Untapped - An Original North Battleford Podcast

Matt sits down to chat with Untapped committee member and founder Leah Milton, about what got her interested in this project. The episode is a bittersweet one, as Matt is moving up to Yellowknife, NWT with his family and will be stepping down as host.There is good news to share tough, as the Untapped podcast has recently been awarded the Rivers West District 2001 award for "Culture-Event"... and we reveal that Leah will take over hosting duties for the show!Leah is a familiar face and voice to the Battlefords community, as she has hosted the Talk of the Town show on television for years. She's looking forward to starting this next chapter for Untapped, while Matt will continue to support the show from afar!

This episode of Untapped continues our new On Dekk series of livestream musical performances, in partnership with the Dekker Centre. The entire On Dekk series is brought to you thanks to the generous support of our series sponsor The Battlefords and District Community Foundation.This episode of On Dekk introduces you to the Troy Wakelin Band, and the sponsor for this episode of On Dekk is none other than Bridges Chev Buick GMC… so a big thank you to the Bridges team for bringing us the Troy Wakelin Band.Matt spoke with Troy and drummer Kurtis Kopp, and they shared a few pages of their musical history, stories from the road and what’s made The Battlefords a great place for them to call their home turf. Troy and Kurtis know how to tell a story and a thing or two about music too… so immediately following the interview, you’ll be given a front-row seat to some highlight tracks from their live performance!Be sure to check out the Troy Wakelin Band on Facebook too!

This episode of Untapped continues our new On Dekk series, in partnership with the Dekker Centre. The entire On Dekk series is brought to you thanks to the generous support of our series sponsor The Battlefords and District Community Foundation, and the sponsor for this episode of On Dekk is none other than The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce… so a big thank you to Linda and Heather at the Chamber for everything they do for our local businesses and the entire community here.Today’s conversation introduces you to Sherron Burns, an artist, art educator, puppeteer and you’re soon to find out great story teller and source of inspiration too. Sherron has been teaching for over 25 years, and works with all ages to help them explore how to create not only puppets but lives that are filled with play, innovation and creative self-confidence.If you want to get the latest on what’s going with Sherron, you can check out her website SherronBurns.carbonmade.com or check out ARC Creative Studios on Facebook, where Sherron is an active member. I was lucky enough to tour the ARC space when I photographed Sherron after recording this episode… and it’s an absolute eye-opening treasure to see just how much creativity and talent we have here in The Battlefords.

This episode of Untapped continues our new On Dekk series, in partnership with the Dekker Centre. The entire On Dekk series is brought to you thanks to the generous support of our series sponsor The Battlefords and District Community Foundation.Today’s conversation introduces you to Cayla and Annette Ellis of Annette’s School of Dance, a cornerstone of the performing arts scene here in The Battlefords. And this episode is brought to you by a true cornerstone of the culinary scene in this community… Dejma’s Curry House. Now Annette’s School of Dance has been teaching youngsters both the steps and life skills that come from dance for nearly 35 years. Like almost every facet of our lives, their business was severely disrupted by the pandemic, but they’ve learned to pivot - or maybe pirouette - and are now offering a range  of covid-friendly in-person instruction and virtual recitals and competitions.Learn about everything Cayla and Annette have been up to in this episode and be sure to visit their Facebook page for regular updates too.

In this episode of Untapped, Matt pays a visit to The Battlefords Early Years Family Resource Centre. The centre represents a collaboration between the Saskatchewan Health Authority and The Battlefords Early Childhood Intervention ProgramThis brand new centre *just* opened up right when the pandemic was first first hitting, which meant that they had to close their doors not long afterward. Like most organizations and businesses their 2020 was pretty disrupted, but the team has been working hard to pivot and find creative new ways for families to engage with the centre, all while staying safe in this new world we all find ourselves in.They’ve got some really cool things going on at the centre, and incredible remote and drive-by educational opportunities too - so check out this episode to meet Kailyn and D'Anne and learn about it all!

On Dekk is a new partnership between Untapped and the Dekker Centre here in North Battleford. Each On Dekk event is a hybrid interview plus performance with local musicians and rising stars. This first On Dekk was live-streamed on January 23rd, 2021 and is presented here as a curated re-cap of the evening. Local fan favourites Back of the Bus specialize in east-coast, Irish and Scottish music, and have been entertaining audiences across the prairies for over a decade now. During the interview portion of the show, you'll meet several members of the band, learn about the origins of their name, and hear what they think makes The Battlefords a special place for music and the arts. Then get ready for a ‘virtual ceilidh’ from the comfort of your own home, with a selection of host Matt Jacques' favourite tracks from the evening's performance.Untapped is also super excited to announce a new theme song competition which has just been launched! There's $500 up for grabs for the musician or band that submits the winning theme song, as selected by our Untapped committee. We'll be sharing more details over our social media channels soon, but in the meantime, feel free to email hello@battlefordsuntapped.com for more information!

