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For this episode my guest is Kathryn Zador, a resident in Long-Term Care at The Village of Winston Park. Kathryn is the president of the resident’s council at Winston Park, representing over 200 residents. She’s a natural fit for this important role, having watched her father’s career as a Mayor, and his advocacy particularly when it came to healthcare, after his career as a doctor. Kathryn’s own experience navigating life with fibromyalgia led to her determination to stay as independent as possible, and to continue to contribute to her community. She had a career as an elementary school teacher, developing the curriculum for her school’s first computer lab. Later, when fibromyalgia progressed further and she had to leave elementary school teaching, she started teaching Aquacise, creating “fibromoves” - a branch of aquacise specific to fibromyalgia, in collaboration with CALA. She has had to stay very self-aware, watch her own limits, and continue to advocate for herself. She shares how several facilities had failed her before she ended up where she is now at Winston Park, and that experience has made her a powerful representative for the rest of the residents in long term care. Thank you Kathy for sharing your story! This interview was originally recorded on Oct 8th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode I interview Lyn Heinemann of the band “So Faint”, in advance of their show kicking off their album release tour, Tuesday Oct 20th, here in Guelph at Sonic Hall. This is a bit of a super duo, combining the artistry of Lyn - an artist based in BC, and Ontario artist Hannah Georgas. Hannah is a fairly known name at this point, for her own music as well as her recent contributions to Broken Social Scene. Lyn is returning to music after more than a decade of space from the industry, having shifted to a career in Occupational Therapy/health care after the birth of her children. She is a beloved name in BC indie rock from way back, and her return is very exciting. We talk about her life in the years between, what led to her and Hannah teaming up for this project, and about our respective relationships with music and parenting. It was a wonderful conversation that made me even more excited for their show in Guelph. Depending on where and when you’re seeing this, you can still catch them on the final date of this tour, in Vancouver on November 6th at “Fox Cabaret” Photo credit Sean Sroka In case you want to know more, here is So Faint’s bio: So Faint is the collaborative project of Lyn Heinemann and Hannah Georgas, born from a chance encounter in a Vancouver recording studio and shaped by a decade-long friendship. After years on separate paths, with Lyn stepping away from bands, but still writing music for herself and Hannah building an acclaimed international music career that has recently seen her join Broken Social Scene for their latest LP Remember The Humans, the two reunited in 2023 to create the music they’d been quietly missing. So Faint’s self-titled debut lands with the kind of quiet confidence that makes its charms feel inevitable. The melodies are sticky in an unflashy, hard-to-engineer way, unfurling gently before looping back in your mind hours later. There’s a coziness to these songs, but it’s paired with a sense of discovery: crunchy guitar hooks and bright melodic turns slip into subtly shifting time signatures, nudging the arrangements just far enough off-center to keep things alive. It’s music that clearly understands pop structure, but treats it less like a blueprint and more like a suggestion. The record’s real momentum comes from the push and pull between its two songwriters, Hannah Georgas and Lyn Heinemann. Their sensibilities orbit the same melodic gravity while arriving from different trajectories, and the tension between those approaches gives the album its shape. You can hear the seriousness with which both approach songwriting, not in any heavy-handed way, but in the careful balance of instinct and restraint that lets these songs feel both effortless and meticulously built. This interview was originally recorded on October 16th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode I interview Don Bogle, a resident at The Village of Arbour Trails. Don is the president of residents council, and is enthusiastic and devoted to improving the life of residents, particularly through interesting programming like “The Arm Chair Traveller” a slide show and speech that takes participants on a virtual journey through many countries and cultures of the world. Speaking with Don it’s not hard to see how this came to being, as it follows a retirement spent taking people on guided trips, which had followed a career as a high school history teacher. Don has always been passionate about immersing people in learning, trying to step beyond a classic lesson in a book, and it’s cool to see him still figuring out ways to do it. I also liked hearing about the differences in his relationship with the US, having grownup near the border in Windsor. It was an interesting conversation and I’m so glad he shared with me! This interview was originally recorded on Oct 1st, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode I interview Brian Poirier and Dave MacKinnon of FemBots. For this episode I was hosting as one of my musical alter-egos Jenny Omnichord, in anticipation of our Jenny Omnichord/FemBots shows Friday Oct 9th in