The Pulse

Shot in Vancouver with Sam Wiebe & Melanie Buggey’s Record-Setting Swim Across the Strait of Georgia

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0700

Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Award-winning author Sam Wiebe takes us on a tour of Vancouver Island's surprisingly deep film history, from a wartime propaganda set near Victoria's airport to Hatley Castle's many starring roles and the Ucluelet shoreline that played feudal Japan in Shōgun. Plus, Nanoose Bay marathon swimmer Melanie Buggey explains how she crossed the Strait of Georgia in a record 8 hours and 42 minutes, and why Ben & Jerry's was part of the plan.

This Episode Features:

(17:56) Sam Wiebe is an award-winning, bestselling author best known for his Wakeland crime novels. His new book, Shot in Vancouver: Adventures in Hollywood North, is a genre-by-genre history of movies and TV shot in BC, from wartime propaganda filmed on Vancouver Island to the Emmy-sweeping hit Shōgun. Sam explains "Shot in Vancouver Syndrome," why Hatley Castle at Royal Roads keeps getting cast as every evil family mansion, how Victoria played Racine, Wisconsin in Bird on a Wire, how Ucluelet's shoreline became feudal Japan, and why so much classic CBC programming, including The Beachcombers, is nearly impossible to watch today. www.samwiebe.com

(05:04) Melanie Buggey grew up swimming with the Ravensong Breakers in Qualicum Beach and now lives in Nanoose Bay. This past summer, the 33-year-old marathon swimmer crossed the Strait of Georgia from Sechelt to Schooner Cove in 8 hours and 42 minutes, without a wetsuit, setting a new record. Melanie talks about the childhood ferry ride that planted the idea, bulking up on Ben & Jerry's to fend off hypothermia, a close call with a lion's mane jellyfish, and her training for the 2027 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Budapest.

Episode Quotes:

"BC filmmaking is a mess, but it's a beautiful mess. There's just so much more variety than anyone knows, and we should be proud of that." - Sam Wiebe, Author, Shot in Vancouver: Adventures in Hollywood North

"I tried gaining weight the healthy way. It was not happening. And then I just said, 'To heck with it. Ben & Jerry's is gonna be my new best friend.'" - Melanie Buggey, Marathon Swimmer, Nanoose Bay

The PULSE Community Podcast is a weekly Vancouver Island podcast hosted by Peter McCully and Dave Graham, featuring conversations with musicians, authors, actors, athletes, business leaders and community builders from Vancouver Island, British Columbia and beyond. The PULSE Community Podcast is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

LISTEN: We have had the chance to talk to many authors from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Authors page.

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube, as well as ThePulseCommunity.ca.

Click here to learn how to Support the show.

Episode Sponsors: Fireside Books, Tablet Pharmacy & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio and YouTube Podcasts.

Check out the Vancouver Island Podcast Directory: Vancouver Island Podcast Directory is a free public resource curated by The PULSE Community, helping listeners discover podcasts produced on Vancouver Island and the surrounding coastal islands.

#SamWiebe #ShotInVancouver #HollywoodNorth #MelanieBuggey #StraitOfGeorgia #MarathonSwimming #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #VancouverIslandPodcasts #ThePulseCommunityPodcast

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Oceanside’s Water Explained with Arrowsmith Water Service chair Scott Harrison

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Parksville City Councillors Joel Grenz and Sean Wood open Season 2 of Nonpartisan Hacks: Pulse Edition with the question everyone in Oceanside was asking this summer: if we live in a rainforest, why are we under a watering ban?

Their guest is Scott Harrison, two-term Town of Qualicum Beach councillor and chair of the Arrowsmith Water Service, the joint venture of Qualicum Beach, Parksville and the Regional District of Nanaimo that owns and operates the Arrowsmith Dam.

Harrison explains how stages are set by the province based on flow in the Englishman River, not on how much water residents use, and that most of the water stored behind the dam is released for fish habitat. On whether growth is to blame, Scott offers a both-sides answer: "The problem is that both of them are right. And both of them are not quite right." The conversation also covers housing types and water use, a recovering Parksville aquifer, and what a possible super El Niño winter could mean.

Listen for:

• Why Parksville faces strict watering restrictions while Qualicum Beach stays at Stage 1

• How the province's operating rule ties restrictions to Englishman River flow, not water use

• What new LiDAR data revealed about the Mount Arrowsmith snowpack

• Why the Arrowsmith Dam spilled in early February, the earliest in its history

• How housing type shapes household water use

Nonpartisan Hacks is a Vancouver Island political podcast hosted by Joel Grenz and Sean Wood, featuring lively, independent conversations about local government, public policy and the issues affecting communities. Non-Partisan Hacks is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

Text us about this episode: Send us a text

Visit the Nonpartisan Hacks website: nonpartisanhacks.com

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You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok, and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

Check out the Vancouver Island Podcast Directory: The Vancouver Island Podcast Directory is a free public resource curated by The PULSE Community, helping listeners discover podcasts produced on Vancouver Island and the surrounding coastal islands.

#NonpartisanHacks #ThePulsePodcast #VancouverIslandPodcasts #ParksvilleBC #QualicumBeach #Oceanside #ScottHarrison #JoelGrenz #SeanWood #WaterRestrictions #ArrowsmithDam #EnglishmanRiver

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Pittsburgh Steelers: Football, Fantasy & Pittsburgh Food

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0700

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for the Primanti Sandwich: https://bit.ly/S2EP04FootballRecipe

This week, Jonathan and Erin turn their attention to the Pittsburgh Steelers, breaking down the latest fantasy football storylines, some surprising results around the NFL, the Steelers' 2-2 start and the food traditions of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh enters the episode at 2-2 after a wild loss to Cleveland, with Aaron Rodgers, former Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy and receiver DK Metcalf at the centre of the conversation as the duo asks whether Pittsburgh can turn its collection of big names into a deep playoff run.

And, of course, no discussion of Pittsburgh would be complete without talking about its food. Jonathan explores the city's strong Eastern European influence, with pierogies, kielbasa, haluski and chipped ham among the regional favourites, before naming the F3 Food Pick of the Week: the Primanti sandwich - grilled meat, melted provolone cheese, French fries and vinegar-based coleslaw, all piled between two slices of bread.

In This Episode

Erin's Week 4 fantasy football outlook

Fantasy football injuries and the importance of bench depth

Bryce Young and Matthew Stafford

Lamar Jackson's injury

Surprising results around the NFL

The NFL's undefeated teams

Aaron Rodgers and his future in Pittsburgh

Mike McCarthy reunites with Rodgers

DK Metcalf and the Steelers' offensive potential

Pittsburgh's Eastern European food traditions

Why Pittsburgh puts French fries on everything

The Primanti sandwich

The New York Giants are next

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

The F3 Podcast is a weekly Vancouver Island podcast hosted by Erin Haluschak and Chef Jonathan Frazier featuring conversations about NFL Teams and tailgate recipes from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Football & Food Podcast is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

#F3Podcast, #PulseCommunity, #VancouverIslandPodcast, #NFLFootballPodcast, #FantasyFootball, #PittsburghSteelers, #ChefJonathanFrazier

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The Answer, My Friends, Is Blowing in the Wind

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0700

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In this episode of A Resilience Project, host Cindy Thompson takes the helm herself. Drawing on life lessons learned at sea aboard her sailboat, along with more than 30 years of supporting counselling clients as they navigate their own journeys, Cindy offers a thoughtful reflection on what it takes to stay the course when the winds of life shift without warning.

What possibilities might you unleash with a shift in mindset? How do you keep moving toward your goals when the water gets choppy? And why does letting go of comparison matter so much? Cindy explores these questions through stories from the water and from the counselling room, showing how approaching life with open hands, a flexible mindset and the courage to move out of your comfort zone can open the door to new possibilities.

The Resilience Project is a Vancouver Island podcast hosted by counsellor Cindy Thompson, featuring conversations with authors, health professionals, community leaders and everyday people whose stories of resilience, healing and personal growth offer hope, encouragement and practical life lessons. The Resilience Project is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

You’ll find all episodes of the PULSE Community Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube.

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy

Check out Skookum Kid’s Stories with downloadable colouring pages on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.

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#CindyThompson #ResilienceProject #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #ThePulseCommunityPodcast #VancouverIslandPodcast

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Ann Vriend Brings AV & the Inner City to the Island & Ken Neden of Arrowsmith Search and Rescue

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Ann Vriend turned lockdown into a front porch choir, and that choir is now AV & the Inner City, headed to Vancouver Island for Pacific Contact. She also tells the family story behind A Dollar & A Suitcase, the song she wrote for her mother. Ken Neden has answered search and rescue calls since 1974, and he explains how drones, thermal cameras and a roster of 56 volunteers bring people home safely.

This Episode Features:

(24:51) Ann Vriend is a multi-award-winning, Edmonton-based singer-songwriter who has spent more than two decades blending soul, gospel and roots music. When the pandemic cancelled her tours, she started playing on her front porch in Edmonton's inner city, and those Sunday afternoon concerts grew into AV & the Inner City, an all-female soul vocal group. Ann talks about picking out songs on a Fisher-Price xylophone at age three, growing up on Raffi, Paul Simon and Mahalia Jackson, and learning to lead a choir after years of touring solo. She shares the family story behind A Dollar & A Suitcase and previews her trip to Vancouver Island to showcase at Pacific Contact in Nanaimo, plus a solo show at Char's Landing in Port Alberni. Contains the song A Dollar & A Suitcase. www.annvriend.com

(05:03) Ken Neden has volunteered with Arrowsmith Search and Rescue since 1974, when he started tagging along with his father, one of the group's first coordinators and search managers. Ken tells Dave about a year of 82 operational periods and more than 4,700 volunteer hours, and why rescues now outnumber searches. He explains how drones with thermal cameras and 400-times zoom are finding people in the dark, why the team is taking over the radio repeater on Mount Cokely, and the plan to renovate its 20-year-old command vehicle. The support team is recruiting now, with the next ground search and rescue intake planned for early 2027. www.arrowsmithsar.ca

Episode Quotes:

"Just out of boredom, of missing performing live for people, I just started playing on my front porch." - Ann Vriend, Singer-Songwriter, AV & the Inner City

"I always say I had two careers. I had the career with BC Tel and Telus, where they paid me to go do stuff, and then I also had this one where I went out and did stuff when I wasn't working and didn't get paid." - Ken Neden, Search Manager, Arrowsmith Search and Rescue

The PULSE Community Podcast is a weekly Vancouver Island podcast hosted by Peter McCully and Dave Graham, featuring conversations with musicians, authors, actors, athletes, business leaders and community builders from Vancouver Island, British Columbia and beyond. The PULSE Community Podcast is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok, YouTube and ThePulseCommunity.ca.

Episode Sponsors: Thrifty Foods Parksville & Ian Lindsay & Associates

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio and YouTube.

#AnnVriend #AVandTheInnerCity #ArrowsmithSAR #SearchAndRescue #PacificContact #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #VancouverIslandPodcasts #ThePulseCommunityPodcast

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Indianapolis Colts - Football, Fantasy & Indiana Food

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 02:00:00 -0700

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for the Indianapolis Pork Tenderloin Sandwich: https://bit.ly/S2EP03FootballRecipe

The NFL season is underway, and F3 is back with another team-focused episode! This week, Jonathan and Erin turn their attention to the Indianapolis Colts, breaking down the team's first win of the season, the fantasy football chaos of Week 3, and the food traditions of Indiana. The Colts picked up their first win of the season, edging the Houston Texans 19-17 and improving to 1-2, and the duo look at running back Jonathan Taylor, quarterback Daniel Jones and Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon's hands-on approach with the team.

Then it's time to head to Indiana's kitchen. Jonathan explores the state's strong agricultural roots, with regional favourites from St. Elmo's shrimp cocktail and Hoosier fried chicken to popcorn and sugar cream pie. For the F3 Food Pick of the Week, Jonathan puts together a classic Indianapolis pork tenderloin sandwich - a huge piece of pork tenderloin pounded thin, breaded and fried until crisp and golden, then served on a hamburger bun - the perfect handheld game-day food.

In This Episode

Fantasy football injuries and roster depth

Erin's Week 3 fantasy football struggles

Quarterback injuries around the NFL

The Indianapolis Colts' first win of the season

Jonathan Taylor's role in the Colts' offence

Daniel Jones and the Colts' quarterback situation

Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon

Indiana's agricultural food traditions

The Indianapolis pork tenderloin sandwich

Looking ahead to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Fantasy football recovery - and remembering the lucky shirt

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

The F3 Podcast is a weekly Vancouver Island podcast hosted by Erin Haluschak and Chef Jonathan Frazier featuring conversations about NFL Teams and tailgate recipes from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Football & Food Podcast is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

#F3Podcast, #PulseCommunity, #VancouverIslandPodcast, #NFLFootballPodcast, #FantasyFootball, #IndianapolisColts, #PorkTenderloinSandwich

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Frank King - Speaking “Frank(ly)” about Mental Health and Resilience

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0700

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Content note: This episode includes open discussion of depression and suicide. Please listen with care. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 9-8-8, the Suicide Crisis Helpline, any time, day or night. In BC you can also call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).

In this episode of A Resilience Project, host Cindy Thompson sits down with Frank King, comedian and mental wellness advocate, for an insightful and refreshingly “Frank” (pardon the pun) conversation about mental health. Frank brings a unique and humorous perspective to men’s mental health, drawing on his own experience of living with chronic suicidal ideation to highlight the challenges so many people face while also offering a road map for resilience.

Depression and other mental health concerns affect people from all walks of life. They do not discriminate between race, culture or socioeconomic status, and they touch friends, family members and co-workers alike. Cindy and Frank shine a light on the patterns that lead to isolation, how to respectfully have a conversation with someone who may be battling depression.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

You’ll find all episodes of the PULSE Community Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube.

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy

Check out Skookum Kid’s Stories with downloadable colouring pages on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter of new podcast releases and contests!

#FrankKing #ResilienceProject #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #ThePulseCommunityPodcast #CindyThompson #VancouverIslandPodcast

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Duck Paterson Drives an Ambulance to Kyiv & A 9th Trip to Ukraine with Darrell McKay

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Two Vancouver Island volunteers, two very different ways of showing up for Ukraine. Duck Paterson, a 75-year-old Ladysmith councillor with 38 years on council, explains why he is driving an ambulance from Munich to Kyiv this October, and Darrell McKay returns after eight trips with an update from the ground and the book he wrote about it. Both guests also share exactly how you can help.

This Episode Features:

(18:41) Darrell McKay, a retired engineer from Campbell River and author of My Time with Heroes, returns to the podcast after eight volunteer trips to Ukraine delivering humanitarian aid. A year on from our last conversation, he describes a country that is exhausted, with empty shelves starting to show in grocery stores, drones getting through in waves, and real fear that Russia will go after heat and water this winter. His fundraising has climbed to about $220,000, now going toward Starlink units, medical supplies and drone technology, and his book has sold close to 750 copies, with every dollar of profit going to Ukraine. Darrell talks about the evacuation crews and small volunteer groups he has worked alongside. He also shares personal news: he is marrying Olga Buhai followed by a visit with her family in Dnipro and Pavlograd. www.facebook.com/wingnutadventures

(05:21) Ladysmith councillor Duck Paterson is 75, has stepped away from council after 38 years, and about to trade the council chamber for the driver’s seat of an ambulance. Duck explains how a newspaper story about a Chemainus volunteer led him to sign up with Ukraine Focus to drive a used ambulance roughly 2,000 kilometres from Munich through Prague, Kraków and Lviv to Kyiv. He walks through the logistics, including travelling in small groups so the convoy is a harder target, in ambulances that cost $10,000 to $15,000 each and arrive loaded with medical supplies, generators and 3D printers for prosthetics. Duck is paying his own way, and shares how you can donate through the Ladysmith and District Credit Union or directly to Ukraine Focus. He also looks back on 38 years on council, including the relationship he helped start with Stz’uminus First Nation, and what he hopes to do next. www.facebook.com/duck.paterson

Episode Quotes:

“It’s made me tougher and softer all at the same time. It makes me tough knowing sometimes you have to fight the enemy, but it makes me soft seeing the people that are hurting.” - Darrell McKay, Retired Engineer & Author of My Time with Heroes

“After 38 years, if I haven’t screwed it up by now, somebody else better take a shot at it.” - Duck Paterson, Ladysmith Councillor & Ukraine Focus Volunteer Driver

LISTEN: We have had the chance to talk to many authors from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Authors page.

You’ll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok, YouTube, and ThePulseCommunity.ca.

Click here to learn how to Support the show.

Episode Sponsors: Thrifty Foods, Tablet Pharmacy & Ian Lindsay & Associates

Check out Skookum Kid’s Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

#Ukraine #HumanitarianAid #UkraineFocus #Ladysmith #CampbellRiver #MyTimeWithHeroes #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #VancouverIslandPodcasts #ThePulseCommunityPodcast

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Dallas Cowboys in Brazil, Week 2 Fantasy Injuries & Smoked Brisket Nachos

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0700

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for Smoked Brisket Nachos: https://bit.ly/S2EP02FootballRecipe

This week, Jonathan and Erin turn their attention to the Dallas Cowboys, looking at the team's upcoming international matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil, what to watch for in fantasy football, and the food traditions that make Texas a football destination. They start with a look at Week 2 and the fantasy football storylines taking shape as teams settle into the season. With several quarterback injuries already making an impact, they discuss the importance of having depth on the bench, keeping an eye on player news and figuring out whether those early-season picks are paying off. They also take a closer look at the Cowboys, including quarterback Dak Prescott, his fantasy value and the team's ongoing playoff challenges, and discuss the international growth of the NFL and the passion of Brazilian sports fans as Dallas heads to Brazil to face the Ravens.

Then it's time to talk about food, and Texas brings plenty to the table. From Texas barbecue and smoked brisket to Tex-Mex, queso, Frito pie and chicken-fried steak, Jonathan and Erin explore the flavours and traditions that shape the Lone Star State's food culture, including the influence of immigrant communities like the Czech origins of kolaches. And of course, no F3 episode would be complete without the F3 Food Pick of the Week: this time, Jonathan puts together a Texas-inspired game-day favourite, Smoked Brisket Nachos, loaded with smoked beef brisket, shredded cheese, black beans, pickled jalapeños, red onions, barbecue sauce, sour cream, cilantro and lime.

In This Episode

Quarterback injuries and fantasy roster depth

Evaluating early-season fantasy picks

Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff

Dak Prescott's fantasy football outlook

The Dallas Cowboys and their playoff challenges

Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens in Brazil

Texas barbecue and Southern comfort food

Looking ahead to Week 3 and the Indianapolis Colts

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

#F3Podcast, #PulseCommunity, #VancouverIslandPodcast, #NFLFootballPodcast, #FantasyFootball, #DallasCowboys, #TexasBBQ

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Dr. Jody Carrington - Kids These Days: A Game Plan for (Re)Connecting

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0700

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Dr. Jody Carrington is a child psychologist who believes the answer for kids lies in the big people who hold them. After 15 years of working with vulnerable children and families, from the Alberta Children’s Hospital to speaking stages across the country, she joins Cindy Thompson with warmth, wit and candour.

At the heart of her message is the lesson she learned from the families she held at the Alberta Children’s Hospital: we are wired to do hard things, and we handle them so much more easily when we remember we are wired for connection. That is why she rarely treats kids and instead supports the big people who hold them, especially when a child has experienced trauma.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

You’ll find all episodes of the PULSE Community Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube.

Episode Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville

Check out Skookum Kid’s Stories with downloadable colouring pages on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter of new podcast releases and contests!

#JodyCarrington #ResilienceProject #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #ThePulseCommunityPodcast #CindyThompson #VancouverIslandPodcast

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Hunter Dryden's Path to the Victoria Grizzlies & Paul Black's Blues Journey

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: This week we sit down with Victoria blues rock guitarist Paul Black, who traces his path from a gospel and country childhood in Thornhill, BC, through a life-changing Stevie Ray Vaughan concert, to his own soulful cover of Brick House. Then goaltender Hunter Dryden, grandson of hockey legend Ken Dryden, joins us fresh off signing with the Victoria Grizzlies to talk carrying a famous name, controlling momentum in the crease, and what his grandfather was really like at the dinner table.

This Episode Features:

(26:21) Hunter Dryden is the grandson of Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden and the son of Olympic gold medalist Tammy Shewchuk-Dryden. A goaltender in his own right, Hunter just finished three seasons at Taft School in Connecticut, where he became the starting netminder, before signing with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL. On this episode, Hunter talks growing up a New England kid in an entirely Canadian family, the mental side of goaltending he's picked up from his grandfather and father alike, and sharing the Grizzlies' crease with fellow Montreal Canadiens prospect Mikus Vecvanags. www.victoriagrizzlies.com

(06:10) Paul Black is a Victoria-based blues rock singer-songwriter whose musical roots started with gospel and country before a Stevie Ray Vaughan concert at Expo 86 changed his direction for good. From his early band Taxi, which landed a spot on the Rocktoria compilation and an eight-out-of-ten review from Rolling Stone, to his acclaimed solo albums Blue Words and Beautiful Sin, Paul's soulful guitar work and songwriting have earned him a Canadian Blues Music Award nod. On this episode, he talks growing up in Thornhill near Terrace, surviving two hand injuries that changed the way he plays guitar, and why his blues-rock cover of Brick House by the Commodores has become such a fan favourite. www.paulblack.ca

Episode Quotes:

“I really work hard on the lyrics just to make them a little bit different. I want people to listen to it and go, ‘I know what that's about.’”

- Paul Black, Blues Rock Singer-Songwriter

“If you can earn your teammates' trust and really control the momentum in that way, then that's how you're gonna have the most success.”

- Hunter Dryden, Goaltender, Victoria Grizzlies

PULSE Community Podcast is a weekly Vancouver Island podcast hosted by Peter McCully and Dave Graham, featuring conversations with musicians, authors, actors, athletes, business leaders and community builders from Vancouver Island, British Columbia and beyond. The PULSE Community Podcast is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Podcast Index, RSS, TikTok, YouTube and ThePulseCommunity.ca.

Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates & Thrifty Foods Parksville

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart and YouTube.

#PaulBlack #HunterDryden #KenDryden #VictoriaGrizzlies #BCHL #VancouverIslandBlues #ThePulseCommunityPodcast #VancouverIslandPodcasts

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NFL Season Opener, Fantasy Lineup Nerves & Game-Day Chicken Wings

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for Game-Day Chicken Wings: https://bit.ly/S2EP01FootballRecipe

Hosts Erin Haluschak and Chef Jonathan Frazier of the Comox Valley kick off a new NFL season - covering the latest roster moves, the players and teams worth watching, and how to set up a winning fantasy lineup. They weigh the stats, the experts, injury reports, podcasts, websites, social media and even AI, and talk about how to separate the useful stuff from all the noise.

Then it's time to talk about one of the best parts of football: the food. Erin and Jonathan dig into why food and football go together, from tailgating and sports bars to watching the game at home with friends and family, and how football food is local, with every NFL city bringing its own flavours and traditions. This week's F3 Food Pick of the Week is chicken wings, with Chef Jonathan sharing his tips for crispy wings at home and sauce ideas including Classic Buffalo, BBQ, Honey Mustard, Honey Garlic, Korean-style and Maple Sriracha.

In This Episode

Three things happening in the NFL

Setting your fantasy team

Where to find reliable fantasy information

Stats vs. expert opinions

Injury reports and player news

Podcasts, websites, social media and AI

F3 Food Pick: Game-Day Chicken Wings

What to watch for as the NFL season gets underway

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

#F3Podcast #PulseCommunity #VancouverIslandPodcast #NFLFootballPodcast #FantasyFootball #GameDayEats #FootballAndFood

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Steve Anderson - Your Life Is a Story

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

How many of you can think of one or two key people in your life who had a real impact on you - a coach, a teacher, a family member? Steve Anderson has spent nearly three decades in the classroom being exactly that person for his students, and this episode is about what resilience actually looks like when it's built on community, purpose and positive relationships.

In this episode:

Steve Anderson joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to talk about the people and relationships that shape resilience. With over 29 years as a teacher, Steve has spent his career energizing students in his applied psychology program - and building the belief that life is an invitation, not an obligation.

That same conviction led Steve to create a peer support and human services program in Chilliwack, and it now carries into his work as Executive Director of The Wanted Children Foundation, a child rescue project in Nigeria founded by his eldest daughter, Courtney, supporting orphaned and vulnerable children. Steve's conversation is a reminder that resilience grows when communities invest in each other, and that finding purpose often starts with helping someone else find theirs.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Steve Anderson: thewantedchildrenfoundation.org

You'll find all episodes of the PULSE Community Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube.

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories with downloadable colouring pages on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter of new podcast releases and contests!

“Like, Share & Listen!”

#SteveAnderson #ResilienceProject #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #ThePulseCommunityPodcast #CindyThompson #WantedChildrenFoundation #parksvillenews #vancouverislandnews

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Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope with Darrell Fox & The Port Alberni Toy Run

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Season 3 opens with two Vancouver Island stories built on showing up for other people, year after year. Darrell Fox was seventeen when he joined his brother Terry on the road for the 1980 Marathon of Hope, and 46 years on he's still carrying that story forward, now through a documentary built from footage nobody knew existed. Marnie Grimes has spent decades behind the Port Alberni Toy Run, one of Canada's largest community-run toy convoys, and she's got the numbers and the stories to prove what a room full of bikers with a shared cause can do.

This Episode Features:

(22:11) Darrell Fox, who was just 17 when he joined his brother Terry on the road for the final months of the 1980 Marathon of Hope, marks the September 20th Terry Fox Run by looking back at that first day near Saint John, New Brunswick. With more than $1 billion now raised for cancer research in Terry's name, Darrell talks about the volunteers who keep 600 runs going across the country every year with no staff and no budget, and about a new documentary, Run, Terry, Run, built from 93 reels of never-before-seen footage found in storage after four decades, with a musical contribution from Bryan Adams "Run Terry Run". He also shares news of the 20-year agreement placing the Marathon of Hope archive in the care of the Royal BC Museum. Run, Terry, Run opens in Cineplex theatres October 9th. www.terryfox.org

(05:16) Marnie Grimes, longtime spokesperson and now chairperson of the Port Alberni Toy Run, opens Season 3. Now in its 42nd year, the Toy Run began with eight riders in 1984 and has grown into one of Canada's largest community-run toy convoys, raising more than $3 million in cash plus a comparable value in toys, hampers, and equipment for the Alberni Valley. Marnie talks about the event's biker-party beginnings, the record-chasing 25th-anniversary run of 1,463 registered bikes, and the $19,000 she signed back to School District 70 for music, culinary, and outdoor-living programs. She also touches on the growing number of women riders, the new Battle of the Bands youth showcase joining Saturday night's dance, and where to set up along the Port Alberni route to watch the procession go by. www.portalbernitoyrun.ca

Episode Quotes:

"We can set our goals high, each and every one of us. The only thing limiting us is our ability to try." - Darrell Fox, Brother of Terry Fox, Terry Fox Foundation

"There is nobody that does it better than Toy Run." - Marnie Grimes, Chairperson, Port Alberni Toy Run

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True Lies - with Arnold's Real-Life Stunt Double Peter Kent of Qualicum Beach

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Peter Kent of Qualicum Beach joined hosts Olen Vanderleeden and Matthew Stockton, along with panelists Sean, Anthony and Nicole, to unpack James Cameron’s 1994 spy-comedy blockbuster True Lies.

True Lies stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold and Bill Paxton as a secret agent who has spent years hiding his real job from his wife, only to discover she may be having an affair with a used car salesman while he is busy stopping nuclear terrorists from smuggling warheads into the United States.

The real highlight was Peter Kent’s behind-the-scenes stories. He described getting discovered by James Cameron on the set of the original Terminator after moving to LA with $1,800 in his pocket, training with circus performer Bob Yerkes, and spending 14 years training alongside Arnold at the gym every morning. On True Lies specifically, Peter flew to Miami on a moment’s notice after a falling-out with the stunt coordinator, then spent nearly four months in the Florida Keys playing multiple bad guys, driving the flaming truck through the freeway chase, and diving off a dock into a harbor seconds before a real fuel truck detonated - with a barracuda swimming below him.

True Lies was the third highest-grossing film of 1994, pulling in $378 million worldwide on a $115 million budget, and Jamie Lee Curtis won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy for her role.

“I don’t think people watch a movie like this and appreciate what goes into it, especially the stunt work.” - Olen Vanderleeden

Too Old or Movie Gold is a Vancouver Island movie podcast hosted by Olen Vanderleeden, where classic films meet modern audiences through conversations about timeless movies, memorable performances and the stories behind some of cinema’s greatest productions. Too Old or Movie Gold is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

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Jess Van Zeil - Eye Won: Facing Cancer, Losing an Eye, and Finding Resilience

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Jess Van Zeil is an Australian author, sportswoman, and adventurer who was diagnosed with Conjunctival Ocular Melanoma, a rare and aggressive eye cancer, at just 21 years old. Given the choice between losing her eye or her life, Jess chose survival, and discovered a mindset that carried her from fear into fierce, sassy resilience.

In this episode, Jess joins Cindy Thompson to share the journey behind her book, Eye Won - from the shock of her diagnosis in the middle of a life built on adventure, to the impossible choice she faced, to the principles that helped her navigate fear, loneliness and anger along the way. What emerges is not a story about loss, but one about reclaiming power over it: Jess speaks with candour and humour about rebuilding her identity, and about the now-famous collection of eye patches that have become part of how she tells her story.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Jess Van Zeil: jessvanzeil.com

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Darren Karn's Tour de Rock Ride & The SOS Seniors Social Program

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: From an RCMP officer pedaling 1,200 kilometres for kids with cancer to a program tackling the gap between what a doctor can treat and what a person actually needs, this episode is about showing up for the people around you. Darren Karn takes us inside this year's Tour de Rock, and Bonnie Brown introduces SOS's new Social Prescribing program for isolated seniors in District 69.

This Episode Features:

(06:58) Darren Karn is a Port Alberni RCMP officer and former military policeman, two years into the job and this September one of the riders taking on Tour de Rock. Over two weeks this fall, Karn and his teammates will pedal 1,200 kilometres from Port Hardy to Victoria for Cops for Cancer, a campaign that's raised $58 million for pediatric cancer research since 1994. Karn's ride is personal: his sister passed away from cancer as a young adult, and he's training three days a week to be ready, paired with a junior rider named Ryker who lost his own sister to cancer. www.copsforcancer.ca

(17:42) Bonnie Brown, SOS's Administration and Client Services Manager, introduces Social Prescribing, a free new program connecting low-to-modest income and isolated seniors in District 69 with community supports, wellness plans, and resources. Delivered in partnership with United Way BC, the program pairs seniors with a community connector who builds a personalized plan addressing everything from loneliness to housing. Bonnie talks about SOS's new Seniors Gathering Place in Parksville, a free drop-in running Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings. www.sosd69.com

Episode Quotes:

“My sister passed at a very young age. She wasn't a child. She was an adult, but she was still a very young adult when she passed from cancer.”

- Darren Karn, RCMP Officer, Port Alberni Detachment

“Instead of treating only symptoms with medication, social prescribing addresses root social needs like loneliness, food security, isolation, and a lot of other things.”

- Bonnie Brown, Administration and Client Services Manager, SOS

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Nanoose Firefighters Return to Battle The Towering Inferno

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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What happens when you bring the firefighters back for round two - this time against a 135-story fire from 1974? Too Old or Movie Gold’s Nanoose Bay firefighter panel returns for a second helping of Hollywood fire.

Host Olen Vanderleeden of the Comox Valley welcomes back Gen X panelists David Purcell and Mike Peters, plus third-generation Nanoose Bay Fire Department siblings Caitlin and Trevor Holme, for their second trip into the archives - this time tackling John Guillermin’s star-studded 1974 disaster epic The Towering Inferno, the story of a 135-story San Francisco skyscraper that goes up in flames on opening night.

The panel digs into a cast stacked almost to the point of absurdity - Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire and O.J. Simpson among them - the shaky building-code logic behind the fire in the first place, and whether a rooftop water tank could realistically put out 50-plus floors of flame. They also settle a running debate from their last screening: does the fire department come off looking better here than they did in Backdraft?

The behind-the-scenes trivia alone makes this one worth a listen. The Towering Inferno made $200 million worldwide on a $14 million budget, making it the highest-earning movie of 1974 - beating out The Exorcist and Young Frankenstein - and picked up nine Oscar nominations. Steve McQueen did his own stunts and helped real firefighters put out an actual blaze that broke out on set, 49 of the film’s 57 built sets burned to the ground, and the building’s “computer system” prop was originally built as a 1954 missile-defense system that later resurfaced on screen in Independence Day.

“I love the disdain for fire. It’s like, ‘What are you bothering me for? I’m above that, I’m gonna be fine.’” - Olen Vanderleeden

“I’m really stuck, because I don’t think pure gold is the right word for this movie. But too old? I wouldn’t give it that either.” - Caitlin, Gen Z firefighter

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Naomi Mwaura - If Not Now, When?

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you have ever wondered what it takes to challenge deep-rooted norms and protect the most vulnerable, this episode is for you. Naomi Mwaura has spent her career doing exactly that - and her story is a masterclass in resilience.

