Tablet Pharmacy: Ever find yourself waiting endlessly at a big box pharmacy, feeling like just another number? There's a better way. At Tablet Pharmacy, they provide the personalized service you deserve. Check their competitive prices online at tabletpharmacy.ca before you even leave home. They offer free delivery and blister packaging options to make managing your medications easier than ever. With convenient locations in Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and now open in Nanaimo near The Brick, Tablet Pharmacy has been serving Vancouver Island since 2019. Stop being just a prescription number. Experience the Tablet Pharmacy difference today. Visit them online and check their prices at tabletpharmacy.ca.

Rockin Rhonda & The Uptown 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: Hello and welcome to The Pulse Community Podcast, with a focus on the stories and people of Mid Vancouver Island. Here's my co-host, Peter McCully.

Peter McCully: Thank you, Dave Graham. Well, here we are in early August, about midway through summer.

Dave Graham: Yes, you know, I did some calculations and apparently, if my math is right, we are indeed at the halfway point of this season. Time marches on, nothing lasts forever, and all that.

Peter McCully: And our listeners' time is precious. So moving along, on this episode, Dave and Kelly Hutchinson of Qualicum Beach have published a BC bestseller of photography. The book is entitled "Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape," and it was 20 years in the making.

Dave Hutchinson: One thing that we've observed too at the book events, and Kelly touched on this, is that I've been quite surprised about how many people buy the book for somebody else. 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. Yes, I find that quite interesting about the gift-giving that we're witnessing when we talk to people face to face.

Dave Graham: Sylvia Humble loves to sing so much that she has formed several community singing groups, and she isn't looking for professional quality singers. No, this is all for fun. Despite that, though, singing has had a profound effect on some.

Sylvia Humble: My favorite story is about Rob. He was my neighbor, and he was one of the first people who joined me. He was really afraid to share his voice. Even though he had a background in music, he was afraid to make mistakes, and so he was really shy and quiet, and even in his posture, hesitant. It was really quite beautiful to see him transform from that shy kind of way of singing to really just open up and have fun and let go of getting it right — to break free from that structure of the sheet music and just have fun, get creative. And so now his life has changed so much because now it's all built around singing, and he's part of the Tides Men in Nanaimo and some quartets and a whole bunch of different groups. He's made a whole new network socially out of singing.

Peter McCully: Future guests to The Pulse podcast include Michael Pedersen, the president of the Oceanside Football Association. The Ballenas Whalers are celebrating their 25th anniversary with a homecoming event in September. It's also a fundraiser to help build a new fieldhouse.

Dave Graham: Joe Straka, vice president of Oceanside Classical Concerts, will be here to talk about the outreach programs, including an instrument lending program for students and a music scholarship program and a new program. This fall, we'll see Oceanside Classical Concerts live-streamed to seniors' facilities in the PQB area.

Peter McCully: Brian Wilford, longtime journalist in the Parksville-Qualicum Beach area, has written a book. It's a satire that one reviewer calls "a cheeky, engrossing thriller." A conversation about "Rise of the Jellies" with Brian Wilford.

Dave Graham: Marcy Sjostrom is the winner of our Beach Fest Rocks Contest.

Peter McCully: Hello, is that Marcy?

Marcy Sjostrom: It is.

Peter McCully: Hi Marcy. It's Peter McCully calling from The Pulse Community Podcast.

Marcy Sjostrom: Hi. How you doing?

Peter McCully: Good. You entered a contest that we were running — the Beach Fest Rocks Music Festival. Yes. And you are our winner.

Marcy Sjostrom: Yay!

Peter McCully: We've got two three-day passes for Beach Fest Rocks, which is coming up August 8th through 10th at the amphitheater at the beach. We've got a couple of folding camp chairs for you.

Marcy Sjostrom: Perfect!

Peter McCully: A 48-quart cooler so you can keep something cool in it.

Marcy Sjostrom: That's awesome.

Peter McCully: And a $50 Thrifty Foods Smile Card so that you can get some goodies to put in the cooler.

Marcy Sjostrom: Oh, perfect.

Marcy Sjostrom: Thank you.

Peter McCully: Thank you for entering the contest and being part of The Pulse community. We appreciate your support.

Marcy Sjostrom: Sounds wonderful. Okay, bye now.

Dave Graham: Thanks to everyone who entered.

Peter McCully: But wait, there's more. Dave, we have a new contest for you for the month of August. It's The Pulse Podcast Grill, Chill, and Fill Contest.

