Articles and Writing

Rick Mercer reports to Algonquin

ELIZABETH MABIE

Known for cracking jokes about politicians and ranting in the streets of Toronto, Rick Mercer showed a more serious side of his façade when he sat down for an interview with the Times on March 24.

A calm demeanor and a softer voice replaced Mercer’s usual smiling face and witty sense of humour.

“I’m not much different than most Canadians,” said Mercer. “I think there are a lot of different charities I support, like most Canadians, but Spread the Net is one I’m most proactive about.”

A native of St. John’s, Nfld. Mercer started out in theatre and comedy shows. He was on and helped create This Hour Has 22 Minutes, a spoof current events show on CBC. He later created his own comedy show, The Rick Mercer Report, which has been on the air for 11 years.

Mercer visited the Woodroffe campus on March 24 due to Algonquin raising the most money for Spread the Net. This is the second year in a row that the college has collected more money than the other participating post-secondary schools in Canada.

In total, Algonquin raised $10,000 out of the $170,000 raised by Canadian schools to buy anti-malaria bed nets for people in Africa. Mercer pointed out that the college’s grand total raised over the years is $50,000, thus sparking a thunderous applause from the student body.

Mercer holds the student challenge every year, prompting students from elementary schools, to colleges and universities to hold fundraisers and raise money for those less fortunate overseas.

He travelled to Africa years ago with Belinda Stronach, a former Conservative Member of Parliament, who was acquainted with Jeffrey Sachs, an American economist, who was doing work in Africa. Mercer and Stronach went to observe Sachs’ doings and followed him around from location to location.

“We went to a lot of places that had a lot of troubles,” says Mercer. “Sometimes they seem incredibly overwhelming. What we did witness was the difference between communities with access to bed nets and communities that didn’t have access to bed nets.”

Mercer said they would go to one community and it would be totally devastated. Children would be absent because they were deceased, which destroys the spirit of the community. People were not well, there was no food growing and there was no school.

“Then you would go 500 miles down the road and you go to another community where there were children playing and there was a school, and there was corn growing, and there was an economy.”

Sachs explained that the big difference was the access to bed nets.

That trip inspired Mercer and he co-founded Spread the Net with Stronach in 2007.

“We were faced with not an insurmountable problem, but a problem that we realized a lot of Canadians could get involved in - providing a solution. Luckily we come from a country where most people can wrap their heads around 10 bucks to save a life.”

The Spread the Net rally was held in the Student Commons. Mercer continued his tradition of making a rock video for his show’s season finale, where students from the three winning schools dance and sing along to the song he has chosen. The video appears as a montage of scenes from each school.

This year’s song was Kids Wanna Rock by Bryan Adams.

“Algonquin was a big part of that last year because you guys can rock like nobody else, as it turns out,” Mercer told the audience. “When the music starts I want all of you to go completely mad. Arms in the air and go completely bonkers.”

The crowd of students and faculty cut loose. People were up on chairs dancing or banging thunder sticks together while belting out the chorus of the song. Bed nets were thrown out into to the mob and people draped them over their heads. Five students were chosen to go up on stage and play the air guitar while their peers cheered and fist-pumped.

For an hour the Commons building was filled with screaming, singing, and Mercer calling out instructions on what to shout at his cameras. He asked the crowd to shout, “Spread the Net”, “Algonquin Spread the Net”, and “Kids Wanna Rock”.

Asked about how he feels about coming back to Algonquin, Mercer said that the college seems like a really fun place to attend and has a great sense of community spirit.

“There is no school in the country with more spirit than Algonquin College,” Mercer told the audience. “You’re number one!”

Monday’s rally will appear on The Rick Mercer Report on April 1 at 8 p.m.

Written for The Algonquin Times, April 3, 2014, Elizabeth Mabie

Spreading the Word over Ottawa's airwaves

ELIZABETH MABIE

Ever since CHRI first aired in March of 1997, members of the team have come and gone, but one man has stayed and helped the station evolve into what it is today.

Brock Tozer is Family Radio CHRI 99.1 FM’s music director, program director, and morning announcer. A quiet and focused man, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, he appears deep in thought as he considers his answers. When he speaks, his voice is calm and confident. When refers to someone or something that he loves, his eyes light up and his smile widens.

Tozer is 37-years-old and has been working for CHRI for 16 years, performing various jobs for the station and balancing family life at the same time. An expert in contemporary Christian music, he has put his talents and knowledge to good use choosing songs for the people of Ottawa, Pembroke, and Cornwall to listen to while driving, working, or relaxing at home.

Tozer chooses all the music played on CHRI because that is part of his job as music director. After he finishes his show around mid-morning, he sits down and listens to the new albums or the latest hits by Christian artists. He then decides which songs will be played on the station. If he listens to an entire album, that is a good sign because many of the songs on that album will likely make it on to his song list. He also spends much of his time answering emails from listeners or setting up interviews with authors for his show. The day may also consist of a few meetings with the other members of the station.

“In middle school I was enamoured by sports announcing, but it was in high school that I realized that I wanted to be a music announcer.”

Tozer grew up in Miramichi, N.B., where his father was a pastor. When he expressed what he wanted to do to his father, he was introduced to the station manager of CFAN (now an FM country station called The River), an AM radio station in Miramichi. Tozer was offered a job at the station doing evenings, overnights, and weekend work. He worked for CFAN through to the end of high school and through the summer until he left for college in Woodstock, N.B. For two years, he studied radio and broadcasting at the Woodstock branch of the New Brunswick Community College.

After graduation, Tozer went back and worked for CFAN for a brief time. What he mainly did was summer event work, where he would attend local outdoor events and report from the scene doing live on location cut-ins.

Tozer’s ambition was to work for a Christian radio station because he grew up listening to contemporary Christian music. Canada did not have any Christian radio stations at this time because Christian music was not openly accepted until 1996, when the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) began to allow Christian radio stations to start up, and therefore CHRI was born.

Tozer did not know about this at the time and was making plans to find work at a Christian radio station in the United States or become a radio missionary overseas. One day, while talking with a man who had come to his church for a speaking engagement, Tozer was told about a Christian radio station that had been given permission to operate in Ottawa. “It sounded exactly like what I wanted,” says Tozer. He sent them his resume and called them about a job. Next thing he knew, he was on a train heading to Ottawa for his job interview.

“I never ended up going back home,” says Tozer, “I had a one-way ticket, but everything was so busy that I ended up staying. My parents were sending me what I needed from back home.”

Tozer began working for CHRI at the age of 21. He began by doing a few radio shows in the afternoons and evenings and hosting rock concerts and events. His shows were mostly centered on Christian rock music, the most well known being, The Rock Block with Brock. “I was thought of as the young guy at CHRI, who played the “heavy” stuff at night and I cut my teeth on Christian rock growing up, so this was totally fine by me.”

Currently, Tozer hosts The Morning Express, a weekday radio show that begins at 7 am and goes until 10 am. His show focuses on what CHRI is all about, faith and family. Every Wednesday, Tozer interviews a non-fiction author in a segment called The Wednesday Bookmark. An avid reader, this is one of his favourite segments because he gets the opportunity to talk with people rich with knowledge and their own views. “It also gives me a good ‘excuse’ to continue reading,” says Tozer, “and I have learned a ton from all this reading over the years. Many of the changes that I have gone through, even on a very personal level, have been as a direct result of all the reading I’ve done and continue to do.”

Tozer does not see himself as a celebrity or icon in Ottawa’s Christian community, but mentions that there are people who do treat him that way occasionally. For years, Tozer has been making appearances at concerts and events, going out on stage to talk and throw a few t-shirts to the crowd of fans. “I felt like a bonafide rock star at these events, because teenagers would freak out every time I walked on to the stage!” Despite the obvious admiration of many, he remains a very down-to-earth man.

In earlier years, he would host youth group tours at the station and allow them to watch him do his evening show. “I even remember one girl who had [unbeknownst to me] made an entire binder, dedicated just to me,” says Tozer, “She had taken dozens of pictures of me, from concerts all over etc., and I hadn't even been aware of it [until she showed me the binder!]. It felt pretty cool to know that she liked my show THIS much.”

Ottawa’s Christian community thinks highly of Tozer because he is a radio personality who has become well known from his years of service, but his family thinks otherwise. “To me he’s just Brock,” says wife, Alanna, “Everyone loves him though. People come up to us at concerts and talk to us like they have know him forever.” Sons, Colson, 11, and Zachary, 8, view their father as a small celebrity because their classmates recognize him from the radio.

With so many job opportunities out west, Tozer has considered a few times working for a radio station elsewhere. He has considered moving down east a better option at times to be closer to family and there are plenty of Christian radio stations and job openings in the Maritimes now, so he has come close to moving back to New Brunswick.

Christian radio stations have a certain target audience far different than mainstream radio. Praise and worship music “feed” the listeners of this station, but this genre is not for everyone. A lack of ratings or customers could result in job cuts, but CHRI’s team is small so, everyone’s role is essential. “The station has had its fair share of challenges in the early years, so a lot of people left or were let go,” says Tozer, “I’m honestly not sure how I survived!”

Tozer’s expertise with music and radio technology, as well as his dedication and good leadership, make him a valuable team member. His colleagues love working with him because he does not micromanage and he is easy to get along with.

