Explore every episode of the podcast Finding Solutions with Dan Albas

On this episode of Finding Solutions, Dan sits down with Étienne-Alexandre Beauregard, one of a rising generation of Quebec public intellectuals. They begin with life in Quebec City and how his experiences placed culture and belonging at the heart of political life. The episode traces his path from answering constituent mail as an 18-year-old to speechwriting for the Premier of Quebec, authoring three books on Quebec identity, history, and politics, before taking on some of our country’s most pressing issues as a policy researcher at Cardus.

The core of the conversation focuses on Anti-Civilization: what civilization requires (shared norms that channel individual impulses toward a common life), how the deconstruction of family, nation, and institutions hollows that foundation out, and why cultural debates are fundamental to political life rather than a sideshow to pocketbook issues. Étienne draws a clear distinction between reform that strengthens physical, economic, and cultural security and revolutionary projects that prioritize disruption over the common good.

They also examine fertility rates (the gap between what Canadian families say they want versus reality), daycare policy that funds institutions over parents’ choices, managerial elites, populism as a citizen demand, Quebec’s upcoming election realignment, and how Quebec and Western Canada can better understand each other through shared principles of rootedness and local autonomy.

Follow / find his work

* X: @eabeauregard

* Without Diminishment: Without Diminishment | Substack

* Cardus research: Étienne-Alexandre Beauregard | Cardus

* Anti-Civilization (English): bookstores across Canada, Amazon, and major online retailers from September 1, 2026

To find out more about Étienne’s latest book: Anti-Civilization (Preorder) – Sutherland House Publishing

In this episode of Finding Solutions, Dan Albas sits down with Opie Sidhu, an Okanagan-born public policy professional, community volunteer, and small business owner who is leading an initiative to collect and preserve Sikh family stories, historical records, and photographs across the region.

From the early days of agriculture and pioneer partnership to modern trailblazers in community leadership and healthcare, Dan and Opie explore how history comes alive through people, trust, and community solidarity.

Key Topics & Chapter Timestamps

[00:00] – Introduction: What is Finding Solutions and Okanagan Stories & Solutions?

[01:03] – Meet Opie Sidhu: From Summerland orchard roots to public policy & small business

[03:13] – What inspired the Okanagan Sikh history archive project?

[04:22] – The “Farmer’s Handshake”: Mr. Basran (Hillcrest Cherries) and the Stewart family (Quails’ Gate) navigating discriminatory property laws

[07:11] – The story of Ajit Kaur Sangha (1946): Defying prejudice to buy a home in Kelowna with support from MLA Cecil Robert Bull

[11:00] – Trailblazers & Legacies: Sindi Hawkins (Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Cancer Centre), Mohini Singh, and community advocates

[12:35] – Migration patterns: Understanding early Sikh settlement in the North vs. South Okanagan

[14:15] – Chardi Kala (Eternal Optimism): Common themes of agriculture, faith, and working together through adversity

[17:01] – Responding to prejudice: Why community support and strong policy matter (standing with families like the Singlas)

[19:15] – Building bridges: Collaboration across faith, ethnic, and local communities during crisis and emergency response

[21:10] – How listeners can share photos, documents, and family stories with the project

Call to Action & How to Share Your Story

Do you or your family have photos, historical documents, oral histories, or stories about early Sikh pioneers and community members in the Okanagan? Opie Sidhu is building an archival record to ensure these stories are preserved for future generations.

📬 Get in touch with Opie Sidhu: opie.sidhu@gmail.com

In this episode of Finding Solutions with Dan Albas, Dan sits down with Jason Brolund, Fire Chief of West Kelowna Fire Rescue.

Born and raised in the Central Okanagan, Chief Brolund has spent more than three decades in emergency services. After serving with the Kelowna Fire Department, including as Deputy Fire Chief, he became Fire Chief of West Kelowna Fire Rescue in 2015, serving both the City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation. He became widely known for his leadership during the McDougall Creek Wildfire in August 2023, one of the most significant wildfire emergencies in our region’s history, and has since become a leading voice on wildfire resilience, emergency preparedness, and FireSmart principles in British Columbia and beyond, including at the United Nations.

Important Note

This interview was recorded on July 30, 2026.

The conversation took place prior to several significant wildfire events that occurred in the Southern Interior in early August 2026, including the Quilpituk Creek Wildfire in the Central Okanagan and the Bald Range Wildfire (K51490) affecting portions of the Summerland and Peachland areas. Those events are therefore not discussed during this episode.

