Rafe: A Memoir

For much of the legendary BC politician-cum-hotliner’s career, calling him a socialist would have risked a scorching riposte if not a punch in the nose, but in his latest book that is the label he gives himself. Has the old warrior gone over to the other side? Well, not exactly. Rafe Mair has dominated the British Columbia airwaves for years, pulling in more listeners than any other radio personality in the province. Hundreds of thousands of people regularly tune in for his blend of unbridled opinion and unyielding interrogation, garnering him the reputation of being one of Canada’s most respected–and feared–radio talk-show hosts.

But Rafe Mair is much more than a radio broadcaster. A lawyer, politician and environmental crusader, Mair seems to have been made for the spotlight, and he thrives amid a storm of controversy. I was born that way, I guess, he says, a contrarian all my life. From childhood on, I never liked being told what to do and challenged authority at every turn.

In this intimate and intriguing memoir, Mair uncovers behind-the-scenes exploits during his 15 years practising law in Vancouver and Kamloops, his five eventful years in Bill Bennett’s provincial government, and his nearly 25 years as a radio broadcaster. He reveals his thoughts on everything from fish farms, government and current Prime Minister Paul Martin, to his departure from CKNW, his personal relationships, and struggles with depression. Rafe: A Memoir is a portrait of Rafe Mair as never seen before, a reflective look at one of BC’s most contentious figures.