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Zoomer Week in Review

Local News

Join host Libby Znaimer as she brings you the latest Zoomer Headlines from around the world and shines a spotlight on the key issues affecting you. You’ll also get the freshest perspective from CARP and Zoomer Media experts on health, wellness and living the good life!

Location:

Toronto, ON

Genres:

Local News

Description:

Join host Libby Znaimer as she brings you the latest Zoomer Headlines from around the world and shines a spotlight on the key issues affecting you. You’ll also get the freshest perspective from CARP and Zoomer Media experts on health, wellness and living the good life!

Twitter:

@zoomerradio

Language:

English

Contact:

AM 740 550 Queen Street East, Suite 205 Toronto, Ontario M5A 1V2 (416) 360-0740


Episodes

How a Runaway Orphan Became a Big Time Chef & Are We Too Afraid of Cancer?

4/14/2024
How a Runaway Orphan Became a Big Time Chef A new documentary-"Born Hungry"-tells the real life rags to riches tale of Sash Simpson, a runaway child from the streets of India, who was adopted into a Toronto family with 31 siblings before becoming a world-renowned chef. Libby spoke with Chef Sash Simpson about his life and why he decided that now was the time to make a movie about it. Are We Too Afraid of Cancer? April is Daffodil Month, a time devoted to raising awareness about Cancer.The all-consuming fear of it is still with us even though survival rates have skyrocketed. Author David Ropeik argues that this fear is also harming us. I talked with him about "Curing Cancerphobia: How Risk, Fear, and Worry Mislead Us".

Duration:00:19:01

An Elder Rights Lawyer's Fight Against For-Profit Homes & What You Need to Know About Tinnitus

4/7/2024
An Elder Rights Lawyers Fight Against For-Profit Homes is the subject of new Doc "Stolen Time" Elder rights lawyer and advocate Melissa Miller is the subject of a new documentary–titled “Stolen time”-- that follows her legal battle against some of the world’s most powerful long-term care corporations. I talked with her about the film which chronicles her toughest case yet—a mass tort representing hundreds of families Are You Suffering from Tinnitus? Here's What You Need to Know Ringing, buzzing, clicking and hissing. Those are the kind of sounds you may hear if you’re afflicted with Tinnitus. The symptoms range from mild to debilitating and more than 9 million Canadians are affected. I talked with Dr. Yvonne Chan, Otolaryngologist-in-Chief, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health.

Duration:00:17:53

Religion in Canada & Ottawa’s Arms Embargo with Israel

3/31/2024
March 31 2024 - Religion in Canada & Ottawa’s Arms Embargo with Israel What Research Tells Us About Canadians’ Relationship with Religion It’s Easter Sunday and it’s likely that family dinners and easter egg Hunts outstripped church attendance as a way to mark the holiday. Formal religious observance has been declining for years in our country though about half the population still believe in God. And many people are closely attached to their religion but do not have faith in a higher power. Libby talked with Dr. Jack Jedwab about the state of our spirituality. Ottawa’s Arms Embargo with Israel Last week Melanie Joly, Canada's foreign minister, announced an arms embargo on Israel. But it turns out Canada has spent much more - over a billion in recent years- on Israeli weapons systems and they are being used to protect Canadian pilots, fighters, and naval combatants around the world. Libby spoke with israel’s ambassador to canada Iddo moed.

Duration:00:16:55

Cottage Country Prices Set to Spike in Ontario & A Total Solar Eclipse is Coming

3/24/2024
Cottage Country Prices Set to Spike in Ontario Cottage country prices are set to soar again as Zoomers look to switch family homes for country retirement living. According to a recreational property report out this week from Royal LePage, the national median single-family price forecast is set to increase by 5%, with all of Canada's provincial recreational markets seeing an increase in single-family home prices in 2024. Libby Znaimer spoke with Phil Soper, CEO and president of Royal LePage, to unpack this information. Save The Date! A Total Solar Eclipse is Coming April 8, 2024 The next total solar eclipse visible in North America will occur on April 8, 2024. The path of totality will cross over parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada, with millions of people expected to witness this spectacular phenomenon. Libby checked in with Bill Archer, a Mission Scientist with the Canadian Space Agency, to discuss this rare event.

