Ian Lindsay & Associates: Ian Lindsay of Lindsay and Associates has played an active role in the local community since 1979. He has been with Re/Max Vancouver Island's most advanced real estate business network since 1996, marketing and selling residential, rural strata recreational investment, and project development real estate. Ian has received several awards recognizing his exceptional community commitment locally, as well as awards for outstanding performance and achievement from both Re/Max International and the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board. You'll find true real estate professionals at ianlindsay.ca.

Rockin Rhonda & The Blues Band: Here comes Peter. Here comes Dave. Oh listen. Bringing stories, making waves. No missing. Spinning tales in the podcast cave. So much laughs and insights everywhere. Peter and Dave, they're on the mics. Alright, join the ride. It's gonna feel just right.

Peter McCully: Welcome to the Pulse Community Podcast, and greetings from Vancouver Island, home to over 500 named mountains, an estimated 7,000 black bears and nearly 900,000 people, two of whom are currently working on a podcast featuring stories from the Mid Island region. And one of them is my podcast co-host Dave Graham.

Dave Graham: I am here. I'm here. I'm here. Oh, it's okay. I'm here. Sorry, I was getting some, uh, some reps in. Yeah. And, uh, that folks is Peter McCully, co-host and producer and, uh, all round nice guy. Oh, while we're talking numbers, sorry. Vancouver Island is home to as many as a quarter of a million deer. You know, I, I can say I saw the tiniest fawn I've ever seen a couple of days ago. Oh, it was adorable. It was, it was so small. It was really neat.

Peter McCully: Do you need to take a minute there, Dave? What's going on?

Dave Graham: No, I'm good. I'm good. Uh, just, uh, getting my workouts in whenever I can throughout the day. You see, you know, maximize the pump as they say. I think that's what they say. Bathing suit season is coming. Summer's almost here, and I figure that gives me about three weeks to get in shape.

Peter McCully: This folks is where we add the disclaimer that medical advice should be sought before engaging in any weight loss program.

Dave Graham: I have done 10 pushups already today.

Peter McCully: Coming up on this episode, Jim Moroz of the Seaside Cruisers stops by to talk about the biggest car show on Vancouver Island, the Father's Day Show and Shine in Qualicum Beach.

Jim Moroz: All the money that we raise goes to charity except for the startup cost of the following year. So last year we gave over $38,000 to local charities this year. It depends on, you know, how we do in the t-shirt sales and how many registrations we get, plus our sponsors. So I would suggest it'll be over $30,000 again this year.

Dave Graham: Sean McCann, co-founder of Great Big Sea, is back on the road, and he has been motivated by the idea that, well, to borrow some of his words, when the world feels fractured and uncertain, music is the friend we can rely on to help us through the hard times. Sean McCann's great big Canadian road trip includes a couple of stops on the island. Parksville is one of them.

Sean McCann: Regardless of who you voted for in this election that we just recently had, I think it's really important now that Canadians remain united, and I think this is the wrong time to divide. I think in the short term, at the very least, we need to come together. Maybe this is the opportunity that we learn to accept each other's differences in a meaningful way and have good conversations that do not resemble what we're seeing in America because it's just heartbreaking and I don't want that to happen for our country. So what I can do is get in my car, drive 10,000 kilometers and sing 10,000 songs with my fellow Canadians. And the point of it all would be to remember that that's who we are, and that we're not the same. We're different, but we are united under one flag, and that's my goal. So it just gave me a target. It gave me a place to do what I do best and hopefully in a meaningful way.

Peter McCully: We encourage you to bookmark thepulsecommunity.ca. That's where you can sign up for the weekly newsletter and find the links for contacting us and connecting with the community. We have some messages from those who did just that.

Kristine Stephenson: Hi, Peter and Dave. I'm Christine Stephenson with the Arrowsmith Community Recreation Association. Don't miss the 34th annual Coombs Community Picnic at the Coombs Fairgrounds on Friday, June 6th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. This free event features live music, sealed games, and educational displays. It's a great evening for the whole family. We'll have free hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, and we hope to see you there. For more information, visit us at arrowsmithrecreation.ca.

Bren Smith: Hi Guys, Bren Smith here. Greetings from Arrowsmith Lodge in Cokely Manor in Parksville. We've got an exciting opportunity to share with folks across the Oceanside area. We've been chosen to help lead the ParticipACTION community challenge happening nationally throughout the month of June. Our seniors want to inspire everyone to get active and get moving. So we've got a plan. We'll be loading up our buses and taking a few of our favorite activities and instructors down to the Parksville Beach and Community Park right at the Legacy Labyrinth, with the mountains and the ocean as our view. We'll be hosting free outdoor fitness classes. Our first event is Thursday, June 5th, with some relaxing chair yoga with Craig. On Thursday, June 19th, we get our groove on with Zumba, and we're finishing up with a fitness routine with Doug from Fluid Fitness on, you guessed it, Thursday, June 26th. All our classes will start at 11 and there'll be approximately one hour.

