February 15, 2013, carnegie newsletter

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Oughta Be Warning Signs Our venerable city fathers owe us at least a warning sign be careful fool you have arrived make s ure yoOu survive no-one's gonna be crying you end up dying this be skid row Oh you didn' t know? mean I'm the only one telling you so Seen too many fools stumble in not knowing where to begin someone robs 'em takes their cash 'cause they want dope and a piece of ass sorry foo l this is all you git no-one giving a flying chunk of spit ~here was a point but you missed it ,• •••

you had a clue if somewhat twisted wish J had some sympathy but I just pissed it away up and above that ain't much to say enjoy your stay at the end of the road may you have long enough to share the gory stories you've been told hope you live to get old take it back crackerjack . no but you ain' t from the old school you just another young fool but you ain't hip and you ain' t cool you just another cracker fool and we all gonna run over you not much you can do wish I could give you a clue as to what to do, fool Mr Hugs ' n Kisses

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Deceptions, Desertions, Dislocations .

Deceit, deceptions, smoke ' n mirrors, pay-offs, kickbacks, potential concessions, 9 times out of 10 guaranteed. Slamdunks, City Hall rubber stamps, savvy contractors in-the-loop/in-the-inner-circle .. greed & avarice with no end in sight, with kick-butt negotiations all pre-arranged & in the bag with money in the bank and oodles more on th way. Sitting pretty doncha think!?!

I really getting tired of foregone conclus ions manufactured out of sight by the back-room boys, bagmen and assorted shady dealers & 'carpetbaggers' -what else is new on the face of the earth?? Along with the money-changers, tax-breakers, cutting comers like crazy .. . what' s left in it fo r us? What do we end up with? We' re in the fast lane to nowhereville, along with the gutted middle class (they just don' t know it yet). They' re trickling inch by inch, drip-drip .. drop.

They're being railroaded also with the inflated-price condos, eventually folding up like a cheap tent. It'll leave most breathless and pennyless, locked out and pushed onto the street -like so many others before them - and they' ll final ly see just how the other half lives! Kicked to the curb, most likely, out in the cotd, wet, all alone, afraid, confused, with no sense of direction and very low determination ... open doors are suddenly closing and you find your sorry sad self completely out of business and out of pocket. Wei-

come to club, a not-any-more exclusive one that is growing rapidly.

Need any help? How about some sage advice ... - all you have to do is ask. Would you like me to show ya the ropes, free of charge, especially now you have so much time on your hands. This is your new life, your maxed-out totally useless credit cards mean no more evenings out dressed to the nines at trendy bistros: what's seemingly overtaken family meals in tranquil orderly neighbourhoods is pizza or less in the heart of the city, the Downtown Eastside, where ruthless gentrification runs amuck- not quite what you thought about when you and yours invaded the area.

How is it now to be on the other side of the fence & getting the short end poking out at you.

Welcome again to our nightmare world, deserted and dislocated and thrown on the corporate/legislative scrap heap. Slowly your designer clothes start to unravel and you start learning from longtime residents about the ins & outs of the DTES. We' re well-seasoned survivors with an immense measure of resolve, tenacity, and we ain't going anywhere soon.

We' re still gonna be here long after you've gone, so chances are I'll see ya around in a breadline or at a soup kitchen or at a rundown packed well-intended Christian Mission. My advice is to expect the unexpected and feel free to call upon almost anyone for help. I & You & we are all just waiting ROBYN LIVINGSTONE.

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[Artwork comes in as single pieces, or two or more together. Each is unique in and of itself. This paper goes to the printshop on the morning of Feb 14'\ a few hours prior to the Annual Memorial March for the murdered and missing women, held Valentine's Day for the last 22 years.

Hold their spirits in your heart as you view this art. Ed.]

Oppenheimer Park

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rDo~UNh 3 DAYS OF GREAT FOOD ~ V ENTERTAINMENT & f'or .he Dn'-'S llumc''"'' u1d U•·dlTII(IUsOO ACTIVITIES

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY Feb 27, 28, Mar 1 .. I

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In the FOOD TENT WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY Breakfast Lunch (3 Seatings) Dinner (3 Seatings)

8am 12pm - l pm - 2pm Spm - 6pm - 7pm

Please pick up your Lunch and Dinner tickets 1 HOUR before each seating .

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In the ENTERTAINMENT TENT WEDNESDAY 11:30-3:00pm Community Right to Food Expo THURSDAY & FRIDAY 11 :30 -3:30pm Great Activities including Oppenheimer's Got Talent Show!

PERFORMANCES EACH EVENING 4 - Spm Fabulous local musicians and artists including.....

Ocean Side Dakota Harmony of Nations DTES Musicians Barrio Flamenco Rio Samaya Toni Wilson & Longhand Trio Carnegie Jazz Band Stephanie Swenson Katari Taiko Sean Gunn Shannon Bauman City Opera H igh Strung (Peggy W ilson Trio) Billie's Blues (Da lannah Gail Bowen & Hugh Fraser)

Brought to you by The Carnegie Community Centre & Oppenheimer Park.

HomeGround acknowledges & honours the fact that our community lies within the T raditiona l Territory of the Coa st Salish People.

(S February 27-March 1

. . .__, For the DIES Homeless and Underhoused

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up Ia Valuntccr far Hamccround 21131 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25 11-1@ DTES Neighbourhood House 573 E.Hastings St 2- 3@ Carnegie Community Centre 401 Main St on the1 st floor in front of the Library TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 11 :30-12:30 @ Lifeskills Centre 412 E. Cordova St 1- 2 @ DTES Women's Centre(women only) 302 Columbia St 3-4 @ Oppenheimer Park

Providence Health Care I 081 B urrard Street Vanco uver, BC V6Z 1Y6 Attention:

January 23, 20 13

Dianne Doyle, President and Chi ef Executive Officer, Providence Health Care Geoff Plant, Chair, PHC Board of Directors

Dear Ms. Doyle and Mr. Plant: We, the undersigned, write to express our concern about the ongoing access to effective treatment for research participants at the conclusion of the SALOME research study. We feel that the current approach puts margin alized and vulnerable people at risk, and ask that you take immediate steps to protect them.

The current study protocol puts participants at increased risk by failing to have an adequate "exit strategy" in place for when the research is completed. Each of the research participants has previously failed on Methadone Maintenance Treatment before entering the study, yet if the study shows that they are benefiting from diacetylmorphine when the research is concluded, they will not be allowed to be maintained on the drug that is benefitting them. Instead, they will be returned to methadone. This practice, as demonstrated in international research and through the accounts of participants in the NAOMI study, produces real harms to members of our community, and we cannot tolerate it being repeated during the SALOME study. Canada remains the only country conducting a prescription diacetylmorphine (heroin) trial that failed to provide diacetylmorph ine to the research participants at the end of the trial.

We feel that research testing new methods of treatment for the harms of addiction is valuable, but must be conducted in ways that effectively address the continuing treatment and support for the individual participants in the research if the research intervention proves successful. We request that Providence Health Care take immediate steps to provide for ongoing diacetylmorphine treatment for participants concluding the SALOME study by applying for and s upporting Special Access to diacetylmorphine, and begin planning for a pilot pro gram for providing thi s treatment to the community at large.

Yours truly, NAOMI Patients Association & concerned members of the Downtown Eastside community: http://drugpolicy.ca/2013/02/salome-participants-need-an-exit-strategy/ Pivot Legal Society Maxine Davis, Executive Director, Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation Canadian Drug Policy Coalition Marina Morrow, PhD. Director, Centre for the Study of Gender Social Inequities and Mental Health (CGSM) Libby Davies, MP for Vancouver East First United Church, 320 East Hastings St. End Prohibition in the DTES Society of Illicit Drug Users (SOLID) Individual/etters of support have also been sent by: Vancouver Area Network ofDrug Users (VANDU) Board British C olumbia Association of People On Methadone (BCAPOM) Board Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society (WAHRS) Board The B.C /Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors (BCY ADWS) Board

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Since 1969 The Crises Centre at 763 East Broadway has been the Crises Intervention Suicide Prevention Centre for BC. Stephanie Cardwell, a coordinator, an attractive and youthful lady, proved herself to be enthusiastic. "I do all the communications on the website and publications & marketing materials in general . I also do fund development," she said. "! have been here for a year and enjoy the work." She also volunteered in the beginning of the year and went through the basics. '·It can be difficult, challenging for people who have issues on the phone line but it is reward ing. 1 enjoy working here because the work is in the community and the thousands that we reach," she refl ected.

"There are many people who g ive us feedback. We support them through our programs and services."

Stephanie went to Kwanteen Co llege in Richmond and graduated in 2008 and has been working in nonprofit organizations.

There are new projects offered at the Crises Centre.

T he Seniors Distress line for older adults 55+ serves those who are experiencing emotional distress due to loss ofloved ones, and depression. This line is open 24 hours a day. In September, there are workshops in schools. The workshops deal with s uicide prevention and awareness.

The Crises Centre is a volunteer organization committed to helping people help themselves and others deal with crises.

TOGE'~IER WE GIVE~OPE

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Volunteers share the stories on the distress line and workshops on youthinBC.line. The following recent statics are proof of their feat. (20 I 1) *56, 615 individuals responded to vouthinBC.com for info and resources *27, 122 received Distress Phone Services *4308 youth received one-on-one support via youthinBC.com *356 youth connected one-on-one email support w ith professional staff *4500 engaged middle and secondary schools who participated in interactive community education through suicide prevention, stress management resiliency workshops In add ition, 3851 vol unteers delivered the Centre's Care Services. 53,575 volunteer hours were provided to the Crises Centre, valued at $1 million As one client reflected, "The volunteer who helped me was amazing. She helped talk me through my next steps to deal with things and she was there for me when I was panicking and trying not to cut.. ..

And that night I ~id not because I knew someone was supporting me. I got to talk about m y feelings.

I was even in tears sometimes but in the end I felt good ... because I could tell someone cared."

"People say I'm crazy."

The bystander stew festers in the heat, no relief in sight. The moon is too far away to help me scream ...

Sometimes I understand - Everyone knows their own heart's most sacred song- just listen to yourself Stephen Belkin

-John Lennon

Let not the wave descend, let not the battle rage- rather let nothing pass the threshold of the real.

Some time this will time come; and all dreams be true Stephen Beikin

tt.etropolitan Concert Band Repertoire "vill include a \>vide variety of music: Broadwa) the classics, marches, ballads, jazz and movie themes ...

Come and enjoy the big band sound!

Wednesday, February 20th 7:30PM

in Carnegie Theatre

The 2013 Neighbourhood Small Grants The Vancouver Foundation 2013 Neighbourhood Small Grants and the Greenest City Grants applications arc now online: neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca The dead line for both applications is March 31, 2103! Printed copies of these appl ication are available at Carnegie, Strathcona and RayCam Com mu' nity Centres.

Leadership Skills: Proposal Writing A 4-weel{ course at the Carnegie Learning Centre Mondays 10:30 -12:30; Februa ry 18- March 11 Do you have an idea for a project that can help your neighbourhood?

Do you want to learn how to write a grant proposal?

The Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program gives out grants of up to $500 for a project. In this course, you will learn about NSG and then research and write your own small grant proposal.

IYHAT'S YOU/? PI?EAM r OI? THE NEitfHBOf/I?HOOP1 LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN! , Sign-up at the Learning Centre, 3rd Floor, Carnegie Community Centre 40 1 Main St, Vancouver

Bring a partner - you need 2 people to submit a proposal! !

The Stone Cold T ru th Part 4 After my fear burned away I was able to reject the idea that ~ the devil' had left the dead cat for me to find. Instead, I took the find to mean that I had been re-created by ·spiritual warriors·, which meant I cou ld accept the eat's death as natural.

Alii know about these people is that they are telepathic and are•engaged in a long-term, deatht:ans~ende_nt struggle to assuage injustices- injustiCe, 111 all 1ts forms, screams out to them continuously- and further, perhaps, they are somehow connected to Chief Seattl~'s predictions.

I fe ll in with them because I want to contribute to a world where the hurting of animals will be inconceivable. (My cause.) I am convinced that this world has been promised to me.

In the next installment of the stone cold truth I will explain what I think I know about the planes of existence and how the spirit lives in the world for now. It only remains to say that telepathy is not like the phone ... information is sent spiritually to those who need to know and to those who are especially needed Tclepaths remain strangers to each other as far as I know ...

Stephen Belkin

(~ From the LibrarY Hi everyone ! As you've noticed, we s till have n' t completed the changes to Library that I ' ve been talking about for awhile now. I really want to thank all of you-- staff, volunteers, members of the public -for your (prolonged) patience and understanding which, unfortunate ly, has to continue a little while longer. The work actually is prog ressing, in sm a ll steps, but it's complex, and involves coordination between multiple departments. So I' m afraid 1 can't give a firm completion date -- but you can be s ure I' ll mentio n it again in a newsletter once it's finally done ! Meanwhile, we still have a variety of interesting books arriving, like these which will be on display in the Library from February 17th - 23rd.

