Sciethics: Irrelevant Considerations: The “Science” Behind Th...

Sciethics: Irrelevant Considerations: The “Science” Behind Th...: "I rrelevant Considerations . That's the topic today folks, so first of all: what the heck are they? Defined in the official dictionary of Pr..."

Fruitful in Unity - Kelowna, the last stop on the road

Our road trip is almost over, but not before we finish our journey in the beautiful city of Kelowna. Over the  mountains we go, taking the long route of the Crowsnest Highway which takes us through plots of farmland and picturesque mountain views. Located at 49°53′01″N 119°29′36″W, Kelowna is in the interior of BC, specifically the Okanagan Valley. Kelowna is a semi-arid climate due to it's higher altitude and lack of rain due to the rain shadow of the mountains. It;s type of precipitation is orographic, although the city receives very little precipitation. The topography of the area is very varied, with large mountains to the north, desert-like conditions in the south, and a fertile belt of land in between which produces much of the provinces fruits and wines. Kelowna has more of a desert-like topography, because of it's higher elevation. A network of lakes and rivers stir air currents in the valley, creating varies weather conditions.

Kelowna has a varied culture due to it's slight isolation in the interior of British Columbia. It was settled in 1859 when a missionary came and called the place "L'ance au sable" (Bay of Sand) due to it's sandy shoreline. However, it did not officially become part of British Columbia until 1905. Some people claim that the nearby Lake Okanagan is home to the sea monster Ogopogo, although no sightings have been confirmed (maybe we will be the first!!). Kelowna also has the claim of having the highest building in between Vancouver and Calgary, which they built in the early 2000s. Many famous people have come from Kelowna such as Dany Heatley, Ryan Getzlaf, Trevor Linden, Jarome Iginla from the NHL, MLB players Jeff Zimmerman and his brother Jordan, as well as the World Champion Curling Team of Kelly Scott.

However, Kelowna also has many problems. One major issue is the large number of forest fires that occur every summer during the dry season that destroy thousands of acres of forests, as well as threaten communities. Because of climate change and the increase in temperature, the fires are only getting worse and will most certainly continue into the future. Another problem is the loss of jobs and emigration from the Interior of BC. Many youth are leaving Kelowna because there are more appealing job offers in larger cities such as Vancouver and Calgary, creating a shortage of people staying in the city. Because Kelowna is a desert climate, water shortages are also a problem and summers are often very difficult on the local water sources, especially when they are also being used to put out forest fires although the nearness of lakes helps to alleviate this issue. One final problem facing Kelowna is the rapid expansion of Kelowna that has lead to urban sprawl. Because of the warm temperatures, Kelowna has become a partial retirement city, creating a housing and land crisis that they have yet to find a solution to.

Driving up to Kelowna, there is the picturesque back drop of Lake Okanagan. It's blue waters seeming perfect to cool off in form the heat. We stopped the car and swan for a bit, relaxing from our long hours spent in the car. Reading a good book on the sandy beaches, making sand castles were all things we wouldn't expect to be doing in the interior of British Columbia. But wait - in the distance we saw a large grey shape begin to take form. Could it be the legendary Ogopogo - no, disappointingly on closer inspection it proved just to be a large log floating in the water. Continuing on with our journey, we stopped at the quaint Arianna Café, known for having the best blueberry pancakes, before stepping onto the road again to visit our last stop - The Mission Hill Winery.

Opened in 1966 by Kelowna locals, it is widely considered to be one of the best wineries in the Okanagan Valley - not to mention the world. As well as offering wine tours and tastings (non-alcoholic for us of course), they also have one of the top rated winery restaurants in the world, called the Terrace. After spending the rest of the afternoon wandering through the grape bushes and sinking our hands into the red earth, we returned to the estate and the restaurant to reflect on our cross-province road trip. Our favorite highlights, new experiences, things to do again - and we were left wondering... which province should we do next?

