The Trent University Alumni podcast, Trent Voices shines the spotlight on our many talented alumni. From household names to people working behind the scenes, our guests are helping to shape the world in their own unique ways.
Episodes
Monday Nov 13, 2017
Monday Nov 13, 2017
Jason “The Human Kebab” Parsons is DJ and Hype Man for Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker. On stage – when he’s not attached to his turntables – he’s a perpetual motion machine. On the mic he’s constantly urging the crowd to get into it – to really participate. His energy is infectious, which is definitely one of the aspects of the band that resonates with their legion of fans.
USS has been described as “a science experiment put to music” and they are, in a word, experimental. They mix elements of rock, hip hop, grunge, electronica, drum and bass, and more, creating a sound that is altogether their own. They are modern music in a blender.
#TrentVoices caught up with The Human Kebab via Skype for a conversation that ranged from the serious to the silly: from the origins of his unique stage name to jamming with Maestro Fresh Wes to touring the world making music to the impact of his Trent experience. But what we kept returning to was the importance of community – in this case, both the USS and the Trent University ones.
For a full archive of our podcast interviews, please visit our #TrentVoices podcast page.
Friday Nov 10, 2017
Friday Nov 10, 2017
The new season of Trent Voices, The TRENT Magazine Live/Trent Alumni Affairs podcast show, is kicking off with a "Women in Politics" mini-series that will feature interviews with successful Trent alumnae politicians, both past and present, including: Hochelaga NDP MP Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet '74, Nanaimo-Ladysmith NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson '85, and long-standing Peterborough mayor Syvlia Sutherland '68. We'll also revisit interviews with Peterborough-Kawarthas Liberal MP and Minister for the Status of Women Maryam Monsef '03 and Peterborough city councillor Diane Therrien '10 -- hopefully adding fresh new content to these conversations.
This week, we start with Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, a Canadian anthropologist, unionist, and politician, who was first elected as an NDP MP in the 2011 election. She represents the electoral district of Hochelaga. Since November 2015, she has served as the NDP's Whip.
During our far-reaching conversation, we discuss her evolution from museum guide to union representative to Federal politician; gender representation in politics; and how gender and ethnic diversity have changed the nature of political discourse in the House of Commons.
Tuesday Mar 14, 2017
Tuesday Mar 14, 2017
With two well-received collections of poems and a fearless collection of essays, Canadian investigative journalist, essayist and poet, Michael Lista, was welcomed to Trent University as the 2017 Margaret Laurence fellow.
His talk Outside the Whale: Literature and the Left in the Age of Trump focused primarily on the role the literary left will play in a new political climate of right-winged politics and nationalism.
Mr. Lista has worked as a book columnist for The National Post, and as the poetry editor of The Walrus. He is the author of three books: the poetry volumes Bloom and The Scarborough, and Strike Anywhere, a collection of his writing about literature, television and culture. His essays and investigative stories have appeared in The Atlantic, Slate, Toronto Life, The Walrus, Canadaland, and elsewhere.
From the School of the Study of Canada:
He’s been a book columnist and noted poet and during his visit at Trent University, Michael Lista was ready to defend his craft – and the literary left – particularly at a time when the political elite seems on the verge of stepping into the ring at the slightest comment.
On February 9, 2017, speaking to a crowd at Traill College’s Bagnani Hall, he shared his own experiences in writing both ahead of, and following the U.S. election.
Throughout his address, Mr. Lista painted a picture of struggles facing literary writers who have, by and large, been described as left leaning. Now, he suggests, they are under fire much in the way they held the right to the fire for so long. He says, “It has resulted in a new, drawn-out battle, pitting literary writers against one another. It’s taken the focus, to some extent, off those who would normally be the target of the writers.”
This year, Mr. Lista has been named writer-in-residence, filling a fellowship established in 1988 as a tribute to and in memory of Margaret Laurence, Trent University’s fourth chancellor. It is co-administered by Department of English Literature and Canadian Studies Program and brings promising writers who are in the early stages of their careers to Trent University.
Mr. Lista has worked as a book columnist for the National Post, and as the poetry editor of The Walrus. He is also the author of three books and his essays and investigative stories have appeared in The Atlantic, Slate, Toronto Life, Canadaland, and numerous other publications.