Event: The Douglas College Review, Non-fiction contest issue. 41 .3 Event Magazine is an astounding success story . The life-span of Canadian literary magazines is generally laug hable, but this small mag has published new BC poetry and prose for more than 40 years. Event has a solid advisory board, and a panel of readers and selectors. Quality of selection may be one of the keys to its survi val.

Read the first verse of "Celluloid' by Adam Dickinson: The problem with billiards was elephants.

The gentlemen felt the veldt and its hom-rimmed hunters Talking Music: Blues radio and roots music Holger Petersen is host of the " longest running blues program anywhe re", the CBC radio show Saturday N ight Blues. Talking Music collects the top picks from intervie ws recorded for the program. Legendary record producer Sam Phillips gives the ins ide story on deve lopment of rock and roll from nis perspective as o wner of S un Records. Most intervi ews are a leisurely 15-20 pages, but some, like the 5 pages recorded by the hugely talented singe r songwriter Lucinda Williams on her tour bus are way too short (but, then, I' m a fan!). The longer pieces give v iv id portraits of key musicians like Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones) and David " Ho neyboy" Edwards.

My sterious British Columbia: Myths, murders, mysteries and legends. (Valerie Green) G reen follows up he r early books on the old Northwest with a collectio n o f sho rt accounts of m urders, mysteries, and tales of the paranormal. Some of the murders are unsolved, and one points to ... .. . buried treasure.

Beamish Boy, a memoir. (Albert F lynn deSi lver) deSilver's errati c and fascinating memoir begins with a vivid depictio n of the author as a young wastre l. .... falling down drunk ... .run over in the driveway by a good friend. The book jacket bio claims that the author is now " an internationally published poet. . . and writing coach, who served as Poet Laureate of Marin County . .. and teaches at Spirit Rock Meditati on Centre". T he middle part, the life story, is at times hilarious, often painful , and always readable. It may or may not be a story of recovery.

Prehistoric Life: the definitive visual history of life on earth.

T he English publis her Da rling Kindersley (also known as DK) is well known for its ill ustrated childrens' books. T hese colourful high impact books on cas tles, ancient histo ry, science and a wide range of other topics 6pen up wide horizons. T he edi tors break up blocks of text into easily digested mcnuggets, sweetening the lessons with eye-popping ill ustrations and dramatic page layouts. This magazinestyle approach can work for adults as well. Prehistoric life shows the human life story from the Archean Eon (4 billion years ago) to the Mesolithic (8,000 to 12,000 years ago); basically, fro m bacteria to recog ni zable humans. T he human story unfurls chronologically thro ug h each period, with a full (and fu ll-color) matrix of contextual detail. ... fossils, plants, geology, and competing life fo rms.

The Future is the B eginning: the words and wisdom of Bob Marley.

In thi s one-of-a-kind collection, the words of reggae legend Bob Marley are bro ught together. These wo rds are not lyri cs to his songs, but are selected fro m intervi ews he gave o ver the years. It g ives you a deeper sense of who Bob Marl ey really was and a better understanding of what inspired his messages of faith, wisdom, uni ty and love.

Cheers, hope to see you in the Library!

Stephanie

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·:· ~ · Language Qf Rhqth~·.:. an Intercultural Music Exchange

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Come see some of Vancouver's best percussionists &musicians perfonni1 together: 8musicians from d1verse cultur~ and traditions, speaking one language....-aLanguage of RhythmCarnegie Community Centre Performance feb 22nd@ 2:00- ):00 featuring:

Curtis Andrews, Paul Bray, Sacha Levm, Tilta~y Mp,ses, Rup Sidhu, , Gurp Sian, B'onnie Soon &RusselfWallace '-i

· · Carnegie Community Centre Workshop Feb 25th@ 2:00- t:OO Gurp Sian &Bonnie Soon: Bhangra and Taiko !I!'!IIIIWJ~~

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for more info go to publicdreams.org

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Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) Newsletter Read CCAP reports: htt :1/ccapvancouver.word ress.com

Februa

15, 2013

City ignoring displacement of low-income residents in Chinatown

By Jean Swanson Chinatown is on the verge of getting more condos than Woodward's while the city doe~ nothing to stop displacement of low-income residents.

On February 21 a rezoning proposal for 145 market condos in a 17 -storey tower at 611 Main is going to Council. On Feb. 27 another rezoning proposal for another tower with 188 market condos is 0ooina 0 to another public hearing.

These two developments, plus others proposed for Chinatown recently will bring the total of new condos to 561 ... 25 more than Woodward's. But

Woodward's, at least. had 125 units of welfare rate housing. The Chinatown developments altogether have a grand total of II \velfare rate units. What's worse, because condos increase land values, rents in 388 privately-owned SRO hotel units within blocks of the

proposed towers could go up. pushing out low income residents. The units at risk are in the Arno, 221 E. Georgia.

Keefer Rooms, East Hotel, Fan Tower.

Pacific Rooms. Asia Hotel, May Wah Hotel. and New Sun Ah Hotel. These buildings are some of the only ones left that provide housing at welfare rates.

protect low-income residents from displacement and no indication that ~ity hall even cares about this. The Local Area Planning Process is supposed to make recommendations to City Council on November 20th. But Council has already sent a strong message that it wants condos in Chinatown regardless of the impact on low-income residents. By November 20th, even more condos could be planned. If rezonings are not required there is nothing to stop them in Chinatown.

According to a recent analysis by the Carnegie Community Action Project, 404 rooms in hotels near Woodward's are now either closed or renting for $500 or more, at least S 125 above the welfare shelter rate. So, while Woodward's did The City's own DTES provide I 25 units Housing Plan says of good housing for 路 that market housing low-income singles, and social housing the overall of the should "proceed development was the apace" in the DTES. loss of 279 units of An arclzilect s drawing of a DIES without In other words, for low-income affordable low-income people (61 I Main St condo) every condo unit housing to gentrification through higher we should have a social housing unit. rents and speculation. "These 388 units The Housing Plan says if this docsn 路r of housing in Chinatown are at risk happen the city should bring in "rate of from the same forces that increased change mechanisms" (like zoning laws rents in hotel rooms near Woodward's :路 that make building applications more explained CCAP's Ivan Drury. difficult) to even out development. But in Chinatown there is no rate of change Even though the city claims its policy mechanism at all. and market housing is 路'revitalization without displacement'' seems to be proceeding at a rate of 51 there is nothing in Chinatown to condos to every one unit of welfare rate 2

social housing.