Dave Graham: Yes, we are giving away a Paderno portable propane grill, an Igloo cooler, and a $100 Smile Card from Thrifty Foods in Parksville. You can enter either through our website, thepulsecommunity.ca, or our Facebook page, The Pulse Community. Make sure you enter soon — time waits for no one, and the deadline will be here before you know it. Just like the sand sculptures down by the ocean, it's another reminder of the impermanence of all things.

Peter McCully: Dave, Dave, David! It sounds like you've been reading again. It's a lifelong study, my friend. Allow me to quote some wise words from the great Canadian band Trooper: "We're here for a good time, not a long time."

Marilyn: 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.

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.

Dave Graham: Peter, I can hear music from three blocks away. What's happening at the beach?

Peter McCully: Well, Rock the Park is here August 8th through 10th — three days of world-class tribute bands. It'll make you think you've time-traveled to the golden age of rock.

Dave Graham: My air guitar skills are finally going to pay off.

Peter McCully: Yeah, just promise me you won't actually try to crowd surf this time. But seriously, rock out to your favorite classic hits at this incredible festival within a festival.

Dave Graham: The sand sculptures are still there for when I need a break from headbanging.

Peter McCully: Well, absolutely. The amazing Circus by the Sea sculptures are on display daily. Buskers perform at the gazebo, and the Tim Hortons Concert Series continues August 15th and 16th.

Dave Graham: Magical Sculpture Light-Up evenings happen August 15th and 16th. Watch for spectacular fireworks August 16th and the Grand Finale Closing Concert August 17th.

Peter McCully: Parksville Beach Festival — where Dave's air guitar meets real guitars and nobody gets hurt.

Dave Graham: Details at parksvillebeachfest.ca.

Qualicum Beach Merchants: Hey Dave and Peter, it's Patrick from What's Cooking in Beautiful Qualicum Beach. On behalf of the Qualicum Beach Merchant Society, we want to invite you to enjoy live music around the village every Saturday this summer from 11:30 to 2:30. It's such a wonderful experience strolling our village streets and discovering all our fabulous boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. Whether you're a tourist in your own town or a visiting guest, we can't wait to show off our beautiful Qualicum Beach Village. Thanks guys. See you soon.

Coombs Fair: The 112th annual Coombs Fair will take place at the Coombs Fairground on Saturday, August 9th, and Sunday, August 10th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Coombs Fair is home to the largest poultry show in BC, livestock exhibits, arts and crafts, live music and entertainment, food trucks, vendor demos, and more. And of course, it is an old-fashioned fair with both junior and adult entries in a multitude of categories, from floral to fiber arts, photography, vegetables, jellies, baked goods, livestock, and much more. Check out our website coombsfair.com for a complete list of fair entries and download our 2025 fair booklet. For more information, check out coombsfair.com. See you at the fair.

Dave Graham: Let's bring on our first guest. Here's Marilyn.

Marilyn: In an age where people rely on the internet for music, communal singing has almost fallen by the wayside. Sylvia Humble brings people together in song, having created the Humble Harmony community singing groups.

Peter McCully: Thanks for joining us on the podcast today, Sylvia.

Sylvia Humble: Thanks Peter, for inviting me.

Peter McCully: What is Humble Harmony, and what sparked the idea for this group back in 2021?

Sylvia Humble: Humble Harmony is my passion and my livelihood. It is an informal and fun community singing group. It's a lot like a community choir, but we don't use sheet music and we don't perform. It's just all about the joy of singing. I came up with the idea after quitting my government job. I knew there was something more to life than sitting in a cubicle. I had just had a cancer diagnosis, and I just realized that life was too short not to do something I love. So I left my job and I took leave. I didn't know what it was going to be. And then I met this woman named Jill McCabe while we were walking our dogs down by the river. And she's a business coach, and she said, "What have you always dreamed about doing?" And I said, "Well, I always wanted to be a singer, but I gave up on that dream a long time ago." And she said, "You could make a difference in the world, and you don't have to be a star." She helped me believe in myself that I could do something meaningful and make a difference in the world. So I started experimenting with this idea of a small group where we were freeing our voices, and so I was doing that at the same time because I realized I needed to return to this passion for singing, that it was always my source of joy in life. I started with a group of six people on the beach singing in harmony and being creative. It has expanded and evolved since then.

Peter McCully: You mentioned, Sylvia, that you gave up on that dream a long time ago. What is your musical background?

