Humans, On Rights

\When Harvest Manitoba opened in 1985, it was meant to be temporary. A stopgap for a rough economic patch. Today, they serve 1,200 families a day, and 30% of them have jobs.Stuart Murray sits down with Vince Barletta, President and CEO of Harvest Manitoba, to talk about what that shift means, and what it would actually take to build a Manitoba where the food bank isn't a permanent fixture.In this episode, Vince shares:Why 30% of people coming to food banks in Manitoba today are employed, and what that shift means for how we understand food insecurityHarvest Manitoba's journey toward indigenous reconciliation, including serving nine remote fly-in First Nations communities and a new indigenous-led urban food bank coming soon in partnership with the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata CentreThe scale of Canada's food waste problem ($50 billion annually) and the Manitoba Food Transformation Centre Harvest is working to buildAs Vince puts it: "It takes a province to feed a province."Get Involved:Visit harvestmanitoba.ca to volunteer, donate, or learn more about partnering with Harvest Manitoba.Read Harvest Voices, Harvest Manitoba's annual community survey on food insecurity.

If your goals for 2026 include actually moving the needle on reconciliation, lawyer Bruce McIvor has news: you need to get uncomfortable.The Manitoba-born author of Indigenous Rights in One Minute joins us to cut through the performative gestures and explain what reconciliation actually demands. Bruce breaks down centuries of Indigenous law and constitutional rights in plain language—then challenges us to move beyond land acknowledgements to action that matters.We're talking:Why Indigenous rights aren't "special" privileges—they're legal obligations Canada made and must keepWhat Section 35 of the Constitution actually protects (and why most Canadians don't understand it)The difference between consultation theatre and genuine partnershipWhy feeling uncomfortable is exactly where real reconciliation work beginsWhat non-Indigenous Canadians can actually do to move reconciliation work forwardBruce reminds us: "If reconciliation is making you feel good, you're doing it wrong."Read Indigenous Rights in One Minute: What You Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation

December 3rd was International Day of Persons with Disabilities—a day meant to recognize the contributions and rights of people with disabilities worldwide. Today, we're sitting down with someone who's spent 40 years making sure that recognition turns into actual change.Max Brault—national leader in accessibility, author, and someone who lives with spinal muscular atrophy—doesn't just talk about accessibility. He's helped build the Accessible Canada Act, transformed hiring practices in the federal government, and now consults with corporations trying to figure out what true inclusion actually looks like. His new book, The Race to the Starting Line, cuts through all the box-checking and virtue signalling to explain why equality has to start long before anyone even gets to compete.We're talking:Why the Accessible Canada Act exists—and why the Charter alone wasn't enoughThe moment Stats Canada discovered 27% of Canadians identify as having a disability (not the 4% everyone kept citing)How organizations confuse accommodation with inclusionWhy "we're working on it" is code for "we haven't actually started"The difference between designing for people with disabilities and designing with themWhether you're building spaces, creating policies, or just trying to understand why accessibility matters beyond compliance, Max brings decades of lived experience and hard-won wisdom about what it actually takes to build a world where everyone gets to show up fully.Learn more: Max Brault's website and book

A recent Winnipeg Free Press article revealed an uncomfortable truth: Indigenous and Black patients in Manitoba wait longer in emergency rooms and are more likely to leave without receiving care. For Dr. Marcia Anderson, these aren't just statistics – they're a reality she's witnessed firsthand, both as a physician and through her father's near-fatal experience with racist healthcare.As a Cree Anishinaabe physician from Peguis First Nation and Norway House Cree Nation, Dr. Anderson has dedicated her career to dismantling the systemic racism that pervades Canada's healthcare system. Now serving as Vice Dean of Indigenous Health, Social Justice and Anti-Racism at the University of Manitoba, she's leading groundbreaking work to collect racial, ethnic, and Indigenous identifiers in healthcare – making Manitoba the first province in Canada to systematically track these critical disparities.We're discussing:How outdated and harmful theories like the "Thrifty Gene" theory were still being taught during her medical education, blaming Indigenous peoples' poor health on inferior genetics rather than addressing systemic factorsManitoba's pioneering work in collecting racial and ethnic data in healthcare, revealing disturbing patterns of longer wait times and worse outcomes for Indigenous and Black patientsThe critical difference between cultural safety training (which focuses on understanding different cultures) and anti-racism training (which addresses power, discrimination, and systemic barriers)Practical strategies for anyone who witnesses anti-Indigenous racism – from asking curious questions like "I don't understand why that joke is funny, can you explain it to me?" to marking inappropriate behaviour with simple statements like "I'm not comfortable with that remark"Dr. Anderson's message is clear: healthcare disparities aren't inevitable, and they're not the result of individual "bad apples." They're systemic issues that require systemic solutions – from better data collection to transforming medical education to holding institutions accountable for equitable care.As she powerfully notes, while her father had a physician in the family who could advocate for him during his medical crisis, the vast majority of Indigenous people facing healthcare racism do not have that privilege. That reality fuels her ongoing work to ensure every patient receives the care they deserve, regardless of race or background. 