Housing for low-income people isn't the only problem either. With new condos come new storefronts with hefty rents. They attract businesses that serve the new condo residents, not current low-income residents. We've already seen this happening with hair cutting places that charge $50 for a haircut instead of $8; and expensive restaurants, and with the London Pub. Will Chinatown businesses that serve low-income residents be able to survive? Probably not with higher property values, taxes and rents.

income community and its promise of no-displacement, and go full steam ahead \·vith more gentrification.

If you'd like to go to City Council to speak about the rezoning of 611 Main St., call 604-829-4238 to get on the speaker's list. If you'd like help figuring out how to make a speech at the public hearing, call Jean at 605-729-2380.

The Carnegie Community Action Project has fought hard to save lowincome housmg in Chinatown but Council ignores the low-income community at every step. It Could City Council may be that the stop the rezoning? only hope now Another architect drawing of a DTES 1rithout Yes. It could show low-income people (633 Main St condo) is to try preserve the Oppenheimer some compassiOn and Hastings Corridor neighbourhoods for low-income residents, some respect for low-income people so they will have for its slogan of "revitalization without displacement" and its own DTES some where to go when they are chased Housing Plan. out of Chinatown Condoland.

Will it stop the rezoning? Like a previous Council who presided over the obliteration of the Black community at Hogan ·s Alley in Chinatown. I suspect this council will betray the DTES low-

*Additionalne1v market housing developments in Chinatown hm•e heen apprm·ed at 189 Keefer (82 condos) and 217 E. Georgia (26) and have been proposed at 245 /-:.'.Georgia (40).

Eloquent speakers call for 10,000 units of social housing a year The big room in Vancouver's main library was packed with about 200 people on Feb. 4th as the Social Housing Coalition launched its campaign for lO,OOO units of social hou~ing a year and rent control .

Speaker after speaker used their own experience to document the need for governments to build more social hous ing and save existing rental housing.

We need to close the loopholes so landlords can't pull these things off."

Connor Donegan of the Renter\ Union said that the government should give tenants the power to bargain with their landlords about rent level-; so "people won't be gentrified building by building.''

Victoria B11ll speaking at the Social flousing Coalition BC campaign rallv

"The housing crisis is a human rights crises," Ivan Drury told the crowd. It is also about "racism, sexism and colonialism. The people most at risk of homelessness are those who are most oppressed and least able to have rights in practice.路路 "Most people move out when the landlord decides to renovate;' said Rachel Goodine of ACORN. "I c hose to fight," she said.

4Then the landlord can "t jack up the rent.

"Migrant rights are human rights. said Eric Maestro of Migrante BC. Erie explained that employers of live-in caregivers and temporary foreign workers also provide their housing. If one of these workers loses their job, they can also lose their housing.

Phoenix Winter talked of having a mental illness and having to live in a shelter. "It's very stressful to live in a shelter. There is a review meeting ever) three days. Things may go missing."

St:1ccy Bonenfant, a widowed mother of two, talked about the ''dramatic difference in the stress level" that social housing can make. Getting into social housing, she said, ·'saved my custody and my family.'' ·'It makes a massive difference in what we arc going to eat," she added. referring to the fact that rents are lower in social housing than in private housing. so families have money left that they can spend on food.

"I've been homeless with my partner and 2 daughters for 4 months," said Victoria Bull. "Its exhausting.

"I had to drag my grand daughter to the shelters. "We have to take a stand for housing," said Bull.

Shurli Chan explained how she went from a Pt. Grey home to the Phoenix Wintet~ Downtown Eastside and lost 50-60 pounds in 6 months because she has bipolar illness. 'There's always the possibility that someone will end up homeless;' Shurli said. '·What we need is social housing from Newfoundland to BC. Everyone of us has a voice and it means so much to stand together." ''We're not invisible. We are human beings and we need homes now," said Stella August.

Money for social housing is going into jails. explained Marlene Basil of VANDU. "People are tearing our community apart by building condos. The free social housing for us is to go to jail.'' ·'We work hard just as much as they do and still we are considered bottom of the barrel people."

"Housing is the greatest unmct need of people with AIDS." said Richard Marquez who works for AIDs Vancouver. "Building social housing is HIV care. lt empowers people to defend themselves .'' .. The Coalition plans ;:w~•A to have STANDs for Housing every Saturday between noon and 1 pm in various locations around BC. At a STAND , a group of Carnegie Assn . people hold a banner, wear red scarves, and hand out flyers about social housing and rent control. If you would like to get involved in a STA~D for Housing, call Jean at 605 729 2380. The Coalition is also planning a big United we STA~D on March 2 and a Province wide day of action for social housing on April 9th . For more information. check out http://www.socialhousingbc .com/ -JS

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Raise the Rates visits NDP leader's office A delegation of twenty people from Raise the Rates told the NDP that they want an immediate commitment to increasing welfare rates. The group delivered this message by hand to Adrian Dix 's office calling on the NDP to make a clear commitment to increase welfare rates substantially.

"Across the globe, popular movements of ordinary people have emerged, declaring in words and actions that they are no longer satisfied with the status quo. People have grown restless with a leadership that serves the interests of the political, social and economic elite while ignoring the needs of the majority," said pa1t of the letter from Raise the Rates.

The letter reminded the :--IDP that over 70% of people in BC support a provincial pove1ty reduction strategy, raising welfare to cover real food and housing costs and a program to build social housing. A government that acted on these popular policies, paying for it by taxing the rich. would significantly reduce inequality Pove1ty costs BC a fortune. said Fraser Stewart, a single person on welfare. The

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cost of poverty in health alone is more than

a billion dollars. And there are all the other costs to education. criminal justice system. and lost economic opportunities. At a time when politicians say money is tight it is astounding they waste so much money due to poverty. Fixing poverty would save money and make people happier and BC a better place.

Poverty forces women to survival sex work stated Colleen Boudreau, a single parent on disability allowance. She 路 reminded the NDPthat BC has the worst poverty and child poverty and needs to act to end this disgrace. Boudreau passionately demand that the NDP make a clear statement that it will raise welfare rates.

