捷克佳博客

-吕乐生前教仔 做人要拿得起放得下
-吕乐行事异常低调 葬礼亦非常低调
-名人葬科士兰墓园
-墓园阻采访用报警吓记者
-定居温市 常赴台探老友
-小里长“不识”大探长 台北为邻20多年
-传赖昌星前妻购入吕乐温市西新屋
-华探长韩森家族 温市亦拥不动产
-吕乐火化传奇不灭 近百亲友哭送最后一程
-吕乐或用假身分入境 生前曾称经常赴温哥华探儿孙
-如何处理被冻结资产 廉署需请示律政司
-5亿探长吕乐低调举殡
-“五亿探长”加国出殡 刘德华曾演其传奇故事

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吕乐生前教仔 做人要拿得起放得下
睡梦中离世 遗体在大温火化

■吕乐儿子手捧亡父遗照引领棺木进入火葬场，他左侧为吕乐遗孀，右侧手捧香烛者为吕乐孙儿。徐嘉铭摄

■吕乐孙儿手捧香烛自火葬场走出。李群摄

■亲友肃立目送吕乐棺木被推入火葬场。李群摄

■吕乐棺木被推入火葬场。李群摄

星岛日报温哥华记者冯瑞熊/一生充满传奇的前香港四大总华探长之一、外号“五亿华探长”的吕乐，上周三在加拿大温哥华因胃癌去世，终年90岁。吕乐葬礼周四早上在大温地区本拿比市科士兰墓园（Forest Lawn Funeral Home），以道教仪式举行，遗体随即火化。

在葬礼上，吕乐的子女称父亲对他们影响深远，曾教导他们“做人要拿得起放得下”，又透露吕乐近年定居温哥华，与儿孙同住，生活十分开心。

生于1920年5月16日的吕乐，数月前验出患胃癌，今年5月12日在医院逝世，享年90岁。据悉，吕乐是在睡梦中安详离世。

大儿子带父亲遗照进灵堂

吕乐在科士兰墓园举葬，周三设灵，周四早上出殡。仪式之前，家人把吕乐的遗体运回温哥华家，作简单拜祭，跟着前往墓园的殡仪厅举行大殓仪式。仪式开始前，家属已在殡仪馆大厅打点一切。吕乐大儿子洋名安东尼（Anthony），把父亲遗照带进灵堂，大殓早上10时许开始，除吕乐遗孀、子女、孙儿及曾孙儿以外，还有逾40亲友参加。

仪式上，吕乐家人播出他近年生活照片片段，显示他生活愉快，相片中多是他与儿孙，在加拿大的生日会或聚会拍摄。之后，吕乐的子女讲述父亲对他们的影响时，泣不成声。

吕乐其中一儿子表示，父亲是个很传统的人，平常很少教他们。不过，在他人生最低落时，父亲送了一句说话，那就是“做人要拿得起放得下”。他初时不大明白，年纪渐长才明白个中道理，更指这句说话对他影响深远。

女儿说亡父为人极孝顺

吕乐的女儿也讲到父亲待人接物作风，说父亲为人极孝顺，除照顾长辈，也十分关照后辈。

大殓后，家人和亲友把吕乐遗体送到科士兰墓园的火葬场举行告别仪式，随后火化，整个仪式在下午1时许结束。家人在本拿比加拿大路（Canada Way）一中餐馆设解秽宴，招待参加葬礼的亲友。

吕乐1940年加入香港警队，由警员擢升为港岛及九龙区总华探长，1968年辞去总华探长，移居加拿大。其后他因涉嫌贪污遭香港廉政公署通缉。吕乐转至与香港没有引渡条例的台湾定居，近年返温哥华居住。

吕乐育有7子1女，生前四代同堂，子女、孙儿及曾孙等大都在温哥华居住。大儿子安东尼近年回流香港做生意。

http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2010-05-21/headline1274430644d2502634.html

吕乐行事异常低调 葬礼亦非常低调
“香港警察会”致送花圈

■礼堂入口处，摆放很多亲友送的花圈。李群摄

■家人及亲友参加告别礼后，步出礼堂。李群摄

星岛日报温哥华报记者冯瑞熊/由香港总华探长到成为廉政公署的通缉犯，吕乐一生备受争议。而他一向的行事作风，亦异常低调，就算在死后，他的葬礼亦非常低调，整个过程都是闭门进行，亦未见有讣文，公布他的死讯。

吕乐葬礼在周四举行期间，天气时好时坏，不仅刮着大风，更不时下着微雨，令气氛更显凄清。至于出席葬礼的亲友，大多神情肃穆，匆匆而行，对于记者的提问，大多婉拒不答。只有其中一名未有透露姓名的白发长者，边行边向记者说：“佢（吕乐）好好人事！”不过，他未有透露与吕乐之间的关系。

至于送别亲人最后一程的吕乐遗孀及子女，葬礼期间神情哀伤，在吕乐遗体进行火化后，各人泪盈于睫，吕乐的遗孀更哭成泪人。送殡行列中，绝大部分是华裔，但亦见有洋人参加。

吕乐葬礼以道教进行，举行大殓的会堂，挂上道教的画像，中端放上吕乐的相片，两旁则是由妻子、子女、孙儿、曾孙及亲友致送的花圈。由于吕乐是前香港警务人员，其中一个花圈的下款，写有“香港警察会”的字样，但不清楚是由何人或什么组织所送。

大殓时，道士进行打斋超度亡魂仪式，其后，更引领家人及亲友瞻迎遗容，然后进行盖棺，并将棺木送往火化场。整个大殓及火化仪式，历时约3个小时。

http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2010-05-21/headline1274430600d2502633.html

名人葬科士兰墓园

星岛日报温哥华记者/人杰地灵的大温哥华，有不少华人移民至此。而香港一些已故名人、影视艺人，以及本地社区领袖也选择在大温地区的墓园长眠。

安葬在大温地区墓园的影视艺人，除了沈殿霞（肥肥）于2008年2月27日长眠在本拿比市科士兰墓园（Forest Lawn Funeral Home）外，香港名伶任剑辉在本拿比海景墓园（Ocean View Funeral Home and Cemetery ）设有云石陵安放骨灰。

此外，前中侨互助会行政总监陶黄彦斌、前全加中华总会馆理事长关启宗，以及香港绿色能源科技集团执行董事明嘉福也安葬在科士兰墓园。

http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2010-05-21/headline1274430575d2502631.html

墓园阻采访用报警吓记者

星岛日报温哥华记者李群/“五亿华探长”吕乐葬礼谢绝传媒入内，被挡在门外的记者稍为靠近入口，科士兰墓园的工作人员就上前制止，还一度声称要报警处理，但最后警员并未出现。

悼念及告别仪式于周四上午10时开始，记者9时过后不久来到墓园礼堂时，早有两个工作人员在门口处守候。他们说葬礼为私人活动，谢绝传媒参与。

除本地中文传媒外，也有主流传媒文字及摄影记者到场采访，可见吕乐的知名度。约上午9时40分开始，参加葬礼的亲友陆续抵达。有记者入内询问，被一个女子训斥，称传媒不应前来破坏葬礼的气氛。见到门外有很多记者，墓园派出两个工作人员，在通往礼堂正门的通道两侧站立，一方面迎接参加葬礼的人士，同时也不让在场记者靠近。

大批传媒的涌入令墓园工作人员十分紧张，他们在礼堂内密切注意外面状况，一旦发现有记者靠近大门口，就会出来驱赶。约上午11时半左右，遗体告别仪式完毕，吕乐的棺木将由灵车送往火葬场火化前，一个工作人员走出，对在场的记者表示：“墓园为私人地方，希望未受邀请的记者离开，不要影响参加葬礼的亲友。”

该工作人员更表示，如果记者不离开，会通知本拿比皇家骑警到场处理，但后来并未有警员出现。此后记者跟随灵车及亲友车队前往火葬场，墓园工作人员并未制止，记者也没有靠近，仅在远处拍照。

http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2010-05-21/headline1274430581d2502632.html

定居温市 常赴台探老友

星岛日报温哥华记者/为与加拿大的子女团聚，2004年，吕乐移居到加拿大后，居住在温哥华，其间不时会赴台湾，看望老朋友。有消息指，吕乐去年已罹患末期胃癌，他的过世，即是因癌细胞复发所致。

消息来源说，吕乐6年前来到加拿大后，其台北市旧住所的邻居们都知道，2009年台湾有媒体采访吕乐在台北市住所的邻居，当时就有邻居告知，吕乐已移居加拿大，但因为吕乐仍是香港的通缉犯，加上香港与加拿大有引渡条款，所以一般还是推测，吕乐仍隐居在台湾。

而吕乐来到温哥华后，将近90岁的高龄，行动不方便，几乎不在公众场合出现，也是深居简出，让外界难以窥知其生活。

吕乐一名同乡向本报称，吕乐近年都在加国生活，只间中到台湾探访朋友，去年他证实患上末期胃癌，情况并不乐观，之后一直留在加拿大养病，直到上周三，在睡梦中安详过世。

http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2010-05-21/headline1274430551d2502629.html

小里长“不识”大探长 台北为邻20多年

■郑秀郎（右）、太太（左）及女儿（中）合影。受访者提供

■吕乐在台北市大安区仁爱里，居住在这幢大厦四楼。本报资料图片

星岛日报温哥华记者 徐嘉铭/吕乐在1974年香港廉政公署对他展开调查之前，就移居到台北市，1979年，买下敦化南路一段252巷内一幢大厦的4楼长住，属于大安区仁爱里。里长郑秀郎表示，他认识的吕乐，很低调，看不出来他曾是个大探长。

郑秀郎在还没有担任里长时，是水电工人，仁爱里的居民，大部分的水电工程，都是找他。他也是在为吕乐的家做水电工程时，与吕乐开始熟稔。

他说，吕乐的家大约80坪（约264.5平方米），陈设相当简单朴素，不会给人“我是大富豪”的感觉。印象中吕乐与太太蔡珍之外，还有一个女儿及女佣一起住，郑秀郎补充说，由于吕乐的行动不是很方便，因此，家里特别请了女佣来帮忙照顾。　

郑秀郎还提到，吕乐的女儿好像是公务员，但他不清楚，也不会过问是哪一个单位。

他平常与蔡珍比较常聊天，跟吕乐，偶而也会闲话家常，谈的也是以水电问题为主，虽然吕乐是广东海丰的福佬人，但郑秀郎与吕乐则多以国语交谈。他说，平常看到吕乐，就称吕伯伯，对蔡珍，就称“夫人”。郑秀郎说：“吕乐的国语，带有很浓重的广东口音。”

深居简出 生活节俭

郑秀郎说，他住在仁爱里逾30年，认识吕乐也将近30年，虽然也看过刘德华演的《五亿探长──雷洛传》，但他一直不知道吕乐的身分，直到前几年，看到有媒体报道他的事迹，还特别找到他，询问有关吕乐的事，才知道平常亲切打招呼的长辈，竟是来头不小的香港前探长。

他提到，晚年住在台北的吕乐，虽然头发斑白，除了膝盖长骨刺影响行走外，身体还是硬朗，每天依然梳着整齐的如当年公务员西装头，声如洪钟，但豪气神态不减当年，每周会定期到仁爱医院复健，连剪个头发都是在顺便在仁爱医院地下室的理发部解决，相当节俭。

在2003年、2004年时，郑秀郎还常看到吕乐，但2004年后，就没再见到吕乐的人，不知他去哪里，直到看见吕乐在温哥华过世的消息，才知“吕伯伯”永远不会再回到台湾了，心中很不舍。

郑秀郎于2003年起担任仁爱里的里长，他说，仁爱里是个很特别的里，位在台北市东区SOGO百货商圈，共有2,300户，至于居民人数，他不确知。不过，区内有选举权的居民，则有约4,800人。

里内的居民中，“大人物”很多，主要是政商名流，前副总统连战，就是仁爱里的居民，郑秀郎与吕乐的年纪差距太大，即使知道吕乐的来头很大，也不会特别想与他合照，再加上吕乐平时也是深居简出，他相信媒体也不容易拍到他的照片。

http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2010-05-21/headline1274430568d2502630.html

传赖昌星前妻购入吕乐温市西新屋

■吕乐将温西的物业拆建后，据悉曾将其中一间售予赖昌星和曾明娜。崔源明摄　

■在1970年代，五龙公司设于温市甘比街的地点，现已面目全非。崔源明摄

星岛日报温哥华记者 崔源明/据消息人士指出，吕乐在1974年举家到加国前，已在大温地区购置物业，曾以五龙公司的名义投资。他后来移居台湾，生活低调，到1999年，更盛传将一幢在温市西区的物业售予中国远华集团原董事长赖昌星。

吕乐等人70年代初尚未抵埗加国，便在大温投资地产物业，颇引人注目，及至他们来加，成立五龙公司，当时公司的地址在温市甘比街（Cambie St.）7500号路段的一幢商业物业，有五龙公司的招牌，每一条龙代表一个股东。

在香港廉署通缉各人的消息传到加国，本地老华侨才知道他们来头不少。其后该公司的招牌仍然存，但已不见有商业活动。现在上址已开设了地产物业代理、兽医及牙医等商业机构。

在加置多幢物业

据消息指，吕乐在加国购下的多幢物业，其中在温市西57街（W. 57th Ave.）1200号路段的物业及地皮，在1997年金融风暴后，被拆建为三幢相连的新屋出售，其中一幢是由赖昌星的前妻曾明娜在1999年以超过百万元购入，曾有附近物业买家为此担心不已。

此外，在同期和吕乐来加的一批香港警界人士，为加国带来大批资金，其中有人投资饮食业，引入港式粥粉面饭，但当事人多低调行事，在幕后筹划，不会出面，所以外界只知是亚洲资金。

至于当事人及其家人在本地低调行事，和本地社区有限度接触，令公众对于吕乐等人来加后晚年的一段历史，亦难以洞悉；即使有人和吕乐等人的家属共事，甚毗邻而居，也不知对方底细。　

http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2010-05-21/headline1274430545d2502628.html

华探长韩森家族 温市亦拥不动产

星岛日报温哥华记者/据温哥华《亚太邮报》（Asian Pacific Post）引用加拿大警方资料报道，除吕乐家族在温市植根之外，另一“四大华探长”成员韩森家族，也在温市曾经或者仍然拥有至少11项不动产，并且经营十几家公司，包括一家位于温市中心洛逊街（Robson St.）的餐馆。

该报道说，加拿大警方亚洲有组织罪案调查组的调查结果显示，除吕乐、韩森之外，至少还有逾40个前皇家香港警察警务人员及家属，在1970年代起陆续移居加国。

逃离温市往台居住

卑诗省法庭文件显示，1976年6月22日，香港廉政公署通缉犯韩森，在他位于温市西54街515号住所遭皇家骑警拘捕。当时韩森合法移民来加只有几个月。

韩森获准以25万元保释，等候引渡聆讯。3个月后，联邦法院裁定韩森引渡聆讯存在程序瑕疵，因此下令中止聆讯。韩森正式获释。

1978年，联邦上诉法院重新下令逮捕韩森，但他已逃往台湾居住。1999年，韩森病逝台北，终年79岁。

据了解，韩森家族2008年和香港政府达成协议，交出在港总值约加币2,000万元的房地产作公开拍卖。韩森家族在加国的财产则不受影响。

加国警方和法律专家认为，当年许多卷逃到加拿大的前皇家香港警察，他们的财富目前已经清洗干净，除非他们仍然积极参与犯罪活动，否则当局很难追查这些庞大资产的源头。

例如韩森家族，加国警方一度查出他们名下拥有9幢温市独立屋、1幢商住两用建筑物，以及1个柏文单位。另外先后经营过12家公司，业务多元化，由软体设计以至工程顾问都有，但部分公司已经停业。

http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2010-05-21/headline1274430528d2502627.html

吕乐火化传奇不灭 近百亲友哭送最后一程

亲人捧吕乐遗照一面忧伤。（陈志强摄）

有吕乐亲友用纸巾掩面哭泣。（张伶铢摄）

参加丧礼部分亲友极度哀伤。（陈志强摄）

【明报温哥华专讯】叱吒香港警界、外号“五亿探长”的吕乐，昨日在本那比科士兰墓举殡，遗体火化，灰飞烟灭，结束争议的一生，唯被廉政公署通缉34年的吕乐，如何可以在加国出入自如，则继续成谜，传奇不灭。

近百名吕乐的家人及来自港台亲友，昨日赶来送他最后一程，在道教出殡仪式后，载棺木的灵车，缓缓驶向墓园火化场，有亲友不忍放声痛苦，场面一度哀戚。

“五亿探长”吕乐60年代在香港警界呼风唤雨，是4大华探长之首，曾统领全港CID探员。廉署成立后，一度以吕乐为贪污调查目标，1976年廉政公署对吕乐发出通缉令，至他死前仍未撤销。

有报道称，吕乐是于上周不敌癌魔逝世，而据称他是患了胃癌。

吕乐丧礼安排格外低调，应邀出席丧礼的亲友清一色黑衣，一名需要人搀扶的老先生谈对好友的感想时，说了两遍：“他人很好”。更多出席人士以英文不想评论(no comments)来回覆。上午9时40分，有人拿吕乐遗照下车，墓园方面派出保安帮忙开车门且维持秩序。

丧礼以传统道教仪式进行，丧礼正式进行前，礼堂外的草地已有人在烧纸钱，仪式不对外公开，被怀疑不是亲友人士，一律被请出，仪式前后进行近2小时。

接移灵仪式也被安排在礼堂旁的通道进行，此通道虽与大门紧邻，但大门深锁，且有墓园保安掩护，过程极其隐密。

举殡仪式在中午12时结束，穿着孝服的吕乐亲人，有老也有少，好几个带稚龄孩子，或抱或牵，有的手里还拿一瓶果汁，各自上车准备跟灵车驶往火化场。吕的后辈亲友当中，也有本地加拿大人的面孔。

灵车驶往墓园另一处的火化场(West Coast Crematory)，有人捧吕乐遗照，领亲友进入火化场，不久，场内有几阵哭声传来，听者悲戚。火葬仪式约20分钟，之前穿着孝服的吕乐亲人在步出火化场时，已经脱孝(即不再穿着孝服)，但不少家人眼湿，有的则继续用纸巾拭泪。

有道士透露，仪式属于道教中很隆重的一种，在加拿大丧礼中，较少见到如此讲究的道教仪式。

大名鼎鼎的吕乐举殡消息，再度触动对有关新闻及是非的敏感神经，除了有多家中文传媒派员采访，连英文报纸《省报》(The Province)也派记者及摄影到场采访。看来，“五亿探长”的传奇人生，仍未被遗忘。

http://www.mingpaotor.com/htm/News/20100521/taa1.htm

吕乐或用假身分入境 生前曾称经常赴温哥华探儿孙

这名先生说：“吕先生人很好。”（张伶铢摄）

吕乐灵柩运往火葬场。（陈志强摄）

【明报温哥华专讯】警方消息透露，警方是知道吕乐在温哥华居住的，估计他是用假身分入境，不过，由于吕乐及家人作风很低调，不是警方的调查目标，因此警方没有特别监视他或家人。事实上，吕乐在2004年曾接受香港杂志采访，他当时说自己在香港、台湾及加拿大都是公民，并经常飞来温哥华探望儿孙。

2004年时吕乐84岁，他在台湾接受《壹周刊》访问时，说起当年的“威水史”，仍然表现“沙尘”，又自称换了“三粒星”香港身分证，说：“咁即系证明我无外边讲到咁严重，唔系 港府又点会俾我呀？”

吕乐续说：“总之，我系加拿大、台湾同香港公民，我仲成日去加拿大探仔同孙…… 我孙都香港大学毕业，依家做紧生意啦！”显然，虽然吕乐是被通缉了几十年的人，但仍然有办法经常飞来加拿大探亲。

对于吕乐被廉署通缉三十多年，仍能身在温哥华，警方消息人士表示有可能吕乐是用假名、假身分入境，因为，入境部门一般都有全球通缉犯的名单，如果吕乐用真名、真身分入境，一定会被海关截住。

吕乐在6年前看来身体精神还算不错，只是膝盖及腰痛，每周要到医院接受物理治疗，他仍然不时到酒楼与其他潜逃当地的探长饮茶叙旧。

对于吕乐是否隐居加拿大的传言，香港特区政府驻加拿大香港经贸处加西首席专员袁黄洁玲指出，办事处开设以来，从来没有听过吕乐的消息，也没有听过吕乐家人的消息。虽然这边也有一些前任香港警察的团体，但估计吕乐也不会与他们接触。

香港消息人士强调，廉署从没放弃追捕吕乐，一直锲而不舍追缉他。消息人士解释，廉署发出的通缉令会经国际刑警传送给各国执法机构，理论上以正途入境亦会被截获，然而要入境亦非绝无可能，例如改名使用另一人的身分入境。

当年曾处理“四大探长”贪污案的廉署前执行处副处长徐家杰说，吕乐当年操控极大的贪污集团，“见光的资产有一半已好彩”，他说，以香港与台湾和加拿大的关系，想寻找一个人并不难，“问题是想不想找，还是想维持现状”。

http://www.mingpaotor.com/htm/News/20100521/taa2.htm

如何处理被冻结资产 廉署需请示律政司

【明报温哥华专讯】吕乐过世后，他被廉署冻结的资产如何处理、他的通缉令如何处理等，甚令人关注，而香港廉署则表示会与包括加国的海外执法部门联络，廉署并需要征询律政司的意见。

本那比皇家骑警媒联络人格雷肖克(Brenda Gresiuk)警官昨日回应本报的查询表示，加拿大警方的做法是，一个人死后档案便会封藏，生前犯过什么事，是否受到通缉，已经没有关系。至于香港警方采取什么方法处理这种事，则要问香港警方。

廉署消息称，署方之前确没收到吕乐逝世的消息，直至记者日前查询才知悉。一般而言，署方在没有实证指某通缉犯已死的消息之前，不会取消相关通缉令，署方会尝试向海外执法部门查证。

吕乐当年潜逃之后，在香港留下近亿元资产，86年被政府变卖，所得款项由政府及吕乐家属共同管理。但如今吕乐已经过身，政府将如何处置有关资产，廉政公署表示需谘询律政司意见。

资料显示，吕乐单在香港被冻结的资产80年代已值近一亿元，其资产计有尖沙嘴及半山区8个单位，以及逾800万元现金。86年，港府批准把资产变卖，共卖得超过 9,000万，但款项须由政府及吕乐家人共同管理，直至吕乐归案。廉署也曾入禀法院，追讨吕乐一笔990万元的黑钱。

如今吕乐已经不在人世，本报昨晚向廉署查询，发言人表示，有关吕乐一案的任何未完结部份，需谘询律政司意见，再作处理。

吕乐在6年前接受香港媒体采访时，他一直很小心，从不谈及自己的资产，但早被廉署冻结资产的他在访问中扬言，“他们(廉署)边冻结得咁多”，又声称早已把湾仔的麻将馆出售。

http://www.mingpaotor.com/htm/News/20100521/taa3.htm

5亿探长吕乐低调举殡

亲友故旧扶柩，将吕乐遗体火化。 （记者阮耀毅／摄影）

吕乐家人神情哀戚。 （记者阮耀毅／摄影）

世界日报记者阮耀毅温哥华报导/因涉嫌贪污遭香港廉政公署通缉数十年的前港英政府总华探长吕乐日前病逝，20日举殡，亲朋故旧数十人低调参加告别式。他的一生充满传奇，担任总华探长期间纵横黑白两道，权倾一时，事迹并改编为卖座电影。为逃避追缉，他将子女安顿于加拿大并与妻子长年居住台湾。

对香港老一辈人士而言，“吕乐”可谓家喻户晓，但年轻人可能对“雷洛”较有印象，事实上由港星刘德华主演的“五亿探长雷洛传”就是根据吕乐的事迹改编。他与韩森、蓝刚及颜雄号称“四大华探长”，但仍以吕乐为首。四人都因涉及警界集体贪污而遭港府通缉。

吕乐于1940年20岁时加入香港警队，1956年晋升新界区总华探长，人称“乐哥”、“阿叔”。他在任职警务期间以父母名义在香港各地购买超过300多万港元物业（当时市值）。光是筲箕湾道299号楼宇目前市值已超过1亿元港币。

1968年他申请提前退休，靠收租过着优渥生活。后得知港英政府开始调查其贪污罪证，于1973年携同妻子及八名儿女移居加拿大。

1974年香港廉政公署成立后，正式起诉并通缉吕乐，由于加拿大与当时的香港同属英联邦，吕乐担心遭遣返，因此与妻子逃往台湾，一住就是30几年。

他在台期间相当低调，居住在台北市大安区敦化南路一户公寓内，街坊邻居都不知道他就是当年叱吒风云的“五亿探长”。他也成为香港历史上在逃时间最长的通缉犯之一。

不久前吕乐前来加拿大探望儿子，并于日前病逝，享年90岁。20日举殡，数十名亲朋故旧到场参加告别式，送他走完人生最后一程，但所有人都相当低调，不愿发表任何谈话。随后火化，长眠本拿比科士兰墓园。

他晚年接受媒体访问时曾表示，自己最风光时连警务处长都不看在眼里，如果新上任的外籍警务处长不来拜码头，他就故意放慢办案速度回应，直至处长亲自过来拜候为止。

至于黑道，吕乐更说当年四大黑帮（新义安、潮州帮、十四K、和胜和）全要看他面子，“我根本不用亲自抓人，有案件要破，就开口向黑帮老大要人”。

事实上香港廉政公署成立后，有大批财富与职位不成比例遭当局调查的香港警察逃来加拿大，根据90年代加国警方一份内部研究显示，有44名前香港“百万富警”（millionaire cops）的妻儿或情妇在加拿大，他们投资数千万元资金在本地商业及房地产，特别是卑诗省及安省。

其中有四人年薪不过3万加元，却能在多伦多投资兴建两栋多达600个房间，当年市价超过2000万元的度假酒店。

香港法庭文件也显示，以吕乐为首的警务人员集体向黑帮收取巨额金钱，包庇黑帮贩毒营私，甚至当年吕乐破获的重大贩毒案，一举逮捕100多名三合会黑帮份子的大案都是假的，主要目的是协助另一黑帮消灭对头，夺取地盘。

http://van.worldjournal.com/view/full_van/7579290/article-5%E5%84%84%E6%8E%A2%E9%95%B7%E5%91%82%E6%A8%82-%E4%BD%8E%E8%AA%BF%E8%88%89%E6%AE%AF?instance=bc_story1

“五亿探长”加国出殡 刘德华曾演其传奇故事

明报/曾叱咤香港警界、外号“五亿探长”的吕乐于上周去世，据悉他的告别式在周四举行，由于其家属对于吕乐的去世，相当低调，选择办理告别式的殡仪馆，也颇为僻静。据报道，昨日在墓园内的确有一名与“吕乐”(英文Lui Lok)中英文名字皆同的人士设灵，丧礼以道教仪式进行。

明报报道，有消息指“香港华探长吕乐5/20星期四在XXXX墓园出殡”，记者随即赶往墓园，在一个礼堂前发现一个告示牌，指“Mr Lui Lok下午6时在此设灵”，而职员也证实一名吕姓华人今日将出殡。

在礼堂前放满多个花圈，挽联多用中文书写，包括“吕乐先生千古”、“吕翁千古”、“乐兄千古”等。一名在现场正准备亲友瞻仰仪式的道长称，“吕先生在香港很有名，大家都知道他”，并透露吕乐的法事会以道教进行，据悉“吕乐”先生享年90岁。

在灵堂上，放有一副打开的棺木，灵堂正中央挂了一幅大照片，照片中人年纪不算大，长相、笑容与吕乐70年代拍下的档案图片非常相似。

现场所见，家人准备了各种纸扎，有婢女、楼房、汽车、电话及音响等，丧事安排非常传统。

接近仪式开始前，一名中年男子忙搬饮料及点心进入礼堂休息室，他不愿说明自己与“吕乐”的关系，只是说，此时他们不想被打扰。

根据皇家骑警的资料，70年代当刚成立的香港廉政公署打击警界严重的贪污问题时，吕乐已经携同家人来到温哥华(见另稿)，另外3名著名华探也步吕乐后尘，带了妻妾子女到了加拿大，他们安顿好家人后，因为担心加拿大与香港当年同为英联邦，会被引渡返港，华探们自己逃到台湾，一住就是三十多年。

廉署于1976年11月4日发出通缉令，追缉吕乐，通缉令至今仍有效，是香港历史上被通缉时间最长的通缉犯之一，由于有通缉令在身，在正常情况下，吕乐生前很难进入加拿大。

不过，据台湾媒体去年报道，有邻居说吕乐已经离台前往加拿大，并指已经年老行动缓慢的吕乐应该不会再返台湾。

刘德华出演的雷洛，演绎了吕乐的传奇一生。

传奇故事拍电影

由于吕乐的警界风云路十分传奇，故曾被拍成电影，“永盛”电影公司曾开拍《五亿探长雷洛传》，由知名巨星刘德华主演。开拍该电影的商人，与吕乐关系亦密切，有称吕乐的姑丈是姓向的知名人士。在本地的图书馆亦有该电影可租看。

有传言吕乐不希望电影用他的真姓名，而“吕乐”及“雷洛”在广州话发音相近，故主角名称最后成为雷洛，及后一些香港年轻一辈，在听到有关香港在六、七十年代的贪污历史时，也可能误以为当年甚具知名度的华探长名“雷洛”。现时中港台知名的港星曾志伟，其父曾启荣亦曾任军装警署警长，也因被廉署调查而逃到台湾，在台期间亦经常与吕乐见面。

香港退休警喜移居大温

一份卑诗皇家骑警在90年代曝光的报告透露，至少有44名在70年代被香港廉政公署追查的涉贪前香港警务人员及其家人等，移民了到温哥华及多伦多，而四大探长之一、“五亿华探”吕乐在70年代中期就已经带了家人到加拿大，他安顿了家人之后，才潜逃到台湾。

该份骑警报告题目为“三合会及其他亚裔有组织帮派”(Triads and Other Asian based Organized Crime Groups)，由《省报》(The Province)于1999年披露。报告显示骑警从70年代末期开始留意前香港涉贪警务人员到加拿大的动向，形容这些探员为“百万富警”，追踪到至少有44人带了妻妾子女等移居卑诗及安省。当时，骑警在移民部的协助下，发现30名“百万富警”在卑诗投资13间公司，并在大温地区购买了约50个地产物业，包括西温大屋、商业楼宇、空地及商场等。此外，有4名“百万富警”在多伦多兴建了一间有600个房间的酒店，市值超过2000万元。

灵堂现场有不少花牌，一些花牌上写“吕翁”及“乐兄”。

至少29“百万富警”到加国

皇家骑警反黑专家克莱门特(Garry Clement)曾是加国驻香港的联络警官，他指出骑警情报显示，在1975年时，骑警已经发现有至少29名“百万富警”立足加国，很多来了加拿大后，再逃到台湾及美国。

克莱门特指，当时香港警队存在的是“系统性贪污”，“其中35%的香港警察都有三合会背景。”

该报告称，其中最出名的涉贪前香港警务人员，就是“五亿华探”吕乐，他及3名华探在70年代中期就到了温哥华，将家人安顿，然后自己才逃到台湾“定居”。报告又说，其中一名华探韩森曾在温哥华被捕，但保释期间逃到了台湾。

报告说，当吕乐到了加拿大后，至少42名华探跟随他来到温哥华，其他涉贪华探则分别逃到巴西及台湾，估计这些涉贪华探共将8000万美元带到海外。

报告说，相信华探们带出来的钱，已经通过不同的渠道洗得干净，因此加国警方也动不了他们。

http://news.backchina.com/viewnews-89927-gb2312.html

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世界日报/在高级时装店鳞次栉比的满地可旧城（Old Montreal），上月18日中午，数名像是在逛街的男子步入其中一家豪华服装店后，拔出手枪将店内的四人击倒，当场二死二伤。当地警方认为，这次血案是黑手党火并引发的。

杀手开枪后 边丢假发边逃逸

此案发生在满地可市地标 Notre- Da me Basilica 大教堂后面的繁华商业区内。目击者称，听到一阵像是连放爆竹的响声后，便看到数名男子边快步离开一家商店，边剥掉身上的伪装。一些枪手扔掉的衣物和一个牙买加式辫子式假发，被遗弃在人行道上。

血案现场是满地可旧城高级男女时装店Flawnego Fashion。魁北克公司注册数据显示，这家商店的老板是41岁的约瑟夫（DucarmeJoseph）。显而易见，枪手暗杀的对象是约瑟夫，但他命大，当时恰好没在店内。了解黑社会内幕的人士说，约瑟夫和满地可的黑帮活动有着千丝万缕的关连，他也曾经跟满地可最大的黑手党团体瑞佐托家族（Rizzuto family）有生意来往。法庭文件也显示，约瑟夫和瑞佐托的伙伴共同经营过建筑生意。

就在此光天化日下的行刑式杀人案发生之前三个月，满地可瑞佐托黑手党家族第三代传人瑞佐托二世（Nick RizzutoJr.）也是在满地可街头遭人开枪打死，警方推测，3月18日满地可旧城的杀人事件，应该与瑞佐托家庭第三代的长孙被暗杀有关。

瑞佐托家族 加国最悠久黑帮

警方认为，种种迹象表明，去年12月28日杀害满地可瑞佐托黑手党家族第三代传人，和此次再度公然杀人，都是加拿大黑手党争夺地盘的结果，很可能是满地可西西里瑞佐托黑手党家族与多伦多卡勒布瑞安（Calabrian）黑手党之间的火并。

瑞佐托家族是目前加拿大历史最悠久、势力最大的黑社会团体。这个跨国犯罪集团的领导人是满地可黑手党老大涅克．瑞佐托（NickRizzuto）、维托．瑞佐托（Vito Rizzuto）父子。现在已80多岁的老瑞佐托1950年代从意大利西西里移居加拿大后，即开始经营他的黑手党王国。最初是依附在纽约的黑手党之下，到了他儿子维托．瑞佐托这一代才“青出于蓝而胜于蓝”。

1981年干掉3人 “战”居北美老大

让维托．瑞佐托在北美黑手党脱颖而出的，是他1981年参与纽约黑手党的火并事件。被维托．瑞佐托等人杀死的那三名美国黑手党老大，与瑞佐托同属当时纽约黑道中势力最大的邦纳诺家族，因他们意图反叛邦纳诺和取而代之，才遭此杀身之祸。

了解北美黑手党事务的人士透露，经历此事后，维托．瑞佐托在黑手党内的地位迅速上升，到了1990年代末，他已成了实际上的北美黑手党头号人物。

今年85岁的涅克．瑞佐托，黑手党内的辈分更是在加拿大无与伦比，虽然年事很高了，在黑道上还是一言九鼎。满地可警方2005年将其逮捕，控告他23项与帮派活动及进出口毒品有关的罪名。

在美国坐牢 仍操控贩毒洗钱

数年前，美国司法机构经过二十多年的明查暗访后，终于将维托．瑞佐托等人定罪，使年过花甲的维托．瑞佐托在美国锒铛入狱。可是，他们父子在大牢里，照样在黑社会呼风唤雨。

意大利、法国和加拿大警方2007年共同宣布，破获一个以加拿大黑手党为首的国际贩毒、洗钱集团，查没非法财产数千万元。而这个庞大的国际犯罪集团，就是由当时都在监狱内的瑞佐托父子以遥控方式操纵的。

美国著名黑手党杀手、纽约黑手党哥伦布家族骨干成员密索塔曾对加拿大媒体说，昔日的北美黑手党大本营纽约，早已没落了，现在加拿大的满地可才是黑手党的根据地。

密索塔对加拿大广播公司（CBC）的记者说：“目前纽约的黑手党活动规模与满地可根本没法比，你们拥有世界上最高明、致命和有力的黑手党集团。”

他接着鄙夷地说：“纽约布鲁克林区那都是些小打小闹的家伙，你们满地可黑手党，都是做的一次进货 4、500 公斤毒品大买卖，他们一年内赚到手的钱，纽约同行要干上十年。”

毒品招眼红 两帮火并埋杀机

就在瑞佐托家族的衣钵要传给第三代的瑞佐托二世时，发生了在街头格杀瑞佐托二世事件。当时不止一人目睹这宗当街暗杀血案，目击者说开枪的是一名年轻黑人男子，可是警方迄今未能侦破此案。

瑞佐托二世遇害后，熟悉加拿大黑社会问题的观察家们便预言，瑞佐托家族绝对不会善罢罢休，只要警方未能将涉案者一网打尽，瑞佐托家族必然要报复，满地可的黑社会将从此没有宁日。果然，才三个月后，便爆发了满地可旧城二死二伤凶杀案。

大多数人怀疑，想要取代瑞佐托家族的是多伦多来自意大利卡勒瑞安（Calabrian）地区的黑手党人，他们早就对出自西西里的瑞佐托家族独霸最有利可图的毒品走私业眼红。一些研究黑手党问题的专家说，与西西里黑手党相比，卡勒布里案黑手党更倾向于使用暴力，因此这个集团以暗杀手段消灭瑞佐托家族的衣钵继承者，一点都不会令人感到惊讶。

然而，也有人认为，不能排除其它黑社会团体作案的可能性。

他们分析，目前魁北克的黑社会主要由三种势力组成，一是黑手党，二是地狱天使机车党（Hells Angels Motorcycle gang），三是海地裔帮，他们基本上的分工是，黑手党主要经营大宗毒品进出口，什么都干的地狱天使在毒品买卖上负责批发业务，海地帮则是街头零售的主力。

在毒品买卖中，利润最丰厚的当然是动辄数百公斤的进出口。那些认为其它黑帮集团也可能谋杀瑞佐托二世的人士说，地狱天使和海地帮在羽毛渐丰后，很想在更能赚钱的大宗毒品进出口生意上也插一脚，并非没有可能，因此他们也有暗杀的动机。

移民加国22年男子遭遣返

世界日报/加拿大移民暨难民署决定遣返隶属于意大利黑手党的一名安省男子。

42岁的费乔孟堤（Carlo Figliomeni）是意大利公民，1988年获得加拿大永久居民身分，因被查证与意大利Siderno黑手党家族有牵连，加拿大移民暨难民署宣布要对其进行遣返。

公听会已经确认费乔孟堤在意大利被控参与涉及武器的犯罪活动，这些武器被用于谋杀意大利黑手党不同帮派之间的对手。

负责调查有组织犯罪集团的约克郡警察说，费乔孟堤加入Siderno黑手党，职位不高，平时充当跑腿角色。

费乔孟堤家中成员也参与黑手党，进行洗钱、贩毒、走私药品、股票欺诈等犯罪活动。

费乔孟堤则否认与任何有组织犯罪集团有关联，与家中成员来往也仅限于平时聚会。

费乔孟堤对加拿大移民暨难民署的决定，有15天时间可以申诉。

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On the front lines of the U.S. meltdown

A road trip in California, the state hit hardest by the recession

It’s just before 11 a.m., and a small group of men in scuffed sneakers and blue jeans have assembled on the courthouse steps in Stockton, Calif. They’re here for what’s become a familiar ritual in U.S. cities hit hard by falling house prices: the foreclosure auction. At the peak of the housing bubble, Stockton was one of the most frenzied real estate markets in the country. Now, with many of those homes in foreclosure, the bidding wars have turned surreal.

