Bring Back The Porch

All of Canada is watching as the Toronto Blue Jays try to win the World Series but there is also a strong connection between Medicine Hat and the Blue Jays. Former Medicine Hat Blue Jay Greg Morrison joins Brian on the Porch to talk about the connection and his efforts to keep the legacy of baseball alive in Medicine Hat. #LocalVoices , #yxhlocal , #medicinehat ,#gojaysgo, #mhmavs Support the show

Jim has come back to the Porch to talk about how the election campaign played out for all the candidates. He and Brian discuss the next steps for the incumbent Mayor and new city council and how they will have to come together for our community. Support the show

The Alberta government will table back-to-work legislation on Monday that seeks to end the province-wide teachers’ strike. Bill 2, known as the Back to School Act, was announced today via an order paper published on the Alberta Legislature’s website. Brian is joined by local ATA presidents Mike Jerred and Deanna Burzminski to discuss how the ongoing teachers strike is affecting Medicine Hat teache...

Immanual Morritz joins Brian on the Porch. He has run for city council before coming in tenth place. He and Brian speak about the cultural shift that has to take place in Medicine Hat’s city hall to get the city going again. Immanual says we need a council that puts citizens first by providing good leadership. #LocalVoices , #yxhlocal , #medicinehat Support the show

Election Day is getting closer by the minute including in Cypress County. Dan Hamilton joins Brian to talk about his campaign for Ward 5. Water is a big concern for both agriculture and business and Dan wants the county to be ready. Dan sees the potential for Cypress County to grow their economy and wants to continue to be apart of the decision making going forward. #LocalVoices , #yxhlocal , #med...

The porch welcomes a candidate from Redcliff, Matthew St. Pierre is hoping to be re-elected to town council. Brian and Matthew discuss the issues facing Redcliff including infrastructure spending and the need for economic development and how the town wants to grow. #LocalVoices , #yxhlocal , #medicinehat Support the show

The Porch welcomes retired high school teacher Quinn Skelton he is running for Public School Trustee. Brian and Quinn discuss the changes in the classroom since Quinn started in the classroom in the 1990’s. He is running because he wants to make sure the kids come first. #LocalVoices , #yxhlocal , #medicinehat Support the show

Pamela Kunz is a first time candidate vying for your vote. She and Brian discuss her reasons for running for city council. She comes from the non-profit sector and has spent the last two years on various boards learning how government works to get things done. We are also available where ever you listen to podcasts including YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music #LocalVoices , #yxhlocal , #med...

Candidate for Public School Trustee Jan Kline-Farmer joins Brian on the Porch to discuss her reasons for running. Jan wants to see school boards get back some of their autonomy so they can help guide community and parental involvement. #LocalVoices , #yxhlocal , #medicinehat Support the show

Local business owner Mark Albrecht joins Brian on the Porch. He is a first time candidate for city council and feels the time is right for him to step up and dedicate himself to the citizens of Medicine Hat. He would like to see a hold on taxes and he explains why he doesn’t think a southside recreation space is a good idea. #LocalVoices , #yxhlocal , #medicinehat Support the show

Brock Hale is from the Harlow neighbourhood and was thrust into the spot light over a land development deal that he and his neighbours thought wasn’t a good fit. He joins Brian on the Porch to discuss his reasons for running for city council. He thinks the city as a whole can be run more efficiently. #LocalVoices , #yxhlocal , #medicinehat Support the show

The civic election is less than a week away and Jim Groom joins Brian on the Porch as they discuss the campaign so far. If you are looking for information regarding the civic election the City of Medicine Hat has loads of it on their website. Here is the link https://www.medicinehat.ca/.../information-for-voters/ #LocalVoices , #yxhlocal , #medicinehat Support the show

Brian Varga went from the hockey arena to the political arena trying to get elected for the first time in 2007. He would wait 8 years before Medicine Hat would choose him to sit at the horseshoe. He served for 8 years and lost his seat in 2021. Now he is back, trying again to represent you on city council. Brian and Brian discuss Varga’s ideas including the notion of supporting local, existing bus...

Brian welcomes Troy Wason to the Porch. He is a first time candidate for city council but he has lots of experience in provincial and federal politics. Troy says he is against party politics in the municipal arena. Troy hits a soft spot with Brian as he is a history buff he has been on many boards while living here. He says the biggest issues are safety and affordability. #yxh,#medicinehat,#medhat...

First time candidate Jodi Faith joins Brian on the porch. She loves the vibrancy of Medicine Hat and wants to see Medicine Hat set up community associations to get neighbours connecting. Brian and Jodi discuss ways the city can support small business and get people working. #yxh,#medicinehat,#medhat,#communitymatters,#yxhlocal Support the show

Candidate for County Council Ward 5 Della Burkitt visits the Porch. She is running in the smallest riding by land but one of the biggest by population. She thinks the biggest challenge for Cypress County is listening to what residents want and getting the other 9 people at the table to come up with a strategy to move Cypress County forward. Support the show

Brian is joined on the Porch by Megan Hilgendorf. She is a candidate for the Medicine Hat Public School Board. she believes that a big part of the role of school trustee is to build relationships with stakeholders and the electorate to understand the needs of the students. As a parent with two children in the school division she wants to bring everyone together working for a common goal. #yxh,#med...

Randall Noble visits the Porch. He is running for the first time and thinks that Medicine Hat needs a temporary tax freeze to look at the affordability crisis in our city. He wants the city council as a whole to look at some of our social issues and work with the boots on the ground organizations to see if there are some solutions.  #yxh,#medicinehat,#medhat,#communitymatters,#yxhlocal Support the...

What are you thankful for? It’s a question many of us get asked around this time of year. Here at the Porch we are thankful for our community who has invested in our work by watching, engaging and sharing. We are working hard to create a community connection that is both authentic and reliable. On a special Bring Back The Porch, Brian and Bernie talk about some of our recent projects and take a mo...

The Porch was filled with energy when Michael Reid popped in for a visit. He is a first time candidate for city council. He has a background in education and coaching. He and his spouse recently moved to Medicine Hat to set up a local business YogaRevolution. Brian and Michael have a thoughtful discussion on the issues Michael faces opening his business and discuss ways he thinks the city could do...

Long time resident Brian Robinson comes to the Porch and discuss his bid for city councillor. He has a long history working history with the Saamis Rotary Club and collaborated with the City on many community projects. Brian’s vision centres on economic growth and quality of life. #mhvotes , #medicinehat , #CityPolitics Support the show

Our first public school trustee visits the Porch. Catherine Wilson stops in to discuss her campaign. She and Brian discuss the state of the current teachers strike and the challenges facing students and teachers in the Medicine Hat Public School Division. #mhvotes , #medicinehat , #CityPolitics Support the show

The Porch welcomes Dana Christensen a first time candidate for City Council. He thinks something needs to be done about affordability and creating a future that is growing and prosperous for our city.  #mhvotes , #medicinehat , #CityPolitics Support the show

Former Mayor Ted Clugston stops by the Porch. He has spent a great deal of time in the service of Hatters as mayor and as a city councillor. Brian speaks with Ted about the current challenges this council will face and what he thinks he can do to grow Medicine Hat. #mhvotes , #medicinehat , #CityPolitics Support the show

You might not know his name, but you will recognize his voice as Jay Hitchen pops by the Porch. This is the second time Jay has ran for office and he has learned some lessons from 2021. Brian and Jay speak about the issues facing Medicine Hat and how to make Medicine Hat a place where our kids and grow-up and raise families of their own. #mhvotes , #medicinehat , #CityPolitics Support the show