Jaeger Mah is 76 days into his 80 day stay at the Vancouver International Airport (“YVR”). During the summer he won the Live @ YVR contest to become a live-in reporter at the terminal and has stayed on Sea Island ever since.
“I can officially check three items off my bucket list: 1) Feed a wolf eel 2) Wed two lovers in holy matrimony and 3) sing songs with a famous country musician. The best part is, I did it all in one day!” – Live @ YVR
“This is the biggest thing that’s happened to me,” Jaeger told me during a call last week. “It becomes your world, it becomes your life.” This assignment has been enlightening for Jaeger to say the least who said he’s experienced the “heart and soul” of the airport over the last few months.
Through behind-the-scenes tours, job shadowing, interviews with travelers, and staying overnight in the Fairmont looking out onto the North runway, Jaeger has been able to crank out dozens of videos and blog posts about life at YVR. Video production has been a hobby of Jaeger’s for years and he has been able to hone his skills through this intense schedule.
He admits that he had no idea how airports operated when he signed up but now that he’s been able to follow and document some of the 24,000 people who work on Sea Island, he has a deep appreciation for all that makes YVR tick. “I have been granted this amazing wealth of knowledge that most people don’t have.” Jaeger described airplane operations, loading up cargo, and some of his own touching interactions with employees, one who even brought him home-cooked meals.
“I didn’t expect to get five cavities filled,” he laughed. There is in fact a dentist in the domestic terminal that looked at his teeth when he complained of some pain. A couple fillings later (and some education about his teeth grinding) his personal health even benefited from this unique job experience.
Now an authoritative expert in all things YVR, Jaeger offered up a great suggestion for those who want to go hang out on Sea Island for a day to get a small sample of what he’s enjoyed. He said to take the free shuttle from the Main Terminal over to the historic South Terminal. You can check out old photographs (this was the original airport after all), watch planes land on the river, and enjoy a burger n’ beer at the Flying Beaver.
From the sounds of it, Jaeger is going to miss the place he’s called home for the last 19 weeks but at least he has personal diary blog posts and photos along with over 60 videos filled with memories that will live on. As for what’s next? He’d like to continue documenting, sharing human interest stories, and even exploring more airports around the world.
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by John BiehlerDisclosure: Review — John's experience was courtesy of Fairmont Hot Springs. He was not paid to write this recap and it is formed of his own opinions. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Instead of taking a lot of photos above the water…I dipped my camera under the kayak to give you a unique view of the activity happening underwater during this time of the year:
I’m not sure how many salmon we saw that day but I was told there was hundreds of thousands in the stretch of river we paddled which was about five kilometers.
This guided kayaking tour from the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is suitable for all ages and all experience levels. The guides were knowledgeable, able to answer questions, help you get unstuck and made for an enjoyable afternoon paddle down the river.
It’s a happy Halloween in Vancouver as I watch robots, Lego men, Sailor Moon, and plenty of pirates walk by this morning. I thought it would be fun to check out what Vancouverites did for this haunting occasion in the past but I was unable to find many results for “Halloween” during my research but found plenty of costumes.
(Left) 1902 – Man & woman dressed as each other for a masquerade. VPL Accession Number: 2270.
(Right) 1940’s – Girl in costume. Archives item# Port P561.
(Left) 1938 – Mrs. Brown dressed for a masquerade. Archives item #CVA 99-5070.
(Right) 1942 – Boy in costume. Archives Item #CVA 1184-1457. Photographer: Jack Lindsay.
1920’s – Masquerade Ball at Hycroft. Archives item #CVA 434-1.
1920’s – Children in costume. Archives item #2009-005.427.
1949 – Children on a plane. VPL Accession Number: 81066.
1940s: Group portrait of people dressed in Halloween costumes. Archives# CVA 1184-1085.
Back in 2008 locals organized themselves through Twitter, emptied their closets, and formed an impromptu warm clothing drive called “Tweetup Heatup“. Many saw the snow and frost around them and instantly thought of those on our streets, out in the cold. The forecast is calling for our coldest winter in 20 years and once again that means that the situation will be dire for our community’s 2,600 homeless. This year, the new Get Warm Project, isn’t wasting any time and they’re out to offer support for the next four months.
From November 2011 until February 2012 the Get Warm Project will be collecting coats, blankets, and other warm clothing by way of donation boxes throughout Metro Vancouver. The items will be picked up bi-weekly and distributed by the Union Gospel Mission to those in need.
Schools, offices, and businesses can sign up to host a donation box by contacting the Get Warm Project by emailing Sara McKenna (sara[at]socialcitynetworking.com) or Krista McKenna (krista[at]socialcitynetworking.com) for more details. Participating businesses will be listed online at the beginning of the month.
Read more about the initiative by following the Get Warm Project on Facebook or Twitter.
I’m a “Beluga Grad” as Raffi called me — a person in my generation who grew up with the “Baby Beluga” album (although I’m more partial to “Down by the Bay and “Shake My Sillies Out”). We’d put Raffi records on before we danced around or as we were being tucked into bed at night. My sister now had Raffi CD’s and tapes that she listens to in the car with her children. Earlier today it was pretty surreal when I was able to call Raffi up to chat about his latest song, “Letter to a Nation” that honours the words of Jack Layton.
Jack Layton, leader of the NDP and the official opposition in Canadian Parliament, passed away this summer after a hard-fought battle with cancer. During the days that followed, Canadians gathered in public places to leave notes, flowers, light candles, and crack open a can of Orange Crush. His last letter to Canadians moved our nation. The words resonated with many, despite their political orientation, and now they live on in song.
Singer-songwriter, author, and essayist Raffi Cavoukian (or just Raffi to most of us) has put those words to music, with the blessing of Layton’s wife Olivia Chow. The tune is available for all Canadians (and non Canadians) to download, sing, perform, remix, and remember the important message.
Click to hear Raffi talk about the song “Letter to a Nation”
How did it come to be that I could call up Raffi on a rainy Friday afternoon? One day I noticed that @Raffi_BC started following me on Twitter and my eyes lit up. I was able to connect with someone so influential from my childhood thanks to social media. Raffi even has a song called “Tweet Me Right” inspired by the popular social network. We’ve followed each other on Twitter for a few months now and when I asked for the interview, he was very obliging.
Raffi speaks about the impact of social media
Raffi continues to write songs, he keeps up a blog, and does speaking engagements in support of his Child Honouring initiative, “a children-first approach to healing communities and restoring ecosystems.” Raffi was in Calgary during our call as he was giving a talk at Mount Royal University. He said there are resources for youth and adults on the Child Honouring site including songs that can be streamed, downloaded, and shared. You can catch him next on Salt Spring Island (where he is based) on November 26th for an event with Green Party leader Elizabeth May.
Young and old are encouraged to download “Letter to a Nation”, share it, and play it. Sheet music for piano (with guitar chords) is also available along with the lyrics so that everyone can remember Layton’s words to our nation.
“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.” – Jack Layton.
