There is no British pub culture in Vancouver. There never has been. I’ve read over and over from UK immigrants their quest to find that one “proper” pub like home in Vancouver. They never find it. They never will. I’m …
The truth about using US dollars in Vancouver
Nothing makes Canadians go crazy on travel forums than the well-meaning American tourist asking if they can use US dollars here in Canada. A seemingly innocent question that turns the forums into a frenzy. Asking if you can use US …
Dream Day: Hiking Smuggler Cove on the Sunshine Coast
Smuggler Cove is my favourite short hike on the Sunshine Coast. It’s easy, it’s scenic, and it’s a nature lover’s dream. I was reminded how gorgeous this provincial park is when I went for a spontaneous visit on a mild, …
Oca Pastificio: Vancouver’s Dreamiest Pasta
It was one hour into tomato season at Oca Pastificio and we—my coworkers Frances, Jillian, Kristen, and I—had found ourselves at the best seat in the house. We were at Vancouver’s most coveted Italian restaurant, sipping Dolcetto d’Alba, about to …
5 Must-See Botanical Gardens in Vancouver
Vancouver is a garden lover’s city, but it’s often eclipsed by nearby Victoria, home of the Butchart Gardens. Butchart is world famous, but it takes at least 3-4 hours to get there from Vancouver one way. It’s not always practical, …
How I Became an Unlikely Mushroom Forager
I never expected to become a mushroom forager. You see, for the longest time, I never liked mushrooms. I meticulously picked them out of pizza. I snubbed my nose at cream of mushroom soup. But something changed in my twenties. …
The Uncertain Future of Finn Slough: The Contemporary History of A Marginalized Society
This was my first attempt at writing history. I originally wrote it in March 2007 for my BC history class at UBC. I was 26. I grew up next to Finn Slough. I recognized that I knew very little of …