Dr. Rosie Pitkin and Dr. Michael Krauthammer are both originally from the United States, both trained in American hospitals, and both ended up in Antigonish as ER physicians. In this episode, they give us the lowdown on what is happening behind those closed doors at the St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Emergency Department. The Question Everyone Actually Has Justin opens with the question he knows everyone wants answered: why do we have to wait so long when we go to the ER? Rosie notes that the doctors tend not to be the ones who hear complaints about long wait times. The triage nurses are…

This week’s guest is Jaime Battiste, MP for Cape Breton–Canso–Antigonish, who popped by the studio as part of the whirlwind summer tour of his home riding. First, the Name The episode opens where it probably had to: the name. Jaime is pronounced the Spanish way; perhaps unexpected for someone from Eskasoni. Battiste was named after his father’s closest friend from Harvard Law School; Jaime Cervantes. He doesn’t generally correct people who pronounce it the English way. Where He Came From His parents met at Harvard. His mother (Marie Battiste) — a Mi’kmaq scholar pursuing her master’s in…

After the Filipino float won first prize in the non-commercial category for the Highland Games parade last weekend, Cheryl Jarina—president of the Filipino Association of Antigonish (FAANS)—started getting phone calls asking if the group would be able to perform at other events. We were lucky enough to get her in the Let’s Talk Antigonish studio before she got too busy fielding media queries! Who Is Cheryl Jarina, and What Is FAANS? Cheryl has been in Antigonish for fifteen years, arriving in 2009 from Alberta when the recession made jobs there scarce. She works as a financial advisor at…

Anne Simpson is one of Antigonish’s most quietly remarkable residents; — novelist, poet, visual artist, essayist, community builder. Perhaps not unexcepted for a poet, she thinks carefully before answering Anuj and Justin’s questions resulting in eloquent answers with nuggets of wisdom for anyone considering a career in writing or as an artist. How It Started: Logistics Simpson trained as a visual artist, went to art school after university, and assumed for a long time that painting was her future. Then she had children, and large canvases revealed themselves to be deeply impractical when…

We sat down with Colette Rennie and Charlie MacDonald to talk about Pomquet's past, present, and the salmon-supper-fille future! This episode marks something of a first: Justin and Anuj pack up the recording equipment and head out of town — fifteen minutes down the road, as it turns out — to chat with Colette and Charlie inside the Pomquet Community Centre. It’s a fitting location. The centre itself is part of the story they’ve come to tell. First, Some History Pomquet is a small, predominantly Acadian community of roughly a thousand people, nestled around two harbours — Monks Head Harbour…

This episode came about almost by accident. Anuj, recruited by Dr. J’s principal to coach table tennis, found himself at the school’s awards night recently — a four-hour marathon event — watching two grade 11 students hold the room together from start to finish. Those two students, Austin Wabbi and Brooklyn Wasson, are the incoming co-presidents of the class of 2027, and Justin and Anuj invited them on the podcast to find out what high school life in Antigonish actually looks like from the inside. An Outsider’s Perspective Part of what makes this conversation interesting is the perspective…

The question that launched this episode was a simple one, posed by Anuj after a conversation with Justin one day: why doesn’t the theatre put on more plays about harder-hitting social issues like racism, war, and other difficult topics? It’s a fair question, and it opens a door into a genuinely fascinating conversation about what it means to run a professional theatre company in a small Nova Scotia town. Andrea Boyd, Artistic Director of Festival Antigonish, has been answering versions of this question her entire career. She does so here with warmth, candor, and enthusiasm for the magic of…

Ticks are on everyone’s minds this summer, and also on everyone’s dogs (apparently). Justin and Anuj sat down with Jantina Toxopeus, a professor of biology at St. Francis Xavier University whose research focuses on what happens to insects and arachnids in extreme cold. As Justin puts it, her expertise is figuring out what happens “when you freeze a bug”. As it turns out, that expertise has a lot of practical relevance to this tick discussion. First, Some Basic Biology Ticks, Toxopeus is quick to clarify, are not insects. They are arachnids — eight legs, more closely related to spiders and…

