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

In Ontario's Parry Sound District, the realities of municipal government can be very different from those in Canada's larger urban centres. Here, communities are shaped by rural life, seasonal residents, natural resources, infrastructure needs, and the challenge of providing essential services across a large geographic area. Those issues were part of the conversation at the 2026 Fall District of Parry Sound Municipal Association, where municipal leaders came together to discu

In the communities of Ontario's Parry Sound District, municipal government is often about the issues closest to home — roads and infrastructure, essential services, growth, and the challenge of keeping rural communities strong. Those challenges brought municipal leaders together at the 2026 Fall District of Parry Sound Municipal Association, where local officials gathered to exchange ideas and discuss the future of the region. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we speak with T

Across Ontario's cottage country, the pressures facing municipalities are changing — from growth and housing to infrastructure, services, and the challenge of protecting the character of communities that people have called home for generations. Those issues were front and centre at the 2026 Fall District of Parry Sound Municipal Association, where municipal leaders from across the region gathered to share ideas and discuss the future of local government. Today on Cross Border

Welcome to Cross Border Interviews. Our goal is to create meaningful municipal conversations that inform, connect, educate and strengthen communities from coast to coast to coast in Canada. For this edition of Cross Border Interviews, we spoke with Halton Hills, Ontario, Councillor D’Arcy Keene at the 2026 FCM Convention. The Town of Halton Hills is a unique marriage of urban and rural, nestled within a picturesque Southern Ontario landscape. Georgetown and Acton are our ur