Zoomer Week In Review

May 26 2024-Canada's Truck Problem & Cancer Diagnoses in the ER Have you noticed that most of the vehicles on our roads are very big and getting bigger every season? Eight of the top 10 are now defined as trucks and some experts say they are a health and safety hazard. Libby Znaimer spoke with HEC Montréal Associate Finance Professor Amir Barnea. AND It’s bad enough to get this news from a doctor you know well and trust, but receiving a cancer diagnosis in an emergency room is becoming more routine in Canada. That’s how one in four new patients find out. Libby Znaimer talked with critical care physician Dr. Jamie Spiegelman

May 19 2024- Dr. Eileen De Villa reflects on her leadership during COVID-19 & Life after Caregiving She became a household name as one of the key leaders who guided us through the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Eileen de Villa announced she will step down as Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health at the end of the year. She spoke with Libby Znaimer about her reflections on navigating the crisis. AND Nearly 6 and a half million Canadians do the same for family and friends - on average, 5 hours a day for four and a half years. We’ve heard a lot about the challenges of providing this unpaid care. But what happens after? That’s the focus of the latest series from Best Part Productions. Libby Znaimer talked with founder Brenda Rusnak.

May 12 2024-Anti-Israel protests are not peace protests & Liberal MP Pam Damoff describes toxicity in politics The late iconic anti war activist Jerry Rubin's son has written an article titled "This is definitely not my dad’s antiwar protest", referring to the current anti-Israel encampments at universities and elsewhere across the globe following the October 7th attacks in Israel by Hamas terrorists. Adam Rubin argues that his father and others in the anti war movement six decades ago advocated for peace and justice, unlike today where he says genuine activism has turned to violent extremism. Adam Rubin joins Christine Ross from his home in Los Angeles. AND She’s the latest in a series of politicians to step away from public life due to threats to their safety and mental health. Federal Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she’s experienced misogyny since the day she was elected 9 years ago. What’s even more disturbing than the chaos on Parliament Hill, Damoff says the toxic culture has spread to the riding le

May 5 2024-Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's Journey to Self-Acceptance & Jane Philpott on the Primary Care Crisis It’s not exactly a memoir - though the Prime Minister’s ex, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau talks about her struggle with an eating disorder, growing up an only child, and meeting Justin Trudeau. Her book is about her journey to self-awareness and self-acceptance. Libby talked with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau about “Closer Together, Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other". AND If there’s anyone qualified to figure out a fix for our health system, it’s former Liberal Health Minister Jane Philpott - currently the Dean of Queens’ University School of Medicine. She’s calling for a radical overhaul with one crisis at the core: the shortage of family doctors. I talked to Jane Philpott about "Health for All: A Doctor's Prescription for a Healthier Canada".

April 28 2024-Crossing the Trans Canada Trail at 50 & Preparing Your Lawn The first person to cross the Trans Canada Trail: 500 DAYS IN THE WILD, a documentary by the award-winning filmmaker Dianne Whelan who spent six years crossing the entire 24,000 kilometre Trans Canada Trail, mostly alone. She began in St. John’s Newfoundland in 2015 ending in Victoria BC in 2021 and has documented her trek across the world’s largest trail in her new film that’s now streaming. Preparing your lawn after the damage from winter: Itching to get your lawn green and lush again after the damage of winter that can cause long-lasting damage? We live in a lawn obsessed culture, some say embrace the dandelions others mortified by the sight of annoying weeds on their lawn. What are the best practices you can do right now to get your lawn in the best shape? We consulted an expert, Professor Katerina Jordan, the Director of the Guelph Turf Grass Institute.

April 21 2024- Canadian charitable donations dropping: report & National Volunteer Week Have you ever made any charitable donations? Do you still make them? Any? Or have you stopped? Many have as Nicole Danesi at CanadaHelps explains. AND National Volunteer Week that just ended is held annually as a way to celebrate the many who give of their time to help others in the community, who possibly would be in even more difficulty without volunteers. Bob Komsic spoke to a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels.

How a Runaway Orphan Became a Big Time Chef A new documentary-"Born Hungry"-tells the real life rags to riches tale of Sash Simpson, a runaway child from the streets of India, who was adopted into a Toronto family with 31 siblings before becoming a world-renowned chef. Libby spoke with Chef Sash Simpson about his life and why he decided that now was the time to make a movie about it. Are We Too Afraid of Cancer? April is Daffodil Month, a time devoted to raising awareness about Cancer.The all-consuming fear of it is still with us even though survival rates have skyrocketed. Author David Ropeik argues that this fear is also harming us. I talked with him about "Curing Cancerphobia: How Risk, Fear, and Worry Mislead Us".

