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The AIH Transcript for September 11, 2024

For more episodes of this podcast, please click this link.

NIL KOKSAL: Hello, I'm Nil Köksal.

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

[Music: Theme]

CH: Tonight:

NK: False witness. In last night's debate, Donald Trump repeated ludicrous, baseless claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. A leader in that community tells us about all the unwanted attention and racism its members are now experiencing.

CH: The settlement after the deeply unsettling. A routine visit to her husband in prison became a nightmare for a California woman. After receiving a multi-million dollar settlement. She and her lawyer, Gloria Allred, walk us through her ordeal of.

NK: Oppressed into service. As the Taliban cracks down further on women's rights, Afghan women gather in Albania to address how the international community should respond.

CH: In the new home stretch. A meeting community in Alberta is about to get some much needed new housing, thanks to money from an oil sands company extracted in part by our guest.

NK: Cell block busters. A new film festival is set to take place in a surprising location, Sing Sing maximum security prison with an all incarcerated jury selecting the films.

CH: And half off sale. A California home has hit the market at a great price, possibly because 50 per cent of it hit the ground in a rather dramatic and dusty fashion. As It Happens, the Wednesday edition radio that's always curious about how the other half lives.

[Music: Theme]

Part 1: Haitian Immigration Disinformation, Afghan Women's Summit, Sing Sing Film Festival, 'Open Concept' Home

Haitian Immigration Disinformation

Guest: Viles Dorsainvil

CH: It was a given that immigration would come up during last night's U.S. presidential debate. But when Donald Trump attacked the failings of the current administration's policies, one of his arguments was pretty hard to fathom.

SOUNDCLIP

DONALD TRUMP: I look at what's happening to the towns all over. In Springfield they're eating the dogs. The people that came in. They're eating the cats. They're eating. They're eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what's happening in our country. And it's a shame.

CH: Now, those comments weren't entirely unpredictable, given that Mr. Trump's running mate, JD Vance, has been disseminating similar claims, even though officials in Springfield, Ohio, have said there's absolutely no evidence to support them. It's not the first time Mr. Vance and Mr. Trump have used Springfield and its influx of Haitian immigrants to illustrate their frustrations with the Biden administration's border policies. This week, both men drew attention to the death of a child who was killed in a car accident there. Mr. Vance wrote that the child, quote, was murdered by a Haitian migrant, unquote. Yesterday, at a council meeting in Springfield, that boy's father, Nathan Clark, addressed Mr. Vance's comments.

SOUNDCLIP

NATHAN CLARK: I wish that my son, Aidan Clark was killed by a 60 year old white man. I bet you never thought anyone would ever say something so blunt. But if that guy killed my 11 year old son. The incessant group of hate spewing people would leave us alone. Using Aidan as a political tool is, to say the least, reprehensible for any political purpose. To clear the air. My son, Aiden Clark, was not murdered. He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti. This tragedy is felt all over this community, the state and even the nation but don't spin this towards hate.

CH: That was Nathan Clark addressing city council in Springfield, Ohio, yesterday as residents gathered to discuss safety concerns. Viles Dorsainvil was also there. He's the president of the Haitian Help and Support Centre in Springfield. And that's where we reached him.

NK: Viles, when you hear a presidential and vice presidential candidate say these kinds of things that are completely false. How do you deal with it?

VILES DORSAINVIL: It was shocking and we tried to keep our calm. But it's so sad to hear that from a person seeking the highest office of the land. Yeah. So, it's a very sad situation.

NK: JD Vance has not withdrawn his comments. He has since admitted, quote, It's possible, of course, all of these rumours will turn out to be false, unquote. Why do you think so many people are quick to believe what JD Vance and Donald Trump have said?

VD: I think it is because of their position. They are high ranking people who attended good university. I mean, they are well-educated people who have everything at their disposal to check something. So, nobody would believe that a people with common sense seeking for higher office in an important country, as the U.S.A would just spread news that they are not checking the veracity of.

NK: We also heard that that powerful clip, the pain in Nathan Clark's voice as he as he addressed city council yesterday, talking about how his pain has become politicized. You mentioned the impact on the Haitian community as well. What kinds of things have been happening? What is the fallout looked like and felt like for Haitian people in Springfield?

VD: Yeah, they are very scared for their lives and their kid’s life. Some of them even ask me if they have to leave for Springfield by the fact that they don't feel safe here. They are asking me questions if that is not going to escalate toward violence. But people might use anything to fire up their campaign. So, they have to keep calm as they are working together to see if we can address these and make the city more safer place for everybody.

NK: What about you? Are you feeling unsafe? Are you being harassed?

VD: Yeah. We have staff members that are receiving bad comments from the fund. So, people telling us to leave. We are getting bad comments or reviews on our Google account. So, people are telling us to leave because we can't be here to eat bats or something like this.

NK: You've also made it clear in your public statements, you know, countering the misinformation and misconceptions about the local Haitian community there that, you know, the assertion that they're illegal immigrants. You said they're citizens, green card holders and others who are legally in Springfield. Give our listeners a sense of why so many people have chosen Springfield as their new home.

VD: So, Haitians are coming to Springfield by the fact that they have other friends telling them that there is job opportunity in Springfield and it's a safe place to raise their family. So, Haitians who are in Springfield are university professors, well-educated Haitians, and they were forced to leave Haiti because of the insecurity and of the gangs’ violence in Haiti. But people wouldn't understand that in and try to make bad comments about us.

NK: Springfield like a lot of places, is dealing with issues, budgetary constraints, housing shortages, overcrowded schools, health care strains. Concerns about road safety have also come up in recent council meetings. But many people there are blaming the Haitian community for all of the problems. So how does that sit with you? How do you as an organization counter that pressure and hate?

VD: Yeah. Other places in U.S.A have the same issue as well. But the thing is I see the presentation of the city manager Brian Heck yesterday telling people that they have been working and continue to work towards addressing these issues and to make sure that in the near future we'll leave all of this behind us. Housing, put more. Driving classes, having English class for the immigrants and try not only to make Springfield a safer place.

NK: It sounds like you're feeling confident that things will get better.

VD: I am optimistic about that. And I think that people, if they have question, they have to ask the people who know what they are doing. I don't want them to go out there, make it looks like as if nothing is being done or to blame the Haitians for those things. While officials are working to address them, we all are here to be part of the solution and to make sure that the city is okay.

NK: You left Haiti and came to Springfield just a few years ago. Did you have any idea that after leaving that kind of instability and unrest, that you would land in the middle of this kind of politicization and targeting of your community in Springfield?

VD: Yeah, sometimes we feel warn out by the fact that we had been through so much. And we came here believing that we would have been living in peace and all of sudden hateful people would say all kind of things or who wouldn't like us to be here?

