PQBeat

Host Peter McCully welcomes Jen Bate, the director of the MacMillan Arts Centre, to the PQBeat podcast.

Bate reflects on the success of hosting Canada's National Mosaic conference.

"We welcomed probably 11,000 people to the MAC this summer,” she said. “We drew visitors from all over. We had a wonderful opening cocktail with mosaic artists from all over the country and then proceeded with what was a significant exhibit in the area...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Paul Drummond, the recently retired general manager of Tigh-Na-Mara Resort in Parksville.

Listeners are treated to a captivating journey of Drummond’s extensive career in the hospitality industry. Using humorous anecdotes and reflections, he shares insights from his 16 years at Tigh-Na-Mara and his adventures across the globe.

Drummond entered the industry at the age of 16, securing a job at the Regina...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Patricia Plumley, a seasoned music professional and the musical director for 'A Cappella Plus' and 'Village Voices of Qualicum Beach.'"

From her beginnings in Guelph, Ontario, where her love for music emerged, to her diverse musical pursuits, Plumley shares her experiences as a music teacher and director spanning over 30 years.

McCully asked what impact on music can have on emotional and mental well-be...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Staff Sgt. Travis De Coene of the Oceanside RCMP, who provides insights into his experiences and challenges as a law enforcement officer.

De Coene reflects on his return to the Island, childhood influences shaping his career choice, and a defining moment during a severe storm that tested the resilience of his team in Hope.

McCully asked about the impact of technology on policing.

"Big thing with us is...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Gary Shade, founder of FLED (Find Lost and Escaped Dogs Vancouver Island), who shares the inspiring story of his journey in dog rescue spanning over 15 years. Originally under the radar, FLED became a charity in 2013 and has since grown exponentially.

Gary discusses the challenges faced during the recent attempt to capture a wolf-dog hybrid in the Coombs area, highlighting the limitations posed by autho...

Host Peter McCully chats with Josie Osborne, the MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim and Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

In a wide-ranging interview, discussion includes Osborne's background, experiences and insights.

The episode begins with a lighthearted introduction, revealing some interesting facts about Osborne, including her self-description as a pragmatic optimist and her love for Star Trek.

Osborne elabor...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Tigh-Na-Mara General Manager Paul Drummond and SOS Executive Director Susanna Newton, who discuss the impact and significance of this community-driven event.

Paul Drummond, in reflecting on the 15 years of the Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive, discusses the structure of the event, which includes a hybrid approach involving a traditional breakfast for donors through Cedar’s Restaurant and at the Community Buffet B...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Sarah Neal of Lantzville, who shares her remarkable journey from having a background in the frozen food industry to creating her unique business, InstaCake Cards, located in Parksville.

Neal recently struck a deal with Dragons Robert Herjavec and Arlene Dickinson on the TV program 'Dragons' Den,' a significant milestone for any entrepreneur.

The cards began with a simple idea: sending birthday cards wi...

Host Peter McCully welcomes world-class athlete Michelle Stilwell, recently inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.

The Parksville resident humbly acknowledged the company of her fellow inductees, including Chantal Benoit and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Their collective accomplishments have made significant strides towards inclusion and employment for individuals with disabilities, a testament to the power of...

Host Peter McCully chats with Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, one of four inductees into the 2023 class of the BC Golf Hall of Fame, alongside Brian DeBiazio of Qualicum Beach.

Golf was not an integral part of her upbringing in Prince Rupert. It was only when her parents retired to Fairwinds and while she attended Vancouver Island University that she wholeheartedly embraced the game.

Shelly took a bold step in the fall of 1997 wh...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Kelsey Pringle, co-founder of the UPLIFT Business Summit for Women, being held in Victoria. Pringle is a partner of the 5 Star Media Group, based in Parksville.

The summit is a beacon of inspiration for women seeking to advance their careers, scale their businesses and prioritize their mental health and wellness.

“UPLIFT came to fruition when myself and my business partner, Kathy Peterson, were chattin...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Sigmund Sort of Qualicum Beach, a volunteer pilot with Hope Air. Sort is now in his fourth year of volunteering his small plane and piloting skills to individuals in financial need, particularly those seeking medical care away from home.

Sort’s background as a captain in the Royal Canadian Air Force and an airline pilot made him an ideal candidate for this volunteer role.

“There's just going to be a ha...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Oceanside Generals general manager Rick Hannibal to the podcast.

Hannibal talks about several changes for the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League team this year, including the loss of many key players in the off-season.

“We lost 17 players,” he said. “(Some are) aging out, we traded one player away, four or five of them went up north to go and work to get on with their life - and some guys we've prom...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Peter Jory, the superintendent of schools for the Qualicum School District.

Jory discusses various aspects of education, the challenges faced by students, the impact of COVID-19 on the school system, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence.

The superintendent says the district has finished their strategic planning process, which began in the spring of 2022.

‘We’ve taken all that data through ...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Cindy Thompson to PQBeat. Thompson is a registered clinical counsellor, a certified executive coach and host of the podcast, ‘A Resilience Project’.

“Our Resilience Project started in 2020 when we were all going through the pandemic,” said Thompson. ‘It seemed timely that there was a need to identify ways that we could help make a difference. I'm in the humanitarian field as a clinical counsellor. As a ...

Host Peter McCully chats with Emilie van den Hout, a remarkable nine-year-old girl from Qualicum Beach, making a significant impact in her community as she continues to raise funds and awareness for cancer research on Terry Fox Day.\

"I wish everybody knew how Terry was suffering from cancer and he was suffering through cancer to help other people and to make their experience a bit better," said Emilie.

Emilie's dedication and co...

Host Peter McCully welcomes Jeremy Humpherville to the PQBeat podcast to chat about a TV show featuring the gallery and its artists.

The program will trace the creation of art pieces, from the search for the right material, through the artistic process up to completion. The gallery artists do a lot of multimedia work, anything from wood to glass, iron and stone.

Humpherville said the idea was initially floated five or six years a...

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Host Peter McCully welcomes Kim Burden, one of the co-founders of the 100 Fine Gentlemen of Oceanside, a charitable group in Parksville Qualicum Beach.

This group has been dedicated to raising funds for local charities, providing significant contributions to various organizations in need.

When asked about the ...

Host Peter McCully chats with Darren Lee of Langley who has won numerous awards for his tribute performances, including the "Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist" award at the prestigious Elvis Presley Enterprises competition in Memphis, Tennessee.

Lee had a successful run in Las Vegas performing nine shows a week for 11 years as a star in the American Superstars Show, as well as a show in Maui for 4 years.

McCully asked Lee about his r...