Daniel Francis

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Whale Museum Needs Help

January 17, 2025

2025 has begun with news of terrible fires. In California, of course, where wildfires have claimed more than two dozen lives and destroyed thousands of homes. But in BC as well where a fire did so much damage to the community of Telegraph Cove on New Year's Eve.

For those who don't know, Telegraph Cove is a tiny village on the east coast of Vancouver Island north of Campbell River. Until the fire it featured an historic boardwalk and a first-class whale museum. It is also considered one of the best places in the world to observe whales, particularly orca and humpback, in the wild. I visited for the first time in 1987 when my wife and I took our kids whale-watching and I've returned two or three times over the years.

The Whale Interpretive Centre, with its unique collection of whale skeletons, burned in the fire. But the folks there are determined to rebuild. If you are able, please consider making a donation to help them.

 

December 18, 2024

October 31, 2024

I was sorry to hear last week about the death of Stan Persky in Berlin, where he had been living for several years. (Appreciations here and here) For many years Persky was one of BC’s finest writers: humane, intelligent, witty, tolerant; a voice so unlike those that fill the media these days....

October 30, 2024

White Riot, a walking tour/book by artist Henry Tsang (previously mentioned here), has won this year's City of Vancouver Book Award.

Congratulations to the author, and to Arsenal Pulp Press for producing...

September 30, 2024

My pal Steve Osborne, co-founder of Geist magazine (with his partner Mary Schendlinger), is publishing a new collection of essays this fall with Arsenal Pulp Press. The launch is Thursday, October 10, at the People's Co-op Bookstore on Commercial Drive.

The festivities kick off at 7 p.m.

September 19, 2024

One of the nice things about autumn is that it means the Vancouver Historical Society will resume its series of monthly lectures.

This season's inaugural session is on Thursday evening, Sept. 26, and features artist Henry Tsang talking about his book/walking tour/interactive art event White Riot 1907 about racial disturbances in the city.

The presentation kicks off at 7 p.m...

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