By Sea, Land, And Air we Prosper - Visiting Vancouver

Orcas are jumping, the sea is blowing, and Yasyf and I are off to another stop on our cross-province tour. Traveling on the Spirit of British Columbia from the Victoria ferry terminal to Vancouver gives us the chance to view the beauty of the islands all along the coast of BC. Located at 9°15′N 123°6′W, Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada, behind Toronto and Montreal, as well as having the largest and most active port in the country. The climate in Vancouver is classified as a maritime climate, having dry summers, and warm wet winters. The type of precipitation found in Vancouver is orographic, because it is west of the Rocky Mountains, and is where the clouds dump their rain before traveling inland over the mountains. However, Vancouver is much more than just its climate. It is a very diverse city with people from many different cultures. Vancouver is often called a "city of neighborhoods", with each one having its own distinct culture i.e. Richmond being mainly made up of the Chinese/Hong Kong community. The population density of the Vancouver core is 735.6/km squared, making it an urban city. With an estimated population of 2,328,000 people, Vancouver is a very large city. Originally, Vancouver was made up of mainly British, Scottish, and Irish immigrants who came for the rich farmland, the large port, and the nearness to the CPR. Over time however, this has changed with the help of the large influx of new immigrants. Vancouver now has a very large Chinese Population (as well as the second largest China town in North America) due to the mass emigration of people from Hong Kong when it was handed back to China. Vancouver now also has large Portuguese, Italian, German, Philippino, Thai, Cambodian, and Eastern European populations. British Columbia, and especially Vancouver is a very wealthy area with many things drawing in prospective immigrants. Because of the already large immigrant population, many feel comfortable moving to the city. It also has a large amount of jobs available, especially in the tourism industry. However there are some push factors sending people away from Vancouver such as the high cost of living and housing that can be a detriment to young people just starting their careers.

But right now in the summer months, the sun is shining and the beautiful weather in BC continues for our cross-province travels. In the morning after getting off the ferry, we check in to the Hotel Vancouver Fairmont, and are soon off on our way to continue sightseeing. But Vancouver was not always a city of fun and tourism, in fact because of it's location, it was originally a port city due to it's deep waters that were ideal for large ocean liners. Situated in the Cordillera Region in a low-lying area, Vancouver has rich farmland as well as an excess of raw materials such as trees and minerals. Because of the areas abundance of natural resources, it was also home to mills, and other industry's dealing with nature's gifts. One of the youngest large cities in Canada, it was only established in the 1880's due to the Moody Saw Hill, and the arrival of the CPR. However, a recent growth in international attention and tourism, as well as the shrinking of the forestry industry has led Vancouver to transition into more tourism-based industry. Although it still is a major base for forestry and mining companies and port business, it is slowly changing to create new businesses such as a large film industry (making such films as the Twilight series, and home to Team Jacob and Team Edward shirts galore) and new software and biotech companies. But when walking through the beautiful Stanley Park on the way to the Vancouver Aquarium, neither of us is thinking about the economics of the region, but instead how excited we are to see the famous Beluga Whales!! Up close, their snow white bodies are even larger in person... they offer a chance to swim with them, but no amount of reassurance of their playfulness will convince us that they are anything but cold-blooded killers.

Riding the Sky Train gives us a break off our feet, laying them up on the plastic chairs while we stare into the tunnel we are being taken through on our way to a late lunch at Tojo's. Known for it's award winning Sushi and Japanese Food, it is considered one of the best restaurants in the city. Although - is there something wrong with eating raw fish right after visiting an Aquarium? However, while sitting down eating our California and BC Crown Rolls, there is a commotion at the door. And in walks in who but - Tom Cruise. Wearing aviator sunglasses, he looks like he is trying to blend in and absolutely failing like only a world-famous celebrity can. Sitting a few tables down, both of us are star-struck, but luckily we don't need another picture with him as there are already dozens adorning Yasyf's bedroom wall.

Off on the last stop of the day - Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Being forced to sell his left kidney in order to obtain tickets, Yasyf is a little worse for wear, however off we go with jerseys in hand and large smiles on our faces. The streets are flooded with blue and green, and chants can be heard from every window as we make our way into the hallowed stadium. The game turns out to be tight - tied 2-2 in the 3rd with even more opportunities for both sides. But with 52 seconds left, Kesler gets a break away - and SCORES! For the first time ever, Vancouver wins the Stanley Cup - what better way to end our trip to the largest city in Western Canada?

