Freshet Friday

Welcome to the 30th episode of Freshet Friday! This week we covered the second last week of the local election race and the first full week of the provincial election campaign underway in the 11 constituencies covered by our readership area. We also explored why Port Moody won't be going ahead with building a neighbourhood energy utility to heat new developments in its downtown area (despite havin...

This is our podcast for October 2nd, 2026, and we are all about elections this week. Two of them, as a matter of fact. The first is the October 17th Civic Elections happening across all our communities. We hope all of you picked up our special election print editions yesterday and have been pouring through the candidate profiles we provided. And the second, of course, is the upcoming provincial sn...

Welcome to our September 25, 2026 Freshet Friday podcast. To absolutely no-one's surprise, we have a heavy focus on not one, but two, different elections that are somehow happening simultaneously. Candidates running in the October 17th local government elections are now competing for attention with candidates for the October 24th provincial election. And that has definitely gotten our attention. A...

Welcome to our September 18th, 2026 podcast. This week, we're going to be talking local elections as nominations just closed for the October 17th vote. And now we know who is running for what. Our team has the full story. We'll also look at where the bears are roaming free in the Tri-Cities. We'll get a preview of the upcoming season for the Coquitlam Express, and we'll hear all about the exciting...

It's September 11, 2026 and there's a lot going on! Not only is the weather starting to cool, but election season is very much heating up! In addition to lots of news about candidate announcements and upcoming debates, we'll find out how a 1910-era house in the New Westminster's Queen’s Park neighbourhood sustained significant damage in a Sept. 6 fire, why work on Burnaby's anti-racism and poverty...

It's September 4, 2026 and today is our Silver Anniversary podcast - the 25th episode of Freshet Friday. In this special anniversary episode, you'll find out why there is now a food bank vending machine at a Burnaby Skytrain station, what to expect in a new push for more affordable housing in Port Moody, why New Westminster's Rotary Tower is seeking financial support from BC Housing and who has ju...

This week we'll hear about why the New Westminster Museum is closed until further notice, how the Port Coquitlam Fire Department is welcoming a very special new member to its ranks, why the sounds of silence will continue to be heard on Moray Street in Port Moody, and why fans of the Coquitlam Adnacks are getting excited.

In this week's episode, we find out how a mighty New Westminster squirrel managed to knock out power in the Uptown and Sapperton neighbourhoods, explore this week's new election announcements, hear some of the touching stories from behind the wheel of cars at the Port Coquitlam car show, and hear how the SFU pipe band won it all - for the 7th time - in Glasgow last week. And this week we have two...

Hello and welcome to our August 14, 2026 Freshet Friday podcast. In this week's episode, host Geof Wheelwright and the Freshet News team look back on the life of Lou Sekora, one of Coquitlam's most colourful politicians, dig into the latest batch of candidate announcements for this fall's civic election, explore why New Westminster needed to come up with a new bathroom strategy, how Burnaby Villag...

In this week's episode, host Geof Wheelwright and the Freshet News team look at the growing roster of candidates for this fall's civic election, why rookie MP Jake Sawatsky is introducing a bill to create a national suicide prevention strategy to replace Canada’s current 12-point action plan, why New Westminster is receiving more than $1 million in federal funding for gun and gang violence prevent...

In our July 31st, 2026 Freshet Friday podcast, we talk about what's happening this BC Day holiday weekend! The news coming into the weekend includes a brazen flower heist in Coquitlam's Town Center Park, how a climate action group in New Westminster is putting local election candidates to the test, how Coquitlam is working to save mid-century homes, as well as the sad loss of Coquitlam's search an...

In our July 24th, 2026, you'll hear about how the news in our community continues to be dominated by the aftermath of that major apartment fire in New Westminster two weeks ago, a mystery park purchase in Port Moody, how the field of candidates for this fall's local election continues to grow, why bears should not be eating candy in the Tri-Cities - and lots more!.

In our July 17th, 2026 Freshet Friday podcast, we start with news of an apartment fire in New Westminster, then discuss a proposal to open up more of Belcarra Regional Park, and explore why a heritage conservation reset is underway in Coquitlam. And, of course, you'll also hear our regular weekly news about local sports, what's on, our Freshet 9-1-1 round-up and our favourite stories of the week.

