In this episode of Searching for Solutions, host Walter Sendzik is joined by Dr. Julia Baird, Associate Professor at Brock University, for a timely conversation about Art in Action: Climate—a groundbreaking 10-day arts and climate festival launching in Niagara in January 2026 and centred on the work of world-renowned artist Edward Burtynsky.

Together, they explore how art can make the climate crisis more tangible, why Niagara is a powerful place to host a major climate-focused arts festival, and how the Art in Action: Climate Symposium brings researchers, artists, Indigenous voices, educators, and community leaders together to turn awareness into action.

This episode examines the role of creativity in climate communication, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the practical ways communities can build resilience in the face of environmental change.

Learn more at artinactionniagara.ca

Intimate partner violence is a crisis that affects every community — a form of harm that happens behind closed doors, where trust should exist but fear and control often take hold.

In Canada, more than 117,000 people reported experiencing intimate partner violence in a single year — the vast majority women and girls. In Niagara, 86% of victims are female, and the numbers are rising.

In this episode, host Walter Sendzik speaks with Nicole Regehr from Gillian’s Place about what it will take — locally, provincially, and nationally — to reduce domestic and intimate partner violence. Together, they explore what’s working, what isn’t, and what must change to make our communities safer for everyone.

In Part Two of our deep dive into the rise of online sports gambling, we shift from the problem to the people on the front lines of the solution. This episode focuses on the young men across Canada who are being hit hardest by the rapid growth of digital sports betting — and on the supports available when gambling starts to take control.

Our guest is Marnie Proctor, Health Promoter with Community Addiction Services of Niagara (CASON), an organization leading the response to gambling-related harm in Niagara. Marnie shares what CASON is seeing on the ground: the dramatic increase in young men struggling with online betting, the psychological impact of non-stop sports-gambling advertising, and the rise of micro-betting and app-based gambling that makes losses faster and harder to manage.

We also explore CASON’s new public awareness campaign aimed at young males — a bold, honest initiative designed to cut through the noise of glossy gambling ads and speak directly to those at risk. Marnie walks us through the counselling, outreach, and harm-reduction programs CASON offers, and what family members, friends, and communities can do when someone needs help.

This episode is not about blaming or banning. It’s about understanding a rapidly changing landscape, recognizing early signs of harm, and making sure people know that support is available — confidential, local, and judgment-free.

If you or someone you know is struggling with online gambling, this conversation offers hope, guidance, and a path forward.