All posts by karimkanji

Episode #71: Dawn Cuthbertson

Dawn Cuthbertson is a Managing Editor for the Global News website. In journalism for nearly 12 years, Dawn started out as a newspaper reporter with stints at The Observer in Sarnia, Ont., The Kingston Whig-Standard and Windsor Star before moving online with Microsoft, AOL and Huffington Post.

Dawn Cuthbertson with Karim Kanji

Recorded live at Girth Radio.

Music by Afraaz Mulji.

Listen below:

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Escape Station

You’ve by now heard about the phenomenon known as Escape Rooms. Well, I finally went to my first escape room experience in Toronto on Friday night. And it was amazing!

Escape Station is located 2252 Queen Street East near Victoria Park in the Beaches area of Toronto. It features four distinct rooms each with a different level of difficulty. Knowing that there  was going to be 5 people much smarter than me I thought I’d go ahead and book the toughest room. A level five room with a success rate of a measly 3%!

The goal was to stop an alien attack on Toronto by shutting down the power source of the alien space ship.

How did we do? We were probably 10-15 away from accomplishing the mission.

Who am I kidding?! Without the 4 timely clues given to us we probably would not have accomplished even half of the tasks. But a fun time was had by all of us.

Check out Escape Station!

Episode #70: Zain Velji

In this episode Zain Velji and I discuss:

  • The 2017 Alberta provincial budget
  • The changing demographics of Alberta that has led to progressive mayors in Edmonton and Calgary and the NDP in Alberta
  • The Alberta Advantage
  • The Alt-Right in Canada
  • The “secret” to Naheed Nenshi’s electoral victory in 2010
  • And so much more!

Zain Velji and Karim Kanji

Zain Velji is an innovator, strategist, communicator and community volunteer and is the Vice President of Strategy at Northweather.

Before joining Northweather, Zain spent three years at Hill+Knowlton Strategies as a Senior Campaign Strategist specializing in campaign strategy, grassroots advocacy and behavioural economics.

Zain is the co-creator and host of the highly-rated political podcast, The Strategists which dissects the strategies of political campaigns, parties and governments and is the inspiration of the CBC Television and Radio panel of the same name.

Recorded in Calgary, Alberta.

Music by Afraaz Mulji.

Listen below:

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Episode #69: Raina Douris

Raina Douris is the award-winning radio host of CBC Radio 2 in the mornings. In today’s episode we talk about Raina’s career in radio from Ryerson to Q107 to getting fired from Corus and then leading the start-up Indie88 to now being the morning host on CBC Radio2 national morning show.

Raina Douris | Karim Kanji

Recorded live at Girth Radio.

Music by Afraaz Mulji.

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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Parks, parks, parks

Today is good news for fans of parks in Canada. More specifically this good news is brought to you by two amazing people I personally know.

parkrun Canada

While living in Basingstoke, England, my brother, Aneez would rave about this community initiative that was all the rage called parkrun. He described it as a weekly 5km fun run that takes place in local parks. It’s not a race but more of a community gathering centered around running.

After weeks (probably months) of work Aneez announced that parkrun was now coming to Whitby (where Aneez now lives).

parkrun whitby

Park People

Today the little independent Toronto-based charity that my wife, Minaz, works for officially goes national. In Calgary, Park People is currently hosting the Heart Of The City Conference (Shaping The Future Of City Parks In Canada). I describe Park People as an organization that works with local neighbourhoods and helps the people there to animate and use their parks in an inclusive way.

Why are these two events important? Well, to me it’s obvious. Parks are public spaces. Like libraries and community centres. They are places for friends and family to gather and enjoy. For parents and kids to enjoy a summer afternoon in. For kids to hangout and play tag in. For picnics and parties. For independent arts and bazaar sales. For Scout meetings and community-built outdoor ice rinks. For running and parkour. Parks are the places where we can find the heartbeat of a community and neighbourhood. They are worth building, cleaning, animating, using and growing. Neighbourhoods without parks are not neighbourhoods.

Congrats to Minaz, Aneez, parkrun Canada and Park People!

Sock Series #2: Flyte Socks

I don’t remember where I heard about Flyte Socks for the first time. But it was before they were actually selling socks online. Two things caught my attention.

First, they are a Toronto-based start-up. And as Toronto is my home I was naturally attracted to them. Second, they were going to launch on Kickstarter.

Kickstarter? For socks. Well, ok I guess. And as they began to the process of launching two more things stood out to me as compelling: The material they chose to use was going to be bamboo. This has made the socks both light (comfortable as heck!) and durable (no holes after wearing them – so far!).

Second, the socks didn’t come in pairs. They came in threes. A socks threesome! Why? Because everyone has lost a sock. Or two. Or, in my case, lots.

Our tagline, Feel the difference is not only an insinuation to the softness of our socks, but also is a reference to the confidence we know our socks will instill to the people who wear them.

Own the room in your next company meeting and stand out at parties.  Whatever the occasion, our bright, colorful and bold socks are designed to turn heads.

Episode #68: Bruce Livesey

Bruce Livesey is a Toronto-based award-winning investigative journalist and documentarian. Currently the lead investigative reporter for the National Observer Livesey has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Report on Business Magazine, National Post, Toronto Star, The Gazette, The Walrus, Canadian Business, Canadian Lawyer and The Financial Post.

His most recent documentary on the Koch brothers ruffled feathers in the media establishment in Canada so much so that only an independent American outlet was willing to produce the short documentary.

Most recently a lawsuit brought on him by Conrad Black was finally dropped.

Recorded live at Girth Radio.

Music by Afraaz Mulji.

Listen below:

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Sock Series #1: Hitsu Socks

I love socks. I love warm socks in the winter. Especially while camping in winter with Scouts. I love thick socks that provide stability when hiking in the woods, forests and ravines in Ontario. I also love socks with attitude. Socks that say, “Hey! Look at me! I don’t care that I’m not understated and conservative. I’m a sock that has something to say and I’m going to say it.”

Which is why, I’m creating a series here to highlight the companies that bring to sock lovers worldwide that small bit of attitude just above the shoe and below the pant cuff.

Hitsu Socks is a Toronto-based company co-founded by my friend Dan Demsky.  I own a pair of Hitsu Socks called Galaktic Dude designed by Chris Dyer from Montreal. The design is so eclectic and the colours are bold. Just as I like them. My favourite thing about these socks is that they are not wimpy. They are thick enough to withstand my rough heels and strong toes.

According to the Hitsu Socks website:

Hitsu socks are designed by street-artists and each sock has a story to tell. We work with artists who have done something we feel is worth sharing and we work with them to bring their style to a brand new medium – combed cotton. Our collection includes designs by well-known artists such as Anser, Poser, Chris Dyer, Jimmy Chiale and SKAM.

 

Episode #67: Richard Peddie

Former President and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment and current Toronto Foundation Vice Chair, Richard Peddie returns to the studio. This time Peddie and Karim talk about how to make Toronto a more liveable and caring city.

richard peddie and karim kanji
Thanks to Gregg Tilston for this photo! Taken from outside Girth Radio studios inside Pacific Junction Hotel.

Recorded live at Girth Radio.

Music by Afraaz Mulji.

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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Kub Kar Rally – 2017

This weekend saw the beginning of the 2017 Canadian International Auto Show. However, on February 4th, a different and more hands on version of the CIAS took place in Scarborough. It was the annual Kub Kar Rally.

kub kar rally | hot wheels

This annual event sees kids battle each other on who has the fastest Kub Kar. Awards for best design are also given out. All in the hope of advancing to the Scarborough and then Toronto finals.

kub kar rally | hot wheels

Here are some of our participants: