People Of Durham

People of Durham
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Welcome to People of Durham, the show that spotlights the everyday legends, hidden gems, and unforgettable personalities that make the Durham Region feel like home. Each episode, our hosts sit down with local leaders, business owners, creators, and community members whose stories shape the region. Recorded in a professional studio at Blue Phoenix Studios in Whitby, every interview is turned into 30+ short-form clips for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Real stories. Local voices. Durham’s people.

  1. 1d ago

    People of Durham #40 – Laura Erasmus, Founder of Moose Cookies

    People of Durham #40 – Laura Erasmus, Founder of Moose CookiesLaura Erasmus is a 28-year-old wife, mom, and founder of Moose Cookies. Born in Romania and raised across Korea, Abu Dhabi, and Canada, she started the brand postpartum as a creative outlet after too many nights spent watching TV. What began as late-night recipe experiments while her son slept is now a handmade stuffed-cookie company with premium packaging, a growing market presence, and a name borrowed from her little boy’s nickname.In this conversation she shares the six-month grind of perfecting recipes with almost no baking background, the family story behind the logo, her vision for healthier three-bite cookies, and why she’d rather stay handmade and premium than chase Walmart shelves.Hosted by Pascal Zois.---00:00 🗣️ Introducing Laura Erasmus, founder of Moose Cookies 00:26 🌍 Wife, mom, psychology grad, and an international upbringing 01:11 ✈️ Growing up across Romania, Korea, the UAE, and Canada 03:34 🇨🇦 Coming to Canada for university and reuniting with her husband 05:42 🍪 How Moose Cookies started postpartum as a creative outlet 07:49 🧪 Six months of failed batches before the recipes clicked 09:28 🦌 The name “Moose” came from her son’s park nickname 10:43 🎨 The logo her husband designed, with their son’s blue eyes and a Canadian hat 12:01 🧘‍♀️ Postpartum and needing something that was just for her 13:32 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Floor mattresses, co-sleeping, and the peace it brought 17:58 ➕ Three-year-old Moose, the math prodigy who loves helping bake 20:25 💡 Healthier cookies, no-sugar and keto ideas, and three-bite portions 21:42 📦 Premium packaging meant to feel like opening an iPhone 23:53 🤝 Partnering with Goi Goi Korean in Trenton 26:36 🛍️ Where to find them: vendor markets, Trenton, and limited shipping 29:00 ✈️ Dreams of taking Moose Cookies back to Abu Dhabi, Korea, and Romania 33:53 🌟 Customer service lessons from real estate photography 40:04 📈 What’s next, including Brighton’s Apple Fest, and staying handmade 43:36 📜 Registering, trademarking, insurance, and Ontario cookie labelling 50:57 📱 Instagram, the website, and passing 1,000 organic followers 53:19 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The dream of her husband joining Moose Cookies full-time 53:48 🚀 Advice to her five-months-ago self: buckle up 55:00 💰 Humorous advice to her teenage self: buy Bitcoin 56:05 💖 A message to her younger self: hang on, life gets incredibly good 57:10 👨‍👧 The host’s message to his younger self about fatherhood ---Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

