Tony Manera`s memoirs begin when, as a three-year-old boy, he witnessed the allied invasion of his native Sicily, followed by his experience of the extreme poverty that prevailed during the post-war years. When his family was finally able to emigrate to Canada, there were some difficult adjustments to be made, as was the case for most immigrants. Dropping out of school and working helped to pay the bills, but realizing that further education would be necessary to make real progress, he moved to Los Angeles. There he worked his way through university, initially as a waiter in an Italian restaurant, then as a technician and engineer in the US aerospace industry and finally as a professor of engineering and mathematics. His time in the US had a profound influence on his philosophy of hard work, self-reliance, perseverance, risk taking and seizing opportunities as they present themselves.
Upon his return to Canada, he continued his academic career, becoming the youngest college president at thirty-one. As head of Ontario`s Niagara College and British Columbia`s Vancouver Community College, he expanded enrolment, oversaw major building programs, coped with significant budget challenges, improved academic standards and championed academic freedom. He then moved on to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, where he served for many years as a senior vice president and eventually as president and CEO. While facing major financial constraints, he describes how he protected the CBC`s journalistic independence during the difficult period preceding the 1995 referendum on the province of Québec`s proposed secession from the Canadian federation.
While these memoirs provide an account of his career and personal life, the author also shares with readers his outlook on several important public policy issues. This is done from a Canadian perspective, but the issues are also pertinent in other countries. They include the value of a public broadcaster that is independent from the government of the day, striking the right balance between accommodation and integration of immigrants, and improving accessibility to and affordability of post-secondary education. He also offers constructive suggestions for how to approach the issue of Québec secession. This topic is not limited to Canada, as other countries have their own separatist movements. Also included are several anecdotes that readers may find interesting, amusing or both.
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I won this book, and had no preconception of it whatsoever, in fact when I submitted to win, I thought it would be about Sicily.
Tony Manera emigrated to Canada at age 11, so little of the book is about Sicily.It was about poverty through the second world war, being an immigrant in Canada, dropping out of school, working, going to university, becoming an engineer and his career as professor, university president, then working for CBC.
He took many risks throughout his professional life, when he could have stayed and been comfortable, he chose to expand himself and moved upwards through a stellar career.
The author writes about working hard, family, morality, and ethics in a positive, uplifting and non-preachy manner. I felt when I finished this book that I had met a man that I shared many things with – from love of gardening, children and parents, enjoyment of learning, and love of travel.
FIVE STAR GOODREADS REVIEW – MARCH 15, 2017 – L. BAKER – ROBERTS CREEK, BC