Zoomer Week In Review

Last year Canadians donated $18 billion to charity and this is the time of year when many of us plan our year-end giving. How can you know if the causes you support are actually making a difference? Charity Intelligence is out with its annual ranking of the organizations that make the biggest impact for every dollar donated. Libby Znaimer spoke with Greg Thomson. AND It’s a given that failure can lead to dramatic life changes and sometimes those changes can be very positive. Radio host and prolific author Terry O’Reilly recounts how some of the biggest breakthroughs and best-loved products originated with a mistake. Libby Znaimer talked to him about his new book, My Best Mistakes, Epic Fails, and Silver Linings.

It was a defining moment in labour negotiations in Ontario this past week. Amid growing support for CUPE education workers, and poll numbers suggesting he was to blame, did Doug Ford blink and back down by rescinding Bill 28? We reached Dr. Simon Black, associate professor of labour studies at Brock University, about these unprecedented turn of events. AND Calgary-based writer Suzette Mayr has won this year’s Scotiabank Giller Prize for her novel The Sleeping Car Porter. This is Mayr’s sixth novel that tells the story of a Black man in 1929 who works as a sleeping-car porter on a train that travels across the countrywhile living a secret life as a gay man. It brings to life an important part of Black history. Mayr is a past president of the Writers' Guild of Alberta, and has been teaching creative writing at the University of Calgary since 2003. We reached her hours after her big $100,000 win.

An Alberta mother of the last Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan has been chosen as this year's Silver Cross Mother. Candy Greff will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Remembrance Day, placing it on behalf of all mothers who have lost children to the service of Canada. Her son, Master Corporal Byron Greff, was killed in a suicide bombing in October of 2011 becoming the 158th Canadian soldier to die in the country and the last before Canada's mission there ended in 2014. We reached this year’s Silver Cross Mother, Candy Greff. AND How was your sleep last night? We changed the clocks back an hour overnight, ending daylight saving time in Ontario. According to experts, some people will experience a shock to their bodies' internal clock much like the jet lag after flying across time zones. It’s a tradition that first began in Ontario in 1918 and remains controversial. We reached Dr. Patricia Lakin Thomas, professor of biology at York University, whose research includes our circadian rhy

There is always a lower turnout for municipal elections than for the higher levels of government but Monday’s races set a record low. In Toronto, voter turnout was 28.58%. In Mississauga and Brampton, it was less than 25%. Across the province, just 34%. John Beebe of The Democratic Engagement Exchange tells Libby Znaimer that’s bad news for all of us! AND Salt is essential for preserving, fermenting and transforming food. We need it to maintain health and it has been used since ancient times. "The Miracle of Salt" charts some of its history and the different ways it’s used around the world. Libby talked with author Naomi Duguid.

INFLATION  This week was all about inflation - especially in the cost of food. Are the large grocers passing on legitimate increases in their own costs or are they using it as an excuse to price gouge? In the House of Commons politicians of all stripes voted unanimously to investigate so-called "Greedflation". Libby Znaimer asked left-wing economist Jim Stanford for his take on the evidence.  MODERN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY Modern medical technology can extend our lives in ways that would have been unimaginable just decades ago. But it can also leave patients in the grey zone between life and death robbing them of important human moments at the end. Libby Znaimer talked to ICU doctor and former paramedic Blair Bigham about his book; Death interrupted : How Modern medicine is Complicating the way We Die. 

Municipal elections are less than two weeks away and a lot of people in Toronto are frustrated. There is a sense of a city that has given up trying to manage and co-ordinate and deliver the basics while we are in the midst of a tremendous growth spurt. That growth seems to be the justification for dirty streets, overflowing garbage cans, year-old potholes, abandoned construction equipment blocking traffic lanes, the stench of overflowing sewage invading a neighbourhood. Earlier this week, Libby Znaimer moderated the first of only two mayoral debates, and she asked the five candidates how they would actually improve this and get things done. You’ll hear incumbent John Tory, followed by Urbanist Gil Penalosa, analyst Chloe Brown, entrepreneur Jack Yan and activist Sarah Climenhage. AND It’s an extension of the farm to table movement and the embrace of local food. Many people are embracing an age-old pastime that takes us into the forests - foraging. A new book explores the mysteries of mycology. Libby Znaimer

The now disbanded Ontario Science Advisory Table has released a final report that focuses on the response to the pandemic by family doctors and nurses. It’s recommending a team based approach would better serve patients and help address the alarming number of Ontarians without a family doctor. There are currently 1.8 million without a family physician and 1.7 million have a doctor who is 65 or older. We reached one of the authors of the brief, Dr. Kamila Premji, from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine. AND This Thanksgiving will mark the first big fall gathering for many since the pandemic began as restrictions are lifted. But Thanksgiving dinner will come with a hefty price tag for Canadians this year as dinner staples increased by as much as 26 percent. With fewer discounts out there than previous years, how will families adjust their special meal? We reached nutritionist and author Rose Reisman