This week's episode includes election updates from the Tri Cities in New Westminster, where new candidate declarations are becoming as common as bear sightings, details on what New Westminster City Council spent in 2025, a house fire in Coquitlam, the possible beginnings of a family running dynasty, and details of a gathered vintage pop up in Lougheed Mall. Enjoy!

This week the team starts off talking a bit of hometown Hollywood, with news about how the Michael J. Fox Theater in Burnaby is now looking at a more hopeful future, and then explores how New Westminster residents may be able to spot local landmarks in a new Netflix film. We also look at how Port Moody is working to ease traffic on a busy overpass, why some Burnaby residents are upset about a home...

This week we'll talk about how local elections are heating up alongside the temperature outside, why New Westminster is taking a second look at how its flagship aquatic and community centre might need to change - and lots of other news from the week. We also have a seasonal segment to celebrate Canada Day with advice on how to be a tourist in your own home town from three very special guests.

In this week's Freshet Friday podcast, the team talks about a frightening accident that left 10 students from a Port Coquitlam middle school recovering from apparent burns on a field trip near Chilliwack on Monday, discusses an inspiring story about how a local surgeon is undertaking a sailing adventure to Alaska to raise money for Burnaby Hospital and we feature a special preview of an extended s...

A lot happened this week and host Geof Wheelwright and the rest of the Freshet Friday podcast team are here to talk about it. Highlights include Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley's State of the City message, a water leak at a refinery in Burnaby, a new coach for the Coquitlam Express, a touching and inspiring story from Freshet News founder and reporter Mario Bartel, and finally a special guest who will e...

In this week's episode, host Geof Wheelwright and the Freshet News team explore why some people are howling about a proposed plan in Burnaby that would more than triple the rent of a local charity that trains assistance dogs, why there are now smoke alarms in a Burnaby Mountain park and why a unique League of their Own is celebrating it's 30th birthday this month. And that's just a few highlights...

Welcome back to Freshet Friday. Summer is very much on its way - and we have news about lots of fun events to come, a few that have just happened - and why pressure to build Phase 2 of the Burnaby hospital redevelopment is growing! This week, host Geof Wheelwright is joined once again by the veteran journalists and founders of Freshet News Janis Cleugh, Theresa McManus, Cornelia Naylor and Mario B...

In this special seven-month birthday episode, you'll hear about how local governments are winning and losing funding for some important projects, how community heroes are being celebrated - and why anvils are flying through the air in New Westminster! Join host Geof Wheelwright and Freshet News reporters and founders, Mario Bartell, Janice Cleugh, Theresa McManus, and Cornelia Naylor for the full...

In this week's Freshet Friday podcast, host Geof Wheelwright and the team look back on the storied career and sudden passing of local hockey legend Ernie "Punch" McLean, discuss the impact of Burnaby Hospital redevelopment contract cancellations, plans for new schools and recreation centers - and what's in the latest print edition of Freshet News (which just came out yesterday). Enjoy!

This week, host Geof Wheelwright and the Freshet News team talk about a proposed honour for 93-year-old hockey legend Ernie "Punch" MacLean, the potential expansion of the New Westminster apartment cooling initiative, the launch of a new dedicated remote testimony room in Burnaby for vulnerable victims, May weekend events, an update on the redevelopment of Royal Columbian Hospital, and the 50th an...

On the Freshet Friday podcast this week, we cover a range of topics including the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment, news on parks and recreation in our communities, sports updates, public art, facility upgrades, and a promised pier in Burnaby that now won't be built.

Spring is blooming in this week's Freshet Friday podcast! Host Geof Wheelwright, along with Freshet News reporters and founders, Mario Bartell, Janice Cleugh, Theresa McManus, and Cornelia Naylor, discuss how Coquitlam is spring cleaning its way to tackling derelict properties, the impact of higher fees and a slower housing market in Port Moody as well as upcoming fall elections in New Westminster...