Check out this incredibly inspiring conversation with teachers and students of Galileo Adult Education Center, about their I Belong Project, and how this digital storytelling journey led them to the Hands On Media Film Festival!
Joining us on this episode:
Martina Schaivone - Galileo Principal
Lisa Trotto - SIS Teacher
Jessie Curell- Hands on Media Founder 
Alexis Gerin Lajoie - SIS Student & film creator
Alex Ponte - SIS Student & film creator 

Important links:
 
Film festival playlist: 
 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGt9P_lNtQxHZbihVVfVvirL8HkGJiaDG 
 
Full length virtual film festival video recorded live: 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVBrvKXBskk&t=5s 
 
Alex Ponte’s (Djbigdog 2.0) YouTube channel 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpzouwtqwI4sNx_IjrRWb4A

Galileo SIS students chat about their digital storytelling projects

An integral part of the Shriners Hospital, the Child Life department aims to help kids (and parents!) normalize their hospital experience by reducing stress and cope during medical procedures. 
Listen as Mark Bergman chats with Child Life Specialist Angie Gugliotti, as well as parent Christine Elvidge, 10 year old Sari Bennet, and Keera Taylor who recently completed her internship at the hospital. Keera created an unbelievable project where patients created their own Tik Tok videos!

Discover the Child Life department at the Shriners Hospital!

Looking for greeting cards this holiday season? Check our www.zachdesigns.ca The business is run by Zach Reisman, who is an illustrator and 3D artist. Zach, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, runs the business together with his mother Lorri Benedik, and they both joined Mark Bergman to share their story.

Meet Zach Reisman, creator of Zach Designs!

In my first podcast,  I briefly outline how  the city of Côte Saint-Luc is handling the COVID-19 crisis.

Côte Saint-Luc And COVID - 19: A Short Update

David Birnbaum has been the Liberal MNA for the D'Arcy McGee riding in the West End of Montreal since 2014.  How has the pandemic impacted his work? What does he think of the  job being done by the CAQ government? Where does the Liberal leadership campaign  stand? Will Bill 40, the reform of school boards be stalled because of the pandemic?  We asked him these questions and more.

An interview with D'Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum

Anthony Housefather was elected as Member of Parliament for Mount Royal on October 19, 2015 and re-elected on October 21, 2019. He has been a fountain of information on the COVID-19 pandemic and in this interview he shares some valuable information
In February 2016, he was elected as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. He is presently the Parliamentary Secretary to Federal Minister of Labour Filomena Tassi. Moreover, Anthony has two Law Degrees (B.C.L. and LL.B.) from McGill University and an MBA from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business. Until he was elected an MP, he served as Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs and General Counsel at Dialogic Corporation.

Anthony was first elected to office in 1994. He was initially elected as a municipal councillor in Hampstead, then elected in Côte-Saint-Luc/Hampstead/Montreal West, and served as Mayor of Côte-Saint-Luc between 2005 and 2015.

On a personal level, Anthony participates in numerous activities in his community. He is a member of the drama society and swim team. His performance in swimming earned him seven medals at the 2013 Maccabiah Games, in Israel. He has also been a volunteer for many years within a number of organizations serving the English speaking and Jewish communities.

Anthony Housefather Interview

May  4 to 8, 2020 will mark  Mental Health Awareness Week  in Canada. It is  an important topic as we all deal with the repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Rachel Goodman is a Montreal psychologist in private practice and co-chair of  the second  Montreal Jewish Community Mental Health Shabbat. This includes a virtual event set for May 7 to be broadcast live at 7:30 pm at
 www.TBDJ.org/mentalhealth2020. This was planned before COVID and dedicated to Anxiety through the lifespan. Obviously now,   COVID  will be addressed in this context. Dr. Goodman tells us more about how this virus is impacting upon people's mental health.

Dr. Rachel Goodman On Mental Health Awareness Week

Alison Levine is ranked #1 in the world in boccia, a sport for physically disabled athletes. As she was in the final stages of preparation for the 2020 Paralympics, COVID-19 hit, and it was decided that the games would be postponed until next summer. Join Mark Bergman, as he chats with Alison about how learning to adapt has been crucial in preparing her for how to deal with isolation and preparation for summer 2021.

Boccia champ Alison Levine: Determination, adaptation, and isolation.

The last few months have been a challenge for us all. But how did the sudden break in routine, affect those living with autism? Listen, as Mark Bergman chats with Kelly Bron Johnson, founder and consultant at Completely Inclusive, and Steve Atme, singer, producer, writer, and the director of the movie, the Power Of One. They'll discuss the challenges, but also some of the good that's come out of this pandemic!

Living with autism, during the COVID-19 pandemic

Patricia R. Lattanzio was elected as the Liberal Member of Parliament for St, Leonard-St. Michel on October 21, 2019. The mother of three young adults. she served as a municipal councillor for the district of Saint-Léonard-Est for four years and  an English Montreal School Board Commissioner for 12 years. For six years she also chaired the Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l'île de Montréal.

Ms. Lattanzio holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Université du Québec à Montréal, a certificate in law from the Université de Montréal and an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from McGill University. She is a lawyer and a member of the Quebec Bar Association. She has practiced in the field of civil law for 29 years.

St.  Leonard St Michel Liberal MP Patricia Lattanzio

In celebration of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month in Montreal,  GenMTL's Pay it Forward for Purim initiative, along with DeLaMie Bakery saw 200 Purim Baskets go out to people in the Montreal community. Listen, as Mark Bergman chats with fundraiser organizers and members of the DeLaMie bakery, about the importance of social enterprise in Montreal!

Highlighting social enterprises in Montreal - Part 1

The Inspirations News Podcast is sponsored by Quebec’s only newspaper devoted exclusively towards the special needs community. Tune in regularly to hear  uplifting success stories and  gain timely advice in the area of special needs, featuring experts in various fields.

Living with autism, during the COVID-19 pandemic

Inspirations News

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