The result is a wicked looking map that really brings out the feel of the traditional NTS topographic map .

OPM (viewed in Osmarender).  Pine Pass, British Columbia.  OPM does not have an export html function.

I am particularly proud of this map of Powder King that I drew over the past few days.  Missing are the new runs that were cut this past summer as  my source image is of an older date. 

The Europeans are decades ahead of North Americans in open source mapping with tags available that render just about everything (not to mention the insanely detailed osm maps they produce, seriously, go browse around Europe in OSM).  Many of these tags are compatible with Canadian map symbology.  Unfortunately, OPM  is even more of a niche past time that OSM and many the rendering tags for ski trails have yet to be converted to Canadian standards.  For example, Canadian and American ski resorts utilize green (circle), blue (square) and black (diamond) to differentiate the level of difficulty of each trail.  The map tags that can be presently rendered by MapNik and other slippy map viewers are European and designate trails differently.  An intermediate trail is coded as red , not a blue square.

Nanjing is also represented in OSM.  I was surprised at the detail (I can find my old street). but I believe most of the data was scooped from Google Maps.  It does appear that some folks are actively uploading data (could get you into trouble if you are a foreigner) as there are some traces around Xuan Wu Hu and Zijin Shan . Usernames indicate non-local mapper but the traces are dated 2007 and I don’t see anything recent (could be many others as well, I just took a quick peek at the imports).  I might trace out a few buildings for kicks next week.

View Larger Map

Technorati Tags: canada, maps, nanjing, open source mapping, openpistemap, openstreetmap, pine pass, powder king

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I spent much of November 2010 discussing with a number of my planning school colleagues the miserable job situation many of us have been dealing with for most of 2010. The discussions ranged from job search strategies, to networking opportunities, water-cooler banter, life as chronically under-employed and the difficulties in meeting student loan repayment schedules. One item was particularly clear. We all agreed that while there appears to be a steady and relatively decent number of what appears to be entry-level planning positions advertised, it is uncommon for recently graduated planners to be hired for these positions. Interviews are also rare.  Unofficial and ad-hoc surveys among ourselves suggest that at least half of the SURP class of of 2010 have yet to secure planning related work.

I have been in the job market since April 2010 and I am still waiting to receive an invitation to a job interview or constructive feedback regarding any of the 45+ planning positions I have applied for. I have evolved my cover letter, expanded my search to include a wide geographic area, approached private firms and crown corporations, and inquired about internships and volunteer opportunities. I have found little success. I have rationally come to the conclusion that my job situation, as well as my colleagues, may not be entirely our own fault. We all are taking the correct steps in order to market ourselves properly, yet have yet to receive any solid planning work opportunities that reflect our educational backgrounds. Many, myself included, are considering leaving the planning profession, not because we want to, but because we have to. Something is missing in the equation.

Two strong themes emerged during our discussions: the nebulous and ambiguous nature of the entry-level planning positions being advertised, and that recent graduate-level students are either strongly over-qualified or strongly under-qualified for planning positions that appear to be entry-level. The over/under qualified situation is particularly troubling. During my final year at SURP, the program was in the process of being accredited by the CIP. When the accreditors consulted the students regarding the program they briefly discussed the desire of planning to become a more exclusive profession, similar to law, engineering and teaching. Part of this plan emphasized the importance of graduate level education to the planning field and the wish that this requirement form the minimum foundation of an educated planner.

While I feel that this goal is laudable and I support the emphasis on advanced education as a corner stone of the planning profession, I believe that there is presently a massive gap between a graduate-level education and expectations of entry-level planning work. This is the first theme emerging. Despite a bias toward graduate-level education in the planning profession, there is a distinct lack of appropriate entry-level positions that address the skills acquired in planning school.

I have identified three common so-called ‘entry-level’ job titles available to planners who have completed a graduate-level planning program. For each I have included a brief summary of the job (intended to be general) and an excerpt from a recently advertised position.

Planning Assistant – Not a commonly advertised position, but does appear on the job boards from time to time.  It could be argued that the planning assistant is lowest position in a planning office, next to student interns. Often this position only requires a grade 12 education, although sometimes a planning or administrative diploma is recommended. Most planning assistant jobs appear to be secretarial and administrative in nature, offering clerical support to planners and front-desk support to clients.

