Hudson's Bay is the End of an Era

Hudson's Bay closes for good on Sunday

Yesterday afternoon I make a quick visit to Hudson's Bay before it closes for good on Sunday.

Inside on the ground floor, there was a queue to buy jewellery, while everything else seemed to be cleaned out. The cosmetic counters had been cleared out ages ago, and the section where handbags were sold were replaced with racks of very large sized clothing for men.

Other counters had random items like Spanx tights, bowls, plates and label stickers.

I didn't bother going up to the other floors as it was so demoralising seeing what was left.

After 355 years, it's the end of an era. And the end of department stores in Canada: Woodward's, Eaton's, Sears, Nordstrom, and now The Bay (and Zellers).

All About Love

What would you type on a Smith Corona typewriter?

I saw something poignant on social media today that ironically made me think about life before social media.

Literati Bookstore is an independent book shop in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that was founded in 2013 by a couple who are book lovers.

Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, MI

They posted a thought-provoking video with these words:

When we first opened Literati Bookstore, we put out a typewriter anyone could use, had a blank piece of paper, and that's it.

No internet, no social media, no delete key.

And I was curious -- when forced with a blank page, what would people type? 

Nonsense? Mean, biting comments? Vitriolic attacks?

But what happened over the past 12 years has been amazing, most of the time.

More often than any other topic, people write about love.

Love gained, love lost, love missed, love yearned for.

Love for parents, love for kids, love for someone else, love for lost love.

Love wanted, love needed.

Typing out some lovely advice

And I learned something when we are left alone with our thoughts and just a blank page, we take away social media and followers and comments and the cruel cough in this megaphone that is the internet.

When we have a quiet moment in a bookstore to simply leave something anonymous and permanent about anything we want.

More times than not, we write about love, and while there is so much wrong in this world, in the end, after pouring through tens of thousands of anonymous notes, I truly believe we are more alike than we think.

💕

Hottest Toy Now Created by Hongkonger

The super hot Labubu doll that adults are clamouring to buy

Last week a brawl broke out in between a group of shoppers trying to get their hands on Labubu "monster" toys in the UK.

In a video posted on social media, several men throw punches at each other, while security guards desperately try to separate them.

Hong Kong-born Lung created Labubu in 2015

The men were trying to buy the highly coveted toys from Pop Mart, a Chinese toy store for adults. But after the melee, Pop Mart announced it would be pulling all of its Labubu plushies from its 16 UK stores until June to "prevent any potential safety issues."

What the heck is Labubu and why all the fuss?

Labubu is a mischievous monster with rabbit-like ears and a big grin showing his teeth. 

The creature the brainchild of Hong Kong-born artist Lung Ka-shing, 52, who created a whole family of the monsters in 2015. 

When he was young, his family moved to the Netherlands, where he became fascinated with Nordic folklore, which inspired Labubu and The Monsters, Zimomo, Tycoco, and Spooky.

"At that time, there were no game consoles or computers, so I had to draw dolls with a pen, so I had the idea of painting fairytales since I was a child," he said in an interview.

Blackpink's Lisa is a big Labubu fan

As an adult, Lung became an award-winning children's book illustrator in Belgium, where he created Labubu and The Monsters. They took off in 2019 when they were sold as plushies by Pop Mart.

But when Lisa, a member of the popular K-pop girl group Blackpink was seen with various versions of the toy last year, her fans could not get enough of Labubu.

And then the brawl in the UK broke out.

While my friend and I thought the fracas over this toy monster with bunny ears was crazy, our other friend wished he'd bought stocks in Pop Mart..

Botany Lesson in the Forest

Murdoch showing off a horsetail

This morning I attended a botany walk at Pacific Spirit Park which started at the park's headquarters, just near the beginning of the 16th Avenue highway. About a dozen of us joined the stroll led by naturalist Dave Murdoch. He's a retired school teacher and admitted right away that he was not a botanist, but taught geography and has done some research on native plants in the forest.

The park on 16th Avenue is not one I have been to so it was nice to explore another part of the forest (sliced up by the highway).

Flowering thimbleberries

Murdoch walked along with two walking poles, which meant the walk would not be too arduous, though most of the participants were keen walkers.

