Humans, On Rights

December 3rd was International Day of Persons with Disabilities—a day meant to recognize the contributions and rights of people with disabilities worldwide. Today, we're sitting down with someone who's spent 40 years making sure that recognition turns into actual change.Max Brault—national leader in accessibility, author, and someone who lives with spinal muscular atrophy—doesn't just talk about accessibility. He's helped build the Accessible Canada Act, transformed hiring practices in the federal government, and now consults with corporations trying to figure out what true inclusion actually looks like. His new book, The Race to the Starting Line, cuts through all the box-checking and virtue signalling to explain why equality has to start long before anyone even gets to compete. We're talking:Why the Accessible Canada Act exists—and why the Charter alone wasn't enoughThe moment Stats Canada discovered 27% of Canadians identify as having a disability (not the 4% everyone kept citing)How organizations confuse accommodation with inclusionWhy "we're working on it" is code for "we haven't actually started"The difference between designing for people with disabilities and designing with them Whether you're building spaces, creating policies, or just trying to understand why accessibility matters beyond compliance, Max brings decades of lived experience and hard-won wisdom about what it actually takes to build a world where everyone gets to show up fully. Learn more: Max Brault's website and book See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We sit down with Shohan Illsley, Executive Director of the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, to explore how harm reduction is saving lives and restoring dignity to people who use substances across Manitoba. Shohan brings powerful insights into why compassion-based approaches are essential to addressing substance use in our communities.The Manitoba Harm Reduction Network operates 11 sites across the province, connecting people who use substances with the support they need to stay alive and thrive. We're talking:The toxic drug supply crisis that has claimed over 3,000 lives in Manitoba since 2014How the war on drugs is actually a war on people, rooted in racism and colonial harmThe role of manufactured poverty and homelessness in substance dependenceWhy evidence-based interventions like consumption sites reduce deaths and improve community safetyShohan reminds us that the majority of people use substances without problem—and those who do struggle deserve dignity, connection, and evidence-based support rather than criminalization and stigma."Can we just be brave and try something new?" she asks. "What we're asking people to try are interventions grounded in evidence that have been proven to have the desired outcomes we want." Learn more: Manitoba Harm Reduction Network See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A recent Winnipeg Free Press article revealed an uncomfortable truth: Indigenous and Black patients in Manitoba wait longer in emergency rooms and are more likely to leave without receiving care. For Dr. Marcia Anderson, these aren't just statistics – they're a reality she's witnessed firsthand, both as a physician and through her father's near-fatal experience with racist healthcare.As a Cree Anishinaabe physician from Peguis First Nation and Norway House Cree Nation, Dr. Anderson has dedicated her career to dismantling the systemic racism that pervades Canada's healthcare system. Now serving as Vice Dean of Indigenous Health, Social Justice and Anti-Racism at the University of Manitoba, she's leading groundbreaking work to collect racial, ethnic, and Indigenous identifiers in healthcare – making Manitoba the first province in Canada to systematically track these critical disparities. We're discussing:How outdated and harmful theories like the "Thrifty Gene" theory were still being taught during her medical education, blaming Indigenous peoples' poor health on inferior genetics rather than addressing systemic factorsManitoba's pioneering work in collecting racial and ethnic data in healthcare, revealing disturbing patterns of longer wait times and worse outcomes for Indigenous and Black patientsThe critical difference between cultural safety training (which focuses on understanding different cultures) and anti-racism training (which addresses power, discrimination, and systemic barriers)Practical strategies for anyone who witnesses anti-Indigenous racism – from asking curious questions like "I don't understand why that joke is funny, can you explain it to me?" to marking inappropriate behaviour with simple statements like "I'm not comfortable with that remark"Dr. Anderson's message is clear: healthcare disparities aren't inevitable, and they're not the result of individual "bad apples." They're systemic issues that require systemic solutions – from better data collection to transforming medical education to holding institutions accountable for equitable care.As she powerfully notes, while her father had a physician in the family who could advocate for him during his medical crisis, the vast majority of Indigenous people facing healthcare racism do not have that privilege. That reality fuels her ongoing work to ensure every patient receives the care they deserve, regardless of race or background.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We sit down with Andréanne Mulaire, co-founder of Anne Mulaire, a Winnipeg-based fashion company that has spent 20 years proving that ethical production, cultural heritage, and sustainability aren't just buzzwords – they're the foundation of a thriving business.Andréanne shares how she built a fashion brand that refuses to compromise, maintaining local production in Winnipeg, creating zero-waste collections, and offering sizes from double extra small to 6X – because sustainability should be for everyone. We're discussing:How watching manufacturers throw away 4-5 garbage bins of fabric daily sparked her commitment to zero-waste fashionWhy she chose to keep production in Winnipeg despite the financial challengesThe six sustainability programs she's created, from refreshing worn garments to turning production waste into new yarn for socksHow Métis heritage and family entrepreneurship spanning generations influences her design philosophyWhy she believes every piece of clothing has a story – and why we should care about those storiesAndréanne reminds us that sustainable fashion isn't about perfection – it's about making conscious choices: "We're all responsible for our own waste. Not doing something is worse. You just have to test, try, do something."Anne Mulaire's sustainability programs include:Refresh: Repairing and reinforcing garments to extend lifeResale: Creating entry points for new customers through pre-loved piecesRevive: Upcycling and transforming existing garmentsZero Waste Collection: Creating 100 one-of-a-kind pieces twice yearly from production remnantsDowncycle: Donating fabric remnants to community members for their projectsFiber Lab: Transforming production waste into new yarn for "Wasted Socks" and future fabrics Connect with Anne Mulaire at annemulaire.ca  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We sit down with Dan Lussier, CEO of Réseau Compassion Network, and Jennifer Rodrigue from Co-Habit to discuss their groundbreaking partnership creating accessible, affordable housing that centers dignity and community.We're talking:Why Manitoba's housing crisis demands innovative solutions that go beyond just "affordable units"How Co-Habit is reimagining supportive housing for people with profound physical disabilities who currently have limited options beyond personal care homesThe difference between accessibility standards and true accessible design—and why Canada's building codes still fall shortHow the Le Suite Marion project became a successful model combining deeply affordable housing with wraparound support servicesWhy segregation in housing (whether for seniors, people with disabilities, or any population) reinforces inequality and isolationThe power of integrated, intentional community in combating the loneliness crisis affecting all CanadiansDan and Jennifer remind us that housing is a human right, and true accessibility means more than meeting minimum standards—it means creating spaces where everyone can thrive with dignity, independence, and connection. Learn more: Réseau Compassion Network Co-Habit Action Marguerite St. Boniface See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.