Front counter interaction answering public inquiries and correspondence related to departmental functions such as zoning or subdivision matters; including, but not limited to, maintaining zoning maps, land use maps, index files, and other graphs, charts and documents, inputs data into an application tracking system, confirms zoning and OCP land use designations on lots, provides other departments and the public with information regarding lot sizes, property location house numbers and legal descriptions of lots.

The Planning Assistant I is required to review development applications for completeness and compliance with Regional District bylaws, policies and procedures before further review by other staff and maintains details of applications on a computer terminal. Work also involves copying, collating, scanning, drafting presentation material, informational pamphlets, advertisements, and transcribing minutes of meetings , carrying out title searches and, performing drafting and mapping assignments as needed.

While planning assistants provide an essential service to many planning departments, it is clear that a graduate-level planning education considerably exceeds the job description. In many cases the support-like nature of the job may push human resources toward acquiring individuals with strong administrative and secretarial work experience.

Planning Technician – A rather commonly advertised position, planning technicians are involved in the technical and computer-based aspects of planning.  Duties often include map creation, models, diagrams, webGIS, AutoCAD, field work, data entry, and administrative work similar to the planning assistant.  In bigger municipalities and firms the responsibilities might involve more heavy GIS programming.  Planning technicians are often the product of applied urban planning programs such as the one at Langara College in Vancouver. Planning technicians also have their own professional organization separate from planners.

Conducts on-site inspections for compliance with approved Development Permits, including building form, parking, landscaping and other items as required. Performs other related duties as assigned by the Manager of Planning and Director of Development Services. Responds to inquiries from the public, the development community and staff, with a high degree of accuracy and accountability, respecting land use  regulations and application processing. Processes and coordinates intake of development applications. Compiles data and development application status reports. Provides site maps and graphics for inclusion in reports using the current GIS system.  Obtains Certificates of Title from BC Online computer system. Prepares draft Preliminary Layout Approvals for the Approving Officer. Responds to legal “comfort letters” from the Development Services Department.

It is not uncommon to find planners holding planning technician positions, however a graduate-level planning education could be considered too general in regards to the heavy technical nature of the position. Often graduate planning programs only provide basic, introductory instruction in GIS, AutoCAD and database management. The professionalized nature of planning technical work also acts as a barrier to many graduate trained planners as there could be a bias toward hiring proper planning technicians over moonlighting planners who are merely passing through on their way to a more appropriate planning position.

Planner I – On initial inspection, the position of planner I is the most suitable for the education received from a graduate-level planning program.  Such positions usually require a bachelor degree (not necessarily in urban planning) as a minimum education requirement, although many larger municipalities and firms now require a master’s degree. A key component of the planner I position is the strong emphasis placed on experience. It is very common to see 5+ years of planning experiences as a minimum requirement for consideration. This is completely understandable as these positions generally carry significant responsibilities and considerable work autonomy.

Advise the Director of Development Services and staff on planning and related matters. Act as Approving Officer for the Town.  This requires the review and approval of subdivision applications for the Town.  This includes the following: reviewing the application to ensure it is complete; undertaking a site analysis; where necessary, meet with applicant to address any ongoing issues with respect to subdivision application; ensuring completion of internal and external notifications for review and comment; create a statement of projected costs including off-site services, CRD give preliminary approval, and when necessary with conditions;  and give final approval. Prepare, amend and enforce bylaws associated with the Official Community Plan, Land Use and other related bylaws. In consultation with the Director of Development Services, prepare planning studies. Prepare co-ordinate and/or process applications for Official Community Plan and Zoning bylaw amendments for submission to the Director of Development Services. 

After reviewing this job description it is fairly obvious to most recent graduates that they are not remotely qualified for the position of planner I. They may have some theoretical understanding of the requirements and possibly some light experience gained from a summer internship, but the experiential bias is clear.

It is important to stress that the job descriptions vary widely. I have seen Planner I jobs that read like a planning assistant position and planning technician descriptions that look more like IT programming. The private sector may also offer more specific entry-level positions, yet I have noticed that such positions are not what I would consider common.

