Goodbye Louis B.

As most people know, there is a department in the federal government called the Canadian Radio and Television Commission whose mandate is to ensure that there is enough Canadian content on the airwaves (ironically only tv and radio; not cinema). It has made some controversial decisions including, as an example, declaring that a Bryan Adam's cd did not have enough "Canadian content" to be given more airplay because a number of the musicians et al on the cd were British and not Canadian.

But what about Provincial content? In the Calgary Herald's Entertainment section, we have Nick Lewis and Heath McCoy as well as Bob Clarke and Eugene (?). These gentlemen do not review movies. For that the Herald has Roger Ebert (rarely, but I like Ebert) who hails from Chicago, Ill., Katherine Monk (who writes for the Vancouver Sun) and Jay Stone (who writes for the Ottawa Citizen). Needless to say, none of these people are from Alberta.

One of the few redeeming qualities of the Calgary Sun had was that it had Louis B. Hobson as their main movie reviewer. Fact, Louis lives in Calgary. Another fact, I have met Mr. Hobson and he was very genuine and down to earth. Fact #3, Louis promoted Alberta movies - in fact, he told me that he was surprised that Brokeback Mountain did not win the 2006 Academy Award for Best Picture. I didn't always agree with Louis's reviews but I don't always agree with any reviewer.

Unfortunately due to financial problems with the Toronto Sun, the Sun's mother newspaper, Louis was, or will shortly be, laid off. Apparently, the employees of the Toronto Sun are unionized so we in Calgary must pay for Toronto's money problems. It stinks. We are losing our Alberta voice. Pretty soon we will get all our movies reviews from Toronto. What the Calgary Herald should do, if it wants a great marketing idea, is hire Louis Hobson to be its own movie critic.

I just wanted to write this blog to mourn the disappearance of another voice in Alberta newspapers and to thank Louis B. for all of his great reviews and interviews. We have so many talented writers right here in Calgary, we need to read more of them.