The Current

The Current for Dec. 31, 2020

The Current checks in with non-medical front-line workers and how their jobs and lives have changed over the pandemic; we hear stories of joy shared by some of our listeners; and we revisit Matt Galloway's interview with Dr. James Maskalyk, who helped pandemic patients meditate through their fears — before being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
CBC News senior reporter Catherine Cullen guest hosts Thursday's edition of The Current. (CBC)

Full Episode Transcript

Today on The Current with guest host Catherine Cullen:

Many people who aren't health-care workers or physicians have remained on the front-lines for the past 10 months. They say the challenges at their jobs have persisted, but in many ways the public's attention and support have gradually drifted away. We speak to hospital custodian JR LeBlanc, personal support worker Cecilia Sparrow and grocery store manager Carmen Louie.

We recently asked listeners to share their stories of joy from 2020 — and our inboxes were flooded. We hear from some of those people, including: Diane Sculler and Doyle Childs, two long-lost siblings who have just found each other late in life; and Neta Rose and Yolanda Bonnell, two artists who strengthened their friendship by checking in on each other every day.

We revisit Matt Galloway's conversation with Dr. James Maskalyk. In March, he told us about using meditation to cope with the stress of being on the front lines in the early days of the pandemic. Now it's helping him to process his own Stage 4 cancer diagnosis. He tells us about the transition from physician to patient.