A nation and a world exhale together in a deep healing breath in the name of George Floyd. The poison of racism diluted a bit more in the guilty verdict of former police officer Derek Chauvin as a 9-year-old child stood witness to a murder in broad daylight in the streets of her hometown. A modern-day lynching caught on 17-year-old Darnella Frazier’s cell phone changed the course of history. In light of the guilty verdict, we take another look at our “realities of anti-indigenous and anti-black racism” program but, get an update from Minneapolis Bishop Harding Smith. And a conversation with social justice and law enforcement advocate – former RCMP staff/sergeant Alain Babineau for a reaction on what this means for Canadian policing.

Context Beyond The Headlines

The verdict

Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Three simple words ignited evil, hateful acts of violence against innocent Asian people around the world. Pandemics can happen anywhere, anytime, and in any country. COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, and Asian people are now being demonized, causing long-standing and deep psychological impacts in Asian communities. This week on Context: Asian hate must stop.

Stop Asian Hate

How will history record the years 2020 and 2021? We thought we had seen it all, but has anything really changed? The hate-filled killings of unarmed Black people in the U.S. sparked international outrage from every race under the sun. Here in Canada, Indigenous people faced inexplicable pain when police answered wellness checks by families who called for their loved ones in distress but were met with death. Still, if anything is under-reported in all this outrage, pain, and anxiety, it’s not the lack of goodness in people, it’s the institutional and systemic change that must happen. This week on Context, the realities of anti-Indigenous and anti-Black racism.

Realities of Racism

Gathering at churches, synagogue and temples is a sacred right, but these days, worshipping and gathering is inside,outside, zooming, face timing, skyping, even drive-in movie theatres. During the last year, Christians along with people of other faiths enduring lockdowns, unable to father, leave some people feeling that it’s an infringement on their religious freedom. While others say we’ve got to listen to health authorities. We look at all sides of the debate. And Maggie visits an inner-city ministry where God never sleeps, as they’ve been caring for the less fortunate since the beginning of the global pandemic. Christine Yoo visits a street pastor helping people who are unable to get to the only lifelines they have to the outside world. Is church essential? GUESTS: Lisa Bildy, Lawyer, Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms Pastor Jonathon Shierman, Moosomin Baptist Church Pastor David Lynn, Christ Forgiveness Ministries Bill Dyck, Pastor, Toronto Alliance Church

Is Church Essential

When power causes leaders and others in positions of influence to lose their moral compasses, the trail of pain and destruction is devastating – How do we heal? This week on Context – abuse in the halls of power and influence. From preachers to politicians, even inside the church. The immoral behaviors by some of the leaders in positions of power continues to erode the trust of the institutions that many people once embraced. In fact, Time Magazine reports that the year 2020 ushered in “an epidemic of misinformation and widespread mistrust of societal institutions and leaders around the world.” This week on the program – when abuse of power goes so far as to cause people to want to end their lives. How do we heal? GUESTS Dr. Serene Jones, President, Union Theological Seminary Daniel Gilman, former employee at RZIM Richard Landau, Educator and critical thinker Autumn Miles, Author, Speaker, Domestic Abuse Survivor Mary DeMuth, Speaker, Author, Advocate, and Abuse survivor

Abuse of power

Although there’s been a pause amid COVID-19, caring for God’s earth is essential. A snowstorm in Texas,  floods in Fort Mac, forest fires in L.A. and Australia, increased hurricanes around the world: it’s clear climate change is changing mother earth. Internationally renowned Christian scientist Katharine Hayhoe joins context to explain what is happening to the planet. Plus: Context correspondent Cheridan Sanders talks with us from Rome, where the lockdowns and fewer tourists have given the canals of Venice back their beauty. Marney Bloom talks about Israel’s technologies in helping global climate change. Back in Canada where many environmentalists – even famous Hollywood actors like Jane Fonda are up in arms about Alberta oil. Indigenous leader Karen Ogen-Taves talks about some of Canada’s first nations being pro-pipelines. And a sit down with A Rocha CEO, Luke Wilson on what you can do. GUESTS: Katharine Hayhoe, Climate scientist Karen Ogen-Toews, CEO The First Nations LNG Alliance Cheridan Sanders, Context Rome correspondant Marney Bloom, Freelance journalist Julie Stahl, CBN News Middle East corresponden Luke Wilson, CEO of A Rocha

Caring for God's Creation

It was one year ago this month that the world as we knew it changed forever. We were in shock and disbelief…and then the confusion began. For the grace of God we go. Adversity, hardship and challenges aren’t new in our lives, many of us feel like we’re in the dark. For most of us, COVID has ushered in a loneliness that is difficult to describe. Most affected are our children, students, our elders, and disabled. Coming out of the dark will require a steadfast faith and as we see in retrospect – God is with us, among us and guiding us. GUESTS Milena Batanova – Research & Evaluation MGR., Harvard Elizabeth Chuck, NBC Reporter Chris Daken, father lost his teenage daughter to suicide. Michael Gibson, Special Education Teacher Connie Stam – Compassionate Neighbourhood Health Partners Greg Luesink – Volunteer, Compassionate Neighbourhood Health Partners Andrea Groenewald, Registered Psychotherapist Patricia Khoury, Psychology Student

Loneliness in a pandemic

What went wrong with Canada’s early warning pandemic system? We find out from a specialist in international affairs and intelligence gathering. A Mississauga newspaper reports that international travelers arriving at Pearson airport are taking fines instead of quarantining or providing COVID-19 tests. And are quarantine hotels legal? We hear from a lawyer from the justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms in Calgary. And the global CEO of Ipsos public affairs, Darrell Bricker gives us an update on how Canadians feel the government is handling Covid-19’s second wave. Plus, a major concern for Canada’s school-age children. School board chair, Dawn Danko and Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation are here to talk about the children. Cardus executive vice president, Ray Pennings gives us the Christian view on the economy. GUESTS Wesley Wark, Adjunct Professor, University of Ottawa. Specialist in International Affairs and Intelligence Gathering Jay Cameron BA, LLB, Litigation Dir., Justice Centre for Freedoms Darrel Bricker, Global CEO, Ipsos Public Affairs Dawn Danko, Chair, Hamilton-Wentworth School Board Trustee Harvey Bischof, President of OSSTF/ FEESO Ray Pennings, executive vice-president of Cardus

COVID-19 Report Card: How is the government doing?

Context is Canada’s premiere Christian voice in news and current affairs. In its eighth TV season, Context’s team report on complex stories around the world.

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Context Beyond The Headlines

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