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The playwright Davey Calderon discusses UNSCRIPTED: Deep Fried, a new musical in progress that is having a special performance at PL 1422 (1422 William Street) on Sunday, 09 June 2024 at 6pm, with Joseph Planta. Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Upcoming on Sunday, 09 June 2024, at PL 1422, that’s at 1422 William Street, will be an exciting event from Playwrights Theatre Centre, UNSCRIPTED: Deep Fried. It’s a new musical in progress. It’s timely as it’s Filipino Heritage Month, and will showcase Filipinx Canadian artists in the community. Its author Davey Calderon joins me now to talk about Deep Fried, and how he was inspired to write the piece. I’ll ask him about the central character Toni, their dreams of a music career, and how the show’s setting, a fast-food establishment in the heart of Vancouver’s Joyce Collingwood neighbourhood fosters community and the realisation of one’s aspirations. The neighbourhood, long a central location for members of the Philippine community, is also facing the challenge of gentrification, and that comes into focus in this piece, and the discussion after the show. Davey Calderon is a playwright and the Dramaturg for Playwrights Theatre Centre. He has a BFA in Theatre Performance and Communication from Simon Fraser University, and is the co-founder of New(to)Town Collective. His first written solo show, Big Queer Filipino Karaoke Night! premiered at the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. Visit www.playwrightstheatre.com for more information. Tickets to Deep Fried can be had at www.bit.ly/unscriptedDFtix. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Davey Calderon; Davey, good morning.The post Davey Calderon first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The writer and a member of the organizing team for the Filipino-Canadian Book Festival Nathalie De Los Santos discusses the 12-14 July 2024 events, her bookstagram PilipinxPages, and more, with Joseph Planta. Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.   I’ve been a big fan of Nathalie De Los Santos for a while now. She’s an internet influencer in the best sense of the word. She uses her popular Instagram account, PilipinxPages to showcase books by authors of Philippine heritage. As I mention in the interview, I’ve bought many books because of her posts, and I enjoy it a great deal. But Nathalie, who joins me now, is more than her Instagram handle. Among the many things she does in the community, she is part of the organising team for the Filipino-Canadian Book Festival, which is taking place 12-14 July 2024. As I’ll be on hiatus on the podcast, I’m happy to talk to Nathalie about the impetus of this important event, the planning involved, and what we’ll expect that weekend in July. It’s early days, and even though we taped this interview last week, there are already a number of events planned, and Nathalie will tell us about those shortly. The events will take place at the Joyce Collingwood Neighbourhood House, and Massy Arts Society. It’ll be a great chance to celebrate and amplify the voices of Filipino Canadian authors, artists and creators. Visit their website at https://filcanbookfest.squarespace.com for more information. Between now and July 12th, they’ll be updating it with information. Nathalie De Los Santos is a writer and creative based here in Vancouver. She is also the creator of the podcast Filipino Fairy Tales, Mythology and Folklore, and the author of Hasta Mañana, Alice’s Order; and is working on a Filipino folklore inspired fantasy novel called Diyosa Mata. Visit her own website at www.natdls.com for more. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Nathalie De Los Santos; Ms. De Los Santos, good morning.  The post Nathalie De Los Santos first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The writer Michel Drouin discusses his memoir Past the End of the Road: A North Island Boyhood (Harbour Publishing, 2024), with Joseph Planta. Past the End of the Road: A North Island Boyhood by Michel Drouin (Harbour Publishing, 2024). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Past the End of the Road Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.   I’ve never been to Port Hardy, which is a coastal village at the north end of Vancouver Island. But a new book takes us to this place surrounded by rugged land and raging seas, and to the mid-twentieth century at that, as it’s a memoir of the writer Michel Drouin’s boyhood in this wilderness that shapes his life. You see a coastal village on the brink of an industrial boom, what with the forestry industry, not to mention fishing, and later mining. It’s a unique childhood, and it’s BC history. The full title of the book is Past the End of the Road: A North Island Boyhood. Michel Drouin was a high school correspondent for the North Island Gazette. After graduation he worked in the forestry and fishing industries, until he was hired in 1990 as an assistant editor of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union newspaper, The Fisherman. He joined me last week from his home here in Vancouver. This new book is from Harbour Publishing. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Michel Drouin; Mr. Drouin, good morning. The post Michel Drouin first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The comedian and writer Deborah Kimmett discusses her new book Window Shopping for God: A Comedian’s Search for Meaning (Douglas & McIntyre, 2024), with Joseph Planta. Window Shopping for God: A Comedian’s Search for Meaning by Deborah Kimmett (Douglas & McIntyre, 2024). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Window Shopping for God Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.   Deborah Kimmett joins me now. She’s just published Window Shopping for God: A Comedian’s Search for Meaning. In a frank, often funny book, she answers questions she’s had for herself about family and faith, as well as the meaning of life. But just as much as she’s shed light or insight, she’s got just as many questions. It was a sidewalk preacher that she encountered ten years ago, that set her on a path to mend her relationship with her estranged brother. His terminal cancer diagnosis poses an imperative on forging their bond anew. She’s also got to confront her addictions, and revisits aspects of her Catholic upbringing. As a lapsed Catholic, a nominal one at that, I found the book fascinating, as she looks for meaning in her life and the world around her. Deborah Kimmett is a trailblazer in Canadian comedy. She’s been a guest on CBC’s The Debaters for seventeen years, and has a regular spot in the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and Laugh Out Loud. Her previous comedy album, Downward Facing Broad reached number five on iTunes. She’s the author of Reality Is Over Rated, Outrunning Crazy, and That Which Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Funnier, and the play Miracle Mother, which was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award. This new book is from Douglas & McIntyre. We spoke nearly two weeks ago, with Deborah joining me from Toronto. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Deborah Kimmett; Ms. Kimmett, good morning. The post Deborah Kimmett first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The writer Deepa Rajagopalan discusses her debut short story collection Peacocks of Instagram (House of Anansi Press, 2024), with Joseph Planta. Peacocks of Instagram by Deepa Rajagopalan (House of Anansi Press, 2024). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Peacocks of Instagram Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. I’ve been reading the debut short story collection of Deepa Rajagopalan, Peacocks of Instagram, and though it has moments which it’s tough to read, it’s incredibly engaging, and often funny. Deepa joins me now to talk about this short story collection that features characters who are diasporic Indians, who contend with ideas of what it’s like to be safe, how to survive, and what to consider home. We have different characters who exemplify strength and ingenuity in the face of racism, overt or casual, and ones who have to weigh decisions for themselves considering family. I’ll ask Ms. Rajagopalan about the characters in this book, as well as what it was like to write them amid the situations they find themselves in. Deepa Rajagopalan won the 2021 RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award. Her work has appeared in literary magazines and anthologies such as Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology, the New Quarterly, Room, the Malahat Review, Event, and Arc Poetry Magazine. She has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Guelph. Born to Indian parents in Saudi Arabia, she has lived in many cities across India, the United States, and Canada. The website for more is at www.deeparajagopalan.com. This new book is published by House of Anansi Press. We spoke this past Friday. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Deepa Rajagopalan; Ms. Rajagopalan, good morning.The post Deepa Rajagopalan first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The noted motivational speaker and performer David Roche discusses his new book Standing at the Back Door of Happiness: And How I Unlocked It (Harbour Publishing, 2024), with Joseph Planta. Standing at the Back Door of Happiness: And How I Unlocked It by David Roche (Harbour Publishing, 2024). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Standing at the Back Door of Happiness Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. David Roche joins me now. He’s just published a new essay collection Standing at the Back Door of Happiness: And How I Unlocked It. The book discusses his upbringing, the vascular malformation that he was born with, his “seriously Catholic” childhood, and his devotion to the Democratic Workers Party. Readers will find out about the journey he took to better understanding how his facial difference is viewed by others, and how he’s coped with everything that life has thrown at him. The book is often funny, and it’s instructive in how Mr. Roche has treated others: with compassion, love, and acceptance. One of the better lessons in the book is how one’s mere presence can do so much. David Roche is a popular motivational speaker and performer. He’s taken his one-man show The Church of 80% Sincerity on tour around the world. He’s had several roles in film and documentaries, and in 2021, he was named to the Order of Canada. He is a volunteer for the Sunshine Coast Hospice, and with his partner Marlena, leads storytelling and writing workshops. The website for more is at www.davidroche.com. He joined me from his home in Roberts Creek, British Columbia last week. This new book is from Harbour Publishing. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, David Roche; Mr. Roche, good morning.The post David Roche first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The writer Lindy Mechefske talks about her new book Walk, Eat, Repeat: Culinary Adventures on the Camino de Santiago (Goose Lane Editions, 2024), with Joseph Planta. Walk, Eat, Repeat: Culinary Adventurers on the Camino de Santiago by Lindy Mechefske (Goose Lane Editions, 2024). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Walk, Eat, Repeat Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Lindy Mechefske joins me again. She’s just published a new book, Walk, Eat, Repeat: Culinary Adventures on the Camino de Santiago. From the Pyrenees to the ancient city of Santiago de Compostela, we’re taken alongside Lindy’s arduous and adventurous hike through Northern Spain. For a lot of people it’s a pilgrimage, sometimes rooted in faith, but for Lindy it was a chance to get away from life, clear her thoughts, and adjust to change in her life, while undertaking this walk, seeing the sights and savouring the cuisine along the way. But the book is more than just Lindy walking and eating, and repeating. As you go through this path, there’s the walking element, which then and now can be viewed by some pilgrims as penance. By night fall, you can stay at various lodgings along the way, from five-star hotels to hostels, to everything in between. We see as illustrated in the book, what the experience is like with friends or alone, surrounded by travellers from all over the world, all with various goals in mind. I’ll ask Lindy about what it was like encountering various people, and of course, ask her about all manner of food she had along the way. It’s a tasty journey, and there’s a recipe after each chapter that sort of sums up the sort of specialities that Ms. Mechefske had. I’ll also get her to reflect on the walk itself, as she’s somebody who’s hiked and climbed the Alps, Appalachians, and England’s Lake District and Peak District. Lindy Mechefske is the author of four previous books on food and culture, two of which have won Taste Canada Gold Awards. She was previously on the program in 2015 when her book Sir John’s Table: The Culinary Life and Times of Canada’s First Prime Minister was published. That book, along with this new one is from Goose Lane Editions. We spoke two weeks ago, with Lindy joining me from Kingston, Ontario. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Lindy Mechefske; Ms. Mechefske, good morning.The post Lindy Mechefske first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The author and journalist Mark Bourrie discusses his new book Crosses in the Sky: Jean de Brébeuf and the Destruction of Huronia (Biblioasis, 2024), with Joseph Planta. Crosses in the Sky: Jean de Brébeuf and the Destruction of Huronia by Mark Bourrie (Biblioasis, 2024). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Crosses in the Sky Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Mark Bourrie joins me again. The author and historian has just published a new book, out this week, Crosses in the Sky: Jean de Brébeuf and the Destruction of Huronia. It’s described as the first secular biography of Brébeuf and engagingly recounts the missionary’s life and tragic story, while adding perhaps a fuller understanding of Canada’s history. In the early 1600s with the arrival of the Jesuits, the Catholic Church’s most zealous warriors for Christ, it’s a collision of two worlds, what with their desire to create their own nation on the Great Lakes. And as the Huron Confederacy is already established, it’s fascinating to read about what sort of society it is, especially that it’s a matriarchal society, and how the conflict with Jesuits begins. At the centre is Brébeuf, the mystic who sought a martyr’s death, whose values and often bizarre spirituality are throughout the book. I’ll ask Mark, who I spoke with two weeks ago from his home in Ottawa, about the letters and documents he drew upon in the course of his research, as well as the history taken down and spread by the Jesuits themselves. And I’ll get Mark to reflect on why the life of Brébeuf is important to know about especially as we seek a fuller perspective of the history of this place, Canada. Mark Bourrie is an author, lawyer and journalist. He holds postgraduate degrees in journalism, and history, as well as a Juris Doctor degree. He was called to the bar in 2018. He’s won numerous awards for his journalism and writing, like the 2020 RBC Charles Taylor Prize for his book Bush Runner: The Adventures of Pierre-Esprit Radisson, which he was on the program with after it came out. Visit www.markbourrie.com for more information. This new book is from Biblioasis. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Mark Bourrie; Dr. Bourrie, good morning.The post Mark Bourrie first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The acclaimed writer Denise Chong discusses her new book Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur’s Journey through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse (Random House Canada, 2024), with Joseph Planta. Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur’s Journey through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse by Denise Chong (Random House Canada, 2024). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Out of Darkness Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. The story of Rumana Monzur gripped the world in 2011, when she was attacked and blinded by her husband in front of their daughter. She was a graduate student at the University of British Columbia, and wanted to continue her higher education, when she returned to Bangladesh, where her husband was. This horrific beating was justified in the media there with his alleging that Rumana had been unfaithful. A new book by Denise Chong, Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur’s Journey through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse sheds some light on a story we think we all know, and this journey that Rumana has endured. Rumana, as Denise narrates in the book, is an unlikely victim of domestic abuse. She married a man of her own choosing, progressed in her career as a professor at Dhaka University, and was a Fulbright Scholar. Yet, we see the systemic challenges Rumana faces. It’s an often brutal book, as we see the abuse that Rumana endures in her marriage, as well we see how difficult it is for her to leave a marriage what with obligations, familial or professional. Rumana’s powerlessness is often harrowing to read about, but it’s a necessary story as it’s easy to overlook the signs of abuse, and often difficult for those abused to say anything to anybody, even those closest to them. In the end, the book also looks at the incredible path Rumana and her daughter have gone through, in leaving Bangladesh to come back to Vancouver for surgeries to try and repair her eyesight, to her finishing her education at UBC with the help of aides, to Rumana’s own daughter soon to enter UBC in the fall. Denise Chong is the award-winning author whose books include The Concubine’s Children, The Girl in the Picture, Egg on Mao, and Lives of the Family, the latter two books she’s previously appeared on the program with. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada. This new book is published by Random House Canada. We spoke two weeks ago, with Denise joining me from Calgary. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Denise Chong; Ms. Chong, good morning.The post Denise Chong first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The broadcaster and writer Jim Lang discusses his new book My Day with the Cup: NHL Players Tell Their Stories about Hometown Celebrations with Hockey’s Greatest Trophy (Simon & Schuster, 2024), with Joseph Planta. My Day with the Cup: NHL Players Tell Their Stories about Hometown Celebrations with Hockey’s Greatest Trophy by Jim Lang (Simon & Schuster, 2024). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: My Day with the Cup Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. As we’re in the midst of the second round of the hockey playoffs, there are eight teams left on the road to the Stanley Cup. Jim Lang joins me now. And he’s got a timely book out, My Day with the Cup: NHL Players Tell Their Stories about Hometown Celebrations with Hockey’s Greatest Trophy. There’s no other trophy in professional sport as recognisable or legendary as the Stanley Cup. The name of every champion on the teams that win the cup find their names engraved on it, and in recent years, every player, every coach, and team member gets to spend at least a day with it. Mr. Lang speaks to a number of players, legends and recent winners, who recount with wonderment, awe, and reverence their time with the Cup. And part of the mystique of the cup itself are the people who accompany it, the Keepers of the Cup. Phil Pritchard, who’s been on this program before, is probably the most prominent, always seen carrying the cup into events like in that recent car commercial. He, with Mike Bolt, and Walt Neubrand work long hours preparing for cup visits, not to mention the actual time itself a team member has with the cup, as it doesn’t leave their sight. Jim gets marvelous stories from these guys about adventures around the world with the Stanley Cup, as well as these heartfelt stories from players and coaches alike who tell Jim about what it means to them. It’s considered the most difficult sports championship to win, which makes the time spent with the cup after the Stanley Cup final all the more important and special. Jim Lang is a sportscaster, journalist, and co-author of memoirs by Tie Domi, Max Domi, Wendel Clark, and Bryan Berard. He’s written Everyday Hockey Heroes, volumes one through three with Bob Mackenzie, and is the host of The Jim Lang Show on radio station 105.9 The Region. His Twitter handle is @JimLangSports. This new book is published by Simon & Schuster. We spoke two and a half weeks ago, with Jim joining me from Newmarket, Ontario. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Jim Lang; Mr. Lang, good morning.The post Jim Lang first appeared on thecommentary.ca.