The Georgia Straight - Fall Escapes - September 24, 2020

FREE | SEPT. 24 – OCT. 1 / 2020

B.C.’S BEST WINES

Volume 54 | Number 2748

LET THE JUDGING BEGIN

CORPORATE PSYCHOPATHY NEW FILM EXAMINES OLD PROBLEM

FALL ESCAPES

B.C. has some amazing destinations within easy driving dıstance of Vancouver

OPERA • ISMAILI FOOD • CANNABIS REFORMS • PERSONAL FINANCE

MOVIES

Film explores psychopathic links to corporate conduct

CONTENTS

September 24 – October 1 / 2020

6

COVER

Without American tourists crossing the border, there’s space available in popular destinations not far from the city.

by Charlie Smith

By Martin Dunphy, Carlito Pablo, and Charlie Smith Cover illustration by Andrew McGuire

4

REAL ESTATE

Mortgage broker Nisha Lalwani challenges conventional wisdom that says the lowest interest rate is always the best choice.

By Carlito Pablo

12

ESPORTS

This month, Facebook Gaming suddenly made things epically easier for music and video-game lovers to meld their passions.

By Mike Usinger

The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel, by Joel Bakan and Jennifer Abbott, deconstructs a business charm offensive in response to climate chaos and rampant inequality.

T

hanks to pioneering UBC psychologist and researcher Robert Hare, the world is far more aware of the personality disorder known as psychopathy. His landmark 1993 book, Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us, described in vivid detail how charming and predatory con artists are able to manipulate victims, perpetrate horrific violent and financial crimes, and cause untold havoc in society.

Ten years later, another UBC academic, law professor Joel Bakan, applied this concept to the business world in another landmark book, The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit. He wrote a companion documentary, The Corporation, which was directed by Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott. This film, like the book, applied the diagnostic criteria from Hare’s psychopathy checklist to make a strong case that corporations are inherently deceitful, callous, lack remorse, greedy, and utterly driven by self-interest.

But when the UBC law professor attended a 10th-anniversary screening of the fi lm, he had an epiphany.

“All of the issues that we looked at—climate change, crisis in democracy, inequality—had gotten much worse,” Bakan told the Straight by phone. “Corporations had gotten bigger and more powerful. At the same time, they were now projecting themselves as though they were our saviours.”

Leaders in this movement were JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon, former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, former BP chairman John Browne, and the executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab.

So Bakan decided to write a new book and direct a new film, along with Abbott, to explore how this confluence of events unfolded. After more than five years of work and interviews with leading critics and defenders of corporations, they completed The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel, which will be screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

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THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

“Obviously, the first fi lm didn’t do the trick of containing corporate capitalism, so that’s why we call it ‘the unfortunately necessary sequel’,” Bakan said.

This charm offensive began around 2005, not long after The Corporation screened on the festival circuit. And the psychopathy metaphor runs through the new film. It notes that the definition of this disorder has been amended to include the following phrase: “Use of seduction, charm, glibness, or ingratiation to achieve one’s ends.”

If there’s one central ingratiator, it’s Dimon, who appears on-screen crowing about his efforts to save Detroit. The Motor City has gone into a steep decline as a result of corporations moving out and financial-services companies, including Dimon’s, contributing to the 2008 economic meltdown.

“There are a number of things about Jamie Dimon that make him really important,” Bakan explained. “To begin with this, he’s the head of the Business Roundtable in the United States, which is the premier organization of major CEOs from major companies in the U.S.” Bakan pointed out that the Business Roundtable has been the leading voice advocating the concept of a “new corporation” devoted to doing good in the world. And Dimon runs the largest bank in the U.S. But this film is not all doom and gloom, notwithstanding horrific images of Australian climate fires, an exploding Deep Horizon oil derrick in the Gulf of Mexico, and sea turtles choking on plastic. In fact, The New Corporation suggests that growing links between anticorporate activism and electoral politics—as demonstrated

by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Seattle councilmember Kshama Sawant—portend a brighter future.

“The story line was that a lot of people after [the] Occupy [movement] realized that it wasn’t enough to simply protest and occupy the streets—that it was necessary really to make a play for occupying political office,” Bakan said. g

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 / 2020

e Online TOP 5

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9 ARTS 5 CANNABIS

Here’s what people are reading this week on Straight.com.

15 CLASSIFIEDS 13 FINANCE 11 FOOD 10 HEALTH 2 MOVIES 14 SAVAGE LOVE 10 WINE

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PUBLISHER Brian Kalish

1 2 3 4 5

COVID-19: How safe is air travel within Canada during the pandemic?

Martyn Brown: The lunacy of B.C.’s half-baked school “safety” regime.

Report recommends that Michael Wiebe resign his seat on Vancouver council.

Seven questions to consider regarding a universal basic income.

Two parties busted on two consecutive nights at same rental suite in Burnaby. @GeorgiaStraight

CIRCULATION MANAGER Giles Roy

FOUNDING PUBLISHER Dan McLeod

CREDIT MANAGER Shannon Li

EDITOR Charlie Smith

ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR Tamara Robinson

SECTION EDITORS Mike Usinger (ESports/Liquor/Music) Steve Newton SENIOR EDITOR Martin Dunphy ASSOCIATE EDITOR John Lucas (Cannabis) STAFF WRITERS Carlito Pablo (Real Estate) Craig Takeuchi SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Jeff Li GRAPHIC DESIGNER Miguel Hernandez PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Mike Correia SALES DIRECTOR Tara Lalanne ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Glenn Cohen, Catherine Tickle, Robyn Marsh, Manon Paradis, David Pearlman CONTENT AND MARKETING SPECIALIST Rachel Moore

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3

REAL ESTATE

Restrictions come with low-interest mortgages

E

by Carlito Pablo

very borrower wants the lowest interest rate. Who doesn’t?

But as mortgage broker Nisha Lalwani explains, rock bottom doesn’t always mean the most advantageous deal.

“The lowest interest may not be the best,” Lalwani said in a phone interview with the Georgia Straight.

According to her, a good rate will vary for each individual, depending on their goals and long-term plans.

A borrower’s personal circumstances could also change, like a new job that entails moving.

“Life happens,” the Metro Vancouver– area mortgage broker said.

When shopping around for mortgages, Lalwani advises prospective home buyers to read the fine print.

Products called no-frills mortgages, which offer slightly lower rates, don’t provide the flexibility found in most loans.

“It comes with certain restrictions,” Lalwani explained.

These include higher penalties when paying the mortgage off sooner, such as breaking a typical five-year term. There may also be limits to the borrower’s ability to make extra payments.

Lalwani likewise noted that a no-frills mortgage may not allow a homeowner to refinance. This means taking out a new loan at a lower interest and paying off the existing one.

“You can only break this mortgage if you sell [the home],” she said.

According to Lalwani, the interest-rate difference between this product and a standard mortgage is only about 0.10 percent.

