Secret Sunshine

While Ed and I were out on a secret cinema mission, it made me think about a local mystery. For as long as I've been going to the Gibsons Cinema, I've heard two completely contradictory things about the building: that it was absolutely designed by Arthur Erickson , one of Canada's greatest architects — and that it absolutely wasn't. In this episode, I ring up Geoffrey Erickson and...

Something big is happening on the Sunshine Coast. The Gibsons Cinema — a community fixture since 1963 — has new owners.  And I’m one of them! In this episode, I sit down with my two co-owners and friends, Steve Tannock and Ed Anderson, and share the story of why we’re buying the cinema, and tease what we plan to do with it. What we get into: How this started with Dominic calling Ed’s bluff. Why al...

In this season finale of Secret Sunshine, meet Ed Hill. He's a retired RCMP Staff Sergeant, artist, curler, canoeist, auctioneer, emcee, community builder, and larger-than-life personality. But after nearly four decades in Gibsons, Ed and his wife Joy are preparing to leave. From saving someone's life on his first night in town, to founding one of the world's top outrigger canoe races,...

Thanks as ever to Nicole at Nico Coastal Homes for sponsoring this season. Whether your planning to buy or sell a home on the Coast, give Nico a ring. She’s a top seller for good reason! In this episode, Jess Procter, owner and founder of Sweet Emotion Baking in Gibsons, BC. Jess shares her journey from home baker to small business owner, and spills the tea on who her customers are, why they’re ob...

Have you checked out the podcast’s video editions on YouTube and Spotify ? Let me know what you think! Allan Harding is a National Champion in air pistol shooting, and I met up with him at the Pinecone Range shortly after returning from a competition win in Ontario (a Team Gold and a Bronze for himself). Allan’s primary focus is the 10m discipline, but he showcased his 50m skills when we met up. I...

Remember, find video editions of this season’s episodes on YouTube and Spotify. This particular episode is worth a look. Ben Tour is a visual artist based on the Sunshine Coast. His giant, graffiti-style murals can be found in various spaces on the Coast. I invited him to the graffiti-filled wall at the Gibsons Curling Club for a conversation about graffiti, art, and community. Recorded while lite...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Secret Sunshine, I chat with Adam and Shannon Vanderwoerd, the husband-and-wife team behind The Gibsons Butcher, to talk about their journey from running a single beloved butcher shop to opening a second location, The Sechelt Butcher. The conversation explores the challenges, community support, and serendipity that have shaped their business and lives on the Sun...

What is Hackfish? Can anyone define a word that is designed to mean everything – and nothing – at once? Volume Two of Hackfish Magazine is about to hit the Coast. So, I sit down with Tyler Lepore, the creative force behind Hackfish Magazine , a unique, community-driven zine on the Sunshine Coast. We talk about origins of Hackfish, Tyler’s journey as a metal fabricator turned magazine creator, and...

Salish Soils isn’t your typical composting and recycling company. It’s a reflection of Aaron Joe’s belief that rebuilding the land can also rebuild lives - especially his own. In this conversation, the founder and CEO of the company shares how his personal journey became the foundation for a business rooted in renewal, regeneration, and community. Find out more about Salish Soils projects, product...

When Will Unwin left the city for a slower life on the Sunshine Coast, he didn’t expect to end up owning Penco Motorsports — or navigating the pressures that come with turning your passion into your livelihood. In this episode, Will shares how an unexpected injury changed his career path, how burnout nearly pulled him away from the motorcycle industry entirely, and why running a small business on...

For about a decade, Joyce and her dog Echo have worked side-by-side as volunteers for Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue . But now, Echo is stepping away from the field. Joyce explores what it means having to retire a dog who’s still eager to serve—and what it means to lose the best search partner she's had. When Joyce isn't in the field with SAR, she runs a lovely kennel in Gibsons called No Pawble...

When Gillian Morrison moved to the Coast, she went looking for a workout and a night out. Instead, she ended up building a gym, one that would reshape her life and strengthen the community she now called home. Sign up for classes and personal training on the GM Fitness website ! This episode is sponsored by the good humans at Sunday Cider. Find them off the highway, online , and on Instagram . The...

Blair Douglas is a barber at Fade 'N Dye in Roberts Creek. He recently created his own space next door - an extension of the shop. He built it just for him (and his clients). As he cuts the host’s hair, we learn why the Sunshine Coast convinced Blair to pick up clippers and shears. Then, the conversation delves into deeper, often philosophical aspects of barbering, and how Blair's approach to his...

My sister, Sophie Olson, has lived in Los Angeles for more than twenty years. When the latest wildfire outbreak endangered her city, I wondered if she'd considered escaping California and head north to the Sunshine Coast. That's because a few years ago, she did exactly that. Sophie is a dance choreographer and educator in Los Angeles. Find her and follow her on ⁠ TikTok⁠ and ⁠ Instagram⁠ ....

For over a decade, a squat, square, wooden old building near the corner of Pratt Rd and the Sunshine Coast Highway housed Dave Coyle's Antique Reproductions shop. The store - managed by Jackie-Lee Coyle -  felt like the a place that defined the Sunshine Coast vibe. But the shop just closed, permanently, and for both resident and regular visitors alike - it's the end of something special. J...

Is the Coast secretly the best place to experiment with small business ideas? When Jess Price bought Fromagerie de Baie in Gibsons last year, it meant she was taking on running a third small business in under two years. Now she manages Good Fridays Cheese Co (Insta), Good Fridays General Store⁠ (Insta), and Good Fridays Grazing - the lil' charcuterie hustle that started the whole adventure. Ahead...

The windows of The Station Wine Bar were papered over for most of the year, taunting thirsty locals and visitors with a cryptic “Pouring Soon” sign. Nearly a full year since signing up to open a new restaurant in Lower Gibsons, Alexis Nothstein is still adapting to the reality that a Dream she’s held for nearly two decades is actually coming true. But is Gibsons ready to welcome a wine bar and hel...

Nico Arnett said yes to curating her own ceramics and photography art show before giving her brain a chance to say no. Never mind that her ceramics studio had been mothballed since moving nearly three years ago. Never mind that her realtor career and family life had taken over most of her free time. Never mind that – eek – this would be her first ever art show. This would be an exercise in putting...

My new favourite annual holiday tradition involves meeting up with a few dozen dingdongs like me at the beach on New Year's Day morning. And jumping into the ocean. As 2025 gets warmed up, I take a couple of minutes to reflect on why I wanted to make this podcast for you (and with you). Happy New Year!