Today on Bring Back The Porch Tamara Miller from Miller's Haunts shares spooky stories, paranormal experiences, and her insights on haunted places, supernatural elements, and Halloween traditions. Discover fascinating tales and perspectives on the supernatural world.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tamara Miller and her paranormal stories
02:02 Childhood ghost stories and experiences with Morgan
03:52 Paranormal activity at a children's home in Didsbury
06:57 Beliefs about ghosts, spirits, and supernatural encounters
09:02 Haunted places in Saskatchewan and local ghost stories
12:06 Thoughts on aliens, UFOs, and extraterrestrial life
15:13 Supernatural phenomena like Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, and Mothman
19:47 Demonic presence, haunted objects, and energy attachments
24:49 Halloween traditions, ghost tours, and spooky season plans
29:58 Final thoughts and Halloween message from Tamara Miller

As the spooky season begins, there's something thrilling about sharing ghost stories, especially when they come from personal experiences. In this episode of *Bring Back the Porch*, Curtis chats with Tamara Miller, a passionate storyteller from Miller's Haunts, who brings her own spine-tingling tales to life.

Childhood Haunts
Tamara recalls her childhood friend Morgan, who delighted in scaring her and other friends during sleepovers on her farm. Each visit was filled with scary movies and ghostly tales, crafting a perfect atmosphere for youthful fright.

Years later, Tamara found herself working at a children's home that was rumoured to be haunted. On Halloween night, a loud bang echoed from the basement, leading her and a coworker to investigate. The eerie occurrences didn’t stop there; strange happenings continued to unfold, leaving Tamara with a lingering fear of the basement laundry room.

A Connection to the Past
In a twist of fate, Morgan later sought to buy a house just two doors down from Tamara's workplace, only to discover it was the old Didsbury hospital. This revelation added another layer of eeriness to their history, tying their ghostly experiences together.

The Skeptic's Journey
Tamara also shares her experience with a skeptical trolley driver who accompanies her on tours. His desire to be proven wrong leads him to investigate the paranormal, creating a fascinating dynamic between belief and skepticism.

Ghostly Encounters
Throughout the conversation, they delve into various ghost stories and supernatural phenomena. One particularly chilling account involves a water cooler flying across a room, and another where a figure resembling Morgan's mother appeared, only to vanish.

Halloween Reflections
As Halloween approaches, Tamara emphasizes a cautious approach to the supernatural, especially regarding Ouija boards. While some may dabble, she firmly advises against it, citing the potential for unexpected encounters.

We hope you enjoy this spooky season and we hope you share your scary tales with us in the comments!!!

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Tonight on Bring Back The Porch, we explore workforce challenges, including recruitment, retention, diversity, and the impact of AI, with Isabel Jewell Schmidt. Discover strategies for creating inclusive workplaces and adapting to rapid changes in the labor market.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
02:34 Challenges in workforce recruitment and retention
03:52 Impact of retirements and replacing experienced workers
04:34 Changing career patterns and workplace flexibility
05:12 How CWE tailors solutions to employer needs
07:00 Using AI to enhance productivity and reduce job dissatisfaction
07:42 Fostering diversity and inclusion in the workforce
08:57 Supporting older workers and overcoming stereotypes
10:07 Strategies for attracting young talent
10:55 The importance of workforce adaptability and registration details for the summit

Here in Southeastern Alberta the workforce landscape is changing, the need for adaptability and inclusivity has never been more pressing. We sat down with Isabel Jewell Schmidt, program coordinator for the Workforce Solutions Summit, to discuss the challenges facing employers today and the importance of creating an inclusive work environment.

The Importance of Inclusivity
Isabel emphasized the pivotal role of inclusivity in today’s workplace. "We focus on how to bring people to the workforce and how then to create an environment that’s inclusive for them once they’re there." The Workforce Solutions Summit, happening on October 27th, aims to address these very issues, providing resources to improve recruitment and retention efforts.

