Last week, Health Canada gave the green light to a long-awaited drug that slows the progression of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Lecanemab is the first approved medication that targets the buildup of amyloid plaque in the brain, believed to be an underlying cause of Alzheimer's.

For patients and their loved ones across the country, the approval could not have come fast enough. According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, there are close to 800,000 people in the country living with some form of dementia right now — a number that’s expected to hit 1 million by 2030.

Dr. Howard Chertkow is a senior scientist at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, and one of Canada’s leading experts on dementia. He joins us on tonight’s Closer Look to discuss the new drug — but also why he believes this could be a “turnaround decade” in the treatment, prevention and early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

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Should alcohol bottles contain cancer warning labels?

That controversial question was at the heart of a recent Senate debate over Bill S-202, which, if passed, would require liquor packaging in Canada to feature cigarette-style warnings.

The Canadian Cancer Society says consuming approximately three drinks per day could double the risk of developing cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus, and increase the risk of colorectal and breast cancer by one-and-a-half times.

But is that risk serious enough to warrant warning labels on all alcohol products?

Dan Malleck doesn’t think so. The chair of Health Sciences at Brock University, and a leading researcher on alcohol policy in Canada, says warning labels would “present a highly unbalanced and distorted understanding of the effects of alcohol on the human body and, more importantly, on human life.”

Malleck, who recently testified at the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, is our guest on tonight’s Closer Look podcast.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

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Big bats equal big bucks.

The Blue Jays’ thrilling comeback victory in Game 7 of the ALCS didn’t just propel the team into the World Series. It set up the city of Toronto for a huge economic score.

Hotels, restaurants, transit services and local tourist hot spots will rake in millions of dollars in extra revenue when fans flock to Toronto for Games 1 and 2 of the Fall Classic, which starts Friday night at Rogers Centre.

Will it compare to the massive economic spinoffs from Taylor Swift’s Toronto concerts last November? We’ll soon find out.

Joining us on tonight’s Closer Look podcast is Kelly Jackson, vice-president of Destination Development with Destination Toronto. She also happens to be a massive Jays fan.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

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A rare chance to draw back the curtain this week on Inside the Village as Frisco and Scott go one-on-one with retired Ontario judge Norm Douglas. After years as a respected prosecutor who then served on the bench, Douglas has penned his first book: You Be The Judge. Inspired by the visits he used to make to high school classes, the book recounts the details of 24 cases from his career — and asks the reader to decide. In a wide-ranging interview, Douglas shares his thoughts on numerous hot-button topics, from the state of the country’s bail system to Premier Doug’s pursuit of “tough” and “like-minded” judges. On a less serious note, we also discuss what “Stormin’ Norman” does for fun: impersonate Elvis. Also on the podcast: a love story 75 years in the making.

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On this episode of Inside the Village, we really take you Inside the Village — to talk about a massive project that Village Media has been toiling away at behind the scenes. It’s called SPACES, a new kind of social media network designed to be safe and civil and 100 per cent community-powered. Simply put, SPACES is our attempt to bring back genuine local engagement, helping residents connect even deeper with the people, places, events and traditions that make their hometown so special. Joining us to talk all about it is Village Media CEO Jeff Elgie. Full disclosure: we’ve been asking the boss to come on our podcast for more than a year, and he finally said yes. Along with SPACES, our wide-ranging conversation touches on the state of the media industry, why the Village model works, and who he likes better: Frisco or Scott? Also on this episode: a big welcome to our latest addition to the Village family, MiltonToday.

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Remember when measles were pretty much eradicated? So much for that. The number of confirmed cases in Canada has now reached 40 — more than three times the number in 2023. Why the resurgence? A growing number of kids simply aren’t getting vaccinated like they used to. The spike in cases comes just as public health agencies across the province are cracking down on elementary and high school students whose immunizations are not up to date, including shots for mumps, measles and rubella. In recent weeks, thousands of kids have received letters in the mail, warning they’ll be suspended for 20 days if they don’t roll up their sleeves (or if their parents don’t fill out the necessary exemption forms). Joining Scott and Frisco to break it all down is Dr. Dawn Bowdish, an associate professor of medicine at McMaster University. Also on the podcast: Should Highway 400 be renamed in honour of the late Gordon Lightfoot? “Carefree Highway, let me slip away on you…”

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Nearly four years ago, provincial regulators started asking for public feedback on an interesting question: Should Ontario allow human composting? Although it’s legal in a handful of U.S. states, no Canadian jurisdiction has given the green light to this greener alternative to burial and cremation. Could Ontario be the first? To better understand how human composting works — and why it’s slowly gaining popularity — Frisco and Scott spend some time talking to Morgan Yarborough of Seattle-based Recompose, the first funeral parlour in America to allow it. Spoiler alert: a typical composted body from her facility fills the back of a pickup truck. Also on this week’s episode: A huge congratulations to The Trillium, and a big welcome to Oakville News!