We sit down with Dan Lussier, CEO of Réseau Compassion Network, and Jennifer Rodrigue from Co-Habit to discuss their groundbreaking partnership creating accessible, affordable housing that centers dignity and community.We're talking:Why Manitoba's housing crisis demands innovative solutions that go beyond just "affordable units"How Co-Habit is reimagining supportive housing for people with profound physical disabilities who currently have limited options beyond personal care homesThe difference between accessibility standards and true accessible design—and why Canada's building codes still fall shortHow the Le Suite Marion project became a successful model combining deeply affordable housing with wraparound support servicesWhy segregation in housing (whether for seniors, people with disabilities, or any population) reinforces inequality and isolationThe power of integrated, intentional community in combating the loneliness crisis affecting all CanadiansDan and Jennifer remind us that housing is a human right, and true accessibility means more than meeting minimum standards—it means creating spaces where everyone can thrive with dignity, independence, and connection.Learn more:Réseau Compassion NetworkCo-HabitAction Marguerite St. Boniface

We sit down with Don Woodstock, author of "Unrelenting" and the grassroots activist who transformed recycling in Winnipeg. Don's journey from a farm in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica to becoming the driving force behind Manitoba's shift from 33% to 99% recycling participation is a masterclass in persistent community organizing and environmental justice.Don shares how his grandfather's simple question - "Is it bigger than you, son?" - became the foundation for taking on seemingly impossible challenges. When he arrived in Winnipeg and saw the potential for environmental change, he didn't wait for permission or funding. He made a documentary, knocked on doors, and refused to take no for an answer until people finally listened.We're talking:How growing up on a Jamaican farm taught sustainability lessons that urban Canada desperately neededWhy Winnipeg reminds him of Jamaica (minus the weather) and what that means for community organizingThe story behind getting major grocery chains to adopt reusable bags across CanadaWhat it takes to keep going when people literally spit on the ground and dismiss your ideasHow to plant seeds that will bear fruit long after you're gone - even if you never see the harvestThe human right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment for future generationsDon's approach to grassroots change offers a blueprint for anyone wondering how to make a difference: start local, don't expect instant gratification, and remember that real change happens like farming - you plant seeds, water them consistently, and trust the process even when you can't see immediate results.Whether you're passionate about environmental issues or simply wondering how one person can create systemic change, Don's story proves that unrelenting commitment to what you believe in can literally transform a city's relationship with the planet.Read "UNRELENTING: The Man Who Turned a Local Recycling Push, Into a National Plastic Ban"Don't miss the innovative audio version featuring Caribbean and African music inspired by the themes of environmental justice and community action!

We sit down with Jamie Paris, a University of Manitoba literature scholar whose research bridges Shakespearean drama with contemporary issues of race, gender and masculinity. Jamie brings a unique perspective to conversations about what it means to be a better man in 2025.As an educator first and foremost, Jamie's work focuses on helping foster the next generation through meaningful classroom discussions about identity, dignity, and human connection. His personal journey - growing up as an orphan, becoming a young father at 17, and finding his path through academia - shapes his approach to understanding masculinity not as something to tear down, but as something to rebuild with joy, care, and moral courage.We're talking:Why many young men today feel ashamed of their gender and how to move beyond "toxic masculinity" conversationsDefining healthy masculinity: the desire to protect, care, and extend joy to othersHow Shakespeare's tragedies teach us about pride, community, and making better choicesWhy preventing gender-based violence starts with teaching consent and bodily autonomy from a young ageJamie challenges us to move past the question of "who's right and who's wrong" and instead focus on rebuilding trust - between individuals, communities, and across differences. His work reminds us that masculinity, when rooted in love and care for others, can be a source of strength and joy rather than harm.Whether you're a parent trying to raise thoughtful children, an educator working with young adults, or someone interested in how literature connects to contemporary social issues, this conversation offers practical insights into creating more meaningful connections in our communities.

We sit down with Dr. Kerstin Roger, a researcher and advocate tackling an urgent but often overlooked human rights issue: the abuse of older adults. Dr. Roger shares why this isn't just a family matter—it's a fundamental question of human dignity and rights.We're talking:Why age has been historically left out of human rights frameworksHow different communities define aging differently, and the global variations in lifespan and health outcomesWhy traditional data collection methods fall short in capturing the real scope of the problemFinancial abuse as the newest and fastest-growing form of harmHow we can shift from fear-based narratives to celebrating the wisdom and contributions of older adultsDr. Roger reminds us that older adults are citizens who deserve to be equal and active participants in our communities, with the right to make their own decisions about their lives and wellbeing.As she states: "It is a luxury to age, and we have really come to see it as a possible burden to us and others... we really need to reinforce this idea that actually getting older is a luxury and a privilege."Watch the "Who Should I Tell?" awareness video in multiple languages on the A&O Youtube channel