As we wandered along the trails, he would point out interesting facts. Some of them include:

There are around 100 varieties of moss in the park;

Salmonberries always grow near Alder trees because they give off nitrogen, which helps the salmonberries develop. Indigenous people eat salmon with salmonberries. If you peel the bark of Alder trees, underneath it's red, and that is harvested and used as a dye for clothing.

Salal berries are a source of food for First Nations, with lots of Vitamin C. They are also eaten with salmon.

We also saw thimbleberries flowering, and wild blueberries. Will have to look out for the berries later in the summer.

There are also horsetails in the park, long stems with what look like bristle leaves. These plants date back over 100 million years ago because they have been discovered in fossils. Apparently they were used as toothbrushes!

Holes made by birds or animals

Sword fern is the most popular fern species in the park. There are also bracken fern, also widely found here.

Practically all the trees in Pacific Spirit Park are what's called second growth -- the first growth were cut down and new trees planted, which are about 50 to 100 years old. When the first growth trees were cut, they were dragged out of the forest by horses. 

With that, our walk was over in about an hour and 20 minutes. Neat to see there are people willing to show others what they know about the forest! And a beautiful day for a stroll. 

The King and Queen are Here

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Ottawa today

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Ottawa today, and although their two-day visit is very short, it is loaded with significance.

When Prime Minister Mark Carney stopped in London in March before the federal elections, he paid a visit to the king, asking him if he would visit Canada and read the speech from the throne if Carney won.

It's a brilliant move by Carney to show US President Donald Trump that Canada is a distinctive country of its own with strong historical ties to Britain. 

The king held private talks with Carney

The pomp and circumstance these two days provide an opportunity for Canada to show itself off in a positive light globally, and signal the country is on track to stand its ground in the wake of threats of annexation.

King Charles has subtly shown his support for Canada in recent months by wearing Canadian medals and calling himself the king of Canada, and describes the flag as "a symbol that never fails to elicit a sense of pride and admiration."

The last time a monarch read the speech from the throne was back in 1977 by Queen Elizabeth II; she also read it 20 years earlier. Almost 50 years later, her son will do the same.

It should be interesting to hear the contents of the speech, particularly the choice of diction and phrases.

However, not everyone will be listening. The Bloc Quebecois have decided to skip the speech, and in fact are trying to make the oath of allegiance to the king optional.

Nevertheless, it's an historic visit that Canadians in Ottawa turned out in droves to see the royal couple, proving once again how Trump's threats only make us want to embrace our ties to the King even more. 

Review: Legato Cafe's Thai Lunch

Green curry with coconut milk, eggplant, bamboo shoots

A friend who works in Kerrisdale asked if we could have lunch at a restaurant she had never been before. She was concerned the food might not taste good (and didn't want to be blamed).

But I'm all for trying something new, even if it doesn't work out. Cause you don't know until you've tried it.

The place is called Legato Cafe, and its signage outside promotes that it also serves Thai dishes. 

Spring rolls with salad comes with the lunch set

We were curious.

Inside it looks like a cafe, with coffee, tea, baked goods and some salads, soup and sandwiches. 

The lunch set menus looked good -- about C$15 per person with a starter and a main course.

We ordered two different mains, green curry and pad Thai and sat down.

The waitress was busy, but efficient. We made our order and paid at the cashier and then sat down where she gave us glasses of water and utensils.

The starter featured two halves of a deep-fried spring roll choc full of vermicelli and strips of carrot, with a nice portion of salad, a simple mound of lettuce with shaved carrots and a ranch dressing.

Not long afterwards we were served the green curry with chicken, and a side of rice. The curry initially had a mild taste that got hotter at the end, perhaps thanks to the chilli flakes sprinkled on top. The curry had Thai eggplants, bamboo shoots, and carrots mixed with coconut milk. 

Pad Thai with bean sprouts and peanuts, no chilli

The curry was quite addictive -- I couldn't help but keep spooning more on my plate even though it was quite spicy!

Meanwhile the pad Thai arrived, a bit too much ketchup-y sauce that made it look orangey than soy sauce, and tasted sweeter too. We also chose chicken for this dish (the choice was beef, chicken, pork or tofu). It really should have prawns in it, but cost-wise it would be more expensive.

Nevertheless, in general it had some of the main ingredients, but lacked scallions, chilli flakes and tofu. 

In general we were quite pleased with the food, not completely authentic, but at a decent price. We'll be back!

