If I’ve learned anything along life’s road it’s this: The more I know about the human mind, the less I understand. Everyday, news accounts tell us of decisions and events that defy what most intelligent people would define as plain good judgment. (As one sage put it, “commonsense isn’t common”.

I don’t mean human error based on various levels of mis-comprehension or misunderstanding, but decisions and actions that intentionally go against every measure of commonsense and common decency.

Specifically, vandalism—destruction for the sheer joy of it.

Sure, I was a kid once, and, sure, I and my friends got into mischief, particularly on Halloween. And, sure, we probably annoyed a few neighbours—but nothing that amounted to anything. No damaging private property, and certainly nothing like this recent news story out of Port Alberni.

This man-powered “speeder” isn’t to be confused with the large, enclosed “crummy on wheels” that was all but destroyed by arson recently at the Alberni Pacific Railway. —*Vancouver City Archives*

Since 1984 supporters of the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society have operated the Alberni Pacific Railway which has given heart and soul to rescuing and restoring old railway equipment—to the point of making their shortline railway a popular and internationally known tourist attraction.

Who doesn’t love old trains?

Well, alas, there are some in the Alberni Valley who’d rather trash something that brings joy to 1000s, in this particular case, a lovingly rebuilt 1930s Comox Logging Crew Speeder. I’m not talking about graffiti, as annoying as that is, or even breakage, but near total destruction by arson.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of this irreplaceable piece of our history,” APR operations manager Richard Spencer posted on social media. Worse, this is only the latest (but worst) act of vandalism the railway has suffered. Even vehicles owned by volunteers have been targeted.

Another example of vandalism: in this case a “carbecue,” which involves stealing, trashing and firing someone’s vehicle. Oh, the joy of good clean fun!

Firefighters had arrived to find the speeder engulfed in flames. They managed to get the fire under control in short order and to keep it from spreading, but the damage was done. (All this in broad daylight, it should be noted.)

As if trying to save what little is left of our industrial heritage isn’t challenging enough.

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In Victoria, some cretin recently stole a set of ornate iron straps that decorated the doors of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church since 1889. One-half of the stolen ironware has since been recovered but is damaged.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Victoria, the victim of a senseless theft that has no more logic than acts of vandalism. —*Wikipedia*

Where’s the logic here? These aren’t made of metals of value like copper, brass or bronze—for what little monetary gain they’d offer from a scrap dealer.

Happily for the church, Brandon Ritchie of BLR Fabrications has offered to replicate the strap. Inconvenience aside, St. Andrew’s door will never be the same with one authentic strap and one replica.

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But let’s turn to something upbeat. Historic candy maker Purdy’s is expanding nationwide. The Vancouver-based 119-year-old Purdy’s Chocolatier is extending its footprint to 88 stores as far as the Maritimes, with New Brunswick and Newfoundland on the company’s radar. Only Quebec will be Purdy’s-less because of the difficulty of finding adequate locations and language issues.

How many other BC businesses can boast that they’re 119 years old and thriving?

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BC has had at least two world-acclaimed artists, Emily Carr and E.J. Hughes. (It’s the Vancouver Island air, I tell you.)

Emily has long been better known of the two, having had a long head start on Hughes, but he seems to be rapidly catching up in popularity. In May, his 1948 painting Coastal Boats Near Sidney, BC sold at auction for $5.7 million!

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The dreaded Chilkoot Pass at the height of the Yukon gold rush.

Farther—much farther—north, a totem pole has been installed to mark the Canadian end of the Chilkoot Trail that retraces the Klondike Gold Rush route from Dyea, Alaska to Bennett Lake, BC. The pole is a reminder that the gold seekers of 1897-8 were latecomers, Indigenous people having occupied this region since the Ice Age.

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