Your Neck of the Woods

Well, we haven't done this in a while. No guests on this episode of Your Neck of the Woods, just Jason and I chatting about things going on in Calgary, Alberta, and the world. We've had a provincial budget affecting priorities right here in Calgary, the relaxing of COVID pandemic restrictions but not before civil unrest leading to the historic and potentially infamous depending on your point of view; declaration of a national emergency, uncertainty about the revitalization of downtown, the push for an official municipal bird, and most tragically a war in Europe.While offering significant funds for municipalities only a few million for downtown revitalization in Calgary. Of course, this has us talking about the fate of the downtown strategy and different ways cities can raise funds including cryptocurrency and a tech tax while balancing having a business-friendly environment. Look for a full episode on this soon. On a related note, we dive into potential uses for the old Central Library and a police processing centre. These provide incredible commercial opportunities as well as the potential for a home for mental health services even if this is less likely. One other note on the core we are still seeing weekly protests even as health restrictions have eased significantly, we discuss not only these but of course the convoys and blockades especially in Ottawa which led to the first invocation of the Emergencies Act.Locally we are also now looking at adopting an official city bird. The list of candidates includes everything from pigeons and magpies to the northern flicker and blue jay. Starting April 1 and going for a month you can vote for your favourite! We'll have the link for you as soon as voting opens!Of course, we couldn't have a conversation about what's going on in the world without discussing the tragedy in Ukraine. This has affected so many of us both directly and indirectly. The images and scenes we're seeing are absolutely horrific and we can only hope peace and Justice return soon.Be part of the conversation by following @JMcGregoryyc on social media and send us your comments, questions, and even suggest topics using the hashtag #YNOTW

We are all citizens. That's the motto that encompasses everything you need to know about Citizen Brewing Company. In this episode on Your Neck of the Woods Jason and I continue our series highlighting local business stories as we go behind the mic with Joel Field head brewer at Citizen Brewing Company, a Calgary craft brewery and pub that prides itself on social responsibility and offering something for everyone.With a background in biochemistry, brewing beer seems natural for Joel even if he started out selling speakers. If you have an interest in craft beer this episode is definitely for you, you'll definitely learn a lot about beer and brewing. Joel and the production team at Citizen pride themselves on offering something to everyone's taste while producing the varieties craft breweries have come to be known for.. in a similar vein Citizen offers robust vegetarian options in its pub fair, alongside seasonal and special brew offerings such as those around Pride or in support of people with MS.We recorded on International Women's Day which was a special day at Citizen part of their proceeds went to the Pink Boots Society which exists to assist, inspire, and encourage female beer professionals through education. This emphasis on giving back extends to the brewing process as well Citizen gives their spent grain a second life, they donate all spent grain to local Biodynamic farms and small animal farms such as pigs and chickens. In addition, they've teamed up with 250 breweries to donate profits to clean water charities.Jason and I have talked about supporting local for a long time especially as we continue to recover from the pandemic and Citizen is a fantastic place to do so! They have food and drinks for everyone to enjoy and do everything they can to make Your Neck of the Woods a better place!Check out Citizen Brewing Company @citizenbrewingcompany on social media Shop citizen merch and order beer online athttps://citizenbrewingcompany.comOrder food for delivery on DoorDash and Skip the Dishes!Learn more about the Pink Boots Society athttps://www.pinkbootssociety.org Be part of the conversation follow @JMcGregoryyc on social media submit your questions, follow updates, and suggest topics. Don't forget to use the hashtag #YNOTW!

A place to feel at home, connect with people, and work peacefully at your own pace. That's the vision Jordan Schmuszko and his family started the Joyful Java Cafe. This week on Your Neck of the Woods we talk to Jordan about Joyful Java as well as The Village Lifestyle Centre in Brentwood an important home for made-in Calgary businesses and community events.The Cafe values great, fresh home-cooked food and a community atmosphere where you can connect with people, work, relax and feel at home. With large tables that include power outlets as well as quieter spaces where you can get the cafe atmosphere, but something more private. All of this speaks to the value placed on the family by Jordan and his family in particular. They want Joyful Java to feel like a place where you're treated and fed like you're at home. Something that adds to this is a location that lends itself to being a “hidden gem” spread by word of mouth but we all agree with the COVID situation getting better it's time for Joyful Java to become more people's secret spot.Another thing about that location, the home of Rocky Mountain College is that it's not only home to Joyful Java but also a unique local business community. The Village Lifestyle Centre is the heart of this family project. The Village acts as a home to 25 local businesses all with direct benefits to the community including fitness, education, lifestyle, groups, classes, and activities as well as an event hall! There's really something for everyone! All the tenants at the village are sublets providing an affordable space to grow your business all attached to this community and family value.The Village and Joyful Java are a perfect example of a project and people absolutely committed to a bright future right here in Your Neck of the Woods! Let's get the word out and grow this community with deep roots in Calgary! With everything going on in the world we could all use another place where we feel safe and at home.Check out Joyful Java downstairs at 4039 Brentwood Road downstairs, visit their website https://www.joyfuljavacafe.com and follow @joyfuljavacafe on social media Learn more about The Village at their website http://thevillagecalgary.ca and follow The Village: Brentwood's Lifestyle Centre on Facebook Be part of the conversation, submit questions, suggest topics and get the latest news on Your Neck of the Woods. Follow @jmcgregoryyc and use the hashtag #YNOTW

This week we had the absolute pleasure to have a conversation with someone who's been part of the political, business, and media spheres in Alberta. This week on Your Neck of the Woods we chatted with the President of the Alberta Enterprise Group, former Calgary radio personality, and former leader of the official opposition as leader of the Wildrose Party Danielle Smith. With so much happening at all 3 levels of government and with the state of political discourse in Canada, there was so much to cover.Now the host of two podcasts Danielle opens up with the state of spin in journalism where it's more important to maintain a narrative than provide balanced reporting. This has of course made new and democratized media far more prominent and important (we here at YNOTW couldn't be happier). This led to a discussion of the messaging surrounding the pandemic which could be called muddled and misinterpreted, where the vaccine was understood to minimize spread, as opposed to prevent severe outcomes. This combined with the wartime stance many governments have continued for 2 years has contributed to the strain we're seeing.Of course, at some point (hopefully soon) the pandemic will end and we'll have to reckon with the bloodied, beaten, and broken state of our public health system. We chat about solutions to capacity issues that the “stress test” COVID offered. We can't be in our homes and live with the month-long waitlists anymore. We all agree there needs to be a shift toward preventing illness and balancing universality and choice.The economy and environment were also major topics. An oft-ignored part of this debate is net-zero vs. zero emissions. This is a space where there's room (especially for conservatives) to offer unique, economically sound solutions. In her role with AEG among others Danielle (and myself) are boosters of nuclear energy as the future of a thriving Albertan and Canadian sustainable energy sector. With so much innovation there's every reason for tomorrow's leaders and opportunities to come from Your Neck of the Woods as long as we don't get in our own wayCheck out Danielle's podcasts and newsletter at https://www.daniellesmith.ca Follow everything going on with the show and be part of the conversation by following @JMcGregoryyc on social media and using the hashtag #YNOTW

Part of what makes doing the show so much fun is all the interesting people that I get to talk to. It would be hard to find somebody more interesting than Melba Seto. Polyglot, altruist, survivalist, adventurer, not to mention businesswoman and maker of “adventure soap”. She just happens to be the first in what I hope to be a recurring feature on Your Neck of the Woods where we showcase and amplify local business owners. Melba is the owner and founder of Bowness Soapworks, as you might guess they sell homemade soap. It's a business with its roots in Melba's love of the outdoors hand an idea that sprung out of an Airbnb with some exceptional touches. When guests wanted to know about the soap, they got during their stay Melba had the idea to not only sell this soap but make all kinds of different scents and partner with other local businesses to create custom soap that they could sell.This has grown into a business with dozens of distributors throughout Calgary, several partner businesses with custom soap and now a Soap Club, and unlike fight club we definitely want you to talk about Soap Club. This is a program where every month not only will you receive soap from Bowness Soapworks but goodies from various other businesses that have joined the Soap Club! I'll have a link for this at the bottom of this description. Melba isn't just building a community with roots in our Rocky Mountains that are part of the Bowness Soapworks logo, she is committed to giving back to her community as an avid blood donor and advocate for inclusion. So much so that we have our first offer in podcast history if you donate blood and show your proof of donation to Bowness Soapworks by March 4, you'll receive a free bar of soap! Donating blood can help so many people let's get out there is a community save some lives and get some free soap.In the future, Melba even wants to offer survival skills courses along with her adventure soap to pass on the skills she learned in the cadets of the armed forces and has an avid outdoors person. Personally, this seems like a fantastic idea to me we've all seen through the pandemic how important the skills of being self-sufficient can be when times get tougher, how much we all learned about planting our own gardens, baking bread, [even with all her skills Melba hasn't quite mastered this one apparently] and many other things we haven't been used to doing especially living in a city like Calgary. The work gets tossed around a lot but this really was inspiring talking to someone who does so much right here in Your Neck of the Woods and is one of the reasons that such a great place to live!Follow Bowness Soapworks @bownesssoapworks on social media to follow Melba's adventures and see the adventure soap being made!Join the Soap Club here: https://bownesssoapworks.com/pages/subscriptions book your appointment to give blood here: https://myaccount.blood.ca/en/donate?_gl=1*68jwt2*_ga*MjczMjkxNjIxLjE2NDQzNDE3NDQ.*_ga_YHMRKTXXVD*MTY0NDM0MTc0My4xLjAuMTY0NDM0MTc0My4w&_ga=2.262258373.837423881.1644341744-273291621.1644341744 Follow everything going on with Your Neck of the Woods submit your questions, feedback, and be part of the conversation by following @JMcGregoryyc on social media we want to hear from you!

