Council Conversations

Jim Morrison was born and raised in Northern Ontario, in a little mining town called Wawa. He attended St. Clair College and completed a 3-year diploma in Business Administration. While at the college, Jim was elected to the Student Athletic Association. He was in charge of intra-mural sports and skipped the Varsity Curling Team to an OCAA Championship. Jim left Windsor after graduating but enthus...

Dr Moffatt is our second returning guest. You can listen to his first episode at this link below or scroll back to Season 2 Episode 1 in your feed. https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44522097 You can follow support Council Conversations on the following platforms. Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwoCouncil Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWOCouncil Support on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/SWOCounc...

Mayor Ryan is our first returning guest, you can listen to his first episode that builds on this one at the link below or scrolling back in the podcast feed to Season 1 - Episode 2 https://www.spreaker.com/user/13674182/episode-1-2-marcus-ryan-zorra-township Marcus Ryan grew up in rural Clarington Township and attended Queen’s University where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering....

Greg Layson is the digital and mobile editor at Automotive News Canada. He was born, raised and educated in Windsor, Ont., long considered the automotive capital of Canada. He joined Automotive News Canada in in 2016 after a five-year stint at the CBC where he helped train the public broadcaster’s next generation of digital journalists from coast to coast to coast. Before that, he was an award-win...

A announcement and short teaser for Season 6 of Council Conversations. One of our returning guests gives a shout out to an event this weekend in Oxford County. More info below about that. https://oxfordpride.ca/pride-2021/ https://www.oxfordcounty.ca/en/news/oxford-county-warden-s-pride-challenge.aspx Season 6 launches June 29th at 7pm You can follow support Council Conversations on the following...

Cathy (she/her) has been a member of the ONN team since June 2012. Throughout her 20 years working in the nonprofit sector, including as the founding Executive Director of the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington, she has been passionate about collaboration and leadership in the sector. Cathy works with sector colleagues from across Ontario and Canada, as well as private sector and government off...

Megan Stacey is the city hall reporter at The London Free Press. When not live-tweeting political debates or covering local government decisions, she also writes about social issues. She's picked up Ontario Newspaper Awards for reporting on healthcare serial killer Elizabeth Wettlaufer, as well as the explosion that rocked London's Old East Village. She lives in London and loves to explore the bes...

Dan Mathieson is in his fifth term as Mayor of the City of Stratford and has sat on municipal council since 1995. He is past Chair of the Ontario Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), Past Chair of Kings University College at Western University, Chair of the Stratford Police Services Board, a member of the Board of Directors of Festival Hydro and Rhyzome Networks and the Stratford Shak...

Mayor/Warden Warwick is stepping away from politics in Thames Centre and Middlesex County. In 2014 she was elected as Ward 3 councillor for Thames Centre and in 2018 was elected Mayor. She currently is serving as the Warden for Middlesex County. She also is chair of the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority and chair of South Central Ontario Region Economic Development. You can follow support Counci...

My first ever returning guest! Dr. Zachary Spicer returns to talk public policy in SW Ontario including the 4 day work week pilot in Zorra Township, his 2 new books and Strong Mayors. You can follow support Council Conversations on the following platforms. Website: swontariocouncilwatcher.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwoCouncil Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWOCouncil Support on Patreon ht...

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo is stepping away from politics after 8 years as Mayor of Amherstburg. You can follow support Council Conversations on the following platforms. Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwoCouncil Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWOCouncil Support on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/SWOCouncilWatcher Like or rate and leave a comment on your favourite podcast platform. Please like and commen...

I fell off the face of the earth but now I am back.... A new season of Council Conversations right in time for municipal elections You can follow support Council Conversations on the following platforms. Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwoCouncil Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWOCouncil Support on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/SWOCouncilWatcher Like or rate and leave a comment on your favourit...

Last week Stephen MacKenzie and I recorded our episode 4.04. Less than 48 hours later, news broke of the LG/Stellantis Battery Plant. Stephen agreed to come back on for a rapid response mere hours after the announcement to talk through how it happened, what comes next and more!

