Episodes
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S4 E6 | Charity Baker + Fandom, Volunteers, and the Future of Hal-Con
Season 4 continues with James Collins and Alec Cranston as they discuss an unexpected cruise-ship diversion to Halifax and the strange story of Jerome of Sandy Cove. Then they’re joined by Charity Baker, chair of Hal-Con, to talk about the community behind the convention and what’s next for its...
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S4 E5 | Derek Martin + The Future of the Wanderers Grounds
Season 4 continues with James Collins and Alec Cranston, though James joins from his sickbed, loaded up on throat lozenges, while Alec runs the studio on his own. This episode is about one of the biggest questions facing the city: what happens next at the Wanderers Grounds? Halifax Wanderers FC...
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S4 E4 | Alex & James + Halifax's Affordability Meltdown
Season 4 continues with hosts James Collins and Alec Cranston back in the studio after a chaotic Halifax summer of heat, bomb threats, and breaking news alerts — and turning their attention to something even more unsettling: Halifax quietly becoming one of the least affordable cities in Canada....
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S4 E3 | Jennifer LaPlante + How AI Will Actually Change Your Job
Season 4 continues with hosts James Collins and Alec Cranston turning their attention to a topic reshaping every industry in Nova Scotia and beyond: artificial intelligence – what it really is, how it’s already changing work, and where the risks (and hype) actually lie. They’re joined by Jennifer...
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S4 E2 | Kim Batherson + Food Security on Halifax's Waterfront
Season 4 continues with hosts James Collins and Alec Cranston turning their attention to one of Halifax’s most iconic – and misunderstood – landmarks: the massive concrete grain elevator at the edge of Point Pleasant Park. They’re joined by Kim Batherson, President & CEO of Halifax Grain Elevator...
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S4 E1 | Arad Gharagozli + Zelenskyy Visits Halifax
Season 4 kicks off with hosts James Collins and Alec Cranston back in the studio, mixing Halifax politics, world events, and a deep dive into the region’s emerging space sector. They’re joined by Arad Gharagozli, CEO & Founder of Galaxia Mission Systems, a Halifax-based manufacturer of…
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Season 4 Trailer
Halifax, Nova Scotia: beautiful, stubborn, and a little bit chaotic, just like the people who call it home. Hosted by James Collins and Alec Cranston, Matter of Fax dives into the real stories of Halifax: the good, the bad, and the badly parked. From sky‑high rents and “I’m totally moving away”...
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S3E10| Max Emerson Taylor + Behind The Screens
In this episode, your hosts Alec Cranston and James Collins explore Nova Scotia’s wildfire ban, debunk a WWII espionage myth in the “Harbor of Lies,” and sit down with special guest Max Emerson Taylor for an honest look at influencer life, the pressures of social media, and the reality behind…
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S3E9| David Regan + Nanotech and the Future of Cancer Treatment
Hosts James Collins and Alec Cranston return for a fresh episode packed with local stories, science, and innovation. The two sit with David Regan, CEO of Sona Nanotech. David shares the fascinating story behind Sona’s breakthrough gold nanorod technology, which enables targeted hyperthermia…
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S3E8| The Welsh are taking over + Louis Thomas
This episode, with a special co-host, tuning in all the way from Norway, we discuss the Nova Scotia Power data breach, which exposed personal information of 140,000 customers, including social insurance numbers. An interview with Louis Thomas, President and CEO of Sonic Entertainment Group,...
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S3E7| Dr. Courtney Sherlock + Halifax Tides
Alec Cranston and James Collins are back this time with Dr. Courtney Sherlock, co-founder and CEO of Halifax Tides FC, a new professional women's soccer team! Dr. Sherlock shares her journey, the team's composition, and community engagement plans, including an academy program to foster local...
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S3E6| Halifax Explosion + Steve Proctor
In this episode, Alec and James discuss the transition from toll to toll-free bridges in Halifax with Steven Proctor, Communications Manager for Halifax Harbor Bridges. The McDonald Bridge toll plaza was demolished on March 17, 2023, and the Mackay Bridge followed suit. The removal impacted the...
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S3E5| Sunglass Hut Heist + Trent McClellan
In episode five of Matter of Fax, hosts Alec Cranston and James Collins discuss their hiatus and upcoming guests! They humorously recount a local robbery attempt at a Sunglass Hut, highlighting the robber's poor planning. James reveals a surprising connection between Bill Clinton and a local...
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S3E4 | The Wedding Special
Your host Alec Cranston is hitched! Join them on this special episode as Alec and James invite their wives Jen and Jenna to chat about their special day. Follow Matter Of 'Fax: https://www.instagram.com/matteroffaxpodcast/ Follow James: https://www.instagram.com/teamcollinsns/ Follow Alec:...
