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Grab a coffee and pull up a chair for an inspiring episode of Coffee in the Park with special guest Doug Griffiths, President and CEO of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce! Jennifer and Cam sit down with Doug to discuss his journey from rural Alberta to provincial politics and business leadership.

Raised on a ranch near Coronation, Alberta, Doug’s path was anything but linear. After earning an honors degree in philosophy, working as a junior high school teacher in Byemoor, and running a ranch, Doug entered provincial politics at age 29. Over a 13-year career as an MLA, he served in several cabinet portfolios—including Minister of Municipal Affairs—and penned the influential strategy that grew into his bestselling book, 13 Ways to Kill Your Community.

Doug shares how his company 13 Ways helps communities build resilience and thrive across North America and beyond. He reflects on his time in government, the leadership lessons he learned alongside political mentors, and his work breathing new energy into the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. Doug also opens up about his family life, his perspective on true leadership, and his ultimate piece of advice: finding your own purpose and focusing on building the life you want.

Tune in to hear Doug’s fascinating story, his insights into economic growth and community strength, and why he remains optimistic about the future of Edmonton and Alberta!

Check out 13 Ways here: 13 Ways | Expert Guidance for Municipal Leaders

Check out the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce here: Your Business' Most Valuable Membership - Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

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Grab a coffee and pull up a chair for a inspiring episode of Coffee in the Park with special guest Alicia Donnelly, President of Overland Container Transportation Services (OCTS)! Jennifer and Cam sit down with Alicia to discuss her career, leadership insights, and recent recognition after OCTS won Large Business of the Year at the Acheson Business Association Awards.

Born in Edson and raised in Bruderheim, Alicia’s career path began in a rather unexpected place, a four-day stint as a highway flag person before transitioning indoors to industrial construction. Over the next two decades, she built an impressive career in the male-dominated energy sector, moving through roles at Flint Energy, URS, and AEcom, working everywhere from Fort McMurray to Thailand. In 2024, after completing her EMBA at Western University, Alicia took a bold leap across industries to become President of OCTS in Acheson, where she now oversees a team of 67 employees and 80 owner-operators in containerized freight logistics.

Alicia shares valuable lessons on navigating major career transitions, the importance of mentorship, and how to represent leadership with accountability. She offers candid advice on career growth, discussing why young professionals should remain open to unexpected opportunities rather than sticking to a rigid path. Alicia also highlights the critical role of trades in today's economy and shares her ultimate piece of career advice: approaching every challenge with relentless curiosity.

Tune in to hear Alicia’s inspiring story, her perspectives on leadership and supply chains, and her advice for the next generation of leaders!

Check out OCTS here: Overland Container Transportation Services

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Grab a coffee and pull up a chair, welcome to another exciting episode of Coffee in the Park featuring Colby from Lobster Mobsters!

Colby grew up in Prince Edward Island, eventually pursuing a degree as a civil engineering technologist that brought him west to Alberta in 2006. While working in engineering, he teamed up with his brother, Devin on a unique side venture bringing fresh East Coast seafood to the Prairies. What began as a home-based business in a Brooks garage back in 2015 quickly took on a life of its own. When Colby faced a job layoff during the pandemic, he decided to go all in on the business, securing their first brick-and-mortar storefront in Nisku in 2020. That bold move paid off, leading to rapid expansion across Alberta. Today, Lobster Mobsters operates three retail locations in Brooks, Edmonton, and Nisku, along with custom-built 26-foot mobile units outfitted in Stony Plain that travel across Western Canada.

Colby breaks down the common myths around fresh versus flash-frozen fish, explaining why flash freezing can often deliver superior quality and flavor. He takes us through their extensive product lineup, which includes everything from crab and lobster to homemade fish cakes, sweet clams, and regional specialties. He also reveals his top insider secret for making authentic Maritime lobster rolls at home, including why Miracle Whip is an absolute must. Beyond their retail operations, Colby highlights their Mini Mobsters fundraising program, which helps local youth sports teams and community groups raise funds by earning 15% profit on seafood sales with convenient local pickup or delivery options.

