Pacific Rim Magazine 2018

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 2018

$5.95

Equity in Death?

Palliative Care in the DTES

Healing Through Art Reconciliation Pole

Hope for Access Transgender Health Care

We mean business.

LANGARA SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT Whether you want to climb the corporate ladder or start your own business, the Langara School of Management (LSM) is for you. Ignite your future career with hands-on learning, small class sizes, and real-world experience. Study full-time or take a few classes while you work – Langara provides course flexibility for your life.

Apply now. www.langara.ca/lsm

“The professors were so willing to share realworld examples on the topics covered in class, usually from their own career experience. The more classroom and discussion presentations you were a part of, the more you got to learn about your professors which led to exciting classes that I looked forward to attending every week.”

Gavin Randhawa, Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing Management

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Langara College acknowledges its location on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam ( ) First Nation, and is working to strengthen the connections between the Musqueam people and the College in a number of ways.

Publisher Darren Bernaerdt Editorial Director Leanne Johnson Managing Art Director Giselle Lemay Managing Production Director Terry van Roon Advertising Sales Managers Don Hill, Ron Shay Online Director Kevin McMillan

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Madeline Barber Features Editors Nicola Anderson, Alice Chang, Josh Hillaby Associate Editors Linda Ng, Clare Stebbings

ART

Art Director Jeremy Reay Associate Art Director Sabrina Loeprich Assistant Art Director Jed Rivada Layout/Production Artists Pauline Macapagal, Samantha McCready

PRODUCTION

Production Director Max Wharin Production Artist Tanya Lefebvre

ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS

Ad Traffic Manager Bailey Hicks Associate Ad Traffic Manager Ashley MacPherson Ad Designers/Production Artists Tiffany Chu, Karolina Filippova, Vitória Freitas, Maho Kochi Promotions Directors Shefali Agarwal, Isabel Hunt Social Media Directors Shefali Agarwal, Tiffany Chu Board of Directors Darren Bernaerdt, Don Hill, Leanne Johnson, Giselle Lemay, Kevin McMillan, Terry van Roon

Photographers Nicola Anderson, Birgit Berghofer, Rachael Buckoski, Katelyn Cooper, Ana Fassina, Mikaela Gray, Stephanie Hansen, Danika Lee, Michael Luo, Rebekah McNeilly, Marc de Montreuil, Sam Robertson, Cristina Simaika, Zenna Wong Photo Contributors Blaine Campbell, Steve De Neef, Jayme Lang, Pat Young, BC Wildfire Service Advertising Sales Karan Arora, Harpreet Aytan, Nina Centola, Karim Chaaban, Hau Yin Cheung, Jasmanpreet Dhillon, Hassan Elmekawy,Taryn Falislewski, Christiana Hoang, Anmolpreet Kaur, Gabriela Linck, Leo Liu, Harpreet Kaur Mahal, Rasha Abuyeres Nasser, Manisha Owan, Pawandeep Singh Sandhu, Dharminder Singh, Gurkanwal Singh, Jaskaranpreet Singh, Lakshdeep Singh, Paramveer Singh, Sarvjeet Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Vishavpal Singh, Gautam Thapar, Max Wharin Special Thanks Langara Professional Photography instructors, Library and Information Technology students, Nolan Kelly, Josué Menjivar, Guy Robertson, Mona Struthers, Crystal Wong Program Advisory Committee Trevor Battye, Alessandra Bordon, Rodney Cameron, Reanna Evoy, Nicola Humphrey, Anicka Quin, Greg Robins, Sylvia Skene, Shelley Stevens, Lindsay Vermeulen, Dusty Yurkin Circulation Karolina Filippova, Pauline Macapagal Published by Langara College, 100 West 49th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Y 2Z6 Tel 604-323-5432 Fax 604-323-5393 publishing@langara.ca langaraPRM.com

Cover Design & Illustration Jeremy Reay

ISSN: 0847-4745 © 2018 No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part, in print or electronic form, without written permission of the publisher.

Printed using recycled paper made with 10% post-consumer waste. Printed in Canada.

4 LANGARAPRM.COM

table of

CONTENTS

Masthead 4 Messages 6

ART

Reconciliation Pole Yoko Ono’s Mend Piece Vancouver’s Creative Spaces

The Coworking Movement Student Housing: Room for Rent Cartems Donuts Children on the Outside

Clothing Conundrum Fostering Friendships Through Forestry Fukushima Fallout

Alaska’s Salmon Sharks

Conferring with the Conifers

COMMUNITY

ENVIRONMENT

7 9 10

12 14 16 19

21 22 24 26 40

FEATURES

28 32 36

Dying with Dignity Transgender Health Care Province on Fire

TRAVEL

42 46 48

Don’t Feed the Whale Sharks Airports: Sky-High Stats Yoga Retreats

FOOD

50 Mukbang: Eating Solo 52 MYST Asian Fusion Review 53 Kokomo Review 54 Salmon n’ Bannock Review 55 Small-Town Cafés 56 Beer Pairings 58 Backyard Superfoods 62

End Note

MESSAGES From the Publisher

From the President th

This year we celebrate the 30 issue of Pacific Rim Magazine. I would like to congratulate the students, faculty, advertisers, and the many community partners who have contributed to the magazine’s success. We look forward to its continued growth and commitment to reporting on important social issues, environmental concerns, arts, culture, and innovation.

As we consistently experience in life, growth and change lead to periods of transition. In this issue, the students have developed a range of stories which explore this central theme. Stories include transgender health care in British Columbia, the growing popularity of coworking spaces, palliative care in the Downtown Eastside, and the impact of provincial forest fires.

At Langara we strive to grow, evolve, and innovate so we can help our students, faculty, staff, and communities navigate their own periods of transition. We do this by providing accessible, high-quality undergraduate, career, and continuing educational programs and services that meet their diverse range of needs.

This publication would not be possible without the effort of talented students in the Publishing, Professional Photography, Marketing Management, and Library & Information Technology programs. Congratulations on another successful edition.

Pacific Rim Magazine and langaraPRM.com are key components of the Publishing program at Langara College. This is the 30th issue of the magazine, which has seen many changes over the years, changes in production hardware and software, as well as shifts in attitudes and values. It is appropriate then that this year’s students have identified “transitions” as the theme for the 2018 issue of PRM. As you make your way through their skillfully crafted work, look for transitions playing out in both large and small scale.

One of the most dramatic transitions can be found in Karolina Filippova’s story “Taking the Heat,” which brings personal insights from the firefighters tasked with keeping us safe during the record-setting wildfires in British Columbia during the summer of 2017. Climate change caused exceptional weather events during the winter and spring that, combined with a dramatic weather system, ignited many of BC’s forests in the summer.

Looking at transitions on a personal scale, Jeremy Reay’s story “We Wish We Had It Yesterday” considers the barriers transgender people face when trying to access health care in this province. Continuing the health care theme, the compassion and dedication of advocates working with the vulnerable residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside during their end-of-life transition is profiled in Isabella Ruby Tak’s story “Toward the Light.”

Every year, our students put together a great magazine. PRM and langaraPRM.com have been springboards that launch many successful careers, and I am grateful to our students for sharing their stories and creative talents with us.

Lane Trotter, EdD President and CEO

Darren Bernaerdt Publisher, Pacific Rim Magazine

We are grateful to be welcomed as guests on traditional Musqueam land, where we create Pacific Rim Magazine.While editing the written work of this year’s magazine, a central theme emerged: Transition. The concept of transition surfaces in this collection through gender identity, climate change, human relationships, and the passing of life.

Every year, a new group of publishing students means a new staff of PRM, and every year the publication goes through changes of its own. We keep what continues to serve the magazine: the values in our mission statement, an attractive and readable format, and a commitment to social responsibility. The rest we rebuild.

With every period of transition we face on our own journeys, there inevitably comes feelings of discomfort and uncertainty about the future. However, these feelings often also signal the potential for new growth and positive change.

We are proud to say that this year we adapted our editorial practice to include the first Indigenous style guide for writers and editors. Elements of Indigenous Style by Gregory Younging (Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba) provides a much-needed guide to culturally appropriate and respectful practices for writers and editors. This guide’s insights have been invaluable to us.

As a group of students who (mostly) have never worked on a magazine before, we created PRM in a matter of two-anda-half months. These pages are the result of many long days, applying freshly learned knowledge.We hope you enjoy reading the magazine as much as we did making it.

As PRM launches in spring, a transitional season, we invite you to consider the multitude of ways our world is changing and embrace the concept of transition. We hope you leave feeling just a little more informed and entertained.

From the Editors

The Editorial Team 6 LANGARAPRM.COM

ART

A Better Brighter Future Standing on the UBC campus is Reconciliation Pole, carved by master carver and Haida Hereditary Chief James Hart.

Story Nicola Anderson Photography Marc de Montreuil

At over 16 metres tall, located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded land of the Musqueam people, on the campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC), stands the recently installed Reconciliation Pole. The base of the pole depicts salmon swimming, with a protective mother bear and her cubs sitting above.Toward the centre of the pole is a residential school house.

At the top sits a watchful eagle surveying the landscape. But, it is the centre of the pole that immediately catches your eye— carvings of children holding hands, representing the children who lost their lives at Canada’s Indian residential schools.

7idansuu (Edenshaw) James Hart, master carver and Haida Hereditary Chief, recalls a special moment leading up to the installation: “I turned around and looked up and there were two eagles just above the [pole’s] big eagle, and they were circling. And then I looked up further and there was 12 more.

It was amazing. They knew right away about the eagle. They acknowledged it…. They were showing their approval.”

Hart was jointly commissioned by the Audain Foundation and UBC to create the totem pole. The pole is meant to symbolize reconciliation, and to pay homage to the enduring hardships surrounding the existence of Canada’s Indian residential schools. According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, there were over 130 residential schools for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.The goal of these schools was “to eliminate parental involvement in the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual development of Aboriginal children.” This is what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission describes as cultural genocide. For Hart, Reconciliation Pole represents the hope for a better, brighter future.

Right: Detail of the centre of Reconciliation Pole. The children display their unique residential school numbers, which they were often referred to in place of their given name. Underneath, a Canadian Indian residential school house is embedded with thousands of copper nails representing the children who died in the residential school system. Nails form the shape of a skeleton at the school’s base.

Above: The top of the pole represents the time after residential schools, with a unified family, a longboat moving forward, and a powerful eagle.

When Hart received the commission, he began his search for the perfect carving tree. At his home on the islands of Haida Gwaii, in an area that had been logged out but where a handful of trees remained standing, the tree was spotted.

It was a year-long search to find this special tree—a giant red cedar, over 800 years old, and with a wide top perimeter ideal for carving.

Hart wanted the pole to honour the thousands of children who lost their lives at residential schools, and invite collaboration with other Indigenous artists across Canada. Hart and his team carved in rough outlines of the children, and Indigenous artists were commissioned to fill in the details.“I told each artist,‘this is your piece.’

It was up to the artists to choose the one [they] wanted. Some were smaller, bigger, holding hands.They would come up with really nice ideas from their territory, their style of art form,” says Hart.

The carvings of children do not have feet. Hart explains that the missing feet symbolize the fact that the children

were not grounded during their time at residential schools. Additionally, over 68,000 copper nails are embedded into the pole. In Hart’s words, “Each nail represents a child that passed away. There’s more than that but I stopped at that. I don’t think we’re ever really going to find out how many died there.”

Hart and his team spent over two years, including two winters working outside in the wind and rain, to complete Reconciliation Pole. Upon completion, the pole was barged down to Vancouver from Haida Gwaii.

On April 1, 2017, Reconciliation Pole was erected near the Forest Sciences Centre, on the south end of the UBC campus, with hundreds of people pulling on ropes to put the pole in place. While Reconciliation Pole is a reminder of the oppression that Indigenous Peoples have faced, Hart wants this work of art to be remembered in a different light: “Out of all this, we do need a future. It’s about a future for us, our youth, our people that are growing up today.” p

Magazine perfect.

Congratulations to the Publishing program student editors, art directors, production crew, as well as the advertising and marketing team for another fantastic issue of Pacific Rim Magazine.

Thoughtful. Provocative. Informed.

We’re so proud to call you alumni.

Langara Alumni & Community Engagement www.langara.ca/alumni alumni@langara.ca

8 LANGARAPRM.COM

ART

Bits of broken cups and saucers wait to be “mended” with glue, tape, and twine by museum visitors.

The Art of Mending Yoko Ono’s Mend Piece at the Rennie Museum.

Mend Piece March 1– April 15 Rennie Museum 51 East Pender Street, Vancouver, BC renniecollection.org

Story Madeline Barber Photography Blaine Campbell

Picture a long white table topped with a smattering of broken white cups and saucers as though the Mad Hatter had a particularly wild tea party, leaving no teacup unharmed. This is what you’ll find at Yoko Ono’s exhibit at the Rennie Museum in Vancouver Chinatown’s historic Wing Sang building. You might expect a famous artist’s show to be huge, crowded, and possibly intimidating, but Yoko Ono’s Mend Piece is just the opposite.