However, a no-frills mortgage that may 1113 E PENDER ST I $1,199,000

You can only break this mortgage if you sell [the home].

– Nisha Lalwani

Mortgage broker Nisha Lalwani says that all home buyers should first read the fine print.

not work for some might be good for others.

Lalwani explained that borrowers who are attracted to this deal are usually firsttime home buyers. They are sensitive to interest rates, and they want the lowest rates.

They do not intend to break the term of the mortgage, because they do not see themselves moving to another house anytime soon.

“They plan to stay in the house,” Lalwani said.

Lalwani has been a broker since 2011.

She is with the Canadian Mortgage Experts company, which is with Dominion Lending Centres.

Realtors and mortgage brokers like Lalwani have been busy over the summer.

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demand suppressed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring started surging in May. In August, 10,172 homes sold across B.C., representing a 42.8 percent increase from the same month in 2019.

The value of home transactions in the province from January to August 2020 totalled $40.4 billion. That’s 15.8 percent higher than from the same period last year.

Lalwani observed that because of restrictions on travel, recreation, and other discretionary activities brought about by the pandemic, people generally have more savings. They are also working at home and found themselves wanting more room to accommodate office use.

Together with low interest rates that have been prevailing since March this year, Lalwani said these things spurred home-buying.

On September 9, the B.C. Real Estate Association (BCREA) released a paper explaining why the province’s housing market posted a strong performance amid the COVID-19 health crisis.

The document, titled “The Unusual World of Pandemic Economics”, noted a

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THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

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number of the things Lalwani has observed.

The paper stated that “without stores open to shop at, without vacations to take, and perhaps with some added precautionary savings, the second quarter of this year saw an extraordinary increase in household savings rates”.

It also pointed out that job losses impacted mostly low-wage earners, while those in the upper income brackets were not affected as much.

“The asymmetric impact of the recession helps to explain the strength in home sales, but also has serious implications for already troubling trends in inequality and housing affordability,” the paper said.

The BCREA forecasts that with interest rates remaining low and the province’s economy on track for recovery, a strong demand for homes will continue onto 2021.

That will surely keep Lalwani busy. Because of her multicultural background, she connects easily with different communities.

Lalwani is of South Asian ethnicity, and was raised in the Philippines. Her father came originally from the city of Jaipur, in India’s state of Rajasthan, and moved to Manila in 1975. Her mother hails from Bangalore, in India’s Karnataka state.

Lalwani was one year old when she arrived in Manila. Her parents are still there.

She speaks Hindi, Punjabi, and Filipino, the national language of the Philippines that is based on Tagalog.

Her spouse is also of South Asian heritage, and he was born and raised in the Philippines.

“I find myself fortunate,” Lalwani said.

“My background and the diverse culture in Canada enable me to make the most of my ability.” g

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CANNABIS

Province plans to allow farm-gate cannabis sales

S

by John Lucas

mall-scale cannabis producers in British Columbia received some good news on Sunday (September 20). The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General sent out a news release stating that the province is developing new programs for cannabis producers.

Through these programs, small-scale operators will gain greater access to local retailers and consumers.

For instance, Health Canada–licensed small-scale cannabis producers will soon have the option of delivering weed directly to licensed retailers. According to B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, the province sought input and recommendations from long-time cannabis growers, Indigenous leaders, and other stakeholders.

“We’ve heard clearly how important these kinds of sales are for smaller cannabis producers trying to get a foothold in a market currently dominated by larger players,” Farnworth said in the release.

“Now more than ever, our government is committed to supporting B.C. businesses and encouraging people to buy local, and that includes creating conditions for cannabis businesses of all sizes to succeed.”

Small producers may go mainstream. Photo

by PierceHSmith/iStock/Getty Images Plus.

According to the same bulletin, the province will also develop a farm-gate sales program. This will allow cannabis growers the ability to sell their products from “farmgate” stores located at their production sites.

“These programs support government’s

commitment to the development of a robust, diverse and sustainable legal cannabis economy in B.C., inclusive of rural and Indigenous communities, while prioritizing health and safety,” the release stated.

The targeted launch for both programs is 2022.

The province is also looking to give Indigenous producers in B.C. a boost. To that end, the Liquor Distribution Branch will launch an Indigenous Shelf Space Program.

The program, expected to start next year, will highlight products from Indigenous producers at private retail locations and on the B.C. Cannabis Stores website.

“These steps will help grow the legal cannabis industry in B.C. in an inclusive way,” Attorney General David Eby said in the release. “By making it easier to know more about the product, those who choose to use cannabis can make careful decisions about what types of product they want to buy and what sectors of the industry they want to support.”

Meanwhile, the provincial government announced that it and the Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) have entered into a government-to-government agreement under Section 119 of the Cannabis Control

and Licensing Act. According to a September 21 release, “the agreement supports WLFN’s interests in operating retail cannabis stores that offer a diverse selection of cannabis products from licensed producers across Canada”.

The agreement also supports “a cannabisproduction operation that offers farm-gate sales of its own craft cannabis products”.

“This is another important step in supporting economic development across B.C.,” Eby said.

For example, the AG said, “the new agreement will create jobs, boost the local economy, and help diversify B.C.’s cannabis industry”.

Not long after this September 21 announcement, Premier John Horgan called a snap election, with voters going to the polls on October 24. g

MORE CANNABIS ONLINE AT CANNCENTRAL.COM

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 / 2020

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

5

TRAVEL

Some fall escapes for those feeling under pressure

There’s nothing quite like taking a break from Metro Vancouver to clear your head and recalibrate your soul

In Whistler, the Audain Art Museum (left, photo by Justa Jeskova) is hosting a major photography exhibit from Thursdays to Sundays, but visitors must cover their face. Meanwhile, North Vancouver Island is emerging as a popular ecotourism destination, due in part to whale- and grizzly-bear watching. Photographers often stop to capture images of the ‘Namgis traditional Big House (right) in Alert Bay.

S

ometimes, even if it’s just for your mental health, you have to get out of town. And with so many B.C. communities facing hard times during this pandemic, it makes sense to stay within the province. If this pandemic has you experiencing cabin fever, here are a few locations to consider. But please don’t go if you’re showing any symptoms of COVID-19.

And respect physical-distancing rules and wear a mask wherever this is recommended.

WHISTLER

What can you say about B.C.’s four-season wonderland that people might not already know? Let’s start with what’s new for the 2020-21 season, like an online ski-lift reservation system to help staff manage the volume of visitors in a safer way.

According to the Whistler Resort Association’s website, pass holders have up to seven priority reservation days and seven week-of reservation days that they book in advance, starting on November 6. Just over a month later, on December 8, it will be possible to buy day-specific lift tickets online, again reducing contact between visitors and staff.

“We want to provide assurance to our guests that we will do our very best to minimize crowds at all times—be it a holiday weekend or the unpredictable powder day,” Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz said in a recent news release. “We believe this approach will help ensure a safe experience for everyone while prioritizing access for our pass holders.”

