In this episode, I am chatting with Steafan Hannigan, an AV Swiss Army Pocket knife.
Bio
Steáfán Hannigan is an Irish musician, author, composer, audio engineer, theatre technical director, musicologist and instrument maker. Some of the instruments he plays are the Uilleann pipes, Bodhrán, tin whistle, bouzouki, guitar, tenor banjo, flute, mandolin and various percussion instruments.

Steáfán was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland and moved to Canada 14 years ago with his wife Saskia and 3 children Oisin, Eile and Ayisha. He has played on or produced over 200 albums, toured in over 30 countries and has a recording studio and a collection of over 800 musical instruments. He is the author of “The Bodhran Book” and “The Low Whistle Book”, both best sellers in their genre. He and his family also formed a band called Clan Hannigan. Steáfán composed the music for a 24-episode animated series which aired worldwide in 2015, worked with a diverse range of artists including Bjork, Depeche Mode, Loreena McKennitt and AfroCelts He has also appeared on MTV, BBC and CBC. Along with his wife Saskia, he was hired to work on developing the hit theatre show “Come from Away”.

Steáfán has a background in theatre in which he has held many positions: Technical Director, Musical Director, Head of Props, Head Carpenter, Lighting Designer, Sound Designer, and actor. He has worked as a Technical Director for many companies including Jumblies Theatre, Education Arts Canada, Festival Players, and the Port Dover/Port Colborne Lighthouse Festival. He was the sound design engineer for the Thinking Rock Community Arts performance of Gigidoowag Ziibiik/The Rivers Speak Community Play , a production that enlisted the help of AlgomaTrad to provide musical direction and was performed at the Mississagi First Nations Pow-Wow Grounds in 2017.

And yes rumours are true, Steáfán arranged music for and appeared on the hit T.V. series “Friends” – the one with Ross’s wedding, acted in Canadian show “Coppers”, and been a session musician on “Black Harbour”, “Relic Hunter ” and “Earth Final Conflict”.

Steáfán regularly volunteers for ArtsCan Circle, working with Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario, specializing in working with the Pikanjikum First Nation and Project Journey."

Sources

Steáfán Hannigan
www.facebook.com/SteafanandSaskia/
www.instagram.com/steafanh/
www.Welcometonorthumberland.ca

In this podcast, I am chatting with Rodrigo Konigs, a Canadian Mexican, historian and leader. Rodrigo is the Executive Director of Horizon of Friendship in Cobourg.

Born in Canada and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, Rodrigo has more than 15 years of experience developing and leading community engagement initiatives in the non-profit sector. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios de Occidente (ITESO) and also has a master’s degree in International Development from the University of Ottawa. Rodrigo has a strong commitment to social justice and has focused his career working on social issues and with members of marginalized communities. He is an enthusiastic traveler, a history buff , and an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and Toronto Argonauts. Rodrigo is a Certified Change Management Professional that believes that transparency, respect, developing meaningful connections, and effective communication are key ingredients to maximize the potential of any team that he leads. He is also the proud father of two children (Ellis and Lucy) and is married to his wife Rebecca.

Sources
https://www.horizons.ca/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVC-oWl_uVQ&lc=UghG91tE9OMvMHgCoAEC

In this episode we are chatting with Atif Rashid, a proud public servant, a Resilience Expert, Mindset Coach and Inspirational Speaker, who share transformative stories of triumph over adversity. With an MBA and CPA from Saint Mary’s University, his journey from Pakistan to Canada, coupled with overcoming cancer and amputation, fuels his mission. Through his global movement, "Inspire 1 - Impact Billions!", Atif spreads positivity, fosters inclusivity, and empowers others to create lasting change.

Resources
https://atifrashid.ca/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr1XnRKeWGo

oday, I have the privilege of chatting with DJ Alejo Caicedo, a shining star in the Latin music community. Born into a family rich in artistic talent and a deep love for music, DJ Alejo's destiny was sealed from the start. With over 15 years of experience, he has crafted a remarkable career, with the past 8 years elevating him to international acclaim.

His musical palette is as diverse as his audience, blending urban, tropical, and EDM genres into an electrifying open format. This sonic fusion knows no bounds, captivating listeners of all ages and backgrounds across continents, transcending language barriers with ease.

DJ Alejo's impact extends far beyond the DJ booth. He has graced the stages of Canada's most prominent festivals, from the Latin Sparks Festival to the Pan American Kick Off Games, leaving an indelible mark on audiences everywhere.

Sharing the spotlight with icons like J Balvin, Ozuna, and Daddy Yankee, DJ Alejo's performances are nothing short of legendary. Yet, his contributions aren't confined to the stage. As the first Latino DJ to spin live on Canadian radio, he has left an indelible mark on the airwaves, reaching over 4 million listeners with his electrifying mixes on Radio Z103.5 FM and 103.9 Proud FM.

DJ Alejo's journey is a testament to passion, talent, and unwavering dedication, inspiring countless others to follow their dreams and make their mark on the world stage.

https://www.facebook.com/djjay.alejo/
https://www.facebook.com/djjay.alejo/

Neil Horner is the operations specialist at the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre and the person behind the production of the products newcomers are bringing to reality after their training.

Also in this podcast I will talking about the latest immigration news for our newcomer community.

In this podcast, I am interviewing Annie McCaghey from Immigration Station Canada, a well known Immigration Consultant in Northumberland. Anny will explain the new National Occupational Classification (NOC) which affect the immigration applications depending on the path the person follow.
Also in this podcast, Rosa Ortega singing "Besame Mucho" a bolero song written in 1932 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez, under the magistral arrangements of the Commodores Orchestra and recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall on October 2023 for the Hispania by the Big Bands Concert.