Legato Cafe

2299 West 41st Avenue

Vancouver

604 264 1666

The New Face of The Bay

Liu (right) with her proposed new logo for her shopping malls

There are only a few more days left before customers can get their last purchases from The Bay, as it will be closing on June 1 after declaring bankruptcy.

So far Canadian Tire has offered C$30 million for the intellectual property rights of the 355-year-old company, including the iconic stripes and coat of arms.

Meanwhile Hudson's Bay plans to sell up to 28 of its 39 leases in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario to Chinese-Canadian billionaire Ruby Liu Weihong's Central Walk at an undisclosed price. The Bay has sought court permission to go ahead with the transaction.

Liu will purchase 28 of The Bay's leases

She plans to open a chain of more than 20 retail stores in the three provinces, naming them after herself -- "Ruby Liu: A New Bay", as she can't use the Hudson's Bay name... unless Liu makes a deal with Canadian Tire.

"We wanted to buy this as well [intellectual property]. But Canadian Tire is a giant company with deep pockets and we are a smaller company. It's also the pride of Canada. They offered more money," she said in a media interview.

Liu didn't think "The New Bay" would be an issue, as she intends to create a new retail experience for shoppers.

It's something she is very familiar with, as Central Walk owns Tsawwassen Mills, Mayfair Shopping Centre in Victoria, and Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo. 

Liu is originally from Harbin, China, and moved to Shenzhen where she slowly built various small businesses selling wholesale goods. 

In 1994, she started Yijing Investment Development Co. Ltd, and then a subsidiary, Yijing Central Walk in 2002, which later bought a 1.5 million square foot mall in Shenzhen.

She is originally from Harbin, lives in BC

She and her brother sold it in 2019 to a Hong Kong-based real estate investment trust for C$1.25 billion. With that money she bought Woodgrove Centre in 2020, Mayfair Shopping Centre in 2021, and Tsawwassen Mills in 2022.

In 2014 Liu started coming to BC and became a Canadian permanent resident in 2017.

In hiring staff for the new malls, Liu will give priority to staff of The Bay, as well as suppliers and vendors. 

According to the company's press release, Liu gave a statement: 

"Central Walk Canada is planning to conduct a series of transformative initiatives aimed at fostering intergenerational connections, promoting active lifestyles, and empowering youth through meaningful engagement as part of this transaction," she said.

"We are evolving to serve Canadians better. We believe every Canadian family deserves a brighter future. Join us in this journey of growth and connection. Together, we can build a more vibrant, caring and forward-thinking multiculturalist community."

Sounds positive and idealistic... stay tuned to see if it happens...

Picture of the Day: Smiling Tree Stump

A welcoming sign in the forest!

Earlier this week I went to another part of Pacific Spirit Park, north of 16th Avenue, to walk around the forest.

Just so I didn't wander too far, I followed a route that was an elongated loop. As I walked by a tree stump I was surprised to see it was smiling!

The things you find in the forest...

 

Vancouver Sign to be Permanent

Looking forward to having a sign like this in this spot?

Vancouver is going to get... a Vancouver sign placed at Coal Harbour in a bid to get visitors to take selfies and post them on social media.

Earlier this week city council voted 10 to one for the giant sign that could cost a total of C$1 million to produce and install, and then around $50,000 in operating costs. The sign would be placed in between the convention centre and Canada Place... a scenic space featuring mountains and the water that already screams "Vancouver" without spelling it out.

"This is a no-brainer," said Mayor Ken Sim, in that the sign will be a vehicle in promoting the city. "It plays a huge role in making Vancouver even cooler... there will be a buzz."

Mayor Sim says the sign is a "no-brainer"

In the winter of 2023 to early 2024 there was a temporary "Vancouver" sign in that spot that was red and lit up with light bulbs and attracted a lot of attention. The sign was part of a campaign called "Liven UP Coal Harbour" and was paid for by the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association in partnership with the Vancouver Convention Centre and the Port of Vancouver.

At the time the media reported on the sign, asking people how they felt about it, with mostly positive comments, which probably led city council to think about installing a permanent one.

"People will flock to this sign for photos, for video," said Councillor Peter Meiszner. "Tourists... sharing those photos and videos on social media around the world helps promote Vancouver as well as it really being a point of civic pride for locals."

The sign will be around 13.5 metres in length, 1.8 metres high and 1 metre wide, according to the city report.

Not everyone enthused by the sign downtown

Destination Vancouver has already promised C$200,000 to the project, as has the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association.

