In this episode of Windsor Speakeasy, host T.J. Bondy is joined by local artists and activists Bilal Nasser and Kam Cusumano to discuss the latest updates on Windsor's Safe Consumption and Services Site, SafePoint. Despite the clear need for a Safe Consumption and Services Site in Windsor, Mayor Drew Dilken and Councillor JoAnne Gignac have been stalling the implementation process with fear-mongering tactics and bureaucratic delays. Bondy, Cusumano, and Nasser discuss the harmful effects of thes...
Feb 21, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Guest :Erica Bassakos, Registered Social Worker employed at Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare Erica speaks from her experience as a social worker and is not speaking on behalf of her employer, Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare. We had the privilege to chat with Her about harm reduction, and how a safe consumption and treatment site in our city integrates and relieves stress on other parts of our healthcare system. Consider this a bonus episode to supplement the voices heard in our most recent episode;”Downt...
Jan 30, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Guests: Renaldo Agostino, Brandon Bailey, Rino Bortolin, Brian Yeomans We talk about Ward 3 Councillor, Renaldo Agostino and other stakeholders about his notice of motion to rescind the approval of a Consumption treatment and services site (CTS) delaying the project that was set to be serving the community in March. We brought up some archival speakeasy tape of outgoing Ward 3 Councillor Rino Bortolin talking about how his work over his term to gain public buy-in from all sides. We Talk with Bra...
Jan 28, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 4
We are joined by arts and community catalyst Tom Lucier, owner and operator of Phog Lounge and Meteor. Phog Lounge just celebrated its 19th birthday, we talk to Tom about running a small business downtown Windsor. We get to talk about how small businesses thrive, what role landlords play, and the significance of safety through urban design. Phog continues to nurture a community of young people bursting into the arts scene, we talk about how this has come to be. Tom breaks down what Phog's schedu...
Jan 21, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 3
We are joined by Darcie Renaud to chat about the upcoming budget and how Windsor city council will be creating a committee so that new councillors and the public can learn more about the municipal annual budgetary process. We also talk about the Budget tools the city has put out as part of community engagement. 2022 budget: https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Budget/Documents/2022%20Approved%20Operating%20Budget%20(v4).pdf https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Budget/Documents/2022%20Captial%20Bud...
Dec 19, 2022•33 min
Speakeasy’s back, tell a friend. We chatted about Bronwen’s first city council meeting and had our first guest, Gabe Ciavaglia, to chat about the transit investment that was voted on at that meeting. Council approves $100 million in transit investments but misses the opportunity to build the new bus garage leaving the Transit Master Plan “severely constrained”. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/bus-garage-council-vote-1.6667296 We also talked about the survey that is open for public input f...
Dec 09, 2022•48 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In the final hours of this campaign we talk about the two political heavyweights duking it out to be Windsor's next mayor. Incumbent, Drew Dilkens faces a strong challenger in Chris Holt. We talk about why kind of leaders we think these two men are. Our icebreaker for this episode is one for the books. Get out and vote on Monday. Check out our resources page for more info: www.windsorspeakeasy.com/info
Oct 22, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 12
On October 20, 2022 the Friends of Adie Knox hosted a final candidate's meeting for the coucillor hopefuls of ward 4. Five of the candidates attended the meeting with those not in attendance sending their regards but unable to attend. Moderated by Linda MacKenzie thanks for the all who attended as asked questions.
Oct 22, 2022•2 hr 11 min
Ward 10 councillor hopefuls attend a candidates meeting at the Babylon Event Centre on Oct 17, 2022. Hosted by Chaldean League and Integrative Canadian Group Organization(IGCO) and moderated by Kathleen Saylors of the Windsor Star. This is a recording of that night.
Oct 20, 2022•56 min
Ward 9 councillor hopefuls attend a candidates meeting at the Babylon Event Centre on Oct 17, 2022. Hosted by Chaldean League and Integrative Canadian Group Organization(IGCO) and moderated by Kathleen Saylors of the Windsor Star. This is a recording of that night.
Oct 20, 2022•43 min
Jim Morrison faces the previous councillor of ward 10, Paul Borrelli and the third place candidate from the 2018 election Mark Masanovich. Will ward 10 voters keep Morrison in power, rehire Borrelli or vote for a change with one of the other 2 candidates. We talk about traffic calming and the Dougall Deathtrap as well as other issues for the ward. Check out our election resource page: www.windsorspeakeasy.com/info
Oct 18, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Popular incumbent Kieran MacKenzie faces two challengers for the ward 9 councillor seat. We talk about how MacKenzie has used his 4 years on council to be a strong voice fro ward 9. We get into some important conversations about endorsements and even wade into the issue of the future mega hospital a little bit in this episode. Check out our resource page: www.windsorspeakeasy.com/info
Oct 18, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 10
The Canadian Federation of University Women hosted a candidate's meeting for mayoral hopefuls. All candidates were in attendance with the exception of incumbent, Drew Dilkens and Ernie 'the bacon man' Lamont. Moderated by Sarah Morris, this event was full of some lively conversation and an engaged audience.
