Zoomer Week in Review

March 2 2025-Does Ontario Need A Seniors’ Advocate & Have You Had Your Shingles Shot? What is the role of a Seniors’ Advocate and does Ontario need one? Those questions were at the heart of CARP’s AGM this past weekend and I chatted with BC Seniors’ Advocate Dan Levitt after he delivered a keynote speech. Have you had your shingles shots? Over 90,000 Canadians aged 50 and older develop this painful condition every year, even though the vaccine is readily available. Less than 40% of eligible Canadians have received even one dose, despite the fact that Shingles can lead to lasting complications, including chronic nerve pain and vision loss. I talked with Dr. Vivien Brown about why you should get yours.

February 23 2025-Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert on the Return of Hostages & Retro Cooking with Chef Cori Doern Will the latest horrific revelations around the release of the bodies of four Israeli hostages affect the ceasefire? Or is the release of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas terrorists imminent and would it mark the end of the war in gaza? I asked Ehud Olmert, Israel's 12th Prime minister who served in that role between 2006 and 2009 and as a cabinet minister before that. He began his career with the ruling right wing Likud party but broke to the centrist kadimah Party under then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who he succeeded. On the one year anniversary of the October 7 massacre, just a few months ago, he presented a joint proposal to end the war with former Palestinian Authority foreign minister Nasser al-Kidwa. When we spoke earlier this week, he predicted that the Hamas terror group would offer to release those remaining hostages if the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire goes ahead. And What’s old is new again at least in the kitchen! Vintage recipes handed down from Grandma are making a comeback! Casseroles, baked pastas, creamy chicken dishes. But these retro dishes are being reimagined for today’s tastes. And the really good news is that they are usually affordable. I got some tasty tips about retro cooking from Chef Cori Durn.

February 16 2025-60th Anniversary of Canada’s Flag & Rethinking Cancer Drug Trials Were you flying our flag this weekend? February 15th marked the 60th anniversary of the red and white Maple Leaf and with Donald Trump’s continuing threats against our sovereignty and economy, Flag Day took on a special meaning. I talked with Historica Canada’s Anthony Wilson-Smith about the history of the flag that was first raised on Parliament Hill in 1965. And It seems obvious that new cancer drugs and the clinical trials that test them should put the needs of cancer patients first but according to a group of oncologists, in the last decade, many new treatments have had very small benefits. They have laid out the principles for improving cancer trial design in the influential online journal The Lancet Oncology. I reached Dr. Bishal Gyawali in Kingston.

February 9 2025-Buying Canadian Amid Tariff Tensions With US & The Pivotal Role Zoomers Play In the Music Industry Canadians are united in their response to the threat of tariffs from Donald Trump and the “buy Canadian” movement is growing. Retail analyst Bruce Winder joined us to explain what “buy Canadian” actually means and what you should look for on labels. And Rock and roll may seem like a young person’s game but many of the most respected and consistently employed roadies and technicians are well into their 60’s and beyond. Bob Czaykowski, known affectionately as “Nitebob”joined us from New York City to talk about his more than 50 years in the business.

February 2 2025-How, Where, When to Vote in the Ontario Election & Troubling New Statistics About Poverty Among Older Adults February 27 is election day in Ontario. With more than 10.8 million eligible voters, the team at Elections Ontario is busy behind the scenes, with just weeks to organize this rare winter campaign. Voting is already underway, and there are a number of ways to cast your ballot. And it’s also a good opportunity for Zoomers to earn some extra cash working the election. In fact, Elections Ontario is hiring 55 thousand workers for various polling station positions. Laura Sylvis with Elections Ontario joins us with all the election details. And New research warns there are nearly double the number of older adults living in poverty than Canada’s official number of 6 percent. The National Institute on Ageing is out with a new report on the social well-being and financial security of Canadians over 50 that highlights the connection between poverty and health. We reached Doctor Samir Sinha, the NIA Director of Health Policy to find out more about the survey “Ageing in Canada”.

January 26 2025- Cataract Procedures in Ontario & Bonnie Reichert's "How to Share an Egg" Having cataract surgery is stressful but even before it happens you can be faced with a number of options and fees. Dr. Tamara Daly, Professor of Health Policy and Equity at York University, spoke with Libby Znaimer about how to navigate your way through. And, First time author Bonnie Reichert says she always knew she would tell her Father’s story but it took her quite a while before she felt comfortable enough and strong enough to do so. We reached Bonnie at her home in Toronto about her book “How to Share an Egg” released on January 21st.

January 19 2025-A New Book About Chrystia Freeland & Tim Caulfield's "The Certainty Illusion" When Catherine Tsalikis started writing her biography of Chrystia Freeland four years ago, she worried that her subject could fade from public view before the book came out. Instead, publishers had to rush it onto the shelves ahead of schedule after Freeland’s dramatic resignation and break with Justin Trudeau. Here’s my interview with biographer Catherine Tsalikis. And How can you separate what’s real from the fake? How can you spot conspiracy theories cloaked in the language of science? Tim Caulfield hopes to help us resist misinformation in his latest work: "The Certainty Illusion".

