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.

Online sports gambling is growing faster than almost anyone imagined — and young men are being hit the hardest. Since Canada legalized single-event betting in 2021, gambling has shifted from an occasional activity to a 24/7 digital marketplace embedded in sports culture, social media, and entertainment.

Revenues have surged into the billions. Research shows that 1 in 5 young men aged 18–24 gamble online weekly, with rising rates of financial stress, anxiety, and early signs of addiction. Doctors across the country are warning that relentless advertising — especially on social platforms and during major sporting events — is “grooming a generation for gambling dependency.”

In this episode, we explore why young men are particularly at risk, how aggressive marketing shapes behaviour, and what the social, economic, and mental-health consequences look like. We also examine solutions: regulation, education, and community supports that could help reduce harm.

Our guest, Dr. Michael Naraine from Brock University, is a leading expert in digital sport management and marketing. He breaks down the mechanics behind online gambling platforms, the psychology of sports betting, and what communities can do to protect vulnerable youth.

This episode isn’t about banning gambling — it’s about understanding the risks and creating safer systems for young people in an increasingly digital world.

In this episode, host Walter Sendzik sits down with Drew Toth, CEO and Founder of Elevate Living, to discuss the housing crisis. Drew shares his blueprint for unlocking more housing supply, describing the crisis as a Rubik’s Cube—complex, with many interdependent moves that must align for meaningful solutions. Together, they explore practical strategies, development challenges, and innovative approaches to accelerate housing construction and improve affordability.

Working on the frontlines with people experiencing homelessness — or those living one crisis away from it — is some of the most demanding and critical work in our community. While many agencies include housing support in their mandates, the system remains fragmented and difficult to navigate.

In this episode, host Walter Sendzik speaks with Karrie Porter, a former St. Catharines city councillor and long-time social housing advocate. Karrie shares her vision for a more connected, coordinated approach to housing support — one that bridges the divide between frontline workers and those in urgent need of safe, stable housing.

How did the City of Houston manage to significantly reduce homelessness? The answer lies in an unexpected but powerful tool: accurate, real-time data. On this episode of Searching for Solutions, we explore how data is transforming the fight against homelessness — both globally and right here in Niagara.

Host Walter Sendzik is joined by Jeffrey Sinclair, Homelessness Services Manager at Niagara Region, to discuss the Built for Zero model — an innovative approach that prioritizes data-driven strategies to understand and address homelessness at the individual level. We dive into how Niagara is applying this model, what challenges exist, and how real-time data collection is creating tailored, effective solutions that are helping people transition from unhoused to housed.

Cities are changes planning regulations and offering incentives for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units as a means to create more affordable livings spaces.

Xavier Toby, founder of Axe Building in St. Catharines, Ontario, has a created a one-stop shop for prefabricated housing services from studio units to four-bed accessory dwelling units built with state-of-the-art and sustainable materials and technologies to help homeowners affordably build accessory dwellings.

And when Property Brothers - the popular HGTV show featuring Drew and Jonathan - join a Council meeting to talk about the benefits of accessory dwelling units incentive programs and how Axe Building is a leading company in this niche building space, you know something unique is happening.