When you enter the gallery, staff invite you to sit and begin the process of mending the broken ceramics. Glue, tape, string, and scissors are at your disposal to reconfigure the ceramics in any way you see fit; no other instructions are given. Your first instinct is to rebuild a cup, but as you search for the right pieces, you soon accept that this is an impossible task.

The results of previous visitors’ creations proudly grace the shelves lining one side of the gallery. There are bundles of ceramics wrapped up in twine. Some are taped together like the petals of a flower, and others dangle off the edge like a vine. Another piece resembles a swan. The overall collection of reassembled work is eclectic, and represents the diversity of minds that created it— more interesting and thought-provoking than the original tea cups could ever be.

Mend Piece also challenges what it means to be an artist: a concept Ono has explored for decades. By inviting patrons to interact with the work, Ono breaks down the barriers between people

not considered artists and the art. It extends a hand and offers an accessible route to engage with a world that can be exclusive.

The process of mending is meditative and invites guests to interact with each other, whether by offering to hold a piece in place or supply encouragement.To others the rebuilding process blooms into a metaphor for mending other things in life: the way we search for the right pieces, accept unexpected outcomes, and reach out to others.

Part of the show includes an espresso bar in the back of the gallery, where guests can enjoy a fresh hit of caffeine and talk about their experience.The coffee station is an extension of the mending process that provides further opportunity to spend time with others and connect.

In a way, each person that comes through the gallery is working toward the same goal of recreating and rebuilding this pile of broken cups. This goal furthers Ono’s lifelong desire for peace and togetherness. Beside the rows of mended work are her words:

Mend with wisdom mend with love.

It will mend the earth at the same time.

—Yoko Ono PACIFIC RIM 2018 9

ART

Number 3 Gallery is the second incarnation of a mobile “micro-gallery,” previously named Number 2 Gallery.

Creating Space Can an arts community survive in one of the most expensive cities in North America?

Story Madeline Barber Photography Sam Robertson

Tessa Reed remembers molding clay with plastic bags over their shoes in the backyard shed of James Black Gallery.

The shed was uninsulated and its patchy roof did little to protect Reed from the city’s relentless rain. This was the choice: wear several coats and plastic layers, or forget about ceramics. Since then Reed has moved the studio into the basement of James Black Gallery, away from the elements. It’s an improvement, but in Vancouver’s real estate market, it is likely only a short-term option.

As studio prices continue to climb, development consultant Michael Ferreira is calling high rents the “new normal,” as reported by the Vancouver Courier in an October 2017 article. Higher rents pose a problem for artists and those who want to live in an art-filled city.

10 LANGARAPRM.COM

“Space is an issue that’s constantly being discussed,” says artist and curator Jennifer Dickieson. “So many spaces go because the rent is too expensive.

There’s high burnout too, because everyone is working seven jobs—it’s a very Vancouver thing.”

Vancouver artists aren’t the only ones struggling. Rent for studio and gallery space in art-centric cities like San Francisco is increasing. It’s no longer Jack Kerouac’s “Frisco,” in which a generation of painters and poets had the luxury of affordable spaces. Instead of lounging about on fire escapes, many artists gather after their second job in order to share eviction stories.These stories are of experiences shared from San Francisco to Vancouver, and across the Pacific Rim to other expensive cities like Tokyo.

Creative Solutions Leave it to artists to come up with creative solutions to near-impossible rents. For example, in July 2017, Karen Hansen organized a series of art events called Sky Island. The shows required no walls at all as she used the rooftop of a Chinatown building as a showroom. “People talked about Sky Island all year. We were all climbing ladders up there. It was magical,” says Dickieson.

Sky Island was created as a direct response to the unaffordability of space, and even though it was beautiful and whimsical, the gallery was not viable during Vancouver’s wet months.

Standing at nearly 50 centimetres tall is Number 3 Gallery, another innovative approach to housing constraints, designed and built by Emily Carr graduates

Marika Vanderkraats wears a pair of homemade bread slippers. The piece, titled Companion, is by Vanderkraats and Gloria Avgust.

Julie Mills, Julia Lamare, Pongsakorn Yananissorn, and Logan Mohr. Number 3 is a mobile “micro-gallery”—essentially a square box with windows and a wooden frame. The micro-gallery travels between different locations in Vancouver. All graduates have a hand in its design and coordination. Number 3 Gallery is a tongue-in-cheek meta-piece of work itself, one that forces you to consider the conditions artists are working with in the city.

Instead of thinking small, Tokyo artist collective BCTION went big. As artists in another expensive city, they recognize the importance of space—even if it’s just temporary. The collection took over an abandoned office building, which is now the site of a multi-floor art gallery. A video on their website bction.com presents a shot of each floor from the outside. As the camera pans down, it reveals a lavender room filled with yellow balls on one floor, black and white murals on another, and rooms with dim lighting and musicians on the other floors.The once bland interior bursts with life.

These wall-less, tiny, and temporary solutions are delightful and innovative, but they are not sustainable or flexible.

Leading the Way San Francisco’s rising rents forced many artists to move farther out to Oakland and surrounding areas, but the community has claimed a new zone to keep emerging artists in the city. The new arts district is

DoReMi, which combines the names of the different districts Dogpatch, Potrero Hill, and Mission.

Three large warehouses anchor DoReMi’s arts community, thanks to the philanthropic efforts of art collectors Deborah and Andy Rappaport. Since opening in 2016, the building houses galleries, a restaurant, shopping, and arts classes. The profits all go back into the warehouse centre.

The Rappaports recognized the need for rent-controlled spaces where artists don’t have to scramble to make ends meet, and they recognized that they were in a position to do something about it. Their vision for the new space is one with a sustainable economic model that will continue to serve the arts for future generations.

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Meanwhile Back in Vancouver “Everyone is taking off,” says Megan Jenkins, a board member for Access Gallery and curator for SAD Magazine’s Disposable Camera Show. Because of this, she says it’s more important than ever to foster a community where people feel like they can stay here.

Perhaps enough artist-pioneered action and public support for rent-controlled spaces could help galleries and studios safely take root. A sustainable model like San Francisco’s DoReMi district could put Vancouver on the map as a city to visit for arts and culture, not just mountains and ocean. p

1481 Kingsway Vancouver, BC V5N 2R6 Phone: 778.657.5330 www.markarianfineoptics.ca PACIFIC RIM 2018 11

Collaborate, Connect, Cowork Modern spaces are redefining how freelancers get down to business.

Story Sabrina Loeprich Photography Ana Fassina

Coworking spaces allow independent professionals (freelancers, entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals) to work alongside one another on their separate projects while sharing a common space.

Coworking spaces are spreading rapidly across the globe.

According to Statista, the number of coworking spaces has grown from a mere three to 13,800 worldwide from 2005–2017.

According to the 2016 Global Coworking Survey conducted by the Global Coworking Unconference Conference, 27 per cent of coworking spaces in Canada, and 35 per cent of coworking spaces globally, had been in existence for less than a year.

Vancouver, BC, a hub for freelancers, has many coworking spaces popping up around the city, which is fortunate considering the high cost of the city’s real estate and rental spaces.

Whether it’s a daily drop-in, a weekly pass, a monthly membership, or a private desk, coworking spaces make it easy with flexible options. Members are entitled to the perks of amenities such as high-speed Internet, free printing, private meeting rooms, kitchen facilities, and much more. Some spaces, such as The Network Hub, with several locations across BC, offer health plans. Other spaces, like Suite Genius, located in both Mount Pleasant and Kitsilano, let you bring your dog to work.

“Here, in particular, you have everything,” says Anja Jane, studio manager and member at The Aviary in East Vancouver.

“You have a place where, if you have clients coming, it looks like a bigger, more professional operation than having them around in your living room.”

Design seems to be key in communicating the ethos of open concept, high-tech coworking spaces. Take, for instance, Werklab Inc., where you step into a high-ceilinged, open concept space with fresh white walls and accents, trendy furniture, contemporary art, and big windows overlooking the Strathcona neighbourhood of Vancouver.

Open concept, however, isn’t without its issues. “I guess in any open plan environment, you don’t have full privacy.

So, while it doesn’t bother me, maybe it would bother other people… but there’s also so many benefits to working in an open-plan space,” Jane explains.

For some, work ethic and style may improve due to the influence of peers and physical environment. Jane describes how her artistic style has changed since working at The Aviary. “I’ve always worked in art spaces with other artists, but here it’s more professional interior designers, architects… and so I think that has influenced my work. It’s a much more clean aesthetic that I don’t know I necessarily had before.”

There is also more freedom, as a lot of coworking spaces are open 24 hours a day. Dakota Park, co-founder of Space Coworking in Whistler, explains “Access is something we have really focused on. Given the active lifestyles of our members, we

Design seems to be key in communicating the ethos of open concept, high-tech coworking spaces.

12 LANGARAPRM.COM

COMMUNITY

Left to right: From private offices to comfy couches, a variety of spaces at Suite Genius accommodates all working styles.

Gustavo the dog is one of many canine companions welcome in Suite Genius. Check out his Instagram @gustavothedog.

wanted to ensure that the space was accessible 24/7 and that it provided all the amenities that would help to create a productive and creative environment.” Membership access to coworking spaces allows creative professionals the flexibility they need.

Community connection is another reason why individuals thrive in coworking spaces. Mitchell Purdy, owner of Suite Genius, explains the positive connections that develop in coworking spaces, “A surprising amount of time you do see people work together. You see those connections quite a bit, it’s cool to watch.” There are plenty of opportunities to mingle, bounce ideas off one another, and join forces with professional peers.

Park says his favourite thing about coworking spaces is the energy, “This is something that you just can’t get in a coffee shop or a library. When likeminded people come together, all working toward great things, something amazing happens. Plus, it’s great to meet new people on a regular basis.” Park’s vision for Space Coworking was to create an inspiring and comfortable atmosphere that encourages collaboration.

In fact, many coworking spaces host socials to encourage interactions among members. Purdy explains, “We have a few select things we do to try and encourage membership collaboration. We try to enforce happy hours, some member dinners and stuff, and they’re great. It allows people to be like, ‘Oh hey, that’s the person I’ve been sitting next to for a month but haven’t said hi.’”

For the nomadic types that hop from city to city, coworking spaces provide a much needed alternative from working in coffee shops. Digital nomad Jacob Young, head of operations for Clever Zebo, has worked for over three years using coworking spaces in places like Mexico, Spain, Colombia, and Portugal.

Young prefers coworking spaces over cafés for the reliable Wi-fi, and the professional, quiet space where he can make phone calls. He also enjoys the strong sense of community and social activities these spaces foster.

“Social activities are always a plus,” says Young. His all-time favourite coworking space is Siembra Coworking in Medellín,

Colombia, “On top of the usual amenities, they have a cool community and social activities like yoga and pub crawls.” Using coworking spaces can be a great way for digital nomads to get their work done while meeting new people during their travels.

There is also an international connection between many coworking spaces. For instance, Suite Genius is part of a global initiative called Coworking Visa, whereby mobile workers can travel and work in over 200 participating locations across the world. As a participating location, Suite Genius members are entitled to one to three free days at any of the Coworking Visa locations around the globe.

What does the future look like for coworking spaces? Purdy explains, “People aren’t having to sell the idea of coworking as much anymore. The shift is happening, people are starting to work from their computers more, work remotely more, which allows for a coworking space to help out.”

Coworking companies are making headlines as they become major players in real estate markets globally. In a Bloomberg article written by Jack Sidders and Giles Turner, WeWork, a global network of flexible workspaces, is about to become the largest renter in London, England. And Spaces, an Amsterdam coworking space, signed the largest rental deal in September 2017 in Hong Kong, according to South China Morning Post’s article by Sandy Li. Most of the coworking spaces in Vancouver are at full capacity. Coworking spaces offer amenities, a convenient and flexible lifestyle, and opportunities to network and collaborate with peers. It’s no surprise that the demand is there, and when the demand is there, the spaces will follow. Could it be that one day the coworking movement will surpass the traditional office? Where will you work? p

“When like-minded people come together, all working toward great things, something amazing happens.”

Below: Members of Suite Genius hosting a social in the communal kitchen.

PACIFIC RIM 2018 13

COMMUNITY

Room for Rent High rental prices in Vancouver are a challenge for international students.

Story Clare Stebbings Illustration Sabrina Loeprich

In March 2018, the apartment-finding website PadMapper reviewed 1,207 rental listings in Vancouver, finding that “the average rent for a studio apartment is $1,600, and the median rent for a one [bedroom] apartment is $2,000.” Vancouver has one of the most expensive rents in Canada.

The high rental costs in Vancouver pose challenges for international students who have fewer options. Langara international student Ravleen, who is from India says, “An international student has to pay for the rent whether it is expensive or not.They don’t have any other option to live anywhere else.”

Vancouver’s pricey rents force many students to work, but for international students this comes with the added challenge of applying for a work visa. Navpreet, another Langara international student from India says, “I have a friend; when she first came here she just came on a study visa, so she had to apply for a work permit. She can’t work without a work permit.”

For international students, tuition fees are already costly when compared to those for Canadian students.Working while studying means that international students have less time to 14 LANGARAPRM.COM

experience Canadian culture, which is one of the reasons they choose to study abroad.

