Changes in law that bring about more equality have complex roots, but they almost always start with someone who takes a stand. A new book examines ten of the legal cases that advanced women’s rights in Canada. The stories it tells of the women who challenged the law remind us that advances in equality are hard-won and should never be taken for granted. The book is titled Women Who Woke Up The Law. We spoke with author Karin Wells in September 2025.

Karin Wells on her new book Women who Woke up the Law (encore) 

International students have long been seen as a source of extra income by Canadian universities, who charge them much higher tuition fees for the same education as domestic students. In their new book, Not Your Cash Cow, Not Your Scapegoat, the Racialization of Asian International Students Collective studied the experiences of over 145 international students from China, India and South Korea at five universities. We speak with Lori Wilkinson, professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Manitoba and a member of the collective.

Book: Not Your Cash Cow, Not Your Scapegoat

A program in BC schools that helps kids navigate gender and sexuality has become a prime target of conservative politicians.  In an article called SOGI 123: What It Is, What It Isn't, and Why the Truth Matters, author Wilbur Turner lays out the facts behind BC’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity framework. Wilbur Turner joins us in this episode.

Laying out the facts about the SOGI 123 program in BC schools

One of the consequences of the war on Iran is that it has provided the oil industry with the opportunity to engage in rampant profiteering. In the first month of the war, the Canadian oil industry made after-tax profits in excess of $6 billion dollars. If oil prices stay this high for a year, it’s on track to make $90 billion in profits. Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood says that the current windfall could be Canadian oil's final boom, so the proceeds should be taxed and invested into economic diversification.

Taxing the oil industry’s massive profits resulting from the Iran war 

Namesake has its West Coast premiere at the Doxa Festival this month. The film documents an ongoing conversation between the Tla’amin Nation and the city commonly known as Powell River over a proposal to reclaim the city’s name, which is derived from a recent colonial official. We speak with Dr. Evan Adams, co-director of Namesake.

Film: Tla’amin Nation asks Powell River to reconsider its name

Last week Mayor Sim and the ABC Council passed a motion to identify a potential ownership group for a major-league baseball team in Vancouver. Details leaked out this week about who that is and what they want. Ian Mass joins us with the details of this and much more in this week’s City Beat report.

City Beat for May 2: Vancouver hoping for major-league baseball team

Body cameras and increased security in grocery stores are a corporate response to concerns about retail theft. But at the same time, profits in the grocery sector are on the rise, food prices are going up, and food insecurity is widespread. We speak with Alissa Overend, who teaches and researches in the areas of health, food and intersectional equity.



Increased grocery store surveillance amidst worsening food insecurity

In her latest film, There Are No Words, award-winning documentary filmmaker Min Sook Lee turns the camera towards her family. The film documents Lee’s search for memories of her mother, Song Ji Lee, who died by suicide when Lee was twelve years old. There Are No Words was produced by the National Film Board. It has its Western Canada premiere at DOXA on May 3.



Min Sook Lee on her new film, There Are No Words

This week, Vancouver City Council heard directly from sex trade advocates about service cutbacks, a questionable unity agreement crafted by the three progressive parties, lifeguards, community centre renewals, baseball and lots more. Ian Mass joins us today with his City Beat report.



City Beat for Apr 25: A step towards unity on the left

African American sculptor Selma Burke chronicled many of the events of the last century in her art: lynchings, the Harlem Renaissance, the Holocaust, and the assassination of Martin Luther King. Two Calgary playwrights have created an award winning play based on her life. The manuscript is now a book, Selma Burke: Carving a Sculptor's life.   We speak with one of the authors, Caroline Russell-King.

Selma Burke: Carving a Sculptor’s Life 

A progressive take on current events. Produced by an independent media collective at Vancouver Cooperative Radio.

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