January 12 2025-Selina Robinson's "Truth Be Told" & The Case for a "Damp January" It was officially launched as a campaign in the UK in 2013. Since then, the challenge of going alcohol-free has become popular around the world. Now, a new alternative of a "Damp January" is gaining traction. I spoke with Public Health physician Dr. Barry Pakes who is with the Dalla Lana School of Public health at the University of Toronto. And It was an unfortunate choice of words that led to an outsize consequence. Former BC Cabinet minister Selina Robinson was ousted from her job painfully and publicly after referring to the land Israel was founded on as “a crappy piece of land.” She says she was targetted because she is Jewish and her experience highlights the explosion of anti-Semitism around the world and inside the NDP in particular.

January 5 2025-The Alarming Impact of Smoking on Life Expectancy & New Year's Resolutions If your New Year’s Resolution is to quit smoking, researchers say it will extend your life expectancy. A new study in the UK quantifies the harm of cigarette smoking and finds it shortens life expectancy at nearly double previous estimates. British researchers have found that just one cigarette takes about 20 minutes off your life. 48,000 Canadians die of tobacco related diseases each year and smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in this country. We reached Lion Shahab, considered a top researcher in the world when it comes to smoking. He’s professor of Health Psychology at University College London in the UK where the study was done by his colleagues. And Many of us are ringing in 2025 with New Year’s resolutions despite a new movement called ‘Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day’ on January 17th. New research finds the older we get, the less we’re interested in setting resolutions. We reached author and time management coach Elizabeth Saunders for some tips on creating successful goals heading into 2025.

December 22 2024-Lawrence Hill Opens Up About "Book of Negroes" Ban by a London School Board & Lucy Waverman's Cookbook Recommendations Renowned novelist Lawrence Hill is speaking out after a local high school teacher was ordered to stop teaching one of his award-winning novels because of its use of the N-word. The London District Catholic School Board ruled that the award-winning novel “The Book of Negroes” could no longer be mandatory reading. The teacher who was told to stop teaching it, and told Hill about the order, has been placed on leave. I talked to Lawrence Hill about the teaching ban. And It’s the time of year for lists and this one will help please the foodie or home chef in your life or you yourself. I asked food guru Lucy Waverman about her picks for the best cookbooks of 2024.

December 15 2024-Missing Pensions in Canada & Stress-Free Grandparenting Tips for the Holidays A new report reveals a shocking number of missing pension plan members in Canada. In Ontario alone, nearly 200,000 pension plan members are considered missing, leaving behind $3.6 billion in unclaimed entitlements. And the National Institute on Aging report highlights the challenges to individuals entitled to unclaimed pension benefits. We reached Doug Chandler, an associate fellow with the National Institute on Aging to discuss the findings of the report called ‘Missing Pension Plan Members in Canada.’ And Some tips now on how to achieve no stress-grandparenting during the Christmas holidays. Sometimes, generational dynamics can create problems, but if grandparents take on a role of support rather than control, it can lead to a more enriching holiday according to the experts. Toronto psychologist Dr. Cranla Warren who’s been a social worker and family therapist for many years, is currently writing an article on this issue.

December 1 2024-Ezra Levant On His Arrest At A Pro-Hamas Demonstration & Supporting Cancer Care At The Princess Margaret It seems like the police got it backwards. Last Sunday, a group of pro-Hamas protesters went to a Jewish neighbourhood, staging an event glorifying the deceased terrorist Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7 attacks on Israel. Although the protesters were violating Canadian hate laws, police arrested Ezra Levant who was on site filming the event. I talked to him about what happened. And Like thousands of Ontario cancer patients, I am here today because of the treatment I received at the PMCC. This week, Zoomermedia held its 4th annual radiothon in support of the PMCC and with Giving Tuesday coming up, I talked with Dr. Keith Stewart, Director of the Princess Margaret Cancer Program about what our charitable donation will actually pay for.

NOVEMBER 24 2024-HOW RFK JR AS HEALTH SECRETARY COULD IMPACT CANADA & DETERMINING THE RIGHT TIME TO TAKE YOUR CPP His ideas have been called “Quackery on steroids." From the debunked claims that vaccines cause autism and fluoridation causes brain damage, the appointment of anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the US secretary of health and human services is considered a danger. And while that peril is south of the border, Canadian doctors are worried about the fallout here in Canada. Tim Caulfield is research director of the Health Law Institute, at the university of Alberta and a leading debunker of pseudoscientific myths and health misinformation. And It’s a major financial decision that will affect our entire lives in retirement and many of us don’t give it the attention it deserves. When to take the CPP? We think of 65 as the usual time but you can begin receiving it as early as age 60 or as late as age 70 or anywhere in between. Take it early and use it as you wish or defer it and collect more - actually a whole lot more. Financial planner Jason Pereira crunched the numbers with me.

