NEWSLETTER 401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T1 (6041665-2220

_,.

.. Margaret Prevost (1956- 2010) Celebrate her life with friends on March 4th

carnnews@shaw.ca

MARCH 1, 2010

www .carnnews.org

MARGARET PREVOST The Memorial will be on Margaret's birthday, March 04, 1956- February 06, 20 I 0 March 4, at 1 p.m. in the Carnegie Theatre.

Our Princess Margaret, fondly known as the Mayor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~ of the DTES, had the cutest little giggle. She was the sweetest, most guiless, bravest. courageous, deter­mined, giving person (in spite of her own suffering), whom I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She was truly a remarkable human being in so many ways. In the face of thinking about Margaret. who she was. what she did. what she went through, words seem a lacking medium to properly express our love, respect and sadness of her passing.

Rest in Peace dear friend and sister, Colleen Gorrie

Dear Friends.

It is very sad to know that our dear friend, advocate, comrade, and truly great person, Margaret, has passed away.

Margaret and her life make me believe that there is justice, there is hope, and there is goodwill in our world. She embodied the best of everything and her compassion, strength, and determination are things all strive for. \\'e'll miss you, Margaret - for you touched each of us, and Carnegie, and all its pillars and friends feel this loss.

Yours Sincerely, Libby

Margaret and one of her brothers came to live with me in January of 1968, when Margaret was eleve~. 1 was teaching in the Alert Bay school.. .. my fi rst job in Canada after arriving from Australia. Although she was with me for just five months, we remained friends for life.

1 was always in awe of the fact that ~1? matte~ what life dealt her, Margaret remained poslllVe, active ~nd most of all cheerful. She had no time for chrome complaine~. Even when I saw her in YGH last De­cember, she was tossing off funny comments at the nurses as she wheeled her way out of the room ·

If there is one main lesson that I have learned from Margaret it is that we are here to give to each other, not to take. She will remain one of the most memo­rable people 1 have met in my lifetime.

Colleen Elson

Margaret Prevost was a very effective force in the Downtown Eastside for many years in focusing on and bringing forward to the media and politicians the needs of the Community.

Phill ip Owen [When Phil Owen was the mayor of Vancouver, margaret would watch his televised speeches or talks then call his direct line the next day and tell him he owed her a dollar for every time he said "um'. I don't know if any money ever changed hands but it made them buddies. Ed.)

I am saddened by Margaret 's death. My thoughts are with the community on this loss. She was an amaz-

1 ing person. Senator Larry W Campbell

" . . so I sits down bes ide her at an outdoor table during the Gastown Jazz Festi val 1989. I says "hiya I'm John." She says" I'm Margaret". I go "Hey that's my mom's name! Cool." She says "cooL.." then we clacked our beer g lasses together and fe ll deeply in love. Okay maybe that last part is exaggerated. But I was hooked. Still am. My beauti fu l friend, I miss you.

We talked at least once a month. The Lions. The Ca­nucks. The I 00 dollars she never paid me for a bet we almost made.

Margaret NEVER bitched. NEVER fe lt sorry for her­self. Always funny. Even a time in the hospital when she was all bloated up and suffering. Nothing! Peace sign! Big smile!

Funny! "Take a picture of me". So I d id.

She tuld me of her residential school horror. I think I couldn't have coped.

She'd call between periods to complain about Luongo.

Or, ifht:: was playing good, to praise him. We always laughed out loud and then it was back to the game.· Never complained! (except about the Canucks etc.) Peace sign. Un believeable!

She worked so long and so hard fo r Carnegie and the fo lks in her neighbourhood . The stories of her are legion. The rice wine/cooking brandy battle that she took on. She drove them to stop.

Unrelenting and unafraid.

We worked together. 16 years ... the best!

She rolled into my office ten or so years ago and closed the door and said "play me a song Johnny". I grabbed the guitar and sang Buddy Holly's "I Guess it doesn't matter anymore:' ... she clapped and said "Wow! " When she drove out I said" ... and slow down out there, you're scaring the pedestrians!" "Ya Ya"

Too young. Too beautiful. Too good! to be gone ...

John Ferguson; friend

In response to your request, here are a few of many personal memories of our dear Margaret:

-She never let me forget that during my interview for Carnegie Director she had to interrupt me to explain the big words I was using. I guess my explanations were okay because I got the job. -When we first were planning the Carnegie IOOth An­niversary and had a meeting coming up with some prominent business people for money she told me clearly that she was not going to be the DTES "poster child"' for fund-raising. -Maybe not "poster-child"' but anyone who walked with her as she wheeled around the community knew she was well respected and well loved. Everyone greeted her. City llall politicians and staff, commu­nity agency people, the police - all had a high regard for Margaret. -One of her proudest accomplishments was gening police action on the illegal sales of rice wine in some of the stores of the area. -Margaret ran a tight meeting. The monthly board meeting took exactly one hour and after that she was out of there. -Margaret took a personal interest in so many people. She was "den mother" to many, especially her broth­ers. But she took time to call me at home just to see how I was doing or, when Barb became ill, to check in on her health and wish her the best. -Once, when visiting her during one of her many hos­pital stays, Margaret tearfully expressed her helpless­ness and frustration with her pain and what was hap­pening to her body, but just as quickly she would en-

quire about other people's health or have something funny to say to the nurse. A poster child of the DTES she was not. She was a

combination of Mother Courage and local Mayor. !learned much from Margaret and she gave me so

much in making the most of life.

Michael Clague (Director 1999-2005)

Margaret Prevost, R.I.P.

Margaret, Marg, Margie, Princess Margaret. The mayor of the Downtown Eastside.

By whatever name we knew her, Margaret Prevost was one of a kind. And when she died Feb 6 after a heart attack at the age of 54, she left a great. gaping hole in the neighbourhood and a fee ling of profound loss among her many friends. She wi ll be remembered for her sweet temperament,

her fierce championing of the neighborhood and her impish sense of humour. Quite a package.

Margaret was a common sight cruising llastings and other byways of the neighborhood, on the lookout for people who were down and needed help. Her ever­present cell-phone would put her in touch with the services they needed. She was born in the 'Namgis (Nimpkish) Fi rst Nation

community of Alert Bay, off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, a me mber of a large extended fam­ily. Throughout her life, she was a pillar of support for her siblings and other relatives.

And she wore her heritage proud ly. Not just the outward signs of aborig inal culture, but fighting for the rights of aboriginal women- those missing and those still struggling on the streets of the Downtown Eastside. As many people know, Margaret was involved in

catastrophic auto accident when she was 18 years ol She was asleep in the back seat when the car hit an­other vehicle. She was injured so severely that she wound up in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. That was tragedy, but it didn't stop her from living life to the fullest. She was a natural athlete, and be­came a member of Canada's national wheelchair bas­ketball team. In 1992, she and the team went to the Pan American games in Spain and won a gold medal. Eventually, Margaret moved to Vancouver. At first,

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she was disoriented in the cig city, winding up in s temporary shelters. .

