VanDusen Gardens

VanDusen Gardens has become our backyard of sorts. It is always inviting and relaxing.

Compared to many municipal gardens around the world VanDusen Botanical Gardens is relatively new.






In 1910 it was scrub land owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway, when it was leased to the Shaughnessy Golf Club until 1960 when the CPR proposed a subdivision. This was opposed by citizens and ultimately the land was purchased for a park with monies coming from the City of Vancouver, the provincial government and the Vancouver Foundation led by a donation by W.J. VanDusen, noted industrialist and philanthropist, after whom the Garden was named.

VanDusen Botanical Gardens officially opened in 1975 and features 22 hectares of thousands of plants and many wonderful views.

Vancouver Coffee Shops ~ part 3

The Blue Parrot has been around a long time. Established in 1979 at Granville Island, it has changed ownership only once in thirty-three years and continues to be a family-owned business. It takes its name from the rival bar to Rick`s American Cafe in the movie Casablanca.





There are now two Blue Parrots, the busy Granville Island flagship and the newer Hillcrest Community Centre location, between the swimming pool and ice rink and not far from the library and the fitness room. The coffee is fine; nothing exceptional but adequate and served in a mug.




Not all that far from Hillcrest Centre, and still well within my walking zone, near the corner of Main and 33rd Avenue is an amazing little indie coffee shop called Little Mountain Coffee Company. Friendly and clean, with amazingly strong espresso drinks. An added bonus is the nice selection of gelati and sorbetti. I have a feeling the people here would remember names and favourite drinks. And the coffee is long on strength and flavour; did I mention strong?

What good is saving the planet? asks ExxonMobil CEO

To be fair, the issue is complicated.

However, yesterday, at a shareholders meeting, Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobil Corporation, the world's largest oil company, said

"What good is it to save the planet

if humanity suffers?"

Mr Tillerson was responding to issues raised by activists wanting the company to establish some simple greenhouse gas emissions targets.

Shareholders voted down that motion by a margin of 3 to 1. They also nixed a proposal to ban discrimination where sexual orientation might be a factor. Apparently ExxonMobil already has that covered.



Makes a person wonder if buying anything from a company like this is a good idea. In Canada, and throughout much of the world, the company is known by its Esso brand name.

And about that suffering thing... Mr Tillerson might not have to suffer as much as others. He recently received a 15 per cent pay raise bringing his salary for the past year to 40.3 million dollars.