Tales of a Green City Racer

Tucked behind the the Great Northern Way campus, and the BCIT Green Roof Research Facility, you will find a new Evergreen project - an urban orchard!

 And here is where we began one of the most enjoyable and challenging family adventures ever!!

 I enlisted Mark and Sasha to join me on a team to compete in the inaugural Green City Race organized by Evergreen, which is one of my ultimate favourite environmental organizations that focuses on bringing all kinds of awesome greenery to cities and schools around Canada.

The little orchard just happened to have a small stage, so while we waited for the race to begin after registering, Sasha chose to pump us full of positive green energy with a spontaneous green song.




As the "Whittam Greens" our family joined 55 other racers (in teams of 2-3 people) on an Amazing Race style journey around Vancouver by foot and transit.

One of the organizers took to the stage next and shared a summary of the rules: After we complete the first challenge we will be given a bag full of clues, and other useful things we may need during the race - like a day pass for transit! Once you reach the destination of your first clue you will be able to answer the follow up question on the clue sheet. The answer to the question will some how reveal the number for your next clue. Keep going til you answer all your clues and make it to the finish line.

In between random clues there will be a couple of challenges for your team to complete before you can be given your next clue number.

There was a Hint Line we could call if we found ourselves stuck, but it costs you a few points. And we were not finished all of our clues by 2:30, we were to call this number for help to find our way to the finish line before time ran out.

Smart phones had been recommended because some clues would require internet access to solve, and the other option was to have someone you can call to help look things up for you. Our phones are pretty basic, so we went with option B and enlisted a few 'phone-a-friend' back up helpers for our team. (a couple of my Britannia co-workers and Marks library staff network)

With the race basics covered we were introduced to our very first challenge - plant an apple tree! As a team we had to dig a hole, plant the tree and make sure it was done right so when the volunteer checks your work the tree doesn't come out.
Done. Gravenstein now added to our list of apples to try. :)

Once we collected our bag of tricks we were on our way!

Another way of earning bonus points during the race was to capture a team member within a photo from a list of ideas they provided. The list included things like 'holding a reusable mug/drink container'. Have you ever seen this done with such pizazz?

Sasha earned us some extra funky points for poses like this one. ;)

We also captured 'using a cloth bag' and 'examples of recycling and garbage containers'. Yes, I actually had a reason to take pictures of these things this time! (unlike all the pics I've acquired over the years just because waste management and its various containers is a fascination of mine)

Our first clue was related to the number of goals in the Greenest City 2020 Action plan for Vancouver which I have read a bunch of times. If I had trusted my gut we could have saved a half hour of time getting to the destination pretty quick. However, once I second guessed myself we called for help and hearing conflicting info we took the Canada Line up to King Edward instead.

Another back up call ended up confirming my original instinct to the answer, and then we walked up Cambie back to where we should have been while enjoying the beautiful day and taking pics for bonus points as we strolled.

We found a coffee shop where we could get a pic of Sasha holding some 'fair trade coffee beans'  (sorry Kirsten! we didn't find any Cafe Etico while we raced around!)

More funky funk poses from Sasha with another garbage bin (I love these Big Belly solar compactors!), with an electric car power up station, and the food garden outside City Hall.

 

With this herb garden from the Green Streets program finally found, our next clue informed us we were up for a challenge on the lawn of City Hall. I wish I had a picture to show you from the water race we completed together as it was a lot of fun! Sasha and I first used our 4 hands to carry the bucket of water to the half way point of the field marked by flags to show the distances we had to travel. Once to the first flag I hopped on one foot with the bucket to the 2nd flag. Mark then ran around a tree with the bucket before all 3 of us ran back to the starting point.

(Update: my wish was granted by Evergreen who sent me pics of our family racing! yay! So here is your action shot!) 

Surprisingly, we barely lost any water and also earned a few points for funk and team spirit. Then they stamped our point collection sheet and gave us our next clue number. Our next clue took us to the Baxter House, a heritage house built in 1913 as the home for Truman S Baxter who was the mayor of Vancouver at that time.