However, finding cheap rent isn’t the only challenge. With low vacancy rates in Vancouver, international students may encounter scams while trying to find affordable housing. An August 2017 article in The Georgia Straight, titled “BC Students Caught in Vancouver’s Housing Crunch,” reports the problems international students face when using websites such as Craigslist.

Listings for cheap accommodations either show small, dingy basement rooms for rent or are posted by fake accounts that ask for payment up front. Scams can be hard to spot if listings are not written in the student’s native language, or if the rental process is different from what the student is used to.

The affordable housing crisis affects everyone already living in or looking to live in Vancouver. However, if the crisis continues to worsen, there’s the possibility that international students who cannot afford Vancouver’s rent will seek education elsewhere—with BC institutions losing out on considerably higher tuition payments. p

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Dreams and Donuts At Cartems, people come first and donuts come second.

Story Sabrina Loeprich Photography Stephanie Hansen

When travelling over 16 years ago, Jordan Cash woke up from a dream about owning a donut shop. He even dreamed of a name for his shop: Cartems. In Vancouver, that name has now come to mean delicious artisanal donuts.

Upon his return from travel, Cash completed a 16-month MBA program at the University of British Columbia, partnered with Chef Rags, and the two opened a pop-up shop that became very popular. Fast forward to today—that small team and modest pop-up shop has now grown into an enterprise of over 50 employees and three prime Vancouver locations.

Investing in People The reason for Cartems’ success could be attributed to their delicious donuts, such as their apple fritter, Earl Grey, or vanilla bean, to name a few standouts. But according to Cash, the success 16 LANGARAPRM.COM

COMMUNITY

of Cartems really comes down to the staff: back shop bakers and storefront greeters, donut slingers and coffee makers. “It all became clear that sustained success and legacy come from enrolling in people. Investing in people. I genuinely believe that if you focus on that and treat them like they matter, they will come into work understanding why they are there. That’s where your success comes from,” Cash explains.

For Cash, it’s not about squeezing every last penny out of his employees or making them work faster and harder. It’s not about being short-sighted and thinking about profits for a day or even a week. “None of that stuff is nearly as important as putting people first. I don’t see that a lot. While I imagine that there are some businesses that [practise this], I don’t think it is the norm.”

The Cartems Legacy What will Cartems’ legacy be? Hopefully, it will be about how they put people first (all the while serving a good donut). Cash hopes university business classes will one day refer to Cartems as a company with a business model that is unlike any other business; a model that future businesses will implement. Cash is aware that his staff won’t be at Cartems forever. “People don’t get a job front-of-house and say, ‘Mom, Dad, I’ve made it!’” he laughs. “And as much as I wish that everyone stayed, I get that that is not the case. So, it behooves us to do everything we can to make our people the best they can be and arm them with valuable skills and the right information for when they go on to their next job. That way they can exceed and excel further down the road in life…. Go forth and be awesome!”

Cartems’ motto is “Smiles. Conversations. Donuts.” And based on what Cash has to say about his company, you can expect just that: friendly, smiling faces, meaningful conversations with their awesome staff, and, of course, decadent donuts! p

Donut slingers Kira Pratt (left), Miya Kosowick (above), and Lillian Fong Hoon (below) are all smiles while working at Cartems on Main street.

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COMMUNITY

Children on the Outside Who is responsible for ensuring proper care and future opportunities for children of incarcerated parents?

Story Josh Hillaby Illustration Jeremy Reay

“Bright, shiny little pennies” asking questions and brimming with potential. That’s how Elizabeth Fry Society (EFry) Executive Director Shawn Bayes describes children first introduced to the programming available at EFry for the children of incarcerated parents. By the child’s next visit, the changes that come along with their parents’ incarceration have come to affect how they feel about themselves, and they struggle with behaviour and social relationships.

Many of the children Bayes describes will lead lives marked by violence, addiction, and poor life outcomes. In fact, researchers Beth Huebner and Regan Gustafson find that “the odds of an adult arrest were more than two-and-a-half times greater for those whose mother had served time in prison.”

Hope Exists The intergenerational cycle of incarceration and its daunting challenges are all too familiar to social work organizations, as documented by the Oregon Social Learning Center psychology researchers J Mark Eddy and John Reid. The children can be aggressive or antisocial, and are fearful or hostile towards authority, limiting the help they can receive from counsellors and support workers. It is easy to see these children as beyond hope and help, but the pioneering work of EFry proves that hope does exist.

The JustKids program, run by EFry of Greater Vancouver, is the first of its in BC kind and offers children of incarcerated parents the childhood experiences they often miss.The program runs a Saturday club and an annual summer camp for children ages six to nine. As program founder Bayes explains, these special

PACIFIC RIM 2018 19

programs allow the children to bond over a shared understanding become obstacles to their adjustment. Bayes provides an example of of what it is like to have a parent in jail. She frequently hears from how this stigma affects children, pointing out that parents often ask children that the programs allow them to make their first friends. their children’s new friends about their parents upon first meeting For older kids who want to stay involved in the program, them. Perhaps on a subconscious level, this question serves to test the camp counsellor training program offers a chance to take on whether this child is a suitable new friend. If the child answers the responsibility of leadership. For Bayes and the professional that their parent is in prison, the prospect of future playdates will counsellors who organize the camp, trusting teenagers to look be unlikely. The children notice patterns in such responses, and after 250 children at a wilderness location is difficult, but the trust internalize a shame that becomes expressed in behavioural and that went into this decision was not misplaced. Upon entering emotional problems. training, the teenagers are “surly, a little snarly” and don’t seem Another consequence of stigma comes in the form of what like they will have the patience to look after a bunch of highly Catherine Huth, chair of Langara College’s Department of stimulated and “accident-prone” young Criminal Justice, calls the “labelling effect” campers, says Bayes. She recalls seeing of incarceration. The labelling effect The most important change that one counsellor react with patience and could benefit children of incarcerated causes people marked by their crimitenderness when asked to get up to nal history to see themselves as criminals individuals is a societal shift in attitude and criminal activity as a viable option in repeatedly take campers to the bathroom during the night.When she asked their lives.This effect also influences their that starts with ordinary people. the counsellor about his long night, he children, who may model themselves after simply said, “If it was me, I would really want someone to be their parents, and thus are more likely to see criminality as a valid there.” Such displays of compassion by the young counsellors solution to the obstacles they face in life. were frequent, as they experienced their first encounter with Bayes is firm in her belief that such harmful effects on the world of responsible adulthood. a child’s self-worth are avoidable. She explains that the most important change that could benefit children of incarcerated Families Should Stay Together individuals is a societal shift in attitude that starts with ordinary Despite urging from groups such as EFry, the Canadian govern- people. A child should feel free to talk about their experiences, ment does not officially recognize these children as a marginal- express their needs, and know that there is nothing wrong with ized subgroup. As a result, Canada is behind other countries in them. Along with efforts to strengthen the family unit, provide creating policy initiatives designed to reduce the risks posed help and education to parents, and offer opportunities for essential to children and families by incarceration. A 1990 report pub- childhood experiences, these changes have enormous potential lished by Correctional Service Canada, titled Creating Choices: in ensuring that no child is left alone on the outside. p The Report of the Task Force on Federally Sentenced Women, revealed that the availability of programs focused on family strengthening and responsible parenting for convicts was insufficient.

Correctional Service Canada recognizes that the situation has not improved significantly. Even harder to find in most communities are government programs specifically aimed at children of incarcerated individuals.

Despite these gaps, some social programs create positive conditions for Canadians to gain employment and avoid resorting to crime. Canadian social service policies are based firmly in the belief that families should stay together. Bayes explains that the child welfare and social services systems provide adequate help for these children on a systematic level. Rather, the real changes that need to occur are cultural.

Societal Shift The difficulty ex-convicts experience when seeking employment and housing reveals a strong social stigma surrounding incarceration.

The effects of these difficulties trickle down to their children and

20 LANGARAPRM.COM

ENVIRONMENT

A Fitting Solution A second life awaits worn and torn clothing.

Story Linda Ng & Alice Chang Illustration Samantha McCready

In the era of cheap clothing, Canadians are buying on average 70 new pieces of clothing annually, according to a CBC Marketplace documentary that aired January 2018. Increased consumption is leading to increased waste. A March 2018 study, Unravelling the Problem of Apparel Waste in the Greater Vancouver Area, says that as of 2015, Canadians disposed of 500,000 metric tonnes of clothing annually, while people in BC collectively tossed out 40,000 metric tonnes, half of which was generated by Vancouverites. In response, Vancouver has implemented a 2040 Zero Waste Strategy Plan that includes zero textile waste.

Many people donate their clothing to the second-hand store chain,Value Village. What people often don’t know is that their donations do not have to be in perfect condition. A Value Village survey reported that over 50 per cent of respondents said that they threw away clothing because they were unsure whether the organization would accept it or not. The company accepts clothing that can’t be sold as-is, and pays other charities to bring in clothing (even damaged clothing) for processing. You can find a directory of other clothing recyclers in your area that accept torn clothing on websites like earth911.com.

Tatyana Mikhailova, a front-end sales supervisor at Value Village, says that clothing that is unable to be sold is sent to overseas companies that may want to use the fabrics for the production of their merchandise. According to smartasn.org, your worn or torn clothing may become insulation for a car or most commonly become carpet.

Value Village and similar stores are a good option, but if you’re still attached to that ripped T-shirt or torn jeans, there are other options. Local organizations such as Repair Matters and the Vancouver Fix-It Collective host events to teach people how to repair items, including worn clothing. p PACIFIC RIM 2018 21

New Roots The enrolment of Chinese transfer students is helping the forestry program at UBC to thrive.

Story Alice Chang Photography Danika Lee

Chinese transfer students discuss data (above) and examine tree rings (opposite) at the Forest Sciences Centre, UBC.

The face of post-secondary forestry education in Canada has changed in the past 20 years due to demographic and economic shifts. The Faculty of Forestry at UBC has adapted and succeeded, thanks to a global outlook on forestry education that includes exchange programs with India and Africa, and an undergraduate transfer program with China.

“When I first came to UBC in 1999, I had the distinct impression that no undergraduates, very few graduates, and remarkably few professors really understood what was going on outside of British Columbia,” says Dr John Innes, dean of UBC Forestry since 2010. Hailing from Scotland, and with work experience in both Europe and Canada, Dr Innes arrived at UBC with an international perspective on forestry issues.

The insular nature of Canadian forestry education in the 1990s was symptomatic of a larger crisis. A 2006 report in The Forestry Chronicle described a negative feedback loop during the mid-1990s to mid-2000s, where public perception of the forestry sector as an environmentally unfriendly industry led prospective students to go elsewhere. Continuing trade disputes with the United States over softwood lumber made a career in forestry even less appealing. Forestry programs shrank as undergraduate enrolments dropped, and the low numbers of graduates further threatened the forestry workforce. The report called for a coordinated national strategy to save post-secondary forestry programs from closing.

Dr Innes did not wait. In 2002, he started developing a transfer program to help increase undergraduate enrolment at UBC Forestry, while providing students in China with much needed forestry skills. He and his team negotiated with the Chinese Ministry of Education until the first class of students was officially welcomed in 2012 at Nanjing Forestry University.

Partnerships now include three other forestry and agriculture universities in China.

The relationship between Canada and China over forestry education started in 1980 when China re-established relations with Western countries. A 2013 article in Canadian and International Education describes how the Canadian International Development Agency helped China rebuild its science and technology sectors and post-secondary institutions, which were decimated by the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). According to a 2013 article in The Forestry Chronicle, Canadian forestry

ENVIRONMENT

program deans visited China and helped to revamp the country’s more comfortable being taught by someone younger like him, fire management and forest management programs. In assisting whereas they had felt intimidated by the older and more presChina with higher education, Canada set itself apart from other tigious faculty members.

Western countries that tended to provide only basic and nonBy the time the transfer students arrive at UBC, their English formal technical education. has improved, but their field skills are lacking. Dr Patrick Culbert, Nearly 40 years later, the Chinese transfer program and an a landscape ecologist and instructor, runs a foundational field updated forestry curriculum are helping UBC Forestry. “We school where he takes students to Pacific Spirit Regional Park have been able to boost our numbers of students,” Dr Innes near the UBC campus. “The Chinese students... don’t have the recounts, “which has meant that some programs that we would field skills that students used to,” he says.“Even a lot of Canadian have had difficulty justifying now have sufficient numbers of students say they haven’t been backpacking or camping, so I think students to justify them.” UBC Forestry’s 2016 annual report it’s people just being more urban. And [a lot of] the Chinese stustates that 1,023 undergraduates enrolled for the 2016–2017 dents... come from urban areas. In their forestry education in academic year—the highest number since the enrolment crisis. China, they rarely go outside. It’s almost all classroom based.”

According to Dr Innes, around 180 Chinese transfer students Of UBC Forestry’s three traditional programs, more transfer were enrolled, which constituted about 18 per cent of the under- students specialize in wood sciences than in forest resources graduate population. management or forest sciences. What the Chinese students do In the Chinese transfer program, students complete two or with their UBC education after they graduate is information that three years of university at home before transferring to UBC is still being gathered.With the graduating class of 2017, Zhu says, Forestry for the final two years. Faculty members from UBC go “Some are still looking for jobs, some of them are working for to China several times a year to teach. Xinxin Zhu, program man- forestry companies in BC or Alberta, some of them went back ager for Asian Strategies at UBC Forestry says,“We hope students to China, and some of them are doing their gap year.” can understand the BC and Canadian When asked what the greatest context before they transfer to UBC.” accomplishment of the Chinese transThe insular nature of Canadian She also says that the faculty members’ fer program is so far, Dr Innes sums forestry education in the 1990s was visits help the students understand the up his observations. “I think it’s the symptomatic of a larger crisis.

