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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 the challenges he faced along the way, the lessons he learned and the people who supported him. Ricky also looks back on winning three championships with the Okotoks Dawgs, the friendships he formed and the special connection he developed with the fans.

Ricky has certainly made a lasting impact on the Dawgs organization and the Okotoks community—but Okotoks has made just as great an impact on him. What began as a place to pursue baseball has become home. As his playing career comes to an end, Ricky plans to remain in Canada, put down roots in Okotoks and hopefully help develop the next generation of players through coaching.

This is a heartfelt conversation about baseball, sacrifice, family, community and finding a home far away from where your journey began.

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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 around the table, and how Amedeo’s has created a dining experience where every guest is treated like part of the family. Amedeo also shares how his children, Valentina and Corrado, have become equal partners in the business and why their passion and sense of ownership make the restaurant so special.

Plus, we hear about their unique mobile wood-fired pizza oven, panini truck, catering services, and Amedeo’s desire to leave a lasting family legacy in the community.

It’s a wonderful conversation about food, family, tradition and bringing an authentic taste of Italy to Okotoks.

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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 surrounding energy consumption, water use, noise, environmental impact and the pressure these developments could place on nearby communities.

Jasona also helps explain how modern data centres operate, including closed-loop cooling systems, evolving technology and the trade-offs communities should consider before welcoming these projects.

This is a balanced conversation about growth, responsibility and whether data centres truly make sense for Alberta.

Episode title:
Data Centres in Alberta: Are the Benefits Worth the Cost? with Jasona Rondeau