About me

 

Hello there. My name is Brad, and this is my website. I live in Beaver County on a saskatoon berry farm. The trains on the CN mainline cross by my bedroom window, a couple of miles away. But a few years ago, I lived in the northside of Edmonton. I have written a series of short stories that express my thoughts on Vegreville and my hometown, Edmonton. Viking and the Holden Hotel in Holden, Alberta, are also mentioned.

 

I have previously published two books: Brothers of McCauley, about the entrepreneurially minded neighbourhood of McCauley just outside downtown Edmonton, and Blazing Community Spirit, about life in Holden and rural Beaver County.

 

I went to college in Olds, and now I'm going to NAIT. I enjoy gardening, cycling, photography, creative writing, and travelling.

 

My parents dropped me off in Viking, Alberta, to catch the Via Rail train to Vancouver. It was several hours late, but I had been tracking it online that evening, and we made our way to Viking at an appropriate time. The next day, I would wake up rolling into Jasper, perfect for some photography. Then I got back on the train, where I met a Dutch tourist who would be sitting next to me - the train gets full between Jasper and Vancouver. The three times I have travelled this route, I have met three different groups of Dutch tourists. I spend most of the day in the observation car. The next day, I woke up in Vancouver. I usually like to take a photo of the train station. Pacific Central Station is a great way to arrive in Vancouver. To think, Edmonton once had a downtown train station and gave it up.

 

I spent nine nights in an airbnb a short walk off Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. Waking up and heading out for a latte, then getting a piece of pizza at Don't Argue Pizza and a few pieces of fruit at the market, was a joy, as was browsing the independent bookstores and drinking at the numerous breweries.

 

I took the ferry to Saltspring to visit my brother. The first day I hiked Mount Erskine and the second I hiked Mount Maxwell. I went to the Apple Festival where I saw five hundred types of apples on display, and then I went kayaking and tipped and ended up in the ocean.

 

Then I took the ferry to Crofton to see my Auntie and Uncle in Duncan. I went to the Raptors. It was incredible to see these birds flying so close. I also went to the World of Man museum, which was pretty fascinating.

 

Arriving in Victoria off the ten dollar bus, I wandered downtown and past the Empress Hotel and Legislative Building into James Bay, where I photographed some cool houses. Then it was time to check in at my airbnb, which turned out to be a hostel which provided free breakfast and dinner and one free draught beer an evening. The room was tiny, but I wasn't there beyond charging my stuff and sleeping. I checked out Craigdarroch Castle the second day, and then walked eastward into Oak Bay until I reached Cattle Point, which was a long walk, and then I walked back in time for my free dinner. The third day I returned to James Bay and did some cool photography before getting on a bus to go to the airport. The bus went out of service because of a chipped mirror at Pandora, which coincidentally was right by my hostel. I got through security at the airport and just had time to put my laptop back in the backpack when they announced boarding. On the plus side, I got from downtown Victoria to the airport for $3.

 

In August of 2025 I went to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. I wanted to photograph their colourful houses and expected a similar experience to the one I had in Halifax a few years ago. I walk down forested trails from the airport into the city. The houses were beautiful, and I went to Gower Street United Church, which has a second gallery above the first. The street layout was so interesting. Everything is uphill or downhill. I stayed in the Georgestown neighbourhood and spent time in Bannerman Park. I went to several concerts at the Battery Cafe. The Rooms, Confederation Building, and the Port cellars were interesting, while the Colonial Building was really fascinating as the guide related the events of Prime Minister Squires being forced out of his job. At Government House, the Lieutenant Governor introduced herself before I toured her elegant house. I loved the Rennies River trail and enjoyed hikes around Signal Hill. Overall, the history, friendliness, music, and beer of St. John's won't be forgotten. I can't wait to return. While Halifax was busy and modern, with beautiful parks like the Commons and Public Gardens offering respite from the urbanity, St. John's was largely rebuilt in the 1890s, and the roads were all up and down hill. It created a beautiful environment for me to take photos. Bannerman Park was really cool to hang out in, as it became busy in the afternoons. I especially loved the gates.  

 

Last December I went to Holland. I saw the village my mom was born in, and the building in Haarlem that my great-grandfather had a butcher shop in and lived upstairs. I stayed in Amsterdam near the train station and enjoyed several day trips to other cities.

 

The previous year, I travelled to Salt Spring and Duncan, BC, to visit family. I enjoyed breakfast at Barb's Buns and pizza for dinner at Del Vecchio. My brother and his wife are also excellent cooks, so I ate very well. We kayaked to Wallace Island, and for the weekend, I went to Vancouver Island to stay with my Aunt and Uncle, and we went sailing in Cowichan Bay. It wasn't very windy, but I still loved being on the sailing boat.

 

Earlier that year, I went to Saskatoon. I took a lot of photos of the old houses and churches, and did a lot of walking along Spadina and Saskatchewan Crescents and the Meewasin trail. Riversdale was interesting, and the university campus was beautiful. The old stone barn, observatory, and stone schoolhouse were highlights, as well as the Diefenbaker Centre. I enjoyed the cafes d'Lish by Tish in Nutana and City Perks in City Park. I enjoyed the breweries and live music at the Capitol Music Club, and a late night at the Hose and Hydrant nightclub. I went to Crossmount Cider Company and the Cranberry Flats Conservation Area south of the city. The Bessborough Hotel and churches along Spadina Crescent in the central business district were beautiful, and the Remai Modern art museum and Ukrainian Museum of Canada were worth checking out. I saw lots of old tractors at the Western Development Museum. Overall, I was really impressed with Saskatoon. It was friendly, clean, and I could walk everywhere I needed to go.

 

The previous year, during the summer, I went to Halifax. I enjoyed kayaking to Georges Island and taking a boat to McNabs Island where I went in the water at the beach. Halifax had lots of old buildings and interesting museums. I really liked the city's walkability and enjoyed the Maud Lewis exhibit at the art gallery. Lunenburg was a really cool place to explore and take photographs. I need to go back to explore rural Nova Scotia more. Earlier in the year, I stayed in Vancouver after coming in on the Via Rail train and then took the ferry to Salt Spring Island. The highlight was kayaking with my brother and his family on the ocean.

 

Recently, I have been living at my parents' farm in Beaver County. I am enjoying a peaceful, quiet life as I finish my schooling.