In Vancouver this metaphor: "A certain surgeon dressed in black operated on just such heroes and with his laser scalpel examined their hearts for just such a Paradise. After prolonged and expensive operations, the doctor rejoiced, because there was no evidence of any malignancy. Paradise isn't in their hearts," he revealed.

Vancouver was the place, where Led Zeppelin launched in North America. A place where the San Francisco Bands, the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, played their first out of town gigs. Jim Morrison had his Film "HWY" screened for the first time in public, and first thought of going to Paris.

Its the place where Andy Warhol showed off his American Indian Series at the Ace Gallery. Abbie Hoffman made speeches here along with Allan Ginsburg on behalf of the Georgia Straight. Where Cheech met Chong, then went to Hollywood.

From Stanley Park, under huge douglas fir trees you could watch ships sail into and out of Vancouver Harbour. Kitsalano, The West End, Gastown and Chinatown, and Vancouver now, the Hollywood back lot, cranking out the X files, and many others too numerous to mention.

The late Yankee Refugee, Geronimo Vie, wrote:
"Sweating through the night, clean sheets damp with ooze. My open pores bled out the apprehension. Myself, tossing, turning, chased or chasing through the world of segments.

Trying to make sense of this place. Crisscrossing paths leading every where, going nowhere. I am flailing through the needle of a tornado. The luminous opacity of my white naked skin makes me invisible. In my waking hours I write down my dreams. I learn from them. Here, crossing the Canam border, on this planet Earth. Now I've come to this new place, Vancouver. She soon offered me support for my free spirit.

It has always been so. From across the blue waters an endless procession have come; the searchers for identity. Kindred souls yes, but not joiners into any collective structure. Strong individuals have come here to fine and be themselves. And the vast mass of BC land and water welcomes them. There a certain élan of individual opportunity about the landscape her virgin northern rain forests still exist here.

Some several million plus souls in this whole coastal Canadian province, and still plenty of room for the pioneer to flourish, find a spread. The other seekers and the expatriates who came here did not come looking for their piece of the forest. They came to this city. Vancouver, a mecca opportunity, sophistication and busy, still remains a Village of individuals. Unlike Malcom Lowrey, the city has taken in and healed a score of the heartsick and rejected. It helped them to wholeness again and delivered unto them a new chance.

Many are the attractions of this place to the immigrant X number last year. including the following recent arrivals; an Indian, a Chinese, from Hong Kong, a European from Bosnia, and an American from New York."