Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned into the maxi morning show. I am your host, Elliot Pierre, and we're going to start the show off the same way we start every show off with the moment of gratitude. I want to thank everybody who's tuning in may be watching it live or watching it afterwards. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you're spending with us really does mean the world to me on that note, Tanner hit them with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:27 Oh, she caught me, loves near listen to the next then morning show.
Speaker 0 00:00:36 All right. And we are back. Okay. We got a bang of an episode today. This guy has got some big shoes to fill because his wife came in earlier in the week and blew it out the park. But, uh, I know this gentleman a little bit, so I know he's going to be doing fine. As for usual, I do not introduce my guests. I let them do that themselves because they can do a better job at saying their name than I ever could. So on that note, can you please introduce yourself who you are and what you're about? My man.
Speaker 2 00:01:01 Awesome. Uh, my name is Justin McIsaac. I am, uh, originally from Cape Breton, moved up to Fort McMurray in 2011. Um, husband, father of three little kids now. And, uh, I am a physical therapist in town and clinic director at XL physical therapies, uh, down new downtown location at Syncrude sport and Wallace center.
Speaker 0 00:01:23 There you go. Well, thanks for coming in today, man. I do appreciate it. So Cape Breton, I didn't know that for some reason, I thought you were from Halifax.
Speaker 2 00:01:31 No, uh, originally from Cape Breton, a little town called Inverness and then, uh, did my undergrad degree at St. Francis Xavier university, also Nova Scotia. And then, uh, my master's for physio at Dalhousie in Halifax lived for a couple of years in Halifax. Here.
Speaker 0 00:01:51 There you go. So why is Del housey so popular for physical therapists? Like it seems like that is the pinnacle of schools, I guess people are trying to get into or what what's, what's the deal with Del housey? Well
Speaker 2 00:02:06 Therapy in Canada is the, it it's a very competitive program to get into, to begin. Um, I think you'd see more. I think it's fair to say. You'd see most East coasters, um, going to Del housey for their physio degree. Right. As, um, other schools in Canada, obviously a lot less seats for like maritime provinces. Right. So, so yeah. And, uh, I think, well, I know quite a few physios out here in Fort McMurray that originally from the East coast and graduated from Dalhousie. So, uh, yeah. Uh, it's something about Fort McMurray in Alberta that likes to bring us out here, right?
Speaker 0 00:02:43 Yeah. Yeah. We have a big East coast following here in Formax. There's no doubt about that. Yeah. I spent some time I went to Del housey and I spent some time talking to physical therapists there and yeah, the program was amazing. The kids were amazing. And I think, I think you nailed it in regards to people are comfortable coming from the East coast to Fort Mac because while they know somebody here for the most part, everybody has a family member, an aunt, an uncle, a cousin, maybe their own parents, brother, sister that have, have come out here. So it's an easy transition.
Speaker 2 00:03:11 Yes. And I mean, that house is a phenomenal school too, right? Yeah. So, uh, so yeah.
Speaker 0 00:03:17 Dal and Halifax and town, have you ever been to Halifax?
Speaker 3 00:03:21 I have not. No. Oh, you got to go to Halifax. I've uh, I've actually never been past Ontario. Oh yeah. So, uh, every province in between Alberta and Ontario have been into, but nothing around, Oh, we've got to change that and BC, but only because of Vancouver airport. So there we go. You were missing out on the East coast. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:03:40 So I'm going to ask you a hot, a very Halifax based question. There's a little corner called pizza corner in Halifax. Now I love my donors. So I've spent, I've been Halifax a number of times. So I spend a lot of time in that little, uh, like a square. Which one is your go-to jam if you had to pick one?
Speaker 2 00:03:59 No, you know what? I can't even remember the names of them. No, on the corner. It's, it's been so long out here since 2011 and I haven't been home in a while. So, uh,
Speaker 0 00:04:14 You remember the decor of the one, like you might not know the name, but they're all very specific when you go inside. One of them is like, check it out. It's all black. And
Speaker 2 00:04:24 One of them had a very good barbecue chicken pizza. Okay. Very good. You like to do an Arizona barbecue chicken. Real good.