But two things happened that helped her to Oounsh. She found a place to live in the Four Sisters I lousing Co-op, and she found Carnegie Centre. They gave her a stable home and a community to relate to - two necessary ingredients for a healthy life.

Margaret was involved in so many activities. It's hard to remember the m all.

She spearheaded the campaign to have ~cadi~ rice wine brought under control, and she lobbied vigor­ously to get the curb ramps that improve access to city sidewalks for disabled people.

Of course, she was a long-time Carnegie Board member, serving as vice-president and then president for years. only retiring in 2008. when health problems made it impossible for her to continue.

She was on the board of Vancouver Native Health Society, an active volunteer in the Community Polic­ing office, and a mainstay of the Out-To-Lunch Bunch of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Her efforts were recognized when she was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal for community service.

Margaret loved her specia l accessible plot at the Strathcona Community Gardens, experimenting with her crop of tomatoes from year to year, and each year planting different flowers for color and variety.

I remember back in the early'90, when Margaret barnstormed the province with the Downtown East­side Poets. We would call ahead to hotels, and of course they wou ld tell us they were accessible. When we got there it was different story. She couldn' t even get into the bathroom. So she borrowed a screwdriver from the c lerk and got to work taking the door off.

She was like that - nothing fazed her. l' llleave the last word to Lisa David, who knew her

so wel l: " Like many people in our community, Margaret

struggled with some serious challenges in her private life. I admire how she maintained her grace through­out those challenges.

"Thank you. Margaret, for everything that you have done for us. The Downtown Easts ide is lucky to have had you."

Margaret's memorial service will be held Thurs­day, March 4, at I pm in the Carnegie Theatre. All are welcome

Bob and Muggs

BEAR STORY

In less lhan two monlhs the B.C. government will open the sport hun lin~ season for bears in the Great Bear Rainforest. Trophy hunting of bears is not supported by most British Co­lumblans. Coastal First Nation oppose the trophy hunt for cultural and sp1ritual reasons

' Carry a gun in the mountains • the old prospector said. ' 'Grizzly bears live here, and the only good bear is a dead bear.' I tried to carry a gun, a 30-30 lever action, but it was no good. The strap slipped off my shoulder. The barrel hit the back of mv head. When I put the rifle down to do some serious prospecting, I had to backtrack to find it. So one day I decided to leave it behind. As for grizzly bears. Native Elders had taught me to speak well of them. 'Those who ridicule the bears are being arrogant,' they had said. ' Be respectful; the bears were created before us; they are our older sisters and brothers· there is much to learn from them.' '

On June 30th I left carnp without a rifle, but armed v11th positive thoughts about bears. Up the side of a mountain I went prospectmg step by step, the sky clear, the day warm ­through the timber across meadowland with its mountain flowers bright as stars, up talus slopes over huge rocks towards the top, the falling away of earth the opening up of heaven.

Stepping around a rock bluff into a saddle between two peaks

I met a standing sideways to me fifty feet away silver-tipped a mountain in himself. For a ~omen! the world stopped. No vo1ce to call no legs to run no me to move. Then silently we listened, the bear and I, at seven thousand feet on a ridge between two peaks under the summer sky. ' Be polite to the bears,' the Elder, 'They are our relatives. They have been here longer than us.'

'Excuse me,' I said. 'I didn't mean to intrude.' The bear sniffed the air

, but he didn't charge. ' 'You have climbed the mountain to escape the flies or to cool off or to catch a whistler • I continued. '

'Don't fear me; I am a stranger who will leave no track.' The bear listened. not mov1ng. As I talked I began to back down the talus slope, avoiding the rock bluff around which I'd come. To disappear suddenly would be dangerous. 'We share the same sun • 1 said 'and the beauty of this m'ountain'. The wind that cools you also cools me.' The bear began to move along the ridge towards the further peak. Then he stopped. The huge head turned again, watching. 'This day we have mel' 1 said 'and we have mel fore~er.' '

The bear moved away again, and as I crept down the talus slope we lost sight of each other. Then I ran to the campsite and made a cup of tea. The old prospector returned soon after 'Did you see any bears?' he asked. · 'No,' I replied. 'Did you lake the gun?' 'No,' I said. 'No more gun for me.'

Sandy Cameron

Write. or call Gor~on Campbell, the Premier of British Co­lumbia, and le~ him know that it is time to end the trophy hunt of b~ars m the Great Bear Rainforest.

Email: premier@gov.bc.ca Phone: (250) 387-1715.

Concord Pacific gifts cast pall over City Hall

When I was in journalism school, my instructor began a lesson one day with the following statement: "Mu­nicipal politics is really about one thing--land."

As students, we were intrigued. But it was old news to anyone familiar with Vancouver politics. Due to a booming real estate markel this town is rife

with development money. And due to Vancouver's political party system. where party fundraising ma­chines receive donations from "interested" industries, developers routine ly drop big bags of cash on the steps of city hall.

Take Concord Pac ific, for instance, the real estate giant responsible for many developments around the city, including the colossal Concord Pacific Place on the old Expo '86 site. During the 2005 civic election campaign, Concord gave money to Vancouver's three main political parties: $48,250 to Vision Vancouver, $38,500 to the NPA and $9,250 to COPE. Concord, and its subsidiary Pacific Place Developments Corp .. later gave Vision an extra $31,000 to help pay off the party's debt.

We don't yet know how much Concord has spent on the current civic election campaign, which ends on election day Nov. 15, but--as revealed by the Courier earlier this month--Concord president Terry Hui has lavished city councillors from all parties with gifts such as Canucks and concert tickets and invitations to swanky yacht parties.

The optics arc unseemly. Hui relics on development, building and zoning per­

mits from ci ty hall to do busi ness. He wines and dines city councillors. A five-year-old could understand this relationship.

Only Hui--a publ icity-shy figure who shuns the me­dia--knows why he gives and gives and gives. Coun­cil lors, on the other hand, must face the music. Why would they accept g ifts from a developer? Why would you risk tarnishing your reputation for a few freebies?

When pressed on the issue, many councillors pivot into a conversation about campaign finance reform-­an issue trumpeted by Vision mayoral candidate Gregor Robertson.

Vision Coun. Raymond Louie, Robertson's chief campaign adviser, enjoyed a three-course dinner and cruise on Hui's yacht this summer and received rwo free Cirque du Solei! tickets worth $440.

Louie says spending limits may help quell public suspicions. "I think that the perception of influence would be lessened greatly.''

Well, Raymond, I know another way to lessen the perception of influence: don't accept Cirque du Solei! rickets from developers. And limit your yacht cruising to non-developer-owned vessels. Councillors also use the "face time" defense. We need one-on-one meetings, they say, with the city's most prodigious developers. I couldn't agree more.

But wait. Don't taxpayers pay for office space at city hall--outfitted with receptionists, water coolers, com­puters--so councillors can meet with business people and other concerned citizens? Or do councillors re­quire the electric atmosphere of a Canucks/Fiames game to heighten their acumen?

