Bob Rennie
Ross Milne
Nicole Phillips
Calen Knauf
duck duck duck duck…
Photo: Steve Ember. Used with permission.
Remind me never to leave the house without a camera!
I’m walking down Broadway just west of Granville a few weeks ago, when ahead of me on the sidewalk I see this lady with a floppy-hat and a long skirt pushing a baby carriage…closely trailed by a large white duck. Waddle waddle went the duck. It’s little bum actually swayed to and fro as it walked.
“What the —?” I said to myself. By the time I caught up to them, the lady had scooped up the duck and placed it on the hood of the carriage. She was super friendly, the lady I mean, but the duck was friendly too, and she also let me pet her soft downy feathers. That is, the duck did.
Me: Is she your pet?
Duck Lady: No, she’s my baby.
Turns out Duck Lady is somewhat well-known around Granville Street. Her name is Laura-Kay Prophet, and VFS even did a doc about her in 2004!
Only in Vancouver you say? Has anyone else seen the Duck Lady about town? Or folks with unusual pets?
September 15th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
we have pigeon man here on the Drive. He’s not quite as endearing with the pigeon poop all over his head..
September 15th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
yeah, she’s been around for years
September 15th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
an old guy walks a pair of ravens up on mt. seymour in the summer
September 15th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I saw her once on Granville, made my day. :)
September 15th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
There’s an old smoking Chinese guy down by the Naam who walks around in the evening with his rabbit.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Duck lady is legendary…classic downtown Vancouver. I remember seeing her downtown when I was in my mid-teens…so let’s say 15 years ago! How long do ducks live in ideal conditions?
September 15th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I don’t know….Depends on the breed I guess? She told me her previous duck had, uh, passed, and the duck I saw her with was Bobbi II.
There is an excellent pun here somewhere; I just can’t think of it.
September 15th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
its great she didn’t duck your question. that stuff just rolls off her back. she sure migrates around, i last saw her on Drake st….
September 15th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
ahhhhh. Thank you. I feel much better now.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:06 am
cuckoo
September 16th, 2009 at 9:20 am
WOW I have not seen the Duck lady in aggggggggggges! I’m glad she is still out there, I swear I used to see her around 10 years ago
September 16th, 2009 at 9:21 am
The duck lady and that dude that used to sit with the puppets on Robson, staples of a Friday night.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:57 am
I’ve seen the duck lady too!
In other pet news, I saw a couple at a cafe in my neighbourhood with an enormous white bunny last weekend. I’ll email you a photo!
September 16th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Yeah Roger… I remember that puppet guy too! As well as the dude with the harmonica who could never finish a song because he was too busy saying HI to everyone who walked by…
Robson Strasse… anyone remember that street sign?
September 16th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Wait — where can I email my photo in to?
September 16th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Hi Jhenifer, you can send it to editor Bob K contact@vancouverisawesome.com and cc me nikki.reimer@gmail.com
thanks!!
September 28th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
My wife, my friend Kyle and I saw a couple walking a full on Goat down E. 14th between Quebec and Main. It was sweet! There is also “The Pirate” which is our name for the gentleman who walks around Main Street with his parrot on his shoulder. I have to say that the track of bird poop running down the back of his shirt really takes away from the romantic image of a pirate though.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
I have always wanted a pet goat! I wonder if those are allowed in the city? That’s gotta be next after chickens, right?
October 29th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I saw her about 10 years ago. Just wrote about it in a post:
http://www.yourdoseoflunacy.com/2009/10/lets-all-wait-for-fluffy-to-say-grace.html
August 18th, 2010 at 3:31 am
I remember
Laura Kay Prophet and her magic duck Harvey
in the summer of 1985 when the city was preparing
for Expo 86. She lived downtown and used to give
out schedules for upcoming appearances, with Harvey
then, at schools, radio and T.V. programs. Now her
duck is Bobbi and I’m sure has magical qualities.
Harvey could apparently say his name and could grant wishes.
August 18th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
I would not be surprised if Harvey could grant wishes!