An auctioneer steps out of the courthouse, and with little fanfare starts to read out the details of several foreclosed homes. For a while there are no takers. Then he gets to a house in the nearby town of Manteca—opening price: $99,870.08. “Two more pennies,” says one bidder in a muscle shirt. Another man steps forward: “Plus a penny.” It goes on like this, the two bidders anteing up copper Lincolns for a home that, four years ago, might easily have fetched $40,000 above the asking price. “Going once, twice, third and final time. Property is sold at $99,870 and 13 cents.”

In a country that’s always done things bigger—bigger booms, bigger bubbles, bigger busts—California stands apart. Few other places saw real estate mania reach such feverish heights. Fewer still have seen their fortunes plunge to such abject lows that the decision over whether to buy a house comes down to five cents. With the world’s eighth-largest economy brought to its knees, Maclean’s took a road trip through one of the hardest-hit parts of California: the region encircling the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s a ring of misery, where unemployment is nearing 20 per cent in some counties. In cities like Stockton, one in 60 houses are in some state of foreclosure. With shopaholic Californians hunkering down, retailers are shutting their doors, from exclusive boutiques to outlet malls in soccer mom enclaves like Elk Grove. One city, Vallejo, unable to pay its bills, has given up and declared bankruptcy. More are expected to follow. Even Silicon Valley, California’s most resilient region and its best hope to lead a recovery, is struggling.

California has always been a barometer for the rest of the country. As the Golden State goes, so goes the United States. Now everyone is waiting to see whether the California dream can be resurrected. “People are watching California closely because what happens here is seen as an indicator of what will happen elsewhere,” says Alex Whalley, an economist who teaches at the University of California-Merced. “California is the leading edge of what’s to come.”

The city of Merced sits some 200 km southeast of San Francisco, and a lifetime away from the glitter and restlessness of coastal California. But those two worlds have come together in this dusty corner of a farmer’s fleld in mid-March. The Governator is here, and he’s brought cash to upgrade a nearby freeway overpass. It’s been six years since Arnold Schwarzenegger gave up acting to take top billing in the state legislature. And as he speaks, a trucker passing by on the highway spots him and honks. “We will be pumping in as much money and pumping out as much money as we can,” he says, punching the air with his giant fist and sounding not unlike Hans and Franz from that old Saturday Night Live sketch. “We will rebuild this area and create as many infrastructure projects as possible.” That’s because, like everywhere else in this recession, “infrastructure” is a code word for jobs, and jobs are something Merced desperately needs.

The latest figures released last week are startling. In February, unemployment in Merced (pop. 80,000) hit 19.9 per cent, double the national average and well above California’s already high rate of 10.5 per cent (only Michigan has been harder hit). During the housing boom, half of all new jobs in California were tied to real estate, and Merced was no different. With the housing collapse, thousands of construction jobs have dried up. The region relies heavily on agriculture, but a three-year drought has crippled the sector—in February, Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency because of the water shortage. Several retailers in the city, such as Linens N’ Things and Circuit City, but also local building supply stores, have closed. Quebecor World, the Montreal-based printing company that sought bankruptcy protection last year, operates a plant here that has laid off staff. Ellie Wooten, the 75-year-old mayor of Merced, recently warned it might close altogether. “Merced was a sleepy little town that nobody had ever heard of,” says Whalley, a Canadian from London, Ont., who moved to Merced at the peak of the boom to work at the university. “Now everybody knows it as the centre of the bust.”

The first thing that’s striking upon arriving is that this doesn’t look like a city in the grips of a crisis. You expect to see rows of boarded-up stores and despondent souls roaming the streets. Instead, downtown Merced is quite charming. There’s a lineup at the Starbucks on Main Street. And the streets are full of cars. But head north of Yosemite Avenue, which once served as the outer limits for the town, and the full scale of America’s woes hits you head-on.

Large signs that advertise housing developments with names like Windsong and Riverstone point instead to overgrown grassy fields. Roads have been built and light standards put in place, but most of the lots are empty. Where you’d expect to see rows of cookie-cutter homes, there are just small clusters of houses scattered awkwardly across the landscape. Sometimes work crews simply put down their hammers and walked away, leaving behind wood-frame skeletons to bleach in the sun. In the evening you can stand on the divider of a freshly paved four-lane road for 15 minutes and not see a soul. When a woman finally does come along with her dog, she says that some people have walked away from their homes and left town. She and her husband are still holding on, but “it’s scary.” They owe $135,000 more than their house is worth.

Every mania has a foundation, and in Merced it was anticipation over the new university, which opened its doors in 2005. While crews worked on the campus eight kilometres north of town, developers scrambled to fill in the cow pastures in between with homes. Many believed that overnight, Merced would be transformed into a thriving university town. The city was also touted as an emerging commuter city for the Bay Area. Speculators, mostly from San Francisco, snapped up the new homes, driving prices up 50 per cent between 2002 and 2004. But eventually, reality set in, even as new developments were being mapped out. With just 2,500 students, the university is not much larger than a high school at this point, though it’s expected to grow. What’s more, it’s a daunting three-hour drive past grain elevators to get to San Fran. Whalley recalls the mood as the bubble began to burst. “Sales started to slow down but the line was, ‘It’s only temporary, there won’t be a decline, at worst prices will just flat-line,’ ” he says. “It’s kind of what you hear in Canada right now.” At the peak in 2005 the median house price in Merced was $382,000. Today it’s just $105,500.

There was another glaring flaw built into Merced’s real estate equation that no one seemed to ask about. Who in this town could possibly afford these McMansions? At the peak of the market it took an income of $120,000 to buy a home in Merced, according to the Center for Housing Policy. Yet, Merced has always had a problem with high unemployment. The median income is barely $35,000 a year. That suggests the majority of people who were buying then were out-of-town speculators or locals who had no hope of actually repaying their mortgages.

A few blocks up the road from where Schwarzenegger held his press conference, Michelle Allison, program manager at the county employment office, spreads half a dozen menial job postings out on a table in front of her—much of what’s on offer at the moment. An increasing number of the people coming in for help are flight attendants, teachers and business owners. Yet the going rate for the few jobs available is just US$8 an hour. “It’s frustrating because we’re getting them all trained and ready to work, but for what?” she says. “There’s nothing out there.”

Anthony Jones, an army veteran who’d worked steadily for two decades, has hit a wall. It’s been a year since he lost his $31,000-a-year job at a struggling grocery chain, and in that time he’s applied to dozens of employers, with no success. “I feel like I’m starting all over again at 50,” he says. He remains optimistic that the government’s stimulus programs will jump-start the local economy. But the fact is, it could take months for that to take effect, leaving few options for those who can’t find work in the meantime.

Allison herself is all too aware of that. Her job ends next month. “I’m looking for work outside of California,” she says.

Michael Blower never quite knows what to expect when he enters a foreclosed home in Stockton. The real estate agent is often the first person into a house after the bank has seized it. In one home he found an abandoned antique piano. In another house all the walls had been kicked in, possibly by vandals but more likely by the previous owners before they left. And when he opened a dishwasher recently, it was crawling with cockroaches and rats. So when he walks into a two-storey house on the edge of Stockton and sees shattered glass everywhere, he’s not particularly surprised. A football-sized rock sits in the middle of the kitchen floor. Blower will have to call a contractor to replace the glass, but he knows it will probably just get smashed again. “We’ve got at least another couple of years of this,” he says.

The title of Foreclosure Capital of America tends to shift with each month of new data, but Stockton is almost always in one of the top five spots. Starting in 2003, people began to flee rising house prices in the Bay Area for bedroom communities like Stockton, but that only served to drive up property values here, too. As buyers got squeezed out of the market, banks peddled more and more subprime loans to entice them back in. At the height of the bubble, when the average house price reached $358,000, the vast majority of home sales in the city were bought with subprime mortgages. This explains why homeowners here have been hit so hard by the wave of foreclosures. Stockton house prices have plunged by about 62 per cent to an average of just $137,000. This has left whole neighbourhoods “underwater”—meaning homeowners owe more than their houses are worth. According to Zillow, a market research firm, an estimated 96 per cent of all homes in Stockton bought in 2006 are underwater.

As a result of all this, Stockton’s real estate market has a zoo-like quality to it. It was here, after all, that the phenomenon of the foreclosure tour first emerged. On weekdays, minibuses prowl the streets, shuttling buyers from foreclosed property to foreclosed property. The world of real estate reality TV, which whipped buyers into a frenzy during the bubble, has tuned in to the trend. When a new show called Deals on the Bus was launched in January, naturally Stockton was the first stop. Prettying up neighbourhoods so they look enticing to passersby has become an industry unto itself. Nothing screams empty home like a sunburned front lawn, so landscapers spray dead lawns with green biodegradable paint to give properties that lived-in look.

Watching all this from their rental house are Daniel and Dorothy Martin. He’s 91. She’s 77. But their age didn’t help them avoid being evicted from their home in February. If anything, it made matters worse.

Dorothy is deeply religious. Before sitting down for an interview, she first requests that everyone join hands while she leads a prayer, asking that peoples’ eyes be opened to the troubles so many homeowners are facing. But she quickly admits to having less than charitable thoughts toward the mortgage brokers who forced her out of her home. “I’m a Christian woman, but I felt like breaking the windows and splattering the walls with paint before we left,” she says. “I kept asking ‘Why us?’ We didn’t do anything. Why should we be thrown out on the street?”

Over the years the Martins have owned seven homes from Ohio to California. When they moved to Stockton four years ago to be close to their grandchildren, they bought a home with an $85,000 down payment. Both of them are retired, but their fixed income of $3,700 a month more than covered the $1,600 monthly payments. Then last year the Martins were notified that their payments, like those of so many other Americans who took out adjustable-rate mortgages, were about to skyrocket and would gobble up almost their entire income. They tried to renegotiate, but were told that until they defaulted, the bank couldn’t help. When they did stop making payments, they learned that the bank they’d been speaking with no longer owned their mortgage. (Their daughter, Gail Sullivan, later learned the Martins’ mortgage had been sold and resold five times.) In February, the Martins received a “notice to quit.” The sheriff’s office posted it to their front door. But by then they’d already moved out. “We left a lot of love in that house,” she says.

Despite all that’s happened, Dorothy remains hopeful everything will work out for them. She’s also thankful the couple have a roof over their heads and food on the table, unlike so many others. A quick visit to the Stockton food bank shows the extent of the problem. A long line of people coils up to the door. According to Kristine Gibson, a manager at the food bank, demand is up 25 per cent over last year, and rising. She says the people coming in today for food baskets include a lot more middle-class families. She can tell by their nicer cars.

If there’s a silver lining in Stockton’s housing crisis, it’s that affordability has meant a return to some semblance of normalcy in the housing market. Blower says half of the people he sees buying homes today are investors, while the other half are first-timers who wisely sat out the bubble and saved their money. “There are a lot of couples who thought they’d never be able to buy a house three years ago who suddenly can today,” he says. “I’m seeing a lot of all-cash offers from them.”

Still, the damage has been done, and the repercussions will continue to be felt for a long time. In recent months many banks have abided by a moratorium on foreclosures, but that is about to end. The result, says Blower, will be hundreds of additional properties dumped onto the market.

But as everyone knows now, America’s recession has spread far beyond the world of residential real estate. As Wiley Chandler, who anted up the winning penny at the Stockton courthouse, puts it, “Everybody had money, everybody was refinancing their houses. Little guys, big guys, they were all spending it on everything. And now nobody is spending nothing.”

Nowhere is that more apparent than the commercial wastelands forming around Sacramento.

When Oprah Winfrey aired a segment on a tent city full of homeless people in Sacramento in late February, it touched off an international media storm. Here, in the capital of California, was one of the most glaring symbols of the recession. Since then, reporters from every continent have flocked to the sprawling site, set beneath power lines and next to an almond factory. The fact is, though, most of the residents here, like Rico Morales, the self-proclaimed mayor of the tent city, have been homeless for years. “This is my home, it’s not a mansion, but it’s organized,” he says, adding that he’s been homeless since he was 13. “When the mayor [of Sacramento, former top NBA-player Kevin Johnson] gets off work, he wants to go home, have a coffee, watch some TV. We’d like the same thing, but unfortunately we can’t.”

But while the sudden media attention given to Sacramento’s tent city has shone a much-needed light on the long-term problems of homelessness in America, there’s another U.S. crisis playing out that could prove far more crippling to the global economy. And signs of it are evident 20 km south of Sacramento, in the city of Elk Grove.

In 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau crowned Elk Grove the fastest-growing city in America—although, astonishingly, until 2000 it didn’t even officially exist. In just one year, the population exploded by 12 per cent to 112,000. With home builders racing to erect whole new subdivisions overnight, their counterparts in the world of commercial real estate launched a tidal wave of new strip mall and office building projects for the growing population to shop and work in.

Today, if you drive a few minutes into the countryside, you can see where that wave broke. A skeleton of steel beams and aluminum roofing rises out of the weeds, the remnant of a highly touted 130-acre shopping mall (the owner of the project, General Growth Properties, is one of America’s largest developers, but is struggling to stave off bankruptcy). Several car dealerships have gone bust, luring gangs who tag them with graffiti. Whole strip malls sit empty. A cook at a Chinese restaurant sits outside smoking a cigarette during lunch hour because there are no customers to feed. “People aren’t going out to eat anymore,” he says. Several restaurants, such as Chili’s, have closed. The commercial vacancy rate in Elk Grove and other cities around Sacramento has topped 30 per cent. Analysts expect it to rise further.

It is, of course, a similar story all across the state. In Silicon Valley, the area to the south of San Francisco dominated by the technology sector, offices within blocks of the massive Google campus are crying for tenants. Even the most exclusive shopping districts in California are struggling. From Rodeo Drive to Melrose Place, luxury boutiques that just a year ago were considered “recession-proof” have closed. Tracey Ross, whose eponymous boutique in West Hollywood served celebrities like Kate Hudson, shut down her store in January. “When wealthy customers who can afford to pay retail are getting 80 per cent off at Saks, it makes it impossible for smaller boutiques to compete,” she said at the time.

What does it matter if the world has a few less J.Crews or Bed, Bath & Beyonds? Many experts say commercial real estate is the next domino to fall as a result of the U.S. recession. If it does, those banks and institutional investors that managed to dodge the housing crash, including those based in Canada, could face even more staggering losses.

Consider the nondescript three-storey red brick office building a half-hour up the highway from Elk Grove in the city of Roseville. It’s the kind of structure that crowds most business parks. But, said one mortgage banker in Sacramento who asked not to be named, the giant Quebec pension fund, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, could face millions of dollars in losses on this one building alone. Through its real estate financing subsidiary CWCapital, which manages US$11 billion in assets, the caisse is exposed to the high-risk portions of a US$10.5-million securitized loan on the property. But the banker says a third of the building sits empty and the developer has stopped making loan payments. Given the tumbling value of commercial property in the region, he estimates the building is worth half the loan amount. “They [the caisse] don’t know what’s coming,” says the banker.

For a while it looked like the California dream had turned into a permanent nightmare. For months this past winter, legislators grappled with how to plug a massive US$42-billion hole in the state’s finances for the year. Some 20,000 public sector jobs were on the chopping block. Billions in personal income-tax refunds, welfare payments and student grants were put on hold. In short, California was going broke. Last December, Gov. Schwarzenegger did what he’s had to do a lot of lately. He declared a state of emergency, this one fiscal. In the end, the state passed a budget involving US$13 billion in new taxes and US$15 billion in spending cuts. Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, may be popular in the rest of the country, but in California his approval rating is in free fall.

But if the state managed to temporarily plug its fiscal hole, in Vallejo the dam has broken wide open. Last year, this scenic city 53 km north of San Francisco declared bankruptcy. “We’re out of money,” says Stephanie Gomes, a city council member.

Since the late 1970s, when anti-tax advocates introduced a state ballot measure called Proposition 13 that capped property taxes, cities in California have increasingly relied on new home construction and commercial development fees to feed their revenue needs. Now, with the foreclosure crisis and businesses closing, that money has dried up.

But even as cities like Vallejo are having a hard time finding new revenue, they are also suffering the after-effects of a massive spending spree. Spending on public sector salaries in particular has skyrocketed. According to Gomes, a leader in the fight to fix Vallejo’s financial mess, 26 employees each earned more than US$250,000 last year, most of them firefighters. The city’s unfunded liabilities, meaning the money it must eventually pay out to cover employees’ health and retirement benefits, total more than US$200 million. As a result, Vallejo has had to slash services. The number of police positions has been cut to 116 from 150, while two fire stations have been closed and another two are at risk. “People are hurting, they’re losing their jobs, losing their homes, yet we’re looking at a US$13-million shortfall,” says Gomes. “We can’t go and ask people for more money until we get our own house in order.”

Some fear other cities may tumble into the bankruptcy pit. Several small towns outside the Bay Area, such as Rio Vista and Isleton, are said to be at risk. “There’s not much else cities can do,” says Lynn LoPucki, a professor of bankruptcy law at UCLA School of Law, “other than sell off city hall to pay down their debts.”

If Vallejo represents the worst-case scenario for California, then Silicon Valley remains its greatest hope. If the state can regain its past glory, the bets are that the turnaround will start here.

No one’s saying the tech hub has escaped the recession unscathed. The foreclosure crisis has touched cities like San Jose and Palo Alto. Unemployment in the region has also hit 9.4 per cent. Giants like Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and even Google have announced layoffs. At a Starbucks near the Google campus in Mountain View, several customers update their resumés on laptops. One of them, Michelle, moved to the area three years ago from back east and quickly landed a job as an office administrator at a small tech start-up. The company recently shut down. “Anyone who tells you Silicon Valley will avoid the recession doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” she says.

Still, the region is proving more resilient than other parts of the state. A big reason for that was the carnage of the dot-com crash in 2000, which left the tech sector much leaner. “There are microcosms of economic viability in California, and Silicon Valley is one of them, because we already had our crash and depression,” says Patti Wilson, a career adviser. While companies have been laying off workers, they’re still hiring new ones, replacing poor performers with better talent. And Silicon Valley continues to attract the lion’s share of the world’s venture capital.

Yet even Wilson is hedging her bets. She was born in Canada but has lived and worked in the Bay Area’s tech sector most of her life. Her plan is to move back to Canada part-time. She says that decision is driven partly by the economic crisis, but also her unhappiness with the state of politics in the U.S. “This is a very troubled time,” she says. “There’s no early remedy for the challenges facing the United States. This will be long-term, pervasive and debilitating.”

Back in Merced, there are signs of hope. Wal-Mart plans to open a distribution centre in the city, which would bring hundreds of jobs. The housing market, meanwhile, seems to be slowly regaining its footing.

It’s early evening and Roberta Flanagan, an 84-year-old real estate agent in the business since the 1960s, has thrown a party for her clients, complete with 100 lb. of corned beef. Standing in the crowded room, you wouldn’t know there’s a recession going on outside. A steady stream of people comes in through the door. Many have taken the opportunity of the housing crash to buy homes they couldn’t afford before. “A whole generation just got a hard lesson in life,” says Flanagan. “Good old common sense is going to come out of this. Is there a future? You bet.”

Such optimism in itself is not going to be enough to fuel a recovery, even if it were shared by the rest of state. But when the economy does turn around, California will likely be at the forefront of the rebound. It’s just that, with unemployment rising and damage from the foreclosure crisis still unfolding, it could be some time before that happens.

http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/04/15/on-the-front-lines-of-america’s-meltdown/

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（田园遗照）

4亲友缅怀生前音容笑貌

星岛日报/在北约克被谋杀的31岁华裔女子田园的丧礼，昨晨在Yonge 夹 Steeles 的积乐殡仪馆举行，按照死者家属的要求，丧礼采用佛教仪式进行，约60名田园生前的同学及亲友参加，送田园最后一程。

田园的哥哥田野从美国赶来处理妹妹的后事，她的父母则因居住在中国偏远地区，不想白头人送黑头人，因此没有申请来多参加葬礼。

出席丧礼的人士包括包括田园的同学、老师和同事，其中大部份是从贵湖和温莎赶来的田园的同学，田园生前曾在这两所学校就读，并于最近取得贵湖大学经济系硕士学位。所有出席丧礼者，均是受田园家属邀请，家属并制定了一份名单，不在名单上的人不得获准入内。

有4人在追悼会上发言，田园生前曾在加拿大石油管道运输公司(TransCanada)担任商业分析员(business Analyst)，该公司昨日派出一名同事出席葬礼，他在发言中缅怀田园生前的点滴。另外，田园的哥哥田野、田园在贵湖大学读经济系时的教授，以及一位田园生前的好友，也在发言中表达对田园的追思之情。

应死者家属的同意，田园昨日的遗体告别仪式采用了开棺的方式，使亲朋好友能够再见田园一面，瞻仰遗容并道别。

整个丧礼采取佛教仪式，堂前设立白腊烛和香坛，家属并请来两位法师唸经和烧香，希望田园平安上路，整个仪式进行了大约一小时。

警吁华社提供破案线索

仪式结束后，田园的哥哥手持一炷香坐在第一辆车里，他怀中抱着妹妹的遗像，眼神痛苦而迷茫。整个车队沿着央街向南行驶，在央街与401公路交界处的Forest Lawn坟场将遗体火化。

田园2005年从中国来加读书，是辽宁省人。有报道说，她毕业于哈尔滨工业大学，来加后，她先后在安省温莎大学和贵湖大学就读，并在贵湖大学获得经济学硕士。

案件发生于9月2日晚，警方接到报警电话，发现田园在其北约克的寓所内，被人反绑双手，身体被刺多刀惨死，目前警方仍在调查此案，呼吁华人社区提供破案线索。

田园出殡 警方吁提供线索

哥哥田野、同学朋友送最后一程

世界日报记者胡光多伦多报导/在自己寓所内遭捆绑刺毙的中国大陆移民田园的追悼会，于11日上午10时在北约克央街（Yonge St.）6191号的Jerrett Funeral Home殡仪馆举行，包括田园的哥哥田野及其生前的数十名同学朋友参加了追悼会，大家向这位英年早逝的移民同胞鞠躬告别。
按照田园家人的要求，11日的葬礼是以佛教仪式进行，整个过程持续了大约一个小时。之后，在亲人朋友们的目送下，田园的灵柩被殡仪馆人员抬上灵车，缓缓驶往北约克的Forest Lawn火葬场进行火化。

田园的哥哥田野是从美国赶来处理妹妹的后事，而他们的父母并没有抵多参加女儿的葬礼，原因是两位老人年岁已大，且不想面对白发人送黑发人的惨痛事实，故自始至终就没有申请来多。

由于出席葬礼的人早于数日前已经登记，因此按照家属的要求，殡仪馆的工作人员禁止其他未经登记的人士进入殡仪馆瞻仰遗容。大批本地华文媒体的记者被拒之门外，不准在殡仪馆的地盘上采访及拍照，只允许在对面街道等候拍摄。

有消息指，31岁的田园原籍为中国吉林省，毕业于哈尔滨工业大学材料科学系，因成绩优异，保送研读研究生。2005年持学生签证来加继续进修，先后在安省温莎大学和贵湖大学就读，并于遇害前不久刚刚获得贵湖大学的经济学硕士学位。

多伦多警方仍在调查此案，目前还没有涉案凶手的线索。多伦多警察局华人联络处处长陈楚标呼吁，任何人于8月30日至案发当天的长周末，见过田园或知道她的行踪；或者知道她曾与甚么人会过面，请致电416-808-7400或灭罪热线416-222-TIPS(8477)，或电邮至灭罪热线电脑网页www.222tips.com。目前警方凶杀组亟须了解田园在长周末的行踪及活动。

此案发生于2日傍晚6时30分左右，警方33分局接到报警电话，得知在湾景路（Bayview Ave.）和雪柏大街（Sheppard Ave. E）西南地区的Talara Drive 75号柏文公寓发生命案。警员闻讯后赶到大厦，在该楼四层靠楼梯一单位发现一名女子被绑在椅子上，身上有多处明显的刀伤，受害人被证实当场死亡。

田园遗体火化 同学亲友送别

明报/多市华裔女子田园于本月2日在其寓所不幸遇害，她的兄长田野闻讯后从美国赶回来，办理妹妹的身后事。昨日上午在多市北约克社区的Jerrett殡仪馆，田野以及几十位亲友和同学为田园举行丧礼，并将她的遗体火化。

在位于央街夹士刁路的Jerrett殡仪馆内，受邀前来参加田园葬礼的同学和亲友，约有50至60人，而死者的父母因远在中国而未能出席。

丧礼按佛教仪式进行，时间约为1小时。仪式结束后，田野手持一炷“归魂香”坐进灵车，随车队往位于401公路夹央街地区Linelle St. 57号的Forest Lawn Mausoleum and Crematorium墓园。据称田园的遗体会在此火化。

而众多前来采访的传媒，由于被限令不能进入殡仪馆内拍照，都聚集在外面等候仪式结束和灵车出发前往墓园。

多市警方曾表示，因为田园是凶杀案的受害人，因此他们依照法律程序向死者的亲友提供6000元的受害人赔偿金，相信对遗属办理身后事有所帮助。

本月2日下午，警方接到田园的36岁男友的报警电话，赶到多市北约克雪柏路夹湾景路地区Talara 75号柏文大厦，发现田园被人反绑双手，身上多处被利器刺伤。警方查验之后，并未从死者身上发现性侵犯的痕□，房门也没有被破门而入的□象，房内也没有财物丢失，案发原因至今成谜。

受害人的男友被当作发现现场的目击者，曾被两次传召至警局作长时间的查问，最后得以获释。目前坊间流传有偷窥狂、租房看房客以及死者有驾驶名贵房车男友等多种传闻，警方都在逐一调查。

现年31岁的田园于2005年来到加国，身分是移民。她之前曾在安省温莎市和贵湖市的大学就读，最近才获得经济学硕士学位，正在四处求职。

贵湖大学方面于昨日降半旗以悼念死者，同时还专门派出一位名叫阿伯特(Mary Abbott)的职员，接受该校教职员工和学生的捐款，以资助死者的家人。

---

田园遗照首次发布：生前疑遭遇感情问题

加国无忧谈海/9月11日，遇害新移民田园葬礼在Jerrett殡仪馆举行，按照死者家人的要求，葬礼采用佛教仪式进行，数十名田园生前的同学及亲友参加了葬礼，送田园最后一程。田园的哥哥田野从美国赶来处理妹妹的后事，她的父母则没有申请来多伦多。

据一位熟悉田园的朋友介绍，田园来自中国辽宁，毕业于哈尔滨工业大学材料学系并因成绩优秀保送读研究生，2003年毕业便前往上海求职，在一家跨国公司实验室内任职。因其哥哥已经移民加拿大，2005年田园从上海来加读书，她先后在安省温莎大学和贵湖大学就读，并于贵湖大学获得经济学硕士，明年2月将参加毕业典礼。朋友称赞田园是个有个性、真诚、睿智的女孩。

贵湖大学（University of Guelph）在大学的网页上发布消息，表示于9月11日为经济系硕士学生田园（Yuan Tracy Tian）下半旗致哀，她于本月2日不幸死亡。该校的管理及经济学院及经济学系会接受同学捐款，以协助田园的家人。

多市警方呼吁任何市民，倘若知悉田园在8月30日至案发前的行踪，或知道她曾与甚么人会面，请致电416-808-7400或灭罪热线416-222-TIPS（8477）与警方联络。

自从警方发布了呼吁市民提供线索的消息后，已经有多人通过各种方式与警方联络。一位网友从枫下论坛中找出了被怀疑是田园留下的一个帖子，题目是《谈婚论嫁了，男友却突然向我坦白从前曾经有过婚史，我该怎么办?》2008年8月27日由网友“ bluesand ”发布的，从时间上看，刚巧是在田园出事的前几天。网友“ bluesand ”还和跟帖的网友进行了坦诚的交流，但9月2日后就没看到网友“ bluesand ”的任何留言了。

网友“ bluesand ”的帖子中说：从来没有想到这样的事情居然被我碰到了。男朋友比我大5岁，IT人士，认识快一年了，成为男女朋友也有半年了。当时从众多的追求者中选择了他，并不是因为他的条件最优越，其实他长相非常普通，社交能力很差，生活上也是粗枝大叶，做事丢三落四，不会照顾人。但是他脾气很好，有一种很单纯甚至傻傻的快乐，待人很宽容很实在，让人感觉挺放心的。

尽管亲人朋友有些微辞，觉得跟他委屈了我，但我还是很珍惜两个人的缘分， 抛除外界的眼光，我们俩个人相处起来也还挺快乐的。没想到正准备接受他的求婚的时候，他给我抛下了这颗定时炸弹。坦白他曾经有过近十年的婚史，甚至前妻现在还住在多伦多，跟他偶尔还有些来往。

我真的是无法将眼前这个男人跟那个单纯的大男孩联系起来。人心怎么这么难测啊? 以前也曾经问过他的情史，他撒谎说从前国内有女友，分手了。我并不是一个不敏感的人，但可能是太相信他了，居然被他忠厚的外表迷惑了。他说知道错了，因为太爱，怕失去，开头撒了谎，后来就越来越不敢坦白，终酿成大错。

我能感觉到他对我的爱是真的，我也很爱他，尽管他有很多缺点，遇到他，我那颗漂泊流浪的心终于想要安定下来。可是突如其来的变故，让我很难接受。且不说将近十年的婚史让人无法释怀，他这种欺骗的手段更是让人无法原谅。没有信心面对和接受他的历史，但也舍不得就这样放弃我所珍视的这段感情，真的好痛心。我现在想给自己一段时间冷静认真考虑一下这件事情，不想让自己在气头上做一个草率的决定。也想听听大家对这件事情的看法。

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（加拿大新闻商业网www.newnews.ca 9月11日讯）来自中国大陆的北约克华裔女子田园葬礼，今天上午在央街与士刁大道的Jerrett殡仪馆举行，按照死者家人的要求，葬礼采用佛教仪式进行，数十名田园生前的同学及亲友参加了葬礼，送田园最后一程。

田园的哥哥田野从美国赶来处理妹妹的后事，她的父母则不想面对白头人送黑头人的惨状而没有申请来多。

出席葬礼的人全部都是受邀请的，按照主人的要求，殡仪馆工作人员禁止传媒进去拍照采访，只准在殡仪馆外面拍照。

瞻仰遗容和与遗体告别仪式进行了大约1个小时，田园的哥哥手持1炷香坐在第1辆车里，整个车队沿着央街向南行驶，在央街与401公路交界处的Forest Lawn坟场将遗体火化。

田园2005年从中国来加读书，有报道说她来自中国东北，在哈尔滨工业大学毕业。她先后在安省温莎大学和贵湖大学就读，并与贵湖大学获得经济学硕士。

9月2日晚，警方接到报警电话，发现田园在自己北约克出租公寓内被人反绑刺中多刀惨死，目前警方仍在调查此案。

田野手持一炷香坐在灵车里。

位于央街6191号的Jerrett殡仪馆。

殡仪馆工作人员

每辆车上都插着出殡的牌子。

同学和亲友们参加完葬礼步出殡仪馆。

田野坦然面对媒体的拍摄。

(独家组图)田野与同学们在火葬场送走田园

（加拿大新闻商业网www.newnews.ca 9月11日讯）田野与田园的同学们在北约克Forest Lawn火葬场送走田园，从此阴阳相隔。

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（星星生活记者连鹏编译/综合报道）涉嫌在灰狗巴士上将邻座乘客斩首的李伟光(Vince Weiguang Li，译音)已被证实是来自中国大陆的移民，并且已入籍加拿大。早前有人根据李伟光被公布的英文名字拼写猜测，李伟光可能是来自中国大陆。不过，有报道称从来自李伟光代表律师的消息指，确定李伟光是中国大陆移民，现为加籍公民。

李伟光是一个安静、谨慎的人

加拿大《国家邮报》8月2日晚刊登加西新闻社文章，指出据李伟光的朋友描述，他是一个“安静、沉默寡言”的人。该文指，现年40岁的灰狗巴士血案凶犯李伟光约在4年前从中国移民到加拿大，最初在温尼伯安家。他，以及他可爱的妻子在社区热心人士的帮助下，很快融入到异国新生活中。

该报道说，李伟光很快就找到一份叉车司机工，这让他很快的提高了自己的英文水平，同时他们参加基督教浸信会的礼拜活动，并结识了很多新的朋友，他们利用闲暇时间一起聚会或者到附近湖边野餐。

该报引述温尼伯自由新闻社（Winnipeg Free Press）的报道指，虽然看起来李伟光融入加国新生活的过程非常顺利，但随后那些接近他的新朋友们却在他身上看到了别的东西。

两年前，他周围的人发现李伟光有时神情不定。根据一名不愿透露姓名的妇女在接受温尼伯自由新闻社独家专访时表示，李似乎是一个“失落的灵魂，他仿佛一直在寻找某种东西。”

该名女性和她的家庭曾跟李伟光一家如朋友一般，甚至两年前的圣诞夜和晚餐都是在她家度过，但是由于担心诸多媒体会争相采访，她并不愿透露自己的姓名。她表示，李伟光的确出了问题，但是却拒绝去看医生或寻求帮助。这个家庭的一位从事心理健康方面工作的朋友也表示李“很显然需要帮助，可他没有这么做。”

她表示曾经跟李伟光有过一次不同寻常的对话：有一次在李收到一张交通罚单后，他一直说：“有些人跟在我后面，但什么也没有。”

李伟光和他的妻子Anna移民到温尼伯后，他很快就找到一份叉车司机工，太太曾在几家中餐馆打工。他们偶尔参加基督教浸信会活动。该名接受温尼伯自由新闻社专访的女性说，她的父亲和继母很喜欢这对夫妇，他们一起聚餐、打牌，她父亲还请李伟光和太太到他们的休闲别墅玩。“李伟光是一个安静、谨慎的人，这可能是因为他的母语不是英语，但他还是让大家感到很亲切。”

但是，事情随着两年前李伟光突然独自搬到埃德蒙顿去而改变，此后他的太太则继续留在温尼伯，但李伟光随后找到了送报和派广告的工作，她最近也搬到了埃德蒙顿。

李伟光在温尼伯经常参加活动的教堂成员，最近也曾提及过他们这个家庭，关注他们现在是否过得还好。

血案死者亲属指麦克林善良爱交友

与此同时，灰狗巴士血案死者、今年22岁麦克林的亲人，8月2日晚在温尼伯举行的记者会上表示，麦克林是一个善良的青年，生前喜欢交朋友。

麦克林的叔叔艾力克斯（Alex McLean）表示，麦克林生前喜欢旅行，并与人们交朋友。麦克林并相信，他交往的每一个人都是善良的。麦克林个头虽不大，但他的心却比人们想像的还要大。

艾力克斯是代表麦克林的父母，对麦克林在30日晚间，在埃德蒙顿驶往温尼伯的一辆灰狗巴士中惨遭杀害，发表谈话。

艾力克斯表示，麦克林的父母对惨案发生后，全国民众的关心及慰问表示感谢。麦克林的父母目前仍极忧伤。这是自麦克林遇害后，他的家人首次公开谈话。

李伟光曾生吃受害人尸肉

另据周六稍早，从一家网站上透露的一段加拿大皇家骑警处理本案的通话纪录，李伟光在杀死麦克林后，还将麦克林的尸体切成碎片，生啖其肉。

加通社报道说，皇家骑警的通话记录周六遭泄露，并被人贴在网站上，引起广泛注意。这项简短的通话显示，凶手李伟光在杀死邻座旅客，斩首并挖出内脏后，还将尸体切成碎片生吃。

这项通讯纪录中，警方以“獾”做为凶手的代名。警方在通话中称，“獾”正在巴士内走来走去，手上握有有一把刀及一把剪刀。

警方通话纪录还称：“他正在巴士前方切割尸体”。通话又说：“现在‘獾’又来到巴士后方，正将尸体切成碎片生吃”。

这短短80秒钟的通话纪录遭人发布在网上后，骑警立刻发表声明指出，这项通话纪录是警方办案用，并非可以公之于众的材料。

刊载这项通讯纪录的有好几个站点，其中包含浏览量巨大的YouTube。皇家骑警周六下午已关闭此视频，但在关闭前，已有八千人点阅。

李伟光是于30日晚晚8点30分左右，在一辆由埃德蒙顿开往温尼伯的灰狗巴士上，用蓝波刀将邻座22岁的青年麦克林杀死。据目击者称，李伟光至少用刀刺麦克林五、六十下，然后将他的头割下，再开膛剖腹取出他的内脏。

同车旅客目击惨案后，纷纷逃离巴士，并于下车后将巴士门顶住，不让凶手下车，等待警方赶到处理。在等候警方来到期间，李伟光曾提着人头向其他旅客示威。警方赶到后，他拒绝投降，并提着麦克林的人头向警耀武扬威。李伟光最后打破车窗，弹出车外企图逃跑时被警方逮捕。

李伟光已于周五短暂出庭，一语未发。法官命令他先找辩护律师，之后再审理本案。

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Beheading victim ‘never got into a single fight in his whole life’

Canadian Press and Globe and Mail Update

August 1, 2008 at 7:34 PM EDT

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MAN. — A man accused of beheading a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus uttered not a word in court Friday and the victim’s friends were still at a loss as to how anyone could have attacked someone they say never hurt a soul.