As popular as skiing and snowboarding might be, there’s more to this community than racing down a mountain at breakneck speed. In the fall, it’s possible to indulge in zipline tours, bear-viewing, or spending 6

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

a lazy day by one of the resort’s lakes. It’s not too late to take a kayak or a standup paddleboard out on the water, either.

In recent years, Whistler has also upped its game when it comes to arts and culture.

The Audain Art Museum remains open for those wearing face coverings from Thursdays to Sundays. It’s current show, The Extended Moment: Fifty Years of Collecting Photographs, runs until October 18 and features 80 images by such luminaries as Diane Arbus, Edward Burtynsky, and Stan Douglas, among others.

The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is also hosting exhibits, including the Summer Regalia Series and the Twenty Foot Cedar Pole Carving, which run until the end of September. Lil’wat artist Ed Archie NoiseCat’s display of art pieces, Sqātsza7 Tmicw–Father Land, continues to the end of February.

by Charlie Smith

NORTH VANCOUVER ISLAND

The North Island, the least-travelled part of Vancouver Island, might see fewer tourists but is less crowded as a result and is, generally speaking, a more pristine experience in terms of wilderness. The “three ports”—Port McNeill, Port Alice, and Port Hardy—are the largest towns north of Campbell River, a world-famous salmon-fishing destination that is pretty much considered to be the North Island’s southern boundary. Paved roads outside of these destinations accessible by the Island Highway (Highway 19) are few, so you need to plan carefully before you go.

Wilderness activities—mainly whale- and grizzly bear–watching, scenic water tours, diving and fishing charters, and hiking— dominate the environment here, with Port Hardy playing the role of jumping-off point for both local adventures (Cape Scott Prov-

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 / 2020

incial Park, the challenging North Coast Trail) and those farther afield (the B.C. Ferries connection to Prince Rupert through the Inside Passage is a legendary 15-hour day trip, with further connections to Alaska and Haida Gwaii). Port McNeill, on the relatively sheltered northeast tip of the Island, houses mainly forestry and fisheries workers and their families. A ferry crosses Broughton Strait to the former Finnish utopian community of Sointula on Malcolm Island and Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, both within the territories of the ’Namgis First Nation (part of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations).

Port Alice, situated farther west, on Neroutsos Inlet, boasts fantastic diving in Quatsino Sound, nearby caving opportunities, and great fishing and wildlife-viewing opportunities.

Campbell River brags about its famous salmon fishing, especially its famed traditional “tyee” fishery (chinook salmon of 30 pounds or more, caught from a rowboat on specific tackle), celebrated in the legendary stories that have come out of its historic Painter’s Lodge fishing resort.

Fishing charters abound here, and though tyee season is fading by late September/ October, there are still plenty of feisty northern coho salmon, fall chum salmon, and younger chinook lurking about. Many locals and tourists catch salmon right off the landmark Discovery Fishing Pier in downtown Campbell River.

by Martin Dunphy

HARRISON HOT SPRINGS

Harrison Hot Springs offers a convenient getaway for people wanting a quick escape from the city. The Fraser Valley municipality located 130 kilometres east of Vancouver presents an accessible haven just 90

minutes away by car.

First made famous by mineral waters that have been valued by the Sts’ailes First Nation as a healing place, Harrison Hot Springs is a complete destination. There’s something for everyone in the resort town, which has provided rest and comfort to visitors for more than a century. For accommodations, one can choose anything from hotels to cottages, campgrounds and RV parks, depending on the budget.

When exploring Harrison Lake and the Harrison River, visitors can access a variety of boats, kayaks, and canoes from Killer Cove Boat Rentals. One suggested water trip goes down the river to the nearby town of Harrison Mills, where thousands of eagles start arriving in October and November to feast on spawned-out salmon.

For families with children, the Harrison Watersports Water Park, a floating fun park on the lake, is an option.

Harrison Hot Springs also offers a number of land adventures. One can get in touch with Harrison Eco Tours for guided hikes, or just do it with a map.

Visitors can try the one-kilometre Spirit Trail, a short walk through a forest where several trees have been adorned with beautiful masks by a local artist.

Those interested in the town’s rich history can take the Heritage Walk.

European settlers on their way to find gold were said to have stumbled on the hot springs by accident in 1858. The Sts’ailes people call these kwals, or boiling water.

The first hotel in town was built in 1886.

Biking is another popular activity in Harrison Hot Springs. From there, one can also explore the scenic town of Agassiz on two wheels. see next page

Art lovers can visit Canwest Art Gallery on the Lake, and the Ranger Station Art Gallery. There’s also the Sasquatch Museum, which is dedicated to the mythical creature that the Sts’ailes call Sa:sq’ets, or caretaker of the land.

by Carlito Pablo

SUNSHINE COAST

If you’ve never been to the Sunshine Coast, this may be the ideal time to explore the 180-kilometre stretch extending from Gibsons and Roberts Creek in the south all the way up to Lund on the northern end. For nature lovers, Skookumchuck Narrows reveals how turbulent the sea can become, with extra-large tides anticipated at different times on every day from Thursday (September 24) to the end of the month.

The spectacular whirlpools are part of Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park, which was created in 1957.

The Sunshine Coast also has an increasingly famous Ale Trail, with craft breweries, distilleries, and cideries running along the so-called Brewers’ Coast. Two of the best known are Persephone Brewing’s beer farm in Gibsons and Townsite Brewing in the historic section of Powell River.

Another attraction in fall is the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl, which takes place from October 23 to 25. This year, in response to the pandemic, it’s being held virtually at many venues. Others are offering visits by appointment. In addition, there will be a Zoom party and online listings

From Baynes Peak on Salt Spring Island, there’s a glorious view of Fulford Harbour, which is home to a B.C. Ferries terminal. The Southern Gulf Islands have a Mediterranean-style climate.

showing images of the artists’ work.

Then there’s the cycling, boating, hiking, rock-climbing, kayaking, canoeing, and standup paddleboarding that takes place at many locations. Hey, we may be in the midst of a pandemic, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay cloistered in our living rooms. If you do head to the Sunshine Coast this autumn, please respect the wishes of the locals. They’re not keen to have city slickers from Metro Vancouver bringing any COVID with them.

by Charlie Smith

SOUTHERN GULF ISLANDS

B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands are oases of calm sitting in the Salish Sea between Vancouver, Victoria, and Nanaimo to the north. Tourists from outside Canada and residents of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island visit

and vacation there, helped by an efficient ferry system that serves all the large islands and even allows some residents to commute to work on the mainland or the Island daily.

The islands are part of a larger archipelago that includes the San Juan Islands in the U.S. and the so-called Northern Gulf Islands, which extend all the way to Quadra Island near Campbell River, well north of Nanaimo.

Some of the southernmost islands have a Mediterranean-style climate that allows agricultural opportunities not seen anywhere else in B.C., such as olive production, and enables unique ecosystems, such as that associated with Garry oak trees, to thrive. The major southern islands’ permanent population of about 20,000 residents (with Salt Spring accounting for half that total) soars during the summer months, so the autumn is a good time to look for that perfect waterfront

or cozy tree-hidden cottage rental.