In this episode:

Naomi Mwaura is the founder of Flone Initiative, working to build a safe, professional public transport industry in Kenya. Raised in a family of matatu owners and operators, she has spent her career tackling gender-based violence in transit, co-authoring a UN-Habitat guidebook on safer African streets, and speaking on the TED Global stage.

Naomi joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to talk about resilience through the lens of societal and cultural norms, and what it takes to challenge them from the inside. As founder of Flone Initiative, Naomi is working to build a safe and professional public transport industry in Kenya, tackling sexual harassment, and creating safe employment and education opportunities for women.

As one of the lead organizers of the #MyDressMyChoice campaign, Naomi helped mobilize thousands of women to protest gender-based violence in Kenya’s public transport. Her work has since expanded into transport safety projects across Egypt, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania, and taken her to stages including TED Global, the BBC and Al Jazeera.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Naomi Mwaura: floneinitiative.org

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The Route 19A Arts Festival & 50 Years of the Career Centre with Cheryl Dill

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: From a 16-day, multi-venue celebration of Vancouver Island art to five decades of helping neighbours find work, this episode is a reminder of how much community gets built behind the scenes. Sheena McCorquodale gives us the inside scoop on the Route 19A Arts Festival, and Cheryl Dill marks 50 years of the Career Centre with a campaign built entirely on the stories of the people it's served.

This Episode Features:

(05:10) Sheena McCorquodale wears two hats along Vancouver Island's Route 19A corridor. She's the festival director behind the Route 19A Arts Festival, a 16-day celebration running from Dashwood to Union Bay that brings together a juried fine art exhibition, multi-venue live performances and a self-guided artist studio tour. She's also an artist herself, known for wire and brass sculpture out of her Cathouse Gallery in Qualicum Bay. Before sculpture, she spent years as a commercial artist in sign design, computer graphics, and TV and theatre set work. www.route19a.com

(18:15) Cheryl Dill has spent nearly three decades helping people across the Parksville-Qualicum region find work, change careers and believe in what comes next. As executive director of the Career Centre, she's guiding the organization through a milestone year, with 50 years of service, a brand-new fully accessible building, and a new campaign called Your Stories, Our Legacy. www.careercentre.org

Episode Quotes:

“These are the little communities along the coastal stretch of Route 19A, and we love the area.” - Sheena McCorquodale, Festival Director, Route 19A Arts Festival

“People ask what you do, and we really do help transform lives.” - Cheryl Dill, Executive Director, Career Centre

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok, YouTube and ThePulseCommunity.ca.

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Three Men and a Baby - Number one at the Box Office in 1987

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Too Old or Movie Gold host Olen Vanderleeden and Gen X co-host Matthew Stockton pull out a can't-miss dad-com: the 1987 Disney comedy Three Men and a Baby, starring Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson as three confirmed bachelors whose peak-'80s freedom gets upended when a baby shows up on their doorstep. Directed by Leonard Nimoy - yes, Spock himself - the episode brought in two new panelists for the ride: Gen Z guest Nicole and millennial guest Debbie, a mom of two who brought some very real parenting perspective to the conversation.

Despite a modest $11 million budget, Three Men and a Baby was the number one movie at the box office in 1987, out-earning Fatal Attraction, Beverly Hills Cop, Dirty Dancing, and even that year's Best Picture winner, Platoon, on its way to $167 million worldwide. Steve Guttenberg beat out Tom Hanks, Michael Keaton, John Travolta, and Bruce Willis for his role, and a casting call for 100 party-scene extras drew 5,000 women hoping to meet Tom Selleck. Siskel and Ebert gave it two thumbs up, and the panel's own guesses at the film's real Rotten Tomatoes scores weren't even close.

"I feel like it's impossible for a movie to not be a hit when it's Tom Selleck holding an adorable baby for 90 minutes". - Nicole, Gen Z panelist

"I'm gonna say it's pure gold. Have a laugh, have some fun baby humor, and check out these three leading men from the '80s - they were great". - Olen Vanderleeden

Too Old or Movie Gold is a Vancouver Island movie podcast hosted by Olen Vanderleeden, where classic films meet modern audiences through conversations about timeless movies, memorable performances and the stories behind some of cinema's greatest productions. Too Old or Movie Gold is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

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Kerri Cryderman - Even in Winter You Can Find Sparkles

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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In this episode of A Resilience Project, host Cindy Thompson sits down with Kerri Cryderman, an executive leader in Saskatchewan healthcare, to talk about grief, leadership and what she calls a season of winter. In November 2019, Kerri unexpectedly lost her sister - her best friend and roommate - in a sudden, unexplained death in their family home.

Less than three months after returning to work, the COVID-19 pandemic escalated, and Kerri was asked to work from home - the very place where her sister had passed away. As an executive leader, she felt the pressure to be a pillar of strength for her team while quietly working through her own grief. Over the past year and a half, Kerri has navigated the loss of five close family members, completed a certificate in Executive Coaching at Royal Roads, and continued supporting her organization's pandemic response, all while learning what it means to grieve and lead at the same time. She shares how writing music became an unexpected outlet for her healing, and how her faith community with The Salvation Army has helped carry her through, alongside the comfort of connecting with family and friends.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

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Chris Frye of The Bills & Aki Shaw on Generic Semaglutide

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: The Bills' Chris Frye looks back on three decades of Vancouver Island folk music ahead of their Salish Coast Music Festival show, and pharmacist Aki Shaw explains what Canada's new generic semaglutide means for cost and access.

This Episode Features:

(21:23) Chris Frye is a founding member of The Bills, the Juno-nominated Canadian acoustic supergroup marking 30 years together this year. Known for genre-bending folk roots, layered vocal harmonies, and songwriting steeped in Vancouver Island life, The Bills play Parksville's Knox United Church as part of the Salish Coast Music Festival. Contains the song "Let 'Em Run." Details on the Salish Coast Music Festival: https://sclas.ca/

(06:12) Aki Shaw is a pharmacist who joins the podcast to break down the recent arrival of generic semaglutide in Canada - what it means for cost, coverage, and the future of diabetes and weight-management medication.

Episode Quotes:

"The Bills are a really positive force. We pride ourselves on making people smile. This world has plenty to be worried and concerned about, but it's just who we are as a group." - Chris Frye

"It's a straight switch. In the eyes of Health Canada, it's the same, be it Ozempic or the generic - same medication, same dosage, same delivery." - Aki Shaw

The PULSE Community Podcast is a weekly Vancouver Island podcast hosted by Peter McCully and Dave Graham, featuring conversations with musicians, authors, actors, athletes, business leaders and community builders from Vancouver Island, British Columbia and beyond. The PULSE Community Podcast is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

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Episode Sponsors: Thrifty Foods Parksville, Ian Lindsay & Associates & Fireside Books.

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Check out the Vancouver Island Podcast Directory: Vancouver Island Podcast Directory is a free public resource curated by The PULSE Community, helping listeners discover podcasts produced on Vancouver Island and the surrounding coastal islands.

#ThePulseCommunity #VancouverIslandPodcasts #TheBills #Parksville #SalishCoastMusicFestival #Semaglutide #Podcast

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Two Governments, One Chair - with John Jack of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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On this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Parksville City Councillors Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with John Jack, known in his own language as Sayaač̓atḥ, who holds two elected roles at once: Chief Councillor of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, a modern treaty nation on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and elected Chair of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District.

Jack walks the hosts through what it took to design Huu-ay-aht's constitution from the ground up after ratifying a modern treaty in 2011: a legislative and executive branch fused into a single seven-member council, a hereditary leadership body he compares to “somewhere between the Canadian Senate and the House of Lords,” and a tribunal that functions as both an administrative appeals body and a Supreme Court. They dig into why BC's treaty landscape differs from the rest of Canada, from the Royal Proclamation to Section 35, and why Jack would rather build a relationship at the table than end up in court.

“The goal is boring,” Jack says of what good governance should aspire to - part of what he calls Huu-ay-aht's motto, “ancient spirit, modern mind.” It's a philosophy that shows up everywhere from hereditary leadership structures to his pitch for a standing, diplomatic-corps-style approach to First Nations relations at the provincial level.

Listen for:

• How Huu-ay-aht built a three-branch constitution, including a hereditary body that acts like a Senate

• Why the Huu-ay-aht Tribunal doubles as both an appeals body and a Supreme Court

• What makes BC's treaty landscape different from the rest of Canada

• Why Jack sees courtroom battles as an outcome nobody really wins

• Where consensus-based decision-making breaks down, using BC's forestry sector as an example

Non-Partisan Hacks is a Vancouver Island political podcast hosted by Joel Grenz and Sean Wood, featuring lively, independent conversations about local government, public policy and the issues affecting communities. Non-Partisan Hacks is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

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Dr. Taryn Stejskal - Five Practices of Particularly Resilient People

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal is widely regarded as the world's leading expert on resilience. Founder of the Resilience Leadership Institute, she draws on more than fifteen years of original research to reveal what separates people who bounce back from those who break down - and speaks candidly about her own experience living with dyslexia and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dr. Stejskal's empirically based framework, The Five Practices of Particularly Resilient People, distills over a decade and a half of research into practical tools anyone can use. In this conversation with Cindy Thompson, she shares the mindset shifts and daily practices behind that framework, and invites listeners to consider whether their own past experiences have quietly become obstacles to moving forward. Recognized as a leading global authority on resilience, wellbeing and mental health, her mission is to positively impact the lives of one billion people through the practice of resilience by 2030.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

You'll find all episodes of the PULSE Community Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube.

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Brent Butt Touring the Island and the Parksville Wine Walk

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Corner Gas creator and award-winning comedian Brent Butt opens up about his small-town Saskatchewan roots, seventeen years on the road, and his brand new comedy album, while Nanaimo sommelier Veronica Szick previews the fifth annual Parksville Wine Walk.

This Episode Features:

(22:28) Award-winning comedian Brent Butt grew up the youngest of seven kids in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, before spending seventeen years on the club date circuit and creating and starring in Corner Gas, one of the most-watched sitcoms in Canadian television history. Brent is also a published author - his novel Huge became a number one bestseller in Canada, and he's currently at work on a second thriller set in the world of television. He just released his debut comedy album, Easily Distracted, recorded live at Calgary's Bella Concert Hall, and this September he'll play four Vancouver Island stops in Courtenay, Duncan, Campbell River and Sidney. Find dates and tickets at brentbutt.com.

(06:23) Veronica Szick is a Nanaimo-based sommelier and event planner and the host of the Parksville Wine Walk, now celebrating its fifth year in downtown Parksville. Veronica shares what drew her to a career in wine, why Parksville's shops made the perfect setting for a wine walk, and what's new for this year's event on Friday, August 28th. Get tickets and details at mcmillanartscentre.com.

Episode Quotes:

“I always said jackass to all my buddies all the time. It just seemed like a good old-timey, old guy thing to call somebody.” - Brent Butt

“If Vancouver Island only had not-so-great wines, this wouldn't really be a thing, and we'd only be going to beer festivals.” - Veronica Szick

LISTEN: We have had the chance to talk to many authors from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Authors page.

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube, or on our website ThePulseCommunity.ca.

Click here to learn how to Support the show.

Episode Sponsors: Thrifty Foods, Tablet Pharmacy & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

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#BrentButt #CornerGas #VeronicaSzick #ParksvilleWineWalk #VancouverIslandPodcast #ThePulseCommunity

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Real Golfers Watch Tin Cup - And They Have Notes

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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What happens when you get four real golfers in a room to break down Hollywood’s most famous golf swing? You get one of the liveliest, most opinionated episodes of Too Old or Movie Gold yet.

Host Olen Vanderleeden of the Comox Valley was joined by fellow Gen Xer David Purcell, filling in while regular co-host Matthew Stockton was away at "sports conversion camp," to tackle the 1996 golf rom-com Tin Cup, starring Kevin Costner, Rene Russo and Don Johnson. Representing the Millennial panel: comedian Will Corry and self-described driving-range devotee Anthony.

The trivia digs deep. Kevin Costner trained as a real golfer for the role, and his now-iconic three-quarter swing only happened because coaches couldn’t get his full swing to look right on camera. The film’s unforgettable water-hazard finale echoes a real moment from a 1987 tournament, and the whole concept traces back to golfer Chip Beck’s infamous lay-up at the 1993 Masters. The course itself didn’t even have a water hazard before filming - the crew built one, and it’s still there today.

By the numbers, Tin Cup landed as the 29th highest-grossing movie of 1996 and actually out-earned Happy Gilmore that same year, while pulling a 74% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes against a 65% audience score. Not bad for a film the panel says basically broke even once promotion costs are factored in - so does it still hold up almost 30 years later? Four real golfers weigh in.

“Caddyshack will never be dethroned as a golf movie. Happy Gilmore’s number two now, but this one’s still in our top three.” - David Purcell

“I watch this movie every five years or so. It’s super fun.” - Olen Vanderleeden

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Joe Bakhmoutski - Finding Hope in Times of Uncertainty

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Joe Bakhmoutski is a father, husband, author and testicular cancer survivor from Melbourne, Australia. After years of living with debilitating anxiety, Joe faced a cancer diagnosis that carried him through the lowest depths of misery and pain before forging a closer bond with his family and a new sense of purpose.

Author of Simplify Cancer and Finding Hope in Times of Uncertainty, Joe has made it his mission in life to help others facing their own cancer journey. In this conversation with Cindy Thompson, Joe shares a number of his pivotal learnings and resilience practices, from the mindset shifts that got him through treatment to the small daily habits that kept him grounded. His contagious energy and positive outlook run through the entire conversation, offering listeners a genuine sense of hope through adversity, and a reminder that even the hardest chapters can lead somewhere worth reaching.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

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You Said It: Your Comments on Vancouver Island , Debora Gurrad Busts Garden Myths

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: This week we hit the road for our 'You Said It' segment at a Mid-Island car show, catching up with Vancouver Islanders on what makes this place home. Then Master Gardener Debora Gurrad of Vancouver Island Master Gardens returns to bust some of the most stubborn garden myths out there, from bone meal to burlapped trees, so you can stop wasting time and money in the garden this summer.

This Episode Features:

(06:06) Peter and Dave hit the road to a Mid-Island car show, where we asked Vancouver Islanders one simple question: what do you love most about living on Vancouver Island? From car photographers and rat-rod builders to beachcombers, retirees, and transplants from every corner of Canada, the answers poured in - the ocean, the mountains, the low-key pace, and the endless list of places still left to explore.

(27:14) Debora Gurrad has been passionate about growing things since childhood, a passion sparked by a university botany class. After moving to Vancouver Island in 2017, she became a certified Master Gardener with the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association. A retired teacher who still loves to educate, she presents workshops on gardening topics from Campbell River to Nanaimo, and this episode she tackles some of the most persistent gardening myths out there - from fertilizing new transplants to bone meal, landscape fabric, and staking newly planted trees.

Episode Quotes:

"The island, man. Island life. Great." - Jason, Ucluelet

"The best strategy for dealing with black spot is always remember right plant, right place." - Debora Gurrad

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Riding the Rails - with Thomas Bevan of the Island Corridor Foundation

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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On this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Parksville City Councillors Joel Grenz and Sean Wood take the show “on the rail”, recording aboard a high-rail vehicle rolling along the old E&N corridor from Parksville to Coombs. They are joined by Thomas Bevan, Executive Director and CEO of the Island Corridor Foundation, the non-profit charity that owns the historic rail corridor running from Victoria to Courtenay and Port Alberni to Parksville.

Bevan walks the hosts through what the Island Corridor Foundation actually is: a charity owned collectively by 14 First Nations and 5 regional districts, responsible for stewarding roughly 289 kilometres of corridor land. They dig into the corridor's history as a resource railway, why VIA passenger service ended in 2011, and why a bullet train is not coming anytime soon. The bigger conversation is about strategy: clearing vegetation to reduce wildfire risk after last year's Cameron Lake Fire, building trail agreements with regional districts, and finding tourism and revenue opportunities in Coombs, Ladysmith and beyond, all while keeping an eye on Victoria's Colwood Crawl and Nanaimo's growth.

“We have to do something and not nothing,” Bevan says of the Foundation's approach. It is, he adds, “the art of the possible” - a philosophy that shows up everywhere from vegetation clearing to Victoria's Reconciliation Corridor Initiative to tourism ideas in Coombs and Port Alberni.

Listen for:

• What the Island Corridor Foundation owns, and why its 14 First Nations and 5 regional district members are stewarding it together

• Why vegetation clearing became a wildfire safety priority after the Cameron Lake Fire

• The realistic, step-by-step vision for rail and trails, from Parksville-to-Coombs to Victoria's Colwood Crawl

• How the corridor could become financially self-sustaining, and how residents and businesses can get involved

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#ThePulsePodcast #VancouverIslandPodcasts #NonPartisanHacks #IslandCorridorFoundation #Parksville #Coombs #VancouverIsland #Wildfire #LocalGovernment #CivicEngagement

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Rephar Salamba - Be the Author of Who You Want to Be

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0700

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In Nairobi, Kenya, Rephar Salamba is mother to her 16-year-old son. After leaving an abusive marriage, she rebuilt her life through determination and quiet strength, discovering a passion for handmade jewelry and becoming a community advocate and mentor to women working toward independence in Nairobi's Korogocho slums.

In this episode, Cindy Thompson sits down with Rephar Salamba, who candidly shares one of the lowest and most desperate periods of her life - and how she found her way from despair toward hope and transformation. Since then, Rephar has discovered new strength as a mother and found purpose as a social advocate, using her own experience to support other women rebuilding their lives.

Her creativity is part of that healing: with a passion for crafting jewelry from scrap and reclaimed materials, each intricate piece she designs is a quiet metaphor for the growth she has found within herself. Rephar now works with individuals and groups across Kenya - including the "Smart Mothers" of Korogocho slum - teaching women affected by poverty, HIV/AIDS and single parenthood the life and business skills they need to build lives of independence and purpose.

The Resilience Project is a Vancouver Island podcast hosted by counsellor Cindy Thompson, featuring conversations with authors, health professionals, community leaders and everyday people whose stories of resilience, healing and personal growth offer hope, encouragement and practical life lessons. The Resilience Project is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

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Greyston Holt of “Neagley”- A BC Day Special

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Actor Greyston Holt - the werewolf from Bitten, the vampire from Supernatural, and this fall's Detective Hudson Riley on Prime Video's Neagley - is our guest co-host for a BC Day long weekend special. Greyston shares his own musician roots, a lifetime of connections, and talks about his new role as Hudson Riley in “Neagley” - while we spin tracks from BC artists 54-40, Valdy, Ethan Askey, Brandon Isaac, Harry Manx and Chilliwack.

This Episode Features:

Greyston Holt, actor and musician, joins Peter and Dave as guest co-host for our BC Day long weekend special, from his home on Salt Spring Island. Known for playing werewolf Clayton Danvers in Bitten, a vampire on Supernatural, and the Leo Award-winning Ray Prager Jr. in Durham County, Greyston takes on Detective Hudson Riley in Neagley, the Reacher spinoff premiering September 16th on Prime Video.

Before acting, Greyston chased a music career - fronting Vancouver post-punk band The Mary Belle. He talks about jamming onstage with Valdy at a Salt Spring Christmas party, and picking up classical guitar for a scene on Chesapeake Shores and the Hungarian roots that he explored in Budapest for an episode of FBI International. Greyston is raising daughter Sienna with his wife and fellow actor Cristina Rosato.

Episode Quotes:

"I always knew Salt Spring was a special place, and certainly a special place to grow up and to raise children... I always felt that I would be coming back." - Greyston Holt

"This has been my biggest role to date. It's a dream role. I love the character. I love the content." - Greyston Holt

We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok, YouTube, and ThePulseCommunity.ca

Click here to learn how to Support the show

Episode Sponsors: Beachfest, Thrifty Foods Parksville, Fireside Books & Ian Lindsay & Associates

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

Song Credits:

(05:07) Running for the Fence - 54-40 (Osborne/Johnson)

(14:23) Rock and Roll Song - Valdy

(26:23) Swing Like That - Ethan Askey & The Elevators (Askey)

(29:18) Walkin' with the Blues - Brandon Isaac (Isaac)

(40:56) Capricho Arabe - Francisco Tarrega, performed by Greyston Holt

(43:11) Can't Be Satisfied - Harry Manx (Waters)

(52:42) Crazy Talk - Chilliwack (Henderson)

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The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away - or more precisely, in 1980 - a sequel arrived that would change cinema forever. In this special May the Fourth episode of Too Old or Movie Gold, host Olen Vanderleeden of the Comox Valley brings together his Gen X co-host Matthew Stockton and millennial comedians Josh Fleming (host of the Absolutely Obscure podcast) and Will Corry to revisit The Empire Strikes Back. The verdict? Pure carbonite gold - and it’s the highest-rated film in the podcast’s history.

The group tackles plenty of big questions: Is Darth Vader the greatest villain of all time? (Josh gives a slight edge to Hans Gruber.) Was Yoda actually a good trainer, or just a disruptor making Luke more uncertain? Was the “I am your father” reveal really that shocking? For the Gen Xers, absolutely - people screamed in the theater. And what about dinner with Darth Vader? The panel agrees: surprisingly classy for a villain. The film’s numbers are just as staggering as its story - made for $18 million, it returned $550 million, topping the 1980 box office and beating out Airplane, The Shining, and Caddyshack combined.

The Rotten Tomatoes scores (93% critics, 97% audience) produced a rare three-way tie among all three panelists. Favourite lines included “Do or do not, there is no try,” “Never tell me the odds,” and Han Solo’s perfectly delivered “I know.” Even James Earl Jones got the famous line wrong in an interview - he said “Luke, I’m your father” instead of the actual “No, I am your father.”

The Empire Strikes Back is the highest-rated movie in Too Old or Movie Gold history - pure carbonite gold, no debate. If you haven’t revisited it lately, this episode is your sign.

Too Old or Movie Gold is a Vancouver Island movie podcast hosted by Olen Vanderleeden, where classic films meet modern audiences through conversations about timeless movies, memorable performances and the stories behind some of cinema’s greatest productions. Too Old or Movie Gold is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

“The Empire Strikes Back isn’t about winning. It’s about learning that you might not - and I think that’s why Empire holds as a great movie.” - Matthew Stockton

“Pure carbonite gold. It’s a slam dunk.” - Will Corry, Millennial comedian

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Sponsor for this episode is Fireside Books.

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#TooOldOrMovieGold #StarWars #EmpireStrikesBack #MayTheFourth #MoviePodcast #GenXvsMillennial #PureCarboniteGold #ThePulsePodcast #ThePulseCommunity #VancouverIsland

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Lisa Strogal - When Hiding Is No Longer an Option

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Lisa Strogal is a Master Certified Coach, CEO and founding principal of Shadow Light Consulting Inc. With a long list of accomplishments, certifications and corporate experience behind her, Lisa has developed programs for leadership development and coaching curriculums leveraged in community, organizational, team and individual transformations.

In this episode, Lisa joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to shine a light on some of the significant life events, choices and discoveries that have led her to her resiliency practice today. Her story invites us to sit with a harder question: are we truly living in alignment with our life's purpose, or have we been quietly hiding from it?

Lisa speaks candidly about the courage it takes to stop hiding - from ourselves, from our purpose, and from the changes we know, deep down, that we need to make. Drawing on her work in leadership development and coaching, she reflects on how honesty with ourselves becomes the foundation for genuine resilience, and how alignment, not achievement, is often the real measure of a life well lived.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

You'll find all episodes of the PULSE Community Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube.

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Roy Henry Vickers on 50 Years of Art & BC Wildfire Crew Leader Kyle Gilson

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Roy Henry Vickers spent his 80th birthday thinking about the schoolhouse he was born in, and this year he's released a fifty-year retrospective built from more than 400 works of his art. Meanwhile, Kyle Gilson has spent nine fire seasons leading a BC Wildfire Service crew right here on Vancouver Island, and he takes us inside the first hour after the call comes in. Two Vancouver Islanders, two very different callings, and a lot to learn from both.

This Episode Features:

(22:28) Roy Henry Vickers is celebrating two milestones this year: his 80th birthday and the release of his new retrospective, The Best of Roy Henry Vickers: 80 Selected Works, co-created with longtime collaborator Lucky Budd. Drawing on more than 50 years and 400 works, the book traces the arc of one of Canada's most recognized Indigenous artists, from his early years working in traditional Tsimshian, Haida and Heiltsuk forms to the contemporary, colour-rich style that became his signature. Roy talks about being born in the back room of the schoolhouse where his mother taught. Roy has been honoured with the Order of Canada, the Order of BC, a Grammy nomination and, this year, an honorary doctorate. Roy Henry Vickers Gallery.

(06:00) Kyle Gilson has spent nine years on the front lines of wildfire response with BC Wildfire Service, all of them here on mid-Vancouver Island. As an initial attack crew leader based out of the Errington Fire Base, Kyle leads a four-person crew whose job is to reach a new fire fast and stop it in its tracks. He walks us through the first hour after a call comes in, why island fires burn differently than those in the BC Interior, and what it was like fighting the 2023 Cameron Lake fire and last year's Wesley Ridge fire, the largest wildfire response in Vancouver Island's history. Kyle explains why FireSmart preparation makes such a difference for crews arriving at a structure, and why - despite the long hours - the camaraderie makes it one of the most enjoyable jobs he can imagine. He's been deployed as far as the Yukon and Ontario, fighting fire in every corner of the province. BC Wildfire Service

Episode Quotes:

“Maybe you should try and express yourself as who you are today, not as who you would be if you were here before colonialism happened.” - Roy Henry Vickers

“The most underestimated part, I would say, is how enjoyable the job can be... the camaraderie is huge.” - Kyle Gilson

LISTEN: We have had the chance to talk to many authors from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Authors page.

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What “Housing First” means in practice - with Shayla Day

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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On this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Parksville City Councillors Sean Wood and Joel Grenz sit down with Shayla Day, founder and CEO of DayHomes Society, a nonprofit serving the Oceanside region with outreach, food support, housing navigation, and community coordination. Shayla also chairs the Oceanside Homeless Task Force and co-chairs the Oceanside Community Action Team.

Shayla brings a perspective most policy conversations don't have: she was homeless herself from age 11 to 21, and has spent the sixteen years since building a career in the sector she once relied on. She and the hosts talk through what “Housing First” actually means in practice, why detox and treatment beds are scarce between Nanaimo and Courtenay, and how coordinated regional shelter networks and case tracking work day to day for the people trying to get someone into care.

They also get into the tension local councillors face when calls about people in crisis land on their desks, even though municipalities have no dedicated social services branch to respond. It's a candid, non-partisan look at where policy and frontline reality line up, and where they don't.

Listen for:

Shayla Day's own story of homelessness and addiction, and what it actually took to get clean

What “Housing First” means in practice, versus how the phrase gets used in policy debates

Why there are no detox or treatment beds between Nanaimo and Courtenay, and what that gap costs Oceanside

How coordinated regional shelter networks and case tracking work between communities

What falls to local councillors when social service calls land on their desk, and what doesn't

Visit the NonPartisan Hacks website: nonpartisanhacks.com

Voice message: https://thepulsecommunity.ca/contact/

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

Special Thanks to our Sponsor Ian Lindsay & Associates for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, YouTube Podcasts, and SkookumKids.com.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay up to date on guests, contests and more: https://bit.ly/PulseNewsletterSignup

#ThePulsePodcast #VancouverIslandPodcasts #NonPartisanHacks #Oceanside #Parksville #QualicumBeach #Homelessness #HousingFirst #LocalGovernment #CivicEngagement

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Kim Wilkinson - Finding Purpose Following Loss

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Kim Wilkinson is a mother and Grief Recovery Specialist who lost her 22-year-old son, Tristan, to a drug overdose in November 2019. Through that loss, Kim discovered healing, recovery and transformation, and now works with others facing mental health challenges, PTSD, addiction and trauma as they move from suffering to empowerment.

In this conversation with Cindy Thompson, Kim shares how Tristan's passing became, in an unexpected way, the catalyst for finding her own purpose. With a passion for learning, she opens up about the personal and family mental health challenges her journey through grief has surfaced, and how compassion, non-judgement and patience now shape the way she works with her clients.

Kim has discovered firsthand how specific tools and techniques can bring healing and recovery, as well as abundance and success, into every area of life. She shares her thoughts on what we, as a community, can do today to make a difference for families living with grief, addiction and loss, and why she believes it was Tristan's purpose to help her find her own.

This episode is dedicated to Tristan, and to every parent grieving the loss of a child to drug overdose. It is a conversation about resilience in its most honest form: not the absence of pain, but the willingness to keep moving through it, and to help others do the same.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy

You'll find all episodes of the PULSE Community Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube.

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#KimWilkinson #ResilienceProject #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #ThePulseCommunityPodcast #CindyThompson #whenthebodysaysno #perfectionism #VancouverIslandPodcasts #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth

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Blues Musician Harry Manx & What’s On at The McMillan Arts Centre this summer

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Harry Manx opens up about a life that took him from the Isle of Man to busking in Europe and Japan, and into the studio for his new album Falling Upwards, out this August as he tours Vancouver Island. Jen Bate of the McMillan Arts Centre shares what's coming to Parksville this summer, from the Wine Walk to a new gallery exhibit built around a real train car.

This Episode Features:

(19:50) Harry Manx is a Canadian guitarist and Mohan Veena player who has spent decades fusing Delta blues with Hindustani classical music into a sound critics call “Mysticsippi” blues. Based on Salt Spring Island, he has earned seven Maple Blues Awards and six Juno nominations. Harry talks about growing up on the Isle of Man, busking his way across Europe and Japan, and his new album Falling Upwards, out this August as he tours Vancouver Island. Contains the song “Pork Pie Turban”. Find out more at harrymanx.com.

(07:17) Jen Bate is the executive director of the McMillan Arts Centre in Parksville, where she oversees a gallery, an art school, and a busy summer of community programming. Jen joins us to talk about the Parksville Wine Walk, a new gallery exhibit from pastel artist Joan Larson, and the MAC's Creative Kids day camps. Find out more at mcmillanartscentre.com.

Episode Quotes:

"My music is all about hitting people in the heart, and they feel something sweet." - Harry Manx

"This art centre is your art centre. It's our community celebrating everything: art, music." - Jen Bate

We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok, YouTube and ThePulseCommunity.ca.

Click here to learn how to Support the show.

Episode Sponsors: Beachfest, Thrifty Foods Parksville, Tablet Pharmacy & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart and YouTube.

Like, Share & Listen!

#PULSEPodcast #VancouverIsland #VancouverIslandPodcasts #HarryManx #JenBate #McMillanArtsCentre #FallingUpwards #ParksvilleQualicumBeach #VancouverIslandMusic

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Stargate (1994) - Is This Sci-Fi Classic Still Pure Gold?

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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It has been 31 years since Roland Emmerich’s Stargate first sent Kurt Russell and James Spader through an ancient portal to a desert planet ruled by a false god - and the Too Old or Movie Gold crew just stepped back through to find out if it still holds up. Host Olen Vanderleeden of the Comox Valley is joined by Gen X co-host Matthew Stockton, millennial wormhole expert Shawn, and Gen Z’s Nicole for one of the show’s most lively debates yet.

The gang digs into the best parts - the iconic Stargate opening effect that still delivers after all these years, O’Neill and Skaara’s bonding scenes, and the film’s surprisingly thoughtful faith in intellect over brute force. They also get into the worst parts: a rushed ending, Ra’s two-glider air force, and the classic freeze-and-enhance trope. There’s fascinating behind-the-scenes trivia too - including how early test screenings nearly killed the film before the Ra character was transformed with an alien voice, and how Kurt Russell talked a reluctant James Spader off the ledge with one perfectly blunt pep talk.

The box office numbers surprised the crew - Stargate earned enough internationally to rank third in 1994, ahead of True Lies, Speed, and Pulp Fiction. Critics Siskel and Ebert both gave it thumbs down, but audiences disagreed, and 400 hours of spinoff content proved who was right in the long run. The episode closes with a unanimous Pure Gold verdict - not because it’s a perfect film, but because the concept is stellar and the legacy is undeniable. Oh, and the dream remake cast? Jon Hamm, Rami Malek, and Lady Gaga as Ra. Hollywood, take note.

“When that gate spins and the water ripples, I still feel the same excitement that something big’s gonna happen.” - Matthew, co-host

“I liked it. It was fun. It killed two hours. I enjoyed it. I thought it was cute.”- Nicole, Gen Z co-host

You’ll find all episodes of The Too Old or Movie Gold Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok, YouTube, and ThePulseCommunity.ca

Click here to learn how to Support the show.

Sponsor for this episode is Fireside Books.

Check out The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart and YouTube podcasts, as well as ThePULSECommunity.ca

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Karen Alcantara - Remembering the Human in Humanity

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Karen Alcantara joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to share her journey from self-proclaimed "Ghetto Girl" to emotional support worker. Drawing on her teenage experience with gang life, Karen speaks candidly about the seduction of belonging, the search for community, and what was missing for her growing up.

One of twelve siblings and the daughter of an immigrant mother from the Dominican Republic, Karen reflects on the strength and pain woven through generations of her family's experience with poverty. That foundation led her to a career supporting some of Vancouver's most vulnerable people - working on the Downtown East Side, helping survivors of sexual assault at the WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre, and serving on an advisory committee for a UN women's initiative to create safer cities.

