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One Year: A Municipal Journey


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As we close out the final episode of Municipal Affairs for 2025, and begin to look ahead to 2026, I want to take a moment to pause and reflect—if you’ll allow me.


Traditionally, this final episode is about the issues municipalities are facing and the challenges they carry forward year after year. But tonight, I’m going to veer slightly off that familiar path and talk about something a little more personal: this show, this network, and what has been an extraordinary, complicated, and unforgettable year.


Looking back on the last twelve months of 2025, it’s clear we’ve experienced some of the highest highs and some of the lowest lows. From cross-border programming with Rogers TV in Alberta and Saskatchewan to new partnerships and connections that simply wouldn’t have existed otherwise, this year has been one of growth, discovery, and reflection. It’s been an amazing ride—but not an easy one.


We often focus on the highlights when we look back on a year. But 2025 also brought some of the most difficult moments I’ve faced personally. It has been one of the most challenging years of my health journey. Whether I was in Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Ottawa, St. John’s, Fredericton, Calgary, Regina, or Winnipeg, I came face to face—over and over again—with Canada’s health-care system, not as a commentator, but as a patient.


I’ve had conversations with doctors in Winnipeg about pain I couldn’t explain. I’ve tried to stay positive in Calgary through treatments, diagnoses, and more tests than I can count. And through it all, 2025 taught me something I didn’t want to admit: I can’t change everything, and I can’t do everything.


At the end of November, many of you know I was admitted to hospital for several days. That moment forced me to step off the path I had meticulously planned for the year. For the first time in eleven months, I stopped. I became an introvert. I spent a week in bed focusing on recovery, on health, and on myself.


For nearly a year before that, I was pushing relentlessly—trying to keep every promise I had made, especially to the municipal leaders who trusted me with their time and their stories.


As I look toward 2026, I’m making fewer pledges to others—and one important promise to myself: the time and energy I give to this network must be matched by the time and energy I give to myself. That’s not selfish. It’s necessary.


As I record this, I’m preparing to head back into hospital for surgery. I don’t know what the next few days will bring. By the time you’re listening, I may be home recovering—or I may still be in a hospital bed. For the first time in a long time, I genuinely don’t know what the future holds.


When 2025 began, I tried to plan everything. Every trip had a purpose. Every meeting had an outcome.


2026 won’t look like that. It will be a year of ebbs and flows—taken one day at a time.


That said, there are things I know I’ll be part of in 2026. In the first few months alone, I’ll be attending the Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities convention, the Association of Yukon Communities convention in Watson Lake, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in downtown Edmonton. Later in the year, I’ll be at the 51st Gathering of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador in St. John’s.


I was meant to be in Corner Brook in 2025, but a medical emergency changed those plans. With my doctors and my husband, I made the decision to step back. To those I couldn’t meet in person, I offer my sincere apologies.


But don’t worry—I’ll be there in 2026, come hell or high water.


I’ll also be attending the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association convention this spring. Saskatchewan has become a second home to me—the open skies, the people, the sense of belonging. That province helped shape what this past year became.


Now, let’s talk about this show.


Over the last twelve months, Municipal Affairs, the Cross Border Network, and our growing family of programs have seen incredible growth. Podcast subscriptions are up more than 300 percent. Our YouTube channel continues to grow—though that algorithm still mystifies us. Maybe 2026 will finally be the year we crack it.


Starting the first Monday of February 2026, Municipal Affairs will go live on YouTube every Monday at 8:00. We’ll bring municipal leaders from across Canada together for roundtable conversations about the issues that matter most. It’s ambitious.


But for the first time in a long time, I’m genuinely excited about what’s next.


We’re also finalizing plans to expand the Cross Border Network onto radio across Western Canada. More details are coming soon—so stay with us.


With that growth comes a small ask. If you value these conversations, please consider supporting us by subscribing at crossbordernetwork.ca. Every contribution—no matter the size—helps make this work possible.


To everyone who has donated, sponsored, advertised, or shared our work—thank you. Truly.


As we close out 2025, I want to thank my husband, our executive producer, and the entire Cross Border Network team. From Ricardo, to Becky, to Scott—you’ve supported this work, and you’ve supported me, more than you’ll ever know.


Five years ago, when I was diagnosed with a brain tumour, my father said something simple: Find something you love, and do it.


This show became that thing. It saved me.


And today, I can finally share something I’ve been holding close. In November 2024, I was asked to write a book. On January 1st, 2025, I began. One year. Fifty-two weeks. Hundreds of municipal leaders. Listening. Learning. Laughing. Crying.


I’m proud to announce that One Year will be released in March 2026. It reflects my thoughts on municipalities, politics, and the people who show up every day around council tables across this country.


So yes—this is a long way of saying this: we’re not going anywhere.


We’ll be back. Bigger. Live. On the road. Telling more municipal stories from coast to coast to coast.


From my home to yours emphasizing this especially at this time of year—please have a wonderful Christmas, a restful holiday season, and a hopeful New Year. Municipal Affairs returns in late January 2026. Cross Border follows in February.


Until then—stay informed, stay engaged, and we’ll see you in 2026.


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©2025



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