Kate Taylor, an English major at Trent, says she was compelled to take in the address after Mr. Lista spoke to her advanced creative writing class earlier in the day. “It’s very interesting to hear a writer read their own work and describe the process and annotations they give to their own work that you don’t get when you read it on a website,” she says.
Tuesday Dec 13, 2016
Tuesday Dec 13, 2016
From the first Canadian VJ (and Trent alumnus) Christopher Ward, Is This Live? captures the pure fun and rock ’n’ roll rebellion of the early years of MuchMusic television.
Christopher Ward joins us by Skype to talk about his latest book. We talked to Ward last year in a wide ranging interview about his career as an award-winning songwriter, music journalist, and author. You can find that podcast here. But when we heard that he was working on a book about the early days of MuchMusic, we made him promise that he'd come back to talk to us about it. He graciously agreed.
From Penguin Random House:
On August 31, 1984, the Nation’s Music Station launched, breaking ground as the Wild (Canadian) West of television—live, gloriously unpredictable, seat-of-the-pants TV, delivered fresh daily.
The dream child of TV visionary Moses Znaimer, and John Martin, the maverick creator of The New Music, Much was live and largely improvised, and an entire generation of Canadians grew up watching the VJs and embraced the new music that became the video soundtrack of our lives.
The careers of Canadian legends like Blue Rodeo, Corey Hart, Jane Siberry, Bryan Adams, Platinum Blonde, Glass Tiger, Colin James, the Parachute Club, Honeymoon Suite, Barenaked Ladies, Maestro Fresh Wes and Sloan were launched when Much brought them closer to their fans. Much also gave us international acts (Duran, Duran, Tina Turner, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Madonna, Motorhead, Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers), and covered the second wave of music activism with events like Live Aid and the Amnesty International Human Rights Now! tour. Ranging from Toronto’s iconic studio at 299 Queen Street West, to Vancouver’s MuchWest, MuchMusic’s programming travelled across Canada and connected the Canadian music scenes in an unprecedented way.
With stories of the bands, the music, the videos, the specialty shows, the style and the improvisational approach to daily broadcast life at Much, Is This Live? is told by the people who were there—the colourful cast of on-air VJs, the artists who found their way into our living rooms of the nation as never before, and the people behind the cameras.
As our tour guide to the first decade at MuchMusic Christopher Ward delivers a full-on dose of pop culture nostalgia from the 1980s and ’90s, when the music scene in Canada changed forever.
Friday Oct 21, 2016
Friday Oct 21, 2016
We are extremely excited to stream our #TrentVoices Literary Series. The impressive alumni lineup, which includes a who’s who of Canadian authors, is perfect listening for the chilly days of autumn. Pull Up a chair, a cozy blanket, and a comforting beverage.
We hope that you’re as excited as we are.
This week:
From linwoodbarclay.com: Linwood Barclay is the #1 internationally bestselling author of thirteen novels, including Trust Your Eyes, A Tap on the Window, No Time for Goodbye and that novel's follow-up, No Safe House. Last summer, his thriller Broken Promise, the first of three linked novels about his fictional upstate New York town Promise Falls, was released. Book two, Far From True was released earlier this year. The finale, The Twenty-Three, was released this fall.
Friday Aug 12, 2016
Friday Aug 12, 2016
We are extremely excited to stream our summer #TrentVoices Literary Series. The impressive alumni lineup, which includes a who’s who of Canadian authors, is perfect listening for the dog days of summer. Tune in from your dock, deck, patio, or summer sanctuary.
We hope that you’re as excited as we are.
This Week:
Yann Martel
From Penguin Random House Canada: "Yann Martel is the author of Life of Pi, the #1 international bestseller and winner of the 2002 Man Booker (among many other prizes). He is also the award-winning author of The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios (winner of the Journey Prize), Self, Beatrice & Virgil, and 101 Letters to a Prime Minister. Born in Spain in 1963, Martel studied philosophy at Trent University, worked at odd jobs—tree planter, dishwasher, security guard—and traveled widely before turning to writing. He lives in Saskatoon, Canada, with the writer Alice Kuipers and their four children."
His most recent work Is this year’s New York Times Bestseller The High Mountains of Portugal.
