Shows
The Civic Square with Rory NisanScooting into the future with Shoaib AhmedI am joined by Shoaib Ahmed, Founder of Scooty, a Canadian e-scooter company that is active in Brampton, Barrie and Markham, and which recently began a pilot in my hometown of Burlington. Shoaib breaks down the business climate around city halls and talks about how he navigated local public policy to get to where he is today. He also previews some exciting integration with Presto Cards.
2025-11-0539 minThe Civic Square with Rory NisanThe Rhythm of Retail with Rob Spanier, Founder of the Spanier GroupRob Spanier knows how to make retail awesome. He started his career working on projects like Blue Mountain and Whistler, and founded the Spanier Group to deliver ground-oriented retail that combines with placemaking to build places people want to be (and shop). Rob gives the straight goods on the goods: what works and what doesn't, and when and how municipalities can enable complete retail districts.
2025-10-1537 minThe Civic Square with Rory NisanSPEED CAMERA SPECIAL with Councillor Rowena SantosSnip-Snap Snip-Snap: Rowena Santos, City and Regional Councillor for Brampton and Peel breaks down the Premier's promise to ban the cameras his own government approved, and blame municipalities for having the gall to follow provincial regulations. We brought a speed gun just because they're fun.
2025-10-0224 minThe Civic Square with Rory NisanHamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath -- A Pragmatic Progressive?Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath tells me how she manages the hurly burly of Hamilton local politics, the answer to the homelessness crisis, and her vision for the city in 15 years.
2025-06-2342 minThe Civic Square with Rory NisanToronto Councillor Josh Matlow Acting for ImpactToronto City Councillor Josh Matlow studied improv acting before making it to city hall, and most recently ran in the by-election for mayor. We talk about the Rob Ford era, lessons in campaigning on a large scale, and about homelessness and the Premier.
2025-05-2348 minThe Civic Square with Rory NisanCouncillor Brad Bradford Gives the Gears at Toronto City HallBrad Bradford, second term councillor at the City of Toronto, has emerged as an outspoken critic of Mayor Olivia Chow. He rides his bike to work while opposing bike lanes in some parts of the city. We delve deep into his mindset and where is passions lie as one of the strongest voices at City Hall. And we talk about the (in)famous Patty King video.
2025-05-0653 minThe Civic Square with Rory NisanWhy Steve Paikin is Steve Paikin, with Steve PaikinI speak to Steve Paikin about how he became the honest broker of Ontario journalism, what he's learned about great politicians, and why the Ticats are the best team in North American professional sports.
2025-04-1842 minThe Civic Square with Rory NisanLeveraging social media for change with Frank DomenicFrank Domenic has 120k followers on TikTok for his political content, which he has been posting on social media for over 10 years. He tells us his secrets to posting viral content and provides advice to local change-makers on being effective online. Oh and he's also a Burlington resident with strong opinions on the local food scene.
2025-04-0542 minThe Civic Square with Rory NisanMaking a Difference with Karina GouldI speak with Karina Gould about what she learned from her leadership campaign, how to be effective when lobbying on MPs, squaring off against the US President and how she looks at her career so far.
2025-03-2526 min
The Civic Square with Rory NisanTalking Solutions with Councillor Sameera AliIn this inaugural episode of The Civic Square, Rory Nisan, Deputy Mayor (Environment) in Burlington interviews Sameera Ali, Town and Regional Councillor from Milton on crime, snowplowing and being a trailblazing Muslim woman councillor. Co-produced with Burlington365 in the WorkWell Studio.
2025-03-0441 min