Bill Richardson, revered CBC radio personality, columnist, and author of over a dozen books, including Leacock Medal of Humour winner The Bachelor Brothers Bed and Breakfast, will speak at TRU as the Canadian Studies Day speaker for 2006.

Born in Winnipeg, Richardson worked as a children’s librarian before beginning an illustrious career as a broadcaster in the 1990s. Among the CBC shows he has hosted are Crosswords, RSVP, As You Like It, Richardson’s Roundup, Bunny Watson, and, most recently, Canada Reads, the popular annual week-long event broadcast on CBC Newsworld in which five Canadian personalities each advocate for their favourite book until, on the fifth day, the single book that is deemed the best is selected.

In addition to the Bachelor Brothers series, Richardson has authored Scorned and Beloved: Dead of Winter Meetings with Canadian Eccentrics; Queen of All the Dustballs and Other Epics of Everyday Life; a collection of columns, Oddballs@Large; Dear Sad Goat, a collection of letters and stories from his listeners; the novel, Waiting for Gertrude, and several children’s books. An occasional columnist for (among others) the Globe and Mail, Richardson is in high demand as a master of ceremonies, keynote speaker and book reviewer.

Richardson will meditate on the media, middle age, literature, censorship, dogs, money, and federal politics in “The Ice Hotel is Melting: A Last Chance Tour of Several Rooms,” at a free presentation Friday, March 3 at 12:30 pm in the Alumni Theatre located in TRU’s Clock Tower building.

TRU Centre for the Study of Canada director Ginny Ratsoy urges those who wish to hear Richardson to come early. “The event is free of charge and open to all, but seating is limited,” she explained.

The presentation is hosted by TRU’s Centre for the Study of Canada with help from the Comprehensive University Enhancement Fund, the Community University Research Alliance, and the TRU School of Journalism.

For more information, please contact Ginny Ratsoy, CSC Director, at 828-5238.