Canadian Thanksgiving

Haida totems

Canada's Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on October 12, which is a bonus if you're working for a Canadian company in the US - you get two holidays. Or else you get one very boring work day in October, while your Canadian bosses take the day off.

Last Saturday I took a bus excursion to the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver BC, arranged by Whatcom Community College's community education program. The $90 course fee covered fare on a Belair charter bus and admission to the museum, including a guided tour. At first I thought the price was a bit steep, but then considering that if I went on my own I'd pay transportation and hotel for an overnight stay instead of a one-day trip, I decided it would be a good deal for a last-chance trip before the rains come.

When I saw the line-up of south-bound Canadians at the border in the morning, I was a little worried about getting stuck for hours on the return trip, but the crossing was easy and fast going both ways. At both US and Canadian border stations, passengers get off the bus to have passports or enhanced driver's licenses checked in the office, while inspectors inspect the bus. Since the tour leaders at WCC had checked our identification before we boarded, there was no delay at the crossing.

A contemporary mural influenced by manga and native art

Haida totem

Slaves supporting a bench

The Museum of Anthropology has a collection of European ceramics in addition to First Nations art and artifacts, and also small exhibits of works from Pacific Rim and African tribes. I especially like the expressive and humorous Haida pieces, although the Haida were slave-owners and traders, which is not so admirable. Many of the carvings are not very old, since even cedar doesn't last long in the wet forests. One piece made in 1907, is a series of large serving bowls joined together like thigh-height train cars on wooden wheels, used to serve food at potlatch ceremonies.

After a guided tour, we had lunch at the museum cafe, then two or three hours to explore the museum and get out for a walk around the university campus. Food at the museum was about as good as what I used to serve at the Bellingham Airport cafe, and the servers were quick and pleasant. I had brought along a stash of Canadian currency, plus some coins left over from my tip jar at the airport, but the cashier wouldn't accept my Canadian pennies, even in the tip jar. I left a loonie and some silver, but I guess I'll have to save up my pennies to sell on the commodities market.

The North Cascades, beyond the Rose Garden on the UBC campus

The University of British Columbia campus might possibly be even more beautiful than the University of Washington. There are some old, rough, gothiky stone buildings, and more modern, innovative architecture contrasting with a wilder setting, despite the nearness of the city of Vancouver. There are whimsical details like adult-sized swings hanging from tree branches, and concrete partitions made to look like stacked firewood. When the clouds lift, you have a stunning view of the North Cascades, along with a relief-panorama showing the names of all the largest peaks.

Someone should make one of these for Birch Bay State Park.

. . . also, bicycling on campus

The bicycling component of my trip: I had thought I might be able to take the WTA bus to meet the charter bus on campus, but forgot that on Saturdays the first morning run isn't until 9am. Also, with the possibly of delay at the border returning home, I needed my bike for the return trip. So I ended up riding both ways - a slow, easy ride in the morning, to avoid getting all sweaty before boarding; then an easy ride home, because the ride on the warm tour bus made me very sleepy and I was looking forward to a nice nap after my big day-trip.