Journalist and columnist Jamie Lamb wrote Christmas in Mariposa: Sketches of Canada's Legendary Little Town (Heritage 2019) about growing up in the small town that Stephen Leacock made famous as the place that inspired his Canadian classic, Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, published over a century ago. Lamb's take on Mariposa tells of oddball hotels and the best Christmas office party in the country; a place where Christmas could be celebrated in summer with a Baby Jesus look-alike contest. He also relates stories about hockey great Gordie Howe dropping by the local rink for a skate and where pianist Glenn Gould regularly came for a well-done steak and six rolls slathered with butter at a Chinese restaurant.

Lamb, a columnist for the Vancouver Sun was a regular contributor on CBC's Morningside and Newsworld, and taught communications seminars at Harvard University. He lives in Tswwassen.

BOOKS:

Christmas in Mariposa: Sketches of Canada's Legendary Little Town (Heritage 2019) $19.99 978-1-77203-287-1

[BCBW 2019]