Anna Ethel Sprott (1879-1961) has a legacy in Vancouver that most might associate with a radio jingle: “Sprott-Shaw Community College, since 1903!”. However, Anna Ethel Sprott did more than marry the school‘s founder, R.J. Sprott, in 1918 and take on the role of president after his passing in 1943. She was a solid member of the business community in Vancouver and was involved in civic politics.
1957: Aldermen – Don McTaggart, J.W. Cornett, George Cunningham, Anna Sprott. VPL# 42553.
Province Newspaper Photo.
“The formidable Anna Sprott, with splendid suits and superbly feminine hats bedecked with cabbage roses and veils was one of the very early Professionals who forged a way ahead for women in business. On the one hand she provided access to the skills needed to break into business, while at the same time running a famous business school and running it at a profit doing that long before it was fashionable to do so.” [BC Radio History]
Anna arrived in Vancouver in 1911 as a young widow in her early thirties, with a daughter, and took a course at Sprott-Shaw, later becoming an instructor there. She was married to R.J. Sprott in 1918 and Sprott would then go on to found the first radio station west of Winnipeg (CJCE) while also starting up a separate Sprott-Shaw Wireless and Radio School.
1917: Archives #Sch N118.3. Artona Studio Photo.
“On his death in 1942, already in her early sixties and unmentioned in her husband’s obituaries except as an unnamed “sorrowing wife”, Anna Sprott nonetheless took over as head of Sprott-Shaw Schools and as president of the Vancouver radio station he founded now called CKMO.” [BC Radio History]
CJCE (1922) became CFCQ (1922-1928), CKMO (1928-1955), CFUN (1955-1969), CKVN (1969-1973), and went back to CFUN (1973-2009) before landing on CFTE which is currently TEAM 1410 radio.
Aside from the business, education, and radio history, Anna Sprott ran for Vancouver City Council in 1949 – precisely to be the first female candidate sponsored for a council seat (by the ruling NPA). She was elected on her first try and served on council longer than any woman in Vancouver history (1949-1959), winning re-election for three terms. Anna was also the first woman to serve as acting mayor of Vancouver.
Related Posts: Doreen Reistma and other posts about Vancouver History.
It is the season for gift giving and gadget upgrades which is why I am pleased to offer up a special giveaway with Lenovo featuring their Yoga Tablet 8, which uses the Android operating system.
I have my own to try out so I will be providing a review later this week but in the meantime, other reviews I have found online have been positive for this very unique-looking tablet, with its best features being its amazing battery life and the easy-to-grip cylinder. The screen itself is a slim 4mm and the battery cylinder is 22mm making it ideal to use as an e-reader while having the extended capabilities of an Android tablet.
Features
Design: Yoga Tablet 8’s pioneering design incorporates a battery cylinder and kickstand on the side of the device, shifting the centre of gravity and opening up multiple usage modes: Hold, Tilt, and Stand. In hold mode, the weight of the device falls into your palm rather than your fingers, making it more comfortable for reading and browsing. Lay it down for Tilt mode and you have a perfect viewing angle for typing or gaming. Flick the kickstand and rest it upright in Stand mode to comfortably watch videos, listen to music, or video-chat.
Epic Battery Life: Yoga Tablet 8 keeps going over the long haul with its off-the-charts battery life. Its battery lasts up to 18 hours* so you can go all day — and into the night — without recharging. The secret: Yoga Tablet’s unique, cylinder-shaped side chamber allows more room for battery storage — and more time between charges. *Battery life is an estimated maximum. Actual battery life may vary based on many factors.
Lenovo Yoga Tablet Giveaway
Delivering great visuals with an eight-inch HD (1280 x 800) display, the Lenovo Yoga 8 will leave my lucky contest winner (or whomever they might gift it to) very happy. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am on Friday, December 20, 2013. Follow Lenovo on Facebook and Twitter to find out more about their innovative devices. Exact model for the giveaway is the Yoga Tablet 8 – 59387761 in silver.
Update: The winner is Victoria Denault!
With every visit to Salt Spring Island, John and I explore another corner of this Gulf Island gem with wonder and enthusiasm. During our recent December visit it would have been pretty easy to sit in front of our wood-burning fireplace at Hastings House all day but once the clouds parted and the sun beamed down on Ganges Harbour, we knew we had to get out for a walk. Ruckle Provincial Park, about 17 kilometres south west from our manor house, was recommended to us by several islanders so we plotted a course and set out for a morning walk.
