Real Ridge Podcast

A rapidly growing population and aging infrastructure means the pressure on our parks, arenas, fields, and pools will continue to increase - this is the recreation reality for Maple Ridge. The solution? A proposal for bold action now that will benefit current and future residents for decades to come. In this episode, Dan Ruimy is joined by Christa Balotti and Chad Neufeld from the City of Maple Ri...

In an emergency, every second matters - but how do you prepare to be ready for ANYTHING? In this episode, Mayor Dan Ruimy and Maple Ridge Fire Chief Dave Samson go beyond the sirens to explore one of the City’s most essential public services. From medical emergencies and wildfire response to disaster preparedness, public education, and community risk reduction, the diverse work of Maple Ridge Fire...

As Maple Ridge grows, transportation is becoming much more than the daily commute - it shapes how residents connect, work, recreate, and access local businesses, as well as key factorss like affordability and livability.   In this episode, Mayor Dan Ruimy sits down with TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn to talk about what it really takes to build a transportation system that works for a fast-growing commu...

What does it really take to build housing in Maple Ridge? How do you support developers to move projects forward faster while still protecting the infrastructure, livability, and long-term planning that residents count on?  In this episode Mayor Dan Ruimy dives into housing, growth, and development with James Stiver, Director of Planning and Building for the City of Maple Ridge. James shares how t...

You turn on the tap and water is there. But behind that simple moment is a complex system under growing pressure. So what does it take to keep safe, reliable drinking water flowing in a growing city like Maple Ridge?  In this episode Mayor Dan Ruimy sits down with Davin Wilson, Manager of Water Utility for the City of Maple Ridge, to talk about how our water system works, the planning and maintena...

The forests, rivers, and landscapes that make our community beautiful also bring unique disaster risks. So how can you prepare to keep yourself and your loved ones safe in an emergency?   In this episode Mayor Dan Ruimy sits down with Edd Bennett, Emergency Response Program Manager for the City of Maple Ridge, to talk about local hazards, community resilience, and why preparedness is a shared resp...

What does it really take to start and grow a business in Maple Ridge? Where are owners and entrepreneurs leaving opportunities on the table and how does mindset matter? Mayor Dan Ruimy dives into entrepreneurship, local momentum, and business growth opportunities with Kristi Maier, CEO of the Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce. Kristi shares how positivity is integral for business owners and the co...

When you hear “industrial lands,” you might imagine smokestacks, heavy pollution, and outdated factories—but that picture no longer reflects today’s reality. In this episode of The Real Ridge , Dan is joined by Eric Aderneck, Industrial Lands Program Manager for the City of Maple Ridge, to unpack what modern industrial development actually looks like and why it should matter to every resident. The...

If services feel the same, why do taxes go up? In episode two of the Real Ridge Podcast, Mayor Dan Ruimy and City finance leadership tackle “myth vs math” on property taxes: Where each dollar goes (services vs capital) What actually drives increases (labour, construction, regulations, growth) How residents can get clear info and have real input. Plus: the truth about Maple Ridge’s garbage pickup a...

In this exciting first episode, Ridge Meadows RCMP's Officer-in-Charge, Superintendent Adam Gander and Mayor Dan Ruimy unpack why community safety in Maple Ridge can feel worse than the numbers show - including how social media shapes perception and what local crime data is actually indicating. Discover how modern policing is evolving toward mental health and crisis response, and what resident...