Speaker 0 00:04:34 Is that religious, like the, the donor pizza for anybody watching and I'm going to get a lot of heat on this gentleman's pizza Fort Mac. There's no arguing for me is the best. Cosmo's really good too. But Joel was is, is where it's at. But yeah, the East coast Halifax, they make some bang and donors it's unreal. So, so you moved to Fort McMurray. W did you come here specifically because there was a job opportunity or how did that all transpire for you?
Speaker 2 00:05:05 You know, I was in, when I was in my final year of school, I just, you know, you're obviously looking at lots of different job options and opportunities and I just kind of broadened my horizons a little bit and uh, looked out here. I had a good friend who was coming out at the same time. Um, you know, my good buddy, Brendan Smith. And we moved out together along with my, uh, wife, Ashley. Um, and we just really wanted to come out and try it, you know? And that was the end of 2011. And, uh, uh, we're still here and my wife and I with with three little kids, we absolutely love it here. Um, yeah, we have no plans on leaving, uh, the, everything that this community has to offer from like sports and recreation for the kids and things to do on weekends. It's, it's amazing. So, uh, we really like it more comfortable.
Speaker 0 00:06:02 Nice man. Nice. Now, like I said, your wife was here a day or two ago. Um, she had some great stories about how you guys met, but you guys have, you guys have been together for a long time, high school sweethearts. Yeah. That's amazing. So let me hear your version of how you guys first got together. So give us the age first and foremost, because I think that's the cutest thing
Speaker 2 00:06:25 Age would have been 17 ish. Okay. I hope she said the same answer, trying to think. That's my memory here. We're newlyweds here. Yeah. Um, and, uh, yeah, at that time, I mean, uh, I, she invited me over to a dance and, uh, my buddy and I went for a little drive and the rest is history. What were you driving? Huh? What were you driving? I knew you were going to put me on that. Hey man. Hey man. The answer to this is already out there. I'm just getting confirmation. Okay. I had some very good relatives that would always lend me their vehicles. You know, when you're 16 and your first get your, uh, your license, the, you just want to go driving all the time. Right. So, uh, yeah. I'll leave that one there. Yeah, there go. I'm sure my wife has answered that one. Oh, very honestly. Yeah. Perfect. That's amazing.
Speaker 0 00:07:29 So I think that's like, that's the best thing in the world. You've known your wife since like you guys are literally in high school, 16, 17. She was kind of on the same Mark. You guys are still together. Three kids. That's awesome.
Speaker 2 00:07:39 She's amazing. She's she? She she's really good. And the three kids, we have seven, five and 14 months. That's a lot of fun too. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:07:46 Yeah. She and she couldn't stop gloating about you and how great of a father you are, how great of a partner you are, um, with her new venture. Um, when I say new, it's been a few years, but she's like she went on and on. So how do you make, what do you think you're, you're so successful in regards to supporting your wife and your children?
Speaker 2 00:08:03 Uh, I really like what I do for a career. Right. So, um, the job that I have as a physiotherapist I'm in private practice allows me a lot, a lot of flexibility. So, um, I work Monday to Friday. Um, days are definitely busy and stuff really allows a lot of flexibility for a working around her work schedule. Um, making sure that I get to all the kids' activities and I can kind of rearrange. So I think time management and having that amount of time available. Right. I, I think it's really important, right. To be able to, you know, go to the hockey games, go to the baseball games. Yeah. Um, yeah. And spend quality time at home as opposed to just work, work, work. Right. There you go. That's the one thing I found
Speaker 0 00:08:56 When I, uh, when you, I used to work together in regards to physical therapies, you guys nail time management, like it's, I've worked in a few different industries, um, in my career, but you guys really have pinpointed like how much time you have to work. Okay. I need a break here. Like the time management skills are next level. Is that something they teach you in school? Or is that something like in private practice, you just have to adopt
Speaker 2 00:09:25 Say that's more of a, uh, a skill that you learned from your, when you entered the career and you start working in a private practice. All my previous managers and bosses and stuff, I've, I, I think are, you know, really important in that, in, in, in teaching you time management. Right. And, uh, the best way to kind of arrange things during your day, because I like to be busy, but not over busy too.
