Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and everybody else who's watching globally because there are some people actually watching this out of the region and we're going to start this off the same way. I start every show off. Welcome to the Mac city morning show. I'm your host, Elliot, Pierre. And I just want to say thank you a little bit of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you're spending with us does mean the world to me on that note, Tanner hit him with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:31 Oh, she caught Milos near listen to the next <inaudible>
Speaker 0 00:00:40 Okay. And we're back. Okay. I'm very excited to talk to this guest is going to be a good one. There's no doubt about that. As per usual, I do not introduce the guests because they can do a better job at doing that themselves. So on that note, can you please tell everybody who you are and what you're about?
Speaker 2 00:00:57 Sure. Um, my name is Leslie PRC and I'm the community engagement coordinator with safe community wood, Buffalo. And thanks for having me.
Speaker 0 00:01:05 Yeah, you are more than welcome. Thanks for showing up. Awesome. So safe communities, wood Buffalo on your shirt. What does that mean?
Speaker 2 00:01:14 We are a, just a small nonprofit organization that has existed in Fort McMurray now since 1992 and started out kind of as a network of, uh, people, different organizations who sat around and chatted about safety and just kind of evolved into what is now a safe community with Buffalo, the organization.
Speaker 0 00:01:36 I dunno know you guys were nonprofit,
Speaker 1 00:01:39 Huh? The Buffalo
Speaker 2 00:01:41 And the wood Buffalo in the name kind of throws people off because they automatically think that we work with the municipality and that we're, you know, city people, but I mean, we are a city people.
Speaker 0 00:01:53 Right. Okay. That's really interesting. Um, mainly the name, yes. And the logo. That's one, but you guys throw prior to, COVID an awesome summer event where you are awesome. And I want to talk about that summer event, but there's a lot of municipal workers. They'd be ambulance firefighters, police there. So my assumption was that, okay, you guys all work together and that's how you got them there. The fact that you don't make that event even more fantastic that you're able to coordinate and get all those people to show up. We have really great friends. Yeah, no doubt. Yeah. So I have to assume that event is not taking place.
Speaker 2 00:02:34 Well, we do have something in the works for this year. COVID 19 has kind of changed. I think everybody's outlook and whatever they do, um, it's affected it. Um, and we are no exception, but, uh, we will be hosting some sort of event this year and we're kind of working out some details to figure that out. Um, because we do believe and know that it's important to remain consistent. And you know, even though there is a worldwide pandemic, people still need to be reminded of safety. So right.
Speaker 0 00:03:05 Yeah. Now when it comes to safety, uh, what do you guys really kind of promote when it comes to safety? Cause there's a few different things I've seen you guys do from helmets to car seats to a bunch of different. Uh, so what does that all mean?
Speaker 2 00:03:21 So we have several different safety topics that we focus on. Mostly we direct our programming and initiatives to families and children, uh, youth as well. We have programs that are, uh, focused on, on teens. And so we kind of move into that way. And then it kind of graduates to road safety and, you know, parents with child passenger safety, car seats and stuff. So different times throughout the year. Um, most times, depending on the season may affect the topic that we're promoting right now, February is distracted driving awareness month. So most of our social media and that sort of thing, we'll be promoting messages about distracted driving. Uh, of course when spring time comes and you know, people start pulling out those bikes after the snow and the cold that's when we start, you know, promoting our helmets and crosswalks and those different things. We have Halloween safety course, right? Uh, winter safety, we cover for newcomers, uh, mostly, um, but also general winter safety things that people may not be aware of packing an emergency kit for your vehicle, making sure you have extra blankets and things like that. When you go on road trips, I mean, that's not just for newcomers that's for all of us. So, uh, yeah. So depending on the season, we're probably promoting something different as far as the safety message, right? Child passenger safety is something that we is ongoing.
Speaker 0 00:04:57 Yeah. Lots of kids for
Speaker 2 00:04:59 McMurry is, you know, kind of baby central. So young families
Speaker 0 00:05:04 Got a question when it comes to car seats, it's an ongoing debate and maybe you can squash it. Should the car seat be on the driver's side or the passenger side. We do get asked that a lot. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:05:17 Um, statistically speaking, the percentage of collisions that happen with points of impact being on the driver's side versus the passenger is very, it's like 2% difference. So it's very minimal. So if you wanted to pick the safest place in the vehicle, actually for anybody to sit would be the back seat in the middle.
Speaker 0 00:05:41 Okay. Yeah. Interesting.
