Hidden Valley Podcast Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:50:25 -0700 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2629341 en-us © 2026 Hidden Valley Podcast yes e069dbb7-4e47-551b-a208-94343e4f9f6b Ken Baerg, Host episodic false A podcast about the people, tensions and forces shaping the Fraser Valley — and the quiet innovators and change-makers most people never hear about.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Ken Baerg, Host https://storage.buzzsprout.com/b9a5oubgputyg72z16if7si7jy0h?.jpg Hidden Valley Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2629341 Tracy Loffler: Casting an Informed Ballot for School Trustee Tracy Loffler: Casting an Informed Ballot for School Trustee Ken talks with Tracy Loffler, President of the BC School Trustees Association, about what a school board trustee's role is and isn't. They cover how schools are funded and what more funding could make possible, SOGI, and keeping student achievement at the centre of trustee work. 

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken talks with Tracy Loffler, President of the BC School Trustees Association, about what a school board trustee's role is and isn't. They cover how schools are funded and what more funding could make possible, SOGI, and keeping student achievement at the centre of trustee work. 

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Baerg, Host Buzzsprout-19927612 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:00:00 -0700 2583 full false Brooke & Abby: Making Rec a Priority Brooke & Abby: Making Rec a Priority Ken sits down with Brooke and Abby of #AbbyRecAdvocacy, a grassroots push to make recreation a priority in Abbotsford. They talk about how a conversation became a movement and why they listen to the sports associations, leaders, and coaches.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken sits down with Brooke and Abby of #AbbyRecAdvocacy, a grassroots push to make recreation a priority in Abbotsford. They talk about how a conversation became a movement and why they listen to the sports associations, leaders, and coaches.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Baerg, Host Buzzsprout-19922431 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0700 3558 full false Ken Popove, Outgoing Mayor of Chilliwack Ken Popove, Outgoing Mayor of Chilliwack Ken Popove isn't running again in the Oct 17 election. Before he leaves office, he sits down with Hidden Valley to look back on his time as Mayor of Chilliwack.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Popove isn't running again in the Oct 17 election. Before he leaves office, he sits down with Hidden Valley to look back on his time as Mayor of Chilliwack.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Baerg, Host Buzzsprout-19921098 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0700 2404 full false Jay Lundgren: Township of Langley Mayoral Candidate Jay Lundgren: Township of Langley Mayoral Candidate Ken sits down with Jay Lundgren, a first-time Township of Langley mayoral candidate running with Langley Strong. The Township's finances and debt are central to his platform. We also cover capital project funding, the role developers should play in paying for growth, and leadership.

Election day is October 17, with advance voting October 6-10.

Jay didn't have input on questions or edits, and no money changed hands. Hidden Valley does not endorse mayoral candidates.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken sits down with Jay Lundgren, a first-time Township of Langley mayoral candidate running with Langley Strong. The Township's finances and debt are central to his platform. We also cover capital project funding, the role developers should play in paying for growth, and leadership.

Election day is October 17, with advance voting October 6-10.

Jay didn't have input on questions or edits, and no money changed hands. Hidden Valley does not endorse mayoral candidates.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Buzzsprout-19908732 Sun, 04 Oct 2026 17:00:00 -0700 3132 full false Sukhi Dhami: Abbotsford Mayoral Candidate Sukhi Dhami: Abbotsford Mayoral Candidate Ken talks with Abbotsford mayoral candidate Sukhi Dhami about growing up in Abbotsford, recreation infrastructure, working with other levels of government, and attracting investment to the city.

Election day is October 17.

Sukhi didn't have input on questions or edits, and no money changed hands. Hidden Valley does not endorse mayoral candidates.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken talks with Abbotsford mayoral candidate Sukhi Dhami about growing up in Abbotsford, recreation infrastructure, working with other levels of government, and attracting investment to the city.

Election day is October 17.

Sukhi didn't have input on questions or edits, and no money changed hands. Hidden Valley does not endorse mayoral candidates.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Baerg, Host Buzzsprout-19908707 Sun, 04 Oct 2026 14:00:00 -0700 2930 full false Mike de Jong: 30 Years, 5 Balanced Budgets, and Why Your Local MLA Still Matters Mike de Jong: 30 Years, 5 Balanced Budgets, and Why Your Local MLA Still Matters Mike de Jong represented Abbotsford in the BC Legislature for three decades, from 1994 to 2024.  As BC's Finance Minister, he tabled 5 consecutive balanced budgets from 2013 - 2017.  In this episode, Mike talks about why local representation still matters when so much attention goes to party leaders, what it actually takes to balance a provincial budget, and the hard trade-offs behind every government decision.  There are rarely easy fixes.

It's an honest look at how governing really works, from someone who spent 30 years doing it.

-

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Mike de Jong represented Abbotsford in the BC Legislature for three decades, from 1994 to 2024.  As BC's Finance Minister, he tabled 5 consecutive balanced budgets from 2013 - 2017.  In this episode, Mike talks about why local representation still matters when so much attention goes to party leaders, what it actually takes to balance a provincial budget, and the hard trade-offs behind every government decision.  There are rarely easy fixes.

It's an honest look at how governing really works, from someone who spent 30 years doing it.

