The Well Endowed Podcast

Vriend Versus Alberta is a special podcast series detailing the ground-breaking Supreme Court ruling that helped pave the way for equality for Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ community.  On January 28, 1991, Delwin Vriend was fired from his job as a laboratory coordinator at The King’s College in Edmonton, Alta. because he was gay. Delwin’s only recourse was to file a complaint with the Alberta Human Rig...

April 2, 2023 is the 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling on Vriend v. Alberta. This historic decision paved the way for equality for Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ community. Vriend Versus Alberta is a special podcast series produced by Edmonton Community Foundation and the Edmonton Queer History Project . Written and directed by Darrin Hagen, this project has been 18 months i...

On this episode, our correspondent, Aubrianna Snow , takes us on a journey through the Art Gallery of Alberta ‘s curatorial process, and how they create art collections and experiences that are accessible to all. We also learn about the vital role endowment funds play in helping the gallery continue its work for generations to come. The original Art Gallery of Alberta Fund was established in...

On this episode, we meet Tina Thomas,  Chief Executive Officer at Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF). We are excited to have Tina join our team. ECF is the fourth-largest community foundation in Canada and is the largest non-governmental funder in Edmonton. We distribute more than 30 million dollars into the community annually . Tina joined our team in August of 2022 with a wealth of experience....

On this episode, our correspondent Oumar Salifou learns about the incredible Afro X Latin Festival presented by La Connexional. The Afro X Latin Festival began in 2019 with its first #WinterIsCancelled night, and brings together a diverse representation of African, Caribbean and Latin cultures. Edmonton Community Foundation is proud to be a 2023 sponsor. This year’s festival runs from Saturday, Fe...

On this episode, our correspondent, Aubrianna Snow , learns about how Edmonton’s Food Bank goes beyond food to support community members. Edmonton’s Food Bank was the very first food bank to  open in Canada, and has been tackling food insecurity since 1981. They provide food and other assistance to thousands of people each month. In the course of a year, the food bank distributes about 6 million k...

Edmonton’s population is on track to hit 2 million people by 2040. We got curious about what might be next in our city’s urban planning. And it turns out, there could be quite a bit of inspiration from the Philippines. On this episode, our correspondent,  Emily Rendell-Watson , explores the idea of participatory urban planning. This concept empowers citizens to participate in the design of their c...

On this episode , we discuss the challenges of living with dementia and how one family has come together to support their mom. Dementia can be overwhelming or even scary for those living with the condition and for their families and caregivers. There is still so much we don’t know about dementia. It can affect people of various ages, and each person’s experience is unique. That is why Candace Smal...

On this episode, our correspondent, Aubrianna Snow , learns about the tremendous community impact of Douglas Mitchell. Douglas held countless titles and honours throughout his life. He was a leading professional in law, a football player for both the BC Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and an advisor to countless community organizations. More importantly, he was a loving husband to former Alberta Li...

On this episode, our correspondent,  Emily Rendell-Watson , speaks with Lloyd Cardinal: Co-Chair of EndPovertyEdmonton’s Indigenous Circle and this year’s Vital Signs Advisory Committee. Edmonton’s Vital Signs is an annual check-up that measures how the community is doing. This year’s report delves into topics including the history of racism in Edmonton and the ways that systemic racism affects ho...

On this episode, our correspondent, Danielle Paradis , speaks with EndPovertyEdmonton about why affordable and social housing are an important investment for our city.   November is Edmonton’s Housing Month, a good time to reflect on housing needs and the work being done locally.   According to Homeward Trust , as of November 2022 there are 2,656 people experiencing homelessness in Edmonton. 47% i...

On this episode, we meet Hayat El-Ossmani and Nunu Desalgne — two incredible community leaders here in Edmonton. Nunu and Hayat were recognized for their community work at the 2022 RISE Awards . The RISE Awards are presented by  Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers  to recognize immigrant success in Edmonton. Hayat and Nunu received The Community Leadership Award, sponsored by Edmonton Communit...

On this episode, we speak with artist Carol Wylie about her exhibition They Didn’t Know We Were Seeds . It is an evocative series of portraiture which invites us to consider the parallels between the Holocaust and residential schools, by introducing us to 18 survivors. Understanding the intergenerational trauma experienced by both the Indigenous and Jewish communities, this series is an impo...

