BC Today

Environment Canada has issued warnings about heavy rainfall and high ocean levels have been issued for the Saanich Peninsula, the Southern Gulf Islands and parts of Metro Vancouver. We check in on the risks and storm advice with Fraser Valley Current's managing editor Tyler Olsen and with CBC's Climate and Science Specialist Darius Mahdavi. In our second half, our topic is coping with death and grief during the holiday season. We're joined by Margaret Flectcher, registered clinical counsellor with Lumara Counselling and Lisa Hartley, ceremony officiant.

COP28 begins today in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, we get perspectives from Mary Stuart, organizer, Climate Justice Victoria whose group installed a massive ice sculpture in front of the B.C. legislature today to bring attention to our province's role in climate change. We spoke with a former European Union diplomat and climate policy advisor Radoslav Dimitrov, about his views. He's now a political science professor at Simon Fraser University. Merriam Webster's Word of the Year is "authentic", and in second place is the slang term "Rizz". North by Northwest's Word Guy Jonathan Berkowitz joins us to discuss slang terms in all their glory. And, we hear your low to no-sugar recipes e-mailed to us from yesterday's show.

It's been a year since a brutal snow storm hit Metro Vancouver and caused traffic to grind to a halt overnight. People's 30 minute commutes turned into a 12 hour ordeal. We'll hear ideas on how to prevent this in the future. Next, a strike at Rogers Sugar refinery has some turning to alternative baking methods. Finally, Vancouver International Black Film Festival begins this week.

After the tragic death of a 12-year-old boy in Prince George, police are urging parents to talk to their children about online risks. We hear from experts about the potential red flags online. Next, How to protect yourself from rental scams.

First, we hear about a dangerous situation around a wolf-dog on Vancouver Island. Next, it's Cyber Monday and the height of holiday shopping. What's your spending limit, and how can people budget when everything seems so expensive? In our second half, a new, 988 mental health crisis hotline launches across Canada.

B.C. is looking to push forward legislation that would limit how municipalities can respond to homeless encampments. But cities and advocates have issues with the bill. Next, expert gardener Brian Minter takes your gardening questions.

Surrey schools are facing a major overcrowding problem. Parents, students, and teachers are being asked to consider creative solutions like hybrid work and different school hours. Next, the holiday season is coming up, and we talk about thrift shopping for yourself and loved ones.

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains has tabled legislation to protect gig workers, we ask him what he's pushing for. Next, the federal government says it plans to bring relief to mortgage holders, and soften the blow of rising interest rates.

Canada's inflation rate has cooled, but the cost of living remains high. We're asking how inflation and affordability are affecting you. Next, a new report highlights what supports are needed for people going through grief.

First we hear from Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke who isn't backing down on the policing issue. Next, a full hour on affordable housing, and what you want from the federal government.

B.C.'s Solicitor General Mike Farnworth has suspended the Surrey Police Board, and appointed former Abbotsford chief constable Mike Serr as the administrator. We speak with Minister Farnworth, and with Peter German, the lawyer retained by the City of Surrey who leads the B.C. Supreme Court petition questioning the province's jurisdiction in the transition. In our second half, we discuss fostering with our guest is Lindsay Baker, B.C. SPCA's senior manager of volunteer resources, and your calls.

After Vancouver city council voted against a motion brought forward by OneCity's Christine Boyle for city staff to explore policies that would increase density in the Shaughnessy neighbourhood, we hear from A.B.C. councillor Rebecca Bligh who voted against it. Then we discussed the larger issue of how to combat the affordable housing crisis with the challenges of rezoning "tony" neighbourhoods with Thom Armstrong, CEO, Co-op Housing Federation BC, and Jens von Bergmann, Data Scientist, Mountain Math, and co-author of the C.M.H.C.'s "Metro Vancouver Zoning Project". In our last segment we speak with Chief Douglas Neasloss, elected Chief councillor of Kitasoo Xai'xais Nation, and co-director/producer of the Keepers of the Land documentary screening at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival.

