Heroes in our Midst

When you hear the word “meditation” what is your first thought? I bet it isn’t that it can help you reach higher levels of success… or lead your company to greater execution with more compassion… or that it can help you WIN in every sense of the word. Well, performance coach Ashley Wray believes that it can, and she’s seen it work in using the foundations of mindfulness to help people reach their...

“You’re not filling anyone’s shoes – bring your own.”   Michael Bartlett, brought his own shoes to Canada Basketball as CEO back in 2021 and what he has done for basketball in Canada in just 3 short years is nothing short of impressive. 3 of our teams competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics for the first time ever. And while none medalled, which was a huge disappointment to Michael, it cannot be denie...

"I believe for us as parents, coaches, teachers and workplace leaders we have a responsibility to role model what it looks like, sounds like and feels like to be a great human being. And that we can actually allow and give hope to the next generation to say, hey, I want to show up and be kind and curious and competitive and achieve and fulfill my personal mission and goals." - Judy Riege...

“I knew that every single day I had to earn my way there and do everything possible to become the best version of myself every single day to get to where I am now.” From the 2nd Grade, Kristen Campbell had a dream to play in goal for the Canadian Women’s hockey team at the Olympic Games. She has realized the dream of going to the Olympics as part of Team Canada and even more including now being th...

“My life has just become my new norm – it’s just going to take a lot more effort.” Lisa Franks was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. An athletic kid with dreams of playing basketball in the Olympic Games. Never did she think that it would be in a wheelchair. But incredibly, after becoming paralyzed from the neck down at the age of 14… Lisa DID make it - to not 1, not 2 but THREE Paralympic Games!!...

“I don’t think any of us are in the business of removing challenge. I think we’re in the business of increasing challenge to the most we can tolerate as a human being. But then, if that human being is being asked to tolerate all of this challenge – how can we build up the human being, how can we give them the resources they need, the space they need, the rest they need, the understanding of the “w...

“I know what it’s like to not have food in the fridge”   One of the things that Asun Ducharme carries with him from his childhood. It wasn’t an easy one but somehow, somewhere, he finds positives in all of it and he is finding his way to greatness. The passion and the drive in this young man will blow you away.   Prepare to be inspired when you listen to Asun and his story. He is a linebacker, was...

When you open Ray Zahab’s website you will find these three words. CHALLENGE. DISTANCE. DISCOVERY. Exactly what he takes on, on a very regular basis. He takes on new challenges that usually include running long distances and discovering not only the cultures and geography of the places he goes but also, what it takes to truly conquer the challenge in any given location for any distance, in any amo...

“My life changed when I stopped defining success by a certain limited framework.”   That’s what Juno award winning singer/songwriter Steve Bell said, when he decided, along with his manager/producer/sound design partner Dave Zeglinski, that they would leave Nashville and come back home to Manitoba to do locally what they did best… make music on their own terms and share it with others. And it’s wo...

If you were ever wanting to hear the story of someone who has worked for absolutely everything she’s ever gotten in life, then, you’ve found the right story. Our guest today is Claire Hanna. Most recently, you may have seen Claire on the sidelines of the 2023 Grey Cup championship game as part of the TSN broadcast. Or, you may know her name from the volleyball world, in which, she is a 3-time Nati...

“A 30-year reunion… do your ex-teammates want to come sit at a table with you because you scored a bunch of goals or was it because you were a good person and a good teammate? That’s always kind of stuck with me.” That’s just one of the things recently retired NHL hockey player, Mark Borowiecki said when we chatted about his life story. You see, he was drafted by the Ottawa Senators and played the...

“I think the biggest thing is just finding the motivation within yourself. If this is something you want to do and if this is your passion, I think you’ll have no problem having that motivation to succeed.” Well, 19-year-old hockey player Danny Zhilkin is certainly motivated, and he has been since he was a 9-year-old boy in Russia, when his entire family moved to Canada so that he could pursue his...

“It’s not just about, ‘How can I get a million people to buy my stuff?’ it’s ‘How can I get one person to be affected by the stuff that we are saying and that we are sharing’ – and that for me is this.”   “Heroes in our Midst” host Michelle Sawatzky-Koop said that in conversation with creator Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood, when asked about what “Heroes in our Midst” means to her. That’s it. Being th...