Sylvia Humble: Well, I was classically trained as a child from the age of eight to 14. I studied voice and some music theory. I was in choirs all of that time, so singing in harmony, in choir, at church, and competing in festivals. The harmony singing was deeply ingrained in me from the time that I was a child. And then in my early twenties, I joined a Grateful Dead cover band. I learned to play guitar, and I started writing songs. And we sang in three-part harmony, and so that was just the time of my life. I moved from Ontario out west and formed a duo with my friend Kristen Green. We were Humble Green, and we wrote songs, and we sang in harmony. The harmony singing has always been a constant in my life, and now I found that it's a gift that I have to share — to teach harmony.

Peter McCully: We met a couple of months ago, Sylvia, when you and your group Humble Harmony in Parksville provided the intro and outro musically for a podcast that Dave and I had done on the SS Minnow — Gilligan's Island. I was there when you folks were recording it, and you were having so much fun. I thought, "We have to find out more about what happens at these song circles."

Sylvia Humble: Yeah, we had so much fun with that, Peter. It was so excellent. I'm glad that I got connected with you, and we got to have fun with that song, "Gilligan's Island." But it's one of those things that has so much memory and joy associated back in the day when we used to watch the show. We like to sing those songs — the songs that are part of our hearts. So we do some Beatles songs and some Leonard Cohen and the familiar songs that people love. That's always been part of it and is a reason that some people come.

Peter McCully: You emphasize singing by ear, imperfectly, without sheet music. In a world that really values polish and perfection in music, so why the imperfect?

Sylvia Humble: Because 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. And there's so many wonderful choirs in Nanaimo and Parksville, from community choirs to audition professional groups that are really great options for people who value that and who like the structure of written music and polishing it. But I have found that what I love is this alternative idea of using our ears to learn. I teach people how to sing in harmony by ear, by call and response. It's really a great exercise for the brain, and it allows room for creativity. So the more experienced singers have an opportunity to improvise with harmony, and the less experienced singers don't have to get it right, so there's an opportunity for play. And when you get away from that aiming for perfection, you can open up an avenue for more self-expression and sharing your voice authentically with people.

Peter McCully: You welcome people regardless of their experience. Perhaps you could tell us a story about somebody who you know initially felt hesitant to sing but found their voice through Humble Harmony.

Sylvia Humble: Yeah, yeah. My favorite story is about Rob. He was my neighbor, and he was one of the first people who joined me. He was really afraid to share his voice. Even though he had a background in music, he was afraid to make mistakes, and so he was really shy and quiet, and even in his posture, hesitant. It was really quite beautiful to see him transform from that shy kind of way of singing to really just open up and have fun and let go of getting it right — to break free from that structure of the sheet music and just have fun and get creative. And so now his life has changed so much because now it's all built around singing, and he's part of the Tides Men in Nanaimo and some quartets and a whole bunch of different groups. He's made a whole new network socially out of singing.

Peter McCully: I was on your website, Sylvia, and you describe Humble Harmony as a cross between a community choir and a campfire song circle. Perhaps you could paint a picture of what that actually looks like. It sounds like a Kumbaya moment.

Sylvia Humble: Yeah, definitely. Yeah, like a community choir, we do learn some songs that are in three and four-part harmony, so I will teach a bass and a tenor and an alto and a soprano part. But people are not assigned to those roles, and they can move around the room and change and try different parts and explore their voice in and amongst those more challenging songs. We'll do some, what I call instant gratification songs where you can learn them really quickly and they're short and repetitive — like rounds or chants where the joy of the sound of the harmonies and the parts coming together happens really quickly. It's a mix of more challenging and easier songs. It's really all about the joy. A lot of people in my group say that it's their therapy every week, and for me the same, 'cause you might feel tired or anxious about life coming in. And then by the time we leave, we're just feeling so fantastic. Many of the people become members, and they come every week, and we get to know the songs and we get to know each other. There's a lot of movement and actions with the songs, and even we get to dancing sometimes. So it's really an alternative to choir. That's why I call it a song circle instead of a choir.

Peter McCully: You've got one group in Parksville and multiple options in Nanaimo, as I understand it.

Sylvia Humble: That's right, yeah. I have a weekly group in Parksville on Thursday afternoons, and then I've got a Monday afternoon group in Nanaimo and a Tuesday evening group in Nanaimo. And now I've started working with Parks and Rec in Nanaimo for a Friday afternoon, and it's so much fun.

Peter McCully: If someone listening has never experienced community singing or, as you mentioned, feels intimidated by the idea, what would you want them to know about the power of people singing together just for fun?

