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MPP Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance for Ontario, joins Andrew to speak about staying in contact with your representative, the adoption rate of the new CECRA rent relief, and how the Ontario government is supporting small businesses and Ontarians through this. How is Ontario fighting the battle to maintain employment for Ontarians? – 4:55 How is the rent relief program (CECRA) going? – 7:33 What is MPP Phillips most concerned about right now? – 10:43 What keeps you moving and inspired through this? – 14:27 More info about MPP Rod Phillips: https://www.rodphillips.ca/about Covid Support information from Rod Phillips: https://www.covidsupports.ca/rodphillips/ Get in touch with Rod Phillips: https://www.rodphillips.ca/communityoffice Any questions or comments? Email andrew.john.neary@gmail.com More of Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewJNeary Andrew’s company Drinks & Dragons: https://www.drinksanddragons.ca Need editing/photo/video/media production? Mary Jubran has you covered: https://www.maryjubran.com/

Ben Earle, Executive Director of Feed the Need Durham, joins Andrew to speak about the impacts of Covid-19 on food security, the increase in need due to fresh financial struggles, and the long terms impacts our supply chain will have to endure. Has there been a challenge sourcing food? – 2:30 Are increased food prices causing problems? – 3:40 What is the biggest issue in supplying food support right now? – 6:36 How can you get involved to make sure the need is met? – 8:39 How can you help Feed the Need?: https://feedtheneedindurham.ca/how-to-help/ What are Durham's active food banks?: https://feedtheneedindurham.ca/active-member-agencies/ Any questions or comments? Email andrew.john.neary@gmail.com More of Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewJNeary Andrew’s company Drinks & Dragons: https://www.drinksanddragons.ca Need editing/photo/video/media production? Mary Jubran has you covered: https://www.maryjubran.com/

Dee Lender, Executive Director of OARC, Sharron Cooke, Barry Hickling, and Devora Greenspon join Andrew to speak about the second world of this pandemic challenging long-term care, what there is that can be done to support those living at residences, and the true complexity of the issues that our loved ones are dealing with. What is the situation in terms of infection count in your residences? – 2:33 Are all of these precautions actually helping? – 13:57 Barry really emphasizing the situation and struggles – 14:37 What is going on with support staff? Are there enough of them? – 16:46 How can visitors see their loved ones? – 26:02 Ontario Association of Residents' Councils website: http://ontarc.com/ A program for empathetic support and counselling for seniors: http://www.nicenet.ca/talk2nice Any questions or comments? Email andrew.john.neary@gmail.com More of Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewJNeary Andrew’s company Drinks & Dragons: https://www.drinksanddragons.ca Need editing/photo/video/media production? Mary Jubran has you covered: https://www.maryjubran.com/

Dr. Steven Murphy, President and Chancellor of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, joins Andrew Neary to speak about the innovations that the University has implemented to operate as a school, and in the community to get us through this situation. What is OTU working on to help us through this situation? – 1:45 How do you get in touch with OTU to learn about volunteer/partnership opportunities? – 6:42 What has been the biggest challenge for OTU during this pandemic? – 8:16 What will OTU do with the lessons it has learned from this situation? – 11:20 Is OTU running any programs specifically to support new entrepreneurs right now? - 15:38 How weak is Canadian broadband? - 23:56 How do you get involved in OTU's amazing research?: Reach out to president@ontariotechu.ca or check https://partners.ontariotechu.ca/contact/index.php Information about OTU: https://ontariotechu.ca/about/index.php Any questions or comments? Email andrew.john.neary@gmail.com More of Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewJNeary Andrew’s company Drinks & Dragons: https://www.drinksanddragons.ca Need editing/photo/video/media production? Mary Jubran has you covered: https://www.maryjubran.com/

