Latest news with #CBCNorth
CBC
7 days ago
- General
- CBC
Veteran CBC North journalist Richard Gleeson retires
CBC North is saying goodbye and good luck to one of its own. Richard Gleeson retired Friday after 30 years of reporting in the Northwest Territories. He covered some of the biggest stories in the territory during that time. Now, as he heads off on more adventures, we take a look back at his career.
CBC
18-07-2025
- CBC
After nearly 30 years of reporting on the N.W.T., CBC's Richard Gleeson retires
Richard Gleeson, a reporter who once dumpster-dived for a story, is retiring from journalism after decades of work in the N.W.T. Gleeson moved to Yellowknife in 1996 as a reporter for Northern News Services Ltd. (NNSL) and started at CBC North in 2002. He covered some of the biggest stories of his day, from the trial following the shooting death of RCMP Const. Christopher Worden, to Giant Mine, to territorial elections. He became the senior assignment producer a few years ago, where he mentored and guided young journalists. Gleeson, who is still the boss of this author for another several hours, didn't want a story listing his accomplishments published. Instead, CBC News reached out to his various adversaries over the years to hear what they thought of his career. They either ignored the request, were too burned by him to speak of their relationship or wished him the best. So, here's the story Gleeson probably won't like. His work Those newer to Yellowknife may not be as familiar with Gleeson's work — his role as assignment producer took precedence over writing articles. Despite that, he's still written major accountability stories in recent years, including one on senior bureaucrats who travelled out of the territory during the COVID-19 pandemic — despite the premier urging the public not to travel; a story on a hotline to help people quit smoking costing $750 a call; and the N.W.T. legislature turning away health officials investigating an allegation that an MLA violated COVID-19 rules. And, of course, the one that involved the dumpster diving — when he broke the story that the people running Yellowknife's iconic Wildcat Cafe were buying fish from Kazakhstan and advertising it as locally caught. "He dove in the dumpster — literally dove in the dumpster — to find the packaging to prove that that was true," said Garrett Hinchey, CBC North's former managing editor. "I don't think you're going to find a whole lot of people who are dumpster-diving for stories in 2025." Gleeson also understood the often complex and convoluted structures of public institutions and how best to find public information in them. Gleeson would use that knowledge to help young reporters learn. He also passed on his belief in getting answers from institutions that ran on taxpayer money — standards he applied to his own employer, the CBC. How he got his start in the N.W.T. Gleeson moved to Yellowknife for a job at NNSL in 1996. "He was kind of exactly what we were looking for," said Bruce Valpy, the former publisher of NNSL and one of Gleeson's friends. Valpy said he thinks Gleeson was working for a community newspaper in southern Ontario when he applied for the position in Yellowknife. It wasn't clear if Gleeson knew where he was heading, because he suggested driving up to Yellowknife on a weekend to check it out. "I think he thought it was in northern Ontario. On the other hand, maybe he wasn't thinking about anything and he just saw the ad," Valpy said. Once he arrived, Valpy said, it became clear early on that Gleeson's objective as a journalist was to hold institutions — like city hall and the justice system — accountable to the public. "Because of his approach, he wasn't necessarily loved," Valpy said. "He basically came at it from a point of view that you're making a salary from the taxpayer and you have to answer my questions. Not always the best way for making friends in the North where, you know, one out of every three persons works for some level of government." CBC News reached out to the territorial press secretary to see if any cabinet ministers or communications employees had any dirt they wanted to share on dealing with Gleeson. The only one to provide a response was someone Gleeson has covered over the years — but he didn't take the bait. "I totally agree that Richard was known for his direct style and no-nonsense approach, but he was fair and tried to keep the story about the facts," wrote Shane Thompson, Speaker of the house and a former cabinet minister. "Because of his approach to his job, it helped develop my practice as a politician, especially as a minister, to get ahead of the story – good or bad." Emily Blake, a reporter at Cabin Radio, worked with Gleeson at CBC North between 2018 and 2020. "He always treated me with a lot of respect, which, you know, as a young female journalist, it's not something you get a lot," Blake said. He doesn't want praise Hinchey, the former managing editor for CBC North, said one of Gleeson's notable characteristics is how little he wants praise or recognition for his work. "I think it's really telling that Richard still doesn't have his profile picture on the CBC website," he said. Doing the job was what mattered to Gleeson, said Hinchey and "not to say that journalism is a glorious job, but the profile that came with that, he didn't really care about."
