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 is 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.

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.

Dave Graham: Hey there. Welcome to a special edition of the Pulse Community Podcast as we celebrate the astronomical event known as the summer solstice. Here with me is a man who is grateful you don't actually have to go to Hawaii to get the shirts. It's Peter McCully.

Peter McCully: Wishing you and yours a happy summer, and looking forward to spinning some tunes with a former fellow radio DJ, my partner in podcasting, Dave Graham.

Dave Graham: You know, my Hawaiian shirts were just so wasted on radio, but I have one on now and it just makes me feel festive. Heck, I even have some Hawaiian socks on, just to show you that I mean business, because here at the Pulse Community, we take summer fun seriously. We've assembled a summertime music playlist, and we will get to our first tune momentarily. But first we're going to hear from some of you. We'll start with one of the conversations we recorded recently at the Food Truck Festival in Parksville.

"You Said It": We're out asking questions all centered around summertime memories and music, and what does summer mean to you musically? Well, how far back do you want to go, Dave? I'm 67 years old, so I could take you back. I'll tell you one very cool summer experience that I can remember was probably about 1978 at an outdoor rock festival called Black Mountain Boogie just outside of Rutland, and Burton Cummings played at midnight in August. It was probably 36 degrees Celsius with a warm wind blowing, and he had this sort of white god-like outfit on with big curly hair with the wind blowing through it. And you know, he is a great pianist, and him standing at the piano... And this was like an amphitheater-style bowl—it was just enthralling. So that's one of thousands of summer experiences I've had. I like being outside. I feel like we are closed in enough. We don't need to be in four walls with a ceiling overhead. So I am about half an hour away from inflating and attempting paddle boarding for the first time, my girlfriend and I. That's where we're going. We've had a little bite, we've listened to some music, we've met you two good fellows. So if you keep an eye out, see that section of beach there? If a flare goes off, send the ambulance.

Kid Rock - All Summer Long: Lyrics - R.J. Ritchie, Matthew Shafer, Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Edward King, Leroy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel, Warren Zevon

Blake Shelton - Footloose: Lyrics - Kenny Loggins, Dean Pitchford

Dave Graham: This is the Pulse Community Podcast, and we are celebrating summer with some words and music on that theme—Blake Shelton's version of Footloose there, along with All Summer Long by Kid Rock. And that reminds me that summer may look long in these first few days of the season, but it will be over all too soon. You know, in the last few summers I've been realizing I'd start the season with all kinds of summer plans, and then the season would slide by and I'd suddenly realize I'd barely touched my summer fun list. So that's my resolution: to make the most of summer this year.

Peter McCully: Linda Hargraves of Cumberland already has a great summer treat to enjoy. She was the winner of our tickets to see Chilliwack. Thanks to all who entered the giveaway, and we do encourage you to visit our website and social media for our latest giveaway. It's a four-day general admission pass to Sun Fest in Lake Cowichan, and we've made it even easier to enter.

Dave Graham: Future Pulse Community Podcast guests will include Shannon Sinn, author of the book "The Haunting of Vancouver Island." He's going to share some great stories about hauntings.

Peter McCully: Jordan Schley returns to the podcast to update listeners on his Qualicum Beach Healthcare Clinic and the possibility of a private MRI machine for Mid Island.

"You Said It": Sarah from Parksville. I just like something gentle and upbeat, laid back. That's the summertime kind of vibe that I like.

The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up: You have a summer so far in your life that stands out as being exceptional for some reason, or there's a job or romance or some other experience you had? I think that'll be this one. Yeah, I think that'll be this one. So you're seeing signs, you get feelings or what? What's this based on? Looking for signs. Yeah, and I just bought a convertible yesterday.

The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up: Lyrics - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards

Dave Graham: Peter, remember when you convinced me to try that pottery class? Hey, you made a decent-looking bowl-ish thing. Well, now I'm thinking bigger. Parksville Beach Festival opens in two weeks and they're offering sand sculpting lessons.