The Raise the Rates letter pointed out that peoples路 "allegiance cannot be purchased by traditional political loyalties or mere election promises." It urged Adrian Dix and NDP to do ''more than words alone.

We insist on action with real change for the better land tol align your.:;clf with this movement of popular resistance and social change. Dare to envision and enact a future of equality and justice.''~ JS

"Families first" doesn't apply to families on welfare ·'Even though the Premier says families are first, families on welfare arc last." Stacey Bonefant was explaining why a group of about 15 people, inclmling single parents on welfare, were at the Vancouver Aquarium 4 dayc; before Family Day on Feb. II th.

"Families on welfare don't have enough money to eat and pay the rent, let alone take our kids to the Aquarium:· Bonenfant said.

The mothers and grandmothers are part of Parents and Grandparents in Poverty, a group that meets in Strathcona and works to get higher welfare rates and better housing. A single parent with one child gets about S 1236 a month to live on from welfare and the Child Benefit. Rent for a 2 bedroom apartment in a cheaper area of Vancouver is over $1000 a month, the group pointed out.

"Shouldn ·r low income kids get to c;ee whales too?" asked Colleen Boudreau, a (C"C'AP Job posting; Continued ftom • • •

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single parent on disahility ... It helps them learn and socialize. But \Vclfarc rates arc too low for us to afford the Aquanum. ·· ·'Where am I going to get $57 for Aquarium admission for my two boys and me, plus transit fare to get here?" asked Bonefan!. ''I'd have to not buy milk or vegetables:· The group wants government to increase welfare rates to the federal government's market basket level, about $1300 a month for a single person.

"One of the reasons BC has the highest or second highest poverty and child poverty rate in Canada is that welfare rates are too low to live on," added Paul Comeau. .. If families really arc first in BC, the Premier should raise welfare rates so families on welfare can, survive without harming children or their parents.'' added Sandra Pronteau. ~ JS

page)

Facilitatin~

\Vmkshops Media/communi...:alions De!\ doping campaigns for :-.ocial ju~tice '' tth community group:; Ability to work in a team and on own. ;:md \\ith a community boar R~se,m:h on housing, mcome. and/or planning issues Knowkdg...: oi city planning proc...:sscs Experience working in the DTES

There may he a possibility of full time cmploy111ent after S..:ph.·mbcJ, depending on fundmg Evaluauons '" 1!1 happl!n at (i \\l'eks and .~ months 1his job i~ 20 hours a week and may r.:quire work on weekends and evening-;. Pa) is $ 1.800/month.

Only people who ar~ to he interview.:-d will be wntarted. Thank ynu to c.:Vef)onc else for your interest.

Please keep the entire application, including lcHcr. in one cmaillllc.

CO\ cring

Peoplo.: who arc rcsicknl~ M ...:onununtt) member;. of Lhl' Oowntown Eastside. fnd•gcnous and pcopk of colour ar...: ...:m;ouragcd to ·•rply.

Applicants arc encouraged to check out these \\ cbsitcs before applyint:. http·/ll;cap\ ancouvc.:r '' ordprc:;~.com/' http://w\\ '' .socialhousinghc .com/ hllp:IJiaisetheiak'::..<Hd htt p://dtcsnotfordcvclopcrs.\\ ordprcs~ .corn/

7

Job posting: Carnegie Community Action Project Organizer The Carncgi~ Community Action Project (CCAP) is looking for an organizer to work with their researcher and co-ordinator to help lm:v-income Downtown Eastside residents implement their Community Vision for Change and to ensure that decisions about the future of the community build on community assets. This includes working for more and better housing, higher welfare rates and to stop gentrification. This is a half-time and temporary position.

Job tasks: LOCAL AREA PLANNI:'-IG COMMITfEE Supporting low-income LAPP Committee member.; Attending LAPP Committee and subcomn11ttee meetings and evenh Helping implement actions decided on by • CCAP and the Carncg1e A~sociation ADI\HNISTRATION A:'-ID FUNDRAISING :'vfonthly community relations committee reports • Dealing with funders • Budgeting and managing finances • Keep CCAP media list curren t • Keep CCAP friends list current and send out monthly news and event~ CCAP PUBI JSHfNG A:® SPEAKL'iG • Maintain CCAP website Write and layout monthly ne\¥Slcller re: CCAP adivities Maintain and use CCAP \:mail and online bulletins (c\·cnts and news) Organize gentrification and community walking tours for students as well as community groups • Speak at meetings. events, cla~:,es. city hall . news events CCAP VOLUNTEERS Facilitate CCAP volunteer meetings on 1 n

8

The job will start N1arch I st or when the candidate is available.

Please submit resumes by email with a halfpage essay on the causes of homclcssncss and two references who are familiar with your work by Feb. 27,2013 to: Jean Swanson, Coordinator of Carnegie Community Action Project email: jean .swanson@gmail.com •

Implement ac-tions arising from meetings Keep volunteer list, phone numbers, remind of meeting~

•

En~urc minutes get taken and reported to next meeting Support volunteers to act and speak out for their community, developing leadu\hlp capacities.

GENTRil'ICATTON Organizing low-incom~ residents to attend raoning and development application hearing~ and to ~cak out through other venue~ like news conferences: organize town hall meeting~ .

SOCfAl. HOUSlNG COALITION Help implement social housing campaign DESIRED EXPERIENCE Excellent verbal and written communicatitlll sk11ls • Ability to usc computer for research. cmails . formatting flyers. posters. etc.

• Web or blog d..:~ign skills • Good pl!oplc skills Grant writing and reporting

•

Van city

(Continued on inside (Jlll!l')

van00u ver foundation

Support for this project does not necessarily imply Vancity or Vancouver Foundation's endorsement of the findings or contents of this newsletter

PostPartum Blues

Dear Readers

This is true. Many years ago I was walking down Hastings Street. There was a two-storey wooden house on the right. I looked and the roof was on fire I knocked on the door and told this lady the roof was on fire: "Is there anyone else li ving here?" 路'Two men on the 2"d floor!" J ran up the stairs and woke them up. Next I went to the bathroom and filled up two buckets with water. then carried them to the roof. I told the lady to keep filling those buckets up. There were two Chinese people watching me next door. l said, 路'Don't stare at me! Call the Fire Department."

Anyway I put the fire out. One fireman told the three of them I saved their lives, which was truethe two men were passed out and there were empty wine bottles on the floor; the lady didn't even know.

Those men each asked me for a cigarette. While the fireman was busy talking l walked out because l didn't want my name in the paper.

