Vancouver: Multicultural City

Diversity: Vancouver's Most Prized Possession

Diversity is an influencing factor found to some extent in every work of literature that we have read in English 101. In Hey! Nostradamus by Douglas Coupland, the characters differed in their religious beliefs. In Ethel Wilson’s The Innocent Traveller, despite belonging to the same family, every member of the Edgeworth family was an individual, differing from another in at least one critical manner. For example, Topaz and her brother, John, shared a common interest, this common interest was the reason for their close relationship; they both enjoyed dinner parties at Mr. Sandbach’s. However, while Topaz thought that she and John would continue to attend these parties well into the future, John was planning his marriage. This is an example of a difference in values. In the short story “Sophie” by Emily Carr, the difference between Emily and Sophie is in socioeconomic classes. This form of diversity proved beneficial because Sophie’s living conditions gave Emily a different perspective on life. Lastly, in the short story “Broken Teeth” by Sky Lee, the mother explains to her child the difference in the behaviour of children in the old days in the homeland, compared to the behaviour of those today in Vancouver. These differences represent cultural and generational diversity.

According to Organizational Behaviour by Nancy Langton and Stephen Robbins, the term group diversity “refers to the presence of a heterogeneous mix of individuals within a group” (Langton and Robbins, 222). There are advantages, as well as disadvantages that accompany diversity. The advantages are: multiple perspectives, greater openness to new ideas, multiple interpretations, increased creativity, increased flexibility, and increased problem-solving skills (Langton and Robbins, 224). The disadvantages are: ambiguity, complexity, confusion, miscommunication, difficulty in reaching a single agreement, and difficulty in agreeing on specific actions (Langton and Robbins, 224). In Vancouver we reap and enjoy the advantages of the diversity supplied by multiculturalism. As well, like any other place in the world there are the disadvantages presented by diversity, however, we take pride in our ability to surpass these differences. In fact, according to a survey conducted in late 2005, amongst 126 other cities, CNN reported at http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe
/10/04/eui.survey , “Vancouver is the world's most desirable place to live…”.

Langton, Nancy and Robbins, Stephen. Organization Behaviour. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc., 2006.

Vancouver: Multicultural City

Competition
Competition played a significant role in many of the books read during the course of this semester. In Ethel Wilson’s The Innocent Traveller, there is Topaz (Annie’s sister) and Rachel (Annie’s daughter). These two vied Annie’s affection until the day she spoke her final words. Upon hearing the news from Topaz that Annie’s final words were for Rachel she thought, “‘It’s me she asked for…after all these years it was me she wanted…’” (Wilson, 191). Another competition that exists in this novel…short story…whatever you want to call it, is that which exists between Rachel and the housekeeper, Yow. Examples of this are found in their daily activities, one of which is “When Yow lost in the great kindling dispute (he liked to cut it too long for the grates), Aunt Rachel lost in the thick-toast-for-afternoon-tea battle. Each was daily comforted by some small victory” (Wilson, 170).

Competition can be a very good thing, when healthy and non-violent. Competition is spurred by one’s desire for self-betterment and eventual self-actualization. Here in Vancouver, competition has never been a hotter topic than it is now. This is greatly due to the looming 2010 Winter Olympics that will be held in our very own Vancouver and Whistler. The athletes competing in the Olympics will each bring their own cultures as will the throngs of viewers from around the world. Leading up to the big celebrations, the sports fanatics of Vancouver are getting their fair fix of live sporting events. Just last year, Vancouver was host to the World Junior Hockey Championships. Also last year, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (soccer club) was United Soccer League champions; the BC Lions were Canadian Football League champions; and the Vancouver Giants were Western Hockey League champions. This summer, Vancouver will be the host of the Under 20 FIFA World Cup of soccer. There is also the annual Vancouver Celebration of Lights (formally the Symphony of Fire, in which three countries each put on a fireworks display in our very own English Bay. Many Vancouverites make the trek down to English Bay Beach or Kitsilano Beach for at least one of the four nights to view the fireworks.





Wilson, Ethel. The Innocent Traveller. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1990.

Vancouver: A Scenic Oasis

Summer Fun in the Sun on Vancouver's Beaches!

