Crazy Damn Canadians

Alex Mackenzie is a stand-up comedian and founder of the VLOG and Podcast titled An Experiment Called Life. In 2019, Alex made headlines by quitting his six figure pulp mill job in Prince George, selling his house and buying an RV to pursue comedy as a full time career. Now Alex is in international demand and tours arounds the world. This includes the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Perth Fringe Festival, the Hungry for Laughs Comedy Tour and more! Orissa Kelly is one of the world's only fire foot archery performers! All the way from Watford (England), Orissa began gymnastics at the age of 3 and went on to compete for Great Britain. At the age of 17 she cancelled her university application just months before starting and followed her heart by joining the circus! Since then she has gone on to perform for the Queen of England, appear in the Hollywood Blockbuster ‘Wonder Woman' and travel the world twice over with her beloved Bae (her bow). In 2020, Orissa aimed for the stars and moved to the USA, with her US TV debut on ‘The Go Big Show' Orissa has amassed a strong following of over 1 million across her social media platforms and has reached over 100 million views through her content. She has been featured on Supercar Blondie, Ozzy Man Reviews and named ‘The Queen of Archery' by the Lad Bible. https://alextellsjokes.com/ https://orissakelly.com/

Richelle Maser was born Smithers, British Columbia and is the Chief Respiratory Therapist at the University Hospital of Northern BC. This community difference-maker helped lead the resistance again Covid-19 in Northern British Columbia. In her spare time, Richelle is very active in the snowmobiling community and loves to run, hike and spend as much time in the great outdoors as possible with her three incredible daughters.

Ashley Sidhu, known as "The Malla Girl" on her social media channels, inspired thousands throughout the world as she documented her journey as a young Canadian logging truck driver in a male-dominated industry. Based in Prince George, BC, you can follow Ashley online at: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themallagirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themallagirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-sidhu-643a03129/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC50dAITPo5uakD_9tlWcNsg

Born and raised in Prince George, British Columbia, Dana Meise spent 10 years of his life hiking the Trans Canada Trail, becoming the first person in the world to touch the country's three coasts by foot as he journeyed from the Atlantic to the Pacific and finally up to the Arctic Ocean, covering over 21,000 kilometres and going through 27 pairs of hiking boots. When his father lost the ability to walk, Dana was inspired to hike the entirety of the Trans Canada Trail and began his journey in 2008. In November 2018, he reached Tuktoyaktuk in the arctic – becoming the first person to hike to Canada's three oceans along the Trans Canada Trail. During the journey, Dana posted consistently to his Facebook and Twitter pages, while filling dozens of journals with tales of his adventures. Using his now-intimate knowledge of Canada from coast to coast to coast, he has recently started a podcast and plans to write a book and start a docuseries in the future. Along the journey, Dana built relationships with Stuart McLean, Walter Gretzky, a very unique adventurer from Belgium and had many experiences with the vast wildlife, wilderness and residents of Canada. Dana truly is the epitome of a Crazy Damn Canadian. Website: www.thegreathike.ca Twitter: @thegreathike Instagram: the.great.hike Facebook Page: The Great Hike Email: thegreathike@outlook.com

Gillian Roberts is a Canadian triathlete and school teacher who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 28. Gillian created and maintains a very popular blog that tackles the highs and lows of navigating cancer as a young woman and an athlete. Blog link: https://trigill.wordpress.com/

Dave King, a local biologist approaching 80 years young, has hiked Mount Kilimanjaro in Eastern Africa a total of nine times! This Prince George, BC resident also helped find and develop local hiking trails such as Viking Ridge, Fang Mountain, Caledonia Mountain and Driscoll Ridge. Dave, who is 6'5”, also spends hundreds of volunteer hours a year helping maintain and improve our local trails. In addition, he is also a founder of the prestigious Ancient Forest, 110km's east of Prince George. Dave has travelled to most countries in the world, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma,) Laos, Cambodia, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Russia, Estonia, Turkey, Mongolia, China, Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Easter Island, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Belize. Dave skied in Bulgaria in the days of the Soviet Union, camped in Iceland, and has traveled extensively around Europe, including epic ski trips to Norway. www.crazydamncanadians.ca

Dave Horton and Kyle Sampson are two major community builders in Prince George, but also best friends who share similar passions for music, entertainment, collaboration, charity work, innovative ideas and, of course, helping others.