This was when we ended up calling the hint line for help as we were having a difficult time finding the "sign of inspiration in the laneway" next to the heritage house that our clue eluded to. It didn't help that there was a garage sale going on before this door, as well as a construction fence. If we had walked further down the lane we eventually would have found this sign which says "Be the change you want to see in the world".(We did find it after we were told it was on a door a few garages in...oh. there it is!)

After a snack, some hydration and a few deep breaths to re-energize and get back into race mode we were on to solve the next clue which I figured would be found at the Neighbourhood Energy Utility serving Southeast False Creek down at the base of the Cambie Bridge.

As we made our way north it was awesome to stumble across a random flash mob practise by the latest artist installation by the Canada Line at Broadway.

The clue to find the energy station would have been tricky if I wasn't one of those people that actually explores the city web site in my spare time. (the site honestly has lots of interesting things to discover!) Especially around the time of the Olympics I was following development around Southeast False Creek (aka Olympic Village) so the energy plant was another thing I already investigated, and even visited on one of my walks along the sea wall. The little garden wasn't there when I check it out last time, and was a nice addition to the area.

 

Nearby we got this pic of Sasha pointing at an example of 'illegal dumping' off in the distance.

Here are 2 more of my fave bonus point photos we collected on our travels to the site of our next clue: 'gesture of thanks to a transit worker' and the 'random act of green kindness' we stumbled upon. Glad we were able to sign the petition from Youth for Climate Justice Now to stop the expansion of oil development on the coast, which is something we support completely.

Our next destination was the MOBY garden which I have been a fan of for years. Passing this garden once during a wave of negative emotion at the end of the civic strike (that had both Mark and I on the picket line for 3 months) re-inspired my hope that things can get better...even when it doesn't always feel like it. Genuine positive change is a generational struggle that will continue til we get it right, or we don't. Garden projects like MOBY are proof anything is possible when community organizes together, and provides plenty of reason for hope. And it has a cob building! C'mon. What's not to love about this place?

After the garden the next clue was to find out what kind of fruit Bandidas Taqueria has stopped serving because of its unsustainable food miles. I've yet to sample the food at this restaurant but have had it on my list of places to try for a long while as it is one of those places that emphasizes  local, organic, fair trade and every other ethical consideration we value when it comes to our food. And they support community groups and artists to boot. If you are curious about which fruit got the chop off their menu it is pineapple.

From there we were unable to decipher the next clue to find the spot for our last challenge of the race. Part of the clue we figured out was Germany with the help of two phone back ups (the question was to do with which country had the highest rate of solar energy per capita at 43%). But not even our super skilled librarian or community info staff contacts were able to figure out where in Vancouver we could find a plaza with connections to Germany and  'foursquare' based on the wording of the clue.

Thankfully for our intellectual egos, we found out at the end of the race that we were not the only ones who struggled with that one! Google really does work differently for everyone after all.

As it turns out there is a lovely garden by 29th Ave station called the German-Canadian Heritage Garden. One day we'll go check that out now that I know it exists. :)

So there was one clue and one challenge we didn't get done, but Mark quickly determined the solution to the final clue in our bag was the Woodwards building.

Back on the Skytrain and away we go to the finish line!

...and a final couple of bonus photos before we check in. "find a public water fountain' and 'leave a thank you note on the handlebar of a bicycle'. check and check. (Our note said "Thank you for riding your bicycle! Cheers to a greener world :D")

The Whittams Greens were not the first team in, but we also weren't the last!! Haza! Prizes were given for the team that brought the most funk to the race - undeniably the Loraxettes (we speak for the trees!)  and for the top 2 teams which scored insanely high points overall and mastered the race in every way.  I loved that the trophies were repurposed trinkets from thrift stores, while the prize gifts were things like eco spa packages. Quality where it matters ;)

After 3 1/2 hours as Green City Racers we were exhilerated and exhausted. The journey was intense yet totally wonder-full!! Our goal when we began was to simply enjoy the challenge, see how many clues we could solve before time was up, explore and learn some cool things about green initiatives in our great city. This mission was completed with gusto! We got to play in a friendly competition with passionate keen-to-be-green folks, put our critical thinking skills to work, visit some of the spots we already love, find many new things we didn't know about, got a dose of history and a dose of a visionary green future...and plenty of sunshine and exercise!

