Real Talk with Michelle Budiwski

On October 16, 2025 the City of Brandon will choose its newest Trustee for the Brandon School Division. Too often school board elections are ignored with some of the poorest voter turnout amongst all elections in Canada and yet these are the people who directly impact the lives and education of our most vulnerable sector, our children.
 
School boards across Canada have been under attack in the pas few years - with protests, threats, and even internal members demanding they reject Truth and Reconciliation, or equity programs (Mountainview) or governments and parent groups demand control over library content and governments like Danielle Smith's in Alberta requiring students have parental consent for name or pronoun changes.
 
Who we elect as trustees to our school boards plays a very important role in the direction or community takes, not just on education but as society as a whole.
 
As the Brandon School Division By-Election approaches, I am sitting down with the trustee candidates who are willing to engage in some Real talk - where do they stand on the issues? What are their goals and priorities for their time on the boards and most importantly - why should Brandon elect them?
 
Today's Real Talk discussion is with candidate Laura Armitage, a mom of 4 who has been volunteering for 10 years on her kids' parent councils. She wants to focus on classroom supports for students and teachers, more EAs, more diagnostics and more therapists. She wants to let librarians do their jobs, says that forcing children to come out at home may take away their one safe place - school and is aware that teachers need more substitute options and our 'town kid' lunch programs need an overhaul.
 
Tune in and listen - the by-election is October 16, advance polls are October 8 & 11 in the City of Brandon.
 
Who are you voting for and why? Join the conversation

Politics shouldn't just be a conversation during elections. Politics and governments impact absolutely every aspect of our lives in some way and we need to understand how they work, how they are formed and what role we play in our government at every level.
For this non-partisan discussion on Canadian politics, parties and the responsibilities of voters, I am joined by Chris Hunt - an expert in all things Canadian politics.
We aren't talking about candidates or every discussing who to vote for when.
This is a discussion that all Canadians need to hear and share. Get informed, get engaged and don't let politics be taboo at your kitchen table.
 
#RealTalk #NonPartisan #Howdoesgovernmentwork #Mbpoli #cdnpoli #accessiblepolitics #politicsisforeveryone

On Aug 22, Brandon Sun columnist Deveryn Ross wrote: “Social media is a window into the character of a candidate...” 👀
Today, I sat down with Ted Dzogan, PC Party member (and former rival to Grant Jackson for the Sprucewoods nomination), for a raw conversation about how we got here: a by-election in what was supposed to be a PC stronghold.
Why does it matter? Because their current candidate, Colleen Robbins, had over 3,000 deleted tweets resurface—showing a troubling record of controversial posts: from praising residential schools to spreading disinformation. Then, right before the campaign, her social media was scrubbed.
❓ Who knew?
❓ Who’s responsible?
❓ How did the PC Party allow this candidacy?
I’ve personally read every resurfaced post—context included. These are not attacks, these are Robbins’ own words.
This is a deep dive into what went wrong, why it matters, and what accountability in politics should look like.
And how in Deveryn Ross' words, did "the Progressive Conservative Party allow(ed) Robbins to run as that party’s candidate despite a history of offensive social media comments"?
Hit play, grab some popcorn, and don’t be afraid to smash that pause button when you need to. 🍿
#Sprucewoods #ManitobaPolitics #AccountabilityMatters #SilenceCondones

Sprucewoods has never elected anyone but a Conservative. Around here, it’s known as a “dead dog” riding — meaning the party could run a sign on a corpse and still win. And because they’ve never had to fight for your vote, we’ve often been ignored.
Even with a PC MLA in a PC majority government, we saw little investment in health care, infrastructure, or economic development.
But since 2023, that’s changed. Under Wab Kinew rural Manitoba has seen more investment, attention, and hard work from the Manitoba NDP than in the previous seven years combined.
That speaks volumes. And as someone who’s never voted NDP before — that’s about to change.
Meet Ray Berthelette, NDP candidate for Sprucewoods.
✅ Not a career politician.
✅ Won’t abandon us for the next opportunity.
✅ Focused on making life better for everyone.
Theme: Everyone is welcome.
Ray’s mantra: How can I help?
🗳 Advance Polls: Aug 16–25
🗳 Election Day: Aug 26
Vote like your future depends on it — because it does.
#Sprucewoods #ByElection2025 #VoteNDP #RayBerthelette #EveryoneIsWelcome