If you’ve lived in Antigonish for any length of time, chances are someone has told you to go see the Ships of 1801. And if you’ve been, you already know why. And if you haven’t, this episode is your entry point. Justin and Anuj sat down with Duncan MacDonald, the writer and producer behind one of the most beloved annual events in Antigonish, for a wide-ranging conversation about the show’s origins, its evolution over twelve years, what’s coming this summer, and why a community theatre production about 19th century Highland immigrants keeps selling out to crowds of 1,200 people year after…

If you’ve lived in Antigonish for any length of time, you’ve driven past the entrance to Whidden’s Park Campground at the corner of Main Street and Hawthorne — probably hundreds of times. You may have glanced down the lane and kept driving. Most people do. This episode is for everyone who never turned in and wondered what the heck goes on back there. Justin and Anuj sat down with Andrew Whidden — third-generation owner of what is likely the only downtown campground in all of Nova Scotia — for a genuinely delightful conversation about a place that has been operating in plain sight for 65…

Sean Cameron is back. The Mayor of Antigonish returns for his second appearance on the podcast, this time fresh off the approval of the town’s 2026 budget to walk Justin and Anuj through what the town is spending, why, and what residents can expect this summer and beyond. The Town-County Relationship: Better Than You Think The episode opens where the recent episode with The Warden left off: the ongoing renegotiation of the sewer agreement between the town and county. Cameron offers the town’s perspective with characteristic directness. The existing agreement — which capped the county’s share…

Nicholas MacInnis is back. The Warden of Antigonish County — and, he confirms, still happily in the role — returns for a wide-ranging second conversation with Justin and Anuj covering two of the biggest issues facing the county right now: the long-overdue renewal of the town-county sewer agreement, and the newly approved Eigg Mountain Wind Project, which is generating both excitement and controversy in roughly equal measure. The Donut Problem: Water, Sewer, and the Fringe For anyone who missed the first MacInnis episode, a quick orientation: the “fringe” — or the “donut,” as Anuj prefers — is…

If you’ve driven past Church Street Extension lately, you’ve probably noticed the construction. That’s the new RK MacDonald Nursing Home going up — a 125,000 square foot facility that has been in the works since 2017 and is on track to open in 2028. It’s one of the biggest building projects in Antigonish right now. Justin and Anuj sat down with Terry MacIntyre — CEO and administrator of the RK MacDonald Nursing Home, 14 years in the role, for a comprehensive look at what’s coming and what it all means for Antigonish. Why a New Building? The journey to a new RK MacDonald started officially in…

There’s a good chance you’ve benefited from the work of the Sisters of St. Martha without ever knowing it. If you’ve been treated at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, used community transit, found support through SAFE or the Friendship Corner, or simply walked through the Bethany Centennial Garden behind the hospital on a difficult day — the Marthas are somewhere in that story. This year marks 125 years since the congregation was founded, and Justin and Anuj sat down with Sister Joanne O’Regan, General Secretary of the congregation’s leadership team, and Marielle Assad, Coordinator of Charism…

We sat down with Jim Bickerton, professor of political science at StFX since 1984, to talk about what the recently approved (and highly contentious) provincial budget means for Antigonish. Jim is a long-time voice in Atlantic Canadian media on matters of provincial politics, and a fellow Antigonisher. What follows is a calm, analytical, and occasionally blunt conversation, full of useful context for anyone trying to understand what just happened and why. Why Cuts Had to Happen at All The starting point is the deficit. Nova Scotia is facing a record shortfall of roughly $1.25 billion this…

We sat down with Paul Curry, President of the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce to talk honestly about what it takes to run a small business in Antigonish; the red tape, the razor-thin margins, the trouble finding workers, the fallout from the recent construction traffic that crippled a few Main Street businesses. But it was not a conversation filled with doom and gloom; quite the opposite in fact. Paul came with genuine enthusiasm for this town and what its business community is quietly pulling off. Curry runs the Claymore Inn, a hotel his father operated for 40 years before Paul took over in…

Mack Murphy and Haley Qualizza are back. The two StFX Student Union Vice Presidents — Mack for Campus Affairs, Haley for External Affairs — were such compelling guests in their first appearance on the podcast that Justin and Anuj made them the show’s first-ever returning guests. Last time they covered student life in Antigonish broadly. This time there was unfinished business: at the end of that first episode, the topic of mental health came up just as time ran out. Mack mentioned it was basically her whole area. So they came back to do it justice. What follows is an honest, data-grounded,…

