NewsNow Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mike Williscraft
Tune in each week as NewsNow editor Mike Williscraft sits down with special guests to discuss the current issues and events happening right now in West Niagara. Local news, local places, local people - news that matters to you!
Candidates for Grimsby's Ward 3 debate why they deserve your vote in the upcoming municipal election.
In this episode, Niagara Regional councilor and NPCA member Rob Foster joins Mikes to discuss the future of the NPCA post-COVID, the future of development in the region and a number of other topics.
It's official. Teddy's, a true Grimsby institution, will be closing its doors after more than 50 years of operating.
In this emotional episode, Mike chats with the restaurant's co-owners Sandy and Teddy Jaskula. Together, the trio revisits old memories, brings the past to life and discuss what turning points lead to the decision.
As the festive Christmas Season descends on West Niagara, Mike sits down with WLMH Foundation executive director Pam Ellens to talk about the upcoming Trees of Healthy Wishes campaign.
The two have a conversation touching on the annual event of gratitude, the Foundation's contribution to the ongoing WLMH rebuild project and a special NewsNow scoop!
Be sure to check out the 'Trees of Healthy Wishes' section coming up in this year's Dec. 23 edition.
GBF director of programs, Ashley Marr, joins Mike this episode to discuss this year's Christmas Hamper food drive in Grimsby.
Along the way, Ashley explains what her organization needs, how the gathering and packaging process will be COVID-safe, and how Grimsby residents can contribute.
Hometown Hockey is coming to to the Peach King Centre and the Grimsby DIA has something special planned.
In this episode, Mike is joined by Shauna Daley of the White Rhino Gift Shop to discuss all the fun events and prizes the organization has in store.
For more stories on Hometown Hockey's return to Grimsby, visit wn3.ca.
Local author, Joanne McLaren honours the men of West Lincoln who went off to fight in the Great War with her new book 'Veterans of West Lincoln - WWI.' Through detailed and painstaking research, McLaren gathered the names and records of hundreds of soldiers who came from the three communities that make up modern day West Lincoln to tell their stories and ensure they are never forgotten.
In this episode, McLaren joins Mike to talk about the genesis of her book, and her process for bring the history of so many men back to life in her book.
This episode is a supplement to the story 'All West Lincoln WWI vets chronicled in new book,' which can be found in the November 4, 2021 edition of NewsNow.
This episode is a double-feature as Mike sits down with Town of Lincoln tourism coordinator, Brittany Bazylewski and director of community services, Shannon McKay to discuss big things happening in Lincoln.
In the first half of the episode, Brittany explains the Town's new "Benchlands" tourism branding, and its significance towards Lincoln's sense of space, heritage and more.
In the second half, Shannon covers Beamsville's brand new Rotary Park, along with all its features, installments and other fun aspects.
This episode is a supplement to several stories that appeared in the Oct. 28 edition of NewsNow. You can read an e-edition at the following link:
https://www.wn3.ca/2021/10/27/newsnew-e-edition-october-28-2021/
The Grimsby Santa Claus Parade is back, and Trevor Ruzylo from the Town's Recreation Dept. has returned to the NewsNow Podcast to dish out all the details.
From parade routes to safety measures and more, this episode has everything you'd want to know about the 2021 Santa Claus Parade.
Check out the Oct. 21 Edition of NewsNow for more coverage on the Parade.
For stories that detail other West Niagara events and more, visit us at this link.
Events on the Thirty, the group behind the Thirty Road Market has planned a special event for October. This event, The Spirits Festival, will combine Halloween spookiness with a wide selection of Craft Distilleries & Breweries. There is also an extensive list of live bands that will be performing.
In this episode, Mike was joined by event director Nicki Inch who explained all the ins and outs of this event which is slated to take place on the weekend of Halloween.
For more stories that feature Niagara West events, visit NewsNow online here.
After two decades of heartbreak, struggle and passion, the people of West Niagara will finally get their new hospital. As the project moves ever closer to the shovels in the ground, the WLMH Foundation is moving quickly to get the final pieces funding needed to get the project over the finish line.
Hence the "Take it to the Finish" campaign, which is all about getting the final funding in place for new equipment, room furnishing and so on, which all falls under the local portion of the construction bill.
In this episode Mike is joined by Andrew Smith from the WLMH Foundation, who explains the goals of the campaign, its scope and also the timeline for the hospital build.
