Ryan & Lisa: The Podcast

A few months after the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre had to close it’s doors, a province-wide organization is calling for more support from the government for children’s speech, language, communication and hearing supports in schools. Speech and Hearing BC is launching a back to school campaign they call “Speak Up For Student Success,” focusing on access to speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Their president Heather Ritchie joins.

Plus, on the heels of CFAX Santas Anonymous volunteer fair over the weekend, executive director Christine Hewitt Goodsir joins. 

B.C.’s deficit forecast has grown by about $450-million, jumping to $13.8-billion, after that gas royalty error. Finance minister Josie Osborne also cited wildfires and global trade challenges as part of the picture. Meanwhile, the fractures in B.C. politics remain in flux as a seventh MLA had joined up with the unnamed party led by Peter Milobar. The Canadian Press legislative reporter Wolfgang Depner joins. 

Plus, Sports Guy Steve weighs in on BC Place speculation. Why might the BC Lions want to buy the stadium and where do the Whitecaps fit into all this?  

View Royal is partnering with a private company called Aroga Lifestyle Medicine Victoria to establish a primary care clinic, which is expected to open by the end of this year. The town will pay $225,000 upfront for infrastructure and launch-costs, along with $125,000 dollars annually for the next ten years. View Royal mayor Sid Tobias is joining us for more.

Ryan & Lisa share a weekend debrief and the latest on local election season as Sidney mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith suddenly announced he would not be running for his seat again. 

Fiona Hammersly-Chambers talks fall planting, dry-seeds and preparation for winter in the garden. Plus, shares highlights from her time working as a naturalist on a boat.

Gasbuddy head petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan joins to explain Victoria gas and diesel prices as cost-pressures both in and outside of Canada mount with "plenty of escalations over the weekend." 

Westhills Land Corporation has made an agreement with the City of Langford to dedicate 40 acres of land in the Gravity Zone and Nature Trails area, along with three acres of lakefront property at Lakepoint park, as public parkland. Mayor Scott Goodmanson joins to discuss. 

It’s been a long time in the making, but Victoria’s satellite police-training academy is finally opening. Late last week, 16 new recruits were sworn in who will have the opportunity to complete their training here on Vancouver Island for the first time. VicPD’s chief of Police Fiona Wilson joins.

Breaking insight into how planets form is coming out of research close to home, with a UVic Phd student leading a study into Trans-Neptunian Objects colour, size and orbit. What did they find and what could it all mean? Marielle Eduardo joins. 

Ryan & Lisa read your texts remembering where you were on September 11, 2001, as they reflect on today's anniversary. 

Ann Nightingale shared the update with us that she has finally seen the Cocoa Booby, but heading into this weekend the real buzz is around the Red-footed Booby. She even suggested that it’s presence at Race Rocks could be boosting the local economy.

The Lagoon Arts and Culture Festival is kicking off today and tomorrow, right around the corner of Esquimalt Lagoon. Featuring live music and performances, kids’ arts activities and local crafters, organizers say there’s something for everybody. Anthony Mensah is the festival coordinator for the Arts and Culture Colwood Society. 

As the forestry industry is at a breaking point with higher costs of doing business, an industry association told us yesterday the province has agreed to a meeting. This comes after a letter form several of these associations made waves earlier this week, calling for establishing a crisis action group. What comes next? Minister Ravi Parmar joins. 

Victoria council decided to take the next step in allowing the Broughton Street Parkade to be re-developed into a 12-storey mixed use tower, Meanwhile, a councillor motion asking staff to consider further policy to allow Council to weigh in on certain contracts when considering business with American companies passed. Mayor Marianne Alto joins. 

Plus, for Friday Food Vibes, Dallas from the Vic Food Guys talks the Victoria Firefighters Association's Charity BBQ in support of Project Trauma Support, Greek food fusion, garden-to-plate dishes, Ribfest, a corn roast and more. 

What happens if you leave the Victoria city boundaries with a Lime bike rental? Ryan & Lisa discuss the latest discourse on Lime rental bikes in Victoria. 

Plus, back-to-school road safety is at issue. Doorbell camera footage shared by a Prospect Lake resident shows a dramatic motorcycle collision. This comes as Renee Mulligan has been persistently raising traffic safety concerns in the area.

This Saturday will see a walking-tour style performance from Songhees Point to Beacon Hill Park, in a partnership between the Pacific Opera Victoria, the Royal BC Museum, the Victoria Native Friendship Centre and the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria. Featuring several languages and spindle whorl markers, the event promises to highlight the cultural connections that shape our community. Rebecca Hass is the director of engagement and new work with Pacific Opera Victoria. 

