January 26, 2021 – Prince Edward County, Ontario.
Lynn Pickering, host/producer of 99.3 County FM’s The County Grapevine (Monday edition), is pleased to announce that the Honourable Don Oliver, author of A Matter of Equality: The Life’s Work of Senator Don Oliver will host a segment of the program throughout Black History Month. Oliver was appointed to the Senate by The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney on September 7, 1990, and, in a foreword to the book, the former Prime Minister wrote, “I knew that day that Canada and the cause of equality would be the principal beneficiaries of this appointment, because Donnie Oliver would bring enlightened leadership and unrelenting commitment to this noble cause. And for the next twenty-five years, that is precisely what he did.”
“I interviewed Don Oliver on The County Writes…The County Reads when his book was published last fall,” Pickering said. “I was impressed by his many achievements and particularly his dedication, perseverance and integrity. From newspaper reporter to Cordon Bleu chef to talented trumpet player, he could have succeeded in any profession he chose, but he decided to become a lawyer in order to break down barriers of discrimination and to attain equality for all. I was thrilled when he agreed to host our series for Black History Month.””
Senator Oliver’s guests include George Elliott Clarke, poet, playwright and literary critic and Canada’s Poet Laureate, 2016-2017; Tiffany Callender, co-founder and CEO of the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE); The Honourable Mayann Francis who served as the 31st Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia; Greg Fergus, MP for Hull-Aylmer and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister. A highlight of the series is a profile of Portia White, aunt to Oliver and great-aunt to George Elliott Clarke. Although the celebrated contralto performed in concert halls around the world, she was refused accommodation in a hotel in her home province of Nova Scotia.
“I am delighted to be sharing the mic with Lynn to continue the Black History Month debate with so many exciting and important Canadian thinkers whose views deserve to be heard by Canadians from Coast to Coast,” Senator Oliver said. “Their recommendations and opinions and the way they live their diverse lives can help us find our way to a more tolerant, kind and equitable Canada.”
The series will air from January 31st to February 28th, Community & Campus not-for- profit radio stations can contact the station for broadcast quality copies or visit the NCRA Community Radio Exchange.
The County Grapevine can be heard weekdays on 99.3 County FM following the news at noon and repeated after the 6:10 p.m. farm report. It is available for streaming on www.993countyfm.ca
Contact:
Host/Producer Lynn Pickering: lynnp@kos.net 613-476-2229
General Manager Craig Mills: gm@993countyfm.ca 613-476-2229
