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November 15, 2014

The eagles are coming to Brankendale

In Brankendale, a neighbourhood of Squamish, along the Squamish River, The eagles come every year. In fact, it is one of the most significant areas of wintering bald eagles in North America. Last year almost 4000 eagles wintered here, feasting on runs of chum salmon in the Squamish, Cheakamus and Mamquam rivers, as do the hopeful human fishers on this day too.



























The eagles start to arrive in mid-November, though their numbers peak from mid-December to mid-January.















It is beautiful here. People walk along the dyke, photographers are common, and everyone watches, and waits, for the eagles to appear. And they do.



A new show everyday.


Photos by Jim Murray. Copyright 2014.



November 14, 2014

Garibaldi ~ a hike in the cold

It was windy in Squamish and about six degrees, though it felt much colder. We drove through Garibaldi Heights and through the campus of Quest University and up along what seemed to be an old logging road. The remaining colours of autumn were brilliant, the air increasingly cold and frosty.











Finally, having manoeuvred around most of the deep pot hole on the track, we parked and began our hike, me without gloves or toque of course. At leaving the car, the air temperature was minus two. The sky was clear and the sun was warm, when its light found the ground through the towering trees. Our path began as rock and turned to a rougher mix of rock and frozen mud.












Oddly, it seemed to me, there were few sounds of birds as we climbed the path. The sound of falling water was a constant and fellow hikers stopped to fill water bottles with icy, clean, mountain refreshment.





The first snow of the season appeared in places along our route.






The vistas, when finally we could see through a clearing in the trees, were incredible indeed.

It was time for coffee, and the hike back began.


Photos by Jim Murray. Copyright 2014.

November 12, 2014

The amazing Broken Shed Caesar at the WaterShed in Squamish


It was a cold and windy day to watch for eagles along the river dyke in Brankendale and eventually, possibly even more quickly than eventually, our thoughts turned to lunch, warm surroundings, and ...


We discovered  The WaterShed Bar & Grill along the dyke and it provided excellent views of the Squamish River, the potential of eagle sightings and some interesting food selections, including some wonderful burgers made from Pemberton beef.




But first. I enjoy a nice Caesar and noticed one on the menu called a Broken Shed Caesar. Our friendly wait person informed me that the vodka was from Broken Shed Vodka in New Zealand of all places and its vodka is made from whey. "Make that a double" I replied. "It is a double sir and it comes with the works." Hmm... what does that mean I wondered. "Even better," I said confidently. How bad could this whey vodka thing with the works be; it's still a Canadian Caesar after all.

Sherry's hot chocolate appeared moments later with a smiling comment to me , "Your Caesar takes a bit longer."




The wait, and it wasn't long, was worth it.



Full of flavour and spice, an interesting and smooth vodka and almost a meal in itself, including the mini cheese burger. Two or three of these things and I won't need to order lunch. A taxi maybe.














Click to add a blog post for The WaterShed Grill on Zomato 

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2014 by Jim Murray.

November 11, 2014

Follow the money... the Vancouver election

Civic politics is different in British Columbia. Municipal elections are held on Saturdays in this province while most of the rest of the nation goes to the polls on a weekday, and that might be a good thing. Vancouver is the only city in the country that elects a Park Board, independent of Council, and accountable, which is probably a good thing. The Park Board controls much of Vancouver's environmental, social and cultural spending, especially through community centres.

Vancouver is however the largest city in Canada to elect its council through an at-large system. Most other Canadian cities use a ward system in which councillors are elected to represent a specific area, thus providing at least the opportunity for more diversity on council. Sometimes that diversity includes the likes of a Rob or Doug Ford as in Toronto, and that is clearly a bad thing, though possibly the result of local democracy.

Money is the most disturbing part of municipal elections in Vancouver and there are few, if any, restrictions on contributions to candidates throughout the province. Thanks to a provincial government that sets the laws regarding election spending, it's a wide open affair in British Columbia, though both the major civic parties in Vancouver claim to be interested in some restriction on donations from unions and businesses. In the current reality the situation is dark indeed.