Semper Liber: Forever Free On This Provincial Adventure

Previous Fort Victoria

Current Victoria

Carpe Diem! Semper Liber! Seize the day folks! We are indeed Forever Free as we zoom into our second destination on this provincial venture, whose motto so accurately reflects. And my what a free and expansive journey of a city Victoria, BC is! Located at the southernmost tip of the Island, it makes for a very diverse capital. The placement of our capital so close to the American border is no coincidence, I assure you; the first British Colombians were smart enough to ensure Vancouver Island stayed in Canadian hands by making their capital as far south as possible. In fact, Olden-Day Victoria was very similar to today's, although had much less of a heterogeneous draw, so therefore a smaller, less diverse population. As I am sure you will see from my accounts, the major industry in this area is tourism, and my what an industry there is! Fittingly, this has always been the draw to the Victoria area, starting at the city's origins; people flocking to the city was what made it so popular. It would seem this huge selection of tourist attraction hasn't changed much over the years, besides from growing exponentially. I only wish we had time to do it all...

Our Suite at the Empress

On this beautiful Tuesday morning we stepped out of our still-rumbling Lamborghini at precisely 8:00 in the morning, having driven all night. Our first stop: the stunning sights of our hotel, The Fairmont Empress. Lavishing in the multi-million lobby, enjoying the prized art pieces and regal aura, we took in all the sites. After a fantastic meal with Tea at the Empress to give us a relaxing start, we set off into the city. With most of the people in Victoria concentrated in the city (urban), and a population of 358,000 people spread out at a density of approximately 4,196.9 people/km² according to Statistics Canada, we sure had a lot of people to meet! The only downside: 10% of them are retirees (boooring!). Guess we'll have to watch out for those other 90%, of which the majority are English and under the age of 35. Guess they really are all "newly wed or nearly dead"!

Parliment Buildings

Noticing the blazing weather, we decided to take the tour on foot. Walking through the downtown, we pass by the breakwater and sniffed the scrumptious smells of Noodle Box, which we picked up (just in case we got hungry). Munching my chicken-teriyaki-in-a-box, we walked over the our second stop. Basking the the grandeur of the British Colombian Parliament Buildings, we embarked on the well-traveled tour path. After listening to our rather elderly tour guide drone on for what seemed like an eternity (the tour was nowhere near as exciting as our Socials teacher had alluded to), we burst out into the fresh air of a busy noon-time Victoria.

Mayor Dean Fortin

Ironically enough, just as we finished discussing Victoria's roots as a colony set up by a cautious Crown, developed out of a mining boom,  and named after its venerable namesake, we ran into a major player in the town's role: Mayor Dean Fortin; the gracious mayor agreed to take us all around his "City of Gardens". Together, we roamed with him for a while, then decided to see a show at the IMAX theatre of the Royal British Columbian Museum. After two hours of Batman on the biggest screen I've ever encountered, my IMAX days were heavily limited; following a short poke around the museum, we slunk out into the glowing midday sun. Sadly, we got distracted and spent the next hour watching a street magician astound a small crowd, and our host ended up leaving us.

Our next stop was to head on over to the Royal Theatre, where we had the time of our lives. It is almost indescribable how beautifully the sound of the Victoria Symphony filled our ears. For me, it was a personal highlight of the entire trip. The entire area emanated with rich and passionate music and culture, something that is very rare these days. It is so very unfortunate that the mayor could not accompany us, as I'm sure this experience would have blown him away. As we passed the Belfry Theatre, we were almost tempted to go see a run of Canadian playwrights  Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt's Two Pianos Four Hands (an excellent piece for any audience), but we just did not have the time.
Our last major point of interest was Beacon Hill Park, where we brought our picnic dinner and took in some of nature at its finest. After taking in as much of the 75 hectares as we could, we reluctantly headed back so as to catch the ferry on time, something we had experience rushing for all to well.

Another brief walk through some of the city's luxurious gardens and totem poles concluded our day, only wishing we had more time to explore. As the last rays of sun set over the horizon, we marvelled at our luck at catching such splendid weather (not common for this area). We nipped back to the hotel to pick up the car (freshly washed!), and cruised over to the ferry terminal to catch the latest ferry over to Vancouver, our next stop. Dodging and swerving traffic, we finally made it the terminal in the nick of time; I now realize why Amanda has never driven in the past! Speaking of which, traffic and congestion have become a huge problem for Victoria. With long, winding streets and narrow alleyways, the city just isn't meant to support such a large number of people. This causes big problems with getting around, and reaching ferries on time! As the ferry pulled out at exactly 11:05, my eyes began to drift, and the twinkling of the parliament buildings was my last site of Victoria, BC: The city that's Forever Free.

