The 905er Podcast

The 905er
  • 4.6 (21)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The 905er is a news, politics and discussion podcast for the GTHA region focusing on the region outside central Toronto where 4 million people live, but where news coverage and discussion hardly exists. Presented by Roland Tanner and Joel MacLeod, long-time activists, volunteers and sometimes even wannabe-politicians, we aim to provide a lively weekly podcast featuring interviews with people in the news, round-table discussions, analysis and more. It aims to be intelligent, though-provoking, lively and entertaining. Get bonus content on Patreon

  1. 4D AGO

    Lisa Kearns on the Future of the Sound of Music Festival

    Earlier this summer, we presented an episode on the Sound of Music festival. The free music festival is held each Father's Day weekend in downtown Burlington. The event has attracted big names in the past, like The Trews and The Arkells, to grace their stages. However, since COVID, the costs have risen steadily, and sponsorships have not kept pace. The festival is in dire straits, with 2025 possibly being the last unless a new model is discovered. To that end, the Festival went to the City of Burlington council to find a way to preserve the funding in some capacity. The City voted down the proposal. At the same time, the City has reached out to citizens to see what they want in a new Festival organizer going forward. What is the future of the festival in Burlington? Is there enough time to find a new organizer for next year? Is the Burlington City Council willing to let this icon of the community die? To answer these questions and more, I invited Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns to explain the city's decision-making process and what the city is hoping for going forward. Our previous episode with Brent Kinnaird from the Sound of Music Festival can be found here: https://905er.ca/2025/09/who-will-save-the-sound-of-music-festival/ It takes money and time to do this podcast. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can, so we can keep improving and keep paying the bills. ⁠⁠⁠⁠You can become a monthly or yearly patron on our website at 905er.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠. We didn’t like sharing your generosity with that other ‘patron’ website, so we created our patron system. Become a patron, get member benefits and our eternal gratitude, and know that you’re not mainly funding some crummy web company in the US. Win-win! Or, why not ⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠? Nicholas Paul: sound editing. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min

  2. OCT 28

    St. Catharines’ MP Chris Bittle takes on Marineland

    The embattled Marineland, a Niagara Falls theme park, made news again this month. As we discussed in our previous episode on the matter, Marineland is nearing the end of its existence. Brought down by animal welfare scandals and changing perceptions of animal attraction parks. Currently, the park is closed, no longer generating revenue, and, according to its remaining shareholders, it is unable to pay its bills. But it's one valuable asset remains, it's real estate. The only problem is that real estate could be worth billions if it were not for the animals remaining on the property. Marineland sought to fix that by transferring thirty beluga whales to China, where they would live out the remainder of their lives. However, the federal Liberal government decided otherwise. The Minister in charge of that decision denied Marineland's request. In response, Marineland cited that the deaths of said belugas would be on the Mark Carney government's hands. St. Catharine's MP, Chris Bittle, though, took issue with that statement and issued his own response. Citing Marineland as a stain on Niagara Falls, and putting the welfare of the animals back on the park's ownership. As a follow-up to our previous episode on the matter, Joel reached out to Chris Bittle to invite him on to discuss the government's reasoning in denying the request, and his views on the state of Marineland as it stands currently. Furthermore, we explore what options are available to ensure the welfare of the remaining wildlife at the park. Our previous episode on Marineland is here: https://905er.ca/2024/10/does-marineland-have-a-future-in-ontario/ It takes money and time to do this podcast. We love doingwhat we do, but please consider supporting us if you can, so we can keepimproving and keep paying the bills. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can become a monthly or yearly patron on our website at 905er.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We didn’t like sharing your generosity with that other ‘patron’website, so we created our patron system. Become a patron, get memberbenefits and our eternal gratitude, and know that you’re not mainlyfunding some crummy web company in the US. Win-win! Or, why not ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠? Nicholas Paul: sound editing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min

