Believe it or not, the thinnest commercial building in the world can be found right here in Vancouver. The Jack Chow Insurance Building, formerly the Sam Kee Building, is two storeys tall and 1.5 metres deep at its base—about the length of the average person’s arm span, from one fingertip to the other.
Rod Chow, who still operates his dad’s insurance agency out of the building at the corner of Pender and Carrall streets in Chinatown, says although the original owner, Chang Toy, purchased the property in 1903, it sat undeveloped until 1912, when the city widened Pender Street and expropriated 24 feet of the lot.
“Mr. Toy still wanted to get use out of his land, but he did it partly to spite the city,” Chow explains with a grin. “In 1913 he hired a top architect to design this narrow, steel- framed building. It had to be designed by experts, because of its unusual dimensions.” Chow, who is also an award-winning magician (if you’re lucky, he’ll show you a card trick while you renew your coverage), says in order to make the building work, Toy had a few tricks up his sleeve. The basement, for example, is much wider than the first floor, and extends below the sidewalk, which is set with glass blocks to let in light. The
building’s many windows also make it appear much roomier than it is. “At one point, the building was home to 13 businesses simultaneously,” Chow adds. “Now that’s magic!”
July 20, 2010
May 27, 2010
If you love animals and want to give back to the community, one of these volunteer opportunities may be right for you.
The BC SPCA (spca.bc.ca) operates with the help of 4,000 volunteers who work at the shelter and in a variety of fundraising, advocacy and education roles. Opportunities include dog walking, cat care, pet grooming, administrative support, special events, fundraising and more.
The Vancouver Humane Society (vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca), which is dedicated to spreading the word about the humane treatment of animals, doesn’t operate a shelter, “so we don’t have opportunities for volunteers to work directly with animals,” explains Communications Director Peter Fricker. As an education and research organization, however, there are opportunities to help with displays, exhibitions and more.
Vancouver Animal Control (vancouver.ca/commsvcs/licandinsp/animalcontrol) always needs energetic, caring volunteers who want to spend time with dogs that are waiting for adoption and help take care of them. “You can come in and play with the dogs, take them for walks and help with general care,” explains the Web site. “Even if you are already a pet owner, but have some time to spare for some other animals, you’re more than welcome to come in and volunteer.”
If you’re at least 16 and willing to complete a training session and commit to a minimum of eight hours of service a month, you can volunteer with the Greater Vancouver Zoo (gvzoo.com). Positions available include being a goodwill ambassador to zoo visitors, participating in special events and projects and assisting with the publication of the Wild Times Newsletter.
Finally, if you love marine creatures, the Vancouver Aquarium (vanaqua.org) looks for volunteers who can help with data entry, visitor engagement and food prep. “We rely on volunteer support in our school programs, galleries, gift shop, and—for our experienced Volunteers—Marine Mammal Rescue Centre,” says its site.
Written By: Noa GloubermanMarch 17, 2010
In the heart of Queen Elizabeth Park exists a magnificent triodetic dome, home to a natural green jewel. The guiding vision behind the creation of the Bloedel Conservatory was to demonstrate the relationship between man and nature in environments ranging from lush jungle to arid desert, faithfully recreating the whole range of terrains and incorporating a variety of flora and fauna all in one site. Built in 1969, it remains the second largest single-structure conservatory in North America.
This public urban oasis and therapeutic Eden showcases flora from the three major tropical biomes: rain forest, sub-tropics, and desert. Filled with over 500 species of plants, the environment is also alive with 100 free-flying birds, including half a dozen iridescent parrots, and includes a waterfall and a rock pool with Japanese Koi fish.
Host to everything from drawing and painting classes, school groups, and patients in search of horticultural rehabilitation therapy to wedding ceremonies and photo sessions, this sanctuary is favoured as a spot for tranquil repose, the quiet observation of nature, and the study of plants and birds for residents and tourists alike.
The Conservatory is still an extremely popular attraction but after 40 years of operation, the current challenge is the recent vote by the elected Park Commissioners to close the facility due to a $250,000 budget shortfall. The Park Board is currently developing a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) in the hopes that a solution can be found. Closure is slated for later this year, but supporters of the facility are working hard to find a way to preserve this precious green space.
Become a friend of the Bloedel at friendsofthebloedel.ca.March 12, 2010
A beautifully prepared environment, where deliberate thought has gone into everything from the garden paths to the plates on the tables, communicates to children that we care about them. – Principles of Edible Education, The Edible Schoolyard – Alice Waters
While summer may still seem a long way off, for Barb McMahon, founder and executive director of Sprouting Chef’s kitchen garden programs for youth, it’s just around the corner—which means gearing up for their kitchen and cooking summer day camp program.
Founded in 2009 and rooted in the values ‘respect for self, respect for each other and respect for the earth’, Sprouting Chefs offers a fresh perspective on where food comes from, how to prepare it with love and respect and how to make healthy, sustainable food choices.
Starting July 5, Sprouting Chefs will offer various full-day camp sessions for kids ages 8 to 15. These unique five-day sessions include:
- specialized training led by professional chefs
- trips to community gardens and farms
- seasonal family-friendly recipes for soups, appetizers, main courses and desserts
- food and kitchen safety training
In addition to the tremendous kitchen skills being taught, this program teaches the kids important life lessons such as how to have fun in the kitchen, enjoy healthy food and connect to others while preparing nutritious meals for themselves and their families. Sprouting Chefs also offers leadership and mentorship opportunities in their Level III program for young teen participants. You can visit sproutingchefs.com for more information and to register your sprout for this wonderful summer cooking camp experience!
