In Episode 4 of Beyond 2 Bridges, hosts Ryan Donnelly and Matthew Dumouchel are joined by Dartis Willis for a conversation about the priorities shaping Windsor-Essex’s future — from budget decisions and economic development to the role of sport and culture in building strong, connected communities.

Dartis Willis shares his perspective on fostering community pride, the power of basketball to bring people together, and the importance of maintaining strong cultural ties that define the region and support sustainable growth. The episode highlights how strategic planning, local engagement, and accessibility can shape Windsor-Essex through 2040 — and why leadership rooted in community makes all the difference.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What budget priorities matter most for Windsor-Essex
• Why economic diversification supports long-term stability
• How sports help build community connection and pride
• The importance of cultural ties between Windsor and Detroit
• A shared vision for Windsor-Essex’s future through 2040

New episodes of Beyond 2 Bridges drop weekly, spotlighting the leaders, builders, and changemakers shaping Windsor-Essex.

This Episode’s Sponsor: Daniel James Pike

This episode is proudly sponsored by Daniel James Pike — a Windsor-Essex County–based writer, graphic designer, and filmmaker/screenwriter, and the founder of County House Pictures, a film production company focused on crafting stories “from script to screen.”
Daniel James Pike
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Learn more and explore Daniel’s work:
👉 https://danieljamespike.ca/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Budget Priorities for Windsor-Essex

05:40 Community Engagement and Basketball

13:03 Building Community Spirit

23:03 Cultural and Economic Connections

34:14 Vision for Windsor-Essex 2040

In Episode 3 of Beyond 2 Bridges, hosts Ryan Donally and Matthew Dumouchel welcome Windsor-Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald for a timely conversation about leadership, regional collaboration, and the work happening behind the scenes to support communities across Windsor-Essex.

Hilda shares perspective on what it takes to lead at the county level, why cooperation across municipalities matters, and how long-term thinking influences economic development, infrastructure decisions, and the overall health of a region. The episode explores how government, business, and culture can work together to strengthen Windsor-Essex, and what leadership looks like when you’re focused on outcomes that last.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What the role of County Warden involves
• Why regional collaboration shapes long-term growth
• How leadership decisions connect to community well-being
• A forward-looking perspective on Windsor-Essex

The episode closes with Bounty from the County, featuring another local taste from the region — because the best way to talk about community is to experience it.

New episodes of Beyond 2 Bridges drop weekly, spotlighting the leaders, creators, and builders shaping Windsor-Essex.

This Episode’s Sponsor: Plantscape

This episode is proudly sponsored by Plantscape — a Windsor-Essex company providing year-round property services, including landscaping, snow removal, and custom planters, with a long-standing local history dating back to 1976.

Learn more about Plantscape:
👉 https://plantscape.ca

In Episode 2 of Beyond 2 Bridges, hosts Ryan Donally and Matthew Dumouchel sit down with Craig Ramsay — winner of The Amazing Race Canada, actor, and reality TV personality — for a fun, honest conversation about performance, identity, and what it’s like to represent your roots on a national stage.

Craig shares stories from his journey into entertainment, what competition and public visibility teach you about resilience, and how creativity and confidence show up in both the arts and business worlds. The hosts also explore Craig’s connection to Windsor-Essex and why the region continues to shape the people who leave it, build in it, and come back to it.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What it takes to perform under pressure and stay grounded

Lessons from competition, collaboration, and creativity

How storytelling and personal brand evolve over time

Why Windsor-Essex continues to be a place people rally behind

And of course, the episode wraps with Bounty from the County — where Ryan brings the local surprise of the week and Craig and Matthew find out what they’re tasting in real time.

New episodes of Beyond 2 Bridges drop weekly, bringing together business, arts, sport, and culture to spotlight the people shaping Windsor-Essex.

This Episode’s Sponsor: Daniel James Pike

This episode is proudly sponsored by Daniel James Pike — a Windsor-Essex County–based writer, graphic designer, and filmmaker/screenwriter, and the founder of County House Pictures, a film production company focused on crafting stories “from script to screen.”

Learn more and explore Daniel’s work:
👉 https://danieljamespike.ca/