Vancouver, BC; North Vancouver, BC; Toronto, Ontario
Masa Japanese Restaurant: Early lunch of bento boxes and sushi with brother before he goes to work. Conversation about expected high rise construction in neighbourhood with the Broadway plan to intensify urban living in 30-year vision. Job is low stress with scenic rides on the Seabus every day. (Masa Japanese Restaurant, West Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250501Embarc Vancouver: View of slanted green tinted roof of Vancouver Law Courts design by Arthur Erickson in 1973, with Robson Square glass domes. Mountains of North Vancouver are readily visible from 30th floor of the Wall Centre north tower. This stay viewing northeast, last year we enjoyed northwest. (Embarc Vancouver, Wall Centre north tower, Hornby Street, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250501Libby Leshgold Gallery: Exhibition in transition, as the university prepares for The Show of works from 420 graduating artists. Work yet unlabelled, would have to come back next week for attribution. Staff let us past the do not enter sign, as they went for lunch. (Libby Leshgold Gallery, Emily Carr University, East 1st Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250502Emily Carr University: Mounted early for The Show, ECU graduate Katherine Langdon (2025) The Set-Up draws the eye upon entry into hall. Is the subject with the head in the closet avoiding the situation, or showing discretion? Curtains on the framing suggest a performance? (Emily Carr University, East 1st Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250502Emily Carr University: Touring halls during preparation for The Show at ECU, 5 days before official opening. Background right painting Jesse Ward (2025) Mundane Presence. Installation on the floor yet unlabelled. (Emily Carr University of Art + Design, East 1st Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250502SUCCESS Care Home: Entertaining mother with crafty folding of paper butterfly. Since last year’s visit, we were advised against offering food and snacks. Pushed wheelchair around the circular hallway. (SUCCESS Care Home, Carrall Street, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250502Banana Leaf on Davie: Malaysian cuisine may not be found in Seattle, so sampled roti canal, beef rendang, carmellized ginger fish, and Assam curry tofu at steadfast Vancouver restaurant. Last time together may have been 16 years ago in Toronto. Catching up on years that have passed. (Banana Leaf, Davie Street, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250502Granville Island Public Market: Leisurely Saturday morning breakfast with scrumpet (crumpet variant) and crepe. Observing not only are visitors smiling and unstressed, but also the worker teams seem happy. Purchases from Muffin Granny, a food stall original in the market since its 1979 opening. (Muffin Granny Crepe & Bakery Cafe, Granville Island Public Market, Johnston Street, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250503Historic Yellow Crane: Hoist from 1930s industrial heritage was moved opposite Sea Village in 2022. Prior location was hidden by Emily Carr University site 1980-2017 at 1399 Johnston Street, a building still vacant. Tower has become a landmark near southeast end of street, visible from Public Market. (Historic Yellow Crane, Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250503Jericho Sailing Centre: Outstanding view of North Vancouver mountains, and West End city centre from second floor patio on south shore of English Bay. Club is private for sailors, but upstairs is open for public. Can’t remember visiting this venue when I lived in Vancouver in the 1980s. (The Galley Patio and Grill, Jericho Sailing Centre, Discovery Street, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250503
Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery: Overhead sculpture, light projection onto floor, + audio recording Yuan Wen (2025) Play in the Field, part of Impos(s)able Impositions: UBC Master of Fine Arts Graduate Exhibition. At end of hall, drawings on xuan rice paper. Noises were intruding from the installation just over the wall, with sounds set for the opening night reception two nights earlier. (Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, UBC, Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250503
Nitobe Memorial Garden: Dyadic waterfalls may follow Shinto style of complementary Odaki (masculine) and Medaki (feminine) forces of the natural world. Original small memorial garden with kasuga style lantern honouring diplomat Nitobe Inazō builtin 1935 did not survive vandalization when Japanese Canadians were sent to internment camps in the 1940s. Norman Mackenzie, president of UBC (1944-1962) recognized Nitobe work in League of Nations, with Government of Japan selecting Kannosuke Mori from Chiba University to complete the garden 1959-1960. (Nitobe Memorial Garden, University of British Columbia, Lower Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia)
