The Great Amherst Podcast

E29:  It's just me on the podcast again today, with an update.  I've decided to make these first 29 episodes Season 1 of the Great Amherst Podcast.  

I started this Podcast at the end of March and have done 29 episodes since.  There is SO much that has happened in these last few months that I've decided to wrap up season 1, take a break and plan to come back with Season 2 in early 2021.  

Like I've said all along - we've only made it this far because we worked together.  We'll only make it through the next phase together.  So, wear your mask, wash your hands and look after everyone else.

Take care - and I'll be back in early 2021

E28:  This week on the Podcast I'm joined by Brian and Laura with Fundy Treasures in Joggins, NS.

Brian and Laura started Fundy Treasures in 2014, and are now in there 7th year.  They offer fossil and mineral tours in Joggins and Parrsboro, they make products that are inspired by the Bay of Fundy like Candles, Soaps, Jewelry and stone guitar picks.

We talked about the idea behind Fundy Treasures and why they chose to start this business.  Brian's passion for Joggins, the Fossil cliffs and our part of the world came through in this interview.  Laura shared about her time living overseas really brought forward the benefit that tourism can have for a community.  We talked about the tours they offer, the first farmer's market they attended, the Kid's Show Dinosaur Train, the impact COVID-19 had on their business this year.  WE covered a lot of topics. 

They redid their website at www.fundytreasures.ca and you can find the tour schedules and links to all their products.

E27:  Today I'm joined by Brent Noiles, the Employment Engagement Specialist at Nova Scotia Works/CANSA.

Nova Scotia Works/CANSA is typically known to help individuals find jobs, work on their resumes and to develop skills they may be lacking.  Brent's role is engage with the local business community to help them with their needs.  We covered a lot of ways that Brent is able to the help businesses, including arranging training for a number of companies, or to help businesses to apply for government grants.  We covered a lot of different topics during this interview.  We also recorded this interview at the end of May, so some of the programs may have changed.  My take away from this interview is for any business owner or manager to reach out to Brent directly.  You'll be able to explain to Brent what you need help with and he'll work to help you meet or fill that need.

You can contact Brent by email at [email protected] or by phone - (902) 661-1059 ext 227.

026:  Today on the Podcast is just me.  At the beginning of July I decided to join the #StopHateForProfit campaign.  I had committed to logging off and not using Facebook for at least the month of July.  I recorded this episode on July 19th and I wanted to share my thoughts on why I joined this campaign and my plans moving forward.

Links and articles from today:
- Nova Scotia MP speaks out on string of abusive calls, veiled threats
- "How Your Brain is Getting Hacked" by Tristan Harris
- Kara Swisher's Interview with Mark Zuckerberg
- Why Facebook Failed Its Civil Right Audit
- Civil rights leaders are still fed up with Facebook over hate speech
- Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is essentially untouchable at Facebook

E25:  Today I am joined by Tom McCoag.  Tom first joined the Springhill Parrsboro Record in 1980, and joined the Chronicle Herald Amherst Bureau in 1982.  He was in this position until 2009 until he transferred to the Chronicle Herald head office to be a Copy and Pagination Editor.  In 2017 he left the Chronicle Herald and joined the Town of Amherst as the Corporate Communications Director. 

Please note, Tom is doing this interview in a personal capacity and his opinions are his own, not the the Town of Amherst or any previous employers.

This is why I wanted to have Tom on the episode.  He was a journalist in Amherst for 27 years, and he would have stories and opinions about the history of our local journalism scene and where it stands now.  And Tom shared these.  We covered how he first got involved in the News industry in High School.  We talked about his education and career paths.  To me the most interesting conversations were about Tom's definitions of what local news and journalism is and why it matters to our community.

If you don't remember Tom as a reporter, you may also know him from his days reffing Minor Hockey and Ramblers Games, or as an umpire for Little Baseball, or as a Cadet Officer.  Tom has been involved in our community for many years.

As I've said before, I joined in the #StopHateForProfit campaign and have signed off Facebook for at least the month of July.   This conversation reminded me again that Facebook sells ads on stories and content produced by our local news organizations and makes Billions of dollars each year off it.  But, Facebook does not pay for any of this content.  They do not reimburse news organizations, Facebook just expects to get and monetize the hard work of journalists for free.  Facebook, Twitter and other social media companies absolutely play a role in our declining local news system.

E23:  On this week's episode we are joined by Coach Al Theal and Ken MacKenzie.  Al and Ken are two of the founding members of the Amherst Striders Running Group.

I wanted Ken and Al to come on and talk about the group, where it started, why they helped start it and how's it grown.  I've been a member of the Facebook group, but haven't gotten myself organized to actually get out for a run with the group.  But one thing that I found is that the Strider's group is a community that runs, and I enjoy the huge amounts of support and encouragement they offer to each other constantly.  This support is for everyone no matter what somone's goal or starting point is.  I wanted to talk about explore this community and support.

If people want to get involved with the Striders Group you can find them on Facebook, and they meet every Monday and Wednesday at 6:00 pm and Saturday morning at 8:00 am at the Downtown Tim Horton's parking lot.  Everyone is welcome.  We recorded this interview in May when social distancing rules were different.  I believe at this point the Striders can go out in groups of 10 without social distancing.  Things are getting back closer to normal for this group.