  2. 3d ago

    People of Durham #39 - Quentin DSouza, Durham REI Founder & Real Estate Educator

    **People of Durham #39 – Quentin D’Souza, Durham REI Founder & Real Estate Educator**Quentin D’Souza went from elementary school teacher to building a 550-unit real estate portfolio across Ontario and founding the Durham Real Estate Investors Club in 2008. In this conversation he shares how health transformed his business, the value of taking his sons on mountain treks around the world, how the club actually underwrites deals together, and the practical tools he uses today — from property management software to AI and covered call ETFs.He also talks about house hacking, short-term rentals, investing in Tampa as a hedge, and the advice he’d give his 20-years-ago self.Hosted by Pascal Zois.---00:00 🗣️ Welcome and conversation opener 00:38 🌍 Recent travels — Italian Alps, West Coast Trail, and Costa Rica 02:16 🏋️ Losing 120 lbs and how health 10x’d his business 03:52 🧠 Tony Robbins’ Wheel of Life and putting health first 05:16 👨👦 Adventures with his sons — Everest Base Camp, Inca Trail, and more 07:13 ⛰️ The Three Peaks Challenge and lessons from not finishing 09:48 💡 Climbing Mont Blanc and the mantra “If it were easy, everyone would do it” 14:06 🏘️ Founding the Durham Real Estate Investors Club in 2008 15:12 🏢 Building a 550-unit portfolio across Ontario 20:21 📈 From teacher to full-time investor 23:44 📊 Underwriting deals together as a club 26:03 🏘️ Creative strategies — infill, multi-unit conversions, and flipping 30:06 🏡 Multi-unit properties as a stepping stone into ownership 32:24 💰 Own assets that beat inflation 36:08 🤝 Free pass to a Durham REI meeting for podcast listeners 38:27 🏡 House hacking success story 41:23 🏠 Short-term rentals, bylaws, and tax caution 43:19 ✈️ Investing in Tampa as a hedge and travel base 45:21 🗺️ Future trips — Vietnam caves and more 49:29 👨🏫 Leaving teaching behind 52:20 🌊 A vision for Clarington’s waterfront 56:08 🏙️ South Oshawa, the new GO station, and long-term plays 01:04:14 💻 Property management software and building with AI 01:07:52 🤖 Using AI for tenant screening and the “golden hour” 01:11:01 📈 Covered call ETFs for income 01:16:06 🕵️ CanLII and tenant background checks 01:16:59 🕰️ Advice to his 20-years-ago self: hold more real estate and persevere ---Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

  3. Aug 20

    People of Durham #38 – Stephanie Ashton

    People of Durham #38 – Stephanie Ashton, Feed Ontario Leader & Ajax Regional Ward 3 Candidate. Stephanie Ashton has spent 25 years in the nonprofit sector — including 12 years in international development and her current work at Feed Ontario on food insecurity. A longtime Ajax resident and mom of three, she’s now running for Regional Councillor in Ward 3. In this conversation she shares why the timing finally feels right, the biggest issues she’s hearing at the doors, the difference between local and regional responsibilities, and how her global problem-solving experience translates to serving Durham.Hosted by Pascal Zois. 00:35 🗣️ Stephanie introduces herself as a candidate for Ajax Regional Ward 3 and shares her 25 years in nonprofit work02:40 🏡 Falling in love with Ajax’s waterfront and the strong sense of community in Ward 305:10 💖 A lifelong commitment to giving back and her current role at Feed Ontario10:16 🏘️ Key concerns from residents: homelessness, property taxes, and the pace of growth17:25 🏠 Advocating for a “Housing First” approach to homelessness18:00 🏛️ Local vs. regional responsibilities and why she chose the regional level26:05 💪 Resilience and problem-solving skills shaped by international development work31:01 🌐 How to reach Stephanie and support her campaign38:29 🏖️ A perfect day in Ward 3 – waterfront walks, neighbours, and community45:57 🌟 Advice to her younger self: “Keep at it”

  4. Aug 17

    People of Durham #37 - Karey Ann Large, CEO Whitby Chamber of Commerce

    Welcome to People of Durham! In this episode, Mark Lorray sits down with Karey Ann Large, CEO of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, for a conversation about community, leadership, and the heartbeat of local business.From running her own bakery downtown to leading a nearly 700-member Chamber, Karey Ann shares her journey of resilience — including the downtown fire that sparked the rebirth of Whitby's BIA — and pulls back the curtain on what a Chamber of Commerce actually does for business owners.Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, just starting out, or simply curious about the people shaping Durham Region, this episode is packed with wisdom, laughs, and a few surprises (yes, someone tried to get married at the Chamber office 💍).📌 Chapters:00:00 — Welcome & Meet Karey Ann Large00:42 — From Bakery Owner to CEO: Cake Creations01:32 — How It All Started: "I Wanted to Be a Cool Mom"03:24 — The Downtown Fire & Rebuilding the BIA05:04 — Her Leadership Style: Leading Laterally06:10 — What Is a Chamber of Commerce, Really?07:28 — Chamber vs. Board of Trade08:01 — Why Join? Networking & Relationship Building08:27 — The Biggest Limiting Belief: "The Chamber Does Nothing for Me"10:25 — Retiree Memberships: Keeping the Community Connected11:46 — Advocacy Explained (Recycling, Tariffs & More)16:02 — Strange Things That Come Through the Door17:59 — The Hardest Part of the Job: Learning to Delegate21:50 — What's Coming Up: Events & Growth22:42 — The Whitby Job Fair: Inside the Numbers28:34 — Awards, Public Events & Rotary Club31:37 — Advice to Her Younger Self: "Take the Risk"32:24 — Rapid Fire Questions33:46 — Her Message to Business Owners--About the Whitby Chamber of Commerce:The Whitby Chamber is an independent non-profit supporting local businesses through networking, events, and advocacy — because your success is everything.📍 Stay Connected:Follow People of Durham for more stories spotlighting the everyday legends, hidden gems, and unforgettable personalities that make the Durham Region feel like home. peopleofdurhamregion@gmail.com

