Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned in to the Mac city 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 a moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. And the fact that you spent with us truly does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, tenor hit him with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:21 Oh, she caught me loves and you're listening to the next city morning show.
Speaker 0 00:00:30 Okay. And we're back. That was a long intro today. Tanner things happen, things happen. There you go. All right. So I'm really excited about our guests. I'm really excited about the conversation we're about to have, but, uh, as you guys know at home, I don't introduce my guests because they can do a better job of that than I. So on that note, can you please tell everybody at home who you are and what you're about?
Speaker 3 00:00:47 Um, my name's Jennifer Ferguson and, um, I don't know. I'm about, I don't know what I'm about. Good. Yeah. Just enjoying life in for Murray.
Speaker 0 00:00:59 I think that's what I have in the description. Like loving living the north, loving the north. So is that, that's your handle on Instagram? I think. Yeah. So
Speaker 3 00:01:06 What is it loving the north
Speaker 0 00:01:07 Gen and the north gen and the north. Yeah, that's what I have in like the description. So I've been bumping into you for years now. You used on and off, but we've never had a conversation before. We never got a chance to sit down and talk. So when we, uh, saw each other at Dennis Kniffen's gala, I said, Hey, you got to come on the show and let's have a chat. So my first
Speaker 3 00:01:28 Commandeer you though, I just have to like, did I, cause apparently I left that gala with a whole random boatload of things. I've got a tanning appointment, something about a moving company. I was hitting it hard that night. So
Speaker 0 00:01:42 It sounds like you were the winner.
Speaker 3 00:01:43 I just want to make sure it didn't come in hot. Like
Speaker 0 00:01:45 You did not come in hot.
Speaker 4 00:01:46 The producer of the show. Might've had a similar nightmare. Don't you worry about
Speaker 3 00:01:52 How we were playing at smooth. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:01:54 We were just social butterflies that play in the
Speaker 3 00:01:57 Crowd.
Speaker 0 00:01:59 Yeah, no, you did not. I think I like came to you at the end of it. It was closer to the end of the night. So if anything, I might've come in a little bit hot as well, so
Speaker 3 00:02:08 That's fine. As long as I didn't have to wake up the next morning and count the people, I have to apologize for that.
Speaker 0 00:02:12 No apologies needed. So when we were talking before the show began, I fought. You have been in Fort McMurry for years. You just seem like a staple of the community, but you said you were only here for nine years. Uh, yeah,
Speaker 3 00:02:26 But are we're here actually eight years. Eight years.
Speaker 0 00:02:30 Okay. So you really invested in this community though, because I've seen you have tons of, I see you everywhere. Yeah. So I guess let's rewind. Where are
Speaker 3 00:02:40 You from? I'm from Chilliwack BC. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:02:43 Yeah. And did you live, did you move from Chilliwack directly here or were you somewhere prior to
Speaker 3 00:02:47 We moved directly here. So my husband came up here first and then I came up, um, I was working for the radio station down there and they moved me up here to station and
Speaker 0 00:03:00 Oh, so your background has been in radio for a while then? Yeah, about 12 years.
Speaker 3 00:03:05 So how did you get
Speaker 0 00:03:06 Involved in radio?
Speaker 3 00:03:07 Uh, well actually my best friend at the time was the promotions, um, and a program director for the two stations in Abbotsford and Chilliwack. And she knew I was looking for kind of a change. And so my kids were old enough and I, they needed a sales administrator, so yeah. So I came on board and I just didn't enjoy it, every aspect of it.
Speaker 0 00:03:31 All right. And so then coming to Fort McMurray, see, I know nothing about many industries, so my questions might be dumb. Sorry, but I just don't know. So was the radio station you worked at before? Like was it a conglomerate and so you could just like make it
Speaker 3 00:03:45 And your station. So there's two Rogers stations, uh, in Abbotsford country, 1 0 7, 1 star nine, 8.3. And then up here is rock and country. So they had a spot here and they just moved me. So I was able to transition. It was awesome. That is,
Speaker 0 00:04:01 Yeah. Okay. So now you move up to Fort McMurray, you're working for the radio station in a sales capacity.
Speaker 3 00:04:08 I was sales admin.
Speaker 0 00:04:09 Okay. And so I don't know what that role means, but I know I saw you everywhere. I know sometimes when I came in, you were sitting at the front desk, sometimes you weren't at different community events you were out and about. So like what does that role entail to like really put you so face fronting with like the community?
