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This remarkable photo was taken just outside Olympic Village, on southeast False Creek. The bubble was generated by the man standing on the wharf to the left. Through it we can see the iconic Telus Science World which was originally known as Expo Centre. It functioned for 6 months in 1985 to advertise the theme…
You always hear about how diverse and multicultural Vancouver is and that Canadians are polite and friendly. All of this is true, but even more so, I have always perceived people in Vancouver, whatever their roots are to be welcoming, accepting and unprejudiced. Once you have lived in Vancouver for a while you don’t notice…
In the old Looney Tunes cartoon, Wile E. Coyote would often end up going over a cliff in his ever-futile attempts to catch The Road Runner. The standard gag would feature a hapless Wile E. hovering in midair while his elusive prey looked on mischievously; Coyote would only actually begin to crash to the ground…
Steveston is about a 30 minute car drive south of Vancouver. It is also easily accessible by Canada Line and bus. The latter takes about an hour and makes for an inexpensive day trip. Steveston is located in the southwest corner of Lulu Island just along the Fraser River before it empties into the Georgia…
As we know, xenophobia starts with first impressions: a simple glance allows you to see the Other’s difference. If we all come from similar racial backgrounds this difference doesn’t immediately show through our physical aspect, but it clearly shows up the very moment the foreigner begins to speak, revealing his accent. Surely we should marvel…
I thought maybe the Globe and Mail was pulling an April Fools’ joke. On the front page, above the fold, their headline read, ‘Clark promises fundraising transparency.’ Turns out the story is legit, although the new measures the B.C. premier is proposing are underwhelming. To set the context of that headline, let’s review. Christy Clark…
From his commanding view at City Hall, Captain George Vancouver, after whom our city is named, is pointing over the domain he first explored in 1792. Captain Vancouver showed respect for and enjoyed mainly good relationships with indigenous people, easing his ability to survey the area. Less than a century later, the city of Vancouver…
There are few cities in the world that have the ability to transport me to different places at different periods of my life. Walking the streets of Vancouver is like stepping into a time machine that launches me back to other cities – Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Amsterdam, New Delhi, Mexico City. Sometimes the trip…
The Lower Mainland’s crisis of affordable housing will be a major issue in the next provincial election in British Columbia, which is scheduled for May 2017. This is a big deal, and a most welcome development. After years of simmering rage, and heated discussion at the municipal level, the debate about Vancouver’s out of control…
What signifies spring in Vancouver better than cherry blossoms! This beautiful array of trees in pink bloom is outside the charming Strathmore Lodge Apartments at Bute St. and Comox St. in the West End. It overlooks Nelson Park on Mole hill. The Strathmore, one of Vancouver’s early apartment buildings, was originally named the Royal Alexandra…
Like a fish in water. That’s how I felt a few days after my arrival in Vancouver. The reason? The apparent lack of obstacles to my integration into this new environment. Language was not a barrier between Canada and myself, and the Canadian culture wasn’t so far removed from mine to make me feel instantly…
In the right conditions, a single spark can start a roaring fire. The BC Liberals’ decision to take away free bus passes from people with disabilities might just be that spark in British Columbia. The government’s move was spectacularly insensitive. It must not be allowed to stand. Already the issue has sparked protests at the…
In 1900, when the two houses at Davie & Jervis Streets (on the right side of this picture) were built, the West End was sparsely populated. It was a gentler place of rolling hills and scrub brush, a lot of the trees having been logged. There were probably great views from the houses pictured above…
