From Catholicism to Judaism, Time to Worship

If you are downtown and happen to be near Richards and Dunsmuir then a stop at the Holy Rosary Cathedral is in order.

This cathedral is built in the french gothic style and was designed by architect T.E. Julien of the firm Julien and Williams, architects. It was started on July 16, 1899 when the first cornerstone was laid and 490 days later, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception - December 8, 1900 - the church opened. It was regarded by many to be the finest piece of architecture west of Toronto and north of San Francisco.

A statue of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception looks over the entrance and watches over those entering the church.

The cathedral is constructed of sandstone from Gabriola Island on a foundation of local granite. It is built in the form of a cross that is 161 feet long, 104 feet across at the transepts and 217 feet to the top of the tallest steeple.

In 1916 this Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was declared a cathedral.

I don't know what this piece of granite says but it looks important!

In the 110 years that the cathedral has been there it has gone through a few updates and upgrades but the Roman Catholic church has managed to always keep the essence of the past intact. From my research I am told that the interior is fantastic as well, including the church organ. I did enter the front part of the church but there were people sitting in the pews so I just looked through the glass doors, I didn't want to disturb them.

This church hold special memories for me. I am not Catholic but many years ago - around thirty to be precise - I was going to Barbizon Modelling School. I lived in Langley and each Saturday I would board a bus that would take me into the city. At fifteen years old I felt pretty important. At that time there was a bus depot down the street and I would have to walk by the Holy Rosary Cathedral to get to my classes. Sometimes I would quietly walk in and take a seat in a back pew. There I would sit for a few moments, taking in the peace and beauty around me. I can still close my eyes and remember how I felt, how settled it made me.

This building is, or I should say was, the  First Schara Tzedeck Synagogue. The original building was built in 1911 and is located at East Pender and Heatley Avenue. (across the street from the house where Vancouver's first undertaker lived.)  The name was originally Benei Yehuda which means Children (sons) of Judah. On June 14, 1917 the congregation was incorporated as Schara Tzedeck - Gates of Righteousness.

In 1948 the synagogue moved into new, larger quarters in the south Cambie neighbourhood.

The building is now home to condos. Some purists may find that offensive but in my opinion it is a great way to make use of a building that isn't being used as it was once intended and to give it new life. And the building gets to stay and be admired for many more years to come.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, First Schara Tzedeck Synagogue, Holy Rosary Cathedral,East Pender,Richards Street,walk,history,

I Came Back!

I haven't written for the last two days. Monday my brother was visiting from Calgary.

Ain't he just so adorable? He doesn't look like that any longer, he is a grown man in his fifties. I could have written about my brother, some of the things he has done in the past are quite interesting but I don't think that would be a good idea. Have to protect the innocent you know.

Today I just wandered. I took in my bottles and then walked along Powell street to Clark Drive. I took a few pictures of things that looked interesting. Like this place.

What caught my attention was the year it was started. This business is only thirty years younger than the city itself. Interesting.

At the end of World War I there were about fifteen organizations to help veterans. Unfortunately the efforts of these groups were fragmented and not very successful. So in 1925 The Canadian Legion of the British Empire Services League (BESL) began in Winnipeg. At that time the objective was to provide a strong voice for WWI veterans and to advise the government on issues that veterans face. The legion has been instrumental in protecting the rights and ensuring that those who have fought so that we can live the life we do are taken care of.

In 1960 the Queen gave permission for the word 'Royal' to be added to the title and the name has been adjusted to 'The Royal Canadian Legion'. But most people refer to it as 'the Legion'.

The legion has changed with the times and is known for its community involvement as well as the service to veterans. Perhaps the legion is most well known for the Poppy campaign every November. That is when citizens of Canada donate money and where a fake poppy as a remembrance of those who died in war. The monies raised go to help veterans and their families.

Many of us remember learning the poem by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae,  In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row,. Little did McCrae know in 1915 when he penned In Flanders Fields that his little poem would be recited for decades to come and would ensure that the sacrifices of those who have gone to war would not be forgotten.

This bowling alley was opened in 1947 by Louis Marino and is still a family operated business. They offer 5 pin, 10 pin bowling as well as Black Light (glow) bowling. I like the bowling pin on top. It must look great at night.

For the past weeks I have  been walking around and something is going on. I see this message painted on walls etc.

Now I am not in favor of graffiti.Someone has to pay to paint over it and monies supplied by either a business or the local government can spent on better things. But I wonder if this message is being spread across the city by a lovelorn soul or someone is letting everyone know that they are loved. There are worst things that could be painted on buildings.

One of the best things about walking around,taking photos and learning about Vancouver is the people I meet. Today I met a First Nations artist by the name of Bruce Morrisseau. He allowed me to take photos of his tattoos for a feature I want to on tattoos. I enjoy it when the bearer of these designs tells me a little bit about the history.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Royal Canadian Legion, graffiti,In Flanders Fields,Grandview Lanes,Walk,history,

Hastings Park

Hastings Park, formerly known as New Brighton, was formed as a resort, a watering hole for the area. The Hastings Park racetrack has been there sinice 1889.

In 1968 the Pacific Coliseum was completed and this is the building that has a few fond memories for me.

It was here that I went to my first concert in 1978 or 1979 I think. It was Shaun Cassidy. I remember sitting in my seat way above the stage and gazing down at this figure in white dancing around the stage. I was in heaven! Especially when the woman beside me loaned me her binoculars so I could actually see that it was Shaun!

I was on cloud nine for days afterwards. Although a review in the next paper the next day angered me. The reviewer said that at least the attendess had gotten the value of their parents' money. My parents hadn't paid for my ticket. They drove me into Vancouver and went to the PNE while I went to the concert but I paid for the ticket with my babysitting money and from whatever other monies I could earn.

Years later a couple of friends and I went to see Shaun in Romance Romance at the Stagewest Dinner Theatre in Calgary, Alberta. Even though I was now in my twenties I still got the same thrill from seeing him onstage. One of the friends that was in the group worked for a florist so we brought Shaun flowers along with a note from each of us telling him what he had meant to us growing up. His manager brought out autographed playbills after the show. Unfortunately I was in the washroom so I missed him. But I had that playbill for many years after.

I may now be in my forties but I would probably feel the same excitement if I were to go to a live show featuring Shaun Cassidy. Some things just don't go away.

I like walking through this park for the peace and stillness it has. Even if Playland with all the rides and screams is a short distance away the noise doesn't seem to disrupt the serenity at Hastings.

Whenever I meditate and have to envision a safe, peaceful area I go here:

I mentally walk across the bridge and sit on the benches, watching the ducks swim. I feel the calmness wash over me in my mind, just as it does when I'm there.

There is so much to see and write about when looking at Hastings Park but I only have limited room. So I will write more about this area another day. However I can't leave without one more feature.

In front of one of the entries to the park is this monument. On August 7, 1954 at the British Empire Games John Landy and Roger Bannister became the first two men to ever break four minute mile in the same race. The statue shows Landy looking over his left shoulder and Bannister passed him on the right and won the race.

To me that says not to look behind you in life. I try to bring some of the history of Vancouver alive with this blog but I am not living in the past. I am not looking behind me and wishing I had done things differently. It's done, it's over with. Take what I can from that and forge forward.

That's all for today. Here's to finding the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Hastings Park,
Pacific Coliseum,Shaun Cassidy,John Landy,Walk,Roger Bannister,