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More and more companies are adopting a four-day work week to help reduce employee burnout and increase productivity — and the idea appears to be working. A new report from the non-profit think tank Infinite Potential found that only nine per cent of employees report feeling burned out at organizations that have implemented a reduced schedule at the same pay, compared to 41 per cent at workplaces with a standard 40-hour week. Joining Frisco and Scott to talk work-life balance is Joe O’Connor, CEO of the Toronto-based Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence. Also on the podcast: Is it time to allow composting of dead bodies?

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The numbers are staggering. In Ontario alone, more than 50 vehicles are stolen every single day. For governments of all levels, combating the problem has become a top priority. Premier Doug Ford recently warned car thieves everywhere that “we’re coming after you,” and this week, the Trudeau government pledged $15-million to fight the growing problem across the country. Joining us this week to explain the gravity of the crisis — and why it’s gotten so much worse in recent years — is Bryan Gast, a former OPP officer and now vice-president of investigative services at Équité Association. Gast also offers some handy tips on how car owners can better protect their wheels from wily thieves. Also on the show: A trip down memory lane with some of Village Media’s most memorable Random Acts of Kindness.

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When it comes to fighting homelessness, no idea is a bad idea. But this one is pretty good: building affordable housing — “on stilts” — over city-owned parking lots. Simply put, a municipality can lease a lot to a developer but still keep the parking spaces. Cambridge councillor Scott Hamilton put forward the novel concept at a recent meeting, and although it was voted down by a 5-4 margin, the idea has spread to other municipalities in Ontario. Hamilton joins Scott and Frisco to talk about his idea, along with Brian Doucet, an associate professor of planning at the University of Waterloo. Also on the podcast: A war of words between two Ontario college presidents — triggered by comments made on last week’s episode of Inside the Village. You may want to plug your ears.

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This week on Inside the Village, we dedicate another episode to a controversial subject that continues to generate plenty of headlines: international students. The federal government is determined to slash the number of student visas handed out every year — including by up to 50 per cent in Ontario. But for many cash-strapped colleges, the cap itself isn’t the worst news. Here to explain the devil in the details is David Orazietti, the president of Sault College — and a former Ontario cabinet minister under Kathleen Wynne. Spoiler alert: Orazietti is digging in for a long fight with the feds. Also on the podcast: Welcome FlamboroughToday! Village Media’s latest local news launch was a huge success (with no unforeseen circumcisions).

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On this week's episode of Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott sit down for an in-depth conversation with former NHL coach of the year, Memorial Cup Champion — and now author — Ted Nolan. His new book, Life in Two Worlds: A Coach’s Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back, is a brutally honest recollection of his life at the highest levels of our national game, and the racism he endured at points along the way. At a time when the country is grappling with the concept of truth and reconciliation, Nolan’s book is a must-read — and this interview is a must-listen. Also on the podcast: Village Media is expanding yet again, this time to Flamborough. The new site goes live Feb. 6!

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Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith are back for another episode of Inside the Village. The feds have announced they are putting a temporary cap on the number of international students being granted visas. This move will result in colleges and universities losing millions in revenue. How did we get here and how will that lost money be made up? Dr. Mike Moffatt from the University of Western Ontario joins us to fill in the blanks. Also, big layoffs at Algoma Steel, speed cameras and the ‘lead of the week’ from one of our newest reporters.

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Canadian snowbirds are starting to flock south for the winter — but many are getting quite the surprise when they reach the American border. 

U.S. officials have confirmed that anyone entering the country for more than 30 days, via land, must agree to be photographed and fingerprinted. 

The new regulations stem from U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that requires many foreign visitors staying a month or longer to register with the government.

How are snowbirds reacting to the new rules? Are any refusing to be fingerprinted, choosing instead to turn around at the border and head home? Do they really have any other option?

