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The AIH Transcript for May 30th, 2022

TOM HARRINGTON: Hi there, I'm Tom Harrington.

CHRIS HOWDEN: Good evening, I'm Chris Howden. This is As It Happens.

[Music: Theme]

Prologue

CH: Tonight

TH: Missing in action. We'll ask Canada's defence minister whether a new report on the military's longstanding problem with sexual misconduct will finally change what its author calls a "deeply deficient culture."

CH: Raising his voice. Rapper Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu was killed this weekend, after making a name for himself in Canada -- and his colleague says his political stances may have made him a target.

TH: Disarming candour. He's a longtime NRA member and Second Amendment defender, but our guest says after last week's shooting in Uvalde, Texas he felt compelled to give up his AR-15.

CH: Putting their foot in it. A Dene filmmaker recalls the moment his traditional moccasins were banned from a red carpet in Cannes -- and says organizers really slipped up.

TH: They watched him like the hawk. Robbie Lane of The Disciples were among many artists mentored by the late Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins. And tonight, Mr. Lane remembers a great friend and one of the greats, period.

CH: And… coming out of her shell, we'll hear from a former consultant to oil and gas multinational Shell about why she chose to resign very publicly from her role, rather than resign herself to climate inaction.

CH: As It Happens, the Monday edition. Radio that guesses she doesn't suffer fuels gladly.

[Music: Theme]

Part 1: Arbour Report: Anand, Texas Republican Turned In Gun, Ronnie Hawkins Obit

Arbour Report: Anand

Guest: Anita Anand

CH: Louise Arbour is calling Canada's military to action. And the retired Supreme Court justice is adding the Trudeau government to that call as well. In Ottawa this afternoon. Ms. Arbour released her much-anticipated report on the Canadian Armed Forces' longstanding problem with sexual misconduct and assault. The report contains dozens of recommendations aimed at addressing what it calls a "deeply deficient culture" within the ranks. But in a press conference, Ms. Arbour acknowledged that the failures of the CAF don't stem from a shortage of warnings or advice.

[sc]

LOUISE ARBOUR: The CAF is currently sitting on hundreds of recommendations, some more or less internally generated, many from external reports, others from examining what allies have done on similar issues. Literally hundreds of recommendations. Some are self-contradictory. Some, I think, have passed their expiry date in terms of their relevance. It's still all out there being mapped and decked and colour-coded. So I think the first clarity that we should expect is something is not going to happen. Let's just say it. After that, I just hope that these recommendations don't end up a little box on their chart of the many.

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CH: That was retired Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour in Ottawa earlier today. Anita Anand is Canada's Minister of National Defence. We reached her in Ottawa.

TH: Minister Anand, you heard it from Louise Arbour herself. What's to make this report any different from any other that's landed on a shelf somewhere and made no difference in cleaning up the Canadian military?

ANITA ANAND: Well, Tom, we will continue to ask more and more of our Canadian Armed Forces. And in order for them to defend our country at home and abroad, our troops must be able to trust their very own colleagues. During my visits to bases across this country, from Esquimalt to Edmonton to Wainwright to Borden to Halifax, I have spoken with our members. I have heard an enormous willingness to embrace change. Furthermore, I agree wholeheartedly with the significant problems that Madame Arbour has identified. This is our moment to create change. And the reality is now that the chief of defence staff, the deputy minister and I are all committed to establishing meaningful reforms that stand the test of time.

TH: Julie Lalonde, who went public in 2015 about her experience of sexual harassment at the Royal Military College in Kingston, acknowledged today on Twitter a shift in tone. But she insisted, and this is her words, the Justice Arbour Report was not necessary. We knew all this already, unquote. So, what do you say to someone like her and any other young woman?

AA: What justice our board has done is to provide us with a plan, a roadmap to follow going forward. And in particular, what she recommends is the need to urgently address longstanding culture concerns in some areas that were not identified in previous reports, for example, at the educational institutions, the Royal Military College campuses in Kingston and Saint-Jean. Another area that is novel in her report is to appoint an external monitor to oversee the implementation of the recommendations. And yet another novel aspect of her… her report is for us to report back to Parliament before the end of 2022 with regards to the recommendations that we would not be implementing. So there are some definite pragmatic ways in which we are able to respond to the need to address the crisis of culture in the Canadian Armed Forces and the defence team more broadly.

TH: Well, let's talk about one of those recommendations you just mentioned, which is the issue around Canada's military colleges, very white, very male, very old and traditional. And she's questioning whether they should continue to even exist? What is the use of keeping that system to train cadets?

AA: I am the chancellor of the Royal Military Colleges at Kingston and Saint-Jean. I have spoken with our cadets. They are committed to the Canadian Armed Forces. At the same time, none of our cadets should ever be subject to harassment, misogyny or discrimination while pursuing their education. And that is why recommendation 29 in Madame Arbour's report is so important. I assure all Canadians that in the coming months, we will act in response to this recommendation to create a safer and more inclusive learning environment for our cadets, including by expanding the focus of the exit interview to include cadets experiences with sexual misconduct or discrimination as Madame Arbour recommends.

TH: Changing structure seems easier than changing culture. So how do you recruit better and get the right people to even enter the Armed Forces?

AA: The way in which we can improve recruitment is to ensure that everyone who puts on a uniform, who chooses to do so, does so in the knowledge that they will be safe, respected and protected when they are defending our country at home and abroad. Recruitment is a priority for me and for our forces. We need to grow this institution. The changing international security landscape has certainly underscored for Canadians the importance of having a strong military, and that comes down to people. We have to be able to attract talent from all segments of Canadian society and to ensure that everyone feels welcome in this institution. There is no room for misogyny in the defence team or the Canadian Armed Forces, and we must act quickly and expeditiously.

TH: In the last 15 months or so, we've seen 13 current or former senior military leaders either sidelined, investigated or forced into retirement over issues around sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. Your government has been in power since 2015. How much of the responsibility falls on the Liberal government and yourself?

AA: This is not a question of politics. This is a question of addressing a crisis in an institution that is fundamentally important to this country. We have called on the Canadian Armed Forces to assist with forest fires, floods, long-term care homes, the evacuation of Afghanistan, and the training of troops in Latvia as well as in Ukraine under Operation Unifier. We can't expect individuals to put on a uniform if we can't also ensure that they will be treated fairly and with respect and protected by their own colleagues. And that is the urgent issue on my plate and our plate as we continue down the road of reform.

TH: So, what would you say to a young woman today -- anyone else, for that matter -- who is considering a career in the military right now?

AA: I believe that there is the willingness to change. And in fact, right across the country, I have met incredible, incredible women leaders across the Canadian Armed Forces who love what they do, and they are so proud to serve Canadians. It is our obligation to ensure that they have a workplace where they feel safe and protected, and respected. And we are working towards that goal every single day so that my daughters and other young women who choose to serve their country can do so safely and with the respect that they deserve.

TH: Minister Anand, thanks for talking to us today.

AA: Thank you so much, Tom. Take good care.

CH: Anita Anand is Canada's Minister of National Defence. We reached her in Ottawa.