And here's the challenge, Dave, Peter, everyone listening, grab your chair and come on down for a class or all the classes. Come alongside this great group of people, show your support and have some fun with us. There's no cost. The programs are adapted to all abilities and water and snacks will be provided.

We'll be tallying up the numbers each week to put Parksville on the ParticipACTION Community Challenge map. So should you choose to accept this challenge, you can find more details on our website at arrowsmithlodge.ca. This message will self-destruct. Sorry, I get carried away. Just kidding. Come on down and join us and get active.

Dave Graham: What a terrific program. Hey, whatever it takes to get and stay fit. Just in the last minute, for example, I completed two more bicep curls, and now my workout timetable says I need to hydrate. So Peter, over to you.

Peter McCully: Be listening and watching for our next concert announcement coming soon. Tickets to Sun Fest.

Dave Graham: Oh wow, that's bad.

Peter McCully: Oh, most people would think free concert tickets is a good thing.

Dave Graham: No, they totally are. I love freebies. Now I'm talking about this workout smoothie I made. I kind of just tossed a bunch of stuff into a blender. I might have added just a little too much kale.

Peter McCully: Future guests on the Pulse Community Podcast include Ken Shea of Licken Beach. He's the owner of the SS Minnow, the iconic boat from the Gilligan's Island TV series.

Dave Graham: Robert Bateman, who just celebrated his 95th birthday, has a new show of works in Coombs, and we'll be chatting about that with him before too long. Now, there's a man who's living proof of the benefits of staying fit and active and engaged. He's just absolutely inspiring. You know, I feel the need right now to get active. I'm going to go do some squats.

Peter McCully: Right now, and I'd like to remind everyone about our summer music special coming up. With the season about to begin, we're assembling a collection of songs that are all about summertime, but it's more than that. We'll be out in the public soon, again, gathering your thoughts and memories about this time of the year, and some of those special comments will be rounding out a special edition of the Pulse Community Podcast.

Fireside Books: There's exciting news for book lovers. Fireside Books in Parksville now has a second location in Port Alberni. The Bookwyrm used books are just $5 each and be sure to ask about their volume discounts. The Bookwyrm on the corner of Redford and Anderson opens seven days a week from 10 to 5. Fireside books at 464 Island Highway East in Parksville is a book dragon's dream come true. Browse their extensive collection weekdays from nine to six and weekends 10 to five. Both locations make growing your personal library easier than ever. New books, used books, activity books, puzzle books, and much more. Order online at firesidebooks.ca and your books will be waiting when you arrive. Ask about returning books for a book credit. Fireside books and the Bookwyrm, two locations, one amazing adventure in browsing.

Oceanside Cweed: Oceanside Cweed, that little pot shop, is Parksville's first licensed cannabis store. Since April 2022, Cweed is under new ownership with a product expert at the helm that includes two decades of retail mastery and seven years in the cannabis industry. Cweed is a legacy in the making with cannabis products regulated by Health Canada. Community-minded, Cweed is a member of the Parksville Chamber of Commerce, the Parksville Downtown Business Association, and the Retail Cannabis Council of British Columbia. Those 19 plus can drop by the store at 154 Middleton Avenue next to Tablet Pharmacy. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, weekends and holidays 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Visit the online store at cweedoceanside.ca.

Dave Graham: I'm here again. Sorry. Just, uh, I gotta pull the microphone a little bit closer here. I, uh. Oh, I think I might have pulled a hammy. I began to do some squats there. It turned into more of like a deep knee sit, and now I'm down on the floor. You know what, I think I'm just gonna stay here for a little bit. If, uh, someone could hand me my smoothie. Maybe getting fit by the end of the first day of summer is just aiming a little bit high. Dave, you know, I think it's partly genetics. My genes tell me to eat chocolate. It's almost out of my hands.

Peter McCully: Okay, meantime, we have a podcast to do and that means it's time for our first guest. Here's Marilyn.

Marilyn: In the Green Room is Jim Moroz of the Seaside Cruisers Car Club to talk about this year's Father's Day Show and Shine in Qualicum Beach. The event has been held for more than 30 years.

Peter McCully: Thanks for making time for us today, Jim.

Jim Moroz: No problem. No problem.

Peter McCully: For folks who haven't been to the Father's Day car show lately or ever, it's the event of the year for a lot of us in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area. Perhaps you could tell us how many vehicles were at the show last year, and how many people do you think were in attendance?

