Legendary sports broadcaster Bob Irving, probably the nicest person I know, recently shared some advice he got from one of his mentors, Cactus Jack Wells. It never hurts to be nice. Some candidates in Winnipeg's civic election could use that advice. I'm also talking to the municipal unions that have filled my mailbox with their spiteful pamphlets. With election day on Wednesday, this campaign has been nastier than I'd like. Yes, politics is competitive. But why can't you compete without making it personal? Political strategist Michael Diamond made an interesting point on my radio show. "Negative campaigns diminish all campaigns." He says they lower our opinion of politicians. Everybody gets dragged down. So why do it? Because it works. We might not like it, but we remember it, and it can influence our vote. Therapist Carolyn Klassen of Conexus Counselling says our brains are wired to pay attention to danger. Suggest an opponent is a threat and we listen. But respect can get our attention, too. A candidate who treats opponents decently might also be someone we trust to work with others. That matters when you're trying to run a city. Tell me what's wrong. Tell me how you'll fix it. Then let me decide. Nasty might win votes. But I'd rather have nice win mine.

Hal’s Kitchen now airs on CJOB every Saturday and Sunday at noon. It’s a jam-packed show this weekend. -Crumbl #Winnipeg -Pizzaland -St. Norbert Farmers’ Market -Mars Canada I hope you tune in! And don’t forget about my Hal’s Kitchen #food column in the Sun every Sunday.

What took us so long to switch? It really is much better water! And you’re buying local from a #Winnipeg company, World of Water, that’s been around for half a century.

The three leading candidates in Winnipeg’s mayoral race will debate the issues this morning. Pop some popcorn and tune in to CJOB at 9 o’clock for Scott Gillingham, Kevin Klein and Mike Vogiatzakis, moderated by Richard Cloutier. Then at 10, we’ll talk about it on Connecting Winnipeg with Hal Anderson.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers punter Jamieson Sheahan knows a thing or two about delivering a good kick. Now he's hoping to put one in your coffee cup. The Australian has launched Propa Coffee, a passion project inspired by something he missed from home. Turns out, homesickness can brew up a business. Sheahan says the difference is in the roast. He prefers a light to medium-light, with the smooth, creamy character he associates with Australian coffee culture. He's trying to avoid that bitter taste that can linger. "It's like a passion project for me," he says. "We pride ourselves on our coffee." There's also a Manitoba connection beyond the guy wearing blue and gold. Jacked Up Jill in Headingley roasts the beans for Propa, which offers three varieties. Sheahan says teammates are drinking it, Bomber fans have been buying it and some customers are coming back for more. That's a pretty good sign when you're building a coffee business. Football remains the priority, but he'd love to make coffee part of his future after the final whistle. For now, you can check out the beans at PropaCoffee.com. He's also hoping to get them onto Winnipeg store shelves. A little taste of Down Under, roasted right here.

A new season of Hal’s Kitchen begins today at noon on 680 CJOB. I’ll talk to the owners of Greek Market & Pasquale’s. My hour-long food show will air every Saturday & Sunday at high noon on the mighty ‘OB. And don’t forget about my Hal’s Kitchen food column every Sunday in the Winnipeg Sun. Thanks for listening & reading!

Just 11 days until Winnipeg votes. Still waiting for this civic election campaign to get your pulse racing? You're not alone. Pollster Mary Agnes Welch at Abacus Data grades the race a D, describing Mayor Scott Gillingham's approach as “a pretty boring front-runner campaign.” “It's not the best we can do.” Another pollster, Andrew Enns at Leger, is slightly more generous. He gives it a C or C-. He says he'd like a more aggressive Gillingham to challenge the Kinew government by asking, “Where are you?” But voters are also tired of paying without seeing results. Welch says that leaves little room for vision. We're so busy trying to fix what's broken, we're barely discussing what our city could become. “We don't really expect bold. We don't want bold. We want the basics fixed.” The frustration is real. The question is whether anyone can convince voters they have a better way forward. Or will almost two-thirds of those voters just sit on their asses again like last time? Wednesday could shake things up. 680 CJOB hosts Gillingham, Kevin Klein and Mike Vogiatzakis at 9 a.m. on October 21, followed by the postgame show with yours truly on Connecting Winnipeg at 10 a.m. The same three meet again that night for CBC's televised debate at 6 p.m. One sharp exchange, one surprising answer or one spectacular stumble could turn meh into must-watch. There's still time for an October surprise. Just not much.

This just popped up in my memories feed from four years ago. To everyone who’s running in the civic election, thank you for putting your name forward! It takes a lot of courage and it’s not easy but you’ll be better when it’s over, win or lose. And our city will be too.

Condiment company Heinz is surprising Canadians this morning with a new line of soups. The ready-to-eat soups come in six different recipes, and they’re contained in a portable, easy-to-open bag. The collection is made up of Chicken Noodle, Thai Style Chicken & Coconut Curry, Hearty Tomato & White Bean, Thick & Cheesy Potato, Rich Mushroom, and Curry Butternut Squash.

While we wait to see if Premier Wab Kinew can keep his promise to balance Manitoba’s budget by 2027, there are certainly some areas where cuts should at least be considered. For example, the province’s sunshine list. According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, there are 34,304 government workers who make over $100,000 a year. In 2020, that number was 12,320. The average Manitoban earns $63,290. CTF prairie director Gage Haubrich says, “Taxpayers can’t afford to keep bankrolling this out-of-control government wage bill.” Oh, and by the way, the provincial debt is approaching $38 billion.