I feel I did a good deed!

Marlene Wuttunee [Cree elder]

#179

Had Pedro been an animal he would've been a burro bigger than a donkey but mellower than a mule He came El Norte to find heaven maybe just a little better than back in Mexico he died last week staying at the shelter his dreams never came true at least back in Mexico he would've died with a friend or two around here he died quietly and utterly alone So I say good-bye my friend the years we spent together at acupuncture in the mornings his pain never left him turns out his pain was his last and only companion Good-bye my friend better luck on the other side AI

ADante Improvisation Workshop with Helen Walkley How does our love of spontaneous motion translate into vital expression in dance?

This 6 session workshop is intended for anyone who loves to move and is curious about the nature of improvisational dance, the possibility to create and relate movement in the moment.

A warm-up process will connect and mobilize our whole bodies.

Improvisational structures will follow to develop dynamic range and spatial relationships.

Thmdays: March 7, 14, 21, 28, April4 & 11 2:30-4:30 pm in the Carnegie Gym Maximum number of participants: 12 Please register at the 3 rd Floor Program Office by March 4th.

Helen Walkley is a contemporary dance artist, certified Laban Movement Analyst and registered Somatic Movement Educator who has taught, created and performed for the past 33 years in United States, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada. She is currently based in Vancouver.

Shade Behind The Sun The future pulls us ahead never teaching but always reaching out for more than his or her share tumino ' scheme "' kids' dreams into a who needs more selfis hist how dare you put personal gain before all these other people waiting while yo u make up what will as you see it be deemed fair. Do you ever feel human emotions say asha med this is no game it's the people who sell the food and drink which you guzzle for some th is is a second job others their only means of support. Loyalty is one of the first words you learn to forget, I think it comes right after the word 'forgot' li ke another season by rich screwed up hockey players you lost me last time in 2004- yo u 've thrown 3 months away but now you 're willing to walk the ta lk for the sake o f your over-valued PayDay I say Boycott the NHL they have a ll the loyalty of a dead dog with yellow custard dripping from its eyes that is the Boycott Mascot but who knows sti ll there is time to place your bets, now yo u know what they say counter-prod uc tion is very good for the bank loans and oh so much better for that cancerous tumour yo u call yo ur mortal soul ; clockwork mandarin oranges always producing sri ff little fingers let 's all welcome them back! Saint Minus says no No NO! The privileged $ 1. 7 million-a-year minimum wage athletes are back in bus iness your gracious return has all the c ivility of starved vultures feed ing off the remains of a j ust-closed concentration camp - in other words screw you.

Now take you r money and hit the road like secondhand exhaus t fumes blow, these days discretion is sold a t every inte rsection while courage oozes wherever it is dark & damp and loyalty gets left behind on last century's maps ... where will you be whe n there's nowhere e lse to go? Just another day on a planet not used to sanity full of witless witnesses who saw absolutely nothing, miscommunication again the one la ng uage we a ll know like the hands-on-your-back happ iness and time so far yet so close away somewhere in yo ur p lagiarized Bible I think it was Cool Hand Luke w ho said your communication is fu ll of

I â&#x20AC;˘ I I I

I I I I I failure and li bel I'd bet you would use lit sticks of dy namite to light your dark & damp way.

So many dead light bulbs hovering above so many dim to begin with heads once again from your bible there is truth when they mention " I'm looking thru you" I believe that was what both John & Paul said take away that protective plastic coating of credit cards and what is left but naked admissions to the new Congress C lub somewhere between hearsay and eternity. Do yo u ever look around at the people who share your a llotment of time I truly fee l remorse for the just-between borns whose future will suck much more than mine, the best way to end this journey for me is posthumous obscurity, like the vermouth fai ry leaving olives under yo ur pillow I am the one pulling up the s hades that sun hates me yet follows my every shadow or at least tries incognito I have lost count of the places and to all the people I want to forget just the way you are, li ke hiring a visually-impaired assassin some kill themselves just to be born again this will always happen but back to that bible I believe it was Saint Huck who mentions life is as long as eternity times infinity now to a s impleton we're talki ng very far, like a bio-chemical weapons World Fair our transit cop firing squad will definitely be there alongside magnetic soccer fie ld's atomic shadows (even one atom has its own) X-ray athletic tracksuits with that ever-present glow now add pocket-sized Hubble telescopes inside bazooka-proof tuxedo slacks and coats boxers & briefs and the latest necktie razorwire toxic taste tests so much poison becoming so sweet yet at the end of this atrocity display it will be the ma rathon of funerals that hardens the chill right down to the bone; we shout out our pleasantries non-existent yet sincere have you got on your bulletproof school uni form? Now there i.s one thing we agreed exists and that's constant fear with Marines overlooking kindergartens my how you underestimate the enemy we will and have to feed there is a na me for people w ho forget thi ngs both good and bad I'd give up every beautiful scar fo r a bit of that hav ing a good face for memories is I thing I would give up in one heartless beat.

By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY

. carneg1e C: ~

NEWSLETTER

Never doubt that a small group of t~ghtful committed citizens can change the wor'd. lr-deed. iL :s :ne on.y tntng mat ever ha:,. Margaret Meade

.

THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION· OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association.

WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter • • • • • • • •

(

Next Issue: SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry Cover art - Max. Size 17cm(6.?")wide x 15cm(6")h Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the Downtown Eastside, but all work considered.

Black & White printing only.

Size restrictions apply (i.e. If your piece is too larg• it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit.)

All artists will receive credit for their work.

Originals will be returned to the artists after being copied for publication.

Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer Tickets Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.

www.carnnews.OIJ!: http://chodarr.org/taxooomy/tenn/3

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH

Jenny WaiChing Kwan ~A Wol'king for Yo~ 1070 - 1641 Commercial Dr, VSL 3Y3 Phone: 604-775-0790 1

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

• •

Cost-effective computer and IT support fc • non-profits ~ • VCN TechTeam http:/itechteam.vcn.bc~b • Call 778-72 4- 0826 ext 2

•

AIDS POVERTY HOMELESSNESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TOTALITARIAN CAPITALISM IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED FEAR

Jim Dewar has been publishing his insightful cartoons in the Carnegie Newsletter for several years and has put together some of his favorites to create a unique calendar about the issues facing the DTES. His CRUNCH CALENDARS are available for $10 and make a great gift. Contact Jim at jimdewarll@gmail.com if you're interested. You can also find them at Windows Community Art Shop, 7 West Hastings Street.

