Photograph by Gil Biderman IAN’S 2009 Year in pictures

Early in 2009 I woke up at my good friends - Marci and Mark Peterson in Yelm, Washington.

… Not to mention their precocious and exuberant dogs

Mark and I work together on projects involving large- format cinema theatres.

In January, my good friends Sue and Joe McDonald visited from Pennsylvania - and we had lunch at the Teahouse in Stanley Park. Poor Joe had laryngitis, so when he took me to a Vancouver Canucks hockey game, he wasn’t able to holler.

Dinner at Semiahmoo, Washington…

I spent a few days of R&R at a wonderful, quiet resort - Semiahmoo, Washington - and was joined for dinner one night by a long-lost friend, Dr. Rachelle Herdman - who practices medicine and is a naturopathic doctor in Bellingham.

Semiahmoo Scenes…

1 The first of many workshops and consulting sessions in conjunction with expansion planning for Telus World of Science Edmonton - presided over by CEO George Smith. George has asked me to be Project Manager. Here, White Oak Associates and Aldrich/Pears help us with preliminary programme planning - with a major distraction - the much anticipated and welcome inauguration of US President Barrack Obama.

In the crisp Edmonton mid-winter, I take an invigorating walk around Coronation Park - and contemplate where my museum, planetarium and science centre career began - at the Queen Elizabeth Planetarium. The building will be 50 years old in 2010.

Our friend and colleague, John Jacobsen of White Oak presents some preliminary aspects of what will become the Master Plan for the new science centre - to the Board, staff and Foundation, before putting final touches on an ambitious expansion project that will include an innovative digital visual theatre, a 3D IMAX, a science & technology learning and dialogue centre, early childhood development centre and the Canadian Arctic and Circumpolar Science Centre. George does not like to think small.

Spectacular sights on the way to Salt Lake City:

Technical meetings at Evans & Sutherland for Science North Sudbury - with architect Bill Chomik (foreground), Nicole Chiasson and Jeff Baron; standing behind us, Scott Niskach, E&S.

2 February, 2009

< Visiting the Mormon Tabernacle

Nicole and I visiting with Mike Murray, Clark Planetarium is Salt Lake - and stopping at the marvelous Utah Museum of Fine Arts >

Back in Vancouver, my friend Gil Biderman takes this remarkable photo of me using my barely legal astronomical green laser pointer.

There is an amazingly bright lunar halo gracing the cool, February night sky.

Gil and I regularly attend monthly meetings of the Vancouver Centre, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

I wound up with two black eyes in February after a bad fall - swimming and working out without anything to eat for several hours. A lesson learned (maybe). There were lots of suggestions for a story to explain this sorry sight. One of my favourites was: “Ah, this is nothing - you should see the other guy.”

3

My son-in-law, Mike Erskine-Kellie (married to daughter Susan) visits Vancouver on business in February - and I show him the sights (part of a relentless, but so far unsuccessful campaign to get them to move to the West Coast).

Back in Edmonton, a group from Sky-Skan including Steve Savage, Mike Sperry and Annette Sotheran-Barnett join with us in the initial planning for MASAV - the Microscopic and Sub-Atomic Visualization project - an innovative programme that will help us launch the new Digital Visualization Theatre.

At a regular meeting of the Themed Attraction Association of Canada, Chris Au (fellow board member) kibitzes with a camera; others are Sheila Hill, Brian Rudko and Doug Munday (Vancouver Aquarium). >

MARCH, 2009

< An unsual production of Verdi’s Rigoletto - staged by Vancouver Opera, attended with some opera pals.

We also attended some of the marvelous Met Opera HD casts.

Looking in on good friend Natalie Drache’s birthday party with a bunch of her eclectic pals, including Holly Burke - playing a mean flute.

4 Off to for the annual conference of the Canadian Museums Association. Phil Aldrich, Catherine Rockandel and I conducted a workshop on creative partnerships for not-for-profit organizations.

Of course, the most urgent reason for going to Toronto was granddaughter Daisy Kurelek’s 9th birthday - celebrated with her admiring friends and neighbours.

Between Holly and Daisy, there have been 21 birthdays, and I haven’t missed one of them yet.

Holly’s Hockey…

Granddaughter Holly is quite the hockey player (Oakville Hornets). After a game and hot chocolate, we gather outside the arena - me, (Nana) Adrienne, Holly and Holly’s super dad, Peter Kurelek.

Dashing back to Vancouver in time for another workshop at APA for the Edmonton project - then Mark & Marci Peterson, Robert & Elizabeth Ballantyne and I hike across Bowen Island.

5

APRIL, 2009… Approaching the world-famous HOUSTON Astrodome — on a truly unusual consulting gig. Harris County wants to re-purpose the famous but now decommissioned sports stadium as a major STEM Centre - interpreting science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Thanks to a suggestion by my friend Ken Miller, I am now working with architects Guy Jackson and Gary Wilson - as well as senior County officials to analyze the various options. Thanks, Ken - I think!)

Guy Jackson (right) took us to a beautiful, prize-winning urban waterfall he designed at a medical centre in Houston. A few weeks later we re- convened with fellow consultants Phil Hettema, George Wiktor, Gordon Linden, John Zukowsky and Ryan Wyatt to drill down on a number of exciting possibilities for the proposed STEM Centre. Houston Sunset

While I was away in Houston, my good friend Bill Barkley’s wonderful wife, Gayle, suddenly and unexpectedly died. It was a devastating loss to Bill and to all of us who knew and admired her.