Tune in to hear Colby's incredible journey from civil engineering technologist to seafood entrepreneur, get expert tips on cooking Maritime classics at home, and discover how Lobster Mobsters is bringing a taste of the Atlantic to the Prairies!

Check out Lobster Mobsters here: Home - The Lobster Mobsters

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Grab a cup of coffee and settle in for a fun, relaxed chat with Jennifer and Cam on this edition of Coffee and Conversation!

The hosts kick things off with a special Wing Snob testimonial from Jennifer's mom before diving into all things fall. From celebrating autumn's arrival to talking sports, the conversation covers it all, including Cam cheering on his beloved Seattle Seahawks and Jennifer sharing the latest on her son's active sports endeavors. Cam also brings a round of updates from his recent Costco runs, highlighting the bizarre overlap of Halloween and Christmas decor on display at the same time, along with exciting new freezer finds like croissant waffles.

The chat then takes a nostalgic turn into pop culture and childhood memories as Jennifer and Cam compare digital versus physical books. They reflect on their favorite reads growing up, sharing memories of the Scholastic Book Fair, comic books, and classic series like Charlie Brown, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Sweet Valley High. Moving to the screen, they break down modern television trends and their current watch lists, including Westies, a series focused on the New York Hell's Kitchen mob, while discussing how oversaturated television has become with endless renovation and cooking shows.

Finally, the hosts tackle a topic on everyone's mind: local construction and everyday driving frustrations. They talk about the explosion of road projects, endless closures, and increasing traffic, diving into pet peeves like drivers who fail to keep right, ignore standard rules of the road, and disrupt the natural flow of traffic.

Tune in for a relatable blend of laugh-out-loud moments, nostalgic throwbacks, and lively discussion about life's daily quirks!

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Grab a coffee and pull up a chair for a deeply moving and inspiring episode of Coffee in the Park featuring Trina and Neil Merkel.

Neil, born in Edmonton and raised in Sherwood Park, and Trina, born and raised in Spruce Grove, first crossed paths in Calgary at the wedding of their respective best friends, who happened to be marrying each other. After staying connected following the big day, they began dating and eventually tied the knot, now fast approaching 22 years of marriage. Early on, Neil pursued forestry at the University of Alberta before pivoting to study mechanical engineering at NAIT, leading to a successful 22-year career. Trina studied travel at Grant MacEwan and worked as a travel agent before transitioning into administrative roles and waitressing, eventually dedicating her time to raising their son.

Their lives changed drastically when Neil noticed a persistent hand tremor. Initially dismissed as stress, persistent symptoms led to further testing and an official diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. Arriving during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the diagnosis forced them to adapt to a completely new reality. Supported by incredible friends and colleagues, Neil transitioned into semi-retirement while maintaining his passion for mechanical engineering alongside investment work with close friends.

In this episode, Neil shares how dedicated exercise classes and connecting with the local Parkinson's community became essential pillars of his health journey. Trina speaks openly about the realities of caregiving, the vital importance of maintaining a personal support system, and the powerful wake-up call of her own health scare three years ago that reinforced the necessity of self-care. Together, they discuss their recent month-long trip to Asia, how they focus on living every day to the fullest, and Neil’s active efforts to share his story on the news and at community events to inspire others navigating a tough diagnosis.

Tune in to hear Neil and Trina’s powerful story of love, resilience, and finding hope through life's unexpected twists, plus essential insights on living well with a diagnosis, the power of exercise, and learning to appreciate every single day.

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Grab a coffee and pull up a chair, welcome to another heartfelt episode of Coffee in the Park featuring Laurie Hauer, the Director of Programs and Services for the Edmonton Newcomer Centre!

Laurie grew up just outside of Ardrossan, and after high school, she began learning the trade of cabinet making. However, when a devastating fire destroyed the shop where she worked, an unexpected phone call changed the course of her life forever. Offered a temporary position providing childcare for families accessing services at the Newcomer Centre, Laurie took the job, stepped through the doors, and never looked back. Decades later, her journey from temporary caregiver to director highlights her deep passion for community and service.