Peter McCully: That's right. Watch 30 international master sculptors transform sand into breathtaking "Circus by the Sea" masterpieces during their intense 30-hour competition July 10th through 13th.

Dave Graham: Thirty hours. I can barely stay awake for a Marvel marathon.

Peter McCully: Good thing you can learn at your own pace then, Dave. Expert sand sculpting lessons happen July 12th and 13th. They're perfect for all ages. Plus, Chilliwack performs opening night.

Dave Graham: Free summer concerts, daily buskers, and sand art. This beats pottery class by a beach mile.

Peter McCully: Parksville Beach Festival is coming July 12th, where Dave might actually create something that's recognizable.

Dave Graham: Details at parksvillebeachfest.ca.

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.

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"You Said It": I'm Brooke Matthew from Parksville. How about a summertime job? Do you ever have one that you just think back fondly on and think, "That was a good summer"? You know, when I was 18 I was a landscaper, and that was fun when you're 18. I think it would be a little hard now, but it was good when you're young, you know. Do you have a recommendation for one of the best things to do on Vancouver Island? Well, I grew up in Sooke, so the Sooke Potholes are still one of my favorites. Yeah, I would say Strathcona Park. Love it. There's so much to do there. Wendy, from Parksville. Is there one thing that when summer comes on Vancouver Island, you gotta do? I love to go down on Canada Day down to the park. I love to see the parade and I like to go down and go to all the vendors, and it just feels like a holiday, even though I live here. That's the day that feels like a holiday in the summertime. My name is Clinton and I'm from here in Parksville. While living here in British Columbia, I'm a big fan of Trooper and the song "Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)." That's gotta be the song that always comes back, and I hope they're coming to town this year. Hopefully we can see 'em here on the West Coast. Did you ever have a summer job you think back on kind of fondly? Oh, of course. Yeah. Well, I'm a local boy. I started at QF. We were out pushing buggies around in 30-degree heat. You're able to laugh about it. This is good. Of course. Yeah. The best thing you can think of to do on Vancouver Island in the summertime? Go fishing, hit up the water. You know, it's nice being on land, but we live in the most beautiful place in the world, and I think if you don't have a boat, find somebody with a boat and drop a line.

Sheryl Crow - Soak Up the Sun: Lyrics - Sheryl Crow, Jeff Trott

"You Said It": Is there in your life so far one particular summer that just stands out as being exceptional, and why would that be? Oh, you know what, I think this summer. My son's four years old now, so seeing him play at the beach digging holes, plus the missus is pregnant, so we're gonna have another one. So this is gonna be a fantastic summer. Wow. Two kids. Yep. Congratulations. Thank you. Have you ever had a job in the summer that you thought, looking back, "Hey, that was pretty cool. That was a pretty neat job. I had a good time"? Honestly, working in the summer is just the worst. I'd rather be at the beach. I'm a construction worker too, so yeah, I'm always working outside. Is there something here on Vancouver Island that you just gotta do during the summer, because that's what you do in the summer? Camping at Rathtrevor Bay. Beautiful spot. Good fishing, good camping, good hiking. It's the best.

Keith Urban - Long Hot Summer: Lyrics - Richard Marx, Keith Urban

Dave Graham: Here at the Pulse Community Podcast, we are saying welcome to summer, and we are doing it with music and with input from our community in the form of summertime memories. And we're preparing for our next music special.

Peter McCully: We welcome your input for our BC Day summertime music special. What song do you think of when you think of BC? Let us know, or maybe you have a summertime story to share. Go to thepulsecommunity.ca under the contact page to leave your request, or message us.

