Sponsored Content - all story elements provided by CMU's Media Skills: Radio Team students. Story written by David Balzer.
On May 31st, 2025, the Community Exchange hosted a block party which included the Great Canadian Neighbour Contest! Altona residents stepped into The Chatterbox, a vintage camper, to share what makes their Canadian neighbour so great!
Lots of people stepped in to speak well of their neighbours, including Jaime Friesen-Pankratz and Bruce Pankratz from Neubergthal. They shared stories about neighbours, Bryon and Courtney, who became close friends as a “COVID success story”. While hanging out at the local rink for hours during that time with their kids, a genuine friendship emerged. These days their garage seems to have extra tools in it that were borrowed and only get returned when their gracious neighbours come asking about one they’re looking for!
Later that afternoon, guess who stepped into The Chatterbox - Bryon and his two sons, Jakob and Simon! Who do you think they named as their great neighbour?!
We asked Bryon and his sons what the shenanigans in Bruce’s VW Westfalia mean to them. You could hear the emotion in Bryon’s voice as he expressed what it means to him as a Dad for an adult neighbour to hang out with his kids. Take a listen!
Students from a radio team class at Canadian Mennonite University conducted the interviews and produced the stories.
Listen for more Altona great neighbour stories on the CFAM Radio 950 morning show in June. You can also visit tcealtona.ca or chatterboxrecording.ca to hear all the contest entries in the coming weeks.