Karen's story is one of resilience shaped by hardship and redirected into purpose. Her conversation with Cindy is a reminder of the value of human connection, and of what becomes possible when we choose to remember the humanity in each other. Tune in to hear Karen's full story of transformation, community, and resilience.

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Two NEW Novels from C.C. Humphreys & The Salvation Army Feeds a Growing Need

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Major Sergii Kachanov has watched need at the Mount Arrowsmith Food Bank climb toward last year's total in just five months, and he explains exactly what's driving it and how the community can help. Then novelist C.C. Humphreys, fresh off two brand-new books, talks about trading Salt Spring Island for the English countryside, writing a career's worth of thrillers, and why research is the springboard for imagination.

This Episode Features:

(07:08) Major Sergii Kachanov, corps officer and pastor of The Salvation Army Mount Arrowsmith in Parksville, joins the podcast to talk about the growing need at the food bank he and his wife, Major Tatiana Kachanov, have run since arriving back on the island in 2016. In the last five months alone, the food bank has served 4,591 families, already closing in on all of last year's total of 8,200. Sergii walks through what a first visit looks like, the volunteers who make it all possible, and what the food bank needs most right now. parksvillesalvationarmy.ca

(24:57) Chris Humphreys, known to his readers as C.C. Humphreys, is a playwright, actor, and award-winning author of more than 20 novels. Born in Toronto and raised in London, he spent thirteen years on Salt Spring Island before moving back to England, where he now lives in Devon. He joins the podcast with two brand-new books, One London Day and The Double Life of Eve Sinclair, and talks about research, reinvention, and why story is always king. authorchrishumphreys.com

Episode Quotes:

“They do work, and they simply can't cope with the rise in prices and the big increase in rent.” - Major Sergii Kachanov

“Research is the springboard for the imagination - but story is king.” - C.C. Humphreys

LISTEN: We have had the chance to talk to many authors from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Authors page.

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Decoding Your Property Tax Bill

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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Every spring, property tax season brings the same wave of confusion, and Parksville City Councillors Joel Grenz and Sean Wood are digging into it head-on in this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks. Using the City of Parksville as a case study, they break down why a single property tax bill is actually a bundle of separate charges from multiple levels of government - the city, the regional district, the regional hospital district, the school tax, the library board, and BC Assessment - all rolled into one invoice.

Joel and Sean tackle the question they hear constantly: if the City of Parksville raised taxes 5.8% this year, why did some residents see their total bill jump 12 or 13%? The answer, they explain, comes down to how each of those other agencies sets its own rate independently, and how BC Assessment values shift the share each homeowner pays. A bigger jump in your property's assessed value compared to your neighbours can mean a bigger slice of the tax bill, even if the municipal rate barely moves.

The conversation also covers the BC homeowner grant, which hasn't kept pace with rising costs since it was introduced decades ago, the property tax deferral program and its recently increased interest rate, and the ongoing debate over taxing property value versus income. Joel and Sean close with practical advice: if your tax bill feels out of step with what you expected, appealing your assessment is an option, but sitting down for a coffee with your local councillor or mayor may be the more useful first step to understanding exactly where your money goes.

Listen for:

• Why your property tax bill bundles charges from the city, regional district, hospital district, school tax, library board, and BC Assessment into one invoice

• How BC Assessment values, not just the municipal tax rate, determine how much of the total bill lands on your property

• What the homeowner grant, the tax deferral program, and a coffee with your local councillor can (and can't) do to ease the pinch

Visit the NonPartisan Hacks website: nonpartisanhacks.com

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Shannon Bergstrom - Letting Go of Perfectionism and Listening to Your Body

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Shannon Bergstrom joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to talk about perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the cost of chasing impossible standards. A teacher, wife, and mother, Shannon shares how childhood loss shaped her instinct to keep the peace - and how two experiences of burnout finally taught her to listen to her body.

After losing her younger sister as a pre-teen, Shannon found herself internalizing emotion and quietly managing everyone else’s comfort - a pattern that followed her into adulthood. It took two significant episodes of burnout for her to connect the dots between that early experience and the way stress was showing up in her body. In this conversation, she talks candidly about setting boundaries, releasing the need for external validation, and trusting her body’s signals as part of her resilience practice.

If you’ve ever sought your worth through other people’s approval, this episode offers a path back to yourself.

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Boxing and Drumming to Battle Parkinson's & The Hands & Hearts Food Program Feeding Families

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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LISTEN HERE:

Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Doug Pickard has spent more than 13 years proving that boxing gloves and conga drums can push back against a disease with no cure, turning rhythm itself into therapy for people living with Parkinson's. Virginia Worcester is making sure no child in School District 69 goes hungry on the weekend, building a 100 percent volunteer program that now feeds nearly 100 families a month.

This Episode Features:

(06:47) Virginia Worcester, founder of the Hands & Hearts Food Program, joins the podcast. What began in 1997 as a Christmas hamper drive for five or ten families has grown into a fully volunteer-run program delivering weekly food hampers to nearly 100 families across School District 69, all of it funded entirely by donations with zero administration costs. Virginia explains how the program partners with the school district to keep families anonymous and dignified, why she insists on purchasing every item rather than accepting donated goods, and how the need has grown from 75 to 98 families in just the past year. Find out more about the Hands & Hearts Food Program.

(20:35) Doug Pickard of Parksville joins the podcast. A coach, advocate, and drum circle leader, Doug has spent more than 13 years helping people with Parkinson's fight back through exercise, from his Rock Steady Boxing affiliate to his own drumming program, Dopa Beats. Doug walks through how a single client in a now-closed Parksville gym led him to become one of the first Canadian ambassadors for the Davis Phinney Foundation, why large purposeful movement and rhythm can cause real-time changes in the brain, and what it was like presenting his work to 170 people at the Movement Fair in Las Vegas. He also talks about Pedaling for Parkinson's, his Zoom cycling program now reaching participants as far away as Paraguay. Learn more about Dopa Beats.

Episode Quotes:

“When you give me $100, you know that $100 is going directly to buy food for the kids in our community.” - Virginia Worcester

“If you don’t learn about the disease, if you don’t learn about Parkinson’s, you can’t be as effective as possible. You have to learn how to be empathetic and understand what they’re going through.” - Doug Pickard

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Airplane! - The Funniest Movie Ever Made?

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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What happens when you gather two Gen Xers who worship a comedy classic, two Millennials seeing it fresh, and one very unimpressed holdout? You get the most hilariously divided episode of Too Old or Movie Gold yet.

Hosts Olan VanderLinden and Matthew Stockton of the Comox Valley are joined by comedian Will Corry, Debbie, and Sean to revisit the 1980 comedy classic Airplane! - written and directed by the legendary ZAZ trio (Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers). The verdict from most of the panel? Pure gold. But Sean has entered the chat, and Sean is not having it.

The episode digs deep into what makes Airplane! a masterclass in comedy - the wall-to-wall gags, the genius of casting deadpan dramatic actors like Leslie Nielsen (whose career was almost finished before this film revived it), and the sheer rewatchability that still reveals new jokes decades later. The panel shares their personal favourite bits, debates how many jokes Millennials actually catch, and marvels at a movie that earned $83 million on a $3.5 million budget and landed a 97% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.

There are also some remarkable behind-the-scenes facts: the film was pitched to the studio as "Animal House on a plane," the rights to the source material were purchased for just $2,500, and the directors legally changed their names so all three could get directing credits. Oh - and MythBusters confirmed a regular person actually could land a plane using only instructions from the tower.

And then there's Sean - who gave it a two out of ten and would rather rewatch Escape From New York. Surely he can't be serious. Don't call him Shirley.

“This is my favorite type of humor. This is one of a handful of comedy movies that actually makes me laugh out loud every time I watch it.” - Olan VanderLinden

“When being random is your hook, if that's all you got, you got nothing.” - Sean, the lone dissenter

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Pam Botterill - The Importance of Belonging

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Pam Botterill joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to share what she calls a good-news story of adoption. An Indigenous woman from the Wei Wai Kum First Nation in Campbell River, BC, Pam was adopted at nine months old and raised by a non-Indigenous family in Powell River, BC.

In this episode, Pam reflects on the unexpected threads connecting the Celtic music of her upbringing to the drumming traditions of her Indigenous roots, finding a common rhythm between the two worlds she belongs to. She shares the emotional experience of meeting her biological mother and siblings for the first time, and how that reunion deepened her understanding of family and identity.

Pam’s story is, at its heart, about belonging - belonging to a family, a culture, and a community. That sense of belonging carried her through her battle with cancer, where the people around her became a source of strength and resilience.

We invite you to listen to this conversation about identity, reconnection, and the many forms belonging can take.

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Tears for Fears Drummer Jamie Wollam & Cancer Warrior Carly Carey creates Carly’s House

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Jamie Wollam grew up tapping along to Kiss and AC/DC records in Southern California, never imagining he'd spend sixteen years behind the kit for Tears for Fears - or that he'd find sobriety and a recording studio on Salt Spring Island. And Carly Carey, a Nanaimo realtor who has faced cancer three times, is turning her own hardest years into Carly's House, a free place to stay for islanders travelling for treatment.

This Episode Features:

(22:00) Jamie Wollam, the drummer for Tears for Fears since 2010, joins the podcast. Raised in Southern California, Jamie got hooked on drums at a Kiss concert at age 10 and went on to tour and record with David Crosby, Jackson Browne, and Tom Morello, even playing on two posthumous Michael Jackson tracks. He talks candidly about the phone call that brought him into Tears for Fears, the hardest songs to play live, and the move to Salt Spring Island that gave him sobriety and a second act - including his home recording studio, the Monster House. Contains the song Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears. jamiewollamdrums.com

(08:05) Carly Carey, a Nanaimo-based realtor, business leader, wife, and mother, has fought cancer three times. Drawing on her own experience travelling for treatment, she and her husband Morgan are turning a rental property into Carly's House, a free place for cancer patients who must come to Nanaimo for chemotherapy and radiation. Carly walks through the renovation, the partnership with the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation, and why dignity and community support are at the heart of the project.

Episode Quotes:

“I literally was driving up to Beverly Hills one day to do a recording session, and my phone rang... he goes, 'You want to be in Tears for Fears?'” - Jamie Wollam

“Even at 18, I just had this sense of clarity around how privileged we were to have the means to drive to Victoria.” - Carly Carey

We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

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Nanoose Firefighters Watch Backdraft - And They Have Feelings

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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What happens when you screen a Hollywood firefighting blockbuster for actual firefighters? You get the most entertaining and most brutally honest episode of Too Old or Movie Gold yet.

Hosts Olin VanderLeen and David Purcell of the Comox Valley invited a special all-firefighter panel to weigh in on Ron Howard’s 1991 action classic, Backdraft: volunteer firefighter Michael, and sibling duo Caitlin and Trevor Holme of the Nanoose Bay Fire Department who come from a three-generation firefighting family, just like the brothers in the film.

The verdict? The fire scenes are genuinely extraordinary. The firefighting? A glorious dumpster fire of Hollywood exaggeration. The panel hilariously dissected everything from heroes running into burning buildings without masks or hoses, to cowboy-style solo antics that would end careers today. As Michael put it, it was “almost a movie of how to not do anything correct.”

But it’s not all laughs at Hollywood’s expense. The group digs into what the film does beautifully - Donald Sutherland’s scene-stealing performance, fascinating behind-the-scenes production details (including a fireproof camera operator who literally walked through real flames), and how the movie treats fire itself as a living, breathing character.

Backdraft earned $152 million on a $40 million budget and holds a 72% Rotten Tomatoes critic score. But does it still hold up in 2026? Two Gen Xers who loved it, two Gen Z firefighter siblings watching it fresh, and a crew of people who actually fight fires for a living all weigh in.

“You go in as a team. You’ve got a partner. You do not leave your partner. You go in with them, you come out with them.” - David Purcell

“I thought it was very Hollywood, but you know, I was able to sit through it fairly well, so that says something, I guess.” - Caitlin, Gen Z firefighter

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Katie Bergman - When Justice Just Is

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

Katie Bergman is a writer and social justice advocate who has devoted a decade to the non-profit sector, specialising in human trafficking interventions. After experiencing trauma and burnout at the frontlines of humanitarian work, she wrote When Justice Just Is to open a conversation about inner wellbeing and social change.

In this episode:

Katie Bergman joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to share the deeply personal story behind When Justice Just Is - her first book and a call to those doing the hard, often invisible work of helping others.

Over ten years in the non-profit sector, Katie worked with teams around the world - preventing labour exploitation among migrant workers in rural Cambodia, supporting survivors of human trafficking in the US, and protecting at-risk girls from abuse in Bulgaria. It was extraordinary, purposeful work. It was also work that took a toll. A few years in, Katie began to see how individual, systemic, and societal factors were quietly eroding the wellbeing of people in helping roles - including her own.

After her own experience of trauma and burnout at the frontlines, she did what writers do: she wrote about it. When Justice Just Is is a book about self-stewardship for people who give deeply to the world - and a reminder that caring for ourselves is not separate from caring for others. It’s the foundation of it.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

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Learn more about Katie Bergman: whenjusticejustis.com

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Laura Palmer of Island Crime Podcast & Cheryl Dill on BeachFest 2026

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Cheryl Dill has spent years helping build one of Vancouver Island's most beloved summer traditions into an internationally recognized event drawing visitors from all over the world. Laura Palmer is nine seasons into a true crime podcast built on patience, rigour, and deep respect for victims and their families. Two very good reasons to be proud of these Vancouver Islanders.

This Episode Features:

(34:10) Laura Palmer, host of the award-winning podcast Island Crime, has just launched Season 9 - a series called "The Dead File," investigating the unsolved 1959 double murder of Elizabeth and Andrew Kosonic in South Wellington, just south of Nanaimo. Laura was approached by the couple's great-great-granddaughter, who has spent years researching the tragedy on her own. The title comes from a stamp on the actual police folder - "dead file, no further work to be done." Laura talks about the remarkable access she had to coroner's reports, autopsy records, and a psychiatric file, and why the RCMP is still reluctant to release the full investigation file 67 years on. She also updates listeners on Season 1's Lisa Marie Young case and reflects on what separates responsible true crime journalism from exploitation.

(9:15) Cheryl Dill, president of the Parksville Beach Festival Society, joins us to talk about the festival that drew nearly 120,000 visitors in 2025 - one of the highest attendance figures since 2015. Cheryl walks us through the new sand sculpting site, this-year's "Beauties and Beasts" theme chosen by sculptors and the public together, and the magic of seeing those works illuminated at night. She talks about the volunteer army of 200-plus people who make it all happen, the international reach of a festival that draws visitors from Japan, Australia, Madagascar, and beyond, and the Blue Rodeo concert that represents the biggest concert undertaking in the festival's history. April Wine headlines the opening weekend concert on July 11th. Tickets and details at parksvillebeachfest.ca.

Episode Quotes:

"Everybody counts or nobody counts. That certainly seemed true to me in Andrew and Elizabeth's case." - Laura Palmer

"When you look at that diversity of visitors and where they come from by evidence of the pins on the map - it's incredible. Greenland. Japan. Australia. New Zealand. Madagascar. They're identifying that they're coming from all over." - Cheryl Dill

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When Cities Stop Waiting - with Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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What happens when the province can't move fast enough and people in your city need help now? In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks, hosts Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Marianne Alto, Mayor of the City of Victoria, recorded live at the AVICC convention.

Victoria is BC's capital city - a mid-sized municipality shouldering an outsized share of the region's housing pressures, homelessness, and mental health and addiction challenges. Mayor Alto talks candidly about what it looks like when a city decides to stop waiting: building 97 new shelter and transitional housing spaces, creating a first-of-its-kind Community Safety, Wellbeing, and Partnerships department, and funding nonprofit service providers when senior governments can't or won't.

She also shares what she's learned about courage, accountability, and adaptability - and why standing in a room full of people yelling at you is sometimes just part of the job.

Listen for:

• How Victoria exceeded its provincial housing targets - and why Mayor Alto was eager to be picked first

• Why Victoria carries more than 80% of the region's social services - and what she's doing about it

• The story behind the Dollar Place facility: two public meetings, hundreds of angry residents, and a decision she'd make again

• How the city's Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan is funding nonprofits to do what the province hasn't

• What she told her council on inauguration day: "Listen, think, and then do good work"

• Advice for elected officials deciding whether to run again - including a frank conversation about vitriol in public life

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Kaleb Dahlgren - “Crossroads”: Finding Strength in Vulnerability

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you’ve ever been told you can’t - and refused to accept it - this episode is for you. Kaleb Dahlgren speaks from a place of hard-won strength: as a survivor of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy, a #1 bestselling author, a community builder, and a young man who spent his entire hockey career proving the doubters wrong. His story is one of extraordinary resilience layered upon resilience, told with a vulnerability that makes it genuinely unforgettable.

In this episode:

Kaleb Dahlgren joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to share the journey behind his memoir ‘Crossroads’ - and what it truly means to find strength in vulnerability.

After losing 16 members of his Broncos family in the tragic 2018 crash, Kaleb navigated grief on a scale most people will never face. Yet his story of beating the odds began long before that April night. Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age four, he was told by hockey coaches and scouts that he would never succeed in the sport. Rather than stepping back, he used that negativity as fuel - working relentlessly to play at the highest level of hockey each year of his young career.

Inspired by his own challenges, Kaleb founded Dahlgren’s Diabeauties, a program that uses hockey to raise awareness of Type 1 Diabetes and support children living with the disease. In 2018, he received the Canadian Volunteer Award for Emerging Leader of the Prairies. He graduated from York University with a Commerce degree, was named the Most Outstanding Male Graduate for Varsity Athletics, and is now forging his next path as a chiropractic student and keynote speaker.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

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Ethan Askey touring Vancouver Island & the Parksville Car and Bike Show

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Ethan Askey has carried a harmonica in his pocket for the better part of 30 years - from campfires on the Alsek River to festival stages in Europe, from Junior Wells' living room in Chicago to the studio in Kimberley where his new album Outside the Lines was born. He is a storyteller who found the blues by digging backwards through his dad's record collection, and every story he tells feels like a song. Ron Thorogood built a life around cars and the community they carry - from drag strips in Calgary to leading the charge to bring one of Vancouver Island's most beloved summer events back to the beach at Parksville Community Park on July 5th.

This Episode Features:

(28:32) Ethan Askey is a singer, songwriter, and blues harmonica player based in Cranbrook, BC. Known in music circles as Shorty, he spent decades as a sideman and session player before stepping out front with his 2022 debut album Walk When You Wanna Run, which spent over 160 weeks on the Canada Roots and Blues Top 50. He leads Ethan Askey and the Elevators, whose new album Outside the Lines is now out and features contributions from Steve Marriner, Susie Vinnick, and Jimmy Bowskill. Ethan talks about walking a fish through the South Side of Chicago to Junior Wells' door, headlining the Baltic Blues Festival in Germany, and what 30 years of always having a harmonica in your pocket really means. Contains the song "Swing Like That." ethanaskey.com

(07:58) Ron Thorogood is one of the key organizers behind the Parksville Car and Bike Show - the revived, rebranded Van Isle Show and Shine returning to Parksville Community Park on July 5th. Ron moved to Vancouver Island from Calgary nine years ago, bringing a lifetime of drag racing history with him, including a 1970 Plymouth Duster 340 that won back-to-back pro titles in 2000 and 2001 and that he owned for 50 years. He talks about reviving a show that once drew a thousand cars to the beach, why there are no judges and no trophies, and why - for him - it has never really been about the cars. https://www.car-show.ca/

Episode Quotes:

"It has nothing to do with a car. Really what's behind the car is the people. The whole community of people is what drives me." - Ron Thorogood

"Everywhere I go, I've got a harmonica in my pocket. It's a thing." - Ethan Askey

We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

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Santiago Dominguez - Autism: A Personality, Not a Disability

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you or someone you love has ever felt like an outsider in a world that wasn’t built for the way your mind works, Santiago Dominguez speaks directly to that experience. Diagnosed with high-functioning autism, Santiago opens up about the exhausting daily effort of navigating school, building relationships, and searching for a sense of value in a world that often misunderstood him. His story is one of hard-won resilience - and a powerful reminder that difference is not deficit.

In this episode:

Santiago Dominguez joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to share what it truly meant to grow up with high-functioning autism in a world that rarely made space for the way he experienced it.

For Santiago, every school day felt like a war - a constant negotiation between who he was and what the world expected him to be. Complex peer relationships and a deep desire to be understood shaped his early years. But through it all, he found his way to something more grounding: a rediscovery of his own value, on his own terms.

Now 24, Santiago is a real estate photographer, a history student at Vancouver Island University, a high school tutor, and a youth coordinator at Maranatha Church in Nanaimo, BC. Through his work with teenagers facing similar struggles, he channels his own experience into something purposeful - helping young people see what he had to learn for himself: that autism is a personality, not a disability.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

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Matt Sager of “Lost Car Rescue” on “Classics for Kids” & Crime Novelist Sam Wiebe

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Matt Sager brings a 1940 Ford five-window coupe and a classroom full of students to turn a rescue car into a raffle that could raise a million dollars for the kids at Cowichan District Hospital. Sam Wiebe has spent a decade building one of the most compelling crime fiction series in Canadian literature, and his sixth Wakeland novel takes the detective out of his Vancouver comfort zone and into the Fraser Valley - where ghost guns, a teenager in danger, and a corporate consulting gig he hates are all waiting.

This Episode Features:

(26:00) Matt Sager of Mill Bay became known across Canada as the star of the History Channel's Lost Car Rescue, hunting down forgotten classics from barns, ravines, and forests alongside his brother Steve. Now he's channeling that passion into Classics for Kids - a program he built at Queen Margaret's School in Duncan where students are restoring a 1940 Ford five-window coupe from a Langford garage to show-ready condition. The car, owned by the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation, will be unveiled at a car show on July 5th at the school and then tour western Canada as a rolling raffle with a million-dollar fundraising target for the pediatric ward. https://bit.ly/ClassicsForKidsQMS

(07:47) Sam Wiebe is an award-winning, best-selling author of Pacific Northwest crime fiction based in New Westminster, BC. His Dave Wakeland series has earned him the Crime Writers of Canada Award and the Kobo Emerging Writers Prize. In his sixth Wakeland novel, Guns Across the River, private eye Dave Wakeland pulls a teenager named Nicola from False Creek - and finds himself chasing a shipping container of untraceable ghost guns from Vancouver's back alleys all the way to the Fraser Valley. Sam also previews his forthcoming nonfiction book Shot in Vancouver, a deep dive into the movies and TV series filmed in BC. https://samwiebe.com/

Episode Quotes:

"Pairing someone who's been through the wringer and is very much a lone wolf with a teenager who's in danger, but is also capable of violence and going down the wrong path herself - I thought would just be an interesting challenge to Dave." - Sam Wiebe

"The ultimate goal is to have the kids have this amazing well-rounded experience about using their hands to create something that is greater than themselves - for the greater good of other children." - Matt Sager

LISTEN: We have had the chance to talk to many authors from across Vancouver Island and beyond — explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Authors page.

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When Democracy Becomes Dangerous with Marianne Meed Ward

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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Recorded live at the AVICC convention in Victoria, this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks brings a remarkable guest to the mic. Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Marianne Meed Ward - Mayor of Burlington, Ontario and co-founder of ElectRespect - to talk about the growing crisis of harassment, abuse, and threats facing elected officials at every level of government.

Marianne has received death threats, been told by police not to attend her own public meetings, and watched colleagues leave elected life entirely because the personal cost was too high. Rather than stepping back, she helped launch a national movement. ElectRespect is now a cross-country campaign with hundreds of elected officials and over 60 municipalities signed on - the pledge is straightforward: commit to respectful democracy, lead by example, and ask the same of colleagues and constituents.

Listen for:

• The real-life incidents - including death threats linked to a local development application - that pushed Mayor Meed Ward to act

• Why the tools available to municipalities to deal with misconduct are dangerously limited

• How social media, bots, and post-COVID anonymity turbocharged political toxicity at the local level

• Why women, people of colour, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQ officials face a distinctly more personal and threatening form of abuse

• What ElectRespect is actually asking people to do - and how any elected official or member of the public can sign the pledge today

• Why changing the culture has to start with politicians themselves

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Visit the NonPartisan Hacks website: https://nonpartisanhacks.com/

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Henry McKay - If Not You, Then Who?

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you've ever wondered what it takes to break a cycle - of trauma, of violence, of generational pain, this episode is for you. Henry McKay speaks with a clarity and courage that only comes from having lived through the very things he now works to prevent.

In this episode:

Henry McKay joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to share a story of intergenerational trauma and intergenerational resilience - and the critical elements that helped him find his way through.

Henry is a father and fourth-year Social Work student at the University of Manitoba. Drawing on his own experiences with childhood trauma, abuse, poverty, oppression, drug dealing, and street gang involvement, he speaks honestly about what it meant to move from a life of alcoholism and violence into one of healing, hope, and purpose.

Today, Henry works as an Action Therapist with at-risk youth in the child welfare system. His mission is to help prevent or reduce the harm of substance use and gang involvement, while introducing Indigenous ceremony to youth navigating some of the same circumstances he once faced. In asking "if not you, then who?" - he answers that question every day with his work and his presence.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

You'll find all episodes of the PULSE Community Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube.

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#HenryMcKay #ResilienceProject #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #ThePulseCommunityPodcast #CindyThompson #intergenerationaltrauma #indigenousyouth #healing #parksvillenews #vancouverislandnews

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Kyle McKearney's To The River Tour & 99-year-old Eva Hilborn's Wonderful World of Books

Tue, 26 May 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Kyle McKearney stopped chasing what the industry told him to be, went home, made the record he wanted to make, and had it mixed by the same engineer behind Chris Stapleton and Beyonce. Eva Hilborn decided at 95 that she wasn't done yet - and built a literacy charity from scratch that now puts free books in the hands of 500 children every month. Two guests who took their own road, and made something remarkable.

This Episode Features:

(25:23) Kyle McKearney, Metis singer-songwriter and frontman of The Outliers, is bringing his To The River Tour to Vancouver Island this summer - including Sunfest at Laketown Ranch, Rock the Range in Qualicum Beach, and the Parksville Museum Concert Series. Raised in Fort St. John and now based in Alberta, Kyle grew up in a musical family - his dad spent eight years chasing Nashville with the East Coast Riders, and his grandparents played dances and weddings across western Canada. Kyle co-produced his most recent album with Russell Broom, had it mixed by Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Willie Nelson, Beyonce) and had five songs featured in the season 18 finale of Heartland. His band, The Outliers - which includes his wife Sarah on vocals and guitar - plays country, Americana, and bluegrass with a soul and swagger all their own. Contains the song “Wedding Day”. https://www.imkylemckearney.com/

(06:16) Eva Hilborn, retired early childhood educator and founder of the Wonderful World of Books, started her charity at age 95, inspired by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Now 99, Eva is still involved in the program that delivers free, personalized books to 500 children across School District 69 every month - from birth to age four. What began with 25 books delivered by neighbours in Bowser has grown into a volunteer-powered organization with 50 to 70 dedicated volunteers, multiple grants and sponsors, and a partnership with the Qualicum Beach library. Kathy Van Herwaarden serves as vice president. Eva's secret to a long and active life? Keep busy. Keep a job. Do something positive. https://thewonderfulworldofbooks.com/

Episode Quotes:

“It just has its own thing - it's a group of highly skilled, highly talented musicians who have a lot of swagger and soul and could essentially play any genre of music.” - Kyle McKearney

“Children who have 80 or more books in their home progress greater. The children, they're happy to get a book each month.” - Eva Hilborn

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(Wedding Day - McKearney)

#KyleMcKearney #ToTheRiverTour #VancouverIsland #VancouverIslandMusic #WonderfulWorldOfBooks #EvaHilborn #Literacy #SunFest #ThePULSEPodcast #VancouverIslandPodcast #ParksvilleNews #VancouverIslandNews

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Carys Cragg - How I Came to Meet the Man Who Murdered My Father

Tue, 26 May 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

What does it take to face the person who shattered your world? Carys Cragg was 11 years old when her father was murdered. Decades later, she chose to correspond with - and ultimately meet - the man responsible. Her story is not about forgiveness on demand. It is about what happens when you decide to walk toward your greatest fear, and what you find on the other side.

In this episode:

Carys Cragg joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to share the extraordinary journey behind her book Dead Reckoning: How I Came to Meet the Man Who Murdered My Father - a Globe & Mail Best 100 Book of 2017, finalist for the Hubert Evans BC Book Prize, and finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award.

Carys opens up about complex trauma, grief, and the unexpected gifts that can emerge when we are willing to confront what we fear most. Beyond her personal story, Carys brings a professional lens to healing: she is faculty and coordinator in the Child & Youth Care degree program at Douglas College and is completing her Doctor of Education in educational leadership. This episode is dedicated to her father.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: https://thepulsecommunity.ca/

Cindy Thompson's website: https://cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Carys Cragg: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/caryscragg

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Singer-Songwriter Sean Thomas & Parksville Museum Curator Sarah Ronald

Tue, 19 May 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode:

Sean Thomas was 17 years old when he began producing Debbie Gibson's comeback album - the same year he was learning to drive a car. He then took his talents to Las Vegas as her music director, toured with New Kids on the Block and New Edition, and is now releasing his own music entirely on his own terms. Sarah Ronald turned a heritage village courtyard into a concert venue, dreamed up Parksville's longest hopscotch course, and is building a storytelling festival from scratch - because she believes a museum, like a library, has to keep evolving to stay alive.

This Episode Features:

(28:06) Sean Thomas is a 24-year-old Vancouver-born singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and voice actor who started playing piano at five, founded a charity that raised over $100,000 for BC Children's Hospital at age 11, and co-produced Debbie Gibson's first album in two decades while finishing his Berklee College of Music degree. He has since worked as a music director, writer, mixer, and producer for Joey McIntyre, New Kids on the Block, and New Edition. His debut single "Better" - written, recorded, produced, and mixed entirely himself - features over 100 stacked vocal layers built in his home studio. Sean is now preparing an independent EP and exploring live performance opportunities later this year. https://www.seanthomas.ca/

(06:08) Sarah Ronald is the manager and curator of the Parksville Museum at Craig Heritage Park, overseeing eight heritage buildings, a rich regional archive, and a rapidly expanding calendar of community events. After 18 years as a theatre coordinator for the City of Port Moody, Sarah arrived in Parksville in spring 2024 and has since launched an artisan market, a concert series every Thursday in July, a juried art exhibit exploring repetition, and a multi-week storytelling festival for June featuring theatre, literary artists, spoken word, and workshops. She also drew Parksville's longest hopscotch course - all 300-plus hops of it. https://www.parksvillemuseum.com/

Episode Quotes:

"When I'm in a writing session or doing a production for something, I'll often just take a backseat or keep asking questions until they bring it out themselves - because when it comes from them and it's an idea they thought of, it's more inspired." - Sean Thomas

"A lot of the items in here in some regard were precious to somebody, and you can tell. You can see these stories." - Sarah Ronald

LISTEN: We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

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From the Ground Up: Amit Gaur on Three Years at the Council Table

Tue, 19 May 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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Recorded on location at the AVICC (Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities) Conference, this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks brings a familiar face to the mic. Joel Grenz and Sean Wood welcome Parksville City Councillor Amit Gaur — their colleague at the council table since the 2022 election — for a candid conversation about what local government actually looks like from the inside.

Amit came to politics without a political background, nudged into running by fellow Councillor Adam Frass after years of attending meetings and raising community concerns that were largely met with silence. Three and a half years later, he reflects on the learning curve, the limits of local authority, and what it means to serve a community of 15,000 people with delegated powers and a tight budget.

The trio cover the gap between public perception and council reality — the misinformation that fills the space when communication falls short, the power of advocacy as a primary tool of local government, and why being nonpartisan is a genuine strategic advantage. They also highlight wins from the term: the short-term rental exemption for Parksville’s Resort Row, the Volunteer First Responder Tax Credit, Amit’s environmental advocacy at AVICC and UBCM, and the Mobi mat beach accessibility project.

Listen for:

Why Amit decided to run — and the one councillor who encouraged him

What local government can and can’t do, and why advocacy is the most powerful tool on the table

How miscommunication breeds misinformation — and what councillors can do about it

The short-term rental exemption win and why staying nonpartisan made the difference

What to look for in a candidate when no one knows what the next term will bring

Two priorities still in motion: the OCP revision and the drinking water sustainability study

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Visit the NonPartisan Hacks website: https://nonpartisanhacks.com/

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Lynnsay Scollon - Finding Beauty in Vulnerability

Tue, 19 May 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you've ever felt undone by circumstances that seemed, on the surface, ordinary - this episode is for you. Lynnsay Scollon speaks with remarkable honesty about how a series of seemingly small events converged into a perfect storm during her first year at the University of Victoria. Her willingness to name what many students quietly endure makes this episode both necessary and deeply human.

In this episode:

Lynnsay Scollon joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project for a vulnerable and authentic conversation about her experience as a first-year university student - and what she discovered about herself when the weight of it all became too much to carry.

