The CHASIcast takes a walk on the wild side! Join producer Emma Hones (substitute hosting for Dr. Martha Dow) and four of her esteemed colleagues and friends from CHASI’s Research and Knowledge Mobilization teams as they discuss the fun – and serious – sides of our recent trip to Victoria.
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Transcript
CHASIcast voice-over
Coming up, on the CHASIcast …
Frankie Fowle
Can we just talk about the fact that Emma knows Latin?
CHASIcast voice-over
We recount a remarkable journey undertaken by a crack team of CHASI researchers, knowledge mobilisers, and rat wranglers, in search of the answers to some very important questions.
Carlanna Thompson
Is it normal to see mice in restaurants? Were we just seriously gaslit? I need to know!
CHASIcast voice-over
Our fantastic voyage to Victoria – the fun and serious parts – on this episode of the CHASIcast.
Lynsie Beaulieu
I agree.
All
[laughter]
CHASIcast voice-over
From UFV’s Community Health and Social Innovation Hub, this is the CHASIcast: a program dedicated to bringing experts and insights to the issues that shape our lives, because Words Have To Matter. Now, substituting for Dr. Martha Dow, here’s your host, Emma Hones.
Emma Hones
Hello, and welcome to the CHASIcast! Thanks for tuning in. If you don’t know me already, I’m Emma Hones – normally the producer around here, and that strange voice you hear at the start and end of each episode, but today I’m taking a turn in the hotseat. I’m joined by four of my amazing colleagues here in the Hub, if y’all would introduce yourselves?
Frankie Fowle
Hi, I’m Frankie Fowle.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Hi, I’m Lynsie Beaulieu.
Miranda Erickson
Hi, I’m Miranda Erickson.
Carlanna Thompson
And I’m Carlanna Thompson.
Emma Hones
On this episode, we’ve got something a little bit different. We’re going to be talking about a little trip we took with some of our other friends and coworkers over the UFV reading break this semester. Now, if you’re a loyal reader of the UFV Today blog, you might have seen the post they wrote about our trip. If you haven’t, well, here’s a little audio clip that I think sums up the official reason pretty well …
Hon. Pam Alexis
Mr. Speaker, I’m thrilled to introduce twelve community leaders from home. Please join me in welcoming some members of the team from the University of the Fraser Valley’s Community Health and Social Innovation Hub, which we call CHASI.
Hon. Pam Alexis
The CHASI hub was created to support all aspects of a healthy community. They achieve this goal through collaborative, multisectoral research and community engagement, and as a key strategic partner in the region, working to identify challenges and opportunities to improve individual and community health.
Hon. Pam Alexis
And with us today are Martha Dow, Jeff Mijo-Burch, Chelsea Klassen, Sharon Strauss, Emma Hones, Miranda Erickson, Lynsie Beaulieu, Regan Smith, Carlanna Thompson, Frankie Fowle, Imran Tatla and Susan Mide Kiss. Please, will the House welcome them today? Thank you.
Emma Hones
That was the Honourable Pam Alexis, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, B.C.’s Minister of Agriculture, and longtime friend of CHASI, who invited us all to the Legislature in recognition of the work we do and the impact CHASI has made on the Fraser Valley community and beyond. Now, normally, in an average CHASIcast episode, it’s a bit of a one on one interview … today, since there’s five of us in all, we’re throwing the script away. I know that some of you have some questions in mind – I’m going to turn it over here to Miranda, ’cause I know she’s got plenty where that came from.
Miranda Erickson
Thank you. Yeah, so one of the things that I was wondering was, what did we learn about how the province was run? And how does that shape our understanding of the way that you know, BC handles things in the political process?
Emma Hones
Well, I have to admit that I came into it with a little bit of a stacked deck, because I’m a giant nerd, and one of those things includes political science. So I already came into the I came into the visit already having a pretty good working knowledge of how the system functioned. But I do have to admit that reading about question period and witnessing question period, were two very, very different things. So if there’s one thing that I came away with, that I hadn’t come in with, it was definitely that Question Period is incredibly, shall we say, exciting.