Jim Moroz: Last year was our 31st anniversary. This year is our 32nd anniversary of the show, 'cause COVID cost us a year. Last year there were over 500 cars and we figured between 15 and 20,000 people attended.

Peter McCully: Can you walk us through, Jim, what the attendees, the people who bring cars can expect this year in terms of activities?

Jim Moroz: Friday night, we have the Friday night cruise. Last year there were about 400 cars. We expect about the same. They cruise through the streets of Parksville and Qualicum Beach, and it starts out at our curling rink in Parksville, the old curling rink. And the route is on seasidecruisers.com. It's a great way to see the cars from the seat of your lawn chair. We have numerous people all along the route sitting there and watching. And then Saturday night, we have a free dance starting at six o'clock and ending at 10. We've got a super local six-piece band. The Gray Oaks Revival are playing this year. That's always a hit with the parents and the kids. And then Sunday is the big show. It starts at 9:00 AM and we have cars, vendors, 50/50 drawings all day, and the trophy presentation at 2:30. So to be honest, Peter, the amount of money we give to charity and the show itself would not be possible if it wasn't for our major sponsors, which are Mid Island Co-op, French Creek Seafood, Quality Foods, and the Town of Qualicum Beach. Their help is just unfathomable for what we do.

Peter McCully: Jim, how many classic cars and hot rods are you expecting to showcase this year? And is there a particular decade or style that seems especially popular?

Jim Moroz: We've already got registered 415 cars and then there'll be 50 of ours. So we're, we're looking near 475 this year. We're in a bit of a competition with Deuce Days in Victoria versus the Americans that come up. I think they make their mind up, but they're gonna come to one show and typically a lot of them come to our show, but every three years when it's Deuce Days in Victoria, they go there. So as far as popular models, they're all popular. You know, we got 'em right from the thirties right up to whatever model you want to bring, so they all seem to get lots of action.

Peter McCully: What's the oldest car that you recall seeing at the show in your 30 years?

Jim Moroz: Well, for me, it would be a '32 Ford. You know, those are very popular. That's the deuce. We've had some 1919 cars, you know, the Model A and Model Ts.

Peter McCully: I love attending the car show, and I'm always interested to see how you've got the cars laid out. Some years there seems to be like '56, '57 Chevys in a row, and then the Corvettes seemed to be over here and the Datsuns seemed to be over there. How actually do you do that?

Jim Moroz: We used to have what was known as priority parking, and we'd bring in certain amounts of cars, but we found that to be very hard to get all the cars parked by 8:30 in the morning. This year, if you register between one and 275, you get the, basically the good spots downtown and then 275 and that further out on periphery. But we're not having any specialty parking at all this year, other than the four major sponsors, if they want to park a car that's different. If you want to park with your friends, you gotta all line up behind each other, then we'll bring you all in and we'll park you together. But in the past we used to save spots and we're not doing that anymore 'cause I don't feel it's fair to a gentleman that registers say number 10 and then he walks across the street and sees number 400 'cause he came with a group. We've been getting good feedback about that.

Peter McCully: Speaking of feedback, Jim, what kind of feedback do you get from the local merchants about the impact of the car show? You mentioned that you thought there was somewhere in the vicinity of 15,000 people last year. One would think that would be a boon to the area.

Jim Moroz: Yes. The feedback has been overwhelming. Many local businesses are sponsored with the show. The restaurants do an overwhelming amount of business, and the service clubs like the Rotary and the Shriners also participate. Shriners does the breakfast and the Rotary does the lunches. So in fact, the Rotary feeds our people.

Peter McCully: I never miss the pancake breakfast.

Jim Moroz: Oh, good. That's good.

Peter McCully: There's a charitable component to the Father's Day show as well. How does that work?

Jim Moroz: All the money that we raise goes to charity except for the startup cost of the following year. So last year we gave over $38,000 to local charities this year. It depends on, you know, how we do in the t-shirt sales and how many registrations we get, plus our sponsors. So I would suggest it'll be over $30,000 again this year.

Peter McCully: That's a fabulous amount of money that'll do a lot of good for a lot of small groups. Tell us about the Seaside Cruisers membership, Jim. How many members do you have and what draws people to join the club?

Jim Moroz: That's a good question. We have approximately 150 members. Of course, we're always looking for new ones, especially younger, new ones because we want a younger crowd to start taking over. So our membership is free on the proviso that you volunteer. We're required to help put on the show. That's all we ask. Our work in the community over the last 32 years of the show itself draws people to join. If they come to a meeting, they can see what it's all about.

Peter McCully: Do you have folks who show up from outside Vancouver Island with cars? I heard you mention something about the United States and, and if so, from how far away?