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge: Still a free thrill to carefully descend and ascend the arc of the bridge, holding handrails to moderate speed. Posted sign says closure in the fall, maybe time for resurfacing that happens every 10 years. Valley for the Lynn Creek is separate from the larger Capilano River, where we visited the fish hatchery. (Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, Park Road, North Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250503Rainbow Park: Walking through Vancouver West End, encountered creatively designed public space officially opened in 2022. First new park in 10 years, full of visual interest with skybridge, play areas, pavilions, coffee shop. High urban density, serves 30,000 residents within a 10-minute walk. (Rainbow Park, Richards Street, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250504Nuba in Gastown: Leisurely lunch with @chris_wiesinger discussing Language Action Perspective, Heidegger and life histories. Previous connection via @chaunceybell, followed through on idea that we should meet when in town. Offshoot threads to others we haven’t met in person. (Nuba in Gastown, West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250505Pendulum Gallery: Photorealistic machine feel at centre of Ewan McNeil (2023) Roller Ball acrylic on canvas. Incongruous with floral patterns in background. Part of the Pattern Language exhibition also showing Dana Cromie. (Pendulum Gallery, RBC Place, West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250505Vancouver Art Gallery: In morning shade, Kim Adams (2001) Squid Head is two rear ends of cargo load delivery vans. Without cabs or steering wheels, the lack of human driver foreshadowed vehicles 25 years later. Initially noticed the lack of license plates on the complementary blue GMC rear end, along our journey from city centre to YVR. (Vancouver Art Gallery, Hornby Street, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250506
North Arm Bridge, Canada Line Skytrain: Southbound Canada Line rises in height to cross over Fraser River via the North Arm Bridge, with a gradual turn west towards a shorter Middle Arm Bridge. Rafts of log booms see bundles of timber floated downstream on the way to processing. Scenic exit from the city on the way to YVR. (Canada Line Skytrain, North Arm Bridge, Vancouver, British Columbia) 20250506
OCADU Graduate Programs: In-person #SystemsThinking Ontario session on Wisdom Studies, led by @psywisdom Igor Grossman and @zaid___khan . First time post-pandemic that we’ve reverted to sitting in a a circle. Conversation flowed naturally amongst all participants, little need for moderation. (OCADU Graduate Programs, Richmond Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20250508OCADU: In #GradEx110 , Adnan AlMouselli (2025) Perfect Storm of disconnected stools and sand. Installation represents journey from university in Syria that was bombed in 2011, to studies restarted in Canada. Part of the Play subtheme in Industrial Design. (OCAD University, McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20250509OCADU: In #GradEx110, Cherie Leung (2025) Are You Warm Enough? stacks cotton quilts on top of mattress and bed frame. Concerns with 3 children, mothering turning into smothering. Recognized with OCAD University Medal 2024-2025 in Drawing and Painting. (OCAD University, McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20250509OCADU: In #GradEx110, Niki Sutherland (2025) Cartography: Mapping a Matriarch sculpture is carved offcut from a spalted (discoloured fungus) maple. Reductive process of chiselling, carving and sanding layers, to reveal black lines of decay. Living narrative of prior living organism that had activated surrounding land. (OCAD University, McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20250509
OCADU: In #GradEx110, Bita Ebnesheyki (2025) The Light of Hormuz installation brings together hand-dyed fabric and video projection in a memories of place. Soil brought back from Hormuz Island, Iran, were crushed, cooked and stained as reds into fabric. Moving images of the same soil are projected onto the dyed surface. (OCADU, McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20250509
OCADU: In #GradEx110, Sohyun Yoon (2024-2025) Remnant Project has 7 channels of video on vintage monitors, with 2 audio tracks. Objects decayed or rusted that might be otherwise discarded, now fulfill a new purpose. Recognized as recipient of OCAD University Medal (2024-2025) in Integrated Media. (OCADU, McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20250509
Hart House: Diasporic memory Aysia Tse (2025) Bean Curd Soup ft. Ye-Ye resonates as we use this vegan ingredient at home frequently. Familiar style of bowl not usual for our family. Part of the Talking Walls exhibition on Interwoven Identities. (Hart House, University of Toronto, Ontario) 20250511Knowledge House: South of Hart House is a gathering place with 13 columns symbolizing 13 moons of the year, with a hole in the roof where smoke from ceremonial fires can rise. Beyond is clearing space at a lower level, with new trees planted. Part of the Landmark Project officially completed in November 2024, based on an Indigenous Landscape design. (Knowledge House, Hart House Circle, University of Toronto, Ontario) 20250511Trinity College: Blossoms of kanzan cherry trees attracting many visitors for selfies or portraits. One of many sites of the Sakura Project donations started in 2005 by the Consultate General of Japan. Nature tells us winter is over. (Trinity College, Hoskin Avenue, University of Toronto, Ontario) 20250511OCAD U Waterfront Campus: Welcome to first day of SFI International Innovation Forum by @MikeMastroeni, with lead-off by #DannyGhantous. Presentations of Major Research Projects from master’s program in Strategic Foresight and Innovation, second day will be online. Getting a feel for type of research from OCADU, now that I’m an adjunct professor. (OCAD U Co, Queens Quay East, Toronto, Ontario) 20250515Pape Village: Family dinner celebrating birthday with vegan desserts from new Bloordale bakery originating from Montreal. Also another belated birthday, plus belated Mother’s Day. Schedules have been busy. (Pape Village, Broadview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20250515OCAD