Carlanna Thompson
So just jumping off of that, it was really interesting seeing the debate in person. I know I’ve watched it on TV a few times and they really cut out quite a bit of the intense back and forth. I was actually like, very surprised by just like the level of passion that I saw. And uh, definitely the pounding on the tables which was super cool to witness in person a little intimidating but, like – being so close to the action, like, made me feel really inspired and made me want to get more involved in, like, how things are run and have a say – like, that these people are trying to pursue what they think is the best path forward for B.C. and … I don’t know, I’d always felt like there was a detachment there – like, you elect these people, then you don’t know what they’re – like, you don’t know what they’re doing when they’re in the legislature and to actually see them doing their job was really cool.
Frankie Fowle
Yeah, I was, like, super shocked to see … kind of like, the heckling that happens, that you don’t always get to hear on TV, and just the amount of it, and just trying to digest that, because I think in our minds, like we have our leaders, and we kind of put our leaders on a pedestal sometimes and to see them like acting in that way. Really just kind of like I was kind of taken aback by that.
Lynsie Beaulieu
I agree.
All
[laughter]
Carlanna Thompson
Excellent contribution.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Regan mentioned –
Miranda Erickson
I second!
Lynsie Beaulieu
Regan mentioned this earlier – during our tour, we were able to see some of the background. They have this, like, security room, where they have all the cameras, and they showed us some – some of the footage. And so, when we were in the gallery, watching the Question Period, seeing them bang on tables and how they were responding to other speakers. Yeah – we only see what the camera is showing us. So being in the gallery, we got to see so much more. So yeah, it was really interesting.
Carlanna Thompson
The tour was also super fun – shout out to Nicholas for one of the most entertaining experiences! It was really cool! We actually got to take a picture with Darryl Plecas, a near and dear friend to CHASI.
Miranda Erickson
A picture with a picture.
Carlanna Thompson
A picture with a picture … sounds like a meme. But it was really cool. And getting to know, like, the history. And some of the insider details of the legislature were a really cool experience
Miranda Erickson
And the windows.
Carlanna Thompson
The windows were fantastic, very cool architecture in that building.
Miranda Erickson
And they do open.
Carlanna Thompson
They do open, yes.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Yeah, that was a big part of our experience there as well. We were invited for Question Period. And as well, were given a tour by one of their amazing tour guides, Nicholas … spent so much time with us, walking us through all sorts of rooms, discussing different important moments in history. And then we have a historian among us here, Carlanna, and so she really enjoyed her time there. And we asked her lots of follow up questions as well.
Carlanna Thompson
I’d also like to shout out Emma for getting all of the questions right.
All
[chuckling]
Carlanna Thompson
I did a few guesses. But she was really on top of the B.C. governance structure. Not my specialty.
Frankie Fowle
Can we just talk about the fact that Emma knows Latin?
Lynsie Beaulieu
Wow, yeah.
Carlanna Thompson
That also threw me.
Emma Hones
[laughs] I don’t know much Latin – just, like, that one little bit. I know … I know that, and I know the state slogan of Virginia where I grew up too.
Miranda Erickson
That’s all you need to know.
Carlanna Thompson
So call Emma up if you’re ever doing, like, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Call up a friend
Miranda Erickson
Or, like, an exorcism.
All
[laughter]
Carlanna Thompson
Very niche, these topics.
Frankie Fowle
Good party trick.
Miranda Erickson
Exactly.
Emma Hones
Yeah, I’m not – I’m not sure I could really exorcise much of anyone. Unless you’re looking for me to, like, exorcise … I don’t know, an American Civil War general. I might maybe have some luck there. I’ve been to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.
Carlanna Thompson
They probably need it be honest – it’s a demographic.
Miranda Erickson
That almost feels like a YouTube video – like the beatboxing, it’s just an exorcism.
Lynsie Beaulieu
I have a question for Emma. Emma, what stood out to you in your time when you were there? What was a highlight for you?