Justin and Anuj sat down with Heather MacIsaac—a pharmacist by day, and as of this year, a JUNO-nominated composer—to talk about her debut album The Moon’s Daughter, her long and winding road through competitive piping, performance anxiety, and the kitchen ceilidh culture that makes Antigonish’s music scene unlike anywhere else. What Even Is Trad Music? If you’re not already in the scene, MacIsaac is a patient and generous guide. Traditional music, she explains, is simply the folk music of your people — and in Antigonish, that means a rich, layered mix of Scottish Highland, Irish, Acadian,…

Immigration is a subject that almost every resident of Antigonish has bumped into in some way. Walk into a local Tim Hortons, visit Parkland or the RK, or stroll through the StFX campus, and the town’s growing diversity is immediately visible. But behind that visible change is a complex and increasingly uncertain legal and policy landscape that is affecting real people in our community right now. Justin and Anuj (freshly returned from travels in Kenya and India) sat down with Peter Goldie, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) and Antigonish neighbour, to untangle what’s going…

Lynne DeLorey, who recently became the first-ever Director of Tourism for the Antigonish Tourism Association (ATA), is on a mission to change the face of Antigonish tourism. Justin and Anuj sat down with DeLorey for a wide-ranging conversation about what the town has going for it, what it’s missing, and what the Antigonish Tourism Association is doing to put Antigonish firmly on the tourism map. Who Is Lynne DeLorey and What Is the Antigonish Tourism Association? DeLorey is not new to the hospitality world. She got her start at the front desk of the Claymore Inn while attending StFX in the…

If you haven’t been to a pharmacy lately for anything beyond picking up a prescription, you might be missing out. As of February 1, 2026, the Nova Scotia government has rolled out province-wide funding for a broad range of minor ailment treatments at pharmacies across the province — and it’s a bigger deal than most people realize. On our latest episode, Justin sat down with Miranda Teasdale, owner and pharmacist at Teasdale Apothecary, and Marcel van den Berg, a relief pharmacist and newly appointed member of the Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator, to break down what’s changed and what it means…

For most Antigonish families, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School is simply “the regional”—the place where virtually every teenager in the area spends their formative years. But for those without direct connections to the school, or newcomers to the community, what actually happens inside that large building on the edge of town can remain something of a mystery. Justin and Anuj invited Principal Cory Austen to pull back the curtain on the region’s largest school, exploring everything from the September 2024 cell phone ban to the robust trades programs, from International Baccalaureate…

This week we sat down with Haley Qualizza and Mack Murphy, student leaders at St. FX Students’ Union, to discuss housing challenges, drinking culture shifts, the need for third spaces, and what it means to call Antigonish home When you live in a university town but aren’t connected to the institution, it’s easy to develop incomplete—sometimes inaccurate—impressions of student life. Students become visible mainly during high-impact events like homecoming or St. Patrick’s Day, when downtown streets fill with revelers and tensions between “town and gown” surface in predictable patterns. But…

We sat down with the Honourable Michelle Thompson, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health and Wellness and Antigonish MLA, to discuss healthcare transformation, her role as a local representative, and what’s actually happening to improve access to care. When someone gets elected to represent their community, they don’t necessarily expect to oversee one of the most complex portfolios in government. But for Michelle Thompson, the journey from registered nurse at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital to Minister of Health and Wellness has been a natural—if challenging—progression. Thompson was first elected…

We sat down with artist Anna Syperek and Andrea Terry, director and curator of the StFX Art Gallery, to find out if it’s possible to making a living as an artist in Antigonish. It’s a question that haunts creative people everywhere: can I actually support myself doing what I love? For visual artists in particular, the path from passion to sustainable income often feels impossibly precarious. But in Antigonish, some artists have found ways not just to survive, but to thrive—though not always in the ways you might expect. A bit about Anna from her website: “Anna Syperek is a Nova Scotia artist…

We sat down with Mi’kmaw community historian Trevor Gould to pepper him with questions about Paqtnkek, the history of the Mi’kmaq in this area, and the origins of the name “Antigonish” Every time someone says “Antigonish,” they’re speaking a Mi’kmaw word—though most don’t realize it. The town’s name comes from Nalikitquniejk, meaning “the place where the branches are broken off,” a descriptor of this land that predates European settlement by thousands of years. And as Trevor Gould, Mi’kmaw community historian and former Paqtnkek band council member, explained to “Let’s Talk Antigonish” hosts…