Please. If I lui's willing to drop $96,000 during the 2005 civic election campaign, he won't mind making the two-mile trek to city hall from his office on West Pender. In September, I wrote about a proposed Concord de­

velopment at 58 West Hastings. The development, which wi ll receive a greenlight from c ity hall later this fall, includes 160 units of only market housing. The NPA vocally supported the development. which conveniently aligns with their phi losophy of more market housing in the Downtown Eastside. But Vi­s ion was strangely silent on the issue. Surely Vision councillors would at least complain about a lack of "neighbourhood consultation" or the NPA's callous disregard for homeless people. But no. Not a peep. Maybe Vision agrees with NPA philosophy. Or maybe, just maybe, discussions about 58 West

llastings took place on the deck of Terry I lu i's yacht, or in his box at a Canucks game. We can only specu­late because those details never show up on manda­tory gift disclosure forms. When my old journalism instructor warned about the influence of developers on our democracy, he also st ressed the need for campaign finance reform. But before counci l ponders legislation to restrict the rights of individuals to donate money, council should adopt a no-gift policy based on common sense and integrity. Until those virtues are practised at city hall. the future of Vancouver will continue to be shaped by major players like Terry I lui. While the rest of us watch from the cheap seats.

Mark Hasiuk, Vancouver Courier mhasiuk@vancourier.eom

BC Liberals Attack Seniors By Rolf Auer

Although this story didn't unfold in chronological order, that is how I am going to recount it. It began on October 8. 2009. in the BC Legislature when then­Minister of Health Kevin Falcon announced rate in­creases would pertain to some seniors li ving in resi­dential care facilities starting in January of2010.

Immediately. the online news association, www.the­tyee.ca, jumped on the story: "Health Minister Falcon hikes residential care rates," by Andrew MacLeod. ( I missed this story at that time. As far as I know, it was not in the mainstream press.) The seniors paying the most rent would sec their rate increase from £74.30/ day by $22.1 0/day to $96.40/day, nearly a 30 percent increase and a resultant rate being the highest in Can­ada. These higher rate increases would apply to the higher income 75 percent of seniors living in care facilities. The remaining lower income 25 percent would see their rates drop from $29.40/day by $1.50/day, a negligible decrease. Those paying the higher rates would be allowed to keep $275/month for expenses, while those on income assistance (and I assume this refers to the bottom 25 percent) would be allowed to keep $95/month. At least, that was the plan. It played out a little differently, as we will see. BC NDP llcalth critic Adrian Dix questioned Falcon about this (shall we say, mean-spirited) move, and got not much by way of response. T he real point here is that those whose rates are being dramatically raised have incomes that fall below Statistics Canada's defi­ni tion of the poverty line.

As is ortcn the case with Tyee articles, there were comments following the story. I thought I'd share some with you.

"frccbcar: I can't wait to share residential care fa­cilities with all of the old and retired MLAs! May actually have fist fights between some of the residents to look forward to!"

" DPL: Next thing due out will be a reminder to sen­iors that they have overstayed their welcome and can arrange for a nice ice floe to spend some time on. This government is cruel."

"off-the-radar: that is a huge increase for seniors and their spouses on fixed retirement incomes. And what happens to spouses that are relying on the

·h1Bphoto

spouse-in-care's retirement income?!! Are they being reduced to paupers?"

Fast forward to January 25,2010. An article ap­peared in The Vancouver Sun titled, ··BC Seniors face huge care-cost increase,"' by Jody Paterson. (I hadn 't seen the Tyee article or Falcon/Dix exchange yet.) The only thing that caught my attention was the huge fee increases. Not fair, I thought, but didn't act at that time. Shame.

February 5, 20 I 0. An article in The Province titled, "Rising rent hits BC seniors." by John Bermingham. In it, there is a report of one senior whose rent rose higher than his income. I was certain this wasn'tthe only case! And I was immediately incensed!

I threw the newspaper down, j um ped on my com­puter, and fired off an angry e-mail to my MLA, BC NDP member Jenny Kwan. I wrote, in part:

"That the BC Liberals should prey on our most vul­nerable citizens in this manner is beyond belief. I can only surmise that were it not for the 20 I 0 Olympics, this despicable means of raising government revenue by picking the pockets of frail, elderly, defenseless seniors would not be necessary. I have to ask myself, who is next in the BC Liberals ' target list? The dis­abled? The mentally ill? I mean, surely, if they' ll go after feeble seniors, why wouldn't they go after the latter groups also?"

I sent copies of the letter to BC NDP Leader Carole James, Deputy Health critic Sue Hammell, BC Lib­eral Health Minister George Abbott, and BC Premier Gordon Campbell.

Within a week, Jenny responded to my letter. She

agreed that the BC Liberals ' changes were anything but "fair and equitable." She pointed out that the revenue grab would leave many seniors unable to pay

VANCOUVER 2010 (An Elizabethan sonnet in iambic pentameter)

for many of the personal items as they had done be- The dream of Gold on l lastings di' d today fore. As for the Olympics being a factor, she wrote When Silver spoons in mouths of babes became she had made a request for an independent audit on The voice of apes tann' d Bronze along the way record. and the answer to this would reveal the truth. With Coke igniting cash on Pepsi's flame.

Jenny's e-mail provided the Falcon/Dix Hansard Inside a room beneath a Maple Leaf exchange link, and, following up on that, I came A woman cries herself to sleep again-across the Tyee story. Olympic glory fades with Her belief

T he BC Liberals have been bringing down a lot of Of younger days in love devoid of pain. funding cuts . $10 million for the Ministry of Children 0 Zeus the Great please give my voice a wing and Family Development. $300 million for Special To soar above the street where I belong Education needs in Schools. Community Centres, Bestow'd with laurels hear my children sing Park Boards, Daycare Centres, Women's Centres, and A dance divine-the whisper'd people's song. Libraries took a huge hit. They're bringing in the The world is One and no malign event Poor Person's Tax. the liST later this year. Can stop a bolt of Him that's heaven sent.

Fight back! Jenny Kwan is the MLA of the Van- • - . . couver- Mount Pleasant, and, in particular, the .;;· ;t:.,:. '..:' ~; . Joseph Patrick Whelan

Downtown Eastside. Let her know your concerns! E- t 1, • ,_ ~ mail her, write to her, phone her: all of it strengthens ·~~'b, ... :r·-- ":;: ~ her positions! Like it says in The Newsletter: Jenny Kwan: Working for You. (Remember that in the next provincial election!)

Vancouver (A Lethal Fool's Paradise)

1986 - During Expo 86 a 9-year-old g irl was crushed to death at the Canadian Pavil ion theatrc.(A revolving table was shut down after the accident, but was put back in service with new safety measures)

1990 - At the Molson Indy Vancouver inaugural race a track worker was run over and killed in the pit stop area. (Stronger supervising measures put into place.) - Spectator killed by flying wheel

2010 - Nodar Kumaritashvilli' was flung off his luge, where he came to a deadly stop against an unpadded concrete pillar. Anyone who witnessed this could tell that Nodar felt no pain from his death, but some of us thought of his family and friends in Georgia who would soon be in an unbearable world of agony.

With proper training and anticipatory inspection by qualified officials. these deaths would not have oc­curred. But blind ambition forced the onslaught of neglect of our leaders so we could qualify fo r "World Class" status.

