Nico Arnett said yes to curating her own ceramics and photography art show before giving her brain a chance to say no. Never mind that her ceramics studio had been mothballed since moving nearly three years ago. Never mind that her realtor career and family life had taken over most of her free time.

Never mind that – eek – this would be her first ever art show. This would be an exercise in putting the weird little brain out there and see what comes of it.

This is a story about throwing caution to the wind, and trusting that the Sunshine Coast community will always celebrate and support anyone taking a creative risk.

Secret Sunshine’s Founding Sponsor is The Kube, a boutique retail shop, art gallery, and art studio in Gibsons. They’re hosting Nico’s art show and helping this podcast get off the ground. Buy art-inspired gifts and gifts that inspire art in store or online atTheKube.ca.

Follow Nico Arnett on Instagramhere, and find her ceramics feed, No. 9 Ceramics,here.

And find out more about the podcast atsecretsunshine.ca.

The windows ofThe Station Wine Bar were papered over for most of the year, taunting thirsty locals and visitors with a cryptic “Pouring Soon” sign. Nearly a full year since signing up to open a new restaurant in Lower Gibsons, Alexis Nothstein is still adapting to the reality that a Dream she’s held for nearly two decades is actually coming true. But is Gibsons ready to welcome a wine bar and help it find success? Alexis will soon learn if this town agrees with her belief that this little place is exactly what the Coast needs. 

This podcast exists thanks to the support of Founding Sponsor The Kube. It’s an artist studio and boutique retail shop in Gibsons filled with unique things you can buy anywhere else on the Coast. Check em out on Gibson’s Way or visitTheKube.ca.

My new favourite annual holiday tradition involves meeting up with a few dozen dingdongs like me at the beach on New Year's Day morning. And jumping into the ocean. As 2025 gets warmed up, I take a couple of minutes to reflect on why I wanted to make this podcast for you (and with you). Happy New Year!

Is the Coast secretly the best place to experiment with small business ideas? When Jess Price bought Fromagerie de Baie in Gibsons last year, it meant she was taking on running a third small business in under two years.

Now she managesGood Fridays Cheese Co (Insta),Good Fridays General Store⁠ (Insta), and Good Fridays Grazing - the lil' charcuterie hustle that started the whole adventure.

Ahead of the cheese shop's official grand opening, Jess explores what motivates a newbie to the Coast to take on so many projects in such a brie-f amount of time.

The cheese shop’s official opening event is on Saturday, January 18th, from 11am to 4pm. Swing by for raffles, giveaways and samples. You’ll find it tucked behind the Venture Village complex.

How many cheese puns do you count in the interview? Let me know onInstagram. And while you’re there, follow theGibsons IGA Instagram account (which makes sense when you hear the episode).

Thanks again to my founding sponsors,The Kube - a sweet shop run by good people. Also, here’stheir Instagram account.

Additional sound design support from Gaëtan Harris at Syrup Sound. Original music composed and performed by Max Henry.

Find out more about the show, including links to follow the podcast on your podcast player of choice, atsecretsunshine.ca.

For over a decade, a squat, square, wooden old building near the corner of Pratt Rd and the Sunshine Coast Highway housed Dave Coyle's Antique Reproductions shop. The store - managed by Jackie-Lee Coyle -  felt like the a place that defined the Sunshine Coast vibe. But the shop just closed, permanently, and for both resident and regular visitors alike - it's the end of something special. Jackie shares why it's time for them to go, and how it can be both easy and hard to say good-bye. 

This episode of Secret Sunshine is sponsored by Sunday Cider - a cidery off the highway tucked into a grove of evergreen trees. And keep up with the Jackie-Lee and Dave Coyle on ⁠Instagram⁠ too.

The podcast is produced and hosted by Dominic Girard, with additional sound design by Gaëtan Harris at Syrup Sound. Original music composed and performed by Max Henry. 

Find the show online at secretsunshine.ca, and find me on Instagram. 

My sister, Sophie Olson, has lived in Los Angeles for more than twenty years. When the latest wildfire outbreak endangered her city, I wondered if she'd considered escaping California and head north to the Sunshine Coast. That's because a few years ago, she did exactly that.

Sophie is a dance choreographer and educator in Los Angeles. Find her and follow her on⁠ TikTok⁠ and⁠Instagram⁠.

Follow Dominic on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠. You can send the show an email at ⁠secretsunshine@handovermedia.fm⁠. The show’s website is ⁠secretsunshine.ca⁠.

The podcast's original theme is composed and performed by Max Henry. Sound design support from Gaëtan Harris, at Syrup Sound.

Blair Douglas is a barber at Fade 'N Dye in Roberts Creek. He recently created his own space next door - an extension of the shop. He built it just for him (and his clients).

As he cuts the host’s hair, we learn why the Sunshine Coast convinced Blair to pick up clippers and shears.

Then, the conversation delves into deeper, often philosophical aspects of barbering, and how Blair's approach to his work goes beyond cutting hair to make clients feel good about themselves.

Book a haircut with Blair at Fade ‘N Dye with this link.

This episode’s sponsor is Sunday Cider - a cidery you’ll find just off the highway right past Gibsons. Find out more about them online and on Instagram. 

Secret Sunshine is produced and hosted by Dominic Girard. The show’s original music is performed and composed by Max Henry.

Learn more about this podcast and how you can follow it, support it, and get in touch by tapping through to the show’s website, secretsunshine.ca.

When Will Unwin left the city for a slower life on the Sunshine Coast, he didn’t expect to end up owning Penco Motorsports — or navigating the pressures that come with turning your passion into your livelihood. In this episode, Will shares how an unexpected injury changed his career path, how burnout nearly pulled him away from the motorcycle industry entirely, and why running a small business on the Coast can feel so different from city life. It’s a conversation about risk, reinvention, and protecting what you love — even when it becomes your job.

Secret Sunshine is produced and hosted by Dominic Girard at Handover Media. The original music is composed and performed by Max Henry. Learn more about the show - including how to sponsor it - at secretsunshine.ca.

For about a decade, Joyce and her dog Echo have worked side-by-side as volunteers for Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue. But now, Echo is stepping away from the field.

Joyce explores what it means having to retire a dog who’s still eager to serve—and what it means to lose the best search partner she's had.

When Joyce isn't in the field with SAR, she runs a lovely kennel in Gibsons called No Pawblems.

Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Get in touch by sending an email to secretsponsor@handovermedia.fm and I'll share the deets. It's fun, it's easy, and listeners enjoy hearing you baked into the episodes.

Find out more about the podcast at secretsunshine.ca, and follow me on Instagram at dom_ideas.

When Gillian Morrison moved to the Coast, she went looking for a workout and a night out. Instead, she ended up building a gym, one that would reshape her life and strengthen the community she now called home.

Sign up for classes and personal training on the GM Fitness website!

This episode is sponsored by the good humans at Sunday Cider. Find them off the highway, online, and on Instagram.

The show's original theme is composed and performed by Max Henry.

Learn more about Secret Sunshine, including how to sponsor an episode, how to find the the show, and how to get in touch with me at secretsunshine.ca. And find me on Instagram and say hello.

What is Hackfish? Can anyone define a word that is designed to mean everything – and nothing – at once?

Volume Two of Hackfish Magazine is about to hit the Coast. So, I sit down with Tyler Lepore, the creative force behind Hackfish Magazine, a unique, community-driven zine on the Sunshine Coast. We talk about origins of Hackfish, Tyler’s journey as a metal fabricator turned magazine creator, and the quirky, analog spirit that defines both the magazine and the Coast itself. Along the way, hear about the wonderful misadventures Hackfish mag underwent when launching Volume One last year.

We cover:

• What is Hackfish? Exploring the meaning and philosophy behind the name and the magazine.

• Tyler’s background: from metal fabrication to zine publishing.

• The creative process: how Hackfish Magazine is made, from collecting stories and art to hacking up old newspaper boxes for distribution.

• Community engagement: the importance of local involvement, user submissions, and the “barnacle people” of the Coast.

• The analog experience: why print matters, and the joy of finding a Hackfish box in the wild.

• Memorable features: “Naked Cord” photo spread, quirky magazine content, and the magazine’s impact on the community.

• The challenges and rewards of running a passion project with no ads, no digital edition, and lots of local flavor.

Big thanks to Nicole at Nico Coastal Homes – a friend and one of the top realtors on the Sunshine Coast. Find her at nicolearnett.ca, and tell her Secret Sunshine sent you.

Find Hackfish Magazine on Instagram and at hackfishmag.ca.

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

Visit secretsunshine.ca for more episodes and info.

Produced and hosted by Dominic Girard at Handover Media.Theme music by Max Henry.

Salish Soils isn’t your typical composting and recycling company. It’s a reflection of Aaron Joe’s belief that rebuilding the land can also rebuild lives - especially his own. In this conversation, the founder and CEO of the company shares how his personal journey became the foundation for a business rooted in renewal, regeneration, and community.

Find out more about Salish Soils projects, products, and mission at salishsoils.com. And learn about the Salish Sea Regenerative Farm Society here.

This episode is sponsored by Angler Management, a fishing charter based in Gibsons. Ed’s a great guy and until the end of Summer 2025, locals who are listeners of Secret Sunshine can get a 10% discount on charter fees. Book yours now at anglermanagement.ca and go catch yourself some salmon.

Secret Sunshine is produced and hosted by Dominic Girard at Handover Media. The show’s original music is composed and performed by Max Henry.

Learn more about the podcast, including how to become a groovy sponsor, at secretsunshine.ca, and find me on Instagram @dom_ideas.

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Secret Sunshine, I chat with Adam and Shannon Vanderwoerd, the husband-and-wife team behind The Gibsons Butcher, to talk about their journey from running a single beloved butcher shop to opening a second location, The Sechelt Butcher. The conversation explores the challenges, community support, and serendipity that have shaped their business and lives on the Sunshine Coast.

The Sechelt Butcher opens Friday, October 10th at Tsain-Ko Mall on Sechelt First Nations territory.

We talk about:

• The origins of The Gibsons Butcher and the decision to expand to Sechelt
• Community support and the importance of local relationships
• The transition from corporate coffee to local entrepreneurship
• Overcoming challenges in opening a new store, from financial risk to construction delays
• The role of family, including their daughter’s involvement and Indigenous heritage
• The artistry of butchery and creating a welcoming, community-focused shop
• Reflections on opening day, business philosophy, and giving back to the community

Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Nico Coastal Homes. If you’re buying or selling on the Coast, connect with Nico at nicolearnett.ca and find out why she's one of the top realtors serving our community.

Remember, you can:

• Watch video editions of the podcast on YouTube and Spotify, or listen on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast platform.
• Like, rate, review, and subscribe to support the show.
• Learn more and find all episodes at secretsunshine.ca.

Credits:
Produced by Dominic Girard at Handover Media. Original theme by Max Henry.

Remember, find video editions of this season’s episodes on YouTube and Spotify. This particular episode is worth a look.

Ben Tour is a visual artist based on the Sunshine Coast. His giant, graffiti-style murals can be found in various spaces on the Coast.

I invited him to the graffiti-filled wall at the Gibsons Curling Club for a conversation about graffiti, art, and community. Recorded while literally painting over a wall, the episode explores the culture and controversy of graffiti, the evolution of Ben’s artistic journey, and the role that public art, condoned or not, can play in shaping local identity.

We go over:

• Ben’s background: Growing up in Toronto, discovering graffiti, and moving to the Sunshine Coast.

• The difference between legal walls, productions, and “bombing” in graffiti culture.

• The love-hate relationship communities have with graffiti and how it shapes public spaces.

• Stories from Ben’s early days as a graffiti artist, including his first tag and the rush of painting at night.

• The impact of environment and community on Ben’s art, and how nature has influenced his recent work.

• The importance of self-directed art projects and balancing client work with personal expression..

• The ephemeral nature of graffiti, respect among artists, and the unspoken rules of the scene.

• How graffiti and skateboarding serve as gateways to the arts for young people.

• Reflections on getting in trouble, learning from mistakes, and the enduring desire to create.

Connect with your community:

• See more of Ben’s work and commission him for your wall on Instagram

• Secret Sunshine Sponsor Nico Coastal Homes is a top realtor on the Coast and one you’ll love working with when buying or selling a home. Find her at nicolearnett.ca

• Both Ben and Nico have hosted art openings at The Kube. And Nico’s project was the focus for Secret Sunshine’s very first episode. Go learn more about Nico’s artsy side by listening her episode “Nico’s Weird Little Art Show”. Find it on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.

Thanks for listening! The podcast is produced by Dominic Girard at Handover Media. The show’s original theme is composed and performed by Max Henry. This episode features a custom show logo courtesy of Ben Tour.

Special thanks to the Gibsons Curling Club (of which I am a Board member). 

Help me grow the show! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe (follow), rate, and share the podcast with someone you think would enjoy it.

Got feedback or want to suggest a guest? Reach out by finding me at secretsunshine.ca or secretsunshine@handovermedia.fm

Thanks as ever to Nicole at Nico Coastal Homes for sponsoring this season. Whether your planning to buy or sell a home on the Coast, give Nico a ring. She’s a top seller for good reason!

In this episode, Jess Procter, owner and founder of Sweet Emotion Baking in Gibsons, BC. Jess shares her journey from home baker to small business owner, and spills the tea on who her customers are, why they’re obsessed with her cookies, and why they might be calling her at 11 pm for a cookie fix.

But we also get deep into it and unpack why a cookie isn’t just a cookie, but a sweet treat that connects Jess, giving her fulfillment from feeding her community.

We also make a test batch of top secret Secret Sunshine Cookies. And if you’re quick on the draw, you can buy one of these cookies for yourself wherever they’re found. (hint: try the Butchers, the Cheese Co. and Roberts Creek Wellbeing.

Hear about, Jess’s “no raisin” policy, midnight baking marathons, the therapeutic power of baking during tough times, especially while parenting through lockdowns, and a bunch more.

Connect with Jess on Instagram (@sweet.emotion.baking) and with me (@dom_ideas). 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Support local businesses like Sweet Emotion Baking, and don’t forget to treat yourself (and someone you love) to a cookie! After all, a cookie is just “a hug for inside your body.”

Secret Sunshine is produced by Dominic Girard at Handover Media. The music is from Max Henry. 

Have you checked out the podcast’s video editions on YouTube and Spotify? Let me know what you think!

Allan Harding is a National Champion in air pistol shooting, and I met up with him at the Pinecone Range shortly after returning from a competition win in Ontario (a Team Gold and a Bronze for himself).

Allan’s primary focus is the 10m discipline, but he showcased his 50m skills when we met up.

In our conversation, he shares more about how he started his lifelong pursuit of excellence in this sport. Allan talks about the mental discipline required for high-level competition, the challenges of returning to shooting after a long break, and his audacious goal of qualifying for the 2028 LA Olympics.

The conversation delves into the role shooting plays as an anchor through life’s hits and misses, the importance of mindfulness and focus, and the unique satisfaction found in moments of perfect precision. 

Find Allan on Instagram and on his website.

This podcast is supported by Gold Medal sponsor, Nico Coastal Homes, and Nicole will support you just as winningly in any real estate decisions. 

The show theme is by Max Henry. Secret Sunshine is made by Dominic Girard at Handover Media. You can also find me and the show on Instagram.

Love the show? Have you given it a rating and review on Apple Podcasts? Help spread the word if you can - I truly appreciate all the feedback.

In this season finale of Secret Sunshine, meet Ed Hill. He's a retired RCMP Staff Sergeant, artist, curler, canoeist, auctioneer, emcee, community builder, and larger-than-life personality.

But after nearly four decades in Gibsons, Ed and his wife Joy are preparing to leave.

From saving someone's life on his first night in town, to founding one of the world's top outrigger canoe races, to becoming an activist artist after retiring from the RCMP, Ed's story will teach you something about what happens when passion meets community spirit.

Find Ed Hill’s artwork at Edhillart.com. And find his home’s listing at realtor.ca.

As ever, thanks to Nico at Nico Coastal Homes for sponsoring this season. If you’re in the market to hit the market, give Nico a call - she’s among the very best realtors on the Sunshine Coast. Find her at nicolearnett.ca.

Find me at secretsunshine.ca, and on Instagram at dom_ideas.

Looking to sponsor next season of the show?

Shoot me an email at secretsponsor@handovermedia.fm and we’ll make a deal. Thanks very much for your support!

Secret Sunshine is produced by Dominic Girard at Handover Media. Original music is from Max Henry.

The podcast will take a little winter break. See you again sometime in Spring.

Something big is happening on the Sunshine Coast. The Gibsons Cinema — a community fixture since 1963 — has new owners. 

And I’m one of them!

In this episode, I sit down with my two co-owners and friends, Steve Tannock and Ed Anderson, and share the story of why we’re buying the cinema, and tease what we plan to do with it.

What we get into:

• How this started with Dominic calling Ed’s bluff.

• Why all three owners bring very different backgrounds — IT, software engineering, media, and theatre — and why that might actually work

• The months-long process of getting the deal done, including the moments they were sure it wasn't going to happen

• Ed's mantra that kept them going: keep going until you can't

• What a "third space" means for a small town, and why the Gibsons Cinema has always been one

• Hinting at the renovation plan

• A promise of much more to come.

About the new owners:

• Dominic Girard — host of Secret Sunshine, 20-year media and podcasting veteran, incoming General Manager of the cinema

• Steve Tannock — cinephile, former projectionist, current software and AI leader at Telus, and self-described lover of big bets

• Ed Anderson — former IT entrepreneur turned fishing charter operator (Angler Management), and the one who got all this started.

The Gibsons Cinema takes new ownership on April 29th. Stay tuned.

Get in touch!

We are rebuilding a cinema-first space that welcomes community engagement. What are your hopes and dreams for our tiny but mighty independent cinema? What questions do you have about the business of running a theatre? Send us an email at gibsonscinema@handover.fm.

Special thanks to Vivian and Tony, the current owners, for trusting us to build on their legacy. Thanks to Max Henry, as always, for the original theme music of this podcast.

Learn more about the show at secretsunshine.ca

While Ed and I were out on a secret cinema mission, it made me think about a local mystery. For as long as I've been going to the Gibsons Cinema, I've heard two completely contradictory things about the building: that it was absolutely designed by Arthur Erickson, one of Canada's greatest architects — and that it absolutely wasn't.

In this episode, I ring up Geoffrey Erickson and find out the truth. Geoffrey is a designer with Studio Erickson, and he’s Arthur’s nephew.

Thanks to Allie and the team at the Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives for their excellent database and even more excellent help.

Thanks to Max Henry for the podcast’s original music.

Find and follow our Instagram account for the soon-to-be-ours Gibsons Cinema here.

Find Ed’s fishing charter at Angler Management.

Find the show at secretsunshine.ca

Secret Sunshine is produced by Dominic Girard at Handover Media.