Joining us on tonight’s episode of Closer Look is a person who knows the rules as well as anyone: Stephen Fine, president of the company Snowbird Advisor. As you can imagine, he’s been inundated with questions in recent days.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

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It’s the kick off to season three of Inside the Village with Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith. With winter late out of the gate this year it has dramatically impacted outdoor sports and recreational activities, particularly snowmobiling. Lisa Stackhouse from OFSC stops by for some trail talk and also some tips as we celebrate Snowmobile Safety week in Ontario. Also on the show a new site launch is in the very near future and political junkies take note, Trillium Talk is here!

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Welcome back to Inside the Village - and Part 2 of our Year in Review. This week we take a look at the lighter side of the news from Hockey Night in Canada’s Ron MacLean to Gurdeep Pandher, the Bangra dancer from the Yukon who spread joy, hope and positivity around the world during the pandemic, to the 18 year old lottery winner from Sault Ste. Marie who gave us 48 million reasons to love her story. Join us for the last show of the season and be sure to check out the premiere of season 3 on January 10, 2024.

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Welcome back to Inside the Village, a one-of-a-kind podcast where all news is local - and no topic is off-limits. In the latest episode, Frisco and Scott take a stroll down memory lane in Part 1 of our year end show. Looking back, we covered a lot of ground in 2023. From the birth of the Trillium to the passing of Gordon Lightfoot, the economy and inflation to one of the greatest tragedies of the year and of course Bill C-18. 

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This week on Inside the Village, there’s a “seismic shift” on the horizon for alcohol sales in Ontario and it will likely start with The Beer Store. Dan Malleck, a Brock University professor and leading expert on drug and alcohol regulation, joins Frisco and Scott to talk about the 2018 campaign promise Doug Ford made regarding booze sales, and what the impacts — positive and negative — could be. Spoiler alert: we talk a lot about empties. Also on the show, Village Media shines as nominations are announced for the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. Sit back, relax and raise a glass (responsibly, of course) to this week’s episode of ITV.

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By 2030, one million Canadians will suffer from dementia. By 2050, that number is expected to triple. Here’s another scary stat: In 2020, care partners (including family members, friends and neighbours) spent 26 hours per week assisting older Canadians living with dementia — the equivalent to 235,000 full-time jobs, or $7.3 billion annually. Bottom line: this disease is taking a devastating toll on Canadians and the people who love them. On this week’s episode of Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott talk to two experts about a lesser-known aspect of dementia research: five potential behaviour changes that could be an early warning sign in people over 50. You’ll want to know what they are. Also on the podcast: This is Burlington!

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The state of the economy has been a hot button issue for some time now and a new study from Dalhousie University has some alarming data from the restaurant industry. Over 50% of restaurants nationwide are operating in the red and almost 10% of respondents are no longer eating out. Frisco and Scott get the goods on the survey from Dr. Sylvain Charlebois on everything from the effects of inflation to shrinkflation on eating out. Sit back, relax and enjoy another full serving of Inside the Village!

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After a couple weeks off, Inside the Village is back in a big way. The Prime Minister paid a recent visit to Sault Ste. Marie, where he toured the local power utility, met with veterans at the Legion — and sat down with Frisco for a one-on-one interview. At the heart of their conversation was Bill C-18, the Liberal legislation that prompted Facebook to block all news content from the feeds of Canadian users. Considering that the Sault is home to Village Media, the largest online publisher in Canada, it was a fitting place to ask the PM whether the Online News Act was a huge mistake. Spoiler alert: he doesn’t think so. Frisco and Trudeau covered a lot of other ground during their chat, including green technology, the endless opioid crisis, and what he really thinks of Pierre Poilievre. Not into politics? Don’t worry. We saved some time on the show to talk about the world’s longest zucchini.

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Every week, Scott and Frisco bring you this podcast from Village Media’s headquarters in downtown Sault Ste. Marie. This week, their northern Ontario city was propelled into the national news for all the wrong reasons: a mass murder-suicide that claimed the lives of three innocent children and a 41-year-old woman. In this special episode of Inside the Village, they explore what happened, why it happened, and what can be done to help the community somehow recover. Their guest is Robin Kerr, executive director of Victim Services Algoma, the organization that works behind the scenes to help people most impacted by tragedies like this. Is it time for the province to finally declare an epidemic of intimate partner violence? If the events of this week aren’t convincing enough, nothing will be. 

