CommunityThe Foundation’s podcast features inspiring discussions with community-minded citizens.
BeCause & Effect, The Winnipeg Foundation’s podcast, talks to people about the Causes they care about, and the effect it has on their own – and others’ – lives. Hosted by The Foundation’s Nolan Bicknell, the podcast features in-depth, inspiring conversations with community-minded citizens. BeCause & Effect is currently in its second season, and new episodes are out every Tuesday, where ever you get your podcasts, including iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play.
Learn more: BeCauseAndEffect.org
Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones is an Olympic Gold Medalist and one of most decorated curlers of all time. The proud Winnipegger is also an avid volunteer and proponent of various charitable organizations, including the Sandra Schmirler Foundation and Special Olympics Canada.
“Sport has changed my life,” Jones says. “It gave me confidence, it gave me community, it gave me friends. I think about those kids that never feel like they belong and that makes me sad, because there’s this whole community that, if they could just become a part of it, it’s almost an instant family.”
For Jones, self esteem and a strong work ethic go hand-in-hand.
“I always tell my daughter, nobody can outwork you, because you can control that. There’s a lot of things outside of our control in life – but how we behave, how we react, how hard we work – that’s all within our control,” Jones says. “As long as you go out there and you work your hardest, you’re always going to feel good about yourself.”
Hear the full interview > Episode 13
Ben Kramer
Chef Ben Kramer is a world-caliber, internationally celebrated chef who, through decades of tireless work and activism, has helped change the way western Canada approaches cuisine. Promoting the farm-totable restaurant format has been one of his passions since he began his career.
“From a consumer’s point of view, as a Chef, we’re at one of the best times in history because people are holding us accountable,” Kramer says. “Food is a huge part of our culture right now and one of the benefits is people are educated and making connections with farmers [to understand] where their food comes from.”
Another of Chef Kramer’s Causes is helping educate people about proper food prep and nutrition.
“The education around food has dwindled over the years; there’s a real lack of actual cooking and actual nutrition in schools,” Kramer says. “Let’s get kids into the kitchen and make learning food autonomy a priority, and not rely on corporations or your parents to feed you. That’s a skill that’s going to carry them for their entire life, probably more than trigonometry is.”
Hear the full interview > Episode 16
Dr. Ian Mauro
Dr. Ian Mauro is a climate scientist and researcher, a professor at the University of Winnipeg, co-director of the Prairie Climate Centre and an internationally acclaimed filmmaker who has worked with David Suzuki. He was also a panelist at The Winnipeg Foundation’s Vital Conversation on climate change in September – read more: Climate change and your health.
“The consumption culture that goes along with the modern industrial initiative, and the technology that supports it, is really at the centre of the climate crisis – and our existential crisis as human beings,” Dr. Mauro says.
Through his work with the Prairie Climate Centre, the Climate Atlas, and filmmaking, Dr. Mauro tells stories of people affected by the climate catastrophe – including Inuit communities in the Arctic – and helps looks for solutions.
“When I think about the richness of Indigenous communities, and the centering their knowledge has, that is something that can help guide all of these other technologies and sciences,” Dr. Mauro says. “If you can bring these worlds together – the Indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge – [we can] build a society that honours the richness in these different ways of knowing.”
Hear the full interview > Episode 14
Joy Loewen
Joy Loewen has made it her purpose to give a hand up to those in need. Through her countless board appointments, her volunteer work, or as Acting Executive Director of the National Screen Institute (NSI), Loewen truly lives a life of service of others.
“It’s nothing purposeful; I seek to serve,” Loewen says. “I grew up in a family where, at a very early age, I was a caregiver. I come from small town Manitoba, where volunteering, doing for others, helping out your neighbour is not mandated – you just do it.”
Joy has been with NSI for 11 years, and though it launched in Edmonton, it now operates out of Manitoba.
“What you really need to move forward as a storyteller in this industry is connections. What NSI does well is provide those connections to the industry, as well as provide you with the skills that get you to the next step in your career,” Loewen says. “We want to help ensure that people across our nation and around the world are hearing the stories of Canadians.”
Hear the full interview > Episode 18
This story is featured in the Fall 2019 issue of our Working Together magazine. Download or view the full issue on our Publications page.