The highlights of the summer of '08 included:
- getting Coun. Mike Pagtakhan in-studio for over an hour, for a frank discussion about South Point Douglas redevelopment, Health Sciences centre expansion, and the state of the city;
- tracking the spotty reporting by MSM of the Taman Inquiry and the Dumas Inquest;
- continuing coverage of the 511 emergency response program, doggedly pursued by Spirited Kenny;
- the attempt by government and child welfare officials to sweep the Gage Guimond death report under the rug;
- our insiders' look at the CRTC-ordered demise of Harmony Broadcasting and "Flava 107.9";
- special twenty year retrospectives on the road accident that killed wrestlers Adrian Adonis, Bearman Dave McKigney and Pat Kelly in Newfoundland, and the murder of Frank "Bruiser Brody" Goodish in Puerto Rico;
- the risks of violence faced by under-resourced city paramedics;
- exposing the threats by radical Chiefs of racial violence in the streets of the city, after the police shooting of Craig McDougall on Simcoe Street,
- the bogus Free Press coverage of "support" for the return of former mayor Glen Murray,
- breaking the Keenleyside cameraman vs police (missing memory card) dispute
- the Unsettled Science of Coun. Harvey Smith's campaign against bottled tap water,
- the shocking racial comments by Winnipeg Police Advisory Board member Nahanni Fontaine in Grassroots News, about the evidence and civilian and police testimony submitted in the Dumas Inquest
- the government finally confirming our exclusive from May, when we revealed the landswap to get Weston Bakery to move south and clear the way for HSC expansion (maybe one day soon MSM will report the rest of the story we had months ago, on the transfer of the Woman's Pavilion to the Elgin Avenue land or the loss of high paying jobs for unionized bakers when they move)
- and our 3 part series by Captain Audio into the Sagkeeng and Cree Nation First Nations CFS review reports, the role of the NDP government, and unreported-in MSM complaints of physical intimidation, backdated documentation, payroll loans, and the total failure of proper Board governance.
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We want to thank the many people from all walks of life, who appeared on the air as guests in the Summer of 2008:
Mike Pagtakhan, city councillor Point Douglas
Greg Oliver, Editor-in-chief, Slam!Wrestling
Dallas Hansen and Jim Jaworski, Wilson subway proponents, TruWinnipeg.org
Jeff Couch, Red River College Raycer/mechanical engineering instructor
Ari Driver, Perfume Paradise owner
Brian McGinn, The Frozen City Slurpee documentary
Dan Kroffat, Alberta social and economic commentator/ Stampede Wrestling legend
Sam Katz, Mayor of Winnipeg
Larry Matysik, St. Louis broadcaster, author of (Bruiser) Brody, The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling's Rebel
Myrna Driedger, Deputy leader, PC party Manitoba
Steve Andjelic, blogger, East Coast businessman
Ryan Wood, amateur and professional sports referee
Ron Schuler, PC MLA Springfield
Tom Ulrich, former Teachers Retirement Allowances Fund (TRAF) CEO, speaker on Bill 45
Shane Madison, Hulk Hogan historian
Scott Taylor, National Post/Shaw-TV voice of the Goldeyes
Stacey Ashley, CTV News reporter
Loretta Hunt, UFC Champion Randy Couture biographer
Dan Denton, Frozen Pond Productions of Los Angeles and former Winnipegger
Colin Craig, Canadian Taxpayers Federation Manitoba regional director
James Turner, Winnipeg Free Press justice reporter
Giuseppe Denatale, MMA fighter/ Testa Dura promotions
Travis Hildebrand and Bryan Leech, Professional Paramedics Association of Winnipeg
Shaun Mcleod, freelance reporter
Paul St Laurent, amateur cameraman
Jeff Browaty, councillor for North Kildonan
Brian Smiley, Manitoba Public Insurance and unemployed hockey coach
Jon Cutler, WWE wrestling prospect, all around good guy
Shaun Myall, Island Sports and Entertainment President
Jon Waldman, http://www.jonwaldman.com/ and Slam!Sports journalist
plus special thanks to -- the Kick-FM morning girls Kate and Chelsea, Slurpee Girl, board operators Shannah-Lee, Broose, Young Josh, Wonder Boy Taylor, Spirited Kenny, senior producer Captain Audio, and the King of Corydon, Frank the Italian Barber.
We have also had many callers, on and off-air, that contributed their viewpoints, as well as hundreds of listeners who took the time to send us their tips, reactions, thoughts and complaints to talk@kick.fm.
Starting Tuesday, September 3rd, we launch our third season on Kick-FM, with an expanded 90 minute format, more guests and callers than ever before, and a new crop of students and volunteers who share our commitment to generating quality alternative media content on the airwaves.
With a legislative session resuming on Sept. 8th and a federal election around the corner, more listeners than ever are relying on our show to help them analyze who is being held accountable, and who is showing leadership locally and nationally. Your support is why we present 'The Best in Modern Talk', 6 days a week on 92.9 Kick-FM.
Lastly, here's a blogger who had a unique perspective about the show: http://waverleywest.blogspot.com/2008/08/good-as-gold.html. Thank you David for your kind words.
Have a safe long weekend.
