In small communities, the decisions made at the council table can have consequences that reach far beyond it. From municipal spending and development to preserving the character of the community, local leadership often means balancing competing interests with limited resources. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we speak with Bernie Poulin, Mayor of the Summer Village of Silver Sands. What are the biggest challenges facing this lakeside community? How does council balance the

In small communities, local government can have a big impact. Decisions about taxes, development, public services, and the future of the community touch the lives of everyone who calls it home. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we turn our attention to the Summer Village of Sunset Point and Deputy Mayor Gwen Jones. What are the challenges facing this lakeside community? What are residents expecting from their elected leaders? And how does municipal council balance competing i

For the people who live in Seguin Township, the meaning of local government can be found in the everyday details of community life. It's in the roads and services residents depend on, the decisions around development, and the effort to maintain the character of a community while preparing for what comes next. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Township of Seguin Mayor Ann MacDiarmid. Our conversation was filmed at the 2026 Fall District of Parry Sound Municipa

What does it take to lead a rural community through a changing Ontario? For municipalities like the Township of Armour, leadership means dealing with the fundamentals — roads, infrastructure, local services, economic development — while also thinking about what the community will need years from now. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Township of Armour Mayor Rod Ward. Our conversation was filmed at the 2026 Fall District of Parry Sound Municipal Association,

In a small community, local leadership can feel very close to home. In Burk's Falls, decisions about infrastructure, local services, economic development, and community growth aren't just items on a council agenda — they can have a direct impact on the people who live and work here. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Village of Burk's Falls Mayor Chris Hope. Our conversation was filmed at the 2026 Fall District of Parry Sound Municipal Association, where we di

In the Township of Perry, local government is about the practical issues that shape everyday life — maintaining infrastructure, delivering services, supporting residents, and planning for the future of a rural community. But behind those decisions are people who have chosen to serve their neighbours and take responsibility for the direction of their community. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Township of Perry Councillor and Acting Mayor Joe Lumley. Our conv

In Ontario's Parry Sound District, few communities illustrate the relationship between local government and the landscape quite like the Township of The Archipelago. With its unique geography, waterfront communities, and rural character, governing here means navigating a different set of challenges — from infrastructure and services to development and preserving the qualities that make the township distinctive. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Township of Th

In the Township of Carling, municipal government is closely connected to the day-to-day realities of a rural and waterfront community. From infrastructure and services to development and protecting the character of the area, local decisions can have a lasting impact on the people who live, work, and spend time here. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Township of Carling Councillor Bruce Kelly. Our conversation was filmed at the 2026 Fall District of Parry Soun

In the Parry Sound District, municipal leadership is about more than what happens inside a council chamber. It's about the roads people depend on, the services communities rely on, and the decisions that shape the future of rural Ontario. For this episode of Cross Border Interviews, we sat down with Township of McDougall Councillor Kathy Hamer, during the 2026 Fall District of Parry Sound Municipal Association. We talked about the realities of serving a local community, the i