Chances are if you’ve spent a significant amount of time in Calgary whether you live here or maybe just come for Stampede you probably have memories in the Saddledome. Concerts, comedy shows, and of course major sporting events have been hosted at our arena since 1983. I can tell you some of the best memories I have growing up in Calgary are from events I went to at the Saddledome. Like a lot of us, I was swept up in the magic when the flames made it all the way to the Stanley Cup final in 2004 [and technically won it, just saying] I have seen all three major sports tenants play for championships in the building, while I haven’t been to a concert, members of my family have and I have seen Amy Schumer perform at the Saddledome.

Like many Calgary residents, however, I also know that major events are becoming fewer and far between at the dome. I can’t really blame major performers for skipping our city even if it is in favour of Edmonton when the roof can’t hold the proper number of speakers and sound and light equipment in a snowstorm in Canada. For a long time, I didn’t think I’d have to talk about the movement to replace the Saddledome as part of the show after all the papers were signed before we recorded the first episode. One of the interesting things about doing a current events podcast is that you have to be flexible.

With the recent developments and delays in the Event Centre project as well as some revelations coming out recently about hidden costs potentially to taxpayers within the agreement, I felt like it was necessary to have a conversation about the Event Centre. Today, Jason and I will cover a brief history of the effort to replace the Saddledome, cover what exactly is in the agreements that were signed in 2019, a public benefit for taxpayer dollars, and whether with Covid, the economic climate, and these current delays we can still afford that this project. Let’s dive into the effort to bring big events back to Your Neck of the Woods!

As we all know the 2021 election is one of the biggest things happening in Your Neck of the Woods this year. While we can agree that this podcast is focused on Ward 1 whoever represents this Ward will have to work with 14 other people. That’s why Jason and I have committed to highlighting candidates from the other races in the election. This will also bring a wide range of perspectives to the show. After all, Your Neck of the Woods is meant to be a conversation.

This week Jason and I sit down with Ward 11 candidate Kourtney Branagan to get her perspectives on running to replace mayoral candidate, and polarizing figure in the Calgary political scene Jeromy Farkas. I ask Kourtney some of her views on making the Council more collaborative and we both share our thoughts on urban sprawl and development in the city, even getting into a quick debate on the Guidebook for Great Communities. Listen and see what myself, and Ward 11 candidate Kourtney Branagan think of what’s going on in Your Neck of the Woods!

There’s an old saying that says you can only count on two things in life; death and taxes. Well, when it comes to politics, I’m pretty sure we can all agree you can only count on the second one. Taxes pay for a lot of things; this is especially prevalent at the city level. City services like garbage collection, snow removal, road maintenance, among many, many other things. For a long time, we were pretty spoiled in Calgary, commodity prices made it so that the tax base from the downtown office towers made up a good portion of revenue. For the last five years, we haven’t been so lucky, this has given rise to a movement seeking to shift the tax burden to homeowners. Ultimately as long as city services are kept has what we deemed to be an acceptable level all of us want to pay as little tax as possible. That’s why this week we had the pleasure of welcoming in another guest.

Joining Jason and I’s talk this week is Franco Terrazzano Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Franco, Jason, and I discuss whether the tax shift movement is even asking the right question to Calgarians or whether regardless of who’s footing the bill spending power is affected. Is it time to start asking what things we pay for our essentials and which are simply nice to have? Do we need to build every single capital project or art installation on the docket? City reserves are for a rainy day does it really get any rainier than the hurricane we are in right now?

These are questions that need answers now, well they needed answers before but it’s time to find the answers. Not to mention the complete lack of leadership and compassion showed in City Hall to make sacrifices themselves when so many of us are struggling. Multiple pensions and some of the highest salaries in the country are not the examples to set when others are struggling to put food on the table, or at least that’s my take. These dollars and cents at the end of the day affect what it’s like to live in Your Neck of the Woods!