-

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Baerg, Host Buzzsprout-19879806 Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:00:00 -0700 3325 full false Ed Fast & Alex Mitchell on Tariffs, Trump, and the Fraser Valley Ed Fast & Alex Mitchell on Tariffs, Trump, and the Fraser Valley Former Trade Minister Ed Fast and Abbotsford Chamber CEO Alex Mitchell on Trump, tariffs, and why this is still a live negotiation. Plus: Team Canada, why free trade needs better PR, and why the Fraser Valley needs trade corridors that don't flood.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Former Trade Minister Ed Fast and Abbotsford Chamber CEO Alex Mitchell on Trump, tariffs, and why this is still a live negotiation. Plus: Team Canada, why free trade needs better PR, and why the Fraser Valley needs trade corridors that don't flood.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Baerg, Host Buzzsprout-19860786 Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:00:00 -0700 3835 full false Kerry-Lynne Findlay on Her Bid For The Abbotsford-Mission Seat Kerry-Lynne Findlay on Her Bid For The Abbotsford-Mission Seat Kerry-Lynne Findlay makes her case to the voters of Abbotsford-Mission ahead of the September 26 byelection.  The BC Conservative leader talks about what she would bring to the riding and her vision for the province.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Kerry-Lynne Findlay makes her case to the voters of Abbotsford-Mission ahead of the September 26 byelection.  The BC Conservative leader talks about what she would bring to the riding and her vision for the province.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Baerg, Host Buzzsprout-19831251 Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 2705 full false Pam Alexis on Her Bid For The Abbotsford-Mission Seat Pam Alexis on Her Bid For The Abbotsford-Mission Seat Pam Alexis makes her case to the voters of Abbotsford-Mission ahead of the September 26 byelection.  The former BC Agriculture Minister talks about her roots in the community and why she wants the seat back.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Pam Alexis makes her case to the voters of Abbotsford-Mission ahead of the September 26 byelection.  The former BC Agriculture Minister talks about her roots in the community and why she wants the seat back.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Baerg, Host Buzzsprout-19831243 Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 2400 full false Eric Woodward on Complete Communities, Debt, and Building Now Eric Woodward on Complete Communities, Debt, and Building Now Township of Langley Mayor Eric Woodward makes his case for complete communities, using debt to build now rather than waiting, and holding the development community accountable.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Township of Langley Mayor Eric Woodward makes his case for complete communities, using debt to build now rather than waiting, and holding the development community accountable.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Baerg, Host Buzzsprout-19814258 Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0700 3127 full false Ross Siemens on Building Abbotsford Ross Siemens on Building Abbotsford Ross Siemens is the Mayor of Abbotsford, first elected to local office at 23. He joins Ken Baerg to talk about the decisions the City is faced with right now: the timing and financing for new recreational amenities, prioritizing necessary infrastructure, debt financing and taxation, and where the flood mitigation work stands. With a municipal election on October 17, these are the questions in front of voters.

Note: recorded prior to the recent ALC decision concerning the lands on McKenzie and King Road.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ross Siemens is the Mayor of Abbotsford, first elected to local office at 23. He joins Ken Baerg to talk about the decisions the City is faced with right now: the timing and financing for new recreational amenities, prioritizing necessary infrastructure, debt financing and taxation, and where the flood mitigation work stands. With a municipal election on October 17, these are the questions in front of voters.

Note: recorded prior to the recent ALC decision concerning the lands on McKenzie and King Road.

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Ken Baerg, Host Buzzsprout-19794826 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 14:00:00 -0700 3065 full false Gordon Campbell on Serving At Every Level Gordon Campbell on Serving At Every Level Former BC Premier Gordon Campbell talks about local government, the BC political landscape, and his time with the Queen!

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Former BC Premier Gordon Campbell talks about local government, the BC political landscape, and his time with the Queen!

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Buzzsprout-19768762 Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:00:00 -0700 2938 full false Trailer Trailer Welcome to Hidden Valley Podcast

Most of us are acutely aware of what's going on in Washington DC and the Middle East (and we should pay attention!). But far fewer of us could speak to what's going on in our own communities — the places where we actually experience life! That's what this show is about: the people, the forces, and the tensions shaping our region. Not outrage, not apathy — curious, honest conversations that are accessible and informative.

We're launching right after Labour Day, and we're starting where it matters most this fall: the local elections that decide what we pay in taxes, what gets built where, how safe our communities will be, and how our kids are taught.

First up, we're sitting down with:

  • Ross Siemens — Mayor of Abbotsford
  • Ken Popove — Mayor of Chilliwack
  • Eric Woodward — Mayor of the Township of Langley
  • Mike de Jong — 30-year MLA and former BC cabinet minister
  • Pam Alexis — former BC Minister of Agriculture and Mayor of Mission
  • Tracy Loffler — President of the BC School Trustees Association

…and more to come — on farmland, growth, healthcare, faith, and the quiet change-makers who never make the news.

Follow Hidden Valley wherever you get your podcasts so the first episode lands the moment it drops!

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> Welcome to Hidden Valley Podcast

Most of us are acutely aware of what's going on in Washington DC and the Middle East (and we should pay attention!). But far fewer of us could speak to what's going on in our own communities — the places where we actually experience life! That's what this show is about: the people, the forces, and the tensions shaping our region. Not outrage, not apathy — curious, honest conversations that are accessible and informative.

We're launching right after Labour Day, and we're starting where it matters most this fall: the local elections that decide what we pay in taxes, what gets built where, how safe our communities will be, and how our kids are taught.

First up, we're sitting down with:

  • Ross Siemens — Mayor of Abbotsford
  • Ken Popove — Mayor of Chilliwack
  • Eric Woodward — Mayor of the Township of Langley
  • Mike de Jong — 30-year MLA and former BC cabinet minister
  • Pam Alexis — former BC Minister of Agriculture and Mayor of Mission
  • Tracy Loffler — President of the BC School Trustees Association

…and more to come — on farmland, growth, healthcare, faith, and the quiet change-makers who never make the news.

Follow Hidden Valley wherever you get your podcasts so the first episode lands the moment it drops!

Follow Hidden Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Find Hidden Valley on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and at https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/. 

]]> https://hiddenvalleypodcast.ca/ Ken Buzzsprout-19549669 Sat, 25 Jul 2026 17:00:00 -0700 58 trailer false