Laurie sheds light on the vital work the Newcomer Centre does to help individuals and families from all over the world adjust to life in Canada. She explains how their team offers crucial settlement services, noting that there is no fixed timeline for feeling truly at home in a new country. With near 48 languages spoken across their organization, the team ensures that language and cultural barriers are met with understanding, care, and strong local support. Laurie also discusses the profound power of food in bringing people together and building cross-cultural bridges.

Laurie also shares the excitement around the RISE Awards, which celebrate their landmark 20th anniversary this year. She highlights how these awards shine a deserving spotlight on the immense contributions, resilience, and success stories of immigrants and newcomers in our city.

Tune in to hear Laurie’s inspiring story and learn how we can all play a part in creating a welcoming, supportive community for everyone calling Alberta home!

Check out the Newcomer Centre here: Newcomer Centre – Thrive Here

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Grab a coffee and pull up a chair, welcome to another inspiring episode of Coffee in the Park featuring Ashleigh Rivera, the owner of Kiwi Nursery!

Ashleigh grew up right here in Acheson, where her parents who originally moved to Canada from New Zealand, built Kiwi Nursery from the ground up. With a background as a horticulturist in New Zealand, her father initially moved to Saskatchewan before launching a landscaping company in Alberta. Struggling to find high-quality trees for his projects, he decided to leverage his expertise and start growing his own trees and shrubs, planting the seeds for what Kiwi Nursery is today.

Growing up on the family property meant working alongside an eclectic mix of farm animals, including emus, ostriches, and wild boars. Interestingly, working in the family greenhouse wasn't Ashleigh's original plan. Driven by an early entrepreneurial spirit, she initially aimed for a career in finishing carpentry. After being discouraged by gender barriers in the industry at the time, she traveled through New Zealand and Australia until her mother called with news that she had been accepted into NAIT’s Business Management Entrepreneurship program.

After gaining hands-on management experience at the former Enjoy Centre, Ashleigh eventually returned to Kiwi Nursery to lead its next chapter. Today, she has transformed the business into a thriving community hub, introducing innovative employee education programs that teach workers plant care, communication, and life skills. In this episode, Ashleigh opens up candidly about navigating burnout, taking a life-changing RV road trip across the US with her partner, getting married on an Alaskan cruise, and returning with renewed purpose. Alongside her husband and with input from her parents, Ashleigh continues to expand Kiwi Nursery into an event destination, hosting beloved community traditions like Easter egg hunts, haunted houses, and a winter Christmas Walk.

Tune in to hear Ashleigh's incredible story of resilience, family legacy, and growing a local staple!

Check out Kiwi Garden Centre and Nurseries here: Kiwi Nurseries - Kiwi Nurseries

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Grab a coffee and get ready to bug out. Welcome to another fascinating episode of Coffee in the Park featuring Loki Snyman, the Curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the Royal Alberta Museum!

Born and raised in South Africa, Loki discovered his passion for biology early on, meeting his wife while studying the very same field. Their joint research journey eventually brought them across the world to Saskatoon before they officially made Alberta their home. Loki and his wife both specialize in the intricate world of insects and the viruses they transmit, bringing vital scientific expertise to our province.

In this episode, Loki dives deep into the bugs we love to hate: ticks and mosquitoes. He explains why recent weather conditions created a bumper season for ticks, detailing their lifecycles, survival strategies, and which species call Alberta home. He also breaks down the massive 2026 mosquito surge in Edmonton, shedding light on floodwater mosquitoes and sharing mind-blowing facts like how mosquito eggs can lay dormant for up to ten years, why West Nile virus actually originates in birds rather than the bugs themselves, and why only female mosquitoes bite. Beyond the itch, Loki highlights the vital ecological roles played by the more than 3,500 species of mosquitoes worldwide, from pollination to serving as crucial food sources, and offers practical advice on effective deterrents like DEET, citronella, and tea tree oil.

Loki also offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at his role at the Royal Alberta Museum. From managing vast wet and dry specimen collections to overseeing live insect exhibits, he reveals how museums function far beyond public displays as essential research institutes that serve as the true backbone of biological science.

Tune in to learn everything you ever wanted to know about mosquitoes, ticks, and the incredible world of invertebrate zoology!

Check out the Royal Alberta Museum here: Home | Royal Alberta Museum

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