What sounds better than a warm sunny day at the beach with some good friends and a few cool drinks? Not much! This is a perfect way to spend the day during the warmer months in Vancouver. Vancouver boasts many stretches of sandy beaches that fade into the salty waters of the Pacific Ocean. During the summer you can always find a group a friends picking up a game of volleyball in the sand, young men and women tanning by the ocean, families picnicking and swimming in and around the water. Vancouver even has a clothing optional beach called Wreck Beach for those who prefer to go in the nude. The beaches of Vancouver are clearly a social and physical activity that everyone can enjoy! In Ethel Wilson’s novel The Innocent Traveller, Aunt Topaz and Rose head down to the beach during the summer; Rose goes to learn how to swim, and Aunt Topaz goes to socialize. Wilson writes, “When they arrived at English Bay Rose rushed into the bath-house with five cents, and Aunt Topaz got into conversation” (Wilson, 128). Since the beach always has something to do for everyone, Rose rushed off to her swimming lessons while Aunt Topaz enjoyed her socializing time. In Douglas Coupland’s book, the beach is a serene place that reminds Cheryl of her lost boyfriend, Jason. Coupland writes, “The air was salty and nice, clean smelling. I turned to look at the waves, at the little tips of whitecaps” (Coupland, 172). This is how Cheryl perceived the ocean at Ambleside Beach; it reminded her of how much Jason enjoyed the beach. The beach can be a peaceful escape for some, a relaxing afternoon for a few, or a day full of activity for others. Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen!

Wilson, Ethel. The Innocent Traveller. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1990.

Coupland, Douglas. Hey Nostradamus! Virginia: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2004.

Vancouver: A Home Away From Home

Vancouver as a "Literary Home" in "Hey Nostradamus!"

When a novel is well written, reading it can become an engulfing experience. The author is able to use their writing to transport people into the world that they have created, making it seem real and alive, even if it is fictional. The setting of a novel is often a very important part of a successful “transportation.” Wherever the story is taking place becomes, in a sense, a second home in the mind’s eye. It is where the reader "lives" as they experience the story. Sometimes however, despite the best descriptive techniques, it can be hard to form a thorough mental picture of the surroundings described, especially if set in a place where the reader has never been. Douglas Coupland’s “Hey Nostradamus!” is a great example of this. Set in Vancouver, in the not too distant past, the book describes many locations that may be a mystery to those who are not native to the city, making it more difficult for them to establish Vancouver as a literary "home away from home." In an attempt to help rectify this potential problem, the following three pictures provide visual representations of key settings described in the novel. A brief discussion of their importance is also included.

Ambleside Beach: Ambleside Beach is located in West Vancouver, and is of importance to both Jason and Heather. Jason writes much of his explanatory letter to his nephews here, and Heather chooses this location for her fist meeting with her “psychic” informant.
“…I’ve been writing all of this in the cab of my truck, parked on Bellevue, down by Ambleside Beach, near the pier with all its bratty kids on rollerblades and the Vietnamese guys with their crab traps pursuing E. Coli.” (Coupland 48)

The Grouse Mountain Gondola: This Vancouver feature is one of the elements that Cheryl uses after her death to describe the wonder and worldly innocence that she daily perceived in her life in the city while living.
“I loved the world, its beauty and bigness as well as its smallness…[the] powdered snow down to the middle gondola tower of Grouse Mountain by the third week of every October…” (Coupland 10)

Park Royal Shopping Mall: Park Royal is not only the site of Heather and Jason’s first official date, but also the location with which Heather associates the only clue that she has to Jason’s disappearance.

“Okay, there was only one time when I suspected something dodgy with Jason, just one time, down in Park Royal maybe two months before he disappeared.” (Coupland 187)

Coupland, Douglas. Hey Nostradamus!. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2003

Vancouver: Art

Love in stone

In 1995, Chinese-Canadian author Wayson Choy published his first book entitled The Jade Peony. A jade peony is a small jade amulet carved in the shape of the peony flower. The novel is named thus because the entire story revolves around one such amulet.


It can be said that the peony symbolizes the soul of grandmama, the true owner of the peony, and that of her true love. Grandmama believed that the colors of the peony, similar to the colors of the peony flower seen on the right, were magical. The pink center of the peony was in the "color of her spirit". The white petals were the color of her love, the albino actor who gave her the peony, who was "tall and pale as the whiteness of petals." Together, the peony symbolized them as a whole, soul mates together, like a personal yin and yang.

In China today, the peony is considered to be one of the national emblems of the country. It symbolizes beauty, romance and purity. Jade carved in the form of a the peony flower, such as the white charm on the top left, and the jade plant directly to the left, are said to bring love and good feng shui, or harmony with the environment.

In Vancouver, peonies are grown for their large, beautiful flowers, their pleasant scents and their various colors. Peonies live long, are hardy, and can resist wildlife such as deer, making them both beautiful and lasting.

In May, the Peony Festival is held in the Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese garden. This event is organized by the Canadian Peony Society, a group that promotes and encourages the growing of peonies within Canada. This festival showcases the best grown flowers in BC, and visitors have been dazzled by both the amazing colors and romantic smells of our very own flora.

Transcending cultures, carved in stone or grown to perfection, peonies serve as an amazing symbol of love.

Vancouver: A Scenic Oasis

Stanley Park: An Attraction for All Ages!

