Episodes

\ 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...

When governments can override the Charter before a court even looks at it, who's left to protect the people who can't protect themselves at the ballot box?Winnipeg labour and human rights lawyer Dayna Steinfeld joins Stuart to break down one of the most consequential constitutional debates in Canada right now: the expanding use of the notwithstanding clause, and what Manitoba's Bill 4 is trying to do about it.Provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan are invoking Section 33 to push through so-called "parental rights" legislation: restricting access to gender-affirming care, controlling names and pronouns at school, limiting sports participation. Legislation that physicians say causes measurable harm. And some governments aren't waiting for courts to weigh in. They're invoking the clause preemptively, with the argument that courts aren't even allowed to look at it afterward.Manitoba's Bill 4 is a direct response to that. It would make court review mandatory any time the provi…

As we move into Pride month, Ralph Bryant returns to Humans, On Rights. This time, the Rainbow Resource Center's Manager of Stewardship sits down with Stuart to dig into The State of 2SLGBTQ+ Communities in Manitoba 2026 — the first report of its kind in Manitoba.This report surveyed 623 queer Manitobans alongside 1,000 members of the general public. It provides, for the first time, a true snapshot of the experiences, needs and priorities of queer Manitobans, as well as the state of allyship among straight Manitobans.The findings paint a picture of a community that is resilient and connected — but still navigating serious gaps in mental health, safety, and acceptance.

Following Red Dress Day earlier this month, Stuart sits down with KC Adams, a Cree and Anishinaabe relational maker, curator, writer and educator based in Winnipeg, whose work uses photography, installation and public art to explore identity, cultural reclamation and the ongoing impacts of colonialism.KC brings both lived experience and creative practice to a rich conversation about Red Dress Day, the evolution of Jamie Black's iconic installation at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and what it really means to make art as an act of advocacy and community uplift.

Adrian Alfonso has been building trails in Winnipeg since he was a kid ripping around on a BMX bike in South Osborne. Today, he's a cyclist, trail builder, Indigenous advocate, and founder of Clear Paths, a program that uses cycling routes and green spaces as a framework for Truth and Reconciliation education. Stuart sits down with Adrian to talk about what trails can teach us, what it means to be a contemporary First Nations person in Winnipeg, and why the land beneath our wheels has a lot more...

Stuart Murray sits down with Winnipeg writer, filmmaker, and environmental advocate Erna Buffie. After more than two decades producing science documentaries for CBC's The Nature of Things, Erna has turned her attention closer to home — documenting why Winnipeg's urban forest is in crisis, and what it will take to save it. Her book Out on a Limb makes the case that trees aren't a civic amenity. They're essential infrastructure.

Suzanne Winterflood, is the Program Manager of WISE Kinetic Energy — Manitoba's largest STEM outreach program. What started over 35 years ago as a small group of professors working to bring more girls into science and engineering has grown into a province-wide initiative reaching over 43,000 young people a year.And yet, Suzanne is the first to admit: the needle hasn't moved nearly as far as it should have. This conversation gets into what equitable access to STEM education actually looks like — and what keeps getting in the way.

On this episode of Humans, On Rights, we sit down with Bruno de Oliveira Jayme, a Brazilian-born artist, educator, and community arts practitioner who has spent 25 years making Canada his home. Now a full professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba, Bruno brings together curriculum theory, arts-based research, and a deep commitment to social justice. His work explores what happens when art stops being decoration and starts becoming dissent. Bruno introduces us to the conc...

At 21 years old, Divya Sharma has already led a $16 million student organization, represented Manitoba at the United Nations in both New York and Geneva, and is writing her honours thesis on the human rights implications of artificial intelligence. Her story is a reminder that age isn't a barrier to meaningful change — and that the most powerful advocacy often starts right in your own community.

For our second Black History Month episode, we're going beyond celebration and into accountability. Stuart Murray sits down with Janet James, Edmonton entrepreneur and leadership strategist, whose journey from growing up as one of the only Black families in Lancashire, England to becoming a corporate executive and business owner is both a personal story of resilience and a lens on who gets access to power, capital, and opportunity. Janet is the founder of Janet James Growth Leadership, and has b...

Black History Month isn't just 28 days in February—it's a year-round commitment to education, connection, and celebration. We sit down with Nadia Thompson, chair of Black History Manitoba, to discuss the 2026 theme "Rooted in Legacy: Honouring a Century of Black History" and the organization's 45th anniversary milestone. Nadia shares the evolution from the Black History Month Celebration Committee to Black History Manitoba, a shift that signals their year-round presence in the community. What st...

When we picture zero waste, we often think of recycling bins or reusable coffee cups. But Helga Jacobsen sees something bigger: behind every piece of waste is a human story — someone who made it, someone who handles it, and communities who live with its impact.As Sustainability Coordinator at The Forks, Helga Jakobson is turning one of Winnipeg's most beloved gathering places into a living example of how community spaces can practice real sustainability. From her background as a transdisciplinary new media artist to her current work transforming coffee grounds into de-icer, Helga brings creativity and data together to communicate what's happening with our planet in ways people can actually understand and act on.

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 sit down with Patty Weins—author of That'll Never Work Here, host of the That's Her Problem podcast, and Bicycle Mayor of Winnipeg. Patty's journey from winter cycling newcomer to city-wide advocate reveals how transportation choices connect to mental health, physical wellbeing, climate justice, and the fundamental right to move safely through our cities.

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.

We sit down with Shohan Illsley, Executive Director of the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, to explore how harm reduction is saving lives and restoring dignity to people who use substances across Manitoba. Shohan brings powerful insights into why compassion-based approaches are essential to addressing substance use in our communities.The Manitoba Harm Reduction Network operates 11 sites across the province, connecting people who use substances with the support they need to stay alive and thrive.

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 sit down with Andréanne Mulaire, co-founder of Anne Mulaire, a Winnipeg-based fashion company that has spent 20 years proving that ethical production, cultural heritage, and sustainability aren't just buzzwords – they're the foundation of a thriving business.Andréanne shares how she built a fashion brand that refuses to compromise, maintaining local production in Winnipeg, creating zero-waste collections, and offering sizes from double extra small to 6X – because sustainability should be for everyone.

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 homes The differen...

We sit down with Clayton Sandy, a knowledge keeper and educator who brings decades of experience in government and Indigenous advocacy to our conversation about Orange Shirt Day and the ongoing journey toward reconciliation.Clayton shares his powerful personal story - from growing up as the son of a WWII veteran who lost his Indigenous status through enfranchisement, to his own experience in the 60s scoop, to building a career in government while facing systemic racism. His journey led him to become one of Manitoba's most respected voices on Indigenous issues and human rights.

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.

When the International Court of Justice issued a landmark advisory opinion on climate change this past July, it confirmed what environmental advocates have been arguing for years - that environmental protection is fundamentally about human rights. We sit down with Heather Fast, PhD candidate at the University of Manitoba's Natural Resource Institute and policy advocacy director of the Manitoba Eco Network, to break down what this means for Canada and communities like ours.Heather explains how the ICJ's non-binding but influential decision reinforces that the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is essential for enjoying all other human rights. From wildfires forcing evacuations to climate refugees displaced by rising seas, environmental degradation disproportionately impacts marginalized communities who often have the least resources to adapt.

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 sit down with Michel Durand-Wood, better known online as "Elmwood Guy," a Winnipeg-based writer, community advocate, and author of "You'll Pay for This: How We Can Afford a Great City for Everyone Forever." Michel shares his journey from concerned neighbour to influential voice in municipal finance and urban planning.