UBC style of teaching. broadening of the understanding Teaching staff from UBC Forestry within our faculty—and that’s amongst originally included only the dean and department heads, but faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students—of the now includes an instructor and qualified graduate students with importance of the international arena.... We’ve had some quite teaching experience. When PhD candidate Allen Larocque was underestimated knock-on effects because we now have this asked if he wanted to teach in China, he jumped at the oppor- cohort of people with a good understanding of BC forestry, tunity. “I’ve always wanted to go to China; it’s been one of my who are bilingual in English and Chinese, working for forestry dreams since I was a kid,” he says. companies, and that’s a huge trade advantage that no other Although the instructors from UBC Forestry taught at dif- province and no other country really has. And I think that has ferent Chinese universities, they had similar experiences. They really helped the BC forest sector survive what has been a pretty discovered that the students’ English proficiency was lower tough time.” than expected, and that the Chinese lecture format differed According to an April 2017 article in The Globe and Mail, from the Canadian “flipped classroom learning experience.” China is Canada’s second largest export market for softwood The students were not used to presenting material in front of lumber, with BC leading the way in lumber sales. The forestry their peers, questioning opinions, or breaking into small groups ties between Canada and China appear strong and will likely for activities. Larocque also says that the Chinese students felt continue for years to come. p PACIFIC RIM 2018 23

ENVIRONMENT

Scientist Faces Fallout Professor Jay Cullen discovers how reporting safe radiation levels off the BC coast leaves some people dissatisfied with the results.

Story Alice Chang Illustration Sabrina Loeprich

Chemical oceanographer. Aspiring astronaut. Family man.

Dr Jay Cullen of the University of Victoria is affable and articulate and is passionate about his work. He has also received death threats.

Through public forums and media interviews, Dr Cullen has become the Canadian face of research that is determining how radiation from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster travelled across the Pacific Ocean. He and his colleagues published their latest findings in the September 2017 issue of Environmental Science & Technology, and concluded that the radiation threat to the BC coast is negligible.

Following one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded, the Fukushima disaster in Japan involved the largest unplanned

release of radiation into the oceans. Tsunami waves reached BC within hours, and tsunami debris arrived throughout the years afterward, prompting prolonged fears about contaminated food and water.

To allay public health concerns, Dr Cullen started the Integrated Fukushima Ocean Radionuclide Monitoring (InFORM) network in 2014 to gather samples and report results as data became available. Scientists and health experts from Canada and the United States, and citizen scientists who live along the BC coast, participate in InFORM. The network will continue its monitoring efforts until 2019.

Not long after the first results were posted, the backlash started. A 2015 article in The Globe and Mail describes how

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Dr Cullen became the target of personal and vitriolic online attacks. His critics refused to believe the low radiation levels— either the science had to be wrong or he had an agenda.

“Initially it was just shocking how individuals who have never met you can have such an acute hate for you,” Dr Cullen laments. “I strive to be very diplomatic, and I think of myself as a relatively good communicator when it comes to science.”

He says he has now learned that certain people will always have strong opinions, even in the absence of objective evidence.

Scientists researching contentious subjects often become the focus of hate campaigns. A notable example is Dr Michael Mann, a climatologist at Pennsylvania State University. He had published the famed hockey stick graph showing rapidly rising

global temperatures during the twentieth century that likely reflected the rise in human-made greenhouse gas emissions.

According to The Guardian in 2012, Dr Mann had faced sustained harassment by climate change skeptics.

Despite such hostilities, scientists like Dr Cullen are compelled to continue with their work. “For every bad comment you get,” he says of his own experience, “there’s probably hundreds or thousands of people who appreciate the efforts of our whole team and respect the work that’s been done, and use the information as it was intended.”

A March 2018 study published in the Canadian Journal of Chemistry by a different research group confirms Dr Cullen’s findings of negligible radiation on the BC coast. p

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What About the Salmon Sharks?

Do a local diver’s observations and a lack of recent scientific research foreshadow a diminishing population of salmon sharks?

Story Nicola Anderson Illustration Jed Rivada

An old Alaskan tale tells of small charter planes flying above Prince William Sound, with an aerial view of thousands of salmon sharks thrashing at the water’s surface below. However, Daniel Boone Hodgin has a more recent observation: “My [guess], just with all the work that we’ve done—there’s maybe 50 sharks in existence. It’s really quite bad.”

Hodgin, shark wrangler, expedition leader, backcountry guide, divemaster, US Coast Guard boat captain, and owner of Alaska Shark Diving at Ravencroft Lodge, has an affinity for salmon sharks and has built his entire Alaskan diving career around them.

Hodgin has helped major television networks such as Nat Geo Wild, The Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, PBS, and BBC to capture video footage and photographs of these underwater creatures. Since 2003, Hodgin has been observing the sharks underwater and noticed a dramatic decline in their population.

Salmon Sharks The salmon shark (Lamna ditropis) is native to the North Pacific Ocean, ranging as far west as the Sea of Japan, and east along the coast of North America from California to Alaska. As explained by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, salmon sharks are endothermic creatures, which means they can generate internal heat. Their warm muscles contract faster and allow them to be agile and fast in the cold waters of the Gulf of Alaska, where they can live all year round. On average, salmon sharks weigh between 115–180 kilograms (up to 450 kilograms at their largest size) and grow as long as 3 metres. At its largest size, the salmon shark can be mistaken for a small great white shark, but the jaw structures differ between these two species. The jaw of the salmon shark is narrower, and has several rows of razor sharp, half-inch-long teeth that are perfect for feeding on salmon, herring, sablefish, gadids, rockfish, and squid.

On the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) website, on a scale from “extinct” to “least concern,” the 26 LANGARAPRM.COM

salmon shark is listed as the latter. Regarding the salmon shark’s status, the IUCN states: “With the current ban on commercial fishing in Alaska state waters and fairly conservative sport fishing limits, it appears that the population is stable.”

However, Hodgin says the IUCN’s conclusions are based on research that had been done on salmon sharks during the early 2000s, a time when the population of salmon sharks was healthy. In simple terms, no significant research on salmon shark populations has been done in the past decade.

Knowledge Gap In an article titled “Shark Aggregation in Coastal Waters of British Columbia,” published in 2010 by the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series, the authors studied salmon shark populations in Queen Charlotte Sound from 2004–2006. The report states, “Shark populations in Canada’s Pacific waters are poorly understood, and information on their population size and status is required to understand the role of top predators in marine ecosystems and to inform conservation and management efforts.”

Jackie King, research scientist at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), says, “Sharks are one of the suite of species for which there is a definite knowledge gap.” This gap is reflected in the IUCN database, which in 2000 said that information on salmon sharks is “data deficient.” Throughout the scientific literature, there is a common theme: more research needs to be done.

Diminishing Population When Hodgin and his wife started to build their wilderness lodge in Prince William Sound in 2003, he says there were hundreds of salmon shark sightings, and the sharks were easily spotted.

Shortly thereafter is when Hodgin believes salmon sharks were beginning to be overfished. In email correspondence, Hodgin says, “In 2005–2007, shark fishing was hot in Alaska. [In] 2008,

ENVIRONMENT

we did not see a single shark. Fast forward to 2012, we saw 5–8; Call to Action 2013, 10–12; 2017, 30 sharks. These are not exact numbers, but To protect salmon sharks, we must take action. In the book give a good estimation on what was occurring and what we Sharks of the Open Ocean: Biology, Fisheries, and Conservation, witnessed on a first-hand account. I see the population growing the authors say there is a great need to document and obtain (slightly), but at this rate it will take decades to see the numbers detailed bycatch records in order to foster responsible manreturn to what we saw in 2003.” agement of salmon sharks. The authors of the article “Shark To further his point about diminishing salmon shark popu- Aggregation in Coastal Waters of BC” concur:“We recommend lations since 2003, Hodgin continues: “…[There were] charter that a dedicated Canada-US sightings and biological sampling boats going out, catching six sharks a day over 45–50 days, and program be considered, perhaps under the UN Transboundary there were probably 20–30 boats doing that.Well, the reason they Species Fishery program.” stopped fishing for [salmon sharks] was because they couldn’t Sharks are an important part of the ocean’s ecosystem. In find them anymore.” a 2017 interview with inquirer.net, Gonzalo Araujo, execuState law in Alaska says that each person can catch two sharks tive director for Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute per year. As stated by the IUCN, commercial fishing for all shark Philippines, says “Sharks maintain healthy ecosystems. They species in Alaskan waters has been illegal since 1997, but sport pick on the old, the diseased, the weak, ensuring appropriate fishing is currently permitted. A report population levels and promoting species from the DFO Canada, titled “Codes of You can imagine our oceans like a game diversity by fulfilling their role as apex Conduct: Shark Encounters,” explains You can imagine our oceans of Jenga. When one piece is unstable, or predators.” that shark populations are vulnerable to like a game of Jenga. When one piece overfishing and to fishing-induced mor- taken away completely, there is the risk is unstable, or taken away completely, tality, which includes entanglement in that everything around it will fall apart. there is the risk that everything around it nets and accidental capture (also known will fall apart. as “bycatch”). Salmon sharks become victims of bycatch when Hodgin shares his concerns: “What’s nerve-racking is they feed on species that are fished commercially. Hodgin says, that one shark fishing charter boat, over the course of the “Although they don’t target sharks, commercial fishing is prob- week, could kill off the population that is returning to Prince ably more damaging mostly from bycatch. This is the elephant William Sound.” Hodgin says he has been trying to get more in the room when it comes to the commercial fishing industry updated research on salmon shark population numbers, but just about anywhere.” has had little traction.

Dr William Cheung, associate professor at the Institute for The lack of recent scientific literature surrounding salmon the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia, sharks should be a call to action. How can we know for agrees that salmon sharks are potentially more vulnerable to sure that salmon shark populations are currently stable? How overfishing based on this species’ slow life history. Dr Cheung can we ensure ongoing conservation efforts of our sharks? Who says, “Basically, it means that the population cannot replenish is willing to step up to the plate and fill in the knowledge themselves quickly enough to given rates of fishing.” gap on salmon sharks? p PACIFIC RIM 2018 27

At May’s Place Hospice in the DTES, a quilt is placed on the recently passed and later placed on their bed in remembrance.

Thanks to advocates in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, vulnerable populations have better access to end-of-life care.

Story Isabella Ruby Tak Photography Zenna Wong

D

eath will certainly touch us all. But our final encounter with this last act of our existence—our own dying—is often influenced by our social circumstances. Most of us envision the ideal death where we are surrounded by loved ones in the comfort of our homes, or cared for by health care professionals in clean, white rooms.“[We] want to have ‘beautiful everything’—it’s very designer,” says Dr Susan Burgess, a medical doctor who has provided palliative care to many of her dying patients in the Downtown Eastside (DTES).

For some in the DTES you could say death is all too present. This is where marginalized residents are dying at eight times the national average rate, according to a 2015 University of British Columbia (UBC) study. In 2012, a Journal of Urban Health study about the DTES vulnerable population found that the causes of higher mortality are complex, but include “high rates of HIV-AIDS, hepatitis C, and illicit substance use among precariously housed, mentally ill, and homeless individuals.”

Another factor that contributes to DTES vulnerable populations being more susceptible to poor health outcomes is their lack of trust in health service providers.

“Providing services for patients in the DTES can be challenging as many of them suffer from past trauma and abuse, while many more continue to face ongoing suffering,” writes Dr Steven Yau, a DTES family physician, in a 2016 issue of UBC Medical Journal. “Trust in physicians can be difficult to gain, with [irregular] care and sometimes… violent patient behaviours.”

With the complex health, housing, and trust challenges faced by the DTES marginalized population, providing access to dignified end-of-life care becomes

important. So, what is end-of-life care and hospice palliative care?

How well do these services meet the high-demand, complex needs of the DTES vulnerable population?

Palliative Care Models End-of-life care and (hospice) palliative care are relatively recent concepts, notes Dr Robert Fowler, a clinician scientist at the University of Toronto, in his 2013 article “End-of-Life Care in Canada,” published in the journal Clinical Investigative Medicine.

He cites the Canadian Institute for Health Information, which defines end-of-life care as “care for people in decline who are deemed to be terminal or dying in the foreseeable (near) future.”

Hospice palliative care, according to the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA), “is aimed at relieving suffering and improving the quality of life for persons who are living with, or dying from, advanced illness or are bereaved.”

The CHPCA goes on to define palliative care as a “special kind of health care for individuals and families who are living with a life-limiting illness that is usually at an advanced stage.”

In Canada, palliative care services are provided either in the home, hospital, or hospice facility. Most people want to be in the comfort and familiarity of their own home for as long as possible. If they become ill, they will go to hospital for treatment.