“He’s a great leader,” says Care Baldwin, promotions director and fellow announcer, “He doesn’t get in the way. He also won’t crush people right away if he doesn’t agree with them.”

“When the team took over seven years ago, the broadcasting software had to be replaced and Brock worked right through Christmas and New Years to teach himself how to install and use the new software just before the old one failed,” says Bill Stevens, general manager, “He basically kept the station on air. Since then, he has continued to improve it.”

One’s faith is an important factor working at CHRI because one cannot preach about something they do not believe. Tozer admits he wrestles with his faith, like most Christians do, but he never avoids the hard questions. “I engage in that mental struggle,” says Tozer, “I’m always open to changing my mind. CHRI is a practical station and that’s what I love about it.” There are many theories to Christianity, but all branches are motivated by similar values that cause Christians to work together and fight for similar causes. “I love that about Christianity,” says Tozer, “If someone cares about the big questions, then they are in my ‘in group.’”

It is obvious that Tozer has contributed immensely to the success of CHRI through his gift of leadership and his ability to reach out to others. “Brock is just someone who knows everything about the industry,” says Ashley Elliott, promotions director and announcer, “I’m where I am because Brock took a risk.” He inspires his team to be the best they can be and touches the community with his insightfulness.

“My goal is just to do a good job at what I do. I’m trying to be proficient and always getting better.”

Written December 2013, Elizabeth Mabie

In pursuit of glory

ELIZABETH MABIE

The Common’s theatre was alive with the sounds of rap, traditional black gospel, and inspiring Christian messages on the evening of September 20.

This was the second year One Desire-Glory Pursuit was held and presented by the youth of the Church of Pentecost. People of all ages and from different backgrounds came out for a night of music, dancing, worship, and reflection.

Rappers, DJs, gospel groups, an interpretive dance team, and speakers came from all over North America to Algonquin’s stage to reach out to the audience through their performances and help lead them towards a wholesome Christian life and pursue Jesus.

The goal of One Desire was for everyone to come together as ‘one’ in pursuit of ‘The One’. The event focused on Psalm 63:1-5 from the Bible, which can be summarized into saying that the attendees were being encouraged to search for God because He is true satisfaction and will never abandon anyone.

Performers included rappers from the upcoming Follow Tour featuring DJ Lagit happening throughout the northern United States this winter, the Free to Worship interpretive dance group, gospel singers and bands from Pentecostal and Apostolic churches, and the Tyndale Hip Hop Movement from Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto.

Tyndale Hip Hop Movement consists of five members, Joshua Houeto, Axel Kazadi, Raymond To, Tania Doyley, and their DJ, Leighton Watson. All of them are students at Tyndale and hold a hip-hop club teaching their fellow students the basics of rap.

Their performance included their original song, Verses for the King, as well as a cover of the song Oceans by famous Australian worship band, Hillsong United.

Tyndale Hip Hop Movement gets their inspiration from Christian rapper, Lecrae, whose recent album release, Anomaly, has reached top spot on various North American music charts.

“This guy is out there,” said Houeto. “He’s not just rapping, he’s changing our culture, he’s talking to these people who are in the wardens and mentoring them one-on-one.”

Through their music the Tyndale Hip Hop Movement hopes to make a positive impact in the world by affecting the culture and successfully communicating the Gospel to all who listen to them. They are seeking a transformation in people’s hearts that will lead them to God.

“Just engaging with the crowd,” said Kazadi when asked what his favourite thing about performing is. “Also, sharing stuff that connects with the crowd on a deeper level, that when they hear it they’re like, ‘Aw man!’ and they’re experiencing what you just said.”

Before the show started, a fellowship and devotion session was held for the performers. They were asked to think about why they are performers and whom they are doing this for.

“Saying, ‘I’m doing this for God’, is the generic answer,” said master of ceremonies and discussion leader, Kwame.

The performers were encouraged to reach out and communicate to the audience the message backing up the event; God is our desire and we must pursue and glorify Him.

Written for The Algonquin Times, October 9, 2014, Elizabeth Mabie

Graphic design students go environmentally friendly

ELIZABETH MABIE

Second year graphic design students were challenged by their professors to redesign and build packaging for products that use little material and are environmentally friendly.

Designing is an ever-changing industry and that is exactly what Algonquin’s graphic design program is training and preparing its students for.

The environmental factor was used for the first time this year. This was added because of the program changing and adapting to what the industry wants and needs.

Pushing their creative limits, the students worked for weeks on this time-consuming project.

They had to literally think outside the box.

“I was blown away by the ideas that poured out of my colleagues,” said graphic design student, Benjamin Comeau. “When looking at the work we did, I often found myself thinking, ‘That company should totally use this new design; it’s just better.’”

There were three product lines the students could choose from to redesign: small electronics, dry goods, or children’s toys. They had to be creative, innovative, and keep the environmentally-friendly aspect in mind throughout the process.

Some of what the students came up with was to decrease the package size or to use biodegradable materials. Some students even came up with the idea of using material that had seeds in its makeup.

The idea is to plant the material when the user is finished with it and it will grow into a plant.

“Every one of these packages, from an environmental standpoint, has been improved substantially,” said part-time professor, Angie Fahlman. “It was just fantastic.”

Creating a package has been part of the graphic design curriculum because it is important for designers to create their own templates in case they have to with their future jobs.

“Art designers, we usually do have a little bit of control because of what we can bring to the table in regards to a mock-up,” said Fahlman. “We have better chances that our clients might jump on board if we sell it.”

Designers inadvertently have some manipulation tools at their hands just from a design standpoint. The graphic design program wants to make sure that the students utilize them as they go out the workplace to try to make it a better world.

Many of the projects were multifunctional and had different design components to them that made them more than just a plain package.

For example, Comeau’s final product was a reusable LEGO package made of different sections and components that were stuck together with Velcro. Each compartment can store and sort the LEGO pieces after the original toy has been built.

He also added a hook so the package can be stored easily by hanging it.

“In my group, I felt it was universal,” said Comeau. “Every single one of us went a little beyond the project guidelines and we made our package fun or interactive or something really cool about the product that brings it another level that the producers of that products don’t have right now.”

Written for The Algonquin Times, December 4, 2014, Elizabeth Mabie

Life doesn't get any sweeter

ELIZABETH MABIE

An Ottawa woman has mixed two fields of study together to create a successful business baking and decorating cakes for every occasion.

Catherine Beddall is a graduate of Algonquin’s graphic design program and baking and pastry arts program. For 13 years, she was a graphic designer and started making cakes in her spare time for friends and family.

“It grew sort of into a part-time business,” said Beddall. “That was about eight or nine years ago.”

When she had her first daughter she made her birthday cake. After that some people started asking for cakes and Beddall thought she could work at her graphic design job and do this part-time.

“I was doing that for a couple of years and then I had my second baby and things just got a little bit too much, so I stopped making cakes for a while.”

Realizing she wasn’t happy with her job and missed making cakes, Beddall quit and decided to go back to school. She received her diploma in baking and pastry arts in the spring of 2013.

“All my decorating skills are self-taught,” said Beddall. “I went to Algonquin to get a certification in baking incase I wanted to work at a bakery eventually.”

Beddall is now a part-time professor at the college, teaching in the part-time patissier program. She also works at a bakery in Little Italy and runs her own business, Catherine’s Cakery, full-time from home.

Although she loves her business, running it and making customers happy is no cakewalk. The job is stressful and time intensive, especially when it comes to brides and their wedding cakes. Beddall has had to pull all-nighters to ensure the job is done on time and make sure her clients are satisfied with her service.

She has support from her family who offer to help her out. Her husband makes deliveries when she is pressed for time and her two young daughters enjoy being in the kitchen with her, but all the work on the cakes is hers.

Beddall’s graphic design skills contribute to her creations. She also takes inspiration from fashion and design when creating wedding cakes. Works of art, nature, food, and fabrics also inspire her.

“I would say that it’s my biggest contributing factor to what I feel like is my success in this field,” said Beddall. “You really need to, as well as baking and having manual skills, have to have a sense of design, colour, and composition. It’s really, really helped me in that regard.”

Beddall is hoping to expand her business in the future and move to a commercial space for more room to work.

“What I really want to do is teach,” said Beddall. “I love teaching at Algonquin. That’s been great, but I’d love to branch out and do some courses of my own. There are a couple areas of cake decorating that I would really love to teach. Another thing I want to do is teach kids. I think that would be fun.”

“That’s my focus; to get experience at the bakery I’m working at and eventually make it all Catherine’s Cakery and branch out from that.”

Written for The Algonquin Times, April 3, 2014, Elizabeth Mabie

Bringing hope to ASD patients

ELIZABETH MABIE

Taking care of a child with autism spectrum disorder can be expensive because of the need for therapists, but not everyone can afford such a luxury.

This is where ASPEN Inc. offers their services.

Autism Service Provider for Education and kNowledge (ASPEN) was founded in 2013 by Kerrie Kirkwood, a Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst (BCABA). She acts as a behavioural consult, which means she supervises programs for children with autism.

“I’ve been working with kids with autism for the last 14 years,” said Kirkwood. “It’s something that I am passionate about and I wanted to use my education to help families and my experience with it.”