Where did the old sign go? Was it turned into scrap already?

But not everyone is onboard with the sign.

Councillor Sean Orr said that with many Vancouver residents struggling with the cost of living, spending money on a giant sign should not be a priority, and could even be seen as excessive.

"I am just unfortunately concerned about the optics, the cost also," he said. "Some of the talk about the safety issues, as well as where it's located in front of the mountains, to me, kind of seems like Paris putting up a sign that says, 'Paris' in front of the Eiffel tower.

"It maybe cheapens the view a little bit."

Some online commenters agree, saying it's not the best way to spend taxpayer money, and would rather use the money to clean up the streets instead.

Now that could be an attraction.

A New Sign Lights Up Kits

A new sign has popped up in Kitsilano thanks to Chip Wilson

There's a new neon sign up on the corner of West 4th Avenue and Yew Street in Kitsilano. There are various arrows pointing to Jericho Beach, Kits Beach, Sunset Beach and Wreck Beach, as well as Love and Peace (in different directions).

The retro-style sign was put up by Low Tide Properties, owned by Lululemon founder and billionaire Chip Wilson, who says it's a nod to his family's love of the neighbourhood.

"My wife, family and I have been in Kits since the 1986 World Fair. We live and breathe everything that's Kitsilano -- from the beach to tennis to volleyball to the amazing people who have a way of living that elevates the world," Wilson said in a statement.

The neon sign gives off 1950s Las Vegas vibes

"Our family has been involved in the ownership of 23 locations on West 4th. The unveiling of Kits Corner is the icing on the cake after nearly 40 years of living, working and investing in this neighbourhood. From Westbeach to lululemon, Ride Cycle Club, Peak Performance, Arc'teryx, Kit and Ace, TurF and more, we're committed to keeping the spirit of Kits alive."

Perhaps that explains why Lululemon's headquarters is on Cornwall Avenue, and is Wilson naming some of his tenants?

Apparently the corner of 4th and Yew is where many run clubs finish their runs, and cyclists end their rides, while the sign gives off Las Vegas 1950s vibes with the neon signs.

Kits Corner also appears to be the name of the apartment building nearby. Units in the building are about C$2,800 for a 595 square-foot, one bedroom place, or C$3,600 for an 870 square-foot, two-bedroom unit...

Vietnamese 'Lunch Lady' has Died

Thanh was thankful to Bourdain, her "guardian angel"

This afternoon we heard the tragic news about Nguyen Thi Thanh, the Vietnamese female chef made famous by Anthony Bourdain had died in Toronto. She was 58 years old.

Nicknamed 'Lunch Lady' by Bourdain, Thanh had just landed in Toronto to help with the opening of the Lunch Lady restaurant there when she went into cardiac arrest. Medical personnel tried to revive her, but she passed with loved ones with her, according to an Instagram post from @thelunchlady on Instagram.

The restaurant's dishes featured bold flavours

"We were ready to welcome her. To honour her. To celebrate this moment together. And now, we are mourning an immeasurable loss.

"Cô Thanh wasn't just the heart and soul of The Lunch Lady. She was a mother figure, a mentor, a quiet master of her craft. Her food told stories. Her presence made people feel seen. Her legacy lives in every bowl, every herb, every careful moment in the kitchen," says the social media post. "Cô" means aunt or older female.

The Lunch Lady opened on Commercial Drive in Vancouver in 2020, but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Thanh was unable to come until two years later. I had the chance to interview her.

Despite not knowing any English, she was so warm and friendly. With the help of the restaurant manager acting as translator, Thanh was happy to talk about how excited she was to be in Vancouver -- her first overseas trip -- and to see the restaurant. At the time she said the decor made her feel like she was back in Vietnam.

She made her first visit to Vancouver in 2022

Thanh was made famous by celebrity chef Bourdain in 2009 when she and her food were featured in an episode of No Reservations. He met her the year before at her stall in Ho Chi Minh and she said that after the episode aired, people began flocking to her stall and says Bourdain was her "guardian angel."

Since 1995, she was known for making a different broth for every day of the week with noodles and various toppings, like prawns, pork belly, sausage and crab meat. When I asked her what was in the broths, she said they were family recipes that were secret and flashed a smile.