Planning graduates, in 2010, are chronically under/over qualified in relation to the available planning jobs. Upon graduating from planning school, former students now find themselves with a skill set that is not appropriate and a level of experience that is not high enough to satisfy the requirements of most planner I positions. In many competitions we are fighting for entry-level jobs against people with 10+ years of experience.

I, along with others, feel that there is little being done by the universities, the profession and the planning industry to address this substantial gap.

When I was a geography undergraduate at the University of Victoria, I seriously considered becoming registered professional forester, up to the point that I was a student member of the Association of British Columbia Forest Practitioners. Similar to becoming an RPP, there are several routes to becoming an RPF, all requiring a certain amount of logged hours working under an RPF and an examination before being conferred full membership. During this process, one holds the title of F.I.T (forester-in-training) a designation somewhat similar to planning’s ‘candidate’. The huge difference however, is that F.I.T is more than just a title, it is job description. I would routinely see positions advertised with forestry firms and government organizations that specifically catered to skill set of an F.I.T. The forestry profession has recognized the importance of practical workplace training, the limitations of a university education and responded in kind with a progressive career track. The F.I.T designation fosters the creation of appropriate job descriptions and the notion of nurturing new graduates into forest professionals. I have been told that career progression and training in engineering operates in similar, if not more structured fashion.

I don’t see anything like this in planning. The nearest program I’ve seen that provides a properly tapered career path is the Government of Alberta’s land use planner internship program. However it is a very small program, situated exclusively in Alberta, open to non-planners and apparently extremely competitive.

In many cases, new planners are dropped in the abyss after graduation. On their own they face an astonishingly bizarre array of positions that require and equally bizarre range of qualifications. Often they are competing against planners with 10+ years of experience. Many of us were accepted into graduate school based on our diverse backgrounds, of which many are non-planning related. I hail from a forestry and education background and have extensive international experience. We were always told that this diversity was a strength of planning and that it reinforced the inter-disciplinary vision of the profession. I have since learned that the planning job market has little interest in my background, aside from the notion that I am the bearer of insignificant planning working experience.

I would argue that ideally, an appropriate entry-level position for an individual exiting planning school would be a combination of all three previously described ‘entry-level’ positions placed under the moniker of P.I.T (planner-in-training).  A P.I.T would then work toward the position of Planner I under the supervision of an RPP, within a specified time period, logging hours and then writing an exam.  Such positions would cater specifically to graduates by offering job description, compensation package and the official title of P.I.T that would help discourage experienced planners from monopolizing available jobs. Such a career progression may also assist in exclusivising the profession.

I’m writing to inquire whether the planning profession is aware of this problem. If they are, what is being done about it? Is anything being done about it? What can the unemployed do to help? How this would be implemented? What would be the responsibilities of the profession, the universities and the industry?  I have no idea. I never learned how to navigate bureaucracy at grad school.

I feel that this situation goes beyond a mere recession and the too-often employed “it’s the economy, stupid!” rationale. More planners are produced by planning schools every year and municipalities and firms appear to be less interested in employing us. Furthermore, if the planning profession is indeed fully invested in developing as a more restricted, elite profession then it is in its own interest to offer a more expanded role in supporting young planners into the work place. Such a role may involve advocating industry and government to create properly designed entry-level positions for aspiring planners and in conjunction with these entities, developing a planner-in-training program. If industry and municipalities significantly prefer new planners with substantial related working experience, then perhaps there is a role for universities in aligning student recruitment to reflect these values instead of continuing with the practice of accepting students from many disciplines and backgrounds. While I agree with this practice principle, I’ve discovered that these recruitment practices are not congruent with what the working world presently requires of a new professional. A graduate school rejection based on the incompatibility of my past experiences with the realities of the planning profession may have required me to pursue more realistic options rather than invest tens of thousands of dollars and two years of my life into a profession that offers little entry-level job prospects.

Synchronization between profession and training is paramount and, I stress again, I strongly believe that a planning-in-training process can hugely beneficial in addressing this fissure. Planning for the future must necessarily involve a greater investment in that future – the young men and women who will form the backbone of the profession for the next fifty years. A generation of new planners is floundering and sinking fast and we require help.