Kirkwood is a graduate from the University of Ottawa with a B.A. in linguistics and psychology. She has also received certification from Algonquin College by taking its Autism and Behavioural Science program and required graduate certification in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Pennsylvania State University.

“I contract therapists,” says Kirkwood. “I’ll help families find therapists and then I’ll pay them as subcontractors.”

ASPEN’s services provide affordable, high-quality therapy services for autistic people ranging from children to young adults. Currently, they have 20 clients.

ASPEN’s services cost $35 per hour. That is the charge for the therapy services, so both Kirkwood and the therapist’s rate. Some families only approach Kirkwood for consultation services, which cost $60. She only does in-home services, which is why Kirkwood can offer a lower rate; so it is cost efficient.

“It’s a service that is needed because the kids on the spectrum learn differently and often come with behavioural problems and communication problems,” said Kirkwood. “It is a lot of stress on the family, but I am able to come up with programs and strategies for the families and help them help their child.”

Kirkwood says ASPEN’s goal is to work themselves out of a job. Their aim is to guide the children to a certain point where they can start learning in an environment with other kids and be able to interact with them.

“That is a benefit to families and alleviates stress,” said Kirkwood. “It also alleviates stress in schools.”

In the fall of 2013, Kirkwood and local youth pastor, Jeremy Sauvé, collaborated and started a group that meet on a regular basis at Sauvé’s church, St. Paul’s Presbyterian. The youth group already met on Friday nights, but some of Kirkwood’s clients began attending the gatherings. This gathering was called Youth Action Social Group, but was eventually changed to Koinonia, which is a Greek word meaning ‘community’ or ‘partnership’.

The youth and volunteers befriended the autistic teens and continue to learn about accepting differences in other people. Koinonia gives the kids with autism a chance to practice communication and relationship building, as well as mingle amongst people their own age and have fun with them.

Kirkwood oversees Koinonia to make sure the evenings run smoothly and assists if there are problems with any of the kids. Sauvé, a trained chef, plans and cooks a healthy meal for everyone to enjoy.

“Partnering with Kerrie for Koinonia has been a tremendous experience,” said Sauvé. “The way she interacts with clients, our own youth and other leaders creates the type of atmosphere that we seek to create at Koinonia, loving and welcoming”

Kirkwood has plans for ASPEN in the future, especially wanting to expand on her plans with Koinonia. She wants to plan more social groups for autistic kids to help them grow and experience things outside their routines.

“It’s a pretty rewarding job,” said Kirkwood. “It’s something I’m passionate about. I’m lucky to have something that I really love as a career.”

Written for Glue Magazine, January 2015, Elizabeth Mabie

Bare it all

ELIZABETH MABIE

What could be more thrilling than leaving all the comforts of civilization behind and striving to survive in a remote location along with a stranger of the opposite sex? Doing all of that, but naked!

“Naked and Afraid” returns Sunday, April 19 on Discovery, for its fourth season and will feature new contestants, new locations, and plenty of new awkward experiences as duo battle the elements together in their birthday suits.

The premiere episode will begin deep in the Everglades in Florida. A clip from the episode was released focusing on the female contestant, Amber, who is shown having difficulties with mosquitos. Cameras pan all over her body, which is covered head-to-toe in swollen bite marks. To protect her more sensitive bits, Amber put together a makeshift grass skirt and top, but says that no matter what, the mosquitos won’t leave her alone.

Like past seasons, the rules remain the same: participants can bring one personal item with them, but that’s it. For 21 days they will have to find their own food, water, shelter, and, if they so desire, can make their own clothes using whatever materials they can find lying around. What is the prize for making it to the end of the 21 days? Pride and accomplishment.

It seems silly at first that people would actually be willing to compete on a show where they do not win a material prize, but living through 21 days in the wilderness is deserving of bragging rights and even could raise self-esteem. It’s an eye-opening experience as competitors test their skills and strengthen their ability to work with others, and they’re given the chance to develop skills they might never have thought they possessed.

Also featured this season will be the challengers chosen by the fans. Back in the fall, Discovery launched a contest named “#ShowUsWhatYouGot” where hopeful participants sent in videos to network execs explaining why they should be on “Naked and Afraid.” Fans got to vote via social media for those they wanted to see participate and the results will be revealed in a special episode later this season.

Catch the hair-raising new season of “Naked and Afraid” premiering Sunday, April 19 on Discovery.

Written for TV Media Inc., April 2015, Elizabeth Mabie

Barks bite back

ELIZABETH MABIE

Barks bite back: There's an old saying that goes "You're barking mad!" For the Barks family of northern Saskatchewan, however, this is the furthest thing from the truth. Watch as this family braves one of the harshest climates in the world when "Sons of Winter" premieres Tuesday, April 28, on Discovery.

The Barks choose to live like the settlers who arrived in North America hundreds of years ago. They are people who have rejected modern lifestyle and survive based on their natural instincts. Family patriarch Randy and his wife Tara have raised their three sons in this way and are now sending the two oldest, 20-year-old Dale and 19-year-old Shane, out on a rite of passage. While the two oldest boys are out fighting for their lives, 15-year-old Kole will remain at home with his parents, becoming more responsible in the daily routine of the Barks' camp.

The two eldest boys will spend 90 days together hundreds of miles away "roughing it" in the infamous frigid Canadian winter. This journey will test them on the skills their parents have taught them since a young age -- building shelter, finding food and, most importantly, staying alive. Dale's and Shane's transition into men does not solely rely on survival skills alone. Making decisions and fighting inner and outer battles must happen as well. One cannot grow without battling inner demons or sibling rivalry, and since both boys are strong willed and are confident in their abilities, they will likely butt heads.

Follow the journey of two brothers as they venture off into the wilderness in the new survival series "Sons of Winter," premiering Tuesday, April 28, on Discovery.

Wife, mother, medium: Feel that chill? That would be the spirits telling you that you're in for a new episode of "Long Island Medium" when it airs Sunday, April 26, on TLC. Don't miss all the heartwarming personal stories and exciting events happening in the life of Long Island's most famous psychic, Theresa Caputo.

Caputo may have a big personality and an even bigger sense of fashion, but her ability to communicate with the dead is what truly makes her special. Over the course of the seven "Long Island Medium" seasons, she's used what she calls her gift to help countless people struggling with the loss of loved ones.

Something that is easily forgotten about her, though, is that she's still a regular person. She's a mother and a wife, and the show never fails to incorporate that into each episode, letting viewers see a more personal side of being a medium. So far in season 7, we've seen Caputo and her husband, Larry, celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, eating at the restaurant where they had their first date more than 30 years before and going roller-skating, but as is the nature of her gift, she gets drawn to a nagging spirit looking to pass on a message to the living.

Many people may say what Caputo does is crazy, and it is truly unbelievable -- something she doesn't deny.

"I was in therapy for years," she told "People" magazine in 2012. "I call myself crazy! I'm a crazy blond lady that speaks to dead people. It is crazy what I do! But it's an amazing crazy."

Look forward to more supernatural craziness in Theresa Caputo's life in a new episode of "Long Island Medium," airing Sunday, April 26, on TLC.

King of the kitties: Thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians worshipped cats. To this day, humans continue to show love for the elegant creatures. Of course, with modern customs and technologies, we are taking it steps further and showing our devotion to these furry felines with a special competition. Tune in as the next celebrity cat is crowned in "America's Next Cat Star," airing Saturday, May 2, on Animal Planet.

For months, Animal Planet has been accepting entries from proud kitty parents across America who think their pet could be the next big Internet sensation. The list of contenders has now been narrowed to five hopefuls.

Who are the cats battling it out to become the next feline celebrity? Albert Baby Cat dresses up in a variety of costumes; Brimley acts like a dog and looks like Santa Claus in cat form, with a jolly smile and fluffy white face; Der can stick out his tongue; Sauerkraut has the potential to become the next Grumpy Cat; and Sunglass Cat (also known as Bagel) rocks sunglasses far better than any human A-lister.

Fans also have the chance to participate in "America's Next Cat Star" because, like in most talent search TV series, the audience is given the opportunity to vote online for their favorite contestant leading up to the big special. Viewers are also in for a treat as a special guest is stopping by for the event. Internet kitty icon and official Animal Planet spokescat Lil BUB will be on hand to help crown the newest feline sensation.

Find out which furry friend is named "America's Next Cat Star" when the special airs Saturday, May 2, on Animal Planet.

Written for TV Media Inc. April 2015, Elizabeth Mabie

Can we dance?

ELIZABETH MABIE

Can we dance?: For some people, dancing is fun. Not everyone can break away from their preferred style, but for the more adventurous, there is a TV competition in which they can show off their moves and take it a box step further, challenging themselves to learn a new dance style each week. Get ready to pop and lock, do-si-do and moonwalk along with America’s own who dream of dance fame in the hit competition series “So You Think You Can Dance,” when season 12 waltzes into prime time Monday, June 1, on Fox.

There are multiple televised dance competitions, but “So You Think You Can Dance” is arguably the most well known. This “American Idol” formatted series has won 13 Emmys in such categories as Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Lighting Design, to name a few.

