Sunny Side Up: A Brandon Sun Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Brandon Sun
Hosted by Joseph Bernacki, this weekly podcast is a snapshot of everything happening in Westman. Featuring different guests from all walks of life on the show, enjoy a look into current events from the Brandon community while getting to know some of the faces behind your daily newspaper coverage. Start your day Sunny Side Up, with The Brandon Sun!
Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett sits down with Brandon Sun political reporter Colin Slark to talk about the first 100 days in office, what he has accomplished in his first few months as head of council, and what he has yet to do.
Former 2PPCLI soldier Glen Kirkland opens up this week on his recent humanitarian work, in particular his time ferrying needed supplies between Poland and warn torn areas of Ukraine last year. Kirkland was in town to receive an award from the Rotary Club of Brandon, when he sat down with Sun columnist Deveryn Ross to talk about the experience.
Anne Boychuk has been a well-known fixture of Brandon's artistic community for decades, but she has become particularly well-known for her colourful Christmas window paintings on various downtown Brandon businesses when the holidays are on the horizon. Neighbours is a new podcast, hosted by the Brandon Sun's Deveryn Ross, which seeks to tell the stories of the people who live and work in our community, and get to know them better. Anne Boychuk is Deveryn's first guest.
Today on the show Sun writer Ian Hitchen has a sit down conversation with Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson during her stop in Brandon on Nov. 4. In our conversation with the premier, we touched on several local subjects, including safe injection sites, government Perimeteritis, election speculation and homelessness within our city. Special thanks to freelance audio producer Daniel Mosionier for his help on this week's podcast.
Good afternoon and welcome to another edition of Sunny Side Up. Today on the show, Barry Cooper joins me in studio to discuss his time serving as the president of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. He and I have a discussion on what Westman businesses have been through coming from a pre-pandemic time to where we are today in the current business climate. Cooper shares some thoughts on the resilience of small business owners and entrepreneurs stepping up to the challenge of growing their business, some of his goals in office before his term wraps up and experience working for Heritage Co-op. Later on in the show, Perry Bergson, the elder statesman of the Brandon Sun joined me in studio to catch up on the Brandon Wheat Kings, baseball and a 30 plus year career covering news, sports and music. Perry and I explore what it was like when he joined the newspaper for the first time in 1989 and how the Brandon Sun looks today.
Today on the show Colin Slark and I have a sit down conversation with Jean Charest, the former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and three term premier of Quebec. Charest is currently running as a candidate in the leadership race for the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and graciously took some time to join us live in the studio while making a campaign appearance in Brandon. The three of us discuss why he believes he is the right choice for the leadership role, his background in politics and policy initiatives he would like to see implemented if elected. Enjoy this special edition of Sunny Side Up!
Today on the show, I have a sit down conversation with Constable Amanda Conway of Brandon Police Service where her and I had a chance to discuss Project Resilience 911, a project she co-founded giving first responders in Westman a place to have their mental health concerns heard on the job. Cst. Conway and I discuss her time working on the force for seven years in Brandon and a 20 year career serving the public while learning some of the stresses and resources available to first responders in need who may need a break after experiencing trauma on the job. Later on in the show, Karen McKinley and I discuss her background in journalism, working in small town Ontario and Alberta before moving on to Thunder Bay and Yellowknife for work, prior to joining the Brandon Sun. We also get a chance to discuss her most recent Focal Point feature on sustainable gardening in Westman. All this and more on this week's edition of Sunny Side Up!
Today on the show, Colin Slark and I have a sit down conversation with our current two term head of council, Mayor Rick Chrest. The three of us discuss his time in office over the past two terms, including a look into some of the plans that were on the table for Brandon's downtown neighbourhood. Chrest shares some thoughts on this upcoming municipal election, who he would like to see run on council and why voter turnout is of greater importance this time around as he previously announced he would not be running again for a third term. We get an inside look at what he plans to do after his time in office and more on this edition of Sunny Side Up!
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Sunny Side Up. Today on the show I am joined by Florence Halcrow, the coordinator of Ask Auntie, one of many programs and services offered through the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation. Florence and I discuss how the program has taken flight, now in service for over a year in Brandon. We take a look at how the Blue Door Project has created a safe space for downtown residents to warm up during the winter and how Brandon's Indigenous community has benefitted through the work done at BNRC. Later on in the show, Lucas Punkari, our first of three sports reporters at the Brandon Sun joins me in studio where we caught up on his background growing up in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario and where a decade plus of sports writing has taken him in the business. Go Greyhounds!
On the third week of recording Sunny Side Up, I had a chance to sit down with Dr. Kelly Saunders, a political science professor from Brandon University where we discussed the impacts of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and how the war has impacted Canadians on a geopolitical scale, the likes of which haven't been seen in years. Kyle Darbyson, our education and arts and entertainment reporter from the Brandon Sun was next up to join me in studio for our reporter profile sessions. Kyle and I take an in-depth look at his Focal Point feature on a piano protégé who can trace a chapter of his life to Brandon, his time spent covering Rides for the paper, and thoughts on cinema and his current movie blog Corner Store Cinema, which helped create his interest in writing many years ago.
A new month has brought new guests to Sunny Side Up, as Brandon Sun political reporter Colin Slark, sits down with Jeff Fawcett, who has recently announced his goal to become the next head of council in the city. Colin delves into Jeff's background in politics, serving as the city councillor for the Assiniboine Ward since 2010. The two discuss what impact our current Mayor Rick Chrest has left for the next person to step into that role, and why he would be a good candidate for the job. Following our discussion with Jeff, I sat down with Drew May, our crime reporter for the newspaper. Drew and I chat about what it was like growing up in Ottawa for him, attending Carleton University and later the University of King's College where he would meet Colin, before the two joined the Brandon Sun. Afterwards we discuss Drew's expertise covering the courts and legal system in the city, why he loves to make his own bread, and his desire to see South Dakota, of which I add some additional colour to the discussion.
For the inaugural edition of Sunny Side Up, I sat down with members of the Tom Bishop Wild West Show who travelled to Brandon from Pelham, Ontario to perform at this week's Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Following my discussion with Tom, Alyssa and Braillyn, Colin Slark, my first colleague from the Sun joined me in studio to discuss his most recent Focal Point article, his introduction to journalism, growing up in Prince George, BC and Halifax, NS and a few favourite movies that have made a lasting impression on his love of cinema.