Your World Tonight (CBC)

Episode Summary: "Grizzly attack, plan for Ukraine war, absenteeism, and more"

Date: November 21, 2025
Hosts: Stephanie Skenderis, Susan Bonner

Overview

This episode of Your World Tonight wraps up the day's major global and Canadian news stories, focusing on:

• A shocking grizzly bear attack on a BC school group
• Intense political pressure on Ukraine to accept a controversial US peace deal
• Canada–US trade tensions and the fighter jet procurement debate
• New York's mayor-elect’s White House visit amid fiery political rhetoric
• India's 2036 Olympic bid and its challenges
• Mexico’s efforts to find missing persons
• Rising absenteeism among Canadian schoolchildren and its causes
• A spotlight on large-scale Indigenous beadwork art

Key Stories and Insights

1. Grizzly Bear Attack in Bella Coola, British Columbia

[00:25–04:26]

• Incident Details:
  • During a school field trip near Aqua Salta School (run by the Nuxalk Nation), a grizzly bear attacked, seriously injuring three children and a teacher.
  • The teachers acted heroically, fighting off the bear.
    • Samuel Alexander Schooner (Nuxalk Chief): “Our heroes, you know, that's what they are.” [01:58]
  • The event was unprecedented; the community prides itself on living in harmony with bears.
    • Kirsten Milton (Council): “This was just an unprecedented event that we have never experienced.” [02:47]
  • The group had bear spray and followed safety protocols.
  • Bear attacks involving large groups are extremely rare.
    • Kim Titchener (Bear Conflict Expert): “It's very unusual to have a large group involved like this... large groups tend to scare bears off.” [03:22]
  • BC’s premier is awaiting Conservation Service advice before considering changes to the hunting ban.
• Aftermath:
  • Extra counseling services being offered.
  • Search for the bear continues; community asked to avoid trails.

2. Ukraine Under Pressure: US-Backed Peace Deal

[04:26–07:34]

• Background:
  • The US (under President Trump) is pushing Ukraine to accept a 28-point peace deal that heavily favors Russian demands, such as conceding Donbas territory and limiting Ukraine’s military. Deadline: Thursday.
  • Ukrainian President Zelensky resists, describing the moment as “one of the most difficult in our history.” [04:52]
  • Accepting the deal means “either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner, the United States.” [04:52]
• International Response:
  • EU’s Ursula von der Leyen: “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” [06:47]
  • Putin calls Trump’s plan “the basis for a peaceful solution.”
  • Most Ukrainians and Europeans see the proposal as tantamount to surrender.
• Notable Quote:
  • Zelensky: “We did not betray Ukraine then and we will not do it now.” [06:53]

3. Gaza Humanitarian Crisis

[07:34–08:25]

• Despite an increase in aid since the ceasefire, hundreds of thousands in Gaza still lack enough food. Prices remain out of reach.
  • Martin Penner (World Food Program): “One woman told us that she feels like her whole body is crying out for different kinds of food...”

4. Canada-US Tensions: Fighter Jets and Trade

[09:25–12:19]

• Context:
  • Trade war continues; Mark Carney’s Liberals struggle to find resolution.
  • Ongoing debate about Canada’s $19B purchase of 88 F-35 jets from the US (Lockheed Martin), amid rhetoric from President Trump and a lengthy review.
    • Defense Minister David McGinty: “The F35 acquisition remains under review...” [10:08]
  • Conservative critics and US officials frustrated by delays.
    • James Bazan: “When will this unnecessary review finally end?” [10:30]
  • US ambassador Pete Hoekstra underscores the deal's significance for future trade.
• Alternatives:
  • Sweden’s Saab Gripen makes a bid, promising 10,000 Canadian jobs.
    • Michael Johansson (CEO): “We are prepared to move technology to Canada and set up shop here...” [11:44]
  • US-Canada trade at a delicate juncture; US VP J.D. Vance criticizes Canadian immigration and leadership online.

5. New York Mayor-Elect Zoran Mamdani’s White House Visit

[12:19–15:26]

• Backdrop:
  • Mayor-elect Mamdani, branded a “radical leftist” and “communist” by Trump, visits the White House; anticipation of a confrontational meeting.
• Meeting Outcome:
  • To everyone's surprise, the encounter was amicable and focused on shared priorities: fighting crime, building housing, and reducing rent.
    • Donald Trump: “We agree on a lot more than I would have thought. I want him to do a great job.” [13:47]
    • Zoran Mamdani: “[We] focused not on places of disagreement... [but] on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers.” [14:04]
  • Press presses Mamdani on past comments labeling Trump a “fascist;” Trump remains unfazed.