An Elder Rights Lawyers Fight Against For-Profit Homes is the subject of new Doc "Stolen Time" Elder rights lawyer and advocate Melissa Miller is the subject of a new documentary–titled “Stolen time”-- that follows her legal battle against some of the world’s most powerful long-term care corporations. I talked with her about the film which chronicles her toughest case yet—a mass tort representing hundreds of families Are You Suffering from Tinnitus? Here's What You Need to Know Ringing, buzzing, clicking and hissing. Those are the kind of sounds you may hear if you’re afflicted with Tinnitus. The symptoms range from mild to debilitating and more than 9 million Canadians are affected. I talked with Dr. Yvonne Chan, Otolaryngologist-in-Chief, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health.

March 31 2024 - Religion in Canada & Ottawa’s Arms Embargo with Israel What Research Tells Us About Canadians’ Relationship with Religion It’s Easter Sunday and it’s likely that family dinners and easter egg Hunts outstripped church attendance as a way to mark the holiday. Formal religious observance has been declining for years in our country though about half the population still believe in God. And many people are closely attached to their religion but do not have faith in a higher power. Libby talked with Dr. Jack Jedwab about the state of our spirituality. Ottawa’s Arms Embargo with Israel Last week Melanie Joly, Canada's foreign minister, announced an arms embargo on Israel. But it turns out Canada has spent much more - over a billion in recent years- on Israeli weapons systems and they are being used to protect Canadian pilots, fighters, and naval combatants around the world. Libby spoke with israel’s ambassador to canada Iddo moed.

Cottage Country Prices Set to Spike in Ontario Cottage country prices are set to soar again as Zoomers look to switch family homes for country retirement living. According to a recreational property report out this week from Royal LePage, the national median single-family price forecast is set to increase by 5%, with all of Canada's provincial recreational markets seeing an increase in single-family home prices in 2024. Libby Znaimer spoke with Phil Soper, CEO and president of Royal LePage, to unpack this information. Save The Date! A Total Solar Eclipse is Coming April 8, 2024 The next total solar eclipse visible in North America will occur on April 8, 2024. The path of totality will cross over parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada, with millions of people expected to witness this spectacular phenomenon. Libby checked in with Bill Archer, a Mission Scientist with the Canadian Space Agency, to discuss this rare event.

Eldercare Evolved: AI Companions & Compassion Exploring AI companions in eldercare: Meet VIV, offering conversation and compassion. We discuss the latest report from the National Institute on Ageing and the transformative role of technology, featuring Catherine Phee's experience with dementia. Is this the future? Dr. Adriana Shnall weighs in. From Actor to Icon: Zelensky's Showman Journey Dive into the captivating journey of Volodymyr Zelensky, from actor to wartime leader, as we discuss "The Showman" with Time Correspondent Simon Shuster. This intimate portrait traces Zelensky's evolution from the bright lights of variety shows to the front lines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Explore how he transitioned from comedic actor to an iconic figure leading Ukraine's fight for its future. Join us as we unravel the personal transformation of President Zelensky and the pivotal moments captured in "The Showman."

UN Report finds Hamas likely committed rape during Oct. 7th massacre: This week, the UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict presented a report concluding that rape and gang rape likely occurred during the October 7 Hamas attack in Southern Israel. It also found “clear and convincing” evidence that hostages were raped while being held in Gaza and that those currently held are still facing such abuse. The UN was late to acknowledge these crimes and the fact-finding mission leading to the report took place largely because of the efforts of Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Director of the Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women at Bar Ilan University. I spoke with her when she was in town earlier this week. The Rise of a 100-year-old social media star: Social media star Mildred Kirschenbaum recently celebrated her 100th birthday. She’s been an online sensation since her 99th birthday when her daughter posted a video with her tips on living to her age. They were so popular

Older Zoomers Are Delaying Their Home Downsizing Plans: There’s been a demographic shift when it comes to Boomers downsizing from their homes. In fact, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing, Seniors are now less likely to sell their homes before the age of 85, a big change from three decades ago. Boomers are not expected to downsize in a meaningful way until mid-2040. Better health and lack of housing are driving the trend. We reached CMHC Economist Francis Cortellino who authored a recent study that confirms the trend. Toronto Funeral Homes Worried About Burial Shortages: Death is often considered a taboo subject, but funeral homes in Toronto are sounding the alarm about a crisis: a lack of space to bury the dead. Some industry experts predict space will run out in a little as 10 years. The dire situation reflects the current housing crisis, where land is a premium. We reached Kim Hunter, Owner of Humphrey Funeral Home to talk about changes in the funeral industry.