Speaker 3 00:04:27 I think the role is a bit of everything, but also in smaller markets, the roles in tech, like you cover more ground when you work in a smaller market. Um, and like the valley was a small market, obviously Fort McMurray is a smaller market, so you don't have as much staff. Right. So everybody, you know, kinda gets a lake up and gets in there and does what they need to do. Right. And it's a really fun environment to work in. Um, I'm not there anymore, but you know, it was a great environment to work in and the people were amazing. So you kind of want to go above and beyond. And the community itself has fantastic. I mean, the community is, I fell in love with it from the time we flew in on her first house hunting trip. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:05:10 Yeah. Now in your role, obviously like with the time that you spent there, you could have tried different things. What about that role really engaged you instead of being like the person on the mic or another position in the organization? Um,
Speaker 3 00:05:26 I like, I don't know. Like I think it was, it started off as a small role, like reception answering phones, doing pricing and stuff like that. And then you just kind of take on more roles and you learn more things. And then if I could take some things off of the plate of other people, the reps, or, you know, anything like that and kind of learn more things. As I went over the 12 years, I was taught a lot by a lot of great people in Rogers, from different areas to just kind of get, cause like to keep busy. I want to sit at work and not be busy.
Speaker 0 00:06:00 And you were always super friendly every time I came in, like you had a big smile at, you loved being there, there you can't fight that.
Speaker 3 00:06:07 Yeah. It was fun. I mean, what's not to love really. When you get to go to work, you need to be around people that you like and the environment is just fantastic. I don't know. What's not to love is
Speaker 0 00:06:18 Tanner feels the same way. Correct. So working in radio station, I have to ask, what kind of music do you like?
Speaker 3 00:06:29 Um, I like everything across the board. Like I worked specifically to country station in BC, so I don't mind, I like country, but I mean, I like everything. I like everything from like country to like, you know, I, the hips, my biggest, like I'm a hit fan way back. Yeah,
Speaker 0 00:06:51 Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 00:06:56 But I mean, I'm, I'm 49. So like I was raised through every kind of era of music. Right. I mean, when you went from like Depeche mode and the cure and stuff like that, then all of a sudden it was like Motley, Crue, Metallica and stuff. So it's kind of had the luxury of hearing. And then as soon as I graduated was alt alternative. So Pearl jam and Soundgarden. So I'm a big like Soundgarden fan, Chris Cornell and stuff. Yeah. Nice.
Speaker 0 00:07:22 You really do have like a catalog of music that you were obviously very
Speaker 3 00:07:26 Intake, always have like my whole life. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:07:29 So now when you're working at the radio station, there's so many cool things that take place in regards to like concerts that you can go to, um, tons of giveaways prizes. When you live in that world, do you get to go to these events sometimes? Do you get to the, so you get to like, and not only do you get to go to the events, like how do you plan that? Are you part of like, how does the radio station get all of these things and perks and, and,
Speaker 3 00:07:55 Um, I think it depends. I like we would do differently. I don't, I'm not there now, so I don't know how they still do, but we used to just, we would like rent. Well, I mean, in like Uber, we have one of the suites cause Rogers had one of the suite. So we would host a lot of clients. So we would get clients from all over the lower mainland and we would take them to a concert and we'd have the suite. So, you know, I mean, I was like had a few times where I would order everything for the suite and plan everything and make the guest list. And then I got to go enjoy things. So it was awesome. I've been able to experience a lot of cool things, working, having worked in radio
Speaker 0 00:08:33 Because the coolest, like celebrity that you've got to meet
Speaker 3 00:08:38 Well
Speaker 0 00:08:41 For everybody that knows she came with an entourage and they're all like, Hey, there's this your stories cover.
Speaker 3 00:08:48 Um, I, so I'm kind of an idiot
Speaker 0 00:08:53 And it's not kind of, I'm totally so welcome to the
Speaker 3 00:08:56 Club. It's like, so when I worked in Abbotsford, um, core blend was doing a concert and I do like cord blood. Like I'm like, are you so handsome? And he's just he's core blind. And so he came in and I was at the front and my friend had come cause we were going to go see him after coming to go into studio, talk to Curtis. And he walked in and my friend was sitting behind him on the couch and he's so handsome. And he walked in and stared at me and I was like, hi, I guess I couldn't get any Edwards out. So I just got up. I walked down to the studio, I was like crib ones here. And then I'd walked back. So he went in, did his interview, came out, stared at me. Cause he was waiting for someone to come pick them up or something and they could get out. He was like, thanks a lot. He's like have a good night. And this is all I could say. And I showed it by card one by card line like that. And I was like, like, I stopped to my friends behind me and she's like, like I scared him. I scared him. He backed out of the door. And then from there I, they just told me I shouldn't talk to anybody else anymore. That's
Speaker 0 00:10:15 That's a great
Speaker 3 00:10:16 Story. I could, it was like rain, man. It was like, I just, I was like Kmart got to go to Kmart cord one. Oh my God. I was sending her. And I couldn't like, I don't know why I was like, geez.
