Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 86

Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 86

Hosted Live/Produced/Recorded by: Andru Valpy, Natty Somers.

Air Date: 07/22/2011 6:00 PM on UMFM 101.5 FM
Free Podcast Download Location: iTunes.
Web: http://wakeupwinnipeg.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/wakeupwinnipeg 

Become a FaceBook Fan: http://facebook.com/wakeupwinnipeg
Rebroadcast: 07/27/2011 on CJUM 101.5 UMFM - 6:30 AM

This week Natty and I got around to playing the two remaining interviews they had conducted while at the 2011 Winnipeg Folk Festival.  But before we focused on those interviews, we started off with this weeks news listings.

The Winnipeg Police Service responded to an incident near the corner of St Mary's Road and Essex Avenue at 2:00 Thursday morning where they say a man armed with a knife was suspected of robbing a Duffy's taxi cab in Winnipeg's Old St. Vital neighborhood.

Police say a confrontation took place and as a result a firearm discharge occurred striking the suspect. The suspect was transported to the hospital in critical condition. He has since been updated to stable condition.

The investigation is continuing by members of the Homicide Unit, and no additional information was available as of press time.

Stats Canada released a report this week stating that the national crime rate continued its 20 year decline last year, dropping a total amount of five percent from 2009-2010, hitting the lowest levels seen since 1973.

The report also indicated that the national homicide rate was the lowest since 1966.

The statistics agency said the overall police-reported crime rate is still following a long-term downward curve, despite the alarm bells from the Harper government over the need for tough-on-crime legislation.

The majority of the decline was attributed to drops in the numbers of property crimes, such as car theft, theft under 5,000, mischief and break-ins.

But there were also fewer homicides, attempted murders, serious assaults and robberies.

Police reported just over 437,000 violent incidents in 2010, about 7,200 fewer than in the previous year. Violent crimes accounted for just over 20 per cent of offenses.

The decline in crime severity in 2010 was seen virtually across the country, except for increases in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Alberta and British Columbia showed the largest declines in crime in 2010. The overall crime rate fell by six per cent in both provinces. The crime severity index also fell in both.

The volume and severity of crime fell or remained stable in 2010 across most all major communities, including the 10 largest cities.

City Councilors had their last council meetings on Wednesday as they prepared for a summer break.

During The 3.5 hour meeting councilors signed off on a variety of issues, including the spending of 28 million dollars to turn the former Canada Post Building on Graham Avenue into the new Police Headquarters.

The total estimated costs for the renovations amount to 155 million dollars, with an additional 30 million dollars for the actual purchase of the building.

Councilors also voted 16-0 for the approval of a new hotel and restaurant at the Alexander Docks on Waterfront Drive, and the approval of a $660,000 heritage grant to preserve the façade of the Mitchell Copp Building on Portage Avenue where a high end luxury hotel and office building is to be built.

Downtown metered parking rate increases were also approved as were new measures for enforcing rules surrounding unlicensed dogs.

During a question and answer period, Mayor Sam Katz said there are 60 acres of previously undisclosed parking space available at the University of Manitoba campus for Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans once the new stadium opens.

Katz later told reporters the land in question is not yet paved.

This meeting of council was also the last one for St. Vital Councilor Gord Stevees who is quitting council to run as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the fall federal election.

In his final duty as councilor, Steeves introduced a motion which would allow for Taxi Drivers to park in front of fire hydrants, to wait for customers provided that the driver never leaves the vehicle unattended.

The motion will be considered in September when council reconvenes.

Winnipegger's had a sigh of relief on Thursday as temperatures returned to normal seasonal highs

Throughout most of the week the city of Winnipeg was under a humidex warning, with temperatures reaching 34.4 degrees which felt like 43 degrees after factoring in humidex.

The heat wave was part of a national 'heat dome' which is a hot, unmoving high pressure area that had settled over central parts of Canada, pushing the jet stream well to the north which kept cooler weather out says Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips.

Temperatures today reached 23 degrees with rain scheduled tomorrow and a high of 19 degrees throughout Saturday.