Speaker 0 00:09:53 That's right. And it's a physical job you're doing like physical. One-on-one like not all jobs are that intense in regards to like, it is one-on-one with every patient that you have. There's really no, there's no slacking when your physical therapy.
Speaker 2 00:10:08 No, it's definitely not. It's busy and you're always learning too. Right. So
Speaker 0 00:10:13 Great. Have you always worked in private practice? Uh, yes.
Speaker 2 00:10:18 So since I've moved out here, I've, I've always worked in private practice. I did do a little bit of occupational testing there for a couple of years originally. Um, but right now it's just private practice working as a act of physio and yeah. Clinic director downtown.
Speaker 0 00:10:35 Nice. So let's talk about that transition for you. So clinic director, that's a big deal, man. So you got this new location is downtown let's, let's talk about your transition. Uh, not all physical therapists decide to go the route you did and some just are just physio. So you had ambitions and you've achieved on, let's talk about that a little bit. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:10:54 Um, I mean, I really, really enjoy being, uh, the clinic director downtown. Um, I, I certainly don't think of myself as, as like a boss. I think of myself more as like a role model. Um, and I, I would think that most, if not everyone that I generally work with would be, uh, it's just, you got to bring a positive attitude, um, work around situations, help people out. And, uh, I, I think the personality and the, uh, demeanor throughout the day that, that you portray is, is really important in the workplace. And, uh, yeah, I think that's gone a long ways and success. Right.
Speaker 0 00:11:38 There you go. Now in regards to your physios, how many physios did he got down there?
Speaker 2 00:11:42 We have three full-time physios now and two full-time massage therapists. That's awesome. That's really good.
Speaker 0 00:11:49 Yeah. I know in your guys' world, you're always looking for more physical therapists there. They're hard to find.
Speaker 2 00:11:55 They are hard to find. Yes. Um, especially now with given the times with the pandemic. Right, right. Uh, uncertain times. Right. Um, but, uh, yeah. We've, uh, we've got three physios downtown. I think we have five uptown. Right. Um, yeah. And I think they, I think they all enjoy working for Excel. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:12:16 So if, if, uh, there's a physio therapist or a student of physio right now looking to get in contact with you, what's the best way
Speaker 2 00:12:25 That'd be perfect. Um, I can be reached at email. You can, uh, drop into the clinic because sometimes with schools now, a lot of schools are online. Um, so we are always actively, um, are looking for, um, people who are interested in being in the physio career. Doesn't even have to really be somebody who's who's just before the they're graduating as physio, even to introduce them to the profession. Um, whether they're later in high school or going through, through, through their undergrad and kind of unsure, we have often taken them in, into the clinic and kind of showed them the ropes a little bit and show them what it's all about. And, uh, yeah, I think that's really important, right.
Speaker 0 00:13:13 Yeah. I didn't know. You guys did that. That's great. Yeah. Cause I feel it's been years now since I was in high school, but you don't have a lot of exposure to different careers more often than not. You have like the typical like, Oh yeah, I'll be a doctor. Be a lawyer you're from Fort Mac, go out to site, drive a truck or something. So you have like the general jobs, but once you get there, there's so many opportunities for different things out there.
Speaker 2 00:13:35 I find a lot of people graduate from their undergrad and they're like undecided. So they don't really know which, which directions. So it's great. When a community business can offer something like that, right. To take them in, show them, show them a little bit about your daily routine. And uh, and that way they can make kind of informed decision.