Ruckle Provincial Park is described as “one of the most beautiful parks in the southern Gulf Islands” it’s a popular summertime camping destination. Pitch your tent in the grassy meadow overlooking Swanson Channel and explore its 7 kilometres of shoreline, rocky headlands, tiny coves and bays, and a lush forest with a bed of ferns and a canopy of evergreens. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
As much as we would love to disconnect over the holidays, our smartphones do keep us connected to friends and family, and provide the opportunity to use helpful apps for shopping lists, productivity, and the latest addicting games that make everyone smile.
WIND Mobile is currently running a Holiday Freedom promotion where they’re giving away four phones over four weeks, and including a total of four months of free service. To spread the word, they have offered up a phone and a month of service to one lucky Miss604 reader as well.
WIND Mobile Giveaway
My contest is open to all Canadians, not just WIND customers, and includes an LG G2.
Intuitive placement of camera keys on the back of the G2, anti-blur image stabilization, super fast quad-core processor paired with a 5.2″ HD screen and long lasting battery, ensure the experience you want on LG’s most advanced smartphone.
From socially connected youth who will use it for its fast-paced performance and sharing abilities, to determined professionals who will use its productivity features in focusing on blossoming careers, to family-oriented individuals who will take the advanced camera and capture each captivating moment — G2 is the phone for them all.
If you would like to win this LG G2 handset with a month of free service from WIND Mobile, here’s how you can enter the contest:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw all ten winners at 3:00pm this Friday, December 20, 2013 Follow WIND Mobile on Facebook and Twitter for more information and promotions this season.
Update The winner is Ella!
This post has been contributed by Ben Hill, Communications Volunteer with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). I have been following SPES since I moved into the West End almost eight years ago and I recently became a member. I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I have created “SPES Saturday” where they will be contributing stories with my audience once a month.
Support a local bird in need this holiday
Here at the Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) we consider ourselves very lucky. Why? Because one of North America’s largest urban great blue heron colonies has chosen to make its home right here in Stanley Park.
SPES Photo credit: Martin Passcheir.
The Pacific great blue herons, currently a subspecies at risk in BC, first took up nesting residence near the Beach Avenue tennis courts in 2001 and have been coming back every spring since.
It’s unusual for a colony to nest in such a densely populated area. Human disturbance would normally cause the birds to abandon their nesting areas but the Stanley Park herons have learned to adapt, and in fact, moved in on this already busy area.
In 2013, SPES counted 122 nests; 81 of those were active and produced healthy fledglings. Although the number of overall nests was lower than in previous years, the percentage of nests that successfully produced fledged chicks was the highest since 2007. (Click here for the full 2013 Great Blue Heron Report)
What also makes the location of the heronry so remarkable is how easily park visitors can observe these amazing birds at close quarters.
SPES Photo credit: Martin Passcheir.
What to look for when visiting Stanley Park
Mid-February – Mid-March
The herons start to return from winter foraging grounds often around Valentine’s Day. That seems appropriate as both males and females are looking to start a family. Males and females dance together in the tree tops with their wings and necks outstretched. After a pair has formed a bond, the male searches for sticks in nearby trees and brings them to the female who decides if the stick is good enough to use in her nest. If the stick is not quite right she tosses it out of the tree but if she accepts it, she carefully weaves it into a nest high up in the branch of a tree.
March – April
Once the nest is complete, the female lays an average of 3-4 pale blue eggs in it. For the next 30 days, mom and dad take turns incubating (sitting on) the eggs to keep them warm. The newborn chicks look almost comical. Fluffy and grey, they have grey mohawks on their heads and they sway their necks as if they have no control over them. At this age they still need a parent to sit on them to keep them warm and protect them from predators including owls, eagles and raccoons.
May – June
Feeding time for older chicks is a flurry of activity as fights between the chicks break out and loud squawking fills the air. The adult herons search for fish and other small animal such as frogs and voles, which they bring back for their young. By seven weeks the chicks are almost as large as their parents, they start to flap their wings and walk along the branches by the nest.
July – August
By the end of August the heronry becomes quiet again. The last few chicks have left for their feeding grounds. SPES’ hope is that they will return to start their own family in two years.
How can you help Vancouver’s great blue herons?
Adopt a heron nest today! It’s a great holiday gift for anyone interested in helping wildlife in BC. This vulnerable subspecies doesn’t migrate, making the herons particularly vulnerable to habitat loss. They need protection, understanding, and community support if they are to survive the increasing pressures of urban development.
See the heronry now!
Filmmaker Mike McKinlay made a great short film about the Stanley Park herons which was narrated by Robyn Worcester, SPES’ Conservation Programs Manager.
The Great Blue Heron of Stanley Park from Mike McKinlay on Vimeo.
For more info visit the Stanley Park Ecology Society website or call (604) 718-6523 to inquire about membership.