In This Episode

* Growing up in the Central Okanagan and what draws people into the fire service

* Leadership lessons from the front lines to Fire Chief, including the value of relationships before an emergency hits

* How rapid growth and taller buildings are changing the demands on West Kelowna Fire Rescue

* Building capacity: full-time crews, Fire Hall 32 in Lakeview Heights, and a modern training centre

* Firefighter health: mental wellness, cancer risk, decontamination, and gear treated with forever chemicals

* McDougall Creek: when a fire behind the community becomes a community-wide emergency

* “A hundred years of firefighting in one night,” mutual aid from across B.C., and the shift-change parade that still hangs in the hall

* Lessons learned: embers crossing Okanagan Lake, bringing the public along through open media briefings, and telling the story of neighbours who fight fires

* FireSmart that works: the immediate zone around the home, ember storms like snowstorms, and why prevention funding belongs at the front end of the problem

* Human-caused fire, carelessness in the backcountry, and respect for fire across the whole community

* An all-of-society message: we cannot build a fire department big enough to wait for the next McDougall Creek

Throughout the discussion, Chief Brolund shares what it takes to lead through catastrophe, protect the people who run toward danger, and give residents practical steps that improve the odds when wildfire returns.

About Jason Brolund

Jason Brolund is Fire Chief of West Kelowna Fire Rescue. He serves the City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation, and is a recognized voice on wildfire resilience, FireSmart, and emergency preparedness following the 2023 McDougall Creek Wildfire.

Resources Mentioned

* FireSmart BC and FireSmart Canada (including practical guides and the simple colouring-book checklist for households)

* Your local fire department: Chief Brolund’s advice is to call your local fire chief with questions about making your home and neighbourhood more resilient

About Okanagan Stories & Solutions

Okanagan Stories & Solutions is a recurring segment of Finding Solutions with Dan Albas featuring local leaders, first responders, innovators, and community builders who are helping shape the future of the Okanagan through practical solutions and public service.

Connect with Dan Albas

🌐 www.danalbas.com📘 Facebook: Dan Albas📸 Instagram: @danalbasmp𝕏 X (Twitter): @DanAlbas

If you enjoyed this episode of Finding Solutions with Dan Albas, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others. Together, we can continue finding solutions to the challenges facing our communities.

Resources Mentioned

* FireSmart BC – Home assessments, guides, videos, and wildfire preparedness resources: https://firesmartbc.ca/

* FireSmart Canada – National FireSmart resources and publications: https://firesmartcanada.ca/

* FireSmart Resources Library – Guides, homeowner resources, and checklists: https://firesmartcanada.ca/resources/

* PreparedBC – Emergency preparedness guides and household emergency planning: https://preparedbc.ca/

* BC Wildfire Service – Current wildfire information, restrictions, and preparedness resources: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status

* Your Local Fire Department – Chief Brolund’s advice: contact your local fire department or fire chief if you have questions about making your home, property, or neighbourhood more wildfire resilient.

Quick Start: Start with the FireSmart resources page and download the Home Ignition Zone Checklist and FireSmart Begins at Home Guide. They provide some of the simplest and most effective actions homeowners can take to reduce wildfire risk.

In this episode, Dan Albas is joined by Adrian Marr, Board Director of the Okanagan Chinese Canadian Association (OCCA) and Chair of the OCCA Chinese Heritage Committee, and Master Shui Lee, member of the Chinese Freemasons, cultural ambassador, lion dance instructor, court interpreter, and longtime community volunteer.

Together, they discuss:

* Chinese Canadian history in the Okanagan and across Canada

* Family stories of perseverance, community service, and sacrifice

* The impact of the Chinese Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act

* British Columbia’s 2014 apology for historical wrongs against Chinese Canadians

* The legacy of Douglas Jung, Canada’s first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament

* The role of the Chinese Freemasons in supporting Chinese communities

* Preserving culture through lion dancing, education, and community events

* The work of the OCCA Chinese Heritage Committee

* The campaign for a nationally recognized Chinese Heritage Month

* The importance of ensuring future generations understand both the challenges and contributions of Chinese Canadians

Chinese Canadian history is a story of perseverance, service, community building, and cultural preservation. By sharing these stories and preserving this heritage, future generations can better understand both the challenges faced and the contributions made by Chinese Canadians throughout Canada’s history.