Navigating the pressures of a new environment, Lynnsay found herself facing the quiet, insidious nature of mental illness - and the way it can erode confidence from the inside out. She speaks candidly about how those experiences, though painful, became the very ground from which her resilience grew. Her story is a reminder that the hardest moments are often where we learn the most about who we are.

Lynnsay brings a perspective shaped by lived experience and a genuine desire to reach others who may be facing similar walls. She reminds us that we are not alone on this journey - and that there is beauty, even in vulnerability.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

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Forward House: Recovery, Community, Hope & Tom Sewid: Sasquatch Investigator Returns to Vancouver Island

Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Jeff Vircoe walked into a meeting on February 22nd, 1986, and hasn’t had a drink since. Today he’s president of Forward House - the Parksville-based nonprofit marking 25 years of steady, quiet service to people navigating mental health and addiction recovery. Bonnie Bartlett, Forward House’s public relations director, brings her own lived story to the work. And then there’s Tom Sewid: who identifies the Sayward region, the west coast near Nitinat Lake, and the Tofino area as the most active Sasquatch zones on Vancouver Island, and notes a pattern of increasing activity at the urban edge - including along the Englishman River corridor near Parksville.

This Episode Features:

(07:48) Jeff Vircoe and Bonnie Bartlett join the podcast from Forward House, the Parksville-based nonprofit celebrating 25 years of service to adults living with mental health and addiction recovery challenges. Jeff - a Canadian Forces veteran, former journalist, and man in long-term recovery since 1988. He now serves as president of Forward House while working as a counsellor at Edgewood Treatment Centre. Bonnie brings her own family story to her role as marketing and public relations director, speaking candidly about what it means to grow up in a home shaped by alcoholism, and why reducing stigma starts with talking about it openly. They preview the May 23rd Public Education Forum at Knox United Church, featuring Dr. Ian King, one of BC’s top addiction medicine psychiatrists, alongside a panel of local health and community voices. forwardhouse.ca

(31:11) Tom Sewid grew up in Alert Bay and attended high school in Qualicum Beach. Decades as a hunting guide and commercial fisherman along the BC coast gave him something few Sasquatch investigators can claim - a lifetime of direct, close-range encounters. Now based in Washington State, Tom leads guided expeditions is among the most sought-after speakers on the Sasquatch conference circuit. He traces his encounters from a childhood sighting near Campbell River with his father, to a night on Village Island aboard his commercial seine boat when two Sasquatches spent more than an hour visible by spotlight, to a 16-minute, 40-second FLIR video captured on Quadra Island in February - footage that remains among the most compelling thermal recordings on record. Tom studied alongside the late Dr. John Bindernagel for more than 25 years. He notes a pattern of increasing activity including along the Englishman River corridor near Parksville. Tom will be speaking at Squatch Watch Vancouver Island.

Episode Quotes:

“I’ve been within five, six feet of a Sasquatch twice. I’ve had them around me well over 30 times through my life, living and working out in the coastal bush of British Columbia.” - Tom Sewid

“If you’re feeling isolated, if you’re feeling scared, pick up the phone and give us a call or pop by our house. We’ve got a wonderful team here that are willing to talk with you. We just want you to know that you’re not alone, and there is hope.” - Bonnie Bartlett

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Rick & Karen Sanchez - When a Spark Becomes a Beacon for Helping Others

Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode:

If you've ever wondered what it looks like to say yes to a calling — even when it means leaving everything familiar behind - this episode is for you. Karen Huebert-Sanchez and Ricky Sanchez bring an energy and warmth to this conversation that is utterly contagious. Their story is one of extraordinary commitment, hard-won resilience, and the kind of purpose that doesn't waver even in the face of significant adversity.

In this episode:

Karen Huebert-Sanchez and Ricky Sanchez join Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to talk about finding meaning and purpose while serving the community of Thailand - and the valuable lessons about resilience they have learned while creating loving homes for children living with HIV/AIDS.

Karen knew from the time she was eight years old that she would one day start an orphanage. Over the past 20 years, she and Ricky have been on a mission to build safe, loving homes for children in Thailand who are orphaned at a young age and living with HIV/AIDS. Their work has expanded to include long-term partnerships with college athletes who play sports and teach clinics in impoverished communities across Thailand and Southeast Asia - a programme that is changing lives on both sides.

In this conversation, Karen and Ricky open up about what they have learned about themselves while leaning into a deeply meaningful mission, how they celebrate the wins and navigate the inevitable adversities of doing their life's work far from home, and why the resilience they witness in the children they serve continues to inspire them every single day.

This is a conversation about courage, compassion, and what happens when a spark — lit in childhood - becomes a beacon for an entire community.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

You'll find all episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as ThePulseCommunity.ca.

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy

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Vancouver Island Actor-Musician Ajay “Blue Jay” Friese & Master Gardener Debora Gurrad

Tue, 05 May 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Ajay Friese grew up on Vancouver Island, spent five years auditioning before landing Lost in Space, sang Bob Marley on screen, moved Laura Linney to tears with his debut single, and just released his first album - all before turning 30. Debora Gurrad gave up the classroom but never stopped teaching: as a certified Master Gardener she travels Campbell River to Nanaimo helping people understand what their soil is actually trying to tell them. Two guests, two origin stories rooted in Vancouver Island.

This Episode Features:

(33:39) Ajay Friese, actor and singer-songwriter, grew up on Vancouver Island and is best known as a series regular across all three seasons of the Netflix reboot Lost in Space. He has recently joined Kevin Kline and Laura Linney in the MGM+ family comedy American Classic. He has released his debut album Postcards - recorded under the name Blue Jay Friese - a deeply personal collection influenced by John Denver, four of whose songs were captured as live one-takes in studio. Ajay talks about the five years of ferry rides and Vancouver auditions before his career broke open, playing comedy opposite Kevin Kline, and what Laura Linney said when she heard his first single in the green room. He also walks through his multicultural upbringing and how that global perspective finds its way into his writing. Contains the song “The Road”. https://www.instagram.com/bluejay_friese/

(08:22) Debora Gurrad is a certified Master Gardener with the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association, a retired teacher who has been passionate about growing things since a university botany class lit the spark. She presents workshops on soil preparation, pruning, and food gardening from Campbell River to Nanaimo. Debora explains what the Master Gardener movement actually is, why soil preparation is always step one regardless of what you are planting, and which cool-weather crops you can put in the ground right now. She also offers a practical guide to managing the overwhelm of May - the busiest month in any garden. https://www.vimga.org/

Episode Quotes:

"It took me completely by surprise, and it was like the most exciting thing I could possibly hear and the biggest compliment." — Ajay Friese (on being asked to sing on Lost in Space)

"Everything, no matter what kind of garden you have — do your soil prep first." — Debora Gurrad

We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond — explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

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Bring the Bill: Rob Shaw on First Reading, DRIPA, and the Erosion of Debate

Tue, 05 May 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood welcome back BC political reporter Rob Shaw - host of Political Capital and co-author of the bestselling A Matter of Confidence - for the “Criterion Edition” of his rant on first reading at the BC Legislature. They unpack what first reading actually does, why the NDP government’s growing habit of blocking opposition bills chips away at the institution, and how the same procedural dynamics show up around the municipal council table.

From DRIPA to slates to the quiet collapse of caucus power, the conversation is part civics lesson, part warning shot, and very much in the Nonpartisan Hacks spirit of “the process matters as much as the outcome.”

Listen for:

What first reading actually is — and why blocking it is more serious than it sounds

Why the precedents this government sets will eventually be used against them

The municipal parallel: why “second for discussion” is a small but vital democratic norm

How outrage clips and Facebook groups are turning every procedural vote into a wedge

Why slates are the corrosive factor creeping into otherwise healthy local democracies

Rob’s reliable forecast: every premier eventually falls — usually to someone you’ve never heard of

Text us about this episode: Send us a text

Visit the NonPartisan Hacks website: https://nonpartisanhacks.com/

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Rob de Toni & Heather Emmerzael - Preventing Burnout Through Resilience Practice

Tue, 05 May 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

What happens when you’ve achieved everything you set out to do - and it still isn’t enough? Rob de Toni, a litigation lawyer, and Heather Emmerzael, a Registered Nurse, both built successful careers and found themselves in full burnout. Their story is a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t about pushing through - sometimes it’s about having the courage to start over.

In this episode:

Rob de Toni and Heather Emmerzael join Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to talk about what it truly means to reinvent yourself at any stage of life. As friends and colleagues who both navigated careers that left them depleted, Rob and Heather unpack what was missing, what they discovered about themselves, and what finally motivated them to make a radical shift toward who they were really meant to be.

Their conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply relatable. Whether you’re questioning your own path or supporting someone who is, this episode is a reminder that recognizing burnout is not failure - it’s the beginning of something truer.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Rob de Toni & Heather Emmerzael: cynosurecoaching.com

You’ll find all episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as ThePulseCommunity.ca.

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Chris Buck - Boots & Boats Festival & the Seaside Cruizers Show and Shine

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Chris Buck has written 500+ songs in Nashville, earned a gold record, and just cracked the top 40 as an independent artist - all while staying unmistakably Canadian. Jim Moroz and the Seaside Cruisers have built a Father's Day tradition that draws 20,000 visitors, 500 classic cars, and gives back to local charities every year.

This Episode Features:

(19:31) Chris Buck, BC-CCMA Award-winning country artist, spent seven years writing in Nashville - two songs a day, five days a week - and came back to Canada as an independent artist with a nineties-inspired album. He talks about his sobriety journey, collaborating with Gord Bamford and bringing Boots and Boats - a waterfront Singer-Songwriter Festival with 21 artists over three days - to Nanoose Bay for the very first time. This interview contains the song: One Step, Two Step. www.chrisbuckband.com

(06:29) Jim Moroz, President of the Seaside Cruisers Car Club, the volunteer force behind one of Vancouver Island's most beloved annual traditions. The 33rd Father's Day Show and Shine rolls into downtown Qualicum Beach with up to 500 classic vehicles, a poker run, a Saturday night street dance, and a three-day weekend that draws between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors. Last year the club donated $30,900 to local charities. www.seasidecruizers.com

Episode Quotes:

"At the end of the day, if you can pay your bills and do what you love, you've won." — Chris Buck

"For me, it's just seeing the joy in people's faces when they look at these cars. That makes you feel good." — Jim Moroz

We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond — explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

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Dr. Kirk Austin - Buoyancy: Building Resilient Kids

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you are a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or teacher — or anyone who cares about the emotional wellbeing of a child — this episode is essential listening. Dr. Kirk Austin brings years of experience working with complex trauma in children and youth to a conversation that is as practical as it is profound. His framework for resilience isn't abstract theory; it's a set of real, learnable skills that help children understand what's happening inside them when life gets hard.

In this episode:

Dr. Kirk Austin joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to share the ideas at the heart of his book, Buoyancy: Building Resilient Kids. With deep experience in complex trauma, Dr. Austin explains why emotional literacy — the ability to understand and name what we're feeling — is one of the most powerful tools we can give young people.

At the centre of the conversation is the BREATHE acronym: seven key elements that Dr. Austin calls the building blocks of human buoyancy. Far from a simple checklist, these elements form a framework for helping children navigate stress, build coping strategies, and develop the kind of inner resilience that serves them for life.

Dr. Austin also speaks to the role adults play in that process — how parents and caregivers model resilience in their own lives, and why the connection between a child and a trusted adult is itself one of the most powerful protective factors available to any young person.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Dr. Kirk Austin: amazon.ca — Buoyancy: Building Resilient Kids

You'll find all episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as ThePulseCommunity.ca

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Aaron Cully Drake On Writing Your Book Using AI & Singer Songwriter Roy Forbes

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Author Aaron Cully Drake has a provocative and practical take on AI in the writing process — not as a ghostwriter, but as a structural editor that never lets a contradiction slide. And Roy Forbes, Member of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame and CKUA Radio host, has been writing songs since Grade school and performing across Canada for more than five decades.

This Episode Features:

(07:23) Aaron Cully Drake is a BB-based author, former newspaper reporter and editor whose debut novel was longlisted for the Leacock Medal for Humour Writing. His new novel, When the World Was Twice as Big, is now available. Aaron joins the podcast to talk about using AI as a writing partner - not to write the story, but to critique structure, catch contradictions, and push you past the blocks that keep you stuck. "AI is not going to replace writers," he says. "But I think eventually AI will replace writers who don't use AI."

(30:30) Roy Forbes picked up a guitar at 14, and never looked back. Known in his early years as Bim, he spent more than five decades writing, recording, and performing across Canada, earning a place in the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame and a UBC honorary doctorate. He has been the host of Roy's Record Room on CKUA Radio for more than 20 years. Roy talks about opening for Santana as a young artist, writing songs after losing his sight, and the old $7 Stella guitar he used to make his album Edge of Blue — an album he describes as feeling like his first, even though it was his 14th. He'll be at Char's Landing in Port Alberni in May. This interview contains the song: More Than a Little Bit Blue.

Episode Quotes:

"AI is not going to replace writers. But I think eventually AI will replace writers who don't use AI." - Aaron Cully Drake

"I hope people can come in, maybe laugh and cry, laugh some more, maybe cry a little — forget their lives for a couple of hours, and become part of what's happening." - Roy Forbes

LISTEN: We've had the pleasure of sitting down with musicians from across Vancouver Island and beyond — explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Musicians page.

Text us about this episode

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Alicia Nicholsen - The Resilient Mommy: Writing Through Grief and Into Healing

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you’ve experienced loss in motherhood — or love someone who has — this episode is for you. Alicia Nicholsen speaks with the kind of honesty that only comes from having lived through the unimaginable. Her story of losing a child to miscarriage and a second child at 23 weeks is one of profound grief. But it’s also one of extraordinary purpose — and the quiet, determined resilience that grows when you decide to turn your pain into something that helps others.

In this episode:

Alicia Nicholsen joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to share the deeply personal story behind The Resilient Mommy Blog — and how writing became a conduit for healing and a bridge for resilience as a mother.

Having experienced the loss of a child to miscarriage and a second child at 23 weeks, Alicia knows grief in a way few can fully understand. In this conversation, she opens up about how those losses shaped her, and how the act of writing — of putting words to experiences that often go unspoken — helped her begin to heal. What started as a personal space became something far larger: a community and a resource for women navigating some of motherhood’s most devastating moments.

Alicia is the author of The Resilient Mommy Blog, a space dedicated to the resilience of being a mommy. Since welcoming her daughter in 2020, she describes herself as being on an entirely new journey — one where grief and joy exist side by side, and where she continues to invite other mothers along the way.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Alicia Nicholsen: theresilientmommy.com

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Richard Brodeur Opening NEW Gallery in Parksville & 54–40’s Brad Merritt on Porto & Rock The Range

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Richard Brodeur backstopped the Vancouver Canucks to their first Stanley Cup final in 1982 — and spent the next four decades quietly building a second remarkable career as a painter. Now he’s soon opening Gallery 35 in Parksville, bringing eight professional artists with him. Brad Merritt, co-founder and bassist of 54–40, joins us ahead of the band’s only Vancouver Island date this summer — the inaugural Rock the Range festival in Qualicum Beach. Two stories about longevity, passion, and what happens when you refuse to stop.

This Episode Features:

(06:35) Richard Brodeur spent 17 years between the pipes in the WHA and NHL, backstopping the Vancouver Canucks to their very first Stanley Cup final in the spring of 1982. What most people didn’t know was that he’d been painting the whole time — sketchpad on road trips, canvases set up at home until three or four in the morning after games, all of it kept secret from teammates in what he describes as a very macho era. The connection between goaltending and painting, he explains, is the same: preparation. Knowing where you’re going before the puck drops, or before the brush touches canvas. He speaks candidly about sustaining 13 concussions during his playing career, the depression that followed for 30 years, and how art — quite literally — saved his life. He’s also opening Gallery 35 in Parksville in partnership with his son, featuring eight professional artists and art classes. https://brodeurartist.com/

(25:16) Brad Merritt is the co-founder and bassist of 54–40, one of Canada’s most enduring rock bands. Their new album Porto, was recorded live off the floor at an all-analog studio in Portugal. Brad recalls the story of how Hootie & the Blowfish discovered “I Go Blind” at a Washington DC club in 1989 and eventually it became the third most-played song in the US that year. He confirms he’ll be bringing his golf clubs to Rock the Range, the inaugural festival at Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Course, September 12th. Contains the tune "Running for the Fence". https://www.rocktherangeqb.com

Episode Quotes:

“If it wasn’t for my art, I wouldn’t be here today. That was my refuge — my place where I was happy, where I could find myself again.” - Richard Brodeur

“When the Rolling Stones quit, that’s our 20-year warning. We are still doing it. We still like it. We do it as well or better than we ever have.” - Brad Merritt

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A Resilience Project: Dr. Doug Walker - Cultivating Resilience In Community

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

What does it take to rebuild — not just buildings, but lives — after catastrophic disaster? Dr. Doug Walker knows firsthand. In this deeply moving conversation, he shares how surviving Hurricane Katrina in 2005 shaped his understanding of resilience and launched a career devoted to helping communities and children heal. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to cultivate resilience — not as a fixed trait, but as a daily practice — this episode will stay with you.

In this episode:

Dr. Doug Walker, Registered Psychologist and Chief Programs Director of Mercy Family Center in St. Louis, opens up about the experience of surviving Hurricane Katrina in 2005 — and how that catastrophic event became the catalyst for one of the most significant mental health initiatives in New Orleans’ history. Dr. Walker is the founder of Project Fleur-de-lis, New Orleans’ largest school-based mental health program, developed specifically for students struggling emotionally and academically in the aftermath of the storm.

Central to Dr. Walker’s work is a simple but powerful question: “How’s Your 5?” Drawing from research into five key domains of human wellbeing, this question invites people to honestly assess where they are — and to recognise that resilience isn’t something you either have or you don’t. It’s something we build, together, every day.

In this episode of A Resilience Project, host Cindy Thompson and Dr. Walker explore what resilience looks like at both the individual and community level, how trauma can become a catalyst for meaningful change, and why connection — to others, to purpose, to community — is at the heart of human recovery.

You’ll find The PULSE Community Podcasts at ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Dr. Doug Walker: facebook.com/HowsYour5

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Sun Fest Founder Greg Adams & Dr. Anne Herdman Royal from Oklahoma to Nanaimo

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(30:35) Greg Adams, founder of Lake Town Ranch and Sun Fest joins the podcast The undrafted NHL defenceman who played 545 games across a decade-long pro career talks about growing up in the Cowichan Valley, playing alongside Mark Messier in Edmonton the year after Gretzky was traded, and the Tampa festival in 1999 that made him turn to his wife Judy and say: Why don't we have this at home? That question became Sun Fest - hosting world-class country and rock acts. Greg reveals the next big phase for Lake Town Ranch: an RV park, park model homes, water slides, a splash park, a bistro, and a gym, with the full build targeting fall 2027. He also reflects on the Crofton mill closure and the Lake Town Benevolent Society's milestone of over a million dollars donated to community causes. https://sunfestconcerts.com/

(08:03) Dr. Anne Herdman Royal, pathologist at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, is one of more than 400 American healthcare professionals who have relocated to British Columbia in the past year. On June 1st, 2022, she watched a mass shooting unfold at her Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital, killing four people. She went home that evening, told her husband they had to leave, and applied for a job on Vancouver Island the next day. Anne explains what a pathologist actually does, walks through the two-and-a-half-year immigration process, and describes the ferry crossing to Nanaimo where she and her daughter were practically jumping up and down with excitement. She offers a candid comparison of the Canadian and American healthcare systems — including why access to care in the US is far less universal than most Canadians assume — and talks about the American doctors and nurses now asking her how to make the same move. Nanaimo will be welcoming visitors the weekend of April 24th, 2006 at Tod’s Nanaimo Infusion.

Episode Quotes:

“I remember asking a security guard who was on stage doing the sound check. He said, 'I don't know, some guy called Prince — but boy is he ever good.'” - Greg Adams

“It is the best thing we've ever done as a family. Vancouver Island is incredible — it's got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.” - Dr. Anne Herdman Royal

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So You're Thinking of Voting in an Election

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood go full civics class -the fun kind - on what it actually means to be a thoughtful voter. From the difference between local, provincial, and federal elections to party slates, candidate vetting, and whether politicians actually lie, Joel and Sean break down the mechanics of democratic participation with the candour of two people who've sat on both sides of the ballot.

Prompted in part by the current BC NDP leadership race, and with a municipal election on the horizon, this is the episode they wish existed before they ran for office themselves.

Listen for:

Why 99% of local government across Canada is nonpartisan — and why that matters

The real role of party vetting, and what happens when it goes sideways

Why voting for promises might actually incentivize politicians to lie

What to look for instead: character, resume, trust, and your gut

Why voter apathy costs everyone — and why an imperfect vote still beats no vote

Sean's challenge to every armchair critic with opinions but no nomination papers

Visit the NonPartisan Hacks website: https://nonpartisanhacks.com/

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Karen Peters - Parenting Within Interracial Adoption

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you’ve ever thought about what it truly means to be an ally — not just in words, but in the daily, lived work of parenting — this episode will stay with you. Karen Peters and her husband Chris chose to grow their family through adoption, and what followed was an eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and ultimately beautiful journey of learning. From actively dismantling their own white privilege to celebrating and instilling Black culture and identity in their daughters, Karen speaks with honesty and courage about what it means to love without limits — and to keep learning.

In this episode:

Karen Peters, Registered Clinical Counsellor, opens up about the decision she and her husband Chris made to grow their family through adoption — and what that choice revealed about themselves. Karen shines a light on the profound and sometimes painful experience of parenting interracially, including the work they have done to actively dismantle their white privilege while celebrating and instilling Black culture and identity in their daughters. She also shares the unexpected gifts that came through maintaining an open adoption and nurturing an ongoing relationship with the birth families of both girls.

You’ll find The PULSE Community Podcasts at ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Karen Peters: my.thrive-life.ca/parenting-in-the-trenches

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy — tabletpharmacy.ca

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Laura Kelsey's Debut Album "Hidden Mountains" & QB Chamber CAO Daniella Novak

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to make a small town’s business community thrive — not just survive — Daniella Novak has the answer, and she delivers it with the conviction of someone who grew up here, built a career here, and isn’t done yet. Then Laura Kelsey walks in and reminds you that creativity has no ceiling — a singer, songwriter, filmmaker, and poet who can tell you why fish sing and why a train crossing Canada might be the best writing retreat she’ll ever take. Two guests, two very different stories, that cover what makes mid-Vancouver Island worth talking about.

This Episode Features:

(23:11) Laura Kelsey is a Nanaimo-based vocalist, songwriter, filmmaker, and poet with a powerhouse voice shaped by years of performing across genres — from symphonic metal to folk, blues, and death metal that left her with vocal nodules she healed through exercise rather than surgery. Her debut full-length album Hidden Mountains, recorded at Canary Sound in Lantzville, is a journey into modern mythology. The album release event is April 18th at the Globe in Nanaimo. This interview contains the song: Crescent.

(07:04) Daniella Novak is the CAO of the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce, a Qualicum Beach native who spent nearly 30 years in financial services before bringing that leadership experience home. She joins The PULSE to talk about what it means to be the voice of business in Qualicum Beach, why the benefit plan alone is worth the membership.

Episode Quotes:

“We want you to be successful doing business here. Whatever we can do to alleviate hurdles, perceived or otherwise — that’s the future of the Chamber of Commerce.” — Daniella Novak

“Each experience can be a setback, but at the same time it leads to better things.” — Laura Kelsey

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Marj Busse — "What We Focus On Increases"

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you've ever wondered how the lessons passed down in childhood can shape an entire career — and a life of purpose — this episode is for you. Marj Busse grew up in a military family and carries a simple yet powerful piece of wisdom from her father that has stayed with her to this day. Her journey into leadership coaching is as much about self-discovery as it is about helping others grow. Whatever you put your attention on, it expands — and this conversation is a reminder of exactly that.

In this episode:

Growing up in a military family gave Marj Busse something most people search a lifetime for — a foundational piece of wisdom from her father that she has carried with her ever since. In this conversation, Marj shares what inspired her to pursue leadership coaching, the surprising insights she discovered about herself along the way, and how working with a coach can meaningfully grow your resilience.

Marj Busse is a Master Certified Coach whose work through Essential Impact helps leaders unlock deeper self-awareness and create lasting change — in themselves and in the people around them.

You'll find The PULSE Community Podcasts at https://thepulsecommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: https://cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Marj Busse: https://www.essentialimpact.com

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy — https://tabletpharmacy.ca/

You'll find all episodes of the The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

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Breaking Barriers in Parksville & “Cheapskate in LotusLand” - Living Well on Less

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: If you've ever watched someone struggle to reach the beach, navigate a cracked sidewalk, or find a parking spot that simply doesn't exist — this episode will change how you see your own community. Ralph and Maggie Tietjen of Access Oceanside Association bring hard numbers, personal heartbreak, and genuine hope to the conversation about what it would take to make Parksville the most accessible community in Canada. And when Vancouver journalist and author Steve Burgess explains why reusing dental floss is a philosophical statement — not just a habit — you'll find yourself rethinking what you actually need to live a life you love.

This Episode Features:

(27:30) Steve Burgess is a Vancouver writer, broadcaster, former CBC host, contributing editor of The Tyee, and two-time Canadian National Magazine Award winner. After more than three decades of living well in one of Canada's most expensive cities — not by earning more, but by thinking differently — Steve has channelled that philosophy into his new book, Cheapskate in LotusLand: a personal guide to the philosophy and practice of living well on less. From Freeganism to frugality as freedom, Steve challenges readers to rethink their priorities and design the life they actually want — no budget required.

(06:45) Ralph and Maggie Tietjen are with Access Oceanside Association, a nonprofit working to raise awareness and break down barriers for residents and visitors in the Parksville Qualicum Beach region. After losing her leg, Maggie found herself excluded from the very beach she loved. Together, she and Ralph have been surveying local businesses, hotels, and public spaces, advocating for accessible parking, sidewalk improvements, beach access, and more. Their goal: to make Parksville a national model for inclusion.

Episode Quotes:

"One in five households have an accessible parking tag. It's like a badge of honour in this area. So if you look at any parking lot and you think of one in five — persons with disabilities in some shape or form — the amount of parking spaces around, it's tough to get a spot." — Ralph Tietjen, Access Oceanside Association

"Frugality is a necessary skill of creative people. My life is not going to be about increasing my income. It's going to be about how can I get by doing what it is that I want to do." — Steve Burgess, Author, Cheapskate in LotusLand

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods Parksville & Fireside Books

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What happens when a 20-year-old city councillor grows up to become the MLA, and is still trying to get things built faster?

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with George Anderson, MLA for Nanaimo-Lantzville, former Nanaimo city councillor, commercial lawyer, and Parliamentary Secretary for Transit. Anderson shares what it was like being the youngest person at the council table by four decades, how he went from door-knocking to Treasury Board, and what he believes is the most expensive material in home construction today.

The conversation spans Anderson’s private member’s bill on building approvals, the mechanics of how private members’ bills actually work, the future of Vancouver Island rail, and why government is like a supertanker — it takes time and patience to change direction.

Episode Highlights:

What it’s like being a 20-year-old councillor when the next youngest colleague is 60

How a transportation master plan built over a decade ago still guides Nanaimo today

The step-by-step process of how a private member’s bill becomes law in BC

Why professional reliance in building approvals could speed up housing construction

What the Parliamentary Secretary for Transit actually does

How BC’s ports connect Saskatchewan grain to Sapporo beer

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Dr. Erica Harris - How Cancer Became the Road She Was Supposed to Travel

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you've ever had life take a turn you didn't choose, this episode is for you. Dr. Erica Harris received a two-month terminal diagnosis in 2012 and somehow turned that devastating detour into the most purposeful chapter of her life. Her story isn't about toxic positivity — it's about the raw, honest work of surviving, finding meaning, and ultimately thriving. The message from her son that kept her going during her darkest moments alone is worth the listen.

In this episode:

Faced with a two-month terminal diagnosis in 2012, Dr. Erica Harris didn't simply survive — she emerged transformed. In this conversation, she opens up about how her life changed in the years that followed, and the inspirational message from her son that kept her going during the darkest of moments.

Today, Dr. Harris is the Founder of RiseToday.com where she serves as a TedX International Speaker, a Motivational Life Coach, a #1 Best Selling Author, and the Host of the Rise Today Inspirational Podcast. Her mission is to open up the conversation about hardship, equip others with the tools to stay the course, and help people thrive like never before.

You'll find The PULSE Community Podcasts at: https://thepulsecommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: https://cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Dr. Erica Harris: https://www.risetoday.com

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy — https://tabletpharmacy.ca/

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April Wine Headlines Parksville’s BeachFest & Skull Skates Moves Its International Headquarters to Qualicum

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: If you've ever air-guitared to "I Like to Rock," wondered what it takes to build a brand over five decades, or just love hearing stories that remind you why mid-Island life is something special, this episode delivers. Lloyd Derry pulls back the curtain on the most exciting Beach Fest summer concert series in Parksville's history — including a mystery concert that will be the biggest show the area has ever seen. And “PD” Ducommon's story of building Canada's oldest skateboard brand from a Nanaimo bedroom to Qualicum Beach’s international headquarters is the kind of origin story you don't forget.

This Episode Features:

(23:35) Peter "PD" Ducommon has been shaping skateboard culture since first stepping on a board in Nanaimo in 1974. As founder of Skull Skates — Canada's oldest skateboard brand — and PD's Hot Shop, he has spent over five decades bridging skateboarding, snowboarding, art, and music. With locations that have spanned Hollywood's Melrose Avenue, North Vancouver, downtown Vancouver, and a partner shop in Gifu, Japan, PD has recently moved Skull Skates' international headquarters to Qualicum Beach, just up the road from where it all began. The Qualicum Beach shop is home to a Pop Culture Museum showcasing five decades of skateboarding history. skullskates.com

(08:00) Lloyd Derry is the Entertainment Director of the Parksville Beach Festival Society and the creative force behind one of mid-Vancouver Island's most beloved summer traditions. This year, the BeachFest opener features April Wine — the legendary Canadian rock band with over 20 albums. The Tim Hortons Free Summer Concert Series returns with eight free outdoor concerts across July and August. Mid-Island Co-op BeachFest Rocks begins August 7th, with an incredible roster of world-class tribute acts. And Lloyd teases one more major announcement: a mystery concert on August 21st that he calls "the single biggest concert in Parksville's history" — to be revealed April 7th. Get tickets and full lineup details at parksvillebeachfest.ca and the McMillan Art Centre Box Office.

Episode Quotes:

"We've never had a business plan — other than to get up every day and make cool things happen. Dedication is our gimmick." — Peter "PD" Ducommon, Skull Skates founder

"Where else, for that kind of money, do you sit in an idyllic setting such as our beautiful Community Park, with a world-class facility, listening to world-class entertainment?" — Lloyd Derry, BeachFest Society

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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Thrifty Foods Parksville & Ian Lindsay & Associates

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Serena Klaver — Building Your Toolkit: The My True Resiliency Workshop

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you've ever felt like stress was getting the better of you, or wondered whether resilience is something you can actually learn, this conversation is for you. Serena brings both professional expertise and genuine personal vulnerability — a rare combination. Whether you're a student navigating an overwhelming season, a parent watching your kids struggle, or simply someone looking for a more grounded way to move through difficulty, this episode is a reminder that resilience isn't about toughening up — it's about understanding yourself more deeply.

In this episode:

Serena Klaver joins A Resilience Project to share the inspiring work she and her co-facilitator have been doing on Vancouver Island — bringing the My True Resiliency workshop to university students across the region.

As a professional planning consultant, Serena has developed a program that gives students a practical toolkit for building resilience. The workshop helps participants tap into habits and skills for understanding their emotional needs, while developing healthy responses to stress. She and her co-facilitator have been delivering this program to universities across Vancouver Island, meeting students where they are and giving them meaningful tools to carry forward.

Beyond the workshop, Serena speaks with the kind of hard-won wisdom that only comes from lived experience. In this episode, she opens up about her own journey through loss — and what she has learned about herself along the way.

You'll find The PULSE Community Podcasts at https://thepulsecommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: https://cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Serena Klaver: https://www.serenaklaver.com

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy — https://tabletpharmacy.ca/

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok, YouTube, and ThePulseCommunity.ca

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Colin James Brings His “Chasing the Sun” Tour to Vancouver Island & Dr. Omar Karim Reimagines the Parksville Chamber

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: This one has real range — and real heart. If you've ever loved a blues-rock record, been curious about what drives a local business community, or just wanted to hear two genuinely fascinating people share their stories, this episode is for you. Colin James opens up in a way you rarely hear from a musician of his stature — honest, funny, and reflective. And Dr. Omar Karim brings an energy and global perspective to local business that will leave Parksville listeners genuinely excited about what's coming.

