We have something a little different on this episode of the Old Grey Mayors podcast. Luisa D'Amato a longtime journalist at the Waterloo Region Record, joins Rob to talk about her career and insights into journalism.
D'Amato discusses her early influences, including Bernard Levin and her education at Columbia Journalism School, recounting her experiences covering social services, investigative journalism, and local politics, including her work on a significant story about a suspected murderer while she was about to give birth.
D'Amato and Rob also dive into the challenges of modern journalism, including the decline in local news coverage and the impact of social media on public discourse. D'Amato also shares why local journalism is critical to holding institutions and leaders accountable and offers tips for politicians interacting with the press.
In this episode of The Old Grey Mayor’s Podcast, host Robert Deutschmann reconnects with Geoff Lorentz, a veteran of municipal politics with 34 years of service, including 21 years on Regional Council.
Geoff discusses his journey from being appointed to Regional Council under the old double-elect system to becoming a councillor through the direct election process.
The conversation reflects on significant projects like the ION light rail system, airport development, and the challenges of managing regional governance. Geoff shares insights about key issues such as working with staff, Uber’s arrival in Waterloo Region, and the impact of roundabouts on traffic safety. He concludes by reflecting on his transition away from public office and the camaraderie that made his time in politics fulfilling.
This episode provides a deep dive into the nuances of regional governance, the balancing act between innovation and responsibility, and the satisfaction of public service. Geoff Lorentz offers a seasoned perspective on the rewards and challenges of managing public infrastructure, budgets, and evolving community needs. Tune in for practical insights into local politics and stories about the key projects that have shaped the Waterloo Region.
In this episode of The Old Grey Mayor’s Podcast, host Robert Deutschmann speaks with Jenn Pfenning, a farmer, advocate, and former Wilmot Township councillor.
Jenn shares her journey from working on her family’s organic farm to becoming involved in local politics. They discuss her experience on council, the role of community engagement, and the complexities of balancing advocacy for sustainable agriculture and migrant labour rights. Jenn also reflects on the challenges of municipal governance, the importance of local infrastructure, and her decision to run for mayor in 2022.
This episode offers valuable insights into grassroots advocacy, community engagement, and the realities of local governance. Tune in to learn more about Jenn's passion for public service, sustainable agriculture, and the power of local politics.
Jeff Henry returns to the podcast to talk all things municipal budgets, from managing capital projects to the costs of upgrading infrastructure in older neighbourhoods.
Karl Kiefer joins Rob on the podcast to talk about his journey into local politics. Inspired by the amalgamation of Preston and Cambridge in 1973, Karl ran for and was elected to Cambridge City Council. He shares stories on community involvement, recreational facilities, and managing public funds and resources.
Former City of Kitchener councillor John Gazzola is back on the podcast. This time, Rob and John talking about the history of Centre in the Square, dealing with budget surpluses, and a surprising change of perspective on amalgamation.
With the housing crisis continuing to dominate the local political discourse, Rob is joined by former City of Waterloo Councillor Jeff Henry to talk about his time on council, changes to rental housing regulations and licensing, and how suburbs can be revitalized through great urban planning.
Rob sits down with Scott McMillan to talk about his time as a Waterloo Region District School Board trustee and Woolwich Township councillor.
Former City of Kitchener councillor Geoff Lorentz joins Rob on the podcast. Geoff shares his thoughts on the key decisions that helped transform the downtown core, the challenges of working with teams across city and regional government, and the work to bring the Huron Natural Area to the community.
John Gazzola has seen Kitchener and Waterloo Region grow over his 20 years as councillor for Ward 3 in the City of Kitchener. John joins Rob on the podcast to talk about watching the community evolve over his career, the creation of the Region of Waterloo, and how the city came to own its gas utility.
Tenille Bonoguore's career and life has taken her from Austalia to Canada and back to Austalia again. She joins Rob on the podcast to talk about her transition from journalist to city councillor, bringing Open Streets and the Grand Porch Party to the community, and her work on the city's Vision Zero plan.
Former Waterloo city councillor Angela Vieth joins Rob on the podcast to hear what inspired her to run for office, what is was like to win, and her advocacy for removing fluoride from the city's drinking water in 2010.
Welcome to another episode of Old Grey Mayors with your host Rob Deutschmann. In this episode, we have a very special guest, Cheryl Gordijk, who will be sharing her inspiring story of love, adventure, and public service.
Cheryl takes us on a captivating journey as she recounts how she met her husband when he visited Canada, and how their love story led her across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom. Cheryl's journey took her back to Canada, where she found her passion for serving her community. She delves into her decision to run for council in Wilmot Township and the obstacles she overcame during her campaign and time in office.
Throughout the episode, Cheryl reflects on her accomplishments during her time on council and the initiatives she is most proud of. She shares anecdotes and lessons learned, providing valuable insights into the world of local governance and the importance of community involvement.
Join us as Cheryl Gordijk shares her remarkable story of love, adventure, and public service, and inspires us with her determination, resilience, and dedication to making a difference in her community. This is an episode you won't want to miss!
On this episode of Old Grey Mayors, Rob welcomes community volunteer extraordinaire Angie Hallman. From spray pads to Canada Day celebrations, Angie can be relied upon to help out her community in many ways.
Rob first met Angie when they were on the CityNews Kitchener Friday Four segment. In 2018, Angie decided to take the plunge and ran to become a councillor for Wimot Township. She was one of the triumvirate of women who balanced out the previous male-dominated council. Along with her two fellow councillors, the three were the first women elected in over 40 years to Wilmot Council. She served for one term and lost in her reelection bid in 2022. Angie joins Rob to share with us her experiences as a community volunteer and councillor.
In this episode, Rob is joined by former Kitchener city councillor Zyg Janecki. Zyg worked in planning for the City of Kitchener for 30 years before moving to private practice. In 2006, he offered his experience skills and expertise to the citizens of Kitchener, but narrowly lost that election. In 2010, he ran again and was successful and was elected a councillor for Ward 8 in Kitchener. He was reelected in 2014, but lost his reelection bid in 2018.
Jean Haalboom returns to the podcast for the third time to talk with Rob about her time in office, the importance of protecting geographical heritage, and more.
Our latest episode features Rob telling the tale of bringing a new supermarket to Ayr—from the challenges of selecting a site to dealing with developers and grocery chains with conflicting ideas on what the community needed.
How hard can it be to build a new park?
Former Waterloo city councillor Melissa Durrell comes back to the podcast to share the stories and challenges of bringing a new park to the Mary Allen neighbourhood in Uptown Waterloo.
Former Regional Chair of Waterloo Region Ken Seiling is back on the podcast. This time, Ken shares his thoughts on regional government reform and bringing the indoor smoking ban to Waterloo Region.
In the final part of the ION light rail transit trilogy, Mike Murray sits down with Rob to talk about construction challenges — from finding hidden concrete and corduroy roads underground to manufacturing delays for the trains themselves.
Part 1 - No small tasks with Mike Murray
Part 2 - Moving ION forward with Mike Murray