Author: andrasthehun

Exploring the Ismaili Imamat: A Cultural Landmark in Ottawa

June 13, 2025

The Canadian Headquarters of the Aga Khan, known as the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, is situated at 199 Sussex Drive in Ottawa. The Ottawa Imamat itself is a secular building. However, the Aga Khan serves as the spiritual and hereditary leader of the Nizari Ismaili branch of Shia Islam, tracing his ancestry back to Muhammad.

The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building on Sussex Drive

The Aga Khan once noted that, in the West, religion is often viewed separately from social and economic initiatives. In contrast, the Ismaili tradition sees helping the poor and fostering connections between people and cultures as integral to the practice of religion.

Sussex Drive, often referred to as the “ceremonial route,” is also home to the embassies of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, France, and Japan. The award-winning National Gallery, designed by Moshe Safdie, is located nearby, adjacent to the Canadian Mint and across from the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica. Additionally, the Prime Minister’s official residence is located at 24 Sussex Drive, which is currently awaiting renovations.

The arrival of the Ismailis in Canada goes back to Pierre Trudeau, a friend of the Aga Khan IV, invited the Ismaili community to Canada when Idi Amin expelled them from Uganda. Currently, approximately 2,000 Ismailis reside in Ottawa and around 80,000 across Canada, out of a global population of approximately fifteen million.

The architecture of the Imamat left a lasting impression on me during my visit. Designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, the project originated from a three-page letter from the Aga Khan, in which he requested Maki to design the building. He sought a design concept inspired by the visual qualities of rock crystal, emphasizing its transparency, translucency, and opacity.

Maki and his team carefully analyzed the letter to grasp the Aga Khan’s intentions fully. To gain further insight into the characteristics of a crystal, Maki even brought his wife’s diamond ring into the office to study its reflections from different angles. The Aga Khan’s request was for the building to be mysterious, esoteric, and intriguing, yet aesthetically pleasing, incorporating themes of Islamic architecture.

The Imamat features a large atrium crowned with a multi-faceted dome and includes a courtyard that contains an Islamic garden known as a Char Bagh. Additionally, the building provides office space for the staff of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and serves as a residence for the Aga Khan when he visits Ottawa.

The AKDN operates numerous educational, conservation, social, and economic programs in Africa and Asia, spending approximately one billion dollars annually. For instance, AKDN founded a university in Karachi, which initially focused on Islamic studies but has since expanded to include liberal arts education. Additionally, the organization has launched a microfinance program designed to support small businesses. This emphasis on helping the less fortunate aligns with the objectives of the Ismaili sect.

Related to the Aga Khan’s interest in architecture, he established a triennial architectural competition for works of Islamic design, including residential, religious, and conservation projects.

The Char Bagh

The purpose of the atrium is to host conferences, meetings, and study groups that focus on improving the condition of humankind worldwide. It features a patterned screen made of cast aluminum that reflects themes of Muslim architecture. The atrium’s floor is composed of maple wood tiles arranged in a seven-square pattern in both directions, with each square approximately ten feet by ten feet. This configuration results in a total of forty-nine squares, symbolizing that the current Aga Khan IV is the forty-ninth Imam of the Nizari Isma’ili sect. The use of mathematical concepts also serves as a symbol in Islamic architecture, reminiscent of the mathematical ratios seen in the gardens of the Taj Mahal.

The three-layered glass dome, composed of panels in various shapes, illuminates the atrium while diffusing direct light through a patterned layer of glass. The glass panels attach directly to the structural frame without the use of hardware. The design of the dome originated in Toronto, with the glass sourced from Austria, the structural steel from Poland, and the panels fabricated in Germany. The construction was completed in Canada. The multi-sourcing of the dome represents “pluralism,” a core principle of Ismaili Shia philosophy.

When I visited the Imamat, I felt relaxed as if I was at home. The parquet-like maple flooring created a warm ambiance, and the filtered lighting was visually soft. The hexagonal pattern of the cast aluminum screens hanging around the walls added a sense of enclosure and intimacy. People were seated around the perimeter of the atrium on large, comfortable couches, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

The acoustics in the atrium were excellent, even with many people conversing. The wood floor, screen wall, and triple glass ceiling effectively absorbed sound. The gentle buzz of conversation in this relaxing environment was pleasant, leading me to reflect on the life of Aga Khan IV, who passed away in February 2025.

