A Podcast for Canadian Municipal Leaders

Building Public Trust

Municipalities across Canada are facing rising skepticism, louder criticism, and declining confidence, even when good work is being done. This podcast explores how trust is actually built, measured, and protected in local government.

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Public trust doesn’t erode overnight.
It erodes quietly.

When engagement becomes episodic.
When participation is loud but not representative.
When decisions are defensible internally, but questioned publicly.
The challenge isn’t volume.
It’s legitimacy by design.

What This Podcast is About

Measuring trust beyond satisfaction
Why engagement volume is misleading
The difference between consultation and legitimacy
How representative data protects councils
Building institutional credibility over time

The Episodes

Episode 1 - Trust Must Be Designed, Not Hoped For

Key Takeaway:

Trust in local government does not collapse during major decisions. It erodes quietly in the spaces between them.

Watch the Episode

Public trust in local government rarely collapses during major decisions. It erodes quietly, in the gaps between them. In this opening episode, Kent Waugh introduces the season’s central premise: trust is not a communications tactic, but a system that must be intentionally designed and sustained.

Who’s the Host?

Kent Waugh works with municipalities across Canada to design community panels, survey research programs, and engagement strategies that strengthen public trust.

Ready to Strengthen Public Trust in Your Municipality?

If your municipality is facing rising criticism, disengagement, or decision-making pressure, it may not be a communications issue. It may be a trust architecture issue.

Book a 30-Minute Public Trust Strategy Conversation