Also in the series:
Leah McLaren: August 5th -- click here for the the full interview.
From the Globe and Mail: “Leah McLaren is a journalist, novelist and screenwriter. She’s published two novels, The Continuity Girl (2007) and A Better Man (2015) both with Harper Collins Canada and Hachette in the USA. The first was a Canadian bestseller, though the second is actually much better. Leah is the Europe correspondent for Maclean’s and is a regular contributor to the Spectator magazine (UK) as well as Toronto Life for which she won a gold National Magazine Award in 2012. She’s been writing a column in the Globe since1999. She lives in Ontario and London, England where she shares a home with her husband and two boys.”
Linwood Barclay: September 2nd
From linwoodbarclay.com: "Linwood Barclay is the #1 internationally bestselling author of thirteen novels, including Trust Your Eyes, A Tap on the Window, No Time for Goodbye and that novel's follow-up, No Safe House. Last summer, his thriller Broken Promise, the first of three linked novels about his fictional upstate New York town Promise Falls, was released. Book two, Far From True was released earlier this year. The finale, The Twenty-Three, will be released this fall."
Janette Platana: September 9th
From Tightrope Books: "Janette Platana’s cheerfully disturbing, gleefully outraged, and chillingly beautiful stories break open the lives of apparently ordinary people who struggle and sometimes succeed in living without compromise, refusing to sacrifice the world they sense to the world they see, and where things can be true without ever being real. The range of this accomplished and poetic voice may cause vertigo, owing, as it does, as much to the Clash to Stephen King, to Caitlin Moran as to Flannery O’Connor, and something to David Sedaris. A Token of My Affliction will make you laugh while breaking your heart wide open."
Richard B. Wright: TBA
From Simon and Schuster: "Richard B. Wright is the author of thirteen novels and has won the Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Award, the Trillium Book Award, and the CBA Libris Awards for Author and Book of the Year. His most recent novel is 2016’s Nightfall. He lives in St. Catharines with his wife, Phyllis."
Friday Aug 05, 2016
Friday Aug 05, 2016
We are extremely excited to stream our summer #TrentVoices Literary Series. The impressive alumni lineup, which includes a who’s who of Canadian authors, is perfect listening for the dog days of summer. Tune in from your dock, deck, patio, or summer sanctuary.
We hope that you’re as excited as we are.
This Week:
Leah McLaren:
From the Globe and Mail:
“Leah McLaren is a journalist, novelist and screenwriter. She’s
published two novels, The Continuity Girl (2007) and A Better Man (2015)
both with Harper Collins Canada and Hachette in the USA. The first was a
Canadian bestseller, though the second is actually much better. Leah is
the Europe correspondent for Maclean’s and is a regular contributor to
the Spectator magazine (UK) as well as Toronto Life for which she won a
gold National Magazine Award in 2012. She’s been writing a column in the
Globe since1999. She lives in Ontario and London, England where she
shares a home with her husband and two boys.”
Also in the series:
Yann Martel: August 12th
From Penguin Random House Canada: "Yann Martel is the author of Life of Pi, the #1 international bestseller and winner of the 2002 Man Booker (among many other prizes). He is also the award-winning author of The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios (winner of the Journey Prize), Self, Beatrice & Virgil, and 101 Letters to a Prime Minister. Born in Spain in 1963, Martel studied philosophy at Trent University, worked at odd jobs—tree planter, dishwasher, security guard—and traveled widely before turning to writing. He lives in Saskatoon, Canada, with the writer Alice Kuipers and their four children."
His most recent work Is this year’s New York Times Bestseller The High Mountains of Portugal.
Linwood Barclay: September 2nd
From linwoodbarclay.com: "Linwood Barclay is the #1 internationally bestselling author of thirteen novels, including Trust Your Eyes, A Tap on the Window, No Time for Goodbye and that novel's follow-up, No Safe House. Last summer, his thriller Broken Promise, the first of three linked novels about his fictional upstate New York town Promise Falls, was released. Book two, Far From True was released earlier this year. The finale, The Twenty-Three, will be released this fall."
