How to be a Good Listener
THE POTENTIAL OF DIALOGUE Meaningful dialogue is an elusive thing in our communities. Having a respectful conversation with someone about something on which we do not agree isn’t common. Yelling opinions over someone else or building a newsfeed that reinforces…
Tips and Tricks from an Adaptable Parent
As a working dad, adaptability and resiliency are key competencies that I use every single day. What follows is what I’d like to offer by way of insight and advice for people who are striving to reach their parenting potential!…
Prince Rupert – BC’s ‘Little Port that Could’
It’s been a while since I waxed poetic about ports. Last year I went on at some length about Port Metro Vancouver, how it’s this engine of Canadian economic growth, moving monumental quantities of trade in an understated, almost hum…
Sea Planes: #Awesome Community Builders
Seaplanes are boats that fly. How cool is that?! On that basis alone I’m going to make it a goal for 2012 to fly in one. Heck, I might even get behind the controls, or at least get to sit…
Lessons in Culinary Community Building
Picture a long festive table decked with candles and lined with a dozen smiling faces. Surely, all the ingredients for sharing of food, laughter and good conversation? Well, not so much. As I sat down excited to spend the evening…
English Bay’s Bulk Carriers Revealed
Ever notice that Vancouver’s English Bay skyline is constantly littered with those, squat, red-hulled ships? Or maybe not. They’re such an omnipresent feature of our surroundings, that we pay them little heed despite their importance. Each of these modern-day merchant…
The Laser: the Peoples’ Boat
The editors of this fine publication have asked that I periodically pick a boat, ship, vessel – whatever – and say why it’s awesome, curious, noteworthy, etc. (I’m supposed to do this in 25 words. #Fail on that one.) Anyway,…
Sustainable Shipping: the Wave of the Future
“Sustainability”, “low emissions”, “saving fuel” – these are the buzz words in global shipping circles these days. With jacked up oil prices and pressure on ports to “Green” their operations, ship owners are frantically casting about for new technologies to…
Historical Cycles, Pirates and the Shipping Community
The ongoing piracy crisis off the Somali coast has been impacting the B.C. shipping business causing disruption to its routes and a sharp rise in costs. “Effectively, the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest and most profitable marine routes, is off limits to us,” said Samuel Tang, vice-president, chartering and operations for Fairmont Shipping (Canada) Ltd. to the Vancouver Sun.
Bring Back the Tall Ships
Consider this a brief plea for a nautical bailout – a eulogy of sorts to the loss of sailing ships from around the globe berthing at Victoria this summer.Hopefully someone with a few piece of eight to rub together will be convinced that supporting Tall Ships is important, not just to ship nerds like me, but also to the broader community.