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However, I’ve noticed two reoccurring themes.  First, that we are all (at the same time) under-qualified, over-qualified and severely lacking in the appropriate experience for the planning profession.  Second, the nebulous nature of the ‘entry-level’ planning position.  Both I find particularly frustrating given that Canadian Institute of Planners is trying so dreadfully hard to be taken seriously as a professional organization.  During the student consultations component of SURP’s certification process last year, the CIP really pushed on us their goal of legitimizing the planning profession along the lines of Law and Engineering.  Despite their good intentions they appeared to be deeply mired regarding planning semantics (the age old “what is planning?” b.s) rather than actually determining how to properly link planning education with the professional world and exclusivize the job (the way engineers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, foresters seem to be able to do).

When I was an undergrad I was seriously considering becoming an Registered Professional Forester…up to the point that I was a student member of the ABFP .  Like planning, there are different routes to becoming an RPF all requiring a certain amount of logged working hours and an examination before being conferred full membership.  During this process  you were referred to as an F.I.T. (forester-in-training) similar to planning’s ‘candidate’.  Doesn’t seem to be a huge difference, however when I was looking into becoming an RPF, I would routinely see advertised positions specifically targeting F.I.T’s.  This is clear evidence that the forestry profession recognizes the need for workplace training and encourages firms and government agencies to create real entry-level positions that foster learning and growth for the next generation of foresters.  I’m told that engineering operates in a similar fashion.

Aside from a half-assed mentorship program, planning doesn’t seem to have anything like this.  Once you finish your degree, you are essentially on your own faced with an absolutely bizarre array of positions that require an equally bizarre range of qualifications.  Hence the over/under qualified individual.

Going off my 8-plus months of job searching I’ve determined that planning doesn’t have entry-level jobs that are suitable for  graduate-level education candidates.  It leaves me scratching me head because the CIP wants to move in the direction where a master’s degree becomes the minimum qualification to becoming a planner (one could possibly argue that it already is). I’ve observed three positions that probably could be classified as entry-level, yet don’t appear to be appropriate for an entry-level education.

Planning Assistant – Not a terribly common position, but one does see the odd one advertised.  This is possibly the absolute lowest position in a planning office (unless they are a wealthy department that hires interns).  This positions is so low that 9/10 times it only requires a grade 12 education.  They might ask for a diploma in planning.  The below is a partial description from a job posted a few months ago.

Front counter interaction answering public inquiries and correspondence related to departmental functions such as zoning or subdivision matters; including, but not limited to, maintaining zoning maps, land use maps, index files, and other graphs, charts and documents, inputs data into an application tracking system, confirms zoning and OCP land use designations on lots, provides other departments and the public with information regarding lot sizes, property location house numbers and legal descriptions of lots.

The Planning Assistant I is required to review development applications for completeness and compliance with Regional District bylaws, policies and procedures before further review by other staff and maintains details of applications on a computer terminal. Work also involves copying, collating, scanning, drafting presentation material, informational pamphlets, advertisements, and transcribing minutes of meetings , carrying out title searches and, performing drafting and mapping assignments as needed.

If one is coming out of a graduate-level planning program, one is heavily over-qualified for this position and HR may be looking for someone with secretarial experience.

Planning Technician  – A rather commonly advertised position, the techies tend to deal with the computer side of planning.  Maps, models, diagrams, webGIS, CAD, field work, data entry, admin work similar to the Planning Assistant.  In bigger municipalities the work might involve more heavy GIS programming work.  Planning Techs are usually the product of Applied Urban Planning programs such as the one at Langara College .  They also have their own professional association.

Conducts on-site inspections for compliance with approved Development Permits, including building form, parking, landscaping and other items as required. Performs other related duties as assigned by the Manager of Planning and Director of Development Services. Responds to inquiries from the public, the development community and staff, with a high degree of accuracy and accountability, respecting land use  regulations and application processing. Processes and coordinates intake of development applications. Compiles data and development application status reports. Provides site maps and graphics for inclusion in reports using the current GIS system.  Obtains Certificates of Title from BC Online computer system. Prepares draft Preliminary Layout Approvals for the Approving Officer. Responds to legal “comfort letters” from the Development Services Department.

It’s not uncommon to find planners doing tech jobs (I wouldn’t mind it) but graduate GIS/CAD training could be considered to general and rudimentary.  On the other hand, a planner could also be considered too educationally over-qualified.