[Music: Acoustic guitar]

Texas Republican Turned In Gun

Guest: Richard Small

CH: Since the killings in Uvalde, Texas, last week, calls for tighter gun control across the United States have grown louder and angrier. But gun advocates continue to reject those calls -- insisting that gun bans don't work and that the best way to stop mass shootings is to make sure more people have guns. But at least one gun owner in Texas has experienced a change of heart. On Saturday, retired schoolteacher and NRA member Richard Small drove to his local police department and turned in a gun. It was an AR-15-style rifle -- similar to the weapon the gunman used to murder 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. We reached Richard Small in Charlotte, Texas.

TM: Mr. Small, tell me about the moment you brought your AR-15 into that police station. How would you describe that?

RICHARD SMALL: I had been wrestling with this whole ordeal, and I started thinking about it because we went to Uvalde. My wife wanted to go and pay her respects as a mother to the mothers who are obviously bereaving their lost children. So, we… we went to Uvalde. She went up to the memorial there. And it's a beautiful little park. And so, there was a tree about maybe 40, 50 feet away. And… and I went ahead and went back there and just kind of watched everything. Started thinking about it, and I said, well, here I stand, the weapon that was used, I have. My mind just kind of like, okay, so where am I with my weapon? And that's when I started, kind of like, well, I don't use it, I don't take it out. It's always locked in a gun safe. And I said you know what? I'm going to get rid of this. I said it has no meaningful purpose.

TH: When you went to the station that night, just describe the moment going into the station to drop the gun off?

RS: Well, I called the police chief, who I know because we're a small town. He didn't answer. And I said you know what? I'm just going to go ahead and just go. And one of the police officers, I called him to the fence, and I said, I live here in Charlotte. I have a weapon, an AR. It's in the truck. I said it's unloaded. It's unloaded. And I said I want to turn it in. I don't want it anymore. He said, well, let me talk with the police chief. And I said, well, let me call him. So I called him again right there at the fence line. And Rick said, go ahead, tell him. I said, take the weapon.

TH: And why did you go to the police instead of selling it?

RS: I told them that they take it from the department or destroy it. I said I don't know where I would go to have it destroyed. I said I don't want to sell it. I could do that real easy. All I gotta do is go to a gun show, walk around with it, and somebody'd buy it. But this thing's registered in my name, and I don't want this thing going somewhere. And then they say, well, you were the owner of that weapon, and I want it to just stop.

TH: You were afraid someone might even use it?

RS: Right. Because I'm pretty upset about everything, obviously. I just… I don't want any part of it. I'm an advocate of the Second Amendment. I believe, you know, we should be able to arm ourselves. But within practical reasons. This weapon, it really serves no other purpose. You know, it would be perfect for a war situation. To go hunting? No.

TH: A lot of people listening don't own guns. And so, they probably want to know how big a deal it is for you to turn a gun in like that?

RS: Well, my neighbour next door to me, I have a small ranch. He has a small ranch also. My wife told him the other day. He almost fainted. He said, what did he do? Is he okay? I grew up with guns. I'm a member of the NRA. I have guns. I lock them up. They're all registered. You know, I follow the law. I have a concealed gun licence. I just… when I saw all that I saw over there, I just said, I just don't want to be associated with this particular weapon.

TH: There have been lots of school shootings, sadly, in America over the last number of years.

RS: Yes.

TH: What was it about Uvalde that made you change your mind like this?

RS: It's… it's about an hour from… from us. So my wife and I had all kinds of dialog talking about it on the way in. And then, not too long ago, south of us, there was the Sutherland shooting in the church. So, we've had one happen to us south within an hour, and then north west of us within an hour and a half from here. I didn't do it for, like, to make a stand or… I'm not a person that likes to get a lot of attention. But now that I think about it, I say, you know what? One of those kids in the pictures reminds me of my grandson right now, who's the same age. And when I saw him on the TV, I can only imagine what they're going through. And I guess all of that culminated inside of me. And some people are going to find, you know, whatever offensive. I said, but you put yourself in that situation, and it could have been pretty much prevented with certain laws. This guy was 18 years old. And in Texas, you can't even buy a pack of cigarettes until you're 21.

TH: How do your friends and family feel about what you've done?

RS: Oh my God! Her… my wife's cousins, they texted me a while ago. I'm almost embarrassed. And they're all coming out and saying, good. We're glad. You know, we're proud of him, which is not what I was trying to do. And my daughter, who's a teacher, they're all like, you know, good for you. It makes you feel better. But I would respect anybody that, you know, would disagree. But I would disagree with them. I'm not saying, you know, outlaw, but there's got to be some controls, some regulations. And I'm sorry to say, our politicians, especially here in Texas, what are you thinking when they passed that law about an 18-year-old can buy weapons of that magnitude?

TH: But as you know, Richard, many of the… these policies are supported by the NRA. And you're an NRA member. How do you feel you can stay as a member if this is what they're doing?

RS: You know, I haven't crossed that road yet. I'm… I'm breaking down, I guess, is what's happening. And… and, you know, you read the articles, and they say, well, if you do this, they're going to take this. If they do this, you know? And, you know, they can brainwash you. And they do a real good job of it. And of course, they use the money and all. I don't have a problem, and I haven't said this to anybody except now that we're thinking about it, I don't… I'm not going to renew. I'm not going to renew my membership. And I'm pretty sure I'll be able to survive. I'm hoping that there's people like me who are having this revelation or something and saying, hey, guys, come on common sense. Get in there, Democrats, Republicans, and come up with something. It's so sad for little kids to worry when their parents drop them off if they're going to pick them up that afternoon. I don't know. I just got this very bad taste in my mouth about all of this and how it's going down. And I've stepped across the line, and I'm just going to go ahead and continue.

TH: I'm glad you talked to us about this today. I really appreciate it.

RS: Yes, sir. I appreciate you. Thank you.

TH: Thank you.

CH: Richard Small is a retired schoolteacher and NRA member. We reached him in Charlotte, Texas. And you can find more on that story on our website at: www.cbc.ca/aih.

[Music: Ambient]

Ronnie Hawkins Obit

Guest: Robbie Lane

CH: You could take the man out of Arkansas. But you couldn't take the Arkansas out of the man -- which was a good thing for music in Canada. Rompin' Ronnie Hawkins -- also known as "The Hawk" -- died yesterday. He was 87. The rockabilly legend came north in the 1950s and settled in Toronto. His wild showmanship made him a star. But his effect on the musicians around him is what made him a legend. His band, The Hawks, went on to become The Band. And Mr. Hawkins also famously played host to John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and many others at his property north of Toronto. In 2013, he spoke to As It Happens when he put that property up for sale.

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RONNIE HAWKINS: [chuckling] There have been a bunch come through here, just about everybody. Just about anybody you can name, from The Band to Kris Kristofferson, stayed out here a lot. Blackfoot stayed here a little bit. Our Ian Tyson was out here a lot in the old days. And it just keeps going on. Every… every rocker that came to town came out here because it's a magic place.

RICK MACINNES-RAE: Was it a struggle, though, sometimes hanging on to that property? I mean, rock and roll paychecks not always being worth the paper they were printed on. Did you ever come close to losing it?

RH: A couple of times. Yeah, we had I thought there a couple of times we had to put it up for sale because I didn't know how we was going to come up with enough money to cover everything. So the only thing I got left worth money, of course, is… is the property. And all my old cars, I've had to sell my old cars two or three times. You know how this business is, you're doing good one minute, and the next minute, you're starving. [laughing]

RMR: I gather there's a lot of international interest in the property. Why do you suppose that is?