Speaker 2 00:05:43 Of course, because the most engineered Lifespace surrounds that seating position. So whichever way impact would happen, you're the most protected. So,
Speaker 0 00:05:53 And there we go, see, well, you didn't go left or right on in the middle. So compromise. There you go. That's awesome. Okay. And like, yeah, you guys, you do a good job. And the reason I know you do a good job is because I grew up in the eighties. I was born in the eighties and that's when I grew up. And so there was no helmet laws in the eighties. So I skateboard sometimes and I ride my bike and I'm not great at putting on my helmet in the past. I cannot bike and or skateboard in forming Murray without some young kid yelling at me. Yeah. Telling me like, Hey, where's your helmet? I'm like, Oh, I forgot it. Not literally not acceptable. I'm like, who is this six year old yelling at me? And so now I would, yeah.
Speaker 0 00:06:44 Maybe it is your kid, but I live in Timberly. And so my parents live in Dickens field. Yeah. Like I'll go to visit them and skateboard or bike. And kids are yelling at me constantly to the point where I had to invest in a helmet. Awesome. Yeah. So I do wear a helmet all the time. No peer pressure, peer pressure. Hey, we're kind of peer pressure. Well, we buy a bunch of children. So you guys are doing your job because that was not the case in the eighties. Now. Now you've been in Fort McMurray for a very long time. Yes. How long have you been informed of Marine?
Speaker 2 00:07:15 I have lived in Fort McMurray. This July will be 26 years.
Speaker 0 00:07:20 That's a long, long time. So you moved here young?
Speaker 2 00:07:23 Yes. I went to high school here. Okay. Last what alumni.
Speaker 0 00:07:26 There we go. That, okay. That was my next question. What, uh, what school did you go to? So you went to Westwood. Okay. So I'm from Merck. I no, no, no, you don't. No, you're not. And Tanner, cause I do the same thing when he told me where he was from, he went to comp and that's look, everybody says when he said don't home, so right. I rather, Ooh. So, um, without dating you in regards to like, what year you graduated, um, Merck comp in Westwood, they're all known for different things. What was Westwood known for when you went there?
Speaker 2 00:08:07 Uh, westward was known. I don't know. And of course, yeah, without dating myself. I've been out of high school for a long time. Um, I think it was the preppy school Westwood was the prep. The preppy school. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:08:22 Yeah, definitely. Wasn't. Was it still, is it still is awesome. I don't know. I, I have been out of high school for a very long time as well. So I don't know what the reputations of the schools are anymore, but that has been the running reputation for them. Yeah. Preppy. They were really good at volleyball. And then drama was a big thing. Like they had less what's it called?
Speaker 2 00:08:45 The improv team. That was huge. When I went to high school and they would bring home like the improv cup or I don't know. I just not, maybe it's not a cup. Yeah. It's
Speaker 3 00:08:56 Made up
Speaker 2 00:08:58 Some sort of
Speaker 0 00:08:59 Certificate. Yeah, that's right. That's what they're for. And I remember going to Merck and being like, if you were in drama, I was like, what are you doing? But then you go to Westwind all of a sudden, like those were the popular kids hung out. You're like, this is weird. And we're only down the street from one another. So
Speaker 2 00:09:14 Even now for work, we'd go into the high schools at certain times to do, um, like teen drivers safety and things like that. And uh, we did go into Westwood and one of the first things that I did was find my name on the banner hanging. And I was just like, Oh, this is so strange to be here. And it all looks the same, but it's so different. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:09:40 Yeah. The one thing that we talked about it with a guest last week when I grew up here and we're roughly the same age, um, it was multicultural. I thought like I had friends from all different parts of the world. Um, and that's surprising when I say that to people because they're like, man, you're in the middle of nowhere. I'm like, I know it was pretty multicultural, but now from time to time, I speak at the high schools as well and boil boys in multicultural now. Yes. I, last time I went in and this is before COVID I went into father mercury high school, um, after like school was out and I only saw Filipino kids and there wasn't a lick of English being spoken anywhere. It was crazy.
Speaker 2 00:10:23 Very multicultural. Very diverse. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:10:26 It's changed dramatically. Same buildings, different kids. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So we're part of the show where we're going to put you on the spot a little bit. Okay. The Mac CD minute. This is Tanner spot. He's going to ask you some questions. Okay. So do your best to answer the questions. Good luck. Tanner hit him with your questions.
Speaker 3 00:10:45 All right. Question number one. What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
Speaker 2 00:10:51 Uh, anything outside, anything outside in the trails? Um, I love to cook. I love to run, so I love trail running and basically anything outside hiking through the Bush, whatever. I love it.
Speaker 3 00:11:09 Question number two. How has being a part of the community so long shaped how you operate?
Speaker 2 00:11:17 Um, well I think I don't, it's not a secret that Fort McMurray is very unique. We have such a diverse, diverse culture, as we just mentioned, um, all kind of in this isolated Northern community that is quite unexpected. When people come here, they're blown away by all those things and how the beauty and all that sort of stuff. Um, and I think growing up here through my teen years and you know, now raising a family here, just that unique blend of city, small town, total diverse culture. Um, just, I don't know. It's cool. It makes life interesting. And yeah, I don't really know how it shapes me, but yeah.