  3. OCT 21

    Do We Need School Board Reform? With Andrea Grebenc

    Here we are with part two of our series examining school board reforms. The Ford Government is keen on eliminating trustees from Ontario school boards. As of the recording of this episode, Minister of Education Paul Calandra has removed elected trustees from four school boards in the province. Appointing a supervisor to oversee decision-making at the board level. In our previous episode, we had Nokha Dakroub explain why she thought trustees ought to be appointed rather than elected in the province. For this episode, we have Andrea Grebenc, former Chair of the Halton District School Board, to explain why electing our School Board Trustees ought to remain an important part of our democracy. And to help ensure a better education system for all of our children. Our previous episode with Nokha is here: https://905er.ca/2025/10/do-we-need-school-board-reform-with-nokha-dakroub/ It takes money and time to do this podcast. We love doingwhat we do, but please consider supporting us if you can, so we can keepimproving and keep paying the bills. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can become a monthly or yearly patron on our website at 905er.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We didn’t like sharing your generosity with that other ‘patron’website, so we created our patron system. Become a patron, get memberbenefits and our eternal gratitude, and know that you’re not mainlyfunding some crummy web company in the US. Win-win! Or, why not ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠? Nicholas Paul: sound editing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min

  4. OCT 14

    Do We Need School Board Reform? With Nokha Dakroub

    The Ontario government has been busy over the last few weeks. Many wheels are in motion, including traffic cameras being forcefully removed from municipalities, as well as another brewing scandal involving the Skills Development Fund. However, there is one that we wanted to focus on for the next two episodes, and that is the question of the removal of school board trustees from multiple boards in Ontario. Minister of Education, Paul Calandra, has hinted that he might remove the positions from all school boards in the province. This, of course, has sparked a bit of debate. The elimination of a democratically elected position is indeed something that should not be taken lightly. However, is it the right one regardless? That's something we're going to examine over the next two episodes. We'll interview two former school board trustees from the 905. Each with opposing views on the matter. The hope is that you'll be able to come up with your own opinion, free from spin. Today's episode is with Nokra Dakroub, who wrote an Op-Ed in the Toronto Star, advocating for the elimination of elected trustees. Instead, advocating for an appointed board, akin to that of a police board. Responsible solely for making decisions on the application of tax dollars towards local schools' needs. You can find Nokra's Op-Ed here: I was a school trustee. The role isn’t working as it should It takes money and time to do this podcast. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can, so we can keep improving and keep paying the bills. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can become a monthly or yearly patron on our website at 905er.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We didn’t like sharing your generosity with that other ‘patron’ website, so we created our patron system. Become a patron, get member benefits and our eternal gratitude, and know that you’re not mainly funding some crummy web company in the US. Win-win! Or, why not ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠? Nicholas Paul: sound editing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min

  5. OCT 7

    Laura Walton on the Labour Movement Revival in Ontario

    For years, the Labour movement has struggled to find its footing. For decades, governments have compelled unions to return to work or to mediation. All the while, eroding the strength of both public and private sector unions. This has happened concurrently with diminishing buying power and wages for workers across Ontario. That trend has stopped, though. The recent actions of Doug Ford's invocation of the Notwithstanding Clause to force CUPE back to work, as well as the Federal government's legislation mandating flight attendants to mediation, were met with a defiant no. This line in the sand has sparked a revival of the labour movement in the province drawing a line in the sand. I reached out to discuss this newfound confidence with the President of the Ontario Federation of Labour, Laura Walton. I speak with her about the new strength the movement has found, as well as LiUNA's parting from the OFL over their treatment of Doug Ford. As well as the future of labour in general in Ontario. It takes money and time to do this podcast. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can, so we can keep improving and keep paying the bills. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can become a monthly or yearly patron on our website at 905er.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We didn’t like sharing your generosity with that other ‘patron’ website, so we created our patron system. Become a patron, get member benefits and our eternal gratitude, and know that you’re not mainly funding some crummy web company in the US. Win-win! Or, why not ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠? Nicholas Paul: sound editing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    46 min

  6. SEP 30

    Is the National School Food Program Working?