Duration:00:17:54

AI Compassionate Companions & Zelensky's Showman Journey

3/17/2024
Eldercare Evolved: AI Companions & Compassion Exploring AI companions in eldercare: Meet VIV, offering conversation and compassion. We discuss the latest report from the National Institute on Ageing and the transformative role of technology, featuring Catherine Phee's experience with dementia. Is this the future? Dr. Adriana Shnall weighs in. From Actor to Icon: Zelensky's Showman Journey Dive into the captivating journey of Volodymyr Zelensky, from actor to wartime leader, as we discuss "The Showman" with Time Correspondent Simon Shuster. This intimate portrait traces Zelensky's evolution from the bright lights of variety shows to the front lines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Explore how he transitioned from comedic actor to an iconic figure leading Ukraine's fight for its future. Join us as we unravel the personal transformation of President Zelensky and the pivotal moments captured in "The Showman."

Duration:00:17:46

Hamas Likely Committed Rape on October 7th: UN Report & A 100-Year-Old Internet Sensation

3/9/2024
UN Report finds Hamas likely committed rape during Oct. 7th massacre: This week, the UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict presented a report concluding that rape and gang rape likely occurred during the October 7 Hamas attack in Southern Israel. It also found “clear and convincing” evidence that hostages were raped while being held in Gaza and that those currently held are still facing such abuse. The UN was late to acknowledge these crimes and the fact-finding mission leading to the report took place largely because of the efforts of Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Director of the Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women at Bar Ilan University. I spoke with her when she was in town earlier this week. The Rise of a 100-year-old social media star: Social media star Mildred Kirschenbaum recently celebrated her 100th birthday. She’s been an online sensation since her 99th birthday when her daughter posted a video with her tips on living to her age. They were so popular that she wrote a book and Libby spoke with her ahead of the launch.

Duration:00:19:55

Older Zoomers' Attitudes Towards Downsizing & A Looming Shortage of Burial Spaces in Toronto

3/3/2024
Older Zoomers Are Delaying Their Home Downsizing Plans: There’s been a demographic shift when it comes to Boomers downsizing from their homes. In fact, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing, Seniors are now less likely to sell their homes before the age of 85, a big change from three decades ago. Boomers are not expected to downsize in a meaningful way until mid-2040. Better health and lack of housing are driving the trend. We reached CMHC Economist Francis Cortellino who authored a recent study that confirms the trend. Toronto Funeral Homes Worried About Burial Shortages: Death is often considered a taboo subject, but funeral homes in Toronto are sounding the alarm about a crisis: a lack of space to bury the dead. Some industry experts predict space will run out in a little as 10 years. The dire situation reflects the current housing crisis, where land is a premium. We reached Kim Hunter, Owner of Humphrey Funeral Home to talk about changes in the funeral industry.

Duration:00:15:52

Intergenerational Living & Cars Zoomers Love to Drive

2/25/2024
Homesharing program pairing Students with Seniors: An Ontario based company is making intergenerational living normal in Canada. SpacesShared is a home sharing platform that matches students with Seniors who have empty bedrooms and the company says it’s been overwhelmed by requests. With affordable housing more elusive than ever, this program is not only a win for students, but it creates some income and connections for Seniors who face isolation in growing numbers. We reached SpacesShared co-founder and CEO Rylan Kinnon. New Cars Zoomers Love to Drive: The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada has just named the 2024 car of the year. And the winner is: the Toyota Prius. And Toyota also claims other top spots. The awards were just handed out at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. Jil McIntosh has been writing about cars for years for various industry publications and she was also a judge at this year’s car show. We reached Jil to find out what older drivers want in a car.

Duration:00:18:37

Let's Talk About Sex & Ageism in Politics

2/18/2024
How Canadians Are Enjoying Sex: On Valentine’s day this week, Sociologist Tina Fetner released a book on Canadian sexual practices based on the first ever survey of what Canadian adults do in the bedroom and who they do it with. It’s called "Sex in Canada: The Who, Why, When, and How of Getting Down Up North". And Libby started the conversation by asking how we are different from Americans. Ageism in Politics: This week a special counsel cleared U.S. President Joe biden of criminal wrongdoing in his handling of classified documents, But Robert Hur, who is associated with Donald Trump and has no neurological expertise, characterized the 81-year-old Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory”. By that point the President’s age was already a widely debated campaign issue. Is that partisan politics or ageism? Libby reached Larry Haas- a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, in Maryland.

Duration:00:18:51

The King's Health & Clinical Trials for Cancer Patients

2/11/2024
The King's Cancer Diagnosis: There’s been an outpouring of sympathy and support since King Charles III revealed that he’s been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. At the age of 75, he was finally putting his own stamp on the monarchy after ascending the throne in September 2022 following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth. Libby talked about the implications with Suzanne Boyd, Editor-in-chief and Publisher of Zoomer Magazine/everythingzoomer.com Reforming our system of clinical trials for Cancer Patients In recent years, there have been huge innovations in cancer treatment that target the disease with ever increasing precision. Clinical trials are often the best or the only treatment option for cancer patients. But surgical oncologist Dr. Rebecca Auer argues that they are outdated and need to be reimagined to help thousands of Canadians.

