Radar Media

09/08/2023

Thanks to Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce for the profile!

The Members Spotlight series is to showcase our amazing members doing extraordinary work, proving that choosing a women-made business is a great choice! Sh...

08/12/2023

So while my Clearing a New Path Podcast is in Meta jail, I started poking around into ’options’. Similar to what Twitter/X introduced awhile ago, you can pay to be ‘Meta Certified’.

06/03/2023

NEW EPISODE!

June us Pride Month but it’s also Indigenous History Month.

While in Whitehorse last month, I had the opportunity to speak with folks doing amazing work in rural and remote Canada.

One of those incredible people was Lisa Gallant-McRobb. And she told me her story.

Lisa is a Cree/Metis women who has found her home on the traditional territory of The Kwanlin Dunn First Nation and The Ta'an Kwach'an Council.

A proud mother of 3 Tlingit children, Lisa has broken through the generational traumas that have plagued her family and she has bravely blazed her own path.

Coming from a life of addiction, abuse, neglect and violence, Lisa has risen up to become a voice for change, an advocate for our most vulnerable, and a powerful force pushing back against the systems that were designed to keep her down.

Working with victims of abuse and sexual violence, cooking with her catering company, the many many hours of volunteer work and contributing to the various boards and committees she sits on, Lisa has become a powerful force determined to give back to the community she loves, to change her world around her and to set an example for her children and her childrens children to follow.

Listen: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com/podcast/episode/1c229fe2/lisa-gallant-mcrobb-leading-indigenous-healing-through-trauma-and-triumph

NOTE: There is a trigger/content warning for this episode.

05/27/2023

NEW EPISODE!

Earlier this month, a protest got loud and ugly in the town of Parkhill, Ontario at the Drag Storytime event at the local library. The protesters were expected but what wasn’t expected was the presence of a group of q***r (and allies) motorbike enthusiasts, some belonging to the group the Wind Sistas. The leader was 70 year old Patricia Ginn or Sista Patricia.

She and her friends stood in counter protest, arms locked and escorted some of the attendees of the Drag Storytime, inside.

Sista Patricia has formed a group called the Drag Storytime Guardians.

Hear her moving story and some of the reasons she keeps showing up for the rights of 2SLGBTQAI+ folks.

Listen: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com/podcast/episode/29fc7870/sista-patricia-and-the-drag-storytime-guardians

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*Last week, the township of Norwich officially voted to ban all flags (except for provincial and federal flags) in the town. The lone female councillor, the champion for 2SLGBTQAI+ rights and the rights of all marginalized folks, Alicia Stubbs resigned.

05/10/2023

NEW EPISODE!

The Pride flag and Drag Storytime debate playing out in rural Canada is just another issue certain groups have hitched their trailers to.

Kurt Phillips is a board member of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network and a rural-based high school teacher. He was doing anonymous research on hate groups in Canada until he was doxxed in recent years.

He talks about the key players and that this issue is just the newest ‘shiny penny’ in a campaign to divide specifically rural Canada.

Listen: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com/podcast/episode/20c600cc/who-fuels-division-in-rural-canada-and-why-kurt-phillips-canadian-anti-hate-network

Subscribe to the Clearing a New Path™ weekly newsletter: https://clearinganewpathpodcast.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=028f94c95667442162bb8922f&id=ddfcc0aab9

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05/03/2023

NEW EPISODE!

You may have heard that the town of Norwich (Ontario) council voted to ban all flags except for the Canadian, provincial and government related flags. The council voted down proclaiming a month and also voted down creating a .

This isn’t new for the town of Norwich.

In this episode you will hear from Patricia Marshal from the Iisan- Ingersoll and area Indigenous Solidarity & Awareness Network (IISAN).

And Tami Murray is the President of the Oxford County PrideCommittee coordinating Pride events throughout the County of Oxford.

Tami says for change to happen, people have to be willing to learn.

Listen to the full episode: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com/podcast/episode/22e58e7d/pride-and-prejudice-in-rural-ontario-tami-murray-and-patricia-marshal

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04/26/2023

NEW EPISODE!

Many Canadian Indigenous communities are taking legal action to uphold the original treaties, as they were understood by Indigenous people who bargained in good faith, and in essence get their

RAVEN is a Canadian nonprofit organization that helps Indigenous communities fundraise the money for those legal challenges, that can often last many years.

