Rafe was the posthumous recipient of the annual Harry McWatters Founders Award. The award was given to Mair in recognition of his leadership in the creation of estate winery licenses in 1979. While there were many people who helped promote the idea of smaller estate wineries, it was Mair in his capacity as Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs who brought the legislation forward to the Bennett government.
Rafe Mair honoured by the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society
Oct 17th, 2020 by admin
Rafe’s latest book now available for mail order
Nov 8th, 2017 by admin
Iconic broadcaster and political commentator Rafe Mair remembered at private service
Oct 31st, 2017 by admin
by Simon Little and Niki Reitmayer at Global News: Iconic broadcaster and political commentator Rafe Mair remembered at private service
As a politician, broadcaster, advocate and speaker of truth to power, Rafe Mair was crucial to the public conversation in B.C.
When, just two weeks ago, he died at age 85, the tributes poured out.
Rafe left provincial politics for the airwaves, his radio shows reaching people not just in B.C. but across Canada with his hard-nosed commentaries and fearless interviews, always in defence of the province he loved.
When his radio employer dropped him despite top ratings, The Tyee was pleased and fortunate to provide Rafe a home. For over a decade, he was a regular Tyee columnist enjoying zero censorship, as he himself proclaimed. Here at The Tyee, Rafe was free to wield facts and common sense against forces of greed and destruction — and to defend B.C.’s natural legacy.
Rafe Mair earned the title “conscience of the province,” as Tyee Founding Editor David Beers stated the day after he passed away.
That is why The Tyee is honoured to announce that we — with your help —will be launching the Rafe Mair Memorial Fund, dedicated to funding investigations and solutions reporting about environmental issues in B.C. As Rafe regularly reminded us, there is no shortage of stories to cover, whether it be Site C, fracking, mining, wild salmon, pipelines, run-of-river generators or forest habitat. And we invite you to add your own topics to the list. Read full article at The Tyee
Paul Watson weighs in: Rafe’s Ocean of Courage: Paul Watson on His Friend, and Building a Legacy
Trevor Lautens: It was never anything personal
Oct 20th, 2017 by admin
Article by Trevor Lautens in North Shore News: Rough Rafe: It was never anything personal
Earlier article by Lautens: Bombastic broadcaster recalls talk radio heyday
Excerpt:
He wore an XXL-size personality and brandished a Napoleonic bravado in attack. (Daring a one-way ticket to Elba?) Always in motion, Rafe kicked up so much dust that his career in the Bill Bennett cabinet – health, environment, constitutional adviser – is almost lost in the memory clouds.
He’s proud of it. His own cryptic list: ‘‘Enabled cottage wineries. Beat back banks. Also fought several environmental battles including Kemano Completion Project, saved Skagit, placed moratorium on uranium, stopped killing of wolves.’’
Jon McComb on Rafe Mair
Oct 20th, 2017 by admin
CKNW broadcaster John McComb salutes his mentor Rafe Mair for unparalleled journalistic excellence and talking publicly about depression.
Joseph Planta: Remembering Rafe Mair
Oct 17th, 2017 by admin
Rafe is remembered by his friend and former producer Shiral Tobin and former CKNW reporter George Garrett, with clips from interviews he did with host Joseph Planta. Audio clip
Riding with Rafe: 10 years of stories from a BC icon
Oct 12th, 2017 by admin

Rafe Mair in Campbell River in 2009, speaking out against GE’s $5 Billion proposed Bute Inlet private power project (Image: Damien Gillis)
Few people are lucky enough to work with, let alone become close friends with one of their heroes. Over the past decade, I got to ride shotgun with mine: legendary politician, broadcaster and environmental defender Rafe Mair. But on our many road trips around this great province, hosting townhall meetings on pipelines, tankers, hydropower, wild salmon and the public interest, it was me who did the driving. Rafe supplied the music – from his ipods full of jazz and old-time classics – and, of course, the stories. So many good stories. As we remember Rafe, following his passing at the age of 85, I’d like to pass on a few.
Now, this is not meant as hagiography to gloss over Rafe’s imperfections, which he readily acknowledged were many – rather as my own recollections of the tales my friend and mentor told me and the adventures we had together. Read full article at The Common Sense Canadian
Rafe Mair says goodbye
Oct 11th, 2017 by admin
As we mourn the passing of a legend and dear friend, Rafe Mair’s own word’s in 2011 at his 80th Birthday Roast serve as a fitting goodbye from a man who was ahead of his time and never stopped fighting for the people and environment he loved so dearly. In the coming days and weeks, we will share more video and recollections of Rafe.
Rafe was a fierce, uncompromising spirit with a deep sense of justice and unlimited reservoir of courage for speaking truth to power. He leaves behind a prolific legacy of accomplishments in government, journalism, and environmental advocacy.
He loved his wife Wendy, his family, chocolate labs, fly fishing, jazz, and Winston Churchill, whose words were his mantra: “Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
He was a British Columbian through and through. He loved this place – its mountains, rivers, wild salmon, and independent spirit – and gave every ounce of his soul to defending it. He will be deeply missed by The Common Sense Canadian and its co-founder and publisher, Damien Gillis, as he will by so many people whom he informed, entertained and inspired over a long, rich life.
Thank you, Rafe, and may you rest in peace.
– Damien Gillis
RIP Rafe Mair 1931-2017
Oct 9th, 2017 by admin
Article by David Beers at The Tyee: Rafe Mair: A BC Legend’s Journey of the Soul
Jon McComb and Vaughn Palmer on CKNW
Story from CBC News: B.C. broadcasting giant Rafe Mair dead at 85
2012 interview with Fanny Kiefer – part 1:
Part 2: