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Why are Albertans paying so much more for insurance, and is there any relief in sight? 

Carlin Lutzer sits down with local insurance broker Brayden Vellenoweth to unpack the complex forces driving insurance costs across Alberta. From devastating hailstorms, floods, and wildfires to rising litigation expenses and vehicle repair costs, Brayden explains why premiums continue to climb and why insurance is about far more than finding the cheapest rate. 

The conversation explores Alberta's upcoming Care-First auto insurance reforms set for 2027, the impact of natural disasters on insurers, misconceptions about good drivers subsidizing bad drivers, and the importance of understanding insurance as a personal financial risk management strategy. 

Whether you're a homeowner, driver, business owner, or simply frustrated by rising premiums, this episode offers practical insights into how insurance really works and what Albertans can expect in the years ahead.

Listen For:

:06 Why Does Alberta Have Some of Canada's Most Expensive Insurance Rates?

6:41 How Have Alberta's Natural Disasters Reshaped the Insurance Industry?

13:05 Why Are Legal Costs Driving Auto Insurance Premiums Higher?

32:48 What Will Alberta's New Care-First Insurance Model Change in 2027?

45:58 Is Insurance Really a Requirement or a Personal Financial Strategy?

Guest: Brayden Vellenoweth  | LinkedIn 

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What does it truly mean when a sports team becomes so woven into a community that you simply cannot imagine summer without it? 

Carlin Lutzer sits down with William Gardner, longtime volunteer executive and community ambassador of the Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club, to celebrate 20 extraordinary years of Dawgs baseball in Okotoks. 

William shares the inside story of how a small group of passionate volunteers turned a bold idea into one of the most beloved summer institutions in Alberta. 

From the Field of Dreams opening night traffic jam in 2007 to Connor Crowson’s unforgettable championship home run, from a youth Academy ranked second in North America to the inaugural Road to Okotoks national tournament this July… this conversation is a love letter to life in Okotoks told by a man who has given everything to it, for free.

Listen For:

1:30 What has made Dawgs Baseball such a centerpiece of life in Okotoks for 20 years?

7:14 How did William Gardner first get involved with the Okotoks Dawgs organization?

13:06 What are some of William's most unforgettable memories from two decades with the Dawgs?

21:19 How is the Okotoks Dawgs Academy shaping the future of baseball across Canada?

24:24 What is the Road to Okotoks tournament and why does it matter to Okotoks fans?

Guest: William Gardner, Volunteer Executive Director & Community Ambassador | Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club

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What does it really take to fall in love with golf and what makes Okotoks one of the best places in Alberta to play it? 

This episode dives into the fairways, Foothills, and philosophy of the game with David Robinson, head professional and VP of Operations at Heritage Point Golf Club and a 32-year member of the Canadian PGA. 

Carlin Lutzer sits down with David for a wide-ranging conversation that covers the best golf courses around Okotoks and Southern Alberta, the mental side of the game, the evolving culture of golf, and David's remarkable story of switching from left-handed to right-handed play at age 18 during a round at Royal Troon. 

Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just discovering life in Okotoks, this episode is your insider's guide to the sport…and the community that makes this town so special.

LISTEN FOR

1:16 How did David Robinson go from a 25 handicap left-hander to a two handicap in one year?

8:18 What makes Heritage Point Golf Club the crown jewel of Okotoks golf?

10:45 Which golf courses around Okotoks are best for every skill level and budget?

21:08 What does David Robinson say is the biggest mistake Okotoks golfers make?

17:48 How has the changing culture of golf opened the game to a new generation?

Guest: David Robinson, PGA of Canada Member - Director of Golf Operations - Heritage Pointe Golf Club

LinkedIn | Website | 

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Okotoks is growing fast, but is it growing wisely? 

In this episode of the Okotoks Podcast, Carlin Lutzer sits down with Foothills County resident Paul Howarth to discuss the pressures, concerns, and civic responsibilities surrounding Okotoks’ rapid growth plans. 

The conversation explores traffic congestion, emergency response delays, school capacity, infrastructure costs, density, builder quality, public hearings, and whether residents still have meaningful power to shape the future of their town. 

