The Okotoks Podcast
The Okotoks Podcast is your ultimate guide to life in Okotoks! Hosted by Carlin Lutzer, a professional realtor and proud Okotokian, this podcast brings you stories, insights, and conversations about what makes this town just south of Calgary such a special place to live. Whether you’ve called Okotoks home for years or you’re just getting to know the community, this podcast is your connection to everything happening in town. From local businesses and real estate trends to community events and hidden gems, The Okotoks Podcast celebrates the people, places, and experiences that define life here. We talk about what it truly means to be an Okotokian, cheering for the Dawgs and Okotoks Oilers, sharing firsthand perspectives from those who shape the town’s unique identity. And, of course, we can’t talk about Okotoks without mentioning the legendary Big Rock, an iconic landmark that serves as a symbol of our strong, growing community. Join Carlin Lutzer as he explores the heart and soul of Okotoks, bringing you engaging interviews, local insights, and everything you need to stay connected to the place we proudly call home. Whether you’re looking for the latest news, local recommendations, or just a reason to love Okotoks even more, this podcast has something for you!
Episodes
Youth sports are supposed to teach teamwork, accountability, resilience and a love of the game. But with rising costs, packed schedules and increasing pressure to win, have we lost sight of their real purpose?
Chris Cederstrand returns to The Okotoks Podcast to talk honestly about what youth sports have become—and what needs to change.
Chris is a former Team Canada sledge hockey player and World Championship sil...
Ricky Sanchez came to Okotoks from Mexico City at just 15 years old with very little English, a love for baseball and a dream he was determined to pursue.
In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Ricky shares the story of leaving his family in Mexico to join the Dawgs Academy, attending Holy Trinity Academy and continuing his baseball career through several American colleges, including Gonzaga University.
We talk about...
In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin sits down with Amedeo, the owner and executive chef behind Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant.
Born in Calabria, Italy, Amedeo shares his journey from culinary school in Italy to working as an executive chef across Canada—and eventually building a family-run restaurant right here in Okotoks.
We talk about the importance of family, the Italian tradition of gathering a...
Are data centres a major economic opportunity for Alberta—or do the demands on electricity, water and local infrastructure outweigh the benefits?
In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin sits down with Jasona Rondeau to explore Alberta’s growing interest in attracting large-scale data centres. They discuss the potential for investment, jobs and economic diversification, while also examining concerns...
What happens when you sit down with a mayor who doesn't speak in political talking points?
In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, I sit down with Mayor Craig Snodgrass for one of the most open and candid municipal conversations I've had. Craig has earned a reputation for saying exactly what he believes, and whether you agree with him or not, you always know where he stands.
We dive into some of t...
In this episode of the Okotoks Podcast, Carlin Lutzer is joined once again by Brent Robinson, Executive Director of Lacrosse Alberta, and Curtis Armstrong, Publisher of The Western Wheel, for another round of fast-paced conversation on topics that are making people think in Okotoks and across Canada.
With just five minutes allocated to each question, the conversation moves quickly, giving three different perspectives...
Since our first conversation on growth in Okotoks, a lot has happened.
If you'd like to share your thoughts with Town Council, please take a few minutes to reach out. Visit the link below and select "Mayor & Council" from the drop-down menu to send your comments or questions:
https://www.okotoks.ca/form/contact-us-mayor-and-council
Town Council has approved higher-density developments, residents...
What happens to a community when a beloved local landmark is given a second life?
For years, many Okotokians worried that the Okotoks Air Ranch Airport (CFX2) might disappear into yet another housing development.
Carlin Lutzer sits down with airport manager Rob Grover, a lifelong aviator who soloed on this very field back in 2003, to explore the new ownership group's exciting vision for the airport's futur...
What does it really take for a man to admit he's not okay…and what can a community like Okotoks do to make that conversation easier?
Carlin Lutzer sits down with Melanie Taylor, therapist and owner of Connected Therapy Services in Okotoks, Alberta, for an honest conversation about men's mental health.
