Manitoba Inc Podcast

In the latest edition of the Manitoba Inc. Podcast, we connect with Alan Arcand, Chief Economist with Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) to talk about how they are helping businesses navigate the latest trade war and tariff challenges from south of the border.

This episode was recorded at the new unofficial Manitoba Inc. Podcast headquarters at Langside Grocery in the beautiful West Broadway neighbourhood. Owner Peter Sampson bought this sassy spot back in the summer of 2025. This architectural beauty was built in 1912 and it makes sense he would see the beauty in this place because Sampson is also an architect with Public City Architecture. We pulled up a chair with Sampson and asked him why he is a neighbourhood booster and a huge proponent of investing in Winnipeg.

0:52: Alan Arcand on tariff response

25:10: Peter Sampson on Langside Grocery

This episode is proudly brought to you by MNP – wherever business takes you.

Copyright 2026 Geoff Kirbyson Ink. All rights reserved.

It's been 27 years since the Winnipeg Goldeyes brought their family friendly brand of baseball to Winnipeg's downtown, and since then downtown Winnipeg has grown up all around them. In this episode of the Manitoba Inc Podcast, Eleanor Coopsammy and Geoff Kirbyson head to Blue Cross Park to chat with Goldeyes longtime GM Andrew Collier about how the franchise has remained an affordable and fun summer staple in Winnipeg.

Then we head to West Broadway for another on-location interview at Langside Grocery where we chat with reporter Sabrina Carnevale about her Manitoba Inc feature on Winnipeg's brewing coffee wars, which is ultimately a good news story of local versus international coffee chains.

0:00: Goldeyes' Andrew Collier interview

9:26: Carnevale on coffee

This episode is proudly brought to you by MNP – wherever business takes you.

Copyright 2026 Geoff Kirbyson Ink. All rights reserved.

On this episode of the Manitoba Inc Podcast, we sit down with reporter and columnist Sabrina Carnevale to dive into the rise of TAIV, which has been dubbed the most significant Manitoba startup since SkipTheDishes. TAIV uses an AI-powered hardware box in bars and restaurants to automatically replace standard television commercials with targeted ads. Get Sabrina's full story in the latest issue of Manitoba Inc Magazine.

Later in the show, we reconnect with Andrew Stibbard, MNP's Regional Managing Partner for Winnipeg and the Prairies. Andrew shares insights on MNP's major investment in downtown Winnipeg and his take on the area's evolving trajectory.

This episode is proudly brought to you by MNP – Wherever business takes you.

On our first episode of Season 2 of the Manitoba Inc Podcast, we chat with a Winnipeg power couple in the entrepreneurship space to find out how the Manitoba ecosystem is supporting new businesses, ideas and innovation. Joelle Foster, CEO of North Forge and board member of Canada Innovation Foundation and Lab 2 Market Prairies Program Manager, Demetre Balaktsis deep dive into this important space driving Manitoba's economy. They also talk about what it's like to partner in life and in business.

In this episode we also meet up with Andrew Stibbard, Regional Managing Partner for Winnipeg and Prairies Tax regions for MNP, who has some great advice for businesses still struggling with the impact of U.S. tariffs.

This episode is proudly brought to you by MNP – wherever business takes you.

Copyright 2025 Geoff Kirbyson Ink. All rights reserved.

In our final episode of the 2025 season of the Manitoba Inc Podcast, we are providing a little comedic relief to what's been a tumultuous year in the business world. From the local impact of the U.S. tariffs to the Manitoba fallout from the federal election, we've covered a lot of ground this season.

For episode 10, we head to Rumor's Comedy Club for an exclusive chat with Canadian comedian Graham Chittenden. In our interview we discuss Chittenden's career, the unique 'business' of comedy and share a few laughs along the way.

As well, we bring you another stop in everyone's favourite segment, What are we drinking?, as we head to Patent 5, the popular craft distillery and cocktail bar in Winnipeg's Exchange District. Leo Lu, Bar Manager at Patent 5 walks us through some tasty options for your friends, family and guests this holiday season, featuring crafty cocktails and merry mocktails!

From all of us at the Manitoba Inc Podcast, have a wonderful holiday season and we'll be back with more new episodes in January 2026.

2:37: The business of comedy: Interview with Graham Chittenden, Canadian standup comedian and television writer.

14:33: What are we drinking segment with Patent 5's bar manager, Leo Lu.

This episode is proudly brought to you by MNP – wherever business takes you.

Copyright 2025 Geoff Kirbyson Ink. All rights reserved.

We're excited to bring you another episode of the Manitoba Inc. Podcast with Eleanor Coopsammy and Geoff Kirbyson.

