Shows / The Big Story
The Big Story
An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.
Episodes
The Big StoryThe Raptors are back, and ready to repeat. Here’s why this team is unique.
What the Toronto Raptors are attempting has never been done before—they're trying to shed a superstar and get even better. When the reigning champs begin the…
The Big StoryWhat if Back to School isn’t the best option for kids?
There are lots of reasons schools should open in the fall. From parents' sanity and productivity to the fact that without the childcare schools provide…
The Big StoryTravel Do’s and Don’ts during a pandemic
Should you drive, take the train or fly? Where should you stay when you arrive? Can you use public bathrooms—and how do you do it safely? Are airlines still…
The Big StoryDoug Ford Vs. The Pandemic
Ontario's premier won a landslide election in 2018, but by the end of last year his approval rating was underwater. It's fair to say that when COVID-19 began…
The Big StoryWhy are headless sea lions being found on B.C.’s beaches?
Dead sea lions turn up from time to time on beaches in British Columbia. That's not unusual. Recently though they’ve been found missing their heads. And yes…
The Big StoryAliens in 2020: Is the truth finally out there?
It’s worth looking, every so often, at the stories of 2020 that haven’t gotten much attention because of the...raging global pandemic, furious protests against…
The Big StoryMeet Canada’s ‘Dreamers’ and the barriers they face
When they're going through elementary and high school, nobody asks these children and teens about their immigration status. That's policy in our system. When…
The Big StoryHow close are we to a Covid-19 vaccine, really?
There's a ton of good news about various Covid-19 vaccine trials moving to Phase Three. What does that actually mean? Some companies might even begin…
The Big StoryWhy do some people keep testing positive for Covid-19?
In casual discussion of the virus, the term "Long Haulers" is, generally, used to describe people for whom symptoms of Covid-19 can linger for weeks and…
The Big StoryWe need to talk about how we talk about Kanye West
Kanye's a celebrity. He lives his life extremely publicly and he's openly discussed his mental health. So many of us feel free to speculate about it, too. When…
The Big StoryIs this the end of the Safe Third Country Agreement?
A landmark ruling last week found that sending refugee claimants back to the United States under the Safe Third Country Agreement violates their human…
The Big StoryA window into the failure and racism in Canada’s child welfare programs
There are at least 102 kids. Most of them are Indigenous. Over seventeen years their money was stolen from their bank accounts, pushing them into poverty…
The Big StoryHow did QAnon evolve? And can believers ever be convinced otherwise?
It began as a strange conspiracy theory in American politics. It's since become much strange, much more widespread and much more dangerous. QAnon has spread…
The Big StoryB.C. Manhunt: One Year Later
Last summer, long before a pandemic was on the horizon, the biggest story was a teenage manhunt. After discovering the bodies of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese…
The Big StoryIt’s time we consider getting rid of tipping in restaurants
As the nation yawns awake following a months-long shutdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, restaurants are welcoming diners again. This once fully relaxing…
The Big StoryThe RCMP’s Reckoning
It’s an iconic image of Canada: A Mountie, donning a red serge, Stetson hat, combat boots, standing on guard for thee, which is usually taken to mean “all of…
The Big StoryHow Canadian media’s whiteness fails all of us
Radiyah Chowdhury first thought about leaving the media business when she was still in journalism school. Back in her first year classes, sitting amongst a sea…
The Big StoryInside Canada’s first major case of the #MeToo era
Matthew McKnight was a fixture in the Edmonton bar scene, known for partying in colourful animal themed jumpsuits and sometimes only his underwear. He’d buy…
The Big StoryData, Dating Apps and Danger for LGBTQ People Online
By now we've become at least semi-acquainted with the idea that advertisers and social media companies scrape and use our personal information in ways we can't…
The Big StoryAnne Applebaum on the Harper’s Letter and the rise of authoritarianism
Last week, Harper’s magazine published an open letter, speaking out against a culture of “intolerance of opposing views, a vogue for public shaming and…
The Big StoryCould decriminalizing drugs save lives and fix the opioid crisis?
