Bridging the Social Distance

Jenny Mitchell
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  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

A show that aims to give a platform for sharing ideas, perspectives and feelings in the wake of the Global COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews will feature local Guelphites as well as people living elsewhere around the world. bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

  1. 4d ago

    Ep 310 - Chris and Paul Robertson (The Village of Riverside Glen)

    For this episode my guests are Chris and Paul Robertson, fairly new residents at The Village of Riverside Glen. Chris and Paul take me back to how they met, when Chris was a participant in a beauty contest hosted by a radio station Paul worked at as a radio personality in Galt ON. Paul ended up transitioning from radio to work in IBM as a salesman, while Chris held a career as a nurse in Longterm Care. Her work gave her a window into the life ahead of her now, as she navigates the reality of living in care, before they had wanted to, in anticipation of Chris’ progressing Parkinson’s. I really appreciate their vulnerable and honest sharing. Thank you Paul and Chris! This interview was originally recorded on July 30, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

  2. Sep 18

    Ep 309 - Hélène Barbier

    For this episode I interview Hélène Barbier, an avant-pop musician based out of Montreal. I reached her in advance of her Friday show at “Rats Nest” in Toronto, a show that kicks of a huge North American and European tour. We talk about the origins of her path through music, teaching herself bass alongside other friends new to their instruments, and how that has expanded and changed since the realities of people moving away, a pandemic, and a diagnosis that may change her the future playing instruments, and for now helps keep Hélène grounded in caring for her body and health. It was a fun chat, and the episode is full of music - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Hélène plays the Rats Nest (1426 Bloor St. W., Toronto) TONIGHT Friday Sept 18th, with opening act “The Film Critics”. 19+ $15/pwyc at the door, 8-11pm Check out Hélène’s music at https://helenebarbier.bandcamp.com/ This interview was originally recorded on September 14th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

  3. Sep 11

    Ep 308 - Dianne Chapitis and Peter Skoggard (Choir in Motion)

    This was recorded as a live episode, where I was joined by Dianne Chapitis and Peter Skoggard. They talk about their upcoming performance of “Choir in Motion at the Arboretum” happening this Sunday (Sept 13th) at 4pm. I ask them about this project, the origins of their work, their influences, the role of nature in art and dance, and whatever else came to us in the moment! Here are the details of Sunday’s performance: Choir in Motion at The Arboretum: Travel through the East Loop among Native Trees with The Choir in Motion: Dianne Chapitis, Ardeth Jarvis, and Peter Skoggard. Meet praying mantis, cicadas, hawthorn tree, and more through poetry, music, and dance. Sunday, September 13th, 2026 Meet at the Hales McKay Shelter at 4 PM Suggested donation $20 gratefully accepted Peter and Dianne are also part of the Saturday September 12th “ArbExpo” open house happening 10-3pm at the Arboretum that you can learn about here: https://arboretum.uoguelph.ca/education-events/ArbExpo This interview was originally recorded on September 10th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

  4. Sep 8

    Ep 307 Ivadel Todd (The Village of Riverside Glen)

    For this episode I interview Ivadel Todd, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. We talk about the early years, the origin of her name, her path through school, meeting her husband at a dance on a night while he was on leave from the navy, and beginning their relationship through letter writing, (and even the letters were paused for a period of unknown while he was away as part of the Cuban Missile Crisis.) She talks about the years that followed, when they were eventually able to be together, his various careers, and about her stage of life now, moving in to Riverside Glen while navigating heath challenges that are reducing her mobility. I appreciate a window into how life changes, and appreciate Ivy sharing with us today! This interview was originally recorded on July 10, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

  5. Aug 5

    Ep 306 - Shirley Bork (Long Term Care, The Village of Riverside Glen)

    For this episode interview Shirley Bork, a resident living in Long Term Care at The Village of Riverside Glen. Shirley shares of her career teaching home economics in high school, her love and pride in her sewing projects, her enormous family (she's one of eleven siblings!), and the adorable story of how she met her husband, with whom she eventually went into business together selling shoes ("Bork Shoe Salon" is such a great name!) At 101 Shirley has had lots of experiences, and I appreciate her making the time to connect today. Thank you Shirley! This interview was originally recorded on June 25th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

  6. Jul 15

    Ep 305 - Eleanor Burchill (The Village of Riverside Glen)

    For this episode I interview Eleanor Burchill, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen. This interview took place over two visits, the first on her 101st birthday, and the second a week or so later. Her daughter joins us in the first half too. We talk about her love of Newfoundland, having been born there, about her schooling and then career in nursing, stories from the war era, and her journey raising her daughters essentially as a single mom. It's always neat to hear from people who have lived through this much history. Thank you Eleanor for giving me a glimpse into your life! This interview was originally recorded on May 21st, and May 29th 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

  7. Jul 8

    Ep 304 - A resident at The Village of Riverside Glenn

    For this episode my guest chose to stay anonymous, she is a lovely woman living over at The Village of Riverside Glen, who’s lived in Guelph since she was a child. She’s struggling a bit with her transition to living in care, navigating double vision that she developed after a nasty fall, and she’s very honest about how much more challenging it makes things, taking away most of her hobbies and activities. She shares of her early days, living in Guelph, working and raising a family, and the five anxious years her family spent watching Guelph Lake be created, waiting to see if they would lose their partially-constructed family home in the process. In the end, they got to keep their house and finish it’s construction, and she loved their years near the lake. It is always interesting to get a glimpse into early Guelph, and I always appreciate guests being honest and vulnerable about the harder sides of aging. In my guest’s honour I’m sharing a photo of Guelph Lake taken by Guelph Outdoor Adventures This interview was originally recorded on June 18, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

  8. Jul 1

    Ep 303 - Karen Gunn (The Village of Riverside Glen, Egerton)

    For this episode I interview Karen Gunn, a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen - she talks about life in the Windsor area, multiple generations taking care of each other at different points in her history, her career in nursing, her stretch of time living in California, where she met her husband before they returned to Canada. She also speaks about navigating her changing health - she's broken her leg many times in her life, and now she has to navigate the onset of Parkinson's Disease as well, which she worries affects her ability to share her story. She loves her family, and she loves the Dragon Boat Races as well, which was a big part of her later life. Thank you Karen for sharing your story! This interview was originally recorded on June 4th, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

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A show that aims to give a platform for sharing ideas, perspectives and feelings in the wake of the Global COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews will feature local Guelphites as well as people living elsewhere around the world. bridgingthesocialdistance.substack.com

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