Simon Gill, the Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the region of Durham, joins Andrew to speak about agriculture in Durham, the ways Invest Durham and the region are working tirelessly to support local businesses, and the region moving towards re-opening. What is going on with agricultural business and farming? – 3:40 How is Durham looking after small businesses? – 6:33 What is the biggest challenge businesses are facing? – 10:35 What do I need to know to open my small business? – 12:53 Invest Durham's detailed list of Durham farmed local food: https://www.durham.ca/en/economic-development/industries/local-food.aspx Comprehensive information and support to get your business through Covid-19: https://www.investdurham.ca/covidresponse Any questions or comments? Email andrew.john.neary@gmail.com More of Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewJNeary Andrew’s company Drinks & Dragons: https://www.drinksanddragons.ca Need editing/photo/video/media production? Mary Jubran has you covered: https://www.maryjubran.com/

MPP Jennifer French joins Andrew to discuss difficulties with broadband being revealed by COVID, Ontario closing schools, Oshawa's innovative use of existing infrastructure to create a PPE manufacturing chain, and overcoming boredom with board games. Oshawa producing 1 million masks per month – 8:50 Battles with broadband – 10:22 School and Family – 15:02 MPP Jennifer French's official page: https://www.jenniferfrench.ca/ One of the best platforms for play board games remotely: https://www.tabletopsimulator.com/ Any questions or comments? Email andrew.john.neary@gmail.com More of Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewJNeary  Andrew’s company Drinks & Dragons: https://www.drinksanddragons.ca

Regional Chair and CEO of the Durham Region, John Henry, joins Andrew to speak about the way leadership in the region has risen to the challenge, how the community is rallying to create rapid solutions, the lacking broadband infrastructure of the region, and how the way we do business will change forever.  Unfortunately, a recording bug lost our first question. Some background on Regional Chair John Henry: https://www.durham.ca/en/regional-government/regional-chair-and-ceo.aspx Durham Region COVID-19 Announcements: https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/novel-coronavirus-update.aspx More of Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewJNeary Andrew's company Drinks & Dragons: https://www.drinksanddragons.ca

Dr. Pepi McTavish, Durham Region's Assistant Medical Officer of Health, joins Andrew to discuss the rapidly changing health guidelines, upcoming challenges with summer approaching, and how we are seeing the difference that people following the recommendations are making. Durham Health Coronavirus Info: https://www.durham.ca/novelcoronavirus More of Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewJNeary Andrew's company Drinks & Dragons: https://www.drinksanddragons.ca

In this episode, Andrew is joined by Natalie Prychitko, CEO of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce. Work/life balance, mental resilience, the benefits of a social club/community support system, and the difficulty of navigating government supports are the focus today. How have you been staying in touch with your support community? Let us know. Natalie's work at the Whitby Chamber of Commerce. Check out John Krasinski's Some Good News Network. More of Andrew on Twitter. Andrew's company Drinks & Dragons.

Incredible businessperson Teresa Shaver, CEO of the Business Advisory Council of Durham joins Andrew to discuss new businesses blooming despite hardship, and the power of positive thinking during challenging times. How have you helped your community? Let us know. Teresa's amazing work helping you start or grow your business at BACD. Teresa in the News. More of Andrew on Twitter. Andrew's Company Drinks & Dragons.

In this episode, Andrew is joined by Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse who is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Author, Speaker and TV Host for Empowered Living to discuss businesses needing to pivot, new ways to thrive in the current economy, and personal growth. How have you managed to pivot? Let us know. Uchechi's website, Her amazing book, And Jim's excellent podcast More of Andrew on Twitter. Andrew's company Drinks & Dragons.

In this inaugural episode, Andrew has the privilege of interviewing Honor Bastianelli, Development Officer from Ontario Shores.   With the world going upside-down,  self-care and reaching out to friends and loved-ones is more important than ever. How have you been practicing self-care? Let us know. More info on Ontario Shores and programs that can help. Big White Wall a web-based Mental Health Platform. More of Andrew on Twitter. Andrew's Company Drinks & Dragons.