RH: Well, I don't know. It's just… some of these people around the world, you know, they've got too much money. [RMR chuckles] So, they're just investing in things that look good. You know, in any country, of course, there can't be a better country to invest in than Canada.

RMR Should your fans regard this as your sort of gradual transition to retirement, Ronnie, or can you still be tempted to a mic?

RH: It's kind of. You know, if I was working full-time like I was, I could keep the property up. But I can't take the pace anymore. The old body gives out, you know?

RMR: Yeah.

RH: You know, I wore my legs out chasing them young ladies and they're gone.

[/sc]

CH: Ronnie Hawkins, speaking to guest host Rick MacInnes-Rae in 2013. Robbie Lane led the band Robbie Lane and The Disciples while he was still a teenager. His friendship with Ronnie Hawkins began at a matinee show in Toronto in 1964. We reached Robbie Lane in Toronto.

TH: Robbie, first of all, sorry for your loss, but I want to talk a bit about the life of Ronnie Hawkins. You were a rock and roll fan as a teen in Toronto back in the day. And you saw Ronnie and the Hawks play a lot of times. What was it like to see that band play in a small club back then?

ROBBIE LANE: Well, it was pretty amazing. This band, The Hawks with Ronnie, had everything. They had, I think, probably the best group of musicians I'd ever seen. And then that man out in front, singing and toying with the audience and being so personable with his crowd. Everybody thought they knew Ronnie. Everybody that ever went to see him. Because he connected with people that much.

TH: The first time you stepped on stage with Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks, what was that like?

RL: It was a big surprise because I'd gone to see him. And a friend of mine, without my knowledge, had gone to Ronnie and said, you know, there's this young guy in the audience who knows all your tunes. Do you wanna get him up and do a couple of songs? And Ronnie was hungover from the night before, [both laugh] so he said, sure! You know, why not kill a couple of minutes for me? And I got up and sang "Stormy Monday Blues" with Robbie Robertson doing the guitar solos. I mean, I was absolutely in awe of all of these guys, and I could not believe that I was on that stage.

TH: And one thing led to another, right? Because --

RL: Well, it did. Because after I got off the stage, Ronnie came over to me later and asked for my phone number and he said, why don't you bring your whole band here next Saturday afternoon? And we thought, wow, you know, this is a big break. So we did that. And then, after that, he called me and said, The Hawks will be leaving soon, and I want to get you ready, if you're interested, in backing me up. And I said, well, the only thing… I don't even know why I was this smart? [TH laughs] But I said, the only thing is I don't want to be The Hawks. I said I want it to be Ronnie Hawkins with Robbie Lane and The Disciples because we want our own identity. And he said, okay. He hummed and hawed a bit, but he finally said, okay. And that's the way it was.

TH: So, after The Hawks split with Ronnie and they went off to play with Dylan, right?

RL: Yes.

TH: Did you ever see them play together?

RL: Yeah, we were with Ronnie at Le Coq d'Or, and down the street, there was a place called the Fryers, which is now a Shoppers Drug Mart. And I knew the night manager, and he called me, and he said, you know. Something special is happening here. Levon and The Hawks are playing, and Bob Dylan is coming in to rehearse with them. Do you want to come down and see them? And I couldn't say yes fast enough. He said, but you have to sneak in. I'll let you through the back door. You have to stand along the back wall. You can't… they can't know you're here. And so we stood and watched for probably 30, 40 minutes while Bob Dylan led The Hawks and Robbie Robertson through the tunes, some of the tunes, that they'd planned on doing in the future. And, of course, we didn't know that. We just thought, well, maybe they're rehearsing for some show that's coming up in Toronto. We had no idea what was ahead for them. And Dylan did a little bit of singing, and then Robbie took the solos, and… and Dylan was blown away.

TH: Wow. So, when you're sitting around, and especially at a time like this, remembering and reminiscing about Ronnie, what story kind of sums up the kind of man he was?

RL: Oh boy, that is so hard. But all I can tell you is that [clears throat] he constantly was on the lookout for a young talent. He believed in the Canadian talent pool, and he wanted to see it grow. And so, you know, a lot of musicians and singers would come and talk to him. And he always… always… the door was always open. And he'd give them a shot, you know, maybe in a rehearsal space or somewhere. And I always loved that about him. And I learned from him that that's what you do. So that's what I've done through all the years that I've been doing what I've been doing. I… every time I see somebody that I think deserves something more, then I kind of pick them up and try and steer them in the right direction.

TH: Now, you stayed friends with Ronnie throughout his life.

RL: Yeah.

TH: How did he change as he got older?

RL: He changed… [coughs] He was kind of the wild man, you know, back in the day. And there are stories galore that I don't really need to get into, nor could I say on the radio. [TH laughs] But as the years went by, he became more of a family man. His family grew. He had three kids. And to him, I mean, his music was always important. But the family became the most important thing in his life. And that's why he moved out of Toronto and ended up on a farm… farm area. And because he could have his kids there and he could spend a lot of time with them. And he also had four Chihuahuas. And so, he would… he'd… he and the kids, there's a picture of them somewhere, of he and the kids when they were young and the four Chihuahuas running around the back area, [TH chuckles] the back 40. So I think he really realized as time went on what was important in life.

TH: For you, what's the greatest life lesson he gave you?

RL: Well, let me just say this. My dad deserted us when I was a kid, so I was always probably looking for a father figure. And Ronnie was not only a mentor musically, but he was kind of like a father figure to me. And he would take me aside and say, Son, you know what you should do. And this girl's no good for you. And, you know, he'd give me advice like that, which I wasn't getting anywhere else. That was the biggest takeaway for me.

TH: Robbie, really good to talk to you about The Hawk. Thanks so much.

RL: Thank you so much.

CH: That was Robbie Lane, who backed the late Ronnie Hawkins in the mid-60s with his band Robbie Lane and The Disciples.

Part 2: Punjabi Rapper Killed, U.K. Shell Resignation

Punjabi Rapper Killed

Guest: Parminder Singh

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SIDHU MOOSE WALA: [Rapping in a mixture of Punjabi and English]

[/sc]

CH: This is Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, featuring Sunny Malton, with "B-Town" -- his ode to Brampton, Ontario. Sidhu Moose Wala -- whose real name is Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu -- came to Canada as an international student in 2016. That's when he started making hit songs -- catching the ear of big names, including Drake. Yesterday, he was killed in Punjab. A group of gunmen shot him in his car. He was 28 years old. He had recently moved back to India to get involved in politics. He was outspoken on many issues, including the farmers' protest. Parminder Singh worked alongside Sidhu Moose Wala in Brampton. He is the founding host of Hockey Night in Punjabi, and we reached him in Toronto.

TH: Mr. Singh, I'm really sorry for your loss. I'm sure it's a difficult day. What did you think when you heard the news about Sidhu's death?

PARMINDER SINGH: No, this was, again, if I'm recalling it right, near Sunday morning, early morning, about 7 a.m. I received a message on WhatsApp, and it's actually a friend of mine who's a journalist in Punjab. And it was just… it was weird. And, you know, it just literally said Sidhu is no more. And Sidhu Moose Wala, of course. And I didn't know what he meant. So I just sent a message back, and he didn't respond. About 10 minutes later, I just get a clip of an article. And I… you know, it's… it's that feeling of kind of feeling sick to a stomach type of thing. Like, you know, this is so tragic, I guess. And such a… such a good person, such a humble guy that, you know, just… and so young. It just… just hurt that much more.