Sylvia Humble: I'd just like them to know that it's not about talent or ability — that everybody can sing. It's part of our DNA and part of our tribal history. Sharing your voice in community is really such a powerful thing. We can connect with people in a meaningful way that's not easy to find in everyday life. Also, the songs that we sing are really uplifting, and I feel that when we sing songs about hope and peace and love, we sing songs that are really positive. For example, here's one by Debbie Ngai-Brown: "Be open for something wonderful to happen. Be open to the possibility." Songs like that — they bring joy and positivity and can really make a difference in our lives.

Peter McCully: You also offer workshops, Sylvia, and other community singing events. How do those complement your ongoing song circles, and what different needs do they serve?

Sylvia Humble: Yeah, I've started to collaborate with other musicians — the people who I sing with. On a regular basis, I have found it really enriching to experience the music and the songs of these different artists like Leah Morris, Coco Love Alcorn, and Serena Partridge. These are people I find really inspiring. So it's not only to provide a diverse experience to the people in my singing community, but also for me to learn from them. It's a chance to bring people together and build community. So the people who know these artists will discover me through these workshops and concerts and community events, but then also the artists I'm collaborating with will find new fans and followers. It's all about building community, bringing people together around the joy of singing. And the other thing is that some people in my singing community like the opportunity to just come to an occasional event. They might not have time for a regular singing group, but they'll come to a special workshop or community sing-along.

Peter McCully: How do folks find out more about Sylvia Humble?

Sylvia Humble: You can go to my website — it's sylviahumble.ca — and you can look at my events there, and you can check out my YouTube channel at Sylvia Humble Music.

Peter McCully: And Sylvia, tell us your connection to the Ubuntu Choirs Network.

Sylvia Humble: I took a life-changing training in 2023 called the Community Choir Leadership Training. People who have been through that training become part of the Ubuntu Choirs Network. The word Ubuntu means "I am because we are." This training was created by Siobhan Robbins-Song and Dennis Donnelly, who were the founders of the Getting High Choir in Victoria and the beginning of the local community singing movement. So I'm just very proud to be part of that. And the idea is it's about community and that singing is for everybody. I've learned so much beautiful repertoire through this community — songs that make the world a better place about social justice and caring for nature and hope and self-empowerment and healing and unity and peace. It's just a different approach to the singing together that I've really embraced, and I'm just so grateful to be bringing that community singing movement into my local community.

Dave Graham: Thanks to Sylvia Humble for being a part of The Pulse community and for connecting people with music. If you feel inspired to sing along with Sylvia, you'll find more info available at sylviahumble.ca. That sounds like a lot of fun. That is, if you think singing is enjoyable, Peter. I've heard that you can kill house plants when you sing.

Peter McCully: Yes. My musical skills lay elsewhere. Moving along, if you'd like to be part of the podcast, click on the contact link on our website and use our "Speak to Us" option to send us a voice message. If you have an event to announce, a comment on a topic to share, or you know a story we might want to look into, speak to us.

Dave Graham: Or if speaking isn't your thing, you can type your message. The Pulse homepage is thepulsecommunity.ca.

Peter McCully: While you're there, we invite you to sign up for The Pulse Community Newsletter. It will give you the latest contest opportunities and podcasts. Find us online at thepulsecommunity.ca.

Thrifty Foods Parksville: At Thrifty Foods, we love to help nonprofits, charities, and schools. Our Thrifty Foods Smile Card bulk program allows organizations to immediately save up to 6% on the purchase of Smile Cards in bulk, allowing you to keep more money in your organization's pockets. Ask for details at Thrifty Foods in Parksville.

Tablet Pharmacy: Ever find yourself waiting endlessly at a big box pharmacy, feeling like just another number? There's a better way. At Tablet Pharmacy, they provide the personalized service you deserve. Check their competitive prices online at tabletpharmacy.ca before you even leave home. They offer free delivery and blister packaging options to make managing your medications easier than ever. With convenient locations in Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and now open in Nanaimo near The Brick, Tablet Pharmacy has been serving Vancouver Island since 2019. Stop being just a prescription number. Experience the Tablet Pharmacy difference today. Visit them online and check their prices at tabletpharmacy.ca.

