Happy Birthday Vancouver! Places That Matter in My Life
I moved to Vancouver more than a decade ago and thus whenever anyone asks me where I am from or where is home, I always respond “Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada”. This is my home and where my life took off. Vancouver is where I have been most successful, professionally, personally, academically and as a part of the social media community and landscape.
Today, April 6th, we are celebrating the 125 anniversary of the foundation of Vancouver as a city, and as part of the anniversary celebrations (Happy Birthday, Vancouver) there will be cake today and the Olympic Cauldron will be re-lit in the Jack Poole Plaza starting in the mid afternoon.
The voting for Places That Matter has begun, and I found several of the gems I love in there (Avalon Farm, Stanley Park, the Hastings Mill building). But I also want to list the Places That Matter in my life. First and foremost, The Network Hub (which is within a heritage building, the former Vancouver Antique Building) at 422 Richards Street.
The Network Hub is one of the Places That Matter to me the most because its cofounders (my friends Jay Catalan, John Van and Minna Van) have been my biggest promoters and fans, and I wouldn’t be half as successful as I am as a consultant and entrepreneur if it weren’t for them.
Granville Island and the False Creek Seawall is another of the Places That Matter to me. My family, close friends and loved ones and I have walked along this seawall numerous times. It represents to me the intersection of nature and urbanization.
Main Street in Mount Pleasant is another of the Places That Matter to me. I live near Main Street, and I’m a Mount Pleasant boy through and through. I love its ethnic diversity, its openness, its artistic flair and the many things that it has to offer to me. I love taking only one bus to UBC and to downtown, and I love the many places to eat, have coffee, see art and get groceries, all within walking distance.
Stanley Park’s Second Beach is one of my absolute Places That Matter in my life. It’s the place where I decided in 2010 that for 2011 my one priority would be taking care of myself before I took care of others. It was watching this sunset, on this particular day that I realized that I felt incredibly fulfilled and that it was time for me to take better care of myself.
The Koerner Library at The University of British Columbia is one of the Places That Matter in my life the most. I would have not been able to finish my PhD if I hadn’t spent countless hours reading books, poring over journal articles and asking reference librarians. I love ALL libraries, but UBC libraries and in particular, Koerner Library. Also, much love to Main Library (now the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, pictured below)
The Rose Garden at UBC is also one of the Places That Matter to me the most. It’s where my best friends and I have spent some time chatting about relevant stuff. It’s where I celebrated my graduation. It’s where I sat down and talked to my Mom to share some of my most important feelings and emotions regarding life as a graduate student and then as a faculty member.
These are some of the Places That Matter to me, in Vancouver. I have a fondness for all the Metro Vancouver region, but these are a few within Vancouver proper. Happy Birthday Vancouver! You have given me so many opportunities to grow and be successful, I am forever grateful.
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Raul, thanks for your great post about the places which matter to you. It’s made me think about what places mattered to me at one time when I used to call Vancouver home.
Heart!!! Love you
It’s getting hot enough here in Plano, TX that I wouldn’t mind visiting Vancouver again. I recall that in late August, it was quite mild there. Never been there in the winter, though — does the proximity to the Pacific make the winter bearable there?