Canadian Love Map

Today's story belongs to Jackie, of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

How do you communicate with the world? This weeks guest seeks connection through the stories she shares as a filmmaker, actor and journalist.

Jackie Torrens is one of Canada’s brightest talents. Winning awards for performances on stage and screen, she has directed multiple critically acclaimed feature documentaries and broken glass ceilings as a writer. There is a good chance you’ve been moved to laughter or tears by her work on screens small and big, over the last 25 years.

She and producer Jessica Brown own & operate Peep Media, a female-owned production company based in Halifax. Their films for CBC, the Documentary Channel, and Bravofactual include Edge of East, My Week on Welfare, Small Town Show Biz and their most recent, Bernie Langille Wants to Know Who Killed Bernie Langille, which premiered at Hot Docs in 2022 & won WIFT-AT’s Best Director, Best Documentary at the FIN Atlantic Film Festival and Best Atlantic Filmmaker from the Lunenburg Documentary Festival.

She was nominated for a Gemini for her writing on Trailer Park Boys. For 10 years, she was a regular contributor and guest host for CBC Radio. Torrens’ CBC radio documentaries include The Poet Laureate of Youth Now, which received an Atlantic Journalism Award & also Camp Mini Ha Ha, which received a CBC Award of Excellence. As a playwright, her play Georama premiered at the National Arts Center. As an actor, theatre highlights include playing Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Katurian in Martin MacDonaugh’s Pillowman, and Liz in Daniel MacIvor’s A Beautiful View at Neptune Theatre. Read more about her amazing career here.

Her creative love letters to the world are informed by a childhood filled with tragedy and an adolescence that forced her to firmly stand on her own two feet. But as you’ll hear, Jackie has an inner strength that has propelled her through any obstacle society and fate threw at her. Today, her life is full of love, joy and new opportunities to tell us stories, in ways only she can.

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This love story belongs to Emily Szuch of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, and Jared Szuch of Calgary, Alberta.

February 29th - it's a date so special that it only happens every four years. For many of us, however, it may come and go without much spectacle. But for Emily and Jared, February 29th is the day that the two tied the knot. Four years of marriage later, the couple prepares to celebrate their first official anniversary.

In this episode, Nancy has a conversation with the couple about how the two met, their shared passion for adventure and the outdoors, and their decision to choose such a unique date for their wedding. The couple are also joined by their rambunctious two-month-old, Addison.

So, how does a couple celebrate four years of marriage in one anniversary? You'll have to listen to find out!

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This love story belongs to Gerald Knowlton of Calgary, Alberta and Spencer Purdy of Vancouver, British Columbia.

These two men share a strange bond that binds them together across three generations: a decommissioned railway station. Gerald is part of a rare breed of Canadians who actually lived in the railway stations that used to dot the prairies. His father was the railway agent and was the one responsible for connecting the small rural town of Standard, Alberta, to the rest of the country and beyond. Memories from Gerald's unique formative years came to shape the man he would become, and form the foundation of the values he would go on to share to his own children and, eventually, grandchildren.

One of those grandchildren is Spencer Purdy, a visual artist, designer, and architect. When Gerald was approached by the town of Standard to erect a monument to the long-since demolished station, he knew that his grandson was the one for the job. And just like that, grandfather and grandson became partners in this project.

The resulting structure is a love letter not only to a way of life that has vanished across the country, but also to a father from a son, and to a grandfather from a grandson.

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This story belongs to Tess Monias and Payden Partaker, of Kikino, Alberta.

Fathers can play a big role in shaping the people we will become. For Tess and Payden, both of their fathers instilled in them an undying love for two Alberta NHL teams: the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames, respectively. Although the two teams and their fans are fierce rivals, the love between these two young people burned even stronger.

Before he passed, Payden went to Tess' father to ask for his blessing to marry her. The older man was overjoyed, but knew this wasn't a wedding he'd have the privilege of attending in person, and that his time on earth was short. The two men agreed to a simple pact, but with one small caveat: Payden would wait a year to allow Tess to grieve before popping the question, but would push the timeline forward if her father's spirit sent him a clear sign.

A few weeks later, he'd get his sign after winning a raffle for two tickets to an upcoming NHL game: Edmonton vs. Calgary. Now working on a shortened timeline, Payden must scramble to pull together an ambitious proposal that will pay respect to both his and Tess' late fathers. It's a story that united even the fiercest hockey rivals for a brief moment of beauty and love.

