The Confluence

Ep. 17: City hall's greatest hits

Ten current and former city hall reporters talk about their favourite memories with host Annalise Klingbeil. 1. Robson Fletcher invents a word that’s now part of the Calgary lexicon 2. The famous Lucas Meyer unveils his highlight reel of council impressions 3. Helen Pike on puns, zucchinis and threats 4. Bill Kaufmann reveals what happened in Las Vegas 5. Jason Markusoff, of the pearl-clutching media, chuckles in shock 6. Shawn Logan reflects on a time before strict security 7. Rick Bell for mayor 1998 8. Colette Derworiz speaks about a career highlight 9. Dave Dormer with an important lesson about running up stairs 10. Annalise Klingbeil says goodbye and thank you

Ep. 16: Alberta’s Opioid Crisis — 'There's no end in sight'

Across Alberta, there were 482 opioid-related accidental deaths in the first nine months of 2017. Take a minute to let that number sink in. Nearly two Albertans are dying every single day from fentanyl and other opioids, and there’s no end in sight. This crisis is killing young men at a higher rate than anyone else. The majority of victims are dying in their own homes, and in Calgary, most fatalities are occurring outside the downtown core, in the suburbs. Behind the startling statistics are stories. There are partners, children, parents, aunts, uncles and friends left behind to grieve a life lost too soon. On this episode host Annalise Klingbeil and guest co-host Meghan Potkins speak to Rosalind Davis, the co-founder of Changing the Face of Addiction. In February 2016, Davis lost her partner Nathan to fentanyl after he developed a dependency on opioids that began with a painkiller prescription for a back injury. He was 34. Potkins and Klingbeil speak to Davis about what happened to Nathan and her advocacy work since his death. We also take a look at what stands out to Postmedia reporter Potkins after months of covering opioids and what’s being done to stop a crisis set to kill hundreds of Albertan’s by year’s end. As always, Kerianne Sproule [https://twitter.com/keriannecam] makes us sound great. And, your feedback, advice, ideas, shares and iTunes reviews are appreciated. You can subscribe to The Confluence podcast on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-confluence/id1227862233], Tunein [http://tunein.com/radio/The-Confluence-p1002095/], Google Play [https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Iretgibsveilg2apgx6grmdoeje?t%3DThe_Confluence%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16], Stitcher [http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-confluence], Pocket Casts [http://pca.st/1u7N] and Overcast, [https://overcast.fm/itunes1227862233/the-confluence]and follow us on Twitter [https://twitter.com/confluenceyyc] or like the podcast on Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/theconfluencepodcast/]

Ep. 15: ‘We only really notice things when they’re gone’

For years, more than 30,000 drivers a day rolled by a long row of character homes along Memorial Drive, west of 10 Street N.W., with little thought. When a construction fence surrounded the homes, some Calgarians took note. After a bulldozer destroyed the vacated abodes, all of a sudden, citizens remarked that something was missing from their daily commutes. “We only really notice things when they’re gone,” says Josh Traptow [https://twitter.com/jtraptow?lang=en], the executive director of the Calgary Heritage Authority. On this episode, host Annalise Klingbeil [https://twitter.com/AnnaliseAK] speaks to Traptow about all things heritage, in a city with a reputation for bulldozing its past. “Calgary, especially in the 70s, 80s and 90s tore down, really, a lot of amazing buildings,” says Traptow. “Calgarians really want to save what they have left. In another 100 years, who knows what they’re going to have.” Traptow and Klingbeil cover a wide range of topics including the archaic terms listed on historic Calgary land titles, why a young Calgarian cares so much about old things, and how to designate your own abode as a municipal historic resource.  As always, Kerianne Sproule [https://twitter.com/keriannecam] makes the podcast sound great. And, your feedback, advice, ideas, shares and iTunes reviews are appreciated. Here are links to a few of the news articles mentioned in this episode: Are 'run of the mill' heritage homes worthy of preservation? Advocates argue yes [http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/are-run-of-the-mill-heritage-homes-worthy-of-preservation-advocates-argue-yes] ‘Wow is this ever a cool house:’ Owner of home built in 1975 requests municipal historic resource designation [http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/wow-is-this-ever-a-cool-house-owner-of-home-built-in-1975-requests-municipal-historic-resource-designation] Concrete connection to Calgary’s past preserved in sidewalk stamps [http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/concrete-connection-to-calgarys-past-preserved-in-sidewalk-stamps] http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/concrete-connection-to-calgarys-past-preserved-in-sidewalk-stampsRequest to preserve one of Canada's last remaining 'Trend Houses' goes to city council [http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/request-to-preserve-one-of-canadas-last-remaining-trend-houses-goes-to-city-council]

Ep. 14: SW BRT 101 (Why expanded transit is so controversial in southwest Calgary)

When city council debated a pair of dedicated bus lanes proposed for southwest Calgary this week, it wasn't the first time — and it likely won't be the last. Despite getting the green light from council in 2011, controversy over the southwest bus rapid transit (BRT) project continues to rear its head. "It seems that every six months to a year, we’re going through the southwest BRT," said Ward 14 Coun. Peter Demong during the latest debate. On this episode, host Annalise Klingbeil and producer Kerianne Sproule dive deep into the history of the proposed 22-kilometre route. From a 2010 city brochure that landed in southwest mailboxes to the latest council vote, we explore the ongoing drama surrounding expanded transit service — drama that's unusual, even for Calgary. Think of it as a crash course in the saga that has become the southwest BRT. As always, your feedback, advice, ideas, shares and iTunes and Facebook reviews are appreciated.

Ep.13: 'Not your grandma's suburb'

Ward 12 Coun. Shane Keating has a bumper sticker in his office. It says: "I do suburbs, but I do them right." On this episode, host Annalise Klingbeil [https://twitter.com/AnnaliseAK?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] drives (and complains about an abundance of traffic circles) as Keating tours listeners around Calgary's deep south. We travel through master-planned, mixed-use, compact neighbourhoods that Keating believes have been done right. These aren't the Calgary suburbs of decades past, where single-family, cookie-cutter homes with double-car garages sit on large lots and amenities are a car-ride away. The tour starts in Auburn Bay, which was Calgary's fastest growing community in the 2017 city census, and [http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/slight-population-boost-in-calgary-census-enough-to-prompt-optimism] had 4,217 residents when Keating was first elected in 2010. Today, more than 16,000 Calgarians live in estate homes, townhouses, apartment complexes, condos and duplexes in Auburn Bay on Calgary's southeastern outskirts. In nearby Cranston and McKenzie Towne, there are another 36,665 residents who live in walkable, high-density communities that offer a variety of housing, retail and employment options on the city's outer edge. Keating tours us through other communities including Seton — an area that's been transformed from gopher-filled farmland to the downtown of the 'burbs — Quarry Park and Douglasdale. As he takes us through some of Calgary's fastest growing communities, Keating speaks about topics including sprawl, the Green Line LRT, living in the deep south without a car, and what's wrong with a closed-minded attitude about new suburbs, all while teaching us about the communities he loves. As always, Kerianne Sproule [https://twitter.com/keriannecam] makes us sound great. And, your feedback, advice, ideas, shares and iTunes and Facebook reviews are appreciated.