Planner I – Initially, the position of Planner I seems like the most appropriate for the education of a graduate-level planning program.  Usually requires a bachelor and increasingly a masters in urban planning specifically (some still accept other degree level qualifications).  However, closer examination of most Planner I positions I’ve encountered reveals a strong experience bias against those coming straight out of planning school.  It’s common to see 5+ year requirements (but I’ve seen 2).  Planner I is the real McCoy and often carries considerable work autonomy and responsibilities so it is hardly surprising that they want an individual who knows what they are doing and can work without direction.

Advise the Director of Development Services and staff on planning and related matters. Act of Approving Officer for the Town.  This requires the review and approval of subdivision applications for the Town.  This includes the following: reviewing the application to ensure it is complete; undertaking a site analysis; where necessary, meet with applicant to address any ongoing issues with respect to subdivision application; ensuring completion of internal and external notifications for review and comment; create a statement of projected costs including off-site services, CRD give preliminary approval, and when necessary with conditions;  and give final approval. Prepare, amend and enforce bylaws associated with the Official Community Plan, Land Use and other related bylaws. In consultation with the Director of Development Services, prepare planning studies. Prepare, co-ordinate and/or process applications for  Official Community Plan and Zoning bylaw amendments for submission to the Director of Development Services.

To be honest, I do not believe I’m qualified for any of that.

It’s important to also stress that the job descriptions vary so widely.  I’ve seen Planner I jobs that are more like Planning Assistant and Tech jobs that are more like IT programmer.

I would argue that ideally, an appropriate entry-level position for someone coming out of planning school (by planning school, I generally mean the graduate kind) would be a combination of all three job descriptions placed under the moniker of P.I.T (planner-in-training).  “Entry-Level” needs to be clarified and defined.  Emphasis placed on training, learning and collaboration with a supervising RPP.  A PIT would then work toward the position of Planner I within a specified time period, logging hours and then writing an exam.  Such positions would cater specifically to graduates, offer compensation and a title  that would discourage more experienced planners from taking said jobs and foster a more concurrent profession.

How this would be implemented?  No idea.  To be honest, I’m not sure firms and municipalities would be down with something that structured and out of their control.  I think they favour the present situation where they can push ‘planners’ where they need them and write vague job descriptions that troll in hundreds of people from a variety of professions.  However, I believe that if the CIP wants to be taken seriously as a profession they need to put their foot down and create a proper career flow that jives with the correct training, because right now I feel like a graduate education in planning is completely out of sync with the job market.

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Moose family on Gantahaz Road.

Morfee Mountain Summit looking East toward the Pine Pass and Powder King.  One positive of the recent recession was the make-work-project initiated to clear trash off the mountain and old vehicles from the bottom of the bowl.  People still feel the need to litter as evident by the numerous empty cans found on the way up.  A trait more characteristic of a developing country.  

Gantahaz Subdivision.  My home is down there somewhere.

Morfee Mountain ptarmigan.

Morfee Lake perspective courtesy of a new trail created from recession make-work money.  Forget ad-hoc trail construction, this baby is professionally built and connects into the new mountain-bike park and trail system.  I wish this stuff was around when I lived town…I just had a bunch of cattle-tracks to bike on when I was growing up.  I’ve inherited my dad’s old Garmin Etrex GPS unit and have started to map out some of the trails one openstreetmap.org (possibly more on that soon).  This old yellow-clad black and white LCD beast cannot run internal maps but it seems to grab points fairly accurately.

My brother being chased up the chair-lift by a mean black animal.  We found a couple of dollars in the hill parking lot and under the lift line.  Searching for lost money was a former childhood spring activity.

Azouetta Lake and Murray Range.

Still no jobs or interviews.  Frustrating, which would probably explain the relative lack of blogging…I’m also quite familiar with these areas and Mackenzie life and should have more to say about them.  Often the things one is most acquainted with need less words.    

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My job stalking landed me at the City of Surrey website tonight where I noticed an open Planner I position.  Surrey, like most larger communities, operates a rather silly and confusing online application system.  One doesn’t need to create an account to view available positions, but I thought it might be a good idea in case registering brought up anymore information on the positions.  So I set up an account and attached my resume and browsed back to the Planner I page.  No new information, so I logged out.

