Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:01 Good morning, everybody. How are you doing? Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood Buffalo in the world. Sorry about that. That's who I'm saying. Good morning to my name is Elliot Pierre. This is the Mac city morning show, and we're going to start it off the same way. I start every show off by saying thank you to everybody at home watching. Uh, it does truly warm my heart for everybody who's tuning in because you could be doing a million other things. And the fact that you're spending with me and my guests antenna means the world to me. So on that note, Tanner hit him with the answer.
Speaker 1 00:00:31 Oh, she caught me loves you're listening to the next any morning show.
Speaker 0 00:00:40 All right, now we have my favorite type of guest here today, hands down. I don't know this person. I was only introduced to them seconds ago. So you're going to learn about this person at the same time I am, which I think is fun. And half the reason I started the Mac city morning show is I love the stories of strangers. So on that note, can you please introduce yourself to myself and the people at home and tell us who you are and what you're about?
Speaker 2 00:01:06 Yeah. So my name is Mikayla Bennett. I am the childhood injury prevention coordinator for safe community wood, Buffalo. Um, I kind of run the buckle up with Buffalo Facebook page, the car seat aspect of it. And yeah, that's about it. That's my job.
Speaker 0 00:01:24 There you go. Now we're going to start this off. Uh, cause you said this, when you came in, you are born and raised in Fort McMurray.
Speaker 2 00:01:31 Yeah, I, yeah, I was born here. Um, I'm fine with aging myself. I'm also maybe younger than some of the other people here. So I'm 27 and that's, as long as I've been here, I plan to raise my children here, so
Speaker 0 00:01:45 Wow. I quite enjoy it. People that are here, myself included. That's awesome. Yeah. Tanner John 10, 10 is 21. So you're not the youngest, but I'm definitely the oldest. That's so funny. Okay. So your last name is Bennett. Um, do you have family that's here as well? I went to high school with, or not high school, like my whole childhood with a gentleman named Justin Bennett.
Speaker 2 00:02:14 Um, that's my married name. So my maiden name is McKayla LaBelle. Um, I kind of an only child until my siblings are much younger than me. And so really, I mean, I didn't grow up really knowing any more of us. I didn't have a lot of cousins here.
Speaker 0 00:02:34 Just your friends. Yep. That's what format's about. Everybody just like makes friends with the people around them and that becomes your family. Yeah. Okay. Now you, cause I'm looking at your shirt, you work for safe communities, wood, Buffalo. Yep. Can you tell us what safe communities wood, Buffalo is all
Speaker 2 00:02:50 About? Um, so we're a nonprofit and we really, the goal is injury prevention. So everything we do circles around prevention. So we go all the way from like children and babies, starting with car seats in their parents, through children and youth and driving and road safety and everything that surrounds that. Okay,
Speaker 0 00:03:13 Cool. And what is your component of the company again? Sorry.
Speaker 2 00:03:15 Um, I'm the childhood injury prevention coordinator or things really kid related. So Halloween safety. I do those presentations, um, car seat safety is like a big part of my job. Um, buckle up wood. Buffalo is kind of our offset of that. And then bike safety, huge in the spring time, crosswalk safety, all that kind of stuff with the little, little kid let's
Speaker 0 00:03:37 Talk about Halloween, then we're nowhere near Halloween. But when I was a little kid, the only thing you had to worry about was a, if it was not wrapped, don't eat it. Now. There was always the rumor that potentially there was razorblades in a candy. I think that's still going on. Don't know where that started from, but in regards to safety for Halloween, what does that mean? Nowadays?
Speaker 2 00:04:00 The main thing we focus on with Halloween safety, we kind of take it from our crosswalk safety. So we do pedestrian safety. So it's all about crossing the street properly, looking both ways, um, and Halloween it's dark home or trick or treating. So making sure you're visible to the cars, staying with the group, um, the candy is a small portion. So make sure your parents check it over, but mainly the pedestrian aspect of it. The fact that you're out at night on sidewalks every time.
Speaker 0 00:04:25 All right. So now you're talking to these kids in the school, right? Yep. I've got a question for you. Do you think that kids are still going trick or treating in mass numbers or is that like kind of dying down?
