As It Happens

As It Happens

News that’s not afraid of fun. Meet people at the centre of the day’s most hard-hitting, hilarious and heartbreaking stories — powerful leaders, proud eccentrics and ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. And plenty of puns too. Hosted by Nil Köksal and Chris Howden, find out why As It Happens is one of Canada’s longest-running and most beloved shows. (Ahem, we literally helped make the beaver a national symbol.)


New episodes Monday to Friday by 7:30 pm E.T.

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Episode's summary

After First Nations leaders sit down with Canada's First ministers for the first time in decades, the chief of Cold Lake First Nations tells us whether he feels his message was heard. The US Coast Guard has deployed drone vessels on the Great Lakes -- and the Mayor of Sarnia, Ontario says that should concern all Canadians. The French government promises to overhaul a key part of the education system -- but a young percussionist playing with a protest orchestra explains what he and the other demonstrators need to hear before they'll stop taking to the streets. Toronto-born Eric Bauza's dream came true when he became the voice of Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. But a close friend says the late actor was so much more. J. Chalmers Doane and his daughter Melanie Doane tell me what it was like to learn he had become the first Canadian inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame. And then they gave us a sample. A Halifax marathon runner went the extra mile training for his long distance run by eating…

Episodes

3127-

Alberta chief wants “reconcili-action” and seat at the table

After First Nations leaders sit down with Canada's First ministers for the first time in decades, the chief of Cold Lake First Nations tells us whether he feels his message was heard. The US Coast Guard has deployed drone vessels on the Great Lakes -- and the Mayor of Sarnia, Ontario says that should concern all Canadians. The French government promises to overhaul a key part of the education system -- but a young percussionist playing with a protest orchestra explains what he and the other demonstrators need to hear before they'll stop taking to the streets. Toronto-born Eric Bauza's dream came true when he became the voice of Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. But a close friend says the late actor was so much more. J. Chalmers Doane and his daughter Melanie Doane tell me what it was like to learn he had become the first Canadian inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame. And then they gave us a sample. A Halifax marathon runner went the extra mile training for his long distance run by eating…

26 Oct 2026
3126-

“Our worst nightmare.” Rising threat to women in public life

An Australian politician tells us two alleged attacks against women in politics just this week have sent a chill through the country -- especially for her and her colleagues. And since she's spoken out, she says she's received even more threats. The woman behind a petition to have U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra expelled from Canada says his latest accusation of foreign interference isn't surprising -- and even more reason to give him the boot. As Prime Minister Mark Carney promotes a strategic partnership with Turkey, our guest says there's a laundry list of human rights abuses that also need to be on the agenda. A Brooklyn bar owner walks onto a subway car -- and into a hugely popular online show...and then starts cracking wise Conan O'Brien. A bird researcher warns some Canadian loon populations are in steep decline -– and it’s likely climate change is to blame. Serbia's student movement puts forward a long list of candidates for this weekend's elections -- and gains more traction than established…

23 Oct 2026
3125-

A separatist "reckoning" looms for Alberta's premier

Premier Danielle Smith wants to move forward after Alberta's referendum -- but it's not clear whether everyone in the United Conservative Party wants to move forward with her. A US polling firm that supplied data to a lot of respected news outlets reveals its fake. Our guest explains how her company figured that out -- and why she doesn't buy their excuse that it was all a social experiment. The Edmonton-based video game studio BioWare is closing down; one of its co-founders tells us that's a devastating loss for the industry in Canada -- and for him personally. A museum in Switzerland is putting on an exhibit featuring artifacts that were up until recently frozen in glacier ice -- which he says is revealing the impact global warming is having on the country's landscape. A Minnesota man heroically leaps aboard a runaway school bus, saving the kids aboard -- and attributes his courage and calm to perhaps one of the most stressful shows in history, "Grey's Anatomy". And, a researcher -- who also happens to be…

22 Oct 2026
3124-

Israeli rabbi picking olives in West Bank, detained by IDF

An Israeli rabbi is among the dozens of people detained after trying to help a Palestinian farmer bring in their olive crop -- and tells us she'd do it again without hesitation. With mid-term elections fast approaching, Donald Trump promises billions to American farmers; we'll ask an Iowa corn and soybean producer whether the President's party still has his vote. Gisèle Pelicot's daughter describes their campaign to help survivors of sexual violence come forward -- even when they have no memory of what they endured. A researcher at the University of Kent says he's solved a centuries-old mystery by proving the anonymously published play "Edward the Third" was actually written by both Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. The Hallowe'en horror-naments in your neighbourhood may be scary, but the kelp-o-lanterns our guest makes from seaweed that washes up near his Alaska home cannot be ig-nori. The UK is about to ban the sale of tobacco to future generations. I'll talk to a woman who's just back from…

21 Oct 2026
3123-

Edmonton mayor says referendum results send a clear message

Andrew Knack tells us he's proud Albertans voted to stay in Canada -- and says the five referendum questions on immigration are a distraction from the real issues people in the province are dealing with. Shelley Quist's child survived the deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge; now, she's won a spot on city council, and says she hopes to help her community move on from the trauma. An Israeli professor teaching in the U.S. tells us she can't imagine not casting a ballot in Israel's upcoming election -- so she's cancelled her classes and is flying over to vote. Once bitten. A toddler in Ontario is unlucky enough to be chomped by a rattlesnake -- but lucky enough to be treated by a doctor with extensive experience helping snakebite victims in India. A member of Team Canada tells us about the dizzying nightmare of the World Backyard Ultra Championships -- an endurance race that's just loop after loop for day after day. Yet another expedition sets off in search of Amelia Earhart's long-missing airplane -- but…

20 Oct 2026