The Vancouver Sun

On this day in 1929, the former U.S. Coast Guard cutter USS...

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:23:40 -0700

On this day in 1929, the former U.S. Coast Guard cutter USS Dexter infamously chased and destroyed the Atlantic Canadian booze-smuggling schooner, I’m Alone, in international waters off the Gulf of Mexico. The event became a key flashpoint in the history of Canada-U.S. relations.

The captain of the 40-metre I’m Alone, Newfoundland native John (Jack) Randell, was carrying 2,800 cases of Caribbean rum from Belize to a drop-point in Louisiana.The Americans opened fire on I’m Alone, which capsized. One sailor drowned; Randell and 10 other crewmen were rescued.

The sinking sparked outrage, inflaming anti-American passions in Canada. A special commission of inquiry led, five years later, to an official U.S. apology as well as compensation payments to the Canadian government and the surviving crew. The event led Canada to assert its independence from Britain and to be wary of U.S. power.

Today, I’m Alone rests off the Louisiana coast, while the USS Dexter was scuttled in 2010 by the Underwater Archeological Society of Chicago for the enjoyment of Lake Michigan diving enthusiasts.

On this day in 1940, the Aristocratic restaurant chain opened a...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:35:44 -0700

On this day in 1940, the Aristocratic restaurant chain opened a new branch at Broadway and Granville in Vancouver.

It became the chain’s landmark location until 1997, providing loyal customers with, as its slogan boasted, Courteous Service and Fine Food All Over Town. The retail spot is held by Chapters bookstore now, but a small piece of the Aristocratic remains. A replica of the old “Risty” neon sign is still on display in its window, a reminder of the location’s history. The original Risty sign is owned by the Vancouver Museum, but is so big that they couldn’t get it through the doors for the current neon display.

On this day in 1972, billionaire American recluse Howard Hughes...

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:26:02 -0700

On this day in 1972, billionaire American recluse Howard Hughes arrived in Vancouver where he paid about $1,000 per day to rent two floors of the city’s Bayshore Inn.

The reason for his visit, which stretched from March 14 through Aug. 29, was never known. Because there were no current photos of the business magnate, aviator and film producer, The Vancouver Sun ran an artist’s conception of what he might look like at age 66. Hotel staff said they did not meet Hughes during his stay but kept him stocked with ingredients for meals of skinless, boneless chicken breasts and vegetables, which were prepared in the suite by his personal chef.

For more glimpses of the past, visit The Sun at 100

RIP Milo the Otter: The most famous resident of the Vancouver...

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:40:43 -0800

RIP Milo the Otter: The most famous resident of the Vancouver Aquarium was seen by over 16 million people when a YouTube video surfaced several years ago of him and his late partner Nyac holding paws in their tank. Milo died Wednesday after six months of chemotherapy to fight lymphoma.

Happy Xmas (War is Over) Members of the U.S. military retire its...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:37:15 -0800

Happy Xmas (War is Over) Members of the U.S. military retire its ceremonial flags signifying the end of their presence in Iraq at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center in Baghdad. U.S. forces formally ended their nine-year war in Iraq on Thursday with a low key flag ceremony in Baghdad, while to the north flickering violence highlighted ethnic and sectarian strains threatening the country in years ahead.

Photograph by: Shannon Stapleton, Reuters

People walk past an activist during an Animal Naturalis...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:50:35 -0800

People walk past an activist during an Animal Naturalis demonstration to promote vegetarianism in central Barcelona, December 15, 2011 (Albert Gea, Reuters)

Click here for more top images from around the globe

“You’ve been negotiating all my life. In that time, you’ve failed to meet pledges,...

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:13:00 -0800

“You’ve been negotiating all my life. In that time, you’ve failed to meet pledges, you’ve missed targets and you’ve broken promises. I speak for more than half the world’s population: What does it take to get a stake in this game? Lobbyists? Corporate influence? Money?”

-Coquitlam’s Anjali Appadurai, speaking at the Durban climate talks

Full story here

RIP Sum Ying Fung 1899-2011 Fung, who was believed to be the...