After treatment, they may return home, stay in hospital care, or move on to hospice care. Hospice care is usually for the last few months of life.

Canadians are fortunate to have publicly funded hospice palliative care services. However, accessing those services is not always equitable. A 2012 study in BMC Palliative Care on the end-of-life care system for the homeless population reports,“We kind of rightly or wrongly think palliative care and hospices are for [all of us].… We are assuming the poor will automatically get in but, because there is often a cost component, sometimes [they] are left to die on the streets.”

According to a 2012 Canadian study published in the Palliative and Supportive Care Journal, additional barriers to endof-life care for vulnerable populations may include “homeless people and people with persistent mental illness.”

Hospice palliative care delivered at home is available to the DTES vulnerable population only if they have a residence, such as a single-occupancy room in a residential building. Hospitals are also an option but may not always be a good fit for the DTES vulnerable population. According to the 2012 BMC Palliative Care article, hospitals have operational policies that prohibit illicit drug use by patients while in care. This means that drug addicted vulnerable people are often turned away from accessing treatment. So, who can the DTES vulnerable population turn to for help?

DTES Advocates Dr Burgess is a medical doctor with almost 30 years of service to the DTES vulnerable population. She is well acquainted with their health needs, including access to end-of-life care. When she arrived in the early 1990s, Dr Burgess says the Downtown Community Health Centre (DCHC) was the only free-standing clinic in the area. She currently works at the DCHC, though at that

time the DCHC mostly cared for the elderly and was only open during regular business hours. But many of the DTES vulnerable people were not living business hour lives, says Dr Burgess.

Dr Burgess recalls a sudden and rapid rise in mental health cases among DTES residents during the 1990s. The mental health issue in the DTES arose after the deinstitutionalization of patients in psychiatric hospitals. She says that former patients would often end up in the DTES where they would become introduced to injection drug use and in three months would become infected with HIV. Because of the rapid increase in people becoming sick, Dr Burgess said that more outreach services had to be developed because mainstream emergency departments were being overwhelmed.

Despite the high mortality rate in the 1990s, Dr Burgess says, “I [felt] very privileged that I found this area…. I [was] interested in HIV and palliative care for a very long time.” She was able to start working with the Vancouver Native Health Clinic, which is where she learned how to help the DTES vulnerable population.

To succeed in caring for vulnerable patients with different challenges, Dr Burgess found that care staff needed to build strong relationships and trust with patients who normally could not ask for help or easily accept it. She says,“People were too sick to come to a clinic…. It could also take months to get someone to open their door [to us], but we would get there.”

May’s Place opened at a critical time when the HIV-AIDS epidemic ravaged the DTES. Dr Burgess says, “We had people dying so quickly that May’s Place staff simply told us to bring our people in on a gurney.”

Trust was often built by home care nurses, sometimes referred to as street nurses, who could make a difference in delivering life saving care. Bonnie Fournier was a street nurse who worked at the Vancouver pretrial cells during the late 1990s. In a 2013 interview on CBC Radio’s The Early Edition, shortly after Fournier’s passing, a colleague remembered her as “a fearless advocate for marginalized women.... She had the ability to make them feel important, equal, and certainly worthy of medical care.” The work of advocates like Fournier had a positive effect on the health of many vulnerable people in the DTES. An early advocate, May Gutteridge, founded the St James Community Service Society in the DTES in 1961. In 1990, the Society established Western Canada’s first hospice, which would later be named May’s Place.

May’s Place opened at a critical time when the HIV-AIDS epidemic ravaged the DTES. Dr Burgess says, “We had people dying so quickly that May’s Place staff simply told us to bring our people [from the DCHC] in on a gurney.” With only six beds, May’s Place staff would then care for the gravely ill until they died.

The story of one patient stands out. Dr Burgess recalls a young man, an injection drug user with AIDS who was in his room, suffering from septicemia (virulent blood poisoning) with

Above: A note on the “Who made your day” board at May’s Place.

no medications. He had refused hospital care but Dr Burgess and hospice care staff were able to convince him to go to May’s Place. She explains that she has had similar experiences with other patients who had to be convinced to go to May’s Place.

Upon arrival, they are welcomed by the fireplace, and then are offered a shower. When she sees the patients later in the day, clean and warm, she says they often tell her, “This is amazing….

This is like heaven.”

The name of every person who has died in the care of May’s Place is remembered in a book. By each name is a memento: a patient’s photo, or their writing, or a driver’s license. Every patient is cherished, remembered, and counted at May’s Place.

May’s Place Today “May’s Place is not about dying; it’s about [living],” says manager Michelle Sutherland, a remarkable, upbeat social worker who knows the DTES vulnerable population well. She notes that May’s Place cared for 80 vulnerable people in 2016–2017.

Sutherland also talked about a harm reduction approach to encourage dying patients to abstain from illicit drug use, if they can, during their last few months of life.

Sutherland spoke about the resilience of some vulnerable people who come to May’s Place. She recalls one man who stayed for a few months after his health rallied. He stopped using illicit drugs. He began writing in a journal, and started talking with a social worker at May’s Place who helped him come to terms with his life’s journey. The patient was able to reconnect with his family, and he died surrounded by people who cared.

In the end, death is the great equalizer and will take each of us, regardless of who we are. Death can be harder on those who are less fortunate, but advocates like Gutteridge, Fournier, and Dr Burgess open our eyes to the end-of-life stories of the vulnerable population. Only then can we become compassionate and begin conversations about equitable access to end-of-life care. p PACIFIC RIM 2018 31

We Wish We Had It

Yesterday

BC’s transgender community faces barriers accessing publicly funded health care.

Story Jeremy Reay Illustration Sabrina Loeprich

“I always played sports with the guys at work. I put on some shoulder pads, a helmet, and some gloves to play road hockey. It was an epiphany that I was putting on a different suit of armour. I was putting on a different skin and it felt comfortable. I felt like I fit in. I felt male.That’s what set me off and why it didn’t happen until I was 52 years old,” recalls transgender BC radio broadcaster James Gardner on his decision to transition to a man seven years ago.

Transgender Folks Transgender people—folks whose gender identity or gender expression differs from their assigned sex and gender at birth—face considerable barriers when accessing trans-competent primary care, assessments, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries. Canada’s publicly funded health care system, while not perfect, is deeply entrenched as a source of national pride. However, for transgender British Columbians, access to essential gender affirming procedures is anything but universal.

Hormone therapy and gender affirming procedures are considered life affirming and medically necessary by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).

Steered by over 1,500 professionals,WPATH provides evidencebased standards of care for health care providers around the world.

“This is not cosmetic,” says Gardner.“For some [transgender people] it is life changing and life saving. There is a lot of suffering that is caused when you grow up in the wrong body. It causes depression, it causes isolation, and it’s hard to go out into the world without having to take your body with you.” Gardner adds that it is important to remember that not all transgender people wish to have surgery. Although, for some individuals, gender affirmation procedures are essential for well-being.

Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) Montréal is currently the only clinic in Canada that performs critical “lower” male-to-female (MTF) and femaleto-male (FTM) gender affirmation surgeries.With a team of three trained surgeons, GRS Montréal is the only choice for BC residents who wish to have the out-of-province surgery covered by the province’s Medical Services Plan (MSP). For individuals requiring “upper” chest masculinizing and breast construction procedures, there are just five surgeons in BC who perform them.

Those within the transgender community who wish to have surgery are faced with a complicated assessment and referral process.

There are also lengthy waitlists due to a high demand for lower body surgery from individuals across the country.

Additionally, there is a limited number of upper body surgeons on the West Coast.

For residents of BC, the first step in receiving MSP funding for gender affirmation surgery is to have patients work with a primary care provider who is often a family doctor. The primary care provider guides patients through hormone therapy and refers them to a qualified surgical readiness assessor. The assessor ensures that all patients are prepared for surgery and will have the best possible post-operation outcome. However, finding a trans-competent physician can be difficult, further impeding access to vital procedures.

Unfortunately, primary care providers who specialize in transgender health care are not common in BC, particularly outside of major urban areas. Primary care providers may not have all the answers for transgender health inquiries; they may lack experience and understanding of transgender patients and their medical concerns. A recent study by the Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre (SARAVYC) found that patients often have to “self-advocate” by doing their own research about transgender health-related procedures, and often depend on others that have accessed transgender health care.

“Primary care providers are so essential because they are the first point of contact in the health care system—they are the people that are going to be able to advocate for you—to have a provider that is fighting on your behalf if there are any obstacles that are going to come up,” says Dr Hélène Frohard-Dourlent, a member of the SARAVYC team at UBC’s School of Nursing.

Complications also arise during the surgical readiness assessment, prior to any upper or lower procedure. Assessments are conducted in line with the WPATH Standards of Care and are a requirement enforced by surgeons prior to procedures.

However, the assessment criteria can be diverse and dependent on the assessor. “Every assessor has a different idea of what they consider real-life experiences, which is one of the qualifications for having gender confirmation surgery,” explains Nicola Spurling, transgender rights activist and president of the Tri-Cities Pride Society. “My assessor viewed that as being on

hormones… whereas other assessors may say that you must be dressing as a woman, which then brings up the question of how does a woman dress?”

The SARAVYC report, titled “Experiences with GenderAffirming Surgery in British Columbia,” found that there is a lack of clarity in the assessment process. Forty per cent of respondents had a challenge finding an assessor in BC and a wide variation was seen in standards for assessments, with many respondents having mixed experiences in terms of how useful they found the assessments. “I think the lack of consistency in the province is one of the reasons why navigation continues to be really complicated,” says Dr Frohard-Dourlent, co-author of the report.

The transgender and non-gender conforming community point to the need for more support and coordination on the West Coast. “They should be doing surgery in BC. Montréal is far away and there is a geographical barrier,” says Gardner, who has navigated the pathway to surgery at GRS Montréal. Spurling adds, “If you were to have post-surgery complications or a fever in the middle of the night, you can’t go see a trans-friendly nurse; you have to go to the emergency room. And there are so many horror stories about trans people and how they are dealt with in our medical system at large.”

Access to Care Even when patients have successfully received treatment at GRS Montréal, they are faced with costs that are not covered by BC’s MSP. Transportation to and from Québec for the surgery and any pre-operation evaluations are not covered by the public health plan. Further, any expenses

required for recovery, but not a part of the hospitalization period, are not publicly covered.

Fortunately, Hope Air, a non-profit organization that covers airfare costs for low-income individuals seeking medical care away from home, has donated airline tickets to transgender people in need. For many transgender individuals in BC, Hope Air is the only option to get to out-of-province appointments and procedures. However, donations are not guaranteed.“[Hope Air] is a life-saving service because they allow people to get access to Montréal, but even beyond having to pay for your own ticket, they are very intense, significant procedures,” says Dr Frohard-Dourlent, referring to the challenging recovery period that occurs when individuals return to BC post-operation.

Access to health care that sufficiently meets the needs of transgender and non-gender conforming folks is mired with a daunting array of hurdles. Luckily, BC is helping to lead the way.

More transgender health services and gender affirming care will soon be accessible on the West Coast.

Trans Care BC In 2015, the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) consulted the transgender community, clinical experts, and stakeholders. After careful consideration PHSA created Trans Care BC, a program dedicated to enhancing the synchronization of transgender health services and support across the province.

According to their mission, Trans Care BC has a coordinating team of navigators, which includes nurses and a part-time physician, who work alongside service providers and community contacts from across BC to help people find care and support as close to home as possible. The Trans Care BC program creates a central organizing body, where health professionals and transgender individuals can access transgender health information by telephone, in person, or online, via the Transgender Health Information Program website.

Trans Care BC’s vision seeks to strengthen existing health services, including the creation of new ones that will improve access for transgender people. According to Lorraine Grieves, Trans Care BC provincial program director, the program is doing some significant groundwork to reduce wait times and improve access for upper surgeries conducted in BC. “Trans Care BC is working with existing surgeons who currently provide [upper surgeries], while streamlining and making improvements to the referral process, making sure there is consistency in some of their practices,” says Grieves. As of January 1, 2018, Trans Care BC

has taken on the responsibility of coordinating chest and breast gender affirming surgeries, previously organized by Vancouver cosmetic surgeon, Dr Cameron Bowman.

Additionally, Trans Care BC has been able to work with the Ministry of Health and local surgeons to add extra surgeries, allowing waitlists to move at a swifter pace.“We are also training more surgeons this year to take on upper body surgeries, so within the next 12–18 months we will see more surgeons offering that care and in more regions than the current two regions that have upper body surgeries. That is the concrete, short-term activity that we are working on,” adds Grieves.

Looking Forward The long-term goal for Trans Care BC is to have a surgical centre created for Western Canada, which will address many of the complications with out-of-province procedures. The program has submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Health on how a comprehensive surgical program could provide better access for BC residents. However, this is a distant prospect. The program remains focused on infrastructure to enhance access in the interim, which will ideally serve as a model for other provinces to replicate if successful.

Although the program is still in its relative infancy, many community members see it as a step in the right direction. Dr Frohard-Dourlent sees the creation of a central coordinating body as a symbolic achievement and one that will, hopefully, have a chain reaction across the country. “The positive thing is that the very creation of Trans Care BC sends the message that the province—the Ministry of Health—is aware of the specific needs of this population and is committed to financially supporting changes surrounding transgender health in BC. And I think that’s not something we have seen in other parts of Canada.”

