The Prodigal Returns

I've been away. I don't like to tell I am away when I am going away.The house wasn't empty ..it just seems like a sensible precaution.I took the i pad with me. Did not use it. 

I  was at the FCM conference in Vancouver.; Federation of Canadian Municipalities  along with 3,200 other delegates The  work day starts at 8 a.m. and finishes at 5 p.m. with a lot of tedious stuff going on in  between .

Much of the program was work study tours. Which is a good thing. .Seeing  and comparing how other cities are  doing things is always  enlightening. 

Keynote speakers were Jmses Brookes Minister of Heritgae, Thomas Mulcair,  Leader of the Official  Opposition  and  Justin Trudeau, Liberal Leader.

Rick Hanson gave  an excellent presentation  Should have been an inspiration to all present. He had a full house to hear him and a very appreciative audience.

The theme of course , was the need to make our towns and cities accessible  and pay attention to new designs in the industry. 

The Minister of Heritage has interesting plans. The Museum of Civilization is being changed to the Museum of Canadian History. 

He told of his dismay at how little importance the educational system gives to our country's history. 

BTW he was first elected Councillor in Burnaby-Coquitlam when he was twenty-four years old. He is not  forty  yet. 

He is incensed by the thousands of historical artifacts that never see the light of day in the Ottawa Museum. He intends they will be circulated to community museums  throughout he country instead of mouldering in obscurity in  Ottawa warehouse facilities. I could feel his pain. 

My daughterTheresa and grand-daughter Robyn came with me. I've gone by myself too often over the years.

On Sunday we walked from one side of the city to the other and took the water bus  to Granviille 

Island.  I rode my Go-Go scooter.   A Children's Festival was being held. The place was crowded with city  dwellers enjoying the amenities. It was a beautiful warm sunny Sunday. 

The  Market ,Artisan's Fair and groups of impromptu entertainers were  sheer delight. 

We went to Whistler's Village and drove through  Squamish on the way back to the Airport. 

It's good to be home.