Peace within ourselves On the front page of the February I, 2013 Carnegie Newsletter was the Chinese word "family" with the C hinese words '·longevity,'' " fortune;' '·blessings pouring down" and " love" in small print. This was to welcome the Year of the Snake.

I wondered why the word "family" was chosen.

When I was in school back in Hong Kong, one of the old Chinese teachings was: Peace in family, peace in country, peace in the world. The belief was that we need to have peace in the family before we can hope to have peace in a country or in the world.

How do we reach peace in the family? The January newsletter of Inspire Health said this: Traditional Chinese culture values family over the individual. ...

Chinese society is patriarchal and hierarchical, and this can mean that decisions about health care may be based on a person's role in the family, rather than their individual needs.

A Chinese friend of mine told me that when his grandmother had colon cancer, the family did not inform her that a family decision was made for her to have an operation. This is perhaps what peace in family means in the old Chinese culture- family makes a decision, no arguments. It would not have been easy for the grandmother to deal with her emotions after the operation.

I remember when I was growing up in Hong Kong, 1 was always reminded by my parents and teachers to obey grandparents, parents, teachers, and any siblings who were older. I believe that there is a degree to obedience. Being obedient and suppressing one's individual needs would probably be peaceful for family and the social system, but not healthy for the individual.

The calligraphy of the word "family" on the front page was beautiful. Peace in the famil y is important in the Chinese Cl!lture and probably in all cultures. I believe that in orde,r to have peace in the family, we need to have peace within ourselves, accept each other, negotiate, and 90mpromise.

By Debbie Woon Lee

Choir with Merta Paterson Starting Saturday, February 16th Come along and share in the power of song Find your voice!

Feed your heart and soul!

Make friends!

Enjoy a supportive space where we HAVE FUN by

• SINGING OUT -Si ng songs to celebrate diverse cultural contexts

• FINDING OUR VOICE - Discover how your voice works and grow your confidence!

• CELEHRATING LIFE TOGETHER -Gather with a group of friends and sing out about life's highs & lows, and know that you are not alone

EVERY SATURDAY FOR 10 WEEKS FROM FEB 16111, 3:30-SPM CARNEGIE HALL THEATRE FREE!

:.~f-

• ;J

....;. i;:: ; :. .. : . . ~

.

:~

.

~"

G(ING I-lAY FATCI-/01 // 1

~

.~·

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-~· ~~~::..-:':;

Dear Vancity Board of Directors,

board directors(@,vancitv.com

Re: Vancity partnership with Sequel 138 condo development We are writing to you to ask you to withdraw from your partnership with Sequel 138. Sequel is a condo project at 138 East Hastings, very close to Main and Hastings. The proposal is for 79 condo units, 9 social housing units that rent at $800-900 a month, and 9 social housing units that rent at welfare shelter allowance. The zoning in that area requ ires 20% social housing. Vancity is partnering with the Sequel 138 Development Corp. by processing the applications for mortgage financing and agreeing to waive bank and appraisal fees. It this way, it helps provide incentive for people whose income is under $66,000 to buy condos in this project.

For the last couple of years the community has been organizing to stop this project and get the city to buy the land for I 00% social housing w ith a community amenity, determined by the community, on the ground level.

T he DTES Not For Developers Coalition (formerly the Stop Pantages Coalition), who we represent, is made up of the follow ing groups:

r\buriginal Prout Door; tarnegie Community !\utionl1rujcut; orr&~ ~~eighbourhootl tuuncil;mmOU;S11uwer of Women Group; Gaii~I'Y Hauhct; Slreams of .lusticc; Vimrouver :\rea Network of Drug l~ser~ Western .\boriginalllann lletluction Society We want the Sequel development stopped for the following reasons: #1. The I 00-block of East Hastings is symbol ically important because it includes privately owned single room occupancy (SRO) housing for about 500 low-income people and non-market housing for about 250 more It also includes key gathering places where low-income DTES residents feel comfortab le, including Carnegie Community Centre which serves 5000 low-income people and is a hub for food and recreational activities, and lnsite which ensures access to critical health services for thousands of IV drug users.

It is close to the Downtown Eastside Women 's Centre, a drop in and safe-space for thousands of low-income women, and the Aboriginal Front Door which is the only centre in the area run by and for Indigenous people.

Bringing condos to this block could change all of this. Condos cause higher property values, higher rents in SROs, and displacement of low-income people from the SROs as we have seen with Woodward's. The condosocial housing mixed development at Woodward's caused rents in neighbouring hotels to increase and pushed out low-income residents. Expensive restaurants & boutique stores sprang up and more private security guards and police pushed low-income people out of public spaces. *#2. The Sequel parcel is in the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District (DEOD), the only zoning area of the DTES that requires 20% social housing in all new developments.* This requirement has kept condos out of the DEODand ensured that the area is affordable for low-income people. It's also kept land prices low, so land is cheaper for governments to buy for social housing. The Sequel condo project will open the floodgates to other condo developments in the DEOD. C ity policy calls for DEOD to be the main area where SROs are replaced with set f-contained social housing. If condos are allowed in, they wi ll increase property values and make it less likely that the DEOD can fulfill this role. *#3. Allowing condos at the Pantages will violate the city's DTES Housing Plan which calls for " the pace of development of new market and low-income housing" (page 6) to be sim ilar. ln 2012 alone condos outpaced social housing affordable to DTES residents at a rate of 6: I, according to research by the Carnegie Community Action Project.* *#4. The community clearly does not want more condos in the DTES until decent, affordable housing for current residents is secured. *The Pantages site is an opportunity to create a project that works for the low-income community in the heart of the Downtown Eastside. Over 1200 petition signatures as well as 40 groups that have signed a Community Resolution calling for the termination of the Sequel 138 project and I 00% community-controlled social housing on the site.

We understand that Vancity wants to provide "affordable" home ownership for worki,ng people who earn less than $66,000 a year. We ask that you do this in places wher~ condo developmen~s don t threaten an already vibrant low-income community with higher rents, and gentnfied stores and serv1ces.

Part of Vancity's mission statement says: "We are accountable to our members, employees, colleagues and communities for the results of our decisions and actions." ..

We are asking you to be accountable to the low-income DTES comrr~uni~ for your dec1S1~n abo~t Sequel 138 and pull out of the project. In addition, don't suppo1t other ~ondo proJects m the ~HES untlllow-mcome homeless people and SRO residents have decent, self contamed, permanent housmg. ' Please answer our letter. Thank you.

