The Global Voice: Recent Episodes
Saskatoon Open Door Society
The Global Voice is a radio show that celebrates diversity and inclusion in our city. It is about our community and the unique voices that make our cities and the prairies what they are today – a Global Village. Every episode will feature stories and conversations about people we meet on the streets, situations we encounter daily and the agencies, institutions and organisations that provide support to newcomers, Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians alike. The Global Voice is about you and me, it is about all of us that call Saskatoon home.
Hosted and produced by Michael Afenfia and Makenzie Murdock
IMMERSIVE ONLINE CONFERENCE OFFERS A TRANSFORMATIVE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL
Set to take place on May 22 - 23, 2024, THREADS: Cultural Conversations will feature over 60 speakers from all walks of life, including but not limited to the late award-winning biologist and primatologist Frans de Waal (1948 -2024), film/TV actor, director and producer Jennifer Podemski, YouTuber Ed People, privacy and ethics expert Ivana Bartoletti and chef Jenni Lessard, along with authors and artists from Indigenous communities, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Australia, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine, China, the Netherlands, Uzbekistan, UK, Iraq, South Korea, the USA and Canada. Registration is FREE and easy at www.threads2024.
February takes on a special significance as communities come together to commemorate Black History Month. This annual celebration is not only a local affair but resonates globally, emphasizing the rich contributions and narratives of the Black community. In this episode, we are honored to hear from three remarkable women affiliated with the Saskatchewan African-Canadian Heritage Museum and Black Canadian Women in Action. They will shed light on how Black History Month is observed in this prairie province, offering insights into the significance of extending this recognition beyond the confines of February. These strong and successful individuals will provide a glimpse into the cultural tapestry of Saskatchewan, weaving a narrative that transcends time and calls for the acknowledgment of Black history as a year-long, continuous celebration.
In this episode of the Global Voice, we embrace the spirit of Latin American Heritage Month, celebrated throughout Canada in October. Our guests Yulissa and Kiela, both of Latin American descent, join us to share their insights and experiences as they actively contribute to the celebration and promotion of Latin American culture in Saskatoon.
Together, we explore the significance of Latin American Heritage Month, importance of representation, community engagement, and the valuable contributions of the Latin American community in Saskatoon.
For more information on the Rastros event, click here.
Join us as we discuss Dr. Hirani's inspiring approach to healthcare, her innovative research initiatives, and her commitment to promoting health equity and breastfeeding advocacy. This episode provides valuable insights into her extraordinary contributions to nursing, healthcare, and the well-being of communities in Canada and beyond.
WELCOMING WEEK IS APPROACHING! Join us as we talked about the big event this coming September 8-17, 2023.
Four artists from Ukraine and Iran will be showcasing their art work at Saskatoon's Bridges Art Movement (BAM) space in downtown Saskatoon on August 27th. The exhibition, called Dialogue, is a partnership between BAM and the Saskatoon Open Door Society and supports local women immigrant artists. Elham Zafaremili and Mahboubeh Shahbadi are two of the artists.
Join us as we congratulate Ali Abukar in his remarkable achievement of winning the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award! Presented by Western Union and sponsored by COSTI Immigrant Services and Windmill Microlending, the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards is a leader in highlighting inspiring stories of immigrants in Canada, from coast to coast and from diverse cultures and backgrounds. The Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2023 were chosen after an extensive nomination, judging, shortlisting and public online voting process.
Ali discusses what this award means to him, how his journey as a refugee led him to where he is today, and much more.
Olga Bondarenko, the Refugee Strategy Coordinator at SAISIA gives current information about the settlement of the Displaced Ukrainians and Afghan Refugees in Saskatchewan. What are the challenges and community initiatives in the province? Listen to find out!
Tune in as we commemorate Canada Day with a captivating episode featuring Ebiye Mary Agbai, an esteemed author and dedicated education professional originally from Nigeria. Ebiye brings a wealth of experience in teaching, cultural education, and fostering a sense of belonging.
In this special episode, Ebiye shares her personal journey of cultural adaptation, the challenges and triumphs of building a new life in Canada, and what it means to her to become a Canadian citizen.
Join us as we honor Canada Day and celebrate the remarkable journey of Ebiye, a shining example of the rich cultural tapestry that makes Canada a vibrant and welcoming place to live!