The temperature is expected to rise again next week with highs averaging between 26 and 31.

Wrapping up headlines this week, The Winnipeg Free Press announced that the Winnipeg Jets have reached a deal on a new broadcast agreement with TSN and Bell Media.

With this announcement it is expected that NHL in Winnipeg will now be televised nationally on TSN and broadcast on TSN Radio.

Bell Media, who presently owns 99.9 Bob FM and Fab 94.3, is expected to bring live jets coverage to Sports Talk 1290, a specialized sports channel broadcasting on 1290 AM in Winnipeg and streaming online.

An announcement is expected to be made in the days to follow but additional details on the agreement are not being made public.

After news and event listings we moved forward with the remaining interviews from the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

During this episode we had a chance to sit down with Tom Fun Orchestra and learn a little more about their origins. The band shared an interesting story about how they came up with the name of the band, which could also serve as a warning to bands to be cautious on coming up with a band name...because the name sticks forever.

Wrapping up our 2011 Folk Festival coverage, we finished this weeks episode with a live interview with local band Imaginary Cities who were participating in their very first folk festival.

During the interview, we learned how Imaginary Cities were formed after a chance meeting at The Cavern, a local Winnipeg venue.

The 2011 Wake Up Winnipeg Folk Fest interviews will be posted in full length in iTunes within the upcoming days. Be sure to subscribe in iTunes to receive automatic updates and download previous episodes.

Finally ending off this weeks show we featured "The Word Of The Day" which was verklempt, which means: choked with emotion. We presented it in true Wake Up Winnipeg fashion. 

Join us next week as we kick off the 2011 Folklorama season and continue to wake you up to events and news happening within your city.

Until then,

-Av

  

Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 85

Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 85

Hosted Live/Produced/Recorded by: Andru Valpy, Natty Somers.

Air Date: 07/15/2011 6:00 PM on UMFM 101.5 FM
Free Podcast Download Location: iTunes.
Web: http://wakeupwinnipeg.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/wakeupwinnipeg 

Become a FaceBook Fan: http://facebook.com/wakeupwinnipeg
Rebroadcast: 07/20/2011 on CJUM 101.5 UMFM - 6:30 AM

This week, Natty and I continued on with our Winnipeg Folk Festival coverage by airing live interviews with the various artists we had the pleasure of meeting at the 2011 Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Before we got to the good stuff, we woke our listeners up to recent news and event happenings occurring within the perimeter, and beyond.

Leading headlines this week, The Winnipeg police department has acknowledged that a gang conflict  is taking place on our cities streets.

To date, the Winnipeg Police Service acknowledges that over thirteen incidents have occurred between June 14th through July 13th, including the most recent attack at a tattoo parlor in the 100 block of Osbourne street.

Ongoing investigations are continuing and have already lead to the arrests of a 23 year old male, and a 33 year old male in connection with the tattoo parlor attack that occurred on Tuesday. Both face numerous charges.

The Police Service is committed to dealing with this conflict and in their efforts have already made approximately  fifteen arrests so far for a variety of breaches, drug possession and outstanding warrants.

The Winnipeg Police Service would like to remind members of the public that these series of events involve individuals associated to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

The resolution of these incidents continues to be of the highest priority.

Winnipeg Transit Director Dave Wardrop announced earlier this week that the Winnipeg Transit Busse's will be re-fitted with electronic fare readers to ensure that riders are paying the correct amount of fare.

The move is part of a five year transit plan that was introduced by city council five years ago.  Currently, the bus fare system relies on a paper-based system.

The new machines are expected to be available by pre-paid smart cards which will be loadable by internet purchase or through a kiosk system which is expected to be released when the project launches. 

The project will cost a total amount of 17 million dollars.

Finally, ending off this week's headlines,

Drivers in Los Angeles California are preparing today for what is being called "Carmageddon".

A 10 mile stretch of interstate 405, will be shutting down for 53 hours starting at 7:00 PM This evening while crews begin a painstaking demolition project to expand and repair the iconic three-span box girder bridge.