I learned from the tour guides on the floor that he was born in Switzerland and held citizenship in that country, as well as in the UK, France, and Portugal. He was also an honorary citizen of Canada. In his youth, he was part of the Iranian Olympic skiing team and later earned a degree in Islamic studies from Harvard University. Throughout his life, he became a prominent horse breeder and achieved significant success in business, with his estimated wealth reaching around $12 billion as of 2024.

If you find yourself in Ottawa, I recommend visiting the Imamat not only to appreciate its stunning architecture but also to gain intellectual insight by learning more about the Ismaili community.

‘Long Bright River’ Review: Thrills and Shortcomings

June 5, 2025


I read a book that isn’t typically in my usual genre, but I reviewed it nonetheless. I will first summarize the book, followed by my mostly negative comments, reflecting my bias towards this genre.


“Long Bright River” by Liz Moore is a captivating blend of biography, thriller, and social commentary. Published in 2022, it became a New York Times bestseller. Set in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, the story centers on two sisters raised by their grandmother after their mother’s drug overdose causes their guilt-ridden father to abandon them.


Kacey, the social and outgoing sister, succumbs to addiction, while her introverted and intelligent sister, Michaela, becomes a police officer. Michaela’s life experiences and thoughts about her neighborhood, sister, and colleagues are woven into the narrative, which includes a biographical element and her self-analysis and introspection.


Michaela narrates the story in the first person. As their grandmother struggles to raise them, Kacey ends up living on the streets. Meanwhile, Michaela patrols the neighborhood where her sister now lives. Despite having shared a bed and a close bond during their childhood, the sisters are now separated by their very different lifestyles. When Kacey disappears, Michaela searches for her but finds that Kacey is avoiding her, partly due to feelings of shame about her situation.

Interwoven with the story of the two sisters is the troubling issue of the murders of four women living on the streets. Michaela fears Kacey may become the next victim. A significant twist occurs when Kacey gives birth to a boy fathered by Michaela’s boyfriend; Michaela then adopts the child. As a single mother, Michaela faces many challenges, including securing housing, finding babysitters, and balancing these responsibilities with her work as a police officer.


The plot builds to a crescendo as Michaela searches for her sister, while the police work to uncover the identity of the killer. During her investigation, Michaela discovers her father in Delaware after finding information in her grandmother’s files. As the story unfolds, a new theme of reconciliation between Michaela and Kacey emerges. The grand finale takes place in an abandoned church, where Michaela confronts her sister, her sister’s boyfriend, and the killer. In the end, the father and the sisters reunite, leading to a happy conclusion.


Having enjoyed works by Clive Cussler, Ken Follett, John Grisham, and others, I found this book to be lacking in sophistication in terms of plot, excitement, and context. It explores themes of a dysfunctional family and police work, including rogue cops—topics that are quite prevalent today.


Almost 500 pages, I found the first half of the book boring, as it delves into excessive detail about the sisters’ upbringing. The author could have described the girls and their environment more concisely.


The book’s structure is gimmicky, employing a non-linear format that alternates between the past and present, jumping back and forth. This structure feels tiresome and artificial. Why couldn’t the author have told the story chronologically? I don’t believe it would have diminished the narrative.


Another structural choice the author makes is to speed up the events towards the end, building up to a crescendo that is far more exciting than the first half of the book. Many thrillers I’ve read are thrilling and eventful from start to finish, making them true page-turners.


This book uses common tropes found in the police/detective thriller genre. For instance, every writing course I’ve taken recommends starting with a hook to capture the reader’s attention, such as a murder, which indeed occurs right at the beginning of this book. Thrillers often involve identifying multiple suspects through mistaken accusations before revealing the real criminal. This story follows a familiar pattern, presenting three false leads before unveiling the actual perpetrator. The author’s tried-and-true storyline was a winning formula—the formula I have seen before.

One major issue with this book is that the identification of the murderer lacks a proper investigation. There is no detailed explanation proving the suspect’s guilt; the police simply name the guilty party, providing no evidence. In most other books I’ve read, there is a thorough investigation that uncovers evidence supporting the conclusion of guilt. This book deviates from the usual pattern of these types of stories, which typically involve a more comprehensive investigation.

I also find it interesting that a New York Times bestseller addresses a wide range of arguably unpleasant social and economic issues, such as prostitution, fentanyl, corrupt police officers, dysfunctional family structures, out-of-wedlock childbirth, abandoned houses, decaying neighborhoods, and addiction. Do all these social problems need to be included to create a “bestseller”? Or would one or two of these topics be sufficient to form the foundation for a successful book?

