Vancouver The Melting Pot I Grew Up In
By Jeanette GirardiVancouver truly has its inspiring beauty. It catches you at every glance around the city. But I know Vancouver, because I grew up in the true Vancouver, the Vancouver of neighbourhoods of immigrants from all over. I grew up on East 5th Avenue with Victoria Drive to the east and Commercial Drive to the west. […]
My Muse
By Laura GobboI have lived in Vancouver my entire life. I didn’t have an epiphany moment when I decided to move to this beautiful city. No, I have always been here. I can see the mountains from my back porch, green with clouds skimming the top or fresh with snow. I can put my feet in the […]
The Fall and Grace in Vancouver
By Lucy GoncalvesAs a young adult I was a bit naïve and sometimes it led me into dangerous predicaments. One event especially comes to mind. I had a date with my boyfriend to attend a concert at the UBC Chan Centre. Beforehand, I went sailing at Jericho Beach with the Disabled Sailing Association. It was a beautiful, […]
I Could Close My Eyes and Find My Way
By Mack GordonWhen I was a teenager, my friends and I would road trip to Vancouver to visit a friend from Summer camp. She lived on Southwest Marine just off Dunbar. To us, then, it was the rural centre of the city. Her mom would take us Downtown to see concerts by our favourite bands; groups that […]
Vancouver: My journey into her heart
By Christie GrahamI’ve had a passionate affair with Vancouver. From childhood crushes to adulthood embraces, fiery departures to heart-warming reunions, it’s matured into a sustainable loving relationship. My first crush hit during Expo 86. I was ten, and we were visiting family like we did every summer from Ontario. My brother and I were thrilled with the […]
It’s not About the City, It’s About the People.
By Jennica GrahamWhen I moved to Vancouver, almost 7 years ago, the city Vancouver enticed me with sunny restaurant patios, seaside bike trails, hip coffee culture, bountiful farmers markets, snow capped mountain window views and pretty much the coolest, hippest people ever. I remember feeling so certain that the city of Vancouver was our destiny shortly after […]
The Adventures of a Reluctant Sailor
By Tessa GroganI was 15 years old when my mom purchased an old Catalina 27 sailboat. She had always dreamed of having her own boat since she visited Greece in her teens. Of course I was happy for my mom; she sacrificed a lot to provide for my brother and I —It was good to see her […]
From a Simple Smile
By Rizalina Guilatco CarrMany people have suggested that Vancouver is an unfriendly city, but I have a different perspective. True friendship grows slowly and, at least for me, this city has provided fertile soil for that growth. But it required the courage on my part to smile and be open. It was almost 34 years ago when my […]
A Liminal Occupancy
By Pamela HutchinsDedicated to my family: Aunt Darleen; to my friend: Betty Cotton; and to her: Vancouver. Throughout my life, I have embraced oscillation, and what I mean by that is, I love it all: hip-hop and ballet; winter and summer; city and country—and I love it equally. I have since a young age and continue to […]
Born and Raised
By Rhyleah HylandsThe sun sneaks into my room past my curtains to kiss my skin, the friendly finches greet me good morning. Sometimes I wake up to the soft murmur of Jodie Vance of City TV’s Breakfast Television, and other times its the early morning cartoons. I have lived in the West End my entire lifespan of […]