If there's one thing we're learning from the pandemic it's the importance of local businesses in our communities. Most of the time this has taken the form of calls to buy products and services locally to support your community. Of course, it's much easier to support local the more local businesses we can foster. Terry Rock CEO of Platform Calgary and our guest this week on Your Neck of the Woods is hoping we can shift towards “build local” and “work local”.Platform Calgary is an organization looking to foster local entrepreneurship by providing a 1 stop shop for business owners to start, grow and find investment opportunities for their company all in one beautiful building downtown. We take some time to chat about the programs and opportunities offered at the Innovation Centre when it opens later this year as well as where Calgary might be going as a city. Terry sees Texas as a good comparable for Calgary. A resource economy that's also attracting talent and emerging in the tech sector. Our city seems well-positioned to thrive again with a concerted effort.Cities that attract and retain talent aren't just looking to attract large business headquarters to create jobs they create those 5000 jobs at home and the culture shift can feedback to the corporations. Another advantage Calgary can have is our vibrant food and culture sectors, both of which our guest has had a hand in. I'm happy to say this led to some great restaurant recommendations I'm excited to try!So give this chat a listen whether you're just looking for some delicious new food or craft beer to try or an aspiring entrepreneur looking to get your company off and running cause it'll be invaluable either way. Your Neck of the Woods has a bright and thriving future coming and organizations like Platform Calgary want to be part of the culture change that will make it happen!To learn more about Platform Calgary as well as its programs, services, and partnerships go to platformcalgary.com and follow @PlatformCalgary on social media.Be part of the conversation suggest topics, submit questions, and get the latest updates by following @JMcGregoryyc on social media don't forget to use the hashtag #YNotW

If you were to look at Calgary 30 years ago it would certainly look very different from Calgary as we know it today. That's when this week's guest on Your Neck of the Woods Shane Wenzel became involved with the company named after him by his father and began helping build our communities. Jason, Shane, and I chat about his early years at Shane Homes moving from drawing and comic books to working on job sites always with a strong work ethic instilled by his parents. Back then building lots for homes could be 40 feet wide or more.Such is obviously not the case these days, so much of our conversation centres around what city building looks like now as opposed to what they looked like in the past. A common thread then and is bureaucratic and ideological stubbornness from city planners, of course, this bumps into the pressures of a housing market that demands both customizability and affordability. An excellent example of this was the debate around the Guidebook For Great Communities (now the Guide for Local Area Planning). We discuss the importance of complete, connected communities balanced with clear communication and what the market is telling you.Contrary to the narratives we sometimes hear our guest says that we're not seeing a move away from single-family homes but rather they're becoming more popular. This is both a result of increased diversity popularizing multi-generational homes and the widespread adoption of work from home thanks to the pandemic. Speaking of the pandemic, once again it shapes our conversation as we talk about the changing face of cities if we continue to work from home and no longer need to be as close to the office and can be in a more comfortable space but also the rise of digital media and what we're currently binging.If the face of our city is fundamentally changing it'll also mean downtown will need to be more of an entertainment hub so once again we agree that it's time to put ideology aside and work collaboratively, time will tell if this is what we get. This was a refreshing, honest look into where our city is, where it's going, and how your neck of the woods gets built along with one of the people whose hard work and dedication make it happen!Follow Shane on social media @ShaneWenzel and follow Shane Homes @ShaneHomesBe part of the conversation by following myself and Your Neck of the Woods @JMcGregoryyc on social media and use the hashtag #YNotW

Well, we're back after our break for the holidays and they couldn't be more glad that we record the show indoors because Your Neck of the Woods has been dropped in the deep-freeze the last couple of weeks. For our first show back, Jason and I had the pleasure of chatting with a once political rival in the form of Ward 1 Councillor Sonya Sharp. Sonya graciously took some time to come on the show and talk about what her priorities have been in serving as your Councillor up here in Northwest Calgary as well as to give some great insight into the biggest civic story right now, the termination of the Event Centre project which happened to occur over our holiday break.I must say what a refreshing change of pace it is to have someone representing us who makes being open and honest and human such a big priority. This is something I was aching to see and I know many of you listening were as well. In addition, Ward 1 is going to be receiving some additional traffic signals to promote road safety, so far, I must say I'm fairly impressed. From local priorities we move on to the big news of the day here in Calgary the arena we have discussed so much on the show will no longer be happening in the form that was presented, that is despite being weeks away from construction beginning. While Calgary Sports and Entertainment were the ones to officially terminate the deal; to call administration and the Mayor's new asks to approve the project strange would be an understatement, they were the proverbial mouse given a cookie asking for far more than their glass of milk. Then the lacklustre efforts it would seem from the timeline given by Councillor Sharp tell me that one side, the other, or both were merely getting cold feet and looking for the nearest unlocked fire door. Council is meeting on Tuesday to hopefully give us some answers although given the city's habit of keeping this kind of information in the black hole that is the in-camera session we may never know. As far as the future of the project many council members like Sonya seem to be largely in the dark as we are except for the fact that city officials have said they are searching for a new partner to continue the project. Needless to say, all three of us share skepticism that as reliable and financially available a partner could be found. Wiser words were never spoken then the words we'll see.On the lighter side this week the conversation not only turned to holiday plans which on the whole were scaled back in no small part due to the Hoth-like temperatures were currently experiencing as well as continued frustrations from Covid 19 but also to Sonya's journey from the University of Lethbridge through the building industry, to her time as a lifeguard, to city administration and small business owner, to Council itself. Needless to say, an interesting path already with some absolutely entertaining anecdotes from Councillor Sharp's time in university. An absolutely fantastic conversation from somebody not only representing Your Neck of the Woods but who grew up here as well. Many thanks from a fellow St. Francis Brown and fellow ULeth Pronghorn. We definitely look forward to having you on the show again.You can follow Sonya Sharp on social media @SonyaSharpYYC to follow updates from city Council and Ward 1 as well as community events and projects. If you need to get in touch with Councillor Sharp follow the link and fill out the contact form, we hear this is the best way to reach her:https://www.calgary.ca/citycouncil/ward-1/warddefault.html?redirect=/ward1 We want you to be part of the conversation so if you have topics, you want us to discuss, questions for guests or any feedback follow me on social media @JMcGregoryyc and don't forget to use the hashtag #YNOTW

Our cohost Jason is back this week as for the second episode in a row we are chatting with the journalist. This week Your Neck of the Woods welcomes Cory Morgan of the Western Standard! We discuss the latest goings on at City Hall, how action can change from the campaign trail to when you begin your term in office, money in municipal politics and what lessons we can take if any from what we've seen from October to now.Speaking of interesting lessons our guest has a background in Alberta sovereignty politics being the former leader of the Alberta Independence Party. Given that a referendum on the equalization payments in Canada was included on our election day ballot we dive into what the roughly 65 to 35% vote to end equalization payments in Alberta could mean for Your Neck of the Woods. Short-term that seemingly not very much but we all agree it's a clear message that the way we're doing things currently isn't working for everybody. Of course, this got us into the actual constitutional process and some history of the reform and sovereignty movements in Canada. It's notoriously hard to change the Canadian Constitution and with such diverse regional interests play hit will likely take a new secession crisis similar to that of 1995 for a fair deal to be back on the table. Leading to an interesting discussion of Cory meeting with members of the Bloc Québecois and the fundamental differences between the Québec sovereignty movement and sovereignty in the West. The western sovereignty movements are driven by ideology and practicality whereas sovereignty in Québec has a more long-standing cultural element to it making it less vulnerable to the waxing and waning were familiar with closer to home.Cory is a very interesting person while we discussed the best ways to move the country forward; hint it's not the People's Party but a strengthened, focused, and distinct Conservative Party alternative to the Trudeau government, we also got into Cory's background in the energy industry and the time he spent surveying for oil in the Arctic. Even though it may feel like we live there right now, the stories Cory tells about the nearly 24-hour nights and the construction of ice roads will make you very thankful for your central heating. This also included some very entertaining and informative anecdotes of Cory as an activist, specifically during the occupy movement when he parked his truck so as to disrupt a camp. Importantly, displayed at City Hall's insistence that the camp couldn't feasibly be moved this was accomplished in a matter of days. This illustrates something I think it's very important to highlight. If you are going to be provocative it should be done for a purpose and with a specific goal in mind not merely to be disruptive.The show is going to be taking a break for the holidays so stay safe, have fun, love your family a Merry Christmas and happy holidays from all of us at Your Neck of the Woods!You can follow Cory on Twitter at @CoryBMorgan and following summary tooling and production upgrades watch the Cory Morgan Show [now five days a week] and read his column on www.westernstandardonline.com  [you may even see a couple of guest articles soon from yours truly]We want you to be part of the conversation follow me and your neck of the woods on social media at @JMcGregorYYC and if you have questions or topics you'd like the show to cover use the hashtag #YNOTW