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The unionized staff at TVO, the province's public broadcaster, have been on strike for almost two months. Steve Paikin, the veteran host of The Agenda, is part of the bargaining team and isn’t holding out much hope that the labour impasse will end anytime soon. In the meantime, he has joined Village Media’s The Trillium — our Queen’s Park news site — as a guest columnist. We couldn’t be happier to have him. On the latest episode of Inside the Village, Paikin talks about the state of negotiations, the future of TVO, and what readers of The Trillium can expect from him in the weeks to come. For good measure, we also talk some baseball!

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Alberta was the first Canadian province to establish one, and now they’re expanding to Ontario: a safe location where mothers can surrender their unwanted babies — no judgment, no questions asked. City council in Sault Ste. Marie is the latest to examine the idea of setting up its own “Hope’s Cradle,” ensuring mothers and caregivers who find themselves in a desperate situation have a place to turn. Jordan Guildford is the founder of Gems for Gems, the Calgary-based charity that launched the idea. She joins Frisco and Scott to talk about how the program works, why it’s so important, and why people shouldn’t be so quick to criticize the moms who have used it. Also on the program: If you accidentally killed someone with your car — and police spent the next 15 years trying to solve the hit-and-run — could you keep living life as if nothing happened? 

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Not so fast.

That’s the message from a growing number of Ontarians trying hard to convince Premier Doug Ford to ditch his plan to outlaw speed cameras.

Protesters in cities across the province rallied against Ford’s proposed speed camera ban on Monday morning, just as MPPs returned to Queen’s Park for a new legislative session. 

Ford has called the devices nothing but a “cash grab,” and his government is promising to introduce legislation that prevents cities and towns from operating automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras.

But research shows the cameras are not only effective at reducing speeds, they are actually widely supported by the general public. Many municipalities also point out that the bulk of revenue from the devices gets reinvested in road safety measures.

Last week, more than a dozen former law enforcement leaders — including retired police chiefs from Peel, Halton, Niagara and Ottawa — joined the chorus of critics calling on Ford to change his mind.

“The results are clear: when drivers know that automated speed enforcement cameras are in place, they slow down,” reads a letter from the group. “This means fewer tickets, lower costs, and safer roads for everyone.”

On tonight’s Closer Look, we revisit a recent episode that featured a panel of expert guests: Pamela Fuselli, president and CEO of the injury prevention charity Parachute; Michael Stewart of the Canadian Automobile Association; and Jack Hauen, a reporter at Village Media’s The Trillium.

You can watch the full episode HERE.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

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 Earlier this month, the minimum wage in Ontario increased to $16.55 per hour, up from $15.50. Though a slight improvement, that amount is still well below what is widely considered a living wage in the province. We break down the math with Randy Robinson of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, who also shares some compelling stats on why employers should think about being a bit more generous to their workers. Also on the podcast this week: OK Blue Jays? Not so much. Swept out of the playoffs by the Minnesota Twins, the Jays’ postseason run lasted a whole 27 hours. Bring on hockey season.

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Welcome back to Inside the Village, a podcast where all news is local — and no topic is off-limits.

On this week's episode: Doug Ford does a complete 180.

After losing two cabinet ministers, two senior staffers, and untold points in the polls, the Premier announced last Thursday that his government would walk back its Greenbelt land removals.

Insisting he was “very, very sorry,” Ford also promised once again to not touch the protected area — the same pledge he broke in 2018 that led to his government’s biggest scandal to date. 

That scandal isn’t going away just yet. Expect plenty more grilling from the Opposition as the Ontario Legislature resumes sitting today after its summer break.

On this special edition of Inside the Village, we sit down with journalist Charlie Pinkerton of The Trillium to talk about the many twists and turns — over many months — that led up to last week’s dramatic press conference in Niagara Falls.

We cover everything you need to know about the Greenbelt debacle: the developers, the big donors and one weekend getaway in Las Vegas.

Launched earlier this year by Village Media, The Trillium is a must-read news site devoted to in-depth, insider coverage of politics and policy at the Ontario Legislature.

Passionate and plugged in, our Queen's Park team covers every angle of the Legislative Assembly, delivering the major political headlines of the day while unpacking complex legislative changes and digging deeper into key issues that impact every Ontarian.

