Retired Canada Customs officer and supervisor Bob Klassen will visit the Gibsons and District Public Library to read from his memoir, I Do Declare: Memoirs of a Customs Officer, on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.
Much of what goes on at border crossings, people never hear about.
Inept smuggling, unusual weapons seized, unbalanced and drunk individuals, and of course the ever-present drug smugglers. Klassen has been beaten over the head with peaches by an angry grandmother (peaches are prohibited from entering Canada from the U.S. due to possible gypsy moth infestation), lied to about U.S. purchases by a woman with hundreds of dollars of shopping receipts visibly sticking out of her purse and he has met Jesus, twice.
During a career spanning 35 years, Klassen collected stories about dead bodies, strange weapons, exotic animals, smuggling, irate travellers and even organized crime rings.
Come into the Library for this free event and leave smiling, laughing and shaking your head in wonder. Pre-registration is required by calling the library at 604-886-2130.
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