I left newspapering (at least as an employee) in February 2000, and entered the terrifying world of self-employment; as a freelance writer.

Career(s): I taught English, history and creative writing at Georges P. Vanier secondary in Courtenay, on Vancouver Island from 1967 to 1975. I was a good teacher, I believe, and have been told. I was young, 'with-it' (sort of), and took a kind of inspiration from the Sidney Poitier character in 'To Sir With Love', combined with Glenn Ford in 'Blackboard Jungle'. I left teaching when I found I could not be all things to all kids, combined with a realization that the teachers' union was more about greed than education (I was still an idealist of sorts).

I went from teaching into newspapering. I made my living (of sorts) as an ink-stained wretch for a couple of decades, and included stints as a reporter, editor and long-time columnist. Met some interesting people, and some hateful people. Had my life threatened once, and also watched a couple of marriages collapse as sort of a sidebar scenario.

Interests: Include reading (avidly and everything); writing (newspapers, magazines and, if all things work out, books), travel (any time, if not necessarily anywhere, with a special love for Hawaii), my home, my marriage (I'll get that thing right, yet), music (completely eclectic, other than a detestation of virtually anything created post 1985 in the pop genre, but I do love that old-time rock-and-roll, the kind that moves my soul, as well as classical, jazz, R&B and others), spiritual quests of an eclectic nature, and the films of Preston Sturges.
 

Born: In Vancouver at the tail-end of World War II. Actually, the date of my birth almost directly coincided with the Russian victory at Stalingrad, or the early demise of Fats Waller. Any connection? I doubt it. On the other hand, Fats Waller died the year I was born. There may be a connection there, even though I am not black, and can't play the piano worth a damn. I do have a great Waller-esque lear, though.

Raised: In the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby. Burnaby -- what is Burnaby? Well, kind of Vancouver's Oakland, North York, Queens, East Finchley, or Ballard. However, my part of Burnaby was rather nice: rural and relatively unspoiled, as we looked across Deer Lake to the splendors of Oakalla Prison Farm.

We swam in the lake's slime, caught mutant fish beneath its surface, and skated on it during the odd chilly winter (there were more of them in those days). Mainly, we longed to be of an age to get a driver's licence so that we could get the hell out of Burnaby and explore the wonders to be found elsewhere.

Educated: It all began in the hallowed halls of Douglas Road School. From there I went from there to Kensington Junior High in the rightening cauldron of ethnic turmoil and gang warfare of North Burnaby. High school days were at the new school, Burnaby Central. I loathed the school, loathed all my teachers, and genuinely loathed myself at the time. The only
non-loathing element of my life was my painfully unrequited love for a perky, bouncy, very pretty and awfully nice -- "Stop doing that! Can't we just be friends?" -- cheerleader named Sandy.

Burnaby Central's only claim-to-fame, as far as I know, is that Michael J. Fox is also an alumnus. But, in those days senior matric still existed, so I left Central and spent a pleasing year at Burnaby South. Nice place. Even perkier cheerleaders.

College Days: For some reason I was able to escape really close scrutiny of my academic track record, and made it to the University of B.C. I genuinely loved my university years and, with a new attitude, I was able to assess what was the bare minimum I actually had to do of an academic nature, and still pass my courses.

I ultimately attained a BA in English and History and then, knowing not what to do, I decided to become a high school teacher. It seemed like a good choice for a person who hated both high school and most high school teachers of his acquaintance. Mainly, I was tired of being broke, and law school took three years, as opposed to one to get a teaching credential.