EDITORIAL: To Manitoba, With Love

As I prepare to return to the Keystone Province for the Fall Convention of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM), it’s time to reflect on the journey that brought me here—and to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible connection we’ve built with Manitoban Municipal Leaders.

When I refocused our show in 2023, Manitoba was an enigma. Despite our best efforts, the province was at the bottom of our provincial listenership statistics. For someone hosting municipal-focused shows from Calgary, it felt daunting to establish a presence in a region where connections were sparse. My initial attempts at outreach were met with limited success, and I found myself wondering if I would ever truly break through.

Then, everything changed with a single interview. Sitting down with the Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Riding Mountain West, Grant Boryskavich. Grant's openness and willingness to share insights set the stage for deeper conversations across Manitoba. From there, we branched out a few more municipal leaders took a chance on our show despite our outsider status in Manitoba. To them, I want to extend a personal thank you. Larry Johannson, Mayor of Selkirk; Sharilyn Knox, Mayor of Portage la Prairie; Jeff Browaty, Councillor for the City of Winnipeg; David Bosiak, Mayor of Dauphin; Lance Jacobson, Mayor of Swan River; Jeff Fawcett, Mayor of Brandon, and Winkler Councillor Mike Grenier—your early support meant the world to me.

But one name deserves special recognition: Kam Blight, former Reeve of the RM of Portage la Prairie and President of AMM. Thanks for all the Zoom interviews over the last two years.

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to thank the incredible staff of the AMM. Denys and Nick, your tireless work —whether it’s arranging interviews or providing background on topics I'm researching —has been invaluable. You’ve made our journey through Manitoba so much smoother, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.

The real breakthrough came in the spring of 2024, when we attended the AMM Spring Convention in Brandon. It was a gamble, an investment of time and resources, but it paid off in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Municipal leaders welcomed us with open arms, engaging in meaningful discussions about the challenges and opportunities they face.

This experience solidified our commitment to Manitoba, and it’s a decision we’ve never regretted. The convention opened doors to communities far and wide, and the warmth we encountered inspired us to keep coming back. Now, as we gear up for the AMM Fall Convention in Winnipeg, we’re filled with excitement to reconnect with delegates, hear new perspectives, and continue amplifying the voices of Manitobans.

One of our proudest achievements over the past month has been “The Race for AMM” series, focusing on the candidates for AMM President and Vice President. Initially, we had reservations about whether a Calgary-based municipal affairs show could resonate with Manitobans. But those doubts were quickly dispelled.

Over the last 40 days, six episodes of this series garnered over 10,500 streams and downloads across Manitoba and Canada with over 65 percent coming from Manitoba alone.

That’s not just a number—it’s a testament to the province’s appetite for meaningful discussions about local governance. From Winnipeg to Winkler, Thompson to The Pas, and Dauphin to Altona, listeners tuned in to engage with the issues that matter most to their communities.

Manitoba’s embrace of our show has been nothing short of extraordinary. To see towns and cities like Selkirk, Beausejour, Souris, and Grandview on our listener map is deeply humbling. It’s proof that conversations about municipal affairs resonate beyond city limits, connecting communities in profound ways.

From the urban centers of Winnipeg and Brandon to the northern reaches of Snow Lake and Flin Flon, Manitobans have shown that they care about the challenges and triumphs of their neighbours. This level of engagement is rare, and it’s something we deeply cherish.

To the people of Manitoba, thank you. You’ve turned what once felt like an uphill climb into a shared journey. Your support has propelled us to new heights, making Manitoba our third-largest provincial audience, behind only Alberta and Saskatchewan.

But this is just the beginning. As we return to Winnipeg next week, we’re eager to deepen these connections. The AMM Fall Convention offers an invaluable opportunity to listen to the voices shaping Manitoba’s future.

From municipal leaders to provincial officials, we’re committed to covering the issues that matter most, from infrastructure and economic development to social programs and individual issues.

What started as a hobby to distract me from a tumour diagnosis, has grown into something far more personal. As someone with family ties to Dauphin, Portage la Prairie, Brandon, and Snow Lake, Manitoba now feels like home in more ways than one.

This province, one might refer to as the “Key to the West,” has unlocked something profound for us—a deeper understanding of Canada’s diverse communities and a renewed passion for the work J do. As we look ahead, I'm more determined than ever to continue shining a light on Manitoba’s stories, challenges, and successes.

The past month has been one of our best yet, and I owe that to you, our listeners, our viewers, and our readers. Your engagement drives me to do better, to ask tougher questions, and to seek out the stories that deserve to be told.

Whether you’re in Winnipeg, St. Malo, Plum Coulee, or Cranberry, or the RM of Portage, know that your voice matters.

As our show steps into the next chapter of this municipal journey, I invite you to join us—whether it’s through tuning into my shows, sharing your stories, or connecting with me at events like the AMM Convention. Together, I hope I can continue building bridges across communities, fostering dialogue, and shaping the future of municipal affairs in Manitoba and beyond.

Thank you, Manitoba, for welcoming us into your homes, cars, and commutes.