Last week the Canadian Association of the Chiefs of Police announced their support for decriminalizing the personal possession of illicit drugs. Drug use and…
The Big StoryNature’s calling but there’s nowhere to answer. Why we need to make public toilets a number one issue.
We can joke as much as we want about it, but the reality is that we all go to the bathroom, every single day. It’s a basic human need. Yet many cities are…
The Big StoryLabour Day is weeks away. Why is the safe return to school still not a priority?
When the entire country went into lockdown a few months ago, it meant kids would be staying home and most of their parents would be too. But now, as businesses…
The Big StoryThree countries are shifting international political order. Why now?
In nearly a single week, three global hot spots ushered in some dramatic changes. Russia made a constitutional amendment allowing Vladimir Putin to add 16…
The Big StorySports are coming back! But should they?
We're just a few weeks away from the return of the NBA, NHL and MLB. The NFL plans to join them soon afterwards. It could be a wonderful few months for sports…
The Big StoryInside the world of contact tracing
If Canada is going to keep COVID-19 under control, contact tracing and tracking will have to play a huge part in it. You hear about contact tracing in every…
The Big StoryCan big brands force Facebook to change in time for the US election?
There's another public outcry about Facebook! Shocking, right? But this time over 800 companies are putting their advertising dollars behind it, in an attempt…
The Big StoryWhat’s the story behind the Liberals’ cancelled WE Charity deal?
The organization was supposed to distribute more than $900 million in student grants, but the reaction when the deal was announced was immediate and intense…
The Big StoryInside the month Canada lost to COVID-19
Warning bells were sounding. Some of the country's leading scientists were writing urgent emails to politicians and public health units. There was an emergency…
The Big StoryWhy we need to market masks like condoms
It's clear from the politicization of masks in the United States, and the mandatory mask policies being enacted in Canada, that we're not seeing enough…
The Big StoryWe have a rare opportunity to reimagine the way we travel. Will we take it?
Since the pandemic put a sudden stop to foreign travel, places around the world that were once overrun by tourists have had a chance to breathe. And the people…
The Big StoryMigrant farm workers are dying of COVID-19. What’s being done to stop the spread?
Hundreds of migrant farm workers in Ontario have tested positive for COVID-19 and three have died, leaving behind wives and children. Health officials say the…
The Big StoryInternet Folklore: The case of the heart-shaped honeycomb
You may have seen the picture during one of its many trips around the internet over the past seven years. It's a honeycomb shaped like a heart, allegedly made…
The Big StoryA Turning Point: Race Relations In Sports
In this special episode of the Big Story, Arash Madani of Sportsnet hosts a discussion of racism and activism in sports. The games we love have been at the…
The Big StoryWhy do ‘wellness checks’ keep ending in killings?
In a perfect world, a "wellness check" would be exactly what it says. A person seems like they’re having trouble or are in crisis, so we call someone to check…
The Big StoryOur second birthday: So, how’s 2020 treating everyone?
The Big Story turns two today. We're officially entering our toddler years, just in time to throw a tantrum at the news cycle with two of our favourite guests…
The Big StoryHow do we fix hockey culture without burning it down?
The allegations in a recent lawsuit are horrifying to read. Teenagers allegedly being bullied and abused by older teammates as coaches watched and did nothing…
The Big StoryA long fight to make the Air India bombing a ‘Canadian’ tragedy
Today is the 35th anniversary of the Air India bombing, which killed 329 people, 280 of them Canadian citizens. In the immediate tragedy, the terrorist attack…
The Big StoryA Guide To Relationships on Lockdown
When we discuss how COVID-19 has changed everything on this show, there's one big topic we haven’t covered yet. It’s sensitive. It’s intimate. It’s not easy to…
The Big StoryWhat does Tim Horton’s (and other companies) know about you?
