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The poet and writer Jane Munro discusses her new collection of poetry False Creek (Harbour Publishing, 2022), and more, with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: False Creek

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Jane Munro joins me again. The distinguished poet, writer and educator has just published a new collection of poetry, False Creek. It’s a gathering of poems that will move, enlighten, allow space for contemplation, and will evoke anxiousness and joy, sometimes in the same poem. Among the themes she reflects on in this new book include residential schools, False Creek itself, this inlet in the heart of Vancouver, reality, as well as the beauty of the natural world, and the horror of our carelessness with it. The visual arts offer inspiration to several poems in the book, as does reality. I’ll touch on a few of the poems in the book, ones that moved me, that have lingered long after I finished reading, and the ones that we’re thinking about when we taped this interview late last week. Jane Munro received the 2015 Griffin Poetry Prize, and she was first on this program last year when her memoir Open Every Window was published. Other poetry collections, this is her 8th by the way, include Glass Float, Blue Sonoma, and Active Pass. The website for more is at www.janemunro.com. This new book is from Harbour Publishing. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Jane Munro; Ms. Munro, good morning.

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The activist and writer Jamal Saeed discusses his memoir My Road from Damascus (ECW Press, 2022), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: My Road from Damascus

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

One of the best reads of the year is the memoir from Jamal Saeed, My Road from Damascus. It’s a stirring, moving, sometimes harrowing account of Mr. Saeed’s life in Syria, years he spent on the run from the al-Assad regimes, as well his imprisonments, including at one of the country’s most notorious military detention centres. We see in the book a chronicle of modern Syria, from the 1950s through to his escape to Canada in 2016. We see how a young man is politicised in a country where that sort of rebellious Marxism and then free thinking isn’t encouraged, and where it garners the attention of the secret police. Jamal’s story is one of survival and courage, as it is of brutality and beauty. He evokes an outlook in life that we can only wish for ourselves, a depth of grace which moves as well as inspires through the book. We also meet his wife Rufaida, their two sons, and read of their journey to Canada, where they arrived six years ago as refugees. I’ll begin the interview by asking Jamal about the late Ray Argyle, a long-time friend of this program, who was one of the people who helped bring Jamal and his family to Kingston, Ontario, where Jamal joined me from last week. Jamal Saeed is an activist, editor, visual artist, and author. This book is published by ECW Press, and was translated by Catherine Cobham. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Jamal Saeed; Mr. Saeed, good morning.

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The journalist and former BC finance minister Carole Taylor discusses her new CHEK television program BC Legends, her career in public service, and more, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Carole Taylor is one of those guests who needs no introduction. She’s well-known in this city, this province, and perhaps across the country too, serving with a number of organisations and institutions (BC’s minister of finance 2005-2008, chancellor of Simon Fraser University, and Victoria College, the University of Toronto), and was elected to Vancouver’s City Council twice, and to the British Columbia Legislature. All this, and the number of boards she’s chaired (Vancouver’s Port Authority, Vancouver Board of Trade, the CBC/Radio Canada, BC Business Council, the Federal Economic Advisory Council, the Trilateral Commission), she’s chaired have yielded a C.V. that anybody would want for themselves. All this after a successful career at the CBC and CTV, where she was one of the first hosts of Canada AM. She’s returned to broadcasting this fall with a new series on CHEK, BC Legends. It’s a 26-part series of interviews she’s conducted with notable, memorable, and important figures in the province. Among them, Rick Hansen, the late Joe Segal, Iona Campagnolo, Shushma Datt, and Beverly McLachlin. It was while watching on a Thursday night a few weeks back that I wondered aloud on the Twitter, why she should be interviewed, being a legend herself. And thanks to her son Chris Taylor, senior correspondent with Reuters, he helped get us together for this interview we taped last week. We talk about the new show, interviewing, and just a few of the aspects of her storied life and career, and more. BC Legends is on Thursday nights at 9.30 pm, and it’s available on the CHEK+ app. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Carole Taylor; Ms. Taylor, good morning.