I did it again for this interview.  I made a mistake with my microphone.  I apologize for my sound quality again.

Finally, like I said last week, I am stepping back from Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp for at least the month of July as part of the Stop Hate for Profit Campaign.  I am increasingly concerned about the amount of mis-information, and hate that is spread throughout Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.  This mis-information and hate is having real-world implications for all of us.  Mark Zuckerberg and his team could do something about how quickly mis-information and hate spreads on Facebook, yet they are choosing not to act.  This is my part to help encourage the CEO and leadership team at Facebook to act with more than just profit and growth in mind.

E23:  Today on the Podcast I am joined by Jessy Wysmyk and Charles Ryan with Wysmykal Farms.   Wysmykal Farm is a certified organic mixed vegetable farm on the beautiful Northumberland shore. Started in 2010 by Charles Ryan and Jessy Wysmyk, Wysmykal Farm offers a weekly veggie basket program, sales through the Sackville, NB and Pugwash, NS markets, and sells veggies to some small grocery stores and  local restaurants and food businesses. With support from our veggie basket customers, we are able to offer some subsidized baskets to low income subscribers.

We talked about how and why they decided to start their farm, the importance of local farms to our community and what some of the challenges they've had running their farm.  We covered a lot of topics and I hope you enjoy them.  I will apologize for my sound quality.  I made a mistake in recording my audio and didn't end up using my microphone.  I apologize in advance for this.

Jessy and Charles can be reached here:
Website:  Wysmykal Farm
Email:      [email protected]

Other Links from today's episode:
CBDC Self Employment Program
ACORN

#stophateforprofit - This is a movement to encourage advertisers to stop advertising on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp for the month of July.  I've struggled with the decisions that Mark Zuckerberg and his team at facebook have been making for a while.    I'm going to do an episode talking more about this later.  But, for now I have decided to definitely not advertise on Facebook and I'm not going to use it for the month of July either.   I will re-evaluate my decision near the end of the month.

To stay in touch with the Podcast please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, sign up for our email newlsetter or find us on LinkedIn.

On today's episode is Dr Darlene Strong.  Darlene grew up in Amherst, NS and in 1999 decided to start researching, learning and disseminating information about the African Nova Scotian community that she grew up in.  In February this year she produced a exhibit on the Historic Sand Hill Trail that as displayed the Cumberland County Museum.  Once the Ottawa House, Parrsboro, opens again the exhibit will be displayed there.

Darlene shared a lot of information about the historical houses and buildings on the trail.  As well as some stories about the people of African Descent that made an impact on Amherst and our community.  These were topics that I didn't know a lot about, and I am pleased that Darlene came on the episode to share some of what she has learned.

E20:  Today's guest on the Podcast is Lisette Sumbu. Lisette Sumbu is an artist and activist who grew up in Amherst, NS. She is a singer/songwriter who is passionate about human rights. She is currently in a band called The Black Rose Project. 

I asked Lisette to come on today because she is the driving force and the organizer behind the Black Lives Matter protest in Amherst on June 6th. We talked about why she organized the protest, and how she felt during the protest. Lisette also shared a lot about her experiences growing up in Amherst and living in Halifax. We also talked about her next steps and plans for this protest and how people can get involved and help her.

I appreciate Lisette coming on the show today and sharing her experiences.  I hope you are able to learn something from her too.

Links from the episode:
- Tourism NS Webpage on African Nova Scotian History.
- Black Lives Matter Cumberland Facebook Group
- [email protected]
- Mental Health Crisis Line - tel:1-888-429-8167
- Systemic Racism in RCMP - Since our interview the RCMP Commissioner has announced that systemic racism does exist in the RCMP.

Government Contacts:
- Minister of Justice, Mark Furey - [email protected]
- Minister of Education, Zack Churchill - [email protected]
- Minister of Health, Randy Delorey - [email protected]
- Deputy Minister of Justice, Candace Thomas - 
    The website has not been updated with her information yet.  https://novascotia.ca/just/deputy.asp

There's a schedule change this week. I'm going to post my interview with Jessy and Charles from Wysmykal Farms next week. I want to take this episode and share my thoughts on the Black Lives Matter protests and what's happening right now.  I also talk about what we can do in our own community.

The short version of my thoughts: being a straight white male who grew up in Amherst, I've never felt the pain that comes with being discriminated against based solely on the colour of my skin. I have also never had an encounter with the police and had the slightest fear that the encounter would turn violent. And simply put I think that no one should ever be discriminated based on the colour of their skin or no one should fear an interaction with the police will turn violent. That sums up my thoughts.

- Contact Info for Councillors who are almost Police Board Commissioners
   - Deputy Mayor Sheila Christie - [email protected]
   - Councillor Vince Byrne - [email protected]
   - Councillor Darrell Jones - [email protected]


Links from today's episode:
- Amherst Board of Police Commissioners
- Town of Amherst Police By-Law
- Town of Amherst Council Meetings and Minutes
- Police Act of Nova Scotia