He replaced the phone on its cradle. Ted Underwood generally didn’t ‘pick-up’ but he had quickly remembered who Gloria Townsend was. After her husband died, she’d turned a small grocery chain into Townsend Foods, Townsend Farms, Townsend Produce, Townsend Trucking, Townsend Distribution and probably more since he’d seen her last. A major player, not one to treat lightly…or cross swords with. He looked forward to the meeting, and a few days out of the city would be great.
As he glanced through his office window, Ted could see the beginnings of twilight. He changed his shoes and headed down through the lobby. ‘Good time for a walk,’ he thought. ‘Good time for a new contract too.’ He’d started his professional life with the National Security Agency, but after six years of analysis work he grew bored. He’d resigned to form his own consulting practice, and over the next twenty years, Ted had established himself as a political strategist and advisor. Recently, he had served as senior advisor on election campaigns in the U.S., Canada, and in the United Kingdom. Wisely, he always tried to maintain the connections made during those contracts; connections which frequently came in very handy. His last project ended a few weeks ago; Ted was waiting for the next surprise life would be handing him. ‘Given human nature,’ he thought as he turned south and walked down Lexington Avenue, ‘I’ll always have work.’ After returning to his office, Ted settled in to spend a few hours online. “Time to see what’s new in BC,” he said to his system as it woke up. Finding what he was after, he typed some notes:
1/ Economy base: Resource-Tourist-Tech.
Population-three million, 80% urban, 20% rural.
Twice the geographic size of California
[note: if Canada is the hardware store, then BC is the raw materials isle: minerals, large forestry industry, even larger potential for fossil fuel development.] Tourism-increasing. Attempts to ramp up hi-tech sector.
2/ People: Modern, independent, westward thinking, strong social conscience. Cultural Mosaic.
Diverse minorities. white majority-English/Irish/Scots
strong but small indigenous-First People element
strong minority elements in Vancouver and Victoria: Chinese/South/Central Asian.
3/ Trends: Tag-lined by eastern Canada as ‘lotus land’ about the same time California was tagged ‘la la land’: mainly due to ideal weather conditions along the southern edge/coastal area and myth of ‘easy living, laid-back lifestyle’ [mass-media fuelled]. Growing retirement community base along US border, primarily Vancouver and populated areas of Vancouver Island.
4/ Mindset: Satisfied with Canada’s constitutional monarchy. Moderate loyalist ties [fealty to Queen –UK]. Relationship with US- Good. Very willing to export energy, water, hydro-electric power [as long as BC’ers are fed first]. Independent thinking extends to not being tied to Eastern Establishment Canada. No deep seated resentment, but a rhythm/beat that easterners take BC for granted creates some ‘western alienation’ [media tag]. Relations dialogue with Washington/Oregon /California: no problem.
[No migration/invasion issue as there was with Californians into Oregon/Utah/Montana].
Ted leaned back in his chair. “And Gloria Townsend has an emergency. Oh Gloria,” he grinned, “what are you up to now and will I be able to refuse your request?” He clicked the link to his online travel agent and reserved the flight to Seattle. He’d catch a heli-jet to Vancouver Island from there.
