The Stratford Slice – Details, episodes & analysis

In a few short days, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Craig Thompson chats with Roy Norton about the unfolding political and trade drama between the United States and Canada and the path forward.  Roy is no stranger to Canada - U.S. relations.  He spent his career in Canada’s foreign service with diplomatic postings to the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. and serving as Canada’s Consul General in Chicago and Detroit.  You can read his full bio here.

https://balsillieschool.ca/people/roy-norton/

Synopsis:   As the traditional tourist season gets underway, Craig sits down with Zac Gribble, Executive Director of Destination Stratford to learn more about the trends reshaping the tourism economy.  Zac also shares his vision to develop a year-round multi-faceted visitor experience that encompasses arts, culture, culinary and sports.  

Anyone brave enough to survive more than three decades in the restaurant industry deserves respect and a sizable tip.  Larry McCabe, however, likes to consider himself “A Pazzo Bouffon” (translation: A crazy fool), which also happen to be the names of the two successful restaurants he runs in the heart of downtown Stratford. Larry is also a newly elected member of Stratford City Council.  Craig and Larry chat about the challenges facing not only the tourism and hospitality industries but small municipalities in general as communities everywhere deal with issues related to housing and affordability

Craig’s guest is Stratford and Perth County historian and writer Dean Robinson. The author of 23 books and the author/editor of eight other titles, Dean maintains that Stratford’s rich and colourful past is a unique part of our community’s character. Craig chats with Dean about his journalism career in London, Kitchener, Seaforth and Stratford and dives into some of the remarkable stories from Stratford’s past that inspired him to write the many books that make up his impressive library of popular history.

Farm to Fork is a new television series from Ballinran Entertainment celebrating Southwestern Ontario farmers who are at the heart of the farm to table movement. Hosted by Waterloo region chef and culinary ambassador Nick Benninger, Farm to Fork airs across Canada on Bell Fibe TV1.  In this episode, Chef Nick and producer/director Julian Wierzbicki join Craig in-studio to discuss the growing interest amongst consumers to know exactly where their food comes from and the people who put the effort into bringing it to their table

In the second of two episodes, Craig chats with former Canadian diplomat, scholar and community advocate Deanna Horton. As a Canadian diplomat in Hamburg, Washington, Tokyo, and Vietnam, she has had a front-row seat to history.  Now based in Stratford, she brings a big-picture perspective to her adopted hometown - reminding us that even places like Stratford can learn from the winds of change sweeping the world.

In the first of two episodes, Craig chats with former Canadian diplomat, scholar and community advocate Deanna Horton.  As Canada’s ambassador to Vietnam, Deputy Head of Mission in Tokyo, and a Minister in Canada’s embassy in Washington DC, Deanna had a front-row seat to world history.  In this episode, she reflects on the shifting geopolitical landscape and global trading relationships in our increasingly polarized world.

From the Hockey Canada Crisis, to the debate over broadcasting’s future, to allegations of foreign election interference, John Nater has been at the centre of it all.  As the MP for the riding of Perth Wellington (which includes Stratford), John was the Vice Chair of the House of Commons Heritage Committee during the heated debates over misconduct in Canada’s beloved game of hockey.  Now, he has a front row seat for the scandal involving allegations of election interference.  Craig sits down with MP John Nater to discuss the many challenges facing our country and the world at large

Children’s book author and illustrator Marthe Jocelyn chats with Craig on the journey that led her to become a writer. With her 50th book now released, she shares her family connection to Stratford, her life in Toronto and New York and how personal tragedy helped shape her perspective.

marthejocelynbooks.com

In the performing arts world, a “triple threat” is a performer who can act, sing and dance.  John Wilkinson could be considered the triple threat of the tech world.  As an investment advisor and former Minister of Revenue in the Ontario Government, he knows finance.  As the former Minister of Research and Innovation in Ontario, he has his finger on the pulse of advanced technology. As a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Music, he can sing.  He brings all three talents to the table for a chat with Craig Thompson for a discussion on artificial intelligence and other technological advances that have the potential to change our world