For more stories on the WLMH and other topics related to West Niagara visit NewsNow online at https://www.wn3.ca/.
This week Peach Kings co-owner Simon Duong joins Mike on the podcast. Together they talk about the upcoming hockey season, the toll of lost years on players, what will be done for safety at the Peach Kings Centre arena and plans for the team's centennial anniversary.
For more stories on the Peach Kings and other topics important to West Niagara, visit us at: https://www.wn3.ca/
In this episode, Mike once again sits down with Niagara West MP Dean Allison, refresh from his re-election earlier in the week. The analyze the election results with data from both West Niagara and the wider country.
Afterwards, they discuss Shirley Martin, the former MP and community pillar who passed away last week, remembering her enduring impact on the people of West Niagara.
For more on Shirley Martin and her passing, read 'Former MP, humanitarian Shirley Martin dead'
For more on the 2021 election results and Dean Allison's re-election, read 'Allison triumphant in Niagara West'.
Once again, McNally House Hospice's annual Hike for hospice will be taking place in the Fall. Unlike last year, the hospice event will be taking place in person once more, although those still uncomfortable with larges crowds can choose to participate virtually as with last year.
In this episode Mike is joined by McNally House executive director Pamela Blackwood, explains how the event will keep up Covid precautions while taking place in person. She also discusses the hospice's plans to expand with more beds, more space, and a future day hospice wing.
The NewsNow Podcast is publishing a special series of episodes that feature Niagara West's candidates in the up-coming 2021 Federal Election.
This episode's guest is CHP Candidate Harold Jonker who lays down his positions on issues affecting this riding and why Niagara West should send him to Ottawa.
The NewsNow Podcast is publishing a special series of episodes that feature Niagara West's candidates in the up-coming 2021 Federal Election.
This episode's guest is Green Party Candidate Joanna Kocsis who lays down her positions on issues affecting this riding and why Niagara West should send her to Ottawa.
The NewsNow Podcast is publishing a special series of episodes that feature Niagara West's candidates in the up-coming 2021 Federal Election.
This episode's guest is Liberal Party Candidate Ian Bingham who lays down his positions on issues affecting this riding and why Niagara West should send him to Ottawa.
The NewsNow Podcast is publishing a special series of episodes that feature Niagara West's candidates in the up-coming 2021 Federal Election.
This episode's guest is Conservative Candidate and Niagara West incumbent Dean Allison who lays down his positions on issues affecting this riding and why Niagara West should re-elect him.
The NewsNow Podcast is publishing a special series of episodes that feature Niagara West's candidates in the up-coming 2021 Federal Election.
This episode's guest is NDP Candidate Nameer Rahman who lays down his positions on issues affecting this riding and why Niagara West should send him to Ottawa.
The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) will be holding a virtual hearing regarding the Losani development aimed at the former Cole's Florist property in Grimsby.
Ron Schroder and Ruxandra Bucataru from the 'SaveMainStreet' resident group joined Mike this episode to explain why their organization will be present at the tribunal meeting to fight this development.
They discuss a number of issues ranging from parking, traffic congestion, uncharacteristic density and the importance of preserving heritage.
To sign up and speak up in support of SaveMainStreet at this tribunal email your name and your address to info@savemainstreet.ca with the subject line #PL210286 - I support SaveMainStreet representation and participant status.
To find out more on the group, its goals and how to help, visit their website, savemainstreet.ca.
Handling Specialty is a Grimsby-based company that manufacture all sort of custom material handling machines. This means more than just shipping lifts however. As this week's guest, Tom Beach, president of Handling Specialty explains, his company works in a diverse number of fields. This includes entertainment, aerospace and more.
On this episode, Beach talks about contract his company has to create world-class, custom water-stages for entertainment events on Royal Caribbean's new line of cruise ships. All this work and design is done by folks from right here in West Niagara who work at Handling Specialty.
For more stories from West Niagara, visit us by following this link.
Although Summer is already beginning to wane, Niagara tourism is still going strong.
For most tourists coming from the GTA area and beyond, Grimsby is the first stop before heading into the rest of the region. That's what makes the Niagara Gateway Information Centre so perfectly placed. The tourism info centre sits right at the entrance to the Niagara Gateway building and exists to help direct visitors from all over towards various sites through out the Niagara Region.
Brian Purdy has run the info centre since it first launched in 2017, and has his fingers on the pulse of all things Niagara Tourism. This week he sat with Mike to share what the Centre will be doing now that it's reopened.
