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The historian and artist Henry Tsang discusses his new book White Riot: The 1907 Anti-Asian Riots in Vancouver (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: White Riot

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

On 07 September 1907, thousands gathered in front of Vancouver’s City Hall to protest Asian immigration, then stormed neighbourhoods where many of Chinese and Japanese descent made their homes, Chinatown, and a portion of Powell Street. A 360-degree-video walking tour was created by Henry Tsang, offering a recounting of this historic event, through a series of panoramic photographs following the path of the mob. It’s still available online at www.360riotwalk.ca, and a number of events were held including walking tours, that were also multimedia, using tablets or one’s own phone. A new book, White Riot: The 1907 Anti-Asian Riots in Vancouver, provides the history of the event, as well as visuals used in the walking tour. A number of archival photographs which one could juxtapose to current images, or live if you were doing the walking tour, are colourised, bringing this history to life in some cases. As one sees in the book, there are photographs of people taking the tour, and Henry leading some of the events. A number of those photographs are from 2019, and what makes this book timely and useful, is that it also contains essays that bring us to the present, chronicling the rise of anti-Asian violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are essays from historians, activists, and urban planners, including a foreword from Patricia E. Roy. The book comes out next week, and Henry Tsang joins me now to reflect on this walking tour, its legacy, and now this book, and the future, which still includes COVID, and the lingering of prevailing attitudes that make a lot of people in this city still unsafe. Henry Tsang is an artist who explores the spatial politics of history, language, community, food, and community translation in relationship to place. His artwork takes the form of gallery exhibitions, 360-degree video walking tours, curated dinners, and public art. He also teaches at Emily Carr University of Art + Design here in Vancouver. His Twitter handle is @HenryVancouver. This new book is published by Arsenal Pulp Press. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Henry Tsang; Mr. Tsang, good morning.

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The filmmaker, and former Maclean’s film critic Brian D. Johnson discusses his new documentary The Colour of Ink, a fascinating look at ink, and Toronto inkmaker Jason Logan, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Starting last week, the feature documentary The Colour of Ink has been opening in cities across the country. It opens April 7th 2023 here in Vancouver at the VIFF Centre, and joining me now is its director and producer Brian D. Johnson. The film is a mesmerising and moving look at ink, and the visionary inkmaker Jason Logan, who harvests colours from the natural world: bark, flowers, rocks, rust, weeds, and berries, among other sources. He supplies ink to various artists, including Margaret Atwood, who appears in the film. Mr. Logan’s ink goes around the world too, including the Japanese artist Koji Kakinuma, and what we see in that relationship in particular, is how involved the inkmaker is in the process of creating art, even though he’s half the world away. It’s a compelling film, that makes us look at the outside world a little more reverently, and ponder ink and its uses, not just in the artistic, but the legal, the historical and even the mythical. The film reveals the humanity in life and art, through the artists and artisans featured therein. There were events this past weekend in Toronto featuring Mr. Logan, who I’ll ask Brian about, like what he was like to follow, and what his workspace was like, and how he goes about his work. I’ll also ask Brian about the impetus to make this film, and the travels he and/or his cameras made for it. Brian D. Johnson is a writer, filmmaker and cultural commentator. He is best known for his three decades at Maclean’s magazine, where he was film critic and senior arts writer. He remains a Contributing Editor there. He is the producer and director of the 2015 documentary Al Purdy Was Here. The website for more is at www.nfb.ca. The film is co-produced by Sphinx Productions and the National Film Board of Canada. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Brian Johnson; Mr. Johnson, good morning.

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The former senator and cabinet minister the Hon. Jack Austin discusses his new memoir Unlikely Insider: A West Coast Advocate in Ottawa (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Unlikely Insider

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Jack Austin joins me now. The former senator has recently published a memoir, Unlikely Insider: A West Coast Advocate in Ottawa. He talks in the book of the policy he had a hand in crafting that has guided the Liberal Party going back to the 1960s, when he began as an assistant to the federal cabinet minister Arthur Laing. He served in the cabinets of Pierre Trudeau and Paul Martin, who writes the book’s foreword, and throughout the book, he also gives us sense of the personalities he interacted with, worked with, and met in his time in public life at home and abroad. Pierre Trudeau casts a shadow throughout the book, as it was working as deputy minister in the department of Energy and Mines in the 1970s that led him to serve as chief of staff to Trudeau, in a role that was called principal secretary at the time. We get a sense too of the private Trudeau, as in later years once Trudeau was out of office, Austin accompanied Trudeau on travels around the world. In 1975, Austin was appointed to the Canadian Senate, where he served until 2007 when at 75 he reached mandatory retirement. The book also illustrates Austin’s experiences with various governments including the United States, Mexico, and China, in fact, there’s a lot of reflection at how this relationship with China has evolved, some might say devolved over the last fifty years or more. Jack Austin is also a member of the Order of Canada, and the Order of British Columbia. The book is highly readable and engaging, and is written with Edie Austin, his daughter, who has had over forty years of experience as an editor and writer, who was the former editorial page editor of the Montreal Gazette. This book is published by McGill-Queen’s University Press. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, the Honourable Jack Austin; Mr. Austin, good morning.

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The distinguished poet and writer Robert Bringhurst discusses his new collection of poetry The Ridge (Harbour Publishing, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Ridge

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Robert Bringhurst joins me now. The distinguished poet and writer has just published a new collection of poetry, The Ridge. I’ll ask Mr. Bringhurst about the work, the poems therein, and some of the people who they are dedicated to. The collection features poems that are of the ecological past, present, and future of the West Coast of Canada, and they often evoke abstract concepts into tangible and devastating imagery. There are poems in this collection that highlight the emergency of our era, as well as dwell in the beauty of language itself. Words aren’t merely static, rather they are lifelike, alive, and immortal. Robert Bringhurst was initially trained in the sciences at MIT, but made his career in the humanities. He is the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence, a former Guggenheim Fellow, and an Officer of the Order of Canada. He is the recipient of two honorary doctorates. This new book is from Harbour Publishing. He joined me from his home on Quadra Island last week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Robert Bringhurst; Mr. Bringhurst, good morning.

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The acclaimed writer Thomas Wharton discusses his new novel The Book of Rain (Random House, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Book of Rain

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Thomas Wharton joins me now. The award-winning writer has just published a new novel, The Book of Rain. It’s described as an affecting work of environmental literary suspense. In the book we meet Alex Hewitt, as he returns to River Meadows, a resource community somewhere in Northern Alberta. They used to mine a resource there that was quite valuable, but they’ve since stopped since an accident forced evacuation. Alex is back though to find his sister Amery, who’s disappeared rescuing animals trapped in the restricted zone. Another story in the book is that of Claire Coley, a young woman who was from River Meadows, who now traffic’s endangered wildlife. And there’s a third story where in the future, a flock of birds sets out on a dangerous journey to prevent the extinction of their ancient enemy, humanity. I’ll ask Mr. Wharton about his book, and ask him to tell us as much as he’d like about his stories and his characters. Thomas Wharton’s first novel Icefields won the 1996 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book in Canada and the Caribbean. It was also a 2008 CBC Canada Reads pick. His second book, Salamander was shortlisted for the 2001 Governor General’s Award for Fiction, and a finalist for the Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. His 2006 book The Logogryph was shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award. The website for more is at www.thomaswharton.ca. He lives in Edmonton, but he joined me from Toronto last week. This new book is published by Random House. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Thomas Wharton; Mr. Wharton, good morning.

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The writer Amber McMillan discusses her recent poetry collection This is a Stickup (Wolsak & Wynn, 2022), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: This is a Stickup

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Amber McMillan joins me again. The writer, who’s appeared on this program in the past with a memoir, and then a collection of short fiction, is on now to discuss her recent poetry collection, her second, This is a Stickup. I’ll ask Amber about the themes in the book. I got a sense of grief, as well as the contending with loss. There’s obviously more, but I’ll get her to dwell on dreams and memory as well. I’ll ask her about writing, and what it’s like to move through various genres as she does. Amber McMillan’s previous books include her first poetry collection, We Can’t Ever Do This Again, the memoir The Woods: A Year on Protection Island (which she was first on the program with in 2016), and the 2021 short story collection The Running Trees. She’s won a number of prizes for her writing. This collection is published by Wolsak & Wynn. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program Amber McMillan; Ms. McMillan, good morning.

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The playwright Sally Stubbs discusses her play Our Ghosts, which is at the Firehall Arts Centre (until 02 April 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Sally Stubbs joins me now. Her play, Our Ghosts begins in previews this weekend at the Firehall Arts Centre. The play is described as a haunting mystery inspired by the disappearance of Sally’s father, Flight Officer Gerald Stubbs. It explores the ramifications of the official and personal responses to the disappearance of the plane and its pilots. I’ll ask Sally about writing this play, and the heart of it, the love story and mystery that defines one woman’s life, and that of her children. The play starts this Sunday in previews, then opens Wednesday evening, 22 March 2023. Visit www.firehallartscentre.ca for tickets and information. Sally Stubbs is an award-winning Vancouver-based writer and educator. Her website is at www.sallystubbswriter.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Sally Stubbs; Ms. Stubbs, good morning.