I didn't eat at the restaurant that day I met her as it was closed that day, but subsequently went there for lunch. Similar to her stall there is a different dish special each day, while in general the menu features elevated Vietnamese items, such as wagyu beef in pho, beef carpaccio, duck salad with cabbage and banana blossoms, and desserts like calamansi cheesecake and ube tiramisu.

Lunch Lady executive chef Benedict Lim said at the time it was inspiring having Thanh in the kitchen.

"She has a grandma style of cooking which makes the dishes so much better," he said in 2022. "It's very motivating and there's a good aura when she's around."

Prawn fritters with shredded taro root

News of her death has prompted fans to post pictures they had taken with Thanh, and mourning her passing.

The opening of the Toronto branch of Lunch Lady has been postponed until further notice, while tomorrow the Vancouver location will be closed to give staff time to grieve.

Thanh's passing is a massive loss, but Lunch Lady will be a fitting tribute to her spirit and passion for food.

Sweet and Juicy Spot Prawns are Back

Big, meaty spot prawns are back and they taste sweet

Spot prawn season is back!

I'm seeing how some restaurants are cooking these delicious plump and sweet prawns.

Some offer them sashimi style, charcoal grilled, deep-fried heads with kewpie mayo, ceviche, gnocchi, or in a prawn toast.

But one restaurant is offering spot prawn poutine: the "gravy" is made from the prawn bisque, together with cheese curds and thick-cut fries.

Sounds intriguing, and rich, but I'd rather have them like we did tonight -- spot prawns poached and then dipped in a soy sauce mix with oil, scallions, ginger, a touch of honey, and diluted with water. 

Hope we can have some more before the season ends in a few weeks!

Picture of the Day: Pedalling Smoothies

Want to pedal for your smoothie?

Around lunchtime today I finished my long 8K trek around Pacific Spirit Park and went to Memorial Park West to see if the Dunbar Little League was playing.

They were in the midst of a game against Kerrisdale and the snack shop was open. I could get a freshly made hamburger (with lettuce, tomato and pickles) for C$7.

As I waited for my hamburger, there was a drinks stand nearby and two stationary bikes with a curious contraption. They were selling strawberry and mango smoothies -- you could make yourself!

For the same price as a burger, you could get fresh whole strawberries or mango chunks with water in a blender, which was placed in front of the handlebars. When you push the pedals, the blender starts to move. Cute DIY gimmick, but don't know if they got any takers! 

Review: Fallen Treasures

The film documents Hong Kong's last sawmill

This afternoon I went to see a Hong Kong documentary called Fallen Treasures at Cinematheque this afternoon. Thinking there would be a lot of people, I arrived 40 minutes early to see that the organisers, HK House hadn't even set up yet.

I waited outside and slowly a line started to form behind me, but it turns out when we were finally allowed in minutes before the screening, that only about 30 people came, though this is Victoria Day weekend, a public holiday.

Wong is passionate about woodwork

Directed by Elyse KY Hon, Fallen Treasures follows Wong Hung-kuen, the owner of Chi Kee Sawmill & Timber, the last sawmill in Hong Kong.

Hon had interviewed Wong in 2016 for a print story, but felt she could do a more comprehensive one on film. She began shooting in 2018 when he received an eviction notice because the government was going to develop the area into the Northern Metropolis, to connect Hong Kong with the mainland, and by extension into the Greater Bay Area.

The sawmill has old equipment, but continues to run well to remove the bark from tree trunks, and then slice them into planks. Wong patiently teaches young people how to make small chairs and stools, hoping that the next generation would be interested in woodworking. 

He is so passionate about his work that everyday he wakes up at 6.30am and makes the two-hour commute from Siu Sai Wan to Sheung Shui. Wong works there with his younger sister, who cooks meals for the both of them and his employee who has been with the company for many years.

After the screening Hon talked to the audience

But the deadline of moving Chi Kee is fast approaching and one might think Wong, in his 70s, would settle into retirement and close it, but this place is his reason for waking up everyday, and is focused on finishing commissions from clients than figuring out where to move the mill.

Wong is an endearing character, who is philosophical about life. Early on he says his son died at the age of 28 in 2010, and recalls the events that led to his passing. As the audience learns this piece of information, they become connected to him and understand why he wants to keep the sawmill going.

When he goes to a school to remove a tree that fell down during super typhoon Mangkut in 2018, he lights some sticks of incense to appease the spirits in the area. He can but also freely speaks his mind, saying the government claims it is concerned about the environment, but doesn't follow through.

