Curry Challenge 2024 Winners

Furthering our work in uncovering what the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) is doing, I am sharing the draft Algorithmic Impact Assessment we have for their Security Screening Automation (“SSA”) project. Based on a recent information technology report (disclosing projects with a budget of more than $1 Million dollars), the following is summarized about this automation project: Security Screening Automation The security screening system will facilitate information sharing with screening partners and enhance security screening through a new case management system, integrated intelligence systems and tools, business intelligence and performance monitoring capabilities. We also learn from this document that completion is tabled for 2026. From CBSA’s 2024-2025 annual report, we also see there are five references to the SSA project suggesting it is a major departmental priority. The details are still quite mum about the project stating only, their goal to:  Enhance immigration security screening processes to identify inadmissible persons seeking entry into Canada, including efforts under the Security Screening Automation project Algorithmic Impact Assessment Much of this document (which I received last year in 2023) is redacted. We do not know when the draft was dated. The project description (Section 9 at page 1) describes that it will invovled modernized case management system, an automated triage function, integrated intelligence systems, and tools, business intellignce, and performance moniotring capabilities. In short, this looks much more advanced then a Chinook type IRCC model. It also re-affirms the use of htese tools to route screening for the easier cases and allot more time for review for complex cases – helping hte immigration client. The document reinforces again that no automated decision is made without human oversight. The actual explanation for “Human-in-the-loop for decisions” is redacted. I wonder how automation of straight forward cases for security will be received by the public in light of recent news around terrorist plots by individuals who apparently were not caught by our security screening apparatus. It also seems somewhat contradictory that CBSA appears (again: I acknowledge I’ve received this information only through hearsay) concerned about IRCC’s eligiblity screening processes being automated, while pursuing security screening automation on the other hand. Another question I have is whether and how facial recognition technology (“FRT”) being implemented. We know that FRT is implemented into a ReportIn tool being developed to facilitate the removals process for inadmissible individuals subject to removal. Presumably, in addition to the obvious analytics from the application materials an individual might have and require processing, there is also a photo as part of every application and biometric collection. I wonder if there is any role being played in analyzing this as part of a front-end screening. Anyways, I leave the document up for everyone’s review. Happy to have further discussion about this: Interim Release A-2023-18296 For those who cannot see the above document, you can access the document via Google Drive link here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OBBoWuYWysvdyD1b2dG4B6E3m7Z0hylq/view?usp=drive_link  The post CBSA Algorithmic Impact Assessment for Security Screening Automation (Draft) appeared first on Welcome to Vancouver’s Immigration Blog.

We looked at an image of the Empress, and her next-door neighbour, the Phoenix, in a post we wrote six years ago. Then we saw a horizontal slice of the buildings, but this Archives image from 50 years ago shows the full vertical extent of a tall building on a 25 foot lot. The $90,000 construction was developed by L L Mills, and designed by his brother-in-law who worked in Independence, Kansas, and who almost certainly got the job because he was married to Lyle’s sister, Emma. Lyle Le Roy Mills was born in the US, in Iowa, and in 1912 when he obtained the permit for the building he was 43. His wife Elsie was from originally from Sweden, shown in the 1911 census as three years younger, (although actually three years older). They had married in Seattle in 1904, and were living in the West End with an extended family; Lyle’s mother, Margaret who was 85 was living with them, and Elsie’s mother, Carrie Swensen, and her sister, Ellen. Lyle’s brother, Oscar and his wife Cora were also living at 1967 Barclay with their children, Oscar Le Roy, 13, and Earl Van, 11. Oscar worked as a barman at what was described as the ‘world’s narrowest tallest hotel’ when it was built. Lyle and Elsie had married in Washington state in 1904, and it wasn’t Elsie’s first marriage as she was recorded then as Elsie Anderson. After a few years Mr Mills ran into problems. In 1916 it was alleged that a young woman stayed at the hotel without registering. On the strength of the allegation (which was never tested in court), Mr Mills was threatened with the loss of his hotel licence. Mayor McBeath, and the City’s Licence Inspector held the view that the board could arbitarily cancel a licence. They suggested that if he wanted