Garry Gust

Special thanks to all the people I've met from differ­ent nations. It was great meeting a young man from Germany. lie was well-mannered. I met people from Victoria BC. They were nice ladies to exchange photos of each of us with, being proud to be a Canadian. So, people from all countries, thank you fo r your gen· erous kindness. I hope all have a safe and secure trip going back to your homeland. Salute and good-bye!

All my relations, Bonnie E Stevens ..

Hi to all of you dedicated anti poverty /olympic ac­tivist.. people. Thankyou for the hard work and dedi­cation, I am so proud of you all. I have medical prob lems but I do my best; I don't get to planning meet­ings but I come to marches and demonstrations in quiet support .... it is ok to be just a body ...

So much good organizing going on .... For 35 years I have been a peaceful activist but I don't see the politi· cal will changing much ... .just maybe this time ...

Can't give up the fight hugs and thankyou

sheila baxter

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) Newsletter

Find us in the Carnegie Association office (604-839-0379) Mar 1, 20 10

Poverty Olympics big hit locally and internationally

Thanks to the nearly 1 00 volunteers of the 2010 Poverty Olympics. What a success! Volunteers pushed (and kayaked)the torch from Langley to Vancouver's Poverty Olympics opening ceremonies, made placards, practiced and performed in skits, wrote scripts, made props, made buttons, wrote fact sheets about poverty, shopped for costumes, made sandwiches and a fantastic cockroach cake and so much more. Special thanks Old Hands and Robert Bonner for opening up the games, to Trish Garner and Rider Cooey from Raise the Rates who organized the Province wide torch relay. Also thanks to Bernie Williams and Gladys Radek and others who

drummed the Poverty Olympics torch over the Lion' s Gate Bridge and to V ANDU who lit our torch at the

Japanese Hall.

~ ~1 Photo of l ~ 1

Muriel (in • character)

featured in Globe and Mail article

1 called: "The grinch steals the games."

And a special thank you to the groups and individuals that performed: Streams of Justice, CCAP Action group, Four Sisters kids and the Power of Women group, plus Hendrik Buene and Muriel Williams, Gena Thompson, Precillia Tait and Bob Sarti, our wonderful mascots and MC's. None of this could have happened without the behind the scenes work of Jean

( Co"h "'ue o\ o "' P~e.. ~}

( Cot\.ht\tw:l ho-wt P0-3'- I) Swanson, Rose Keurdian and Donald McDonald, our fearless stage managers. It was truly a community effort.

Not only was the Poverty Olympics fun, there was a big benefit. Our point of view was heard across Canada. The international media covered our issues too.

The German coverage was exceptional - right on message about the shocking problem of poverty in a rich country like Canada.

For about 2 weeks leading up to the Poverty Olympics, we met with reporters from around the world: Sweden, England, Finland, Germany,

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France, Japan to name a few. My Aunt who just lives up the street here, turned on the BBC one day and saw us there. My one friend who lives out of Canada, in France, said she heard our message there a few times.

In Canada, friends in Toronto, Ottawa called to say the message was coming out loud and clear. A young woman in Gatineau Quebec found CCAP' s phone number and then started a petition at her college to stop the Assistance to shelter act and to get a National Housing Program. So we had some of the world abuzz for a while. Way to go Poverty Olympics!! - wp

Councillor Woodsworth spoke out for DTES at city hall meeting

Last month I wrote about the City Council decision to allow more tall buildings and condos in the

Downtown Eastside. I should have said in the article that, while the majority vote was in favour of allowing more height and taller buildings, Ellen Woodsworth of COPE, consistently voted against increased height in the DTES and spoke out strongly against it. She also moved the motion, which did

pass, calling for a meeting of the city, community groups, and SFU about displacement of low-income residents by the new Simon Fraser University Art School at Woodwards. And she made several amendments supporting CCAP positions, calling for an impact study to be done before height recommendations are approved, for a committee of low income DTES residents in proportion to their population on a local planning steering committee, and for a definition ofaffordability proposed by CCAP. Unfortunately, the other counci lors voted against these amendments. --Jean Swanson

Bob Rennie, DTES condo king, connects Olympics and real estate

While most people think the Olympics is about athletes from around the world competing with each other, I'm discovering that fo lks in the real estate business consider the Olympics to be a $6 billion marketing campaign designed to sell Vancouver homes and condos to rich foreigners.

( Ol'l.hl'\~.~.e,l ln\ P~~ ~

.Conhl'\u.d. f-yom. ~0-.9e. 3 According to Bob

Rennie, Vancouver's Condo King, who sold out the condos at Woodwards, " ... Vancouver has

become a resort city where rich foreigners Jive a few months per year ... It's a trend, whether you like it or not, the Olympics is likely to accelerate."

·'With BC and othe!' broadcasters set to beam images of Vancouver around the world, the city will be promoted as never before," Rennie explained in a Vancouver Sun article. In an earlier, January, article in Xinhua, Rennie speculated that people who see the Olympics on TV will go from saying, "I want to spend two to five months in Vancouver' to 'I want to send my children to school here."'

And way back in 2002 Frank O' Brien wrote in the Western Investor, June 2002, "The real purpose of th.e 2010 Olympic bid is to seduce the provincial and federal governments and long suffering taxpayers into footing a billion dollar bill to pave the path for future real estate sales."

In the same article O'Brien quotes Jack Poole, real estate developer and the

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late chair o.f the 2010 Bid Corporation, "If the Olympic bid wasn't happening we would have to invent something."

O'Brien went on to say, " It is hard to imagine any fantasy that fits better than the Olympic bid if you are into real estate development."

Just as the

According to Bob Rennie, "everything will be alright." This slogan is lit up in lights at tlte back of his private art gallery in Chinatown

Olympics were starting, the

Vancouver Sun and Province published 17 days, the best guide to the games as an insert in its daily paper. One section of the booklet inc! uded "17 reasons to live in Vancouver or buy real estate here." Almost a11 of the 17 reasons were designed to appeal to rich foreigners: Vancouver is the "bridge between Asia and the rest of North America", Vancouver has direct flights to 110 cities, Vancouver is a top livable city, Vancouver has stable property values; it has skiing, sport fishing, sailing, and golf. And, get this, Vancouver has "constrained land supply." This means there is " limited

C CJV\. t"W1.ued... ern ~e. S

( on nV\.u.etl bm. p£l9e.. if space for new development" and, I assume, property prices can go nowhere but up.

Another Olympic insert in the Vancouver Sun was a special "20 10 commemorative edition of Westcoast Homes and Design." It included an article advising foreigners to buy real estate in Vancouver, saying "you get to keep most of the profit." One section of the article pointed out that all an investor had to do was fill out a form saying "I expect $2000 a month, my expenses are $1900 a month. My net rental income is expected to be only $100. Then you only need to pay $25

per month to the .. . taxman."

Faux Condo King angers some residents when he shows

up to pus It for a condo tower at Hastings and Carra/1.