For Hon, making Fallen Treasures was also a labour of love; she spent five years making the film on a shoestring budget. She recounted in an online Q&A session that the day of the deadline for Chi Kee to move was the last day the cinematographer helped her on the project and had to go back to their day job. So she had to continue filming it herself, as well as writing and editing.

Wong patiently taught young people on weekends

The documentary is a profile about Wong, a record of Chi Kee's existence, and how the government handles evictions, and what it deems to be a cultural asset. Wong explains the sawmill uses only reclaimed wood and repurposes them into other useful items, which he believes is good for the environment. However, the government sees the sawmill as old, dated, and irrelevant.

Seeing Wong wanting to continue Chi Kee also gave her purpose and understanding why she was staying in Hong Kong, as she saw friends leave the city in the last few years. She feels it is important for her to stay and try to document things. When asked what she is working on now, Hon didn't specifically answer the question, but that she has found it's not easy to film things and comes across road blocks. 

Nevertheless, she explained it was hard to get the film shown; she didn't have a distribution network and Hon went into bookshops in Sham Shui Po asking them to help distribute leaflets about the film, or host screenings. She and Wong attended the screenings, and many young people remembered Chi Kee in the news about its impending eviction.

We were lucky to see the film in Vancouver, and Hon was so happy that people across the Pacific saw her work.

The Bay May Live On Through Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire to buy The Bay's intellectual property for C$30M

Hudson's Bay isn't dead yet.

Canadian Tire is paying C$30 million to take over Hudson's Bay's intellectual property, including the iconic four tripes motif, and the retailer's coat of arms symbol.

While the deal needs court approval, it's a positive sign the department store will continue to live on through another Canadian brand.

The Bay's IP includes iconic HBC Stripes

"Some things are just meant to stay Canadian and we are honoured to welcome many of HBC's leading brands -- including the iconic HBC coat of arms and the Stripes -- into our Canadian Tire family," said Greg Hicks, Canadian Tire CEO and president in a statement.

"It's disheartening to witness the final days of another great Canadian retailer, and while the circumstances are unfortunate, we're proud to step in for customers."

Some shoppers eyeing deals, were visiting the department store a few times to pick up bed linens that were going for 50 percent off in recent days.

In March the 355-year-old retailer was granted creditor protection, and began selling its assets; according to court documents, there are 12 bids for 39 of its stores.

It is believed one of the bids may be from Liu Weihong, a billionaire who owns three shopping centres in British Columbia.

Back in April, on Xiaohongshu, Liu posted several videos saying she wants to "restore The Bay to its former glory."

Who will snap up the Granville department store

"Knowing that The Bay, this national brand that carries Canada's history, will collapse, I can't stand by and watch, you must do your best to do something, to save it, to let the Canadian spirit continue," she said in Mandarin. "Let the young generation in Canada fall in love with The Bay again."

But that might be difficult for her to revive The Bay now that Canadian Tire has bought the Canadian retailer's intellectual property.

Apparently Liu had also talked about buying up several department stores in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, and then splitting up the spaces into mini shopping malls, similar to ones in China. However, that's what The Bay had tried to do, giving brands an opportunity to set up their own boutiques within the department store.

That did not work for The Bay, and besides, people's shopping habits have changed that most people don't shop in physical stores much anymore. You can thank the internet and Covid-19 for that.

In the meantime shoppers have until June 1 to snap up whatever else they may want to buy at The Bay. When I was there last month, there was tons of merchandise still on the racks...

What Would You do if you Won C$80M?

Simporios has won the largest lottery payout ever in Canada

What would you do with C$80 million???

That's the situation Justin Simporios, 35, is dealing with now after he won Canada's largest ever jackpot payout to one person.

The first thing the Surrey resident did before stepping forward to claim the prize was to quit his job at a logistics company.

The 35-year-old immigrant cried tears of joy

"I just threw in my resignation through an email, just an hour, two hours before I had this news conference," Simporios said. "I'm working with [a] good operations team, my boss. They're all great."

The Filipino immigrant said he wanted to give them a heads-up that he was "stepping away" and wouldn't be coming back, and added his colleagues and boss were happy for him.

After getting over the initial shock and excitement of winning the lottery, Simporios has some practical matters at hand. He wants to pay off his sister's medical school debt and help his mother retire early.