Paul emphasizes that the issue is not being anti-growth, but being pro-planning: growth should support both current residents and future families, with infrastructure, services, and community identity protected before development races ahead.

Listen For:

3:05 Is Okotoks growing too fast without the right planning?

8:24 Can local councils actually stop or reshape major developments?

19:10 Do public hearings matter if decisions already feel made?

30:04 Who is Okotoks really building all this new housing for?

44:45 How much power do residents still have over Okotoks’ future?

Guest: Paul Howarth, Foothills County Resident & Community Development Advocate

Stop Bad Foothills

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What does it really mean when we talk about "the cloud"… and what does that have to do with life in Alberta? 

This episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most talked-about yet least-understood topics shaping communities across our province: data centers. 

Carlin sits down with Matthew Guzdial, Associate Professor of Computing Science at the University of Alberta and Canada CIFAR AI Chair with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, for a grounded, myth-busting conversation about what data centers actually are, why Alberta is becoming a prime target for massive investment, and what the real trade-offs look like for communities like ours. 

From power grids to water cooling to AI winters, this episode gives Okotoks and Foothills residents the honest, balanced insight they need to understand what's coming…and why it matters.

Listen for:

3:20 What exactly is a data center and why does everyone use one without knowing it?

6:21 Why is Alberta becoming a top destination for major data center investment?

14:27 How do data centers use water to cool servers and what does that mean for communities?

22:17 What are the real opportunities and risks data centers bring to local Alberta communities?

27:29 Is an AI crash coming and what does Matthew Guzdial predict for the future of AI?

Connect with Guest: Matthew Guzdial, Associate Professor at the University of Alberta 

Website | CIFAR Profile| LinkedIn| X| AMII Profile 

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What does it actually take to grow a town without losing its soul? 

That question sits at the heart of this episode, one of the timeliest and revealing conversations Carlin Lutzer has brought to the community. 

In this episode, Carlin sits down with Jeff Greene, Director of Community Growth and Identity for the Town of Okotoks, the man overseeing planning, engineering, economic development, heritage, and more. 

Jeff has called Okotoks home for over six years, arriving from Lethbridge with nearly a decade of municipal leadership experience. 

Together, Carlin and Jeff walk through the entire development process, from land annexation to keys in the door, while tackling the real questions Okotokians are asking about density, traffic, infrastructure, and whether life in Okotoks can stay distinctly Okotoks as the town grows. 

If you care about the future of this community, this is the episode to listen to.

Listen for:

4:02 How does the development process actually work in Okotoks from annexation to completion?

11:45 Are contracts locking Okotoks into developments residents may not want?

20:02 How is the Town of Okotoks protecting community identity in newer neighborhoods?

29:29 What is the identity-driven growth strategy and what does it mean for Okotoks?

40:52 Who actually pays for the roads, bridges, and infrastructure that growth demands?

Connect with Guest: Jeff Greene, Director of Community Growth and Identity in Okotoks 

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The dog park should be fun, not a free for all. 

Carlin Lutzer welcomes Sam Burnett from Sheep River Dog Rescue for a practical and honest conversation about dog park etiquette, dog behaviour, and responsible ownership. 

Sam explains why recall is nonnegotiable, how to spot fear based reactivity, why not every growl means aggression, and how owners often create or escalate the problems they blame on dogs. 

From leash habits and gate etiquette to muzzles, e-collars, socialization, and even bald eagles near small dogs, this episode is a must listen for anyone who visits the Okotoks dog park and wants to keep it safer, calmer, and more enjoyable for everyone.

Listen for:

2:20 How Do You Know If Your Dog Is Not Ready For The Dog Park?

4:08 Why Is Recall So Important Before Going Off Leash?

9:43 How Can You Tell If A Growl Is Playful Or A Warning?

15:16 When Is A Dog Correction Not The Same As Aggression?

24:02 What Is The Best Way To Enter And Leave The Dog Park?

Connect with Guest: Sam Burnett, Co-Founder and Training Coordinator, Sheep River Rescue Dog 

Website | Sheep River Dog Rescue Facebook Page

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What does it take to face the world's brightest spotlight while quietly fighting battles no one can see? 

