Vital Victoria Podcast

T’esóts’en (Patrick Kelly) on a life of strengthening Indigenous relations

On the final episode of the Vital Victoria Podcast, host Lucky Budd discusses uplifting Indigenous cultures with T’esóts’en (Patrick Kelly), a member of the Leq’a:mel Nation and longtime resident of Victoria.  For over 40 years, Patrick has been bridging cultures in his many roles as Indigenous relations advisor, board member, and volunteer. This year, he was awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal for a lifetime of selfless work advancing reconciliation in Canada.  Tune in for Patrick’s inspiring story, and the wisdom that comes from decades of relentless optimism and a passion for bringing people of all backgrounds and cultures together.

Capital Bike and the benefits of commuting on two wheels

Greater Victoria is quickly becoming a region known for its cycling infrastructure. There’s no doubt that pedalling comes with benefits, such as boosting your physical and mental health, and saving money on transportation costs. But what is the community doing to encourage active transportation? And what more needs to be done to keep the roads safe and accessible? This month, host Lucky Budd interviews year-round cycle commuter Niki Sutherland. Niki is the Chair of Capital Bike, a local non-profit dedicated to making cycling an easy and fun transportation option in the region.    Tune in and get inspired to pump up those tires!

Why you should make volunteering an important part of your life

Lisa Mort-Putland has her fingers on the pulse of volunteerism in Canada, and especially here at home in Greater Victoria.   From learning essential skills to building community relationships, volunteerism has a pivotal role to play in strengthening the region's vital services while boosting the wellbeing of volunteers, themselves.    This month, host Lucky Budd chats with Lisa Mort-Putland, Executive Director of Volunteer Victoria, about how to make an impact through volunteering, its pivotal purpose in our community, and how we can keep it alive!

Russell Books: How a family’s literary legacy is building community

Andrea and Jordan Minter, the managers of Victoria’s renowned Russell Books, chat with host Lucky Budd about their family's story of building one of Canada’s largest independent bookstores.    For 28 years, Russell Books has been inspiring reading enthusiasts, and bringing the community together through regular literary events, while proudly supporting non-profit literacy initiatives and schools throughout the capital region.    Tune in to learn more about a bookstore that isn’t just a bookstore, but a hub of creativity, knowledge, history, philanthropy, and community connection!

Growing the community through a farm-to-table food hub

The Victoria Community Food Hub is a crucial organization in a giant sustainable food ecosystem working to put farm-fresh grub in the bellies of all Greater Victorians.    This month, host Lucky Budd chats with Laura Gair and Colleen Popyk – two outstanding people who are working tirelessly on Food Hub initiatives that bring good food to the capital region’s most vulnerable, while feeding our robust local food economy.    The South Island FarmHub is an online farmer’s market that connects Victorians with boxes of fresh produce from local farmers, and it runs the Farm Bucks program to help subsidize this great food for charities and schools.     Kitchen Connect is a food business incubator and processing facility open to anyone wanting to learn how to start a business and process their food to be sold in stores.    Tune in for a lot more on these incredible initiatives, the faces behind them, and how you can get involved!