Be nice to strangers…. you never know who you are going to meet.

I put my snow tires on my car only after it started snowing in December.  I am very happy with my all-season radials.  But I knew that with more snow expected last Wednesday it was time to put on my snowies.  On Tuesday Dec 16th, I drove to 3 service garages, who all were booked solid until Thursday.  But I wasn't going to wait.

I went down to Wall-Mart and bought a new tire iron.  I had to buy the tire iron, because when I got my present car from my parents last year, I couldn't find the matching tire iron.  My dad always takes his cars to the garage to have the tires changed.  Personally, I prefer changing my own tire.

There are some pretty fancy extendable snow brushes for your car for $29.  I decided to upgrade from the little skinny wooden classic for $2.97.  I bought a slightly larger plastic one with a foam grip for $4.97 + a new red ice scraper for $1.97.  I also looked at the aluminum and steel show shovels for $12.99 and $15.99.  I thought it would be good to have an extra shovel for my car… but since we already had the plastic snow shovels at home, I didn't buy one.  One week later, I now regret not buying a shovel for my car.  But I am glad that I bought the extra kitty litter.  My cat is glad too.

So… there I was on Monday morning, after the big winter solstice snow storm.  I drove into Vancouver to pick up my friend Judy Maxwell who is helping me organize the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner this year.  I had to pick up Judy at a place near South False Creek, close to Monk McQueen's Restaurant.  Driving down 6th Ave. wasn't bad.  The roads were plowed, but the cul-de-sac near where I was meeting Judy was deep.  There was loose snow on top of icy hard pack.  My car was stuck.  I tried to rock it back and forth, but it was still stuck. 

A SUV came into the cul-de-sac, and I waved to the driver to go around me, as he was headed for the building's covered parking.  A few minutes later, the drive came out of the parking lot, and came by to check on me and ask if I needed help.  My car was still stuck.

“Todd,” the stranger exclaimed when he recognized me.

The driver was wearing a hat and thick coat.  I didn't recognize him in snow gear.

“Geoff Meggs” he replied when I asked his name.  Geoff was just inaugurated as a Vancouver City Councilor only 2 weeks prior on December 8th, after winning the 9th spot of 10 city councilor positions on November 15th Vancouver Civic Election.  See my article: Mayor Gregor Robertson wears kilt to mayoral inauguration

Here's the picture by Patrick Tam, with Geoff Meggs, that I put on my blog.

Geoff is sitting 2nd from left, beside Kerry Jang, looking up at Andrea Reimer,  waiting to receive his “city councilor office bling” – photo Patrick Tam

I've known Geoff for a few years now, after first meeting him at Jenny Kwan's Scotch tasting fundraiser. Geoff came to the Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2008 dinner this year, and we kept crossing paths at other events through 2008.  He has always seemed nice and thoughtful, and I was very impressed after watching him during the election at all-candidates meetings.  At the Vision Vancouver nominations election that determined who would be the 8 candidates for the Nov. 15th Election, I was standing nearby Geoff and his family when the names were called.  It was great to share in the wondeful supportive family vibe that he had with his loved ones. There was such relief and happiness when his name was announced. 

Anyways…. Geoff quickly helped push my car out of the snow, with the aid of two other fellows walking by. Geoff gave some advice about rocking the car back and forth.  With the additional muscles, the car moved more easily out of the stuck snow.  Once moving, I didn't dare stop.  I waved my arm outside the car window in thanks.

I just wanted to share this small tale of Geoff Meggs helping his neighbors and strangers… as a good snow-maritan.  I think he's a good man, and I wish him luck for his first term as city councilor. 

.

–Vancouver library
worker Todd Wong, with newly elected Vancouver City Councilor Geoff
Meggs, newly-elected Vancouver Parks Commisioner Sarah Blyth, and
Vancouver firefighter Joe Foster  – attending the Vision Vancouver
victory party at the Hotel Vancouver on Nov. 15th – photo Todd Wong

Last week, Geoff Meggs was appointed as a liason for the GVRD Labour Relations Bureau, so I also hope that there will be a much more cooperative attitude for the next round of civic labour negotiations than the ones that forced the 3 Vancouver civic unions out on strikes last year.  It wasn't fun spending 88 days on the CUPE 391 picket line at Library Square, but I learned a lot.  You can read my stories about the Vancouver Library workers strike here:   http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/LibraryStrike

Parks Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon (yellow jacket) with his Vancouver Chinese-Canadian campaign team volunteers James, Ren, Todd, Julie and Raphael. – photo Todd Wong collection.

 Stuart Mackinnon was sworn in as Vancouver Parks Commisioner on Monday Dec 1st.  He has been an advocate for parks and a Green Party candidate for many years. Check out his blog site Better Parks at http://betterparks.blogspot.com/

On Friday Dec 6th, he held a thank you dinner for his trusted and dedicated volunteers and campaign team at Spicy Court Restaurant at Cambie and 41st Ave. in Vancouver.  This was also the 2002 site for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in the middle of a snow storm.

