Saint Mary's University's Black Inclusion Strategy Working group details systemic racism within the university through a new report. Titled “Understanding the Challenges of the Black Community at Saint Mary’s University”, its been released after two years of research. The working group found a large failure and abandonment of institutional commitments to Black students, faculty and staff. You can find the report on the SMU Black Student Society's instagram page. Rachel Zellars took the lead on this report. She is a Senior Research Fellow at SMU.

A month ago, Harvey Amani Whitfield was appointed the first Centennial Carnegie Chair in the History of Slavery in Canada -- this is a position he holds at Dalhousie University, and the University of King’s College in Halifax. According to the announcement on the King's website, the position was created to: "...redress historical exclusions and chart a course for a more inclusive and diverse future."

This morning, I dropped in on Professor Whitfield in his office.

The days are cooler, the nights are getting longer, and that means winter sports are back including wheelchair curling. Nicholas Taylor curls out of the Lakeshore Curling Club in Lower Sackville. He tells host, Jeff Douglas, all about the sport.

Last month we heard from Denise Burgess, who's eldest son has struggled with mental health and substance use disorders for years, and her ongoing efforts to get him simultaneous help for both. And we heard from Pam Cooley. Her son, Eli, died of fentanyl poisoning in January of 2020 in British Columbia. The two mothers were connected by an addictions doctor Denise's son had been treated by.

Something both Denise and Pam spoke about was stigma around mental health, substance use and homelessness. And about the impact that has had on their efforts to help their sons.

Today, we will dig into that stigma a bit, and what solutions their might be to changing it. Davy Rose is the outreach coordinator with the Truro Housing Outreach Society. Here is part of their conversation with Alex Guye.

The Mi’kmaw History Month Committee has unveiled this year’s History Month poster -- and you can find it at mikmaqhistorymonth.ca

Near the centre, it says -- in Mi'kmaw and in English--underneath that : "Food gathers us together." And then there's a lot of other detail, and imagery showcasing traditional foods, and food cycles. This was focus was chosen as part of an ongoing effort to conserve food sources and protect habitats.

It was created by a team at the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre... along with artist and storyteller Gerald Gloade. And this afternoon, Geordy Marshall dropped into Studio A to talk about all this. He's a chef and a Mi'kmaw Language Specialist with the Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre.

The Royal Canadian College of Organists is bringing an event, called Interstellar 10, to five Canadian cities...

And Halifax will be the first stop this Saturday at the Cathedral Church of All Saints. There will be performances and a Q & A with Roger Sayer, the original organist on the soundtrack to "Interstellar," released in 2014. The award-winning film was directed by Christopher Nolan, and the score was created by Hans Zimmer.

Alex Guye headed down to the cathedral today to chat with Roger.

But first, let's hear him playing a bit of that Interstellar score...

Linda MacDonald speaks with Jeff Douglas about the concerns Lynn Jones raised earlier this week about reliability and staffing challenges in publicly funded homecare.

At least in her part of Nova Scotia, where service is provided by the VON. The longtime activist and advocate tells Jeff about some recent experiences. She says she's speaking out because she worries people who are not comfortable advocating for themselves will not get the help they need, reliably, when they need it. Jeff also speaks with Susan Larder.