Jim Moroz: This year most of it's from the island and the lower mainland, but last year we had a guy from Yuma, Arizona, and we also had a husband and wife who drove two Corvettes from Toronto to Qualicum Beach to be in the show. He had the new one and she had the older one. And this year, I think the furthest away right now is Edmonton.

Peter McCully: You don't happen to recall what kind of a car it was that came from Yuma, Arizona, do you?

Jim Moroz: He had an old Thunderbird from, uh, what I recall and he broke down and he just had one hard luck story too. But we gave him the furthest away trophy. A really nice guy, an elderly gentleman too, wasn't a young guy.

Peter McCully: What's the hard luck trophy?

Jim Moroz: Hard Luck Trophy is for whoever has the worst luck getting to the show, like breakdowns or missed the ferry or whatever. So it's a hardship award and really it's probably somebody who broke down mechanically. Like one year we had a participant who brought a '57 Chevy convertible. Well, this is an unusual vehicle. He had made it from a hard top, cut the top off and made a convertible. And then there's a gentleman in Nanaimo that has a Batmobile. He said he couldn't come 'cause it wouldn't start or something. But the good thing, we never illuminated the bat sign. But it's unbelievable that some of the stuff that comes in there. We had a guy last year that brought a dragster. When he started it, he just about broke the windows.

Peter McCully: With a show this big, you must start planning right after.

Jim Moroz: Yes, we do Peter, it never really stops. We have a bit of a lull in August, towards January and then we're in full swing beginning of February and we just go. Right after the show, we all catch our breath and you know, you're still doing some stuff during the summer. You've gotta have a meeting, decide what charities are getting the money, and then we have to take the money out to the charities, et cetera. So it's a yearly job.

Peter McCully: It keeps you busy. Yeah. What initially got you involved in the Seaside Cruisers and what keeps you passionate about classic cars?

Jim Moroz: Well, my good friend Alex Plonka used to be the president and he sadly passed away last year and he got me to join as a vice president. I was attracted to the charity component myself and the camaraderie of the car culture. I've been going to car shows now for 25 years, and I've owned over a hundred cars in my lifetime. Currently, I have a '73 'Cuda that I took every nut and bolt out of everything. That car had nothing on it, not a screw, and had it redone, had the paint done, and then the engine done. I put it all back together. Currently, I've got a '72 Chevelle convertible I'm working on. It's an auto affair I've had with cars since my early teens, probably 60 years now.

Peter McCully: Well, Jim, if you were lucky like that fellow in the lower mainland recently and won $10 million on the lotto, and you had a chance to pick up another vehicle, what would it be?

Jim Moroz: It'd probably be a '68 Mustang Fastback. I had a '69 Mustang when I was younger, or a Hemi 'Cuda, but the last Hemi 'Cuda convertible 1971 sold at auction. Now they only made 11 of them in '71, but it sold at auction for 3.5 million. That's a $4,500 car back in the day. 3.5 million US.

Peter McCully: There's some capital gains on that, I think.

Jim Moroz: Oh, I think so, yeah.

Peter McCully: Jim, as an organizer, what moment or aspect of the Father's Day Car Show brings you the most satisfaction and why do you continue to dedicate your time to the event?

Jim Moroz: Well now to be honest, Peter, the joy on the people's faces as they walk through our show and view the cars and you can see them reminding each other that their parents or their relatives had one of those in the old days. And I really like the charity component of the show. I feel that that's my volunteer work for the year and I enjoy the gratitude that you see when you hand over a donation check to the local charity. You're having fun, plus you're raising money. It's a win-win.

Peter McCully: Well Jim, thanks for your time and we'll see you at the car show.

Jim Moroz: Okay, thank you.

Dave Graham: The Seaside Cruisers ask adults attending the car show to donate a toy for their Help Us Help Others campaign. The big car show weekend launches with the cruise night on Friday the 13th, but we're not superstitious around here. Everything's gonna be fine. Knock on wood.

Peter McCully: Here at the Pulse Community, we say, welcome one, welcome all, and that includes the kids. We're constantly releasing new stories in our Skookum Kids Story series, one of which is about a magical and memorable visit to Duncan. Be listening for the story called The Night the Totem Spoke. It's the latest in the Mellow Submarine series featuring Captain Dave and his first mate Larry The Lobster, narrated by Dave Graham.

Dave Graham: Our other series is Peter and Gracie, narrated by Peter McCully. Follow the adventures of Gracie, the Eskimo dog and her caretaker Peter, as part of the Skookum Kids stories. Delightful original stories designed to keep the young ones entertained, and maybe even thinking about stuff like the benefits of friendship and cooperation. Check 'em out at thepulsecommunity.ca. They're also available at skookumkids.com, Apple, Buzzsprout, Spotify, YouTube, iHeart, and Amazon.