Wesley Mitchell and Ivan Paquette are two community difference makers located in Prince George, British Columbia. They are the founders of the UHNBC Monday Night Drum Group, which met outside the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia for 47 days straight after the global pandemic arrived in March 2020, providing inspiration and hope for hospital patients, frontline workers and healthcare staff. Since then, they've been drumming outside the hospital every Monday evening for 21 consecutive months. Wes and Ivan continue to make an inspiring impact in Northern BC communities and have been recognized by their peers on a provincial and federal level.

Clarence Boudreau is our guest for episode #26! Clarence, at age 90, just released his latest book titled I HEAR THE MOUNTAIN CALLING. This book is an eclectic collection of stories about Clarence Boudreau's life, told in his own words with his own unique style and sense of humour. Reading this book, you will come to personally know Clarence as he shares stories about his family, his friends, and his love of the mountains and the outdoors. At the age of fifteen he started his career as a flunky in the cookhouse, then moved on to hand-falling with a crosscut saw, horse logging, and working in the sawmill. Over the years he served as a bush foreman, rancher, snowplowing contractor, forest warden, fire fighter, bridge builder, and as the manager of a salmon hatchery. While working to support his family, Clarence invested all his free time exploring the forests and waterways around his home town of Penny, BC., hiking and watching grizzlies in the nearby mountains, and hunting and fishing along the upper Fraser River. Clarence lived in Penny for eighty years before relocating to his current home on the banks of the Nechako River in Prince George, BC. He currently spends his time writing songs, singing, telling jokes, and entertaining his many friends with stories of days gone by.

Karin Piche is the Founder and Captain of Wheelin' Warriors of the North. Started in 2013 as part of the annual British Columbia Ride to Conquer Cancer, Karin and her team have gone on to raise nearly 1.2 million for the BC Cancer Foundation. Karin is a local health professional, athlete, mom, grandma and terrific human being.

Mike Nash has over 40 years of experience with outdoor and backcountry recreation in Prince George and northern British Columbia and a lifetime total of more than 540 published works. Mike is the author of Outdoor Safety & Survival published by Rocky Mountain Books (Victoria) in March 2012; The Mountain Knows No Expert - George Evanoff, Outdoorsman and Contemporary Hero published by Natural Heritage Books and Dundurn (Toronto) in March 2009; Exploring Prince George - A Guide to North Central B.C. Outdoors published by Rocky Mountain Books (Calgary) in 2004 and in 2007; Outdoor Safety and Survival in British Columbia's Backcountry self-published (Prince George) in 2007; and has contributed to three prior books. Since 1978, Mike has gained a broad knowledge of outdoor recreation resources, particularly relating to backpacking, hiking and walking opportunities in Central and Northern British Columbia. Mike has researched, organized and guided many hiking and backpacking trips, often including historical and natural history interpretation. Before embarking on his own in 2000, Mike has 20 years of work experience in the Forest Industry in B.C. and 33 years in Information Technology in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. which helped broaden his understanding of community, educational and business needs relative to the shared resources in the north. Prior to moving to BC, while working in the field of telecommunications for the airline and travel industry, Mike gained an appreciation for that industry and of the outdoors in eastern Canada.