Community resolution signed by 38 groups in addition to the coalition members: We oppose the Pantages Theatre owner's 2011 application to build a massive condo building with token amounts of social housing on the 100 block of East Hastings Street.

1. We call on the City to stop the Pantages development permit application because it contradicts the "without displacement" part of the city's policy of " revitalization without displacement" in the DTES. 2. We call on the Pantages owner to sell the property at its 2010 assessed value of$3.7 million to the City of Vancouver.

3. We call on the City to buy the Pantages parcel and designate it for 100% resident controlled social housing with low-income community space on the ground floor.

4. We call on the City to ensure that the nature of the development of this parcel be exclusively determined by low-income residents and communities in the DTES, including control over the final tendering of the project. *Groups signing the resolution:* Indigenous Action Movement; Latin-American Collective; Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity Society; Harmony of Nations Drum Group; Longhouse Ministry Church; PHS Community Services Society; Lookout Emergency Aid Society; Purple Thistle; Pivot Legal Society; Vancouver Catholic Worker Teaching Support Staff Union Social Justice Committee; Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Helpers Project; Mosaic @ the Space; Council of Senior Citizens Organization ofBC; First United Church; Spartacus Books; Oppenheimer Park Ladies Tea Party; Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter; End Prohibition Committee; Impact on Communities Coalition; Vancouver Transgender Day of Remembrance Society; PACE Society; Carnegie Community Centre Association; Interfaith Institute for Justice, Peace and Social Movements; Jacob' s Well; Women Elders ln Action Society; St. James' Anglican Church Social Justice Group; Vancouver Action; Solidarity Notes Labour Choir; Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House; Jen's Kitchen; Lifeskills Political Action Group; Fairview Baptist Church Peace and Justice Committee; Teaching Support Staff Union Social Justice Committee; UBC Social Justice Center; UBC Color Connected Against Racism; Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America; Citywide Housing Coalition

(Note: many members of these groups and the groups themselves are members of VanCity)

the king of commercial drive I'm writing in about my very good friend Mike Gregory, the King of Commercial Drive. My wonderfu l pal was Vancouver's 2nd homicide of the year. Killed by someone half his age outside the Kettle Friendship Society. Few details have been released by the police but the story is that he got involved in an altercation with his murderer on Venables Street. In my mind I can only believe Mike would have been standing up for either or both the Kettle or a member of the Kettle. This was Mike's way, always wi lling to step up to help someone else and always willing to look out for the Kettle itself.

Mike was a regular fixture at the Kettle (an excellent helpful place) and was well known up and down the Drive. Thus my nickname for him. I couldn't count all the people Mike helped over the time I was lucky enough to know him. For myself, personally at the lowest point in my life, he opened his home to me and looked after me for a year, and I mean looked after me -from food and shelter to genuinely caring about me.

The best expression I could use to describe a rare good soul like Mike is a Stand Up Guy, that 's. what my buddy Mike was- A Stand Up Man. What a terribl e loss to me, to the neighborhood, to his loving partner and to society in general.

As details come out I'm sure the person who did th is terrible act wilJ no doubt be suffering from a mental health issue. This is so common today, here and especially in the DTES. I can only pray the local & provincial governments, the police and health care workers can reall y address th is serious issue. Let's all try to not have to read in the paper about another good person murdered or even hurt by someone who needs help that is not there yet.

Sincerely, Barry Robertson

Medicating Children and路 Adolescents Is this an evidence-based practice?

What does the scientific literature

say? with

Robert Whitaker

(Pulitzer Prize finalist, recipient of 2010 Best Book Award of the Investigative Reporters and Editors for Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America)

Tuesday Feb 26, 7:30p.m.

Unitarian Church of Vancouver 949 West 49th Ave, Vancouver During the past 30 years, prescribing psychiatric medications to children and adolescentsstimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics and others-has become commonplace. This practice profoundly alters their lives; as a society, we need to address these questions: do the medications help children and adolescents thrive and grow up into healthy adults? Or does this practice do more harm than good over the long tei-m?To answer those questions, it is necessary to review the outcomes literature for stimulants for ADHD, for antidepressants, and for bipolar medications. We will need to understand how psychiatric meds act on the brain, and whether they fix "chemical imbalances." This will be an informative and provocative event.

With introductory remarks by Janet Currie, PharmaWatch Canada, Prof. Barbara Mintzes, the Therapeutics Initiative at UBC, and Dr. Tony Stanton, Adult and Child Psychiatrist.

Admission is free. (a collecUon will be taken to support the UCV Service Fund whkh promotes social, mental and physical well-being)

METHADONE PATIENT'S

Information ' You have a right to be informed about the risks, benefits and side effects of MMT and other treatment options before you agree to enter MMT. You have the right to be informed about services that are available to you, including: medical care, counselling, support, and other treatment programs.

RIGHTS Produced by Pivot Legal Society

PIVOT

Pain medication

www.pivotlegal.org 604.255.9700

Because methadone is often ineffective for managing pain while you are on MMT, you have a right to r eceive pain medication while you are on MMT.

Respect and Dignity

Choices about services

Methadone is a medical treatment for addiction. The care you receive in the Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMn program should be equal to the medical care that anyone should expect from their doctor, clinic or pharmacy. Throughout your contact with medical professionals, you have a right to be treated with dignity and respect at all times by your physician and by the

pharmacist or another person are against the law. You have the right to change your pharmacy at any time.

Complaints

pharmacist filling your prescription.

You have a right to make a complaint to the College of Pharmacists or College of Physicians and Surgeons about any violation of your rights.

Quality of care

To submit a complaint to the College of Pharmacists, you must comptete a complaint form. You can receive one by phoning 604.733.2440 or 1.800.663.1940 (tollfree). To submit a complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons, call 604-733-7758 or 1-800-461-3008

you have a right to receive the highest quality of medical care. You have the right to receive your

prescriptions from the pharmacy exactly _when and how your doctor prescribes them. A pharmacist or a doctor cannot "punish" you for drug use or any other activity by witholding methadone. If you are incarcerated, you have the right to receive your full dose of methadone in a timely manner by the authorities. You have the right to receive treatment that is affordable to you.

You have the right to freely choose which doctor to see for care and which pharmacy will dispense your treatment. Intimidation, coercion, threats or bribery by a

For assistance with a complaint, contact BCAPOH: , (604) 683-6061 I Email: vandu@vandu.org I www.vandu.org I'