QOL

May be "demand" is too strong a word, but I've just had a wonderful conversation with Urban Designer/Architect and mobility advocate Reena Mahajan. Her views are circulating and projects she has collaborated on are examining how we use the city. We discuss how different genders may be traversing areas, the impact of their agendas, and whether cars are even needed. There is a section...

What a treat! A chance not only to visit the Vancouver Art Gallery but to tour it with Diana Freundl. Diana is more than the Senior Curator at VAG. Working collaboratively she is preparing for a new exhibition. You will hear equipment and people working away to ready the space to accept the art and artifacts. Also school groups are actively engaging with the contents of this wonderful space. We st...

Come along to Tel Aviv today to listen to Naama Nicotra's brain wave. She looked at her recycling and garbage and realized much of it was food packaging; plastic everywhere. It was likely some of this - because it was in contact with the food - was also being ingested. She said we are wanting the contents of the package but not the packaging itself. But what if the packaging could dissolve......

I've been wanting to have a conversation with Blaine Smith for years. A new opportunity created yet another reason to talk. Blaine is involved in a passion project called 363 York . This new venue not only features some amazing stages in automotive history, but also is a social club and opens the potential for an incredibly different meeting space. Come along an learn about this new and innova...

Okay, I'll admit to being early on this; but here is my special for New Year's 2026. My guest is David Shaw and we are having a dialogue about wellness. As a herbalist he builds custom blends "to each person's specific needs and health goals" and what better time to reset your life and find a path to wellness than NYE. Actually why wait? You could start even today. Listen along as we have a conver...

Stephen Hale kindly offered to continue our tour of the BC Aviation Museum. So here is Part Two. When you go do plan of 90 minutes or far more. There is so much to see, and yes accept a guide. They bring so much depth to the experience. From the earliest powered machines, to float planes for a new country that had no runways, this collection also has aircraft used for training in the Canadian Air...

The BC Aviation Museum is a real gem. There are so many planes all Tetris-ed into the current space. From float planes to rocket ships. Models too are part of the collection. But really it is the spirit of volunteerism that really gives the place life. President of the organization Stephen Hale was my host on this visit. The static displays come alive as he shares his passion for the artifacts. Th...

Is it possible? Did I meet Rob Straughan 13 years ago? Rob is the GM of radio station 96.7FM... it goes by the call sign CKLU. This station has hosted the original "Eat This! Drink That!" which morphed in the current program. QOL now deals with all the many things that fall under the umbrella of Quality of Life. In this episode Rob and I reminisce on the early days of the radio station;...

I met Shelley Raymond almost 2 decades ago. She brought a presentation on the benefits of co-housing to an AGM of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) and outlined how it works in other countries. She had already rolled out successful projects as a response to living in a house not an institution. It worked for her Dad and she felt it should be more widely adopted. Listen along as sh...

Coming from a variety of situations some dogs are in search of a place to call home... maybe even find their forever home. Alexa Marko and I met at a mining conference and renewed our contact when I was researching this topic. She has fostered 7 dogs for 6 or 7 weeks each and then Blue came along. They are now best friends. He contributes to Alexa's quality of life and vice versa. Listen along...

I believe too often we blindly believe we will get between home and destination without incident. Hopefully, without a collision, with injury or death. Should we be willing to tolerate any loss of life? How we design our roads and how we can improve the existing network is what concerns specialist Kenn Beer. We have a conversation on what elements can be considered, how they can be implemented, an...

The pleasure of having Lisa Lounsbury as a guest on this program over the years has been immeasurable. Known for her dynamic and sensitive delivery of material on Workplace Mental Health - and so many other topics - in this episode she talks about menopause. It is something all women will experience, and as women are 51% of the population, it is surprising how silent the world has been on what it...

With a plan to go national Soap for Hope 's Anne McIntyre started her project in Vic West. It was 11 years ago when she started the process of diverting valuable materials from landfill and redirecting to those who did not have access to hygiene products. Utilizing bathroom amenities from hotels the containers are filled with the same lotions, liquid soaps, conditioner, and supplemented with d...

Care for you, an older adult, a family member, is essential after a hospital visit or just when you need a break. Maybe you have not had a vacation for a decade and worry about leaving your Mum alone? What do you do when you need a rapid response for even a short stay? Respite Request to the rescue. This conversation with Daniel McShane could just be something you store away in the back of your mi...

I've known Brett's parents for decades. Through photos and cards I heard of his arrival and seen him as a kid. Now he is the next generation Innkeeper of The Rossport Cabins. Off the Trans-Canada highway this hamlet has a gem of a restaurant that features local Lake Trout and a pillow for you to rest after a long day of driving this visually spectacular route. One of the features of the place are...

The marvels of technology and overcoming time zone differences and Zoom connects we with amazing people. Come along for a conversation with Indian Landscape Architect Garima Dubey. Learn about her interest in how water moves, the value of courtyards, and the ways to reduce heat and humidity. Of course we talk about aesthetics and how people interact with the built environment too.

It seems we are into a period of nation building and augmenting systems. For one High Speed Rail is a hot topic for those in the Windsor - Quebec corridor (a reality check is that Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto is the focus), while the new Eglinton Crosstown line is just one of several projects in the GTA. Oh my! And look at the cost over-runs and ever over the horizon for its completion! My guest on thi...

Tourism specialist - he is more than that in fact - Greg Girard tells me about the challenges and the opportunities in Canada's small centres. We discuss out-migration to the cities as well as the attraction of living in a rural setting. Here's what the web says about Greg: "Greg Girard is a co-founding brother of the award-winning adventure and travel website and blog ehCanadaTravel....

Oh my! If you love books you have to have Parry Sound on your map. Barely Used Books is a destination and I can assure you Melissa and her team can find just about any title you are looking for. Plan on more than a quick visit... you will leave with an armload of pleasurable reading. Have a listen! This is a previously (Spring 2025) broadcast episode. For whatever reason it never made it to the po...

Podcaster, journalist and outdoor enthusiast Meg Carney joins me to talk about the importance of fresh air experiences. A contributor to Field and Stream magazine Meg love to hike, climb, paddle and speaks often about gear. We discuss longevity, durability, and dependability of kit as well as the impact of choices when we should be leaving no trace.

Mark Sherry has pivoted and his latest development is an app that compares prices across grocery stores. Do you have time to look at flyers and take your list to two or three stores to save a buck? What if an algorithm can do it for you in mere moments. Would it change your shopping behaviour? Maybe. Have a listen and find out about GOFER and how it may cut your costs and suggest which provisioner...

Rachelle Rocha, ever the innovator, is always looking for ways to improve your Quality of Life. She and her co-owner see "food as medicine" and everything they do supports that belief. Not only is Seasons a pharmacy, but it is also a food store and more. Because of the amount of floor space devoted to the Culinaria, and kitchen, Seasons qualified to sell beer, wine, cider, and perry. It...

Come along for a conversation with Jason Goossen. Jason and his family currently operate 3 unique stays on their Okanagan property that will delight you. No sound of traffic, a brook, a farm, an orchard, sage fragranced air, and sweeping views will bring down your tension. It truly is a delight that delivers glamping plus!

What a great organization! Deb Pella Keen speaks about the founder and his motivation to promote real Canadian maple trees. Our laneways, farm driveways, and even cities have to actively plant native species. Invasives and aggressives - like the European or Norway Maple - are not the leaf of our flag. Listen along and discover how you can support and even participate in protecting our heritage.

This is not my usual direction. Sure, I've covered some hard topics, but speaking about killers is way off my map. I hesitated for some years to read Michael Arntfield's "Murder City" but there it was on my shelf... it was only a matter of time before I read it from cover to cover. The next step - naturally - was inviting Michael to this program, When you listen along you will se...