OF THE WEEK
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A NEW book by a former politician suggests that the first B.C. NDP government might have tried a legal heroin-maintenance program in the 1970s if then premier Dave Barrett had won a second term.
In Take the Torch: A Political Memoir, Ian Waddell recalls being appointed to the provincial drug and alcohol commission while Barrett was premier.
Waddell, who went on to become an NDP MP and a B.C. NDP cabinet minister, reveals in the book that a fellow commissioner, Ted Milligan, “prepared a confidential report on legalized heroin” at the request of the then minister of social services, Norman Levi. “Originally from England, as a social worker Norm Levi got a number of prisoners in the BC Pen transferred to England for heroin maintenance,” Waddell writes. “He was a gutsy guy. Had the Barrett government been re-elected, I believe it would have tried a legal heroin maintenance [program]. “Instead, even today we leave addicts—sick people—to break into people’s homes and cars to deal with their addictions,” Waddell continues. “Surely a missed opportunity!”
Take the Torch also reveals Waddell’s role in writing Section 35 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which recognizes and affirms existing Aboriginal and treaty rights.
to your kid nephew, Swedish outdoorequipment label Fjällräven is committed to sustainability—and it shows in its outerwear. Take the men’s Yupik parka ($569.99), for instance, which is crafted using a synthetic lining, boasts artificial-fur trim along the hood, and is filled with the brand’s proprietary warmth-trapping Supreme Microloft. A look that screams urban cool more than hard-core Arctic expedition, plus plenty of conveniently placed pockets—seriously, we’re counting no fewer than 10—help seal the deal. Find it at Fjällräven (147 West Broadway and 1976 West 4th Avenue).
HIP HYGGE As any Danish citizen will tell you, hygge isn’t just a word—it’s a cozy, pleasing, all-is-right-in-theworld, sipping-cocoa-by-candlelightas-a-blizzard-rages-on-outside feeling. And while, clearly, it’s a concept that’s hard to nail down, Montreal-based label Frank & Oak has done a decent job of interpreting the sentiment as a piece of functional outerwear with the recently released women’s Hygge Cocoon coat ($349). Like Frank & Oak’s entire winter-wear line, the oversized garment is crafted from mostly recycled polyester and is filled with 3M Thinsulate, a synthetic insulation that’s light but still manages to keep your body toasty in subzero temps. (It was designed in Montreal, after all.) Deep, cleverly concealed pockets—two for your hands, one for your phone— complete the comfy look. Find it at Frank & Oak (316 West Cordova Street and 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby). HAVE A BALL The North Face may be best recognized for its boxy, oversized-baffle down coats—you know, the ones that were the outerwear option of choice for approximately 30 percent of your high school’s student body. But the Cali-based outdoor-goods behemoth offers a range of animal-byproduct-free garments, too. We love the Thermoball men’s and women’s hoodie ($269.99), which features a compact design and an innovative warming solution developed in partnership with the makers of Primaloft, the world’s first biodegradable synthetic insulation. Pick from a range of patterns and hues like navy, red, kelly green, and camo. Find it at the North Face (various locations). LOW-KEY HEAT Not into the puff and excess bulk that typically dominate retail racks around this time of year, but still want to survive that four-hour snowshoe trek that you will inevitably be dragged on in the name of exploring the outdoors, spending quality time with your friends, or some other inane nonsense? Then the Fairing jacket ($195)—a new release from the Vancouver-based RYU’S women’s range—may be your best bet. With its sleek motorcycle-jacket-inspired design and smooth matte finish, the piece is about as inconspicuous as outerwear gets. Layer it underneath a more heavy-duty shell for maximum protection against the elements. Find it at RYU (various locations).