You might expect the world's biggest technology companies to have your data and know a lot about your life. But your favourite (or least favourite) coffee…
The Big Story“Outside is closed!”: What’s COVID-19 doing to kids in the long run?
The Hospital for Sick Children issued a report Wednesday that recommends children go back to school in September—even though it admits the virus likely won’t…
The Big StoryWhat does “Defund The Police” mean today, tomorrow and next year? What other options are there?
It's a slogan gathering steam, and support--but not enough support to make it practical. Yet. What don't people understand about the phrase and the options on…
The Big StoryWhat does the future of the U.S.-Canada border look like?
It's been closed to all but essential travel for months, and polls show most Canadians want it closed for a good while longer. The border is the most visible…
The Big StoryWhat do you really know about country music?
Most of us have a very specific image in our minds of what country music is. It shouldn’t be surprising—that's how it’s been promoted and sold for decades. But…
The Big StoryIt’s getting harder and harder to stop disinformation
It's been a banner year for disinformation, and the past few weeks have been the worst of all. Coronavirus hoaxes and miracle cures are still circulating, but…
The Big StoryIf everything’s opening up, why am I so anxious?
Three months ago, Canadians were asked to adapt to a 'new normal'. We were told to stay inside, avoid contact with others, and limit trips to the bare…
The Big StoryHow the pandemic put health inequality on display
The rates of COVID-19 among Black and other racialized communities in the United States and around the world are staggering. It would be interesting to have…
The Big StoryHow much ‘working from home’ will become permanent?
Several of the world's leading technology companies—including Shopify, the largest in Canada—have announced that they don't ever plan to return to full-time…
The Big StoryHow worried should we be about foreign takeovers?
Right now, Canadian businesses are vulnerable. Many of them are worried they won't survive COVID-19, and that makes them attractive targets for foreign…
The Big StoryIs history at a turning point? How can we meet the moment?
You may have heard the phrase this week, or even just this year, that we are living history right now. The truth is we are always living history, but some of…
The Big StoryU of T medical school’s first solo Black female valedictorian graduates, and leaves behind a legacy of activism
Chika Stacy Oriuwa graduated from the University of Toronto's faculty of medicine on Tuesday as valedictorian—the first black woman in the faculty's history to…
The Big StoryPolice brutality is not just an American problem. What needs to happen here?
There’s a natural instinct a lot of Canadians have to look at the United States and feel better about ourselves. It’s obviously not a great look for us as a…
The Big StoryHow to be an ally in everyday situations
The images of police killing black men or assaulting protesters are horrifying and disgusting, but they are just the most visible tip of an ugly, ugly iceberg…
The Big StoryInvestigating the Toronto Blessing: A beautiful mystery
On January 20th, 1994, strange things started happening at a small Christian church in Toronto, Canada. Worshipers found themselves laughing, shaking, falling…
The Big StoryHannah Georgas on what it’s like being a musician in the COVID-19 era
Imagine you're a Canadian musician about to go international. You've been working your way up the charts, year by year, with awards, acclaimed albums, and…
The Big StoryWhat’s the next disaster we need to prepare for now?
You may have heard that lots of people saw this pandemic coming. We still weren't adequately prepared. So what do we need to do now to make sure we are ready…
The Big StoryWhat is Ontario doing wrong on COVID-19?
New infections are up. Testing is down. Contact tracing is late. People are partying in parks. A report from members of Canada's armed forces on conditions in…
The Big StorySchools and students in limbo as virtual fall term looms
Imagine being a high-school graduate right now, deciding whether to pay your tuition for post-secondary education in the fall. How do you know what you'll be…
The Big StoryHow workers are fighting for their rights in a dangerous gig economy
A few months ago, a group of couriers won a huge victory for gig economy workers in Canada. And you won't believe what happened next... We're relying on this…
The Big StoryWill COVID-19 bring down Airbnb?
Nearly every story on a housing crisis casts Airbnb as one the chief villains driving up rents and home prices. So it should not come as a shock that the…