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The writer and film historian Mary Graham discusses her new book A Stunning Backdrop: Alberta in the Movies, 1917-1960 (Bighorn Books, 2022), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: A Stunning Backdrop

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

A new book, a stunning one really (it’s actually in the title), A Stunning Backdrop: Alberta in the Movies, 1917-1960 was recently published, and tells the story of movie production in Alberta. It started with American filmmakers seeking the bucolic and breathtaking scenery of the Wildrose Province, which embodied the myth of the Great Northwest, mountains and the last frontier. The book is well researched, and a beautifully illustrated one with great photographs, stills from productions, as well as more recent photos showcasing where some memorable movies were shot. The book’s author Mary Graham joins me now. I’ll ask her about what made Alberta an ideal place to shoot movies, about the industry that’s grown there over the years, as well as touch on some of the films shot there up to 1960, their legendary directors and their unforgettable stars. I’ll ask Mary too about the relationship the Stoney Nakoda had with film producers, and their participation in productions. Mary Graham is a writer, documentary journalist, and film historian. This new book is from Bighorn Books, which is an imprint of University of Calgary Press. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Mary Graham; Ms. Graham, good morning.

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The award-winning writer Mark Leiren-Young discusses his new book Sharks Forever: The Mystery and History of the Planet’s Perfect Predator (Orca Books, 2022), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Sharks Forever

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Sharks don’t want to eat you. That’s the lesson in the new book from Mark Leiren-Young, Sharks Forever: The Mystery and History of the Planet’s Perfect Predator. Sharks are fascinating, one of the oceans top predators. We take a deep dive as it were into the habitat, biology, behaviours, and personalities of sharks. And in the book, Mark gives us a sense of the threats to sharks like pollution and overfishing and shark fin soup. The book also provides us with ideas on what to do save sharks, the seas and us. Mark Leiren-Young is an award-winning author, screenwriter, playwright, and filmmaker. He hosts the podcast Skaana. He has written television shows for young viewers, cartoons too, and has produced the award-winning documentary The Hundred-Year-Old Whale. He’s previously appeared on this program with his previous books Free Magic Secrets Revealed, The Killer Whale Who Changed the World, and Orcas Everywhere. Visit www.leiren-young.com for more. This new book is from Orca Books. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, in person as it were, Mark Leiren-Young; Mr. Leiren-Young, good morning.

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The filmmaker and journalist Matt Tyrnauer discusses Kali: Artographer (powerHouse Books, 2022), the art of Kali, the late Joan Archibald, his own films and writing, with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from powerHouse Books: Kali

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Matt Tyrnauer joins me now. He is the author of the monograph to new collection, Kali: Artographer. It’s a remarkable collection of photographs and art, by an artist named Joan Archibald, from Long Island, New York who in the 1960s made her way to California and remade herself as Kali. She reinvented herself, took photography at the College of the Desert in Palm Springs, and became friendly with the showbiz crowd like Richard Chamberlain in Malibu, and Frank Sinatra in Palm Springs. She moved into a house there, once owned by Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee. She began creating what she later trademarked, “Artography.” She would take photographs, develop them herself, then finish them with dyes, spray paint, even dirt and bugs. She would move from prints to Polaroids and manipulate them to striking effect. She published a few pieces, was written up in a trade magazine, then by the 1970s her worked was locked away in suitcases stored away never to be seen again for over forty years. She didn’t stop creating art though, and as we find out, when Joan Archibald died, her daughter Susan discovered all this art which is the subject of an exhibit currently at the Columbus Museum of Art, and beautiful new books from powerHouse books. There is a limited edition four-volume set of the work which was published last year, and now a trade edition out shortly. It is edited by Len Prince, the noted American photographer, who was once married to Susan Archibald. I’ll ask Mr. Tyrnauer about his reaction when showed the photos by his friend Len Prince, and about this remarkable story of Kali, her art, and the mystery of it all. She and her work has been described as a sort of West Coast version of Vivian Meier. Matt Tyrnauer is a director, writer, and journalist, whose documentaries include Valentino: The Last Emperor, Citizen Jane: Battle for the City, Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood, Studio 54, Where’s My Roy Cohn?, and the four-part miniseries The Reagans. As editor-at-large and special correspondent for Vanity Fair he contributed many feature articles, including Once Upon a Time in Beverly Hills, which told the story of Janet DeCordova, the widow of Johnny Carson’s former producer Fred DeCordova. It’s a fascinating piece that has captivated readers, one I really liked when I first read it more than ten years ago, one I had to ask Matt about. I’m a fan of his work, and I appreciated that he indulged me in questions about his films and writing as well. Visit www.powerhousebooks.com for more. I spoke to Matt from Los Angeles late last week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Matt Tyrnauer; Mr. Tyrnauer, good morning.