Beach Fest: Rock the Park is here this weekend, August 8th to 10th. Parksville Beach Festival presents three days of world-class tribute bands that'll blow you away. Rock out to your favorite classic hits at this incredible festival within a festival. The amazing Circus by the Sea sand sculptures are still on display daily. Buskers perform at the gazebo, and the Tim Hortons free summer concert series continues August 15th and 16th. Don't miss the magical Sculpture Light-Up evenings August 15th and 16th, the spectacular fireworks show August 16th, and our Grand Finale Closing Concert August 17th. The summer's biggest party is in full swing. Visit parksvillebeachfest.ca.

Dave Graham: Thanks to Parksville Beach Festival for their support of The Pulse community. There's still so much left of the festival, but the sand sculptures, well, they will be coming down soon enough. Speaking of the impermanence of all things, but that's part of the magic. You know, these works of art are world-class. They represent the cutting edge of an art form that is constantly under pressure to set new limits, and yet they will be in existence for not even six weeks. Enjoy them while you can.

Peter McCully: It is a wonderful event for the family. We here at The Pulse cater to the kids with our Kuku Kid stories. We have two series of stories and new ones coming out each week about Gracie, the Eskimo dog, and the Mellow Submarine. They feature local and familiar places and events. You'll find them at thepulsecommunity.ca.

Dave Graham: While our next story strikes a chord for me as a photographer, always looking for new ways to capture the magic of this island. Here's Marilyn to make the introduction.

Marilyn: In the green room are Dave and Kelly Hutchinson of Qualicum Beach. The husband and wife team have collaborated on a photography book, "Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape," as seen by nature and wildlife photographer Dave Hutchinson, and authored and researched by Kelly Hutchinson.

Peter McCully: Thanks for joining us on the podcast today.

Dave Hutchinson: Thanks a lot for having us, Peter.

Kelly Hutchinson: We're happy to be here.

Dave Hutchinson: Yes, we're very excited, so thank you.

Peter McCully: The two of you have created a beautiful book, which covers Victoria through to Cape Scott, which is almost 600 kilometers. It's perfect for visitors, your coffee table, or sending away to friends and family for Christmas. Let's start the story with how you two met.

Kelly Hutchinson: We only met actually a little over three years ago when Dave accidentally tagged me on Instagram. He had been taking some photos of whales in Cowichan Bay on the Salish Sea, and the name of my forest therapy business is Salish Sea Nature Connections. So I got tagged. I was pretty new to Instagram, and I was wondering, "Why is this person tagging me?" So I went to his profile, and I actually realized I had already been following him because I love nature photography. And I also noticed that he had some really beautiful images of trees and forests on his profile. I got really excited about that because I was updating my website. I needed new images of myself in the forest, and so I took a chance. I reached out to him to see if he'd be able to help me. And we met about a week later in John Dean Provincial Park in North Saanich for a photo shoot. The two-hour shoot actually ended up being three hours and then led into a date, and we've been together ever since.

Peter McCully: Dave, how did you become interested in photography initially?

Dave Hutchinson: Started back around 2005. A good friend of mine, Shane, who I've been photographing with for over 20 years, he invited me to go on a trip to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. We were there for about maybe seven to 10 days, and basically after that I got hooked because there's wildlife all over the place there. Beautiful landscapes as well. And it was all new to me. And again, this is 20 years ago. I didn't stop after that. It was really a turning point. Just the variety that we had come across when we were there — and we went in springtime in 2005. I just remember that as being a memorable trip. Just got a lot more interested in the craft of nature photography.

Peter McCully: Tell us the story of having to choose between your flying hobby or photography.

Dave Hutchinson: When I was younger, I always wanted to fly. I remember investigating at one of the colleges near Toronto to be a commercial airline pilot. I mean, it was financial. I don't remember the exact details, but timing just wasn't right, and it just went to sleep for a little while. And then 2004, 2005, I thought I'd get my private pilot's license, and I did that and did my one solo flight. It just wasn't for me. There's really nothing creative about flying. I think that the saying that I say is that if you get creative, it's not gonna result very well. And I just decided to pursue photography. And both wildlife photography and flying are quite expensive, so I couldn't afford to do both. But apart from the financial part, it was emotionally — it just wasn't the right thing for me. But you know what? I enjoyed doing it, and I don't take that back, and I guess I just needed to experience it to know if I liked it or not.

Peter McCully: Kelly, you've written the book. How did you capture Dave's voice and personal experiences while maintaining your own take on the research and the storytelling end of it?

