BC Today

The Paris 2024 Olympics are officially underway. We bring the highlights from the opening ceremony and ask if listeners plan to watch the Games. Next, wedding season is in full swing, but what are the modern etiquette standards? We are joined by Charles MacPherson, etiquette expert and author of "The Butler Speaks; and Maureen Brown, wedding coordinator and owner of Emerald Events in Surrey. We take callers' wedding etiquette questions about what to do — and what not to do — at weddings this year.

Officials say they are seeing structural damage to 30-50 per cent of Jasper, Alta., after a wildfire roared through the community late Wednesday. Our first guest is Phil Burton, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at the University of Northern British Columbia, to explain what is happening with the wildfire in Jasper. Next, we hear from Shirley Bond, MLA for the Prince George-Valemount area, on her fond memories of Jasper National Park. Then, we're joined by Mike Nash. He's an avid hiker who was planning to do a backpacking trip in the Park and cancelled due to the heat. He's the author of “Outdoor Safety and Survival in British Columbia's Backcountry” We take calls from our audience with reactions to seeing the destruction in the national park and its townsite, and memories of the Park and its natural beauty.

Two members of the Canadian women's soccer team are being sent home and have been removed from the Olympic team after allegedly using drones to record New Zealand practices. To start the episode, we speak with CBC Special Analyst Shireen Ahmed to gain an understanding of what this incident means for sports and Team Canada. Then, we speak with former Team Canada soccer player Carrie Serwetnyk, and we take your calls. Does this incident taint your excitement to watch Canada perform in the Games? In our second half, we talk more about the changing summers amid wildfire season. We'll hear how to hike and camp with safety in mind. with guest Sandra Riches, Executive Director of BC AdventureSmart.

Thousands of Jasper residents, and visitors to Jasper National Park have been forced to flee due to a wildfire evacuation order. Ontario resident Stephanie Goertz tells us about she and her family's evacuation from Jasper; CBC reporter Liam Britten joins us from Kamloops; and Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell joins us to talk about wildfire's impact on B.C. tourism. Then, we talk with U.B.C. Sauder School of Business marketing teacher Tim Silk about the pros and cons of a cashless society. We ask listeners to call us about whether it should be mandatory for vendors to accept cash.

More than 300 wildfires are burning in the province after a volatile weekend. We hear an update from B.C. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma, and Dr. Sarah Henderson, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. Then, President Joe Biden has dropped out of the U.S. presidential race, endorsing his vice-president, Kamala Harris. Guest Andy Hira, Simon Fraser University political science department chair and professor.

We begin the program discussing the massive tech outage causing chaos for travel, health care, banking and business. Our guests explain why this happened, how the outage is affecting British Columbians, and what to do about it. We are joined first by technology analyst Carmi Levy, then by air travel expert Pamela Kwiatkowski, and lastly, Mark Ting, CBC's "On the Coast" personal guide to finance. In our second half of the program, gardening columnist Brian Minter joins us to answer your questions, and discusses drought-resistant plants to beat the hot, dry summer in B.C.

New U.S. border rules for dogs are causing headaches for vets and owners. We speak with U.S. immigration lawyer Leo Saunders, and Maple Ridge veterinarian Dr. Adrian Walton to explain the new regulations and what this will mean for dog guardians and their companion animals. Next: What is your favourite hike in B.C.? We are joined by backpacking expert Taryn Eyton, author of "Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia" and "Backpacking on Vancouver Island', and take your calls to discover some hidden (and not-so-hidden) best hiking spots in the province.

The entire hour brings to the forefront a discussion on B.C.'s child welfare services within the Ministry of Children and Family Development, after a new report entitled "Don't Look Away" was published by Jennifer Charlesworth, the Representative for Children and Youth. The report calls for an overhaul of child protection services, and for a system wide change that includes more accountability for child welfare workers and more agency for children and First Nations. First we hear from Cheryl Casimer, who is a First Nations Summit Political Executive, and a member of the First Nations Leadership Council. Second, we speak with Kishone Roy, Executive Director of The Federation of Community Social Services of B.C., to address staffing shortages of social workers in the province.

We start with a severe storm in Toronto including the Don Valley parkway and Union Station that caused widespread power outages and flooding. Next, we hear about an agreement between B.C. and Alberta ending a ban on shipping B.C. wine directly to consumers in Alberta. In our second half we talk to CBC's Missy Johnson about her column with On The Coast about modern dating, and take listener calls on what it's like to date in 2024.

We discuss the ramifications of the attempted assassination of former U.S. president and presumed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump with guest Maxwell Cameron, UBC political science professor. And then, Lime E-scooters will begin operating in Vancouver this summer. We hear from Vancouver city councillor Sarah Kirby-Jung and Reena Meijer Drees, Walker's Caucus, and our audience's response.