I hope you're having a fantastic long weekend! While some will have more food than others, it's all costing more than last Thanksgiving. Whatever's on the menu, I hope there's plenty of love around your table. Too many are feeling the pinch this year. According to Sylvain Charlebois, Dalhousie University's Food Professor, the cost of your holiday meal this weekend is up about 10%. And if you're having turkey, like my family is, it's still the least expensive option compared to ham or lamb. Something to be thankful for before we even get to the gravy. Charlebois says the 10% estimate is based on advertised prices, and he encourages people to watch for specials. A little shopping around could leave a few more dollars in your pocket. There's also reason to keep an eye on diesel prices. Higher fuel costs make moving food more expensive. If diesel doesn't start coming back down again, we could see more pressure on grocery bills in the weeks ahead. Maybe this is the year to spread the work and the cost around a bit. Someone brings the potatoes, another person handles dessert, and everybody helps with the dishes. Well, we can dream! Whatever you're serving, take a minute to appreciate the people sharing it with you. Tell them you love them. Remember those you're missing. And if you can, make room for someone who could use a little company. Happy Thanksgiving!

I like hitting the Tim Hortons drive-thru in Selkirk off Highway 9. I get a chance to see what’s up with the city’s business community.

Godzilla is coming. But this monster might actually do us a favour. I'm referring to the Godzilla El Niño that everyone's been talking about. Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips says it's one of the strongest ever recorded, which will likely mean a much nicer winter around here. He looked back at four strong or very strong El Niños over the past 80 years. Every one of them brought Manitoba a warmer-than-normal winter, including our warmest, second warmest and sixth warmest winters. And the falls leading into those winters were warmer than normal, too. So maybe we won't have to pay for this lovely October weather after all. Consider Winnipeg's winter of 2023-24. Phillips says it averaged more than six degrees warmer than normal. We had just 16 days below minus 20, compared with the usual 52. Snowfall was roughly half of normal. I'll take that! Phillips says the odds favour a warmer fall and winter, with fewer prolonged bouts of bitter cold. But don't sell your shovel. Cold snaps and blizzards can still happen, and snowfall is harder to predict. There are downsides, too. Mild weather can complicate winter roads, disappoint snowmobilers and leave less moisture for spring seeding. Still, if Godzilla wants to shorten our deep freeze, I'm happy to roll out the welcome mat.

Rest in peace, Coach 🙏 The Mike Ditka Bears were a lot of fun to follow. Right around the time the Bears won the Super Bowl in 1985, I went to Ditka’s restaurant in Chicago and ordered his Kick Ass Paddle Steak, a 19 ounce bone-in ribeye. Maybe I’ll have to root for the Bears this year in honour of Coach Ditka.

Assiniboine Park Zoo would like your help naming its new polar bear. The orphaned cub came from Churchill over the summer. Now ready for visitors, he needs a name.  Students in the bear’s hometown came up with these choices, and you can vote on the zoo’s website: Duke, Marly, Fletcher or Mantayo.  Voting is open until midnight Tuesday.

Change is certainly in the air but the big question remains…will people get out and vote for it? A new Abacus Data poll says only 21% of Winnipeggers think the city is on the right track. Early voting is underway. For more, go to Winnipeg.ca/WhereDoIVote.

Jon Hamm is serving up something special for hungry Manitobans. The Mad Men star has signed a bowl for Harvest Manitoba's Empty Bowls Online Auction. His red-and-white creation features a little black bow tie. Pretty fitting for a guy who cleans up nicely in a tux. Hamm has become a familiar face in Winnipeg, and now he's joining John Travolta, Slash, Katy Perry, Brad Paisley, Mötley Crüe and Winnipeg-born Olympic soccer champion Desiree Scott in helping put food on local tables. The celebrity bowls are among almost 100 auction prizes, including travel, dining, entertainment and unique experiences. Bidding closes Saturday, October 10, at 6 p.m. at HarvestManitoba.ca. Harvest says more than 108,000 Manitobans access its programs each month through food banks and agencies across the province.

It’s been 17 years this fall since I made the switch from rock to talk, Power 97 to 680 CJOB. This is the custom drink cooler I received from my Power coworkers, all their messages and autographs were burnt into the wood. I loved my 13 years doing Power mornings with BJ and then Wheeler. Lots of laughs!

Something about Winnipeg's civic election campaign isn't sitting right with me. A city employee reached out to me about coming on my radio show to discuss a sponsorship program. An hour before the interview, he cancelled. There were concerns it could look like promotion for the current administration during an election. Fair enough. But then I saw councillor Evan Duncan's social media video celebrating new trees on Roblin Boulevard, complete with city workers. So where's the line? Duncan's challenger in Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood, Dennis Bayomi, says incumbents enjoy a built-in advantage. They already have name recognition. Do they need city staff in their promotional videos, too? Bayomi offered three ideas that I think deserve consideration. Let council challengers start campaigning before June 30 so they have more time to introduce themselves and raise money. Lower individual donation limits from $750 to $200 for council candidates, and from $1,500 to $500 for mayoral candidates. And stop taxpayer-funded bus bench signs and other city communications promoting incumbents during the year before an election. University of Winnipeg political scientist Aaron Moore says candidates can talk about their accomplishments. But appearing alongside city workers gives incumbents an opportunity their challengers don't have. I agree. The city still needs to function during an election. Potholes don't take a campaign break. But publicity announcements can wait. Mayoral candidate Kevin Klein's proposed announcement blackout sounds reasonable to me. We keep saying we want more people to run for office. Then we make them compete against people with advantages that are difficult to match. I say we start giving them a fair shot.