associated with Donald Trump and has no neurological expertise, characterized the 81-year-old Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory”. By that point the President’s age was already a widely debated campaign issue. Is that partisan politics or ageism? Libby reached Larry Haas- a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, in Maryland.

The King's Cancer Diagnosis: There’s been an outpouring of sympathy and support since King Charles III revealed that he’s been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. At the age of 75, he was finally putting his own stamp on the monarchy after ascending the throne in September 2022 following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth. Libby talked about the implications with Suzanne Boyd, Editor-in-chief and Publisher of Zoomer Magazine/everythingzoomer.com Reforming our system of clinical trials for Cancer Patients In recent years, there have been huge innovations in cancer treatment that target the disease with ever increasing precision. Clinical trials are often the best or the only treatment option for cancer patients. But surgical oncologist Dr. Rebecca Auer argues that they are outdated and need to be reimagined to help thousands of Canadians.

What a new report tells us about Cardiac Arrest A new report from the Heart and Stroke Foundation finds that this potentially fatal event occurring outside a hospital is far more prevalent than we thought. Cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos tells us simple training could save lives. Are you exercising right after the age of 50? Are you still sticking to your New year’s exercise resolution? And are you working out the right way? Author and personal trainer Igor Klibanov specializes in training people over 50 and as the title of his bestseller says: Stop Exercising! The Way You Are doing it Now”

Michael Levy's brother is still being held by Hamas. He shares his story: Like so many around the world, and specifically Israel, just mention October 7th and the nightmare of that day replays in their minds many times each day. Michael Levy's brother was taken hostage by the terrorist group while attending the Nova Music Festival and his sister-in-law was murdered. He shares his story. How accurate are the five love languages? It’s been 30-plus years since a series of books titled The Five Love Languages came out. Not to help someone fall in love but to keep a relationship fresh and growing amid conflicts, demands, and just plain boredom of everyday life. Dr. Emily Impett, a University of Toronto Mississauga psychology professor and her team of researchers were curious cupids who decided to check out the concept.

January 21 2024-National Non-Smoking Week & Ontario Launches New LTC Investigations Unit National Non-Smoking Week Quick quiz: What’s the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Canada? If you said tobacco then you’re right. With 46-thousand dying from it each year and National Non-Smoking Week upon us, Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society looks at how far we’ve come and also how much more we’ve got to go. Ontario Launches a New Long-Term Care Investigations Unit The province now has a team of 10 investigators designated as Provincial Offences Officers who have the authority to add more accountability in long-term care with the aim to help address the most serious forms of non-compliance. Will these 10 make a difference? Jane Meadus is a lawyer at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly.

Blue Monday and research about Seasonal Affective Disorder Blue Monday has officially been called the most depressing day of the year. It was dreamed up to help advertisers cash in on everything from travel to gym memberships. But the broader Seasonal Affective Disorder is when the post holiday lull, stretched finances, and poor weather with less daylight all converge. We reached Laura Cavanagh Professor of Behavioural Sciences at Seneca College and a registered psychotherapist. CARP's Survey shows Zoomers are hungry for travel Travel bug got you planning a big trip? You’re not alone. A just-released survey by the Zoomer Advocacy group CARP finds a whopping 86 percent of older Canadians plan to book an international flight within the year marking a return to the first ‘normal’ travel season in three years. Rudy Buttignol, President of the Zoomer Advocacy group CARP joined us in the studio to break it all down.

David Macdonald On Canada's highest-paid CEOs Almost 15 million dollars. That’s how much 100 of Canada’s top CEOs were paid in 2022--an all time high. And it's more than double what the top executives were paid in 2008. Compare that to the typical Canadian worker who got an average three per cent raise to just over 60 thousand a year. By comparison, the top CEOs made that in 8 hours. So, at a time when the average Canadian is facing food inflation and housing affordability, why do Canada’s richest keep getting richer? We reached David Macdonald, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, who released a report this week. Professor Jim Davies On Best Strategies to Keep Our New Year Resolutions: We’ve just said goodbye to 2023 and are a few days into 2024. Do you plan to make changes this year? Experts agree that New Year’s resolutions usually fail because they’re too big of a goal. So the best advice is start small. In fact, one study finds 9 in 10 Americans fail at resolutions. We reached Jim Davies, a cognitive science professor at Carleton University, for some do’s and don'ts when it comes to resolutions.

Erika Buckman: Unveiling a Beatles' Secret: Erika Buckman reveals a surprising and bittersweet connection: her late daughter, Caroline Buckman unknowingly played a part in this last melody from the legendary Fab Four. With this revelation, Buckman shares a unique perspective on the song's significance and her daughter's unintended legacy. Dr. Allison Crawford: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis: Amidst the pandemic, while suicide rates remained stable, crisis lines experienced a surge in calls from individuals grappling with heightened stress. In response, Canada introduces a comprehensive, around-the-clock, three-digit suicide prevention hotline, 9-8-8. Dr. Allison Crawford, Chief Medical Officer at Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, joins Bob Komsic to discuss this critical initiative and its potential impact on mental health support in the country.