Parksville Qualicum Foundation celebrates 25 years of giving

Host Peter McCully welcomes Rob Duncan, vice chairman of the Parksville Qualicum Foundation; 2024 marks the foundation's 25th anniversary. Duncan sheds light on the impact of these grants on diverse organizations, ranging from the Society of Organized Services to emergency response organizations, …

Parksville chosen to kick off BC Culture Days 2024

Host Peter McCully welcomes Jen Bate, the director of the MacMillan Arts Centre, to the PQBeat podcast. Bate reflects on the success of hosting Canada's National Mosaic conference. "We welcomed probably 11,000 people to the MAC this summer,” she said. “We drew visitors from all over. We had a won…

Paul Drummond, Tigh-Na-Mara GM, retires

Host Peter McCully welcomes Paul Drummond, the recently retired general manager of Tigh-Na-Mara Resort in Parksville. Listeners are treated to a captivating journey of Drummond’s extensive career in the hospitality industry. Using humorous anecdotes and reflections, he shares insights from his 16 …

Patricia Plumley: Teaching Music from 2 to 92

Host Peter McCully welcomes Patricia Plumley, a seasoned music professional and the musical director for 'A Cappella Plus' and 'Village Voices of Qualicum Beach.'" From her beginnings in Guelph, Ontario, where her love for music emerged, to her diverse musical pursuits, Plumley shares her experien…

Staff Sgt. Travis De Coene of the Oceanside RCMP

Host Peter McCully welcomes Staff Sgt. Travis De Coene of the Oceanside RCMP, who provides insights into his experiences and challenges as a law enforcement officer. De Coene reflects on his return to the Island, childhood influences shaping his career choice, and a defining moment during a severe…

Gary Shade explains FLED's journey and mission

Host Peter McCully welcomes Gary Shade, founder of FLED (Find Lost and Escaped Dogs Vancouver Island), who shares the inspiring story of his journey in dog rescue spanning over 15 years. Originally under the radar, FLED became a charity in 2013 and has since grown exponentially. Gary discusses the…

MLA Josie Osborne in a special one-on-one interview

Host Peter McCully chats with Josie Osborne, the MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim and Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. In a wide-ranging interview, discussion includes Osborne's background, experiences and insights. The episode begins with a lighthearted introduction, revealing …

PODCAST: The 15th Annual Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive for the SOS

Host Peter McCully welcomes Tigh-Na-Mara General Manager Paul Drummond and SOS Executive Director Susanna Newton, who discuss the impact and significance of this community-driven event. Paul Drummond, in reflecting on the 15 years of the Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive, discusses the structure of the event…

Vancouver Island entrepreneur lands Dragons' Den deal

Host Peter McCully welcomes Sarah Neal of Lantzville, who shares her remarkable journey from having a background in the frozen food industry to creating her unique business, InstaCake Cards, located in Parksville. Neal recently struck a deal with Dragons Robert Herjavec and Arlene Dickinson on the…

Stilwell inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame

Host Peter McCully welcomes world-class athlete Michelle Stilwell, recently inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. The Parksville resident humbly acknowledged the company of her fellow inductees, including Chantal Benoit and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Their collective accom…