On this episode, our correspondent  Scott Lilwall finds out how an endowment fund created by the Friends of the Royal Alberta Museum Society will help support the Royal Alberta Museum far into the future! Links: Find out more about the Friends of the Royal Alberta Museum Society ! Visit the Royal Alberta Museum . Find out more about creating an endowment fund at ECF . ECF Happenings: Watch the  We...

On this episode, we look at how bias in data gathering can impact representation of communities. Our correspondent,  Emily Rendell-Watson , speaks with three incredible community members with experience in data research, urban planning and activism. ECF has been exploring the history of racism in this year’s  Vital Signs topic . Vital Signs is a check-up to see how the community is fairing on vari...

Note: Due to extenuating circumstances, we have had to delay the posting of this docuseries on our web show. We will be sure to update these show notes once the series is released. On this episode, our correspondent Oumar Salifou speaks with Dr. Mawien Akot, from Edmonton’s the South Sudanese community. In the fall of 2020, ECF was approached by leaders from Alberta’s South Sudanese community. At...

On this episode we’re revisiting the Alberta Community Bat Program, where we get up close with these fascinating nocturnal mammals. We go to the Glory Hills Conservation Site   to learn more about bats in Alberta, why they are so important to our ecosystem and the white-nose syndrome that is putting them at risk. This story is a throw-back, originally posted back on October 17, 2019 . Links: Help...

On this episode, Our correspondent, Amal Mohamud , introduces us to musician and community organizer: Ahmed Ali, AKA Knowmadic. Teachers can play one of the most significant roles helping youth find their callings. For Ahmed, it was an ESL teacher who used Maya Angelou and Tupac Shakur to teach English that helped the Somali-Canadian poet, writer, actor, musician, and activist find his voice in hi...

On this episode, our correspondent, Emily Rendell-Watson, introduces us to Windmill Microlending. This innovative charity provides micro loans to help immigrants and refugees continue their careers in Canada. Great for individuals who are making a new home here, and great for our community’s labour and economic needs! Links: Find out more about Windmill Microlending . Check out their 2021 Im...

On this episode our correspondent, Emily Rendell-Watson, explores long term care in Canada. In January of 2022, the Health Standards Organization (HSO)released a draft of proposed changes to Canada’s Long-Term Care Services Guidelines. The draft opened an important discussion around senior care amid the COVID-19 pandemic. How we advocate for seniors today defines what our experience will be as we...

On this episode, we scratch the surface of Edmonton’s history with racism: a huge topic that impacts many communities, each in unique ways. Our correspondent Emily Rendell-Watson explores this topic with Dr. Bukola Salami , Dr. Yvonne Chiu and Nneka Otogbolu . The history of racism in Edmonton is the focus of our latest Vital Topic.  It isn’t possible to tell the whole story of this history in jus...

On this episode, our correspondent, Oumar Salifou, finds out about the award winning, non-profit, online magazine: The Narwhal.  The Narwhal publishes investigative journalism about Canada’s natural world. The Narwhal first launched in 2018 and has since won several awards and grown its coverage across Canada. Most recently opening a Prairie bureau here in Edmonton. Links: Check out The Narwhal&#8...

On this episode, we speak with celebrated journalist, Anna Maria Tremonti . Anna Maria hosted CBC’s The Current for 17 years and in that time brought us compelling interviews and important stories about politics, societal changes and the personal journeys of individuals. Anna Maria is also a seasoned foreign correspondent and war correspondent, having spent nearly 10 years covering international a...

On this episode, we meet Jessica Vandenberghe, the Assistant Dean of Engineering and P. Eng at the University of Alberta, and a survivor of the 60s scoop. Speaking very broadly, the 60s Scoop refers to a period in Canada’s history where mass numbers of Indigenous children were taken from their homes and families and placed in the child welfare system. Jessica is born from the Dene Tha First Nation...

On this episode, we head over to the Al Rashid Mosque to learn about two programs that are helping the community. The first is A Taste of Ramadan. This event will see Al Rashid provide food and entertainment to hundreds of Edmontonians. A Taste of Ramadan was started more than a decade ago as a way to counter Islamophobia by providing non-Muslims with a chance to learn more about the holy month of...