TH: What have you been able to piece together from talking to folks and following up about what happened?

PS: No, it's you know… he… one thing about him, he's very vocal. He was vocal about what he believed in. He was… he… he didn't sugarcoat anything. And… and then, seeing what he was doing in Punjab, the work, the social work, with his… even his own village. And, you know, this is why it was so shocking. Like, it just… it seemed like, you know, he was entering this next kind of more mature phase of his career, his life, where he was wanting, and he was, giving back to the community.

TH: You were talking about his… his… he had this willingness to speak out. Do you think that's connected in any way with how he died? I understand he was shot?

PS: You know, it's… unfortunately, it's… it's… it's India. And, you know, it's… it's where things like this can… you know, are potentially regular occurrences if you are speaking out against the system. You know, Sidhu, just to kind of, you know, provide some… some… some colour to his history. You know, not long ago, he was very vocal about the farmers' protests. Like, one of the largest protests in the world that was taking place in India. He was very vocal about the Sikh sovereignty movement where, you know, the attacks that took place on the Golden Temple back in 1984 and… and families are still seeking justice for that. And, you know, he put out tracks on these social issues. It's one of the things that we hear of all the time where folks who are really pushing the envelope on change and calling folks out that, unfortunately, at times, this is how they're dealt with.

TH: We heard a bit of one of his popular songs, "B-Town", about Brampton, where his music career got going. What was it about his music that made him so popular?

PS: He… he actually just… he began a new genre of Punjabi music. Him and his producer, Big Bird, at that time. Like, it's… you know, he… he spoke about, you know, the struggle and so forth. Like, he provided this hip-hop angle, which was missing for Punjabi music. And I think, you know, and… and the youth and listeners gravitated towards that. And just… and just who he was. Like, he epitomized that kind of immigrant struggle of, you know, him; an international student who had to work his butt off, go through this process of, you know, passing these English language tests, which is a huge struggle for anyone who is from a non-English speaking country, coming to Canada, coming to Brampton, and then making it as an artist. You know, it's all odds were truly against him.

TH: Why did he decide to move back to India in 2016 to get involved in politics?

PS: You know, even prior to politics, I think… and it's funny because I actually had that conversation with him because he was telling me that, you know, he wants to go back. Like, he's… he's got these hit records. He's got a huge following now. But truly, he just… he misses Punjab, and he wants to do work there. And I said, what kind of work? And he's like, you know, I want to work for the people. Within a year of him going back, he encouraged his mom to run for mayor of their village. And, you know, he promised his village that he would fund a sewage and drainage system. Like, unheard of. There's… I don't even… I think you can probably count just on a single how many villages in India that have a sewage and drainage system.

TH: Police in India are pointing to perhaps gang violence as the reason behind his death. And I know there are critics even here who say that in some of his music, he glorified gun culture and gang violence in his lyrics. What do you make of that?

PS: No, he was an artist, I would say. You know, it's just as many artists do. They do portray this image at times, which is separate from their own reality. And in some of his music, he did do that. You know, it's… it's easy to point to that, to resort to that form of narrative. Again, whatever is coming out, and I certainly hope to get to the bottom of it, would be truly shocking.

TH: What song of his are you listening to right now as a way to remember him?

PS: You know, it's… this is I guess it's… it's quite poetic in itself. He really looked up to Tupac as… as an artist. You know, he'd talk about… he spoke about the struggle of his people and how, as an artist, that he could be a voice and so forth. And his latest album, you know, End of the Road, has… actually has Tupac's shot-up car is the picture, the image of his album. And… and the album prior, he's got this track titled "295". And May 29th was… was when he was shot and killed. But "295" is a personal reflection where he's speaking about him being down and his conversations with his mom and his land being a farmer. And… and that's… you know, I've been listening to that to really look at how far beyond his age that he was. You know, he speaks about violence and how… what the repercussions of that is for, you know, to the youth. I feel for his parents, his mom and dad, their only child. And one can only imagine what they're going through right now.

TH: Mr. Singh, thanks for talking to us today.

PS: My pleasure. Thank you, Tom.

CH: Parminder Singh is the founding host of Hockey Night in Punjabi, and he knew Sidhu Moose Wala. We reached him in Toronto. Sidhu Moose Wala was killed in India yesterday. He was 28.

[Music: World]

Dene Filmmaker's Moccasins

CH: Kelvin Redvers had been looking forward to that particular moment for a long time. A lifetime, really. As a Dene filmmaker affiliated with Capilano University's FILMBA program, he's keen to see greater Indigenous representation behind and in front of the camera. So walking a red carpet at the Cannes International Film Festival was a huge milestone. And Mr. Redvers didn't want his outfit to disappoint. What he didn't expect was that security guards at Cannes would have a disappointing reaction to his chosen garb.

[sc]

KELVIN REDVERS: Like almost as soon as I found out that I got to go to this, I was so excited to wear my moccasins. Cannes provides space for, I guess, what's called formal wear with a national identity. I'm not sure what the exact wording is, but like, you know, generally you're supposed to wear a tuxedo and, you know, a night… an evening dress for… for… for women. But say a Scottish person wears a kilt. There's an understanding that within Scotland that, that's formal wear, basically. Or if someone showed up with an Indian sari. And so knowing that I was like, okay, well… well, for me, you know, these moccasins are ceremonial. You know, they're formal, basically. So I'm going to wear a great tux. I'm going to look super good, but I'm going to insert just a little bit of indigeneity. I'm going to wear these moccasins that mean so much to me. And I was excited about it. I was telling people about it. [laughing]

GLORIA MACARENKO: Okay, so you're feeling proud.

KR: Very proud!

GM: You're dressed up. You start down the carpet. What happens?

KR: Well, so… so basically to get to the carpet, there's a series of checkpoints, basically. And so I had gotten through one because I'd had the moccasins in a bag. But as I put them on to get to the second, that's where I was kind of flagged by at first some kind of befuddled, you know, security folks who were like, oh, sorry, no, no, no. Like, you can't do that. And I was like, no, no, no. Like, you know, this is… this is formal for me. I'm Dene. And they're like, okay, well, let me talk to somebody. And it kind of went up. And then finally, I kind of got escorted back to the entrance, like the main checkpoints, where some of my other cohort met. And one of them spoke French, was trying to explain like, no, no, no. Like, this is traditional. Like, this is formal. Like, similar to a kilt or sari. And eventually, there was this one security guy who came up, and just I guess he hit his limit and rather aggressively simply put his foot down to leave, leave, leave, now, leave. And I really was quite shocked at this, like, aggressive treatment for what was such a thing of excitement for me that I was really looking forward to. I’d had a pair of, you know, blue or brown suede shoes in my backpack. And so I ended up going to the carpets. I walked without the moccasins. But immediately, the folks from the Indigenous Screen Office and from Telefilm went to the brass at Cannes and said, this happened, and it shouldn't have happened. And, you know, to give credit, the higher-up folks at Cannes immediately had a meeting. And so, the next day, I met with the secretary general of the entire festival [chuckling] and the head of the red carpets. They apologized, and they said, okay, tonight's… here's a ticket to the red carpets. You can wear those moccasins. [laughing]

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CH: Indigenous Canadian film producer Kelvin Redvers, speaking with the CBC's Gloria Macarenko.