The food was great, the company was greater.  Stuart recognized the contributions of each volunteer and what it personally meant to him.  We are proud that Stuart was elected as a Vancouver Parks Commissioner with the highest number ever for a Vancouver civic Green Party candidate.

We know he will represent the values of the Green Party and hold the Vision Vancouver Parks board majority accountable for environmental issues, as well as working together with his fellow progressive Vision Vancouver and COPE commissioners.

Some of Stuart Mackinnon's dedicated campaign volunteers -(sitting) Rowan, Andy, Stuart, Ren, James (standing) Todd, Mac, Julie and Raphael – photo Todd Wong Collection

At the dinner, Stuart shared with me that he has been invited to give the Immortal Memory address about Robert Burns, by the Vancouver & District Labour Council, for their annual Robbie Burns Dinner fundraiser for Queen Alexandra Elementary School.  Stuart says he is honoured.  I am personally miffed that the VDLC didn't invite me…. even though I am now a member of the VDLC as a representative of CUPE 391. Okay… I am kidding… hee hee…. I am busy enough planning my own Robbie Burns Dinner, known globally as Gung Haggis Fat Choy. 

Did we say that the food was good?  Lobster with cream sauce and noodles.  Yum Yum….  Also on the menu were Peking Duck, and Lettuce wrap.  Stuart really knows how to please his Chinese constituency!  Hey! Did you know that Stuart spent time in China teaching English?  And last year he led a delegation of Metro Vancouver teachers on a trip to the People's Republic of China where he gave a talk about Norman Bethune.  Heck… sometimes I swear that Stuart Mackinnon knows more about Chinese culture than I do!  And maybe he might concede that I know more about Scottish culture than he does…. hee hee hee….

It has been a wonderful journey becoming friends with Stuart Mackinnon.  If there is one word to describe him, it is honourable.  He is dedicated to the community, and also to his dog Kikujiro. We know that Stuart will serve the citizens of Vancouver well as Parks commisioner.

See my flickr photo set:

Stuart Mackinnon Vancouver…

Last week on Wednesday, delegates at the BC Fed convention spent their lunch hour distributing information about the campaign to raise the minimum wage to $10 in BC.

Jim Sinclair, president of the BC Federation of Labour, is interviewed while a BC Fed convention delegate holds up the $10 Now information card. – photo Todd Wong.

Convention delegates took time out from their lunch time and went to different nearby Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre in the Vancouver downtown area.  BC Fed president Jim Sinclair went to the Seabus terminal and handed out pamphlets to Seabus, Skytrain and Westcoast Express goers.

Transit users were generally positive and supportive of the $10 Now campaign.  I opened doors for people entering the Seabus causeway and gave out the information pamphlets.

The minimum wage in BC was last increased to $8 in November, 2001. In 2002, the provincial government rolled back the minimum for new workers through the $6 training wage.

Bill Sinclair talks to reporters at the Seabus terminal – photo Todd Wong

At the BC Fed convention, delegates voted unaminously to support the $10 Now Minium Wage campaign.

In August 2007 MLA's voted in Bill 37 a 29% pay raise boosting salaries from $76,100 to $98,000.  The premier would
see his salary increase by 54 per cent to more than $186,000.  NDP MLA's voted against the pay raise and would donate their portion to charities.
see: NDP to give pay raise to charity
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/archive/index.php/t-477061.html

And in August 2008, “100 of BC's top bureaucrats in the provincial government will receive
salary increases as large as 43 per cent, all in a bid to attract and
keep top executives, B.C.'s minister responsible for labour market
development said Friday.” http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/08/08/bc-salry-hike.html

“Gordon Campbell boosted his own salary by 54% and now he’s doling
out taxpayers’ money to the highest paid people in government,” says
Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour.  

The Deputy Minister to the Premier has been given a 43% salary increase and will be paid $348,600 a year.  Other Deputy Ministers will be paid $299,215 per year, a 35% increase.  Assistant Deputy Ministers will see their salaries increase 22% to $195,000 a year.

http://www.bcfed.com/node/1298

Todd at BC Fed convention on Tuesday

Inspiration comes to BC Fed convention on Thursday

Carole James and Todd Wong at the BC Fed social on Thursday evening – photo T.Wong/R. Sihota.

Last days of campaigning in Vancouver

It's the last day of campaigning for the Vancouver civic election.  There have been lots of surprises.  There have been lots of meet and greets. I even delivered a few pamphlets for Stuart Mackinnon, our Gung Haggis paddler who is running for Vancouver Parks Board.  Here are some of the candidates I have bumped into this past week.

Alan Wong hands out flyers at Champlain Square with his mother.  Alan is running for his 3rd term on Vancouver School Board.  I first met him in 2002 with Andrea Reimer, Alan Blakely and Jane Bouey when I did a presentation to the VSB for Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society. – photo Todd Wong

COPE school board incumbent/candidate Sharon Gregson met Corporal Lashambe at the Billy Bishop Legion on Remembrance Day – photo Todd Wong

Ellen Woodsworth former city councilor and current COPE council candiate shares an umbrella with Jenny Kwan at the Chinatown Remembrance Day ceremonies. – photo Todd Wong