Speaker 2 00:04:37 I feel like maybe this year it was probably a bit different, like everything. Um, but aside from that, even when I'm out trick or treating with my own kids, I feel like I see a lot more groups of kids than just singular, like siblings coming up. So it seems to be still a thing. I know people who go with like their whole neighborhoods or other families. So
Speaker 0 00:04:56 Yeah, I don't get as much kids anymore. That's why I'm asking. And maybe I'm in the wrong part of town, but yeah, I found the numbers outside of this year. I've lived in my home for eight years now, up in Timberly and this year was the biggest year we had for people coming over for trick or treating, which I thought was quite interesting based on the year that we are coming out of.
Speaker 2 00:05:19 Yeah, we got about the same as always. And we don't get as much as across the street cause we don't have the sidewalk and we're like in, I call the SAC. Um, so they don't really tend to come in, but when we were out trick or treating with my kids, I was surprised at how many people I see now. Cause I was a little worried that people weren't going or the years, some things because of COVID. So, but yeah, there was a lot of people at this year. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:05:42 Now, in regards to, uh, the job that you have with, uh, safe communities, how did you get connected with them?
Speaker 2 00:05:49 So, um, I became connected with safe community because of buckle up with Buffalo. So I became trained as a car-seat tech almost four years ago now. Wow. And, um, met Leslie through that, my coworker, who then we just started working together on car seat stuff, incarcerate clinics, um, information sessions, all that kind of stuff. And then, uh, there was a job position opening and then it just kind of organically from there. And now I do car seats and
Speaker 0 00:06:19 Okay. So when it comes to car seats, let's talk about car seats a little bit here. Is it true that car seats, like once there's an impact you have to like replace the car seat. Like there's certain reasons like car seats are no longer valid or maybe like they've been, if I've got a kid and four years later I have another kid I'm not supposed to put that kid in the same car seat. Does that, is that fair?
Speaker 2 00:06:42 So part of your, so cars, most car seats are one-time use. Um, so if there was an impact, even if it's just small, most car seat manufacturers say it needs to be replaced. There are a couple that maybe follow some criteria. So depending on how big the impact was your vehicle drivable afterwards, all that was the car seat occupied at the time, that kind of stuff. But for the most part, it is a one-time use. And that's, and then for the second part of your question, passing it down through children is totally normal. All car seats do expire though. So, um, if there was just like a four year difference and you're using the same, like infant carrier, then it's probably going to work because most of those are six, seven years expiring and then you get up to the bigger ones and they can be 10 years depending on the materials it's made out of. Now I've
Speaker 0 00:07:28 Got a question for you because the, like I have a little guy he's a six and he's in a car seat. And then I know as he gets older, it'll turn into a booster and whatnot. What are the height and weight requirements when like they don't have to be in the seats anymore.
Speaker 2 00:07:42 Yeah. So as far as like going from the harness to a booster, um, it all depends on the car seat. Um, so the height and weight requirements is all different. So every booster seat has different minimums and maximums. The same goes for every car seat, no matter the stage. Um, what we look for when getting out of a car seat to a booster seat is a lot of like mental maturity. They need to notice it properly when they're in the harness, they're tight. Like we make them tight. They're strapped in there. And when they moved to the booster seat with that seatbelt, they have so much freedom to move. Um, so mental maturity plus meeting the minimums for the booster seat, they're going to go into for the most part. That's normally for four years of age and 40 pounds, some booster seats are higher than that.
Speaker 2 00:08:25 Some require them to be a little older and then getting out of the booster seat again, they need to be fitting the seatbelt without the booster seat properly. So sometimes this has meaning that kids are using booster sheets up until like 10. And that would be completely normal seatbelts. Aren't built to fit people until they're four foot nine. So for some kids that's 10, maybe a little sooner, maybe a little later, sometimes one vehicle, they fit it. Sometimes another vehicle, they still need the booster. So it's all so objective and a lot to do with every particular child in every different. So four
Speaker 0 00:09:00 Foot nine is kind of like the height requirement though. Like you said, give or take.
Speaker 2 00:09:04 Yeah. I mean, seatbelts are gonna are made to fit people four foot nine now everyone's built differently. So if I have a taller torso, I might be fitting differently. Yeah. That's, that's kinda rough. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:09:15 The reason I ask is I have a, a vintage sports car. That's just a two seater. So I can't even put them in the back cause it doesn't exist. So I'm like, okay, well I'm going to just kinda, what can I get them in this thing? That's what I was trying to get at. But you've answered that question beautifully for me. So thank you very much. So when you go to school for that kind of stuff or you get trained, sorry, what's the training like, is that something you go away for or do they fly somebody in?
