The book chronicles a political insider's journey through four decades of Canadian campaigns—and the personal truth he carried in silence for twenty years. Early & Late is a powerful dual memoir that weaves together two parallel stories: life on the front lines of social democratic politics in Canada and the quiet reckoning of coming out as a gay man at midlife after two decades of marriage. Bryan McIver spent his career in the engine room of the New Democratic Party, working alongside Canadian political legends—Dave Barrett, Stephen Lewis, Glen Clark, and Audrey McLaughlin. From the euphoria of Barrett's historic 1972 BC election victory to the grinding reality of campaign after campaign across Canada, he witnessed the evolution of progressive politics from the inside. Through vivid vignettes, he captures the unglamorous work of political organizing: the borrowed offices, the volunteer phone banks, the impossible odds, and the unshakeable belief that politics can make life better. But beneath the public work ran a private truth. In his fifties, Bryan came out to his wife, Carol, and their two sons. What followed was not destruction, but something rarer: grace, courage, and a love that transcended traditional boundaries. The second half of this memoir explores the cost of postponing parts of oneself, the weight of secrecy, and the freedom that comes with living authentically. Told in short, carefully observed chapters, Early & Late offers: - A rare insider's view of NDP politics from the 1960s through the 2000s - Behind-the-scenes stories from over 35 political campaigns across Canada - An honest account of coming out later in life and its impact on marriage and family - Reflections on identity, belonging, and the courage to change course - A meditation on social democracy, community, and what sustains us through defeat and victory Former BC Premier Glen Clark, in his foreword, emphasizes that the book's strength lies in its economy. Bryan does not overexplain. The short form mirrors memory itself—selective, compressed, and reflective." Readers who enjoyed Peter Gajdics' The Inheritance of Shame, Svend Robinson's and Kathleen Wynne's political memoirs, as well as those who are drawn to stories of political conviction, late-life transformation, and the enduring power of truth, will find this work compelling. This is a story about two kinds of campaigns: the ones we run for others and the one we must eventually run for ourselves.