Strong Towns Calgary Hosts Michel Durand-Wood
Join author Michel Durand-Wood, better known online as "Elmwood Guy," a Winnipeg-based writer, community advocate, and author of "You'll Pay for This: How We Can Afford a Great City for Everyone Forever." Michel shares his journey from concerned neighbour to influential voice in municipal finance and urban planning.
Michel reminds us that municipal finance isn't just about budgets - it's about creating inclusive communities where everyone can thrive. His approach demonstrates how understanding the financial implications of city planning decisions empowers citizens to advocate for more equitable and sustainable urban development.
No matter your passion in urban advocacy, it all starts with the same question: how will we pay for it?
Using humour and pop culture references, Michel shows how we can all be city finance superheroes in our community, so that our cities can continue to provide critical life-sustaining services to the public not only today, but for generations to come.
About the Speaker
Michel Durand-Wood lives in Winnipeg's Elmwood neighbourhood with his wife and three children, educating on topics related to infrastructure and municipal finance at DearWinnipeg.com. His writing has appeared extensively online and in print, including on Strong Towns, Streetsblog USA, CBC, the Winnipeg Free Press and La Liberté. He has been invited to speak in cities throughout North America, and his book, "You'll Pay for This: How we can afford a great city for everyone, forever", a McNally Robinson #1 Bestseller, is included on Manitoba Council for International Cooperation’s 2026 Reading List for Global Citizens. He loves his neighbourhood, cities of all types, and helping people discover their municipal finance superpowers so they can make their community a better place.