If you haven't checked it out already, the site also features one of the best political podcasts around: The Trill. You can listen to every episode HERE, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.

Every episode is available HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Have something to say? You can reach us at itv@villagemedia.ca.

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This week on Inside the Village: a dark day for local journalism in Ontario. Toronto Star publisher Nordstar Capital LP placed its regional newspaper business, Metroland Media Group, into bankruptcy protection. The move wipes out 605 jobs — including 68 of the company’s 200 journalists — and spells the end of the print edition for 70 weekly newspapers read by a combined 4.2 million people. Frisco and Scott talk about what this means for the future of local reporting across Ontario — and why Village Media remains as committed as ever to the cities and towns we serve across the province. Also on the podcast: our favourite Sasquatch hunter. And he has evidence! Believe what you must.

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The overdose epidemic has hit Northern Ontario harder than any other region in the province, with fatal drug poisonings consistently higher year after year. Yet it’s in the north where two safe consumption sites — one in Sudbury, the other in Timmins — are under threat of imminent closure because the Ford government can’t seem to decide whether to fund them. Amber Fritz, who manages “The Spot” in Sudbury, joins Scott and Frisco to talk about the critical services her team provides, and what will happen if they are forced to close the doors. Also on the podcast: Why we’ve decided to bring back commenting on Village Media’s flagship news site (with other sites likely to follow).

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After a couple weeks of holidays, Frisco and Scott return to the studio to answer a controversial question: When is the right time to give your kid a smartphone? (Spoiler alert: postpone the inevitable for as long as you can.) Our guest this week is journalist, author, and mother of three Katherine Martinko, whose new book is titled: Childhood Unplugged: Practical Advice to Get Kids Off Screens and Find Balance. Martinko explains why her 14-year-old son still doesn’t have a cell phone — and why plenty of parents wish they had done the same with their own kids. By the time you get through this interview, you’ll probably want to scrap your phone, too. (Except to listen to Inside the Village, of course.)

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This week on Inside the Village, Scott and Frisco unpack the recent bombshell report from Ontario’s auditor-general, who found that Doug Ford’s government gave “preferential treatment” to prominent developers during last year’s controversial Greenbelt changes. Bonnie Lysyk’s report reads like a hidden camera, explaining how certain developers used their “direct access” to a senior political staffer to push for their plots of land to be removed from the Greenbelt. Here to explain the revelations are two journalists who know the story as well as anyone: Jessica Smith-Cross and Aidan Chamandy of The Trillium, Village Media’s online news source at Queen’s Park.

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His online dancing videos have garnered more than 100 million views around the world. This week, Gurdeep Pandher spreads his message of joy, hope and positivity with Scott and Frisco on Inside the Village. From his remote cabin in the Yukon, Pandher Bhangra-danced his way through the pandemic for everyone to see, and now he’s on a coast to coast tour to spread his uplifting message of love and cultural diversity. What are the keys to happiness? How does he find joy? Tune in to find out. Also on the podcast: a bombshell report from Ontario’s auditor-general.

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Parliament has adjourned for the summer, which means a much-needed break for the man whose primary job is to make sure everyone behaves inside the House of Commons. Anthony Rota — the MP for Nipissing-Timiskaming, and the 37th Speaker of the House — joins Inside the Village for an in-depth conversation about what really happens during Question Period. He talks to Frisco and Scott about decorum, the pursuit of common ground, and how he juggles his role as both impartial referee and champion for his constituents. Does Rota plan to stand for re-election? We ask him that, too. Also on the podcast: a husband and wife are in custody after a shocking human trafficking investigation near Barrie.

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This week on Inside the Village — the weekly podcast where all news is local and no topic is off-limits — Frisco and Scott tell the story of Barrie native Mike Haggith: the guitar player whose musical skills went viral for all the wrong reasons. A WestJet pilot by day, the musician was playing a concert in Sault Ste. Marie when he fell to the stage in pain, seemingly from a broken leg. Did he skip a beat? Absolutely not. The video of him finishing out the song on his back is now the stuff of Internet legend. Listen to him recall the full story. 

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This week on Inside the Village: broke and broken. A new MNP consumer debt index shows that the largest-ever portion of Ontarians can’t make ends meet — and there’s little relief in sight. Frisco and Scott break down the alarming new numbers with insolvency trustee David Gowling. Also this week: Switched at birth in Sault Ste. Marie. Two 71-year-old men born on the same date in 1952 claim it happened to them, and they’re suing the hospital for millions of dollars in damages.