CBC
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
CTFN hosts Haa Ḵusteeyí Celebration in Carcross
The Haa Ḵusteeyí Celebration returns to Carcross this summer to honour and share Tlingit culture. Taking place from July 24 to 26, this biennial gathering rotates between the three inland Tlingit Nations: Teslin, Carcross/Tagish, and Atlin. This year, the Carcross/Tagish First Nation will welcome friends, families and visitors for three days of celebration. CBC North is a sponsor of the event. Nicole Welin, the Haa Ḵusteeyí co-ordinator for the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, said this year's event is about reconnecting and celebrating identity. "We are looking forward to having all the people, friends and family members that haven't seen each other in a while come together at Haa Ḵusteeyí this year and celebrate being Indigenous, our culture and our languages," she said. Welin added that this year's celebrations will include a mix of cultural expressions. "We will also be hosting some tattoo artists, one from Haida Gwaii and three or four traditional hand-poke artists from Yukon." Thursday, July 24, serves as the event's soft open. Volunteers and vendors will prepare throughout the day. Later in the afternoon, the public is invited to gather at 5 p.m. for a hand warming ceremony and opening remarks. Friday and Saturday celebrations The main festivities run on Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26, with a full lineup of performances, competitions and hands-on activities. Most of the activities will be happening at the Haa Shagóon Hídi learning centre. Friday morning begins at 10 the arrival of canoeists travelling from Atlin, B.C. Community members will gather to greet the paddlers on shore, marking the end of their journey. It will be followed by the opening ceremony. Weekend highlights include workshops, performances, an artist market and evening feasts. Visitors can also look forward to a fashion show on Friday and a tug-o-war on Saturday. This family friendly event also features a kids' zone that includes the Go For Literacy Bus from the Yukon Literacy Coalition. The event closes Sunday evening with a final feast and ceremony. Admission is free, and all ages are encouraged to attend this cultural gathering.
CBC
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Filipino Northerners hosting special radio show in Tagalog to celebrate Philippines Independence Day
When George Daliva was thinking of moving to Yellowknife, the first thing he Googled was: "Are there any Filipinos there?" Now part of the large yet tight-knit Filipino community in the North, Daliva — a broadcast technician for CBC North — and CBC librarian Zerline Rodriguez are about to put the Tagalog language on the airwaves. On Phillipines Independence Day this Thursday, the two will be hosting a one-hour special radio show at noon across the N.W.T. and Yukon. They plan to feature the voices and stories of Filipinos from across the North. "As a proud Filipino Canadian, I see this is a way for us to celebrate our culture and commemorate our Independence Day against the Spanish rule, which is our symbol of pride and identity," Daliva said. Rodriguez said the day is basically the Filipino version of Canada Day — and it's a big deal. "I think it's more memorable for Filipinos outside the country, because that's when you get to remember, 'OK, this is OUR day,'" she said. "Filipinos are scattered all over the world. But on that day, we are one." Filipinos make up about four per cent of the population in the N.W.T. and five per cent in the Yukon, according to numbers from Statistics Canada. Rodriguez said residents know each other, help each other and often share each other's struggles — like limited access to ingredients to make traditional Filipino foods. "It's like we're isolated together," Rodriguez said. Like many of the stories they'll broadcast Thursday, Daliva and Rodriguez have their own tales of moving North from the Philippines. For Rodriguez, it was about finding a lifestyle where she could work and be close to her family. She had been working in Quezon City for the Philippines' largest TV network while her family lived outside the city. "I was a weekend mom, weekend wife and we thought that, you know, when we're able to save money, we can be together as a family," she said. She always thought that future would be in the Philippines, but when a Filipino working in Yellowknife reached out, looking for Filipino employees, Rodriguez moved with her family and never looked back. Daliva, on the other hand, had been working as an electronics engineer and university professor. When he first moved to Canada in 2005, he lived in Toronto. When he couldn't find work in his field, he moved north to work for CKLB, later transitioning to CBC. Thursday's show shares stories from all three territories and greetings in Tagalog from 10 communities.