Speaker 0 00:10:29 That's
Speaker 3 00:10:30 Awesome. Yeah. They, they were like, you're, you're not allowed within 10 feet of anyone anymore. Fair enough.
Speaker 0 00:10:35 Have you been like that? Is, it was just him as a celebrity or is that you with all celebrities?
Speaker 3 00:10:41 Um, it's probably me with all celebrities. I feel like it's just, yeah. I don't know. I'm not AUSTRAC I just get dumb. Like I can't, like I've looked at, I've gone to a concert and you get a lot of backstage passes and it was another singer and we got, we had meet and greets cause we put all of the winners through and stuff. Like I'm excited to see her. And I looked at her and was like, that's a pretty blouse. Like crystal Shawanda. Like she had opened for Dirks Bentley. That's all I could say. That's what I said to her. Hey cool. Nice to meet you. Like, like in my head I'm like play cool, Jen. I just looked at her. I was like, that's a pretty loud. And then I just walked on. That's all. Yeah. No. So I'll try and keep it. I don't talk to as many people anymore.
Speaker 0 00:11:34 Uh, you should, you should. All right. I can't think of any more questions. So I'm going to throw it to Tanner for a second to recoup. Uh, we have a segment called the maxi minute. Tanner hit with the Mac city minute.
Speaker 4 00:11:46 All right. Question number one for you. What is one reason that people would be surprised to find out that makes you love the north?
Speaker 3 00:11:55 That they will be surprised to find out that I love the north. I like the
Speaker 0 00:12:01 That's surprising. I don't hate it. Yeah. I love the cold is my favorite season three. Brisk.
Speaker 4 00:12:08 You don't usually talk to
Speaker 4 00:12:12 Over there right now. You feeling okay? I'm feeling great. Okay. Question number two. What is one thing about Fort McMurray that made you fall in love
Speaker 3 00:12:23 At the community?
Speaker 4 00:12:25 Yeah. Question number three. What is one thing about working with the local radio that helps you see the community?
Speaker 3 00:12:33 Okay. Well, I don't work there anymore, but when I did work there, um, it helped me to see how amazing how beautiful this community is and how giving they are in a heartbeat. And it blows my mind every, every time something goes on. Yeah. Cool.
Speaker 4 00:12:49 Number four. What has been your favorite part of seeing this community grow over the time that you've been here?
Speaker 3 00:12:56 Um, I, I, I don't have young kids anymore. My kids are grown, but I love seeing that it's becoming a family town that, that, that like Mack island is full of young families and people are calling it home, not just a place to fly in, fly out.
Speaker 4 00:13:13 Okay. And your final question, what is one thing that you think the community has given you that you couldn't get in any other community?
Speaker 3 00:13:23 Um, the community, the people that I've met, the people that ain't gotta get to call my friends, this community has given me a sense of family. And I, I don't know how to explain it. It's not just with the people that I, I truly call like art, my, my friends up here, but the sense that, um, if you're in need, there's always someone to help you and that someone doesn't have to be your best friend or you know, that you can reach out to someone. And I always say, I'm like, I will, at one point in my life here in Fort McMurray, run out of gas somewhere because I didn't learn from evacuation. I dry come asleep. We unaware that I am going to not have gas at all, but I know that I will never be stuck somewhere and it doesn't have to be someone who's like my best friend is just, I could call up at an assortment of people who I've met, who would be like, you're right there for you, Jen. And that to me is, it's just amazing. And that's what I feel like this community is.
Speaker 4 00:14:26 And those have been your five questions. There you
Speaker 0 00:14:28 Go. Killed it. Crushed it. Question center. So let's talk about winter being your favorite. Why do you like winter so much?
Speaker 3 00:14:37 'cause I grew up in Chilliwack. We didn't have winter. I got a toboggan for Christmas one year and it was raining out. Like what the hell?
