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This PULSE podcast episode showcases the Ballenas Whalers fundraiser and 25th Anniversary homecoming celebration. Featuring Oceanside Football Association President Michael Pedersen discussing the September 6th fundraising dance, plus author Brian Wilford's climate change novel and seismologist Taimi Mulder's tsunami wave analysis for mid-Vancouver Island residents.

This Episode Features:

(07:16) Oceanside Football Association President Michael Pedersen details the September 6th fundraising dance at Jensen Center featuring “Kind of Country” band. The event celebrates 25 years of Ballenas Whalers Football while raising funds for a new field house at Ballenas Secondary School in Parksville. Pedersen explains how thousands of youth have benefited from the local football programs.

(18:16) Retired print journalist Brian Wilford discusses his debut novel "Rise of the Jellies," a satirical science fiction story set in Qualicum Beach. The book uses flying jellyfish as a metaphor for climate change and environmental destruction, drawing from Wilford's 35 years of journalism experience. He explains his creative approach to addressing climate concerns through humor and storytelling.

(15:39) Sidney Seismologist Taimi Mulder speaks about recent 8.8 magnitude earthquake effects, she explains how tsunami waves continue reverberating nine days later, with different impacts on Tofino versus Port Alberni due to geographical factors.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"This will be a field house that'll be accessible to the greater community at large and really leave a legacy for years to come in the Oceanside area." - Michael Pedersen, President of the Oceanside Football Association

"The book is a satire on the human response to climate change. We've known for a long time the planet was warming and the cause was the emissions of carbon dioxide and methane." - Brian Wilford, Author

"If you are on the outer coast when there is a tsunami warning or a watch or an advisory, I suggest that you be very careful for a good 48 hours afterwards. Many of these effects last." - Taimi Mulder, Seismologist

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Thrifty Foods Parksville, & Fireside Books.

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This PULSE podcast episode celebrates Vancouver Island community arts through two inspiring local stories. Featuring Sylvia Humble of Humble Harmony community singing groups and photographer duo Dave and Kelly Hutchinson discussing their bestselling book "Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape."

This Episode Features:

(10:08) Sylvia Humble, founder of Humble Harmony, shares her inspiring journey from government worker to community singing facilitator. After a cancer diagnosis prompted her career change, Humble created inclusive singing groups across Parksville and Nanaimo where perfection isn't required—just joy and connection. Her Vancouver Island community arts initiative welcomes singers of all abilities, teaching harmony by ear without sheet music.

(20:04) Husband-wife team Dave and Kelly Hutchinson discuss their collaborative photography book covering 600 kilometers of Vancouver Island landscape, from Victoria to Cape Scott. Dave's nature photography spans two decades, while Kelly authored compelling stories behind each image. Their Vancouver Island community arts project has become a bestseller and headed to a second printing, with copies traveling worldwide as gifts.

Episode Highlights & Vancouver Island Community Arts Stories

"I've fallen in love with the idea of community singing — that singing together can be just for the pure joy and connection of it, rather than aiming for perfection or polishing it for performance." - Sylvia Humble, Humble Harmony founder

"I would say it's at least half or more are buying the book as a gift for somebody that has already been here, or somebody that's coming here, or they're sending it to Germany as a gift to somebody that had visited, or Australia — books are going all over the place." - Dave Hutchinson on their photography book's global reach

The episode also highlights upcoming Vancouver Island community arts events:

· Rock the Park: August 8-10 at Parksville Beach Festival

· Coombs Fair: 112th annual fair, August 9-10

· Tim Hortons Concert Series: August 15-16

· Sculpture Light-Up evenings: August 15-16

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You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods Parksville, & Parksville Beach Festival.

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This Episode Features:

(08:32) Gordon Maurits and Jaclyn Tereszko from Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers reveal recent losses of over $100,000 to fraudsters targeting Vancouver Island seniors. They detail upcoming safety seminars covering home security, internet fraud, and emergency preparedness for Parksville and Qualicum Beach residents. Seminar details can be found here.

(27:04) Powder Blues frontman Tom Lavin reflects on his remarkable 47-year music career, from playing Vancouver's Hastings Street strip clubs in 1969 to creating timeless hits like "Doin' It Right", (Contained in the Podcast). He shares insights about Vancouver's vibrant 1970s music scene and his diverse entrepreneurial ventures between tours. The Powder Blues will be performing at Parksville’s “Beach Fest Rocks” event.

Episode Highlights & Quotes

"I never wanted a band that folks could dance to. What I always wanted was a band that folks would find it difficult not to dance to. And to me there's a difference." - Tom Lavin, Powder Blues

"There have been a lot of cases of residents of our community losing money, and just recently a resident reported losing $30,000 to a call that came in claiming that it was a relative that was involved in an accident." - Jaclyn Tereszko, Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers

Text us about this episode: Send us a text

Voice message: Voice message The PULSE and be part of the podcast!

You'll find all episodes of the The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TicTok and YouTube podcasts, as well as PULSECommunity.ca.

Click here to learn how to Support the show

Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Thrifty Foods Parksville, & Parksville Beach Festival.

Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube Podcasts, as well at SkookumKids.com.

Support the show