Mr. Vancouver

Harbour Publishing on the release of Chuck's book

Via Harbour Publishing: The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver Release. Excerpt:

After a heart-warming launch with contributors and Vancouver media at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia last Wednesday, The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver has been released onto bookshelves across British Columbia. A host of writers, historians and friends came together to complete Chuck Davis’s final work after his death in November of 2010, and the community continues to push for the success of this important book. 

On Tuesday, December 6th at the Vancouver Public Library beginning at 7:00 pm, Vancouver legends Red Robinson and Dal Richards will share stories of Chuck Davis and the city he loved, along with other individuals who were key to the completion of the book.

The complete release includes links to other events in the launch.

B.C. authors band together to finish late historian’s magnum opus

Via this morning's Globe and Mail: B.C. authors band together to finish late historian’s magnum opus. Excerpt:

Chuck Davis was a Vancouverite whose love for his city drove him to take on a seemingly impossible task: to singlehandedly document and record its history, beginning with the birth, in 1757, of the English explorer George Vancouver. The task, as it turned out, was impossible. This year, some 40 people came together to finish what Mr. Davis had started, in an extraordinary collaboration which has itself become an important chapter in Vancouver’s history. 

“His contribution to the city was amazing,” said Erick Villagomez, one of the people who stepped forward to help. “And for me to be a part of that, even in any minute way, I was more than happy to do that.” 

Mr. Davis had made it to 1994 when in September, 2010, he stood up at one of former mayor Sam Sullivan’s public salons and stunned the crowd: He was dying, he said, and he needed people to help him finish his book. 

A few weeks later – a year ago this weekend – Mr. Davis, who had just turned 75, did indeed die, of lung cancer, and the future of his herculean project was in question. 

The rest, as they say, is history.

Mickleburgh: "Buy this book!"

In this morning's Globe and Mail, Rod Mickleburgh puts in a plug:

Chuck Davis’s History of Metropolitan Vancouver is now on sale. It is, in a word, magnificent. Kids, and even people my age (pictures and big print!), already love leafing through the masterfully designed tome to see what was going on in the big city the day or year they were born. 

The weighty volume is chock full of facts and events, from those illustrating the sweep of history to tantalizing tidbits. One of my faves is a garage sale in North Vancouver, stocked by practitioners of the break-and-enter trade. The soon-to-be-arrested thieves’ sign read: “If it isn’t here now, it will be soon.” 

Buy this book!

Beloved author renews Vancouver history

Via Metro: Beloved author renews Vancouver history. Excerpt:

Five hundred and fifty-four pages, 475,000 words, 1,000 photos and more than 125 years of history make up the late Chuck Davis’ final book, The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver, released yesterday. 

The book, unveiled on the eve of the author’s birthday, is a compilation of facts and stories from each year of Vancouver’s history from 1757. 

Stories include the creation of Vancouver police, a history of Vancouver riots and the opening of the Lions Gate Bridge.

Chuck's on the cover of BC Bookworld!

This rainy November day brightened up when I saw Chuck Davis grinning at me from the cover of BCBookWorld. It's in connection with the pending publication of his book, and the current issue (downloadable as a PDF)  includes the kind of trivia quiz he loved to put together. 

Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver will launch November 16

I'm happy to report an email from Edna Davis: 

Chuck's book is expected back this week from the printer's and Harbour Publishing plans to hold a media launch on Wednesday, November 16th. 

They are planning to hold a public launch at the Vancouver Public Library on the evening of Tuesday, December 6th -- from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and anyone who is interested can come