Kelly Hutchinson: An integral part of capturing his voice was interviewing him about every photo in the book. I asked him questions to help him to remember the feeling of the place, 'cause some of the photos were taken 15, 20 years ago, or to help remember that moment in that particular time. Sometimes it was like pulling teeth to get things out of him, and I would learn things after. Actually, one example is I had already finished writing the chapter on the Tofino area, and at the dinner table he started talking about this experience photographing the Vancouver Island Wolf on Varney's Island. And I'm like, "What? Why didn't you tell me about that?" I inserted it into the chapter after the fact. So the text was really written to support the photography, and so the images actually directed the flow of the book. And I was also really careful to only choose words that I knew that he would use. And I even corrected our editor a couple times and said, "No, Dave wouldn't use that word. I'm not changing it."

Peter McCully: Dave, can you share one of your more challenging or memorable shoots and what made that final particular image worth the effort?

Dave Hutchinson: Somewhere around 2018, 2019. It was during a winter storm. A friend of mine, Chris, and I, we took his pickup truck and we drove to Port Renfrew in a snowstorm. We got up at four in the morning. I wanted to get an image of Fairy Lake Tree covered in snow and the Fairy Lake covered in snow. If possible, I don't think that lake gets iced over very often. It's probably pretty rare, and I don't see shots of it snow-covered very often. It took us several hours in heavy wet snow. I believe it was February of one year. We eventually made it there. We got stuck once. I wanted that image to be able to create a set of the four seasons of Fairy Lake Tree, and that was the trickiest one to get because of the travel to get there during the snow. On the West Coast, it's that wet snow. It can be gone the next day or even the same day. We got there for sunrise, and it's in the book.

Peter McCully: The book is organized into seven geographical regions. Kelly, what surprised you most about doing your research about these different areas of Vancouver Island?

Kelly Hutchinson: That's a hard one. There's so many things that really surprised me. It was really fun and fascinating to research this book. I learned a lot from the history of Victoria and the influence of the Dunsmuirs, as well as the wildlife — learning about the sea wolf, the Vancouver Island wolf, the three kinds of orca whales: resident, transient, and offshore whales. I didn't know that, and I thought, "Wow, this is really fascinating." What surprised me the most was actually the history of Tofino and Ucluelet. So much has taken place there over the years. Today, of course, we know it for its scenic, sandy beaches that stretch for kilometers and surfing ecotourism, and people come from all over. But just a little over 80 years ago, the Royal Canadian Air Force was stationed there during World War II. I had no idea. And in the 1990s, the area was a center for protests and blockades to protect the old-growth forests in the area and calling it the "war in the woods." So I was really fascinated by that.

Peter McCully: Yeah, there's a fantastic full-page shot of an orca breaching in Cowichan Bay. Dave, tell me you weren't in a kayak when that happened.

Dave Hutchinson: No kayaks on that trip. Thankfully. Almost always, when I photograph wildlife, I'm hiring a guide, a tour company, a whale watching company. My favorite boat to photograph in is a zodiac, and there's 20-foot, 26, 28-foot, and so on. But to get those shots like the whale breach and sea life in general, the zodiacs are really close to the water, so they're comfortable and easier to photograph, to get nice angles. And the guides are invaluable because they go out every day, and they share their knowledge of the behavior and what they're witnessing with the whales. Are they hunting? Are they socializing? Or are they just moving through, going to another area? It's all really valuable to get the end result of a whale breach. A lot of it's timing too, and the feelings around it. If you feel like something's gonna happen, chances are there is something that's gonna happen and being prepared for that moment. Another part of that particular trip that was memorable is my parents were with me on the boat. I think there was eight of us — like it was just a public charter — but my parents were sitting in the two seats that are in the front of the boat, and then I was just behind my mom. So we all got to witness it together.

Peter McCully: You've covered a number of the Gulf Islands in this new book as well.

Dave Hutchinson: Yes, that's correct. We have a dedicated chapter on the Southern Gulf Islands. Kelly lived on Salt Spring Island for nine years, and I joined her for one year. Beautiful sunrises there. Definitely some memorable times.

Peter McCully: Are there locations on Vancouver Island that remain elusive to you, photographically? Maybe you've gone out and tried to get a shot and haven't been able to do that, or just places you're hoping to capture in a perfect moment one day?

Dave Hutchinson: Yeah. There's places on the remote northwest coast of Vancouver Island like Nootka Island, a small native fishing village up on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. I'd love to go there. It's a hotbed for sea otters. It's very popular for kayakers. Those places are mainly boat access or float plane, so they're a little bit more difficult to get into. But yes, there's definitely places on Vancouver Island that I want to explore in the future. And a couple of weeks from now, we're going up to Port Hardy for eight days, and we're gonna do some exploring more into the back roads and the logging roads in and around the area.