his day in court, Mr Mills could always appeal. Lawyers appearing for Mr Mills initially persuaded other board members that they could only cancel a licence after a conviction in police court, but a temporary suspension was agreed Unwilling to drop the case, the board launched its own inquiry, and called the girl to give evidence. She admitted staying with two men for two nights without having registered. Detectives said that they had seen the girl leaving the hotel, and the hotel clerks were called and confirmed she was not registered. But they also stated that they, and Mr Mills, did not know she was staying, and they were under instructions to not allow unaccompanied women to use the hotel rooms. The lawyer for Mr Mills throughout the proceeedings objected that they lay beyond the board’s powers, and that there was no proof (or accusation) that Mr Mills knew of the woman’s presence. Just as the board were about to debate suspending the licence, Frank Lyons, the lawyer, produced writs claiming damages against the board members for usurpation of powers, and an injunction preventing them from suspending the hotel licence. “Remember that I am telling you now that you have no power, no authority, no right; your action is unfair, improper, illegal, unjust.” The mayor wasn’t willing to back down, and by the summer of 1917 the case was in the Supreme Court, where Sir Charles Hibbert Tupper was representing Mr Mills. (He was a former conservative politician, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General for Canada). There had also been something of a PR disaster for the hotel, when a sensational case arose concerning the death of Mrs Nora Cowan. She fell – or jumped – from a fifth floor window, and died as a result. The circumstances filled the papers for days. A coroner’s jury handed down an open verdict after hearing that Mrs Cowan (married to a soldier serving in Europe) had met Vernon Cole (a married man with a wife and children) and after several drinks in the hotel had appeared to have had too much alcohol, and had been taken to a room usually occupied by one of the hotel barmen. A doctor (a friend of Mr Cole) had seen she was asleep, and she was left alone. Mr Mills had briefly interacted with the party, as he was a friend of Mr Cole, but there was no suggestion of any inpropriety on his part. Nevertheless the mayor used the episode as another reason for the removal of the licence, and this time the board agreed. Sir Charles Tupper declared the board’s actions to be illegal, as they had determined to remove the licence and then tried to find grounds to support that position. There was a week’s delay in the appeal to the Supreme Court while the mayor was unavailable, on a trip to Winnipeg, and a week later when the mayor was again unable to attend as he was on holiday in Calgary. Eventually Justice Murphy held the hearing, and having heard extensively from Sir Charles Tupper (who continued to denounce the board for depriving the hotelier of his $200,000 investment with no direct evidence of any wrongdoing), he nevertheless determined, a week later, that the board could suspend or cancel the licence as they saw fit, without having to follow the normal rules of evidence or procedures of a court. Six days later Walter J Robinson, a baliff, was offering the contents of the hotel to meet a debt of $1,450 against Lyle L

HK BBQ Master. Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome Seth Rogen was right: “The best BBQ places are generally in the underground parking garage of department stores.” The Vancouver-born actor was talking about HK BBQ Master, the local legend in the Chinese BBQ game that is located off Number 3 Road in Richmond in the parking garage under the Real Canadian SuperStore. Rogen ended up there earlier this year on a tip from a (very smart) buddy, and it was all captured in chef and restaurateur David Chang’s Netflix show Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner . While the Chang show features him and Rogen eating and exploring their way around Vancouver – and Richmond – when the show dropped in October, those who wanted to check out HK BBQ Master and enjoy some of chef/owner Eric Leung’s legendary BBQ duck or pork, soy sauce chicken with rice, sauce, and steamed greens were SOL: HK BBQ Master closed down Oct. 1 for a major renovation. Initially hoping to be done by November with the expansion into the next door space that allows for much more seating, HK BBQ Master finally was able to welcome the public back into their now-expanded space as of Sunday, December 8. View this post on Instagram The wait is almost over! We’re officially opening this Sunday December 8! Hope to see everyone here! #reopening #grandopening #richmond #waitisover #bbq #dailyhive #richmondtourism #vancover #netflix #hkbbqmaster A post shared by HK BBQ Master (@hkbbqmaster) on Dec 6, 2019 at 6:32pm PST That means NOW you can head there, cash in hand, to try the city’s best Chinese BBQ eats. Be ready for a line, and try to get there before they’re sold out for the day. Now, if only Chang’s Vancouver outpost of Momofuku Noodle Bar would hurry up and be done… HK BBQ Master is located at 4651 No 3 Rd in Richmond.

