What's Up, Welland?

Kicking off our sophomore season is Mayor Frank Campion, joining in our excitement for the year ahead and stoking anticipation for a new crop of Welland conversations and experiences. Today he joins us for a quick look back at 2022, what's on in 2023, and for those hoping to hear about downtown revitalization - you're in luck. You can catch all past episodes and leave us comments at www....

All said and told, this is the 52nd episode we've uploaded to What's Up, Welland? Wow. When we kicked off in late February, we had no idea what to expect. We had hopes, dreams, bright eyes, and bushy tails. But would it translate? Would it resonate? All available metrics tell us it has. So thank you. Thank you to everyone who has tuned in to What's Up, Welland? to learn more about t...

Bonjour - bienvenue à What's Up Welland. Merci d'avoir écouté cet épisode. We think we've got it right, but we used Google translate, so take your chances. Our guest today, however, would be able to set us straight about French-language services and bilingual employment solutions. Suzanne Coutu of CERF Niagara joins the show to talk about the job market, the English-French connectio...

We have our personal budgets, and for the most part, they're pretty simple, at least compared to a municipal budget. With operating, capital, and water/wastewater, there are many moving parts to a municipal budget and organizing them correctly is the key to their success. In this episode, we chat with Elizabeth Pankoff, manager of budgets and financial reporting to chat about all things munic...

Yesterday, a Facebook post from our Fire and Emergency Services team lit social media on fire.  The post outlined that, in accordance with the City of Welland Fee Schedule, Welland Fire and Emergency Services is now invoicing at-fault drivers (as determined by police) for fire department response to all motor vehicle collisions in the City of Welland.  Needless to say, there was a lot of speculati...

In this episode, we welcome back Brooke Iannuzzelli, HR Coordinator, with the City of Welland. After her first visit on the podcast, Brooke's insight and expertise launched an avalanche of questions about the recruitment and hiring process from our listeners. So, in this episode, we take those questions straight to the source.  You can catch all past episodes and leave us comments at www.well...

The story of George "Sparks" Shaker and what Remembrance Day means to us. You can catch all past episodes and leave us comments at www.welland.ca/podcast/

City Clerk Tara Stephens joins us again for a look back at the 2022 municipal election results and discusses some of the issues that came from the day, including a possible recount and incorrect ballot submissions. You can catch all past episodes and leave us comments at www.welland.ca/podcast/

By-laws. What are they? How are they enforced? And why, for crying out loud, did I get a parking ticket? Our guests today, Ali Khan and James Cronshaw provide these answers. Members of the by-law enforcement division, Ali and James walk us through some of the more well-known by-laws and how the complaint-driven system works.  You can catch all past episodes and leave us comments at www.welland.ca/...

Take a drive. Go for a walk. Pay a visit to any of Welland’s parks. An abundance of well-maintained open spaces surrounds us. As you look around while navigating the city, you may wonder, “I keep my yard in check, but who takes care of all these areas?” Today’s guest is just the person to ask. Rory Doucette, manager of parks and open spaces, is responsible for the hard-working crew that labours ye...

We flip the script in this episode, and the usual host, Marc MacDonald, corporate communications manager, is in the hot seat. Chatting all things communications, Marc digs into what communications at a municipal level consist of and what types of things he is responsible for in crafting the City of Welland's message. You can catch all past episodes and leave us comments at www.welland.ca/podc...

In this episode, we head back to the library in preparation for Canadian Library Month, discussing this year's theme of "one card, one million possibilities", and learning learn more about how the library's collections come together. Our guests also give us a sneak peek into what's new and exciting across all three branches and what collections are here and on their way. ...

No cause for alarm here, but Michael Atkins, Welland's fire prevention officer, joins us to talk about Fire Prevention Week and the overall safety measures we can take in our daily lives to keep ourselves and our families safe.  You can catch all past episodes and leave us comments at www.welland.ca/podcast/

Do you know what proxy voting is? And if you require it, do you know what you need to do to have your vote cast by someone else? Not many of us do, but thankfully, we have our amazing municipal clerk, Tara Stephens, back to join us on the show to let us know how proxy voting works. You can catch all past episodes and leave us comments at www.welland.ca/podcast/

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On this day, we honour Indigenous survivors, families, and communities. But we must remember our commitment to truth and reconciliation cannot be acknowledged or practiced on one day alone.  In this episode, Jennifer Dockstader and Sam Hill of the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre join us to have a frank discussion about truth and rec...

Election Day, advance polls, open polls. What does it all mean for the voter? City Clerk Tara Stephens is back with us to discuss the eight polling locations across the city.  Moreover, Tara tells us about a new approach this year where, regardless of where you live in Welland, you can vote at any poll, not just in your ward. Oh, and advance polls. We chat advance polls, too. You can catch all pas...

Development Charges. DCs. A rose by any other name.  Recently, City of Welland Council approved the DC background study and associated bylaws. What that means for one municipality is not uniform across the board. Yes, we all have development charges, but what they are, are unique to each town or city.  In this episode, Grant Munday, director of planning and development services, joins the show to...

What is a voter card? Do you have one? Do you need one? Find answers to these questions with City Clerk Tara Stephens as part of our ongoing special 2022 municipal election episodes of Whats Up, Welland? You can catch all past episodes and leave us comments at www.welland.ca/podcast/

We can't do it alone. We depend on a large group of election workers during each municipal election to get the job done. City Clerk Tara Stephens shares a little more about election employment in this episode of What's Up, Welland? You can catch all past episodes and leave us comments at www.welland.ca/podcast/

Ever hear the grr in your belly? That's hunger, my friend. But how does hunger affect us? More specifically, how might it affect our children at school? The connection between nutrition and learning is directly linked, and Jessica Stephenson, program manager of Niagara Nutrition Partners, knows this more than most. Jessica walks us through the importance of nutrition programs and how Welland...

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages – the circus has come to town. But if you’re looking for the big top tent and animals in a ring, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover this circus is thrilling entertainment beyond those traditional trappings. Femmes du Feu Creations has brought contemporary circus to Welland. So, what exactly is contemporary circus? How does this gro...

Job searching, interviews, office tours, and new work environments. These keywords are familiar to students eager to start their careers and learn what it takes to succeed in the workforce. The City of Welland is privileged to work with many co-op students from various schools and backgrounds, bringing new ideas and refreshing perspectives. Today, with special guest host, communications intern Ell...

A simple hello. A friendly smile. A how are you? As we find out in this week's episode of Whats Up, Welland, the simplest of measures can make a world of difference. Talia Storm, director of Streetworks Services, joins us to break down myths, offer advice, and guide us through the complex world of harm reduction. Streetworks, a City of Welland partner, is engaged with our residents, offering...

Are you looking to scale up that resume? Hoping to hone your interview skills? Intent on finding that perfect match? Services like the Job Gym in Welland offer job seekers and employers the tools they need to find the right people for the right jobs. In this episode, Deanna Villella, Job Gym senior manager, joins Marc and Paul to dispel a few myths and share what a service like the Job Gym offers...

Hospice Niagara helps people live well, no matter what life presents. Hospice palliative care aims to relieve suffering, provide comfort and improve the quality of life for people with a terminal illness and their caregivers, family, and friends. They provide care, compassion and dignity throughout a person’s illness and at the end of life and also support people in grief after a death. No one nee...