Speaking of “American Idol,” a familiar face from that franchise will be joining the judges panel this season. Singer, dancer and choreographer Paula Abdul is taking up the title of judge

once more after the departure of Mary Murphy, who judged alongside executive producer Nigel Lythgoe for four seasons. Also judging this season will be R&B artist Jason Derulo, who has won three Teen Choice Awards and two BMI Pop Music Awards.

“With a new and exciting format comes a new and exciting panel of judges,” Lythgoe told Fox. “I’m delighted Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo will be joining me at the judges table this season on ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ Paula is an incredible artist and she brings the perfect combination of expertise and heart to the panel. Jason’s insight, humor and creativity will add a new perspective to the panel that we haven’t had before.”

What’s this about a new format? Apparently, season 12 will be adding a new feature: stage dancers vs. street dancers. Little information has been released on what this component is about, but viewers are surely in for some more fun and creative routines. Check out the season 12 premiere of “So You Think You Can Dance” airing Monday, June 1, on Fox.

Brother battle: Ah, sibling rivalry. It’s a tale as old as time. As someone with a sibling, I know how fierce the drive is to outdo them in almost everything. Jonathan and Drew Scott surely know this feeling since they have a whole show based upon their competitiveness.

The “Property Brothers” are back in their spinoff reality series in which they go head to head to determine who can better mentor a group of home improvement experts. Catch the season 3 premiere of “Brother vs. Brother” Wednesday, June 3, on HGTV.

Jonathan is a licensed contractor and Drew is a real estate agent. They work in opposite ends of the industry, each with their own skills and knowledge. This factor is what differs in their

mentoring abilities, as one knows about building houses while the other is experienced in selling them. Well, they have chosen their teams of contractors, realtors and designers, and now they must prepare for different home improvement challenges.

The team with the last man standing wins $50,000, and the winning brother gets the ultimate bragging rights. Check out the third season of this competition series and see which “Property Brother” gets to hold victory over his twin when “Brother vs. Brother” airs Wednesday, June 3, on HGTV.

Return of the shunned: America’s favorite ex-Amish are back for a second season of drama, hurdles and wavering feelings as they take a look at their current and previous lives and consider returning to their roots in the Amish community. “Return to Amish” airs Sunday, May 31, on TLC.

The cast of the hit reality series “Breaking Amish” are back in this spinoff series in which they are seriously thinking of going back to their previous, simpler lives. The first season of “Return to Amish” featured cast member Sabrina High giving birth to her daughter. Since the birth, High has not been recovering well from the complications and is rumored to not be

returning. Kate Stoltz, Jeremiah Raber, Abe Schmucker and his wife Rebecca, as well as Abe’s recently shunned parents, Chester and Mary, are back to share their stories, though.

A sneak peek at the upcoming season revealed a lot about Mary, who seems to have a lot of chaos in her life. Her other daughter-in-law, Chapel, is causing her grief, her son Andrew

is once again behind bars and the bed and breakfast she is trying to start up has been attacked by vandals. That’s not all, though. Mary is seen falling, clutching her chest in agony and is later shown being taken away in an ambulance.

Get caught up in the lives of these struggling Amish as they try to make ends meet and find happiness amongst their group of family and friends. Season 2 of “Return to Amish” airs

Sunday, May 31, on TLC.

Written for TV Media Inc. May 2015, Elizabeth Mabie

Love and loss

ELIZABETH MABIE

Love and loss: Wedding season is here, which means more shows dedicated to the happiest day in a person’s life. Not every wedding show has to be about finding the perfect dress

or criticizing every detail, though. Be a witness as couples take up the challenge to get in shape before their big day when “Extreme Weight Loss: Love Can’t Weight” premieres Tuesday, June 23, on ABC.

Power couple Chris and Heidi Powell are at it again, transforming the lives and bodies of those who feel they need to shed a few pounds. In this special companion edition of “Extreme Weight Loss,” the married trainers are helping overweight, soon-to-be-married couples get in shape for their wedding day and surprise each other when the time comes for them to gaze at each other from opposite ends of the aisle.

The Powells have put together a dream team of experts to help make the big day healthy and magical. Chris will look after transforming the groom and Heidi will look after the bride. Joining them in the preparations will be WEtv show host and celebrity wedding planner David Tutera (“David Tutera’s CELEBrations”), who will guide the couple in decision-making and take care of the details. Food Network personality and owner of Charm City Cakes Duff Goldman (“Ace of Cakes”) will create the wedding cake. Lastly, Rocco DiSpirito, who is already a member of the “Extreme Weight Loss” team, will act as food coach and caterer.

The challenge takes place over the course of six months leading up to the day of the wedding. The couple spends the first three months training together, but at the halfway mark, they say their goodbyes until the big day and continue training alone. The point of this is so they can shock each other with their transformations and see how much the other has progressed without them.

Watch as couples shed pounds and boost their confidence before the happiest day of their lives in “Extreme Weight Loss: Love Can’t Weight” air-ing Tuesday, June 23, on ABC.

Come at me, big bro!: It isn’t sweet like 16 or a significant milestone like 21 or 50, but turning 17 is still a cause for celebration. Be prepared for another season of plotting and showmances when season 17 of “Big Brother” kicks off with a special two-night premiere Wednesday and Thursday, June 24 and 25, on CBS.

Although the new cast has yet to be revealed, the casting director for the show, Robyn Kass, tweeted to her followers on Twitter a tidbit of information that made some people happy andothers disappointed. “All the #BB17 semi finalists have been con-tacted. Thanks again for an amazing turnout. #BBfansrule” she posted in late May. Some responses to the tweet communicated excitement for the upcoming season, while others posted, crestfallen, that they had not been contacted. There were even comments asking if this season would be an All-Star season, but going by the fact that they were holding tryouts, the best bet is that there will be all new competitors par-ticipating this time around.

Longtime host Julie Chen also took to Twitter a month before the season premiere, tweeting a photo of herself with the words “ONE MONTH” in a frame and captioned it: “#BB17... you

ready?” Chen has held the title of host for the American version of the show since the beginning, when it premiered in 2000.

At the end of season 16, Chen told “Entertainment Weekly” that fans should not be expecting an All-Stars edition any time soon. “Look, we love the Will Kirbys, the Mike Boogies and the Janelles, and they will always have a special spot in our hearts,” said Chen. “And maybe they’ll make an appearance in some sort of stunt, but I think the beauty of this game is showing true fans who have never played it, who have played it just from their armchair at home, have a stab at it and realize, ‘Wow, I had no idea what I was in for.’ You keep the game

more pure that way.”

Don’t miss out on the two-night season premiere of “Big Brother” airing Wednesday and Thursday, June 24 and 25, on CBS.

Robot battle royale: Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! A blast from the past is rolling back onto TV screen after a 13-year hiatus. Brush off the rust because “BattleBots” returns for six new

episodes starting Sunday, June 21, on ABC.

Originally appearing on Comedy Central and lasting five seasons, “BattleBots” is a competition series that sees people design robotic fighting machines and then pit them against other competitors in a single-elimination type of tournament to see who has created the most durable and destructive robot.

In the original show, the competitions were divided into four weight classes for competitions lightweight, middleweight, heavyweight and superheavyweight — to keep bigger and stron- ger robots from unfairly overpowering others. In this reboot, however, the weight classes were nixed. Robots of all shapes and sizes with some of the most state-of-the-art technology will duke it out for some very tempting cash prizes.

It’s time to gear up and get ready for the robot smackdown we’ve been waiting 13 years for. The first of six episodes of the reimagined “BattleBots” airs Sunday, June 21, on ABC.

Written for TV Media Inc. June 2015, Elizabeth Mabie.

Gaming with the stars

ELIZABETH MABIE

Gaming with the stars: Have you ever wanted to do something fun with a group of celebrities? Sadly, that chance doesn’t come too often to ordinary folks, but NBC is giving some lucky people the chance to play a bunch of offbeat games with some famous folks — and even getting a little cash out of it, too. Get ready for the third season of hilarious games and new players when “Hollywood Game Night” returns Tuesday, July 7, on NBC.

Contestants get to live the dream, playing fun games in a casual atmosphere with some big names from the television and film industries, and this season is no different. Joining in on the fun for season 3 are some new stars — Joe Jonas (“Camp Rock,” 2008), Ming-Na Wen (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”) and Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”) to name a few — as well

as some veteran gamers who are returning to help contestants win up to $25,000, such as Yvette Nicole Brown (“Community”) and Zachary Levi (“Tangled,” 2010).

Actress and comedian Jane Lynch will be taking up hosting duties once more, adding to the playful feeling of the show. She has won an Emmy for her role hosting the competition series and is best known for her role in “Glee” as Sue Sylvester, the intimidating cheerleading coach at William McKinley High School.

The premise for “Hollywood Game Night” seems simple enough, and as Lynch told “The Huffington Post” before the series premiere in 2013, it really was. Series creator Sean Hayes

would host wild game nights at his home, she said, and thus got the idea to turn this into a TV show.

“Before I knew it, I was hosting it, and we rented this mansion that is, ostensibly, mine, and we put couches in there and we got everybody tanked up on booze and played these games,” Lynch said.

Bring your game face on Tuesday nights for the third season of “Hollywood Game Night” premiering Tuesday, July 7, on NBC.

