QOL

A blast from the past: This episode originally was broadcast some years ago. I felt it was time to revisit the interview with rancher Dylan Biggs. Dylan kindly shares knowledge of the landscape and the reasons why where he is is ideal for raising cattle. From the saddle he knows and understands the animals and environment. One day I hope to visit and learn even more about TK Ranch.

So many older adults have either no portraits nor recent photos. These are not just for their lives but perhaps for their obituary. Why should they not have a professional image for sharing now and then. This is a rerelease of an interview with Peter Istvan who started capturing images of his parents and the neighbours who lived in the same residence. He now has taken it to the next level. Peter h...

This is a rerelease of a conversation with Bill Steer. With his books, articles, podcasts, and presence on CBC Back Roads Bill Steer is the embodiment of outdoor awareness. His work includes the collaborative creation of the Canadian Ecology Centre near Mattawa. It is his decades of getting kids (and adults) outside and in touch with the landscape and history of Northern Ontario that is an amazing...

This is a rerelease of a program I recorded with Sam Hauck in early 2025. What a great person to talk to about the BC wine world. Sam has been all across this province, and knows the people and the properties in detail. He is a contributor to MyVanCity on bottles and uses social media to share his experiences. From Lillooet to Osoyoos and Cawston to Cowichan Sam has a passion that goes back to the...

This is a rerelease of a program recorded in 2025. It is worth sharing not just as the original broadcast. Camp Maple Leaf sites are across Canada. Many thanks to National Program Director, April Young for her time. She shares the value the summer programs bring to not just military families and their children, but to others who can benefit from confidence and skills. Besides, who doesn't want...

Come along to Government Street and make Emily Carr's home in Victoria a destination. She was born there. She lived there until her late teens and again in her 20s. She taught art classes at her dining room table. Her paintings capture the spirit of the west coast, its forests, its shorelines, and even the dynamics of trees moving in the wind. Emily Carr paintings today can fetch over $3 milli...

Many thanks to Doug Bell for sharing his passion for fruit wines. Our conversation on where the winery is, its history, the products available, and even plans for the future... is all here. You will find that there are great stories in the journey and what they offer. You will learn how the project got its name, and know that over a million visitors have been welcomed. Maybe Prince George BC is yo...

This is a rerelease of a recording made some time ago and was only shared on radio. Here it is now ready to listen anytime you are ready. North Bay's John Sallie has some thoughts to share on life and what matters. Is it what you need, want desire? No, he says we don't need to clutch things . This episode explores what motivates us as we pass through the decades. His sixth decade is afford...

Vancouver Island is the home to many vineyards. The climate favours varieties like Pinot Gris but there is much experimentation. Tricia and Steve arrived after detailed investigation of potential in the Okanagan, Italy and their home state of California. They have transformed a lavender farm into what is now Cobble Hill Winery. An east and south facing slope in the front is like a big advertisemen...

Thanks to my guest Melissa Valliant, Communications Director at Beyond Plastics, for coming to talk about plastics and plastic pollution. We learn plastics are everywhere, including in us. If you want to know more about "The Problem with Plastic" by Judith Enck you might find a copy in your local library... This is not a story of despair. The subtitle is "How we can save ourselves a...

Western Engineering student Ribal Zebian has some ideas about what we build, where we build, and how we build, homes. Rising cost of materials and labour are just part of the equation. Zebian proposes modular units, built in climate controlled factories as a solution. He is willing to live for a year in one of his prototypes. Come along for a conversation about his journey and what he proposes for...

What can you write about when your heart is touched? Something like The Victoria Hand Project has such value... it says so much about both the generosity of, and the importance of, addressing a pressing need. Loss of a hand can happen in so many different ways: infection, industrial injury... and the cruelty of landmines. Come along to University of Victoria and find out how they are responding to...

I interviewed Holland Marshall the first time for a print story. His interest in specifically homelessness, addiction and the way society responds to these challenges brings us back together. This time our conversation covers some new ground based on his recent observations specifically in Sudbury. But don't mistake this for a uniquely Sudbury story. Those living "rough" have a peren...