Emma Hones
Well, I mean, there was, there was our unexpected companion, but we’ll get into that a little later.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Mm-hmm.
Emma Hones
On, uh, on a serious note, I think the thing that stood out to me the most was probably the … mmm, I think it was probably the more relaxed air than I would have expected. I think it’s probably because I spent so much time living in the – living in the States. I’m used to thinking of, like, government buildings, or what have you, as being really, really tightly locked down. And, granted, it’s not like they were being particularly lax. I mean, they had metal detectors and security and all that jazz, but … I don’t know, it felt like … it felt like a more lenient bunch than I would have expected. Well, maybe lenient’s not the right word. Maybe … easygoing, easygoing is the word I’ll go for there.
Frankie Fowle
So stereotypically Canadian.
Emma Hones
[laughs] I suppose you could say that, yes. At least they weren’t selling maple syrup in the gift shop – that might have been over the line.
Frankie Fowle
Lynsie, what was your highlight?
Lynsie Beaulieu
I think for me, a highlight was the relationship building. So in November 2023, we had the privilege of having the Honourable Pam Alexis visit CHASI. And so, she was able to see our space, meet all of the students here, and hear some of the work and the projects that we’re doing in and for our community. And then, fast forward to inviting us to the Legislative Assembly and inviting us into her space there. That was really cool. And so she gave us the great honour of being recognised for our work in collaboration that she has seen firsthand, being in our space and reading our reports and asking us questions.
Miranda Erickson
So what did it mean to you that CHASI got recognised at this level?
Emma Hones
I think it’s an incredible privilege and an incredible honour, of course. I think the work that CHASI does is extremely important. And maybe to an extent that people who aren’t part of CHASI don’t really realise, I don’t know that I really realised until I started working with all you crazy people. [laughs] So it’s, it’s really gratifying to see that recognition – and not just, not just that recognition in general. But to see it at a provincial level. I mean, that was the – practically the entire – the entire legislative assembly there, because we … our introduction happened to fall on Budget Day. So there were a lot of MLAs there to hear about what we do and how it’s important.
Emma Hones
And … I think even just beyond that, it’s just, it’s nice to know that all the hours and all the countless, countless meetings and back and forth and crunch time, and what have you really does add up to something meaningful in the end, beyond just another report to put on your résumé when you graduate and go out into the, quote unquote, “real world.” This _is_ part of the real world.
Frankie Fowle
It was also nice, like – after we had come down from the gallery, there were actually other MLAs and ministers waiting to speak with us. And so, it was really awesome to see that even just that short introduction sparked interest in what we do, and to have people come to us and ask more about what we do and how we do it and be genuinely interested. I don’t know, it’s just, it’s nice to know that people, like, care about what we’re doing here.
Carlanna Thompson
It was really a cool experience, like – none of us do this for the recognition. But it was also a super cool experience to like, have my family at home, be able to watch that on TV. And also, like … a lot of these projects – like, we are acknowledged as a group, which is how we run CHASI. But it was also cool having our names read out individually, like, having that individual recognition. Like, you don’t often get that as a student RA. So I think that was a really cool … experience to have… across the board.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Yeah, and kinda – to go off of that relationship building … something that stood out to me – or that was most encouraging happened on our way home. So, we took one of the last ferries and we all sat together in a section in the café, and we had the Honourable Pam Alexis sit down and meet with us for – I think more, like, 45 minutes to an hour, just asking the research assistants different questions about what research we’re doing, what we’re passionate about personally outside of the work that we do. And she just took a general and genuine interest in what we were doing and our aspirations in the future. We talked about grad school, and some of the research that we do in and outside of CHASI. And I think, to see a leader and a representative spend that kind of time and get that kind of face time was really incredible. And yes, she didn’t have to do that. But she chose to spend the time and kind of invest – continue to invest in us in that way.
