Labour Day, my union, and taking to the streets

Labour Day, or Fête du Travail, has been celebrated in Canada on the first Monday in September since the 1880s. It originated with a long and bitter strike in Toronto in 1872, and specifically with a march that started with 2000 union members heading towards City Hall. By the time they arrived they were 10,000 strong, catching the attention of their employers, the public and politicians alike.

Those workers did not obtain their immediate goals of a shorter work week (one of their demands was a 9 hour day). In fact, many still lost their jobs. They did however discover how to regain the power they lost in a rapidly industrializing economy. The parade held in support of those strikers carried over into an annual celebration of workers' rights and was adopted in cities and towns across Canada. In 1894, Labour Day was declared a national holiday.

Paul Finch, Treasurer

On August 19th, my union, the BCGEU, took a leadership role in rallying members and citizens against fascism and racism in Vancouver. Hundreds of union members showed up on a beautiful Saturday to take a stand, to take to the streets.

Our group was addressed by Paul Finch, BCGEU Treasurer, and by Stephanie Smith, our President. After some milling about, we marched, led by Stephanie, to join a larger group of unionists and citizens united against fascism.

Stephanie Smith, President

VPD watching and reporting on the BCGEU

Oddly, it seemed to me, our group was watched by members of the Vancouver Police Department. I'm not sure what they expected from a mainly middle-aged group of union members, but perhaps old habits.... Or was it for our own protection? "Hey, we're the good guys here," Jeem said to one. The officer frowned and took Jeem's picture.





Unions gave us the weekend, various holidays, higher wages, and standards for employment. They also have a long history of fighting for those marginalized within our society and against the forces of darkness, be they corporate or political.

BCGEU and BCTF flags and members intermingling

With over 4000 anti-racist/anti-fascist demonstrators gathering on August 19th, we showed that together we are stronger and better organised than the fascists can ever hope to be, and that ours is a movement for tolerance and inclusion.



Union members must be vigilant, and always willing to take to the streets.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.

The Purple Man and his sign

As crowds gathered for a large anti-racism/anti-fascism rally at Vancouver City Hall on August 19th, a young man walked around the block. Over and over again. He was the purple guy with a sign, and he continued to walk around the block until the crowd of 4000 made it almost impossible to continue his solitary march on the sidewalk.













He talked with no one that I could see. He walked quickly and seldom made eye contact. That in spite of the third eye on his forehead.

What was with the team shorts, and one sock black, the other white?

And what to make of the sign?

The answer, to the statement on the sign, is simply "no."






When it comes to fascism, there isn't any discussion. There is no need for polite debate. A civil society need not agree to anything of the kind. Fascists must not march in our streets. They must not be allowed to spew their hate and lies in public spaces.

The purple man was not inciting anyone, nor was his lonely march offensive. He was entirely peaceful.

But no, if it comes to it, fascists must be met with the full force of the state and all that it provides. Failing that, fascism must be confronted by the people themselves.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray. 

Broken Spoke Coffee in Courtenay

The Broken Spoke in Courtenay is actually a bike shop. They sell, rent and repair bicycles. All kinds of bikes.

The place smells of rubber and grease and .... coffee, and The Broken Spoke is one of the best coffee shops we've encountered in quite some time.










After walking around  the store, one senses an obvious attention to detail, a mindfulness about choices and the relationships founded here. It shows in the products they carry and the slow, meticulous way bikes are serviced. The coffee shop portion of the operation is no different.

 

The coffee comes from an excellent roaster-coffee shop in Victoria called Discovery Coffee. The beans are sourced from select farms around the world and roasted in small batches to create something quite wonderful.


We had coffee here on two different days and on both occasions it was superb. When in Courtenay... don't miss this coffee shop. Our friend and public relations consultant, G. G. Blynn, even had her wheel chair serviced, in a manner of speaking, while having a coffee. Great people!

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.

Eclipse-shape shadows appear on ground....

The recent partial solar eclipse provided an obvious darkening of the skies in MetroVancouver. Temperatures actually cooled ever so slightly during the moments of near totality.