For more information and pictures of Tessa's incredible beadwork, visit https://www.facebook.com/tessascreeations/

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This story belongs to Tyler Smith and Kat Kastner, of Calgary, Alberta. 

You may already know the story of Tyler and Kat - they're the inspirational young couple from Alberta who won the ninth season of The Amazing Race Canada. Throughout the 11-episode run, Ty and Kat (a.k.a. "TyKat") dominated in the competition's many challenges, but stood out to Canadians due to their positive attitude, their love of adventure, and their blooming relationship. Both Ty and Kat have overcome loss and heartbreak in their personal lives, which has catalyzed them to become outspoken voices in the mental health advocacy space. 

This week, and just in time for Valentines day, we are excited to share the story of their next chapter. After the trials that made them closer than ever and that moment of triumph, the amazing story of their engagement. Listen to hear how this beautiful couple met, their decision to compete in the race, and how their picture-perfect proposal narrowly avoided disaster.

For more information on Tylers mental health community. Visit notaloneco.com

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This story belongs to Rick Glumac and Haven Lurbiecki, of Port Moody, British Columbia. 

In the journey of love, an important benchmark for many couples is a proposal. Often, a lot of time, energy, and creativity goes into planning these intricate expressions of love - but some couples can take their proposal to a whole other level.

When thinking about how and where to pop the question to Haven, Rick realized that there was one place in particular that the two shared a unique connection to, and which would make the perfectly unexpected backdrop to this proposal. It was then that Rick, unbeknownst to him, decided to become the first person in Canada to propose to their beloved... on the floor of provincial legislature.

Listen to hear how this historical proposal very nearly didn't happen, and how a shared passion for public service built the foundation of one of Canada's most unique couples.

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This love story belongs to Debbie Adams, originally from Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland.

Opportunity is the concept that feeds our thirst to progress in life. Our role models and peers often teach us to take opportunities free of fear and baggage - that the world is our oyster.

But what if you grew up in a small, remote community that lacked role models who matched your expectations in life? From her early childhood, Debbie was the square peg, driven by a dream that one day she'd find her fit.

Life continuously threw Debbie curveballs and she herself found routes that felt like deadends.

But after all that, Debbie built her dream life. Now full of joy, experience and generosity, she has become the role model that little girl from Upper Island Cove needed.

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

If you've owned a dog or cat, you know the kind of love connection that's formed between a pet and their owner. The flipside of this unconditional love is the heartbreak and anxiety that takes place when your furry friends go missing. According to the SPCA, this happens over 1 million times a year in Canada. 

Behind each plea for help is a family worried for the wellbeing of their pet and an animal that is often scared and alone. The resources available to help recover lost pets are limited, so oftentimes the only tools available to owners are free time and goodwill.

But one couple is changing that. For the last 5 years, Mike Chapman and Lisa Johstone have given up countless days and nights, using expert skills to help track and recover lost pets. They do it totally out of pocket and ask for nothing in return. For Mike and Lisa, the real reward of this work comes from returning a beloved pet to the place they belong - with their family. 

https://www.facebook.com/MCMissingAnimalResponse/

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

As a child of the fostercare system, Katelynn grew up in constant search of what she felt she never had: stability, family, and love. A life full of challenges and devastation eventually led her down a path of self-love and self-discovery, something which she now shares with an audience of nearly 300,000 followers on Tik Tok. 

Katelynn's life hasn't been without its dark spots, but she chooses to live in the light. She uses the pain of her past to relate to an ever-growing community of women online, becoming a personification of the unconditional love she once saught so tirelessly. 

Her online presence is proof of the fact that the more love you send out into the world, the more love is reflected back at you. 

Katelynn's Tik Tok: @katelynn0009

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This week's story comes from Patrick Gaudet, a Tik Tok creator from Montreal. Patrick's emotional and authentic videos focus on the subjects of love, life, and relationships - and have found him a substantial following on the platform. 

Using social media as an engine for impact, Patrick and the community he formed online helped to crowdsource an act of incredible generosity, introducing the creator to an even wider audience. Today, he continues to help and inspire through his brand of radical vulnerability. 