“Hard work pays off and we all fall down at some point, the important thing is to get back up.” Those are the words Sara Orlesky ended our conversation with, in this episode of “Heroes in our Midst”, and the stories she has to tell along the way lead us to that. Sara is now the Senior Host and Producer of the Jets content team and it’s been a lifetime of stories that has gotten her there. Sara has...

“Winning Amazing Race Canada has made my platform much bigger and I’m able to reach out more to people and be a bigger advocate for brain cancer and every kind of cancer and people with disabilities and people who don’t think they can do something – I’ve proven them WRONG!” She most certainly has. Catherine has danced with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, she’s performed on Broadway and yes, won “Amazin...

“The harder I work, the luckier I get.” Dayna Spiring might attribute that quote to her husband, but she certainly lives it. Every single day she wakes up with purpose and the realization that to be your very best, you can’t escape the work.  Dayna is currently the President and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg which includes YES! Winnipeg and Tourism Winnipeg. As the former chief strateg...

“That was my goal since daycare that I was going to play in the Olympics.” Who sets goals like that in daycare? Venla Hovi, that’s who. Venla is one of the best female hockey players to ever come out of Finland – she is a 2-time Olympic medalist, a multiple World championship medal winner, a Canadian University National Champion with the Manitoba Bisons, and now, is coaching female professional ho...

“My plan to go to Germany was to get a PHD in sport science, to get the highest coaching license in the world and I wanted to play pro soccer in Germany. Those were my three goals and many people told me I was crazy.” – Dr. Vanessa Martinez Lagunas Some pretty big dreams and she realized them all. Every Single One! In this episode, you will get to know Dr. Vanessa Martinez Lagunas. Vanessa has bee...

“NOW, go do something with it!” If there’s anyone who believes that everyone has huge potential and it just takes hard work to realize your dreams, it’s Adam Bighill. He grew up in the States where “Friday Night Lights” was actually a “thing” and he went on to play on the biggest stage in his world of football. He’s been named the CFL’s Most Outstanding defensive player three times, won multiple G...

“I think this idea, the open hand, sharing what you’ve been given openly… that’s very important to me.” – Dr. Neil Craton Well, good thing we asked him to join us to share his story! Dr. Neil Craton doesn’t only have his own life’s story to tell. He has countless experiences and examples of what he’s learned along the way from hearing other people’s stories. He is one of the longest standing sport...

“I want her to know that she can chase her dreams”. That’s what Jill Officer said about her daughter, Camry, because that’s exactly what she has always done – chased her dreams. All her life, Jill wasn’t afraid to put in the work, survive the ups and downs and deal with the pressure to be her very best. And in her case – “her very best” was the best in the world! Jill curled with Jennifer Jones fo...

“Cindy Klassen, Clara Hughes, Shannon Rempel, Brittany Schussler: I just want to be the next 'one of them'.” – Alexa Scott. But who IS 21-year-old, long track speed skater Alexa Scott in her own right? She’s a Canadian Junior champion, a 3-time Canada Winter Games gold medalist, she’s won junior world medals, a world cup medal and she’s already an Olympian having competed in the 2022 Olympic Games...

No doubt, when you hear the name Cindy Klassen, speed skating and Olympic medals comes to mind. SIX to be exact. The whole world was talking about Cindy Klassen in 2006 when she won FIVE of them in one Winter Games!! But who knew who she really was? YOU will, when you listen to her story. Which includes when Cindy was in Grade 5 and how she entered a bike race with one of her best friends… and her...

It is exciting for me to introduce our special guest today – Martha McCabe. I’m excited to highlight Martha for a few reasons. First, she’s a 2-time Olympian in swimming and won a bronze medal at the World Championships. Second, she has started “Head to Head”, an incredible program which offers high level athletes a way to transition out of sport and at the same time, make a difference in other pe...

So, this is it. We have reached Episode #60 here at “Heroes in our Midst”. It’s our final guest of Season 2 and we truly believe we’ve saved one of the best for last. This series we’ve focused on incredible people who are “Unapologetically Human”. Dr. Peter Jensen is one of those people. He is one of the most successful performance coaches in the world, working beyond sport into the corporate worl...