Memo #33
Dan Overmyer
Dr. Dan Overmyer, Professor Emeritus of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia speaks about his new book, Asian Religions in British Columbia (B.C.). In this interview, he describes the inspiration to compile this book. Along with Dr. Larry DeVries and Dr. Don Baker, Dr. Overmyer aimed to organize a book that would be of value to people who are interested in Asian cultures, their impact in B.C., and the changing face of B.C. society.
B.C. is a province with decades long connections to Asia. People from Asia brought their traditions and adapted them to life in Canada. In all of the interviews the three editors conducted, they did not discover hostility of one group against another. Although groups mutually accept or ignore each other for the most part, tensions exist within certain groups between older and younger generations. The findings of the project also revealed that some groups have discriminated against women. But the editors are hopeful that this will change as people become more acclimated to the value enshrined in the Canadian Constitution against gender discrimination. On the whole, B.C. society is harmonious and peaceful and the editors argue it should be a model for the rest of the world.
This is the fifth interview in the Behind the Book series at the Institute of Asian Research (IAR). Throughout the year, Behind the Book interviews are available on the IAR’s video gallery. Some also will appear in the Asia Pacific Memo series. To find all the videos created by the IAR, visit the Asia Pacific Memo YouTube channel.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R_kdz7gdBQ[/youtube]
Question 1 (0:04) – What led you and the other two editors to compile this book?
Question 2 (1:05) – What insights did you gain?
Question 3 (2:26) – Are there dark issues?
Question 4 (3:51) – Who should read this book?
Question 5 (5:05) – What would you tell the Prime Minister, Premier, or other politicians?
Book Cover of ‘Asian Religions in British Columbia’
Authors of ‘Asian Religions in British Columbia’
Sept 16, 2010 IAR Book Launch for ‘Asian Religions in British Columbia’
Link:
- Asian Religions in British Columbia, May 2010 (Book by Dr. Larry DeVries, Dr. Donald Baker, and Dr. Dan Overmyer)