This Episode Features:

(30:42) Colin James is one of Canada's most celebrated blues-rock guitarists — an eight-time Juno Award winner with 21 records and a career spanning more than four decades. His Chasing the Sun Tour brings him to Vancouver Island this spring, with shows in Sidney, Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni, and Campbell River. Colin sits down with The PULSE to talk about recovering from a serious car accident, writing his upcoming memoir, touring with Terra Lightfoot, a riverboat concert on the Douro River in Portugal and what it means to return to Vancouver Island — a place he calls close to home. https://colinjames.com/events/

(07:45) Dr. Omar Karim is a professor, global leadership architect and the new interim executive director of the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce. With an MBA, a Master's in international business, and a doctorate in higher education, Dr. Karim brings a fresh and ambitious vision to one of Parksville Quaicum’s most vital business organizations. He joins The PULSE to talk about the Chamber's newly launched youth membership pass for ages 13–30, a revamped digital membership website, the return of the Business Excellence Awards on April 9th, a new Entrepreneur Hub offering shared services for small businesses on Vancouver Island, and an emerging international partnership that could put Parksville on the global stage. https://www.parksvillechamber.com/

Episode Quotes:

"Just remaining grateful for being able to do what I love for a living — after 21 records. Stevie got cut short and didn't have that opportunity." — Colin James on Stevie Ray Vaughan

"What we're trying to do is create a platform that is welcoming, inclusive, and provides accessibility and opportunities for learning and professional development for our membership." — Dr. Omar Karim

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Pulling Every Lever: Advocacy from the Local Level Up

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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What does it actually take to get something into a government budget?

In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood go behind the scenes on Sean’s multi-year advocacy journey to increase the Volunteer First Responder Tax Credit — first at the federal level, then provincially in British Columbia. From jogging past the fire hall in Parksville to sitting in the legislature on budget day, it’s a story about persistence, relationships, and pulling every lever you can find.

Plus: it’s the show’s first-ever video episode and there’s a new way to pitch in. Joel’s agency built GiverLever, a WordPress donation plugin for nonprofits, campaigns, and creators, and you can take it for a spin by supporting the podcast, or back a specific episode you think deserves more listeners by contributing directly on that episodes page on the website.

Episode Highlights:

How Sean took an idea from a failed federal campaign to two government budgets

What budget day actually looks like inside the BC legislature, including the media “lockup”

Why advocating from multiple channels at once is the key to getting things done

The real cost difference between volunteer and paid fire departments — and why it matters for your property taxes

How a casual conversation with the Minister of Finance at a UBCM reception fits into the bigger advocacy picture

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Visit the NonPartisan Hacks website: https://nonpartisanhacks.com/

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Cyprine Omollo — Breaking the Cycle: Empowering Women Through Clean Start Kenya

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0700

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Cyprine Omollo joins A Resilience Project to share a remarkable and deeply moving story of personal transformation and community impact. As Program Manager of Clean Start Kenya, Cyprine leads an organization dedicated to helping women and girls successfully transition back into society after serving time in prison or juvenile detention.

Cyprine's journey begins from a place of profound vulnerability. Having been imprisoned herself after falling into debt and being unable to repay it, she witnessed firsthand the desperate plight of women, girls, and children behind bars. After spending six months in Langata Women's Maximum Security Prison, Cyprine became one of the first recipients of the newly founded Clean Start program

Her story is one of turning hardship into purpose, and of refusing to let the circumstances of the past define the possibilities of the future.

You'll find The PULSE Community Podcasts at: https://thepulsecommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: https://cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Clean Start Kenya: https://cleanstartkenya.com

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy — https://tabletpharmacy.ca/

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Jeff Shields Demystifies AI & Award Winning Author Monique Gray Smith Shares the Light

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(23:51) Jeff Shields of Parksville has been working in web development for over 30 years and now speaks to groups across British Columbia about artificial intelligence. In a conversation that is equal parts practical and eye-opening, Jeff shows how AI can plan your weekly meals from a photo of your fridge, review your investment portfolio, teach you Italian pronunciation, and turn a two-month coding project into two days of work. He also addresses the pitfalls, the guardrails, and the bigger questions AI raises for Vancouver Island communities and beyond. https://jeffshieldstalks.ca/

(08:21) Monique Gray Smith, award-winning author of Cree and Scottish descent, joins The PULSE to discuss her latest book, Sharing the Light: Stories and Reflections. A psychiatric nurse for over 25 years, an international speaker, and a proud Vancouver Island resident, Monique explores the neuroscience behind gratitude, love, joy, happiness, and hope — five ways of being that can literally change your brain chemistry and your destiny. She'll be at Fireside Books in Parksville on Saturday, March 7th, from 1–3 PM. https://www.firesidebooks.ca/

Episode Quotes:

"Even in our darkest moments, even when hope is in like the cuticle of my pinky toe, we have to have hope… when we change our emotions, we change our destiny." — Monique Gray Smith

"I just finished a coding project that took me two months that would have taken me seven years." — Jeff Shields on AI

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Alvin Law – Born Without Arms, Challenging Boundaries

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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Alvin Law joins A Resilience Project to share a most remarkable stories of human resilience. Born without arms as a direct result of the Thalidomide drug scandal of the early 1960s — Alvin was placed in foster care at just five days old.

Through the unwavering dedication of his adoptive parents, Alvin learned to use his feet as hands — a testament to what becomes possible when we refuse to be defined by our limitations. During his teen years, Alvin discovered a passion for music, joining the school band and mastering the trombone, drums, and piano. He became an award-winning musician and graduated from high school with honours.

Alvin's message is one his adoptive parents instilled in him from the very beginning: don't just survive — exceed expectations. In this powerful conversation, Alvin invites us to look beyond what we think is possible and to challenge the boundaries we place on ourselves and others.

You'll find The PULSE Community Podcasts at: https://thepulsecommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: https://cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy — https://tabletpharmacy.ca/

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok, YouTube, and ThePulseCommunity.ca

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Comedian Derek Edwards Vancouver Island Tour & The NEW Qualicum Beach Medical Centre

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(24:44) Derek Edwards, one of Canada's most beloved stand-up comedians, brings his brand-new Oxymoron Tour to Vancouver Island this March with four stops across the Island. Derek talks about more than three decades on the road — from his first open mic night at a smoke-filled Yuk Yuk's in Yorkville, to navigating blizzards on Ontario backroads, to the baby who genuinely upstaged him mid-show. https://derekedwards.ca/tour-dates/

(07:14) Susanne Cunningham, Chair of the Mid Island Health Alliance, shares the exciting news that the Primrose Medical Centre is set to open in Qualicum Beach this September. Housed in the former Bank of Montreal building in the heart of town, the facility will serve up to 10,000 patients when fully operational. With approximately 9,000 residents in the Parksville-Qualicum Beach Oceanside region currently without a family physician, and private donations already exceeding $700,000, the Primrose Medical Centre is a powerful model of community-powered philanthropy on Vancouver Island. https://www.midislandhealthalliance.ca

Episode Quotes:

"You stand there making a group of strangers laugh. It's marvellous. That satisfaction doesn't diminish. It's absolutely as cool as when I started." --- Derek Edwards

"There are approximately 9,000 residents who do not have a physician in this region... The Primrose Centre itself has 3,300 square feet of repurposed clinical space, and it will have the capacity to serve up to 10,000 patients when fully operational." --- Susanne Cunningham

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From Council Table to Caucus Room: Peter Milobar’s Governance Playbook

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre and BC Conservative leadership candidate. Milobar’s political résumé spans city councillor, three-term mayor, regional district chair, and provincial legislator — what Sean calls “a full political bingo card.” The conversation covers what he learned managing a city through the 2008 financial crisis, why infrastructure funding has dried up, and how he got all 10 regional district projects funded when no one else could get one.

Milobar also shares candid advice for anyone thinking of running for local office, explains why councillors shouldn’t try to make it a full-time job, and makes the case that fixing a road has nothing to do with how you vote federally.

Episode Highlights:

How Milobar delivered infrastructure under the rate of inflation during the 2008 economic crisis

The story of getting all 10 regional district projects funded by refusing to re-prioritize the list

Why BC’s $13.5 billion deficit concerns him as the province’s finance critic

His advice on what voters actually look for — and why single-issue candidates should reconsider

Why councillors showing up with hedge trimmers creates more problems than it solves

The case for staying in your lane at every level of government

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Dr. Rob Lees - Supporting Veterans & Building Resilient Youth

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

Dr. Rob Lees, Registered Psychologist, joins A Resilience Project to shed light on the unique challenges many veterans face both during military service and after returning home from their tour of duty. Drawing on his clinical expertise, Dr. Lees explores what it means to find genuine meaning and purpose in life — and why doing so is central to our wellbeing and happiness.

Dr. Lees also offers an inspiring look at the creative programs he has helped develop through a partnership between the school district and Child & Youth Mental Health in Chilliwack, B.C. These initiatives are designed to foster mentorship and leadership among young people, recognizing that when we help others, the psychological benefits — including positive changes in brain chemistry — become powerful protective factors in building resilience.

Covering a lot of ground, Dr. Lees sheds light on the many opportunities we all have for cultivating connection — within our communities, our relationships, and ourselves.

You'll find The PULSE Community Podcasts at: https://thepulsecommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: https://cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy — https://tabletpharmacy.ca/

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Juno Nominated Blues Artist Crystal Shawanda and Art at the Bayside Resort

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(16:45) Crystal Shawanda, Juno-nominated blues artist shares her powerful journey from gold-selling country music star to acclaimed blues performer. Growing up in a First Nations community, Crystal faced bullying and industry rejection before finding her authentic voice in blues music. Crystal discusses her recent Juno nomination for "Sing Pretty Blues" and her ongoing mission to represent Indigenous artists in mainstream music.

(05:14) Susan Schaefer, Curator of Art at the Bayside discusses the innovative gallery space created at the Bayside Oceanfront Resort in Parksville. Over a hundred pieces from 25 Vancouver Island artists are displayed throughout the resort's public spaces, featuring an interactive kiosk and website that allows visitors to take self-guided tours. The gallery represents a revolutionary approach to making art accessible while giving local artists a stunning platform to reach tourists and community members alike.

Episode Quotes:

"It felt like letting a bird out of a cage. It felt like all of a sudden I didn't have to hold back anymore. I didn't have to restrain myself... on that first blues record, The Whole Horse Got the Blues, it felt like I was finally free and I could just be myself." --- Crystal Shawanda

"People can come in and search through the kiosk, find all the artists, read up about them, and every art piece has a location so they can go check it out on the third floor or the second floor hallway or whatever, and they can actually have a self-guided tour." --- Susan Schaefer

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NY Times Bestseller Bob Goff: From "Why Me" to "What Can I Do"

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

Bob Goff, NY Times bestselling author and self-described "recovering lawyer," joins The Resilience Project to share his transformative approach to life's challenges. After 25 years practicing law and serving as Honorary Consul to Uganda, Goff gave up his law firm to pursue writing and speaking full time. As the author of beloved books "Love Does" and "Everybody Always," Goff brings his signature whimsy and playfulness to help listeners shift from "why me" to "what can I do."

In this conversation, he reminds us that resilience isn't built through grand gestures—it's cultivated through small, creative acts of kindness that ripple outward to make a difference in others' lives.

Goff's dynamic, approach to life challenges us to consider: What creative act of kindness could you do for someone today?

You’ll find the following podcasts at: https://thepulsecommunity.ca

The PULSE Community Podcast hosted by Peter McCully & Dave Graham

Skookum Kid’s Stories: The Mellow Submarine and Peter & Gracie

NonPartisan Hacks hosted by Parksville Councillors - Joel Grenz & Sean Wood

A Resilience Project hosted by Cindy Thompson

F3: Football, Food & Fantasy Football hosted by Erin Haluschak Frazier & Chef Jonathan Frazier

Radio Archaeology: Gunsmoke & Dragnet

Bob Goff website: https://www.bobgoff.com

Cindy Thompson’s website: https://cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy

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Cartoonist, Author, Adrian Raeside and Sophia Conway’s “Shelf Memories”

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(20:35) Adrian Raeside, renowned Vancouver Island cartoonist with over 40 years creating editorial cartoons for the Victoria Times Colonist, discusses his bestselling book "The Canada Handbook." Despite being expelled from his only art class at age 15, Raeside has built a celebrated career including the internationally syndicated comic strip "The Other Coast". His latest work responds to political tensions with humorous illustrations celebrating Canadian identity, tolerance, and culture.

(06:36) Sophia Conway, an Irish-born photographer who made Parksville-Qualicum Beach her home six years ago, shares her unique exhibition "Shelf Memories: The Invitation" at McMillan Art Centre. Conway documents handwritten inscriptions found in used books from Vancouver Island thrift stores and free libraries, preserving personal messages spanning over a century. The interactive exhibition invites the Oceanside community to create their own inscriptions that will circulate through the McMillan Art Centre Community Gardens' free library.

Episode Quotes:

"I think it's just that insight into another person's life... it's something very intimate when it's a little note that you weren't really meant to see. It was between two other people... It's a little time capsule and I love it, and I want to honour that person's memory in a way." --- Sophia Conway, on discovering book inscriptions

"If you're not First Nations, we came from somewhere else. We're a very young country, so I think that's why we're so tolerant. We don't mind what religion you are, what language you speak, what your gender is. We are cool. They accepted me 50-some-odd years ago, so they'll take anyone." --- Adrian Raeside, on Canadian identity

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Superbowl 60 Wrapup

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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Erin Haluschak Frazier and Chef Jonathan Frazier’s wrap-up podcast of SuperBowl 60 and the 2025-2026 NFL Season.

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Superbowl 60 Report - “Captain Seahawk” and “The MOJ”

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0800

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The F3 podcast is live from Super Bowl 60 in San Francisco. Join chef Jonathan Frazier and Erin Haluschak as they connect with Wallace "Wally" Watts known as “Captain SeaHawk”. Originally from Port Alberni, he spent one year at residential school there, learned to fly Cessnas at the Alberni airport and eventually became the first Indigenous pilot hired by United Airlines.

The podcast also features a chat with Bob “The MOJ” Marjanovich, the voice of the BC Lions, who has reported from 24 SuperBowls. He talks guest highlights, CFL, his go-to game day food as well as his Super Bowl 60 prediction.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

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We’re heading to Superbowl 60 - Game Preview

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0800

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The F3 podcast is hitting the road for a special bonus edition—live from Super Bowl 60 in San Francisco. Join chef Jonathan Frazier and Erin Haluschak as they pack their gear, chase great stories, and dive headfirst into the ultimate mashup of food, football, and fandom.

In this episode, they preview a Seahawks vs. Patriots rematch, break down their Super Bowl predictions, and reflect on the nail-biting championship games that set the stage. But this trip is about more than the final score. From iconic Bay Area eats like cioppino, Dungeness crab, Mission-style burritos, garlic noodles, and sourdough clam chowder, to the legendary Taste of the NFL charity event, the duo is on a mission to explore the flavors behind the game.

They’ll also be roaming Radio Row, the Super Bowl Experience, and connecting with unforgettable guests—including a Vancouver Island superfan known as “Captain Seahawk.” Expect interviews, live streams, behind-the-scenes moments, and maybe even a giveaway or two. San Francisco, here we come.

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SunFest Country Music Festival 2026 & Beating Seasonal Depression

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(24:48) Mike Haan, SunFest Country Music Festival director, shares details about the 2026 lineup at Lake Town Amphitheatre in Lake Cowichan. Fresh from a three-week Antarctic expedition, Haan reveals headliners including Tyler Hubbard, Jon Pardi, and Riley Green coming to Vancouver Island. The conversation explores how SunFest has evolved into a world-class country music venue, generating $13 million in regional economic impact for the Cowichan Valley while supporting local Vancouver Island artists and vendors. Tickets are moving quickly at: https://sunfestconcerts.com

(06:00) Pharmacist Aki Shah discusses seasonal affective disorder and mental health strategies for Vancouver Island residents facing winter blues. Shah offers practical wisdom about treating mental health medications as tools rather than solutions, emphasizing anxiety treatment over antidepressants during seasonal struggles. Learn why the "prep month" philosophy could transform your approach to New Year's resolutions and mental wellness throughout the darker months.

Episode Quotes:

"You really have a sense that you're going to an established venue, a world-class place to see a concert, as opposed to going to a soccer field or rodeo grounds to see a show. And that resonates with people." --- Mike Haan, on what makes Lake Town Amphitheatre special

"Consider medication as a tool rather than a solution... Once the job's done, don't keep holding onto it. You just put it down." --- Aki Shah, on mental health medications

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Public Engagement Isn’t Broken, It’s Misunderstood

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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Two Parksville city councillors break down how public hearings, emails, and civic engagement actually work.

Public hearings, council emails, Facebook rants — everyone has an opinion on how to make their voice heard in local government. But most people have no idea how any of it actually works from the other side of the table.

Joel Grenz and Sean Wood, both three years into life as Parksville city councillors — break down what public engagement is actually for, what works, what doesn’t, and why your strongly worded Facebook post probably isn’t moving the needle the way you think it is.

Episode Highlights:

What public hearings are (and aren’t) designed to do, including why council can’t correct misinformation on the spot

Why a personal email will always outperform a form letter

The underrated power of just asking your councillor for coffee

The uncomfortable truth about social media as a civic tool

Why “being heard” and “getting your way” are two very different things — and why that’s actually okay

We’re a representative democracy. That means we elect people to make tough calls on our behalf — even the unpopular ones. This episode is about understanding that system well enough to actually work within it.

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Award-Winning Songwriter Terra Spencer & Parksville's Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(19:00 ) Terra Spencer, 2025 Music Nova Scotia Entertainer of the Year, shares her remarkable journey from funeral director to folk musician. The singer-songwriter discusses her album Sunset, which explores love's arc from beginning to end, and her collaborations with Canadian folk legends David Francey and Stephen Fearing. Spencer reveals how working with grieving families in Nova Scotia influenced her intimate songwriting style. The Interview contains the song “East to West”with Stephen Fearing of Victoria. Spencer is playing Parksville & Quadra Island: https://terraspencer.ca

(07:30) Assistant Fire Chief Cam Cruikshank discusses Parksville Fire Department's volunteer firefighter recruitment program. The department has 42 dedicated on-call members serving the Parksville area. Cruikshank explains the comprehensive six-month training process for volunteer firefighters and reveals how local mid-Vancouver Island businesses support their employees who balance emergency response with regular employment. More at: https://www.parksvillefirerescue.ca

Episode Quotes:

"I didn't expect to be a funeral director either. Got recruited because I was hired on as the organist a long while back... If you want to learn about human relationships and the gamut of emotions, that's one fast way to do it." --- Terra Spencer

"One thing that we always hear from our members is that they don't realize how rewarding it is, especially when you work in your community as a volunteer firefighter. You get to know a lot of people, your friends and neighbours, and then a chance to give back." --- Cam Cruikshank, Parksville Fire Department

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Tennessee Titans, Championship Weekend & Nashville Game-Day Food

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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BIG NEWS: F3 is heading back to San Francisco for Super Bowl 60 for Radio Row, fan chats, and food-first storytelling!

BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier’s Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders: https://bit.ly/S1EP15FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast — Football, Fantasy & Food, Erin and Chef Jonathan Fraser break down Championship Weekend as the NFL closes in on Super Bowl 60 in San Francisco.

Seattle hosts the Rams in a high-octane NFC showdown, while New England faces a battered Denver squad after the Broncos lose their starting quarterback. Can a backup QB pull off the upset, or are the Patriots destined for another Super Bowl run?

Spotlight Team: the Tennessee Titans.
The hosts dig into one of the NFL’s most historic franchises — from their Houston Oilers roots to Derrick Henry, Warren Moon, and what went wrong in a brutal 3–14 season. With Robert Saleh now in charge, is a rebuild finally underway?

On the food side, it’s all about Nashville heat and Southern comfort.
Pick of the Week: Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders — crispy, spicy, tangy, and built for game day.

Next week: live coverage begins from Super Bowl week in San Francisco.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

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Grant Lawrence's Stories & Songs Tour Returns to the Islands & Diane Moran's Mindfulness in May Youth Art Exhibition

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(07:07) Grant Lawrence, CBC broadcaster, bestselling author, and musician, discusses his upcoming Stories & Songs tour bringing Jill Barber (his wife), Joel Plaskett, Danny Michel, and Desiree Dawson to intimate Vancouver Island venues including Errington, Tofino, and Mayne Island. Lawrence shares his touring philosophy of performing only in meaningful destinations he'd want to visit himself. The former Smugglers frontman reveals exciting news about his 12-year-old son's band Blue Jay Valley becoming Canada's youngest signed band, The Smugglers' 30th anniversary vinyl release with mustard-and-ketchup splattered records, and upcoming boat-access-only concerts through Desolation Sound this July featuring Joel Plaskett and Jill Barber.

(26:55) Diane Moran, visual artist and founder of Mindfulness in May, discusses her annual youth art exhibition empowering students in grades 5-12 across District 69 to express themselves through visual art, photography, and literary submissions. This year's theme explores empathy and kindness during BC Youth Week and National Mental Health Awareness Week. The exhibition takes place at Qualicum Beach Library, details here: https://mindfulmay.artistquarter.com/

Episode Quotes:

"The rule that I created for myself was that I only wanted to do the show in places that I would want to go to, that I would want to spend time in, and nice, smaller places—places that you would go for a weekend or out-of-the-way places that you would want to check out." — Grant Lawrence

"It was basically a piece of cardboard that a person who was homeless might sleep on and they took charcoal and pastel and drew this amazing piece. When I saw this, I thought, how clever, how human, how real?" — Diane Moran

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The Art of Mayoring with Nicole Minions of Comox

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Mayor Nicole Minions of Comox to talk about leadership at the municipal level, and how governing really works when you move from being one vote at the table to chairing the meeting.

Minions reflects on becoming mayor by acclamation in 2022 under extraordinary circumstances, what surprised her most about the role, and why “mayoring” is less about power and more about facilitation, decorum, and trust. From public hearings with hundreds of residents to regional collaboration across the Comox Valley, the conversation digs into the skills that separate functional councils from dysfunctional ones.

Recorded in Sean’s kitchen (fresh bread included) the discussion ranges from core services and infrastructure financing to Bee City designations, asset management, working with opposition MLAs and MPs, and why most of the mayor’s real work happens far from the spotlight.

Episode Highlights:

What actually changes when you become mayor

Why facilitation matters more than force at the council table

How to run public hearings without letting them derail

The difference between core services and the “extra” 10–20% that signals values

Why good governance is often invisible until it fails

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Arizona Cardinals, Championship Weekend & Southwestern Game-Day Food

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -0800

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BIG NEWS!: F3 is heading to San Francisco for Super Bowl 50 for Radio Row, fan chats, and food-first storytelling!

BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier’s Southwestern grilled chicken nachos — loaded, spicy, and built for game day: https://bit.ly/S1EP14FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast, hosts Erin Haluschak and Chef Jonathan Frazier break down championship weekend as the NFL races toward Super Bowl 50. Seattle dominates San Francisco, Denver advances but loses its quarterback, and the playoff picture shifts fast.

Spotlight team: The Arizona Cardinals.
The hosts dig into one of the league’s oldest franchises, ongoing struggles, Kyler Murray’s future, and what Arizona needs to change to move forward.

On the food side, it’s all about desert heat and borderland flavours. Pick of the Week: Southwestern grilled chicken nachos — loaded, spicy, and built for game day.

Next up:Tthe Tennessee Titans.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

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Award Winning Actor Chelah Horsdal's Journey & Karen Patraschuk’s Wounded Warrior Run

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(17:20) Chelah Horsdal, Emmy-nominated actor best known as Helen Smith in The Man in the High Castle, offers stories from working with legendary actors including Ben Kingsley, Rufus Sewell, John Lithgow, Kris Kristofferson, and Shirley MacLaine. The Salt Spring Island-connected actor discusses her transition into writing and directing, including a deeply personal screenplay inspired by her parents (Valdy is her Dad) meeting in a commune in Sooke where she was born. Chelah addresses important industry issues including pay equity, sexual harassment, and mentoring younger female actors. We continue our chat with Chelah earlier in season two: https://bit.ly/S2EP08PulsePodcast

(06:38) Karen Petraschuk, Parksville Fire Rescue firefighter, shares her selection as one of eight runners for the Wounded Warrior Run across Vancouver Island. The 800-kilometre run raises funds for first responder mental health programs on Vancouver Island. Karen discusses her three years with Parksville Fire Rescue, responding to over 300 emergency calls last year, and why physical activity has helped her through depression, anxiety, and major life events. Details here: https://woundedwarriors.ca/run-bc/

Episode Quotes:

"I hope people see this run as a reminder that strength isn't measured only by endurance or resilience, but also by vulnerability, by our willingness to talk openly about the tough calls, the hard days, and the invisible weight that so many of us carry in silence." - Karen Petraschuk

"One of the greatest actors of a generation gives me a private performance of Shakespeare. So that's Sir Ben Kingsley." - Chelah Horsdal

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Cleveland Browns, Wild Card Weekend & Cold-Weather Comfort Eats

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for Cleveland-Style Beef & Bean Chili:https://bit.ly/S1EP13FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast, hosts Erin Haluschak and Chef Jonathan Frazier dive headfirst into NFL Wild Card Weekend, playoff predictions, and a bruised-but-battling Team of the Week: the Cleveland Browns.

With the fantasy football season officially in the books, the focus shifts to real-deal playoff drama. Erin and Jonathan break down key Wild Card matchups, debate who’s primed for a Super Bowl run, and weigh in on just how unpredictable this postseason could become.

The conversation then turns to Cleveland — a franchise defined this season by injuries, coaching shakeups, and unanswered quarterback questions. Jonathan examines what went wrong, what’s next, and why the Browns may still have a path forward if they stabilize leadership and health.

As always, food plays a starring role. From Polish Boys and pierogies to stacked corned beef sandwiches and a hearty Cleveland-style beef and bean chili, Jonathan delivers a cold-weather tailgating menu built for grit, beer, and frozen fingers.

This Episode Features:

(02:20) Wild Card Weekend Begins: Why this is the true holiday season for NFL fans

(06:50) Fantasy Is Done: Post-season relief, reflections, and thoughts for next year

(12:05) Playoff Predictions: Carolina vs. LA, 49ers vs. Eagles, Bills vs. Jaguars, and more
(20:30) Team of the Week: Cleveland Browns — injuries, Watson’s lost season, and coaching fallout
(29:50) Coaching Carousel: Stefanski out, Harbaugh rumors, and league-wide shakeups
(38:35) Taste of Cleveland: Polish Boys, pierogies, corned beef, stadium brats
(45:20)Tailgate Pick: Cleveland-style beef and bean chili — comfort food for cold kickoff days

Quotes from the Episode:

“Fantasy is over, but the stress just shifts — now it’s playoff football.” – Erin Haluschak

“Cold weather demands comfort food, and Cleveland delivers exactly that.” – Jonathan Frazier

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

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Ladysmith Singer-Songwriter Ryan McMahon & Speaking Excellence with Kristen Nickells of Toastmasters

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(28:48) Ryan McMahon, Ladysmith singer-songwriter, takes listeners through his nearly two-decade music career spanning seven solo albums and tours with Burton Cummings and Tom Cochrane. The Vancouver Island musician discusses his powerful new single “There She Is”, produced at Bryan Adams' Warehouse Studio in Vancouver. From his early days playing the Queens Hotel in Nanaimo to sharing stages with Canadian rock legends, McMahon reflects on learning the craft from influences like Warren Zevon, Elvis Costello, and Vancouver's Odds.

(06:12) Kristen Nickells, Distinguished Toastmaster and past president of Arbutus Toastmasters in Parksville, reveals how the club transforms lives by helping members overcome public speaking fear. Kristen shares the inspiring story of member Molly Hamilton who competed against 33,000 participants placing in the top eight at the 2022 World Championship of Public Speaking in Nashville.

Episode Quotes:

"Toastmasters has a slogan that says Where Leaders Are Made. If you can articulate your thoughts in a speech, if you can craft a speech and deliver it in a way that your audience receives your message and that you're clear and confident, that's a skill that you see in leaders." - Kristen Nickells

"For me, the song is a happy, peaceful exhale. The tune itself is really not just about newfound love with a new person, but it's also about recognizing beauty where maybe I hadn't before—the sunrise over my hometown and the feeling when you first dip your toes into the ocean." - Ryan McMahon

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John Rustad: Lessons on leadership & Inside BC politics

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks: Pulse Edition, hosts Sean Wood and Joel Grenz sit down with former Conservative Party of BC leader and longtime MLA John Rustad for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, governance, and the forces reshaping provincial politics. Rustad reflects on serving under multiple leaders, the rise and collapse of centre-right coalitions, and why he believes conviction matters more than triangulation in today’s polarized political landscape.

From cabinet decision-making and the growing power of the premier’s office, to affordability, productivity, reconciliation, and the hollowing out of the middle class, Rustad offers his unfiltered reflections and thoughts on where he believes British Columbia has gone off track.

Episode Highlights:

Rustad’s leadership takeaways from Campbell to Eby

The fall of the BC Liberals and the rise of the BC Conservatives

Why affordability can’t be fixed without productivity and wage growth

Rustad’s case for “economic reconciliation” and why the current approach is failing

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Second Place Stings, Playoff Chaos & Carolina Comfort Food — Week 18 Showdown

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -0800

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for Eastern North Carolina vinegar-style pulled pork: https://bit.ly/S1EP12FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast, hosts Erin Frazier and Chef Jonathan Frazier of the Comox Valley break down the final week of the NFL regular season, as fantasy football wraps up and playoff scenarios come down to the wire.

Erin reflects on another hard-fought fantasy season that ends in a second-place finish for the second year in a row, after a brutal championship week where everything that could go wrong, did. The duo digs into lessons learned, standout performers like Matthew Stafford and Christian McCaffrey, and what strategy Erin is sticking with heading into next year — including early quarterback picks and the possibility of launching an F3 fantasy league.

With playoff spots still undecided, Jonathan and Erin dive into the most compelling Week 18 matchups, from Seattle’s underrated dominance to fresh Super Bowl contenders emerging as Kansas City and Philadelphia fall out of the picture. Defence takes centre stage as the NFL heads toward a wide-open postseason.

Team of the Week is the Carolina Panthers, as Jonathan breaks down the franchise’s history, key players, and where Panthers fans can find optimism moving forward — minus one very controversial former quarterback.

And of course, it’s time to eat. Jonathan heads south for classic Carolina game-day comfort food, from vinegar-forward barbecue and Carolina-style hot dogs to pimento cheese and fried chicken. The Pick of the Week is Eastern North Carolina vinegar-style pulled pork — slow-cooked, tangy, and built for long Sundays and playoff football.

This Episode Features:
• Fantasy football season recap and second-place heartbreak
• Week 18 NFL chaos and wide-open playoff races
• Team of the Week: Carolina Panthers
• Southern game-day staples and Carolina barbecue traditions

“Second place twice in a row still hurts — especially when it ends with your worst fantasy week of the season.” – Erin Frazier

“Great barbecue isn’t about the sauce — it’s about letting the meat do the talking.” – Chef Jonathan Frazier

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100 Women Who Care Approaching $1M in Donations & Broadcasting Icon Shirley McQueen

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(05:01) Debbe Patterson, co-founder of 100 Women Who Care Oceanside, reveals how 380 women are transforming Vancouver Island charities through collective giving. In 2026, this Parksville-Qualicum Beach group will surpass$1 million raised for local organizations including MANNA Homeless Society, Arrowsmith Search and Rescue, Echo Players, and District 69 Backpack Program. Debbe explains the unique voting process where members donate $100 quarterly,.

(19:23) Shirley McQueen takes listeners through her remarkable broadcasting career from Regina's CJME to Q107 Toronto, Rock 101 Vancouver, and now Icon Radio on Vancouver Island. The veteran broadcaster has interviewed countless Canadian music legends. Shirley discusses her television work hosting CBC's Living Saskatchewan, her appearances on Corner Gas, and her philosophy on authentic storytelling. Now calling Vancouver Island home, she works with Icon Radio Nanaimo and Coast FM Powell River.

(02:50) Kristy Pinchak of Royston wins the latest Pulse Contest—a Tigh-na-Mara Spa visit for two.

Episode Quotes:

"We'll have a million dollars we anticipate by April, and it's due to the fact that we have an amazing group of women in Oceanside. Our membership is now at 380, which is incredible, and that's because members bring friends and family to the meetings." - Debbe Patterson

"I consider it a privilege to be doing what I'm doing, to have people listening to me, my voice telling my stories, giving my perspective on things. I've learned that Canadians are really kind, really smart, supportive people. They embrace community, and I will do it as long as they'll have me." - Shirley McQueen

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Bears, Blizzards & Fantasy Football Heartbreak - Week 17 Chaos, Chicago Classics & Italian Beef

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for the iconic Italian Beef Sandwich: https://bit.ly/S1EP11FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast, hosts Erin Frazier and Chef Jonathan Frazier of the Comox Valley go long-distance once again — with Erin checking in from the frozen tundra of Winnipeg while the NFL playoff picture tightens.

Erin breaks down the brutal end to her fantasy football season, with a championship loss sealed by a disastrous Thursday night performance and a second-place finish that still stings. The duo recaps key Week 17 storylines, from Seattle’s playoff push to injury concerns that could reshape the postseason.

Team of the Week is the Chicago Bears, as Jonathan and Erin dig into the franchise’s historic legacy, the rise of rookie QB Caleb Williams, and why Chicago may be a team to watch next season.

And of course, it’s time to eat. Chef Jonathan serves up classic Chicago game-day food, from deep-dish pizza and Chicago dogs to his pick of the week — the iconic Italian beef sandwich, built for cold weather and playoff vibes.