We don’t have the space to go into detail about the individual charms of such popular island getaways as Salt Spring, Mayne, Saturna, Galiano, Gabriola, and the North and South Pender islands. An abundance of information is available from websites detailing accommodations, activities, and the varied recreational offerings to be found on their shores. Whale-watching and orca-spotting (orcas are actually the largest member of the dolphin family) are popular Salish Sea activities, and salmon fishing outranks almost all other types, although it slows down a bit after the chinook and sockeye runs diminish in late summer. But mostly visitors just like to putter around their island retreats: kayaking, cycling, and hiking accessible trails; basking in the fall sunshine and visiting farms and artists’ studios; and patronizing specialty bakeries, farmers markets, and sipping vintages in a local winery’s tasting room.

by Martin Dunphy

KELOWNA

Kelowna keeps visitors coming back for lots of reasons.

One never runs out of things to do in the scenic city by the Okanagan Lake.

With its cool breezes, fall makes a good season for outdoor adventure in this destination area. It’s a little over four hours away by car from Vancouver.

Downtown Kelowna’s waterfront boardwalk provides a nice place to start.

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 / 2020

see next page

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

7

from previous page

The two-kilometre promenade offers views of the lake and also connects to a wildlife park.

Visitors can also explore the city on bike. Kelowna features about 300 kilometres of bike lanes and 40 kilometres of separated pathways. Opportunities also abound for mountain biking nearby.

The Mission Creek Greenway is a 16-kilometre trail shared by cyclists, joggers, and walkers. It offers an easy to moderate hike, connecting to parks, interpretive viewing spots, rest locations, and picnic sites.

Kelowna gave birth to winemaking in B.C., and there are five wine trails to choose from to savour premium vintages.

One is the Downtown Grapes to Grain trail, with stops at Sandhill Estate Winery and Ricco Bambino Urban Winery.

Guided wine tours are available. Calona Wines, which was founded in 1932, is the oldest continuously operating winery in the province.

For a piece of history, visitors may want to see the Myra Canyon Trestles, located 24 kilometres from downtown. The landmark was once part of the Kettle Valley Steam Railway, built during the early 20th century. A restored locomotive provides a 90-minute ride along the preserved section of the railway.

Harvest season comes in the fall. With its deep agricultural tradition, Kelowna offers a wide selection of fruit, produce, and flowers.

Families planning to take their dog

Surfers can’t seem to get enough of the waves alongside Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the west coast of Vancouver Island, whereas hikers are often drawn to the area’s lush rainforests.

for a vacation need not worry. There are many hotels and accommodations that are pet-friendly.

Dogs are allowed on-leash at Knox Mountain Park. Rising about 300 metres above Okanagan Lake, the 310-hectare park provides sightseeing opportunities as well as hiking, biking, and birding.

For those seeking a tranquil spot to unwind, downtown boasts the Kasugai Garden Park. The Japanese garden’s features include waterfalls, a pond with koi fish, and lanterns. It closes for the season at the end of October.

by Carlito Pablo

TOFINO-UCLUELET

The Tofino-Ucluelet area on Vancouver Island’s west coast is an international-tourism hot spot, and not just because of its anchor

tenant, Pacific Rim National Park, which includes the aptly named 16-kilometre Long Beach. These two villages have repurposed toward a resort-based livelihood during the past few decades as their former economic mainstays, logging and fishing, have diminished in importance. Ecotourism rules, as befits the area that saw some epic battles in Canadian environmental-activism history.

Whale-watching outfits in both towns compete with bear- and wildlife-watching companies, and kayaking opportunities (guided or rentals) abound. Area beaches are also famous for their surfing, and several businesses offer lessons and equipment rentals. Because of this, there has been a minor boom in resort hotels, marinas, campgrounds, fishing charters (mostly salmon and halibut), and associated businesses, including restaurants, bakeries,

and specialty shopping outlets.

Most visitors travel by car along Highway 4, which bisects the island as it runs toward Pacific Rim National Park. They can walk trails and take in the magnificent old-growth cedars and Douglas firs preserved in MacMillan Provincial Park’s famous Cathedral Grove east of Port Alberni, at the head of Alberni Inlet. On the other side of that former forestry hub, a fork in the road as you reach the ocean makes you choose between Tofino (right) or Ucluelet (left), about 30 minutes’ drive apart.

Ucluelet’s magnificent Barkley Sound Broken Island Group (90 islands within the park boundary, day-use only during the pandemic), the Wild Pacific Trail, and its small but wonderful nonprofit aquarium (which releases all its resident animals back into local waters at its end-of-November seasonal close) beckon to the south. To the north, Tofino’s generally fancier restaurants, shopping, accommodations, and galleries cater to those looking for more of a touristy vibe.

But the wilderness experience dominates both, and in mere minutes you can be hiking Meares Island old-growth trails or kayaking among whales in Barkley Sound. If you intend to traverse or visit First Nations lands, as Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council president Judith Sayers told the Straight, ask permission. “We were asking people to contact the First Nation directly if they want to go into their territories. Check their websites [for visitor info]; if it’s not there, call their office.”

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ARTS

Vancouver Opera goes digital in face of pandemic

V

by Charlie Smith

ancouver Opera had grand plans for its 60th season. In a phone interview with the Straight, general director Tom Wright revealed that VO was going to celebrate by launching this year’s series with a free concert at Deer Lake in July.

“For families, we had a full day of programming,” Wright said. “Everything was set. And then, of course, COVID hit.”

He realizes that for now, VO won’t be able to present elaborate live productions employing 300 to 400 people over the course of a month. But he and his team have improvised by coming up with a season of four smaller digital operas, which will continue to offer work to its orchestra chorus, local artists, singers, directors, and designers.

“It’s just not going to be at the scale that we’re accustomed to and what we’re known for,” he said.

On October 24, VO will launch its season with La voix humaine, a one-act opera by Francis Poulenc. The libretto revolves around a phone call between a woman and the lover who has abandoned her. Directed by Rachel Peake, it will feature soloist Mireille Lebel, with musical direction from VO’s principal répétiteur, Kinza Tyrrell.

Four one-act operas will be coming to a small screen near you as a result of Vancouver Opera pivoting quickly in response to COVID-19 under the leadership of its general director, Tom Wright.

The show will be videotaped at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and edited before being presented.

The second opera, Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, is a family holiday classic that will be presented on

1905 Ogden Ave,Vancouver | 604-257-8300

December 12. Featuring the Three Kings on the first Christmas, VO’s production will be directed by Sarah Pelzer with Maestro Leslie Dala. His son, Andreas Dala, will play Amahl.

The third installment in VO’s season

will be The Music Shop by Richard Wargo.

Featuring the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists, this comedic one-act opera will be presented virtually on March 6, 2021, focusing on a mild-mannered husband’s search for a song requested by his wife.