It was a quick flight of an hour and 20 minutes from Vancouver to Edmonton on Westjet. Upon arriving I visited Vish, a great spot in the NW neighbourhood that recently closed their dine-in service in favour of being a pickup spot for takeout as well as deliveries. They make delicious, mostly vegetarian multicultural dishes and everything I tried was outstanding. Enjoyed a delicious lunch of their house-made hummus, falafel, kibbeh, greens tahini, peppers, labneh, tahini, babaganoush, pita, and chopped salad. They even have stuffed falafels that tahini or beef inside and it’s all so good. Vish is a multicultural restaurant located at 10326 124 St, in Edmonton; that now offers online ordering for pickup as well delivery through Uber eats, DoorDash and Skip the dishes. Follow them on Instagram @vishcanada  The next stop on my day long restaurant tour was to Thamel Eatery where it has been all about Nepalese dishes since opening and they are now adding a wide selection of Indian dishes to the menu. I had a selection of their chicken filled signature momos – steamed, pan fried, tandoori and deep fried with accompanied by 2 sauces (yellow is mild) and (red is hot). I also tried some of their delicious butter chicken and naan as these were 2 new menu additions. Thamel Eatery is located at 12413 118 Ave NW, Edmonton. Follow them on Instagram @thameleatery  My next stop was to Lochi Afro Nija that specializes in East Nigerian cuisine. I tried some of their unique and tasty dishes that included Nigerian style fried chicken, Jollof rice, Plantains and beans, Fried rice and an African spiced Hibiscus drink to pair with the dishes. The restaurant offers plentiful seating and they also offer takeout as well as for pickup and delivery through Uber eats, DoorDash and Skip the dishes. Lochi Afro Nija is located at 10335 100 Avenue NW in downtown Edmonton. Follow them on instagram @lochiafronija  I sat down for dinner at Maria Northern Mexican Cuisine also in the downtown area and some of their delicious dishes that included a Beef Chimichanga, Taco el Pastor and their Sonoran Tortilla Soup. Maria Northern Mexican Cuisine is located at 10220 103 St NW in downtown Edmonton. The restaurant offers plentiful seating in their beautiful restaurant and they also offer takeout as well as for pickup and delivery.Follow them on Instagram @maria_restaurantca  In the evening met up with my friends Lilah and David who took me to the Old Strathcona neighbourhood for some sweets and more eats. We started off at Doughut Party where we had some yummy donuts including the Caramel Apple Macchiato donut. The fun and bright pink bakery is located at 7906 B 104 St NW. Follow them on Instagram @doughnutparty The next stop was to a New Orleans style diner DaDeO Diner where we had some of their jalapeno biscuits, crab cakes, and a selection of savoury fritters. The long standing restaurant is located at 10548 A 82 Ave NW. Follow them on Instagram @dadeorestaurant  We ended the night at Block 1912 Cafe is a very large and happening coffee house where I had their delicious Honey and Walnut Cake. Block 1912 is located at 10361 82 Ave NW, Follow them on Instagram @block1912  This is only the tip of the iceburg and I look forward to future visits to the sunniest city in Canada. By: Richard Wolak

The notable project of a 30-storey mixed-use rental housing tower immediately south of SkyTrain’s future Arbutus Station has taken its next big step. A new development permit application has been submitted by PCI Developments for the project of 2096 West Broadway and 2560-2576 Arbutus Street — the narrow, but long, lot next to the Arbutus Greenway at the southeast corner of the intersection of Arbutus Street and West Broadway. The application also shows new detailed artistic renderings of a highly refined design by architectural firm Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership. You might also like: – Vancouver City Council approves TransLink’s first rental housing project, located at Arbutus SkyTrain station – TransLink to launch new for-profit real estate development arm – Massive mixed-use building development at VCC-Clark SkyTrain station with rental housing, office, childcare, grocery store, and retail uses – 25-storey rental housing tower proposed next to future SkyTrain South Granville Station – 20-storey condo tower proposed for SkyTrain’s future Arbutus Station This is the latest step for the project after its rezoning application was unanimously approved by Vancouver City Council in a public hearing in July 2024. It is a significant project; this is not only one of the first high-rise tower projects approved under the City of Vancouver’s Broadway Plan, but it is also TransLink’s very first building development project under the public transit authority’s new for-profit real estate development division. PCI Developments and TransLink have a 50-50 partnership for this project. This transit-oriented development will also have built-in space to enable a future secondary entrance into Arbutus Station by setting aside streetfront and underground spaces for such uses. During the rezoning application process, it was noted that this additional subway station entrance would be situated on the Arbutus Street side of the building. However, following previous suggestions by the City’s Urban Design Panel, the development permit application shows the subway entrance is now relocated to the northernmost frontage of the building, directly facing West Broadway at the intersection corner. Schematics show this entrance will feature a staircase, one escalator, and one elevator. Some of the building’s underground parking space will be used for the required concourse space to directly connect with Arbutus Station’s expansive concourse level directly below West Broadway. The tower’s primary use will be 260 secured purpose-built rental homes, including 208 market rental units and 52 below-market rental units, based on the Broadway Plan’s stipulation of requiring at least 20% of the residential rental floor area be set aside for below-market rental housing. About 7,400 sq ft of retail/restaurant uses will activate the building’s West Broadway, Arbutus, and West 10th Avenue frontages. Additionally, about 7,100 sq ft of community space over