An occasional Newsletter from Preserved Stories.

Modern empire was not an aberrant supplement to the history of modernity but rather its constituent part (Partha Chatterjee, 2012)

“Modern empire was not an aberrant supplement to the history of modernity but rather its constituent part.” These words are from the preface of The Black Hole of Empire: History of a Global Practice of Power (2012) by Partha Chatterjee. What conceptual framework drove the British to establish themselves in Long Branch? The above-noted book […]

“We have met the enemy … and he is us” (Cowboys & Aliens, 2011; The War of the Worlds, 1938)

For a course, which I much enjoyed, in film and sound editing that I’ve recently completed at Ryerson University, I’ve submitted a final assigned paragraph – which I’ve broken into shorter paragraphs for posting to this website – concerning the editing of a scene from a movie that I’ve chosen for analysis. Altogether, we were […]

Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret (vancouverisawesome.com – Nov. 28, 2013)

A Nov. 28, 2013 post regarding the Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret in Vancouver begins as follows: The Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret at 109 East Hastings Street was at the centre of Vancouver’s changing entertainment scene for decades. The venue adapted to the evolving tastes of Vancouverites, hosting a variety of musical acts, from big band to psychedelic rock to punk and […]

South Etobicoke Local Air Quality Study – Public Meeting January 15, 2014

Following message is from Toronto Environmental Alliance: [I’ve done some minor copy editing for purposes of posting it to the Preserved Stories website.] South Etobicoke Local Air Quality Study Public Meeting January 15, 2014 The City of Toronto has completed the local air quality study for South Etobicoke, and the next step is to hold […]

New Life for a Historic Creek in East Vancouver (vancouverisawesome.com – Dec. 18, 2013)

I spent seven years in British Columbia, mainly in Burnaby and Vancouver, from 1967 to 1974. I’ve been back to visit a couple of times and enjoy reading about how Vancouver has developed in the past forty years. I was delighted to read a Dec. 18, 2013 post at vancouverisawesome.com entitled New Life for a […]

Skip the supplements: Vitamin pills should be avoided, journal editors say

A Dec. 16, 2013 CBC article is entitled: “Vitamin pills ‘should be avoided,’ journal editors say.” The subhead reads: “Billions of dollars wasted on vitamin supplements, U.S. doctor says.” The opening paragraphs read: Most vitamins such as antioxidants don’t help to prevent cancer, heart disease and dementia, and some supplements could be harmful, say doctors […]

Message from Russ Ford, Executive Director at LAMP

Following is a Dec. 15, 2013 message from Russ Ford: Let’s start off with good news. It is official, Vincent Massey has been saved at least the school has and therefore the day care. Hats off to the parents of Vincent Massey. It would not have happened had they not organized. What seems to be […]

Jane’s Walk Annual available for purchase at www.blurb.ca

Update: The Jane’s Walk annual is now on sale at blurb.ca. [End of update] I’m pleased to share with you the following information regarding the Jane’s Walk Annual, which includes a text by Jaan Pill and a photo by Gay Chisholm regarding the Jane’s Walk in Long Branch (Toronto not New Jersey). Nadia Halim, Editorial […]

Information from Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada re: Richard Ough (Colleen O’Marra)

Colleen O’Marra writes with regard to Donna Magee’s comment at a previous post: Under Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada: Richard Ough was born in East Gwillimbury Twp., York County, Oct. 24,1841, uncle of John Ought, local builder and hotel keeper at Newmarket. Ough left Canada and moved to California in 1868 to work as […]

Long Branch photos on site entitled North York / Toronto Historic Photos and Maps

Colleen O’Marra writes (Dec. 8, 2013): Just surfing the net this evening and found an interesting set of old Long Branch photos on a site titled NORTH YORK/TORONTO HISTORIC PHOTOS AND MAPS. There are five pictures of: Long Branch Villa Lots(1887) drawings and floor plans of residences designed for George Farquhar, R.B. Ellis, J.J. Wilkes, […]