Andrea Palframan is the Communications Manager of RAVEN and I suggested that some rural folks may fear they are losing something by these legal challenges. Andrea explained that folks stand to gain so much enrichment through culture and knowledge.

We also talk about the attempted genocide of Indigenous people and that our ancestors (both she and I with settler roots) are to blame. And that turning that shame into support and acceptance is the way to healing.

And we talk about the newest campaign involving a number of Indigenous communities in Ontario called “Protecting the Breathing Lands”

Listen to episode: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com/podcast/episode/ef1f0486/andrea-palframan-and-raven-supporting-indigenous-land-back-legal-claims

Support/Donate the Protecting the Breathing Lands campaign:
https://fundraise.raventrust.com/campaign/breathing-lands/c482116

04/12/2023

NEW EPISODE!

Proclamations and other powers rural municipalities are using to exclude equity-deserving groups.

Two recent examples: the town of Olds, Alberta eliminated proclamations saying they didn’t want to deny a request from someone who has a cause dear to them like ‘Save the Rainbows Day’ or ‘Save the Pandas Day’. And in Norwich, Ontario, councillors are looking for ways to restrict flying Pride flags.

It’s exclusion.

I speak with Dr. Jacquie Newman, a Politics professor at Kings University College at Western University, with a specialty in policies and gender.

Listen: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com/podcast/episode/250bc5cf/dr-jaquie-newman-how-some-rural-municipalities-use-power-to-exclude

04/05/2023

NEW EPISODE!

Kim English is a rural-based nurse, a nursing professor and a researcher with a specialty in rural and remote nursing. Kim contacted me because she wanted to talk about what she’s seen and continues to find in rural and remote care, for instance provincial funding models, focused on urban health care, when rural centres need a rural approach, with different needs for different resources, why nurses don’t stay in rural nursing positions and that racism in rural communities affects recruiting.

Listen: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com/podcast/episode/1bef45c3/kim-english-the-rural-and-remote-nursing-crisis

03/22/2023

NEW EPISODE TODAY!

Imagine that a municipal councillor or mayor, in your town, is under investigation for sexually harassing a municipal employee. The MOST that councillor could get is a 90 day suspension from council AND they would have the freedom to run in another election.

This is exactly the case here in Ontario.

There have been a number of egregious, documented cases of blatant harassment of women in communities. For instance, Ottawa, Barrie and in Kincardine, a male councillor called a female councillor, during a recorded council meeting, a c% . With the current legislation that councillor would only face a 90-day slap on the wrist and could run again in the next election.

Emily McIntosh thinks this is unacceptable and has started the campaign ‘The Women of Ontario Say No” which introduces Bill 5.

Bill 5 amends the Municipal Act, 2001 and the City of Toronto Act, 2006.It would permit municipalities (or counties) to direct the Integrity Commissioner to apply to the court to vacate a member’s seat for failing to comply with the municipality’s workplace violence and harassment policies.

Listen here: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com/podcast/episode/d8d177c1/emily-mcintosh-bill-5-women-of-ontario-say-no

EEqual VoiceThe Women of Ontario Say No MMunicipal Campaign School/ OxfordWWaterloo Region Women's Municipal Campaign School

03/14/2023

NEW EPISODE!

Four first-time rural women councillors talk about their first 100 days in office as municipal leaders in their own rural Ontario communities.

They talk about what their experience has been like both before the election, while they were campaigning and now 100 days into their term.

They talk about challenging stereotypes that rural folks may have about women in governance, the importance of clear communication and how that shifts power dynamics, putting the power back into residents’ hands. They talk about the privilege they have and what a privilege it still is to be able to run a campaign and that ALL of them would give up their seats to see more intersectional representation.

They talk about speaking up and out about racism, homophobia and transphobia that can often permeate rural communities.
And they talk about collaboration, working with and learning from each other and from many other rural women councillors across the spectrum.

Listen: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com/podcast

Subscribe to the Clearing a New Path™ weekly rural-based newsletter: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com



Kelsie Van Belleghem Alysson Storey CK Council Ward 6 Lindsay Wilson and Kate Leatherbarrow

03/08/2023

NEW EPISODE!

If you have ever had the pleasure of Gitanjali Aggarwal’s company you will never forget how she made you feel.