NK: Viles, thank you very much for your time.

VD: Thank you so much.

CH: Viles Dorsainvil is the president of the Haitian Community Help and Support Centre in Springfield, Ohio. That's where we reached him.

[Music: Guitar instrumental]

Afghan Women's Summit

Guest: Nilofar Ayoubi

CH: Over 100 Afghan women from around the world have gathered in Albania for a summit on women's rights just two weeks after the Taliban published new laws prohibiting women from making eye contact with unrelated men, mandating face coverings and banning women's voices from being heard in public. This summit has been two years in the making and is being hosted by the Albanian government after multiple other governments across the region reportedly refused. At the end of the three day gathering, organizers will set a list of demands that will outline how Afghan women want the international community to respond to the Taliban's attacks on women's rights and freedoms. Nilofar Ayoubi is a women's rights advocate and an organizer. We reached her in Tirana, Albania.

NK: Nilofar, I know you've been talking, sitting and singing with Afghan women at this summit all day today. How would you describe what the experience has been like so far?

NILOFAR AYOUBI: This is a historic moment after 2021. This is the first time that a big group of women from various backgrounds have come together from across the world discussing a collective future forward for themselves and for our sisters back in Afghanistan.

NK: And so, as you do the work and have these conversations at this summit, I know the goal is to publish a set of guidelines for the international community. What are you personally hoping to see in that document at the end of this summit?

NA: What Afghan woman want is first and foremost is to the recognition of gender apartheid and then, you know, giving women the same political rights as the men politicians have. And then women not only sitting on the table, but leading all those, you know, decisions that are being made on behalf of us. So, this is what we want.

NK: You and the women of Afghanistan to know very, very well that the Taliban doesn't really care about international criticism in particular. What gives you hope and what makes you believe that this summit could actually eventually impact the lives of women and girls living in Afghanistan today?

NA: To be honest, we never consider what Taliban, you know, likes and dislikes. For us, the real heartbreak is when the international community start behaving like Taliban towards us, not listening to us, you know, not caring about what we want. We are not talking to the Taliban. They are impossible. We are challenging the international community. Now we have come together and the question arises that will the international community, you know, step forward and take proper action or not?

NK: We've been reading reports that multiple other countries, other governments turned you down to have this summit before Albania agreed to act as host. Why do you think that is?

NA: I cannot say much about that because I wasn't part of this decision. However, I can say that it's very clear as day that the governments are trying to soften their policies towards Taliban. I will give you just two examples. One is U.K. shut down the embassy of [inaudible] republic and then eventually, you know, the council is not run. So, they will eventually, this is a soft kind of recognition that they're trying to provide for Taliban. So now there's no embassy like independent embassy that was functioning these three years. So, this is a kind of diplomatic relation. And at the same time, it's Germany did the same thing. And I'm sure that other countries will follow but from what I learned in my three years of experience being in Europe and European countries and about its politics, is that the good thing is that it's not centralized. So, there's always if one part of the government is pro-Taliban, there's another part who is pro-human rights and women's right.

NK: Does it concern you, though, the difficulty finding a location? Does that suggest to you something concerning about the international community's commitment to your cause?

NA: I mean, at this point, I'm not really shocked by anything or any outcome, any news from the international community or any behaviour. But we are sure and we are certain and we will not give up this much. I believe in the women power and in the women of Afghanistan. They cannot silence these voices and eventually they have to listen to us.

NK: When you speak to women in Afghanistan, you know those who cannot come to a conference like this. What are you hearing from them about the kind of toll this reality under the Taliban is taking on them?

NA: I will just share a story that one of the women who shared and with tears in her eyes, women without a male chaperone are not even allowed to buy bread now. And that woman does not have a male in the family. So, when they are trying to go to a bakery and buy bread, the baker, the baker says, please don't come near me because they will punish me. Or if women are trying to take public transportation without a male chaperone, the Taliban stops the taxi or rickshaw or whatever it is and then starts beating the driver. So that's they're creating fear for the driver so they don't carry women without male chaperone.

NK: And Nilofar, we should mention when you were a child, you had to dress as a boy to be able to go to school and stay safe. But beyond the difficulty of today and the summit and the work you're doing, are you tired of still having to fight this fight?

NA: I cannot tell you how tired I am, but I'm not done yet. I am witnessing the same thing all over again. I just share the, you know, photo of a woman protester yesterday while coming to this conference. And she sent me this photo. She was dressed as a man, took a paper in her hand and said, I don't have a male in my family. What should I do? And that, you know, brought all those emotions back and all those memories for me. And I had to sacrifice my womanhood for the sake of, you know, just experiencing a normal life. And this is happening for me. I was the privileged one because I did that so I could experience normal life. But there are women who have no choice but to sacrifice their lives just to, you know, be able to earn enough to provide for one time meal for their families in life.

NK: Nilofar, I appreciate your time. Thank you. And please take care.

NA: Thank you so much.

CH: Nilofar Ayoubi is an Afghan women's rights advocate and an organizer of the current summit. She's in Tirana, Albania.

[Music: Guitar blues instrumental]

Sing Sing Film Festival

Guest: Lawrence Bartley

CH: The Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing this week, and with it, the usual celebrity sightings, red carpets and awkward Q&A sessions with fans. But next month will bring an entirely new, entirely different kind of film festival. And this one will take place inside the walls of New York State's Sing Sing Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison. The films at the Sing Sing Film Festival will all be focussed on policing and prisons, and the jury choosing those films is made up entirely of men who are currently incarcerated in that prison. Lawrence Bartley is one of the organizers of the Film Fest and a former inmate at Sing Sing. We reached him in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

NK: Lawrence, when you were incarcerated at Sing Sing, I mean, did you ever imagine a film festival like this taking place behind those walls?

LAWRENCE BARTLEY: No, I didn't imagine a film festival happening because, you know, frankly, I didn't think that the film community on the outside would be interested in what incarcerated folks have to say.

NK: The men who are inside right now, what are you hearing from them about what being part of this festival means to them?

LB: Well, tons of thank you from the men inside. It's like usually when we have things of this nature with people outside with resources, they usually pick a particular group of guys to be out front to represent the facility. But when planning this film festival, we had conversations with Department of Corrections and [inaudible] and she and us, we wanted to open this opportunity to individuals who don't keep called upon. Individuals who might have potential and who can think critically. But, you know, they're not as polished as other individuals.

NK: I know the festival isn't until next month, but you must have some moments already that are standing out to you about the process so far.