This week on Your Neck of the Woods I had the pleasure of chatting with a freelance writer, podcast host, and former City Hall reporter for The Sprawl Jeremy Appel. After some lamentation on the fate of Canadian cultural staples like Much Music, we took a look at media and journalism in Canada and the rise of multimedia alternatives like podcasts to the traditional daily news reporting format. As you can imagine being hosts of podcasts ourselves has presented unique opportunities as we saw in the last municipal election. The conversation dove into Jeremy's path to becoming a City Hall reporter and the unique experience of reporting on municipal politics as a more recent resident of Calgary.This led to an interesting offshoot of how issues can get lost in the traditional daily news narrative with the example of police funding possibly dampening the discussion of transit and infrastructure needs in the city. Naturally, this discourse and city issues lend itself to diving into our perspective thoughts on the election and the first few months of the new City Council, always an interesting topic when you are sitting across the table so to speak from somebody who sits in a different spot on the political spectrum than yourself. I've spoken before on how I feel some of the actions of the new Council seemed performative but that I was also glad first responders were receiving the funding they truly needed. Interestingly, I always find it important to note that both sides of the political spectrum seek to meet the needs of citizens just go about it through different means, this took us to chat about progressivism, conservatism, and populism and the views each of these take to making life better in Your Neck of the Woods.As with many cities in Calgary, there is a divide, a complex one but for the most part, one that can be split along urban and suburban lines. Chiefly the urban and suburban split in Calgary can be seen in the role that the city should play in the delivery of services, how we pay for these, and what the future of growth in our city looks like. When we examine the three -isms mentioned above each has problems that will have to tackle as we move to the future. Progressives have to tackle the issue that these divides do exist, suburban neighbourhoods can feel ignored in favour of the urban core of the city. Traditional conservatives a group in which I'm happy to count myself have to struggle with the idea that we cannot simply run on low taxes for the sake of low taxes we also have to apply lived experience to present real solutions for everyday people in a changing world. I tried to be an example of what applied conservatism should look like. The populists discontented with the traditional progressive and conservative options, have to present themselves as a viable governing option and not simply content with rhetoric and political Theatre. People are unhappy but unless you present more than that it's difficult to grow a support base.With things being the way they are it can feel difficult to see a way forward to a bright future, but if we make the effort to bridge these divides and to have conversations with those who have different solutions from ourselves, we can find the common ground to move our city forward regardless of where Your Neck of the Woods lies!You can find Jeremy's podcasts The Forgotten Corner and Big Shiny Takes wherever you get your favourite podcasts and you can follow Jeremy on Twitter at @JeremyAppel1025Remember I want you to be part of this conversation so if you want to suggest topics we should cover, questions we should ask guests or even if you just want the latest news or to find out when the newest episode of the podcast is released follow me on social media at @Jmcgregoryyc and use the hashtag #YNOTW

We have our first returning guest of season two, although last time she was going by her married name. In this episode on Your Neck of the Woods, we welcome back then-candidate now councillor Kourtney Penner of Ward 11. Kourtney, Jason, and I chat about what the first month and a half of Council's been like, some takeaways from the budget adjustment process, police funding, and the work culture at City Hall.After roughly a month and a half since being sworn in things become a little more routine for new councillors like Kourtney, between regular Monday Council meetings and the week filled with committee work things are settling into a more “normal” pattern where there are busy days and weeks and some slower days. And with the recently passed budget adjustments, it's been a busy time but the homework done during the transition period helped ease the strain as the work begins for the next full year on the newest for your budget cycle where I think we may see the most change. During the budget adjustments councillor, Penner was one of four councillors to vote against an increase to the police budget of $6 million so we dive a little bit and what drove that decision, how it is to make these kinds of difficult decisions on behalf of not only your constituents but a city of almost 1.5 million people, especially when there will always be feedback both positive and negative on every decision.Sharing the workload and fostering a more collegial work culture “at the horseshoe” was a major theme this week. Not surprising given almost everyone I talked to while running for Ward 1 wanted to see more collaborative Council and less backbiting and bickering, something that can't always be easy when a cloud surrounds one of your colleagues but a little peek behind the scenes seems to show a younger, motivated, and friendly disposition between Council members that hopefully more of us will get to see as the pandemic abates.With the holidays coming, the chat takes a turn for the festive as we take some time to go over our plans to spend time with our families, enjoy some local talent as performances return, and all in all get into the holiday spirit. Speaking of which, if you're looking for something to do in Your Neck of the Woods for the holidays the Create Calgary Foundation will be holding a Christmas festival at the bonus community association December 21, from 4 to 8 PM this is a free family event with live music, food, crafts, hot chocolate, and photos with Santa. One of my favourite Christmas traditions is going to see a Christmas Carol as put on by Theatre Calgary every December. The show runs all the lintel Christmas Eve get out with your family and enjoy a holiday classic!To get in touch with councillor Kourtney Penner you can email Ward11@calgary.caAs always we want you to be part of the conversation at Your Neck of the Woods! You can follow the latest with the show, submit questions, suggest topics and more on social media @jmcgergoryyc! Use the hashtag #YNOTW.To learn more about the Christmas festival email nathan@createcalgary.orgTo get your tickets for a Christmas Carol visit: https://www.theatrecalgary.com/shows/a-christmas-carol

This week on Your Neck of the Woods we had the pleasure of sitting down with Christopher Brown the host of the Cross Border Interview Podcast. This was an episode a long time in the making after I appeared on his show and he moderated forums throughout the municipal election. Naturally, this led to the takeaways from the election, what it meant as well as early surprises from the new city council and there have been a few especially during budget week After some behind-the-scenes about organizing the election forums (and a coincidence with the Ward 1 forum in Your Neck of the Woods), we talk budget and campaign rhetoric. CPS funding took centre stage as a budget increase (that was definitely needed!), but contradicted some statements on the campaign trail was passed. The other interesting policy choice which should have you concerned despite where you stand on the issue is the vague policy regarding Calgary declaring a “Climate Emergency” when Administration doesn't have a clear direction on how to execute concrete solutions what you end up with is empty calories.When we inevitably discuss the controversy surrounding Councillor for Ward 4 Sean Chu we get to chatting about purity tests and past mistakes. This led to some deep heartfelt discussion starting with power dynamics, trust, and what it means to have the confidence of voters.From this sprung some personal moments you have to hear firsthand. Please go take a listen to not only this episode but the episodes of CBIP referenced in the episode! All of us here at Your Neck of the Woods want to wish Chris well with his ongoing Cancer treatment and surgery the day after this episode drops. Looking forward to those milkshakes soon!Be part of the conversation!Follow @JMcGregoryyc on Social Media#YNOTWFollow the Cross Border Interview Podcast @CrossBorderPod (Twitter)@Cross Border Interview Podcast (Facebook)

It's a new season here in Your Neck of the Woods and we couldn't be more excited especially because to start off season two we had the honour and the pleasure of interviewing the Member of Parliament for Calgary Rocky Ridge Pat Kelly. This episode covered lots of ground between the recently past federal election, the wariness of Canadians towards the current Liberal government, and what a day in the life of an MP during a Covid session of Parliament was like, what the future looks like now that Parliament will finally be sitting again, and a little bit about conservatism in general because all too often conservatives now are painted; much of the time by political opponents as at the very least greedy and unfeeling and at the worst science deniers who are quietly paving the road for Neo-Fascism.Pat, Jason, and I tackled the election first summarizing the motives behind it, what went right from a conservative perspective, and what can be improved on. The pandemic and the idiosyncrasies of a hybrid Parliament [some members participate in person and others virtually] were chief among the difficulties in front of the Conservative Party in Pat's view and they tend to agree, it's difficult for a party with a new leader to really take on the mantle of future government when many of the traditional pieces of opposition in Parliament are reduced out of necessity. That said, an election that delivered virtually the same results as the previous one isn't necessarily a vote of confidence from the people so it'll be interesting to see where things go.This led us into a discussion of the nuts and bolts of some parliamentary functions which really was enlightening in terms of the different tools used by opposition parties to hold the government accountable as well as the various tactical tricks governments can use to slide past that accountability. A major theme of the conversation was doing all that you can't serve your constituents. To my mind, Pat is a shining example of this; dedicating hours of office as well as email and phone time to hearing concerns of the people he serves and bringing those concerns to the floor wherever he can. At the end of the day, this is the part of the job he finds most fulfilling and I think that's a sign of a great representative.So, while Your Neck of the Woods so to speak is represented by a principled conservative why do we often see those sidelong glances or arguments from people who hear that we are conservative? Political bleed from other places and levels of government are definitely part of this but as you will learn here, the message is often skilfully clouded by political opponents and others to paint a caricature of conservatism not as an applied force for everyday folks but an unfeeling bogeyman. When you hear today's episode, I hope you examine attitudes like that more carefully because this is what conservatism is supposed to be about.If you want to bring something to Pat Kelly's attention you can email Pat.Kelly@parl.gc.ca or you can phone his Calgary constituency office at 403-282-7980 and be more than happy to engage with you [I know from experience]. You can follow what's going on in Parliament and how it will affect Your Neck of the Woods ourcommons.ca.In light of the recent devastating flooding in British Columbia and providing the link for you to donate to flood relief. You can donate to those who desperately need it in BC through the Canadian Red Cross at this link https://donate.redcross.ca/page/94172/donate/1?locale=en-CABe part of the conversation by following me on social media @JMcGregoryyc and using the hashtag #YNotW