This Episode Features:

• Fantasy football finals heartbreak and lessons learned
• Week 17 NFL storylines and playoff implications
• Team of the Week: Chicago Bears & Caleb Williams
• Chicago-style comfort food and tailgate classics

“Second place hurts — especially when it ends on a minus-nine-point quarterback.” – Erin Frazier

“It doesn’t get more Chicago than Italian beef: big flavour, no shortcuts.” – Jonathan Frazier

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BTO Bassist Lance LaPointe & Avatar's Free-Diving Coach Kirk Krack

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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(07:22) Lance LaPointe, Port Alberni singer-songwriter and touring bassist/vocalist for legendary Canadian rockers Bachman-Turner Overdrive, shares his remarkable journey from playing campfires on Tofino beaches to performing "Takin' Care of Business" in arenas across North America. LaPointe reveals keeping his late father's ashes in his guitar while living the dream they talked about together, and how Randy Bachman has become a surrogate father figure. Check out Lance’s upcoming event at Char’s Landing in Port Alberni.

(34:34) Kirk Krack of Campbell River is a world-renowned free-diving coach and takes us behind the scenes of James Cameron's Avatar films, where he spent nearly five years training Hollywood stars including Kate Winslet and Zoe Saldana to perform authentic underwater sequences. Krack discusses his work with DEEP, developing underwater habitats for ocean exploration, and his career path from training Tiger Woods and Tom Cruise to doubling as Batman in Suicide Squad.

(04:56) Kristy Pinchak of Royston wins the latest Pulse Contest, a Tigh Na Mara Spa visit for two.

Episode Quotes:

"This isn't the Marvel universe. This isn't where people fly and lasers come out of people's eyes, right? It's not fantasy. It's our reality. So the real physics of the world needed to translate, and that was an important thing." - Kirk Krack on Avatar's underwater performance capture

"Randy Bachman stood in the doorway and he said, 'I bet you your mom and dad are proud right now.' And he gave me a big hug and I think I cried for 30 milliseconds, sucked it up real quick." - Lance LaPointe on his first night with BTO

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Half a Million Islanders Are Fighting for Equal Healthcare Access

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks: Pulse Edition, hosts Sean Wood and Joel Grenz sit down with Donna Hais, Chair of the Fair Care Alliance, to discuss the critical healthcare crisis facing Central Vancouver Island. Recording from across the street from Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Donna reveals 430,000 people south of the Malahat have access to over 800 tertiary care beds across two hospitals, while nearly 500,000 residents north of the Malahat share just 354 tertiary beds at NRGH.

In a groundbreaking move, the Regional District of Nanaimo recently passed a motion to allocate $50 million in community funds toward building this critical infrastructure, demonstrating unprecedented local leadership in addressing the Nanaimo hospital healthcare gap.

Fair Care Alliance is taking the fight beyond provincial borders, having hired federal lobbyists to secure funding from Ottawa. This episode is a rallying cry for equitable healthcare access and community-driven solutions that affect Vancouver Island residents from Parksville to Campbell River and beyond.

Episode Highlights:

· The stark healthcare inequity facing Central Vancouver Island residents and why it matters

· Why 500,000 islanders lack fair access to tertiary care services

· How the Regional District of Nanaimo's $50 million commitment changes everything

· Fair Care Alliance's federal lobbying strategy and the historic opportunity with Ottawa

· The meaningful reconciliation conversation around former Indian Hospital lands

· Why local government is leading where provincial government has stalled

· What residents can do right now to support healthcare advocacy efforts

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New England Patriots, Fantasy Semifinal Pressure & Cold-Weather Tailgate Food

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0800

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for New England Steak Tips: https://bit.ly/S1EP10FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast, hosts Erin Frazier and Chef Jonathan Frazier of the Comox Valley dive into Week 16 as fantasy football semifinals collide with the final stretch of the NFL season. Erin breaks down a tense matchup still undecided heading into Monday Night Football, the thin line between championship hopes and elimination, and the growing impact of late-season injuries — especially at quarterback.

The conversation expands to a chaotic week around the league, highlighted by a Seahawks–Rams overtime thriller, controversial finishes, and shifting playoff expectations. With contenders stumbling and unpredictability ruling December football, Erin and Jonathan share cautious thoughts on who may still be built for a deep postseason run.

Team of the week: the New England Patriots. Erin reflects on the franchise’s polarizing dynasty under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, before turning to New England’s post-Brady resurgence behind rookie quarterback Drake May and a strong supporting cast.

The episode wraps with food — New England style. Jonathan highlights cold-weather game-day staples like clam chowder, lobster rolls, fried clams, and Fenway Franks, with the featured favourite being classic New England steak tips— marinated, grilled, and perfect for winter tailgating.

This Episode Features:

(03:10) Fantasy Semifinals: Tight matchups, limited options, and Monday Night Football anxiety

(09:00) Week 16 Recap: Seahawks–Rams overtime drama, officiating chaos, and late-game heartbreak

(16:45) Injury Watch: Quarterbacks going down and playoff hopes hanging in the balance

(23:30) Super Bowl Outlook: Why predictions are harder than ever this season

(28:10) Team of the Week: New England Patriots — dynasty, decline, and post-Brady resurgence

(36:20) Taste of New England: Clam chowder, lobster rolls, fried clams, and Fenway Franks

(42:10) Signature Bite: New England steak tips — the ultimate cold-weather tailgate food

“New England steak tips are winter football food done right — hearty, simple, and built for the cold.” – Chef Jonathan Frazier

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Santa Claus Hosts Christmas Music Special with Vancouver Island Artists

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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This special Christmas episode of The Pulse Community Podcast brings Vancouver Island Christmas music to life as Santa Claus takes over hosting duties while Peter and Dave finish their holiday shopping. Santa shares enchanting stories between performances from Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands artists including Valdy, Shari Ulrich, David Gogo, Vince Warry, Zachary Stevenson, The Heels and Spirit of the West. Santa weaves timeless tales about hope, determination, and community connection.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"Christmas isn't really about the presents under the tree or the decorations on the mantle. It's about the light we keep burning for one another—the love that waits, the door that's always open, the welcome that never fades." - Santa Claus

"Christmas magic isn't something I bring in my sleigh. It's something you create every day through kindness, through music, through the love you share with one another." - Santa Claus

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Minnesota Vikings, Fantasy Playoff Nerves & Midwest Comfort Food

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for the iconic Juicy Lucy, a cheese-stuffed burger. https://bit.ly/S1EP9FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast with hosts Erin Frazier and Chef Jonathan Frazier of the Comox Valley turn their attention to the Minnesota Vikings as fantasy football playoffs arrive — bringing tough lineup decisions, shaken confidence, and a whole lot of second-guessing. With Week 15 underway, Erin breaks down her quarterfinal matchup, the pain of recent two-point losses.

Jonathan and Erin unpack a chaotic week that saw major stars go down, Kansas City officially eliminated, and new contenders like Denver and the Rams securing postseason berths. Predictions fly as they debate who’s actually built to survive January football in one of the most unpredictable NFL seasons in recent memory.

Then it’s time to eat — Minnesota style. Jonathan delves into the Vikings' game-day culture through food. The undisputed star of the episode, though, is the iconic Juicy Lucy — a cheese-stuffed burger that defines Minnesota football Sundays and demands patience before the first bite.

This Episode Features:

(02:30) Fantasy Playoffs Begin: Erin’s quarterfinal matchup, shaky confidence, and brutal close losses.

(07:45) Lineup Dilemmas: Mahomes struggles, Jared Goff on the bench, and trusting projections vs. instincts.

(13:20) NFL Injury Fallout: Season-altering injuries and what they mean for contenders and pretenders.

(19:10) Playoff Picture Update: Denver and the Rams clinch, Chiefs eliminated, and surprise teams rising.

(25:40) Team of the Week: Minnesota Vikings — history, identity, quarterback development, and a year to write off.

(33:00) Taste of Minnesota: Tater tot hotdish, walleye fingers, lefse, Polish sausage, and cold-weather comfort food.

(41:15) Lone Star (North Star) Bite: The Juicy Lucy — why Minnesota’s cheese-stuffed burger reigns supreme.

“The Juicy Lucy is football food at its finest. Simple, comforting, and absolutely unforgiving if you bite too soon.” – Chef Jonathan Frazier

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Milner Magic, Festive Brass Shows & Singer Songwriter Vince Warry

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(25:48) Vince Warry, singer-songwriter and tribute artist from Nanaimo, shares his remarkable journey from tribute bands honouring The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and The Cult to releasing his own EP "Like a Runaway Train" with Big Records. Teaching history and his custom History of Music and Pop Culture course by day, Warry is finding his authentic voice in Nanaimo's music scene.

(07:21) Geoff Ball from Milner Gardens reveals how their annual Christmas light display has exploded from a few thousand lights to an astounding 150,000-200,000 lights transforming over half a kilometre of gardens. Over 12,000 visitors attended last year. Ball Talks abou the special holiday glasses that turn every light into festive shapes, food trucks, choirs performing and a free RDN bus service on weekends from Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.

(14:17) Stevan Paranosic of Festive Brass discusses bringing professional holiday brass music to 10 Vancouver Island communities in December. Festive Brass will partner with local choirs including Village Voices in Parksville at Knox United Church. Tour details: https://www.festivebrass.com/

"The woman who had been in the picture with me was in stage four cancer, and all she wanted to do was see the Doors tribute before she passed away. That really hit me and I was glad that we had a good show." - Vince Warry

"We're just happy to take all these shows on the road to these wonderful locations and provide music for some of these people that maybe never get a chance to see it." - Stevan Paranosic, Festive Brass

"We have grown from a few thousand to, I'm estimating we're up around 150, 200,000 lights. Our volunteers started in September to hang them and we had a great team, probably 15 people out to every setup day." - Geoff Ball, Milner Gardens

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No Gavel Required: Running Meetings the Right Way with Tyler Brown

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks: The Pulse Edition, Parksville councillors Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Nanaimo councillor and former Regional District of Nanaimo board chair Tyler Brown to unpack what it really takes to run meetings that work, keep a 19-member board aligned, and steer governance without theatrics, gavels, or power plays.

Brown traces how Nanaimo moved from national-news dysfunction to a functional council, why “righting the ship” was only the beginning, and how the real work of a chair happens long before the meeting starts. He breaks down staff–council dynamics, the pressures elected officials actually face, and why healthy governance depends on clarity, preparation, and a steady hand.

Episode Highlights:

Why meetings fail and the quiet work that prevents them from going sideways

How to prepare for decisions when information is incomplete and emotions are high

What effective chairs do behind the scenes to keep debates productive

How councils can respect staff roles without surrendering decision-making

Why public anger escalates and how to set ground rules that protect everyone’s voice

Where B.C.’s Local Government Act falls short and why modernization matters for communities

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Houston Texans, Week 14 Whiplash & Texas BBQ – Nail-Biters, Fantasy Heartbreak & Lone Star Game-Day Eats

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0800

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for Houston-Style Game-Day Brisket Rub: https://bit.ly/S1EP09FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast hosts Erin Frazier and Chef Jonathan Frazier of the Comox Valley ride the emotional waves of a chaotic Week 14 — recording live as the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs trade touchdowns, turnovers and tension in real time. What began as a check-in on Mahomes’ slow day turns into a mid-episode frenzy as Houston surges back to tie the game.

Erin recaps another fantasy week that came down to the wire, from near-victories to gut-punch losses, while Jonathan breaks down whether the Texans’ young roster is scrappy playoff material or still a step behind in the AFC race.

Then it’s time to eat — Texas style. Jonathan digs into Houston’s multicultural food scene, spotlighting everything from Vietnamese-Cajun crawfish to Gulf Coast po’boys, with a deep dive into the undisputed champion of Houston tailgates: pepper-crusted, slow-smoked brisket. Erin adds her own pick for a lighter halftime option — shrimp po’boys with a squeeze of lemon.

This Episode Features:

(02:15) – Live Game Chaos: Erin and Jonathan capture the Texans–Chiefs momentum swings as they record.

(06:00) – Fantasy Football Recap: Two-point losses, surprise WR standouts, and Mahomes leaving points on the table.

(11:40) – NFL Storylines: Injury shakeups, bubble-team pressure, and what Houston needs to stay in the playoff hunt.

(18:05) – Team of the Week: Houston Texans — defensive strengths, CJ Stroud’s impact, and why Houston’s identity is still evolving.

(27:25) – Taste of Houston: Vietnamese-Cajun crawfish, BBQ potatoes, brisket, po’boys and the city’s fusion-food roots.

(33:50) – Lone Star Bite: Erin’s pick for the perfect game-day plate — a classic Gulf Coast shrimp po’boy.

“If Houston sneaks into the playoffs, it’ll be because of that defense — they’re the heartbeat of the whole team.” – Erin Frazier

“Brisket is a weekend commitment. If you want show-stopping barbecue, you’ve got to babysit that smoker.” – Chef Jonathan Frazier

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The Debaters' 20th Anniversary & Andy Kim's Christmas Show

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(09:40) Steve Patterson, award-winning host of CBC's The Debaters, discusses the show's 20th anniversary holiday tour hitting five BC cities including Nanaimo and Victoria in December. Patterson reveals about what makes the debate format work and how Canadian comedy's self-deprecating humor creates magical unplanned moments. Event details: https://debaterslive.com/

(32:37) Andy Kim, Officer of the Order of Canada and legendary singer-songwriter behind "Sugar, Sugar" and "Rock Me Gently," brings his celebrated Christmas charity show to Vancouver's River Rock Casino for the first time. Kim discusses the lineup including Tom Cochrane, while sharing his journey from leaving Montreal at 16 with $40 and a cracked guitar to creating songs that sold 30 million records. Having raised nearly $3 million for charity over 20 years, this show benefits Variety, the Children's Charity of BC. Contains the song “Whatever happened to Christmas”. Event details: https://www.andykimmusic.com/live

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"Canadians have just a way of laughing at ourselves that most countries don't. When you can fit a real fact into an argument that's also funny, to me, that's the best thing in the world." - Steve Patterson on Canadian Comedy

"Receiving such an award from my country of birth—I wept because my parents never really understood my dream, never understood why I had to leave home, why so much of my life was spent away. And this moment in time was not a gold record. It wasn't up and down the charts. It was Canada, my place of birth." - Andy Kim on the Order of Canada

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Florida Flavours & Fantasy Football – Tampa Bay Heat, Poolside Picks & Gulf Coast Game-Day Eats

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe forTampa-Style Grouper Sandwich: https://bit.ly/S1EP07FootballRecipe

In this episode of the F3 Podcast — Football, Fantasy & Food — Erin and Chef Jonathan Frazier of the Comox Valley dive into the surprises of Week 13 as late-season chaos shakes up playoff races and fantasy matchups. Upsets, shutouts, and razor-thin fantasy heartbreaks frame the week — including Erin’s two-point loss and Jonathan’s poolside play-calling from sunny Tampa Bay.

Spotlight team: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Erin and Jonathan dig into the Bucs’ up-and-down identity — Baker Mayfield’s hot-and-cold performances, leadership questions inside the locker room, unpredictable defence, and whether this roster can actually sneak into the playoffs. Is Mayfield the solution, or simply the latest stopgap?

Then it’s all about Gulf Coast eats: Tampa’s deviled crab, fresh mango with tajín, Cuban sandwiches, smoked mullet dip, stone crab claws, and the city’s undisputed icon — the grouper sandwich. Sunshine, seafood, spice — classic Florida tailgate flavour.

In the fantasy corner, Erin recaps a defence-heavy week, Mahomes’ big Thursday night outing, and how byes and late injuries are reshaping lineups. Jonathan relives his near-certain win that slipped away, with an 87% projection crashing in the final quarter.

This Episode Features:

(03:00) Calling an Audible: Why the Texans got bumped for Tampa Bay and how Erin ended up recording poolside in shorts.

(05:30) Fantasy Football Recap: Erin’s roller-coaster week, Mahomes’ big Thursday, and the matchup she lost by just two points.

(10:45) NFL Storylines: Surprising upsets, the Seahawks’ shutout, and whether the Chiefs are actually in playoff trouble.

(17:20) Team of the Week: Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Baker Mayfield’s volatility, leadership questions, and why Erin says the Bucs could sneak into the postseason.

(27:05) Taste of Tampa Bay: Deviled crab, stone crab claws, smoked mullet spread, Cuban sandwiches, and the fan-favorite grouper sandwich.

(34:20) Florida Fresh: Erin’s pick for a lighter tailgate treat — mango with tajín.

“If Tampa Bay makes it into the first round, I’m calling that a win — but they’re not going further.” – Erin Haluschak

“In this town, tailgating is fried, spicy and built for sunshine — the grouper sandwich is king.” – Jonathan Frazier

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Island Crime's Laura Palmer & Parksville Qualicum Foundation Director Charlene Smith

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(22:59) Laura Palmer, host of the Island Crime podcast, discusses her eighth season entitled "My Best Friend, Bree," which investigates the 2021 murder of Bree Gamble in Victoria's Beacon Hill Park. Palmer, who recently received the Shelley Fralic Award from the Jack Webster Foundation, shares her process for selecting Vancouver Island cases, and how her podcast has generated new leads in cold cases, including developments in the Lisa Marie Young disappearance.

(06:01) Charlene Smith, the inaugural executive director of the Parksville Qualicum Community Foundation, discusses how the organization has grown to manage nearly $9 million in endowment funds over its 25-year history. Smith highlights the Neighbourhood Small Grants program, which empowers Vancouver Island residents to strengthen community connections with funding as modest as $50. The foundation has distributed over $2.5 million since 1999, supporting grassroots projects from block parties to emergency preparedness programs.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"It's never too late to do the next right thing. You broadcast to many people here on the island and local people in these communities where we all live have information about these cases." - Laura Palmer, Island Crime Podcast Host

"With as little as $50 or $500, when neighbours have encouragement and opportunity, they can do really big things." - Charlene Smith, Parksville Qualicum Community Foundation

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Thrifty Foods Parksville, and the SOS Christmas Program.

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Parksville Downtown Revitalization with Teresa Cooper

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks: The Pulse Edition, Parksville councillors Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Teresa Cooper, Executive Director of the Parksville Downtown Business Association, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Parksville downtown revitalization on Vancouver Island.

(10:15) The conversation explores the Imagine Parksville Downtown initiative, a multi-phase, six-to-ten-year plan to breathe new life into Parkville's community core.

(11:55) The trio discusses the classic chicken-and-egg dilemma facing Parksville downtown revitalization: restaurants won't extend hours without customers, and customers won't come if they think everything's closed. The solution? Creating events, experiences, and foot traffic that draw residents back to support local businesses.

(22:30) Supporting young entrepreneurs with an incubation hub, and developing an arts district.

Episode Highlights:

The Imagine Parksville Downtown initiative: a 6-10 year transformation plan

Phase one facade rejuvenation: making storefronts brighter and more accessible

Young entrepreneur incubator programs planned for future phases

Breaking the chicken-and-egg cycle: why local support matters now

New murals and outdoor patio program bringing life to downtown

Upcoming events: Happy Noon Year celebration and Food Truck Festival

Bold future ideas: viewing tower, zip line, and arts district development

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Special Thanks to Our Sponsor - Windsor Plywood French Creek Visit them online or call 752-3122.

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

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#PulseCommunityPodcast, #ParksvilleDowntown, #DowntownRevitalization, #VancouverIsland, #ThePulseCommunity, #SeanWood, #JoelGrenz, #TeresaCooper, #NonPartisanHacks, #ShopLocal, #ImagineParksvilleDowntown, #SupportSmallBusiness

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New York Jets, Thanksgiving Football & Dirty-Water Dogs – Week 12 Chaos & NYC Flavours

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 04:00:00 -0800

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for New York Dirty-Water Dogs with Classic Red Onion Sauce: https://bit.ly/S1EP06FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast Comox Valley, hosts Erin and Jonathan Fraser unpack a chaotic Week 12, where low-scoring defensive battles wrecked fantasy lineups and overconfidence came back to bite. With American Thanksgiving delivering a full slate of football from Thursday to Monday, the duo looks at playoff implications, surprise struggles, and the unpredictable AFC race.

The Team of the Week spotlight lands on the New York Jets, a franchise cursed by draft misfires, coaching turnover, and more bad luck than any team deserves. Jonathan and Erin break down the long-running dysfunction — and why fans still somehow hang on.

Jonathan closes the episode with a tour of classic New York tailgate eats, from thin-fold pizza and pastrami on rye to halal chicken and rice and the iconic dirty-water dog simmering in onion-spiced broth. A perfect blend of football chaos, fantasy frustration, and flavour-packed comfort food.

This Episode Features:

(02:05) – Week 12 Recap & Fantasy Struggles, Erin admits to getting “too cocky” after an 87% win projection, only to watch her fantasy week collapse. A look at low offensive output across the league and defensive-heavy matchups.

(06:40) – Thanksgiving Football Preview, Erin dives into why Thanksgiving week is her favourite in football: Thursday triple-headers, a rare Friday game, and a packed weekend slate.

(10:19) – AFC Playoff Picture, a breakdown of tight races, Kansas City’s surprising struggles, aging stars, and why no clear Super Bowl favourite has emerged.

(14:30) – Team of the Week: New York Jets, a deep dive into the Jets’ decades-long woes — coaching turnover, draft disappointments, the Aaron Rodgers Achilles saga, and why nothing seems to click.

(23:00) – Taste of New York: Tailgate Edition. Jonathan highlights NYC food icons: foldable street pizza, pretzels, pastrami on rye, halal chicken and rice, and the legendary dirty-water dog with onion sauce.

“Don’t get cocky — that’s the lesson from fantasy this week.” – Erin Frazier

“When your team’s losing, at least New York has great food.” – Jonathan Frazier

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

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You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Community Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok and YouTube podcasts, as well as ThePULSECommunity.ca.

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#F3Podcast, #FantasyFootball, #FoodAndFootball, #BuckeyeCandy, #NFL, #GameDayEats, #PulseCommunity, #PulseCommunityPodcast, #NewYorkJets, #ThanksgivingFootball, #TailgateFood

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Zachary Stevenson's Holly Jolly Christmas & Beachfest Surpasses $1.2M in Community Donations

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(29:45) Award-winning performer Zachary Stevenson, who grew up in Parksville, shares his remarkable journey from Vancouver Island orchards to international stages across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Zachary discusses his Holly Jolly Christmas tour coming to the Port Theatre in Nanaimo this December, blending classic Buddy Holly hits with festive rock and roll favourites from Elvis and Chuck Berry. Living between Chicago and Vancouver, Zachary reflects on what Vancouver Island means to him, his award-winning Chicago theatre success, his wife Molly's acting career, and his deep appreciation for returning home to Island audiences.

(06:14) Cheryl Dill, President of the Parksville Beach Festival Society, announces the 2025 festival gave a record-breaking $88,201 back to Vancouver Island community organizations—pushing their total community contributions to an impressive $1.2 million since implementing the pay-it-forward model. With 119,092 visitors experiencing the world-renowned Quality Foods sand sculpting competition, the festival successfully relocated to a new venue in Parksville Community Park. Cheryl discusses plans for future entertainment at the outdoor theatre, including another major Canadian band for the 2026 opening concert.

Episode Highlights & Quotes:

"We gave away $88,201, which was tremendous for a little old Parksville Beach Festival Society. And that pushes our total giveaway since we've been incorporating this pay it forward model to $1.2 million back to the community." - Cheryl Dill, President of Parksville Beach Festival Society

“Growing up in Parksville, I realize what a privilege it is to grow up on Vancouver Island. Now that I'm an adult and I've spent time working and travelling and living in a whole bunch of different cities... Every time I come to Parksville, I think, wow, what a beautiful place. This is what an awesome place it is to live." - Zachary Stevenson

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods Parksville, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Tablet Pharmacy, and Fireside Books.

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Los Angeles Chargers, California Eats & Fantasy Football – Justin Herbert, LA Game-Day Grub & Fantasy Picks

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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BONUS RECIPE: Try Jonathan’s favourite California Carne Asada Nacho Platter: https://bit.ly/S1EP05FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast, hosted by Erin and Jonathan Frazier of the Comox Valley dive into the highs and lows of fantasy football while spotlighting the Los Angeles Chargers. They’re dissecting Justin Herbert’s standout performances, the team’s strong start—including a sweep of their division rivals.

Then it’s time to feast — Los Angeles-style. From fish tacos by the beach to classic drive-thru burgers and craft brews, Jonathan celebrates the city’s iconic game-day eats that pair perfectly with a Chargers win.

This Episode Features:

(03:20) Fantasy Football Recap: Erin and Jonathan highlight the week’s fantasy standouts with Justin Herbert’s passing surge, rookie receivers stepping up, and how bye weeks are reshuffling fantasy lineups.

(07:15) Team of the Week: Los Angeles Chargers: A deep dive into the Chargers’ season, from their first win over the Kansas City Chiefs since 2021to how HC Jim Harbaugh is re-shaping the club.

(11:30) Spotlight on Justin Herbert: Discussion on Herbert’s game-changing plays, his fantasy upside, and how the Chargers are weathering injury storms.

(14:50) Taste of Los Angeles: Jonathan explores LA’s food scene — from beachside fish tacos and street-food fusion to a hidden burger joint he believes every game-day fan should visit.

“If you’ve got Herbert in your fantasy lineup, you’re in for fireworks.” – Erin Frazier

“In Los Angeles, the food is like the football — bold, vibrant, and built for the big moments.” – Chef Jonathan Frazier

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

Looking for more Vancouver Island Podcasts?

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#F3Podcast, #NFLFootballPodcast, #VancouverIsland, #FantasyFootball, #LosAngelesChargers, #JustinHerbert, #BeachTacos, #FoodAndFootball

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Award Winning Actor Chelah Horsdal & 17th Annual Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(20:30) Award-winning actress Chelah Horsdal shares her journey from growing up on Vancouver Island as folk legend Valdy's daughter to starring in The Man in the High Castle and Star Trek: Discovery. Chelah discusses her powerful new short film Never Use Alone, highlighting Canada's National Overdose Response Service, and reveals plans for a personal documentary about her father.

(06:21) Jim Hykaway, Tigh-Na-Mara General Manager, and Lissa Alexander, SOS Communications Manager, discuss the 17th Annual Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive supporting Vancouver Island families. Last year's event collected over 2,700 toys and $30,000 in donations. The community breakfast on November 26th welcomes anyone bringing unwrapped toys, gift cards, or cash donations—with alternative options for those unable to attend the main event.

Campbell River resident Darryl McKay, previously interviewed from Ukraine in Season 2 Episode 2, sent a message announcing his book My Time with Heroes is now available on Amazon in both Kindle and softcover formats. McKay thanks podcast listeners for their support of Ukrainian causes and announces he's returning this week to Ukraine, potentially for another chapter in his story.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"I've been on television for a really long time. I've never experienced anything like the recognition that has come with joining the Star Trek universe. The people I met were so generous and kind and open and welcoming." - Chelah Horsdal

"This program provides not just gifts, but a little bit of hope. One mum told us that her son used that bike all year long. He used it to get to school and some other social opportunities that he wouldn't have had because of that bike." - Lissa Alexander

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods Parksville, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Tablet Pharmacy, and Fireside Books.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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Sean Wood’s Parksville Mayoral Candidacy & Inside Parksville's Federal Advocacy

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks: The Pulse Edition, Parksville Councilors Sean Wood and Joel Grenz take listeners behind the scenes of municipal advocacy work that directly impacts Vancouver Island taxpayers.

(25:50) The episode features Sean Wood's announcement to run for mayor of Parksville in October 2026. His campaign platform centers on respectful governance, collaborative decision-making, and creating a council environment where diverse perspectives strengthen community outcomes.

(06:45) Fresh from his trip to Ottawa for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Advocacy Days, Sean Wood reveals how Parksville's local leaders work with Federal MPs and Senators to secure funding for critical infrastructure projects like the French Creek Pollution Control Centre. This $140 million project exemplifies why municipal advocacy matters—without federal support, these essential upgrades would fall entirely on property tax bills.

Episode Highlights:

· How FCM Advocacy Days work: meeting MPs and Senators to secure infrastructure funding

· The French Creek Pollution Control Center project: $140 million in needed upgrades

· Why provincial (UBCM) and federal (FCM) advocacy reduces property tax pressure

· Sean Wood's 2026 mayoral campaign announcement and platform

· The importance of civility and collaboration in Parksville municipal politics

· How cross-government relationships bring funding back to Vancouver Island communities

· Why "boring" governance is actually excellent governance

Visit Parksville's newest downtown coworking and collaboration space where this episode was recorded: Sparkhouse

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You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

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Bengals, Buckeyes & Cincinnati Flavours – Joe Burrow, Skyline Chili & Fantasy Football

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 04:00:00 -0800

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for Cincinnati’s famous Chili at home: https://bit.ly/S1EP04FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast Comox Valley, hosts Erin and Jonathan Fraser dive into the highs and lows of fantasy football while spotlighting the Cincinnati Bengals. They’re talking Joe Burrow’s injury updates, standout fantasy performances like Jonathan Taylor’s record-breaking week, and Cincinnati’s food culture — from German-American sausages to the sweet and salty Buckeye candies. From fantasy football triumphs to game-day chili, it’s a mix of touchdowns, tailgates, and tastes that’ll keep any football fan hungry for more.

This Episode Features:

(03:20) Fantasy Football Recap: Erin and Jonathan discuss the week’s standout performances, including Jonathan Taylor’s record-setting fantasy points and Matthew Stafford’s MVP buzz. They cover how bye weeks have shuffled lineups and highlight the importance of backup quarterbacks for midseason strategy.

(07:15) Team of the Week: Cincinnati Bengals. An in-depth look at the Bengal’s history, Joe Burrow’s rise, and how injuries have impacted the team. Jonathan Flacco’s role as Burrow’s replacement is analyzed, along with the offensive and defensive dynamics that make Cincinnati a team to watch.

(11:30) Spotlight on Joe Burrow: Discussion on Burrow’s injury, a torn toe ligament requiring surgery.

(14:50) Taste of Cincinnati: Jonathan explores Cincinnati’s food scene, from German-American breakfast sausages and Montgomery ribs to Buckeye candies. Spotlight on Skyline Chili, a sweet-spiced chili served over spaghetti or hot dogs, and why it;s the perfect game-day treat. Bonus discussion on how these local flavours make Cincinnati a culinary touchdown.

"If you have Jonathan Taylor on your fantasy team, count yourself lucky — he’s a beast this season." – Erin Frazier

"In Cincinnati, the food is like the football — bold, flavourful, and perfect for game day." – Jonathan Frazier

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Ian Lindsay & Associates for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

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#F3Podcast, #FantasyFootball, #FoodAndFootball, #CincinnatiBengals, #JoeBurrow, #SkylineChili, #BuckeyeCandy, #NFL, #GameDayEats, #PulseCommunity, #PulseCommunityPodcast

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WWII Veteran's Freedom Message & Ducks Unlimited Support of Hamilton Marsh

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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This Episode Features:

(05:44) A WWII veteran (name withheld by request) delivers a powerful message to Vancouver Island's younger generations about protecting freedom. Speaking ahead of Remembrance Day, this hero emphasizes that freedom "is not guaranteed".

(15:01) Darin Brown, Oceanside Ducks Unlimited Canada Chair, explains the urgent campaign to save Hamilton Marsh—one of Vancouver Island's largest wetlands. With only weeks until the November 24th deadline, Brown details how Hamilton Marsh provides flood protection, drought mitigation, and water quality for Parksville-Qualicum Beach communities. The November 8th gala at Qualicum Beach Civic Centre will donate all net proceeds to the Hamilton Marsh purchase.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"Freedom is so important, yet there's so many people who simply presume that freedom has always been there and always will be there... it is not guaranteed." - WWII Veteran.

"If you let them go, you're not getting them back." - Darin Brown on the irreversible loss of Hamilton Marsh

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods Parksville & Windsor Plywood French Creek.

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#HamiltonMarsh, #VancouverIslandConservation, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #RemembranceDay2025, #DucksUnlimitedCanada, #WetlandConservation, #ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #PeterMcCully, #DaveGraham

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Ravens, Rivalries & Maryland Flavours – Lamar Jackson, Old Bay & Fantasy Football

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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This week on the F3 Podcast Comox Valley, hosts Erin and Jonathan Frazier take you from the roar of the Ravens to the rich flavours of Maryland. They’re talking Lamar Jackson’s electric plays, Baltimore’s playoff potential, and a food scene that’s as bold and loyal as its fans.

From fantasy football frustrations to pit beef sandwiches sizzling outside M&T Bank Stadium, it’s a mix of touchdowns, tailgates, and taste - that’ll keep any football fan hungry for more.

BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier’s Baltimore-Style Pit Beef Sandwich! https://bit.ly/S1EP03FootballRecipe

This Episode Features:

(03:25) Breaking down quarterback battles: Mahomes vs. Allen, the rise of Sam Darnold in Seattle, and surprises around the league including Detroit’s slump and fantasy standouts.

(07:45) Team of the Week: The Baltimore Ravens. From expansion history to John Harbaugh’s coaching legacy, the hosts dig into what makes the Ravens one of the most consistent franchises in the league.