Homesharing program pairing Students with Seniors: An Ontario based company is making intergenerational living normal in Canada. SpacesShared is a home sharing platform that matches students with Seniors who have empty bedrooms and the company says it’s been overwhelmed by requests. With affordable housing more elusive than ever, this program is not only a win for students, but it creates some income and connections for Seniors who face isolation in growing numbers. We reached SpacesShared co-founder and CEO Rylan Kinnon. New Cars Zoomers Love to Drive: The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada has just named the 2024 car of the year. And the winner is: the Toyota Prius. And Toyota also claims other top spots. The awards were just handed out at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. Jil McIntosh has been writing about cars for years for various industry publications and she was also a judge at this year’s car show. We reached Jil to find out what older drivers want in a car.

How Canadians Are Enjoying Sex: On Valentine’s day this week, Sociologist Tina Fetner released a book on Canadian sexual practices based on the first ever survey of what Canadian adults do in the bedroom and who they do it with. It’s called "Sex in Canada: The Who, Why, When, and How of Getting Down Up North". And Libby started the conversation by asking how we are different from Americans. Ageism in Politics: This week a special counsel cleared U.S. President Joe biden of criminal wrongdoing in his handling of classified documents, But Robert Hur, who is associated with Donald Trump and has no neurological expertise, characterized the 81-year-old Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory”. By that point the President’s age was already a widely debated campaign issue. Is that partisan politics or ageism? Libby reached Larry Haas- a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, in Maryland.

The King's Cancer Diagnosis: There’s been an outpouring of sympathy and support since King Charles III revealed that he’s been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. At the age of 75, he was finally putting his own stamp on the monarchy after ascending the throne in September 2022 following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth. Libby talked about the implications with Suzanne Boyd, Editor-in-chief and Publisher of Zoomer Magazine/everythingzoomer.com Reforming our system of clinical trials for Cancer Patients In recent years, there have been huge innovations in cancer treatment that target the disease with ever increasing precision. Clinical trials are often the best or the only treatment option for cancer patients. But surgical oncologist Dr. Rebecca Auer argues that they are outdated and need to be reimagined to help thousands of Canadians.

What a new report tells us about Cardiac Arrest A new report from the Heart and Stroke Foundation finds that this potentially fatal event occurring outside a hospital is far more prevalent than we thought. Cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos tells us simple training could save lives. Are you exercising right after the age of 50?    Are you still sticking to your New year’s exercise resolution? And are you working out the right way? Author and personal trainer Igor Klibanov specializes in training people over 50 and as the title of his bestseller says: Stop Exercising! The Way You Are doing it Now”

Michael Levy's brother is still being held by Hamas. He shares his story: Like so many around the world, and specifically Israel, just mention October 7th and the nightmare of that day replays in their minds many times each day. Michael Levy's brother was taken hostage by the terrorist group while attending the Nova Music Festival and his sister-in-law was murdered. He shares his story. How accurate are the five love languages? It’s been 30-plus years since a series of books titled The Five Love Languages came out. Not to help someone fall in love but to keep a relationship fresh and growing amid conflicts, demands, and just plain boredom of everyday life. Dr. Emily Impett, a University of Toronto Mississauga psychology professor and her team of researchers were curious cupids who decided to check out the concept.

January 21 2024-National Non-Smoking Week & Ontario Launches New LTC Investigations Unit National Non-Smoking Week Quick quiz: What’s the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Canada? If you said tobacco then you’re right. With 46-thousand dying from it each year and National Non-Smoking Week upon us, Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society looks at how far we’ve come and also how much more we’ve got to go. Ontario Launches a New Long-Term Care Investigations Unit The province now has a team of 10 investigators designated as Provincial Offences Officers who have the authority to add more accountability in long-term care with the aim to help address the most serious forms of non-compliance. Will these 10 make a difference? Jane Meadus is a lawyer at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly.

Blue Monday and research about Seasonal Affective Disorder Blue Monday has officially been called the most depressing day of the year. It was dreamed up to help advertisers cash in on everything from travel to gym memberships. But the broader Seasonal Affective Disorder is when the post holiday lull, stretched finances, and poor weather with less daylight all converge. We reached Laura Cavanagh Professor of Behavioural Sciences at Seneca College and a registered psychotherapist. CARP's Survey shows Zoomers are hungry for travel Travel bug got you planning a big trip? You’re not alone. A just-released survey by the Zoomer Advocacy group CARP finds a whopping 86 percent of older Canadians plan to book an international flight within the year marking a return to the first ‘normal’ travel season in three years. Rudy Buttignol, President of the Zoomer Advocacy group CARP joined us in the studio to break it all down.