… Landing at Victoria Harbour for a visit with Bill. I gave him this favourite picture I took of the two of them looking lovingly at each other right after Bill had been honoured by the British Columbia Museums Association.

6

Yet another Edmonton workshop - APA’s Tim Lindsay and architect Donna Clare (Cohos-Evamy) drill down on the new science centre programme parameters. Right - one of Phil Aldrich’s relationship diagrams.

Early one morning (see the rising sun reflected in the windows of Edmonton International Airport) I groggily drive John Jacobsen, Jeanie Stahl and Victor Becker out for their all-day flight back east - where the real work begins, putting the final touches on the Master Plan for the expanded Telus World of Science Edmonton.

… A Bridge Almost Too Far

Back in Vancouver in time to participate in the ten kilometre Sun Run with 100,000 other crazies. I come in about the middle of the pack, and my feet hurt for a week.

At the end of April, a TAA special behind- the-scenes look at Vancouver’s brand new Trade and Convention Centre.

7

The Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. George Smith came out to inspect the facility as part of our research into a science and technology dialogue centre for Edmonton.

MAY, 2009 — I am in San Francisco at the marvelous new California Academy of Sciences for a major visualization conference hosted by my friend Ryan Wyatt. Astronomy is an interesting enough science in its abstract form, but the new digital visualizations that transport the observer into the middle of the most dramatic space phenomena make it not only interesting, but thrilling - and informative.

MACs outnumber PCs 3 to 1. Visualization Tunnel Amazing lobby circus act

Back to Edmonton… for the “Meet the North Conference” - covering topics of interest regarding the Canadian Arctic, and the three northern regions - Nunavut, Yukon and Northwest Territories. Our friend and collaborator, Dr. Andrew Greenshaw from the University of Alberta was one of the presenters. He is helping Telus World of Science Edmonton with the planning for the Canadian Circum- polar Science Centre - first of its kind in the world.

An unexpected coincidence… I usually get seated next to boring aluminum sash & door salesmen, but on an Edmonton to overnight flight, my seat-mate was an amazing Lebanese woman, Nahida… We talked incessantly for nine and a half hours.

8

I attended the British Association of Planetaria conference at my old client’s home institution, the Royal Observatory Greenwich. (l to r - an evening pub crawl, the Royal of Scotland, friend John Brown and two revered amateur and story-tellers, Ray & Josie Worthy.)

Blackheath Village - where I stay - at the charming Clarendon Hotel - a 30 minute walk to Royal Observatory.

In Blackheath, I met with one of its illustrious citizens, Dr. Duncan Copp - an astronomer and accomplished filmmaker - who produced In the Shadow of the , a captivating look at the lives of the Apollo era astronauts. >

< I took in a special show at the British Library - celebrating the 500th anniversary of the ascending to the throne of King Henry V111.

What a jerk.

< Dr. Kevin Fewster, Director of the National Maritime Museum in his office; we had lunch in the museum’s magnificent courtyard.

9 Magnificent view of Greenland on the way back home.

An evening of wonderful harp music at the Deep Cove home of Elizabeth Volpe

… organized as a fund-raiser for SEVA Canada by Michel and JoAn Maurer

< Part of the SEVA Executive Committee (of which I am part)… Executive Director Penny Lyons looks on while Susan Erdmann shows off another big donation towards blindness relief and prevention in Nepal, Tibet, Guatemala and Tanzania. Other fellow board members pictured are Michel Maurer, Tom Voss and David Hardouin (Board Chair).

JUNE 2009… At a gala event hosted by George Smith for famed aviation innovator Burt Rutan - Kathy Springer kibitzes with Franklin Loehde, an old school chum from Edmonton. Great evening.

10

(Left) - with Bill Peters, stopping off in Moose Jaw (a real place!) for the infamous underground Tunnels, then on to Regina for Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC). first a planning session, then opening ceremonies with amazing native dances and musical talent.

I was sitting at the annual banquet minding my own business when an obituary-sounding audio-visual tribute came on about my life and work, and suddenly I realized I was being given a Career Achievement Award by the CASC.

The Award was shared with a similar one going to my friend Bill Peters - whose wife Celeste had been tipped off, so she flew in for the occasion. Many years ago, I went on Bill and Celeste’s honeymoon (but that’s another story). The A-V frame capture shows me with Tracy Ross, E.D. of CASC.

Back in Vancouver, an English Bay sunset walk followed by dinner with visiting daughter Susan; Rob Appleton, Director of H.R. MacMillan Space Centre hosts Nicole Chiasson from Science North, Sudbury. I have been helping Science North design and install a brand new planetarium.

11 Arthur Erickson remembered

A somber occasion, the public memorial for Canadian architectural legend Arthur Erickson. One of the speakers was Abraham Rogatnick - who brought the house down with his poetic recounting of his and Alvin Balkind’s early days in Vancouver with Arthur Erickson. A few short weeks later, Abraham himself died - and was the subject of another massive public celebration of life.

Winging it again on the way to Houston…

The Astrodome Planning Team Marches Forward

A HUGE Space to fill…

12

The Foucault Pendulum at Houston Museum of Natural History - where Ryan Wyatt and I also saw the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibition. A few moments later, Ryan’s camera disappeared.