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The celebrated cellist Jonathan Lo of the Capilano String Quartet discusses their upcoming Music on Main debut at the Fox Cabaret, Tuesday, 21 March 2023, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Music on Main, that popular series programmed by its artistic director David Pay among others, will be making its debut on the stage of the legendary Fox Cabaret, Tuesday night, 21 March 2023. The headliners are the Capilano String Quartet, and joining me now is one of its members, the cellist Jonathan Lo. I’ll ask Jonathan about spring and how it figures in the program they’ll be playing. The music is for our time, not just the time of the year, but this time as we’ve passed three years since the pandemic began. The pieces that the quartet will perform include Juri Seo’s Respiri, Raven Chacon’s The Journey of Horizontal People, and Grieg’s String Quartet No. 1, Op. 27, and I’ll Jonathan about the program, and more. I’ll ask him about his fellow musicians, violinists Timothy Steeves and Jae-Won Bang, and Marina Thibeault on the viola. I’ll ask too about the cello. Jonathan Lo has performed in venues such as Alice Tully Hall, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, among many other notable venues. He has appeared as a soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Northwest, and the Burnaby Symphony. He has given masterclasses at the University of Toronto, University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, and La Jolla SummerFest. He has degrees from the Eastman School of Music, The Julliard School, and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Visit www.musiconmain.ca for tickets and information. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Jonathan Lo; Mr. Lo, good morning.

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The writer and activist Miriam Edelson discusses her memoir The Swirl in My Burl (Adelaide Books, 2022), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Swirl in My Burl

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Miriam Edelson joins me now. She’s just published a collection of essays, The Swirl in My Burl. It’s a fascinating title too, but you’ll have to buy the book to get what it means. In the book, with honesty and humour, Miriam writes about her upbringing, what her parents were like, what it’s like being a mother, raising a son and a daughter, losing her son, and being an activist throughout her life. Miriam is also rather candid in talking about living with mental illness, illustrating how it’s like an unwanted guest that visits, and she writes about how she’s had to contend with it, and its attendant difficulties, physically, and emotionally; and publicly. Miriam Edelson is a neurodivergent social activist, settler and mother. Her literary non-fiction, personal essays, and commentaries have appeared in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, CBC Radio, and other outlets. She completed a doctorate in 2016 at the University of Toronto focused upon mental health in the workplace. This is her third book, and it’s published by Adelaide Books. The website for more is at www.miriamedelson.com. She joined me from Toronto last week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Miriam Edelson; Dr. Edelson, good morning.

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The artist, playwright and filmmaker Michael Marrero discusses Repair, the play he co-wrote with Julio Trinidad, which is available for streaming as part of StudioWorks from The Studios of Key West, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

That series Studioworks, from the folks at The Studios of Key West continues its program of streaming offerings with a new play called Repair. It’s written by Michael Marrero and Julio Trinidad. I’ll ask Mr. Marrero, who joins me now, to tell us as much as he’d like about this play, a cinematic and theatrical hybrid, filmed in a working garage in Queens, where it’s also set. The play stars Leon Addison Brown, and Mr. Trinidad. The former, playing a character only called Mechanic, while the latter plays Driver. The Driver pulls into the shop, and while the Mechanic is closing up, he relents and the Driver goes in. There’s a nor’easter, and the downpour keeps them in the garage, and it’s at once foreboding as it is claustrophobic. And then something happens. I’ll leave it at that. It’s fantastic piece that you can stream right now online. Check out www.vimeo.com/ondemand/studioworks. It’s easy to buy Repair on its own, or subscribe to the whole season, which includes Alec Silberblatt’s The Mon Valley Medium, as well as Unstuck as F@#k, and Smithtown. Visit www.tskw.org for more information. Michael Marrero is a Cuban-American artist, playwright, and filmmaker. His short films Buzzcut, and Riley Was Here have been showcased at over 100 film festivals worldwide. He’s written several plays, including ones that have had productions at New York’s Guild Hall Center, Repetorio Español, and Havana’s Teatro de Centre. Visit www.mikemarrero.com for more information. He joined me from Key West, Florida last week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Michael Marrero; Mr. Marrero, good morning.

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