Patrick has amassed a Tik Tok following of 310, 600, most of whom are women. 

Patrick's Tik Tok: @patrickgotit

Patrick's Instagram: @patrick.gaudet

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This is the time of year most of us try to take things a little slower. Maybe for you, the holidays mean family, friends and festivities. Maybe it means taking some time to yourself to read a book or watch a couple of holiday flicks. Speaking of holiday movies, this week, we're treating ourselves a little bit by replaying one of our all-time favorites. 

This love story belongs to Steve Lund, a Canadian actor who you may know from such shows as Bitten, Street Legal and Schitt's Creek. You'll also recognize him from seasonal favourites such as Christmas Bedtime Stories, Single All The Way and Six Degrees of Santa.

Once upon a time, though, Steve was an accomplished hockey player well on his way to the NHL. Then, an unexpected turn of events made his lifelong dream of being an actor come true. 

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This love story belongs to a terrific trio of women, Stephanie McNamara, Erin Bulger and Kristen Herrington.

Kristen, Stephanie and Erin first became creative collaborators and the magic they discovered led to a deep and rewarding friendship. Now they're joining forces to encourage others to tap into their creativity with a collective called Curiosity Club. 

It all started when Stephanie asked Erin to mentor her in photography, then led to a magical run of her one-woman show "Her Beautiful Brain". The experience was so profoundly moving it inspired the 3 women to start something special. 

The Curiosity Club is a collective of professional artists and entrepreneurs who specialize in facilitating creative experiences. Each woman offers a unique skill set and area of expertise with the shared mission to help bring ideas to life.

On January 17, they will be launching our first virtual program. A 12-week online community to work through the infamous teaching of Julia Cameron's, "The Artist's Way".

For more information:

https://curiosityclubcreative.com/

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This love story belongs to the aptly named Coco Love Alcorn, a Canadian singer-songwriter whose music has found its way into hearts around the world. She had been writing and performing for decades when her song The River suddenly floated her music to a global audience when choirs everywhere started singing it. That birthed the idea for the Wonderland singers, a virtual community created by Coco, that might just be the best thing to come out of the pandemic.

The Wonderland Singers is an interactive, spontaneous, offering creative freedom to those who participate. Her online and in-person choirs have inspired many to find their voice and raise their voice.

Alcorn’s career has spanned more than 20 years, with 12 (9 solo) albums, cross-Canada tours, collaborations, festival appearances, award nominations, and notable success in TV and film licensing.

https://wonderlandsingers.com/

https://cocolovealcorn.com/

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This love story is straight out of a Holiday Rom-Com. It all started at a party when Alyssa spotted a Christmas card featuring a scantily clad bachelor with a huge sense of humour. It was that very Christmas card that was the start of a great love story.

For 5 years, Steve had his very own unconventional tradition of humorous photoshoots, which he turned into yearly Christmas cards for his family and friends. But when Alyssa entered the picture, the solo shoots were no more, and the pair has now embraced the tradition together. 

Steve and Alyssa are truly a united team, who have navigated the waters of life's obstacles together. They have also learned a thing or two about how to maintain a strong marriage. For these two, life is all about enjoying the moment, embracing who you are, and finding the person you can fully be yourself with.

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This love story belongs to Jasyn Lucas, an Indigenous Canadian painter from the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in northern Manitoba. Jasyn is a survivor of the “Sixties Scoop”, which refers to the large-scale removal of Indigenous children from their homes, communities, and birth families through the 1960s. Subsequently, these children were adopted into predominantly non-Indigenous, middle-class families across the United States and Canada. 

Jasyn graduated from the Studio Art Diploma Program from Capilano University where he studied Printmaking, Sculpture, Drawing, Painting, and Art History. His extraordinary paintings are done with a combination of both airbrush and hand-painted applications, using both traditional and contemporary practices. He also applies this to everyday living as well, preserving tradition while exploring technologies and new ideas.

Jasyn finds inspiration for his art everywhere and he has been devoted to creating for over 20 years. His art not only shares extraordinary beauty with others but has provided him with profound healing from his traumatic past. 

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

This love story belongs to Alex and Corina, a couple who met while working at a movie theatre. Their modern love story started with friendship, and soon grew into a sitcom-worthy romance.