Robin Speer was born and raised here in The Battlefords and is Matt's guest for this Season two, episode 8 of Untapped. You’ll learn about what makes The Battlefords special for this local author, where he comes up with the wild ideas for the twenty different stories featured in the book… and learn a lot about his own journey and process as a first-time published author.You can find Robin's book locally at all of The Battlefords libraries and for purchase at Empress Furniture & Decor, or visit Robin's website www.robinspeer.ca for direct access to purchase a Kindle reader version via Amazon.This episode came to us through our Nominate A Guest form on our website BattlefordsUntapped.com and landed Robin a super stylish Untapped t-shirt for his troubles. So if you know someone, or you ARE someone with a great story to share about living and working here in The Battlefords, be sure to visit our site and get in touch! 

On Dekk is a partnership that Untapped has forged with the Dekker Centre, all with the aim of celebrating local artists and connecting with live performances in a technologically safe way.When Matt spoke with Kali, a few things were still up in the air, but we can now officially let you know that that first On Dekk interview and performance will be from Back of the Bus - a fan-favourite local band that delivers East Coast energy with Scottish, Irish and contemporary music. Visit DekkerCentre.com and stay tuned to all of our social media channels for more info on how you can have the best seat in the house for this party on the 23rd!On Dekk wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for some incredible support from the community. The Battlefords and District Community Foundation has stepped up big time as Series Sponsor for the entire On Dekk series of events that we are planning to run through June… and the RBC Dominion Securities’ Rongve Wealth Management Group is the show sponsor for our very first show with Back of the Bus. THANK YOU for helping to make this exciting new project come to life! And THANK YOU to you, as always for tuning in… we’re super excited to share this new way of celebrating and supporting the arts here in The Battlefords, and hope you’ll grab your ticket to tune in on the 23rd. See you then!

This episode is being launched at the tail end of 2020 - so we’re wrapping up what’s been an ‘interesting’, surprising and downright challenging year for most of us. Jane Zielke de Montbrun is the Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Battlefords branch. She’s devoted much of her career to supporting this community through not-for-profit work, and knows first-hand some of the struggles that people are facing in this community… and importantly, what some of the best things are that we can all do to overcome those struggles and support each other. Through the CMHA, Jane is also in the home stretch on a couple of very exciting projects that look to really change the landscape of mental health supports here in The Battlefords.Connect with CMHA Battlefords on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BattlefordsCMHACMHA Saskatchewan: https://sk.cmha.caCall CMHA The Battlefords: (306)-446-7177

In this episode of Untapped, host Matt Jacques talks with Tesler Mosquito - founder of the Treaty 6ix clothing brand. Learn what inspired Tesler to start an apparel company over the summer of 2020, and what's made his venture a stand-out success already.Beyond the brand and stylish hoodies, Tesler also leverages his company to create a positive impact within the community. He does this by inviting Indigenous and non-indigenous customers alike to learn and participate in the inclusive nature of the Treaty itself. You can connect with Tesler to follow his entrepreneurial journey at:https://www.facebook.com/Treaty6ixhttps://instagram.com/treaty6ix/https://treaty6ix.com

Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has been marked by a global movement to raise awareness of social injustices and work to put an end to systemic racism. The Battlefords have faced their share of challenges with racism, but a new annual event aims to bring people from diverse backgrounds together and reveal how our vibrant, strong and inspiring our multi-cultural community truly is.With support of the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, organizers like Bill Ironstand put together and hosted the inaugural "Walk Together - Stand Together" event in downtown North Battleford on September 21st, 2020. Listen in as our host Matt chats with Bill about the origins of the event, and meets with several artists and exhibitors along the walk. Featured guests include:Azby Whitecalf: https://www.azbywhitecalf.com, https://www.instagram.com/wapimostosis/, https://twitter.com/wapimostosisShonan Awasis Alvin BaptisteJanelle Pewapsconias: https://twitter.com/ecoaborijanelle, https://www.instagram.com/ecoaborijanelle/Visit the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan to learn more about programs, events and resources available: https://mcos.ca

Ood Gallifrey hosts this special episode about Ashley Morin, missing from her North Battleford home for over two years now. Hear the story from the family that is actively looking for her, the struggle to get help from their local police, and what you can do to help bring Ashley Morin home.There is a $20,000 Dollar Reward to Help bring Ashley home.Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bringashleymorinhome/Tipline Email: shorturl.at/pHKMXSaskatchewan Crime Stoppers: Phone: 1-800-222-8477Website: https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=206#

Janay Fox and Alexandra Nordstrom have been lifelong friends. While they followed divergent academic paths, they soon realized their studies had more common ground than one might expect. Following an initial brainstorming session, they managed to put together a truly innovative 4-day youth camp at Poundmaker First Nation.The camp explored topics of local conservation by bridging the gap between arts and science, indigenous and western ways of knowing... and between cultures. During this National Indigenous History Month, and a time when many social inequities are being brought to the forefront, their inspiring project reminds us that strengthened community ties will help show the way forward. 