Speaker 2 00:09:39 What does that look like? So when I got trained, someone was flown in to be our technician instructor. Now my coworker, Leslie is an instructor with sip. So that's, um, child passenger safety association of Canada. So she's an instructor now and she's held a few classes since becoming instructors training, some RCMP bylaw, and just normal people, whether it involves their job, people who work at different organizations throughout town, or just want to be a tech for the volunteer aspect or their own children. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:10:09 Very cool. Now, as we brought up at the top of the show, you're born and raised here. What high school did you go to? Right. The Merck. There we go. Yes. Finally, I went to Merck as well. Tanner takes on to that. He went to comp we've only, we haven't had a lot of merch people at this on the show. We've only had one other from you. So thank you for going to mark the proper school.
Speaker 2 00:10:32 That's weird to me because I mean, I do know a lot of people from high school that still live here or I'm still friends with and they're all from Merck.
Speaker 0 00:10:42 So I'm just inviting the wrong people on the show is what it comes down to. Yeah. Um,
Speaker 3 00:10:46 I'd say the right people, a lot of people in
Speaker 0 00:10:48 Clubs. Yeah. That is true. Um, what do you, what was Merck? What did merch represent when you went there? Like all the schools are known for something, obviously, as you pointed out at the beginning of the episode, I'm very old. So I know what Merck meant for me. When I went there. What did Merck represent for you when you were going there?
Speaker 2 00:11:11 Well, I think it's, it's pretty much the same now. I was before, before Trinity was a thing, but it was still very focused on like, um, I know there was the rat program. I didn't do it, but my husband did. Um, so the rap program, so like industry technology, that kind of stuff. And then, I mean, sound is anonymous as a big one. Um, I still like to be involved in that every year. So maybe those are two big things. I know now it's a lot more split. I, when I went there, there was no junior high there as well. Right.
Speaker 0 00:11:42 That's why you look familiar. I knew you looked familiar. Okay. So we've bumped into each other through SANAS anonymous more than once. I'm like, I know, I know. I don't know you, but I'm like, you look so familiar. Um, okay. We've definitely seen each other at sinus anonymous. Then here we go. Very cool. I love sounding anonymous. Big shout out to San is anonymous. I know a it's months and months away, but uh, yeah, I can't wait till sound as anonymous comes out so I can help promote them and help them get all the toys and the food and everything for the kids again. So it was weird this year because the COVID like, I couldn't really get involved with Santa as anonymous. It was the first time since I was in high school that I had no involvement, um, with that not-for-profits so that was weird.
Speaker 2 00:12:26 Yeah, it was, it was weird for me too. I'm normally there all the time. So Christmas
Speaker 0 00:12:30 Was weird this year. Not because of COVID because there was no sign as anonymous for me. So anyways, um, on that note, we're at the part of the show and this is Tanner's part of the show, the Mac city minute. He's going to ask you some questions. I don't know what they are and I wish you nothing, but the best of luck. All right. Tanner, what's your questions.
Speaker 3 00:12:49 Question. Number one, growing up here, what does the community mean to you?
Speaker 2 00:12:55 That's a great question. And actually it's been asked to me before. Um, so for Maria as a whole means a lot to me. I actually, um, we definitely chose to buy our house here to raise our children here because of the experience I had. I love that small town feel, but with some more of the amenities, um, it's also got a lot of activities for kids now. I mean, when I grew up there, maybe wasn't as many, but the community means a lot to me and that small town feel and everyone like stepping up to help everyone is really where that's what my favorite part is.
Speaker 3 00:13:32 Question number two. What is your favorite comfort
Speaker 2 00:13:37 Comfort? So my favorite comfort food is probably chips. I think chips, or if we're going like supper, foods, maybe like Mac and cheese pasta, big one
Speaker 3 00:13:50 Question number three. What is one thing you've learned from your job that surprises you?