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:32:00 -0800

RIP Sum Ying Fung 1899-2011 Fung, who was believed to be the oldest living Canadian, died at Burnaby General Hospital with her family by her side shortly before 3 p.m. on Dec. 6—seven weeks before her 113th birthday.

Have you read The Sun's Chinese site?

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:02:41 -0800

溫哥華太陽報－中文版。看一看吧？ http://taiyangbao.ca/

Vancouver Sun launches Chinese language site

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:23:17 -0800

溫哥華太陽報－中文版。看一看吧？ http://taiyangbao.ca/

Canadian MP Pat Martin goes on profanity filled rant on Twitter

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:51:54 -0800

Italy: From 'bunga bunga' to 'banca banca'

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:10:08 -0800

Italy: From 'bunga bunga' to 'banca banca':

The difference between Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and its new one, Mario Monti, could not be more stark.

More.

Would-be Batmen foil predators plot; RCMP on the case

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:05:43 -0800

Mounties are investigating three B.C. teens who posed as underage girls online, lured men to meet them for sex then confronted the accused sexual predators dressed as superheroes.

The shenanigans were videotaped and posted in recent weeks on YouTube, under the title To Troll a Predator.

One video features what the boys describe as a 44-year-old male who was seeking to perform oral sex on a 15-year-old girl. The video shows screen grabs of the online chat, dated Nov. 5, and the agreement to meet at a Tim Hortons.

The video then cuts to footage of a man dressed as Batman, speaking in a Cookie Monster-esque voice, claiming to be with the “Chilliwack police department.”

Read more.

Heavy D (1967-2011)

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:34:48 -0800

Police and firefighters intervened last night at Occupy...

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:09:27 -0800

Police and firefighters intervened last night at Occupy Vancouver to extinguish a “sacred fire” reportedly lit by native Canadian Occupiers. Vancouver Police Department chief Jim Chu said today that two firefighters were bitten, Occupiers said several demonstrators were injured and a pregnant woman was punched.

More:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/5676509/story.html

OH MY GOSH - A SINGLE RAINBOW! Oh wait, it’s just a double...

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:21:22 -0800

OH MY GOSH - A SINGLE RAINBOW!

Oh wait, it’s just a double rainbow. This one happened this morning in London.

Photograph by: LEON NEAL, Getty Images

More photos: http://goo.gl/vflX5

We remember writing this like it was...

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:10:28 -0700

We remember writing this like it was yesterday…

pasttensevancouver:

“‘Sidedoor Pullman’ Brings Visitors,” 1930

40-50 unemployed men were arriving in Vancouver each day, mostly because they knew they wouldn’t freeze to death if they had to sleep outside here.

Read the full article: “Jobless pour into Vancouver and city pays to feed them,” Vancouver Sun, 3 November 1930

Google's "Barrel Roll" will make you flip

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:51:56 -0700

Google's "Barrel Roll" will make you flip

The World In Photos - November 3, 2011. More here.

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:45:00 -0700

The World In Photos - November 3, 2011. More here.

Crunching the Numbers: Charges laid in Vancouver's "Stanley Cup Riot"

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:14:00 -0700

On Monday, the Vancouver Police Dept laid the first charges since riots broke out following the Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 this past summer.

Read the complete story here.

Below are some of the details on the charges:

Charges being recommended for first 60 suspected rioters:

- recommending 163 charges to Crown against the first 60 suspected rioters

- 50 men and 10 women

- average age is 21 years old

- youngest male 16 years

- oldest male 52 years

- youngest female 17 years

- oldest female 22 years

The most charges being recommended against one individual:

- 10 charges

Top three most common charges being recommended:

- participating in a riot — 60 charges being recommended

- mischief — 41 charges being recommended

- break and enter — 35 charges being recommended

City of residence of first 60 suspected rioters:

21 Surrey

12 Vancouver

9 Burnaby

4 Maple Ridge

2 Abbotsford

2 Delta

1 Richmond

1 Victoria

1 Coquitlam

1 Courtenay

1 Langley

1 New Westminster

1 North Vancouver

1 Port Coquitlam

1 Seattle, Washington

1 Westbank

- 35 per cent are from Surrey

- 20 per cent are from Vancouver

- 15 per cent are from Burnaby