Fool me once: It looked like that was the end of the line for the immensely popular magic competition series “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” when it was canceled after only one sea-son by its original British network, ITV, in 2012. CW, however, worked a bit of magic and — Abracadabra! — aired the ITV-produced season 1 episodes last summer, garnering positive reviews and solid ratings. This sparked some-thing that is not an illusion: “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” has been revived for a second season, premiering Monday, July 6, on CW.

The series follows American illusionists Penn Jillette and Teller, who form the duo known as Penn & Teller. Their comedic magic shows are known all over the world, and they’ve been

performing together since the ‘70s. In “Fool Us,” they sit down as judges, daring up-and-coming magicians to come to them and, as the title states, fool them. Being in the business for

decades means they know nearly every trick in the book, so tricking them is not an easy task.

There’s good incentive for the aspiring magicians to succeed in fooling the pair, too. Those who succeed in pulling the wool over Penn & Teller’s — and the live studio audience’s — eyes win the opportunity to perform alongside the illustrious illusionists in Las Vegas at their celebrated Rio Hotel & Casino show.

Now you see this, and soon you shall see more! Season 2 of “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” has escaped from its restraints and premieres Monday, July 6, on CW.

Spinning in style: Exercise fads. There are always new ones popping up. P90X, Zumba and pole fitness have become popular methods for getting in shape, but some things never lose their attractiveness. Stationary biking, or spinning as it is now commonly referred to, is again taking the world by storm. It has become a competitive, effective way to get in shape

and E! is taking you behind-the-scenes to a premier fitness studio called Cycle House in the new reality series “Hollywood Cycle,” premier-ing Tuesday, July 7.

Welcome to Cycle House in West Hollywood. Here, L.A.’s finest come to work out and are pushed to their limits by the studio’s instructors, encouraging the spinners to achieve their

fitness goals. “Hollywood Cycle” follows the instructors at Cycle House — chief riding officer and lead instructor Nichelle Hines, director of training Aaron Hines and apparel director Nick

Hounslow — giving viewers an intimate look at what competitive spinning really is like and the effects it has physically and emotionally on some of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities.

Viewers will get to also see three up-and-coming trainees — Shannon Decker, Sarafina Mundo and Chad Tepper — get into the zone as they work their way up to becoming full-fledged spin instructors. Not to be forgotten, Cycle House co-founders and co-owners Adam and Lara Gillman will also make appearances as they clash with their instructors over business and brand decisions.

The series premiere of “Hollywood Cycle” airs Tuesday, July 7, on E!.

Written for TV Media Inc. July 2015, Elizabeth Mabie.

Saving "face"

ELIZABETH MABIE

Saving “Face”: Do you enjoy sci-fi and fantasy? Don’t you find the creatures from those genres fascinating, especially when they appear in live-action movies and TV? Well, a lot of work goes into piecing together those monsters, aliens and Middle Earth races on actors’ faces.

In 2011, Syfy introduced a unique competition series showcasing talented makeup artists from across America and daring them to unleash their creativity in a series of elimination challenges. Now, four years and eight seasons later, more creations are popping up on screen as season 9 of “Face Off” premieres Tuesday, July 28, on Syfy.

Applying makeup can be fun, but the 16 professionals competing will be doing more than just putting on lipstick. These makeup artists are skilled in prosthetics, an area of makeup artistry that involves molding, sculpting and casting. It takes skill, patience and a creative mind to do this kind of work, and “Face Off” pushes the artists to use and perfect their skills to become more aware of what the industry has in store for them. The final masterpiece presented to judges must be clean, visually appealing and must go along with the theme.

Actress McKenzie Westmore (“Passions”) returns as host for season 9, and professional makeup artists Glenn Hetrick, Ve Neill and Neville Page are back to judge the artists on their creations. Mentoring the artists and allowing them to pick his brain is Michael Westmore, a member of the Westmore makeup dynasty, who has won nine Emmys and an Oscar for his

work.

Watch as 16 creative minds go face to face to design the wildest creatures they can imagine and strive to become the last makeup artist standing. Season 9 of “Face Off” premieres

Tuesday, July 28, on Syfy.

Divine intervention: Life is full of terrifying situations, some more fatal than others. In this time of alarm, some find comfort in turning towards a higher power for help. There have been stories of miracles occurring, such as people coming back from the dead and others pulling through life-threatening health scares or injuries. How did they survive? Well, their loved

ones believe it was the power of prayer.

This summer, a new series is telling the stories of people’s near-death experiences and how their loved ones refused to let their faith waver and begged for divine intervention. “Answered Prayers” premieres Sunday, July 26, on TLC.

This series may be more frightening than a horror movie, yet more heartbreaking than a tragic romance novel because these situations were real and those involved will be sharing

their take on what happened and how the victims pulled through in the end. There will be re-enactments, as well as footage from the actual scene to go along with the tearful interviews.

Hosting the series will be actress Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”), who also produces the six-episode series alongside her husband Mark Burnett. Previously, the couple produced the History miniseries “The Bible” and its highly anticipated sequel “A.D. The Bible Continues”.

Tune in to hear how a child survived being buried for nearly half a day and how a woman saved her family from a destructive tornado that ripped through her neighborhood because she heard the voice of God warning her. The first of six episodes of “Answered Prayers” airs Sunday, July 26, on TLC.

Written for TV Media Inc. July 2015, Elizabeth Mabie.

VIPs of the MVPs

ELIZABETH MABIE

VIPs of the MVPs: Sorry, ladies! They’re taken. To be more specific, the professional athletes of the world are snatched up quickly. They have their own personal cheerleaders rooting for them in every step of life and there for them when they need companionship. These women worked hard to become a part of their athlete’s life, but now that they are in it, they have to work even harder to be there for him and repre-sent him.

Seven women are stepping forward to share their experiences as WAGS — Wives And Girlfriends Of Sports Stars — in a brand-new reality series named after the acronym they are

defined by. The first of eight hour-long episodes of “WAGS” premieres Tuesday, Aug. 18, on E!.

No, the world of WAGS is definitely not all glitz and glam, and, like the real world, not everyone is buddy-buddy with each other. There is a hierarchy and there are rules to follow. Making one wrong move against the law of the WAGS can result in pariah status.

Here is how the hierarchy of WAGS works: wives are at the top, fiancées are on the second tier, and girlfriends are on the third tier. Obviously, wives reign over the others because

they achieved winning the ultimate prize — marriage. Yes, they have won the Stanley Cup, the Vince Lombardi Trophy of the WAGS competition and can boast their status and achievement of having a grasp on an athlete’s heart.

So, who are these bombshells who have managed to woo some of North America’s top athletes? The current reigning queens of the WAGS are football wives Sasha Gates and Autumn

Ajirotutu, who co-own a children’s clothing line together. Gates is married to San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, while Ajirotutu is married to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu.

In the fiancée category, we have Ashley North and Barbie Blank. North is engaged to Washington Redskins free safety Dashon Goldson. They have been engaged for over a year and have a three-year-old daughter, but Goldson is hesitating on picking a wedding date, much to North’s frustration. Blank is a former WWE Diva known as Kelly Kelly. She is engaged to former professional hockey player Sheldon Souray, who has played for teams such as the Anaheim Ducks and the Montréal Canadiens.

Lastly, we have the ladies representing the girlfriends. Nicole Williams is dating Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Larry English, and the couple has been together for four years. Williams is ready for that engagement ring and is striving to be at the top with the wives, whom she greatly respects. Then, there is Natalie Halcro and her cousin Olivia Pierson. Halcro is dating free agent NFLer Shaun Phillips, who has played for the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers. Pierson, on the other hand, is single but has dated many athletes and will only date athletes.

Catch this in-depth look into the posh lifestyles of this exclusive club of ladies when “WAGS” premieres Tuesday, Aug. 18, on E!.

It’s a not-so-small world after all: We live in a big, unpredictable world. Parents try their hardest to raise their children in the hopes of preparing them for what’s to come in life and give them the best wisdom they can offer from their own experiences. They have seen many things and lived through plenty of their own tri-als, which can prove helpful in fixing their chil-dren’s predicaments.

Meet the Hamills, a family of five. The parents, Dan and Michelle, have the same type of dwarfism, which they have also passed on to their six-year-old son, Jack, and twin three-year-old daughters, CeCe and Cate. Wanting their children to live a normal life and not have to feel ashamed of their condition, Dan and Michelle raise them as any other American family would: with pride. Season 2 of “Our Little Family” airs Tuesday, Aug. 18, on TLC.

TLC is rather famous for airing reality series following the busy and eventful lives of families and couples with different forms of dwarfism. At first glance, “Our Little Family” doesn’t seem much different than “Little People, Big World” or “The Little Couple,” but what some don’t see is that this more recent series is a blend of the veteran shows.

“Little People, Big World” features the Roloff family and reveals the struggles of raising children with and without dwarfism and what life is like on their cozy farm in Oregon.

“The Little Couple” puts the spotlight on Bill Klein and Jenn Arnold, a young couple who both have the same form of dwarfism. The first few seasons focus on their newlywed life and their fruitless efforts to conceive a baby. Eventually, they decide to adopt two children with dwarfism, William and Zoey.

Now, we have the Hamill family. All five family members have the same form of dwarfism, and Dan and Michelle know how hard it is living with dwarfism. The kids are all very young and they are blood-related to their parents. Their parents want to guide them in living life to the fullest and take them on adventures proving that they can do anything they set their mind to. Like the other TLC families with dwarfism, the Hamills want to spread the word about dwarfism and show viewers that they may be small in stature, but their hearts are big and bursting with pride.