November 17 2024-Charities Making the Biggest Impact & A History of Big Concerts that Took Over Toronto In this season of giving, it can be overwhelming deciding which charity deserves your donation. Most charities claim to make a difference in the lives of those they work with. But just how difficult is it for donors to tell if their donation really is making a difference? Charity Intelligence has just released this year’s top 10 impact charities to help Canadians find charities making the greatest impact. We reached Greg Thomson, Director of Research at the non profit organization. And Taylor Swift fans are converging on Toronto for a series of sold out concerts, over two weekends, drawing a crowd of 50 for each night. It’s considered the most commercially successful concert series the city has ever seen. We reached music publicist Eric Alper to get his take on the concert and how it compares with some other big Toronto concerts of the past that many Zoomers attended.

November 10 2024-HOW TRUMP MAY SHAPE CANADA'S TIES WITH THE U.S. & THE 2024 SILVER CROSS MOTHER ON REMEMBRANCE DAY The consensus is that Donald Trump's resounding victory will have a huge impact on everything from the price of groceries to the Western alliance. I talked with Conservative strategist Will Stewart about how Canada’s place in the world may shift with the new US administration. And Maureen Anderson lost both her sons because of their military service although they died years later. Sgt Ron Anderson took his own life and Sgt. Ryan Anderson died of an overdose after suffering from PTSD. I talked with Maureen, this year’s Silver Cross Mother, as she prepared for Remembrance Day.

November 3 2024-The Only Canadian Hostage Still Being Held by Hamas & Continuing the Dialogue About Women's Rights Judih Weinstein, a 70 year old Canadian-born Senior and her 72-year-old husband Gadi were murdered by Hamas terrorists while on their morning walk on Oct. 7, 2023, in Southern Israel. Their bodies are still being held in Gaza. Judih is the only Canadian hostage still being held by Hamas. Their daughter, Iris, lived a nightmare not knowing if her parents were alive or dead for an agonizing 83 days. Now, she wants answers from the Canadian government to act and secure justice for Canadians targeted by Hamas and is suing a number of terrorist organizations including Hamas and Samidoun. We reached Iris Weinstein Haggai in Ottawa. And For two decades, journalist and author Elizabeth Renzetti has written about women’s rights and has just penned a new book on the subject called "What She Said: Conversations About ­Equality". She writes about women’s rights being rolled back around the world and the continuing injustices like violence, loss of reproductive rights and misogyny but urges us all to keep the faith and continue the dialogue.

October 27 2024-Dr. Jane Philpott Wants to Fix Primary Care in Ontario & Exploring the Origin Story of Poutine Former federal health minister Dr. Jane Philpott will head a new provincial health team with the goal of connecting every person in Ontario with a primary care provider in the next five years. She’ll step down as dean of Queen’s University Health Sciences to begin her new role December 1st. Some estimate there were more than 2.5 million without a family doctor, and other studies peg that number even higher at over 6 million. Up to now, reforms haven’t fixed the crisis in healthcare and we reached Dr. Philpott to find out why she claims to have the answer. And It’s french fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds but where did this food combination originate and why is the world now becoming obsessed with this Canadian cuisine? Journalist and author Justin Giovannetti Lamothe explores all these questions in his new book Poutine: A Deep-Fried Road Trip of Discovery that takes the reader on a Québécois culinary journey to find the roots of this popular food.

October 20 2024-Challenge for Older Canadians Accessing Primary Care & A New Catalogue on Painter Jack Bush Many older Canadians are struggling to get the healthcare they need. And a new report by the National Institute on Ageing is sounding the alarm, finding access to a primary care physician may be even worse than previously understood. The NIA finds that nearly 5 million Canadians 50 and older are without primary healthcare and, with an aging population, it will only get worse unless the problem is remedied. We reached Natalie Iciaszczyk, a research program manager at the National Institute on Ageing. And He was Canada’s most internationally acclaimed artist of the 20th century. And now, a new catalogue on abstract painter and founding member of the Painters 11 Jack Bush has been produced. Written by Sarah Stanners, who has published widely on modern and contemporary art, this four box set is the first full biography of the artist, tracing his life from birth to death. We reached art historian Sarah Stanners who is an Adjunct Professor of Art History at the University of Toronto.

October 13 2024-Marc Garneau's "A Most Extraordinary Ride" & Preventing Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery He made history as the first Canadian to fly in outer space. Then he notched another first - becoming the first astronaut to be elected as a Member of Parliament. Marc Garneau went on to serve in cabinet through some of the biggest events of the past decade. He came to our Liberty Village studio to talk about his memoir, “A Most Extraordinary Ride.” And It is a common but debilitating complication after breast cancer surgery. Persistent pain prevents patients from getting back to work and resuming normal life. And it is becoming a larger problem, as more and more people survive breast cancer. Local researcher and pain specialist Dr. James Khan is launching a world-wide study to test the best ways to prevent and treat it.