Visiting Johnson Space Center - Mission Control ready for shuttle flight S-127; Remembering Apollo

I then went on to visit historic, hurricane-prone Galveston, Texas - on the Gulf of Mexico…

Back in Vancouver - in time for Heather Redfern to give a spirited backgrounder on the re-opening of Vancouver East Cultural Centre, one of the City’s treasured cultural assets, to TAA - Themed Attraction Association.

13

A post-solstice hike around Lake Padden Washington State with a friend - and a moment frozen in time

From one extreme to another - June 30th off to …

and gala opening of a new show at the Hayden Planetarium, and to catch up with old friends:

Spent time with Ray Salva at American Museum Natural History and Carter Emmart & his proud folks.

Noo Yawk Cultural Pilgrimage

To Museum of Modern Art & taking in Beckett’s “Godot” with Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin and John Goodman In a word, “fabulous.”

14 Before leaving New York, I was invited to tour the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum by its original exhibition designer, John Zukowsky.

This Word War II aircraft carrier has had an amazing history and has been a museum at Pier 86 on the West Side of Manhattan since 1982.

John Zukowsky meets me at the aircraft carrier museum entrance. John’s company just won the Chapter AIA Award for the exhibit design.

There are many colourful aircraft on the deck from a variety of countries—and George Smith and I are endeavouring to secure donation of a decommissioned Canadian Snowbird jet plane for the Intrepid. One of the museum’s incongruous collectibles is a British Airways Concord (not the one I rode on). You can go right into the cockpit, and it looks like it is just about ready for take-off.

15 On the way - from New York City JFK via Air France to Paris CDG - then on to Toulouse, France for the Council meeting of the International Planetarium Society.

Toulouse is a surprisingly robust and lively place - with lots of students, terrific sights, good restaurants, lovely museums and endless people-watching. The garden sculpture far right commemorates Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of “The Little Prince.”

Right - nightly tango in the civic plaza - with beautifully crafted signs of the zodiac

Cathédrale Saint-Etienne Ancient Roman ruins at the in Toulouse Antiquities Museum St-Raymond

Two different reactions: Studious women (right) capture all the details. Meanwhile, the two stylish women at left laughed so hard exiting the museum it was impossible not to get caught up in the moment. It was a good reminder not to take our museums so seriously that we forget to have fun.

16 The brand new natural history museum in Toulouse is a delight to visit - both in terms of its architecture and setting as well as ingenious display of artifacts and information.

Toulouse doesn’t suffer from not being Paris... It is on the international tour circuit - including BC’s own Diana Krall.

As the IPS got down to business, the Mayor hosted an elegant reception for us in the stately Capitole de Toulouse...

The host for the IPS Council meeting was Cité de l’Espace, a major space interpretation centre with innovative programming and a nicely designed planetarium. I act as the Canadian Representative to the International Planetarium Society. Our 2010 General Assembly will be in Alexandria, Egypt.

17 Too loose in Toulouse - (cont)

One night we all went to the Caves de la Maréchale for a superb dinner and even more fun. John Hare snaps a photo with attention from a by-stander. Shaaron Leverment (BAP) chats with Dave Weinrich; Marc Moutin, Program Director of Cité de l’espace chats with Agnes Acker & husband; Tom Mason (current IPS President) shares a secret, and power couple Larry and Elaine Ciupik strike a handsome pose. My seat-mate is the delightful and full-on public relations director for the space centre, Guadalupe Ramirez.

International Planetarium Society Council members present pose for a group picture at the Toulouse Space Centre. Third from left front row is Dave Weinrich from Minnesota - president elect - standing next to Susan Reynolds Button, former IPS President. Standing next to her (arms folded) is Jon Elvert from Baton Rouge Louisiana whose proposal won out for the right to host the 2012 IPS General Assembly. Cajun food may have been a factor.

My friend Guadalupe arranged a special tour for me of the facility where the giant double-decker A380 Airbus is being built. Massive operation. No pictures allowed.

18 On to Carcassonne - a photo diary

After IPS, Dave Weinrich and I head for the ancient fortified city of Carcassonne on one of those wonderful French fast trains. Great experience.

Two momentary images that capture daily life in France.

19 Back to Canada - via Toronto of course...

... Just in time to see Susan off on one of her many trips. She is a workaholic, works late into the night and travels a lot. We can’t figure out where she gets that from.

“The bunnies” reap the benefits of a last minute shopping spree at Toulouse Space Centre (merci Marc et Guadalupe - the store was closed for inventory control).

< The family dog BOO loves to chew on Grampa’s slippers. Shouldn’t let him, but he’s so cute.

(Right) Holly, Daisy and I eat out together. Mommy Heather’s last words are, “No ice cream!”

Oooops.

I stop in at Ontario Science Centre Toronto to audit a presentation at the recently refurbished CA Planetarium. I worked there on the project with Hooley McLaughlin, Zoran Miscevic, Sara Poirier, Philip Mozel, Kirsten Vanstone and others. Toronto needs a major new planetarium - and if we can get this one humming, it should prove the need for a new one that is well designed, operated and programmed.