Janette Platana: September 9th
From Tightrope Books: "Janette Platana’s cheerfully disturbing, gleefully outraged, and chillingly beautiful stories break open the lives of apparently ordinary people who struggle and sometimes succeed in living without compromise, refusing to sacrifice the world they sense to the world they see, and where things can be true without ever being real. The range of this accomplished and poetic voice may cause vertigo, owing, as it does, as much to the Clash to Stephen King, to Caitlin Moran as to Flannery O’Connor, and something to David Sedaris. A Token of My Affliction will make you laugh while breaking your heart wide open."
Richard B. Wright: TBA
From Simon and Schuster: "Richard B. Wright is the author of thirteen novels and has won the Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Award, the Trillium Book Award, and the CBA Libris Awards for Author and Book of the Year. His most recent novel is 2016’s Nightfall. He lives in St. Catharines with his wife, Phyllis."
Tuesday Jul 19, 2016
Tuesday Jul 19, 2016
On July 7th, 2014, Trent alumnus Mark Quattrocchi ‘08 departed on a two-year cycling journey around the globe, travelling across 40 countries, 5 continents, and 35,000km, all while raising money for Free the Children’s Adopt-A-Village program. The impressive trip has raised over $48,000 in support of education in underprivileged communities around the world.
Beginning in Sanya, China, where he spent time as an international teacher at a Canadian school, Mark cycled home to his small town of Rideau Ferry, Ontario, turning his dream of biking across the world into a reality. Mark experienced vast cultures, unique food, beautiful off-the-beaten-path landscapes, and friendly hospitality along the way. It’s a journey he’ll never forget.
Cycling anywhere from 70 to 130km each day, then camping out in a tent by night, the trip was both physically and emotionally strenuous for the 28 year old. Yet, despite facing difficulty along the way, Mark’s passion for education and the success of his fundraising efforts for Free the Children continued to motivate him.
In June 2016 Mark’s spectacular journey came to an end when he cycled across the border into Canada and arrived at home. Raising money for Free the Children’s Adopt-A-Village program along the way, Mark’s ride has helped to build schools in Rural China, India, Kenya, and Ecuador. With each school costing $10,000 to build, Mark is still working towards his ultimate goal of raising $50,000 for the charity, which will support the completion of a fifth and final school in Nicaragua. To support Mark and Free the Children, click here.
Mark completed his Bachelor of Education at Trent University in 2012, having already completed his undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Greek & Roman Studies at the university.
Having accomplished his goal of biking around the world, Mark is currently focusing on writing a book about his experiences. He is also speaking about his ride in locations around Eastern Ontario. He calls his talk, “Finding Your Bicycle Ride.”
Visit Mark’s website, www.oneadventureplease.com, to read about his experience.
Listen to the full podcast to hear about Mark’s cycling trip across the world.
Wednesday Jun 15, 2016
Wednesday Jun 15, 2016
The four-part series showcased the breadth of research undertaken by scholars and scientists associated with the School of the Environment, which launched in September 2015 and brings together experts from a variety of disciplines who are teaching or studying environmental topics.
"Each meeting features two short presentations, one by a scientist and one by an arts or policy person, so that every session captures a bit of the diversity of scholarship that goes on here," explains Professor Bocking, who is also chair of the Environmental and Resources Studies Program. "It's a way for researchers at the School to gain a better understanding of what everyone else is doing and to encourage collaboration and sharing."
Trent Voices will be playing two of these events. This is the second installment. For the first seminar (the loss of trust from green energy prospecting in Ontario, presented by Stephen Hill; approaches to improving sustainability of crop production systems in Ontario, presented by Mehdi Sharif), please see: http://trenttalks.podbean.com/e/trent-university-school-of-the-environment-seminar-series-part-1/.
In this episode:
Poisoning a lake: The fate and effects of nanosilver added to a natural lake ecosystem, presented by Chris Metcalfe. Sketching a global history of ecology and environmental conservation, presented by Stephen Bocking.
Wednesday May 11, 2016
Wednesday May 11, 2016
Chatelaine Magazine recently named Athena Reich the “World’s Top Lady Gaga Impersonator.” But to label her an impersonator would tell only a fraction of the story. Reich, a talented artist in her own right, subverts Gaga with her own unique brand of feminist and queer music and drama – going so far as to incorporate her own pregnancy into a show called #ARTBIRTH, where Gaga delivers a baby live on stage.
How Gaga is Reich?
