MicCHEK

In this episode Joe lays out ten specific dishes on the south island that he believes deserves some love. Not only will you learn about the food, but we've also put together some audio from customers and restaurant owners to give you a real taste of each location.

Who is Krista Loughton? What's her vision for the City of Victoria? Why is she running for council in this fall's municipal election? The Victoria filmmaker joined us in studio to discuss these questions and more in a wide-ranging interview on some of the big issues in the City of Victoria.

The classic roundtable is back with our panel picking the top lunch spots in Greater Victoria. 5 guest, 5 picks each, and the picks must be places where you can get a meal in under 30 minutes. In this episode we'll lay out 25 lunch spots as well as a long list of honourable mentions. Enjoy!

What better way to promote Vancouver Island’s forest sector then to build a massive, Greek-inspired monument out of wood and stick it on top of Victoria’s crown jewel park? Island businessmen back in the early 1900’s thought it was a great idea but it wasn’t to be. In this episode we discuss the Beacon Hill Trust established in 1884 that lays out the rules for development in the park and explain w...

In this episode, we discuss a 1960’s plan from a Vancouver company to build a Medieval Amusement Park in Saanich Gorge Park essentially turning it into Sherwood Forest. The proposal included a castle, a torture chamber, a dungeon, and Robin Hood figurines scattered throughout the facility. It also wanted to create two Viking longboats that would transport people from the inner harbor, up the Gorge...

It's the definition of a local success story. In a small Victoria basement in 2016, Rob Fraser came up with the idea to create some fashionable, athletic socks. He made 200 pairs, put them in a large box, and then sold them (they went fast). Since then his company has sold millions of socks under the brand name "Endur" but yesterday that all changed. In this Episode, Rob joins us to share the stor...

In this episode, we hear the story behind how a couple of CHEK anchors and the CHEK studio made it into Bruce Willis and Michael Rooker's new movie "Corrective Measures". We also chat with the film's writer, director and producer, Sean Patrick O'Reilly (who happens to be in Isreal) to learn about how a BC company landed one of the biggest actors on the planet. Joe and Kyle chat about some other fi...

The very first Roundtable we ever did was on Pizza (Episode 10). But that was a long time ago, and we've learned a lot since then including letting our expert guests make the picks. That's why we've asked Jason Venkaya, the man behind Oregano's Pizza on Shelbourne Avenue, to come on and give us ten great spots to enjoy pizza in Greater Victoria. We also discuss one of Joe's new favourite coffee sh...

We're heading into Easter weekend and there's no better time to be on the hunt for chocolate. In this episode, we're getting a list of the Top 10 places to go for chocolate in Greater Victoria.

How does a 24-year-old go from playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs to taking his own clothing line to Paris Fashion Week? We find out in our chat with Victoria's Cameron Ray Lizotte.

He's been pumping out recipes in the Times Colonist since 1997. Twice a week you'll find Eric Akis' creations in the newspaper. You'll also find them taped to fridges, and saved in scrapbooks as home chefs up and down the island follow Eric's creations religiously, cooking up every one of his thousands of recipes. In this episode we learn a bit more about Eric, and how he comes up with so many cul...

We were already fans of Tyler Turner before this conversation, but now we're massive fans. In this episode, Tyler opens up about the skydiving accident that changed his life forever, and how he battled his way to the top of the Paralympic podium and brought a gold medal home to Vancouver Island.

In this episode we chat with a Victoria Dad Coach, yes that's a real thing. He gives us his Top 10 Tips for new parents. We also discuss one of the most unique bakeries we've ever encountered on Vancouver Island.

Vancouver Island is home to more assisted deaths than anywhere else in the world. In this episode, we chat with a Victoria doctor who has dedicated her practice to helping people die with dignity. Our discussion touches on why someone might seek assisted death, how the process works, and what the event itself can look like.

After two years of daily morning dog walks (and weeks of debate and analysis) Joe delivers his Top 10 dog walk locations in Greater Victoria. Also in this episode we'll introduce you to one of the Comox Valley's most popular Latin restaurants.

Talk about hitting a nerve. In a recent opinion piece Geoff Russ outlined why he believes Douglas Street in Victoria is undergoing a sad decline. He suggests it's a graveyard for small business and a hub of poverty and violence. The article has since been shared hundreds of times, producing thousands of comments with many of them supporting Geoff's view. We sat down with Geoff to learn more about...

Everyone has their spots for where they like to go for a pint of cold beer including Matt Phillips. Yes, that Matt Phillips, the man who started one of the most well-known and popular breweries on Vancouver Island. The man we have to thank for Blue Buck. In this episode, (13:44) Matt gives us his 10 spots for where he likes to go for a beer in Victoria. We'll also take you to north Nanaimo and int...

It hasn't happened in seven years but in January a baby was born on Pender Island. In most cases when someone goes into labour on a Southern Gulf Island they're transported to Vancouver Island for the delivery but that wasn't an option for Danielle Yole. She had just finished a hike (and a memorable hummus sandwich) when baby Leo decided he was coming into the world. What happened next is a story...

No, this isn't a conversation about A&W and Yogen Fruz (although we love both). This is a discussion about 10 great spots (many of them local) you'll find inside South Island food courts. Some of the picks you'll find inside local malls, but we were pleasantly surprised to learn there are more food courts in the region than we thought. Also in this episode, we discuss a Parksville restaurant that'...

It's one of the most iconic streets in the Capital City and it's about to get a major makeover. City staff recently released an overview of the plan to upgrade Government Street from Humboldt to Pandora. There are some significant changes being proposed and the pitch has reignited the debate over whether Government Street should be closed off to vehicles. In this episode, we summarize the major is...

What's the most iconic meal in Victoria? That's the question we put to our guest in this week's episode. Bonnie Todd from Off the Eaten Track Food Tours has compiled her list of the 15 most iconic dishes and drinks in the City of Victoria. (43:25) Also in this episode, we showcase an extremely popular donut shop in the Comox Valley that's preparing for a big move.

Ned Talyor was 19 years old when he was elected to Saanich Council. Since then he's made it his mission to try and get more young islanders into politics. In this episode we sit down with two young islanders who are planning to run for a local council seat this fall.

There are so many places to cycle to for a coffee or snack on the south island, and so many interesting routes to take to get there. (5:30) In this episode, we've asked a south island cycling expert to come up with a list of places to ride to for a drink, snack, or meal. What started out as 10 spots, quickly turned into a list of 20 interesting destinations and equally interesting bike routes on t...

Saanich council recently signed off on an extensive plan for the Uptown-Douglas area. It's an area that's already home to thousands with plenty of opportunities for new housing and new amenities. In this episode we chat with a man who helped shape the plan and learn about what he hopes is in store for this critical south island neighborhood. We also chat about the need for LRT and the creation of...

If you want a great meal but don't want to break the bank, then this is the roundtable for you. (3:10) We've called in a Victoria foodie to give us her list of the top 10 meals in Greater Victoria under fifteen dollars. (25:48) Also in this episode, we introduce you to COOKS burger joint in Cumberland.