CBC reporter Michelle Ghoussoub updates us on major cancellations at BC ferries' Horseshoe Bay terminal. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is calling for expanded safe supply, but faces stiff political opposition. Our guest Sonia Furstenau, B.C. Green Party leader, tells us why she is in favour of adopting Dr. Henry's recommendations. Then we meet ventriloquist Don Bryan and talk about his life and career. CBC's science and climate specialist bravely volunteers to be a human puppet.

We hear the latest from CBC reporter Yasmine Ghania, and Bowinn Ma, B.C.'s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, on the wildfire situation in the province. Then, the province says it will implement a steering committee's suggestions on overdose responses at B.C. post-secondary institutions. We speak with Lisa Beare, B.C.'s Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, and Izzy Easton, University of Victoria Students' Society Director of Campaigns and Community Relations. And, talk about the right and wrong ways to interact with wild animals with our guests wildlife photographer Brandon Broderick, and Nadia Xenakis, Specialist, Wild Animal Welfare, BC SPCA.

A recent heat wave in the province is beginning to cool off, but the change in weather is bringing an elevated risk of wildfires. Sarah Budd, Fire Information Officer, BC Wildfire services gives us an update. Then as B.C.'s housing crisis continues, more people are using recreational vehicles as permanent homes, and municipalities are struggling to adapt. CBC reporter Marise Zeidler and Paul Lagace, poverty law advocate join us to discuss. And, then summertime is a magical season for kids, we talk with summer camp operators Craig Douglas, executive director, Timberline Ranch, and Jennifer Jakobi, UBC Okanagan Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology director.

It's the biggest match in Canadian men's soccer history tonight: Canada takes on Argentina in the Copa America semi-finals. CBC's The Early Edition show director Laurence Watt takes us to the action. Then, how people in B.C. are affected by recent emergency room closures in rural communities. Our guests are Merritt Mayor Michael Goetz, and Paul Adams, executive director of British Columbia Rural Health Collective. The rise of streaming services and closures during the COVID-19 pandemic have taken a toll on the arts sector. We talk with Heather Redford, executive director, The Cultch, and David Pay, founder and artistic director of Music on Main about adaption, survival and thriving in the performing arts.

An extreme heat wave can have a potentially catastrophic impact on the most vulnerable. Pastor Ward Draper, of The 5 and 2 Ministries explains how to keep seniors and the unhomed safe as temperatures rise. Then, author Sheila Harrington talks about her book "Voices for the Islands" and how people can help preserve the province's wildlands and coast.

Environment Canada has issued several heat warnings for parts of Vancouver Island and inland sections of coastal B.C. We get the latest from CBC's science and climate specialist Darius Mahdavi, and Dr. David McVea, public health physician with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, and discuss how residents can prepare for the hot weather. And then, our gardening columnist Brian Minter is back to answer your questions and share his advice for caring for your garden as the weather gets warmer.

Joe Biden is defying calls to drop out of the U.S. presidential race, after his performance in last week's televised CNN debate. We discuss the fallout with Stewart Prest, lecturer in political science at UBC, and our audience weighs in on the debate. Then, pregnancy and the birth of a child is usually a source of excitement and joy. But for some, it can end in heartbreak and loss. We discuss the grief of pregnancy and infant loss with our guests Kimberly Lockhart, Butterfly Run BC Founder & Executive, and Fertility coach Laura Spencer and hear from our audience on this seldom discussed topic.

We remember longtime host of The Early Edition Rick Cluff in this special edition of BC Today, hosted by Cluff's longtime friend Amy Bell. Cluff died recently at the age of 74 following a short battle with cancer. He spent more than 40 years with the CBC, and is best remembered for his 20 years as host of The Early Edition where he helped to turn it into the No. 1-rated morning show in the competitive Metro Vancouver radio market. Guests Margaret Gallagher, Fred Lee, Michelle Eliot and Jason D'Souza join us to celebrate our friend and former colleague and our callers included Olympic gold medalist Ross Rebagliati, former CBC producer Heather Kennedy, friends, former guests and listeners from across Canada.

Although the WestJet mechanics' strike is over, the airline says it will be days before operations can resume as normal. We speak to a travel consultant about how air passengers can navigate uncertainty, and invite viewers to share how labour unrest is affecting their travel plans. Then, we meet one of the mentors for a summer camp for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in B.C. We'll learn how CampOUT! is supporting their health and wellbeing, and invite viewers to share how they're supporting the community. And, longtime CBC host Rick Cluff has died. He spent more than 40 years at CBC, covering eight Olympic Games and five Commonwealth Games for CBC Sports. But he is best known to audiences in Metro Vancouver for his 20 years as host of The Early Edition. We take a look back at his life and his connection to audiences.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump squared off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign last night, and it has elicited questions about both presidential candidates. We speak with Erol Morkoc, Vice-Chair of External Relations, Republicans Overseas, and Jovian Radheshwar, professor of international relations and American politics, Douglas College, and registered Democrat. Then we test your knowledge with our Canadian Pop Quiz with CBC's Charis Hogg and Lisa Christensen.