Welcome to a special episode of the Global Voice, dedicated to celebrating Filipino Heritage Month. Join us as we celebrate Filipino Heritage Month by honoring the extraordinary journey of the first Filipino in Canada. This episode serves as a tribute to their courage, resilience, and the profound impact they had on shaping the multicultural fabric of Canada.
How much do you know about the Indigenous people of Canada? In this episode, Delvin Kanêwiyakiho talks about why it is important to learn about Indigenous history for newcomers, settlers and people of all ages in Canada.
Delvin Kanêwiyakiho has over 28 years experience as an educator with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. A certified Treaty Catalyst teacher, he helps colleagues with their Treaty teaching using the Treaty curriculum and uses his own experiences to give students a good start in their journey.
In 2015 Kanêwiyakiho received Indspire's 2015 Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Award in the Language, Culture and Traditions category. He has cultural currency to speak about most things related to Treaty and nehiyaw settler relations in Canada.
Kanêwiyakiho is Plains Cree raised on Little Pine First Nation.
Join us on the Global Voice for an inspiring episode as we explore the incredible journey of Ebtsam Elsheikh, a Sudanese-Canadian. She shares her personal journey from Sudan to Canada and provides insights into the ongoing political crisis in Sudan's capital.
Ebtsam's story is one of resilience and determination. Graduating from Cairo University, she moved to Canada in 2006 and eventually settled in Saskatoon. With a passion for helping others, she volunteered with organizations such as Build Village and Open Door, eventually establishing herself as a settlement worker.
During this episode, Ebtsam offers firsthand insights into the current crisis in Sudan, discussing its causes and impact on the Sudanese people. Her experiences shed light on the challenges faced by individuals and communities affected by the turmoil.
For more information on the current crisis and how you can help, please see: SCCA – Sudanese Canadian Community Association (sccassociation.ca)
Clashes in Sudan | UNHCR Canada
May is Asian Heritage Month. In this episode, we will hear the immigration story of Jane Tseng. What was her journey like from Taiwan to Canada? Why did she choose Saskatoon as her destination? Listen and find out.
What is SWIS program and what important role does it play in the lives of newcomers youth and their family? Let's learn more about it with SAISIA's PNT SWIS coordinator, Maryam Karimi.
Asian Heritage Month, celebrated in May, is an opportunity for us to learn more about the achievements and contributions of Canadians of Asian heritage who have done so much to make Canada the country we know and love. Teresa Woo-Paw and Shirlie Wu from ACCT Foundation: Action! Chinese Canadians Together join us to discuss the importance of this month, the reality of anti-Asian discrimination, and the work they are doing to combat this.
For today’s episode we will be talking about Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day that was observed last April 17-18 this year in Canada and last January 27 internationally. Our guest, Rabbi Claudio will help us understand why it is important to remember this day and how can we use the memories of victims and survivors to demolish hate, anti-semitism, and other forms of discrimnination/racism in the world.
Discover the traditions of Ramadan and Eid. How do different countries and cultures celebrate this holiday? How do people of different ages celebrate? What's the etiquette of attending an Eid celebration for the first time?
In today's Global Voice episode, we're shining a light on Rural Saskatchewan's newcomer settlement project. This innovative initiative is designed to help newcomers to Canada settle into their new lives in the rural areas of Saskatchewan. Join us as we explore the challenges and opportunities that these newcomers face, and the ways in which they are integrating into the local communities. From learning about Canadian culture and customs, to finding employment and housing, we'll hear from those involved in the project and the impact it's having on the lives of newcomers and rural communities alike. So stay tuned, and let's discover the spirit of Rural Saskatchewan's newcomer settlement project together.
Ramlah Iqbal from Saskatoon Open Door Society joins us to discuss Gender Based Violence (GBV) and a new educational and preventative program geared towards informing clients about different forms of GBV, supports and resources available in the community.
Naheed Syed immigrated from Pakistan three years ago. Back home, she was heavily involved in social activism work using her voice for more vulnerable members of society. Learn more about her work for various organizations such as the Human Rights Commission, the situation in Pakistan, as well as why she chose to leave that behind to bring her family to Canada.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, March 5 2023
Hosted by the Saskatoon Open Door Society, Threads: Cultural Conversations is an innovative online conference that engages with Canada’s diverse communities to explore how they are created and how they can build and sense of belonging. With speakers from all walks of life, Threads creates a means for cultural education and personal development through building on shared experiences, listening to one another, and rethinking assumptions.