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In the face of so much economic uncertainty, is it time to rethink how we deliver postsecondary education in Canada? A new report says yes — and that the necessary changes must be “urgent and coordinated.”

Released this week by the Royal Bank of Canada, the report calls for a “postsecondary pivot” to advance national goals, including a focus on defence and space exploration, artificial intelligence and major energy projects.

Some of the notable proposals include retraining auto workers for the shipbuilding and space sectors, teaching AI skills across all academic disciplines, and positioning Canada as NATO’s “firefighting nation.”

Joining us on tonight's Closer Look to discuss the report is Jackie Pichette, director of skills policy for RBC Thought Leadership.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

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On this week’s episode of Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott talk groceries. More specifically, do best before dates lead to more food waste? A new report on grocery affordability from a House of Commons committee argues that Canada should scrap best before dates because a lot of people wrongly believe they indicate whether a product is safe to consume. University of Guelph economist Mike Von Massow returns to the show with some food for thought. Spoiler alert: the professor eats items that are well past their best before dates. Also on the podcast: Why Google has joined Facebook in promising to block Canadian news from its platform.

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This week on Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott welcome Stanley Cup Champion Michael Amadio of the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sault Ste. Marie native takes the guys through the thrill of the NHL playoffs to the glorious night he earned the right to lift hockey’s holy grail over his head — and yes, he was worried about dropping it! He also breaks a bit of news of what he plans to do when it’s his turn to spend a day with the Lord Stanley’s Cup. (Spoiler alert: he’s bringing it home.) Also on the podcast: Like Facebook, Google is now promising to block all Canadian news on its platform, which is terrible news for local journalism.

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On this week’s episode of Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott dissect Bill C-18 and the damage it will do to local journalism — not just at Village Media, but in newsrooms across the country. Facebook has already responded to the Trudeau government’s newly passed law by announcing it will block access to all Canadian news on its platform, a move that will severely limit the amount of reputable, fact-based reporting that shows up in your social media feed. Michael Geist, a professor and leading expert on internet and e-commerce law, joins us to talk about the new bill: who wins, who loses, and what it means for the future of democracy. Also on the podcast: 50 years later, the men responsible for an iconic piece of graffiti come forward to tell their story.

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On this week’s episode of Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott burn a little airtime talking about the wildfires scorching across Canada — the most damaging forest fire season of the century, according to the federal government. Like everything else, the fires have fanned the flames of political rhetoric, with some provincial leaders a lot less willing than others to admit the role of climate change in this unprecedented summer. For a voice of reason, we turn to Eric Kennedy, a professor of disaster and emergency management at York University. Also on the podcast: a tiny bar in Guelph, a huge scoop from The Trillium at Queen’s Park, and a Canadian golf victory for the ages.

Reach out to Frisco and Scott

On this week’s episode of Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott take a closer look at new Health Canada guidelines that will see warning messages added to individual cigarettes — not just the pack. Smokers will now be reminded, by the butt, that there is “poison in every puff” and that their nasty habit “may lead to impotence.” If that’s not enough motivation to quit, nothing will be. But do warnings like this actually make a difference? We ask Rob Cunningham, a lawyer and senior policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society. Also on the podcast: The latest on the doctor shortage plaguing northern Ontario, and a sweet deal for the owners of a posh Sudbury golf course. Let’s tee it up.

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A doctor shortage forced the emergency department in small-town Thessalon, Ont., to lock its doors for 48 hours. After “exhausting all options,” the North Shore Health Network said it had no choice but shut the place down for two full days — leaving locals with nowhere to go in case of emergency. Sadly, the situation in Thessalon is not unique. Rural communities across Ontario are struggling to staff their hospitals. This week on Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott speak with Tim Vine, the CEO of the North Shore Health Network, to find out how things got so dire — and if there’s a cure in sight. Also on the podcast: a touching reunion between a firefighter and a man he saved 10 years earlier.

