Bridging the Social Distance

For this episode my guest is Debra Cooper, a resident in Long Term Care at The Village of Riverside Glen . Debra has spent a life on the move, born in Canada but spending her young life everywhere from Mexico to Spain to Long Island New York, before finally settling for a longer period of time in Quebec. She's a tough lady, navigating these moves, and surviving a serious car accident and a subsequ...

This episode features a collection of interviews and radio shoutouts from GCVI students who attended a Tech and Trades Fair and GCVI on November 6th, 2024. CFRU tabled at the event, promoted our own opportunities, and handed students the mic, to capture a snapshot of young high school life. We hope you enjoy it! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or...

This is a radio special celebrating the recent grand re-opening of the "Conestoga College Living Classroom" at The Village of Riverside Glen . Recorded on December 5th 2024 at Riverside Glen, today's broadcast starts with the speeches recorded at the event, followed by some short interviews with staff and coordinators who help bring the living classroom to life. About the Living Classroom: The Liv...

This episode features recorded speeches and interviews with folks who attended the recent event "Breaking Barriers: Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities", which took place at the downtown branch of the Guelph Public Library on Dec 3rd 2024. We hear from many incredible disability advocates, including folks from Community Living Guelph Wellington's "People4People" Advocacy gro...

For this episode my guest was Gerald "Jerry" Guidolin, a very new resident at The Village of Riverside Glen , having only moved in earlier this month. This episode is not to be missed! By the nature of the magic of all the stories from everyone I interview I don't think I could possibly have a "favourite" radio guest, but I can honestly say that I can't remember the last time a one-hour conversati...

For this episode I interviewed local music booker and advocate Samir Baijal, in honour of his receiving of the "Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award", recognizing Sam's ongoing commitment to supporting live music. I interviewed Sam about this, and about his career in music booking. More about Samir, and this award:Samir [was recently] awarded the Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award, as an...

For this episode I interviewed Michelle Peek of " Art Not Shame ". Art Not Shame is a local Guelph Non-profit that uses the arts to build community, deepen our access to creativity, increase well-being, and create the conditions for inner and outer systems change. They have a beautiful new expanded location on Wyndham street and offer tons of incredible programs and services. Art Not Shame is one...

For this episode I interview Marc Peloso, a resident at the Village of Riverside Glen. Marc grew up in Guelph, and if his name sounds familiar, the answer is yes - he is related to the Pelosos! As a Guelph history lover I recognized the name right away. Marc shares about his family, his career working in advertising, and his twenty year journey with MS. I appreciated him taking time out of his day...

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve uploaded a new episode, as we had an unexpected run of live episodes in the mix! So I am slowly editing them from the archives and uploading them, starting with this interview with Greg Rhyno! Greg is a local (Guelph) author/musician and old friend Greg Rhyno. Greg and I have known each other for almost 25 years! Spanning his early supply teaching years through to...

I loved this conversation. For this episode my guest Alex is a grade 11 student at John F Ross, who I met on an outing with The Village of Riverside Glen . Alex has been volunteering there for two years, and Alex's great grandmother was a previous guest on my radio show, which was a cool coincidence I didn't know at the time we met. I thought it would be interesting to interview Alex to hear the p...

For this episode I interview Zander McConnell, our current intern from “Project Search”. Zander has been coming to CFRU every day to work with us, in the hopes of learning transferable job skills, working on recording and editing, public speaking, file management, project management and getting immersed in some cool music and tech in the process. I thought it would be neat to interview him to lear...

For this episode I interview Janice Henderson, a recent new resident at The Village of Riverside Glen . We talk about Janice’s career as a Real Estate Agent here in Guelph, how she started in that profession after her divorce, becoming a single mom to five kids and navigating a work life balance to always be there for all of their events and important moments. In recent times she’s had to adjust a...