Emma Hones
You know, on that note, I – because I am just recalling the separate conversation that I was having with Minister Alexis’ … I’m not exactly sure what her job title is, but Jo. Jo, if you’re listening to this, the pasta was good, by the way, because I didn’t have the chance to tell you. [chuckles] But on a serious note – yeah, I definitely agree. I mean, even with that different conversation I was having, it was really gratifying to be able to … to be able to have that discussion, practically one-on-one – I mean, it was more two-on-two, but – for an hour … and really to just … I mean, our conversation was a little more – was a little more in the trenches, so to speak. But it was just very nice to have that direct – direct connection, if you will. I think that’s – I think that’s something that’s kind of missing because of that – because of that point you made that oftentimes … we go into elect our representatives or what have you, and then kind of just end up disconnected from whatever it is they’re doing … however many hundreds of kilometres you may live away from Victoria.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Yeah, yeah. And just – like I said before, seeing them on the screen or only seeing one thing, and then to be sitting down face to face with this representative who … yeah, has come into our space, shared our space, continued to learn about the things we’re doing in our community and, and invest in that way I think was really incredible. Also, I wanted to note as well, I think, as a student here, to receive the support from the university for us to attend this trip was really important to me. And something that stood out we obviously couldn’t have gone without the support of CHASI and UFV.
Emma Hones
Yeah, we absolutely have to give a shout out – I mean, not just to Martha and Chelsea, of course, for being the … the rat herders for lack of a better term …
Lynsie Beaulieu
Rat Wranglers.
Emma Hones
Rat Wranglers, yeah.
Lynsie Beaulieu
_Doctor_ Martha Dow.
Emma Hones
Yes, _Doctor_ Martha Dow, the glorious Rat Wrangler and fearless leader of CHASI and our normal hostess. Well, it wouldn’t be possible for CHASI to exist in the form that it is, or do the things that it does, in the form that it does, without that level of institutional support. And, for as much as – for as much as our work oftentimes does revolve around speaking truth to power, sometimes power is kind of a good friend too, if you let it be.
Frankie Fowle
And also to, like – just a tremendous thank you to Pam Alexis, and, and Jo, I guess, _Honourable_ Pam, Alexis, and Jo, for acknowledging … the work that we do here and seeing its value, and placing value on us doing the work, and taking that time to get to know everybody here at CHASI. And I think that that’s just such a strong sign of great leadership, is taking time and investing time in – in people who do the work that happens here at CHASI, and it – it just is very – like, it’s almost inspiring to, like, hear that you’re being recognised. And it just makes you want – want to get involved on that level, in our community.
Miranda Erickson
And to go off of that, yeah, it was really inspiring. Sometimes it can feel like politics is a very … uninspiring place, to – for lack of better words, in terms of, you know, seeing the world as it is, and then wanting to change in that so much of what we do at CHASI is seeing the world around us, seeing the communities, and really … wanting to create those connections and to make the changes that they tell us that they need and so that we can mobilise and we can be part of that. And that’s been an amazing experience.
Miranda Erickson
Being recognised for that was also incredible, because it means that at the provincial level, people are recognising and validating these community changes and recognising the significance of this very sort of grassroots level work of – we want to engage with the partners who are directly engaged. And so we are directly engaged with the people who are going to be impacted and affected by the research that we do. And it’s so incredible to be able to have that recognised – to have that level of community engagement recognised and applauded in the legislature was absolutely amazing.
Emma Hones
Absolutely, yeah. Now, I know that time is ticking on here. But there is one question that I have to ask. I would be – it would be terrible if I didn’t ask. We have to talk about the CHASI mouse.
Miranda Erickson
CHASI _mice_.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Mice. Yeah, plural.
Miranda Erickson
[overlapping] There were two.
Emma Hones
Okay, well, the CHASI mice – we have to talk about the CHASI mice.