“There was nothing in the world that could set him off or [make] him do anything wrong to anybody,” said William Caron, who knew Tim McLean, 22, since Grade 7.

“As far as I’ve known him, he’d never got into a single fight in his whole life.”

There were no answers from a courtroom in Portage la Prairie, Man., where Vince Weiguang Li, 40, of Edmonton, made his first court appearance on a charge of second-degree murder.

Mr. Li — his face bruised, one hand bandaged and his legs shackled — quietly shuffled into the room with his head bowed. He did not make eye contact with anyone the entire time he was before the judge.

He would not even reply when the judge asked him if he was going to get a lawyer and only nodded slightly when asked whether he was exercising his right not to speak.

The Crown asked for a psychiatric assessment, but the judge said he wanted to give Mr. Li a chance to talk to a lawyer about that.

“It’s early and I think the judge just wants to respect his rights to … speak to counsel and he’s giving him that opportunity,” Crown prosecutor Larry Hodgson said outside court. “I don’t think it will be very long that they’ll allow him to do that [be without a lawyer].”

Mr. Li was charged after Mr. McLean died in a gruesome attack on a Greyhound bus that was travelling from Edmonton to Winnipeg.

Police did not release details about his death. But passengers said the young man died in an appalling attack in which his seat-mate silently stood up and repeatedly stabbed him before severing his head and carving up his body.

Friends say they simply cannot understand why anyone would attack the thin young man, just five-feet, five inches tall, and by all accounts easy-going.

“He was just such an amazing guy. He had a great personality,” Mr. McLean’s long-time friend and Mr. Caron’s wife, Jodi Lang, said on the lawn of their Winnipeg home.

Mr. McLean had been working at carnival booths and was coming home from Edmonton to be with his family. He led a mostly quiet life, preferring to spend time playing cards and the board game Risk, Mr. Caron said.

His friend liked to travel, which was the reason he spent three summers working the carnival circuit, Mr. Caron added.

“He never cared for sitting around, unless it was for a weekend with the guys playing Risk. He was always big on travelling. He didn’t like to sit in one place.”

Mr. McLean and Mr. Caron got their first tattoos together. Mr. Caron opted for a ghost riding a motorcycle. Mr. McLean chose a joker — a theme he would use for his Myspace web page under the name Jokawild, where he described his interests as “playin vids, chillin’, havin a good time.”

Mr. Hodgson couldn’t offer many details about Mr. Li.

“I know he was from Edmonton. I don’t know why he was on the bus. That’s still under investigation.”

The RCMP said Mr. Li has no known criminal record.

The Edmonton Journal is reporting that Mr. Li worked as a newspaper delivery man, delivering the Journal, Edmonton Sun and the National Post. When he did not show up for work on Tuesday, his colleague called his cellphone and a woman who said she was Mr. Li’s wife called back, saying he was called on an emergency.

Mr. Hodgson said if Mr. Li doesn’t get his own lawyer, the court could appoint one or the case could proceed anyway.

Mr. Li’s next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday in Portage la Prairie.

Meanwhile, tributes to the victim were pouring into social networking and media websites. A Facebook website called “R.I.P. Tim” quickly sprang up after news of the attack.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” wrote Leah Dryburgh of Winnipeg. “Tim, you were the best guy ever. You didn’t deserve this at all.”

It was on Tuesday night that Greyhound bus 1170 rolled across the darkening prairie. Passengers were dozing off as The Legend of Zorro played on the television screen.

A man of about 20, making his way home to Manitoba from Edmonton, was sitting on his own in the back row, headphones covering his ears, sleeping with his cheek resting on the window pane.

He barely acknowledged the 40-year-old man in sunglasses who, having boarded the bus in Brandon, first sat near the front, then walked down the aisle, slid his bags into the overhead bin, and sat down next to him.

The strangers sat together in silence for a half hour or more, said Garnet Caton, a 26-year-old seismic driller who was in the row ahead.

Then the calm of an otherwise unremarkable bus ride was shattered by a sound so chilling it could only be described as somewhere between a dog howling and a baby crying.

“It was a blood-curdling scream,” he said. “I turned around and the guy sitting right [behind] me was standing up and stabbing another guy with a big Rambo knife … Right in the throat. Repeatedly.”

Mr. Caton said the attack was utterly unprovoked.

He watched in horror as the man, described as tall and well-built with close-cropped hair, plunged his hunting knife into the victim eight or nine times, sending blood spraying across the back of the bus.

The driver, hearing the screams, pulled to the side of the road and opened the doors, allowing passengers to flee. They scrambled over one another and, in their haste, knocked an elderly woman to the floor. One mother, who was seated near the back, threw her toddler forward several rows to get the child away from danger, a witness said.

Mr. Caton, who served five years in the Canadian Forces and was closest to the attacker, paused before leaving, torn momentarily between concern for his own safety and the thought of abandoning the bleeding victim. He turned to another man nearby and asked for his help.

“I said, ‘Give me a hand and let’s get this guy.’ And the other guy took off,” he said.

It was only moments later that the victim’s screams went silent. Mr. Caton knew he was too late.

Mr. Caton jumped off the bus, and was met by a trucker who had stopped after seeing the commotion. The trucker grabbed a crowbar and Mr. Caton got a hammer and they tried to contain the attacker on the bus. The attacker swung his knife at them through the partially closed bus door.

Then the incident became even more macabre. The attacker returned to the victim’s side and began sawing through his neck. A few moments later, he walked to the front of the bus holding a decapitated human head, displaying it to the 34 passengers and the bus driver standing outside.

“I got sick after I saw the head thing,” Mr. Caton said. “Some people were puking, some people were crying, some people were shocked.”

The killer, meanwhile, appeared unfazed.

“He just looked at us and dropped the head on the ground, totally calm,” Mr. Caton said.

Reports from the scene indicate the man then ate pieces of the corpse.

It was at that point that the RCMP arrived and a standoff developed, with armed officers surrounding the bus.

For more than three hours the man taunted police, moving around the bus and cutting away at the corpse. Around 1:30 a.m. local time, he broke a window and tried to jump out but was quickly arrested.

At the scene Staff Sergeant Steve Colwell could offer no explanation for what prompted the attack, and had no information on whether the attacker was known to police or had a history of violence or instability.

Police did not release the victim’s name because they had not been able to notify his family. But CTV reported Friday that his family learned of the attack through the media.

Police praised the reaction of the bus driver and passengers, which they say may have averted further injuries.

“They were very brave. They reacted swiftly and calmly in exiting the bus and as a result nobody else was injured,” Staff Sgt. Colwell said. “It’s not every day that someone gets stabbed on a bus. I imagine it would be fairly traumatic for the other passengers on the bus and the way they reacted was extraordinary.”

The passengers were eventually taken to an RCMP station in Brandon to be questioned, and then put up for the night in a local hotel. Most stayed up late, bleary-eyed strangers gathering in small groups, talking through a horrifying event that defied rational explanation.

“I tried to lay down at 4 o’clock this morning and I was up 10 minutes later, because every time I close my eyes I see this man in the window with some guy’s head I just smoked a cigarette with an hour before,” said passenger Cody Olmstead, who was on his way home to Nova Scotia.

Mr. Olmstead may have been the last person to speak to the victim before he was killed. He said they exchanged pleasantries, but not much more. The young man, who was about 5 foot 8 and 150 pounds, was dressed in baggy, hip-hop clothing, passengers said.

“He seemed to be all right. I didn’t get to know him,” he said. “He just told me where he was going. I told him where I was going.”

At first, Mr. Olmstead said, he thought it was a regular fistfight. But when somebody yelled “knife,” everyone started to run.

“What can you do when a man’s got a knife the size of, you know, it’s a big knife. So we just tried to stay out of the way,” he said.

He said he didn’t notice any tension between the two men beforehand, or even a minor incident that could have sparked a confrontation.

“No, there was no tension. The guy got on the bus, sat down beside the fellow. The fellow offered him the seat, woke up, said, ‘Yeah, go ahead,’ fell back asleep. Next thing you know, he’s getting stabbed repetitively,” he said. “And then I guess he cuts buddy’s head off, and he walks up to the door, holds the head in the door and just looks at him, crazy like, and just drops the head.”

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day called Thursday’s incident horrific and said his heart goes to the family of the victim. However, he played down the possibility of enacting tough security measures in Canada’s bus terminals, similar to what exists in airports.

“People should always be open to looking at precautionary measures. But let’s keep in mind that as bizarre and tragic as this is, it is extremely rare,” Mr. Day said.

He also dismissed talk by some opposition MPs of a “knife registry,” saying that millions of them are bought each year simply for kitchen use. He added that there are already provisions in the Criminal Code against crimes and assaults.

Speaking at a Conservative Party caucus meeting, Mr. Day said he does not want to jeopardize the investigation, but added he wants to see the killer “convicted in court.”

Grief counsellors from the Brandon Regional Health Authority were made available to the passengers at the hotel Wednesday night. They were eventually allowed to complete their journey to Winnipeg, even though all their possessions had to be left on the bus while police continued their search of the crime scene.

Greyhound paid for them to buy clothes Thursday, and later transported them into Winnipeg, where some were reunited with anxious family members late in the afternoon.

The bus remained parked at the side of the Trans-Canada Highway Thursday, about 20 kilometres west of Portage La Prairie, as forensic teams sifted through evidence.

With reports from Joe Friesen in Winnipeg and Daniel Leblanc in Lévis, Que.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080731.wdeath01/BNStory/National/home

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How a madman’s blade cut Tim McLean’s reunion short

JOE FRIESEN

From Saturday’s Globe and Mail

August 1, 2008 at 10:16 PM EDT

WINNIPEG — In his last phone calls and text messages, slain bus passenger Tim McLean was eagerly looking forward to seeing his friends and family, talked about how much he was enjoying himself, and made no mention of the peculiar passenger now charged with his murder.

Alexandra Storey, Mr. McLean’s ex-girlfriend, said he sent her dozens of texts as the Greyhound he was riding made its way east to Winnipeg from Edmonton Wednesday night. The 22-year-old Winnipegger was coming home after seven weeks working on a carnival tour of Western Canada.

He told her some of the other passengers were taking ecstasy, a party drug with stimulant properties, and that he was counting down the hours by sending a new text at every town he passed.

It was from Brandon, Man., some time before 8 p.m. that he sent the longest flurry of texts, she said. He planned to go see his father, collect his pet iguana from a friend and wanted to visit Ms. Storey later that night. After their relationship ended, he became like a brother to her, she said, and he was particularly devoted to her daughter, April. In his last message, Mr. McLean said his phone was dying and he was going to charge it when he got to Portage la Prairie.

Ten minutes later, his accused killer, 40-year-old Vincent Li, changed seats, making his way to the last row of the bus and sitting next to Mr. McLean. Witnesses said the younger man, barely 5 foot 5 and 125 pounds, had fallen asleep with his headphones on, his cheek resting against the window, while Zorro played on the bus’s television screen.

Without warning, witnesses said, a man stood up and stabbed Mr. McLean several times in the throat and torso, sending passengers scrambling off the bus. Afterward, the killer severed his victim’s head, hacked at his body with a large knife and a pair of scissors, and, according to reports from the scene, ate some of the body parts.

Derek Caron, Mr. McLean’s closest friend, was waiting at the Winnipeg bus station that night, anticipating a 9:45 p.m. arrival. He hung around patiently as Greyhound officials told him the bus was delayed, but as the hours passed they never explained what had happened. He left only when they closed the terminal after 1 a.m.

Although police didn’t release his name, the description of the victim passed on by witnesses – a small, aboriginal man of 18-20 years – seemed to fit Mr. McLean, who wasn’t aboriginal but looked it, Mr. McLean’s friends said. As the day wore on, and they received no word from him, a small group gathered outside the home of his father, also named Tim McLean. When the older man arrived home from work, he greeted them cheerfully, asking if they were waiting for his son.

They sat down with him at his computer as he watched the news for the first time. He put his hands over his mouth and said, “No, no, no. My God, no,” according to a woman who was there. He tried to contact the RCMP to confirm his worst fear. His son’s friends said an uncle had spoken to the RCMP already, and was told his nephew wasn’t a passenger on the bus. But later that night, Mr. McLean had to identify his son’s body.

As they struggled with their grief Friday, friends described the young man as a warm, fun-loving free spirit who attracted people to him with his energy and joie de vivre. He had never been in a fight in his life, said his friend Will Caron, who had known him for 10 years.

“There is no way he could have provoked that guy. No way. He’s just not like that,” said Colleen Yestrau, who had allowed Mr. McLean to stay with her for three months before he left on the carnival circuit. They also said Mr. McLean had asked his father, in a text message sent Wednesday evening, if it would be all right if a girl named Stacey stayed with them once he arrived in Winnipeg.

Mr. McLean dropped out of Oak Park High School before completing Grade 11 because he had other priorities, his friends said. He would spend the summer months touring Western Canada, starting with the Red River Exhibition in Winnipeg, and travelling to the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver. He ran booths and games at the fairs, which he referenced in his latest tattoo, a cursive script across his stomach saying “Wanna Play.” He sent a photo of it to Ms. Storey, which, in a ghostly twist, she received several hours after he was killed.

He was also proud of his other tattoos, including cartoon character Marvin the Martian, a spider and skull, and one that said “Joker Wild.”

He hadn’t had a fixed address for several years, his friends said, but would often stay with one of them for three months at a stretch, and then move on. In the winters he worked at various jobs, cleaning and repairing street lights, manufacturing brake shoes, pumping gas and managing a fast-food restaurant.

Will Caron said he last saw his friend in mid-June, when a group gathered for a massive weekend-long board game of Risk. As his wife Jodi broke down in tears over the loss of their friend, and his three-year-old daughter talked about how her father had been crying too, Mr. Caron just shook his head in disbelief. Why didn’t anyone fight back? he asked. Surely the three dozen passengers could have overpowered a lone man with a knife.

“Only in movies would you think something like this would happen. Not in real life. Not on a bus,” he said.

Derek Caron said he and Mr. McLean were planning to move to B.C. together in the fall. Mr. McLean loved the outdoors, he said, and they were going to set out with a tent and find whatever work they could.

The gruesome details of their friend’s killing, the beheading and dismemberment, are rarely mentioned, referred to only in whispers, but their presence lingers in every conversation.

“I’m hoping it was quick,” Ms. Storey said. “I hope he didn’t suffer through it.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080801.wbus-victim01/BNStory/National/home?cid=al_gam_mostview

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Police tape leaked, beheading victim mourned

Edmonton man charged with second-degree murder utters not a word when he appears in court

Aug 01, 2008 11:49 PM
Steve Lambert
THE CANADIAN PRESS

WINNIPEG–A man accused of beheading a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus uttered not a word in court today and the victim’s friends were still at a loss as to how anyone could have attacked someone they say never hurt a soul.

“There was nothing in the world that could set him off or (make) him do anything wrong to anybody,” said William Caron, who knew Tim McLean, 22, since Grade 7.

“As far as I’ve known him, he’d never got into a single fight in his whole life.”

There were no answers from a courtroom in Portage la Prairie, Man., where Vince Weiguang Li, 40, of Edmonton, made his first court appearance on a charge of second-degree murder.

Li – his face bruised, one hand bandaged and his legs shackled – quietly shuffled into the room with his head bowed. He did not make eye contact with anyone the entire time he was before the judge.

He would not even reply when the judge asked him if he was going to get a lawyer and only nodded slightly when asked whether he was exercising his right not to speak.

The accused, wearing a grey T-shirt and prisoner’s vest, appeared to be about five-foot-eight or nine with a stocky build.

Passengers had described McLean’s attacker as a big man who weighed at least 200 pounds.

The Crown asked for a psychiatric assessment, but the judge said he wanted to give Li a chance to talk to a lawyer about that.

“It’s early and I think the judge just wants to respect his rights to … speak to counsel and he’s giving him that opportunity,” Crown prosecutor Larry Hodgson said outside court. “I don’t think it will be very long that they’ll allow him to do that (be without a lawyer).”

Li was charged after McLean died in a gruesome attack on a Greyhound bus that was travelling from Edmonton to Winnipeg.

Police did not release details about his death. But passengers said the young man died in an appalling attack in which his seat-mate silently stood up and repeatedly stabbed him before severing his head and carving up his body.

Friends say they simply cannot understand why anyone would attack the thin young man, just five-feet, five inches tall, and by all accounts easy-going.

“He was just such an amazing guy. He had a great personality,” McLean’s longtime friend and Caron’s wife, Jodi Lang, said on the lawn of their Winnipeg home.

McLean had been working at carnival booths and was coming home from Edmonton to be with his family. He led a mostly quiet life, preferring to spend time playing cards and the board game Risk, Caron said.

His friend liked to travel, which was the reason he spent three summers working the carnival circuit, Caron added.

“He never cared for sitting around, unless it was for a weekend with the guys playing Risk. He was always big on travelling. He didn’t like to sit in one place.”

McLean and Caron got their first tattoos together. Caron opted for a ghost riding a motorcycle. McLean chose a joker – a theme he would use for his Myspace web page under the name Jokawild, where he described his interests as “playin vids, chillin’, havin a good time.”

Hodgson couldn’t offer many details about Li.

“I know he was from Edmonton. I don’t know why he was on the bus. That’s still under investigation.”

The RCMP said Li has no known criminal record.

Hodgson said if Li doesn’t get his own lawyer, the court could appoint one or the case could proceed anyway.

Li’s next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday in Portage la Prairie.

Meanwhile, tributes to the victim were pouring into social networking and media websites. A Facebook website called “R.I.P. Tim” quickly sprang up after news of the attack.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” wrote Leah Dryburgh of Winnipeg. “Tim, you were the best guy ever. You didn’t deserve this at all.”

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/471031

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Family remember Tim McLean as charming free spirit

JOE FRIESEN

Globe and Mail Update

August 2, 2008 at 6:28 PM EDT

WINNIPEG — The family of Tim McLean, slain on a Greyhound bus Wednesday night, spoke publicly for the first time Saturday, describing their lost loved one as a stubborn yet kind soul.

Alex McLean, Tim’s uncle, read a statement on the family’s behalf.

He said Tim made friends effortlessly and charmed all with whom he came in contact.

He was a free spirit who loved to travel and who was making his way home to Winnipeg after working at a carnival in Edmonton.

Tearful family members stood behind Mr. McLean holding photos of Tim and grieving together. Many were in tears as he spoke.

“He was a little guy with a heart bigger than you could know,” Mr. McLean said.

“Tim spent his life travelling and meeting new people and always saw the good in everyone. He had the most infectious giggle and you could hear him laughing a mile away. It didn’t matter what kind of day you were having because when you heard his laugh, you couldn’t help but join in.”

Tim’s parents stayed away from the news conference, which was held in Mr. McLean’s backyard. He thanked friends of the family and the greater public for their love and support.

“The outpouring of well-wishes from complete strangers has been overwhelming,” he said. “We are suffering our loss. This is obviously a most difficult time for us all.”

The killing aboard the Greyhound bus has been among the top stories around the world in the last few days. It was a shocking, apparently unprovoked attack that claimed the life of a 22-year-old who friends said had never been in a fight in his life.

Witnesses said Mr. McLean was asleep, listening to headphones when he was attacked without warning. A man pulled out a long knife and began stabbing him repeatedly in the chest and neck. After other passengers fled the bus, the man beheaded his victim and displayed the head to the horrified onlookers standing outside. He then cut apart and ate parts of the body.

A 40-year-old man from Edmonton, Vincent Li, is charged with second-degree murder. Mr. Li worked as a newspaper deliveryman in Edmonton but failed to show up for work earlier this week. He is being held in custody until his next court appearance on Tuesday.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080802.wmclean0802/BNStory/National/home?cid=al_gam_mostview

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B.C. friends remember slain bus passenger as ‘always smiling’
Last Updated: Saturday, August 2, 2008 | 12:11 AM ET
CBC News

A young man brutally killed aboard a Greyhound bus travelling through Manitoba overnight Thursday had spent two summers working in Vancouver and was talking about plans to move to B.C., friends said.

Police have not confirmed the identity of the man stabbed to death, and then beheaded according to witnesses, but court documents name him as Timothy McLean, 22, of Winnipeg. Friends have also confirmed McLean was the victim.

RCMP have said only that a stabbing took place around 8:30 p.m. CT on an eastbound Greyhound bus on the Trans-Canada Highway about 20 kilometres west of Portage la Prairie.

‘To take away that life, you’re taking away a little bit of everybody’s life.’
— Teisha Ryley, friend of Tim McLean in VancouverMcLean’s friends in Vancouver told CBC News on Friday that he planned to arrive in the city in mid-August to work again this year at the annual Pacific National Exhibition.

“I worked with him in 2006 at the PNE and last summer at the PNE,” Teisha Ryley said.

The PNE is one of the biggest summer events in B.C. and employs the largest number of youth in the province. The fair runs this year from Aug. 16 to Sept. 1.

Ryley said the horror of what happened still hasn’t sunk in.

Trisa, left, and Teisha Ryley say Tim McLean was always smiling and would get the attention of all the girls. (CBC)
“I didn’t know who it was. I was disgusted to hear that and then this morning to know that it was somebody that I worked with and it was somebody that I was close with, I was really sick to my stomach,” she said.

She said McLean manned the darts and the rollerball game at the PNE last year.

“He was always smiling. He loved little kids and he would always get the attention from, of course, all the girls,” Ryley said.

Another friend McLean met first in Edmonton and then in Vancouver said because McLean was short every one called him “little Timmy.”

On McLean’s MySpace page, under the name JoKAwiLd, he describes himself as five-foot-five, weighing about 125 pounds.

“He wanted to move out here. He kept telling us, ‘Only three more weeks until I get to see you guys,’” said Trisa, who declined to give her last name.

Trisa said she worked with McLean at the Calgary Stampede in July of last year and then at the PNE in Vancouver later in the summer.

“If I was in a bad mood and didn’t get much sleep because we worked long hours, he would just walk up and brighten the mood every day,” Trisa said.

The pair said that when the PNE starts this year his friends will be holding a memorial.

“To take away that life you’re taking away a little bit of everybody’s life,” Ryley said of McLean.

RCMP announced Friday morning that they had charged Vince Weiguang Li, 40, with second-degree murder. Police said he has no previous criminal record.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/08/01/bc-tim-mclean-friends.html

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捷克佳/收到一则来自安省政府的新闻简讯，在黑人历史纪念月期间，省府要员专程去哈密尔顿出席一个纪念匾额的揭幕仪式，内容涉及哈密尔顿的地下铁路。哈密尔顿，黑人，地下铁路，似乎彼此并不关联，查阅史料方知，这所谓的“地下铁路”并非真正的铁路，而是借用相关的交通术语，指在美国南北战争前，南方黑奴经由秘密通道前往北方的秘密通道，期间，其中至少3万黑人逃至加拿大，最大的群体居住在多伦多-温莎-尼亚加拉瀑布所构成的三角区内。这是一段美洲黑人的迁徙史。一则简讯算是为自己补了一段历史课。

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安省政府新闻稿/（安省咸美顿市2月15日讯）为庆祝2008年黑人历史月，昨天上午(2月15日)，安省公民及移民厅厅长陈国治与文化厅长卡萝Aileen Carroll专程到咸美顿市出席纪念匾额揭幕仪式。陈国治表示：“在两百年前的黑奴解放运动中，咸美顿的地下铁路扮演了一个非常重要的角色，它帮助黑人逃脱，展开自由新生活。如今，透过这些无名英雄的历史故事，我们学会要珍惜自由的可贵，进而一起努力，共创美好的安省，让每个人有机会在此发挥他们的潜力。”他同时以在场的前安省省督，现任安省文化遗产信托基金(Ontario Heritage Trust)主席亚历山大Lincoln Alexander为例，赞扬黑人对安省的贡献。

图安省公民及移民厅厅长陈国治为匾额揭幕仪式致词时，(左起)文化厅长卡萝Aileen Carroll、前安省省督亚历山大Lincoln Alexander与司仪Annette Mann专心聆听。

Underground Railroad

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th century Black slaves in the United States to escape to free states (or as far north as Canada) with the aid of abolitionists who were sympathetic to their cause.[1] The term is also applied to the abolitionists who aided the fugitives.[2] Other routes led to Mexico or overseas.[3] The Underground Railroad was at its height between 1810 and 1850.[4] One report estimates that up to 100,000 people escaped enslavement via the Underground Railroad.[2], but census figures only account for 6,000.[5]

Contents

1 Structure
2 Route
2.1 Traveling conditions
2.2 Terminology
3 Folklore
4 Legal and political
5 Arrival in Canada
6 Notable people
7 Notable locations
8 Contemporary literature
9 Related events
10 See also
11 References
12 Further reading
13 External links

Structure

The escape network of The Underground Railroad was not literally subterranean, but rather “underground” in the sense of underground resistance. The network was known as a “railroad” by way of the use of rail terminology in the code. The Underground Railroad consisted of meeting points, secret routes, transportation, and safe houses, and assistance provided by abolitionist sympathizers. Individuals were often organized in small, independent groups, which helped to maintain secrecy since some knew of connecting “stations” along the route but few details of their immediate area. Escaped slaves would move along the route from one way station to the next, steadily making their way north. “Conductors” on the railroad came from various backgrounds and included free-born blacks, white abolitionists, former slaves (either escaped or manumitted), and Native Americans. Churches also often played a role, especially the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Congregationalists, Wesleyans, and Reformed Presbyterians as well as certain sects of mainstream denominations such as branches of the Methodist church and American Baptists.

Route

Many people associated with the Underground Railroad only knew their part of the operation and not of the whole scheme. Though this may seem like an unreliable route for slaves to gain their freedom, hundreds of slaves obtained freedom to the North every year.

The resting spots where the runaways could sleep and eat were given the code names “stations” and “depots” which were held by “station masters”. There were also those known as “stockholders” who gave money or supplies for assistance. There were the “conductors” who ultimately moved the runaways from station to station. The “conductor” would sometimes act as if he or she were a slave and enter a plantation. Once a part of a plantation the “conductor” would direct the fugitives to the North. During the night the slaves would move, traveling on about 10–20 miles (15–30 km) per night. They would stop at the so-called “stations” or “depots” during the day and rest. While resting at one station, a message was sent to the next station to let the station master know the runaways were on their way. Sometimes boats or trains would be used for transportation. Money was donated by many people to help buy tickets and even clothing for the fugitives so they would remain unnoticeable. Soon after the railroad had freed 300 slaves, some of the freed slaves made a store for the railroad.

Some people — most of them, naturally, pro-slavery Southerners — were upset by this whole process. Resulting from many efforts to fix this ostensible problem, a law was passed that allowed slave owners to hire people to catch their runaways and arrest them. The fugitive slave laws became a problem because many legally freed slaves were being arrested as well as the fugitives. This then encouraged more people of the North to become a part of the Underground Railroad. Often, “bounty hunters” would abduct free blacks, and sell them into slavery.

Traveling conditions

Although the fugitives sometimes traveled on real railways, the primary means of transportation were on foot or by wagon.

In addition, routes were often purposely indirect in order to throw off pursuers. Most escapes were by individuals or small groups; occasionally, such as with the Pearl Rescue, there were mass escapes. The majority of the escapees are believed to have been male field workers younger than 40 years old. The journey was often too arduous and treacherous for women or children to complete. Many fugitive bondsmen, however, who escaped via the Railroad and established livelihoods as free men, later purchased their wives, children, and other family members out of slavery. Because of this, the number of former slaves who owed their freedom at least in part to the courage and determination of those who operated the Underground Railroad was greater than the many thousands who actually traveled its secret routes.

Due to the risk of discovery, information about routes and safe havens was passed along by word of mouth. Southern newspapers of the day were often filled with pages of notices soliciting information about escaped slaves and offering sizable rewards for their capture and return. Federal marshals and professional bounty hunters known as slave catchers pursued fugitives as far as the Canadian border.

The risk of capture was not limited solely to actual fugitives. Because strong, healthy blacks in their prime working and reproductive years were highly valuable commodities, it was not unusual for free blacks — both freedmen (former slaves) and those who had lived their entire lives in freedom — to be kidnapped and sold into slavery. “Certificates of freedom” — signed, notarized statements attesting to the free status of individual blacks — could easily be destroyed and thus afforded their owners little protection. Moreover, under the terms of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, when suspected fugitives were seized and brought to a special magistrate known as a commissioner, they had no right to a jury trial and could not testify in their own behalf; the marshal or private slave-catcher only needed to swear an oath to acquire a writ of replevin, for the return of property.

Nevertheless, Congress believed the fugitive slave laws were necessary because of the lack of cooperation by the police, courts, and public outside of the Deep South. States such as Michigan passed laws interfering with the federal bounty system, which politicians from the South felt was grossly inadequate, and this became a key motivation for secession. In some parts of the North slave-catchers needed police protection to carry out their federal authority. Even in states that resisted cooperation with slavery laws, though, blacks were often unwelcome; Indiana passed a constitutional amendment that barred blacks from settling in that state.

Terminology

Members of The Underground Railroad often used specific jargon, based on the metaphor of the railway. For example:

-People who helped slaves find the railroad were “agents” (or “shepherds”)
-Guides were known as “conductors”
-Hiding places were “stations”
-Abolitionists would fix the “tracks”
-”Stationmasters” hid slaves in their homes
-Escaped slaves were referred to as “passengers” or “cargo”
-Slaves would obtain a “ticket”
-Just as in common gospel lore, the “wheels would keep on turning”
-Financial benefactors of the Railroad were known as “stockholders”.

As well, the Big Dipper asterism, whose “bowl” points to the north star, was known as the drinkin’ gourd, and immortalized in a contemporary code tune. The Railroad itself was often known as the “freedom train” or “Gospel train”, which headed towards “Heaven” or “the Promised Land”—Canada.

William Still, often called “The Father of the Underground Railroad”, helped hundreds of slaves to escape (as many as 60 a month), sometimes hiding them in his Philadelphia home. He kept careful records, including short biographies of the people, that contained frequent railway metaphors. He maintained correspondence with many of them, often acting as a middleman in communications between escaped slaves and those left behind. He then published these accounts in the book The Underground Railroad in 1872.

According to Still, messages were often encoded so that messages could only be understood by those active in the railroad. For example, the following message, “I have sent via at two o’clock four large and two small hams”, indicated that four adults and two children were sent by train from Harrisburg to Philadelphia. However, the additional word via indicated that the “passengers” were not sent on the usual train, but rather via Reading, Pennsylvania. In this case, authorities were tricked into going to the regular train station in an attempt to intercept the runaways, while Still was able to meet them at the correct station and guide them to safety, where they eventually escaped to Canada.

Folklore

Main article: Quilts of the Underground Railroad

Since the 1980s, claims have arisen that quilt designs were used to signal and direct slaves to escape routes and assistance. The quilt design theory is disputed. The first published work documenting an oral history source was in 1999 and the first publishing is believed to be a 1980 children’s book[6], so it is difficult to evaluate the veracity of these claims, which are not accepted by quilt historians.[citation needed] There is no contemporary evidence of any sort of quilt code, and quilt historians such as Pat Cummings and Barbara Brackman have raised serious questions about the idea. In addition, Underground Railroad historian Giles Wright has published a pamphlet debunking the quilt code.[citation needed]

Many accounts also mention spirituals and other songs that contained coded information intended to help navigate the railroad.[citation needed] Songs such as “Steal Away” and other field songs were often passed down purely orally, and others, like “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” were published after the days of the Railroad.[6] Tracing their origins and meanings is difficult.[citation needed] In any case, many African-American songs of the period deal with themes of freedom and escape, and distinguishing coded information from expression and sentiment may not be possible.

Legal and political

When frictions between North and South culminated in the American Civil War, many blacks, slave and free, fought with the Union Army. Following passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, in some cases the Underground Railroad operated in reverse as fugitives returned to the United States.

Arrival in Canada

Estimates vary widely, but at least 30,000 slaves, some saying more than 100,000, escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad.[7] The largest group settled in Upper Canada (called Canada West from 1841, and today southern Ontario), where numerous African Canadian communities developed. These were generally in the triangular region bounded by Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Windsor. Nearly 1,000 refugees settled in Toronto, and several rural villages made up mostly of ex-slaves were established in Chatham-Kent and Essex County.

Important black settlements also developed in more distant British colonies (now parts of Canada). These included Nova Scotia, Lower Canada (present-day Quebec), as well as Vancouver Island, where Governor James Douglas encouraged black immigration because of his opposition to slavery and because he hoped a significant black community would form a bulwark against those who wished to unite the island with the United States.

Upon arriving at their destinations, many fugitives were disappointed. While the British colonies had no slavery, discrimination was still common. Many of the new arrivals had great difficulty finding jobs, in part because of mass European immigration at the time, and overt racism was common.

With the outbreak of the Civil War in the United States, many black refugees enlisted in the Union Army and, while some later returned to Canada, many remained in the United States. Thousands of others returned to the American South after the war ended. The desire to reconnect with friends and family was strong, and most were hopeful about the changes emancipation and Reconstruction would bring.

Notable people

Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott
John Brown
Levi Coffin
Calvin Fairbank
Thomas Garrett
William Lloyd Garrison
Josiah Bushnell Grinnell
Josiah Henson
James Butler (”Wild Bill”) Hickok
Isaac Hopper
John Parker
John Wesley Posey
Samuel Seawell
William Still
Harriet Tubman - made 19 trips back to the South and helped free over 300 people
Charles Augustus Wheaton
Frederick Douglass
Sojourner Truth

Notable locations

Bialystoker Synagogue
Boston, Massachusetts
Buffalo, New York
Burkle Estate, Tennessee
Burlington, Wisconsin
Chatham-Kent, Ontario
Chicago, Illinois
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cyrus Gates Farmstead
Detroit, Michigan
Dresden, Ontario
Elmira, NY
Farmington, Connecticut
Jacksonville, Illinois
Lawnside, New Jersey
Lewis, Iowa
Mayhew Cabin
Milton, Wisconsin
Nebraska City, Nebraska
Oberlin, Ohio
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ripley, Ohio
Salem, Ohio
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandy Ground - Staten Island, New York
St. Catharines, Onatrio
Westfield, Indiana
Wilmington, Delaware
Windsor, Ontario

Contemporary literature

1829 Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World by David Walker (a call for resistance to slavery in Georgia)
1832 The Planter’s Northern Bride by Caroline Lee Hentz
1852 Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Related events

1776 – Declaration of Independence
1820 – Missouri Compromise
1850 – Compromise of 1850
1850 – Fugitive Slave Act
1854 – Kansas-Nebraska Act
1857 – Dred Scott Decision
1858 – Oberlin-Wellington Rescue
1860 – Abraham Lincoln of Illinois elected the first Republican U.S. President
1861 through 1865 – American Civil War
1863 – Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln
1865 – Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

…………

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_railroad

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People & Events
The Underground Railroad
c.1780 - 1862

The Underground Railroad, a vast network of people who helped fugitive slaves escape to the North and to Canada, was not run by any single organization or person. Rather, it consisted of many individuals — many whites but predominently black — who knew only of the local efforts to aid fugitives and not of the overall operation. Still, it effectively moved hundreds of slaves northward each year — according to one estimate, the South lost 100,000 slaves between 1810 and 1850.

An organized system to assist runaway slaves seems to have begun towards the end of the 18th century. In 1786 George Washington complained about how one of his runaway slaves was helped by a “society of Quakers, formed for such purposes.” The system grew, and around 1831 it was dubbed “The Underground Railroad,” after the then emerging steam railroads. The system even used terms used in railroading: the homes and businesses where fugitives would rest and eat were called “stations” and “depots” and were run by “stationmasters,” those who contributed money or goods were “stockholders,” and the “conductor” was responsible for moving fugitives from one station to the next.

For the slave, running away to the North was anything but easy. The first step was to escape from the slaveholder. For many slaves, this meant relying on his or her own resources. Sometimes a “conductor,” posing as a slave, would enter a plantation and then guide the runaways northward. The fugitives would move at night. They would generally travel between 10 and 20 miles to the next station, where they would rest and eat, hiding in barns and other out-of-the-way places. While they waited, a message would be sent to the next station to alert its stationmaster.