Billboard Magazine once printed a photo of her, mistakenly thinking it was Gaga. Then there’s the fact that Gaga herself tweeted in support of Reich’s work.
In 2015 she starred as Lady Gaga in #ARTBIRTH at the Laurie Beechman Theater in NYC, which received multiple run extensions and a Time Out Critic's pick.
Reich is hardly limited to her impersonator role. As a singer/songwriter, she has released 5 full-length albums and numerous singles. Her music videos have charted #1 on MTV LOGO and her song "Love is Love" won Best Pop Song at the Outmusic Awards.
As an actress, her credits include While Collar, The Perfect Murder, "An Evening with Donald Kempinski" (Little Fella Films), "Hush: Inside the Waiting Womb" (LA / NY).
Her music can be bought on iTunes or streamed on Spotify.
Tuesday May 10, 2016
Tuesday May 10, 2016
Trent University Chancellor Dr. Don Tapscott’s latest book has just been published by Penguin Random House. BLOCKCHAIN REVOLUTION: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business, and the World is co-authored by his son Alex Tapscott.
It is the first book to explain why blockchain technology – a truly open, distributed, global platform – will fundamentally change what we can achieve online, how we do it,and who can participate.
It is a fascinating follow-up to several groundbreaking works in which Dr. Tapscott explores the economic and social impact of technology, including Macrowikinomics; New Solutions for a Connected Planet (2010); the bestseller Paradigm Shift (1992); and Radical Openness: Four Unexpected Principles for Success (2013). His book Wikinomics was the best selling management book in the United States in 2007. In 2014, the 20th Anniversary Edition of Dr. Tapscott’s hit The Digital Economy was released with a new foreword by Eric Schmidt, Chairman of Google, and 12 new essays addressing the original topics of the book.
#TrentVoices sat down with Tapscott at the Rotman Centre School of Management at the University of Toronto for a special interview that focused on Blockchain Revolution, the bisecting futures of technology and the global economy, as well as on his ongoing relationship with Trent University.
Dr. Tapscott is one of the world’s leading authorities on innovation, media, and the economic and social impact of technology and advises business and government leaders around the world. He is an Adjunct Professor of Management at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and the inaugural Fellow at the Martin Prosperity Institute. In2013,he was appointed Chancellor of Trent University. This month, his position of Chancellor was renewed for a further 3 years.
Monday May 09, 2016
Monday May 09, 2016
"There is a lot of amazing environmental research going on at Trent University that people may not be aware of," says Dr. Stephen Bocking, director of the Trent School of the Environment, as he speaks about the School's inaugural seminar series which kicked off on March 28, 2016.
The four-part series showcases the breadth of research undertaken by scholars and scientists associated with the School of the Environment, which launched in September 2015 and brings together experts from a variety of disciplines who are teaching or studying environmental topics.
"Each meeting features two short presentations, one by a scientist and one by an arts or policy person, so that every session captures a bit of the diversity of scholarship that goes on here," explains Professor Bocking, who is also chair of the Environmental and Resources Studies Program. "It's a way for researchers at the School to gain a better understanding of what everyone else is doing and to encourage collaboration and sharing."
Trent Voices will be playing two of these events.
In this episode:
Power brokers: The loss of trust from green energy prospecting in Ontario, presented by Stephen Hill. Approaches to improving sustainability of crop production systems in Ontario, presented by Mehdi Sharifi.
Wednesday Apr 13, 2016
Wednesday Apr 13, 2016
The Last Lecture offers graduating students an opportunity to come together and reflect upon their experiences at Trent University, bring closure to the time that they have spent here, and celebrate their many accomplishments both inside and outside of the classroom.
This annual event features an address by a graduating student, a distinguished alumna/us and a faculty member who will offer their words of inspiration to the Convocation Class. Each lecturer speaks under one theme, offering their personal reflections, stories and words of wisdom to the graduating class. The Last Lecture helps to signify the beginning of the next step on your journey.
Unlike convocation where you sit by program and alphabetical order, at the Last Lecture you may choose to sit next to the person you sat beside in your first year lecture, and that same person might be your best friend today. Gather together a group of close friends and celebrate your last Trent lecture together.
