Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour

Episode 222: A Splash of Summer Fun!

Summer is on its way—and in Guelph, that means music festivals, sizzling ribs, global celebrations, and a whole lot of sunshine. Today on Breezy Breakfast, we’re diving into the season with a line-up of local organizers who help make summer in our city feel vibrant, connected, and alive. Have a listen!

 

Cinthuja Leon - Executive Director of the Guelph & District Multicultural Festival Saturday, June 13-15 at Riverside Park, with performances, food, and community booths representing cultures from around the world.

Kate Johnson - Hillside Festival Hillside Festival July 18-20 on Guelph Lake Island. With a powerhouse lineup including Bells Larsen, Absolute Losers, Milk & Bone and more, Hillside blends art, community, and environmental care into an unforgettable weekend.

Debbie Stanley - Volunteer Coordinator for Rotary Ribfest August 22–24 at Riverside Park, and come hungry—there’ll be ribs, music, vendors, and family-friendly fun.

Pat Gage - Guelph-Wellington Seniors Association, where she serves as President and champions for older adult engagement. 

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The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.

 

Episode 221: DIY Maker Spaces

The benefit of getting away from our devices is becoming more apparent and some say that DIY is on the rise.  On this episode of Breezy Breakfast we talk with Jessica Simmons of Lucent Glass, Becky Swainson of Gather + Make and Patrick Lameront of Diyode about the politics behind sewing and art, the need for third spaces and why making together is always better.  We'll also hear about the the DIY spaces they provide for us to increase our skillsets, while engaging with our community.  

Plus, surprise appearance from Anna Baggio of Wetlands League and Evan Ferrari of eMERGE to get us up to speed on what Bill 5 is all about and how it affects us here in Guelph.

Jessica Simmons, owner and founder of Lucent Glass

Becky Swainson, creator of Gather + Make

Patrick Lameront, vice president of Diyode

 

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
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Breezy Breakfast:  where the coffee is always hot and the guests are very cool.

Episode 220: Seniors' Fraud Awareness

On this episode of Breezy Breakfast, we'll talk about what to do when your grandson calls you from afar, in desperate need of funds to safe his life.  We're joined by a panel from the Guelph Police, including fraud expert, Detective Constable Adam Kernan, to discuss many of the different scams that people are falling victim to and how to prevent them and stay safe.  From grandparent emergencies to taxi frauds to romance scams and the ever increasing pervasiveness of AI, staying safe online has never been more difficult.  Join us for tips and tricks from the anti-fraudsters, recorded live from Angel's Diner in Guelph.

 

Police Chief Gord Cobey

Deputy Police Chief Scott Gill

Detective Constable Adam Kernan

Detective Constable Tyler Galea 

 

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
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Breezy Breakfast:  where the coffee is always hot and the guests are very cool.

Episode 219: Fixin' Up Guelph

Today, May 8, 2025, on Breezy Breakfast we are getting excited about summer!  As we anticipate its slow approach, we prepare for the opportunities ahead to spruce up our dwellings and exterior spaces!   To help us kick off this season, we’ve invited some key individuals from the Guelph Tool Library to discuss how they can help us with our projects while considering the environment.  

Listen in for all you need to know about memberships, tips and tricks to saving seeds and all the that the Guelph Tool Library has to offer, including repair cafes and a myriad of recycling capabilities.  You can also check out the Guelph Tool Library.org. for events, donation wish list and volunteer opportunities to support this multifaceted organization with a mission to reduce over consumption by finding the joy in sharing!

 

John Dennis - Guelph Tool Library Director and Co-Founder, John is passionate about finding new homes for unwanted items and exploring how to share often overlooked or wasted resources.

Susan Carey – Guelph Tool Library Co-Founder and Board Member at large and advocate for the Guelph Seed Library, a core GTL affiliate program.  

Jennica Grimshaw – Guelph Tool Library Community Outreach Assistant, Jennica joined the GTL under the Job Creation Partnership program, and will be assisting with volunteer coordination and helping to expand the GTL hours.

 

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
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Breezy Breakfast:  where the coffee is always hot and the guests are very cool.

Episode 218: Sex and Aging

This week on Breezy Breakfast we’re taking a hard look at the science of sex and aging, with renowned University of Guelph researcher Dr Tuuli Kukkonen. 

Dr Tuuli Kukkonen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph. Dr. Kukkonen's research interests fall within the field of sexual psychophysiology, with a focus on the interaction between biological and psychosocial factors involved in sexual health and aging.  