For most Canadians, the Senate of Canada remains something of a mystery—an appointed body they vaguely remember from high school civics class. But as Senator Mary Coyle explained in this week’s episode of Let’s Talk Antigonish, the reality of Senate work is far more dynamic, consequential, and increasingly independent than most citizens realize. Senator Coyle, who has represented Nova Scotia in the upper chamber for eight years and calls Antigonish home, used the conversation to pull back the curtain on what she describes as a job that keeps her “brain on fire all day, every…

Catherine MacPherson, the local food security coordinator with the Antigonish Community Fridge and Pantry, sat down with Let’s Talk Antigonish hosts Justin and Anuj on Christmas Eve to discuss the stark reality of hunger in our community and how residents are responding with compassion and creativity. The Community Fridge, operating since August 2022, is addressing the growing food insecurity problem in our town through accessible, dignified community support—no questions asked, no judgment given. The statistics are sobering: Nova Scotia leads all Canadian provinces in food insecurity, with…

Justin and Anuj sat down with Professor Doug Brown, a retired associate professor of political science at St. Francis Xavier University and expert on municipal governance, to understand how things went so wrong and what can be learned from this experience. The construction projects, particularly work on Bay Street near the regional hospital, blocked key arteries into town, creating catastrophic ripple effects for emergency services, local businesses, doctor’s appointments, and daily commutes. Professor Brown explained that the crisis exposed fundamental tensions in how municipal government is…

Join Justin and Anuj as they reunite in the studio to reflect on nine whirlwind months of “Let’s Talk Antigonish.” From discovering how global politics affects the price of beer in Antigonish to the People’s Place Library ‘s impressive laundry list of services they offer on a shoestring budget, these two neighbours-turned-podcasters have been on quite a journey. In this candid conversation, they break down their episodes into three categories—community matters, social matters, and government matters—while celebrating the incredible organizations working behind the scenes in Antigonish. Learn…

We sat down with Jenn Priddle, director of Music of the Night, to uncover the magic behind one of Antigonish’s beloved community theater companies. From its humble beginnings in 1997 (including a dinner theater performance in a barn in November!) to selling out eight-show runs at the Eleanor Mutimer Theatre, Music of the Night has been bringing Broadway-caliber productions to Antigonish for nearly three decades. Discover how 100 volunteers—from high school band students to retired symphony players, from theater newbies to performers who could totally be on Broadway—come together every year to…

This week Justin and Anuj sat down with palliative care physician Dr. Emily Rice and nurse consultant Jamie Campbell to clear up what might be the most misunderstood area of healthcare. Spoiler alert: if you think palliative care is just end-of-life care in a hospital, you’re wrong—and you’re not alone. From the surprising truth that patients with palliative care actually live longer than those without it, to discovering that your family doctor is likely already providing palliative care without calling it that, Emily and Jamie dismantle misconceptions while explaining what this “contractor…

This week Justin and Anuj sat down with Pat McKenna from the Naomi Society to discuss their plans for a new 10-unit building at Sugarloaf. Behind the construction plans lies a sobering reality: Nova Scotia declared intimate partner violence an epidemic in 2024 after eight femicides in a single year, and all 483 shelter beds in the province are currently full. The Naomi Society is building affordable second-stage housing for women and children fleeing violence, providing a safe place to land after shelter stays when returning to the community. From coordinating escapes to shelters to…

This week Justin and Anuj sat down with Warden Nicholas MacInnis to unpack the 2025 Electoral Boundary Review. What sounds like dry bureaucratic shuffling turns out to be anything but. From balancing the districts to create electoral fairness to navigating tricky questions of community identity, Nicholas walks us through why redrawing these lines is far trickier than you’d think. Along the way, Justin and Anuj discover that the fringe area around town is growing faster than anyone realized (the county now accounts for up to 40% of the town’s sewer usage), learn about ambitious plans to drill…

This week Justin and Anuj sat down with Children’s Services Librarian Kristel Fleuren-Hunter and Programming and Outreach Assistant Elizabeth Glintz to discover why this isn’t your typical library. From helping newcomers navigate their first days in Canada to providing a vital third space for everyone in Antigonish, from running a community fridge to preparing tax returns for over 500 residents, the People’s Place has become Antigonish’s unofficial hub for connection and support. Behind the magic is a crew of incredibly committed staff whose passion for community service shines through in…

