Colby Cosh
Encyclopedia
Colby Cosh is a Canadian
commentator, writer and editor of non-fiction, and blogger.
, Alberta
and grew up in Bon Accord, Alberta
, north of Edmonton. He graduated from the University of Alberta
in 1993, doing further study in European intellectual history under libertarian
scholar Ronald Hamowy. Cosh generally writes political, social and sports commentary for his blog, and professionally for the conservative
press. Cosh's own views tend towards libertarianism.
Cosh was the central character of the comic strip Colby Christ, published in The Gateway
, the University of Alberta
student newspaper. The comic had replaced Space Moose
after Adam Thrasher, the author of that comic, left the university in 1991 to work for a company. Donald R. "Don" Husereau, a pharmacy student and friend of Cosh, drew the strip while Cosh assisted in the formation of the depiction of himself. Cosh said that the comic "was generally quite indecipherable, occasionally offensive (a joke about little kids with leukemia drew hate mail that would have made Space Moose proud), and funny once or twice." A poll by the contributing cartoonists at The Gateway declared Colby Christ the least popular strip in the newspaper. Husereau convinced the editors to continue the run of "Colby Christ" until Thrasher returned to the university and resumed the production of Space Moose. Thrasher and Husereau drew "Colby Christ meets Space Moose," a strip that was a segue
between the series.
His journalism career began in 1992 as a researcher-writer for the Alberta in the 20th Century book series, a Byfield family project. Cosh then joined the Byfields' conservative newsmagazine
Alberta Report
and its affiliates. He wrote feature reports and the "Up Front" column, serving as senior editor from 1997 to the magazine's demise in 2003.
Subsequently, Cosh became a regular Op-Ed
contributor to the National Post
, and joined the Report-influenced Western Standard
as its sports columnist in 2004. He has contributed to numerous other print and online publications. Cosh left the Post in 2009. He currently contributes a blog to Macleans. His website ColbyCosh.com was started in June 2002.
Besides politics, Cosh occasionally writes about ice hockey
, and is a contributing member of the Oilogosphere
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
commentator, writer and editor of non-fiction, and blogger.
Life and career
Cosh was born in EdmontonEdmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and grew up in Bon Accord, Alberta
Bon Accord, Alberta
Bon Accord is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located north of downtown Edmonton on highway 28.-Demographics:In 2006, Bon Accord had a population of 1,534 living in 500 dwellings, a 0.1% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of and a population density of .-External links:*...
, north of Edmonton. He graduated from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in 1993, doing further study in European intellectual history under libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
scholar Ronald Hamowy. Cosh generally writes political, social and sports commentary for his blog, and professionally for the conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
press. Cosh's own views tend towards libertarianism.
Cosh was the central character of the comic strip Colby Christ, published in The Gateway
The Gateway (newspaper)
The Gateway is the student newspaper at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.-History:The newspaper was founded in North Garneau at the home of Liddy Lloyd on October 26, 1910. A group of students had gathered to discuss the creation of a student newspaper. They came up with the...
, the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
student newspaper. The comic had replaced Space Moose
Space Moose
Space Moose was a Canadian underground comic strip that appeared in the University of Alberta's student newspaper, The Gateway, between October 3, 1989 and 1999. Almost all of the strips were penned by Adam Thrasher, a student at the university. For career-related reasons, many archives refer to...
after Adam Thrasher, the author of that comic, left the university in 1991 to work for a company. Donald R. "Don" Husereau, a pharmacy student and friend of Cosh, drew the strip while Cosh assisted in the formation of the depiction of himself. Cosh said that the comic "was generally quite indecipherable, occasionally offensive (a joke about little kids with leukemia drew hate mail that would have made Space Moose proud), and funny once or twice." A poll by the contributing cartoonists at The Gateway declared Colby Christ the least popular strip in the newspaper. Husereau convinced the editors to continue the run of "Colby Christ" until Thrasher returned to the university and resumed the production of Space Moose. Thrasher and Husereau drew "Colby Christ meets Space Moose," a strip that was a segue
Segue
A segue is a smooth transition from one topic or section to the next.-In music:In music, segue is a direction to the performer. It means continue without a pause. It comes from the Italian "it follows". The term attacca is also used in classical music.For written music it implies a transition...
between the series.
His journalism career began in 1992 as a researcher-writer for the Alberta in the 20th Century book series, a Byfield family project. Cosh then joined the Byfields' conservative newsmagazine
Newsmagazine
A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published piece of paper, magazine or a radio or television program, usually weekly, featuring articles or segments on current events...
Alberta Report
Alberta Report
Alberta Report was a right-wing weekly newsmagazine based in Edmonton. It was founded and edited by Ted Byfield, now the editor and president of the Society to Explore and Record Christian History , and later run by his son, Link Byfield, and ceased publication in 2003.The magazine began as St....
and its affiliates. He wrote feature reports and the "Up Front" column, serving as senior editor from 1997 to the magazine's demise in 2003.
Subsequently, Cosh became a regular Op-Ed
Op-ed
An op-ed, abbreviated from opposite the editorial page , is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board...
contributor to the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
, and joined the Report-influenced Western Standard
Western Standard
The Western Standard is a Calgary, Alberta-based libertarian-conservative publication that billed itself as Canada's only conservative national news magazine...
as its sports columnist in 2004. He has contributed to numerous other print and online publications. Cosh left the Post in 2009. He currently contributes a blog to Macleans. His website ColbyCosh.com was started in June 2002.
Besides politics, Cosh occasionally writes about ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, and is a contributing member of the Oilogosphere
Oilogosphere
The Oilogosphere is the name collectively applied to blogs that cover the Edmonton Oilers ice hockey team. They are widely considered to be among the best and most popular hockey blogs on the internet, with Globe and Mail sportswriter James Mirtle estimating in late 2007 that "five or six" of the...
.