LB: Definitely. One moment that stands out is one of the individuals who I knew he was incarcerated when I was, a month before I was there and he's there after I left. He said for many years, I used to hate on individuals. I see individuals doing college or positive programs like The Voice From Within. And I say to myself, he faking, he's just trying to get out of prison, when he goes home, he's gonna commit crimes like everyone else is. He said, but then I realized that, you know, that was on me. Until I realized that it wasn't them doing anything wrong, it was me and my mindset, I let that go. He said a lot of opportunities started coming my way, including this one. And he looked at me and said I used to hate on you for many years I didn't like you for all the positive things you were doing. And I want to say I commend you and I like that you're given us the opportunity and I wanna give my sincere thanks. It meant a lot to hear that. I had no idea what it was indicative of his transformation. And it's an honour to open a space with someone to be their whole complete self, to transform them.

NK: What do you think? Having a jury made up entirely of people who are incarcerated brings in terms of a jury that the usual jury would not be able to bring?

LB: It brings authenticity when they watch films about the criminal justice system or even the CSI shows or other Law and Order shows. I mean, I did it. I was incarcerated for some time and I watched those I'd say man this wouldn't happen; they would have just unveiled surprise evidence like that. That piece of evidence is not indicative of guilt or innocence or they want to read your rights and they say, you have the right to remain silent, You want a lawyer, etc., etc... You say, I want a lawyer and they wouldn't stop questioning you. That wouldn't happen at all. So, when watching films about the criminal justice system, they can pick it apart based upon their experience and see what was true or not, what was authentic or not. And that's what the biggest thing I think they bring to this.

NK: And I think it's fair to say Sing Sing is a bit unique as prisons go. People may know it's also the subject of a new film called Sing Sing it's starring Colman Domingo. I just saw it actually a few days ago. It's quite powerful, quite moving, and it focuses on a different program within the prison and it's the theatre program and the power of that. So, is there enough support and funding for these kinds of programs?

LB: Well, there isn't. I mean, it could be more. I mean, there's about 30 something prisons in New York State, there are 6000 prisons across the country. And there's a small percentage of prisons that have programs like this. They don't have those programs in [inaudible] in Mississippi or in Alabama prison. You know, they don't have that. But if you look at like a program, like the theatre program, you mentioned the subject of the things the movie in the re-incarceration rate of men who participate in that program is extremely low. You know, what if this film festival that we have can turn into a film program inside of the prison where the men can take the skills they learn in a film festival and try to replicate it and expound upon it, where they're making films themselves. They learn to be journalists themselves and see the kind of content they produce with the approval of the prison administration. It could be monumental. It could be career building for the men when they get out.

NK: So, this ultimately is the first ever Sing Sing film festival. When you look ahead, you know, in the long run. What do you hope this is going to mean for people inside Sing, Sing, but also outside and the people whose films you're going to be judging?

LB: Yeah. You know, I hope that it means that it peaks the curiosity of some of the men. They go into filmmaking that's going to be generationally transformational for their children, for the children's children. And it could pay dividends. But on the inside, I hope that, you know, this is the start of film festivals that come over and over again with the criminal justice films who might make the regular circuit in the big, in a big film festival, but they feel like this film is incomplete unless they get this stamp of approval from an incarcerated jury. And because this is about criminal justice and they can make sure that it is authentic. And that's an invaluable stamp of approval.

NK: Lawrence, I'm glad we could speak. Thanks so much for your time.

LB: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Nil. I really appreciate this interview.

NK: Take care, Lawrence.

LB: You too. Bye, bye.

CH: Lawrence Bartley is one of the organizers of the Sing Sing Film Fest and a former inmate at the maximum security prison. He's in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

[Music: Upbeat instrumental]

'Open Concept' Home

CH: You know, if I weren't here and the As It Happens studio, I think I might be a salesperson, the kind who can sell anything, you know, like real estate agent Kevin Wheeler of California. He's got a listing that actually might really appeal to you. Let me just call it up here. It's in a great, great neighbourhood. Monrovia has a lot to offer. You're just 30 minutes from L.A. It's a lovely view of the mountains there. Okay, here we are. Yeah. The house itself is actually kind of famous. Maybe you saw it on the news back in May. "Giant tree crushes, home trapping residents inside". Yeah, that's the one. The one where the woman said it sounded like a bomb exploding. And suddenly there was dust and debris everywhere, and they didn't know what happened. But it turned out to be an enormous pine tree out front that just fell right over. Yeah, that one. Everyone was fine, but I guess they just needed a change. You know, a whole new place instead of half of a place. And that is why Kevin Wheeler has got his work cut out for him. The tree demolished half of the home. But, you know, Kevin sees that as a positive. The place has been listed for just under five hundred thousand dollars U.S. or as Kevin likes to put it, "half a house for half a million". God, Wheeler's good. He also says he believes potential buyers will be drawn to the open concept floor plan and points out that indoor outdoor living is very trendy right now. And he claims he's already had lots of interest in the property. And, you know, fair enough. When you hear Wheeler talk about it and you take a look at this listing, you really feel like it ain't half bad.

[Music: Upbeat trumpets]

Part 2: Cali. Prison Visit Settlement, Todd Doherty, FOA: Bad Queen Statue, AB Oilsands Housing

Cali. Prison Visit Settlement

Guests: Christina Cardenos and Gloria Allerd

CH: Christina and Carlos Cardenas got married in 2016 while he was in prison. And in 2019, when she went to visit him, she was prepared for a by then familiar battery of security checks. But Ms. Cardenas says she went home that day traumatized without seeing Carlos. And this week her lawyers announced that she's been awarded a 5.6 million dollar settlement over her treatment by prison and hospital officials. Ms. Cardenas says prison guards subjected her to an invasive strip search. After that, she was taken to a hospital in handcuffs, where she says she underwent an X-ray and a full cavity search performed by a male doctor. All searches turned up nothing. California's corrections department will reportedly pay the bulk of the settlement, while two individual correctional officers, a doctor and the hospital, will pay the rest. All defendants maintain they did nothing wrong. We reached Christina Cardenas in San Diego and her attorney, Gloria Allred, in Los Angeles.

NK: Christina, you have waited years for this. This is a significant settlement. What does it mean to you, though, to have won this case?

CHRISTINA CARDENAS: I had no doubt in my mind that I would win. It was documented every step. I think that at this point, I'm grateful for the non-monetary relief and really ensuring change is happening amongst prisons for the visitors of the incarcerated.

NK: And Christina, I understand you hadn't seen Carlos for this type of visit, a family visit in quite some time on that day in 2019 when you visited him or tried to at the California Correctional Institution. These are difficult things to live with. Difficult things I can only imagine to recount. So as much as you're comfortable, can you tell us and our listeners a little bit of what happened that day?

CC: I was told that I was going to be served with a search warrant. And immediately my concern was about what does that entail? So, I asked if that entailed a strip search because the CDCR had forced a strip search on me some years prior in 2016 when I married my husband.

NK: That's the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. I should just let our listeners know.