A self-professed ‘dream chaser’, Gitanjali has created a symphony of beautiful life experiences, both personal and professional, that are the heartbeat of her work at .centre . Working with rural women entrepreneurs is her passion and PARO’s mission is to ‘meet women where they’re at’.

Prepare to be inspired!

Link in bio to listen.

03/07/2023

TOMORROW!

Gitanjali Aggarwal is a bright light, a dream chaser; her name in Sanskrit is ‘collection of lyrics’. It seemed fitting to release our conversation on

Gitanjali has collected a long list of lyrical experiences, both personally and professionally.

She shares those through her work as business counsellor with .centre supporting

And she shares them with us!

Link in bio to subscribe so you won’t miss it!

02/21/2023

TOMORROW!

In 2015, three women were murdered in rural Eastern Ontario, by the same man, on the same day; a man they all had had a previous relationship with.

A coroner’s inquest was called and 86 recommendations came out of it. Pamela Cross wore a number of hats through the inquest and one resulted in a tool kit for all rural communities to help implement change in intimate partner violence in rural Canada.

Link in bio to subscribe to the podcast.

02/14/2023

TOMORROW!

She is a proud Indigenous councillor representing She’s the first Indigenous woman to hold the seat. is an amazing mom and fierce advocate. We talk about the emotional labour it takes to challenge systems, the inequities that need to be addressed and how she is modelling in action by bringing her son to council meetings.

Link in bio to subscribe so you don’t miss and episode!

01/18/2023

NEW EPISODE TODAY!

Have you heard of 'circles' or 'wisdom circles'?

Talking Circles originated with First Nations leaders - the process was used to ensure that all leaders in the tribal council were heard, and that those who were speaking were not interrupted.

Ame-Lia Tamburrini has been utilizing circles as a way of repairing
division and solving big problems in rural, remote and Indigenous Canadian communities, through her consultancy HUM Consulting.

Please listen to this important conversation.

Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/clearing-a-new-path/id1591915743?i=100059518834

01/11/2023

NEW EPISODE!

Belinda Clemmensen - Women, Leadership and Saving the World

Over the holidays this year, I took a connection break. That meant trying my best to unhinge from social media and work. I felt like I needed to rethink the podcast strategy and actually take a look at myself and what was holding me back, my own personal journey.

I watched the documentary Karen with and , two women of colour who host dinners with white women that they call . To say watching this documentary changed me would be a huge understatement. I URGE you to watch it, in Canada you can watch on (Link in bio)

It really made me look at my own complicity, playing nice as a liberal white woman, in my case, living in rural Canada. I had to sit in my still racist beliefs, my long-held, ingrained belief system of white supremacy that I was upholding by not naming it, and causing more harm and violence to women of colour, upholding white supremacist, capitalist, colonialist ideals like beauty, weight, hustle, wealth, success, accomplishments, sacrifice. I spent most of my life trying to chase those things (and not catching them) And worse, I looked around my own rural community and thought, I’m the one who ‘gets’ it, I’m anti-racist. Oh but I’m not. I’ve still got lots of work to do to dismantle the thinking and actively uplift and give power to, black and brown women and people.

And in walks Belinda Clemmensen. She answered my call out about rural authors and rural books, and while we did talk about Belinda’s book, Women, Leadership and Saving the World, Why Everything Gets Better When Women Lead we also talked about white supremacy, equity, intersectionality and where we go from here.

Belinda is the Founder of the .leadership.intensive

A changemaker herself, she believes that women are not only capable of changing the world, we will be a driving force in making it happen.

Link in bio to listen.

Walk with us let’s do the work!

12/15/2022

NEW EPISODE!

What are Physician Assistants (PAs) and why aren’t more Canadian communities utilizing them to ease doctor shortages and pressure on rural health care? They’re not recognized in all provinces, only and

I speak with PA and long term Canadian veteran (PAs have roots in the Canadian military) Eric Demers and Dr. Alex Nataros, a doctor advocating for PAs in where he has just put down roots himself in

LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/clearing-a-new-path/id1591915743?i=1000590200144

12/12/2022

It’s the first in the series of conversations about RURAL BOOKS, rural Canadian-based authors and/or books about rural Canada! 📚🎙

Ann Douglas is a best-selling author with 26 non-fiction books under her belt, mostly about parenting. You may remember her sage wisdom from her CBC Radio days.