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The playwright, actor, and director Alec Silberblatt discusses his play The Mon Valley Medium, which streams to at-home audiences through StudioWorks starting Friday, 11 November 2022, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

The Studios of Key West, in South Florida, is launching starting this Friday, 11 November 2022, StudioWorks, a streaming theatre series that brings innovative productions to at-home audiences. Original digital theatre productions will be released and available for streaming each month, starting with The Mon Valley Medium. Its writer, director and performer, Alec Silberblatt joins me now to preview his play, and what to expect. There will be four productions in total between now and February, and you can purchase them individually or as a subscription. Visit https://tskw.org/studioworks/ for more information, or go directly to www.vimeo.com/ondemand/studioworks to subscribe. The Mon Valley Medium is a darkly comedic tale centering on Mack, a local man who relays the story of his role after there’s a murder in a working-class community. I’ll get Alec to tell us about Mack, about the Mon Valley, this part of Pennsylvania just outside Pittsburgh, where Mr. Silberblatt was born and raised, and began in the theatrical community there. Alec Silberblatt is a playwright, actor, and director. He’s got numerous credits in the theatre as a performer and director, and acting credits in film and television. Visit www.alecsilberblatt.com for more. He joined me earlier this week from his home in New York City. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Alec Silberblatt; Mr. Silberblatt, good morning.

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One of the performers on tour with Disney On Ice Presents Road Trip Adventures, Cole Stanbra joins Joseph Planta to preview the show which will be at the Pacific Coliseum, 23-27 November 2022.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Disney On Ice returns to Vancouver in less than two weeks. They’ll be at the Pacific Coliseum, 23-27 November 2022 with Mickey Mouse, and friends. The show is called Disney On Ice Presents Road Trip Adventures, and joining me now is one of the performers, Cole Stanbra. I’ll ask him about portraying Jack from Mary Poppins Returns, one of the Disney works in this show, which also includes Aladdin, The Lion King, Frozen, and Moana. I’ll also ask Cole about performing, his roots here as he lives in New Westminster, and was born and raised in Castlegar. He’s a performer with Feld Entertainment, after almost fourteen years with Willy Bietak Productions, performing onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Visit www.disneyonice.com for more information, and www.Ticketleader.ca for tickets. Cole joined me one week ago from Everett, Washington while on tour with the show. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Cole Stanbra; Mr. Stanbra, good morning.

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The writer and journalist Russell Wangersky discusses his new memoir Same Ground: Chasing Family Down the California Gold Rush (ECW Press, 2022), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Same Ground

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Russell Wangersky joins me now. He’s just published a memoir, Same Ground: Chasing Family Down the California Gold Rush Trail. It’s a chronicle of a car trip he and his wife, the writer Leslie Vryenhoek made following in the footsteps of the cross-continent journey Russell’s ancestor William Castle Dodge made in search of gold in 1849. Being Canadian, gives Russell a great perspective into America, as he travels in search of the bucolic wonders that still are there, but family as it were. I’ll ask Russell about his connection to Castle, as well just what he wanted to get out of this trip. We meet Castle in the book, who was just twenty-two years old, as Russell quotes extracts from a diary. It’s a diary that fascinated Russell’s father, even though this was an ancestor on Russell’s mother’s side. The journey 160 years or so later is as fascinating as the one during the gold rush, as we see middle America in all its forms, culturally, politically, socially, economically, as it were. Russell Wangersky is an award-winning writer of seven books of fiction and non-fiction, including Burning Down the House, Whirl Away, and The Hour of Bad Decisions. He is the editor-in-chief of the Regina Leader-Post, and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. The website for more is at www.russellwangersky.com. This book is published by ECW Press. He joined me from Saskatoon ten days ago. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Russell Wangersky; Mr. Wangersky, good morning.

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The acclaimed pianist, singer, and songwriter Michael Kaeshammer previews his cross-Canada concert tour, with a date in New Westminster, December 3rd, 2022 at the Massey Theatre, and discusses his career and more, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Michael Kaeshammer joins me now. The celebrated pianist, singer, and songwriter starts a coast-to-coast Canadian tour this week. He’s in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick this week and next, there are dates through Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, coming into British Columbia late this month, with a December 3rd date in New Westminster at the Massey Theatre, and December 4th at the Kay Meek Theatre. Visit www.masseytheatre.com and www.keymeek.com for tickets. He’s got a new album out now The Warehouse Sessions, and one out early next year, Turn it Up. We’ll talk about these albums, reflect on his career, and more, in this conversation we taped late last month. Michael Kaeshammer was born and raised in Germany, and emigrated with his family to Canada in the mid-1990s. His first studio album, Blue Keys was released in 1996 to great acclaim. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including seven Juno Award nominations. Visit www.kaeshammer.com for more. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Michael Kaeshammer; Mr. Kaeshammer, good morning.

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