As the cold months approach, snowbirds will have a lot more to consider this coming winter as the price of accommodation, groceries and dining out have all risen. Many are opting for shorter trips south, and looking at different destinations as a result. And it’s not only travel to the U.S. that will be impacted as travellers will notice the effects of inflation wherever they go. Add into the mix, hurricanes. We reached travel expert Steven Fine, president of Snowbird Adviser. AND It’s “sweater weather” and the vibrant Fall colours are arriving with Ontario offering stunning views that are perhaps among the best in Canada. While apple picking and taking in the fall colours have always been quintessential fall activities .. if you’re looking to add a bit more adventure this fall, we reached Kevin Forget from Destination Ontario. And who better to give staycation tips. Kevin’s twitter profile reads "My job is to tell you about all of the cool things to do in Ontario"!

How many times have you heard people underestimate the seriousness of their chronic condition with a statement like, "It's just arthritis"? Arthritis is not rare, it plagues 1 in 5 Canadians and it is not an inevitable part of aging. To learn more, Libby Znaimer sat down with Trish Barbato President and CEO of The Arthritis Society. AND We often feel a deep sense of loss when someone we admire dies and many of us feel the need to pay tribute whether we knew the person or not. This week, hundreds of thousands of people lined up for hours to pay respects to the Queen and closer to home thousands turned out to honour murdered Constable Andrew Wong - although he was not a household name. What is behind these expressions of public grief? Libby talked with Dr. Darcy Harris, a professor from the Department of Thanatology, which is the scientific study of death, at King’s University College at Western University.

Along with three other former Prime Ministers and other dignitaries, the Right Honourable Jean Chretien will be part of Canada’s delegation to the Queen’s funeral tomorrow. He knew her for more than 50 years and he shared some of his memories with Libby Znaimer. AND Food is all about comfort and connection and that may be more true than ever over the next few weeks. Many of us will be hosting the first in person holidays since Covid with Jewish High Holidays and Thanksgiving around the corner. Bestselling cookbook author Bonnie Stern is promising that she has done all the worrying for us in her new book: “Don’t Worry, Just Cook!”

This week the Ford government unveiled measures designed to take pressure off the healthcare system. Meanwhile, most people don’t know about one innovation that has been in place for more than a year and a half. The major Toronto hospitals have banded together to offer a Virtual Emergency Deparment. Emergency may be a bit of a misnomer because it is to be used to address urgent but not life-threatening conditions. Libby Znaimer got the details from Dr. Justin Hall, Deputy Chief of the Emergency Department at Sunnybrook Health Sciences. You can access the online portal at torontovirtualed.ca AND Salman Rushdie was greeted with thunderous applause at a Toronto PEN gala back in 1992. It was a momentous occasion that helped him emerge from hiding following Ayatollah Khomeini’s death threat against him. Then premier, Bob Rae, was one of the first politicians to meet and greet Rushdie publicly, appearing on stage with him . Libby spoke to Ambassador Rae after the horrific attack on Rushdie last week.

It’s being called a mass exodus: at least 7 Toronto City Councillors aren’t running again and with a week left to register only 85 people are running for the 25 seats. Why is the job undesirable and could the answer be recruiting Zoomers? Libby Znaimer talked with the man known as the tiny perfect mayor, former mayor David Crombie. AND Happy Wife Happy Life! It’s an old old saying we’ve all heard and probably some have lived it. But does it have validity in keeping a relationship together? Professor Matthew Johnson of the University of Alberta tested it with the tools of social science.

It’s a breathtaking new way to see one of the natural wonders of the world. Niagara Parks Power Station just opened its new attraction, The Tunnel. You start with a look at a century old power station before descending 180 feet beneath the main generating floor. The tunnel takes you along the same path travelled by water and leads you to a viewing platform with a spectacular new perspective. Libby Znaimer got a tour from Kim Viney Niagara Parks’ VP of Business development. AND Canada’s premier tennis event is fully back for the first time since 2019 and it comes as our country is establishing itself as a tennis powerhouse. Libby talked with Tennis Canada President and CEO Michael Downey.