Guelph at La Poche, and Saturday Oct 10th at the Burdock in Toronto. While those two shows have passed as of this interview being posted here, they do have two shows coming up on November 5th in Hamilton at Mills Hardware, and November 7th in Brantford at zBTFD records. More details below! Our interview was virtual, but it was still a reunion for us - my friendship with them and fandom of their music goes back nearly 25 years, and it's been almost 20 since I've seen them perform together. They reunited to created the soundtrack for CBC television's "Farm Crime", and subsequently recorded a record a few years back, but somehow a Guelph show hasn't manifested. But it finally happened! We talk about their history, what makes FemBots FemBots, what has changed and what hasn't, and our respective love and struggles with touring Canada. It was a delightful conversation, and the episode is full of their music. We hope you enjoy it! You can learn more and follow the music of FemBots at: https://fembotsband.bandcamp.com/ Their upcoming show dates are: November 5th Mills Hardware Hamilton ON - w/ Ron Hawkins, and Lazarettes November 7th zBTFD w/ Dylan Hudecki and Nathan Lawr This interview was originally recorded on October 7th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode my guest is Gail de Vries, a resident at The Village at University Gates. Gail shared many amazing and emotional stories on today’s episode – born in Montreal with webbed fingers and toes, Gail spent much of her young life in surgery and in and out of hospital settings. There is a definite thread of strength and resilience that runs through Gail and her life, and a deep understanding of the impact hard experiences can have on youth. Gail used her lived experience to support young people throughout entire life, whether it was through her job as a teacher, a badminton coach, or just as a trusted community member. Even currently she is spending time socializing with and supporting youth as they come and work and learn at Village at University Gates. Today’s episode features a very emotional story of the loss of a family member, that may be upsetting to some listeners. I announce it in the episode as well, it begins at approximately 44 minutes. If you would like to skip that part of the story, you can jump ahead and resume listening at 1 hour 8 minutes, or an edited version is available on CFRU’s archives, https://archive.cfru.ca/show/name/Bridging%20the%20Social%20Distance/Bridging%20the%20Social%20Distance-CFRU933.20261006.120000EDT.mp3 Thank you so much to Gail for sharing! This interview was originally recorded on Oct 1st, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode my son Otis joins me in interviewing John Ferguson, president of the “ACAC (Ailsa Craig Action Committee”) and resident of Ailsa Craig at The Village of Arbour Trails. John gives us a thorough window into life at Ailsa Craig, the differences between his building, Arbour Trails, and the surrounding village by the Arboretum, as well as stories from his life growing up on a farm, his working life, his video rental shop and antique booth, and other adventures along the way. Thank you Otis for joining me and thank you John for sharing! This interview was originally recorded on September 18, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode my guests are Chris and Paul Robertson, fairly new residents at The Village of Riverside Glen. Chris and Paul take me back to how they met, when Chris was a participant in a beauty contest hosted by a radio station Paul worked at as a radio personality in Galt ON. Paul ended up transitioning from radio to work in IBM as a salesman, while Chris held a career as a nurse in Longterm Care. Her work gave her a window into the life ahead of her now, as she navigates the reality of living in care, before they had wanted to, in anticipation of Chris’ progressing Parkinson’s. I really appreciate their vulnerable and honest sharing. Thank you Paul and Chris! This interview was originally recorded on July 30, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode I interview Hélène Barbier, an avant-pop musician based out of Montreal. I reached her in advance of her Friday show at “Rats Nest” in Toronto, a show that kicks of a huge North American and European tour. We talk about the origins of her path through music, teaching herself bass alongside other friends new to their instruments, and how that has expanded and changed since the realities of people moving away, a pandemic, and a diagnosis that may change her the future playing instruments, and for now helps keep Hélène grounded in caring for her body and health. It was a fun chat, and the episode is full of music - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Hélène plays the Rats Nest (1426 Bloor St. W., Toronto) TONIGHT Friday Sept 18th, with opening act “The Film Critics”. 19+ $15/pwyc at the door, 8-11pm Check out Hélène’s music at https://helenebarbier.bandcamp.com/ This interview was originally recorded on September 14th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