Carlanna Thompson
Yeah.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Well, our first run in was at a local pub, as we were –
Carlanna Thompson
Which shall remain unnamed.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Exactly, which we will not – not name. Yeah, and we – as we were ordering our food and just chatting away, we had a little visitor scurry along our feet, and visit us. So that was …
Carlanna Thompson
So, to build on Lynsie’s underwhelming [Lynsie laughs] retelling of the event … So, we see our little friend, Martha tries to – sorry, Martha Dow – _Dr._ Martha Dow tries to bring this to the waitress’ attention, trying to downplay it, assuming this might be some kind of crisis. And the waitress is – is just like, “oh, yeah, that’s pretty normal – uh, what do you” – kind of like, “what do you want me to do about it?” And … it was hard to come back from that moment.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Yeah – it set the tone, yeah.
Carlanna Thompson
And …
Miranda Erickson
I would actually like to add to that. Love and respect to Victoria. It’s a great city, but we – at that restaurant, which shall remain nameless … $28.50 for four chicken strips and an extra $4.50 for french fries. I know there’s a cost of living crisis, but please … work on that if you’re gonna have mice in your restaurant.
Carlanna Thompson
We need affordable chicken strips!
Emma Hones
Seconded.
Frankie Fowle
Yeah, and like, can we just talk about the mouse itself for a second? Like, that mouse was full of, like, tenacity and, like, it didn’t just scurry along, no no no – it hung around. And it – it lingered. And it was, like, yeah, it would like pop its head out, and then come, like … yeah, it just – it was there a long time.
Carlanna Thompson
Yeah, this was not on the peripheral of the restaurant. We’re talking, like, bench seats, middle of the restaurant. Little dicey, I’ll say. And so, we thought this would be a one off event … and then, last day, we encounter another mouse, more specifically, our beloved Sharon Strauss stepped on a mouse at another restaurant – separate restaurant – which will also remain unnamed. Possibly more horrifying than the first one because yes, she just stepped right on it, poor little guy.
Miranda Erickson
He did not suffer, he did not die. The mouse is still well, it just was a gentle little love tap with her foot.
Carlanna Thompson
He or she is still with us – or they.
Miranda Erickson
Or they!
Emma Hones
[laughs] That’s the magic of SOGI: we have to think about the gender identity of mice now.
Miranda Erickson
I’m always thinking about the gender identity of mice, not just – [Lynsie laughs] – every day, every day I wake up …
Carlanna Thompson
We support all mice.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Um, I had a note – back to Victoria, that I made and I didn’t mention … but that Honourable Pam Alexis, when she was the mayor of Mission … has just been a longtime supporter of CHASI before we even … opened our doors, she was supporting us and the goal of opening CHASI, and has always valued the school and community connection.
Emma Hones
I like how we’ve – I like how we’ve swung to serious talk to mice. And now we’re swinging back to that.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Yeah, we’re bringing it back to why we’re here.
Carlanna Thompson
So back to the mice … [Emma laughs] Question for all you Victoria people: is it normal to see mice in restaurants? Were we just seriously gaslit? I need to know!
Miranda Erickson
Do you think it was the same mouse? Or do you think that they were two different mice? Or were they related, or were they maybe lovers?
Lynsie Beaulieu
Were they brothers?
Carlanna Thompson
Let us know if Sharon Strauss should also do an interview about her encounter with the mouse. I’d love to hear, it personally! [Emma laughs] Follow up episode.
Emma Hones
Oh my goodness.
Lynsie Beaulieu
My name is Lynsie Beaulieu …
Carlanna Thompson
I’ll be here all week – [Lynsie laughs] – actually, hopefully more than a week, but …
Lynsie Beaulieu
Are we good – was that everything?
Carlanna Thompson
[overlapping] Are there any other things – anything else? I’m not gonna do any –
Lynsie Beaulieu
No more mice.
Carlanna Thompson
– mad libs. No more mice.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Serious only.
Carlanna Thompson
Yeah, serious only. I also want to say that it was really a great bonding experience as a team. Like, we’re often working on separate projects, so to be able to come together and celebrate all that we’ve achieved, and all the work we’ve done was really great. So yeah, as everyone else said, like – thank you to UFV for supporting us in that thank you to Martha and Chelsea for putting everything together –
Emma Hones
_Doctor_ Martha Dow.
