Jay was thinking back on the very first summer we arrived. He attended a 'Job Finding Club' for new immigrants run by S.U.C.C.E.S.S., a social agency. Initially, the group was organized to help new Chinese immigrants, but Jay's classes had new Canadians from all over including: Russia, Iran, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, and Holland. The job market wasn't great when we first arrived and they were helpful in setting up skills and expectations for new arrivals. His classes were in a shopping center in Coquitlam and we looked to find it.
Of course, Coquitlam Centre has changed and grown a great deal over the last 24 years. We did locate the building, although the rooms where his classes were run was made over into a huge fitness gym. We walked into The Brick furniture store to laugh at the expensive coffee tables. We also went into a Winners, where Jay bought a very colourful dress shirt. Next door, a huge Canadian Superstore was standing where there used to be wilderness.
It was a nice drive and an interesting way to spend the morning.