Daniel Francis

Reading the National Narrative

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September 7, 2021

No matter how many times it happens, the arrival on the doorstep of a new book is always special.

Well, it happened again today. My new history of Vancouver is out. Look for it in your favourite bookstore within a couple of weeks.

July 22, 2021

When I was a kid growing up on Vancouver’s west side the book shelves in the living room of my family’s home contained the usual middle-brow reading of the 1950s – Nevil Shute’s apocalyptic nuclear novel On the Beach; the odd Thomas Costain and Pearl Buck title; some volumes of Reader’s Digest Condensed Books. But the only book of my parents that I ever took down from the shelf was a copy...

July 19, 2021

To its credit the Vancouver Sun has signed up Steven Hume to write a series of historical articles to commemorate BC's sesquicentennial of Confederation.

Hume, who is one of BC's finest writers, began his account of the province's history last Saturday and it contines for the rest of the week. 

"And so in 1871, the fire bells rang — as much in...

July 16, 2021

On July 20 British Columbia commemorates 150 years since it joined the rest of Canada. There will doubtless be many celebrations but a new history of the province written by a group of academics and social justice progressives is not one of them.

Challenging Racist "British Columbia": 150 Years and Counting is a warts and all account -- check that, it is an only-the-...

July 1, 2021

Canada's historians, through their professional association, the Canadian Historical Association, have chosen to mark Canada Day this year by releasing a statement about the role of genocide in the country's past.

You can read the statement here.

UPDATE: Looks like the CHA's official statement has stirred...

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