Good to Hear: Recent Episodes
105.9 The Region
Being positive and optimistic is a challenge. To inspire and motivate, Good to Hear offers only good news stories, uplifting our spirits and helping us get through it.
• Glynn Perkins is with Professor Delaney from York University • Jim Lang speaks with an Aurora student awarded $80,000 leadership scholarship to attend Schulich this fall • Glynn Perkins has a story from York Regional Police - the connected officer program is a new tech-based process to share information • Shaliza Bacchus looks into a program at Blue Mountain that seeks artist submissions for public art installation to help elevate indigenous voices.
• Kevin Frankish speaks with car designer Kevin. This 9 year old from Vaughan is one of the Canadian finalists in Toyota's "Design a Dream Car" contest -- the design must make the world a better place.
• Jim Lang is with Niko Giantopoulos from Markham. Niki is now the goalkeeper for York United Soccer.
• Shaliza Bacchus discusses #ForTheLoveOfParks which is a collaborative campaign between Ontario Parks and Parks Canada to promote visitors' shared responsibility for our natural areas.
• Kevin Frankish speaks with Grade 12 Pickering College student Michaela Morra's initiative looking at how music can awaken the brains of people with dementia has earned her top honours in the school's annual Capstone Project. • Tina Cortese looks into a summer student work study program at York University's Lassonde School of Engineering where the focus is physics and it pairs grade 11/12 high school students with undergrads. • Jim Lang is with Sierra Costa, the first female GM in the Ontario Junior Hockey League - Aurora Tigers
• Jim Lang speaks with singer/songwriter Susan Aglukark who will receive the Humanitarian Award for her long-standing dedication to improving the lives of children and youth in Northern Indigenous communities. • Kevin Frankish with Sarah Blackwood from Walk Off The Earth; nominated for Children’s Album of the Year for "Walk Off the Earth & Romeo Eats Vol. 1" a music and food discovery show project. The project stars the then three-year-old Romeo alongside his father and WOTE's Gianni Luminati. The nomination makes Romeo the youngest Juno nominee ever. • Craig Robertson with Hill Kourkoutis who is nominated for Recording Engineer of the Year for “Howler” by Sate and “The Draught” by Tania Joy. This makes Hill the first woman to receive a Juno Award nomination for recording engineer of the year.
• Kevin Frankish is with the president of York University Rhonda Lenton. York University is strengthening its position as a leader in creating a sustainable and inclusive world, ranking in the world’s top 35 – #33 out of 1,406 post-secondary institutions, moving up 34 spots from its position at 67/1,117 last year.
• Shaliza Bacchus speaks with York Region's own American Idol contestant who has made it into the Top 7
• Jim Lang speaks with Mayor Quirk of Georgina about their new pilot project to allow backyard chickens.
• Shaliza Bacchus is with Mayor Steve Pellegrini of King Township about the new recreation centre coming to King City in 2024. The centre will feature 124,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor facilities and is being constructed on 25 acres on the southeast corned of the King Campus of Seneca College • Jim Lang is with Richmond Hill Council Member Godwin Chan about the local initiative to collect non-perishables for Ukrainian Refugees. • Kevin Frankish with the Jag brothers -- 9 and 6 year old brothers and author's of a new book celebrating Earth Month.
• Craig Robertson speaks with acclaimed author and musician Antonio Michael Downing about his book Saga Boy and his appointment to be the first Black Artist in Residence with the Waterloo Region District School Board. • Jim Lang with a preview of the RENOVATED Maple Public Library and the grand opening on Tues April 26 • Kevin Frankish is with Glenn Burton and the Newmarket Stingers Minor Girls Softball League
• Craig Robertson speaks with Ashley Fric, who is shining the light on her community with a 'Little Library' movement in Keswick.
• Kevin Frankish is with Megan Glanfield - a single gay Mom and elementary school teacher in York Region who started REVOLUTION NOW a venture for marginalized and racialized youth last September.
• Jim Lang tells us about PINEAPPLE mortgage company who raised $15000 to benefit youth sports and the MLSE Foundation.
• Craig Robertson speaks with Vanessa Smith, the Manager of Outreach and Education at Massey Hall/Roy Thomson Hall about the Lullaby Project that teams up songwriters with young moms to write a lullaby for their baby. Craig also gets the songwriter's perspective with Justin Rutledge, a Canadian singer/songwriter. • Jim Lang has details about EXPERIENCE TRAIL a project that highlights the region’s attractions and events • Kevin Frankish looks into a new partnership that has sprung between the Food Bank of York Region (FBYR) and Youth Initiative’s and Excellence with Learning Disabilities (Y.I.E.L.D.), a program of Learning Disabilities Association of Toronto District (LDATD). Y.I.E.L.D. has created this Feel-Good Cookbook project in the spirit of forging interconnectedness in the community and to open the conversation on food security and food literacy.
• Craig Robertson speaks with Newmarket's Steven Megson, who has written a kids book about positivity and inclusion called "Rooty the Rutabaga", inspired by his daughter Mia.