For those who have been transgender health navigation pioneers, a comprehensive surgical centre in Western Canada is a bittersweet dream. “I’ll probably be on my way by then, but I hope future generations can have a centre here in BC and have the capacity to have people go in from day one to get hormone treatment, to get counselling, to have regular physicals, to have people working with them through the surgical process, to have their assessments done, to have their surgeries, and to have a one-stop shop,” says a hopeful Gardner.

“For most of us we wish we had it yesterday, but I think we are getting there.” p

TRANSGENDER

RIGHTS Pacific Rim within the

In 2017, members of the transgender community watched on eagerly as the Parliament of Canada passed Bill C-16, adding gender identity and expression to the Canadian Human Rights Act. Although Canada is leading the way for transgender rights, other countries in the Pacific Rim are also making progress in a positive direction.

Chile September 2016 Senate Human Rights Commission approved bill to recognize gender identity of transgender people.

Mexico May 2016 President Peña Nieto introduced bill to legalize same-sex marriage, to remove sexual orientation and gender identity as barriers to adoption, and to recognize gender identity.

Philippines June 2016 The House of Representatives began consideration of House Bill 267, the “Anti SOGIA (Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity) Discrimination Act.” If approved, the Act will criminalize discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

Vietnam November 2015 National Assembly approved bill to legalize sex reassignment surgery, and introduced the right to legal gender recognition for transgender people.

Source hrw.org/news/2017/06/23/ human-rights-watch-countryprofiles-sexual-orientation-andgender-identity

PACIFIC RIM 2018 35

Taking the Heat

In 2017, BC had the worst fire season on record.

Firefighters battled the flames night and day to keep people safe and reduce damage.

Story Karolina Filippova Photography BC Wildfire Service

I

t’s 10pm on Canada Day, in the small community of Harrison Hot Springs. Vic Upshaw’s unit crew of 20 firefighters gets called in to fight a nearby fire that has already consumed several hectares. An initial attack team had assessed the fire and asked for help. Upshaw knows a fire of that size would take some time to put out. So the firefighters travel with their tents, camp within a kilometre of the flames, get bitten by mosquitoes, and wake up early to spend as much time as possible on fighting what would become known as the Harrison Lake fire.

Worst Fire Season on Record According to the BC Wildfire Service, the summer of 2017 was the worst fire season on record. The total area of burned forest was more than 1.2 million hectares, which is almost 10 times more than the annual average for the past decade, covering an area more than twice the size of Prince Edward Island. It is estimated that the fires displaced over 65,000 people and many lost their homes and possessions.

Several factors played a role in the severity of this fire season.

Kelsey Copes-Gerbitz, a PhD student at UBC, studies ecological and cultural components of forest fires. She says the winter of 36 LANGARAPRM.COM

2016–2017 was extraordinarily wet, which led to higher amounts of ground vegetation that later dried out and became fuel for the fires. She adds,“On July 7, which was the day that most of those fires started… a dry lightning storm went through the Interior, and that started upwards of 130 new fires in a two-hour period.

To react to something like that…. Where do you even begin?”

Ryan Turcot, information officer at the BC Wildfire Service, says over 4,700 firefighters and other specialists—from fire-cause investigators to air tank officers—were deployed to fight the BC wildfires in the 2017 season, which is almost three times the average number of workers brought to service during previous fire seasons. Despite the challenges and danger, they managed to handle the situation effectively; there were no fatalities among the local residents or the fire crews.

The Challenges The Harrison Lake fire posed problems for the firefighters because of the steep terrain. Upshaw says when the slope turns into cliffs, the fire gets inaccessible from the ground, which means the crews can’t directly attack it. Instead, they used air support, such as helicopters and air tankers but, as Upshaw says, those methods don’t put out fires.What they can do is lower the

The Elephant Hill fire in BC’s Interior burned for 76 days in the summer of 2017.

fire intensity and slow down the rate of spread, which can buy firefighters some time to build bulldozer guards and connect them to natural fire breaks, like lakes or ponds. This strategy helps prevent the fire from spreading, so it’s easier to work toward extinguishing it. That is what Upshaw’s crew did on the Harrison Lake fire, along with monitoring it 24 hours a day.

to carry the water from the lake up along the mountain to the top. It is a challenge because water is very heavy.”

Like their counterparts who work in cities, forest firefighters have access to water trucks and fire hydrants.

Wildland and urban (structural) firefighters cooperate closely, for example, in the case of “interface” fires, when flames spread from buildings to the woods and vice versa. To safely contain a Fire Triangle blaze inside a building, proper protective equipment is needed, In the wildfire industry, the term “fire triangle” is widely and that’s where structural firefighters can offer their support. used to describe the three components needed to start a fire: Upshaw notes, “Everything burns by the way, even metal.” fuel, heat, and oxygen. The best tool against fires has always Teamwork is essential when it comes to emergency response, been water; it removes all the parts especially when the forest is burning of the triangle by wetting down the on the border with communities and “Fire triangle” is widely used to fuel, reducing the temperature, and is rising. describe three components needed urgency eliminating oxygen. Getting water to The key to fighting rapidly spreading the fires is one of the biggest challenges to start a fire: fuel, heat, and oxygen. wildfires is to get to them while they firefighters face. Upshaw explains how the are still small. Nigel Burrows, senior Harrison Lake fire was tackled: “There was a whole lake at the protection officer with the BC Wildfire Service, explains how bottom in the valley; it’s a massive lake. There’s tons of water. firefighters know when a fire becomes uncontrollable:“When it’s The challenge is that the water is at the bottom, and the fire is not one or two trees at a time, but it’s actively burning as a wall of at the top of the hill. We have different tools for that. Primarily flame going through the tops of the trees, it begins to propagate. we use pumps and hoses. We configure them in different ways So, sparks or even just radiant heat cause the next tree to catch fire PACIFIC RIM 2018 37

and so on….When you have a wall of fire, or a crown fire, that’s not controllable.” He notes that in 2017 some of the fires in the Cariboo grew more than 20 kilometres in a day. All firefighters can do in the case of such uncontrollable crown fires is try to lower the intensity by deploying air tankers, and applying retardant around nearby structures to keep the residents safe and reduce property damage.

Rugged Terrain The steep and rugged terrain of BC makes many fires inaccessible from the ground. In this case, the BC Wildfire Service would deploy “rapattack” crews, firefighters who rappel from helicopters to directly fight the fires in remote locations. Jeremy Neufeld, a fire crew supervisor with the BC Wildfire Service’s rapattack program describes his schedule, “We don’t often know the next day what we’re going to do. We can get a call late at night saying, ‘Hey, you got a mission tomorrow.’ If I haven’t got a call, one of the first things I do is I fly around in a helicopter (I don’t pilot it, but I travel in a helicopter) to check everything and make sure all of our equipment is there, that it is good to go; the crews’ bags are loaded, so when we do get the call, all we do is load up and go.” He says there are hazards associated with most of the things they do, but the greatest focus is required when the crews rappel down to the fire and the pilot is holding the helicopter in a hover position while making sure that the rotors are not hitting the trees.

The People Firefighting is a very physically and emotionally demanding job.

Long hours, tough conditions, and unpredictability of the fires can come as a shock to someone who is unprepared. Getting up before sunrise, being away from family for weeks, and performing gruelling physical work are just a few challenges forest firefighters face.

How do they manage to do their job well? And what makes them choose it in the first place? “Maybe we just enjoy punishing ourselves,” says Upshaw,“but it’s fun. It’s enjoyable in a sense that it feels good to get out and work outside.We do a lot of preparation and training.We don’t start just the day the fire happens; we start in spring, and we make fitness part of every day.” Upshaw says he does this job because of the firefighting family that he has been with for over 20 years. He adds, “The reason why we can do that is because there’s trust; there’s support; we’re not alone.

Even when you have some heavy lifting to do, whatever that is, if you’re struggling on your own, in this business you don’t even really have to ask [for help].”

The support firefighters give to each other goes beyond just one crew. It surpasses provincial and sometimes even national borders. It’s common practice in the wildfire industry to share resources when needed. Last summer, firefighters from as far as New Zealand and Australia came to BC to help the local crews.

Upshaw recalls, “An interesting thing that I’ve discovered over the years is that although these different organizations have different uniforms, maybe a different language or a few things that are just slightly different… these are the same people I work with every day; they are just from another country. [Firefighting] 38 LANGARAPRM.COM

attracts a certain type of person; those traits are pretty universal and it’s just awesome.” Neufeld mentions an agreement between BC and Alaska to share firefighting resources. He has been to Alaska twice and says that travelling to help local crews is one of the most beneficial and rewarding experiences a firefighter can have.

It’s common practice in the wildfire industry to share resources when needed. Last summer, firefighters from as far as New Zealand and Australia came to BC to help the local crews.

The summer of 2017 took a toll on BC residents, forcing thousands to flee from the fires and millions to breathe in the dense smoke and live without the sun for over a month. But, with the help of incredibly hard-working people who are ready any time of day or night to protect communities from fires, we can sleep tight. Upshaw finishes the story about the Harrison Lake fire on a positive note: “Fortunately, it cooperated, and the rains and snow came. We did an infrared scan of it several times, made sure we knew exactly where the hot spots were, and ultimately the fire’s out.We’ve been monitoring it this whole time.The last few times we checked on it, we didn’t find any heat—we felt comfortable that the fire was extinguished, and we called it out.” p

At the Elephant Hill fire, a firefighter uses a drip torch to burn fuel and create a control line that will prevent the wildfire from spreading.

FIRE FACTOR Story Max Wharin Wildfires play an important role in BC’s ecosystem. In fireprone environments, regular surface fires are normal and keep grasslands and forests in check, preventing fuel from building up. Without naturally occurring fires, vegetation on the forest floor accumulates and creates what is called “ladder fuels,” according to UBC fire ecologist Dr Lori Daniels in a 2017 Branchlines article. Ladder fuels are problematic with denser forests and a shorter distance between the canopy and the underbrush. “Instead of having predominantly surface fires, these fires will have greater chances to climb into the crown of trees likely leading to higher intensity and severity fires with consequential impacts on local social and ecological system,” says Raphael Chavardes, PhD candidate in forestry at UBC. Species diversity is also essential to limiting fires in fireprone environments. A report from a Canadian Forest Service publication, The Mountain Pine Beetle: A Synthesis of Biology, Management, and Impacts on Lodgepole Pine, says that without fire, conditions become favourable for lodgepole pines to grow uninterrupted. Once large stands of lodgepole pine

begin to age, conditions become optimal for mountain pine beetles to attack as the trees weaken.

Variations in areas where fires occur from season to season can affect which trees dominate certain areas. In the book Fire Ecology: United States and Southern Canada, the authors write that if a fire passes through a primarily Douglasfir forest, the fire will promote the establishment and growth of ponderosa pine. This is because ponderosa pines have a thicker bark and deeper roots that can withstand fire better than the Douglas-fir.

Despite the potentially catastrophic impacts of large fires, flora such as the ponderosa pine have adapted and thrived in naturally fire-prone landscapes. In the field guide Trees of Western North America, the authors write that healthy stands of ponderosa pines typically experience “ground fires at intervals that average between two and 20 years.” After a fire has passed through the forest, the scorched soil beneath the tree is an optimal area for seeds to germinate, which allows ponderosa pine forests to regenerate.

PACIFIC RIM 2018 39

Research Alice Chang, Josh Hillaby, Max Wharin, & Samantha McCready Illustration Jeremy Reay

BC is known for its verdant conifer forests. While its trees can be affected by various factors, they can also shape their own habitats in surprising ways. Fire is one major factor that can affect the state of an entire forest.

Pseudotsuga menziesii Habitat: Found along the south coast to the Rocky Mountains.

The species can occur as pure stands or in mixed conifer forests.

Height: 25–100 m Diameter: 60–440 cm

Callitropsis nootkaensis

In many conifer forests, Douglas-fir competes with ponderosa pine for space, sunlight, and nutrients. Forest fires can give ponderosa pine an advantage because of its higher tolerance to fire, according to a study in the Journal of Range Management.

Habitat: Found along the entire coast to the Coast Mountains.

Usually present in wet habitats in mixed conifer forests but sometimes in pure stands.

Height: 15–40 m Diameter: 30–200 cm Although yellow cedar’s thin bark offers little resistance to fire, fire is not a factor in yellow cedar’s wet habitats, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Fire Sciences Laboratory database. Yellow cedar will establish itself in a burned area via wind-dispersed seeds from adjacent unburned areas of forest.

40 LANGARAPRM.COM

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Pinus ponderosa

Habitat: Found along the south coast, but mostly present in the mountains of Int­ erior BC. The species can occur as large pure stands or in mixed conifer forests.

Height: 18–72 m Diameter: 80–250 cm Ponderosa pine is resistant to low-intensity fire. As reported in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research, fire-scorched soil beneath the ponderosa pine helps seeds to grow and for the pine to regenerate into new forests.

Pinus contorta Habitat: Found along the entire coast to the Rocky Mountains. The species can occur as large pure stands.