Gerry Chidiac is a high school teacher from Prince George, BC who has been inspiring young people for over 30 years. Gerry specializes in teaching genocide studies, languages and working with at-risk students. He sees his column as an extension of his classroom. This difference maker is not afraid to look at the darker issues of humanity and is greatly inspired by the works of such writers as Victor Frankl and Stephen Covey. Gerry believes that despite all the problems all around us, people are good and that we each have the capacity to change the world for the better, and working to achieve this goal brings meaning and joy to life. Episode #23 is now available at the following streaming links: YouTube: https://bit.ly/GerryChidiacPodcast Spotify: https://bit.ly/CrazyDamnCanadians

Mr. Don Chamberlain is best known for being the principal of Kelly Road Secondary School for 13 years during the 80s and 90s. He spent 34 years with School District 57 in Prince George, with 22 of those 34 years spent in the Hart. Streaming links: Spotify: https://bit.ly/CrazyDamnCanadians Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ApplePodcasts CDC Website: www.crazydamncanadians.ca

Donny Marchuk is a 3-time Boston Marathon runner, social media influencer, Lululemon ambassador, KRSS alumni, fitness enthusiast and Calgary resident. Thank you for being a guest on Crazy Damn Canadians! Streaming links: Spotify: https://bit.ly/CrazyDamnCanadians Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ApplePodcasts CDC Website: www.crazydamncanadians.ca

Such an honour to have Dick Voneugen at the studio as a guest on the Crazy Damn Canadians podcast Born in Amsterdam in 1932, Dick moved to Prince George in 1965 and played a key role in shaping the local sports scene and culture. He is also the only person in history to receive the Prince George Citizen of the Year recognition (1995 and 2007). Some other fun facts about Dick: He loves classical music He ran 72km's on his 72nd birthday He helped bring Terry Fox and Rick Hansen to PG in 1979 for a road race His best friend is Tom Masich He's the highest fundraiser in PG Terry Fox Run history His family secretly and courageously hid Jewish families in their house during WW2 He turns 89 years old on July 24th. His one birthday wish is for people to go for a run (any distance or pace) on his birthday. Podcast link: http://bit.ly/DickVoneugen #CrazyDamnCanadians

Gaetano Mauro is commonly referred to as The Godfather of Soccer in Prince George! In this podcast episode, we talk about the extraordinary work Gaetano has accomplished in regards to elevating the presence and popularity of soccer in the City of Prince George and Northern British Columbia over the years. Anyone who has ever laced up their cleats and stepped foot on a local pitch in this community is indebted to the decades of commitment Gaetano has put towards enhancing "The Beautiful Game" on a local level. Thank you, Gaetano - aka - Papa G, the Italian Stallion - for being this week's guest on Crazy Damn Canadians! Spotify: https://bit.ly/CrazyDamnCanadians Website: www.crazydamncanadians.ca http://bit.ly/GaetanoMauroPodcast

Mayor Lyn Hall has been an active member of the Prince George community for over 30 years. He first entered local politics in 2001 when he won a seat as a School Trustee on the Prince George School Board. He spent 10 years on the board holding various positions including vice-chair and chair. In 2011, he ran and successfully won a seat on Prince George City Council. As a Councillor, he was a member of several committees and community groups. In 2014 and 2018, he ran successful campaigns for Mayor of Prince George. Mayor Hall and his wife Lorrelle are the parents of twin daughters, both of whom graduated from UNBC. City involvement: Chair, Select Advisory Committee on Economic Development City of Prince George Finance and Audit Committee Director, Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) Board Member of the Prince George NDIT Regional Advisory Committee Director, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and representative to the Municipal Finance Authority Director, Prince George Community Foundation Municipal Finance Authority of BC Board Trustee BC Transit Board Member Past Chair, Northern Medical Programs Trust Chair of Regional District Public Safety and Emergency Management Standing Committee www.crazydamncanadians.ca