On a blustery, rainy day I take off to Sudbury, Ontario - over the vast Canadian Shield carved out by retreating glaciers - to the wonderful centre known as Science North. Bill Chomik and I consulted on a new planetarium for Science North - which opened in record time. I am seen here standing with Jim Marchbank, the visionary CEO of Science North and Nicole Chiasson - who learned more about planetariums in the shortest time period I have even witnessed. Returning from Sudbury, a stunning night-time view of Toronto; in the distance, Lake Ontario—and Ontario Place

I joined the family in Stratford for a production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest - with Brain Bedford acting the part of Lady Britnell. Holly and Daisy were in stitches. Thanks to their Nana, they have become avid theatre-goers.

I snuck away to drive through the gentle country-side of rural Ontario to the quaint village I grew up in as a little boy. Main Street in Granton, Ontario is unchanged, and the house I lived in at the age of six has been tarted up - but I still recognized it, especially the long, wrap-around veranda. I then returned to Stratford where the family threw a surprise birthday lunch for me. Talk about being blessed.

Bang! Less than a week later, I am in the sprawling airport of Shanghai, China - and then to the Anting Villa Hotel - my home base for the next two weeks.

Any superlatives one can conjure up to describe the new China are totally inadequate. The City model (far right) is vast and captures every single building and dwelling in Shanghai! Unbelievable. The iconic red structure is the China Pavilion at the forthcoming EXPO 2010. A Shanghai Photo-Journal

< Left - the wonderful History Museum, a cool place to visit for teen-agers on dates. Imagine.

Old ways and new technologies exist side-by-side in the New China. Shanghai will host the world at a major exposition from May to October, 2010.

One day I rode through a psychadelic tunnel under the Shanghai River to visit the Pink Pearl Tower (went to the top - free of charge as a senior!) The view is staggering. The Shanghai Science Centre

Check out the scale of the armillary sphere and the feature dome with the people in the picture.

The science centre is enormous in scale and breadth - and reflects the country’s absolute commitment to science and technology education and public awareness of science issues.

23 I visited the Science Centre just days before the grand total solar eclipse of July 22nd, and the centre featured interpretive exhibits and programs about the eclipse.

Departing by bus at 5:00 am for an eclipse observing site near Hangzhou Bay. I hook up with Dr. Ed Krupp, Director (also seen at left being followed by an NBC TV crew). It got progressively cloudy as totality neared - and by the appointed moment, the sky was completely overcast. Ed and I both agreed it was the darkest eclipse we had ever experienced. Our observing site was next to a sad little theme park - which kept operating during the eclipse... They just switched all the lights on! At the precise moment of end of totality, we were treated to the final indignity - a torrential downpour caused by the sudden cooling.

Dr. Duncan Etches and his wife Nora from Vancouver also joined Dr. Krupp on this expedition. Later in Vancouver, we caught up with mutual friends. 24 China Scrapbook - West Lake Region

I visited the beautiful and tranquil West Lake Region west of Shanghai

By bullet train to Su Zhow - and the only unpleasant experience on the whole trip: an encounter with a “guide” who refused to take me to museums I wanted to visit, only to places where I would spend money and he could earn a commission. We parted on decidedly unfriendly terms. (Right) - The Pagoda at Suchow - I climbed to the top of it in +43 degree C heat. Buddha shoulda too!

< A visit to the house in Shanghai where the Chinese Communist Party was formed in 1949 - still a landmark in a country where the old communist manifesto has been replaced by a vibrant, free-market economy, although central planning is still evident.

Back in Vancouver - and a quick visit from friend Becky who now lives and works in Abu Dhabi. We visited with Frank Ogden (Dr. Tomorrow) who lost his wife Carol Baker a few days later, following a very long illness.

25 August, 2009 - stuff closer to home

Above left, Hector Williams & Robin Inglis at the With mountain-hiking pal Vancouver Maritime Museum’s 50th Anniversary Jeanne Coleman on the Grouse breakfast. Becky Low (same event) with a couple Grind. Moments later, I had an of Mounties. Above, brunch with Sue Lloyd and unfortunate encounter with a Becky - with Duncan & Nora Etches (met them in sharp rock into my ribs - with Shanghai for the eclipsed eclipse). internal injuries that lasted two months. That gave a whole new definition to the term Grouse “Grind.”

(Below) - Putting a shrimp on the barbie for Margaret Mulvaney (seated at left) visiting from Blue Mountains Australia... at son Patrick’s and Judy’s home in New Westminster, BC. We usually see Margaret every other year, Mystery gardener shadow and her old pal of mine, husband Denis on alternate years.

The tranquil setting of Max Wyman and S u s a n M e r t e n s comfy home in Lions Bay, overlooking spectacular Howe Sound - with good friends and meaty conversations.

< An heroic attempt to combine the Perseid Meteors with a friend’s birthday and a party recalling the Beat Generation of the 1960s - not that any of us remember that. Nice party but no meteors, just Wet Coast clouds. Fellow amateur astronomer Gil Biderman and I resorted to astronomical talks using our computer screens and Stellarium. Summer Fare

Early August morning at Telus World of Science Edmonton with a hot-air Windship balloon floating serenely above the park.

Super hosts Anne and George Smith entertain executives from their respective organizations at their spectacular home in Spruce Grove, Alberta. At sundown, I do the star talk with my travelling green laser.

< For all the hundreds of times, I never tire looking down at the Rocky Mountains. Hey, wait a minute - Is that red masking tape on the auxiliary wing tanks? Hmmmm.

