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Why You Should Listen to This Episode: This one has real range — and real heart. If you've ever loved a blues-rock record, been curious about what drives a local business community, or just wanted to hear two genuinely fascinating people share their stories, this episode is for you. Colin James opens up in a way you rarely hear from a musician of his stature — honest, funny, and reflective. And Dr. Omar Karim brings an energy and global perspective to local business that will leave Parksville listeners genuinely excited about what's coming.

This Episode Features:

(30:42) Colin James is one of Canada's most celebrated blues-rock guitarists — an eight-time Juno Award winner with 21 records and a career spanning more than four decades. His Chasing the Sun Tour brings him to Vancouver Island this spring, with shows in Sidney, Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni, and Campbell River. Colin sits down with The PULSE to talk about recovering from a serious car accident, writing his upcoming memoir, touring with Terra Lightfoot, a riverboat concert on the Douro River in Portugal and what it means to return to Vancouver Island — a place he calls close to home. https://colinjames.com/events/

(07:45) Dr. Omar Karim is a professor, global leadership architect and the new interim executive director of the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce. With an MBA, a Master's in international business, and a doctorate in higher education, Dr. Karim brings a fresh and ambitious vision to one of Parksville Quaicum’s most vital business organizations. He joins The PULSE to talk about the Chamber's newly launched youth membership pass for ages 13–30, a revamped digital membership website, the return of the Business Excellence Awards on April 9th, a new Entrepreneur Hub offering shared services for small businesses on Vancouver Island, and an emerging international partnership that could put Parksville on the global stage. https://www.parksvillechamber.com/

Episode Quotes:

"Just remaining grateful for being able to do what I love for a living — after 21 records. Stevie got cut short and didn't have that opportunity." — Colin James on Stevie Ray Vaughan

"What we're trying to do is create a platform that is welcoming, inclusive, and provides accessibility and opportunities for learning and professional development for our membership." — Dr. Omar Karim

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Episode Sponsors: Ian Lindsay & Associates, Thrifty Foods Parksville, & Fireside Books

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What does it actually take to get something into a government budget?

In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood go behind the scenes on Sean’s multi-year advocacy journey to increase the Volunteer First Responder Tax Credit — first at the federal level, then provincially in British Columbia. From jogging past the fire hall in Parksville to sitting in the legislature on budget day, it’s a story about persistence, relationships, and pulling every lever you can find.

Plus: it’s the show’s first-ever video episode and there’s a new way to pitch in. Joel’s agency built GiverLever, a WordPress donation plugin for nonprofits, campaigns, and creators, and you can take it for a spin by supporting the podcast, or back a specific episode you think deserves more listeners by contributing directly on that episodes page on the website.

Episode Highlights:

How Sean took an idea from a failed federal campaign to two government budgets

What budget day actually looks like inside the BC legislature, including the media “lockup”

Why advocating from multiple channels at once is the key to getting things done

The real cost difference between volunteer and paid fire departments — and why it matters for your property taxes

How a casual conversation with the Minister of Finance at a UBCM reception fits into the bigger advocacy picture

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Visit the NonPartisan Hacks website: https://nonpartisanhacks.com/

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Cyprine Omollo joins A Resilience Project to share a remarkable and deeply moving story of personal transformation and community impact. As Program Manager of Clean Start Kenya, Cyprine leads an organization dedicated to helping women and girls successfully transition back into society after serving time in prison or juvenile detention.

Cyprine's journey begins from a place of profound vulnerability. Having been imprisoned herself after falling into debt and being unable to repay it, she witnessed firsthand the desperate plight of women, girls, and children behind bars. After spending six months in Langata Women's Maximum Security Prison, Cyprine became one of the first recipients of the newly founded Clean Start program

Her story is one of turning hardship into purpose, and of refusing to let the circumstances of the past define the possibilities of the future.

You'll find The PULSE Community Podcasts at: https://thepulsecommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson's website: https://cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Clean Start Kenya: https://cleanstartkenya.com

Episode Sponsor: Tablet Pharmacy — https://tabletpharmacy.ca/

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#CyprineOmollo #CleanStartKenya #ResilienceProject #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #WomensEmpowerment #ThePulseCommunityPodcast #CindyThompson

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