On The Brink Podcast

Murf Laidlaw was born and raised playing multiple sports in Prince George, British Columbia. He was a national champion youth skier in his younger days, then turned to pro volleyball after graduating high school from Kelly Road Secondary School. Murf’s first career out of high school made him famous. He landed a career with Molson Marketing in Vancouver and officially became knowing as "Murf...

Bruce Blackwell has over 30 years experience as a Professional forester and biologist, much of which has been related to fire and forest ecology, silviculture, vegetation management and forest practice audits and reviews. He is a specialist in forest fire science and has completed numerous projects on this subject including a fire risk assessment for British Columbia and numerous fire management p...

Katie Sue is an ADHD advocate with a massive online following. Katie was labeled a daydreamer in school, though throughout young adulthood, she was seen as happy and funny. And yet, she was suffering. For years, Katie wondered why she didn't quite fit in, why friends were hard to keep or why she couldn't stick to one thing without leaving it to pursue another. Last year, at 29 years old, K...

Carolina Hiller (Lina) is a world champion long track speed skater from Prince George. The 26-year-old Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Club alumnus recently won the women’s team sprint earlier at the ISU World Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. After graduating from high school she moved from Prince George, BC, to Calgary, AB, where she spent four years on Canada's &#...

Mindy Stroet, CFRE, is the Director of Development for the Prince George Community Foundation. Founded in 1995, the Prince George Community Foundation is an independent, volunteer-driven, charitable organization that brings together people who care about their community. The Foundation facilitates philanthropy, by partnering with donors to build permanent endowment funds that support community pro...

Zandra is the founder of Zandra Ross Consulting. Zandra is a leadership mentor and coach who helps ambitious people overcome obstacles and evolve into the next version of their selves to achieve greater success and happiness in their life and career. She does this through private and group facilitation, team building, and strategic planning sessions. With both online and in-person programs and cou...

Steve Baker is one of the most talented musicians to ever call Prince George home. He’s originally from Newfoundland, though he grew up in Mackenzie, and has become a very popular local high school teachers. Steve has coordinated various musical productions over the years with high school students and is currently teaching at Duchess Park Secondary School. Steve hosts many musical gigs around Prin...

In 2019, Alex Mackenzie left his six-figure pulp mill job in Prince George to chase his dream of becoming a fulltime stand-up comedian. Alex sold his house and bought an RV to travel to gigs across the country with his dog Finley. He is now is now an internationally recognized touring comedian with over 40 million views on his online videos. Mackenzie tours around the world performing in sold out...

Brooklyn Derksen is a local certified Yoga teacher and Level 1 iRest (Integrative Restoration) Meditation teacher. She has a passion to advocate for Mental Health and Complex Chronic Disease Awareness and to share tools for stress management, mental health support, healing and all around wellbeing. She was born and raised in Prince George BC, where she currently teaches yoga classes and workshops...

David Elstone, RPF, is a professional forester and a highly-regarded industry expert with over 25 years of experience within the forest sector. Recently David has served as Executive Director of the Truck Loggers Association (TLA), advocating on behalf of the British Columbia forest industry's supply chain. Before the TLA, David worked for 10 years as a senior analyst for ERA Forest Products R...

Russ Taylor's background in the forest industry started in 1974 and encompasses forestry, manufacturing, marketing and consulting positions. Mr. Taylor was responsible for forestry operations in the 1970s (Northwood). He then held various sawmill management activities at three divisions of Interfor in the 1980s, including log purchasing, custom cutting, value-added remanufacturing, lumber sale...

Andrea Sowers is the Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit LUVS Northern Animal Rescue. This animal rescue service is located in Prince George, British Columbia, and has helped save over 3,000 animals throughout the province since 2018. This non-profit is led by a strong team of volunteers, mainly hard-working moms, as well as hundreds of animal foster parents throughout Northern Britis...

Dave Peterson recently retired from the position of Assistant Deputy Minister of Community Disaster Recovery, Lytton in the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. He has worked in Dave Peterson forestry since 1973 both in and outside of government. Dave was the ADM of Rural Development, Lands and Innovation, Provincial Chief Forester, and Deputy Minister of Forests, Lands and Natu...