Many of the things the government spent money on for the Olympics will also help increase the value of property or add amenities that rich property owners might like. The nearly billion dollar Sea to Sky Highway upgrade, ostensibly for the Olympics will also

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make land between Vancouver and Pemberton more attractive for development because getting to and from Vancouver will be faster.

The $2 billion transit line to the Airport will be handy for business people and part time residents who commute to other countries. The almost $1 billion Trade and Convention Centre will also serve this crowd.

I wish this was all just real estate hype, but fear that it's not. I don't recall having an election where we voted to make Vancouver into an "urban resort." I can' t remember ever voting for the type of city where even policemen, firemen and nurses can' t afford to buy homes, as Rennie admits. And, in a time of global warming, it's not really a great idea to be promoting international commuting on carbon spewing airplanes.

What does this have to do with the Downtown Eastside? As the value of property increases, more low income people will be pushed out. ... unless we can get more social housing built.

The Olympics were bad for low income people because the money spent on the games could have ended homelessness and reduced poverty a lot.

They were bad because we' re already paying for them with cuts to crucial services. But who of us non realtors knew that the one of the biggest impacts would be pushing up land prices and pushing tenants out of their own communities? - JS

Olympic tent village takes up space on prime DTES condo property

Have you seen the tent village? It's hard to miss. It's right across from Save On Meats on Hastings. I counted 150 tents last time I was there. It's has a life of its own separate from any DTES

group but has a strong presence made up of Streams of Justice, Power of Women and Vancouver Action members.

It' s located in a great spot- 58 West Hastings, the site that Concord Pacific, the biggest real estate company in Canada, has purchased to build 150 deluxe condos to sell at about $400,000 each. No building has happened yet.

6

Maybe its not too late to get this site for 100% social housing.

How does it relate to Pivot's Red Tent Campaign? This tent village was organized before the "red tents" were

made public. While the " red tents" are meant to draw attention to the need for a National Housing Program, the Olympic tent village has three demands: End Homelessness, Stop Gentrification and Stop the Criminalization of Poverty. Although the campaigns are different, there are areas of overlap where both efforts can support each

(IJYI.hV\Uecl OV\ V"'je. 1

Can we organize for power? You may know this already, but there

is a Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council (DNC) forming that hopes to reach out to all residents and honorary community members who want to work together to make changes in our area. This is not going to be a coalition of agencies, but rather a council of residents. 140 people are signed up so far. We accomplished our first step which was to decide on a statement of unity and a structure.

Our next step is to elect an interim steering committee that will help us get going with a way to get lots ofDTES residents involved, help us form into a society and a board so that we have a way to operate and be transparently accountable. This is the structure we agreed to start off with:

The Steering Committee consists of 19 possible seats, including:

-Thirteen seats based on housing-type 5 SRO seats 5 Social housing seats

8

2 market housing seats l SNRF seat

-One homeless seat (with 3 occupants to ensure participation) -Plus: Five at-large seats open to

nomination from the general membership without consideration of housing-type, also intended to balance the SC with consideration for other composition concerns (race, gender, age, sexuality, etc).

The Carnegie Association helped kick start this bec-ause we're hoping this council will reach out to lots of residents, discover the common ground and then exercise our collective muscle to get what we want. I wonder what issues will unite everyone? Come and find out. Look on the cork board on the 2nd floo r at Carnegie for the next meeting date.

Vancity Support for this project does not necessarily imply Vancity's endorsement of the fmdings or contents of this report."

One of 12,000 to Carry Her High! So there I was on the torch bearers' bus at 5:30pm

on Feb.9th in Richmond. Dressed in my white torch­bearer uniform and my lucky yellow Hollywood United Football jersey with torch in hand, I found myself surrounded by three fonner Olympians.

One former Olympian was Shirley Olafsson. She had been a high-jumper in the 1948 Olympics in Lon­don England. She told us how she had to travel for 22 days to London on the Queen Mary.

I felt honored j ust to be in her presence. I had to keep asking myself, "How did I get to be here?'' I had to assume it was due to my numerous charity projects and my devotion to volunteering.

As 20 of us entered our bus to be prepared to go to our designated starting poi I know I was a little

nervous. However that all ended rather quickly as our chaperone on the bus named Shannon prepared us all for the time of our lives.

Before our bus pulled out of the parking lot, Shan­non had us all singing and dancing in our seats. Even our bus driver, Andrew joined in the fun.

We first watched a short inspirational video on the history of the Olympic flame and then we listened to stories from the other torch bearers on what it means to be carrying the name .. Everyone on the bus was pumped and fu ll of energy as each of us was dropped off one by one to our starting po ints.

As the bus turned north on #2 Road, it was finally my time to prepare to carry the torch. I exited the bus

to enter the sea of people who had come out to see the torch. Many family members and friends were waving signs of "Go Jackie Go" and the sounds of shaking tambourines could be heard nearby.

Flashes from cameras were non-stop for at least five­minutes. Shouts of "look thi s way" and more camera flashes snapped in my direction. I thought th is must be what Hollywood stars feel like on a regular basis. It was at times a little overwhelming. but I must say I did enjoy the attention.

Soon I saw the light of the approaching torch runner with his torch preparing to pass the flame to me. I thought about the fact that I was now going to be one of only 12,000 people in a population of just over 32 million to carry the torch. Overwhelming pride and emotions ran through my body as my torch was ig­nited. I quickly turned to my family, gave a quick wave then I just fel t my feet begin to run. As I was running my 300 metres poetic words flowed through me. I am no Bukowski, but I like to piece together rhythmic lines occasionally. The lines went together as I ran with the name.

I saw it coming It was the flame

the to rch , its pride Soon I felt the excitement Then Swoosh . .. my flame

lit up the sky I felt the heat And my feet went to fly

I saw my family and friends faces in the crowd It ' s my moment, one of 12,000 to hold her high

And r feel so proud It's really my moment to shine in the night I know this truly must be a patriotic s ight

l ran 300 metres bursting with pride but the entire time

it felt like one stride to commemora te this day I pledge to plant a tree!

The entire experience was emotionally breathless and a time I will never forget. I know I am changed by it. To be a part of history is an amazing accomplishment.

The to rch I purchased. I will cherish for many many years before I pass it on to the youngest member of

my family. By JACKIE HUMBER

Vancil)' is on Lock

Vancity is on lockdown Police, RCMP, Olympic "Security'', Canadian Forces Six week, six month community courses Trained by "Wounded Knee goon squads." A uniform makes you your own earth god A woot woot here and a woot woot there every corner every street.. stop your car I dare

"VanCity & Whistler and you & you too guilty of hosting the Games! The whole two cities a security check point I want your rights and your names!" ·'Cayn't turn heeya. You cayn't go theya."' Going all the way around .. airflights run aground so a woot woot here and a wool woot there all day all night.. it just ain't fai r!

First they said no bridge closures Security cameras taking pretty pictures

!Iuman rights rallies even has its own bubble "No freedom of speech" rules keep one out of trouble While no loudspeakers, just loud speakers! 1 pray for those in the core of the rubble.