And the final production will be a reimagining of Bizet’s La Tragédie de Carmen

by Peter Brooks and Marius Constant. This 90-minute adaptation revolves around four key characters, Carmen, Don José, Michaëla, and Escamillo. It will also star members of the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program. This version of Carmen will premiere on May 1, 2021.

An upside of the new reality is that people can see all four operas for $100 from the comfort of their own home, with family members. Wright explained that each show will be preceded with a preview talk and followed by a live question-and-answer session with the creators and artists. Plus, there’s a social-media component.

“We hope to have fun with ‘What did you wear on opening night of the opera?’ ” Wright said. “And have people posting pictures of what they wore to the opera—if they wore their best gowns or their best pyjamas.” g

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HEALTH / WINE

Dr. Peter Centre supports its restaurant partners The health organization cancelled its annual festive fundraiser but aims to help out the food industry

M

by Craig Takeuchi

uch focus during the pandemic has been placed on protecting vulnerable populations. Among those who are at risk due to COVID-19 are those with compromised immune systems, which includes people living with HIV. A Vancouver organization devoted to caring for the latter is facing fundraising challenges due to the pandemic. But it has found a way to help others in need.

The Passions gala, an annual food-andbeverage celebration, is one of the Dr. Peter Centre’s most popular fundraising events.

Alas, it had to be cancelled this year because of the pandemic.

But instead of the gala, the Dr. Peter Centre is asking everyone to instead help support its partner restaurants, which are also in need of financial support as they contend with challenges created by emergency health guidelines.

On October 1, the centre is asking diners to either order food or purchase gift certificates from the partner restaurants listed on their website and then share a photo on social media, tagging both the Dr. Peter Centre and the participating establishment.

He was a force to be reckoned with.

– Passions cochair Michael Barker-Fyfe on chef Nathan Fong

The late Nathan Fong (shown here with Shirley Young, mother of Dr. Peter Jepson-Young) was the founder and cochair of the annual Dr. Peter Centre food and beverage fundraising event Passions.

The list of restaurants runs from Ancora, Beaucoup Bakery, and Cibo Trattoria to Maenam, Tojo’s, and Araxi Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Whistler.

In a message to supporters, Passions gala cochair Michael Barker-Fyfe spoke about the founder and cochair of the event, chef Nathan Fong, who died in March of this year.

“Over the last six years, I was honoured to co-chair with Nathan. He was a force to be reckoned with and cared deeply about the Dr. Peter Centre,” Barker-Fyfe said.

“In the wake of COVID-19, many of our local restaurants have suffered immensely.

Nathan would have wanted us to do everything we can to support the chefs, owners, and staff he loved so much during such a challenging time.”

Barker-Fyfe added that they are looking to celebrate once again with everyone next year. The list of participating restaurants is available at www.drpeter.org/support-us/ events/upcoming-events/passions/. g

Experts gather in Kelowna to pick best B.C. wines

T

by Charlie Smith

he largest wine competition in B.C. history will take place in the middle of a pandemic and a provincial election. From Wednesday (September 23) to Friday (September 25), 15 judges will gather at the Manteo Resort Waterfront Hotel and Villas in Kelowna. There, they’ll evaluate 745 entries in 24 categories in the B.C. Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards.

According to the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society’s general manager, Elan Morris, it will be unlike any of these events in previous years.

“This year, we have to do it differently with COVID-19, because normally we would have a team of sommeliers pouring in the back room and then taking out trays to the individual judging teams,” Morris explained by phone from Kelowna.

“This year, we’re trying to avoid contact with their glasses.”

To accomplish this, wines will be bagged and taken out to the tables. Judges will have access to their own glassware. That will ensure there’s no unnecessary contact throughout the process.

The society made this decision after consulting with the resort and WorkSafeBC. “We certainly have had to jump through some hoops to protect our judges,” Morris said.

Moreover, she said that they are pleased by the efforts that have been made.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the society was planning on bringing in some high-profile wine experts from outside the country. They included London wine writer 10

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

The B.C. Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards will take place in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley. Photo by Kym Ellis/Unsplash.

Jamie Goode and New York–based author Alder Yarrow, who founded the Vinography blog. However, Morris said, if they had come to Canada, they would have been forced to self-isolate for 14 days, which made it impractical for them to join this year’s judging panel.

She’s pleased by the all-Canadian group of judges.

Among them is Gatineau-based Véronique Rivest, who ranked second in the Best Sommelier of the World competition in 2013. In addition, local wine experts Sid Cross, Michaela Morris, Tim Pawsey, DJ Kearney, and Kurtis Kolt are also in Kelowna offering their expertise.

It comes at a tough time for winemakers. Due to the

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 / 2020

pandemic, smaller wineries have had to cut by half the number of tasting-room visitors, according to Morris.

That is, if they were even able to find staff to work there.

“The profit margins for wineries are pretty small until you really get established,” she noted.

This is why Morris is so enthusiastic about the B.C. Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards—they provide a platform for wineries of all sizes to tell the world about the quality of their beverages. Naramata-based Deep Roots Winery is one example of a small operation that has enjoyed great success. Last year, winemaker Will Hardman’s 2017 Syrah captured the prize as the B.C. Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards wine of the year. Bigger wineries, such as Mission Hill and Quails’ Gate, have also captured lieutenant-governor awards in the past.

“We equalize everybody,” Morris said. “It’s a fully blind tasting by judges that represent all sectors of the wine industry.”

So if you’re looking for the very best wines for fall, keep an eye on the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society website.

That’s because on October 15 at 7 p.m., the society will announce this year’s winners of the B.C. Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards in a virtual ceremony.

Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin will open this event by discussing her love of wine, followed by footage featuring the B.C. industry. “Then she will close the video by introducing the wine of the year,” Morris said. g

FOOD

Ismaili food pairs Indian flavour with African touch

A progressive community that traces its roots back to Gujarat adds sizzle to the regional dining scene

by Charlie Smith

D

Yes, almost every South Asian restaurant in the region serves butter chicken, but none does it like Ember Indian Kitchen; Mishkaki at Simba’s Grill is truly mouthwatering. Photos by Charlie Smith

iners can be forgiven if they sometimes feel a bit confused when they’re inside an Ismailiowned restaurant in the Lower Mainland. That’s because customers often see African images or artworks inside these establishments, but the food tastes distinctly Indian. Is it African or South Asian cuisine?

The answer can be found in the community’s history. Many local Ismaili Muslims’ ancestors migrated from the western Indian state of Gujarat to what is now known as Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania during the late 19th century and early 20th century.

When these countries became independent, the Ismailis succeeded magnificently.

But their peaceful lives were rudely interrupted when Ugandan dictator Idi Amin expelled them and other Indians in 1972.

With the encouragement of their progressive spiritual leader, Prince Shah Karim al-Hussayni, Aga Khan IV, many made their way to Canada, where they’ve thrived in the professions, business, and the media.