(11:10) Spotlight on Lamar Jackson — his dual-threat play style, injury concerns, and how the Ravens’ offense has built around him with key players like Derrick Henry and Mark Andrews.

(14:15) Taste of Maryland: Jonathan dives into Baltimore’s food culture — blue crab, Old Bay spice, Smith Island cake, and the iconic pit beef sandwich sizzling outside the stadium.

(17:35) Fantasy football strategy: Erin reviews her week-nine lineup decisions, QB swaps that paid off, and why Matthew Stafford might be your midseason fantasy steal.

“It’s hard not to root for Lamar Jackson: he’s redefining what a quarterback can be.” – Erin Frazier

“In Baltimore, the food plays like the team — bold, smoky, and full of heart.” – Jonathan Frazier

#F3Podcast, #NFLFootball, #FantasyFootball, #BaltimoreRavens, #LamarJackson, #OldBay, #MarylandFood, #FoodAndFootball, #ThePulsePodcast

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Paul Nicklen “Reverence” & Roy Henry Vickers “Inspired” – Art, Nature & Inspiration

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This PULSE Community Podcast episode features two remarkable Order of Canada recipients whose creativity and passion continue to shape art, conservation, and culture on Vancouver Island and around the world.

This Episode Features:

(27:10) Paul Nicklen, the Vancouver Island photographer and co-founder of SeaLegacy, talks about his path from marine biologist to acclaimed conservation photographer. He discusses the evolution of storytelling through photography, the power of community-driven conservation, and his upcoming book 'Reverence'—a visual tribute to Earth's fragile beauty.

(06:40) Roy Henry Vickers, celebrated artist and storyteller from Tofino, shares his journey from firefighter to world-renowned artist. He reveals how overcoming colour-blindness shaped his unique style rooted in Northwest Coast design and discusses his new colouring book featuring 42 of his most iconic works, encouraging both children and adults to explore Indigenous art.

Episode Highlights & Quotes:

“There is nobody like you in the whole world. If you create from that place, you’ll make things no one else can.” — Roy Henry Vickers

“When you see the beauty that I see, you realize heaven is here and now. This is our one chance.” — Paul Nicklen

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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Fireside Books, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates

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Breaking Down the Housing Crisis on Vancouver Island

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0700

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In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks: Pulse Edition, Parksville councillors Joel Grenz and Sean Wood break down one of the most talked-about issues in local government: housing.

What's the difference between market and non-market housing? Why is non-market housing so hard (and slow) to build? Who actually pays for it? And what does the "Vienna Model" have to do with Vancouver Island's housing future? From permissive tax exemptions to project delays at BC Housing, this episode pulls back the curtain on how housing decisions actually get made—and who carries the cost.

Episode Highlights:

Market vs. non-market housing: Breaking down the jargon

Why BC Housing projects take years (not months) to build

The real cost of permissive tax exemptions—and who pays

Courtenay councillor Wendy Morin's fiery take on housing delays

Could the Vienna Model work for Vancouver Island communities?

How local councils balance taxpayer concerns with housing needs

Whether you're a taxpayer, tenant, policymaker, or just housing-curious, this episode breaks down the complexities of Vancouver Island's housing challenges in plain language.

This episode is the Nonpartisan Hacks: Pulse edition, originally published on the Nonpartisan Hacks website. https://nonpartisanhacks.com/

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Special Thanks to Our Sponsor - Windsor Plywood French Creek Visit them online or call 752-3122.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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Chiefs, Clout, and Culinary Legends: Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and Fantasy Football Insights

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0700

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This week on the F3 Podcast, join hosts Erin and Jonathan Frazier of the Comox Valley as they mix touchdowns, tastings, and the thrill of fantasy football. From Patrick Mahomes’ legendary moves to the fiery flavours of Kansas City, this episode is a perfect blend for foodies, football fans, and fantasy junkies alike!

BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier’s Kansas City Style Smoked BBQ Ribs! https://bit.ly/S1EP02FootballRecipe

This Episode Features:

(05:10) Erin discusses the Chiefs’ current season, fantasy football wins and fails, and the quirks of week eight, including last-minute quarterback picks and their disastrous results.

(11:05) In-depth analysis of Patrick Mahomes’ play style, Andy Reid’s coaching genius, and Travis Kelce’s career peak, highlighting the balance between legacy talent, team dynamics, and what the future might hold for the Chiefs.

(13:05) Jonathan celebrates Kansas City’s culture and legendary flavours, from smoked meats to stadium eats, showing how the city mirrors its football team—bold, iconic, and full of character.

"It’s time the Chiefs bring the fire on the field and Kansas City brings a smoke on the plate." – Jonathan Frazier

"Andy Reid’s coaching career speaks for itself… winning three Super Bowls in six years is incredible." – Erin Frazier

#F3Podcast, #NFLFootball, #FantasyFootball, #KansasCityChiefs, #PatrickMahomes, #AndyReid, #FoodAndFootball

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Vancouver Island Sasquatch Encounters & Travel & Seasonal Vaccines

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(18:37) Author Shanon Sinn discusses his extensively researched book “The Haunting of Vancouver Island” exploring Vancouver Island's paranormal landscape. Sinn shares the compelling story of an Indigenous woman seen walking on water in Port Alberni's Somass River, asking witnesses "Have you seen my baby?" He reveals disturbing patterns in Sasquatch sightings, particularly their concentration at former residential school sites including Meares Island.

(06:32) Pharmacist Aki Shaw provides comprehensive guidance on travel vaccinations for Vancouver Island residents heading abroad. Shaw emphasizes that food and waterborne vaccines like Hepatitis A and Typhoid are non-negotiable for international travelers, recommending travelers start vaccination protocols at least six weeks before departure. He also addresses Covid and Flu shots and the measles resurgence, clarifying that anyone born after 1970 needs vaccination or boosters.

Episode Highlights & Key Quotes

"I mostly recommend the food and waterborne as non-negotiables because you can't possibly control that. You would have food and water and you don't know the exact source, even though it's a good restaurant or a hotel." - Aki Shaw, Pharmacist

"The thing that these two islands have in common that really made me stop and wonder was that they're both residential school sites. They're both places of a lot of trauma. When this being is said to be a spirit being...there has been a lot of people that have commented how often this being has been seen in cemeteries." - Shanon Sinn

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You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

Click here to learn how to Support the show

Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods Parksville, Windsor Plywood French Creek

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Why First-Round NFL Draft Picks Fail and Jacksonville's Culinary Surprises

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0700

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This week on the F3 Podcast Comox Valley join reporter Erin Frazier from ”Off the Record Podcast” and her husband, Chef Jonathan Frazier of ”The Edible Valley Podcast”. It’s a playful mix of touchdowns, tastings, and the joys of learning from each other—perfect for foodies, football fans, and everyone in between!

This F3 Podcast episode tackles the harsh reality of NFL quarterbacks following Jacksonville's devastating 35-7 loss to the LA Rams in London. Whether you're a Jags diehard, fantasy football junkie, or just here for the food, grab a plate, set your lineup, and join us for touchdowns, tastings, and football fun.

BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier’s Recipe for a Jacksonville Style Shrimp Boil! https://bit.ly/S1EP01FootballRecipe

This Episode Features:

(06:40) Erin reveals the controversial truth about first-round draft picks, explaining why Trevor Lawrence and 90% of NFL quarterbacks fall into the "good but not great" category that won't carry teams to championships. Despite his $275M contract and impressive Clemson career, where does Lawrence really rank?

(17:20) Jonathan celebrates Jacksonville's diverse culinary landscape, from fried gator bites to the iconic Camel rider sandwich reflecting the city's Middle Eastern heritage dating back to the 1960s. Discover why immigrant communities bring the most flavor to football cities.

(10:54) Fantasy football insights as Erin's quarterback-heavy draft strategy finally pays off in week seven, plus league updates featuring the Eagles, Packers, and competitive NFC West.

Next week's preview: Kansas City Chiefs and more Patrick Mahomes stories.

"College football and NFL football are completely two different animals. While there are similarities to the game, there are as many differences, I believe in particularly skillset." - Erin Frazier

"This is the joy of immigrants. They bring their flavors, they bring their taste, and they bring that into your community. They're the most hardworking and the people that bring flavor and love to your community." - Chef Jonathan Frazier

#F3Podcast, #PulseCommunity, #PulseCommunityPodcast, #NFLWeek7, #FantasyFootball, #JacksonvilleEats, #FoodAndFootball

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John Horgan; "In His Own Words" & Saving Hamilton Marsh

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(00:00) Rod Mickleburgh, veteran BC journalist and co-author, reveals never-before-heard stories from his collaboration with John Horgan on the late premier's memoir. Mickleburgh conducted final interviews from Horgan's hospital bed in Germany, capturing candid reflections about the premier's year at Ocean Falls Pulp Mill, his famous bus rides from Victoria to Sooke, his collaborative approach with the Green Party, and what made him different from typical politicians.

(00:00) Ceri Peacey, of the Hamilton Wetlands and Forest Preservation Society, discusses the urgent mission to raise $7.5 million by late January to permanently protect Hamilton Marsh and surrounding forest near Qualicum Beach. The 360-hectare property—comparable to Stanley Park—contains rare coastal Douglas fir ecosystem and serves as the largest water body in the French Creek watershed, providing critical habitat for amphibians, birds, and wildlife across Vancouver Island.

Episode Quotes:

"There isn't a single reason not to preserve the whole thing... This deal has to come through. I don't have another 20 years in me to keep up the fight, but I don't think that I will rest eternally until the whole 360 hectares have been preserved." - Ceri Peacey

"He was the genuine article and people sensed that. And we all know the number of people would say, 'I don't like the NDP, but I liked John Horgan' because they sensed he was genuine, not just your ordinary politician." - Rod Mickleburgh

Visit hamiltonwetlands.com to donate or pledge support for this critical Vancouver Island conservation project.

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What’s next for Vancouver Island’s rail corridor?

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0700

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In this episode of NonPartisan Hacks - Pulse edition, hosts Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Thomas Bevan, CEO of the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF), to talk trains, trestles, and the tangled politics of one of Vancouver Island’s most unique public assets.

Bevan shares what it’s like to work with every level of government—federal, provincial, regional districts, municipalities, and 14 First Nations—while trying to reimagine a 290-kilometre corridor that runs through the backyards of about 80% of island residents. From Scotch broom removal and firebreaks to high-rail buses and long-term transit-oriented development, the conversation uncovers both the risks and the opportunities of this corridor.

Episode Highlights:

- Corridor ownership: Whose Line Is It Anyway?

- Why the corridor still matters for housing, planning, and the future of Vancouver Island

- The Wesley Ridge fire’s impact on trestles and infrastructure

- Creative short-term uses, including high-rail buses

- How governance silos shape (and sometimes stall) progress

- Whether this “forgotten corridor” can become the island’s true spine

This episode is the NonPartisan Hacks: Pulse edition, originally published on the NonPartisan Hacks website. https://nonpartisanhacks.com/

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Arnold Schwarzenegger's Stunt Double & Parksville's First Light the Night Walk

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(06:48) Kelly Hobbis discusses her husband's chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis in 2010, his journey through multiple chemotherapy treatments, a life-saving stem cell transplant, and six years battling graft-versus-host disease. Recently discharged from the bone marrow transplant program after successful recovery, Kelly is now organizing Parksville's first annual Light the Night walk to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

(18:47) Peter Kent shares how a $20-a-night room at the Hollywood YMCA led to a career-defining phone call from director James Cameron. Despite having zero stunt experience, Kent became Arnold Schwarzenegger's stunt double for 15 years, working on iconic films including the Terminator franchise. The Qualicum Beach resident discusses his genuine friendship with Schwarzenegger and how a near-fatal car accident at 17 ironically reshaped his face to resemble the action star. The first Canadian in the Hollywood Stuntmen's Hall of Fame, Kent reflects on practical stunts that can't be replicated today.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"Everyone's diagnosis is their own journey to go through. Never listen to people who say, 'Oh, I know someone who had blood cancer, and they're just fine.' Everyone's journey is their own. It's their own reality." - Kelly Hobbis

"I was actually DOA in a car accident when I was 17, and I think, you know what? If I avoided that moment, then maybe I wouldn't look like Arnold, 'cause it reshaped my face. I went through the windshield face first and I was laying dead in the ditch and they started me up." - Peter Kent

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#PulseCommunityPodcast, #LightTheNight, #BloodCancerAwareness, #LeukemiaAndLymphomaSociety, #ParksvilleBC, #ArnoldSchwarzenegger, #HollywoodStunts, #VancouverIsland, #QualicumBeach, #ThePulseCommunity,#PeterKent

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Island Volunteer Darrell MacKay Reports From Ukraine & Award Winning Author JP McLean

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(27:10) Darrell MacKay of Campbell River speaks directly from Kyiv during his seventh volunteer trip to Ukraine with his girlfriend Olga Buhai. MacKay has raised $140,000 through Facebook fundraising and discusses his forthcoming book "My Time With Heroes." The interview provides firsthand accounts of evacuation efforts, infrastructure challenges, and the resilience of Ukrainian people.

(7:10) JP McLean, an Eric Hoffer Award winner and three-time Literary Titan medallist from Denman Island, discusses her new book "The Never Witch" - the first in her Thorne Witch series. McLean, who has written 11 supernatural thrillers across three acclaimed series, her unique approach to urban fantasy, and how the Pacific Northwest landscape influences her writing process.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

From JP McLean: "I have always wanted to do a Bewitched on steroids type of story, but for me, if I was gonna write about witches and warlocks and magic, I had to come up with a new approach to the old trope."

From Darrell MacKay: "When I realized that was everything she owned—now that's all she had left was those five bags—so you have to respect that is her whole life in those five plastic bags."

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#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #VancouverIslandAuthor,s #DenmanIsland, #CampbellRiver, #Ukraine, #UrbanFantasy, #CommunitySupport, #DarrellMcKay, #JPMcLean

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54-40’s NEW Album with Neil Osborne & Golf Champ Shelley Stouffer

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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Season 2 Premiere of The PULSE Community Podcast features:

(21:26) Neil Osborne, lead singer and co-founder of iconic BC band 54-40 from Gabriola Island, shares tracks from their 15th studio album “Porto”. The Canadian Music Hall of Fame member discusses their old-school approach of testing songs with live audiences before recording, their upcoming tour with Foreigner, and maintaining their record-holding performances at Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom. The Interview includes the new tunes, “Running for the Fence”, “Virgil” and “Go Get em”.

(06:44) Shelley Stouffer, BC Golf Hall of Fame member from Nanoose Bay, discusses her wire-to-wire victory at the Canadian Women's Senior Championship at Nanaimo Club. The three-time champion shares her preparation strategies, mental game techniques, and why she believes young Vancouver Island golfers should learn to play without technology. Stouffer reveals her international goals including conquering the British Senior Amateur Championship.

"My secret isn't really a secret, but it is working out and keeping my mobility up so that I can still swing the club as well as I used to," - Shelley Stouffer, BC Golf Hall of Fame Member

"We wanted a high-energy, live sound to the record... We were all in a room in Portugal, in Porto—a nice big room, you know, playing all at the same time," - Neil Osborne, 54-40 Lead Singer

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Thrifty Foods Parksville, & Tablet Pharmacy.

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#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #VancouverIslandGolf, #ShelleyStoufffеr, #5440Band, #CanadianMusic, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #GolfChampion

(Running for the fence, Virgil, Go Get Em - Osborne / Merritt / Genn / Johnson)

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Elizabeth May on Green Party Leadership & Parksville’s Community Garden

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(08:44) Dan Larocque shares the inspiring story behind the Parksville community garden, from its 2022 Agriculture Canada grant origins to becoming a vital social hub. Learn how this barrier-free space produces fresh food for anyone who needs it while teaching gardening skills, building community connections, and bringing neighbors together across generations on Vancouver Island.

(21:37) Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, discusses her decision to step down as Green Party leader after the next leadership race. She explains her proposal for a Council of Canadian Governments modeled after Australia's system, designed to improve coordination between federal, provincial, territorial, First Nations, and municipal governments across Canada.

Episode Quotes:

"We deliberately set out to create a social hub, but we didn't realize that it would become quite as accepted and popular and vital to the community. I think we have people walking through here all the time of all ages, just enjoying the space." - Dan Larocque, Parksville Community Garden

"I think the party needs renewal and we will do better with a change in leadership, but I will not be retiring, and I hope to continue as a member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands and run again next time." - Elizabeth May

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Ian Lindsay & Associates, Windsor Plywood French Creek and Thrifty Foods Parksville.

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#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #CommunityGarden, #ElizabethMay, #GreenParty, #VancouverIsland, #LocalFood, #Parksville

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Former MP Deb Grey's Motorcycling Adventures & Spark House Coworking

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(10:34) Deb Grey, Canada's first female leader of official opposition, shares her incredible motorcycling journey spanning 58 years. From political campaigns on two wheels to cross-country adventures with husband Lewis, Grey offers tips for Vancouver Island riding routes. She discusses their matching Honda Valkyries, memorable trips from the Yukon to Arizona, and that she's never received a speeding ticket.

(37:53) Spark House Coworking founder Dan King explains how his downtown Parksville space is addressing the growing demand for "third spaces" among remote workers. King discusses unexpected users including counselors seeking professional meeting spaces and community organizations needing gathering venues. He explains the technology features, 24/7 access options, and community-building initiatives that set Spark House apart from traditional coworking spaces.

Key Quotes:

"I've been riding 58 years tells you something. A, I'm a good defensive rider, but B, I've been blessed." - Deb Grey on Vancouver Island motorcycling safety

"What we're really interested in creating is a space where you can put your head down, you can get your work done when you want to, but when you come up for air, take a break, you've got the chance to find something that doesn't exist if you're just at home." - Dan King on Spark House Coworking's community vision

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#VancouverIslandMotorcycling, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleCoworking, #QualicumBeach, #SparkHouse, #DebGrey, #VancouverIslandLife, #RemoteWorkVancouverIsland, #Parksville, #QualicumBeach

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James Vickers 15-Year-Old Blues Prodigy & An Immersive Art Experience

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(09:11) James Vickers, 15 year old Vancouver Island blues musician shares his journey from a dusty Toys"R"Us guitar to headlining to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, hosting the legendary Queen's Sunday Blues Jam in Nanaimo, and his vision to revolutionize blues music by blending grunge, rap, and R&B influences while honoring his cultural roots. Contains the tune “Takes Time”, from his new album “The Last Goodbye”.

(31:50) Glass artist Robert Held and digital painter Brian Middleton offer details about "Trip the Light Fantastic," their immersive art experience featuring 150-inch screens, moving images, and interactive light installations at the McMillan Arts Center. This Vancouver Island art collaboration also serves as a fundraiser for vital signs monitors at the Oceanside Urgent Care Center.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"If ever somebody tells you that you absolutely can't do something, go and do it just to prove them wrong." - James Vickers' advice to other teenagers

"We want people to be changed by it. Come in, take a break from all of the chaos in the world at the moment, and enjoy an experience that's going to improve the quality of life." - Brian Middleton

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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates & Thrifty Foods Parksville.

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#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #VancouverIslandMusic, #JamesVickers, #IndigenousArtist, #BluesMusic, #ImmersiveArt, #SalishCoastMusicFestival, #McMillanArtsCenter, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #BobHeld, #BrianMiddleton

(Takes Time, Vickers)

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Chief Acciavatti on Wesley Ridge Wildfire & Talking to Island Visitors

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(08:55) Dashwood Fire Chief Nick Acciavatti provides a look at managing Vancouver Island's largest interface fire in history. From coordinating 300 firefighters across multiple agencies to implementing life-saving FireSmart principles, Chief Acciavatti shares how proper preparation and community support created a successful emergency response that saved hundreds of homes.

(26:36) The PULSE hosts connect with visitors from around the world at Parksville's renowned sand sculpture exhibition. Featuring conversations with tourists from Holland, Alberta, Ontario, and beyond who share why Vancouver Island's relaxed lifestyle and natural beauty draws 119,000+ annual visitors to this world-class Mid-Island event.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"The fire was literally knocking at their door, and we were able to save their home." - Fire Chief Nick Acciavatti

"It's like I'm always on vacation. I can just pick a weekend and go somewhere for a hike or to just visit a waterfall, and it feels like I'm on vacation." - Visitor turned resident describing Vancouver Island lifestyle

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#WesleyRidgeWildfire, #VancouverIslandFire, #EmergencyPreparedness, #DashwoodFire, #ParkssvilleSandSculptures, #FireSmartBC, #ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast

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Kyla Rawlins & “The Heels” Journey & Musical Instrument Lending Program

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(07:20) Oceanside Classical Concerts Community Outreach: Joe Straka details their transformative Vancouver Island music programs including the instrument lending initiative providing free instruments to students whose schools can't afford adequate supplies. The organization has created scholarship programs supporting diverse musical genres and pioneered live streaming concerts to seniors facilities, addressing mobility challenges for elderly music lovers across the Parksville-Qualicum Beach area.

(29:23) The Heels - From Island Roots to International Success: Featuring Qualicum Beach's Kyla Rawlins alongside Bobbi Smith and Brittany Dominelli, discuss their evolution from casual café sessions to being managed by the powerhouse team behind Alabama and Randy Travis. The trio shares insights about their BCCMA awards, opening for major acts, and their mission to create empowering music with healing powers. The interview features the song “High Heels On”.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"Through our other programs, we spoke with music teachers and they provided us with convincing proof that the schools simply cannot afford to provide enough instruments for their music programs and for all the kids who wanted to participate in music classes. And so a number of kids walk away and they're disappointed." - Joe Straka, Oceanside Classical Concerts

"We got to hang out with Dolly Parton. We got to go to her album release party, but we sat on a couch with her, sang her songs with her. So it really does offer you an incredible range of contacts, I would say, when you have a big team." - Brittni Fiddler

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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates & Thrifty Foods Parksville.

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#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #VancouverIslandMusic, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #MusicEducation, #TheHeels, #OceansideClassicalConcerts, #LocalMusic, #MidIslandLife

(High Heels on - Kyla Rawlins / Bobbi Smith / Brittni Fiddler)

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Ballenas FieldHouse Fundraiser & “Rise of the Jellies” from Brian Wilford

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This PULSE podcast episode showcases the Ballenas Whalers fundraiser and 25th Anniversary homecoming celebration. Featuring Oceanside Football Association President Michael Pedersen discussing the September 6th fundraising dance, plus author Brian Wilford's climate change novel and seismologist Taimi Mulder's tsunami wave analysis for mid-Vancouver Island residents.

This Episode Features:

(07:16) Oceanside Football Association President Michael Pedersen details the September 6th fundraising dance at Jensen Center featuring “Kind of Country” band. The event celebrates 25 years of Ballenas Whalers Football while raising funds for a new field house at Ballenas Secondary School in Parksville. Pedersen explains how thousands of youth have benefited from the local football programs.

(18:16) Retired print journalist Brian Wilford discusses his debut novel "Rise of the Jellies," a satirical science fiction story set in Qualicum Beach. The book uses flying jellyfish as a metaphor for climate change and environmental destruction, drawing from Wilford's 35 years of journalism experience. He explains his creative approach to addressing climate concerns through humor and storytelling.

(15:39) Sidney Seismologist Taimi Mulder speaks about recent 8.8 magnitude earthquake effects, she explains how tsunami waves continue reverberating nine days later, with different impacts on Tofino versus Port Alberni due to geographical factors.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"This will be a field house that'll be accessible to the greater community at large and really leave a legacy for years to come in the Oceanside area." - Michael Pedersen, President of the Oceanside Football Association

"The book is a satire on the human response to climate change. We've known for a long time the planet was warming and the cause was the emissions of carbon dioxide and methane." - Brian Wilford, Author

"If you are on the outer coast when there is a tsunami warning or a watch or an advisory, I suggest that you be very careful for a good 48 hours afterwards. Many of these effects last." - Taimi Mulder, Seismologist

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THE Vancouver Island Photography Book & Transforming Lives Through Community Singing

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This PULSE podcast episode celebrates Vancouver Island community arts through two inspiring local stories. Featuring Sylvia Humble of Humble Harmony community singing groups and photographer duo Dave and Kelly Hutchinson discussing their bestselling book "Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape."

This Episode Features:

(10:08) Sylvia Humble, founder of Humble Harmony, shares her inspiring journey from government worker to community singing facilitator. After a cancer diagnosis prompted her career change, Humble created inclusive singing groups across Parksville and Nanaimo where perfection isn't required—just joy and connection. Her Vancouver Island community arts initiative welcomes singers of all abilities, teaching harmony by ear without sheet music.

(20:04) Husband-wife team Dave and Kelly Hutchinson discuss their collaborative photography book covering 600 kilometers of Vancouver Island landscape, from Victoria to Cape Scott. Dave's nature photography spans two decades, while Kelly authored compelling stories behind each image. Their Vancouver Island community arts project has become a bestseller and headed to a second printing, with copies traveling worldwide as gifts.

Episode Highlights & Vancouver Island Community Arts Stories

"I've fallen in love with the idea of community singing — that singing together can be just for the pure joy and connection of it, rather than aiming for perfection or polishing it for performance." - Sylvia Humble, Humble Harmony founder

"I would say it's at least half or more are buying the book as a gift for somebody that has already been here, or somebody that's coming here, or they're sending it to Germany as a gift to somebody that had visited, or Australia — books are going all over the place." - Dave Hutchinson on their photography book's global reach

The episode also highlights upcoming Vancouver Island community arts events:

· Rock the Park: August 8-10 at Parksville Beach Festival

· Coombs Fair: 112th annual fair, August 9-10

· Tim Hortons Concert Series: August 15-16

· Sculpture Light-Up evenings: August 15-16

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Tom Lavin of Powder Blues & Senior Scam & Safety Seminars

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(08:32) Gordon Maurits and Jaclyn Tereszko from Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers reveal recent losses of over $100,000 to fraudsters targeting Vancouver Island seniors. They detail upcoming safety seminars covering home security, internet fraud, and emergency preparedness for Parksville and Qualicum Beach residents. Seminar details can be found here.

(27:04) Powder Blues frontman Tom Lavin reflects on his remarkable 47-year music career, from playing Vancouver's Hastings Street strip clubs in 1969 to creating timeless hits like "Doin' It Right", (Contained in the Podcast). He shares insights about Vancouver's vibrant 1970s music scene and his diverse entrepreneurial ventures between tours. The Powder Blues will be performing at Parksville’s “Beach Fest Rocks” event.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"I never wanted a band that folks could dance to. What I always wanted was a band that folks would find it difficult not to dance to. And to me there's a difference." - Tom Lavin, Powder Blues

"There have been a lot of cases of residents of our community losing money, and just recently a resident reported losing $30,000 to a call that came in claiming that it was a relative that was involved in an accident." - Jaclyn Tereszko, Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Thrifty Foods Parksville, & Parksville Beach Festival.

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(Doin It Right, Lavin)

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Pro Goaltender Connor LaCouvee & Wildlife Recovery Center's 40th Anniversary

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This Episode Features:

(28:42) Sylvia Campbell, co-founder of North Island Wildlife Recovery Center in Errington, shares the incredible 40-year journey that began on Christmas Day 1983 with rescuing a great horned owl. The Vancouver Island Wildlife Rehabilitation Center now helps 700 animals annually with 100 volunteers, addressing the reality that 90% of wildlife injuries result from human interaction. Campbell emphasizes their crucial educational mission for Vancouver Island communities.

(11:14) Connor LaCouvee, professional goaltender from Qualicum Beach, discusses his impressive career spanning junior hockey, college, AHL, ECHL, and European leagues. The Vancouver Island native shares invaluable advice for hockey parents, emphasizing that supporting young athletes without pressure protects family relationships while fostering genuine athletic development. LaCouvee operates his own goaltending school across multiple locations.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"Your kid will ultimately end up where they should be. Guidance is great, but no amount of pressure or telling your kid is gonna help them. They need to do this on their own... That's a hundred times more important than your kid's hockey career." - Connor LaCouvee, Professional Goaltender

"I want people just to go away from here and be really aware that they are part of wildlife. And that we need to be stewards of it." - Sylvia Campbell, North Island Wildlife Recovery Center

Community Stories That Inspire

Both featured stories highlight how Vancouver Island residents can create extraordinary impact through dedication and community support. Whether through wildlife rehabilitation or youth sports mentorship, these examples demonstrate the power of passionate individuals making lasting differences in their communities.

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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates, Fireside Books, Thrifty Foods Parksville, & Parksville Beach Festival.

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Blues Legend Brandon Isaac & Coast Salish Artist Jesse Recalma

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This PULSE podcast episode celebrates Vancouver Island's incredible artistic talent. Featuring blues musician Brandon Isaac ("Yukon Slim") discussing his latest album "Walking with the Blues" after 37 years of touring, plus Qualicum First Nation artist Jesse Recalma sharing insights into traditional Coast Salish art and his stunning Qualicum Beach waterfront totem pole installation.

(09:26) Vancouver Island blues music takes center stage as Brandon Isaac discusses his latest album "Walking with the Blues" and reflects on 37 years of touring including 13 European tours and performances across China. The Juno-nominated artist shares insights about maintaining traditional blues authenticity while connecting with modern audiences, emphasizing why he considers blues music a celebration of life rather than depression.

(32:58) Indigenous Coast Salish art comes alive through Jesse Recalma's passionate discussion of traditional carving techniques and contemporary applications. The self-taught artist reveals the philosophy behind his work, including his spectacular metal totem pole installation at Qualicum Beach waterfront and his upcoming paddle carving demonstration at the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere's 10 Amazing Places Project.

Episode Highlights

"'Walking with the Blues' is just really about my journey of music... For the last 37 years, I've been walking this journey with the blues. Not saying I've been depressed for 37 years—some people think the blues is a depressing thing. It's not. It's a celebration of life." - Brandon Isaac

"I was told before that a tree's been sitting there for 500, 600 years, has had a lot of time to think about what it wants to be. So you're just helping it now." - Jesse Recalma

Upcoming Vancouver Island Arts Events

Brandon Isaac Performance: Parksville Museum concert series, Thursday, July 24th. Jesse Recalma Live Carving: Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere's 10 Amazing Places Project at McMillan Art Center, weekend of July 19th. Beach Fest Rocks: August 8-10, Parksville Community Park. Village Sidewalk Music: Qualicum Beach, Saturdays.

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Thrifty Foods Parksville, & Parksville Beach Festival.

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New Intergenerational Podcast & Symphony Summer Series

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(10:39) Clinton Nellist, local podcaster and graduate of Qualicum Secondary School, discusses his TELUS StoryHive-funded project "Branches Between Generations." This innovative Vancouver Island podcasting initiative pairs students with seniors at Berwick Parksville to create intergenerational dialogue content, addressing the gap in family-friendly programming that speaks to multiple generations simultaneously.

(29:54) Margot Holmes, CEO of Vancouver Island Symphony, explains how their Summer Sizzle Festival brings classical music directly to Vancouver Island communities through backyard concerts and winery performances. Holmes discusses how these intimate Vancouver Island Symphony concerts attract first-time classical music audiences by creating casual, approachable experiences just feet away from world-class musicians.

Throughout the episode, discover upcoming Mid Vancouver Island events including Parksville Beach Festival, Coombs Fair, and Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region art exhibitions, highlighting the vibrant cultural landscape connecting Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and surrounding communities.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"What they'll get is an opportunity to meet musicians up close. Musicians talk about the music, they talk about themselves... it's not something stuffy in any way. We're not even serious in any way." - Margot Holmes, Vancouver Island Symphony CEO

"The biggest piece—and I know it sounds cheesy—I want people to call their grandma after this. I want people to pick up the phone and have a conversation with either their own relatives or people in their own network." - Clinton Nellist

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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Oceanside Cweed, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates & Parksville Beachfest.

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Qualicum Beach Health Clinic & The Haunting of Vancouver Island

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This PULSE podcast episode explores Vancouver Island private healthcare innovation and supernatural folklore. Jordan Schley of Care2Talk discusses expanding private medical clinics across Vancouver Island, including ambitious MRI machine plans for Central Island. Plus, author Shanon Sinn shares eyewitness accounts from the island's most haunted locations.

This Episode Features:

(08:36) Jordan Schley founder of Care2Talk, provides updates on recently opened private healthcare clinics in Qualicum Beach and Oak Bay. Schley outlines ambitious plans to bring an MRI machine to Central Vancouver Island, potentially reducing wait times from six months to one month. He discusses the ongoing private versus public healthcare debate in British Columbia.

(21:59 ) Shanon Sinn, author of "The Haunting of Vancouver Island: Supernatural Encounters with the Other Side," shares spine-chilling stories from three prominent Vancouver Island haunted locations. Featuring detailed eyewitness accounts from the former Qualicum Heritage Inn, the Schooner Restaurant in Tofino, and the Heriot Bay Inn on Quadra Island, including floating dishes, mysterious apparitions, and unexplained supernatural phenomena.