Height: 6–50 m Diameter: 30–90 cm Lodgepole pine cones will open when heated by a forest fire, and this species is usually the first to grow in a burned area.

Without fire, lodgepole pine can grow old and weak and become susceptible to attacks by the mountain pine beetle, according to the Canadian Forest Service.

Sources Tree identification information from Familiar Trees of North America, West and Trees of Western North America.

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TRAVEL

Don’t Feed the Whale Sharks Whale shark tourism in a coastal town in the Philippines is good for the local economy, but bad for the whale sharks.

Story Jed Rivada Photography Steve De Neef

The coastal town of Oslob, located at the southern tip of the island of Cebu in the Philippines, was once a sleepy village. But, the government of Oslob’s 2012 decision to approve the feeding of whale sharks has turned Cebu into a popular tourist location.

The island of Cebu is one of 7,000 islands that make up the Philippines. Getting to Cebu is fairly easy. Upon arriving in Manila, tourists can book a connecting flight to Cebu and from there, they can take a three-hour bus ride straight to Oslob, the launching place for whale shark tourism.The cost of interacting with whale sharks varies for locals and foreigners, ranging from $60–$100 per person. Whale shark interaction is a unique and rare wildlife activity, as whale sharks are known to travel great distances to reproduce and search for food.They are rarely seen in captivity.

In early 2017, marine wildlife conservationists from around the globe condemned the practice of shark feeding, saying it harmed the whale sharks by altering their migration patterns, natural behaviour, and eating habits.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, “...approximately 75 per cent of the global whale shark population occurs in the Indo-Pacific.... In the Indo-Pacific, a population reduction of 63 per cent is inferred over the last three generations (75 years).” Therefore whale sharks are listed as endangered by the IUCN. This means that whale sharks need to be protected to prevent possible extinction. In Oslob, the whale shark tourism industry is still operating even though the species is nearing extinction.

Food Provisioning The ideal nutritional requirement for whale sharks is still unknown because their diets can be diverse. According to the 2015 PeerJ research article, “Learning from a Provisioning Site: Code of Conduct Compliance and Behaviour of Whale Sharks in Oslob, Cebu, Philippines,” the authors write, “Whale sharks are large opportunistic filter feeders in a mainly oligotrophic environment, where the ability to use novel food sources by

Fishermen and tourists observe a whale shark below the water’s surface in Oslob, Philippines.

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modifying their behaviour could be of great advantage.” An oligotrophic environment is one that is naturally low in nutrients; thus, food provisioning can alter whale sharks’ feeding patterns.

According to the 2017 Royal Society Open Science study,“Feeding the World’s Largest Fish: Highly Variable Whale Shark Residency Patterns at a Provisioning Site in the Philippines,” providing wild animals with food to increase sightings for tourism is a widespread and controversial practice.

Its impact on the animal’s natural behaviour and welfare is misunderstood, as the practice can also lead to the whale sharks’ reliance on human feeding.

Human Contact and Interaction In order to operate Oslob’s whale shark tourism, a code of conduct was established.

According to the 2015 PeerJ study, there is only three per cent compliance with the regulations in Oslob, suggesting high tourism pressure on whale sharks. For instance, resident sharks in Oslob are noted to have callouses on their skin caused by boat contact. Dr Arnel Yaptinchay, director of Marine Wildlife Watch Philippines, says, “In general, all fish have protective mucus around them so human contact will destroy that protection, making them vulnerable to infection.”

A solution that has been suggested by experts is to use fibreglass vessels that have Below: Tourists swimming with whale sharks.

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a smoother surface to prevent callouses from forming on the sharks’ skin whenever they are hit. According to the 2015 PeerJ study, “Population Structure and Residency Patterns of Whale Sharks, Rhincodon typus, at a Provisioning Site in Cebu, Philippines,” propeller scars were observed on 47 per cent of whale sharks. The collisions occur because villagers from coastal villages use small motorized vessels near waters where the whale sharks forage.

“In general, all fish have protective mucus around them, so human contact will destroy that protection, making them vulnerable to infection.”

Alteration of Migration Patterns Whale sharks are known to gather in a handful of different places each year with fairly predictable timing. These movements are linked to feeding and, to some extent, reproduction. Whale sharks in Southeast Asian waters are known to migrate seasonally.

Dr Wade Smith, post-doctoral fellow at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia says, “The typical pattern is still unknown. But some changes in individual behaviour are occurring. The consequences of extended

stays at the provisioning sites are unknown, but it appears that the consistent provisioning of food is altering the behaviour of some sharks.”

Sustainability of the Practice Although whale shark tourism may seem successful, long-term strategies need to be devised. According to Dr Smith, “This wildlife activity can continue long-term if the community recognizes that risks to whale sharks represent risks to their livelihoods. Most whale shark tourism does not involve feeding, and education to the general public will be key in moving forward.”

Dr Yaptinchay also explains, “When we talk about conservation, we talk about the precautionary principle that, even if it’s not proven that these activities will not be harmful to a protected species, you should still not do it.” Management plans traditionally have been based on this principle, which aims to take preventative actions, even if there is no scientific evidence that proves that provisioning of food in any way is harmful to whale sharks.

Fortunately, whale sharks are not only found on the coastline of Oslob. Some migrate seasonally to the coasts of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, Donsol Bay in Sorsogon, and Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte, where these sites are used for research, which means provisioning of food is not allowed.The research sites are practising sustainable wildlife interactions with the absence of food provisioning. In contrast to the controversial practice in Oslob, in these areas, researchers snorkel with whale sharks and follow from a two metre distance when the sharks gather in the area.

Education for locals and tourists is key to sustainable tourism in Oslob. Educating people on how whale sharks live, and understanding their natural behaviour instead of bribing them with food in exchange for tourist revenue, are essential.

Food provisioning alone may not harm the whale shark’s life expectancy, but all of the scientific evidence shows that whale sharks become reliant on humans as their source of food. Compliance to the precautionary principle is an ideal solution to avoid long-term harm to an already endangered species. p

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TRAVEL

A Modern Escape Yoga retreats are a way to escape the daily grind while connecting with yourself and your community.

Story & Photography Nicola Anderson

Yoga retreats are a great way to take

time off from the stresses of daily life, while simultaneously engaging in activities that benefit both mind and body. Retreats can vary from a short weekend to a week or two stay. Classes offered during retreats can be specific to one style of yoga, such as vinyasa (a flowing sequence of yoga asana in coordination with breath), or restorative (the use of props in restorative yoga asana to encourage mental and physical relaxation).

From Bowen Island to Mexico According to Kerr McLeod, a Vancouver yoga teacher and retreat organizer, yoga retreats offer the most fulfilling travel experiences. “The opportunity is incredible,” says McLeod, as he describes the yoga 48 LANGARAPRM.COM

retreat he organized in Mexico. “The house that I found—there’s a chef that cooks local organic vegetarian meals; you wake up with fresh squeezed juice and coconut water.” Attendees of McLeod’s retreat get access to more than just a daily yoga practice. They have a week to shut off from the stresses of everyday life: all the meals are included, and the retreat space is on the waterfront.

If you are craving the warmth of a tropical sun, McLeod offers his yoga retreats at Copal Retreats, a privately owned oceanfront retreat space in Tulum, Mexico. McLeod describes the space as heaven on earth. It includes waterfront accommodations, fresh organic food, endless activities, and supportive staff.

Retreats can also be found closer to home. Feelosophy is a style of yoga classes that encompasses restorative poses with hands-on massage and live music.

Feelosophy also runs group classes, corporate classes, and teacher trainings in Vancouver and Toronto, as well as weekend getaways at Nectar Yoga B&B on Bowen Island. The Nectar Yoga retreat space has a magical feel to it, and is tucked away in a quiet corner on Bowen Island, with a separate yoga dome to practise in.

More than Just a Yoga Retreat For McLeod, community connection is the most valuable aspect of yoga retreats.

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Britt Elizabeth Arnet, RMT, waits to begin a Feelosophy class in the yoga dome at Nectar Yoga B&B.

as opposed to being on a solo vacation.

I’ve gone travelling by myself and at a certain point you kind of wish you were sharing these experiences with other people,” says McLeod.

The best part of the yoga retreat experience is that you are surrounded by like-minded individuals. Not only does practising together in a group help for the sake of motivation, but when you spend all day together, you can create close friendships by the end of the week, McLeod explains.

Yoga retreats provide guests with the full comprehensive experience: a vacation, time to de-stress, daily yoga practice, amazing food, a beautiful location, and community connection. p PACIFIC RIM 2018 49

FOOD

Eating Solo New social phenomena provide options for South Koreans who dine alone.

Story Tiffany Chu Photography Michael Luo

A traditional Korean meal normally consists of seven different dishes that are shared amongst a group of people. In South Korea, eating out alone used to be impossible because of how meals were prepared in restaurants, which were focused on serving large groups of people. But now a cultural shift has begun, and it is more common for people to eat out by themselves. Companionship in South Korea has now shifted from physical interaction to the screens of people’s phones.

In an article released by the Yonhap News Agency based in Seoul, “The single-member households have... the largest portions of all households since 2008…” According to data released by the South Korean Ministry of Interior and Safety, the number of singleperson households reached 7.39 million out of the 21.2 million households in South Korea. This shift from families to single-member households has driven individuals to find other types of companionship.

Due to the increased number of single-member households, restaurants in Seoul are now beginning to accommodate the single eater. This new phenomenon is called honbap, which translates to eating alone, and restaurants such as Seoul’s Dokgojin support this cultural shift in Korea. “Dokgojin caters specifically to people who, either by choice or lack of options, are eating alone,” Steven Borowiec, an editor stationed in Seoul, states in his article with koreaexpose. com. TVs or iPads are commonly found in each booth in restaurants like Dokgojin.

These provide entertainment for those who eat by themselves.

50 LANGARAPRM.COM

According to a honbap video made

by Sarah and Kyuho on their YouTube channel, 2heartsand1seoul, honbap culture is starting to spread to other activities such as honsul (drinking alone) and honyeong (watching movies alone). Sarah and Kyuho show how South Korean culture has shifted by taking viewers into a honbap restaurant. Single people in South Korea now have the opportunity to go out comfortably by themselves without feeling ostracized for being alone.

Mukbang Another form of digital companionship for people who eat alone is mukbang.

Mukbang is a live-stream video where a broadcast jockey (BJ) eats a large amount. Af reecaTV, a South Korean video-streaming service, has embraced this culture and is now the breeding ground for BJs who specialize in mukbang. These BJs

Single people in South Korea now have the opportunity to go out comfortably by themselves without feeling ostracized for being alone. provide companionship to the solo diner by allowing interaction with their viewers through live-stream videos. According to an article from National Public Radio, BJs can earn up to $10,000 per video from the support of their viewers, which is why people have invested in creating mukbangs. BJs also offer different types of entertainment by incorporating elements like cosplay, or challenges such as eating 20 packs of ramen in one sitting.

A famous mukbang BJ, TheDiva, made the news at Time, Daily Mail, and CNN, for earning over $9,000 a month on her videos. Her petite figure contrasting with the large amount of food she consumes in her live-stream videos has captured the attention of 1.5 million viewers to her channel and has earned the support of 48,000 donors.

Another BJ, Aebong-ee, known for her signature snapback cap positioned on the side of her head, has a bright smile and energetic humour that have gained her a following on YouTube and AfreecaTV. With a large plate of deep-dish pizza, a side of chicken wings, and tteokbokki (a Korean rice cake dish), she entertains her audience with dances and jokes as she consumes large amounts of food.

Similarly, BJ Ummma, known for his friendly smile, and for being energetic and polite, often interacts with his viewers and provides different genres of videos, such as gaming videos, in addition to mukbang.

With the rise of new eating trends such as honbap and mukbang, people no longer need to make plans to see one another to have a meal. Instead,

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Broadcast jockeys create a community for people who eat by themselves so that they can dine alone, together. These options provide both human companionship and entertainment while suiting each individual’s needs. p

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

myst Asian Fusion Story Alice Chang Photography Zenna Wong

To succeed in the Asian restaurant landscape of Metro Vancouver, an eatery must stand out. myst certainly does that, and has survived its first year in business. Far from the traditional Chinese restaurant design featuring dragon and phoenix motifs, myst showcases a modern interior with chrome and dark wood trimmings, and ethereal blue lighting.

The menu boasts a wide variety of Taiwanese favourites, along with a generous selection of standard Chinese dishes from the Szechuan, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces. Also featured are Malaysian laksa noodle soup, Korean kimchi egg fried rice, Japanese snacks and desserts, and Balinese butterfly pea flower tea. myst makes popular Chinese dishes that are both tasty and visually appealing.

For example, beef noodle soup is a Taiwanese staple. myst’s version does not disappoint, with thin noodles and beef tenderloin in a deep bowl of savoury beef broth.The steamed pork soup dumplings

Above: Steamed Pork Soup Dumplings Below: myst Beef Noodle Soup

myst Asian Fusion

2–6400 Kingsway, Burnaby BC myst6400.com 52 LANGARAPRM.COM

(known as Shanghai juicy pork buns at other establishments) come in a bamboo steamer and have wrappers that are just thick enough to hold in the hot broth, but thin enough as to not distract the palate from the pork filling. The fried rice cakes, with shredded pork and preserved cabbage, have a big-wok flavour that cannot be simulated in home cooking.

