The BC Almanac Book of Greatest British Columbians

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

This entertaining and enlightening collection of B.C. biographies was
inspired by CBC Television’s recent search for the 10 greatest
Canadians. CBC asked its viewers to nominate their choices and the
competition began. Authors Mark Forsythe and Greg Dickson launched their
project in much the same way, using their CBC Radio One “BC Almanac”
open line to call on listeners for nominees. The response was
overwhelming.

With the criteria for establishing and measuring greatness proving
somewhat difficult to define, the project soon adopted a
“the-more-the-merrier” approach and morphed into a series of “10
Greatest” lists in different categories, the final ones being the
Greatest of the Greats; Leaders and Lawmakers; Conservationists;
Crusaders and Reformers; Scientists, Inventors, and Innovators;
Adventurers; Writers and Journalists; Artists and Performers;
Entrepreneurs and Executives; Sports Achievers; and Rogues and Rascals.
Then prominent figures in the various categories submitted their own
“10 Greatest and More” lists. The final result is this illustrated
collection of more than 400 biographies of British Columbians, some well
known, others less so, but all with wonderful stories that are worth
preserving and exploring further.

The project was greatly assisted by the British Columbia Archives,
which provided photographs and other information about the nominees. Net
proceeds from the sales of this book are being donated to the Friends of
the B.C. Archives Society, which assists communities in documenting
their own histories. This project is a great beginning!