“The Ismailis, who emerged in the eighth century out of a schism in Shia Islam, have long taken the view that the Qu’ran (Islam’s central religious text) is to be read as a set of allegories and reinterpreted over time,” wrote academic Rahim Mohamed in Policy Options magazine in 2017.

Their food is also unique—a combination of hearty Indian Muslim cooking with East African influences. Here are four Ismaili restaurants worth visiting in Metro Vancouver if you’re seeking something different from the standard North Indian fare and South Indian dosas.

EMBER INDIAN KITCHEN

135–6168 London Road, Steveston Owner Amin Sunderji used to own a furniture gallery in Yaletown, and his impeccable sense of design is on display at Ember, which is perched alongside the south arm of the Fraser River.

In this elegant establishment with a high ceiling and subtle nods to his former home in Uganda, Sunderji has adapted traditional Ismaili cooking to please western palates without going so far as to have it labelled “fusion”. No wonder Steveston was recently voted the best Lower Mainland neighbourhood by CBC listeners.

Recommended dish: The butter chicken is perhaps the best in the Lower Mainland, made with a lighter touch and a succulent tomato tang. Order some naan so you can be sure to soak up every drop.

SIMBA’S GRILL

201–3300 Boundary Road, Burnaby Some West End residents were saddened when Kenyan immigrant Kurshid Khan closed his Denman Street eatery in 2019.

But his new establishment in Burnaby features many of the same East African– infused dishes and lots of gorgeous art.

Plus, it’s far more spacious than his former establishment, with plenty of distance between tables in the COVID era.

Recommended dish: Mishkaki—large skewers of piquant beef cubes marinated and barbecued—comes on a bed of potato wedges. It’s out of this world.

CAYENNE BISTRO & GRILL

7677 6th Street, Burnaby The Kampala-born owner of this small eatery in South Burnaby, Zeimina Bharmal,

came to Canada via Sweden. With a modern décor and an extensive menu, Cayenne offers diners a multitude of choices in a relaxed environment. It’s one of several South Asian–owned businesses that appear to be thriving in this neighbourhood near the border with New Westminster.

Recommended dish: Patra bhajia is a Gujarati snack rarely seen on Indian restaurant menus in Canada. If you’re feeling adventurous, Cayenne serves these steamed colocasia leaves with a tasty mix of sweet and sour spices.

Keep in mind that if you’re in the mood for an Ismaili lunch or takeout, there are two other options: Kilimanjaro Snack House & Catering (789 Kingsway) and Safari Snack House & Grill (5121 Canada Way, Burnaby). g

JAMBO GRILL TANDOOR & PAAN HOUSE

3219 Kingsway The first thing you’ll notice upon entering Jambo is the gallery of politicians and other celebrities who’ve visited this local landmark, owned by Nash Mawani since 2005.

Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper, and the longtime MLA, Health Minister Adrian Dix, are among the scores of famous people who have dined here over the years. In recent years, Mawani has cut back somewhat on the number of African works of art, but his staff wear colourful attire that remains a reminder of his Kenyan roots.

Recommended dish: Biryani is a complex, stand-alone rice dish popular in many Muslim households. Nobody makes it as fiery and authentic as Jambo.

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SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 / 2020

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11

ESPORTS

Facebook makes a music ESports power move

A

by Mike Usinger

s anyone who has ever tried to soundtrack a DIY video on YouTube or Twitch streaming session knows, not all music is considered equal.

Nothing’s going to stop you from setting your mini-masterpiece to Irving Berlin’s “All By Myself”, Bessie Smith’s “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home”, or the New Christy Minstrel’s “By the Beautiful Sea”. All those songs are in the public domain, so go crazy if you want to throw them in the background while shooting the snot out of your fellow digital man on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Where things get tricky is when songs have been written in the past 100 years.

Sure, Social Distortion’s “Mass Hysteria” might be epically fitting when it’s time to break out the Mosin-Nagant sniper rifle in Call of Duty, but that usually means you’re committing copyright infringement. Same for cueing up the Refused’s batshit-crazy “New Noise” when it’s time to create some carnage in Overwatch.

Where this becomes a problem is when streamers simply can’t resist adding music to their clips and aren’t overly careful while doing it.

As powerful as Twitch and YouTube are, that doesn’t put the platforms above the law in the eyes of the watchdogs at the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). When music has been posted without the copy-

G ame REVIEW

Thanks to a Facebook Gaming deal struck with major labels, there’s nothing stopping you from playing Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” when you’re streaming. Photo by Universal Music Group.

right holder’s permission, the DMCA often steps in and serves notice to cease and desist.

It’s then up to YouTube and Twitch to warn its users that posts need to removed.

The great Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” might go well with everything from Rocket League to Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, but that doesn’t mean you can break it out whenever you’re too lazy to dig deep in the Rammstein catalogue. Use the song

With THPS1+2, everyone is a skater.

The original pro skaters included in the first games are back, but at their real ages. They are joined by new pros, including Tony’s son, Riley Hawk. But you can also create your own skater, if you want, and you can create your own skateparks, too.

If you want to understand why Activision arranged for the remaster of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, released in 1999, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, released in 2000, all you need to do is play them.

Available on PS4, Windows, and Xbox One, there are eight different multiplayer modes. You can also skate with a friend in local split-screen, and the HD graphics make everything sing.

The concept of a skateboarding game seems simple: ride a skateboard in myriad environments, perform tricks.

The fact that so few good skateboarding games exist tells you everything, though.

Topping off the experience is the soundtrack. It includes the original tracks and 37 new ones, ranging from the rap and punk of the original games (the likes of Dead Kennedys, Primus, Public Enemy, and Rage Against the Machine) to modern-day bands like JunkBunny, Screaming Females, and Spilt Milk.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, re-created with high-definition graphics by Vicarious Visions (the originals were developed by Neversoft), maintains the controls that made the games so popular and which make it fun to pick up and play—and with enough flexibility to chain together endless combos.

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THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 proves that the old stuff is the best stuff, and there’s life yet left in the old guard. g

by Blaine Kyllo

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 / 2020

and expect to hear from the DMCA. How serious are the takedown notices?

Consider a June 7, 2020, series of Tweets, under the handle @fuslie, from wildly popular Twitch streamer Leslie. Things started out with, “I’ve been issued 2 copyright strikes on my channel (both from clips over a year old) in the past week and told that if they find one more violation in my clips, my twitch account will be permabanned. (1/4)” One would think that rectifying the situation would be easy. But for Leslie, that wasn’t the case. Twitch wanted the offending clips removed. That would have been fine, except for one small problem. Leslie wasn’t occasionally using tracks like Jay-Z’s “Money, Cash, Hoes”, Muse’s “Bliss”, or DRAM’s “Cha Cha”. Instead, she evidently decided that it was open season on every song ever written, with the possible exception of “The Sound of Silence”, whenever she streamed.