The pan-fried beef wrap is temptingly presented in four segments, with slices of marinated beef peeking out from the golden brown wrapper. The pork pot stickers arrive at the table steaming hot and fanned out on the plate. The crispy, golden brown wrappers nicely complement the pork and cabbage filling.

Despite an interior decor that is reminiscent of a nightclub, myst is a family restaurant. Families with small children and elderly grandparents populate the tables. The good food, clean atmosphere, and polite staff make myst a popular destination for everyone. p

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Kokomo Story Nicola Anderson Photography Cristina Simaika & Pat Young

When you walk through the glass doors and into the bright white space, you are greeted by tall ceilings, lush green plants, and splashes of pinks, oranges, and blues.

Located at 611 Gore Avenue, on the outskirts of Vancouver Chinatown, Kokomo has a plant-focused menu with a sun-inspired theme. The colourful, vibrant design of Kokomo’s first and only brickand-mortar store is inspired by all things summer. “Good vibes you can taste” is the first line on their website. This tagline can only be understood upon tasting their famous vegan soft serve ice cream, CocoWhip. Originating from the East Coast of Australia, CocoWhip is made with organic bio-fermented coconut powder, coconut water, and vegetablesourced stabilizers.

CocoWhip is a popular menu item at beachfront health food shops across Australia, and Kokomo is the first and only Canadian store that sells this sweet treat.

The base is a natural vanilla-coconut ice cream flavour, and one can choose from Kokomo’s rotating list of creative toppings.

The spring 2018 selections are Mango Chia

Lime (pieces of mango with chia pudding, lime seasoning, and chunks of crystallized ginger) and Chaga Espresso Caramel (chaga mushroom powder, espresso, and vegan caramel drizzle whipped into a sauce). If you want to keep things simple, try the natural vanilla-coconut flavour, sans toppings, for a refreshing treat on a hot summer’s day or on any day for that matter.

For something more filling, Kokomo offers a selection of thoughtfully curated plant-based noodle and smoothie bowls.

From the Nood Beach to the Sunflower Acai, the Flower Child Salad to the Coastal Macro, the menu items are delicious and exemplify the summer theme. A customer favourite is the Hemp Caesar Salad, a fresh vegan take on the classic Caesar, containing crisp greens, hemp hearts, marinated chickpeas, topped with crispy shallots and a hemp seed dressing.

The next time you find yourself roaming the streets of Chinatown and craving a bite to eat, be sure to stop by Kokomo for a bowl full of sunshine— smoothies, noodle bowls, and vegan soft serve galore. p

Above: CocoWhip topped with coconut flakes Below (left to right): Hemp Caesar Salad, Nood Beach and Flower Child Salad

Kokomo 611 Gore Ave, Vancouver BC heykokomo.ca PACIFIC RIM 2018 53

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Salmon n’ Bannock Story Tanya Lefebvre & Alice Chang Photography Stephanie Hansen & Nicola Anderson

Above: Slow Cooked Free-Range Bison Short Ribs Below: Wild Sockeye Cured in Beetroot and Citrus

As Canada’s gateway to the Pacific, Vancouver offers fantastic opportunities to indulge in a mélange of culture and food. While the art of BC’s Indigenous cultures is highly visible, it is bewildering that there is only one authentic First Nations restaurant in the city.

Salmon n’ Bannock opened its doors in 2010 and is Vancouver’s only restaurant that is fully owned and operated by First Nations people. Located amongst retail shops on a busy thoroughfare, this quiet and intimate bistro seats up to 40 guests, and features original art by local Indigenous artists.

For menu items, owner Inez Cook (from the Nuxalk Nation, BC) uses only organic ingredients, and ethically sourced wild sockeye salmon and game meats such as elk, bison, and wild boar. The dishes are traditionally crafted, but are presented with a modern flair.

We ordered the cured sockeye salmon appetizer, which is drizzled in a beetroot and citrus crème fraîche that adds salty and zestful accents in flavour. A tender

sage-smoked sockeye fillet is dressed in a lemon mayonnaise inside the signature Salmon n’ Bannock burger. The bison burger patty is surprisingly juicy, and is topped with dijon mayonnaise; a slice of wild boar bacon adds a smoky aftertaste.

The burgers are served on a choice of traditional or gluten-free bannock bread that is baked fresh in-house daily. The elk burger is popular, so arrive early to enjoy.

A group favourite is the free-range bison short ribs, which are slow cooked to slideoff-the-bone tenderness. A sage-blueberry preserve provides a nice tang.

The restaurant also offers a generous selection of drinks, including organic Spirit Bear coffee, herbal teas and local beers, as well as wines from First Nations wineries from BC’s Okanagan region.

Home-baked desserts, such as bannock bread pudding with fresh berry coulis, are tempting if you are not already too full.

When visiting Salmon n’ Bannock, you are guaranteed to return more than once for both the food and the experience.

Reservations are highly recommended. p

Salmon n’ Bannock 7–1128 West Broadway, Vancouver BC salmonandbannock.net 54 LANGARAPRM.COM

FOOD

Top 3 Country Cafés Lawrence Lee is the founder of popular coffee blog cafeyvr.com. Here are three of his favourite country café selections.

Story Jeremy Reay Photography Jayme Lang The friendly atmosphere of Oldhand Coffee.

1

Regard Coffee Roasters

2

Nanaimo

Regard Coffee, a hidden gem located just off Vancouver Island’s Highway 19, packs a punch with in-house roasted beans. The café team focuses on the relationship with the customer and the quality of their product. Regard Coffee provides detailed information on the source plantation and how each bean was harvested.

1914 Coffee Company

3

Squamish

Bringing in unique beans from all around the world, 1914 Coffee Company is a muststop spot on the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Be sure to check out the experimental Freezer Menu, which features valuable coffees that have been specially frozen at an optimal temperature for patrons wanting to enjoy rare roasts at any time of the year.

Oldhand Coffee Abbotsford

Oldhand Coffee, located in downtown Abbotsford, has become a gathering place for residents of the Fraser Valley. The café artfully crafts European baked goods and expertly brews ethically sourced coffee.

Enjoy a perfectly extracted pour-over and a freshly baked skolebrød, and you’ll soon feel like part of the family.

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150 –3665 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC, V5R 5W2 | info @ orijinyoga.com | 604.431.1910 PACIFIC RIM 2018 55

PILSNERS

Craft Beer 101 Pair your next dinner party with craft beer.

Story Madeline Barber Photography Rachael Buckoski Illustration Jed Rivada

New craft breweries are bubbling up on the West Coast faster than you can say “schwarzbier” and, if you’re not an expert, choosing an ale can be overwhelming.

But there is much to be gained by boldly delving into the craft beer scene.

Wine tends to steal the food pairing spotlight, but as Driftwood’s tasting room operator Braeden Papp says, “The beauty of pairing food and beer is that you get something that’s greater than the sum of its parts.”

If you’re planning a special dinner and want to take things to the next level, consider choosing two or three different beers for diversity. This way guests can cater their experience while still keeping things low-key.

According to Papp, a pilsner is always a great choice due to its versatility. It also tends to be more carbonated, so the little bubbles cleanse your palate. This is perfect if you plan on having appetizers before the main meal, and goes well with anything rich. Try 33 Acres of Solstice, a seasonal Northern German Pilsner from 33 Acres Brewing Company. It has herbal and grassy notes, and a bit of hops.

PORTERS On the other end of the spectrum is a porter for the dark beer lovers. This one can be really fun if you serve it with dessert. Lots of local ice cream shops are teaming up with brewers to make special treats, and you can’t go wrong with making your own chocolate porter ice cream float. Try the Black Butte Porter from Deschutes Brewery—creamy, roasty, and chocolatey—the perfect way to finish the night.

SAISONS Another good pick is a saison, says Papp.

The yeast can give some spicy, savoury qualities like clove, and it pairs nicely with any meal. Driftwood’s Farmhand Saison offers pink and black peppercorn notes, which is perfect if you plan on using the barbeque.

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PACIFIC RIM 2018 57

FOOD

Backyard Superfoods Story Josh Hillaby Illustration Tiffany Chu

Coastal BC is home to a number of wild and indigenous plants with health benefits that rival well-known superfoods like wheatgrass and açai berries. While many local superfoods are disguised as ordinary shrubs or weeds, they can be easily found for use in your next foraged feast.

Even though these plants are plentiful, they are also a part of the ecosystem. Be sure to take only as much as you need and not to harm the plants when harvesting. If you are new to urban foraging, find a knowledgeable person to go with you.

Oregon Grape

The Oregon grape is a low-lying holly-like bush that is often found growing under Douglas-fir trees in BC and the Northwest US. In August, the plant’s bright yellow flowers give way to heavy boughs of deep blue berries, which are extremely sour in raw form.

Nutrients: According to the Sierra Club of BC, the berry’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities make it an important ingredient in Indigenous medicinal treatments.

Use: To temper their strong flavour, the berries can be used in jams, jellies, or wines for a uniquely West Coast flavour.

Fiddlehead

Fiddleheads are the unfurled fronds of fern plants that emerge in early spring, and the brave soul who first dared to eat one deserves our thanks.

Nutrients: AP Simopoulos’s study “Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Antioxidants in Edible Wild Plants” reports that wild plants like fiddleheads surpass cultivated plants as sources of alphalinolenic acid, which is essential to lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease in men. This seasonal delicacy also provides an excellent source of vitamins and antioxidants.

Use: Fiddleheads are best when sautéed in butter and garlic, but must be cooked with caution. To avoid food-borne illness, the Government of Canada strongly suggests boiling or steaming fiddleheads before sautéing.

58 LANGARAPRM.COM

Salal Berry

The salal berry is a lesser-known superfood that may be growing in your local park. In Nancy Turner’s book, Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples, she writes that salal berries grow wild throughout the West Coast and can be found in Vancouver and surrounding regions in August and early September.

Nutrients: According to the article “Phytochemical Analysis of Salal Berry” co-authored by the University of Victoria’s Peter Constabel, the salal berry contains “health-promoting plant chemicals” and is very high in antioxidants, even in comparison to other disease-fighting berries.

Use: The berries can be dried for use in baking and trail mix, or made into a sweet jam.

Red Laver

Red laver seaweed has been used traditionally by virtually all coastal Indigenous Peoples for generations, according to the First Nations Health Council. Its abundance throughout coastal BC makes red laver the most readily available entry on this list. Young seaweed should be harvested in the early spring and can be sun-dried or used fresh.

Nutrients: The seaweed has been reported to alleviate indigestion, and provides an important source of protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins A, B, and C. Use: Many people are deterred from eating seaweed due to its distinctive flavour, but substituting this marine algae for other greens in recipes is a simple way to ease it into your diet.

Nettle

Nettle’s distinctively furry, heart-shaped leaves make the plant easy to find in the wild or in residential areas. They grow like weeds, cook nicely, and are packed with nutrients. However, nettle is also commonly called stinging nettle, as it irritates the skin and cannot be eaten raw. Pick while young, avoid contact with bare skin when harvesting, and simply cook or process the leaves with a food processor to neutralize the irritating chemicals.

Nutrients: Nettle contains more vitamins A and K, fibre, iron, calcium, and magnesium weight-for-weight than broccoli, according to Off the Grid News. The plant’s long history of use in European culinary traditions and folk remedies attests to its many health benefits.

Use: Nettle can be used in place of cooked spinach. Try throwing it on a pizza or add it to broth to make a nourishing nettle soup.

PACIFIC RIM 2018 59

ISSUES

“You are holding the very first issue of what we trust to be a long and distinguished series of productions of Pacific Rim Magazine,� wrote then-publisher Alban Goulden in the inaugural issue of PRM in 1989.

Since then, the scope of the magazine has expanded from primarily transPacific business culture to the diversity of topics you see today. Showcasing engaging stories and attractive design is the common thread that has kept the magazine going for three decades.

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PACIFIC RIM 2018 61

A Window Through Time It looks like a summer morning in Vancouver Chinatown, at the corner of Pender Street and Gore Avenue. There’s no hint of the rainy season that is soon to come. A curious girl pokes her head out of a window at the exact moment Pacific Rim Magazine’s photographer David Chan captures this scene, which would become the first cover image for PRM in 1989.

In some ways, nothing has changed: the red lampposts, the cobblestone curbs, the storefront awnings, the busy street corners, and the dried goods and produce on display along the sidewalk.

But, of course, since this photograph was taken, clothing fashions have gone out of style, businesses have come and gone, there are new cafĂŠs at every corner, and condominiums continue to pop up, further displacing a burgeoning homeless population.

Were these pedestrians who were waiting for the light to change considering what this spot would look like in 2018? p

1970

2017

Time for a group project.

LANGARA COLLEGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS From our humble beginnings in 1970 to our recent, unprecedented growth, Langara College has come a long way. In the next few years, important milestones will create unique opportunities for meaningful, strategic partnerships well-suited for corporate, non-profit, and small business leaders who value and support higher education and student success. Join us, the community, and our alumni, students, and staff. It’s time to celebrate together.

Learn more. www.langara.ca/partner

1970

2017