Coming to An End

Officially the first day of fall is September 22, 2010. But this is the last long weekend of summer, Labour Day Weekend, and for many it signifies the end of the lazy days.

The long days of playing in the sun, getting into mischief and being free will end after this weekend. Then it will be back to school for children and perhaps new projects for the adults.

Labour Day was first celebrated in New York City in 1882 and became a federal holiday in the U.S. in 1894. It was formed to honor the working person and parades were held to exhibit the strength of the working class. There was also more than likely a bit of politics involved here.

In May of 1894 approximately 3000 employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company went on a wildcat strike to protest the reduction in wages and the layoffs of numerous employees due to tough times. The strike halted traffic west of Chicago and a massive struggle between the American Railway Union,  the country's first nation wide union, and the railway. As can sometimes happen with these sort of things events turned violent and President Grover Cleveland sent in 12,000 troops to try to restore order. By the time the dust settled 13 strikers were killed, 57 wounded and $340,000 worth of damage was done by 6,000 employees. (That would work out to over $8,000,000 in today's monies.) So Cleveland was eager to try to smooth over things with the labour parties.

The luscious green foliage and the hues of summer blossoms will soon fade - some are already - and appear to die as nature goes to sleep for the winter. But before that, before the earth's landscape loses colour we are going to be treated to nature dressing up in her finest shades for the last dance of the year.

Starting Tuesday kiddies will pour into buildings such as the one below. Excited for the first day of school, saddened that the summer is over, eager to show off the new school clothes yet chafing against the restrictive nature of them, so different from the looseness and ease of summer attire.

Those attending here have the privilege of going to an elementary school that was built in 1909 and was named after the wife of King Edward VII of England.

One of the buildings in this elementary school was built in 1910.  Lord Selkirk Elementary school was named after the Scottish philanthropist who helped poor people not only in his home land but here as well.

Then there will be those students who put on a uniform and attend St. Francis of Assisi School.

They will follow the fish through the gate of this Catholic based learning establishment and, like their counterparts at other schools, will learn and progress.

Some mourn the end of summer. Mourn the fact that the hot days are disappearing, that structure and order are back in the norm, that sandals, shorts and tshirts are put away for another year. But I don't. Every season has something to offer. The nip in the air that is coming makes a person feel alive, the inevitable rain nourishes the earth and the added clothing protects our skin from outer harm.

Not that I haven't enjoyed this summer because I have. I have rediscovered my passion for history and through this blog am able to share it with you.  I am grateful too that I have got out into the city and taken pictures of places that may soon disappear. Like the Cecil Hotel.

Yesterday I wrote about the Yale Hotel on Granville Street. The Cecil Hotel is right beside it though not for long.

The Cecil Hotel was built in 1909 and for approximately the last thirty five years has been a strip club. It is now closed and waiting to be transformed into high rise condos. So we shall say goodbye to another Vancouver landmark.

On the humourous side if I hadn't had rediscovered my passion for history I would never have read the tidbit that on October 6, 1909 Vancouver took its first mechanized ambulance out for a test drive. That didn't go so well. They ran over and killed an American tourist.

On that note I will wish you all a great weekend. I will probably be back on Monday.

I hope you find the beauty around you, no matter what the season.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Summer, Fall,Labour Day,Grover Cleveland,walk,history,

Reading, Writing and Arthmetic

That time of year is coming up. Gone will be the days of summer, of swimming and playing in the outdoors. Soon the kiddies will be off to school, to learn and grow.

So let's take a look at some of the schools around the area.

It is fitting that I start with this school - Lord Strathcona Elementary - for it is the oldest in Vancouver. Despite the sign that says 1921, this school was actually first established in 1891. Although I have heard negative reports about this school lately, I know of a few great people who went here.

Donald Alexander Smith was 1st baron Strathcona and not only worked for the Hudson's Bay Company but also amassed a great fortune through investments in banking, land and railways. In 1886 he was knighted and raised to peerage. But that is not what makes him great. He was also a philanthropist. He used his fortune and influence to advance many causes including education.

Here is the Seymour School. Although the post is in the way you may be able to see that the date on the building is 1907. Actually it predates that.

The original building had eight classrooms and was completed in 1901. It was named for Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, an Admiral in the British Navy.

This establishment of learning was built in 1905. Named after Sir William Macdonald who was born on Prince Edward Island in 1831. He was a man who believed in the value of education and strived to further that goal.

Here is another view of the school from the East Pender entrance.

Another school not too far from me is the Hastings School.

This school was built in 1908 and it has gone through numerous renovations. Today it has a strong academic focus and involves parents in the support system. The adminstrators seem to strongly believe in the importance of family involvement with a child's learning and development.

Remember when I wrote on the Britannia Centre and the schools there? The photos I showed then looked pretty new but here is a glimpse of the history of this fine institution.

Okay, this next school isn't in Vancouver, not even British Columbia.

This is a little school in a town called Dewberry Alberta. My daddy went to school here! Dewberry is north east of Edmonton and in 2008 had a population of 231. I went there with my parents many years ago and it is a quaint place that really reminded me of the backbone that got Canada going. The people I met then have the spirit that makes countrys great.

While walking up Hastings Street today I met up with a young man by the name of Jaime. He was in town for his sister's wedding and he was a joy to be around. There was an aura of happiness and joy that surrounded him that surpassed the joy of his sister getting married to her long time partner. I think that Jaime has a good spirit all the time. I hope that Jaime has a safe trip home and enjoyed his stay here.

Jaime said something interesting to me though. When he found out that I wrote a blog on Vancouver he asked if I was from here. I think that is because most newcomers would be interested in the history and landmarks of the city whereas residents tend to ignore it. But when we do that what are we missing?

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Lord Strathcona Elementary School, Hastings,Sir William Macdonald School,Dewberry Alberta,Walk,education,East Pender