"I've been struggling," he said. I'm a father. I work full time. I have a daughter. I want to go home. I want to spend time with them, but as a father, you want to balance it out. Should I work? Or should I spend time with my daughter and not have food?

"With this amount of money, I'll be able to spend more time with my daughter, with my wife, with my family. It's awesome, man. Just thank you. I'm just feeling blessed right now."

He plans to buy a home and travel to LA

Simporios' first order of business will be to speak to a financial advisor and then buy his "dream home". He also wants to go to Los Angeles to see LeBron James play basketball and take his wife and daughter to the Philippines as they haven't been there before.

We really wish him well, and hope that he doesn't spend the money as fast as he won it. Eighty million dollars is an awful lot of money. 

What would you do with C$80 million?!

Immigrant Frustrations and Hopes

Though expensive, Vancouver attracts many immigrants

Whenever I take Uber, I like to chat with the driver and it makes the ride more interesting.

This evening a 38-year-old Iranian immigrant picked me up from downtown Vancouver so we had a good 20 minutes to chat.

He drove a Toyota bZ4X, an electric SUV, which he said he has been driving for three years and likes the car very much. It can go 430km before the battery needs to be charged.

Before moving to Vancouver, he lived in Montreal for four years, but couldn't stand the winters. He loves Vancouver very much, despite the city being expensive to live in.

I asked if he liked driving Uber and he admitted it was a necessity now because he was laid off his job last week. For two years he worked at a company that makes aluminium doors and window frames. He not only designed them, but also worked on the shop floor. 

"Life is better for second generation, not immigrants," he said, and then revealed that he was actually a trained architect in Iran, but could not get work in his field here because he did not have the license and stamp.

I suggested he could still work in architecture, and he said he could as a draftsman, but those jobs only pay around C$22 an hour, and he has a daughter who is three years old to support.

Nevertheless he was proud to say that his daughter was Quebecois, as she was born in Montreal, and it seemed like he was putting his hopes on her to succeed further than him in Canada.

With Mark Carney as Prime Minister and plans to build some 500,000 homes every year, perhaps my Uber driver would be back to making aluminium doors and windows, I suggested, as we were nearing my destination.

He didn't sound hopeful, but I was. Carney is intent on building homes and definitely using Canadian building materials.

I left saying I hoped he would be back at his old job soon. He seemed grateful at least someone was rooting for him.

Can Former Vancouver Mayor Tackle Housing Nationwide?

Carney revealed his new cabinet today at Rideau Hall, Ottawa

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his cabinet this morning and there was surprise when it was reported Gregor Robertson, the former mayor of Vancouver would become the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure. 

While he's a federal rookie, Robertson has served in municipal and provincial politics -- one time as an NDP MLA. In the recent federal election, he handily won in the riding of Vancouver Fraserview - South Burnaby. 

But can he tackle the portfolio of housing? That's what critics are wondering.

Robertson reading out his oath of office

Carney's election platform was that the Canadian government would focus on building homes, promising to double the rate of residential construction in the next decade to 500,000 homes per year across the country.

"We're going to have to change how we build. And a lot of that expertise, not exclusively, but a lot of it has been developed in British Columbia," Carney said.

"Minister Robertson is very familiar with it. We're going to incorporate that, but in a pan-Canadian strategy to really drive this."

It's a big challenge, with the cost of building materials and labour constantly rising, but people do need roofs over their heads. 

But is Robertson the best person for the job?

Looking at his track record as mayor from 2008-2018, data from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows the average price of a single-family and semi-detached homes rose 179 percent across the broader Metro Vancouver area.

The number of homeless people also went up from 1,576 in 2008 to 2,181 in 2018.

Robertson says now at the federal level, things are different, because as mayor he was dependent on federal and provincial funding, and claimed the then Stephen Harper government was not interested in tackling housing affordability, and he also had to deal with the 2008 financial crisis.

"What's different now is that we've got a prime minister and a new government here in Ottawa who are saying we need to double the rate of construction, we need to work across all levels of government, we need to engage the private sector to do this," Robertson said on the CBC's Power & Politics. "We didn't have any of that going back to 2008."

We'll have to see what plans Carney and Robertson have to build this country and as fast as possible. 

US and China Backdown on Tariff War -- for Now

Tariffs have fallen for now, but enough to maintain relations?