A minute or so later Outlook complains that it has new mail to push on me. It’s from the City of Surrey.

Dear Bryan,

Thank you for taking the time to apply for the Planner 1 job opening. Due to the volume of applications received, only applicants being actively considered for this job opening will be contacted for further discussion. Please do not be discouraged by the passage of time – as we often handle 100 vacancies or more at any one time, its not unusual for 2 – 4 weeks to pass before we have an opportunity to touch most files. We will do our best to work as quickly as we can.

Thank you for your interest in this opportunity and in joining a team focused on serving our community.

Problem is…I didn’t bloody apply for the job!  I didn’t click apply, or touch anything that would indicated that I wanted to submit a resume for the position.

I just wanted to look at the job…and was considering making an application…but it seems now that I’ve applied for it.  So I had to come up with a cover letter and fill in all of the redundant online forms (full of the same information that is on my resume).

I had a similar experience with the City of Calgary online application system yesterday.  To apply for a job one has to create an account and fill in the same kind of crap that is already on your resume.  One will then select the job in question and attach a resume.  One would then assume that there would be a box to attach a cover letter.   Nope.  That’s it.  Once the resume is attached the system locks out and the application is sealed.  Turns out…(in small print on a completely different page) that your resume and cover letter need to be in the same document.  So I sent a resume to a job, but no cover letter…unlike the Surrey job, I actually had a cover letter ready to go for this one. 

These  City HR sites operate some of the worst internet scripts I’ve ever seen online.  Even free do-it-yourself message forums offer up an infinitely better user interface and file management tools.  It’s unbelievably sloppy work.

What ever happened to old fashioned emailed cover letter/resume?  Too common for the big cities?

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Actually, there were more trees then I thought there would be.

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I picked up Gavin Menzies second book 1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance   for eight clams (hard-cover).  Mr. Menzies is most known for this highly controversial 2002 book 1421: The Year China Discovered the World .  I’ve always digged stories about exploration…and remain puzzled why I haven’t read 1421 (it’s always been a hefty price everywhere I’ve seen it…) 

Many of the criticisms are listed here , but generally I get the feel that the exclusive academic community got its knickers in a knot over an ‘outsider’ drafting up a theory that didn’t conform to their notion of proper history.  As John Ralston Saul writes in   A Fair Country (which I also picked up for 10 big ones…great read too) "The higher your studies go, the more they are built around narrow exclusionary ideas of truth, tightly tied to a world of people footnoting one another” (Ralston Saul 2009; 36). 1421 also ties into A Fair Country in the sense that both books are advocating a version of history that distances itself from (without necessarily marginalizing) a European-influenced story of Canada ( A Fair Country ) and China ( 1434 ). 

That said though, after reading a few chapters, I can see where some controversy might lie.  Mr. Menzies is quite fond of the “If A, B, C , and D occurred, then E must have been the outcome” logic used to create conclusions about Admiral Zheng He’s naval expeditions.  It can be quite inferential at times, especially when one considers that something this logistically large escaped solid, undisputed documentation (on both the European and Chinese sides).  Still, the theory is tantalizing…even when one remains skeptical, there is some evidence to suggest that it might have happened .

Ralston Saul, J. (2008). A Fair Country: Telling Truths about Canada.            Toronto: Penguin.

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Showing the luge crash???  Bad taste.

Off to the show.

I could have swore the opening snowboarder was former Alpine Olympian turned Whistler ski bum Rob Boyd.

Rather phallic looking totem poles…

We say Z?  Oh boy…talk about an inside joke that only Canadian viewers would understand.  Could have left that one out. I think there was a missed opportunity with that poem.  If a new understanding of Canada was the goal, one should avoid stereotype references.

Switching over to NBC during the athlete entrance was interesting.  NBC operated a graphic map which would centre on the  USA and then zoom out to the relevant country situating it nicely in the minds of our neighbours to the south.  

Great light snows.  Nelly and Bryan lookin’ good.  Ohhh… Hallelujah ?  Good voice, not the best song choice.

Hydraulic failure, well, that is what you get when you let a pod of whales swim through your mechanics. As we concluded at our Olympic Potluck last night…3 out of 4… and you know, in Canada…that ain’t bad.