Speaker 3 00:12:11 Question number three. What is your favorite event you've thrown in prior use?
Speaker 2 00:12:18 I have a few, but I love family safety day, which is, I think the event you referred to in the beginning. Um, that was one of the, actually when I started with safe community wood, Buffalo, uh, I started two weeks prior to that event happening. So I was kind of thrown right into it and uh, going with it. So I think to see now, like that event has been hosted for 22 years in the community and to see how that has grown and uh, into the event that it is. Uh, I just, I enjoy that and would have to be my favorite
Speaker 3 00:12:59 Question. Number four. What is your favorite breakfast food and your last question? What is your favorite topic to promote for your organization?
Speaker 2 00:13:17 Um, I think road safety. I would go with road safety because that encompasses all of it and I like all of it.
Speaker 0 00:13:25 Oh, another in the middle answer
Speaker 3 00:13:29 Those five questions.
Speaker 0 00:13:31 There you go. You did good. Those I wasn't bad. Yeah. It's funny how you're like that you chose a middle of the road. Answer again. What's your favorite ice cream
Speaker 2 00:13:44 Depends where we're going. Cause there's different.
Speaker 0 00:13:46 I thought you're going to save vanilla. Uh, let's go. Baskin-Robbins
Speaker 2 00:13:50 What? I'm never going to Baskin Robbins. We don't have a Baskin-Robbins here to don't. We have it still in an w no,
Speaker 0 00:13:59 No, no, no, no, no, no, no. For real remember. No, no, no. Wait time out. I'm old. Okay. We used to have a Baskin-Robbins back in the day in the Safeway parking lot in thick wood, uh, where it's not safe anymore. Sobey's now however, there was a Baskin-Robbins in the a and w and FIC would like buy 'em. Patty makes Wiggins, right? I'm not, I'm not wrong on this. I know there was,
Speaker 3 00:14:20 I have no recollection.
Speaker 2 00:14:22 I think you're right. Yes. And it's not there anymore though. No.
Speaker 0 00:14:26 Well, it goes to show how many times I go into a and w and fake with them. Oh, that's really sad.
Speaker 2 00:14:32 But I did growing up here. I used to love the chocolate swirlies for me. W
Speaker 0 00:14:38 Okay. Yep. All right. Well, I guess ice cream, then if we're going ice cream, the only place I can think of is dairy queen. That's still here. We've got two dairy Queens now, actually, because we're moving on up in the world. If you're going to go to dairy queen, what are you going to get? I
Speaker 2 00:14:52 Am going for the cherry Buster. Perfect.
Speaker 0 00:14:55 Oh, I go with the peanut butter. Perfect. There was a Baskin Robbins here. I just found an old address for it. I know. Well, I knew there was. And honestly,
Speaker 2 00:15:05 That didn't date you at all.
Speaker 0 00:15:07 Oh, I don't mind telling people. I'm old people. Like I've done a few episodes now where people have called me out on my age and whatnot. I, uh, I'm 38. I graduated in 2001 from father mercury. So yeah, these gray hairs that's wisdom because I'm talking about my silver coming out. I was talking to Tanner earlier in the week. And, uh, I was talking about college. I had a friend that I grew up with on the show and we were talking about college and this, that, and the other, and, uh, Tanner informed us that, uh, my first year of college, he was three. Yeah. That made me feel real old. Yes, yes. Yeah. So on that note, that's it. 20 minutes fly. We're coming to the end of the show. But before I let you go, um, I want you to do a shameless plug. Please tell us one more time, who you are, what your organization is, how people get in contact and what you guys do.
Speaker 2 00:16:04 All right. So safe community. Would Buffalo, uh, check us out online at safe community, wb.ca uh, we are actually updating our website right now. So lots of great information on all of the pro uh, programs that we do. And we do have some exciting things that are coming down the pipe, and we'll be coming out this spring. So you're really gonna want to pay attention, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. And we took talk now. Oh, we're like that. Cool.
Speaker 0 00:16:33 That is cool. Yeah. You're way. Cool.
Speaker 2 00:16:36 So follow us there. Check it while we got happening and, uh,
Speaker 0 00:16:40 Okay. Well, definitely come back when those things start happening or should talk about it then. Sounds good. Cool. On that note, Fort McMurray, once again, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, sorry. And everybody else watching at home. Thank you very much for spending the time with us. My name is Elliot Pierre. This has been the Mac city morning show. Have a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
Speaker 1 00:17:04 <inaudible> talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
