Latest news with #InformationMorningNovaScotia
CBC
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Artists pay tribute to rocker Joel Plaskett on surprise covers album
Some of the biggest names in Canadian music are paying homage to Joel Plaskett on a new tribute album that was made in secret — without the Halifax rocker's knowledge. The double album titled Songs from the Gang — A Celebration of Joel Plaskett features covers from 22 artists including Sloan, the Sheepdogs, the Arkells, Mo Kenney, Alan Syliboy and Jenn Grant. It was all kept confidential before being revealed to Plaskett earlier this week at Ditch Records and CDs in Victoria, B.C., where he and his family were visiting. "There was this poster on the wall of this picture of me … and I kind of looked at it and I was like, I don't recognize this poster, and then I saw this vinyl beside it," he told CBC's Information Morning Nova Scotia. "Then we went to a studio out here to listen to the whole thing and just listening to all these folks singing these songs, singing my tunes, a lot of friends, it's really something else. I was laughing and kinda crying at the same time." The tribute was in part an early birthday present for Plaskett, who turns 50 on April 18. He said the artists featured on the album are his friends and colleagues, and to hear it for the first time and have it released within the span of a few days is somewhat mind-boggling. "I can't fully express what it means other than just to say a huge thank you to everybody involved," he said. "It's really something else." Plaskett's career spans more than three decades, beginning in the 1990s with his band Thrush Hermit. He later embarked on an illustrious solo career, releasing 17 albums under his name and with his band the Joel Plaskett Emergency. Known in the industry as a nice guy with a warm heart, Plaskett has in more recent years worn a producer's hat, making records in his studio Fang Recording in Dartmouth, N.S., even working with some of the artists featured on the tribute album. From Alan Syliboy's Mi'kmaw-inspired and drum-driven version of Nowhere With You to the lively harmonies of Reeny Smith, Haliey Smith and Micah Smith on Wishful Thinking, each artist puts their own spin on the Plaskett classics. Legendary rockers Sloan covered I Love This Town, a song oozing with references to Halifax culture, landmarks and inside jokes. The band's Chris Murphy said they hearkened back to the early days of Sloan for their rendition to give it more of a grunge feel. Murphy is a longtime friend of Plaskett and recalls discussing music and life after closing out the bars in Halifax in the 1990s. "He lived in the same neighbourhood as me, so when he started going downtown, he would drive me home and we would have these long conversations that would start at 2:30 in the morning," Murphy told CBC's Q with Tom Power. "Just like a romantic hang talking about nothing at a time when we both had nothing but time. I really romanticize those talks." Plaskett said it was Sloan that first gave Thrush Hermit a boost by bringing them on the road. There's even a nod to Sloan in the song they chose to cover, Plaskett noted, when he sings, "If you saw my band in the early days, then you'll understand why we moved away," referring to Sloan's decision to leave Halifax and move to Toronto later in their career. "To hear them singing it, I mean the whole thing, I'm kind of floored and my heart is really full," he said. "It's an incredible birthday gift."