Thank you for listening to Finding Solutions with Dan Albas.Real stories. Real challenges. Practical solutions.

Finding Solutions with Dan Albas

Dan Albas sits down with fellow Conservative MP Aaron Gunn to discuss his journey from documentary filmmaker to Parliamentarian and his new role as Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government.

The conversation covers a wide range of issues, including Canada’s addiction crisis, recovery-focused programs, housing affordability, BC Ferries procurement, workforce challenges, recreational fisheries, and the future of British Columbia’s forestry sector.

In This Episode:

Aaron’s transition from filmmaking to federal politics

Lessons from documentaries such as Vancouver Is Dying

Addiction policy and recovery-based solutions

Questions surrounding the BC condo development bailout

BC Ferries and building ships in Canada

Concerns over ferry workforce recruitment policies

Recreational salmon fishing and allocation changes

Challenges facing BC’s forestry sector

Aaron’s priorities as Ethics and Accountable Government Critic

Quote of the Episode

“You get what you tolerate as a society.” – Aaron Gunn

Subscribe to Finding Solutions for conversations on practical solutions, public policy, and the issues affecting communities across British Columbia and Canada.

In this episode of Finding Solutions with Dan Albas, Dan sits down with Macklin McCall, MLA for West Kelowna–Peachland and the Official Opposition Whip in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

A lifelong Okanagan resident, Macklin shares his perspective on the issues affecting West Kelowna, Peachland, and communities across British Columbia. The conversation focuses on practical solutions, effective representation, and the challenges facing local residents.

In This Episode

* The transition from policing to elected office

* Representing West Kelowna–Peachland in Victoria

* Macklin’s new role as Official Opposition Whip

* Recovery and rebuilding efforts following the McDougall Creek wildfire

* The need for a fair and effective allocation of rural RCMP resources

* The future of the William R. Bennett Bridge and regional transportation infrastructure

* The proposed BC Hydro transmission-line redundancy project

* Issues that constituents are raising with their MLA

* Macklin’s Private Member’s Bill and the objectives behind it

* Opportunities to improve how government serves the people of British Columbia

Throughout the discussion, Macklin shares what he’s hearing from constituents, how he approaches the role of MLA, and why practical, community-focused solutions remain at the heart of public service.

About Macklin McCall

Macklin McCall was elected MLA for West Kelowna–Peachland in 2024. Prior to entering elected office, he spent nearly two decades serving in the Okanagan with the RCMP. Today, he represents West Kelowna–Peachland in the Legislative Assembly and serves as the Official Opposition Whip.

Follow Macklin

📘 Facebook: Macklin McCall MLA

📸 Instagram: @macklinmccall

𝕏 X (Twitter): @MacklinMcCallBC

(Social media accounts current at the time of publication.)

Connect with Dan Albas

🌐 www.danalbas.com

📘 Facebook: Dan Albas

📸 Instagram: @danalbasmp

𝕏 X (Twitter): @DanAlbas

If you enjoyed this episode of Finding Solutions with Dan Albas, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others. Together, we can continue finding solutions to the challenges facing our communities.

The murder of Bailey McCourt shocked the Okanagan and sparked a movement for change. Despite seeking help and navigating the justice system, Bailey’s life was tragically taken in an act of intimate partner violence that many believe could have been prevented.

In this special Okanagan Stories & Solutions episode, Dan Albas is joined by Debbie Henderson, speaking on behalf of Bailey’s family, and Kristina Loewen, MLA for Kelowna Centre, to discuss Bailey’s life, the family’s advocacy, and the changes that have followed.

The conversation explores the journey from tragedy to action, including the development and passage of Bailey’s Law, the lessons learned from Bailey’s case, and the work that still remains to better protect victims of intimate partner violence.

Topics Discussed

* Who Bailey McCourt was and the legacy she leaves behind

* The events that led Bailey’s family to become advocates for change

* The emotional and practical challenges of turning grief into action

* The story behind Bailey’s Law and its journey from a private member’s bill to receiving Royal Assent

* What Bailey’s Law changes and why those reforms matter

* The realities of intimate partner violence and the warning signs that are too often overlooked

* Gaps that still exist within the justice system

* The balance between public safety, victim protection, and the administration of justice

* Provincial initiatives being discussed to improve victim safety

* New approaches, including victim notification systems, enhanced lethality-risk assessments, and emerging technologies to better protect individuals at risk

* The importance of coordination between police, prosecutors, courts, and governments

* Lessons from Bailey’s story and what more can be done to prevent future tragedies

Why This Conversation Matters

Bailey McCourt’s death devastated her family, friends, and the wider community. Her story became a catalyst for important conversations about intimate partner violence, victim safety, and accountability within the justice system.

While Bailey’s Law represents a significant step forward, this episode explores the broader question: What more can we do to prevent similar tragedies from happening again?

This is a conversation about learning from loss, honouring Bailey’s memory, and identifying practical solutions that can help save lives.

Dan sits down with Adam Chambers, MP for Simcoe North and Conservative trade critic, for a conversation that starts with butter tarts and ends with hard questions about Ottawa's priorities.

They kick off with Midland's record-breaking Butter Tart Festival and a push for a national holiday, then Adam shares a story from his days working for Jim Flaherty. From there, it's straight into the CRA: a Kelowna company shut down for fighting mortgage fraud, and Adam's private member's bill forcing disclosure on multi-million-dollar corporate debt write-offs, now before the Senate.

The back half turns to trade. With the CUSMA deadline looming, Adam explains why Canada's been left off the table while the US and Mexico talk directly, what that uncertainty is doing to business investment and the auto sector, and why softwood lumber needs to be part of the conversation. They close on Canada's stalled trade deal with Taiwan, finalized over a year ago and still unsigned.

In this episode:

Butter Tart Day and lessons from Jim Flaherty

CRA's mortgage-fraud blind spot

Adam's bill on corporate debt write-off transparency

Canada's absence from CUSMA talks

Auto sector pressure and softwood lumber

The stalled Canada-Taiwan trade deal

Guest: Adam Chambers, MP for Simcoe North, Conservative Shadow Minister for International Trade

We lost a giant of BC and Canadian public service. The Honourable Tom Siddon served as a federal cabinet minister under four portfolios, helped create the Canadian Space Agency and Nunavut, and championed salmon conservation across BC. But those who knew him remember him most for how he treated people. He believed in others before they believed in themselves. Dan shares his memories of Tom. Rest in peace.

Gavin Dew and Kristina Loewen are both sitting MLAs representing Kelowna ridings in the BC Legislature. They join the podcast to recap the spring legislative session, discuss what it means for constituents back home, and share their read on where the province is headed. Direct from Victoria to your ears.

What do politicians really think once they're off the clock?

Dan Albas MP sits down with four former elected officials he's worked alongside and trusts -- Renee Merrifield (former MLA, Kelowna-Mission), Ben Stewart (former MLA, Kelowna-West), Doug Findlater (former Mayor, West Kelowna), and Dan Ashton (former MLA and former Mayor, Penticton) -- to get their unfiltered take on politics today.

No constituency offices. No caucus whips. Just honest conversation about the issues that matter and what governments at every level should actually be doing about them.

Drivers Inc. is back in the national spotlight following a Globe and Mail investigative exposé raising questions about labour abuse, weak oversight, and safety gaps in Canada's trucking sector.

Dan is joined by Stephen Laskowski, President and CEO of the Canadian Trucking Alliance and the Ontario Trucking Association, who has spent decades working on trucking policy, safety, labour standards, compliance, and supply chain issues.

The conversation covers:

What Drivers Inc. is and why it matters for public safety, workers' rights, and tax fairness

How the scheme creates unfair competition and enables tax evasion

Real-world consequences for drivers, law-abiding carriers, and families on the road

Laskowski's calls for stronger enforcement, national data sharing, more audits, and removal of unsafe operators

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What are the impacts of government policy on real people and how can they affect change? My guest is Renee Merrifield, former MLA, current CEO of Troika Developments. As a local leader, Renee has been a champion for organizations like Kelowna's Starbright as well as building a successful business in a challenging economic environment.

This week's guest is Jeff Stibbard. Jeff is the founder and Executive Chairman of JDS Energy & Mining. He is a mining engineer with over 30 years of experience in mine design, construction and operations. BC has a long history of mining and Jeff shares some of his experiences and hope for the future.

MLA Harman Bhangu joins Dan to discuss the BC Ferries purchase of Chinese ships, the effect of 'Drivers Inc' on the trucking industry and much more. MLA Bhangu represents the riding of Langley-Abbotsford in the BC Legislature and is his parties Transportation Critic.

It was a pleasure to hear Senator Cardozo give his statement on Cancer Awareness Day with the Cancer Society. I am thankful for his leadership and for the kind recognition in the Senate of MP Peter Schiefke and myself for our work with the all party Parliamentary Cancer Caucus.

Why are there a shortage of long term care beds in the Okanagan? Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew sheds some light on this in our next episode of ‘Finding Solutions’.

Wildfires are now shaping forests—and communities—at a scale that challenges Canada’s current model. In this episode, retired Okanagan forester and documentary producer Murray Wilson explains what drives catastrophic wildfire (beyond ignition), what better forest and fuel management looks like, and why governments often treat burned landscapes differently than harvested ones. We also explore the case for a results‑based national framework that respects provincial jurisdiction while improving transparency and accountability.

In this episode of Conservative Solutions for Our Common Challenges, Dan Albas sits down with Blaine Calkins — long‑serving Alberta Conservative MP, Chair of the Conservative Hunting & Angling Caucus, and Shadow Minister for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation.

Before entering Parliament, Blaine worked on the land — including as a park ranger — developing a practical, stewardship‑first mindset around conservation, safety, and responsible regulation. In Parliament, that same mindset now shapes his work on an unexpected file: natural health products.

Dan and Blaine explore why a conservation‑minded MP is standing up for Canadians’ access to vitamins and supplements, what changed under federal legislation, and how common‑sense regulation can protect both public safety and personal choice — without unnecessary red tape.

National security isn’t abstract — it’s the quiet, disciplined work of people who carry heavy responsibilities with integrity. In this episode, Alex Ruff takes us inside NSICOP, clears up myths about security clearances, and unpacks the thinking behind his private member’s bill.

Dan speaks with OBWB’s James Littley and community partner Colin Pritchard about an innovative eDNA “suitcase lab” to keep zebra and quagga mussels out of Okanagan Lake—how it works, who needs to do what, and how the public can help. To find out more go to: www.dontmoveamussel.ca

In this deeply moving episode of Conservative Solutions for Our Common Challenges, Dan Albas sits down with Debbie Henderson, a nurse, advocate, and the aunt of Bailey McCourt — a young Kelowna mother whose life was murdered in an act of intimate partner violence.

Since losing Bailey, Debbie has become the public voice of her family. With remarkable courage, she has stepped forward to ensure Bailey’s story is heard and to push for changes that protect other women and families across Canada. Debbie has worked closely with MP Frank Caputo, who introduced Bailey’s Law, and has met with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to share her family’s experience directly. She recently testified before the Status of Women Committee, bringing Bailey’s legacy and her family’s grief into the national spotlight.

This episode explores Debbie’s journey, the systemic failures she has witnessed, and her family’s determination to make sure no one else suffers what Bailey endured.

Dan and Debbie refer to a town hall being held in Kelowna on March 3, 2026. Here are the registration page and details: https://www.conservative.ca/kelowna-stop-the-crime-townhall/

Tuesday, March 3rd

Doors Open @ 6:30; event starts at 7 PM

Address: Kelowna Events Centre, 2041 Harvey Ave, Kelowna

On this episode of Conservative Solutions, we have Krista Paine, President of the Central Okanagan Canadian Home Builders Association (COCHBA) and Cassidy DeVeer, Executive Director of the COCHBA, to talk about how to get women and more young people into the trades, why housing is taxed like "alcohol and cigarettes", which has made home ownership out of reach in the Okanagan and much of Canada for a generation. They explore with Dan how to get building- and the local economy booming again.

Frank Caputo is the Member of Parliament for Kamloops–Thompson–Cariboo, and before entering politics, he served as a Crown Prosecutor with years of experience working directly on serious criminal cases. In Parliament, he’s carried that experience forward—working to strengthen laws that protect the vulnerable and advocating for justice reforms grounded in real-world experience. Frank has teamed up with Mel Arnold on initiatives to combat child sexual abuse and exploitation material, and he has taken on deeply personal legislation like Bailey’s Law, working closely with the family of Bailey McCourt after her tragic death.

Dan Albas sits down with Todd Doherty, MP for Cariboo- Prince George about his work on suicide prevention with 9-8-8, mental health, addictions and legislative endevours to protect first responders and health care workers. It was a comprehensive discussion and Dan hopes you will enjoy it as much as he did!