As It Happens: The Friday Edition
Part One
British Columbia Overdose Stats
BC's chief coroner reveals that a record number of people died of drug overdoses in the province in 2020 and a mother who lost her son hopes the appalling toll will lead to action.
Republicans: New Party
A group of Republicans has started talking about a new political party but their resistance to Donald Trump is facing resistance among some in the GOP.
Chinese New Year
It's Chinese New Year, and for Vancouver's Chinatown, welcoming the Year of the Ox during the pandemic means setting an ox-ample by ox-perimenting with new ways of creating ox-citement.
Part Two
Herron Home Closing
Her mother was one of 38 people to die in horrific conditions at a long-term care home in Quebec last spring and our guest has high hopes but low expectations for an imminent coroner's inquiry.
Britney Spears Conservatorship
Years after a public meltdown by Britney Spears made mocking headines and led to her father getting control over her life, a new documentary has led to an overdue reconsideration of how she was treated.
Part Three
Fish Attacks Bird
A grisly video shows a fish in Georgia eating a baby sparrow, after its nest was flooded with water. It's not pretty, but our guest says it's pretty valuable in terms of scientific insight.
Conch Shell Study
Jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette remembers his friend and long-time collaborator, pianist Chick Corea, whose innovative sound changed jazz, and inspired others to keep pushing the boundaries.
Chick Corea Obit
The discovery of a conch shell that may be the oldest seashell instrument is a big honking deal
As It Happens was produced this week by:
Jeanne Armstrong
Sarah Cooper
Katie Geleff
Sarah Jackson
Mehek Mazhar
John McGill
Niza Nondo
Kevin Robertson
Chloe Shantz-Hilkes
Kate Swoger
and Sonya Varma.
Our technicians this week are Gabbie Hagoriles and Annmarie Karugonjo. And the show directors this week are Reynold Gonsalves and Chris Harbord.
The writers are Lisa Bryn-Rundle and Chris Howden. Austin Webb is our senior producer. And the Executive Producer of As It Happens is Robin Smythe.
We'd also like to thank some other people who helped us out this week:
Mary-Catherine McIntosh in Halifax
Susan McKenzie in Montreal
Paul MacInnis in Ottawa
Frankie Fiorini, Varad Mehta and Brandie Weikle -- all in Toronto
Suzanne Dufresne in Winnipeg
Jennifer Keene in Calgary
and Anne Penman in Vancouver.
As It Happens will be back again on Monday. Good night and have a good weekend.