Show Notes
Every year, billions of dollars in government funding go to the organizations that best understand the process. In this inaugural episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade sits down with Mona Pinder, Executive Director of the Alberta Hospitality Association, to discuss the economic realities of an industry operating on "full tables and paper-thin margins." As a former healthcare administrator turned pastry chef and provincial advocate, Mona provides a unique perspective on the "double whammy" facing the hospitality sector: skyrocketing input costs and shifting consumer demands. We discuss the data from the 2026 ATB report, explore why 44% of operators are currently at a breaking point, and learn how the industry accounts for nearly 40% of the tourism workforce. This conversation moves beyond the high-level stats to focus on the "Pursuing the Public Purse" round, where David and Mona decode the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Grant. From $5,000 hiring incentives to the "Indeed vs. Handshake" gap in youth employment, this episode reveals what restaurateurs and small business owners need right now to transform student hiring into a predictable pillar of their success. Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $61M in funding using the frameworks taught in the Advanced Grant Writing Course. You can get started now at https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing. To ensure you never miss an insight into the world of public funding, subscribe to Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other mission-driven leaders unlock the public purse. Highlights From This Episode: A look at the fascinating pivot Mona made in her career and how 20 years in healthcare administration prepared her to lead the Alberta Hospitality Association [2:44]
The key reasons why record-breaking sales in 2026 haven't translated to profit for restaurant owners [8:43]
Why it takes 11.5 people to make $1M in a restaurant compared to only 3.5 in retail [10:46]
What's really happening with youth unemployment hitting 14% while restaurants are desperate for staff [17:41]
The "necessary evil" of third-party apps and the simple website trick that saves restaurants thousands in fees [24:11]
Why unique, independent businesses, and not large chains, are the true drivers of rural tourism and community vibrancy in Canada [27:53]
A step-by-step breakdown of how to access $5,000 in funding to bring students into your business using the WIL Grant [30:05]
Mona's philosophy on "collecting people" and how breaking out of professional silos is the true key to successful advocacy [37:32]
Key Guest Quotes: "Increased sales does not equate to increased profits. The margins have always been thin in restaurants." [8:56] "Our advocacy is we want governments at all levels to think like a small business owner. So you've got to be good with your money and you've got to consider the trickle-down effects." [14:16] "We are still a human contact world. But I think for a lot of young people, it's more of this online world, and that's just hard when you get this random resume." [20:03] "If you're good with computers, the application [for the WIL Grant] takes three minutes. If you're bad with computers, it takes 8 minutes." [32:24] "I always say I like to collect people. So I like to make connections with people and I always try to keep in touch with them... because they can always help you out." [37:32]
LINKS: Mona's LinkedIn Alberta Hospitality Association Website Learn More About The Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Grant January Jump ATB Wealth Report: Full Tables, Tight Margins Mealshare SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology): Baking and Pastry Arts Program
More from Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade
What actually happens when a room full of smart people sit down to write grants together for a week? In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade reflects on his latest in-person Advanced Grant Writing Course in Lacombe, Alberta, and shares 5 lessons from the experience that apply well beyond the classroom. David has several upcoming events and courses worth knowing about. He is speaking at Strathcona County's Small Business Week in Sherwood Park on October 20th, 2026. He is also hosting a webinar on October 13th for municipalities on the complexity of finding grants. As well, the last live Advanced Grant Writing Course of the year runs November 23rd to 27th in Sherwood Park, so reach out soon to secure a training grant before the October 22nd deadline. The next online cohort begins January 27th. David is also planning two in-person courses in British Columbia in February and March 2026; if you want him to come to your town, now is the time to reach out by email, [email protected] or by phone/text at (780) 297-6177.