Mayor Simon Yu was born in Hong Kong and has been an active member of the Prince George Community for nearly 50 years. He won the municipal election on October 15, 2022. Mayor Yu's scope of work and community involvement includes: Director for University of Northern British Columbia Director for the Prince George Airport Authority Founding committee member of Woodwords Initiative Mayor Yu is a...

One of the funniest individuals in Canada, Kylie Lewis Holt moved to Prince George from Eastern Canada and has loved comedy her entire life. Kylie is a full-time comedian, who has been performing at various clubs and venues throughout British Columbia, and will inevitably one day win a Juno. As a mom, wife and barber, Kylie has made it her mission to chase her passion of comedy. Kylie has a weekly...

Born and raised in Prince George, British Columbia, Garrett attended the University of Northern B.C., where he studied business with a double major in Finance and Marketing. While attending UNBC Garrett completed his Canadian Securities Course and Life License Qualification Program to become a dually licensed Financial Advisor. He began working at the Assante Wealth Management office in Prince Geo...

Aimee is a northerner at heart, living in and loving Prince George her entire life. After working in management most of her career, she found her love of the not-for-profit sector while doing volunteer work locally. Driven by the desire to help her community and those impacted by cancer, she changed career paths and joined the Canadian Cancer Society as the coordinator of the largest, top earning,...

Jim Girvan is a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) who has dedicated over four decades of his life to the British Columbia forest industry. Jim's name is synonymous across North America in respect to fibre supply forecasting and the varied lobby efforts on the part of independent timber harvesting contractors, consultants, forest licensees, and investors. Residing in Ladysmith. BC, Jim is...

Chief Dolleen Logan was elected Chief of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation on April 8, 2021. Prior to that, she served as Councillor for six years. Chief Logan has worked for the nation for the past 13 years in various capacities and most recently as Lead Executive Assistant. Chief Logan brings a team-oriented approach to Council operations and plans to involve Lheidli Elders more in key decision making....

Shirley Bond is one of the most respected leaders in Prince George's history. She was first elected in 2001 as the MLA for Prince George-Valemount. Shirley currently serves as the Shadow Minister for Health, Seniors Services and Long-Term Care.  Shirley has extensive experience serving as Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, Deputy Premier, Minist...

Dan McLaren was raised on Vancouver Island. He moved to Prince George in 1987. In 1995, after a successful career in commercial banking, Dan founded Commonwealth Financial.   Dan has served on many corporate and philanthropic boards, including: BC Rail, Junior Achievement of BC, the BC Chamber of Commerce and is a Past President the BC & Yukon Junior Chamber of Commerce. He is the Fo...

Nicole Currie coordinates the Meals on Wheels program for the Prince George Council of Seniors.   Prince George Council of Seniors  (PGCOS) – located on Brunswick Street in downtown Prince George - has been providing affordable and nutritious hot noon meals to elderly, homebound, post-operative, and disabled individuals for over 20 years now.  PGCOS is very proud of its Meals o...

Selen is the owner of the Canadian Tire store in Prince George. His career with this company began in 1978, progressing through the ranks over a 15-year span before acquiring a store in Ontario in 1993. Since then, Selen has had stores in Greenwood, Nova Scotia and Kenora, Ontario.    Since moving to Prince George, Selen has served on several boards including Prince George’s Health Commu...

Kendall Kershaw and Tyler Sanchez are the owners and operators of The Little Fit Company in Prince George, British Columbia. These two community difference-makers spend their time helping people live their best lives.    The Little Fit Company offers effective fitness and nutrition solutions to professionals, executives and high achievers to maximize goals in business, relationships &amp...

Shannon Wright is a Gitxsen Hereditary Chief and long-time entrepreneur. Shannon is the Owner and Operator of The Pepper Tree, located in the Coast Inn of the North.    Over the years, Shannon has been recognized by the Prince George Chamber of Commerce as a TOP 40 UNDER 40 difference-maker, as well as a recipient of the Indigenous Business of the Year Award.    Originally...