Both movie buffs, Alex and Corina share a love for the cinema, and specifically the show Friends has played a starring role in their lives. They are a real-life Chandler and Monica as their relationship took a while to get off the ground, but is now full of entertaining and sweet memories, including a Friends-inspired candlelit proposal.

For Alex and Corina, shared passions, humour, and appreciation of the simple everyday moments are at the core of this special connection. And they happen to be tying the knot next year, at the very theatre where it all began.

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

Today's love story belongs to Lars Callieou, a Canadian comedian who has given the gift of laughter to audiences all over the world, including six military tours. For Lars, feeling at home on the road was very normal, as his parents were travelling musicians. When following in their footsteps didn't quite pan out, he found solace and purpose in standup comedy.

His love of comedy has taken him across Canada and the US in his beloved 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, which he calls Silver. Lars has travelled so much that he's travelled the exact distance to the moon and back (768,00km)...and then some. Currently, he has logged 818,000km.

Lars has an impressive comedy career that spans 20 years, and he's worked with such luminaries as Joan Rivers, Jeff Foxworthy, and Bob Saget. His fuel is passion, generosity, and the pure love of performance. 

Lars Callieou has appeared at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montréal and has a 1-Hour Comedy Special currently airing on The Comedy Network. He's been overseas to entertain the troops 5 times and is a 2-Time Canadian Comedy Award Nominee. He can be heard on CBC's Laugh Out Loud, CBC's The Debaters and on Sirius/XM. He's performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the last 8 years and has also appeared at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, the Boston Comedy Festival, the World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas and the Halifax Comedy Festival.

For more information: https://extralars.com/

Follow Lars: http://www.instagram.com/ExtraLars

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

Today's love story belongs to Jessie and Kolade. They are friends, colleagues, magic makers, and they are both part of a phenomenal social enterprise in Halifax, Nova Scotia called Hope Blooms.

Hope Blooms engages with inner-city youth to become change agents, positively impacting the community through innovative agricultural and culinary programs. These changemakers made a national impact a decade ago on the show Dragon's Den, where 6 young and enthusiastic youth pitched their salad dressing business and made a deal for $40,000. They even moved one of the dragons to tears.

It was a vision that started with a seed, and has since bloomed into a movement on a mission to create future leaders. It's all about growth. From the garden where the program took root, to salsa, salad dressings and scholarships.

Hope Blooms has become what it is today because of the hard work, commitment and compassion of Executive Director, Jessie Jollymore. The future is bright for this enterprise, and at the helm is Kolade Boboye, who is currently the Manager of Social Business and Innovation.

For more information about Hope Blooms visit https://hopeblooms.ca/

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

Nancy Rose is a former teacher and guidance counsellor whose passion for photography and crafting has transformed into an unusual new career. When Nancy found herself seeking creative inspiration, she found it in her own backyard when she witnessed the entertaining behaviours of her neighbourhood squirrels. 

She started creating miniature squirrel-sized displays and props, using cardboard, clay, and other craft supplies. Motivated by hidden treats, squirrels became the subject of her photographs, as they interacted with her creations. Chasing her creativity even further, Nancy turned these whimsical sights into children's stories. 

Since then, Nancy Rose has published 6 children's books featuring her delightful photos, as well as board books, and a series of calendars by Workman Publishing. Her most recent book is titled Oakley the Squirrel: Camping 1, 2, 3!: A Nutty Numbers Book and can be ordered on Amazon. 

Nancy's innovative creations have not only sparked joy for many but they also spread a powerful message: embrace your creativity, follow your passions, and never be afraid to be different.

Visit https://www.secretlifeofsquirrels.com/ for more information and to order Nancy's books.

Follow Nancy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secretlifeofsquirrels

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

Catherine and Craig are two multi-talented theatre performers, whose 25-year friendship has seen its fair share of peaks and valleys. Throughout their journey, this dynamic duo has consistently supported, challenged, and inspired one another to become better.

They faced their greatest obstacle when Catherine was diagnosed with brain cancer. However, the life-threatening crisis didn't stop them from auditioning for Season 8 of The Amazing Race Canada. Proving the old saying what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, they not only competed in this nationally televised reality show...they took home the grand prize.

Follow Craig: https://www.instagram.com/craigramsayfit/

Follow Catherine: https://www.instagram.com/catherinewreford/

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!