CC: Yes, it proceeded from being a strip search where, I'll spare the gruesome details, but just to explain that it was an extreme, extreme experience into my privacy and my private parts, I was put into handcuffs following that, I've never been in handcuffs in my life. They took me to the hospital and they forced an X-ray. I was forced to have a CT scan. They then came and told me that I was going to be subject to another search by the doctor who I had already been introduced to and I knew was male. And they said that it was going to be a cavity search.

NK: How long did you have to go through all of this? The whole process.

CC: [choked up with emotions] Sorry.

NK: I'm so sorry Christina.

CC: It was hours and hours. I arrived early in the morning. I had driven four hours that morning to arrive there, you know, and I'm not even giving you all the horrible details, but overall, it was hours. I wasn't, I didn't leave there until the afternoon, maybe 3 p.m.

NK: Gloria, let me bring you in now. Certainly, it is difficult to hear those details and many of our listeners may find all of that shocking. Prison officials, as you well know, did have a warrant to search anyone planning to see Carlos Cardenas. He's convicted of armed robbery. This is a supermax facility. There are people although your client wasn't smuggling anything, clearly others may try to do that. So, is this kind of search normal, given the circumstances in any way and legal?

GLORIA ALLRED: Well, the court was very clear in how specific it was in the warrant as to what kind of search could be performed upon Christina. And they're only allowed an X-ray of Christina to see if there was any contraband in her body. If no contraband was found, neither law enforcement, correctional officers nor anyone else was permitted to do any additional search. They went further. And that's very serious, especially when there's a specific court order that needs to be followed. People say to me, well, why did they do it? And the answer is because they thought they could get away with it. And as a result of all this, they found no contraband. And then to add to the cruelty of it. When she wanted to see her husband that day or the next day, they said, no, she couldn't do it. Even though no contraband was found on her body.

NK: What was their justification for that?

GA: No justification was given. And there is, there was no justification that could be given. We don't think Christina is the only one whose rights were ever violated.

NK: You believe others will come forward with similar cases?

GA: Others have. And all I can say is because of her courage, she has been able not only to win this significant settlement, but in addition non-monetary settlement agreement. In which there are going to be significant changes in the responsibilities of correctional officers. In other words, they're going to have to provide, for example, to all visitors, not just spousal visitors, a copy of a search warrant, if there is one, has to be in the language of the you know, that the recipient will understand. Essentially, they treated Christina as a criminal, which she was not.

NK: Let me ask you, Gloria, we haven't seen a copy of the settlement agreement. We did request one, the defendants, as you know, continue to deny any wrongdoing. Does this feel like a complete victory still?

GA: Yeah, they can deny it until the cows come home. Which is what defendants usually do. I don't care if they admit it. I don't care if they don't admit it. The payment of a multimillion dollar settlement and specific language, that they're agreeing to for the future that must be followed by correctional officers is a much more important than oh, I'm sorry, I got my hand stopped in the cookie jar. That's just a bunch of nonsense.

NK: And Christina, I just wanted to ask you before we let you both go. I wonder how you're doing now and whether you've been able to see your husband, Carlos, again.

CC: I have seen my husband. I see my husband as often as possible. And I, as I told him, I said, you know, they tried to discourage, I think not just myself, but visitors in general through these type of actions from visiting inmates. And they treat us as criminals at times. And, you know, just as a side note, I don't believe that all correctional officers are bad. I think there are some really great correctional officers that are doing their job and are able to treat people humanely. But I would say that being able to just see him and spend time with him is at the topmost of my endeavours. I love him. And so, you know, our relationship is actually stronger for having to endure this type of trauma and hardship. But we're okay moving forward hand in hand.

NK: Christina, Gloria, thank you both very much for your time. Please take care.

GA: Thank you very much for inviting us.

CH: We reached Christina Cardenas in San Diego. Her attorney, Gloria Allred, is in Los Angeles.

[Music: Upbeat instrumental]

Todd Doherty

CH: Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day. And for Todd Doherty and people across Canada remembering their loved ones, it was a sombre day. Mr. Doherty is a Conservative MP in British Columbia. Years ago, he tabled a federal bill to create the suicide crisis Helpline, 988. Canadians can now call or text that number for help anytime, any day. Todd Doherty told the CBC what he was thinking about on World Suicide Prevention Day.

SOUNDCLIP

TODD DOHERTY: You know, I think about my best friend who died, died by suicide when we were 14. I think about, you know, the friends and family members that we've lost, you know, all along the years after that. And I think about the friends, the families, the colleagues that have been left behind to pick up the pieces. And, you know, I just know that we have to do more.

JASON D'SOUZA: When you reflect on your own personal experience, I wonder if you can tell us a little bit about how that's informed some of the work you do as an elected representative?

TD: Yeah, it's fuelled me every day, not only during my time since being elected, but, you know, my life even previously, you know, whether I was coaching in the community or volunteering, you know, or even at work, just letting people know. I've always tried to make sure that people know it's okay to talk about mental health. You know, I, I try not to miss a moment to let somebody know how much, you know, I appreciate them, that we value them and, you know, ask those 3 words, are you okay? And you know, it's three simple words, but, you know, life comes at us fast and we get busy with our day to day lives. But those three little words can save a life. And, you know, I think back about if I could replay that night one more time. The last night that I saw my best friend all those years ago, that I would do whatever I could to let him know that I loved him and that my world was a better place for him being in it. And I think that that's the message that we have to carry every day.

JD: It's been nearly a year since the 988 crisis line was launched. Do we have a sense of the impact that that helpline has had on Canadians who are looking for that support?

TD: That's a great question. You know, over a thousand Canadians a day are either texting or calling 988 to receive help. It's just shown that need and that 988 was needed. You know, I spoke with a gentleman here locally in Prince George about a month and a half ago that just wanted to reach out to me and wanted to thank me for introducing 988 or bringing 988 to Canada because he said he was alive. He felt that he could text or call 988 and he got the help that he needed. So, it is having an impact.

CH: That was the MP for Cariboo - Prince George, Todd Doherty, speaking with Jason D'Souza, host of All Points West.

[Music: Guitar instrumental]

FOA: Bad Queen Statue

CH: Last week, a new statue was unveiled depicting a woman with a stiff somewhat regal bearing. At her feet are two corgis by her side is Prince Philip. Now, all signs point to that being a statue of the late Queen Elizabeth II, except that it looks alarmingly unlike the late monarch. Maybe it's the broad shoulders that led one online critic to compare her to Mrs. Doubtfire, the nanny portrayed by Robin Williams in a 90s comedy. Maybe the oddly angled elbows were what inspired another to say simply "Take it away. It's blooming awful". Of course, negative responses to celebrity statuary are nothing new. And this one brought to mind the statue of Marilyn Monroe that went up in Palm Springs, California, a few years ago, depicting the famous billowing skirt scene from the seven year itch. The eight metre tall Marilyn offended some people so much that they sued to stop its installation. Aftab Dada was the chair of a local resort and one of the leaders of the push to put the statue up in Palm Springs.