Vancouver’s Stanley Park has been a focal attraction of city since the early existence of this western Canadian metropolitan. This park is filled with lush statuesque trees, colourful diverse gardens, and wildlife natural to western Canadian forests. Stanley Park was named in honour of Lord Stanley who was the Governor General of Canada at the time the park opened in 1888. Roughly one thousand acres of land in the young city of Vancouver were dedicated to this park over one hundred years ago, and today it is the third largest urban park in North America.
Stanley Parks is a perfect attraction to visit for all ages. For younger children and families, they may enjoy visiting the Aquarium, the water park, the miniature train, the children’s farmyard, and/or many other kid friendly activities. Stanley Park can also be a romantic getaway for couples young and old. The park boasts many beautiful gardens, clean beaches, and picturesque picnic areas. Stanley Park has been a getaway to couples for centuries. In Pauline Johnson’s short story The Siwash Rock, the young native couple comes to Stanley Park to prepare for their child’s birth. Johnson writes, “ He took her very gently by the hand and led her through the tangle of wilderness down to the water’s edge, where the beauty spot we moderns call Stanley Park bends about Prospect Point” (Johnson, 17). The beauty of the park and its natural wonders makes it an ideal place for legends and native traditions to take place. Stanley Park is a great place for tourists and locals to enjoy some fresh air, get some good exercise, and to have some fun with others.

Welcome to Stanley Park. Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. March 20th, 2007. Retrieved March 25th, 2007 from: http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/parks/stanley/index.htm

Johnson, Pauline. The Siwash Rock. “Vancouver Short Stories” Ed. Carole Gerson. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1985.

Vancouver: A Home Away From Home

Not Just a Second Home for Humans: Have a "Wild Time" at the Greater Vancouver Zoo!

“As you can see, I talk to dogs. All animals, really. They’re much more direct than people” (Coupland 52). As one of the characters in Douglas Coupland’s novel “Hey Nostradamus!,” Jason is, by nature, very shy around other human beings. However, he has a great affinity for members of the animal kingdom, and, in particular, his dog Joyce. Jason finds great comfort and happiness in her faithful presence and companionship. In fact, when the dog breeder suggests that he and Joyce have a love for each other, he readily agrees that this is indeed the case (Coupland 53). For travelers who share this admiration and interest in wildlife, a visit to Vancouver would not be complete without a trip to the Greater Vancouver Zoo. Just as the city provides a “home away from home” for the many people who visit and immigrate to its shores, the zoo is a second home for a plethora of animals that do not originate in British Columbia. The inhabitants consist of both traditional residents such as lions, and tigers, and bears (oh my!), as well as many other lesser-known species, including the Addax, Nilghai, and Mara. In addition to seeing the many different types of animals, the zoo also offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about them. This is done through narrated activities that occur on a daily basis, and include attractions such as the safari miniature train, wilds safari bus, and lion and tiger feeding. Located in Aldergrove, the GV Zoo is open every day, all year long, and features very affordable family and children’s rates. As Jason of “Hey Nostradamus!” demonstrates, animals have the potential to be a very important and influential part of life. Vancouver in fortunate enough to host some very interesting members of the animal Kingdom, who have made the Greater Vancouver Zoo their home after traveling from all over the world. For those humans traveling to the city, the GV Zoo can be a great way to spend the day, develop a respect for wildlife, and learn about species from around the globe!

To learn more about the Greater Vancouver Zoo, visit their website at http://www.gvzoo.com/

Coupland, Douglas. Hey Nostradamus!. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing,
2003.

Vancouver: Filled With Tradition

Incorporated English Traditions

Reading a blog entry posted by a traveller to Vancouver, as in Rob’s Travel Blog (http://robertlist.travellerspoint.com/) is quite different to an entry posted by a local Vancouverite about Vancouver. In the blog titled Beyond Robson, Chickadee (pen name only displayed) writes about her impressions about an English inspired hotel restaurant in “Delightful Brunch at The Sylvia” (http://wwww.beyondrobson.com/food/2006/11/delightful_brunch_at_the_sylvia/). Located near English Bay in Vancouver, this place serves English favourites including “vegetarian Eggs Benny” in a classy, European style interior, as one person commented that it looked “almost like a glamorized movie version of England” (Chickadee para. 4, 8). Chickadee, who is a local, writes critically and reflectively about this place, noting that the “coffee … could have been a little warmer” but she should have “come by [the restaurant] sooner” (para. 4, 5). However, Rob List writes in this travel blog about his stay in Vancouver in a diary format. He details his day of events which includes taking the cable car to see the mountains, and shopping at an outlet centre. In addition, he references his English roots by mentioning that the Capilano suspension bridge “doesn’t seem quite as high as the one in the Wookey Hole Caves in Somerset,” located in south-west England (List para. 3).

These different styles of writing influence the structure of each blog entry. The quality of the writing, on the other hand, is affected by the time made to write these entries. List’s entry was written hastily “from an Apple Mac store” (para. 1). The simple word diction does not add any interpretive power to the writing itself, but Chickadee uses more powerful words such as “cackling” in her review of The Sylvia to make the entire article have better meaning (Chickadee, para. 2).

Vancouver: Art

Nature's Masterpiece: The Siwash Rock

The Siwash Rock is a gigantic 18-foot rock that is a famous Vancouver landmark. The rock is distinctive because of the Douglas Fir that stands atop this natural structure, and also because it is the only rock formation of its kind in the Vancouver area. The Siwash Rock is a basalt stack that formed from magma and volcanic eruptions that occurred almost 32 million years ago. Being made of basalt, Siwash is a lot more resistant to natural forces such as erosion and has managed to remain tall for millennia.

The word "Siwash" stems from the Chinook jargon word for a person of First Nations heritage. The illustration on the right was done by the then Governor General of Canada during 1888. He entitled it "Nature's Monument", because Siwash Rock was unnamed at the time. While "Siwash Rock" is in fact a name of European invention, the Siwash Rock has long been a part of the Native Culture.

In The Siwash Rock, Pauline Johnson tells the tale of the warrior who defies the Gods in order to protect the cleanliness of his child and as a result is transformed into a gigantic rock, the Siwash Rock itself, to stand as a symbol for generations to come. The Siwash Rock does indeed stand for many things in the Native culture. The plaque at the base of Siwash Rock says that the rock is a symbol of unselfishness. A trait different yet not too far from fatherhood because fatherhood in itself can be seen as an act of unselfishness. "Giving everything for your child."

Today, the Siwash Rock stands as tall as ever within the beauty of the vast Stanley Park. Tourists and Vancouverites alike have stood on the cliffs overlooking Siwash Rock to admire the scenery. Besides being a tourist attraction, Siwash Rock has also served some interesting purposes. It was used for an artillery battery and searchlights during WWI, and became the living quarters for mountain goats! Tall, strong, clean and unselfish, the Siwash Rock is a great representation of both Vancouver and the wonders of nature.

Vancouver: Filled With Tradition

Incorporated Aboriginal Traditions

Pauline Johnson wrote aboriginal short stories including “The Two Sisters” which was a result of inspiration from her friend, Squamish Chief Joseph Capilano. Known by most people as The Lions, this prominent landmark located “towards the north[west]” of Vancouver, is the result of an immortalization ceremony of a band chief’s “two daughters” as told in this Indian legend (Johnson 12, 15). The re-mythologizing of this legend adds realism to the story, and creates a greater awareness of aboriginal traditions by adding a First Nations point of view to this Vancouver landmark. Similarly, conceptual artist Brian Jungen has a style of art fuelled by native Indian culture, as explained in an interview published as “Aboriginal Art Turned Inside Out” in the blog titled The Tyee (http://thetyee.ca/gallery/2006/01/26/AboriginalArtInsideOut/). Jungen’s art techniques include using “mass-produced consumer goods … [which are] crafted into works of art that examine cultural stereotypes.” Jungen is actually referring to native Indian stereotypes, as he uses these consumer goods to make “whale skeleton sculptures, bird aviaries,” and other traditional symbols important to the aboriginal people (Egan para. 3). Johnson and Jungen, who are both half aboriginal, incorporate their aboriginal traditions into Vancouver through creating works motivated by native Indian influences (Johnson 19; Egan para. 2).

Although these pieces both share a native Indian starting point, they both have a completely different frame of reference in terms of time. This notion of the perception of time in accordance to one’s point of view is known as relativity. Johnson writes “The Two Sisters” as a legend; something that has happened in aboriginal history. Thus, she writes about the past relative to her present point in time. Danielle Egan, the writer of the interview with Brian Jungen, points out Jungen’s aspirations of incorporating traditional native Indian symbols with modern consumerism in mind; the point of view in time is the present (rather than the past), as Jungen’s current objectives in art are articulated.

Vancouver: Multicultural City

Common Interest: Vancouver's Alternative

The one thing that most actively discourages unity amongst people of diverse backgrounds is the concept of preconceived ideas. An example of this occurs in The Innocent Traveller by Ethel Wilson when Rachel states, “I was rather amused at the church social when a Canadian lady admired my pound cake and said I was so capable you’d never think I was English” (Wilson, 107). Rachel goes on to give a few more instances where something along these lines had been said. She then states, “All these preconceived ideas! There seems to be more mixing-up of people here than in Ware, and I like it” (Wilson, 108). Rachel's gift is her ability to look beyond these preconceived ideas.

One thing that helps Vancouverites to overcome these preconceived ideas is common interest. For example, in The Innocent Traveller, Annie wrote to her son George, “You should see Stanley Park” (Wilson, 108). Rachel and Topaz also wrote about the beauty of Stanley Park. The reason I’ve used this as an example is that people of all backgrounds love to visit Stanley Park. Every summer, I love to go rollerblading around the Stanley Park Seawall, which is seen in the picture on the left. Another place I like to visit every summer is the annual Greek Festival, on the corner of Moscrop Street and Boundary Road. This event takes place in July, about a block from my house. The Greek Festival attracts visitors from all over the Lower Mainland. However, nothing brings me more joy than a trip down to GM Place for a Vancouver Canucks game. The origins of the players of the Vancouver Canucks are almost as diverse as those of the team’s fan base, a fan base that accepts each of these players as heroes in our community, regardless of a player’s origin.