This week, Justin and Anuj sat down with Dorothy Lander and Dr. John Graham-Pole to explore Antigonish’s Death Cafe—a monthly gathering where locals come together to break the ultimate taboo and talk openly about aging, dying, and what comes after. From green burials and willow caskets to personal directives and letters to the beloved dead, this conversation reveals how a group of friends transformed death from a whispered “D word” into a topic of laughter, tears, and profound connection. Whether you’re curious about palliative care, interested in different cultural approaches to mortality,…

This episode of Let’s Talk Antigonish features Mark Ballard, chair of SAFE (Settlement in Antigonish for Families from Everywhere), a refugee resettlement organization celebrating its 10th anniversary. What began in 2015 as a small group responding to the Syrian refugee crisis has grown into a regional organization that has successfully resettled approximately 180 refugees from countries including Syria, Afghanistan, Congo, Rwanda, and South Sudan. SAFE operates entirely through volunteers with virtually no administrative overhead, working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada…

We sat down with Emilie Chiasson (Alumni Engagement coordinator at StFX and freelance writer) and Elizabeth Yeo (Vice President Students sat StFX) to talk about their plans to bring GenWell (Canada's Human Connection Movement) to Antigonish. On October 29th, StFX will host the first-ever GenWell Day at a Canadian university, bringing CEO Pete Bombaci to campus for a series of presentations and discussions on social isolation and community connection. In this conversation, we discuss how technology and modern life have contributed to what some call a "loneliness epidemic" – with six in ten…

You might not expect a rural Nova Scotia town of 5,000 to be a hotbed for international jazz talent, but Antigonish is full of surprises. In this week’s episode, we sit down with Jake Hanlon, chair of St. FX's music department, and Paul Tynan, Artistic Director of the Antigonish Jazz Fest, to explore the remarkable musical ecosystem in our backyard. From hosting Canada's first jazz studies degree program to bringing Grammy winners like Pacific Mambo Orchestra and legends like Herbie Hancock's Headhunters to intimate local venues, our town has become one of Canada's most important east coast…

We sat down with Anita Stewart, Executive Director of the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association to talk about their exciting plans to build a brand new facility on James Street where the old Tim Hortons used to be. Stewart discusses the comprehensive range of services the center provides including trauma therapy, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program, medical clinic services, immigration support, and healthy relationships education, while emphasizing that despite being called the "Women's Center," many services are available to all genders. The…

In this week’s episode of Let’s Talk Antigonish, Justin and Anuj (checking in from India!) sit down with Barry MacKenzie, curator of the Antigonish Heritage Museum, for a deep dive into the stories, artifacts, and community spirit that make the museum such a gem. Barry shares the fascinating history of the building itself—a former railway station turned cultural hub—before walking us through standout exhibits like the antique fire pumper, a prosthetic leg, and beautiful Mi’kmaq basketry. But the museum is far from just a repository for artefacts and old spinning wheels; Barry highlights how…

In this week’s episode we speak with Meghan MacNeil, Active Living Coordinator for the Municipality of the County of Antigonish, about biking safety and the Make Your Move Antigonish initiative. We discuss the rules of the road for both cyclists and drivers, including how bikes should behave at intersections and the challenges of sharing roads designed primarily for cars. The conversation covers the growing presence of e-bikes and scooters in the community, and how best to make our roads safer for both cyclists and drivers. Meghan gives us the lowdown on Make Your Move Antigonish, a…

We sat down with Shaun Smith, coordinator for this year’s Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition happening from August 27-31 at the exhibition grounds/barns off of James Street. Some changes to note for this year: * Water is being trucked in, so the event won’t use any town water * There’s a goat show this year - the only one in Atlantic Canada * There’s a new lumber sport event with exciting chainsaw action * Due to a last minute cancellation, midway rides this year are being provided by a new company that focuses on kids rides, so there will be fewer of the big scary rides like the scrambler and…

