BC Politics with Hubert Beyer

Archives of British Columbia's most well read Political Columnist

 

 

 

Hubert Beyer, Biography

Hubert Beyer was widely known as one of Canada's most read journalists. His columns were published regularly in most BC Community Newspapers, and his perspective sought on the Federal level as well as by NORAD in the US, Beyer lived up to his reputation as the "Fairest of them All."

Born in a small village in West Germany, Beyer immigrated to Canada in his 20s where he married and had 4 children.

A German Language publication in Winnipeg was Beyer's first foray into writing in Canada, it was soon followed with work at the Winnipeg Free Press as a Reporter covering many different beats. more

Click to read the Eulogy for Hubert Beyer

Top Search: Forestry

Find out what Beyer had to say about Forestry in BC through the years. With the forestry industry supporting a large segment of employment and opportunity in British Columbia, it's no surprise that it's a top search.

Top Search: Elections

Election are always a hot topicAnytime the faintest hint of a provincial or federal election announcement draws near, the search for quotes and history on past British Columbia elections starts to climb.

Top Search: Budget Release

When is the Budget not a hot searchProvincial Bugets are introduced with fanfare and fraught with talk from pundits, experts and critics. Take a few minutes to see how BC Budgets of the past were often projections of the future. 

EULOGY FOR MR. BEYER. DAD.

December 20 2003

EULOGY FOR MR. BEYER. DAD.

By Patricia Lee

When I look out at all of you I see an ocean of memories. A lot of those include me.
My email, from some of you over the last week, tell me of a huge other world of memories.

The common thread, is of course Dad, …Hubert, Hube, THE Hube, Opa, Mr. Beyer.

It’s a lot of titles.

Seeing you all here reminds us of what a full life he really had in earning them.

We all already know … Dad was
- Intelligent
- Analytical
- Fair
- Humble
- Happy
- Compassionate
- Emotional
- He had humor, grace and pride.
These were all things he exuded. They were unmistakable characteristics.

Instead I thought I’d relate a few tiny moments that tell you very big things..

---CHARLES---

My Brother Charles, at age 11 or 12, asked for permission to get a job. A paper route. It was a most welcome first venture into the working world, so my Dad thought.

”You can do that Charles, but remember, 4:00am is early. That’s when you have to get up to deliver the papers” is what he said.

Yep. There was Dad, 4:00 am, firing up the car.. delivering papers with Charles. He was happy to do it. Happier than Charles I think. It would have been so easy to quit. Instead he helped.

---GARY---

Then there’s the baseball games. Gary reminded me that Dad used to watch him play baseball. He would go to these games completely naive to the rules. Invariably a patient parent would explain them, but he never really got it. Yet he showed up every time, and somehow knew when HIS kid was doing well. He knew when to jump up and cheer. And he did.

---ROD---
I saw a tear in my Dad’s eye when Roderick received a standing ovation for his role as Winnie the Pooh in a Grade 7 play. There is nothing spectacular about Winnie the Pooh. Yet this particular piece, to him, was so moving. More powerful than Broadways finest.

---ME--- (Patricia)

What can I say. This is a man who wanted to buy me a pony for the backyard. He befriended the kittens and puppies that “followed me home” He admired me, yet I learned it all from him. We had the quintessential Father Daughter relationship.

These are just cute snapshots from the past. But combined, and padded with a lifetime of similar parenting, the snapshots become conduits from which we learned,

- Humility
- Compassion
- Emotion
- Fairness

- And so on
These are the things he taught by example, as well as pen. What a Father.

This is all way too soon. It’s so easy to feel ripped off.

I said to a friend last week, I brought life into this world and it didn’t hurt nearly as much as being a part of the process that ushered it forward.

For giving life, I got to see this beautiful child turn into the young man I’m so proud of. Yet in observing life’s passing, it felt as if there were no reward.

But then I thought.

- I thought about Dad firing up the car at 4:am to drive Chuck on his paper route.
- I thought about Dad watching Gary play ball, even though he didn’t know the rules
- I thought about the incredible amount of pride he took in Rod’s ability to act, and sing
- I thought about the Pony.

The truth is Dad never felt ripped off by anything, and he faced this kind of adversity.. and more.. far more than I have. Hurt, yes. Ripped off, no. He’s still teaching me. Right now.

There is so much to it.. more than this last 10 days we have endured. It’s true, this is harder for us to see now, but the reward is there. Oh yes, I sure do wish he was here.

But the reward is, and always has been, a lifetime of being with and learning from the best.

Without the endurance of these last 10 days I would not have had that lifetime.

So as my Brother Gary said, this will be our year of firsts. It starts with our first Christmas without our Father, …Hubert, Opa, or Mr. Beyer.

It will be hard because its no secret.. he was ALL ABOUT Christmas.

But from there, I think we’re up to the challenge of creating firsts that our Dad, Grandfather to these lovely children, Husband to Eleonore, would be proud of.

 

Dad is my hero.

Biography

Hubert Beyer was widely known as one of Canada's most read columnists. His columns were published regularly in most BC Community Newspapers, and his perspective sought on the Federal level as well as by NORAD in the US, Beyer lived up to his reputation as the "Fairest of them All."

Born in a small village in West Germany, Beyer immigrated to Canada in his 20's where he married and had 4 children.

A German Language publication in Winnipeg was Beyer's first foray into writing in Canada, it was soon followed with work at the Winnipeg Free Press as a Reporter covering many different beats.

In the 70's Beyer moved to Victoria BC, where he covered Capital City affairs followed by Provincial affairs for the Victoria Daily Colonist, which later merged with another daily to become the Times - Colonist. It was in the 80's that Beyer left the paper to become a Legislative Journalist for hire. Beyer's coverage gave small papers of the Province the advantage of provincial coverage. without having to assign a reporter on location.

Beyer was a lover of Canada, Christmas and Family, and while most articles pertain to politics and policy, you'll find the odd gem about all three. We suggest you prepare yourself, Beyer's ability to draw emotion is as powerful as his ability to reason.

Particularly proud of his Tech Savvy, Beyer was the first journalist at the Legislative Press Gallery to sport a computer. He had a full compliment of accessories, including acoustic couplers (the very first run of modems) with which he submitted stories to any paper that knew how to receive them electronically. Later on he took great pride in his ability to do his job from anywhere. Even Hawaii now and then.

This archive of articles allow the reader to gain a unique perspective on BC Politics from WAC to Campbell, with thousands of columns to draw from. Find out more about how you can use this site here.

About this Site

This archive of articles allow the reader to gain a unique perspective on BC Politics from WAC to Campbell, with thousands of columns to draw from.

Students may use a quote from any article as long as there is credit to Hubert Beyer and the website (HubertBeyer.com).

Professional Writers can use site membership to gain access to certain rights with regard to reprints as well.

Publications wishing to reprint articles or segments should contact us for permission and costs (based on distribution).

Membership

Membership at HubertBeyer.com has benefits for Writers, Teacher and Student as well as Library or Vocational institute.

This website helps the reader to gain a unique perspective on BC Politics from WAC to Campbell, with thousands of columns to draw from. Facts, dates, interviews and quotes abound in this information rich archive of articles.

Students may use a quote from any article as long as there is credit to Hubert Beyer and website (HubertBeyer.com).

Professional Writers can use their membership to gain access to certain rights with regard to reprints as well.

Publications (online and print) wishing to reprint articles or segments can contact us for permission and costs.

Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

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