Wilson, Ethel. The Innocent Traveller. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1990.

Vancouver: A Home Away From Home

Word of Mouth the Best Way to Know Where to Stay...
Finding the Right Hotel in Vancouver

People choose their homes very carefully. Before making a commitment to buy a house, many factors are considered, such as cost, location, size and functionality. People want to be happy with what they have decided on if they are to live there day after day for years to come. Often when traveling abroad, people take the same sort of serious consideration in deciding where they will stay. After all, the accommodations chosen become a “home away from home” for visitors. Although they are not making a commitment for “years to come,” it is their home base, in which they will sleep and relax for the duration of their time away. As such, a hotel that offers adverse living conditions, and poor service has the ability to make for an uncomfortable and unpleasant trip. How, then, do people find out if potential accommodations are really what they are looking for, especially if they have never been there? One of the most common, and perhaps most reliable solutions is to communicate with those who have. The short story “In Vancouver” by Martin Allerdale Grainger, acts, in a sense, like an indirect tourist guide in order to inform about the city. The reader is given the sense that they are presently in the company of a early twentieth century logger who has visited Downtown, Vancouver in the past, and as such, is directly passing on (his) advice for places to stay. The narrative dismisses the idea of boarding at rooming houses that do not offer meals or a bar, and at places where there is a “certain society” requiring “frenzied finance” (Grainger 9). Instead, it is advised that, “a fellow can’t do better than go to a good, respectable hotel where he knows the proprietor and the bartenders, and where there are some decent men stopping” (Grainger 9). Attributes such as a good and reliable staff, and affordable conditions were important in a “home away from home” for a logger. The stake earned while working had to last as long as possible, and trust was essential if a weary woodsman wanted to get drunk without worry of safety or deceit.

Today, the Internet acts as a major facet through which word of mouth is passed. www.tripadvisor.com, and other sites like it, have an application that acts almost like a blog, giving people a chance to share and rate their experiences at various hotels for others to view. Many of Vancouver’s most prominent establishments are listed on this site, and it is a great way to get a variety of honest views on the merit of their accommodations. Take, for example, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Generally given high ratings, people valued the quality of its customer service, and central location in the middle of Downtown. Complaints encountered, although few, harkened to the hotel’s age, noisiness at night, and the cost of the rooms. By using this tool it becomes easier to get an accurate description of a hotel's positive attributes and allows people to avoid the negative ones. Whatever the accommodations, the “home away from home” chosen in Vancouver is very important, as it replaces the home that is left behind. It can either be an instrument in welcoming people to the city, or alternatively, cause great discomfort. Using word of mouth, as in Grainger’s short story, or on the Internet in the form of http://www.tripadvisor.com/ can be a great tool in helping travelers to discover which establishment is right for them when visiting the city.

Grainger, M.A. In Vancouver. “Vancouver Short Stories” Ed. Carole Gerson. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1985.

Vancouver: Art

Spirit Bears in the city

The most memorable art is art that manages to find its way within the day-to-day lives of its viewers. This may take the form of an inspirational painting or perhaps a majestic fountain. Unfortunately, unless one is an art aficionado, one seldom encounters such art in one's daily life.

Enter the Spirit Bears.

Standing seven feet tall, these statues are life-size canvases shaped in the form of BC's own Kermode bear. They were created as a charity project that would not only raise funds for disabled children, but would also raise cultural awareness and promote BC art in the Vancouver community. Springing from the brushes of multiple artists, each bear captured a different style and theme. Some were comic, such as "Darth Bear", the bear in the Darth Vader outfit. Others, such as "Nazzy Bear"or "Winning Gold" captured BC pride by giving tribute to hockey greats. To the right is "Fable Bear." "Fable Bear" is not only a work of art, but it can also be said to be a literary piece because it holds the familiar bedtime story of "The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker". This bear is unique because it is the only bear that manages to please the eye and tell a story at the same time.

Some of the most artistic bears were those that depicted the beauty of BC's natural scenery. The bear on the left is one such piece, and is entitled "Peace and Harmony." This title bears strong resemblance to the themes in "The Two Sisters" by Pauline Johnson, which are Peace and Brotherhood. Both works are based on Aboriginal legends, and while they may be completely different art forms, they both manage to express the same theme. In "The Two Sisters", the story of two sisters inviting a warring clan to feast with them does indeed show Peace and Brotherhood. "Peace and Harmony" in the meanwhile promotes these themes through the images in its art. Peace is shown through differing black and white bears joining together to form a whole. Harmony is expressed within the balance of the mountains, the trees, humans and the animals.

While most of these bears are no longer on display, some bears, as well as their predecessors, the Orcas, are still standing tall in the streets of Vancouver. If you ever stop by, try to find one. These bears are not only pleasing to the eye, they have a tale to tell. And not only that, they too have found a place within the stories of many Vancouverites. To some, they may have only provided a few minutes of amusement, but to others they have provided inspiration and through the charities they have affected lives. This is art not forgotten.

Vancouver: A Scenic Oasis

The Mountains of Vancouver

For any new tourist to the striking city of Vancouver, the mountains are an experience that must not be missed. The mountains around Vancouver are not only a visible delight on a bright sunny day but are also a great place to spend the day deep in adventure. In the winter months, many local people as well as tourists head up into the mountains for a refreshing day of skiing or snowboarding. Local slopes include Cypress Mountain and Mount Seymour. For an escape from the city head up to Whistler- Blackcomb and enjoy the mountains along with the local shops and restaurants that make up the quaint town of Whistler Village. In the summer months the mountains still offer great adventure, whether it’s camping in Sasquatch Provincial Park or sweating up a storm on the Grouse Grind trail on Grouse Mountain.

Over the history of Vancouver, new comers and natives alike have fallen in love with the beauty and majesty of the mountains. Authors cannot resist including the images of the mountains in their writings. Ethel Wilson, a South African immigrant to Canada, wrote in her novel The Innocent Traveller, “’The Lord doeth wonderful things,’ marvelled the Grandmother gazing up at the mountain peaks” (Wilson, 106). Pauline Johnson, half Mohawk and half English, wrote in her native tale called The Two Sisters, “[T]he slanting rains festoon scarves of mist about their crests, and the peaks fade into shadowy outlines, melting, melting, for ever melting into the distances” (Johnson, 12). Vancouver and it’s a mountains are a scenic oasis for all. If your planning a to visit this wonderful city don’t forget your camera and some extra film!

Johnson, Pauline. The Two Sisters. “Vancouver Short Stories” Ed. Carole Gerson. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1985.

Wilson, Ethel. The Innocent Traveller. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1990.

Vancouver: Filled With Tradition

Incorporated Asian Traditions

It is interesting to read about Vancouver from an Asian perspective. This point of view allows the author to incorporate their own traditions into Vancouver, itemizing the city’s multiculturalism. Author Wayson Choy does this by mentioning the nostalgic times Sek-Lung spent at Chinatown with his grandmother in “The Jade Peony.” The peony was made from items bought in Chinatown and represented the preservation of the family’s cultural roots. By looking at the jade peony, Sek-Lung “saw Grandmama smile and heard, softly,” about not forgetting who he is and where his origins are (Choy 125). However, the daily events of Japanese ESL student Takahashi are not quite the same, as written in Takahashi’s Blog (http://kentako.zombie.jp/blog/). Living alone, he spends his time with other fellow classmates doing touristy activities as they try to immerse into Canadian culture, rather than try to bring their own culture into Vancouver. In the blog entry titled “TOEIC…,” Takahashi and his friends celebrated the end of an exam by going to some places including the “Public Library, Gas Town, Canada Place and so on” (Takahashi, TOEIC para. 1). His Western influences are further articulated in the post “Bon Jovi” where he idolizes the popular rock band (Takahashi, Jovi para. 1). Takahashi never mentions anything about his home country, Japan, indicating that it is more important for him to learn the English language and adapt to Canadian customs. This contrasts Choy’s writing, as the message he wants to send is that one’s cultural roots should be preserved across generations.

Rhetorically speaking, Choy’s work is more successful than Takahashi’s. The three components of rhetoric (ethos, pathos, and logos) exist in “The Jade Peony.” Told in a chronological ordering of events, this story affirms a logical ordering, which describes logos. At the end of the story, Sek-Lung cries in response to grandma’s imminent death. This is an example of pathos because it conveys emotional feelings to the reader about Sek-Lung’s love and bond with Grandma. Also, Choy has literary credibility, as he has won the Trillium Book Award and attended UBC to study creative writing. Thus, this is an example of ethos. Choy has all these components present in the writing of “The Jade Peony,” but Takahashi does not display all of them in his works. Each post is about his day in Vancouver as an ESL student, in one easy to read paragraph. This coherent ordering implies logos. However, these posts do not have emotional impact on the reader (no pathos). The credibility of the author, Takahashi, is questioned because he is still learning English and therefore may be capable of providing more expressive thoughts, otherwise known as pathos.

Vancouver: Art

Emily Carr

In 1941, Canadian artist and writer Emily Carr published a series of autobiographical short stories, under the title of "Klee Wyck". Among these stories was the story-within-a-story of her close friend, Sophie Frank. Sophie Frank was a Squamish basket weaver who lived in an Indian reserve. Her story is particularly emotional because none of her twenty infants mature to childhood. She experiences many grievances because of the new wave of modernism that will not allow for her native traditions to continue.

While the world around her was moving towards urbanization and technology, Emily Carr found a connection with Sophie's culture, and the natural landscapes of Vancouver. The spirituality of the forests managed to inspire her to develop a new, unique style of painting that was actually rejected by other artists during its time of production. Emily Carr began by painting the forest and totem poles in the traditional style she had been taught in school. However, as she painted she shifted her artistic style from her academic training to her own intuitive stylings that sprung from her deep feelings for the British Columbian landscape. Indeed, her work has been described as "emotional explosions".

Today, Emily Carr is regarded as one of Canada's most renowned artists and her paintings are on display in multiple museums and galleries all across Vancouver and British Columbia. She is an inspiration for not only today's painters, but people in many other artistic fields. After all, there are multiple films, books, plays, poetry, and even a ballet and an opera based on her life! Viewing her paintings, or the very landscape that they were based on could provide one with a sense of spirituality and inspiration that one can only find in Vancouver.

Vancouver: A Scenic Oasis

Why come to Vancouver?

Vancouver truly is a scenic delight with its dominant mountains to the north, its rough ocean crashing into the beaches along the west, and its lush forests found in and around the city. Vancouver is no stranger to the serene gifts of beauty that Mother Nature has bestowed on her. However, Vancouver is not merely a scenic delight in term of its organic, natural environment; it is also a scene of a multitude of cultures living in harmony. Each area of the city provides a different story and atmosphere, all which contribute to why Vancouver is a perfect travel destination, and has been for years. Martin Allerdale Grainger’s short story In Vancouver depicts Vancouver in the early nineteen hundreds as a city of adventure with the loggers coming in and out from the north and business men roaming the streets of the ever growing city. Grainger writes, “As you walk down Cordova Street in the city of Vancouver you notice a gradual change in the appearance of the shop windows. The shoe stores, drug stores, clothing stores, phonograph stores cease to bother you with their blinding light” (Grainger, 7). Vancouver was and still is a city of excitement, but at the same time it has a non-intimidating and accommodating atmosphere. Vancouver is a city that everyone needs to visit for its amazing natural sights and for its peaceful scene of diverse cultures coming together. Everywhere you look you will find an exciting attraction to frequent, whether it’s taking in the majestic mountains, experiencing a local festival like Winterfest on Granville Island, or just strolling the streets downtown; Vancouver is a place for everyone!

Grainger, M.A. In Vancouver. “Vancouver Short Stories” Ed. Carole Gerson. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1985.

Vancouver: Multicultural City

A Mosaic of Cultures

Take a look around yourself at any given place in Vancouver and you’ll be quick to realize that you are surrounded by people of various origins. This city is a mosaic of cultures. Vancouver attracts immigrants from all over the world.

Vancouver Short Stories edited by Carole Gerson contains a short story about a Chinese family that tries to find its place in Vancouver. The short story is called “The Jade Peony” by Wayson Choy. This quote shows the difference that generation presents in accommodating assimilation, “What would all the white people in Vancouver think of us? We were Canadians now, Chinese-Canadians, a hyphenated reality that my parents could never accept.” (Choy 119) The preceding quote illustrates the belief that the newer generation finds it much easier to assimilate than do the older generations. It also portrays the fact that many children of immigrant families find it embarrassing when their elders act according to their traditions, whether it is singing songs, dancing or one of many other activities from their homeland. The children of the newer generation would not be so embarrassed of their parents and grandparents if they would take the time to learn about the traditions of their homelands.

Here in Vancouver, we even like to educate ourselves in cultures outside our own. We attend restaurants that feature food of various ethnic varieties. There are some restaurants that specialize in the fusion of food from different ethnic groups. For example, there are Green Lettuce and The Chilli Pepper House, both of which combine Chinese and Indian foods in a way that I, a past customer, find exceptionally delicious.
Some of us also like to attend or watch on television, the cultural celebrations of different groups. In his blog Vancouver Chinese New Year Celebration, John Chow posted several pictures of this year’s Chinese New Year celebration in Chinatown. One of which is seen here.

Choy, Wayson. The Jade Peony. “Vancouver Short Stories” Ed. Carole Gerson. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1985

Vancouver: A Home Away From Home

Immigrating To Vancouver: Second Home or Extended Tourism?
A look at two similar immigration stories...

