Hour 2 of Ottawa Now for Thurs. August 21st, 2025

For the past several years, we’ve been following the story of a now 12-year-old girl named Hillary McKibbin, and her brave fight against a rare blood disorder called Aplastic Anemia. Alongside her mother Kelly, we’ve checked in with Hillary about the current stem cell registry, and the duo's tireless efforts to raise awareness about its overall importance. However, since the latest checkup, another rare blood disorder has been spotted in her system, and it’s presented a major curveball for her treatment options. Hillary and Kelly join guest host Andrew Pinsent in Hour 2. Meantime, as the Ford government assumes control of Ottawa’s largest school board, Ontario’s Education Minister says he is open to eliminating the positions of Ontario school trustees. We open that can of worms with Catherine McKenney, the NDP MPP for Ottawa Centre and a former Ottawa city councillor. Plus, as Canadian music star Tate McRae prepares for a Friday night performance at the Canadian Tire Centre, one of our CFRA personalities might have spotted some of her tour buses.