First up we have a conversation between Omayra Issa and Ginella Massa: discover the similarities, differences and experiences of fortunate encounters that shaped these two prominent journalists in their lives and careers. Understand how their experiences shape the stories they cover.
Next up we will listen to INDIGENOUS WEDDING TRADITIONS with Candace Scott-Moore and Richard Scott-Moore: Discover Indigenous cultural traditions between a Canadian Anishinaabe/Po-tawa-tomi and Yuin/Wodi Wodi Australian couple who are united in marriage. Learn how they honour their respective ancestral cultures and connect through music.
We are joined again by Rhonda Rosenberg, the Executive Director of Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCoS) who talks about this years Saskatchewan Multicultural Week from November 20 - 27. With the theme "Together We Make Saskatchewan Strong", we hear from many different perspectives who tell us what they feel is the importance of multiculturalism and what makes #skstrong.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, November 20 2022.
Parastoo Dokouhaki enlightens us on the ongoing situation in Iran. Speaking from experience as a journalist who was detained, she provides history and context about what's happening on the ground including what the risks are for speaking out, even for herself and others not currently in Iran.
We also listen to a speech she read at a rally in Saskatoon. Click here to watch the video.
For women, for life, for freedom.
Aired on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, October 16
On this episode we speak with Staff Sergeant Patrick Barbar, Community Engagement Division from the Saskatoon Police. The Community Engagement Division encompasses School Liaison Officers, Community Liaison Officers, PACT, HUB and Equity and Cultural Engagement Unit (ECEU). The ECEU liaises with various ethno-cultural communities as well as indigenous and LGBTQ2S+ communities in order to build stronger relationships between the police service and the communities they serve.
Aired on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, October 9
Elder Florence Highway is a Cree artist. She is also a survivor of the residential school system and a trailblazing woman! For this special episode on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, she recounts the pain and anguish of residential schools and her amazing story of survival and resilience.
Aired on CFCR 90.5FM on October 2, 2022.
Iryna Karakuts fled Ukraine a few days after the war started when she and her family were woken up by bombing. She describes what those days were like, including the months after she left Ukraine and before she arrived in Saskatoon. Iryna tells us how she has been welcomed by her new community, as well as her hopes for the future.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, September 11
If you're new to Canada and have children who need to enroll in school, you may find yourself at the Newcomer Student Centre (NSC). The Newcomer Student Centre provides families with a welcoming and supportive introduction to Saskatoon Public Schools. Shauna Tilbury from the NSC joins us to discuss what supports are available for newcomers who are joining the school system for the first time. Tune in for helpful tips and resources!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, September 4
Maryam Masoomi was the leader of a music group, Sound of Afghanistan, which featured young women singing about girl power, education, peace, and women empowerment. Less than a year ago, Maryam and her group fled Afghanistan when the Taliban took control. After several hectic months, they landed safely in Saskatoon. Now, Maryam is working as a youth facilitator at the Saskatoon Open Door Society and is the host of Kabul Jan, a show that showcases Afghan music to Saskatoon residents on CFCR on Sunday morning at 7a.m. On this week's Global Voice, Maryam shares her journey to Canada and her goals and ambitions for the future.
If you're a regular listener of The Global Voice you may know our guest by his voice. On this episode, Michael Afenfia gets comfortable on the other side of the mic as he is interviewed by one of our new hosts, Doris Wang. Michael was the host of this show for one year but he was so busy interviewing other guests that we never had the chance to get to know him! Tune in to hear from Michael himself and what he's been up to.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, August 21
Maia Herriot and Dale Couet join us from Global Gathering Place to discuss their organization as well as the upcoming Ride for Refuge event. Global Gathering Place is a prairie settlement agency, providing vital services to refugees and immigrants in Saskatoon since 1998. Their agency serves thousands of newcomers each year, providing a diversity of free programs and services to match the diversity of their needs.
This year on October 1, 2022 they are hosting Ride for Refuge, a family-friendly bike + walk fundraiser supporting local charities who help people seeking refuge from danger, hardship, and abuse. Tune in to hear the incredible work they do in the community and how you can get involved in this event!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, August 14
Oyin Ajibola is the founder and managing editor of Immigrant Muse Media Inc., a media and tech company that advocates for immigrants and provides the information, insight and inspiration they need to thrive in Canada. Oyin publishes the Immigrant Muse Magazine as a solution to the information gap she noticed in the immigration and settlement sector based on her experience as an immigrant. She uses her platforms to advocate against discriminatory policies and practices against immigrants while educating the perpetrators and influencing change. On this episode we sit down with Oyin and dive into the information gap she mentions and much more.
