Our Close Connection to Nature

"The poetry of the earth is never dead"

~ John Keats

Stanley Park Storm painting from the Forest Series by Vancouverite artist Michael R. Barrick (born and raised in the city of Duncan on Vancouver Island) .

As ironic as this painting is, I don't think anyone could have predicted the recent tragedy of Stanley Park. To me, the art piece tells a proud story about the history of the park and how it occupies an iconic status in the culture of the city. The people of Vancouver, and visitors from all over the world, hold a special connection to this treasured city park which is the largest in Canada. Every day, the park's trees would pump out enough oxygen for about 12,000 people while providing a home for more that 200 kinds of birds and dozens of species of mammals. It is described by one writer as a "thousand-acre therapeutic couch." It is Vancouver's pride and joy.
The last few storms have recked havoc on this great green space and crews are still working hard to clean up the park to make it once again useable. And with the seemingly endless barrage of storms these days, *what* is ready to rear its ugly head at us again... and *when*?

Business tycoon Jimmy Pattison stated that he would match donations by British Columbians toward the rebuilding of Stanley Park, up to a limit of $1 million (click here for more information on donating to the restoration project). People all over British Columbia are emotionally passionate in their quest to rebuild and restore the park so that it can continue to be the epitome of Vancouver and one of the most beautiful urban parks in the world. Thousands of fallen trees and branches (some breath-takingly huge in size) are piled all over the park, and it is estimated that cleanup and reforestation plus repairs to the seawall could total over $2 million. It is believed that over 60 per cent of the park is severely damaged (click here to see photos).

This is certainly a wake-up call to the fact that our actions are having a devastating effect on this planet, and it also shows that *nothing* can match the ferocious vengeance of Mother Nature. Truth be told... climate change, ya it's a happenin folks! Let's do our part...