From the Pacific Spirit Park on this Canada Day 2022 🇨🇦, with gratitude to all of our health care heroes who have worked tirelessly over the past two years or more so that we can all finally gather together once again, and remembering the lost generations of children from the residential schools who never made it home; but with disappointment and anger that too many of our fellow citizens remain an unworthy rabble that still fails to understand the meaning of the word Freedom. They need only to look to the brave Ukrainian people who are fighting not only for their freedom but for ours also, in their battle against the war criminal sitting in the Kremlin. That is freedom that we must all fight for in whatever way we can until this war is over and Ukraine is free once again. 🇺🇦
Photo Essay
From Spirit Park revisited
We walked in the Pacific Spirit Park today after listening to President Zelenskyy’s impassioned address to the Canadian Parliament in which we learnt that ninety seven children have been tragically killed in his beloved country together with so many of the country’s brave men and women and now including three brave journalists. Our condolences and thoughts are with all the families, friends and colleagues grieving today.
This drawing is from a larger piece from 2017 drawn in protest at that time to an event that had produced the same sense of heartbreak and outrage that I know we all feel today. Some of you may remember the full piece can be seen here: “From Spirit Park to Spirit Dark”
These sunflowers are a message of love and support as we continue to Stand with Ukraine.
💙💛
Congratulations to Nancy, Nazde and the whole University of British Columbia student production team, together with all of the inspiring performers and artists, who last night gave us a never-to-be-forgotten virtual 27th Spring Gala that was simply an absolute triumph. Heartfelt thanks and bravos to everyone who worked so hard to make this year’s Gala a reality. 👏👏👏
may the fourth be with you
Remembering the actor Peter Mayhew who died on April 30th 2019 and who played Chewbacca from the first film A New Hope in 1997 to The Force Awakens in 2015
May the fourth be with you.
the meeting point installed
I was honored to join my General Surgery colleagues virtually this morning after the recent installation of my charcoal/pencil drawing “The Meeting Point” in the ICU at Vancouver General Hospital. It was also an opportunity to recognize and congratulate the unit’s ECMO team on their recently receiving B.C. Health Care’s Gold Apple Award for their collaborate approach to life-saving patient care.
The drawing was made one year ago to thank our frontline healthcare workers and was donated to the Hospital Foundation. Here is the description that accompanies the piece:
When the Science of Medicine meets the Art of Medicine to save lives in the COVID unit at Vancouver General Hospital. I would like to suggest that ECMO, which stands for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, could also stand for Ever Compassionate Medical Optimism, thanks to the dedication and bravery of our frontline healthcare workers epitomized by the caring nurse-specialist portrayed in my drawing.
With my gratitude to Katharine Knowles and the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation for accepting my gift and for so thoughtfully hanging it in the Unit, and to Dr Adam Thomas for his photograph which was the inspiration for my drawing.
Enjoy BC Health Care Awards presentation of the inspiring work of the VGH ECMO Unit:
Vimy Ridge Day 2021
Commemorating the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which began at 5:30 am on Easter Monday the 9th of April 1917. The battle continued until nightfall of the 12th of April when the Canadian Corps of four divisions gained firm control of the ridge. They suffered 10,602 casualties: 3,598 killed and 7,004 wounded. Four members of the Corps received Victoria Crosses for their actions during the battle:
- Private William Johnstone Milne of the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion.
- Lance-Sergeant Ellis Wellwood Sifton of the 18th (Western Ontarion) Battalion
- Private John George Pattison of the 50th (Calgary) Battalion.
- Captain Thain Wendell MacDowell of the 38th (Ottawa) Battalion.
To view more images of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial I invite you to visit Remembrance Day
The haunting Flowers of the Forest is played by Pipe Major Angus MacDonald of the Scots Guards who for several years was the personal piper to Her Majesty the Queen, and described as one of the finest bagpipe players in the world.
Lest we forget 🇨🇦
Lynn Valley Strong
Moments of peace, tranquillity and joy from the Pacific Spirit Park last week to ease our troubled souls. Every day brings news of unimaginable horror, from young children and protesters murdered by troops in Myanmar, school children bombed in their schools in Syria, boys as young as nine beheaded in Mozambique, mass murder in Atlanta, Georgia and Boulder, Colorado; and now here at home terror in a library in North Vancouver with one person killed and six injured.
Today our thoughts are with the families of all those affected and with the community of Lynn Valley, especially the children who witnessed it all on what should have been a happy Saturday afternoon in their local library, and wishing those who have been injured a full recovery. 🇨🇦
Georgia on my mind – Part Two
Giving water to those waiting to vote has now become a crime in Georgia. Here are a few who seem to enjoy their water but will remain silent no doubt on this Kafka-esque, upside down, crazy-town ruling.
“This is Jim Crow in the 21st Century. It must end.” President Joe Biden
Georgia on my mind – Part One
State representative Park Cannon was arrested, her hands cuffed behind her back, dragged through the Georgia State Capital and thrown in jail for KNOCKING ON A DOOR. In the words of President Biden this can only be described as “despicable.”
“We will not live in fear and we will not be controlled. We have a right to our future and a right for our freedom. We will come together and continue fighting white supremacy in all its forms.” Representative Park Cannon.
If Trees Could Speak
If Trees Could Speak
Thank you to Sara, Lani, Meghan and Lori from Metro Vancouver Regional Parks for creating such a memorable walk in the woods today. Their words, together with those of Nakita Gill, honoring the magnificent trees of our glorious Pacific Spirit Park are truly inspiring and uplifting.
They have also created a Raccoon Ramble for children for the next two weekends. How lucky we are to have their wonderful spirits in our midst. Our heartfelt thanks to them all.
And of course our thoughts today have been with all those grieving their loved ones murdered in Atlanta. The peace and tranquillity we are fortunate enough to enjoy here are a poignant counterpoint to all those suffering racial hatred and violence everywhere. Enough. We are better thank this.
thechangingpalette 