September, 2009 - Holly’s 12th birthday at Medieval Times, Toronto

In a rash moment, I buy a stylish hat for myself - but Holly decides it looks better on her. No doubt it does. Daisy gets into the reflection bit, too. 27 So I have this mid-morning meeting at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, and I normally take a taxi in - about 60 bucks. On a whim, I jump on the train at O’Hare Airport... it costs me $2.25 - and I’m there early. Call me a convert.

One of the nicest examples of light sculpture anywhere - in the United Airlines terminal connection, Chicago O’Hare Airport. >

A week later, passing through Chicago again - fantastic sunrise views of the city and over the farmlands. On to the GSCA meeting - Giant Screen Cinema Association conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

< The Indy 500 Speedway Museum has hundreds of cars dating back more than 100 years - every one of them in working order!

> My new best friend (well OK, we were friends anyway) James Hyder publishes the trade journal LF Examiner - and as a door prize, I won a year’s subscription. Thanks, James.

Amazing moment for me - standing right in the middle of the Indianapolis 500 Speedway.

One of the luminaries in the field of large-format film production, Greg MacGillivray discusses an Arctic film project with George Smith from Edmonton.

< MUSEUM SLUMMING IN INDIANAPOLIS > < Mark Peterson works with Brenda Tremblay of Science North; a data base demo at the breakfast table - how exciting is that?

We visit the “Grandmother” of all children’s museums - in Indianapolis

< Kids love this!

A Dale Chihuly ceiling in a kids Harrison & George (Smiths) continue to discuss the Arctic museum - how classy is that? project...

L to R: Amazing dinosaur diorama; Michael Hay from Indianapolis Children’s Museum spent a whole half day with us - much appreciated.

We also visited the King Tut exhibition; income from the Indianapolis show will help build a children’s museum in Cairo, Egypt.

A select group of us went on to visit Cincinnati, Ohio and the science centre and historical museum there - in a repurposed Union Terminal from 1933. The art deco refinements are stunning - and well worth the visit. The approach to exhibits is quirky, but interesting.

A 1923 Model T Station Wagon> 29 Dumb GPS thinks it is in a car going 743 km/hr through Kansas. >

Chasing the sunset westward to Albuquerque for another Domefest—the Academy Awards of the dome world, run by my good pal, David Beining. David’s fingers are always burning pulling these remarkable events ‘out of the fire’ but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jaroslav Gubchenko travels the farthest to Above, David Beining with Glenn be here - from the planetarium in Nizhny- Smith from Sky-Skan Europe. Novgorod, Russia. He is one of the young, < (Left) Jonathan Wolfe presented a wonderful program on fractals in bright lights in the business. nature as well as computer-generated.

I never go to Albuquerque without playing hookey and sneaking away to Santa Fe, N.M. - one of my favourite cities in America...

I particularly enjoyed touring the brand new State Museum of New Mexico. Nicely done.

30 On the flight back, I saw the elusive “Green Flash” at sunrise... and although I have seen this remarkable phenomenon several times from the air, it has proven almost impossible to capture by camera.

I was able to get back to Vancouver in time for Carol Baker’s memorial and celebration of life at her favourite restaurant, Bodega - and celebration it was! Frank Ogden reads notes from all over the world - and our mutual friend Nora Weber and I caught up with extraordinary writers, Chuck Davis and Ray Chatelin.

A day later, I wake up to a spectacular sunrise in Montréal (where I was born). I am here to help with planning for the new Montréal Planetarium, replacing the old ‘Dow.’

Working with two long-time colleagues and friends, Pierre Lacombe and Dr. Pierre Chastenay (above)... as well as with a great team of people at GO Multimedia, Montréal. I met them for the first time. and it was as if we had been working together for years. How lucky is that? (Right)... Simon Lemieux, Guy Desmarteux, moi et Julie Quennville.

31 TAA Tour of BC Museum of Mining < Kirstin Clausen, Exec. Director

Designer David Jensen talks about new plans for the museum north of Vancouver >

< I catch up with an old friend, photo-journalist Dannielle Hayes at Vancouver Airport. She’s a new grandmother, and is pretty excited about it. She’s off to visit the little one before going back home to New York City. She summers in Vancouver, winters in NYC. Pretty smart.

It is now OCTOBER 4th - anniversary of SPUTNIK...

I am at a truly special astronomical-musical evening at Griffith Observatory - where I catch up with old friends like Camille Lombardo, Kara Knack, Stephen Johnson, Joy & Gerry Picus, Mark Pine and many others. The evening features an original score composed (and conducted) by Arthur B. Rubinstein and live narration by The Full Moon rising over Ed Krupp was no coincidence. Edwin Krupp, Observatory Director and well-known actor It pays to know how the universe works. Leonard Nimoy. < Leonard Nimoy (left) and his wife Susan are substantial supporters of Griffith Observatory.

C o m p o s e r- c o n d u c t o r Arthur Rubinstein would be happy to bring this show to Canada. >

32 Before leaving L.A., I hook up with my old friends, Jack and Betty Reynolds, parents of my friend Becky. We are at a favourite hang- out in Long Beach, Polly’s Pies.

