Points of Interest: In Search of the Places, People, and Stories of BC

by David Beers (Editor), Andrea Bennett (Editor)

Take a trip across British Columbia with this enchanting collection of thirty essays from local writers. What makes wandering this vibrant land called British Columbia really special? Encounters with locals who are ready to share, over a coffee or a beer, quirky tales and powerful truths rooted in place and time. Consider this book a meet-up with dozens of such storytellers, the perfect road companion for your journey real or imagined. The Tyee is the province’s oldest and most-read independent source of online news and ideas, renowned for its range of voices on politics, culture and nature. This anthology marking The Tyee ’s 20th anniversary includes pieces published over the last two decades by some of the region’s most celebrated writers, including J.B. MacKinnon, Alisa Smith, Cúagilákv (Jess H̓áust̓i), Arno Kopecky, Harrison Mooney, Michelle Cyca, Christopher Cheung, Andrew Nikiforuk, and many more. Pull up a chair and get their inside scoops on the places they call home.

Genres: Nonfiction, Canada, Canadian Literature

288 pages, Paperback

Published April 23, 2024

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book that I can pick up, read a section, put down for awhile, then pick up again. This compilation of thoughtful essays about the places, people, history and realities of BC is divine. Some of my favourite essays were the ones about Tofino (taking a multi hour boat ride to get the mail) and Cumberland (the Asian history of the village) but it’s always neat to read about places you’ve been, or would like to check out.

[Isabella 淑娇 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide-ranging collection of stories that provided some meaningful context for my trip across Vancouver Island — especially the ones about Cumberland’s early Chinese community and the introduced botany of San Josef Bay.

I feel that I have a better understanding of how people across BC have engaged in placemaking to form the province we know today.

[Sarah Knopp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book more, but I’m still glad I finished it. I learned a ton about BC’s history, its Indigenous Peoples, and it lengthened my list of places I want to explore in Canada.

[Mike Heenan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good stories and a good way to get to the heart of some places. I would welcome #2 with a wider scope.j

[Thomas Favelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for british columbians imo, captures the spirit of the province unintentionally. My favourite essays were the fluff pieces of sorts, the small stories of local effort and relationships, such as elegy for a building manager and the world’s most remote brewery. But for every one of these you had two more reminding you of BC’s hardships, its crimes against the indigenous peoples and landscape failings as a result of climate change and capitalism. But then you could turn the page and enjoy another piece giving you hope on community spirit and our ability to pave forward.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful cross-section of articles written about a large variety of subjects in British Columbia. While I have heard about most of these places, there were still some surprises for me. I spent my time with the book in one hand and my tablet in the other, looking at maps and photos to enrich each chapter. Truly fascinating.

[Jen Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent collection of stories told from various BC cities and townships. Just a slice of life from one particular person, but they all evoked such a strong sense of place. BC is such a vast and unique place and I loved reading these viewpoints from across the province.

[Mirjam Bos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heel erg leuk en wat mij betreft de perfecte uitvoering van een verhalenbundel met stukken uit/over verschillende plaatsen aan de westkust van Canada. Een combinatie van historie en huidig tijdperk, persoonlijk en grootschalig, met focus voor natuur en politiek. Super boeiend!

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

These are stories about some entitled whiners. Indigenous people who complain that during a wildfire resources did not come fast enough, wanting to sue the government, did not hire enough of their people, could not get insurance, did not get enough of the free replacement housing and blaming everyone but themselves about rising fire risk. A black man showing no appreciation for the white folks that adopted him when his 16 year old single mother clearly did not have the resources to raise him. Complaining that he had no chance to experience his black culture. And so on. These stories might have been good without progressive woke entitled attitude. I admit that midway through, I just could not read anymore of this nonsense.

Alright, a couple of weeks later I finished the book and some of the stories are interesting and relatable since they highlight small towns and villages in my home province of British Columbia. Still the leftist progressive bend permeates throughout most of the stories and I cannot in good conscious raise my star rating.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories about places in BC.

[Cath Ennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice collection of stories and vignettes from across BC. Could have used a little more synthesis and analysis, or at least some kind of conclusion.

[Zoidberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent look at the stories that shaped BC. I really loved Christopher Cheung’s and Dorothy Woodend’s stories. Finished this and thought: BC is one of the best places on the planet.

[Janet Mercer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of vignettes about different communities in British Columbia. I particularly enjoyed the ones from the smaller communities.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, quick, easy read with some great essays / stories from BC.

[Tova · Rating 4 out of 5]

This actually made feature-style writing valid to me again... many beautiful and carefully-told stories of the province I now call home, but still don't know very well. I love when good writers have the opportunity to pursue their curiosity. Why are there feral English sheep on a remote BC island, and a Chilean monkeytree in a Vancouver Island botanical garden? Essays zero in on the quirks of people and places, but taken together, tell a powerful story of the marks BC bears from its founding history as a resource colony.

Arno Kopecky's piece on Fairy Creek was a highlight for me. He characterizes the tropes of protester, police, and journalist in a land defense stand-off as roles that ultimately leave very little room for deviation - all trapped in scripts by an old settler-colonial machine of extraction which will ultimately come for everyone. I'm (slowly) reading a book right now about the destruction of the California redwoods (Ghost Forest), and its striking how little has changed since the 70's. Land defenders still do tree sits, because they must, and state-sanctioned industry still comes in with guns and chainsaws, because they can. I appreciated Kopecky's honesty in naming how futile resistance can feel, while still asserting its necessity.