“The Journey,” a chapter in Ethel Wilson’s novel The Innocent Traveller, describes the trip that Topaz, Annie, and Rachel take as they move from their home in Ware, Great Britain, to start a new life in the Vancouver of the early 1900s. After reading the chapter, I was compelled to think about the immigrations my own relatives had made, leaving Italy for Vancouver’s Pacific shores. In particular, I was reminded of my grandfather, Modesto Luongo, who, in the early 1950s, left his little town in Southern Italy to make the transcontinental journey to Canada. Although the time periods between the two trips differ, coming to Canada presented many challenges for both my grandfather, and Wilson’s characters. Both involved long periods of travel within the confines of boats and trains, where close living quarters and uncomfortable conditions had the potential to create quite a struggle. The book describes Rachel’s inability to sleep peacefully on the train due to the frequent stopping and starting, with Topaz’s late-night sweet cravings furthering her discomfort (Wilson 99). For my grandfather the language barrier his Italian nationality presented would only have compounded his difficulties. With all of the things that they had to endure, it is easy to wonder whether these immigrants felt that making this long, hard journey to B.C. was worth it. With a different culture and backround, did they feel that the creation of a “home away from home” in Vancouver was possible, or did they instead feel forever like tourists, on an extended stay in Canada?

For the three women in Wilson’s novel, Vancouver definitely becomes a home. In a letter to her cousin, Rachel is so ardent about her surroundings that she says she feels like the earlier years of her life have been a waste because they have not been lived in Vancouver (Wilson 101). Topaz too enjoys her identity as a Vancouverite, quickly making new friends and joining clubs and societies. Even Annie expresses her joy, when in a letter to her son she writes, “I shall never get quite used to being away from you all…and from all the dear associations of England and home…. but this place is beautiful beyond description” (Wilson 108). Although not born in the city, Vancouver quickly becomes their “home away from home,” not replacing their identities as members of the English nation, but rather acting as an additional foundation in their new country. I believe that this was also the case for my grandfather. Even though I have been told that he did not initially favor his new surroundings, Vancouver allowed him to give his sons, and ultimately his grandchildren, the opportunity to receive the education that he did not have himself. Although He never lost his pride in his Italian heritage, I believe that my grandfather valued the home that Vancouver had given him, and the opportunities that it afforded. For the three women in Ethel Wilson’s novel, and for my grandfather, Vancouver became not a foreign place in which they were residing, but a true residence that they appreciated and enjoyed.

Immigration Routes:

MODESTO LUONGO: Immigrated from Italy in the early 1950s.

Vallo----on foot/by donkey---- Salerno----train----Naples----boat----

Halifax----train----Keefers B.C.----train----Vancouver

TOPAZ, RACHEL and ANNIE from The Innocent Traveller: Immigrated to Vancouver from Ware, Great Britain in the early 1900s.

Ware----Liverpool----boat----Montreal----train----Regina (brief stop)----Fraser Valley

Wilson, Ethel. The Innocent Traveller. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1990.

Vancouver: Filled With Tradition

Traditional Vancouver Pastimes

There are plenty of good old fashioned recreational activities that can be done in Vancouver. In Ethel Wilson’s “The Innocent Traveller,” cycling around English Bay and walking in Stanley Park are a few of the possible things you can do outdoors, all for free! If that is not your cup of tea, Rebecca Hollwitt recommends modern activities such as watching live Canucks games at GM Place and shopping for fresh seafood at Granville Island on her blog, Miss604’s Canuck Life (http://www.miss604.com/). Of course, you will have to spend money! These current popular activities are different from the ones Wilson writes about, due to the dramatic difference in time. Wilson’s story takes place during late Victorian times, as Topaz travels to her final resting place in Vancouver. That is why one of the few leisure activities occurred when Topaz “wheeled her bicycle … [and] arrived at English Bay” (Wilson 128). Although exploring the natural scenery of Vancouver is commonplace today, Hollwitt explores newer forms of entertainment. She watches the Vancouver Canucks’ hockey games often, and is with the team all the way even through tough times (Hollwitt, Canuck para. 1). She also enjoys shopping in Granville Island (Hollwitt, Granville para. 3). Wilson and Hollwitt both talk about interesting things to do in Vancouver, but since the city was still being heavily developed during Victorian times, not much can be done in comparison to what is currently possible.

The intended audience for “The Innocent Traveller” is for people who do not know about Vancouver, whereas Hollwitt assumes prior knowledge of the places in Vancouver. Wilson employs detailed descriptions of popular places, as a local Vancouverite can easily imagine looking “across the blue inlet at the mountains which in their turn look down upon the grace and strength of the Lions’ Gate Bridge” (Wilson 109). Hollwitt, on the other hand, does not write any details about these places. For example, she merely cites the famous Granville Island brewery (Hollwitt, Granville para. 13). They are both successful in their approach to writing about setting in Vancouver because “The Innocent Traveller” is about Topaz moving to Vancouver, so her worldwide popularity coincides with a foreign tourist point of view by describing the details of this seemingly new country, Canada. Hollwitt’s blog is about her events and rants in life as she lives in Vancouver. This casual writing environment (the blog) omits the need to talk about things that locals should know, and since local people are more likely to read blogs about one’s own neighbourhood, she is successful in capturing the local audience because the writings are specific; readers must have prior knowledge about Vancouver.