• Kevin Frankish looks into how The Food Bank of York Region has partnered with Y.I.E.L.D. on the Feel Good Cook Book project taking aim at providing an interconnected community cook book and bringing awareness to Food Insecurity.
• Jim Lang presents the Aurora Tigers U15 team selling pink hoodies to fight racism - funds go to Hockey Diversity Alliance
• Tina Cortese introduces us to designer Shahin Zartosht, who shares his story about his time as a model; his move to Canada just 4 years ago; a preview of the Fashion Art Event in Toronto on May 6th and the opening of his luxury boutique at Hillcrest Mall in June.
• Craig Robertson discusses the McMichael Art Gallery offering free admission on Tuesdays until May • Jim Lang introduces us to how golfers can enjoy a complete round of golf indoors with virtual courses from around the world. • Tina Cortese looks into how the City of Richmond Hill has partnered with the Ontario College of Art & Design University and eCampus Ontario to create a centre to help businesses recover from the pandemic. • Kevin Frankish has the details about Hydro One announcing the recipients of the William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award, who will each receive a $5,000 scholarship and an opportunity to complete a paid work term at Hydro One. The William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award is Hydro One’s longest-standing scholarship to date, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year
• Craig Robertson chats with Xavier Pitman, a 14-year old from Guelph who is collecting sleeping bags for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. • Jim Lang speaks with twin 10-year-olds and their 14 year old brother from Newmarket creating and selling homemade buttons for Ukraine • Tina Cortese looks at how B'nai Brith Canada is collecting donations for Ukraine (this Sunday and next Sunday at Promenade Mall parking lot) • Social Media Manager Caroline Petrucci is joined by 14-year-old Vasili Prangikos. The Toronto-based triple-threat stars as the supporting actor in the new NBC Peacock Original Series "Take Note". The pair discuss Vasili's love for performing, the joy he experienced with his castmates on set and how it feels to achieve his dream at such a young age.
• Craig Robertson speaks with Matt McNama, the Senior Communications Manager with Airbnb about the incredible generosity Canadians are giving to buy up Airbnb rentals in the Ukraine, plus how they are teaming up with the NBA's Utah Jazz and how you can help by hosting refugees in your home
• Glynn Perkins discusses how the parent organization of CAA South Central Ontario (SCO), CAA Manitoba, CAA Insurance Company, Orion Travel Insurance and Echelon Insurance, will be making a $100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal
• Jim Lang speaks with Aurora resident (Chris Neal) who along with his wife is trying to raise $2 Million Dollars for the Southlake NeoNatal ICU; his now 22 year old twin daughters were born there and received outstanding care.
• Craig Robertson is with Aaron McFadden, a high school teacher living outside to raise awareness and funds for homelessness • Kevin Frankish speaks with Emma Dagher, who in February 2022 officially marks one year of service in her community food security initiative of weekly food drive collections for the Food Bank of York Region (FBYR) • Glynn Perkins speaks with Todd Morganstein from Thornhill; recognized by the province for his volunteer work with Yellow Brick House • Jim Lang has information on the Hydro One Energizing Life Community Fund.
• Craig Robertson with a story of a foundation that sees doctors prescribe a Park Pass to Canada's National Parks as medication. • Jim Lang has details of the 2022 York Region Arts Council Awards. • Jim Lang speaks with Austin Rogers; the author of "The Ultimate Book of Pub Trivia" and his time on Jeopardy.
• Kevin Frankish is with the publisher from right here in Vaughan, BLACK GIRLS MAGAZINE • Jim Lang presents details of the 10th Annual Cupcake Fundraiser for the Ontario SPCA • Tina Cortese talks with MPP Daisy Wai of Richmond Hill and her private member's bill to honour the non-profit sector
• Craig Robertson with the story of a Thornhill retired teacher who is a CNIB guide dog volunteer trainer. • Kevin Frankish looks into how CAA is donating 900k to Sick Kid's Foundation, Black Youth Helpline and the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba • Jim Lang is with Stouffville resident and author Marissa Stapley....her book LUCKY is on the NY Times best sellers list and is one of Reese Witherspoon's favourites!
Jim Lang is with the BLACK GIRL HOCKEY CLUB discussing details about the 2022 scholarship recipients
Rob Pagetto is at the Toronto Zoo with an update on the cheetah cubs and the zoo's re-opening plans
Tina Cortese is with the Richmond Hill Public Library discussing details of Black History Month events and their BAD ART NIGHT event.
Jim Lang is with Maple resident and welder by trade Mike Kaufmann. Mike lost his job at the start of the Pandemic and turned his skills to building home workout equipment "SQUAT6STANDS".
Tina Cortese looks into how the City of Markham is being recognized by Forbes magazine as the Best City Employer in Canada.
Galt Arena Gardens in Cambridge was home ice for Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull and Terry Sawchuk. This year it is celebrating 100 years! Craig Robertson has the details.