Paul Adams CBC Reporter Brady Strachan brings us the latest on the closure of the Sterling Centre Walk-In Clinic, Vernon's last walk-in clinic today. We discuss the issue with Paul Adams, Executive Director BC Rural Health Network, and Kath Kitts, Communications Officer, BC Nurses' Union. In our second half, we check in with Victoria NDP MP Laurel Collins, who has introduced a private members' bill in Parliament to amend the Criminal Code to include controlling and coercive conduct. Then, we talk with Vancouver Island University professor of recreation and tourism Jenn Houtby-Ferguson about the internet hoopla over New Westminster being chosen as a prize destination on The Price is Right. She gives us her tips on New Westminster and other destinations in B.C. to visit, and we get your recommendations as well.

Our Tuesday show opens with the news that high-risk offender Randall Hopley has been arrested by Vancouver police. We discuss the circumstances that led to the 10-day search for him, and invite listeners to ask their questions about B.C.'s correctional system. In our second half, we examine Canada's practice of recruiting nurses from overseas, and the impact that has other jurisdictions.

Debate over the federal carbon tax has come to B.C. We hear from BC United MLA Dan Davies, Peace River North, Rural and Social Development Critic whose party wants to cut the tax. We also hear from U.B.C. Professor of Political Science Kathryn Harrison who specializes in climate and environmental politics. In our second half we meet 90-year-old internet sensation Kathy Brady, a retired dietician whose 1957 CBC video on making pizzas has gone viral (https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1402818181). She is accompanied by her daughter-in-law Debbie Butt who found the video on social media.

Tomorrow is November 11th, Remembrance Day. We ask who you wear a poppy for, and talk about supports veterans need today. Next, Gardening Expert Brian Minter takes your questions.

With hate incidents on the rise during the Israeli-Hamas war, B.C.'s Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender joins us to discuss what can be done. We continue our series on intimate partner violence with a look at what supports are needed in our family court system. We speak with mother and advocate Jennifer Kagan-Viater about her work on "Keira's Law", a law requiring judges to receive mandatory domestic abuse and coercive control training to consider when making decisions. We also spoke with B.C.'s Attorney General Niki Sharma about the lack of this training in B.C. and how she plans on making changes to the system. Also in the show, CBC reporter Joel Ballard on the end to the actors' strike in Hollywood with his interview with Creative B.C.'s CEO Prem Gill; and CBC's host and reporter Lien Yeung takes us to the scene of a Burnaby bus crash and tells us what the investigation is showing.

Skyrocketing costs this year have led to an increase in B.C.'s Living Wage to cover the high costs of rent, food and other essentials, Our guest is Anastasia French, Living Wage for Families BC provincial manager and co-author of the 2023 Living Wage report. In our second half, we discuss the use of artificial intelligence in the arts, including the new Beatles' song "Now and Then". Our guests are University of British Columbia PhD student Guanzhong Du, and Arne Eigenfeldt, Professor and Associate Dean of Simon Fraser University's Music and Sound program.

Controversy erupted after a comment about a referee made by Vancouver Whitecaps' coach Vanni Sartini last Saturday. We speak with Jennifer Walinga, Olympic rower, Professor in Communications and Culture at Royal Roads University about the controversy and take your calls. In our second half, our guest is Evan Paul, President - LoLo Soup Co, The Soup Meister’s Nephew, talking about his late uncle's beloved soup restaurant, his favourite soups and calls from our listeners with theirs, including a Battle of the Broth in Rossland, B.C. in its fifth year.

We ask where we are with the poisoned drug epidemic after the provincial mental health and addictions ministry rejected the B.C. Coroners Service's death review panel recommendation to expand safe supply. Our guest B.C.'s Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe addresses the report and takes questions. Our second half looks at one of the common themes in this year's 27th Vancouver Asian Film Festival: mental health and stigma within the Asian diaspora. Our guests Sidartha Murjani - VAFF Director Feature Films Programming, and Tanya Jade, director of the film "Wallpaper" speak about the issue, and our callers weigh in on how to tackle the stigma around mental wellness.