Built in 1852, by BC’s first surgeon, Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, his house is one of the oldest houses in British Colombia still on it’s original location. Marrying the daughter of the BC Governor, James Douglas, Dr Helmcken settled in Victoria and established himself as surgeon, and later statesman helping forge BC’s entry into Canadian…
Category: Travel
Alexander Keith’s Brewery – Halifax
Alexander Keith’s Brewery in Halifax is one of the oldest breweries in North America. Having emigrated from Scotland in 1817, brewer Keith established his self-named brewing company in 1820. Today the brewery still produces his namesake beers, India Pale Ale being the most popular of them. The Halifax brewery is open to the public for…
The High Line Park NYC
The High Line is a 1 mile long park running along New York City’s West Side, through Chelsea and the Meatpacking District. One of the more ingenious urban redevelopments in recent times, taking over parts of the abandoned West Side Line of the City’s elevated freight railroad. In 1999 by local residents the Friends of…
Project World Citizen Charity
Through a friend I was recently introduced to a local charity making a global difference. Project World Citizen was founded by Vancouver based entrepreneurs and philanthropists Anna Soper and Joel Primus. Avid travellers who saw the social injustices and inequities of the third world, they felt a desire to give back and do their part…
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
Perched 80 metres above the city of Halifax, standing guard over the historic naval city, is Fort George, more commonly known as The Halifax Citadel. A number of fortifications have occupied the hill since the British founded Halifax in 1749, the current star-shaped fort was completed in 1856. From the ramparts overlooking one of the…
144th Saanich Fair
The longest running agricultural fair in Western Canada held its 144th edition this past weekend. Saanich Fair has been a Labour Day tradition for generations and still retains many of those aspects that made the fair popular for our parents and grandparents. Animal exhibits, horse driving competitions, 4-H shows, baking competitions, home preserving, biggest pumpkin,…
Fort Langley CNR Station
From Sea to Sea to Sea, Canada in the early 20th century was a growing country and railways were tying it together. As the population grew more stations were built to meet demand, in 1915 the village of Fort Langley reach that level. Canadian Northern Railway built Langley Station to the same “Third Class” specifications as 85 other similar size stations…