A8 - North Shore News - Sunday, November 25, 2012
Indian tractors work Fraser Valley fields From page 6
candyland fun family events at Capilano Mall
in the Fraser Valley are buying Mahindra tractors these days, imported from Mother India. At a reception I was introduced to Rahul Bose, a popular Indian actor in quality artistic films. Someone mentioned that Rahul is rugby-mad and for some years was captain of India’s national team — an honour among tough men. He asked about rugby here and I said, yes, we’ve a couple of ferocious teams in North Van and a thriving film industry too. A businessman interjected that film is better these days, and the actor smiled. His nose has been broken five times. Standing there on a terrace looking out to the sea, I thought about the rugby pitch back in Lower Capilano and how Larco looks like it’s finally going to get the big residential development nearby it’s wanted all these years. Isn’t there even a newish, development-friendly “Gateway” community association encouraging it all on? The event’s guest of honour, Nobel Laureate in Literature Sir V.S. Naipaul, didn’t stay long. It’s always a privilege to meet such cantankerous figures though: individuals who’ve challenged the comfortable orthodoxies of their times and still managed to live as free men. “Socrates must have been a bit like him,”
the business leader I’d met earlier said as Sir Vidya and Lady Naipaul departed. “But you’re our Canadian,” he added. “Tell me about your country.” I expected the usual inquiries about Quebec, oil pipelines, or Alberta’s tar sands. But no, the gentleman I’d read about in Forbes magazine on my return flight — see India’s 100 Richest — wanted to know about Canada and Latin America. We were at his club at the Taj Hotel, the Anglo-Saracen architectural jewel horrifically bombed by terrorists several years ago, and from where we stood its view of Bombay’s famous India Gate was unparalleled. Latin America? My druid radar clicked on then and I knew I was hearing something important in this ancient country that gave us the game of chess, and where a daily “Sacred Space” feature runs in its establishment newspaper. “How are Canadian relations with South America? With Mexico? Are we prepared for our next wave of new immigrants, Latins?” Then, a few days ago I saw this headline: Canada Wins Observer Status in Latin American Bloc; May Also Ease the Way to Improved Ties with Asia.” Synchronicity? What you hear on the road is remarkable. What you see is amazing too, but hopefully not prophetic. When the towers rise, is the murk far behind? PoeticLicence.NS@gmail.com
Score big! Storytime with Santa
November 28th, December 5th and December 12th 11am - 12pm
Cookie Decorating and Holiday Fun
December 1st and December 8th 12pm - 3pm
Pet Photos with Santa
December 3rd and December 10th 6pm - 8pm
Santa Photo Bonus
December 4th and December 11th 6pm - 8pm Receive a free Santa photo CD and advent calendar valued at $15, with the purchase of any photo package. Available to the first 100 children who visit Santa.
Visit capilanomall.com for more information and to find out how to enter to win a $500 toy spree!
www.capilanomall.com 935 Marine Drive, North Vancouver
Sport photo galleries online.