SOUNDCLIP

AFTAB DADA: Well, under it, like I said, she's got her underwear. And, you know, this day and age, when you see what goes on in the Hollywood and entertainment industry, that is so common. I mean to say you can see the undergarments and stuff like that of all the people that display it. And that becomes kind of called a little sexy.

DUNCAN MCCUE: So, what would you say to Liz Armstrong, for example? She's a former director of the Palm Springs Art Museum. And she said this, I'll quote, “this placement of her gigantic panty-clad rear end being the first thing you see when you come out of the museum is so disrespectful. It's such a slap in the face.” End quote. What would you say to Liz Armstrong?

AD: Absolutely untrue. They need to get their act together and make the right statements. They are absolutely not telling the truth. They're trying to brainwash the general public. And to add something to that, we did an independent survey by a national reputable firm. And majority of the citizens, and residents of Palm Springs, absolutely, 100 per cent support her. It’s just a small minority.

CH: From our archives, that was Aftab Dada defending the Palm Springs statue of Marilyn Monroe. Well, speaking to, As It Happens, guest host Duncan McCue in 2021.

[Music: Classical instrumental]

AB Oilsands Housing

Guest: Grace Richards

CH: Grace Richards is moving and it can't happen too soon. She lives in a trailer without running water or electricity in the hamlet of Conklin in northern Alberta. And now 15 pre-built houses are arriving in the mostly Métis community homes that were paid for by an oil sands company that operates in the area from a fund created in part because of Grace Richards. We reached her in Conklin, Alberta.

NK: Grace, can you give us a sense of what it is like daily life for you in your home right now?

GRACE RICHARDS: There is obviously daily chores such as hauling water. In the summer months, I go around my house making sure that all the insulation is in place and if it needs to be touched up here and there, you know, sometimes it's hauling wood because I do have a stove outdoors as a backup in case I run out of propane.

NK: So, it sounds, just in the few things you mentioned you know, it's things a lot of us would take for granted.

GR: Daily things that I took for granted when I lived away from Conklin was the fact that I could turn on the light switch when it got dark, turn up the furnace if it was cold. Running water, that was another thing. It's just something that people take for granted on a daily basis. They don't realize that at some point in their life all of those could be taken away. And that's what I moved home to.

NK: So as this date approaches, when you'll be able to move, I mean, I'm sure you're already thinking about it and the wheels are turning about the kind of difference it's going to make in your life personally.

GR: Yes. Yes, it is going to make a huge difference. One of the challenges, too, in living like this is self-care. I don't have a fridge, a stove where I can store my food properly and cook a normal meal. Once I move into the house, I'll be able to do that. I will be feeling a lot more confident about myself in applying for work or full time work as opposed to just part time work here and there.

NK: Yeah. So there as I understand it, there are 14 other houses and more to come later in the year. They're allocated based on a point system to determine who is most in need. You've talked about how this will impact you personally, but when you think of the community in a broader sense, what do you think it will mean for people?

GR: It's going to be such a positive change for everyone. Our community has remained at 300 people, approximately 300 people for the last 25 years. And a lot of that is due to lack of housing. A lot of young families are forced to move into the cities.

NK: Why did you move back?

GR: This is home. I wanted to be home. I always missed home. I always wanted to be at home. But I had no place to live. And this time around, when I did come home, I made up my mind that when I come home, this time I'm staying home regardless of the housing situation and just crossed my fingers that we would be getting homes soon, that something would happen.

NK: After you made that move to Conklin from Fort McMurray, started seeing the lay of the land and you started doing the advocacy work. So, this is happening in large part because of your work. What did you do in the beginning to raise the alarm about the housing crisis there?

GR: I tried talking to the leadership in the community, trying to get some answers on when we were going to be receiving housing. You know, they never had an answer. And so, I sent an email to our mayor in Fort McMurray at the time, and I CC'd all of industry around us. I see TV, media, ministers, all levels of government. And in the email I sent pictures of how people live.

NK: Cenovus Energy responded, were they the only ones?

GR: Yes, to date they were the only ones and I cannot thank them enough for stepping up and helping our community with this crisis that we have.

NK: The oilsands industry obviously is a lucrative industry, makes billions of dollars from extracting resources from your area. Do you feel these companies have an obligation, a moral obligation to help ensure communities, specifically indigenous communities, see some benefits in terms of housing?

GR: Yes, I do believe that they do. Using the good neighbour tactic is a better way to approach them. I know that we have agreements with them already in place, but you know, it's still a small percentage of the way that we have to live now because they've surrounded us. So, if more industry giants would step up to the plate. Yes, I know it would be so beneficial to our community. We need to be able to sustain ourselves. We need to be able to create work employment. Here at home. We need amenities. We do not even have a grocery store in our community. We have to travel two hours either direction to get to a grocery store or to a doctor, optometrist, dentist. And these are things that I foresee in the future happening for our community.

NK: Does it matter to you, Grace, what the motive might be for Cenovus Energy to do this? I mean, it may be completely altruistic. It may be because it's really great business for them. Does that matter?

GR: At one time I thought about it. And then at this point, no, it doesn't matter because of the positive outcome of their assistance with us.

NK: Do you have a move in date yet?

GA: No. My house, it's scheduled to come in October 7th, so I'm hoping and I'm crossing my fingers that it'll be by the end of October that I can move in.

NK: It's not too, not too far off. I know you've been waiting a long time. What are you most looking forward to when you are able to move in?

GR: Just the running water. Turning on the furnace. Okay. Now I can adjust my heat, you know, And I plan on spending Christmas inside my new house cooking a turkey dinner. That'll be the first one in 10 years.

NK: Grace, I'm really glad we could speak. Thank you for your time.

GR: Yes, thank you. Any time.

CH: Housing advocate Grace Richards lives in Conklin, Alberta. And that's where we reached her.

[Music: Upbeat instrumental]

Part 3: Feed Ontario Report, Churchill Portrait Returned, Halifax Late School Bus, Grandson/Grandfather Students, Encore: Argos Mud Bowl

Feed Ontario Report

CH: According to a new report by Feed Ontario, over a million people around the province used food banks between April of last year and March of this year. Those hundreds of thousands of children, seniors and parents visited food banks about 7.6 million times. Those are unprecedented numbers. Feed Ontario is a network of more than a thousand food banks in Ontario, and its CEO, Carolyn Stewart, says the problem is only getting worse. She talked to David Common, host of Metro Morning, about what is causing this surge in food insecurity.