Vancity VANOC amps up roadblocks? But if Indigenous do. expect a door knock? It is VA NOC's might and government right In the middle of the night you have no rights

Diplomats, sponsors, politicians, justice officers 'get a rose' for violations over our young men and women 's rights In the middle of the night. you have no rights

All the while Campbell discreetly rants & raves Coordinating with corporales from his Wizard ofOz cave .. " Let them know .. I'm available only for photo ops." "Oh and bring one or two of those unifo rmed cops"

& we little people? Must we hire our own guard Protecting ourselves from the c ities finest.. Is that how we must play our card?

' Wait! Miss, what's that pretty poster you have there? so a woot wool.. oh whatever..

Salish Seas

Reflection of Zelda

Upside down morn ing this those who use phrases like " Do your own time'· always the first to be bumming smokes they're snotty when it suits them

but they come grovell ing when they need something odd and lovely my gi rl with the skirt sensit ive, she is a surprise she's shy and girlish bashful.. you wouldn 't believe for a minute she's just an old whore- never no she's not, you don't see the girl inside, someone's little princess

February 16'h, 2010 Dear Editor.

A I

Every time I see people ce lebrating the Olympics, I want to weep. I feel such a terrible depression about where this planet is headed. I low can so many human beings find such joy in an event that has devoured billions of dollars that could have otherwise provided aid and shelter to the poor in this city?

There are those previously opposed to the Olympics who are of the opinion that we might as well enjoy the whole thi ng because it's here now anyway. I sim­ply cannot conceive how this is possible, for what kind of g lory is achieved at the expense of another? That is not patriotism. It is s hallow-ism. That's like protesting against bullfighting and then showing up to cheer on the matador!

If we could have hosted the games and at the same time lifted our downtrodden from the depths of their poverty and despair, then I would be dancing in the streets with the rest of you, instead of hanging my head in shame. The evolution of a society is measured by how well it treats the least among its members, and it is a heart-wrenching statement of where we are on the evolutionary scale when the speed of a skier down a hill generates a larger public reaction than does hu­man suffering.

Maureen Kerr

L Volunteer C ommittee Meeting Wednesday, March 10@ lpm Classroom II

Volunteer of the Month is chosen by those at the meeting (not by staff) ALL VOLUNTEERS WEL­COME! Your voice is needed and appreciated. 2. VOLUNTEER BANQUET STYLE DINNER ­Theatre, Wednesday, March 17th @ 4:30 Sharp! Your contri bution and hard work is appreciated by the many people who bene fit by your services. Let us serve you! Skill testing questions for mystery prizes. Get your ticket from the Volunteer Program Office. 3. Monday, March 22, 2010 BURRITO DINNER-2ND Floor Concession Please pick up your ticket from the Volunteer Program Office

Volunteers of the Month of Februarv Jim Bodnariuk, Kitchen Dishwasher

Willie Dixon. Pool Room Monitor

Quote for the day: "The mystery of evi l is too deep to be illuminated by the light of reason:'

A wee note wishing happy birthday to Jean Swan son (in March) and our thanks for all you are and

what you do in the struggle for social justice.

~ TEEPEE ARTIST CALL

"" ;--- Carnegie Community Centre and Oppenheimer P1 Of corpses and dandy lio have obtained a brand new 18' teepee. We are seeki E

1 d . h . individuals who may be interested in painting their

ac 1 ; n upk 111d ~ e grass design on the teepee in time fo r National Aborigina Long .or to e .or D .

11. d

1 1 ay on June 21,20 10. K1 mg see s at ast s b · k 1 f F' N · d · (W

h I u mil a s etc 1 o your · 1rst allons es1gn es

Buthw Yare we ~01 . os1t. coast or Prairie designs welcome) & your name and

Is t ere no preva1 111 ustory h . 1

h d contact p one number where you can be reached Man IS ~ w;ys e.nc ante. A commit1ee from Oppenheimer Park and Carnegt To try l lc J rst.tm~e ~ga~l will select four designs. one for each direction ofthl Y~t~s~ehtl~em 111

: e ~r .c~rners tipi , please state if your design is for the front. back Wtt t eJr spar s an stJc s left or right s ide of the tipi on your sketch (four dire But s.ugar r~ns 0.u~ tions). Artists will be notified if the ir design is se-Nothmg le 1 to he . lected. Winning art ists wi ll then be paid a stipend to Jusy say no campaign paint their art onto the tepee W?n ' t ~o an:body any good T his sketch call out is ope~ to any individual who Bnng them home Y~dung. interested in submitting a sketch for our new Teepee Bnng t em ome 0

1 h The open call is from March I through to March 31!

A I ways remember never et t em go · 1 · · · · * d . d 1

w111 pamtmg expected to begm 111 early May (weatt For Jesus never en1e a sou permitting). forgiveness or to become whole. Selection committee Teepee Art,

M ichelle Lazal Carnegie Aborig inal Programming

[ •;Mohammed!Buddha/Raml ... ] 401 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V6A2T7

A ttention Marlene George &/or Sandy McKeigan

Little Ado about Much

It 's a barn .. it's a barracks .. it's a checkpoint, a guardhouse .. it's the new (improved?) Oppenheimer Park clubhouse. It may appear more welcoming close up, and when all of those fences are gone. Perhaps flowers may be planted to soften the severity of the fayade. Certainly Spring will come once again and life will return to the construction site. Already the gulls are venturing back and cherry trees are gearing up to blossom. Yet despite assurances by Park staff that the end result would justify the inconvenience of the park's closure early last summer to ensure it'd be open by the time of the Olympics, it doesn't. After a "grand opening" when people were herded through the fences for some speeches I some free food, the park is in fact still closed and guarded. Over 1/3 of the park is now concrete. The oval of

grass planted in the Fall has come up mangy while large areas around the perimeter either had not been planted or never sprouted. These areas were, a few days before the fake opening, quickly covered by mats of lush g rass unrolled on the sides of the oval. Was this originally grass from Oppenheimer? It seems to be settling much better than the planted stuff, which is muddy and sparse. It's a funher piece of evidence that the whole process of renovation was not really planned for the benefit of the neighborhood but rather a blatant move to make cenain the park remain inaccessible to any protest efforts leading up to and during the Olympics.

All that will be old news by the time this issue of the Camegie Newsletter hits the street. What a relief that will be, but it is by no means the end of conten­tion from our neighbourhood. Underlying the obvious glaring issues are the ethical ones. Has that become a

taboo word? And when does compromise become collaboration? It seems pretty clear to me that if any­one's not honest about process, they'll not favour truth in other areas; it isn't wise then to give them loyalty or trust.

Who is this park for anyways? A park should be for everyone. Over the decade plus that I've lived across the street, I've witnessed Oppenheimer pass through some shifts. A few years there were evening baseball games and Tai Chi in the mornings. and the totem pole was carved and raised. Then it seemed as if the rice-wine drinkers began to predominate, especially at night. When a concerted effort finally dealt with the situation, the park became a safe place for people to sleep when they had nowhere else to go. At one point, people were able to cobble together makeshift shelters that might remain for weeks. Generally this was a peaceful period for the park,

which was just big enough to accommodate various interest groups. Community activities included regu­lar barbeques & entertainments. monthly health fairs in the fine weather, the Powell Street Festival and the lights on the trees at Christmas. Some years were more peaceful than others, depend­

ing on whether the police were in round-up mode. I have witnessed police cars tearing up the field to harass folk who were 'loitering' at dusk, causing far more disturbance & noise than those who just needed a spot to rest for the night. The splendid & well-orga­nised tent ci ty of2006 ended brutally, and the oppor­tunity of working from there to solve some of the most pressing issues dissolved with it.