We sat down with Janet Becigneul of the Haunted Antigonish Ghost Tour to learn about the world famous ghosts here in Antigonish. From the Blue Nun and Red Priest to the fire ghost of Caledonia Mills, this town is renowned for our ghosts. In fact, the name “Antigonish” is most often associated with the ghost-inspired poem Antigonish (I met a man who wasn't there) by Hughes Mearns which inspired a film and a few songs including the David Bowie hit The Man Who Sold The World (famously covered by Nirvana). Watch The Fire Ghost of Caledonia Mills at this link featuring many familiar Antigonish…

We sat down with Blaise MacDonald, Antigonish Emergency Management Coordinator, to ask what the Antigonish has been doing to prepare for the next major wildfire, flood, hurricane, or other disaster. Turns out that a lot has changed since Hurricane Fiona - we now have an Antigonish Regional Emergency Management Plan on the books (as of 2022). Blaise gives us all the details in this week’s episode. A full overview is provided below. Here are some links to resources mentioned in the episode: Red Cross 72-hour emergency kit info Red Cross Be Ready emergency preparedness info Antigonish County…

A listener was wondering why beer at the local pubs here in Antigonish is so expensive, so we sat down with Bryan Druhan of Candid Brewing Company to ask him not just about beer prices, but drinking culture in Antigonish. The short answer: prices in Antigonish for craft beer are actually cheaper than they could be, and less expensive than you’ll see in cities like Halifax. Everything from the tariffs on aluminum to the war in Ukraine have affected commodity prices that have impacted local breweries. We also asked Bryan about student drinking culture here in Antigonish, changes to people’s…

We sat down with Colleen Cameron, chair of the Antigonish Affordable Housing Society to ask her what’s up with those new affordable housing units on Appleseed Drive. And what is affordable housing exactly? How does it work and who is allowed to rent the units? Colleen gives us all the answers, and valuable insight into the housing crisis. Link to learn more or donate to the society: https://www.antigonishaffordablehousing.ca/ Summary of the main points from the interview (auto-generated): New Development Details * 17 new units opening August 1st (with 4 units delayed until August 15th) *…

Anuj and Justin reflect on the past 13 episodes of the podcast and reveal which episodes received the most listens. We discuss our long list of ideas for future episode, and provide our top 3 most important lessons learned since launching the podcast. We invite our listeners to fill out this poll letting us know which episode subject ideas interest you the most: https://form.jotform.com/251993330982263 As always, thanks for your support! -Anuj and Justin Get full access to Let's Talk Antigonish at letstalkantigonish.substack.com/subscribe

We sat down with electric car owner and EV aficionado Allan Briggs to figure out if it’s worth owning an electric vehicle as your only car here in Antigonish. The short answer: it’s certainly possible, but it depends on how far you need to travel. For everyday use here in town, Allan says electric cars are fantastic. But if you’re taking regular trips to far flung destinations, you have to plan a lot more to use your electric car, which could be a dealbreaker for some. But, there are positive changes coming to both battery technology and the charging station infrastructure here in Nova…

Andrew Murray explains what’s happening to the old capitol theatre/Cineplex building on Main Street that seems to have been under construction for a million years. The answer: it will be a smokehouse restaurant and apartments! Hopefully opening in a little over a year. Andrew gives us the details, and answers all our questions about what’s happening on Main Street these days. Get full access to Let's Talk Antigonish at letstalkantigonish.substack.com/subscribe

The town of Antigonish has approved a rather large tax rate increase to residential property; around 15%. That’s pretty darn high. We sat down with Mayor Sean Cameron to ask why this increase was necessary. The short answer: it’s helping to fund a 22 million dollar investment in long-term infrastructure improvements in the town, including major road works and sewer and water system upgrades. But it’s a complicated story, and we dive into a discussion not just on the new budget, but the need for cooperation between town and county when it comes to paying for these upgrades, as well as the need…

We spoke with Dan Cochrane, Operations Manger for the Antigonish Highland Society about this year’s Antigonish Highland Games. To celebrate their 160th anniversary, they are offering free day passes for EVERYONE! Dan explains what the highland games are, their origins, what goes on during the games, why they are fun to watch, how they aren’t just for people of Scottish origin, the fact that The East Pointers will be playing this year, and why the games in Antigonish are so darn special! Get full access to Let's Talk Antigonish at letstalkantigonish.substack.com/subscribe

