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The AIH Transcript for September 09, 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: An incomplete sentence. A Winnipeg woman who says she was sexually assaulted by Peter Nygard in the 1990s tells us his sentencing today is a start, but she wants to see every woman he hurt get justice.

CH: Strong arms tactics. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak pays tribute to the late Manitoba Grand chief Cathy Merrick as a leader who could deliver hard truths. And a firm hug.

NK: Preyed upon. A powerful televangelist in the Philippines is in custody and facing sex trafficking charges in the U.S. But one expert in Manila says it's not clear whether he'll actually be extradited.

CH: Bordering on historic. On a visit north of the 49th, New Jersey's Democratic governor tells us why a win for Kamala Harris in the upcoming US presidential election would be a win for Canada, too.

NK: A story that'll put a lump in your throat. A New Hampshire man and a lobster roll eating contest starts to choke and is rescued when that state's governor steps in to give him the Heimlich.

CH: And crunch time. Rangers at a national park in New Mexico tell whoever dropped their Cheetos in a cave that experts had to act fast to prevent that snack from disrupting a delicate ecosystem. As It Happens, the Monday edition. Radio that knows absolute powder corrupts absolutely.

[Music: Theme]

Part 1: Peter Nygard Sentencing, N.J. Governor, Lobster Eater Heimlich, Carlsbad Caverns Cheetos

Peter Nygard Sentencing

Guest: Serena Hickes

CH: Today, an Ontario Superior Court justice said six words. Peter Nygard Victims have waited a long time to hear. Quote, Peter Nygard is a sexual predator, unquote. And Judge Robert Goldstein sentenced the Canadian fashion mogul to 11 years in prison on four counts of sexual assault. Last year, Mr. Norgaard was convicted of attacking three women and a 16 year old girl in the top floor bedroom of his former Toronto headquarters between the 1980s and 2005. Minus time served, he's expected to spend just under seven years behind bars, but he faces further charges in New York, Montreal and his hometown of Winnipeg. Serena Hickes was at the courthouse today. She's one of the women with outstanding allegations against Peter Nygard. She says he sexually assaulted her when she worked at one of his stores in Winnipeg in 1993 when she was 21 years old. She filed a complaint with the Winnipeg police in 2020, but charges were never brought. We reached Serena Hickes today in Toronto and a warning, this interview will deal with sexual assault.

NK: Serena, what did it mean to you to hear those words from the judge? Quote, Peter Nygard is a sexual predator, unquote.

SERENA HICKES: I mean, to hear it out loud in court was something that I don't think anyone it's just, it's kind of surreal because we know we, we knew it. We know it. But to actually have it being said and it's on record is really, really, really surreal.

NK: It was important for you to be at the courthouse in Toronto today and in the courtroom. What was it like to sit there?

SH: You know, it was honestly, I thought that it was going to be a lot easier. And, you know, it was a lot harder. There was a moment that everything just started going black because I was about to faint. And I mean, even though he was being a coward and wouldn't look back at any of us and, you know, was in this ridiculous, like, homemade paper visor and this big jacket, I mean, he was just, he was such a coward, he wouldn't look at us. But I didn't I didn't know how hard it would be to just even see the back of him. And yeah, it was hard. It was really hard.

NK: It was not going Serena, something you considered?

SH: No, it was. It wouldn't have been acceptable to me because in Winnipeg, that was his, that was his original place where he learned how to do all this and get away with it. So, sorry...

NK: That's okay.

SH: Okay. Sorry.

NK: No apology needed.

SH: All right. So, to not be there when I know there are women across Canada, the U.S., the Bahamas, there are so many women who cannot, for whatever reason, come forward. I needed these women to know that I was there for all of them.

NK: We know Peter Nygard is still facing charges in Montreal and in New York. And we should also say the allegations you referred to, the ones in Winnipeg have not been tested in court. And despite prosecutors declining to charge Nygard in the eight cases brought by police in Winnipeg, including yours, an independent review by Saskatchewan prosecutors did lead to charges being filed in one case. So, this isn't over for Peter Nygard. Does that bring you any comfort?

SH: You know what? Honestly, I don't care. I know that's going to sound really cold to some people but, I just don't care. I hope that every woman out there who was brutalized, even if not by him, by another predator, that they can find peace within themselves. Here's the thing. I'm someone who, as an Inuit woman, I didn't trust the police. As an Inuit woman. In those days. I don't know if I even do now. Winnipeg was his first. This is where he learned how to do everything. And it kills me because women came forward in Winnipeg and it was stomped down. And people forget that.

NK: CBC News has tried to get more of an explanation as to why Nygard was not charged in connection with the seven other Winnipeg cases. In a statement to the Fifth Estate here at CBC, which of course broke the story and has been covering it extensively for years, in a statement to the Fifth Estate, Manitoba's Justice Ministry and its prosecution office declined to explain their reasoning. And just in the Toronto case, if we go back to the Toronto case for a moment, as you know, you were there. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He's expected to serve just under seven. He's 83 years old now. So would be 90 when his sentence is up. What is your assessment of that sentence?

SH: To be fair, there is the age factor. It doesn't impress me, but I understand. Just because I understand something doesn't mean I have to agree with it. And people like, but he can apply for parole. People forget in order to get parole; you have to want to be accountable for what you've done. He's never going to feel bad for it. You don't get parole for that.

NK: If there were no other cases beyond this point. How would that sit with you?

SH: No, that wouldn't sit with me. No, absolutely not. It. No. There are I hope honestly, you know, there's a big part of me that, you know, just I hope he lives long enough for every, you know, court or has charges against him. Every person gets that vindication. I feel like I've done what I've come to do, and that is to give every woman hope that you can find peace and you can... There's a lot of love within... And it's so interesting because none of us asked to be in this sisterhood, None of us. But we are here. We're in this sisterhood. And that was what I was bringing to make sure every woman and every family member out there that they know we're thinking of you, we love you. And just you know that.

NK: Serena, thank you for your time. Please take care.

SH: Thank you so much.

CH: Serena Hickes came forward with her allegations against Peter Nygard in 2020, but Manitoba prosecutors declined to lay charges. We reached her today in Toronto.

[Music: Calm instrumental]

N.J. Governor

Guest: Phil Murphy

CH: Canadians are watching the American presidential election campaign closely. And if you're among those who can't look away. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy won't fault you. The prominent Democrat is in Canada to bolster trade ties with his state, and he believes the upcoming vote is crucial. We reached Phil Murphy in Toronto.