Aired on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, August 7
Saad Hayat and Mubarik Syed from the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Saskatoon join us to discuss Eid al-Adha. Did you know there are two major Eids in the Islamic calendar per year – Eid al-Fitr earlier in the year, and Eid al-Adha later. Tune in to hear the significance of this holiday, as well to hear about all the incredible things the Ahmadiyaa community does in and around Saskatoon!
June 20th marks World Refugee Day, a day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe while celebrating the strength and courage of those who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. Today we hear from Soomaya Javadi, a freelance writer, human rights advocate, a women’s rights defender and a passionate Hazara woman from Afghanistan; a survivor who has many stories to tell. Today she tells us about the Hazara people, what life was like before and after the Taliban took over, and much more on this touching episode.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, June 19
On this episode of The Global Voice we are joined by Donna Heimbecker, Community Outreach Coordinator at the Saskatchewan Intercultural Association and Carrie Catherine, director of Reconciliation Saskatoon who discuss the upcoming Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation. Tune in to hear about the importance of this event as we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, answer the calls to action for Truth and Reconciliation, and work towards an inclusive Saskatoon. For more information, please see Annual Events | Saskatoon.ca
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, June 12
Julia Leng, a 3rd year BioChemical Engineering student joins us for an interesting conversation on culture, women in STEM, and more. She describes what it feels like to be in between multiple cultures, the benefits and challenges of being influenced by more than one culture, what it's like being a young woman in Engineering, and even her solo trip to New York! No topic is off limits in this light yet deep discussion.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, June 5
This week at Saskatoon Open Door Society we celebrate the legacy of a longtime colleague, mentor and friend, Saba Andu. Saba is going on her well deserved retirement after 35 years of service to Open Door and while her dedication to the community does not end here, we take this time to celebrate and reflect on her legacy at Open Door and beyond. Happy retirement Saba!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5 Sunday, May 29
Alivia Mukherjee is an international PhD Candidate doing research on climate change at University of Saskatchewan. She joins us in this candid conversation to share her story and how Saskatoon changed her life.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5 Sunday, May 15
Eid Mubarak! On this episode we are joined by Areeba Bilal and Daniel Kuhlen, members of the Media, Communications, and Outreach Committee at the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan. Together they discuss the holy month of Ramadan, Eid, interesting facts, and more. This candid and lighthearted conversation is an excellent listen if you're curious about what it means to be Muslim, fasting, Eid, and all to do with Islam.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, May 8
In this episode, we hear an inspiring story about helping others. Our guest Nettie speaks about the inspiration for her Shop-for-Free initiative that has and will continue to help many displaced people from Ukraine get clothing, groceries and other supplies they need in their new home.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, May 1
Alejandra Oviedo Ludena is a dedicated volunteer, masters student, and newcomer to Canada. In this candid and casual conversation, Alejandra talks about starting fresh in a new country, her experience in Saskatoon and Canada so far, volunteering and making friends, dealing with culture shock, and more! Thank you Alejandra for joining us and for all your volunteer work.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, April 24
Ishita Mann is the youngest Canadian to receive the coveted Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal. Canada's National Volunteer Week in April 2021, and Ishita was recognized by the Govt. of Canada and interviewed by CBC. She is an award-winning change-maker who champions equitable opportunity, mental health re-education, reconciliation, and re-development policy through the lens of collective impact. She is named Top 25 Under 25, is 1 of 10 NDP mentees, Shad Alumnus, and Amazon Prime's official student ambassador. Ishita founded North America's fastest-growing youth-led nonprofit called “YHYSaskatchewan” to help students navigate their futures with clarity and confidence. For more information, check out their Instagram!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, April 17
Christopher G. Veeman is a Saskatoon based immigration lawyer. We invited him to continue the conversation on refugee rights as we celebrated Refugee Rights Day on April 4th. Chris handles all immigration-related matters, including immigration applications such as permanent residency and work & study permits, refugee claims, appeals and judicial reviews and much more. Do refugee claimants have the same rights as other refugees? How limiting is the legal definition of 'refugee'? Listen and learn more about refugee rights from this interesting perspective!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, April 10
Refugee Rights Day is celebrated each year in Canada on April 4th. It is the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1985 Singh decision, recognizing that refugee claimants have the right to fundamental justice in Canada. We are joined by Helen Smith-McIntyre, Refugee Sponsorship Training Program Trainer and advocate for human rights including refugee, women and Indigenous rights, who tells us more about the importance of this day. Helen shares insights into the global refugee crisis and more in this important and informative episode.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, April 3
The City of Saskatoon recognizes March as Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Month. The month includes the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21) which is observed annually in commemoration of the Sharpeville Massacre (March 21, 1960) where police officers opened fire on a crowd of Black people who partook in a peaceful demonstration against Apartheid "pass laws".
Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner, Race Relations Coordinator for the City joins us to discuss the importance of this day. She shares many insights including that celebrating cultural diversity is not enough to do meaningful anti-racist work, and can sometimes overshadow it.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, March 27
Today we have a series of short documentaries made by newcomer youth as a part of the Saskatoon Open Door Society’s Radio & Podcast Podcamp program, where immigrant and refugee youth learn how to write, record, and edit their own episodes.
First, we hear Miheret (Mih-heh-ret) tell us about a trip she was able to take to a leadership conference in New Brunswick. After the break, we hear Ziyu break down the phenomenon of being ghosted by people you thought were your friends as well as Azwa interviewing her friend Danielle about the death of her sister and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada. That segment is heavier than the others, so please consider this a warning about its content. Thank you to all the youth who contributed their stories for our youth showcase!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, March 20
Danylo Puderak, Executive Director of Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan graciously accepted our invite to speak with us on the heavy topic of the ongoing and current situation in Ukraine. Danylo puts things into perspective for those of us who are listening in Saskatchewan, and shares ways the global and local world are coming together to offer support. Danylo also shares a beautiful song that has deep significance for the country. Click here to find the full song. If you are interested in learning how you can support in this time of crisis, call the UCC at 888-652-5850.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, March 13
Tuesday, March 8 marks International Women's Day which is celebrated all over the world. In this special episode of The Global Voice we are joined by Economic Development Specialist Dolapo Fadare who discusses the biases that have held women down for so long, the importance of empowering women of color and the exemplary women that have inspired her work with women and girls all over the world. Collectively, we can all #BreakTheBias!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, March 6
Effective today, February 28 2022, all COVID-19 public health orders have ended for the province of Saskatchewan. If you are uncertain of what this means, listen to this interview with Pandemic Chief of Staff Dr. Satchan Takaya as she walks us through the details, including how we can continue to keep ourselves and others safe. For more information, see Public Measures | COVID-19 | Government of Saskatchewan
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, February 27
Tune in for this important and candid conversation about Black History Month with Executive Director of Truly Alive Foundation, Anthony Olusola. Check out their website for the important work they do in the community including what they have planned for Black History Month!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, February 20
Ulyana Bolonna of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan joins us in conversation. Check out their website for information on the upcoming English for Employment classes they offer and more!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, January 13
February 6-12, 2022 is International Development Week, a national initiative to engage Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast with the collective work of ending global poverty, advancing human rights, combating climate change, and improving equitable access to health and education the world over. The Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation (SCIC) joins us to discuss the importance of this week along with insights on global issues and how they work to advance sustainable global development around the world from right here in Saskatchewan. Check out their website to get involved in what they have planned for the week!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, January 6
February 1st is World Hijab Day, a day to bring awareness and celebrate the wearing of the hijab. Ramlah Iqbal joins us to discuss the importance of this day and provide insights into hijab wearing. She explains why she chooses to cover and what the significance of that decision is.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, January 30th
Farkhonda came to Saskatoon four months ago with 200 other Afghan refugees. She came to Canada with knowledge, experience, and expertise with a background in journalism and social research while advocating for women's rights. Now, she is already spending her time giving back to the same community that supported her arrival. Farkhonda joins us to discuss the current and ongoing situation in Afghanistan, what it was like to leave with zero preparation, the incredible work she did back home, and more. She leaves us with a strong message about what the community should know and keep in mind when meeting refugees.