SOUNDCLIP

CAROLYN STEWART: This has been a problem for decades. You know, food banks have been around since the 80s, but we've seen, you know, disinvestment in affordable housing, purpose built housing, supportive housing over decades. We've seen disinvestment in social programs like social assistance programs, we're still seeing rates similar to those in 1993. And people expected to be live on the same amount. Even though cost of living has surged. So, we have to remember all of that, coupled with a pandemic, coupled with an affordability crisis, has really compounded the effects that people are feeling. And so that's why we're seeing that surge in demand surpassing one million people.

DAVID COMMON: All right. What are some things I mean; you talk about social assistance sort of not keeping up with inflation and with cost. What are some concrete actions that could make a difference here and who's responsible for them?

CAROLYN STEWART: Yeah, I think we all have a role to play in making change, you know, there's no silver bullet to addressing food insecurity and poverty. But, you know, food banks are there to serve that immediate need. But long term, we need social policy levers to be pulled. So firstly, investing in those social assistance programs so they can serve the purpose they were, the programs were intended to. So, raising the rates, reducing claw backs in those programs, investing in those affordable housing and supportive housing, making sure we're meeting or surpassing the targets outlined in the National housing strategy and even jobs. You know, we want to, as this government says, provincial government, we want to get people back to work, but we want to make sure that the right kind of work, it has benefits, a liveable wage, even something as simple as a paid sick day can really make a difference in the lives of people and help turn the tide on those struggling with food insecurity and poverty.

CH: That was Feed Ontario CEO Carolyn Stewart talking to Metro Morning host David Common today about the growth of poverty and food insecurity in the province.

[Music: Calm instrumental]

Churchill Portrait Returned

Guest: Jerry Fielder

CH: Winston Churchill is on his way back to Ottawa. In August 2022, we told you about an art heist, a famous portrait of the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, taken by the renowned Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh had been stolen from Ottawa's Chateau Laurier. The photo had hung in the Chateau for decades after being given as a gift by the photographer. But one day someone noticed a dastardly switcheroo. Mr. Karsh's portrait had been stolen months before, and a duplicate had been hung in its place. Well, now police say they've tracked down the original to an art buyer in Italy. Jerry Fielder was Yousuf Karsh's assistant and now serves as the director of the Karsh Estate. We reached him in Boston.

NK: Jerry, when did you get the call? Get this good news.

JERRY FIELDER: I've learned about it today, like everyone else. I knew that this was coming at some point, but it was officially announced today.

NK: And so, you knew it had been found or you were just optimistic that it would be recovered?

JF: Well, the Ottawa police departments done a wonderful job of this. And Detective Sergeant Geller, who's been in charge of the investigation, has kept us appraised of the progress, but only in the most general terms that it's ongoing and still open and that they are optimistic. So, we've been in touch quite a bit over the last couple of years and that's been a great help and they did a fabulous job.

NK: What was it like, Jerry, to finally hear those words? We found it.

JF: It was wonderful. It meant so much to me and to Mrs. Karsh. And it was very personal for all of us. And so, it was just wonderful news.

NK: How did she react when you told her?

JF: She was thrilled. As you probably know, Karsh's lived in the Chateau Laurier for 15 years. Our studio was on the sixth floor of the Chateau Laurier and I worked with Yousuf for 14 years. And although he had exhibitions at major museums all over the world during his career, his very first exhibition was in the drawing room of the Chateau Laurier in the 1930s. So, the history for them and for all of us goes back a long ways. So, this was not just a photograph that was taken. This was something when the Karch's left their apartment and the studio, they closed the studio Mr. Karsh wanted to leave something meaningful as a gift, as a sign of his appreciation for six decades of hospitality and warmth from the hotel and the staff. And so, this was a very important gift, and it meant a lot to him and it means a lot to her.

NK: I'm looking at a photograph of the photograph that has now been found. It is an iconic picture of Winston Churchill. It's what many people I think conjure up in their minds when they think of Winston Churchill. It's known as "The Roaring Lion". Tell our listeners why it became known as that.

JF: Well, Churchill had just given a speech to parliament, and it was during a difficult time in the war in 1941. And the speech you can see in his pocket if you're looking at the photograph and he left the chamber and he went into the speaker's chamber to have a brandy and a cigar. And Yousuf was asked by the Prime Minister, Mackenzie King to take the photograph to record the evening. But Churchill didn't know about this and he was not happy about it. And so, he told Yousuf he could take just one photograph. [NK: No pressure]. No pressure. And it's a famous story. But Churchill had... And there were many people to there to verify that it's actually true. But Churchill had a cigar in his mouth and Yousuf did not want the cigar in the photograph. So, we asked him to remove it. And Churchill, you know, refused to do it. So right before he took the photograph, he went up to Churchill. He plucked the cigar out at his mouth. [NK: Come on]. And that's true. And then he walked back to the camera and he said, you know, he looked at me as if he could have devoured me. And that's why the photograph looks the way it did. He allowed Yousuf to take one more, and it was smiling and he was sort of posing. And that's the family's favourite photograph. But this one, this one just symbolized the strength and the determination of Churchill at a time when it was very important in 1941. So just to answer your original question, before they left, he smiled and he said, to Yousuf "You can even make a roaring lion stand still".

NK: I mean, is there higher praise?

JF: That's how it's called "Roaring Lion".

NK: Just to remind our listeners what happened here. The photograph was stolen. Police believe sometime between Christmas and New Year's Eve, 2021, it was in April of this year. We're learning that a man from Ontario, 43 years old, was charged in this. And now they believe that, as we've said, the picture was found in Italy... there's a publication ban on this man's name. But what do you know about him and how this got from the Chateau Laurier to Italy?

JF: Because it hasn't gone to trial yet. What I do know, I really can't I can't say. But if you talk to Detective Geller, who's the chief of the investigation, he might be able to provide more information.

NK: Understood. I'm sure a lot of people, including Mrs. Karsh and yourself, you want to see this up close and in person and hanging in the Chateau Laurier again. What is the timeline for that?

JF: Detective Geller and another representative of the Ottawa police are flying to Rome next week. It's now in the possession of the Italian police, and they're going to pick it up and deliver it to the art shipment house. And it will come from there back to the police department, and then it will go to the Chateau Laurier. And I'm not sure about the timeline, but I would think probably within a month.

NK: Wow. Do you think there's going to be a different kind of security setup now?

JF: Yes.

NK: We won't reveal the details of just what. But it's not just going to be hanging there, I've walked past it, I'm sure.

JF: No, I have no concerns about the security of it at this point. I know that they're going to take every precaution. But it was it was very secure at the time. It had secure locks on it. And I helped hang it. And so, it was such a surprise when it was stolen.

NK: What do you think Yousuf Karsh would have made of all of this?

JF: He'd have been... because this is such a personal gift from him and from Estrellita. He would have been very disappointed. Very, very upset, I think.