Then a truly spectacular sky over the Caribbean Sea - I am on the way to Bogota, Colombia

The Bogota Planetarium and its stylish neighbourhood. This is a great city - always a pleasure to be in. Below, a planetarium management/ planning group and I meet and conduct business in the planetarium cafe.

< There are always art openings in Bogota... My friend Victoria Vila and I get together with an artist and a student from Cameroon.

< Later, I meet with the Culture Minister Catalina Ramirez (in blue) and her assistants. The dean of astronomy communicators in Colombia, German Puerta is on far left. He and I have become good pals over the past several years.

< Our meeting is interrupted by a planned earthquake preparedness exercise - which turns into a big party on the main capital plaza of Bogota.

German and I on the roof of the planetarium - We are discussing upgrades to the planetarium in terms of technical and programming issues. >

< I was the guest speaker at RAC - the annual (Below) - The fabulous astronomical congress in Colombia - and was new Gold Museum... very warmly received.

Marvelous grounds of the National Museum... < Get together with good friends in Bogota - Raul Joya, astronomer and Elizabeth Hoyos, Director of the fabulous Maloka Science Centre. We are joined by Maria Victoria Vila (in red).

Three of Victoria’s seven grandchildren (above). < Left, Sofia now 7, learned to speak English in two years - and is preparing to learn French.

From Bogota I flew to Antioquia Province via Medellin - where I hooked up with old friends Carter Emmart from Hayden Planetarium and Andres Roldan from Explora Museum, Medellin.

We were guests of the owners of Canyon Rio del Claro, a wonderful jungle area protected against unwanted development.

We went cave exploring (an amazing experience), zip lining across the Claro River and many other country adventures Carlos Alberto Escobar, before heading back to Medellin and Director Explora (below) getting down to some serious consulting.

Carter and I conducted a meeting to analyze options for closer collaboration between Planetario Medellin and Explora Science Centre.

Medellin Planetarium (far left) and Explora

backstage (left). 34 Holly and Daisy welcome Grampa back from Colombia - but Boo wants the cookies.

The girls ham up Holly’s new-found interest in astronomy.

Daughter Heather and husband Peter at the Gemini Awards - where, wait for it, Heather was on the team that won the Gemini for the best news programme in the country - the CBC National News with Peter Mansbridge. We’re all bursting with pride.

On October 23rd, the Executive Board of SEVA Canada took the hard-working staff out for a thank-you lunch - Pictured are Heather Wardle, Penny Lyons and Paula Ford. SEVA is on a tear - and bucking the downward trend in not-for- profit organizations. All that contributes toward expanded effectiveness in blindness relief and prevention in the developing world.

35 Off to Edmonton again... to attend an event associated with International Polar Year (the outreach and education people from around the world meet in Edmonton prior to a science meeting in 2010 in Oslo).

< Howard Pateman of Telus World of Science Edmonton acts as one of the table hosts.

> Laura Milroy and I look in on an international museums design exhibition at the Edmonton Art Gallery - which will open its brand new facility January 31, 2010. <

Hey, it’s getting cold up north - so let’s try Fort Worth, Texas - (OK it’s the annual conference of the Association of Science & Technology Centers).

The opening features a guy who looks and sounds a lot like, well, John Wayne. No wonder our dues went up. One of the best pieces of urban sculpture anywhere - a huge fountain complex in downtown Fort Worth

One of the people I meet there is the first woman astronaut of Iranian descent, Anousheh Ansari. She was one of the speakers at ASTC.

It is Hallowe’en eve - and our table is taking far too seriously the challenge of designing the most innovative carved pumpkin. Phil Aldrich assumes it was rigged because we didn’t win (or even come close). Karin Dowling and Kelsey Armstrong did most of the work. >

A rag-tag bunch of us bail out of the formal party - and head to Billy Bob’s, the World’s largest honky-tonk saloon. That was a bizarre, and fun scene. But you had to be there.

< Karina Scarborough became a blond bombshell for a night.

36 November, 2009 The brand new (in fact it was so new they didn’t get it opened in time for the convention) Ft. Worth Children’s Museum. Some of us thought the building would make a better contemporary art gallery.

Kibbitzing on the ASTC bus - Dan VanKeeken and Kelsey Armstrong from Edmonton.

< Bill Peters from Calgary and I worked together during the conference. Here he is checking out Peters Brothers Hats, pondering whether to ask for a discount.

Don’t know what to say about the picture on the right. The giraffe seems equally perplexed. >

We visited the elegant planetarium at University of Texas Arlington - courtesy our friends Jeri Panek and Michael Daut of E&S/ Spitz...

Then, Isaac Marshall from Aldrich/ Pears and I skipped out and visited the quirky, but quite fascinating National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Great place to buy stuff for granddaughters.

Squeezing in another planetarium visit - Ft. Worth’s Noble Planetarium with its super friendly director, Linda Krouse.

37 Canadian Night in Texas Thumbnail Photos...

38 Exquisitely beautiful museums and surroundings in Ft. Worth - one of the real surprises

< In a rock-star bus to Killeen, Texas for a visit to the innovative Mayborn Planetarium - courtesy Martin Howe and others at Global Immersion.

Fred Chavez and Chuck Rau run a neat shop - and we were appreciative of the opportunity and the hospitality (Mayborn and G.I.) 39 Fort Worth Wrap-Up... I stuck around an extra day to tour some unusual sights at the Fort Worth Stockyards...