Now her kids are grown and have moved out. She’s been researching and living out, the messiness of midlife. She interviewed 100 women from diverse backgrounds (including me!), spoke to several SMEs and reviewed 1000 articles and midlife.

Link in bio to listen to our conversation!

12/08/2022

NEW EPISODE!

It’s no secret that our Canadian health care system is bursting at the seams but what how bad has it gotten in and communities? And more importantly, what is the path forward? What are some solutions? Hear from two long time rural family docs and authors of the Rural Road Map: Report on Access to Health Care in Rural Canada.

Link in bio to listen.

12/01/2022

NEW EPISODE!

This is the first of a few episodes covering

The BC Rural Health Network brought together a number of citizen-led health advocacy organizations and gave them a collective voice to push for solutions-based health care such as decentralization. The group is making inroads on topics like travel coverage for rural and remote patients forced to drive for tertiary and often primary health care.

Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/clearing-a-new-path/id1591915743?i=1000588133010

11/17/2022

NEW EPISODE!
A proud from Six Nations of the Grand River, Onondaga First Nation, from is Deer Clan. Her words are wise. She talks about decolonized business, politics, both colonized and Indigenous realms and she talks openly, as she always does, about mental health and the importance of awareness and acceptance.

Link in bio to listen!

11/09/2022

NEW EPISODE TODAY!

This topic came from a newsletter subscriber, Ruby. She’s concerned about a new wind farm proposed for the area she and her husband plan to retire.

I spoke with Chad Walker, an Assistant Professor in the School of Planning at . He’s a researcher and teacher, studying the social ramifications of low carbon energy transitions, including things like wind turbines, wind farms and solar farm development, all across Canada and the UK.

He’s also done research comparing the politicization of wind energy, comparing Ontario and Nova Scotia. Fascinating stuff!

Link in bio to listen.

10/26/2022

This is such an important topic, particularly in .

This is part one of a two-part series on and specifically in small, rural and remote communities.

Thank you to Dr. Barbara Perry, Director at the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at the Ontario Tech University and to Étienne Quintal, Manager of the Online Hate Research and Education Project with the Toronto Holocaust Education Centre.

Next week part two with Kurt Phillips with the Canadian Anti-Hate Network!

Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/bias-hate-and-extremism-in-rural-canada-part-1/id1591915743?i=1000583968734

07/20/2022

NEW EPISODE!

Lynette Mader describes her career path as ‘the flight of the bumble bee’. We talk about her position at Ducks Unlimited Canada- Ontario, the organization’s work assisting individual landowners, as well as rural with and we talk about the critical need for accessible rural housing.

Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/clearing-a-new-path/id1591915743?i=1000570568560

06/17/2022

NEW EPISODE!

Zeleen Virani worked in the banking industry with a front row seat to how women entrepreneurs are often denied access to capital.

She left and is now looking to make an impact, creating thriving, accepting and diverse workplaces.

Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/clearing-a-new-path/id1591915743?i=1000566791130

*Zeleen also wrote a moving piece about growing up and her life experience. Read it here: https://www.clearinganewpathpodcast.com/post/power-by-zeleen-virani

06/05/2022

Calling all Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island! Take 10-minutes today to apply for Pow Wow Pitch and get $1k worth of free stuff and support and a chance to win $25K to take your business to the next level. Deadline June 21st. Apply now: https://www.powwowpitch.org/pitch/



BDC Jelly Academy Mitacs CanadaPost NACCA Export Development Canada - Exportation et développement Canada
Futurpreneur

06/01/2022

NEW EPISODE TODAY!

Kicking off season, Mabe and Blake join me from .rural.ont.q***r.youth (Rural Ontario Community for Q***r Youth).

We talk about why and how the group started, that being q***r shouldn’t force folks to move out of their rural environment if they choose to stay and that showing everyone empathy, compassion and acceptance is the path forward.

Link in bio to listen!

🌈 ***r ***ryouth

05/31/2022

NEW EPISODE TOMORROW!

Tomorrow marks the start of season and it coincided with my conversation with the new group .rural.ont.q***r.youth (Rural Ontario Community for Q***r Youth)

Mabe and Blake share statistics about acceptance reducing trans suicides and they also speak about their own rural high school experiences with homophobia. But they both want to live rural and not be forced to live in a large city to be accepted.

They both wish folks would treat everyone with compassion and empathy (I wish this too!)

Listen tomorrow, link in bio to subscribe!

***r ***rpride ***rs