The Best of Adrian Raeside

Book excerpt: For over three decades editorial cartoonist and BC resident Adrian Raeside has trained his laser wit on a subject he knows well—the foibles of life on Canada’s wet coast. From yoga devotees to redneck fishermen, political potheads to bloated bureaucrats, plus provincial pet peeves like leaky condos, ICBC premiums and smart meters, no stone is left unturned, particularly when it comes to the politically slanted stereotypes of Left Coasters. Hot topics such as the Northern Gateway pipeline, carbon taxes and the hidden perils of electric cars are pondered alongside the subtle difference between Saskatchewan’s wheat harvest and BC’s second-largest industry: cannabis production. Addressing often-touchy issues with his clever and amusing West Coast characters and critters, Raeside casts his spotlight on bear awareness programs and the current role of conservation officers, the increase of wildlife-human encounters (at your local watering hole) and the lack thereof (at wilderness retreats). This compilation of Raeside’s most hilarious cartoons is sure to tickle the funny bone of anyone familiar with ‘Super, Natural British Columbia’ and the lifestyles of those who live there.