Searching for Solutions

Niagara’s farms are running up against a hard truth: without reliable water, there is no long-term future for one of Canada’s most productive agricultural regions. After more than 20 years of studies, reports, and stalled momentum, the conversation has reached a tipping point. In this episode of Searching for Solutions , Walter sits down with Sean Rogers from the Region of Niagara to dig into the...

Niagara has 12 municipalities, a regional government, and rising costs. Is it time for a reset? Former CAO Harry Schlange joins Searching for Solutions to make the case for One City, One Council — a bold proposal to streamline governance, reduce inefficiencies, and better prepare Niagara for the future. But does amalgamation actually work?  And what happens to local identity? A candid conversation...

Amalgamation is back in the conversation in Niagara—and with it comes a familiar promise: lower costs, more efficiency, and a better way forward. But is that actually true? In this episode of Searching for Solutions , former St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik sits down with Dr. Charles Conteh of Brock University to unpack one of the most misunderstood governance debates facing communities across...

In this episode of Searching for Solutions , Walter sits down with Lucy Colangelo, founder of the ShineOn Method, to explore one of the defining challenges of modern family life: our relationship with technology. From endless scrolling to rising anxiety and disconnection, many parents feel like they’re losing ground — and traditional solutions like screen limits and device bans often lead to confl...

In this episode of Searching for Solutions , host Walter Sendzik is joined by Dr. Julia Baird, Associate Professor at Brock University, for a timely conversation about Art in Action: Climate —a groundbreaking 10-day arts and climate festival launching in Niagara in January 2026 and centred on the work of world-renowned artist Edward Burtynsky. Together, they explore how art can make the climate cr...

Intimate partner violence is a crisis that affects every community — a form of harm that happens behind closed doors, where trust should exist but fear and control often take hold. In Canada, more than 117,000 people reported experiencing intimate partner violence in a single year — the vast majority women and girls. In Niagara, 86% of victims are female, and the numbers are rising. In this episod...

Online sports gambling is growing faster than almost anyone imagined — and young men are being hit the hardest. Since Canada legalized single-event betting in 2021, gambling has shifted from an occasional activity to a 24/7 digital marketplace embedded in sports culture, social media, and entertainment. Revenues have surged into the billions. Research shows that 1 in 5 young men aged 18–24 gamble...

In Part Two of our deep dive into the rise of online sports gambling, we shift from the problem to the people on the front lines of the solution. This episode focuses on the young men across Canada who are being hit hardest by the rapid growth of digital sports betting — and on the supports available when gambling starts to take control. Our guest is Marnie Proctor , Health Promoter with Community...

In this episode, host Walter Sendzik sits down with Drew Toth, CEO and Founder of Elevate Living, to discuss the housing crisis. Drew shares his blueprint for unlocking more housing supply, describing the crisis as a Rubik’s Cube—complex, with many interdependent moves that must align for meaningful solutions. Together, they explore practical strategies, development challenges, and innovative appr...

Working on the frontlines with people experiencing homelessness — or those living one crisis away from it — is some of the most demanding and critical work in our community. While many agencies include housing support in their mandates, the system remains fragmented and difficult to navigate. In this episode, host  Walter Sendzik speaks with Karrie Porter , a former St. Catharines city councillor...

How did the City of Houston manage to significantly reduce homelessness? The answer lies in an unexpected but powerful tool: accurate, real-time data . On this episode of Searching for Solutions , we explore how data is transforming the fight against homelessness — both globally and right here in Niagara. Host Walter Sendzik is joined by Jeffrey Sinclair , Homelessness Services Manager at Niagara...

When you talk to young people entering the working world, one of their biggest concerns is securing affordable housing. The bigger the city, the more difficult it is to find safe and affordable housing for young people.  On this episode of Searching for Solutions, we talk with Robert Barnard, founder of Toboggan Flats and Theodore Heintzman, Research and Outreach Coordinator at Toboggan Flats abou...

