Mentioned in the comments of the article is Yates Street Market, founded by former Thrifty’s employees from when it was a beloved independent. Its niche I think it singles living nearby, with a lot of prepared and specialty foods. A good place to find quality tinned sardines.

Solstice is just over a month away (although the sun won’t start rising earlier until the first week of January). I live in Victoria and can’t handle winter. Not sure what I’d do in Montreal. Going to San Francisco last February was real nice.

One other thing comes to mind -- the Nordics are generally less economically stratified than Canada. More social cohesion. I think the income divide, centered around RE and intergenerational wealth, that has developed here over the past 20 years makes it more difficult to consider a common goal.

Presumably you’re in Victoria or Vancouver?

Good points. I’m sure there is a way to do it, too. I live in Victoria, which has a long Navy tradition (Esquimalt), and several of my sons’ friends have done cadets. But it seems like a distinct and alien culture to me. Whereas in the Nordics, the reserve is probably just another common experience.

It really seems to me that the president is insane and is hellbent on dishing out punishment and causing misery, likely as perceived payback for being prosecuted. He will destroy their institutions. But the opposition is still following the rules.

My assumption is it would require compulsory national service. I believe the army / CF land forces is about 22,000 right now. A big lift.

Which I think is a fundamental problem in Canadian political culture: vibes versus investment.

…This I think is one reason why procurement is so hard. Or reforming leadership is so hard. The CF is a marginal institution.

I think it’s necessary, although I believe Finland relies on compulsory national service (“conscription” to meet character count). One fundamental problem is that unlike the US, the military is just not culturally relevant in Canada. It is not a typical career path…

Actually, the US presidential model has influenced governance models in Central and South America, and is considered one of the causes of instability and authoritarianism in that region chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcont...

This is my primary complaint.

I do study this stuff, at the graduate level at a fancy CS program.

Sam Altman and Elon Musk and their ilk have poisoned the well for one of the most important advances in maths and computer science in many years.

Like Monsanto took DNA modification & exploited it.

Indeed. What exactly is “heritage”?

…would never ever have considered buying in either of these neighborhoods.

JB used to be mostly student and low income housing. I don’t think it became desirable until the Rich Dad, Poor Dad RE investing boom started in the mid 2000s. Same as Fairfield. My parents, who started out renting in Princess Patricia apts on 1968 and built a house in GH in 1974…

The tobacco shop next door?

Setting aside the Crystal Pool (plus, I think, an effort to replenish reserve capital fund, I think?), isn't this sort of conversation normal at the start of every budget process? Staff provide a list of potential cuts, some of which freak people out. But recent councils always seem to find a way.