Hitting the Road: Bear Tracks And Lumberjacks

Off we go folks! My classmate and I are preparing to launch one of the most daring adventures to date: A cross-province road trip! Traversing across this marvelous province of ours, we will visit several key (but quite quirky) locations intertwined in the culture that is Beautiful British Columbia. After our rigorous packing, checking, and double-checking, we hit the road in our brand new sleek grey Lamborghini Reventón. Our first stop from our starting location of Saltspring Island is the remote town of "Bear Tracks And Lumberjacks": Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island. Located in the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, at exactly 49° 14' 0" N / 124° 48' 0" W, it is near the southern tip of the Island. Approximately 65km from Nanaimo, and 193km from Victoria, it is somewhat distant for those who do not have a reason to visit. Named after Captain Pere d'Alberní, originally as a lumber/sawmill town, and resting in the valley below the grand Mount Arrowsmith, this quaint little town was a venture in itself. With only a meager population of 25,396, this town thrives on the thousands of city folk that migrate south (Island, that is) for the summer. Adding on this region's (Western Mountains/Cordillera) humid, temperate, maritime climate, it is the perfect mix of mild weather and rich culture. Capitalizing on the late summers this area seems to experience, visitors love to enjoy the annual Fall Fair put on by the city, with attractions and rides appealing to all ages! These current draws of entertainment for all ages, a quiet, safe community, and supportive neighbours have been big draws that have acted like pull factors to not only Port Alberni, but many small towns across the Island, and the province. Unfortunately, being a small town does have its drawbacks, and these lack of social services, higher taxes, and loss of jobs act as push factors just as efficiently.

Martin Mars

Interesting Fact: Did you know that Port Alberni has an official sister city? Owing to their similar layouts, city centers, and identical geography (with several rivers, creeks, and ravines branching off from the respective cities), Port Alberni and Abashiri, Japan are official sister cities. There are several other tourist attractions to this town that we visited, my favorite being on Sprout Lake, which is the large body of water right outside Port Alberni named after Gilbert Malcolm Sproat, and is a popular summer retreat. I am speaking, of course, of the Martin Mars Waterbombers. These large, four-engined cargo transport seaplanes were originally built for use in World War II, but now are the largest seaplanes servicing BC as forest-fire-fighting waterbombers. It was truly inspirational to visit their resting place.

As it began to rain, be jumped back into our car (hood up this time), and left the lake to head back into town. Stopping for a photo-shoot in the miserable weather turned out to be the smartest decision yet; we ran into the most interesting character all trip. John Takalamala, a local First-Nations chief, agreed to join us and give us some background knowledge of the town.

Orographic Relief

The first thing our new friend did was apologize for the dismal weather, explaining that since the Island is a maritime climate, it is prone to much precipitation, due to the warm air and enhanced evaporation. This, we found out, was a mix of orographic relief, due to the nearby Mt. Arrowsmith, and convection current precipitation from the nearby ocean. He diagrammed all of this in a climatograph (diagram showing yearly temperature and precipitation), shown here.

As we learned from our new guide, other than tourism, the major industry in this area, and the people we met and talked to sure agreed with this one, is the forestry industry. The town was started on logging and sawmills, and for all of its history has been a sawmill town. Until recently, this was how much of the town made their living. Unfortunately, recent budget cuts and the the economic state have lead to mass closures, and many people out of job. Combined with school closures and hospital cut-backs, this has lead to a miserable attitude in our isolated sawmill town. This has especially been an issue for the Native communities, who have suffered greatly and continue to do so. As our guide finished up our thorough tour of the town, we let him out by the reservation, and said one last goodbye to the quaint, suffering town of Port Alberni. My only regret: that we did not get the chance to explore the vast woodlands of Cathedral Grove, home of the largest trees and best views in the world. Unfortunately, this treasure is also endangered, as loggers and other industrialists want to exploit it. We hopped in our Lambo, hood down (it was gloriously sunny again), and sped off into the distance, relishing our last moments in a small. rather tedious, yet somehow richly heterogeneous and fascinating valley.