Windsor Plywood French Creek: The Pulse Community Podcast is brought to you in part by Windsor Plywood in French Creek, specializing in hard to source interior and exterior home finishing products, including flooring, doors and moldings and exterior project materials such as yellow cedar. Windsor plywood, French Creek carries high quality, responsibly sourced products and are committed to providing outstanding value and personalized one-on-one service to all of our customers. Homeowners, do-it-yourselfers, renovators, builders, designers, craftsmen, and contractors. Regardless of the type or size of your project, Windsor can help you bring your vision to life from start to finish. Let Windsor plywood in French Creek help you with your renovation, new build or building project. Visit them online or call 752-3122.

Ian Lindsay & Associates: Ian Lindsay of Lindsay and Associates has played an active role in the local community since 1979. He has been with Re/Max Vancouver Island's most advanced real estate business network since 1996, marketing and selling residential, rural strata recreational investment, and project development real estate. Ian has received several awards recognizing his exceptional community commitment locally, as well as awards for outstanding performance and achievement from both Re/Max International and the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board. You'll find true real estate professionals at ianlindsay.ca.

Dave Graham: Well, Peter, I managed to get up off the floor. I tell you that first squat, it, it just caught me off guard or something. I probably didn't do enough warming up. That's it. I gotta stick with it though. I need to get in shape in time for summer, just weeks away.

Peter McCully: May I remind you of the disclaimer from earlier? You know, Dave, the experts all agree that goal setting involves setting realistic and achievable goals in your exercise routine.

Dave Graham: It almost sounds like you are saying that you don't think I'm going to have my bikini bod by the first day of summer. Well, challenge accepted. I'm gonna move up to the five pound weights and I'm gonna show you. Now, where's my kale smoothie and who's our next guest?

Marilyn: Sean McCann is one of the founding members of Great Big Sea, the Newfoundland Folk Rock band that toured the world. He's back on Vancouver Island with the great big Canadian road trip. One man, one guitar, one country.

Peter McCully: Thanks for making time for us today, Sean.

Sean McCann: Hey, Peter. It's great to see you again.

Peter McCully: How you getting on?

Sean McCann: I'm doing all right. I'm just working up to this big tour I put together for myself. 26 shows is a lot of work, so I'm just kind of managing all the things that go with that and looking forward to getting behind the wheel and doing the drive.

Peter McCully: Yes, you're gonna be driving over 10,000 kilometers from the very first venue to the last venue.

Sean McCann: And I haven't done it since I was 21 years old with Great Big Sea, in which case we did it several times in a couple of years. I remember at the time thinking I didn't want to do it again. I'll be 58 when I start this. I'm actually looking forward to it in the sense of revisiting my youth. But I also just want to reconnect with the country. There's a lot of talk about nationalism and the threats to our sovereignty, and I want to go out and find out what Canada really is now. It's been a while, so I want to see where we're at and see if we're as truly divided as the media would let us believe.

Peter McCully: You were born in Carbonear, grew up in St. John's, and as you say, helped co-found Great Big Sea. The band had 11 gold albums during its run. Now, these days you live in Ottawa, which is probably a pretty exciting place right about now.

Sean McCann: Never a dull moment here in Ottawa. The reason I moved here is because like many different Newfoundlanders' moves, it's for work. Ontario is where all the people are, so I'm able to sustain a career relatively close to home. Ottawa was also the biggest market we had as a band, so we were always very welcome here. I just got to know the city really well and it became like a second home to me. So we were happy to park things here and everyone's been great. Everyone's been super friendly. I've been here for 10 years now and it's been, so far so good.

Peter McCully: Do you get back to Newfoundland every once in a while?

Sean McCann: I go back for a weekend or two in the summer. Usually I still have people there and I'm gonna go back with my kids this summer who are now young men. They haven't been back in about four years, so we're looking forward to that and just seeing where things are going there. Things change so much and so fast, so every time we go back it's different.

Peter McCully: We met a million years ago at the East Coast Music Awards when Great Big Sea made the jump to the mainland, as they say.

Sean McCann: Yeah, those were good times too. There's really not much left from what I can see of the East Coast Music Awards, but back in the day, they had the advent of streaming. The industry has really shrunk in a weird way, or exists in very linear forms now, but back in the day, there was variety.

There were bands being signed to record labels who actively promoted bands and sold records, and there was an economy of scale and it was all very exciting back in the nineties and two thousands. I remember it well. Yeah, good fun.

Peter McCully: Would it be fair to say that you can find Newfoundlanders wherever you travel?