Thank you, Farkhonda for sharing your story and reminding us that we cannot generalize any refugee experience, as each individual deserves to be treated as such. If you ever get the chance to meet Farkhonda, be sure to ask her about her favorite movies or music!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, January 23
Anita Orgulu, Cultural Bridging Facilitator at Open Door, joins us to discuss the upcoming Threads: Cultural Conversations virtual conference hosted by Saskatoon Open Door Society. Anita and Michael discuss some of the events participants are expected to see and let us know how to get involved. Register for free to access the two day conference, January 19th and 20th.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, January 16
Dash Reimer (he/him) is a spoken word poet and hip hop artist. He has a decade of experience performing on stages across Canada, Africa and Turkey. Dash is passionate about community building and collaboration, having been a co-director of Write Out Loud for many years as well as an avid collaborator in playwriting, jazz combos, improv troupes, rap groups and everything in between. Dash shares his insights into the art form, community work, how his upbringing impacts the work he does today, as well as his beautiful spoken word (one so good we had to hear twice!).
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, January 9
Happy New Year! For this episode, Makenzie, coordinator and producer of The Global Voice gets in front of the mic with Michael to reflect on the first 6 months and what we are looking forward to for 2022. Makenzie and Michael enjoy reflecting on past episodes and discussing our favorite parts of the show. Thank you to all of our guests that have helped shaped the show into what it is, we are excited to meet all future guests!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, January 2.
OgheneRukevwe “Rooky” Jegede-Ikpen is a blend of creative juices ranging from photography, literature and music. Rooky joins us on The Global Voiceto discuss his journey as a newcomer to Regina, Saskatchewan, his talents, and more.
You can find his latest album "Worlds Apart" on any streaming platform!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, December 19
Listening to this conversation between Grace and Michael is like listening to two old friends. Grace joins us to chat about her settlement journey from International Student to Permanent Resident and hopes to use her experience to inspire other newcomers. She shares some of her culture with us as well as her advice for others in the community. Grace was so much fun to have in studio!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, December 12
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
For this special episode we are joined by Dr. Fatima Coovadia to have a conversation around Human Rights. Dr Fatima Coovadia was born in South Africa and immigrated to Canada as a teenager. She is an ardent advocate of human rights and works diligently within the community to build social cohesion. She is passionate about education and provides learning opportunities for individuals and organizations, exploring themes such as racism and identity. In 2018, Fatima was appointed as a Commissioner with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and feels immensely privileged to have this opportunity.
With us she discusses her journey growing up in South Africa and how that inspired her work today, equity vs. equality, vaccine inequality around the world, and her call to action for the community in light of International Human Rights Day.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, December 5
On this episode we are joined by the MCoS Multicultural Honours Award Winners B’Yauling Toni - Multicultural Youth Leadership Award and Neelu Sachdev - Saskatchewan Multicultural Leadership Award. B'Yauling and Neelu discuss what the award means to them, what they believe makes a strong Saskatchewan, and much more. Listen and be inspired by these incredible individuals!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, November 28.
The Executive Director of Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCoS) joins us to talk about this years Saskatchewan Multicultural Week from November 20 - 28. With the theme Together We Make Saskatchewan Strong, Rhonda discusses what a strong Saskatchewan means to her and encourages others to have similar conversations.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, November 21 2021
You wouldn’t believe that our last guest spoke no English less than three years ago, and now she’s speaking to us on live radio! Juliana Reinecken is an incredible individual whom we connected with through Saskatoon Open Door Societies This is My Journey program – a workshop series that provides Newcomers to Saskatoon the opportunity to share their stories and experiences through the art of creative writing.
Juliana was thrilled to have this opportunity to talk about her journey to Saskatoon from Brazil, her passion and academic pursuit of Health Promotion and Meditation, her advice to other newcomers and others who find themselves in a new country where they don’t speak the language, and much more. Thank you Juliana!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, November 14
Joy Sareen, an international student from New Delhi, India joins us to talk about his settlement journey, and his passion for studying, singing, and cricket. Joy shares a few songs with us as well as great advice for newcomers who come to Canada to study, but his insights are something we could all learn from. We were lucky to have Joy spend his morning in the studio with us, this is an episode you don't want to miss!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM on Sunday, November 7 2021.