Tune in when season 2 of “Our Little Family” premieres Tuesday, Aug. 18, on TLC.

Written for TV Media Inc. August 2015, Elizabeth Mabie.

America's ultimate 'Warrior'

ELIZABETH MABIE

Were you ever one of those kids who was enchanted by hooded figures in black leaping from rooftop to rooftop, wielding weapons and vanishing dramatically in an explosion of smoke? Plenty of children worldwide have shared this fantasy of one day becoming a ninja, although, for some, this dream has been carried into adulthood and the force is strong to release the inner ninja they have harbored since childhood.

Like a cherry blossom petal blowing in the breeze, Japan’s culture floated across the ocean and a spinoff of the popular game show “Sasuke” was born and renamed for the benefit of North American wannabe ninjas. A new episode of “American Ninja Warrior” airs Monday, Aug. 31, on NBC.

Already well into season 7, the show’s competitors have one ultimate goal in mind: become America’s top ninja! The city qualifying rounds were difficult and forced the competitors to push themselves to their limits in order to move on to the next stage. From there, they went on to city finals and now they face the true test. Mount Midoriyama, the final stage in Las Vegas, is not for the weak, and only those who have proved they are worthy are allowed to try to achieve what has yet to be achieved: conquer Midoriyama.

These warriors are amazing for what they are aiming to accomplish, but we cannot forget about the other group of amazing people that make “American Ninja Warrior” what it is. A competition is nothing without its hosts, who comment on the action, keeping viewers in the know about what’s happening and setting the show’s mood.

The individuals who have taken up hosting one of America’s most extreme competitions are comedian Matt Iseman, former football player and current sports analyst Akbar Gbajabiamila and sports reporter Kristine Leahy. Iseman has hosted the series since it premiered in 2010, Gbajabiamila since 2013’s season five, and Leahy is a newcomer this season acting as co-host.

Iseman didn’t always believe he was meant for the world of television or comedy. He started out as a physician, having earned his medical degree from Columbia University after getting his bachelor of science at Princeton. He loved performing standup comedy and decided to steer his career towards his passion instead. His first hosting gig was on the E! series “Scream Play,” and he has had guest roles in various shows, including “NCIS” and “Hot in Cleveland.”

In an interview with “Mass Appeal,” Iseman joked that he had been banned from doing the obstacle course after injuring himself on a previous attempt. Although he can no longer attempt to conquer the course, he admires the individuals he encounters on the show who have the guts to try. Even Gbajabiamila made it over the Warped Wall, and Iseman has all the respect for his co-host for it.

“What’s cool is the guy sitting next to me is six-foot-six, 260 pounds and he still has a six-pack. He is an athletic freak. He played in the NFL. When you look at a guy like him, you’re like, ‘I can’t relate to that. There’s no way I’m going to play in the NFL,’” said Iseman. “When you watch ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ you see people like Kacy Catanzaro, the girl who had the incredible performance last year, who’s five feet tall and 100 pounds. We have 52-year-old people out here, people who are accountants, people who are teachers — everyday people. I think it’s incredibly relatable to watch ordinary people do extraordinary things.”

Gbajabiamila played in the National Football League from 2003 to 2008 as a defensive end. He started out with the Oakland Raiders and eventually moved on to play with the San Diego Chargers, the Miami Dolphins, and then ended his career playing with the Raiders once more. Since then, he has moved on to work for the NFL Network as a sports analyst, which comes in handy when hosting an action-packed show with ninjas jumping all over the place. He is proud of his accomplishment of reaching the top of the dreaded Warped Wall, something few have managed to do.

“Go to Instagram if you don’t believe my words,” he said in the “Mass Appeal” interview about his amazing feat. “You have to use your imagination to figure out how I got to the top of the Warped Wall, but guess what? I did it!”

Leahy pursued a career in sports broadcasting and has a degree in journalism from Boston University with a background in radio and television sportscasting. She has worked for a few TV stations, broadcasting from the sidelines of various sporting events. She is a fresh face on “American Ninja Warrior,” but she is certainly in her element commenting on the action and interviewing the contestants.

If you want to watch the next aspiring hero try to conquer the world’s scariest obstacle course, tune in to a new episode of “American Ninja Warrior” airing Monday, Aug. 31, on NBC.

Written for TV Media Inc. August 2015, Elizabeth Mabie.

Femmes along the Thames

ELIZABETH MABIE

Femmes along the Thames: Royal hierarchy and noble ranks don’t matter much to us here in North America, but in Europe, specifically England, people are still very conscious of it. In America, there are business heirs and heiresses, but across the pond, they also have those and more. Members of royal or noble lineage still hold their titles and are highly regarded in society.

Think of the hit song “Royals” by New Zealand singer Lorde. Now, turn the lyrics into a reality series and set it in the class-conscious city of London, England, and you have the hit series that wowed North American viewers and let them take a peek into the lives of high-society women who are living the diamond-encrusted dream in the United Kingdom’s bustling capital. Time to put the kettle on and celebrate, because the season 2 premiere of “Ladies of London” airs Monday, Sept. 7, on Bravo.

In season 1, we were introduced to six wealthy women who are part of the exclusive society that is London’s high class. Juliet Angus, Annabelle Neilson, Marissa Hermer, Caroline Stanbury, Caprice Bourret and Noelle Reno stepped into the spotlight and shared their exciting lives with viewers.

This series bears a strong resemblance to the “Real Housewives” franchise, but it doesn’t only feature rich businesswomen. There are legit royals among this group of socialites and they’re not afraid to flaunt their wealth or titles. Season 2 welcomes two royals joining the cast to replace Bourret and Reno, who have both severed ties with the show. Bourret has her hands full raising her sons and running her lingerie business, while Reno is dealing with the recent death of her fiancé, Scot Young.

While both fashion icons and entrepreneurs will be missed, fans won’t be disappointed for long, as Julie Montagu, who previously appeared as a friend of the main ladies, has been upgraded to the main cast. Montagu’s proper title is Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, a title she married into. Originally from Illinois, she met her husband, Luke, through friends, and now the couple live together with their four kids.

Joining Montagu and the other ladies is fellow royal Caroline Fleming. Fleming is a Baroness from a prestigious Danish family and hosted two television shows in her native country: “The Baroness Moves In” and “Denmark’s Next Top Model.” She married into the Fleming banking dynasty and works as an entrepreneur and author.

Take a peek into the sparkling world of London’s elite by catching the season 2 premiere of “Ladies of London,” airing Monday, Sept. 7, on Bravo.

Return of the ‘Boss’: Waiting for cake to be served at any event can be excruciating. Waiting for a new season of “Cake Boss” to be announced holds a similar feeling, too. Well, fans can now have their “Cake Boss” and eat it too ... with their eyes. An all-new season is currently in the oven and nearly ready to watch. Season 7 of “Cake Boss” premieres Tuesday, Sept. 8, on TLC.

It has been too long since we last saw Buddy Valastro and his team at Carlo’s Bakery. With the finale of season 6 airing more than a year ago, the iconic Hoboken, New Jersey, bakery and the large, loving family that runs it are returning to TV screens with all-new cakes, clients and amusing antics. There will be heartwarming, tear-jerking moments, too, because this season will feature some surprising changes.

Carlo’s Bakery is getting a makeover this season, and viewers get to witness Valastro and his team — made up of family and employees he treats like family — ripping up the original bakery and discovering long-lost secrets hidden behind walls that stir up memories, both good and bad. A sneak peek of the upcoming season shows Buddy and his team rushing about because they have a few days before Carlo’s grand reopening and there is still plenty to do.

“At this point, me and my guys, we’re going to help do anything we can to make this process go faster,” Valastro says in the sneak preview. “It’s hard to go in there and break and rip it up. God knows it needs it, but there’s just something about that place that is nostalgic.”

The clip shows a message written in spray paint from Valastro’s uncle, Mario, wishing Valastro’s father and mother all the best with their marriage and success with the bakery. “Good luck, Maria Buddy,” is written on a brick wall, hidden for many years behind drywall and equipment. It is signed, “Mario Max.”

We have waited so long that we are starving for it, but it’s common knowledge that the hungrier you are, the better the food will taste. Catch a new season of America’s favorite cake artisan and his boisterous family when “Cake Boss” premieres Tuesday, Sept. 8, on TLC.

Written for TV Media Inc. September 2015, Elizabeth Mabie.

CityKidz prepares for a new season of changing lives

ELIZABETH MABIE

CityKidz Ottawa is preparing for the return of their Saturday kids program, beginning March 5, at their Playhouse Theatre. The faith-based program provides a safe and supportive environment for kids aged six to 12 from low-income families.

The program targets kids from the Overbrook area, where a CityKidz bus picks them up every Saturday. On average, about 50 kids participate each week, learning about God’s love and receiving hope through the object lessons, activities, music.

“It’s a long-term effect when you’re working with kids,” says CityKidz Ottawa manager, Wendy Turpin. “You are going through a lot of relationship building, but I do see a positive change in their demeanor. They’re happy to come and they keep coming back.”

