The Jann Arden Podcast

Actor, educator, and community activist Sarah McVie joins Jann Arden, Sarah Burke, and Caitlin Green to talk about her run for Mayor of Toronto and the experiences that led her there. After facing housing insecurity and sewage flooding in her own home, McVie says she wants to change how the city plans and make residents’ voices count.

The conversation explores housing and cooperative ownership, community-led planning, TTC service and safety, youth engagement, term limits, ranked ballots, and protecting Toronto’s waterways. McVie also shares why she believes in meeting people face-to-face, listening across differences, and building a city where communities have more power to shape their future.

More About Sarah McVie:

Sarah is internationally recognized for her work in television, including Workin’ Moms and The Handmaid’s Tale, and on stage with the Stratford Festival. A published playwright and arts educator, including seven years as a lecturer at Carleton University, her work finds shared understanding and connections through deep examination of human behaviour. In recent years, Sarah was a driving force behind the formation of the Black Creek Flood Coalition, mobilizing residents to strengthen a community facing years of neglected infrastructure. With a lifetime of community service, volunteering, serving on boards, juries, and advisory panels, she continues to champion integrity, accountability, and courage in public service.Sarah was working on a degree in psychology at Athabasca University when she decided to put that work on pause and run for elected office of Mayor of Toronto. Her goal is to restructure City systems to deliver affordability, financial responsibility, and accountability to residents.

https://mayormcvie.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/sarahmcvie/

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Jann welcomes back high school friend Holly Fortier to delve into the complex history of Indigenous peoples in Canada ahead of September 30th, focusing on the impact of residential schools, the legacy of the Indian Act, and the ongoing journey towards truth and reconciliation. Holly shares her personal connection to these issues through the lens of her mother's experience in a residential school.

Holly also speaks about her work in the film industry, her passion for storytelling, and the importance of Indigenous representation in the arts. She also discusses the significance of teaching Indigenous history to children, and the need for self-care and recognition of Indigenous excellence.

More About Holly Fortier:

Holly is Cree/Dene from Ft. McKay First Nation, Alberta, was born in Treaty 7 Territory and was fortunate to be raised by cultural leaders, academics and activists. She owns a business that specializes in the development and delivery of Indigenous Awareness Training. She has been delivering trainings across Canada since 2007 to thousands and thousands of participants from government, corporate clients, educators, service organizations and first responders.

Her passion for sharing Indigenous history and culture rises out of her mother's inspirational survival from a childhood in Indian Residential School, a story of courage, resilience and eventual triumph. Holly’s presentations go beyond facts and statistics to insightful personal testimony delivered in a compassionate, non-judgmental way. Those who attend her trainings describe them as “life changing” where they learn things they have never heard before and see complicated cultural issues with new perspective.

Holly’s Recommended Links:

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality By Bob Joseph

https://link.amazon/B01iEyYeB

kinanâskomitin (Thank you in Cree)

~Holly Fortier~

www.nistoconsulting.com

www.twocanoesmedia.com

https://twocanoesmedia.com/a-mothers-voice/

https://vimeo.com/1077758553/d8f1b7aa59?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Support is available during Truth and Reconciliation Week. If you require support, please contact the 24-Hour Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.

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Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Indigenous Stories

(03:07) The Impact of Residential Schools

(05:46) Understanding Traditional Territories

(09:02) The Historical Context of Indigenous Relations

(12:01) The Legacy of the Indian Act

(15:00) Apologies and Healing

(17:55) Cultural Genocide and Its Effects

(21:08) The Importance of Truth and Reconciliation

(23:48) The Role of Arts in Indigenous Advocacy

(26:59) Looking Forward: Hope and Change

(32:12) The Journey into Film and Storytelling

(37:22) Indigenous Representation in the Arts

(41:08) Teaching Indigenous History to Children

49:06 Self-Care and Indigenous Excellence
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Jann Arden invites friend and politician Janis Irwin to discuss the current political landscape in Alberta. They discuss the rise of misinformation, the importance of empathy in political discourse, and the need for civic engagement, especially regarding Alberta separatism.

More About Janis Irwin:

Janis Irwin was first elected to the Alberta Legislature as the NDP MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood in 2019, and was re-elected in 2023. Janis currently serves as the Shadow Minister for Housing.



Prior to being elected, Janis worked for Alberta Education as the Executive Director for High School Curriculum. She started her career in education as a high school teacher and vice principal in rural Alberta.



Janis holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Alberta and a master’s degree from the University of Calgary. Janis loves being outside and spending time with her cats Oregano and Basil.

Links from Janis:

For Alberta, For Canada – resources from the Alberta NDP: https://foralbertaforcanada.ca/

Our Voice, Our Vote – Treaty 6’s stance on the referendum: https://www.treatysix.org/referendum

Alberta’s Voice – overview of the referendum:

https://albertasvoice.ca/

Know the Nine – breaks down the nine questions:

https://knowthenine.ca/

Forever Canadian – all about Question 10, staying in Canada:

https://www.forever-canadian.ca/en

Alberta NDP: Janis IrwinAlberta NDP Caucus: Janis Irwin MLA profileLegislative Assembly of Alberta: Current MLAs

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Context of Alberta's Political Landscape

(04:47) Conversations with Constituents: Empathy and Understanding

(10:21) The Role of Misinformation and Fear in Politics

(14:46) The Importance of Voting and Civic Engagement

(20:04) Financial Insecurity and Its Impact on Political Ideology

(24:52) The Need for a Vision in Politics

(30:01) Community, Support, and Self-Care in Politics

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On this sentimental September afternoon, Jann reflects on her song Ode to a Friend off her record Happy?, released on September 23, 1997 - 30 years ago next year! The song was released as a single in 1998 and received important recognition for the writing in Jann’s 1998 JUNO nomination for Songwriter of the Year.

Jann reflects on her experiences in the studio letting some tears flow, the special guest drummer from the Traveling Wilbury's, and the bittersweet nature of friendships, and the impact of music on our lives.

Jann also cited this Sting song...have a listen and let us know what you think!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLVq0IAzh1A

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This week, Jann welcomes the legendary Canadian blues guitarist Colin James. They discuss Colin's journey in writing his memoir Playing the Changes, reflecting on his childhood, family dynamics, and the early days of his music career. Colin shares the pivotal moments that shaped his life and career. He also reflects on growing up with the music industry and what it’s like to have a career as a musician for four decades!

More about Colin James:

Colin James OBC is one of Canada’s most beloved musicians. With twenty-one studio albums, eight Juno Awards, thirty-one Maple Blues Awards and multi-platinum sales, he continues to gain legions of fans around the world with each new record release and his sold-out tours. He’s attained seven gold-certified albums during his career, including four platinum albums and two double platinum albums.
Over the years Colin has worked with some of music’s most revered artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Albert Collins, Pops Staples, Robert Cray, Albert King, Keith Richards and Buddy Guy, to name but a few.

In 2013, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and in 2024 was appointed to the Order of British Columbia for his contribution to shaping Canadian music.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/780383/playing-the-changes-by-colin-james/9781039013261

⁠https://www.indigo.ca/products/playing-the-changes-a-musicians-memoir⁠

https://link.amazon/B0ayagqjf

Get Tickets to Gatsby Redux at Harboufront Centre:

Jann and Sarah mentioned Gatsby Redux at Harbourfront Centre, an immersive outdoor performance that reimagines F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary masterpiece through dance September 27th & 28th.

Gatsby Redux

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