I’m not saying this isn’t a good book; many people have enjoyed it, which is why it became a bestseller. The writing flows well and captures the interest of some readers. Although I wouldn’t personally buy this book since it’s not my preferred genre, I can understand how it might appeal to others seeking entertainment. It’s the kind of book one would read on a long airplane ride, which is precisely what I did when I flew from Ottawa to Vancouver and back.

Exploring Point Grey Road: Vancouver’s Luxurious Real Estate

June 2, 2025

Montreal has Westmount, Toronto has Rosedale, Ottawa has Rockcliffe Village, and Vancouver has Point Grey Road. The north side of Point Grey Road features elegant, architecturally designed residences. This location is attractive due to its expansive ocean views, framed by mountains in the background and Stanley Park across English Bay, highlighting the Vancouver skyline to the east.

Talk about privacy from the road!

We walked from my brother’s place in Kitsilano to Point Grey Road to explore the area, where the sidewalks were wide, complemented by attractive street furniture, including benches, light posts, and trash cans. The roadway was also spacious, reserved for walkers, joggers, and commuting cyclists traveling from downtown to the University of British Columbia.

   Point Grey Road sidewalk

I understand that Mike Harcourt, a former mayor of Vancouver, envisioned creating a continuous park on the north side of the street. To achieve this, he purchased available residences. He transformed them into parks that front Point Grey Road, extending to the shoreline to provide stunning views of the ocean and the Vancouver skyline. However, homeowners living along Point Grey Road opposed this initiative, and with rising real estate prices, the project ultimately came to a halt.

View from mini-park, the Vancouver skyline

A stroll along the upscale residences made me wonder who owns these homes. I found some online. One notable resident is Chip Wilson, the founder of Lululemon, a popular athleisure clothing brand. His property was valued at over $82 million in 2024, making it one of the most expensive real estate holdings in Canada. While Wilson has gained significant wealth from his clothing line, he has also stirred controversy with some of his comments.

      Chip Wilson’s place, totally private from the road

He faced accusations of racism for the name “Lululemon,” which features three “l’s.” He said he chose this name because he found it amusing to consider how Japanese people would pronounce it, given that there is no “l” in the Japanese alphabet.

Additionally, he was criticized for being “fatphobic” after suggesting that not all women are suited for his designs. He pointed out that women who do not have a gap between their thighs could cause the fabric to become sheer or translucent, leading to backlash for implying that those women were overweight.

People have also slammed him for stating that he has no issue with children working. He mentioned that his children have worked for his company and argued that there is nothing wrong with this. He was specifically referring to Asia, where much of his clothing line is produced by child labor.

His comment reminded me of children we saw in Myanmar, rolling cigarettes, sitting on the floor with inadequate lighting. When I inquired about why children work, I learned that many would starve without their jobs and that, for some, working is preferable to having nothing to do, especially when they are not attending school.

      An architectural home

Dr. David Suzuki is another fascinating figure who lives on Point Grey Road. He had a long-running, popular show on CBC called “The Nature of Things.” As an environmentalist, he advocates for living in harmony with nature. However, I find it hard to reconcile the idea of living in harmony with nature while owning a multimillion-dollar house on Point Grey Road, especially considering that he also possesses two other properties. Nonetheless, his educational broadcasts have been excellent and have been aired in forty countries.

Still, another homeowner on Point Grey Road was Nelson Skalbania, who took a chance on signing the seventeen-year-old Wayne Gretzky to the Indianapolis Racers hockey team and later on starring withe the Edmonton Oilers. As we know today, Gretzky has become arguably the greatest hockey player in history. The team’s owner, Skalbania, was interested in sports franchises; he bought and sold teams and even purchased the Atlanta Flames before relocating them to Calgary.

Continuing with the hockey theme, Trevor Linden owns a house on Point Grey Road. He played for the Vancouver Canucks and served as team captain and General Manager after his playing career ended.

Strolling along, I took a picture of what I thought was a very attractive house. After searching online, I discovered that it was designed by one of my classmates from the School of Architecture at the University of British Columbia in the 1960s. Paul Merrick was an exceptionally talented designer during our time in architecture school, and he established his firm in Vancouver after graduation. The article I read on this residence did not mention the owner’s name.