After noting that it took her the better part of five years to build a megafollowing on her Twitch channel, Leslie went on to Tweet to her 177,000 followers: “Have talked with multiple @Twitch staff all telling me my best option is to delete all of my clips ever. On top of it being near impossible for me to delete >100,000 clips, the creator dashboard isn’t loading any of my old clips. How am I supposed to protect myself here?”

Then, in case the message wasn’t getting through, she added: “This is an issue way bigger than me. Content creators aren’t being informed by Twitch on the proper steps to protect themselves from this happening, and there has to be a better [way] to handle this than suddenly striking our accounts and banning us out of nowhere.”

Leslie is hardly alone. Even if you’ve got 12 followers on YouTube and 11 on Twitch,

odds are that you’ve been there—and been flagged—if you’ve decided to thrown an unlicensed song or two into the mix. Unfortunately, having the best of intentions while sharing your love of gaming and Death Grips with the world isn’t enough.

And here’s where things get interesting.

In mid-September, the newly minted platform Facebook Gaming suddenly made things epically easier for music and videogame fans to meld two of their big passions.

The social-media monolith used its clout to negotiate a deal with Universal, BMG, Warner, Sony, and their various subsidiaries.

Those providing free content on the new service­­­—i.e., almost everyone—will be able to use songs from the major labels involved without having to worry about breaking copyright laws. That’s because Facebook, which isn’t exactly struggling in the cash department, is paying to be able to access the work of the labels’ small army of artists.

It’s easy to see why the deal is a win-win for all involved. Labels have watched profits evaporate ever since CDs were usurped by digital consumption patterns that started with Napster and Limewire and today includes services like Spotify and Apple Music. At the same time, algorithms have drastically changed who goes digital platinum and who is doomed to eat Kraft Dinner and Top Ramen before eventually giving up and applying at Starbucks or Home Depot. Suddenly, smaller-tier artists in the major-label system will theoretically get valuable exposure, potentially reaching audiences of millions should a heavyweight streamer cue up one of their songs in the background.

As for Facebook, the challenge with Facebook Gaming is convincing streamers that there’s a better option than Twitch. You might remember Microsoft attempting to unseat the Amazon-owned Twitch with its upstart Mixer platform and failing spectacularly. Because why switch to a service offering the same bells and whistles when what you’ve been using works just fine?

By crawling into bed with some of the biggest players in the music industry, Facebook Gaming has solved a major headache for streamers like poor Leslie. Goodbye, DMCA police. Hello, setting a 15-minute CS:GO rampage to the Velvet Underground’s “Sister Ray” without having to worry about the fallout. Praise the Lord, pass the ammunition, and crank the volume to 11. g

MORE ESPORTS ONLINE AT ECENTRALSPORTS.COM

FINANCE

Good financial advice isn’t reserved for the wealthy

T

by Charlie Smith

here’s a common misconception about financial planning. According to Ruby Ubhi, a certified financial planner with Coast Capital Wealth Management, many think it’s only for the rich.

“That’s absolutely not the case,” Ubhi told the Straight by phone. “It doesn’t matter how much money you have. A financial plan can work for anybody, not just the wealthy.”

She explained that there are four broad categories that a financial planner will raise with a new client. They can be described as manage, save, grow, and protect.

“Managing” entails examining day-today spending and budgeting. “Saving” involves setting aside money for a rainy day or for short-term goals.

“Growing” pertains to investing funds over the longer term and planning for retirement. And “protecting” is looking after everything a person has worked toward, including having the right type of insurance products, including critical-care and disability coverage, if necessary.

Ubhi acknowledged that financial planning can be more difficult for a person who is “in the red”. But even then, a planner

can offer advice on consolidating debts to reduce interest payments and improve monthly cash flow.

She also recommended that whatever a person wants to save should come right off their paycheque and flow into the appropriate account. Another way to stay ahead of the game is to have bills paid automatically, reducing one’s ability to overspend.

So what does a financial plan look like?

Ubhi said that in addition to automated bill payments and creating an emergency account for a rainy day, a planner might also offer advice on retirement savings.

“We would look at a diversified portfolio of investments,” she noted.

One of the big questions concerns whether to put extra funds in a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP), which offers a tax deduction, or a tax-free savings account (TFSA).

“The RRSP really depends on your income,” Ubhi said. “If you’re in a higherincome tax bracket, an RRSP may make sense.”

However, for those in lower-income brackets, an RRSP contribution won’t yield nearly as large a return at tax time.

“Usually for people starting out, early

Certified financial planner Ruby Ubhi says a tax-free savings account offers many benefits.

career or younger people, we always say a TFSA is a better way to go,” she declared.

“Then when they’re earning a higher income or in a higher tax bracket, it might

make sense to now redirect to an RRSP. You could even then, later down the road, take that money that’s being built in the TFSA now and move it into the RRSP. Again, it’s different for every person. You can’t say one is better than the other.”

The most widely recognized designation for people in the financial-planning sector is certified financial planner. CFPs are regulated by the Financial Planning Standards Council and must pass a series of exams to be licensed.

Ubhi said that if someone is working with a certified financial planner or a personal financial planner, that adviser is required to provide unbiased advice. “You won’t be pushed a certain way or to a certain product when you’re dealing with a CFP,” she stated.

Ubhi recognizes that for novices, financial planning can feel a little overwhelming.

“Start from the ground up,” she advised. “Your financial institution or whoever you’re working with would be happy to get you started. We engage with professionals in all facets of our well-being: doctors, dentists, mechanics. Finance should be the same.” g

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13

SAVAGE LOVE

Bisexual threesome with escort needs prep work

Don’t expect a sex worker to be prepared for emotional labour as well as sexual labour without notice

by Dan Savage

Sex workers aren’t mind readers and should not be expected to know your requirements in advance, especially if a married bisexual couple craves a threesome with intimacy. Photo by cottonbro.

b MARRIED GUY HERE. I’m 33, the wife is 31.

Our fifth anniversary is next month but we’ve been together for almost eight years.

We’ve recently both come out to each other as bi. She tried to tell me a long time ago, whereas I came to the realization only recently. We’re both interested in new sexual encounters and this weekend we met up with a male escort. It was my first sexual experience with a man and the first sexual encounter between my wife and another man in eight years… and we found it lacking. It was too short and too impersonal. Is this how it usually goes with escorts? Should we have been more upfront with our interests ahead of time? We don’t want to keep spending the money if we’re not getting the experience we want. We need to stay fairly discreet for most of these encounters due to our careers. Appreciate any input.

- Basking In Confusion Over Underwhelming, Pitifully Lacklustre Experience

P.S. A shoutout to my amazing wife for going from learning I’m bi to fucking another dude with me three months later!

Some sex workers love their jobs; some don’t. Some sex workers are good at their jobs; some aren’t. Sometimes a sex worker doesn’t click with a particular client for some ephemeral, hard-to-define reason; sometimes a client gives off a bad vibe—or a bad odour—and the sex worker bails or hurries things along. Not because they’re a shitty sex worker, BICOUPLE, but because

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THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

their client is shitty or smells shitty.

