Books of and about the characters and history in B.C.
Pirjo Raits
Sooke News Mirror
The Rainbow Bridge
A Visit to Pet Paradise
Author: Adrian Raeside
32 pages, softcover
Harbour Publishing
If you have ever needed to tell a child about the death of their pet, The Rainbow Bridge is a gentle way to introduce the subject to a young child. Seven-year-old Rick goes on a journey to a magical paradise where all the pets are happy and healthy. It’s the perfect little children’s book suitable for a sad occasion with promise at the end. It may even bring a tear to an adult’s eye.
The Uchuck Years
A West Coast Shipping Saga
Author: David Esson Young
302 pages, softcover
Harbour Publishing
David Esson Young takes a potentially boring subject and gives it the necessary vibrancy and personal tales to make shipping on the West Coast seem like a romantic occupation.
He outlines his own history with a series of vessels, all named Uchuck, and the lifeline they provided for the residents living in the isolated places on the coast of British Columbia.
Black and white photographs add to the history of this most crucial service provided to the coastal communities where loggers, fishermen and miners lived and toiled. Geniuses and dreamers, bosses and good old boys and the women who loved them are included on the pages
It is a way of life that is quickly disappearing on the coast, and Young writes with reverence and respect for the ships and the men who worked on them. He tells the tales with a keen eye and a vivid memory, making the history come alive. This is the way history should be presented, with interest, passion and fact.
Secret Lakes of Southern Vancouver Island
Author: Adam Ungstad
150 pages, softcover
Ungstad Information Architects
All around Vancouver Island one is always aware of the ocean. Hidden and often well kept local secrets are the freshwater lakes that abound in the area.
Stretching from Otter Point to up the Malahat, Ungstad leads you to the best lakes and beaches. He lets you know where you can swim, hike or fish or find the best places to soak up the sunshine or walk your dog.
Maps and directions to each of 25 lakes are contained in the book. The author provides some historical content and points of interest. He tells you which lakes are stocked with trout and where to have a picnic.
Did you know that Peden Lake was named after the Peden family who owned a feed store on Wharf Street in Victoria in the 1900s?
Did you know that Sheilds Lake once was the site of a wilderness retreat and had a two-storey lodge?
The book is well-organized with tabs for each of the particular areas. It’s an excellent reference book to those who may not know where the “locals” go to recreate. For more information on this publication, go to www.secretlakes.ca.