Designed by Paul Merrick

Another renovated old house on the south side of Point Grey Road, at number 3148, is known as the “Peace House.” The name originates from its use during the 1960s by peace activists who lived there and protested against the storage of nuclear weapons at the Comox RCAF base. This house also attracted the wandering hippie crowd of the era, known as the Love-In Generation, including notable figures such as Timothy Leary, the Grateful Dead, who even performed a concert there, Baba Ram Dass, and Allen Ginsberg. Recognizing these names indeed reveals my age!

The “Peace House”

These beautiful, high-value homes are designed by architects and surrounded by meticulously maintained landscaped yards. I thought it would be a great experience to visit these homes inside. Would the homeowners be willing to open their houses for viewing?

Exploring Granville Island: A Vibrant Vancouver Destination

May 29, 2025

Granville Island is a vibrant thirty-five-acre urban district located under the Burrard Bridge in Vancouver. Due to limited parking, we chose to take an Uber to get there. Granville Island is the most visited tourist destination in Canada after Niagara Falls, attracting over ten million visitors each year.


The sandbar that is now Granville Island was a traditional fishing site for the Squamish and Musqueam tribes. The early 1900s saw industry’s expansion into the land, supporting the maritime and lumber industries. Until 1972, hobos lived on the island before the federal government took control. Ron Basford, the minister responsible for the lands, envisioned redeveloping the area while preserving the original buildings and businesses. His vision ultimately grew into a roaring success.

There are no sidewalks here; the planners envisioned a pedestrian district. The streets are narrow, filled with throngs of people moving through the walkways. There are also three thousand people working on the Island. Cars move extremely slowly along the crowded streets. We initially thought a line of vehicles on the main street was a parking lot, but then the cars began to move—it was not a parking lot after all.


The taxi dropped us off at the Public Market, a large, renovated warehouse filled with a variety of merchants. The market features bakeries, fruit and vegetable stands, butchers, as well as specialty cheese and international food vendors. After noticing a lineup at the BC salmon seller, we decided to purchase some in a freeze-dried bag to take home. Of course, we couldn’t resist getting fresh, sweet cinnamon buns from a local bakery, so we hurried over to a roaster for their exceptional coffee to enjoy with the buns. There was a line at the coffee shop as well. We learned that all fifty merchants in the Public Market are local, and no chain stores are allowed.


To enjoy our sweets and coffee, we sat in the outdoor plaza outside the Public Market on the waterfront. The skyline of downtown Vancouver stretched before us, resembling a mushroom of high-rise buildings with attractive designs. Each unit appeared to have a balcony, allowing residents to take advantage of the surrounding views. Among them was a distinctive high-rise designed by Arthur Erickson, one of Canada’s most renowned architects. This unique apartment building bulges in the middle, making it an eye-catching sight. Although it may seem unusual, it stands out from the typical apartment towers.

As we walked along the waterfront, we noticed several houseboats tied up at the dock. Interestingly, most of these houseboats are two stories high and seem to be permanently moored to the shore. It makes you wonder what it would be like to live on a houseboat in downtown Vancouver. Would the residents have children? There are no schools or playgrounds on the island, although educational facilities are available on the mainland. Is this lifestyle suited only for adults?


There are two rows of boats tied up—one along the wall and the other tied to the first row of houseboats. I wonder if the first row of houseboats, which is next to the shoreline, is cheaper to dock but lacks a view because the second row of boats is parked in front of them. The density of the boats is so great that they are touching each other! Is there any privacy here? One would assume that good neighborly relations would naturally develop.


As we walked between renovated buildings, we passed restaurants, a community center, and many performing arts theaters. The Emily Carr University of Art and Design is also located there. We walked by the Granville Island Brewery, but it was too early for a beer.


Forties music drew us to a large plaza in front of the Ocean Concrete Company, the longest-established tenant on the Island since 1917. This cement factory features concrete silos decorated with a colorful mural by the Portuguese brothers Pandolfo, titled “Giant.” Despite the huge cement trucks parked in front, the mural made the industrial neighborhood feel more appealing. The music was coming from an outdoor free concert performed by the Firemen’s seventeen-piece band. We stood and listened to my favorite style of music until a few chairs became available in the plaza, allowing us to sit down.


Leaving the music behind, we walked along the waterfront, taking in the views of Vancouver’s skyline and False Creek. The wooden boardwalk felt comfortable under our feet. As we strolled, we passed by an upscale waterfront restaurant that is part of the luxurious Granville Island Hotel, our destination from which we called an Uber to return home.