CBC
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Why a university professor turned the TV show Ted Lasso into a course
The Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso tells the story of an American football coach who moves to England to work with a Premier League soccer team. Lori Dithurbide, an associate professor of kinesiology at Dalhousie University's school of health and human performance, is an admirer of the show who is taking her love of it a step further. She is using the show as the basis for a new course she is offering at Dalhousie next year. She told CBC Radio's Information Morning Nova Scotia host Portia Clark the course draws on the show's themes to offer a unique spin on coaching and leadership. Their conversation has been edited for clarity and length. Q: You're a fan of Ted Lasso. What inspired you to turn it into a course? I am definitely a fan. I think like most of us who've watched the show, we started during the pandemic and I just had a conversation with a good friend and colleague of mine when we were discussing the show and how much we loved it. She suggested I should design a course about it. And that idea percolated for a little bit, but eventually led to actually taking it seriously and moving it forward. Q: What is it about the show and Ted Lasso's character that lends itself to a course that focuses on coaching and leadership? One of the things I enjoy most about the show is that it just brings about a lot of conversations on different topics, not just leadership, but some social justice topics as well and areas in sport psychology, which is kind of where my expertise lies, and sociology. I think using that as an example or platform to discuss and learn more of the theory and philosophies behind these topics can make it kind of attractive to students. Q: How do you turn that into a course? Can you describe what it will look like or how you'll teach through the course? Essentially we'll be asking students to follow along with the series, and just using the examples in the show and not real life because it's not real life, it's a TV show. But using that as an example to really dive deeper into topics like leadership styles, coaching philosophies, the impact of mental health. The mental health is also a theme that's in the show. So really diving deep into those topics and the academic literature behind it and the theories. But also encouraging critical thinking skills and self-awareness. Q: Are you at all worried that some might see this as gimmicky? Once the requirements and assessments and everything are laid out, I think maybe that thought might subside a little bit. It is kind of an innovative way to have students engage in these types of topics. So I'm really hoping that that encourages students to want to participate and think a little bit outside the box. It is meant for senior-level students. So in addition to following along and watching, there'll be some reading of some research studies and some chapters and in learning about the theories and the philosophy and a lot of critical thinking and some essays. Q: The show also explores mental health issues. Coach Lasso, for example, has anxiety. How is the approach of kindness that we see Coach Lasso bring to his players different from what might be the norm in sports? The show really portrays a perspective that you don't necessarily have to be tough and too direct. And Coach Lasso really takes this approach of human first and kindness. And forgiveness is also a really big theme in the show. So I think he demonstrates through the show that you can still hold people accountable and have high expectations of people around you doing it in a kind way. And what that results in can still be really good performance, but also a very good team culture. So I think some of those themes would be pretty relevant to anybody who has participated in sports or has followed any kind of sport in the news lately.
CBC
06-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Q&A: How Nova Scotians can help prevent the spread of bird flu
Spring is in the air. That means more birds flocking to Nova Scotia and the risk of avian influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu. An estimated 12,000 birds in Nova Scotia have been impacted as of April 1, according to the federal government. Diane LeBlanc, former president of the Nova Scotia Bird Society, spoke about how to limit the spread in an interview with Information Morning Nova Scotia on Friday. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Q. We hear about the risks of bird feeders spreading diseases. Are these bird feeders a risk for spreading bird flu? Yes. The primary problem with bird feeders is that they gather all kinds of different birds together and that can be a risk to birds for avian influenza and other diseases. Q. So, if there are birds that are quite susceptible or maybe contaminated, then it starts to spread through various species? That's right. The big caveat here is that the typical birds that people see in their backyard feeders — the purple finches, goldfinches and song sparrows — those birds are unlikely to get this particular strain H5N1 that has been the problem outbreak since 2021. This avian influenza strain is unlikely to affect birds at your bird feeders. However, when you put a bird feeder out, you get all kinds of animals. What you get beyond the typical feeder birds are ducks, gulls and other water birds. Those water birds are at a much higher risk of getting avian [influenza]. Q. What about bird houses? Are they also risky? They don't attract as many birds together into one place and birds typically are not eating there so there's less likelihood of spreading. Avian influenza is spread through saliva and feces. I haven't heard that you shouldn't put bird houses up. The thing about feeders is that although it's not a high risk for songbirds, people need to be really careful. If you're near a chicken farm, a duck farm or even if your next door neighbour has chickens, you don't want to attract avian influenza into your yard. If it gets tracked from your yard by an animal or by you to your neighbour's yard, it could affect the poultry there. If you have any water birds at your bird feeder, you should take your bird feeder down. Q. Is the advice to take the bird feeder down, especially if your neighbour has chickens and to clean out the bird houses? That's exactly right. Take your feeders down. If you're near poultry or duck farming you shouldn't have them up. Even in the winter because of the risk of autoimmune disease spreading to those domestic birds. We hear a lot of people say, 'Well, I clean my feeders every week.' The problem isn't about your feeders or your feed, it's actually about the birds gathering together. You can put your feed around in the morning and one hour later have a bird come that has trichomonosis and they could spread it to other birds without you ever seeing it. Q. What about other animals that are attracted to feeders? There is some risk of avian influenza spreading to other species like foxes and cats. So if you have a cat, you might really want to consider if the cat goes outside. There's a risk that they could contract avian influenza through your feeders. Q. You see people holding out their hands with feed for songbirds. Are songbirds safe to touch? No. You need a licensed professional to be able to handle birds. It looks innocuous, but the best advice is to not touch them at all. Q. What else should you do to prevent the spread in public places? If you walk through Point Pleasant Park, you're going to walk through duck feces because it's everywhere. You want to make sure you don't track that. What I would do is clean my shoes really well and leave my shoes outside. Q. Is there any risk with bird flu when swimming around ducks when the weather warms up? There's been some cases of humans contracting bird flu, but typically it's not spread to humans right now. I'm not concerned about swimming. I would just say again about the feet that you might think that you're not tracking it but you have to remember this is migration season. Geese can be in your yard overnight and they can be carriers of the bird flu, so you just want to be really careful this time of the year.