Kelly Hutchinson: And we're gonna spend some time at San Josef Bay, which I'm really excited about because I actually haven't made it there yet. So I'm really excited about experiencing in person with Dave.

Peter McCully: After researching and creating this book, have you witnessed noticeable changes due to climate change or perhaps human impact?

Dave Hutchinson: That's a really good question, Peter. There's different impacts I've noticed in certain areas. It feels like it's hotter than what it used to be. I think it's because when the trees are taken down, we've lost shade in some areas. Some pockets of Vancouver Island feel like they're hotter than what they used to be to me. So I wouldn't call it global warming. I would call that human impact. There could be a component of climate change involved, but just my observation — where I see less forest, I see more heat. Well, Kelly and I were out walking this morning. We both said to each other at the same time, "It feels like a bit of fall in the air," and I don't know how to explain that, but I've been sensing over the years it feels like fall — in that crinkly wind, in the air, in the leaves — feels like it comes a little sooner each year. Another one that I've observed over the, say, the last five to eight years is that the logging roads in general are becoming less maintained. They're becoming more difficult to travel, to get to some remote old-growth forests. That might be a hindrance for some folks.

Peter McCully: You've been featured in multiple news outlets across the island doing book signings. What's the response been like as you have been up and down the island?

Dave Hutchinson: Our response for the book signings has been tremendous. We've really been blown away. We didn't really know what to expect going into it. But the support has been wonderful. The independent bookstores, the bookstore owners are very supportive. They're excited to have authors come in and sign books and have an event. We haven't had any negative experiences or anything like that. We've had some where we've sold more books than we ever thought that we would, and there's been some that have been, I would call them more average. They've been all worthwhile.

Kelly Hutchinson: We've also really enjoyed meeting so many nice people and learning about them and how much they love Vancouver Island. And many people are buying many books as gifts to send to family members that live abroad somewhere else, to maybe encourage them to come and visit Vancouver Island where they live, or even just as a keepsake. And at one event, someone bought seven books at a time, and she was sending them around the world. It's been a lot of fun to just meet people.

Dave Hutchinson: One thing that we've observed too at the book events, and Kelly touched on this, is that I've been quite surprised about how many people buy the book for somebody else. 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. Yes, I find that quite interesting about the gift-giving that we're witnessing when we talk to people face to face.

Peter McCully: Let's do a speed round of questions and answers. What camera do you shoot with? Do you shoot with a particular brand of camera?

Dave Hutchinson: Yeah, I use a Nikon. I use a Nikon Z8 and Nikon S lenses.

Peter McCully: Have you ever used a drone for your photography?

Dave Hutchinson: Yeah, I use drone regularly, and there's several drone shots in the book.

Peter McCully: Kelly, tell us a surprising thing you learned while interviewing your husband for the book that you didn't already know.

Kelly Hutchinson: There was lots of surprises, but I think the one that stands out the most is a shot of the wooden piling that was taken up on Chesterman Beach near Tofino. I was stunned to learn that these pilings that Dave likes to call "wing wrappers" were pounded deep into the sand along the beaches to prevent the enemy warplanes from landing during World War II. I had no idea, and I've walked this peaceful beach many times. I find it so hard to believe that this was once a place of conflict and war — just such a stark contrast to today.

Peter McCully: Anything about Dave you found out while you were interviewing him that you weren't aware of?

Kelly Hutchinson: Sometimes he doesn't always remember things. Sometimes it can be hard to get information out of him, but not really. I just learned that I really enjoyed creating this book with him, and a lot of people were surprised. They thought it would be very difficult in our relationship, but it actually brought us closer together. So that was a wonderful part of the book. We'd love working together.

Peter McCully: Sunrise or sunset photos, Dave, if I had to choose?

Dave Hutchinson: If I had to choose between the two, I think probably sunrises.

Peter McCully: Best shot you ever just kinda stumbled upon there?

Dave Hutchinson: I hate to be redundant, but it's that shot of the wooden piling at Chesterman Beach. Like, really from my heart, I just stumbled across it. I wasn't out looking for that. I didn't even know what it was. In fact, how I found out what it was is that I was chatting with a longtime store owner of a gift shop gallery in Ucluelet. And he told me what it was because he's lived in Ucluelet for many years. I ended up getting spot education, and so that was an image that I stumbled across that I had no idea that it existed.

Peter McCully: Favorite months to photograph on the island?