With the announcement of our first nine guests for season two of Your Neck of the Woods Jason and I decided to give you a little preview of the excitement that's coming very soon! The first nine guests represent the expansion of Your Neck of the Woods to a wider audience, touching on political issues from all three levels of government, as well as business, the media, arts and creativity and community events and initiatives. The nine guests we talk about this episode are:Pat Kelly MP for Calgary Rocky RidgeChris Brown host of the cross-border interview podcastKourtney Penner City Council member for Ward 11Cory Morgan of the Western StandardJeremy Appel municipal affairs reporter for The SprawlSonya Sharp City Council member for Ward 1Shane Wenzel Pres. Shane HomesTerry Rock CEO of Platform CalgaryNathan my era founder and CEO of the Create Calgary Foundation and Calgary MagazineJust a few of the discussions Jason and I are excited to have for example are expanding on your platform after the election as well as City Council news with Councillors Penner and Sharp, homeownership, development, and the business Outlook of Calgary with Shane Wenzel, media's view of the municipal election and the role of independent media with both Cory Morgan and Jeremy Appel; a brief discussion of issues at other levels of government with Cory Morgan as well as a brief discussion of Alberta sovereignty and the recent the equalization referendum, and the emerging tech economy in Calgary with Terry rock as well as of view from the eyes of non-profit organizations in our conversations with Terry as well as Nathan.Our premier episode November 24 with Pat Kelly will be a can't miss conversation about our democracy, conservative politics, federal issues in Canada and the spillover effect of other levels of government on the Federal election. You absolutely won't want to miss it, were just thrilled to be bringing this conversation to you and the fact that we've been able to put together this lineup of guests, as well as this particular premiere episode, is an absolute honour!Our new website is in the works and we will hopefully have an announcement on that soon, in the meantime feel free to reach out with questions for any of our exciting guests on social media @JMcGregoryyc using the hashtag #YNotW we want to hear from you!We recorded this episode the day after Remembrance Day so I wanted to remind everybody to think about the freedom we all enjoy and the cost of that freedom comes at mentally and physically. Take a second to think about those who have, are, and will sacrifice to keep us safe thank you to all of you! And see you on the 24th!

It's not quite Season Two of Your Neck of the Woods yet but Calgarians Had Lots of Questions Posed to Them Aside from Council on Election Day. So, Jason and I Figured We Would Do a Show Breaking down the Results of the Equalization, and Daylight Savings Referendums As Well As the Fluoride Plebiscite in Calgary. Here Is a Breakdown of the Results:Equalization:Alberta Voted by a Margin of Roughly 62% to 38% That This Section of the Constitution Should Be Removed. Jason and I Discuss What the Result Means and the Different Paths for Ward It Could Mean for the Province. In Some Circles This Result Could Mean an Open Door for the Alberta Sovereignty Movement As It Shows an Appetite for Change That Is Unlikely to Come through Constitutional Change. This Constitutional Change Is Unlikely Because the Amending Formulae in the Constitution Act Requires Seven Provinces Representing 70% of the Population of Canada to Agree on the Amendment. That's Why a Another Common Opinion Is That This Vote Is Merely Symbolic and Will Have Little Real World Consequence, but Momentum Could Be Gained If Other Provinces Ask Similar Questions and Get Similar Results. We Also Discuss the Factors of Low Voter Turnout, the Popularity of the Current Provincial Government, and the Difference in Political Landscape between Calgary and Edmonton As Well As the Rest of the ProvinceDaylight Savings Time:By Nearly the Narrowest of Margins, 50.2% to 49.8% We Voted to Continue Changing Our Clocks As We Currently Do. I Believe That This Result Could Have Drastically Changed If the Approach Taken Was a Switch Back to Standard Time and Then Permanent Standard Time. The Example Here Would Have Resulted in Greater Portions of the Year Many People Going to Work and Coming Home in Darkness. We Have a Great Discussion on Circadian Rhythms and Why We Do Change Our Clocks As Well As How the Result Here May Have Been Better Served If We Had Included Both Permanent Daylight Savings, and Permanent Standard Time Options As Well As Examples of What Both Options Would Mean. A Lack of Clarity and the Wrong Approach Jason and I Both Believe Skewed the Results Somewhat Here.Fluoride:Arguably the Most Visible and Hotly Contested Campaign of the Three questions this was an issue many Council and mayoral candidates were asked about including myself. By a 62% to 38% margin similar to that of the equalization question Calgarians voted in favour of reintroducing fluoride into the water. This was a clear enough margin that Council is expected to act quickly to reintroduce the additive. Jason and I chat about the arguments for and against fluoridation which we discussed in season one as well as the campaigns run by each side, and how the format of the ballot and voting process may have affected the overall turnout on this question in particular since I know many people who were unable to give their opinion because the fluoride plebiscite question was talked at the bottom of the first page of a long ballot. To see a full breakdown of the equalization and daylight savings results visit these links, and I am also including a link to a great article global Calgary did on the fluoride result:https://officialresults.elections.ab.ca/orResultsReferendum2021.cfm?EventId=68RQ1&QUESTIONNO=1 https://officialresults.elections.ab.ca/orResultsReferendum2021.cfm?EventId=68RQ2&QUESTIONNO=2 https://globalnews.ca/news/8275778/calgary-fluoride-back-drinking-water/

Hosting Your Neck of the Woods for the past year has been a major part of an incredible journey for me. When this episode comes out it will be election day here in Calgary. This is the day we've been talking about on the show for a long long time, and it seemed only fitting to have our election day show not only covering some of the recent events in the campaign but to reflect on what it's been like to host the show for you. It also wouldn't be proper to do this episode without our sometimes-absent cohost Jason. After we look back at some of the recent events in the campaign leading up to election day, we chat about how this past year has affected our lives.I can tell you this process has given me an even greater respect for the people [even those who I might disagree with] that choose to dedicate their lives to serving their community. I am also certain that the same goes for Jason, between the fascinating guests and deeply engaging conversation on issues that matter to you I would not have traded this past year hosting the podcast for anything. It has been an absolutely amazing ride! I'm happy to say that that ride's not coming to an end. After a much-needed break, Jason and I will be coming back and continuing Your Neck of the Woods! Depending on what happens the show will likely have a different flavour focusing more on community events and people than specific issues. Of course, politics will always be a part of Your Neck of the Woods and if I am successful in getting elected as your representative the podcast will be a major part of how I communicate with you.So, one last time I remind you to go vote today, get vaccinated, be kind to others there's hope and a bright future on the horizon regardless of what happens and thanks for letting me share what's happening in Your Neck of the Woods!

PACs or the Third Party Advertisers in the jargon of the Local Authorities Elections Act have become a hot topic on the campaign trail in Your Neck of the Woods. These are groups that, while not affiliated with a specific campaign [directly] are known for advocating for specific policy outcomes. They've risen to fame as a mainstay in American politics where most advertising is funded at least partially by a political action committee. They've risen to prominence here as a result of the bleed of Americanization and polarization that we've seen in recent years but also as a result of deliberate reform to the legislation that governs municipal elections in Alberta.In this episode, we discuss how PACs became prominent in municipal politics partially as a way to continue corporate donations, partially as a way to engage certain groups of people [such as the unions which dooms some very important things such as providing job protection and labour standards but have grown to have two significant and influence over the political choices of their members], and how while PACs serve a purpose there is truth to the idea that these groups can influence policy outcomes from their selected candidates, as we all know a political campaign is a money-driven process and even if PACs can't be affiliated directly by making the process cheaper they often do hold sway over decisions made by a candidate and make it harder for non-pack affiliated campaigns such as the one run by yours truly to get their message out to effectively.I also chat about the different impacts that are out there on this political campaign, what they're looking to do, and what to look out for when interacting with a political advertisement. I hope all of you make your decision on October 18 based on researching your candidates and voting for the one that best represents your interests, not the one you've seen the most advertisement for. Don't get pulled into the negativity either, well I may not agree with everything these groups do at a fundamental level they are groups of fellow Calgarians looking to move our city in a direction they feel is best because as we've talked about before the selection is one of the most important in the recent history of Your Neck of the Woods!

Things are heating up in Your Neck of the Woods, time is running out in the municipal election campaign and traditionally these campaigns include a debate. The pandemic means this isn't exactly the easiest time to hold such an event though. Luckily Chris from the cross-border interview podcast was able to put on a debate for each of the awards including in Ward 1. Out of what turned out to be nine candidates eight of us participated, in this episode, I sit down and summarize my debate answers without the constraint of a 90 second time limit.We covered topics ranging from economic opportunity, to affordable housing, to green spaces, and road safety. I'll take you through all of these, connect them to previous episodes of the show and discuss the overarching theme of restoring hope to the city we call home. These of been tough times in our neck of the woods and I want to be part of the solution. With the election campaign winding down, win or lose have started thinking about the future of the show and what I would like it to be once the election is over. What I can tell you is more than likely the shows that have characterized this election year will be the first of hopefully many seasons. In the next few episodes, election day will come and go but there will always be more people, events, and issues to discuss in Your Neck of the Woods.