The trade war is ramping up, with Prime Minister Carney saying yesterday the economic pain we will feel from fighting back with our own tariffs will be better than the alternative. U.S. president Trump has retaliated with import bans on some Canadian goods, including dairy and alcohol products, which will come into effect later this month. What does this mean for B.C. jobs and our economy? BC Conservative economic development critic Kiel Giddens joins. 

As the entire forestry sector faces economic challenges up and down the supply chain, a joint letter from industry representatives is asking the province to look at some big changes. BC Truck Loggers Association director Peter Lister joins. 

The CRD is expanding the Beyond the Curb drop-off program with two new locations, one in the Oak Bay High School parking lot and one at the Westhills Bus Exchange in Langford. It’s the kind of place you can bring your non-blue box recyclables, like soft plastics used for holding food. Melanie Tromp Hoover is the CRD’s manager of policy and planning for environmental resource management joins. 

Another day, another round in the trade war. U.S. President Trump has signed import bans on certain Canadian goods, including motorcycles some dairy products and alcoholic beverages. It looks like Trump wants to crack down on U.S. government contracts procuring Canadian goods, as yet another escalation. Canadian Press Washington Correspondent Kelly Geraldine Malone has the story. 

Today the 21st Drop Zone event in Victoria to support the Easter Seals of BC and Yukon is taking place, as 30 local fundraising volunteers will rappel down a 13-storey building on Douglas. Trevor Lau is the organization’s associate director of communications and he joins for more. 

As Canadians are being affected by climate change more than scientists had predicted a decade ago, and coastal communities are no exception, with more frequent and intense marine heatwaves. What is happening under the sea and what does it mean for us? UVic’s director of the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences Roberta Hamme contributed to the 2026 edition of Canada’s Changing Climate report. 

As we continue exploring the ways local people are dealing with the economic pinch of this trade war, the operator of a shared artisan studio space is finding a silver lining as our ability to make and repair things locally becomes more economically valuable. Jenny Farkas is the executive director of MakeSpace, joining us to expand on this.

Plus, Tom Woods and Murray Boyce join in studio to share what we need to know about attending this edition of the Esquimalt Ribfest. 

 

It's back to school Tuesday and Ryan & Lisa bring you up to speed on rising costs, traffic safety and the latest on e-mobility restrictions on school campuses. 

A new A-A mens hockey team is launching in the capital region as the Esquimalt Hockey Society announces the debut of the Esquimalt Buccaneers, beginning with this season of the with the WCSHL hockey league. Society president George Linger joins for more.

Plus, CFAX Santas Anonymous executive director Christine Hewitt-Goodsir shares what to know about the volunteer fair happening this weekend. 

Meanwhile, reserve members of the armed forces in B.C. have seen an expansion of unpaid leave for training and deployment, up to 24 months in a 60 month period. Esquimalt-Colwood MLA Darlene Rotchford is the parliamentary secretary for armed forces development and veterans affairs. She joins with the latest. 

It’s official, Canada’s retaliatory tariffs of up to 50 per cent on many American imports have come into effect. In a video this morning, Prime Minister Carney warns this move will come at a cost, but “it does not come close to the cost of standing still.” This comes after a heavy weekend for Trump’s social media posts, including one cartoon image showing the pair in a hockey-rink face off, with Trump standing over Carney saying, “get up governor.” Jeremy Kinsman is a local retired diplomat joining to weigh in.

E-bike and e-scooter safety is a hot topic as we head back to school, and at least one Island school district is telling parents of elementary students that they can expect a call to come pick up the device if one comes to campus. Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools communications director Gillian Robinson is joining us to talk more about the policy for schools in her district.

Local NDP MP Gord Johns continues the push to review the federal ferry funding agreement as he says BC Ferries fares could rise as much as 30 per cent in fares by 2028. 

Plus, the Saanich Fair is kicking off this long weekend, with gates open at 9 a.m. each day. What’s in store? The event coordinator Wendy Kotorynski joins. 

With the Labour Day long weekend is coming fast, so now it’s time to get into the spirit by exploring some big issues in light of the trade war and tight fiscal times in the province.BCGEU president Paul Finch is joining us to catch up.

Victoria transit workers have escalated their strike action to an overtime ban this week after being without a contract for more than a year. On Monday we heard Unifor Local 333 hadn’t heard from the employer since the strike began with a uniform ban earlier this month, but BC President Stephen Bains says they've now been in talks since Tuesday. He says they are taking steps towards a mediation process, and he's optimistic terms for that process could be hammered out as soon as today. 

