As Local Government Week comes to a close, we’re celebrating the important role local government plays in shaping our community. From delivering essential services that keep our City running to fostering civic engagement and participation in local democracy. It all starts right here at the local level.

In our final episode, Councillor Vezeau Allen shares what local democracy means to her and her journey into public service.

Thank you for joining us this week as we explored how local democracy works and how you can help shape the future of our City.

Missed an episode? Catch up anytime at www.saultstemarie.ca/podcast

It’s Local Government Week!

This week, we’re celebrating the role local government plays in shaping our communities. From delivering essential services that keep our City running to fostering civic engagement and participation in local democracy.

On today’s podcast, Councillor Caputo joins us to share what local democracy means to her and her journey into public service.

Stay tuned throughout the week as we explore how local democracy works, and you can help shape the future of our City.

It’s Local Government Week!

This week, we’re celebrating the role local government plays in shaping our communities. From delivering essential services that keep our City running to fostering civic engagement and participation in local democracy.

On today’s podcast, Councillor Kinach joins us to share what local democracy means to him and his journey into public service.

Stay tuned throughout the week as we explore how local democracy works, and you can help shape the future of our City.

It’s Local Government Week!

This week, we’re celebrating the role local government plays in shaping our communities. From delivering essential services that keep our City running to fostering civic engagement and participation in local democracy.

On today’s podcast, Councillor Dufour joins us to share what local democracy means to him and his journey into public service.

Stay tuned throughout the week as we explore how local democracy works, and you can help shape the future of our City.

From swimming lessons and lifeguard certification to public swims and aquatic fitness, the City’s aquatics program plays a critical role in promoting health, safety, and skill development across all ages. Today, we’re jumping into the world of aquatics, a vital part of our City’s recreation and safety infrastructure. We also recognize that this month, we commemorate National Lifeguard Appreciation Day and National Drowning Prevention Week. Ben Ayton, Aquatic Supervisor joins us as we dive in and learn about what goes into running the aquatic facilities, the importance of water safety education, and how residents can get involved, whether it's learning to swim or becoming a certified lifeguard.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie aims to establish respectful and meaningful relationships with First Nations and Métis communities. As part of its commitment to reconciliation and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the City created a new role dedicated to shaping municipal policies, programs, and services. Kaitlyn Neveu, Indigenous Policy and Process Renewal Advisor, joins us on the podcast to discuss her role.

Recorded in June during National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, this conversation highlights the City’s ongoing journey toward meaningful reconciliation.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie has launched a Transit Optimization Study to assess the design and efficiency of Sault Ste. Marie Transit Services. The study will review the City’s transit network, including the effectiveness of current bus routes and on-demand services. It will also evaluate the potential relocation of the Dennis Street terminal and provide recommendations to enhance efficiency.  Nicole Maione, Director of Community Services joins us on the podcast to talk about an important project that affects how people move around our City.

The Housing Community Improvement Plan is a community revitalization tool that responds to the housing needs of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. This program financially supports homeowners, property developers, and non-profit organizations in creating rental suites or building multi-unit developments. Like many municipalities across Canada and in Ontario, adequate and affordable housing supply has emerged as a critical challenge. Steve Zuppa joins the podcast to explore housing in Sault Ste. Marie and learn how our City plans to meet or exceed the provincial housing target by 2031.

Winter snow removal, what does it take to keep our roads safe, what are the challenges of this season, and how can we all work together to navigate these tough winter months. It’s no secret that this winter has been one for the books. Heavy snowfall, extreme cold, and unpredictable weather patterns have tested our snow removal teams. Join us as we talk to Dan Perri, Director of Public Works and look inside the efforts behind the scenes.

What is GIS and how is it shaping the City of Sault Ste. Marie? Geographic Information Systems is technology that lets us visualize and analyze data based on location. For a City like Sault Ste. Marie, GIS is more than just maps; it’s a toolkit for making smarter, data-driven decisions that impact everything from urban planning and environmental conservation. Kiera Shan, GIS Asset Management Coordinator, explores GIS Day on the podcast and provides some real-life examples of how GIS is making our City a safer, more sustainable and more connected place.