With ancestral roots in the Lheidli T'enneh, Cree and Secwépemc Nations, KYM GOUCHIE is fostering change through her music and art. Her music brings awareness to First Nations and women's issues, promoting reconciliation and community building while reminding us that we are all in this together. Her stories are a testament to the human spirit, weaving together threads of her own journey from personal tragedy to triumph. Kym's traditional hand drum, clean, crisp acoustic guitar and full-bodied voice make her a powerful solo artist. She also performs as a duo, trio and full band, adding in vocal harmonies, keyboard, electric guitar, mandolin, banjo and cello by talented accompanists. Traditional First Nations, folk, and country tones alongside poignant and inspirational lyrics capture the hearts of young and old — her genuine and heartfelt performances have a profound and sometimes emotional impact on their audience. A respected elder-in-training of the Lheidli T'enneh Nation, also known as Prince George, BC, Kym is sought after to perform and speak at traditional welcoming ceremonies, cultural gatherings, schools, and conferences. A warrior of the light, Kym's inspirational music lifts the soul beyond its fettered state along the quest of creating a better world with compassion, understanding and forgiveness, reminding us that we are all in this together. Streaming links: Spotify: https://bit.ly/CrazyDamnCanadians Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsCDC Website: www.crazydamncanadians.ca http://bit.ly/KymGouchiePodcast

Brent Marshall is a prolific entrepreneur, industry titan and philanthropist who resides in Kelowna, British Columbia. While Marshall has made his mark on a menagerie of industries—auto, aviation, real estate, film production, construction, and health, to name a few—it is his philanthropic work benefitting children and the community that is perhaps his most fulfilling endeavour. Brent's determination to have all of his companies donate to charity has allowed him to construct a Children's Wing on the UNBC hospital, an outdoor patio for a pediatric ward, a Cancer Lodge Family Room, an outdoor all-wheels park for kids, and large donations to over 30 other charities. Marshall was born into the sleepy commuter town of Hope, BC to a stay-at-home mom and a miner/butcher father. At 11, he watched as his parents courageously shouldered the burden of 16-hour days in a bid to improve their lives. Following their example, Brent learned to hold down employment even as he juggled meal prep and chores in the trailer park, all while serving up a smorgasbord of scholastic achievement. By 15, he was working full-time and then some after school, 3 to 11 both weekdays and weekends.

Rick Hansen is the Founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation and a passionate supporter of people with disabilities in Canada. Rick is best known as the “Man In Motion” for his epic 26-month, 34 country, 40,000 km wheelchair trip around the world to make the world inclusive for people with disabilities and to find a cure for paralysis. Since the end of the Man In Motion World Tour in 1987, Rick has dedicated his life to creating a world that is accessible and inclusive for all by removing barriers for people with disabilities through the Rick Hansen Foundation. Rick and his team at the Foundation are dedicated to raising awareness, changing attitudes, helping create accessible spaces, and liberating the amazing potential of people with disabilities. To learn more about Rick Hansen, please visit www.www.rickhansen.com

Entrepreneur, nature enthusiast and body-movement advocate, Meg Keir is the founder of The Adventure Bus. This local company provides backcountry hikes, snowshoe excursions and various getaways throughout Northern British Columbia. Meg's company aims to give everyone the ability to adventure and explore the beautiful scenery that British Columbia has to offer. Meg has dedicated her life to pursuing an adventurous lifestyle and allowing others the opportunity to do the same. By finding a way to combine her love of health and fitness, along with her passion for outdoors, The Adventure Bus was born! Learn more at: https://www.facebook.com/theadventurebustours https://theadventurebustours.com SPOTIFY LINK: https://bit.ly/CrazyDamnCanadians

John A. Brink was born during the Second World War in northeastern Holland. Canadian soldiers liberated his home town in the spring of 1945 and at that moment, as a 5-year old boy, John decided he would one day move to Canada - the land of his heroes - to pursue his dream of owning a lumber mill. Since then, John has gone on to become a serial entrepreneur, author, business mentor, philanthropist, national ranked body builder, keynote speaker, international dressage competitor and animal welfare advocate. In 2019, John was nominated to the Order of British Columbia and also received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree from the University of Northern British Columbia. In 2020, John was named as Vice Chair of the Council of Forest Industries and started hosting the Shaw Spotlight Television Series: A History of the BC Forest Industry. As Founder, President and CEO of the Brink Group of Companies, John still works 60+ hour work weeks and splits his time between Prince George and North Saanich, British Columbia. John's first book and autobiography - Against All Odds - comes out on March 12, 2021.