The fugitives would also travel by train and boat — conveyances that sometimes had to be paid for. Money was also needed to improve the appearance of the runaways — a black man, woman, or child in tattered clothes would invariably attract suspicious eyes. This money was donated by individuals and also raised by various groups, including vigilance committees.

Vigilance committees sprang up in the larger towns and cities of the North, most prominently in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. In addition to soliciting money, the organizations provided food, lodging and money, and helped the fugitives settle into a community by helping them find jobs and providing letters of recommendation.

The Underground Railroad had many notable participants, including John Fairfield in Ohio, the son of a slaveholding family, who made many daring rescues, Levi Coffin, a Quaker who assisted more than 3,000 slaves, and Harriet Tubman, who made 19 trips into the South and escorted over 300 slaves to freedom.

Related Entries:
? Levi Coffin’s Underground Railroad station
? Fugitives Arriving at Indiana Farm
? Harriet Tubman

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html

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Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was the name given to the system by which escaped slaves from the South were helped in their flight to the North. It is believed that the system started in 1787 when Isaac T. Hopper, a Quaker, began to organize a system for hiding and aiding fugitive slaves. Opponents of slavery allowed their homes, called stations, to be used as places where escaped slaves were provided with food, shelter and money. The various routes went through 14 Northern states and Canada. It is estimated that by 1850 around 3,000 people worked on the underground railroad. Some of the most best known of the people who provided help on the route included William Still, Gerrit Smith, Salmon Chase, David Ruggle, Thomas Garrett, William Purvis, Jane Grey Swisshelm, William Wells Brown, Frederick Douglass, Henry David Thoreau, Lucretia Mott, Charles Langston, Levi Coffin and Susan B. Anthony.

The underground railroad also had people known as conductors who went to the south and helped guide slaves to safety. One of the most important of these was the former slave, Harriet Tubman. She made 19 secret trips to the South, during which she led more than 300 slaves to freedom. Tubman was considered such a threat to the slave system that plantation owners offered a $40,000 reward for her capture.

Stations were usually about twenty miles apart. Conductors used covered wagons or carts with false bottoms to carry slaves from one station to another. Runaway slaves usually hid during the day and travelled at night. Some of those involved notified runaways of their stations by brightly lit candles in a window or by lanterns positioned in the frontyard. By the middle of the 19th century it was estimated that over 50,000 slaves had escaped from the South using the underground railroad.

Plantation owners became concerned at the large number of slaves escaping to the North and in 1850 managed to persuade Congress to pass the Fugitive Slave Act. In future, any federal marshal who did not arrest an alleged runaway slave could be fined $1,000. Any person aiding a runaway slave by providing shelter, food or any other form of assistance was liable to six months’ imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.

The Fugitive Slave Act failed to stop the underground railroad. Thomas Garrett, the Deleware station-master, paid more than $8,000 in fines and Calvin Fairbank served over seventeen years in prison for his anti-slavery activities. Whereas John Fairfield, one of the best known of the white conductors, was killed working for the underground railroad.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASunderground.htm

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Underground Railroad–The Journey

You are a slave.

Your body, your time, your very breath belong to a farmer in 1850s Maryland. Six long days a week you tend his fields and make him rich. You have never tasted freedom. You never expect to.

And yet . . . your soul lights up when you hear whispers of attempted escape. Freedom means a hard, dangerous trek. Do you try it?

“Moses” is coming! You’ve heard the stories about her. She is Harriet Tubman, a former slave who ran away from a nearby plantation in 1849 but returns to rescue others. Guided by her “visions,” she has never lost a passenger. Even if Moses can’t fit you into her next group, she’ll tell you how to follow the North Star to freedom in Canada.

Every step seems louder. Twigs snap, leaves crackle. But you walk on, till you see a group of friendly faces. You join them shyly and meet “General Tubman” herself. She tells you how to sneak across the bridge over the Choptank River and where to find friends in a place called Delaware.

Your head says go, your feet say no. Harriet Tubman told you that a lantern on a hitching post means a safe house. But can you really knock on a white family’s door and trust them to help you?

A warm welcome and hot food—that’s what you find inside the house. Guided by their conscience, the owners break the law by helping runaways. Yet terror still haunts you. As you fall asleep you hear bloodhounds not far away. They are looking for fugitives, looking for you. Freedom is still a long way off.

You’ve never seen a city like Wilmington—the people, the streets, the houses, the noise! Now you know the plantation really is hundreds of miles away. Your host, a Quaker businessman named Thomas Garrett, smiles gently and promises you’ll see much bigger cities before you reach Canada.

A good friend of Tubman’s, Garrett has worked on The Underground Railroad for almost 40 years. A few years ago he was arrested and fined $5,400. It didn’t stop him for a minute.

You’ve never met a man like this—not a black man, anyway. Born free, William Still is a successful, confident merchant and a leader in the fight against slavery. He can read and write—skills denied you—and takes careful notes about your journey. Watching your deep, joyous breaths of the free air of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he cautions you not to get giddy. You’ve reached a free state, it’s true, but United States law still sees you as your master’s property, and bounty hunters are everywhere. He helps you get ready for another long stretch of travel.

Weeks of trudging, including a grueling passage of almost 250 miles (402 kilometers) through the Appalachian Mountains, have brought you to Rochester. Perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of fugitive Frederick Douglass, the fiery orator who publishes the North Star, an abolitionist paper. You meet with another noted citizen, activist Susan B. Anthony. She and her antislavery friends give you warm clothing for the hard Canadian climate and make sure you’re taken safely to Lake Erie.

Across Lake Erie lies Canada—and freedom. A few weeks earlier you might have coaxed an easy ride from a sympathetic ferry captain. But as winter takes hold, chunks of ice have begun to form. You might find someone to row you across, or you could try leaping from one ice floe to another. Either way, you’ll be freezing cold. Yet staying exposes you—and your helpers—to slave hunters. Do you try going across?

You made it! It took courage, luck, help, and incredible stamina. Here in Canada, you can finally breathe free. Not only won’t the government return you to slavery in the United States, but you can vote and even own land. No wonder thousands have already run away to settle here. You still face challenges: finding a home, making a living, adjusting to a new place. But you face them in freedom.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/j1.html

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Time Line

1501—African Slaves in the New World
Spanish settlers bring slaves from Africa to Santo Domingo (now the capital of the Dominican Republic).

1522—Slave Revolt: the Caribbean
Slaves rebel on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which now comprises Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

1562—Britain Joins Slave Trade
John Hawkins, the first Briton to take part in the slave trade, makes a huge profit hauling human cargo from Africa to Hispaniola.

1581—Slaves in Florida
Spanish residents in St. Augustine, the first permanent settlement in Florida, import African slaves.

1619—Slaves in Virginia
Africans brought to Jamestown are the first slaves imported into Britain’s North American colonies. Like indentured servants, they were probably freed after a fixed period of service.

1662—Hereditary Slavery
Virginia law decrees that children of black mothers “shall be bond or free according to the condition of the mother.”

1705—Slaves as Property
Describing slaves as real estate, Virginia lawmakers allow owners to bequeath their slaves. The same law allowed masters to “kill and destroy” runaways.

1712—Slave Revolt: New York
Slaves in New York City kill whites during an uprising, later squelched by the militia. Nineteen rebels are executed.

1739—Slave Revolt: South Carolina
Crying “Liberty!” some 75 slaves in South Carolina steal weapons and flee toward freedom in Florida (then under Spanish rule). Crushed by the South Carolina militia, the revolt results in the deaths of 40 blacks and 20 whites.

1775—American Revolution Begins
Battles at the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord on April 19 spark the war for American independence from Britain.

1775—Abolitionist Society
Anthony Benezet of Philadelphia founds the world’s first abolitionist society. Benjamin Franklin becomes its president in 1787.

1776—Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress asserts “that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States”.

1783—American Revolution Ends
Britain and the infant United States sign the Peace of Paris treaty.

1784—Abolition Effort
Congress narrowly defeats Thomas Jefferson’s proposal to ban slavery in new territories after 1800.

1790—First United States Census
Nearly 700,000 slaves live and toil in a nation of 3.9 million people.

1793—Fugitive Slave Act
The United States outlaws any efforts to impede the capture of runaway slaves.

1794—Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney patents his device for pulling seeds from cotton. The invention turns cotton into the cash crop of the American South—and creates a huge demand for slave labor.

1808—United States Bans Slave Trade
Importing African slaves is outlawed, but smuggling continues.

1820—Missouri Compromise
Missouri is admitted to the Union as a slave state, Maine as a free state. Slavery is forbidden in any subsequent territories north of latitude 36°30?.

1822—Slave Revolt: South Carolina
Freed slave Denmark Vesey attempts a rebellion in Charleston. Thirty-five participants in the ill-fated uprising are hanged.

1831—Slave Revolt: Virginia
Slave preacher Nat Turner leads a two-day uprising against whites, killing about 60. Militiamen crush the revolt then spend two months searching for Turner, who is eventually caught and hanged. Enraged Southerners impose harsher restrictions on their slaves.

1835—Censorship
Southern states expel abolitionists and forbid the mailing of antislavery propaganda.

1846-48—Mexican-American War
Defeated, Mexico yields an enormous amount of territory to the United States. Americans then wrestle with a controversial topic: Is slavery permitted in the new lands?

1847—Frederick Douglass’s Newspaper
Escaped slave Frederick Douglass begins publishing the North Star in Rochester, New York.

1849—Harriet Tubman Escapes
After fleeing slavery, Tubman returns south at least 15 times to help rescue several hundred others.

1850—Compromise of 1850
In exchange for California’s entering the Union as a free state, northern congressmen accept a harsher Fugitive Slave Act.

1852—Uncle Tom’s Cabin Published
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel about the horrors of slavery sells 300,000 copies within a year of publication.

1854—Kansas-Nebraska Act
Setting aside the Missouri Compromise of 1820, Congress allows these two new territories to choose whether to allow slavery. Violent clashes erupt.

1857—Dred Scott Decision
The United States Supreme Court decides, seven to two, that blacks can never be citizens and that Congress has no authority to outlaw slavery in any territory.

1860—Abraham Lincoln Elected
Abraham Lincoln of Illinois becomes the first Republican to win the United States Presidency.

1860—Southern Secession
South Carolina secedes in December. More states follow the next year.

1861-65—United States Civil War
Four years of brutal conflict claim 623,000 lives.

1863—Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln decrees that all slaves in Rebel territory are free on January 1, 1863.

1865—Slavery Abolished
The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution outlaws slavery.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/tl.html

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William Still

William Still, one of seventeen children, was born in Burlington County in 1821. His father escaped to New Jersey and was later followed by his wife and children.

Still left New Jersey for Philadelphia in 1844. Three years later he was appointed secretary of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society. Still was the first black man to join the society and was able to provide first-hand experience of what it was like to be a slave.

Still, who established a profitable coal business in Philadelphia, used his house as one of the stations on the Underground Railroad. Still interviewed the fugitives and kept careful records of each so that family and friends might locate them. According to his records, Still helped 649 slaves receive their freedom.

After John Brown and his insurrection at Harper’s Ferry failed in 1859 Still sheltered some of his men and helped them escape capture.

At this time Still began his campaign to end racial discrimination on Philadelphia streetcars. He wrote an account of this campaign in Struggle for the Civil Rights of the Coloured People of Philadelphia in the City Railway Cars (1867). He followed this with The Underground Railroad (1872) and Voting and Laboring (1874).

Still established an orphanage for the children of African-American soldiers and sailors. Other charitable work included the founding of a Mission Sabbath School and working with the Young Men’s Christian Association. William Still died in Philadelphia on 14th July, 1902.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASstill.htm

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哈丽雅特·塔布曼 (Harriet Tubman)
“地下铁道”领导人

(生于1820年左右；卒于1913年3月10日)

哈丽雅特·塔布曼(左一)在南北战争爆发前担任”地下铁道”侦察员，以其超群的才智帮助300名奴隶获得自由。(Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

保罗·柯林斯的绘画作品，描绘哈丽雅特·塔布曼的”地下铁道”。(Frederik Meijer赠品，藏于Grand Rapids公共博物馆)

哈丽雅特·塔布曼出生在马里兰州多切斯特郡的一个奴隶家庭。这位非凡的非洲裔女性勇敢地逃往宾夕法尼亚州费城的一个安全之地，使自己摆脱了奴役。1850年颁布的《逃亡奴隶法》(Fugitive Slave Act)将帮助逃亡奴隶的行为定为非法，促使塔布曼决定参加由帮助奴隶获得自由的人建立的被称为”地下铁道”(Underground Railroad)的网络。

所谓的”地下铁道”既不在地下，也不是铁道，而是由废奴主义者和过去的奴隶用一系列房屋、地道和道路精心筑成的秘密通道，帮助奴隶逃离他们备受压迫的南方。哈丽雅特对这些通道了如指掌，她从未被抓到过，并总是成功地把她的”乘客”送往安全之地。

在南北战争前她成功地护送300名奴隶通过”地下铁道”走向自由。塔布曼曾先后19次冒险前往实施奴隶制的地区。其中一次，她救出了自己70岁的年迈父母，把他们送往纽约州的奥本。于是，奥本也成了她的家。1860年，她开始频繁地前往各地发表演说，不仅呼吁废除奴隶制，而且要求重新确定妇女的权利。

1861年南北战争爆发后，她为联邦政府的军队当过护士、密探和侦察员。由于她在”地下铁道”担任”列车员”的多年经历，她对乡村地区特别熟悉，因此被视作一名具有非凡价值的侦察员。

由于政府办事效率低下，也许还因为种族歧视的残留，塔布曼在战争结束后未能获得政府的养老金，因此在很多年中，她在经济上十分拮据。她努力推动妇女和黑人地位的提高，要求为孤儿和穷困的老人提供栖身之地。她最终从美国陆军获得了一笔数额很小的养老金，1908年，她将自己的大部份养老金用于建造一座木房子，收容奥本地区的老人和穷人。她在这个收容所里服务，她本人于1913年去世前的最后几年里也在这个收容所里得到照顾。

http://usinfo.state.gov/mgck/home/products/publications/womeninfln/tubman.htm

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AMERICAN MOSAIC - National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
By Jerilyn Watson, Nancy Steinbach and Caty Weaver

Broadcast: August 20, 2004
(MUSIC)
HOST:

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC, in VOA Special English.

(MUSIC)

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

HOST:

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
(Picture - Cincyusa.com)
The new National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio officially opens on August twenty-third. The name sounds as if it tells about a real railroad. But the underground railroad was a secret organization. It helped African American slaves escape their owners during the eighteen hundreds. The slaves and the people who helped them flee formed the underground railroad system.Shep O’Neal has more.

ANNCR:

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a special museum. The Freedom Center is on the north side of the Ohio River. That is part of an area that meant hope for slaves trying to escape. It was called the “freedom corridor.” People fleeing their owners could stand on the other side of the river and dream of freedom across the water.

The Freedom Center cost one hundred ten million dollars to build. Its collection shows two hundred objects. These include a copy of a wagon with a false bottom that was used to hide fleeing slaves. There are also photographs of Americans who were activists against slavery.

Visitors can also see objects from the Civil War. The southern states fought the northern states from eighteen sixty-one to eighteen sixty-five. In eighteen sixty-three, President Abraham Lincoln announced an order to free the slaves.

Perhaps the center’s most interesting object is a small building where slaves were kept. This wooden “pen” stands two levels high. A slave trader built it in the eighteen thirties. People captured in Africa were temporarily forced to stay inside the pen. Then they were sold for service in places further south. The slave pen was found on a farm in the state of Kentucky. The owner of the farm gave it to the Freedom Center. Experts spent six years researching the history of the building.

Television star Oprah Winfrey introduces one of the films shown at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Actors tell about a young woman who escapes slavery. She flees to a town called Ripley, Ohio. Her former owners try to recapture her. But a family active in the Underground Railroad helps her remain free.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will offer a number of educational programs.

They include public speakers. Also, the center will provide programs for visiting school groups and information for students through an Internet Web site. It is www.freedomcenter.org.

(MUSIC)

HOST:

This is Doug Johnson.

I hope you enjoyed AMERICAN MOSAIC. Join us again next week for VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.

This program was written by Nancy Steinbach, Jerilyn Watson and Caty Weaver. Paul Thompson was the producer.

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Underground Railroad的故事

作者: 老七 注册 | 06/28/2006, 16:02:21 | 作者档案 | 修改 | 回复 | 枫华茶园首页

南安省大名鼎鼎的所谓的“地下铁路”，原本却不是甚么铁路。

这是十九世纪中期、美国南北战争前的事。

进入国家地理网站的“Underground Railroad”一页，你能看到这么几行字：

“你是个奴隶。

你的身体，你的时间，你自己的呼吸，统统属于一个十九世纪五十年代的马里兰农场主。一个个漫长的日子里，你一直在耕作他的土地，使他富足。你从没尝到过自由的味道，你甚至从没期待过自由。

正当此时，你的耳边响起了一声悄语，你的心底闪过了一丝光亮：

－－逃出去。

自由，意味着艰苦而又凶险的跋涉。你要试试吗？”

点击“ＹＥＳ”，你就可以在你的屏幕上体验一下那个一百多年前的“underground railroad”。

这条地下铁路的终点，是南安省的一个小镇，叫Chatham。

在镇子的南面，有一片九千英亩大小的移民点，叫Buxton。现在它是加拿大的国立博物馆。一八四九年，一个名字叫威廉·金的加拿大牧师，带着他刚刚从故去的岳父那里继承的十五名奴隶来到这里。金牧师在这里建了学校和教堂，过去的黑奴们可以耕种自己的土地，可以上学，可以结婚，甚至可以投票选举。他们的后代再不是奴隶。

金牧师的奴隶们，还有在他们前后逃到南安省的黑奴，便是最早的一批非裔加拿大人。

当年在美国，帮助奴隶逃跑是犯法的。即便是在没有奴隶的北方州如宾夕法尼亚，奴隶主们、还有那些专门追猎逃奴的人，照样可以把逃亡奴隶抓回去。

而在当时的英属北美－－加拿大，奴隶制是不被承认的。但这并不意味着威廉牧师和他的同伙们能够成为加拿大的英雄。

随着逃亡到Buxton的黑人陆续到来，周围的白人开始愤怒了。他们状告金牧师，企图限制定居点的开发。不单如此，到后来，就连金牧师的生命都受到了威胁。

可是金牧师的作为也得到了很多加拿大人的支持。加拿大独立的功臣之一、《环球邮报》的老板乔治·布朗（George Brown）就是其中之一。

被绞死的美国黑人造反首领，堪萨斯州的约翰·布朗（他本人是白人），当年也曾把Chatham作为大本营。

一条underground railroad，其中故事多多。要是哪位对加拿大历史有兴趣，不妨读读。

加拿大历史不长，却也波澜壮阔，值得一读。

几句题外话。常听人讲中国文化如何不好讲国人因为受了不好的文化熏陶而如何不好，还有西方文化如何优越接触了以后才知道昨非今是。老七倒是觉得，这话还是留着，等自己把中国和西方过去的故事稍稍弄清楚点，再说不迟。

其实人这东西，本质是极相近的。

文明这个东西很复杂微妙, 人们一般是受所在地的主流意识左右，不太容易保持

作者: 江毅 注册 | 06/30/2006, 11:13:03 | 作者档案 | 修改 | 回复 | 线索的首篇 枫华茶园首页

独立思维。比如这边媒体骂中国的多一点，有些人就以为中国就真是一片黑暗。

其实正如楼上所述奴隶史事实所反映，世上事物从来就不是单一性的。

比如，被人们顶礼膜拜的人权自由至上的西方民主制度历史上曾长期和种族主义、殖民主义、贩卖黑奴和谐并存。中国政府把中国从历史上的深谷点硬是生生拖回升势强势、举世瞩目地解决了十几亿人的生存权和发展权、经济发展速度引领世界，但其历史上及现时也存在很多错误和局限性。

顺便提一下，关于中西文明:

我注意到西方社会更多（片面地）强调单个人，反之，中土传统文明有较多地方强调个人对家庭、社会的责任。

西方的人权理论未做个人人权和集体人权的明确区分表述，又在相当程度上忽略了集体人权的全面性。

另外，就人群生活状态而言，西方文明中离散性大，中土则人之间联系紧密得多。

修改人： 江毅 于星期五, 6月 30, 2006, 11:21:39

所谓现代文明，原本是由一些不很文明的人、用一些很不文明的方式传播的

作者: 老七 注册 | 06/30/2006, 12:32:52 | 作者档案 | 修改 | 回复 | 线索的首篇 枫华茶园首页

古代也差不多。大汉的征服，也曾是极具掠夺性的。大兵所到之处，如不称臣进贡，就当斩尽杀绝。

原在北美的印地安文化，通常被称为是原始文明。其实这也是一种文化歧视。美国民主的祖宗，还是莫哈克部落的印地安人呢！

当然，国际通行的标准是，有钱的文化便是先进的，不管他的味道是血腥、是铜臭、还是罂粟花香。

作为一个现代人，你必须接受这个标准。在这一点上，个体的自由是很有限的。

说起土著文化，民族文化，文化歧视文化侵略，还有加拿大的多元文化，又是个大话题。

修改人： 老七 于星期五, 6月 30, 2006, 12:36:07

幼河兄好

作者: 老七 注册 | 06/28/2006, 21:40:27 | 作者档案 | 修改 | 回复 | 线索的首篇 枫华茶园首页

不是休假，回来了。

见闻倒是没什么好写的，待有空闲，该把加拿大的故事接着写下去－－就是司令说的那什么“史学幻觉症”。可惜，总静不下来。另外，真要动笔的时候，才知道原来那些道听途说太粗，还有很多细节得去搞清楚。

上次开了头的那个，一七五九年，英国军队在魁北克打败法－加联军的故事，真的挺值得讲的。其实在中国也是，每次的改朝换代，都是惊天动地，比如秦末的项羽，让人唱了多少代。

再有，什么是加拿大的历史？一八六七年前，怕只有魁北克城这一段，是英、法、土著们都拿它当个历史大事的，虽说各自的感觉不一样。

其实加拿大再往后的事情，也常常是如此的不明不白众说纷纭。比如咱们挺当回事的铁路华工，洋人们就不那么在乎。还有Riel造反的事，一次大战的参战，六十年代魁北克的宁静革命，等等等等，不同族裔的看法可能完全不同，不同利益集团的解释也可能是南辕北辙。再比如，白求恩，好像也就是这些年中国人把他的名声抬起来了。

也许这就是加拿大特色吧？借其独特的历史来理解美、加之间的区别，好像更容易些。

还是那句话，别管是甚么颜色，人的本性，无论作为个体还是作为群体，其实相差不多。都会追求所谓的义，也都顾及所谓的利。套咱们孔圣人的标准，都“君子”过，也都“小人”过（子曰：君子喻于义，小人喻于利）。

不妨把历史当个故事来听听，还得多听几个版本。听过之后，也许能对别人更宽容些，也对自己更宽容些－－我觉得这才是要紧的，起码闹个活得自在。所谓愤青也好，汉奸也好，其实都挺正义，就是有点太对不起自己了

扯远啦！赶哪天都有空，从头聊。

http://www2.fhy.net/cgi-bin/anyboard.cgi/BBS/?cmd=get&cG=43331343&zu=34333134&v=2&gV=0&p=

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疑夜钓渔获供应华埠餐馆

星报安省韦斯特波特电/一再发生亚裔钓友遇袭事件的韦斯特波特镇(Westport)的居民表示，问题与种族主义无关，只是涉及护鱼，且有居民认为，这些整夜的钓鱼活动是牟利性质，怀疑渔获是供应多伦多唐人街餐馆之用，但政府有关部门执法主管表示，未有发现商业活动的证据。

对于亚裔钓友在这个位于京士顿以北的小镇地区遇袭，被人推下水中及持斧头威吓的事件，当地的居民有另一套的说法。这个镇对亚裔钓友明显有怒意，但与种族无关。

居民指称，不少不只一次深夜前来钓花鰂及石鲈的大多伦多地区的亚裔人士，曾经被发现在当地的保护区盗钓贵价的鲈鱼及碧古。

当地一个鱼类保护组织的成员钟斯(Charlie Jones)表示，这完全不涉及种族主义，只是要为鱼提供保护。

他说：“在过去五年，这些人一再被发现渔获超额或在保护区取鱼。”

钟斯抱怨天然资源厅执法松懈，以致造成有关的问题。钟斯说，人们通知该部门，但对方没有采取行动，该部门没有人手来巡查。镇内Coldwater Banker的代理人克利普咸(Peter Clipsham)更认为这些违法的钓鱼活动涉及牟利。

货车出没加深怀疑

有传言称，装有打氧气的水箱的货车在当地出没，而这些传闻令到一些人加深怀疑，这些整夜钓鱼活动是为多伦多唐人街餐馆供货。

花鰂及石鲈普遍被钓鱼界视为次级的品种，但却是亚裔社区的美食。

无违法及商业钓鱼证据

天然资源厅当地的执法主管奥拜里(Steve Aubry)则表示，没有违法及商业钓鱼的证据。他表示，该部门的人员知道并且正留意韦斯特波特的情况，但发现人们基本上遵守渔获的限制。

他说：“我们只发现非常之少的非法活动，而且现阶段肯定没有任何事情显示有商业化的情况。”

该部门设有24小时的热线供市民举报非法活动，但没有紧急的回应制度。这可能是令到居民感到失望的原因。

居民表示，现时镇内气氛一触即发，任何亚裔人士晚上被发现拿着鱼竿都可能会引来愤怒。上月的两宗钓友遇袭的事件已令到亚裔社区震惊。

一批华人已于星期日在当地派发传单，并且悬红1,000元，以能令缉拿行凶者。

袭击事件拘控两男

另方面，警方亦正调查最近数个月来在闪高湖(Lake Simcoe)所发生的一些类似事件。安省省警周三表示，星期日凌晨2时左右，两名来自大多伦多地区的亚裔男子在科保康克(Coboconk)的加尔河(Gull River)钓鱼时遇到袭击，事后已拘捕了小不列颠(Little Britain)的两名男居民，分别是57岁的华达马连素(Walter Marinzel)，被控以伤人及出言恐吓的罪名，以及19岁的马修马连素(Matthew Marinzel)，被控之假冒治安官员的罪名。

Angler attacks: Racism or poaching?

But town residents say poaching has sparked anger, vicious attacks against Asian Canadians

Oct 04, 2007 04:30 AM
Dale Brazao
STAFF REPORTER

Westport, Ont.–To hear the anglers tell it, they have been attacked, thrown off a bridge into the water, and threatened with baseball bats and axes by angry residents.

The unCanadian behaviour, these Asian Canadian anglers say, is just because of the way they look.

But residents of this idyllic hamlet on the shore of Big Rideau Lake, 45 minutes north of Kingston, tell a different story. Yes, there is palpable anger in town toward the “Asian” anglers, but it has nothing to do with race.

Residents claim some of the many GTA anglers of Asian descent, who make repeated late-night pilgrimages to harvest crappies and rock bass, have also been caught poaching prized bass and walleye from local sanctuaries.

“This has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with protecting the fish,” says Charlie Jones, a member of a fish conservation group. “These people have been caught time and time again over the last five years either over-fishing or taking fish from the sanctuary.”

Jones, who also manages the local grocery store, blames the Natural Resources ministry’s lax enforcement of fishing regulations for the problem.

“People call the MNR constantly, but they don’t do anything. They don’t have the staff to police this.”

Residents with lakeside properties have also complained of finding garbage, including human feces and toilet paper, on their lawns or behind their garages.

“That’s all over the place and that is absolutely not right,” said Peter Clipsham, a broker with Coldwater Banker in town, who is convinced much of the illicit fishing is being carried out for profit.

Rumours of aerated tank trucks trolling the countryside have added fuel to the speculation that many of these fishing trips are supplying Toronto’s Chinatown restaurants.

Crappies and rock bass, considered substandard species by many sport fishermen, are a delicacy in the Asian community. And in July and August crappies are apparently voracious eaters at night.

There is no evidence of illegal commercial fishing, said Steve Aubry, the MNR’s supervisor of enforcement for the area. He said his officers are aware and are monitoring the situation in Westport.

The ministry has a 24-hour hotline for tips on illegal activity, but it does not have an emergency response system and that may be what is frustrating residents.

Residents say the atmosphere in Westport is so charged that any Asian person seen with a fishing pole at night is liable to attract heat.

Two mob attacks on anglers fishing on area bridges in the past month have shaken the Asian Canadian community.

On the night of Sept. 14, a 73-year-old Scarborough resident was beaten unconscious and his son-in-law thrown off a bridge 3 metres into the water after being attacked by men who emerged from a van.

This information is posted on telephone poles on the Sand Lake bridge in Westport by an Asian Canadian group calling itself “better Canada2007.” It’s offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the attackers.

Last weekend, a gang of young men brandishing baseball bats and axes chased a group of Toronto fishermen off another area bridge.

Neither incident is believed to have happened on sanctuary waters, which are clearly marked.

http://www.thestar.com/article/263545

Georgina `embarrassed’ by attacks

Mayor apologizes for assaults on Asian Canadian anglers, anti-Semitic and homophobic vandalism

Oct 03, 2007 04:30 AM
Peter Edwards
Staff reporter

The mayor of Georgina has denounced recent attacks on Asian Canadian fishermen, as well as anti-Semitic and homophobic vandalism, and has apologized on behalf of his community.

“The people that I have the privilege of representing are shamed and embarrassed that this would have happened in our community,” Robert Grossi said yesterday after meeting with leaders of B’nai Brith Canada and the Chinese Canadian National Council.

Grossi’s comments came after swastikas and anti-Semitic and homophobic slurs were painted on nine vehicles in Keswick, while York Region police investigate a series of attacks on Asian Canadian anglers at Lake Simcoe.

“From what we’ve heard so far, they’re isolated incidents,” said the mayor of the lakeshore community of 40,000 north of Toronto.

Grossi was praised for meeting with local faith groups and educators about the attacks.

“We see leadership from the mayor on this,” said Victor Wong, executive director of the Chinese Canadian National Council. “We’re quite appreciative of it.”

Grossi noted that police are investigating the attacks, and have stepped up patrols around the lake.

“York Regional Police have been very responsive, very respectful.”

Immediately after reports of the incidents last week, Grossi’s office issued a public statement saying that “broad-stroke painting of our community as a place that is unwelcoming to some groups or nationalities is unjustified.”

Yesterday, he said he still considers his community to be tolerant.

“We are a very welcoming community,” Grossi said.

In one of the recent incidents, a man was left in a coma after a violent confrontation between anglers and community members.

In other recent incidents, a man and a boy were pushed into the water while fishing.

Two related cases are before the courts, including one involving a high-speed chase that began when youths approached anglers fishing off a pier, and demanded to see their fishing licences.

The youths began shouting racial slurs and then chased the anglers as they fled, ramming their car from behind with a pickup truck.

Meanwhile, in the town of Westport on Big Rideau Lake, police are investigating at least two incidents in which locals have allegedly attacked Asian-Canadian anglers in the past two months.

In one incident, a man who was fishing with his 73-year-old father-in-law on a bridge at midnight was beaten up and thrown off the bridge by a group of young men.

In another incident, men wielding baseball bats and an axe forced some Asian-Canadians to give up their fishing spot on a local bridge.

In both cases, the victims were said to be from Toronto.

Residents of this hamlet say while they are fed up with people poaching fish from local reservoirs, they deny the incidents have anything to do with racism.

“People are really angry and I’m afraid sooner or later someone is going to get seriously hurt,” said Charlie Jones, who heads a local group of conservationists.

http://www.thestar.com/article/263048

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Animosity growing toward those who fish

Oct 02, 2007 04:30 AM

——————————————————————————–
Fishing trip to Westport turns violent

Sept. 30
——————————————————————————–

I live in the Westport area and am aware of the issue described in this article. The problem is that a lot of information is excluded.

There is animosity toward individuals who are fishing at night in our area. These people usually fish all night, are not concerned about how they fish, what kind of fish they catch or how many. They usually have large coolers filled with water with them, which they use as live wells for the transportation of fish back home. A lot of these people are working catching fish for companies based in Toronto and Montreal and they are selling the fish in those cities.

In the case noted in your article, the individual involved was fishing in a well-posted fish sanctuary that is a source of pride to the people of Westport. People have been caught fishing there before and some have been heavily fined by MNR bylaw officers.

Some of the landowners are very upset by the situation because the fishermen come in the middle of the night and fish in private or illegal areas. I don’t condone violence but you can see how the type of animosity toward these fishermen could have happened.

——————————————————————————–
Peter Clipsham, Westport, Ont.

http://www.thestar.com/article/262428

Fishing trip to Westport turns violent

Chinese anglers say they were threatened by axe-wielding man yelling `No fishing, go home’

Sep 30, 2007 04:30 AM
Surya Bhattacharya
Staff Reporter

Jinxin Wang’s love for fishing would lead him and his friends back to his lucky spot near a Kingston-area bridge. But it would also bring him face to face with a man wielding an axe, screaming at him to “go home.”

“It was like a tiger attacking a goat,” Wang says through Maray Ma, a Mandarin translator who is also his tenant.

Wang, 47, an east Toronto resident, set off on a fishing trip Friday night with two buddies.

Recent media reports about “nippertipping” – or attacks on Asian fishermen, where they are sometimes thrown over a bridge along with their equipment – did not deter them.

He was unaware that York Region police had launched a hate-crime investigation last Thursday into four such incidents near Lake Simcoe.

For two months, August and September, the crappie are plentiful in the rivers and streams of Toronto. Fishing aficionados like Wang angle from night till dawn, when these fish bite the most.

Since crappie are available mostly frozen, bringing home a fresh one is a delight.

It is pan-seared on both sides and served steaming hot.

Wang took his friends to a spot near Westport, about 45 minutes north of Kingston, that yielded at least a dozen crappie two years ago.

They checked to see if there were any “No Fishing” signs on the bridge. They also heeded Ma’s advice.

“I told them, `Don’t be noisy. Don’t litter. Local people sometimes don’t like others coming. Don’t disturb them. Don’t talk to anyone,’” she says. “And don’t let anyone come too close. They could push you in the water.”

When a white pickup truck slowed on the bridge and a woman told the group to go away because it was not a fishing site, the party moved under the bridge.

Less than 10 minutes later, they said they heard someone swearing loudly.

Wang phonetically describes it: “F—er, go home. No fishing, go home.”

There were four men and two dogs, he recalls. They carried axes and baseball bats. Wang said one stepped up to him and swung the axe within an inch of his face.

“That person is so …,” says Wang at a loss of words. “You don’t want to look at him. To me, if we didn’t go, I knew we would be attacked.”

So, without a word, they said they walked to the car while the men made loud chopping noises on the bridge while “swearing, shouting and yelling” at them.

At their first turn, Wang spotted the same truck.

While two of his friends wanted to call the police, a terrified Wang refused.

“I did not want to make trouble for myself,” he says.

Ma called members of the local Chinese-language press, one of whom then called the police.

http://www.thestar.com/article/261933

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MISSISSAUGA MAYOR HAZEL MCCALLION

Her Worship

Quiet time spent in family room, big backyard with tranquil pond

Sep 15, 2007 04:30 AM
MIKE FUNSTON
STAFF REPORTER

Running her city of 700,000 people in businesslike fashion, the human dynamo known as Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion doesn’t waste time making decisions.

So it was no surprise she didn’t hesitate when the right property became available 20 years ago.

“I was at a meeting at city hall when my son Peter, who was in real estate then, called and said: `Mom, I think I found a place that you’ll like.’ I left the meeting at once and as soon as I saw it I said to him: `Buy it.’ ”

That’s classic McCallion – firm and decisive.

Now in her 29th consecutive year at the helm of Canada’s sixth largest city, she’s still sharp as a tack and maintains a torrid pace at age 86.

In the few hours a week she has to relax, home is her refuge. It’s tucked away on a quiet court on an unpretentious street that backs onto Carolyn Creek, a tributary of the Credit River and within the Streetsville neighbourhood she has always loved. The subdivision was built in the early 1980s.

RICK EGLINTON PHOTO/TORONTO STAR
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion relaxes with a book in the family room, her favourite place in her Streetsville home. She and her late husband, Sam, had it built as an extension.

In 1951, McCallion moved with husband Sam (who died in 1997) to what was then the Town of Streetsville (absorbed by Mississauga in 1974). She was still working as an office manager for engineering firm Canadian Kellogg, a career that spanned 25 years before she entered politics. McCallion also served as mayor of Streetsville before joining Mississauga for two terms as a councillor after amalgamation.

The couple moved into that first home, a farmhouse on Britannia Rd., and raised their children Peter, Paul and Linda there. Originally from Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, McCallion loves open space. They lived on the sprawling property, where the kids had their own horses, until 1987. By that time the kids had grown up and the area was ripe for development.

What sold her so quickly on her current two-storey, red brick house?

“The big backyard,” she replies without hesitation.

She can’t recall the dimensions but estimates it’s about “100 by 200 feet.” It came with a swimming pool, in which she takes a dip on a hot day, and plenty of room for her flower and vegetable gardens. She cuts the backyard grass on a sit-down mower.

The house originally had four bedrooms. Two were converted into a single large room. The kitchen overlooked the backyard but eventually she and Sam had an extension built, adding a spacious family room leading to the patio. That’s McCallion’s favourite place in the house.

“It has just turned this into a beautiful home,” she says of the addition. “Everyone who visits here ends up in that room.”