The 7th annual Sessanta Miglia exotic car drive has come and sped off into the sunset for another year. However, 2021 will remain a particularly special year, not only because it's one of the first large events as the Covid Pandemic fades, but also because this year the event raised more than $125,000 for the WLMH.
To get a sneak peek under the hood, Mike invited on Sessanta co-founder and yearly organizer Rob Hattin to run through the highlights.
This episode is a supplement to a story that was originally printed in the Aug 12 edition of NewsNow, which can be read here.
West Niagara's newest car festival pulls into Grimsby's Southward Park this Labour Day weekend. Motor N' Music will be an event that combines a car show with a music festival and will be full of fun for the whole family.
For this episode, Mike invites on Ron Baker, the man behind this new festival as well as other car shows across the Golden Horseshoe to give listeners a peek under the hood of this new event.
This episode is a supplement to a story originally published in the NewsNow August 5 edition.
The new Lincoln Museum & Cultural Centre building in Jordan is finally completed and open to the public. Residents can explore the state of the art facility and its tremendous collection, as well as once again visit the Jordan Schoolhouse and the Fry Family House.
Lincoln exhibitions and collections curator Jasmine Proteau came on the podcast this episode to recount the saga of building the museum building, consolidating its 14,000 piece collection into a state-of-the-art archive, and as well as give a verbal tour of the new facility's exhibition.
This episode is a supplement to a story originally published in NewsNow.
Comedy is coming to Grimsby! The DIA has teamed up with Garden City comic David Green to put on a series of weekly, outdoor comedy shows in Coronation Park. Anyone looking for a good laugh can come down to the park on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Bring your own chair, of course!
These shows feature a line-up of veteran stand-up comedians who have been featured on shows like Just for Laughs, the Debaters, and many other venues.
This was all possible thanks to David Green, who leveraged his network from a long career in funny business to get these comics on board.
In this episode, David discusses the inaugural Comedy Night in Grimsby with Mike, as well as its bright future.
For more on this upcoming event, check out NewsNow's coverage by following this link.
As the province gears up to re-open so too is the Nelles Manor Museum. Plans are already underway for the Museum to offer tours starting July 31 and special events starting in August.
In this episode, Mike invites on Linda and Barry Coutts, the owners and custodians of the heritage museum house to give some previews of the upcoming re-opening.
To read more about Nelles Manor and its past special events, visit: wn3.ca
Following an announcement that the Province will make a $16 million grant to Grimsby for an expansion to the Peach Kings Centre, Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma and Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff joined Mike in the NewsNow office to discuss what the new grant means for Niagara West.
During the conversation, Mike and his guests also touch on the news that the WLMH pre-construction process is in the homestretch now that a shortlist of companies for RFPs has been selected by the Province.
To read more on the Hospital announcement, check out our story here.
Today, Canada Day 2021, also marks the release of NewsNow's special edition One Team, One Dream magazine. The publication is a 64-page volume that celebrates the history of the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital- and the hope for its future.
To further the Hospital theme, Mike invited on Dr. Gary Benson. The retired doctor has been with WLMH for much of the institution's history and he shared this unique perspective for this episode.
To further explore the history and impact of WLMH, be sure to read NewsNow's One Team, One Dream, available now!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of North and West Niagara is on the hunt for mentors. The organization have a number of boys signed up who have yet to match with a Big and its looking to equalize the situation.
In this episode, Mike chats with BBBS Marketing & Communications officer Nicole Boccia about how her organizations is reaching out to potential male mentors through the '30 Guys in 30 Days' campaign.
They also discuss the various fundraising events BBBS has undertaken and what events are coming up as the province continues to re-open.
For a look into how BBBS mentorship relationships change lives, read 'BBBS searches for 30 in 30' in the June 24, 2021 edition of NewsNow or online by visiting: https://www.wn3.ca/2021/06/25/bbbs-searches-for-30-in-30/
Summer is upon us, and with it will come Recreational Programming in each of West Niagara's municipalities.
In this episode, Mike invites on Grimsby Supervisor of Recreation, Trevor Ruzylo to give a preview on all the family-friendly Summer activities his department has planned. They also discuss how the Provincial Government's plan to re-open the province may or may not shape future programming.