Rumor has it that immediately after the mechanical fiasco, Gordon Campbell’s head exploded and VANOC CEO John Furlong was last seen being eaten by a giant spirit bear.  The loss of top leadership resulted in a complete breakdown of VANOC torch management and decision-making.  With Catriona Le May Doan frozen in disbelief at the strange absence of her pillar, Rick Hansen bound by his wheels, Steve Nash smiling with fear and Nancy Greene screaming that Senators don’t run anything there was only one person left to take the Olympic Flame…

Quick!  Do something Wayne!

No self-respecting Canadian would ever attempt to steal the torch from the Great One . Not even the most bitter, cynical protestor…it would be safe with #99.  Only Gretzky would be able to run the rainy public gauntlet to the outdoor cauldron.

And it was so.

VANOC, notoriously infamous for it’s top heavy, micro-management,   Goebbels-style control of all things Olympics.  VANOC, with a billion dollar security budget…15,000 troops, police and private security operators decided to take a little risk…and freakin’ let loose.  I think they just got tripped out by their own massive light and hologram show.  

Awesome…

I think it was, by far, the best part of the Opening Ceremonies.  It took the opening ceremony playbook of  exclusivity, wrapped in around a doobie-like torch, doused it in seal oil and lit it on fire.  Polish and production be dammed.  Maybe it was planned, but approach and execution was completely adhoc.  From Gretzky stuck in the exit doorway at BC Place, to the pick-up truck, to zero crowd control and hastily erected police blockades.  Even the video cameras didn’t have time to set up proper angles. 

People just poured into the route, right up to the torch.  Brilliantly raw, in-your-face Olympic.  I can’t think of anywhere else that an opening ceremony could have closed like this. 

Nice show.

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Tremblant is an IntraWest instant resort-in-a-can, with the standard pedestrian village ,  hot spring spa, tubing, skating and over-priced food stuffs.  

Snow conditions were very good, although some of the terrain became very slick in the late afternoon.  I’m told that Tremblant is usually like that.  Hard ice (not surprisingly) is quite difficult to cut across and I definitely felt my Western weakness and instability when navigating through some blue ice patches.  

Tremblant has the largest number of good skiers I’ve ever seen on a mountain.  All hills have their share of good skiers, and in the case of Western hills, they usually cluster around the alpine bowl and other steep areas.  In the case of Tremblant, they are all over the mountain, 80% know how to carve an arc and hold a bump…and there are lots of them.  I credit the strong racing program at Tremblant, the multi-generational nature of skiing culture in the area, and the hard snow conditions.  I also could argue that the limited terrain options on the mountain has everyone slicing corduroy at a young age.  Boarders, however, are a minority

Despite terrain limitations, it’s a good hill and left me with a fairly decent  impression of Eastern skiing, but I think that two days is enough on the trail system.  Run design is really good where a combination of long verticals and wide cuts creates excellent cruising trails.  The hill could use about an extra foot of snow to cover up the numerous rocks, roots and stumps that are very common throughout moguled and gladed areas.  My skis sure were not happy about those.   

I had a fairly close encounter with a tree somewhere in the glades.  Actually, close encounter is kind of an understatement.  I bear-hugged this tree, bounced off it like a rubber ball hitting a wall and slid a good 15 metres down the hill before realizing what happened.  In my whole life of skiing, I’ve  been sucked into tree-wells , smacked branches, face-planted , yard-saled , landed in open creeks and fallen down rock faces…but I’ve never hit a tree.

I’m quite confident in the trees and know how to move through them, yet snow-snakes attack the best of us and that was what sent into a juvenile maple tree.  I wasn’t moving fast at at all.   My up-hill ski hit a hidden root, knocking it off and causing me to pivot sharply on  my downhill ski.  With one ski off and no balance, the pivot acted somewhat like a sling shot and blasted me counter-clockwise directly into the tree below, which promptly threw me back  down the hill like a rag doll.  I consider myself very lucky.  My upper body took most of the hit, avoiding my face but the shock vibrated up through my helmet and into my head where I probably suffered a mild concussion. 