In it she has a padded rocking chair to watch news and programs on her favourite channel, Discovery, on a big-screen TV. On one wall hangs a treasured picture of Gaspé coast fishing boats by renowned Canadian photographer George Hunter, noted for his scenic photography.

At the other end of the room sits a padded blue chair in a special corner. That was a favourite resting place for her beloved German shepherd, Hurricane. Last month, her son Paul took Hurricane for a walk. Without warning, she collapsed on the street and died of a heart attack at age 12.

McCallion was heartbroken.

A gift from daughter Linda for her 75th birthday, McCallion had forged a strong bond with her pet (the name was based on McCallion’s own Hurricane Hazel nickname) and is still grieving her death.

“It will take me a long time to get over it,” she says. “She was a wonderful dog, kind and gentle with strangers. People loved her.”

Beside the chair is a framed picture of Hurricane, ears pinned back in an affectionate pose. Every morning McCallion has breakfast (a bowl of cereal) there so she can be with Hurricane in spirit. A bouquet of flowers was beside the table, sent by jazz musician Oscar Peterson on hearing of the dog’s death. On another table were several sympathy cards from friends. One couple donated a magnolia bush that will be planted at Hurricane’s favourite spot in the yard.

When she’s not keeping Mississauga debt-free, running her council, cutting ribbons or giving talks on sustainable development in places like China, as she did this summer, McCallion relaxes by tending her gardens. Roses are her favourite.

The rock garden and the recently added man-made pond with exotic fish decorate the pool-patio area. A professional landscaper who teaches classes in pond building brought 30 of his students over recently and built it in one day. The only thing she doesn’t like is the maintenance. It takes more work than the pool, she says.

But sitting outside and listening to the soothing sound of water cascading over the rocks brings her a feeling of tranquility that more than makes up for it, McCallion says.

In the vegetable garden, in a back corner of the yard, she grows tomatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, celery, beans, lettuce and chard. The garden is fenced off, to keep out rascally rabbits and deer.

McCallion doesn’t use pesticides and pulls out weeds by hand. She doesn’t water the grass either, saying it is wasteful. “The lawn dries up, but it always comes back.”

She has a home office, but seldom uses it, preferring to sit at a wooden table in a cozy nook just outside the kitchen where she reads reports and takes phone calls. She doesn’t use a computer.

The living room is seldom used and is more like a storage room for the many gifts and souvenirs she has acquired in her travels, as well as for family pictures and even an antique clock that used to wake her up in the morning as a child.

Over the garage is a large room devoted to her archives, filled with thousands of photos and articles and there’s a second smaller room with the overflow.

“I’m going to have to go through everything and try and identify it. Somebody wants to write a book.”

She’s had a couple of book offers but hasn’t agreed to any deals, she says, before driving to a luncheon meeting in her car with the trademark Mayor 1 licence plate.

http://www.thestar.com/article/255951

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139 Canadian places to see before you die
Kathryn Young, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Sunday, July 09, 2006

Canada’s birthday (139th) may be over, but we like to think that the celebration of our country continues year round.Here’s a lifetime checklist of the best 139 of things to do and places to see across our country. The story is broken into six chucks. Here is the first one. No passport required.

Part 1 - B.C. and Alberta
Part 2 - Saskatchewan & Manitoba
Part 3 - Ontario
Part 4 - Quebec
Part 5 - Atlantic Canada
Part 6 - The North

===========================

Part 1 - B.C. and Alberta

(Pamper your senses at a B.C. resort, with gourmet meals, massages, beachcombing, kayaking, and superb views. Killer whale watching is a must. Among the best is the Clayoquot Wilderness Resorts & Spa, where you can choose a floating lodge or eco-safari-style luxury canvas tents. Clayoquot Wilderness Resort )

(Storm watching is a favourite activity on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Calgary Herald Photo)

BRITISH COLUMBIA

1 Choose the adventurous way into B.C.’s mountains: go heli-skiing or heli-boarding on virgin powder snow or heli-hiking in the Bugaboos. Special family and culinary trips are available too. www.cmhski.com

2 Pamper your senses at a B.C. resort, with gourmet meals, massages, beachcombing, kayaking, and superb views. Killer whale watching is a must. Among the best are the remote Nimmo Bay Resort with chalets on stilts over the water (www.nimmobay.com), Hastings House, a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux hotel group (www.hastingshouse.com) and the Clayoquot Wilderness Resorts & Spa, where you can choose a floating lodge or eco-safari-style luxury canvas tents (www.wildretreat.com).

3 Retreat from the city to experience harmony and tranquillity in the Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, on the edge of Vancouver’s Chinatown. www.vancouverchinesegarden.com

4 Bike along Vancouver’s 10-kilometre sea wall through Stanley Park , one of North America’s largest urban parks. Rent bikes or rollerblades from a slew of rental shops at Denman and Georgia streets.

5 Take the helijet from downtown Vancouver to Victoria, a ride that business commuters take for granted but will leave visitors speechless. www.helijet.com

6 Sip tea and nibble scones with clotted cream at a formal afternoon tea party in Victoria’s Fairmont Empress Hotel — a tradition since 1908. www.fairmont.com/empress

7 Wander through 22 hectares of gorgeous flowers at Butchart Gardens , in Victoria. www.butchartgardens.com

8 Storm watching on Vancouver Island has become something of a spectator sport, with the Tofino area providing some of the best front-row seats for the crashing waves and howling winds of nature’s fury. The Wickaninnish Inn offers floor-to-ceiling windows beside hot tubs so you can stormwatch in comfort. www.wickinn.com.

9 Test your endurance by hiking the 75-kilometre West Coast Trail along cliffs, across beaches and through the old-growth-forest eco-tourist heaven of Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island. www.pc.gc.ca

10 Roam through the Queen Charlotte Islands by ferry, cruise ship or kayak, stopping to see the haunting remains of Haida villages, memorial and mortuary poles, and two-metre-thick shell heaps. The UNESCO site of Sgaang Gwaii (Anthony Island) shows how the Haida lived for thousands of years. The proposed UNESCO site of Gwaii Haanas would enlarge Sgaang Gwaii to include the surrounding old-growth temperate rainforest, seabird colonies, sea lion rookeries and more.

11 Indulge your learned taste buds in a tour through several dozen wineries in the Okanagan Valley. The Wine Museum in Kelowna can help with recommendations. www.kelownamuseum.ca

12 Mountain bike in the Kootenays, with snowcapped mountains, hot springs, clear lakes and wildlife as your backdrop. Rossland hosts the annual Rubberhead Mountain Bike Festival every summer, with nearby trails to suit all levels. www.bcadventure.com or call the Rossland Chamber of Commerce at 1-250-362-5666.

13 Hikers and mountain climbers can indulge themselves all over B.C. but in a province of stupendous scenery, Yoho National Park stands out. Lake O’Hara is one of many beautiful areas. Watch out for grizzlies. www.pc.gc.ca

14 Take a dip in a hot spring when there’s snow all around. www.bchotsprings.com

15 Try your luck at salmon fishing off a tugboat. www.britishcolumbia.com

16 Climb a mountain with no experience. On the summit of Whistler mountain, take the Via Ferrata (Italian for Iron Way) — a climbing route with permanently fixed cables for protection and metal ladder rungs to make it easier. www.whistlerguides.com

(Wander through the Hoodoos to see petroglyphs and pictograph rock art in sacred sites at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. Travel Alberta)

(Take the train through the Rocky Mountains — an absolute must for spectacular views of snow-capped peaks and granite ridges. Rocky Mountaineer)

ALBERTA

17 Take the train through the Rocky Mountains — an absolute must for spectacular views of snow-capped peaks and granite ridges. Go east, west or both directions with Via Rail’s Art Deco style cars (www.viarail.ca), the privately-owned Rocky Mountaineer (www.rockymountaineer.com) or the luxurious Royal Canadian Pacific (www.railsnw.com).

18 Banff, Jasper and Yoho national parks combine with four smaller provincial parks on both sides of the Alberta-B.C. border to form the Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. It’s chockablock full of wildlife-spotting and extreme sport opportunities, not to mention the beauty of mountains, alpine meadows, turquoise lakes, glaciers, the Columbia Icefield and hot springs. www.pc.gc.ca

19 Jump or ski over a nine-metre pool of slush at Banff’s annual Slush Cup, held in May to celebrate the ski season’s end. www.skibanff.com

20 Revel in dinosaurs in southern Alberta, which used to be a subtropical coastal plain.
Dinosaur Provincial Park has yielded 300 dino skeletons since the 1880s and many are displayed in the Royal Tyrrell Museum. www.cd.gov.ab.ca or www.tyrrellmuseum.com

21 Ride a luge down the Olympic run at Calgary’s Olympic Park — then see if you can spot Canada’s champion bobsled, luge or skeleton athletes in training. www.canadaolympicpark.ca

22 See the skeletons, butchering camps, meat caches and cooking pits at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. Not just a cool name, but also the site where aboriginals herded bison over cliffs to provide life’s requirements of meat, hides, sinew, bone and horn. www.head-smashed-in.com

23 Get lost in the West Edmonton Mall’s water parks, playgrounds, skating rink and, oh yes, stores. www.westedmall.com

24 Tour the oil sands near Fort McMurray and see why Alberta is the land of plenty. www.fortmcmurraytourism.com

25 Party at the Calgary Stampede, July 7 to 16, which began in 1886 as an agricultural fair and has blossomed to include rodeos, chuckwagon races and more. www.calgarystampede.com

26 Wander through the hoodoos to see petroglyphs and pictograph rock art in sacred sites at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. www.cd.gov.ab.ca

27 Eat perogies and halopchies in Vegreville. www.vegreville.com

===========================

Part 2 - Saskatchewan & Manitoba

(Enjoy chuckwagon races in Saskatchewan. Tourism Saskatchewan)

(Visit a wheat farm. Maple Grove Farm, established in 1898 by Seager Wheeler and now a historic site, showcases farming techniques developed by Wheeler who influenced agriculture in the west. Tourism Saskatchewan)

SASKATCHEWAN

28 Drive across the prairies to see the rippling wheat fields, wide horizons and old-style wooden grain elevators before they disappear. Rouleau is the famous Dog River of the TV show Corner Gas. www.cornergas.com

29 See the remote lakeside cabin of Grey Owl, the famed conservationist and author, in Prince Albert National Park in Saskatchewan. www.pc.gc.ca

30 Decide for yourself — was Louis Riel a hero or traitor? No matter which, he was pivotal to Canadian history, as a visit to Batoche National Historic Site will show. Here, Riel and his Metis supporters surrendered in 1885 after the last battle on Canadian soil since Confederation. www.pc.gc.ca

31 Listen to colourful western folklore about hideouts for horse thieves and stagecoach robbers. The Big Muddy Badlands boast spectacular terrain. Tours leave from the town of Coronach.

32 Fly in by floatplane to marvel at one of the most northerly sand dunes in the world at Athabasca Sand Dunes. Some are 30 metres high and 1,500 metres long. www.se.gov.sk.ca

33 Join a day- or week-long archeological dig for dinosaur bones at the T.rex Discovery Centre near Eastend. www.dinocountry.com

34 Savour Saskatoon (berry) pie. If you can’t wangle a homemade slice, try The Berry Barn, www.theberrybarn.com

35 Visit a wheat farm . Maple Grove Farm, established in 1898 by Seager Wheeler and now a historic site, showcases farming techniques developed by Wheeler who influenced agriculture in the west. Motherwell Homestead, the former farm of Canada’s first Agriculture Minister, also illustrates the development of wheat for the prairie climate. www.seagerwheelerfarm.org or www.pc.gc.ca

36 Tour the RCMP Museum, watch new recruits learn how to march and enjoy the Tuesday night sunset ceremonies. www.rcmpmuseum.com

37 Discover the Doukhobour way of life when they settled in the west more than 100 years ago, at the Doukhobour Heritage Village near Veregin.

(Explore Churchill, Manitoba for more than just its polar bears — it’s also a prime viewing spot for beluga whales, birding, northern lights and the Prince of Wales Fort. Manitoba Tourism )

MANITOBA

38 Explore Churchill for more than just its polar bears — it’s also a prime viewing spot for beluga whales, birding, northern lights and the Prince of Wales Fort. www.travelmanitoba.com

39 Delight in one of Canada’s cultural treasures: the Royal Winnipeg Ballet presents Ballet in the Park, July 26 to 28 for free. www.rwb.org

40 See where our loonies and toonies are made, plus coins from many foreign nations. Tour the Royal Canadian Mint. Sorry — no freebies. www.mint.ca

41 Bump along on a covered wagon tour of the rolling dunes and cacti at Spirit Sands Desert in Spruce Woods Provincial Park. www.glenboromb.ca

42 Howl for wolves or bugle for elk at Riding Mountain National Park — also one of the best places to see moose, bison and black bear. www.pc.gc.ca

43 Learn about native cultures at Circle of Life Thunderbird House — designed in the round by aboriginal architect Douglas Cardinal. Tour a sweat lodge, eat bannock, sleep in a teepee, go on a medicine walk. www.thunderbirdhouse.com

44 Honour the memory of Margaret Laurence, famous author of The Stone Angel and other Canadian classics, at her former home in Neepawa.

45 The Forks is a green oasis in Winnipeg — a traditional meeting place for 6,000 years where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet. Today you can stroll the prairie perennial gardens, examine sculptures, take river cruises, visit interpretive exhibits, shop, eat and send the kids to play in the heritage adventure playground. www.pc.gc.ca

46 Winnie the Pooh was named after a pet bear, named for the city of Winnipeg, who ended up in the London Zoo and inspired A.A. Milne. See a bronze statue of Winnipeg the Bear in Assiniboine Park where there’s a zoo, sculpture garden and walking trails. www.winnipeg.ca/assiniboinepark

47 Prepare to party at the Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin with swirling dance troupes, thundering hooves, fresh baking and lots of music. www.cnuf.ca

===========================

Part 3 - Ontario

(Rafting on the Ottawa River between Renfrew and Pembroke with OWL Rafting. OWL Rafting)

ONTARIO

48 Crash through the “bus eater” or other walls of white water — it’s whitewater rafting on the mighty Ottawa River, prized amongst aficionados for its large volumes of warm water and thrilling runs. If you like stomach-churning excitement, this sport is for you. Or maybe you’d prefer to whitewater kayak or body surf through the rapids using a riverboard? Try Esprit Rafting (www.espritrafting.com) on the Quebec side, or several companies on the Ontario side: www.owlrafting.com, www.riverrunners.com or www.wildernesstours.com. Family-style float trips, available from several of the companies, are also fun for the less daredevilish.

49 Lace up your skates for the longest skating rink in the world: the Rideau Canal has been nominated to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Completed in 1832, the 202-kilometre canal was a technical wonder of its day when it was built to help defend us against a possible American invasion. But it’s only ever been used for fun and recreation — boating in summer and skating in winter. Continue the fun, and don’t forget to enjoy a BeaverTail in winter.

50 Make a circuit of some of Ottawa’s most outstanding government buildings and museums, starting with Parliament Hill (be sure to have your picture taken with a scarlet-clad Mountie), the Supreme Court and National Library. Cross the bridge to Quebec for the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Have a picnic on the lawn and gaze across the Ottawa River at the capital’s prettiest view: the newly restored Library of Parliament, the final set of Rideau Canal locks, the Chateau Laurier and National Gallery.

51 Go four storeys underground at the Diefenbunker, built in the 1950s to house the Canadian government in case of nuclear war. www.diefenbunker.ca

52 Step back in time by visiting a castle — they tend to be scarce in North America, but Toronto’s Casa Loma offers secret passages, a tunnel and towers. Or take a Thousand-Islands boat cruise out of Gananoque and stop at Boldt Castle on Heart Island. www.casaloma.org or www.boldtcastle.com

53 Show off your fitness level by climbing the stairs at the 553.33-metre-high CN Tower, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year. OK, there’s an elevator too. www.cntower.ca

54 Hear the crack when ball meets bat at Rogers Centre where the Toronto Blue Jays take on major-league baseball competitors. www.toronto.bluejays.mlb.com

55 Enjoy 100-per-cent Canadian art at the McMichael gallery , featuring Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, plus native and Inuit artists. www.McMichael.com

56 Hang with the monkeys at the Metro Toronto Zoo, where thousands of animals can be seen in tropical pavilions and outdoors in large natural settings. www.torontozoo.com

57 Mingle with the stars at the Toronto International Film Festival, the world’s largest film festival, to be held Sept. 7 to 16 this year. www.e.bell.ca/filmfest

58 ooh and ahh over mummies and dinos at the still-being-renovated Royal Ontario Museum, featuring restorative work and new architecture by Daniel Libeskind. Ten new galleries have opened, with more to come next year. www.rom.on.ca

59 Forget Broadway — see spectacular musicals and live theatre like Lord of the Rings (until Sept. 3) and Spamalot (until Sept. 10) in Toronto. www.tdbab.com/theatre.htm

60 Feel the wind in your hair on the ferry to Toronto’s Centre Island , where you can scream on the midway’s log ride, stroll on the beaches, have a picnic and wonder at the immensity of the Great Lakes.

61Cheer your favourite hockey team in any city or town across Canada, but why not in Brantford — the hometown of Wayne Gretzky?

62 Don raincoats and hats for the touristy but not-to-be-missed Maid of the Mist boat tour for a close-up view of Niagara Falls . www.maidofthemist.com

63 Get cultured in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where you can peruse local artists’ fare in village shops, attend theatre at the Shaw Festival, or tour local wineries. www.winecountrytours.ca or www.niagaraworldwinetours.com

64 Brush up on your Shakespeare at the Stratford Festival, where you can also enjoy lighter fare such as Oliver! or South Pacific. www.stratford-festival.on.ca

65 Camp in a tent, canoe across still lakes, and toast marshmallows over a campfire in Algonquin Park. On the east side, you can visit Tom Thomson’s cabin and search out the gnarled old jack pines he painted near the Achray campground. www.algonquinpark.on.ca

66 Follow the ancient Niagara Escarpment through old-growth forests by hiking the Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest footpath. www.brucetrail.org

67 Scuba dive or snorkel in super-clear water around the shipwrecks at Tobermory.

68 Feel the drumbeats at a native powwow on Manitoulin Island, Aug. 5 to 7 this summer. www.wikwemikongheritage.org

69 Get your camera ready for the startlingly gorgeous vistas on a fall train ride through the Agawa Canyon. www.agawacanyontourtrain.com

70 Ride the Polar Bear Express train from Cochrane to Moosonee and Moose Factory on James Bay. www.polarbearexpress.ca

71 Dig for amethysts, find the sleeping giant and watch freighters on rugged Lake Superior near Thunder Bay.

72 Focus your binoculars for bird watching and monarch butterfly spotting at Point Pelee National Park, the southernmost point in Canada and a haven of winged wildlife. www.pc.gc.ca

73 Recall with pride how Canadians helped American slaves flee to safety on the Underground Railroad. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is the restored home of Josiah Henson, a slave who escaped to Upper Canada and helped others follow. www.uncletomscabin.org

74 Marvel at the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world on the Trent Canal in Peterborough — it actually lifts boats and water from one level to the next.

75 Roll out the barrel and warm up your polka shoes for Oktoberfest in Waterloo, Oct. 6 to 14 this year. www.oktoberfest.ca

76 Designate a driver for your tour of Ontario’s microbreweries, especially if you plan to sample all 26. Start with Heritage Brewing in Carleton Place, Church-Key Brewing in Campbellford or Glenora Springs Brewery in Picton. www.ontariocraftbrewers.ca

77 Eat cotton candy, ride the Ferris wheel, examine weird-shaped vegetables and watch thundering workhorses pull wagons at the Carp Fair, or any other small-town fair across Canada.

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Part 4 - Quebec

QUEBEC

78 Montreal is the city of festivals: for comedy (today until July 31), fireworks, and film. www.tourism-montreal.org. But the biggie is the Montreal International Jazz Festival that started yesterday and runs to July 9, featuring 2,500 artists from 20 countries. www.montrealjazzfest.com

79 Vieux Montreal , with buildings from the 17th to mid-19th centuries, features cafes, nightlife, street performers, horse-drawn caleches, warehouses converted to stores and hotels, and picture-worthy public squares. The Sulpician Seminary is Montreal’s oldest building; don’t miss Notre-Dame Basilica’s stunning grandeur. www.basiliquenddm.org

80 Hike up Mont Royal, a 233-metre-high hill crowned with a lighted cross. Have a picnic and watch the buskers in summer or toboggan, skate, cross-country ski or snowshoe in winter. Great views and many hidden paths. Check out the famous in the cemeteries to the west (hockey legend Maurice “Rocket” Richard is buried in the Notre Dame des Neiges part). www.lemontroyal.qc.ca, www.mountroyalcem.com or www.cimetierenddn.org

81 Montreal’s Cirque du Soleil is world famous but you can often see their show launches in the spring. Or catch them in Vancouver until July 23. www.cirquedusoleil.com

82 Eat poutine from any chip truck. But for haute poutine, try one of the 22 varieties at La Banquise, 994 Rue Rachel in Montreal. Pizza poutine, anyone?

83 Chew on hot bagels and Montreal smoked meat at Schwartz’s, 3895 Boul. St-Laurent.

84 Explore Montreal’s natural world at the Botanical Garden, Insectarium, Planetarium and Biodome that presents plants and animals from five biospheres — tropical forest, Antarctic, Arctic, St. Lawrence marine and Laurentian forest. www.biodome.qc.ca

85 Lick maple taffy made on fresh snow or pour the golden syrup over a stack of pancakes when you visit a working maple bush. www.cabaneasucre.org

86 Tour the only walled city in North America — Quebec City’s old stone buildings and cobblestone streets are on the UNESCO heritage list for good reason. Walk from the Plains of Abraham, where the continent’s fate was decided in 1759, to the Citadel (fort), and along the Dufferin Terrace to the turreted Chateau Frontenac, and then take the funicular or steps to Lowertown’s quaint shops. www.ccbn-nbc.gc.ca. Visit in February for the 17-day Carnaval. www.carnaval.qc.ca

87 Sleep in the Ice Hotel (January to April), where the architecture changes every year. www.ice-hotel-canada.com

88 Watch for whales where the Saguenay River meets the St. Lawrence. Although whales can be seen in many places in Canada, this is where you can observe the greatest variety — belugas, humpbacks, blue, minke and more.

89 Enter the annual sandcastle contest on the Iles de la Madeleine or learn techniques during sandcastle workshops. www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com

90 See where many of our ancestors were quarantined at Grosse Ile. Many Irish immigrants perished in the typhoid epidemic of 1847. www.pc.gc.ca

91 Acquaint yourself with a certain fish fossil, whose limb-like fins and breathing apparatus gives credence to evolutionary theories, plus dozens of other Devonian fossils that excite scientists at Miguasha Park, a UNESCO heritage site. www.pc.gc.ca

92 Visit charming villages, fish for salmon, come face to face with a moose, tour a wind generator plant and see the famous Perce Rock at the tip of the Gaspe Peninsula. www.infogaspesie.com

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Part 5 - Atlantic Canada

(Celebrate Acadian culture as you travel through New Brunswick. Tourism New Brunswick)

NEW BRUNSWICK

93 Wonder at the weird shapes the highest tides in the world (up to 15 metres) can carve out of stone. At the Bay of Fundy’s Hopewell Rocks, the “flowerpots” are islands at high tide and piles of rocks with trees atop at low tide, when you can walk on the sea floor all around them. Fundy National Park provides more opportunities to marvel at the caves carved and fossils uncovered by the tides. www.thehopewellrocks.ca or www.pc.gc.ca

94 Close your eyes (unless you’re the driver), cross your fingers, hold your breath and make a wish while going through the world’s longest covered bridge, at Hartland, and it’ll come true. www.town.hartland.nb.ca

95 Explore salt marshes, tidal rivers, bogs, shifting sand dunes and sheltered lagoons at Kouchibouguac National Park where bird watching includes terns and piping plovers. www.pc.g.ca

96 Learn about lobster aboard a Shediac Bay cruise where you help haul in the traps, cook the lobster, crack it properly and then feast on it (www.lobstertales.ca) You can also compete in a lobster-eating contest during the July 5 to 9 lobster festival in Shediac — the self-declared lobster capital of the world. www.lobsterfestival.nb.ca

97 Savour a Salvador Dali plus extensive collections of British and Canadian paintings, including Cornelius Krieghoffs and Emily Carrs, at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton. www.beaverbrookartgallery.org

98 Mingle with the mollusks at the Shippagan Marine Centre, where touch tanks let you pet sea cucumbers and starfish as well. See harbour seals at feeding time and 31 tanks filled with sea creatures. www.gnb.caY You can also visit the Acadian Village and if you are there in the summer there is the Tintamarre Acadian Parade

(You can’t go to P.E.I. without going to see Anne of Green Gables, the long-running musical. Tourism Prince Edward Island)

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

99 Drive across the 13-kilometre-long Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick to P.E.I. (about 12 minutes) but take the ferry back for old times’ sake. www.confederationbridge.com or www.nfl-bay.com

100 IT’s unthinkable to visit P.E.I. and not give a nod to “Anne.” See the long-running musical Anne of Green Gables in Charlottetown (www.confederationcentre.com) or the continuing story of Anne and Gilbert, new on stage this summer, July 12 through September, in Summerside (www.jubileetheatre.com). True Anne enthusiasts will visit Green Gables at Cavendish and the many surrounding villages that inspired L.M. Montgomery’s series about the red-haired orphan.

101 Sleep in a lighthouse. The West Point Lighthouse is a combo working lighthouse, museum, restaurant and inn with nine cosy rooms furnished in the era of light-keepers. www.westpointlighthouse.com

102 Discover Province House, where Canada was born. In 1864, representatives from P.E.I., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec — the Fathers of Confederation — met in Charlottetown to discuss a union of British colonies. Details were hammered out later and the Dominion of Canada was declared on July 1, 1867.

103 Fish for the big ones — tuna or shark — or go for quantity with a pile of silvery mackerel during a day of deep-sea fishing. www.gov.pe.ca/visitorsguide

104 Walk the long golden beaches and sand dunes at Prince Edward Island National Park, where you’ll also see red sandstone cliffs, wetlands and forests and, if you’re lucky, the endangered piping plover. www.pc.gc.ca

(The quaint village of Peggy’s Cove, with its rocks and fishing boats is a great stop for photographers. Pat McGrath/Ottawa Citizen)

NOVA SCOTIA

105 Tour the decks or go for a cruise on the Bluenose II , the ship made famous on our dime. www.bluenose2.ns.ca

106 Measure the precise angles of the streets in Old Town Lunenburg — the best surviving example of the British government imposing a grid pattern of streets from afar in 1753 despite the local hilly topography. Lots of colourful wooden buildings.

107 Make sure your camera batteries are charged for quaint Peggy’s Cove — one of the most photographed fishing villages with its pristine lighthouse and weathered granite rocks. www.peggyscove.com

108 Follow the steps of fictional Evangeline, created in poetry by Longfellow to tell her sad story of separation. But visit Grand-Pre for the facts about the Acadian Expulsion, the forced removal of Acadian people in 1755. See the archeological sites at Grand-Pre that are nominated for UNESCO status.

109 Take in the awesome beauty of old mountains, pretty fishing villages, hiking trails, soaring gulls and the Cabot Trail hugging the steep seaside cliffs of Cape Breton Island. www.cbisland.com

110 Imagine lining up a cannon, on the Fortress of Louisbourg’s ramparts, to fire on British invaders. Built by the French and restored to its 1745 grandeur, right before the first siege, the fortress played a key role in the French-British power struggle. www.pc.gc.ca

111 Pay tribute to the man who invented the telephone — Alexander Graham Bell’s vacation home in Baddeck honours his life’s work and experiments. www.pc.gc.ca

112 See the fossil forests of Joggins — a potential UNESCO site — plus invertebrates, fish, amphibians, early reptiles and fossilized tree trunks up to six metres high. The Bay of Fundy tides continually erode new fossil beds. www.pc.gc.ca

113 Join a retired miner underground in a coal mine in Glace Bay and experience complete darkness when they turn out the lights for a few seconds. www.minersmuseum.com

114 Debate whether the Highlands Links in Cape Breton Highlands National Park is truly one of Canada’s best golf courses. You’ll have to try it to make an informed decision. www.highlandslinksgolf.com

(Visit Cape Spear in Newfoundland, the easternmost point of North America. Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism)

(Go hiking in Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Cornerbrook, N.L. Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism)

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

115 Get “screeched in” by kissing a cod and throwing back a shot of screech rum in a St. John’s pub-crawl to become an honorary Newfoundlander.

116 Hold onto your hat when you climb windy Signal Hill and the Cabot Tower where the first transatlantic wireless signal was received in 1901. www.pc.gc.ca

117 Pack a breakfast picnic and watch the sun rise at Cape Spear, the easternmost point of North America and site of Newfoundland’s oldest lighthouse.

118 Tour fiords carved by glaciers and hike breathtaking mountains in Gros Morne National Park, where trails and tours vary from 30 minutes to several days. www.grosmorne.com

119 Dodge towering icebergs on a boat tour of northern Newfoundland’s famous Iceberg Alley. Many tours also combine whale watching and puffin spotting. www.icebergfinder.com

120 Duck your head stepping inside the recreated timber-and-sod longhouses at the ancient l’Anse aux Meadows Viking settlement. The remains of eight buildings and hundreds of Viking artifacts of iron, stone, bronze and bone have been found. www.pc.gc.ca

121 Explore the 16th-century Basque whaling station at Red Bay, Labrador, including whaling ships, homes, wharves, burial sites, lookouts, cooperages and workshops. www.redbayheritage.ca

122 Tour the massive underground hydroelectric power station, the second-largest in the world, at Churchill Falls. www.ourlabrador.ca

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Part 6 - The North

(See a real Inukshuk, the stone towers that are on the newest territory’s flag, on Mallik Island near Cape Dorset. Don Butler, The Ottawa Citizen)

NUNAVUT

123 See a real inukshuk, the stone towers that are on the newest territory’s flag, on Mallik Island near Cape Dorset.

124 Tour the Inuit workshops and perhaps meet a print artist or sculptor at the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative. www.capedorset.ca Or meet tapestry makers at the Uqqurmiut Centre of Weaving and Printmaking in Pangnirtung.

125 Take a wildlife tour by boat, snowmobile or dogteam, from Iqaluit or anywhere in Nunavut, to see caribou, muskox, walrus, seals, narwhal, bowhead whales, polar bears. www.arctictourinfo.com

126 Follow in the wake of explorers like Franklin, Amundsen, Larsen and others as you travel the Northwest Passage, either by ship, icebreaker or charter flight. Explore the Northwest Passage Territorial Historic Park’s self-guided walking trail that describes the explorers’ quests and visit Beechey Island’s gravesites, the last known place that the doomed Franklin Expedition visited. www.nunavutparks.com or www.explorenorth.com

127 Sleep in the northernmost lodge in the world — Arctic Watch Lodge — where you can go on artic safaris to see belugas and bears, go birding, see prehistoric Inuit sites, go sea kayaking and sample muskox and arctic char. www.canadianarcticholidays.ca

128 Greet the summer solstice in Arctic Bay, the northernmost point of Baffin Island. www.baffinisland.ca

(Crane your neck to take in all the natural wonders as you canoe down the South Nahanni River, through four canyons. See Virginia Falls, which, is nearly twice the height of Niagra Falls. Ed Struzik/Edmonton Journal)

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

129 Crane your neck to take in all the natural wonders as you canoe down the South Nahanni River, through four canyons. The visitor centre in Fort Simpson explains this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

130 Keep your eyes peeled for elusive bison, part of the largest wild bison herd in the world at Wood Buffalo National Park. www.pc.gc.ca

131 Learn to drive a dog team on a dogsledding adventure or pick up tips from the experts at a community dogsled race. www.explorenwt.com

132 Stun your eyes with the Aurora Borealis (southerners call them northern lights). The aurora has a five- to-six-year cycle and the next peak is in 2007. www.arcticodysseys.com

133 Sing and dance with northern artists at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik. www.gnaf.ca

134 Experience the Dene culture during an educational tour that teaches folklore, traditional arts and crafts, what to do in a sweatlodge, living from the land and visits with guest elders. Or travel with an aboriginal family on the trapline and sample northern foods at traditional feasts. www.explorenwt.com

YUKON

135 Pan for gold and strike it rich. Then see how the big mining companies did it — view the enormous Dredge No. 4 — eight storeys high and two-thirds the size of a football field. www.pc.gc.ca or www.eurekagoldpanning.com

136 Relive the gold rush by hiking the Chilkoot Trail that brought tens of thousands of prospectors to the Klondike. Try out Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall, then explore Dawson City, the town that inspired authors Jack London and Pierre Berton and poet Robert Service. www.dawsoncity.ca

137 Drive the Dempster Highway, a 750-kilometre gravel road through mountains, sub-artic tundra and across the Arctic Circle, from Dawson City to Inuvik. Great trip for adventure-seeking drivers and those who crave stunning scenery. Porsche and BMW use the highway as an extreme winter test site and a European extreme racing event is held on it each February.

