Cross Border Interviews

In Ontario's Parry Sound District, the realities of municipal government can be very different from those in Canada's larger urban centres.

Here, communities are shaped by rural life, seasonal residents, natural resources, infrastructure needs, and the challenge of providing essential services across a large geographic area.

Those issues were part of the conversation at the 2026 Fall District of Parry Sound Municipal Association, where municipal leaders came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the region.

Today on Cross Border Interviews, we speak with Township of Carling Councillor Al Doubrough.

We'll talk about the issues facing Carling, the realities of serving a rural and waterfront community, and the role local government can play in shaping the future.

It's a conversation about municipal leadership, community priorities, and the people who make these decisions close to home.

I'm Christopher Brown, and this is Cross Border Interviews.

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Learn More About Today's Community:

https://carling.ca/

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Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network

© 2026

In the communities of Ontario's Parry Sound District, municipal government is often about the issues closest to home — roads and infrastructure, essential services, growth, and the challenge of keeping rural communities strong.

Those challenges brought municipal leaders together at the 2026 Fall District of Parry Sound Municipal Association, where local officials gathered to exchange ideas and discuss the future of the region.

Today on Cross Border Interviews, we speak with Township of McMurrich/Monteith Deputy Mayor Vicky Roeder-Martin.

We talk about the realities of representing a rural township, the issues facing McMurrich/Monteith, and how after four years in office the Deputy Mayor is hanging up here hat.

It's a conversation about local leadership, rural Ontario, and the people behind the decisions made at the municipal table.

I'm Christopher Brown , and this is Cross Border Interviews.

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Learn More About Today's Community:

https://www.mcmurrichmonteith.com/

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Listen To The Show: 

Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIv

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviews

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown

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Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/

Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network

© 2026

Across Ontario's cottage country, the pressures facing municipalities are changing — from growth and housing to infrastructure, services, and the challenge of protecting the character of communities that people have called home for generations.

Those issues were front and centre at the 2026 Fall District of Parry Sound Municipal Association, where municipal leaders from across the region gathered to share ideas and discuss the future of local government.

Today on Cross Border Interviews, we spoke with District of Muskoka Chair Jeff Lehman.

Our conversation looks at the realities of regional leadership, the challenges facing Muskoka and neighbouring municipalities, and the importance of cooperation when communities are confronting many of the same pressures.

Away from the council chamber, we asked Chair Lehman what he sees on the horizon — and what municipal leaders need to be thinking about now.

I'm Chris Brown, and this is Cross Border Interviews.

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Learn More About Today's Community:

https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/index.aspx

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Listen To The Show: 

Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIv

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviews

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown

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Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/

Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network

© 2026

In the Cariboo, local government comes with a perspective shaped by distance, rural communities, natural resources, and the people who have built their lives here.

For regional directors, representing those communities means balancing immediate needs with the long-term challenges facing a vast and diverse part of British Columbia.

Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Cariboo Regional District Area G Director Al Richmond.

We'll talk about life in regional government, the issues affecting Area G, and the opportunities and challenges facing the Cariboo as the region looks toward the future.

Because in rural communities, leadership often begins with listening — understanding what people need today while keeping an eye on what comes next.

I'm Christopher Brown, and this is Cross Border Interviews

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Learn More About Today's Community:

https://www.cariboord.ca/

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Listen To The Show: 

Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIv

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviews

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown

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Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/

Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network

© 2026

On Vancouver Island, the Cowichan Valley is a region where rural life, natural beauty, agriculture, and growing communities all come together.

But maintaining that balance takes leadership — and difficult decisions about infrastructure, services, development, and the future of the region.

Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Cowichan Valley Regional District Area F Director Ian Morrison.

We'll talk about what it means to represent a diverse rural area, the challenges facing Area F and the broader Cowichan Valley, and the opportunities that could shape the region in the years ahead.

Because regional government is often about finding common ground — while making sure the voices of local communities aren't lost.