[Music: Up tempo]

U.K. Shell Resignation

Guest: Caroline Dennett

CH: When Caroline Dennett decided to sever ties with Shell, she did not go quietly. Last week, when it was time to walk away from the oil and gas giant, she decided against a polite email to the board. As you might remember hearing on this show, she opted for an open letter and a scorched earth video posted online. Here is just a bit of what we played.

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CAROLINE DENNETT: Today, I'm quitting because of Shell's doubletalk on climate. They know that continued oil and gas extraction causes extreme harms to our climate, to our environment, and to people. And whatever they say, Shell is simply not winding down on fossil fuels. They're expanding. And I just can't be a part of this anymore. I know I'm privileged to be able to make this choice. But the fossil fuel industry, it's the past, and if you can find a way out, then please walk away.

[/sc]

CH: Caroline Dennett is a safety consultant who had worked with Shell for 11 years. In the week since she posted that video, she's been flooded with responses. We reached her today in Bristol, England.

TH: Caroline, we heard some of your resignation video, and you urged other Shell employees to walk away while there is still time. Why do you think people should leave their jobs at the company?

CD: Yeah, I think it's really because of the… you know, the… the lack of attention to the climate change risks that is being paid by Shell and others in the oil and gas industry and the wider fossil fuel industry. And I just think, you know, we need to start to take action on this. And that is one of the ways that we can take action. And whilst I appreciate that, you know, many people can't just walk away, it's not that simple. But maybe at least we can start a conversation, you know, about those… about those risks and what companies are doing to mitigate them.

TH: And you've described the company as being guilty of climate double talk. What did you see inside Shell that led you to feel this way?

CD: I think it's what I didn't see, really. [chuckle] You know, or hear. So, you know, I guess coming out of the PR department and marketing and brand communications, I think there's a lot of messages around, you know, net-zero and, you know, giving focus to renewables. But actually, that's really just not what I… that's not what I was seeing or hearing on the inside. I mean, you know, it's just not on the radar. And I guess from a cultural point of view, from an organizational culture point of view, you know, if it's not being… you know, if it's not being talked about at the operational front line, then it's probably not actually happening because that's where… you know, that's where lots of things need to happen. So, yeah, it just seems like there's… you know, there's this doublespeak. And not just doublespeak, but double action. You know, on the one hand, you know, Shell may be talking about a net-zero target, 2050. But if you're still looking for new licences, you know, for exploration and extraction and production, you know, then that's not winding down. That's not, you know, transitioning to a renewables world. That's very much continuing as business as usual.

TH: Were you able to tell in the consulting work that you were doing whether there was any discussion among staff members about climate change and about the company's policies? Was discussion stifled or encouraged?

CD: I don't think it was encouraged. Hence why… you know, I don't think we've… we've seen it. I mean, probably in total over the last 10 years, we've got something like no exaggeration, you know, half a million words of open feedback. And even in recent times, just very little mention, you know, of climate change. Maybe once or twice a recognition that there's a, you know, net-zero target. But just yeah, it's just not part of the conversation.

TH: You worked with the company as a consultant for 11 years. What Shell does is not exactly new. So, I'm sure other people have asked you this. Why didn't you leave sooner or stop working for them?

CD: Yeah, and it was always a conflict for me. And that conflict got, you know, in my conscience, got more and more acute as time went on. But I think, you know, the work that I was commissioned to do originally, and we've continued to do that in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. That was valuable work, you know, to protect, help protect, frontline workers, you know, from personal injury, to help prevent oil and gas leaks and bigger… you know, bigger incidents like Deepwater. You know, that was… that was valuable work. And that was important to do that. And I think if I believed honestly that Shell were transitioning to… to a renewables future, I would have stayed to see that transition safely. You know, people still need to be protected in their jobs, and we still need to protect the environment. But as time has gone on, my awareness has just, you know, increased. The warning signs are there. The United Nations, the International Energy Agency, the IPCC, you know, all of these warnings are coming forth. This is not my opinion, you know? [chuckling] This is the science, and this is the community, you know, that kind of helps to govern our world. And they're saying it's unsafe. And I think, you know, Shell is not putting environmental safety before production, and neither is… it's not just Shell. You know, I'm talking about Shell because that's who I've worked with. But there's others in the industry that are taking the same disregard.

TH: Shell does say it's working hard to get to net-zero by 2050. It's investing billions, they say, in low-carbon energy, particularly in the U.K. They say they're taking climate change seriously, and there's no… but there's no way around the reality that the world still has to, at least in the short term, rely on oil and gas. What do you make of that?

CD: Yeah, I agree. In the short term, you know, we cannot just turn off the taps. That would be a societal collapse if we… if we did that. You know, and lots of people would… would come to harm. But, you know, I think there's a difference between really working on transition and still, you know, seeking out new licences. And they're doing that. I know they're putting the British government under pressure. They've, you know, been looking for new licences off the southern coast of Africa. And we just don't have that time. You know, there's no point having a net-zero target for 2050 if you think you don't have to act until 2045 or 2049. You know, we have to start acting now.

TH: It's been a week now since all this came out. What's the reaction been from the company to what you've done?

CD: None. [laughing] Apart from giving a public statement to the press, you know, about what pretty much what you've just said. But no personal… there's been no personal response at all. I am expecting one. I am expecting there to be some consequences of… of this. But, you know, it's worth it, I think.

TH: What kind of consequences?

CD: Potentially legal, I guess. You know, potentially legal consequences if that's the route that they… they wanted to take.

TH: What about from people in the oil and gas industry, specifically not with Shell, but just in the industry that you know or deal with? What kind of reaction have you gotten from them?

CD: Yeah, I mean, quite… quite kind of positive, acknowledging the… the problem. I think… you know, I think a lot of people have contacted me who were in the industry and have walked, actually. You know, they have walked away in the last two to three years because they don't see enough action on climate change. They don't think the transition is happening quickly enough. It's not… it's not real. You know, it's talked about, but it's not… it's not a reality that they felt that they could support. So I think, you know, actually, you know, retention is becoming a problem for the industry. People are starting to walk away. I think they do see that, you know, that this is a wrangle. You know, they wrestle with their… with their… with their conscience, I think. So, yeah. I think, you know, this hopefully has just been another conversation… conversation starter, you know, to get people talking about this and exploring how they feel about it and what they can do.

TH: And how much of your business was working with Shell? How does that affect your own bottom line?

CD: Yeah, it was significant. You know, some years, probably, maybe 60, 60, 70 per cent of… of our revenue. So, yeah. Again, it's just another consequence of acting on your… you know, on, on, on your consciousness, I guess.

TH: Caroline, thanks for talking to us.

CD: Thank you very much. Cheers, Tom.

CH: Caroline Dennett is a consultant. We reached her in Bristol, England. In a statement emailed to the CBC, Shell said that it's "determined to deliver on our global strategy to be a net-zero company by 2050... and thousands of our people are working hard to achieve this."

[Music: Folk]

Canadian Women’s Marathon Winner

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[Sound: A crowd cheers, claps, and there are lots of bells ringing]

ANNOUNCER: Here we go!!!