After two days of talks in Geneva, China and the United States have backed down on their tariff brinkmanship -- for 90 days.

US President Donald Trump had imposed a whopping 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods which caused small and large businesses to cancel orders from China, and so China reciprocated with 125 percent tariffs on American goods.

Perhaps the outcry from the business community concerned about having no inventory for Christmas spurred the Trump administration to finally hold talks with China, because Chinese leader Xi Jinping was very willing to patiently wait for Trump to cave in.

Now the tariffs have dropped to 30 percent on Chinese goods, and 10 percent for American, but is that enough to get businesses moving again? Many believe a rise of 10 percent would be the threshold, so 30 percent may not cut it.

Businesses should be placing their Christmas orders now, but waiting to see what happens after 90 days still leaves uncertainty in the market.

That probably explains why stocks rose at first, but then in Asia, they fell slightly.

Even though the US is claiming this is a win, Xi is hinting it may end badly.

"Bullying or hegemonism only leads to self-isolation," he told Chinese and Latin American officials.

To be continued!

HK Immigrants Gather at HK Fair

A semi-outdoor area featured numerous stalls to buy items

Today was the fourth annual Vancouver Hong Kong Fair and I finally checked it out for the first time. Just like last year, the fair was held at The Shipyards in North Vancouver and I'm glad I went. It's the closest thing for like-minded Hongkongers to meet up, share and enjoy their culture.

I was on a tight schedule with a concert to attend in the early afternoon, so I took the bus downtown just before 9.30am and caught the seabus at Waterfront station to get there at 10.30am before it opened half an hour later. There was already a small line for ticket holders that already formed though the signage wasn't very clear.

Back copies of Apple Daily were for sale

The fair opened a few minutes after 11am and they scanned my QR code and gave me a bright pink bracelet before I could wander around the outdoor fair in a covered area. It's a good space, and I was glad I went early because I can see how it can get crowded very quickly.

There were all kinds of stalls selling handmade beauty products, cookies like salted egg yolk shortbread, treats for dogs shaped like egg tarts (my cousin's dog wolfed them down later), Chinese books, jewellery, Lion Rock T-shirts and tote bags, Hong Kong-themed coasters, key chains and artwork.

One stall was run by activists who are raising money to help people back in Hong Kong. There was a stack of Apple Daily newspapers, and included the copy of the last publication of the paper for C$50. Manning the booth was former Hong Kong radio host "Giggs" Edmund Wan Yiu-sing, who was jailed for 32 months for sedition and money laundering who are raising money to help people back in Hong Kong. 

Curry fish balls with peanut sauce

Another section was food one could buy and eat there, like curry fish balls, various sweet drinks with sago in them; I tried one with durian, coconut milk and sago. Hong Kong milk tea was also available as well as mango mochi.

Recently re-elected NDP MP Jenny Kwan was at the opening ceremony and gave a bilingual speech explaining that she was originally from Hong Kong and grateful to be in Canada. She promised she would help ensure the Canadian government would approve all Hong Kong immigrants' applications for permanent residency. She got a big round of applause.

In an indoor space was the cultural section, where UBC Cantonese had a booth, an area showing the black and white photographs of legendary photographer Chan Kiu, who passed away in Vancouver last year at the age of 96. There were pictures of Vietnamese refugee children eating from basins, the funeral of Bruce Lee, and Queen Elizabeth II's first visit to Hong Kong.

There were also mahjong tables for people to play the game, or learn how to make paper lanterns. An interactive exhibit featured various places in Hong Kong with photographs matched with scents from those areas.

MP Jenny Kwan spoke in Cantonese

I also got to meet up with some people I had met before and catch up with them, and get to know what others are doing in Metro Vancouver, from holding Cantonese summer camps to drawing workshops.

After about an hour and a half, I made it back to the seabus with two minutes to spare. As I was leaving there were more people lined up to go in, and even more spilling out of the seabus. Now I know why people make an effort to go because settling in Vancouver isn't easy; at this event they feel strength in numbers, and feel understood and appreciated.

Picture of the Day: Yellow Peony

Beautiful yellow peony that is rare to find

Yesterday we visited a friend's home where they have two beautiful yellow peonies blooming.

Most peonies are various shades of white to pink to maroon, but yellow is considered rare. That's because it's hard to breed them to get the golden colour. 

So here's a picture of one to admire!