CityKidz also offers a junior leadership program, geared toward youth aged 12 to 15. Junior leaders and volunteers work together to run the weekly activities.

“Practically, my job is to make the kids happy,” says Alyssa, a current junior leader. But junior leaders play a very significant role.

One of the program’s strengths is that all the junior leaders are alumni of the Saturday morning programs. Junior leaders act as role models for the kids guiding them down the right path and steering them away from life’s temptations.

As a participant in the Saturday programs, Alyssa was inspired watching the junior leaders performing their role. After graduating the program, she wanted to continue attending, so she became a junior leader.

“I was bullied my whole life and I was having issues with school,” Alyssa says. “CityKidz helped me with my faith. I started saying that they were giving out ‘tricks’ and that they were giving me more possibilities to believe in myself. They gave me a chance to have my own space, with different people, which helped me with school.”

CityKidz staff and volunteers also visit the children at their homes on a weekly basis. Their website states that they visit more than 80 children per week.

“It’s just a quick touch-base and sometimes just a ‘hello,’” says volunteer Mark Lovell. “It gives the opportunity to talk more with the parents and kids in their home. That’s very important in building relationships.”

Ultimately, CityKidz aims to invest in struggling and at risk children, helping them find their way and pointing them to God.

“By inspiring a child to have faith, they realize there is something greater out there than themselves—a benevolent God who loves them and wants to see them do well. We try to instill positive values in them,” explains Turpin, adding, “We are here to inspire kids to dream big dreams.”

Written for Spur Ottawa. February, 2016, Elizabeth Mabie

Common Table helps youth with autism overcome life's barriers

ELIZABETH MABIE

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church is providing youth with autism a place to make friends and be themselves. Common Table brings them together with young adult volunteers to have fun, in an atmosphere of God’s love.

Jeremy Sauvé, St. Paul’s youth pastor, says the program is about building “confidence, friendships, and belonging.”

“I’ve seen kids who were scared, shy, and non-communicative come and bloom. They find a place they belong with peers who love and respect them, in spite of the significant challenges they face.”

Common Table began in the winter of 2013, founded by Sauvé and two colleagues: Kerrie Kirkwood, a professional therapist, and John Anderson, a life and social skills coach. The program runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on the last Friday of every month.

Youth come for a potluck dinner, then break off into two groups. One group plays board games for the first half, while the other group participates in planned activities. The activities include everything from indoor sports to pumpkin carving and a glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt. Both the planned activities and the board games help participants interact and befriend their peers.

“They were very shy in the beginning, but soon they all became friends,” says Kirkwood, who serves as Common Table’s onsite therapist. “They have started opening up and showing themselves.”

Kirkwood asserts that all the kids coming out have faced bullying. It’s one of the challenges they must overcome, but she sees them growing, gaining confidence, and flourishing in the group setting.

“They have surpassed my expectations,” Kirkwood confirms with a nod.

The youth have not only made new friends with each other, but also with the youth group at St. Paul’s. Members of the church’s youth group volunteer at Common Table, connecting with and befriending the teens.

“They come with understanding, compassion, and empathy,” Sauvé says. “They genuinely love the kids who are attending our program. Some formed friendships that have spilled outside the regular program. Common Table is a program that is not only for those with autism; it is a program for all of us.”

Sauvé first started Common Table as a way to end “the bystander effect”—a documented phenomenon where the more bystanders present, the less likely someone will intervene to help a marginalized person.

At first, he says, it was just trial and error, but Common Table has grown into a vital ministry that participants anticipate throughout the month.

Sauvé says there are countless ways to embrace Ottawa’s youth and show them compassion, through similar communities. He hopes the program inspires others to reach out to vulnerable youth across the city.

“Take your time. Pray. Have vision. Communicate your vision to key people who will support and journey alongside you. Do not give up,” he says. “Above all, trust that God is ultimately more invested and in charge of His kingdom than you. Trust in Him.”

Written for Spur Ottawa. March 2016, Elizabeth Mabie

NHOP youth camp returns

ELIZABETH MABIE

Campfire, the National House of Prayer’s (NHOP) acclaimed youth camp, returns next week after a two-year hiatus. Campfire teaches teens about prayer and helps them grow their prayer life. It also trains them in evangelism, applying their faith outside the Church, and gives them teaching on the Christian worldview and current major issues.

“We want to stress the importance of prayer and of having a Christian worldview,” says Megan Hicks. “We also want to equip them in a way so they can go back to their lives—their schools, families, and churches—and they can engage with other people” about faith and current issues.

Hicks is a former NHOP intern and a Campfire alumni. She stepped forward this year to co-direct the youth camp along with her fellow NHOP staff member, Trina Pinzon.

The Campfire curriculum is based on what NHOP is best known for: actively praying for the Canadian government and the issues it debates. NHOP also brings in speakers to teach on specific issues, such as pornography or human trafficking.

“We have topics that are relevant to the young society right now, but we don’t stop there,” Pinzon says. “It’s not just information, we want them to engage. Now they have scripture, they can merge it with prayer.”

“There was a disconnect and they weren’t engaged, so they tucked their Bibles away.”

Hicks adds, “Basically the information side of it, the equipping side of it, is to encourage more effective prayer.”

Pinzon points to a study she read, titled “Hemorrhage of Faith.” The study examined why teens left their church and why some later chose to return. One of the major reasons, she says, was that faith and current issues were not discussed in their churches.

“The Bible stories were there, but they didn’t relate [them] to real life outside church,” Pinzon explains. “There was a disconnect and they weren’t engaged. It didn’t become real to them, so they tucked their Bibles away.”

“We have to give them the tools to handle those ideas, because Christianity can stand up to these questions.”

Prayer and learning to pray are major elements at Campfire, but what Pinzon and Hicks strive for is to assist youth in connecting with their faith and identifying with the world they live in.

“Young people are bombarded by so many other ideas in high school and when they get to university,” says Hicks. “We have to give them the tools to handle those ideas, because Christianity is a worldview that can stand up to these questions.”

In addition to the teachings, worship, and speakers, Campfire also includes leisurely activities. Some of the plans for this year are zip lining, touring Parliament, and experiencing Canada Day in the capital.

Hicks says she left her first Campfire experience, in 2009, with good memories and new friendships. After attending it the two next years, as well, she felt so at home with NHOP that she came back to work as an intern.

“I would say it changed a lot of how I view the government and how I view prayer,” she says. “I think it really sparked a love of prayer and that has lasted.”

Written for Spur Ottawa. June 2016, Elizabeth Mabie.

Reviving Counsell

ELIZABETH MABIE

John Counsell is back on the air. Counsell’s show “Late Night Counsell” airs live, exclusively online, weeknights from 9 until 11 p.m.

“What? You thought I was just going to ride off into the sunset and pastor my nice, little church in Vanier? Not gonna happen,” laughs Counsell in the new program’s intro.

Two months after his show was cut from CFRA, the radio veteran of 34 years announced to the twitter-verse that his show would be “resurrected”. Counsell breathed life into that promise April 29, with a half-hour test broadcast, explaining the show’s new and improved presentation. His first official, independent broadcast aired Monday, May 9, 2016.

“A couple of very technically gifted fans of my work came together and provided me with thousands of dollars in free studio time, research, and website development to make it all possible,” says Counsell. “If you ask them why, which I have, they reply, ‘God wants me to.’”

The new “Late Night Counsell” kept some of the popular segments from its CFRA expression, like “Ask the Pastor” and “Freebie Fridays.” However, on the Monday and Tuesday current-event discussions, and Wednesday’s “Ask the Pastor,” Counsell plans to feature more guests, providing insight on the evening’s topic. Past guests include former CFRA talk-show host Nick Vandergragt and Climate Science International’s Tom Harris.

Freed from Bell Media’s broadcast restrictions, listeners experience an unfiltered, genuine Counsell.

Counsell says being his own boss is “way more freedom, way more fun. I have never worked harder in my life.”

“I don’t mind being wrong on political stuff. If we’re wrong in communicating Christ’s love, we all lose.”

As the lead pastor of Vanier Community Church and the Capital City Biker’s Church, Counsell has a reputation for his innovative approach to spreading the Gospel. He plans to work that more into his renewed show.

“Being honest, truthful, and loving people is the way Christ taught. When I was at my worst He loved me enough to die for me,” says Counsell, paraphrasing Romans 5:8. “I have no choice, as His follower, to do anything less. I don’t mind being wrong on political stuff. If we’re wrong in communicating Christ’s love, we all lose.”

Counsell’s vision for the restored “Late Night Counsell” is to take the opportunity God has provided him and use his gifts to reach listeners, showing them there is hope in a world that often seems beyond repair.

“I want them to know the risen Christ and have His power flowing through them. There is no better way to make the world a better place.”

Written for Spur Ottawa. June 2016, Elizabeth Mabie.

Young Canadians raise their voices for righteousness on Parliament Hill

ELIZABETH MABIE

A spirited team of youth from across Canada recently came to Ottawa to take part in the 16th Josiah Delegation. Organized by MY Canada, these teams bring Canadian believers, between the ages of 15 to 35, to Ottawa to meet with parliamentarians.