Stephen MacKenzie is the President and CEO of Invest WindsorEssex responsible for advancing economic development to grow and sustain prosperity in Southwest Ontario, Canada. He has spent 27 years in economic development organizations in Connecticut, Nova Scotia and now Ontario. Prior to joining IWE, he served as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region and previousl...

After serving 14 years as Councillor for Ward 1 in North Dumfries, I entered the race for mayor and was elected in 2014. Seeking re-election in 2018, I was once again successful in confirming my place as mayor of North Dumfries and Region of Waterloo Councillor for the 2018 to 2022 term. I believe in a strong Regional Council which enables and reinforces the strength of the seven municipalities wh...

Al Strathdee was first elected Mayor in 2014 and is now serving his second term. He is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, with an Honours BA in History and Political Science and also is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Education. Al is a business  small operator and has always been actively involved in several community organizations. Al and his wife Gloria have thr...

Born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Mayor McNamara and his family have called Tecumseh home since 1981. After working at Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. as a Power Engineer for 28 years, Gary retired in 2011. He has been married to Heather for 47 years, is the father of two grown sons, and proud grandfather of four. Residents of Tecumseh first elected Gary to Tecumseh Town Council in November 1991....

You can follow support Council Conversations on the following platforms. Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwoCouncil Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWOCouncil Support on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/SWOCouncilWatcher Like or rate and leave a comment on your favourite podcast platform. Please like and comment where you get your podcasts! Music notes Deadly Roulette by Kevin MacLeod Link: https:/...

NOTE the full episode of my Conversation with Mayor Nelson Santos, not sure why only half uploaded the first time but now you can hear his cliffhanger thoughts on the town's electricity supply. Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos was first elected to Municipal Council in 1997 where he served two terms as a Councillor before becoming Kingsville’s first Deputy Mayor to be elected at large following the m...

Amy Martin is a 33 year old, first term, municipal councillor for Ward 6 (Port Dover) in Norfolk County. Amy campaigned on being accessible and communicating with constituents and won with over 50% of the vote in her community. She’s the first female representative for ward 6.  You can follow support Council Conversations on the following platforms. Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwoCouncil Facebook...

Aakash Desai moved to Canada in 2006 at the age of 15. Since then he has been a proud resident of Grey Highlands. He got involved in the public sphere in 2011 when he was elected to the Grey Highlands Chamber of Commerce Board. He was elected Vice-President in 2013. On April 29, 2014 Aakash became a Canadian citizen and soon after filed his nomination papers to run for council in the 2014 election...

Jason Reynar, B.A. (Hons.), LL.B., LL.M, M.B.A., Acc. Dir. Rapidly improving our quality of life through local government innovation is Jason's passion. As a lawyer and Chief Administrative Officer, he navigates through a haze of policy and regulation to find practical – sometimes disruptive – ways to deliver services, such as a public transit system powered by a ride-sharing app. Jason currently...

Shawn Micallef is the author of Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto, Full Frontal TO, and The Trouble With Brunch: Work, Class and the Pursuit of Leisure. He’s a weekly columnist at the Toronto Star, a senior editor and co-owner of Spacing and teaches at the University of Toronto. His most recent book, Frontier City: Toronto on the Verge of Greatness, was published in 2017 and he is...

also writes about social issues. She's picked up Ontario Newspaper Awards for reporting on healthcare serial killer Elizabeth Wettlaufer, as well as the explosion that rocked London's Old East Village. She lives in London and loves to explore the best of the Forest City, including new restaurants and the beautiful Thames Valley Parkway.  You can follow support Council Conversations on the followin...

Dave Cassidy is Unifor Local 444’s President representing 20,000 active and retired members in 31 workplaces that range from Automotive, Gaming, Energy, Transportation, Administrative, Waste & Recycle Management, Policing and Retirement Living.  As a certified electrician, Dave is the Unifor National Chair of Trades, representing those working in the trades from the Pacific  to the Atlantic in Can...