The Grey Range - Episode 29 – w/ Chris Thiessen - “Daffodils"
Daffodils
Chris Thiessen
There is a quote that has always stuck with me. It comes from a conversation between punk rock legend Iggy Pop and one of my favorite humans to ever exist, the late Anthony Bourdain (RIP), from Season 5, Episode 2 of his program on CNN “Parts Unknown”. “Curious is a good thing to be. Y’know. It seems to pay some interesting dividends.”
They don’t come any more curious that City of Grande Prairie Counsellor Chris Thiessen. I have known Chris for many years, and when he first ran for municipal government, I would be lying if I said that I was surprised. When he lost, ran again next election and won, I sure was. Chris is not the type of person that one would expect to jump into the dark waters of politics, at least, if you don’t know him well.
Chris’ tall frame and wild, curly hair, paired with his bohemian fashion choices give you a hint to his early (and still current) passion as a music festival organizer. His interest in community involvement occurred organically. Growing from music events to not-for-profits, to eventually setting his eye on municipal government. His love for all things environment, peace, love, and social justice drove him when I met him all those years ago and still drive him today.
So, what does someone like Chris learn from three terms on city council and have him running for a fourth term here in 2025? Through cutting his teeth as a new councillor and learning that it isn’t easy as it seems to be a change agent, to governing through a pandemic, to being on the receiving end of the rage mob and cancel culture due to his participation in the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, On in 2022, Chris has learned some hard lessons, but he still retains the one thing that got him to where he is now – curiosity.
Iggy Pop was right. It does seem to pay some interesting dividends.
Thank-you, Chris for taking the time to join us. We appreciate you for all you do. Let’s go get that fluoride out!
As always, we hope you find this episode as much fun to watch and listen to as we did while making it.
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Chris Thiessen can be found through his Instagram, on Facebook and on the City of Grande Prairie website.
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“Daffodils” is a piece from my new collection “Whiskey Painted Holocaust”, which is available in our webstore, as well as on Amazon. "Children of The New Unknown", my first collection, is still available on both platforms as well.