Recorded for Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode digs into why men account for roughl...
What does responsible mining actually look like and is it even possible on Alberta's eastern slopes?
Carlin Lutzer sits down with Amanda Desjardins, a professional mining consultant who has called Okotoks home for 14 years and whose work spans mine projects across Canada and around the world.
Together they unpack one of Alberta's most contentious issues: the push to restart coal mining near the Crowsnest P...
Why are Albertans paying so much more for insurance, and is there any relief in sight?
Carlin Lutzer sits down with local insurance broker Brayden Vellenoweth to unpack the complex forces driving insurance costs across Alberta. From devastating hailstorms, floods, and wildfires to rising litigation expenses and vehicle repair costs, Brayden explains why premiums continue to climb and why insurance is about far ...
What does it truly mean when a sports team becomes so woven into a community that you simply cannot imagine summer without it?
Carlin Lutzer sits down with William Gardner, longtime volunteer executive and community ambassador of the Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club, to celebrate 20 extraordinary years of Dawgs baseball in Okotoks.
William shares the inside story of how a small group of passionate volunteers tu...
What does it really take to fall in love with golf and what makes Okotoks one of the best places in Alberta to play it?
This episode dives into the fairways, Foothills, and philosophy of the game with David Robinson, head professional and VP of Operations at Heritage Point Golf Club and a 32-year member of the Canadian PGA.
Carlin Lutzer sits down with David for a wide-ranging conversation that covers the ...
Okotoks is growing fast, but is it growing wisely?
In this episode of the Okotoks Podcast, Carlin Lutzer sits down with Foothills County resident Paul Howarth to discuss the pressures, concerns, and civic responsibilities surrounding Okotoks’ rapid growth plans.
The conversation explores traffic congestion, emergency response delays, school capacity, infrastructure costs, density, builder quality, pu...
What does it really mean when we talk about "the cloud"… and what does that have to do with life in Alberta?
This episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most talked-about yet least-understood topics shaping communities across our province: data centers.
Carlin sits down with Matthew Guzdial, Associate Professor of Computing Science at the University of Alberta and Canada CIFAR AI Chair with th...
What does it actually take to grow a town without losing its soul?
That question sits at the heart of this episode, one of the timeliest and revealing conversations Carlin Lutzer has brought to the community.
In this episode, Carlin sits down with Jeff Greene, Director of Community Growth and Identity for the Town of Okotoks, the man overseeing planning, engineering, economic development, heritage, and mor...
The dog park should be fun, not a free for all.
Carlin Lutzer welcomes Sam Burnett from Sheep River Dog Rescue for a practical and honest conversation about dog park etiquette, dog behaviour, and responsible ownership.
Sam explains why recall is nonnegotiable, how to spot fear based reactivity, why not every growl means aggression, and how owners often create or escalate the problems they blame on dogs.&nb...
What does it take to face the world's brightest spotlight while quietly fighting battles no one can see?
Carlin Lutzer sits down with Canadian hockey icon Kelly Hrudey, former NHL goaltender for the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks, and one of the most beloved analysts on Hockey Night in Canada…. for a conversation that goes far deeper than the game.
Kelly's connection to O...
What does it really mean to support local… and what happens when a business puts community savings above corporate margins?
Carlin Lutzer is joined by Ian McAteer, co-owner of Adanac Liquidation, for a conversation that will completely change how you think about furniture shopping in Okotoks.
Ian and his business partner Brian built something rare: a store tucked behind Home Hardware on Fisher Cresc...
What does healthy community conversation actually look like and why has Okotoks been missing it?
This episode of the Okotoks Podcast marks both a milestone and a new beginning: the podcast's one-year anniversary and the debut of "Oko-Talks," a brand new panel segment that Carlin Lutzer has been wanting to create for a long time.
Joining Carlin are two familiar voices in the Okotoks community: Joelle ...
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