A bizarre urban scene (above) Texas Longhorn Cattle driven through the streets. The cattle auction at left is conducted via video screens and laptops. Who knew? Far left - a lightbulb from backstage at the old Palace Theatre that has been burning continuously since Sept. 21st, 1908 - more than 100 years!

Lighting up another stage:

On the flight back to Vancouver, a telephoto shot of Las Vegas. Hey - I’ll be there in a week!

I get back to Vancouver in time to join my friend Nora Weber for a splendid David Foster & Friends concert (including Sarah McLaughlin) at GM Place—tickets acquired as a result of supporting PBS. He’s a great talent and one of a large number of outstanding local exports in the entertainment industry. David Foster wears his Canadian identity on his sleeve - a refreshing (and somewhat startling) antidote to the usual Canadian reserve when it comes to patriotic expression.

< An increasingly familiar sight - the Peace Arch at the border between Canada and the USA... this time heading to Seattle to meet daughter Susan.

Susan’s gig this time is on quaint Bainbridge Island - reached from the Port of Seattle via Washington State Ferries. >

Susan’s gig is with her long-time collaborators, Chris and Martin Kratt (the Kratt Brothers/ Kratts Creatures/ Zooboomafoo) - all from PBS. I join them for dinner at a favourite hangout on Bainbridge, Nola’s Restaurant. >

40 Back to Houston for the last time in 2009, Nov. 10 and 11th

l to r... Gordon Linden, Phil Hettema, Guy Jackson, George Wiktor, Gary Wilson, Mark Miller and my plate

A few days later, Vegas-bound (on business - really!) Attending IAAPA - International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions.

Las Vegas is not for the faint-hearted, overly sensitive to political correctness or for those looking for subtlety. The aggregate concentration of garishness and bad taste is, paradoxically, matched by excellence and a high degree of “know- how” in terms of how things are put together - and how they work. In some ways it is dreadful, but ever fascinating. < Staying at the slightly over-the-top Wynn Hotel, I hooked up with Edmonton pals Howard Pateman, Kathy Springer (& her Blackberry) and George Smith over a hearty breakfast on a sun- dappled patio. Not too hard to take.

The opening ceremonies for IAAPA featured fifteen, count ‘em - 15, Elvis Presley impersonators, including one female. Pretty hard for the brain to wrap around that first thing in the morning.

< 26,000 people attend this conference... I walked for three days solid through the exhibits - and probably caught 80% of them. Like Vegas itself, slightly overwhelming.

I took in a performance of “O” - Cirque de Soleil at the Bellagio - amazing and captivating.

A highlight of IAAPA was a session chaired by my old friend Bob Rogers featuring five guys age 81 - 91 who reminisced about working with Walt Disney. That alone was worth the trip. Two friends, Rosalie Kessing (Lexington) and Tricia Rodriguez (Mad Systems) at dinner one night. >

They persuaded me to go to a “TEA Party” - (Themed Entertainment Association) - Lots of fireworks. >

< George drove us out to the California - border one day to visit the giant Hoover Dam and the new 2000’ Black Canyon Bridge, soon to open - a truly impressive construction project.

42 On the outskirts of Vegas we were invited to tour the Living Desert Center & Nature Exchange - designed by Aldrich/Pears with Science North.

Chantal Barriault, Science North and Phil Aldrich led the tour

< Speaking of bizarre, how about this Back home briefly, tastefully decorated shopping cart - and a quick visit to borrowed from the local Safeway? the Museum of Vancouver; Gil and I attend a bizarre exhibit about dead, preserved and stuffed animals. What were they thinking?

Off to Toronto > - for a significant birthday party for Adrienne - the mother of my children and my co-grandparent of Holly & Daisy... Several of us helped put together a touching visual retrospective of her amazing life...

< Nephew Bill Yates (and Sue) flew in from Lethbridge; long-time friend Judy Hall, above, (and Fred) came in from Rochester, NY - and daughter Susan brought the house down with her irreverent and colourful descriptions of Adrienne (and husband Andy) >

< Daisy is studying the music score of a Christmas concert for her Oakville Children’s Chorus. I attended one of the rehearsals - it was wonderful. (Right) Book- stores are always on our circuit when I visit; the girls are voracious readers and we’re very proud of them both. 43 Adrienne is on the board of Good Neighbours Club, a long-time organization devoted to caring for ageing, homeless men on the streets of Toronto. She recruited Susan into organizing and promoting a benefit concert, And what an amazing evening it was... super entertainment, and for a worthy social cause. As a direct consequence of the evening, 30,000 meals were sponsored for the homeless. Susan was singled out for recognition. My trusty, travel-worn MAC and a new BENQ digital projector were pressed into service to run two a/v shows, including a very poignant one that Super Susan (as we call her) produced.

The stars of the extravaganza were two veteran show-business legends in Canada - Jack Lenz (Lenz Entertainment) and Elaine Overholt whose individual and combined talent helped make the evening both memorable - and a big success.

December, 2009... Hang in there, the end is in sight

< Edmonton Airport gets into the holiday spirit nice and early

But the temperature plunges to Minus 46 degrees C - without the wind-chill. For two days, it is the coldest place on Earth

< Almost oblivious to the freezing conditions outside, Phil Aldrich and Dr. Andy Greenshaw help us plan a “Northern Summit” in March 2010 to advance the planning of the Canadian Circumpolar Science Centre.