Dave Hutchinson: I like April, May. I like the spring greens.

Peter McCully: Most photographed location on Vancouver Island, either by yourself or what you consider to be the most photographed location on Vancouver Island by others.

Dave Hutchinson: Yeah, probably Fairy Lake Tree outside of Port Renfrew. Very popular with photographers, and I enjoy it myself too.

Peter McCully: A hidden gem location most people don't know about, not aware of. It's not on a map, and I'm about to tell them where it is.

Kelly Hutchinson: We have one that we stumbled upon on our honeymoon, but there's no photographs of it in the book.

Dave Hutchinson: Grant's Bay.

Kelly Hutchinson: Grant's Bay.

Dave Hutchinson: Grant's Bay — it's about two hours logging road drive from Port Hardy. We went and checked it out. It was quite busy on the weekend two summers ago when we went there. There was kids with boom boxes and so on. It was a long weekend. So if you're looking for quiet in those back roads on a long weekend in the summer, don't go there. Go during the week. But Grant's Bay — it looks like you're in The Bahamas, like it's a tropical sandy beach with beautiful clear water on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island, and I had no idea it existed. So there's a tip. If you wanna go find Grant's Bay, then enjoy yourself and go during the week.

Peter McCully: Your favorite Gulf Island to photograph or visit?

Dave Hutchinson: I'd say for both Kelly and I, it was Saturna Island. We quite enjoyed — we were there for three days a couple years ago and really liked East Point Park. Beautiful place to photograph landscapes and seascapes, birds.

Kelly Hutchinson: Look for whales and the oystercatchers. Yeah, and the eagles. And there was ravens, and it's just beautiful there.

Dave Hutchinson: And the beautiful little heritage house that's on the point. But yes, so Turn Island is wonderful.

Peter McCully: Your earliest wake-up call for a photographic shoot.

Dave Hutchinson: That would've been actually with Kelly a couple years ago when we were on Salt Spring together. We got up about 3:30, quarter to four to do a sunrise shoot at Mount Bruce. I wanted to get some images overlooking the San Juan Islands and the other Gulf Islands from Mount Bruce, but it's a nasty little four-wheel drive access road. It's not a logging road, it's an access road for the cell towers, but the road is very bumpy and gnarly, and we had our four-wheel drive pickup truck, and we went up there basically in almost in the dark, but one of those images — that's the opening image in that chapter.

Peter McCully: If you could photograph one place in Vancouver Island for the rest of your life, over and over Groundhog Day, where would it be?

Dave Hutchinson: I think still my favorite location on Vancouver Island is the Sooke, the Port Renfrew corridor. There's just that stretch of coastline — it just has so much variety. You've got lighthouse, you've got waterfalls, seascapes, landscapes. You can come across wildlife too.

Kelly Hutchinson: The old-growth trees and...

Dave Hutchinson: The old-growth trees. Thank you. Old-growth forest, lots of large Western red cedars. So lots of variety from Sooke through to Port Renfrew.

Peter McCully: I want to thank you for your time today, folks, and I'm enjoying the book immensely. Thank you very much.

Dave Hutchinson: Thanks a lot for having us, Peter.

Kelly Hutchinson: Yes, thank you. We really enjoyed chatting with you today, and the whole project was so much fun.

Dave Graham: Dave and Kelly Hutchinson and their book, "Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape." It's a beautiful book, makes a great gift. It's available at the Mulberry Bush Book Store in Qualicum Beach plus Fireside Books in Parksville and most independent bookstores on Vancouver Island. Visit the website at davehutchinsonphotography.com. Well, Peter, look at the time. Time has flown.

Peter McCully: That must have been fun. Nothing lasts forever.

Dave Graham: Let me give you an example of impermanence. Did you know that since the start of this very episode we each have shed several million skin cells?

Peter McCully: Dave, that's really not something I need to know.

Dave Graham: Don't you want to know how they figured that out?

Peter McCully: No, no, no, no. Time to go, Dave.

Dave Graham: Are we gonna check out maple specials in the cafeteria?

Peter McCully: Well, it's what we do.

Dave Graham: Eh, after all that talk about skin cells, you still want to eat?

Peter McCully: You going for something with chocolate or bacon this week?

Dave Graham: Oh, bacon.

Peter McCully: Oh, alright. What are we waiting for? Time's ticking. Let's go.

Rockin Rhonda & The Uptown 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. Peer and Dave. They're on the mics all right. Join the ride. It's gonna feel just right.