Oct 13, 2022•1 hr 8 min
Gary Kaschak, the incumbent was nearly acclaimed as ward 8 councillor but on the final day of registration challenger Gemma Grey-Hall put herself in the race. These two are no strangers to running elections and have ran against one another in the recent past on the provincial level. Is ward 8 ready ready for change or happy with the way the incumbent has served the ward?
Oct 13, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Emmanuel United Church hosted a forum for the candidates of ward 4. Moderated by Dan MacDonald the night was full of robust conversation and an opportunity to see which candidates stand out from the large field of 8 candidates. The acoustics of the church were not ideal for recording but we hope you are able to listen and get a better grasp of where these 8 folks are coming from and where they want to see ward 4 and the city go in the next 4 years. You can find our analysis of ward 4 in our feed...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 25 min
Incumbent, Jeewen Gill, was elected 18 months ago in a by-elections when the previous councillor got a job in higher government. A field of strong contenders are fighting for this seat. Windsor's 1st openly trans candidate and a candidate who has run on a homophobic platform. This is a very interesting race and one to keep your eye on. Who would get your vote in ward 7? Want to know more about the candidates and the election? Find the resources you need here: www.windsorspeakeasy.com/info...
Oct 11, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Jo Anne Gignac has sat in this council seat for nearly 2 decades. We talk about who the challengers are who are looking to dethrone councillor Gignac. Some serious contenders and some not so serious but we cover them all. Will Riverside see a new councillor this term? Who is the top contending front runner? Want to know more about the candidates or election? Find the resources you need here: www.windsorspeakeasy.com/info
Oct 11, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 7
A mini episode where we talk about what it is like to vote if you have never done it before, a special voting selfie challenge, and why young people have the power! Check out our website for important election resources: www.windsorspeakeasy.com/info
Oct 10, 2022•13 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Incumbent, Ed Sleiman, faces a pool of 5 challengers. 2 of which stand out from the rest. We recorded this episode before we attended the ward 5 candidate's meeting and we learned a lot from that event. Take a listen to that if you want to know more about the 3 strong challengers that showed up for that event. As always we are here for introductions and an overview. Take a look at the candidate's information in the link below and make an informed vote. https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Municip...
Oct 09, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Friends of Adie Knox invited all war 5 candidates to come to a meeting at the Royal Candian Legion Brand 644. 3 Candidates showed up for this meeting; Ken Acton, Alex Didone, and Richard St Dennis. No other candidate showed up including incumbent Ed Sleiman nor did they let the organizers know that they couldn't make it. We did take video on Instagram live but there was some connection issues so some portions were cut off you can find the link to those videos at our website. www.windsorspeakeasy...
Oct 08, 2022•2 hr 1 min
Chris Holt, is running for mayor which leaves an open seat in Ward 4 and the competition is tight. Eight candidates have put forth their name to represent ward 4. Home of Walkerville and surrounding neighbourhoods this ward has relatively high voter turn out and large amounts of constituent engagement. Bronwen and T.J. talk about what we found sets these folks apart and who we would vote for if we lived in ward 4. In a race with so many people running anything can happen. To find out more about ...
Oct 06, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Thanks to The Friends of Adie Knox for putting on this candidate's meeting at Mackenzie Hall in Sandwiche town. We have split this event into two recordings of ward 1 councillors and ward 2 councillors. We have kept the introductory words from the moderator, Joe McParland, in both episodes. If you have listened to the ward 1 recording you can skip to 4:30 to start at the beginning of the ward 1 portion.
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 38 min
Thanks to The Friends of Adie Knox for putting on this candidate's meeting at Mackenzie Hall in Sandwiche town. We have split this event into two recordings of ward 1 councilors and ward 2 councillors. We have kept the introductory words from the moderator, Joe McParland, in both episodes. This is the ward 1 portion of that meeting. Incumbent , Fred Francis, was not able to attend due to a prior engagement leaving Darcie Renaud as the only ward 1 candidate.
Oct 06, 2022•26 min
Rino Bortolin has announced he is not running for another term leaving the ward 3 seat up for grabs. Bronwen and TJ talk about who they think has a shot at filling this empty position and what things they are campaigning on. For more information on the candidates you can check out this link: https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Municipal-Election/WhoIsRunning/Pages/Councillor-Ward-3.aspx To see a detailed map of the ward boundaries you can see that here: https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Munici...
Oct 03, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode we talk about ward 2 the home of the historic Sandwich town. Incumbent Fabio Costante faces 3 challengers to his council seat. We discus the platforms they have available online and break it down for you. For more info on these candidates pleas check out the link below: https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Municipal-Election/WhoIsRunning/Pages/Councillor-Ward-2.aspx To view ward maps check out this link from the city: https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Municipal-Election/Document...
Sep 27, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Bronwen and T.J. hash out the head to head race in ward 1. Incumbent Fred Francis faces a strong challenger in Darcie Renaud. This ward has high voter turnout, a golf course, Ojibway the future national urban park, St. Clair College and a lot of suburb. We share where our votes would fall in this race and how to find more information about these two candidates to see who aligns with your values. Links to find out more from the candidates: https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Municipal-Election/Wh...
Sep 24, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Bronwen and TJ introducing themselves and outlining the vision of the show. What kind of things do you want us to talk about? What questions do you have for your candidate? Do you know who your candidate is? Will you vote?
Aug 23, 2022•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1