Key Concerns in Today’s Workforce
Isabel shared insights on the pressing concerns employers face:
-Workforce Shortages: With a significant number of experienced workers retiring, finding replacements is a growing challenge.
- Generational Differences: Younger workers are seeking flexibility and a sense of purpose in their careers, which can clash with traditional workplace structures.

Embracing Change with AI
One of the hot topics at the summit will be the impact of AI on the workplace. Isabel noted: Instead of fearing AI, maybe we take AI and use it for the parts people dislike doing. Everybody has a part of their job that they don’t like. This perspective encourages companies to view AI as a tool for enhancing productivity rather than a threat.

Diversity as an Asset
Our workforce is increasingly diverse, with people from various backgrounds entering the job market. Isabel highlighted the need for employers to embrace this diversity: "Inclusion is not just something that’s different, but something that’s good." Workshops and training sessions provided by SIWI aim to help employers understand and manage this diversity effectively.

Summit Details:
The Workforce Solutions Summit is set for October 27th at Medicine Hat College. This free event will tackle crucial topics related to workplace culture and development. Registration is open online, and the summit is designed for employers, service providers, and anyone interested in enhancing their professional skills.

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We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and mostly it's for the community we have been able to build this first year. In January we were able to receive a community vibrancy grant from the City of Medicine Hat. We used it to create an evening of entertainment and education at the Monarch Theatre. On September 15th we invited some local historians to speak with Brian about the history of Medicine Hat. They shared some fantastic stories about our city and our audience was very interested in what they had to say. Sit back and relax as we present some of the facinating stories of notable figures, historical artifacts and intriguing tales that connect our community and our citizens.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the episode and guests
00:30 The story of Mayor Brown and his controversial history
01:00 The discovery and significance of the Benwell Tablet
01:29 Research into Major Benwell's military service and controversies
01:51 The story of Nancy the grizzly bear and local family tales
02:21 Connections between Jesse James and Medicine Hat
02:50 The story of Lord Beresford and the ranching history
03:20 Family stories of early settlers and explorers
03:50 The history of local brickyards and industry
03:58 Closing remarks and upcoming publications


The Tale of Mervyn Brown
Sally shares an unexpected story about Mayor Mervyn Brown, who served from 1918 to 1921. Initially depicted as an exceptional leader, further research revealed a darker side. After his death, it was discovered that Brown had been involved in serious allegations while living in England, including assaults on chambermaids, which were hushed up by influential friends.
"This is a case of a man who did not seem as he appeared," Sally reflects, highlighting the complexities of historical figures.

The Benwell Tablet
Next, William introduces us to Major Ernest George Benwell, who commissioned a memorial tablet honouring the men of the Third Canadian Mounted Rifles during World War I. Despite its noble beginnings, controversy surrounded the tablet’s display due to accusations against Benwell, leading to its eventual placement at City Hall instead of the originally intended church.
"When lawyers get involved, you know you're in trouble," William quips, emphasizing the tangled web of community dynamics.

The Early Days of Medicine Hat
Malcolm introduces us to the beginnings of Medicine Hat through his family stories of his Great Grandfather James Hargrave who took the train from Portage la Prairie to Maple Creek. From there, he rode out to Medicine Hat Coulee where surveyors were looking to build a bridge. As Malcolm says "I heard bits and pieces of it, and actually when I went to university and studied history of Western Canada, it started to click that, hmm, my family's actually in this."

These stories are apart of the history of Medicine Hat and made the city we call home today. We invite you to watch and listen to the whole live show recorded in front of an audience of enthusiastic history buffs. We want to thank the City of Medicine Hat, The Medicine Hat Historical Society, and the Monarch Theatre for their contributions to helping us create this special live event.

Medicine Hat Fire Department reminds you to charge your devices with the cord that came them. Third party cords can damage your rechargeable batteries and lead to fire.

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