If I had one I hope it's that re-watch/listen to this episode of Your Neck of the Woods a couple of times before Election Day. This may very well be the most important and useful episode of the podcast so far. Jason and I walk you through the ballot, the voting process, your voting options and when you can exercise them.Whoever you plan to vote for we want to be your source to have your voice heard. That's why not only are we talking about the what, how, and when of participating in our democratic process we now have a Ward 1 debate coming up in a matter of weeks! Learn when and how you can hear me and my fellow candidates share our visions for the future!Remember whoever you vote for getting out and voting because this election will shape Your Neck of the Woods!Some helpful links from Elections Calgary https://youtu.be/7zkHjZn3Jxwhttps://youtu.be/KIbAmEjp2Bchttps://youtu.be/NrbyQsp_rfk

If there are 2 things I've emphasized on Your Neck of the Woods they are being a conduit for citizens and that if you vote for the same type of candidate you get the same results. My guest in this episode, Calgary mayoral candidate Brad Field would wholeheartedly agree! Jason and I chat with Brad about a wide range of 2021 election issues. For starters, the daunting task of running against what; at the time of recording, is a 26 candidate field (pun intended) featuring 3 current city Council members. Not only does he echo my sentiments about fresh blood but shares stories from his business experience to back them up. Field believes this business experience and a new approach to the city budget make him the man to lead our economic recovery.Alongside show favourites like the Green Line and Event Centre, we also have a refreshing conversation on making it less expensive to park downtown since we're in the process of revitalizing it. Supporting our traditional energy industry while at the same time attracting industries we're well-positioned for, and making Calgary a destination instead of a stopover. The mayoral race will mean a great deal to Your Neck of the Woods!

Community advocacy, collaboration, and economic recovery. These are things that are of paramount importance to the latest guest on Your Neck of the Woods. DJ Kelly a candidate for Ward 4, and community engagement strategist at the University of Calgary as well as a former columnist for Metro and Alberta at Noon has a lot to say on these subjects. As it so happens you know I have lots to say on these subjects and so when we met recently on a tour of Platform Calgary's innovation Centre asking him to be a guest on the show was a natural fit.The tour of Platform Calgary innovation Centre was the catalyst for much of our conversation on economic recovery as well. In order to get our city economy back where it wanted to be fiscal responsibility must be coupled with the support of entrepreneurs, activation and retention of Calgary's students, and the attraction of new global business partners. My recent experience, as well as past experience advocating for disability issues, tell me that having a lot of core resources in one easily accessible place can be an accelerator to getting things done and DJ and I both believe that this project can accomplish this goal.Dj's experience and our collective frustration found us discussing the all-too-familiar pattern of vague broad policy announcements from the City Council which don't lend well to practical solutions that you know I advocate for. Specific, measurable, and attainable goals are ultimately what would lead to positive outcomes and alongside data transparency are things the city has been lacking for a while now. The ability to prioritize these things is important to me and seems very important to my guest. The future of the city that we call home and love depends on not only ineffective economic recovery but the engagement of all Calgarians. If we want to see a bright future in Your Neck of the Woods we can't settle for the way things are, let's be great!

This week on Your Neck of the Woods Jason and I have the pleasure and privilege of chatting with a former candidate for Ward 1 in 2010 and 2013 Chris Harper! Now working in the private sector Chris has a unique perspective seeing politics through the lens of both former candidates and private sector consultants. The three of us discuss what the selection will mean for the future of Calgary as even though change is discussed every election cycle it's not every election that a majority of council seats are open. In addition to the usual topics, we've been discussing on the show this episode definitely has a strong land-use flavour.Land use may not be of the sexiest topic especially when compared to the Event Centre, Green Line or the ever-present in much talked about property taxes all of which we have discussed at length however land-use affects how you and your neighbours experience the communities you live in and ultimately what our future city will look like, especially since the Land-Use Bylaw will be one of the first major orders of business before the new council that will hopefully include yours truly. Another less talked about but extremely important issue that will arise from this election is that of transition, I would hope that like myself my perspective colleagues are studying the current Land-Use Bylaw, Municipal Government Act, and local authorities elections act because after election day you only get about one week of designated transition time and any further time and information hopefully come from the outgoing counsellor which as you can imagine can lead to some contentious relationships.The role of the Mayor also comes up this episode; despite the Mayor's prevalence in media coverage, the actual role of the office is much less significant than people might think this is because the Mayor outside of chairing a number of Council and committee meetings has, for the most part, the same responsibility and powers of the other 14 councillors. I seldom talked about the idea would be to have a separate position much like the Speaker of the House federally to take over these chairing duties. It was an absolute pleasure to have Chris as part of the conversation and we also have some laughs swapping stories from the campaign trail and Chris gives some advice regarding researching candidates to represent Your Neck of the Woods!

Building on our conversation from a recent episode Jason and I continue our discussion of the role of City Council as well as individual counsellors, but we expand our conversation to term limits as well as ways to potentially make the city Council more representative. Any time we reach the end of a democratically elected term in Calgary the discussion about term limits heats up. That's because we end up with councillors that have served multiple terms and a perception grows that these representatives, we've chosen have lost touch with the people they serve and are more concerned with their future career or getting re-elected than improving the lives of their constituents.On the other hand, we have people that argue that term limits are undemocratic because it takes away the power of voters to continuously elect a representative that has been serving their office extremely well. I tend to adhere to the adage that goes something like “politicians are like diapers; they should be changed frequently and for the same reason.” Don't get me wrong I'm not bashing the profession I'd like to join but it's much easier to lose sight of the principles you fought and sacrificed for after more than a decade in office. Not to mention, that the ideas and environment you originally got elected in May have vastly changed in your time in office, hopefully, they have that means you've made a difference and somebody is waiting to take the mantle and make Your Neck of the Woods even better than you left it. This is absolutely a debate worth having and another was inspired by a conversation I had with my family.In Calgary, and many other cities in the City Council or other form of municipal government is elected along geographical lines to represent various parts of the city. In some other cities, however, the model is slightly different; while there usually is still in geographical districts these cities include “at large” members to represent the interests of the city as a whole and potentially help represent ethnic communities more effectively. This also has the benefit of decreasing brain drain because talented, qualified candidates in competitive races could still be elected as at-large members. Now, this has some obvious drawbacks, namely in making municipal politics more susceptible to special interest groups and enlarging city staffing requirements and potentially increasing divisiveness and politicking, but it's definitely an intriguing concept. So today enjoy our chat on some different ways to make Your Neck of the Woods more representative of and responsive!

We had a familiar face on this episode of Your Neck of the Woods, three months after his first appearance Ward 12 candidate and friend of the show Mike LaValley is back! A lot has happened in three months, to say the least. So, Mike and I chat about updates to various issues like the Green Line, which recently got its first phase approved as well as that project's future. The ups and downs of the event Centre project; which after another period of frustrating opaqueness now seems to be back on track and ready for shovels in the ground this winter. Of course, this led to deeper discussion once again on the idea of the need for more transparency and how we can bring that to the Council.Transparency, resiliency, and change are themes that ring throughout the entire conversation. Even the recent Summer Olympics provided lessons on how our city can get back on its feet after dealing with some very difficult times. Some of that resiliency can come from change we're going to see a great deal of it this fall regardless of the outcome of the election, is it our job to ensure that change every eight years or if it's not broken should we fix it? How prone to complacency are long-term candidates? Finally, do term limits themselves pose a threat to the charter rights of Calgarians?As if this conversation weren't interesting enough, we examine what reason poll numbers might mean for the future of Your Neck of the Woods. Is there a front-runner in the mayoral race? How many people will come out and vote? Will we see fluoride reintroduced into the water, should we? With such a crowded election cycle with the potential of a federal election, provincial ballot questions and a fraught political climate how much are the lines blurring between our levels of government and will it lead to solutions or more grandstanding?

This is a very different episode of Your Neck of the Woods than usual, we won't have a guest or even cohost. This chat is just between you and myself, as I meet more and more of you through door knocking or answer your questions via email and social media, I realize that, as much as I'd like to, I probably won't get to interact with all of you wonderful people here in Ward 1. So, I figured we could dedicate an episode to you guys learning more about me especially since I want to represent you and I figure a big part of that relationship is trust; trust is a funny thing it tends to build the more you know about a person. So in this episode, we dig a little deeper and I'm going to tell you who I am, why I'm here, and why I think it matters. After all, if it doesn't matter why am I doing it? Looking back and reflecting on myself it's fascinating to see how previous career goals, interests, and influences not only shaped me but have seemingly worked their way back around into what I'm doing now. The truth is this feels like something I'm supposed to do, I've always been that person who when a friend or family member comes to me with a problem I'm looking for ways to solve the problem or at least make the situation better. I can't think of a better way to apply this trait than to represent the city and communities I love on the city Council.I grew up in hockey rinks and on community baseball diamonds, lived through harsh winters in Calgary; [and some chinooks too] struggled to look for work, see the effects of economic downturn and high property taxes on family and friends, lived as a disabled Calgarian and dealt with the inconveniences and perils of living in a city where barriers exist not out of malice but because people like me can be an afterthought. Whatever the struggles or joys I've gone through them in Calgary my whole life and in Ward 1 for half my life. This is my home and I'm dedicated to leaving it an even better place than it already is. I started this journey in November 2020 in the midst of some of the greatest challenges we have ever had to face and there have been some very tough days but if there's one thing, I want you to take away from this episode it's that I am the most dedicated, hard-working, and even though the worst of times optimistic people there is. I've been part of this process for a year but Calgary is my life. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk; I mean enjoying another episode of Your Neck of the Woods.

