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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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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates & Fireside Books

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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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Special Thanks to Our Sponsor Ian Lindsay & Associates - Visit IanLindsay.ca for true real estate professionals.

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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,#P

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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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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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(Running for the fence, Virgil, Go Get Em - Osborne / Merritt / Genn / Johnson)

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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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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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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates RE/MAX, Windsor Plywood French Creek and Thrifty Foods Parksville.

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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

Voice message: Voice message The PULSE and be part of the podcast!

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

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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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