There's no denying that COVID19 has thrown us all a bit of a curveball. With gatherings of all sorts cancelled and business as usual put on hold, the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is doing everything they can to provide local employers and employees with the information and resources they need to find a way forward in this new era of uncertainty. In this episode, Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak relates some of the challenges being faced, as well as inspirational solutions that local businesses large and small have implemented over the past couple of months. Bringing together local, provincial and national expertise from other chambers of commerce, and all the latest provincial and national support programs, the Chamber is working hard to stay on top of the latest developments to help local businesses.Visit the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce website for all their latest.----We also now have an official Battlefords Untapped website, where you can explore all of our previous episodes - and with our new Nominate A Guest tab, you can even let us know about the awesome people, businesses or organizations that make the Battlefords a great place for you to call home. 

Kelly Waters had just opened a new live music venue called She-Nanigans when the global COVID-19 pandemic hit. This timing might have been a recipe for disaster, but Kelly was determined to keep being a beacon of positivity during this crisis.She has continued teaching her students remotely, and has turned her passion for cooking into free meals for individuals and community organizations in need. And while the stage at She-Nanigans has remained empty, Kelly started up a "Battlefords' Got Talent - Online" competition, offering up $1,000 in prizes to celebrate the musical and performance art talent of the community.During this conversation, Kelly explains the origins of the vision behind She-Nanigans, what drives her to make a difference, and how the community has responded to her efforts.-Untapped is hosted by Matt Jacques, a Battlefords-based photographer, writer and podcaster.Thanks again to Untapped Season One host Eric Anderson, who had to step down from hosting duties to tend to a few of his other projects, including YXE Underground, a fantastic podcast telling stories from the Saskatoon community.Battlefords Untapped is a proud member of the Saskatchewan Podcast Network!

There's a special friendship at North Battleford's McKitrick Community School between a class of young students and a group of financial advisors that is bringing out the best in the community.In 2017, six investment advisors at RBC Dominion Securities formed a friendship with a group of kindergarten students. The advisors, which include Untapped producer Rob Rongve, wanted to partner with the community school to ensure that every student in this kindergarten class would graduate in 2030. I remember hearing Rob on CBC Radio in September of 2018 talk about why he and his colleagues were doing this, and you couldn't help but feel inspired!Since that first class, more businesses and non-profits have stepped up to help students at McKitrick Community School graduate and become the future leaders of our communities.Last October, McKitrick hosted a ceremony to celebrate this year's future graduates...the class of 2032!I wasn't able to make to the ceremony but Untapped's photographer Matt Jacques was there...camera AND microphone in hand! What you're about to hear is a series of interviews Matt conducted with a variety of people who are all involved in this amazing project. A big thanks to Matt for doing so much work to make this episode possible!Don't forget to subscribe to Untapped on your favourite podcast app and give the podcast a five-star rating!Thank you for listening.Cheers...Eric

Nicole Combres is impressive.Not only is she the Executive Director of the Battlefords Boys and Girls Club, but she is making a positive impact in the community through her passion and leadership style.Did I mention she's only in her early thirties?Nicole is able to inspire others to do more thanks to her work ethic and passion. She also dreams big, which is why she pushes her board of directors to do more for the youth of North Battleford.I was so impressed after our conversation with Nicole and truly admire how much of her heart and soul is invested in the Boys and Girls Club.I think you will be inspired after listening to this episode and hopefully it makes you want to visit Nicole and her team at the Boys and Girls Club. They're doing wonderful things for kids in North Battleford and that's something worth celebrating!Don't forget to leave a review of the podcast and tell all your friends about it.Cheers...Eric

Gene Aulinger knows how to tell a story. I thought I would break the ice with this well known North Battleford music teacher and architect of the city's music scene by asking him to describe the beautiful Fall day we were experiencing when we met in late September. Instead, he immediately hooked me in by explaining how a young music teacher from Milwaukee, Wisconsin ended up teaching in small town Saskatchewan and eventually in North Battleford!For more than 30 years, Gene has been empowering students of all ages to pursue their music dreams. The result is a vibrant music scene in North Battleford with many world class musicians leaving their mark across the continent. In this episode, Gene explains how exactly a kid from Wisconsin ends up in Saskatchewan and what it is about North Battleford that has kept him in the community for so long. He also describes the positive impact music can have on kids, whether they aspire to be the next Mozart or not.  Gene's kindness and passion are clear in this episode, and I think you will connect with both of these wonderful qualities.Please leave a review for the podcast and tell all your friends about it. You can also find Untapped on Facebook and Instagram, where you will see some great portraits of Gene taken by local photographer and wonderful human being, Matt Jacques. Untapped is a proud member of the Saskatchewan Podcast Network. Thanks for listening!Cheers...Eric