  5. Aug 15

    People of Durham #36 - Lisa Patel, TREB Past President & Ajax Ward 3 Candidate

    **People of Durham #36 – Lisa Patel, Ajax Ward 3 Candidate** Lisa Patel has spent nearly 20 years in real estate, served as the 100th President of the Toronto Real Estate Board (one of only a handful of women and people of colour to hold the role), led the industry through COVID, mentored youth as a Big Sister, and has given decades of service to Ajax and Durham. In this conversation she shares the full journey — the wins, the losses, the meditation that guided her biggest decisions, and why the timing finally feels right to run for Ajax Ward 3 Councillor. Hosted by Mark Lorray. --- 00:00 🗣️ Mark and Lisa reconnect — they’ve known each other for about 10–12 years through the Board of Trade 02:49 🎓 Lisa’s background: almost 20 years in real estate plus degrees and certificates in public administration, governance, project management, PR, communications and adult teaching 08:02 🤝 Her entrepreneurial path: event planning and banking → mortgage industry → real estate at Royal LePage, where she threw herself into fundraising and community work 13:59 🗳️ The first presidential campaign for the Toronto Real Estate Board — the loss, the harsh criticism, and the spiritual reset that followed 23:18 🏆 She runs again, wins, and becomes the 100th president of TREB — only the fifth person of colour and tenth woman to hold the role 28:51 🦠 Leading TREB through COVID and fighting to keep real estate classified as an essential service 33:00 👧 Becoming a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters and the lasting bond with her little sister Emma 37:09 🏛️ Why she’s finally running for Ward 3 Councillor in Ajax after carrying the idea in her heart for more than 20 years 42:25 💡 Platform priorities: communication, tourism, property taxes and sustainability 46:49 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Closing with her father’s advice: “Go in the world and be kind and help every way you can.” --- Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

  6. Aug 10

    People of Durham #35 Neil Gonsalves - Professor, Host of The Lens, Author

    Neil Gonsalves joins People of Durham for a thoughtful conversation about purpose, manhood, education, and building a better future for the next generation.Neil is a Durham College professor of 20 years, author, TEDx speaker, and host of The Lens on Revo TV. In this episode we explore the challenges facing boys and young men today, the weight of constant negative messaging, and what it takes to develop real direction and resilience.We unpack Neil’s “FaceTime” framework: Financial literacy as future orientation, Academic proficiency as true mastery, Communication that builds relationships, and Engagement that gives back to community.This conversation covers housing and the “next boonies,” living at home with intention, the rise of online gambling, credentials vs real competence, AI in education, identity labels, citizenship before politics, the value of failing forward, and how family legacy shapes who we become.Chapters:00:00 Introduction00:04 Neil Gonsalves is introduced00:54 Neil introduces himself02:44 Why he focuses on issues facing young people05:42 Real estate, affordability, and the next “boonies”11:01 Living at home and investing in your future self13:28 Purpose, Nietzsche, and financial literacy as future orientation14:29 Ikigai and finding your why15:39 Canadian identity and the flag pin17:34 The watch, the ring, and family legacy22:09 The eye disease story and parents’ sacrifice25:27 Introducing the FaceTime framework29:40 Online gambling and its impact on young people37:27 Credentials vs mastery and AI in education40:42 21st century literacy and the decline of reading45:28 Revo TV, The Lens, and dialogue across difference49:34 TEDx talk and the problem with identity labels53:25 Citizenship before politics55:23 The importance of local elections01:01:13 Long-term policy and shared solutions01:03:17 Less education, fewer credentials, more meaningful outcomes01:07:51 Critical thinking, failure, and credit recovery week01:12:12 Fail early and fail often01:15:18 Social media harms and attention fragmentation01:20:36 Collaboration and building community together01:22:41 “If you want to go far, go together”01:23:05 Where to find Neil’s workFind Neil:Revo TV app (free on Apple, Android, Roku)Substack: sgproductions.substack.comInstagram: @NeilGonalves_CAIf this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.#PeopleOfDurham #NeilGonsalves #DurhamRegion #Purpose #YoungMen #Education

  7. Aug 7

    People of Durham #34 - Malcolm Barrington: Military Veteran, Social Housing Leader & Ajax Candidate

    People of Durham #34 – Malcolm BarringtonHosted by Mark LorrayIn his first episode as host, Mark Lorray sits down with Malcolm Barrington — longtime Ajax resident, former military officer, small business owner, life coach, and candidate for Ward 1 Councillor. Malcolm shares his journey from Guyana to the UK to Canada, the lessons he learned running a sporting goods store that suffered four break-ins, his work helping nearly 1,000 people leave an encampment and move into homes, and why community safety and supporting small businesses are at the heart of his campaign.00:00 🗣️ Mark Lorray introduces himself as host and welcomes his first guest, Malcolm Barrington01:01 👤 Malcolm introduces himself — running for Ajax Ward 1, background from Guyana via the UK, education in economics and international finance03:53 💼 Professional journey in Canada, Deloitte, and closing MSB Sports after four break-ins06:52 🗺️ Boundaries of Ward 1 in Ajax and the rapid development in the area09:19 🤝 Commitment to community service, life coaching, and helping people thrive12:41 🏡 Helping nearly 1,000 people leave a Vancouver encampment and move into homes during the pandemic17:33 🗳️ Long-standing interest in politics, military background, and chairing the Ajax Anti-Racism Task Force23:58 🚨 Community safety as the top issue in Ward 1 — property crime and road safety31:07 🏘️ Vision for Pickering Village as a thriving local business hub36:55 🏛️ Support for the Save the Hartwick House campaign and preserving local history42:23 🎤 Call to action: vote in Ward 1 and across Ajax43:29 ⚽ Personal side — favourite colour, Guyanese cook-up rice, and lifelong love of soccer and Manchester United

  8. Aug 7

    People of Durham #33 - Mark Lorray: Entrepreneur, Business Coach & Author

    0:00 🗣️ Mark describes a busy Saturday with speaking, a workshop, and panel discussions.00:42 🎙️ The Black Leaders Summit and his role as keynote speaker and panelist.01:10 👩‍🏫 Training lead generation for “Meet the Motivators,” a women’s organization.01:50 💬 Why quick replies to leads matter — and the cost of waiting two days.02:48 🤝 Mark is introduced as a co-host for People of Durham.03:32 🎤 From $22 window cleaning to business coach and podcast host.07:31 🎬 How The Pursuit of Happyness inspired him during tough times.10:05 🏡 Learning home maintenance from a client and moving into renovations.14:35 🎯 Why niching down to homes-for-sale renovations improved results.16:16 🦠 Adapting his renovation business during COVID-19.20:24 ⛏️ The value of being a supplementary service in real estate.23:03 🧠 Mark opens up about past mental health struggles and how they shape his coaching.25:09 🫂 Pascal shares his own experience and the message that “it gets better.”29:31 👥 Mark’s community-based “Inner Circle” coaching model.32:12 🎙️ Launching the Mark Lorray podcast.38:03 🤖 How a real estate agent found Pascal’s company through ChatGPT.44:28 📈 Coaching service-based businesses that have hit a growth ceiling.48:17 🗣️ Helping clients work through networking fears.54:50 📚 Continuous learning and using resources like BDC.56:01 🤝 His three pillars: Connect, Collaborate, and Contribute.58:26 🌐 Where to find Mark online.59:03 🙏 Advice to his younger self: don’t be afraid to ask for help.01:00:42 📜 His life motto on impact, learning, and accountability.

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About

Welcome to People of Durham, the show that spotlights the everyday legends, hidden gems, and unforgettable personalities that make the Durham Region feel like home. Each episode, our hosts sit down with local leaders, business owners, creators, and community members whose stories shape the region. Recorded in a professional studio at Blue Phoenix Studios in Whitby, every interview is turned into 30+ short-form clips for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Real stories. Local voices. Durham’s people.

Information

  • Creator
    People of Durham
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © People of Durham
  • Show Website
    People Of Durham