NK: Governor Murphy, what do you believe is at stake for Canada and for Canadians in this U.S. presidential election?

PHIL MURPHY: I'd say everything. I mean, this is as stark a choice as we may have ever had in our history. And given how close an ally Canada is and the extent to which we so deeply share common values. Never mind the cold blooded trade jobs, investment implications. It's a tall statement to say, but I will stand by it to say that everything is at stake. And God willing, this thing comes out on the right side. It is still far too close to call. Tomorrow night with the debate will be a big moment in this campaign and we'll see how it goes from there.

NK: When we're talking specifically about trade, Governor, as you well know, and it's not surprising that America is always going to look out for its own trade interests no matter what, no matter who is in the White House. And even if things are more cordial and more diplomatic, if the Democrats and Kamala Harris were to take the White House again, we've seen under the Biden administration, they've maintained tariffs put in place under Donald Trump. They've put in protectionist policies of their own, as we know, buy American in terms of procurement for starters. So, is it really going to make that much of a difference in terms of trade and the things that matter so much to Canada and Canadians?

PM: Yeah, it will. And I say this both as a governor of New Jersey, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany, where I stood side by side on the Five Eyes and with my Canadian counterpart at the time. We're talking here about starkly different programs, economic or otherwise. And even when there might be some set of similarity, it is also a question of degree. But I can tell you this with great confidence, President Kamala Harris would be building the economy for the middle class out from the bottom up and would be very attuned, whether it's in economic or strategic or other terms, to the needs and objectives of our allies. And I say that not because either one of these folks would put anyone's interests ahead of America's. We obviously, first and foremost, as you rightfully point out, focus first on our own interests, as we should, as every nation does. But we also and I think on the Harris-Walz team, as you've seen with President Biden, there's also such a thing as enlightened self-interest. And in that category, strong allies, allies that share our values, that already share a significant economic relationship. We the Harris-Walz team knows that if they're stronger, we in the United States are stronger. And I think you'll see that through and through in a Harris-Walz administration.

NK: The Democrats have already signalled, as you well know, an interest in renegotiating CUSMA, Canada, U.S., Mexico's trade agreement. It's up for renewal on July 21st of 2026. So why should Canadians believe what you're saying that that a Kamala Harris win would be better for its interests?

PM: Well, you're going to see an administration that, while it will strike out on its own, as you've already started to see Vice President Harris and Governor Walz talk about their vision for the future that they want to lead. You'll also have a significant amount of extension of the successes of the Biden administration, which were consequential, to say the least. So, I think the proof is in many respects of what you've seen over the past three and a half plus years. I would argue that the relationship between the United States and Canada has never been stronger. And in terms of trade and revisiting this review was embedded into the agreement. I think the one area in particular that you're going to see a rightful focus is on implications for labour and working families. I'm a largely pro free trader, but we went head over heels into free trade back in the early NAFTA days. I think without understanding the consequences to the American worker. And therefore, you've seen a lot of displacement and a lot of loss. And I think you can have it both ways. I think you can both be largely free trade and at the same time be pro-labor and have policies and support in place to do things like reskill and upskill. You know, our economy is booming right now. There's plenty of new lanes in our economy and there ought to be opportunities for workers if there is displacement, that they can say, you know what, I've got a real honest shot at a second chapter here. And I think we did a poor job of that. And we need to do a much better job of that.

NK: And just before we let you go, Governor, you are in Toronto for the Toronto International Film Festival. You're promoting your state's film and television sector. You were with Bruce Springsteen last night, I hear. How did that go?

PM: It was great. Nothing like the boss in Toronto previewing his world premiere, I should say Road Diary, which is a dynamite film. He's a Jersey icon. He's an American icon. He's a global icon. We are indeed here because of TIFF. And we have a big and growing film and television business. We're also here for other reasons. Great meeting with the Premier. We share a lot of common innovation economy elements. We're in Ottawa, Toronto. I know we're headed to Montreal tonight, so this is a whirlwind, but really, really productive.

NK: Well, Governor, I appreciate your time. Thank you.

PM: Thanks for having me.

CH: Phil Murphy is the governor of New Jersey. He's in Toronto. And you can find that interview on our website CBC.ca/aih.

[Music: Calm instrumental]

Lobster Eater Heimlich

Guest: Christian Moreno

CH: New Hampshire resident Christian Moreno ran into his governor at a community event yesterday, but they didn't have much time to share pleasantries or talk about state issues at first because the governor was busy and Christian was choking on a lobster roll. Fortunately, that blockage was dislodged. So Christian Moreno can speak to us from Nashua, New Hampshire.

NK: Christian, you sing, you design clothes, was choking on a lobster roll how you imagined you'd become famous?

CHRISTIAN MORENO: Not by any meaning of the word. [laughter]

NK: You also work overnights for the U.S. Postal Service. I know you just woke up a short time ago. Was your phone just full of notifications?

CM: Oh, my Lord. I woke up to, I want to say 20 missed calls. I have text messages and Facebook posts and Instagram DMs galore. I mean, it's really surreal.

NK: Before we continue, you sound pretty good, but how are you doing?

CM: You know, if I was doing any better, it'd be illegal. You know, I, after yesterday walked around the seafood festival and, you know, got a couple of snacks, desserts at that point, I was I was pretty full up on entrees. And then I ended up going to work last night.

NK: Okay, a seafood festival is the kind of festival I can definitely get behind. You were there, as was Governor Sununu, but you decided to not just take part in the festival. You wanted to take part in this eating competition. And lobster rolls are on the menu, right? This is your first time you're doing something like this.

CM: This was my first eating competition. And talk about, you know, a dream of a competition with the medium of lobster rolls. I originally emailed them. It's an invite only competition, and they had a slot left and we made it. [laughter]

NK: You got that elite competition slot. Okay. And so, I watched the video and you know, you're going along with the other competitors and then you're clearly choking. But it feels like forever to watch it. I mean, how long was it you're pointing to people telling them what's happening and nobody's paying attention.

CM: I mean, it definitely felt like an eternity. But I mean, all in all, it was, you know, maybe two minutes.

NK: You mean from start to finish you weren't choking for a full two minutes?

CM: Yeah. From start to finish, like, realizing that I was choking, trying to clear it, to actually having it dislodge was about two minutes.