We learned more about how we work together as a team and are more aware of our strengths and weaknesses. (you'd think after all our years together that we would have figured out how to avoid getting cranky with each other under pressure...but we sure have gotten better at getting over it quickly, lol) Next year we will have a smart phone with us for sure, as I found there were a few things I could have easily found with internet at my fingertips. We are full of gratitude for all the help we did get by phone as it was nice of people to share their time to help the Whittam Greens make it to the next level of the race. (Sandy and Kia, you rock ladies!) It broadened our team and added to the overall race experience.

At the end of it all, the best part for Sasha was that they awarded her a small trophy for being the youngest racer (the only child actually) to complete the Green City Race! She was totally overjoyed! While waiting for the bus home she says "mommy please take a picture of me loving my trophy". ummm, ok.

 

We are totally looking forward to racing around town again next year in the 2nd Annual Green City Race, and hope you will join us for the fun. Gotta warn you though...the Whittam Greens will be upping the funk factor, and if we have our own smart phone (like everyone else)  we know we've actually got what it takes to win it next time! Win or not, it has proven to be a fabulous family fun adventure indeed! :D

Many thanks to all the great staff and volunteers at Evergreen for their hard work pulling off a terrific event! Cheers to all of you from the

olympic ramblings

Since many of the folks who follow this blog are friends and family who live outside of Vancouver, some of you have asked for my thoughts on the Olympics. Wanting to know what it was like to be in the centre of it all. And really, I had intended to write more often during that time...but for me it was a bit of a draining experience overall and I was rather conflicted about the whole thing. (my anxiety over losing my steady hours had something to do with my general unease around this time as well) Now that its all over, here is my post-olympic reflection.

There were so many ups and downs to not only living in the host city, but also working at a community centre with an arena to be used as a practise facility for the hockey players -which was really only an exciting thing if you were one of the well-credentialed people who might be able to see them on the ice inside. For the rest of the community - full of people opposed to everything owelympic to begin with - all you saw was a big fence with lots of cameras. Here's a look...getting closer and closer. (And the security booth coming into the complex from the other side)


Before they put up the pretty blue and green wrap around, it was a truly ugly thing to see. (ok...not so pretty even with the artistic wrap) And the first day it went up was overwhelmingly negative for me. Even tho everyone knew the fence was coming, to actually see it going up a couple of weeks before the Olympic arrival really upset most of the folks who use the Brit facilities. And I was the first person they encountered after seeing this fence and feeling frustrated by it all needing to vent...and for 9 hours I had to fend off the misdirected anger and complaints of just about every person that came through the pool entrance mere feet from the fence (seen here). One man even freaked out on me saying I was complicit in my silence (obviously doesn't know who he's talking too, hehe) and therefore it was my fault the fence was there. Gestapo is upon us and I was to blame. Dude...you gotta be kidding. That kind of paranoia is easy to let go of. The constant frowns of people I'm normally happy to see...not so much.

And then I came home to a dinner with Mark and Che debating the Olympics (again), and I snapped when Che started comparing the city to one under 'Marshall law'. Please do yourself a favour and actually listen to the tales of someone who has lived through such a thing before you bandy about terms like that. "And I've had enough of Olympic complaints today...change of subject please!!!!"

I was as frustrated by the insane degree of security spending for this event as anyone. But never for a moment was I truly afraid of losing all of my civil liberties and ending up under house arrest, beaten or 'disappeared', or any other horrible outcomes of living under a really scary regime. Canada has its flaws, but I feel pretty safe as a citizen here and don't think Harper could ever come close to convincing Canadians marshall law would be necessary, especially for a sporting event. Even if it is a corporate cash grab with elite profits to defend more than anything else. I wish it was really still about the athletes and creating international cultural harmony.

Having friends who were huge supporters of the Olympics (some of whom really benefitted from opportunities created by the games being in town) and fierce anti-Olympic friends as well, had me in constant reflection on both sides of the debates. Working at a tourist location and at a community centre in the hub of an activist community, both of which informing staff how to communicate to the public during this time. The Olympics actually did a great job of creating divides between ordinary people in this fair city...and it all became a wee bit tiresome for me.

However, things got interesting again after one of my ultimate fave moments - on opening day when the torch was supposed to come up Commercial Dr on its way to light to the cauldron. My supervisor at the pool had seen the torch go by in her neighbourhood, and she wanted me to have that experience and told me to go check it out. Super kind, and since it was a sunny day how could I resist? What was really cool was that as Jessica (my buddy who came with me) and I got out to the street we found the sidewalks and road full of the most amazing contrast.

Mingled together we found moms & strollers, folks young and old, teachers and students from the elementary and high school, and so many with red maple leafs painted on their faces...and a whole lot of protesters who were trying to divert the torches path. I found this to be one of my best and most proud-to-be-Canadian moments during the whole Olympic period.

Why? Because it was totally peaceful even with the potential for so much conflict. The cheerleaders and protesters had some debates here and there, but overall there was acceptance of each other in the same space. I found folks to hug from both sides. How many places in the world would you see that?

The torch did get diverted up Clark instead, which the activists considered to be another success. If it wasn't for all the sad students I talked to throughout the day who had really been looking forward to that moment (I wished the cops had tipped off one of the teachers so they could've gotten some of the kids over to see it at least...), I was not really bothered by the rerouting of the torch all day. They were intending to cause disruption to a force that has disprupted their lives and their communities for years since winning the bid...and no one got hurt aside from disappointment to not see a minute of a flame running by. I know that this was a big thing for many people, and I even know a few lucky people that got to be torch runners...but those who missed it due to protest probably have a just as good a story to tell as those who waited for hours to watch it go by in mere moments with no diversion. (Sasha was the only one of us who did get to see the flame when her child care class crossed the park to watch it run along. She wasn't quite sure what it was all about)

The hard work of many activists kept our host city a truly open and free speech safe zone. Protest was alive and well in town and we have gratitude to know so many effective rabble rousers that help maintain rights and freedoms. I love living in a land where you can speak out and not be severly punished. The big protest on opening day was one we would've gone to, but I was working. And beyond that, I was tired of protesting it all. The black block activists that smashed windows of big Olympic funders on the 2nd day, such as TD and the Bay, provoked a good debate around diversity of tactics within a global struggle for human and environmental justice. Of all the things I've read there is one perspective that summed up many (not all) of my thoughts called Tactical Considerations, and if you want to reflect more on strategy and effectiveness of actions it is worth a read.

Anyways...when it came to the Olympics I was mostly just wanting to get it over with. I was quite frankly just sick of hearing about them. Years of preparation and hype to pump up us all up with civic, provincial and national pride. (lucky triple whammy for the 'hosts') Seeing the symbols everywhere (and even took an Olympic Customer service training for the museum, since its a tourist location we needed to be on the same page as the other tourist sites. The course included more info on Olympic history, logos and their meanings, the venues and what was happening at each venue...and wrapped up with about 15 min of somewhat useful customer service info), all of the buses, billboards any other advertising surface plastered with Olympic sponsor ads only, and the ongoing counting the days til it came. Ugh.

Now I just want to get to the 'what are we gonna do once we realize how broke we are after the party is over?' part of the story.

So I believe that covers most of my rant side of things. Glad to get that off my chest and out of my head. But, you know me. I'm one of those 'make the best of every situation' kind of people and it's not every day the world comes to visit...so I do have a few positive tales to share from this crazy time too ;)

Some of my hours at Brit were in the 'Community Living' room which had a big tv (donated to all the centres so the people could have somewhere to gather and watch the games with their neighbours). Hanging with folks to watch figure skating and other sports for couple of evenings certainly made it more enjoyable for me. I really liked the opportunity to get to know some of the Brit regulars better, and being paid to make sure the tv didn't walk away was just about the roughest gig I've ever had, hehe.

