Letters to The Sun: American visitors inspired by Vancouver

Near the end of June, my wife and I travelled with college friends to Vancouver. As Americans, we appreciated your hospitality and your will to preserve precious land.

From your stunning airport terminal to our hike in Lynn Canyon, we enjoyed every footstep of our exploration. In turn, we worked to be considerate guests at every place we visited. During our visit, we saw the diversity of your city and how your community embraced a pretty June Saturday along the beaches on English Bay.

We noted similar challenges that we experience in our communities along the east coast of America — the high cost of housing, the struggles of the homeless, maintaining infrastructure, and the snarls of traffic. No community is immune from those challenges.

I will never forget my early morning run along the Stanley Park seawall. Captured forever are four herons gathered on a point, the scattered purple pieces of mussel shells on a soundless beach, magnificent trees, and the quiet exchange of “good mornings” with fellow runners and walkers.

As much as I will cherish that run, my old heart will value even more a discovery we made in Stanley Park on our last morning in Vancouver. I know nothing about the qualities of Governor-General Lord Stanley, but I loved the vision of his words on his statue in the park: “To the use and enjoyment of people of all colours, creeds, and customs for all time.”

That is a powerful and visionary statement for 1889. Sadly, in the United States, that foresight continues to erode from our thinking.

In the time I have remaining in this cantankerous old world, I plan to share Lord Stanley’s wisdom as a reminder to everyone in my community that as Americans, we have an obligation to support “people of all colours, creeds, and customs for all time.”

Thanks, Vancouver, for the reminder.

Bill Pike, Richmond, Virginia

Author’s note: From June 25-July 10, 2025, my wife and I had the privilege of traveling with dear friends from college to Vancouver, Canada and Alaska. I was honored to have this letter published in the Vancouver Sun newspaper on July 8, 2025.