Our co-host returns to Your Neck of the Woods this week, good thing too because there's so much going on in Calgary! In this episode, we chat about the recent Green Line approval, updates and controversy regarding the Events Centre, and city councillors changing their minds and running for different offices. Things are moving fast and changing every single day.The budget for the Events Centre has risen to put the project in doubt for the time being once again largely behind closed doors, we've finally reached the point where the rubber meets the road on the massive Green Line project, behind the photo ops and speeches did we do this the right way? Finally, with a couple of councillors leaving for perceived greener pastures we discuss what that says to you the constituents and what I think the role of a potential councillor SHOULD be. The news we've seen affects how we'll live, work, and play in Your Neck of the Woods! 

What we have here is a failure to communicate… with our constituents. More precisely to consult with them on projects that will affect their communities. Instead current Council and administration talk AT Calgarians and tell them what's best for their neck of the woods. Myself and my guest this episode Ward 9 candidate Kimberley Feser want to change that dynamic. We discuss the need to bring your voice back and make your hard-earned money go further instead of “death by a thousand cuts” when you open your tax bill. After all, it's more important to improve your experience living in Calgary than get bogged down in legacy projects that many Councillors won't see the completion of.Campaigning is always a challenge but this year has presented some unique ones between the pandemic and the recent heatwave. This created an interesting topic as we compared experiences on the campaign trail. From issues, you've brought to our attention to the reaction by some to conservative candidates on social media and how to combat it. Kimberley also shares some insights on how different it can be to campaign as a woman.This episode is great for some laughs, insightful commentary on the state of political discourse, and real solutions to make Your Neck of the Woods a better place for years to come!

It's easy to connect with someone when you share common experiences and I definitely have some of that with this episode's guest. Ward 11 Candidate Carolyn Krahn has spent much of her life volunteering to help people with disabilities and knows the challenges faced by many Calgarians, including myself. She's hoping to bring that experience to help her ward and all of Calgary.In addition to the major projects which have in many ways become running themes in Your Neck of the Woods, we discuss the SAVE program and how the city can find more savings while affecting services as little as possible. We live in a city that can be pretty demanding on your furnace so it seemed interesting to me that Carolyn has made encouraging efficiency a  major campaign plank but it led to some great conversation on winter in Calgary and how we can thrive going forward.The Covid pandemic exposed how important our first responders, health care workers, and frontline workers are. These people who have given so much and all Calgarians have had to deal with things we never thought we would combine with opioid abuse mental health has become more important than ever! Both I and our guest are committed to making sure people in Your Neck of the Woods aren't left behind.

Things get a little philosophical today in Your Neck of the Woods is a sit down to chat with Ward 8 candidate Ted Knudtson. Alongside the major issues of the upcoming election, we discuss the proper functioning of a democratic society and whether the rhetoric that disappoints many of us is actually a sign that our municipal government is functioning properly, after all, Council is 15 people making the decisions that affect over 1 million people, we each come from different walks of life in different circumstances that colour our decision-making. When this is the case should we expect debates to be… Vigorous and spirited?What does it mean to be progressive in 2021? What does it mean to be a conservative like myself in 2021? How are these ideological positions being coloured by outside factors and should we even be pigeonholing municipal politics this way? These questions are ultimately very important because a lot of them will affect how the next city Council functions. Whether you identify as progressive, conservative or somewhere in between we are trying to solve the same issues about how to make the city we love a better place to live, work, and play. When there is effective and honest communication even between people who are ideologically very different you may find as Ted and I did. that there are certain areas where common ground can be found to move Calgary forward even if the reasons, we come to these conclusions are very different.Whether you are here for the issues, or a fascinating debate on rhetoric, political philosophy, and democratic society this episode won't disappoint. The future of our city relies on having the vision to move forward, when we have 15 of these it is impossible not to have disagreements but examined closely and honestly, we find that the goal is the same; to making Your Neck of the Woods the best it can be!

If you vote for the same, that's what you'll get. If there's one thing, I want you to take away from listening to the show this is probably it. It's the same lesson Ward 12 candidate Teresa Hargreaves would like people in her ward to take away as well. She ran for city Council in 2017 and wasn't successful. Among the things she learned was that people will very often stick with what they know even when they want to improve their situation. Case in point, the 2021 election is revolving around many of the same issues as four years ago. From densification to the Green Line, and the event Centre to fluoridation you would be forgiven for thinking someone hit replay on the previous election cycle.In many ways this is frustrating but it's also a great opportunity, we have a second chance to tie up these loose ends and move Calgary towards a brighter future. Perhaps it's time to link our airport into the transit system as has been talked about for 40 years, maybe we reinvigorate the business climate in the city with the incentives for new start-ups to set up shop, maybe it's time to close the vacuum of the information left by the abundance of in-camera sessions of city Council. These are all decisions we can make again this time around.This episode, in particular, educated me on a new issue that we have to confront moving forward, our neck of the woods up here in Ward 1would be affected less but it would directly affect thousands to tens of thousands of people. That is, the orphan wells from the petrochemical industry that can be found in abundance in Ward 12 and adjacent to it in the municipal districts around the city. If one of these were to suffer a catastrophic failure of some sort it would affect close to 350,000 people. Currently, CEMA does not have a safety plan in this particular case and that is unacceptable. In addition to this Teresa is a big advocate for a more local police presence in her ward and as you know this is something Ward 1 needs desperately as well. This episode brings a new perspective to issues we've talked about before and raises a major new concern that may be one of the biggest potential disasters to face Your Neck of the Woods.

If you get the process wrong the result isn't going to be what you're looking for and the costs are going to be higher than people will accept. If there was a theme to today's episode with our guest from Ward 2 Theo Van Besouw that would be it. Theo comes from an engineering background so he knows how important the process is to get the result you want. One major reason your property taxes continue to rise is that bloated and unaccountable processes like the Green Line steering committee continuously inflate the costs of projects. The lack of defined project scope and Council oversight has resulted in Calgarians writing checks without knowing what the result is going to be.Theo, Jason and I dive into how we can make Calgary run more efficiently and with more certainty moving forward. If we make it a priority to set up a similar process for all capital projects we're going to be able to complete these projects at lower costs and with better public consultation. The change we need might stem from setting out specific goals as a council that we want to achieve in this term, as a hypothetical say reducing expenditures by 20%. Now that you have that goal you have a definitive, specific lens through which to view and make decisions on projects and policies that come before you. In theory, this would give the City Council more direction and allow it to function more cohesively as a unit. Whether this is possible is a matter of some debate, we all know politics can be an emotional thing but should it be?An ideal me and my guest definitely share is that of a community helping community. We can be better, so many of us are struggling with food insecurity or a lack of job certainty and I feel that it's my responsibility to make the community I live in and serve better than when I started. Theo works for an organization that provides assistance to those in need and as part of our campaign this summer we will be helping to feed hungry Calgarians in our neck of the woods. When you listen to this episode think about how you can make Your Neck of the Woods a better place than it is today.

Who you are is always going to colour how you see the world and your vision for the future. Nowhere is this more relevant and truer than with Ward 2 candidate Francis Aranha. A first-generation Calgarian coming from India Francis is deeply passionate about helping his neighbours. So much so that he is making it a point to run as cost-conscious a campaign as possible to prove that you don't need thousands of dollars to get your message out and make your city better.Francis is deeply rooted in his faith and we had a very unique conversation because the past year has made me re-evaluate and renew my own. Like myself, Francis is dedicated to practical solutions to make the lives of everyday people around him better. These include empowering young Calgarians, sporting small businesses, and more effective communication with constituents. You may note that these are all things I am very passionate about as well. Interestingly my guest and potential colleague today have a vested interest in our public transit system as he vows to take transit every day to the office if he is elected.Whether or not he's successful in his election campaign Francis is someone I think we can all draw some inspiration from. In this is somebody who did not get into this race or any kind of personal gain or prestige but simply to make his community better. This is a person who goes to long-term care facilities and plays guitar for the elderly and other such things just to brighten people's day. If we were all his community-minded, kind, and selfless as him while maintaining the work ethic demanded of a first-generation Calgarian by our society then Your Neck of the Woods would be a much brighter place and hopefully learning from him it can be in the future!