The Port of Churchill is being touted as a potentially unprecedented economic engine for northern Manitoba, and Canada, that can grow alongside the area's tourism industry.

In this episode we speak to Mario Pinto, Vice President - Research and International at the University of Manitoba about the research that needs to be an important part of nation-building projects like the Port of Churchill. It can protect the investments of the federal and provincial governments, and more critically, it's an investment in people.

In this episode, we also provide an update to a recent story on the U-Turn Parkinson's, a non-profit Manitoba organization that provides tools, classes and resources for people living with Parkinson's and their families, free of charge.

The Manitoba Inc. podcast is your essential source for stories, information, and opinions affecting the business community, featuring interviews with the leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries driving Manitoba's economy.

This episode is proudly brought to you by MNP – wherever business takes you.

Copyright 2025 Geoff Kirbyson Ink. All rights reserved.

It's summertime in Peg City and we invite you to drink up this latest episode, featuring an interview with Little Brown Jug Brewing Co. founder Kevin Selch. In a few short years, LBJ has become a leading brewery in Winnipeg and has recently expanded its footprint with a new taproom in Winnipeg Richardson International Airport.

In this episode, we head down to LBJ's original location on William Avenue to chat with Selch about where he's taking the business next.

The Manitoba Inc. podcast is your essential source for stories, information, and opinions affecting the business community, featuring interviews with the leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries driving Manitoba's economy.

This episode is proudly brought to you by MNP – wherever business takes you.

Join Eleanor Coopsammy and Geoff Kirbyson for the latest episode of the Manitoba Inc. Podcast as we sit down for a candid interview with two well-known Winnipeg leaders, Tim Hague Sr and Kevin Donnelly.

Tim Hague Sr is a former winner of Amazing Race Canada and founder of U-Turn Parkinson's, a non-profit Manitoba organization that provides tools, classes and resources for people living with Parkinson's and their families, free of charge.

Kevin Donnelly is best-known for his role as Senior Vice President of Venues and Entertainment at True North Sports and Entertainment, but is also one of the driving forces behind the Team 81 Ride for Parkinson's, which is hosting its second event on August 1.

Tune in as we shine a light on the Team 81 Ride for Parkinson's event, and delve into the impactful work of the U-Turn Parkinson's program. Discover how these initiatives are making a difference in the lives of those living with Parkinson's disease right here in Manitoba.

The Manitoba Inc. podcast is your essential source for stories, information, and opinions affecting the business community, featuring interviews with the leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries driving Manitoba's economy.

This episode is proudly brought to you by MNP – wherever business takes you.

We're all a bit sick of the on-again, off-again tariff roller coaster coming from south of the border. But the reality is, the tariffs from the United States have had a hard hitting impact on many sectors in Manitoba.

But there has been a silver lining for Chaeban Ice Cream and Chaeban Artisan. The buy Canadian push has been a boon for this small but growing business.

In our latest Manitoba Inc Business Podcast episode, we sit down with co-owner and chief flavour expert Joseph Chaeban to discuss his success story in these uncertain economic times.

Also in this episode, we take on the topic of Portage and Main re-opening to pedestrians in late June and head back to Lake of the Woods brewing Company to get recommendations on the perfect long weekend beer choices.

Chaeban interview: 1:26 Portage and Main: 16:22 Lake of the Woods Brewing Company: 21:23

This episode is brought to you by MNP - Wherever business takes you.

Copyright 2025 Geoff Kirbyson Ink. All rights reserved.

This episode of the Manitoba Inc. Podcast brings you a double dose of business wisdom. We first explore the topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), examining the Canadian perspective on recent pushback. Shreeraj Patel, co-founder of Seva Capital Canada Inc., joins us to discuss the data on how DEI drives profitability and innovation. The segment also includes an excerpt from a panel discussion at the QNET Back to the Future conference, featuring insights from Marty Maykut (Price Industries), Katie Hall Hursh (The Megill-Stephenson Company Limited), and Michelle Cameron (Dreamcatcher Promotions) on how embracing diversity of thought fuels success.

The next segment features a conversation with NFL legend Steve Young, who was in Winnipeg to receive The Associates of the Asper School of Business International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) for 2025. The Super Bowl-winning quarterback, now a private equity powerhouse, shares lessons on teamwork, culture, and the 'truest truth' of leadership in the business world.

Join hosts Eleanor Coopsammy and Geoff Kirbyson for the latest Manitoba Inc. episode.

Follow Manitoba Inc. on LinkedIn and visit us at manitoba-inc.ca.

Interview with Shreeraj Patel: 1:53 Interview with Steve Young: 12:17

This episode is brought to you by MNP - Wherever business takes you.

Copyright 2025 Geoff Kirbyson Ink. All rights reserved.