Hi Tweets,

Richard Rowlett writes:

(snip)
>Just look at [the] relief map of BC

One of the best ways to get a feeling for the actual relief of BC is to look
at the Challenger Map, a construction that used to be on the grounds of the
Pacific National Exhibition in East Vancouver BC. Made from a gazillion
pieces of laminated plywood, it takes up a large hall with a moveable
observation platform, and gives a better overall picture of this province's
appearance than any other five things put together. Sounds cheesy--until you
see it. It is decidedly not--it's staggering and beautiful: it's an
astounding labor of love by one man, Jim Challenger, who took years to
complete it and whose ashes are buried beneath it. I would suggest that
anyone wondering about migration dynamics and distributions into and in the
province just take a look at this 3-D relief map. I understood more after
thirty minutes of looking at it than in all the years before.

If you can. Unfortunately the PNE is moving or no more or something--its
future seems unclear--and the building containing this amazing artifact is
to be demolished. Vancouver Park Board, to whom the site is reverting from
the exhibition predictably talked about trashing the Challenger Map because
they couldn't be bothered to look after it--and far too much past experience
with their sneakiness shows they'd do it in a minute if they though no-one
was looking--but the ensuing and equally predictable uproar at such a
proposition backed them off from such a grotesque stupidity (ever wonder why
I'm always teeing up on these guys? this is a garden-variety example of
their furtive and often-destructive boneheadedness), so the latest plan is
to dismantle and store it until a buyer comes up. Too bad: this is something
that should be on public display, and not miles out of town, either.

Well, if the Challenger Map is ever delivered safely from bureaucratic
durance vile, I'd encourage you to see it if you ever get the chance. I hope
you do.

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)