Tonight, on COPS: oops I mean Your Neck of the Woods we’re proud to welcome our first guest to the conversation! Mike Baker is the vice president of the Calgary Police Association and a veteran of the Calgary Police Service. What a time to talk to him, our brave men and women in the police service or under so much scrutiny [some deserved some not] and very few media outlets seem to want to have an honest dialogue with the person behind the badge. That’s exactly what you get here.

Myself, Mike, and Jason cover a wide range of issues including community policing initiatives like School resource officers and mental health and wellness checks, police funding, militarization, department training, even the role of pop culture in glamourizing crime and the effect of perception from the United States. Lately, we’ve heard a lot about defunding the police, in Calgary specifically from groups like Defund 2 Fund, but too few people are asking what that actually means. Why are we not talking about reducing the number of interactions police have as the default service especially when it comes to mental health, addiction, things police officers isn’t necessarily the best equipped to handle? Why aren’t we doing more to understand why tactical gear is important to the police service, because there’s history there?

Instead of absorbing narrative from the United States, let’s have our own honest, balanced conversation. All the questions above are important because without context we end up demonizing people who dedicate their lives to keep us safe. Let’s tackle these issues together and hear the voice of someone helping to keep Your Neck of the Woods a secure, vibrant place to live and have some fun doing it! 

I don’t know about you but I’ve found this last year to be quite a challenge from a mental health standpoint. What’s strange is this isn’t a new issue between the opioid epidemic, and the economic downturn in Alberta this is something that’s been going on in your neck of the woods for quite a long time. Covid and the isolation that has come along with it has merely emphasized how underprepared we are to deal with a friend or loved one in mental health crisis.

Today Jason and I talk about the impact of Covid on our mental health and those around us. How often times it’s difficult to know where to begin when you or somebody you love me and help, common flaws in approaches we see like creating meaningless frameworks and action strategies, and how mental health needs to be seen as a way of improving overall health taking pressure off our crisis-based system.

We discuss how practical steps could be taken at the city level to reduce the number of people in crisis and how we can remove financial insecurity as a barrier. It’s one thing to know where to start when you realize you need help but you need to be able to afford to get that help and the space needs to be available. This is an issue that affects all of us, many times on a personal level and so often practical solutions are papered over in favour of words and pronouncements from the government whether that be federally, provincially, or from city Council.

At the same time, we also discuss of food drive that will be covering Northwest Calgary this spring so that we can do some good for the many thousands of us that need it! Remember, there’s always something good happening in your neck of the woods!

Welcome to Your Neck of the Woods with Jacob McGregor. In this podcast, we are going to discuss issues and events in Northwest Calgary and the city as a whole. I started this podcast with my friend Jason Diodati because I noticed a lack of communication from our city Councillor and awareness of things going on in our community, I’m looking to bridge that gap as I run for City Council myself. Your Neck of the Woods is meant to be a conversation between myself, Jason, our guests and hopefully you!

This is something I find sorely lacking at all levels of political discussion and I want and do my part of the change. This episode will introduce you to me and Jason and to the conversational style we hope to bring to many issues. I have my bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Calgary and have spent a good chunk of my life volunteering in the disability community, with the city of Calgary, and with the Calgary Rocky Ridge Conservative Association. I hope to bring a solution-focused lens to the things we talk about. No virtue signalling, and no shouting down the other person in the room. As a Calgarian with a disability, I also hope to lend a unique perspective and know that honest communication is the first step to getting things done.

Jason was a high school classmate of mine and has his criminal justice degree from Mount Royal University. This combined with his business experience as Gen. manager in the cannabis industry gives him a wide knowledge base on a number of topics. As somebody who has known him for a long time, his infectious personality makes recording the show a joy! Today, you’ll start to get to know us and hopefully want to walk the path with this as we learn more about Calgary and the people who live in it. Politics will be a major part of what you hear but I hope you’re also entertained as you learn what’s happening in Your Neck of the Woods!