Speaker 0 00:14:43 So this is extreme winter. If you had no winter to come here, that's temperature shock. What was that like your first word Africa. Yeah, that's right. We had a guy from Africa, like, remember the guy from Africa who was talking about like winter. He was drastically unprepared for winter. I'm
Speaker 4 00:14:59 Worried that this is going to be a similar story. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:15:01 Yeah. So I was, I mean, um, no, I loved it. Like I love it. I'm not, it doesn't
Speaker 0 00:15:07 Bother me even like the minus 30 minus 40.
Speaker 3 00:15:10 I mean, I'm not saying I want to go out and run. I don't run ever. So I mean, I shouldn't for the summer only Elliot. I don't run ever, never, but I mean, if I had to out run the police in 40 below, they catch me. Like, I don't know. I mean, I'm not doing much, but I like the, I like the cold. It's beautiful. It's a better place to be able to go on your back deck, lay in your hammock with a drink in your hand and watch the Northern lights. And like, that's something people travel all over to see. So like I have it right there.
Speaker 0 00:15:41 It's pretty awesome. Right. In the backyard.
Speaker 4 00:15:44 Some people like the cold Elliot.
Speaker 0 00:15:45 Yeah. Tanner loves like, I, I love winter. It's my favorite season. Like I like to snowshoe. I like to go on the trails. I like to snowboard. I winter to me is awesome. Like even just inhaling that cold winter air, it's just beautiful. But this guy, like, I like to do with a jacket on Tanner will sit outside and smoke like in a hoodie, in a, I don't own his jeans for like 20 minutes. I'm like, dude, man, aren't you cold? And he's like, no, man,
Speaker 4 00:16:11 I'm all good. I don't own a winter jacket. This is just two sweaters. If it gets cold.
Speaker 3 00:16:15 Yeah. Some people are like that. Mainly women going through menopause.
Speaker 4 00:16:20 Yeah. No, I, I get that. Like I, I, I relate heavily to women in their fifties. It's it's not the first it's absolutely. You guys know where all the great lunch spots are. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:16:34 So you said you don't work in the, um, radio industry anymore. So where you working on? Let's give
Speaker 3 00:16:40 Them some shine. I work at a dentist office now. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:16:42 Yeah. How's that transition going for you? I love it.
Speaker 3 00:16:45 That's good again, because I've worked with really awesome people. Yeah. And I, yeah. I mean,
Speaker 0 00:16:51 Great. That makes work so much easier. Like this show when I first started doing it, which is all, we're almost at a year, our one year anniversary, but I didn't want to be the host of this. Like that. Wasn't the game plan
Speaker 4 00:17:03 Like me at the
Speaker 0 00:17:04 Start. Yeah. Well, I always liked Tanner, but I didn't know if I would like him like him. Cause like coming into work with like the same people everyday, you got to like him. And I think by the first episode I'm like, okay, yeah, this is good. Second episode. I'm like, I kind of really liked this. And by the third episode, I'm like, yeah, we're going to do, we're going to do this for awhile. Remember that
Speaker 4 00:17:22 One time that we were having a contest to find the new host.
Speaker 0 00:17:25 Yeah. I used to introduce the show like, hi, I'm your temporary host, Elliot, PA. And then we want to be here. Yeah. And then by like the fourth episode, I was just like, I'm not saying temporary anymore. I'm just going to, but yeah, it's awesome. It's really down to the people that like you spend the most time with, right? Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:17:39 It's also down to you check your attitude every morning. If you're gonna wake up and be sour or you're going to be sour, you're going to wake up and decide like I'm, I don't know. I mean, I have my days. Right. I, but I mean, most days I'm like, I don't know. It's pretty awesome. I got to live somewhere. I like to live. I've got awesome friends around me and family and a job that I like to go to. So really can't complain. There you go. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:18:03 On that note, we're going to wrap it up. Cause that's our 20 minutes. So now before we let you loose, though, everybody gets a shameless shout out or plug. So you got the mic on you. The camera's on you. The lights are on you. How
Speaker 3 00:18:13 Fun? Okay. What am I shouting out? Just anybody,
Speaker 0 00:18:16 Anything, anybody? Any whatever.
Speaker 3 00:18:19 She's everywhere. Watercraft on the restraining order.
Speaker 0 00:18:36 You got to make a clip out of that. Listen, thank you for coming. Thanks for having me. You are more than welcome. Listen, you need to come back again and again and again, this is not your only appearance on the show. Okay? Well Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo in the rest of the world. Thank you for tuning in to another episode of the Mac city morning show. This one was a riot. So I hope you enjoyed it. Cause I know I did. Hopefully you having a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
Speaker 1 00:19:03 I just dies that desk. Another max, any morning show Don.
Speaker 6 00:19:20 Yeah. Talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