    We all know how difficult it can be to focus on the day ahead of us when we don't have a full belly. Hunger is a pretty good distraction from us succeeding in our day. Imagine if you're a kid, then, trying to focus on learning math, science, history, geography, as well as participating in phys-ed on an empty stomach? Too many kids go to school hungry, for multiple reasons. Which is why the federal government created the National School Food Program. Where federal tax dollars are sent to the provinces and territories, who in turn pass it along to third-party providers to ensure our kids start the day with full bellies. However, does it work? Or work well? We asked Sarah Keyes and Heather Thoma from the Ontario Chapter of the Coalition for Healthy School Food if the money we are sending to Ontario is getting where it's supposed to go. As well, if it's doing what we expect it to. https://www.healthyschoolfood.ca/ It takes money and time to do this podcast. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can, so we can keep improving and keep paying the bills. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can become a monthly or yearly patron on our website at 905er.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We didn’t like sharing your generosity with that other ‘patron’ website, so we created our patron system. Become a patron, get member benefits and our eternal gratitude, and know that you’re not mainly funding some crummy web company in the US. Win-win! Or, why not ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠? Nicholas Paul: sound editing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 min

  7. SEP 23

    Ryan Zeitz Discovers the Joys of Working from Canada's Wonderland

    Why settle for a cramped home office when you can take your Zoom calls beside a roller coaster? Digital strategist and content creator Ryan Zeitz joins Joel to share how he turned Canada’s Wonderland—the GTA’s iconic amusement park—into his summer “home office.” Ryan walks us through: How a spur-of-the-moment season-pass purchase became a full-blown remote-work experiment The hacks that make a theme park surprisingly productive (yes, reliable Wi-Fi and quiet corners do exist) Why breaking routine in a post-pandemic work world can spark fresh energy and creativity What his viral TikTok series reveals about the future of flexible work and the places we choose to call an office Whether you’re curious about hybrid work culture, love a good behind-the-scenes amusement-park story, or just want inspiration to shake up your own nine-to-five, this episode is a ride worth taking. Follow Ryan and his projects: ryanzeitz.ca Mental HELLth Comedy Night in Support of CMHA Toronto tickets are here: It takes money and time to do this podcast. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can, so we can keep improving and keep paying the bills. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can become a monthly or yearly patron on our website at 905er.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We didn’t like sharing your generosity with that other ‘patron’ website, so we created our patron system. Become a patron, get member benefits and our eternal gratitude, and know that you’re not mainly funding some crummy web company in the US. Win-win! Or, why not ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠? Nicholas Paul: sound editing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min
  8. What Does the 905 Look Like Without Malls?

    SEP 16

    What Does the 905 Look Like Without Malls?

    This week, I finally get to tackle a topic that’s been on my mind for a while: dead malls. You’ve probably noticed them too — those once-busy shopping centres across the 905 that now sit half-empty, a shadow of what they used to be. I’m joined by urban researcher and writer Sean Marshall to dig into why this is happening, what it means for our communities, and whether there’s actually a future for these spaces. We talk about how malls went from being the centre of suburban life to fading into irrelevance, and what might replace them as developers and cities scramble to reinvent these properties. If you’ve ever hung out at the food court, worked your first retail job, or just killed time wandering the mall, this episode will make you think differently about what’s happening to these familiar spaces. SeanMarshall.ca It takes money and time to do this podcast. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can, so we can keep improving and keep paying the bills. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can become a monthly or yearly patron on our website at 905er.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We didn’t like sharing your generosity with that other ‘patron’ website, so we created our patron system. Become a patron, get member benefits and our eternal gratitude, and know that you’re not mainly funding some crummy web company in the US. Win-win! Or, why not ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠? Nicholas Paul: sound editing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min
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4.6
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About

The 905er is a news, politics and discussion podcast for the GTHA region focusing on the region outside central Toronto where 4 million people live, but where news coverage and discussion hardly exists. Presented by Roland Tanner and Joel MacLeod, long-time activists, volunteers and sometimes even wannabe-politicians, we aim to provide a lively weekly podcast featuring interviews with people in the news, round-table discussions, analysis and more. It aims to be intelligent, though-provoking, lively and entertaining. Get bonus content on Patreon

Information

  • Creator
    The 905er
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    360
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright The 905er/Holdfast Inc all rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The 905er Podcast

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