Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1610 - The power of language with Patrick LeBlond & Kathryn MacDonald

On this episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, we explore how the words we choose — and the effort behind them — can influence everything from national leadership to personal healing.
In the first segment, Brian is joined by Patrick Leblond, Associate Professor of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, to examine the controversy surrounding the Air Canada CEO’s resignation. Together, they unpack why this moment goes far beyond politics or “wokeism,” and instead speaks to something more fundamental: respect. The discussion highlights the deep cultural significance of language in Quebec, the expectations placed on leaders in a bilingual country, and why even small efforts to communicate across linguistic lines can carry enormous meaning — especially in times of crisis. In Canada, leadership isn’t just about capability; it’s about cultural awareness and a willingness to meet people where they are.
In the second half, Brian turns to a more intimate conversation with Canadian poet Kathryn MacDonald about her collection The Blue Gate, released during Poetry Month. Centered on a transformative journey to Kenya after the sudden loss of her partner of 39 years, Kathryn’s work explores grief, spirituality, and the search for meaning. Through poetry, she captures what often cannot be said outright — holding complexity, emotion, and reflection all at once. The conversation reveals how storytelling, especially in poetic form, creates space for healing and helps us understand life’s most difficult moments.
At first glance, these topics may seem worlds apart — one rooted in public life, the other deeply personal. But both return to the same essential question: how do we truly hear and understand one another?
Because language is more than communication.
It’s a signal of respect.
A keeper of identity.
A pathway through loss. And ultimately, a bridge — or a barrier — between us.