It also created a rare, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon, along the pathway at Langara Golf Course, but reportedly repeated throughout the region.

Looking at the shadows on the ground, at about twenty-five percent eclipse, one can see clearly: the crescent shapes of the moon and sun!

Eerie. Strange. And only lasting the brief minutes of the actual eclipse. Most people miss the celestial event on the ground, because they are all looking up!

This scientific phenomenon won't be seen again in this area, until the next solar eclipse to come our way in 2033.

Photos by Jeem. 

Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.

Total Eclipse of the Brain

Sherry had been given an idea from Susan to view the eclipse using binoculars. Something about the big end and little end and focusing and....

It sounded easier than it turned out to be.

Apparently it's not all that easy aligning the sun with the big end of the binoculars.





Oh wait a minute, something is appearing now... or not.











"Ya dragged me out here for this?" asked our lawyer friend, BT Mendlebaum (disbarred) to no one in particular.












Meanwhile, our dedicated photo-journalist was staring at the sun using spectacles provided by BT Mendlebaum. Something about back-engineering. "It's a prototype," offered Mendlebaum. "I don't necessarily vouch for their authenticity. Still. What's the worst that can happen?"

"This can't be a good idea" said G.G. Blynn.

And still, in the interests of science, Jeem continued to view the eclipse, giving full commentary to a bunch of golfers who had stopped on their way to their next tee.













The landscape continued to darken as we approached eighty-three percent.

Shadows were softer. Birds sought shelter in the trees. And golfers were confused and started heading towards the club house.














At the full impact of the eighty-three percent eclipse, Jeem was done too.

He plans to volunteer at the CNIB just as soon as he gets his special cane. "It'll be a prototype," says Mendlebaum.

Photos by Jeem and Sherry MacDonald.

 Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.

Cornerstone Café in Victoria's Fernwood Neighbourhood

Not so long ago we had reason to visit Victoria and we stayed in a neighbourhood called Fernwood. It's a wonderful part of the city that is outside the normal tourist hustle and bustle.















In advance, Sherry discovered the Cornerstone Café, across from the Belfry Theatre, and we all went one bright, sunny morning.

This is not a regular coffee shop, though one might not know without asking. Sure it's about coffee and reading and socializing... it looks like a coffee shop. It's story is something else.

Cornerstone Café is a social enterprise, which means its profits go to the Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group, a non-profit society committed to creating a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable neighbourhood.




Prior to 2005 the building itself was a neglected eyesore, boarded up and unused. Local activists decided to revitalize the building and the area, and to provide space for a café, artists and locally owned and operated businesses. Within a year the Fernwood NRG had purchased the Cornerstone Building and in another year the heritage building was renovated, including affordable family apartments on the second floor. The renovation addressed environmental sustainability by installing, among other things, a geothermal heat pump and that energy, from the ground below the building, provides 70 percent of the building's heat and hot water.

The Cornerstone Café is working towards creating zero waste in all that it does, and maintains proper recycling and composting. Customers are encouraged to bring their own mugs, or those dining-in are given proper mugs and cutlery.  If someone wants a to-go cup, it will be one that is readily compostable.

And finally: the coffee is pretty good too, though the cappuccino was too milky for our traditional tastes.








This wonderful café is a place where you can relax, meet friends and neighbours, take in music and special events, and discover community.

We should do this kind of thing more often and in more places.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.

Butchart Gardens in the springtime

We were in Victoria during the tulip season and while that floral burst is long gone, BT Mendlebaum suggested this post, mainly because she didn't get to join the rest of the gang at Butchart Gardens. 

Technically Butchart Gardens are in Brentwood Bay but over a million visitors each year seem to be able to find the place.












The gardens grew out of a quarry on Tod Inlet where the Butchart family had established a mining operation at the end of the 19th century. The limestone was exhausted in 1909 and the business of the gardens began. Slowly.










To this day, ownership of Butchart Gardens remains with the family. Tulips were the focus during our visit, but the Gardens are a delight anytime of the year.

Photos by Jeem. 

Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.