An exploration of hidden and youth homelessness in Kingston, Ontario. Produced by Brenna Owen for the Robert H. Black Documentary Residency at CFRC 101.9fm, Queen's campus and community radio station. Originally aired on CFRC on April 14, 2014.  

Beyond Closed Doors features the stories and insights of service providers and people with lived experience with homelessness. 

Interviewees:
- Emily (name changed for anonymity), a young woman experiencing homelessness in Kingston
- Connie Schwartz, Executive Director at Ryandale Shelter
- Jason Beaubiah, Executive Director at Kingston Youth Shelter
- Tara Everitt, Youth Services Supervisor at Home Base Housing


Beyond Closed Doors (April 2014 radio documentary on CFRC 101.9 FM)

"I called one of my best friends and she picked me up with her Mom, and I lived with them for quite a while. It got to the point where they couldn't afford it anymore. I had to leave and I had nowhere to go, so I went to the shelter. I still feel too young..." 

This track is a 4:56 minute excerpt of the hour-long documentary Beyond Closed Doors, produced independently by Brenna Owen for the Robert H. Black Documentary Residency at CFRC 101.9 FM. The documentary features stories and insights from people with lived experience with homelessness in Kingston, Ontario. It focuses on young people and lack of secure housing beyond the more visible homelessness we see on the streets of our communities. Poster by Asad Chishti.

Beyond Closed Doors  (broadcast sample)

This episode of The Built Environment podcast features two conversations between Brenna Owen, Fatin Chowdhury, and Vanessa Gray and Ada Lockridge of Aamjiwnaang First Nation near Sarnia, Ontario. Sarnia is the heart of Canada's petrochemical industry, with over 60 facilities for processing chemicals and tar sands oil. Around 700 people call Aamjiwnaang home, and experience the immediate impacts of heavy industry each day. Listen to hear Vanessa and Ada share their experiences resisting industry.

Vanessa Gray co-founded the organization ASAP (Aamjiwnaang & Sarnia Against Pipelines) and co-organizes the annual Toxic Tour, which allows people from outside Aamjiwnaang to see the extent of the industry first hand. In December 2015, Vanessa and two friends used the manual shut-off valve for Enbridge Line 9 just outside Sarnia to stop the pipeline's flow.

Ada Lockridge has advocated tirelessly for her community for 15 years, including launching a request through the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to investigate Shell for several incidents under the province's Environmental Bill of Rights. You'll hear about these and more impacts of industry and lack of government oversight in the episode.

Resisting Chemical Valley with Vanessa Gray & Ada Lockridge (The Built Environment podcast)

CEO of Vancouver clean-tech company Portable Electric Mark Rabin demonstrates how to use the company's solar, wind and battery-powered renewable-energy generators ahead of powering Vancouver Mural Festival and Pride celebrations. Pitched and produced by Brenna Owen. Aired on CBC's The Early Edition on Friday, August 2, 2019.

CBC's Early Edition: Portable Electric generators (August 2019)

A boxing ring replaces the stage at the Commodore Ballroom for Aprons for Gloves, now an annual tradition and a staple of Vancouver's boxing and restaurant communities. The event benefits the free, after-school youth programs at the Eastside Boxing Club. Pitched and produced by Brenna Owen. Aired on CBC's On the Coast on Tuesday, August 20, 2019.

CBC's On the Coast: Eastside Boxing Club youth programs (August 2019)

A chorus of little voices cries out, “Éy swáyel, Mrs. Kelly!”

Grade 1 students in Chilliwack, B.C., are wishing their teacher Lauralee Kelly “Good Day” in Halq’eméylem, the Coast Salish dialect of Stó:lō communities across the Fraser Valley.

As a teacher and language learner, Kelly faces a steep uphill battle.

Chronic underfunding by provincial and federal governments has hobbled the immersion programs Stó:lō communities need in order to revitalize Halq’eméylem.

Now, there is only one actively fluent speaker.

Along with a small group of teachers, Kelly has resolved to become fluent and carry Halq’eméylem forward.

To do that, they need sustainable funding ...

Tune in to this talk-tape segment that aired on CBC Radio One in May 2018 as part of More Than Words, a special radio program produced by members of the Reporting in Indigenous Communities course at UBC's Graduate School of Journalism.

CBC's More Than Words: Sto:lo language teachers take fluency into their own hands (May 2018)

Fruit trees and gardens bloom across Vancouver in the summertime. What do you need to know if you're thinking about urban foraging? Take a tour of a local park with Indigenous herbalist and educator Lori Snyder. Produced by Brenna Owen. Aired on CBC's Early Edition on August 13, 2018.

CBC's Early Edition: Urban Foraging (August 2018)

freelance journalist. sometimes making radio @CBCVancouver. former weekend reporter @CdnPress. alumna @UBCJournalism @CFRC 101.9 FM & Institute for Investigative Journalism

Brenna Owen

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