Full disclosure, this one took two tries because of some technical difficulties but it was definitely worth it. When you think of city services which ones do you think of as needs and which are just nice to have? This is one of the primary questions of today's episode of Your Neck of the Woods. If you've worked on any decision-making body, you'll be familiar with the concept of scope creep. This is the phenomenon that you start working on a few specific tasks or objectives and in the course of that work you stumble upon other tasks and objectives which lead to even more and on ad infinitum and told work you're doing no longer resembles what you started out to do. Our guest Ward 3 candidate Gurbir Nijjar and I feel scope creep is rampant in city administration. We'd like to see an across-the-board review of programs, services and processes to see if they are running efficiently and accomplish and what they were intended to. Likely this will save money but it will also make the services that are doing what they should easier to run without the bloat from other parts of the organization. In the end, services that affect your everyday life like snow removal, waste management, and emergency services will be boosted while minimizing bureaucracy.At the same time, is recreation a core service? I certainly think so, these are places people gather to socialize and to come together and improve their health. One thing that we delve into today is the idea that city recreation is it parks, rec centres, outdoor rinks, or arts facilities can be a major factor in improving mental health outcomes in Calgary. As you know this is something I am quite passionate about after the year we've been through and this is an interesting perspective in addition to practical solutions to make seeking treatment easier.You all know I'm ambivalent regarding some aspects of the green line project and while I and Gurbir aren't completely aligned in this particular issue it does have the potential to make parking in Calgary more convenient especially downtown. If we really do want to reduce costs which I know we do, the biggest part of the budget is roads and other related expenditures which we can control through having a more complete public transit system. Now, what that looks like we can certainly talk about because I don't think the current solution is the best one but ultimately the question is what's a core service in Your Neck of the Woods?

J's are wild today on Your Neck of the Woods, we have a Jacob, a Jason, and our guest today Ward 13 candidate Jay Unsworth. Jay knows a lot about Your Neck of the Woods as he describes himself as a “proud Bownesian” before moving to Ward 13 with his family. Today's episode is brought to you by the word trust, myself and Jay are absolutely passionate about restoring trust and communication between Council and Calgarians. One of the big takeaways I think is the difference between consultation, properly engaging citizens on an issue at hand, versus communication telling citizens what's going to happen and how often current Council and Administration can confuse the two, eroding trust on any number of issues.The three of our inner Canadians shine brightly today as the analogy of an NHL General Manager with poor salary-cap management skills highlights the idea of city councils short-sighted financial decisions as well as an interesting dichotomy where people will be “armchair GM's” so to speak when it comes to the game but sometimes less so when it comes to governance. The history of post-World War II construction is used to have a deeper conversation on densification and development; and we take a deep dive on capital projects talking about the difference between deep, enriching, informed dialogue and the unsettling trend to elevate the surface level information found on social media. Or “talking an inch wide and a mile deep versus an inch deep and a mile wide”.I've talked a lot on the show about fiscal responsibility but this episode touches on an interesting part of that for me. A balanced, responsible budget is always and should always be a primary goal. However, while staying in the black we have to be able to be aspirational, or as our guest put it “start saying yes again”.  Anybody who knows me knows me as a pragmatist, there's a difference between reckless spending and investment in city building.  That's an important piece of the discussion that I think is missing right now. If we want to bounce back and make Your Neck of the Woods a great place again, we have to find a place to say yes while making your dollars go further. From floods to food, historical zoning to The Simpsons, and smoked meat sandwiches to the Saddledome there is a lot to hear on this episode of Your Neck of the Woods!

We're back to a trio on the show this episode as Jason and I sit down with born and raised Calgarian and Ward 7 candidate Derek Williams. Hailing from Montgomery Derek is an avid advocate for community building which made it especially prevalent to once again discuss the Greenline as well as the future of a downtown that will look very different post-Covid. Derek calls the Greenline a “no-brainer” and feels like we should have had shovels in the ground today.The conversation today dealt in no small part with the idea of balance. Whether that be balancing the investments in capital projects with the need to be fiscally responsible and sustainable, balancing the changing face of work with the existing commuter culture, or balancing and attracting new talent to our business sector without alienating existing residents. Speaking of attracting talent we discussed the current business climate in Calgary and whether we're doing enough to make this an attractive place to start a business. Much of the data says that Calgary has an excellent business case but we are hearing more and more that talent is leaving; so, we dive into how to make Calgary a great city to live, work, and play in in the future.Part of that means properly engaging Calgarians on how they would like to see their communities move forward, something Derek and I agree the current city administration is falling short on. A one-size-fits-all, top-down engagement and planning strategy especially with a lack of consultation is a recipe not only for poor community building but needless controversy and distrust. This distrust is not confined to issues and projects but may also be an effect of incumbency and long-term careers in politics. If we want to move forward in our neck of the woods, we agreed that it's probably time to turn down the temperature of rhetoric and start working together again. Let's move forward and make our city more collaborative and it all starts in Your Neck of the Woods!

Today's episode of Your Neck of the Woods features another candidate from Ward 12, Evan Spencer. A resident of Mahogany for six years Evan says the neighbourhood feels like a home more than any place he's ever lived. Spending the first several years of his vocational life as a pastor and more recently as a dedicated volunteer in his community Evan wants to emphasize the importance of “neighbouring” and grassroots movements to make the city better.A big part of the conversation this episode centres around rebuilding the trust in the city council that has been lost over the past several years, as well as the need to keep municipal politics as independent as possible instead of another platform to emphasize partisan ideology. Of course, it's hard to talk to a Ward 12 candidate without discussing the Greenline, the costs, the perils, and ultimately what we both feel the future of the project will look like. This was a great jumping-off point into a discussion of inclusion in the city. Evan describes himself as “early on in his journey” understanding the struggles of various groups including those with disabilities like myself as well as other marginalized groups like people of colour. Now with his views transformed by recent experiences, he's looking to make Calgary one of the most inclusive cities in Canada if not the world.One of the things that can have the biggest impact going forward as we've talked about before is densification and mixed-use communities. Evan and I discuss the need to do this in a smart, thoughtful way. We need to look at ways to properly engage citizens instead of telling them that this is the way things are going to be in their neck of the woods since densification projects will ultimately lead to more livable, affordable, and sustainable communities. From Covid to community to climate this was a conversation about the importance of fresh perspectives, coming together, building trust again, and making Your Neck of the Woods part of a world-class city of the future!

It's a special episode of Your Neck of the Woods we have our first sitting city councillor and incumbent candidate, councillor for Ward 5 George Chahal! No Jason this week so I go one-on-one with George and we have a great discussion about the political discourse in the city, independence in municipal politics, third party political action groups, and the nature of campaigning at the municipal level versus other orders of government. Let me tell you after volunteering with my local MP it really is a different beast.In the issues, we tackle capital projects, Council transparency and the difficulties that entails when balancing protecting personal information as well as important proprietary project details while balancing communication with citizens. Together we delve into the economic challenges posed not only by Covid but the current economic downturn, and how we can move forward and build back Calgary into an economic powerhouse.It's not all hardball on Your Neck of the Woods if you like food you're probably going to like this episode! George and I take a deep dive into the dynamic, diverse, and extremely delicious food culture that is thriving not only in Ward 5 but across the city. No matter your cultural background or your tastes you'll be able to find something you love to eat living in Calgary! With a number of incumbents either not seeking re-election or running for mayor, this is going to be an election of change. I was fascinated to hear George's advice on both what to expect, the frame of mind to bring, and how to stay physically and mentally healthy for his future colleagues [hopefully including myself]. With times changing it's always valuable to get the perspective of somebody who made choices that have shaped life in Your Neck of the Woods!

We're taking another trip to Ward 11 in our series covering candidates from the races outside Ward 1. Today, myself and Jason sit down with Ward 11 candidate Lauren Herschel. After growing up just outside of Toronto Lauren has lived in Calgary for 15 years and has a wide variety of professional experiences that it was fascinating to learn about. Her life experience in the greater Toronto area led to a great discussion on the Green Line and public transit in general.In a subject not uncommon in our conversations with candidates across the city the importance of communication, clarity of information, and transparency was a big talking point. When you're having a conversation with a Ward 11 candidate it's hard not to talk about former Ward 11 counsellor turned mayoral candidate Jeromy Farkas, Jason and I get to Lauren's thoughts on where she believes councillor Farkas has strengths and weaknesses as well as an interesting conversation on the difficulty of balancing drying distinctions with another figure and presenting your own vision.We talk about the ever-present issue that is the future of downtown Calgary, the importance of investing in the future and how this can potentially make large projects more affordable when you start them earlier. The successes and failures that the city has with regards to engagement; as well as the difficulty involved in doing proper engagement, what it means to manage the expectations of citizens and the importance of continuing to strive for accessibility something I am very passionate about for obvious reasons!Drawing on some recent news regarding the potential distribution of voter lists to candidates, including potentially problematic ones. An interesting topic is brought up regarding the security of personal information not only within the electoral process but with regards to city Council transparency. Today's conversation gets some new perspectives on familiar topics and introduces some new angles to how you look at Your Neck of the Woods!

Our election 2021 series highlighting candidates from raises outside Ward 1 continues this week as Jason and I sit down with Ward 12 candidate Mike Lavalley. Originally from a town on the border of Saskatchewan and Manitoba Mike moved to Calgary for work and now calls it his home. With Mike's experience working for RBC the conversation easily moves to the importance of a renewed sense of fiscal responsibility beyond empty gestures talked about in election years, that is, after we briefly talk some Canadian football and his unfortunate fandom of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.As Mike points out it's impossible to talk to a Ward 12 candidate without discussing the Green Line so we build off Jason and I's discussion from last week, including some sensible ways to make the project more fiscally viable and ultimately get a closer to completion. Myself and Mike are both passionate about increasing transparency on city Council namely by reducing the amount of in camera closed sessions. These sessions can often lead to of vacuum of information to be filled with the worst-case scenario. This also highlights the important role of communication from our city councillor's so that what is being talked about is clearer and that ultimately the goal should be to create less confusion. Not to mention, bringing a sense of decorum and respect back to Council where it's becoming more and more absent in the face of a polarized political climate.In our discussion we also cover parking in the city, the future of downtown and what could draw more people to come outside working hours. From how we get around town to how we spend your tax dollars, to the importance of transparency and democracy and good government, there's so much going on in your neck of the woods!