[/sc]

CH: The sound of the crowd at the Ottawa Marathon this weekend -- the first time it was held in person since the pandemic began. This year, the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend raised nearly a million dollars for charity. And that wasn't the only notable achievement. A new course record was set in the men's marathon. And on the women's side, there was a Canadian winner for the first time since 2007. Kinsey Middleton -- originally from Guelph, Ontario -- finished with a time of just over two-and-a-half hours.

[sc]

KINSEY MIDDLETON: This is a day beyond my wildest dreams. I was shooting for a top-five finish and just a solid PB of a day. That was the goal. And so, to come away with the win, I just… I couldn't be more thrilled. Canadian distance running right now is better than it's ever been. And it's such a joy to be, you know, rising the tide with all these women. I just… I love all of them. And I just feel so grateful to be a part of competing with all of them. The crowds were incredible. You know, being… having gone through the pandemic for the last three years, it's been really sparse racing, and there hasn't been this energy out there in so long. And so, every single person out there cheering helped to get me to that finish line. And so, I just want to say a huge thank you to everybody out there. I took the lead right before 30K, and I wasn't… like, I thought I was in the lead at that point because there was the lead vehicle right there. But I mean, it's such a large race that you never expect to take the lead. And so, I was just, like, [chuckling] trying not to over… get too excited and… and still just, like, run within my capabilities and be smart. And so, I was in shock, but also incredibly excited when it happened. Oh my goodness! The last five kilometres, I was… I slowed down so much. My legs just, like, gave… I went from feeling like on top of the world to, like, just get to the finish. So, that's the marathon for you, right? You have to respect the distance. And so, that was a hard… hard last 5K.

[/sc]

CH: That was Kinsey Middleton, the first Canadian to win the women's marathon at the Ottawa Race Weekend since 2007. She was speaking with our colleagues at Radio-Canada.

Part 3: Soccer Crowds Violence, Four-Student School Job

Soccer Crowds Violence

Guest: Paul Jewell

CH: Liverpool fans are reeling after Saturday night's Champion League final. And not just because their team lost 1-0 to Real Madrid. Before the game, riot police fired tear gas, and pepper spray at supporters crowded outside the Stade de France in Paris. And people reported more trouble after the game as well. Today, France's interior minister put the blame on what he described as "massive ticket fraud." But Liverpool fans say his version is offside. Paul Jewell is a Liverpool fan and was at the final. We reached him in Benidorm, Spain.

TH: Paul, when did things first get scary for you on Saturday night?

PAUL JEWELL: I first noticed there was a problem, and I got a bit scared when me, me father and me sister made our way to the ground maybe three, three-and-a-half hours before kick-off. And to get to the ground, you had to go through the underpass. And there was thousands of Liverpool fans. And I believe they was doing security checks for tickets and stuff, but not enough people were getting through. So it created a really big crush in the middle. And me and me father and me sister, we were stuck in this underpass for maybe an hour, an hour-and-a-half. That's when I first said to me father, this isn't right. Something's really not right here.

TH: What was happening, Paul, in terms of the way they were managing the crowd or what were they failing to do?

PJ: There was a lack of management. That's what the problem was. I asked a police officer what was going on, and he just did not want to interact with me.

TH: So, you're standing in this underpass for over an hour. What happened when you got really close to the ground, to the turnstiles?

PJ: So, there was a ridiculous queue. There was already thousands of people in this queue. It was making steady progress. But after 45 minutes, it was come to a standstill. I come out of the queue, and I went down to the front of the turnstile to find out what was going on. And there was troubles at all turnstiles, all gates. And so, I went and spoke to a few fans at the front to try and find out what was going on. But there was no policing outside, no shooting. And so, nobody knew the exact reason why they closed the gates at this point.

TH: And did you end up getting stuck somewhere at that point?

PJ: Yeah. So it was getting closer and closer to kick-off. Tensions started becoming high with fans outside. There was a lot of French youth that were surrounding us in the queue. And they were making us feel really, really uncomfortable. They were jumping in the queue with some pickpockets and some spotters. And 'cause tensions are high, a lot of fights did break out. And because there was only policing on the other side of the turnstile, more and more fights just kept on breaking out, and there was nobody there to control it.

TH: When did they open the gates at last?

PJ: Well, it got to kick-off time, and we still haven't moved. At this point, fans were getting really, really restless. And they were shouting in to the police, to the stewards, to security. They were asking what was happening? And we wasn't getting any explanation. And it got that bad in the end that they started coming over to teargas us to stop us shouting at them to find out what was happening. I witnessed a 14-year-old lad with his mother get tear-gassed. And his mom just turned around and hugged him, and they were both crying. And I could not believe what I was seeing.

TH: Did anything happen to you?

PJ: Eventually, they opened one gate to let thousands of fans through. And this was after kick-off. Now, at this point, I had managed to get meself to the very front of the queue. And when they opened this turnstile gate, a load of French, and they were definitely French locals, stormed the gate, and we got crushed. And there was a point where I was backed up against the railing, and I had a larger fellow pressing up against me. And I could not breath. And I was… I was saying to the man, you need to get off me. I can't breathe. And he was going, I can't. I can't. I'm getting pushed. I'm getting pushed. And at that point, I generally did fear for me life.

TH: You know, for Liverpool fans, this brings back a lot of bad memories. There was an event at Hillsborough back in 1989 which Liverpool fans know about. Ninety-six people were crushed that day at that F.A. Cup match, and I wonder if that went through your mind?

PJ: Well, I'm not old enough to… to know about that. I wasn't alive when that happened. But my father was actually there. And that was the first thing that went through my mind. I was thinking, this must bring back some terrible, terrible memories for him. And I was generally really worried about him more than I was worried about meself.

TH: I can imagine. How is your dad and your sister?

PJ: They're both fine at the moment. But when we eventually got through, I got shoved through the turnstile. And I think the police thought I was trying to get into the ground without a ticket. So I actually got tear-gassed, and so did me sister. So I was on the floor, and they tear gassed me, and I was coughing. I couldn't breathe. And eventually, another Liverpool fan helped me to me feet and managed to create a little bit of space to get… to get me breathing back. Me eyes were really stinging. I managed to give somebody me ticket, and they scanned it in for me. And at this point, I was sort of disorientated. I couldn't… I didn't really know where me father was or me sister. I managed to see them on the other side of the turnstile. And me sister's face, she was an absolute… she was crying. She was hysterical. And me father, who has been going to Liverpool games for over 50 years, he was just shaking his head. He could not believe what he was seeing.

TH: You know, French officials are blaming fraudulent tickets. They say 70 per cent of the tickets were fake that Liverpool fans had, and they… or they arrived too late to come to the games. What do you make of those comments?

PJ: I cannot believe that when I seen them comments today, I was so, so angry. After what I experienced, after some of the sites I seen over there, I was so angry. I cannot believe they have tried to put the blame on us. We did say this outside the grounds. We… we all said that they will try and blame us for this.

TH: You've been following Liverpool for a long time. If they make a Champions League final next year, would you go?

PJ: No. At this current moment in time, I… I don't want to go to another European game. After what I witnessed and what I experienced, I don't want to go to another European game.

TH: Paul, thanks for talking to us about this.

PJ: Oh, it's my pleasure.

CH: Paul Jewell is a Liverpool fan and was at Saturday night's game. We reached him in Benidorm, Spain.