I was disappointed that park staff, who had seemed supportive, did not or could not intervene. For the most part, during the day, park staff were there to provide some suppon and diversion, and over the years they have helped many people through their commitment to mediation and harm reduction; their g reat soups & bannock; camping trips & outreach.

llowever, as programs expand the outlook seems to narrow. It 's for "all of us" but I don't find myself included. Programming seems to be earmarked for the homeless & disabled. It's disconcerting: I certain­ly include this population as part of 'my' community yet don't find myself included in 'theirs' at all.

One more question - Can community include us all?

By Delanye Azriel

MY PERFECT DAY It is February 19 2020 and the sun is shining through

my front window onto the face of my beautiful niece, who is now ten years old. My entire family is sitting in my living room waiting for my husband to come home with my new born baby girl, Asia-Lee.

My dad and 1 are both sober and have a very close relationship. He and my mom are very proud of where my life has taken me. I could n't ask for anything more I have been off work due to the birth of my daughter.

When she is old enough 1 will return to working with people in need. 1 also own an animal rescue business. It's a lot of work but I know it 's what makes me hap­py. My husband continues to work on new projects. The city has just accepted his latest design for the new hospital. As I see my husband pull into the drive way, I make

my way into the kitchen to help my grandmother to the door so she can be the first to see her new great granddaughter. I look as I see my grandma's eyes fill with tears of joy as she goes to pick Asia-Lee up ..

My entire fam ily gathers around the two of them as my grandma sits down in the living room. I look around and sec my family staring back at me instead of my baby girl. Their eyes are filled with joy, love, and care. At that moment I feel as though I have ful­fi lled my life and that is where I am meant to be. 1 wouldn't have it any other way. My family means the world to me.

One day 1 hope to accomplish this. Danielle

Dear Readers,

This is a sequel to my article printed Jan. 15. Thi~ about the death of my baby sister Starla . Her eyes were violet and she had beautiful long blonde hair. Starla passed away Dec. 12 at Calgary's Rocky

View Hospital. What a terrible shock I got when m aunt phoned me. The funeral was Dec. I 9 at Wood lawn Cemetery in Saskatoon. She had two daughters and one son, Linda, Dawn

Billy Joe, plus two granddaughters. I shall love her forever. Rest in peace my beautiful baby sister.

Many people are protesting the Olympic Games: 1 am one of them. What a laugh, transporting sno\1 from one mountain to the other. It's a waste of mor and the taxpayers have to pay for this. Do they thin about the homeless? I don't think so, I know so. This is for the Mayor of Vancouver: Tear down tt

Brandiz Hotel.. it's not fit for human habitation. There are rats, bedbugs and roaches in every room and the showers don' t work. I know; I lived there.

I moved out and sent the Health Inspector there. 1 next day I asked what happened. They said every­thing was OK!? Demolish it and bui ld a centre fort homeless. Vancouver will be proud of you.

My court case is on hold for two weeks, due to the Winter Games. I will keep you informed.

Marlene Wuttunee

Come up to the Carnegie Art Gallery through the month of March to view the Vancouver Pari Board's "Remarkable Women" posters in hon· our of International Women's Day on March 8th.

The women selected for this year's posters are athletes from the 1920's to the present day, from

diverse backgrounds and abilities and representing different sports and levels of achievement.

DANCING YOUR EDGE March 6'h and 20'1', 3 - Spm in Carnegie's Gym

Mar. 6 will be auditions for upcoming performances (Sec dancingvouredge. wordpress.com)

1

I Iuman unity is purely an ideological unity, which means unity in the psychic sphere. Where there is psy­chic unity. physical unity will also occur. In the realm of unity. unity is always psychic - ideological unity means unity in the subtlest level of the mind. How­ever, psychic or ideological unity may be affected if we encourage the exploitation of one group by an­other. So to avoid this there should not be any scope for exploitation [groupism] in society Now to materialize any principle or ideology, one

requires firmness, especially those who provide lead­ership to society, those who are the pioneers, the van­guard of a new movement. "We must keep the goal fixed before us, and keep moving towards the goal. We shall never deviate from our goal, whatever the obstacles or hindrances in the way. Once we start moving. we shall never stop or look back." Pause means rhe gatheri ng of momentum for speed in

the subsequent phase. If one closely watches the effect of speed on a particular community or the entire hu­manity. one sees that generally people eulogize the period of speed. However we cannot afford to ignore the state of pause, because by judging what the previ­ous state of pause was like, we can discern the speed of the next phase

There are some people who are pessimistic. They say that the soc iety around us is very bleak, that it has no expression of vitality and that is seems that everyone is in deep slumber. Pessimists say this because they have never made any detailed study of human history, nor do they care to. Had they done so, they would cer­tainly be opt imistic, because if they had looked care­fully at the symptoms of pause. they would have real­ise that significant preparations were being made for the subsequent phase of speed. So under no circum­stances should human beings be pessimistic. That is why 1 am always an incorrigible optimist, because I know that optimism is life.

Shrii Shrii Anandamurti

Karen Jamieson Dance Workshops February 2 • March 30

Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-5:30 Starting February 2 in t he gym

Free! All are welcome!

Open to all levels of experience, studying the ba­sic elements of dance through rhythm and impro­visation. For those interested, we will also be working to­wards a performance in March, an outdoor circle dance moving down Carrall Street! Please see Rika Uto in the Carnegie Program office for

more information or call Karen Jamieson Dance at 604.687.6675m

t%5 ~~ ~ ~~~ ® ·~

Thursdays Writing Collective Begins Again

The Thursdays Writing Collective is back refreshed and rejuvenated and ready to begin our 12 week spring course. We start on Thursday, March 18, 2-4pm on the third floor of the Carnegie Centre. Join us every Thursday from March 18 until June 3 for writing prompts, discussions and readings led by Elee Kralj ii Gardiner. This spring we are planning in-class vis.its with poet Fiona Lam and novelist/ short story wnter Cathleen With. Everyone is welcome to drop in and write w ith us.

«ll Maia Stn:et, V6A 2T7

TliiS NEWsl..ErnR IS A PUBl.JCATION OF THE CARNEGIE COIINUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIAllOH

Mides Rplil$lnl the views ol iDdividual Contributors aad not of Ule Association.

WANTED Artwork for the ~megie Newsletter

Small illustrations to accompany artides !lid poe1ry Cover at -Ma;Umum size: 17an(6 Y.") wide x 15cm (6") high Subject m'!_lteJ relevant to issues pertaining to the Downtown Eastside, but all ~considered Black & White printing only Size resbidions wit apPy [I.e. if your piece is loa large, it will be reduced and/or aopped lo fit; AI artisls wiD receive aedit for Dleir worlt; Originals wit be returned to the atist alter beino ropti!OibrpuOti:aliln; .

• Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer tickets.

H£Y,BRUTHA

hey bra it's meyer ol' pal you know Ronnie from down the hall the one who's always askin' never payin' back but who counts eh bro?

lissen l spent all my cheque on blow now I need yer's too and if you got any smokes. porridge, cream and sugar I'll take those two you don't mind hell you never do, that's why we· eze such tight bras, ' member it all comes back atcha right bra? lissen don' t sweat it you know weeze brutha, right?

/\I

"Never doubt that. a small group of tho ughtful rommitted citizens can change the world . Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Meade

Next Issue is Monday, March 15th

~~.nbnLt. Thursday, March 11

W~ ack;;~~led·g~ tha;Camegie C~~~~~i~ · c-;~tn,: ~d· .. :. this ~ewslett~r '-" ar~ OCC\Jnin~ on Coast Salish T enitory

., . . .. ... ' .. .. . . .. . . . :.: . :.: .•:: ,

Editor: Pau!R Taylor, Layout assistaoo-t.isa David Collation & distribution crew: Bill, Liu Lin, Harold, Mary Aon, Miriam, Kelly; Videha, Rolf, Jackie, Ida, '.isa, Robyn, Nick.

2010 DONATIONS: Libby D.-$50 Margaret D-$40 Sarah E.-$46 Rolf A.-$50 Barbara & Mel L.-$50 Sheila B.-$25 Laurie R.-$60 Jenny K.-$25

SHIATSU MASSAGE (Starting January 2:zU)

Fridays, 1-4pm, Carnegie Centre Gym

First come - first serve. Please sign up with the Therapists

§§Lifeline§§§

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA Woritin g for Y ou

1070- 1641 Commercial Dr , VSL 3Y3 Phone:604-773-0790

L~

f~" c.~,~~~;;;~~~~~~''' ~ ·247MainStrcet - 3 15·71'll

"'4'~~·•' of th• P.,.,·~ I ~ \" .~.~ ~ ~ ::.; ~-

;.. creepy /" ..... .,. J .. .~·

EXIST on MAIN STREET ··"<'i,r.+.t~-

A penny for your self-esteem the head fell off mine, a selfishist brings new death strolling down our town .. jusy try to exist on Main Street another point- blank pointless point of view but it' s all mine; we've people doing a sixth of their timeless sentence which after a few (to be exact 22) months on an eleven-year repen­tance, who're the defenders have they lost their abun­dance? Now before this gets redundant I believe sex­ual assault was the crime my my & now the stubborn sky appears but please not that DAY CANCELLED look. like growing concern in a planter's box we'll die before it hits the sky!? And Scaffolds & Gardens we arc about to declare us the crust of the pie, yeah, this is the City that launched a thousand fists just try to exist on Main Street- you heard me Exist don't resist people get pissed how many friends can one lose, I'm too old to pick & choose now why does everyone scream & holler like brand new life being fitted with a GAP collar. calm yourself down before every red but­ton on this planet gets pushed down every country every town now guzzle up the least I can do is buy the next round like fortunate mistakes one second you're yelling the next you're telling your best friend' s par­ents you're ok but their son is dead nope, not disease; Disorder. Disrespect. Is this the new order? Dismem­ber. Disclosure. Dislocation to obtain said Dis-order in the court Discression's so Disheartening arc you on their list? Dispicable class is a state of mind yet this class act will never be dismissed. In between tomor­row word comes down classless act Dismissed! Like abandoned experiments words off in the distance ringing in those ears could it be Existence itself we all fear .. once3 you're dead I'm sure it becomes very clear now just reminiscing out by the tides the begin­ning with shaken & stirred hands invisibly tied all wrapped up & good-byed sign this with selfish pride while non-blinking eyes are now & forever looking to hide. Life .. . what a ride.

By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY Q:"We're in a giant can heading toward a brick wall &

everyone's arguing over where they're going to sit." -David Suzuki

DECADENCE PERSONIFIED 01) mpian hopes, are they really what they seem? Are they maybe nothing more chicanery and moneyed schemes to reach and touch the stars .. it doesn't hap­pen for far too many. Yes true. many sadly just crash & burn in shards of their shattered dreams, some touch our hearts, we feel their pain, hurts us hard too to see they wil l not attain their cherished and yet desolate goals; and many are regarded as cannon fod­der by the most sinister and secretive IOC only to be replaced by a multitude of others who anxiously stand in a seamless and unending stellar line. No, never diminishing, pleading to be pushing their limits of extreme human endurance, although they take sacred and spiritual phony oaths about a foreboding and pre­fabricated human credo; something about right and wrong, and of those who cheat, and of those who want to keep it clean, to compete on a so-called even field. Like so what's the deal of all this daredevi lish der­ring-do when all of these peculiar/bizarre things are said and done. Like how many carefree, self-professed rabid fanatics of the self-indulgent, humongous and decadently ex­pensive, wintry, insane, scary, mindnumbing cirtcus: it certainly appears to be an expressive extravagant shenanigan without a logical end or even a certain definitive purpose. hmmmmmmmmm Although I really think that I know where to find the bottomless pit and the end of the line - I just follow the money and find that it' s really about those useless and uncontrollable and fiendish I.O.C. fat cats, and so as I write this expose there are a mere three days to go to be gone from here, from these parts, forever. Never to return, this obnoxious Olympiad, nothing to ever remotely compare to this almost snowless washout this extreme extravaganza of endeavours. '

ROBYN LIVINGSTONE

Sunrise

The phoenix that rises out of the ashes of darkness to give the world li fe is a symbol, a mirror, of smaller occurrences, smaller victories in li fe.

Sunrise is like meeting someone after a long night of lone liness stretching over years, someone special, someone like the last person, years ago, who melted the ice of the world j ust by being present in one's li fe.

Steve Croft US Army, Afghanistan

There's people dying on our streets and you call it an obstruction Tearing down the buildings when what we need is reconstruction To build a community you need a solid Foundation We're not standing here asking, It's a father fucking dictation You ignore all the problems and take off on Vacation When people are forced to the street from 2010 gentri fi cation Community and support is lost to displacement And we're the only one's without housing throughout all the G8 nations And your solution to end it all is called Project Civil City It's not the people in the streets it" s only you it's benefiting I hear news from different sources about our inner-city Streams of justice, homeless nation and the Anti Poverty Committee Not to mention all the people that your project's already hitting And in preparation for what games -a 2010 circus event Filling our streets with racial profiling and unwanted law enforcement MacDonald's. Petro Canada and Coca-cola endorsement Find me one homeless person who you know 11 ill support it We're at the Tent Village shouting '·Homes for All' You got blood on your hands it's all through the '·ledge" and city hall Wish I could bring out the lies with just a spray of luminal Will end this endless cycle once and for all

fTaken from the Tent Village Voice. #I Vol I 20/2/10] A POEM by LAUREN GILL