The Mulholland Bridge is an artery that links communities north and south of the Santa Monica Mountains. This will be the first time in fifty years that the section of I-405 will be virtually silent.

The current bridge is 72 feet wide, 579 feet long and 80 feet high from the ground. The new bridge will be widened by 82 feet wide, and 608 feet long.

4,000 tons of concert are expected to be removed from the southern half of the bridge, leaving the northern half of the bridge remaining open for emergency access traffic.

The exercise will continue next year with the northern side of the bridge.

Resident Angeleno's are already being asked to avoid the section of the highway, with some calling it Carmeggedon.

On a typical weekend in July, about a half a million vehicles use the section of the freeway to get to major locations such as LAX International airport, popular beaches, and major interchanges that connect with other sections of the interstate system.

Michael Miles, a California Department of Transportation official stated the best thing Angelenos can do is stay home if you can, and not to drive if you have to" noting to be prepared, and to treat the closure as a disaster.

To discourage drivers, transit officials will be offering free rides on the subway and select bus lines and will be adding more train service.

Quick not to miss a marketing opportunity, transportation companies are also offering discounted deals to help ease the burden of traffic, with Jet Blue airways offering one way 30 minute tickets between $4.00 to $5.00 for flights between Long Beach Airport and Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, calling it a "plane pool" between San Fernando Valley and the beach.

Us Rail Provider Amtrak noted 50% discounts to their train passengers to help as well.

And finally, a helicopter company is advertising 150.00 rides to zip people to LAX airport.

A fitness instructor suggests "Carmageddon yoga" for stressed-out drivers, while Dr. Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson's longtime dermatologist, is giving 25 per cent off on Botox injections.

The highway is expected to open again by 6:00 AM on Monday.

After a brief Fringe Festival event listing, Natty and Andru turned it over to portions of their interviews at the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Our interviews this week included the following artists or groups:

Oh My Darling
David Wax Museum
Trampled By Turtles
Melissa McClelland

On next weeks episode, we'll conclude our Folk Fest coverage with interviews with the Tom Fun Orchestra and Winnipeg's own The Imaginary Cities.

Our subscribers in iTunes will also have a chance to hear the full interviews next week, after they have aired on UMFM 101.5 FM.

In the mean time, subscribe in iTunes now to receive past episodes of Wake Up Winnipeg, and automatic updates on future Podcasts.

Be sure to tune in to Wake Up Winnipeg in it's new live time slot on UMFM 101.5 FM in Winnipeg on Friday evenings at 6:00PM CST, and online at http://umfm.com/

You can follow us for up to the date information online at http://twitter.com/wakeupwinnipeg or like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/wakeupwinnipeg and finally find more information on our webpage at http://wakeupwinnipeg.com/

(c) 2011. A. Valpy. - Wake Up Winnipeg

  

Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 84

Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 84

Hosted Live/Produced/Recorded by: Andru Valpy, Natty Somers.

Air Date: 07/08/2011 6:00 PM on UMFM 101.5 FM
Free Podcast Download Location: iTunes.
Web: http://wakeupwinnipeg.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/wakeupwinnipeg 

Become a FaceBook Fan: http://facebook.com/wakeupwinnipeg
Rebroadcast: 07/13/2011 on CJUM 101.5 UMFM - 6:30 AM

On this week's episode, Natty and I broadcast live from the Winnipeg Folk Festival and capture the spirit of the 5 day event.

During this episode, Natty and I talked about the concerts that we were looking forward to during the festival and re-capped on some of the concerts and show's we saw while attending.

In the spirit of Folk Festival, we played a track from Tegan and Sara called The Ocean as the twins had played the night before at the Winnipeg Folk Festival main stage at Birds Hill Park.

During the break, we headed back to the camp ground and described some of the sites and sounds that folk fans encounter while staying in the main camp ground.

On our camp-ground walk about we headed over to the Castle Boy's display which was themed as a Winnipeg Public Library office during prohibition time.

We managed to interview Mario who is one of the organizers and builders for The Castle Boys and talked to him about this years theme.