Sprouting Chefs will be offering upcoming cooking programs at the West Vancouver Community Centre as well as various Burnaby and Vancouver Locations. Sprouting Chefs is a proud partner of Whole Foods Market and Gardenworks. Please visit wholefoodsmarket.com and gardenworks.ca for more information on these partnerships.
Older Posts »March 10, 2010
Mother, actress, model, playmate, entrepreneur, vegetarian, environmentalist, animal rights activist…is there anything left? Oh, of course, proud Canadian! Born on Vancouver Island in 1967, Pamela Anderson is at the height of her career and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Ms. Anderson is best known for her roles as C.J. Parker on Baywatch, the Tool Time Girl on Home Improvement and Vallery Irons on V.I.P., and for her always controversial love life involving the likes of Tommy Lee, Kid Rock and Marcus Schenkenberg. Through good times and bad, Pamela has consistently been one of the world’s most-watched celebrities, having graced more magazine covers worldwide than any star of her generation. Pamela has stood the test of time, first arriving on the scene in 1989 and still going strong; holding her own throughout and showing the world she is here to stay.
Not just a pretty face
There is no doubt that when we think of Pamela Anderson what comes first to mind is her physical beauty. That really isn’t all there is to her, though—this stunning, voluptuous blonde recognizes the power of her celebrity and influence and has taken on several causes close to her heart, creating platforms for animal rights and AIDS research, among others. Here is a brief list of some of her most impressive achievements:
- A strict vegetarian and advocate for animal rights, Pamela is an active member of the animal protection organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
- In 1999, she received the first Linda McCartney Memorial Award for animal rights protectors in recognition of her efforts, and in 2003 she stripped down for PETA’s “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” advertising campaign. Her work in this field ranks her just behind Justin Timberlake and Madonna as having the third most-valuable celebrity charity impact, generating an incredible $4.8 million for PETA and related causes.
- In 1989, Anderson appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine for the first time; she has since gone on to appear in numerous pictorials and on countless magazine covers.
- In March 2005, Anderson became a spokesmodel for MAC Cosmetics and the MAC AIDS Fund, which helps people affected by AIDS and HIV, and has since raised money for these causes during events around the globe.
- She is a celebrity spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation.
- She served as the Grand Marshal of the SOS motorcycle ride fundraiser.
- In March 2006 she publicly expressed her condemnation of the annual seal hunt and requested an audience with Prime Minister Harper, but was refused.
- She joined forces with PETA in a campaign for the boycott of fruit juice distributor POM. Anderson’s “Pom Horrible Campaign” resulted in the company halting all animal testing.
An Eclectic Acting Career
A brief stroll down memory lane can take us to revisit some of Pamela’s most famous (and not so famous) roles, including a range of characters from iconic beach babe to celebrity bodyguard. Here is a selected overview of her career to date:
- Married… with Children episode Route 666: Part 2 (1991)
- Home Improvement (1991–1993)
- Baywatch (1992–1997)
- Days of our Lives (1992)
- The Nanny (1997)
- Come Die with Me: A Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer Mystery (1994)
- V.I.P. (1998–2002)
- Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding (2003)
- Less Than Perfect (2003)
- Stripperella (2003–2004)
- Stacked (2005–2006)
- Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson (2005)
- 8 Simple Rules (2005)
- MADtv (2005)
- Pam: Girl on the Loose (2008)
- The Sunday Night Project – Guest Host (2008)
- Big Brother Australia – House guest for 3 days (2008)
Triple Threat – beautiful, funny and smart
Now that Pamela has entered the business world, the sky is truly the limit. From footwear and apparel to snowboards to spas and fragrances, the variety of her interests makes Anderson a force to be reckoned with. A savvy businesswoman and entrepreneur, Pamela has several business ventures presently in the works. She is currently working on a sexy beach club and spa in her favourite yachting getaway of Montenegro, and recently created a new line of unisex body fragrances, “Malibu by Pamela Anderson”. “Blue” is the lighter of the Malibu fragrances, with hints of vanilla, berries, white flowers and amber sandalwood, while “Malibu Night” offers aromas of pomegranate, black orchids, mahogany wood, amber, lotus and patchouli.
Whether promoting her fragrances, delighting her massive fan base worldwide with each onscreen appearance, working tirelessly for charity or pitching her signature Pammies footwear and apparel, there is no arguing that Pamela Anderson, a small-town girl from Vancouver Island, has truly made the big time and deserves every moment of her hard-earned fame!
Comments (1) Tags: Anderson, animal, Australia, C.J. Parker, Central Roast, Justin Timberlake, MAC Cosmetics, Madonna, Marcus, Marshal, Mickey Spillane, Mike Hammer, Montenegro, Ms. Anderson, Pam, Pamela, Pamela Anderson, PETA, Prime Minister Harper, Rock, Than Perfect, Than Wear, Time, Tommy Lee, tool time girl, V.I.P, vallery irons, Vancouver Island
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