I will be sharing as well some comments about the lesser-known benefits of being a Canadian permanent resident and is this your first winter in Canada? how to avoid the "winter blues".

Sources
https://www.immigrationstationcanada.com/
https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/

https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/mental-wellbeing/low-mood-and-depression/beating-the-winter-blues/

In this podcast I am interviewing Roxana and Fabian Belmonte, A 40 years trajectory as a Tango Dancers and musicians and recipients on the 2023 "Marca Pais Argentina, Argentinians in the World"
Also in this episode, let's enjoy the some songs of Hispania by the Big Bands, recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall, Cobourg on October 2023 with the magnificent Commodores Orchestra and the voices of Rosa Ortega and Fabian Arciniegas. Followed by immigration news.

Roxana and Fabian Belmonte / ***Tango artists

Roxana & Fabian have performed and taught internationally since 1980’s thrilling audiences in venues ranging from "Luna Park" in Buenos Aires, "Roy Thompson Hall" in Toronto to the "Royal Theatre Carré" in Amsterdam or "Shiba Mel-Park Hall" in Tokyo.

The prize-winning pair, were both born in Buenos Aires, Argentina; like the Tango itself , dancing tango has always been a treasured legacy in their families, they were often surrounded by legendary celebrities of the Tango world, and in that spirit they were brought up to live, breathe and love tenderly the whole Tango culture.

Besides being a Tango dancer, Fabian is distinguished as a multi-faceted artist / performer who has appeared on scene not only as a dancer, but also as vocal singer and bandoneon player, in line with his lifetime passions that cover dance, music and history.

The couple have appeared in many of the fabled and legendary dance halls of their native Buenos Aires, including Palais De Glace, Astral Theatre, La Confiteria Del Molino, Club Almagro, Glorias Argentinas, Esquina Anibal Troilo, Esquina Homero Manzi" and the Buenos Aires most legendariest stadium Luna Park.

They have received numerous accolades including the most recent “2023 Marca País - Argentinos destacados en el Mundo" (Brand Country - Outstanding Argentinians in the World), becoming Ambassadors of the Country Brand for Argentinian Government in the world. “2003 Latin American Achievement Award- Premio Somos" for "Best Latin Folklore Presence in Canada" awarded at the Roy Thompson Hall Theatre and “2019 Hispanic Leaders of Canada-Lideres Award”. Past winners of an international dance contest produced by the biggest USA’s spanish Miami-based TV show "Sabado Gigante": ”Stars of the future ‘1998” .

In 2020, they were invited to star in a tango evening at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights/ Musée Canadien des Droits de la Personne attracting a large and fascinated audience who participated in various aspects of tango, such as the show and a dance seminar.

The Belmonte’s have made extensive tours with the shows "The Art of Tango '98 -99" and "Tango-Tango '00", thru the Netherlands and Belgium at important theaters such as "Royal Theater Carré" in Amsterdam, with the musical accompaniment of the Sexteto Canyengue directed by Carel Kraayenhof and sharing the stage with the Dutch National Ballet.

They were chosen as one of Argentina’s tango ambassadors to the world and invited to judge the First (’05), Second ('06) and Fourth ('08) World Tango Competitions in Tokyo, Japan and USA Tango Championship.

The couple are the producers and hosts for the annual Toronto Tango Summit event in Toronto and instructors at Belmonte Tango Academy.

Resources
https://www.tangodeoro.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BelmonteTangoAcademy

In this podcast, Rosa and I are interviewing Melanie Ferreira who will be talking about her experience as a newcomer in Canada. From home cooking to food entrepreneur. And later today, I will be introducing a new segment. Creating welcoming communities through Diversity, Equality, Equity and Inclusion.

Melanie Ferreira is a passionate home cook and entrepreneur. She was born in South Africa and immigrated to Canada in 2018 with her husband and two children. From the moment she arrived, she felt compelled to introduce her culture's cuisine to the Canadian people. Melanie has been cooking since she was very young, constantly adapting recipes from her homeland to fit the tastes of her new friends in Cobourg. With that same spirit of experimentation, Melanie and her family opened a cafe called Lalies & The Dutch which offers both tradition South African dishes as well as unique takes on classic Canadian comfort foods. Melanie's love for cooking and sharing her culture with others is what drives her to continue creating innovative dishes and providing a warm welcome to all who enter Lalies & The Dutch.

Melanie loves connecting with her local community through food and sharing her culinary creations with them. When she’s not in the kitchen cooking up delicious meals for her family or customers, Melanie can be found playing board games with her two children or exploring the trails of Cobourg. She’s proud to bring a little bit of South Africa to Canada and enjoys bringing smiles to people’s faces through her cooking.

This episode song
"Scatterlings of Africa" is a 1982 song by the South African band Juluka, first released on their 1982 album Scatterlings. It was re-released in 1987 by Juluka's successor band Savuka on Third World Child. The song was a commercial success, charting in France and the United Kingdom. Its lyrics explore the "myriad dislocations" experienced by South Africa. The rousing and upbeat music incorporated Zulu influences. The song introduced the music of Johnny Clegg, the cofounder of Juluka and Savuka, to Western audiences.

Resources:
https://lalies.ca/
https://www.northumberland.ca/en/ontario-agri-food-venture-centre/oafvc.aspx