Eat This! Drink That!

The pleasure of having Lisa Lounsbury as a guest on this program over the years has been immeasurable. Known for her dynamic and sensitive delivery of material on Workplace Mental Health - and so many other topics - in this episode she talks about menopause. It is something all women will experience, and as women are 51% of the population, it is surprising how silent the world has been on what it means and how it is expressed. Come along and learn more from Lisa of New Day Wellness.

With a plan to go national Soap for Hope's Anne McIntyre started her project in Vic West. It was 11 years ago when she started the process of diverting valuable materials from landfill and redirecting to those who did not have access to hygiene products. Utilizing bathroom amenities from hotels the containers are filled with the same lotions, liquid soaps, conditioner, and supplemented with deodorant, razors, shaving foam... they restore dignity. They do a lot more including redistribution of hotel bedding - through agencies -to those in need. Have a listen and hear Anne's passion for this organization. Soap for Hope improves so many people's Quality of Life.

Care for you, an older adult, a family member, is essential after a hospital visit or just when you need a break. Maybe you have not had a vacation for a decade and worry about leaving your Mum alone? What do you do when you need a rapid response for even a short stay? Respite Request to the rescue. This conversation with Daniel McShane could just be something you store away in the back of your mind, or it could address a pressing need.

I've known Brett's parents for decades. Through photos and cards I heard of his arrival and seen him as a kid. Now he is the next generation Innkeeper of The Rossport Cabins. Off the Trans-Canada highway this hamlet has a gem of a restaurant that features local Lake Trout and a pillow for you to rest after a long day of driving this visually spectacular route. One of the features of the place are the trains; they pass right by. I just want to turn to the pages of Pierre Burton's "Last Spike" and listen for the nostalgic wail of the engine and rumble of the long line of cars as they cross the country.

The marvels of technology and overcoming time zone differences and Zoom connects we with amazing people.Come along for a conversation with Indian Landscape Architect Garima Dubey.Learn about her interest in how water moves, the value of courtyards, and the ways to reduce heat and humidity. Of course we talk about aesthetics and how people interact with the built environment too.

It seems we are into a period of nation building and augmenting systems. For one High Speed Rail is a hot topic for those in the Windsor - Quebec corridor (a reality check is that Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto is the focus), while the new Eglinton Crosstown line is just one of several projects in the GTA. Oh my! And look at the cost over-runs and ever over the horizon for its completion! My guest on this episode is Dr. Jonathan English. He is "a researcher, writer, and policy expert on infrastructure and transportation with international experience. He has extensive experience giving policy advice to senior leaders in government, business, the non-profit sector, and labour in Canada, the United States, and Europe. He was previously Policy Director at the Toronto Region Board of Trade. He also has experience in practice working on a multibillion-dollar transit project."Come along for a conversation about both the visible and unseen systems that make our country, communities, and even homes function.

Tourism specialist - he is more than that in fact - Greg Girard tells me about the challenges and the opportunities in Canada's small centres. We discuss out-migration to the cities as well as the attraction of living in a rural setting.Here's what the web says about Greg:"Greg Girard is a co-founding brother of the award-winning adventure and travel website and blog ehCanadaTravel.com. Greg is also a top ranked Canadian travel blogger who enjoys public speaking, and working as a small and rural Canada community consultant."

Oh my! If you love books you have to have Parry Sound on your map. Barely Used Books is a destination and I can assure you Melissa and her team can find just about any title you are looking for. Plan on more than a quick visit... you will leave with an armload of pleasurable reading. Have a listen!This is a previously (Spring 2025) broadcast episode. For whatever reason it never made it to the podcast platform. Here it is for you now.

Podcaster, journalist and outdoor enthusiast Meg Carney joins me to talk about the importance of fresh air experiences. A contributor to Field and Stream magazine Meg love to hike, climb, paddle and speaks often about gear. We discuss longevity, durability, and dependability of kit as well as the impact of choices when we should be leaving no trace.

Mark Sherry has pivoted and his latest development is an app that compares prices across grocery stores. Do you have time to look at flyers and take your list to two or three stores to save a buck? What if an algorithm can do it for you in mere moments. Would it change your shopping behaviour? Maybe.Have a listen and find out about GOFER and how it may cut your costs and suggest which provisioner is your best deal.

Rachelle Rocha, ever the innovator, is always looking for ways to improve your Quality of Life. She and her co-owner see "food as medicine" and everything they do supports that belief. Not only is Seasons a pharmacy, but it is also a food store and more. Because of the amount of floor space devoted to the Culinaria, and kitchen, Seasons qualified to sell beer, wine, cider, and perry. It is the first to do this in the category of services they offer. It makes them a true destination for shoppers who understand the philosophy of their store and intentions.

Come along for a conversation with Jason Goossen. Jason and his family currently operate 3 unique stays on their Okanagan property that will delight you. No sound of traffic, a brook, a farm, an orchard, sage fragranced air, and sweeping views will bring down your tension.It truly is a delight that delivers glamping plus!

What a great organization! Deb Pella Keen speaks about the founder and his motivation to promote real Canadian maple trees.Our laneways, farm driveways, and even cities have to actively plant native species. Invasives and aggressives - like the European or Norway Maple - are not the leaf of our flag.Listen along and discover how you can support and even participate in protecting our heritage.

This is not my usual direction. Sure, I've covered some hard topics, but speaking about killers is way off my map. I hesitated for some years to read Michael Arntfield's "Murder City" but there it was on my shelf... it was only a matter of time before I read it from cover to cover. The next step - naturally - was inviting Michael to this program, When you listen along you will see the linkage to questions about quality of life. I post this caution: listen only if you are ready for some content that may disturb you: London, Ontario never was safe. What other horrors exist in this great country? Recent events again highlight that there are some we have to fear. Perhaps by asking difficult questions we as a nation can avoid a future that includes serial killers, missing children and women, and tragedies of mass shootings. Where is the justice for those who have had their future stolen?

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 has gone from working in health care in Parry Sound, but began considering what he would do in his "golden" years. Fully kitted out with great lighting and quality techniques/technology Peter's images are more than just keepsakes. Come along and listen to his motivation in what he does with his camera, how he builds rapport, and the results he achieves.

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 legacy. To think that Champlain and so many other explorers portaged and canoed the waterways of the region is so experiential and immersive. Come along for a conversation I wanted to have with Bill for years... I am so glad it finally happened.

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 1980s and even brought about a relocation to the heart of the Okanagan to be closer to the vineyards and folk who bring joy to our tables, enhance our enjoyment of life, and lift our pleasure in sharing food.

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 to go to camp, to learn to swim, to fish, to sit around a fire at day's end, and to watch the night sky.Children in military families are often uprooted from their communities and connections; their schooling interrupted and safety net disappears. "... Frequent relocations inherent in military life can challenge their ability to develop lasting friendships."Yes, they have been around since 1955 but I bet you may never have heard of Camp Maple Leaf. This is an opportunity to learn about what they nurture and grow.Here is their mission statement:"We give children of Canadian Military families and chi

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 million and are sought by museums and collectors worldwide. Do read her books, and consider touring and taking an art class at this wonderful place in Canadian history.