Episode Highlights

"We want to start doing more brick-and-mortar, but in small towns where towns don't actually get maybe the notice they get... go in these towns where just no one really has a voice." - Jordan Schley, Care2Talk Founder

"The accounts are wild—like multiple people seeing full apparitions sitting at a table beside them. There's two people I interviewed who both saw at the same time a crate of dishes hovering several feet and then dropping and smashing." - Shanon Sinn, Author

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Oceanside CWeed & Parksville Beachfest.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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Summer Music Special! Plus Your Vancouver Island Summer Memories

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This special summer solstice PULSE podcast episode captures the essence of Parksville summer activities through authentic community voices. Recorded live at the Parksville Food Truck Festival, hosts Dave Graham and Peter McCully gather local insights on the best Vancouver Island summer experiences, from Rathtrevor Beach camping to Sooke Potholes swimming.

This Episode Features:

Live interviews from the Parksville Food Truck Festival showcase authentic summer memories from locals aged 18 to 67. Community members share everything from Burton Cummings concert memories at Black Mountain Boogie in 1978 to modern-day paddle boarding adventures and family beach experiences.

The episode features music spanning from classic Beach Boys summer anthems to contemporary Morgan Wallen tracks. Local residents connect specific songs to Vancouver Island summer experiences, creating a soundtrack that captures the region's laid-back coastal lifestyle.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"We live in the most beautiful place in the world, and I think if you don't have a boat, find somebody with a boat and drop a line." - Clinton

"You know, the area has so much to offer... the ocean, the mountains, nature, and honestly, it's just tranquil. Like you don't have all the hustle and bustle of the mainland. So it's real serenity." - Tammy

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Episode Sponsors: Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods Parksville, Oceanside CWeed, & Parksville Beachfest.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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#PulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleSummer, #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleFoodTruckFestival, #SummerActivities, #ParksvilleBeachFest

Song Credits:

"All Summer Long" - Kid Rock (Lyrics: R.J. Ritchie, Matthew Shafer, Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Edward King, Leroy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel, Warren Zevon)

"Footloose" - Blake Shelton (Lyric

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Teen Democracy Advocate & Nanaimo Hospital Expansion

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This PULSE podcast episode features remarkable teen democracy advocate Janelle van Dongen and Parksville City Councillor Sean Wood discussing critical healthcare infrastructure needs at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

This Episode Features:

(15:42) Teen Democracy Champion Janelle van Dongen shares her extraordinary journey from interviewing MPs in grade 3 to representing British Columbia at the Forum for Young Canadians. Janelle discusses founding "100 Kids for Change" and working as a deputy returning officer, proving that Vancouver Island youth are leading civic engagement despite not being old enough to vote.

(28:15) Sean Wood, Parksville City Councillor and Nanaimo Regional Hospital District Board member, explains how heart attack patients north of the Malahat face life-threatening delays without a cardiac catheterization lab, while the promised $1.8 billion Nanaimo hospital project disappeared from provincial budget despite 2024 election promises.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"Democracy is only as good as the people who choose to participate in it... we cannot have a government, we cannot have a democracy without the people participating in it." - Janelle van Dongen, Teen Democracy Advocate

"The BC NDP, BC United, BC Conservatives made public promises during 2024 election to move forward with the patient tower and the cath lab in Nanaimo... March came and the project was nowhere to be found on the provincial budget." - Sean Wood.

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Episode Sponsors: Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates & Parksville Beachfest.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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#VancouverIslandHealthcare, #ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #YouthDemocracy, #NanaimoHospital, #MidVancouverIsland

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Robert Bateman’s NEW Cowichan Show & The SS Minnow's Real Mission

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This PULSE Community Podcast episode celebrates two remarkable Vancouver Island stories. Featuring renowned 95-year-old artist and naturalist Robert Bateman discussing his current exhibition "Mid-Century Bateman" at the Cowichan Valley Museum. Plus, Ken Schley of Qualicum Beach shares the incredible story of owning the authentic SS Minnow from Gilligan's Island and transforming it into a fundraising powerhouse for Vancouver Island charities.

This Episode Features:

(10:37) Legendary Artist Robert Bateman, the celebrated 95-year-old artist and naturalist, shares stories from his current exhibition "Mid-Century Bateman" running until August 31st at the Cowichan Valley Museum. Bateman reflects on his early painting trips to Vancouver Island, his conservation philosophy, and offers his unique perspective on balancing screen time with outdoor experiences. His lifelong connection to Vancouver Island's natural beauty continues to inspire his work and environmental advocacy.

(29:28) The Real SS Minnow's Vancouver Island Mission, Ken Schley of Qualicum Beach reveals how he acquired the authentic SS Minnow from the classic TV show Gilligan's Island and is keeping this piece of television history alive on Vancouver Island. Schley explains how he transformed the boat into a dedicated fundraising vessel that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities. He shares stories about Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) visiting the community and the incredible public response to this beloved piece of pop culture.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe grown men crying - on their knees. You'd have to see it to believe it." - Ken Schley describing Dawn Wells' visit

"I started to call what we're doing to the planet was turning it into an instant pudding world in which Joe Blow & Associates made your world for you." - Robert Bateman

The episode also includes community announcements about the ParticipACTION Community Challenge with free fitness classes throughout June, plus upcoming summer events across the Parksville-Qualicum region.

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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates and Thrifty Foods Parksville.

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Sean McCann’s Road Trip & Father’s Day Car Show

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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This PULSE podcast episode celebrates Vancouver Island community spirit through the legendary Father's Day Car Show Qualicum Beach. Featuring Jim Moroz of Seaside Cruisers discussing the 32nd annual charity event, plus Great Big Sea co-founder Sean McCann sharing his inspiring 10,000-kilometer Canadian unity tour across the nation.

This Episode Features:

(10:39) Jim Moroz, Seaside Cruisers organizer, shares the incredible impact of the Father's Day Car Show Qualicum Beach, which attracts over 500 classic cars and 20,000 visitors annually. Moroz explains how this beloved Vancouver Island community event has raised more than $38,000 for local charities, showcasing the generous spirit that makes Qualicum Beach special for families and car enthusiasts alike.

(23:26) Sean McCann, Great Big Sea co-founder, discusses his ambitious "Great Big Canadian Road Trip" - a solo acoustic tour covering 10,000 kilometers across Canada. McCann shares his passion for uniting Canadians through music during challenging times, emphasizing how communities from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland can come together despite differences to celebrate shared Canadian values. He appears on Vancouver Island including Parksville.

(01:30) Dave Graham’s fitness journey provides comic relief as the co-host attempts his three-week summer fitness transformation with questionable smoothie ingredients and sporadic workout routines, proving that Vancouver Island lifestyle includes both outdoor adventures and chocolate genetics.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"What I can do is get in my car, drive 10,000 kilometers and sing 10,000 songs with my fellow Canadians. And the point of it all would be to remember that that's who we are, and that we're not the same, we're different, but we are united under one flag." - Sean McCann

"The joy on the people's faces as they walk through our show and view the cars and you can see them reminding each other that their parents or their relatives had one of those in the old days." - Jim Moroz, Seaside Cruizers

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Episode Sponsors: Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates & Fireside Books & The Bookwyrm.

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Grant Lawrence’s Spring Tour & Michelle Stilwell: Accessibility Week

Tue, 27 May 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(24:50) Broadcaster, author, and musician Grant Lawrence discusses his unique touring show combining storytelling and music. Lawrence brings listeners into his world of West Coast adventures, from hilarious tales of “Purple Speedos and Ticks” to his current CBC Radio series about escaped Orcas. His spring tour with Joel Plaskett, Lindi Ortega, and Ashleigh Ball promises intimate performances in small island venues including Errington.

(10:21) Four-time Paralympian champion Michelle Stilwell shares her advocacy work during National Accessibility Week, discussing her ongoing mission to create inclusive communities. With 10 million Canadians identifying as having disabilities, Stilwell emphasizes that accessibility benefits everyone - from wheelchair users to the senior that has a walker, the mom who uses a stroller to the delivery guy who uses a dolly.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates and Meadowood Store Garden Store.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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Gord Johns, MP: One-on-one & Parksville Downtown Events

Tue, 20 May 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(23:33) Recently re-elected MP Gord Johns of Courtenay-Alberni, discusses his election victory despite nationwide NDP losses. He outlines his priorities including affordable housing, infrastructure, and addressing the toxic drug crisis, while emphasizing his commitment to representing all constituents.

(14:25) Teresa Cooper, Executive Director of the Parksville Downtown Business Association, shares exciting summer plans including a Food Festival on June 8th featuring 18 food trucks, regular Friday mini food truck festivals, and music events including "Down on the Corner" featuring local musicians.

Community announcements highlight upcoming events including the ParticipACTION Community Challenge in June, the Gather and Griddle pancake breakfast at Meadowood Community Center, the Coombs Community Picnic and the next gathering of the “Elbows Up Movement”.

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You'll find all episodes of the The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates & The Meadwood Store Garden Centre.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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Award Winning Berwick Qualicum Beach & Sam Wiebe: New Wakeland Novel

Tue, 13 May 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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"You're not there to pass time. You're there to remain connected and engaged, and our residents do that. They are still passionate about politics, about still learning, and we give them every opportunity to do that." - Chris Denford, president of Berwick Retirement Communities, discussing Berwick Qualicum Beach's recognition as a top senior living community in North America for the third time.

Bestselling author Sam Wiebe reveals how his Dave Wakeland novels capture Vancouver's soul, from its gentrification challenges to hidden gems, offering insights into the city beyond tourist postcards. “The Last Exile”, is the latest in the series.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Meadowood Store Garden Centre, Tablet Pharmacy, SOSD69, Fireside Books & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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Pharmacist Explains Semaglutides & Illana Hester of TOSH

Tue, 06 May 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(22:58) Pharmacist Aki Shaw breaks down exactly how semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) work in your body, what side effects to expect, and the crucial lifestyle changes needed for weight loss success - essential information if you're considering this treatment option.

(08:41) Illana Hester, Executive Director of TOSH (The Old Schoolhouse Art Center) in Qualicum Beach, discusses the center's recent accomplishments including a digital archives project funded by New Horizons for Seniors. She highlights art exhibitions featuring local artists Heather Thomas, Steve Casey, and Brooke Emily, as well as summer camps and fall education programs.

You can also voice message The PULSE and be a part of the podcast!

You'll find all episodes of the The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

Click here to learn how to Support the show

Sponsors on this episode include; Meadowood Store Garden Center, Thrifty Foods Parksville, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

#ThePulseCommunity #PulsePodcast #ParksvilleQualicumBeach , #OzempicExplained, #CommunityArts, #TOSH

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Coastal Carvings Gallery TV Series & SOS Bus Fundraiser

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(20:23) "I never say never, I had once had a fellow stop by and he asked me if I'd paint his jet. So I always say, the answer is never, no. It is just the logistics of how do we get this done?" says Jeremy Humpherville, artist and owner of Coastal Carvings Fine Art Gallery in Coombs, who shares insights about a docuseries being filmed about the gallery and artists for APTN. Jeremy explains how the show will authentically showcase the creative process and the artists' passion for their craft, without scripted drama.

(08:44) Colt Long, Resource Development Manager at SOS (Society of Organized Services), discusses the organization's extensive community programs that serve people of all ages and backgrounds. Colt highlights their current fundraising campaign to replace their 11-year-old community bus, with a $200,000 goal to fund a new vehicle that will continue transporting seniors to appointments, families to outings, and supporting their 25 different community programs.

https://thepulsecommunity.ca/

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Sponsors on this episode include; Tablet Pharmacy, Meadowood Store Garden Center, Fireside Books, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

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"You Said It!" - Election Issues & Author Iona Whishaw

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(09:45) This episode features "You Said It," a segment where Peter McCully & Dave Graham collect public opinions on their most important federal election issues, revealing diverse concerns about healthcare, housing affordability, the economy, and Canada-US relations. Many participants expressed frustration with current political options and leadership.

(23:14) The highlight of the episode is an in-depth interview with Iona Whishaw, author of the popular Lane Winslow mystery series set in post-war British Columbia. Whishaw shares insights about her international upbringing, her mother's secret spy work that shaped her unique understanding of strong women characters.

Whishaw will be offering readings and signings in Parksville and Qualicum Beach Tuesday, May 6th.

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You'll find all episodes of the The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

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Sponsors on this episode include; SOSD69, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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#ThePulseCommunity #PulsePodcast #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #IonaWhishaw, #CanadianElection, #LaneWinslowMysteries

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2025 Federal Election Candidate Debate held in Port Alberni

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0700

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Six of seven federal candidates in the Courtenay-Alberni riding took turns answering audience questions during an all candidates meeting Tuesday, April 15 in Port Alberni.

In attendance were: Chris Markevich of the Green Party, Brian Cameron of the Liberal Party, Gord Johns of the NDP, Thomas Gamble of the Peoples Party of Canada, Teresa Knight of the Animal Protection Party and Jesse Musial - Christian Heritage Party. Conservative Candidate Kris McNichol declined to attend.

(05:05) introduction of Candidates, (15:50) Q&A Session, (01:28) Closing Statements.

The Forum was sponsored by the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Alberni Valley Transition Town Society. We would also like to thank Alberni Valley Media, for allowing the Pulse Community the use of the audio portion of the debate. You can view the YouTube video of the debate here.

Some of the session was edited for time and content, you can use the chapters feature to move through the debate podcast.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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Mike Hann of SunFest & Singer Songwriter Amarii of Qualicum Beach

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(13:38) Singer Songwriter Amarii of Qualicum Beach tells the story of turning Foster Care struggles into musical success. Listen to Martin Rupprecht's inspiring journey from making music in his basement to signing with a record label. His authentic advice for small-town artists will motivate anyone with big dreams.

(31:18) Mike Hann takes you behind the scenes at Vancouver Island's biggest music event SunFest, and talks about how Nickelback ended up booked to perform at Lake Cowichan. Discover the fascinating logistics of managing 15,000 festival-goers. Hann talks about the $18 million economic impact these events have on local communities.

(04:35) The podcast also includes listener announcements about upcoming events such as KSS Premier Performance, featuring talented students in fine arts programs at Kwalicum Secondary, and updates on local community gardens and fundraising initiatives.

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Sponsors on this episode include; SDSD69, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

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(O Canada - Wendler, Ullenboom & Michael Cleyn / Play Me Again, Rupprecht)

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Behind the Blues of David Gogo & Cheryl Dill on 2025 Beach Festival

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(23:18) Nanaimo blues artist David Gogo recently attended the Juno Awards with his sixth nomination. Gogo discusses his music career spanning over 30 years, his influences and his approach to songwriting. He also talks about his fondness for dressing sharply for performances. The podcast contains the tune “Diamond in the Rough”.

(08:50) Cheryl Dill, president of the Parksville Beach Festival Society, discusses the upcoming 2025 festival, which will take place in a new location within the community park to accommodate growth. She explains how the festival, which costs around $500,000 to produce, returns a portion of gate donations to volunteer groups and has donated over $1.2 million to the community over 25 years. The festival runs July 11th to August 17th and features sand sculpting, theater events, an art market, and a light-up show.

(05:16) Peter and Dave talk about the "Elbows Up" movement spreading across Canada, with local events planned on Vancouver Island, and the new “Elbows Up” podcast.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Thrifty Foods Parksville, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

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(Diamond in the Rough / David Gogo)

#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #ParkvilleBeachFest, #DavidGogoBlues, #SandSculpting

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Science's Storyteller: Bob McDonald’s Memoir & Recycling Pop-ups in Parksville

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(22:58) From Truck Driver to National Science Host: “Quirks and Quarks” host Bob McDonald of Victoria shares his inspiring journey of how a university dropout became one of Canada's most beloved science journalists through simply saying "Yes" to opportunities - in his memoir, “Just Say Yes”.

(12:00) Parksville's volunteer-run Recycling Program is making a difference. Duane Round explains how a community-driven initiative has evolved into an efficient environmental success story that has diverted 91 tons of recyclables from landfills.

(08:00) Peter McCully and Dave Graham share a new song from Alan Frew, of Glass Tiger entitled “Canada’s Song - Free to be, Strong and Free” and offer details of a contest for tickets to see Chilliwack in concert in Parksville.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach,#BobMcDonald, #CommunityRecycling, #Quirks&Quarks

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Valdy - Canada's Folksinger & ASAR's State of the Art Thermal Drone

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(07:19) Ken Neden from Arrowsmith Search and Rescue discusses the fundraising campaign for a state-of-the-art thermal drone. He details how the new drone would greatly enhance their search capabilities by distinguishing people through thermal imaging, a significant upgrade from their current equipment. Neden says,"We're finding a lot more uses for them as we start training with them more and more”.

(21:53) Canadian folk singer Valdy, who has toured across Canada over 50 times in his 52-year career, shares his philosophy about touring extensively rather than limiting himself to major venues, and his perspective on folk music evolving to encompass many genres. "It's not only a therapy for me, but music is meant to be shared. It's not a singular or isolated event”, he says.

(19:43) Jennifer Bate of the Apollos shares their version of “O’Canada”.

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Sponsors on this episode including Thrifty Foods Parksville, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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#ThePulseCommunity #PulsePodcast #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #ArrowsmithSearchAndRescue, #ValdyMusic

(Rock and Roll Song - Valdy / O’Canada - Cam McLean)

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Bill Henderson on Supergroup Chilliwack's Final Tour & Rock the Park Concert Lineup

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(08:24) Lloyd Derry, entertainment director of the Parksville Beach Festival Society unveils the exciting performer lineup for Rock the Park (August 8-10) featuring Prism and the Powder Blues Band, alongside tribute performances, and talks about a special performance by Chilliwack on July 12. Derry says the sound system has been upgraded and “Will be one of the premier sound systems on the island”.

(19:15) Bill Henderson, frontman of legendary Canadian rock band Chilliwack, discusses their final "Gone, Gone, Gone” Tour. Henderson reflects on his long career, memorable performances across Canada and how his most popular tracks like "Fly at Night" and "My Girl" came to life.

The hosts also share community news, including the French Press Coffee Roasters winning the Golden Bean World Series.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

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(I Believe - Henderson)

#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #ChilliwackFarewell, #ParksvilleBeachFest, #BillHenderson, #RockThePark

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Seismologist Explains Island Tremors & Natalie MacMaster Tours Vancouver Island

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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(24:24) Natalie MacMaster discusses her musical journey, reflects on her Cape Breton fiddle music heritage, her professional career spanning decades, and balancing touring with raising seven musically talented children with Donnell Leahy. MacMaster shares memorable performances, including playing with symphony orchestras and touring globally while she promotes her upcoming "Four on the Floor" concert series on Vancouver Island, including the Qualicum Beach Civic Center on March 29th. The interview includes the tune “The Golden Eagle”.

(07:04) Taimi Mulder, Earthquake Seismologist discusses four recent earthquakes that occurred around Vancouver Island within a two-week period. She explains that while unusual to have so many in a short timespan, they were relatively small and unrelated to each other. Mulder clarifies how earthquake alerts work and addresses common misconceptions.

Dave's comedic take on wearing all his clothes at once as an emergency kit offers good fun while reminding everyone about earthquake preparedness.

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Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #VancouverIslandEarthquakes, #TaimiMulder, #NatalieMacMaster, #CelticMusic, #EmergencyPreparedness

(The Golden Eagle - Natalie MacMaster)

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Laura Palmer of “Island Crime” Podcast & Award Winning French Press Coffee Roasters

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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(08:20) Jeremy Perkins, owner of the award-winning French Press Coffee Roasters shares his journey from being a professional viola player in London to becoming a coffee expert on Vancouver Island. He discusses the complexities of coffee sourcing, the importance of ethical considerations in the industry, and his philosophy on roasting techniques.

(29:28) Laura Palmer is host of the popular true crime podcast "Island Crime," which has just launched its seventh season. Based in Port Alberni, she discusses her approach to covering unsolved Vancouver Island cases, shares insights into her research process and the emotional impact these stories have on families. Palmer says, "I had someone recently ask me if, you know, seven seasons on, I was going to run out of stories here on Vancouver Island. And the sad fact is there is no shortage of unsolved murders and missing person cases on Vancouver Island.”

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Sponsors on this episode include; Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #IslandCrimePodcast, #FrenchPressCoffee

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Buying Canadian with Captain Canada & Flu, RSV, Update with Dr. Tribesty Nguyen

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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Captain Canada, who came out of retirement to address recent political tensions regarding Canada's sovereignty chats with Dave Graham. "Being polite doesn't mean passive. We're like a hockey player, respectful of the game, but ready to drop the gloves when necessary,” says Captain Canada. Through various street interviews, (“You Said It!”) PQB residents shared their changing shopping habits, with many expressing a stronger commitment to buying Canadian products.

The podcast also includes an informative interview with Dr. Tribesty Nguyen from Island Health, who provides updates on current respiratory illness trends, including Flu, RSV, and COVID.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Thriftys Foods Parksville & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach,#CanadianPride, #ShopLocal, #VancouverIsland, #CommunityPodcast, #ParkvilleBC

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Bigfoot Encounter in Dashwood Recalled & Nanoose Place Fundraiser Underway

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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Former Parksville Mayor Chris Burger, shares his compelling 1987 Sasquatch encounter in Whiskey Creek. "It was a giant ape. With long hair... its arms were spread out, and it was looking at us", Burger described his encounter while with two friends. His experience led him to embrace the local Sasquatch lore, even featuring Bigfoot merchandise in his Meadowood Store. The episode also touches on the area's history of Sasquatch, recent sightings and Indigenous perspectives on these creatures.

Nanoose Place is a vital community center serving over 1,000 people weekly through various activities and programs. Trish Widdershoven, the fundraising chair, discusses their urgent need for $700,000 in repairs, including a critical $120,000 septic system replacement. The facility, built in 1992, hosts over 100 different user groups and serves as a hub for activities ranging from fitness classes to social gatherings.

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You'll find all episodes of the The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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#ThePulseCommunity, #PulsePodcast, #ParksvilleQualicumBeach, #SasquatchSighting, #NanoosePlace

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Flyin Phil Video, Folk Legend Bruce Cockburn & Meet NEW PQB Dr. Edward Aasman

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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“Participate in a Flying Phil Memorial Video” On this episode of the Pulse Community Podcast, Memories of Flying Phil, and how you can be a part of memorial video project being produced by Pancake Productions.

"Paradise Found: PQB Solving the Doctor Shortage" Dr. Edward Aasman, is one of eight new healthcare professionals recruited to the Parksville Qualicum Beach area. Dr. Aasman shares his journey from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, to British Columbia, discussing the attractive changes in BC's healthcare system, particularly the new payment model for family physicians. He talks about his transition from hospital-based care to focusing on preventative family medicine.

"From Paris Streets to Global Beats: Bruce Cockburn's Musical Journey" Bruce Cockburn will appearing at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo and Victoria in March and discusses his musical journey from his early days learning guitar to his eclectic style influenced by various genres including folk, jazz, and world music. Cockburn shares personal stories from his busking days in Paris, his education at Berkeley School of Music, and his long-standing relationship with manager Bernie Finkelstein. The interview provides insight into his social activism, and the inspiration behind some of his most notable works.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

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#ThePulseCommunity #PulsePodcast #ParksvilleQualicumBeach #FamilyMedicine #BruceCockburnLegacy #FlyingPhil

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Ken Lavigne Movie Magic & The MAC is Parksville’s Arts Hub

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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Dave Graham and Peter McCully welcome Jennifer Bate, Executive Director of the McMillan Arts Center (The MAC), who discusses the historic building's significance, upcoming renovations, and its role as a cultural hub.

"I think that every community needs an artistic hub, a centre. Every artist needs a place where they feel that they have a sense of community,” says Bate. She details exciting upcoming events, including art exhibitions, workshops, and the celebration of Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere's 25th anniversary.

"You're never more exposed and raw than when you're singing for someone,” says Ken Lavigne, a founding member of the Canadian Tenors. Lavigne shares his musical journey, including his upcoming show "A Night at the Movies" with Van City Harmony.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

#ThePulseCommunity #PulsePodcast #ParksvilleQualicumBeach #MacMillanArtsCenter #KenLavigneMusic

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BTO Begins National Tour in Victoria & “Addressing” Burns' Haggis

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0800

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This episode of The Pulse Community Podcast features an in-depth interview with rock legend Randy Bachman, discussing BTO's upcoming "Back in Overdrive" tour starting in Victoria in April. Bachman shares the fascinating origin story of "Taking Care of Business," including the serendipitous appearance of a pizza-delivering pianist who contributed the iconic piano track. He reflects on Winnipeg's rich musical heritage, his collaboration with his son Tal during COVID-19, and the addition of his daughter-in-law Coco as BTO's new drummer.

The episode also includes segments about contests and Brian Wiese's Address to the Haggis for Robbie Burns Day in Qualicum Beach.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Oceanside CWeed, Windsor Plywood French Creek & Ian Lindsay & Associates.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

#ThePulseCommunity #PulsePodcast #ParksvilleQualicumBeach #BTOTour2025 #RandyBachman #TakingCareOfBusiness

(Taking Care of Business - Randy Bachman)

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Ed Willes on “Never Boring” Canucks & Seismologist Taimi Mulder talks Earthquakes

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0800

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The Pulse Podcast with Peter McCully & Dave Graham features earthquake seismologist Taimi Mulder, who discusses seismic activity around Vancouver Island and addresses common misconceptions about earthquakes. She explains the region's unique geological position on the Juan de Fuca plate system and discusses the potential for a major earthquake, known as "the big one." Mulder also shares interesting anecdotes, including a humorous story about "love waves" detected by a seismometer in Port Alberni and a curling partner named “Scully”.

Ed Willes, a former sports columnist for the Province newspaper, discusses his book "Never Boring: The Up and Down History of the Vancouver Canucks." Willes shares behind-the-scenes stories about the team's history, including missed opportunities like nearly signing Wayne Gretzky, the impact of Pat Quinn's leadership, and the evolution of the Sedin twins. He also discusses the passionate Vancouver fan base and the team's various management decisions over the years that have shaped its destiny.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods,& M & N Mattress.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

#ThePulseCommunity #PulsePodcast #ParksvilleQualicumBeach #TheNextBigOne #VancouverCanucks #BCEarthquakes #VancouverIsland

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“You Said It!” Responses to Trump & Music Legend Shari Ulrich

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0800

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Hosts Dave Graham and Peter McCully explore two significant topics: Donald Trump's controversial suggestion about Canada becoming the 51st state and the possibility of having another Prime Minister from British Columbia. The episode features candid street interviews capturing diverse local opinions on these matters, in a segment entitled “You said It” and includes a passionate response from MP Elizabeth May.

The highlight of the episode is an in-depth interview with accomplished musician Shari Ulrich, who shares her journey from the early days with Pied Pumkin to her current projects with BTU (Bentall, Taylor, Ulrich) and the High Bar Gang. Ulrich offers valuable insights into songwriting, performing, and the music industry, while also discussing her life on Bowen Island and collaboration with her daughter Julia.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods,& M & N Mattress.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

#ThePulseCommunity #PulsePodcast #ParksvilleQualicumBeach #ShariUlrich #BTUBand #TrumpControversy

(Elizabeth May audio courtesy CPAC)

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World Renowned Artist Robert Bateman & Meghan Stewart of Award Winning True North Distillery

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0800

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Hosts Peter McCully and Dave Graham bring listeners a chat with Meghan Stewart of True North Distilleries of Qualicum Beach, British Columbia's first female-owned and operated craft distillery. Stewart discusses their innovative approach, commitment to using BC-sourced ingredients, and their recent National recognition as Most Innovative Craft Distillery of 2025.

Renowned Canadian artist and naturalist Robert Bateman shares stories from his extensive career, including his early days as a teacher, his worldwide travels, and his passionate advocacy for connecting children with nature. Bateman also discusses his upcoming art show in the Cowichan Valley and reflects on his artistic journey.

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You'll find all episodes of the The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods, M & N Mattress & Oceanside CWeed.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

#ThePulseCommunity #PulsePodcast #ParksvilleQualicumBeach #BCCraft #CanadianArt #RobertBateman #VancouverIsland

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MLA Stephanie Higginson & 100 Kids For Change - Two Generations of Community Changemakers

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:00:00 -0800

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This episode hosted by Peter McCully & Dave Graham showcases two generations of community leaders working to create positive change in their respective spheres.

Janel van Dongen of Nanoose discusses her role as chair of 100 Kids For Change Oceanside, a youth-led philanthropy organization where members meet quarterly to pool their $10 contributions and vote on local charities to support. The group focuses on empowering young people to engage in community giving.

Stephanie Higginson, newly elected MLA for Ladysmith-Oceanside, shares her journey from school trustee to provincial politics. She discusses key community concerns including healthcare access and affordable housing, while offering insights into her role as caucus chair and perspectives on effective governance.

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Sponsors on this episode include; Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods,& M & N Mattress.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

#ThePulseCommunity #PulsePodcast #ParksvilleQualicumBeach #100KidsWhoCare #BCPolitics

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Award Winning Comedian Jeremy Hotz & RCMP Talk Scam Tactics

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0800

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Hosts Peter McCully and Dave Graham chat with Staff Sergeant Travis de Coene from the Oceanside RCMP, who provides crucial insights into current scams targeting the community, emphasizing the importance of skepticism toward unsolicited calls requesting money transfers or personal information. He shares valuable advice about holiday season safety.

Acclaimed comedian Jeremy Hotz, joins the podcasts and opens up about his struggles with generalized anxiety disorder and how it shaped his distinctive comedy style. Hotz discusses his upcoming "Très Miserable" tour, with stops in B.C. and his special connection with Canadian audiences.

The episode also includes community updates, including a creative Christmas story reading by a Christopher Walken impersonator and details about a local contest "Where’s the Tickle Trunk?”

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Sponsors on this episode include; Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods,& M & N Mattress.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

#ThePulseCommunity #JeremyHotzComedy #PulsePodcast #CommunityPolicing #ParksvilleQualicumBeach

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Award Winning Author Vince Ditrich, Peter Jory on SD69 Cellphone Policy

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:00:00 -0800

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This episode of the Pulse Community Podcast with hosts Peter McCully and Dave Graham, features interviews with two key guests.

Peter Jory discusses the district's new cell phone policy, declining student enrollment, and challenges facing the school system post-COVID. He highlights the policy's positive impact on classroom environments and the need for fiscal caution in the coming years.

Vince Ditrich shares insights about his book trilogy, focusing on the character Tony Vicker and the fictional community of Tyee Lagoon. Ditrich has been recognized with writing awards and is hopeful about potentially adapting his books for television.

Peter McCully and Dave Graham encourage listener interaction through their "speak to us" feature.

The guys introduce Production Assistant Marilyn and Rockin Rhonda and her Blues band. Regular features are introduced including a contest giveaway "Where's the Tickle Trunk"?

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Sponsors on this episode include; Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods, M & N Mattress and Society of Organized Services.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

#PulseCommunityPodcast #LocalStories #SchoolDistrict69 #VinceDitrich

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Islanders in the Dragons’ Den & Milner Christmas Magic

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0800

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Podcast Hosts Peter McCully and Dave Graham delve into the festive spirit of Parksville Qualicum Beach. They kick off with highlights from the Tigh Na Mara Toy Drive, celebrating record-breaking contributions of gifts and donations.

The episode also features Robin Mair and Monica Scott, co-founders of Mint Cleaning Products, recounting their thrilling journey on Dragons’ Den. They discuss their eco-friendly products, the nerve-wracking pitch process, and securing a deal with two Dragons. Monica Scott says, “Manjit offered us a deal first, and as soon as Manjit offered, we're like, oof, okay, we can relax. We got a deal on TV; this is what we wanted, this is what we came for."

Geoff Ball shares the enchanting history of Milner Gardens’ Christmas Magic, boasting over 125,000 lights and charming displays like the umbrella garden and holiday specs. "We tried to count the number of lights, and we got so busy that we just couldn't spend time counting it.”

Listeners are invited to join in weekly contests, including a contest giveaway "Where's the Tickle Trunk"?

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Sponsors on this episode include; Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods, M & N Mattress and Society of Organized Services.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories, on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

#ThePULSECommunity #DragonsDenJourney #ChristmasMagic #ToyDriveSuccess #EcoFriendlyLiving

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Jordan Schley of New QB Clinic & “Book Banter” with Brian Webber

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:00:00 -0800

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The Pulse Community Podcast's debut episode features interviews with two local entrepreneurs: Brian Webber from Fireside Books and Jordan Schley of Care2Talk healthcare. The podcast, hosted by Peter McCully and Dave Graham, explores local business innovation and community connections.

Brian Webber shares insights into the local book market, highlighting the rich literary scene on Vancouver Island. He notes, "It's hard to throw a stone on the island and not hit an author or an artist." Webber discusses popular book genres, with mysteries being top sellers, and emphasizes the unique reading community in the area, which attracts diverse readers including tourists and snowbirds.

Jordan Schley presents his innovative healthcare startup, Care2Talk, which began during the pandemic as a communication platform for seniors and evolved into a virtual and hybrid healthcare service. He explains their approach: "During the pandemic, we've learned a ton of what can be done virtual, and a lot of it can be done”. Schley highlights the company's flexible approach to medical staffing and their expansion into brick-and-mortar clinics in response to community needs.

The hosts, Peter McCully and Dave Graham, bring their extensive media backgrounds to the podcast, aiming to reconnect with community members and provide an engaging platform for local stories.

The guys introduce Production Assistant Marilyn and Rockin Rhonda and her Blues band. Regular features are introduced including a contest giveaway "Where's the Tickle Trunk"?

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Sponsors on this episode include; Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods, M & N Mattress and Society of Organized Services.

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