From the moment a colonoscopy revealed my rectal tumor to the day surgeons removed it—leaving me cancer-free and living with a permanent ostomy—exactly 7 months and 9 days passed.
At first glance, that timeline might sound long. “Diagnosed in August, surgery in March?” It’s easy to jump to frustration or blame Manitoba’s health system.
But let me be clear: I wasn’t just waiting. I was preparing. My care team wasn’t idle—they were working with precision, intention, and compassion.
Every step was deliberate. Every delay had purpose. And the care I received? Nothing short of exceptional.
To my doctors, surgeons, nurses, techs, and everyone at CancerCare Manitoba—thank you for walking this road with me.
This episode is about what that road really looked like—and why I wouldn’t change a thing.
🎧 Tune in. Share. Reflect.
💬 #MyCancerJourney | #RectalCancerAwareness | #OstomyAwareness | #WatchYourButt

In 2020 I released my first book - Butterfly Dreams - Poetry of Hope and Recovery - an autobiographical journey through my own battle with mental illness, addiction and recovery.
In honor of Borderline Personality Awareness Month this May, I am releasing my book for free, one chapter at a time to help raise awareness for BPD and those still fighting their own battles.
Where there is breath, there is hope.
***Trigger Warning***
This book contains references to child sexual abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, addiction, self harm and suicide. Please take precautions and seek help if you feel mentally or emotionally overwhelmed. ***

In 2020 I released my first book - Butterfly Dreams - Poetry of Hope and Recovery - an autobiographical journey through my own battle with mental illness, addiction and recovery.
In honor of Borderline Personality Awareness Month this May, I am releasing my book for free, one chapter at a time to help raise awareness for BPD and those still fighting their own battles.
Where there is breath, there is hope.

Our family has been homeschooling here in Manitoba since 2020 - not for political or religious reasons but because we started during covid and found that it just worked for us. Now there is no turning back!
The kids were in Kindergarten, grade 3 and grade 9 when Covid happened and chose not to return to the public school system. Now, they are working on finishing Grade 5, 8 and one just finished their 3rd year in University on the Dean's list!
How do we do it? Why do we do it? What's the transition from homeschooling highschool to University like?
Tune in and find out and hear from the kids themselves!
Homeschooling in Manitoba - It may not be what you think it is!

On this week's episode of Real Talk, we're talking 💩 — or more accurately, why so many people don’t want to talk about it.
This week, I’m joined by the amazing Randy Daley in Dauphin, Manitoba. Randy has been living with a permanent colostomy for 4 years due to Crohn’s and Colitis, and he’s been an incredible mentor and support to me—especially leading up to my own surgery to remove stage 3 cancer, which left me with an ostomy too.
If you or someone you love is facing ostomy surgery, already living with one, or just want to be a better ally and more informed human—this convo is for YOU.
With 4,000 Manitobans, 150,000 Canadians, and over 15 MILLION people worldwide living with an ostomy, chances are you know someone. And because ostomies are a hidden disability, the more we talk, the less stigma and shame there is.
We laughed, we got real, and yes... we went long. That’s what the pause button is for, right?
Tune in, open your mind, and come hang with us.
#OstomyForLife #OstomyAwareness #ColorectalCancerAwareness #BarbieButt #WatchYourButt #CrohnsAndColitis #MyCancerJourney #OscarThePouch #RealTalk

When was the last time you heard a political candidate speak for 30 straight minutes without slamming, blaming, or even mentioning the opposition? Not once.
When was the last time a candidate spoke—really spoke—about feeling a genuine duty to step up and serve, using their knowledge and lived experiences to support their community?
If your answer is “never,” well… buckle up. Because today is the day that changes.
On this episode of REAL TALK, I’m joined by Quentin Robinson, the NDP candidate running in the upcoming federal election for the Manitoba riding of Brandon–Souris.
I first met Quentin back in 2023 when we were both candidates in the provincial election—running for different parties, in different ridings, but with a shared goal: making our communities better places for everyone.
Unlike me, Quentin came this close—within 100 votes—of winning his seat in Brandon West. Now, he's stepping onto the federal stage, bringing with him a powerful mix of real-world experience in agriculture, business, oil and gas, UC ministry, and family counseling.
In this conversation, you'll hear why Quentin is passionate about continuing his journey of public service and what drives his commitment to the people of southwestern Manitoba.
If you're a political candidate who’s ready for a REAL conversation—unscripted, unfiltered, and unedited—about who you are and why your community should trust you with their vote, reach out.
I’m always ready to talk.
#cndpoli #YourVoteMatters #GrassrootsPolitics #LivedExperienceLeadership