A week later - a breakfast information presentation to the Mayor and members of City Council to advance the cause. Mr. J.D. Hole, Chair of the Board, talks with Councillor Ben Henderson. >

44 I attended a series of ‘live’ Metropolitan Opera Hi-Def broadcasts in local big screen cinema houses with several friends - and sharing it simultaneously with viewers all over the world. This was really brought home to me at intermission when Tenor Juan Diego Florez waved to his parents watching in Lima, Peru and Natalie Dessay waved to her folks watching in Lyon, France. It is a wonderful experience - including lots of backstage insights. Left, La Gioconda and (inset) La Cenerentola (Cinderella).

Dec. 4th - Board meeting of SEVA Canada - and a chance to tell our many supporters about the heart-warming work being done in various countries - restoring sight and preventing blindness. Michel Maurer leads us through a planning and priorities session - and in the annual general members meeting, Prez David Hardouin tells the audience that SEVA is bucking the current trend and has become a viable and solvent operation.

> Seva Canada’s e x t r a o r d i n a r y Our unofficial motto is “Compassion in executive director, Action” No-one exemplifies that creed and Penny Lyons. We’re philosophy more than one of Seva’s longest lucky to have her, but serving members, above, Dr. Marty don’t tell her that. Spencer, opthamologist from Nanaimo... Her brilliance is seen here talking with Dr. Salma Rai from already matched by Nepal. She is currently at UBC. a high degree of i r r e v e r e n c e . Seriously (in-joke).

< At Tom & Jane Voss’ home, Susan Erdmann presented a stunning visual documentation of her wanderings and insights into Seva’s overseas operations. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house - including Susan’s. (Right) Dr. Chundak Tenzing points to areas in Nepal where some of Seva’s most effective, sustainable programs are underway.

Time for TAA Again - This time we visit the new GE Robson Square complex in the heart of downtown Vancouver...

I am happy to serve on the Board of Directors of the Themed Attraction Association (TAA Canada) along with Duane Fast (Chair), Darren Luce, Jan Sircus, Brian Rudko, Doug Munday, Sheila Hill, Shaun August, Ben Weinstein, Lori Brown and Reg Wilford. Reg, Darren and I form the events committee. This is the fun group.

45 Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach - one of my favourites

< Far left, the Long Beach Museum of Art - with a A California spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. < (Left, The Christmas Armand Hammer Museum at UCLA Westwood - quite an amazing collection, and very interesting shows - including the Book of Genesis (every detailed page done as a series of black and white comic strips by illustrator Robert Crumb).

Above, Chris Burden’s 202 vintage street lamps - at the sprawling campus of County Museum of Art

My main reason for being in L.A. over Christmas was to be with the Reynolds family - long-time friends, and Becky’s parents. < The UCLA Medical facilities Jack Reynolds went in for a very serious operation on Dec. 23 a n d s t a ff w e r e t r u l y rd, and although he came through it OK, there were remarkable - and amazing. complications that we were all dealing with over several days.

> A little girl at the hospital (in for a series of heart operations) stole our hearts with her i m a g i n a t i v e a n d e n e r g e t i c d a n c e routines. Another new experience - Christmas Day brunch at a Mexican restaurant! < Winter scene on Haro Street, Vancouver

< Friend Nora Weber (right) talking with a waiter at an Indian restaurant... we were both fascinated by her tattoos, which led to a long conversation. Not sure the manager approved. Nora recently discovered that she is a grandmother - and is writing a book about the gripping and poignant story behind it. I’ve told her I want the movie rights, but she is stonewalling.

< Long time friend and associate, science-business writer David A. Rodger with his daughters Nikki and Lisa. His dad is on his 100th trip around the sun.

My friend Rachelle lights a Chanukah menorah, with Arrow, the cat >

(Below) Holly & Daisy’s traditional picture with Santa; Susan & Mike have their wedding photo in a Christmas tree ornament, and (not exactly Cupid) one of Holly’s presents is a bow and arrow - that shoots marshmallows. Who thinks these toys up?

< Boo and Piqua are good friends (most of the time) but Piqua’s intense interest in Charley the bird and inhabitants of the turtle & fish tank is probably less benign. Another pet in my life is Denbeigh - a beautiful new Springer Spaniel - who now runs Patricia Mayrs’ life. Gil Biderman, photo & inset...

47 2009 marked 400 years since first pointed his new telescope toward the heavens and helped change our view of the universe forever. All around the world, amateur and professional astronomers participated in a huge number of special programs and events to enhance public appreciation and knowledge about the wonders of the night sky. It was a rewarding experience.

< One of the more elegant commercial holiday cards received—an appropriate one to round out IYA 2009, from friends at Carl Zeiss... Wilfried Lang, Volkmar Schorcht, and Laura Misajet (we caught up with each other several times on the conference circuit).

Returned to the Stars, from Whence They Came... Friends, acquaintances and associates lost during the past year, and fondly remembered • Carol Baker • Gayle Barkley • Godfrey Chowne • Arthur Erickson • Angus McKay • O. Richard Norton • Peter Oberlander • Risty Perotto • Hillary Rhodes • Abraham Rogatnick • David Sloan

With best wishes for 2010 Ian McLennan [email protected]

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