Speaker 0 00:13:55 There we go. Now, before we get to the Mac CD minute, cause I know Tanner's got some questions for you. As far as daily routine is concerned. You got three kids. Yes. What's part of your daily doing, how are you keeping? I have one, he's a monster. I love him, but he's a handful. So what's your routine looking like, how are you juggling three kids, man?
Speaker 2 00:14:17 It depends on the day. So a couple of days of the week I work, uh, early morning, early afternoon, uh, other couple days I work later afternoon, uh, evening. So I, I share the duties with my wife on the via days where I don't work til say two o'clock in the afternoon, I'll drop the little girl off at school, pick her up. Um, and I just adjust. I also like obviously doing stuff like staying active, that kind of thing. So it's nice having like mornings available and evenings available, whether you want to go to the gym or you got something to do. Yeah. Cause it, obviously with these times with the pandemic stuff, it's really important to stay active. Right. As active as we can. Right.
Speaker 0 00:15:00 So me to burn off this little guy's energy, we are wrestling all day. Every day. I introduced him to some old school WWF WWE. So he's learning about razor, Ramon and Bret, the Hitman Hart and all those guys. So we're wrestling all the time. How are you burning their energy off? What's your activity? Give me a hack here.
Speaker 2 00:15:21 So we do a lot of stuff as, as, as a family, for sure. So like we both have our older kids ski. Um, we, they play lots of sports. My son's in hockey, a little girl did ringette. Um, we do camping quoting in the summer of that. Um, my little boy, he loves, uh, gaming on his PC. So, uh, I often will join him on that. And he loves every minute of off that that is quality time with between me and him. Um, he he'll he'll play anything. That's kind of appropriate for a seven year old. Right. He likes playing roadblocks. Um, I personally, I even had the account on my phone to play with him, but, um, I'm not a huge fan of roadblocks. So I usually play the other games with them. I kind of rope them in and uh, Oh yeah. He's there playing with his controller and I'm using the keyboard and he always lasts longer than me in the game. So yeah.
Speaker 0 00:16:23 Yeah. I don't get it. I don't get roadblocks. I don't get it. He wants to be a YouTube star, right? Yeah. They all do. Yep. They all do. But yeah, I don't get roadblocks down. Do you know what a roadblocks is? Roadblocks? I do. Indeed. Yeah. You play it? I do not know. Okay, good. Okay. We're at the part of the show where Tanner has a segment called the Mac CD minute. He's going to ask you some questions. Best luck. I have no idea what he's going to ask you. Tanner, you hit him with the max any minute.
Speaker 3 00:16:49 Alrighty. Question number one for you today. What is one thing that you learned at Del housey that you find most important? Um, obviously
Speaker 2 00:17:04 Everything I learned, uh, while in physio school was, was really important. Um, I think it's just the, the life skills that you'll learn, you know, your you're in a master's program. So, um, you're living in, for me, it was living in the city for the first time. So I think it taught me a lot of life skills, whether it was managing time was, was really important. Cause obviously a master's program, uh, is, is very, very busy. So I would actually have to go back and say time management. I think that's, that's one of the, uh, big things that I've, we've talked about it earlier in the show, but I think I've carried over pretty good to be able to balance a life
Speaker 3 00:17:50 Question. Number two, what is one Fort Mac restaurant that gives you a taste of home?
Speaker 0 00:17:59 Aye.
Speaker 2 00:18:00 So we had talked about donors earlier in the show and um, a lot of people, uh, that I talked to really love and I liked them myself is PKS donors. Um, so, um, I think if you talked to a lot of people from, from here, they say that BK is doing donors are, are quite similar to the East coast. And uh, yeah, I, uh, I would say that would be the donor is kind of a signature East coast thing. I think. So, uh, yeah.
Speaker 3 00:18:30 Question number three. What is your favorite thing to do with your children around town?