Parksville Beachfest: The countdown is on! Parksville Beach Festival opens in just two weeks and we can barely contain our excitement. Watch 30 international master sculptors transform sand into breathtaking "Circus by the Sea" masterpieces during the intense 30-hour competition July 10th through 13th. Opening weekend features the legendary band Chilliwack on July 12th. Get your tickets before they're gone. Wanna learn from the pros? Join expert sand sculpting lessons July 12th and 13th. Perfect for all ages. Plus, enjoy free summer concerts, daily buskers, and so much more. This is the summer event you can't miss. Parksville Beach Festival coming July 12th. Visit parksvillebeachfest.ca.

Peter McCully: We have a growing collection of kids' stories. We call them Skookum Kid stories. One series is based around a unique ocean-going craft that can also travel on land. It's the Mellow Submarine featuring Captain Dave and his first mate, Larry the Lobster. Their latest adventure is called "Lost in a Tofino Fog."

Dave Graham: Then there's Peter and Gracie. Gracie is a dog, and she and Peter travel to places familiar to locals in this area. The latest story takes place at Rathtrevor Beach.

Peter McCully: All the stories, old and new, are at thepulsecommunity.ca, also skookumkids.com and all the major platforms: Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon, and YouTube. We also have sponsorship opportunities. Let's talk. Email peter@thepulsecommunity.ca.

"You Said It": My name's Bob and I'm from Parksville. In your years, did you ever have a summertime job that turned out, when you look back on it, was pretty cool? Yeah. I worked at an amusement park when I was a kid. Shot footballs through the tires and hoops on the bottles and shot out the star, and so that was a lot of fun. It was an amusement park. It was fun all day. Yeah, it was kind of cool. Yeah. At the right time of life too. Yeah, I wouldn't do it now. I'm a little older now. Do you have any other summertime memories that just stand out to you as being highlights of that time of year? Well, we did a lot of traveling since I retired last summer and the summer before, and crossed the continent and went down south and all over the place. So that's been great. Yeah, summers have been really good. And doing it again. We're going to Haida Gwaii, leaving in two weeks. Start all over again. Summer's been good to me. Glad to hear it. So when you think about summer, you think about music, who or what do you think about? Well, right away it comes to mind: The Beach Boys. They're all about summer and all their songs are about summer and put a smile on everybody's face. And "Summertime Livin' Is Easy."

Beach Boys - California Girls: Lyrics - Mike Love, Brian Wilson

"You Said It": In your short time on this earth, can you come up with one summer that stands out for you as being just the best yet? It was just something, it was an amazing summer. Oh my gosh. Last summer was pretty good. I was working outdoors, so I just got to spend time on the beach with people and everyone was just happy to be here, so I was too. I was working at a resort, making events for kids and families who came to the resort, and I just would set it up, help them kind of get involved with the community and it was fun. Yeah. Sounds like kind of a fun job really. It really was. Yeah. When summer rolls around here on Vancouver Island, what one thing do you have to do? Because it's summer and we're on Vancouver Island. Everything on the water, you gotta do it: surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking. Just be on the beach. When you think of summer, what kind of music or what kind of artist or a song do you think of? "Summer of '69." That's the song that comes to mind when I think of summer.

Bryan Adams - Summer of '69: Lyrics - Jim Vallance, Bryan Adams

Speaker 17: I'm McKenna. I'm born and raised in Parksville. I'm Jonas, and I'm from Nanaimo. When we're thinking about summer, is there a band or a song or a concert or a show, something you always associate with an amazing summertime experience? I think country music is pretty good with that. I'm listening to a lot of Morgan Wallen right now, and that gives very summery vibes. In your short lives on this beautiful planet, have you had a summer that just stands out above all others? My grandparents owned a sailboat when I was growing up, so we would just go out for two weeks and it was amazing. It'll always be a core memory for me. In terms of summertime activities, is there one thing you gotta do here on Vancouver Island during the summer? Oh yeah. I think you have to go swimming. I think swimming's the biggest one. Yeah. Beach, lake, river. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Lots of good places here. Oh, it sounds like you mix it up. Do you have a favorite? The Nose in Errington where you can jump off the rock there? Yeah, that's a good one. Yeah.