I now fully appreciate the danger of trees.  I didn’t hit the tree that hard, the force being nothing more than the momentum from the pivot, but it totally knocked the wind right out of me.  If someone hits a tree at even at moderate speed…it’s death.   

I took a 40 minute break after that, but was back at the moguls a run or two later.  Battered ego more than anything, especially after I just said to my friend “just follow me” :-p

Technorati Tags: canada, laurentians, mont tremblant, mountains, quebec, skiing, travel

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1. Jasper – May 2010

Like most Generals, Vance is well-read, well-educated, well-spoken and very rationale and pragmatic when it comes to discussing the situation in Kandahar.  He provided an brief outline of the events of previous strategies employed from 2006-2009 and spoke about General McCrystal’s (apparently General Petraeus’ protégé) new approach to the situation.

He discussed the immense complexities of the conflict, the fragmented and under-strength efforts of past ISAF/Alliance initiatives and where Canada wants to be/accomplish by 2011.

Some interesting items that I took away.

• ISAF made friends with the wrong folks in 2006.  Friends with people the local population wasn’t friends with.  The war waged was counter-terrorism, not counter-insurgency.
• The Taliban is a player, but not nearly as large a player as one might think.  The stage is opaque with a myriad of actors, gangs, corrupt officials, tribalism and narcotics among others.   
• 85% of the population of Kandahar province is centered very close to Kandahar City.  As the core of counter-insurgency is to protect the people, this is where ISAF/Alliance efforts must concentrate on holding Kandahar and it’s suburbs.
• This leads to the Canada’s deliverable by 2011 – A stabilizing Kandahar city and surrounding suburbs (I wish I had a map of their goal).
• This stabilizing area consists of the city proper and surrounding suburbs/villages.  Villages are targeted for heavy infrastructure investments beginning with large, visible signature projects like water canals and wells.
• Low home front support for the mission is a product of media failure to properly convey a detailed overview of the Canada’s 2011 goal.
• The Canadian battle-group is the best equipped, most agile force in Afghanistan and is the only organization to have US forces under direct command.

I like the last point.  I follow our folks in Afghanistan and while I’m aware of McCrystal’s much vaunted urban strategy, there has been nothing regarding what Canada is planning to accomplish by 2011.  Vance outlined it in less than 10 minutes.  A simple map.  A simple strategy, and based on his opinions, it is apparently working.

I built up enough courage and asked a question about the stabilizing (model) villages being invested in regards to types of infrastructure being constructed, how they were being built.  I sort of have a latent interest in post-conflict urban planning.  Actually, luxury interest is a more appropriate term as it is an interest that is quite far from the task at hand (ie. Canadian planning, finishing my report, and getting a job).

I got a “good question” response :-p

Apparently the Canadian military is the only organization willing to tackle mosque repair and reconstruction.

Proper water facilities is of main concern, as is adequate roads and transportation networks.  One thing I found interesting was the addition of solar-powered lamp posts in the markets to extend their business hours.  Micro-loans to women for poultry farms is another. 

I still have concerns regarding the sustainability of the strategy.  I still believe that Greg Mortenson’s (Three Cups of Tea fame) efforts represent the golden standard of development in conflict stricken areas. Mr. Mortenson can travel and operate in areas no other western organization (government, military, NGO) can based solely on his 20+ solid years of building relationships in the region.  He is completely trusted.

Canada rotates new guys in every 10 months or so resulting in a substantial number of new faces that have to be introduced.  I’m skeptical about building a meaningful relationship in that area of the world in 10 months.  Even if a unit is rotated back into country, they will have been absent for about a year…and they won’t be keeping in contact via Facebook.

I’m curious about how they maintain relationships within the transient nature of deployment.

Best question goes to a fellow who drilled Vance about what ISAF/Alliance is doing on a regional basis (think Pakistan, Iran, India) and the notion that Pakistan, for example, is not too inclined to take the fight into Waziristan because of the perception that ISAF won’t stick around.

Really good presentation, although there was an element of government spinning at work. 

*General Vance was commander of Joint Task Force Afghanistan from February to November 2009.

Technorati Tags: afghanistan, canada, general jonathan vance, ISAF, kandahar, military, military planning, queens university

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1. Should we be in Afghanistan? II
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3. Should we be in Afghanistan?