It’s likely that you, a loved one, or a friend suffers from chronic pain — especially in the lower back. Researchers at McGill University and scientists from Italy conducted a study that suggests blocking inflammation after injury might make that pain chronic, challenging the standard approach to treating pain. One of those who worked on it was Jeffrey Mogil, psychology professor at McGill. AND August 1st is the Civic holiday in Ontario but did you know it's also Emancipation Day in Canada? It's due to Rosemary Sadler. As president of the Ontario Black History Society, from 1993 through 2015, she advocated for Canada's Black history and the eventual designation of August 1st as Emancipation Day just last year. Does the author of seven books on the subject, and recipient of the Order of Ontario for her contributions, feel Black children are still facing the same issues she did when she was young?

This week learned that at 8.1%, inflation has hit a 39 year high. As if we wouldn’t have known that from buying groceries and filling the gas tank. Galloping inflation is especially hard on people on fixed incomes. But rising interest rates can be good news for your portfolio and are making products like annuities more attractive. The Longevity Pension Fund is only a year old and bills itself the world's first income-for-life mutual fund for Canadian retirees. Libby Znaimer talked with Fraser Stark of Purpose Investments AND Every day, 48 Canadians die and 634 are hospitalized because of falls. It’s the leading cause of injury deaths, hospitalizations, emergency department visits and disabilities in Canada. Especially for older people. It was shocking to learn that Ivana Trump died from a fall in her apartment at the age of 73. A spilled coffee cup was found beside her body. Libby turned to falls prevention expert Dr. Geoff Fernie, for some practical tips.

Last week’s massive Rogers outage left more than 12 million Canadians without access to everything from the internet to emergency services and banking. The government is demanding a plan to ensure it won’t happen again. Author and pollster Darrell Bricker says the fallout goes beyond communications and points to a wider breakdown of the basics. AND It’s a completely new way to view what aging is. Instead of a relatively short, unhealthy period of decline, aging now becomes a positive time of life – much longer, and with plenty of scope for personal development, accomplishment, and fulfillment. Libby Znaimer talks to author and Zoomer Media VP, David Cravit, about his new book.

Conservative activist Tasha Kheiriddin went to Calgary during the Stampede to launch her book which offers a prescription on how to unite the deeply divided party. But the disqualification of Patrick Brown has overshadowed all aspects of the leadership race and thrown the fundamental questions into high relief: will the Conservative party of Canada choose populism or the moderate centre? Will Canadians accept it as a viable alternative to the Liberals? Libby Znaimer reached Tasha Kheiriddin in Calgary. AND It’s a stunning life-saving achievement! A study published in the Lancet Infectious Disease estimates that COVID-19 vaccines helped reduce the global death toll by 63% during the first year they became available. That adds up to 20 million lives saved. I reached Dr. Oliver watson at Imperial College London.

Air Canada is canceling dozens of daily flights in an attempt to alleviate the chaos at our airports. The move will see more than 9,500 flights, or 154 per day on average, dropped from the airline’s schedule, and it will affect about 400,000 passengers. The flights are mainly domestic and Canada-U.S. routes out of Toronto and Montreal. What does it mean for your holiday? Libby Znaimer talked with travel expert Vivian Vassos, Executive Editor of Zoomer Magazine. AND For more than 2 decades, neurologist and medicinal chemist Donald Weaver has been pursuing a novel approach to Alzheimer’s Disease. He believes it is actually an auto-immune disease and that theory has now won him the silver Oskar Fischer Prize, worth US$400,000. Libby talked to him about his research.

This week brought more tragedy for the victims of drunk driver Marco Muzzo. Edward Lake, father of the three children who were killed with their grandfather, died by suicide. That prompted a petition signed by thousands to remove the Muzzo name from a hospital building. It’s part of a larger controversy over the rights to naming rights. Libby Znaimer reached Prof. David Soberman of the Rotman School of Management to discuss. AND “Creature Comforts” is a new VisionTV series that explores the elevation of pets to full family members. More than 50% of Canadians own pets and Zoomers say their animal companions help them enjoy life and feel loved. Libby talked with the show’s creator Erin Oakes.

Canada’s Jewish Immigrant Aid Services has been supporting refugees to this country for a remarkable 100 years, an anniversary marked this week here at the Zoomerplex. June 20th is World Refugee Day and this year it carries more significance as beleaguered Ukrainian refugees crossed their nation's border to various destinations including Canada. Ukraine has the fastest growing refugee crisis since the second world war and the numbers are growing. Whether it’s this crisis or others, JIAS has welcomed newcomers forced to flee their homeland. Elise Herzig, herself the daughter of an immigrant, is executive director Jewish Immigrant Aid Services, Toronto. AND There’s an urgent call for more blood donors as demand is back amid the smallest donor base in a decade. And officials warn it’s not sustainable. In fact, Canadian Blood Services needs to find another 100-thousand donors over the next year. That number is more than double that which currently donate on a regular basis. Rachel Solomon is development manage