Maritime Magazine with Pauline Dakin

(Michael Nowlan, photo credit: Kirsten Gargan)

We hear so many awful stories of bullying in schools and online, kids targeting each other with a seemingly off-hand cruelty.

Many high school students could be forgiven for just wanting to fit in - or fade into the background.

But that's not Michael Nowlan's way.

The Dieppe, New Brunswick teenager is openly gay, and often wears skirts and heels to class. He's also one of the most popular kids in school.

Michael graduates this year, and his teachers say he will leave a legacy of tolerance and kindness behind.

The CBC's Jonna Brewer brings us the story.

(Director Lisa Brown and some students at the Tir Na Nog Forest School in Roachville, New Brunswick.)

We all know Canadian kids need to be more active.
Now there's a growing movement to get them out into nature for a large part of their day.
The trend - called Forest Schools - has already caught on in Northern Europe, and one of the movement's leading proponents is a Maritimer.
The CBC's Connell Smith brings us the story.

Recently we have been looking at some of the issues surrounding the care and treatment for people with intellectual disabilities.

Margot Brunelle brought us a story about the difficulty finding appropriate housing for people who often display aggressive behaviour.

But there is another problem; even in the facilties that exist, the level of training for people who work there may not be meeting their clients' needs.

The former premier of New Brunswick - and current deputy chair of Toronto Dominion Bank of Canada - has been talking about the need for cross-provincial pipelines.

Frank McKenna believes the delays in constructing pipes to carry Alberta oil products to new markets is costing the country dearly.

He spoke with Maritime Magazine's Harry Forestell last week.

26 year old Nichelle Benn is looking for a home...but not just any home.

At a time when most young people her age are striking out on their own, Nichelle choices are mostly out of her control.

She has an intellectual disability that makes it impossible to live with her own family.

But she's convinced the large facility she's currently living in isn't right for her either.

The CBC's Margot Brunelle looks at the struggle to find appropriate housing for people with disabilities.

In 1939 Asta Jacob sent her young daughter, Ilsa out of Nazi Germany.

It was the last time they would see each other, though Ilsa, alone in England, tried not to give up hope.

All through the war she read and re-read her mother's letters, and started a journal to keep a record of everything that was happening to her, in hopes of one day sharing it with her Mutti, her mother Asta.

Reporter Pam Berman brings us a documentary about Ilsa's life, told through Asta's letters, Ilsa's journals... and the memories of her daughter Judith.

We all get headaches from time to time, but for most of us it's an issue that goes away with a couple of aspirin and a good sleep.

Richard Levangie has had headaches, migraines actually, almost daily since 1993.

Christina Harnett brings us Richard's story of loss - and gain - over the last twenty years.

People have been paying tribute to the late Rita MacNeil, a true icon in the Canadian music industry, and as many have noted, her life was anything but easy.

In her early years she struggled as a single mother, facing poverty, abuse and at times, addiction issues.

However something about the way she handled all her challenges inspired others, and endeared her to millions of music fans.

The CBC's Steve Sutherland spoke with Rita MacNeil in 2009, about her role as a leader in her community.

Steve joined Harry to talk about that meeting.

It's Open Season for people who might have an interest in shipping Alberta bitumen from East Coast ports.
For the next few months, TransCanada Corp is looking for solid expressions of interest surrounding its plan to have a West -East pipeline, from Alberta, perhaps all the way to New Brunswick.
The Irvings support the idea, as does the New Brunswick government.
This week Harry Forestell talks to three guests about the potential advantages - and pitfalls - of the proposal.

Jay Jonah and Trevor Williams have a lot in common.
They both go to school at the University of Prince Edward Island.
They were both born female, but now identify as male.
And, because of that, they both face challenges many of us would never think about...such as which public bathroom to use.
This week on Maritime Magazine, the CBC's Julia Cook talks to Jay and Trevor about the struggle to re-define themselves, in a society that only sees people as male or female.