The Flagstaff County Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Flagstaff County Podcast, host Cary Castagna sits down with Sarah Gibbard to discuss the inaugural Pioneer Day, taking place June 13 at Beacon Farms near Daysland. Sarah shares the story behind the event, the inspiration for bringing people together through hands-on experiences, and how Pioneer Day aims to celebrate community, family, and the values that hel...

Send us Fan Mail From a rural airstrip in Flagstaff County to the cockpit of a commercial airliner, this episode explores what it takes to turn a dream into a career in aviation. Host Cary Castagna sits down with Aaron Forster, who grew up just outside Sedgewick, Alberta, learned to fly at Flagstaff Regional Airport, and now flies commercially with WestJet. Aaron reflects on the early spark that d...

Send us Fan Mail Host Cary Castagna, Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator, sits down with Sgt. Andy Wetzstein, Commanding Officer of the Killam RCMP Detachment, to talk about the rollout of body-worn cameras in the region.  Together, they explore how the program works, when cameras are used, and what the public can expect to see.  Sgt. Andy also shares insight into digital evidence manageme...

Send us Fan Mail The Battle River Community Foundation has been supporting local charities for the past 30 years. Last year alone, the BRCF granted Flagstaff non-profits more than $100,000.  Executive Director Bobbi Way shares how her organization is celebrating 30 impactful years, reviving Reading University this year, and continuing to help charities tap into grant opportunities that leave a las...

Send us Fan Mail As part of the upcoming 2025 Flagstaff Fitness Challenge, podcast host Cary Castagna sits down with Shirley Damberger, owner of HOM of Well Being. Their conversation focuses on the role of touch in balanced wellness, and also delves into Shirley's wellness routine.

Send us Fan Mail  Iranian-born Ala Hakim Oberg shares her inspiring journey from bustling Tehran to the quiet fields of Flagstaff County. Now a practicing lawyer in Forestburg, Ala sits down with host Cary Castagna to talk about the challenges, surprises, and joys of starting over in rural Alberta. From navigating immigration to building a career in law in a small town, this conversation explores...

Send us Fan Mail Podcast host Cary Castagna visits the Alliance Doll Museum, where hundreds of curious eyes (doll eyes, that is 👁️👁️) look on as he chats with board members Karin McCracken and Dale Lambden. Tune in as they uncover the fascinating story behind what’s believed to be one of Alberta’s largest doll collections! Listen now and step into a world where history is told through porcelain fa...

Send us Fan Mail Twenty-eight years ago, Flagstaff County held a contest to design a new corporate logo. Barb Cookson, who won the contest, tells host Cary Castagna what it's like to contribute such a lasting piece of the County's identity.

Send us Fan Mail Brady Ness, who grew up northeast of Sedgewick, is a 6-foot-4, 217-pound defenceman with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League. The 18-year-old talks to podcast host Cary Castagna about life in the WHL and looks back with fondness at his small-town roots.

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Leanne Ball of Ball Family Dental in Killam takes time out of her busy schedule to sit down with podcast host Cary Castagna (with his "beautiful and contagious smile"). In a wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Ball touches on everything from her journey to becoming a dentist and how technology is revolutionizing dentistry, to her penchant for the violin and her plans to exp...

Send us Fan Mail The first episode of 2025 starts with an apology. Talk between host Cary Castagna and County Reeve Don Kroetch soon turns to the upcoming election and public engagement. Along the way, Reeve Kroetch spills the beans on whether or not he'll be running for a third consecutive term.

Send us Fan Mail There's a new sergeant in town and communication is one of his top priorities! Sgt. Andy Wetzstein, new commanding officer of the Killam RCMP detachment, sits down with Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna to talk all about policing in the region.

Send us Fan Mail In a first for the Flagstaff County Podcast, Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna interviews ChatGPT about the County and AI technology. This episode was recorded and released on Halloween because many will find it rather spooky.

Send us Fan Mail Markus Weber, owner of LandView Drones, discusses the many agricultural uses for this burgeoning technology with Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna. Flagstaff County has partnered with the Strome Ag Society to present a two-day Ag Drone School led by LandView. The school is slated for November 7 and 8 in Strome. To register, visit: https://www.landviewdrones...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Jonathan Dahl, Flagstaff County's new Director of Municipal Services. Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna chats with the Sedgewick native, who chased the bright lights of the big city for the past few years before returning this summer to his rural roots.

Send us Fan Mail Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna will do anything to get more residents to fill out the online survey on electoral boundaries. He'll even sing. Yes, sing. After his questionable vocal performance (with apologies to Bob Dylan), Cary and Flagstaff County Reeve Don Kroetch discuss the current Electoral Boundary Review, including the possibility that the...

Send us Fan Mail It's almost time for the 15th annual Movie in the Park! This year's end-of-summer celebration is August 20 in Killam Heritage Park. Jessica Docksteader, program facilitator of the Family Resource Centre in Killam, which is operated by the Parents For Fun in Flagstaff Society, tells Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna all about the summertime institu...

Send us Fan Mail Bagpiper Kari Fox-Newby is one of the many volunteers helping to organize the 6th Annual Gathering of the Clans Highland Festival (GOTCHF) coming up Aug. 24, 2024, in Sedgewick. She tells Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna what's on tap for the popular summer event. A member of the Battle River Pipes and Drums, which will be performing at GOTCHF, Kari a...

Send us Fan Mail Canada's top-ranked competition pilot, Neil Harris, is coming to Flagstaff County to compete in the Flagstaff Flyers Regional Aerobatic Contest. Find out what he thinks of Flagstaff Regional Airport and the Iron Creek Flying Club, and much more.

Send us Fan Mail Nicole Nychyporuk, the grand prize winner in last year's Flagstaff Fitness Challenge, has gone on to lose a whopping 105 pounds (and counting)! She tells Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna how she transformed herself.

Send us Fan Mail Sarah Williams, head instructor of Empowered Defence Centre, is bringing a mother-daughter self-defence course to Strome this summer. In a wide-ranging interview that touches on everything from her professional background to training philosophy, Sarah tells Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna all about what course attendees can expect to learn, while also sha...

Send us Fan Mail Ski cross racer Maren Vincett, who grew up in the Galahad area, and Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna meet at the base of the Valley Ski Hill near Alliance for a wide-ranging interview. Maren recalls her early days taking Nancy Greene ski lessons, discusses last month's Ski Cross Junior World Championships in Sweden, and looks ahead to what she still h...

Send us Fan Mail Killam-area artist Kristin Kueber lifts the veil on her creative process, her influences, what inspires her, and much more. Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna hosts this behind-the-art chat.

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to food bank donations, Flagstaff residents are extremely generous, says Flagstaff Family and Community Services Executive Director Lynne Jenkinson. Lynne chats with Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna about the Food Bank, the Toilet Paper Tower Challenge, her upcoming retirement, and much more.

Send us Fan Mail Flagstaff County Reeve Don Kroetch and Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna chat about the importance of engaging with the public, roll out this year's public participation plan, and then look back at the findings of last year's public engagement.