138 Spot the famous Porcupine caribou herd — one of the largest ungulate herds in the world — plus Dall sheep and thousands of breeding and migratory waterfowl at the proposed UNESCO site of Ivvavik/Vuntut/Herschel Island park. www.pc.gc.ca

139 Climb Mount Logan — Canada’s highest peak at 5,959 metres, located in Kluane (pronounced Kloo-wah-nee) National Park. By no means a stroll in the park — this is serious mountaineering in a land of precipitous peaks and immense icefields and glaciers. Flightseeing is the less adventurous alternative: www.yukon-wings.com

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http://www.canada.com/topics/travel/activities/roadtrips/story.html?id=6ee05ca5-7c84-48d1-b007-be5b440ff7de

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200经纪排队 一成为华人

明报/发展商Empire Communities位于多市怡陶碧谷Humber Bay的湖滨柏文昨接受预先订购，引起数百人排队轮候抢购的现象，逾百名地产经纪于早一晚已到达售楼处门前通宵扎营，务求率先夺得最靓单位。

掀起抢购热潮的为位于怡陶碧谷湖滨路夹Park Lawn Rd.的“Beyond The Sea”共管柏文系列第2期。

虽然建筑工程还未开始，预计最快更要到2010年才落成，但昨日经已引起一众准买家的疯狂争夺。售楼处原定昨日正午12时开放接受经纪登记、晚上6时开始正式销售，但过百人早于周三已到场排队，有人更早至周三清晨到达，各人都自备座椅、棉被与食粮，于售楼处门前通宵轮候，气氛一片炽热。

昨日正午，销售处开门让人进入登记时，累积人数已大约有200人，当中最少有一成为华人。现场所见，有同属一间地产公司的华人经纪联群结队出马，对此热盘志在必得。其中一名女经纪指于前一晚7时经已到临排队，但却忘了带同座椅，终捱不住需要急唤丈夫把椅子送来。

300元“请枪”通宵排队

虽然几经辛苦，但各人都纷纷表示值得，现场更有人指知道有经纪以高达二、三百元的酬金“请枪”叫人代为通宵排队。如此劳心劳力，他们称楼盘的价格合理。

根据发展商所提供的资料，这座最快要于3年后才能入伙的柏文高27层，提供近300个单位，面积由584至1,021平方尺不等，售价由大约17万起。而最大卖点在于优秀的湖滨位置，使准买家都看好其升值潜力。

据悉该柏文系列的第1期于6月份开售时，于一日内便火速售清，因此今次推出第2期即导致如此空前盛况。

数百经纪排隔夜长龙买楼

湖滨楼盘 赚2万佣金 何乐而不为

星报通讯社电/最近被广告炒得炙手可热的共管柏文Beyond the Sea，昨天开始向地产经纪发号，数百名地产经纪为争得一个号码，不惜在户外排起了隔夜长龙，有些人周三一早就开始排队。

如此卖力地搏杀，好处是什么呢？每个单位的投资，一经出手即可带来至少2至3万元的收入。

排队抢购推广有方的楼盘，在多伦多已不算是什么新鲜事，这也说明多伦多房地产市场的火爆，并未因北美股市昨天的受挫而受影响。

能够让这么多经纪餐风露宿的Beyond the Sea楼盘，坐落在湖滨大道西(Lakeshore Blvd. W.)夹Parklawn Rd.地区，拟于2007年开售。据当局称，它是被强大的广告宣传炒热，第2期的价格从16.99万元到百万元左右不等。

一名周三上午9时半就开始扎营排队的女经纪称，他们排24小时队，(佣金)能赚到2万元，何乐而不为？

美国全国地产商协会(National Association of Realtors)报称，美国现房销售跌至近5年来的谷底，每年仅交易573万单位，而且美国按揭的质素今年预期将出现下降。但是，满地可银行资本市场(BMO Capital Markets)经济学家波特(Doug Porter)指出，由于房价及利率的升高，越来越多的人买不起贵的房子，而被推向柏文市场。虽然多伦多的经济只能算一般，但持续的人口增长，给地产热提供源源不断的燃料。

他还指出，虽然多伦多总体的房屋建筑活动，自2003年的高峰期后，已经逐步降温，但柏文的兴建仍然常盛不衰。

据跟踪大多地区高层柏文市场的Urbanation季刊最近的数据，多市今年首季重售柏文达3,100个单位，创该季的历史纪录。同时有3,400个单位的新柏文售出，占有史以来的第3位。

Urbanation执行副总裁任薇可(Jane Renwick)认为，第2季度的数字出来后，多伦多调查地区的柏文销售将超过去年上半年，一个原因是，第一季度只推出8个楼盘，而第二季度却有35个推出。

排长龙抢购单位的现象，在柏文市场并非罕事。6月份，地产经纪为买到一套位于李斯利街(Leslie St.)夹雪柏大道(Sheppard Ave.)地区Concord Park Place的柏文单位，排队长达3天。

一些分析人士指出，揭开柏文火爆现象的面纱，不难发现太多买家是投资者。据估计，一些楼盘中，投资者占了25%到40%。这里存在一个风险：一旦市场走下坡路，会造成投资者恐慌，开始抛售物业，从而造成价格暴跌。

多伦多分析师邓宁(Will Dunning)在最近的一份报告中指出：“投资者大批入市，正在播种自己将来的失望”。

借钱炒楼小心.不要盲目跟风

星岛日报/怡陶碧谷的湖滨楼盘出现买家彻夜排队，固然是市场需求大，但亦要慎防哄抬。

地点最重要

上任多伦多地产局主席封赖桂霞说，地点决定一切，在现时一遍好景之中，也有个别地段的楼盘下调。她说，现时豪华公寓大厦主要买家有两类，一类是年轻的第二代，以及婴儿潮的中老年人。他们对设施的需求各有不同，但都要求近地铁，交通方便。

外国买家执平货

有资深理财专家表示，这个位于湖滨的楼盘，在地理位置上得天独厚。多市政府近年虽然开发湖滨地段，但仍有好多限制。本星期初市东一幢湖滨住宅超卖，正是这类物业缺货。而且银行息口低，很多人都有能力□担大额贷款。

而另一方面，婴儿潮一代所累积的流动资产，达到整个世纪以来的最高峰。为了对抗通货膨胀年代的来临，带动期货市场，铜已经升了几倍，物业作为期货的一种，也是水涨船高。专家指出，与温哥华、纽约和洛杉矶等城市相比，多伦多的房地产价格可说是超平。近来也看到有美国、荷兰和中东的买家趁机执平货。

入货等客上门

地产经纪刘兵就说，发展商不可能与经纪勾结造势，但会推波助澜。彻夜排队的经纪之中，不乏手上没有客人的，趁热闹取得一些单位，然后在10天内等客上门。如果届时未能脱手，就视乎市况和个人财力，放弃认购或自行买入。

Condo市道在去年冬天开始上升，而且愈来愈热，当中很多人是作为投资。他说，投资者要有忧患意识。Condo出租相对较简单，因而受投资者喜欢。以前买Condo，即使不自住，租金也足够应付贷款、地税和管理费等开支；但现时租金上升的幅度，追不上楼价。因此，投资者就要小心，尤其借钱炒楼更不要盲目跟风。

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Doors Open guide

This is your all-inclusive program guide to the eighth annual Doors Open Toronto, celebrating this city’s best architectural, historic and cultural spaces

1 401 Richmond (4D)

401 Richmond St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

Originally the Macdonald Manufacturing Company, lithographers of tinware. Now home to over 140 cultural producers and microenterprises. Guided tours at 1 p.m. include window restoration demonstrations. Between 2 and 4 p.m., meet the gardener of the organic and pesticide-free rooftop garden. (D) W R $P

2 48 Abell Street (4C)

48 Abell St. Studio #113; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

1940s inset panel office converted into studio and exhibition venue. Last chance to see studio before demolition. A working studio in the process of a major installation of video, painting and sculpture documenting changes to the West Queen West. The artist will be available for discussion and context about the building, culture and the works themselves. $P

3 Applewood: The Shaver Homestead (4A)

450 The West Mall; Sat: not open; Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Unknown, 1850) The birthplace of James Shaver Woodsworth, leading Canadian social reformer, humanitarian, Methodist minister and founding member of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (now the NDP). Interior restored and furnished to the 1870-1890 period. W (no disabled access to W) P

4 Arts and Letters Club, The (4D)

14 Elm St.; Sat: 10 to 5 Sun: not open

(Edwards & Webster, 1891) A gathering place for Toronto’s artistic and literary community since 1920. Great Hall features baronial fireplace and beautiful collection of Canadian art. Guided tours. W D R $P

5 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (1A)

61 Claireville Dr. (Finch Ave. W. and Hwy 427); Sat: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun: 10 to 2

(Sadhu Akshaymuni Swami and Sanjaybhai Parikh, India; Papadopoulos and Pradhan Architects, Toronto, 2004) Hundreds of carved dancing peacocks, delicate lotus flowers and royal elephants beckon in greeting. Inspired by His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the Toronto Mandir is an architectural masterpiece with breathtaking intricacy not previously seen in Canada. D P R W

6 Beach Solar Laundromat (4E)

2240 Queen St. E.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Unknown, 1939) This two-storey retail and apartment building was modernized in 2002. Architectural details were preserved, while new solar panels and an innovative hydronic air conditioning system were added. “Best Green Design” Award from the City of Toronto. View the basement mechanical room, showing the workings of the solar thermal system. $P

7 Beach Walking Tours (4E)

Sat & Sun.: Tours at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. begin at old Firehall on Queen St. E., just east of Woodbine

Beach visitors enjoy a historically green walking tour though Toronto’s original lakeside resort, which today is a bustling community. W (D) K G

8 Black Creek Pioneer Village (1C)

1000 Murray Ross Pkwy.; Sat & Sun: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This collection of more than 40 restored buildings reflects life in rural Ontario in the 1860s. Includes a farm and live animals. Demonstrations by interpreters/guides in period dress. W (D) $P R K G

9 Bloorview Kids Rehab (3D)

150 Kilgour Rd.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

Nature and technology make Bloorview Kids Rehab one of the greenest health-care facilities in Canada. Solar panels, a green roof (1,900 sq. ft.) and a commitment to design excellence made this building one of Toronto’s Top 10 new buildings in 2006. W D R $P K

10 BMO Field (4C)

170 Princes’ Blvd.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

Home of the new Toronto FC, BMO Field is a 20,000-seat outdoor soccer-specific stadium at Exhibition Place. Behind-the-scenes tours. W D R $P K G

11 Campbell House Museum (4D)

160 Queen St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

Built in 1822 for Judge William Campbell and his wife Hannah, the house was moved intact to its current site. A fine example of Georgian architecture restored to its former glory. W R D K

12 Canada’s National Ballet School (4D)

400 Jarvis St.; Sat: not open; Sun: 10 to 5

(Joseph Sheard, 1856; George Miller, 1898; 1901; Goldsmith, Borgal and Company Ltd. Architects and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, 2005) Heralded as a “jewel on Jarvis,” the school is a superb integration of heritage and contemporary buildings. Visit Northfield House, the Margaret McCain Academic Building and the restored Havergal Ladies’ College. Architectural tours. W (D)

13 Canada Life (4D)

330 University Ave.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Sproatt and Rolph, 1931) The neo-classical or Beaux Arts-style early skyscraper was the tallest building on University Avenue when completed in 1931. View the city from the glass-enclosed Tower Room on the 17th floor. (D) (not to 17th floor) W $P

14 Canada Permanent Building (4D)

320 Bay St.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(F. Hilton Wilkes with Mathers & Haldenby and Sproatt & Rolph, 1928-30)

Award-winning restoration of the Art Deco Banking Hall in 2001 (funded by CIBC Mellon). Canadian symbols of wheat sheaves and fleurs-de-lys appear on the Corinthian columns. The grand Romanesque entrance features a coffered vault flanked by fluted pilasters. D

15 Carlu (4D)

444 Yonge St., 7th floor; Sat: not open; Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Jacques Carlu, 1931) Originally opened in 1931 as the jewel of Eaton’s flagship College St. store, this world-renowned concert and dining establishment closed in the late 1970s. Lavishly restored in the early 21st century as one of the finest Art Moderne venues anywhere. $P D H

16 Casa Loma Estate Gardens (3D)

1 Austin Terr.; Sat & Sun: 9:30 to 4

(E.J. Lennox, 1906) The five-acre garden features a Cottage Garden containing rose arbours, clematis and perennials; a Rhododendron Dell; a Woodland Walk with ornamental grasses, forsythia and wild rose; a Water Garden with marsh marigolds and water iris and a Spring Woodland garden, which features Virginia bluebells, trilliums, columbine and other native flora. Please note: regular paid admission price applies to the main castle on both days. (D) R $P

17 CBC – Canadian Broadcasting Centre (4D)

Doors Open Toronto Information Centre

250 Front St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Bregman & Hamann/Scott Associates Architects Inc., with John Burgee Architects Inc., with Phillip Johnson, Design Consultant, 1992) Go behind the scenes at this state-of-the-art facility, home to the CBC’s English television and radio networks. Event-weekend-only info line: 416-205-2670. D W R $P K G

18 Cecilia Murphy Building (4E)

11 Coatsworth Cres.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Garwood, Jones & Van Nostrum, 1988) Groups of 10 tour the roof to learn about solar thermal panels in this 174-unit building run by a local non-profit charity. W

19 Cedar Ridge Creative Centre (3G)

225 Confederation Dr.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 4

(R. Nicholls, 1912-13) Overlooking Highland Creek, this 14-room, Arts and Crafts-style mansion is one of Toronto’s best-kept secrets. Built as a summer home for the Charles Cummings family, it was later purchased by John Fraser. Self-guided house and garden tours. D W P R G

20 Chapel of St. James-the-Less/ St. James’ Cemetery and Crematorium (4D)

635 Parliament St.; Sat & Sun: 1 to 4 p.m.

(Cumberland and Storm, 1860) This small funeral chapel is a splendid example of High Victorian Gothic design. Tour the chapel and visit historic burial sites in Toronto’s oldest established cemetery. (D) W P R H

21 Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto (2G)

5183 Sheppard Ave. E.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects and Patrick Chan Architects, 1998) Multi-faceted cultural complex features new 600-seat theatre. Interior finishes of this building were inspired by the traditional Chinese fine arts of architecture, gardens, paintings, ceramics, and artifacts and by the five essential elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. P W D

22 CHUM Radio Building (3D)

1331 Yonge St.; Sat: 12 to 3; Sun: not open

(Unknown, 1954; Quadrangle) Go behind the scenes of the famous studios and offices of 1050 CHUM, from the newsroom to master control, various offices and a brand new CHUM Museum. (D) W

23 Church of the Holy Trinity (4D)

19 Trinity Sq. (west side Eaton Centre); Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: 1 to 5 p.m.

(Henry Bowyer Lane, 1847) Tudor-style church towers used to be a navigational aid for ships in Toronto Harbour. Established to serve all equally, it has benches rather than pews. Beautiful stained glass and stencilled ceiling. Exhibits highlighting the building’s history, musical performances and tours. (D) W K G

24 Church of the Redeemer (4D)

162 Bloor St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Smith & Gemmell, 1879) Gothic Revival in style, the interior features a variety of stained glass depicting biblical scenes, including a dramatic portrayal of the “Road to Emmaus.” Self-guided tours and exhibits of archival photographs. $P D W

25 City Hall (4D)

100 Queen St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Viljo Revell with John B. Parkin Associates, 1965) Considered daring when constructed, City Hall has become a symbol for Toronto recognized worldwide. Visit the East Tower Observation Deck, Council Chamber, Podium Roof with green roof garden and Mayor’s Office. The Rotunda features a display of artistically styled bonsai. D W $P K G

26 City of Toronto Archives (3D)

255 Spadina Rd.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Zeidler Roberts Partnership, Architects, 1992) This research and storage facility holds more than one million photographs, maps, plans, drawings, audio-visual records and computer media, documenting Toronto history from 1792 to the present. P D W K

27 CNIB Centre (3D)

1929 Bayview Ave.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Mary Jane Finlayson, Sweeny Sterling Finlayson, 2005) State-of-the-art home for Canada’s primary provider of vision loss support services and vision health information. Guided tours, Fragrant Garden and activities: Braille your name, Braille body painting, high-tech aids demo and more! D W R P K

28 Coach House Books (4D)

401 Huron Street on bpNichol Lane; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Venerable literary press and printing company housed in two former coach houses, a living museum of Canada’s literature and printing technology. Highlights include a history of printing technology in Canada by master printer Stan Bevington, book printing on two Heidelberg presses and bookstore. (D) K W

29 Colborne Lodge (4C)

Colborne Lodge Dr. (south end of High Park); Sat & Sun: 12 to 4 p.m.

(John George Howard, 1837) John Howard, surveyor, architect and Toronto’s first city engineer, designed this picturesque Regency cottage for his family. Guided tours of this restored and furnished museum and kids’ activities. (D) W P K

30 Commerce Court North (4D)

25 King St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Darling & Pearson, 1931) Upon completion in 1931, this monumental 34-storey building represented a new generation of skyscrapers. It remained the tallest building in the Commonwealth until 1962. The immense banking hall projects an almost ecclesiastical sense of awe. Self-guided tours. D W $P K G R

31 Design Exchange (4D)

234 Bay St.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(George & Moorhouse with S.H. Maw, 1937; KPMB Architects, 1994) A unique blend of old and new spaces produced by the incorporation of the historic Toronto Stock Exchange building into the Toronto-Dominion Centre complex. This was the first deep-lake-cooled building (1937). Tour the ground floor, grand staircase and restored trading floor with spectacular murals by Charles Comfort. Exhibit featuring the work of architect John M. Lyle. D W $P K G

32 Distillery Historic District (4D)

55 Mill St.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Malt Kilns Building and Tunnel: Rare glimpse of both a late-19th-century kiln furnace and an intriguing barrel-vaulted tunnel. Building is a four-and-a-half storey, hipped-roof, lantern-topped, red-brick box. The decoratively functional brick kiln furnace contains two fireboxes used to heat the “green malt” (germinated barley) essential to making alcohol from grain. W (D) $P K H

Rack House D: Usually off-limits, this red-brick building is the largest barrel storage facility at the Distillery, used to house thousands of barrels of whiskey for aging. The interior consists of a heavy-timber rack frame that supports a shallow-pitched roof. One of the last unrestored buildings on site. W (D) $P K H

Scale Tank Loft: The usually inaccessible loft sits atop the Pure Spirits complex (Building 61). Given the potentially explosive nature of alcohol distilling, buildings contain large amounts of glass that would blow out to save the structure. The loft contains three massive copper tanks set on scales. Accessible via staircase entered from Tank House Lane. W $P K H

33 Don Valley Brick Works (3D)

550 Bayview Ave.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 4

Don Valley bricks were used in the construction of Old City Hall, Osgoode Hall and Casa Loma Stables. Evergreen is transforming this site into the greenest facility in North America. Take a guided tour of the quarry garden and learn about Toronto’s geological past. Build a green design model, grow a native plant and create some eco-art. Buy local plants and produce. W $P (D) R K G

34 Eco-suite at Tridel’s Element Condominium (4D)

20 Blue Jays Way; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Burka Varacalli, 2005-2007) The model at Eco-suite boasts the first residential community connected to Enwave Deep Lake Water Cooling, recycled drywall, low-VOC paints, environmentally friendly furniture, low-flow, high-pressure faucets and showerheads, ERV system, energy-efficient appliances, recycled and natural stone countertops, eco-friendly carpets and wood floors, FSC-certified millwork, energy-efficient electronics, LED lighting throughout suite, dual-flush toilets, eco-friendly cabinetry and walk-in closets, powered by Bullfrog, and more. $P D

35 Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre (4D)

189 Yonge St.; Sat & Sun: Tours at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m.

(Thomas Lamb, 1913) The last operating “double-decker” theatre in the world, the Elgin was originally built for vaudeville and silent films. Beautifully restored as live theatre venues by the Ontario Heritage Foundation between 1987-89. Admittance only by guided tours at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. D W $P H

36 Empire Sandy (Tall Ship) (4D)

441 Queens Quay W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

During World War II this vessel served as a “Deep Sea Tug.” In the 1950s she towed logs and barges on Lake Superior. Eventually purchased by Norm Rogers who gutted and rebuilt her in the style of an 1800s, three-masted schooner. W R $P K

37 Enoch Turner Schoolhouse (4D)

106 Trinity St.; Sat: not open; Sun: 10 to 5

(1848; west wing, Gundry & Langley, 1869) The oldest surviving school in Toronto was built as the city’s first free school by wealthy brewer Enoch Turner. See the exhibit “Old Town Toronto: Images of Past and Present,” become pupils in an 1858 re-enactment and try the “Heritage Buildings” quiz. D W $P K

38 Fairmont Royal York (4D)

100 Front St. W.; Sat: not open; Sun: 11 to 4

(Ross & Macdonald Ross, Townsend, Patterson & Fish, 1929) This hotel was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth when it opened in 1929. Tours (10-15 people per tour) of the famed Imperial Room, the Imperial’s backstage “green room,” the expansive kitchen, laundry and housekeeping and recycling facilities, the banquet kitchen and several banquet halls. (D) W R $P K

39 First Evangelical Lutheran Church (4D)

116 Bond St.; Sat: 10 to 5; Sun: 1 to 4 p.m.

(Charles F. Wagner, 1898-99) The sole spiritual home to Toronto’s Protestant German-speaking population for more than a century, the church replaced an earlier wooden meeting house that stood on this site from 1856. The rich interior decoration was completed in 1932.

40 Fort Rouillé (Historic site) (4C)

25 British Columbia Rd.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

At the monument commemorating Fort Rouillé, visitors discover the early history of French settlement in the Toronto area, interpreted by members of La Société d’histoire de Toronto. Site located near Scadding Cabin at Exhibition Place. $P D K

41 Fort York (4C)

100 Garrison Rd.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

Canada’s largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings. Established by Lt.-Gov. John Graves Simcoe in 1793. Tours by the chief curator, dance and historic-cooking demonstrations, exhibit on the Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse. (D) W R P K H G

42 Fort York Armoury (4C)

660 Fleet St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Marani, Lawson and Morris, 1935) Headquarters of four Army Reserve units and several Cadet organizations Sat. 2 p.m.: Full-scale military parade. Queen’s York Rangers install a new Regimental Sergeant Major, Trooping of the Colours and musket demo of 18th-century tactics. P D W

43 Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (4D)

145 Queen St. W.; Sat: not open; Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Diamond/Schmidt, 2006) See the world’s longest floating glass staircase and a horseshoe-shaped 2,035-seat auditorium with phenomenal advancements in modern engineering and acoustical design. Free family performances (45 minutes) of Mozart’s The Magic Flute (in English) at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. D W $P K

44 Gardiner Museum (4D)

111 Queen’s Park; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Keith Wagland, 1983, subsequent KPMB, 2006) Highly regarded modern building reopened in 2006 with dedicated exhibition space as part of an added third floor along with lower level ceramics studios and an open clay studio. D W K

45 George Brown House (4D)

186 Beverley St.; Sat: not open; Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(William Irving, Edward Hutchings, 1874-6, subsequent David Brass Dick) Second Empire-style house reflects the prominence of its original owner, George Brown, a father of Confederation and founder of The Globe newspaper. Restored by the Ontario Heritage Trust into a conference facility and offices. Visit the spectacular library. D W $P H

46 Gibson House Museum (2D)

5172 Yonge St.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Unknown, 1851, subsequent ERA) Georgian Revival-style house furnished to reflect family life in rural Willow Dale. Guided tours, cooking demonstrations in the historic kitchen and costumed interpreters. Interactive Discovery Centre for children. See “Urban Landscapes: The View from Here,” a Jane-Finch Youth Digital Imagery Project. (D) W $P K

47 Gladstone Hotel (4C)

1214 Queen St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 4

(George Miller, 1889) The oldest continuously operating hotel in Toronto features four floors of exhibitions from Contact Photography Festival. Guided tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Self-guided tours. D W R K G

48 Gloucester Square Inns: Edward Gallow Esquire Mansion and Charles Rundle Mansion (4D)

512 and 514 Jarvis St.; Sat: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Edward Gallow only) Sun: 12 to 5 p.m. (both mansions)

(E.J. Lennox, 1889-90) This pair of elegant 8,000-sq.-ft. Victorian mansions were built by Charles Rundle, the builder of Old City Hall. Among the finest examples of Richardsonian Romanesque style. The interiors boast turned newel posts and balustrades, paneled woodwork, molded coffered ceilings, stained-glass windows and doors by Robert McCausland, sweeping grand staircases and more. $P

49 Gooderham Flatiron Building (4D)

49 Wellington St. E.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(David Roberts Jr., 1892) Built for financier George Gooderham, this wedge-shaped Victorian landmark, posed against modern skyscrapers, is one of the most-photographed buildings in Toronto. Brief presentation on building history and access to common areas. $P

50 Gooderham House, The (4D)

504 Jarvis St.; Sat: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: Noon to 4 p.m.

(David Roberts, 1889) Originally built for George H. Gooderham. Designed in the Romanesque revival style, the building is adorned with stained glass, ceramic tiles, handcrafted millwork and sandstone. Housed Angelini’s restaurant for over 25 years, recently purchased by descendants of the Gooderham family and reopened as a restaurant and special events venue. Limited P R

51 Hare Krishna Temple (4D)

243 Avenue Rd.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

(Gordon & Helliwell, 1899) Built of white Kingston limestone, the former Presbyterian Church of the Convent was purchased in 1941 by the Church of the Nazarene; Charles Templeton preached here. The church was sold in 1975-76 and became the Hare Krishna Temple. Guided tours of the building highlight the architectural, historic and spiritual history. Sunday, 5 to 8:30 p.m., regular Church program open to the public. (Shoes to be removed before entering the prayer hall.) W R

52 Historic Zion Schoolhouse (1E)

1091 Finch Ave. E.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Unknown, 1869) An important part of the L’Amaroux community since 1869, the school is restored to depict 1910 era. Kids’ activities related to the period. D W P K

53 HOK (4C)

720 King St. W. (5th floor); Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Tolchinsky & Goodz, 1974) HOK’s Toronto office and studio was one of the first projects in Canada to receive a LEED-CI (Commercial Interiors) Gold certification. Completed in December 2004, the 20,695-square-foot office and studio space is located in a repurposed clothing manufacturing building. Its “green” qualities are effective use of natural daylight, low-VOC paint and other coatings, high levels of local and recycled materials, installation of operable windows, over 30% reduction in energy consumption, and the provision of 75% of its electricity provided by renewable resources. D W $P

54 Holy Blossom Temple (3D)

1950 Bathurst St.; Sat: not open; Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Alfred Chapman, 1938) Celebration of the 150th anniversary of the congregation continues. In 1938 it was the highest structure made of poured concrete in Canada. Majestic sanctuary contrasts with the more decorative chancel and striking stained-glass windows, including a stunning rose window. Guided tours (groups of 20). Limited P (D) W

55 Horse Palace Green Roof (4C)

15 Nova Scotia Ave.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 4

(J.J. Woolnough, 1931) The Horse Palace remains one of the finest Art Deco buildings in the country. In the summer of 2004, Exhibition Place launched two pilot projects: a 2,500-square-foot green roof “meadow” and a 100-kilowatt Pilot Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation Plant. Guided tours. Note: no children under 13 permitted (unless a baby in arms); a waiver must be signed prior to taking the tour (groups of 10). W $P

56 Horse Palace Toronto Animal Services (4C)

140 Princes Bl.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(J.J. Woolnough, 1931) This state-of-the-art facility maintains and highlights the architectural elements of the building while providing cat-and-dog play areas. Self-paced tours of Toronto’s newest animal shelter. Meet K9 Cody and pick up pet-training tips. $P D K W

57 Horse Palace: Riding Academy (4C)

15 Nova Scotia Ave.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 4

(J.J. Woolnough, 1931) Meet our school horses and miniature farm animals in the west wing of the Horse Palace. Tour the stables and see equestrian demonstrations at the top of each hour. $P D K W G

58 Horse Palace: Toronto Police Mounted Unit (4C)

140 Princes’ Bl.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 4

(J.J. Woolnough, 1931) In 2000, after major renovations, the Mounted Unit was relocated to the Horse Palace. Guided tours of the stable (each half hour). Sat: hourly riding demonstrations and Governor General Horse Guards “Skill at Arms” demonstration. Sun: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., annual Mounted Police Obstacle/Equitation competition. Free Canadian Pets and Animals Magazine. Passport for children featured in programme. D W K

59 Islamic Foundation of Toronto (2G)

441 Nugget Ave.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Khalil A. Syed, Architect, 1988) Originating in 1969, this is one of the earliest Muslim organizations in Canada. A 125-foot minaret captures the skyline, complemented by a copper-clad dome. The building is 53,000 square feet in area with prayer halls, classrooms, a library and gymnasium. Also houses a Hifz school. Religious customs to be observed: shoes to be removed before entering the prayer hall; modest dress (elbows and knees to be covered); no dogs. P W D R

60 Jami Mosque (4C)

56 Boustead Ave.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

Originally a neighbourhood Presbyterian church purchased and converted in 1968 into the first mosque in the Toronto area. Place of worship and community focal point for thousands of Muslims. Religious customs to be observed: shoes to be removed before entering main prayer hall; modest dress (no shorts); no dogs. W P

61 Japan Foundation (4D)

131 Bloor St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Craig Zeidler Strong Architects, 1964) Designed by Yabu/Puschelberg inside the Colonnade, facility provides a public space promoting Japanese culture. Waving walls and lights through squares and circles creates a whimsical, gentle atmosphere. “Painting for Joy: New Japanese Paintings in the 1990s” on exhibit. D W $P

62 Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre (4D)

227 Front St. E.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun: not open

(Strickland and Symens, 1887) This former Consumer Gas Works building renovated to house the Canadian Opera Company’s Imperial Oil Opera Theatre. Tours and free family performances (45 minutes) of Mozart’s The Magic Flute (in English) at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. D W $P K

63 John Mackenzie House (2D)

34 Parkview Ave.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 4

(Unknown, 1913) Three-storey brick house (1913), brick milk house (1907), stable (1915) and coach house (1918) have been restored by the Ontario Historical Society for its headquarters. Tours. (D) W P

64 John Street Roundhouse (4D)

255 Bremner Bl.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 4

(Anglin-Norcross, 1929) Learn about the importance of steam technology and the role of rail transportation in Toronto. See an indoor model railway show, ride an outdoor miniature train and visit the interior of the unrestored roundhouse structure (access may be restricted due to construction). (D) W $P H K

65 Lambton House (3B)

4066 Old Dundas St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Attributed to William Tyrell and Roland Burr, 1849) A hotel and tavern from 1847 to 1988, the only 19th-century building remaining from the village of Lambton Mills. This stagecoach stop on the Dundas highway was owned by Sir William Pierce Howland, one of the Fathers of Confederation. Tours and talk with local historians. (D) W R K H

66 LCBO Summerhill (North Toronto Station) (3D)

10 Scrivener Sq.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(Darling and Pearson, 1916; renovation and restoration by Goldsmith Borgal + Company Ltd, Architects, 2003) Neoclassical Beaux Arts railway station. Closed in the mid-1920s; converted into a LCBO and Brewers Retail Outlet after WWII. The clock tower was inspired by the campanile in St. Mark’s Square, Venice. Award-winning restoration completed in 2003. Guided tours. Complimentary booklet on site history. P D W

67 Leslie Spit Allotment Gardens (4E)

Entrance to Leslie Street Spit; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

One of the oldest allotment gardens in Canada was established by seven women in the 1970s. Birdhouses, sculpture, scented plants, plants from around the world, children’s gardens, free seed packages and a historical display of the allotment. Tour highlighting the great variety in plot design, plant materials, garden techniques and tools. P (D) W K G

68 Levitt Goodman House (4C)

328 Euclid Ave.; Sat & Sun: 12 to 5 p.m.

(Levitt Goodman Architects, 2006) The first house in the city to have a purpose-built planted roof. Storm water is handled on-site, front and back gardens are “working” landscapes, heating is water-based through a radiant floor system. Supplemental heat is supplied from a wood-burning stove.

69 Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex (4C)

25 British Columbia Rd.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(Chapman and Oxley, 1926) This Beaux Arts structure was a gift to the city from the province. The exterior is lavishly decorated while the interior provided interesting display spaces to showcase Ontario trades, commerce and products. Extensive renovations/restorations have given new life to this magnificent structure. $P (D)

70 Little Trinity Anglican Church (4D)

425 King St. E.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: 1 to 4 p.m.

(Henry Bowyer Lane, 1844) First opened to serve the poor, Irish working class in east-end Toronto by a powerful group of people including Bishop John Strachan, Alexander Dixon and William Gooderham. Today it is the oldest church building still standing in Toronto. Enjoy ongoing slide shows of historic photos and displays of memorabilia from our archives. W D $P

71 Live @ Courthouse (4D)

57 Adelaide St. E.; Sat: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Cumberland and Ridout, 1851) This Greek Revival courthouse was the symbol of the authority of law in Victorian Toronto. Served as a courthouse for 50 years and then became home to the Arts & Letters Club. Now houses the new music venue Live@Courthouse. $P

72 Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People (4D)

165 Front St. E.; Sat: not open; Sun: 10 to 4

(H.G. Salisbury, 1887-88; remodelled, Zeidler Partnership Architects, 1976-77) Originally built for the horses that pulled the Toronto Street Railway Company’s streetcars; later converted to an electrical generating plant and then a TTC warehouse. In 1977, it was converted into a main theatre and studio space. Behind-the-scenes tours and theatre-related crafts activities for children. D W $P K

73 Mackenzie House (4D)

82 Bond St.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Final home of William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto’s first mayor, outspoken journalist, political reformer and primary leader of the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. Built in the Greek Revival style. Print a souvenir on the 1845 hand press and join a scavenger hunt through the house. (D) W $P K

74 Market Gallery, South St. Lawrence Market (4D)

95 Front St. E., 2nd Floor; Sat: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

(Henry Bowyer Lane, 1845 subsequent: John William Siddall, 1899) Council chamber of Toronto’s 1845 City Hall survives as the city’s Market Gallery. “The Spadina Expressway Affair,” guest curated by Tim Whalley. Tours at 10, 11, noon and 1. No tours on Sunday. D W $P R K G

75 MaRS Centre (4D)

101 College St.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Darling & Pearson, 1913 Subsequent: Adamson and Associates 2005) Located on the site of the old Toronto General Hospital, the MaRS Centre incorporates a heritage building within two new buildings to create “a physical anchor” for the MaRS vision: a convergence innovation centre that fosters collaboration among science, business and capital sectors. Mind, Media and the Message digital arts festival open to the public. $P W D R

76 Metro Label Company Ltd. (2G)

999 Progress Ave.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Barry-Bryan Associates, 2005) Awarded LEED certification by the Canada Green Building Council, making this facility among the first industrial plants to certify under New Construction. Building highlights include: recycling heat from printing presses for building heating, wall insulation made from mineral wool and use of non-solvent base printing inks. Tours and interactive presentations. (D) P W R

77 Metropolitan United Church (4D)

56 Queen St. E.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: 1 to 4 p.m.

(Henry Langley, 1872, subsequent: J. Gibb Morton, 1928, Liz Davidson, 2003) Features include oak communion table carved with image of the Last Supper, first tuned carillon in North America and the largest pipe organ in Canada. Carillon tours: 1-2 p.m. Silver Band Choir concert, 1st Annual Guild Fair, Artisan market, display of Eastern Icons from St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Cultural Centre: 3-4 p.m. Contemporary Folk Band concert “Touch The Hem” in the Park. Guided tours. D W K

78 Montgomery’s Inn (3B)

4709 Dundas St. W.; Sat & Sun: Noon to 5

(unknown, 1830) One of Ontario’s finest examples of Loyalist Georgian architecture, now restored to the period of 1847-50. Self-guided tours. (D) W R P

79 Mountain Equipment Co-op (4D)

400 King St. W.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Stone, Kohn, McQuire and Voght, 1998) This store exceeds the required efficient building standards by 35%, but more than 50% of the building is made of recycled or reclaimed materials. Highlights include a 10,000-sq-ft green roof (signed waiver required) and a 40-foot climbing wall. Tours (15 people) every 15 minutes. $P (D) W K

80 National Ballet of Canada: Walter Carsen Centre (4D)

470 Queens Quay W.; Sat: not open; Sun: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg, 1995) Located on Toronto’s central waterfront opposite the Music Garden. Watch rehearsals, meet dancers, try on costumes and see behind-the-scenes displays. D W R K

81 Noor Cultural Centre (3E)

123 Wynford Dr.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Raymond Moriyama, 1963) Received international attention for the way it combined a modernist sensibility with details and proportions reminiscent of Japanese building traditions. After the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre moved out of the building, Moriyama & Teshima Architects were responsible for transforming the building into an Islamic cultural centre, introducing subtle details that allude to Islamic building traditions. D W R K G P

82 Old City Hall (4D)

60 Queen St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(E.J. Lennox, 1899) One of Toronto’s best-known landmarks is also one of the finest examples of Romanesque Revival in North America. Beautiful stained glass, faux marble columns, mosaic floors and murals designed by George Agnew Reid. No interior photography permitted. (D) W $P K H

83 Ontario Association of Architects (2E)

111 Moatfield Dr.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 4

(Ruth Cawker, 1992) Lifted from its hilltop site on columns and featuring bright interiors with natural light, the building houses a double height exhibition gallery and lounge as well as meeting rooms and offices. Self-guided tours and an exhibit of OAA award-winning design selections. D W K P

84 Ontario College of Art & Design: Sharp Centre for Design (4D)

100 McCaul St.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: not open

(Addition, Will Alsop and Robbie/Young + Wright Architects, 2004) Canada’s oldest and largest university of art and design. The Sharp Centre, opened in 2004, is a unique “tabletop” structure that has quickly become one of the most exciting landmarks in Toronto. It stands 26 metres above the ground on 12 multi-coloured legs. Work by the top medal winners of the graduate exhibition and other selected graduate work on display. D W $P

85 Ontario Heritage Centre (Birkbeck Building) (4D)

10 Adelaide St. E.; Sat: not open; Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(George Gouinlock, 1909) Tour the two-storey main floor of this stately Edwardian office building, which features Art Nouveau stenciling and ornate interiors. Now home of the Ontario Heritage Trust. Self-guided tours. D W $P H

86 Ontario Legislative Building (Queen’s Park) (4D)

College St. & University Ave. (in middle of Queen’s Park Cres.); Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Last tour departs at 3:30 p.m.

(Richard Waite, 1893, west wing rebuilt after fire, E.J. Lennox) Recent restorations to this impressive Richardsonian Romanesque building have revealed much of the original building including restored legislative chamber and Lieutenant-Governor’s suite. Guided tours every 15 minutes (50 participants) from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Arrive early to avoid disappointment. D K

87 Ontario Place (Grounds Only) (4C)

955 Lakeshore Bl. W.; Sat: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: noon to 5 p.m.

(Eberhard Zeidler and Michael Hough, 1969-71) Grounds only admission. The original park consisted of three man-made islands connected by picturesque bridges and walkways with the PODs and the geodesic dome of the Cinesphere as the focal points. Learn about recent renovations to reduce energy consumption, the use of lake-water cooling and the new fish habitat. $P W R K D

88 Ontario Science Centre Architectural Walkabout (3E)

770 Don Mills Rd.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Raymond Moriyama, 1967-196, subsequent: Diamond and Schmitt Architects) This tour does not include admission to the Science Centre’s exhibits. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the OSC is offering an exclusive guided tour of indoor and outdoor architecture and nature sharing the history of the building and the vision of Moriyama. $P (D) K R W G

89 Osgoode Hall (4D)

130 Queen St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

A landmark and hub of legal life in Ontario for more than 170 years. The front fa?ade is essentially as it was in 1860. Access to both sections of the building, one operated by the Attorney-General of Ontario and the other by the Law Society of Upper Canada. Current exhibit “Lawn & Border: The Grounds of Osgoode Hall.” D W $P H

90 Parc Downsview Park Movie Studio Building and Corporate Office (2C)

35 - 40 Carl Hall Rd.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 4

A former storage warehouse and distribution centre for the Canadian Forces, NATO and the United Nations. Now home to a movie studio. The Corporate Office building was originally used for the overhauling of aircraft engines, and is now the head office for Canada’s first national urban park. Guided tours. W D P G K

91 Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse (4C)

Fleet Street and Lakeshore Bl.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Kivas Tully, 1861) Escorted tours begin at Fort York. The 11-metre-tall, red octagonal tower was built in 1861 and was originally known as The Toronto Front Range Light. Its red beam was visible 12 kilometres, helping ships avoid the underground sand bar at the western end of Toronto Bay. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1912 but preserved and moved to its present location in 1929. View the archival exhibit at Fort York, then proceed to the lighthouse. Limited access; steep narrow ladder to the observation level.

92 Ravina Project (4E)

75 Ravina Cres.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Unknown, 1925) See a privately funded solar research project at work in a residential property. Guided tour.