Victoria is set to rewrite the bylaws that set the rules for noise, including shifting the times noisy construction is allowed and even getting staff to report back on the possibility of phasing out leaf blowers. Mayor Marianne Alto joins. 

Plus, Friday Food Vibes with Dallas from the Vic Food Guys: comforting coffee, Greekfest, Saanich Fair nostalgia and Doe Eyes Pizza. 

Ryan & Lisa start to get set for the long weekend with local conversation about trave and current events including the death of Gloria Steinem.

The South Island Primary Care society is hosting another outdoor movie night event in support of primary care access. In addition to showing the family friendly movie, “GOAT,” the event features magic with Jason Verners and a DJ. The South Island Primary Care society’s executive director is joins with more. 

And with the long weekend ahead, it’s time to check in on preparations for those travelling by sea. BC Ferries is preparing for a very busy weekend and spokesperson Amanda Wawryk has the details on what you need to know & travel tips. Wawryk also shared an additional note on motorbike travel after our chat, saying advanced booking for motorcycles are required out of Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) and Nanaimo (Departure Bay), Tsawwassen and the Southern Gulf Islands, and all Northern/Mid-Coast routes. However, some major routes like Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay are first time first serve. 

Meanwhile, B.C. politics might be hitting a critical level of bonkers as two more MLAs left the BC Conservative Caucus yesterday, as party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s chief of staff resigned. 
What is going on here? CTV Vancouver legislative reporter Rob Buffam joins with the latest. 

Plus, Gasbuddy is showing average prices here in Victoria are $2.17/L as we’re increasingly hearing headlines about global pressures on these prices. Meanwhile, the feds have decided to extend its excise tax holiday on gasoline until January. The president of Canadians for Affordable Energy Dan McTeague joins to share his take.

Controversy is abuzz after Pete Hegseth’s latest jab at Canada in the form of an image of two women at a cadet training centre in Vernon, with the caption “this is real.” Meanwhile, The Globe and Mail is reporting sources say the head of the Defence Investment Agency CEO is set to step down. What is this institution and what would a change in leadership mean? Local MP Jeff Kibble is the conservative critic for defence procurement joins for more.

We turn to a bit of a weird story as images of what looks like a mysterious floating island have re-appeared on Williston Lake in the northern interior. It’s something that has now been confirmed by satellite image, measuring about one hectare in the reservoir for the WAC Bennett Dam. BC Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer has been following this.

Plus, a coalition of unions is renewing the push to build future BC Ferries vessels here in the province. This is a call that has long come from the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union and president Eric McNeely joins.

Pacific FC has finally achieved its long-awaited win after more than a year, possibly turning the tides of momentum. Coach Terry Dunfeild catches up with us. 

Earlier in the summer we spoke with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the capital region about a $250,000 dollar fundraising appeal in order to continue providing it’s mentoring programs to young people. Since then, we’re told they’ve raised just over $80,000 and are still continuing efforts to raise the rest of the money. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Victoria capital region executive director Amanda Hill joins. 

New research shines a light on how baby snakes form in eggs in a fairly consistent way: a tight spiral that is nearly always clockwise. Currently, we think this is because of a developmental mismatch between the gut and spine, which helps explain how snakes take one of the most extreme shapes in the animal kingdom. Lead author Alexandra Weber joins for more. 

The trade war continues with U.S. tariffs on Canadian wood products which the feds plan to match with our retaliatory tariffs set to come into place one week from now. Are we seeing enough support for B.C.’s industry and workers? B.C.’s forestry minister and local MLA Ravi Parmar is joining us now.

Much of the opposition in B.C. politics is calling for some form of an investigation after a 1.5 billion dollar budget error came to light surrounding gas royalties. The government overestimated gas royalties by roughly 500 million dollars per year, and now the BC Conservatives and BC Greens are each calling for an audit. Business in Vancouver reporter Stefan Labbe has the scoop that started it all.  

The federal byelections saw a Liberal sweep, with Liberal Braeden Caley taking the B-C seat that was up for grabs in the Vancouver area. Meanwhile, B-C politics are in turmoil as a seventh MLA fled the BC Conservatives just after a by-election was called which will allow Kerry-Lynne Findlay a chance at a seat in the legislature. Royal Roads professor of culture and communications David Black is joining for more.

Cosmetics, including makeup, imported from the U.S. are set to become a lot more expensive as 50 per cent counter-tariffs come into effect after Labour Day. How much of what is on offer is imported anyways, and how much more expensive are home-grown products? Megan Johns is the founder and owner of The Green Kiss, a boutique in uptown that already puts a lot of thought into where each of its products come from.