NK: What were you trying to do on your own?

CM: I was just trying to, like, I guess, almost give myself the Heimlich.

NK: Which is possible.

CM: You know, just trying to loosen it without making a big scene. And, you know, evidently, I fell a little short on that goal.

NK: I guess the governor was just offstage or just in the wings and runs up, right?

CM: Honestly, I was looking for anybody because I didn't have my glasses on. So, I was flying absolutely blind just trying to motion. [chuckles]

NK: Oh God. And so, did you. So, without your glasses, you don't know who it is that comes up behind you. What was that moment like when you feel someone get into the Heimlich position and are, they saying anything to you?

CM: So, all I heard him saying was he's choking, he's choking. And then he was behind me the whole time. And so, when he had stepped aside for the paramedics and the paramedic had, you know, successfully dislodged it, I saw the paramedics step to the side and, you know, asked me if I was all right. And I said, you know, as soon as it came up, gone back to eating. And so, the paramedic even like, hey, like, all right, you know, you're going to keep going. And I was like, yeah, I'm good. And then it wasn't until after where my counter was like, Hey, can definitely say, you know, I don't think anyone else has gotten the, you know, the Heimlich from the governor. And then that's when I was just kind of like, what? Like, that was the governor, like, no way. No way. And he was super cool about it. You know, it was very light spirited after the fact. He commended me for, you know, pushing through after the fact and finishing strong.

NK: Well, let me ask because it's good that you clarify there so that Governor Sununu got the process started. But it was a paramedic who finished the job and saved you.

CM: Correct. He was the one that recognized most immediately what was happening. Being that I was not using the universal symbol for I'm choking because I was like trying to clear what was, you know, stuck.

NK: I think it was pretty clear that you were choking. Let me just say that just from watching the video.

CM: Yeah.

NK: I don't know what more you could have done.

CM: I mean, yeah, yeah, you're right.

NK: Maybe at eating competitions, it's a bit harder. Well, so how many lobster rolls were you on when this happened?

CM: So, I was only two rolls in, so I ended up going on to eat seven more after this in the... I don't know 6 or 7 minutes that were left by the time they dislodged it.

NK: I love lobster. I love a lobster roll. But I mean, I don't know that I could have kept going in that situation. The governor had something...

CM: Famous last words before we started, I said, I am going to eat 20. But this was also before they went. And this year we loaded them up more than we ever have. [laughter] So, you know, famous last words, you know, almost choked to death on stage not even five minutes after this. But, you know, we push on.

NK: We push on. And you certainly did. And the governor marvelled at that. We have a clip of Governor Sununu talking about that. Let's play that.

SOUNDCLIP

CHRIS SUNUNU: He went right back to the contest, which I couldn't believe he ate another seven lobster rolls after that, right down the gullet.

NK: Right down the gullet. Right down the gullet. What do you what was the tactical error, do you think you made on the earlier bites?

CM: So, I was having trouble with my posturing because we had these stools that were a little bit taller than table. And so, at first, I was like sitting and I was like, I feel like I'm not at a great angle. And so, then I was standing, but I progressively, in trying to like not drop everything was like hunched over, standing up, eating and then realized I'm not chewing because I'm focusing on how I'm standing or sitting. And so, I had tried to take a sip of water to wash down what I had, and that's when it ended up, you know, really feeling it.

NK: It sounds like you're cultivating a strategy for next time you weren't turned off by this?

CM: No, no. I'll be back with a vengeance.

NK: So, you're not disgusted by the idea of a lobster roll now?

CM: Oh Lord, no.

NK: Yeah, it's hard to hate a lobster roll. I got to say.

CM: It's a New England staple, you know.

NK: My producer is pointing out that New Hampshire slogan seems appropriate here.

CM: Hey, live free or die. I'm fine with that.

NK: I'm glad you're okay, Christian. Thank you.

CM: Thank you so much. I appreciate that.

CH: Christian Moreno got the Heimlich manoeuvre from New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu at the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival yesterday. He's in Nashua, New Hampshire.

[Music: Guitar instrumental]

Carlsbad Caverns Cheetos

CH: Really? Now, if you insist. Sorry, everybody. Apparently, the studio crew recorded me just before the show and they want to play that clip now for some reason. Go ahead, I guess.

SOUNDCLIP

Sounds of Chris munching on Cheetos.

CH: Okay. I mean, this is just my pre-show ritual. I open a bag of Cheetos. What's the big deal? This is how I get in the zone. Can we turn it off? I think we've... Okay. Well, I do only eat two and throw the rest of the bag on the floor. But it's a good luck ritual. And not just for me, but for the raccoons that live in the studio ceiling. They're hungry. They're very angry, and they're very flatulent. Maybe because they're eating stale cheeses all the time. I mean, it is true that cheeses can disrupt a delicate ecosystem. For example, on Friday, Rangers at Carlsbad Caverns National Park put up a Facebook post that included a photo of a bag of Cheetos in one of the caves. Somebody had just dropped it there. What's the big deal? That someone would probably have scoffed, spraying you with a fine mist of orange powder? Well, the Rangers explained, quote, The processed corn softened by the humidity of the cave forms the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi, cave crickets, mites, spiders and flies soon organize into a temporary food web, dispersing the nutrients to the surrounding cave and formations. Moulds spread higher up the nearby surfaces. Fruit die and stink. And the cycle continues. At the scale of human perspective, a spilled snack bag may seem trivial, but to the life of the cave, it can be world changing, unquote. And you know what? I get it. You're right. I'm going to stop doing my ritual. [Raccoons screeching] It'll be fine. I'll bring you something from the farmers market.

[Music: Guitar instrumental]

Part 2: Philippines Pastor Arrest, Hoss Lightning Vigil, N.L. Damage Deposits, Cathy Merrick Obit

Philippines Pastor Arrest

Guest: Richard Heydarian

CH: His followers call him "The Appointed Son of God" and "The Owner of the Universe. The FBI calls Apollo Quiboloy one of their most wanted. And now the Filipino televangelist is in custody after surrendering himself to authorities this weekend. Mr. Quiboloy faces charges related to the sex trafficking of children, fraud, coercion and bulk cash smuggling. He denies all wrongdoing. The 74 year old pastor is the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, a megachurch he claims has millions of followers around the world. Among them, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who had enlisted Mr. Quiboloy as his spiritual adviser. Richard Heydarian is a TV host and a senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines. We reached him in Manila.