After learning more about what it takes to make a Castle Boys structure, we headed over to a Folk Fest hang-out known as "The Trading Post". It was there that the two found a passerby and questioned him on his Folk Fest experiences and his thoughts on the trading post.

Finally, Natty and I welcomed our listeners to our new time slots at 6:00 PM On Friday's on UMFM 101.5 and reminded our listeners that the Winnipeg Folk Festival interviews would air on the next episode of Wake Up Winnipeg (Episode 85)

Be sure to tune in to Wake Up Winnipeg in it's new live time slot on UMFM 101.5 FM in Winnipeg on Friday evenings at 6:00PM CST, and online at http://umfm.com/

You can follow us for up to the date information online at http://twitter.com/wakeupwinnipeg or like us on facebook at http://facebook.com/wakeupwinnipeg and finally find more information on our webpage at http://wakeupwinnipeg.com/

Thanks for tuning in, and to all of our station staff and Winnipeg Folk Festival volunteers who helped us put on this live broadcast.

We'll see you next week!

-Av

  

Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 83

Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 83

Hosted Live/Produced/Recorded by: Andru Valpy, Natty Somers.

Air Date: 06/29/2011 6:00 PM on UMFM 101.5 FM
Free Podcast Download Location: iTunes.
Web: http://wakeupwinnipeg.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/wakeupwinnipeg 

Become a FaceBook Fan: http://facebook.com/wakeupwinnipeg
Rebroadcast: 07/06/2011 on CJUM 101.5 UMFM - 6:30 AM

With the Winnipeg Folk Festival quickly approaching Andru and Natty put on their Folk Fest hats and prepared our listeners for what to expect at this years festival.

But not before reviewing local news and event listings.

Here's what made our headlines this week:

Town officials in Melata, Souris and Wawanesa are putting out the call for help this week just days after thousands in Minot North Dakota fled from rising flood waters along the Souris River.

On Monday, Melata Emergency Coordinator Grant Hume confirmed the town was racing against time to reinforce dikes that were built earlier this spring and said the town is in desperate need of sandbaggers, and other volunteers to help in their fight against the flood.

Town officials also stated that they were willing to pay $15.00 per hour for help during the flood fighting efforts.

In a report earlier this week published by the Winnipeg Free Press, Souris Mayor Daryl Jackson stated that the  town of Souris has formally requested Military help, but explained that all other resources must be exhausted before troops are sent to the town.

On Monday, some 30 homes were given mandatory evacuation notices and were told to be out by 4:00 pm that evening, leaving some struggling to take as many possessions from their homes on very short notice.

In Wawanesa Manitoba, Mayor Bruce Gullett said residents were put to work sandbagging feverishly, though evacuation notices weren't officially sent out as of press time on Monday.

The Souris River is expected to crest on July the 5th 2011.

Volunteers are being asked to call the Souris Town Office at 204-483-5200 or the emergency line at 204-483-5204 for more information on where to go and what help is needed.

Residents in St. Boniface awoke to clouds of black smoke billowing from a favorite diner earlier this week.

Winnipeg Fire & Police Services were sent to the 500 block of Des Murons Street at approximately 6:00 AM in response to a working fire at the Palidan Restaurant.

When fire fighters arrived they noticed the building fully engulfed in flames, it was at this time that the fire was deemed to dangerous to fight from the inside leaving the firefighters to use an aerial ladder to direct water and foam into the two story building.

The fire continued to burn until 7:00 pm Sunday evening.

There is no official word on the cause of the fire, but Kitchen Manager Don King was the only staff member in the restaurant on Sunday morning. While preparing breakfast, he noticed flames coming from the deep fryer.

King attempted to telephone to the fire department, but discovered that the phone lines to the restaurant were down leaving him to drive four blocks to a fire hall on Des Muerons to get help.

Sources confirmed that the restaurant's sprinkler system and fire-alarms did not automatically go on. Police officials estimate Damage to be around 1 Million Dollars.

The cause for the fire is still pending investigation.