Sean McCann: I certainly do. A lot of that is just the economics of it. You know, it was a colony populated by the English and Irish who were fleeing famine or wanted better lives for themselves, came over and then, you know, quickly the population became too big there to be sustainable on its limited resources. So it really had one trick pony with cod fish.

Most people had to leave for work, and that was usually the states or the mainland Canada. So when we first started with the band, the diaspora of Newfoundlanders, I didn't realize it, but they were everywhere in every nook and cranny of Canada and the US. There were Newfoundlanders who left home to find a better life.

Peter McCully: As you travel across the country and are preparing for another tour, I'm sure you have a story or two about some of the people that you've met along the way. Do folks just come up to you and try out their songwriting on you or talk about a story of where they met or a story about back home?

Sean McCann: There's definitely a lot of nostalgia for the band now.

I think people are taking comfort in the past a little bit when the future is looking so uncertain, and I totally get that. As far as songs go, it's really hard as a songwriter to be motivated to create now because it's so hard to do anything with it, really to share it in a meaningful way. So we keep trying, we keep experimenting with ways.

I just started a Substack, which is where I'll release my new music for the rest of the year. Again, just trying to get out from the algorithms and back into people's hearts and minds. I guess that's why you don't see many new artists 'cause it's just so difficult to start now and there's no real support systems for people starting out.

So, you know, when I do go out there, I do have young people, but they're usually in their teens or younger. And the big joke is, my mom loves your band. So there is a new generation being exposed to Sean McCann songs and Great Big Sea songs because songs are coming out in Grand Theft Auto, which I'm grateful for, and maybe that's how it'll get passed on.

Certainly folk music is known to be passed on orally, so I think that's why it's important that I be present in face-to-face, which is all that really matters to me. I'm kind of done with social media. I just love performing. I always love being in a room, singing with people, and not for people, but with people.

Whatever I have left in my career, that's what I'll end up doing.

Peter McCully: I noticed that one of your stops on this current tour you're planning is a fundraiser in Alberta, and one thing about Newfoundlanders is they're very generous and welcoming, and as a member of Great Big Sea and as a solo artist, you've been involved in a number of fundraising and advocacy programs using what you have to help others.

Sean McCann: When I reached out, a large portion of this is me renting churches who were available, which I didn't think I'd find my place in, but venues are so clogged with nostalgia acts now that it's really hard to find a place to play. So when I reached out to churches, some of them were really excited and got behind it, and I've learned when people want you there, that's the first sign and then they're willing to help.

You know? Then there were causes that presented themselves. Certain communities were obviously more at a disadvantage and in Jasper. I had reached out to the Anglican Church to do a concert. The pastor got back to me. They usually have concerts there, so this was a venue that's been known for presenting concerts.

So I reached out to them and see what the rent would be, and they said, Sean, this brings a tear to my eye. We wish we could host you, but our church burned down. That was a very sobering moment for me, learned about the Jasper fire and how devastating it was. In fairness to me, the website and the Facebook page of this church, the church was still open, so I didn't know.

I guess they have an online community, but the church itself is gone, so we persevered and found up in a smaller, a very historic church there that is now a Baptist church called the historic Jasper Park Church. So I talked to some people on the ground, you know. People are really hurting in Jasper.

People are homeless in Jasper. People lost everything in Jasper. So I'm gonna go to Jasper and I'm going to donate a hundred percent of whatever we generate to their local food bank, which is the line of first defense when things go bad. When things present themselves like that, I'm honored and humbled to be able to participate in that, but I don't think it's just Newfoundlanders.

I think Canadians still want to do that for each other. And when you have the opportunity, why wouldn't you?

Peter McCully: Sean, you've said that current US Visa restrictions and some of the tensions that are ongoing influenced your decision to tour exclusively across the country this summer. Can you elaborate on how the changing political landscape has affected your perspective as a Canadian artist?

Sean McCann: I'll start by saying I love Americans. I love them so much. I married one, my wife is from Minnesota, and my kids are dual citizens. I typically go down to the states every summer and do a run down the Eastern seaboard, which is great fun 'cause they have beautiful venues and it's good weather and it's good money.

Quite frankly, it's good business. But with the American election I was like many people shocked and very disappointed and I started to reconsider that decision. And I'm glad I did because it just didn't feel like things were gonna go well. And I made the decision early not to go. I didn't really know what to do.

But then when he came out and threatened our sovereignty, I knew exactly what to do. As Andrea says, my wife's, you know, as Canadians, as citizens, we feel small in many ways in the bigger geopolitical universe that we're part of. We don't know what to do to fight back. And at least I know what I can do is sing.