Did you know that there are hundreds of people experiencing homelessness in Antigonish? Including dozens of people sleeping rough each night? It’s an invisible issue, and maybe a surprise to many Antigonish residents. We sat down with Speireag Hendra, Executive Director of A Roof Over You Head: a non-profit organization aiming to address the lack of affordable and safe housing for those who find themselves homeless, precariously housed or at risk of homelessness due to various contributing factors such as poverty, mental illness, addiction, etc. Speireag tells us about: * The surprisingly…

This week we spoke with Caleb Marshall, Managing Director of Festival Antigonish and Theatre Antigonish to address the rumors that the Bauer Theatre is closing. Highlights from this episode: * The bad news: The Bauer Theatre faces significant fire safety compliance issues - A recent fire marshal inspection identified needed upgrades including sprinkler systems, roof vents, and fire separation barriers, with costs potentially ranging from $300,000 to over $1 million. * The good news: The summer 2025 Festival Antigonish season is completely unaffected, and completely safe! Festival Antigonish…

This week we sat down with Meghan DeCoste (Market Manager for the Antigonish Farmers Market Association), and Meghan Johnny (board member and vendor) to answer all your question about our amazing farmers market. Highlights from the episode * The Farmers Market Building and Operations: The Antigonish Farmers Market owns a large, state-of-the-art building (built in 2019) with 180 solar panels, a commercial kitchen used by vendors and community groups, and serves as a community hub beyond just Saturday markets. The building generates about 1/3 of its power needs through solar ($7,000 of $21,000…

We talk with journalist Corey LeBlanc to get the lowdown on Antigonish This Week, a new supplement filled with Antigonish news from the Guysborough Journal. Episode key points: * Corey LeBlanc, a veteran journalist with 23 years experience (18 with The Casket), is now writing for "Antigonish This Week," a new supplement in the Guysborough Journal newspaper, bringing local print journalism back to Antigonish. * The new publication features news, sports, and features about Antigonish with contributors including Emilie Chiasson, Katie Edwards, and photographer Brian Kennedy, focusing on…

We sat down with the farmer/artist/educator Fenn Martin and Dan King of Six Maples Farm to talk about life as small scale farmers here in Antigonish. Highlights from this episode: * Small Farm Cooperative Model - Lochaber Growers formed in 2016 when five small farms banded together to create a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program after losing local buyers, growing from 25 to 140 customers over nearly a decade. * Food Security Initiative - The cooperative runs a subsidized food box program providing fresh produce to one-third of their customers at $10 instead of $32 weekly, raising…

Let's Talk Antigonish sits down with Stephanie Cooper to unpack the buzz around the proposed Antigonish Rec Center! In this revealing conversation, Stephanie shares: · How the idea was born from frustration over limited camp registrations · How the People for an Antigonish Rec Centre was formed and what their goal is. Link to their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/people/People-for-an-Antigonish-Rec-Centre/61563481593124/ · The vision for a multi-purpose community hub · Why they are currently seeking $50,000 from town and county for a needs assessment · What the difference is…

This week we are talking with Marlene Melanson, Recreation Director of the municipality of the county of Antigonish. We wanted to know what the deal was with the active transport corridor. You know, that walking and biking path alongside old highway 104 that connects to that new bike path thing on West street? What’s it for, and whose using it? What’s being built next? What are those weird fenced in areas that seem to look out over nothing? What does active transport even mean? We got all the answer. Well, most of the answers, because it turns out that there’s a difference between the county…

Welcome to Let’s Talk Antigonish, the podcast where we sit down with neighbours, experts, and friends to explore the stories, the questions, and the big little issues that shape life in our town — one conversation at a time. We’re gearing up to launch the podcast in the next week, so this episode will be our pre-launch special where Anuj and Justin sat down with local high school teacher Jenn Priddle to talk about violence in schools - a subject that has been in the news a lot lately. In this episode we hear from Jenn about what has changed when it comes to unacceptable student behavior in…

This is the pilot episode of Let's Talk Antigonish, a podcast where we sit down with local experts to tackle the questions we're all curious about when it comes to life in our amazing town. For this pilot episode, we sat down with Dr. Amy Hendriks and Paul Davie, the owners of that big piece of land just past Bethany on the 337. We asked them: what's that building you are constructing out there, and what are your plans for developing that land? Before we move forward with our idea for this podcast, we are looking for your feedback. Would you like a podcast like this? What kinds of questions…