93 Redpath Sugar Refinery Museum (4D)

95 Queens Quay E. (west gate); Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Unknown, 1957- 1959) The first industrial facility built specifically to coincide with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Hourly guided tours of museum and raw sugar shed. (D) W $P

94 Residences at Regal Hand Laundry (4E)

743 Queen St. E.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Unknown, 1880s; Live Lightly Developments, 2005) In 2005 Greg Bonser renovated an existing 19th-century structure. The new “green” building has high levels of insulation, energy recycling systems and geothermal and solar thermal heating, making it one of the most efficient buildings in the city. See the renewable energy systems that heat and cool the building. (D) K

95 Riwoche Tibetan Buddhist Temple (3C)

28 Heintzman St.; Sat: not open; Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Unknown, 1920s) Previously the factory showroom of the Heintzman Piano Company, the temple was purchased and renovated by the Riwoche Society of Canada. The large shrine room is stunning and is home to many Buddhist statues (some as large as 8 feet). Demonstrations of Tibetan music, art and culture. W

96 Robertson Building (4D)

215 Spadina Ave.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Denison and Stephenson Architects, 1911-1913, Zeidler Partnerships) Recent redesign of this restored industrial building downtown includes a living, breathing plant wall in the main lobby and a 4,000-square-foot green roof planted with native Ontario wildflowers. Special access will be granted to the bio-wall in the front lobby, the private roof garden and the Centre for Social Innovation. Guided tours at 11 a.m. both days. D W

97 Royal Canadian Military Institute (4D)

426 University Ave.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(1890, altered, Chadwick & Beckett, 1907, 1913; altered, Mackenzie Walters, 1930; altered, Fisher Tedman Fisher, 1955) In 1890, the Officers of the Toronto Garrison founded the institute with the Earl Grey as its patron. Much of the interior space of this handsome private club is devoted to galleries of Canada’s military history. Guided tours of selected areas. (D)

98 SAS Building (4D)

280 King Street E.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(NORR Limited-David Clusiau, Design Principal, 2005) Owned by the Canadian division of the world’s largest privately held software company and built to LEED standards, it incorporates many environmentally sound features, including rainwater harvesting and a three-storey internal atrium with skylight. Guided tour and interactive presentation on green design aspects. D

99 Scadding Cabin (4C)

Exhibition Place; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Unknown, 1794) The oldest building in Toronto, the house was built for John Scadding, clerk to Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe, by the Queen’s Rangers. Moved from its original site on the Don River to Exhibition Place in 1879. $P K

100 Scarborough Historical Museum (Cornell House) (2F)

1007 Brimley Rd.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Unknown, 1858) Exhibit at the Ontario Vernacular-style house: “Agincourt: A Community History,” tracing the experiences of new immigrants and long-time residents in that neighbourhood. (D) W P K G

101 South Central Letter Processing Plant (4E)

969 Eastern Ave.; Sat: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun: not open

(Unknown, 1973) The country’s largest letter-mail plant. Over 9 million items of mail are processed every day, almost half of the nation’s total. See machinery that sorts mail by postal code and is almost a city block long, and the stations where postal workers key mail that cannot be read electronically. (D) W R

102 Spadina Museum: Historic House and Gardens (3D)

285 Spadina Rd.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Unknown, 1866 subsequent: Vaux Chadwick, 1896; later renovations by Eustace Bird for Carrere & Hastings, 1905, 1909, 1912) Built by financier James Austin in 1866; enlarged by his son, Albert, between 1898-1913. This handsome house reflects the changing tastes of three generations with its original furnishings, personal mementos, architectural and decorative details. Access to the seldom-seen third floor and costume studio. D W $P R K

103 Steam Whistle Brewing, The Roundhouse (4D)

255 Bremner Bl.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Renovation, William Hurst Architects, 2000; WHA Architects Inc., 2007) Steam Whistle has preserved much of the original structure in its brewery, including the exposed brick and original Douglas fir posts that support the sloped cedar roof. Catwalks retain the feel of the building’s original use. Free brewery tours every half hour. D K $P W R H

104 St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Scarborough (2F)

115 St. Andrews Rd.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Peter Scott, 1849) The oldest church in Scarborough and the oldest Presbyterian church in the current city of Toronto, St. Andrew’s is a fine example of early Gothic Revival architecture. Major renovations in 1892 and 1990 have retained the feeling of a sanctuary in the woods. Cemetery tour at 1 p.m. D W P

105 St. Anne’s Anglican Church (4C)

270 Gladstone Ave.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Ford Howland, 1907) In 1923, J.E.H. MacDonald was commissioned to decorate the interior with murals depicting scenes from the life of Christ. Seventeen spectacular murals were produced by members of the Group of Seven and their acquaintances. Sculptures by Frances Loring and Florence Wyle further enhance the dome. Reputed to be the only Byzantine-style Anglican church in Canada. Guided tours and tearoom. P W R H

106 St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish (2E)

670 Sheppard Ave. E.; Sat: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

(Roberto Chiotti/ Larkin Architect Ltd, 2006) Canada’s greenest church features a solar glass wall facing a naturalized garden and a “living wall” that purifies the interior air. This Roman Catholic “Passionist” parish has “an undeniable beauty” and was recently announced as LEED Gold certified. Guided tours and architect talk with Roberto Chiotti at 1 and 3 on Saturday, and 3 on Sunday. D W P

107 St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church (4D)

115 Bond St.; Sat: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: 1:30 to 5 p.m.

(John Wilson Siddall, 1895, Subsequent: Allan Young) The Byzantine octagonal structure was originally the Holy Blossom Synagogue. Acquired in 1937 by the Greek Orthodox parish of St. George, it was renovated in the 1980s and its interior painted by the Pachomaioi monks, iconographers from Mount Athos, Greece. Magnificent frescoes. 20-minute guided tours every half hour, Byzantine icon exhibit, Greek pastries bake sale. W R

108 St. George the Martyr (4D)

197 John St.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Henry Bowyer Lane, 1844) Founded by St. James’ Cathedral in 1844 on land donated by the D’Arcy Boulton family (of The Grange). Fire destroyed the church in 1955, but the graceful bell tower remains. The original font, installed in 1850 in thanksgiving for the removal of cholera, and an original teardrop stained-glass window can be found in the refurbished schoolhouse where the congregation now meets. D W $P G

109 St. James’ Cathedral (4D)

65 Church St.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sun: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

(Frederic Cumberland, 1853: Subsequent; William Storm, Henry Langley) Home to Toronto’s first Christian community, this English Gothic Revival-style church is noted for the tallest spire in Canada, fine stained glass, and North America’s only peal of 12 change-ringing bells. Self-guided tours. Concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday. D W

110 St. James’ Cathedral Parish House (4D)

65 Church St.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

(Darling and Pearson, 1910) Houses materials relating to the history of the cathedral and its surrounding parish, dating back to its founding more than 200 years ago. Exhibit “St. James’ Cathedral; a Living Part of Toronto’s History” displaying the close associations of the cathedral with the history of Toronto since the very founding of the city in 1793. W

111 St. Jamestown Sailing Club (4D)

10 Regatta Rd.; Sat & Sun: 1 to 5 p.m.

(Unknown, 1972) The club has operated on a volunteer, non-profit basis since the ’70s; providing low cost sail training & small sail craft access. Originally an industrial wasteland, the area was put to use when unused school portables were trucked in as clubhouses. Offering quick sails into Toronto’s harbour in sailing dinghies (adults only, must sign waiver; conditions & capacity permitting). Guided tours of clubhouse. P G

112 St. John’s Anglican Church, West Toronto (3C)

288 Humberside Ave.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Unknown, 1923) The magnificent stained-glass windows by Robert McCausland and W.T. Lyon combine the Arts & Crafts Movement with the romantic sensibilities of the Pre-Raphaelites to portray the life of Christ. In 2002, the church interior was repainted according to the design of contemporary stained glass artist Stuart Reid. Guided tour. D W R P K G

113 St. John’s Rehab Hospital (1D)

285 Cummer Ave.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Mathers and Haldenby, 1937; Subsequent: Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc.) A series of wings, including historically designated facades, built over many years to accommodate the evolving rehabilitation needs of patients. Exhibit on the founding of the hospital, meet with the Sisters of St. John the Divine and see the chapel with intricate stained-glass windows. Guided tours of 25 acres of landscaped grounds and patient areas. D W R K G P

114 St. Lawrence Hall (4D)

157 King St. E.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(William Thomas, 1850) Premier venue for public gatherings in Toronto until the 1920s. The building declined as Toronto’s social centre moved west, but was restored in 1967. Exquisite stone and ironwork, Corinthian columns and a distinctive cupola. Opera Atelier: Dance Through Time performance Sun. from 1-2 p.m. D $P H

115 St. Michael’s Cathedral (4D)

65 Bond St.; Sat: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sun: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

(William Thomas, 1847) Designed in English Gothic Revival style, this is the spiritual seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. Painted ceiling and exuberant Gothic arches grace the interior. Guided tours. D

116 St. Paul’s Basilica (4D)

83 Power St.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun: 12 to 4 p.m.

(Joseph Connolly, 1887-89; Subsequent Charles Hazell) Patterned on the Italian Renaissance-style St. Paul’s-Outside-the-Walls in Rome. Designated the only Minor Basilica in Toronto by Pope John Paul II in 1999. Beautiful interior restoration was recently completed. Self-guided tour. All-wood R. S. Williams organ will be played at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. on Sunday. D W P

117 St. Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church (4D)

103 Bellevue Ave.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: 12 to 5 p.m.

(Thomas Fuller, 1858; rebuilt, Gundry & Langley, 1865; additions, Eden Smith & Sons, 1890) One of Toronto’s earliest surviving Gothic Revival churches. Structure is the result of the efforts of some of the most prominent and revered architects of the city’s 19th century. Stunning stained glass by the renowned McCausland, Dominion Stained Glass and N.T. Lyon studios. (D) H

118 St. Thomas’s Anglican Church (4D)

383 Huron St.; Sat: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

(Eden Smith, 1893) Founded in 1874 as the parish church of Seaton Village. Constructed in red brick in 1893, in the style of the Arts and Crafts movement, the church was one of the first buildings designed by renowned Toronto architect, Eden Smith. Organ demonstration by John Tuttle at 3 p.m. on both days. W

119 Thomas L. Wells Public School (1G)

69 Nightstar Rd.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Baird Sampson Neuert Architects, 2005) As the first LEED Silver-certified elementary school in Canada, this is the first of a new generation of high-performance “green schools” by the TDSB. Classrooms are designed to maximize solar exposure; high and low window vents provide effective passive ventilation; while durable materials used throughout the building help promote long term sustainability. Tours, exhibits and children’s activities. (D) W P R K

120 Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Art Centre (3D)

67 Pottery Rd., between Broadview Ave. and the Bayview Extension; Sat & Sun: 12 to 5 p.m.

Explore the unique adobe construction of the 1830s Helliwell House, tour the 1820s Regency-style cottage and visit the recently renovated Papermill Theatre and Gallery. Guided walks through the 9.2-hectare wildflower preserve. (D) W P K R G

121 Toronto’s First Post Office (4D)

260 Adelaide St. E.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Unknown, 1833) Part of a historic block of buildings, this red-brick Georgian structure is the only operational post office surviving from before 1851. (D) W $P K H

122 Toronto-Dominion Centre (4D)

66 Wellington St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Ludwig Mies van der Rohe with John B. Parkin Associates, 1964-71; Subsequent; Bregman & Hamann; 4th tower added 1985-86) The complex is considered among the best buildings of the Modern Movement in Canada. An outstanding example of International Style of architecture, it set a standard for urban development in Toronto. Tour of the 54th-floor tower and displays including live birds of prey that make their homes atop some of Toronto’s skyscrapers. D W $P

123 Toronto Botanical Garden (3E)

777 Lawrence Ave. E.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Raymond Moriyama, 1964; Subsequent: Jerome Markson, 1976; Montgomery Sisam, 2006) Self-guided tour of new LEED-certified green building and 12 outdoor themed gardens. Explore the James Boyd Children’s Centre. At 1 and 2 daily: Architect David Sisam and lead landscape architect Jim Melvin will discuss the award-winning green design features. D P W R K

124 Toronto Necropolis Cemetery, Chapel and Crematorium (4D)

200 Winchester St.; Sat & Sun: 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

(Chapel, Henry Langley, 1872) Comprises 18.25 acres and opened in 1850. William Lyon Mackenzie and Ned Hanlan are among the famous Torontonians interred here. Chapel, lodge and porte-couchère are among the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Canada. W P D R

125 Toronto Police Service Marine Unit (4D)

259 Queens Quay W.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(1986) Staffed by 50 officers who operate 15 vessels on a year-round basis. The Toronto Police Service Marine Unit has been in this location since after World War II. Self-guided tours. D

126 Toronto Postal Station K (3D)

2384 Yonge St.; Sat: 12 to 4 p.m. Sun: not open

(Murray Brown, 1936) Art Deco building constructed on a locally significant historical site. Learn about the recent makeover that this flagship postal station received, tour the delivery centre where letter carriers perform the final sorting of mail. (D) H W

127 TTC Bay Lower (4D)

1234 Bay St.; Sat: 12 to 3 p.m.

(Arthur G. Keith, 1962)

Bay Lower is fully operational but is used today for work vehicles, moving trains from one line to another, training and filming. Not open to the public since 1966, visitors will be able to walk along the subway platform where the scenes of countless movies and commercials have been shot. G

128 TTC Harvey Shops (3D)

1138 Bathurst St.; Sat: 12 to 3 p.m. Sun: not open

(Unknown, 1923) Harvey Shops is located at the TTC’s historic Hillcrest Complex and opened in 1923. This property was once home to the Hillcrest Race Track. See cranes, hoisting equipment, air and lube systems, repair bays and the transfer table, which transports the streetcars from the entrance track to the work bay. G W

129 Union Station (4D)

65 Front St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(G.A. Ross and R.H. MacDonald, Hugh Jones and John M. Lyle, 1914-27) Largest and most opulent station erected in Canada and one of the most significant hubs in the Canadian transportation network. Guided tours by the Toronto Railway Historical Assoc., exhibit of archival historical photos. (D) W R $P H

130 University of Guelph-Humber (2A)

207 Humber College Bl.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Diamond and Schmitt Architects, 2003) Features a four-storey living plant wall that not only adds a stunning backdrop to this state-of-the-art university facility, but enhances the indoor air quality and improves energy efficiency by breaking down harmful airborne contaminants. Guided tours. D P W R

131 University of Toronto: Bahen Centre for Information Technology (4D)

40 St. George St.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Diamond + Schmitt Architects Incorporated, 2002) At approx. 20,000 gross square metres, this is U of T’s largest academic building. Complex structure weaves around heritage buildings. Visit the main atrium and one of the typical faculty floors, the Department of Mathematics. D $P W

132 U of T: Davenport Garden (4D)

80 St. George St.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Landscape Architect: Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg, 2005) The garden is a refurbishment of a concrete paved roof over a parking garage. The roof has been transformed into a sustainable oasis marked by new native trees and grasses and enhanced accessibility. An outstanding water feature creates a focal point at the north end of the site. D

133 U of T: Multi-faith Centre – Koffler Institute (4D)

569 Spadina Ave.; Sat & Sun: 10 to 5

(Shore Tilbe, 1989 Moriyama and Tashima) The Multi-faith Centre, on the top two floors of the building, constructed this year as a major renovation, includes a “living” wall in the meditation room and use of recycled wood materials. Carpeting is 100% recyclable and there is a new sustainable roof. Tours and performances. D W $P

134 U of T: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (4D)

252 Bloor St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5

(K. R. Cooper, 1970) Tour the outside of this classic late modern concrete building and lobby with original furnishings and artwork. A new exhibition, “OISE D+A,” on the art, design and architecture of OISE in the library. Original 1970s furniture on display. D W

135 U of T: Soldiers’ Memorial Tower (4D)

7 Hart House Circ.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Sproatt & Rolph, 1924) Built to commemorate the 623 men and one woman lost to U of T during World War I. The clock and carillon were added in 1927. The names of the 557 men and women lost in World War II are carved into the two walls of the memorial archway. Small museum located on the second floor. $P

136 U of T: Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (4D)

120 St. George St.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun: not open

(Mathers and Haldenby; with Warner, Burns, Toan and Lunde, 1973) The south tower of the Robarts Library complex. The interior is one of the most impressive and dramatic sights in the university, with six mezzanine floors of rare books. Exhibit on David Thompson, Canadian fur-trader, explorer, and cartographer. Overview of collections by staff. (D) W $P

137 U of T: University College and Art Centre (4D)

15 King’s College Circ.; Sat: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: not open

(Cumberland and Storm, 1856-59. Art Centre 1996; expanded, 1998-2000, F & S Design Team) The quintessence of High Victorian architecture and one of the most widely recognized landmarks on the campus. Founded in 1853 as “the provincial college” to provide university education in Ontario without regard to religious privilege. Guided tours, used book sale and access to the Art Centre – Toronto’s third largest public gallery. “Projections” exhibit: A major survey of projection-based works in Canada, 1964-2007. (D) W $P H

138 University Women’s Club of Toronto (4D)

162 St. George St.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Unknown, 1903) Originally a private residence, the University Women’s Club moved into the building in 1929. Tour the salons, dining room and bed & breakfast rooms. $P (D) G

139 York Museum: Centennial Building (3C)

2694 Eglinton Ave. W.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun: not open

Community museum tells the story of the former City of York from its early beginnings to the present time. Solo performance by Flutist Katie Welnetz of “Lullabies From Many Lands” from 10:30 a.m. to 12 and 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Saturday. D W P

140 Zeidler Partnership Architects Building (4D)

315 Queen St. W.; Sat & Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Zeidler Roberts Partnership/Architects, 1983) An excellent example of how a modern building can blend into an existing neighbourhood. To maintain the character of the street, retail uses were incorporated in the design and the architectural office placed above. Guided tours and presentations of current projects around the world. $P (D)

141 Zion Church Cultural Centre (1E)

1650 Finch Ave. E.; Sat & Sun: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Unknown, 1873) Restored as a multi-purpose cultural centre in 1998, the former Zion Primitive Methodist Church is located on the highest point of elevation in the City of Toronto. Tours, kids activities and exhibits. D W P K

142 University of Toronto: Burwash Dining Hall (4D)

89 Charles St. W.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sun: not open

(Sproatt and Rolph, 1913) Last-minute addition: Guided tours of dining hall and senior common room, Victoria University. (D) W

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Lawn Care Made Easy

Many people worry about providing the proper care for their lawns, but the truth of the matter is, grasses that we plant in our lawns are hardy plants that don’t ask for a lot in terms of care. If you spend a little time and money on fertilizing and watering, your lawn will reward you with a lush green carpet.

Understanding Your Lawn

Lawn grasses are foliage plants, which we cherish for their leaves—those cool green blades that we love to walk on during warm summer days. If we keep that in mind, we’ll remind ourselves that just like the plants in our gardens, grass has particular needs.

Unlike many plants, however, most grasses used for lawns have shallow root systems that don’t go deeply beneath the soil surface. The roots linger in the topsoil, causing rapid depletion of nutrients. This is why for best results, you need to fertilize your lawn on a regular basis.

Feeding Your Lawn

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for a green, healthy lawn. Nitrogen promotes vegetative growth in plants without it, leaf production dwindles. However, just as we should not overeat, we should not over do it with fertilizer. Too much nitrogen all at once leads to rapid growth, but it neglects the nutrients that are essential to developing a strong root system.

A balanced fertilizer containing the three primary elements—nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K)—applied lightly several times a year (rather than all at once) will yield the best results. The grass will grow lush and green, as well as develop strong root systems and a resistance to disease and pests.

Choosing a commercial fertilizer

There are many fertilizers on the market that are specifically formulated for lawns. Their labels should clearly indicate a higher nitrogen value than phosphorous and potassium, such as an 8-2-2. If you choose non-organic fertilizer, look for a granular product that releases nutrients slowly. Avoid liquid fertilizers that are sprayed or watered in, as these can release too much nitrogen too quickly.

Organic lawn fertilizers are an excellent choice. They offer a slow, gradual release of nutrients, which avoids burning the lawn from accidental over fertilization. Beneficial soil organisms are attracted to these fertilizers, breaking down the organic matter and releasing more nutrients for the roots to absorb.

When to Fertilize

To encourage hardy blade development, apply fertilizer early in the season, before the grass starts to grow. Later in the season, before the dormant period, apply a product that encourages good root development.

Your specific climate will determine when to do these applications: spring and fall for cold climates, early and late summer for warm climates. Follow the product’s instructions closely on rate and amount of application.

You may want to invest in a drop spreader. These have a hopper that holds the fertilizer, feeding it out in a steady rate as you roll the spreader over your lawn. Most fertilizers come with instructions for calibrating your spreader’s delivery rate to suit the particular fertilizer formula you’re using.

Watering Wisdom

As with garden plants, the mantra for watering is “water well, not often.” Your goal is to supply an adequate amount of water to the soil. A deep, thorough soaking of the soil will encourage the roots to reach down into the soil and develop a stronger root system.

If you merely do a light watering every day or so, the soil will not be adequately soaked, and the roots—finding water at the surface—will become shallow. This can lead to root burn and grass death, especially during hot, dry spells.

When to water

Take your soil’s composition into consideration when you water. A heavy clay soil drains slowly—an asset during dryer summers. Sandy soil, however, tends to drain quickly and can often show signs of drought stress. Lawns with lots of direct sunlight require more water than partly shaded lawns. And cool-climate lawns require less water than those in warmer climates.

The grass will tell you when it’s time water. A wilted lawn is gasping for water. But if the grass is springy underfoot, it’s getting adequate moisture, so there’s no need to break out the hose.

Some homeowners check the soil moisture by digging up a small plug of grass, roots, soil and all. If the soil is dry, it’s time to water; if moist, leave the sprinkler off until another day. Simply replace the soil plug and it will settle back to growing.

Turning on the tap

Most of us use lawn sprinklers to water the grass. There are a number of options available, all of which will cover large areas at a time. Portable surface sprinklers are sufficient for many homeowners, especially in areas with good rainfall.

For those who need to irrigate regularly, an automatic impulse system (that requires installation) is a better choice.

Early morning waterings are ideal, giving the water time to soak down to the roots and the grass blades time to dry before evening. Avoid watering on windy days, when much of your precious moisture may evaporate before roots can absorb it. And never water during the heat of the day.

Water slowly and deeply, allowing moisture to seep 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) into the soil to root level. The rule of thumb is 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water per week for an average lawn with moderate drainage; adjust your rate to lower or higher levels according to the soil composition.

To know how long your system takes to deliver that inch of water, place a couple of small containers beneath the sprinkler, each marked with a line at an inch from the container’s bottom. The length of time it takes to fill the sprinkler to that inch level is the amount of time to operate the sprinkler each time you irrigate.

Hold your water

Your water source, whether it’s your municipality or your own well, may not allow you to water the lawn during extended dry spells. Don’t panic if your lawn turns brown; all this means is that the grass has gone dormant, as it does during winter months. As soon as rainfall or watering resumes, it will green up again.

Remember, grass is a hardy plant. It can usually withstand regular seasonal ups and downs. But with proper fertilization and watering, your lawn will reward you for your care year after year. If you live in arid locales, make sure you’ve planted a drought-resistant species of grass.

You may also consider planting drought-tolerant groundcovers, such as lavender or creeping thyme, or other low-growing drought-tolerant perennials and shrubs, as a replacement for part or all of the grass in your lawn.

Source: From Carefree Plants

http://www.readersdigest.ca/homegarden/n_homegarden_lawn1.html

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卢刚事件，是指1991年11月1日就读于美国爱荷华大学的中国博士留学生卢刚在校园中射杀数人的枪击事件。该事件在当时曾震惊中美两国，也引起了一场关于中国教育弊端的讨论。

卢刚简历

卢刚生于北京市，18岁考入北京大学物理系，1984年通过CUSPEA考试，1985年本科毕业后进入爱荷华大学物理与天文学系攻读研究生。1991年通过答辩获得博士学位。他的博士论文题目是《Study of the “critical ionization velocity” effect by particle-in-cell simulation (ionization)》，导师是本系教授克里斯托弗·戈尔咨（Christoph K. Goertz）

经过

1991年11月1日下午三点半左右，卢刚进入了正在进行专题研讨会的爱荷华大学凡艾·伦物理系大楼（Van Allen Hall）三楼的309室，在旁听约五分钟后，他突然拔出左轮手枪开枪射击，他首先击中他的博士研究生导师，47岁的戈尔咨教授，并在戈尔咨教授倒下之后，又在教授脑后补了一枪；然后，他又朝他的博士研究生导师助理史密斯（Robert Alan Smith）副教授身上开了两枪。此时，在场的众多人士刚刚有所醒悟，纷纷逃离现场，这时卢刚又瞄准了当时在场的另一位中国留学生，27岁山林华博士，接连向山林华的的脑部和胸膛连开数枪。随后，卢刚离开了第一现场到达二楼208室系主任办公室，一枪射杀了44岁的系主任尼克森（Dwight R. Nicholson）。在确认尼克森死亡之后，卢刚又返回第一现场，发现几个学生正在抢救奄奄一息的史密斯教授，于是又朝史密斯的脑部补发了致命的一枪。

然后卢刚持枪离开物理系大楼到达生物系大楼，由一楼走到四楼，似乎在寻找一名女性目标（有目击者见他进入女厕所寻人），其间遇到师生多人，但卢刚并未开枪滥杀。

在未找到射击目标之后，卢刚又进入了行政大楼，冲入一楼111室的校长办公室，向副校长安妮·克黎利（T. Anne Cleary）前胸和太阳穴连开两枪，又朝办公室内的学生秘书茜尔森（Miya Sioson）开了一枪。

随后，卢刚到达二楼的203室，饮弹自尽。

结果

整个枪击过程不足20分钟，卢刚在自杀前总共向六个人开枪，除女学生茜尔森（Miya Sioson）被击中脊椎，颈部以下全身瘫痪外，其余五人全部丧命。

警方在随后的调查中又有些许的发现，杀人者使用的武器为38口径连发左轮手枪，另一把22口径手枪被随身携带但未使用。此外警方也截获并扣押了卢刚在事发前几天寄回国内的包裹、家信、汇款等，并查到了卢刚的遗书，据爱荷华大学官方宣称遗书共五页，其中四页英文一页中文，但在事发一个多月后警方仅向媒体公开了四页英文遗书。

关于杀人者的枪杀动机，警方未有正式的结论，但据部分媒体报道，枪击的直接原因可能是由于博士论文最高奖学金没有由卢刚获得，而是由山林华获得。令有说法认为，枪击的原因可能在于经过长达6年辛勤工作得到博士学位的卢刚，却无法得到一份应得的可以维持生计的体面工作，走投无路的他决定自杀，并对社会的不公进行极端报复。

各方反应

卢刚事件在美国华人社圈中反响很大，各华文报刊几乎众口一辞，对卢刚其人痛加指责，并针对其中国大陆的背景大肆抨击。另有小部分人认为其行为是中国人对美国社会的反抗，打破了中国人在美国社会一向沉默、驯服的形象。

在枪击事件发生后的第三天，受害人之一的安妮·克黎利女士的家人，通过媒体发表了一封给卢刚家人的公开信，信中追忆了安妮·克黎利女士的成就，并以宽容的态度希望能分担彼此的哀伤。

“卢刚事件”真相

1991年11月1日，这个震惊全美的事件是这样发生的：

下午三点半左右，爱荷华大学凡艾·伦物理系大楼(Van Allen Hall)三楼的309室正在进行专题研究讨论会。在一片扬声争议与喁喁低语交织成的天文物理讨论会上，卢刚出现了。这个28岁的青年博士、北大物理系高材生穿着大茄克，带着一个提包，悄悄地推开门，像一块陨石般地急促而又无声地降落在309会议室，他装出世界上最无害的样子在角落里翘了翘脚。窗外，他能看到爱荷华城的一部分。他在这里生活了6年，从1985年出国直至现在，在这间房间里通过博士论文。整整6年，他没有离开过爱荷华大学，现在他就要和它告别了。他望着窗外，天上刚刚起风，毫无趣味。一种恶心的、报复的快感笼罩着他。他把手再次伸进口袋，那里有一把0.38cm口径左轮小手枪，全部荷满了子弹。“只要够用就行。”他想。5月份他向爱荷华地方长官办公室申请到了枪支许可，6月份他跑到爱荷华市一家叫Fin ＆ Feathers的渔猎商店花了200美元买下这支巴西制金牛星手枪。他仔细挑选过，这是一把仿制美国警方用的史密斯-威森牌的左轮手枪。从那时起他就想干这件事。“我早就有这个意思了，但我一直忍耐到我拿到博士学位。”他在给他二姐的最后遗书中写着：“你自己不要过于悲伤，至少我找到几个贴背的人给我陪葬。”光溜溜的手枪柄仍然有些冰凉，他脸上现出毫无表情的样子看着一切，看着所有的人。哪怕最靠近他的人，也不易察觉到他眼里闪过的一瞥阴冷凶狞的光芒。静静地旁听了约五分钟，他突然拔出手枪开枪射击!他首先开枪击中他的博士研究生导师、47岁的戈尔咨教授，戈尔咨教授应声倒下，他又在教授脑后补了一枪；继而他又朝史密斯教授身上射击了两枪。在场人士一时还未反应过来，以为他拿玩具枪恶作剧，直到看到两位应声倒地的教授的脑门和身上流出大摊鲜血才知他真在杀人!一位中国同学李新不堪刺激当场昏倒，另一位中国同学吓得夺门而逃，跑到一处有电话的地方报警求救。这时卢刚已经冷静地将枪口瞄准他嫉恨已久的“竞争对手”——原中国科技大学高材生山林华博士。他一连朝小山的脑门和胸膛连放几枪，山林华连哼都来不及哼一下就当场被枪杀。卢刚在第一现场枪杀了这三个人之后，又噔噔地从三楼跑到二楼，打开系主任的办公室，一枪射杀了44岁的系主任尼柯森。他确认系主任已经死了后，又跑回三楼第一现场以确定戈尔咨、史密斯、山林华三人是否已经都死了。室中有几名惊吓得目瞪口呆的证人，其中之一是研究科学家鲍·汉生，他和另两名同学正围着奄奄一息的史密斯教授。他还没有死，生命从他的眼里突然逃遁，刚才还那么灵活、大声地激烈雄辩的学者脸上一下子被死亡来临罩上一层灰白。卢刚没有打中他的心脏，他鲜血涌注，在书桌下面挣扎着。三个人正准备把他抬起来送去抢救，这时卢刚在309室门口挥舞手枪叫他们出去。鲍·汉生轻轻喊了一声：“Stop it!”(住手!)卢刚不予理睬，然后走到躺在地上的史密斯教授面前，对准他惊恐万状、带着哀求的眼睛又补发了致命的一枪。他马上就死了。这时卢刚跑下物理系大楼，持枪飞快地跑到邻近的生物系大楼，从一楼走到四楼，似乎在寻找一名女性目标(目击者见他进入女厕所寻人)，在这过程中他遇到生物系的几位师生，并没有开枪滥杀。在生物系大楼他没有找到他的“射击目标”之后，他又冲到大学行政大楼，推开副校长安妮·克黎利(Anne Cleary)女土的办公室，朝她胸前和太阳穴连射两枪，副校长的女秘书惊恐、本能地拿起电话要报警，他又向女秘书颈脖上射了一枪然后举枪自杀。

整个凶杀过程只有十分钟。六人死亡，女秘书重伤。

1.卢刚

电浆是由自由的离子与自由的电子组成的电中性混合体，而宇宙的组成物质百分之九九是电浆。美国国家太空总署同意拨款几千万元在该校进行太空科学研究。

杀手卢刚也是研究电浆的。他的毕业论文是探讨临界电离速度。因为电浆是个极为专门的领域，目前全美只有300名左右的科学家有能力从事电浆研究。卢刚在智慧上能够思索宇宙苍穹辽阔无涯的问题，可是在现实生活中却成了一名高智商低智能者。他以疯狂的行为来残害那么多师长、同学以及自己的生命，造成永远无法弥补的悲剧。

那么，卢刚究竟是个怎么样的人呢?

卢刚绝对聪明。

他是北大物理系的高材生，也是家里唯一的儿子。从小极为聪明，学习上一帆风顺。在北大物理系毕业后他参加了李政道主持的严格考试，在数百名佼佼者中脱颖而出，名列前茅，顺利考取由中国政府出资的公派生来到美国留学。以学业成绩相比，卢刚和山林华的水平不相上下。卢刚参加博土资格考试时与山林华同时并列第一，各门科目全都是“A”，他所获得的高分打破物理系历届记录。要给卢刚和山林华分高下的话，乃是后者的博士论文更受学术界的首肯与赞扬，并因此被系方推荐获得DCS学术荣誉奖，而前者却落空。

卢刚和山林华都是爱荷华大学天文物理系1991年新出炉的博士。山林华比卢刚小一岁，比卢刚晚两年来到爱荷华大学，拿到学位的时间却比卢刚早上半年。毕业后，成绩优异、研究成果丰硕的山林华被系里留下来继续做博士后研究，并按照Research Investigator(调研员)的职位领取薪水。而卢刚则没有那么幸运，当他今年5月拿到博士学位毕业后，找工作的事始终没有着落。全美各大学的研究经费都受到削减，根本没有什么机会，几位教授为他推荐也无任何结果。他认为是教授们冷淡的原因。卢刚曾对人表示，尽管是“公派”，他也不愿返回大陆工作。卢刚的研究工作一直不太顺利，他的博士论文口试没能当场通过，相反山林华不仅提前毕业获得博士学位，而且他的博士论文还得论文奖，并有一份安定的工作。这些都是卢刚最不能忍受的，亦为他最气愤而对山林华下毒手的原因之一。

卢刚是一个受过中美两国高等教育，有理智，具有分析和思辨能力的人。卢刚也并无精神失常或任何变态表现。他感情从不错乱，爱憎分明，也无酗酒、吸毒的习惯。因而他的行动决不是一时冲动，而是冷静地思考，多次权衡的结果，是按照他所奉行的人生信念行事的结果。

据曾经与卢刚同住一室的爱荷华大学教育系博土生赤旭明回忆说：卢刚这种冷血杀人行为，不仅是由于妒恨，而且是因为他天性中潜伏着一种可怕的“杀机”， “性格决定命运”。

在同学们眼中，卢刚是一个刚愎自负、目中无人、时而埋头研究、时而放浪形骸的人。他十分孤独，没有什么人愿意和他来往。他在北京市汽车配件厂当工人的父亲说：“卢刚有两个姐姐，他是家中唯一的男儿。”卢刚出国前个性很强，孤僻，不合群；与父母亲也很少交谈，只有和二姐关系密切些。他通过越洋电话对记者说：“卢刚赴美后经常给二姐写信，在出事前两天，卢刚曾与他在北京的二姐通过电话，聊了很久。”卢父说，几个月前，卢刚曾在家书中提及由于美国经济不景气，毕业后一直没找到工作。家人表示，打算为他在国内设法安排工作，但遭卢刚拒绝。赤旭明说他在1987年夏天与卢刚、山林华合租一个一房一厅，他与小山住卧房，卢刚住客厅。卢刚从不打扫屋子卫生，喝牛奶从不用杯子，打开盖对着嘴咕噜咕噜喝完就随手扔在地上。赤旭明比他大十岁，以长辈的口气告诫他，结果卢刚“目露凶光”，表现得非常凶恶。他形容卢刚根本不把别人放在眼里，自视甚高，经常以“物理尖子”自居。说话喜欢揭别人短处，以嘲弄别人为快乐，时常 “出口伤人”。他说卢刚不仅人品素质极差，而且十分好色。他曾幻想所有的女孩子都拜倒在他这个“天之骄子”的脚下，也费了不少工夫追了许多女孩子，但屡遭挫折。他经常入酒吧，把自己打扮得很“美国化”，以示与其他中国同学的“风度不同”。有一次他去拉斯维加斯赌城，想用90美元嫖妓，结果被拒绝。这使他恼羞成怒，耿耿于怀。另一位物理系的学生说，卢刚与人合住一个公寓，夏天天热，他睡在客厅里，经常把冰箱打开一整夜，根本不顾别人存放在冰箱里的东西酸馊腐败。卢刚在很多留学生口中，是一个攻击性很强，让人下不了台，又十分自私的人。久而久之，几乎没有人愿意再和他来往。

即使你不断地试图想发现卢刚在个性上有何可取之处，却没有一个人予以肯定的答复。物理系的一位学生对卢刚的评语是最客气的：“他是个思考问题的方式与一般人截然不同的人，凡事都想到阴暗面，喜欢走极端。”

纽约《世界日报》刊登了卢刚喜欢走极端，不给人余地的性格的一个例子。和卢刚同属“空间物理理论小组”在杀人现场昏迷的李新说，近来因为美国经济萧条，政府裁减预算的缘故，系里在毕业生中发起募捐。卢刚用支票开了一张捐款，面额是一分钱。

“卢刚是一个自恋型的人物，”一位熟悉他的教授说，“自恋性格的人会怨恨他们认为伤害他们感情的人。他们看人，并不是看人的本身——并不看人的本质，而是根据自己的解释看这些人怎么伤害他。”这位教授说，“拿着一支枪连续射杀六人，他只把这个视为消灭对他的伤害，而不是杀害其他活生生的同类。”

2．山林华

“一个人要是没有在生活的韶光中看见过天使，在生活的灾难中看见过恶魔，他的心就永远不会开窍，也永远不会有情感。”

听爱荷华大学的同学谈卢刚以及被卢刚杀死的山林华，就像听人谈论白天与黑夜的差异一样。一位美国记者说，他们的叙述给人的感觉是：山林华似乎是上帝刻意制造出来，故意要向世人显示善与恶、美与丑、正与邪、光明与黑暗的强烈的对比。

山林华在爱荷华大学知名度颇高，是前任中国学生联谊会会长。而卢刚则由于性情孤僻，连中国学生联谊会也没有加入。山林华今年27岁，浙江省嘉兴人，毕业于中国科技大学。四年前通过美籍华裔物理学家李政道在大陆主持的考试，进入爱荷华大学攻读物理博士学位。由于他成绩极为优异，在博士资格考试时与卢刚并列第一名。他人缘很好，系里教授对他大为赞扬。