Carlanna Thompson
I’m sorry, I’m just so unserious! [Emma chuckles] And, like – it’s such a great place to work, and so many great coworkers, and it was cool to see everyone get acknowledged, and it was a great experience.
Emma Hones
Yeah, I couldn’t agree more, honestly … honestly, that’s going to be something that’s going to stick with me … well, we’ll see about the rest of my life – who knows where my memory might go as I get older, but it’s definitely going to stick with me for a number of years. I just realised I took that in a very morbid direction. Point is, yeah, that was an incredibly memorable experience, and I am just … _so_ beyond grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of it.
Miranda Erickson
Yeah, like these are not the kind of opportunities and experiences that I was expecting to get at any school that I would have gone to. But being able to have these trips and have these experiences, make these connections, engage in meaningful research that makes me feel like I’m a part of something so important, so vital to … connection between community and university, but also for actually getting research off of the report and into the community. It’s been incredible, and having that validation in the legislature – it was absolutely amazing, and I would never have been able to get that experience anywhere else. So thank you, _Dr._ Martha Dow. Thank you, Chelsea Klassen. And thank you, team at CHASI, for being so amazing and supportive, and being the reason that we got to go in the first place.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Absolutely. Well said Miranda, thank you.
Carlanna Thompson
And shout out to Emma for hosting this because we’re a very unserious bunch. [Emma laughs] She had to wrangle the rats today!
Lynsie Beaulieu
And for carrying the answers in the tour!
Carlanna Thompson
Absolutely – I’m embarrassed of my performance.
Miranda Erickson
We’re researchers, but we didn’t do our research for that.
Emma Hones
Well, there – I mean, I definitely mobilised knowledge there – that’s probably why I’m part of the KMT. I can’t research my way out of a paper bag unless it’s a personal passion project.
Carlanna Thompson
Also would like to acknowledge that Emma’s first ferry ride was on our way to Victoria.
Frankie Fowle
Wow!
Miranda Erickson
Yes …
Emma Hones
Well, not my first ferry ride _ever_, but my first BC Ferries ride. And definitely my first ferry ride in some years, I will say that much.
Carlanna Thompson
But she didn’t get to experience the iconic ice cream machine. So we’ll have to get another trip.
Miranda Erickson
[overlapping] But she did get a pirate pack!
Carlanna Thompson
Did get a pirate “prack.”
Emma Hones
“Pirate prack?” Yes –
Carlanna Thompson
Pirate pack!
Emma Hones
I did – I did get a “pirate prack.”
Frankie Fowle
It was also Jeff’s first time in Victoria.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Oh, I didn’t know that!
Emma Hones
Oh!
Frankie Fowle
I was just like, “you’ve lived here all your life, and …”
Lynsie Beaulieu
Man, shout out to Jeff!
Carlanna Thompson
Yeah, we’re not shaming you, Jeff. Good for you for expanding your boundaries.
Miranda Erickson
Yeah, there are a lot of people who aren’t in the room right now who were there … you’re also amazing. You just aren’t in the podcast, but we love you anyway.
Lynsie Beaulieu
Alright, I think we’re about done here. Right. Time to –
Lynsie Beaulieu
[overlapping] – get out.
Carlanna Thompson
Peace out!
Frankie Fowle
Cut!
Lynsie Beaulieu
Thank you so much for your time, everyone.
Miranda Erickson
Thank you!
Emma Hones
Thank you, y’all! The rest of our Knowledge Mobilization Team includes Jeff Mijo-Burch, Kristen Bencze, Andrea Moorhouse, Frankie Fowle, Mara Penner, and Sharon Strauss. Our theme music is by Chris Majka. The director of CHASI is Dr. Martha Dow. I’m Emma Hones – thank you for listening, and we’ll see you next time here on the CHASIcast.
CHASIcast voice-over
The CHASIcast is a production of the Community Health and Social Innovation Hub at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia.