In today’s episode we review your feedback and talk to Tyler Chrichton, city councillor candidate for St James in Winnipeg.

Tyler’s vision for a St James that is community minded has 6 pillars. Watch the episode to find out more and head over to https://www.tylerforstjames.ca/ 

Election season is getting near and we put city hall, transit, housing, and the dog park fight under the microscope - then Transcona candidate Lora Meseman shows up with the kind of grounded, community-first vision voters are hungry for. If you too are biased toward a livable Winnipeg, this episode is for you. Patty and Sam kick things off with their unapologetically biased take on civic politics, why labor endorsements matter, and what Sherri Rollins' decision to drop out says about the power dynamics at City Hall. 

Here we go, listeners! Today we launch our first candidate interview and our illustrious guest is Natalie Smith who is running in Mynarski, hoping to unseat Councillor Ross Eadie. As you know, Eadie is a long time listener, but we have no love lost here. As we said in the 90s, Bye Felicia. Natalie comes with a swath of community relationships under her belt and is ready to take on the job of representing Winnipeg’s oldest and prized neighbourhood.

Today’s episode features a janky fun slideshow with each of the wards and our extremely biased opinion on each City Councillor. Oh you don’t like what we had to say? Were we too mean or not mean enough? Then head over to this form and give us your opinion and enter for a chance to win a set of books of The City Project.

In this episode, we will explore our options for mayoral candidates for Winnipeg’s 2026 Civic Elections. We will start by talking about Scott Gillingham, our current mayor (incumbent), and talk about what he will leave behind as his legacy. Gillingham talks about being tough on crime, yet the rate of traffic violence in Winnipeg is double that of just “regular” violence. We will explore all the details here with you. Thank you to all our patreon sponsors and friends and new followers!

This week we have a special guest joining us, Winnipeg’s municipal finance expert Michel Durand-Wood, who unlocks the secrets most voters and even some politicians don’t see, revealing how city infrastructure costs are piling up decades before we realize it, and how understanding these numbers can help you make smarter choices at the ballot box. In this episode, you'll discover how municipal budgets really work, and why most election promises don’t account for the long-term costs they create. Michel explains why city debt isn’t “bad,” but a part of a much bigger picture involving infrastructure, urban planning, and sustainable growth. 

Tell us the good the bad and the ugly about your City Councillor here: 

If you don’t know what ward you’re in, check it out here: https://www.winnipeg.ca/city-governance/wards-elections/council-wards-map 

In today’s episode, we will talk about the Empowering Women event at City Hall, and share some speculations of who’s running in Winnipeg’s 2026 civic elections. We would also love to hear what you think about your city councillor! Are they doing a good job or are you frustrated with the way things are going in your neighbourhood? Tell us everything by filling out this form and we’ll be sure to give you feedback in upcoming episodes. https://forms.gle/JgTk2tbUR4xUi1HE9

In this episode we take calls from listeners regarding Winnipeg Transit and we dive deep into the latest Executive Policy Committee meeting, focusing on issues of safe speeds and the bike lane project on Wellington Crescent. If you didn’t have a chance to watch the latest meeting, we have digested and collected THE BEST “little videos” to help you understand:

1. An amazing delegation from University of Manitoba’s Professor Richard Milgrom explaining why a pilot project is the best form of public engagement;

2. Councillor Evan Duncan’s AMAZEMENT and condescension at a delegate’s preference to have the pilot project completed and give away 5.5 million to other, more pressing needs.

3. How the mayor, Scott Gillingham feels about senior citizens who want to use active transportation;

4. What Councillor Jeff Browaty thinks about slowing down the speed limit in residential streets;

Do you take public transit in Winnipeg? Maybe you noticed the massive overhaul the system underwent in June, and maybe, like Sam, you lurk in the public Facebook groups of the masses decrying the change.

In this episode, we reveal the secret inner workings of Winnipeg’s governance, exposing a system that keeps the public in the dark and makes real change nearly impossible. We dive into the notorious "strong mayor" model, showing how private briefings, limited transparency, and a handful of decision-makers wield control over city projects, from budget cuts to infrastructure delays.

So you care about voting–now what?

Welcome back to Ballot Babes, where we demystify Winnipeg civic politics ahead of the October 28 municipal election! We’re dropping a somewhat urgent episode in light of the Standing Policy Committee on Public Works meeting, taking place March 4, 9:30am at City Hall. We’re going to tell you all about what this committee does, who is on the committee, and why you should care about this upcoming meeting! If you can go in person, we highly recommend it; if you can write in comments or delegate at this meeting, we walk you through why engaging with these processes matter when it comes to influencing the fabric of our local democracy.

Welcome to Ballot Babes! Our inaugural episode explores the importance of local politics in Winnipeg, how city council decisions impact your daily life, and how citizens like you can become more engaged in the political process–with a civic election coming up in October! Hosts Patty Wiens and Sam Beiko share personal stories, recent political events, and practical tips for voter engagement