NK: Richard, this capture has been years in the making, certainly no small feat. Just give our listeners a sense of what was involved to catch Apollo Quiboloy.

RICHARD HEYDARIAN: Yeah, this was a very surreal situation that would have seemed impossible. I would say even months ago, if someone told you that someone as powerful as the self-proclaimed son of God, this self-styled pastor that some would accuse as being a cult leader rather than a legitimate Christian pastor, and if someone told you that this person could have been apprehended by the officials a few months ago, I would say I'm not very sure about that because you're talking about someone who has well, claims of millions of followers, but at least clearly has tens of thousands of very devoted followers. And, you know, he has been attached at the hip with Duterte, they're kind of the Siamese twins, powerful double kings, some devil. So, the idea of anyone trying to bring this person down or to justice would have seemed impossible.

NK: So, what changed? What made it possible?

RH: Two things happen. Two things. Two important things happened. On one hand, we had this fascinating sets of hearings, Senate hearings, by a very brave, openly feminist and some would argue, the first socialist progressive Philippine senator Risa Hontiveros, who really took up the cudgels for countless numbers of alleged victims of not only the pastor, but also some of the leadership folks in his so-called church. And, you know, these hearings were sensational. They went on for weeks and months until, you know, she called on Quiboloy to show up and he refused. And then it went up to the leadership. And, you know, they issued a warrant of arrest for him. And from there, it was a question of whether Ferdinand Marcos Junior, the president of the republic, would step in in the right direction.

NK: In terms of the operation, the officers involved, how this played out and where he was, where he was caught. Can you give our listeners a sense of that?

RH: Very night of the first night of the operation I interviewed live of the General, Nicholas Tora, who oversees this operation, who was also the police director in Davao city where Quiboloy and the Duterte's are located. And he seemed very anxious. He seemed under a lot of pressure. He was in Bullet-proof uniform. There were three thousand police forces who were deployed. But he was telling me on the record that that's not enough, that he may need 10 thousand, that he may need help from other branches of the armed force of the Philippines, because we're talking about 30 hectares of the compound where this pastor was hiding. And they may have underground tunnels and all sorts of different facilities. That made it very difficult. But more importantly, there were thousands of supporters inside and outside the compound. And the Duterte's including the vice president of the republic, decided they came in and showed support to the supporters of this self-styled pastor, not to mention the mayor of the town of another Duterte was there. The court in Davao also issued its own ruling in order to frustrate. So, you had the policeman who was there, pressure from all sides, but he persevered until eventually they hunted him down.

NK: You mentioned the Duterte's and former President Rodrigo Duterte at the top of that list. Why would he, his daughter, who is the vice president now, why would they have aligned themselves with this person?

RH: Well, this goes back decades. And, of course, well, on the surface at least, Quiboloy is supposed to be their spiritual leader or their personal pastor. But as I said, they're kind of like a Siamese twins, too, because the father, the former president, Rodrigo Duterte, there is the de facto administrator of billions of pesos, if not hundreds of millions of dollars of assets that this self-styled pastor owns. I mean, he has a 30 hectare compound with his own hangar attached almost to the Davao airport. He's a very wealthy man with his own charter plane among the richest religious leaders, perhaps anywhere in the world. Also, the Duterte's also have a financial interest there. But most importantly, there's a political interest here because if Quiboloy seemed as invulnerable, invincible, untouchable just months ago could be hunted down this way despite all the intimidation. Then the Duterte's would think twice about their own potential impunity. Should the International Criminal Court in the coming days or weeks issues as some would expect, a warrant of arrest also for them for their involvement in human rights violations during the terrorist drug war?

NK: Clearly, Quiboloy, just based on what he calls himself, has a very high opinion of himself. But you know what was he preaching to his followers?

RH: Well, I mean, this is a person who started very much like many of other, you know, televangelists, you know, American style, the pastors. And then the next thing you know, this person has so much following, so much wealth, so much political influence. Presidents and senators and everyone flocking to him that at some point he declared himself as the son of God. And after that, some began to think, whether this is a cult leader rather than a legitimate Christian leader. This is a person also wealthy, with his own charter plane going in and out of country. And that's where the Federal Bureau of Investigation came in with their accusation that this person may have been involved in human trafficking. So, for years, this person has been on the wanted list of FBI, but he was untouchable in the Philippines.

NK: And I'll give our listeners a little bit of a background on the U.S. case. It was three years ago that a grand jury in the United States indicted Quiboloy and others in the church on sex trafficking charges, among other charges. That indictment alleges girls as young as 12 years old who worked for him, as what were known as pastorals were forced to devote their lives and bodies to him. And they performed what was called night duty. He has denied these charges. What will happen to him next? Do you expect him to be extradited to the U.S.?

RH: I think that's really the dilemma for President Marcos Junior. His justice secretary just a while ago today said that the U.S. may soon make an extradition request. But, you know, for Marcos Junior, if he allows this to go to the U.S., then he'll be accused. And this is the narrative of Quiboloy to [inaudible] supporters. He will be accused of being essentially America's puppet. And so, there's also a broader geopolitical aspect going on whereby, you know, one camp is saying this is not about justice. This is about a trumped up charges. This is about Marcos backed by the United States, going after independent minded folks like him and Duterte's.

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

RH: My pleasure, as always.

CH: Richard Heydarian is a columnist as well as a senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines. He's in Manila.

[Music: Funky instrumental]

Hoss Lightning Vigil

CH: On the weekend, 150 mourners gathered in a field in Wetaskiwin, Alberta for a candlelight vigil for 15 year old Hoss Lightning of Samson Cree Nation. In the early morning of August 30th, the teenager was fatally shot by two RCMP officers. He had called 911 for help, saying he was being followed by people who wanted to kill him. On Saturday evening, some people held signs and others held photos of Hoss Lightning as an honour song rang through the area behind a pawnshop where the boy was killed. At the vigil, the CBC's Sam Samson spoke to his grandmother, Nadalie Lightning.

SOUNDCLIP

NADALIE LIGHTNING: I've just always had him. You know, I'd go get them and I go take him away from mom. And, you know, he became my baby, too. He was... and he'd phone me every day.

SAM SAMSON: He called you every day.

NADALIE LIGHTNING: Every day.

SAM SAMSON: Would you talk about?