Duration:00:17:28

Your Cardiovascular Health & Exercising Over Age 50

2/4/2024
What a new report tells us about Cardiac Arrest A new report from the Heart and Stroke Foundation finds that this potentially fatal event occurring outside a hospital is far more prevalent than we thought. Cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos tells us simple training could save lives. Are you exercising right after the age of 50? Are you still sticking to your New year’s exercise resolution? And are you working out the right way? Author and personal trainer Igor Klibanov specializes in training people over 50 and as the title of his bestseller says: Stop Exercising! The Way You Are doing it Now”

Duration:00:18:47

Relative of Hamas Hostage Speaks Out & Putting Five Love Languages to the Test

1/28/2024
Michael Levy's brother is still being held by Hamas. He shares his story: Like so many around the world, and specifically Israel, just mention October 7th and the nightmare of that day replays in their minds many times each day. Michael Levy's brother was taken hostage by the terrorist group while attending the Nova Music Festival and his sister-in-law was murdered. He shares his story. How accurate are the five love languages? It’s been 30-plus years since a series of books titled The Five Love Languages came out. Not to help someone fall in love but to keep a relationship fresh and growing amid conflicts, demands, and just plain boredom of everyday life. Dr. Emily Impett, a University of Toronto Mississauga psychology professor and her team of researchers were curious cupids who decided to check out the concept.

Duration:00:19:14

National Non-Smoking Week & Ontario Launches New LTC Investigations Unit

1/21/2024
January 21 2024-National Non-Smoking Week & Ontario Launches New LTC Investigations Unit National Non-Smoking Week Quick quiz: What’s the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Canada? If you said tobacco then you’re right. With 46-thousand dying from it each year and National Non-Smoking Week upon us, Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society looks at how far we’ve come and also how much more we’ve got to go. Ontario Launches a New Long-Term Care Investigations Unit The province now has a team of 10 investigators designated as Provincial Offences Officers who have the authority to add more accountability in long-term care with the aim to help address the most serious forms of non-compliance. Will these 10 make a difference? Jane Meadus is a lawyer at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly.

Duration:00:18:34

Blue Monday & CARP Survey shows Zoomers Have the Travel Bug

1/14/2024
Blue Monday and research about Seasonal Affective Disorder Blue Monday has officially been called the most depressing day of the year. It was dreamed up to help advertisers cash in on everything from travel to gym memberships. But the broader Seasonal Affective Disorder is when the post holiday lull, stretched finances, and poor weather with less daylight all converge. We reached Laura Cavanagh Professor of Behavioural Sciences at Seneca College and a registered psychotherapist. CARP's Survey shows Zoomers are hungry for travel Travel bug got you planning a big trip? You’re not alone. A just-released survey by the Zoomer Advocacy group CARP finds a whopping 86 percent of older Canadians plan to book an international flight within the year marking a return to the first ‘normal’ travel season in three years. Rudy Buttignol, President of the Zoomer Advocacy group CARP joined us in the studio to break it all down.

Duration:00:18:16

New Year Resolutions & Canadian CEO Salaries

1/7/2024
David Macdonald On Canada's highest-paid CEOs Almost 15 million dollars. That’s how much 100 of Canada’s top CEOs were paid in 2022--an all time high. And it's more than double what the top executives were paid in 2008. Compare that to the typical Canadian worker who got an average three per cent raise to just over 60 thousand a year. By comparison, the top CEOs made that in 8 hours. So, at a time when the average Canadian is facing food inflation and housing affordability, why do Canada’s richest keep getting richer? We reached David Macdonald, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, who released a report this week. Professor Jim Davies On Best Strategies to Keep Our New Year Resolutions: We’ve just said goodbye to 2023 and are a few days into 2024. Do you plan to make changes this year? Experts agree that New Year’s resolutions usually fail because they’re too big of a goal. So the best advice is start small. In fact, one study finds 9 in 10 Americans fail at resolutions. We reached Jim Davies, a cognitive science professor at Carleton University, for some do’s and don'ts when it comes to resolutions.

