The Evan Bray Show

The viral push-up challenge for suicide awareness & advancements in wheat technology

This February, some determined Saskatoon residents are taking on The Push-Up Challenge, aiming to complete 2,000 push-ups in 23 days to raise mental health awareness and honour the 2,000 lives lost to suicide each day worldwide. Joining Brent to talk about the challenge, its impact, and how people can get involved is Toni Klassen, Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Saskatoon. Dr. Curtis Pozniak, a wheat breeding expert and director of the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, has been awarded the Bertebos Prize for his groundbreaking research in crop genomics and sustainable agriculture. He joins Brent to talk about his work and its global impact.

Paper straw woes & Brad Wall joins the show

Paper straws are here to stay, following the government's decision that allows Ottawa's plastics ban to stand. David Clement, North American Affairs Manager with the Consumer Choice Center, has been critical of the ban and says "the war on plastic" has gotten out of hand. He joins the show to share his thoughts on the court's decision and what alternatives could be looked at. Canada’s Prime Minister’s recent Davos speech has been widely praised; however, while well-crafted, it prioritized political messaging over practical trade strategy, potentially putting the country’s relationship with its largest export market, the U.S., at risk. Joining us now to share his perspective is former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.

Gen Z dining habits & immigration concerns in Canada

Gen Z is reshaping how people eat out. They're gravitating towards bars and restaurants that make them feel like a "regular," favouring familiarity and connection over what's trendy. Amanda Hoover, Senior Correspondent at Business Insider, joins Brent to explain this shift and what other trends Gen Z are changing. The University of Saskatchewan is hosting a public lecture this afternoon at 4 pm examining how Canada’s immigration system has evolved, including challenges like underemployment among highly educated immigrants and the prevalence of temporary migration. To give us more insight, Brent is joined by the speaker Dr. Rupa Banerjee—Canada Research Chair in Economic Inclusion, Employment, and Entrepreneurship of Canada’s Immigrants, and a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Nuclear power & the state of AI in the province

A new report from Clean Prosperity, released yesterday, examines Canada’s nuclear power supply chain based on in-depth interviews with 43 leading experts, including several from Saskatchewan. The report makes recommendations on how Canada — and Saskatchewan in particular — can move forward with nuclear power. Brent is joined by Jeff Davis, Clean Prosperity’s Saskatchewan Director, to discuss the paper’s key findings. Experts say an innocent online trend has actually turned into a goldmine for AI training. The 2016 throwback trend is helping AI recognize faces and track changes over time. Brian McQuinn, an associate professor at the University of Regina and co-director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Data and Conflict, joins the show to unpack the trend and how AI continues to improve.

Saskatchewan warm-up & the importance of road safety in Canada

Saskatchewan is in the middle of an unusual warm spell, with temperatures well above seasonal norms — and today some communities could see highs of plus five or warmer. Why is this happening, and what does it tell us about the rest of winter? Joining guest host Brent Loucks to break it down is David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. Recent headlines involving semi trucks and safety are reigniting serious concerns about road safety in Canada. Carol Brons, founding member of Safer Roads Canada and mother of Dayna Brons, who was the athletic therapist for the 2017-18 Humboldt Broncos team, joins guest host Brent Loucks to discuss what she makes of the recent stories and what advocacy work the organization continues to do, years after the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.