For this episode I interview Neil and Sheila McLaren, residents at The Village of Riverside Glen . These two may be brand new to living at Riverside Glen, but Neil's mother was a resident twenty years ago, and it was his positive experience and weekly visits back then, that inspired them to look into Riverside Glen for their own care-plans. He played the piano every week when he visited way back t...

For this episode I interview Leo Bock, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen . Leo is relatively new to the building, having moved to retirement to be close to his wife who is being cared for in Long Term Care. Leo opens up about this stage of life, transitioning to living alone, but surrounded by other residents, navigating the social balance of trying to have meaningful conversations and b...

This radio special was recorded at the 2024 Schlegel Summer Olympics! I followed 6 athletes from The Village of Riverside Glen and their coaches/support/staff on their journey to the host location (The Village of Glen Crossing), and with the help of Kadri we recorded pre and post interviews, recordings from the event, and some interviews Schlegel staff who helped coordinate the event. I hope you e...

For this episode I interview Bill Cunningham, a younger resident at The Village of Riverside Glen who moved into the facility because he suffers from Epilepsy, and had been living alone, and felt it would be safer to be sure there would be help if he suffered a seizure. Bill talks about his epilepsy, some of the challenges and changes it has meant, his training of his dog Titan, his life before hi...

For this episode I interviewed Norah Spades and Jitterbug James of the band “The Vaudevillian”. The Vaudevillian are a two-piece band covering 1930’s ragtime/blues/jug and/hokum songs, and I caught up with them at their recent performance at The Village of Riverside Glen . Today’s episode features a live recording from their show and a short interview where they share their origin stories, the hus...

For this episode I interview Barb Merkley, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen . Barb has lived at Riverside Glen for eight years, and she's an integral part of the Village community, with many of the residents and staff feeling like family to her. Her and I became fast friends on our bus trip to the drag races at Grand Bend, and she quickly became a willing guest for radio. Barb shares ab...

For this episode I interview Harry O'Connell, a resident in Long Term Care at The Village of Riverside Glen. Harry shares many glimpses into different stages of life, from his childhood spent in London and summers in Port Stanley, to joining the military, leaving the military due to a boxing injury, getting married, a long career as a stationary engineer, through to having children (and now five g...

For this episode I interview David "Byron" Howat, a resident at @ The Village of Riverside Glen . Byron talks about his childhood in Saskatewan (including a rebellious/daredevil stage that could have led to him meeting his end!) his career working in Computer Systems, his family, and his 30 years traveling to Cape Breton with his second wife - Byron has a profound love for that place, and it truly...

For this episode I interview a resident, who shares her story of being born and raised in Ireland, leaving school at a young age to become a hairdresser, and following that path upon her arrival to Canada as a teenager. Thank you to this resident for being willing to chat with me and share her story! This interview was originally recorded on May 9th, 2024 This is a public episode. If you would lik...

For this episode I interview Ju Man Chen, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen . Ju Man is originally from Kolkata, India, and - supported by his daughter Jean - Ju Man shares his story of growing up as part of a small community of Hakka Chinese. He shares of his experiences navigating poverty, and his strong work-ethic, helping to financially support his family by dropping out of school to...

For this episode I interview Grace Wilson. Her conversation begins with sharing stories from many adventures traveling across the world, in the company of her daughter and her daughter's wife, two young spontaneous, jet-setting Aerospace engineers. When asked where her daughter's exciting/confident/traveling-lifestyle originated, Grace shares some of her own past, and her incredible route through...

For this episode my guest is Elizabeth "Betty" Beard, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen . Betty has lived closed to 100 years, and shares today about her family, growing up in Toronto and living for a time in Wingham, her musical background, playing the bells, and her family's band "The Beard Family Singers". Thank you Betty for making the time to chat! This interview was originally reco...

Today I interview Anneke Haan, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen . Anneke was born in Holland, and moved to Canada when she was three. She grew up in Fergus and Elora, and has lived all around this area, and she shares stories from her journey around these parts, starting a career in nursing before shifting to accounting, and for a time running a crafting/general store in Shellburne. We...