What I can do is unite people in songs. And what I'm trying to do here is, regardless of who you voted for in this election that we just recently had, I think it's really important now that Canadians remain united, and I think this is the wrong time to divide. I think in the short term, at the very least, we need to come together.

Maybe this is the opportunity that we learn to accept each other's differences in a meaningful way and have good conversations that do not resemble what we're seeing in America because it's just heartbreaking and I don't want that to happen for our country. So what I can do is get in my car, drive 10,000 kilometers and sing 10,000 songs with my fellow Canadians.

And the point of it all would be to remember that that's who we are, and that we're not the same, we're different, but we are united under one flag, and that's my goal. So it just gave me a target. It gave me a place to do what I do best and hopefully in a meaningful way.

Peter McCully: You are going to be in a lot of community venues on this new tour, the great big Canadian road trip, as you've mentioned. Has the evolution from stadium performances with Great Big Sea to your relationship with the audience in the smaller community spaces, has that brought a different energy to the performance?

Sean McCann: I think most people agree that there's a real authenticity when you're in a small space.

And my sweet spot is two to 300 people. I love that in a church or a theater where there's no distractions. I don't like jumbotrons, I don't like screens, that kind of thing, just focused. It's just simple lighting, no fancy stuff, no fluff. That's where the honesty comes out, and that's the interaction. It actually creates this interaction with the audience.

And as a fan, I've always been drawn to those shows. They're the shows that I pay to go see. And as an artist, I don't care if I ever play another big stadium or hockey rink or festival again, they're just noise, noise, noise. I get it. You want to do it. It never was for me. It's never something I enjoyed.

You can make a lot more money there, which is why the business of it still exists. It's not really fulfilling artistically. It never was for me as an artist or fan. So I just love where I've evolved into. It's kind of where we started. You know, I also love the stinky little dirt bag rock clubs. I love them where the sweat and the band's in your face, and I always loved that and that's how Great Big Sea sounded when we started without a drummer.

I might add, I never had a drummer until year 11, so that's the way we were. We were just aggressive folky, but in your face.

Peter McCully: The tour description that I've got here says you're gonna be visiting some communities you'd never played in before. Which stops are you most curious about and why?

Sean McCann: Oh, there's so many.

Like I haven't been to Rossland there, and I haven't been to Kenora or Fort Frances. You know, I just haven't gotten to go to these places, Neepawa. But what I did quite simply, I had to find a way to get from Ottawa to Victoria and back. And honestly, that took a long time. That was really hard to do because it's a big country and there's not a lot of people in it.

So there's some big drives just to get to where there's a thousand people that may or may not come to my show. Part of me at the end of it all now, now that it's in play and tickets are selling, what I might have created is at least for myself, for artists on the East coast, as hard as it is, 'cause it's not gonna be an easy thing to do.

But you know, we all gotta try just 'cause it's hard doesn't mean we don't do it. That's the situation Canada's in now. But I might have created like a northwest passage to get to the middle of the country. And that's via like Sault Ste. Marie, Fort Frances, Kenora, like just to get to Winnipeg from Ottawa.

It's three days, so, so to connect, like it's 30 hours or something, just straight driving. So if I can make it happen, if I'm successful in this endeavor, and I don't know if I will be, but it looks good now, and this might be the new template and how I actually tour once a year. That's why all these new towns came up and I thought I'd played everywhere, bud.

As it turns out, there's lots of places that I've yet to go and I'm super excited for that. The first time is always a special time.

Peter McCully: Sean, your solo work has openly addressed mental health and recovery. How do the audiences in smaller communities respond to that theme?

Sean McCann: Mental health is not just a big city problem.

It's a smallest town problem, and from rural Newfoundland, fentanyl is a big problem there. Mental health is a huge problem. Addiction of every kind is a problem online and off. Just because you're from a small rural town in Canada doesn't mean you're immune. It certainly means the opposite in many cases.

It's everywhere. It's important to remain vigilant, and that's part of the reason why it's important as an artist not to exclude small town Canada from endeavors. You know, I know why. It's because there's less of an economy of scale. It's harder to make ends meet touring, 'cause hotels are 300 bucks a night.

Now for Holiday Inn. Gas is expensive. Food is expensive. To keep my little Subaru on the road, it's gonna cost about $500 a day. That's pretty much what it costs to be out there conservatively, and I'm drawn to where the hardest work is because it's the most satisfying reward for me. I'll learn the most and maybe I'll do some good, which is always, always in the back of my mind.

It's not even peripheral. It's like, what good things can we do? That's why you'll find me in these small towns. And small town boy that I am, I love them. I have a special place in my heart for them. I live in a big city, but my heart's still in a small town.

Peter McCully: Sean, did I hear you say you were going to be driving across the country in a Subaru?