Want to know more about the Villa Eyrie? Of course you do. Located near the summit of the Malahat Pass this romantic resort is a perfect escape. Really only half an hour outside of Victoria the drive alone is worth it. The dining room has a view like no other. The rooms so comfortable... and well kitted out for cocooning and relaxation. Samantha Johnson is the Assistant General Manager and she has...

Angela Mustone has a line of wellness products. She was in from Montreal showcasing her catalogue. The ideal spot to do this is the Villa Eyrie. Located at the top of the Malahat Drive the romantic getaway now carries her intimacy oils, candles, body paint. You can visit their spa to make purchases that will enhance your (single or plural) quality of life. Angela speaks on her journey, development...

An exceptional look and feel is the goal of Design de Plume (DDP) and Principal Jennifer Taback RGD. Her team offers a unique perspective that makes their work attractive to clients world-wide; "We integrate Indigenous knowledge with leading-edge design solutions." This Sudbury Ontario based company knows no geographic boundaries. Listen to our conversation on the roots of the organizati...

You must consider making a pilgrimage to dine at Vij's. Vikram Vij laughs when called an overnight success; there have been years of hard work and sacrifice to achieve this pinnacle of a dining destination. Books, TV, and the restaurant(s) each display his passion for showcasing the best of his heritage and the ingredients that the ocean and land of British Columbia and Canada offer up. Vikram...

Where there are fish I can guarantee you will find Bob Izumi. This is a joyous conversation that celebrates Bob's 38 years of television production. with 26 shows a year (do the math) he covered lots of miles and met thousands of people. It's more than fishing it is about being outdoors on a lake hearing the loons, seeing the sunrise, breathing deeply and appreciating being Canadian. Start...

Car-free zone? Inner city cores that have life and encourage living. Fume-free coffee or lunch at a sidewalk cafe? A conversation that is not overwhelmed by exhaust... where you sit under a tree canopy and the birds are a background symphony. Is it a pipe-dream? Stephen Burgen, journalist at the Guardian has lived in Spain for a quarter century and shares his observations of change and improvement...

NOTE: This is a broadcast that was initially shared in 2024. I felt it was worthy of another listen. Dr. Trevor Hancock is a retired Public Health physician. His work included time in New Brunswick as a family doctor, in Toronto at Public Health, and lastly at University of Victoria. He contributes weekly - for the last decade - to the Victoria Times-Colonist and writes about determinants of healt...

Dr. Kendra Coulter  is the author of   Defending Animals . I read an article in the Globe and Mail and just had to have a conversation with her here on QOL . Coulter is a Professor of Management and Organizational Studies, at Huron University College at Western. She is a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, and Member, Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists, and S...

There were the legacy breweries - the big boys of the business - then came the micros, and here we are talking with Dan van Netten about his nano-brewery on Vancouver Island. He really isn't new to the industry nor to brewing; I am told he began his journey in high school with first batches of beer and wine. Howl is located on Lyle Street in Esquimalt in a historic building that once was a gre...

I think it was a decade ago when I first interviewed Linda Miller on this program. Linda has a successful matchmaking service that may be just what you are looking for. Misty River Introductions has a 30 plus year history of success in making connections happen. I thought since we are in a post-pandemic period it would be good to talk once again with Linda to see how things were during COVID and n...

NB - This is a previously broadcast episode Though reference to dates, times and locations may reflect a time already past the content is still germane This rerelease is also a tribute to the many years NORCAT was under the energetic leadership of CEO Don Duval What do you know about NORCAT and its signature annual event PITCH? Come along for a conversation with Brendan Skiffington and hear how th...

Founders Jamie Gerus and Jeff Wright are the team that makes FIZZ non-alc Bottle Shop a touchstone for product and knowledge. In a time where more consumers are looking for beverage alternatives this store on Lower Johnson fits so well into the vibe that is LoJo. Independent boutiques, cafes, and unique stores sit adjacent to this bijoux. Come along for a conversation about their philosophy, their...