When you do a podcast covering politics and current events in a major city you have to be prepared to be flexible. Often the story will take twists and turns that you don't expect. That's why after the planning and urban development committee decided to make major changes with regards to the Guidebook for Great Communities, renaming it the Guide for Local Area Planning and then stripping it of its statutory status we had to cover what these unexpected developments and meant for the future of your neck of the woods both when it came to the future of development and the 2021 election.With the GL AP now off of Council's plate for the foreseeable future, one of the next most important and also controversial projects in your neck of the woods is the Green Line LRT Jason and I discuss the significance of this multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project, its challenges, its successes, failures, and why hit still largely mysterious after several years of planning and partnerships with both the provincial and federal government.Our discussion touches on accessibility, flood mitigation, the best way to move the project forward in conjunction with the province and federal government, as well as what the completion of the project would mean for the future of travel and work in the city. It's also interesting to compare the Green Line project with the Event Centre project with regards to why one has more public visibility than the other. Whether you love or hate these projects one thing is clear, both the GL AP and the Green Line will have a profound impact on what the future looks like in Your Neck of the Woods!

Chances are if you've spent a significant amount of time in Calgary whether you live here or maybe just come for Stampede you probably have memories in the Saddledome. Concerts, comedy shows, and of course major sporting events have been hosted at our arena since 1983. I can tell you some of the best memories I have growing up in Calgary are from events I went to at the Saddledome. Like a lot of us, I was swept up in the magic when the flames made it all the way to the Stanley Cup final in 2004 [and technically won it, just saying] I have seen all three major sports tenants play for championships in the building, while I haven't been to a concert, members of my family have and I have seen Amy Schumer perform at the Saddledome.Like many Calgary residents, however, I also know that major events are becoming fewer and far between at the dome. I can't really blame major performers for skipping our city even if it is in favour of Edmonton when the roof can't hold the proper number of speakers and sound and light equipment in a snowstorm in Canada. For a long time, I didn't think I'd have to talk about the movement to replace the Saddledome as part of the show after all the papers were signed before we recorded the first episode. One of the interesting things about doing a current events podcast is that you have to be flexible.With the recent developments and delays in the Event Centre project as well as some revelations coming out recently about hidden costs potentially to taxpayers within the agreement, I felt like it was necessary to have a conversation about the Event Centre. Today, Jason and I will cover a brief history of the effort to replace the Saddledome, cover what exactly is in the agreements that were signed in 2019, a public benefit for taxpayer dollars, and whether with Covid, the economic climate, and these current delays we can still afford that this project. Let's dive into the effort to bring big events back to Your Neck of the Woods!

As we all know the 2021 election is one of the biggest things happening in Your Neck of the Woods this year. While we can agree that this podcast is focused on Ward 1 whoever represents this Ward will have to work with 14 other people. That's why Jason and I have committed to highlighting candidates from the other races in the election. This will also bring a wide range of perspectives to the show. After all, Your Neck of the Woods is meant to be a conversation.This week Jason and I sit down with Ward 11 candidate Kourtney Branagan to get her perspectives on running to replace mayoral candidate, and polarizing figure in the Calgary political scene Jeromy Farkas. I ask Kourtney some of her views on making the Council more collaborative and we both share our thoughts on urban sprawl and development in the city, even getting into a quick debate on the Guidebook for Great Communities. Listen and see what myself, and Ward 11 candidate Kourtney Branagan think of what's going on in Your Neck of the Woods!

There's an old saying that says you can only count on two things in life; death and taxes. Well, when it comes to politics, I'm pretty sure we can all agree you can only count on the second one. Taxes pay for a lot of things; this is especially prevalent at the city level. City services like garbage collection, snow removal, road maintenance, among many, many other things. For a long time, we were pretty spoiled in Calgary, commodity prices made it so that the tax base from the downtown office towers made up a good portion of revenue. For the last five years, we haven't been so lucky, this has given rise to a movement seeking to shift the tax burden to homeowners. Ultimately as long as city services are kept has what we deemed to be an acceptable level all of us want to pay as little tax as possible. That's why this week we had the pleasure of welcoming in another guest.Joining Jason and I's talk this week is Franco Terrazzano Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Franco, Jason, and I discuss whether the tax shift movement is even asking the right question to Calgarians or whether regardless of who's footing the bill spending power is affected. Is it time to start asking what things we pay for our essentials and which are simply nice to have? Do we need to build every single capital project or art installation on the docket? City reserves are for a rainy day does it really get any rainier than the hurricane we are in right now?These are questions that need answers now, well they needed answers before but it's time to find the answers. Not to mention the complete lack of leadership and compassion showed in City Hall to make sacrifices themselves when so many of us are struggling. Multiple pensions and some of the highest salaries in the country are not the examples to set when others are struggling to put food on the table, or at least that's my take. These dollars and cents at the end of the day affect what it's like to live in Your Neck of the Woods!

Tonight, on COPS: oops I mean Your Neck of the Woods we're proud to welcome our first guest to the conversation! Mike Baker is the vice president of the Calgary Police Association and a veteran of the Calgary Police Service. What a time to talk to him, our brave men and women in the police service or under so much scrutiny [some deserved some not] and very few media outlets seem to want to have an honest dialogue with the person behind the badge. That's exactly what you get here.Myself, Mike, and Jason cover a wide range of issues including community policing initiatives like School resource officers and mental health and wellness checks, police funding, militarization, department training, even the role of pop culture in glamourizing crime and the effect of perception from the United States. Lately, we've heard a lot about defunding the police, in Calgary specifically from groups like Defund 2 Fund, but too few people are asking what that actually means. Why are we not talking about reducing the number of interactions police have as the default service especially when it comes to mental health, addiction, things police officers isn't necessarily the best equipped to handle? Why aren't we doing more to understand why tactical gear is important to the police service, because there's history there?Instead of absorbing narrative from the United States, let's have our own honest, balanced conversation. All the questions above are important because without context we end up demonizing people who dedicate their lives to keep us safe. Let's tackle these issues together and hear the voice of someone helping to keep Your Neck of the Woods a secure, vibrant place to live and have some fun doing it! 

I don't know about you but I've found this last year to be quite a challenge from a mental health standpoint. What's strange is this isn't a new issue between the opioid epidemic, and the economic downturn in Alberta this is something that's been going on in your neck of the woods for quite a long time. Covid and the isolation that has come along with it has merely emphasized how underprepared we are to deal with a friend or loved one in mental health crisis.Today Jason and I talk about the impact of Covid on our mental health and those around us. How often times it's difficult to know where to begin when you or somebody you love me and help, common flaws in approaches we see like creating meaningless frameworks and action strategies, and how mental health needs to be seen as a way of improving overall health taking pressure off our crisis-based system.We discuss how practical steps could be taken at the city level to reduce the number of people in crisis and how we can remove financial insecurity as a barrier. It's one thing to know where to start when you realize you need help but you need to be able to afford to get that help and the space needs to be available. This is an issue that affects all of us, many times on a personal level and so often practical solutions are papered over in favour of words and pronouncements from the government whether that be federally, provincially, or from city Council.At the same time, we also discuss of food drive that will be covering Northwest Calgary this spring so that we can do some good for the many thousands of us that need it! Remember, there's always something good happening in your neck of the woods!

Welcome to Your Neck of the Woods with Jacob McGregor. In this podcast, we are going to discuss issues and events in Northwest Calgary and the city as a whole. I started this podcast with my friend Jason Diodati because I noticed a lack of communication from our city Councillor and awareness of things going on in our community, I'm looking to bridge that gap as I run for City Council myself. Your Neck of the Woods is meant to be a conversation between myself, Jason, our guests and hopefully you!This is something I find sorely lacking at all levels of political discussion and I want and do my part of the change. This episode will introduce you to me and Jason and to the conversational style we hope to bring to many issues. I have my bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Calgary and have spent a good chunk of my life volunteering in the disability community, with the city of Calgary, and with the Calgary Rocky Ridge Conservative Association. I hope to bring a solution-focused lens to the things we talk about. No virtue signalling, and no shouting down the other person in the room. As a Calgarian with a disability, I also hope to lend a unique perspective and know that honest communication is the first step to getting things done.Jason was a high school classmate of mine and has his criminal justice degree from Mount Royal University. This combined with his business experience as Gen. manager in the cannabis industry gives him a wide knowledge base on a number of topics. As somebody who has known him for a long time, his infectious personality makes recording the show a joy! Today, you'll start to get to know us and hopefully want to walk the path with this as we learn more about Calgary and the people who live in it. Politics will be a major part of what you hear but I hope you're also entertained as you learn what's happening in Your Neck of the Woods!