CBC in the Community: April 2025

April 1: Ideas for a better Canada

In March and April, the CBC program Ideas hosted a series of cross-Canada discussions focused on how to foster more meaningful conversations and build bridges between divides, aiming to inspire long-term solutions. These events took place in Burlington, Charlottetown, Edmonton and Nanaimo.

On April 1, CBC's Nahlah Ayed moderated Ideas for a Better Canada, a free public discussion at Edmonton's Stanley A. Milner Library. This sold-out event, focusing on the next chapter of Canada's democracy, featured local storytellers and thinkers discussing topics like political polarization, democratic reform and the future of Canadian identity.

If you missed this event, you can listen to it on the Ideas podcast here.

WATCH | Highlights from each event across Canada:

April 10-13: Grande Cache Memorial Icebreaker Tournament

We visited Grande Cache, Alta., for its annual Icebreaker Memorial Tournament, a longstanding tradition in the community. Since 1989, the tournament has served as a memorial for members of the local hockey community who have died, with jerseys and pictures proudly displayed as tokens of remembrance. Players, coaches, volunteers and parents are among some of the local hockey heroes honoured throughout the weekend.

CBC's Adrienne Lamb and Dave Bajer were in town collecting stories, and shared the importance of the tournament on Daybreak Alberta and Edmonton AM. Meanwhile, our communications team was at the Grande Cache Recreation Centre, giving away hot chocolate and swag and learning how CBC could continue to uplift the community!

Outside of the rink, we heard from experts about wildfire preparedness, toured the 17,200-square-foot Kikinow Elders Lodge and explored the area.

Read some of those stories here:

• With Jasper's devastation in mind, Alberta communities gear up for wildfire season
• Unique lodge to provide a safe, comfortable home for Indigenous elders in Alberta
• Passport to the Peaks offers unique ticket to the Rockies this summer

WATCH | Icebreaker hockey tournament celebrates unsung heroes:

Icebreaker hockey tournament celebrates unsung heroes

28 days ago

Duration 2:43

Grande Cache, Alta., is a hockey town. The community 430 kilometres west of Edmonton has a unique tournament to close out the season. The goal is to make sure the people growing the game get their due. Here’s Adrienne Lamb with how.