In this freestyle solo episode of Winning the Public Purse, David records on a Friday evening before heading to Lacombe for a week of in-person grant writing training, and uses the moment to share what is on his mind heading into one of his busiest falls yet. You'll also learn the difference between leaders who invest in their people and themselves, and those who don't. David also shares a personal win from the summer that has nothing to do with grants, and a whole lot more. Equal parts life update, business reflection, and genuine encouragement, this one is worth a listen if you have ever talked yourself out of doing the hard thing. Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $71M in funding using the frameworks taught in the Advanced Grant Writing Course, and the next online class is happening this week, September 24th, 2026. You can get started and grab your spot now at https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing. David's next online course starts October 1st, and he can help you secure a training grant to offset the tuition! Reach out to David by email at [email protected], or by phone at 780-297-6177 to learn more. To ensure you never miss an insight into the world of public funding, subscribe to Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other mission-driven leaders unlock the public purse. Highlights From This Episode: Why David decided to keep the current podcast name after considering a rebrand, and what the name change would have got wrong [1:34]
Some of the best lessons in government funding do not come from a grant portal. They come from watching how a real funding story unfolds in real time. In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade walks through a recent Alberta government funding announcement that quietly became a masterclass in stakeholder relations, grant timing, and what happens when organizations are caught off guard. Starting with a May 2026 announcement of nearly $62 million for family violence initiatives, David traces how a swift and coordinated response from the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters triggered media coverage, public pressure, and ultimately an additional $16 million from the government by July. By September, grant applications were open with deadlines as tight as four weeks out. This unfolding story drives home three lessons that apply to any sector: know your stakeholders before the announcements hit, have your master grant application ready before the deadlines appear, and never let the summer grind become an excuse to fall behind on funding intelligence. Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $71M in funding using the frameworks taught in the Advanced Grant Writing Course, and the next online class is coming September 24th, 2026. You can get started and grab your spot now at https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing. David is heading back to Lacombe on September 21-25 for one more live cohort, and he can help you secure a training grant to offset the tuition (as of the time of this recording, there are still a couple of spots left)! Reach out to David by email at [email protected], or by phone at 780-297-6177 to learn more. To ensure you never miss an insight into the world of public funding, subscribe to Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other mission-driven leaders unlock the public purse. Highlights From This Episode: How a May 19th Alberta government announcement of nearly $62 million for family violence initiatives quietly set off a chain of events worth paying close attention to [3:08]
Some lessons about winning grants do not come from a boardroom or a textbook. In this solo episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade draws a surprisingly sharp line between his fly fishing hobby and the patterns he has watched play out across 14 years of professional grant writing and over 174 students in his Advanced Grant Writing Course. Equal parts practical and personal, this episode connects fly fishing, high cholesterol, productivity grants, and leadership into one of the more honest conversations David has had to date on the podcast. David is heading back to Lacombe in September for one more live cohort, and he can help you secure a training grant to offset the tuition (as of the time of this recording, there are still a couple of spots left)! Reach out to David by email at [email protected], or by phone at 780-297-6177 to learn more. Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $71M in funding using the frameworks taught in the Advanced Grant Writing Course, and the next online class is coming September 24th, 2026. You can get started and grab your spot now at https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing. To ensure you never miss an insight into the world of public funding, subscribe to Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other mission-driven leaders unlock the public purse. Highlights From This Episode: Why some organizations win grants consistently while others keep struggling, and what David believes is really behind this gap [1:08]
August can feel like a lost month. Guests reschedule, C-suites disappear, and the grind slows to a crawl. In this reflective solo episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade makes the case that the slow season is actually one of the most important times of year for grant writers, and for anyone building something worth funding. For non-profit leaders, grant writers, and anyone who has ever felt guilty for slowing down in August, this one reframes the whole month. David is heading back to Lacombe in September for one more live cohort, and he can help you secure a training grant to offset the tuition. Reach out to David by email at [email protected] to learn more. Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $67M in funding using the frameworks taught in the Advanced Grant Writing Course, and the next online class is coming September 24th, 2026. You can get started and grab your spot now at https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing. To ensure you never miss an insight into the world of public funding, subscribe to Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other mission-driven leaders unlock the public purse. Highlights From This Episode: Why August is the number one vacation month for C-suites, and what grant writers need to have sorted before summer hits [1:10]