This was recorded as a live episode, where I was joined by Dianne Chapitis and Peter Skoggard. They talk about their upcoming performance of “Choir in Motion at the Arboretum” happening this Sunday (Sept 13th) at 4pm. I ask them about this project, the origins of their work, their influences, the role of nature in art and dance, and whatever else came to us in the moment! Here are the details of Sunday’s performance: Choir in Motion at The Arboretum: Travel through the East Loop among Native Trees with The Choir in Motion: Dianne Chapitis, Ardeth Jarvis, and Peter Skoggard. Meet praying mantis, cicadas, hawthorn tree, and more through poetry, music, and dance. Sunday, September 13th, 2026 Meet at the Hales McKay Shelter at 4 PM Suggested donation $20 gratefully accepted Peter and Dianne are also part of the Saturday September 12th “ArbExpo” open house happening 10-3pm at the Arboretum that you can learn about here: https://arboretum.uoguelph.ca/education-events/ArbExpo This interview was originally recorded on September 10th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode I interview Ivadel Todd, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. We talk about the early years, the origin of her name, her path through school, meeting her husband at a dance on a night while he was on leave from the navy, and beginning their relationship through letter writing, (and even the letters were paused for a period of unknown while he was away as part of the Cuban Missile Crisis.) She talks about the years that followed, when they were eventually able to be together, his various careers, and about her stage of life now, moving in to Riverside Glen while navigating heath challenges that are reducing her mobility. I appreciate a window into how life changes, and appreciate Ivy sharing with us today! This interview was originally recorded on July 10, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode interview Shirley Bork, a resident living in Long Term Care at The Village of Riverside Glen. Shirley shares of her career teaching home economics in high school, her love and pride in her sewing projects, her enormous family (she's one of eleven siblings!), and the adorable story of how she met her husband, with whom she eventually went into business together selling shoes ("Bork Shoe Salon" is such a great name!) At 101 Shirley has had lots of experiences, and I appreciate her making the time to connect today. Thank you Shirley! This interview was originally recorded on June 25th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode I interview Eleanor Burchill, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. This interview took place over two visits, the first on her 101st birthday, and the second a week or so later. Her daughter joins us in the first half too. We talk about her love of Newfoundland, having been born there, about her schooling and then career in nursing, stories from the war era, and her journey raising her daughters essentially as a single mom. It's always neat to hear from people who have lived through this much history. Thank you Eleanor for giving me a glimpse into your life! This interview was originally recorded on May 21st, and May 29th 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode my guest chose to stay anonymous, she is a lovely woman living over at The Village of Riverside Glen, who’s lived in Guelph since she was a child. She’s struggling a bit with her transition to living in care, navigating double vision that she developed after a nasty fall, and she’s very honest about how much more challenging it makes things, taking away most of her hobbies and activities. She shares of her early days, living in Guelph, working and raising a family, and the five anxious years her family spent watching Guelph Lake be created, waiting to see if they would lose their partially-constructed family home in the process. In the end, they got to keep their house and finish it’s construction, and she loved their years near the lake. It is always interesting to get a glimpse into early Guelph, and I always appreciate guests being honest and vulnerable about the harder sides of aging. In my guest’s honour I’m sharing a photo of Guelph Lake taken by Guelph Outdoor Adventures This interview was originally recorded on June 18, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode I interview Karen Gunn, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen - she talks about life in the Windsor area, multiple generations taking care of each other at different points in her history, her career in nursing, her stretch of time living in California, where she met her husband before they returned to Canada. She also speaks about navigating her changing health - she's broken her leg many times in her life, and now she has to navigate the onset of Parkinson's Disease as well, which she worries affects her ability to share her story. She loves her family, and she loves the Dragon Boat Races as well, which was a big part of her later life. Thank you Karen for sharing your story! This interview was originally recorded on June 4th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

For this episode I interview Norm Shoemaker, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. Norm is 96, and was born and raised in Guelph, so it may not come as huge surprise that we bonded over local history! I learned of some places that were new to me (including the Guelph Casket Factory) and got a wonderful glimpse into a Guelph many decades before my time. Norm is appreciative of the experiences he has had in his life, and has settled in to accept the days ahead, however many there may be. This was lovely and I’m so appreciative of Norm indulging my curiosity! This interview was originally recorded on May 28 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com