Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border.
cover completely, as if with a carpet; "flowers carpeted the meadows"
A thick or soft expanse or layer of something
form a carpet-like cover (over)
A floor or stair covering made from thick woven fabric, typically shaped to fit a particular room
A large rug, typically an oriental one
rug: floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
Former convenience store
I took this for the Corner Store group. This was until recently a store that fitted the "Mom and Pop" category. It was a family run store that clearly was in difficulty. This might have worked as a convenience store when the corner was occupied by a gas station. But that became a drive thru oil change and car wash. No-one gets out of their car at such places. So there was no traffic from there. And the store is at the end of the populated area, not at the centre of it. So there is no walk in trade from the south.
The store had a diminishing amount of stock - so its "convenience" lessened. I would prefer to walk to buy a stamp. or a pint of milk. This place often had neither. They did have a lot of Turkish carpets - which struck me as quixotic.
Adjacent is Richmond's first commercial kindergarten. Up until now they operated out of schools or churches - and were usually supported in some way to make them affordable. All primary schools now offer kindergarten (age 5) so junior kindergarten is prior to that (age 3 and 4). Should have been a mutually supportive venture - Mum picks up groceries when she collects the kids. Didn't seem to work out like that here.
Migratory birds stop by for food at a Richmond, BC highschool playground
Richmond's past is tied to fishery and 1.4 million birds migrate through Richmond BC as part of the Pacific Flyway before heading into the ocean. With all that natural characteristics, the city hopes to keep up with its pro-environment image and habitat.
[April 2010 Photo by Ray Van Eng]