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S3E3 | Happy Holidays + Paul Mackinnon
In this holiday episode of the Matter of Fax podcast, hosts James Collins and Alec Cranston discuss a recent crane incident on the McDonald Bridge, the Parade of Lights in Halifax, and holiday traditions! They also interview Paul MacKinnon, CEO of the Downtown Halifax Business Commission, about…
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S3E2 | Northern Lights + Spiderman
Isaac Healy, also known as Halifax's Spider-Man, joins Alec and James this episode to discuss his journey of becoming a superhero to inspire others, especially children. He has been Spider-Man since 2021, visiting the IWK Children's Hospital and the Halifax waterfront. Isaac has faced challenges,...
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S3E1 | Bears In Dartmouth + Brandon Bird
Brandon Bird, CEO of Bird Mechanical, joins us for the very first episode of Season 3! Brandon discusses his company's expansion to Nova Scotia, highlighting their $74 million project in Sydney. Brandon shares his challenges in establishing his company in Nova Scotia, including the non-resident...
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Season 3 TRAILER
Your hosts James Collins and Alec Cranston are back with Season 3 of Matter of Fax! Lots of more fun guests, lots of more fun segments, and lots of more good times.
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S2E12 | The 'Exit Interview' with Mayor Mike Savage
Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality. Former MP. Chair of FCM Big City Mayors Caucus, Mike Savage, joins James and Alec on this episode of Matter of Fax to share his experiences and opinions on various aspects of Halifax, including food scams, transit issues, and municipal government. The three...
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S2E11 | Halifax is on the Map, with Dennis Campbell and Brian Cooper
It is tourist season in Halifax! During these warmer months, Halifax is bustling with lots to offer. Join Alec Cranston and James Collins for this episode of Matter of Fax, as they dive into a discussion with guests Dennis Campbell and Brian Cooper of Ambassador Tours, about Halifax tourism. The...
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S2E10 | Making Hockey More Inclusive with Future of Hockey Lab
How do we make hockey culture more accessible to women and non-binary players? Amy Walsh and Cailin Ahloy join James and Alec on this episode of Matter Of 'Fax to talk about some of their inclusive work with Future of Hockey Lab. They share some of their 'aha' moments in recognizing the…
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S2E9 | James Mullinger, Everybody!
The James Mullinger joins Alec Cranston, and James Collins to discuss comedy, including the challenges of creating and performing stand-up, and the difficulties of live comedy performances. They share their experiences and perspectives on the art of comedy, emphasizing the importance of...
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S2E8 | Atlantic Real Estate Forum 2024 Live Show
James and Alec are back this episode, recording live from the Atlantic Real Estate Forum 2024, at the Halifax Convention Centre! The two make an important announcement for Cushman and Wakefield Halifax, and sit down with a few exciting guests they caught at the conference; including Doug Doucet,...
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S2E7 | Halifax, the Music City, with Allegra Swanson
Did you know that Halifax is hosting this year's annual JUNO awards? What does this mean for Nova Scotia's Music Industry? This month on Matter of Fax, James and Alec are joined by the Executive Director, of Music Nova Scotia, Allegra Swanson. Allegra is a multi-talented arts professional, with a...
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S2E6 | Financial Engineering with Steve MacLellan
Giving thought to how to get ahead with your financial planning for 2024? Yearning to grow, and have control over your money? This month on Matter of Fax, James and Alec are joined by Financial Engineer Steve MacLellan whose lifeblood is helping established consultants make more money! Steve…
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S2E5 | The Holiday Special
Happy Holidays from Matter Of Fax! In this festive edition of Matter Of Fax, James Collins and Alec Cranston are joined by their partners, Jen and Jenna, to spread some holiday cheer. James, Jen, Alec and Jenna discuss an extravagant Christmas display called Santa's Lane in Colby Village, which…
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S2E4 | Entertainment Law and Management with Matthew Gorman
How does a lawyer end up starting his own music management company? This month on Matter of Fax, James and Alec are joined by entertainment lawyer Matthew Gorman. Matthew Gorman is Counsel in Cox & Palmer’s Halifax office, with extensive experience within the entertainment, intellectual property,...
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S2E3 | Transforming Downtown: The Cogswell Redevelopment Project
"This is meant to be a very vibrant new neighbourhood where people can come visit, live, work and play." - Donna Davis The Cogswell Interchange, a fixture since the 1960s, has seen considerable transformations in the years since its inception. Instead of solely prioritizing automobiles and...
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S2E2 | More Than A Flashlight: Disaster Preparedness with Dr. Jeff Donaldson
"Preparedness isn't a bag by your front door, preparedness is a way of life." In this episode, Alec and James kick things off by discussing Nova Scotia's insane summer weather of wildfires and flash floods, and a tragic Halifax Reddit post involving a lost birthday cake . Alec and James are then...