Monday Apr 11, 2016
Monday Apr 11, 2016
A short anecdote from Bill Kimball about his "Billy K's Grab Bag of 45's" show from the 1980's. To listen to the full interview, please visit http://trenttalks.podbean.com/e/trent-voices-radio-show-episode-26-bill-kimball/
Monday Apr 11, 2016
Monday Apr 11, 2016
Jim Maxwell has been making waves in the field of Hollywood matte painting – the painted background that allows filmmakers to create the illusion of an environment that is nonexistent in real life or would otherwise be too expensive or impossible to build or visit. And he has made some very prominent ones in his career: from recreating the Vatican in The Borgias to sweeping panoramas of floating armadas in Vikings.
Maxwell has received no shortage of recognition from the entertainment industry for his work, with a nod from the Emmy Awards for The Borgias in 2012, then two more nominations for his work on Vikings in 2013 and2014. He won Canadian Screen Awards in 2014 and 2015, also for his work on Vikings.
During his time at Trent, Maxwell was a member of The Spleen Bishops – whose Celtic music stylings made them household and “pubhold” names around these parts.
In this episode, we talk about his experience creating movie effects magic, the changing technology behind the new Star Wars movie, as well as what it’s like to attend black-tie Hollywood award shows. We then go back in time and remember The Spleen Bishops, how Celtic music became a phenomenon in Peterborough, and the gig that broke beer sales at the legendary Underdog pub (underneath the Red Dog).
Tuesday Mar 15, 2016
Tuesday Mar 15, 2016
Yuwa Hedrick-Wong is the Chief Economist and Chair of the Academic Advisory Council at MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth – a group that just might make you doubt what you think you know about multinational financial organizations. He’s also the Global Economic Advisor for MasterCard Worldwide. Prior to his global role, he was Economic Advisor to MasterCard in Asia/Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. He has served as economic strategist and advisor to over fifty leading multinational companies, advised executives and boards of directors for over 100 leading international businesses, and has delivered key note addresses at various prestigious business conferences around the world. He is a regular commentator interviewed on CNBC, BBC World, CNN, CCTV (China), CBN (Shanghai), BTV (Beijing), Channel News Asia, Bloomberg Forum and many others.
Hedrick-Wong believes that economic growth drives shared prosperity – that it is not just limited to a single class or group of individuals. The Center for Inclusive Growth works to expand the middle class—in both developing and developed nations —in order for a better sharing of the benefits of economic development. According to Hedrick Wong, “in this situation, there is large-scale betterment—a boost to the common good—and growth for MasterCard’s business as well: a win-win process.”
He stresses the importance of taking this a step further. “We work with governments to create a deeper understanding of the importance of inclusive growth—and of equity,” he explains. “The impact of this can lead to being a win-win-win situation.”
It’s a revolutionary approach to economic development. And one we delve into during this extended interview.
Thursday Mar 10, 2016
Thursday Mar 10, 2016
Dalal Al Waheidi discusses what it means to be a global citizen -- including the “why” behind global citizenship and
its significance especially in the current political climate.
Al Waheidi was the 2016 Jack Matthews Fellow at Trent. She is the executive director of We Day Global, where she
is responsible for leading the team that brings the power of We Day to
cities in Canada, the US and the UK. Ms. Al-Waheidi joined Free the
Children in 2002 after graduating from Trent with a degree in International Development Studies, and has held a variety of roles including international project director, chief operations director and executive director.
“Dalal truly embodies the uniquely Canadian values of global
citizenship that Jack Matthews embedded in the institutions he
established,” said Dr. Michael Allcott, director of TIP. “An immigrant
to Canada, her extraordinary leadership and commitment to others is an
example of the strength of the Canadian mosaic—her work so far has
empowered thousands of young Canadians to engage civic discourse and
service, and to begin changing the world for the better.”
Friday Mar 04, 2016
Friday Mar 04, 2016
2015 Ph.D. grad Andressa Lacerda is in mid-career stride, despite being only 26. She’s a founding partner and the CFO in Noble Inc., a company that will manufacture and distribute filtration systems to remove nanosilvers from wastewater as well as introduce pharmaceuticals that will cure cancer and diseases that are caused by virus’. Her partner in this is Adam Noble, a whiz-kid who has set both the Trent community and world on fire with research that he accomplished in the labs at the university when he was just a high school student.