Sean McCann: I am. I have a Subaru Outback. I'm not a car person. I've only had three cars. I've had a Ford Festiva, which I bought because it fit the band's PA system in the back, two SP two speakers, Peaveys. Had that for 11 years. And then I didn't have a car for a while because I drank a lot and I kind of sobered up and I bought a Honda Element, which they don't make anymore. And now I've got a Subaru Outback, which actually is smaller and I like it though. It's great for carrying kayaks and hiking gear around. It's, it's the right car for the Shan man for sure. So that's what I'll be taking. If there's any Subaru dealerships out there that wish to sponsor any of these events, please feel free.

Send, send a note. We'd appreciate your support because we back your product. Hopefully it won't be tariff affected in the near future.

Peter McCully: Well, you know, uh, Valdy was on the podcast just a few episodes ago and he was talking about the Subaru that he had for the longest time, and when he retired it, it had 475,000 kilometers on it.

Sean McCann: Yeah. At the end of this tour, I'll be pushing 200,000 and a lot of respect for Valdy too. He actually lived in Newfoundland for several years. Yes. He wrote a song called Arnold's Cove Girls. I have the 45. It's a very rare one. He's an inspiration, Canadian folk singer. I've seen him play a few times live.

Great guy, great energy, very positive, man.

Peter McCully: What's the most surprising thing you've learned about yourself or your music since you've been focusing on the more intimate performances?

Sean McCann: How important it is to me. You can look at what I'm doing as a kind of madness, you know, like it, it's hard to justify every year there's more work and less opportunities.

That's just reality. I'm not even here to complain about it. That's the reality that most artists are afraid to talk about. I'm old enough not to care anymore, so I'm just being honest and it matters because I've learned that if I don't play, if I don't write songs, if I don't sing on a daily basis something, or engage with my audience, my mental health deteriorates.

If I do sing, if I do go through the work and book shows and then get there and play the show, I'm a happier person. I'm a higher functioning person, and I keep my own demons at bay, so I'm just motivated to continue for those reasons. I think music is so important and I think particularly now when we are divided, it's no sense in pretending that our country is all on the same page 'cause we're not.

We have a common enemy and a common threat, which I hope will bring us together. But moving forward as a country, which we will do forever, I hope it means we will have to be able to find the means to talk before that happens. Singing might be the way to that common ground because even when you disagree with people, you can sing the same song.

And I've got the songs for that.

Peter McCully: Tell us about the song, Proud to be a Canadian, Sean.

Sean McCann: I actually wrote that back in 2016 as a fundraiser for the Fort McMurray fire, which was devastating. When Trump came out and started talking about annexing Canada and 51st State, I figured I had a good song for that.

Peter McCully: Sean, I was on your website and saw that you have some merchandise for sale. I wanted to know the story behind the shanty jammies.

Sean McCann: Well, that was Andrea's idea. I wanted to call 'em shanty panties, but she frowned on that and probably for good reason, but now I get to say it, so I've said it. I think we came up with that idea just through COVID when we first were allowed to do some shows, even though they were outside and separate.

It was actually in the wintertime when we were allowed to do it. So we broke out the shanty jammies. I think I'm surprised that we have any left. I haven't heard it in a while, but they were a fast selling item for a little while.

Peter McCully: Sean, thanks for your time today. We'll look forward to seeing you on Vancouver Island with the great big Canadian road trip.

One man, one guitar, one country.

Sean McCann: Yeah, me too. I really love Vancouver Island. Good people, and I'll be tired, but I've taken a couple of days off just to be, just to be and take in the sunshine, go for some hikes and some paddles. So I'm really looking forward to that halfway part of my journey, 'cause of course when I get there I gotta turn around and go back.

So I'll see you then, Peter. Thanks again for your time and I'll see you in Parksville.

Dave Graham: Sean McCann. I appreciate the message he brings with his music and that music helps us cope. But for that matter, in a broader sense, is that not one of the greatest benefits of artistic expression? But that, dear friends, is a discussion for another time because I need to get back to my workout.

I'm planning to absolutely crush my next five pushups, but we bodybuilders, we need fuel. I got to eat.

Peter McCully: You're a bodybuilder now. Okay, Arnold. What do you say? We head down to the cafeteria and see what Special Mabel has for us today to help you build that bod.

Dave Graham: Hey, which ice cream do you figure has the most protein?

Rockin Rhonda & The Blues Band: Here comes Peter, here comes Dave, oh listen. Bringing stories, making waves. No missing. Spinning tales in the podcast cave. So to speak. Laughs and insights everywhere. What a treat. Peter and Dave. They're on the mics all right. Join the ride. It's gonna feel just right.