Dave Graham: We are enjoying some summertime music and memories with thanks to those who stepped up to the mic and shared their thoughts. For this special, we encountered all these good people while at the Food Truck Festival in Parksville recently.

Peter McCully: We invite you to visit our website and social media for our latest giveaway: a four-day general admission pass to Sun Fest, and we've made it even easier to enter. Visit our website to enter. You might also wanna sign up for our newsletter. Here's the address: thepulsecommunity.ca.

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 is 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.

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+ 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.

"You Said It": My name is Lexi. I'm from Nanaimo. Is there one thing when summer rolls around on Vancouver Island that you have to do in the summertime? Go to the river—Nanaimo River. Is there a song or a band or a concert or something that's musical you always relate to summertime? Oh, I'm going to Nickelback this summer.

Nickelback - Sharp Dressed Man: Lyrics - Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard

"You Said It": If I were to ask a favorite summertime memory, what might come to mind? Endless summer days. As a kid, it went on forever. Swimming in the ocean. When did you have to be home by? Well, we lived on the ocean, so it was easy, but my mother used to ring a cowbell to tell us to come home. Tammy, from right here in the Oceanside. Hey, if I were to ask you to name a favorite summertime song, what comes first to mind? I like all music, so that's really tough to pick one. The Hip. Come on, Canadian band. For somebody coming fresh here, what would you recommend is one of the top things to do when you're here? You know, the area has so much to offer, you know, the ocean, the mountains, nature, and honestly, it's just tranquil. Like you don't have all the hustle and bustle of the mainland. So it's real serenity. Best summertime memory from one ever in your lifetime? Being out on my boat just with the ocean in the air and a fish on the end of the line. My name's Greg from Parksville. Can you name a favorite summertime song or piece of music? "Brown Eyed Girl." And where were you when that first came out? I was young and brown haired. So when you hear it today, do you go someplace in particular? Just warm summer days. Beautiful evenings.

Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl: Lyrics - Van Morrison

"You Said It": I want to hit you with this question. It's summertime. What kind of music or band or song do you think of? Summer song from maybe three years ago. It's called "Sunroof" by Nicky Youre, and it kind of talks about your head out the sunroof and your blasting your favorite tunes, and just your mind is thinking about people you love and the summertime and just enjoying life. That for me, recent song is a highlight. I love it. It just invokes everything about summer, it invokes the sun flying through my hair. If I had hair, it lets me be down at the beach. It's just "Sunroof." It's the best of everything. You're just driving, you're enjoying the season, and that would be the song that would come to my mind.

When I think about summer songs, when I think about summer jobs, I'm thinking about working at some of these ice cream places. As a university student, I worked in an ice cream factory where they made ice cream and Revels and, you know, Creamsicles and all this kind of stuff, and I worked the night shifts. There was not a lot of supervision, so we had little snacks.

Beatles - Drive My Car: Lyrics - Lennon, McCartney

Dave Graham: This is the Pulse Community Podcast. Beep beep. Yeah, and this has been a special edition to celebrate the arrival of summer with beaches to walk on and markets and festivals to visit, waterfalls to enjoy, wildlife to view, and general paradise all about. We are at a great time and in a wonderful place.

Peter McCully: Don't forget, we're looking for your input on our next music special, our BC Day summertime special. What does BC mean to you? What about BC music? Let us know through the contact link at thepulsecommunity.ca. In the meantime, Dave, we can't be active on an empty stomach.

Dave Graham: Is it time to head to the cafeteria to see what Mabel has on special today?

Peter McCully: I hear she has a special summer menu.

Dave Graham: What do you think that means?

Peter McCully: We're talking Mabel here, so...

Dave Graham: OK, I just got the menu online—"free appetizers all week—summer sausage on a stick."

Peter McCully: Shall we go anyway?

Dave Graham: What the heck, she means well.

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.