Andessa helped mentor Adam into becoming one of Canada’s “20 Under 20” in 2014. Together they have just signed on as cornerstone tenants of Trent University’s new Research and Innovation Park, with a $20 million, 50,000-square-foot production facility to be built soon.
Andressa’s own research has shed new light onto neurological disorders – in particular how mutations of LITAF protein cause the genetic Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
It’s a fascinating discussion – and one where another of Andressa’s talents shine: the ability to take complex ideas and make them relatable to students and laypeople.
Wednesday Feb 10, 2016
Wednesday Feb 10, 2016
Jack Roe has been an on air presence for CBC Radio, 680 NEWS, CKPT (now Energy 99.7) and (back in 1973-5) Trent Radio, where this interview took place. The conversation ranges across his 40+ year career in radio and captures memories from the magical to the manic: from interviews with Chris Hadfield to interviews with a guy who traveled North America blowing himself up at county fairs, from carving out community radio to almost getting arrested in pre-unification Germany. Roe also gives a glimpse behind the scenes of the one of the most demanding radio studios in Canada, and then offers views on the state of modern radio -- as well as advice for media studies/journalism students on how they can find their own way in the shifting media landscape.
It's an honest, intimate, and often humorous conversation that shines the light on an individual who is much more used to shining the light on others.
Tuesday Feb 02, 2016
Tuesday Feb 02, 2016
Our interview with Canada's Ambassador to Iceland, Stewart Wheeler, takes us on a journey from Trent to Bogotá to Afghanistan to Iceland and speaks to the ability to evolve, learn, and communicate.
Stewart began his career in the public service in 1993, working in the Public Information Office at the House of Commons. In 1994, he joined External Affairs and International Trade Canada.
He has served abroad in Washington, D.C., as second secretary, covering congressional relations and energy trade policy; Bogotá, as political counsellor; London, as head of the public affairs team at Canada House; and Kabul, as political program manager at the Canadian embassy in Afghanistan (2010 to 2011).
Stewart has also had a variety of assignments at headquarters, serving as parliamentary relations officer, departmental spokesperson in the Press Office, deputy director of Mexico Relations, deputy director of corporate and internal communications, and, most recently, director of Cabinet relations.
He earned the Minister’s Award for Foreign Policy Excellence as a member of the Kosovo Task Force in 1999.
From 1999 to 2004, Mr. Wheeler served as press secretary to the governor general and in that capacity accompanied the governor general on her State Visit to Iceland in 2003.
He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.
Wednesday Jan 27, 2016
Wednesday Jan 27, 2016
Since graduating from Trent University in 1980
with a degree in Cultural Studies, Bill Kimball has been involved in many
aspects of the Peterborough arts community, particularly in the areas of
contemporary dance and theatre. He has
contributed to the creation of live performance spaces in Peterborough,
beginning with City Stage, a performance space operated by Artspace in the
early 1980’s and continuing to the present with various renovations and
improvements to the Market Hall. In 1994, Bill created a nationally recognized
dance presenting program called Peterborough New Dance, and later expanded the
mandate to theatre and other forms of performance while changing the name to
Public Energy, a name which reflects his desire for the arts to be integrated
into public life as much as possible. Bill is currently the Artistic Producer
at Public Energy.
Our interview with Bill covers the "Town and Gown" history of the arts, in particular the impact of Artspace, Peterborough New Dance, Public Energy, and the Electric City Culture Council.
Tuesday Jan 19, 2016
Tuesday Jan 19, 2016
TRENT Magazine sat down for a one-on-one with the newly minted Minister of Democratic Institutions, Maryam Monsef. We discuss her first days on Parliament Hill, the life-altering experience of becoming a cabinet member,
and how the position of Minister of Democratic Institutions will help shape future governments of Canada. Here is an excerpt from that discussion.
Look for the full story in the February edition of TRENT Magazine.
Friday Dec 18, 2015
Friday Dec 18, 2015
A panel discussion featuring: Dalal Al-Waheidi ’98, Anne Larcade '81, Nancy Austin '76 and Rann Sharma '97.
