BC Trivia

Ann Turner is the financial and budget manager of the University of
British Columbia Library.

First published as This Is Beautiful British Columbia, the present
collection of B.C. facts, figures, and oddities has been revised and
updated to 1992. Its author modestly states that “the knowledge
contained in this book is easily accessible to anyone looking for it.”
While that may be true, Blake looked through more than 160 sources to
assemble the collection, including local newspapers and tourist
brochures from all over the province. Tables, vignettes, and photographs
cluster under general categories such as “Symbols and Superlatives,”
“Government,” “Business and Industry,” “Arts and
Entertainment,” and “In and On the Water.” An index of personal
and place names gives some help in locating specific information, but
the collection is clearly intended for exploratory browsing and it
serves that purpose very well. Educational and entertaining, it is well
worth its modest price.