But here’s the thing, BICOUPLE: no sex worker can read minds. You tell me you’re wondering if you should’ve been “more upfront with [your] interests ahead of time”.

If you left something important out when you made the booking, well, that could’ve been the problem. No sex worker likes having things sprung on them. A sex worker who doesn’t do kink is going to feel very uncomfortable if there’s a bunch of bondage gear laid out when they arrive; even a sex worker who does kink is going to feel uncomfortable if kink wasn’t discussed in advance. Similarly, BICOUPLE, if you didn’t explain to your sex worker that there were two of you, your sex worker might’ve felt uncomfortable when they arrived.

If you weren’t clear about your wants and your sex worker didn’t ask or you couldn’t articulate them after he asked, you put your sex worker in the position of having to guess. And your sex worker may have guessed wrong—some clients prefer sex that’s athletic, impersonal, or aggressive. And if your sex worker had a bad experience with a husband who got upset when his wife seemed a little too into him, he may have erred on the side of maintaining some emotional distance even as you got physically close.

If what you wanted—if what you were most interested in—was a more intimate and connected experience, then you weren’t just expecting sexual labour from

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 / 2020

the sex worker you hired, BICOUPLE, but his emotional labour too. While affection and intimacy can certainly be faked, we don’t typically expect a strong emotional connection when we’re hooking up with a stranger. Being sexually intimate can build that connection, BICOUPLE, but it can take time and a few meetings to get there. To avoid winding up in bed with another sex worker you don’t click with, I would advise you to take the time—and spend the money—to make a real connection. By which I mean: go on a date. Find a sex worker you’re interested in and make a date—for dinner. Pay them for their time; pay for their meal; and if you click, BICOUPLE, if you feel like you could connect, book them for a sex date. b STRAIGHT MALE HERE, divorced four years ago, just entering my fifties. I recently expanded my dating-app parameters to see everyone in my area. I wanted to check out the competition and possibly give myself a little ego boost. I have a gay male friend who is in his forties. Mr. Forties has a boyfriend of two years who is in his twenties. They are great together—they vacation together; they quarantined together; Mr. Twenties and Mr. Forties worked on redecorating a home together, etcetera. The problem is I spotted Mr. Forties on several dating apps.

It would have been perfectly acceptable for him to say, “None of your business,” when I asked him why. Instead, he told me they

were old profiles, implying they predated Mr. Twenties. He lists pets on his profiles that he adopted a few months ago. I have a sore spot about this behaviour because my ex-wife started “auditioning” my replacement before we filed divorce papers. I really don’t like being lied to. What do I do? Confront Mr. Forties? Mind my own business and hope Mr. Forties doesn’t crush Mr. Twenties by cheating? Help!

- Fumbled Into Fraught Terrain Involving Expanded Search

and Mr. Twenties have an open relationship. Maybe they have a closed relationship but both regard flirting on dating apps as harmless. Maybe Mr. Forties was charged with finding a very special guest star for a threesome.

Or maybe Mr. Forties has profiles on dating apps for the exact same reason you expanded the parameters on your profiles, FIFTIES: for the ego boost.

If it was any of the above—if there was an innocent explanation—why did Mr. Forties go with, “Those were old profiles,” instead of, “We sometimes have threesomes”? Well, in my experience, FIFTIES, some straight people have a hard time wrapping their heads around the kind of nonmonogamy practised by most gay male couples. Hell, some closed-minded gay people have a hard time with it. I can imagine a scenario where Mr. Forties was

Maybe Mr. Forties

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Look, FIFTIES, you put a question to Mr. Forties that he wasn’t obligated to answer at all, much less answer truthfully. So what do you do now? What you should’ve done when you first stumbled over Mr. Forties’s dating profiles: you do nothing.

You drop it. The issue you shouldn’t have brought up in the first place? You don’t bring it up again. Even if Mr. Forties is auditioning replacements for Mr. Twenties— even if he lied to you for a selfish, self-serving reason—it’s still none of your business. b MY BOYFRIEND AND I first heard the terms “sexual monogamy” and “social monogamy” on your podcast. They describe us: not sexually monogamous, but we present that

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honest with people in the past and got a bad reaction and consequently no longer feels safe—much less obligated—to share the details of his sex life with straight or gay friends. So he gave you the answer a lot of straight people and some gay people prefer to hear when they ask pointed questions of partnered friends they assumed to be monogamous: “Of course I’m not sleeping around! Those were old profiles! My monogamous boyfriend would never want me to shove my monogamous dick down his throat while some other dude non-monogamously rearranges his guts! Heavens!

We’re far too busy redecorating our lovely home to arrange threesomes! Which we’re totally not interested in having!”

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g_cohen@straight.com JUNE 25 1–/JULY 2 / 2020 GEORGIA SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 2020 THE THE GEORGIA STRSTRAIGHT AIGHT 15

VOTE IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION A provincial election has been called for Saturday, October 24, 2020.

We’re helping B.C. vote safely during You can vote in person or by mail. the pandemic. Here’s what you can Vote in person expect if you vote in person: Vote at a district electoral office – Find the office nearest you at elections.bc.ca/deo. Voting is available now during office hours.

• Physical distancing • Voting place capacity limits • Election officials wearing personal protective equipment (such as masks and face-visors)

There are seven days of advance voting, from October 15 to October 21. You don’t need a special reason to vote at advance voting – it’s an option for all voters. Advance voting places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.

• Protective barriers • Hand sanitizing stations • Frequent cleaning of voting stations and frequently touched surfaces

Election day is Saturday, October 24, but there are lots of ways to vote before then. On election day voting places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time.

• Election workers trained on safe workplace guidelines and pandemic protocols Follow the instructions from election officials in the voting place to help maintain physical distancing. You will be asked to sanitize your hands before and after voting.

If you are ill or self-isolating, do not visit a voting place. Request a vote-by-mail package or call Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683.

Learn more at elections.bc.ca/safevoting.

Learn more at wheretovote.elections.bc.ca Vote by mail If you wish to vote by mail request your voting package as soon as possible. Go to elections.bc.ca/ovr or call 1-800-661-8683.

elections.bc.ca / 1 - 8 0 0 - 6 6 1 - 8 6 8 3

16

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 / 2020

@ElectionsBC

Candidate nominations You can get a candidate nomination application package from your district electoral office or online at elections.bc.ca/candidates.

Completed nomination kits must be returned to your district electoral officer by 1 p.m.

(Pacific time) on Friday, October 2, 2020.

Voter registration Register now to save time when you vote.

You can register or update your information at elections.bc.ca/register or by calling 1-800-661- 8683. Online voter registration closes at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) on September 26. Voter registration by phone closes at 8 p.m. (Pacific time) on September 26. After September 26 you can still register or update when you vote, but voting will take longer. Remember to bring ID when you go to vote.

Questions?

Call 1-800-661-8683 or visit elections.bc.ca.