CBC
24-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
CBC Nova Scotia wants to know: What do you care about most in the next federal election?
What matters most to you in the upcoming federal election? Voters will go to the polls on April 28, 2025. In the lead up to the election, CBC Nova Scotia wants to hear the issues and concerns are on your mind right now. Please fill out the form below to share your thoughts about your top issues. If you're willing to be contacted by a reporter, or be on a voter panel on CBC Radio's Information Morning Nova Scotia, please leave your contact information as well.
CBC
23-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Fewer Canadians travelling to Maine inn amid trade war
Social Sharing The operator of a coastal hotel in a picturesque corner of Maine that has long attracted East Coasters during the summer says he is feeling the effects of the Canada-U.S. trade war. Pierre Janelle, a third-generation innkeeper at The Edgewater in Old Orchard Beach, said he's been fielding an increase in cancellations from Canadians who are bitter about U.S. President Donald Trump's policies. "Most people that spoke said that they just felt the uncertainty made them nervous and so they were going to cancel, but they may rebook later if things settle down," Janelle told CBC's Information Morning Nova Scotia. Old Orchard Beach has been a popular summer destination for Quebecers and Maritimers for decades, given it's just a day's drive away. The resort town in York County, about 30 kilometres south of Portland, was even recently cited by outgoing prime minister Justin Trudeau as a place Canadians would choose to avoid this summer amid the trade war. Janelle estimates Canadians make up roughly 18 per cent of his bookings on average per year. He said Trump's repeated threats of tariffs against a long-standing trade ally and the anger he has incited by suggesting the country become the 51st state has had a direct impact on consumers' behaviour in the tourism sector. However, Janelle noted that the would-be vacationers he's spoken to do not target his family-run business for what's happening in the White House. "I think citizens on both sides of the border understand this is politics and they understand that it has nothing to do with the citizens. I think there's a warm relationship and I hear it on the phone," he said. "People say, 'We love coming there. We love coming to the United States. However, we're really upset with what the government is doing.' And so they're able to differentiate." Fewer Canadians driving south Nearly 500,000 fewer travellers crossed the land border from Canada into the U.S. in February compared to the same month last year, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The number of travellers entering the U.S. in a passenger vehicle — the most common way to make the trip — dropped from 2,696,512 in February 2024 to 2,223,408 last month. On the flip side, Canadian tourism operators are hopeful the trade spat will provide a boost to the local industry. Canadians once destined for the U.S. have been rebooking their vacations within the country. Nova Scotia's tourism board is even readying a new domestic ad campaign to "entice and inspire" travel to the province, "leveraging existing sentiment around Canadian vacations," a spokesperson said. Meanwhile, operators are also hoping the weak Canadian dollar will coax Americans into travelling north. 'We understand' Janelle said he hasn't adjusted the way he markets his business quite yet, as there is still too much uncertainty about how the trade war will play out. He had this message for Canadians: "We're going to be here when things settle down." Janelle said he appreciates why some of them have cancelled their travel plans. "If they're not comfortable coming, we understand," he said. "We understand their frustration and the pain that they feel. To have two good allies all of a sudden being adversarial, it just doesn't seem right."
