Grassroots to City Hall: Jesse Watson on Coffee, Community & Local Leadership | Solo Spotlight Ep.37

In this episode of Solo Spotlight, host Ryan MacDougall sits down with Jesse Watson—the owner of Boxcar Coffee, long-time Calder local, and candidate for Edmonton City Council. It’s a wide-ranging, candid conversation about what it takes to turn a “rough” neighborhood into a thriving community, the realities of small business ownership, and why grassroots leadership matters more than ever.

From the inspiration behind Boxcar Coffee’s iconic design, to the quirks and challenges of running a coffee shop in Calder, Jesse shares what it’s really like to be a connector, a builder, and a champion for the north side. The discussion dives into city politics, municipal headaches, and the bold ideas Jesse hopes to bring to City Hall—including how local businesses can anchor real change and why transparent, practical leadership is so needed right now.