U Waterfront Campus: Emcee for @TedX @OCADU_SFI day, @FentonJagdeo synthesized across 12 themes on identity, assumptions, power, + possibilities. Program content by Master of Design graduates, acknowledgement of scripts provided by student organizers of the event. Video recordings of speakers should show up in a few weeks. (OCAD U Co, Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario) 20250516OCAD U Waterfront Campus: Afternoon @TedX @OCADU_SFI speaker @zaid___khan on Humbling Design by Sensing Rhythms. Major Research Project of 2020 extended with continuing progress on Systems Changes Learning. Noticed audience resonance with heads nodding. (OCAD U Co, Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario) 20250516Commissioners Street Bridge: On morning bike commute to OCADU event, the lower leg of the rear rack sheared off, just above the eyelet. I slowed down and fell to the ground on my left side, causing back pain for the day. Old Raleigh mountain bike still comfortable on roads with potholes. (Commissioners Street Bridge, Port Lands, Toronto, Ontario) 20250516Lakeshore Boulevard East at Carlaw Avenue: Road construction impacting not only automobiles, but also bicycles and pedestrians. Roadway is to be reconfigured to 3 lanes each direction. Bike path might be restored in June, but the whole project to the Don River will take to end of 2025. (Lakeshore Boulevard East at Carlaw Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20250517Mount Pleasant Cemetery: Qingming tomb sweeping visit #1 of 4, for my paternal grandparents. Removed leaves and dead annuals, planted new flowers, incinerated hell money, bowed with incense, then shared food. Families of aunts and uncles used to join us when everyone was younger. (Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario) 20250518Mount Pleasant Cemetery: Qingming tomb sweeping visit #2 of 4, for my maternal grandparents. Following former practice of my mother, less elaborate ceremony, planting flower and lighting incense. Just 2 lanes west, then south of other grandparents (Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario) 20250518Pine Hills Cemetery: Qingming tomb sweeping visit #3 of 4. Lowkong Society collectively respecting ancestors who migrated to Canada. Date in recent years has been Victoria Day weekend, better weather than April, so we follow their schedule. Whole roasted pig was served before pandemic, now just oranges with an invitation for early dinner following. (Pine Hills Cemetery, Birchmount Road, Toronto, Ontario) 20250518Pine Hills Cemetery: Qingming tomb sweeping visit #4 of 4. Mother is conveniently interred just west of Lowkong Society obelisk. location selected with foresight. We hope our descendants will remember us, here. (Pine Hills Cemetery, Birchmount Road, Toronto, Ontario) 20250518Shine Kitchen: Fried noodle with fresh grouper (hold the pork) for the pescetarian, Cantonese chow mein for my father who especially picked out the squid and shrimp. Bonus afternoon tea offer of red bean freeze with jelly. More food than needed for two, but we had two appointments today. (Shine Kitchen, Steeles Avenue East, Scarborough, Ontario) 20250520Riverside neighbourhood: Potluck dinner, with family joining following afternoon conversation. Common shared experiences of having visited farm at Salina, Iowa, some fresh, some a few years back. Reviving the expanded long table, we’re empty nesters these days. (Riverside neighbourhood, Toronto, Ontario) 20250521
Redpath Sugar Refinery: In shed at foot of Jarvis Street on harbour, stockpiles of raw sugar at @Doors_OpenTO . Ships from Honduras and Brasil sail up St. Lawrence River, unloading 7 tonnes at a time. Conveyors over and under transport material to other buildings, separating white crystals from molasses syrup. (Redpath Sugar Refinery Queens Quay East, Toronto, ontario) 20250523Terroni Adelaide: Second floor Sala Da Pranzo @Doors_OpenTO used to be main courtroom of Adelaide Street Courthouse (1853 – 1900). View from third floor Il Covo Degli Artisti, originally home for Arts and Letter Club (1910-1920). Jail cells in basement now wine cellar, and a women’s washroom. (Terroni, Adelaide Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20240524Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library: Exploring the Chinese Canadian Archives at UToronto with #JuneChow and #MorrisLum. Permitted handling of maps, photos and brochures from geographer David Chuenyan Lai collection from U. Victoria, on Chinatowns across Canada, if hands were washed. Current research into Dragon Centre mall opened in Agincourt in 1984, now in decline with review for redevelopment. (Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20250527Riverdale Park West: Cabbagetown Farmers Market on Tuesday afternoons. Easy stroll through local produce and food vendors. Spring temperatures see shoppers without jackets, and in shorts. (Riverdale Park West, Winchester Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20250527Society Clubhouse: Community event #ActorsSocial coinciding with Asian Heritage month, casual backroom stage with mirror revealing audience. Script by #PhyllisCameronUng originally written as a 48-hour challenge for 3 male actors. Story of brothers missing sister. (Society Clubhouse, College Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20250528
Jimmie Simpson Park: Flower heads looking dishevelled on cold spring day with #RiverdaleArtWalk organized by #ArtistsNetwork. No rain, but many people were donning hats, toques, and gloves. Lots of baby strollers and dogs on leash. (Jimmie Simpson Park, Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20250531