When Bobbisue Thompson was growing up in North Battleford, the thought of being part of an LGBTQ2S community was simply a dream. She felt alone in her community. Flash forward to 2019 and not only is Bobbisue part of the local LGBTQ2S community, she is a strong and vocal leader. Bobbisue Thompson is the Committee President of Battlefords Pride and she is proud of how the local LGBTQ2S community is growing. Is there more work that needs to be done? There sure is, but Bobbisue feels that events such as Pride Week and the Pride Parade are making North Battleford a more inclusive city. One note on Bobbisue's interview…as we started rolling, an Indigenous drumming group began to perform in the intersection next to us as part of the International Street Performance Festival. I’ve listened to the interview four times and you will have to focus a bit more on Bobbisue’s voice, but I also think there’s something really special in hearing Bobbisue’s story with the drumming in the background. Thank you for listening and if you like what you hear, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app. You can also follow Untapped on Facebook and Instagram. Untapped is a proud member of the Saskatchewan Podcast Network. Thanks again for listening! Cheers...Eric

Kali Weber is very busy person, but you'll never hear her complain. Not only is she the General Manager of The Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts in North Battleford, but she is one of six volunteers who helps organize the city's International Street Performance Festival. Kali's love of arts and culture can be traced back to growing up in North Battleford and a teacher encouraging her to join the drama club in Grade 8. Since then, she has shared her passion with the community in many different ways. On Saturday, July 27th, Kali was preparing for day two of the Street Performance Festival when Untapped host, Eric Anderson, showed up to speak with her. Kali took Eric on a tour of the festival and explained why she has been involved since it started six years ago. Kali also discussed why North Battleford is a wonderful community to host cultural events and the responsibility that comes with being the General Manager of one of the city's cultural hubs. Please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Simplecast, or wherever you find your podcasts. If you like what you hear, please rate the podcast and give us a review. And as always, please tell all your friends about Untapped! Thanks for listening.

Jordon Weenie is an incredibly kind and caring person who has big ideas when it comes improving his community. Jordon is in charge of Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples at The Battleford Friendship Centre. His programming focuses on Indigenous and Metis people but it casts a wide net to include vulnerable members of the community. In this episode, Jordon explains to host Eric Anderson why he is so passionate about his role at the Friendship Centre. He also discusses his vision for shining a positive light on North Battleford and why his mother is his constant source of strength and inspiration. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Don't forget to leave a review and share the podcast with all of your friends!

Take a stroll in downtown North Battleford and you will see a host of local businesses. Everything from coffee shops and bakeries to clothing stores and restaurants. This city has a great entrepreneurial spirit. Krystal and Keisha Mah are two examples of that spirit. Krystal owns a home and lifestyle boutique shop called Luna and Leigh. Keisha is the owner of Moon's Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant that's been a staple of the culinary scene for over 25 years. Krystal and Keisha join host Eric Anderson to discuss the path they took to become successful business owners. They also explain why North Battleford is a perfect city to start a business and the valuable lessons they learned from their father. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Don't forget to leave a review!

If you ever get a chance to sit down for a beer with Brennan Lampitt, do it. He is great at telling stories and knows how to describe what beer tastes like, which is important for his line of work! Brennan is one of five owners of Armoury Brewery, a microbrewery that opened late in 2018. The brewery is another great example of people coming together in the community and working towards a common goal. Eric had the pleasure of sitting down with Brennan in the tap room to talk about how five friends ended up in a 106 year-old building making beer.

Colleen Sabraw knows the importance of building connections between kids in North Battleford and nature. Colleen is the Executive Director of the Battlefords Early Childhood Intervention Program and played a significant role in creating something unique for children in the community. Last year, Saskatchewan’s first natural playground was opened in North Battleford’s Centennial Park. It bypasses the usual plastic slides and metal monkey bars of playgrounds and instead uses trees, rocks, hills and grass to encourage kids to get out and enjoy nature within city limits. Colleen loves her community and that was abundantly clear when we she met Eric at the playground on a windy Fall day.

This is the first episode of Untapped and we are starting things off with a great ambassador for North Battleford. Ursula Swindler is the manager of the Capitol Movie Theatre and grew up dreaming not of being in the movies but actually owning a movie theatre! Her dream came true and today, she brings an infectious energy to the community through her creativity and generosity. Eric spoke with Ursula in her theatre to discover why she is so invested in her community.