Humans, On Rights

Nadia Thompson: Celebrating 45 Years of Black History in Manitoba

Black History Month isn't just 28 days in February—it's a year-round commitment to education, connection, and celebration. We sit down with Nadia Thompson, chair of Black History Manitoba, to discuss the 2026 theme "Rooted in Legacy: Honouring a Century of Black History" and the organization's 45th anniversary milestone.Nadia shares the evolution from the Black History Month Celebration Committee to Black History Manitoba, a shift that signals their year-round presence in the community. What started as two or three events in 1981 has grown to over 45 events in the first week alone—a testament to growing community engagement and awareness.We're talking:Why Black History Month is like a birthday celebration—recognizing that while the struggle exists every day, February offers a dedicated time to highlight pride and achievementThe Craig Block and Pilgrim Baptist Church as forgotten pieces of Winnipeg's Black history, including their role in supporting railway porters and creating safe spaces for Black travellersThe explosion of youth-led programming through Black Student Unions across Manitoba schoolsThe importance of volunteerism and how just one hour a week can make a meaningful impactMoving beyond February: Emancipation Day in August, Kwanzaa in December, and year-round educationNadia reminds us that diversity in Manitoba schools has skyrocketed since she was young, when she and her twin sister could count Black faces on one hand. Today's youth are more engaged, more connected, and more empowered to continue the legacy of those who fought for a seat at the table—or better yet, brought their own table.As Nadia puts it: "We struggle every day. But in February, the world has given us an opportunity to highlight the pride of being Black in this world."Find out more about Black History Manitoba and how you can get involved (in February and year-round): https://www.bhmwinnipeg.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Helga Jakobson: A "Zero Waste" Forks and the Right to a Healthy Environment

When we picture zero waste, we often think of recycling bins or reusable coffee cups. But Helga Jacobsen sees something bigger: behind every piece of waste is a human story — someone who made it, someone who handles it, and communities who live with its impact.As Sustainability Coordinator at The Forks, Helga Jakobson is turning one of Winnipeg's most beloved gathering places into a living example of how community spaces can practice real sustainability. From her background as a transdisciplinary new media artist to her current work transforming coffee grounds into de-icer, Helga brings creativity and data together to communicate what's happening with our planet in ways people can actually understand and act on.We're talking:- Why protecting the earth and protecting people are the same conversation- How The Forks operates in a circular economy instead of the "produce, consume, throw away" linear model- Why setting "zero" as a goal matters even if you don't quite reach itHelga reminds us that sustainability work doesn't require perfection or pushback. Sometimes the most innovative solutions come from conversations with tenants over coffee, listening to Indigenous voices and water protectors, and staying hopeful even when the news feels overwhelming.As she puts it: "Everyone has the ability to create impact around them. So speak up."Learn more about the Forks' "Target Zero" project.More on Helga:Helga Jakobson is the Sustainability Coordinator at the Forks and is a Transdisciplinary Artist. In 2017, she received an MFA from AKV St. Joost (The Netherlands) in conjunction with courses in the Transdisciplinary New Media program at the Paris College of Art (France). She has exhibited, lectured and participated in residencies across North and South America and Europe. She was selected for the Emerging Excellence Award by the Manitoba Arts Council in 2019, has mentored through Creative Manitoba, Video Pool and, currently, MAWA. She lectures on material ecologies, eco-feminism, and sustainability in art. Her art practice often focuses on how to live on a damaged earth and how to make tangible the almost invisible and inaudible losses that are occurring all around us, from an environmental perspective.As CEO of a bourgeoning recycling business (REDO Waste), a Butterflyway Ranger for the David Suzuki Foundation and former Executive Director of ArtsJunktion (a creative reuse depot), Helga brings to her role as Sustainability Coordinator wide spanning experiences that help her to promote sustainability, with waste diversion and composting at the Forks.When she’s off duty, she can be found hiking and camping, gardening and cuddling her foster fail dogs; Wednesday and Huginn. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bruce McIvor: What You Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation

If your goals for 2026 include actually moving the needle on reconciliation, lawyer Bruce McIvor has news: you need to get uncomfortable.The Manitoba-born author of Indigenous Rights in One Minute joins us to cut through the performative gestures and explain what reconciliation actually demands. Bruce breaks down centuries of Indigenous law and constitutional rights in plain language—then challenges us to move beyond land acknowledgements to action that matters.We're talking:Why Indigenous rights aren't "special" privileges—they're legal obligations Canada made and must keepWhat Section 35 of the Constitution actually protects (and why most Canadians don't understand it)The difference between consultation theatre and genuine partnershipWhy feeling uncomfortable is exactly where real reconciliation work beginsWhat non-Indigenous Canadians can actually do to move reconciliation work forwardBruce reminds us: "If reconciliation is making you feel good, you're doing it wrong."Read Indigenous Rights in One Minute: What You Need to Know to Talk ReconciliationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patty Weins: Transportation, Safety, and the Right to the City

We sit down with Patty Weins—author of That'll Never Work Here, host of the That's Her Problem podcast, and Bicycle Mayor of Winnipeg. Patty's journey from winter cycling newcomer to city-wide advocate reveals how transportation choices connect to mental health, physical wellbeing, climate justice, and the fundamental right to move safely through our cities.We're talking:Why 30% of the population can't drive—and what that means for designing equitable citiesHow winter cycling transformed from a parking cost workaround into a movement for safer streetsThe hidden connection between snow removal priorities and gender equality in urban designWhy "trip chaining" matters: how women navigate cities differently than traditional planning assumesWhat happened when one collision on Wellington Crescent galvanized 54 advocates in four weeksHow Brazil's bike culture shaped Patty's view of car dependency in Winnipeg—and what needs to changePatty challenges us to see transportation not as a convenience issue but as a fundamental right. When we design cities exclusively for cars, we're making choices about who belongs, who stays safe, and who gets left behind. Whether you're a daily driver reconsidering that right turn at Sherbrooke and Broadway or someone curious about the freedom winter cycling can bring, this conversation offers practical insights into building cities where everyone can arrive alive.Connect with Patty:Website: PattyBikes.comBook: That'll Never Work HerePodcast: That's Her Problem Learn more:Bike Winnipeg: bikewinnipeg.caBycs (Bicycle Mayors Network): bycs.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Max Brault: Race to the Starting Line

December 3rd was International Day of Persons with Disabilities—a day meant to recognize the contributions and rights of people with disabilities worldwide. Today, we're sitting down with someone who's spent 40 years making sure that recognition turns into actual change.Max Brault—national leader in accessibility, author, and someone who lives with spinal muscular atrophy—doesn't just talk about accessibility. He's helped build the Accessible Canada Act, transformed hiring practices in the federal government, and now consults with corporations trying to figure out what true inclusion actually looks like. His new book, The Race to the Starting Line, cuts through all the box-checking and virtue signalling to explain why equality has to start long before anyone even gets to compete.We're talking:Why the Accessible Canada Act exists—and why the Charter alone wasn't enoughThe moment Stats Canada discovered 27% of Canadians identify as having a disability (not the 4% everyone kept citing)How organizations confuse accommodation with inclusionWhy "we're working on it" is code for "we haven't actually started"The difference between designing for people with disabilities and designing with themWhether you're building spaces, creating policies, or just trying to understand why accessibility matters beyond compliance, Max brings decades of lived experience and hard-won wisdom about what it actually takes to build a world where everyone gets to show up fully.Learn more: Max Brault's website and bookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.