two levels for the new home of Ohel Ya’akov Community Kollel will be incorporated into the south end of the building, with the Jewish community organization space’s entrance fronting the Arbutus Greenway, where there will also be a cafe operated by the organization. Additionally, this project will also provide the adjacent segment of the Arbutus Greenway with a major public space upgrade, including a space for a large Mobi bike share station. During the public hearing, it was indicated that construction on the tower could begin in late 2025 for a completion in 2029. Earlier this year, the provincial government announced SkyTrain Millennium Line’s Broadway extension reaching Arbutus will see a further delayed completion and opening in Fall 2027 instead of early 2026. You might also like: – Vancouver City Council approves TransLink’s first rental housing project, located at Arbutus SkyTrain station – TransLink to launch new for-profit real estate development arm – Massive mixed-use building development at VCC-Clark SkyTrain station with rental housing, office, childcare, grocery store, and retail uses – 25-storey rental housing tower proposed next to future SkyTrain South Granville Station – 20-storey condo tower proposed for SkyTrain’s future Arbutus Station

Coconut whipped cream: it’s the best dairy free whipped cream alternative, and so simple to make! Naturally vegan. Coconut whipped cream is a really well-kept secret. When I turned vegan, for the longest time I didn’t know how to replace traditional whipped cream in desserts and assumed my days of eating it were over. At best, I thought I could substitute soy versions (this was back in 2012 when the few dairy-free whipping cream options out there were hideous). Thankfully, I then discovered what happens when you chill and whip coconut milk, and haven’t looked back since! Coconut milk is fantastic for adding creaminess to any dish, whether that’s ice cream or chocolate mousse , but when you whip it? That’s something else. As a whipped cream alternative, it’s the perfect replacement for regular heavy whipping cream, whether that’s as a decadent topping for drinks (like my rose hot chocolate or iced pumpkin spice latte ), to sandwich between cake layers, heap over pancakes or fresh strawberries , or serve with pecan pie . Nothing else comes close to replicating the texture of whipped dairy cream, and it’s so easy to make with just one ingredient. You have to try it! What is coconut whipped cream? Coconut whipped cream is a dairy-free alternative to regular whipped cream, made from full fat canned coconut milk. You simply whip the hardened, creamy part of a can of chilled coconut milk in the same way you would regular dairy cream and voila! You have your own non dairy whipped cream. Love what you see? Get my once-monthly newsletter with my latest recipes straight to your inbox! Yes, I agree to the processing of my personal data to receive email marketing. /* real people should not fill this in and expect good things – do not remove this or risk form bot signups */ Leave this field empty if you’re human: What is coconut whipped cream made of? Full fat coconut milk – Always buy full fat canned coconut milk, and buy the best you can afford as not all brands of coconut milk are created equal (some are lumpy or have a weird coconut flavor). Brand recommendations: Personally I’ve had success with Whole Foods 365 or Aroy-D . Powdered sugar (optional) – I recommend powdered sugar as a sweetener as it mixes easily into whipped coconut cream and doesn’t affect the texture (unlike liquid sweeteners such as maple syrup). How to make perfect coconut whipped cream 1. Chill a large mixing bowl (or bowl of a stand mixer if you have one) in the fridge for 10 minutes. 2. Remove your can of full-fat coconut milk from the fridge after chilling for 1-2 days. 3. Milk will have separated into two parts: hardened coconut cream and liquid. Scrape the hardened cream from the top of the can into your chilled mixing bowl, and set liquid aside. 4. Using an electric mixer (hand or stand mixer), beat cream on high speed for about 2 minutes until it’s fluffy with soft peaks (for best results avoid over-beating as it can cause the cream to get too warm and separate.) 5. (If cream still feels hard and you’re finding lumps – or if it’s thicker than you’d like – add a small amount of the leftover coconut liquid (½ tablespoon at a time) and beat until it becomes soft.) 6. Check taste and if desired, add 1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar (if you want to add a few drops of vanilla extract, now is the time to do that too). 7. Use cream immediately or store in fridge (will soften if unrefrigerated). Check out my step-by-step for homemade coconut whipped cream . Expert tips Buy the best coconut milk you can afford – Don’t scrimp! Not all brands are created equal (it can take a bit of trial and error to find a good one) and it’s really important to get a creamy one with great taste and texture. *See note above for brands I like.* ALWAYS buy full fat – Light coconut milk just won’t whip properly as it doesn’t have enough fat. Chill coconut milk 1-2 days – You must do this so the milk has time to separate into two parts: a firm, creamy layer and liquid. I’ve sometimes had success just chilling coconut milk overnight, but play it safe – the longer you chill it the better! Don’t let coconut milk get warm – This is rule number 1. As soon as it gets warm, the milk will separate and curdle. If this happens, it’s difficult to fix but I’ve occasionally had success by immediately refrigerating it and then beating in a little more powdered sugar. Do not over-whip! For the same reason. It will get too warm and then separate. Chill your mixing bowl – Before using, place your mixing bowl in the fridge for a few minutes. This will help the coconut milk avoid overheating while whipping. Do not use liquid sweetener – This can make the cream runny. It’s best to stick with powdered sugar if you want to add sweetener. Storage Coconut whipped cream can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It will harden, but should return to normal consistency if left at room temperature for a few minutes. Ways to enjoy coconut whipped cream Enjoy this non-dairy whipped cream as