Geoff Meggs, incumbent councillor from Vision recently attended a meeting of CUPE Local 1004 and reminded them that Vision Mayor Gregor Robertson "has again recommitted to not expand contracting out, to make sure that wherever we can bring in new processes, that members of 1004 will be delivering those services." Later that same day the union local decided to give Vision $102,200 in cash, another $10,000 to cover salaries of CUPE members who take time off to campaign for the party, and another $7000 to cover some pro-Vision advertising. There was a mild kerfuffle when this was made public, through a freelance journalist. The Mayor appeared upset with Mr Meggs, but that was soon smoothed over and it was business as usual.

Lululemon's infamous founder Chip Wilson, provided $75,000 to Vision and laughs when critics claim the diversion of traffic in front of his $54 million home on Point Grey Road to make room for another Vancouver bike lane, was created just for him.

There is the $25,000 contribution to Vision from developer Gordon Nelson, who made the news for mass renovictions at Seafield Apartments in the West End.

Vision also took thousands from Steven Lippman and his companies that are renovicting hotels in the Downtown Eastside, displacing hundreds of people.

The Rize Corporation wants rezoning at Broadway and Main for luxury condo towers. They provided Vision with $34,500.

Holborn Holdings, the Malaysian corporation redeveloping a site at Little Mountain made a $75,000 contribution to Vision, after evicting hundreds of families from low cost social housing.

PCI Group and Andrew Grant gave $35,000 to Vision. They also got rezoning on the Marine Gateway tower development along the Canada Line, which I ride past every day on my way to work.

The Aquilini Investment Group, the owners of  the Vancouver Canucks and all kinds of other things, gave $60,000 to Vision. They are behind the building of office and residence towers around Rogers Arena where the Canucks play.

Between the two major parties, NPA and Vision, about $5 million  will be raised for this municipal election. While some of that comes from unions, especially for Vision, the bulk of that total will come from corporations and developers. How does all that money influence our civic politicians? What kind of expectation comes with a donation of $25,000, or $50,000 or more? When asked why he got into civic politics, Mayor Robertson often says "to get things done." A follow up question might be: for whom?


An alternative to the bags of money flowing to the NPA and Vision parties is the lone civic party on the progressive side: COPE. The party has raised a modest $60,000 for this election, most of it from individual citizens and none of it from developers. And apart from voting for one Vision candidate for council, old friend Tim Stevenson, and the two members of the Public Education Project, Gwen Giesbrecht and Jane Bouey, my votes will go to Meena Wong and COPE.






Change can happen. Money doesn't have to rule City Hall.


Copyright 2014 by Jim Murray.

November 09, 2014

Peace Sunday

It's Peace Sunday. Not that anyone knows of course.

It's a day of remembrance and action that was started twenty-five years ago by the Mennonite Central Committee and its related faith groups. It is to be the Sunday before Remembrance Day in Canada, though the actual date shifts with various groups and congregations. MCC provides resources for worship and a kit designed for use in public schools. Leave it to the original peaceniks.

The United Church of Canada had a similar designated Peace Sunday, usually in August for some reason, though that movement might have been diminished over time; I'm not sure if my former United Church family even has a Peace Sunday anymore.


One hundred years ago the world plunged into its first global war. During the war to end all wars:
  • 16 million people were killed
  • 21 million people were wounded or disabled
  • 1 in 10 Canadian soldiers died
One hundred years later, our nation continues to mourn the loss of so many young Canadians, in various military campaigns. As it should.  

We are also sending young Canadians to yet a new theatre of war, as if its only a play, acting, possibly with an intermission. Consequences be damned. Have we even discussed the consequences as a nation?

Our political masters would have us believe that danger lurks at every turn; that violent action is necessary on our part even in the absence of any direct threat or attack upon Canadians. We might even have to give up some of freedoms in the cause of fighting the unknown but dastardly foe. This is nonsense.

Our leaders perpetuate the notion that war has given us freedom and democracy, though those points were hard won by the people of Canada in Canada, not in some foreign escapade for a foreign King or Queen or corporate master.

On Remembrance Day we should wear poppies. To remember the sacrifice and the suffering and the dead. 

We should also recognise that just as war and violence continue, peaceful alternatives do exist. There are better ways to resolve conflict, in our homes, our communities and in the world. 

Peace Sunday is a start. To remember is to work for peace.


“War is what happens when language fails.”
– Margaret Atwood
Images from MCC.
Copyright 2014 by Jim Murray.