For more information on Recreational programing for each Niagara West Municipality, visit the following links:
Grimsby: https://www.grimsby.ca/en/parks-recreation-culture/recreation-programs.aspx
Lincoln: https://lincoln.ca/recreation
West Lincoln: https://www.westlincoln.ca/en/recreation-and-leisure/recreation-and-leisure.aspx
Ontario will soon begin the slow process of exiting its third COVID lockdown. With retail and other workplaces resuming operations, so too will they need to expand their workforces.
Gary Bruce, executive director of Niagara West's Employment Help Centres, is in a unique postion to share data on what kinds of businesses are looking to hire what kinds of employees.
In this episode, Gary discusses these trends and statistics with Mike, in an attempt to give a glimpse of what the future of employment in West Lincoln will soon look like.
For more stories from West Niagara, visit wn3.ca.
For more than a year, businesses in Grimsby and beyond have been languishing under COVID lockdown after COVID lockdown.
However, despite these hardships, the merchants of Downtown Grimsby have proven to be resilient and the Downtown Improvement Area is still seeing growth in terms of new businesses.
In this episode, Mike is joined by fellow Grimsby DIA board member Bryan Macaulay, the owner and photographer of the Village Studio. Together they discuss the history of the DIA as well as what's coming up for it on the near horizon.
West Lincoln Mayor Dave Bylsma has recently come under fire for comments he made in a social media conversation which prompted official apologies statments and censuring from the Township and Niagara Regional Councils.
However, this is the latest in a series of controversies Bylsma has faced.
In this episode, Mike discusses and debates with the Mayor on the context, the justifications and even the regrets behind these incidents.
This episode expands on the story West Lincoln censures Mayor Bylsma, again, which was originally published in the May 27, 2021 edition of NewsNow. You can read this story online here.
This week's guest is a man who wants to hear Downtown Grimsby come alive with the sound of music.
Harley Valentine is a Grimsby-born artist, real estate investor and philanthropist who has teamed up with the Grimsby Music Studio to run a live music concert series this Summer. He chats with Mike about this concert series and the new stage venue that's gone up to accompany it, as well as the importance of treating the Downtown as more than just Main Street.
Last month, Sophie Krouse undertook a one-person protest to shed light on the massive investments banks like RBC have poured into the fossil fuel industry. This protest was cut short when several police officers showed up to where she was protesting in front of the Grimsby RBC branch.
After threatening Sophie with a Mischief charge for writing chalk messages on public property, the cops ordered the Town to send in a scrubbing machine.
All this seemed excessive to Sophie, who said she did all her due diligence to ensure everything she did that day was legal.
In this episode, Sophie Krouse joins Mike to explain her side of the story as well as the aftermath. She also talks about the organization she was representing that day, Banking on a Better Future, and its goal of pushing Canada's biggest banks to truly invest in green energy.
It's a double feature of Mikes this episode! This time, your host sits opposite to Mike Kirkopoulos, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the Town of Lincoln.
Together, they talk all things Lincoln, Ontario including: new public works projects, economic recovery during the pandemic and the Town's new tourism department among many other topics. This episode is a must-view for any Lincoln residents who want to stay in the know regarding Town news.
On this episode, Mike sits down with lifelong Grimsby Kinsman and community pillar Bruce Bond to talk about the importance of volunteers for the health of any community.
Bond recounts how he first got started as a volunteer with the Grimsby Kinsmen Club and share the many experiences he's had with that and other groups. He and Mike also chat about the decline of volunteerism and why it's important to bring in new blood to keep the cycle of community betterment going.
This week Mike welcomes Mark Kossek, a Grimsby resident so frustrated with the state of Grimsby Council that he started a petition asking the Province to intervene.
Kossek's petition clicked past the 1000 signatures mark in barely a week, and on this episode he describes his pleasant surprise with the attention it has received so far. He and Mike also touch on the importance of municipal politics and how folks can become active participants with the government that affects their daily lives the most.
For more information on this topic, check out our story on the petition, which was published in the April 15, 2021 edition of NewsNow. To sign the petition, click here.
Tune in and listen as Mike sits down with HHS director or redevelopment Bart DeVries to discuss the new designs and artistic renderings for the future West Lincoln Memorial Hospital.
This week's episode focuses on the first, concrete images of what the new hospital will look like and touches on the long road from the earliest 'Save the Hospital' rallies to this moment.
For more information on this topic, check out our story on the newly released art, which was published in the April 8, 2021 edition of NewsNow.