A joyful and healthy sex life is not only reserved for the youthful among us!  Rachel and Dr Kukkonen discuss that being curious and open with our sexuality as we age is a wonderful way to enhance our satisfaction of life and deepen connection with our partner(s).  However, engaging in continued communication, respect and consent as seniors remains just as important as when we were young.  We also discuss the necessity for barrier methods and safe sex among aging populations to prevent the sharing of STI's and BBI's.  Having healthy discussions about sex across the spectrum of healthcare practitioners, community members and our families is key to building positive views of sexuality in our society, no matter how old your are.  Have a listen!

 

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
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Breezy Breakfast:  where the coffee is always hot and the guests are very cool.

 

Episode 217: Guelph's Political Climate

(This episode did not air on CFRU 93.3FM due to election conflict.  The in-person gathering took place on April 24, 2025 in it's usual habitat)

Today on Breezy, we're bringing together two experts in our community to discuss climate, election candidates and the relationship between the two. With the federal election just days away, we dive deep into Guelph's political landscape! 

Gina Lammel, Chair of Seniors for Climate Action Now (S.C.A.N.) shares about her experience getting involved after being inspired by her usually optimistic teenage son's pessimism about the environment.  She also shares some of the up coming events in celebration of earth week.

Adam Donaldson, Guelphs own political expert and creator of Guelph Politico and Open Sources shares his insight on Guelph's candidates and his impressions on the all candidates meeting hosted by the Guelph Wellington Coalition for Social Justice back on April 15.  

As always, there seems to be no shortage of lively engagement from our in resto audience, discussing everything from Guelph's new federal riding boundary, to the serious lack of adequate and efficient transit both within the city and beyond.

 

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
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Breezy Breakfast:  where the coffee is always hot and the guests are very cool.

Episode 216: Housing Security in Guelph

On average, a Guelph home costs around $700K, and the rent for a two-bedroom unit is about $2,300.  These prices are well above the provincial definition of affordable (i.e. less than 30% of before-tax income).

Today, we welcome three voices from across the housing spectrum to address housing-related issues such as rent controls, the challenges involved in addressing the housing shortage, and the duty of developers to build affordable homes.

David Halls, a local realtor and philanthropist, shares his perspective on the home ownership market.

Gail Hoekstra is a housing and poverty advocate and executive director of Stepping Stone.  She outlines the roles of Transitional and Supportive Housing in Guelph.

Daria Allan-Ebron is the executive director of Family & Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County and the CEO of Kindle Communities Incorporated.  She explains how Family & Children's Services has stepped in to help those on the margins of society.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
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Breezy Breakfast:  where the coffee is always hot and the guests are very cool.

Episode 215: Municipal Update & Tax Time

This week on Breezy Breakfast our first guest is Guelph's Chief Administrative Officer, Tara Baker.  She outlines future directions for the City and shares her experiences after six months on the job.

It's tax season, and our guests Linda and Carol from the Willow West Village Community Co-op describe their work helping people file income tax returns.

Fun fact:  In 2023, volunteers helped over 900 people access over 3 million dollars in refunds.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
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Breezy Breakfast:  we won't do your taxes, but you'll never have a taxing time.

Episode 214: Capturing Nature

This week, photographer Simon Bell takes us to Madagascar, where he was enchanted by the local flora, fauna, and community.

His work with Philosopher and Scientist Carl Sagan, with NASA on space photography, and his many journeys - to Madagascar, Costa Rica, and the Far East - demonstrate that Simon is a true Renaissance Man.

As the photographs and videos are not visible to our radio and podcast audience, please shut your eyes to imagine a Chameleon with a tongue longer than its body, the moons of Saturn, and waterfalls not too far from where you live.  Imagine the joy that Simon brings to school children as he advises them to “focus on nature”.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
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Breezy Breakfast:  where this week, we learned: “look out, look up - it’s not just under your feet; it’s all around you.”

 

Episode 213: Update on Guelph's New Central Library

For decades, Guelph has been talking about building a new Main branch of the Guelph Public Library (GPL).

Today, we're checking out the information on the New Central Library, slated to open in the autumn of 2026.

Chapter One of this quintessentially Guelph saga begins with CEO Dan Atkins sharing the history of the New Central Library Project:  how we finally got here, the advocacy and public engagement campaigns, the determination of an appropriate size, and so on.  Fun fact:  both the Old Post Office AND the old Eaton's department store were contenders!  

We learn about various GPL Partnerships and Outreach Programs from Meg Forestell-Page, Manager of Public Service.  What do Partnerships look like?  With a bigger space, what sorts of new programming might be available?

As Developmental Officer, Kirsten Bester oversees grant applications and fundraising efforts.  How much fundraising is required for our new Central Library?

Our guests field questions about history, culture, archives, smudging, fundraising, programming, the continued importance of physical books in an increasingly digital age, and much more.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Join us in person 8 AM on Thursdays at DeBar (105 Wyndham St. N.)

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Breezy Breakfast:  where there is so much food for thought we could fill a library!