Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Michel Durand-Wood is Winnipeg’s “Elmwood Guy,” municipal finance guru, and author of the upcoming book You’ll Pay for This and I'm chatting with him today!
His passion for cities and their financial sustainability is contagious, and we dive deep into why every citizen is a co-owner of their city, not just a customer.
Here’s a taste of what we cover:
🏙️ Why municipal finance is the “connective tissue” of everything you care about—from parks to potholes.
🚗 The hidden costs of car-centric infrastructure and how it’s bankrupting cities (hint: roads are expensive).
📉 The trillion-dollar infrastructure deficit in Canada and the USA and what it means for your daily life.
🚶 How incremental, low-cost solutions—like bike lanes and tactical urbanism—outperform mega-projects.
🏡 Michel’s journey from frustrated citizen to author and advocate—and how YOU can start making change in your neighbourhood.
Michel’s book You’ll Pay for This (out May 20 in Canada, June 24 elsewhere) is a hilarious, eye-opening guide to demystifying city budgets. Pre-order it now or request it at your local library!
Love your city? Check out Michel’s blog DearWinnipeg.com for no-nonsense takes on urbanism that applies to not just Winnipeg, but all cities. Share this episode with a neighbour, too! Let’s build cities that work for everyone—forever.
================
If you've found this worth your time, you can get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content access to our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at patreon.com/bendurham
Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com
• where to find me •
Instagram: instagram.com/bendurham.ca
TikTok: tiktok.com/@bendurham.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/BenDurham.ca
Website: bendurham.ca
================
SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Wheels and Beyond on:
» Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2XgnlWWDihE1WFvEEC1868
» Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wheels-and-beyond/id1761207261
================
⏰ CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
02:31 Michelle's background & expertise
06:27 Citizens as city co-owners
09:07 The Portage and Maine story
16:42 Municipal financial realities
24:23 Transportation & infrastructure costs
34:30 Personal mobility choices
43:36 Solutions & citizen action
53:46 Book announcement & closing
================
NERDY RECORDING DETAILS:
This recording took place on the morning of April 18th, 2025 via RiversideFM.
Edited and mixed in Davinci Resolve Studio. 1080p render.
Audio is optimized for an ITU-R BS, 1770-4 standard at -1dBTP and -16LKFS, specifically for Spotify standards.
Michel Durand-Wood is Winnipeg’s “Elmwood Guy,” municipal finance guru, and author of the upcoming book You’ll Pay for This and I'm chatting with him today!
His passion for cities and their financial sustainability is contagious, and we dive deep into why every citizen is a co-owner of their city, not just a customer.
Here’s a taste of what we cover:
🏙️ Why municipal finance is the “connective tissue” of everything you care about—from parks to potholes.
🚗 The hidden costs of car-centric infrastructure and how it’s bankrupting cities (hint: roads are expensive).
📉 The trillion-dollar infrastructure deficit in Canada and the USA and what it means for your daily life.
🚶 How incremental, low-cost solutions—like bike lanes and tactical urbanism—outperform mega-projects.
🏡 Michel’s journey from frustrated citizen to author and advocate—and how YOU can start making change in your neighbourhood.
Michel’s book You’ll Pay for This (out May 20 in Canada, June 24 elsewhere) is a hilarious, eye-opening guide to demystifying city budgets. Pre-order it now or request it at your local library!
Love your city? Check out Michel’s blog DearWinnipeg.com for no-nonsense takes on urbanism that applies to not just Winnipeg, but all cities. Share this episode with a neighbour, too! Let’s build cities that work for everyone—forever.
================
If you've found this worth your time, you can get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content access to our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at patreon.com/bendurham
Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com
• where to find me •
Instagram: instagram.com/bendurham.ca
TikTok: tiktok.com/@bendurham.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/BenDurham.ca
Website: bendurham.ca
================
SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Wheels and Beyond on:
» Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2XgnlWWDihE1WFvEEC1868
» Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wheels-and-beyond/id1761207261
================
⏰ CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
02:31 Michelle's background & expertise
06:27 Citizens as city co-owners
09:07 The Portage and Maine story
16:42 Municipal financial realities
24:23 Transportation & infrastructure costs
34:30 Personal mobility choices
43:36 Solutions & citizen action
53:46 Book announcement & closing
================
NERDY RECORDING DETAILS:
This recording took place on the morning of April 18th, 2025 via RiversideFM.
Edited and mixed in Davinci Resolve Studio. 1080p render.
Audio is optimized for an ITU-R BS, 1770-4 standard at -1dBTP and -16LKFS, specifically for Spotify standards.