Naheda Sahtout is an award-winning academic, researcher, scientist, and leader with a doctorate in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan. Having herself tackled an academic journey with a visual impairment; she is passionate about advocating for inclusivity, diversity, equality and accessibility in STEM, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities. Naheda continues to play an important role as a community leader as she navigates towards a more inclusive, diverse and accessible culture.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM on Sunday, October 31
In honour of Women's History Month 2021, the Executive Director of International Women of Saskatoon joins us on air to discuss their history and impact as an organization. International Women of Saskatoon (IWS) is a non-profit, grassroots and an equality-seeking women’s organization dedicated to improving the status of immigrant and refugee women and their families residing in Saskatoon and area by assisting them to become full participating members in all aspects of the Canadian society. Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, October 24 2021
"Support for Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) Affected by COVID-19” is a program designed to provide support to open or closed work permit holders and undocumented workers. This program connects TFWs with the resources available in the community to help them exercise their rights. This episode discusses more about the project, who TFWs are, and the enormous sacrifices made behind the scenes of these migrant workers.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5 FM Sunday, October 17 2021
Ali Abukar is the CEO of Saskatoon Open Door Society, a community leader & refugee advocate. He is passionate about social justice, addressing inequity through engagement in courageous conversations, collective action & support for social justice movements. Ali joins us to discuss the impact of settlement agencies, the Afghanistan crisis and how the community can support in times of crisis as such.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, October 3rd 2021
Knowledge Keeper and Cultural Advisor Judy Pelly joins us for this special episode on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Judy shares touching and informative insights about Orange Shirt Day, becoming an ally for reconciliation and the importance of togetherness in the community. Listen to her amazing stories about family, culture and surviving the residential school system. For resources, calls to action, and more information about September 30th, please see Be a ConnectR | Reconciliation in Saskatoon.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM on September 26, 2021
Peace Akintade is an African Canadian Interdisciplinary Poet, Public Speaker, and Thespian residing in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. Her poems touch on the impact of slavery in her village, colorism, growing up in Kuwait, Nigeria, and Canada, and relearning her culture in the face of colonization. Peace shares insights and her poetry with us in this incredible episode.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, September 19 2021
Originally from Pakistan, Zuhaib came to Canada ten years ago. Zuhaib and his family have helped a lot of new immigrant families and international students settle in Saskatoon. Among other accomplishments, Zuhaib is the recipient of the “Newcomer Entrepreneur Award” from Saskatoon Open Door Society in 2019. Currently, he is working closely with TAYFI and Saskatchewan Reconciliation to create awareness among taxi drivers and newcomers about the Indigenous people of Canada in order to bridge the gap between them.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM on Sunday, September 12 2021
Learn all about Saskatoon’s fourth annual Métis Cultural Days being help September 9 - 12, 2021 celebrating the year of the Elder!
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, September 5 2021
Back to school already?! Listen to this special back to school episode and learn about programs and supports for newcomer youth in school! The Settlement Support Workers in School (SSWIS) is an outreach program designed to help newcomer students and their families settle in Saskatoon. SSWIS connects newly arrived families with services and resources in the school and community to promote settlement and foster student achievement.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM Sunday, August 29
CEO of MASALA Model and Talent, prominent game changer, mentor, motivational speaker, community leader, creative director, Paula does it all! Paula led YXE’s first ever Black Lives Matter protest in 2016 and is a social justice advocate for the black community. Paula talks about her community involvement, the concept of beauty, black lives matter, racism in Canada and Saskatoon, and more.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM August 22, 2021.
Marina Iyeme-Eteng, popularly known as Marina Esiri, is a Nigerian- born Canadian residing in Saskatoon, Canada. Marina is a YouTube content creator who uses her platform to share information that makes settling into life in Canada more seamless for newcomers and foreign-trained professionals.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM August 8, 2021
From Newcomer to Pandemic Chief of Staff for Saskatoon, Dr. Takaya is inspired to help newcomers due to her own experience moving to a new country as a child. As co-physician lead for COVID-19 vaccines, Dr. Takaya jumped at the opportunity to help out with the very successful newcomer vaccination clinics, a multi-partner, inter-agency initiative.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM August 1, 2021
Yulissa Campos is an Ecuadorian theatre artist and founding artistic director of Ay, Caramba! Theatre, currently based in Saskatoon. Yulissa loves to write universal stories that showcase and resonate with the underrepresented voices. She celebrates her Latinx heritage in her plays and her podcast, “Latinas in Stoon”. Moreover, she debuted internationally with her play I, Frida at the M1 Singapore Festival in January 2021. Yulissa talks about her new play The Newcomer which debuted at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival.
Aired live on CFCR 90.5FM July 25, 2021