[Music: Jazz]

Confiscated Beads

CH: When you go through airport security, you have to take out your shoes, hat, wallet, laptop… and your beads. You might not expect that last thing. Cree artist Jessica Sanderson-Barry certainly didn't. But on a flight to Kitigan Zibi in Quebec for a hide tanning camp, she was forced to part with some of her beads at security. Apparently, you're only allowed a certain volume of beads in your carry-on luggage. So she had to leave some of them behind. And she'd been planning to use them for special projects at the camp. Here is Jessica Sanderson-Barry on her experience at airport security.

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JESSICA SANDERSON-BARRY: I had my carry-on as I was going through security. One of the ladies was like, hey, is this your luggage? I'm like, yeah, that's mine. And she's like, do you mind if I look in your luggage? I'm like, sure. She opens it up, and I was like… she was like, what do you have in here? I was like, I have a moose hide, and I have my beads. She's like, you actually can't bring… you have well over the amount of beads. And she's like, well, under, like… this falls under an organic powder, I think, material. So basically, what that meant was that all beads fall under that specific category, and you can't pass through security with a carry-on with more than 350 grams of beads. So I was like, there's no way. She's like, yeah, I'm sorry. She's like, can you please pull out all your beads? And I had, like, probably about like 30, maybe 40 vials of beads. And I've actually travelled with beads before, domestic. Like, I flew from province to province. Like, I've beaded. And what I do is I actually bead on the plane. And I was just like devastated, right? And I'm like, well, I need this for specific projects, you know? You know, beading is ceremony for me. It was just really abrupt. And I asked her, I was like, well, can you weigh these beads? She was like, actually, we don't have a weigh machine to weigh beads. I was like, well, how do you know I have 350 grams here? She said, well, I just guesstimate by just looking at the vial and just holding them, basically. I was like, this is totally unfair. [chuckling] There's another beadwork artist out there, Indigenous, who this actually happened to her a couple of weeks ago. So they… they compensated…. confiscated her beads as well, going up north. And her, too, like she spent a lot of money on her beads. And I did, too. Like, you know, this is my livelihood. This is how I feed my family. So I just feel like, you know, beadwork in itself is ceremony to me. So, I feel like when they… they're taking my beads, they're just taking, like, a little part of me, you know?

[/sc]

CH: Jessica Sanderson-Barry, talking about the beads she had to leave behind at airport security. In a statement to CBC News, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority said that, under the rules, you're only allowed to bring in 350 millilitres' worth of beads in your carry-on luggage -- which is about the volume of a can of pop.

[Music: Electronic]

Four-Student School Job

Guest: Beverley McPherson

CH: North of Scotland's fairly remote Shetland Islands is an even more remote spot: the Island of Foula, population 28. And on that island is a school. It has one classroom, four students, and a lot of fresh ocean air. What it needs is a teacher, and the posting for that teaching job has been making headlines around the world. The outgoing headteacher is Beverley McPherson. We reached her on the island of Foula.

TH: Beverly, what drew you to a job on a remote island in the Shetlands?

BEVERLEY MCPHERSON: Well, Tom, I was teaching in a large school in Manchester a decade ago. And then I married a Scotsman, and he brought me to Scotland. And after a couple of different headships in teaching, I saw this one advertised. And I just thought, well, it's now or never. In my fifties, I thought, yes, let's go for a bit of adventure. So, it was the rural and remote life that I kind of hunkered after, I guess. And it's just idyllic to teach here. Of course, what it means is that I've had to relocate to a tiny island and live in the schoolhouse during term time. And then my home, where my husband and my dog are, is somewhere else in Scotland. So, I'm looking forward to actually retiring and going back to spend a little bit more time with him. Not so sure whether he's looking forward to it quite as much as I am? But basically, marrying the Scotsman who used to live in Canada [chuckling] has taught me a lot about the outdoors and about rural life.

TH: What is life like on Foula?

BM: Well, there are only 28 people here, and there are no shops, no pubs, nothing like that. So, you make your own entertainment. And the people are very warm and welcoming. They're lovely. Most of them are related to one another. So, it's… it's a very… a very close society here. You have to put up with all the… the loneliness, I guess? Not loneliness, but isolation. Being on your own for days on end. At weekends, sometimes you'll not see a soul. During some of the times in the last couple of years with the pandemic, sometimes I've been on… on my own here for a while.

TH: And what would you advise anybody who wants to succeed you in the job?

BM: Well, the first thing you've got to do is you've got to be comfortable with the job itself, which is teaching four children in one class, all different ages. And the requirement here is to be registered with the General Teaching Council of Scotland, which is the most important… or eligible to be registered. And I know we've had Canadians before who've taught in Scotland. And you have to be able to work on your own, on your own initiative, work out what you have to do each day. Yes.

TH: You had four students. Tell me about them. How different were they?

BM: We've got one girl and three boys. And then I've got a nursery as well with the nursery teacher, and there's one child in the nursery. We've got very few students, but they get on extremely well. They're all related to each other, cousins and suchlike brothers and sisters. So, we've got a nice little mix. It's like being in the family home, just a little bit bigger. The teaching side of it is like I'm teaching four different curricula at the same time. That's only as challenging as it would be in any classroom, primary one to seven. So it's like having four groups in one class, but they're just four individual children. It's really luxurious for them because they have access to a teacher all the time. Although I think there's probably a bit of intensity there. And you have to learn to switch off to what they might be saying now and again because the teacher can hear everything.

TH: [chuckling] How do they differ from students you taught on the mainland?

BM: Well, the difference is they've got no one to bounce off and think, oh, well, that's what people are like. Well, this is how we behave. It's really nice, actually. They don't become very streetwise, so they don't get into things like fashion and all the other things that are pushed at them when they're… when they're surrounded by teenagers. It's quite nice that they're still children for… for a very long time.

TH: Is it possible to forge a deeper connection with students like this than you ordinarily would because it's so isolated and because you have their unwrapped attention?

BM: Absolutely. You know them inside. You know everything about them. I socialize with the parents. So it's like being part of the extended family, really. And although I've had some fantastic children in the past that I've been their teacher or their headteacher, I think this one is perhaps the closest I've ever come to actually feeling like part of their family.

TH: How do you think they're feeling about getting a new teacher?

BM: I think they're excited. We've all been… we've all made it an exciting thing to be looking forward to. And I've told them repeatedly over the last few years that ordinarily, children wouldn't be in the same class as their brothers and sisters and cousins. And that they would change teachers maybe every year or two. So, they're looking forward to the change of teacher and what the new teacher might bring.

TH: You spent two-and-a-half years on Foula. What's a memory that comes to mind that really sums up the experience you've had there?

BM: [laughing] Many, many memories. I started writing a diary when I came. It's full of them. But I would say probably the times when the ice has come, and the island has frozen over. And I, the headteacher, being a city girl, can't manage my own… [chuckling] my own self to school, and I end up in a ditch, or I end up flat on my back from falling down or something like that. And the people on the island help me out and sort me out, give me a cup of tea, get me back on my feet again, and get me away to school. Um, that kind of… the side of… side of life where you think you're a really practical person until… until it actually comes down to it, they're the memories that I'll take away with me as the funny parts of this job.

TH: How do you think it's affected you as a teacher? You know, you… you're teaching these kids. But I wonder what kind of lessons you've learned, maybe about yourself, about your own teaching, about life in this experience?

