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| 5630 Dunbar St. at 41st Ave. 604-684-4613 |
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Happy Canada Day, Eh |
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This author felt somewhat lonely when I turned up faithfully for the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron for Canada Day at 9:00 am on Jack Poole Plaza. For one thing, the flame was lit by someone in an adjacent warm room throwing a switch, for another, I was one of only a dozen or so braving the cold and rain to be warmed by the memories that the flames brought back. Even though the flames were only set at 50% brightness for daytime viewing, it was nice to see it and it it made me wonder whatever happened to the Cauldrons in Montréal and Calgary? Oh well, there is something to be said for having open sight lines for some great photos of the Digital Orca by Douglas Coupland and the new reflective pool under the Cauldron, which was just a messy construction site only ten days ago. And for the first time since the Olympics, there was no fence. Very nice. |
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| And right on cue, the guest of honour made her appearance. HMCS Vancouver steamed into port and was berthed at Canada Place, where specially invited guests (not me) were féted by white-uniformed officers and a full Naval band, both probably feeling out of season. | ||
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| Inside the Canada Place Convention Centre East Lobby, the Royal Canadian Mint had set up a booth to exchange your spare change for a new Naval Centennial Loonie. The line-ups were large, snaking back and forth across the hall, but moved smoothly. Limit of three Loonies per customer, thank you. | ||
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| The coin was officially unveiled in Halifax 2 days ago by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II at a luncheon celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy, but it was only made available to the general public today, and only in Vancouver, yeah. | ||
 The Mint will produce seven million of the one-dollar Canadian Navy Centennial commemorative circulation coins, which will begin circulating today and Canadians are encouraged to look for this special coin in their change, the Royal Bank apparently will not be a distributor this time around.
"The naval centennial commemorative circulation coins will create a public awareness of the role that the Canadian Navy has played over the past 100 years," said Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, Chief of the Maritime Staff. "The coins are visible, practical reminders that the country is served, in both war and peace, by the men and women of the naval service who safeguard Canada and its values." The reverse of this coin, designed by Nova Scotia artist Bonnie Ross, features a Halifax-class Frigate flanked by a 1910 naval serviceman and a contemporary female naval officer. An anchor at the top of the design symbolizes Canada's naval service. Ms. Ross is an accomplished artist who has designed several Royal Canadian Mint collector coins, including the Three-Masted Ship and Brigantine coins from the 2005-2007 Fine Silver Tall Ships series. |
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| By the time the noon horns sounded, playing the opening bar of Oh Canada high above our heads from the roof of Canada Place, the rain had let up, the temperature had risen to that of a comfy room, and the crowds were out in full force all over downtown. It was the Olympic spirit all over again. | ||
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| Love is in the air Everywhere I look around Love is in the air Every sight and every sound But it's something that I must believe in Happy 143 Canada. |
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Newsletter #199 coming soon |
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