Speaker 2 00:18:37 Um, sports activities? Um, it, it, it doesn't really matter what it is. Um, I love taking the kids to the outdoor rinks and playing a little bit of, uh, hockey skating, that kind of stuff. Um, my, my, my daughter, the five-year-old is a real competitor. She wants to finish first and everything. So, uh, they, they, they really enjoy that. And also skiing. We we've had them skiing since they were two. So, so yeah. So we try to take advantage of the, uh, good weather in the winter and do a lot of skiing.
Speaker 3 00:19:12 Question number four. What is your favorite part of working with individuals physical health?
Speaker 2 00:19:17 Oh, I, I think seeing them through the entire process and seeing the results, I think being able to help somebody out, whether it's in a matter of 20 minutes or helping them out over the matter of months, being able to see that, that they're happy with, with progress and how they feel and that you've made a change. Right. I think that's the most rewarding thing feeling. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:19:45 And your final question, what is one fun story you have from being with your wife for so long?
Speaker 2 00:19:53 One funny story, fun story story.
Speaker 0 00:19:56 Um, well
Speaker 2 00:20:03 We've done lots of fun stuff. Lots of fun stuff. I have, uh, introduced her to golf. So we, we do really enjoy, uh, going out for around a golf. Um, I, I used to golf a lot, try to be serious. And I'm one of these people now that the more I play, the worst I get. So, uh, I think, uh, my wife and I, uh, starting each year now that our kids are getting a little bit older, being able to go out and golf and stuff. I think that's that's, uh, time well spent and we both enjoy it. It's a lot of fun. And those have been your five questions.
Speaker 0 00:20:40 There you go. I had a bunch of questions, but I liked that last one. The golfing with your wife that's that's good. Especially cause you're worse every year that you play. Oh yeah. That's hilarious. This don't air place. You're talking about PK. Where's that located? I don't know about PK
Speaker 2 00:20:57 Is the Petro Ken up in Timberly, uh, cross from save on foods.
Speaker 0 00:21:03 I know exactly where that is. I have had them before. That's a great don't air spots.
Speaker 2 00:21:09 Well, when you're thinking East coast does trying to attribute it, uh, trying to make the connection. And I would say donors is, uh, is definitely an East coast thing. So yeah,
Speaker 0 00:21:18 They're so good over there. And I get blown up on my boys all the time. How could you be pumping up East coast on air? So I'm like, dude, they're that good? Like I love Jonah's I eat way too much of it as it is. But yeah, when I go to Halifax, man, the donors they're there on another level. I said, except the sweet sauce there. No, no Fort Mac has sweet sauce on lockdown. It's not even a competition. Halifax your arrival in us in regards to the big time. So last time with Halifax, not a word of lie. I actually went to <inaudible> and got uh, some donor sauce to go and I took it over to Halifax is yeah, man. So I gotta be honest with you. We're done. That's it. 20 minutes flies. Yeah. So thanks for coming. Do appreciate it. Anytime you want to come back, please feel free. Anytime you have anything going on at the clinic or you just want to come back and chat. Now I know where we're at, but before I cut you loose shameless plug, please tell everybody one more time, who you are,
Speaker 4 00:22:21 Where are you? Where are you located?
Speaker 2 00:22:26 As I said, my name is Justin McIsaac. I'm a physical therapist and clinic director at Excel, physical therapies, newer location at Syncrude sport and wellness center downtown. Um, you can book online. You can get directly in contact with myself or any of her, our team. Um, we also, you can B and we are more than happy to answer any questions.
Speaker 0 00:22:52 There we go. Awesome. Well Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. Thank you very much for tuning in. This has been the Mac city morning show. I'm your host, Elliot Pierre. And I just want to say thanks for watching. Hopefully you're having a great day
Speaker 4 00:23:06 And we'll see you tomorrow and we'll see you tomorrow. <inaudible> talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
