Harbour Publishing “THE print humourist is an endangered species,” says Eric Nicol. “Every year 1 expect to receive a Canadian Wildlife Federation caiendar with my pic- ture on it.” Home Furnishings Leather Work Car and Boat Antiques d Refinishing and Repairs Hor Tub Covers Free estimates, pick up & detivery #9 years experience your satisfaction is our concert cal 985-7449 Mention this Ad for a discount B Anything Fer A Langh— Eric Nicol, Harbour Publishing, 264 pp.. $28.95, THE Good Humour Man has nothing on Eric Nicol. The ater ar same oO) oust and seven stay COPN i Bost kneas ni Chose parts ae a tourna actos started) tas ¢ ran Donedon work, ms far DBC Tins th arning to swim ite deep ¢ She pool, Alibons of listeners tunedin wach week tor cheir CHterLamment tiv. In tate 1440. Berne Braden ond Barbara Kelly cnisted their old chuas to write tot Lemre Your Name nd Nuutter, about a couple er expatriate Canadians breaking inte show biz. Rach 29-minute, $0-sccond show was broadcast berorg a dive studio audience “Howasa very steosstul type of wrinnas” saves Nicol "You have to have tremendous enerey. You have to be prepared ter go without stecp and sweat bullets, Column writing ts much easier on the nerves. He was a regular contributor to several hit comedies for Braden and Kelly bur something was missing. “Dawas there for pve years... and working far too hard to enjoy lite. I was homesick for Canada.” icol returned to Vancouver and a high profile job atthe Province. “Howas a golden era for cofummisis. We held the axe on the newspapers because they were competitive, The two Vancouver newspapers nad dit? ferent ownership and if vou made a name for vourself as a columnist vou could call your owa tune. “Now they don’t care where vou wo —- vou ‘ll still be work- ing for Conrad Black We were thoroughly spoiled, of course ~~ the Province started my column on the front page if vou SVR Oot Seid SNITURE & INTERIORS Featuring Southwest, Rustic Lodge & Western Style Furnishings . including Wrought iron & Unique Accents. § 1589 Pemberton Ave., N. Vancouver {Acrest from The Ceetus Club Cafr) a er ee cwames” §— (694) 980-4112 Margaret Easton stacks up support for her local library in West Vancouver. Margaret Easton loves to read. So it’s no surprise that she’s a big supporter of her local library. The West Vancouver Memorial Library, the busiest in the province, is one of the few in Canada to have its own fund raising Foundation. An annual croquet tournament is one of the Foundation’s biggest fund raising efforts. The Foundation charges an entry fee for each team and a fee for on-court advertising. In addition, the event includes a silent and live auction. This year, the Foundation expects to have 24 teams participating and to bring in $24,000 for special programs such as computer labs and children’s reading rooms. joun Goooman THIS WEEK EDITOR Am yal Nigait tenure. One ot the most notorious Cases Was acct vm en Sapaaal punashinent “Paot hauled betore the tide on a contempt ot ceurt Sharge. P dont link even Pappreciated die imphoitims onan he admmts bbe presiding pudze and ja saPappeal were all pro capiial punish ment. They didivt want te bie anvene rocking the boar” Over tie vears Nigal fi wotched bis tormer emrmoser side trom its lott. satis. “Lhe Prarie Was the prestige paper -- a ditnitied paper, except for mie. Somewhere along the line the Praraice decided it was goin te-be a morning paper. and a tables, and that came asa great shack to just about evervenc at the time. We had to readjust our sights... Today the Propaire is pop journalism. You know what f mean -~ have vou seen the Praritce cditorials lately? Its not even saving paper...” As well as producing five columns a week, Nicol also honed his skills as a playwright on the side. “We have this belief dat Broadway ts the be-all, end-all of? productions but [found aut we de good stuff, even better stuff, bere in Canada.” “It's a vear or so out of vour life and the opening night reviews can be emotionally devastating, which is what hap- pened te me in New York, That can be cnough to drive veut to drink if vou weren't already. ‘Two weeks of previews gives vou dvery good idea of what's going to happen when you finally go betore the crities. P stopped woing to rehearsals and started writing another play.” What does he read when he’s not writing? “Woody Allen's books are absolute delights,” savs Nicol adoniringly, “1 still read them as a primer to seta pace. He gives vou an idea of what vou have to come somewhere near. fust like a pacehorse.” Publishing his memoirs doesn’t mean Nicol has reached any sort of end-game. As usual he had to take rime our trom other projects to write Avavthing For A Laugh. Look tor more books and a regular column in Lifestyles magazine to keep up to date with the man. whied some fairh sertcus topies dumng bes ICBC HAS A TEAM OF LAWYERS, SHOULDN'T YOU? * Documents you sign can be used against you. Taylor & Blairx BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS® 119-255 West 1st St. North Van 983-4311 FREE CONSULTATION 4 air Besides drumming up two referees for the tournament and four co-workers to enter as a team, Margaret successfully canvassed all of the member companies of Royal Bank Financial Group to co-sponsor the tournament. Margaret works for Royal Bank in West Vancouver. She’s just one of many Royal Bank staff across Canada who take time out to help in their communities. And we'd just like to ake this opportunity to 8, thank them for doing what they do. ROYAL BANK FINANCIAL GROUP & Registered trade mark of Roval Bank of Canada cone: : Eee Imagine WE A New spit of Community fagg a!