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Season 2 Trailer
Welcome to Season 2 of Matter Of 'Fax. Every month, Alec Cranston and James Collins will discuss the unsung Halifax heroes and happenings you might not have heard of, that keep the city worrying and spinning and being wonderful. Alec and James will chat with even more interesting guests, diving...
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S2E1 | John Wedderburn
In episode 13 of Matter of ‘Fax, and the first episode of Season 2, Alec and James brought in special guest John Wedderburn, Senior Advisor of HRM’s Communications and External Relations to discuss and explore the wonderful organizations and initiatives supporting the vibrant African Nova Scotia...
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Episode 12: Premier Tim Houston
Season Finale! Alec & James close out the inaugural season of Matter of ‘Fax with a bang, as they were pleased to welcome the Honourable Premier of Nova Scotia – Mr. Tim Houston. The guys take a dive into what lead the Premier to where he is today, some of his favorite things to do in Nova Scotia…
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Episode 11: Exploring Nova Scotia’s Charm
In episode 11 of Matter of 'Fax, Alec and James were thrilled to have Sean Meister join them as their guest. Sean provided a compelling case for why Nova Scotia is unequivocally the best place to live on the planet and also introduced his latest project, Global Bluenosers - a digital community…
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Episode 10: Tom Murphy
In episode 10 of Matter Of ‘Fax, Alec & James welcomed the anchor for CBC Nova Scotia News, Tom Murphy to the podcast, where they jumped into a great discussion on the evolution of journalism, and where Atlantic Canada falls on the national news agenda. The fellas then shifted their attention to...
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Episode 9: Second Christmas
In episode 9 of Matter Of ‘Fax, Alec & James brought on their much better halves Jenna & Jen, where wild relationship stories were shared, drinking games were played, and Alec learned how to speak proper English for once. To keep things serious, the fellas started a thoughtful and deep discussion...
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Episode 8: The USS Cranston
In episode 8 of Matter Of ‘Fax, Alec & James had none other than the “Red Head Realtor” aka Jonathan Lander on the podcast to discuss the ins and outs of the residential real estate market, along with where we might be headed, and how things have changed over the past couple years. The fellas…
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Episode 7: Alec Cranium & James Coffins
In episode 7 of Matter Of ‘Fax, Alec & James were joined by special guest Mr. Adams, an Interpretation supervisor with the Halifax Citadel Society to discuss the unexplained and supernatural events that have occurred within the walls of the Halifax Citadel. Then, in the spirit of All Hallows Eve…
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Episode 6: Alec & James Forever
In episode 6 of Matter Of ‘Fax, Alec & James kept each other company, with a discussion on Hurricane Fiona, the aftermath of the storm, and the effects it had on not only Nova Scotia, but coastal Atlantic Provinces. A new business was in the spotlight this month as James shared an interesting...
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Episode 5: Evolution of Halifax
In episode 5 of Matter Of ‘Fax, Alec & James were joined by the one and only, Bill MacAvoy, Managing Director of Cushman & Wakefield Atlantic, to discuss a little history of Halifax and the evolution of the city to what it is now, and what it will be in the future. Shenanigans ensued, as Alec...
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Episode 4: The Gruntled Bluenose
In episode 4 of Matter Of ‘Fax, Alec & James had Sarah Rumley, Executive Director of Cruise Atlantic Canada, and Jo-Anne McLean HIAA’s (Halifax International Airport Authority) Director of Air Service and Airport Experience in the studio to discuss the effects the flight and cruise industries…
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Episode 3: Screen Nova Scotia
In episode 3 of Matter Of ‘Fax, Alec & James sat down with Laura Mackenzie, the Executive Director of Screen Nova Scotia, to talk about funding, the future of film in Nova Scotia, and what makes the province an ideal location for the industry. Then things got off the rails as the two of them...
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Episode 2: World Juniors
In episode 2 of Matter Of ‘Fax, the guys sit down with Amy Walsh, Executive Director of Hockey NS, and Ross Jefferson, President & CEO of Discover Halifax, to discuss the impact of Halifax being awarded joint hosting duties of the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championships. Then, as per usual, James...
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Episode 1: Hannah Kovacs
In the inaugural episode of Matter Of ‘Fax, the guys discussed the inner workings of running a business with Hannah Kovacs of Move East Studios, stories that reach crane-level insanity, and brought the spotlight to a fresh local business.
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Introduction to Matter of 'Fax
Take a deep dive with James Collins and Alec Cranston as they bring to light the most innovative, trailblazing, and intriguing stories the city of Halifax has to offer.