Rafe Mair has passed away at age 85

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Rafe Mair has passed away at age 85

Postby radiofan » Mon Oct 09, 2017 7:51 am

Former Vancouver broadcaster and politician Rafe Mair passed away earlier this morning at age 85.

Mair had been in declining health for the past few years.

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Re: Rafe Mair has passed away at age 85

Postby radiofan » Mon Oct 09, 2017 8:19 am

Rafe Mair bio from his rafeonline website.

Rafe Mair is a former lawyer, cabinet minister and scratch golfer who went into honest work and became a broadcaster and writer on public affairs.

During his public career Mair was the British Columbia minister responsible for constitutional affairs leading up to the patriation of the Canadian Constitution, and through 1980 attended all the critical meetings either as Premier Bennett’s representative or adviser. He has a unique insight and training into political and constitutional matters having traveled extensively researching these matters. Included in this research were trips to Germany to evaluate their bicameral federal system, Switzerland to learn about their federation with its theme of participatory democracy and the United States, courtesy of the State Department, for an in depth study of the inter-relationship of the White House and Congress as well as relations between state governments and Washington.

Rafe Mair hardly confines his efforts to politics. In his editorials he often talks about sports, his slow, unsteady return to his Anglican roots, fly-fishing and travel.

Fly fishingBasically, though, Mair is a political junkie and, because he’s been there, a highly skeptical one who combines gut reaction with pungent reaction punctuated with what has been called his “wicked sense of humour.”

Rafe Mair has written several books. The first, a labour of love which may soon be re-published across Canada is called “The Last Cast” and chronicles his adventures as a fly fisherman which one unkind wag characterized as a chronicle of Rafe falling in rivers around the world.

Rafe and WendyHis second book is called Canada: Is Anyone Listening? It has been widely praised. Former Prime Minister Kim Campbell called it a book which all Canadians should read, and in the highest compliment of all, a good read. It offers wide ranging views on health, the environment, Canada’s unity.

Mair has written eight books, The Last Cast, Canada:Is Anyone Listening?, Rants, Raves and Recollections, More Rants, Rafe – A Memoir, Hard Talk, Over The Mountains and What The Bleep Is Going On Here Anyway?

During his radio career Rafe was BC Broadcast performer of the year, winner of the Michener Award for courageous journalism (the first radio person to be so honoured) the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement and is in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In 2009 Mair was made an honourary Doctor of Laws by Simon Fraser University.

Mair is 39 years old though he steadfastly refuses to explain how he has a 55 year old son and a 31 year old grandson.

He is married to his beloved Wendy, has 9 grandchildren and a chocolate Labrador pup named Chauncey.

If nothing else, Rafe Mair will make you think – about B.C. politics, Federal politics, U.S. and overseas politics – and lots of other stuff too.

http://rafeonline.com/about/
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Re: Rafe Mair has passed away at age 85

Postby kal » Mon Oct 09, 2017 8:30 am

Perhaps the last of the great talk radio personalities. His leaving 'NW certainly marked a turn down in what had been the golden years of talk radio, at least in this market.
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Re: Rafe Mair has passed away at age 85

Postby radiofan » Mon Oct 09, 2017 8:53 am

Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.
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Re: Rafe Mair has passed away at age 85

Postby Richard Skelly » Tue Oct 10, 2017 2:53 am

How many tens of millions of salmon have safely returned to their spawning grounds, thanks to Rafe Mair? It's not an idle question. While national media obits focus on Rafe's crucial role in scuttling the Charlettown Accord, he also was key to forcing Alcan and governments to abandon a diversion project that spelled disaster for fish stocks. He subsequently drummed up opposition to run-of-river energy schemes, fish farms' potential health effects on wild salmon and the duplicity of restaurants not adequately noting the origin of salmon on menus.

Personally, I strove to hear his opening CKNW editorials. It was obvious he laboured over the aural op-eds to inveigh against particular injustices or political shenanigans. But he'd sometimes devote those first few minutes to eulogizing a deceased British Columbian. Often it would extoll the achievements of a late politician, jurist, artist or philanthropist. But he also memorialized citizens far outside the spotlight, folks who'd been significant to him in younger years.

And he loved dogs! You can't be a total curmudgeon when animals turn your heart to butter.

Back in the early '90s, I interviewed Rafe for a Georgia Straight feature on Vancouver talk radio. Among the topics that didn't get enough exposure in my final draft was obstacles facing female hosts in radio. I could tell it perplexed Rafe. It was heartening on Monday to hear someone at NW (Simi Sara???) recall how Rafe reached out during her early days behind the mic at CFUN 1410. They had lunch where he imparted advice and encouragement.

Kamloops born, I was amused when Rafe (a Kamloops MLA/Socred Minister) quit politics to try out radio. As I recall, his replacement was Claude Richmond, a radio guy who wanted to enter politics.

Condolences to Rafe's family and friends. Also a salute to the talented producers who scheduled guests and kept the show rolling behind the scenes. Shirley Stocker and Shiral Tobin, in particular were important cogs in the phenomenal success of the Rafe Mair Show.
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