Globe and Mail
09-06-2025
- General
- Globe and Mail
Meta news ban could prove detrimental during wildfires, experts say
Since wildfires began ravaging Manitoba last month, Chantelle Senyk has felt on edge as she repeatedly refreshes Facebook and scrolls through alarming photos and videos of forests engulfed in flames and smoky skies. Although checking the social-media platform on her phone gives her anxiety, for Ms. Senyk, who lives in the northern small town of The Pas, Facebook is also a lifeline. She and her family rely on its community groups to get the latest updates on the fires, including evacuation notices. When Ms. Senyk's sister recently evacuated, a connection she made in a Facebook group was able to confirm her home in Denare Beach, Sask., was gone. Ms. Senyk is one of the tens of thousands of Canadians in areas affected by wildfires who depend on Facebook groups to find and share news about the spread, evacuation notices and community resources. But since 2023, Meta has banned articles from news outlets on Facebook and Instagram, a move some media experts warn could prevent critical information from reaching the most people during such emergencies. Wildfire smoke is affecting air quality across the country. Here's what you need to know There are currently more than 220 wildfires burning across the country, at least 97 of which are deemed out of control. Manitoba and Saskatchewan have evacuated more than 30,000 people, and over the weekend, new wildfires broke out in Northwestern Ontario, prompting military support. Archie McLean, the former managing editor of CBC North based out of Yellowknife, says rural and northern communities are particularly affected by Meta's news ban during wildfire season. 'Facebook use in northern, rural and Indigenous communities is much higher than in southern Canada. Facebook is like the window to the world: It's how they communicate with friends, how they get the news,' said Mr. McLean, who is an assistant journalism professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary. 'When it comes to wildfires, it's often rural and northern communities that are bearing the brunt of this, and they're doing it without news on their most popular and reliable platform.' Meta began blocking Canadians from viewing, accessing and sharing news article links on Facebook and Instagram in August, 2023, in response to Bill C-18, the federal law that forces online platforms to compensate Canadian news organizations. However, about a year into the ban, three-quarters of Canadians were unaware of the ban, according to a survey from the Media Ecosystem Observatory, a research group at McGill University that analyzes digital threats to democracy. Aengus Bridgman, the director of Media Ecosystem Observatory, says Canadians are generally passive news consumers who believe that they will be informed as long as they're connected to social-media platforms in some way. 'There's a very high level of people who don't know news has been blocked, so they might continue to think they're going to get the news they need when, in fact, they're not. Some of that news potentially could be life saving, but it could also impact behaviours in a variety of ways,' says Mr. Bridgman. Meta says during disasters such as wildfires the company launches a crisis response page on Facebook that posts information from official sources, as well as other relevant posts from local authorities and community members. 'It's simply not true that we're not providing access to vital information. Our crisis response tools connect millions of Canadians to official information from government agencies and emergency services, and governments use our platforms to communicate directly and in real time with their residents,' said Julia Perreira, a spokesperson for Meta. Where in Canada are there wildfire smoke warnings? Our map tracks air quality across the country During disasters and other emergencies, social media has also become fertile ground for misinformation. Throughout the devastating 2023 wildfires across Canada and last year's fire in Jasper, Alta., some trending posts falsely claimed that the federal government set the fires and intentionally did not provide resources to affected communities. Ms. Senyk says she's also seen some misinformation spread on Facebook recently, such as a post that falsely claimed two firefighters died in Denare Beach 'If people are posting things that aren't true, that gets everybody else worked up. They're calling their families who are on the front lines and it's creating more chaos when there doesn't need to be,' says Ms. Senyk. Mr. Bridgman says social media platforms have an increased duty to its users that they're failing to fulfill. 'When you're Facebook and you have a million users in a province where there are systematic wildfires, what responsibility do you have to them? How can you support the emergency response? My very strong sense at the moment is that there is either very few or no one within these large social companies who ask themselves those questions,' he says.
