The Canada-info.ca website is a showcase of community journalism, from previously underserved communities across the nation, by journalists hired as part of the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI). This project was launched by the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC) in early 2020 and will continue until March 31, 2021. Twenty-two community and student radio stations are participating. The radio programs below were posted to Canada-info.ca incorporated into the Cortes Currents broadcast, on Cortes Radio, CKTZ 89.5 FM, on Saturdays 1-2 PM and repeated Wednesdays 9-10 AM.
Oct 3: Human rights and housing advocates take the City of Toronto to court
A coalition of human rights and housing advocates are taking the City of Toronto to the Ontario Superior Court for a hearing on Thursday, Oct. 1. Members of the public and media may observe proceedings via Zoom at 10 a.m.
The coalition is comprised of the Sanctuary Ministries of Toronto, Aboriginal Legal Services (ASL), Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO), Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC), Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), and HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario (HALCO).
In April, the coalition filed a lawsuit against the City of Toronto alleging failure to protect those who rely on the shelter system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition urged changes to Toronto shelter and respite standards in response to new information that COVID-19 spread quickly in shared living situations. – Sam Dhaharmsena, CJRU – Toronto
Oct. 3: Dr. Valerie Borum on the role of race and anti-Black racism on mental health
… On the intersection of race and mental health. – “It’s impossible to separate the two. When we look at mental health, race is always a variable in a nation that is dominated by whiteness,” Borum says. – Sam Dhaharmsena, CJRU – Toronto
Sept 26: Vancouver Councillor speaks about the friction between BC Housing and unhoused people.
“After a protracted Council meeting that spanned two days, Council has passed a motion directing City staff to research and report back on five options for providing shelter to unhoused Vancouver residents … during the council meeting, some unhoused residents had expressed discomfort with BC Housing operation protocols. When asked about issues that could arise given the negative perception of BC Housing of some residents, Bligh noted that Council is early in learning about this dynamic.”
“‘I don’t really have an answer in terms of what we need to do,’ said Bligh, ‘but I think it’s an emerging conversation and we need to lean into this conversation as elected officials with BC Housing to find out where we’re letting people down in this situation.'” – Tan Mei Xi on CFRO’s “The Pulse” via Canada-info.ca
Sept 19: CFRO Vancouver – Infectious disease pop-up clinic re-opens
” … Dr. Brian Conway, the medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, is now researching what exactly may account for the low case-count in the Downtown East Side (DTSE), and whether it’s luck, better preparation and prevention measures, or something else … More, he said, needs to be done as the province braces for a predicted second wave of the virus as society and schools re-open this month — in particular to ensuring that COVID-19 testing services become available to DTES residents who have less access to transportation and public health information …” – David P. Ball on CFRO’s “The Pulse” via Canada-info.ca
Logos at top of page
Six participating Western Canadian radio stations (l to r):