West
End: An interview with Maurice Jassak
Quite some
time ago we happened upon See the West End, a
lovely site that blends information, history and commentary on Vancouver’s West End
neighbourhood with photos to create an interesting homage to an exciting and interesting
part of Vancouver. Intrigued, we sent an email to Maurice Jassak, its webmaster and
photographer, and that email later evolved into a discussion and interview on community,
the city and the West End.
Urbanphoto: When did you first move to the West End, and what
attracted you? What makes the West End and Vancouver such a special place?
Maurice Jassak: As a result of personal dissatisfaction with climate, political developments and
career issues in Eastern Canada I decided to throw the dice and attempt to redefine myself
in a new environment. Thus the choice to get as far away from where I was and still remain
in Canada. That was in 1977. The fact that I ended up in the West End is explained by the
fact that virtually all newcomers end up in the West End and then make choices from there.
My first impression (it was springtime) was one of amazement. You only have to realise
that the Tulip Festival in Ottawa is not until Victoria Day holiday (late May). Here, by
that time, snowdrops, daffodils, crocuses, tulips, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons and
magnolias have all shown their colours. The fact that had the most significance, was my
realisation that so many windows were wide open and there were no screens. After enduring
sweltering summer humidity and sharing space with buzzing mosquitoes at three in the
morning no screens was a very good sign.
Other indicators began to pile up that I found very appealing. You always knew where you
were by using the mountains to the north. By virtue of bodies of water the downtown core
had a finite physicality in that it was then and has remained very compact. It was
possible to function at all levels of personal activities without the absolute need for a
car. I had not been in any other city that had such a diverse urban residential presence
in the downtown core that was not a slum. The amenities both man-made and natural were of
high quality and available to all within a kilometre of Granville and Georgia.
Urbanphoto: How have you seen the neighbourhood evolve over
the years? What changes do you think were for the best or worst?
The best changes has been the fact that in some ways there have been few changes. The
parks, beaches, public open spaces, have not been encroached on. People tend to be very
sensitive to potential changes in the physical environment that puts their enjoyment of it
at risk. The bureaucracies have realised this and step lightly around this issue.
Developers have to keep this in mind and have for the most part provided additional open
public space as part of their contribution for being given permission to do their thing.
All this is part of a big dance involving many parties and their agendas (city officials,
citizen groups, corporate planners). The worst also involves development and is more
widespread than just the West End, in fact it is almost province wide. The leaky condos
issue is scandalous. It is incomprehensible to me how at a certain point in time
structures began to be built that were totally useless given the constant reconstruction
now going on. One moment buildings were satisfactory, the next flawed structural features
were introduced like a virus. The result has been misery for the owners of these units and
the buck passing is sickening to observe. It seems to be treated as just another "one
of the things" that must be tolerated because all civil servants are protected from
the consequences of their actions and no one has the resources (emotional and financial)
to really put their feet to the fire (so to speak).
The most significant visible evolution in the downtown and West End has been the changing
population mix. There is a significant increase in the Asian population for a number of
reasons. The Asian investment in property, the now history takeover of Hong Kong by
Mainland China, the significant role that Vancouver is playing in the worldwide market for
ESL (English as a Second Language), all of these contribute and the result is greater than
the sum of all parts. As the need for housing this influx especially the transient portion
developed it put at risk much of what could be considered heritage related property. My
site devotes substantial attention to this issue without being militant.
Urbanphoto:
During your life in the West End, what have been
some of your fondest memories?
Fondest memories? Not really. Life is good here. Everyday is an opportunity to count
blessings. The natural environment allows an individual the opportunity to unwind and be
satisfied. Sounds simple. It all depends on personal priorities. Priorities can make one
miserable everywhere or happy everywhere. A rather nebulous answer but appropriate in my
case.
Urbanphoto:
One of your websites, "Vancouver in
Snow", contains some beautiful images of a snowy Vancouver. In your mind, how does
snow transform the city?
Snow has the ability to purify in the visual and aural sense. After a snowfall there tends
to be quiet. It's as if snow muffles sounds. Similarly many small visual details are
eliminated, substituted by the more general shapes that are rounded and curved with shades
of white to black. There is a simplistic aspect to viewing a snow covered area. I find
that pleasing for itself and for the difference it creates in the observation dynamics of
the thought process.
Urbanphoto:
All in all, what would you miss most of the West
End if you left, and of what importance is community in the West End and in the city in
general?
If I left the West End the single aspect that I would miss the most is the way the
compactness of the community has not compromised all the elements that make it so
pleasurable. The image on the front page of the site that has the sign "what more
could you ask for" sums it all up. All this in just 1 square mile. I find it
mindboggling in the context of what other urban centres I have experienced. Importance of
the community? The city is the bones the community is the heart, spirit, mind, and so on.
That does not imply value judgement. Call it character, personality. The community is also
the continuity that reinvents itself constantly. On the cover of the February 2001
"Common Ground", Joseph Roberts the publisher, put a comment: "If you can't
save the community, you can't save the planet." That about says it all.
Urbanphoto:
Why and when did you begin taking photos of your
community? Why did you begin your site and how has it been received?
When did I start. Back in Montreal in the 60's and 70's on a much smaller scale I was
always interested in documenting that which I noticed around me. My weakness (strength?)
has been to collect data or information in the knowledge that this activity would never
harm me. I observed that this habit had the potential of being therapeutic on many levels
as well a providing me with power on a very personal level. The foundation of many
concepts and business models stand or crumble on the basis of the underlying data or
information. This approach has manifested a profound appreciation of where I am now in a
physical sense and the taking of images relating to this state of mind is my testimony to
it. The website is the soap box from which to proclaim this testimony to the world at
large.
In its short lifespan the website has generated very warm responses from within the
community. So much so that my decision to keep it free of commercial aspects may be one of
its major pluses. It has the feeling of being a family album based on location rather than
individuals. I would really like for this site to become a source for teachers to use in a
socials context. Everyone seems to find an aspect that is important to them. My next
hurdle is to make this site known to as many people as possible. Search engines play a
role but not a major one in this case (for now) since I wish to promote it to the
stakeholders in the community so they can take ownership of it in some sense. I think that
is possible based on the feedback. The wider distribution of the site and its future
related sites will take devising strategies and the support of individuals like you who
take an interest in specific locations as well as the greater implications of the concepts
involved.