Duration:00:19:00

Unveiling a Beatles' Secret & Addressing the Mental Health Crisis

12/24/2023
Erika Buckman: Unveiling a Beatles' Secret: Erika Buckman reveals a surprising and bittersweet connection: her late daughter, Caroline Buckman unknowingly played a part in this last melody from the legendary Fab Four. With this revelation, Buckman shares a unique perspective on the song's significance and her daughter's unintended legacy. Dr. Allison Crawford: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis: Amidst the pandemic, while suicide rates remained stable, crisis lines experienced a surge in calls from individuals grappling with heightened stress. In response, Canada introduces a comprehensive, around-the-clock, three-digit suicide prevention hotline, 9-8-8. Dr. Allison Crawford, Chief Medical Officer at Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, joins Bob Komsic to discuss this critical initiative and its potential impact on mental health support in the country.

Duration:00:19:38

Researching the Brain & Enhanced Road Tests for Over 80

12/17/2023
Brain Canada researchers along with ones from the world renowned Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel are teaming up to better understand the brain and its disorders. One-and-a-half million dollars will support up to three team grants of half-a-million each over two-years. Professor Rony Paz of the Weizmann Institute from Israel and Brain Canada’s President and CEO Dr. Viviane Poupon’s in Montreal joins Bob Komsic to discuss. AND How old is too old for one to be driving? The province is considering introducing an enhanced road test for those over 80. Currently, drivers have to renew their licence every two years after reaching that milestone. The renewal process involves attending a senior driver education session that involves a vision test and having to draw a clock which measures cognitive abilities. It does NOT examine motor function and co-ordination, concentration, hearing ability, spatial perception, and reaction time. Ministry of transportation research in 2020 showed more than one-third of drivers older than 80 who passed the clock-drawing test could not pass a road test. The recommendation is for the introduction, by 2026, of an enhanced road test that could combine driving manoeuvres of a standard highway test with additional scoring to gauge cognitive abilities related to safe driving. The Zoomers’ advocacy group CARP and its chief policy and operating officer Bill VanGorder thinks the province should reconsider.

Duration:00:20:02

Israel's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism & A Surgeon's Gender Could Mean Health-Care Savings

12/8/2023
Irwin Cotler is a former Canadian justice minister who served as Canada's special envoy on Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism and is the focus of the cover story in the latest issue of "Zoomer Magazine". He's also under around-the-clock police protection because of a threat to his life. His daughter, Michal Cotler-Wunsh was named Israel's new special envoy to combat antisemitism just before October 7th. She joins Bob Komsic to discuss the current state of rising international antisemitism and Canada's failure to address it. AND A study carried out by two U of T doctors has discovered that the gender of a surgeon can save health-care a lot of money. It involved over one-million adult patients who had about two dozen common elective and emergency surgeries between 2007 and 2019. The co-authors found costs for patients, whose health data was checked at one-month, three-months, and one-year after surgery, were about 10% lower if they had a female surgeon. The study can be found in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Surgery. Co-author Dr. Angela Jerath joined Bob Komsic to discuss their study.

Duration:00:21:19

Freeing Hamas Hostages & Be a Santa to a Senior

12/3/2023
There's no scenario where a former senior Israeli army officer sees Hamas freeing ALL remaining hostages. Moty Cristal served for several years in various official negotiation capacities in the prime minister's office and Israel's ministry of defense and for the past 22-years has been an expert negotiator in the private sector. AND The shriek of a boy or girl on Christmas morning when they open their presents overjoyed they got what they’d wanted. For that child in most of the rest of us that’s a present in itself and, for most of us, luckily not the only one. But what about those seniors who may not otherwise get gifts? Home Instead partners with nursing homes and other groups interested in bringing them presents and smiles with its "Be a Santa to a Senior Program" as Mark Maclean explains.

Duration:00:19:07

Giving To Charities Intelligently & Canada's Best New Restaurant

11/26/2023
The lead up to the holidays has begun. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday, when charities, companies and individuals rally for favourite causes. The world’s largest generosity movement, Giving Tuesday, encourages donation of time, talents, and resources to address various challenges. Charity Intelligence does the homework and is the go-to source for info so that donors can give intelligently. Greg Thomson is research director. AND Looking for something different in a dining experience? Check out Canada’s best new restaurant, Kappo Sato, in Toronto on Mt Pleasant Road. Takeshi Sato is chef owner of the Kappo-style Omakase restaurant. Its Marketing Director, Ken Masuda, explains why such restaurants are so rare in Canada. Food Critic Amy Rosen was the one who determined Kappo Sato to be Canada’s best new restaurant. She dined anonymously at over 30 establishments nominated by food industry experts during her month-long journey and shares her experience.

Duration:00:18:49