BM: Oh, absolutely, so much. I think it came from adventure. And what I discovered was that I had to respond to this place, to Foula. Um, I had to be more flexible than I've ever been before. [a bell rings] I was always one of those teachers who said, oh no, you can't do that. Or this is too dangerous or whatever. And I realized this is just normal life here. So, I've learned a lot about what children are capable of doing when you give them all the structures and supports to do it. And how self-sufficient and resilient they can be. For myself, the day that I started this, I thought… I came to the end of the day and thought, I don't even know if I'm going to last a week. I don't know what to do? [TH chuckles] I don't know what I'm doing. And I had to go right back to basics and think, what do I need for this child? What do I need for this child? And work it out and actually start from scratch and just figure out what each child needed.

TH: What will you miss the most when you leave?

BM: Oh, I'll miss the children and the families. The people are just so lovely here. I came here thinking this was a strange island where they still held onto the Julian calendar and… and had Christmas on the 6th of January. I came here thinking they still cooked peat, and they burned that on their fires to keep them going. And then I was surprised to walk into the houses and find these beautiful big old rangers with roasted mutton hanging above it and the pulley everywhere. And they've got broadband and they've got Internet, and they're listening to the latest music and they're watching TV. I thought, oh, this is the… the old meets the new all in one… one thing. And people who are really intelligent and have actually chosen to live this kind of life. And it's hard. It's a hard life. They craft, they fetch, they're responsive to the weather, the changing seasons. And yet, they're so lovely and kindhearted and generous with it. Yes, it's the people I'll miss the most.

TH: Beverly, thanks for talking to us.

BM: Thank you so much, Tom. I enjoyed it. Thank you.

CH: Beverley McPherson is the soon-to-be-retired teacher on the Island of Foula, Scotland.

[Music: Folk]

Ont Naturalized Lawn

CH: A lot of people spend a lot of time and money ensuring their lawns are so lush and carefully groomed that you could use them as putting greens. But Beth and Craig Sinclair of Smiths Falls, Ontario, wanted to go a little more au naturel. So they got rid of the grass in their front yard altogether and instead planted 150 plants and trees native to the area for greater ecological diversity. The couple said what are called "naturalized lawns" are common in Seattle, where they had previously lived. But after getting some complaints, the town of Smiths Falls ordered the Sinclairs to un-naturalize their lawn. So they fought back -- all the way to the Ontario Superior Court. At which point, the town backed down, rescinded its order, and said the native plants could stay in the ground. Here is Craig Sinclair.

[sc]

CRAIG SINCLAIR: I walk in my town, a couple of hours a day I had, and I started to notice trees disappearing. And so, we have some big trees on our lawn. Four big trees. And as I noticed trees disappearing, I thought I should do something better with my lawn. And just what could I do to make it more naturalized? I counted all the trees in town and sent a report to the town, and talked to the mayor and others. I wasn't completely surprised. When I did the tree survey of town, I noticed that it appeared that there was almost less than 30 per cent of town lots have a tree planted on it inside what would be considered the town's property. And so, there's very limited trees in town. And about 70 per cent of the trees that are in town are invasive species. The town encourages residents to plant trees, but it hasn't taken the initiative to plant trees in that first three metres of the one metre almost anywhere in the whole town. And we moved from Seattle 10 years ago now. But, in there, a huge percentage of lawns were naturalized and had wild plants and large trees. In Smiths Falls, although we're really close to forest, there's hardly any naturalized properties in town. There's more derelict lots, or lots just with weeds growing, not cared for properties. That's why I had presented to town what I was going to do ahead of time, and I… I'd informed them. One of the things that caused problems, we left a birch tree that we cut down is… I left the stumps about five to seven feet tall for woodpeckers to get grubs out of. So that was one of the things that they’re… they didn't like that it looks… doesn't look good, according to how they have assessed it. But… so, we weren't… weren't that surprised. But at the same time, I love it.

BETH SINCLAIR: Everybody has been very supportive. The rest of the neighbourhood has been amazing, and the town has been really supportive through this. So… but that was… it caught me off guard to see that. And… and it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago now that they finally rescinded that bylaw order. They knew they wouldn't win in court. They knew that it's already been won in court multiple times. So, like, we're trying to make a difference for ecology. And so, the town just seems to not be standing on the right side of environmental issues right now, or at least some people are.

[/sc]

CH: That was Beth Sinclair, and before her, Craig Sinclair talking about their fight to keep their naturalized yard in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

FOA: Phallological Museum

CH: When we first spoke with Sigurdur Hjartarson in 2007, the Icelandic curator had already compiled an impressive collection of extremities to display in his Phallological Museum. But he was having a hard time finding a human example to include. Which was key, given the museum's pledge to showcase "penises and penile parts belonging to almost all the land and sea mammals that can be found in Iceland." Now, there were contenders, mind you. And in 2011, Mr. Hjartarson was thrilled to erect an exhibit to the first of those -- bequeathed by a generous, 95-year-old Icelandic donor. Still, he was holding out for more. And now he's got it. Thanks to another donation from self-professed "supergroupie" Cynthia Plaster Caster Albritton. Ms. Albritton died in April, leaving behind an impressive assortment of plaster penises, cast from the actual anatomy of famous musicians -- Jimi Hendrix among them. And now, that particular memento has become a member of the Museum's collection of members. It was Ms. Albritton's first of many such specimens. And while it is far from Mr. Hjartarson's first, we're sure he was delighted to receive it. At least if his conversation with Carol Off is any indication.

[sc]

SIGURDUR HJARTARSON: I have been collecting for 33 years now, and I'm still waiting for a human one. But I got four letters of donation. And I'm quiet… I just wait for them. I'm not rushing out and giving a call to the world about the necessity of getting these human specimens at once.

CO: So where are these letters of donation coming from?

SH: Well, one is Icelandic. And he is 92. And then, I have got three foreign ones: one English, one German, and one American.

CO: And so what is it about their penises that they feel that should be in their museum?

SH: Well, the first one — the Icelander — He is a famous Icelander. And he was a famous womanizer. And the Englishman is a TV personality. The German is a photographer. But the American is… he is a remarkable guy. He has eight tattoos on his penis. And he's having them removed now by laser, and going to put, at my suggestion, a beautiful big tattoo of the American flag.

CO: On his penis?

SH: Yeah. And all those who want to donate must first p[resent a mould of the… of the organ to… to prove the quality of the specimen. But I'm not worried. This is the only one I… I'm still waiting for in my Icelandic collection. I've got 52 specimens from 16 different species of whales. All of the seals and walruses around. And from all the land mammals of Iceland.

CO: And so, what's your… what's your most spectacular exhibit then?

SH: You would never ask a mother about a question like that about her kids, [CO laughs] would you?

CO: But you must have one that you're proud of.

SH: Maybe two… two favourites. The first one from 1974 is a bull’s penis. And then I have got a small part of a sperm… sperm whale’s organ that's 170 centimetres.

CO: That's just part of it?! That’s just… like, that's not even the entire thing.

SH: Well, you wouldn't take it under the arm and run away with it. A sperm whale’s specimen would weigh something like 400 kilos.

[/sc]

CH: Sigurdur Hjartarson is the curator of Iceland's Phallological Museum. He spoke with Carol in 2007. Today, the Museum is the proud owner of a plaster cast of Jimi Hendrix's penis, created by the late Cynthia "Plaster Caster" Albritton. Which you can see if you take the package tour.

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May 30, 2022 Episode Transcript

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