NADALIE LIGHTNING: Things that were going on and he'd tell me he loved me. I heard it every day. He was such a kindhearted person. You know, he knew his culture. He did his Sundance last year. I don't know. I will say we went through a really heart, heartbreaking time these month... What? Nine months?

SAM SAMSON: Can you just share a little bit about like, why do you think culture was important to him?

NADALIE LIGHTNING: It's always is. It's always been a part of us. Even when he was three years old, I remember we had a, we were going to have a wiener roast and they started the fire outside. We're going to, you know, have our we our wiener roast and our marshmallows. And he ran up to it and started smudging. [laughter] He was that boy, you know, and he knew. And he had drums, there's those two that are up there that he made and he yeah, he painted. He would get into his singing and I would tell him [inaudible] just YouTube, you know, you get to know those songs. [laughter].

SAM SAMSON: He wanted to learn more about it. It sounds like.

NADALIE LIGHTNING: Yeah, it was that person he knew to go like this much. And I tell him every day.

SAM SAMSON: You how do you hope this community remembers him then?

NADALIE LIGHTNING: I want them to remember that he was a, he was a hurt little child. He was my hurt baby at the time of this incident. He was hurt. He was just reaching. And he was doing what he thought was right. Right. And you telling me I have my text that told me "[inaudible], come and get me". And, you know, I have to live with that for the rest of my life because I, I didn't hear it at 1:00 in the morning.

SAM SAMSON: He texted you that night?

NADALIE LIGHTNING: Oh. Yeah. And he told me I'm calling the police, just through text. And I just bought him that on the day before. He called 18 times.

SAM SAMSON: He called you 18 times.

NADALIE LIGHTNING: And I was asleep because I work. Right. And I had my phone in the other room charging and I just didn't hear it. So, you know, I'm brokenhearted. I'm brokenhearted.

CH: That was Nadalie Lightning, the grandmother of 15 year old Hoss Lightning, who was shot and killed by Alberta RCMP, talking to reporter Sam Samson in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.

[Music: Techno instrumental]

N.L. Damage Deposits

CH: More than once Jaime Ryan has come close to getting an apartment in St. John's, but each time she's lost out. And she says the sticking point is that she can't provide a damage deposit quickly enough. The reason is she can't get the money from the province's income support program until she signed a lease and no one wants to give her a lease to sign without the deposit. That Catch-22 means she now has nowhere to live. Jaime Ryan spoke to CBC reporter Heather Gillis.

SOUNDCLIP

JAIME RYAN: The system don't work. And it's not just for me. It's for everybody. A lot of people can't speak up. They're nervous about speaking up or they're afraid what's going to happen to them and stuff like that. So, I'm here to speak up on everyone's behalf, not just my own. The thing is, is that when you're looking for an apartment, it's so hard to find one as it is. So, when you do find an apartment, you got 500 people looking at the same apartment. You turn around and anyone that's on social assistance has to have a copy of the lease or whatever to send in so that they can get damage deposit and first month's rent. This could take up to a week and a half to two weeks. I've even waited longer for that to happen because of the way that the system is. I'm after losing four apartments plus a room that I could have rented. There's no landlord out there that's going to commit to signing a lease to you when you got 499 people behind you with cash in hand. They're going to go over to cashes and they're not going to wait. I mean, they have mortgages to pay, they got bills to pay just the same as everybody else. And with the prices of everything now, I mean, nobody's going to wait these two and a half weeks. Right now, I'm homeless as of August 31st. I'm homeless. I'm on the street. There's not even no shelter. Shelters are full. So, you look outside. You pick the best tree, you pick the best spot, you find shelter the best way you can. And I'm not the only one in this situation. This is why most of the homeless people that's around town are homeless because the system is broken.

CH: That was Jaime Ryan talking to CBC reporter Heather Gillis in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

[Music: Guitar instrumental]

Cathy Merrick Obit

Guest: Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak

CH: It's now been three days of heartbroken, disbelieving tributes to Cathy Merrick. Disbelieving because the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Grand Chief died suddenly on Friday after collapsing at a press conference on the steps of the provincial courthouse. Cathy Merrick was the first woman to be elected Grand Chief. Before that, she served the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, first as a councillor and then as Chief. On Saturday, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew described her death as a loss to all Manitobans and announced that Grand Chief Merrick would lie in state at the Manitoba Legislature. Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is the national Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. She was a longtime colleague of Cathy Merrick. We reached her in Ottawa.

NK: National Chief, that the loss of Cathy Merrick is hitting a lot of people right across this country very hard, very deeply. And I wonder how you are dealing with her loss?

CINDY WOODHOUSE NEPINAK: Certainly, I you know, I cleared my schedule yesterday just to mourn with my family and with the many other Chiefs that were here in Manitoba this weekend. And I know that it's impacted the community. It's impacted Manitoba and right across the country, the tributes coming in, it just shows the type of woman that she was. And she was very well loved and respected and she will be missed.

NK: And the fact that she was doing the work that she had always done, you know, advocating for people, for her community. At a press conference on the courthouse steps when this happened, that's part of what has shocked everyone so much, how sudden this was and at such a moment. But what should the fact that she was doing that in some of her final moments tell all of us about her?

CWN: Absolutely. Her heart was for creating a better Canada and speaking out against racism and focusing on issues that relate to First Nations people and trying to find reconciliation through all of that. I know that we hear that word quite often, but you see leaders like her that are really trying. And even though some of the discussions could be very difficult, like when it came to the landfills, for instance, with our women in there, because of her and because of her leadership all Manitobans will be looked for now. And I think that that's a good thing that we challenge ourselves. Are we doing enough as a society? And I think her teaching and her love for that is, are we doing enough for our society? Are we challenging things that are not right even in the justice system, even when you don't get the verdict that you want? And I my deepest condolences to her family, Todd, their sons, her grandchildren who she loved so very much. She was doing what had to be done.

NK: What did she tell you about what drove her to keep speaking out? Keep fighting?

CWN: Her and I in the office. And this was before I was national chief. I was regional chief of Manitoba. And sometimes I remember, sometimes we didn't even know, you know, what to do. Sometimes issues were so tough and we would pray and we would pray together. And I think that that's what drove her. But at the same time, we would speak up about our rights, our treaty rights, the fact that we shouldn't be administering poverty to our own people. She talked about that all the time, that we're administering poverty and it's such an industry. She also spoke so much about trying to make lives better for children and her and I shared that in common together. And she'd always stand with me. And I know that, you know, right now we have big issues on child welfare. And I know that she was a supporter of trying to fix that really broken system as well as for the health care systems in Manitoba that she wanted to change many of that. And I know that we all do. And so, I commend her, her love for her work. And that's what drove her every day, is until things are better in our province and in our country, that's what drove her to work every day.