The panel, moderated by former Trent president, Bonnie Patterson, consisted of women from the private and public sectors, not-for-profit organizations, male-dominated professions, female-dominated professions, and governmental representation. The panel included Dalal Al-Waheidi '98, executive director of Global We Day at Free the Children; Anne Larcade '81, president and CEO of Sequel Hotels and Resorts; Nancy Austin '76, executive lead on the Ontario Gender Wage Gap Steering Committee, and Rann Sharma '97, global head people operations and culture at Free the Children. Admissions from this sold-out event went to support Trent’s chapter of the World University Service of Canada, a program that is raising money to fund refugees to study at Trent.
Upon completion of the panel discussion, Lee Hays, director of Alumni Affairs, announced the formation of the Community for Trent Women (CTW), a life-long learning and leadership community providing opportunities for collaboration, mentorship and support to empower women and support each other to achieve professional goals.
“This will be an inclusive community representing diverse perspectives, experiences, and cultures, helping to expand global awareness,” said Ms. Hays. “The CTW intends to identify and celebrate remarkable Trent women who are advancing communities around the world through their local or global efforts.”
Anyone interested in getting involved, as a founding board member or as a community member can contact leehays@trentu.ca or joannesokolow@trentu.ca for more information.
The Ideas That Change the World Fund was established in 2011 upon the retirement of Alumni Affairs director Tony Storey, in support of an annual event designated to celebrate the exploration of learning and innovation.
Tuesday Dec 08, 2015
Tuesday Dec 08, 2015
Alan Martin is the Director of Research for Partnership Africa Canada (PAC)
-- an organization best known for their Nobel Peace Prize-nominated work
to halt the trade in conflict diamonds from Africa.
Prior to joining PAC, Alan worked as a researcher to the late Jack Layton. Before that he spent over a decade working as a journalist in Canada, the UK and various countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
He has also taught international journalism as an Adjunct Professor within Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication. Born and raised in Southern Africa, he holds a Master’s degree in conflict and development from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
During the interview we talk about blood diamonds, the unexpected results of the recent Federal election, and the state of responsible journalism today.
Thursday Nov 26, 2015
Thursday Nov 26, 2015
Some of Trent University’s brightest alumni came together October 15 to give a critical appraisal of the state of Canadian media. A full house at Bagnani House were treated to “Through A Canadian Lens, The Current and Future Landscape of Television and Film.” This insightful event drew Peterborough community members, as well as Trent faculty, staff, and students to hear about the changing nature of television broadcasting and film.
The talk featured four notable Trent alumni as part of the Life After Trent program: Stephen Stohn ’66, President of Epitome Pictures, multi-award winning executive producer of Degrassi, and top entertainment lawyer; Bill Corcoran ’70, who has been in the television and motion picture industry for forty years as director, and an assistant director and producer who has directed over 300 hours of television and 30 movies; and Bay Weyman ’76, an award winning Canadian filmmaker with over 25 years’ experience writing, producing and directing documentary films through his company Close Up Films. Molly Blyth ’01, who has been a professor at Trent since 1986, moderated the event.
The panelists were each cautiously optimistic about the future of TV/film in Canada.
Mr. Weyman cited fewer funding options and documentary’s “mutant younger brother,” reality TV, for a tougher Canadian documentary landscape. He tempered this by noting an increase in the number – and success – of documentary film festivals as well as the success of new creative approaches to documentaries.
Mr. Corcoran stressed the need for Canadian filmmakers to be strong storytellers. He also pointed out that, rather than “broadcasting” – getting content out to huge numbers all at once – film and television is now “narrowcasting” – being extremely viewer specific in targeting age, gender, nationality, interest, and more. Due to streaming and video-sharing sites, getting content out has never been easier. “The ability to monetize it,” he notes, “is another matter altogether.”
Mr. Stohn addressed the need for a stronger government role when it comes to operating procedures for streaming channels, such as Netflix – that the financial gulf between American content providers and the rest of the world is too great.
“Politicians have a role to provide structure to an industry that ranks only behind mining and oil and gas in Canada,” explain Mr. Stohn. For Stohn, this issue has not been adequately addressed by the government or the CRTC.
At the same time, he says that TV is currently enjoying a creative Renaissance – that the over 450 new series’ being created this year alone speak to the ability for quality content to be shared.
The panelist all agreed, if there is one thing that is certain about Canadian television and film, it is that nothing is certain.