Project 11

Winnipeg’s own Jess Salgueiro knows the hustle of acting—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Jess sits down with high school student Sophie, Ace Burpee, and Suzi to share how she copes when she doesn’t get a part, the reality of the grind, and the mindset that kept her going. You can see Jess' most recent reboot of Frasier for two seasons as a lead; Jess proves that resilience pay...

What’s the best thing that could happen if you shared your voice? As the founder and CEO of the Slay the Mic coaching initiative that inspires students to tap into their voice, that’s the question that Jam Gamble constantly asks herself. Tune in to hear Gamble’s thoughts on empowering others, believing in your voice, the importance of listening to each other and more in her conversation with hosts...

Ever heard phrases like “early bird gets the worm” or “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”? Dr. Morgan Marcoux, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist who also works with the Winnipeg Jets organization, joined hosts Ace Burpee and Suzi Friesen to put those myths to rest as they discussed the importance of sleep. Tune in to learn more about how sleep patterns change throughout life, the effects of caffeine and...

For National Child & Youth Mental Day, our dear friend Ace, who students have enjoyed following along in our Fun with Food and Fun with Fitness videos, wrote a special song called “It’ll be Okay”. This sweet song is an important reminder that no matter what we are going through, we will grow through it. Listen and enjoy!  www.projecteleven.ca

Life is full of challenges, and social media expert and author Blair Kaplan Venables has faced a few of her own along her journey. Tune in as Blair shares her story of resilience with hosts Don and Suzi, as well as some methods to strengthen your own “resiliency muscle”. The crew wraps up the episode with Project 11 guest student Carter to discuss how resilience, especially as a teenager in the so...

The practice of setting goals was instilled in former NHLer Jason Simon at a young age. So when he’s come to face challenges – that goal-setting frame of mind helped him push through. Hosts Don and Suzi check in with Jason after his most recent speaking engagements and wrap the episode up by touching base with grade 10 student, Xander to hear how Jason’s message applies to his personal situation.

Whether you are a high schooler or an NHL player like Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo, life is full of ups and downs. For Dylan, that’s included carving his path to being an NHL player, playing hockey in a pandemic, and being a dad, but find out how focusing on what he can control has helped to level each wave in his life. Don and Suzi cap the episode by hearing from Project 11 student Jorda...

Living healthier is a popular New Year’s resolution, but a team consisting of legendary Winnipeg Blue Bomber Milt Stegall, workplace health and wellness expert Jordan Cieciwa, and local phys. ed. teacher Kevin Landreville are striving to help Winnipeggers make a deeper commitment to their health and wellness through the Fit City Project. Find out how keeping a healthy perspective on fitness and do...

Everybody is in pursuit of happiness, but we often look for it in the wrong places. Mindfulness guru Uday Chudasama “Checks In” with Don and Suzi to point us in the right direction for finding happiness through mindfulness, being humble, and “letting go of our problems”. Don and Suzi wrap up the conversation by reflecting on Chudasama’s message with Project 11 high school student Lily who will sha...

How is at-home learning impacting the mental health of youth? Join Don and Suzi as they explore this with several guests during this Check In.  Get a glimpse inside the virtual classroom with Project 11 teacher Ms. G and high school students Jake and Kali and the challenges they are facing, and hear from Medical Director for the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre Dr. Andrew Hall, on how we can c...

Fred Penner is a Canadian icon in children’s entertainment and has been making impacts on kids and families for decades. Hear about what drew Fred to a career in entertaining children, how he strives to leave a mark on others, and why even the smallest of impacts are so important as he checks in with Don and Suzi. Stick around to the end to hear from this episode’s Project 11 guest student, Grade...

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey has many fans. On this episode of the Project 11 Check In, he instead focuses on self-confidence and the importance of being your own biggest fan – a value Josh’s late father instilled in him. Get a glimpse into other things Josh values in his life, such as welcoming new teammates to the Jets and running his Glass Half Full foundation. Join hosts Don and Suz...

Natalie Bell (Peg City Lovely) exudes positivity to those around her. Natalie lives for building meaningful connections, whether that’s through sharing her passion for Winnipeg, her work as a human resource professional, or by having tough discussions on inclusion and acceptance with people like Don and Suzi. The episode covers all of that, and unpacks how those same topics apply to the life of th...

Don and Suzi are back for season two of the P11 Check In podcast! To help them kick off the new season, Manitoba’s Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin joins the hosts to check in. Find out what the past 19 months have been like for Dr. Roussin, get to know what Dr. Roussin is like away from work, and hear how he works to balance his work and home lives. New for this season, Do...

Playing in the NHL is a career highlight for hockey players, but former Winnipeg Jets defenceman Jay Harrison has continued to develop his career since hanging up the skates by getting a master’s degree in clinical psychology and now serving as the Director of Wellness, Transition, and Performance for the NHL Players’ Association. Learn how that role encourages Jay to find balance in his own life...

Alan Greyeyes is an involved member of the Arts, running an artist and project management company called Ogichidaa Arts and the Sākihiwē Festival. He joins Don and Suzi on this episode of the Check-In to continue the conversation on Indigenous relations, in our society and discusses how he tries to drive positive change through his work in the Arts, and highlights how each of us can play a part in...

Andrew Harris is known as a star running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but there’s more to him than that. He strives be a positive influence for many people like his daughter, athletes in the Pro Prep Academy, and those he’s connected with for his Check-In Challenge. Find out how Andrew found his own positive influences as a youth in this packed episode that opens with Don Amero and Suzi pay...

Goalie, Eric Comrie from the Winnipeg Jets has moved more in recent years than most people do in a lifetime. Add quarantines to those moves, and it’s safe to say, Eric had quite an interesting year. Find out how he faced those isolating times with a positive outlook, and how his family, girlfriend, and Jango supported him along the way.   Join Suzi and guest host Sara Orlesky as they analyze their...

Dr. Meaghen Johnston from Intentional Futures in Winnipeg, has done a lot of research about identity and self-acceptance. Hear how her past social work experience with youth helped Meaghen discover important aspects of the human spirit, what steps you need to take to truly believe in yourself, & how a message from Mr. Rogers Neighbourhood is at the centre of it all. Challenge yourself along wi...

There isn’t much that slows down Virgin Radio Winnipeg host Ace Burpee even in a pandemic. Despite COVID-19 halting many events and activities for Ace, hear about black bears and beavers – and what they have to do with some of Ace’s new projects – and the small acts of kindness he’s taken on over the last year.  What small gestures of kindness can you add to your life? Hang around until the end to...

Sara Orlesky, TSN’s Winnipeg Bureau Reporter checks in with Don and Suzi on this episode of the podcast. Find out what kept Sara busy while sports were paused last year, why one of her colleagues calls her an “old soul”, and most importantly why she takes her position as a female sports broadcaster and role model to young girls so seriously. Stay tuned as the hosts share their wellness challenge r...

The Project 11 podcast checks in with Winnipeg Jets centre and Project 11 ambassador Bryan Little in this episode. Don and Suzi discuss the difficult year Bryan has had since sustaining a serious injury early in the 2019-20 NHL season and how he’s overcome the adversity of dealing with that injury. Despite not being able to play hockey since then, find out what continues to motivate Bryan, as well...

Project 11 Check-In chats with Jo Ann Unger, Clinical Director at KIDTHINK – a non-profit offering clinical treatment of mental illness for kids and training for caregivers and teachers to support their children. Hear why Jo Ann thinks mindfulness is so important in our day and age, and how parents can proactively and positively impact their child’s mental health. With both Don and Suzi having kid...