Former Beach MP pushes for new province By Anna Killen
Volume 45 No. 9
June 28, 2016
A FORMER Beach MP wants Vancouver Island to become its own province. Robin Richardson, who represented the Beaches riding as a Progressive Conservative from 1979-1980, the first year for the newly-created riding, has founded the Vancouver Island Party, calling for the establishment of Vancouver Island as Canada’s newest province. The party is seeking candidates to run in the May 2017 provincial election in BC and said its mission is to “benefit more fully Vancouver Island as a region of British Columbia economically, socially, environmen-
tally and culturally, and … to establish Vancouver Island as a province of Canada as soon as possible.” Its platform calls for lower or free tuition, preferential hiring for Vancouver Island students, and improved health care. “Our beloved Island’s distinct way of life is under threat from severe climate change, federal and provincial government indifference and economic, social and environmental injustices,” Richardson said in a news release. Richardson, an economist and pastor who has been involved in conservative political campaigns throughout his political career, said the party is “centrist in nature.”
PHOTO: VICTOR BIRO
Made in the shade at East Lynn Park ping pong tournament Sarah Rogers reaches for the ball during the Danforth East Community Association’s Table Tennis for Tuition. The tournament, alternately billed as ‘Ping Pong with a Purpose’, spanned several days at outdoor tables in parks across the East Danforth area to raise money for an annual $2,000 scholarship.
‘Now is the time to be brave’: man stands up to hate crime By Anna Killen
HANG OUT with East Ender Dean Will on his front steps for 20 minutes and it’s notable how many of the people who pass by stop for a quick chat. Neighbours walking their dogs, escorting their kids home from school – Will has a connection with the lot of them. It doesn’t take long for someone to mention what’s been on Will’s mind all week. “I’m sorry about what happened to your flags,” said one neighbour as she approached her steps. “What a bunch of jerks, eh?” For more than three years, two pride flags have decorated Will’s front entrance – a large one underneath the second storey window and another flying from his front railing – but just over a week ago, someone began tearing them down. Not only were his flags torn down on two separate occasions – first on Thursday night, then again on Saturday night – but the word “fag” was written in chalk on his front door, and on Monday morning someone yelled that same de-
rogatory word at him through his open front door before running off with the replacement flag he’d purchased the day before. “10:15 in the morning,” said Will, who has been diligently replacing the flags as they’ve been taken down, not one to cower to bullies. “Broad daylight. I’ve had pride flags all of the years I’ve lived here and I’ve never had a problem. And then this starts happening … It’s mindless. It’s a violation of my space.” For Will, a gay man living with AIDS who has lost most of his eyesight, the experience of being harassed and having his home targeted has been jarring to say the least. “I’m being targeted and I don’t like it,” he said. “I have enough problems with my health and with my eyesight, I’m really not looking for any more problems here.” He’s reported the incidents to the police and to his community housing board, and says the response from officials has been supportive and swift, with an investigation launched and extra patrols of the neighbourhood. He’s also requested a security camera for his front door.
Just as supportive and swift has been the response from the broader community. Will’s friend Sandra posted a note about Will’s experience on Facebook on Monday afternoon, and within what felt like minutes dozens of people were writing notes of encouragement and expressing outrage. Those posts quickly turned into action, with a plan hatched to purchase a batch of pride flags for people to fly from their homes and a mini-rally held last week in Will’s honour. “It’s actually very worrying that he would be targeted and harassed in that way, especially coming so soon after the Orlando massacre,” said Michael Rusek, a member of the Danforth and Woodbine Pride Group who helped to organize the June 23. The group has purchased a large flag to replace Will’s damaged one. Rusek said he moved to the Danforth and Woodbine neighbourhood with his partner Eric three years ago, and has had “nothing but good things to say about how welcoming and just plain nice everyone has
PHOTO: ANNA KILLEN
Dean Will outside of his home June 21. He’s attached thorny rose branches to his Pride flag to detract people from stealing it.
been. If you walk anywhere in the neighbourhood, you’ll inevitably see many pride flags hanging up outside people’s houses. I’m a big guy, but there are some parts of the city where I might be a bit nervous holding Eric’s hand. But not here.” Will tends to agree. “There are pockets of people who look inward
and are not very inclusive, but by and large it’s a fairly left-of-centre community,” he said. That feeling has been underscored by the outpouring of support the community has shown him over the last week. ‘Pride flag’ continued on Page 3