6. India’s 2036 Summer Olympics Bid

[15:26–19:35]

• Ambitions and Challenges:
  • New sports venues rapidly being built; Ahmedabad lined up as host city.
  • India’s government points to success with the G20 to bolster its case.
  • Past major events, such as the 2010 Commonwealth Games, were mired in controversy and mismanagement.
  • India faces IOC concerns over governance, high doping rates, and its general Olympic underachievement.
  • Andrew Zimbalist (Economist): “It's extremely rare for any Games to be a good investment...” [18:14]
• Local Hopes:
  • Despite challenges, Indian athletes and supporters hope for a positive sports legacy.

7. Mexico’s Search for Its Missing

[19:35–22:34]

• Major Exhumation Project:
  • In Mexico City, authorities begin identifying 6,600 buried, unidentified bodies to bring closure to the families of the disappeared.
  • Ana Maria Maldonado, mother searching for her son: “I feel my son could be here...” [19:59]
  • Effort is part of a multi-agency strategy amid a national crisis of 130,000+ missing.
  • Bertha Alcalde Lujan (Atty. Gen.): “We are conscious that the search for disappeared persons is a challenge of great magnitude.”

8. Mass Abductions in Nigeria

[22:34–23:48]

• Over 200 students and teachers kidnapped from a Catholic school; second such event in a week.
• Ongoing crisis of armed groups kidnapping for ransom.

9. Rising Student Absenteeism in Canada

[23:48–26:44]

• CBC Investigation:
  • Absenteeism is up in every district studied; some students miss school due to bullying or mental health, not illness.
  • William (student): “Well, it's like bullies exist.” [24:09]
  • Norm De Pasquale (parent): “You don't always get a clear reason... sometimes I'm feeling sick and that maybe that's legit sometimes, maybe it's not necessarily legit.” [24:30]
  • No standardized way to report absences due to bullying.
    • Norm De Pasquale: “There's no button for bullying in the school messenger application.” [25:43]
  • ADHD, anxiety, and lack of accommodations also leading to absences.
    • Courtney McLean (parent): “The stress, it's overwhelming our kids, and my daughter is really, really struggling.” [25:52]
    • Test-taking anxiety, lack of individualized education plans (IEPs) are cited as issues.
  • Solutions suggested: more staff to supervise, better mental health supports.

10. Indigenous Beadwork Art, Upsized

[26:44–28:17]

• Artist Vanessa Dion Fletcher:
  • Creates large-scale beadwork using pool noodles as beads, making traditional techniques accessible, especially for teaching.
  • Dion Fletcher: “I've taken them all to pools so that people can swim and play with them.” [28:12]
  • Current exhibit at Art Windsor Essex Gallery.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “These children are going to be around for many, many, many years because of the actions [the teachers] have done.”
  — Samuel Alexander Schooner, Nuxalk Nation [02:14]

• “Now is one of the most difficult moments in our history.”
  — President Zelensky [04:52]

• “We agree on a lot more than I would have thought. I think he's—I want him to do a great job.”
  — Donald Trump, about Zoran Mamdani [13:47]

• “The stress, it’s overwhelming our kids...”
  — Courtney McLean, parent [25:52]

Timestamps Reference

• Grizzly Attack: 00:25–04:26
• Ukraine Peace Pressure: 04:26–07:34
• Gaza Aid Update: 07:34–08:25
• Fighter Jet Trade & Tensions: 09:25–12:19
• NYC Mayor/Trump meeting: 12:19–15:26
• India Olympic Bid: 15:26–19:35
• Mexico Missing Persons: 19:35–22:34
• Nigeria Abductions: 22:34–23:48
• Student Absenteeism: 23:48–26:44
• Beadwork Art: 26:44–28:17

Tone & Style

As with all CBC news, the tone is serious yet accessible, blending firsthand accounts, expert commentary, and on-the-ground reporting. The episode moves smoothly between hard news, political analysis, and human interest.

For the full experience and nuanced reporting, listen to the complete episode on the CBC platform.