NHL Fans let out a sigh of relief on Friday evening, as True North Sports & Entertainment Chairman Mark Chipman  announced that Winnipeg's hockey team would in fact be called The Winnipeg Jets.

Fans in the Xcel center in Minneapolis were heard cheering loudly as the 2011 NHL Draft started, leaving Commissioner Garry Bettman to pause and tell Winnipeg that they would have their moment.

Seconds before Chipman made the historic 7th overall pick, it was announced that he would would be selecting on behalf of The Winnipeg Jets, and chose Mark Sheifele as the teams first pick.

Having come from the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League Sheifele was chosen at just 18 years of age, and will be now be playing for the newly named Winnipeg Jets.

While most fans were happy to hear that the team would in fact be named The Winnipeg Jets, some were disappointed that the new logo's and color schemes were not immediately displayed on Friday evening, leaving Sheifele to wear a gray and black NHL jersey instead.

Representatives from True North Sports and Entertainment responded to an e-mail from Wake Up Winnipeg with the following statement:

" There is no announcement on any logo or jersey pending.."

Wake up Winnipeg will continue to keep our listeners posted on any future developments.

The 2011 Red River Ex ended on Sunday evening beating previous attendance records by 25%.

The expected total amount of visitors to this years exhibition was 220,000 visitors which was up from last years total of 175,904.

Rides that were popular among the midway was the Polar Express, and the brand new "Spin Out" ride which sat beside the ever popular farris wheel.

After the news, Natty and Andru talked about the 2011 Winnipeg Folk Festival and discussed the various changes and added amenities that campers and concertgoers could expect.

We highlighted an important change effects those who choose to drive out to Birds Hill Park on the Wednesday morning of the festival.

This year, the organization issued the following statement:

"Cars will not be allowed to line up on Hwy 59 before the gate opens at 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 6. 

The decision was made together with the RCMP and Birds Hill Provincial Park who we work with (all year round) to ensure every aspect of the festival is safe .

The RCMP will be putting up “no stopping“ signs along Hwy 59 and 206, and will be enforcing it overnight and early morning.  

Please don’t plan to arrive before 6:45 am.  The West Gate will open at 7:00 AM, and cars will forma line up inside the park then. From that point, it will take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours to get everyone in, parked and through our box office."

Those looking to reduce their carbon footprint at this years festival will also be happy to know that there are once again two alternative solutions to getting to Birds Hill Park.

For a second year in a row, the festival has announced that there will be another bike ride to the festival which leaves Winnipeg on Wednesday morning at 6:00 am, with another group departing at 5:00 pm that evening.

All rides will leave from Elmwood High School, 505 Chalmers Avenue, and will be staggered based on the preferred speed of the rider.

All participants will have the option to load their camping gear (one bag and one cooler) onto a truck. Riders will also get priority entrance to the Festival Campground on Wednesday morning.

The return trip back to Winnipeg will happen on Monday July the 11th at 10:00 AM.

For more information about the Winnipeg Folk Festival Bike Ride please visit the Winnipeg Folk Festival Website.

For those who do not want to make the trek, the Winnipeg Folk Festival will also be offering free bus services to and from Birds Hill Park. Details and routes can also be found at the Winnipeg Folk Festival website.

After discussing some other folk festival highlights, Natty and Andru re-introduced our listeners to a band called Trampled by Turtles who will be playing at various times throughout the five day festival.

We featured a track called "Leaves that are green turn brown" which was recorded live from the 2009 10,000 lakes festival in Detroit Lakes Minnesota.

Both Andru and Natty are looking forward to seeing them at this years folk festival.

Finally,  we made a very important announcement regarding our show on this weeks episode.

Starting Friday July 8th 2011 Wake Up Winnipeg will be moving to a new time slot on umfm. Our show will no longer be played on Wednesday evenings, but will instead be airing at 6:00 PM on Friday evenings on 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg, and online at http://umfm.com.

We welcome you to join us for episode 84 in it's exciting new time slot next Friday evening.

-Av