Although we spent only a few hours on the Island, we could have easily spent the entire day exploring the galleries and studios of local artists, visiting the cement factory that offers tours, and enjoying the brewery.
The mixed land uses, the variety of local shops, the vibrant arts scene, and the bustling crowds reminded me of Jane Jacobs’ ideas about urban environments. Her philosophy is detailed in her bestselling book, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” published in 1961. Jacobs advocated for the renovation of old districts by preserving buildings, promoting mixed land uses, and encouraging high-density living with numerous streets to create dynamic urban spaces. She vehemently opposed urban renewal and redevelopment, especially those led by professional planners, favoring instead organic growth guided by local communities. Granville Island serves as a prime example of her principles in action.

Exploring Cryptocurrency in Our Book Club Discussions

May 18, 2025

Members of the book club arrived to find a hearty vegetarian soup waiting for them, accompanied by dark rye bread, spreads, and cold cuts. Portuguese cream puffs and strong coffee, made with a French press, were served for dessert. We were ready for a lively discussion.

The book today was Camila Russo’s “The Infinite Machine,” a 500-page book on the history of Ethereum, a computer platform written by a group of young, savvy coders. The platform serves as the base for the cryptocurrency coin ETH. The discussion began during the meal: Is cryptocurrency a legitimate form of currency? Does anyone in our group own Bitcoin or ETH? If you haven’t heard of ETH, you’re not alone—none of us have. The host selected this book to help us better understand this evolving field. As we went around the table, it became clear that none of us fully understood cryptocurrency, who was using it, or where it was headed.

Blockchain technology underpins Ethereum, a digital technology that we struggled to comprehend despite our best efforts to discuss it together. Based on this technology, Ethereum was the brainchild of Vitalik Buterin, a young Russian programmer who came to Toronto with his parents when he was six. He demonstrated a talent for mathematics at a young age. Later on, he studied computer science at the University of Waterloo before dedicating himself full-time to developing Ethereum.  His success in spreading awareness about this digital technology has been phenomenal. Out of curiosity, I looked up Vitalik on the internet. I found that his reputed IQ is 257 and that he is a billionaire—a fantastic story.

Besides Vitalik, the author conducted meticulous research on the other coders who collaborated with Vitalik on the Ethereum project. I found their stories interesting because they are all brilliant characters with complex careers. A Netflix series could easily be created about them, detailing their successes and failures. However, the technological aspect was more challenging to comprehend.

As I understand it, this platform’s two main advantages are that it incurs no transaction fees and that there is no need for audits, as the system stores your “smart contracts” (money, documents, etc.) in secure “wallets” (cloud storage devices) that cannot be hacked. You could call this platform a digital ledger.

The first application running on the Ethereum platform was a new digital currency designed to replace traditional “fiat” currencies, essentially the paper money we use today, such as the US dollar. While this is an ambitious undertaking, I asked which retailers currently accept ETH as a form of payment. I am not aware of any stores that offer this service.

Some of our club members could not understand why these young people have worked on digital currencies for free for years. I brought up all the startup companies, the dot.coms, I worked with, where the young engineers worked day and night trying to implement their vision. Their passion was palpable, and I did not doubt that Vitalik and his partners were equally absorbed in their work.

The topic of digital currency is gaining attention, and learning more about it is essential. Just a few weeks ago, I received a message about a job opportunity in cryptocurrency mining that required only one hour of work per day and offered compensation of a few hundred dollars per day. How could I turn that down? I decided to follow up, and I researched crypto mining online. Although I do not fully understand it, I discovered that the mining process validates or creates a ‘wallet’ containing a ‘smart contract’ in the blockchain before it is added. I also found that it requires a powerful computer and specific software. Today, most such mining operations are conducted by large corporations, which often subcontract with smaller companies or individuals. I did not respond to this offer.

I left our meeting with an interest in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency mining. And I wondered the extent to which cryptocurrency is used commercially today. For example, can you buy a Lamborghini with cryptocurrency? And where?

I put my newly found knowledge to good use today. This morning, I received an unexpected call from a New York stockbroker who wanted to ask me about my investment style. I mentioned that I do my investing and asked what he had in mind. He brought up gold. That reminded me of a recent police message about a scam in Ottawa, where brokers called to sell gold as a good investment in the current volatile stock market. I’m not sure if that was a scam call. Still, I replied that I was more interested in cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin futures. That comment caught him off guard.

In summary, I would recommend the book to anyone interested in how technological innovation occurs through intelligent individuals; I enjoyed reading about young, enthusiastic people, written in an engaging journalistic style. Technology is another matter, not sure how many people would understand it.