This is Edmonton

The Edmonton teacher who was fired for being gay – and how he fought back against the province (Part two)

When Delwin Vriend’s legal battle lands in the Supreme Court of Canada, public debate turns ugly. And like it or not, Delwin and his legal team become the faces of the battle to protect sexual orientation; heroes to some, and villains to others. Host Falen Johnson and journalist Clare Bonnyman bring us behind the scenes of the fateful SCC case, Vriend v Alberta, and a ruling that breaks new ground for 2SLGBTQ+ people, but also breaks Delwin. Even after proclaiming “Ha-ha, I win,” he faces hard choices about how to handle the legacy of the case in his life.Want to listen to more episodes of See You in Court? Click here.

The Edmonton teacher who was fired for being gay – and how he fought back against the province

Delwin Vriend isn’t seeking the spotlight. As an introverted gay man, working at an Edmonton Christian school in the 1990s, he keeps a low profile. But when he’s fired for being gay, he knows he needs to push back in a very public way.Host Falen Johnson and journalist Clare Bonnyman recount the case of Vriend v Alberta, and the loud and sometimes lewd court battles that see a judge turn his chair to the wall when Vriend’s lawyers speak; newspapers plastering his photo next to a pic of a convicted pedophile; and a government scrambling to shut his case down.Want to listen to more episodes of See You in Court? Click here.

Zooming in on zoning consultation in Laurier Heights

Edmontonians are experiencing a massive amount of infill — but it’s revealing some cracks in the city’s communication. This week on the show, CBC reporter Katie Teeling looks at how neighbours are being consulted and communicated with about development projects happening on their street. They dig into a project in Laurier Heights, and how residents there have questions about how the city can better explain what’s happening and why.

Why Edmontonians add so much meaning to the mountains

Here in the city, we have a strong connection to the Rocky Mountains. Many Edmontonians even consider Jasper, kind of like a backyard, but we're certainly not alone in our love of elevation. CBC’s Liam Harrap did a deep dive into the country’s peaks and the unique ways people celebrate, enjoy and study them. He sits down to break down his show “Mountain Love."

From downpours to smoky skies: How Edmonton's festivals adapt to extreme weather

This year has been anything but normal for Edmonton’s summer festivals. Storms have already cancelled multiple outdoor concerts and shows, and smoky skies are now threatening one of the biggest festival weekends of the year. In this episode, we’ll hear how organizers are making contingency plans for bad weather. Plus, we'll do a deep dive into the work required to put on major music shows and discuss external factors that significantly impact producers.Part of this episode originally aired on July 9, 2025.