NK: You are both women in very important leadership positions. She was the first woman elected as Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. What do you think her legacy you know, the kind of message it sends to women across this country, indigenous women in particular?

CWN: Oh, her and I would even walk into rooms and she just had this radiant smile and she really embraced... She was tough. She was gentle, but she would be tough when she had to be. But she could walk in rooms and she always wore her ribbon skirts and she'd smile and she'd hug everyone. She'd give love. But if you, if something had to be said, if there was an elephant in the room somewhere on some hard topic, rest assured she would say it and we're all going to miss that from her. And I think, you know, I think women everywhere looked up to this woman who, you know, we step into these roles that are really male dominated with other leaders. And it's like you go to the, you know, the electorate at the time and it's not a lot of women that are there, other women chiefs. So, I know that it's on the rise. But I think people like her have pressed forward. And look, women have to be asked 11 times to run for an elected seat where they would even consider it, where men are only asked once or twice and they may consider it. And I think that that's changing. And I think people like her that smashed glass ceilings and pillared the way are showing, you know, young women and women in particular of all backgrounds, that it's possible that you just try and work and don't be scared of it.

NK: You mentioned those hugs and hugs come up almost, you know, in every article remembering Cathy Merrick. How would you describe those hugs?

CWN: Just full of love, right? She just, she would just love you. And she was a good friend of mine, and I know that. And if she was mad at someone for you, she would stand with you there. And she would say it outright. And she's just a woman of kindness, but a woman who would speak up and stick up for her friends as well. And I just always remember her for that and her realness, as they say back home, she was a real rez girl, a rez girl in her heart. You know, we're in parliament and they acknowledge me in parliament. And so, I had her come with me and she sat beside me up in the gallery, and I'm sitting there and they announced my name and I kind of didn't know what to do. Maybe I was going to just shake my hand. She hits me on the arm hard to stand up. And that was my true friend, you know. And so, we stood up together and it was a beautiful moment. But we are going to miss her so much.

NK: National Chief, I'm very sorry for your loss, but I'm grateful for your time. Thank you.

CWN: Thank you.

CH: Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. We reached her in Ottawa.

[Music: Meditative instrumental]

Part 3: Mini Update: Ont. Archaeology, Monfalcone Cricket Ban, Montreal Tour Guides, Glovertown Backyard Bear, Bolton Striker Sneeze

Mini Update: Ont. Archaeology

CH: Last Friday, we told you about artefacts, some of them thousands of years old, that had been discovered in Ontario and subsequently stored in boxes, thrown in landfills or even sold online. That's because under a Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism guidelines, it's up to the archaeologists who unearth artefacts to store them, which has caused a host of problems. Most of the artefacts belong to indigenous peoples. We talked to the chief of the Alderville First Nation, Taynar Simpson, who one of the signatories of an open letter asking the ministry to ensure relics are treated in culturally appropriate ways. Here's part of what Chief Simpson told Nil about how these items should be cared for.

SOUNDCLIP

TAYNAR SIMPSON: So, in First Nations culture, we would likely be feasting the important artefacts. We would be, regularly smudging them, and we would be housing the most important ones in, culturally appropriate manner. And whereas the other artefacts may be, lithic, so the arrowheads, pottery shards, like those could be presented to the public, the community. And, maybe they could come in and look at them and we could use that as some sort of cultural, teachings.

CH: We asked the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism to comment, and now it has. It sent a statement that reads in part, "the ongoing work of heritage modernization and any proposed changes to provincial requirements for archaeological collections will continue to follow a transparent and efficient process that involves Indigenous communities, archaeologists and heritage sector stakeholders".

[Music: Electronic beats]

Monfalcone Cricket Ban

Guest: Sani Bhuyan

CH: If you want to play cricket in Monfalcone, Italy, you'll have to head to the city limits and then just keep going. Mayor Anna Maria Cisint recently banned the game, citing concerns around space, the money to build a new pitch and the danger that cricket balls pose to the public. But on top of that, she says, cricket isn't Italy's sport. So, anyone who wants to play it can go somewhere else to do it. About a third of the three hundred thousand people living in Monfalcone are foreign. Many came from Bangladesh in the late 1990s to find work in the booming shipbuilding industry. And this ban on cricket has come to symbolize deep seated racial tensions. Sani Bhuyan is a Bangladeshi Democratic city councillor in Monfalcone. That's where we reached him.

NK: Sani, if you were describing the popularity of cricket in Monfalcone, how would you do that? How popular is it?

SANI BHUYAN: In Monfalcone there are 30 per cent of immigrants. So, you know, this sport is from very much played in Asia. So, cricket is the most popular sport here in Monfalcone.

NK: So, given that and given this ban, how are people reacting specifically people in the Bangladeshi community?

SB: They're feeling very sad because of this ban. This is started from when this right wing mayor come and she started to doing this type of discrimination with everything and last, with this cricket ban like she is not give any space to play this sport.

NK: And people are still playing but they have to go to the outskirts of town, right?

SB: Yes. Other municipalities, other cities, other small towns, they're giving us places. But we're so many people and they are contributing for economics and everything. And here this the way they leave, the mayor, don't give us this place, you know.

NK: The mayor you mentioned was telling BBC News that she feels this ban is necessary because in her view, cricket isn't Italy's sport and that the country's, quote, "history is being erased", that, quote, "everything is changing for the worse". Again, that's the mayor of Monfalcone speaking to BBC News. What do you hear when you hear those comments?

SB: I feel very, very sad because now we are in 2024 and cricket become the Olympic sports in the perception of, according to the mayor cricket is not the Italian games is ridiculous for me. And second thing that so many sports like baseball or others think they are not part of Italian culture. So many sports they do practice and they do have like space to play because of only this is mostly played by Asians and most mostly played by Bangladeshi. And this is one of the consequences and one of the discriminating thing, the disrespecting thing she can do for this reason she is saying these things. This is only her perception. So, yeah, I'm absolutely not agree with her with this point of view.

NK: So, people are playing all kinds of other sports in these spaces?