I'm Christopher Brown and this is Cross Border Interviews.

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Learn More About Today's Community:

https://cvrd.ca/

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Listen To The Show: 

Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIv

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviews

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown

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Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/

Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network

© 2026

In a region defined by rural communities, working families, and the realities of life close to the international border, local government isn't an abstract idea.

It's personal.

For the people who live here, those decisions are part of everyday life — from the roads they travel and the services they rely on, to the economic opportunities that can determine whether families stay, businesses grow, and communities thrive.

Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Municipality of Two Borders Councillor Mark Custance.

We'll talk about the realities of municipal leadership, the issues facing the municipality, and his perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Because in rural Canada, leadership often comes down to a simple question:

How do you build for the future without losing what makes a community worth calling home?

I'm Christopher Brown and this is Cross Border Interviews.

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Learn More About Today's Community:

https://twoborders.ca/

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Listen To The Show: 

Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIv

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviews

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown

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Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/

Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network

© 2026

Morden is a city that has grown from its agricultural roots into one of Manitoba's increasingly dynamic communities.

With that growth comes opportunity — but also the responsibility of making sure infrastructure, services, housing, business, and community life keep pace.

Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with City of Morden Mayor Nancy Penner.

We'll talk about her experience in municipal leadership, the issues shaping Morden today, and her vision for where this community goes next.

Because leading a growing city isn't simply about managing change.

It's about deciding what should change — and what is worth holding onto.

I'm Christopher Brown, and this is Cross Border Interviews.

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Learn More About Today's Community:

https://morden.ca/

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Listen To The Show: 

Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIv

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviews

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown

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Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/

Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network

© 2026

In the mountains of British Columbia, communities like Nakusp know that the decisions made locally can have an outsized impact on everyday life.

For a small village, the challenges are familiar — maintaining infrastructure, supporting local business, attracting new residents, and creating a future that works for the people who already call the community home.

Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Village of Nakusp Councillor Aidan McLaren-Caux.

We'll talk about what it's like to serve in local government, the issues facing Nakusp, and the opportunities — and challenges — that come with building a future for a small rural community.

Because municipal leadership isn't always about big headlines. Sometimes, it's about making sure a small community continues to thrive.

I'm Christopher Brown and this is Cross Border Interviews.
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Learn More About Today's Community:

https://www.nakusp.com/

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Listen To The Show: 

Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIv

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviews

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown

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Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/

Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network

© 2026

In British Columbia's Cariboo region, local government takes on a very different meaning.

Vast distances, rural communities, resource industries, and the people who call this region home all create challenges that can't always be solved with a one-size-fits-all approach.

Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Cariboo Regional District Director for District 'A', Nicole Audet.

We'll talk about what it means to represent a large and diverse rural district, the issues facing the Cariboo, and the decisions that will help shape its future.

For regional leaders, it's about more than policies and meetings.

It's about understanding the people, the communities, and the land they represent.

I'm Chris Brown, and this is Cross Border Interviews.

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Learn More About Today's Community:

https://www.cariboord.ca/

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Listen To The Show: 

Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIv

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviews

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown

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Follow Us On Social Media: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/

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Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/

Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network

© 2026

Every community has its own story. In Fort Saskatchewan, that story is one of growth, industry, families, and a city finding its place in a changing Alberta.

At the centre of that story is municipal leadership — the decisions made today that can shape the community for years to come.

Today on Cross Border Interviews, we meet with Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Lisa Makin.

We'll discuss what it's like to lead the city, the opportunities and pressures facing Fort Saskatchewan, and her perspective on where the community goes from here.

What does effective local leadership look like? And how do you balance the needs of today with the vision for tomorrow?

Those are some of the questions we'll explore.

I'm Christopher Brown, and this is Cross Border Interviews.

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Learn More About Today's Community:

https://www.fortsask.ca/

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Listen To The Show: 

Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIv

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviews

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown

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Follow Us On Social Media: 

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Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/

Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network

© 2026