NK: Well, it's nice to report some good news on this, Jerry, thank you for your time.

JF: You're very welcome. Thank you.

CH: Jerry Fielder serves as the director of the Yousuf Karsh Estate. We reached him in Boston.

[Music: Funky instrumental]

Halifax Late School Bus

CH: When she got a message that her daughter's school bus would arrive a bit late. Chloe Daigle wasn't worried at first. But when hours passed and there still was no sign of her eight year old twins, the Halifax mother became understandably frantic and called the police. She told CBC Radio in Nova Scotia what happened next.

SOUNDCLIP

CHLOE DAIGLE: It was a terrifying, crazy moment that not knowing where my kids are and police ask me if there tracker on the bus? Do you know the bus driver or number? I don't have anything, you know. Also, meanwhile. Some parents of my class, my kids’ class, they were started driving to find the bus.

PORTIA CLARK: And what did the police do? Were they able to find the bus? And then that's what led the bus to dropping off your daughter's.

CD: Yeah. So, police. She call me around 6:40 after 20 minutes that I called the police. She said they finally, you know, call the bus driver. And she spoke to my kids on the phone and they're safe. And they're currently at the time where they are and they're heading back home.

PC: You had two young children on this bus. What were they able to tell you when they did get home about being on that bus? It sounds like for hours.

CD: They were saying that, mommy bus was going somewhere, you know, a different direction. And you know, we all shouting that this is the wrong way. And then some kids actually pulled the emergency button. The bus was beeping. And then she said. Mommy, we switched the bus and bus actually hit some other car. And the police came there. And she said, like you know, over like four hours in the bus she said, Mommy, I wanted to really pee. But the bus driver didn't let me go to pee and she was crying. And then she, mommy you called the police. And then I spoke to, you know, police lady on the phone. You know, I was just so happy to hug my girls at the end of this horrible situation. And I was just, like, speechless. It was it was a crazy moment that yeah.

CH: Halifax mother, Chloe Daigle, speaking to Portia Clark, host of Information Morning in Nova Scotia. The school board has apologized for the incident. The bus company, Transco issued a statement saying it regrets the, quote, inconvenience and concern unquote, that the situation caused. Neither provided an explanation for why the bus was 4.5 hours late.

[Music: Calm instrumental]

Grandson/Grandfather Students

CH: It's been four decades since Doug Manning was last in the classroom. But now at 71 years old, he's back as a senior student, taking a first year philosophy course at UBC Okanagan. And he's been getting to know some of his classmates. But there's one that he already knows very well. His 18 year old grandson, Sam Cooper. Now, the pair didn't actually plan to take a class together, but in an interview with the CBC this morning, an hour before they had to head to class, they talked about how it went down, starting with Doug.

SOUNDCLIP

DOUG MANNING: It was just funny, he said. I think I got to philosophy courses. I got a... that's my whole that's my whole program for life. And he thought I was going to be in the second semester. I figured I can buy the textbooks and give them to you. And then just a week ahead of time, lo and behold, we are in the same class.

ALYA RAMADAN: So, let's get into that first day. So, Sam, I understand you were there first, and this is a big lecture hall. Hey, this is like 100 kids or I don't say kids because obviously we've got a big kid right here, but lots of students. So, you get in there. Tell me about that first day.

SAM COOPER: We had talked a bit previously kind of about, you know, maybe possibly meeting up. So, I waited at the front of the class for him and he showed up and we walked in together and we sat at the back...

AR: You sat together I assume?

SC: We sat together, yeah. And that was a bit of an experience in itself because, you know, you could talk about being in the same class but actually being in the same class at that point. That was, that was pretty cool.

AR: And what was that like for you, Doug? So, there's your grandson waiting to greet you at the door.

DM: Wonderful. But I'm concerned I'm going to be a social anchor, dragging around this 71 year old guy.

AR: Who is that guy with you? But then it turns out, Sam, that Mr. Popularity here knows more people in the class than you do.

SC: Yeah, it was. It was quite weird. We were chatting to ourselves a bit. A kid walks by and he says. I think I know you. And my grandpa goes, oh yeah, I think I do, too. And then they start chatting and lo and behold, another kid sits beside my grandpa, and then they start chatting and they know each other. And I'm like, I have never met these people in my life. I've had a couple of classes already. I've never seen any of these people before. And all of a sudden, I guess I'm his social anchor. [laughter] So it's wild.

AR: And so, Doug, tell us a bit why, you know, you know, a few of the young people in the class.

DM: Well, I've been involved with rugby development in the community for decades, so I know quite a few rugby players. These two gentlemen just happened to be two very good rugby players in our community.

AR: You know, and Doug we talked a little bit about the value of taking a course like this. And this is around critical thinking. So, tell me a bit more about why that's important for you to take now.

DM: I think this is a really timely course. I love seeing 100 kids that are young learning how to critically think, learning how to I don't know, Alya, if it's been something you've experienced, but when you go into a room now, you almost have to read the room and be willing to state your opinions because people are really, it seems, quick to judge about if your opinion doesn't align with theirs. Critical thinking really teaches you differently than that. It teaches you to respect other people's opinions, but you don't have to agree. And it really teaches a process for good discussions, which Sam and I can practice having. But it's more, I guess it's just we live in a time where people are wanting to talk, I think, more than they want to listen. And I think of courses like this help us to learn how to listen in an effective manner.

CH: That was Doug Manning and before him, his grandson, Sam Cooper, talking to the CBC's Alya Ramadan on Daybreak South.

[Music: Violin instrumental]

Encore: Argos Mud Bowl

CH: It's a dirty job, but nobody has to do it. And still, for some reason, they do year after year. On yesterday's show, we told you about an annual tournament in New Hampshire called the Mud Bowl, in which organizers flood parts of a football field and the players obviously get progressively filthier as the game progresses on purpose, purportedly for fun. But of course, over the years, a lot of football games have unintentionally become Mud Bowls. And in Canadian sports history, none is more infamous than the 1950 Mud Bowl in Toronto. It was November 25th, the Toronto Argonauts versus the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. And the star of the game was the late Nick Volpe, who kicked two field goals for Toronto. In 2000 for the 50th anniversary of the game Mr. Volpe wanted to get the gang back together. So, he was trying to reach all his surviving Argos Team-mates from that 1950 game. And he told former, As It Happens host Mary Lou Finlay all about it.

SOUNDCLIP

NICK VOLPE: Well, I remember that game very vividly. You know, it's one of the memories that you always keep with you because it's something that was very important. What most people might not know or remember is that the night before the game, there was a snowstorm.

MARY LOU FINLAY: Right.

NV: And there was about six inches of snow all over the field. And the day of the game, it got kind of warm. And so, they were trying to shovel the snow off the field. And the warmer it got, the heavier the snow got.