SB: Yeah, yeah, yeah. People have baseball, basket and other things that they're doing, every other type of sports, but only, only cricket banned because the most, this sport is mostly played by Asians. Like there are so many other things. This is the one of the consequences. And one of the things that she is trying to like figure out to get her visibility for my opinion.

NK: You think she's trying to get attention.

SB: Yes. Yes.

NK: What other types of discrimination are people facing in your view?

SB: Monfalcone is a small town. There are at least two thousand people who live there. So, 30 per cent of population is migrant workers. So, they come here for work. And most of the time... And as you know, the Italy government, they need migrant workers. So, they invited this worker. And when they come there, there are no minimum wage. So, most of the time they pay as low as possible. And the second thing, she banned Muslims to pray in cultural centres. The court gave us the permission so they lose this in front of a court.

NK: It's obviously difficult and powerful when someone in the mayor's chair does and says things such as this. But what about other people in the community who are not Bangladeshi how are they reacting? Are they supporting her or are they supporting you?

SB: There are lots of people like if I can say this type of discrimination does not support everyone. There are so many Italians, they support us. Two weeks before we organized a tournament cricket tournament nearby. So yeah, there are so many people were supporting us, but only this type of mentality who are right wing politicians and only this side, not side there never was this type of racism or discrimination or banning things. Only here in Monfalcone I think this is only, the only reason is that the mayor wanted to get visibility and she is doing this type of thing.

NK: So, what will you as a city councillor, but also, you know, the people you represent and people in the Bangladeshi community, what is everyone planning to do?

SB: We've already offered the mayor that we as a community we can raise fund to create resources if they want, but they do not want to hear about this type of proposal, you know.

NK: So, you're offering, the community is offering to raise money to build its own facility?

SB: Yes. Yes, absolutely.

NK: Which is interesting in and of itself. But the mayor's office is rejecting that idea. So, what does that suggest to you?

SB: This type of arrogance from the mayor's office and that is incredible. She don't want to give a solution. See only see her point of view and that's it. She already stated in media and so many other parts that if we don't want to if this thing's not good for us, we can return in our country is very, very, very, very, very sad. If you know in Monfalcone they're constructing on of the biggest ship cruise ship here on Monfalcone. It's about a one ship is cost about 7 to 800 million euro when it's time to build this difficult type of work. There are so many Italians they won't do it. They don't want to do this type of work. No. So when it's time to call the migrant workers, they come. But when it's time to recognize their rights, minimum rights, such as prayers, such as schools and such as like playing cricket, this is a silly thing when they take time to recognize the right that they don't recognize our rights. This is the problem.

NK: Sani, I appreciate your time. Please take care.

SB: Thank you very much.

CH: Sani Bhuyan is a Democratic city councillor in Sani Bhuyan, Italy.

[Music: Fantasy instrumental]

CH: If it were up to me, I would just have put this story back in the closet. But you keep hauling it back out and turning it back on to run over a different ground. Last week we told you about a college student in India who had designed the world's smallest vacuum cleaner. It's so small that it fits in the palm of your hand. And I said it didn't sound all that useful. But now I wish I could vacuum up my words. Because since then, you've been calling in to point out some very valid, possible uses. And this time it's personal. Almost disturbingly personal. Over the weekend, Gwynne Sykes of Victoria, B.C., wrote to say, quote, "Using hearing aids, I had become aware of an earwax removal service that actually employs tiny suction devices, vacuums, to remove your wax. On my bucket list to try", unquote. Admittedly, I had not thought of that potential use. And Gwynne, please forward your entire bucket list. I'm very, very curious about it now. And that was not the only message that we got about tiny vacuums and personal hygiene.

SOUNDCLIP

DIANE DOAN: [Voicemail tone] It's Diane Doan phoning from Halifax. I was inspired to phone because of the comments that people made about the vacuum, the tiny vacuum and I have another use for the vacuum. I actually have an electrical nose hair clipper, a battery operated nose hair clipper, and after I clip hairs in the nose, then I have to blow my nose with the Kleenex, all that get all that out. So, you could instead of that, you could. I could, after clipping the nose hairs, then I could use a vacuum stick vacuum in there and that would suck up any loose nose hairs. I think the idea has merit.

CH: Certainly, does have merit. Diane, thank you for calling in. And, you know, thanks to everyone who's been offering up their big ideas about tiny vacuums.

[Music: Upbeat instrumental]

Montreal Tour Guides

Guest: Michel Ménard

CH: From its historic old town, to St Joseph's oratory, to Mount Royal itself, to bagels. There's a lot to see and do and eat in Montreal, and a lot of people willing to help you see and do and eat it for a fee. And until now, those people have mostly been licensed. The idea being that you, the visitors, should be assured some level of expertise in exchange for your dollars. But now the city is considering relaxing its tour guide certification process. Michel Ménard is the president of the Montreal Professional Tourist Guides Association. He has been a licensed tour guide since 2011, and we reached him in Montreal.

NK: Michel, the idea of dropping these regulations, the certification for Montreal tour guides has come up before. As you well know, Quebec City has had the same debate. Why do you think it's coming up again now?

MICHEL MENARD: We actually don't know. That's the weird thing about that. It hasn’t been asked by anyone. We asked basically last year to the city if they could enforce the law a little bit because it hadn't been since the early 90s. And because now with the Internet there's more and more company offering tours or individual people offering tours on an easier way than before. Nobody want that. So, we were kind of surprised when they're the city came with this train, especially after they have got idea and recommendation on how to improve the thing to modify the law.

NK: When we talk about limited budgets. And Montreal certainly has concerns about its limited funds. Is policing tour guides really the best use of those funds?

MM: I think so, because the number of tourists is increasing year after year since, well, at least since I've been guiding 15, 14 years ago. And now there's a big rate of approbation by the population in Montreal about tourism itself. And compared to other cities like it in [inaudible] for example, where it's not as well seen, you know. So, in the end, if it's a free for all, that could become a problem. So that's for one thing. We're 150, 170 guides right now, a license guides that pay a license to the city every year. So already there we send to the city 18 thousand dollars a year. I know it's not a full time salary, but we're not asking for a full time agent either. It's just some spot check here and there during the summer that would make people aware that it exists. You know that it's applied. Like the police would be on the highway. You know, it's not always there, but we know that they can be there with a radar so people don't drive at 180. So, I think overall for the city, it will be profitable.

