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.