MLF: Yes.

NV: So, they couldn't get it off. And somebody got a bright idea to get a snow plough. Well, they snow ploughed the snow off the field. But I don't have to tell you what kind of shape the field was in.

MLF: It churned up the field a bit, did it.

NV: Just a bit. It was a quagmire. And there were, you couldn't see the lines. And the ball's got like soap and you sloshed around in the mud. It was kind of fun, actually.

MLF: Yeah. Just like going out and playing in the mud.

NV: Yes, that's exactly right.

MLF: But I mean, was everything just covered in mud?

NV: Everything was covered in mud.

MLF: Your uniforms?

NV: Everything. In fact, the announcers, [inaudible] Knight used to do the game at the time, and he was having a terrible time trying to decide who was making tackles and what was going on. But yeah, it didn't take long to get covered in mud.

MLF: Did you have trouble identifying your team-mates?

NV: No. No. You never have trouble doing that.

MLF: Really?

NV: No. You were either on offence or defence, so you knew exactly who your team-mates were.

MLF: Weren't afraid of passing to the wrong team or anything?

NV: No. No. As a matter of fact, the quarterbacks couldn't handle the ball. And our quarterback was very inventive and he taped thumbtacks on his right hand. And he was the only quarterback who could throw the ball.

MLF: He could hang on to it.

NV: He could hang on to it.

MLF: Was that allowed?

NV: No. It wasn't allowed because at half time the official saw that he had tape on his hands and they made him remove the tape and. [MLF: Yeah]. But up to that point, he'd handle the ball pretty well. One other interesting comment, Ted Toogood and I were punt returners. And in practicing trying to catch the punt, once the ball got full of mud, you just couldn't catch it. [MLF: Right]. So, what we would do is we'd line up the ball as they kicked it to us and then let it splat in the mud and then pick it up and run with it.

MLF: No chance of catching that.

NV: No chance. That's exactly right.

MLF: Oh, you must've been a sight.

NV: It was. It was fun.

MLF: You won that game.

NV: Yeah, we won that game. 13 - nothing. And Argos beat Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

MLF: But, I mean, you won that game.

NV: Well, I kicked two field goals out of the mud. And to this day, I don't know how I got them off the ground, but anyhow.

MLF: Weren't you in danger of sort of falling flat on your face as you ran up to it?

NV: Yes. Yes, You were. They weren't very far out. There were 21 yards and 29 yards. So not long in this day and age.

MLF: How many spectators were there?

NV: 27 thousand plus.

MLF: And did they have a great time watching this?

NV: Ah, they did.

MLF: I remember a foggy, foggy Grey Cup game.

NV: Yes. That was the fog game.

MLF: Some, years later. But that's not as much fun because, of course, you can't see anything at all. [NV: Exactly]. Now you're trying to... Why would you want to... Are you going to replay this game? I mean, I'm going to put the mud in the field.

NV: No, we're not replaying it. All we're doing is, they're honouring members of that Grey Cup team because this is the 50th anniversary. [MLF: Yes]. And we play Winnipeg on October the 27th. And so, we thought it was a good day to honour the team. When Winnipeg are here. And so, I've... J.I. Albrecht Instructed me to contact as many players as I could. And I have 11 players coming and one assistant trainer and one waterboy.

MLF: Well, that's good. Have you been in touch with Jack Wedley?

NV: I haven't been able to get in touch with Jack.

MLF: Well, you know, we have a hot shot producer here who's got in touch with Jack. [NV: Good]. And I think he's on the phone. Are you there, Mr. Wedley?

JACK WEDLEY: More or less.

MLF: [Laughter] More or less.

NV: Who is it? Jack? [JW: Yeah]. Jack, it's Nick Volpe. [JW: Yeah]. And we want you to come to the baseball press box on October the 27th. Around 6:30. Quarter to 7:00, the game at 7:30. And you'll meet a lot of your buddies and we'll be introduced to the fans. Hopefully we'll all get a copy of the game and a photo and it'll be a lot of fun.

MLF: You gonna do that, Jack?

JW: I may as well.

NV: You might as well come, Jack.

JW: Okay.

MLF: Okay, Did you have fun that day, Mr. Wedley?

JW: Well, a little uncomfortable, but.

MLF: You ever play a game like that since.

JW: No. Played in snow, but not in mud.

MLF: That was, that was a oner.

JW: Yeah.

NV: Yeah. It wasn't a cold day, actually. [JW: No]. It was quite warm and it was comfortable. And once you got muddy, it didn't matter much.

MLF: Well, listen, have a great reunion.

NV: Okay.

MLF: Thank you both.

NV: Thanks very much.

MLF: Bye bye.

NV: Okay.

CH: From our archives, former Toronto Argos players Nick Volpe and Jack Wedley speaking to former As It Happens host Mary Lou Finlay in 2000.

[Music: Funky instrumental]

CH: You do something amazing in the nick of time with thousands watching, you're so proud. And then someone contacts you to say, sorry, you missed the deadline. Great job, though. And the claim is that you missed it by this much. [0.5 second beep] Again, here is the exact length of time by which you allegedly missed the deadline, nullifying your accomplishment. [0.5 second beep]. See, on August 31st at a Purdue University football game, there was a contest if Purdue student Zachary Spangler could kick three field goals in 30 seconds from the 20, 30 and 40 yard lines, he would win a complimentary two year lease on a car from Rohrman Automotive. And with time ticking down, he made all three field goals. He had done it. But a few days later Rohrman automotive undone it. The company told Mr. Spangler that upon exhaustive review of the video, his third kick had been late by five whole one hundredths of a second, which, as we've established, is this long [0.5 second beep]. So, to get out of covering a two year car lease, not a car, just a lease on a car, the dealership disqualified him. This was seen as a very smart decision by maybe three people who worked at Rohrman Automotive. Everyone else, including Zachary Spangler, was stunned at how thoroughly a company could blow all local goodwill. For days, that decision stood until yesterday, when Rohrman announced it would, in fact offer Mr. Spangler that two year lease after all. Or five thousand dollars cash if he preferred and said, quote, We appreciate the public's scrutiny of the process, unquote. Well, you can only stand so much of people telling you to go scrutinize yourself. Regardless, this is the right call at last. Even though getting to the right call should have taken this long [0.5 second beep], here are Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson with "I Get a Kick Out of You".

[Music: Theme]

CH: You've been listening to As It Happens on the CBC Listen App. Our show can be heard Monday to Friday on CBC Radio One after Your World Tonight.

NK: And you can always read more about the stories and conversations we feature on As It Happens on our website, cbc.ca/aih. I'm Nil Köksal.

CH: And I'm Chris Howden.

[Music: Theme]

The AIH Transcript For September 11, 2024

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