Mornings with Simi

B.C.’s Singletree Winery, near Abbotsford airport, attracts Ontario visitors but cannot ship wine directly to them due to interprovincial trade barriers. While a new agreement allows B.C. wineries to sell directly to Alberta consumers, other provinces, including Ontario, still require purchases through government-controlled liquor boards, leading to high markups. Guest: Debbie Etsell - Owner of Si...

Former Canadian intelligence official Dan Stanton warns that recent cuts to U.S. intelligence agencies under the Trump administration could make the country vulnerable to another 9/11-style attack, with implications for Canada as well. Guest: Dan Stanton - Director of the National Security Program at the University of Ottawa and Former Executive Director of CSIS Learn more about your ad choices. V...

The BC legislature are finally meeting after a 9-month hiatus. What can we expect to be discussed in this long-awaited session? Guest: Vaughn Palmer - Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The field of sensory heritage focuses on how we engage with heritage objects through senses beyond vision, such as smell, which is often overlooked in museum conservation. Researchers are developing methods to preserve culturally significant smells, with projects like recreating the scent of St. Paul’s Cathedral’s library and the “Odeuropa” project, which explored the smells of 17th-century Europe...

Seg 1: Does the US actually subsidize Canada? If not, what is Trump referring to? Seg 2: How cartels are using BC ports to fuel the fentanyl crisis. Seg 3: Why do American hockey players sound so Canadian? Seg 4: How a major discovery could crack physics’ biggest mystery: Turbulence! Seg 5: Why BC should ramp up its citrus production! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bob Duncan, a Vancouver Island grower, cultivates dozens of citrus varieties, including oranges, lemons, and figs, using minimal energy. His heating method involves basic incandescent Christmas lights and thermal cloth, costing just two to three dollars for the entire winter. He believes more Canadians should grow their own food, especially with potential U.S. tariffs, and is pushing for governmen...

A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) memo reveals that Chinese organized crime networks and Mexican cartels are using Canadian ports to trade endangered totoaba fish bladders for fentanyl precursor chemicals. Guest: Luis Horacio Nájera - Journalist and Crime Analyst from Mexico Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump’s claim that the U.S. “subsidizes” Canada by hundreds of billions annually is central to his argument for annexation, but experts say it’s misleading. His figures fluctuate—ranging from $100 billion to $250 billion—but the U.S.’s actual trade deficit with Canada was $63 billion in 2024, far lower than his claims. Guest: Moshe Lander - Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics at...

Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding turbulence—the chaotic movement seen in fluids like water, air, and even stars. For centuries, turbulence has been one of physics’ biggest mysteries, and even today, supercomputers struggle to fully simulate it. A new study introduces a fresh approach inspired by quantum computing. Instead of using traditional methods that always produce the sam...

Last night was SNL's 50th anniversary special, and ALL the stars came out for the celebration. What to expect from the long-awaited reopening of the legislature! Guest: Vaughn Palmer - Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Linguist and former hockey player Andrew Bray investigated how hockey-specific slang and Canadian English features influence American players’ speech. Initially studying sports jargon, Bray shifted focus after being asked why American players sound like “fake Canadians.” Guest: Dr. Andrew Bray - Visiting Assistant Professor in the Linguistics Department at Carleton College Learn more about your ad...

Seg 1: Why Canada will NOT be feeling the sting of rising egg prices. Seg 2: Why Ken Sim believes a task force will prevent crime in the DTES! Seg 3: The love and lawlessness of Bonnie and Clyde! Seg 4: It's been another crazy week in US politics, so we have our check-in with Global Washington correspondent Reggie Cecchini! Seg 5: Canada’s Arctic sovereignty is increasingly at risk, particularly c...

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and Police Chief Adam Palmer announced Task Force Barrage, a long-term initiative to combat organized crime and violence, particularly in the Downtown Eastside. The plan includes increased police presence, crackdowns on chronic offenders, gang activity, and drug traffickers, following the recent reversal of decriminalization policies. Guest: Ken Sim - Mayor of Vancouver Lea...

Canada’s Arctic sovereignty is increasingly at risk, particularly concerning the Northwest Passage (NWP), which the country claims as internal waters. However, this position is often challenged internationally, with figures like U.S. President Donald Trump showing significant interest in the region. Guest: Dr. Jessica Shadian - President and CEO of Arctic360 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Egg prices in the U.S. have skyrocketed due to an avian influenza outbreak that has led to the culling of over 150 million birds, causing a significant shortage and price hikes, with some stores charging up to US$10 for a dozen eggs.  In contrast, Canada is less affected by these circumstances.  Guest: Dr. Bruce Muirhead - Professor of History and Public Policy at the University of Waterloo Learn...

The BC NDP are going back on their grocery rebate promise. Their excuse? Trump. Brenda Bailey also announces a “bold” expansion of government’s housing freeze. Richmond blocks an NDP double cross on social housing. Guest: Vaughn Palmer - Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, infamous for their bank robberies, murders, and kidnappings during the Great Depression (1932-1934), became iconic figures, inspiring films and songs.  Bonnie, born in 1910, married Roy Thornton in 1926 but remained separated due to his imprisonment.  Clyde, born in 1909, grew up in poverty and turned to crime, meeting Bonnie in January 1930 before his arrest.  Thei...

Seg 1: Can the Fentanyl Czar really curb fentanyl trafficking in Canada? Seg 2: How London Drugs is helping people buy Canadian! Seg 3: Do baboons have self-awareness? Seg 4: What goes into making a Canadian flag? Seg 5: How a lack of funding could fuel crime rates in Surrey. Seg 6: What on earth is Galentine’s Day? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Galentine’s Day, celebrated on February 13th, originated from the TV show Parks and Recreation in 2010, when the character Leslie Knope gathered her female friends for brunch to celebrate their friendships. Since then, it has become a widely embraced holiday dedicated to appreciating and empowering female friendships. Guest: Jennifer Armstrong - New York Times Best Selling Author and Pop Culture H...

The federal government has appointed Kevin Brosseau, former RCMP deputy commissioner, as Canada’s new fentanyl czar. This position is part of Ottawa’s efforts to address the fentanyl crisis and reassure the U.S. that Canada is actively working to disrupt the illegal production and distribution of the drug. Guest: Neil Boyd - Chair of the Board of Directors at the International Centre for Criminal...

Surrey Urban Mission is facing severe funding challenges, with BC Housing providing 97% of their funding, which hasn’t increased since 2022. As a result, they must close their community meal program by the end of March due to a $1.7 million shortfall. Guest: Jack O’Halloran - CEO of the Surrey Urban Mission Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What goes into making a Canadian Flag? Guest: Julia Izadi - Lead Sales Representative at Flying Colors International Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canadian Premiers recently met with Republican officials over Trump's ongoing threats to make Canada a 51st state. Opinion polls are shifting! The Federal Liberals are closing in on Pierre Poilievre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

London Drugs’ role in transitioning towards more Canadian goods Guest: Clint Mahlman - President and Chief Operating Officer of London Drugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new study suggests that self-awareness in wild primates may be more limited than previously thought. In laboratory settings, great apes such as chimpanzees and orangutans have demonstrated self-recognition by passing the “mark test,” where they notice and respond to a dot placed on their faces while looking in a mirror. Guest: Dr. Alecia Carter - Associate Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology...