Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

A few months back there was some talk in the trade papers, as well as the mainstream press, certainly on the internet like on Facebook and Twitter, about a forthcoming project by Linda Richards and David Middleton: The Greatest 100 Books of British Columbia. Ms. Richards and Mr. Middleton are culling together a list and publishing a book next year. We’ll talk about how they’re doing this, the considerations being taken, as well as how we can get involved. I’ve already come up with my own list. It’s a great conversation to start, and you can read more at their website: www.greatest100books.com. Linda L. Richards is the editor and co-founder of January Magazine, as well as a regular contributor to The Rap Sheet. She is also a novelist. Some of her previous books include Death Was the Other Woman, Calculated Loss, The Next Ex, and Mad Money. Her last book was Death Was in the Picture. Her website and blog can be found at www.lindalrichards.com. She joins me from the Gulf Islands this day. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Linda Richards; Good morning, Ms. Richards.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Don Davies joins me now. He is the NDP Member of Parliament for Vancouver Kingsway. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008, and he is the party’s critic for public safety and multiculturalism. He’s just back from observing the elections in the Philippines, something that’s been discussed on the program previously. We’ll ask him not on about what’s going on in Ottawa, but what he saw in the Philippines. He is a lawyer, and he actually lives on the same street I do. You can reach him via his website at www.dondavies.ndp.ca. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Don Davies; Good morning, Mr. Davies.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

A look at British Columbia’s artistic landscape is had in the forthcoming documentary cArtographies. The film was shot and directed by Brian Johnson, and its co-writer and producer Leah Mallen joins me now to preview the film which premieres at 10.00pm, Monday, 17 May 2010 on the Knowledge Network. Leah Mallen is the founder and president of Twofold Films. She’s been in the film and television business for well over 12 years. She is co-chair of the Documentary Organization of Canada, BC Chapter and is a board member of the Hot Docs International Film Festival. She also teaches at the Vancouver Film School and UBC. The website for more is at www.twofold.ca. Some of the people profiled include Stan Douglas, Veda Hille, Michael Turner, and Fumiko Kiyooka, among others. They are profiled, and their work is viewed through where they live in British Columbia. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Leah Mallen; Good morning, Ms. Mallen.

Still Fishin’ The BC Fishing Industry Revisited by Alan Haig-Brown. (Harbour Publishing, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Still Fishin’

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

As a sort of ‘state of the industry’ report, Alan Haig-Brown looks at the west coast’s once prominent commercial fishing industry in a new book, Still Fishin’ The BC Fishing Industry Revisited. It’s a timely book looking at how this industry is faring in these less than stable economic waters, and other exigencies such as corporate consolidation, closing processing plants, and the downsizing of fleets. The book from Harbour Publishing, also looks to the future, with profiles of unique people who continue to fish commercially, hopefully preserving an industry that’s been so much a part of British Columbia. Alan Haig-Brown joins me now. He is a long time journalist and writer. He seined salmon and herring through the 1960s and 1970s, and founded the Westcoast Mariner and Westcoast Logger. His previous books include Fishing for a Living, and the Fraser River. His website is at www.haig-brown.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Alan Haig-Brown; Good morning, Mr. Haig-Brown.

The Shores We Call Home by Carol Evans. (Harbour Publishing, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: TITLE

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Carol Evans joins me now. She’s is a master watercolourist, who’s just published her third collection, The Shores We call Home: The Art of Carol Evans. I think I saw it on a bestseller list the other day. It has a foreword by Arthur Black. It’s a gorgeous book of her paintings which depict British Columbia’s coastal landscape. I have a limited sense of art, and thought for a second after glancing at the book, that it was a book of photographs. Carol Evans is an internationally acclaimed artist, who’s exhibited worldwide. Her previous books were West Coast: Homeland of Mist, and Releasing the Light. Her website is at www.carolevans.com. She lives on Salt Spring Island where she joins me from now. The Shores We Call Home is from Harbour Publishing. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Carol Evans; Good morning, Ms. Evans.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Alex G. Tsakumis joins me now. His is a very popular blog in this part of the world and beyond. He’s the founder and co-founder of many successful business ventures, a long time commentator and columnist in and on various media. His website is at www.alexgtsakumis.com. His political experience is vast, and he also served as an aide and advisor to then premier Bill Vander Zalm. He is a lifelong member of the Conservative Party of Canada, and has served two terms on the board of Vancouver’s Non Partisan Association. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Alex Tsakumis; Good morning, Mr. Tsakumis.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

I’ve avoided the Olympics here in Vancouver these last couple of weeks or so, but I’ve lived vicariously through the photos of friends on Facebook and the sort. It’s been a fascinating and momentous time. Joining me now to look back at last night’s closing ceremonies and ahead to the Paralympic Games is Michael Klassen. He is a good friend of the program, and the co-editor of the popular CityCaucus.com, which has featured indispensible Olympic coverage and their much lauded guide to seeing the sites and pavilions. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve encountered who’ve sworn by the guide, and I’m sure you’ve seen it featured on the news and the sort. Mr. Klassen and his colleague Daniel Fontaine have done a great job, and incidentally you might have seen them on Global News this morning. His own website is www.michaelklassen.com. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Mike Klassen; Good morning, Mr. Klassen.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Michael Geoghegan joins me again. He is a long time political pundit here in British Columbia, heard regularly, Fridays on CFAX with David Schreck. He is a government and media relations consultant. His website is www.mgcltd.ca, where he’s got a blog linked there. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Mike Geoghegan; Good morning, Mr. Geoghegan.

The Expanded Reilly Method: Or Have a Great Day, Forever by Mike McCardell. (Harbour Publishing, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Expanded Reilly Method

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

It is such a delight to have Mike McCardell on again. I’ve been fortunate to have him on every year around this time, as he’s publishing another book. There’s another one this year, another wonderful collection of essays about the unique people and situations he runs into in the course of filing his special human interest stories at the end of the highly rated News Hour on Global. It’s already a bestseller, and like the previous four books, it’s raised tens of thousands of dollars for Variety—The Children’s Charity. In the last book, Mike tells us about a young autistic boy he saw at Vancouver’s Trout Lake. Young Reilly sits like Mike does on the cover of this book, with a stick with a string on it, and at the end of the string is a safety pin. Meeting this remarkable boy, Mike changes his view of life and the world around him. Like he told us last year, he hasn’t had a bad day since. The essays here are often funny, sometimes poignant, sometimes inspiring, always thoughtful. They give us a view onto ourselves, and they’re just wonderful to read. The book is called The Expanded Reilly Method: Or Have a Great Day, Forever. It’s from Harbour Publishing. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Mike McCardell; Good day, Mr. McCardell.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

We look back at the year that was in provincial politics, with the great Sean Holman. He’s one of the best reporters in Victoria, and one of the most respected amongst other journos at the Legislature. His website is www.publiceyeonline.com. It’s indispensible. You can also hear him Sunday mornings on CFAX. And he teaches at the University of Victoria. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Sean Holman; Good morning, Mr. Holman.