Cities are changes planning regulations and offering incentives for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units as a means to create more affordable livings spaces. Xavier Toby, founder of Axe Building in St. Catharines, Ontario, has a created a one-stop shop for prefabricated housing services from studio units to four-bed accessory dwelling units built with state-of-the-art and sustainable mater...

The world's climate is accelerating due to humans. It's a fact. Humans have the abilities to alter this pathway that is currently leading towards greater environmental disasters, but what is getting in the way? Dr. Julia Baird, Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Human Dimensions of Water Resources and Water Resilience and Associate Professor at Brock University's Environmental Sustai...

Mayors are often the front lines of leadership. In any given community, it is the mayor who is the most visible elected official. During times of crisis, there is a role to play for a mayor to help lead a city through a challenging period.  Jeff Lehman, former Mayor of Barrie, and current Chair of Muskoka District Council shares his experiences during some challenging times as mayor from destructi...

The political debate around homelessness often falls into two camps. Some Canadians feel threatened by homeless people, believing they are a source of crime, and some business owners think they keep customers away. People in that camp mostly just want them gone from the streets. The other camp argues that they are citizens in desperate need rather than a nuisance. Mayor Dan Carter, who is now in h...

In university and college towns, the pressure for housing has exhausted the housing market due to a continuous increase in enrolments that hasn't been matched by an increase in on-campus student living spaces. This has created an even more intense housing crisis for those communities.  On this episode of Searching for Solutions, Rylan Kinnon, Co-Founder & CEO of SpacesShared talks about a...

We are living in a period of increasing rage and anger driven by the polarization of politics and social media. Last fall Pollara Strategic Insights’ Rage Index showed Canadians are an angry bunch and it has an impact on communities, workplaces and families.  Julie A. Christiansen is an award-winning speaker, author, and therapist with nearly 30 years of experience in the community services field....

Ideas on how to help in communities come in all shapes and sizes. No idea is too big and no idea is too small when it comes finding ways to help those who are struggling with homelessness. Sometimes great ideas coming while driving on a highway late at night listening to the radio. Sam Baio, founder of Socks for Change, founded a unique social enterprise while listening to a radio program about ho...

Learning about trauma and its impact on the human mind and body is a way to unlock understanding about the long term impacts of trauma. To gain a better understanding of the issues of addictions, homelessness and mental health, a trauma informed community approach has been gaining traction as a way to develop better programs and policies to help people On this episode Lori Gill, founder of the Att...

One of the most foundational books that I read during my time as Mayor of St. Catharines was written by Tim Arnold called The Power of Healthy Tension . It was a powerful book that gave me the tools to understand that tensions in relationships - both personal and at work - are not all bad and in fact we live with tension every day. It's how we manage the tensions that makes the difference. Ti...

When a church opened a homeless shelter, it was due to an urgent need to temporarily house people that had no place to live. Now, over 20 years later, the Southridge Shelter in Niagara continues to be a place for those seeking a respite and the need has only continued to increase.  On this episode, Annie Froese Director of Homelessness Services at Southridge Shelter discusses the complexities of t...

The opioid epidemic has gripped communities large and small across North America. The rapid rise of addictions has also created pressures on health care and addiction support systems. The introduction of safe consumption sites were created to provide a safe space for drug use that also offered opportunities for people to connect with care providers in ways that can't be done on the streets. ...

The opioid epidemic has stretched the resources of communities. Downtowns have become centres for extensive and excessive drug use often out in the open and in public spaces. People look to the police to address this complex issue but is it up to the police to lead the efforts to find solutions to societal issue?  Port Hope Police Service Chief Tim Farquharson joins me to talk about the role of po...

When we talk about addictions and the complexities of homelessness and mental health, there is often a empty chair at the table - the person with lived experience. It has become increasingly clear that creating programs and systems of care with input from those with lived experiences often creates better outcomes.  On this episode Janice Arnoldi, host of Life Unscripted on the Bell Media network,...