Carlin Lutzer sits down with Canadian hockey icon Kelly Hrudey, former NHL goaltender for the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks, and one of the most beloved analysts on Hockey Night in Canada…. for a conversation that goes far deeper than the game. 

Kelly's connection to Okotoks runs through the community-building street hockey tournament hosted by Okotoks Nissan, where he's shown up year after year to give local kids an unforgettable experience. 

Carlin and Kelly explore Kelly's unlikely path to the NHL, the legendary Easter Epic of 1987, life alongside Wayne Gretzky in Los Angeles, and …most powerfully …Kelly's open, honest journey through mental health struggles. 

Listeners will discover that behind the confidence on their Saturday night screens is a man who fights for his good days, one at a time.

Listen for:

5:06 How did Kelly Hrudey's Edmonton upbringing shape his love for Alberta's Rocky Mountains?

14:06 What made the Easter Epic of 1987 the game that changed Kelly Hrudey's career forever?

30:10 How has Kelly Hrudey's openness about mental health made a difference beyond hockey?

32:14 What is the story behind daughter Caitlin's More Good Days clothing company?

38:46 What tools from Tony Robbins still help Kelly Hrudey manage anxiety before going on air?

Connect with Guest: Kelly Hrudey | Former NHL Goaltender (New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks) | Hockey Night in Canada | Sportsnet Analyst

More Good Days Clothing | Speakers Spotlight | Instagram

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What does it really mean to support local… and what happens when a business puts community savings above corporate margins? 

Carlin Lutzer is joined by Ian McAteer, co-owner of Adanac Liquidation, for a conversation that will completely change how you think about furniture shopping in Okotoks. 

Ian and his business partner Brian built something rare: a store tucked behind Home Hardware on Fisher Crescent that flips the traditional retail model on its head sourcing movie sets, Canadian-made furniture, and incredible mattress deals at prices that leave the big-box stores in the dust. 

From buying Amazon returns to acquiring western film props, Adanac's journey is a story of smart hustle, community roots, and genuine local pride. 

If you live in Okotoks and haven't discovered this hidden gem yet, this episode is your sign to go hunting.

Listen for:

1:16 What inspired Ian McAteer to build Adanac Liquidation right here in Okotoks?

3:03 How does buying movie sets and TV props shape the Adanac shopping experience?

4:00 Why should Okotoks residents never pay full retail price for furniture again?

6:25 How does Adanac Liquidation give back to the Okotoks community it calls home?

10:53 Where exactly can Okotoks shoppers find Adanac Liquidation and what can they get?

Connect with Guest: Ian McAteer | Co-Owner, Adanac Liquidation
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What does healthy community conversation actually look like  and why has Okotoks been missing it? 

This episode of the Okotoks Podcast marks both a milestone and a new beginning: the podcast's one-year anniversary and the debut of "Oko-Talks," a brand new panel segment that Carlin Lutzer has been wanting to create for a long time. 

Joining Carlin are two familiar voices in the Okotoks community: Joelle Reimer, dedicated Okotokian, billet mom for the Okotoks Oilers, and former voice on The Eagle, and Curtis Armstrong, publisher of the Western Wheel. 

Together, the three tackle five hot-button local topics in five-minute rounds: deer in town, rapid infrastructure growth, vehicle noise, public spaces for civic petitions, and what makes summer life in Okotoks so worth celebrating. 

This is community conversation at its most authentic — real, warm, and proudly local.

Listen for:

07:38 What should Okotoks actually do about the deer living in our community?

13:00 Is Okotoks keeping up with infrastructure as the town grows so rapidly?

18:28 How is vehicle noise affecting quality of life in Okotoks neighbourhoods?

24:34 Should public spaces in Okotoks be used for recall votes and separation petitions?

32:47 What are Joelle and Curtis most excited about for summer in Okotoks?

Connect with Guests: 

Joelle Reimer | Okotoks Community Member | Billet for the Okotoks Oilers | Former On-Air Personality at The Eagle

Email | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok 

Curtis Armstrong | Publisher | Western Wheel
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Email

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