Elmer Gunderson is a world-renowned artist located in Prince George, British Columbia. Elmer is well known for his 20+ wooden carvings located in Cottonwood Island Park, which are made up of animals and mythical creatures found throughout the various trees. As an inspiring sculptor, Elmer has extensive knowledge and experience working with mediums such as wood, clay, stone and, for a brief stint, ice. Elmer's artistic work can be witnessed through a collection of imagery/video on his Facebook and Instagram Pages, as well as by clicking on the following link: https://bit.ly/ElmerFacebook

Vern "The One Arm Bandit" Martel is a 13-time world champion in the sport of arm-wrestling. Despite what should have been a career-ending injury in 1985, Vern went on to dominate his sport in a fascinating journey that brought him around the world to various competitions. Vern's accomplishments have inspired many throughout the world, including household names like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Vern currently resides in Prince George, British Columbia, where he is nominated to the city's Sports Hall of Fame.

Chantelle and Warren Grafton are two inspiring Prince George residents with a shared passion for many great things in life, including karate, mountain biking, beer and their careers. In June 2019, Chantelle had a mountain bike crash in Valemount that resulted in a broken neck at the highest level, c1–c3, or a hangman's fracture as it's sometimes referred to. Chantelle was medevaced to Edmonton where she spent the next 43 days. Chantelle then spent one month in Vancouver's General Hospital, she was able to gain her voice back. She then spent a little over three months in the GF Strong Rehab Facility, where Chantelle spent time with many people in similar situations. Chantelle and Warren have very fantastic and ambitious goals set for the future, many of which involve the sport of karate. These two human beings are the epitome of strength, perseverance and inspiration. It was an honour to have them on the podcast.

Gurdeep Pandher is one of the most inspirational individuals I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. This guy is such a beauty! Gurdeep lives in a cabin up in the Yukon and spends his days dancing the Punjabi Bhangra to spread joy, inclusivity and happiness in the lives of others. This gentleman is the epitome of what makes Canada so great, celebrating multi-culturalism and the fusion of our respective backgrounds into one giant melting pot of pure awesomeness. Spend a couple minutes today visiting Gurdeep's Facebook Page (link below). I bet you anything it will help uplift your day! https://www.facebook.com/GurdeepPandher

Cam Thun (AKA - Cam Thunder) is a Prince George business person who has donated over $800,000 to local charities and lived one of the most bizarre, wild and outright crazy lives imaginable. He's an author of three books and is in negotiations with several producers on a television series that documents his life. This podcast episode is 19+ and used languages not suitable for children (or some adults).

Jim Good spent his life studying native plant life. In later years, he travelled throughout Canada from coast to coast finding, recording, pressing and photographing hundreds of thousands of plant, tree and flower species, bringing many of them back to a designated park in Northern British Columbia. Now retired, Jim continues to share his life stories, work and success with the public at Goodsir Nature Parks, which is a botanical oasis. There is nothing in the world like Goodsir Nature Park and it a true Canadian treasure. The park is perfect for visitors, families and groups looking for an interpretive and educational experience showcasing Canada's history. The park is a must for all of Canada's residents and visitors to experience. The park was recently named by TripAdvisor as one of the top 10 best places in Canada to visit. Goodsir Nature Park was built over a lifetime by one person, Jim Good, who also served in the junior forest wardens in the 1960's and 70's. ‘Goodsir Nature Park is a place where you can come experience a first-hand relaxing environment. The trails are well-maintained and along the way you'll see various interpretive signs identifying all native plant and tree life in the region. Two botanical gardens have native trees from other areas of BC as well as different provinces and territories growing there.' https://www.goodsirnaturepark.ca/ Spotify:

Julie Veloo is an incredibly inspiring Canadian who is currently living in Mongolia. As the Vice President of the Veloo Foundation, Julie has been working with disadvantaged children for over 20 years. In Mongolia, Julie is the driving force behind The Children of the Peak Sanctuary project, a kindergarten for the children of the families who make their living scavenging at local dumps. The Veloo Foundation's mission is to aid the children and families of the Ulaanchuluut garbage dump in the coldest and most air polluted capital city in the world,: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. By taking long-term, Julie and her organization's goal is to alleviate poverty and provide real opportunities for the children and families who currently subsist by scavenging in all weather at the garbage dump.

