The Current Meet the newest members of the Order of Canada
Jul 8, 2025
Mike Stevens is a renowned harmonica player and founder of ArtsCan Circle, honored for his impactful work with Indigenous communities. He shares his emotional journey with music, highlighting its role in healing and hope for marginalized youth. Stevens's passion for the harmonica intertwined with his dedication to supporting young people is inspiring. The discussion also touches on the significance of recognition, as both he and fellow honoree Cheryl Forchuk reflect on their journeys and the societal issues they aim to change.
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Episode notes
Musical Chairs Homelessness Insight
- Homelessness stems from systemic failures, not individual flaws like lacking housing skills.
- The musical chairs analogy illustrates this by showing a shortage of affordable housing versus those who need it.
Hidden Homelessness Undercounted
- Current homelessness data underestimates the problem by focusing on urban shelters only.
- Using health data algorithms could triple the estimates and reveal hidden rural and non-shelter homelessness.
Addressing Homelessness Effectively
- To solve homelessness, increase affordable housing availability and improve income supports.
- Support social enterprises and raise basic income to reduce vulnerability among people at risk.