NK: What are some examples of what you see and hear unlicensed tour guides in Montreal doing that you're so worried about?

MM: You know, the tour guide in Montreal, licensed tour guide. We have the ethical code, we have also information about how to move in the city, how to place our group when we get somewhere, how to not maybe not bring, I don't know, 20 people in front of a home in stay there, you know, three times a day. For example, or to change things like that, so it's not as heavy on the population. I mean, if you block the entrance of a store, a popular store that sells bagel without going in. Well, eventually people, the population living around might get mad or angry about tourists.

NK: Yeah, you're trying to make sure that Montrealer’s have a good relationship with tourists as well. So, the industry can...

MM: Yeah. And it goes with the circulation also. And you know, Montreal you know, many streets are not open to buses, for example, because they're too narrow. And we seen, you know, we just tour the look of the city... For example, we cannot go in front of Notre-Dame Basilica with a bus, the street is close to the buses. But we can see a bus that don't have any licensed guide on board parking almost in front of Notre-Dame Basilica to get their group out of there or even see making a U-turn on the narrow street by going closer to a historical building and on the sidewalk.

NK: The course to become a guide in Montreal comes with a cost. It's two thousand dollars. We've heard that can be difficult to get into. Then there's the annual fee that you talked about. That's a hundred and five dollars. What do you say to those who argue that those are barriers for people to enter this field and are making it inaccessible, to closed off?

MM: Yeah, it's an investment. I mean, like in any other thing, of course, it's... they pay two thousand when you start working, you'll be reimbursing at within a month. And even for the license itself, I mean it's one tour and it's done, so I don't see it as so much. And it's like any anything. I mean, I can be very good with electricity, but if I don't have the professional paper, I cannot make electricity in the house. I know there's [inaudible] there. It's not necessarily exactly a good analogy but the same thing, you have to follow a class to do that. There could be measure after that may be to get have some funding or something from foundation to help maybe people...

NK: You know when we talk about this time of, you know everyone has a smartphone. Most people have smartphones or they're researching before they come. A lot of people prefer to do that and then just wonder on their own, what do you say to people who say licensed or unlicensed, I don't really need a guide.

MM: Well, that's perfectly fine. But it's funny to see that those trying the phone right now, iPhone and all that, that number of, the percentage of tourists taking a tour is actually increasing. That's what I read recently in a tourism paper on that. So, it's actually increasing there because the guide bring you something different, more personal, I think. But if they want to go by their own, I don't take a tour myself in every city I go, so why not.

NK: I know you and your colleagues are set to meet with city officials again about this. How are you feeling about the chances that you'll get them to do what you want them to do on this?

MM: Honestly, I'm... So, I'm kind of... how to say baffled with this, is that the right word? [NK: Yeah]. So, I would say yeah, 50/50 because I just don't know what's going on in their mind like that. And the reason they don't want to apply it itself.

NK: Michel, thank you for your time.

MM: You're welcome.

CH: Michel Ménard is the president of the Montreal Tour Guides Professional Association. We reached him in Batiscan River Park, Quebec.

[Music: Electric guitar instrumental]

Glovertown Backyard Bear

CH: I'm sure Alisa Watkins appreciated the effort. It just didn't turn out to be all that helpful. Ms. Watkins had hung her laundry out to dry on her clothesline in Glovertown, Newfoundland and Labrador. And that afternoon she saw that someone was taking her towels down for her. Great, but he wasn't folding them up neatly and putting them away. He was just rolling around in them. Which is what happens when your laundry assistant is a bear.

SOUNDCLIP

ALISA WATKINS: The little guy has been around now. He was around the previous day and then yesterday decided to make another appearance for the better part of the afternoon. You know, he's the cutest little thing. Right. But of course, with any wild animal, you have to be... they're cute at a distance. But yeah, he was... I was here, and I... Of course, the day yesterday warranted my windows to be all open. So, it was... I had just come in from outside in the garden doing a few things, and it was pretty quiet in the house. And with the windows open I heard a sound. And I said, in my mind I thought, I wonder, is that the bear back again today? And I said, I must go and look out the window now. And sure enough, here he was back again. And so, he was pulling my towels off the line. You saw him, he was having a grand old frolic in my towels rolling around on the ground. And he playfully jumped up and proceeded to pull off my other towel. So, he wandered around the garden. And I guess after having his playtime, he decided it was snack time and he decided to have a little lunch on the dog berries. So, he was really loving the dog berries on the trees.

KRISSY HOLMES: Sounds like a helpful little bear.

AW: [laughter] So like I said, he was just so adorable. I called... I preceded... Since he was around for two days in the area in my backyard. I called wildlife. So, we have a trap, the guy brought trap there last evening.

KK: I mean, it looks like a very young bear...

AW: The wildlife, the guy really nice guy came by last night with the trap and I showed him the video and he said it looks like last year's cub. So he was, he seemed to be okay with trapping that one. Right. And taking it away because he, I think he was afraid, you know, you wouldn't want to trap this year's cub and then to have the mama bear missing her cub. So, we expected maybe too, maybe would be tempted by the trap there last night, the treats in the trap. But we didn't get him yet. But the last two days, now two consecutive days, he's been here in the afternoon. So maybe he's napping in the morning. Maybe I'll come by again this afternoon. Maybe if I put out some more laundry, [laughter] he'll come by.

CH: That's Alisa Watkins of Glovertown, Newfoundland and Labrador, talking to Krissy Holmes, host of On the Go.

[Music: Upbeat instrumental]

Bolton Striker Sneeze

CH: As the old saying goes, don't bite off more than you can ah-choo. Victor Adeboyejo is a striker for the Bolton Wanderers. That's a League One English football club in the Greater Manchester area. And recently he was forced to sit out a game due to a painful injury, which was a bummer because he's a key player for the Wanderers. So of course, fans were wandering why, and manager Ian Evatt stepped in with some answers. He explained that an incident took place after a fraught challenge during a match, saying, quote, He was okay at the time, but then he had a pretty hefty sneeze. Victor is a powerful boy and even his sneezes are powerful, unquote. Now, I'm not going to make light of sneeze related injuries, stifled sneezes in particular, been known to cause some serious damage, though typically to the throat or ears, not to the back and ribcage, as was the case with Mr. Adeboyejo. So, we will wish him well and hope that the team can find something to make their strong striker go weaker in the sneeze.

[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 09, 2024

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