Speaker 2 00:13:57 I don't know that anything surprises me about my job anymore. Maybe one thing I've learned a crazy amount of facts. It's a good thing that my brain works well. The store, all these weird road, safety facts, carseat facts, all the different things. Um, I don't know if there's one that really stands out to me per se. They all kind of shock you at first. When you learn all the safety things,
Speaker 3 00:14:26 Number four, what is a hobby? People might not know you have.
Speaker 2 00:14:32 There might be a few hobbies. Um, I love just snowboard. I don't get to do it as much anymore because I had an injury on my knee. Um, I crochet, I love to do kind of stuff with design on my computer and all that kind of stuff. So there's a few different things that people might not expect.
Speaker 3 00:14:52 And your last question, what is one thing you did in Fort McMurray as a kid that kids today can still do?
Speaker 2 00:14:59 Um, probably hang out at Vista all day. And that would be probably a big one. And I know the chalet limits are different now, but I still, when we're out there we still see kids hanging out up there all the time. Those have been your five questions.
Speaker 0 00:15:14 Here we go. Okay. This Ridge it's come up a few times. Best poutine in town. In my opinion.
Speaker 2 00:15:21 Yeah. We always said that too. Yeah. Game over. Yeah. Yeah. I like
Speaker 0 00:15:26 You. You're the, you came from Merck. You liked the Vista Ridge poutines. Okay. We're going to build on some Tanner's questions. I never know what they are. So they like sparked my brain. You like chips? Yes. What kind of chips? Flavor. And do you have a brand that you go to as well?
Speaker 2 00:15:41 Uh, well, because of what I can't not eat, I guess lays is probably my favorite brand and currently their new jalapeno cheddar has to be my favorite. Here we
Speaker 0 00:15:52 Go. I'm going with miss Vickie's salt and vinegar chips. They're so good.
Speaker 2 00:15:59 I miss Vicky's used to be a favorite of mine too. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:16:01 So those are good ones. Now Tanner has a question I love to steal. I love to steal his questions. Um, he asked a guest a few days ago. What is a restaurant that you used to like to go to that no longer exists? It's a stumper. It is because you're so young. They also exist. I
Speaker 2 00:16:26 Do know. Well, I know one of my favorites and I know, I know it still exists, but I don't go there. We live on the opposite. End of town is McCray's and Greg Aurora was really big when I was a kid. And if I remember correctly, there was even a train that used to, I don't know if it's still up, but it's not running, but it used to go around the, like the ceiling. Um, so that would have to be my favorite. It definitely still exists. Um, but I haven't been there since, since
Speaker 0 00:16:53 You moved to the other side. Yeah. It's funny. When you live on the other side of the bridge, what you go to, I grew up in Dickins field and so there's all these thick wood places I went to, but I lived in beacon hill for a bit. And now you just not bridge people. Don't like to cross the bridge. It's so weird. It's not like I remember when I moved there, I was one of the first, one of my buddies to buy a house here in Fort Mac. I'd had, I had the house and it was a banger of a house, but my buddies would never come visit. I'm like, guys, I'll pay for the cabs. I'll get a van. I'll pick you all up. Uh, we were not crossing that bridge, bougie like that. So anyways, that's the end of our show, 20 minutes.
Speaker 0 00:17:31 Flew. Thanks for coming. Thank you for having me. I love how you just showed up today, uh, with your, uh, your coworker. And then you're like, yeah, I'll sit in the seat with you. So thank you. I appreciate it. And feel free to come back at any point in time to promote anything that you guys are doing with safe communities with Buffalo. Awesome. Yeah. Thank you for having us. Cool. Now almost kicked you out before you got to do your shameless plug. Can you do a shameless plug about the organization that you work with and how people can get involved?
Speaker 2 00:18:01 Yeah, so, um, definitely visit us. We have a website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, um, currently ventured into the tech talk world. So we're getting there too. Um, you can definitely visit us on our website. It's being revamped. Um, but check us out on Facebook probably has maybe the most up to date. We're always on social media, especially lately. Um, so yeah. Get in touch with us. Visit our Facebook pages, even buckle up with Buffalo. If you need some car seat help and yeah,
Speaker 0 00:18:27 There we go. Awesome. Sweet. Well, on that note, Fort McMurray wood Buffalo in the world, that is the end of another episode of the Mac city morning show. I'm Elliot pier your host and from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much for tuning in. It does mean the world to me. We'll be having a great day. We'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
Speaker 4 00:19:03 Talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