Reach out to Frisco and Scott

Frisco and Scott are back for another week of Inside the Village with a special guest: Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development. The timing couldn’t be better, as there is plenty of political deal-making to talk about — including the massive electric-vehicle battery plant coming to St. Thomas, Ont. A veteran politician who served as mayor of North Bay before making the jump to Queen’s Park, Fedeli also shares some behind-the-scenes stories about his close relationship with Premier Doug Ford — the “800-pound gorilla,” as he calls him. If you’re a political junkie, this is the episode for you. Also on the podcast: a happy ending for a missing 11-year-old girl in Sault Ste. Marie.

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Canadian music icon Gordon Lightfoot was laid to rest earlier this week in Orillia. With almost 4 million albums sold, 16 Juno Awards and four #1 hits, Lightfoot left an indelible mark not only on the music industry, but on his beloved hometown of Orillia. This week, Frisco and Scott talk to two friends who knew Lighfoot very well: Pam Carter, from the Mariposa Folk Foundation, and Karen Hilfman Millson, the retired United Church minister who was the officiant a Lighfoot’s private funeral — at his request. The legend lives on, and always will.

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The NHL playoffs are underway, and who better to talk about hockey than Ron MacLean? The iconic host of Hockey Night in Canada joins Frisco and Scott for a wide-ranging conversation that touches on everything, from the Leafs’ Stanley Cup chances, to the rapid growth of legal sports gambling, to the state of his relationship with former on-air partner Don Cherry. MacLean also sheds some light on his future at HNIC. You definitely don’t want to miss this special episode. Also on the podcast: The Georgetown Boys, pizza scammers and a diabetic cat named Demon.

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This weekend, the eldest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II will officially be crowned King of England when his coronation takes place at Westminster Abbey. King Charles’ wife, Camilla, will also be crowned Queen Consort. The ceremony will be jam-packed with all the pomp and circumstance one would expect. Royal watcher Patricia Treble tells Scott and Frisco what to expect — and why Canadians shouldn’t give up on the monarchy just yet. Also on the podcast: How a landmark deal between Village Media and Black Press Media will help strengthen local news across Canada.

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An American has been sentenced to four years in prison for a mass cyberattack that targeted school boards across Canada, including Ontario.

Matthew D. Lane appeared in a Massachusetts court this week, where he pleaded guilty to charges relating to the cyber extortion of two companies. One was PowerSchool, a software and cloud storage firm used by school boards across the province. 

The cyberattack breached the personal data of millions of students and teachers, including names, email addresses, phone numbers and medical information. PowerSchool has confirmed it paid a ransom in the hopes of preventing any stolen data from being released, but the specific dollar figure was not revealed.

On tonight’s episode of Closer Look, we explore the recent surge in ransomware attacks, and how criminal hackers are using AI to up their game.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

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Frisco and Scott celebrate the one-year anniversary of the podcast with a brief trip down memory lane. Then it’s on to more serious news: a looming court challenge over a Ford government bill that paves the way for some elderly hospital patients to be moved to long-term care facilities that they don’t choose — and if they refuse to leave, they’ll be charged $400 per day. Our guest is lawyer Steven Shrybman, who represents one of two public health advocacy groups that have launched a Charter challenge of the “More Beds, Better Care Act.” Also on the show: some big victories for Village Media.

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On the latest episode of Inside the Village, Scott and Frisco dig into a scary story that continues to generate headlines. Suzana Thayer, a grandmother of six from Barrie, Ont., has been languishing in an overseas prison for seven months, accused of smuggling cocaine into Hong Kong. But as her daughter explains in this week’s podcast, it’s clear that Suzana is the victim of a sophisticated online romance scam — for the second time in her life. Fighting to prove her mom’s innocence, Angela Thayer says a man lured her mother to Ethiopia, had a suitcase full of clothes delivered to her hotel room, and booked her a ticket for Hong Kong. When she landed, customs agents discovered cocaine inside some of the buttons of the clothing. Thayer is speaking out because she wants to warn others about the dangers of online romance scams.

Reach out to Frisco and Scott

Grab some peanuts and cracker jacks! Frisco and Scott spend this special episode of Inside the Village celebrating the return of baseball just in time for the Blue Jays’ home opener on April 11. Frisco is a huge Tigers fan, Scott cheers for the Jays, and our guest Matt Betts is host of the Canadian Baseball Network Podcast. He breaks it all down for us: the Jays’ chances at a World Series berth, the new pitch clock, and how he handles fan mail. Also on the podcast: our weekly look at some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario news sites.

Reach out to Frisco and Scott