卢刚的父亲是工人，山林华的父亲是农民，他来自浙江一个贫穷的农民家庭。他的弟弟山雪良在得到这个噩耗时在电话中失声痛哭：“我哥哥是苦孩子出身，好不容易才熬到今天，我们全家以他为骄傲，那个人为什么要杀他这样好的一个人!”山雪良说他在农村种地务农的父母身体不好，家中还有一位年逾古稀的老奶奶，视山林华如同命根子。他至今也不敢告知家人他哥哥的死讯。为到美国料理后事，他只好撒谎，说哥哥在美国生病需要人照料，才得以让家人放心，赶赴美国。

山雪良说山林华自幼就刻苦耐劳。由于家里穷，身为长子，吃了很多苦，但他一直自强上进。1981年，16岁就以优异成绩考取中国科技大学少年班。 1987年赴美留学后，为了接济大陆农村亲人，他长期省吃俭用，每次攒下一二百美元即往家乡寄。两个月前，家中父老还收到他一张200美元的汇票。他每次写信，都是“报喜不报忧”，以免让老奶奶及父母挂心。经常劝父母用他寄回的钱吃好些，补养身体。在他们那个村子里，山林华是个出名的好孩子，没想到会突遭惨祸。

山林华的岳父是安徽合肥的一位学者。在山林华被杀害前48小时刚刚抵达爱荷华市作访问，却不幸看见女婿身亡，女儿年纪轻轻成孤孀。

曾经同山林华、卢刚住一个公寓的赤旭明说，小山出身农民家庭，家里很穷，全凭个人努力奋斗登上大陆一流学府中国科技大学的殿堂，并以优异成绩赴美深造，非常不容易。当他听说小山遇害的消息时，他难过得哭了好几场，因为他在与小山共住一室的日子里，发现了他身上许多美德。他举例说：小山为了帮助仍在安徽老家的弟弟筹措结婚费用，省吃俭用，相当长一段时间天天喝牛奶，吃面包果腹。因为这两样东西在美国都很便宜。

爱荷华大学电脑博土研究生华欣说，山林华为人非常好，聪明能干，勤奋好学，读书成绩一直名列前茅，他获最佳论文奖学金是实至名归的，卢刚不应因妒生恨将他杀害。作为山林华的朋友，他非常难过，很多同学听到这个消息，都难过得失声痛哭，对凶手暴行十分气愤。

受访的学生在谈到山林华时，没有人不是充满了感情与怀念的。几乎大家都不太能接受他就这样与中国同学们天人永隔的事实。在大伙心目中，与卢刚尖锐的个性相对的是山林华的宽宏。经常挂着微笑的山林华总是替别人着想，愿意对人伸出援手。与山林华一同毕业于中国科技大学的雪山在谈到他时几度哽咽不止。她说，只要同学开口，即使山林华自己已经买好了菜，他还是高高兴兴地开车送没车的同学去超级市场。许多到爱荷华大学念书的新同学，都是山林华到20多公里外的Cedar Rapds机场接来的。作为中国学生联谊会主席，他热情地帮新的同学找房子，买便宜生活必需晶。哪个同学要搬家换房子借他的车，他也总是一句话：“没问题!”质朴诚恳的个性，使他在爱荷华大学的340多名中国大陆留学生中树立了很高的威信，大家都习惯亲切地叫他“小山”。

物理系的冯炜说：中西部大学与大城市学校不同，因为没有地方可以走动，中国留学生之间的来往十分密切，学生联谊会办的活动大家都踊跃参加。小山于1988 年至1989年担任中国学生学者联谊会会长，把联谊会活动办得有声有色。李新说，博士生课业都很忙，山林华自己做学问极为认真，但没有什么恃才傲物、高人一等的态度，没有学究气。凭着他的纯朴与义气吸引了一群“哥儿们”，大家同心协力为联谊会做事，举办各种活动，深得人心。

物理系几位比较熟悉山林华及卢刚研究工作的人都表尔，山林华在事业上比卢刚得心应手，并不只是运气较好的缘故。一般人只能从山林华与卢刚截然不同的个性与作风去了解他们：山林华人缘好，常微笑，伸援手；卢刚则独来独往，作风怪异，脸上永远是阴霾笼罩。物理系的同学则进一步从个人专业去探讨两人之间的分野。他们说山林华的研究工作不仅在系里，即使在整个太空科学领域中都是十分出色。山林华的论文至少已有三四篇刊登在他们那一行最权威的、由戈尔咨教授所主编的 Journal of Geophysical Research(JGR)刊物中。

山林华的毕业论文是他与戈尔咨教授共同研究的成果。他们率先从理论上解释土星的光环结构，并进而分析光环的年龄。这篇论文经系主任及其他教授们的推荐，获得了全校最佳论文奖Spriesterback Dissertation Prize(DCS荣誉奖)，奖金2 500美元，享有很高的荣誉。

系里的同学说卢刚对山林华得奖很不是滋味，几度向系里和校方提出抗议及申诉，但毫无结果，没有人认为他有道理。李新同学表示：其实这个奖是由教授直接选拔推荐的，并不是任何人都可以自由申请。

天文物理系的同学们说，山林华在得奖之后还不断“出活儿”。又与戈尔咨教授及史密斯教授共同在JC只上发表论文，对能够阻碍通讯的“地球磁暴”现象提出解释和预测。冯炜认为：这个题目比土星光环更重要、更受学术界的重视。

以学业成绩相比，卢刚和山林华的水平不相上下。在博士资格考试时，两位来自大陆的“天才生”并列第一名，可是，以研究能力而论，山林华做出的成果显然更受学术界肯定。“独行侠客”卢刚不肯下苦功做研究，与教授隔阂很深，却偏偏死心眼要和山林华争最佳论文奖，结果越搞越往牛角尖里钻，终于滋生杀机，选择一条玉石俱焚的毁灭道路。

l1月7日在山林华的追悼会上，杰逊成牧师用哀痛语气说：

“山林华是一个热爱生命的人。运动是他仅次于物理的第二所爱，他尤其喜爱看美式足球——橄榄球。而且他恐怕是唯一真正懂得规则的中国学生。他不但懂而且乐于向人讲解，不会让人弄糊涂。”这句话让参加追悼会的人难得地笑出声来，好像小山就在眼前一样。

爱荷华市立公园旁的Park Lawn学生宿舍里，小山家的灯光只能映出山林华的妻子杨宜玲哀伤的面容。从11月1日以来她眼泪已经哭干，精神状态也有些恍惚。山林华连一声叫喊都来不及发出，连一句话都没有留下，就这样骤然而逝。

伤逝啊!伤逝!那个喜欢朋友，喜欢在周末打篮球、踢足球、打桥牌，喜欢在电视机前向朋友们大声解释美国橄榄球规则和赛情的小山，那个喜欢与朋友说宇宙苍穹和地球经纬奥秘的小山；孤寂地躺在阳光永远也照不到的角落，等候着浙江老家的弟弟前来见上无言的最后一面。

他的父母，他的年逾古稀的老奶奶，还在浙江农村的田地里盼望着他的来信，他们对着遥远的望不见的美国，呼唤着：“小山啊……小山!”

3．卢刚给二姐的最后家书

美国报刊于不久之后公布了卢刚在杀人当天——1991年11月1日12时02分写给他二姐的一封信。

二姐：

你好!内附的支票请迅速存入银行。这封信是专门写给你的，故不要让家里的其他人看到，在你读到这封信时，我大概已经不在人世了。我已寄了一些东西回去，算是我的遗物。我想你只要跟海关说明，他们会让这些东西进境，就算是我自己带回来的。我最担心的是父母二老，他们年事已高，恐怕受不住这场风波。但我自己是无能为力。这副重担就要落在你肩上了。我恳求你一定要照顾好他们，不息(惜)一切代价。另外，不要花钱为我办葬礼。千万不要跑到美国来搬运尸体回家。最好是让中国大使馆把我的遗体在美国就地火化，只运一些骨灰回去即可。牢记：不要让美国这边敲诈钱财。我想我寄回去的钱物足以报答父母的养育之恩，以 (已)足够报答两位姐姐的抚育。我昨晚给你打完电话后，一个人哭得死去活来，我死活咽不下这口气。你知道我一生来正直不阿，最讨厌溜须拍马的小人和自以为是的赃官。我早就有这个意思了，但我一直忍耐到我拿到博士学位。这是全家人的风光。你自己不要过于悲伤，至少我找到几个贴背的人给我陪葬。我这二十八年来的经历使我看淡了人生，我曾跟几个人说过我想出家修行去。人的生活欲望是没有尽头的。在美国虽然吃穿不愁，但上边有大富人，跟他们一比，我还是个穷光蛋。总之，我给我自己出了气，给家里人生计提供了保障。我还有何奢望迷恋人世呢?古人云：“久旱逢甘露，他乡遇故之(知)，洞房花烛夜，金榜题名时。”这人生四大目标，我都已尝过，可谓知足矣!我虽然是单身，但女友已有过一些。高中住宿时我就已开始交女朋友，上大学时经常和女孩乘黑溜进二六二医院老家过夜。到美国后，中国的外国的、单身的已婚的、良家女或妓女都有交往。我这人没有恒心，我是见异思迁，不能安心于某个特定之人。也许是没有遇到合适的或高不及低不就。

不管怎么说，我对男女关系已经有些腻烦了，进一步我对我攻了十年之久(四年本科，六年研究生)的物理已经失去兴趣，可说是越走越觉得走进死胡同。物理研究是越来越失望，目前是公说公有理，婆说婆有理，谁也不知道到底是怎么一回事。于是人们按照不同的学校分成几大派，互相攻击对方，大为吹捧自己。无怪有人说“现代物理是自己骗自己”。我有些后悔当初没有学更实际一些的学科。有什么办法呢?父母自己一窍不通，不能在学业上加以指导，全靠我一个人瞎闯。很多美籍华人物理学者在美国混得不得意，就回到国内一阵时间，吹嘘自己，为祖国贡献。于是中国政府也就大肆宣扬，哄年轻人去读纯理科。

不过话又说回来，若我当初去读工科，我今天绝对不可能来美国读学位攒美金。父母是没有经济实力送我来美国深造的。本校一些搞应用学科的人，他们父母大多是留过学的高级知识分子，家里有外汇，可以提供子女考托福、GRE，提供在美的学费和生活费，或他们有海外亲属来借钱。我今天到这一步，已可以说是有父母的过错在内。我信奉：“生为人杰，死为鬼雄。”我一切自己做自己当。另外，最好不要让下一辈得知我的真相，否则对他们的将来不利。永别了，我亲爱的二姐。

弟 卢刚

1991.11.01.12:02

[美]周励．曼哈顿的中国女人

受害者的亲属给卢刚家人的信

在遭枪击后的第二天(1991年11月4日)，安妮(T.Anne Cleary)在医院不治身亡。她的家人当天给卢刚的家人写了一封信，内容如下：

给卢刚的家人们：

我们刚经历了一场惨痛的悲剧，我们失去了我们为之骄傲的亲爱的姐姐。

她一生给人所留的影响，让每一个与她有过接触的人——她的家人、邻居、孩子们、同事、学生和她在全世界的朋友和亲友们——都爱戴她。当我们从各地赶来衣阿华时，那么多朋友来分担我们的悲痛，但同时他们也与我们分享安妮留给我们的美好的记忆和她为人们所作的一切。

当我们沉浸在沉重的悲痛中时，我们也在我们的关心和祈祷中记念你们——卢刚的家人们。因为我们知道你们也一定沉浸在沉重的悲痛中，你们也一定和我们一样为周末所发生的事所震惊。安妮相信爱和宽恕。我们也愿意在这一沉重的时刻向你们伸出我们的手，请接受我们的爱和祈祷。在这悲痛的时刻，安妮一定是希望我们心中充满了怜悯、宽容和爱。我们清楚地知道，此刻如果有一个家庭正承受比我们更沉重的悲痛的话，那就是你们一家。我们想让你们知道，我们与你们分担这一份悲痛。

让我们一起坚强起来，并相互支持，因为这一定是安妮的希望。

真诚的弗兰克、麦可和保罗

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The city’s new heart

Winning bid sees revamped `stage’ to showcase city’s green vision Cleaner, greener and more sustainable – that is the new vision of the city and that will be the new face of Toronto’s most important public space.

Elegant, treed design chosen for remake, now it’s up to public, firms to raise $24M

Mar 09, 2007 04:30 AM
John Spears
CITY HALL BUREAU

Toronto has an elegant new design to rejuvenate Nathan Phillips Square.

Now all that’s needed is the money to get the job done.

A six-member jury announced the winner of the design competition at city hall last night: Plant Architect Inc. & Shore Tilbe Irwin.

It features a permanent stage on the west side of the square, and a new restaurant and skating change rooms west of the reflecting pool.

Thickly planted trees will sprout along the Queen St. side of the square, with more trees along Bay St. The Peace Garden shifts to the west edge of the square and the roof of the main city hall podium will become a lawn and sculpture garden.

Seats will be scattered across the open spaces of the square and a disappearing fountain will spout water. Top standards for environmental design are featured throughout.

The one fly in the ointment: The city doesn’t yet have money in the kitty for the $40 million project. City council has earmarked $16 million in its five-year capital budget. That leaves $24 million that Mayor David Miller says must be raised from public and corporate donations.

But Miller noted that the project is designed so it can proceed in stages, so the money needn’t flow all at once. And fundraising will cement the public’s bonds with the square, he said.

“We’re confident we’ll be able to raise the money to complete it as it should be,” Miller said after the winner was announced.

“It should be magnificent. That’s what we deserve in this city and I think building a partnership with Torontonians is the way to do it.”

Nor will the need for money stop with the original construction tab.

The city absorbed a stern warning from the jury that, once completed, the rejuvenated square will need ongoing care and attention.

Their proposal: A curator to care for the square’s physical well-being and to co-ordinate activities that take place in it.

“We firmly believe that the new space will require a new level of stewardship that frankly has not been evident in the past,” architect Eric Haldenby, who chaired the jury, told Miller and the assembled notables after announcing the winner.

Plant Architect Inc., Toronto, with Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners (architect, Toronto); Peter Lindsay Schaudt Landscape Architecture, Inc. (landscape architect, Chicago); Adrian Blackwell (design collaborator, Toronto); Blackwell Bowick Partnership Limited (structural engineer, Toronto); and Crossey Engineering Ltd. (mechanical and electrical engineers, Toronto)

Public spaces need attention, he said in an interview:

“My sense is in Nathan Phillips Square there has not been a co-ordinated oversight of the space itself … The consequences are a kind of slow deterioration of the space.

“If they go ahead with the proposition of the sustainability features, like the gardens on the roof, they cannot be just left like the sort of paltry things that are up there now,” he said.

“There has to be a new level of commitment.”

The jury even proposed a source for funding to keep the square spruced up.

There is, Haldenby said “$7.5 million (in revenue) from the parking garage downstairs: If we’re into sustainability, there could be a little bit of a tax from parking, in our view.”

If the city neglects the square, he said, the members won’t be silent: “We assure the city that we the jury will not walk away and forget it … We will be watching.”

The jury included former mayor David Crombie and author Michael Ondaatje.

Andrew Frontini, a member of the winning team, said the designers were sensitive to the city’s uncertain finances. “It actually breaks down into discrete pieces quite nicely, so we imagine our design could be very successfully staged,” he said.

“For example, we could start with the rejuvenation of the podium or the elevated walkway, and not worry about the restaurant or the theatre for a few years.”

Miller said Chicago raised $100 million for its Millennium Park, and Toronto has a history of successful fundraising.

“Torontonians will contribute the same way,” he said. “People contributed to Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts right across the street, ROM, all these institutions.

“Nathan Phillips Square is the most important space in this city. We’ve got $16 million of city money in, and I’m confident we’ll raise the remaining money soon … I’m not going to stick a deadline on.”

Contributors will be recognized “very discreetly,” Miller said; no one will be skating on the Coca-Cola Rink.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “This is Nathan Phillips Square, that’s how it’s going to remain.”

Miller said his confidence in the project was boosted by the passion of the winning design team: “I think that passion’s going to translate into tremendous rejuvenation of this public space.”

Frontini said he hopes the environmental sensitivity of the design will be “a banner to the city of Toronto and a statement that says: `We are a city that supports sustainability.’”

弥敦菲腊广场翻新 多市建筑公司夺标 赢4000万合约

【明报专讯】弥敦菲腊广场的新设计由那间建筑师楼赢得，终于在昨晚揭晓。多伦多的建筑师楼Plant Architect & Shore Tilbe Irwin击败最后入选的其他3名对手，获得市府的4000万元合约，为市议会大楼前面的弥敦菲腊广场换上新装。

击败3对手

胜出的设计包括了一个永久性的户外舞台、一间可俯瞰广场的户外咖啡室、以及一个建在高层的花园。

Plant Architect & Shore Tilbe Irwin的Andrew Frontini表示，他们的设计，将会令游客见到一个充满生气的弥敦菲腊广场，而这个有□新面貌的广场将创造一个享受城市生活的场所。

新设计包括：

●在广场西南角有一两层的餐厅，并有一户外平台；

●在广场西南角有一公共亭及美食摊档；

●在皇后街及卑街那边有一个玻璃亭及游客资讯亭；

●广场中间有一新的季节性喷水池；

●重新设计的园林植物；

●在上层有一花园。

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2006年5月31日0:43:19(京港台时间)（星星生活特稿：图文/捷克佳、汪伟明）如果游遍了安省的主要景点，不妨将视线转向边界的南面。距多伦多四个小时之内的美国纽约州中西部芬格湖群游览区将是一个绝佳的选择，区内景色秀美的地貌景观和丰富多彩的人文景观令游客流连忘返。

芬格湖群（Finger Lakes）是由一组湖区狭长、长短不一的冰川湖组成。因形状酷似手指，也译为手指湖，更有人俗称为五指湖，但湖的个数并不止五个。湖水流向由南至北，最终注入安大略湖。这些湖的名字均为原住民印第安人所取，最大的湖是“卡尤加”（Cayuga），有40哩长，其次是辛力加湖（Seneca Lake）。湖区一带也是美东著名的酿酒之乡，沿途葡萄园随处可见。

美国的顶尖名校著名的“常青藤联盟”（Ivy League）之一的康奈尔（Cornell）大学就坐落在是卡尤加湖区南端大学城伊萨卡（Ithaca）东北面的山顶上。康奈尔大学是“常青藤”中最年轻、占地面积最大的学校，校园景色被称为全美国风景最佳校园。

康奈尔大学标志性建筑钟楼

避开城市的喧嚣，进入风景秀丽的康奈尔大学犹如走入一个世外桃源，学校依山傍水，深深的峡谷将校园南北分割，几座吊桥点缀其间，作为连接的步行通道。一座吊桥的侧面是由世界著名建筑设计师美籍华人贝聿铭设计的艺术馆（John Art Museum），虽然几何形的结构与校园的总体建筑不太协调，但也是校园的著名一景，内有一些免费参观的艺术展。校园内的标志性建筑当属钟楼（Clock Tower），是明信片上出现次数最多的建筑。

在芬格湖群旅游区，集中有26个纽约州立公园和旅游点。每个引人入胜的景点均有独特之处，内容包括峡谷、激流、瀑布，健行步道、运动休闲、湖滨游船，以及历史景点等。其中芬格湖区历史最悠久、最为著名的是沃特金斯-格伦州立公园（Watkins Glen S.P.），在公园内一哩路的健行步道就会遇见十九个壮观非凡的瀑布，沿途则清晰可见万年来水流侵蚀的岩层，令人惊叹大自然的鬼斧神工。

沃特金斯-格伦州立公园峡谷

另一个近伊萨卡的景点是托格汉诺克瀑布公园（Taughannock Falls S.P.），这个瀑布是美国东北部落差最大的瀑布，有六十五米，比美加边境的尼亚加拉瀑布（Niagara Falls）还高出十米。不过，气势远逊于后者。

美国东北部落差最大的瀑布托格汉诺克瀑布

随便提一句，芬格湖旅游区公园的门票极为便宜，绝对票超所值，一部车仅收费6元，而且当日可在区内其他州立公园内通用，类似于我们俗称的日票（Day Pass）。

如果对人文景观和玻璃制造业感兴趣，不妨参观芬格湖区南部的两个相邻不远的小镇康宁（Corning）和埃尔迈拉（Elmira），前者有世界最大的康宁玻璃博物馆（Conning Museum of Glass），展览品包括从埃及时代到现今的玻璃制品。后者则是美国著名作家马克．吐温（Mark Twain）曾经生活的地方，也是他的长眠之地。

埃尔迈拉大学内的马克．吐温书斋

在埃尔迈拉镇，马克．吐温在农场的书斋完成了《汤姆．索亚历险记》、《哈克贝里．芬历险记》等为人熟知的作品。在市区的埃尔迈拉大学内，可以参观已经搬入校园的马克．吐温书斋（Mark Twain Studies）和标高两英寻（即Mark Twain）的铜制塑像。在镇中的伍德劳恩（Woodlawn）公墓，可以去墓地凭吊，也算是与大师最亲密的接触。此外，还可以路旁观望仅对研究学者开放的马克．吐温在郊外居住的夸瑞农场（Quarry Farm）。

东方大峡谷的岩石桌景点

在芬格湖群旅游区以西另有一个景点不容错过，这就是被称为北美八大奇景之一的东方大峡谷，即莱奇沃思州立公园（Letchworth S.P.），其最精华部分在始自公园南门的上游瀑布、中游瀑布、和下游瀑布，以及岩石桌（Table Rock）。与湖光山色水平如镜的阿岗昆绝然不同，如果秋季在东方大峡谷内赏枫，伴随着咆哮而下的瀑布和湍急的河水，将别具另一种风情。

主要旅游线路（此为两日游线路，夜宿伊萨卡）

多伦多（Toronto）—–水牛城（Buffalo）—–莱奇沃思州立公园（Letchworth S.P.）—–康宁（Conning）—–埃尔迈拉（Elmira）—–伊萨卡（Ithaca）—–康奈尔大学（Cornell University）—–托格汉诺克瀑布公园（Taughannock Falls S.P.）—–沃特金斯-格伦州立公园（Watkins Glen S.P.）—–多伦多（Toronto）。

主要相关网站

www.nysparks.com
www.visitithaca.com
www.cmog.org
www.elmira.edu
www.cornell.edu

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Hazel McCallion
She’ll be the mayor of Mississauga until she’s dead. Or possibly longer
Kelly Patrick, National Post
Published: Saturday, April 08, 2006

If ever there was a crowd Hazel McCallion couldn’t work, you’d think this would be it.

Mississauga’s 85-year-old mayor is about to address a horde of students some 70 years her junior at Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School’s first annual Holi festival, a Hindu celebration of spring. Her audience is filled with brown-skinned boys in street clothes and girls in vividly coloured saris, all busy ignoring the other presenters.

If her fuschia blouse didn’t match a few of the saris, McCallion would be utterly out of place. As it is, she looks like a little old lady who wandered into the wrong event, but apparently got the memo about the evening’s colour scheme.

Then she takes the mic. She’s louder than the previous speakers by several decibels and, impressively, knows exactly how to cut through the kids’ chatter. “You know, I just got back from India,” she says, referring to a February trip she took to the subcontinent to drum up business for Mississauga and the GTA.

At the word India, the mainly Hindu crowd whoops and claps like a pack of concert-goers who’ve just heard the headliner mention a local watering hole. McCallion drops the name of another Indian city, then another. Each time, the students reward her with a fresh eruption of cheers.

She’s working the crowd like the very old pro that she is.

After more than 27 years at Mississauga’s helm and more than four decades in local politics, the woman Mississaugans call Hurricane Hazel still has the common touch, even with tough-to-please teenagers.

That common touch, combined with a spine of steel and the stamina of a 20-year-old, has made nearly every year of McCallion’s career fascinating to watch.

But this year has been particularly compelling.

Besides embarking on her Indian adventure, in the last 12 months McCallion has been named to the Order of Canada, voted the planet’s second-best mayor, travelled to Tanzania with her Hazel’s Hope charity and announced that, yes, she will stand in November for an 11th consecutive term.

She won’t come right out and say it, but everyone in the city knows it: McCallion will be mayor of Mississauga until she’s bedridden or dead.

Figuring out why she sticks with it — and why her constituents keep returning her to office with more than 90% of the vote, victories that would make a dictator envious — is part of what makes McCallion the GTA’s most compelling politician of 2006.

To her, the reason she keeps running is simple.

“I enjoy it. I get up in the morning and I’m anxious to get going,” McCallion said during an interview at the two-storey red brick Mississsauga home she shared with husband Sam until his death in 1997.

However, talking to McCallion, her eldest son, friends and observers, it’s clear the mayor’s work is about much more than enjoyment or keeping busy in her eighth decade.

In the same way she embodies the city she’s led for 28 of the 32 years it has existed, the city embodies her. Running it is the source of her good health and sharp mind. It’s her salve for life’s wounds.

When McCallion lost Sam, her husband of nearly 46 years and father of her three children, to pneumonia following a battle with Alzheimer’s, it was the pile of work waiting for her at City Hall that helped her get through it.

“I think the best thing I say to people is to have something to do to keep you occupied,” she said at her house, dog Hurricane lying at her side. “To sit around and grieve about it doesn’t do much good. But you have to have a challenge and I had to get back to work. There were items that had to be dealt with at the city and I think that helped considerably.”

Even at home, McCallion’s work is everywhere.

Piles of file folders cover the kitchen table. Bobble-head dolls of McCallion in various sports uniforms sit on the counter. Photos of her at events — but also with her children Peter, Linda and Paul and granddaughter Erika — cover the fridge door. Outside, her Christmas lights have yet to be taken down.

“Personally,” said Ron Lenyk, the long-time publisher of the Mississauga News, “I think if she had to retire it would be so hard on her. It would be like losing a loved one.”

McCallion’s love affair with politics began in the mid-1960s in Streetsville, a village that a decade later joined with several others to form the City of Mississauga. But her preparation for politics began much earlier.

Born Feb. 14, 1921, in Port Daniel, a farm and fishing town on Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula, Hazel Journeaux was the youngest of five kids. As a child, she picked up her business acumen working in the little grocery shop her father, Herbert, ran for the fishermen whose catches fed his fish processing plant.

McCallion sharpened her business skills at secretarial school in Montreal, then with a job at the Canadian arm of M.W. Kellogg, a New York-based engineering and construction company.

When the firm won the contract to build the world’s first synthetic rubber plant in Sarnia, McCallion moved to Toronto to help set up the office.

“She did a helluva good job,” said Hank Wurdermann, the general manager who brought her to Toronto, in a documentary produced for McCallion’s 80th birthday.

“I sent her down with these papers and she had to see the chap to whom I reported in the U.S. company. And he called me right after she left his office and said ‘Where the hell did you find her? She thinks like a man.’ ”

In 1951, she married Sam McCallion, whom she’d met in an Anglican youth organization.

The couple moved to Streetsville. In 1967, the no-nonsense businesswoman decided to step down from M.W. Kellogg to throw herself into full-time politics in the town, where she was appointed deputy reeve in 1968, then reeve and elected mayor in 1970.

Although McCallion fought desperately to keep Streetsville out of the Region of Peel and the City of Mississauga, she joined those she couldn’t beat when she was elected to the first councils of Mississauga and Peel Region in 1974.

Four years later, at the age of 57, she ran for the city’s top job. “At the time, I remember her saying she only had the wives of important people supporting her,” said Lenyk.

McCallion’s eldest son, Peter, now 53, remembers her support as more widespread. At least if you judged by residents’ lawns.

“It was a good fight, don’t get me wrong. I’m going by number of signs — that doesn’t necessarily win an election of course — but we definitely had the signs,” he said.

Still, even after McCallion became Mississauga’s first female mayor, there was little indication she’d be in the office until the 21st century, said Ron Duquette, a community advocate and filmmaker about to start work on a book about the mayor’s life.

When she first got elected on council in Mississauga and even her first term as mayor, I don’t think a lot of people thought she’d last,” he said.

That changed with an explosion that rocked the city Nov. 10, 1979. A freight train hauling chlorine gas derailed, spewing toxins into the air and prompting Mississauga to evacuate more than 220,000 residents.

McCallion took charge. She rushed from meetings to press conferences, spraining an ankle along the way.

For the rest of the crisis, the international media watched as Mississauga’s barely five-foot-tall lady mayor hobbled about on crutches, outworking sturdy-ankled men half her age.

“She was a goddess from there on in,” said Lenyk. “Even people who drank beer at the bar thought of her as their general.”

The stamina McCallion displayed after the derailment has been a hallmark of her career.

On the day of the Holi festival at Lincoln M. Alexander last month, for example, she had a full day of meetings, a 4:30 p.m. interview, a 7 p.m. speech at the festival and her 9 p.m. cable call-in show on Rogers TV to host.

On that night’s Mayor’s Hour, McCallion was thumb-tack sharp.

Ensconced at a table, her small body dwarfed by the massive TV screen displaying the show’s title, she took call after call about the most mundane of local issues.

“Good evening, you’re on the air. Go ahead,” she said, pushing the button on a table-top phone and fiddling with an earpiece that wouldn’t stay put.

The callers mainly shared personal gripes — a streetlight that kept burning out, tickets for a woman who parked illegally on the bottom half of her driveway — but even when the queries turned to larger issues, McCallion’s frankness and encyclopedic memory didn’t disappoint. Asked about a possible subway extension into Mississauga, she offered a five-minute briefing on the city’s other rapid transit plans, but didn’t mince words about a subway: It was too expensive to ever happen.

She came off the air at 10 p.m.; she was scheduled to fly to Ottawa the next day at dawn.

Jim Murray, a senior vice-president at a Mississauga commercial real estate firm and an old friend, recalled with a chuckle the mayor’s high energy on a Caribbean cruise in August, 2004.

“She loves to dance and we were in the disco until 2 a.m.,” he said. “My wife and I walked her to her room and the next morning we were feeling quite good that we were up and about to have breakfast at 8:45 a.m.”

That is, until he found out McCallion had already walked two miles of the ship’s jogging track, swam laps in the pool and eaten breakfast.

Aside from complete devotion to the job, McCallion has a handful of cardinal rules for running a well-oiled city. Use your common sense. Run the city like a business. Do your homework.

Her philosophy seems to be working.

Mississauga is debt-free. Its citizens enjoyed 12 years without a property tax hike from 1990 to 2001 (although this year, Mississauga had one of the largest property tax hikes in the region, at 5.9% for the city’s portion, largely because of increases in wages, utility and winter road repair costs). Her council is cohesive. She built the Living Arts Centre, the Hershey Centre, Mississauga’s controversial City Hall.

Without knocking on doors or pounding signs into lawns, McCallion, who earned $120, 319 in 2005, has romped to election win after election win. In the last three municipal contests, in 2003, 2000 and 1997, she garnered 91.6%, 92.1% and 94.3% of the votes, respectively.

In the last election, she didn’t file a single expense or receive a cent in donations, according to city staff.

All this is not to say McCallion’s occasionally abrasive style hasn’t won her enemies.

Although her tiny frame, white hair and creased skin make her look like a gentle grandmother, when she opens her mouth it’s clear McCallion is hard-edged, and, frankly, intimidating.

“I am tough,” she said, when asked about her clashes with rivals. “You have to be in municipal politics.”

Those who have been on the opposite sides of fights with McCallion, however, now speak about the battles with respect and a tinge of awe.

According to Lenyk, the Mississauga News publisher, when a rumour spread that he was considering running against her, she refused to talk to him for three months.

“I was the enemy for a while,” he said with a laugh.

Even after McCallion launched her recent protracted fight to pull Mississauga out of the Region of Peel (she eventually settled for two extra seats on Region of Peel Council, which also includes representatives from Brampton and Caledon) regional chair Emil Kolb won’t utter an unkind word about her style.

“I think once the issue has been dealt with she has always been herself and we deal with the next issues that come along,” he said. “I think she’s been very professional.”

Professional, but not perfect.

As Mississauga exploded from a city of just under 300,000 when she was elected to Canada’s sixth largest city with more than 700,000 residents today, it became enveloped in expensive-to-service urban sprawl.

McCallion is now scrambling to correct the problem with a focus on smart growth and public transit. She chaired the Central Ontario Smart Growth Panel, which produced a final report in April, 2003.

In 2001, she landed in hot water over comments about immigrants and refugees in an interview with National Post columnist Diane Francis.

“If you go to the Credit Valley Hospital the emergency is loaded with people in their native costumes,” she was quoted as saying. “A couple will come here as immigrants and each bring their parents. Now you have four people who never contributed a nickel toward our medical system using it at an age when they will cost everyone a great deal of money.”

Although McCallion insisted her words had been taken out of context, the comments prompted the city’s South Asian community — which took the costumes remark as a personal jab — to lead two angry protests complete with hecklers carrying placards reading “We don’t want a racist mayor.” (Francis and the Post stood by the story.)

McCallion refused to apologize, insisting she had done nothing wrong, but said she “regretted” it if anyone was hurt by the column.

The mayor was also found guilty of violating the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act in the early 1980s for taking part in a council discussion about releasing 3,800 acres of land for development. The parcels included a five-acre plot she and Sam owned in the East Credit area.

Although McCallion refrained from voting on the part of the resolution that dealt specifically with her land, she did not excuse herself from the debate leading up to the vote — a move a County Court judge in July, 1982, deemed a “bona fide error of judgment.”

Despite calls for McCallion’s head from John Graham, the former Streetsville mayor and political foe who took the case to court, Judge Ernest West refused to toss her out of office, saying she did not gain financially from releasing the land and had previously declared her conflict. The Ontario Court of Appeal later upheld the finding.

Still, after 40-plus years in local politics, McCallion’s scandal sheet is remarkably short.

And those who love her are eager to say why.

“Oh, she’s my hero,” enthused her friend Maggie Bras, before fishing a pile of yellowed newspaper clippings about McCallion from beneath the bed of her country home.

Bras, who has known McCallion since her first mayoral campaign, praised her devotion to her family and her loyalty as a regular old girlfriend.

“She’s a good friend. You know how you just sit and chat with a girlfriend and you’re able to unload, you’re able to cry if you want, well, Hazel doesn’t cry, Hazel does vent and she knows it won’t go past me,” said Bras.

“That’s the personal side of Hazel that I treasure.”

Fran Rider, the executive director of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association, positively gushed about the work McCallion — herself a former semi-pro centrewoman for the Kik Cola team in Montreal — has done promoting women’s hockey and helping it win a spot in the Olympics.

In 1987, Mississauga hosted the ground-breaking women’s World Hockey Invitational Tournament, featuring teams from Japan, Switzerland, Holland, Sweden, the United States and Canada.

“The event was a challenge because three months before the tournament we had teams if we had money, we had money if we had teams and the only thing we really had for sure was Hazel McCallion. And that was enough,” Rider said.

Rider said McCallion convinced corporate sponsors to donate money for the tournament and urged the media to cover it; its success prompted the International Ice Hockey Federation to grant the sport a sanctioned world championship in 1990.

Women’s hockey was accepted as an Olympic sport two years later, Rider said, but not picked up by a host city until the 1998 games in Nagano, Japan.

“The women’s hockey community calls her our mayor,” Rider said of McCallion, adding the mayor can still lift a puck and land it in the top corner of the net. “Mississauga has to share her with the world of women’s hockey.”

McCallion says her health is “100%,” but she is 85 years old, and others are starting to position themselves as her potential successor.

Their wait may be a long one.

“You know what really pisses me off?” said Lenyk. “When people our age [he’s 59] say she must be losing it. I say, ‘Have you dealt with her?’ She hasn’t lost a step.”

And, he added, “I really believe in my heart she’ll be mayor until she’s 100.”

THE RUNNERS-UP: LIBERAL LEADERSHIP CONTENDERS:

Like nowhere else in the nation, Toronto remained Liberal red after January’s election, so it’s no surprise the race will probably consist of candidates from the Big Smoke: little-known lawyer Martha Hall Findley; veteran MP John Godfrey; former provincial education minister Gerard Kennedy; Harvard intellectual/rookie MP Michael Ignatieff; former hockey great/sophomore MP Ken Dryden; former NDP premier Bob Rae (although not Belinda Stronach). The city, which hasn’t been home to a prime minister in generations, has replaced Montreal as the intellectual home of the Natural Governing Party, and while lacking a superstar candidate offers some potentially compelling hopefuls.

THE RUNNERS-UP: GARTH TURNER:

This Maverick Tory backbencher from Halton returned to elected politics in the Jan. 23 election, more than 12 years after serving as an MP (and briefly a Cabinet minister) under prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Kim Campbell. Before the new Parliament began its new session, he publicly criticized Stephen Harper for recruiting former Liberal minister David Emerson to the government benches. Turner also spoke out against the Conservatives’ child care plan, claiming that after surveying 11,000 Canadians he felt a tax break to single-income families would be preferable to the Tories’ planned $1,200 per child per year allowance. A fun one to watch.

THE RUNNERS-UP: ROB FORD:

On a city council that leans decidedly to the left, the councillor for Etobicoke North is the bean counter who speaks up every time his colleagues try to pry an extra penny out of taxpayers’ wallets. Take the debate about the councillors’ expenses last month. Ford accused the “so-called leaders of the city” of “spending like drunken sailors.” As he fought the city’s ‘’harm-reduction'’ drug strategy last year, Ford revealed his sister’s struggles. He has also called the city’s support of a program to provide wine and cigarettes for the homeless “sad and sick.” He said at the time: “I know myself after a couple of glasses of wine I get a little light-headed. These guys must be half-smashed.”

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=2cdaa7a4-80da-4b03-a824-273c31c2b962&p=1

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