Aside from being in a Community Living room, my experience of watching the Olympic games was pretty much like yours I bet. In front of a tv with others who like to cheer. And I did get into cheering on the Canadian athletes and just love watching the glory they feel when they know they nailed it. I know they work hard and I also get a kick out of Canada trump the USA in particular. ;) The hockey games were the most exciting and I was able to watch all of the women's gold cup game, but for the men's gold cup game I was working in the Info Centre where I couldn't watch, so I caught the game in bits and pieces on my breaks, like the this pic I took of the game on my lunch. Right before that tying goal...d'oh!

One thing I will miss now that its over, was hearing the 'Oh Canada' horns at Canada Place every time one of our athletes won a medal. For those of you not within ear shot, every day at noon the horns play the first few notes in a harmonic that you can hear for miles. That was kind of neat and always put a smile on my face. (When most of the security and other madness left town after the main Olympic event, these horns going off when athletes won their medals was one of the only signs that the Paralympic Games were in town for me.) In contrast to this pleasant sound, those loud and ever-present helicopters flying overhead all day and night were truly irritating. I'm very, very happy to not have the choppers flying around all the time anymore!

We had one family adventure day where we walked around the city checking out some of the 'free' stuff to do. Got to take advantage of what we're paying for collectively at least once we figured. I really did love all the music, dance, public art pieces and entertainment all over the place. Every other block had something to offer as we traveled around the city using the pedestrian walkways, had lunch on Granville, and then checked out a couple of shows at the Robson Square 'Signature Celebration Site'. Would be nice if arts and culture were valued this much all the time!!

"thanks for lunch mom!"

The zip line over Robson Square looks to be a really cool ride, but some folks actually lined up for 8 hours for the 2 minute rush! crazy.

Given the day before had been a rainy one, we certainly lucked out with our Sunday adventure in the amazing sunshine! :D
Bobs and Lolo. Sasha loved them!

And after seeing the performers from Circus West, Sasha is also keen to learn some acrobatics so I think we'll check out their CircKids program at some point if she continues to express interest. They really put on a great little show :)
This was as close as we got to the official mascots. I had originally wanted to get a pic with Sasha and these mascots, but also to get a pic with the Poverty Olympic mascots (Creepy the Cockroach, Chewy the Rat, and Itchy the Bedbug) as well...that would have been cool.

A side note while I'm on the poverty issue: I just want to say kudos to Pivot Legal Society for initiating the Red Tent campaign, their tent city and successful lobbying for homes for many of the homeless who camped there during the Olympics, their record breaking banner around the Canada pavilion fence, and their ongoing efforts to raise awareness and agitation for affordable housing for all people. Before, during and on into the future...they are amazing agents for positive change on the poverty and homeless issue and I love them and their many allies for all their hard work.

Back to the sunny scenery...

Note the water on tap supplied by Ontario! wth?

These provincial pavilions (behind the rainbow coloured fence) apparently didn't have too long line ups, but after the lines we saw at the Canada pavilion (over 3 hours!) and others, we didn't bother. Also by this point we had been walking for hours already. So we enjoyed the seawall and all the Inukshuks people made, and happily bumped into some friends outside the Russian pavilion (Science World).


One other bummer was that the days Stephen Colbert was filming in this park I was totally sick and couldn't muster energy to go. (pic of him is from a friend that did make it) That, and not being able to find someone to come with me when I was offered free tix to go to an awards ceremony and concert were mild let downs for me. (I enjoy outdoor and smaller indoor venues for my music, and don't really like stadium shows, even though it was Great Big Sea - who I love to see live - so I almost considered going by myself...but it was so last minute, at the end of a long day, and I just love experiences like that so much more when I have someone to share it with)

But at least, at the end of our family adventure day, all the fencing didn't cut us off from our favorite little ice cream place! Yay!

My mind was boggled in ways both good and bad leading up to and throughout the Olympics, and I find I have so much more I could comment on, such as a 'sustainable' event using helicopters and trucks to move snow from one mountain to another. Sigh. But now that all the spectacle is gone, and soon the village will be full of new permanent residents, this area of town is gonna change dramatically... so I feel the really interesting times are yet to come. I breathe a sigh of relief that the Olympics have moved on, enjoy my positive memories and shed the negative ones, and find myself ever more curious what will the 'legacy' of it all really be?