QOL

What could you do to help community?  Well, you could write a cookbook.  Not just any cookbook.  Colin Beadle of Thunderbird shares the story of the efforts of his colleagues at Atomic Cartoons.  The full value of the sales goes to support a Vancouver food program.  The first run of 1000 copies is selling fast.  You read about it in the Globe and Mail, now tune in her...

The Keasts are owners of the twin and adjacent stores that make up Regency Wine and Flowers.  Located In Sudbury on Lorne Street (not their original location!) not far from the Beef 'N Bird this tag team couple of Jennifer and Ron do improve clients' quality of life.  Ron runs the ferment-on-premise, while Jen attends to floral requests from a diversity of needs: weddings, Valentine's, g...

Embracing the "Active Transportation" model Mayor of Sudbury, Ontario Brian Bigger has launched his Velomobile onto the region's streets (and highways).  If you spot a white rocket (with blue pinstripes) in your neighbourhood it has to be Brian.  A Velomobile is basically a recumbent bicycle with a aerodynamic faring that encloses the rider.  This one is totally human powered! &nbsp...

Using the telephone effectively has likely been discussed since Bell called "Mr. Watson, come here; I want you"! The telephone may have changed and become untethered  from hardwired world, but how you answer, what the voicemail says and offers, and how it integrates with other systems is 21st century.   Linda Hunter Business Sales Executive, Rogers Authorized Dealer, Beyond Wireless talk...

I got to meet Dawn at the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra where she cut her teeth managing an organization in transition.  She describes her tenure and what she has moved on to after the SSO.  Reluctantly (but successfully) she has returned to the world of musical entertainment/education/enlightenment covering a succession of maternity leaves in the TSO administrative team.  

The first urban farm for Sudbury addresses a number of opportunities.  Hugh talks with those connected with growing food and also the program leaders.  This team engaged with youth at risk to connect them with the soil - plus healthy food - and positive choices.  MPP Jamie West reflects on what it was like growing up in the neighbourhood, how re-vegetation has greened the entire lan...

I knew Jeff Hundertmark back in Ontario when he worked at Marynissen Estates and other properties.  An outstanding winemaker he headed west and joined Mt. Boucherie as they changed and grew.  Jeff talks about the differences and similarities  between the provinces' growing regions.  

Executive Director at Community Radio Fund of Canada / Fonds canadien de la radio communautaire Alex Freedman shares his passion for radio as a way to distribute information and stitch communities together.  In "news deserts"  community radio is the only media platform and must be encouraged to not just survive but to thrive.  The backbone for all stations are the cadres of dedicate...

He tells me he has tasted over 70 different kinds of dogs.  Grant Trayner is fast becoming a connoisseur, an aficionado, and expert on what make a good dog.  This is just pure fun and like any quest it is likely never to end... or is there the best of the best just waiting out there for him to discover?  That TOP DOG that is "Best IN Show"!   

With Bob Blumer's newest cookbook "Flavour Bomb" set to launch on the 20th of October it was time to talk food, food trends, and food future.  This Canadian food personality has seen the ground shift on what we buy, what we prepare, and what we eat.  When it come to food Bob even goes after Guinness records.   "Bob Blumer was the host of Food Network's The Surreal Gourmet, Glutton f...

Want to know more about locally 100% grass fed local beef?  Enjoy these interviews with members of the family at Dalew Farms.

Want to know the future of this country? Ask Darrell Bricker of Ipsos.  He utilizes the census data and makes informed predictions concerning more than the next 5 years.  How will our aging population deal with quality of life and what decisions will we make about housing, education, policies, and purchases? Join me as Darrell discusses his most recent book NEXT. 

The Decanter Wine Awards is an annual event where thousands (maybe 10s of thousands) of wines are evaluated, scored, and awarded medals:  "Now in its 16th year, the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is the world's largest and most influential wine competition. Judged by the top wine experts from around the globe, the DWWA is trusted internationally for its rigorous judging process."  And...

CARP member Jack Decorby shares the story of a bicycle accident and his subsequent hospitalization.  Now in recovery and rehabilitation we talk about the process and his experiences in healthcare during COVID.  Jack and Joyce volunteer extensively in the community including 12 years of engagement with NOSM (the Northern Ontario School of Medicine) where he is a standardized patient parta...

Author of "The Essence of Wine: Celebrating the Delights of the Palate" Alder Yarrow shares his enthusiasm for wines in his backyard (California) and the wines of the world.  I seemed to be following Alder some years ago on an exploration of Hungary's Tokaji region, and though we never caught up then we do now on QOL.  Alder talks about his own wine education and journey - and how he beg...

One career?  No more.   Paul Gault followed his passion from print media to wine and wine education.  A graduate of the Algonquin College Sommelier  program he fast-tracked into a new industry.   Now as Somm4ALL he provides learning opportunities and quality representation for wineries in the National Capital Region.  Listen to Paul's journey and his words on wine. &n...

Contributor to CBC's Radio Noon and Ontario Today Konrad Ejbich has decades of understanding the wines of Ontario and Canada.  Author, broadcaster, and travel writer Konrad has provided insights and information to listeners that was valuable to them as consumers.  He challenges you to recognize the excellence in our home grown industry.  

As (hopefully) the Pandemic wanes it is time to restart various sectors of the economy.   Meredith Armstrong . Acting Director , Economic Development speaks on the plans for Greater Sudbury.  The opportunities and challenges we talk about from this conversation in the Spring of 2020 may already have morphed, and the implemented efforts too may have shifted.  This program was origina...

I want to sing "over the rainbow" as the downtown "City Centre" is now renamed Elm Place.  This is not just a refresh of name only.  Office and retail spaces are not static and the owners of this mall are acutely aware of the transformations happening not just in this downtown.  Property Manager Robert Green walks me through the changes "in the heart of Sudbury."  For those lis...

How have, how are, and how will businesses cope with the impacts of Covid-19?  What impacts has it had on members of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce? Syed Raza speaks from his experience and position at the Chamber adding insights and interpretations.  Though this episode is focused on Sudbury, we go broader into provincial, national, and global implications.  

Stevie Kim is the publisher of "The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine" and in her role of marketing all that is Italian Wine this is a marvelous primer.  I spoke with Stevie as Northern Italy was emerging from lockdown so naturally we also included a conversation about the effects of the Pandemic on the sales of wine as well as international travel connected with promoting product and provid...

Restaurateur Steve Beckta talks about dining in Ottawa and specifically the world of Play , Gezellig , and Beckta , and how he and his team pivoted during the Pandemic with Curated by Beckta home delivery.   A graduate of the early days of the sommelier program at Algonquin College Steve spent 4 years in New York City honing his skills at top properties.  Influential in changing the...

Who doesn't love cashews?  Well Nuts for Cheese are making a non-dairy cheese... and now two butter options. Cashews are the base for it all.  Organic and Fair Trade cashews!  Join me as I ask Candace Campbell, marketing director, about the process, the progress, and the progression of the company as it reaches across Canada and now into the United States marketplace.  

21 years ago the community of Inuvik turned their hockey arena into a community garden.  Replacing the roof with a transparent surface essentially offered an 18,000 square foot space to grow vegetables in a moderated space.  They only use the growing season as there is no supplemental heating, but when summer arrives things thrive. 56 days of continuous sunlight. The result is amazing bo...

In the 2000s while attending Royal Roads I got the opportunity to reconnect with Bob Bateman.  He was giving a series billed as "Sketchbook Talks" and would show up on campus every few months to describe trips, travels and adventures.  While on location he would compile a series of impressions into pages and pages of detailed images with words and sometimes arrows highlighting features o...