“Some of these meetings you like going into, because meeting with like-minded people is encouraging on both sides, for us and for them,” says Lesley Biehn, a Josiah team leader for this year’s delegation. “It’s very encouraging to see that there are like-minded people on the Hill. But it’s just as interesting to meet people who completely oppose your view.”

While on the Hill, the delegates have three main purposes: showing appreciation for the government and the work they do, sharing the issues on their hearts, and reminding Canada’s leaders that today’s youth are passionate about this country and its code of ethics.

This year’s Josiah Delegation was in Ottawa from November 27 to December 3. During the week, the youth met with 70 members of parliament and senators, sharing their stories, learn about the parliamentarians’ responsibilities, attending Question Period, and praying for Canada.

“I expect God to show up and use my voice in ways I have never imagined.”

Spur Ottawa spoke with three delegates, Caleb Park, Jashan Randhawa, and Rebecca Hein, about their experiences.

Speaking at the start of the week, Hein stated, “I expect God to show up and use my voice in ways I have never imagined. I expect Him to do far more than I could ever expect or ask for. I know that I will learn a lot more about politics, but, for me, seeing God show up is what really matters.”

By the end of the week, the delegation all agreed they had a clear sense of God’s presence on Parliament Hill.

“What really changed the most for me was just recognizing how members of parliament are just ordinary people who have taken a stand to be a voice in government,” says Hein. “They really need encouragement. It’s very important that we pray for our leaders. One member we met with, we asked how we could support her. She said just to pray.”

“I was touched by what they shared; their openness,” says Park. “Some of the Members prayed for us, too. It was an amazing experience for me to see the light and salt in the government.”

Prayer and encouragement are central for the delegation. They were staying at the National House of Prayer. Each day, one of the teams stayed behind, spending the day in prayer for the teams meeting on the Hill.

“What I found is that by sharing our own stories, how something affected our lives, it transcends arguments and debates that could arise.”

Another key emphasis of the teams is honour and respect. While politics can be especially nasty, the group wants to be remembered for being a positive force, regardless of differences of opinion. Members of parliament often reciprocated the teams’ attitudes and listened whole-heartedly to their stories and concerns.

“A lot of people think members of parliament are not in touch with normal people, but we learned that all they need is stories,” explains Randhawa, a Sikh who is passionate about religious freedom. “When they go into the House it’s not just logic or debate that wins. They know all our issues. They need actual stories from people.”

Park agrees, adding, “What I found is that by sharing our own stories, how something affected our lives, it transcends arguments and debates that could arise. Sharing something personal is very powerful.”

Every evening, the teams spent time researching the Parliamentarians they planned to meet with the next day. The goal was to learn the most honourable points in their careers so the delegates could thank them specifically for their labour.

“When you come in with a spirit of honour I think most of the time they are shocked.”

“We try to get very specific about what this person has done to be honoured and valued. [When we do] their whole guard drops,” explains Biehn. “They never hear that. They just hear complaints all day, every day, so we stand out like this. When you come in with a spirit of honour I think most of the time they are shocked that that is the first thing out of our mouths.”

Showing appreciation and respect is first and foremost, especially when personal sentiment comes into play. The delegates are encouraged to share issues that deeply concern them, even when a member of parliament has an opposing view.

“With regards to parliamentarians who may hold a different set of values than we do, I believe we are to still honour and respect them, as Romans 13 instructs us,” Park says. “At the same time, however, it is important to speak the truth and stand our ground on issues that God gave us His heart for.”

“No matter how much I disagree with someone, the love of Jesus is far greater than that,” Hein states. “He teaches me to love beyond disagreements and see the person for whom He made them to be, not what they believe in.”

Written for Spur Ottawa. December 2016, Elizabeth Mabie.

Going about the Father's business

ELIZABETH MABIE

A young Ottawa woman’s dream came true this past August. She started a business, opening Holy Voice Coffee-Bookstore and Gifts in the city’s east end.

Djenane Najmanovich was working for the government when she heard a “holy voice” telling her that she was meant to act on her and her mother’s ambition to open a business. Her personal life was busy when she left her job, but in April 2016 she heard God’s voice urging her once more to get down to business.

“With confirmation and a lot of prayer He confirmed, ‘Go,’ so we [she and her mother, Jeannine Pierre-Charles] went for it,” explains Najmanovich. “I don’t have a background in marketing or business, so I wouldn’t know anything about business, but He made it happen.”

They began planning in April and opening day came on August 24, 2016.

Holy Voice Coffee-Bookstore and Gifts offers a selection of books in English and French, apparel, music, and gift items, such as cards and mugs. The café’s menu offers lunch items, pastries, coffees, teas, and Caribbean fruit punch. The food and beverages served at Holy Voice reflect Najmanovich’s Caribbean background.

Another service Holy Voice offers is counselling. Najmanovich’s educational background is in counselling, so she gives customers the opportunity to come to her for support. Najmanovich also put up a prayer wall on a bulletin board, where clients can post their prayer requests. Every day before Holy Voice opens, Najmanovich prays for every request on the board.

The community surrounding the Cyrville Road location has been welcoming and supportive.

“What makes me happy is to see the community here,” says Najmanovich. “There is a curiosity. It feels like there is something calling them. Believers and non-believers, they come and it’s always the same feeling: ‘This feels like home.’”

Najmanovich’s aim was to foster a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Her desire was for a welcoming place where customers could come in to sit down, enjoy delicious food, and shop in a non-judgmental environment.

“Nobody’s going to judge you. You can be there and just start praying and nobody is going to discriminate against you. It’s normal. What makes us different is that it’s a Christian, multicultural coffeehouse for everyone. You can basically do whatever you want and feel at home. It’s your second Christian home,” explains Najmanovich.

The dream doesn’t stop there. Najmanovich is already planning Holy Voice’s future expansion, hoping to move the current store to a bigger location and open a second store in the west end. They already host events, meetings, and dance practices for local dancers.

“This is just a starting point. Yes, we’re here for the Gospel. We’re here to help people come closer to Jesus and help people heal. Whatever we can do, as the Bible says, we are here for that.”

Written for Spur Ottawa. January 2017, Elizabeth Mabie.

Human pesticide? RuCrazy?

ELIZABETH MABIE

Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) is releasing a series of short videos to raise awareness about RU-486, a harmful abortion drug recently made available in Canadian pharmacies.

“Each video is making an argument against RU-486 and why it’s bad, but feeding that in bite-sized forms that people can digest, remember, and share,” explains Marie-Claire Bissonnette, CLC’s youth coordinator and a spokeswoman for the pro-life organization.

The first information video was posted on the CLC Youth’s YouTube account in early March. The videos focus more on women’s health, rather than the baby. Through these videos, CLC aims to grab the attention of a secular, pro-abortion audience.

“We don’t want to communicate that the baby is less important,” explains Bissonnette, “but we do want to make it appealing to people who aren’t convinced of the importance of the baby so they share this information with people who aren’t pro-life.”

The videos also introduce a hashtag, #RU486RuCrazy, which has been circulating around social media. While the videos have the potential to reach thousands of people, they aren’t the only focus of the campaign. CLC is also preparing to host presentations for youth leaders, highlighting the dangers of the RU-486 drug.

“Youth leaders are on the front lines of the fight for life,” says CLC lobbyist Johanne Brownrigg, who came up with the idea for the videos. “They might encounter teenage girls in crisis pregnancies in their own church groups or friends of girls in such situations. As the drug becomes better known, these girls will consider taking it to end the life of their unborn child.”

Victoria Bredfledt is the co-youth coordinator at Holy Name of Mary Parish. Bredfeldt is highly involved in the pro-life movement and serves as the campaign’s Ottawa contact.

“Jeremiah 1:5 says, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,’” she says. “In this particular passage, you can clearly see how this drug would not be pleasing in God’s sight. It not only does harm to the woman taking it, but it also kills God’s precious creation.”

“We believe it’s very important to inform people who are informing others,” adds Bissonnette. “Just by informing girls and boys in their youth group about what this drug does to an unborn child and what this drug can do to them, that’s acting in a loving, Christ-like way.”

RU-486 (also known as Mifegymiso) was developed in France, in 1980. However, Canadian trials of the drug were halted, in 2001, after one woman died of septic shock.

“It needs to be said that feminists purport to protect women and their rights, but when it comes to Mifegymiso they have been deliberately cavalier about the side effects it causes,” states Brownrigg. “They have compromised women’s health for the sake of ‘convenience’. If we weren’t speaking up about RU-486, no one would be.”

While the drug was approved in 2000, in the US, a 2011 report by the Food and Drug Administration exposed that 2,207 women experienced adverse effects directly linked to RU-486. Of that group, 339 needed blood transfusions, 256 contracted infections, 58 had ectopic pregnancies, and 14 died.

In 2015, leading up to the election, the Conservative Government approved Mifegymiso and it has gradually made its way into pharmacies. But Bissonnette says the fight isn’t over.

“We hope the awareness goes viral through pro-life groups and other people working against this drug and that this will cause more opportunities for MPs to bring forth motions against it.”

Written for Spur Ottawa. May 2017, Elizabeth Mabie.

Recently I was featured in the Spring 2017 issue of Ottawa Outdoors Magazine. Here is the piece I wrote about three cycling trails in North-Eastern Quebec.

Written for Ottawa Outdoors Magazine. Spring 2017, Elizabeth Mabie.