We Advocate
We Advocate is a podcast about empowerment, advocacy, and understanding the systems that affect Albertans with disabilities. Hosted by Gordon VanderLeek, a Calgary wills and estates lawyer, and Annie VanderLeek, a disability advocate, the show explores the intersection of law, policy, and lived experience for people with disabilities and their families.
Each episode breaks down complex topics — from AISH and the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) to support programs both provincial and federal, guardianship & trusteeship for those with disabilities, issues on capacity, and general planning opportunities— in plain language that helps listeners make sense of their rights and options.
With insight, empathy, and a dash of candid conversation, Gordon and Annie share their experiences from both sides of the advocacy table — legal and personal — helping listeners stay informed, prepared, and empowered to navigate life with confidence.
If you care about disability rights, inclusion, legal issues and social policy reform in Alberta and beyond, We Advocate is your trusted voice for clarity and change.
We Advocate
Latest Episodes
014. Measuring the Impact of ADAP – Why Data, Stories, and Research Matter
Episode Summary:In this episode of the We Advocate Podcast, Gordon and Annie are joined by returning guest Dr. Gillian Petit, along with Phil Ney from Inclusion Alberta, for an important conversation about research...
013. Why Alberta Needs Strong Accessibility Legislation
Episode Summary:In this episode of We Advocate, Gordon and Annie welcome Michelle Christensen and Sam Mason for an important conversation about accessibility, systemic barriers, and why Alberta urgently needs strong, effective accessibil...
012. Reimagining Disability Supports in Alberta: What Does Real Reform Look Like?
Episode Summary:In this solo episode, Gordon VanderLeek steps back from reacting to policy changes and instead asks a bigger question:If we could redesign Alberta’s disability support system from scratch, what would real refo...
011. The Disability Tax Credit (Part 2): Why It’s a Gateway Benefit
Episode Summary:In Part 2 of our Disability Tax Credit series, we move beyond eligibility and focus on why the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) matters so much - not just for taxes, but as a gateway to critical federal supports.<...
010. The Disability Tax Credit (Part 1): What It Is, Who Qualifies, and Why It Matters
Episode Summary:In this episode of We Advocate, Gordon and Annie VanderLeek unpack one of the most misunderstood, and increasingly important, disability supports in Canada: the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).Often dismissed as “just...