British Columbia Almanac

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

B.C. Almanac is a CBC Radio One weekday afternoon open-line show that
serves British Columbians. Staff writers, regional correspondents, and
contributing experts share information and stories about the province
and air current issues. Listeners respond and present their own ideas
on-air by telephone or by mail. The program has been running in this
format for more than 20 years. The current host, Mark Forsythe, prepared
this compilation of B.C. Almanac material for the enjoyment of his
listeners and others with an interest in British Columbiana, and as a
fundraiser for the province’s Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Appropriately for an almanac, the book is arranged broadly by seasons
and within them by months. The annual cycle of changing seasons has a
strong influence on life and activities in British Columbia, which is
reflected in the stories, interview transcriptions, and listener
contributions selected for each section. Master gardener Brian Minter
provides gardening tips for each month, and there is a monthly calendar
of regular events happening throughout British Columbia. Many hands
contributed seasonal recipes and the liberal sprinkling of
black-and-white photographs that illustrate the text. This is a
delightful book for browsing, and there is a good index of names,
places, and subjects.