At only 12 years old, Halle Krawczyk has been battling the fight of her life as she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer 3 years ago. Mark astonishingly helped raise $325,000 in 12 days. Poorly differentiated chordoma affects just one in 20 million people. Halle's family have been by her side throughout the challenging and heartbreaking journey, including numerous stays at Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver, while Halle undergoes surgeries, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, a trial drug and other regular testing. Mark's commitment towards raising money for Halle is no short of extraordinary.

Don Willimont is a human who cares deeply about many important things: his community and the surrounding region; hunting and the conservation of wildlife; cleaning up illegal dumping sites and much, much more. Don has been cleaning up areas around Prince George with fellow staff members and volunteers for the past half decade. Don Willimont is on the Board of Director at Spruce City Wildlife Association (SCWA) and Operations Director at Wood Wheaton. Don is also a podcast host on The Cutbanks Conversations, which was created to facilitate discussions around Hunting, Fishing and Conservation in British Columbia.

Selen Alpay is known in his community for his huge heart. He is a leader, a philanthropist, he champions youth and sport and he advocates for healthcare. Selen has a ‘can-do attitude' all the time. He has served on the boards of Northern Healthcare Foundation, Elizabeth Fry Society and the Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community, and he is a major supporter of Cops for Cancer Tour de North and Wheelin' Warriors of the North. As a Canadian Tire store owner, Selen not only ignites his staff to participate in community causes but also donates to countless events and groups. Selen's mission is to improve the quality of life for Northerners. In this episode, Selen talks to hosts Dave and Scott about his journey growing up, why it's important for him to give back and what led him to the leadership position he finds himself in today.

Welcome to Episode 2 of Crazy Damn Canadians! Today, we had the pleasure of interviewing one of the most powerful leaders in Northern British Columbia history. Shirley Bond currently serves as the Interim Leader for the Official Opposition and Critic for Seniors Services and Long Term Care. Shirley Bond was first elected in 2001 as the MLA for Prince George-Valemount. Shirley has extensive experience as a Cabinet Minister including Deputy Premier. She has extensive experience serving as Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Minister of Education, Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy, Minister of Advanced Education, and Minister of Health Services. She was the first female to hold the position of Attorney General in British Columbia's history, a title she held while Minister of Justice. She has been honoured as a trailblazer in the B.C. justice system. As a member of the Official Opposition, Shirley Chaired the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts and served as Finance critic. Before her election to the Legislative Assembly, Shirley served three terms on the Prince George School Board, the last as chair. She was given the B.C. Interior, North and Yukon Woman of Distinction Award for her work in public education. Shirley and her husband Bill were married for 41 years before Bill passed away in June 2020. Shirley lives in Prince George and loves spending time with with her family especially their twin adult children, and grandsons Caleb and Cooper.

Crazy Damn Canadians is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of the most fascinating, inspiring and thought-provoking Canadians on the planet! Hosted by David Mothus and Scott McWalter, all interviews will showcase Canadians from across the nation. The goal is simple: let's highlight some INCREDIBLE people who make us feel proud to be Canadian. Canada is the best country in the world for several reasons: nature, diversity, traditions, educational institutions, cultural influences, an abundance of wildlife, a robust economy, access to the great outdoors, and, of course, the AMAZING PEOPLE! In episode #1 of Crazy Damn Canadians, Dave and Scott talk about their motivation for starting this podcast, what they hope to see it evolve to and the goal of bringing on Michael J. Fox for episode #100. Enjoy!